The American Bahá’í/Volume 14/Issue 8/Text

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August, 1983

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[Page 1]

August 1983

American

The

Baha’i

SWIFT ON HEELS EXECUTION YOUNG BAHA’iS SHIRAZ ANNOUNCE DISTRESSING NEWS YET ANOTHER YOUNG SERVANT BAHA’U’LLAH THAT CITY, 24-YEAR-OLD SUHAYL HUSHMAND, HANGED 28 JUNE, BRINGING TO 142 TOTAL NUMBER BAHA’IS KILLED SINCE BEGINNING ISLAMIC REVOLUTION, NOT INCLUDING 14 WHO DISAPPEARED. FATE OTHER PRISONERS SHIRAZ IN BALANCE. URGE CONTINUE EFFORTS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, MEDIA.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

ATROCITIES MOUNTING AGAINST BRETHREN CRADLE FAITH, NOW DIRECTED TOWARDS DEFENSELESS VILLAGERS NEAR SARI IN MAZANDARAN. IN VILLAGE OF IVAL OVER 130 BAHA’[S INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE HELD CAPTIVE FOR 3 DAYS IN WALLED-IN OPEN FIELD WITHOUT FOOD AND WATER. WHEN PRESSURES TO RECANT FAITH ACCEPT ISLAM FAILED THEY WERE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. HOWEVER SAME NIGHT, JULY 1ST, THEY WERE ATTACKED BY VILLAGERS AND FORCED HIDE IN NEARBY FOREST.

FURTHER DISTRESSING NEWS TWO PROMINENT

One Baha’i hanged, 130 forced to flee homes

BAHA’IS TEHERAN, JAHANGIR HIDAYATI AND AHMAD BASHIRI, KIDNAPPED. APPEALS TO AUTHORITIES SO FAR UNHEEDED, ANY KNOWLEDGE THEIR ABDUCTION OR WHEREABOUTS DI ED.

URGE CONTINUE EFFORTS THROUGH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS, MEDIA.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE JULY 4, 1983

JUNE 30, 1983 Auxiliary Boards also present

Counsellors, National Assembly representatives meet at Temple

TO THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE | MEETING JULY 2 COUNSELLORS, TWO MEMBERS NSA, REPRESENTATIVES MAJOR COMMITTEES, AUXILIARY BOARD, GRACED PRESENCE MR. KHADEM, UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS. DETERMINATION MERICAN BAHA’i COMMUNITY FULFILL GOALS SEVEN YEAR PLAN AMIDST AVALANCHE TRAGIC NEWS FROM IRAN ADDED TO FIRM RESOLVE INSTITUTIONS TO EXTEND STRENGTHEN COOPERATION. HUMBLY REQUEST PRAYERS VICTORIOUS OUTCOME OUR JOINT ENDEAVORS. A VELMA SHERRILL FIRUZ KAZEMZADEH JULY 4, 1983

DEEPLY PLEASED OUTCOME JOINT MEETING REPRESENTATIVES BOARD COUNSELLORS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESENCE HANDCAUSE KHADEM. UNITED EFFORTS SENIOR INSTITUTIONS INSPIRING DIRECTING ENDEAVORS BELIEVERS THROUGHOUT UNITED STATES WILL ASSUREDLY HASTEN ULTIMATE VICTORY CAUSE THEREBY HEARTENING SUFFERING FRIENDS IRAN TO STAND FIRM FACE IMPLACABLE FOES. ASSURE YOU OUR FERVENT PRAYERS. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUS’ JULY 5, 1983

the presence of the Hand of the Cause of God Zikru’lláh Khadem. Attending were five Counsellors: Dr. Magdalene M. Carney, Lloyd Gardner, Dr. Sarah M. Pereira, Fred Schechter and Velma W. Sherrill.

Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, served as moderator.

Dr. Alberta Deas, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly and director of the Louis G. Gregory Baha’i Institute in South Carolina, also participated along with members of the National Education Committee, the National Teaching Committee, and 28 of the 30 Auxiliary Board members in this country.

The meeting, said Dr. Kazemzadeh, “was a most important occasion because it exemplified the spirit of cooperation among the institutions of the Faith in North America

“The joint commitment of the institutions to the campaign of

See MEETING Page 3

The annual meeting of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas and its Auxiliary Board members in the U.S, held the weekend of July 1-4.in Lincolnwood, Illinois, was unique.

The July 2 plenary session, held in Foundation Hall at the Baha’i House of Worship, was a joint meeting of representatives of the Board of Counsellors and the National Spiritual Assembly.

THE SESSION was graced by

Index

Viewpoint/Letters

Native American: In Memoriam.

National Spiritual Assembly launches campaign of unified action designed to win goals of Plan

With the second phase of the Seven Year Plan nearing its conclusion at Ridvan 1984, the National Spiritual Assembly has developed a campaign of unified action ‘‘designed to propel the community toward a victorious conclusion of the Plan.’”

THE CHIEF elements of this campaign, which is not a new “plan’’ and is not meant to replace any programs presently in

Congress rights caucus hears Dr. Kazemzadeh

Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, appeared June 28 before a congressional human rights caucus in Washington, D.C., to report on recent developments in Iran regarding the persecution of Baha’is.

Some 150 congressmen are members of the caucus, which was formed following the 1982 hearings on religious persecution around the world.

THE CASE of the Bahá’ís in Iran figured prominently in those hearings before the House Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations.

Afterward, concerned congressmen formed the bipartisan human rights caucus to keep alive the issue of religious persecutions and other violations of human rights.

The caucus holds periodic meetings to discuss and hear evidence of particular cases of human rights violations anywhere in the world.

Dr. Kazemzadeh was asked to bring caucus members up to date on developments in Iran since members of the National Spiritual Assembly presented testimony before the House subcommittee in May 1982..

The following is a summary of Dr. Kazemzadeh’s comments:

“The present Islamic regime in

See CAUCUS Page 4

place, are:

Baha'is in the greater Doylestown, Pennsylvania, area are sh ata memorial service held July 9, the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Bab, in memory of the most recent Baha’i martyrs in Iran. Jessamyn Lewis is extinguishing a candle, one of which was

honor each of the 16 Baha’is, 10 women and six men, who were

teaching programs are especially sound have been selected by the National Spiritual Assembly for special assistance from the Baha’i National Center.

© The concept set forth by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears that Local Spiritual Assemblies, District Teaching Committees and individual Bah: “vie with one another”’ in their ef See ACTION Page 3

hanged June 16 and June 18. The children are (left to right) Lars

Corliss and Bobby Cerruti. Adults are (left to right) Rita Leydon, Susan Cook, Scott Cook, Frank Cor , Marilyn Corliss and Kathy Cerruti.

Memorial services for 17 martyrs in Iran held on anniversary of Bab’s martyrdom

On Saturday, July 9, Baha’is i many hundreds of communities throughout the country gathered at memorial services to commemorate the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Bab and to pay tribute to the 17 Bahá’ís who recently sacrificed their lives for the Cause in Iran.

The 17, all of whom were hanged during the last two weeks in June, were among 85 Baha’ is ar

rested in Shiraz last fall.

IN THEIR ranks were 10 women, three of whom were teenagers.

At the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, more than 600 Bahda’is and their guests attended a solemn prayer service that preceded an address by Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary of the Na

See MARTYRS Page 26

[Page 2]The American Baha'i

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VIEWPOINT/LETTERS

Feast letter House of Worship: symbol of our unity

To the American Baha’i community Dear Friends:

The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette is a unique edifice. Its cornerstone was laid by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Who endowed it with a spiritual and historical significance that no other building on the American continent will ever possess.

Like a magic tent made of strands of pure light, the House of Worship spreads over our community, radiating beauty, tranquillity and love. The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is the spot from which voices rise in praise of God, the symbol of our unity, the visible sign of our dedication to the Cause.

THE MASHRIQU’ L-ADHKAR was the first national Bahd’f institution in this country. Its construction was a vast undertaking that brought the friends together under the leadership of a body appropriately named ‘Temple Unity’’ and carefully supervised by the Master and later by the Guardian.

The heroic efforts of the tiny American community to build the Temple led to the rise of the administrative order and the election of our first National Spiritual Assembly, inseparably binding the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and the other institutions of the Baha’i Administration.

For nearly half a century the House of Worship has been the center of our national community life. Its builders have become legendary figures, its influence has been felt over the entire world.

While the Temple’s essence is of the spirit, the building itself is material. Severe northern winters, great fluctuations in temperature, air pollution, and other impurities have taken their toll. The experimental nature of the structure and of some of the materials which were new to the construction industry 50 years ago, made the building particularly vulnerable.

THE TIME HAS COME for renovation. We will repair the damages inflicted, by time and return the House of Worship to its original condition.

Large sums of money will be needed. However, that need itself has given us the precious opportunity generously to contribute to the National Fund, the privilege of joining the ranks of the builders of the Temple, and the joy of participating in the sacred enterprise that was so dear to the hearts of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi.

Today once again we repeat the prayer revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Baha for all those who share in the building of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár:

O God! O God! We implore Thee with throbbing heart and

streaming tears to aid each one who strives in the erection of the

house of the Lord wherein Thy Name is mentioned at morn and eventide.

O Lord, send down Thy benediction on whosoever serves this

edifice and aids in the upraising of this Temple for the unity of

all sects and religions. Confirm him in every good deed among

mankind; open the doors of riches and wealth unto him; and

make him an inheritor of the treasures of the Kingdom which perish not; cause him to be a sign of giving unto the people; uphold him by the sea of Thy bounty and generosity which for ever surges with the waves of Thy grace and favor.

Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Bountiful, the All-Glorious!

—‘Abdu’l-Bahá With warm regards, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States

Corvallis Baha’is sponsor ‘fund run’

The Baha’i community of Corvallis, Oregon, sponsored a “‘fund run’’ May 22 that raised more

eel The American Babi’i

(USPS 042-430) Published monthly by the National Spiritual As. sembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091. Second class. postage paid at Wilmette, IL. Editor: Jack Bowers Associate Editor: David E. Ogron ‘The American Baha’i welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Faith. Articles should be written in a clear and concise manner; color or black and white glossy photos should be included whenever possible. Address all materials to the Editor, The American Bahá’í, Wilmette, 11. 60091.

than $1,000 in pledges for its intercommunity radio ads.

Twenty-one runners who ran quarter-mile laps on a track were sponsored by Bahd’j-only contributors who pledged X cents per lap.

The ten children who participated raised $350 in pledges. One fourth grader completed 22 laps, two second graders each ran 17, and one five-year-old completed 11 laps.

Certificates of appreciation indicating the number of laps completed and amount of money generated were presented to each of the runners at the next Feast.

Mrs. Corinne Rief (center), supervisor of the Mid-County branch of the Clayton, Missouri, public library, accepts a copy of the Spring 1982 issue of World Order magazine from Mr. and Mrs.

Henry Weil, Bahá’(s from Clayton. Copies of the magazine, which reported on the U.S. Congressional hearings on human rights, and in particular the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran,

were also given to the mayor of Clayton and the editor of the local newspaper, the Clayton Citizen, In addition, the library was.given a free one-year subscription to World Order.

Letters

Spiritual Assembly a ‘shining lamp’ whose light must be kept burning

To the Editor:

Do you know what a Spiritual Assembly is? Do you think it is simply an organization that keeps. records and arranges meetings and settles problems?

Listen for a moment to what ‘Abdu’l-Bahaé tells us an Assembly.

is:

“THESE Spiritual Assemblies are shining lamps and heavenly gardens from which the fragrances of holiness are diffused over all regions, and the lights of knowledge are spread abroad over all created things. From them the spirit of life streameth in every direction.”” (Quoted by the Universal House of Justice in its NawRúz message, 1974)

He doesn’t say that only perfect Assemblies are “‘shining lamps and heavenly gardens.’’ Once an Assembly is formed it becomesno matter how weak and immature—the vehicle through which the “spirit of life streameth’” forth.

How very precious is the vehicle that can contain the “‘spirit of life’; how carefully it must be cherished and protected. How inconceivable that we could be careless and neglectful of it.

It is true that sometimes an Assembly seems to be stumbling and not reaching its glorious station of a “divinely ordained institution.”’ We have only to remember what our beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, said so that we will be patient with the Assembly’s growth and development:

“The Baha’i Administration is only the first shaping of what in the future will come to be the social life and laws of community living. As yet the believers are on The American Bahd’( 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, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, TL 60091.

ly beginning to grasp and practice it properly. So we must have patience if at times it seems a little self-conscious and rigid in its workings. It is because we are learning something very difficult but very wonderful—how to live together as a community of Baha’fs according to the gloriéus Teachings.’ (Quoted by the Universal House of Justice in its NawRiz message, 1972)

THE Spiritual Assembly is the hub of the Bahdé’{ community. Each one of us must yearn to see the hub created and strengthened; cach one of us must strive to create that hub and to envelop ourselves in’a community.

If we are isolated or in a Group, we must not be content until we have brought the “‘spirit of life’” to our community.

If we are in an Assembly community, we must protect the life of the Assembly by whatever sacrifice may be ni

Once we understand the importance and divine station of the Assembly we will not carelessly or thoughtlessly leave it jeopardized. We will support it by teaching, by supporting its Fund, and by. helping to implement its plans.

We will encourage it by praising its efforts and by offering suggestions at Feasts. We will look

upon the Assembly as our Godgiven responsibility.

When we are able to perceive the Assembly in this way our Faith will be on its way toward achieving the destiny to which Bahá’u’lláh has called it.

Marion West Evanston, Illinois

To the Editor:

I have been a declared Baha'i for a year. My seven-year-old daughter is a second grader in a rural primary schoo] in Banks County, Georgia, a county of “Southern Baptists, Methodists and atheists,”’ according to the school’s principal.

Recently I presented a note requesting excused absences for Melissa on Baha’i Holy Days. The principal came to ask if I knew how this should be counted on her attendance record.

He presented the problem to the school superintendent, who insisted that there was a policy but could find nothing about it in the books. He had to call the state office for thelr policy!

There will now be a policy written for our county, which had never been confronted with this issue, stating that Holy Days of religions other than Christian will be excused absences, counted as an absence on the attendance record.

What a joy and privilege it is to be a pioneer in a small way for the Cause of God in my locale!

Sheila Parham Alto, Georgia

To the Editor: Imagine this: You are walking down a busy street one morning

See LETTERS Page 28

aa

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The American Baha'i

August 1983

Review committee should see non-literary Baha’i materials

In November 1982 the National Spiritual Assembly appointed a five-member Special Materials Review Committee to review all Baha’f-related non-literature materials intended for national distribution.

“The purpose of review,’’ the Universal House of Justice stated in its “Memorandum on Baha’i Publishing” of Ridvan 1971 (see Bah’{ National Review No. 121, January 1983), ‘‘is to protect the Faith from misrepresentation and to ensure dignity and accuracy in its presentation ...””

With the spread of the Faith to wider circles, and as it is becoming better known by the general public, it is especially important now that Baha’f-related materials produced by the friends present the Faith with proper dignity and accuracy, says Susan Engle, chairman of the Special Materials Review Committee.

“There are, for example,”’ she says, ‘‘standards for the display of

the Greatest Name and photographs of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá4, and for prayer book covers, greeting cards and cross-stitch samplers.

“Music that portrays the Faith should be appropriate and meet the standards of dignity and reverence enjoined by the beloved Guardian.”

It is necessary, says Ms. Engle, for the committee to review all ideas for the creation of non-literature items such as drawings, posters, buttons, recordings, jewelry, etc.

The committee will be happy to advise as to the suitability of any proposed items, and urges Baha’ is to submit materials for review before production begins.

Only materials intended for distribution on the national level need be submitted. Please send ideas or material samples to the Special Materials Review Committee, c/o Baha’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Meeting

Continued From Page 1

unified action is bound to release enormous energies within the Bahá’í community, and will undoubtedly lead to the achievement of every goal of the Seven Year Plan.””

Among the topics for discussion and consultation at the meeting were these:

¢ WHAT programs for strengthening Local Spiritual Assemblies are to be implemented—and are these to be collaborative or cooperative.

How could goals to stimulate

nationwide study of the Sacred Texts be better implemented.

¢ Is greater collaboration possible for the stimulation of Native American teaching.

What are major areas of con

Action

Continued From Page 1

forts to win every goal of the Plan.

“THE SEVEN Year Plan is there,” says Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, secetary of the National Spiritual Assembly. ‘‘All the preparations have been made. Everyone knows what we are supposed to do.

“‘Now, the National Assembly is simply trying to mobilize the community behind these programs and plans, many of which have been created by the community itself.”

The campaign of unified action, he adds, ‘‘must start at the National Center where there will be a concerted effort at unifying and coordinating activities.

“All committees and agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly will work closely together, thus releasing additional energy which otherwise would be absorbed in scattered activity. This will also result in monetary savings.”

Unified action in the field, says Dr. Kazemzadeh, ‘‘means that extraordinary efforts will be made to have intercommunity cooperation between Local Assemblies and District Teaching Committees, and to have a partnership between the National Assembly and its agencies and communities where successful teaching, proclamation and consolidation programs are already in place.”

THERE IS no time frame for the campaign, says Dr. Kazemzadeh:

“Tt will last to the end of the Seven Year Plan. It starts now and

continues until we have won all our goals.”

The House of Worship, the National Spiritual Assembly noted in a letter to all Local Spiritual Assemblies dated July 7 in which details of the campaign of unified action were announced, is ‘‘an edifice that has always been the spiritual centér of the American community.

“Millions of visitors have walked its steps, millions have come to associate its beauty and majesty with the name ‘Baha’i.’

“But years have taken their toll. The Temple must be thoroughly renovated so that it will continue proudly to serve as the greatest teacher of the Faith. Our very efforts to repair it will be inspiring and unifying.”

WLGI, the first Baha’i-owned and operated radio station in North America, the letter continues, “represents a major step forward in the fields of teaching and consolidation.

“‘We can confidently expect a vast increase in enrollments and a great strengthening of the Bahda’{ community in South Carolina to occur in connection with the development of the activities of the Institute that bears the name of a Hand of the Cause of God, a South Carolinian, a great teacher, and an inspiration to this generation of Baha’ fs.””

While the House of Worship is a “silent teacher,” says Dr. Kazemzadeh, the radio station “‘is in a sense what translates the Temple into words which will be sent to the rural population in South Carolina where direct contact is difficult, where sending The American Baha’i may not be effective, and where it is difficult to send

traveling teachers because there are perhaps 10,000 Baha’is out there in the state’s coastal plain.”

The radio station, he adds, “‘will consolidate that area, but will also attract larger groups of people to the Faith.

“It will provide community services with programs on hygiene, home economics, the arts and sciences. It will be a real enlightener and helper for Baha’is and non-Baha'is alike. This is an embodiment of the ideals for which the Temple stands.”

IN THE months to come Mr. Sears will be sending regular taped Feast messages in the form of brief radio broadcasts from the “future station’? WLGI.

Meanwhile, the National Spiritual Assembly invites Local Spiritual Assemblies and District Teaching Committees who have particularly successful programs in place to write for help, and promises that everything possible will be done to provide support from the National Center.

That support will include speakers, traveling teachers, literature, and in-person participation by members of the National Teaching Committee, the National Education Committee, and the National Spiritual Assembly itself.

The Continental Board of Counsellors is enthusiastically backing the campaign of unified action.

Auxiliary Board members, at a conference July 2 in Wilmette, greeted the announcement of the campaign with great joy.

“The Counsellors, the Auxiliary Board members, and their assistants,’’ says Dr. Kazemzadeh, “will be an indispensable resource in carrying out this program.””

Above left: Counsellor Velma Sherrill addresses the gathering at the House of Worship. Above right: Larry Bucknell, general manager of the Baha’i Publishing

cern to the National Spiritual Assembly and to which support and stimulation from the Institution of the Learned could be centered.

Also shared were ideas for encouraging understanding of the spiritual implications of (a) the Baha’i Funds and (b) the Baha’i electoral process; and for teaching programs that would ensure an

a P Trust, makes a presentation. Below: Counsellors and Board members accept complimentary carnations from the National Teaching Committee.

“unprecedented increase in th number of avowed adherents of the Faith ... from all levels of society.’”

Messages from the Universal House of Justice regarding the relationship of Auxiliary Board members to committees of the National Spiritual Assembly were reviewed and discussed.

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[Page 4]

The American Baha’i

4

ALFRED E. LUNT

The Green Acre Baha’i School in Eliot, Maine, owes much to Alfred Eastman Lunt, for without his expertise and guidance at a critical time in the school’s early history, the property might not be a Baha’ school today.

IT WAS during the winter of 1905, when Alfred Lunt was a law student at Harvard University, that Dr. Ali-Kuli Khan, who had been sent to the U.S. by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, spoke about the Faith at Harvard. Mr. Lunt was in the audience.

Although he had been involved in politics at Harvard as president of the school’s Republican Club and as president of the National Republican College League, Mr. Lunt realized that politics was incapable of solving the many problems of society or of uniting mankind on an international level.

He made a study of the Baha’i Faith, and not long afterward declared his belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

Following his graduation from the Harvard Law School, Mr. Lunt joined a well-known Boston law firm. In that same year, 1906, he was elected a member of the first Spiritual Assembly of Boston.

He was one of 39 delegates to the first Baha’i Convention held in Chicago in 1909, and later served on the executive board of the Baha’i Temple Unity and as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly from 1913-1937 (except for the years 1925-26) and as its secretary from 1922-24 and again from 1930-32.

FROM the beginning of his Baha’f life, Mr. Lunt had taken an active interest in Sarah Farmer’s work at Green Acre.

As Miss Farmer’s health worsened, the affairs of Green Acre came under the control of the Green Acre Fellowship where a

See LUNT Page 17

Continued From Page 1

Tran has unleashed a new wave of anti-Baha’i terror. In the last three years more than 150 Bahd’fs, virtually all of them belonging to the leadership, have been executed on various trumped-up charges.

“IN REALITY the hatred is based on the fact that the Bahd’{ Faith, a separate and independent religion, is seen as a challenge to the SI belief that Islam is the final religion and that Muhammad was the last Prophet ever to appear on earth.

“The hatred is further fed by Baha’i belief in the unity of mankind, the equality of races, the equality of sexes, universal peace, universal education, and the harmony of religion and science.

“The clerical regime has declared through the chief judge of the Islamic court of Shiraz that there is no place in Iran for Baháa’is.

“Since the U.S. Congress passed its concurrent resolution (September 30, 1982) the situation has not improved.

“There have been 27 executions, the latest having occurred on June 16 and 18 in Shiraz where six men and 10 women were hanged in spite of the appeal of President Reagan to spare their lives.

“OF THE 10 women, three were teen-age girls. Thousands of Baha’fs have been deprived of

Vernyce Dannells conducts a workshop session on ‘Baha’f Single Women’ during the first

Baha’is from a four-state area gathered May 8 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, for the first Baha’i women’s conference ever held in that state.

The day-long conference, entitled ‘Women: Confirming Our Baha’i Identity,’’ was sponsored by the New Jersey District Teaching Committee and planned by one of its task forces.

The keynote address, ‘‘Challenge to Women of the 80s,”” was given by Dr. Ann Carpenter of Englewood.

Participants chose from among

pensions, tens of thousands have lost their jobs, other thousands have left the country, becoming homeless refugees. Thousands of children have been denied an education.

“The Baha'is will continue to be harassed, maltreated, and killed in a country where the jail and the hangman’s noose have become common instruments of persuasion. “However, the suffering can be mitigated and lives can be saved if the public opinion over much of the world expresses its indignation and demands the cessation of terror against the innocent.

“American Baha’is hope that the U.S. government would take the lead in urging the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations to implement the resolution of March 7, 1983, of the UN Commission on Human Rights and intercede with the Islamic regime in behalf of the Baha’is.

“We hope that the U.S. will urge other nations to join in a campaign to prevent further executions and to stop religious persecution.

“‘We also hope that a way can be found to admit into this country a number of refugees who do not qualify under the categories presently open to Iranians.

“The attacks on the Baha’fs in Iran will continue. Much perseverance and patience will be need ever Bahd’{ women’s conference in New Jersey held May 8 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

First New Jersey women’s conference draws Bahda’is from a four-state area

seven workshops whose themes ranged from family communication to choosing and pursuing a career.

Evaluation sheets collected at the close of the conference indicated marked progress toward the goal of having participants leave with optimistic feelings about themselves and about the gifts that the Faith has to offer.

A “resource table’” sparked considerable interest in continuing the kind of support and sharing that went on during the day.

ed to carry on a humanitarian campaign halfway across the world.’”

The primary significance of the caucus, Dr. Kazemzadeh said

Human rights caucus hears Dr. Kazemzadeh

later, ‘lies in its capacity to focus the attention of the American public on the issue of human

rights.””

S.C. Baha’i named by governor to serve on board of The citadel

Alonzo W. Nesmith Jr., who is chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Charleston, South Carolina, and of the South Carolina Regional Teaching Committee, has been appointed to the board of trustees of The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina.

The 26-year-old Mr. Nesmith is the first black member of the state-supported college’s board of trustees and also its youngest member. He was appointed July 1 by South Carolina Gov. Richard W. Riley.

Mr. Nesmith, a 1979 graduate of The Citadel, received his master’s degree in hospital and health administration at the University of lowa. He is presently employed as administrator of the Medical University of South Carolina’s hospital in Charleston.

Prior to his appointment to The Citadel’s board of trustees, Mr. Nesmith mentioned his Baha’i affiliation to the governor and discussed some of the principles of the Faith with the governor’s ad

ALONZO W. /NESMITH JR.

ministrative assistant.

A large part of his work on the board will be to help implement the state’s desegregation plan through affirmative action designed to see that the school’s student body and faculty include racial minorities.

Jacksonville, Florida, Baha’i Explorers

sponsor booth at Scout World exhibition

The Baha’i College Awareness Exploring Post No. 548, which is chartered by the Spiritual Assembly of Jacksonville, Florida, in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America, North Florida Council, had a Scout World booth exhibited May 14 at the Jacksonville Naval Air Base.

The three-day Scout show drew 75,000 people plus 10,000 scouts from the 15-county North Florida Council area.

The Baha’s booth was in one of two giant airplane hangars with 200 other booths, each of which was manned by Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts or Explorers.

The Baha’is gave away free college literature and half of the Baha’i literature they brought with them.

Exploring is a co-ed branch of the Boy Scouts for young adults ages 14 to 21.

Explorer Post No. 548 has six adult committee members: scouting coordinator Duane Dumbleton; chairman Mary Dumbleton; Manouchehr Nadji; Marie Smith; adviser Joe Bencze, and associate adviser Bernadine Bolden.

The five Explorers in the club are Bahiyyih Dumbleton, Haleh Nadji, Elham Nadji, Thomas Smith and Kimberly Smith.

The Exploring program is in addition to the regular Baha’ youth program in Jacksonville which consists of Sunday classes, a Baha’i club at Florida Junior College, and other special activities.

Education in India subject of new film

““Baha’i Education in India,” a new film produced by ARK productions, New Zealand, for the National Spiritual Assembly of India and the Continental Board of Counsellors in Asia, is now available from the International Baha’i Audio-Visual Centre in Canada.

The 16mm 40-minute film documents several kinds of Bahd’{ educational efforts in India including those of the New Era School, the Glory School, the Rabbani Agricultural Academic School, village tutorial schools, and rural development and technological institutes.

The film costs $390 (U.S.) plus air parcel post charges. Please make check or money order payable to the International Baha’i Audio-Visual Centre,

Thornhill, Ontario L3T 2A1, Canada.

[Page 5]THE FUNDS

August 1983

5

Temple, WLGI prominent in campaign of unified action

As a result of the spirit released at the 74th Baha’i National Convention, the National Spiritual Assembly has initiated a ‘‘campaign of unified action” designed to bring the American Baha’i community to a dramatic and victorious conclusion of the Seven Year Plan.

‘THE campaign, which was fully outlined in a letter of July 7 to all

Local Spiritual Assemblies, focuses the community toward the challenges and _ responsibilities that will be our precious privilege to strive to achieve this year and during the remainder of the Seven Year Plan:

¢ Vying with one another in service to the Cause.

¢ Enrolling and deepening growing numbers of new believcrs.

Gregory Institute staff prepares for changes as fund drive for WLGI radio passes $200,000

As contributions to the radio station at the Louis G. Gregory Bahd’{ Institute pushed past the $200,000 mark, reports were coming in of work being done at the Institute to prepare for the many changes which the realization of the $1 million goal will produce.

THE MAIN thrust of the project is building and equipping station WLGI, but there are many other elements in that $1 million plan including expansion of office space, accommodations, food facilities, water treatment, and land development.

The staff at the Institute is preparing for the accomplishment of these plans by clearing the site for the radio tower; clearing and building roads through the property, including a road to the tower site; and conducting an extensive assessment of personnel needs, both for use now and in the future (for example,. many applications already have been received for positions with WLGI).

It is just as thrilling for the staff at the Louis Gregory Institute to hear of nationwide efforts to raise funds for the project as it is for us to hear of their preparations for the use of those funas!

Dr. Alberta Deas, director of the Institute, recently reported that many South Carolina communities have been holding fundraisers at almost every opportunity, so high is their anticipation of the rewards the radio station will reap for the Faith.

The friends in South Carolina have set themselves a goal of raising $50,000 for this endeavorand $10,000 of that has already been raised, according to Dr. Deas.

THE OFFICE of the Treasurer is eager to receive other such reports of efforts being made to support the project so that your story, in turn, can be passed along to the workers at the Gregory Institute and to the American Baha’i community.

As a fund-raising vehicle, the “Let’s Get Cooking” cookbook has proven to be un‘‘beat’’able (FLASH: ‘“‘Let’s Get Cooking’’ has just gone into a second printing!), and all communities are encouraged to host a fund-raiser that uses the book.

One community recently at

tended a Nineteen Day Feast to find that the hostess had prepared refreshments using only recipes from “‘Let’s Get Cooking.”

After her ‘‘endorsement’’ of the recipes and some enthusiastic taste-testing, 15 copies were sold in record time!

The friends should also be delighted to learn (as has been the ‘Treasurer's Office) that more than 80 per cent of the books purchased have brought in more than the $6 minimum.

IN FACT, many of the buyers have been quite generous, paying $150, $250, or even $500 for the book.

Every penny over the $3 cost of the cookbook goes directly to the radio station and Institute im

been gratifying. To facilitate local fund-raisers based on use of the cookbook,

any local community can write or phone the Office of the Treasurer and request an order of books on consignment.

As the cookbooks are sold, the money can be forwarded to the National Center. Please feel free to contact the office for details (it’s very simple).

For the second month, the Office of the Treasurer is pleased to feature a “‘recipe of the month’” for those of you who haven't had a chance to buy the cookbook yet—just to help you make up your mind.

This month’s recipe, a classic Persian dish, comes to us from Ghodsiyyih Jaafari of Minneapolis, Minnesota—remember that the book has a whole section of traditional Persian dishes for you to master.

A cookbook order form follows for your convenience.

KU-KU 1c. chopped parsicy 4 eggs 1/2 c. chopped green onion 1/2 ¢. oil 1/4 c. chopped spinach 1/3 tsp. salt 1 Tbsp. dry dill weed dash tumeric

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. black pepper

Beat eggs with mixer; add all ingredients ‘except oil and mix well. Heat oil in frying pan until hot, pour in mixture and turn heat to medium. Cover pan and let cook. After a reasonable time, 15-20 minutes, cut kuku into equal pieces and turn to finish cooking. HINT: Ku-ku is a traditional dish for Naw-Rúz and is usually served with a rice dish made with the same vegetables used in the ku-ku together with a delicious fried or

baked dish.

COOKBOOK ORDER FORM

Please send me

Enclosed is my check for S. ($6 minimum for each book)

Name: Address: City:

Make check payable to: National Baha’f Fund

State:

copies of ““LET’S GET COOKING!”

(WS. only)

Bah@’{ 1.D. No.

Zip:

(L.G. Gregory Inst. Radio)

Wilmette, IL 60091

Proceeds from the sale of ‘““LET’S GET COOKING!” will be used to promote the first North American Baha’i Radio Station at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute in South Carolina. At $6, you are making a contribution of $3 to this project—but you are encouraged to contribute as much beyond $6 per book as you would like in support of the Radio

Station!!

monetary challenge our community has ever faced—the realization of a $10 million contributions goal to accomplish all these plans.

THE SUCCESS of this ‘‘campaign of unified action” depends ultimately upon the response and support of the entire body of believers.

The accomplishment of its lofty goals is in the hands of the thousands of individual Baha’is who must come to understand their importance (o the success of this

campaign.

In the fall of 1981 the National Spiritual Assembly called for 20,000 individuals to pledge their support of the National Fund on a Baha’f-monthly basis—a goal of only one-fifth of the reported number of American Baha'is.

By May 1982 the number of individuals contributing to the National Fund had risen substantially, and, on the average, 6,000 individuals were giving.

That was the highest average reached—and it has not been maintained in recent months.

DURING the first four months of the current fiscal year, we have yet to reach even 4,500 individuals contributing directly to the National Fund—that, sadly, is only about one-fifth of the one-fifth!

And of all the statistics which the National Treasurer's Office monitors, the most telling is thismore than 8,200 individuals have have

F National Baha'i :

written to the National Treasurer’s Office pledging their support as “tone of the 20,000’’—and yet, of those, only half are actually making good that pledge!

The Baha’i Faith in America has emerged from obscurity, thrusting its membership into the assumption of a maturing role. The campaign of unified action is an expression of that maturityand such weighty goals would not have been placed before the American Baha’i community if the National Spiritual Assembly did not have full confidence that we can achieve them.

Likewise, the statistics that were shared in the preceding paragraphs would not have been shared so frankly if it were not felt that the American believers will be concerned and will care enough to react in @ positive manner,

There is no question that, ¢specially in the area of the National Fund, the challenges are awesome—it must be so if we are to achieve all our ambitious plans for this year.

AS SHOGHI Effendi said, “*..unless the flow of donations is regularly maintained ... the National Fund will never be able to meet the needs ... of the Cause.”’

The answer to all our concerns is simple—if only every Baha’ in this country will take up these

See FUNDS Page 23

140 BE. Moroy—Rebmat

ETE eon

Coen

GRR mf f

RECEIVED:

GOAL—$10,000,000

[Page 6]YOUTH NEWS

The American Baha'i

19 youth complete 1st all- American pilgrimage

An air of excitement abounded as 19 young men and women who comprised the first American AllYouth Pilgrimage, accompanied by their two chaperones, arrived June 5 at the Pilgrim House in Haifa to begin what would become the most meaningful nineday experience that most of them

"84 youth conference set in Ontario, Canada

An International Baha’i Youth Conference is being planned for August 24-28, 1984, at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.

There is limited space for 2,500 young people ages 14 to 24. The conference will be open to non-Baha’ ts.

Further details will be announced in future issues of The American Baha’j.

had ever had.

THE GROUP had arrived in Israel several days before and enjoyed a well-planned tour of much of the country.

The pre-pilgrimage expedition was thoughtfully conducted by a commercial tourism firm which took the group to such places as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho and Galilee.

In_ addition. to visiting several Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy places, their tour had taken them to Tiberias, on the Sea of Galilee, where they got a taste of the kibbutz lifestyle.

As hectic as had been the sightseeing schedule during those first days in Israel, the young people had decided through consultation that time would be set aside each day for group prayer, studying the Writings, and discussion.

Youth Committee prepares for final push as all Youth Plan goals near completion

The national Youth Plan, launched at the beginning of the three-year second phase of the Seven Year Plan, is close to being won!

As can be seen on the chart, most of the goals established can be expected to be won or exceeded. in the months ahead.

TO DATE, for instance, 472 youth clubs and committees have been formed with our goal targeted at 500.

As the fall semester approaches, the National Youth Committee is gearing up to help Baha’f College Clubs (all 292 of them!) in their teaching and proclamation programs on campus.

A key ingredient i in this effort is the institution of the Local Spiritual Assembly. The Assembly is the local sponsoring agency for the Baha’i College Clubs and its support is essential to the success of the teaching work performed by college clubs.

Campuses are superior resources for our Spiritual Assem

blies as they offer a community a unique environment in which to reach and enlighten open-minded students as well as leaders of thought and intellect.

Sponsorship of the clubs also gives Assemblies an opportunity to fulfill their responsibility to work with Baha’i youth—with youth who are taking the initiative.

AS BAHA'I College Club sponsors, the Local Assemblies’ function is to receive reports from the club, hold periodic discussions with club members and/or its board of directors regarding plans and policies, and provide guidance as necessary.

The National Youth Committee recently sent letters to all Spiritual Assemblies presently on record as sponsors of college clubs.

Those Assemblies that are considering sponsorship of a club in their area are encouraged to contact the National Youth Committee for complete details on the role of Assembly sponsorship. *

_THREE YEAR PHASE _

International Pioneers

|

_ International Travelling Teachers

Homefront Pioneers ss)

| boc

x

Everyone felt the need to establish group unity as well as to prepare for the priceless days of pilgrimage that lay ahead of them.

IT WAS precisely this level of maturity that was evinced by the young pilgrims from the early hours of their arrival in Haifa, when they first mingled with their international comrades, through

Out the duration of their stay.

Perhaps the clearest indication of that’maturity Was seen in the understanding that the youth displayed regarding the primary purpose of the pilgrimage itself.

Endless hours were spent in prayer and meditation at the Shrines, and several members of the group expressed their gratitude for the thoughtful structuring of the pilgrimage schedule which allowed ample free time ae seemed to be wisely spent by all.

It had not gone unnoticed by the youth that special bounties and bestowals were being constantly showered upon them.

FROM the initial welcome to the pilgrims, formally extended by the Universal House of Justice in the grand hall of its new permament Seat, to the addresses by the Hands of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khánum and ‘Ali Akbar Funitan, to the evening talks by various members of the World Centre staff, the

Some of the young Baha’fs from

the U.S. who were a part of the group of 19 participating in June in the first American All-Youth Pilgrimage to the Baha'i Holy

Shown in the House of Abdu’lláh P&sh& are the 19 young Bahd’{s and their two chaperones who participated in June in the first

topics of discussion were in large part specifically directed to the youth.

The outpouring of warmth, insight and knowledge so graciously

"phn aE

Places and World Centre in Haifa, Israel, discuss their itinerary outside the House of *Abdu’l-Baha,

American All-Youth Pilgrimage to the Baha'i Holy Places and World Centre in Haifa, Israel.

imparted to the group is not likely to be forgotten during the lifetimes of its members.

See PILGRIMAGE Page 7

37 more youth homefront pioneers needed by next Ridvan

Thirty-seven more youth homefront pioneers are needed before next Ridvan to meet the goals of the three-year phase of the Seven Year Plan.

While Ridvan may seem far off, it is only cight months away—so now is the time to consider serving the Faith in this unique capacity.

A homefront pioneer is one who moves to a goal area with the intention of staying in that locality until specific goals are met.

Baha'i youth can serve in the following ways:

Move to an area with a low

Baha’i population.

Start a Baha’i College Club at a school where one has not yet been formed.

Save a Baha’i College Club

that is in jeopardy by attending that college or university.

Start, save or help a College

Club designated as a goal due to the high attendance of American Indians.

The National Youth Committee keeps a list of goal colleges. Most current on the list of campuses in need of homefront pioneers are: Northeast

Community College of Fingerlakes, Canandaigua, New York; Wesleyan University, Middletown, Massachusetts.

Central Blackhills State College, Spear fish, South Dakota; Bemidji State University, Bemidji, Minnesota; Devil’s Lake Community College, Devil’s Lake, North Dakota; Haskell Indian Junior College, Lawrence, Kansas; Johnson County Community College, Overland, Kansas; South Dakota State University, Brookings; University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire; University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh.

South

Alabama Agricultural and Mining, Normal; Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma; East Central Oklahoma State University, Ada; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Northeastern Oklahoma State University, Tahlequah; Oklahoma State University, Stillwater; Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant; Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville; University of Texas at El Paso;

Walter State Community College, Morristown, Tennessee; William & Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia.

West

Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah; California State University, Long Beach; College of Ganado, Ganado, Arizona; College of Great Falls, Havre, Montana; Fort Louis College, Durango, Colorado; Idaho State University, Pocatello; Navajo Community College, Tsaile, Arizona; Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff; Phoenix College, Arizona; University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.

If you would like more information about any of these schools, please fill out the coupon and send it to the National Youth Committee office. We'll be happy to help you in relocating to a goal area.

YES! I am interested in serving as a homefront pioneer. Please send me some information about the following schooK(s): 0

Name Age

Address. Phone

City State Zip

Mail to: Bahd’{ National Youth Committee, Fort

Lauderdale, FL 33315, or phone the committee at 305-462-1919,

[Page 7][Settee a a a Rn RTT TTA TT eT]

YOUTH NEWS

7

August 1983

AZMINA HANNA

Young Santa Rosa Baha’i named best elementary student

Azmina Rashida Hanna, an 8-year-old third grade student who is a member of the Baha’i community of Santa Rosa, California, recently won the most outstanding elementary school student award from the Santa Rosa Teachers-Association.

Winners at the elementary, junior and senior high school levels received certificates of merit and their names were added to permanent plaques displayed at their schools.

Students are nominated for the awards by their teachers and chosen by a vote of the faculty. Criteria include helpfulness, caring, giving, and being the kind of student one would be proud to have as a son or daughter.

Azmina was one of two students at her school to win the award.

An honor roll student, she enjoys reading, playing handball, basketball and chess, and is learning to play the guitar.

Azmina received her award at a ceremony that was filmed by a local television station.

Northwest Regional Youth Conference is held in Oregon

A Northwest Regional Baha’i Youth Conference sponsored by the District Youth Committee of Northern Oregon was held March 25-27 at Camp Collins near Portland.

About 78 participants from four states heard special talks by Auxiliary Board members Margaret Gallagher and Paul Pettit and by Walter Heinecke, a member of the National Youth Committee.

Classes were conducted by Mitra Javanmardi (Excellence in All Things), Sky Lininger (The Seven Year Plan), Ann Blair (The Power of Divine Assistance), Lei Chapman (Firesides and Teaching), and Ernie and Judy Avecedo (Family Life).

Other activities included a talent show and dance emceed by Don Johnston, a Baha'i who is a radio announcer.

House of Justice calls upon Baha’i youth of world to redeem sacrifice of ‘courageous, steadfast youth’ martyred in Shiraz

On June 23 the Universal House of Justice, responding to the martyrdom of 16 Baha’fs in Shiraz, Iran, among whom were three youth and five believers in their early 20s, addressed the following message to the youth of the world:

TO BAHA’{ YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE WORLD:

RECENT MARTYRDOMS COURAGEOUS STEADFAST YOUTH IN SHIRAZ, SCENE INAUGURATION MISSION MARTYRPROPHET, REMINISCENT ACTS VALOR YOUTHFUL IMMORTALS HEROIC AGE. CONFIDENT BAHA’{ YOUTH THIS GENERATION WILL NOT ALLOW THIS FRESH BLOOD SHED ON VERY SOIL WHERE FIRST WAVE PERSECUTION FAITH TOOK PLACE REMAIN UNVINDICATED OR THIS SUBLIME SACRIFICE UNAVAILING. AT THIS HOUR OF AFFLICTION AND GRIEF, AND AS WE APPROACH ANNIVERSARY MARTYRDOM BLESSED BAB, CALL ON BAHA’i YOUTH TO REDEDICATE THEMSELVES TO URGENT NEEDS CAUSE BAHA*U’LLAH. LET THEM RECALL BLESSINGS HE PROMISED THOSE WHO IN PRIME OF YOUTH WILL ARISE TO ADORN THEIR HEARTS WITH HIS LOVE AND REMAIN STEADFAST AND FIRM. LET THEM CALL TO MIND EXPECTATIONS MASTER FOR EACH TO BE A FEARLESS LION, A MUSK-LADEN BREEZE WAFTING OVER MEADS VIRTUE. LET THEM MEDITATE OVER UNIQUE QUALITIES YOUTH SO GRAPHICALLY MENTIONED IN WRITINGS GUARDIAN WHO PRAISED THEIR ENTERPRISING AND ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT, THEIR VIGOR, THEIR ALERTNESS, OPTIMISM AND EAGERNESS, AND THEIR DIVINELY-APPOINTED, HOLY AND ENTHRALLING TASKS. WE FERVENTLY PRAY AT SACRED THRESHOLD THAT ARMY OF SPIRITUALLY AWAKENED AND DETERMINED YOUTH MAY IMMEDIATELY ARISE RESPONSE NEEDS PRESENT HOUR DEVOTE IN EVER GREATER MEASURE THEIR VALUED ENERGIES TO PROMOTE BOTH ON HOMEFRONTS AND IN FOREIGN FIELDS, CAUSE THEIR ALLWATCHFUL AND EXPECTANT LORD. MAY THEY MANIFEST SAME SPIRIT SO RECENTLY EVINCED THEIR MARTYR BRETHREN CRADLE FAITH, SCALE SUCH HEIGHTS OF ENDEAVOR AS TO BECOME PRIDE THEIR PEERS CONSOLATION HEARTS PERSIAN BELIEVERS, AND DEMONSTRATE THAT THE FLAME HIS OMNIPOTENT HAND HAS KINDLED BURNS EVER BRIGHTER AND THAT ITS LIFE-IMPARTING WARMTH AND RADIANCE SHALL SOON ENVELOP PERMEATE WHOLE EARTH.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE JUNE 23, 1983

Responding to this inspiring, galvanizing message from the Supreme Body of the Cause, the National Youth Committee sent an open letter to all Baha’i youth in the United States. Following is the text of that letter:

Dear Baha’i youth,

The momentous message from the Universal House of Justice addressed to the Baha’i youth throughout the world should cause each of us to pause and consider how we, as individuals, can best apply the direction from that august Body, how each of us can best serve the Cause, thus, in some small measure, redeeming the debt of our sisters and brothers in Iran.

EACH OF US has a part to play. Each of us must, if we are able to be faithful to the Covenant of Baha’u’llah, take special note of this message and consider ways to follow its guidance and inspiration.

The National Youth Committee is asking each youth to consider this urgent matter. What, you may well ask, can I do?

In our individual lives, we must consecrate ourselves to the task at hand—that of teaching the Faith as never before.

Let us call to mind the wishes of our National Spiritual Assembly when, at the beginning of the three-year phase of the Seven Year Plan, it addressed the youth of the United States:

“The freedoms we enjoy in North America enable us to proclaim our Faith and live the Baha’i life without fear. These freedoms enable us to prepare without hindrance for a future whose prospects are brightened or dimmed by what we who claim to possess the fruits of the Tree of Knowledge now do with our lives ...

“THUS, WE ADDRESS to you this urgent plea from the uttermost depths of our longing: that you, the Baha’i youth of today, take serious note of the vital challenges which a woefully troubled world present to enlightened followers of Bahd’u’ll4h and resolve to carry out to the full

the specific charge given to the youth by the Universal House of Justice, namely, that you teach the Faith, particularly to your own generation, among whom are some of the most open and seeking minds in the world.’””

May each of us be inspired by the sacrifices of the youthful Baha’is in the Cradle of the Faith, and may each resolve to carry out such deeds of service that will console the troubled hearts of these steadfast beleaguered believers.

Baha’i National. Youth Committee Charles C. Cornwell, secretary

Youth and other Baha'is in Laplace, Louisiana, participated recently in a free car wash sponsored by the Louisiana District Youth Committee. The young Baha’fs, each of whom wore a Baha’i T-shirt, washed about 70 to 80

They flew from Tel Aviv to Frankfurt, Germany, where they were divided into three teaching teams.

Under the guidance of several National Spiritual Assemblies, in collaboration with the U.S. International Goals Committee, these teams were to spend several weeks traveling and teaching throughout much of Europe.

Doubtless we will hear more

Pilgrimage Continued From Page 6

This fact, combined with the moving visits to the holy and historic landmarks of the Faith, not to mention the special first pilgrims’ visit to the House of ‘Abdu’ll4h Pasha and the memorable service commemorating the martyrdom of the Bab which was held in front of His blessed Shrine, will about their European endeavors serve to prepare this group forthe in future issues of The American years of service that lie ahead of Bahda’{. them in the Cause of Bahá’u’ll4h. = To sum up the nine days in Haifa, we quote the sentiments of one of the youth who attended: “Pilgrimage

The first service that these young men and women were called upon to render came immediately after the pilgrimage.

ye! ... What more can be said?”’—David Hoffman

by | % * q i These young Bahá’ís performed an original play, ‘The Count Declares,’ directed by Azita Nezhad (fourth from right in back row) during a post-Convention report

June 12 in Gassaway, West Virginia. The event was arranged by the West Virginia District Teaching Committee.

[Page 8]EDUCATION

The American Baha'i

Education Committee names 88 LEAP coordinators

Eighty-eight people have been appointed by the National Education Committee to serve as district coordinators for the Local Education Adviser Program (LEAP).

Specific responsibilities of the LEAP district coordinators are:

to introduce new people to the

program;

to encourage the ongoing

work of advisers;

to convene workshop meetings;

LEAP provides child education materials and strategies to individuals who then serve as education advisers in their local communities. Advisers also help plan and carry out special district-wide events for children and youth.

The program is open to Local Spiritual Assemblies, Groups and isolated believers. Spiritual Assemblies that do not have advisers are encouraged to appoint individuals for training.

These individuals, or the Assembly secretary, would then contact the LEAP district coordinator in their area to arrange a “‘training’’ meeting. (Interested candidates who live in an Assembly area are requested to obtain permission from their Assembly before contacting the LEAP coordinator about becoming an adviser.)

LEAP district coordinators and their telephone numbers are listed below:

Arizona, N: Georgia Howardell, 602-979-3983. Arizona, S: Chris Dillon, 602-432-5115. Arkansas: Lisa Wheeler, 501-7584857.

California, Cl: Kathleen Kelley, 415-333-2157 (San Francisco north), Missy Martin, 408-7280795 (Corralitos south). California, C2: Maureen Rezac, 209-2987296. California, Nl: Barbara Stahl, 916-344-3704.

California, N2: Carol Leo, 707725-2421. California, S1: Paula Amaya, 213-535-2648 (South Gate), Shahrzad Masroori, 213

School addresses sought for new ‘directory’

Addresses of community and intercommunity Baha’i schools are needed to create a “‘directory’” of such schools, thereby provi the opportunity for individual school committees, staffs, etc., to correspond on matters of mutual concern—curriculum planning, financing, housing, and so on.

The directory is being compiled

The editorial board of Brilliant Star magazine held its semiannual meeting in May in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to discuss the progress this children’s periodical has made and to make plans for the future. The plans are then submitted to the National Education Committee for its approval. Much time was spent devising ways to increase subscribership. Efforts to

under the auspices of the National Education Committee. Any school that would like to participate in such a directory and receive a copy when it is completed is asked to send its mailing address to the Glad Tidings Baha’i School, c/o Mrs. Beth Borland, 105 Canabury Court, Little Canada, MN 55117.

establish an endowment fund for the magazine are in full gear (see The American Bahá’í, March 1983) with the monies being invested by the Office of the Treasurer. Reactions to the new name and format were discussed, and so far have been quite positive. The editorial board would like to share your comments with the friends.

353-5212 (Sunland), Robin Moore, 213-677-4406 (Inglewood), Elaine Offstein, 213-9639580 (Glendora).

California, $2: Isabel Kaupang, 714-793-8225. California, $3: Mary Severns, 805-643-5293. California, S4: Juliana Wyatt, 619275-2603.

Colorado, NE: Mary Sadighian, 303-770-1190. Colorado, SE: Pari Samandari, 303-593-8587. Colorado, W: Mary Wilson, 303259-3625. Connecticut: Marjorie Blizard, 203-423-5803.

Florida, C: Sherry Czerniejewski, 305-830-6865. Florida, N: Harriet Stafford, 904-377-6428. Florida, SW: Sharon McCord, 813-866-0863.

Georgia, NE: Nora Nasseh, 404-790-1736. Georgia, NW: Rouha Sobhani, 404-393-9379. Idaho/Washington: Janet Potter, 509-328-1632. Idaho, S: Joan Jaceks, 208-322-8672.

Illinois, Ni: Susan Wagner, 815-756-8611. Illinois, N2: Sandra Clark, 312-996-6728. Illinois, S: Bradley Wright-Hulett, 309-2665786. Indiana: Kimberly Isherwood, 317-298-3429.

Towa: Rebecca Jensen, 319-3775651. Kansas: Susan Herrmann, 913-685-3287. Kentucky: Sally Wiley, 512-227-7427. Louisiana, N: Linda Hubbart, 318-868-9969. Louisiana, S: Kate Simmons, 504865-8160.

Maine: Stan Corbett, 207-8392438. Maryland/D.C.: Samantha

Please direct letters to the secretary, Janet Richards, Yardville, NJ 08620, with permission to publish. Board members are standing left to right) Debbie Bley, Mimi McClellan, Keith Boechme, editor Mary K. Radpour, and (seated left to right) Janet Richards, art director Rita Leydon.

Mee a:

LEAP district coordinators attending a regional coordinator conference July 2-3 in Salinas, California, one of six such con Corre, 301-552-2680. Massachusetts: Sylvia Andross, 413-4433282 (Pittsfield west), Judy Orloff, 617-543-9886 (Foxboro east).

Michigan: Rob Voigt, 517-3711414. Minnesota, N: Terry Stephens, 218-547-1209. Minnesota, S: Daniel Martin, 612-6895380. Mississip) Lorean Hubbard, 601-857-5693.

Missouri: Kristen Bringe, 314783-5021. Montana: Denise Massman, 406-442-1332. Nebraska: Kern Wisman, 308-534-5684. Nevada, N: Wendy Thomas, 702273-2953. Nevada, S: Carolyn Hensley, 702-385-7650; Diane Shaffer, 702-642-8850.

New Hampshire: Sally DiMauro, 603-225-4772. New Jersey: Sharon Karnick, 201-3610445. New Mexico, N: Anna Scott, 505-298-8831. New Mexico/Texas: Verna Zuttermeister, 505-396-3094.

New York, E: Bettina Marlow, 518-692-7694 (Greenwich north), Patricia Huebner, 516-669-9312 (North Babylon south). New York, W: Dennis Smith, 716-6686649.

North Carolina, C: Cindi Williams, 919-679-2133. North Carolina, W: Robert Pickering, 704433-4407. North Dakota: Little Brave Gilland, 701-235-1018. Ohio, N: Katrina Hatfield, 216257-4280. Ohio, S: Julie Brown, 614-891-4872.

Oklahoma, E: Lynette Johnson, 405-762-5529. Oklahoma, W: Cynthia Van Kley, 405-771-5274, Oregon, E: Virginia Storey, 503276-6356. Oregon, W: Barbara Ann Blair, 503-653-5901 (Milwaukie north), Star Stone, 503673-3737 (Roseburg south).

Pennsylvania, E: Barbara Kurtz-Cornman, 215-676-4043, Pennsylvania, W: Janet Greene, 412-538-9341. South Dakota: Marinell Rhine, 605-224-0336.

ferences to be held this summer for the child education program sponsored by the National Education Committee. Tennessee, E: Ruth Donaldson, 615-894-4429. Tennessee, W: Joyce Block, 615-758-0307.

Texas, Cl: Rhea Kester, 512392-9816. Texas, C2: Naghmeh Fly, 915-697-5991. Texas, El: Kathryn Carmichael, 214-2213106; Susie Rogers, 214-692-0119. Texas, E2: Bonnie Wilder, 713521-6692. Texas, N: Barbara Parker, 806-293-3030. Texas, S: Steve Ramirez, 512-381-0617.

Utah: Marva Davis, 801-9676680. Vermont: Dawn Staudt, 802-295-2387. Virginia, N: Roger Davis, 703-997-5722. Virginia, S: Ann Samuelson, 703-985-0774. Washington, NW: Misty Williams, 206-821-7902. Washington, SW: Marina DeMerritt, 206-7958610 (Cathlemat south), Juliet Gentzkow, 206-426-0619 (Shelton north).

West Virginia: Diane Grych, 304-425-3444. Wisconsin/Michigan: Valerie Konopacky, 715-3416933. Wisconsin, S: Jo Welter, 608-251-2643. Wyoming: James Vaughan, 307-234-9079.

Bosque Farms flyers draw dozen responses

Twelve seekers, one of whom later declared her belief in Baha’u’llah, responded to a recent series of flyers mailed by the Baha’i community of Bosque Farms, New Mexico, to each of the 1,200 homes in that city,

Three flyers, each of which was prepared under the guidance of the Spiritual Assembly of Bosque Farms, were sent to every home.

The first flyer contained a general introduction to the Faith. The second dealt with appreciations of the Faith, and the third addressed the principle of loyalty to government.

Several of those who responded are continuing to attend firesides.

ngs SS SS SSS SS SE I

[Page 9]EDUCATION

August 1983

9

Study outline on Creative Word is presented

To the American Baha’i community Dear Baha’f friends,

The National Education Committee is pleased to share with you the following outline on the Creative Word.

The outline, which was prepared by Brent Poirier, refers to five books of Bahd’u’ll4h’s Writings that are presently available from the Baha’i Publishing Trust, indicating the significance of each.

We hope these brief comments will attract each of our hearts and inspire us to study thoroughly one or more of these precious volumes.

With warmest love, 5

National Education Committee °

Using the Creative Word of God

In its message of January 1981 to the Baha’fs of the United States concerning the second phase of the Seven Year Plan, the Universal House of Justice called upon the friends to:

“Pursue a nationwide campaign, with emphasis on the use of the Creative Word, designed to inspire every believer to live the Baha’i life, thus demonstrating to their fellow-countrymen the beneficent effects of the Baha’i way of life achieved through adherence to the Teachings of Baha’u’Il4h.”” *

1. Study of the Creative Word

In the Bab’s greatest doctrinal work, the Persian Bayan,? He unfolds the station of studying the Creative Word:

“Indeed any man whose eye gazeth upon His Words with true faith well deserveth Paradise; and one whose conscience beareth witness unto His Words with true faith shall abide in Paradise and attain the presence of God; and one whose tongue giveth utterance to His Words with true faith shall have his abode in Paradise, wherein he will be seized with ecstasy in praise and glorification of God, the Ever-Abiding, Whose revelations of glory never end and the reviving breaths of Whose holiness never fail. Every hand which setteth down His Words with true faith shall be filled by God, both in this world and in the next, with things that are highly prized; and every breast which committeth His Words to memory, God shall cause, if it were that of a believer, to be filled with His love; and every heart which cherisheth the love of His Words and manifesteth in itself the signs of true faith when His Name is mentioned, and exemplifieth the words, ‘their hearts are thrilled

with awe at the mention of God’ (Qur’4n 8:2), that heart will become the object of the glances of divine favor and on the Day of Resurrection will be highly praised by

The following quotations may help the friends to appreciate the significance of studying some of the major works of Baha*u'llah.

2. The Kitab-i-Aqdas

The Guardian has referred to the Aqdas as ‘‘the brightest emanation of the mind of Bahá’u’lláh,” and as ‘the Mother Book of His Dispensation,”’ and as ‘‘the Charter of His New World Order.’’* Of it, Bahd’u’ll4h Himself has written:

“Blessed the man who will read it, and ponder the verses sent down in it by God, the Lord of Power, the Almighty.

“Blessed the palate that savoreth its sweetness, and the perceiving eye that recognizeth that which is treasured therein, and the understanding heart that comprehendeth its allusions and mysteries.

“Blessed those who peruse it! Blessed those who apprehend it! Blessed those who meditate upon it! Blessed those who ponder its meaning!” *

3. The Kitáb-i-fqén

The beloved Guardian stated that the {gan ‘‘occupies a position unequalled in the entire range of Baha’i literature, except the Kit4b-i-Aqdas.”” © He has designated the {qan as ‘‘foremost among the priceless treasures cast forth from the billowing ‘ocean of Bahd’u’llh’s Revelation.” ”

Speaking of the fqan, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says: “Refer to it, so that you may be informed of the truth of the divine mysteries.”

In the {qn itself, Bahá’u’lláh states what will be the benefit of reading it:

««...all the Scriptures and the mysteries thereof are condensed into this brief account. So much so, that were a person to ponder it a while in his heart, he would discover from all that hath been said the mysteries of the Words of God, and would apprehend the meaning of whatever hath been manifested by that ideal King.”’ ° 4. The Hidden Words of Bahi’u’llih

The beloved Guardian stated that the rank of The Hidden Words is next to that of the fqdn,"° and that it is Baha’u’llah’s greatest ethical work. He describes The Hidden Words as “‘that marvelous collection of gem-like utterances’’ ' and as ““dynamic spiritual leaven cast into the life of

the world for the reorientation of the minds of men, the edification of their souls and the rectification of their conduct.””

The Master has counseled the believers as follows:

“Read ye The Hidden Words, ponder the inner meanings thereof, act in accord therewith?

“Baha'u'llah has revoiced and reestablished the quintessence of the teachings of all the Prophets, setting aside the accessories and purifying religion from human interpretation. He has written a book entitled The Hidden Words. The preface announces that it contains the essence of the words of the Prophets of the past, clothed in the garment of brevity, for the teaching and spiritual guidance of the people of the world. Read it that you may understand the true foundations of religion and reflect upon the inspiration of the Messengers of God. It is light upon light.” '*

5. The Seven Valleys

The beloved Guardian states that the Seven Valleys may be regarded as Bahá’u’lláh’s ‘‘greatest mystical composition.”’ '° The following excerpt from a letter written on behalf of the Guardian may be helpful in this connection: the core of religious faith is that mystic feeling which unites man with God. This state of spiritual communion can be brought about and maintained by means of meditation and prayer ... The Baha’i Faith, like ail other Divine Religions, is thus fundamentally mystic in character. Its chief goal is the development of the individual and society, through the acquisition of spiritual virtues and powers.’’ '”

In an address in the United States, the Master made the following statement:

“It is my hope that you may consider this matter, that you may search out your own imperfections and not think of the imperfections of anybody else. Strive with all your power to be free from imperfections. Heedless souls are always seeking faults in others. What can the hypocrite know of others’ faults when he is blind to his own? This is the meaning of the words in the Seven Valleys. It is a guide for human conduct. As long as a man does not find his own faults, he can never become perfect. Nothing is more fruitful for man than the knowledge of his own shortcomings.” '*

6. Tablets of Bahi’u’llh revealed after the 'Kitáb-i-Aqdas The beloved Guardian referred to certain

of the Tablets contained in this book as “the most noteworthy” of the Tablets Bahd’u’ll4h revealed after the Aqdas, as “mighty and final effusions of His indefatigable pen,” and as ‘‘among the choicest fruits which His mind has yielded.” ? Of these same Tablets, ‘Abdu’l-Baha has written:

“Read, with close attention, the Tablet of Tarazat (Ornaments), Kalimat (Words of Paradise), Tajalliydt (Effulgences), Ishragat (Splendors), and Bisharat (Glad Tidings), and rise up as ye are bidden in the heavenly teachings.”

“We hear that the Tablets of Ishraqdt (Splendors), Tarazat (Ornaments), Bisharat (Glad Tidings), Tajalliya4t (Effulgences), and Kalimat (Words of Paradise) have been translated and published in those regions. In these Tablets will ye have a model of how to be and how to live.” *

REFERENCES 1. The Seven Year Plan, Baha’i Publishing Trust: Wilmette, 1981, p. 22. 2. Referred to as such by the Guardian, God Passes By, p. 25. 3. Selections from the Writings of the . 99.

S

Questions, Baha’i Ee DES Trust: Wilmette, 1981 edition, p. 289.

9. The Kit&b-i-iqan, Bahá’í Publishing Trust: Wilmette, p. 237.

10. God Passes By, p.

11. God Passes By, p.

12. God Passes By, p.

13. God Passes By, p. 140.

14. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, p. 35.

15. The Promulgation of Universal Peace, Baha’i Publishing Trust: Wilmette, 1982 edition, p. 86.

16. God Passes By, p. 140.

17. Spiritual Foundations: Prayer, Meditation, and the Devotional Attitude, Baha’i Publishing Trust: Wilmette, 1980, p. 14.

18. The Promulgation of Universal Peace, 1982 edition, p. 244.

19. God Passes By, p. 216.

20. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, p. 35.

21. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, p. 79.

The Green Acre Baha’ School has adopted as its symbol a pine tree drawn by Mrs. Christine Heady of Greenville, Maine. A contest to choose the school symbol drew 20 entries from the U.S. and Canada. ‘Pine trees have been associated with Green Acre since its founding 94 years ago this summer,’ says school administrator Dick Grover, ‘and they continue to play an important role in the school’s activities in addition to beautifying the campus.’ On nearby Mount Salvat stands ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s pine, so named because on His visit there in 1912 the Master stood near that tree and spoke of the future importance of that hill and of Green Acre.

September 3-5

Association sets conference for Northeast at Green Acre

The Association for Baha’i Studies’ Northeast Regional Conference, to be held September 3-5 at the Green Acre Baha’i School, will feature a wide variety of speakers and topics.

Dr. Elsie Austin will speak on the life of Alain Locke, the first black Rhodes Scholar and a Baha’, while Dr. Jane Faily, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, will speak on international development and

Change in the Muslim-Arab World), Dr. Ethel Martens (A Baha’i Approach to Health Development), Dr. A.M. Ghadirian (Coping with Stress in the Modern World), Henry Ouma (The Eco . nomic Interdependence of Coun tries), and Brian Aull (The Baha’i Faith and 20th Century France).

Pre-registration is suggested, and day students are welcome.

For more information or to preregister, contact the Green Acre Baha’i School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903, or telephone 207-439-0019.

Archives seeks original Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha

The National Baha’i Archives Committee is seeking to locate, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, original Tablets from ‘Abdu’l-Baha to the following early Baha’is: Miss Elizabeth Ambrose, Mrs. Liby Biedler, Miss E.T. Dreyton, James B. Estey, Mrs. Louise Gibbons and E. Maria Hay.

Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of these or any other original Tablets from ‘Abdu’l-Baha is asked to contact the National Baha’i Archives, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, TL 60091.

[Page 10]Fe segs OSe ae a SUN ORS ERS RIT NL AGH SSRN A GOR Se PSL a a | TEACHING 10

The American Baha’i

Th . = ‘,omefront |U-S. has goal of teaching Faith to Gypsy peoples pioneer Ina letter to the National Spiri- the Baha’is may find points of — the need for parental consent be- They are the American Gypsy tual Assembly dated March 10, agreement with some of them. fore marriage, as well as gover- Organization (Indiana), the Gypsy

jomefront pioneer from Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Kendall, Montana from 1910 until his death in 1963.

The homefront pioneer

Homefront pioneer goals are prioritized by the National Teaching Committee according to the Seven Year Plan and the needs of the country. These are: move to mass-taught areas, save or form Local Spiritual Assemblies, move to sparsely populated states, strengthen Groups.

The emphasis of the Seven Year Plan is to form and develop Local Spiritual Assemblies. Homefront pioneers can offer their experience toward this area.

Mass-taught areas

During the late 1960s and early 1970s many Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed through various methods of mass teaching. Today, some of these ‘‘masstaught’? Assemblies are functioning, although many haye not had the opportunity to be properly nurtured and trained, due to a lack of people to do this.

By moving to a mass-taught area, you will have the opportunity to work with people who have become Baha’is but have not been deepened in the Faith. Your presence there will stimulate activity.

It will take patience and love to bring a mass-taught Assembly through the steps of learning what a meeting is, learning how to meet, what to meet about, and to foster a Baha’i atmosphere of care and interest that is necessary. Many mass-taught Assemblies can be developed through working with the children, as the children of many of the early mass-taught believers are now active Baha'is and show an increasing interest in the progress of the Faith.

In ‘all districts where mass teaching was done, the District Teaching Committees are well developed and skilled at handling problems posed by the numerous mass-taught Assemblies. These District Teaching Committees lack manpower to accomplish all they wish. A homefront pioneer who is deepened in all aspects of the Faith can offer invaluable assistance to the growth of the Faith in these areas.

Mass-taught Assemblies are our

See HOMEFRONT Page 11

1982, the Universal House of Justice gave the U.S. Baha’i community the additional goal of reaching the Gypsy peoples with the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

This has been a goal in Europe for some time, since Gypsies have long been recognized as a significant minority there.

AN ARTICLE by Ian F. Hancock of the University of Texas in the Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups notes that there are about 500,000 Gypsies in this country, with the largest concentrations in New York, Vi ginia, Illinois, Texas, Massachusetts and the three Pacific Coast states, California, Oregon and Washington.

According to Mr. Hancock, the largest groups represented in the U.S. are the Rom of eastern and southern Europe, the Romnichals of Great Britain, and the Boyash of Rumania.

In Los Angeles and Chicago, the number of Rom alone totals 15,000 and 10,000, respectively.

One of the greatest obstacles our Baha’i community needs to overcome in undertaking the task of sharing the Faith with Gypsies is the accumulation of myth and suspicion that characterizes our conception of them.

The history of discrimination against Gypsies in this country is long and unfortunate, often the result of stereotypes that have scant basis in fact.

THIS difficulty is increased by the jealously guarded privacy of the Gypsies themselves. Their reticence in sharing ideas and customs and their reluctance to mix freely with non-Gypsies has led to much fanciful speculation.

In fact, this reluctance stems from a strong desire to protect the values that are so important to the maintenance of their society, and

In an effort to help the friends in teaching among the Gypsies, the National Teaching Committee has consulted with two Baha’is of Gypsy heritage: Joseph Galata of Sparks, Nevada, and Mrs. Lucrecia Gomez of Chicago.

Mr. Galata stresses that those Bahá’ís who are eager to teach Gypsies must first educate themselves about their history, traditions, culture, religion, laws and codes.

He feels that the most acceptable teachers would be older women, preferably of Iranian or European background. He suggests that the history of the Central Figures of the Faith be shared first, as Gypsies may relate best to this aspect of the Faith initially.

MR. GALATA counsels caution in the use of materials from libraries or articles from magazines and books, as they have been written by non-Gypsies and contain much incorrect information.

It is also important, he adds, to bear in mind that the majority of the Gypsies in the U-S. are of European background, though there are some of Latin or Turkish background here as well.

Mrs. Gémez, who is originally from Colombia and was an Auxiliary Board member in Venezuela, spoke of the necessity of approaching Gypsies through business transactions, as this is one instance in which they are willing to deal with non-Gypsies.

She said that, in general, it is difficult to associate with them on a social basis because they have no desire to be with non-Gypsies unless it is absolutely necessary.

Commenting on points of agreement between Gypsies and Bahda’is, Mrs. Gomez mentioned the strict standards of chastity and

Placing library books a service all communities can render

A teaching project that even the smallest Baha’i community might consider is placing a display of Baha’i books in the public library.

With the persecutions in Iran in the news, the President’s statement and large ads in many newspapers, the name ‘‘Baha’i’’ has become familiar to almost everyone in the U.S.

Many people do not know, however, that information about the Faith can be found at their public library.

The National Teaching Committee has a kit of foreign language books that is perfect for library displays. Included are 10 books, some valued at $5 or more, in German, Dutch, Esperanto, Basque, French and Portuguese. The price of the kit is only $15.

After displaying them at the library (some displays stay up for a month or more), the books can be donated to the library, a nearby university, or sold to individual Baha’fs in the community.

A library display is a good project for a children’s class, for Baha’i youth, or for a friendship team.

It’s also a good: time to investigate the number of Baha’i books

’ in the library, offer new books to

the librarian, perhaps submit information about the persecutions in Iran, or check out a Baha’i book yourself.

For your foreign language book kit, simply send $15 to the National Teaching Committee, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

nance by a council similar to the Spiritual Assembly in some Gypsy. groups.

Among the first steps that the friends should take in approaching Gypsies is to begin learning about them.

Mr. Hancock, in his article, mentions several Gypsy organizations in this country whose aim, among other things, is to educate the non-Gypsy population.

Cultural Program (Washington state), the Pennsylvania Gypsy Alliance (Philadelphia), and the Gypsy Society of Chicago.

The friends are encouraged to contact these organizations for valuable information. Along with this knowledge, the friends should endeavor to acquire a respect and appreciation for the integrity and cultural diversity of the Gypsy people. f

month.

Adult

Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho

Illinois Indiana

Iowa

Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada

New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania © Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas

Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Washington, D.C.

a

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me OOO RM WE HAWOVO=RONORNISHH OOH OCONEE HE HOR NOR NASCO= HONS

3

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For the month of June there is a vast difference in enrollments rather than a vast increase. The total enrollments for May were 364 while the June figure is almost one-third of that at 137.

The ‘‘summer slump” is well known in the Baha’i community. Families go on vacation, students return home from college, and many youth have summer jobs. Light enrollments in consistently heavy enrollment states such as California, South Carolina, Florida and Texas can be depressing, but can also highlight teaching efforts in smaller states. The small Baha’i community in Vermont, for example, can be proud of its two enrollments this

Large, energetic teaching campaigns can also make a big difference. Next month, as a result of the Amoz Gibson campaign, look for a large increase in numbers in South Dakota.

Total figures for the month of June are:

ADULTS—100. YOUTH—37.

TOTAL—137.

Youth Total 1 1 2 4 Lt 0 0 10 26 pee 0 1 ea |) 0 0 0 0 6 0 2 0 1 1 10 0 2 ‘i 0 1 1 1 1 2 “0 1

1 2

1 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 m4 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 2 2 1 8 1 3 ma 30) 13 ‘ 0 0 1 3 1 1 me 7. 3 2 0

> x 4 ll oe. 0 0 0 3 ic 7 0 1 1 2 0 3 » 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 oO 1 37 137

[Page 11]August 1983

ee ———————_ —_——_—_ TEACHING

11

‘Friendship teams’ use diversity to heighten joy of teaching Faith

Exactly what does a ‘‘friendship team’’ do? According to reports received at the National Center, almost anything one can name.

The FUN part of being a member of a friendship team is the unlimited number of activities open to you.

FOR example, a friendship team in Jacksonville, Florida, is wonderfully diverse in makeup and activities.

In a letter to the National Teaching Committee dated July 10, they say:

“The team has a balance between young and old, experienced and inexperienced, minority and non-minority, Assembly members and non-members, male and female, timid and bold, etc. ...their goals will be to host firesides and deepenings and to teach in the extension goal of St. Augustine.””

Being friends, helping more timid members of the community, teaching as a TEAM, it’s all a part of being a friendship team.

Another example of the unity and diversity of Baha’i friendship teams is the one in El Centro, California. It has a member of Mexican background, one of Persian background, and one of American background. Ld

Some of their activities, are teaching in the Valley, ping other communities hold Nintteen Day Feasts, and hosting a regular fireside once each Baha’i month.

The El Centro team got off toa great start by having breakfast with the Bahá’ís in Calexico. That’s called being FRIENDS.

If your friendship team as a victory to report, an idea to suggest, or’hasn’t yet reported to the National Teaching Commiftge, be sure to write soon. ‘

And remember, no one is elected secretary of a friendship team. Friendship teams are for teaching the Faith and being friends.

Books are mailed

In March 1983 the Spiritual Assembly of Charleston, West. Virginia, completed a mailing of the book A Cry from the Heart to more than 200 U.S. government officials and West Virginia dignitaries. The books were sypplied by Dr. Cyrus Mali, a member of the Charleston community,

In its cover letter, the Assembly stated: x

“*Who can imagine what greater violence would be directed against the Baha’ is if Iran were ignored by the rest of the world? Ouy yoices do make a difference, for when individuals stand together in support of human rights and the freedom of religion, an ocean of human sentiment and moral persuasion is created which can engulf and put an end to this persecution.””

Nine replies have been received so far including those from several senators and congressmen.

|e SS SERIE RSS

Teaching Committee has four new members

Following are brief biographical sketches of the new members of the National Teaching Committee:

Dr. Eugene Andrews is a resident of Westchester County, New York, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who holds a PhD. in organizational behavior from Syracuse University.

After his retirement from the military, Dr. Andrews joined the staff of General Electric Company’s Management Development Institute where he is presently manager of executive education. He became a Baha’ in 1974 and has served on a Local Spiritual Assembly and a District Teaching Committee.

Jerry Bathke, who holds a Doctor of Law degree from the University of Chicago’s law school, is director of Indian Affairs for the Atlantic Richfield Company.

Mr. Bathke has been extensively involved in Indian-related activities since 1966 when he served as a VISTA volunteer on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. He and his family live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Dr. Tahirih Foroughi, presently living with her family in Reno,

Homefront Continued From Page 10

first priority because of the potential that is there. It is a fertile ground for continued teaching, besides having the potential for an immediate Baha’i community. As those believers who were ‘‘masstaught”’ begin to speak out in the Faith and offer their unique and valuable perspectives, the diversity of voice and interest in the faith is assured and our national community becomes enriched.

Jeopardized Assemblies

A jeopardized Local Spiritual Assembly is an Assembly that has fewer than nine members. It must be saved at all costs.

District Teaching Committees meet with jeopardized Assemblies in an effort to help them with teaching plans. A jeopardized Assembly should concentrate all its energies on removing itself from jeopardy.

As a homefront pioneer to an area with a jeopardized Local Spiritual Assembly, you will help ri that Assembly from being lost.

~ It is ideal, of course, for an

Assembly to be saved through enrollments, and plans and ideas have been shared with all Local Assemblies so that this can become realized. However, in many instances enrollments are not forthcoming. A homefront pioneer who moves to help one of these Assemblies offers experience and a working knowledge of the institutions of the Faith to this soon-to-grow community.

Nevada, is an associate professor of accounting at the University of Nevada-Reno. In addition to serving on the National Teaching Committee, she is an assistant to an Auxiliary Board member and secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Reno.

Dr. Foroughi has authored many papers and articles on subjects related to the Faith, and has made two presentations at conferences sponsored by the Association for Baha’i Studies.

Charles C. (Cap) Cornwell continues to serve as secretary of the National Youth Committee. Currently living in Plantation, Florida, Cap, who has a bachelor’s degree in business administration, is self-employed. A Baha’i since 1968, he has served the Faith since that time in capacities too numerous to list here.

Three of last year’s members have been reappointed to the National Teaching Committee: Juana Conrad of Glendale, California, an administrator in the Los Angeles County court system; Dr. Keyvan Nazerian, a medical research scientist who lives in East Lansing, Michigan; and Robert

Preferred goal Groups

An Assembly forming for the first time can form.any time during the year, but if an Assembly has existed in that locality before, it can only form at Ridvan.

Preferred goal GroupsGroups of seven or more believers—are a prime target for homefront pioneers. Many of these Groups are extension teaching goals of Local Assemblies. Again, a homefront pioneer can be of valuable assistance in helping it to develop as an active, creative, united Local Spiritual Assembly.

Sparsely populated states

The Universal House of Justice has given us this goal: ‘‘Endeavor to increase the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies and localities in those states where their number is relatively small, thus achieving a more balanced distribution.” Those states, as identified by the National Teaching Committee, are:

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, lowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming.

In many of these states traveling distances present a problem. Yet one will find that the friends are very close in spirit, often traveling hours, even overnight, to attend Baha’i events. The District Teaching Committees often labor against almost impossible odds as they plan and organize teaching events in the remote towns and valleys.

The National Spiritual Assembly has appointed as members of the National Teaching Committee for 1983-84 (left to right) Eugene Andrews (Peekskill, New York); Robert G. Wilson (Wilmette, Ilinois), secretary; Juana Conrad (Glendale, California); Dr. Keyvan Nazerian (East Lansing, Mi Wilson, formerly of Seattle, Washington, and now of Wilmette, Illinois, an artist and writer.

Some of the states are more industrialized and are in need of deepened Bahda’is who can teach and effectively build the administrative order. A homefront pioneer can help with these valuable responsibilities.

Groups

Baha’i Groups are the “‘solid foundation’? upon which future Local Spiritual Assemblies will be built. Offering your skills to a Baha’i Group will speed its journey toward becoming a Divine insti

chigan), chairman; Jerry Bathke (Albuquerque, New Mexico), vice-chairma:

(Reno,

(Cap) Cornwell (Fort Lauderdale, Florida). Mr. Cornwell also is secretary of the National Youth Committee.

The committee’s officers are

Dr. Nazerian, chairman; Mr. Bathke, vice-chairman; and Mr. Wilson, secretary.

tution.

If you have to move because of school or job, you are a potential homefront pioneer. You should contact your Local Assembly immediately, fill out a homefront pioneer application, and submit it to the National Teaching Committee office.

Wherever you move, there will be a need to serve as a homefront pioneer in one of the capacities listed above.

Boone, N.C., teaching project nearly doubles community size

At a meeting early in June, the Spiritual Assembly of Boone, North Carolina, decided that the time had come to arise and bring in unprecedented numbers of new believers in that community.

At the close of the meeting, a phone call was received from traveling teachers who had helped coordinate teaching activities in California and were offering their services in western North Carolina.

The Assembly gratefully accepted the offer, and a training session was held the following

evening.

The next day, Sunday, 11 Baha’is were divided into four teams and went to teach, primarily in the black areas of Boone and at two trailer parks.

By the end of that day there were nine declarations. The following weekend, during a consolidation visit, a friend of one of the new Bahá’ís declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

Within a week, the size of the Baha’i community in Boone was almost doubled, and the new Baha’is add age and racial diversification to a community that historically has been composed mainly of white college students and recent graduates.

‘Decade of growth’

launched in Oregon

On May 1, the Bahá’ís of eastern Oregon sent a message to the Universal House of Justice bearing a unanimous decision by the friends attending the first teaching conference in the newly formed district to launch a “‘decade of growth’’ in eastern Oregon.

The Baha’fs there have pledged as their goal a 1 per cent Bahd’{ population in the district before the 100th anniversary of the Ascension of Bahd’u’ll4h, May 29, 1992, and are challenging all other districts in the U.S. to strive to be the first to achieve that goal.

[Page 12]RACE UNITY

12

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

Baha’is from many backgrounds attend historic ‘To Move World’ race unity conference in Seattle

Baha’fs from a variety of racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds drew closer together June 17-19 at an historic conference at the University of Washington in Seattle that was held in memory of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory.

The guest speakers at this ‘‘To Move the World Conference,’’ which was organized by an ad hoc committee appointed by the Spiritual Assembly of Seattle, were Dr. Roy Jones, a member of the national Race Unity Committee; Auxiliary Board members

Reggie Newkirk and Jim Schoppert; Gayle Morrison, author of To Move the World, the biography of the Hand of the Cause Louis Gregory; and Anthony Lewis.

Saturday morning workshops were conducted by Mr. Newkirk (Embracing Minorities, a Perspective on Teaching), Mr. Schoppert (Custom and Heritage, Their Place in the Baha’i Faith), and Phil Lucas of Issaquah, Washington (Images of Who We Are, from the Native American Perspective).

Separate sessions were held for

youth (Drama, Dance, Music by the Southern California Youth Group) and children (Understanding Racial Harmony Through the Arts, Tony Pike, coordinator).

Entertainment was provided by singers Charlotte Easely and Karen St. James, and by Ives & Joe.

On Sunday morning, the two Auxiliary Board members were joined by Mr. Lewis and Mrs. Morrison for a panel discussion of the “‘most challenging issue,’’ as the beloved Guardian referred to the problem of race relations in this country.

Over 100 children attend Race Unity Fair in D.C.

More than 150 people from the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area including more than 100 children participated June 12 in a Children’s Race Unity Fair at American University in Washington.

The fair was organized by the Baha’i community of Washington to educate children and their parents in an entertaining and thought-provoking manner on the principles of race relations, emphasizing the beauty found in the diversity of hues and cultures that make up the human race.

Children’s workshops taught principles of race unity with puppetry, clowns, arts and crafts, international dances, drama, and creative speaking.

The fair was open to and attended by children from many backgrounds.

That evening, more than 200 people attended a play adapted from the children’s book The

Baha’i children perform a play adapted from Winifred Barnum Newman’s children’s book, The Secret in the Garden, during a Children’s Race Unity Fair held

Secret in the Garden by Winifred Barnum Newman.

The 20 Baha’ children who performed had rehearsed the play for

June 12 at American University in Washington, D.C. The children rehearsed the play for more than six months.

more than six months. Local Bahá’{ musicians wrote and performed the music.

Special children’s classes slated at S. Carolina

Special children’s classes will be offered during the Race Amity Conference to be held October 14-16 in Charleston, South Carolina, according to Dr. Alberta Deas, secretary of the sponsoring South Carolina Regional Teach ing Committee.

Dr. Ann Rowley of Athens, Georgia, an educational specialist, has been asked to coordinate the all-day children’s program on Saturday, October 15. Classes will be provided for children ages 5 to 14.

Race Amity Conference

Parents are urged to pre-register their children early so that plans can be made to accommodate the number of children who will be attending the conference with their parents.

RACE AMITY CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM (Sponsored by the South Carolina Regional Teaching Committee)

‘Name. Address. ‘Statens is oh is Zipcode.

Baha’i 1.D. number.

OCTOBER 14-16, 1983 Spouse.

City. Telephone number( _).

Guests,

Please complete the space below if children will be accompanying you. All children under 17 years of age

must have an adult sponsor. Name(s).

Address (if different from above).

SPAER eee ee ae COURSE Mail to: Deborah Nesmith, registrar, 78 Asiiley Hall, Plantation Road,

Adult sponsor. City.

Telephone number(__).

A-35, Charleston, SC 29407.

bad, New Mexico, joined forces in June with the Eddy County chapter of the NAACP for a Race Unity Day picnic attended by 36 people. As a follow-up, the Baha’ fs of Carlsbad and the NAACP are

The Spiritual Assembly of Carls

making efforts to arrange talks to discuss their common goals, and the NAACP has issued an Invitation to all local Baha’fs to join that organization. (Photo by Curtis C. Wynne)

Flint, Michigan, sends 510 reprints of Master’s NAACP talk to residents

The Baha’i community of Flint, Michigan, observed Race Unity Day in June by mailing to 510 prominent residents of that city a reprint of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s address April 30, 1912, before the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Chicago.

Included was a cover letter giving the background of Race Unity Day and stating in part:

“Our purpose in sending this. talk to you, with the heartfelt

Some of the more than 100 people who attended a Race Unity Day picnic sponsored in June by the

hope that you will give it your most thoughtful attention, is to activate a chain of empathy, beneficence, and goodwill which, radiating out from you, will so permeate the social consciousness as to become a powerful factor in the abolition of those negative and destructive forces which presently threaten us all.’”

The Flint community reports that several favorable verbal and written responses have been received.

Bahá’{ community of Adrian, Michigan.

More than 100 people participate in Adrian Michigan, race unity picnic

More than 100 people from a variety of backgrounds _participated June 20 in a Race Unity Day picnic in Adrian, Michigan.

In addition to games, dancing, and a potluck lunch of ethnic dishes, Dr. June Thomas, an associate professor of urban planning and urban affairs at Michigan State University, spoke on “The Baha’i Viewpoint of Racial Unity.”

Mayor Alden F. Smith of Adrian proclaimed it ‘‘Race Unity Day’’ in that city. Although he was unable to attend the picnic, a city commissioner was present.

Media coverage included articles in local papers and an editorial in the Daily Telegram that cited the Baha’fs by name while pointing out the destructive influence of prejudice and discrimination.

[Page 13]IGC: PIONEERING

August 1983

Native American Baha’i visits Scandinavia Following the fifth International Convention in Haifa, Chester Kahn, a member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, undertook a teaching trip to Finland, Sweden and Norway.

He began the trip with a onehour talk to 60 art students at a Finnish university. The meeting was arranged by two U.S. pioneers to Finland.

FOLLOWING this productive beginning, a young man from Sweden came to Finland to escort Mr. Kahn to the annual convention of the Samis (the native people of Sweden).

Invited to speak at the convention, he brought greetings from the Baha’is and then spoke about the similarities between the Samis and American Indians.

He was able to meet many prominent Sami people, a number of whom are leaders in their communities.

While in Sweden, Mr. Kahn

participated in the first of nine press conferences he was to have while visiting Lappland.

Afterward, he returned to Finland, going further north this time to Romakey and visiting more Baha’i pioneers along the way.

At Inari, which was next on his agenda, Mr. Kahn met with 60 English students. When he had finished speaking, the students didn’t want to leave. Their teacher encouraged them to study the Faith, saying it is a good religion.

IN EACH town in Finland, Mr. Kahn found the people quite receptive to the Faith, and he had many opportunities to teach.

From Finland Mr. Kahn took a bus to Norway where he stayed with a Sami couple by the North Sea where at certain times of the year it is light 24 hours a day.

He visited many people who know pioneer Lynn Hippler. who accompanied him, and visited a farm in Luftjokdalen.

Goals Committee needs travel information IMPORTANT NOTICE! If you are planning to travel outside the continental United States and wish to contact Baha’is, please inform the INTERNATIONAL GOALS COMMITTEE several weeks in advance, if possible, to obtain the necessary addresses and any other information

that might be helpful to you.

If you are planning an international Baha’i teaching trip of whatever duration, please contact the INTERNATIONAL GOALS COMMITTEE at least two months before your date of departure, if possible, to ensure that your trip runs smoothly and is of the most service to the Baha’fs. Write to: International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Cen ter, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Shown with International Goals Committee staff members and Auxiliary Board member Thelma Jackson are the 30 Baha’ {s who attended a Pioneer Training Institute held June 23-26 at the Baha’i National Center. The speakers included the Hand of the Cause of God Zikru’lláh Khadem; Glenford

- Pi us E. Mitchell, a member of the Uni versal House of Justice; Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary of the Na tional Spiritual Assembly; and Miss Jackson. The Bahá’ís were making plans to pioneer to Costa Rica, St. Lucia, American Samoa, Liberia, Upper Volta, Fiji, Tonga,

In Kautokeino, Mr. Kahn and his companion had a three-hour visit with Berit Bongo Gaino, a Sami Baha’ who is a psychiatric nurse.

Mala, Alta and Quevi were next on the itinerary. In all these places Baha’is are isolated and traveling is expensive, but everyone wanted to hear about the Faith, especially from a Native American.

Mr. Kahn ended his visit by flying back to Oslo where he took part in a large meeting with Baha’is and their guests.

Chester Kahn, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, inspects a tepee frame at the Sami museum in Norway during his visit last May to Norway, Finland and Sweden following the fifth Baha’i International Convention in Haifa, Israel.

World pioneer goals remain to be won ip Ridvan

By CATHY GIEBITZ

“Mankind is dying for lack of true religion and this is what we have to offer to humanity.’”

How often have these words of the Universal House of Justice (March 1981 to the Baha’is of the world) come to our minds?

AS WE struggle onward, each contributing his small share to the teaching work, we know that we

A }

f

the Central African Republic, Mexico, and South Africa. Also participating in the institute were representatives of the Spiritual Assemblies of Sacramento, California, and Omaha, Nebraska, and the District Teaching Committee of Northern Virginia.

are doing it for the love of Bahá’u’lláh.

And each time we read the words of the Guardian, or hear one of our beloved Hands of the Cause stirring our hearts to greater levels of devotion, we cannot help but ask ourselves, ‘What more would You have me do, Bahá’u’lláh? What doors can You open? Where lies the path for me to serve You better?””

Dear friends, the end of the second phase of the Seven Year Plan approaches in eight months’ time. While that part of overseas goals specifically assigned to the U.S. has been filled, the worldwide pioneer goals assigned by the Universal House of Justice in November 1981 must be completed by Ridvan 1984.

There are countries in Asia, Africa, Australasia, the Americas and Europe where believers must go, where the greatest needs are for pioneers.

In Citadel of Faith (p. 117), Shoghi Effendi definitively states the needs of the Cause when he says, “‘Such a steady flow of reinforcements (pioneers) is absolutely vital and is of extreme urgency ...””

EVERY DAY we see our fellow-believers arising, attempting

to achieve that ‘“‘prince of all goodly deeds’’—pioneering.

And still we must call for more believers to do the same. As the Universal House of Justice has written:

“In the meantime we call on all believers everywhere to prayerfully consider their personal circumstances, and to arise while there is yet time, to fill the international goals of the Plan ...

“This must be done at all costs. No sacrifice, no deferment of cherished plans must be refused in order to discharge this ‘most important’ of the many ‘important’ duties facing us.”” (Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, pp. 89-90)

The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears has pointed out to us that “‘it was Baha’u’llah, remember, who raised the call to pioneering, not the National Spiritual Assembly, or the Hands of the Faith, or our supreme Universal House of Justice, or the beloved Guardian, or even the Master, but Baha'u'llah.

“THAT’S Whose call we answer when we arise to pioneer ... Nothing can enrich a human life and give it meaning and satisfaction as the act of arising to

See PIONEER GOALS Page 22

A note to business travelers

The International Goals Committee is interested in hearing from individuals who frequently travel internationally on business. Please complete this form and return it to the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

FREQUENT TRAVELERS

Name Address Home phone

Foreign languages spoken

Business phone

[Page 14]

PAGINA HISPANA

14

Al formar los grupos de amistad se promueve unidad del hombre

iQué es un grupo de amistad?

Un grupo de amistad es un grupo de tres o mds Baha’is que trabajan juntos para ensefiar la Fe. Por lo menos un miembro del grupo debe pertenecer a una minoria étnica (de coior, indigena, hispano, persa, asidtico, etc.). {Cual es su propésito?

Basicamente, el propésito de un grupo de amistad es ayudar el progreso de la Fe. Trabajando en grupos pequefios, podemos animar uno al otro a mayor servicio a la Fe. iQuién puede formar un grupo de amistad?

jCualquier! Puede comunicarse con otros Baha’i y formar su grupo o pedir a la’ Asamblea Espiritual local que ayude la comunidad a formarlos.

De cualquier manera, asegurese que la Asamblea esté enterada de que el grupo de amistad se ha formado. Y avisala de sus planes y actividades.

iY después?

Ya formado el grupo, se puede comenzar un numero sin fin de actividades. Sin embargo, la primera debe ser el establecimiento de charlas hogarefias (‘‘firesides’’) regulares. A cada grupo de amistad se pide patrocinar una charla hogarefia. Nuestra meta nacional es tener, 1,500 charlas hogarefias patrocinadas por grupos de amistad.

Human rights workers in St. Louis present at Baha’i memorial

Two, prominent workers in the field of human rights, both friends of the Faith, participated with Baha'is in the greater St. Louis, Missouri, area July 9 in a memorial service for the most recent martyrs in Iran.

Larry Carp, an attorney specializing in immigration law, decried the tendency of mankind to “purify itself’ through persecution of the innocent.

Dr. Harry Cargas, a professor of religion and literature at Webster University and a member of the National Holocaust Memorial Commission, personally contacted national organizations concerned with human rights in an effort to enlist their support in publicizing the cruelties inflicted upon Baha’is in Iran.

Dr. Cargas prepared a news release sympathizing with the plight of the friends in Iran which was sent to major news outlets by the National Holocaust Memorial Commission, and wrote an article for the op-ed page of the Los Angeles Post in which he defended the innocent Baha’i victims of Iranian terror and violence.

The memorial service, which drew a standing-room only audience, was covered by KMOXTV in St. Louis.

Grupos de amistad pueden ...

Ayudar el Comité de Ensefianza del Distrito (DTC) en su

trabajo.

¢ Conducir clases para los nifios.

¢ Ayudar a la Asamblea con el trabajo en la comunidad que ha adoptado como meta de enselanza extensiva.

Patrocinar eventos sociales.

Estas son unas actividades sugeridas para su consideracién. Encontraré que la potencial de un grupo de amistad no tiene limite.

Deben consultar entre si y, con la direccién dela Asamblea, empezar sus actividades. Pero tenga en cuenta que su primer meta es faiableves charlas hogarefias regu Grupos de amistad ayudan para consolidacién.

Grupos de amistad también ayudan el desarrollo de la unidad dentro de la comunidad Baha’i. Ello puede ocurrir de varias maneras:

Unidad en Diversidad—Se pide que cada grupo tenga por lo menos un miembro de una minoria étnica. Esto logra dos cosas: (1) nos ayuda a aprender més el uno sobre el otro y sobre otras culturas. Al trabajar juntos, aprendemos a sacar lo mejor de cada cultura y asimilarlo en una cultura Baha’i; (2) tener los grupos de amistad con miembros de diferentes razas y culturas nos permite demostrar a los interesados el concepto Baha'i de la unidad en diversidad.

Unidad de Accién—A\ trabajar juntos, crecemos juntos. Ensefiar la Fe es una accién que nos trae confirmaciones divinas. Por lo tanto, cuando ensefiamos juntos, las bendiciones de Bahá’u’lláh nos harén una comunidad mas fuerte y unida.

Unidad de Pensamiento—Al trabajar juntos, llegamos a conocernos mejor. Y mientras aprendemos més de los talentos y capacidades de cada uno, podemos desarrollar y usarlos de la mejor manera para la Fe y el individuo. Cuando logramos la unidad de Ppensamiento, comenzamos a trabajar como una unidad en vez de un grupo de individuos. Y disfrutamos mas de la vida en la comunidad Baha’f.

Mujeres, jovenes entre dieciséis nuevas victimas ejecutadas en Iran

A todas las asambleas espirituales nacionales Queridos amigos babi’ is,

Hace pocos dias la Casa Universal de Justicia ha enyiado los mensajes siguientes por cable a asambleas espirituales nacionales seleccionadas, y ha pedido que se compartan los textos con ustedes. CON GRAN PESAR COMUNICAMOS NOTICIAS EJECUCION POR AHORCA AVANZADAS HORAS NOCHE 16 JUNIO EN SHIRAZ OTROS SEIS VALIENTES SIERVOS CAUSA:

DR. BAHRAM AFNAN, MEDICO DESTACADO, 48 ANOS; MR. BAHRAM YALDA’f, ESTUDIANTE, 23 ANOS; MR. JAMSHID S{YAVUSHI, COMERCIANTE, 39 ANOS; MR. ‘INAYATU’LLAH ISHRAQ{, OFICIAL JUBILADO COMPANIA PETROLERA, 60 ANOS; MR. KURUSH HAQBIN, TECNICO ELECTRICISTA, 27 ANOS; MR. ‘ABDU’L-HUSAYN AZADI, EMPLEADO MINISTERIO SALUD, 60 ANOS. GRAVEMENTE PREOCUPADOS VIDAS DEMAS PRISIONEROS AMENAZADOS ESTAR SUJETOS A SEMEJANTE DESTINO SI REHUSAN RENUNCIAR FE Y ABRAZAR EL ISLAM. ESTE TRATO DESPIADADO POR FANATICOS QUE AHORA TOMAN RIENDAS JUSTICIA, EN SUS MANOS, DESAFIANDO OPINION PUBLICA MUNDIAL, EXIGE CONSIDERACION ESPECIAL POR GOBIERNOS Y PERSONAS PROMINENTES HACER MAXIMOS ESFUERZOS PREVENIR CONTINUACION TALES ACTOS QUE VIOLAN PRINCIPIOS JUSTICIA Y DERECHOS HUMANOS:

FAVOR COMPARTIR NOTICIAS OFICIALES GOBIERNO, MEDIOS NOTICIEROS.

CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA

SIGUIENDO MONSTRUOSA EJECUCION SEIS BAHA’{S EN SHIRAZ 16 DE JUNIO, OTRO CRIMEN HORROROSO FUE PERPETRADO POR AUTORIDADES AQUELLA CIUDAD CON AHORCAMIENTO DIEZ MUJERES INOLanrEs NOCHE DEL 18 DE JUNIO. ELLAS SRA. NUSRAT YALDA’I, 54 ANOS, MADRE DE BAHRAM, AHORCADO 16 DE JUNIO; SRA. ‘IZZAT JANAMI ISHRAQI, 50 ANOS, ESPOSA DE “INAYATU’LLAH, AHORCADO 16 DE JUNIO; SRTA. RU’YA ISHRAQ{, POCO MAYOR DE 20 ANOS, HIJA DE SENORA ARRIBA MENCIONADA; SRA. TAHIRIH S{YAVUSHI, 32 ANOS, ESPOSA DE JAMSHID, AHORCADO 16 DE JUNIO; SRTA. MUNA MAHMUDNIZHAD, 18 ANOS, HIJA DE YADU’LLAH, EJECUTADO 12 DE MARZO; SRTA. ZARRIN MUQIMI, MENOR DE 25 ANOS; SRTA. SH{RIN DALVAND, POCO MAYOR DE 20 ANOS; SRTA. AKHTAR THABIT, 19 ANOS; SRTA. S{M{N SABIR{, POCO MAYOR DE 20 ANOS; SRTA. MAHSHID NIRUMAND, 18 ANOS.

LA EJECUCION DE ESTAS MUJERES SIN CULPA EN NOMBRE DE LA RELIGION DEBE

A todas las asambleas espirituales nacionales

Queridos amigos Baha’is,

La Casa Universal de Justicia anuncia con agrado ¢l nombramiento de los siguientes Consejeros Continentales:

En Africa: Sr. Gila Michael Bahta, Sr. Kassimi Fofana. En las Américas: Sr. Shapoor Monadjem. En Australasia: Sra. Joy Stevenson.

Con amorosos saludos baha’is,

Departmento de Secretaria 27 de junio de 1983

INDEFINIDO.

SACUDIR CONCIENCIA HUMANIDAD. ELLAS FUERON ARRESTADAS A CAUSA DE ACTIVIDADES EN COMUNIDAD BAHA’I, INCLUYENDO EDUCACION DE JOVENES.

SIGUIENDO LARGO INTERROGATORIO EN PRISION FUERON AMENAZADAS CON SER EXPUESTAS A CUATRO SESIONES EN LAS CUALES LAS PRESIONARIAN A RENEGAR DE SU FE ACEPTAR EL ISLAM Y EN LA CUARTA SESION AL NO HABER FIRMADO DECLARACION DE RECANTACION PREPARADA, SE LES MATARIAN. TODAS HAN PREFERIDO MORIR EN VEZ DE NEGAR SU FE.

POCAS HORAS ANTES DE EJECUCION MUJERES SE REUNIERON CON FAMILIAS, NINGUNA DE LAS CUALES SURO DE.EJECUCION INMINENTE. NOTICIAS ESTE CRIMEN ABOMINABLE NO ANUNCIADO AL PUBLICO NI DADO OFICIALMENTE A FAMILIAS. AUTORIDADES REHUSARON PERMITIR FAMILIAS RECIBIR CADAVERES PARA ENTIERRO O AUN VERLOS.

DEBE RECORDARSE QUE ENTRE OCTUBRE Y NOVIEMBRE DE 1982 MAS DE 80 BAHA’[S FUERON ARRESTADOS EN SHIRAZ. MAS TARDE AUTORIDADES REVELARON QUE 22 PERSONAS ENTRE LAS 80 FUERON CONDENADOS A MUERTE SI NO RENEGASEN FE. NO OBSTANTE, NOMBRES DE ESTOS 22 NUNCA FUERON REVELADOS, INTENSIFICANDO AS{ PRESION PSICOLOLOGICA ENTRE PRISIONEROS BAHAUIS.

A DESPECHO DE SUPLICAS LIDERES MUNDIALES Y OPINION PUBLICA MUNDIAL, 21 DE ESTOS BAHA'IS HAN SIDO EJECUTADOS HASTA AHORA, ENSOMBRECIENDO EL DESTINO DE LOS CREYENTES RESTANTES QUE LANGUIDECEN EN PRISION.

A USTEDES SE LES PIDE DESPERTAR COMPASION INTERES DE GENTE DE BUENA VOLUNTAD SU PAIS, Y UNA VEZ MAS ANIMAR A OFICIALES GUBERNAMENTALES, AGENCIAS PARTICULARES QUE SE INTERESEN EN DERECHOS HUMANOS, ORGANIZACIONES DE MUJERES, MEDIOS NOTICIEROS A TOMAR MEDIDAS EFICACES CON GOBIERNO IRAN INDUCIRLO A CESAR ACCIONES DETESTABLES ANTE CONCIENCIA HUMANIDAD. CONTINUEN ORACIONES SEGURIDAD BIENESTAR HERMANOS CONSTANTES CUNA FE. CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA Ustedes deben sentirse en libertad de hacer uso de esta informacién al hacer contacto con medios noticieros y/u oficiales gubernamentales en su pais, si su asamblea nacional ha tomado tal accién en casos similares en ¢l pasado. Favor de compartir estos mensajes con los creyentes en su comunidad. Departamento de Secretaria 27 de junio de 1983

A todas las asambleas espirituales nacionales Queridos amigos baha’fs,

La Casa Universal de Justicia ha enviado el siguiente mensaje por cable a asambleas espirituales nacionales seleccionadas, y ha pedido que se comparta el texto con ustedes.

SEGUIDAMENTE EJECUCION BAHA’{S JOVENES SH{RAZ ANUNCIAMOS PENOSAS NOTICIAS AUN OTRO JOVEN, SIERVO DE BAHA’U’LLAH AQUELLA CIUDAD, SUHAYL HUSHMAND, 24 ANOS DE EDAD, AHORCADO 28 JUNIO, ELEVANDO A 142 NUMERO TOTAL BAHA’ [S MATADOS DESDE PRINCIPIO REVOLUCION ISLAMICA, NUMERO QUE NO INCLUYE LOS 14 DESAPARECIDOS. DESTINO OTROS PRISIONEROS SH{RAZ

INSTAMOS CONTINUAR ESFUERZOS CON OFICIALES GUBERNAMENTALES, MEDIOS NOTICIEROS.

CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA

| RR SS SSS SSS SSS SSS TSR IR)

[Page 15]PUBLICATIONS

August 1983

15

The Creative Word

Some Questions Answered about Some Answered Questions

How can you obtain such a “‘firm hold’’ on the spirit and tenets of the Faith that you can teach others and render genuine service to the Cause? Shoghi Effendi has singled out Some Answered Questions as one book in your quest that you should ‘‘master and be able to explain’’ to others.

How can you become ‘‘firm and steadfast’’ and ‘‘unwavering in your support of the institutions of the Faith’’? Shoghi Effendi again singles out Some Answered Questions as one book that should be mastered and read ‘‘over and over again.”

How can you prepare yourself to serve the Cause and ensure that you will be an active member of the Faith? Once again, Shoghi Effendi recommends Some Answered Questions.

How can you help Baha’i youth decide what to study next? Point out to them that Shoghi Effendi said a number of times that young Baha’ fs should ‘‘study profoundly”’ the discourses of ‘Abdu’l-Baha and should master such books as Some Answered Questions.

One more question. When do you plan to start your new study of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Some Answered Questions, a book that unfolds ‘‘the significance of this divine revelation as well as the unity of the Prophets of old.’”

Some Answered Questions, Hardcover, Catalog No. 106-037, $12; Softcover, Catalog No. 106-038, $6.

Standing, back order systems expedite shipping

Has your Local Spiritual Assembly or Baha’i school responded to the Publishing Trust’s new standing order and back order offer?

The offer was recently mailed to all Local Spiritual Assemblies, according to Greg Weiler, fulfillment manager of the Publishing Trust.

The standing order system enables Baha’i schools and Local Spiritual Assemblies to receive, as soon as available, one copy of each new publication the Publishing Trust carries and to be billed automatically.

The system will bring to you copies of the new Publishing Trust titles as well as new titles carried by the Publishing Trust from World Centre Publications, Kalimat Press, George Ronald, and other Publishing Trusts around the world.

When supplies of new books are exhausted before your order is

NEWS ... from the Publishing Trust

New Champion Builder Book To Move the World The new softcover edition of Gayle Morrison’s biography of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory that is stirring the hearts and challenging the minds of the American Baha’i community—it opens new opportunities for proclaiming the Faith. (SC, Cat. No. 332-073, $7)

Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold

A new biography of the Hand

of the Cause of God whom ‘Abdu’l-Baha called ‘‘America’s greatest teacher.’’ By M.R. Garis. (HC, Cat. No. 332-105, $20) (SC, Cat. No. 332-106, $11)

New Cassettes

A Visit with the Master Corinne True, a Hand of the

Wall, pocket calendars have bargain price tag

This is your last chance to buy copies of the 1983 Baha’i wall and pocket calendars at bargain closeout prices, according to Larry Bucknell, general manager of the Baha’i Publishing Trust.

The 1983 Baha’i wall calendar (Catalog No. 769-043), which normally sells for $1, is now available for 25 cents (net, no discount).

The Baha'i pocket calendar (Catalog No. 769-063), which normally sells for 10 for $1, is now 10 for 25 cents (net, no discount).

Local Spiritual Assemblies and committees can take advantage of the special offer to make sure that all community members have copies of the 1983-84 calendars.

Teachers can use the attractive picture of the Wilmette House of Worship on the Baha’i wall calendar for projects in children’s classes.

Cause of God, talks about her first visit with ‘Abdu’l-Baha in 1907.

(Cat. No. 831-055, $6)

Strengthening the Administrative Order

Horace Holley, another of the Hands of the Cause of God, discusses faith, strengthening Bahá’í institutions, and the influence of the Wilmette House of Worship.

(Cat. No. 831-056, $6)

Fifth International Baha’i Convention

Share in the recent election of the Universal House of Justice as one of the Hands of the Cause of God (Rihfyyih Khaénum) opens the Convention and another (William Sears) closes it.

(Cat. No. 831-078, $6)

New for Children

B.J. and the Language of the Woodland

A green frog, in seven chapters, finds that learning the languages of the forest animals has its perils and rewards. For 6-11 year olds.

(SC, Cat. No. 353-019, $3.50) The Spotlessly Leopard Winifred Barnum Newman’s leopard without spots has to learn the hard way the importance

of being one’s own special self. (SC, Cat. No. 353-020, $3)

For Everyone From Behind the Veil Tahirih, and the Babis, come alive in a new novel that will have you on the edge of your chair. By Kathleen Jemison Demas. (SC, Cat, No. 332-108, $2.50)

Available from.

BahaditPublishing Trust

Wilmette, IL 60091

Librarians must file

As of June 1, 1983, accounts for Baha’i librarians who had not filed new account authorization forms were closed.

However, librarians can still obtain new authorization forms by calling the Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1-800-3231880, or by writing to the Trust at 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. A form will be sent by return mail.

Any charge order returned with the completed authoriza processed, the new back order system can ensure that a copy will be shipped to your Spiritual Assembly or Baha’i school later—if (1) the item will be back in stock within eight weeks, and (2) we have your permission to back order the title for you.

Spiritual Assemblies and Baha’i schools can sign up for the stand ing order system or the back order system or both by writing to the Baha’i Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, for information, or by phoning 1-800-323-1880 during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT, Monday through Friday.

of the Faith

The Importance of Deepening our Knowledge and Understanding

Extracts from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, ‘Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi

tion form will be honored.

Invite a Hand of the €ause of God to your community. How? read

To Move the World

(Louis G. Gregory)

Martha Root: Lioness

at the Threshold (Martha Root)

listen to cassettes

Strengthening the

Administrative Order (Horace Holley)

A Visit with the Master

(Corinne True)

New compilation a splendid deepening aid

Make plans now, and help win a goal of the Seven Year Plan.

How? Order copies of The Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, and be ready for the National Education Committee’s study outline to be published in the September issue of The American Baha’f.

The new compilation (Catalog No. 215-084, $2) is a must for new and seasoned Bahá’ís. It sheds focused light on what books and topics we need to study and why we need to study them.

The compilation is a guide prepared by the Universal House of Justice to help us delve even more deeply into the Baha’i writings, especially the Creative Words of Baha’u’llah, a goal given to the U.S, in 1981.

The Bahd’{ Publishing Trust and the National Education Committee urge you to order copies now of The Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith and to plan personal and community

deepenings.

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

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

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

Coupon for Ordering from the Publishing Trust

—- Some Ans. Questior Importance Deepeni — To Move the World, —— Martha Root, HC — Martha Root, SC — Visit with the Master — Strengthening Admin. Order $6.00 — Sth International Convention $6.00 J. Language of Woodland $3.50 Spotlessly Leopard From Behind the Veil — Baha’i Wall Calendar — Baha'i Pocket Calendar (10) $0.25

Bahai Publishing Trust

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$1.50),

MC.

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Frices good throwgh September 15, 1983 Prices valid only in 48 contiguous states of the United States

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[Page 16]1, erento ae ee eee

CLASSIFIEDS

The American Bah@a’i

16

Classified notices in The American Bahd’{ are published free of charge as a service to the Baha’i 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. °

BAHA’{ NEWS is secking manuscripts on all aspects of the Faith for inclusion in the magazine, Articles on Baha’i history, the teachings of the Faith, Baha’i activities in various parts of the country or the world, or contemporary issues and problems seen from a Baha’i perspective are welcomed. If the article is illustrated with appropriate photographs, so much the better. Please send your manuscripts for review to the editor, Baha’f News, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

PLUMBER needed! Going pioneering in September and am looking for a Baha’i journeyman plumber to take over my plumbing business. Can work out a buyin arrangement. Our Baha’i community will be in jeopardy when we leave, so this would also help save an Assembly. If you are a plumber, please contact Del Helmhout, Wallowa Valley Plumbing and Heating,

. Enterprise, OR 97828, or phone 503-432-0641 (evenings) or 503-426-3026 (days).

WANTED by the Baha’i Special Projects Committee in Denver, Colorado: any slides, of the House of Worship in Wilmette

Bisbee, Arizona, Naw-Rúz festival draws 150-plus

More than 50 Baha’is and their guests from the U.S. and Mexico participated in an international Naw-Rúz observance this year in Bisbee, Arizona.

The attendees came from Sierra Vista, Douglas, Bisbee and St. David, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Lordsburg, New México, and Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico.

The idea for the celebration originated with the friends in Agua Prieta and was joyously welcomed by the Bisbee community.

John Cook from St. David played and sang several of his own compositions and provided accompaniment for Bahd’{ youth Amy Gilbert, for two young ladies from Agua Prieta who sang lilting and catchy tunes, and for Sra. Roumelia Quinofies as she sang “Malaguefia.’”

Fifteen-year-old Johanna Edwards of Sierra Vista performed classical selections on piano, and John Ling, a friend of the Bahd’{s, gave a demonstration of T’ai Chi

ee

dealing with any aspect of its construction or present shape. The slides will be used in a seminar to be given in March 1984. We promise to treat your slides with tender loving care and return them promptly. Please send to Renée Firmin, Denver, CO 80210 (phone 303-733-5637).

NEEDED: Singers and instrumentalists (strings and woodwinds) for a performance of Love and Unity, an original composition based on the prayers revealed

yy ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, at the Green Lake Conference September 16-18 in Wisconsin. Please contact Dr. Rosamond Brenner, 726 North Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 (telephone 312-858-5493) for a copy of the music. We shall rehearse at Green Lake for a performance on Sunday morning, September 18, which is World Peace Day. And thank you, all singers and orchestra players who enthusiastically performed Love and Unity at the Wildfire conference in Indiana on July 10.

FIJI needs someone to manage its Publishing Trust. Duties include secretarial, bookkeeping, accounting, art work, checking translations, wholesale and retail book management for the South Pacific area. This has been designated a goal area by the Universal House of Justice. Subsistence level pay may be possible. Selfsupporting or retired person or one whose marriage partner can work would be best for the job. Also available is a position as general manager of a Caterpillar dealership involving sales, repairs, and managing a staff of 60. At least five years experience is required. Interested parties should contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

BRILLIANT Star magazine needs your creative support: adults and youth and children; writers, poets, crafts persons, cooks, game players, musicians,

composers, dancers, idea people,

photographers, critics, mothers, fathers, siblings and grandparents—each of you has something to contribute to Brill Star. Universal participation makes a better publication. Some of us support by subscribing, some with ideas, some with their creative energies, some with production skills, some with editorial knowhow, and some are great at telling others to be aware of a great thing! Don’t sit back and think about it any longer. ACT NOW! A special note to children: Please send us your paintings, preferably in a vertical format, for possible use on the covers of Brilliant Star. We invite you to become excited about Brilliant Star. We invite you to be proud of Brilliant Star. Please send all written materials to the Brilliant Star editorial office, Suburban Office Park,

, Hixson, TN 37343.

Send all pictorial material to Rita Leydon, art and production director, Box 127, Lahaska, PA 18931.

TWO members of our Assembly Are moving to Bolivia. Another’s traveling abroad (in Germany, not Libya). We want a vital LSA, So here’s your invitation To call or write (address below) For all the information. Due to pioneering and travelteaching, there will be several vacancies by September | on the Spiritual Assembly of Falcon Heights, Minnesota, a pleasant suburb of 5,000 that contains the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and the University of Minnesota Agricultural Campus. Good bus routes to seven universities, one junior college and two technical schools; only 15-20 minutes by car to Minneapolis/St. Paul. The Twin Cities area is known for its computer companies, food processing/agri-business concerns, printing and publishing houses, and medical centers. Falcon Heights has an excellent public school system, good shopping and recreational opportunities, and weekly intercommunity Baha’i classes for children and adults in two locations. One-bedroom apartments. start at $270, two-bedroom at about $370. Houses are available starting at $90,000. Can you pass this up? For more information please write to

Falcon Heights, MN

55113, or phone 612-228-2499 (days) or 612-647-1923 (evenings).

OVERSEAS positions are available in the following countries: Ivory Coast—electronics technicians are desperately needed for a Baha’i-owned company. Pleas¢ apply soon. Grenada—Math and science teaching positions. American Samoa—A top notch secretary is needed to assist a Continental Counsellor. Must take shorthand, be mature, unencumbered. All of these places need pioneers. If you are interested, please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed and welcomed in Missouri River Township, a long-standing community in the western area of St. Louis whose Assembly is in jeopardy. Especially sought are those whose job and home responsibilities would not be so great as to keep them from devoting ample time to the Faith. For information please contact Mrs. Lynn Dornfeld,

Mayland Heights, MO 63043, or phone 314-878-5533.

EAST Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, less than two hours from the Atlantic coast, needs your help to build a strong Baha’i college club. ECU offers fine programs in medicine, nursing, business, art, dancing, drama and political science. The

climate is mild in the winter, warm. in summer. For more information please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Greenville,

Greenville, NC 27834, or phone 919-752-4483.

A LOVELY Oregon coastal city, directly west of Eugene, awaits permanent homefront pioneers to make it beautiful not only physically, but also beautiful with a Spiritual Assembly. The Florence area, with its year-round moderate climate and fresh air, is acclaimed for its rivers, lakes, fishing, and sea foods; parks and sand dunes; rhododendrons and roses. There are good schools, restaurants, banks, markets, and a modest hospital (with paramedics). An ideal area for retirees or those with independent means. Limited employment at this time. Informational literature will be sent on request. Write to the Baha’is of Florence, P.O. Box 1845, Florence, OR 97439, or telephone 503-997-8011.

BRILLIANT STAR needs high quality songs for children, songs that teach aspects of the Faith in a clear but imaginative way. For example, songs about the need for tests, the attributes of a Baha’i, tales of the martyrs and heroes of the Faith, teaching, Baha’i Holy Days, etc. The range of songs should fall roughly between middle C and d' or e' and the length should allow them to be printed on one or at most two pages of the magazine. Please send contributions to Mildred N. McClellan, Route 2, Box 328, Danville, KY 40422.

LAWYERS: The Supreme Court of Palau, in the Caroline Islands, South Pacific, is recruiting for a full-time Associate Justice. Extensive trial experience is required. Salary is in the $35-37,000 range. This is an excelent chance to fill a goal and have a good job in your field. Those who are interested should contact the International Goals Committee,

Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or telephone 312-869-9039.

COMMUNICATIONS people: If you have a PhD. in communications you may be qualified to help with programming and production activities of a Radio Bahá’í office and mass media center in Peru. You would assist in the development of radio stations in South America. Could live in Lima and teach at the university or work in a related area. Degree would give you entrance to certain. circles and levels which ordinary experienced radio workers would not have. For more information please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

FIJI is a goal country in which it is possible to obtain employment in the medical profession. Doctors, nurses, nutritionists can be assisted by a Baha’i pioneer

there who has contacts with medical people. Contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

BAHA’IS in a midwestern community of 50,000-plus would like other Baha’is to settle in the area which is 70 miles from Mankato, Minnesota, and 90 miles from Minneapolis/St. Paul. There is a large medical center, manufacturing, excellent schools, parks, and lovely countryside. For more information please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Olmsted County, Minnesota,

_ Rochester, MN 55904.

THE WEST’S most wholesome town needs homefront pioneers. Wickenburg, Arizona, is so wholesome and quiet that a vandal who let the air out of a few tires made the front page of the local paper. A healthful desert climate makes this old gold mining town perfect for retirees, and also great for a young family who like ample room to ride horses. Only an hour from shopping centers in Phoenix, Wickenburg can use teachers and nurses. Other employment opportunities are limited. Write to Maxinne Thompson, P.O. Box 1329, Wickenburg, AZ 85358, or telephone 602-684-7441.

MATH and science teachers are needed in Nicaragua where there is a great need for Baha’i pioneers. Certification is not necessary, but should have a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Spanish not necessary. Any related field of study possible to apply. Contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

SCHOOL teachers are wanted in Taiwan, a lovely Baha’i community with high spirit. The National Experimental High School eau es the following teachers for

i is in English. Reading and language; social studies; science; math; arts; music; physical education; kindergarten. Qualified teachers are encouraged to contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or telephone 312869-9039,

FAMILY or individuals are needed to brighten and color a lily-white community in Medford, Oregon, in the lovely Rogue Valley. If interested, please write to P.O. Box 534, Medford, OR 97501, or phone 503-772-5502 or 503-772-5115.

IF YOU wish to pioneer on the homefront, come to the Yakima Indian Reservation in Washington state and form a ‘“‘friendship team.”’ Yakima County is ranked 12th among more than 3,000 U.S. counties in fruit production, and is shadowed by the snow-capped

See ADS Page 24

[Page 17]The American Baha’i

August 1983

Mayor Koch calls for UN resolution

On July 6, two months after meeting with a delegation of seven Baha’is at city hall, Mayor Edward Koch of New York City wrote a letter to President Reagan in which he described the recent executions of 17 Baha’ is in Iran as “ritual murders of a minority group on no ground other than religious persecution for political gain” and called upon the President to back a United Nations resolution censuring Iran for its treatment of Baha’is.

“TO THE best of my knowledge,’’ the mayor wrote, “‘neither. the General Assembly nor the Security Council of the United Nations has ever enacted resolutions censuring the government of Iran for its genocidal behavior toward this religious group.

“The best that the United Nations has done to date is through its Human Rights Commission, which passed a resolution on

March 8, 1983 ...

“There are those who take the position that this is an internal matter for Iran,” Mayor Koch went on to say. “They are the same people who would have undoubtedly said the same about Nazi Germany and the holocaust.

“The latter was not an internal matter, nor are the attacks on the Baha’is ...

“Mr. President, let us put the United Nations to the test. That could be done by the United States offering a resolution sanctioning Iran as a result of these executions, and calling upon that country to cease and desist this appalling example of genocide against a peaceful and innocent people.

“The Baha’is are small in number. They have few friends. I am sure they look to the United States for some help. We dare not turn away.”

Lunt

Continued From Page 4

legal battle for control developed in 1914.

As chairman of the Fellowship, Mr. Lunt played a key role in the court battles that reached all the way to the Supreme Court of

Maine.

The lawsuit that determined Green Acre’s future was decided in favor of the Baha’is and their friends, thanks in large measure to the diligence and hard work of Alfred Lunt, which ‘Abdu’l-Baha described as “‘lion-hearted.””

In the late 1920s the Green Acre

Well-known Baha’i entertainer Danny Deardorff (right) performs during a fund-raising event March 26 at the University of California—Irvine for the Bahá’í radio

station that is to be constructed at the Louis G. Gregory Baha’ Institute in South Carolina. (Photo by Ralph Farrington)

Southern California fund-raiser nets more than $1,500 for WLGI radio

Baha’is from the three Southern California counties that comprise Southern California District No. 2 were present March 26 at a special fund-raising event at the University of California—Irvine to support WLGI Radio in South Carolina, which is destined to become the first Baha’j-owned station in North America.

The fund-raiser, at which more than $1,500 was contributed, was sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Irvine in cooperation with the Baha’i Club at the University of California and with help from Marcia Day and Day V Productions.

It was initiated in response to an article in the January 1983 issue of

The American Bahaé’{ which reported that a license to operate the station had been granted to the National Spiritual Assembly by the Federal Communications Commission.

Entertainment for the fundraiser was provided by Danny Deardorff, a well-known Baha’i musician who flew to California from his home in Washington state especially for the event.

Marcia Day, who served as master of ceremonies, told of plans for the Baha’i radio station that were announced last December at the Baha’i Computer and Telecommunications Conference in San Fernando.

school was transferred to the control of the National Spiritual Assembly.

DURING the summer of 1917, the executive board of Baha'i Temple Unity met at Green Acre where Mr. Lunt was asked to compose a letter to the U.S. State Department setting forth clearly the duties and attitude of Baha’is toward their government, especially in wartime, as the U.S. was then engaged in World War I.

Two years later, Shoghi Effendi, the future Guardian of the Faith, was asked to translate a Tablet from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to Mr. Lunt in which the Master praised his efforts, and in particular his addresses on current economic problems.

Between 1925 and 1937, Mr. Lunt wrote a series of scholarly essays on Bahda’j-related topics that appeared in the Baha’i Magazine and its successor, World Order.

In spite of a painful illness, he continued to carry out his many Baha’i activities until his death on August 12, 1937, at his home in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Upon receiving word of Mr. Lunt’s death, the Guardian sent the following cablegram to the National Spiritual Assembly:

“Shocked distressed premature passing esteemed beloved Lunt. Future generations will appraise his manifold outstanding contributions to rise and establishment Faith Bahá’u’lláh American continent. Community his bereaved co-workers could ill afford lose such critical period so fearless champion their Cause.

“Request entire body their National representatives assemble his grave pay tribute my behalf to him who so long and since inception acted as pillar institution they represent. Convey Boston community assurance prayers, deepest brotherly sympathy their cruel irreparable loss.’”

Mayor Edward Koch of New York City (seated at left) is interviewed following a 15-minute meeting May 5 with a seven-member Baha’i delegation whose mem ¥

Shown outside city hall in New York City is the seven-member Bahd’{ delegation that met for 15 minutes May 5 with Mayor Ed ward Koch. The Baha’fs are (left 7-member Baha’i delegation discusses

persecutions in Iran

On May 5, a delegation of seven Baha’ is including two members of the Spiritual Assembly of New York City met with Mayor Edward Koch to discuss the persecution of Baha’is in Iran.

The Baha'i delegation was composed of Farzad Azizzi and Mrs. Irene Monsouri, relatives of some of the recent martyrs in Iran; Spiritual Assembly members Hussein Ahdieh and Al Burley; Morton Mondschein, Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh, and Dr. Hooshmand Taraz.

The mayor spoke with the Bahd’fs for about 15 minutes, gathering facts about the persecutions and asking how he could help.

At the close of the meeting Mr. Koch was presented with copies of the books A Cry from the Heart by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and A Crown of

in letter to Reagan

bers included (left to right) Dr. Hussein Ahdieh, Farzad Azizi, and Dr. Hooshmand Taraz. (Photo by Al Burley)

to right) Al Burley, Dr. Hooshmand Taraz, Morton Mondschein, Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh, Dr. Hussein Ahdieh, Mrs. Irene Monsouri, and Farzad ‘Azizzi.

with Mayor Koch

Beauty by Eunice Braun and Hugh Chance, a member of the Universal House of Justice.

Afterward, three members of the media were invited into the office and heard the mayor speak out against the persecution. He said all government leaders should do the same, as the weight of public opinion might prove a deterrent.

The meeting with the mayor came about when the Baha’is in New York, following a request from the National Spiritual Assembly, sent Mr. Koch a copy of the Fall 1982 issue of World Order magazine which included correspondence from Baha’is just prior to martyrdom.

The mayor later responded with

the invitation to visit him at city hall.

[Page 18]

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[Page 19]PERSIAN PAGE

19

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[Page 20]The American Baha’i

CS eS a eT

20

Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, will deliver the Hasan Balyizi Lecture at the eighth annual Conference of the Association for Baha’i Studies.

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

THE Balyiizi lecture series, held in memory of the Hand of the Cause of God whose scholarly works on the Faith are well known to Baha’is everywhere, features a presentation in the field of history by a noted Baha’i scholar.

Dr. Kazemzadeh, who is on a leave of absence from his position. as professor of history at Yale University while serving as secretary of the National Assembly, is scheduled to speak on ‘‘The Soviet Official Interpretation of Babi-Baha’i History.””

The first two days of the Conference are open-themed, while the third day has as its theme “Strategies for Social Change: An Ever-Advancing Civilization.”” The Conference will end about noon on Monday, November 7.

Other special features of the Conference include:

Dr. Ariyaratne, the president of the Lanka Sarvodaya Movement which coordinates development | projects at the village level in Sri | Lanka, participated as a non-Baha’j last year in a World Peace Day observance sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of Sri Lanka.

Presentation of the 1983

awards for excellence in Baha’i

U.S. Baha’i Directory for June ’83 available

The June 1983 issue of the U.S. Bahai Directory is now available upon request to all Spiritual Assemblies and Baha’i Groups.

The directory contains address information for Spiritual Assemblies, Auxiliary Board members, District Teaching Committees, and selected Baha’i schools and institutes.

Any community that wishes to order a directory should make its request to:

Office of Membership and Records, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Since the supply of directories is limited, orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Communities that wish to reimburse the National Fund for the cost of the directory may make their checks payable to the ‘“Baha’i Services Fund’’ and note the word ‘“‘directory’”” on the check. The cost of producing and mailing one directory is $1.50.

studies in the high school, college, and general categories. Award winners will then present their works.

¢ A complimentary reception from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, November 4, for Conference registrants.

DR. HOSSAIN Danesh, chairman of the executive committee of the Association for Baha’i Studies, will conduct this year’s Conference, providing an overview of the development of the Association and a description of. plans for its continued development and expansion.

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

This means that if four people were to share accommodations, the cost per night would be only $10.50 each.

However, the special rate will be held only until October 10. You must register by that date in order to secure the special rate.

When making your reservation, mention that you are attending the Baha'i Conference. The hotel does not require any deposit.

Remember, only reservations received by October 10 will be accepted at the special Conference rate. of $100 per night for a single room and $120 per night for a double room apply.

THE telephone number for the Palmer House is 312-726-7500.

Registration fees for the Conference itself are $15 (U.S.) for non-members of the Association, $10 for members.

Daily fees for those unable to attend the entire Conference are $8 for non-members, $5 for members.

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

The annual Conference of the Association will be preceded by two Regional Conferences over the Labor Day weekend (Septem Dr. Kazemzadeh to deliver Association’s Balyuzi lecture

ber 3-5): the Northeastern Regional Conference at the Green Acre Baha'i School, and the

REGISTRATION FORM Eighth Annual Conference

of the Association for Baha’i Studies November 4-7, 1983, Chicago, Illinois I wish to register for the eighth annual Conference __. Member, $10 U.S./person; $12.50 Cdn/person __— Non-member, $15 U.S./person; $18.50 Cdn/person (Anyone joining the Association pays the reduced registration fee) I wish to reserve accommodations at the Palmer House ($39

U.S./room/night until September 15; $100 U.S./single room/night, $120 U.S./double room/night thereafter)

____ I wish to receive further information on tran portation by charter

bus

Please enclose registration fee (and membership fee, if applicable) pay Pacific Northwest Regional Conference at Douglas College, New Westminster, British Columbia.

able to the Association for Baha’i Studies, » Ottawa, Ontario KIN 7K4 CANADA. (Telephone 613-233-1903)

Name

Address

City State _______ Zip/Postal code

The Bahá’ís of Albany, California, set up this information table April 9 at the entrance to a local supermarket. A good number of patrons stopped to talk, and some pamphlets were taken.

The ‘One Planet, One Peo ple ... Please’ balloons were popular with the children and helped win the goodwill of their parents.

Shown manning the table are |

Hooshmand Naraghi and Renée White. (Photo by John H. Ives)

California Baha’i is among authors of collection of anti-nuclear essays

Vinson Brown, a member of the Baha’i community of Happy Camp, California, is one of the authors of Prevent Doomsday, a collection of anti-nuclear essays recently published by Branden Press.

Mr. Brown, a trained naturalist, is founder and co-owner of Naturegraph Publishers in Happy Camp.

He wrote four of the dozen essays in the new book as well as its introduction and a review of ‘The Nuclear Delusion’? by George Kennan, former U.S. ambassador to Russia.

Mr. Kennan contributed another essay, ‘‘Cease This Madness.””

Others represented in the book are Landrum R. Rolling, a writer for the Saturday Evening Post;

Donald Keys, the president and founder of Planetary Citizens; Muriel Ferguson, founder of the “Brain-Mind Bulletin’? and author of the best-selling book, The Aquarian Conspiracy; Dr. James Muller of the Harvard Medical School, a founder of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War; Dr. Michael N. Nagler of the University of Cal fornia at Berkeley; Dr. Li Rene Beres of Purdue University; and Dr. Roger Fisher of the Harvard University School of Law, co-author of the book, Getting to Yes.

Prevent Doomsday ($4.95, 85 pages, softcover) is distributed by Naturegraph Publishers,

Happy Camp, CA 96039.

Quick response nets S. Diego news coup

On receiving news of the most recent martyrdoms in Iran, the Spiritual Assembly of San Diego, California, responded immediately, calling an emergency meeting at the city’s Baha’i Center where a task force already was meeting with the District Teaching Committee and with Dr. Dwight Allen, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Within four hours Mrs. Eileen Norman was interviewed on one radio station and Dr. Allen on two others.

A memorial service was held the following evening which drew local television coverage and reporters from two newspapers including the San Diego edition of the Los Angeles Times.

Also that evening, Dr. Afnan, a distant relative of one of the martyrs, was interviewed on radio.

Baha’i singer profiled in N. Orleans article

Carla Baker, a member of the Bahda’{ community of New Orleans, Louisiana, was the subject of a recent profile in the New Orleans Times-Picayune/StatesItem.

Miss Baker, a_ professional singer whose first album is soon to be released, opened June 29 as a co-featured act at the Blue Room in New Orleans’ Fairmont Hotel.

The article mentions her Baha’i affiliation and its influence on her singing style and material.

[Page 21]THE MEDIA

August 1983

21

Phoenix Baha’is spice ‘Juneteenth’ festivities

On Saturday, June 15, with the temperature at 108 degrees, the Bahd’{ community of Phoenix, Arizona, participated in the annual Juneteenth celebration in that city.

Juneteenth is observed by the black community as the day on which the Emancipation Proclamation reached the slaves in Texas making them free people.

STU Gilliam, a Bahá’í from Los Angeles who is a professional entertainer, was asked to be grand Parade Marshall by Ron Johnson, director of Arizona’s Office of Affirmative Action.

It marked Mr. Gilliam’s second involvement in the Juneteenth celebration.

Also appearing on behalf of the Faith was the Baha’i Youth Workshop, also from Los Angeles, and this double-barreled combination stole the show again.

The Juneteenth committee showed its appreciation to Mr. Gilliam and the Youth Workshop by presenting each with a lovely wall plaque.

The Baha’i Youth Workshop is comprised of 80 to 100 young people from multi-racial backgrounds including Hispanic, black, Asian and white.

WORKING together with enthusiasm and spirit, the troupe shows its peers that there are more

Members of the Bahd’{ Youth Workshop from Los Angeles perform with enthusiasm during the annual Juneteenth celebration in Phoenix, Arizona. Their show, ‘I

Stu Gilliam, a Bahá’í from Los Angeles who is a professional entertainer, rides as Grand Marshall in the annual Juneteenth celebra positive ways to solve their problems—ways that don’t involve drugs, alcohol or other destructive devices.

Their show, entitled ‘‘I Gotta Try,’’ was written and choreographed by Oscar DeGruy Jr., a professional actor from Los Angeles.

“To capture the attention of today’s youth,”’ says Mr. DeGruy, “we have to contend with a lot of apathy and confusion.

“We've put together a show that is a caricature of various

Gotta Try,’ written and choreographed by Oscar DeGruy Jr., was an outstanding success and led to many teaching opportunities.

tion in Phoenix, Arizona. The woman in the car is Vernel Coleman, chairman of the Juneteenth committee.

kinds of attitudes that is fun and that teaches several Baha’i principles that are designed to help one cope in today’s world and to push one’s horizons farther back.””

““We’ve now had seven years of sustained media/proclamation work in Phoenix,’”’, says Doug Carpa, a member of the Greater Phoenix Baha’i Public Affairs Committee.

“‘It contains the seed of entry by

Public Affairs offers ‘Light of Baha’u’llah’ deepening tapes for cable television use

The Office of Public Affairs is offering a series of tapes from the “Light of Bahá’u’lláh’’ deepening program that can be used on cable television.

The “Light of Bahá’u’lláh’’ series is made up of 14-minute programs on a specific topic related to the Faith.

“‘What we have done,”’ says Public Affairs Officer Parks Scott, “tis put two 14-minute programs on a single tape to fit the standard half-hour time slot.’’

There are 12 half-hour programs in the new series covering these topics: spiritual teachings, progressive revelation, and social teachings.

As with “The Spiritual Revolution’? television series, this series rents for $5 per program or $60 for the 12-week series. For more information please contact the Office of Public Affairs, 312-8699039.

The entire 81-program series of “Light of Bahá’u’lláh’’ was offered originally in home video tape format by the National Education Committee.

That committee will make the series available if enough orders are received to make it economically feasible to duplicate additional sets of the series.

Py: ,

oe Hees Baha’ fs in Phoenix, Arizona, were kept busy answering questions about the Faith during that city’s

troops because we are well known to the general public in this city.’’

AFTER seeing the Youth Workshop in a warm-up performance, many youngsters and their parents swarmed over the Baha’is asking for information about belonging to the group and taking free tickets to the full shows.

Calvin Goode, a Phoenix city councilman, was asking who all those kids were. He said he had

Ph annual Juneteenth celebration in June.

never seen anything like it.

“He was standing there with his mouth wide open,”’ says Erma Banks, a member of the IBPOE Elks lodge and a friend of the Faith. “I told him to see those people over there, at the Baha’i booth.’”

“This will be a great summer,”’ says Mr. Carpa. ‘‘We expect great things to come from our participation in this event.’’

Continuous use of the media (weekly radio broadcasts, monthly billboards, television programs and newspaper articles) by the Inland Empire Baha’i Office of Public Affairs in Spokane, Washington, has increased public awareness of the Faith from 28

per cent to 41 per cent over a twoyear period, according to a computerized survey of area residents. For information concerning the availability of the billboard shown here, please contact the Office of Public Affairs.

2 San Francisco Baha’is interviewed on radio

Two members of the Bahá’í community of San Francisco, California, Fran and Yazhdi Taillon, were interviewed for an hour June 12 on “Sunday Morning with Tom Hunter,”’ a popular religion-oriented talk show on KGO radio with an estimated audience of 120,000 listeners in California, Nevada and Oregon.

Topics included the persecution of Baha’is in Iran, the origins of the Faith, the teachings of Baha‘u’ll4h, progressive revelation, pioneering, and the Baha’i administrative order.

The Taillons’ appearance marked the culmination of two years of

contact and exchanges of information between Mr. Hunter and the San Francisco Baha’i Public Information Committee.

World Order board sets new yearly rates

The World Order editorial board has approved rates for the magazine for the coming year (Fall 1983 through Summer 1984) as follows:

U.S., one year, $10; two years, $18 (no increase). Foreign, one year, $18; two years, $34 (increase). Air mail, one year, $30; two years, $58 (no increase).

[Page 22]The American Bah@’i

Gregory Project Committee meets, maps plans for WLGI radio station

Four members of the five-member Louis Gregory Project Committee, which was appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly in June (see The American Baha'i, July 1983, p. 12), met June 25-26 at the Gregory Institute near Hemingway, South Carolina.

THE AD HOC committee is composed of four members of the National Spiritual Assembly—Dr. Dwight Allen, Dr. Alberta Deas, Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh and Judge Dorothy Nelson—and Sirouss Binaei, manager of NSA Properties Inc.

Judge Nelson was unable to atend the meeting.

The committee is to oversee the construction of WLGI radio, the development of the property at the Institute, and the upgrading of Institute facilities.

During the meeting, committee members discussed the purpose of WLGI and its place in the Institute setting.

The radio station is to serve as a means of teaching and consolidation, and also will provide public service programming for its audience.

The Institute needs to be upgraded because the radio station will be unique in that it will ad National Assembly seeks information

The National Spiritual Assembly is trying to locate Warren Fry, formerly of North Carolina and New HampshireMassachusetts,

If anyone has seen Mr. Fry or knows his whereabouts, please contact the National Assembly at 312-869-9039.

vertise its location and events taking place at the Institute, says Dr. Deas, who has been chosen acting chairman of the ad hoc committee.

SHE IS also director of the Gregory Institute and secretary of the South Carolina Regional Teaching Committee.

Personnel needs at the station also were discussed, and it was decided to ask the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears to be the first person to speak on the new station.

Mr. Sears is a former professional broadcaster, and, like Louis G. Gregory, for whom the Institute is named, is a Hand of

Pioneer goals

Continued From Page 13

pioneer ...It is a blessing, a bounty, given to those of us, in this day, through the mercy and kindness of Bahd’u’ll4h ...’’ (quoted in Quickeners of Mankind, p. 103)

In answer to the many Bahá’ís who question their future plans of when and how to go pioneering, our Supreme Body has explained in a letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated May 25, 1975, as follows:

“There are several ways of pioneering, and all are entirely valid and are of great help to the teaching work.

“There is, first of all, the pioneer who goes to a particular country, devotes the remainder of his life to the service of the Faith in that land and finally lays his bones to rest in its soil.

“Secondly, there is the pioneer who goes to a post, serves val the Cause of God.

Committee members consulted on construction plans, and the location of the radio station’s antenna was finalized.

The $1 million needed soon to bring WLGI into being, says Dr. Deas, includes not only funds to build the station but money to develop and produce programming and to operate the station for a two-year period.

Present plans call for construction of two new buildings, one to house the WLGI studio and transmitter, the other an office building for coordinating teaching and consolidation work in that area.

iantly there until the native Baha’i community is strongly established, and then moves on to new fields of service.

“Thirdly, there are those, for example youth between the completion of their schooling and the Starting of their chosen profession, who go pioneering for a specific limited period.’”

SHOGHI Effendi speaks to all of us in any profession and any circumstances when he appeals to “those American believers, sore pressed as they are by the manifold, the urgent, and ever-increasing issues that confront them at the present hour, who may find it possible, whatever be their calling or employment, whether as business men, schoo) teachers, lawyers, doctors, writers, office workers, and the like, to establish permanently their residence in such countries as may offer them ‘a reasonable prospect of earning the means of livelihood.’’ (The

Martha Root: the prototype of a Baha’ traveling teacher

Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold, by M.R. Garis, has, according to reports that have come to the Bahd’{ Publishing Trust, prompted a variety of reactions: laughter, tears, awe—arid a sober reassessment of what it really means to travel and teach for the Faith.

If you dip into the middle of the book, you'll be forced back to the beginning to try and understand the shy but fearless Martha Root, whose every wish from 1909 (when she accepted the Faith) to 1939 (when she died) was to use her talents in the service of the Cause.

THE YEAR 1927 is only one of many years that exemplifies her commitment to’ spreading the Faith.

Four years into her second of five worldwide teaching trips, Martha, in 1927, traveled ceaselessly in central and eastern Europe—Germany, Belgium, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Czecho slovakia, Yugoslavia, Bulgariaand in Scandinavia—Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway.

She finished the year (that would serve most people for a lifetime) in Constantinopleheaded for Greece and new challenges.

The events of 1927 are a kaleidoscope typical of most of Martha’s years: appearances at Esperanto congresses. and peace, anti-discrimination and women’s conferences; meetings with Baha’is; addresses to groups as large as 500; interviews; newspaper articles; translations; meetings with prominent people; radio broadcasts; the study of Esperanto; and ceaseless planning for stops ahead.

Martha Root (HC, Catalog No. 332-105, $20; SC, Catalog No. 332-106, $11) will provide the basis for a fresh study of the dynamics of traveling and teaching for the Faith.

To order copies see your local

MARTHA ROOT

Baha’i librarian, or use the coupon on the Publications page in this issue of The American Baha’.

ofl Members of the WLGI Project Committee appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly in June to oversee construction of the Bahaf radio station at the Louis Gregory Institute in South Caro Advent of Divine Justice, p. 55)

American Baha’ {s have a special situation, because as citizens of this country we have opportunities that are not so easily available to the believers in other lands.

“Abdu’l-Bahá repeatedly propounded the glorious destiny of the American nation, as evidenced by the duties charged to it in the Tablets of the Divine Plan.

The Guardian further praised the American community in glowing terms for its efforts:

“What other community has produced pioneers combining to such a degree the essential qualities of audacity, of consecration, of tenacity, of self-renunciation, and unstinted devotion, that have prompted them to abandon their homes, and forsake their all, and scatter over the surface of the globe, and hoist in its uttermost corners the triumphant banner of Bahá’u’lláh?’’ (The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 7)

AS IF that weren't enough, we have only to look further into the writings of Shoghi Effendi to find even more inspiring words of encouragement and high hopes as he calls to his “‘Fellow-believers in the American continent! Great indeed have been your past and present achievements! Immeasurably greater are the wonders which the future has in store for you! ...Will America allow any of her sister communities in East or West to achieve such ascendancy as shall deprive her of that spiritual primacy with which she has been invested and which she has thus far so nobly retained?” (The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 94)

So friends, we see the words of encouragement, time and again, telling us that we need only arise to greater levels of service.

The Divine assistance is undoubtedly available to us if only we can reach out farther than ever before.

We are like birds learning to fly—first testing our wings, then climbing higher and higher on

lina are (left to right) Dwight W. Allen, Dorothy W. Nelson, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Alberta Deas, and Sirouss Binaei. Mr. Binaei is manager of NSA Properties Inc.

each successive flight until our goal is attained. We can reach our goals and meet the needs of the mighty Plan for this Day.

In 1965 the Universal House of Justice wrote to our National Assembly, saying, ‘The duties of teaching and pioneering are enjoined on all believers.” (Quickeners of Mankind, p. 24)

This year the Supreme Body gave us additional guidance to stimulate our efforts in completing the necessary tasks of the Plan when it wrote in its Ridvan message:

“A wider horizon is opening before us ...At present we must complete the objectives of the Seven Year Plan, paying great attention to those inner spiritual developments which will be manifested in greater unity among the friends ...

“‘We have no doubt that the Baha’i_ world community will accomplish all these tasks and go forward to new achievements. The powers released by Bahd’u’ll4h match the needs of the times ...

“Lift up your hearts. The Day of God is here.”

A note about earmarking:

Although ecarmarking was discouraged by the Guardian (lest too much carmarking should tie the hands of the National Spiritual Assembly), if you do wish to make an carmarked gift please be specific; for example, gifts have been received recently which merely say “‘House of Worship’ or “Temple construction’’ or even ‘‘Mashriqu’l-Adhkár’’but no designation as to which House of Worship (Wilmette, Samoa, India?). Please include all information to assure that your gift is expended as you intended—otherwise the Treasurer’s Office must either contact you or make an assumption as to your intent—neither of which is efficient.

"an RS ETS SSS SSS SSS SSS SS RS RR

[Page 23]NATIVE AMERICANS

August 1983

23

Baha’is present books to Oneida Indian Nation

DELIGHTED YOUR PARTICIPATION ELEVENTH ANNUAL ONEIDA POW-WOW OFFERING OPPORTUNITY MAKE SUITABLE PRESENTATION SPECIALLY BOUND VOLUMES TRANSLATION INTO ONEIDA LANGUAGE SELECTIONS FROM THE BAHA’{ WRITINGS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 25 YEARS AGO. KINDLY CONVEY INDIAN BROTHERS ASSURANCE OUR PRAYERS REALIZATION THEIR HIGHEST ASPIRATIONS SER VICE GOD AND HUMANITY.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

About 50 Baha’is were present July 3 at the Oneida Indian Reservation near Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the 11th annual Oneida Pow-wow and Festival of Performing Arts during which the Baha’fs presented the Oneida Nation with special editions of the Baha’f Writings in the Oneida language and a sand painting by Baha’f artist David Villasefior.

THE presentation of the two specially bound copies of Baha’i Writings in Oneida marked. the 25th anniversary of their original publication.

About 26 years ago Marian Steffes, an Oneida who was the first Native American to become a Baha’i, sought out Oscar Archi: quette, an Oneida who was wellknown as the foremost authority on his tribal language.

Mr. Archiquette agreed to serve as chief translator of the Baha'i Writings into Oneida. He worked with Mrs. Steffes for more than a year to produce the translations.

At the request of the Baha’is, the director of the Oneida Nation Museum spoke during the presentation ceremony in honor of the late Mr. Archiquette.

Mrs. Archiquette and other members of his family were present for the Baha'i presentation, which was made by Kevin Locke, a Lakota Sioux Baha’i from McLaughlin, South Dakota:

THE National Spiritual Assembly underscored the significance of the occasion in this message:

“Dear Friends:

“On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the first translation and publication of Baha’i Writings into the Oneida language, the

San Francisco Baha'is join Native Americans in intercommunity event

On June 3, Baha’fs in San Francisco, California, participated in an intercommunity event at that city’s Baha’i Center with Native Americans from San Pablo and the San Francisco American Indian Center.

Also present were Robin and Mitchell Silas, Baha’is who live on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Aneth, Utah.

Activities included a mini-pow wow by the Red Hawk Drum Group and a special dance by an 11-year-old Indian boy in full native costume,

Three display tables featured Indian jewelry, sand paintings, rugs, books on Indian culture, and Baha’i pamphlets.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States sends its greetings to the Native Americans whose advancement has great significance for the fu Oneida Tribal Council representative Lloyd Powless (right holding microphone) accepts translations of Baha’ Writings in the Oneida language on behalf of the Oneida Nation. The presentation was made for the Baha’ fs of Green Bay, Wisconsin, by Kevin Locke (second from left), a Lakota Sioux Baha'i from South Dakota. At the

ture of all the inhabitants of this continent.

“The National Spiritual Assembly takes this opportunity to extend to the Oneida people its best wishes and to express confidence that the day of the unity of all mankind is not too far away.’”

The Baha'i Writings and sand painting were accepted by representatives of the Oneida Tribal Council, the director of the Oneida Nation Museum, and the head librarian of the Oneida Community Library.

far left is Barbara Denny, representing the Oneida Community library, who, along with Robert Smith (back to camera), director of the Oneida Nation Museum, received similar gifts from the Bahaf community of Green Bay during the 11th annual Oneida Powwow July 3.

Pat Glover, a Stockbridge Indian Baha'i from Milwaukee, read a portion of the prayer, “Blessed Is the Spot,” and Mr. Locke sang an honoring song that originated with Sioux chief Sitting Bull and is reserved for honoring great leaders.

Mr. Locke also performed a traditional Indian hoop dance.

This is the cover of the special bound volume of Baha'i Writings in the Oneida Indian language, two volumes of which were presented to representatives of the Oneida Nation on July 3 by the Baha'is of Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the 11th annual Oneida Pow-wow and Festival of Performing Arts.

“How moving it was,”’ said Lori J. Block, secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Green Bay, “when the Baha’is who were present walked down the hillside together and joined the circle’ of dancers’” for a traditional Native American honoring song that followed the presentation of the sand painting by the Baha’is.

Kevin Locke, a Lakota Sioux Baha’i from McLaughlin, South Dakota, performs a traditional Native American dance using 28 hoops at the 11th annual Oneida Pow-wow near Green Bay, Wisconsin. Mr. Locke, who is cultural representative of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, presented special editions of the Baha'i Writings in the Oneida language and a sand painting to the Oneida Nation on behalf of the Baha'is of Green Bay.

More than 200 Baha’is gather at Aneth, Utah, unity celebration

Over the Fourth of July weekend, more than 200 Baha’is from Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and as far away as Massachusetts gathered at the small, remote desert community of Aneth, which is a part of the Navajo Indian Reservation in southwestern Utah.

THE UNITY celebration in which they participated was hosted by the Silas family who are residents there.

Serving as a focal point, Aneth became a Baha’i summer camp and a breeding ground for new ideas and fresh zeal.

The weekend schedule consisted

of numerous outdoor sporting and recreational activities as well as Baha'i classes for children and adults.

Guitar playing and singing were the background sounds throughout the camp. In the evenings everyone took part in a communal dinner, Navajo style.

Adjacent to the Navajo shadehouse, Baha’is constructed another out of steel poles and a crowning parachute with the words, “‘All the world’s children are flowers of one garden’’ embroidered upon it.

This semi-geodesic dome served as the camp’s meeting hall where, on Saturday evening, Chester

Funds

Continued From Page 5

challenges as his or her personal goal—to teach and bring in new believers; to clasp that wonderful symbol of the Faith in America, the House of Worship, to his heart and vow to do everything in his power to see it renovated; to make a contribution every 19 days, no matter how large or small ... if only.

All of us want to see these things happen—all of them and more. To see it all done the National Fund must be healthy, for as the Guardian told us, ‘“‘the progress and execution of spiritual activities is dependent and conditioned upon material means ...’”

The health of the National Fund must be the concern of every Baha’i in America. Can we not reach that one goal of 20,000 as evidence that we are united in action?

Kahn, a member of the National Spiritual: Assembly, spoke about the relationship of Navajo prophecies to the appearance of Baha’u'll4h in the East.

SATURDAY ended with an allnight prayer vigil for the martyrs in Iran led by Navajo believers in the camp's hogan.

Of special significance was Mike MacKenless’ arrival with a

Some of the more than 200 Bahá’ís who attended a unity celebration July 1-4 on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Aneth, Utah,

precious token from the Holy Land.

He presented the Bahá’ís of Aneth with an unused marble stone that had been meant for the front steps of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.

Now even the sun-baked hills of Aneth are spiritually linked to Bahá’u’lláh’s supreme Institution in the Holy Land.—Fritz Mann

gather under a ‘shadehouse’ made from steel poles and a parachute.

(Photo by Fritz Mann)

[Page 24]The American Baha'i

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News in brief

Peace Day musicale set in D.C.

“‘Meet Us on the Mall” is the headline on a leaflet being distributed by Baha’is in Washington, D.C., to announce a musical proclamation planned to observe World Peace Day from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, September 18.

The event, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Washington, is to be held at the Sylvan Theatre, an open air amphitheatre near the Washington Monument.

Well-known Baha’i musicians will perform, but there will be no speakers.

Any of the friends who will be in the Washington area that day are invited to participate and help win the goal of 1,000 new Baha’is in the nation’s capital.

eee

Doras Benbow, a member of the Baha’f community of Decatur, Georgia, has won first prize in a statewide contest conducted by the National League of American Pen Women for a choral compo

Special notice

In view of the need to conserve limited funds for the important work of teaching the Faith, the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada has decided not to issue new Baha’f identification cards this year.

Please note that this means Canadian Baha’ fs will continue to carry Baha'i 1.D. cards which state that the cards are valid only until March 21, 1982.

sition set to a passage from The Hidden Words of Bahd’u’ll4h.

Ms. Benbow’s winning entry was taken from the Hidden Word No. 64 (Arabic) that begins, “‘O Son. of Man! My eternity is My creation; I have created it for thee ...’”

eee

Two Baha'is from the Houston, Texas, area were interviewed for half an hour June 5 on a local television station’s morning show.

Mrs. Farah Khamsi, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Northwest Harris County, and Irvin Hanks, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Houston, spoke about the recent persecutions in Iran and stated some of the basic principles of the Faith.

The interview was arranged through efforts of the members of the Houston Baha’i Public Relations Committee.

About 100 Baha’is and their guests attended a gala International Song and Dance Festival held May 21 at the Baha’f Center in New York City.

The event was planned by the Regional Asian Teaching Committee and the local Spanish Teaching Committee.

Included were modern dances by Anne Atkinson; original songs with guitar by Joan Marcus; Polynesian dances interpreted by Bob Imagire; songs by Paul Vinas and Tony Otero; and a Chinese dance by Elaine Yen.

100 attend business institute at N.Y.C. Center

About 100 Baha’is from eight states and Switzerland representing a variety of business and professional fields participated April 9 in a day-long Professional and Business Persons Institute at the New York City Baha’i Center.

THE Spiritual Assembly of New York City sponsored the institute, whose theme was “‘Excellence Is Our Sign,”’ as a follow-up

Eugene Andrews, manager of executive education for the General Electric Company, served as chairman of the day-long Professional and Business Persons Institute held April 9 at the Baha’i Center in New York City.

Ads

Continued From Page 16

peaks of Mounts Adams and Rainier. Teaching opportunities abound among the Hispanic, Native American, Filipino, black and Anglo communities in the area; there are also Assemblies and small Groups to assist. For help in relocating, contact the Spiritual Assembly of Toppenish,

Toppenish, WA 98948, or phone 509-865-5074.

ISOLATED Baha’i wishes to pioneer abroad and to have a Baha’ replace her in Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina, 25 miles southeast of Wilmington and 10 miles west of Southport and the

atlantic coast. Would like to sell a two-bedroom brick home to a Baha’i settler. For more information please write to Ruth Ezzell,

Southport, NC 28461, or phone 919-845-2196.

A LOVE LETTER to you from the Office of Membership and Records. We want to say ‘‘thank you’’ to each of the Local Spiritual Assembly and District Teaching Committee secretaries and Group correspondents who are including Bahd’{ identification numbers and Baha’f locality codes on the address changes submitted

to this office. We also appreciate all of you who are including your own Baha’i identification numbers and telephone numbers on correspondence. It’s these little things that help us a lot, and we thank you for helping us smile more while we serve you.

A PIONEER family in Argentina which owns and operates a private elementary school needs educational materials such as used books, slide and film projectors, documentary films, or other audio-visual equipment or materials. Anyone who is able to donate such items should contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or telephone 312-869-9039.

WANTED: illustrators and graphic designers. The art director of Brilliant Star magazine is secking to enlarge the number of Bahá’{ artists that she can call upon to help illustrate the bi-monthly publication. Please send 5 to 10 samples of your black and white work to Rita Leydon, Box 127, Lahaska, PA 18931.

NEW MEXICO’S northern district has many small communities where Assemblies are needed and can be formed through unified ef forts. These places are only 10 to 15 minutes from Albuquerque which has a strong, supportive Assembly. You can choose countrystyle living with easy access to the city. There is ample housing of all kinds for renters or buyers. The economy is stable with business expansion now going on. For details, write to the Spiritual Assembly of Pajarito, P.O. Box 25852, Albuquerque, NM 87125.

BRAZIL has an opening for a primary school teacher at a Baha’i-owned and run school. Housing and transportation included. Quite livable salary in the capital city, Brasilia. Need Montessori training and at least two years experience in educating children. Please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

THE SPIRITUAL Assembly of Noble, Oklahoma, five miles from, the University of Oklahoma in Norman and 30 miles south of Oklahoma City, is in jeopardy. If. you would be interested in becoming a homefront pioneer to Noble, please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Noble, P.O. Box 577, Noble, OK 73068, or phone 405-872-8676, 405-872-5250, or 405-872-8217.

to the first such event last October, also at the New York Baha’i Center, which was held under the auspices of the national Business and Professional Affairs Committee.

The institute was in two parts. The morning session, utilizing both speakers and audience participation, emphasized the individual’s role in bringing the Baha’i message to business and professional people.

The afternoon, which was given over entirely to audience participation, concentrated on the community’s efforts in that area.

The chairman for both sessions was Eugene Andrews, who is manager of executive education for the General Electric Com pany. * The morning’s speakers were:

¢ Dr. Wilma Brady, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly and strategic planner for the Equitable Life Assurance Society, who spoke on ‘“‘Moral Issues in the Professions and Business: The Challenge and the Power.””

Mildred Mottahedeh, a business woman and member of the International Goals Committee, whose topic was “‘Spiritual and Material Accomplishments: Balwe Goals for Two-Winged

¢ Shahab Fatheazam, vice-president of corporate finance for the Kidder Peabody Company, who spoke on “‘Commitment.’”

Afternoon consultation centered around teaching specific professional and business people such as doctors, lawyers and administrators, and using the Baha’ network of professionals to carry ‘out the task,

A direct result was the formation of a volunteer nucleus group to pursue the “‘network’’ possibility.

Among those attending the institute were Parks Scott, the national Public Affairs Officer; Robert Wilson, secretary of the National Teaching Committee; and Keyvan Nazerian, a member of the National Teaching Committee.

ARCHIVES MANUAL ORDER FORM

The Guidelines for Baha’i Archives (59 pages) covers in detail the organization and functioning of a Baha’i Archives, It is highly suitable for communities faced with the need to organize a local archives. Price $7.50.

TO ORDER: Send this form with a check for $7.50 per copy made payable to ‘‘National Baha’i Services Fund’? to:

National Baha’i Archives

Baha'i National Center Wilmette, IL 60091

For overseas orders add $4.50 per copy for air mail or $2.00 per copy for

surface mail.

Please send me enclosing a check for S.

Name

copies of Guidelines for Baha’i Archives. | am

Address

City

State Zip

This photograph was taken In Chicago, Minois, date unknown. If you can identify any of those in the picture, or have other infor

Can you identify anyone in this picture?

mation about it to offer, please contact the National Bahd’{ Archives Committee, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

[Page 25]

| |

August 1983

|

The American Baha'i

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Pioneer to Falklands has London art exhibit

Duffy Sheridan, a Baha’i pioneer to the Falkland Islands who is rapidly earning an international reputation as a fine artist, was featured prominently in a recent edition of the London Sunday Times Magazine in connection with an exciting and successful art exhibit at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

THE EXHIBIT came about while Mr. Sheridan was en route to the U.S. from the Falklands at the invitation of the International Goals Committee to set up exhibitions of his works throughout this country.

He showed 19 new works in London, as well as some others that had been sold earlier to British art lovers.

One of the paintings belonged to Simon Winchester, a prominent correspondent for the London Times.

Mr. Winchester suggested that the Sunday Times might be interested in previewing the exhibit in its color magazine.

The likelihood of an article being published to coincide with the exhibit (June 15-July 3) was unlikely because the magazine’s deadline had been passed by several weeks, but Mr. Sheridan went to the Times office for an in Vs

Another of the splendid portraits of Falkland Islanders rendered by Baha'i artist and pioneer John

The National Baha’i Archives Committee is seeking copies of the following books by Bahá’u’ll4h, in good or excellent condition:

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf (cloth, 1969), Gleanings (cloth, 1939, 1943, 1946, 1948, 1952), The Hidden Words (cloth, 1940, 1943), the Kitab-I-fqin (cloth,

terview, as requested, with some of his paintings.

Shortly afterward, the cover originally scheduled to appear on the June 12 issue was scrapped in favor of a portrait by Mr. Sheridan of a young Falklands girl, and an extensive feature article appeared inside the magazine with photos of 10 of his other paintings.

THE ARTICLE referred to the Baha’i Faith and explained why the Sheridans had gone there more than seven years ago.

The interest since the Falklands war knowing more about this tiny British colony gave the Sheridans a ready-made opening to answer all inquiries by telling about the Faith.

Between 8,000 and 10,000 people, many of whom had read about it in the London Times, saw Mr. Sheridan’s exhibit.

A small portrait of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá drew considerable attention, and many people expressed a desire to own it.

That painting was not for sale, but will eventually be presented to Lady Lillian Carpenter, the wife of the Dean of Westminster Ab

bey. Lady Carpenter has for many

(Duffy) Sheridan and featured in his art exhibit in June at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Archives seeks books by Bahda’u’llah

1950), and The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys (cloth, 1954, Sth, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th printings).

Anyone who is able to donate any of these books is requested to contact the National Baha’i Archives, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

years been devoted to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and speaks of Him and His teachings to royalty and commoners alike, often quoting from the Baha’i Writings and reading Baha'i prayers at public functions.

THE LONDON show has proven to be one of the most effective proclamation efforts that the Baha’i community of the United Kingdom has ever been able to present.

The London Sunday Times has offered the use of the article, in any city in which it has connections, and that includes most of the larger cities in the world. Sydney, Australia, already is reprinting it.

In addition, the British Broadcasting Corporation wants to present a 15-minute program about Mr. Sheridan in its “Light of Experience’’ series.

The British Forces Broadcasting Service aired a 20-minute interview with Mr. Sheridan all over the world. Nearly half of the pro-.. gram focused on the Faith.

The International Goals Committee and the Office of Public Affairs invite all interested Baha’i communities or individuals who wish to take advantage of a splendid teaching and proclamation opportunity to contact Mrs. Shirley Lee or Mrs. Mary Louise Suhm at the Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or to phone them at 312-869-9039.

SUNDAY TIMES MAGAZINE

PSG Sa Above left: The cover of the London Times magazine with a por trait by Baha'i pioneer Duffy Sheridan. Above right: Another

of Mr. Sheridan’s portraits. Below: A part of the extensive London Times article about Mr. Sheridan’s work.

hi’fs—46 adults and 20 children—who attended a day-long

Auxiliary Board hosts successful Chincoteague conference

Sixty-six Bahá’ís—46 adults and 20 children—participated May | in a day-long conference in Chincoteague, Virginia, sponsored by the Auxiliary Board members in that area.

Friends from 22 communities in five states heard inspiring talks by Auxiliary Board members Carole Allen and Albert James and the latter’s assistant, Fred Myers, as

A PY Bc | s

conference May 1 in Chinco- sponsored by the Auxiliary Board

teague, Virginia. The event was

well as from George Stroop, chairman of the District Teaching Committee.

Topics addressed included “The Covenant and the Seven Year Plan,” ‘‘Media Proclamation and Cordial Relationships with People in Authority,” “Gaining Avowed Adherents from All Strata of Society,” and

members in that area.

“The Creative Word in Our

Lives.””

Children ages 6 through 15 had their own conference supervised by Mrs. Virginia Schawacker of Westchester, Pennsylvania, and a staff of volunteer teachers.

Lunch-hour activities included a picnic, walks by the sea, and swimming.

[Page 26]The American Bah@’i

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Memorial services honor memory of recent martyrs in Iran

Continued From Page 1

tional Spiritual Assembly.

Here is the full text of Dr.

Kazemzadeh’s remarks: .

We would have commemorated this day even if there were no recent killings of Bahda’is in Iran because this day, for 133 years, has meant something to us since it was the day on which in 1850, in the barracks square of Tabríz, ‘Ali Muhammad, known as the Bab, a young Iranian from Shiraz, was executed by a firing squad for originating a religion the teachings of which have blended with the teachings of the Man Whose coming He had foretold—Baha*u'llah— to form the Baha’i Faith.

THE BAB Himself was still a young man when He was executed.

He was a gentle person. He was a simple person. His tastes, His ways, His behavior with all individuals whom He met through His short life were remarked upon as being the acme of kindness, lovingness.

He was a mystic in the best sense of the term. While living on this earth, He was already in a realm beyond.

The last thing that anyone could have imputed to Him, and indeed the thing that no one ever imputed to Him, was that He was hungry for power, for station, for position, or that He had any interests except the interests of mankind at heart. And here I have used the term ‘‘mankind’’ in a generic sense.

This particularly is true of the timie of the Bab in Iran where women were regarded as inferior, but He proclaimed their equality. And it was among His disciples that the veil was first removed from the women of Iran.

THE BAB was executed under very dramatic circumstances in the barracks square of Tabríz, and His execution was followed by the massacre of close to 20,000 of His followers. The world then briefly took notice.

But those events occurred so far away, to a people that really had no ties with most of the world, and those events were largely forgotten.

They probably would have left no record if it had not been for a small group of survivors among the followers of the Bab who always remembered His promise, His prophecy, that His own death would not be the end of the story but only the beginning—that the

blood which He shed on that day .

in Tabríz was indeed going to be the seed from which would grow a community that would celebrate and will commemorate His Name forever.

And indeed, soon after His death, there appeared in Iran another Man Who was the One predicted by the Báb, and Who revitalized this religion that had almost disappeared because of the blows that the enemies had rained

upon it.

Baha’u’llah then fulfilled the Bab’s promises, moved the religion ahead, gave it more substance, and certainly gave it an international scope.

THE BAHA’{ Faith moved from its native Iran to what today is Iráq, to Turkey, to Egypt, to the Sudan, the Caucasus, Russian Turkistan, India, Burma, and then in the 20th century further afield until, as you can see, this Temple was reared in the heart of the North American continent, and until other Temples arose in Panama, in Frankfurt, Germany, in Sydney, Australia, and in Kampala, Uganda.

One is now being built in India, and one in Western Samoa. All of them symbolize the world-encircling nature of the Baha’i Faith and the community for which they stand.

As the Baha’i Faith spread, as its numbers increased, there was a parallel decline in the power and the station of those who had persecuted the Bab, primarily the Muslim Shiite clergy of Iran.

Those people began to lose touch with reality. They began to turn into a living archaism, into something which belonged to this world only tangentially.

Now, this does not mean that they did not preserve a great deal of power. But it is instructive that their power affected mostly the ignorant. Their power affected those who did not know, who had no enlightenment, who wanted to

Friends warned of ‘chain letters’

The National Spiritual Assembly has received numerous inquiries from all areas of the country about a chain letter that claims to be a “‘Baha’i”’ chain letter or a “‘Baha’i international chain letter’? in which the recipients are urged to send a post card to the first name on an enclosed list and to send copies of the letter to others.

The friends should know that the claim which this or any other chain letter makes that it is a “‘Baha’i”” chain letter is totally false and without foundation. THERE

IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAHA’{ CHAIN LETTER.

The National Spiritual Assembly discourages the believers from involving themselves in such schemes. They distract us from the real task which confronts us and which demands that we focus our efforts on our true goalspreading the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

The National Assembly urges every believer who receives such a letter to ignore it and turn his attention to teaching the Faith.

crawl back into the Middle Ages to which that Shiite clergy persistently called them.

AND IN IRAN itself there developed a very strange situation. While the mullahs began to lose power to the forces of modernization, to the forces of materialism if you wish, as people began to reject Islam and what it stood for, the only enlightened segment of Iranian society which was still dedicated to Islam were the Baha’is of Iran.

They continued to love Muhammad. They continued to speak the name of the Prophet and of His religion with reverence.

Political events move in strange ways. An upheaval occurred in Iran partly because of the rapidity of the pace of modernization, partly because of the nature of Iranian society, and suddenly the clergy with its appeal to the unlettered, with its appeal to the retrograde, found itself once more in control of the country.

I shouldn’t even say once more. They never had such control of the country before.

And on their agenda was, as I said already, a return to the Middle Ages. Of course, there were many obstacles to such a return to the Middle Ages. But in the realm of ideology and in the realm of spirit the greatest obstacle of all was the Baha’i Faith.

THE BAHA'IS constituted perhaps only one per cent of the population of Iran, but they were the one per cent whom the clergy feared most because they had conviction, because they would not compromise their principles just as they did not compromise them under the Shah.

When the Shah formed a political party and demanded that every Iranian join that party, and the Baha’is were threatened with loss of jobs, positions, or, as the Shah said himself, his protection, the only group that refused to join, no matter what, were the Baha’is.

The mullahs were joining. Those who were the most vociferous opponents of the Shah were joining, but the Baha’is refused to join. They stood aside. They did not want to identify themselves with any political movement nor with any regime.

And those samg mullahs when they came to power attacked the Baha'i Faith for what reasons? They said they attacked it because it was a political movement, because it had supported the regime of the Shah, but we know better than that.

The Shah was not there—not this Shah—one hundred and thirty-three years ago when they executed the Bab.

THE UNITED STATES was not a world power when they executed the Bab. Zionism didn’t exist when they executed the Bab and thousands upon thousands of His followers.

So whatever is being said today about the reasons for the latest persecutions, these are not the reasons, these are merely pretexts. These are feeble justifications designed to mislead the Western public.

In Iran they know better, and in Iran among themselves they speak the truth, as you can see from the statements of Hojjato’l-Islam Qazai, the judge of the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz who admits openly that it is the Bahá’í Faith that they want to exterminate.

And so they stand there with their obsolete doctrines, with their benighted following. They stand there in fear, and this is why they kill.

They kill in rage. They kill because they know that if they do not kill every Baha’i on whom they can lay their hands, these Baha’is will persist.

THE LIGHT that the Baha’i Faith has begun to spread throughout the world will engulf them, and their own followers will desert them. Of this they are certainly sure.

The latest events in Iran really cannot be separated from the death of the Bab 133 years ago because the people who are dying today, and I think that we should speak their names today, those people are dying for the same principles and for the same reason.

It was on June 16 of this year, less than a month ago, that Bahram Afnan, ‘Abdu’l-Husayn Azadi, Kurush Hagbin, ’Inayatu’llah Ishraqi, Jamshid Siyayushi and Bahram Yalda’i were hanged in a Tehran jail.

And two days later 10 women, three of them teen-agers—Shirin Dalvand, ’Izzat Ishraqi, Ruya Ishraqi, Muna Mahmudnizhad, Mahshid Nirumand, Akhtar Thabit, Simin Sabiri, Tahirih Siyavushi, Nusrat Yalda’i and Zarrin Mugimi—were also executed by hanging.

And 12 days later, Suhayl Hushmand, 24 years old, also was hanged. The news arrives in a continuous stream. Every day a new death. Every day a new persecution.

IN MAZANDARAN, in a small village near the town of Sari, 130 Baha’is were driven into a walled field and kept there for three days and nights without food or water.

All they had to do to be freed was to recant their faith, to make a simple statement that they were not Bahá’ís. They refused, and prevailed over their enemies who released them at the end of the third day.

But that same night, July 1, a crowd of villagers, a mob, attacked their homes, looted them, beat the Baha’is and drove them out of the village.

Now they are somewhere in the forests of Mazandaran, these

heavy sub-tropical forests that provide them shelter.

The world has responded to this, however. There has been an echo in Europe, in America, in Australia.

VARIOUS governments, parliaments, the Australian _parliament, the Canadian parliament, the Swiss parliament, the West German parliament, the British parliament, and the Congress of the United States have passed resolutions condemning such actions.

The President of the United States has spoken out against these persecutions. And throughout the world many people who had never before heard of the Baha’i Faith felt that they had to stand up and be counted because they saw what Congressman (Don) Bonker has called ‘‘the purest form of religious persecution.”

Just recently in Washington, at the Human Rights Caucus in the U.S. Congress, someone said that if you were looking for a case of pure, undiluted religious persecution, not complicated with politics, with subversion, with terrorism, with any kind of shady or unjustifiable dealings, then that case would be the case of the Baha’is in Tran.

And when we speak of those who have just died, and there will be others who will die after them, we want the world to know why they died.

‘We want the world to know the innocence of the people who have died, and we are sure, we are convinced, that the voice of the world cannot be silenced by the mullahs.

But we know something else which some of our friends may not yet know or understand—that in Iran too, whatever victories the clergy may win over the Baha’is are only temporary or seeming victories, that in fact there is nothing they can achieve except hanging women. That is the state to which the Shiite clergy has been reduced.

Let them have their day—but they will not go down in history as the revivors of Islam. They will go down in history as the darkest spot on the garment of a oncegreat religion.

Heads meteor search

Richard Taylor, an isolated Baha’i in Gassaway, West Virginia, was asked in May by the Event Alert Network, a department of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., to lead a search for fragments of a meteorite that is believed to have landed last January in that state’s Jefferson National Forest.

Mr. Taylor, an amateur astronomer, has the largest optical telescope in West Virginia and already has collected several meteorites.

crea ANN RE A LAR ES IT RS EE ESS A

[Page 27]The American Baha'i

August 1983

in The American Baha’i

The Hand of the Cause of God H. Collis Featherstone spends three days visiting the House of Worship in Wilmette and the Baha’i National Center, marking his third visit to the U.S. that comes during his tour of several cities in Canada ...

The South Carolina Regional Teaching Committee develops a five-month teaching plan for that State’s Spiritual Assemblies which calls for the training of 3,000 new Baha’i teachers and the enrollment of 3,000 new Baha’is.

The plan is announced during a teaching and consolidation conference in Frogmore that is attended by more than 100 Baha’is ...

At least 1.3 million people in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, and the northern part of that state hear of the Faith during a weeklong professionally designed advertising campaign on radio and in area newspapers.

The multi-faceted campaign, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Atlanta, includes a mayoral proclamation, spots on eight radio stations, participation in a radio talk show, and a special newspaper ad that is published in all of the city’s major newspapers and in several suburban papers ...

About 100 Baha’fs attend a three-day teaching conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, whose theme is ‘‘International Expansion: Baha’i Perspectives on Community Life and Teaching.’’

Among the speakers are Counsellor Florence Mayberry, Dr. H. Elsie Austin, and Dr. Arthur Dahl.

A highlight is the ‘‘Family of Man” banquet that celebrates the successful completion of the Nine Year.Plan and honors community leaders whose services to humanity have advanced the cause of human rights and freedoms ...

One hundred-fifty non-Baha’ is, the largest number ever to attend a Baha’i meeting in the MichiganIndiana area, attend a Race Unity Day observance sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of South Bend, Indiana.

The keynote speaker is David Kellum, a Baha’i from Chicago who is a noted black journalist. His theme is ‘‘The Need for Racial Harmony.”’ ...

An illuminated copy of a letter from ‘Abdu’l-Baha bestowing His. blessings upon Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, is presented to the school during its graduation weekend by the Spiritual Assembly of South

Rex Collison, Knight of Baha’u’llah,

DEEPLY GRIEVED PASSING KNIGHT BAHA’U’LLAH REX COLLISON. HIS LONG RECORD DEVOTED SERVICES IN TEACHING, PIONEERING FIELDS AT HOME AND AFRICA HAS IMMORTALIZED HIS NAME. DOUBTLESS HIS RICH REWARD ABHA KINGDOM SOURCE JOY PRIDE HIS LIFE COMPANION MARY. PRAYING SHRINES CONTINUING UNFOLDMENT HIS NOBLE SOUL WORLDS GOD.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

Rex Collison, who with his wife Mary was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for their pioneering services in Ruanda-Urundi (now Rwanda and Burundi), Africa, died June 25 in Geyserville, California.’

The Collisons first learned of the Faith from Mabel and Howard Colby Ives. They, along with seven other residents of Geneva, New York, became Bahd’{s and a new Local Spiritual Assembly was formed.

SOON afterward, a number of Bahd’{ teachers visited the new

JUNE 27, 1983

community including Martha Root, Roy Wilhelm, Louis Gregory, Frank and Dorothy Baker, Horace Holley and May Maxwell. In 1928 the Collisons undertook a 17,000-mile teaching trip across the U.S., visiting widely scattered Baha’i communities and isolated believers from coast to coast.

When in 1945 Mr. Collison retired from his position as chief of research at Cornell University’s agriculture branch in Geneva, they moved to the site of the Geyserville Baha’i School in California where Mr. Collison served

Eldred Schramm displays a plaque presented to him last October by Dr. Alberta Deas, administrator of the Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute near Hemingway, South Ca

rolina, for his six years of volun teer services in helping to maintain the buildings and grounds at the Institute. Mr. Schramm, 44, died June 20 following a heart attack.

Gregory Institute service pays tribute to long-time volunteer Eldred Schramm

Grieved passing Eldred William Schramm longtime volunteer worker Louis Gregory Institute. National Spiritual Assembly shall pray at House Worship progress his soul. Convey condolences family.

National Spiritual Assembly of

the Baha’fs of the United States

.

Many Baha’is gathered with non-Baha’i family members and friends at the Louis G. Gregory Baha’i Institute near Hemingway, South Carolina, June 23 for a memorial service honoring Eldred William (Bill) Schramm of Conway who died following a heart attack on June 20. Mr. Schramm was 44 years old.

A eulogy was delivered by Dr. Alberta Deas, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly and

stitute.

Last October, during the Insti-_ tute’s 10th anniversary celebration, Dr. Deas had presented a special award of appreciation to Mr. Schramm for his six years of volunteer services at the Institute where he helped improve the buildings and physical environment in spite of his serious heart condition.

In addition to the message of condolence from the National Spiritual Assembly, flowers were sent to Mr. Schramm’s family on behalf of the staff at the Bahd’{ National Center.

Burial was in the Baha’ cemetery on the grounds of the Gregory Institute.

Mr. Schramm is survived by his wife, Carol, and their 8-year-old

on the school’s maintenance committee.

In 1952 the Collisons pioneered to Kampala, Uganda, where they served on the committee overseeing construction of the Mother Temple of Africa.

They also served on the first Intercontinental Conference Committee in 1953 and again in 1958 when the Temple’s cornerstone was laid in place by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Ruhfyyih Khanum.

AMONG the Bahd’fs with whom the Collisons served in Kampala were Alf Nakhjavani (now a member of the Universal House of Justice), his wife, Violette, and her father, the Hand of the Cause of God Muis4 Banani.

Another of their friends was a young Baha’i named Enoch Olinga, who would later become a Hand of the Cause of God.

When the Ten Year Crusade was begun in 1953, the Collisons were among the first Americans to arise, and with Dunduzu Chisiza, a young African Baha’i from Nyasaland, they settled in RuandaUrundi.

The three pioneers remained there for two and one-half years until government policy required them to leave the country.

In their adopted goal they left about 20 Bahd’{s who became the foundation for the Faith’s development there and in the eastern Congo region.

The Guardian subsequently named Rex and Mary Collison and Dunduzu Chisiza Knights of Baha’u’ lah.

AFTER leaving RuandaUrundi, the Collisons returned to Kampala where they again served as custodians of the Baha’i Center and later the Mashriqu’l-Adhkaér until 1966 when they returned to the U.S.

They were instrumental in establishing Baha’i publishing in Uganda with the creation of literature in several African lan

REX COLLISON

guages as well as in English and French.

In 1963 the Collisons made an around-the-world trip, visiting Bahá’ís in many countries.

Mrs. Collison died August 11, 1970.

Houston Bahda’is ready to begin building Center

Bahá’ís in the Houston, Texas, area are about to see a longawaited hope materialize with the construction of a Bahd’{ Center in that city.

The new Center, on the same site as an old house that has served the community for many years, is being designed by architect Fuad Nadji.

The 3,800-square-foot building will include a large meeting hall and four ‘‘activity rooms’’ for Assembly and committee meetings, firesides, and children’s classes.

The Center represents the dedicated efforts and sacrifice of many of the friends in Houston and surrounding communities.

It should be completed sometime in the fall of this year.

In Memoriam

Mrs. Lucy Armachian William Gray

Ghodratullah Moosazadeh

Cherokee, NC Tuskegee, AL Euclid, OH

May 16, 1983 May 4, 1983 Date Unknown

Mrs. Lenore Bernstein Mrs. Christine Higgins Mrs. Mariah Murray St. Petersburg, FL Encinitas, CA Washington, GA March 22, 1983 Date Unknown Date Unknown Fay Clark Jessie Kingfisher Mrs. Marian Nickson Citrus Heights, CA Salina, OK Reno, NV

July 3, 1983 May 24, 1983 June 19, 1983

Rex Collison Charlie Lucas Mrs. Touba Shamsy Geyserville, CA Lamar, SC Dallas, TX

June 25, 1983 Date Unknown Date Unknown

Mrs. Evelyn Duncan Ben Mack Mrs. Leona Winston Santa Ana, CA Walterboro, SC Pasadena, CA

June 16, 1983 Date Unknown June 15, 1983

Habibullah Ettehadiyyeh Overland Park, KS

Hadley. administrator of the Gregory In- daughter, Alita. June 21, 1983

[Page 28]eee oe xe Paes

The American Baha’i

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Second Class Postage Paid

At Wilmette, NY ia AS August 1983 Minols the Nineteen Day Feast,” p. 8) = cae oa Letters “The fourth Glad-Tidings: ! te I BS: Moving? Name Mrs eS eee CMA reese Should: any of the” kings—=may (A Tas pour Miss Fullname D0 NOT use nicknames: God aid them—arise to protect newiNadiese Reng reap ey BD ad ston rl d TA an when, ahead of you, you see TV and help this oppressed people, all "House of Space Number. Street, or Description cameras, and reporters taking must vie with one another in lov- | {Svimesour conics of The Americon bs fi See Ast notes, and you find yourself being —_ ing and serving him. This matter is J Bane tend your new adress and Gly State Zip Code pushed forward until suddenly incumbent upon everyone. Well is 7u" mailing bbel nich feludey gta ee face with the Presi- jt with them that act according- sip and Records, Ban = ecraots ray outeror RESOINCS Boa amber an t of the United States. ly.” (Bahá’w'llah, Tablet of | National Center, Wilmeuce, looks up, smiles, and begins —_Bisharat sing to move und what your new x Pea HTARVOSRRGRGCeE Hane WANE Siinoks ie Side Wewit docu tex Home © opinion on current events—while Kings and Rulers of the World,” ee eisotbawaraitie sceel o: relephone oan the TV cameras continue to record published on pages 1-14 of The | ya eee accomplished with 1 the event. That evening you watch _ Proclamation of Baha’u’Il4h, also New Bangi a Ska this on the national news. bears on this. eae ! Community — me SI Local Assembiy_ Group. or olaled locally where this person resides. ! Or, picture this: You are sitting nt r : in a restaurant having lunch. Santa Cruz, California NOTE: Use this matic ate 5 ee See al Glancing at the person seated at form for individual Mailing label should accompany address change I the next table, you realize that it is T° the Editor: changes only. We have been receiving more than one copy you favorite movie star. He Peeiarer ibe Baka Appioasn’® 1 of The American Baha’i. Because we don’t i “6 ” H feed ext esol amis, says god afternoon” (arch and Api are ape ex ete aa ee pleasant conversation before leav- 2mple of selectively using the Ba- Please check box. ing the room after stopping to ha’{ Writings to make one’s point shake your hand. and beat those whose opinions are ! BAHA'I NATIONAL CENTER Or, imagine that an important different over the head with them. 1 Wilmette, Ilinois 60091 aot i SURELY one of the strong person in your line of work, . 7 rte 1 admit points of the Baha'i Faith is the mao oc aye, aie anon sense of balance emanating from 1 work with him on a project of _ its Writings, and this applies as 1 airtual iaitertate much to the principle of the 1 1 Or, a national company phones ¢Uality of men and women as to 1 to say that you have won its Mil- anything else. lion Dollar Sweepstakes. ‘ ‘These articles, however, come | Wouldn’t you be ecstatic? right out and say that women who i Wouldn’t you be dancing for joy? pursue work, careers and profes- {

Wouldn’t you want to tell the world? Wouldn’t we all?

Then why don’t we feel the same about teaching the Faith? Is the President of the U.S. or our favorite movie star more important than God? Is the chance to work with someone we admire greater than the opportunity to work for God? Is a million dollars worth more to us than the Glad Tidings brought by Bahá’u’lláh?

“These things must be more important if we find ourselves reacting with more joy and enthusiasm to the idea of having them than to teaching God’s Word.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, ‘Praise thou God that He hath directed thee to the light of Truth and hath invited thee to enter the Kingdom of Abhá ...””

We can do more for ourselves and for the world with this wonderful Gift from God than we can with any other gift the world has to offer.

Antoinette Isaac Bisbee, Arizona

To the Editor:

In light of the President’s recent action on behalf of the Iranian Bahá’ís, these quotations from the Writings seem appropriate:

“Speak thou no word of politics; thy task concerneth the life of the soul, for this verily leadeth to man’s joy in the world of God. Except to speak well of them, make thou no mention of the earth’s kings, and the worldly governments thereof. Rather, confine thine utterance to spreading the blissful tidings of the Kingdom of God, and demonstrating the influence of the Word of God ...’’ (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Compilation on ‘‘Baha’i Meetings and

sions outside the home do so for no other reason than financial gain, that such gain is somehow deplorable, and that if they were “real”? women they would not seek careers—that true equality

‘lies in staying at home.

This blatantly disregards other statements by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, such as: ‘‘She must become proficient in the arts and sciences and prove by her accomplishments that her abilities and powers have merely been latent.””

And, ‘“‘Woman must especially devote her energies and abilities toward the industrial and agricultural sciences, seeking to assist mankind in that which is most needful ...””

- therefore the principle of

religion has been revealed by Bahá’u’lláh that Woman must be given the privilege of equal education with man and full right to his prerogatives ... in order that womankind may ‘develop equal capacity and importance with man in the social and economic equation. Then the world will attain unity and harmony.’ (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 275-278, 104)

HE ALSO says, ‘‘The world of humanity is possessed of two wings—the male and the female. ‘So long as these two wings are not equivalent in strength the bird will not fly. Until womankind reaches the same degree as man, until she enjoys the same arena of activity, extraordinary attainment for humanity will not be realized.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Promulgation, pp. 369-70)

And, “In no. movement will they (women) be left behind. Their rights with men are equal in degree. They will enter all the ad

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ministrative branches of politics.’” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, 11th ed., pp. 182-184)

In no way is it my intention to derogate from the importance of motherhood and woman’s role as the primary teacher, trainer and upbringer of children. But to state that this is her only role is simply to ignore all aspects of the Writings pertinent to this principle.

The real challenge is for women to find the balance in their own lives between becoming “‘proficient in the arts and sciences,’’ devoting their ‘‘energies and abilities toward the industrial and agricultural sciences,”’ entering ‘‘all the administrative branches of politics,” and the importance of being ‘‘the primary trainers of children and infants.” (Tablets of “Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 606)

IT IS im fact necessary for women to participate in the affairs of humankind because, according to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘‘it is well established in history that where woman has not participated in human affairs the outcomes have never attained a state of completion and perfection. On the other hand, every influential undertaking of the human world wherein woman has been a participant has attained importance.”” (Promulgation, pp. 128-132)

He goes even further and says, on page 104 of that same book, “In truth she will be the greatest factor in establishing Universal Peace and international arbitration. Assuredly woman will abolish warfare among mankind.”

In response to the assertion that the Baha’i Writings refer only to

the mother and not the father, this is only because no such quotation was selected by the writer. | again refer the reader to ‘Abdu’l-Baha:

“That is, it is enjoined upon the father and mother, as a duty, to strive with all effort to train the daughter and the son ...”” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets, III,~ pp. 578-79)

Finally, I can’t help but wonder why The American Baha’i chose to publish such a one-sided, conservative, even reactionary article.

Printing such one-sided views may well contribute to women’s hopelessness, as ‘Abdu’l-Baha says, ‘*...it will continue to be depressing to the ambition of woman, as if her attainment to equality was creationally impossible; woman’s aspiration toward advancement will be checked by it and she will gradually become hopeless.’’ (Promulgation, p. 73)

I will be interested to see whether this and other letters presenting a more balanced viewpoint are published.

Ruth S. Perrin Roswell, Georgia

To the Editor:

As a Baha’i who, in considering the various alternatives in worshipping God, is wavering as to the validity of the claims that some Baha’is are propounding about unity, racial harmony, and so on, I find that Baha'is are as much lost as many Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc.

FOR one thing, there is no such thing as ‘“Baha’i love.” Love is love and cannot be partitioned, meted out if you will, to any particular faith.

I believe that many Baha’is are subtly implying that Baha’is who love are somehow superior to Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus or what have you who also love.

No faith has a monopoly on love. It is time that Baha’is learned this. Love is the quintessential aspect of unity, yet many Bahá’ís do not know this. .

This is also evidenced in statements about racial unity. The moment one discusses race, that individual is not integral.

People seem to forget that race is an illusion, and therefore talk about a thing that isn’t truly real.

Isn’t all talk about race wasted effort? It’s like petting a wild elephant. What does one accomplish by petting a wild elephant?

IF THERE is love, all questions about human requisites are resolved. If there is love!

What I am about to say will shock many Bahá’ís. Why do so many of us think we have the answers to the problems that have confronted mankind since time immemorial? Why do we assume such a subtle superiority?

I see the walls being built by too many Baha’is. Why can’t you see the walls you are building around yourselves?

Why do so many Baha’is use the words “‘enemy of the Faith’’? If a Faith is of God, can it have any enemies?

Such language does not reflect ethereal love. Instead, it sows the seeds of hatred. I believe that Bahá’u’lláh deserves better from His followers.

Ronald L. Coleman Bartonville, Hlinois