The American Bahá’í/Volume 14/Issue 3/Text

←Previous

The American Bahá’í March, 1983

Next→

Return to PDF view Proofread once

[Page 1]March 1983

The American Bahá’í

Universal House of Justice occupies permanent Seat

TO THE FOLLOWERS OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH IN EVERY LAND WE BOW OUR HEADS IN INFINITE GRATITUDE TO THE BLESSED BEAUTY FOR HIS ALL-EMBRACING CONFIRMATIONS ENABLING HOUSE JUSTICE OCCUPY ITS NEWLY CONSTRUCTED PERMANENT SEAT. THIS AUSPICIOUS EVENT SIGNALIZES ANOTHER PHASE IN PROCESS FULFILMENT SAILING GOD’S ARK ON MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD AS ANTICIPATED IN TABLET CARMEL, WONDROUS CHARTER WORLD SPIRITUAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRES FAITH BAHÁ’U’LLÁH.

THIS HIGH POINT HISTORY STRUGGLING FAITH NOW EMERGING FROM OBSCURITY, THIS CRUCIAL HOUR SUFFUSED WITH UNTOLD POTENCIES GENERATED BY SOUL-STIRRING SACRIFICES BELOVED BRETHREN IRAN, MARKED BY VISIT MEMBERS HOUSE JUSTICE TWIN HOLY SHRINES AND FIRST GATHERING COUNCIL CHAMBER TOGETHER WITH HANDS CAUSE AMATU’L-BAHÁ RÚḤÍYYIH KHÁNUM ‘ALÍ-AKBAR FURÚTAN AND COUNSELLOR MEMBERS INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CENTRE TO OFFER PRAYERS HUMBLE THANKSGIVING. LET ALL REJOICE. LET PRAISES ANCIENT BEAUTY RESOUND. MAY UNRELENTING EFFORTS FRIENDS EVERYWHERE HASTEN ADVENT THAT DAY WHEN WONDROUS POTENTIALITIES ENSHRINED IN TABLET CARMEL WILL BE FULLY REVEALED AND WHEN FROM GOD’S HOLY MOUNTAIN, AS ENVISAGED BELOVED GUARDIAN, WILL STREAM FORTH RIVERS OF LAWS AND ORDINANCES WITH ALL-CONQUERING POWER AND MAJESTY.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE FEBRUARY 1, 1983

DEEPLY MOVED BY YOUR ELOQUENT MESSAGE, INSPIRED BY THE ANTICIPATION OF THE STREAM OF LAWS THAT WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF MANKIND, FEELING THE ACCESS OF FRESH ENERGY THAT FLOWS FROM THE WORLD CENTRE OF THE CAUSE, WE JOYFULLY RENEW OUR PLEDGE TO PURSUE WITH INCREASED VIGOR THE MIGHTY TASKS ENTRUSTED TO THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY BY THE MASTER AND THE GUARDIAN.

IN THE DARK NIGHT OF TRIBULATION OUR EYES TURN TO THE HORIZON OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH’S WILL WHILE OUR HEARTS FILL WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE BOUNTY OF WITNESSING SUCH MOMENTOUS EVENTS.

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 1, 1983

A Crown of Beauty

New book opens proclamation, teaching doors

The recent publication of A Crown of Beauty brings a unique and beautiful book into the hands of Bahá’ís, opening doors for proclamation and teaching not previously available in a Bahá’í book.

A Crown of Beauty is the first book for the general public that focuses upon the Bahá’í Faith in the Holy Land, but the story reaches around the world—particularly to Persia, Iraq, Turkey and the West.

“IT IS,” writes the Hand of the Cause of God John Robarts, “a beautiful, inspiring and enlightening book, just what we have needed for years ... I want to give one to every friend, every Bahá’í, every person I know.”

The concept and design for this artsize book, published by George Ronald of Oxford, England, comes from Hugh Chance of Haifa. It is profusely illustrated with both four-color and black and white photographs, drawings and maps.

The text is by Eunice Braun of Glenview, Illinois. Editions in See CROWN Page 4

American community prepares for important Riḍván elections

As Riḍván approaches, the National Spiritual Assembly hopes that all Assemblies will turn their attention to the forthcoming elections, not only with eager anticipation but with thoughtful planning.

Riḍván is an important period in the annals of the Faith. It marks the commemoration of Bahá’u’lláh’s momentous, earth-shaking declaration 120 years ago ‎marked ...‎ once again sent mankind a Divine Messenger.

RIḌVÁN is also the time when God’s administrative order is renewed and reinvigorated for the coming year, just as Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration 120 years ago marked the coming of a spiritual Spring-time.

It should therefore be in a spirit of joy and thankfulness that Assemblies approach their task of preparing for this important See RIḌVÁN Page 10

Index

Viewpoint	2
Letters	3
The Funds	5
Youth News	6-7
Education	8-9
Teaching	10-11
National Convention	12
Goals Committee	13
Spanish	14
Publications	15
Classifieds	16
Persian	18
Race Unity	20
The Media	21
In Memoriam	23

House of Justice asks national day of prayer for friends in Iran

To all National Spiritual Assemblies Dear Bahá’í Friends:

As you know the persecution of our friends in Iran continues unabated, and our oppressed brethren are bearing this ordeal with resignation and valor.

The Universal House of Justice feels that the time has come to once again call for a day of prayer, and it asks that you inform the members of your community to offer special prayers on the Feast of Jamál (Beauty) on Thursday, April 28, 1983.

The House of Justice is confident that the friends will also want to pray for the believers in Iran during the Fast, particularly at dawn, and it would be useful for National Spiritual Assemblies to remind the friends of the privilege of joining universally in prayers during this period about which Bahá’u’lláh has written, “Thou hast endowed every hour of these days with a special virtue, inscrutable to all except Thee ...”

In addition, your Assembly should set aside time during your National Convention for such prayers, as will be done at the International Convention.

It is hoped that these manifold supplications, reverberating from every corner of the globe, will attract in ever greater measure the blessings of the Almighty upon His lovers in the Cradle of the Faith, and will reinvigorate our determination to accelerate the tempo of our activities, in order to compensate for and indeed more than offset the setbacks being suffered by our beleaguered co-workers in Iran.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Universal House of Justice Department of the Secretariat December 29, 1982

National Assembly answers questions from community

Whenever the National Spiritual Assembly meets away from Wilmette it receives many more questions from the friends than time allows for answering. Therefore, the Assembly has decided to begin a regular column of questions and answers in The American Bahá’í. The questions in this first column in the series were posed during the National Spiritual Assembly’s January meeting in Los Angeles, California.

•

Q. Should Assemblies encourage the friends to become more involved in community service as a means of finding seekers?

A. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gives four fundamentals of teaching: goodly deeds, spiritual attributes, an utterance that is crystal clear, and happiness reflected in the face of the teacher. Community service is “goodly deeds” and can certainly aid the growth of the Faith.

Q. When an Assembly decides to have a Bahá’í special occasion or proclamation, it appoints individuals to handle the event and then the members feel their attendance isn’t necessary. What can be done about this?

A. The goal of every event sponsored by the Local Spiritual Assembly must be universal participation. Committees or individuals are not responsible for the See QUESTIONS Page 24 [Page 2]

Feast letter

To find potential, we must look inward

Dear Friends:

Amidst the vigorous campaign to achieve the goals of the Seven Year Plan it may be wise to pause for a brief moment of quiet meditation. Occasionally some of us entertain the secret suspicion that the many teaching projects, deepening sessions, conferences, meetings, and discussions of the state of the National Fund are not enough, that a vital element is missing, that we are neglecting an indispensable requirement of success.

IN MOMENTS of doubt we instinctively turn to Shoghi Effendi whose luminous mind sheds never diminishing light on our perplexities. Nearly 45 years ago, when American Bahá’ís struggled with their first Seven Year Plan, the Guardian wrote that great and vital as were the tasks of developing administrative institutions, of fashioning projects, of raising funds, and even of teaching, "...the imponderable, the spiritual factors, which are bound up with their own individual and inner lives, and with which are associated their human and social relationships, are no less urgent and vital, and demand constant scrutiny, continual self-examination and heart-searching... lest their value be impaired or their vital necessity be obscured or forgotten."

The spiritual prerequisites of the success of every activity undertaken by the American Bahá’ís are "...a high sense of moral rectitude in their social and administrative activities, absolute chastity in their individual lives, and complete freedom from prejudice in their dealings with peoples of a different race, class, creed, or color."

If we take these words to heart, we will, one and all, look into ourselves, discover the infinite potential concealed in our souls, and, strengthened by prayer and meditation, begin to win our individual spiritual battles.

Our personal victories will soon be translated into victories of the entire community, accelerating its growth in size and quality, and making it an ever more attractive haven for the masses disillusioned with a decaying, materialistic civilization.

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

Canada meeting airs topics of mutual concern

Representatives of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas, the National Spiritual Assemblies of Alaska, Canada and the U.S., and the Bahá’í International Community met January 22-23 at the Bahá’í National Center in Toronto, Canada, to discuss topics of mutual concern.

The meeting was suggested by the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada and received enthusiastic endorsement from the Universal House of Justice.

The Board of Counsellors was represented by Lloyd Gardner and Velma W. Sherrill.

National Assembly members at the meeting were Todd Jones of Alaska; Dr. Hossein Danesh, Douglas Martin and Edward Muttart of Canada; and Dr. Wilma Brady, Dr. Magdalene M. Carney and Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh of the U.S.

The Bahá’í International Community was represented by Dr. Victor de Araujo, Gerald Knight and Giovanni Ballerio.

Areas covered during the two-day meeting included responses to the crisis in Iran; the question of Iranian refugees; meeting opposition to the Faith within the academic community; protection of the Bahá’í community, and communication with the mass media in North America.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants submitted a number of recommendations to the House of Justice for its consideration.

Another result of the gathering was a decision that the Counsellors and representatives of the three National Spiritual Assemblies should be in touch with each other on a weekly basis as the need arises to share information of mutual interest.

Woman's role as mother extremely important

"O maidservants of the Merciful! It is incumbent upon you to train the children from their earliest babyhood! It is incumbent on you to beautify their morals! It is incumbent on you to attend to them under all aspects and circumstances, inasmuch as God—glorified and exalted is He!—hath ordained mothers to be the primary trainers of children and infants. This is a great and important affair and a high and exalted position, and it is not allowable to slacken therein at all!

"If thou walkest in this right path, thou wouldst become a real mother to the children, both spiritually and materially." (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Vol. III, p. 606)

A discussion has been going on for more than a year in the "letters to the editor" column of The American Bahá’í. The point in question: the role of Bahá’í women as mothers.

The many sides of this issue can be discussed forever unless we turn to the Writings of the Faith for direction and guidance, as in the above quotation.

THE STATION of woman is indeed high and exalted in this Dispensation in her role as mother, primarily.

Her role as doctor, lawyer or truck driver may be fulfilling, exciting or rewarding, but is secondary in importance. That's what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says:

"The question of training the children and looking after the orphans is extremely important, but most important of all is the education of girl children, for these girls will one day be mothers, and the mother is the first teacher of the child.

"In whatever way she reareth the child, so will the child become, and the results of that first training will remain with the individual throughout his entire life, and it would be most difficult to alter them. And how can a mother, herself ignorant and untrained, educate her child? ...

"God sayeth in the Quran that they shall not be equals, those who have knowledge and those who have it not. Ignorance is thus utterly to be blamed, whether in male or female; indeed in the female it is greater.

"I hope, therefore, that the friends will make strenuous efforts to educate their children, sons and daughters alike. This is verily the truth, and outside the truth there is manifestly naught save perdition." ("Bahá’í Education: A Compilation," p. 46)

Current popular thought is that women "waste" their education if they stay home with their children. As Bahá’í women we must keep in mind the balance between spiritual and material achievement:

"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. Thus from the very beginning mothers must rear their infants in the cradle of good morals—for it is the mothers who are the first educators—so that, when the child cometh to maturity, he will prove to be endowed with all the virtues and qualities that are worthy of praise...

"The purport is this, that to train the character of humankind is one of the weightiest commandments of God, and the influence of such training is the same as that which the sun exerts over tree and fruit.

"Children must be most carefully watched over, protected and trained; in such consisteth true parenthood and parental mercy..." ("Bahá’í Education: A Compilation," p. 23)

It is difficult for a Bahá’í woman to consider this advice from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in these days when from a purely practical standpoint mothers often must work because families can't get along without an extra pay check.

PERHAPS at the present time we Bahá’í women don't have the choices we would like to have. We can, however, consider the Bahá’í women of the future.

In deepenings for Bahá’í youth and pre-youth on marriage, we can offer them a chance to consider the role of women as mothers. When we counsel young people in planning their education and careers to best serve themselves and the Faith, we can discuss those occupations that offer flexible hours, or that can be done at home, or where a short child-rearing hiatus would not cause great difficulty.

Recently, several acquaintances of this writer have returned to work. These women are not Bahá’ís, but they have decided for reasons of their own to stay at home with their children, and have found ways of earning extra money at home.

One of them is doing dictaphone typing. It is demanding work, but it pays well and she can arrange her schedule around her family obligations.

Two other women are baby-sitting. Not glamorous work. No prestige. Ph.D not required. But the pay is excellent. Working mothers find it quite difficult to find loving and dependable women to care for their children, and will pay handsomely for the service.

ONE OF my baby-sitting friends quit a full-time managerial job. Her own children are teenagers, but she says she and the children are much happier when she is at home and a part of their lives.

Certainly, Bahá’í women can also find alternatives such as these. Undoubtedly, many Bahá’í women have already done so. It is the exception, however, not the rule.

It is by our actions that we will lead others into the Faith, and it is in our homes that the first foundations of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh are laid.

The first of two articles on "True Feminism: The Bahá’í Approach," written by Pat Tyler Kinney of Leonia, New Jersey.

Teaching through snowpeople

Bahá’í children in Graham, Texas, found that even building a family of snowpeople needn't stop them from teaching the Faith. 'Papa and Mama Snow' are wearing Bahá’í T-shirts and hats from the Montreal Conference. Passing cars slowed down so their passengers could get a better look at the snowpeople. The children are (left to right) Shoaleh Hedayati, Martha Villagomez, Leyla Hedayati, Badi Villagomez. [Page 3]

Writer offers another perspective on Fund

To the Editor:

The diversity of opinion offered in the letters column of The American Bahá’í is refreshing and most welcome. Although at times I disagree with a particular statement, I appreciate it for the consideration it invariably provokes.

Charles Beachner’s letter regarding the Fund (January 1983) raised several points I would like to address.

WHILE it might be tempting to view the Fund chart as a signal that “the old appeals and inspirational programs haven’t worked,” it should be borne in mind that this institution and its method of requesting funds is laid out clearly in the sacred Writings, and that Shoghi Effendi (Bahá’í Administration, p. 101) makes it quite clear that Bahá’u’lláh intends that no coercive elements are to enter into it.

Creating guilt in those who do not participate by condemning their spiritual condition is not a new idea; on the contrary, it is as old as priesthoods. It is Bahá’u’lláh’s loving exhortations, free of condemnation or ridicule, that stand so clearly apart from the old world institutions.

The Bahá’í Faith is not “a religion for mature people,” it is a religion for mankind. It is not an exclusive club for those who are spiritually mature enough; it is the womb in which an immature humanity will grow and develop in accordance with Bahá’u’lláh’s instructions.

This development is continuous for every Bahá’í, and requires an atmosphere of loving encouragement and devotion to one another, rather than condemnation. Bahá’u’lláh has a sin-covering eye, so we can do no less with each other.

The failure to achieve universal participation in giving to the Fund is not due to an obstinate “refusal” by knowing individuals, nor a failure in institutional methods.

MORE than likely, it is due to our failure on the local level to consistently provide the true Bahá’í community necessary for the fullest development of individuals entering the Faith.

An understanding of the significance of the Bahá’í Fund is one part of the over-all development occurring in a warm and encouraging community. The inspirational approach of the National Treasurer’s Office, far from failing with its inspirational requests, has succeeded in deeply moving those few in number who keep us afloat—those who are exposed to it.

Beyond this we have no right to speculate because the spiritual condition of the friends is not ours to speculate about. That judgment lies with God alone.

Jeanne L. Dammarell Dayton, Washington

To the Editor:

Please convey my heartfelt gratitude to all the Bahá’í friends in the U.S. and Canada who gave me their loving hospitality during my recent visit to those blessed countries.

I was privileged to visit with many of the friends following the Montreal Conference. I cannot write to each of them individually, and would like to thank them in this way.

Herbert R. Sikombe Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

To the Editor:

As Bahá’ís, we are striving for unity—not only among non-Bahá’ís, but among Bahá’ís as well.

In the most recent Treasurer’s letter, it was noted that a Persian couple had donated a large sum of money to the Fund. While not belittling this meritorious act, we feel that the nationality of the couple is irrelevant, and that pointing out their nationality may encourage stereotyping.

Let us pray that all Bahá’ís in the U.S. follow the example of this couple in their personal sacrifices, no matter how large or small.

Frank Wilf Valiollah Vargha Robert L. Ward Sherry S. Bass Nancy Field Eastern Pennsylvania

To the Editor:

I truly enjoyed reading the letter to the editor from Margaret Creech of Laramie, Wyoming (October 1982). Her likening of the Creative Word to a Bahá’í “operator’s manual” was quite nice.

I was a bit dismayed, however, that she compared reading Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era to the “Reader’s Digest,” and I would like to point out some of the innumerable differences between the two.

First, Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era was written by a Hand of the Cause of God—a devoted, lifelong servant of our beloved Faith.

Second, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá did not, to my knowledge, personally correct any of the text of the “Reader’s Digest,” whereas our beloved Exemplar did read and correct three and one-half chapters of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era.

Also, Shoghi Effendi never specifically encouraged us to read the “Reader’s Digest.” On the other hand, the Guardian had Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era translated into more than 100 languages, and it was one of the first Bahá’í books to be translated into many of those languages.

The Guardian referred to Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era as the “textbook of the Faith,” and indicated that it would “inspire generations yet unborn.”

Although the unabridged sacred Tablets of the Faith may be more important for Bahá’ís to read than Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, we must realize that Dr. Esslemont’s book has a very special place among the many introductions that have been written about the Faith.

John Mackill San Diego, California

The American Bahá’í welcomes letters to the editor on any subject of general interest. Letters should be as brief as possible, and are subject to editing for length and style. Please address letters to The Editor, The American Bahá’í, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

To the Editor:

After reading last month’s letters to the editor, I felt that I should respond to Michael Sullivan’s concern that Bahá’ís familiarize themselves with “sign language” for the deaf.

There are many people, Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í, who are quite involved in learning this “language.”

I have participated since July 1982 in a course in “Deaf Communications,” as it is listed, at a local community college, and will begin a new class in the spring.

The fees are relatively small, and the interest is great. It is not hard to learn, and it is great to have a second working “language.”

As Bahá’ís we should be well-informed. I have found studying sign language to be a most enjoyable experience, well worth the time and study.

If a ministry to the deaf is to become a reality, it will have to be through individual efforts. It is just another way in which the ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ can pioneer.

Kathi George Dunnellon, Florida

To the Editor:

It was good to see Dr. Dan Popov’s “Comment” column about EST in the January issue of The American Bahá’í.

I also have explored many such approaches to “spiritual awareness” and fully agree with his findings. Always, there seems to be something missing.

Some of us are compelled to explore the deeper aspects of everything. There is a truism that says we see ourselves reflected in others.

How good it would be if we could look deep inside and see directly what we ourselves actually are. Would we then see the answer to such questions as, “Why must we be constantly admonished and reminded of our personal responsibility in matters of active participation—teaching, proclaiming, pioneering, giving, and service to mankind?”

Yes, we can easily see something missing in others. But is there also something missing in us? Must we wait for a new race of men to reveal it to us?

C.M. Gordon Valley View, Texas

To the Editor:

In response to Charles Beachner’s letter (January 1983) in which he suggests that a new approach to help solve the problem of the Fund may be based upon The Hidden Words:

With all due respect, it is hard to believe that Bahá’u’lláh’s mention (in The Hidden Words) of “...the basest among men ...” “...who yield no fruit on earth ...” who “...are counted among the dead ...” and “...who are as beggars ...” could refer to those Bahá’ís who do not give to the Fund, however badly we may tend to regard them.

IN CONTRAST, Mr. Beachner continues to quote from The Hidden Words: “The best of men are they that earn a livelihood by their calling and spend it upon themselves and upon their kindred for the love of God ...” which he (Mr. Beachner) compares to those faithful souls who do give to the Fund.

Could this not refer, however, to our personal achievements through the use of our own resources, to properly (in the Name of God) clothe and feed our families, help the poor, aid our friends and neighbors and use our livelihood for the greatest good? (A part of which would, naturally, consist of contributing to the growth of one’s Faith.)

Must we go on forever clubbing one another with the Sacred Writings, often at the expense of pitifully twisting their subtle, blessed meanings in order to lay emphasis on the Fund?

Is this really a new approach? Or is it simply an old, outmoded one, used by religions long ago—to rob the people of the truth in order to make them give money, and to feel guilty if they don’t.

Perhaps a “new approach” may lie in learning to love each other a little more, by withholding all forms of criticism and judgment ... and just let Bahá’u’lláh do it!

If we are the “mature adults” Mr. Beachner claims we are, why must we be “force-fed” upon these tactics, when we are perfectly able to find our own directives within this vast, broad green meadow—where the “sheep” instinctively harken to the voice of their Shepherd, and not to the constant “bleatings” of those around them.

Steve and Phyllis Stanley Santa Rosa, California

To the Editor:

Some months ago someone suggested that the Universal House of Justice wished us to read the “Fire Tablet” for our suffering friends in Iran.

Since then a small group of Bahá’ís that meets each Sunday morning at a park here in Burbank has been reading the Fire Tablet (each one reads a part of it) followed by other prayers and a study of the

See LETTERS Page 22

Comment

Continued From Page 2

by our actions that we will surely assume true leadership as women. Our standards are high, and we must be determined to uphold them.

When other women are abdicating their roles as mothers we can demonstrate a unique aspect of our teachings: Women are great indeed, but as mothers our importance is immeasurable.

As a tribute to the memory of Amoz Gibson, a member of the Universal House of Justice who died May 14, the Spiritual Assembly of Walla Walla, Washington, donated a copy of To Move the World, the new biography of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory by Gayle Morrison, to the Walla Walla public library. The book was inscribed ‘To the people of Walla Walla in memory of Mr. Amoz Gibson—(signed) the Bahá’ís of Walla Walla.’ Shown making the presentation is Mrs. Emmalu McCandless (left). [Page 4]

the Champion builders

JOHN DAVID BOSCH

It was John David Bosch, a Swiss-born wine maker from California, who was taken by the hand by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and pulled into an automobile that was to take the Master from His hotel in New York City to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kinney.

“...Immediately,” Mr. Bosch later said of that memorable experience in 1912, “He put His arm around my waist, dropped His head on my left shoulder, and with a deep sigh went to sleep.”

THROUGHOUT the hour-long drive, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá slept on the shoulder of John Bosch. Earlier, at the Ansonia Hotel, the Master had said to Mr. Bosch, “You are now one of the family. You may come and go as you please.”

Five days later Mr. Bosch was in the same car with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá when the Master traveled to Washington, D.C., and again a week later when He prepared for His visit to Chicago.

Later that year, in California, Mr. Bosch spent every possible moment in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s company.

Born August 1, 1855, in New Sankt Johann, Switzerland, John Bosch left home as a teen-ager to study wine making in Germany, France and Spain before coming to the U.S. in 1879.

He first learned of the Faith in 1905 and began attending Bahá’í meetings at the home of Helen Goodall in Oakland. He wrote to the Master and received the first of what would be many Tablets from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

WHEN Mr. Bosch learned that the use of alcohol is forbidden in the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, he asked the Master what he should do.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá replied that it would be better for him to engage in another business, but gradually. This Mr. Bosch did on his

See BOSCH Page 19

Crown

Continued From Page 1

German and Dutch are under way, with editions in other languages projected for the future.

One double-page spread shows photos of all Bahá’í Houses of Worship in the world and those under construction. Another such spread shows places sacred in the Holy Land to Christians, Muslims and Jews.

The story opens in the present day with the visit of a German youth, a student of science, to the Shrine of the Báb, as he learns about the Bahá’í teachings from his guide.

THEN, in a series of flashbacks, various episodes in the lives of the Central Figures of the Faith are recounted, coming back again and again to focus on some new point of orientation in the Holy Land.

As the journeys of exile unfold, many ancient, historical memories are evoked. The reader travels with Táhirih down the “pilgrimage road” to Baghdád, through cities made famous by Cyrus the Great and Darius I.

Bahá’u’lláh’s caravan, en route to Constantinople, brings the travelers close to the ruins of Nineveh, city of the Biblical past where Jonah went at the bidding of his Lord; past the site of the fiery furnace recorded in the Book of Daniel.

As the steamer enters the inlet of the Golden Horn, the imposing mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent rises above the harbor. Again, as Bahá’u’lláh’s ship pauses for a time before the harbor of Jaffa at sunset, tokens of the past “rise out of the historical mists.”

Here the reader hears the beat of booted and sandaled feet “treading city stones and desert sands” as the Crusaders wend their way to Jerusalem, the city of salvation.

BIBLICAL references are woven unobtrusively throughout the text, aiding the seeker, and are reflected in such chapter headings as “How Beautiful Upon the Mountains,” “The Wilderness and the Solitary Place,” and “The Majesty of Carmel.”

The title of the book itself is taken from a verse in Isaiah: “and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord.”

The “crown of beauty” becomes immediately visible as the golden dome of the Shrine of the Báb graces the full color jacket of the book and is the first full-page photo the reader sees inside.

One of the most encouraging aspects of this book is the way in which it has been received in various formal and informal presentations around the world.

This began in Montreal when many high-ranking officials were presented with copies of the book by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum and others.

RECENTLY, a copy of the book was given to U.S. Rep. Edward J. Derwinski by the National Spiritual Assembly at a special luncheon in his honor.

Rosalie Wahl, the first and only woman member of the Supreme Court of Minnesota, responded warmly when presented with a copy.

In addition, numbers of university department heads of philosophy and religion have received copies and responded positively.

Concerning this, Douglas Martin, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, has written: “...it cannot but arouse the interest of great numbers of people ...Apart from its value for the general teaching work, it provides us with a beautiful presentation piece for government officials and other prominent Canadians.”

On the jacket of the book is a tribute to the Faith by Dr. Franklin Littell, head of the department of religion at Temple University.

Of special interest to Bahá’ís and photographic researchers is a full-page photo of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, never before published.

IT HAS been learned recently that this photo is a result of some of the earliest experiments in color photography done in Paris in 1911, using only three colors yet obtaining a very natural effect.

Recently a researcher in this field, the nephew of a Bahá’í, discovered the old plates still extant.

Another “first” for the book is the fact that the largest book agency in Israel decided from the beginning to distribute it throughout its bookstores in Israel and in the Nof Hotel where many pilgrims reside.

This has been described by Counsellor Florence Mayberry of the International Teaching Centre as “a real breakthrough.”

For Bahá’ís, A Crown of Beauty can be, in essence, a first pilgrimage or a pilgrimage revisited.

Writes long-time pioneer Cora Oliver: “Sitting in a rocking chair ...you took me to the World Centre in A Crown of Beauty.”

“You made it so very real that I could almost inhale the fragrance of the flowers in those rare and beautiful gardens ...I would like to take A Crown of Beauty to each Bahá’í to make of this very special book a gift ...”

Bahá’ís everywhere will identify with the closing paragraph of the book:

“As the paths that radiate outward from the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí point to the infinite horizon, so does guidance and inspiration continue to radiate from this hallowed place to thousands of Bahá’í communities around the world. And for every Bahá’í, wherever he may abide, the paths are retraced back again to this sacred Spot—for it is a spiritual lodestar that forever beckons him to these shores.”

The recently formed Spiritual Assembly of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, held its public recognition ceremony last November 13. Since the event was conceived primarily as a teaching occasion, invitations were sent to city council members and a local congressman, among others. ‎Guest Guests‎ included several Bahá’ís from outside Williamsport and about 40 friends of the Faith. Members of the Spiritual Assembly of Williamsport are (left to right) Dan Henry, Jan Grinder, Jean Henry, John Grinder, Susan Troxel, Brian Yasipour, Bonnie Galer, Rick Troxel, Betty Jacobs.

Gillespie concert, international dinner well publicized in Lexington, Kentucky

Renowned jazz trumpeter John Birks (Dizzy) Gillespie accepts a bouquet of roses from Bahá’í admirers following his performance last fall in a concert at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Two events held last fall in Lexington, Kentucky, resulted in excellent publicity for the Faith in that area.

The first, a concert by jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, led to reviews in both the city newspaper and the University of Kentucky’s paper, one of which mentioned the Faith.

The second, an international dinner on United Nations Day, October 24, resulted in a 11-column-inch article describing why Bahá’ís observe that occasion printed with a photo and some recipes of dishes served at the dinner.

In addition, curiosity about paid ads the Bahá’ís were running in the paper’s religion section led the editor of that section to write a long article entitled “Bahá’ís want community to know them, their beliefs.”

During his appearance, Mr. Gillespie acknowledged from the stage that he is a Bahá’í, dedicated the piece “Olinga” to the Bahá’ís who were present, and led the audience, at the end of the instrumental portion of that song, in singing “Ya Bahá’u’l-Abhá” in three-part harmony.

The author of the review in the university newspaper offered to write an article for the school’s Bahá’í Association.

Following the lead of the Town of Ithaca, New York, the Lexington media committee submitted information, recipes and photos to the food editor of the Lexington Herald/Leader, resulting in the UN Day coverage.

1983 Green Lake Conference dates are September 16-18

The 1983 Green Lake Bahá’í Conference will be held September 16-18 at the Green Lake Baptist Assembly in Green Lake, Wisconsin.

The theme of this year’s 24th annual conference is “Mirror Forth My Beauty.”

Other information about the conference will be forthcoming as plans are completed. [Page 5]

Commentary

Principles of Fund appeals, education

The Office of the Treasurer noted with interest a letter to the editor in the January issue of The American Bahá’í. The letter outlined a “new approach” to Fund appeals and inspirational programs based on “plain talk and realistic language” for “mature people.”

In response to this viewpoint, the Office of the Treasurer would like to explain briefly the principles of the Faith regarding Fund appeals and Fund education.

IT IS THIS Office’s responsibility to conduct a program of Fund education according to those principles, and we hope that the friends will appreciate an explanation of the Office’s approach to this task.

The Writings of Bahá’u’lláh are available for each individual to study and to apply to their personal lives as they see fit. However, when it comes to applying those Writings for an entire Bahá’í community, the interpretation of individuals must give way to that of the institutions of the Faith.

The beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, has, within the framework of Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings, formulated spiritual principles and guidelines that relate to every aspect of the Administrative Order. Included are principles governing how funds can be raised to support the work of the Cause.

Every appeal from the National Spiritual Assembly, and every action suggested by a member of the community to increase the flow of funds into the national Treasury, must be examined closely in the light of the Guardian’s principles.

One suggestion found in the previously mentioned letter to the editor was that certain quotations from The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh (“The basest of men are they that yield no fruit on earth ...” “The best of men are they that earn a livelihood by their calling ...”) be brought to the attention of those believers who are not contributing to the National Fund.

THIS OFFICE strives to help every Bahá’í in America realize the importance of giving to the Fund, but always through a frank and loving method, never a negative one that might make the friends feel guilty.

This approach derives from the following words of Shoghi Effendi (emphasis added): “ ...I feel urged to remind you of the necessity of ever bearing in mind the cardinal principle that all contributions to the Fund are to be purely and strictly voluntary in character. It should be made clear and evident to everyone that any form of compulsion, however slight and indirect, strikes at the very root of the principle underlying the formation of the Fund ever since its inception. While appeals of a general character, carefully worded and moving and dignified in tone are welcome under all circumstances, it should be left entirely to the discretion of every conscientious believer to decide upon the nature, amount, and purpose of his or her contribution for the propagation of the Cause.” (Bahá’í Administration, p. 101)

“ ...In matters of contribution we should not use any compulsion whatsoever and ascertain clearly the desire of the donor. We should appeal to but not coerce the friends.” (Bahá’í Funds and Contributions, p. 11)

“Shoghi Effendi has repeatedly stated that no pressure should be used upon the friends and psychological pressure falls under that category ...” (Ibid.)

Based on this guidance, the Office of the Treasurer’s program of Fund education has taken a certain direction—one which aims to convey a loving, consistent and positive approach in all articles, letters and deepening courses. The objective is to nurture within the hearts of the friends a personal relationship with, and a commitment to support, each of the various Bahá’í Funds.

THE APPROACH to Fund appeals is similarly based. All appeals are addressed to the entire community, never singling out one segment for special appeals, since to do so would be in conflict with the Guardian’s principles.

The emphasis is not on fund-raising, but on loving inspiration and frank sharing with the friends of the needs and activities of the Cause that rely upon the National Fund for their support.

No one, based on the evidence presented each month on the National Fund chart, could claim that the task of developing a universal love

See PRINCIPLES Page 12

Couples both counted when contributing

The Office of the Treasurer reminds couples who contribute to the National Fund using a joint checking account that each will be counted among the individuals giving if both names and their respective I.D. numbers are included.

Receipts will be returned with “Mr. and Mrs. _______________” and one I.D. number. This designation shows that two individuals have been counted. The computer is programmed to print one I.D. number per receipt, so we are unable to comply with the many requests that we have received for both numbers to be shown.

More than $1 million is earmarked to support worldwide work of Cause

National Bahá’í Fund

Sovereignty—Sultán	139 B.E.
INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION
goal—20,000 individuals	20,000
actual individuals	5478
CONTRIBUTIONS
challenge for growth	$421,000
minimum needs	$341,000
actual contributions	$343,748
YEAR-TO-DATE TOTALS
shortfall	$721,067
minimum goal	$6,480,000

This is the fifth in a six-part series on how monies contributed to the National Fund are used. Since the National Fund is, as described by Shoghi Effendi, the bedrock on which all our activities rest, its ability to support these manifold activities depends on the sacrificial and regular contributions of the believers. This series is intended to provide the American Bahá’í community with a fresh look at the wide range of activities that are supported by the National Fund.

Each year when preparing its budget, the National Spiritual Assembly divides its expenditures into two broad categories.

One category covers all domestic expenses, such as financing the work of national committees, while the other involves funds to be forwarded for the international work of the Cause.

THIS international category includes more than just the American Bahá’í community’s contribution to the Bahá’í International Fund. It also includes the Continental Fund for the Americas, the Samoan and Indian Temple construction funds, and the International Deputation Fund.

In all, $1,100,000 was budgeted by the National Spiritual Assembly for international work this year—17 per cent of the total budget of $6,480,000—with the bulk of that money being used to support the needs of the World Centre in Haifa, Israel.

The growth and significance of the World Centre is based on one of the charter documents of the Faith, the Tablet of Carmel (see Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 14-17).

In 1951 the Guardian cabled the Bahá’ís of the world, informing them of a new opportunity for accelerating the growth of that centre:

“Emergence of independent sovereign state in Holy Land, synchronizing with the rise and consolidation of the Administrative Center of the World Faith of Bahá’u’lláh ... demand henceforth reorientation and necessitate increasing financial support by Bahá’í National Communities of East and West, through curtailment of national and local budgets. The extent of appropriations from national and local budgets ... is regarded as a spiritual obligation ...”

FROM that time, contributions to the World Centre have taken on added importance.

In 1979, the cut-off of funds to Haifa from Iran due to the persecutions of the believers there had another critical impact on the international work of the Cause.

In response to an appeal from the Universal House of Justice for increased contributions, the National Spiritual Assembly raised its goal for support of the World Centre to $1 million a year—more than double its previous level of $430,000. This new level is sustained today, in spite of steadily increasing financial demands from activities on the homefront.

This year’s $1 million contribution to the World Centre includes $940,000 for the International Fund and $60,000 for the International Deputation Fund.

Of all financial objectives set by the National Assembly, this one holds priority. However, this goal is often threatened when difficulties arise in the National Fund, because the irregular flow of contributions causes a delay in payments forwarded to Haifa.

OF THE remaining $100,000 budgeted for the international work of the Faith, $40,000 is sent to the Continental Fund and $60,000 for construction of the Indian and Samoan Houses of Worship.

The importance of contributing to the Continental Fund is stressed in statements by the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice. The National Assembly, therefore, also holds the community’s collective contribution to the Continental Fund of the Americas as a high priority.

The amount of this support is based on the needs of that Fund, determined through close collaboration between the National Spiritual Assembly and the Continental Board of Counsellors.

This, in brief, summarizes the support of the national community for the international work of the Cause.

Of course, the individual Bahá’í has the privilege and is encouraged to support each of the Funds directly, especially the International and Continental Funds. However, this does not diminish the grave responsibility of the community as a whole to insure that our collective obligation to these Funds is met.

IN 1970 a shortfall in contributions to the National Fund prevented the National Assembly from forwarding more than a small part of the monies promised to the International Fund.

This, in turn, precipitated a severe crisis in that Fund, forcing a decrease in activities in Haifa and cuts in support to National Spiritual Assemblies around the world.

See EXPENDITURES Page 12 [Page 6]

Commentary: Bahá’í ‘jargon’ can hinder teaching

If you were around people who were talking about leaves, branches, animal kingdoms, dawn and the sun, what would you think? Probably that they were into nature.

Then when they dropped references to God into their outdoor terminology, you might realize that there are sun worshippers still running around.

CERTAINLY YOU WOULD be surprised when you caught on that they were Bahá’ís, talking about the Greatest Holy Leaf, the Most Mighty Branch, the Purest Branch, the Dawning-Point, the kingdoms of existence, and the Sun of Reality.

The use of “Bahá’í jargon” when speaking with people who are not yet Bahá’ís can hinder effective teaching. While such phrases have great significance to Bahá’ís, they are sources of misunderstanding to others.

Bahá’ís have sometimes been accused of having been “brainwashed” because they all use the same jargon to describe their beliefs. If we understand the concepts, principles, history and administration of our religion, putting them into our own words will convey sincerity and thought.

Best of all, the listener will more fully understand the discussion. If our purpose is to draw people nearer to the principles of the Faith and to Bahá’u’lláh, the last thing we want to do is make them feel strange or out of place.

If we are teaching the concept of unity and the oneness of mankind, then creating exclusivity and cliquishness by our language is out of the question. If the meaning of what we say is ultimately up to the interpretation of our listeners, then the most clear and concise words are necessary to avoid misunderstandings that may threaten the integrity or reputation of the Faith.

WHEN YOU SPEAK of “Ayyám-i-Há,” make it clear to the listener that we do not have a holiday for ‎motorcyles motorcycles‎. If you invite someone to a “fireside,” don’t be surprised if he expects a romantic evening in front of an open hearth.

And the next time you refer to “the Board,” be aware that you have described the masses of people who are disinterested, or a surface upon which Monopoly is played.

While we may think we are dazzling an audience with our references to “NSA, LSA, DTC, ABM, CBC, NTC, Hands, assistants, Feasts, seekers, pioneers, the Master, the new World Order,” and other such jargon, we may only be confusing the listener and causing him to turn his back on the very gift we are offering.

Southern California District Youth Committee sponsors weekend youth retreat in mountains

On the weekend of December 10-12 the newly appointed District Youth Committee of Southern California District No. 4 sponsored a weekend retreat for youth in the Big Bear Mountains.

The entire weekend was conceived and executed by youth, and attendance was limited to ages 15-25.

The program was developed as follows:

The group of about 25 people was divided into smaller groups of four or five, each of which had been assigned a certain topic from the Writings and given a list of selected references upon which to base its discussion.

The group was then to develop a format with which to present the topic to the entire group at the afternoon session.

The method proved to be extremely successful in involving all the youth who participated. In the smaller groups, some youth who normally would tend to remain silent in discussion groups contributed substantially, and consequently gained valuable knowledge and enthusiasm from the experience.

It was exciting to see the eyes of some of these youth light up when they discovered something in the Writings that touched them because they had found it, not because it was read at them; the difference is immeasurable.

The committee hopes that other youth groups might try this method of deepening which it has found to be so effective.

The rest of the weekend was filled with activities such as group games, singing around a fire, a movie night, and inner-tubing down snow-covered hills.

Another highlight was a moving talk by a 17-year-old Bahá’í youth, Shahrooz Rahnejat, on the history of outstanding Bahá’í youth in the Cause.

The retreat coincided with the occasion of the Nineteen Day Feast, so a unity feast was held during which the youth participated in open consultation concerning future activities of the District Youth Committee.

Bahá’í youth from California who participated last December 10-12 in a weekend youth retreat in the Big Bear Mountains sponsored by the District Youth Committee of Southern California District No. 4.

100 students attend second West Coast College Club meet

About 100 students from more than 15 colleges on the West Coast attended the second annual West Coast College Club Weekend sponsored January 7-9 by the Bahá’í Club at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

The theme for the weekend was “Living the Life on Campus.”

Speakers included Bob Phillips (Bahá’í involvement in current issues on campus), Anthony Lee (the Bahá’í position on politics), and Bill Lyell (Far Eastern thought and concerns in a changing world).

Also present was Charles (Cap) Cornwell, secretary of the National Youth Committee, who encouraged the students in their work on campus and offered ideas and help on behalf of the committee.

Valuable ideas and experiences were shared in a Saturday evening forum on (1) teaching the Faith on campus, (2) living the Bahá’í life on campus, (3) components of a healthy College Club, and (4) fun and social events for College Clubs.

The Saturday evening program also featured a talent show, dancing and songs.

A similar weekend program is being planned for next January.

Jacqueline Osborne, an isolated believer in Florence, Alabama, decided this year to ask some of her non-Bahá’í friends to help plan a World Peace Day program. The result was an outing in a park with one Bahá’í and 200 guests, displays in five libraries, posters made by children in Mrs. Osborne’s son’s fifth grade class, involvement by all but one of the major religious bodies in the city, a World Peace Day resolution passed by the local university’s student government, and information tables with representatives from a dozen organizations. Says Mrs. Osborne: ‘We now have two Bahá’ís in Florence, so next year our World Peace Day observance will be twice as large!’

Seals and Crofts star in new radio show

Seals and Crofts have joined forces again! This time they’ve put together a dynamite two-hour radio program combining their music and a discussion of how the Bahá’í Faith has affected their lives.

The format is four reel-to-reel tapes, and the program can be aired in the total two hours or as two one-hour shows. It’s a terrific tool for college clubs, so don’t delay. Bring Seals and Crofts to your campus today!

YES, I want to rent the Seals and Crofts radio program for the fabulously cheap price of only $5! You send the tapes and I’ll do the rest!

Name __________________________________________________________________

College ___________________________________ Date needed ______________

Address ________________________________________________________________

State ________________ Zip _______________ Phone number ____________

Please mail to Bahá’í National Youth Committee, 200 S.W. 20th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315.

Paper chronicles 5-year-old’s generosity

Five-year-old Marietta McMurry of Cleveland, Tennessee, was recently featured in a local newspaper for her contribution to the area Basket Fund.

When her teacher invited parents to contribute to the fund in lieu of exchanging Christmas gifts, Mrs. McMurry suggested to Marietta that she give a part of her allowance “to buy food for the poor.”

Since she had been saving for a special toy, Marietta’s first response was “no.” But a week later, unprompted and with tears in her eyes, Marietta told her mother she was thinking about the people who couldn’t buy food and wanted to give to the Basket Fund.

Marietta’s teacher told the story to the fund-raising committee. To show their appreciation, they presented Marietta with a doll. The story was then featured on the front page of the local paper.

Marietta said she was very happy, and that she knew she had made God and Bahá’u’lláh happy too.

Marietta, the daughter of Keith and Robin McMurry, who recently moved to Cleveland from Lynchburg, Virginia, has a younger sister, Dana. [Page 7]

Bahá’í youth is scholarship winner

RIAZ ANTHONY JURNEY North Carolina

Riaz Anthony Jurney, a Bahá’í youth from High Point, North Carolina, who is a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has won a United States Achievement Academy scholarship in speech and drama.

Scholars are chosen for the honor by an independent panel of educators which reviews applicants from across the country and selects the winners based on grade point average, rank in class, achievement test scores, school activities, and honors and awards received.

Mr. Jurney, a pre-med student and an active member of the Bahá’í Club at Chapel Hill, also was awarded a Herbert Worth Jackson Scholarship to UNC.

As a high school student he was a member of the National Honor Society, the French Honor Society, the Beta Club, and won a number of awards as a member of the school's debating team.

In 1981 he attended a five-week high school institute for forensics at Northwestern University.

Mr. Jurney, the son of David and Vedad Jurney of High Point, was listed in the 1980-81 edition of Who's Who Among American High School Students.

His older brother, Nabil, is a student at East Carolina University in Greenville.

Information is asked about courses on Faith

News of the Faith is spreading across the land and schools are becoming interested in evaluating the facts. Courses on the Bahá’í Faith or references to it in comparative religion classes are no longer unknown.

The National Youth Committee would like to know where these classes are being held and what is being taught. If you know of a class that is on the Faith or that refers to it, credit or non-credit, college, high school or continuing education courses, please write to us about them at Bahá’í National Youth Committee, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315.

Youth Leadership Programs scheduled

The National Youth Committee has finalized plans for holding 10 sessions of the Youth Leadership Program at various sites around the country between now and June.

"The program has been developed by the committee in an attempt to stimulate youth to be self-initiating in their service to the Faith," says Walter Heinecke, a member of the National Youth Committee.

"Our aim," he adds, "is to give youth a chance to concentrate on the development of true leadership skills—spiritual skills—that will upgrade their level of awareness of the needs of the Faith and their individual role in meeting those needs."

The first session in the series was held last December in Oregon. Additional sessions are scheduled:

March 4-6: Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine.

March 25-27: Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

April 1-3: Salt Lake City, Utah.

April 8-10: Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California.

April 15-17: San Diego, California.

April 22-24: Tempe, Arizona.

May 6-8: Louhelen Bahá’í School, Davison, Michigan.

May 13-15: Central Iowa.

May 20-22: Fargo, North Dakota.

June 3-5: Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina.

Owing to the intensive nature of the program, registration is limited to 30 youth participants at each session.

Invitations have been sent to all youth in the country, advising them of the particulars of each session including registration arrangements.

"The Youth Committee is hoping to devise a means of making the program available to as many youth as possible," says Mr. Heinecke, "and plans are now being discussed to maximize participation."

The goals of the sessions are to upgrade the level of youth's consciousness of the Faith and their role in its progress, to define leadership in accordance with the Bahá’í Writings, to teach organizational skills on a personal and group level, to develop communication and teaching skills, and to educate youth about the administrative framework of the Faith and the individual's role in that framework.

The success of each individual session is judged by the increased level of activity in a given area following the program.

"Since the Oregon program was held last December," says Mr. Heinecke, "the Youth Office has noted the formation of new College Clubs, with increased teaching programs planned on area campuses with clubs.

"Continuing reports are being received from participants concerning their sustained enthusiasm for actively sharing the Message of Bahá’u’lláh with their peers."

Letter from youth stresses need to learn more than one language

The National Youth Committee recently received some inspiring letters from Bahá’í youth—letters that we are eager to share with the rest of the American Bahá’í community.

While these messages have a special appeal for Bahá’í youth, they also present issues of concern for Bahá’ís of all ages.

The first letter is from Allen Plymale, a youth from Austin, Texas:

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

For those Bahá’ís who are attending school, I wish to remind us of how important it is—both for ourselves and for the Faith—to learn a foreign language.

The problems of human communication are often overlooked in an age where man can transmit his voice to every corner of the planet and beyond. Since the time when man built the Tower of Babel, he has struggled with many different languages.

TODAY as Bahá’ís, we are faced with the same linguistic challenges the people of Babel faced. It is our duty and responsibility to pursue the study of a language other than our native tongue.

By breaking mankind's language barriers, one also crosses over the many cultural barriers that exist between countries and peoples. And now more than any time in history, it is important for men to understand one another.

Within my own district, translations in English, Persian and Spanish were necessary at District Convention.

At the International Conference in Montreal, the language differences were sometimes very frustrating.

Outside the Bahá’í community throughout the world, there are well over 3,000 languages and dialects. Among these, Chinese, English, Hindustani, Russian, Spanish, German, Japanese, Indo-Chinese, French and Arabic are the top 10 languages spoken by masses of people in our world.

MANY school districts, despite budget cuts, offer several foreign languages. In colleges and universities, the variety and intensity of the study of languages grows.

American Bahá’í youth have a great opportunity to learn a language other than their own. I strongly urge all Bahá’í youth to begin, if they have not already done so, the study of another language. It is a practical and, in many localities, necessary goal.

Allen Plymale Austin, Texas

Orangeburg youth plan conference

The Bahá’í Youth Committee of Orangeburg, South Carolina, is planning a Regional Youth Conference to be held April 1-3 at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute in Hemingway.

The conference cost (including food and lodging) is $35. If you would like to attend, please send a $5 pre-registration fee to the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Route 2, Box 71, Hemingway, SC 29554.

Athens conference set

The Bahá’í Youth Committee of Athens, Georgia, is sponsoring a Youth Teaching Conference to be held May 13-15 in Athens.

Everyone is welcome. Watch for further details in the April issue of The American Bahá’í.

To honor the memory of the Greatest Holy Leaf, the Bahá’í community of Eugene, Oregon, undertook a gardening project at Eugene's Hendricks Park. Twenty adults and children participated in the project, about which an article was published in the Eugene Register-Guard.

Mark your calendars now! Many youth gatherings planned

Many youth gatherings are being held around the country in the next several weeks. Be sure to mark your calendars with some of these special dates:

March 25-27: Western Regional Youth Conference, Pasadena, California. Sponsored by the District Youth Committee of Southern California District No. 1. Contact Shahraum Sobhani, Van Nuys, CA 91401 (phone 213-786-7070).

March 31-April 3: Texas Regional Youth Conference, Granbury, Texas. Sponsored by the District Youth Committee of East Texas District No. 1. Contact Corky McNeill, Box 17431, Dallas, TX 75217 (phone 214-398-4667).

April 1-3: Holyoke annual Youth Conference, Holyoke, Massachusetts. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of South Hadley, Massachusetts. Contact the Bahá’ís of South Hadley, P.O. Box 241, South Hadley, MA 01075.

April 3-8: Junior Youth Session, Louhelen Bahá’í School, Davison, Michigan. Contact the school, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033).

April 8-10: Association for Bahá’í Studies Conference, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine. Contact the school, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903 (phone 207-439-0256).

April 9-10: Fourth annual Touchstone Conference, Bastrop, Texas. Sponsored by the District Youth Committee of Central Texas District No. 1. Contact Beth Plymale, Austin, TX 78750 (phone 512-258-4836).

April 9-10: Career Choice Conference, Gainesville, Florida. Sponsored by the Bahá’í Club of the University of Florida. Contact Kris Logan, c/o Dye, Gainesville, FL 32608 (phone 904-378-6365).

Also, International Youth Conferences are being held March 31-April 3 in Honduras and Costa Rica. Youth who are planning to attend either of these gatherings should contact the National Youth Committee Office, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315, for more information. [Page 8]

‘Flower blooms’ for 160-plus at 1st N. Jersey Bahá’í School

One hundred-sixty adults and children attended the first New Jersey Bahá’í School session last November 19-21 at the Hudson Guild Farm in Andover.

The school’s theme was “A Flower Has Begun to Bloom” and its program topic was “individual unity” as expressed through self, family and community.

Besides adult and youth classes, four children’s classes were held from nursery to pre-youth levels with a presentation by two of the classes to the rest of the school on the last morning.

Weekend highlights included talks and participation by Auxiliary Board members Robert Harris and Javidukht Khadem who also visited and addressed children’s classes.

Recreational activities included hiking and music and dance presentations each evening.

Participants came from New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio in addition to New Jersey, with large support from the Persian friends.

Adult classes were prepared and taught by Jon Anastasio, Iran Parsa, Evelyn Grammer and Peter Murphy.

Youth classes were conducted by Robert and Cindy Gunther, Blanche Kaufman and Bob Weber.

The children’s program, supervised by Sharon Karnick, included work by Barbara Harris, Robin Pflueger, Mary Ellen O’Brien, Bill and Marie Procter, Tina Swatton, Robert Umans and Fifi Avaregan.

Louhelen Bahá’í School prepares varied menu of programs, conferences including ‘Homecoming’ in September

The following is a list of programs being offered from April through September 5 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School. More information can be obtained by writing to the school at 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or by phoning 313-653-5033.

April 2-3, Persian Cultural Awareness Weekend, observing ‎Seizdabadar Sizdah Bedar‎, the 13th day after Naw-Rúz, a Persian holiday; 3-8, Junior Youth Week, for youth ages 10-14; 15-17, Community retreats; 23, Riḍván Children’s Festival; 29-May 1, Association for Bahá’í Studies Conference.

May 13-15, Work weekend, all are welcome! Room and board in exchange for work on the grounds; 20-22, Child Education for Parents; 27-30, Community retreats.

June 4, World Peace: Fact or Fiction; 5-10, Senior Citizens Week; 11-12, Michigan Teaching Conference, sponsored by the District Teaching Committee; 12-24, Intensive Youth Study Program for youth 15 and older; 26-July 1, National Teacher Training Week.

July 2-4, Pioneering and Traveling Teaching Institute; 10-22, Intensive Adult Study Program on the Creative Word and Bahá’í history; 24-August 3, Junior Youth Session for youth ages 10-14.

August 7-12, General session; 12-21, Intensive Adult Study, Marriage Institute conducted by Dr. Hossein Danesh; 21-26, General session; 28-September 1, General session.

September 2-5, Homecoming. First annual meeting of the Friends of Louhelen.

Association plans Bahá’í history conference

The California Regional Committee of the Association for Bahá’í Studies is planning an academic conference on Bahá’í history.

The purpose of the conference is to survey the present state of academic knowledge of Bahá’í history, present papers that will further that knowledge, foster communication among scholars working in this field, and discuss new avenues of inquiry.

The conference will be held August 5-7 at the University of California at Los Angeles, in cooperation with the UCLA Bahá’í Club and the Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles.

The committee is soliciting for its consideration abstracts on substantive topics in the history of the Faith.

Papers presented at the conference will be considered for possible publication as a volume.

Abstracts must be received by April 30. Please send them with a cover letter to Dr. Amin Banani, Santa Monica, CA 90402.

Limited funds are available to help defer travel expenses for those who are approved to present papers. Please indicate in the cover letter for your abstract if funds are requested and the amount needed.

Papers must be on one aspect of Bahá’í history, and will be expected to conform to academic standards.

Since papers will be reproduced for those attending the conference, they must be in the hands of the committee by July 15.

For more information please contact Anthony A. Lee, c/o Bahá’í Center, Los Angeles, CA 90035 (phone 213-933-8291).

Paradise Valley, Arizona, Assembly announces formation in mailing to 3,042 residents of town

The formation of the first Spiritual Assembly of the Town of Paradise Valley, Arizona, was announced recently in a mailing to 3,042 residents of the town.

A distinctive flyer with the theme “Uniting the world ... one heart at a time,” available from Images International, was used for the mailing.

Besides announcing the formation of the Assembly, the mailing listed 14 basic teachings of the Faith, included several brief quotations from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, and invited anyone who was interested to use either of two listed phone numbers.

A similar announcement in the form of a paid ad was placed in a local newspaper and ‎time timed‎ to coincide with the mailing.

Several posters, coordinated with the color and theme of the flyers, were placed in local business establishments, and the local Bahá’ís were given buttons of the same color and theme to be worn for further emphasis.

The proclamation was culminated with a public meeting at a local resort attended by about 50 people including neighboring Bahá’ís and their guests. The speakers were Bahá’ís Lisa Janti and Dr. Mark Rossman.

Kansas Bahá’ís present books to library

On December 2, the Bahá’í community of Overland Park, Kansas, presented 12 major books of the Faith to the Johnson County library system.

The books were presented on behalf of the Overland Park community by Auxiliary Board member Robert Postlethwaite and Jim Walker, vice-chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Overland Park.

They were accepted by Mary Alice Amelung, head librarian at the Oak Park Library.

Also present was Mayor Ed Eilert of Overland Park who was given three additional books.

Video tapes available

A few copies of the video tape of the Congressional hearings on Iran are still available from the Office of Public Affairs. Copies for home video machines are $30 in either VHS or Beta formats.

The 3/4-inch format tape for television is $45. Copies for use on cable or standard TV stations can be rented for a month for $5.

Many communities are having success in using excerpts from the Congressional hearings tape as part of an interview with local Bahá’ís. [Page 9]

New ‘Brilliant Star’ bursts forth for children

It’s not a rocket, not a meteor, not even a display of fireworks in the night. That light you’ve seen flashing across the sky announces the birth of a Brilliant Star!

Brilliant Star is the new name given to an old friend. Child’s Way magazine, which has served Bahá’í children and their communities for 15 years, is now Brilliant Star.

WITH the advent of the March-April 1983 issue, subscribers are treated to a new larger size, a new format, and an ever-better selection of articles, stories and activities.

The new format is intended to continue the development of this instrument for the education of Bahá’í children into a more professional, more exciting magazine.

Some of the friends have asked many questions about Child’s Way and how it has come to be Brilliant Star. Here are some of them:

Who writes Brilliant Star?

Writers, poets, artists, photographers, children, parents—all of these contribute the stories and articles that appear in the magazine.

Who puts the magazine together?

We have a general editor, Mary K. Radpour, and an art editor, Rita Leydon. The general editor decides what goes into each issue, asking writers to submit materials for a diverse collection of articles.

The art editor then asks the artists who work with her to illustrate each story or article. Then she sends it all to the printer, who prints and binds the sheets to make the magazine that arrives in the subscriber’s mail box.

How is it mailed to me?

Until last fall, subscribers received their magazine from the Bahá’í Subscriber Service in Wilmette. Since then, however, it has been mailed from the new Brilliant Star Subscriber Service in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Those who wish to subscribe may contact:

Brilliant Star Subscriber Service, Hixson, TN 37343.

It is important that subscribers who move send their address change to this address, as address changes submitted to the Bahá’í National Center for The American Bahá’í and other mail do not come to our office.

What is the Brilliant Star/Child’s Way editorial board?

Composed of Debbi Bley, Keith Boehme, Rita Leydon, Mimi McClellan, Mary K. Radpour and Janet Richards, the editorial board reviews materials for the magazine and advises the editor on how to improve the magazine and make it an even more effective tool for the education of children.

The board is appointed by the National Education Committee.

Where does my subscription money go?

All of the money goes to the printing and mailing of Brilliant Star/Child’s Way.

At the present time, income from subscriptions is not enough to cover the cost of producing the magazine, and we do not, of course, sell advertising, so the rest of our expenses are paid from the National Bahá’í Fund, which has many other important responsibilities.

Help is in sight, however, thanks to the new Brilliant Star endowment fund.

What is the Brilliant Star endowment fund?

It is a special fund, approved by the National Spiritual Assembly. Money is sent to it as a gift so that it can be invested and earn interest, which then is used to pay for the magazine’s expenses.

We hope that this fund will help us to steadily improve children’s literature and materials.

How can I help Brilliant Star/Child’s Way?

You can send your letters, poetry, stories, and news. And you can encourage your Bahá’í community, your Bahá’í school, your library, and all your friends to help by becoming subscribers or by contributing a gift of money to the Brilliant Star endowment.

Subscriptions and gifts can be sent to the Brilliant Star subscriber service.

Who are the readers of Brilliant Star/Child’s Way?

Our readers come from every corner of the world—from the icy Arctic to the steamy tropics. Fully 13 per cent come from outside the U.S., with an amazing number in Australia, Europe, Africa and Canada.

Child’s Way has been read at countless Feasts as part of the consultative program, and Brilliant Star will soon be heard there too.

The magazine goes to the children of pioneers everywhere, and we have many grown-up readers as well, who are amazed at what they learn about Bahá’í history and teachings in the magazine.

Brilliant Star is really for the young at heart, and for anyone who longs to become a brilliant star in the world of the spirit!

Louhelen to offer seminar on Writings in Persian, Arabic

The National Spiritual Assembly’s Persian Affairs Committee, the Louhelen Bahá’í School and the Association for Bahá’í Studies plan to sponsor a seminar this summer on the Bahá’í Writings in Persian and Arabic.

Although the plans are not yet final, it is expected that the seminar will last about six weeks and will be taught by one or more senior Bahá’í scholars.

Students will be required to have at least an intermediate reading knowledge of both Persian and Arabic.

Enrollment will be limited and by application only. The cost will be somewhere between $100 to $150 per week for dormitory accommodations. There may be work/study or scholarship help available, but that is not certain.

If you will or might want to participate, please send a resumé and cover letter explaining your interest in the seminar and including any suggestions you may have about its form or content to Dr. Geoffry Marks, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

Association for Bahá’í Studies seeks to broaden membership

The Association for Bahá’í Studies indicated in a recent letter to its members that it is experiencing financial difficulties and asked that memberships be renewed promptly upon expiration.

Among the recent costs incurred by the Association was $10,500 to hold its seventh annual Conference.

In addition, it costs about $672 per issue to print the Association’s quarterly bulletin, plus $7,000 for postage, and an average of $5,000 to print 3,000 copies of a 44-page “Bahá’í Studies Notebook” and another $1,000 to mail it to members.

Membership in the Association for those living in North America or Europe is only $15 a year for students or those over 70, $20 for adults, and $30 for couples.

If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact the Association for Bahá’í Studies, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 7K4.

Louhelen hosts successful ‘singles’ conference

Some 75 people attended a conference for single adults last December 10-12 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Davison, Michigan.

“This was marvelous to come to,” one person wrote on the conference evaluation form. “I really need the company of other single people who live a Bahá’í life. To talk, to listen, to know I’m not the only person not part of a twosome.”

THE PURPOSE of the conference was to provide an opportunity for single people to discuss issues of common concern and to gain a clearer perspective from the Bahá’í Teachings on how to face the challenges of being single in a disintegrating society.

Highlights included workshops on preparation for marriage; preparation for marriage the second time around; marrying a non-Bahá’í; dating and other alternatives for mate selection; and step-parenting.

Workshops also were held on finding fulfillment in the single life, and on raising children as a single parent.

Paula Drewek, secretary of the Louhelen Council, gave an excellent keynote talk on “Personal Expansion and Consolidation.”

Conference evaluations indicated that those attending found that a good balance was struck between workshops and talks and that the workshops were well-conducted and suited to their needs.

THE evaluations also indicated that many of those attending came to meet other single Baháís.

“To get away from ‘old world’ situations,” one of them wrote, while another stated that he “needed some time for myself with individuals in my own situation, especially Bahá’ís.”

The enthusiastic response to the conference has led the Louhelen Council to schedule a similar gathering for single adults for March 25-27.

Those who are interested in attending may send a non-refundable $10 deposit to the Registrar, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

Early April dates set for pre-youth session at Louhelen Bahá’í School

April 3-8 are the dates for the first session for youth ages 10-14 to be held at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Davison, Michigan.

“The dates coincide with the spring vacation for most of the public schools in Michigan and northern Ohio and Indiana,” says Bruce Reynolds, a member of the Louhelen School Council.

“We intend to provide the youth with an action-packed week,” Mr. Reynolds adds. “There’ll be rigorous and challenging classes, stimulating discussion groups, and plenty of time for recreation, service projects and fellowship.

“Youth at this age are among the most ardent Bahá’ís in our community,” he notes, “and we need to give them more substantial educational experiences within the Faith so that they’ll have a strong Bahá’í identity when they enter high school.”

The cost for the week is $68 ($17 a day), not including linens. To register, please send a $10 non-refundable deposit to the Registrar, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. [Page 10]

The homefront pioneer

File:John H Wilcott.jpg

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

The National Teaching Committee is preparing to make homefront pioneering a major part of its plans to secure the goals of this phase of the Seven Year Plan by Riḍván 1984. Selected Local Spiritual Assemblies will be requested to prepare a number of homefront pioneers to fill extension teaching goals and save Assemblies.

Homefront pioneering is an important part of Bahá’í activity, and we encourage every Bahá’í to consider his or her ability to serve the Faith in this capacity. If you can serve as a homefront pioneer before Riḍván 1984 please write to the National Teaching Committee so we can begin helping you with your plans immediately.

Following are two more letters from homefront pioneers.

Dear Friends:

Responding to your notice on page 10 of the September issue of The American Bahá’í to notify you of homefront pioneering, you may be interested to know that my husband and I left the Salt Lake community (after 32 years) in October 1981 and moved here to the Illinois Valley in southwestern Oregon.

We were the seventh and eighth Bahá’ís here, and in February a ninth Bahá’í moved in and we formed our Assembly on April 11, 1982.

Although we are a “baby Assembly,” we are quite active, with weekly firesides, weekly paid newspaper ads, weekly articles, radio spots, Jeff Reynolds 30-second spots (paid) running 15 times a month, weekly children’s classes, etc.

If the above is considered “homefront pioneering,” you can put down two more names on your list: John L. Ayer and

Merridy C. Ayer

Cave Junction, Oregon

Dear Friends:

I’ve been very much encouraged and impressed by reading the homefront pioneer column.

How wonderful it is to be able to hear that there are people all over the country who, though seemingly “alone and lowly,” are

See HOMEFRONT Page 11

S.C. Bahá’ís discuss teaching, first radio station

More than 100 Bahá’ís from South Carolina gathered February 6 in Columbia to discuss their teaching plans for the state, set individual teaching goals, and participate in plans for the further development of the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute and the first Bahá’í radio station in North America.

Dr. Alberta Deas, administrator of the Gregory Institute, stressed the importance of beginning fund-raising for the station in South Carolina. Everyone, she said, can give something.

“The radio station is to serve all the people of South Carolina,” said Dr. Deas, “and we want to show our Bahá’í friends across the country that we are participating in its development.”

At the meeting, more than $1,500 was raised for the station.

A guest speaker at the event was Robert G. Wilson, secretary of the National Teaching Committee, who spoke about teaching the Faith through firesides and about not letting the fear of making mistakes stop us from teaching.

“Everyone makes mistakes,” he said. “We must learn from them and always teach with greater enthusiasm and increased confidence.

“Confidence comes from one’s own understanding of the Teachings and from full acceptance of the Manifestation of God.”

Auxiliary Board member Elizabeth Martin spoke on the need to increase our teaching efforts and not to be too concerned about results, but to rely upon the Power of the Holy Spirit and arise to serve.

SPEAKING on the need for giving and the true meaning of sacrifice was Elwin Howard, a member of the South Carolina Regional Teaching Committee.

Another member of that committee, Trudy White, spoke about the goals needed to assure teaching victories at Riḍván.

On February 5, the day before the meeting in Columbia, Mr. Wilson met with the Regional Teaching Committee to establish administrative guidelines for the Bahá’í radio station.

A program director for the station is to be hired soon. Interested applicants are invited to write to the National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 for further details.

File:Bahais in Savanna.jpg

Sixteen Bahá’ís from Evanston, Hanover and Savanna, Illinois, participated January 28-30 in a teaching weekend in Savanna. Thirty-five non-Bahá’ís enjoyed a magic show, and one seeker attended and taped a public talk. Savanna is Evanston’s extension teaching goal.

Riḍván

Continued From Page 1

Annual report

The first task of an Assembly should be to begin preparing its annual report which will help the community to reflect upon its growth and achievements when it comes together for the annual meeting on April 21.

The report will also serve as the community’s most important historic record of the past year.

Setting goals

The Assembly should also devise goals and objectives for the coming year to be presented to the incoming Assembly for its approval immediately following Riḍván.

This advance planning will assure that the new Assembly assumes its responsibilities with ease and that the work of the Faith continues while the new Assembly is becoming organized.

Hopefully, the goals and objectives will inspire the community and give them the impetus to achieve even greater victories during the coming year.

Membership

The Assembly should begin now to prepare for the election. The first step should be to review its membership list to be certain that it has current addresses for everyone in its jurisdiction.

If there are address changes to be made, the Assembly should immediately inform the Office of Membership and Records at the Bahá’í National Center.

Furthermore, if there is any question about the membership status of any member of the community, it should be resolved in consultation with the National Assembly or its appropriate offices at the National Center as far in advance of Riḍván as possible. This is especially true of Persian believers who have not yet been fully transferred into the American Bahá’í community.

Election notice

The Assembly should plan to notify the members of its community of the election at least 15 days in advance.

It should locate a meeting place for the election and take steps to secure its use; it should begin to plan the annual meeting and to decide who will read prayers, who will serve as tellers, whether food will be served, and so forth.

Help in forming

Some Assemblies will be unable to re-form without outside help. In such cases, it is especially important that the agencies or persons who will assist begin now to help plan the election.

Reporting to the National Assembly

This year, at the end of May, the National Spiritual Assembly must submit a detailed statistical report to the Universal House of Justice. To properly prepare that report, it is imperative that Assembly formation forms be received immediately following the Riḍván elections.

The Festival of Riḍván is a joyous time during which the victories of the past year are harvested and the seeds sown for even greater achievements in the year to come.

With careful and early planning, the American Bahá’í community can look forward to this important time with vigor and enthusiasm.

Morganton, N.C., Assembly presents second annual Human Rights Awards

On Tuesday, January 11, the Spiritual Assembly of Morganton, North Carolina, presented its second annual Human Rights Awards to James J. Williams, North Carolina’s teacher of the year, and Mrs. Naomi B. Jaynes, president of the Morganton chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

In addition, a special service award was given to Esther Carson for her 30 years of work in education, church and volunteer activities in Burke County.

Mr. Williams, who was nominated for the award by the Burke County schools, is choral director at East Burke High School.

Mrs. Jaynes has worked in a program to distribute cheese to the needy in Morganton, is a volunteer for the Red Cross blood bank, the local hospital, and the First United Methodist Church in Morganton.

More than 60 people including two ministers, a mayor, members of the county and city commission, the school superintendent’s staff and other school officials, and 12 members of the black community attended the award ceremony at the Holiday Inn in Morganton.

Included on the program were prayers, an audio-visual presentation, “Human Rights Are God-Given Rights,” and music by Kim Cozort.

PREPUBLICATION OFFER for GUIDELINES FOR BAHÁ’Í ARCHIVES

Price is $6.50 up to May 1, 1983, and $7.50 after May 1

The Guidelines for Bahá’í Archives (72 pages) covers in detail the organization and functioning of a Bahá’í archives. It is highly suitable for larger communities faced with the need to organize a local archives.

Name ___________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________

City ___________________________________ State _______ Zip ________

Order form with payment should be sent to: National Bahá’í Archives Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Read all about it!

Read about the significance of “the greatest single undertaking of that (Five Year) Plan,” the construction of the permanent Seat of the Universal House of Justice, in the July 1975 issue of Bahá’í News.

A limited supply of that issue (50 copies) is available for $1 each, made payable to Bahá’í News, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. [Page 11]

Traveling teachers working closely with Groups

Since the inception of the traveling teacher program, participants have been busily working with Bahá’í Groups.

The National Teaching Committee receives letters and reports daily that communicate the excitement and sense of fulfillment that the traveling teachers are experiencing.

SEVERAL have reported the imminent formation of Spiritual Assemblies in communities they have been helping; others have begun to keep detailed journals of their experiences as traveling teachers, and one has described her visit to two isolated believers in rural Georgia who, although they had been taught little about the Faith, felt the need to ask for someone to come and tell them more.

The reports from these traveling teachers indicate that our Bahá’í community is vibrant and growing.

Many traveling teachers have found themselves making adjustments in other areas of their lives that will allow them more time for meeting with and encouraging the friends across the country.

After Riḍván many of them will be helping newly formed Assemblies to make the transition from Group to divine institution so that their progress will be assured.

The National Teaching Committee urges you to contact its office in Wilmette if you would like to have a traveling teacher visit your community.

Your request may not be filled immediately, but it will be noted so that a traveling teacher can visit you at the first opportunity.

You may write to the committee at the Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

Homefront

Continued from Page 10

keeping their hearts close to Bahá’u’lláh, and showing forth His teachings in so many ways.

Since becoming a Bahá’í five years ago, I’ve been living here in the Taft area, so I’ve never had the experience of living among a large community of believers.

At first I felt lonely, but I soon found the tiny handful of fellow-Bahá’ís in my area, and from then on I’ve felt especially blessed to know and love these wonderful people.

We’ve been able to complete a number of activities over the past few years, such as giving a gift subscription to Child’s Way to the public library, presenting a music-and-slide introductory fireside, inviting people to Ayyám-i-Há and Naw-Rúz parties, having articles printed in the local paper, presenting a history and introduction to the Faith at Taft College’s comparative religions class (and being invited back!), and presenting a puppet show at a well-attended Ayyám-i-Há party.

Cindy Johnson Taft, California

Two-week border teaching campaign a success

More than 40 people were enrolled in the Faith and three new Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed as a result of a border teaching project last December sponsored by the District Teaching Committee of Southern New Mexico/West Texas.

Bahá’ís from as far away as Florida and California participated in the two-week campaign.

The project began with a fiesta in the border town of Anthony, New Mexico, where almost 100 Bahá’ís and their guests gathered for music, food, fellowship and fun.

Bahá’ís who were recently enrolled through similar teaching efforts were brought to the fiesta to share the fellowship and to be introduced to more of their fellow Bahá’ís. There were five declarations at the fiesta.

The annual teaching campaign, directed primarily toward Spanish-speaking people, was supported and encouraged enthusiastically by Spiritual Assemblies in that area.

Robert G. Wilson, secretary of the National Teaching Committee, attended the opening of the project and participated in the teaching activities.

N. Mexico conference for Spanish-speaking

The Spiritual Assembly of Espanola, New Mexico, is sponsoring a conference May 20-21 for the 40-50 Spanish-speaking Bahá’ís who have been identified in that area.

The conference will be conducted in Spanish. Anyone who plans to attend should contact Gerardo Vargas, 505-753-3428, or write to John Megimesey, P.O. Box 1154, San Juan Pueblo, NM 87566.

Teaching success focus of Boston area deepening

More than 45 Bahá’ís from the greater Boston area attended a Personal Deepening Conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Saturday, October 16.

The conference, arranged by the Spiritual Assembly of Cambridge, was designed to promote success in teaching through personal prayer, deepening, and effort in one’s daily life.

It was further designed to help achieve the goal set by the Universal House of Justice in the Seven Year Plan to “stimulate individual believers and communities to follow ever more faithfully the Bahá’í way of life ... through such activities as ... weekend conferences ...”

The gathering included two presentations each by Auxiliary Board members Carole Allen and Nat Rutstein, and provided an excellent introduction to some of the essentials of daily Bahá’í life for an audience that included four newly declared believers.

Nashville community honors long-time believer Maude Barnes on 85th birthday

The Bahá’í community of Nashville, Tennessee, honored Mrs. Maude Barnes for her 48 years of service to the Faith with a banquet last December 10, shortly before her 85th birthday.

Mrs. Barnes was a member of the first Spiritual Assembly of Nashville in 1935 after having been led to the Faith by Louis Gregory.

Her home soon became a popular “stopping place” for local and visiting Bahá’ís.

As the community grew, the need for another building became a necessity, so in 1956 Mrs. Barnes, with about 14 others, purchased an older home and remodeled it. That home still serves the community and many others around it.

Mrs. Barnes may soon see the construction of a new Bahá’í Center which is well into the planning stages.

Her husband, John T. Barnes, practiced dentistry in Nashville for 50 years. He passed away in 1956.

Although Mr. Barnes was not a Bahá’í, he was a gracious and hospitable man who welcomed the friends to his home for numerous meetings and other events.

Mr. Barnes also made several visits with his wife to the House of Worship in Wilmette.

The Barnes had five children, all of whom are still living.

MRS. MAUDE BARNES

Mr. and Mrs. William Davis, representing the Bahá’í community of Atherton, California, are shown during a recent presentation of two Bahá’í books to Ms. Linda Chiochios (left), head librarian at the new Atherton town library.

What’s going on here . . . ?

. . . and all over the Bahá’í world!

You’ll find the answer in Bahá’í News. Now more than ever it’s the news you need to keep you up-to-date on what is happening in Bahá’í communities throughout the world. To subscribe, simply complete the coupon and mail it to Bahá’í News, Subscriber Service Department, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, U.S.A.

Please enter my subscription to Bahá’í News. I enclose my check, bank draft, or money order for the amount indicated (for Bahá’ís only).

Within United States	1 year, $12.00; 2 years, $20.00
All other countries	Contact your National Spiritual Assembly

Name __________________________________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________________________

City ____________________ State and Country _______________________________________

Zip Code ________________

Please enclose payment and Bahá’í identification number with your order. Thank you! [Page 12]

CONVENTION SEATING REGISTRATION

74TH BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CONVENTION (May 26-29, 1983)*

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. USE ONE FORM PER FAMILY PLEASE PRINT LIST ALL ATTENDEES 15 YEARS OLD AND OLDER Bahá’í I.D. No.. Bahá’í I.D. No.. (Mr./Mrs./Miss) (Mr./Mrs./Miss). (Mr./Mrs./Miss). (Mr./Mrs./Miss). Address Bahá’í I.D. No. Bahá’í I.D. No. 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

• Memorial Day weekend. It is imperative that reservations be made as early as possible!

Make plans now for 74th National Convention

Since the members of the National Spiritual As- sembly will be in Haifa, Israel, next April to par- ticipate in the election of the Universal House of Justice at the fifth International Bahá’í Conven- tion, the 74th U.S. Bahá’í Convention will be held later than usual, from May 26-29 at the McCor- mick Inn in Chicago.

The friends should note that this is the Me- morial Day weekend, when travel is generally heavy and accommodations hard to find, and make their plans early if they wish to attend the Convention.

Following are some facts that should help to make that planning easier:

CONVENTION SITE: The McCormick Inn, 23rd & the Lake, Chicago 60616. Toll free num- ber, 800-621-6909 (in Illinois, phone COLLECT, 312-791-1901).

RATES: $48 per night (plus tax)-1, 2, 3 or 4 in a room (2 double beds). Rollaways are available @ $6 each.

SUITES AVAILABLE: 1 bedroom, $96-$200; 2 bedrooms, $144-$248. (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 at- tending the Bahá’í National Convention May 26-29, 1983. 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 these rooms is limited.

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

TRAVEL: Although you are free to make your own travel arrangements, you may find it helpful to use the "meeting services desks" offered by the following airlines to help ensure that you receive the lowest possible fare for travel to Chicago. Toll free numbers have been provided. When using these numbers, please state that you are planning to attend the Bahá’í National Convention May 26-29, 1983.

American Airlines, 800-433-1790 (Texas, 800- 792-1160); Northwest Orient Airlines, 800-328- 7747 (Minnesota, 800-552-1290); Continental Air- lines, 800-525-1130 (Colorado, 398-3000, ask for group desk).

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

The coupon above includes registration infor- mation for seating and for the registration of children at the Convention.

'Wildfire' Bahá’í arts conference to be held in Greencastle, Indiana

The Spiritual Assembly of Greencastle, Indiana, and the In- diana District Teaching Commit- tee are co-sponsoring a "Wild- fire" Bahá’í conference of the arts July 8-10 at DePauw University in Greencastle.

Conference highlights will in- clude an observance of the Mar- tyrdom of the Báb to which local dignitaries will be invited, evening concerts open to the public, work- shops on various topics, and an all-star orchestra performing works by Bahá’í composers.

All creative Bahá’ís, whatever their medium of expression or level of expertise, are encouraged to participate.

Facilities include three indoor theatres, one outdoor amphi- theatre and a studio, all equipped to record amateur or professional musicians "coffee house" style before a live conference audience.

Spacious dorm rooms and all- you-can-eat meals are available at low cost to the first 750 people to register.

Children are welcome, and may stay in their parents' room at re- duced rates. Pre-school classes will be held in dormitories within one-half block of the conference site.

Pre-registration by June 1 is mandatory for anyone perform- ing, staying in dorms, or bringing children.

The total cost, room and hoard included, from Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon is only $48 per person.

For more information please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Greencastle, 606 Crescent Drive, Greencastle, IN 46135.

Expenditures

Continued From Page 5

The Universal House of Justice was forced at that time to respond with an appeal to each believer. Its statement may well serve as a call to every Bahá’í today when ma- terial support for the activities promoting the growth of the Faith are again threatened. It stands as a simple statement of the indivi- dual's duties, and ultimate goal, as a bearer of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh:

"The backbone of the Fund must be the regular contributions of every believer. Even though such contributions may be small because of the poverty of the do- nors, large numbers of small sums combine into a mighty river that can carry along the work of the Cause...

"The universal participation of the believers in every aspect of the Faith-in contributing to the Fund, in teaching, deepening, liv- ing the Bahá’í life, administering the affairs of the community, and, above all, in the life of prayer and devotion to God-will endow the Bahá’í community with such strength that it can overcome the forces of spiritual disintegration which are engulfing the non-Ba- há’í world, and can become an ocean of oneness that will cover the face of the planet."

1983 Archives Institute scheduled July 20-24

The National Bahá’í Archives Committee is planning to hold its 1983 Archives Institute July 20-24 at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois.

Those who are interested in at- tending the institute should sub- mit to the National Bahá’í Arch- ives Committee by May 15 a brief statement of their background and why they would like to attend the institute.

The institute is designed to in- troduce Bahá’ís interested in the archival field to the nature and functions of a Bahá’í archives.

Attendance is limited to eight persons, and each participant is responsible for his or her own ex- penses and housing.

Please address requests to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Principles of giving

Continued From Page 5

within the American Bahá’í community for giving to the Fund has been fully accomplished. Until that long-range goal is reached, the Office of the Treasurer must continue its program to communicate to the friends the spiritual responsibilities and benefits of contributing regularly to the National Fund.

As early as 1935, the Guardian advised the National Spiritual Assem- bly of the U.S. and Canada to "...continue impressing upon the be- lievers the necessity of their contributing regularly to the National Fund, irrespective of whether there is an emergency to be met or not..."

No one is more aware than the staff at the Treasurer's Office that many of the Fund messages and appeals are received and pondered by the very Bahá’ís who steadfastly support the Fund. No one has better evidence, as shown by many letters from the friends, of how deeply some can be affected by the repeated message.

Nevertheless, the National Spiritual Assembly has no choice other than to continue to work within the principles outlined by the Guardian to inform the community of the needs of the National Fund.

As the Office of the Treasurer continues with this approach in its Fund education programs and its Fund appeals, it appreciates and even solicits the constructive response of the friends to its programs. [Page 13]

PIONEER POST

Marilyn and Mike Higgins, Japan—It seems like a long time since we last wrote. I guess the slow but steady progress of things this past year has not seemed like much to "write home about."

But in retrospect, this has been our best year yet in Japan—all aspects in the plus column, and nothing in the minus ...

One of the most fruitful activities of this year has been the connection our community made with this city’s sister-city in Australia. Ube and Newcastle established a sister-city relationship a few years ago.

In 1981 I asked the LSA of Ube if they’d like to try to contact the Bahá’ís of Newcastle—if there were any there. All were in favor of the idea, so I wrote a letter of inquiry to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia asking them to let us know of any Bahá’ís in our sister-city of Newcastle.

They sent a quick reply and also sent our letter on to the secretary of the Newcastle Assembly, who also delighted us with a prompt and welcome reply ...

The fortuitous change of the International Conference to Australia provided a golden opportunity for an in-person visit to Newcastle by Mike and the secretary of our Spiritual Assembly ... They met the Newcastle mayor, and newspaper and radio people.

The conference theme of the "Spiritual Axis" between Japan and Australia added an extra impetus to the meetings, and the resulting publicity in both of our cities has been unprecedented!

Barry and Marilyn Smith, Honduras—We have just completed two years at our pioneering post. Marilyn is starting the third year of her Montessori school and it has grown into a well respected, if not particularly profitable, pre-school.

My work with AID continues to be interesting and provides me with plenty of materials and ideas on community development, many of which are transferrable to the kind of development we are attempting with Local Spiritual Assemblies ...

Our oldest child we are educating through a correspondence course from the States supplemented with tutored instruction in Spanish and social studies in Spanish. She assists at Marilyn’s school in the mornings.

The younger two are students at the school, so the family is together all day ... We are grateful to Bahá’u’lláh for the opportunity to serve His Cause and for the multiple bounties which that service has engendered ...

Gary and Jill Spence, Zaire—The Bahá’í community in Kindu is continuing to grow. A few Bahá’ís from other, more established communities have moved here and are already helping us to deepen the new Bahá’ís.

We are getting ready to open a Bahá’í cultural center, a place where the public can come to read Bahá’í literature. We also hope to have prayer meetings, study classes, and film presentations there ...

In August we went on a three-week travel teaching trip through villages in the forest with Hemedi, a young Bahá’í friend. Thanks to his dedicated efforts we were able to present the Faith to several villages. He has been such a help to us in many ways as a friend and translator ... We have become very close to him ...

The trip was fascinating and informative. It gave us a nice feel for the roots of the people in this part of Zaire. We walked about 200 km in all, and visited about 12 villages and small towns ...

In one village they asked us what we put on our skin to make it white because they wanted to try it, too. We explained that just as God made butterflies in many colors, He made man in different colors to make the world more beautiful. Then they asked if God also made our hair "that sleeps" (because theirs is curly). Gary said yes, and that he could make it "wake up" if he went out in the wind ...

Chris and Janet Ruhe-Schoen, Chile—Our pioneer life here is really accelerating. We are on the LSA, I (Chris) am on the RTC, and we are on a teaching team.

We sing for the Bahá’ís all the time. We have been guided here. On all levels it appears to be working out.

I have a contract for next school year, a great thing in this unemployment world. Janet writes for a local English-language newspaper, and we sing professionally every week.

Jim and Martha Taylor, Philippines—I am now working as a teacher at an Indochinese refugee processing center. There are three of us Bahá’ís working here, one Filipino and two American pioneers—David Apostle and myself.

At present there are 12 Vietnamese Bahá’ís here as refugees who recently came to our center from Hong Kong ... We visit these Bahá’ís about twice a week although we do not have any literature in their language; we use a translator ...

It was our intention to leave the Philippines for another pioneer post, but when we wrote the Universal House of Justice, they advised us to stay ... They said they would pray for us to be able to get employment. Very soon thereafter, David, who is working as a teacher trainer at the camp, came to me and asked me if I wanted a job working with refugees. Prayers answered.

Martha took some courses in Islam to increase her knowledge on the subject. She is now called upon to lecture or serve as a consultant to an employment agency for companies that are sending workers to the Middle East ...

By the grace of Bahá’u’lláh everything is working out according to His plans ... Our children are growing and we have them in a Chinese school so they can learn Chinese. They are 6 and 7 and are tri-lingual: English, Farsi, Filipino, and getting started in Chinese.

Charles and Alice Nightingale, Bahamas—We are very much still here on Abaco, this being our sixth year, feeling the pleasant senior status in the emerging Bahamas teaching profession.

We have the same principal who has maintained strict standards at the school which previously had been quite lax ... The boys are in their fifth year at St. Francis de Sales School with Rasul in kindergarten, Hooshmand in Primary C, and Trevor in Intermediate, getting homework for the first time ...

In a nutshell, we are disgustingly healthy, seemingly problem-free.

Shown are participants in a Pioneer Training Institute held January 21-23 at the Bosch Bahá’í School in Santa Cruz, California. Forty-two adults, 12 children, two representatives from Local Spiritual Assemblies and three from District Teaching Committees attended. Speakers included Counsellor and Mrs. Fred Schechter; Irvin Lourie, a member of the International Goals Committee, and his wife, Harriet; and Debbie Youngquist, a former pioneer to the Falkland Islands. The prospective pioneers were preparing for posts in the Marquesas, the Marshall Islands, St. Vincent, Papua New Guinea, South America, the Leeward/Windward Islands, Australasia, Africa, Korea, Brazil, Middle Caicos, Fiji, and ‎Finland.. Finland.‎

These girls, wearing the traditional Guaymi Indian dress, are attending a Bahá’í conference in Soloy, Panama.

Panama needs teachers for Guaymi Project

Has anyone ever awakened you from a deep sleep just before dawn because he was anxious for you to enroll him in the Bahá’í Faith?

Has your arrival to teach the Faith in a new village ever been anticipated by some residents who had dreamed of your coming and were waiting to receive you?

WHILE driving along a highway, have you ever been flagged down by a woman who wanted you to enroll her in the Bahá’í Faith right then and there?

Have you felt the joy of arriving in a new village only to be stopped almost at once by someone who said, "Oh, yes! Mr. so-and-so told us about this wonderful Faith and for months we have been waiting for you so we could become Bahá’ís!"

Oh, city-dwelling friends! Can any of the comforts and ease of modern life even remotely compare with the spiritual rejoicing with which such experiences as these fill one’s soul?

Such a priceless privilege is yours for the asking. The Guaymi Indian Cultural Project in northern Panama needs traveling teachers—Spanish-speaking or not—for a project that started on February 4, 1983.

The project, which will last for 30 months, is broken into two phases, the first of which is to last for 18 months. Its purpose is to establish a Bahá’í radio station and to teach people about everyday living.

THIS region is like a large and beautiful orchard filled with trees whose boughs are laden with wonderful fruits, but there is no one to reap the harvest for Bahá’u’lláh. Time is running out!

The missionaries, the merchants, the politicians are discovering this marvelous orchard. Will we let them reap the harvest instead? Can anyone afford a moment’s hesitation?

Hurry, before it’s too late, throw off the fetters of city life and offer your traveling teaching services, so that you may share the joys of serving Bahá’u’lláh among these dear souls. "Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more."

For more information about this project, please contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

Our great privilege National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

[Page 14]

Curso de estudio 12: Entona los versos de Dios

Uno de los grandes privilegios del hombre es el de la oración, que es una forma de conexión entre el ser humano y el Unico Creador; porque cuando el hombre esta entregado con todo su corazón y su alma en la oración vuelve su rostro hacia el Todopoderoso, buscando Su asociación y deseando Su amor.

"LA MAYOR felicidad del amante es conversar con el ser amado y el mayor don para el buscador es familiarizarse con el objeto de su añoranza."

Por eso es que la mayor esperanza de cada alma que se siente atraída hacia el reino de Dios es encontrar una oportunidad para rogar y suplicar por el océano de Su bondad y esta oportunidad constituye la oración.

Para poder alcanzar la condición espiritual en la que es posible conversar con Dios, es necesario que el hombre se esfuerze y luche para llegar a este nivel; el mejor camino es el de la meditación y el de desear menos las cosas materiales y más las espirituales. Cuanto más nos alejemos de una más nos acercaremos a las otras y por consiguiente a Dios.

Nuestra percepción espiritual debe ampliarse, para poder reconocer Su divina presencia en todas las cosas. Todas las cosas pueden reflejarnos la luz de Su espíritu. Bahá’u’lláh escribe:

"Oh Pueblo, librad vuestras almas de las cadenas del yo y purificadlas de todo apego a cualquier cosa fuera de Mi..."

"Entona Oh Mi siervo los versos de Dios que tú has recibido... para que la dulzura de tu melodia encienda tu propia alma y atraiga los corazones de todos los hombres. Quienquiera que recite en su cámara los versos revelados por Dios, los ángeles esparcidores del Todopoderoso esparcirán por doquier la fragancia de las palabras pronunciadas por su boca."

Si deseamos orar necesitamos un objeto en el cual concentrarnos. Si nos volvemos hacia Dios, tenemos que dirigir nuestros corazones hacia cierto punto; si el hombre se dirige directamente hacia Dios, tiene que formarse primero un concepto de El y ese concepto sera creado de acuerdo a su propia mente y como las limitaciones de la mente humana no permiten captar lo infinito de Su grandeza, sólo está creando una fantasia, una falsa imagen, y no puede existir conexión alguna entre semejante concepto y el Ser Supremo.

Por lo tanto, debe dirigirse a un punto que su mente pueda comprender seres en los cuales se vean reflejados, como en espejos, el Sol de Su divinidad en Sus manifestaciones, como Cristo o Bahá’u’lláh.

Un hombre que trata de adorar a Dios sin volverse hacia Su Manifestación es como un hombre en un calabozo tratando de gozar de los rayos del sol pur medio de su imaginación.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá dice al respecto:

"A no ser que el Espíritu Santo sea intermediario no podemos alcanzar directamente las bondades de Dios. No paséis por alto esta simple verdad, pues es evidente que un niño no puede instruirse sin profesor y la sabiduría es una de las bondades de Dios. La tierra no se cubre de pasto y vegetación sin la lluvia de la nube, por lo tanto la nube es intermediaria entre la divina bondad y la tierra. La luz tiene un centro y si procuramos buscarla por otro que no sea ese centro, no la podremos encontrar,"

PARA toda persona que desee la proximidad de Dios y evite Su alejamiento que significaría la muerte misma, la oración adquiere un carácter indispensable e ineludible. El no practicarla significaría apartarse de Su Divina Providencia.

Bahá’u’lláh ha revelado tres oraciones obligatorias diarias. Cada uno es libre de elegir cualquier de estas tres, pero esta obligado a recitar una de ellas.

En adición a estas oraciones obligatorias tenemos los 19 días del ayuno, una oportunidad para todos los Bahá’ís; un alto en nuestra existencia, un período de meditación sobre si nuestras vidas estan siguiendo las huellas trazadas para nosotros por Bahá’u’lláh, y hacer los ajustes necesarios.

Además que está en nosotros hacer de estos días los más hermosos del año, sumerguiéndonos en una actitud totalmente espiritual, rompiendo los lazos que siempre estan niéndonos a las cosas materiales y sintiendo cada vez más próxima la presencia de Dios y despertando todos los potenciales que El ha puesto en nosotros. Y, ojalá que esta actidud continuara en nosotros por el resto de nuestras vidas.

La manera más sabia de orar es sometiéndose a la Voluntad de Dios, ya que muchas veces podríamos estar pidiendo algo que pareciera de nuestro beneficio, pero que el tiempo podría demostrarnos el error de nuestra petición.

TENEMOS el ejemplo de un paciente muy débil que pide a su médico que le de alimento que podría ser muy peligroso para su vida y condición. El médico es sabio y amable. El sabe que sería peligroso para su paciente y por eso si niega a complacerlo. El médico es misericordioso, el paciente ignorante.

Por la firmeza del médico el paciente puede decir que el médico es cruel, que no es bueno, porque se niega a complacer su ruego.

No debemos olvidar tampoco la infinidad de oraciones que con las palabras más dulces y en forma más poética han revelado el Báb, Bahá’u’lláh y ‘Abdu’l-Bahá para toda circunstancia: protección, pruebas y dificultades, ayuda, alabanza, curación, etc., todas ellas para nuestra protección, felicidad, paz, iluminación y progreso espiritual.

Conferencia de habla hispana en Espanola, New Mexico, en mayo

La Asamblea Espiritual de los Bahá’ís de Espanola, New Mexico, patronicará una conferencia de habla hispana para los 40-50 Bahá’ís de habla hispana en la area.

Esta conferencia se realizará el 20-21 de mayo en la cuidad de Espanola, New Mexico.

Toda persona que piensa asistir debe ponerse en contacto con Sr. Gerardo Vargas, tel. 505-753-3428 o escribir a Sr. John Megimesey, P.O. Box 1154, San Juan Pueblo, NM 87566.

[Descripción del Centro Mundial]

He aquí un fotografia aerea del Centro Mundial Bahá’í en el monte Carmelo rodeado con sus esplendorosos jardines. Se vé a la 'Reyna del Carmelo,' al majestuoso edificio del Santuario del Báb, cuya vista domina toda la ciudad de Haifa. A la izq. se vé la Casa de Peregrinos, que por varias decadas recibio devotos peregrinos que visitaron la Montaña Sagrada de Dios. En la parte superior izq. se aprecia el monumental edificio, sede permanente de la Casa Universal de Justicia, Cuerpo Supremo de la Causa de Dios; éste edificio ocupa el lugar central del árca trazada por el Guardián y que constituye el eje alrededor del cual se construira todos los edificios necesarios y desde donde se administra a todo el mundo Bahá’í. Sobre esta arca también su puede apreciar el edificio de los Archivos Internacionales que guarda las reliquias sagradas y escritos originales de los personajes centrales de la Fe. El artífice que fijo en detalle estos lugares que por siempre están ligados a El, que constituyen el refugio de una humanidad descarriada y zenit de la administracion Bahá’í, base para el establecimiento de un Orden Mundial, es nuestro Amado Guardián Shoghi Effendi y al conmemorarse los 25 años de su fallecimiento, del profundo de nuestro ser rendimos homenaje y eterna gratitud a su perpetua e inolvidable memoria en quien fué designado como 'Signo de Dios en la Tierra.'

Sección poética

"¿Qué pudiera yo decir?" (Para el Báb)

¡Oh! Qué pudiera yo PENSAR después de conocer tu vida y tu ejemplo, tu prisión y tu martirio; después de ver tu cuerpo perforado por la descarga brutal de 750 fusiles infernales. Qué pudiera yo SENTIR al ver el santísimo santuario de tu cuerpo colgando destrozado como péndulo inmolado, marcando el tic-tac del tiempo venidero, cuando todos los hombres tendrán que regirse por la hora exacta del reloj universal que Tú echaste a andar a la hora de tu muerte. Qué pudiera yo DECIR cuando siento en mí el reflector potente de tu amor que atraviesa lado a lado, cual espada enamorada, mi alma triste y torturada por el mundo y el dolor. Qué pudiera yo DECIR cuando siento que me envuelves en tu hálito divino y me llevas tras de tí; que me arrastra con tu manto, tu mirada y tu bondad, y me llevas al sendero de una gran tranquilidad. BAB: Heraldo, Puerta, nacido en oriente y fulgor de occidente, rayo matriz de la UNIDAD, espejo radiante que proyecta el fulgurante anhelo de la humanidad; yo te declaro protector, iniciador, canalizador, orientador, océano inmenso que baña con sus olas la maravillosa Tierra que nos vió nacer. Sós el precursor de la armonía y de la maravillosa gracia que Dios manifestó. Sós la base principal y punto de apoyo espiritual de la fuerza redentora. Sós el lazo universal que une corazones. Sós el alma de cristal que riega bendiciones. ¿Que pudiera yo decir?

• sois.

Dennis Pilarte Arcia Managua, Nicaragua [Page 15]

PUBLICATIONS

The Creative Word—inspiring you to live the Bahá’í life

The Promulgation of Universal Peace

Mark April 12, 1983, on your calendar, and make plans to set out on a trip that will last until December 5. Your host—‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Your itinerary—the Master’s footsteps as he criss-crossed the country.

Your only luggage—The Promulgation of Universal Peace, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s proclamations and deepenings for students and professors, rich and poor, Bahá’ís and seekers, dignitaries and clerics.

USING ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ’S almost daily talks, for the next nine months you can plan your own deepenings around many of the fundamentals of your Faith—the oneness of God, the continuity of the prophets of God, the oneness of mankind, the elimination of racial prejudice, the equality of men and women, the harmony of science and religion, and much more.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself, when He arrived in New York in 1912, stated that it was His “purpose to set forth in America the fundamental principles of the revelation and teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.” It would then become the duty of the Bahá’ís, He said, to give those principles “unfoldment and application in the minds, hearts and lives of people.”

As late as 1956 Shoghi Effendi told the Bahá’ís that there was “a desperate need for deepening . . . themselves in their own faith.” Even more recently, the Universal House of Justice has reminded us of the importance of deepening ourselves in the purpose of God for man “as revealed and directed by Bahá’u’lláh.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s informal talks and discourses in The Promulgation of Universal Peace provide us with a unique opportunity for reviewing the fundamentals of our Faith. The talks were addressed to Americans, about topics that concern Americans, in American forums. They give us the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh in their purest form.

MOREOVER, the approaches ‘Abdu’l-Bahá used to individuals, small groups, and large audiences allow us to analyze how the Master reached out to those listening to Bahá’u’lláh’s message for all mankind.

For this special trip with the Master there are no restrictions—except a copy of The Promulgation of Universal Peace and a willing, open heart.

To order The Promulgation of Universal Peace, (1) see your local Bahá’í librarian; (2) send a check or money order for the total amount (plus 10 per cent for postage and handling, minimum $1.50) to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust; or (3) use the coupon on this page of The American Bahá’í.

.....

The Bosch Bahá’í School will be holding a class on The Promulgation of Universal Peace each week during its summer session, June 18 through September 1. Watch for details in The American Bahá’í and in brochures from the school.

Pocket-sized edition of Gleanings readied

A pocket-sized edition of Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh will make its debut at the ‎1982 1983‎ Bahá’í National Convention. About the size of the paperback Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, the pocket-sized Gleanings will be the first in a series.

Those planning teaching and/or proclamation events for the late spring and summer will certainly want to include the new pocket-sized Gleanings in their plans. It will feature an attractive cover design printed on stock similar to that of the new softcover edition of Bahá’í Prayers.

Watch for details on price, stock number and ordering instructions.

Missed a Bahá’í meeting lately?

The new 1983

• Wall Calendar $1.00
• Pocket Calendar 10/$1.00
• Date Book $1.50

will help you remember Feasts, Holy Days, and special event days such as Race Unity Day

and

provide space for jotting down your own engagements.

Use the coupon on this page to order now from the

Bahá’í Publishing Trust Wilmette, IL 60091

‘Light of Bahá’u’lláh’ problems are resolved

For 300 Bahá’ís who ordered sets of the “Light of Bahá’u’lláh” cassette tapes the problems that were plaguing the project have finally been resolved.

Complete sets have been mailed to everyone who placed an order at the 1982 Bahá’í National Convention. Sets have also been mailed, on a first paid-in-full order basis, to those who ordered after the National Convention.

The remaining 236 sets will be mailed, it is hoped early in March, when the supplier delivers the balance of the order.

The first problem the Light of Bahá’u’lláh program encountered was that it took the firm “Connections” in Alaska longer to edit the tapes than was expected.

Second, the supplier for the binders for the tapes has not been able to deliver them on time to the production company assembling the tapes into packages.

As a result, almost half of the sets already ordered are not yet ready for the customers.

“The Light of Bahá’u’lláh cassette program,” says Greg Weiler, fulfillment manager at the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, “is not a Publishing Trust project. It is a joint venture of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Alaska and the U.S.

“The Publishing Trust has had no control over production from the outset. Its only role is that of a distributor when the completed sets are delivered.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience as the suppliers dealt with the problems.”

Possible tape defect warrants caution

Anyone who purchased “The Light of Bahá’u’lláh” cassette tape program should immediately listen to the tape on progressive revelation. Several Bahá’ís have reported that it actually contains rock music.

It appears that, on a small number of tapes, the labels were put on the wrong tape. If your tape on progressive revelation contains rock music, please return it to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust at once, and we will secure a new tape from the vendor.

How to order from the Publishing Trust

Use the largely blank order form below to order any of the titles listed on this page or in the Publishing Trust Price List published in the February issue of The American Bahá’í. Cash orders must be accompanied by a check or money order for the full amount (including 10 per cent for postage and handling, minimum $1.50).

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

Titles from Around the World

BIC—Bahá’í International Community NS—Neville Spearman UHJ—The Universal House of Justice

Prices valid only in 48 contiguous states of the United States

The Power of Divine Assistance A compilation conveying the assurance that the assistance of God will surround and confirm the efforts of the friends when they arise to deliver His divine message and teach His Cause. (Canada) (SC, Cat. No. 315-078, $2.00)

Bahíyyih Khánum: The Greatest Holy Leaf The “outstanding heroine of the Bahá’í Dispensation” honored in statements by Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi. Also includes photographs and 92 of her own letters. (UHJ) (HC, Cat. No. 315-074, $10.00; SC, Cat. No. 315-075, $5.00)

Iran’s Secret Pogrom Geoffrey Nash’s journalistic account reviews the history of the persecution of Persian Bahá’ís, Bahá’í beliefs, present-day persecutions, and the sad possibilities for the future of the Bahá’ís in Iran. (NS) (SC, Cat. No. 332-093, $5.50)

The Bahá’ís in Iran: A Report on the Persecution of a Religious Minority Excellent for proclamation—the Bahá’í International Community’s white paper on the systematic nature of the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran, together with the fake charges, international reaction and media coverage, and many official documents. (BIC) (SC, Cat. No. 555-100, $3.00)

Out of print (George Ronald)

Bahá’u’lláh: The Word Made Flesh, sc The Brilliant Stars, sc Christ and Bahá’u’lláh, ‎cx sc‎ A Compendium of the Bahá’í World, Vols. I-XII, hc A Cry from the Heart, hc Heavens Are Cleft Asunder, sc He Loved and Served, hc Hekáyat-i-Dil, hc The Horse of the Moonlight, hc Khádijih Bagum: The Wife of the Báb, hc Khánum: The Greatest Holy Leaf, hc Mothers, Fathers and Children, hc Mysticism, Science and Revelation, sc Portals to Freedom, sc Response, hc Star of the West, hc These Perspicuous Verses, hc The Wine of Astonishment, sc The Witness of Pebbles, hc

Out of stock (Kalimát Press) Miracles and Metaphors, hc

Coupon for Ordering from the Publishing Trust

Qty.	Book	Price
‎Promulgation Universal Peace Promulgation of Universal Peace‎ | $16.00
|
|
|
|
|

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

Charge to: ($10.00 minimum order)

Visa ____________________ Card expires__________

MC ____________________ Card expires__________

Name ________________________________________

Address ______________________________________

City ____________________ State_______ Zip_______

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

Bahá’í Publishing Trust 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091

TAB 3/83

Prices valid only in 48 contiguous states of the United States [Page 16]

CLASSIFIEDS

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

THE PERSONNEL Office at the Bahá’í National Center is updating its resource files and is soliciting the names of individuals who have a background in security or law enforcement. Please write to the Personnel Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

COME to rural Texas and help form an Assembly in Caldwell County. We have an active Group of five that’s chomping on the bit to become an Assembly. You can live among oil wells and cattle within 10 minutes of San Marcos and Southwest Texas State University or within 45 minutes of Austin and the University of Texas. Caldwell County is a fine place for retired persons to live and serve the Faith. Bahá’ís of any minority, especially Spanish-speaking, are most welcome. For information contact Martha Ebersole, P.O. Box 89, Harwood, TX 78632, or Carolyn Jennings, Route 1, Box 74, Martindale, TX 78655.

NEEDED: Staunch, well-deepened couple or individual to help develop the Spiritual Assembly in Fort Smith, Arkansas, a college town with radio and TV stations, a mild climate, friendly people, modern stores and shopping centers. Fort Smith (pop. 71,384), on the Arkansas River, has an interesting historical background. For more information please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Rogers, Rogers, AR 72756.

THE SPIRITUAL Assembly of Napa, California, is jeopardized and needs two homefront pioneers to maintain its Assembly status. This is the only existing Assembly in Napa County. Napa, a city of 55,000 in the renowned Napa Valley 70 miles southwest of Sacramento and 40 miles north of San Francisco, is a favorite retirement community. Employment often is available in agriculture, with Kaiser Steel, Basalt Rock Company, the Napa State Hospital, and Mare Island shipyard, as well as in the San Francisco Bay area. Institutions of higher learning include Napa Valley College, U.C.-Davis, U.C.-Berkeley, Cal State University-Sonoma, and Cal-State University-San Francisco. For more information write to the Spiritual Assembly of Napa, P.O. Box 2663, Napa, CA 94558, or phone 707-252-0236.

WHY NOT live 365 days a year in Minnesota’s heartland vacation paradise? The jeopardized Assembly in Bemidji, Minnesota, needs Bahá’í families to settle in this beautiful lakes region. Bemidji is the retail and educational center for a wide area, reaching to the Canadian border and encompassing five Indian Reservations. This is an ideal pioneering opportunity for a Persian or American Indian family. Bemidji State University offers baccalaureate programs in many areas, as well as an associate degree program for those wishing to transfer to a larger school. For more information write to the Spiritual Assembly of Bemidji, P.O. Box 56, Bemidji, MN 56601, or phone Sue or Bob Johnson, 218-751-0317.

FEMALE dance partner wanted for collaboration in performing for proclamations and special Bahá’í events. Must have several years experience in ballet and modern dance, and ideally live within a two-hour drive of the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., area. Contact Norbert DuBois, c/o Bahá’í Center, Baltimore, MD 21207, or phone 301-448-1512.

THE LOUHELEN Bahá’í School is accepting applications from Bahá’ís with experience teaching children ages 0-14 to join the teaching staff during the months of June, July and/or August. Those interested in applying are asked to send a letter with a curriculum vitae and resumé of their teaching experience in the Bahá’í community to the Child Education Committee, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. Children’s programs are scheduled in two segments, June 26-July 4 and August 7-September 5. It is hoped that teachers will be able to teach for one complete segment, but those who are able to teach for a part of a segment are nonetheless encouraged to apply.

ANY of the friends throughout the world who knew the late Hand of the Cause of God Enoch Olinga, corresponded with him, who may have photos, etc., are urged to write immediately to a Bahá’í pioneer in Nigeria who is doing research on Mr. Olinga’s life. No item of interest should be discounted as perhaps too insignificant. Items of interest can be anything pertaining to Mr. Olinga, his Bahá’í activities, talks, teaching, pioneering, general or personal characteristics, manners, friends, newspaper articles, his relationship with others. Historical material of any nature regarding Mr. Olinga will be gratefully acknowledged. Please direct correspondence to Don Addison, Music Department, Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Anambra State, Nigeria (West Africa).

NEEDED: Homefront pioneers in southern Florida, a tropical paradise with sunshiny days, balmy breezes, rustling palms, the music of birds, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets, to help form a new Spiritual Assembly in the southern part of Palm Beach County, in the unincorporated area of Boca Raton. The eight Bahá’ís in that area need help to reinforce their Group and form an Assembly by Riḍván. Ideal location for a retired couple who could open their home for meetings. New housing available at a reasonable cost. For more information contact Carolyn Wells, Boca Raton, FL 33433, or phone 305-482-3892.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are urgently needed to help save the jeopardized Assembly of Mahomet Township in the lovely Sangamon River valley in central Illinois. The University of Illinois is nearby, and there is ample housing in various price ranges available. Mahomet is about 150 miles from the Mother Temple of the West and claims a beautifully wooded and extensive county park. We would welcome all Bahá’ís, especially those with children. Please contact the Bahá’ís of Mahomet Township, c/o Naomi Hendricks, RR No. 1, Mahomet, IL 61853, or phone 217-586-4284. Hospitality and introduction to the area provided during visits for inquiry.

HOWARD University in Washington, D.C., a distinguished black university rich in Bahá’í history needs six students to keep its Bahá’í Club. Excellent teaching opportunities. For more information contact the Washington Bahá’í Center, N.W., Washington, DC 20011, or phone 202-291-5532.

WANTED in Macau: computer programmers and/or systems analysts for a new Bahá’í-owned software company. Macau is a small Portuguese colony in southeastern China, near Hong Kong, with a colorful history, prosperous economy and an active Bahá’í community. It is an international goal area. Cantonese is the language spoken by most of the people, but Portuguese is the official language, and business is conducted in English. Desirable but not essential qualifications for applicants include work experience in small-business environment; computer science degree; knowledge of micro-computers and BASIC. Send resumé and questions to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

AM COMPLETING a book on Ethel Murray, a pioneer to the Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina. Need additional personal stories, experiences, pictures, slides, etc. from those who may have visited her or worked with her on the Reservation. Already have a wealth of material, but know there must be those who have additional first-hand experiences that they may wish to share. Please be assured that all material will be carefully used and promptly returned. Please let me hear from you soon. Derald Hendry, Route 3, Box 726, Morganton, NC 28655. Phone 704-443-4407.

WANTED: Three homefront pioneers to help form the first Spiritual Assembly of Clarkston, Georgia, whose Group is presently made up of six adults who pioneered there and three children under three years of age. The Group is holding firesides, deepenings and children’s classes. Clarkston, about 12 miles east of Atlanta, is on a major bus route, close to the Interstate highway, yet small-townish in some ways. Many apartments and houses are available. The town is quite integrated, and very family-oriented. For information or help, please contact Leslie Cummings, Clarkston, GA 30021, or phone 404-294-7566.

“SPIRITUAL Mothering,” a bi-monthly journal for parents who are dedicated to the spiritual growth and well-being of their families, is looking for articles on these subjects: “Growing With Adolescence,” “Health and Healing,” “Women Working at Home,” “Instilling the New While Living in the Old,” “Extending Families—Acquiring Communities,” and “How Do You Share Your Religion With Your Children?” Contribute to the growth of this innovative teaching and deepening periodical, half of whose subscribers are not Bahá’ís. Contact Melinda Armstrong, P.O. Box 128, Dover, NH 03820.

INTERNATIONAL traveling teachers: If you participated last year in the 12-page International Goals Committee survey of traveling teachers, you should soon be receiving a summary of the results. If it has not arrived by the end of February, please send your present address (after checking at your former address if you have recently moved) to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

JEOPARDIZED Assembly in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, needs two more adult Bahá’ís to preserve its Assembly status at Riḍván. This active community includes Persians and college youth; the area offers work opportunities in fishing, factory, mill and industrial positions. Southeastern Massachusetts University and Bristol Community College provide educational opportunities for prospective students. This ocean-bordered town, next to historic New Bedford and one hour from Boston and Providence, combines a moderate climate with natural rural beauty. Please address inquiries to the secretary, Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Dartmouth, N. Dartmouth, MA 02747.

PERSIAN Bahá’í (male) with graduate degrees in general psychology and counseling is interested in homefront pioneering. Willing to locate anywhere. Seeks a position either as an out-patient counselor for hospitals or clinics, as a teacher at the post-secondary level or in schools that do not require certification, or in a personnel department or a management training program. Please reply to P.O. Box 440622, Aurora, CO 80044.

A NAW-RÚZ gala sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will be held Sunday, March 20, from 6 to 10 p.m. A Persian dinner with live dinner music will be followed by children’s activities, a mime and musical entertainment, a short talk, and music and dancing for everyone. Advance tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 4-12. Bahá’ís should pay for their guests. For tickets or more information, please write to Anne Atkinson, Philadelphia, PA 19143. Checks should be made payable to Naw-Rúz Committee.

WANTED: Bahá’í couple to manage a 21-unit motel in Wells, Nevada, 180 miles west of Salt Lake City, and open a new Bahá’í locality. Some knowledge of general maintenance and troubleshooting helpful. Salary is $800 a month with furnished living quarters and utilities provided. Should be able to relocate by April 1. There is also an opening for a Bahá’í couple to manage another motel 200 miles south of Salt Lake City. Relocate by April 15. Would be happy to consider elderly couples. Applicants should furnish impeccable references of honesty, integrity and stability to Jamshid Talebreza, Salt Lake City, UT 84109. During office hours you may phone 801-535-7775.

BEAUTIFUL college town in Virginia desperately needs homefront pioneers. Blacksburg is a quiet town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) and Radford University offer employment possibilities and continuing education. VPI is a highly respected university that specializes in sciences and engineering; Radford also has highly accredited programs in education. If you are interested in helping us keep our Assembly, please write to “Homefront Pioneer,” c/o Bahá’í Faith, P.O. Box 708, Blacksburg, VA 24060, or phone 703-951-1420.

THE LOUHELEN Bahá’í School Council is seeking applicants for the following summer positions: Recreation director to plan and coordinate recreational and some social activities and to help with planning programs for youth and pre-youth; Child education director to plan and coordinate children’s classes and to develop curriculum plans and materials for the school’s future use; Program coordinator to help with planning and running adult sessions.

See ADS Page 23 [Page 17]

World NEWS

As a result of the recent “Rising Sun” teaching campaign in Honduras, 409 new believers were enrolled in the Faith, seven Local Spiritual Assemblies were strengthened, and 35 Bahá’í teachers were trained.

Also in Honduras, “Project Wanita George,” named in honor of an American who has been a pioneer in Honduras for 20 years, resulted in the enrollment of 224 people, most of whom are members of the Jicaque Indian tribe.

In addition, about 20 villages were opened to the Faith, and two new Spiritual Assemblies were formed during the five-day campaign last December ...

As a result of a week-long teaching trip last summer by eight Bahá’ís from five countries to ‎Urhoho Urhobo‎ tribal areas in Bendel State, Nigeria, 255 people including 32 youth declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh and five new Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed.

Also in Nigeria, more than 5,000 people learned about the Faith last November during the first International Trade Fair in Enugu, Anambra State. Twenty-five of the visitors to the Bahá’í booth at the Fair declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh ...

A week of proclamation last November in Karachi, Pakistan, was described as “one of the most successful teaching projects ever arranged by the Bahá’í community of Karachi.”

Groups of Bahá’ís proclaimed the Faith to 85 prominent physicians and surgeons, 44 heads of educational institutions, more than 50 school and college teachers, 28 lawyers, and more than 100 other prominent people including government officials, United Nations representatives, bank managers, newspaper editors, and radio and television executives ...

At least 20 of an estimated 3,500 people who learned of the Faith last November during a week-long teaching campaign in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, later declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

Many dignitaries, professors, doctors and students were among those who were contacted by Bahá’ís and given introductory pamphlets during the teaching effort that was dedicated to the memory of the Hand of the Cause of God Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir and sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Rajshahi ...

Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í women from several Pacific communities participated last fall in a two-day women’s conference in Apia, Western Samoa, that was planned in honor of the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf ...

Counsellors in Americas meet Florida Bahá’ís

The illuminating words of Bahá’u’lláh rang out in the conference hall:

“O people of God! Righteous men of learning who dedicate themselves to the guidance of others and are freed and well guarded from the promptings of a base and covetous nature are, in the sight of Him Who is the Desire of the world, stars in the heaven of true knowledge.

“It is essential to treat them with deference. They are indeed fountains of soft-flowing water, stars that shine resplendent, fruits of the blessed Tree, exponents of celestial power, and oceans of heavenly wisdom.

“Happy is he that followeth them. Verily such a soul is numbered in the Book of God, the Lord of the mighty Throne, among those with whom it shall be well.” (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 96-97)

With faces beaming, a large gathering of Bahá’ís from Florida greeted all 16 members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas last December 19 at the Wesley Foundation, University of Miami at Coral Gables.

THE Counsellors had taken time from their plenary session in Miami to be received by the Bahá’í friends in that area. In addition to the four districts in Florida, Bahá’ís were there from California, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas, while others were visiting from Belgium, Chile, Germany and Nicaragua.

The National Spiritual Assembly was represented by Mrs. Soo Fouts.

Physical arrangements for the meeting, which was chaired by Counsellor Sarah M. Pereira, were attended to by the Spiritual Assemblies of Dade County Central, Dade County North, Dade County South, Miami and North Miami.

The Spiritual Assembly of Fort Lauderdale displayed a wide selection of Bahá’í literature for those present.

After paying eloquent tribute to the late Hand of the Cause of God Paul Haney, Dr. Pereira introduced her colleagues to the company of believers.

MRS. FOUTS then spoke, expressing the love we bear for the institution of the Counsellors, and enjoining the friends to arise and win the goals of the second phase of the Seven Year Plan.

Afterward, six of the Counsellors addressed the audience: Lloyd Gardner, Mas’ud Khamsi, Lauretta King, Artemus Lamb, Raul Pavón and Velma W. Sherrill.

Their uplifting remarks covered a wide range of topics dealing with propagation and protection of the Faith.

As Trustee of the Continental Bahá’í Fund, Counsellor Gardner expressed appreciation for the manner in which the U.S. believers have supported that Fund, and explained how contributions from more affluent countries help support the work of the Cause in Latin America.

Members of the five host Assemblies were introduced with those Florida assistants to Auxiliary Board members Benjamin Levy and Dr. William Tucker who were present at the meeting.

Closing remarks by Counsellor Pereira, music, fellowship and refreshments topped off a spiritually magnificent evening.

Counsellor Sarah M. Pereira welcomes Bahá’ís from Florida, five other states and four foreign countries to a special meeting last December 19 with the 16 members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas at the University of ‎Florida Miami‎ at Coral Gables.

Frank and Agnes Sheffey, Bahá’ís who now live in Kansas City, Kansas, undertook an extensive teaching trip from January to July of last year that involved 130 presentations in 97 Bahá’í communities in 27 states and the Toronto, Canada, area of an audio-visual program the Sheffeys had developed during their 12 years of teaching the Cause in Latin America and the Caribbean. Their efforts were aided by the International Goals Committee and by many Local Spiritual Assemblies. About 10 per cent of the 1,700 Bahá’ís who attended the meetings voiced their desire to help fill an international goal of the Seven Year Plan by pioneering or travel teaching abroad.

Bahá’í has campus fiber arts exhibit

The fiber arts of Ann Booth, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Westminster, Maryland, were exhibited last November 30-December 17 in a one-woman show on the campus of Western Maryland College.

The hand-woven hangings, characterized by delicate pastel colors, were done in a series of techniques including tapestry, ikat and double-weave pick-up.

Publicity mentioned Ms. Booth’s affiliation with the Faith and stressed its strong influence in the subject matter of the hangings.

One work, a series of seven weavings, illustrated Ms. Booth’s impressions of The Seven Valleys by Bahá’u’lláh.

Entitled “The Journey,” each of the hangings in this work was accompanied by a plaque with a quotation written in calligraphy by Ms. Booth.

Other weavings included single works entitled “’Abdu’l-Bahá,” “Bahíyyih Khánum,” “Unity Star” and “The Báb’s Orange Tree.”

About 150 people attended the opening evening of the show and heard a talk about Ms. Booth’s works and their relationship to the Faith by Dr. Julie Badiee, a member of the faculty of the Western Maryland College art department who also is a Bahá’í.

Ms. Booth’s wall hangings of The Seven Valleys will be on permanent display at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Davison, Michigan.

Got a new address?

MOVING? Got a new telephone number? Don’t forget to let your local community secretary and the National Spiritual Assembly know about your new address and phone number right away so there will be no interruption in receiving your Bahá’í mail.

For your convenience, there is an address form on the last page of this issue of The American Bahá’í. Simply put it in an envelope and mail to: Bahá’í National Center, Office of Membership and Records, Wilmette, IL 60091.

World Order A Gift For Every Season

Within United States:	Send to:
1 year............$10.00	Name ____________________
2 years...........$18.00	Address _________________
All other countries:
1 year............$12.00	City _______ State ____ Zip ____
2 years...........$22.00	Gift From: ___________________

Sorry ... we are unable to provide billing service. Please enclose payment to: World Order, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. [Page 18]

ترجمه پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی مورخ اول فوریه ۱۹۸۳

ستایندگان اسم اعظم در سراسر عالم ملاحظه فرمایند.

با سپاسی بی حد و قیاس سر تعظیم به آستان جمال اقدس ابهی فرو می‌آوریم که تأییدات شامله‌اش بیت‌العدل اعظم را موفق ساخت در مقر دائمی جدید‌البنائش استقرار یابد. این واقعه مبارکه مرحله دیگری در جریان تحقق یافتن حرکت سفینۀ‌ الله بر جبل ‎رت‌ ربّ‎ است که در لوح کرمل، منشور اعجاب‌انگیز مراکز جهانی روحانی و اداری امر حضرت بهاءالله، بدان وعده داده شده است.

اعضای بیت‌العدل اعظم این نقطه اوج تاریخ امر الهی، امری که حال در تکاپوی استخلاص از مرحله مجهولیت است، و این موقع خطیر که در اثر فداکاریهای هیجان‌انگیز یاران عزیز ایران مشحون از قوای مکنونه بی‌پایان است را با تشریف به اعتاب مقدسه مقام اعلی و روضه مبارکه و همچنین با تخصیص دادن اولین اجتماع در تالار شورای ‎دارالتبریغ دارالتبلیغ‎ که با حضور حضرات ایادی امرالله امانیان، روحیه خانم و جناب علی‌اکبر فروتن و مشاورین عضو دارالتبلیغ بین‌المللی تشکیل گردید به تقدیم دعا و شکر و سپاس‌خالصانه مشخص و متمیز نمودند.

زمان شادی و سرور عموم است و هنگام ارتفاع طنین شکرانه به آستان جمال قدم جل ذکره‌ الاعظم. امید آنکه مساعی و مجهودات بلاانقطاع یاران در سراسر جهان موجب تسریع ظهور یومی گردد که امکانات اعجاز‌انگیز مودوعه در لوح مبارک کرمل بتمامها تحقق پذیرد و بهره‌ور مژده حضرت ولی‌عزیز امرالله انهار احکام و حدود الهی با جلال و قدرتی قاهره از جبل ‎رت‌ ربّ‎ جریان یابد.

بیت‌العدل اعظم

روز دعا

بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی طی دستخط مورخ ۲۹ دسامبر ۱۹۸۲ به محافل روحانیه ملیه اعلام فرموده‌اند که بمناسبت ادامه تضییقات و صدمات وارده بر یاران ستمدیده ایران بار دیگر اختصاص دادن روزی را به تقدیم دعا و مناجات لازم دانسته‌اند و مقرر فرموده‌اند که یاران رحمانی روز ۲۸ آوریل ۱۹۸۳ روز ضیافت شهر الجمال، به این منظور به تلاوت ادعیه مأثوره بپردازند.

معهذا علی‌همچنین اظهار اطمینان فرموده‌اند که احبای عزیز در ایام صیام، بالاخص هنگام سحر، بجهت استخلاص یاران ایران نیایش و تضرع به درگاه حضرت منان خواهند نمود و از محافل ملیه خواسته‌اند که یاران را به موهبت شرکت در دعای عمومی در ایامی که قلم اعلی در وصف آن فرموده است "اَحْتَضَنَتْ كُلَّ مَا عَنَّ لَهَا بِفَضْلِهِ لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ اَلْاَحْزَانُ..." متذکر دارند.

بعلاوه در کانونشن بین‌المللی وقت خاصی برای دعا بجهت یاران ایران در نظر گرفته خواهد شد و محافل ملیه نیز بایستی در برنامه انجمن شور روحانی ملی زمانی برای این منظور اختصاص دهند.

بیت‌العدل اعظم اظهار امیدواری فرموده‌اند که این تضرع و تبتل که طنین آن از اکناف کره ارض برخواهد خاست موجب جلب برکات روزافزون پروردگار نسبت به عاشقانش در مهد امرالله خواهد شد و باعث تقویت عزم و اراده عموم یاران به ازدیاد و تسریع اقدامشان برای جبران رکودی که در فعالیت‌های همکاران مظلومشان در ایران ایجاد شده است.

مکتوب لجنه مدرسه بهائی لوهلن

خدمت عموم احبای ایرانی مقیم آمریکا، ایّده‌الله

لجنه مدرسه بهائی لوهلن از عموم شما عزیزان دعوت مینماید که با قدوم خود این مدرسه جدید را مزین فرمائید و در برنامه‌های متنوع آن شرکت نمائید. مدرسه لوهلن یکی از مدرسه‌های قدیمی آمریکاست که در سال ۱۹۳۱ میلادی تأسیس گردیده و در طول حیات حضرت ولی امرالله مورد لطف و علاقه مداوم آن حضرت بوده. در چند سال گذشته، بتشویق بیت‌العدل اعظم، محفل ملی احبای آمریکا شروع به ساختن ساختمان جدیدی برای این مدرسه نمود که در اکتبر سال گذشته بپایان رسید و مدرسه لوهلن در ساختمان جدید شروع به اهداء برنامه‌های مختلف به یاران عزیز نمود.

مسئولین برنامه‌ریزی این مدرسه سعی مدام دارند تا برنامه‌هایی اهداء حوز احبای عزیز نمایند که احتیاجات مختلفه جامعه بهائی را برآورده نماید. بهمین جهت برنامه‌های این مدرسه هم برای بزرگ‌سالان و هم برای جوانان و کودکان طرح‌ریزی میشود.

لجنه مدرسه بهائی لوهلن از شما دعوت میکند که حتی‌المقدور در برنامه‌های آن شرکت کنید. این لجنه معتقد است که مخصوصاً دو برنامه ذیل مورد پسند دوستان عزیز ایرانی قرار خواهد گرفت:

۱ - کنفرانس آشنایی با سنت ایرانی، دوم و سوم آوریل ۱۹۸۳ که شامل سیزده‌بدر در دور ایپریل خواهد بود.

۲ - جشن رضوان برای خردسالان و نوجوانان (تا سن ۱۴ سال)، ۲۲ آوریل ۱۹۸۳.

برای اطلاع بیشتر راجع به دو برنامه فوق و برنامه‌های متنوع دیگر لوهلن به آدرس:

Louhelen Bahá’í School 3208 South State Road Davison, Michigan 48423

یا تلفن ۵۰۳۳-۶۵۳ (۳۱۳) تماس حاصل نمائید. با امید دیدار در آینده نزدیک.

با تقدیم تحیات ابدعی بهی لجنه مدرسه بهائی لوهلن

اتحاد شرق و غرب

یکی از یاران انگلیسی زبان شرحی در خصوص روابط احبایی که از ایران آمده‌اند با احبای آمریکایی مرقوم داشته‌اند که در قسمت انگلیسی این شماره امریکن بهائی بطبع رسیده است. چون مقاله مذکور شامل نکات مهمی است که لازم است مورد توجه عموم یاران رحمانی واقع شود ترجمه تلخص آن به فارسی از نظر دوستان میگذرد.

بسیاری از جوامع بهائی در ایالات متحده از نعمت ورود گروههائی از یاران ایران به علت خشونت‌های حکومت فعلی ایران ترک وطن نموده اند برخوردار گشته‌اند. در بعضی نواحی ورود این احبای عزیز کیفیت جامعه بهائی را بکلی تغییر داده است و در سایر نقاط این اثر خفیف‌تر بوده است.

احبای ایرانی همیشه جاذبه‌ای خاص برای یاران آمریکا داشته‌اند و برای هریک از ملاقات و گفتگو با کسی که با زبان و فرهنگ محبوبشان آشنا است تجربه ای هیجان‌انگیز است. بحق نیز بایستی چنین باشد زیرا بفرموده حضرت مولی‌الوری شرق و غرب باید چون دلدادگانی که مدتها بعد از هجران مدیدی نموده‌اند در آغوش یکدیگر کنند.

ولکن در برخوردهای روزمره گاه چنین نیست زیرا هر گروه تصور میکند که آداب و روش متداول در نزد آنان راه صواب است و رسم و راه دیگران را عجیب و ناپسند می‌دانند. در حقیقت این برخورد فرهنگ‌ها که نتیجه آن بروز و ظهور فرهنگ جهانی غنی‌تری است از جمله اهداف دیانت بهائی است.

ما یاران آمریکا نباید به این سؤال بیندیشیم که وظیفه ما در قبال احبای جدیدالورود ایرانی چیست؟ اکثراً در دل هم یاران ایران را داریم و از وقایعی که در آن سامان میگذرد دلخونیم. ولکن آیا کما هو حقه به مشقات احبای ایرانی که به ایالات متحده آمده‌اند فکر کرده‌ایم؟ شاید بد نباشد که برای یک لحظه تصور کنیم که ناچار به جلای از وطن مألوف شده‌ایم و بالاجبار در سرزمینی رحل اقامت افکنده‌ایم که با زبان آن آشنا نیستیم و احتمالاً از برآوردن نیازهای نسبی احتیاجات خود در آن کشور عاجزیم. بدون زبان از کلیه وسائل ارتباطی مانند روزنامه و رادیو و تلویزیون و حتی درد‌دل با دوست و آشنا و فعالیتهای امری محروم خواهیم بود. آموختن زبان نیز علی‌رغم سعی و کوشش بسرعت عملی نخواهد شد و ماها تنهائی و عدم تفاهم را بهمراه خواهد داشت.

اگرچه مشکل زبان ممکن است پس از چندی برطرف شود ولکن سایر مشکلات چطور؟ چه بسا که قادر نبوده‌ایم مقدار قابل ملاحظه‌ای از مایملک و ثروت خود را بهمراه ببریم و در نتیجه نگرانی‌های مالی همیشه مخل آسایش خواهد بود. اشتغال به حرفه و شغلی در حیطه تخصص خود نیز میسر نخواهد بود و مشکلات زبان و مقررات تحصیلی ممکن است ما را برای همیشه از رشته تخصصی و شغل و حرفه قدیم محروم کند. بر این مسائل باید اخبار ناخوشایند صدمات وارده بر دوستان و خویشان را که در وطن میرسد اضافه نمود و ناچار با دشواریها و اجازه اقامت و غیره نیز مطلع نشوند در میان ایرانیان معروف است این مشکلاتی است که مبتلابه احبای ایرانی بوده است.

ولکن ایرانیان مردمی با مناعتند که بآسانی گرفتاریهای خود را با دیگران در میان نمی‌گذارند. مثل آنکه با سیلی صورت خود را سرخ نگاه میداشت تا آشنا و بیگانه از تنگی معیشتش مطلع نشوند در میان ایرانیان معروف است آیا در بین احبای ایرانی که میشناسیم کسانی هستند که صورت را با سیلی سرخ نگاه میدارند؟

خوشبختانه راهی وجود دارد که هریک از ما بتوانیم در این راه قدم مثبتی برداریم و آن تقدیم تبرعات به صندوق مظلومین ایران است که تحت نظر بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی و بمنظور کمک به احبای ایرانی که در اثر تضییقات اخیر دچار مشکلات مالی گردیده‌اند اداره میشود.

اگر حقیقتاً خود را بجای احبای ایرانی تصور کنیم و بنظر آوریم که در سرزمینی غریب و ناآشنا گرفتار شده‌ایم بهتر میتوانیم تمایل این دوستان ایرانی را به معاشرت با یکدیگر درک کنیم. اگر ما بجای آنها بودیم همین تمایل را ‎تمنیا تمنا‎ نمیشدیم؟ البته این وظیفه هردوگروه است که بعنوان اعضاء جامعه بهائی امکان معاشرت و مراوده بین ایرانی و آمریکایی را فراهم آورند. هریک با آموختن چند جمله و عبارت بزبان گروه دیگر میتوانند باب مکالمه و گفت و شنود را مفتوح نمایند.

گاهگاه این اشتیاق قلبی احبای آمریکایی به معاشرت با یاران ایران باعث میشود که جانب احتیاط را از دست میدهند و هر ایرانی را که مدعی انتساب به آئین بهائی است با آغوش باز میپذیرند. بایستی در نظر داشت که هر مدعی ممکن است صادق نباشد و حتی هر بهائی ایرانی نیز الزاماً جامع جمیع کمالات انسانی نیست.

نکته دیگر آنکه احبای عزیز ایرانی ممکن است بسیاری از جنبه‌های جامعه بهائی این مملکت را نامأنوس و یا حتی غیر قابل تصور بیابند. خانم مسن ایرانی را بخاطر دارم که از اینکه جامعه بهائی شهر ما دارای گلستان جاوید نیست حیرت‌زده شده بود و نمیتوانست باور کند که برای محفل روحانی که فقط پنج سال از تاریخ تشکیلش میگذرد تهیه گلستان جاوید دارای اولویت خاصی نیست و یا بسیاری از جوانان بهائی ایرانی به شرکت در ‎احفال محافل‎ که کم جمعیت جوانان عادت دارند و اکنون خود را در جامعه‌ای میبینند که فقط یک یا دو جوان بشماره دارد.

وظیفه ماست که بعنوان "صاحبخانه" مقدم این یاران گرامی را عزیز بداریم و به آنان بقبولانیم که وجودشان مورد نیاز است و احتمالاً برای مدتی طولانی در این کشور خواهند بود پس چه بهتر که با زبان و آداب و رسوم آشنا شوند و در این سرزمین مهاجر حقیقی باشند بیائید باتفاق بکوشیم تا با استفاده از امکانات استثنائی منابع دینی‌مان که با انتقال احبای ایرانی در اختیارمان گذارده شده جامعه بهائی آمریکا را حیاتی تازه بخشیم و بسوی سرنوشت درخشانش پیش ببریم.

حقوق‌ الله

نشانی معتمدین حقوق الله در غرب ایالات متحده:

Dr. Amin Banani Santa Monica, CA 90402

در شرق ایالات متحده:

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

بیاد دکتر امین‌الله مصباح

اثر طبع: جناب عبدالحسن بشرالهی

از عالم جسم امین مصباح آزاد شد و بملک جان رفت

از قید فنای تن رها شد در شهر بقای جاودان رفت

آن طیر حدیقه معانی از خاک بسوی آسمان رفت

گر پیر شد از فشار دنیا در محضر دوست نوجوان رفت

در خدمت امر حق همه عمر کوشید و چو سرو بوستان رفت

هم شاعر و هم طبیب و فاضل گل بود و بسوی گلستان رفت

بر جای نهاد شرح منظوم وآراسته بعالم نهان رفت

با خلق خدای مهربان بود هم پیش خدای مهربان رفت

ما را بفراق مبتلا کرد خود نغمه‌سرا و پرکنان رفت

آن یار عزیز تا سفر کرد شادی ز قلوب دوستان رفت [Page 19]

Bosch

Continued From Page 4

properties in Sonoma, Mendocino and Contra Costa counties in California.

In 1914 Mr. Bosch and Louise Sophia Stapfer of New York City were married, and from that time on, in all their activities, the names of John and Louise Bosch were inseparable.

In 1920 the Bosches, both of whom spoke French, taught the Faith for five months in Tahiti. The following year they traveled to Haifa to visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, teaching en route in Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland.

They arrived in Haifa only two weeks before the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Two days before his passing, the Master walked in a garden with John Bosch, giving him oranges from the trees there.

MR. BOSCH was asked to help the Holy Family with burial preparations, and he served as a pall-bearer, helping to carry the Master’s casket to Mount Carmel.

In 1927, when the National Spiritual Assembly appointed Mr. Bosch, Leroy Ioas and George Latimer to a committee to find a suitable location for a Bahá’í Summer School in the western states, John Bosch recalled that in 1919 he had offered ‘Abdu’l-Bahá the use of his property at Geyserville, California, for use as a Bahá’í home and school.

On August 1, 1927, John Bosch’s 72nd birthday, the first Bahá’í school in the West became a reality.

The Geyserville Bahá’í School was deeded to the National Spiritual Assembly in 1936 and grew from a small, informal retreat to an efficiently operated Bahá’í institution. The school’s success became the all-compelling purpose of John and Louise Bosch.

Mr. Bosch’s last appearance at the school came on his 89th birthday when those attending one of its sessions gathered with invited guests to honor him.

JOHN BOSCH passed away July 22, 1946, less than two weeks before his 91st birthday. At the request of the Guardian, a memorial service in his honor was held at the House of Worship in Wilmette.

“His saintly life,” the Guardian cabled, “pioneer services, historic contribution of institution of summer school, entitle him to rank among outstanding figures of the closing years of heroic, and opening years of formative age of the Bahá’í Dispensation...”

The Geyserville Bahá’í School had to be abandoned in 1973 when a highway was planned to run through the school property.

It was replaced by a 67-acre campus in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California that was dedicated July 13, 1974, in honor of John and Louise Bosch.

Unity requires sensitivity to cultural differences

By JULIE BADIEE

This special column about assimilating Persian believers into the mainstream of American Bahá’í community life was written for The American Bahá’í by Julie Badiee, a member of the Persian Affairs Committee.

Many communities across the U.S. have had the bounty of welcoming large numbers of Bahá’ís who have fled the brutal regime in Iran.

In some areas, these Iranian believers have significantly changed the composition of the Bahá’í community; in others, their impact, though less in number, has nevertheless been significant.

AMERICAN Bahá’ís have always felt a sort of magnetic attraction to Iranians, and for most of us, speaking with someone who shares a culture and language with our beloved Manifestation of God is an uplifting and exciting experience.

This is rightly so, for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells us that in the future “the East and West will understand each other, will reverence each other and embrace like long-parted lovers who have found each other.”

In our day-to-day living, however, there may not always be such a sense of unity and understanding. Too often, we may be fooled into thinking that our own cultural approach is the “correct” one, and have trouble understanding the framework within which another Bahá’í may be working.

These meetings of cultural beliefs and the enriched society that flows from them are, of course, what the Bahá’í Faith is all about.

As Americans, we may want to consider the question: What are our duties to the newly arrived friends from Iran?

IN PARIS Talks (p. 15), ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells us:

“O you of Western nations, be kind to those who come from the Eastern world to sojourn among you. Forget your conventionality when you speak with them, they are not accustomed to it ... When you meet a Persian or any other stranger, speak to him as if to a friend; if he seems to be lonely try to help him, give him of your willing service, if he be sad console him, if poor succour him, if oppressed rescue him, if in misery comfort him.”

Most of us have opened our hearts to the Iranian believers, and we have all agonized over the events in Iran. On this subject, the grief of all Bahá’ís runs deep.

But have we truly sensitized ourselves to the plight of the Iranian Bahá’ís here in the U.S.?

Perhaps we should take a moment to try and imagine how we would feel if suddenly, say tomorrow, we were ripped from our homes and forced to flee to a different country, one in which we had not chosen voluntarily to live.

FIRST, we would be confronted by a totally foreign language and would perhaps be unable to satisfy even our minimal needs.

We would be cut off from communications we had taken for granted such as newspapers, television, chats with friends and family, activities in the Bahá’í community.

No matter how great our resolve to learn the new language, months of loneliness and misunderstanding would have to ensue before we would begin to feel at home.

In time the language barrier would pass, but what of other concerns?

In many cases we would not have been able to take much money with us, and finances would be a constant, gnawing problem.

We would not be able to take up our former occupation, and language and educational barriers might keep us forever from returning to our chosen field.

IMAGINE yourself as a once highly respected doctor, lawyer, professor or business executive now reduced to seeking the simplest, low-paying job, or being unable to find work at all.

Add to this the constant worry about your family and friends who remained in your home country.

Each month you may hear terrible news of the death of a dear friend or a cherished family member. Surely, the stress on you would be almost unbearable.

Another concern may also arise: the immigration status of yourself or family members. Are you going to receive a deportation notice today? How many hours must you spend in line at the Immigration Office? These are problems that have been faced by many of the dear Iranian friends in this country.

Iranians are a proud people, often unwilling to admit problems to others. There is a story in Persia about a poor, starving man who would “slap his cheeks red” rather than let others see his sallow, malnourished color.

Are there Iranians we know who are “slapping their cheeks red” so that we won’t see the depth of their troubles?

THERE IS, fortunately, something definite that all Bahá’ís can do to help the Iranians in our midst, and that is to contribute to the Persian Relief Fund.

These monies, administered by the Universal House of Justice, go specifically to help the friends who have been experiencing extreme difficulty in other lands.

Here in the U.S., the Persian Affairs Committee investigates cases and helps Iranian Bahá’ís who are in desperate situations.

Many Iranians who are in a better financial condition have given generously to this fund, but the monies are running dangerously low. Cannot we Americans provide support too?

Finally, if we can truly imagine ourselves as having fled to that foreign land, we can begin to understand the natural tendency of the Iranian friends to want to stay together, to speak their own language, to visit and laugh together in a desire to recreate in some way what they have lost.

Wouldn’t we do the same?

IT IS our duty as Bahá’ís to reach out, to enter those clumps of Persians, and to be willing to create a new sense of harmony and unity.

It is the duty of the Iranian Bahá’ís, of course, to reciprocate such attempts at friendship and not to “freeze” the American friends out.

Perhaps it might help if we were to learn one or two Persian phrases. We needn’t study the language, but a “hello” or “how are you” in Persian could surely light up the face of the sorrowing grandmother who sits alone at a meeting.

American Bahá’ís are loving and generous, and many find it the most natural thing in the world to welcome with overflowing hearts the precious friends from the Cradle of the Faith.

We must be vigilant, however, about lumping them together into one category. We know from bitter experience that the Faith has vicious enemies and that many of them would stop at nothing to harm or even eradicate our Faith.

FOR THIS reason, it is important that American Bahá’ís be extremely strict about registering all Iranians who come into their community.

Americans may sometimes think that all Iranians are pioneers, great teachers, and that they possess the attributes of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This, of course, is not so.

We must not do the Iranians the disservice of overlooking behavior that runs counter to Bahá’í standards. Laws must be applied equally to all, and no exceptions should be made.

Finally, we need to keep in mind that many of the dear Iranian friends who come here have been shocked to find that many of our Bahá’í communities ‎surprising are surprising‎ and even difficult to comprehend.

I remember the surprise of a sweet elderly Persian woman who was shocked to find that we had no Bahá’í cemetery in our town.

To her this was unthinkable. Where would we bury our dead?

IT WAS beyond her comprehension that we had had a Bahá’í community in our area for only five years, and that burying our dead had a very low priority!

Many young Persian Bahá’ís are used to attending special youth events at which often more than a hundred are present. How difficult it must be for them to arrive in a community with only one or two other youth.

As “hosts” we must reach out to these Bahá’ís to let them know how desperately they are needed and wanted here.

Also, we must help the Persian friends realize that they are probably here for good and that there is no going back.

They must learn English, no matter how difficult it may seem, and resolve to become pioneers in this land.

The potential of this marvelous new resource in our community is beyond measure. Let us work together to reinvigorate the American Bahá’í community to fulfill its glorious destiny. [Page 20]‘When the racial elements of the American nation unite in actual fellowship and accord, the lights of the oneness of humanity will shine . . .’ (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 54)

Master’s remarks on racial issue must be studied in proper context

Dear Friends:

I would like to respond to the letter from Mr. Samadani (October 1982) concerning ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s remarks on the racial issue.

It might be interesting to note the atmosphere in which those remarks were made, as they could easily be misunderstood if taken out of context.

ACCORDING to Gayle Morrison in her book, To Move the World, they were made “to promote a particular psychological reorientation of the minority’s attitude toward the majority and toward itself. Rather than intensify a natural preoccupation with oppression, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sought to foster confidence in the power to effect change.” (p. 57)

She goes on to say that “His public themes did not spring, therefore, from unfamiliarity with or disregard for the terrible obstacles blacks faced in their efforts to achieve equality in America. Rather, He sought to nurture the positive attitudes among blacks that would stave off desperation, hopelessness, growing hatred, and the ultimate disaster of racial warfare so violent that it would ‘cause the streets of America to run with blood.’ ” (p. 60)

It would be unfortunate for anyone to assume that these statements of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá constitute a release for the white race from partial responsibility for the racial situation in America.

Indeed, Shoghi Effendi says, “A tremendous effort is required by both races if their outlook, their manners, and conduct are to reflect, in this darkened age, the spirit and teachings of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.” (The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 33)

IF WE NEED a model to look to for the promotion of racial unity, other than the supreme example set by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, we may look to that of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis Gregory.

About him, the Guardian said, “You have attained spiritual heights that few indeed can claim to have scaled. You have displayed a spirit that few, if any, can equal.” (Shoghi Effendi to Louis Gregory, October 24, 1933, National Bahá’í Archives, Wilmette, Illinois)

From the time he became a Bahá’í in 1909 until his death in 1951, Louis Gregory worked unceasingly for racial harmony in America.

He believed that if we arise and work for the cause of brotherhood, “God will give to us that inward peace which shall leave its bright traces in all the realms of existence. It will make us true men and women; it will make us the torch-bearers of the light of God and will enable us to transmit a radiance by which the peace and pleasure and happiness of the whole world of existence will be adorned. And there is nothing more glorious for man than to realize this bright destiny.” (To Move the World, p. 315)

Susan E. Patton Jemez Springs, New Mexico

Dear Friends:

We live in a society based upon a foundation of racism and prejudice.

It is within that context that we must come to understand what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá meant when He said that black people should be grateful to the whites. It is certainly not for any rewards bestowed upon them, past or present.

The barrier that separates black people from whites is injustice, not bad attitudes. This is rooted in the historical and concrete relationship between the two races on this continent.

Until Bahá’ís take up this perception they will realize no lasting impact upon racial unity in the U.S., and will offer no concrete alternative to the status quo other than a seemingly more sophisticated form of accommodation.

For this reason, I suggest that a nationwide conference be called for black Bahá’ís and interested whites at which the issues of racial unity and the many aspects of being black and a Bahá’í in the U.S. can be discussed and illuminated.

William Pleasant Chicago, Illinois

Jacksonville community marks 50th anniversary with four-day celebration

“Uniting the world, one heart at a time” was the theme of a gala banquet last November 14 that climaxed a four-day celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Bahá’í Faith in Jacksonville, Florida.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Roy Jones, a Bahá’í who is director of affirmative action and human relations at the College of Charleston, South Carolina.

Special awards were presented to Dr. Duane Dumbleton, Mrs. Lucille Barrett, and Miss Kathryn Vernon, who began the Jacksonville Bahá’í community when she entered the Faith in 1932.

Dr. Dumbleton presented a history of the community’s past 50 years based on notes and records kept by Miss Vernon.

Other activities during the 50th anniversary observance included an excursion with the children to St. Augustine; a devotional observance of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh; a pie party; a visit to the grave of Dr. Walter Guy, an early Bahá’í teacher; a seminar on race unity, and a prayer breakfast.

Dr. Roy Jones, director of affirmative action and human relations at the College of Charleston, South Carolina, was the keynote speaker last November 14 at the 50th anniversary observance of the Bahá’í community of Jacksonville, Florida.

Portland hosts cross-cultural unity gathering

“Kindly convey Local Assembly Portland, Oregon, warmest commendations successful unity gathering embracing members number minority groups and assurance prayers their confirmed participation community endeavours.”

Universal House of Justice

More than 90 people including members of six American Indian tribes, Hmong refugees from Southeast Asia, Persians, and black and white Americans participated last December 25 in a cross-cultural unity gathering in Portland, Oregon, that was cosponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Portland and the Western Oregon District Teaching Committee.

Publicity for the day-long event, which was arranged by the Bahá’í Unity Council, a committee of the Spiritual Assembly of Portland, and held at Portland’s Urban Indian Council building, included announcements on an Indian radio program that reaches many of Portland’s 10,000-member urban Indian community.

A LARGE inter-cultural potluck meal was preceded by a traditional Native American blessing and a Bahá’í prayer chanted in Persian.

Speakers included a Lakota Sioux Indian guest from South Dakota who spoke about his tribe’s cultural heritage; an Englishman; a black woman, and an Aztec Indian, each of whom spoke spontaneously about their experiences and feelings.

One of the Indian drummers who provided music for dancing that continued into the evening hours said he is a Bahá’í, a fact that was unknown to the friends who were present.

The inter-cultural program included gift giving to honor elders of all four tribes present with baskets, blankets and specially prepared passages from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh.

The success of the event was seen in the attendance of more than 100 people at a follow-up meeting held at the Native American organization’s spiritual headquarters in Portland.

Deanne Kelley (right), secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Austin, Texas, and her daughter, Zarrin Taj, are shown presenting Bahá’í books to the librarian at Huston-Tillotson College in Austin on behalf of the Texas Bahá’í Summer School Committee. The presentation was made following last year’s summer school, which was held at the predominantly black college. [Page 21]

New Jeff Reynolds show aims at country-western market

A new version of the “Jeff Reynolds Bahá’í Perspectives” radio series, geared for country and western stations, is now available.

Thirteen half-hour segments of the series are ready with themes ranging from “Spiritual Survival” to “Cheatin’.”

“THE JEFF Reynolds shows combine Bahá’í ideas with topics that are contemporary concerns for most people,” says Burl Barer, the writer, producer and alter ego of Jeff Reynolds.

Mr. Barer, who lives in Walla Walla, Washington, has been “Jeff Reynolds” for half a dozen years. This is the fourth series of programs he has produced for the National Spiritual Assembly.

“The idea,” says Mr. Barer, “was to make religious programs that were not ‘preachy’ and that would appeal to stations with more modern formats.

“So the message of each program is given in a matter of five or six minutes and the rest of the show is devoted to music.

“Sometimes we’re able to fit some of the songs to the theme of the program, but that’s not a hard-and-fast rule,” he says. “That would make it too ‘cute’ and might detract from the direct Bahá’í message built into each half-hour.”

BOTH the music and the message, he says, are oriented toward young people who may find themselves still searching for some of life’s answers.

“One senior citizen heard the program on a station in Binghamton, New York, for weeks,” says national Public Affairs Officer Parks Scott. “Finally, she went out and began asking people if they knew any Bahá’ís.

“Eventually she found someone who did, and she declared her faith in Bahá’u’lláh.”

Sets of the new country-western version of the Jeff Reynolds show can be purchased from the Office of Public Affairs.

The price is $100, and checks should be made payable to “Bahá’í Services Fund.”

Media briefs

Rep. Derwinski is author of article on Iran ‘tragedy’ in Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Tribune carried on its editorial page January 18 an article about the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran written by former U.S. Rep. Edward J. Derwinski of Illinois.

The article, headlined “Bahá’í tragedy goes on in Iran,” summarizes the recent persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran by the Khomeini regime, includes a brief history of persecutions in that country, and outlines some of the measures that have been taken by world and national bodies to help alleviate the suffering of Iran’s Bahá’í community.

Rep. Derwinski, who was honored by the National Spiritual Assembly at a luncheon in Washington last December for his help in securing passage of a concurrent resolution condemning the persecutions in Iran, has been nominated by President Reagan to become a counselor at the State Department.

The Herndon (Virginia) Observer carried a lengthy article last October 8 detailing the plans of Katie and Arzhang Youssefi of Herndon to pioneer for the Faith in South America.

The article includes a brief introduction to the Faith including its belief in the oneness of mankind, and cites it as the Youssefis’ reason for abandoning ownership of a thriving business in Herndon to become pioneers.

“If I cannot make myself go where people are supposed to hear this message,” says Mr. Youssefi, “then I think I am not doing the right thing.”

Six members of the Bahá’í community of Herndon plan to go pioneering by Ridván.

A five-minute interview with Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, on the most recent executions of Bahá’ís in Iran was broadcast January 5 throughout Canada by radio stations affiliated with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and in the U.S. by some Public Broadcasting System (PBS) stations.

Questions focused on why the Bahá’ís are being persecuted in Iran.

“Primarily,” said Dr. Kazemzadeh, “they wanted to know why the Islamic regime would want to do this.”

He described the interview as remarkably objective and straightforward, saying, “I have a good feeling about it.”

The telephone interview was taped while Dr. Kazemzadeh was in Los Angeles for a meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly.

It was broadcast in Canada as part of the CBC’s news background program, “As It Happens,” and in the U.S. during a similar in-depth news program that is carried on 14 PBS stations across the country.

Years of persistent work by the Spiritual Assembly of the Town of Cortlandt, New York, paid off recently with the publication of a feature article about the Faith on the front page of the community’s Sunday newspaper, the Peekskill Sunday Star.

For several years, the Assembly in Cortlandt has been submitting articles to the local paper. Occasionally, a brief report was used, but the feature article marks a breakthrough in publicity for the Faith in that area.

Two Persian Bahá’ís from Peekskill contributed to the reporter’s understanding of the Faith in general and the plight of the Bahá’ís in Iran in particular, but their names and pictures were not used so as not to jeopardize the safety of their relatives in Iran.

The article is being followed up with an announcement on the local cable television channel that simply says, “Learn about the Bahá’í Faith. For information on meetings call (number).”

Especially worthy of note is that this free announcement appears on TV for 10 seconds every six minutes, or 10 times an hour.

If no programs are scheduled, which is often the case, the announcement appears 240 times a day for a total of 40 minutes.

Steve Roos (left), representing the Spiritual Assembly of Carnation, Washington, presents a copy of The Promised Day Is Come to Mayor Nick Loutsis of Carnation during a recent City Council meeting. At the end of the presentation, a Bahá’í prayer for America was read.

‘World Refugee Survey’ notes persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran

The plight of Bahá’ís in Iran is mentioned in “World Refugee Survey 1982,” a publication of the U.S. Committee for Refugees.

Under the headline “Bahá’ís Persecuted in Iran; Some Flee to Other Lands,” the survey reports:

“Since the 1979 revolution in Iran, members of the Bahá’í religious minority have faced persecution which has increased in intensity. More than 100 Bahá’ís have been executed, holy places have been destroyed, and scores of Bahá’ís have been dismissed from jobs or deprived of business and trade licenses, for refusal to recant their faith.

“In December 1981 eight members of the religion’s national assembly were secretly executed; no charges were made, no trials held, and none of the families notified of the deaths, the Bahá’í report.

“Protests against this persecution of a religious minority have reached the UN. In March 1982 a number of nations sponsored a resolution ‘urging the government of Iran as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to respect and ensure rights recognized in that covenant.’ The resolution asked the secretary general to investigate and report back to the UN Commission on Human Rights.

“As a result of continuing oppression, thousands of Bahá’ís have fled from Iran, including as many as 5,000 to Pakistan.”

The non-profit U.S. Committee for Refugees is a program of the American Council for Nationalities Service.

The South Florida Bahá’í Media Committee has been able to secure billboard advertising space on six signs in the Broward and Palm Beach county area. Through the efforts of the committee, the billboards have been rented on a yearly agreement at one-tenth the retail cost. The cost to the Bahá’ís is $3,600 a year, compared to the retail cost. Funds for the advertising are contributed by Bahá’í communities throughout south-eastern Florida.

Corpus Christi, Texas, paper’s article about Bahá’í artist notes Faith’s influence

A lengthy article in the January 16 issue of the Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller Times about artist Suzanne Klotz-Reilly, a member of the Bahá’í community of Corpus Christi, includes an introduction to the Faith and emphasizes its influence on the artist’s work and outlook.

An exhibit of her paintings entitled “Suzanne Klotz-Reilly: The People No One Ever Really Knew,” appeared through January 30 at the Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi.

‘the harder the sacrifice, the more meritorious it will be ...’

National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091 [Page 22]

Letters

Continued From Page 3

Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

One of the participants, Jerry Entwistle, has gone to Chile as a pioneer, and he tries to pray there at the same time on Sunday mornings. We have suggested to him that those who meet there with him might also read the Fire Tablet.

The thought behind this letter is that if it were printed in The American Bahá’í, perhaps Bahá’ís in other communities and other countries might join us on Sunday mornings, to the end that these wonderful words would encircle the world like a cleansing spiritual wave, hastening the day of the Most Great Peace.

As the last line of the Fire Tablet says, “Should all the servants read and ponder this, there will be kindled in their veins a fire that shall set aflame the worlds.”

Since we cannot physically help our Iranian friends, we can give to the Fund in their name, and we can unite in reading this prayer on Sunday mornings.

Del Wells Burbank, California

To the Editor:

I would like to say a word about Bahá’ís and psychotherapy.

I have heard a number of ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ claim that therapy is not necessary for a Bahá’í, since the Teachings offer all that we’ll ever need, psychologically and spiritually.

I AGREE that the Teachings do contain all that we need. But are we aware enough to apply them as well as we can, without help?

Bahá’u’lláh says that “he hath known God who hath known himself” and that we should gain a true knowledge of our own selves—“a knowledge which is the same as the comprehension of Mine own Being.”

Although I was not skimping on prayer or deepening, I knew instinctively that therapy would increase my understanding of myself, of the Writings, and of my relationship to God.

I feel that it has brought a grace into my life that has served to deepen my commitment to the Covenant, lighten my spirit, and assist me in the process of becoming my true self.

Psychotherapy has never caused me to question my faith—it has only confirmed it, and that in itself is confirming.

Of course, one must be careful in selecting a therapist, and choose someone who is spiritually sensitive.

I share this with the Bahá’í community in a gesture of love. My prayers are with you all.

Jenina Shaw New York, N.Y.

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to the letter from Charles Beachner that appeared in your January issue.

The letter itself was appalling enough, but the fact that The American Bahá’í chose to headline it and thus give it an endorsement was, frankly, unbelievable.

IN HIS letter, Mr. Beachner chose to cite three passages from The Hidden Words (Nos. 80, 81, 82) to sustain his argument that those who “refuse” to give to the Fund “know the result of what they are doing,” adding, “Could not those who refuse to share what God has given them be called ‘the basest of men’—‘that yield no fruit on earth’ and ‘are counted as among the dead’?”

Evidently this was not strong enough, so Mr. Beachner further suggests that “those who refuse to give are in a similar spiritual state as those who do not work and ‘whose death is better than their life,’ people similar to beggars whom Bahá’u’lláh calls the most despicable of men.”

I do not believe that Mr. Beachner’s idea of punishment fits the crime.

Not only has he misused The Hidden Words to convey the fire and brimstone message of his conviction, but he has left this reader with the sickening feeling that unless this kind of assertion is countered, others who feel zealous might also use the Writings to justify their personal opinion regarding the “spirituality” of their fellow Bahá’ís.

Mr. Beachner uses the phrase “refuse to give to the Fund.” How can any of us know if a fellow Bahá’í is “refusing” to give to the Fund? How can we even assume such a thing?

Might there not be Bahá’ís who are indeed unable to give regularly to the Fund? Should we, at any time or in any way, imply that our fellow Bahá’ís are “beggars—whose death is better than their life”?

Let us never presume that a fellow Bahá’í is guilty of desiring a deficit in the National Fund. Let us instead assume that every Bahá’í is working to “give forth goodly and wondrous fruit” (The Hidden Words, No. 80), and that the word “fruit” may not necessarily mean, as Mr. Beachner implies, only money.

Carol R. Goodrich Bellingham, Washington

(Headlining an article or letter does not imply an endorsement of that article or letter.—Editor)

To the Editor:

A Hand of the Cause of God has said that two per cent of the U.S. population would be ready to accept the Faith if only they were properly informed of the Message that Bahá’u’lláh gave to the world.

South Carolina has a population of more than two and one-half million. That means that this state alone has a present potential of 50,000 new Bahá’ís.

AFTER working on many teaching projects (mostly in South Carolina) for just over 10 years, I am firmly convinced that this particular state as well as perhaps a few others in the U.S. has an actual potential of perhaps four per cent rather than two.

That would mean 100,000 potential Bahá’ís in South Carolina, which would double the present U.S. Bahá’í population.

Some of this rich harvest will fall to the ground for lack of workers in the field; but we can still harvest that many if we continue to train teachers and recruit workers from other sources. This we are trying to do.

Many wonderful things are happening in South Carolina. This year we can show an increase of more than 10 per cent in the number of Bahá’ís in the state.

We rejoice that this year (1982) three out of five District Conventions were totally planned and carried out by local believers.

South Carolina has elected Assemblies in more than 230 localities, and although many do not function as well as we might wish, we are diligently working to improve this.

THE FUTURE for the Bahá’ís of South Carolina is exceedingly bright.

We look forward eagerly to start building soon the first Bahá’í radio station in North America, which among other benefits will help us to deepen our local believers and to develop our administrative framework and Local Assemblies.

The task is immense; nowhere in the U.S. are the opportunities greater, the harvest more rewarding. Come join us!

Elwin Howard Hemingway, South Carolina

To the Editor:

I would like to add a thought to the letters you’ve received about motivating the friends to give to the Fund.

Like a woman whose letter was published not long ago, I agree that too much emphasis is placed on the “negative” aspects of giving: “Sacrifice so that you can feel virtuous about feeling miserable.”

OF COURSE, this is not what is intended, but it is all too often the way the message comes across.

Many of the friends already are suffering from lack of income. They already are sacrificing just to keep the lights and the heat on and shoes on their children. If there is anything they don’t need, it is talk of “more sacrifice.”

Erich Fromm, in his book The Art of Loving, opens a new vista that we Pacific Northwesterners might call the “Potlatch Connection”:

“The most widespread misunderstanding is that which assumes that giving is ‘giving up’ something, being deprived of, sacrificing. People whose main orientation is a nonproductive one feel giving as an impoverishment . . . just because it is painful to give, one should give; the virtue of giving, to them, lies in the very act of acceptance of sacrifice . . .

“For the productive character giving has an entirely different meaning. Giving is the highest expression of potency. In the very act of giving I experience my strength, my wealth, my power. This experience of heightened vitality and potency fills me with joy. I experience myself as overflowing, spending, alive, hence as joyous. Giving is more joyous than receiving, not because it is a deprivation, but because in the act of giving lies the expression of my aliveness.”

It is time we started emphasizing the joy, the sense of heightened vitality and potency, the feeling of overflowing aliveness that comes from giving.

Giving to the Fund must be envisioned as the generous bestowal of a gift on a loved one. Who is too poor to give a gift, no matter how small, to his/her beloved?

Can’t afford to give a florist’s rose? Give a daisy from the backyard garden.

Is there a mother or father who at Ayyám-i-Há or Christmas or Chanukkah does not give their child some gift, if only from the second-hand store? What parent has not received a child’s handmade, hand-colored gift and been delighted? A daisy from a lover is worth more than all the roses in the florist’s shop.

Speak to us of giving to the Fund as the joy of presenting a gift of love to our Loved One. Remind us of the joy on the face of the One who receives such a gift.

Janet Tanaka Issaquah, Washington

To the Editor:

I would like to recommend that Bahá’ís make an effort to use Sir Richard Attenborough’s film, “Gandhi,” in teaching the Faith.

This is an extraordinarily impressive and affecting motion picture. Since the theme is so close to the Bahá’í teachings, it could very easily serve as a springboard for some good discussions and for introducing Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings.

What should make it even easier is that the Faith is mentioned. We saw the film and were very moved, but we were positively galvanized when we saw during the closing credits, “The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India.”

Does anyone out there know just how the Bahá’ís of India were involved in making this film?

Violet Tichenor Union Dale, Pennsylvania

As a part of its observance of World Religion Day, the Bahá’í community of Duluth, Minnesota, presented Mayor John Fedo of Duluth with a copy of the book The Earth Is But One Country. Shown making the presentation to Mayor Fedo (right) at the mayor’s office on January 17 are Bahá’ís (left to right) J.B. Brown, Melissa Samimi and Scott Hakala.

James Stone of Gallup, New Mexico, is shown manning that community’s Bahá’í booth last October 26 at the Bureau of Indian Affairs book fair. The Gallup community is holding weekly firesides and deepening classes, as well as monthly “cluster” meetings in the surrounding area, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Gallup. The Assembly also is sponsoring an Esperanto class for Bahá’ís, and programs for children for fun and indirect teaching. [Page 23]

Ten years ago...

in The American Bahá’í

In a Naw-Rúz letter to the Bahá’ís of the United States, the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears urges the friends to rescue those Local Spiritual Assemblies that are in jeopardy and to lend their support to Groups that have the potential of becoming Assemblies at Ridván.

“The year 130 has begun,” writes Mr. Sears. “That means there are only 31 days left before the end of the Nine Year Plan.

“...Make yourself a solemn vow that every Local Assembly that is threatened with loss will be rescued—WILL BE RESCUED! It is up to us...”

Visits by Mr. Sears; Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly; and Auxiliary Board members Thelma Khelghati and Jane McCants highlight the first few weeks of operation of the new Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute near Hemingway, South Carolina. The first official classes at the Institute are held December 23-24, 1972 ...

The New York City Bahá’í community honors two New York churches with plaques commemorating the 60th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to those churches during his tour of the U.S. in 1912 ...

The third Spiritual Assembly on the Yakima Indian Reservation is formed in Wapato, Washington. Formation of the Assembly marks the culmination of a large-scale proclamation effort by the Bahá’í communities on the Reservation ...

Bahá’í youth from several communities in Los Angeles County and from the Crestline, California, area participate in the third weekend deepening institute for youth at the Chimes Chateau in the Crestline Mountains ...

“The Removal of Prejudice” is announced as the central theme of all Bahá’í schools in the U.S. during 1973.

The National Spiritual Assembly charges the National Bahá’í Schools Committee with the responsibility of helping individual schools to attain a high level of excellence in exhibiting the qualities of Bahá’í life with special emphasis on overcoming and removing all traces of prejudice from the individual and collective lives of Bahá’ís ...

About 60 Bahá’ís and their guests attend an all-day consolidation and expansion institute at the Evergreen Cabin in Teaneck, New Jersey. The gathering is sponsored by the New Jersey District Teaching Committee ...

Ads

Continued from Page 16

sions; Librarian to staff the library and to work on developing the library and archives; Maintenance/grounds assistant to help maintain and clean the buildings and to direct volunteers in grounds development; Assistant secretary/registrar to serve as registrar at sessions and to help with secretarial and clerical needs. The Council is seeking qualified people in these areas. Married couples without children are preferred. Employment would be from mid-June (exact date will be negotiated) to Labor Day. Although the Council would like one person per position for the entire summer, consideration will be given to qualified individuals for part of the summer. Lodging, meals and a weekly stipend of $50 will be provided. If you are interested in any of these positions, please send a letter stating your interest and a résumé of professional activities and Bahá’í service to the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. Phone 313-653-5033.

PIONEER overseas would like to borrow for 3-4 weeks or buy either individual volumes or the entire set of the out-of-print series “Bahá’í Lesson Plans Grades K-8.” If borrowed, will return by registered air mail in good condition. Craig Volker, P.O. Box 244, Kainantu, Papua New Guinea.

Three communities in Louisiana need your help, two of them to maintain their Assemblies, the other to help establish an Assembly. The first two are Hammond, about 50 miles east of Baton Rouge and 50 miles north of New Orleans, and La Place, about 15 miles north of New Orleans in the heart of the “industrial corridor” on the Mississippi River. Denham Springs, which needs six adults to reach Assembly status, is about 15 miles east of Baton Rouge. If you love water sports, etc., we would love to welcome you to one of these lovely communities. For more information contact Bill and Sharon Irwin, Denham Springs, LA 70726, or phone 504-665-7143.

HOMEFRONT pioneering? The Bahá’í community of West Linn, Oregon, needs at least one more Bahá’í to save its Assembly. West Linn offers beautiful countryside, only two and one-half hours from Pacific beaches or the mountains. There are plenty of houses/apartments for sale/rent; good local high schools; two liberal arts colleges and two universities within a 25-mile radius. Only 25 minutes from Portland via bus or freeway. Local industry includes electronics and lumber. Ideal for self-supporting Bahá’ís. Please write to Gary Elston, secretary, P.O. Box 349, West Linn, OR 97068; phone 503-657-6614.

WANTED: In Papua New Guinea, a computer technician for a newly created position in Anisa computers (Bahá’í-owned company). Prefer married couple to double as caretakers of a rapidly expanding Bahá’í Center. Apply in writing (including references and full details) to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

KALIMÁT Press is a privately owned publishing company which publishes Bahá’í-related books in English and Persian. Persons who wish to be placed on the Kalimát Press mailing list may do so by writing to Los Angeles, CA 90024. Please specify whether or not you are the librarian for your community.

THE BAHÁ’Í community of Plano, Texas, is seeking homefront pioneers to settle in Allen, Texas, by Ridván 1983 to help raise that city to Assembly status. Allen, a fast-growing suburb of Dallas, is situated on a major expressway 15 miles north of the city. The Plano community will provide house- and job-hunting assistance for pioneers willing to settle in this prime sunbelt location. For more information contact the Bahá’í community of Plano, P.O. Box 1322, Plano, TX 75074, or phone 214-423-4634.

COME live the Bahá’í life in the sun. Teach in the “land of enchantment” in beautiful Rio Rancho, New Mexico, a fast-growing community near Albuquerque whose Assembly is in jeopardy. There is a flower garden of mankind, plus jobs and sports. Homes and apartments are plentiful. We need a spark—quick. Write to the Spiritual Assembly of Rio Rancho, Rio Rancho, NM 87124.

FRENCH-speaking high school, elementary, or vocational-technical educators are needed in Gabon, a high priority goal country. The Gabonese government is accepting applications for teachers to work in the Gabon school system in 1983-84. Especially needed are instructors in the construction trades: metal, auto mechanics, maintenance, electronics, building design, air conditioning, plumbing, and others. On the high school level, math, physics, chemistry, biology, natural sciences, industrial arts, French and Spanish teachers are in demand. Also needed are certified elementary school teachers. Positions include housing, family benefits, vacation time and travel expenses. Salaries depend upon the level of degree and experience. Minimum requirements for all positions are an advanced degree in the field and at least three years experience. Application deadlines for the coming year are due soon. For more details contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

HELP the people of Wyoming learn about “unity in diversity.” We need homefront pioneers, especially of minority races and ethnic backgrounds. Goal areas are Rock Springs, Gillette, and Cheyenne, and unopened counties are Platte, Hot Springs, and Sublette. For information contact Nancy Moore, secretary, District Teaching Committee of Wyoming, Newcastle, WY 82701; phone 307-746-4932.

CLEARFIELD, Utah, wants YOU! A large Group (four) needs homefront pioneers to settle in this friendly community between Ogden and Salt Lake City—three miles from the Great Salt Lake. Plenty of skiing nearby, mountain scenery, cultural events. Unique teaching opportunity among the Mormons. Employment opportunities in various industries, at Hill Air Force Base; unemployment in Utah is lower than the national average. Please consider us; we want to become an Assembly! Contact the Bahá’í Group of Clearfield, Clearfield, UT 84015, or telephone 801-776-6048.

NORTHERN Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, majestic woods and wonderful people, is an excellent place for homefront pioneers. Jeopardized Assemblies and unopened localities (including Indian Reservations) provide a marvelous opportunity for Bahá’í service. For more information please contact the District Teaching Committee of Northern Minnesota, Alexandria, MN 56308, or phone 612-762-1075.

GEORGETOWN, Texas (25 miles north of Austin) needs a homefront pioneer to help consolidate that fledgling community. Major employers include Southwestern University, Westinghouse, Semcor, and medical services. Active teaching and consolidation assistance to homefront pioneer would be given by the Bahá’í community of Round Rock. Contact the Bahá’ís of Round Rock, P.O. Box 433, Round Rock, TX 78664, or phone Randy Ricklefs, 512-255-7900.

See ADS Page 24

Correction

We are happy to inform friends and relatives of Howard S. Smith of Limestone Township, Illinois, that the report of his death which appeared in the February issue of The American Bahá’í was in error.

Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Dudley Blakely dies

DEEPLY SADDENED RECENT PASSING KNIGHT OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH DUDLEY MOORE BLAKELY WHOSE PIONEERING SERVICES GRATEFULLY REMEMBERED. KINDLY CONVEY HIS WIDOW JUDY OUR LOVING SYMPATHY ASSURANCE OUR ARDENT PRAYERS FOR PROGRESS HIS SOUL AND HER FULL RECOVERY FROM RECENT ILLNESS.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE JANUARY 19, 1983

In Memoriam

Massaoud Belateche Arlington, VA January 10, 1983	Miss Jean Hunter Phoenix, AZ December 14, 1982	Miss Lena Slaughter Buena Vista, GA 1980
Dudley M. Blakely St. Simons Island, GA December 19, 1982	Mrs. Marguerite Luckinbill St. Cloud, MN January 7, 1983	Rudolph Smith Peoria, IL November 29, 1982
Mrs. Nell Deniston Lima, OH Date Unknown	Mrs. M.H. Major Matoaka, WV May 22, 1980	Mrs. Lossie Taylor Riverside, CA January 16, 1983
Carl Douglas Duarte, CA August 1982	Mrs. Margaret Mason Augusta, GA January 5, 1983	Mrs. Mamie Thomas Hartsville, SC 1982
Mrs. Edna Erfurth Pasco, WA December 30, 1982	Theodore Mathis Buena Vista, GA June 1980	Rudolfo Vasquez Batesville, TX November 1982
Mrs. Lucile Fulton Kingstree, SC Date Unknown	Edward McClary Kingstree, SC Date Unknown	Mequi Vives San Diego, CA January 13, 1983
Mrs. Mary Gordon Abilene, TX December 12, 1982	Augustin Melecio Batesville, TX November 1982	Stevenson Wood Lugoff, SC November 10, 1982
Mrs. Susie Graves Albany, NY Date Unknown	William T. Perry Norfolk, VA April 1982	Ira J. Woodard LaPorte, TX December 22, 1982
Mrs. Jean Harber Medford, OR Date Unknown	James Rhames Mitten Lane, SC November 3, 1982	Arthur Young Lakeland, FL December 22, 1982
Mrs. Elsa de Hernandez Chicago, IL January 1983

[Page 24]

Ads

Continued From Page 23

POKHARA, Nepal, urgently needs two English-speaking teachers, one for primary grades, the other for Tibetan refugees. For more information or to send your resumé, contact the Continental Pioneer Committee for the Americas, c/o Shirley Baldwin, ______ Sarasota, FL 33581.

BAHÁ’Í writer/researcher would like to hear from Bahá’ís who were formerly members of the following religious communities: Jehovah’s Witnesses, Latter Day Saints (Mormon), Unification Church, People’s Temple, Children of God, or Church of Scientology. Researcher is a member of the Association for Bahá’í Studies and is working on a long-term project on “cults” vs. minority religions. I am also interested in hearing from other Bahá’í scholars working on similar projects. Please write to Janet Tanaka, P.O. Box 405, Issaquah, WA 98027.

WRITER-director needed at once for well-established dedicated Bahá’í road show troupe, “Live on Stage.” Come to south Florida and help us teach while filling a goal area. Twelve musical Bahá’ís need a director and new material for the year-old road show. Contact Jack Sterns, ______ Boca Raton, FL 33432, or phone 305-482-6990.

RICHLAND, Washington, needs one believer to save its Assembly. This is a well-organized, active community—an ideal place for a creative, active Bahá’í. Nurses and/or nurses’ aides should have no problem finding jobs. Hospitality is available while job- or house-hunting. Write to the Spiritual Assembly of Richland, ______ Richland, WA 99352. Phone 509-375-1529.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed in Salinas, California, which has a jeopardized Assembly and is in a strategic Spanish-speaking area. This is a warm and fairly receptive community in an agricultural area. The Assembly has done direct teaching, placed Bahá’í books in the library, and hosted traveling teachers. This Bahá’í community needs your help—won’t you consider serving Bahá’u’lláh here? For more information write to the Spiritual Assembly of Salinas, ______ Salinas, CA 93906, or phone 408-424-2150 after 6 p.m.

THE BAHÁ’Í Group of Saratoga Springs, New York, has developed a manual on how to set up a filing system for a Bahá’í community and is willing to share its research with other communities. If you would like a copy of the manual, please send a 9 x 12 inch self-addressed manila envelope with 54 cents to cover postage to Patricia M. Hernandez, ______ Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

COME to Santa Maria, California, to help restore our Assembly which was lost last Ridván. Santa Maria is a pleasant community of about 34,000 with a very desirable climate. For work or housing information, please contact the Bahá’ís of Santa Maria, P.O. Box 1611, Santa Maria, CA 93454. Phone 805-928-6739.

PERSONAL computer users: I would like to communicate with Bahá’ís who may be using a personal computer as part of the Faith in their community. I am collecting information on ways a p.c. can be used to help the Faith, and will answer all letters. Also, if you have any software documentation to share, please send it along. Send to Mike Mycek, P.O. Box 5222, Poughkeepsie, NY 12602, or phone 914-473-1926 after 7 p.m. (no collect calls please).

The Fund Is the Life-Blood of the Faith National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

Moving? Tell us your new address To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your copies of The American Bahá’í send your new address and your mailing label which includes your ID number to the Office of Membership and Records, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, as soon as you know that you are going to move and what your new address will be. We will do our best to see that changes are processed quickly so that the transfer of mail to your new home is accomplished with all possible speed. NOTE: Use this form for individual changes only. BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER Wilmette, Illinois 60091 [ ] We have been receiving more than one copy of The American Bahá’í. Because we don’t need extra copies, please remove my name from the mailing list for this publication. Please check box.

Questions

Continued From Page 1

goals. Everyone is.

Q. How is it possible for the newly appointed youth traveling teachers to travel and go to school at the same time?

A. Many traveling teaching assignments will be for weekends, summer or evenings in the traveling teacher’s district. The traveling teachers are free to manage their own schedules.

Q. Does the National Assembly foresee in the immediate future any curtailment of international travel for pioneering or traveling teaching purposes?

A. We know that every day brings fresh disruptions in the world’s equilibrium, and they are usually unforeseen, taking forms that we did not expect.

In its message to the Montreal International Conference, the Universal House of Justice said, “The valiant countries of North America should in the second half of the Seven Year Plan ensure that an ever-swelling number of pioneers and traveling teachers will arise and travel to and settle in countries which need their support, however inhospitable the local conditions may be, ceaselessly endeavoring to contribute to the expansion of the teaching work and the strengthening of the foundations of the communities they are called upon to assist.”

This statement seems to suggest that we will continue, as conditions allow, to send out pioneers and traveling teachers. In any case, we are not inclined to worry about the perils and uncertainties prevalent in the world.

Q. When one is a parent, wage earner, Assembly member, District Teaching Committee member, and involved in various other activities, time and energy grow thin. Being a parent of teen-agers in today’s world is very trying. Please give some guidance to a confused soul: which is the most important, teaching the Faith to a waiting world, or teaching on the homefront, that is, being available to your children or to the teaching committee?

A. Teaching the Cause and the development of Bahá’í family life are both goals of the Seven Year Plan. We cannot say one is more important than the other.

In fact, it will help us to look at them as complementary goals rather than competing goals. The creation of a loving, unified and happy family certainly requires our time and energy, but at the same time one’s family can be a powerful and attractive vehicle for teaching. Consider the following statement written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice:

“Another aspect of Bahá’í life emphasized in the provisions of the Seven Year Plan is the development of the Bahá’í family life. If the believer is the only one of his family who has embraced the Faith, it is his duty to endeavor to lead as many other family members as possible to the light of divine guidance.

“As soon as a Bahá’í family unit emerges, the members should feel responsible for making the collective life of the family a spiritual reality, animated by divine love and inspired by the ennobling principles of the Faith.

There are times in our lives when it may be necessary for us to decline certain committee appointments or assignments in favor of family responsibilities. There are also times when it may be beneficial to the Faith and to ourselves to accept such appointments.

When we feel pressured or confused by specific circumstances, we can always seek the guidance of an Assembly.

“To achieve this purpose, the reading of the Sacred Writings and prayers should ideally become a daily family activity. As far as the teaching work is concerned, just as individuals are called upon to adopt teaching goals, the family itself could adopt its own goals. In this way the friends could make of their families strong healthy units, bright candles for the diffusion of the light of the Kingdom, and powerful centers to attract the heavenly confirmations.” (Letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated April 17, 1981)

More than 150 attend St. Louis Human Rights Day observance

The Riverview Mansion House Center, overlooking the Great Arch, was the site last December 10 of a well-publicized Human Rights Day observance sponsored by the Bahá’ís of St. Louis, Missouri.

More than 150 Bahá’ís and their guests responded enthusiastically to the program, whose theme was “Human Rights—A Cry from the Heart.”

Dr. Harry J. Cargas, professor of literature and religion at Webster College, Webster Groves, Missouri, and member of the National Holocaust Memorial Commission, spoke of the importance of maintaining integrity of language for succeeding generations, quoting many contemporary authors who echo in various ways the teaching of Bahá’u’lláh that it is better to be killed than to kill.

Mrs. Billie Mayo, a member of the Bahá’í community of St. Louis who is a teacher in the St. Louis Magnet Schools, presented the thesis that human rights are God-given, not man-made.

England Dan Seals delighted the audience with his lively musical presentation of popular and Bahá’í songs, and, following refreshments and fellowship, shared the Bahá’í message with many of those present.

The Bahá’í children captivated the audience with their singing of several songs appropriate to the occasion.

The successful proclamation event was planned by an inter-community ad hoc committee and supported by seven Assemblies in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Five hundred invitations were mailed to civic leaders and others, while the Metro Media Council of St. Louis arranged newspaper, radio and television publicity.