The American Bahá’í/Volume 15/Issue 12/Text

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[Page 1]December 1984

Four Bahá’ís executed, 1 dies in prison in Iran

WITH HEAVY HEART ANNOUNCE MARTYRDOM SHÁHPÚR MARKAZÍ OUTSTANDING SERVANT FAITH IN IRAN MEMBER PREVIOUS NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY AND AUXILIARY BOARD MEMBER. HE SUFFERED CRUEL TORTURE PAST FEW MONTHS. PURPOSE THESE TORTURES WAS FORCE HIM ADMIT FALSE CHARGES IMPLICATING BAHÁ’Í INSTITUTIONS AS NETWORK ESPIONAGE AND HIMSELF AS SPY. HIS GROWING RESISTANCE INCREASED INTENSITY TORTURES WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED HIS DEATH 23 SEPTEMBER. HE WAS BURIED 25 SEPTEMBER WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE RELATIVES FRIENDS.

REGRET ANNOUNCE ALSO PASSING AWAY IN PRISON OF AMÍNU’LLÁH QURBÁNPÚR 60-YEAR-OLD MASON ON 25 AUGUST 1984. CAUSE DEATH UNKNOWN. HOWEVER BLOOD-STAINED CLOTHES RETURNED TO FAMILY TOGETHER WITH HIS RECENTLY WASHED SHOES MAKE CIRCUMSTANCES HIS DEATH SUSPICIOUS. HIS BODY WAS ALSO BURIED BY AUTHORITIES WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE RELATIVES.

REQUEST INFORM AUTHORITIES AND PRESS. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE OCTOBER 11, 1984

WITH SORROWFUL HEARTS WE ANNOUNCE EXECUTION OF THREE MORE BAHÁ’ÍS IN IRAN, MR. AHMAD BASHIRI, MEMBER NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DISBANDED 29 AUGUST 1983, MR. YUNIS NAWRUZI, MEMBER LOCAL ASSEMBLY KARAJ. THESE TWO EXECUTED BY HANGING AND THE THIRD, MR. FIRUZ PURDIL, AN ENGINEER FROM MASHHAD DETAILS OF WHOSE EXECUTION NOT YET KNOWN. IT IS CERTAIN THAT MR. BASHIRI IN HIS FIFTEEN MONTHS IMPRISONMENT SUFFERED CRUEL INHUMAN TORTURES DESIGNED TO OBTAIN FALSE DECLARATION FROM HIM IMPLICATING DISBANDED BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION IN IRAN AS ESPIONAGE NETWORK. HIS ENDURANCE, STEADFASTNESS, LIKE THAT OF HIS HEROIC FELLOW BELIEVERS, THWARTED INFAMOUS DESIGNS. MR. BASHIRI AND MR. NAWRUZI ALONG WITH MR. SHÁHPÚR MARKAZÍ PREVIOUSLY REPORTED WERE INCLUDED IN LIST BAHÁ’ÍS ALREADY CONDEMNED TO DEATH. THIS CAUSES GRAVE CONCERN FATE REMAINING VALIANT SOULS LANGUISHING IN PRISON. KINDLY INFORM AUTHORITIES, MEDIA.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE NOVEMBER 8, 1984

Bahá’í family only one of many forced to flee Iran

The Bahá’ís in Iran have courageously and steadfastly suffered grievous tribulations, but there comes a point when some individuals can no longer endure and are forced to flee.

What follows is an account of the experience of one such Bahá’í refugee family.

MR. ......, the president of a company in Iran, was receiving a disability pension because of a heart condition.

His wife had retired after working in a bank for 20 years, and had received a pension for one year before it was cut off because of her belief in the Bahá’í Faith. She had cancer and was hospitalized for a mastectomy.

As soon as she was released from the hospital, the revolutionary guards came to her home and asked her to state in writing that she had no connection with Israel.

They also demanded that they pay back the sum of the pension she had received for one year, and cursed her because she refused to disclose the name of the chairman of the Nineteen Day Feast in her area.

The guards searched the house, confiscated Bahá’í books and took the husband’s Bahá’í ring from his finger.

The guards then slapped the couple’s seven-year-old son and forced his shoulder blades together in an attempt to extract from him the names of his Bahá’í children’s class teachers.

THE GUARDS demanded that the couple’s 11-year-old daughter identify the photographs in their family album.

When her father signaled her not to identify any of the Bahá’ís, he was pushed and kicked in the stomach. He fell and fainted, but the guards did not allow anyone to take him to the hospital.

This happened at about 6 p.m. It was not until midnight that the neighbors could take him to the hospital.

See REFUGEES Page 4

Index

Viewpoint	2
Letters	3
The Funds	5
IGC: Pioneering	6
Youth News	7
Education	9
Distribution Service	10
Teaching	11
Race Unity	12
Month of Firesides	14-16
The Media	17
Persian	18-20
Spanish	21
Classifieds	22
Publishing Trust	25
In Memoriam	27

Concern grows over Fund’s condition

The condition of the National Bahá’í Fund has been a matter of concern for several months.

THE FUND has reached a point of serious imbalance between contributions and expenditures.

Contributions so far this year have fallen considerably below what the assembled delegates at last year’s National Convention and the National Spiritual Assembly itself confidently expected would be achieved.

As a result, we have been forced repeatedly to make up the difference by borrowing. The total loans outstanding have now reached critical proportions.

The year is half gone. As of the end of September, contributions were $800,000 less than the amount expended.

See CONCERN Page 5

When Kansas Bahá’ís showed up at this year’s District Convention they were greeted by this colorful sign made by the Kansas District Teaching Committee which underscored that state’s determination to finish first during the ‘Month of Firesides’ in November. (Photo by Gail Etzenhouser)

Call issued for 88 new pioneers

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

The Universal House of Justice has asked us to convey the following with respect to settlement of pioneers since the opening of the third phase of the Seven Year Plan.

OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF 298 pioneers called for in the last phase of the Plan, 23 posts have so far been filled. Although many additional pioneers have also settled around the world, 275 pioneers are still needed to fill the posts originally assigned.

Furthermore, since the announcement last Ridván of these pioneering goals, the Universal House of Justice has received reports of the need for additional pioneers to reinforce the Bahá’í work in many countries.

In consultation with the International Teaching Centre, outstanding goals have been reviewed, pioneer needs have been considered, and a supplementary pioneer call has been prepared. These additional assignments, which call for 88 pioneers to be sent by 18 National Spiritual Assemblies to 29 national communities, raise the total number of pioneer goals for this last phase of the Plan to 386. Those pioneers now preparing to leave for their posts should, of course, proceed with their plans.

As you are aware, less than two years remain in the current

See PIONEERS Page 6

Teaching work gains momentum as friends vie in ‘fireside month’

The National Teaching Committee would like to give special thanks at this Thanksgiving period for the increased momentum in the teaching work throughout the country.

REPORTS of victories from the month of firesides continue to pour in to the National Center as individuals and communities arise to the challenge of winning a visit from the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and Mrs. Sears.

The results of that contest will be announced at the Feast of Sharaf (December 30). Don’t miss it, and the wonderful success stories that will be shared.

An unprecedented number of firesides were held during the month of Qudrat, and we are confident that this new spirit of enthusiasm for teaching will bring new victories in the months to come.

Districts, Spiritual Assemblies, and individuals are competing with others to keep the momentum going. For example:

Huntsville, Alabama—The Bahá’ís in that city challenged each other to see who would host the most firesides during Qudrat. To boost the excitement even further, prizes were selected for the winner.

Our Huntsville correspondent, Tim Tyson, reports that the friends have pledged (1) a special contribution to the National Fund

See FIRESIDES Page 11 [Page 2]

Association for Bahá’í Studies holds ninth Conference

Three of the Hands of the Cause of God were among the 1,150 people present in Ottawa, Canada, November 2-4 for the ninth annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies which was dedicated to the memory of the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi.

THE THREE Hands of the Cause, each of whom spoke at the Conference, were Zikrullah Khadem, John Robarts and ‘Alí-Muhammad Varqá.

Another of the Hands of the Cause, ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan, presented a paper, "Shoghi Effendi and the Countries of the East," which was read on his behalf by Dr. A.M. Ghadirian.

Among the other distinguished Conference participants were Dr. Farzam Arbáb, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Americas; Dr. Victor de Araujo, chief representative of the Bahá’í International Community at the United Nations in New York; and Rodrigo Carazo, president of the United Nations University for Peace in Escazu, Costa Rica.

The 1984 H.M. Balyuzi Lecture, "Shoghi Effendi: Expounder of the Bahá’í Faith," by David Hofman, a member of the Universal House of Justice, was presented by Mr. Hofman's daughter, May Hofman Ballerio.

The winners of the Association's annual writing contest were: Ann Boyles, a doctoral candidate in comparative literature at the University of New Brunswick (university category), "The Epistolary Style of Shoghi Effendi."

BRUCE Filson, a freelance writer and editor from Hull, Quebec (creative writing), "Seven Skies."

Barbara Hacker, a Montessori school director from Malden, Massachusetts (general category), "Montessori and the Bahá’í Faith."

Mr. Robarts, who celebrated his 83rd birthday November 2, was presented a bouquet of nine red roses, and a 10th rose, this one peach, was presented to Mrs. Robarts.

Mr. and Mrs. Robarts both participated in a Saturday evening panel discussion led by believers who had met and known the Guardian.

The other panel members were Mr. Khadem; his wife, Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem; and Mrs. Musa Bananí.

The annual meeting of the Association for Bahá’í Studies was held Friday evening.

Reviewed were the past year's activities including regional conferences and the first International Symposium on the Relationship Between the Bahá’í Faith and Islam, held at McGill University in Montreal; recent developments in the international arena including the decision by the Universal House of Justice that the Association is free to establish branches in every country; publications of the Association including a volume on the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran and a textbook on the Faith to be published by Harper & Row; the establishment of Association chapters at various universities; participation in major non-Bahá’í scholarly events; and plans for the next annual Conference and meeting to be held in August 1985 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

With the exception of the annual meeting, this year's Conference was held at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa.

Besides the various papers and other addresses, there were panel discussions, workshops, and musical presentations.

A musical tribute to Shoghi Effendi, written by Jack Lenz, was performed by Gordie Munro.

Other music was presented by the Tahirih Choir, pianists Mark Ochu and Niuta Isserlin, and vocalist Nancy Ackerman.

Five new Bahá’ís were welcomed into the Faith during the Feast of ‘Ilm at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Davison, Michigan. One of them, high school senior Molly Kettler (signing her card), is the first Davison resident to embrace the Faith since the school was reopened. The other four are members of a family from Kapack, a small town about 30 miles east of Davison, Jay and Lisa Steichman and their two sons, ages two and five. For the past five to 10 months, the five newcomers have been attending firesides at the Louhelen School that are arranged by the Spiritual Assembly of Davison Township. Standing (left to right) are Davison Township Bahá’ís Michael Hyde, Amy Marks, Hami Missaghseh, Shah Shahbazi, Khotan Shahbazi, Sassan Parvin, Fereshteh Ahmadzadeh.

Today’s Bahá’í youth have historic role to play

This month’s column is excerpted from remarks made by Counsellor Farzam Arbáb at the 1984 Bahá’í International Youth Conference in London, Ontario, Canada.

During the past 140 years and after the heroic deeds of the Dawn-breakers of this Faith, one generation of youth after another has taken its place in the arena of service.

EACH generation of youth has taken advantage of the opportunities offered by the historical moment in which it lived, has rendered special significant services to the Faith and has played an important role in advancing the aims of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.

The first years of the decade of the 1980s, however, have convinced all of us that the role of the present generation of youth will have to be unique and that historical forces will clearly take us to participate in a drama of suffering and victory comparable only to the history of the first generation of Bahá’ís.

Although persecution never ceased in Iran, the past few years have seen a new chapter in the history of the community of the Greatest Name in its birthplace. Once again the Bahá’ís of Iran have risen to the highest levels of heroism and sacrifice. Once again the Bahá’í youth are walking with distinction in the path of sacrifice.

The heroic acts of Quddus, Táhirih and Badí may have seemed to belong to a past that would never repeat itself, but the memory of the martyrdom of the 16-year-old Muna Mahmudnizhad in 1983, in Shíráz, is fresh in our minds and is a significant event shaping the history of the latter part of the 20th century....

IN JANUARY 1984 the Universal House of Justice addressed a significant message to the youth of the world.

In that message, they referred to the designation of 1985 by the United Nations as International Youth Year and pointed out: "These expectations reinforce the immediate, vast opportunities begging our attention. To visualize, however imperfectly, the challenges that engage us now, we have only to reflect, in the light of our sacred Writings, upon the confluence of favorable circumstances brought about by the accelerated unfolding of the Divine Plan over nearly five decades, by the untold potencies of the spiritual drama being played out in Iran, and by the creative energy stimulated by the awareness of the approaching end of the 20th century. Undoubtedly, it is within your power to contribute significantly to shaping the societies of the coming century; youth can move the world."

In response to this historic message of the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assemblies of Canada and the United States, in consultation with the Counsellors, arranged for three meetings during the summer of this year with a number of youth in Louhelen, Sylvan Lake and Batterwood.

The consultations in these meetings were to center around the idea that the message of the Universal House of Justice called for more than a simple arrangement of events to promote fellowship amongst small groups of youth plus occasional projects and larger conferences here and there.

THE "confluence of favorable circumstances" called for a mighty movement that would affect the lives of the Bahá’í youth in North America in a profound way, would subsequently attract the attention of thousands of youth across the continent, and would lead the North American youth to play a crucial part in the promotion of human well-being throughout the planet.

The youth who participated in these meetings responded with great enthusiasm to the challenge of the National Spiritual Assemblies. They clearly enunciated that the growth of a Bahá’í Youth Movement in North America was not only desirable but was indeed inevitable....

After all, they reminded everyone, this was the generation that was destined to usher mankind into the promised Lesser Peace before the end of the century.

This was the generation that was assuming its position in society at the time when the fortunes of mankind were at their lowest ebb.

They were the generation of Bahá’í youth who had to deal with peers so desperate, so hopeless, that many felt they would never reach the age of maturity and have children of their own before being destroyed by a nuclear holocaust. [Page 3]

LETTERS

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

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

Letters should be as brief as possible (a maximum of 250 words is suggested). Letters are subject to editing for length and style. Please address all letters to the Editor, The American Bahá’í, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

To the Editor: In your August issue a writer expressed concern because, as she stated, “the American Bahá’ís who protest the persecutions in Iran seem concerned only with calling attention to their own problems.”

SHE goes on to say that “there are any number of other groups, religious and otherwise, who are being persecuted in Iran ...”

I would like to ask the writer, and all of the friends, is this really the proper response to the precious blood which has been and is still being shed in the path of God?

The Cause of God, this Tree of Life, has throughout history always needed only the blood of the most courageous, devoted and pure souls who give it freely for His Word and for the sake of humanity.

These precious souls have been giving their lives for more than 140 years so that the ideals of love, peace and unity may be realized and you and I may become the beneficiaries of their sacrifice of possessions, position and family.

Dear friends, it is because of their sacrifice that the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh has now risen from obscurity and been brought before the world at large in virtually every major newspaper and magazine and has received prominent exposure on radio and television.

THESE valiant souls have suffered some of the most vicious and cruel persecution the history of religion has yet witnessed, and have without hesitation paid the ultimate price solely to make our lives better and to make the task of teaching the Cause of God easier.

The friends in Iran are ready to give everything in His path because they have been chosen by Bahá’u’lláh; this is the Divine Plan, and this is their destiny, and to compare their persecution and death with that of anyone else in the world serves, I believe, only to besmirch their memory because their martyrdoms and the murders of anyone else are not the same.

Finally, we are, by appealing to the governments of the world and making the situation in Iran known, indirectly helping all of mankind, because until this oppression is stopped and the principles of Bahá’u’lláh adopted, the peoples of the world will continue to have little hope of a better life. Nahid B. Sobhani Frederick, Maryland

To the Editor: I’ve been a Bahá’í for only a few short weeks, and I realize that personal testimonies are more in line with certain Christian denominations than Bahá’ís, but perhaps you’ll forgive my impetuousness.

Before becoming a Bahá’í I was a seeker of truth for a long time—about 12 years. During that time I had many bad experiences in the name of religion and was totally confused, depressed and anxious. I had no idea where my seeking would lead me, and sometimes wondered if it would lead to hell.

Yet since becoming a Bahá’í, I have experienced a total transformation of myself and my life. Every aspect has been touched—emotional, intellectual, spiritual, material—and I now know the happiness and joy that eluded me for so long.

It seems obvious to me by my experiences alone that Bahá’u’lláh is indeed the fulfillment of the prophets of the ages, and that His bounty remains open to all who would receive it.

As He Himself has written: “God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal, ‘The Kingdom is God’s,’ may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples.” Diane Felden Euclid, Ohio

To the Editor: I wish to express my appreciation for Maya Bohnhoff’s well-expressed and thoughtful reply (September) to my letter regarding statistics and goals.

She said she has been a Bahá’í all of her adult life. Eleven years ago, when she and I both became Bahá’ís, I was 51 and already well on the road toward irascible old curmudgeonhood.

It never occurred to me, however, that I might be guilty of prejudice. I am grateful that it has been called to my attention. Julian Briggs Cloverdale, California

To the Editor: If we Bahá’ís are to carry out the mandate of the Universal House of Justice to become a positive influence in our society, what better way than to become active in our public schools?

MUCH has been said against the quality of American schools. (And, interestingly, I heard the same criticisms made of local schools in both Europe and Asia while abroad this year.)

True, some schools are better than others, and within every school some classrooms are better than others.

Classroom performance is where the action is, and it is here where you are either a constructive influence or a part of the problem.

Every child has a place in our society, and the general classroom reflects this. The home may need to augment that experience, or the child may need a different amount of exposure to the school day.

We Bahá’ís must help give just and equal guidance to better the lot of society.

The “excellence of achievement” laid upon us by Bahá’u’lláh is achievable through the parents’ teaching their children tolerance and the ability to adjust graciously to all of society. Ms. Jane Schnackenberg Englewood, Colorado

To the Editor: There is no way I can express in words my appreciation and gratitude for making it possible for me to attend the District Teaching Committee briefing this past weekend (September 28-30).

In the 17 years I’ve been a Bahá’í, I can’t remember any conference or Bahá’í event from which I have gained as much or been filled with as much joy, excitement and closeness to Bahá’u’lláh and the Faith as I was at this briefing.

It has been a long time since I’ve felt the closeness and unity among other Bahá’ís that I felt there.

And judging from the comments I heard from others, I am not alone in those feelings.

On my return flight from Chicago, I sat next to a man who asked me why I had been in Chicago. A few moments after I told him, he turned to me and said, “Tell me about the Bahá’í Faith.”

The entire flight (one and one-half hours) was spent explaining the Faith to him!

Monday, three of the women with whom I work asked questions about the Faith. I now have three new people to invite to my firesides.

It has always been difficult for me to talk to people I don’t know well. Fear of rejection or criticism has paralyzed me.

But thanks to the briefing last weekend, those feelings are almost non-existent!

I feel that I am now capable of reaching out to people in a way I would not have thought possible for me. The words “thank you” are inadequate, but for lack of any better ones, thank you!

The National Teaching Committee, individually and collectively, did a tremendous job with the briefing, and it is very much appreciated. Nancy Schroeder Montgomery, Alabama

To the Editor: Since becoming a Bahá’í almost a year ago, I no longer have a fatalistic attitude toward world events.

INSTEAD, the Faith has given me a more positive outlook. I now smile as I listen and watch worldly chains of events, which I now regard as part of an evolutionary process.

I feel we are in a unique place in history. We can look around the corner into the past, and can actually talk to people who have witnessed the most amazing surge of technological advancement in history.

Our generation, the “baby boomers,” has been responsible for the most widespread and unified rebellion in history, crushing and re-evaluating old traditions and ideals. The world will never be the same again.

Instead of blindly accepting established ways of thinking, we are learning to think, feel and act for ourselves. These are the kinds of people the Faith will attract, in troops, when the time is ripe.

In current events I see a new awareness of war and its realities. It brings to light for me the positive side of the nuclear threat.

No longer is world war possible. As nuclear technology is made available to lesser nations, it can mean only one thing: the super powers will be forced to unite, and eventually to help bring about the “Lesser Peace.” Kathryn Struewing Redwood City, California

To the Editor: I believe that we Bahá’ís, perhaps more than anyone else, are called upon to be always aware of those contemporary thoughts that are on the leading edge of mature scientific and social advancement.

Often I must remind myself that we are in the midst of a fundamental revolution with regard to the ancient paradigms and icons that are still deeply involved in our own thinking, and that although we can be confirmed optimists about the long-term future of mankind, the real substance of that exciting future remains a mystery to us.

Any effective and truly comprehensive study of the phenomenal universe is, I believe, in its real and greatest significance a study of man himself and of an all-encompassing, all-pervading Reality.

Scientific investigation is, then, fulfilling to man because it awakens a latent awareness of a universal and purposeful order which relates to his own reality.

It tends to consciously tie him in to his place in that order, and in so doing promises to expand his awareness of that Pre-existent Cause that is the fundamental basis of all natural processes.

In his recent book, The Turning Point, Dr. Fritjof Capra, a distinguished physicist and modern thinker, presents a practical, illuminating and definitive vision of the reconciliation of science and the human spirit.

Without further elaboration, I would like to recommend it highly to all those who feel the need to be in touch with more than just the superficial scientific and social news of the day. It is also the kind of book I would like to see reviewed in World Order magazine. Kim Bowers Kilgore, Texas

To the Editor: As a pioneer, I greatly enjoy reading The American Bahá’í, as it gives me ideas from your community that I may be able to use in mine.

IT’S ALSO nice, and even periodically needed, to have some contact with my mother community.

Undoubtedly there are pioneers who would love to receive The American Bahá’í but simply can’t See LETTERS Page 27

Mark Tobey / Art and Belief

The purpose of this book is to illustrate a theme—the connection between the work of this major artist and his religious belief as an active member of the Bahá’í Faith. The book includes poems and essays by Mark Tobey himself, numerous illustrations of his work, and a series of articles about aspects of the artist and his art, including contributions from two distinguished American art critics.

Of special interest to Bahá’ís, as well as a valuable book for those interested in art, and the work of Mark Tobey particularly, but not yet familiar with the Bahá’í Faith.

128 pp, 9 x 8 1/2 in, 79 reproductions (17 in colour) Hardcover $16.95* Softcover $8.95*

Order through your local librarian, or send check or money order (including 10% for postage and handling, minimum $1.50) to:

Bahá’í Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091

• This title not exported by the Publishing Trust

[Page 4]

the Champion builders

ELIZABETH H. STEWART

“I am sending you forth as Jacob sent Joseph of old,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said to Elizabeth Hamill Stewart, an American Bahá’í nurse who was with the Master in Thonon, Switzerland, in 1911 while en route to her pioneering post in Iran.

TWO YEARS after Dr. Susan Moody’s arrival in Tehran, she was joined by Miss Stewart who remained in that country for 13 years working with Dr. Moody to bring medical care to Persian women.

Miss Stewart learned of the Faith in 1898 from her aunt, Isabella D. Brittingham, a distinguished Bahá’í teacher.

The only question Elizabeth had about the Faith at that time was, “Are there any martyrs in this Cause?”

She was graduated in 1899 from the Medico-Chirurgical Hospital in Philadelphia, and 10 years later she met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

In Tehran, Dr. Moody described Miss Stewart as “...a skilled assistant, a fine anaesthetist ...

“...Naturally her work was heavy and often exhausting,” wrote Dr. Moody. “Sometimes while I was on a case, another urgent call would come and it was necessary for her to take it and work it out alone, and she never failed. ...”

UNDOUBTEDLY, these two American women saved hundreds of lives. Miss Stewart helped patients with typhoid fever and other contagious diseases. Later, she herself suffered from some of these illnesses including typhoid and amoebic dysentery.

Each time, she was able to recover her strength enough to resume her professional services to the women of Iran.

In spite of her dreams and those of Dr. Moody for a hospital and training school for nurses, social conditions in Iran proved to be unfavorable for such enterprises. The work of Miss Stewart and Dr. Moody was thus confined largely —

See STEWART Page 13

Refugees

Continued From Page 1

hospital. The doctors released him after only five days, even though it was prior to his scheduled date of release, because they knew that the revolutionary guards would come after him again immediately after his scheduled release.

During this time the man’s wife was in another hospital for more surgery related to her illness, and some friends of the family were looking after their children.

When Mr. ....... was discharged, he went directly to the hospital where his wife was being treated and had her released as well.

For 12 days they lived in hiding with their children. Then, in November 1983, after paying a guide about $35,000 to smuggle them across the border, they escaped to a neighboring country where they had to pay the equivalent of more than $100 to be introduced to the local police.

MR. ....... also paid 800 German marks to have his passport renewed so that he would be in possession of travel documents for his family.

The family had to wait until April 1984 before they could receive a visa to come to Rome, where the U.S. has a refugee processing center.

Finally, early in July, they were interviewed by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, received their refugee visas, and arrived in the U.S. on July 31.

The process in their case was much shorter than usual because of their physical condition. Typically, refugees face a waiting period of up to two years from the time they leave Iran until their arrival in the U.S.

There are additional problems once the refugees have escaped.

One teen-age refugee who was traveling alone contracted typhoid from the water he drank in the country where he was awaiting processing. He was bedridden for several weeks with no one to attend him, and thought he was dying.

ANOTHER family, with children ages 12 and 16 years, left Iran in January 1982 and have been waiting ever since to come to the U.S. There are no schools or other facilities for the education of their children.

When the refugees finally reach the States, they face the additional difficulties of adjusting to a new and foreign lifestyle, learning English, often from scratch, and obtaining employment to support themselves in a job market that is already tight.

To become self-sufficient in a new environment is never an easy task, and the situation of the refugees is complicated by the effects of the persecution they have suffered and the ordeals they have endured.

Because of these hardships, a few of the refugees may seem to be unusually demanding or ungrateful; however, with the special efforts of the Bahá’ís residing in the host countries to welcome the refugees and make them feel at home, their transition will be made that much easier.

The Bahá’í community of Albany, California, participated September 16, World Peace Day, with an information booth and banner in an annual local festival called the ‘Solano Stroll.’ More than 1,000 helium-filled balloons bearing a Bahá’í slogan and several hundred pamphlets were taken by people who passed the booth.

Archives has guide to open collections

The National Bahá’í Archives has available a guide to those collections open for research.

The 19-page guide covers 149 collections of institutional records, personal papers, community histories and personal recollections, giving the collection title, quantity, and some information about contents and significance.

The guide can be ordered for $2 from the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Montana host to Auxiliary Board Conference

“Mining the Spiritual Gems” was the theme of an Auxiliary Board Conference held September 14-16 in Butte, Montana.

The conference was opened Friday evening with a reception and public meeting at which the honored guest and speaker was Judge James F. Nelson, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly.

About 15 non-Bahá’ís were present at the public meeting to hear Judge Nelson’s address entitled “Justice—the Bahá’í Perspective.”

The weekend’s speakers included Counsellor Velma Sherrill; Florence Mayberry, a former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre; and Auxiliary Board members Opal Conner, Margaret Gallagher and Paul Pettit.

One hundred-seventy adults, youth and children from six states—Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming—attended the conference, which ended with the release of hundreds of balloons, to each of which was tied a Bahá’í quotation.

Special classes and activities were planned and carried out by the state’s coordinators for youth and children, Arlene Blumenfeld of Bozeman and Denise Massman of Helena.

A member and representative of the Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners brought greetings to the public meeting Friday evening and to the opening session Saturday morning.

Members of the Spiritual Assembly of Butte, Montana, are shown with speakers and invited guests at a dinner and reception September 14 that opened a three-day Auxiliary Board Conference in Butte.

New Public Affairs Office in Rio Grande Valley

Six Bahá’í communities in the Rio Grande Valley of north-central New Mexico have organized an inter-community Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs.

The six are Albuquerque, Bosque Farms, North Valley, Pajarito, Rio Rancho, and Valencia County.

Since its inception some nine months ago, the office has used cable TV, billboards, and the press to bring information about the Faith to the communities it serves.

To date, publicity has been gained in 19 newspapers including El Hispano, a state-centered Spanish-language periodical that is circulated throughout the U.S. [Page 5]

Concern

Continued From Page 1

To recover this shortfall and break even, we must win the newly established $7.5 million national contributions goal.

The goal was originally set at $9 million and then reduced by the National Spiritual Assembly at its October meeting.

This will require that the friends contribute an average of $500,000 per Bahá’í month through the end of April. Reaching this new goal would be a considerable achievement in itself.

OUR bank debt now stands at $1.2 million. It is our goal to wipe the slate clean by the end of the Seven Year Plan.

A community invested with the spirit of the Dawn-breakers can, through a display of heroism and sacrifice, restore the needed strength to the bedrock of the Cause.

The National Spiritual Assembly has directed that planned expenditures for this year be reduced by $1.5 million, and is determined to reduce expenditures even further.

Cuts made so far have not affected our national contribution to the World Centre, but they have cut painfully into resources available to the various departments and committees at the National Center to help carry out their assigned tasks. Further reductions would be crippling.

The present problem is grave. We may have become accustomed to annual cyclical Fund “‎crunch- es crunches‎,” but the current difficulty is far from routine. It is the culmination of several years during which spending has outpaced contributions.

IN CARRYING OUT the heavy responsibility of directing the uses of the National Fund, the National Spiritual Assembly has over the past several years mounted an effective public relations campaign in the nation’s capital which, in large measure, has helped propel the Faith out of obscurity.

The National Assembly meanwhile responded to the needs of the World Centre by increasing the amount of our community’s national contribution, even though the money was urgently needed on the homefront.

It also consolidated the community by expanding the number of schools and institutes, and established the first Bahá’í radio station in North America.

We have much to be proud of—and yet the extraordinary time in which we live, and the emergence of the Faith from obscurity, brings even greater demands on our severely limited resources.

The Writings teach us that without difficulty and periods of testing, we would never become strong. Ours is the bounty to rush eagerly forward to meet the challenge presented by the National Fund, knowing that our community will emerge stronger, more unified, and better able to transform the world spiritually.

HOW TO ESTABLISH YOUR DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í FUND

1. Send your contribution direct*

National Bahá’í Fund

Wilmette, IL 60091

2. Send contributions through your Local Treasurer*

• Include a separate contribution for the National Fund with your regular Local Fund contribution.
• Your Local Treasurer will forward the contribution to the National Fund along with the Assembly/Group contribution.

• Include your Bahá’í I.D. number.

“...it is only evident that unless the flow of donations is regularly maintained by means of generous and continual support by all believers, individually and collectively, the National fund will never be able to meet the needs and requirements of the Cause....”

—Shoghi Effendi

When it comes to helping Fund, every believer’s a ‘deficit buster’

Many of you have heard the catchy theme song to the popular movie “Ghost Busters.”

TAKING a cue from that theme, National Treasurer’s Representatives in several districts dubbed themselves “Deficit Busters” and entertained the friends at District Conventions with their own comic version of the song.

In reality, however, the NTRs can only help us arrive at a deeper understanding of the Divine Institution of the Fund.

In this Faith we have no “Deficit Buster” specialists on whom we can call to make everything right. We all have to take that responsibility ourselves.

The National Spiritual Assembly is not calling for a few “Deficit Busters” to do the work for many. We are calling on all the “Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh” to step forward and demonstrate their love for the Faith.

When Counsellor Peter Khan visited this country last summer, everywhere he went he reminded us of the special station that we, the American believers, have been given in the Bahá’í Writings.

It was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Who addressed us as “Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh” in the Tablets of the Divine Plan.

IN THAT same reference, however, He said that the attainment of this supreme station depended on our realizing certain conditions. Three conditions are listed, and each one bears a direct relation to the Fund.

The first condition is firmness in the Covenant. Not only does this mean that we accept the authority of the Center of the Covenant—‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and today, the Universal

See DEFICITS Page 26

Some districts show significant improvement

Contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund by District

District Name	‘Starting Block’ Info			Current Month Info (Mashíyyat)
	Membership as of 12/9/83	Number of participants	Percentage of participation	Membership as of 10/12/84	Number of participants	Percentage of participation
Alabama S/Florida NW
Alabama N
Arizona N
Arizona S
Arkansas
California C No. 1
California C No. 2
California N No. 1
California N No. 2
California S No. 1
California S No. 2
California S No. 3
California S No. 4
Colorado NE
Colorado SE
Colorado W
Connecticut
DelMarVa
Florida C
Florida N
Florida SE
Florida SW
Georgia NE
Georgia NW

See VIE CHART Page 26

The Winners’ Circle

Highest percentage participation 1. Minnesota, Northern 2. Maine 3. Iowa 4. Rhode Island 5. Colorado, Northeast 6. Minnesota, Southern 7. Kansas 8. New Hampshire 9. Louisiana, Northern 10. Tennessee, Eastern 11. Pennsylvania, Western 12. Ohio, Northern 13. California, Northern No. 1 14. Ohio, Southern 15. Pennsylvania, Eastern 16. Idaho N/Washington East 17. Wisconsin, Southern 18. Vermont 19. North Dakota

Most improved participation 1. Oregon, Eastern 2. Georgia, Southern 3. Florida, Central 4. Texas, Central No. 2 5. Maine 6. South Carolina, Western 7. Minnesota, Northern 8. Oklahoma, Eastern 9. DelMarVa 10. Kansas 11. New Mexico S/Texas West 12. Rhode Island 13. South Carolina, Central 14. Navajo/Hopi 15. New Mexico, Northern 16. North Carolina, Eastern 17. Louisiana, Southern 18. Texas, Southern 19. Alabama S/Florida NW [Page 6]

IGC: PIONEERING

YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS, ADULTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
Mobile Institutes French-speaking: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Mauritius, Rwanda, Benin, Burkina (formerly Upper Volta) English-speaking: Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Transkei, Uganda, Zimbabwe, The Gambia, Zambia	Driving and mechanical knowledge. Audiovisual knowledge. Good judgment and ability to integrate with indigenous believers and administration. In-country housing and some expenses provided. Youth and young adults. 1 to 2 years.
Project Olinga (one year) Sierra Leone (West Africa), English-speaking	Travel-teach, hold deepening institutes, children’s classes, prepare teaching-deepening materials or use musical ability. Contact public officials. In-country accommodations provided plus some other expenses, if needed. Youth and adults. 1 week to 1 year.
Papua New Guinea (Pacific Ocean), English-speaking	Tutorial schools, deepening institutes, teaching in rural areas, helping at the National Office. In-country expenses provided. One youth. 6 months to 1 year.
India English-speaking	University/hostel teaching. Deepenings, conduct firesides, and help youth committees establish simple socio-economic projects. Accommodations provided. Youth. 4 to 6 weeks at Christmas time.
Guyana (South America), English-speaking	Teaching and deepening new believers. Accommodations provided. Youth and adults. 2 weeks to 2 months. Ongoing project.
Bophuthatswana (Southern Africa), English-speaking	International Youth Conference, 1985. Teaching team required before and after the conference. Accommodations and food available. Youth. Conference date: April 5-8, 1985.

Several of these projects have been developed in response to the United Nations International Year of Youth. While youth and young adults can help in many areas, friends of every age are needed. In nearly all of the projects, housing will be provided, and in some instances, food as well.

Start saving now and plan to participate in one or more of these exciting projects. Please contact the International Goals Committee for specific details, c/o the Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Phone 312-869-9039.

70 pioneers needed now to help assure ‘triumph of His Cause’

“...Whosoever ariseth to aid our Cause God will render him victorious over ten times ten thousand souls, and, should he wax in his love for Me, him will We cause to triumph over all that is in heaven and all that is on earth.”—Bahá’u’lláh, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in Messages to the Bahá’í World, 1950-1957, p. 101

Think what it will mean to the condition of the world when each of the 70 pioneers who must still arrive at their posts will be victorious over “ten times ten thousand souls.”

Multiply this by 70 and you’ll have a small glimmering of the potentialities which still lie hidden in the American Bahá’í community.

We have great confidence in the American believers, the “Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh,” to overcome the forces which are holding them back and to rush into the international field of service.

The sense of urgency to have all of the goals won and all of the pioneers in place by April 21, 1985, so as to “usher in the triumphant conclusion of the Seven Year Plan” is keenly felt at the International Goals Committee office. Time is very short—there are only four months to go.

“Exert yourselves; your mission is unspeakably glorious.”—‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in The Advent of Divine Justice, pp. 51-52

Write to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone the office, 312-869-9039. We’ll help you to find your place in God’s Plan.

PIONEER GOALS

(As of November 5, 1984)

AFRICA		ASIA
(F) Benin	4*	(E) India	3
(E) Lesotho	2	(K) Korea	2
(F) Mauritania	2	(E) Nepal	1
(E) Nigeria	4*	(E) Philippines	3
(E) Tanzania	3	(Th) Thailand	2
TOTAL	15	TOTAL	11
AMERICAS		AUSTRALASIA
(S) Easter Island	1	Caroline Islands
(S) Colombia	3	(E) Kosrae	1
(E) Dominica	2	(E) Palau	2
(S) Guatemala	3	(E) Truk	2
(S) Galapagos	1	Mariana Islands
(E) Cayman Is.	2	(E) Tinian	1
(E) Leeward Is.	2	(E) Marshall Is.	1
(S) Mexico	2	(E) Western Samoa	2
(S) Yucatan, Mexico	2	(E) Tuvalu	2
(S) Puerto Rico	2	TOTAL	11
(E) St. Vincent	1	EUROPE
TOTAL	21	(S) Canary Is.	2
		(GR,T,E) Cyprus	4
		(E) Ireland	6*
		TOTAL	12
TOTAL			70

LANGUAGE KEY E—English, S—Spanish, F—French, Th—Thai, GR—Greek, T—Turkish, K—Korean

• Persians preferred but others welcome

French-speaking Bahá’ís needed in Benin, W. Africa

Deepened, energetic believers who can speak French are urgently needed to go at the earliest possible moment to Benin, West Africa.

Unprecedented opportunities for teaching and proclaiming the Faith are opening up at all levels in almost every part of that country. The Universal House of Justice has directed that we spare no effort to send pioneers there without delay. This is an opportunity we cannot afford to let slip through our fingers.

Jobs most available are those for teachers at the secondary and university levels, and for doctors, construction engineers, oil engineers, teachers of English as a second language, etc.

Retired people can easily obtain visas. Small businesses, such as in office equipment, personal computers, manufacturing are welcomed by the government.

The cost of living for a couple is $600-$700 a month, or $500-$600 a month for a single person at the lower middle income level. Travel-teaching teachers who can stay for a month or more are also welcome.

If you think there is a possibility that you can go to Benin, please call the International Goals Committee, 312-869-9039.

Pioneers

Continued From Page 1

Plan. The countries assigned to supply pioneers are urged to send the quota of pioneers to the territories named as quickly as circumstances permit. It is the hope of the Universal House of Justice that these goals may be filled for the most part by the end of the first year of the last phase, thereby helping to usher in the triumphant conclusion of the Seven Year Plan.

WE HAVE ALSO BEEN asked to emphasize that the pioneer goals, as announced at Ridván and in this supplementary call, represent the minimum needs of some younger national communities. Settlement of pioneers above and beyond the goals assigned would be highly meritorious.

The Continental Pioneer Committees stand ready to do all in their power to collaborate with you in the fulfillment of these important goals, and you should feel free to call upon them for any assistance you may find necessary.

You may also be assured that the Universal House of Justice will supplicate the Almighty that you may succeed in discharging your sacred responsibilities.

Universal House of Justice Department of the Secretariat October 2, 1984

Pictured with members of the International Goals Committee staff are participants in a Pioneer Training Institute held October 25-28 at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois. The guest speakers were the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem (front row center) and Auxiliary Board member D. Thelma Jackson (second from front at far right). The 21 prospective pioneers were making plans to go to the Bahamas, Cyprus, Guatemala, Honduras, Korea, Mexico and Swaziland. Also present at the institute were visiting pioneers from Ethiopia and Uruguay.

It is extremely important for ALL travelers, whether on business or for pleasure, whether travel-teaching, relocating or pioneering, to contact the International Goals Committee before leaving the country. We may have information which could be important and relevant for your trip. [Page 7]

Youth Year provides many fine opportunities for teaching

The forthcoming observance of International Youth Year 1985 has brought fresh opportunities for Bahá’í youth to proclaim and teach the Faith in this country.

AS YOUTH clubs and groups begin their preparation for locally-based tree-planting programs and make contact with local government officials to help in city-wide observances of this commemorative year, more and more of these opportunities are being presented to young Bahá’ís.

The local youth club of San Jose, California, reports having met with the mayors of several communities in their area to set service projects in motion, such as coordinating several youth organizations to carry out a tree-planting at a local park.

Club representatives met for more than half an hour with the mayor of Los Gatos to discuss youth-related issues and the Faith.

Meanwhile, in northern Wisconsin, the District Youth Committee, the “Rising Rainbows,” has developed a complete plan for coordinating IYY programs with other youth organizations.

The plan includes educational programs aimed at issues of concern to youth such as alcohol and drug abuse, world peace, and service efforts.

In Kansas, Gail Etzenhouser of the District Youth Committee has an appointment to meet with the governor, and in Florida, Smokey Ferguson of the National Youth Committee has been appointed to the governor’s IYY Commission.

AT THE national level, the International Youth Year observance has given members of the National Youth Committee access to many leaders of thought and others in authority.

The Bahá’í National Youth Committee is a member of the IYY Commission established by the U.S. State Department and serves on that body’s Domestic Policy Committee.

Albert Cheung, a Bahá’í doctoral candidate at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, has served ably as the National Youth Committee’s representative to the IYY Commission, and in that capacity has attended several meetings and conferences that have set policy for the national observance.

Also, the youth of Washington, D.C., have established a local committee to design their observance, and as such, have offered their assistance to the Commission offices for clerical work, envelope stuffing, etc. These services have been warmly received by the Commission staff who have noted the fine qualities of the Bahá’í youth.

In addition, members of the National Youth Committee have received two separate invitations to attend IYY-related receptions at the White House.

THE FIRST of these was reported in the August issue of The American Bahá’í, when Jacqueline Eghrari attended a ceremony in the Rose Garden.

Later in the summer, Karen Pritchard, secretary of the National Youth Committee, was invited to attend a signing ceremony at the White House.

The program was attended by President and Mrs. Reagan, and the President signed a special proclamation on drug abuse prevention and education, an issue that is linked closely with the aims of the national IYY observance.

These invitations serve to greatly enhance the prestige of the Faith and help give us greater access to other youth leadership groups across the country.

When, in its message of January 3, 1984, the Universal House of Justice commented on the observance of International Youth Year by the Bahá’í community, it stated:

“How apt, indeed how exciting, that so portentous an occasion should be presented to you, the young, eager followers of the Blessed Beauty, to enlarge the scope of your endeavors in precisely that arena of action in which you strive so conscientiously to distinguish yourselves!”

Little did we know at that time the vast opportunities that would be available.

—CONFERENCE NEWS UPDATE—

YOUth can move the world!

July 3-7, 1985 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio

The last in the series of contests of scholarly and artistic endeavor is being launched by the National Youth Committee in observance of International Youth Year 1985: poster design.

Entries should be submitted as follows: posters may not exceed 11 inches by 17 inches, may be either horizontal or vertical in format, and in color or black-and-white. The name, address and age of the artist should be attached to the entry. The deadline for receipt of entries is February 28, 1985.

Themes to be expressed are “YOUth Can Move the World” or “Participation, Development, Peace.” Age categories are 12-15 years, 16-20 years and 21-24 years; a prize will be given in each category (a gift copy of Lights of Guidance: A Bahá’í Reference File), and one grand prize (tuition to the Bahá’í school of one’s choice) will be awarded.

The winning posters will be displayed at the Bahá’í Youth Conference next summer in Columbus, Ohio, where the prizes will be awarded.

The National Youth Committee already has launched contests for song writings, essays, and photography. All deadlines have been extended to February 28, 1985, and photography entries are welcomed in an 8 x 10-inch format. All entries should be sent to the National Youth Committee, __________, Sunrise, FL 33313.

• Counsellor Hooper Dunbar, a member of the International Teaching Centre at the World Centre in Haifa, has accepted an invitation to attend the International Youth Conference next July 3-7 at Ohio State University in Columbus.
• The National Youth Committee hoped that a representative from the World Centre would attend the conference, and is especially pleased by Mr. Dunbar’s acceptance. His topic will be announced in a future column.
• Letters and phone calls have been pouring in to the National Youth Committee office about the conference next summer ... it seems that everyone is trying to make early plans to attend.
• The Youth Committee plans to mail a complete registration form and information mailer to all youth, Local Spiritual Assemblies, LEAP advisers, District Youth Committees (almost everyone!) this winter ... so keep your calendar open for next July 3-7, and meanwhile, start planning those car pools and charter buses to get all the youth from your area there!
• NOTICE: Do you play classical piano or violin? Are you part of a Bahá’í chorus or musical group? Do you play guitar and/or sing Bahá’í-oriented songs? Have you a special talent for dance, dramatic readings or mime? If so, there may be a spotlight ready to shine on you next summer at the International Youth Conference!
• Whatever your talent ... let us know who you are and what you’re willing and able to perform. The National Youth Committee would love to showcase your talents! Send us your name, address and age with a sample of your work (cassette tape, photos, etc.).
• A special “entertainment task force” has been appointed to review all materials and assign talent to the major conference sessions, late night entertainment programs, and coffee house formats that are being planned. There’s plenty of time for Bahá’í youth (and adults and children too!) to perform at the conference, so don’t hesitate to let us know about you.
• Send all information to the National Youth Committee, __________, Sunrise, FL 33313.

Youth set conference in Bophuthatswana

A Bahá’í International Youth Conference will be held April 5-8, 1985, in Mmabatho, Bophuthatswana.

The conference theme is “YOUth Can Move the World.”

Accommodations and food are available. Visas are required.

For those who are able to arrive early or remain after the conference, there will be month-long teaching campaigns.

For more information please write to Sepi Rouhani, P.O. Box 3789, Mmabatho, Bophuthatswana, Southern Africa.

ATTENTION: Bahá’í College Clubs ...

... while college clubs are free to become members of the Association for Bahá’í Studies (ABS), clubs in the U.S. may not change their name or charter to reflect affiliation with the ABS.

The model constitution approved by the National Spiritual Assembly is to be adopted by all U.S. college clubs, and any amendments must be reviewed by the National Youth Committee before they are submitted to school authorities.

If there are any questions about this policy, please contact the National Youth Committee office, 305-584-1844.

Exciting, varied winter teaching projects scheduled in many areas of the country

Several exciting winter teaching projects will be held during the holiday break this year, and YOUTH are encouraged to devote as much time as possible to them.

For complete details, please contact the project coordinators listed below:

South Dakota, Amoz Gibson Project. This is an ongoing effort, and many projecteers are expected to be at the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations during the holidays. Contact Marinell Rhine, 605-224-0336.

Southern California, “Launch the Eagle!” This highly successful service and teaching effort is also ongoing. Contact Mark Sisson, 213-933-8291.

Arizona, Navajo-Hopi. December 13-January 31. Goals include Assembly formations and consolidation work. Contact Penny Boivin, 602-283-4821.

Central California, December 15-January. Based out of the Bosch Bahá’í School in Santa Cruz. Contact Patti Skovgaard, 408-423-1243.

New Mexico, “Trail of Light” project, late December. Contact Cathy Cook, secretary, American Indian Teaching Committee, 602-586-4555.

South Carolina, the “Army of Light” is on the march from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. Based at the Louis Gregory Institute near Hemingway. Contact Carey Murphy, 803-558-5194.

New Mexico, South/Texas, West. December 23-January 3. This is a Spanish-speaking project. Contact Richard Gurinsky, 505-437-0173.

Central Florida, both before and after the annual Disney World Conference (December 27-31). This project will be based in Orlando. Contact Linda Grannis, 305-469-2500.

Bahá’í youth stars in musical theatre

Dorothy Rosenthal, an 18-year-old Bahá’í from Stockton, California, starred this summer as Anna in a production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I” that was presented as a part of the Summer Youth Employment and Training Program theatre project.

A review of her performance in the Stockton Record said, “...Dorothy Rosenthal steals the show as the Welsh teacher Anna who goes to Siam to teach the king’s wives and children.

“She has a strong soprano voice, a fine stage presence and sensitivity to ensemble. She can also do a polka in one of her exquisite hoop-skirted Victorian costumes.”

Miss Rosenthal won the Best Actress award in 1982 and 1983 at Tokay High School in Lodi where she appeared in such plays as “The Diary of Anne Frank” and “The Boyfriend.”

In community and children’s theatre she has acted in “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” “The Music Man,” “Carnival,” “The Skin of Our Teeth,” “Finian’s Rainbow,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Cinderella,” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” [Page 8]

World NEWS

The number of new believers enrolled during a recent three-month teaching campaign in Bhind, North Madhya Pradesh, India, has risen to 73,000, according to the National Spiritual Assembly of India.

During the campaign, which was carried out in honor of the late Hand of the Cause of God Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir, Spiritual Assemblies were established in every one of the 1,200 villages in the area ...

A delegation of seven Bahá’ís including Counsellors Thelma Khelghati and Peter Vuyiya participated last May in the 12th session of the United Nations Environment Program’s governing council held in Nairobi, Kenya ...

Three Bahá’ís were among the speakers at a recent conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, whose theme was “To Move the World.”

The Bahá’í speakers at the gathering, which was dedicated to the memory of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory, were the Hand of the Cause John Robarts, Counsellor Sarah Martin Pereira, and Dr. William Roberts ...

The Bahá’í community’s float in Hawaii’s annual Aloha Week parade, which was held September 29 in Honolulu, won the Mayor’s Award for the best entry in the non-commercial division.

This was the 18th year in which the Bahá’ís of Hawaii have participated in the parade, and the 15th in which their floats have won an award ...

Two hundred people, the largest number ever, attended Finland’s Bahá’í Summer School last July at Mariehamn. Participants included visitors from 11 countries ...

For the first time, a news agency in South Korea, unsolicited, has reported on the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran.

In a survey of religious persecutions around the world, an evening television program broadcast last June 30 in Seoul reported the killing of 150 Bahá’ís in Iran and quoted from a recent article on the subject that appeared in Newsweek magazine ...

Kathy Reimer, a pioneer from the U.S. to Bophuthatswana, has been accepted for the master’s degree program at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg to research the effects of agricultural programs on village families, especially on women ...

More than 500 people including Bahá’ís from 46 communities and four Auxiliary Board members attended a recent three-day Bahá’í Summer School in Malacca, Malaysia ...

House of Worship presents sixth annual Corinne True Awards

Thirty-nine individuals and one community were the recipients October 27 of the sixth annual Corinne True Awards for meritorious service to the Bahá’í House of Worship.

THE volunteers were presented their special certificates of merit by Miss Edna True, the daughter of the Hand of the Cause of God Corinne True for whom the award is named.

Corinne True was a guiding force behind the construction of the House of Worship during a 50-year period that began in 1903 with the request to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to build the Temple and ended in 1953 with its public dedication.

She served as financial secretary of the national executive board overseeing the building’s construction and inspired great interest in the project through her worldwide correspondence.

This year’s recipients of the Corinne True Award are:

Raoul Adorno, Regina Anchondo, Vahid Aminian, Regina Blum, Jessie Chitham, Gordon Coates, Judith Courtwright, Karen Crenshaw, Barbara Ferguson.

Also, Tahirih Furudi, Charles George, Arlene Haertle, Gail Haus, Helen Hobbs, Leanne Jackson, Virginia Kerr, Elizabeth Knapp, Ann Kolacinski.

ALSO, Leon Lewellen, Evelyn Marks, Charles McCullough, Adrian McKee, Nancy McKee, Allen McNair, Candace Moore, Enayatullah Naraghi.

Also, David Ogron, James Percic, Marvina Rastall, Eve Schertler, Mark Spittal, Paul Stirneman, Michael Urbano, Thelma Warning, Joel Williford.

Also, Timothy Wilson, Irene Winters, Susan Woodall, Thomas Woods, and the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Chicago.

Special awards were given to the nine volunteers who had guided the most number of times during the past 18 months.

Heading that list was Rebecca Koch who guided 156 times. The other recipients were Lee Errington, Sylvia Jenkins, Kathlynea Kellum, Sylvia Parmelee, Eve Schertler, Kay Walker, Tom Woods and Eleanora Zipfel.

In addition to the awards ceremony, the program included a tribute to Dr. Rexford Parmelee, a long-time resident of Wilmette who served the House of Worship in many capacities.

The tribute to Dr. Parmelee, who died last summer, was given by Auxiliary Board member Thelma Jackson.

Special music was provided by Robert Reneau and Rosamund Brenner, Chris Keller, and Michelle Henley.

The program ended with devotions in the upstairs auditorium at the House of Worship.

Pictured in Foundation Hall at the Bahá’í House of Worship are many of the recipients of this year’s Corinne True Awards. The presenter, Miss Edna True, is seated at the left.

Armless Bahá’í’s only ‘handicap’ lies in people’s attitude toward him

Marty Ravellette mows the lawn at the Bahá’í Center in Teaneck. (Photo by Al Paglione, The Record, Bergen, New Jersey)

Marty Ravellette, a Bahá’í who is employed as caretaker at the Bahá’í Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, was profiled July 23 in a front page article in the state’s leading newspaper, The Record.

Mr. Ravellette, who was born without arms, uses his feet to write, drive a car, and carry out his many duties as caretaker, and has used them in such other jobs as sign printing, truck driving, and demolition work.

The article tells of Mr. Ravellette’s life-long battle for acceptance in a world that considers him “different” or “handicapped,” his early rebellion and anger, and the changes he has undergone since accepting the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

At the Teaneck Center, he plants flowers, paints boulders, rakes, mows, mops and vacuums, and from time to time he even helps the neighbors with their landscaping.

There are some things Mr. Ravellette can’t do, but he says he can’t remember what they are.

“The mountains I must move,” he says, “aren’t physical. They are the mountains of ignorance that people show toward other human beings.”

Mr. Ravellette is vice-chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Teaneck, and vice-chairman of a recently formed committee of the Spiritual Assemblies of Bergen and Teaneck to plan twice-monthly firesides at the Evergreen Cabin in Teaneck.

Notice

The Bahá’í National Youth Committee has a new address and phone number:

Bahá’í National Youth Committee, Karen Pritchard, secretary, Sunrise, FL 33313. Phone 305-584-1844.

Bahá’í speaks at Jersey City State College

Paul Pearsall, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Jersey City, New Jersey, spoke September 25 to a class on “Culture and Civilization” at Jersey City State College.

Mr. Pearsall, whose topic was “Bahá’í Influence in Washington, D.C.: 1912-1921,” was invited to speak through the efforts of a Bahá’í student, Aly Bushrui.

In presenting his talk, Mr. Pearsall touched on Bahá’í influence during the administrations of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding and the present Reagan administration.

Each member of the class including the professor was given two Bahá’í information sheets.

FROM IRAN EAST AND WEST

New from Kalimát Press

Studies in Bábí and Bahá’í History Volume Two

Edited by Juan R. Cole and Moojan Momen

Includes six articles on the history of the Faith in Iran, Iraq, India, and America, each of which brings to light aspects of Bahá’í history which were previously unknown.

$19.95*

Order through your local librarian, or send check or money order (including 10% for postage and handling, ‎minumum minimum‎ $1.50) to:

Bahá’í Distribution Service 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091

• Price valid only in the United States

[Page 9]

EDUCATION

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

Pictured are students and staff of the Portland Metro Bahá’í School. The school is administered by a nine-member committee appointed by the Spiritual Assembly of Portland, Oregon. In addition to the regular bi-weekly classes, there are special classes in the English and Persian languages. The school is regularly attended by seekers and friends of the Faith. The Portland Metro Bahá’í School is one of 100 local schools listed in the National Education Committee’s Bahá’í School Directory. If your school is not yet listed, please contact the National Education Committee office at the Bahá’í National Center.

Family Unity Night (Fun)

FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY: SUBMISSION/OBEDIENCE. Thought for the week: “God will not burden any soul beyond its power.” (Muhammad, Qur’án, Sura 2, Verse 286). Prayer: Fire Tablet or Unity Prayer. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials. 1. Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 128-29. 2. Arabic Hidden Words, No. 40. 3. Gleanings, p. 336. 4. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 51. Activity: 1. Have a fire drill. Talk about escape routes and meet together at a pre-arranged place. 2. Play Bingo. Refreshments: Popcorn (try different toppings such as garlic powder or parmesan cheese).

SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY: THE HOLY LAND. Thought for the week: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalms 46:1) Prayer: Blessed Is the Spot. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials. 1. Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 80. 2. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 220. 3. Bible, Isaiah 35; 65:10. 4. Bible, Psalms 48:1-3; 24. Activity: 1. Progressive story. Tape record a progressive story—each one makes up an incident, quits at a crucial point, and so on. The last person ends the story. Play it back for everyone to hear. 2. Play balloon soccer. Set goals, divide into teams, and have FUN! Refreshments: Have a taffy pull!

THIRD WEEK OF JANUARY: SULTAN/SOVEREIGNTY. Thought for the week: “For your glory consisteth not in your sovereignty, but rather in your nearness unto God ...” (Bahá’u’lláh) Prayer: Spiritual qualities, p. 142 or 144. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials. 1. Kitáb-i-Íqán, pp. 107, 123-126. 2. Gleanings, pp. 72-73. 3. Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 89. 4. Arabic Hidden Words, No. 1. Activity: 1. Play your favorite card game. 2. Walk a mile (or a block) in my shoes: Have the father, if mother usually cooks, prepare and serve supper. Or choose other tasks that you do during the week to trade. See what insights you have from doing the other job and EXPRESS APPRECIATION! Refreshments: Rice pudding.

FOURTH WEEK OF JANUARY: UNITY OF RELIGIONS (WORLD RELIGION DAY). Thought for the week: “Consort with the people of all religions with joy and fragrance.” (Bahá’u’lláh) Prayer: Mankind, p. 102. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials. 1. Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 139. 2. Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 35, 36, 129-130. 3. The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 83. 4. Paris Talks, pp. 141-42. Activity: 1. Memory. One person pre-arranges a tray of various items (rubber band, needle, crayon, etc.). The tray is set on a table for everyone to study for three minutes. The tray is then covered; each person writes a list of remembered items. Five-minute time limit. At the end of that time, the memory lists are checked. The winner gets to serve refreshments. 2. Word association. Sit in a circle. The first person says a word, the person to the left says the first word that comes to mind, and so on. Refreshments: Apple sauce. May wish to sprinkle cinnamon hearts on top.

Further listing of Bahá’í Winter Schools

ARIZONA Dates: January 26-27. Theme: From self to Self. Site: North West Neighborhood Center, 2160 N. 6th Avenue, Tucson. Meals/lodging: Lunch and dinner for Saturday provided. Hospitality can be requested from the Pima County Assembly, John Birkenbine, 602-297-3456. Classes: Will be held indoors; a co-op nursery, children’s pre-youth, youth and adult levels. Teachers: Marion West (From self to Self); Susan Stiles (Mírzá ‘Abu’l-Fadl); Steve Calrow (Health and Healing); Linda Amadon (Stress in the Individual and Family—Bahá’í Guidance). Rates: Age 1-4, $5 w/Saturday meals, $5 without; age 5-9, $7.50 with meals, $5 without; age 10 and up, $15 with meals, $10 without. Family rate for 4 or more (10 per cent discount). Pre-register: by January 10. Lottie Chunowitz, Phoenix, AZ 85023. Phone 602-993-2347.

KANSAS Dates: December 28-30. Site: Rock Springs 4-H Ranch, 8 miles south of I-70 (Junction City) on Hwy. 77. Meals/lodging: Semi-private suites with private baths and 10-bed dormitory, meals family style, dining hall. Classrooms: In modern building in walking distance from quarters. Rates: Adults, $46 ($51 without pre-registration); youth, $41 ($46 without pre-registration); children, $36 ($41 without pre-registration). Pre-register: $5 by November 25 required to be deducted from the basic rate. Registrar: Duane Herrmann, Berryton, KS 66409. Phone 913-685-3287.

LOUHELEN December 21-23: Regional Youth Conference. The conference will feature a balanced program of classes, discussion, and recreational, social and devotional activities.

December 26-31: Winter Session. Classes for adults, youth and children will be offered with a variety of recreational, devotional and social activities. Rates: Dorm-style housing, 5 days. Adults, $105; youth (16-20), $95; pre-youth (11-15), $86; 4-10 years, $68; 1-3 years, $51; 0-1 years, $10. Registration: Louhelen Bahá’í School, Davison, MI 48423. Phone 313-653-5033.

TEXAS Dates: December 26-30. Site: Lake Bridgeport Conference Center. Theme: The Covenant. Meals/lodging: Cafeteria on site, no other eating facilities; semi-private and dormitory lodging. Classrooms: Three buildings with ample classroom space for children, pre-youth, youth, adults and nursery. Recreation: Canoes, tennis courts, badminton nets, basketball courts. Bring: Sheets, pillow cases, towel/cloths must be brought; some pillows and blankets available; porta-cribs, play pens, etc., must be brought for infants. Pre-register: By December 1; $10 child, $20 adults. Rates: Resident students, 10 years and up, $92 ($23 per night); 3-9 years, $56 ($14 per night); 0-2 years, $10.

Don’t be sheepish!

send in your subscription to Brilliant Star today!

[ ] one year $12.00 (six issues) [ ] two years $23.00 [ ] foreign, surface, one year $15.00 [ ] foreign, surface, two years $28.00 [ ] foreign, air (A.O.), one year $25.00 [ ] foreign, air (A.O.), two years $47.50

Name __________________________ Street ________________________ City __________________________ State & Zip ___________________ Age of recipient ______________

Enclosed is my gift of $__________ to the Brilliant Star Endowment Fund, established in honor of the Bahá’í children of Iran, for the purpose of developing materials for children. I understand that my gift will become part of a perpetual fund whose earnings will support this purpose.

Send to: Brilliant Star Suburban Office Park 5010 Austin Rd. Hixson, Tn. 37343 [Page 10]

Cassette, 3 children’s books new BDS items

A new tape from Canada, produced for the recent Bahá’í International Youth Conference, tops the list of new items now in stock at the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

The tape, called If You Only Knew, is an upbeat collection of songs which served as theme music at the recent North American youth conference in London, Ontario.

The songs were produced by Jack Lentz who also was responsible for the music created for the Montreal International Conference in 1982.

The music from that event is on a tape called We Are Bahá’ís. These tapes, If You Only Knew and We Are Bahá’ís, sell for $7 each.

Three new books for children are now in stock in Wilmette.

From the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom comes The Refuge and the Cave ($5.50) for older children.

George Ronald has two new books, The Dragons of Rizvania ($8.95) and A Diamond in the Darkness ($3.50).

The United Kingdom’s BPT has also reprinted two excellent compilations, “Pattern of Bahá’í Life” and “Living the Life,” each $1.75, and has released a booklet of interest called “Death: The Messenger of Joy” ($2.50).

Also in the recent shipment from England is Paris Talks in softcover ($5.00), which has been out of stock for some time, as has the voluminous compilation of the letters of Shoghi Effendi to England, Unfolding Destiny ($43.50).

Kalimát Press has published a second volume of Studies in Bábí and Bahá’í History subtitled “From Iran East and West” ($19.95).

George Ronald is producing a biography of the American poet Robert Hayden titled From the Auroral Darkness which also should be available from the Distribution Service around the first of the year.

Some of the books and tapes mentioned here were ordered in small quantities and may not be in stock by the time this issue of The American Bahá’í reaches you.

Order shipments are expected to resume from the Bahá’í Distribution Service warehouse in the latter part of December.

SHIPMENTS were suspended December 1 to allow for an orderly transition from the old warehouse facility into the new one in the rear of the Bahá’í Publications building at 415 Linden Avenue in Wilmette.

“We began moving small quantities of books about the middle of November so that order shipments could continue while the bulk of our inventory was being prepared for the move,” says Larry Bucknell, general manager of the Publishing Trust.

“We’ll keep a six-month supply of most Publishing Trust books in Wilmette. A few titles which we have in large quantities will be sent to an inexpensive warehousing facility operated by a printing company in Tennessee.

“That means we have to decide how many of each title to keep here and how many to send to Tennessee, separate the books, and prepare them to be transported.

“We need to check sales histories on each book,” he says, “and try to project sales for the next six months so that we have the optimum number of books here and in Tennessee.

“IT WAS because of the complicated nature of the transition that we felt it necessary to suspend order shipments for the first part of December.”

Mr. Bucknell says he hopes to resume shipping orders as soon as possible, and adds that orders may be placed during December.

2 new programs aid Distribution Representatives

In October, the Bahá’í Distribution Service began two new programs with the aim of providing more information and support to its representatives in local communities.

A REGULAR newsletter was initiated and sent to the more than 1,250 Distribution Representatives around the country, according to marketing manager Robert Blum.

Also, a conference for Distribution Representatives from the Northeastern states was held the weekend of October 26-27 at the Green Acre Bahá’í School in Maine.

“This is a part of our renewed efforts to keep our Distribution Representatives better informed and more involved in the activities of the Distribution Service,” says Mr. Blum.

“The conference and the newsletter are ways of letting our representatives know what publications are available or are soon to be available.

“They also serve as channels in which to exchange ideas, and promote methods to create a dialogue to better define their role in the community,” he adds.

“We see Distribution Representatives as more than people who merely order books when community members ask them to. We see them as an essential link in the process of proclamation, expansion and consolidation.”

It is for these reasons, says Mr. Blum, that the conference and newsletter were initiated.

“Our newsletter, ‘The Best Seller,’ will have articles on new books and materials available from the Distribution Service,” says Mr. Blum, “suggestions for making literature presentations at Feast, and a column for sharing ideas and successful techniques which may be helpful to other reps.

“The conferences we’ll be holding are an extension of the information offered in ‘The Best Seller.’ As the first conference showed, our reps are a very good sounding board for what we are doing.

“It’s impossible to work effectively in a vacuum. We need constructive criticism and feedback from the people who have first-hand information.

“At Green Acre,” says Mr. Blum, “we tried to present a history of publishing and distribution in this country and to put what we’re doing into an historical perspective.

“Once we laid that foundation, it was possible to show why the Distribution Service was created and how it will benefit our customers.”

Regional conferences are planned at each of the permanent Bahá’í schools over the next year.

Ideas for Ayyám-i-Há Gift-giving

For infants: My Baby Book, HC; other children’s books to begin the child’s library.

For children: I Am a Bahá’í (four new Sunflower books in one), SC; Sunflower books 1-4 (special sale price for set), SC; Special Strengths, SC (available in January); B.J. and the Language of the Woodland, SC; Fly Away Home, SC; The Spotlessly Leopard, SC; The Secret in the Garden, HC, SC; O God, My God ..., HC; Happy Ayyám-i-Há, LP; Loving Hands, CS.

For youth: From Behind the Veil, SC; O God, My God .... HC; Youth in the Vanguard, HC; The Advent of Divine Justice, HC, SC.

For adults: The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, HC; color lithographs of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (5x7, 11x14); Bahá’í Datebook 142 B.E.; The Dawning Place, HC, SC; Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold, HC, SC; Memories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, HC; To Move the World, SC; Greatest Name emblem, silver; Bahá’í Daybook: Passages for Deepening and Meditation, SC (available in January).

To order these items, please contact the Bahá’í Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

‘Silent auction’ boosts media use

On September 29, the Bahá’ís in the Monterey Bay area of California held a “silent auction” and spaghetti dinner to raise money for intercommunity expenses, especially media use.

About 60 Bahá’ís attended, and more than $700 was raised. This was the second “silent auction” held in 1984; the first raised more than $1,000.

Half of the proceeds were sent to the National Fund, and the rest used locally.

Bahá’í Distribution Service Best Seller List, 141 B.E.

1. Bahá’í Readings 2. The Dawning Place, SC 3. Bahá’í Proofs 4. The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Vol. 3, HC 5. Some Answered Questions, PS 6. Bahá’í Prayers, HC 7. Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, SC 8. Destiny Package A 9. Bahá’í Prayers, SC 10. America’s Spiritual Destiny 11. Gleanings, PS 12. Destiny Package C 13. Loving Hands, CS 14. Kitáb-i-Íqán, PS 15. The Advent of Divine Justice, SC 16. O God, My God . . . 17. An Index of Quotations, SC 18. The Dawning Place, HC 19. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá color litho, 11x14 20. Fly Away Home 21. Destiny Package B 22. Teaching the Bahá’í Faith, SC 23. The Bahá’í Faith: An Introduction 24. Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold, SC 25. The Promulgation of Universal Peace

The Top 25 Distribution Service accounts May 1–November 1, 1984

1. Los Angeles, CA 2. Green Acre Bahá’í School 3. Clackamas, OR 4. Bosch Bahá’í School 5. Louhelen Bahá’í School 6. New York, NY 7. Highland County, VA 8. Seattle, WA 9. San Francisco, CA 10. San Diego, CA 11. Riverside, CA 12. Cedar Rapids, IA 13. Wilhelm Bahá’í School 14. Ocoee, FL 15. Washington, DC 16. San Jose, CA 17. Phoenix, AZ 18. Asheville, NC 19. Boca Raton, FL 20. Dallas, TX 21. Louis Gregory Institute 22. Jacksonville, FL 23. Lakewood, WA 24. Kansas City, MO 25. Sacramento, CA

Order Form

Quan.	Item	Amt.	Quan.	Item	Amt.
	‘Abdu’l-Bahá color litho, 11x14	$12.00		Living the Life, SC	$1.75
	‘Abdu’l-Bahá color litho, 5x7	5.00		Loving Hands, CS	8.00
	Bahá’í Daybook, SC (avail Jan.)	3.75		Mark Tobey: Art & Belief, HC	16.95
	Bahá’í Datebook, 142 B.E.	1.85		Mark Tobey: Art & Belief, SC	8.95
	Bahá’í Pocket Calendar	10/1.75		My Baby Book, HC	5.00
	Bahá’í Wall Calendar	1.00		O God, My God . . . , HC	5.00
	Death: Messenger of Joy, SC	2.50		Paris Talks, SC	5.00
	Diamond in Darkness, SC	3.50		Pattern of Bahá’í Life, SC	1.75
	Dragons of Rizvania, HC	8.95		Refuge and the Cave, SC	5.50
	Greatest Name emblem, silver	2.00		Sel. Writings ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, SC	6.00
	Happy Ayyám-i-Há, LP	4.00		Studies in Bábí & Bahá’í History, Vol. 2: Iran East & West, HC	19.95
	I Am a Bahá’í, SC	5.95		Sunflower Books 1-4, SC	set/2.50
	If You Only Knew, CS	7.00		Unfolding Destiny, HC	43.50

Total plus 10 per cent postage ($1.50 minimum for postage)

Enclose a check for the full amount, or VISA/MC (CIRCLE ONE) EXP. DATE

CARD NO.

Address

City State Zip

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

Bahá’í Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE WILMETTE, IL 60091

TAB 12/84 Prices good through January 31, 1985 [Page 11]

Firesides

Continued From Page 1

in the name of the winner; (2) a letter of commendation (for the winner) to the Continental Board of Counsellors and the National Spiritual Assembly from the Spiritual Assembly of Huntsville; (3) a party for the winner; and, last but not least, (4) a “Firesides R Us” doll!

In addition to the prizes for the individual holding the most firesides, every child who helps his or her parents in preparing for their firesides will receive a “Firesides R Us” doll. Keep it going, Huntsville!

Evanston, Illinois—The friends at the Feast of Qudrat recommended to the Assembly that it keep the firesides going by challenging the Wilmette community to a fireside contest.

The challenge was to be for the month following the “month of firesides” and was designed as a follow-up. A party would be hosted by the winners for the losers; but of course, everyone knows there are really no losers when we vie in service to the Cause.

Glenwood Springs, Colorado—The Bahá’ís of Colorado have challenged the Bahá’ís of Kansas to vie for enrollments.

Colorado has plans to have enrollments equaling the number of participants at its commemoration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to Glenwood Springs, and challenges Kansas to match that number.

This is a hearty goal for both states . . . but one we are sure they can achieve.

In other news from around the nation:

Gainesville, Florida—In a joint meeting of four districts earlier this year, Bahá’ís from throughout Florida decided to acquire a toll free phone number which could be used by anyone in the state.

The number will be published on all proclamation materials to help non-Bahá’ís obtain information about the Faith. The telephone has already been installed, and the toll free number is 1-800-59-Bahai.

The National Teaching Committee considers this a splendid example of inter-district cooperation.

Springfield, Illinois—On their way home from the national District Teaching Committee briefing held in the Wilmette area, the members of the District Teaching Committee of Southern Illinois decided to dine together in honor of Gordon Tong, a District Teaching Committee member from the Navajo/Hopi district who recently died while serving the Faith.

At the dinner, their waiter said he was “pleased to see such a group of happy and spiritual people.” He went on to explain that he held several advanced degrees from universities but decided to be a waiter so that he could be of service to others.

Needless to say, the District Teaching Committee members were excited about the encounter and helped the gentleman to get in touch with the Bahá’ís of Springfield.

Norcross, Georgia—The Bahá’ís of Gwinnett County continue the teaching effort in their extension goal, Norcross. Enrollment cards have been crossing our desks each week as a result of their continuing efforts. Keep it up, Gwinnett County!

St. Genevieve, Missouri—The District Teaching Committee of Missouri decided that one of its goals would be to open the town of St. Genevieve.

They started by visiting the community and saying prayers. Each time they would return, they would run into one particular man to whom they would talk.

Soon he began to ask questions about the Faith. On the most recent visit, the man requested some Bahá’í books. He is one of the founders of the town.

... And there is much more to come. Stay tuned to your Feast tape!

The Bahá’ís of Claremont, California, have been using this inexpensive, easy-to-assemble ‘proclamation booth’ at various events in their area. The booth is made of nine stainless steel poles, each 3/4-inches in diameter and 8 feet long, 4 long arm corners, and a canvas top and side panels. It was designed by Mrs. Keyvan Geula of Claremont, who describes it as ‘versatile, dignified, functional and practical,’ and was built with the help of family and friends. Here the booth is being used at a Labor Day celebration during which the Bahá’ís offered free face painting. For information about how to build your own booth and where to find the materials, write to Mrs. Geula, Claremont, CA 91711, or phone 714-626-2569.

‘What ifs’ put Amoz Gibson Project in high gear

On a long stretch of highway in South Dakota, Bahá’ís Blaire Nichols, Ed Roberts and Ken Roberts began to ask themselves several “what ifs.”

What if we were to focus our energy on the Indian Reservations in Nebraska and South Dakota?

What if Bahá’ís were to come from all parts of the country to support the teaching work among the Native Americans?

What if we were to start a teaching campaign on the Reservations? What if?

These were some of the questions that came to mind as the three men returned from a teaching trip to Fort Thompson on the Crow Reservation.

And it was these questions, and others that followed, which ignited a spark that was to set South Dakota ablaze.

FOR it was here, on a South Dakota highway in the spring of 1983, that the Amoz Gibson Teaching Project was born.

The next day, Ed Roberts received a phone call from Cathy Cook, secretary of the American Indian Teaching Committee, who asked if he would be able to go on a teaching trip to Mandaree.

The conversation turned quickly to the “what ifs” that had been discussed the night before, and it wasn’t long before Cathy was sharing their excitement. She asked Ed to tell the others to begin planning.

The first step was a phone call to the District Teaching Committee of South Dakota. It was from this discussion that the initial plans for the Amoz Gibson Project would emerge.

At the National Convention, Blaire Nichols and other volunteers began recruiting Bahá’ís to come to the Reservation at Wanblee, South Dakota.

Afterward, flyers were sent to all areas of the country. As summer approached, excitement about the project continued to grow.

SPEAKING about that enthusiasm, Ed Roberts says, “The project always seemed to be out of our hands. It was as if we had no control over it.”

On June 8, the project finally got under way. Initial plans called for teaching in Wanblee and on the Pine Ridge Reservation (in South Dakota) and in Macy, Nebraska.

The first summer proved to be quite successful. More than 90 volunteers (mostly youth) came from several parts of the country.

Among the results: more than 60 enrollments (June 8-August 15). In addition, some relationships were established and others strengthened that would greatly help the project in 1984.

Planning for this summer’s second year of the campaign was begun almost immediately. Flyers were prepared and sent, volunteers recruited, and financial help received from the National Teaching Committee and American Indian Teaching Committee.

The success of 1983 brought more people into the project, Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís.

“ALL the doors were opened for us,” says Ed Roberts.

“At first, we were unsure about accepting help from non-Bahá’ís. But then we came to realize that this was their town, and that we couldn’t reject their hospitality.”

Building upon the success of last year’s campaign, the Amoz Gibson Project 1984 went into high gear and stayed there with more than 170 Bahá’ís participating in some fashion: conducting children’s classes, classes for youth, providing meals and refreshments, teaching, conducting deepenings . . the list goes on and on.

As a result of this unified action, more than 250 people this summer declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

Although we at the National Teaching Committee office were excited about that news, we were unaware of what was to come.

On Thursday, August 16, Ed Roberts phoned from Wanblee to report that eight new Spiritual Assemblies had been formed on the Reservations, bringing the total number in the U.S. to 50 and achieving the goal for the Seven Year Plan given to the American Bahá’í community by the Universal House of Justice.

But the story doesn’t end here. The Amoz Gibson Project will continue throughout the year with children’s classes and deepenings to help the new believers gain a greater understanding of Bahá’u’lláh’s ‎transcendant transcendent‎ Revelation. And another intensive teaching campaign will be carried out in the summer of 1985.

See you in Wanblee!—James Mock

The Bahá’ís of Fruitport Township, Michigan, rolled along in this motor home in Fruitport’s annual ‘Old Fashion parade.’ The motor home was festooned on each side with the ‘One Planet, One People . . . Please’ poster. Later in the summer, the Bahá’ís sponsored a musical program at a local park which featured Bobby Sims, a Bahá’í from Ludington, Michigan; the 20-member (non-Bahá’í) Celebration Women’s Chorus from Muskegon; pianist Jack Schaub and singer/guitarist Cindy Miller. [Page 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-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 54)

Letter to District Conventions from Race Unity Committee

The following message from the Race Unity Committee was sent to every District Convention in the U.S.:

The National Race Unity Committee is happy to greet you on this occasion and to encourage you to consult on the important topic “Teaching Among Diverse People.”

RACIAL PREJUDICE has been a hallmark of American society. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said that we, the Bahá’ís, have the power and the ability to change this “most challenging” aspect of our society.

By bringing the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh to all Americans and confirming them in those teachings, prejudice and hatred will turn into love and harmony.

Though few in number, it is we alone who know what the Writings say about our opportunity and our responsibility to teach all strata of society and especially among specified minority groups.

In its Ridvan letter of 1984, the Universal House of Justice instructed us to:

“Intensify teaching activities among significant minorities, and provide effective means for the integration of all believers into the life of the Bahá’í communities.”

The National Race Unity Committee offers four suggestions:

1. That each Bahá’í set a goal of teaching one minority family about the Faith in the next month.

2. That each Bahá’í read the sections in The Advent of Divine Justice by our beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, on the “most vital and challenging issue” and “methods of teaching the Faith,” as well as review “The Individual and Teaching,” a compilation from the Universal House of Justice.

3. That each Bahá’í volunteer to help another Bahá’í to teach a minority family using interracial teams, where possible.

4. That each Bahá’í ask his/her Local Spiritual Assembly to consult on one specific minority teaching goal for its community.

The National Race Unity Committee lauds your efforts to help bring about the Oneness of Mankind. We join you with prayers for Bahá’u’lláh’s confirmation and assistance.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

National Race Unity Committee October 1984

Charleston Business, Professional Association hears Dr. Wilma Brady

Dr. Wilma Brady, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly who is vice president for development and public relations at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, was the keynote speaker October 6 at the 21st annual banquet of the Charleston, South Carolina, Business and Professional Association.

DR. BRADY is the first woman to deliver a keynote address before the CBPA which is comprised of businessmen and women, doctors, lawyers and educators.

She advised an appreciative audience of about 275 to begin teaching their children “to get an education and start their own businesses.

“Let excellence be your adorning,” said Dr. Brady. “The higher the standards we set for ourselves, the greater will be our achievements.

“For a business of true merit, excellence is not a distant goal but a daily concern.

“The black Horatio Alger stories,” she said, “‎wil will‎ not arise abruptly out of nowhere. They are and will be the fruits of long, tedious, often quiet but always risky years of ever-striving labor . . .”

CBPA President Arthur C. McFarland, chief magistrate of Charleston’s municipal court, said, “For more than 26 years the mission of the Association has been the promotion of the interest of black businesses and professionals in the tri-county area.

“Our ultimate goal is economic parity and greater opportunities for all our citizens. The theme of this year’s banquet weekend—‘Black Enterprise . . . Key to Development—underscores our efforts.”

The two-day program included a trade exposition and seminars on such topics as “The Role of the Black Church in Business Development,” “The Impact of Politics on Business,” and “Doing Business with the Federal Government.”

Dr. Wilma Brady, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, is presented a gift by Arthur C. McFarland, chief magistrate of the municipal court of Charleston, South Carolina, and president of the Charleston Business and Professional Association, following Dr. Brady’s keynote address October 6 at the Association’s 21st annual banquet.

Mrs. Nosrat Solhjoo Scott, a member of the Bahá’í community of Birmingham, Alabama, is shown during a recent visit to the office of U.S. Rep. Ben Erdreich of Alabama. Mr. Erdreich inserted remarks about Race Unity Day in the Congressional Record and is sponsoring a bill to make the second Sunday in June each year a national Race Unity Day.

Birmingham sponsors Race Unity Day event

The Bahá’í Public Affairs Committee of Birmingham, Alabama, sponsored a community-wide Race Unity Day observance June 10.

About 85 people, most of whom were not Bahá’ís, attended.

Gov. George C. Wallace of Alabama and Mayor Richard Arrington of Birmingham issued Race Unity Day proclamations, as did the state legislature and Jefferson County commissioners.

U.S. Rep. Ben Erdreich of Alabama entered the governor’s proclamation in the Congressional Record and is sponsoring a bill in the House to make the second Sunday in June a national Race Unity Day.

The Birmingham program included talks by Mayor Arrington and Dr. Robert Corley, head of the local chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and music by an international chorus, some of whose members are refugees from Southeast Asia.

A copy of the “golden rule” from each of the world’s major religions was read and copies given to those present.

Nine-year-old Bahá’í essay winner

Mattisha Dean, a nine-year-old member of the Bahá’í community of Albany, New York, won first place in her age group (8-10) in a recent essay contest on famous black Americans sponsored by the Albany YWCA.

Mattisha, who was one of 29 winners among the contest’s 416 entrants, wrote her essay on the life of Louis G. Gregory.

AN EXCERPT from the essay, which she video taped, was broadcast nine times during Black History Week in February on the city’s three television channels.

Since Mattisha was the only winner from her school, the principal arranged for the entire student body to watch one of the TV spots.

Here is Mattisha’s winning essay:

“Louis G. Gregory was a well known teacher, writer and lecturer all over the United States. He was the first black American to serve on the national administrative body of the Bahá’ís of the U.S. and Canada. Louis Gregory is a major historical figure.

“A Bahá’í is a person who believes in all the Manifestations of God. Bahá’u’lláh is one of the Manifestations of God of the Bahá’í Faith. Some of the Manifestations of the past are Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad.

“Mr. Gregory talked about racial unity, love and peace during his lectures. Louis was born June 6, 1874 in Charleston, South Carolina. Louis’ mother was a slave. She was freed when she was 14 years old. She married and had two sons. When Louis was young his father died of tuberculosis. His mother had a hard time taking care of her family. Louis’ grandmother was a very strong woman. She didn’t know how to read or write, but she taught Louis three things: courage, dignity, and love of laughter.

“LOUIS passed the test of public education. Later he went to private school. The private schools were run by northern church groups and people who were rich.

“Louis became a Bahá’í in June 1909. He wrote many articles. He was a regular writer for the Star of the West and other Bahá’í publications. He spoke in Chicago, New York, Washington and Boston and many other places.

“In 1920 Louis Gregory spoke a lot about racial amity. During this time a lot of Bahá’ís were concerned about racial conflict in America. He continued to teach even though it was getting dangerous.

“I picked this person because I thought he would be interesting and different than all the others.”

—Mattisha Dean [Page 13]

Green Acre history comes alive in National Archives collections

Green Acre is a place whose association with the Bahá’í Faith in North America goes back almost to the beginning of the Faith on this continent, and much of Green Acre’s history is documented in two collections in the National Bahá’í Archives—the Sarah J. Farmer papers and the Green Acre Fellowship records.

The Farmer papers include not only information about Green Acre itself but also glimpses of Sarah Farmer’s life and background.

There are photographs and accounts of the inventions of her father, Moses G. Farmer, as well as hints of her activities outside of Green Acre, her trip to ‘Akká in 1900 and material on the evolution of the idea of the Green Acre conferences which began in 1894.

Many details of these conferences of the 1890s and early 1900s can be found in their programs and in the contemporary newspaper and magazine accounts preserved in the Farmer papers.

From these documents we find that the early Green Acre conferences were divided into subject sessions in such areas as evolution, education, the home, comparative religion, art, etc.

In addition to lecture and discussion sessions these early conferences were enlivened by frequent musical recitals and literary entertainments, often with prominent artists from New York or Boston.

After Sarah Farmer’s introduction to the Bahá’í Faith in 1900, the Bahá’ís gradually began to assume control of Green Acre, and this evolution is documented in the records of the Green Acre Fellowship, organized in 1902 to take over much of the burden of running the conferences from Miss Farmer.

These records include correspondence, minutes of actual meetings and Trustee meetings, and legal documents.

Especially well-documented are the court cases in 1913-14 which challenged the control of Green Acre by the Bahá’ís.

New calendars, Bahá’í datebook now available

Still haven’t ordered your 1985/142 B.E. calendars?

The Bahá’í Datebook 142 B.E., Bahá’í Wall Calendar 142 B.E., and Bahá’í Pocket Calendar 142 B.E. await your order. But hurry! There isn’t much time left before the new year begins.

Prices and ordering information can be found on the Bahá’í Distribution Service page in this issue.

Stewart

Continued from Page 4

to the homes of patients.

Miss Stewart, who was known among the Persians as Elizabeth Khánum, was kept busy not only caring for patients but with office work, household affairs and helping at the Tarbíyat School which was started by Dr. Moody.

After becoming ill for the third time, Miss Stewart made a trip in 1920 to see ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, then visited India where she was the only female speaker at the first Bahá’í Convention held in that country and the only person to speak about the equality of men and women.

She noted that under governmental law and according to one of the fundamental principles of the Bahá’í Faith, women could and should be admitted to Conventions in India.

UPON her return from India, she stayed in the Holy Land for 42 days during which time the Master gave her 120 Tablets addressed to various Bahá’ís in Iran and instructed her in not letting them out of her personal care until she reached Tehran.

In spite of suffering recurring symptoms of her most recent disease, Miss Stewart continued to assist in the medical care that she and Dr. Moody were providing to the women of Iran.

Following the assassination in 1924 of Major Robert Imbrie, the vice-consul who offered protection to the Bahá’ís, the two American women left Iran for the U.S., stopping en route for 34 days in Haifa.

Miss Stewart arrived in America in poor health and had few well days in the year and nine months during which she lived in the Philadelphia home of Jessie Revell before she passed away peacefully shortly after uttering the Greatest Name.

Miss Stewart was the recipient of nine Tablets from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that are preserved in the Bahá’í National Archives in Wilmette.

In December 1924, the Guardian had asked her to make a handwritten copy of one of the Tablets for him so that he could place her handwriting in the International Archives.

Schools

Continued from Page 9

years, free. Day students, 10 years and up, $16.25; 3-9 years, $7.25. Registrar: Cynthia Mull, 7311 Hearthstone, Austin, TX 78758. Phone 817-837-2663.

For more winter school listings, see the October 1984 issue of The American Bahá’í.

Can you identify anyone in this picture?

The Archives would like to know the names of the Bahá’ís in this photograph of a radio script writing class held in 1946 at the Green Acre Bahá’í School. Standing at the left are William and Marguerite Sears. Anyone having additional information is asked to write to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Bahá’í News marks 60th year with special issue

“The 60th anniversary issue of Bahá’í News is special because it gives us an opportunity to look back and see how far we’ve come,” the magazine’s editor, Jack Bowers, said as he began pasting up the December issue.

“There aren’t many Bahá’ís left who’ll remember the first issue,” he said, “so we thought we’d show everyone else what it looked like.”

And show us he does. The December 1984 issue includes a facsimile of the entire first issue of Bahá’í News—all four pages of it—dated December 1924 and written almost entirely by the Hand of the Cause of God Horace Holley, who was then secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. and Canada.

What can you find in this first historic issue? A financial report from the Temple Committee has prominence as receipts and expenditures for that year are outlined.

There is a listing of the members of the National Spiritual Assembly, among whom were four future Hands of the Cause of God: Mr. Holley, May Maxwell, Siegfried Schopflocher and Roy C. Wilhelm.

The publishing address, 169 Christopher St., New York City, is one that will be familiar to veteran believers, while the prices of books from the Publishing Committee makes us mindful of the differences in our economy: The Hidden Words could be purchased for 25 cents, Paris Talks for 40 cents, and a one-year subscription to the Bahá’í News Letter, as it was then known, was $3.

Also in the December issue is a photo montage showing changes in the cover of Bahá’í News over the years, and an article about its first editor, Horace Holley.

“What is it like to fill the shoes of such an illustrious first editor?” the present editor was asked.

“Awesome, when I let myself think about it,” he replied. “But Horace Holley did so many marvelous things for the Cause that I’m sure he doesn’t mind someone else having to worry about all those accent marks.”

While copies remain available, each new subscriber will receive a copy of the 60th anniversary issue of Bahá’í News.

Subscriptions are $12 for one year, $20 for two years. Send check or money order to Bahá’í News Subscriber Service, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Bahá’í National Center Office Hours
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Central Time) Monday—Friday
Phone 312-869-9039

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[Page 14]

FIRESIDE SPIRIT CONTINUES

Spirit in Action TEACHING THE BAHÁ’Í FAITH Nathan Rutstein

The month of Firesides has officially ended; but we hope that in reality it hasn't ended for you. One of the goals of the campaign is to have you continue your firesides indefinitely, perhaps have you integrate them into your life's schedule forever.

The beloved Guardian stated that "The believers must be encouraged to teach individually in their own homes" and assured us that firesides are the "most effective method" for doing this.

The National Teaching Committee challenges each of you to continue using this "most effective method" of teaching by hosting regular firesides and offers the following article which will help you get started (if you have not been holding firesides) or continue the momentum (if you have been participating in the contest).

This material, a chapter on firesides from the book Spirit in Action: Teaching the Bahá’í Faith*, will not only give you important pointers but should inspire you to keep firesides alive in your home.

• Spirit in Action: Teaching the Bahá’í Faith is written by Nathan Rutstein and published by George Ronald, Oxford, England. This chapter has been reproduced with their permission. Copies of the book are available through the Bahá’í Distribution Service, Wilmette, IL 60091 for $4.35 per copy.

Firesides

There's nothing more frustrating than starting a series of firesides where seekers rarely show up, or where if they do, they don't return. It's frustrating because we want to attract people to the Faith. We want to see it grow, because we know nothing else will help humanity undergo that organic change the Guardian said was needed before real world peace can be established. And the fireside is such an important teaching vehicle.

But for many of us, the fireside doesn't produce the kind of results we expect. Maybe we expect too much, thinking that it should be the means of attracting hordes of people into the Faith. Others feel they have tried hard and have met with practically no success. So they give up holding firesides and try another method, or stop teaching altogether.

When most of us think of a fireside we automatically imagine a forum for teaching the Faith, never giving much thought to why the Guardian used the term fireside. Certainly he didn't expect the believers to have fireplaces in their homes.

Could it be that what the Guardian envisaged was a Bahá’í household, regardless of material worth, creating the kind of atmosphere we experience sitting close to a burning fire? When that happens, we are usually overcome by a feeling of tranquility, a feeling of well-being; we are able, for a few precious hours, to free ourselves from the clutches of a hysterical world. Our minds are clearer, keener and more receptive to new ideas. Our hearts are less agitated.

The Guardian believed the fireside was the most effective means of teaching. Obviously, the challenge is to generate a warm, caring, loving atmosphere in our homes. Without it, we end up having a fireside in name only.

Creating the Right Atmosphere

In holding a fireside nothing is more important than creating the right atmosphere. After all, a fireside is supposed to be a haven where people who step out of the cold, cruel world feel loved, wholeheartedly accepted, really listened to; and whose feelings are acknowledged and thoughts respected. With that kind of atmosphere, people usually return, because they don't experience it elsewhere. And often they come back, despite having understood little of what was said at the fireside. Eventually the seeker realizes that there is a correlation between the ideas expressed and the spirit in the home.

There was always an attractive spirit at the home of Curtis and Harriet Kelsey, despite their lack of proper furnishings.

For years they were without a sofa in the living room, using wicker chairs instead, the kind of furniture you normally see in rustic summer cottages. But the lack of appropriate furniture didn't deter Curtis and Harriet from holding weekly firesides. In fact they never entertained any reservations about having Bahá’í meetings because of the house's simple and meager décor. The love and warmth that permeated that home made the interior of the house glow. Guests rarely remembered the primitive furnishings. It was the spirit that so impressed them that they would look forward to returning. Their closest neighbors, staunch Protestants, who were financially secure, and living in more substantial, richly furnished houses, were attracted to the Kelseys' odd-looking dwelling. Frank Fredericks, an arranger for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and musical editor for Maestro Arturo Toscanini, and his wife Octavia were refreshed whenever they visited the drafty pink bungalow across the road from their large red-brick colonial home. They and their son Frank Jr. eventually became Bahá’ís. William and Margaret Brooks, who lived in the neighborhood near the Kelseys, in an English Tudor house, embraced Bahá’u’lláh. So did their three children Margaret [Peggy], Bill and Jim. It wasn't only the spirit in the house that attracted the Brooks and Fredericks families: Curtis and Harriet prayed for their spiritual awakening, loved them and served them, especially in times of greatest need.

That special spirit was generated wherever the Kelseys held firesides, during good and bad economic times, even later in their lives—in Florida—when they had all the proper furnishings. To them, holding a fireside was a necessary function of life. After all, the Guardian had urged the believers to hold one at least every nineteen days in their homes. For the Kelseys that kind of urging was viewed as a directive from God.

The atmosphere of a home is a reflection of the spiritual condition of the people who live there. Since the Kelseys' dependence on the Creative Word grew with every passing day, they reflected the Holy Spirit more and more. They would be the first to admit that the spirit in their home was due to the power of the Creative Word; and they tapped that power every day, as a desert dweller sips from an oasis stream. Prayer and deepening were a part of their daily schedule. They knew that without them the attractive fireside spirit would vanish.

The Effect of Firesides

Imagine what could happen to the world if the great majority of Bahá’ís held regular firesides and worked faithfully to create a spiritual atmosphere in their homes. Miracles would occur, the kind that a New Jersey carpenter experienced. Maybe to others his experience wouldn't be viewed as a miracle; but to him it definitely was, because he believes nothing else could have transformed his life so.

He was a heavy beer drinker, an avid hunter; a man who hadn't really mastered carpentry. He did the rough work, nothing that required sophisticated skill. Though he barely tolerated his wife's regular attendance at a weekly Friday fireside, he decided to go along one night. Evidently his beer-drinking pals were doing something else that evening.

The fireside was held in a comfortable home, nothing fancy. Big lavish homes made him feel insecure, for it reminded him of how inadequate he was, what a poor provider.

His preconceptions were immediately dashed, because he was made to feel completely at ease. He felt encompassed by a spirit of genuine welcome. He met a man about his age, with whom he seemed to have a lot in common: the man was also interested in mechanical things. A friendship developed, and the carpenter kept coming to the firesides because his new friend was the host.

About three months later, his wife startled him when she told him what his new friend did for a living. As long as he had worked in construction, he had never had a heart-to-heart talk with an architect, someone he secretly felt wouldn't take the time to talk to him.

His new friend was not only an architect, but an executive with a prominent international architectural firm. As long as he could remember, the carpenter had revered architects. To him they were unapproachable, people he never dreamed he could talk to, let alone befriend. The Bahá’í architect never flaunted his education; he listened to his friend with genuine interest. He saw the good in the carpenter and focused on it, disregarding his faults. He reached out with his heart in sharing the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

The carpenter couldn't resist the outpouring of love from his new friend, and though at first he didn't particularly understand what was being said at the firesides, he made a concerted effort to listen. Soon he recognized that the Teachings [Page 15]"The most effective method of teaching is the Fireside group, where new people can be shown Bahá’í hospitality, and ask all questions which bother them. They can feel there the true Bahá’í spirit—and it is the spirit that quickeneth." - Shoghi Effendi

were the cause of his friend's attitude towards him, his way of life, and the loving atmosphere in his home. It wasn't long before the carpenter and his wife became Bahá’ís.

When the atmosphere is right, the chances are the firesides will be held indefinitely. One New England couple held firesides for nineteen years in the same city, in the same home and on the same night. They were held even when the couple was on vacation. A trusted friend would be asked to act as host.

That fireside produced scores of Bahá’ís from all kinds of people—political activists, middle-class housewives, college students and drug-users.

Though the host and hostess were highly educated—he was a psychiatrist and she a composer—people who could barely read and write and who teetered on the edge of civilization were attracted to the fireside and felt comfortable there. One young lady in particular tried to resist going to the fireside, but couldn't. Something she couldn't explain pulled her to the place. She had nothing in common with the people there, for she was into booze and drugs. "They are talking all that strange spiritual stuff," she would say to herself, "but it feels good there." Today she is a college instructor, serves on a Local Spiritual Assembly and is an assistant to an Auxiliary Board member.

People like that young woman knew that every Friday night there was a place they could go where the good in them was drawn out. It was a place where she truly felt at home, more so than in the apartment where she lived. Had that couple not held their firesides, she would have sunk deeper into the city's social sewers.

Hosting Firesides

One Bahá’í woman views her fireside as a festival for Bahá’u’lláh. On the day it's held, everything else is relegated to a secondary position. She cleans her apartment thoroughly, bakes cakes, purchases flowers; and enjoys every moment doing that, viewing the floor-scrubbing and furniture-polishing as an expression of love for Bahá’u’lláh.

On the night of her fireside, nothing else exists, including television. In fact, she never even checks out the television schedule of the day of her fireside. It doesn't matter if a highly touted program is on. TV is simply out of her consciousness on that night. That wasn't the case for a young man who was inspired by her to hold firesides. When a program was on that he desperately wanted to watch, he would actually hope that no seekers would show up, so he could turn on the TV set. If a seeker did come by, he speeded up the discussion, or cut it short in order to see part of the program.

In time, however, the young man overcame this weakness by following what his mentor did in preparing for her firesides. Now he prays and deepens every day, and prays specifically for the success of his fireside. He never misses a day doing that. He also finds the time to invite people to the fireside by phone, always trying to make contact several days before the event.

The fireside program is planned ahead of time. He lines up the speakers at least two months in advance. It is done that way to give the speakers ample time to prepare their talks; also, by knowing who the speakers are going to be, and what they are going to speak on, the firesides can be properly publicized in the local newspapers and radio stations.

He makes sure the topics vary and are tied to the kinds of questions to which most people are seeking answers. The speakers are encouraged to talk no longer than twenty minutes, and to present the Message in such a way that seekers are stimulated to ask questions, or make comments. And the chairman plays a key role. He also makes sure that no one dominates the discussion, and tried to encourage everyone to become involved. Before introducing the speaker, he always gives a brief overview of the Faith's basic teachings for the benefit of newcomers.

Not all firesides are supposed to be alike. Many successful ones feature a speaker, while others have a discussion format; and some will alternate between the two, or use music to share the Message. Actually it really doesn't matter as long as the spiritual atmosphere is right. That's what a long-time Bahá’í discovered when he was a seeker attending three different firesides in Chicago.

Though no incense was burning at Ruth Moffett's fireside, it was the kind of place where one would expect it. Everything was low-key—the talks, the conversation, even the seekers' questions. There the mystical aspects of the Faith were emphasized. At Ellsworth Blackwell's fireside, the apartment was aglow, every light in the living room was on; there was lots of laughter, spirited discussion, embracing and shaking of hands. Social issues were stressed. The third fireside had a more intellectual tone, maybe because the host was a graduate student at the University of Chicago.

Though the three firesides were different, they were similar in terms of spiritual atmosphere. The seeker felt comfortable at each one. He was made to feel welcome, his views were respected, he sensed happiness and security, and was moved by the lack of strain between blacks and whites, Jews and Christians. Experiencing that helped him to deal with his own prejudices. But he gained more than that, something more crucial. All that love directed at him opened his heart, allowing God to enter. It was through those three firesides that he discovered his spiritual nature and how to develop it.

With some Bahá’ís, holding firesides has become a natural part of their lives. They simply have to have them. That's how a Californian couple who moved to New Hampshire felt. Starting a fireside was one of the first things they did when they arrived in New England.

It didn't take long before curious Yankees started attending the couple's firesides and enrolling in the Faith. That couple's success was an inspiration to the other believers in town, freeing them from a long teaching slump.

The couple's attitude helped to make their fireside successful. They believed it would be successful and took the steps to make it so. (Those steps have already been mentioned in this chapter.)

One distinguishing feature of the couple's fireside was the hostess's insistence, on the night of the fireside, on having every light in her house turned on, even in obscure hallways, places where visitors wouldn't normally venture. Her husband, an ex-banker, who had been conditioned not to be wasteful, acquiesced in his wife's demand. For how could he dispute what Vaffa Kinney had once told his wife: "The Master told me—conserve on all things except light."

We all know the old saying: "Where there's a will, there's a way!" A New England woman in her seventies had the will and found the way. Shortly after her mother and husband died, she decided to pioneer to Bermuda. Though a costly place to live, she managed to remain on the island by fastidiously policing her financial resources as only a born and bred Yankee can. She didn't eat much and lived in a small apartment which contained a tiny kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Having no living room created a dilemma, because she wanted to hold a regular fireside. It was something she had always done. In New Hampshire her big house had been an ideal place for meetings. In fact the friends in her community had used her home as an unofficial Bahá’í Center. When the term "fireside" was mentioned, the believers automatically thought of her home.

What bothered the pioneer most was that she knew how the Guardian felt about fireside teaching, and she knew from personal experience that it works. But how could she hold a fireside in her apartment? "Men in my bedroom?" she thought. "Certainly not Bahá’í-like." Something had to be done, because no one in the community was holding a fireside, and some of the friends had large living quarters. A pioneer, she thought, "should set the example."

She prayed. And the quick answer was clear: start the fireside. With some ingenuity, she managed to make the bedroom appear more like a parlor.

It didn't take long before the room was filled with seekers every fireside night. That was fine, but finding enough seating became a problem. She certainly didn't want to limit attendance. A local believer sensed the problem and asked the pioneer if she minded switching the fireside to her home, a spacious dwelling. Of course she didn't mind. In fact, she was ecstatic, because another Bermudian was going to experience the joy of holding a fireside. "And perhaps others," she thought, "might be inspired to open up their homes for teaching as well."

• • Nathan Rutstein, He Loved and Served, Oxford, George Ronald, 1982, pp. 128-9.

[Page 16]

INTERMEDIA

News from the Office of Public Affairs

On October 11, Diana Carson, a Bahá’í from Grand Junction, Colorado, who is the founder of a nationwide network for incest survivors, was interviewed by David Hartman, host of ABC-TV's "Good Morning America," about her network called VOICES (Victims of Incest Can Emerge Survivors).

The Office of Public Affairs recently received an urgent call from Amnesty International advising that Mike Farrell of M*A*S*H was narrating a segment about the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran for an educational video program. They needed some visuals as a backdrop for taping the next day! A phone call to the Bahá’í Center in Los Angeles produced John Kavelin, a Bahá’í and set designer for Walt Disney Studios, who rushed a backdrop about which Amnesty International was very complimentary.

Los Angeles, California, makes history! Excerpts from the recent Congressional hearings on the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran were shown on September 8 and 15 in English and September 22 and 29 in Persian on KSCI-TV, Channel 18. This is the first reported showing of TV programs on the Bahá’í Faith in Persian in the U.S.

The Bahá’ís of Redlands, California, won the Best Float award for their colorful entry in that city's annual parade. The float, with its "Unite the World, One Heart at a Time" theme, made a splashy appearance in the Redlands paper, The Facts, with a 4-column-inch photo displaying the theme and the words "The Bahá’í Faith" boldly and proudly.

Hamilton Township, New Jersey, has succeeded in getting the governor to sign a proclamation condemning the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran. New Jersey is one of the few states which has passed a resolution in the state Assembly and Senate—and now, the governor has signed an additional document.

City resolutions have recently been passed in Lakewood, Ohio; Crete, Nebraska; Adelanto, California; Reno, Nevada; Roanoke, Virginia, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Communities presently working on resolutions are Taos, New Mexico; Florence, South Carolina; El Paso, Texas; Round Lake Park, Illinois; Chicago, Illinois; Hamilton Township, New Jersey, and Taylors, South Carolina.

Durham, North Carolina, reports that although its city resolution did not pass, the effort "generated a lot of good will and public awareness for the Bahá’ís." It was not passed because the City Council felt that matters of a national/international nature are beyond its scope.

All 13 Council members received fact sheets and background information on the persecutions. Several expressed sympathy and said they were in favor of "the spirit of the resolution." The effort produced significant publicity in several newspapers, and the Spiritual Assembly's presentation and subsequent Council debate was aired on the local cable TV station.

The Bahá’ís in Yarmouth, Maine, received a similar response, with their Council rep saying, "I don't believe this is the proper forum for a discussion of foreign policy or matters of international scope." Nonetheless, their efforts generated considerable publicity and increased public awareness of the plight of the Bahá’ís in Iran.

Detroit, Michigan's computer bank is rich in talent! The Bahá’í Media Committee of Metropolitan Detroit has set up a central clearing house of Michigan's resources. Now on file are the names and addresses of individuals, the services they can perform, and the equipment they can make available. Soon the file will be expanded to include media materials and other resources.

Ibut 019011019 1.M. Anybody BAHAT 221 Anyday 84 19 119.00 ONE HUNDRED NINETEEN AND NO 00/100 DOLLARS The Wilmette Bank EC Any 20 plemational Goo Public Affairs at Fund C071928699 604-598-20

Splitting checks is a bookkeeper's nightmare. Even though we are all united at the National Center... we still have separate account numbers in the Treasurer's Office. PLEASE don't send a check that includes an amount for more than one department. It slows everything down!

Here are some tips to help make sure your news releases are printed in your local newspaper

Over 75 per cent of the more than 300 news clippings that pour into the Office of Public Affairs every month are printed because of the efforts of local Bahá’í communities.

THE REST are wire service reports, editorials or syndicated columns, in many cases generated by Bahá’í activities at the national level.

How do Bahá’ís manage to attract the attention of the editor of a small town newspaper who has never before heard of the Bahá’í Faith, or who insists that his readers aren't interested?

Here are some suggestions. To begin with, don't be intimidated by the fact that you may never have met or spoken to an editor or reporter before. Make contact. Phone and ask for an appointment or drop in to see them (but never just before deadline!). Study the newspaper's content to learn the style and "slant" of articles.

Why make personal contacts? Three reasons are important:

• to provide information (who, what and where the Bahá’ís are);
• to serve the needs of the newspaper (find out article lengths and especially, learn the deadlines);
• to cultivate cordial relations with newspaper personnel.

Follow-through After establishing relationships, follow through. Meet deadlines, present well-written and newsworthy articles typed in the proper format.

Make personal deliveries of your articles whenever possible, and place paid ads occasionally.

What makes news? Having surveyed newspaper content, you now have a picture of what gets printed. Possibilities include:

• travel overseas;
• engagements, weddings and funerals;
• public service projects;
• prominent visitors;
• public events; and
• elections.

When you report these Bahá’í events, what makes your item more newsworthy than others? Quite often it is the unique features of the Bahá’í Faith itself—so emphasize the Bahá’í difference. (See The American Bahá’í, November 1984, p. 21)

Don't expect to bat 1.000 Be friendly, be persistent and be patient. It may take years to penetrate some barriers of the Fourth Estate.

Take heart—in Alpena, Michigan, Bahá’ís submitted article after article. None was ever published. Suddenly, one day there appeared a lengthy editorial condemning the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran. Many communities have similar success stories to report after long years of editorial rejection. Don't give up!

When the editor rejects news releases on the persecutions Try another tactic. Turn the article into a letter to the editor from a local Bahá’í spokesperson. These are often more readily accepted.

Recently, a well-written letter to the editor from a Bahá’í was published as a by-lined article on the editorial page.

Give the article a local slant by inserting expressions of concern from a local Bahá’í spokesperson. Whenever possible, mention local relatives of the martyrs. Mention local activities on behalf of the martyrs. And always include the name and telephone number of someone the paper can contact for more information.

The variety of articles received by the Office of Public Affairs testifies to the success of these methods and to many other creative ways of gaining media attention.

The doors have been opened by the impact of the suffering of the Bahá’ís in Iran. All we need is the determination to seize the opportunities, and the courage to walk through those open doors.

Bahá’í’s letter to editor appears as by-lined article

A letter to the editor of the Rochester (New York) Democrat and Chronicle written by Dana Paxson, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Rochester, was published by the paper on World Peace Day, September 16, as a by-lined article, and the paper followed up the next day by publishing its own editorial response. Mr. Paxson's article dealt with the recent persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran.

In its editorial, the paper cited recent Congressional testimony concerning torture and execution of Bahá’ís by the Khomeini government, and ended by saying, "The full pressure of world opinion must be brought to bear on the cruelties being practiced by the Iranian regime."

WAGE PEACE BAHAI FAITH

A Bahá’í float built by the believers in central Washington state will be one of only 40 in this year's nationally televised Fiesta Bowl parade Saturday, December 29. The Spiritual Assembly of Phoenix, Arizona, has paid the $350 entry fee, and the friends in Washington are transporting the float on its 1,600-mile trip to Arizona for the Southwest's largest parade, which will be seen by an estimated 400,000 people along its route and by another 10 million on more than 200 television stations around the country. In addition, a picture of the float is included in the parade program with additional information about it in the Fiesta Bowl game program, the Fiesta Bowl newsletter, and on the stadium scoreboard at the football game.

JUST FINISHED PRODUCTION!

Video tape of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee HEARINGS ON TORTURE June 26, 1984

40-MINUTE VIDEO CASSETTE GIVING THE TESTIMONY OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, THE BAHÁ’ÍS, AND THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

ORDER NOW—COMPLETE YOUR VIDEO ARCHIVES Send checks to the Office of Public Affairs payable to: BAHÁ’Í SERVICES FUND Specify 1/2-inch VHS or Beta ($30.00) or 3/4-inch ($45.00) Rental available for $5.00 Please include 10 per cent for POSTAGE [Page 17]

اهداف مهاجرت بین الملل جامعه بهائی ایالات متحده

در رضوان گذشته بیت العدل اعظم الهی سهمیه اهداف مهاجرتی محافل ملیه را برای سومین و آخرین مرحله نقشه هفت ساله تعیین فرمودند و توصیه نمودند که کوشش شود حتی الامکان اهداف مذکور قبل از رضوان سال بعد تکمیل شود تا سال آخر نقشه صرف تحکیم و تقویت فتوحاتی که نصیب جامعه جهانی بهائی گردیده است شود.

در تاریخ ۲ اکتبر ۱۹۸۴ مرقومه ای از دارالانشاء بیت العدل اعظم واصل شده است که طی آن هدف های مهاجرتی جدیدی برای جوامع مختلف بهائی تعیین نموده اند. سهمیه جامعه بهائی ایالات متحده در رضوان گذشته اعزام ۸۲ مهاجر به ممالک مختلف تعیین شده بود و اکنون اعزام ۲۶ مهاجر دیگر بر آن تعداد افزوده شده است. در طول چند ماه گذشته ۳۶ مهاجر بصوب مقصد حرکت نموده اند و بوجود ۷۲ داوطلب فدا کار دیگر نیاز است. البته این تعداد حداقل محسوب میشود و اگر عده بیشتری قیام نمایند و تا رضوان ۱۹۸۵ در نقاط مهاجرتی خارج از کشور مستقر شوند موجب رضایت و خرسندی مضاعف معهد اعلی خواهد بود. در جدول ذیل اهداف مهاجرتی باقیمانده جامعه بهائی ایالات متحده مشخص شده است.

باقیمانده سهمیه مهاجرت خارجه جامعه بهائی ایالات متحده در تاریخ ۲۴ اکتبر ۱۹۸۴

قاره	کشور	مهاجرین مورد نیاز	زبان
آسیا	هندوستان	۲	انگلیسی
آسیا	کره	۱	کره ای
آسیا	نپال	۱	انگلیسی
آسیا	فیلیپین	۲	انگلیسی
آسیا	تایلند	۳	تایلندی
اقیانوسیه	کاسرای (جزائر کارولین)	۱	انگلیسی
اقیانوسیه	بلائو	۱	انگلیسی
اقیانوسیه	تراک	۱	انگلیسی
اقیانوسیه	تینیان (جزائر ماریانا)	۱	انگلیسی
اقیانوسیه	جزایر مارشال	۲	انگلیسی
اقیانوسیه	ساموا	۱	انگلیسی
اقیانوسیه	توالو	۱	انگلیسی
اروپا	جزائر کاناری	۱	اسپانیولی
اروپا	قبرس	۲	ترکی / یونانی
اروپا	آیرلند	۲	انگلیسی (مهاجرین ایرانی مرجحند)
افریقا	بنین	۴	فرانسه
افریقا	لسوتو	۱	انگلیسی
افریقا	موریتانیا	۱	فرانسه
افریقا	نایجریا	۴	انگلیسی
افریقا	تانزانیا	۲	انگلیسی
آمریکا	جزیره سان سالوادور (باهاما)	۱	انگلیسی
آمریکا	جزیره ایستر (شیلی)	۲	اسپانیولی
آمریکا	کلمبیا	۲	اسپانیولی
آمریکا	دامینیکا	۱	انگلیسی
آمریکا	جزیره گالاپاگوس (اکوادر)	۱	اسپانیولی
آمریکا	گواتمالا	۱	اسپانیولی
آمریکا	جزایر کایمن (جامائیکا)	۱	انگلیسی
آمریکا	جزایر لیوارد	۱	انگلیسی
آمریکا	مکزیک (یوکاتان)	۲	اسپانیولی
آمریکا	پورتوریکو	۲	اسپانیولی
آمریکا	سنت وینسنت	۲	انگلیسی

فعالیتهای جوانان

بیت العدل اعظم آلهی در پیام مورخ ۳ ژانویه ۱۹۸۴ به سال جهانی جوانان اشاره فرمودند و آن را فرصتی امیدبخش برای پیروان جوان حضرت بهاء الله دانستند. نمیدانستیم که چنین موقعیتها و امکانات عظیمه ای فراهم خواهد شد. سال جهانی جوانان فرصتهای بسیاری ایجاد کرده است که جوانان بهائی بتوانند با صاحبان منصب و مقام و کسانی که در هدایت افکار عمومی مؤثرند ارتباط برقرار نمایند. لجنه ملی جوانان از جانب وزارت امور خارجه ایالات متحده بعضویت کمیسیون جهانی جوانان انتخاب شده است و با هیئت مسؤول امور داخلی همکاری مینماید.

جناب آلبرت چانگ یکی از جوانان بهائی که در دوره دکترا در دانشگاه جانز هاپکینز تحصیل میکند نمایندگی لجنه ملی جوانان را در کمیسیون سال جهانی جوانان دارد و در این سمت تا کنون در چندین جلسه و کنفرانس برنامه ریزی شرکت کرده است. جوانان شهر واشینگتن پایتخت کشور نیز کمیسیون مخصوصی برای این منظور تشکیل داده اند و علاوه بر تهیه مقدمات فعالیتهای خود برای سال جهانی جوانان در موارد فنی با کمیسیون سال جهانی همکاری مینمایند. این خدمات جوانان مورد توجه و تقدیر مسؤولین کمیسیون واقع شده است.

تابحال در دو مورد از یکی از اعضاء لجنه ملی جوانان برای شرکت در مراسم رسمی مربوط به سال جهانی جوانان دعوت بعمل آمده. اولین مورد حضور خانم جاکلین اقراری در مراسمی در باغچه کاخ ابیض بود که گزارش آن در صفحات انگلیسی امریکن بهائی ماه آگست منتشر شد و اخیراً نیز خانم گرن پریچارد منشی لجنه ملی جوانان برای شرکت در مراسم امضای اعلامیه ای در مورد مبارزه با استعمال مواد مخدر توسط مقام ریاست جمهور به کاخ سفید دعوت شدند. این موقعیتها باعث ازدیاد احترام و شناسائی جوانان بهائی در انظار سایر جمعیتهای جوان مملکت است.

فرصتهای خدمت در خارج از مملکت

مؤسسات تبلیغی و تزیید معلوماتی سیار در کامرون، جمهوری آفریقای مرکزی، چاد، کنیا، مالاوی، روآندا، موریتیوس، تانزانیا، ترانسکای، یوگاندا، و زیمبابوه بوجود آمده و دائر است. هریک از این مؤسسات به یک جوان برای یک تا دو سال نیاز دارد جوانی که تجربه رانندگی داشته باشد و از عده تعمیر اتوموبیل برآید، در ضمن از وسائل و ادوات سمعی و بصری سررشته داشته با آنها کار کرده باشد. این جوان باید بتواند در مواقع لازم با سنجیدگی تصمیم بگیرد و با از خودگذشتگی و فداکاری کامل با یاران بومی در نهایت یگانگی رفتار نماید و در اجرای طرحها و نقشه های محفل روحانی ملی بکوشد، با مدیریت مؤسسه همکاری و همراهی کند و به موفقیت پروژه تبلیغی و بالاخص اهداف مرحلهٔ سوم نقشه هفت ساله کمک کند. بعضی از ممالک ذکر شده، فرانسوی زبان هستند. نوجوانان و جوانان میتوانند داوطلب شوند.

برای کمک در تزیید معلومات جوانان، تبلیغ در دانشگاهها، اداره احتفالهای تبلیغی، سخنرانی و یاری به ایجاد طرحهای ساده توسعه اقتصادی و اجتماعی در مناطقی که لجنه جوانان فعال دارند و نیز به منظور تقویت و توسعه دامنه فعالیت طرح در محلهائی که چنین نقشه هائی هم اکنون آغاز شده برای مدت چهار تا شش هفته در ایام کریسمس (هفته اول دسامبر تا هفته آخر ژانویه) یاری احباء مورد نیاز است.

نقشه اولینگا در کشور سیرالیون: برای یک هفته، یک ماه یا یک سال هر مدتی که بتوانید در این طرح مبلغ سیار باشید کلاسهائی برای تزیید معلومات امری احبا یا تعلیم کودکان برگزار کنید یا جزوه های تبلیغی تزیید معلوماتی تهیه نمائید و یا از استعداد موسیقی خود استفاده کنید، بسیار مفید و مؤثر خواهید بود.

پاپوآ گینه نو: بوجود کسانی که بتوانند به مدت شش ماه تا یک سال، مدارس روستائی و مؤسسه های خاص تزیید معلومات احبای بومی را اداره کنند، به تبلیغ در نواحی روستائی بپردازند یا در دفتر محفل ملی خدمت کنند، احتیاج است.

گایانا: طرحهای مختلفی دائماً در حال اجرا است هرکس برای هر مدت زمان که مقدور باشد میتواند به اجرای طرحها خدمت کند.

کنفرانسهای جوانان: در پرو (سال ۱۹۸۵) و در بوهوتاتسوانا، افریقا، از پنج تا هشت آپریل ۱۹۸۵ برگزار میشود. [Page 18]

پیار محل خوانی مالی

شده و اولین فرستنده رادیو بهائی تأسیس گردیده است. خلاصه آنکه علی رغم محدودیت امکانات، انتصاراتی که نصیب این جامعه شده فراوان و افتخارآمیز است.

وضعیت صندوق محفل ملی چندماهی است که موجب نگرانی شده است. به علت عدم توازن شدید بین تبرعات و مخارج صندوق ملی به نقطه بحرانی رسیده است. امسال میزان تبرعات تا کنون به نحو قابل ملاحظه ای کمتر از آن بوده است که نمایندگان مجتمع در کانونشن ملی و محفل روحانی ملی با کمال اطمینان انتظار داشتند.

در نتیجه آن محفل مقدس کرا راً ناچار شده است با وام گرفتن ما به التفاوت را تأمین کند و در حال حاضر جمع بدهیهای فعلی به حد خطرناکی رسیده است. نیمی از سال گذشته است و تا پایان ماه سپتامبر جمع كل تبرعات هشت صدهزار دلار کمتر از مخارج بوده است.

بمنظور جبران این کمبود و برقراری تعادل بودجه باید لااقل به هدف جدید ۷/۵ میلیون دلار که برای واردات صندوق ملی تعیین شده برسیم یعنی دومیلیون دلار کمتر از آنچه پیش بینی شده بود. به این ترتیب یاران رحمانی بایستی تا انتهای آپریل ۱۹۸۵ در هر ماه بیانی به طور متوسط پانصد هزار دلار تبرع نمایند. تحقق یافتن این هدف به خودی خود توفیق قابل ملاحظه ای به شمار خواهد آمد.

قرض بانکی ما اکنون ۱/۲ میلیون دلار است. هدف این است که تا پایان نقشه هفت ساله این بدهی را تسویه کنیم. جامعه ای که از روح پیشگامانش نیرو میگیرد میتواند با ابراز شهامت و گذشت نیروی مورد نیاز اساس امرالله را احیاء کند.

محفل مقدس روحانی ملی مقرر فرموده اند که مخارج پیش بینی شده برای امسال ۱/۵ میلیون دلار تقلیل یابد و مصمم هستند که حتی بیش از این میزان مخارج جاری را کاهش دهند. آنچه که تا کنون از بودجه حذف شده موجب تقلیل تبرع این جامعه به صندوق مرکز جهانی بهائی نشده است ولکن باعث تقلیل قابل ملاحظه ای در بودجه لجنه ها و دوائر مختلف دفتر مرکزی محفل ملی شده و به انجام رساندن وظایف معینه آنان را بسیار مشکل نموده است. در صورتی که لازم شود بیش از این بودجه تقلیل یابد اثرات آن فلج کننده خواهد بود.

وضع فعلی حقیقتاً بحرانی است. شاید به گله های سالانه دفتر امین صندوق درباره کمبود تبرعات خو گرفته باشیم ولی مشکل کنونی بمراتب از وضع معمول و مکرر بدتر است. این دشواری مرحله نهایی سالها کسر بودجه است.

در طول سالهای اخیر محفل روحانی ملی ناچار شده است برنامه های وسیع و موفقیت آمیز برای آگاهی اذهان عمومی از حقایق آئین مقدس بهائی ترتیب دهد که نتیجه آن خروج امرالله از مرحله مجهولیت بوده است و در عین حال آن محفل مقدس ناچار بوده است برای تأمین احتیاجات صندوق بین المللی تبرعات خود را به آن صندوق افزایش دهد. از جهت دیگر بمنظور تحکیم اساس جامعه بهائی تعدادی مدارس بهائی جدید ایجاد شده است.

الله اکبر که چه بلند است عنقای عشق را پرواز سبحان الله که قدمهای عالیه مقربین در بیابانهای بعد بصد هزار هزار خاری در طلب یار دوانند. شکی نیست که از این فرصت جدید برای خدمت سبحان الله که چگونه میسوزند شمعهای روح در لیالی به آستان الهی از طریق تقدیم تبرعات کریمانه و هجر معبود. بخدا حماسه ای خلق میشود که تا جهان همراه با فداکاری به صندوق ملی استفاده خواهیم با قیست چشم بشریت را خیره میسازد.

پدر و شوهر نمود تا وسائل مادی برای تحقق فتوحات و دو شهید مجید پدر ... و شوهر ... که همسر و فرزند موفقیت های جدید در اختیار محفل مقدس ملی قرار برومند را از دست داده در محفل تذکر نقل و شیرینی گیرد. سبیل میکند که امروز جشن دامادی فرزند منست. مادر دو شهید که شوهر بزرگوار ... و دختر ما هر خسار هفده ساله خود را در آستان محبوب قربان کرده دیگران را دل و قوت میدهد و یاری و تقویت میکند که این تاج وهاج است. احیاء در برابر امواج بلا چون کوه قائمند خانمی نفت و کبریت به اشرار میدهد که این من و این خانه من بکشید و بسوزانید نه از ایمان برمیگردم و نه ترک خانمان میکنم خانمی دیگر را به مسجد میکشانند با خود کبریت و بنزین میبرد میخواهند از او بگیرند فریاد میزند یا مرگ با ایمان و یا فدای در سبیل یزدان دیگر بدیکی از دوستان ماکرا بکا مج جوانی را گرفته و دست و پا شکسته به بیمارستان میبرند میزارد و میگوید افسوس که مرا دحاصل نگردید.

چه مستی است ندانم که رو بما آورد که بود ساقی و این باده از کجا آورد ما همانیم که بودیم بمیدان محبت سریبازیم و نداریم ز سر مهرووفا را

برای عزیزان غرب داستانهای عشق و ایمان این رقیمه کریمه نه بل پرلیغ بلیغ آن خاتون وفا عزیزان را بگوئید تا بدانند وارث چه میراث مرغوبی بخدائی خدا چون فراش باد صبا خانه دل را طراوت و گشته اند که لاعدل له تا قدر گوهری را که یافته اند صفائی بسزا بخشیده بود افسوس که وقایع اخیر و نیک بدانند و از کف نگذارند از آنها بخواهید برای شهادت عزیزان اسیر دل و جان بگداخت دل بریان ما دعا کنند نه دعا برای تقلیل بلا... دعا برای کرد و دیده گریان بر ما غمی رسید که دل را کباب آنکه تحمل بتوانیم و دعا برای آنکه در سبیلش قائم کرد، نمیدانید غم با دلهای سوزان ما چه کرده. بمانیم. دعا برای آنکه بلایای متواترة و رزایای بشریم و از بشارت آخر بی خبر بحال ناظریم و به متكاثرة ما را نلرزاند و تلفزاند. ای خدا مددفرما.

الهی الهی ثبت اقدامنا و استقمنا على عهدِكَ الأوفى بعونك و منكَ يا ربَّنا العلي الاعلى

قسمتی از نامه شهید مجید

غم بهرجا که رود سرزده آید بدلم چکنم خانه من بر سر ره افتاده است

نه خواهرم مطمئن باشید. داغی بر دل نهاده که جز مرهم نجات و استخلاص و جز تریاق مهر و وفاق درمانی ندارد. هفت دختر ملكوتي بنات النعش آسمان عشق و ایمان بی گناه در بادی امر قصدم این بود که چندخطی بنویسم و از آمدند بیگناه زیستند و بیگناه تنها به گناه نازکی خاطر بار بیاندیشم و گوش بفرمان عقل نمایم عشق و ایمان اسیر کینی سیاه و فدای خوی زشت و که برو از درگهش این ناله و فریاد بير ولكن تباه جمعی سیاه دل گشتند. و سردار بیا راستند. نبود بر سر آتش میترم که .نجوشم نه قلم قدم گفتم آن یار کز او گشت سردار بلند سست میکند و نه دل ترک اطناب ممل میسازد و شما جرمش این بود که اسرار هویدا میکرد هم ناچارید که با قیل و قال من بسازید و مرارت سه خاتون عشق سه بانوی کشور محبت سه عاشق سه قرائت خط و ربط بيربط مرا تحمل کنید که نزند فدائی خدایا مگر اشک امان میدهد چه بنویسم؟ از کسبه شاخ بی بر سنگ.

آن مردان جان برکف میدان عشق چه بنویسم؟ از آن مکتوبتان مرا مست کرد ... شما را بخدا بنویسید یکه سواران جولانگه وفا چه بنگارم از آن شش شیر و مکرر بنویسید از خطرات اندیشه مدارید من بهائی نخجیرگیر دلیر چگونه یاد کنم فآه آه عما قضى وا مضى هستم و آماده خدا در سبیل ایمان خود میباشم. وای وای از آنچه ظاهر و هویدا گشت و این نیست مگر خیانت نمیکنم جنایت نمیکنم جاسوسی نمیکنم از مرحمتهای مکتونه تو ای پروردگار من... سیاست نمیبافم به جنس و نژاد نمیلاقم بر علیه با اینهمه چه گمان کرده اید بخدا دوستان راستان دولت قدم برنمیدارم حکومت را با همه مظالمش همچنان بنده آستانند و آماده نثارجان جان ببازند بجان مطعم جز سربلندی کشورم نمیخواهم و جز ندادند ز سر مهر و وفا را در بحبوحه بلافانی سعادت هموطنانم نمیجویم بخدای یگانه معتقدم و از دو جناح مأمور زیارت عزیزانم در بلاد بلاخیز به انبیا و فرستادگانش مؤمن حال با این بلاریز بلاانگیز بودم چه دیدم؟ اعتقادات بگذار مرا بگیرند و بدار بیاویزند من من گنگ خواب دیده و عالم تمام کر بسعادت و خدا رسیده ام و آنان به شقاوت و دناء . من عاجز از حکایت و خلق از شنیدنش بنابراین از ابراز حقایق باک ندارم. [Page 19]

پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی

ترجمه پیام مورخ ۸ نوامبر ۱۹۸۴ بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی که بوسیله تلکس مخابره شده است

با قلوبی حزین اعدام سه نفس دیگر از احباء ایران را اعلام میکنیم. جناب احمد بشیری، عضو محفل روحانی ملی که در تاریخ ۲۹ آگست ۱۹۸۴ شهید گردید، و جناب یونس نوروزی عضو محفل روحانی کرج بدار آویخته شدند و نفر سوم جناب مهندس فیروزپور ‎دل در‎ مشهد که جزئیات اعدام ایشان معلوم نشده است. محقق شده است که جناب بشیری در طول پانزده ماه زندان مورد شکنجه و آزار بیرحمانه بوده اند. هدف از این رفتار غیر انسانی گرفتن اعترافات کاذبه بوده که بتوانند تشکیلات منحله جامعه بهائی ایران را بصورت شبکه جاسوسی جلوه دهند. ولکن ثبات قدم و استقامت ایشان، مانند سایر یاران شجیع و قهرمانشان، آن نقشه‌های سوء را خنثی نمود. جناب بشیری و جناب نوروزی و همچنین جناب شاپور مرکزی که قبلاً شهادت ایشان اطلاع داده شده بود جملگی در زمره احبائی بوده‌اند که حکم اعدام آنان صادر شده است و شهادت این سه نفر موجب نگرانی شدید نسبت بسرنوشت بقیه نفوس با شهامتی است که در زندان بسر میبرند...

بیت‌العدل اعظم

ترجمه پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی مورخ اوت ۱۹۸۴

خطاب به یارانی که بمناسبت افتتاح ام‌المعابد جزائر پاسیفیک در آپیا در ساموآی غربی مجتمع شده بودند

یاران عزیز: در این ایام تاریخی فتح و ظفر مهمی را در توسعه نطاق امر حضرت بهاءالله شاهد و ناظریم. ارتفاع این مشرق‌الاذکار نه تنها بنحوی بارز حاکی از تحقق وعود جمال اقدس ابهی است بلکه آینده درخشانی برای امر الهی در پاسیفیک را نوید میدهد که انوار حیات‌بخش بر ساکنان این وسیع وسیع تابیده. حضرت ولی عزیز امرالله در پیام آپریل ۱۹۵۷ خطاب بعالم بهائی درباره پاسیفیک میفرمایند: "... فتوحات امریه در آن خطه استثمارات حاصله در جزائر اقیانوسهای سائره و در الحقیقة هر قاره دیگری را تحت الشعاع قرار میدهد...".

نظری به تاریخ ادیان در حوزه پاسیفیک در دورانهای خاطرتان میماند که تعالیم حضرت مسیح مدت زمانی قلیل قبل از اظهار امر حضرت رب‌اعلی در این جزائر منتشر گردید و تعالیم حضرت بهاءالله نخستین بار زمانی اعلان شد که ایادی امرالله امة‌البهاء آگنس الکساندر در دسامبر ۱۹۰۱ به جزائر هاوائی قدم نهاد. در ابتدای جهاد کبیر اکبر در سال ۱۹۵۳ تعداد کمی از این جزائر از امر الهی اطلاع داشتند. در رضوان ۱۹۵۹ هنگامی که اولین محفل روحانی ملی ناحیه ای در جنوب پاسیفیک در سوآ (پایتخت فی‌جی) تشکیل گردید ۱۲ محفل روحانی محلی در ۹ جزیره از جزائر پاسیفیک وجود داشت. حال ملاحظه نمائید که در ربع قرن یعنی از ۱۹۵۹ تا کنون چه فتوحاتی نصیب گردیده است:

• اولین سلطانی که در حین سلطنت به امر حضرت بهاءالله اقبال نموده رئیس دولت ساموآی غربی است که مقر رسمی‌اش در جوار مشرق‌الاذکار است.
• در حال حاضر ۱۳ محفل روحانی ملی در سرزمین مردمان پولنزی و ملانزی و میکرونزی تأسیس شده است که عبارتند از محافل منتخبه:
  • جزائر کارولین
  • فی‌جی
  • جزائر هاوائی
  • کیریباتی
  • جزائر ماریانا
  • جزائر کالدونیای جدید و لویالتی
  • گینه جدید (پاپوآ)
  • ساموآ
  • جزائر سلیمان
  • تونگا
  • توالو
  • وانواتو
• در رضوان ۱۹۸۵ دو محفل روحانی ملی جدید تشکیل خواهد شد که عبارتند از محافل روحانی ملی جزائر کوک و جزائر کارولینای غربی
• در حدود پانصد محفل روحانی محلی تأسیس شده است.
• احباء در ۲۰۰۰ نقطه ساکن هستند
• متجاوز از سی و یک هزار بهائی در پاسیفیک سکونت دارند.

این معبد نورانی جدیدالبناء جلوه‌ای از تجلی انوار امر حضرت بهاءالله در قلوب و افکار است که در ابتدای این قرن به این جزائر نفوذ نموده و حال باتمّ اشراق نمودار. انوار تابان تعالیم مبارکه یاران آن سامان را به شور و شوق آورده و به اجرای این اصول روحانیه در حیات فردی و امور جاری جوامع بهائی برانگیخته است. همچنان که این معبد رمزی از نورانیت احبای آن خطه و دیار است توسعه و تکامل حیات بهائی در جوامع محلی من جمیع الجهات اعم از امور اداری و اجتماعی که مستفیض و مستعد از سرچشمه فیاض مرحمت پروردگار است بالمال بصورت مؤسسات متنوعه منظمه این بنا تجلی کامل حاصل خواهد نمود. حضرت ولی امرالله این مؤسسات منظمه را چنین توصیف میفرمایند: "مؤسسات خدمات اجتماعی که سبب آسایش رنجوران و اعانت بینوایان و ملجاء و مأوای ابناء سبیل و تسلای خاطر مأیوسان و تعلیم و تربیت محرومان میشود."

افتتاح این بنای جلیل بدون تردید نشانه آغاز دورانی جدید در ترقی و تقدم امر نازنین در این نیمکره است و امکانات گوناگون فراوان موجود از جمله رفتار دوستانه اهالی و آمادگی برای درک مفاهیم روحانی، آزادی احباء برای سیر و سفر و ابلاغ کلمة‌الله بمردم، عدم مخالفت و معاندت با امر بهائی بنحوی متشکل و متمرکز، تأثیر نسبتاً قلیل قوای مادیت پرستی که بسرعت بجمیع اطراف و اکناف جهان سرایت میکند و بساطت و سادگی ذاتی نحوه زندگی ساکنان این جزائر جمیع منطقه پاسیفیک را سرشار از امکانات جهت انتشار سریع امر و جلوه و ظهور حیات جامعه بهائی نموده است.

روح سرور و نشاطی که در این کنفرانس ایجاد شده و در اثر اقدامات جمعی و مشترک یاران قوت و شدت یافته و به اکلیل مشارکت آن عزیزان در این مراسم پرشکوه مزین گردیده باید مصدر و منشاء مجهودات و اقدامات وسیع تبلیغی شود که سراسر جزائر آن خطه شاسعه را در بر گیرد. در این اوقات که نقشه هفت ساله رو به اختتام است فرصت ذیقیمتی موجود تا از این شرائط بسیار مناسب در آن منطقه استفاده کنید و سبب فتوحاتی در نقشه شوید که مایه اعجاب جهانیان و تحقق یافتن وعود مسطور در آثار مبارکه گردد. ادعیه این مشتاقان در اعتاب مقدسه نثار راه موفقیت اقدامات خاضعانه آنان در سبیل امر حضرت منان است.

با تحیات ابدع ابهی

حقوق‌الله

یاران ساکن ایالات متحده میتوانند پرداختهای مربوط به حقوق‌الله را توسط یکی از اعضاء هیئت امناء که نشانی آنان ذیلاً درج میگردد ارسال فرمایند

Dr. Elsie Austin P. O. Box 927 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

Dr. Amin Banani 1458 Princeton Street Santa Monica, CA 90402

Dr. Daryush Haghighi 21218 Morewood Pkwy Rocky River, Ohio 44116

یا مستقیماً بحساب مخصوص حقوق‌الله به نشانی ذیل ارسال دارند.

The Northern Trust Company Box 92959 Huququ’lláh Trust 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60675

انتشارات جدید

مؤسسه مطبوعات امری آماده شدن تقویم‌های بهائی جیبی و دیواری را برای سال ۱۹۸۵ (۱۴۲ بدیع) اعلام نموده‌اند. جزئیات قیمت و طریقه سفارش در صفحه مخصوص مرکز توزیع بهائی درج شده است.

پس از مدتها انتظار فارسی بیاموزیم: کتاب اول و فارسی بیاموزیم: روش تدریس تألیف سرکار خانم لیلی ایمن از چاپ خارج شده است. والدین گرامی و علاقه مندان میتوانند برای سفارش این وسیله جدید آموزش زبان فارسی با ناشر، مؤسسه کلمات پرس مکاتبه فرمایند.

Kalimat Press 10889 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 700 Los Angeles, California 90024 [Page 20]PÁGINA HISPANA

December 1984

Otro atributo del Maestro: Hacedor de milagros

Shoghi Effendi, el amado Guardián, se refirió a ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, así: ‘debe para siempre ser considerado como el Centro y Pivote de la Alianza incomparable, que todo lo abarca, de Bahá’u’lláh, como Su más exaltada obra, como el Espejo inmaculado de Su Luz, el perfecto Ejemplo de Sus enseñanzas, el infalible Intérprete de Su Palabra, la personificación de cada uno de los ideales Bahá’ís, la encarnación de cada una de las virtudes Bahá’ís, la Más Poderosa Rama salida de la Antigua Raíz, el Miembro de la Ley de Dios, el Ser ‘a Cuyo alrededor giran todos los nombres,’ el Resorte Principal de la Unidad del Género Humano, la Insignia de la Paz Suprema, la Luna del Astro Central de esa santísima Dispensación, nombres y títulos que son implícitos y hallan su más real, su más alta y más hermosa expresión en el mágico nombre: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.’’

La vida de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ofrece a cada creyente ejemplos de cómo nos debemos comportar para con nuestro prójimo y del amor que siempre debemos llevar en el corazón para la creación entera.

Esa noche El nos invitó a juntarnos con El el domingo en la mañana bajo los cedros en el Monte Carmelo donde El solía sentarse con Bahá’u’lláh.

ESTÁBAMOS todos regocijados, y grande era mi decepción al día siguiente cuando me encontré bastante enferma.

Tan pronto como el Maestro llegó para el desayuno, vino directamente a mi cuarto y acercándose a mi cama, tomó mis manos en las Suyas, pasó Su mano sobre mi frente, y me miró con tanta dulzura y misericordia que olvidé todo salvo el amor y la bondad de Dios y todo mi alma fue curada y consolada.

Miré Su cara y dije: ‘Estoy bien ahora, Mowlana.’ Pero El se sonrió y sacudió la cabeza con ‎un señal una señal‎ negativa y me ordenó que quedara allí quietamente hasta que El regresase a mediodía.

Aunque yo había estado sufriendo durante la noche, todo dolor y tristeza habían desaparecido, y dormí tranquilamente.

El domingo en la mañana nos despertamos con alegría y esperanza pensando en la reunión en el Monte Carmelo.

EL MAESTRO llegó bastante temprano y después de mirarme, tocar mi mano y tomar mi pulso, todavía teniendo mi mano, dijo a los presentes que no tendría lugar la reunión en el Monte Carmelo sino que nos reuniríamos en otra parte, Inshallah, dentro de unos días más, porque no podríamos ir dejando a una de las queridas de Dios, solitaria y enferma; que ninguno de nosotros podríamos estar contentos a menos que todos los queridos estuvieran felices.

Estuvimos asombrados porque algo tan importante como esta reunión en ese sitio bendito se cancelase debido a la enfermedad de una sola persona; nos parecía increíble.

Era tan contrario a los hábitos corrientes de pensar y actuar; tan diferente a la vida del mundo donde los acontecimientos diarios y circunstancias materiales son de importancia suprema, que nos dio un verdadero choque de sorpresa, y en ese choque los cimientos del orden viejo empezaron a tambalear y caer.

Las palabras del Maestro habían abierto ampliamente la puerta del Reino de Dios y nos habían dado un vislumbre de ese mundo infinito cuya única ley es el amor.

Fue sólo una más de las muchas veces que vimos a ‘Abdu’l-Bahá colocar por encima de toda otra consideración el amor y la bondad, la simpatía y compasión que se deben a toda alma.

EN VERDAD, al mirar retrospectivamente hacia el bendito tiempo pasado en Su presencia, entendemos que el objeto de nuestro peregrinaje era aprender por la primera vez en la tierra, lo que es el amor, atestiguar su luz en cada cara, sentir su calor ardiente en cada corazón y encendernos con esta llama divina del Sol de la Verdad, la Esencia de Cuyo Ser es el amor.

Así fue que el domingo, El se sentaba con nosotros por un tiempo y no pensamos más en la reunión en el Monte Carmelo, pues en la alegría y descanso infinito de Su presencia todo lo demás fue olvidado. (An Early Pilgrimage por May Maxwell)

El martes en la noche, dije a mi madre espiritual que el Maestro evidentemente no se daba cuenta de cuán enferma y débil estaba yo, o El nunca hubiera esperado que yo saliera con los otros el miércoles por la mañana.

¡Oh! Nosotros de poca fe! No es extraño que ella sonrió, diciendo: ‘Usted pronto entenderá algo del poder de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.’

Fue en la madrugada que me desperté, sintiéndome agitada por una brisa. No puedo describir lo que siguió, pero a través de mi alma fluía una esencia, una fuerza potente e invisible penetraba en todo mi ser, expandiéndolo con vida infinita y amor y felicidad, elevando y envolviéndome en su potente fortalecimiento y paz.

Supe entonces que fue el Espíritu Santo de Dios, y que nuestro Señor estuvo rezando por Sus siervos en aquella bendita madrugada, y me levanté y rezé y estaba bien de salud. (An Early Pilgrimage por May Maxwell)

Una mañana El nos contó dos cosas que habían sucedido antes de que viniera a vernos. Más tarde, uno de los nietos del Maestro que interpretaba por El nos dijo: ‘Esta es la primera vez que he oído al Maestro referirse a un milagro que El ha efectuado.’

FUE así como sucedió que ‘Abdu’l-Bahá habló de estos milagros:

El nos había enviado esa mañana un gran pañuelo de seda lleno de brotes de jazmín del jardín de Bahjí para adornar la mesa del comedor.

Cuando agradecí al Maestro por ellos, señalando cuan celestial era el perfume, El dijo: ‘Sí. He dado algunos de ellos a un oficial inglés que vino a mí esta mañana en gran angustia, porque su esposa está gravemente enferma.

El me suplicó que rezara para que su esposa se curara. Le di un puñado de estos brotes para que se los llevara, diciéndole que ella debía de respirar el perfume y que Yo rezaría por ella. Ahora ella se recuperará.’

Unos momentos más tarde el Maestro nos contó algo que había ocurrido mientras El estaba dando un paseo, y empezó a reír como si estuviera recordando algo muy divertido.

Dijo: ‘Hace como un año, un hombre muy anciano, por cuya casa paso a veces al caminar, salió del portón para hablar conmigo. Dijo que estaba muy triste porque nunca había sido cumplido el mayor deseo de su vida, y ése era tener un hijo; él y su esposa estaban muy viejos ya y habían perdido la esperanza, pero tal vez si Yo rezara por ellos, Dios lo oiría y les enviaría a un niño. Le prometí que rezaría para que se diera cumplimiento a su deseo.

‘NO había visto el hombre hasta hoy, y como pasaba por la casa, él salió corriendo y me mostró el bebé más pequeño que jamás he visto ‘solamente así,’ y el Maestro, sonriéndose alegremente, marcó entre Sus manos un espacio tan corto que era inconcebible que un bebé pudiera ser tan pequeño y vivir ...

... Cuando mi hermana y yo nos estábamos despidiendo y mostrando evidentemente nuestra tristeza, el Maestro dijo: ‘No estéis tristes, pues no hay separación. Cuánto mejor estar ausentes en cuerpo, sin embargo presentes en espíritu, que estar conmigo siempre en persona, como ‎estan están‎ muchos que viven aquí, y no Me reconocen en espíritu.’

Entonces, señalando un rayo de sol en el suelo dijo: ‘Aunque el sol está tan distante, sin embargo su luz siempre está con vosotros y así no importa donde estéis, Yo siempre estaré con vosotros.’ (Inez Greeven, World Order magazine, octubre de 1937)

Se ‎necesita necesitan‎ dos pioneros hispanoamericanos

La Casa Universal de Justicia está pidiendo que dos hispanos de los Estados Unidos vayan a vivir en las Islas Canarias como pioneros Bahá’ís para enseñar la Fe.

Las Canarias, siete islas provinciales de España, están ubicadas cerca de la costa noroeste de Africa.

Para más información escriba a: International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, o llame a: 312-869-9039.

Atrocidades contra los creyentes: continúan en la cuna de nuestra Fe

A todas las Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales Queridos amigos bahá’ís,

El jueves, 11 de octubre de 1984, la Casa Universal de Justicia envió el siguiente telex a Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales seleccionadas.

CON CORAZÓN ‎PESAROZO PESAROSO‎ ANUNCIAMOS MARTIRIO SHÁHPÚR MARKÁZÍ SIERVO SOBRESALIENTE FE EN IRÁN MIEMBRO ANTERIOR ASAMBLEA ESPIRITUAL NACIONAL Y MIEMBRO CUERPO AUXILIAR. SUFRIÓ TORTURA CRUEL MESES RECIENTES. PROPÓSITO ESTAS TORTURAS ERA FORZARLE CONFESAR ACUSACIONES FALSAS QUE COMPROMETERÍAN A INSTITUCIONES BAHÁ’ÍS COMO RED ESPIONAJE Y A ÉL COMO ESPÍA. SU RESISTENCIA CRECIENTE AUMENTO INTENSIDAD TORTURAS QUE PUEDEN HABER CAUSADO SU MUERTE 23 SEPTIEMBRE. SE LE ENTERRÓ 25 SEPTIEMBRE SIN CONOCIMIENTO PARIENTES AMIGOS. LAMENTAMOS ANUNCIAR TAMBIÉN FALLECIMIENTO EN PRISIÓN DE AMÍNU’LLÁH QURBÁNPÚR ALBAÑIL DE 60 AÑOS DE EDAD 25 AGOSTO 1984. CAUSA MUERTE DESCONOCIDA. SIN EMBARGO ROPA MANCHADA DE SANGRE DEVUELTA A FAMILIA JUNTO CON SUS ZAPATOS RECIÉN LAVADOS HACEN CIRCUNSTANCIAS SU MUERTE SOSPECHOSAS. SU CUERPO TAMBIÉN FUE ENTERRADO POR AUTORIDADES SIN CONOCIMIENTO PARIENTES.

SE PIDE INFORMEN A AUTORIDADES Y PRENSA.

CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA

Pueden compartir esta información con las autoridades y con la prensa en su comunidad si han procedido de esta manera respecto a casos similares en el pasado. Favor de compartir el texto completo del cable con los bahá’ís en su comunidad.

Con cariñosos saludos bahá’ís,

El Departamento de Secretaría 12 de octubre de 1984

FROM BEHIND THE VEIL

a gripping novel about Táhirih for all ages

by KATHLEEN JEMISON DEMAS

New flashes of understanding (along with drama and suspense) illuminate the life of the foremost Bábí heroine and remind you of what it is like to see, but not from behind a veil.

Softcover pocket edition 121 pages, glossary, list of characters

$3.25*

Order through your local librarian, or send check or money order (including 10% for postage and handling, minimum $1.50) to

Bahá’í Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091

• Price valid only in the United States

[Page 21]Classified notices in The American Bahá’í are published free of charge as a service to the Bahá’í community. Notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no personal or commercial messages can be accepted for publication. The opportunities referred to have not been approved by the National Spiritual Assembly, and the friends should exercise their own judgment in responding to them.

WANTED: Information on the names of relatives or the location of personal papers of the following early California Bahá’ís: Ida Benjamin, Mary Jane Churchill (d. 1930, Santa Barbara), Esther Davis (d. 1937, La Jolla), and Victor Oldson (d. 1946, Atascadero). Anyone with information should write to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

JUSTICES of the Supreme Court and Judges of the High Court are sought for the Marshall Islands, a goal area. Those who are qualified by education and experience should contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

APPLYING to college? Reed College is a small, rigorous liberal arts school in Portland, Oregon, with an excellent reputation in the sciences. Until this year, it has had a small but active Bahá’í club. Enrolling at Reed provides an excellent opportunity to reach leaders of thought and to make friends for the Faith. Help bring the “movement” to Portland. For information about Reed College from one of its graduates, write to Barbara Ruys, 440 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, or phone her (evenings) at 617-491-5539. For an application, write to Reed College, 3203 S.E. Woodstock Blvd., Portland, OR 97202.

AN EXCITING, productive teaching project is going on in Chicago. We’re in the midst of a three-pronged effort to reach Native Americans in Chicago with the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. We need volunteers. This is a well-planned, working, teaching committee sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago. Bahá’í activities are now in progress. If you are interested in learning about another culture, making friends and helping to teach the Faith, please get in touch with us. We need your help. Phone either Patricia Miller-Glover at 312-864-1342 or 312-256-6552 (work) or Regina Anchondo at the National Teaching Committee office, 312-869-9039, or you may write us at 1713 Dodge Ave., Evanston, IL 60202.

Make plans now for World Religion Day

Make plans now for World Religion Day, Sunday, January 20, 1985.

The Office of Public Affairs will be sending a mailing to all PI reps and media committees that will include:

• a sample press release;
• sample public service announcements;
• suggested media materials for your event.

World Religion Day began in 1950 and has been sponsored each year by the Bahá’ís of the United States. Its purpose is to proclaim the oneness of religion and to express the belief that religion should bring about the unity of the world’s peoples.

If your town doesn’t have a PI rep or committee, you should: (A) appoint one and get going on the media work; (B) write to the Office of Public Affairs immediately to receive the World Religion Day publicity kit; (C) both A and B!

See the media page (p. 21) in The American Bahá’í, November 1984, for an easy-to-return coupon to appoint a Public Information representative. Return the coupon to the Office of Public Affairs today!

GRAHAM Sorenson, a Bahá’í ham radio operator at the World Centre, GW4VBN/4X, would like contacts with all Bahá’í ham radio operators around the world. Please write to him at P.O. Box 155, Haifa 31 001, Israel, with your information and times of possible contacts with Israel.

THE SOCIAL and economic opportunity of a lifetime on Easter Island. A single person with knowledge of fruits and vegetables that grow in tropical or subtropical climates is needed for a possible project. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

SEARCHING for a kind donor who is interested in helping education in a developing country. Need college level books for school library, especially in English, sociology, psychology, political science, economics, art, music, drama, engineering (civil, electrical, mechanical), leathercraft and shoemaking, carpentry, pottery and ceramics, brick laying, UN organizations, and appropriate visual aids. If your heart is touched, write to D. Taylor, P.O. Box 81, Bushenyi, Uganda, East Africa.

H.F.P. please call home! Have you recently arrived at a homefront pioneer post? Remember, you can’t be counted as a homefront pioneer if we do not have notice of your arrival. Please send your name, new address, Bahá’í I.D. number, phone number, and name of previous Bahá’í community to the National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

ORANGE, Texas, a town of some 60,000, is conducting a search for a director of nursing at Orange Memorial Hospital, a 205-bed acute care community hospital. Administrative duties will include responsibility for the development of departmental goals and objectives; development and management of an operations budget; establishment of performance levels; development of nursing criteria for patient care; and development of a patient education program designed to meet community needs. Salary is commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits. Please submit resumé to Jim Berry, administrator, Orange Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 37, Orange, TX 77631. (Mr. Berry is not a Bahá’í.) For more information about homefront pioneering needs in East Texas, please write to Andre’nea M. King, 1109 10th St., Orange, TX 77630, or phone 409-886-4853 after 6 p.m. CST.

URGENT! One person is needed for a university teaching job in Thailand, a goal country. Must have M.A. in TESL and be qualified to supervise graduate students’ thesis writing and to oversee a teaching practicum. Contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

PIONEER to Alaska! A Bahá’í-owned chiropractic clinic is looking for an associate or future owner-partner. We are a growing and successful enterprise and need an associate as soon as possible. We specialize in upper cervical technique with Toftness and Cox lumbo-sacral techniques. Similar techniques would be a plus but not essential. Write to Anchorage Neuro-Spinal Clinic, 1111 E. 88th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99503, or phone 907-274-8605.

ANTHROPOLOGISTS and graduate students in anthropology who are Bahá’ís are invited to contact me to help develop a network for discussion of anthropological issues in light of the Faith’s teachings, meet at professional conferences, and encourage research relevant to the Faith and human needs. Write to Dr. Lin Poyer, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY 10708.

THE BAHÁ’Í community of Fayetteville, Arkansas, would like to rent/borrow a copy of the film “The Green Light Expedition.” We would like the two-part film with sound. Anyone with information about the film is asked to contact Cindy Franck, 215 N. Church St., Fayetteville, AR 72701.

ACTIVE, vibrant Assembly in Rigby, Idaho, is jeopardized with only five adults and needs homefront pioneers by Ridván. Rigby, 90 miles from Yellowstone, is presently coordinating a statewide effort to pass a resolution condemning the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran. There are super winter (Jackson Hole) and summer recreation and sports areas nearby. High valley farming and nuclear-related research are only some of the fields in which employment is available in this rural environment. A university is 75 miles south, and there is housing for sale or rent. Please write immediately to P.O. Box 467, Rigby, ID 83442, or phone 208-745-8479 or 208-526-0728.

WANTED: Correspondence from and to Rosemary Sala, a Canadian Bahá’í who died in 1980. Anyone who has letters or other correspondence and would be willing to part with either originals or photocopies is asked to write to Mrs. Sala’s niece, Ilona Weinstein, 1817 Fitzgerald Rd., Courtenay, British Columbia V9N 7J3, Canada. Phone 604-338-5518.

“’MY CALAMITY Is My Providence’ is the title of an anthology of Bahá’í poetry in response to the persecution of our Bahá’í brothers and sisters in Iran. The anthology is in two volumes, an English volume with 95 poems from 59 poets, and a Persian volume with 95 poems from 35 poets. Both have been approved by reviewing panels. For more information and an order form, please write to T. Foroughi, 1045 Riverberry Dr., Reno, NV 89503.

YOUNG Ugandan struggling to promote a leathercraft industry to help his country recover but lacks knowledge, materials, experience. Needs books. Write to D. Taylor, P.O. Box 81, Bushenyi, Uganda, East Africa.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed in Prairie View, Texas, home of Prairie View A&M University, which offers academic training in a large number of fields such as engineering, agriculture, arts and sciences, industrial education and technology, business, and home economics. Graduate courses are offered in all of these fields. Beginning in January, the university will be offering scholarships of from $300 to $1,000 based on financial need to non-blacks as a means of increasing its enrollment of non-black students. This is an excellent opportunity for Persian or white Bahá’í youth to further their education while serving the Cause of God. For more information write to the director of admissions, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77445.

TEACHING positions are available in Cyprus, a goal country, at an American academy. Subjects are accounting, economics, scripture, music, geography, English, physical education (girls) and Greek. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

WANTED: A Bahá’í family or individual to pioneer to the goal area of Palomar-San Diego, California (Valley Center, Pauma Valley and Palomar Mountain). This scenic area has a rural atmosphere, is agricultural with avocado groves, small farms, etc., has good schools, a lovely climate, and is a good place to raise a family. Only 20 minutes from Escondido and 45 minutes from San Diego. There are golf courses, the Palomar Observatory, Bates Nut Farm, hiking and riding trails. The area is surrounded by Indian Reservations which are rich in history. Although costs can run above the average, single-family dwellings can be found for sale or rent, if pursued, with varying amounts of land. There are also mobile home parks for retirees. This is an extension teaching goal of the San Diego North County community; presently, there is one Bahá’í. For more information, write to Mrs. Doris Wolfson, secretary, 32152 Camino de las Flores, Escondido, CA 92025, or phone 619-744-0328.

ACCOUNTANTS, managers and secretaries are wanted by several firms in Cyprus, a goal country. For more information, please contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is looking for volunteers to help catalog its reference library. Needed are volunteers to search for cataloging copy in the Library of Congress National Union Catalog and/or online bibliographic data bases. Also needed are librarians with an interest in doing original cataloging. Individuals with library experience, a background in library sciences, or a willingness to learn bibliographic searching, please contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

FALCON Heights, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul, needs two homefront pioneers to maintain its Assembly status. Falcon Heights is only a few miles from the University of Minnesota, one of the largest institutions of higher learning in the U.S. It has a young, active and vigorous Bahá’í community, is a good residential area with a fine school system and lovely surroundings. Come and share the many lakes, parks, the unblemished wilderness and clean metropolitan area. Please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Falcon Heights, P.O. Box 8222, Falcon Heights, MN 55108, or phone 612-646-7553 or the National Teaching Committee, 312-869-9039.

BAHÁ’Í youth applying to college: the Bahá’í college clubs at Harvard and MIT are both small, active clubs who need new undergraduate members. The sponsoring Spiritual Assembly of Cambridge, Massachusetts, can supply you with forms and advice for applying to these colleges. Write to the Spiritual Assembly of Cambridge, P.O. Box 376, Cambridge, MA 02238.

“’Spiritual Mothering Journal,’ a quarterly publication for See ADS Page 24 [Page 22]

BAHÁ’Í OFFICE of Public Affairs

Wilmette, Illinois 60091 312-869-9039

PLUG IN to the MIRACLE OF MEDIA MATERIALS

BILLBOARDS

‘BAHÁ’Í IT’S A REVELATION’ 30-sheet size—$30.00 ea.; 5 or more, $25.00 ea. 6-sheet size—$15.00 ea.; 5 or more, $12.50 ea.

‘WAGE PEACE’ 30-sheet size—$35.00 ea.; $5.00 for postage

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

MOST VIDEO MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE IN 1/2-inch VHS, BETA, & 3/4-inch (some in PAL & SECAM)

RENTALS ARE AVAILABLE ON SOME ITEMS

ALL RADIO & T.V. SERIES HAVE DEMO TAPES

WE CANNOT ACCEPT TELEPHONE ORDERS, CHARGE CARDS, OR ORDERS THAT ARE NOT PREPAID

Please add 10 per cent to all items to cover cost of postage

HOUSE OF WORSHIP

The Bahá’í Faith . . . It’s time for a change

Our House of Worship is Open to All Mankind So are Our Teachings:

• The Oneness of Mankind
• Elimination of All Prejudice
• Harmony of Science & Religion
• The Equality of Men and Women
• Establishment of World Peace
• Divine Source of All Religions

Bus Card (11 x 27 1/2 inches) $2.00 ea.; 10/$12.50 Poster (20 x 23 inches) $2.50 ea.; 10/$19.50 Poster (11 x 14 inches) $1.75 ea.; 10/$11.00 Postcards (3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches) $.25 ea.; 10/$5.00

WAGE PEACE MATERIALS

Poster (14 x 17 inches) $1.50 ea.; 10/$7.50 Poster (8 1/2 x 11 inches) $1.00 ea.; 10/$6.00 Ad slicks (3 sizes per pg.) $1.00 ea.; 10/$6.00 Bus cards (11 1/2 x 27 inches) $2.50 ea.; 10/$19.50

“The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.” Bahá’í Faith

KITS FOR PRESENTATION

$5.00/each

• Press Kit
• Public Officials Kit
• Persecution Background Packet
• Funeral Director’s Kit

Make a miracle happen in your community—order today!

AD SLICKS ARE SLICK

one world, one human family the Bahá’í Faith

Glossy black & white camera-ready ads

• Spanish 2 sheets/13 ads
• English 6 sheets/20 ads

EACH PACKET $2.00 (Please specify English or Spanish)

“Consort with the followers of all religions with friendliness.” From the Bahá’í Sacred Writings the Bahá’í Faith

RADIO

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (7) PSA’s

Various Bahá’í Themes (30 sec.)	$5.00
Equality of Men and Women PSA’s (30 & 60 sec.)	$5.00
Racism PSA (60 sec.)	$5.00
Dizzy Gillespie PSA (60 sec.)	$5.00
“There’s Still Time” PSA’s (30 & 60 sec., music of England Dan, John Ford Coley)	$5.00

SERIES

Seals & Crofts Special (2-hr. interview)	$35.00
Jeff Reynolds Show (13 half-hour programs interspersed with music—specify contemporary or country-western)	$50.00
“Fireside Playhouse” (13 half-hour dramas)	$25.00

VIDEO

• ABC’s “20/20” program on persecutions: 16 minutes—powerful third-party documentation . . . $75.00 donation (exact production cost)
• June 26, 1984, Senate hearings on torture: 40 minutes $30.00—1/2-inch VHS or Beta, $45.00—3/4-inch (specify)
• May 2, 1984, Congressional hearings: 50 minutes $30.00—1/2-inch VHS or Beta, $45.00—3/4-inch (specify)
• “Spiritual Revolution” series: 26 half-hour programs (call or write for details)

ORDER FORM

A complete description of more than 70 items distributed by the Office of Public Affairs is impossible to fit on a page, so . . .

SEND ME THE COMPLETE LIST OF AVAILABLE MEDIA MATERIALS

Name _____________________

Address __________________

City ______________________

State ________ Zip ________

New! [Page 23]

EYE ON NATIONAL

We continue this month an article begun in the November issue about “who does what” at the Bahá’í National Center. Last month we covered the national committee offices and the Office of the Treasurer. Now we’ll take a look at those offices which offer services directly to you in the community, or which serve the needs of the National Center.

Membership and Records is the office that handles your membership information. If you lose your I.D. card, change your address, marry, etc., you can send your correspondence to the Office of Membership and Records for processing. They also prepare the nationwide directories, update the computer information on Local Assembly officers, mailing addresses and the like, and identify locality boundaries. Eight employees work either with membership information or in the records room.

A related office is Subscriber Service which works in conjunction with Membership and Records to keep accurate and up-to-date records of subscriptions to Bahá’í News and World Order magazine. One person maintains this office!

The two-man Periodicals Office produces both The American Bahá’í and Bahá’í News, by themselves, like clockwork, every month. This involves working closely with the National Center staff and sometimes traveling to cover newsworthy events. They gather and edit the articles and other information, typeset them, take many of the photographs themselves and process all of them for printing, do page layout and paste-up, provide the printer with final filmed copies—then start all over again!

The Office of Public Affairs works to motivate, train and supply the Bahá’í Information network of more than 750 media representatives and committees. Its three employees also develop new public information materials (either in print, audio or video) and maintain a clipping file of publicity about the Faith which appears in print throughout the country. The office’s duties will continue to grow as it assists the newly formed External Affairs Office under Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh.

The Bahá’í Publishing Trust and Distribution Service, although housed in a separate building and having its own operating funds, is nevertheless engaged in serving the community by developing and distributing the sacred texts and other Bahá’í books. Address questions about your account or ordering current titles to the Distribution Service. Questions about proposed manuscripts should be directed to the Publishing Trust.

A three-man Mail Services Office receives and processes the large volume of mail received each day at the National Center and mails out all National Center mailings—from one to 60,000 at a time!

We have a Purchasing Agent who negotiates contracts for office equipment, furniture, printing and supplies.

The Studio produces audio-visual programs, the Nineteen Day Feast tapes, and photographic and video documentation of events at the behest of the National Spiritual Assembly or other offices and committees.

The Personnel Office processes all job applications received for positions at the National Center, the World Centre, and the Bahá’í schools and other outside agencies (i.e., External Affairs, Bahá’í International Community). The four-person staff will answer your questions about service in the U.S. or in Haifa and about volunteering. In addition, they help National Center employees to get settled, and provide them with many service programs.

The Data Processing Office maintains the data base for the American Bahá’í community, together with the computer and peripheral equipment at the National Center. The staff of six can produce everything from mailing labels to National Fund receipts to accounting print-outs based on the programs they have developed for the system.

Last, but not least, the Office of the Secretary provides support for the National Spiritual Assembly and to its secretary for the many duties involved in the day-to-day work of the community.

In addition to administrative and secretarial staff of five (which includes the all-important receptionist who answers your phone calls!), there is a legal adviser, a pilgrimage coordinator, and a staff who answer your questions on behalf of the National Assembly. Any questions about Bahá’í law, the principles of the Faith, or its administrative procedures can be addressed simply to the National Spiritual Assembly, and these trained employees will assist you.

This hasn’t by any means been a detailed look at what each office at the National Center does. Next month we’ll begin to look at the people who work here—where they came from and how they got here. You may be surprised!

Remember—any questions you have about how things work (or don’t work!) here can be addressed to the Personnel Office, and we’ll try to answer them in this column. Keep your “Eye on National.”

Ads

Continued From Page 22

Bahá’ís and others who are interested in the advancement of civilization through conscious parenting, would like your contributions (articles, poetry, graphics) for the following upcoming issues: (1) Turning Toward the Light: Helping Children Recognize Their Spiritual Nature; (2) Learning Through Nature; (3) War and Peace; (4) Step-Parenting. Subscriptions to the journal are $7 per year. Please write to “Spiritual Mothering Journal,” c/o Rene Knight-Weiler, Parkway, Gresham, OR 97030.

FABRIC craftspersons, designers, graphic artists: We are creating a communications network for those who have ideas and talents to make banners. These can then be used in your local community to proclaim the Faith in library displays, county fairs, and fair booths. We want to get the people who have the ideas for designs communicating with the people who have the time and talent to make the banners. I’ll be starting a newsletter and preparing a packet of materials that can be shared for anyone’s use. Please write to Joan Russ, Forest Grove, OR 97116.

PARENTS of pre-schoolers: I am writing a book titled Teach Your Pre-Schooler to Read and need pre-schoolers to field test it. Write to Shirley Crenshaw, Washington, IL 61571.

OVER the past few years you’ve been reading appeals for homefront pioneers to Lebanon, Oregon. You’ll be happy to learn that we have reached our goal of forming a Group (we enrolled a couple of people). Now we’re aiming for Assembly status. We’ve had many responses to our appeals in the past. Now, how about a body or two? Contact Lyn Hamilton, Scio, OR 97374, or phone 503-394-3914.

ARCHITECTS—structural engineers with at least five years experience needed to fill a goal in Cyprus. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

BI-LINGUAL program at Eastern Oregon State College in La Grande is advertising for a full-time teaching position in its bilingual education program. The term of employment begins in January. Applicants must have a master’s degree in Spanish or bilingual education. Duties include teaching introductory sequence in Spanish in addition to Chicano literature, children’s literature in Spanish, and methods of teaching a foreign language. Interested persons may contact Dr. Mike Davis, Dean, School of Professional Studies, Eastern Oregon State College, La Grande, OR 97850 (phone 1-800-452-8639). There is one Bahá’í faculty member on the EOSC campus and much positive groundwork has been laid in the campus community. The Spiritual Assembly of La Grande is seeking a deepened pioneer or family to help a unified, active, but numerically endangered Assembly.

THE GOLDEN Triangle of East Texas, comprising the cities of Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange, needs homefront pioneers. Beaumont has a functioning Assembly, but Port Arthur’s new Assembly is struggling to function while Orange has lost its Assembly and has but one active believer. Although the area has been hard hit by the recent recession, there are a number of openings for faculty at Lamar University in Beaumont, a four-year school with branches in Port Arthur and Orange. Salaries at all levels begin around $20,000 a year and up with normal state employee benefits included. For more information or to apply for a position, please send a resumé to Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710, Attention: Employment Office.

OPHTHALMOLOGIST, full-time, is needed in the homefront goal locality of Lakeport, California (with the possibility of a fully equipped office for lease 30 miles away in Lake County). Lakeport has an active Bahá’í Group of seven who are teaching and ready to form an Assembly when you move there! The city is 170 miles north of San Francisco with excellent weather and recreational facilities on nearby Clear Lake. For details, please contact the National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

BLESSED opportunity to fulfill important goals of consolidation at the Amoza Gibson Project. Teaching positions available in Manderson, South Dakota—8th grade teacher, elementary certificate required. Porcupine, South Dakota—elementary, special education certificate required. Wanblee, South Dakota—elementary special education, secondary special education, music and swimming teachers needed. Please phone the National Teaching Committee immediately at 312-869-9039.

NEED a homefront pioneer? Help us send one to your locality. Keep us informed about jobs, schools, rooms for rent, homes to share, etc. These are most helpful in matching pioneers to goal areas. Please write to the National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed to help win two goals in south-central Montana. The first is Hardin, a youth goal of the Yellowstone County Bahá’í community, located near two large Indian Reservations (Crow and Northern Cheyenne) with non-functioning Assemblies. Limited employment opportunities. The second is Laurel, 15 miles from Montana’s largest city, Billings. Above average employment opportunities in the area. For more information, contact Jeff Thurston, secretary, Spiritual Assembly of Yellowstone County, P.O. Box 50125, Billings, MT 59105.

REMINDER: The National Education Committee is sponsoring six Regional Child Education Conferences next May 25-26 (Memorial Day weekend) at the following sites: Central, Wilmette, Illinois; Northeastern, Wilhelm Institute, Teaneck, New Jersey; Southeastern, Louis Gregory Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina; Western, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California; Northwestern, Boise, Idaho; Southwestern, Dallas, Texas. The National Education Committee invites the friends to plan now to attend the conference in their area, and to watch The American Bahá’í for further information.

GREELEY, Colorado, needs your help to maintain its long-standing Assembly. Greeley is an attractive park-laden city with a state university and a community college. Employment opportunities exist primarily in computer technology. For information about employment or schools, please contact the Bahá’ís of Greeley, Greeley, CO 80631, or phone 303-356-2228.

SARASOTA, Florida, needs you! Do you need a change of climate? Teaching challenges? Do you want to serve the Faith by coming to the assistance of a community incorporated in 1973 which may soon lose its incorporated status? Sarasota is now a Group of four devoted, long-time servants of Bahá’u’lláh who invite you to consider relocating to this community. Think about it—wouldn’t you like to attend the Nineteen Day Feast without having to shovel snow from the driveway or scrape the ice from your windshield? Think about it, pray about it—and then contact Vera Moorhead, Sarasota, FL 33580, or phone 813-355-0021.

AGRONOMIST/IPM: You can become a homefront pioneer to South Carolina and take over a growing crop consulting business. We are a Bahá’í couple returning to school. Services offered: irrigation scheduling; soil fertility and nematode sampling; soybean, cotton and vegetable scouting. I can train you. Best person/offer by April 1, 1985. Contact Richard DeLoughery, Orangeburg, SC 29115 (phone 803-536-5194). Youth: Come study at South Carolina State College in Orangeburg; 95 per cent black enrollment but no Bahá’í Club. [Page 24]

THE BAHÁ’Í WRITINGS

Selections from Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: A gold mine of guidance

In the wake of the month of fireside teaching and with the celebration of the Day of the Covenant fresh in our minds, it serves us well to remember the exhortations and example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, brings us closer to the Master than we have ever been before.

Here many of His admonitions on a vast range of topics and His hopes and expectations for the believers are translated and/or published for the first time. New passages on marriage, child-rearing, education, healing, Spiritual Assemblies, and teaching are now available. Spiritual themes such as immortality, detachment, constancy, love, and tribulations in the path of God are expounded upon.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá reminds us to know and appreciate the value of these days. Calling us the “waves of the deep sea of knowledge,” He asks, “Why then are ye quenched, why silent, why leaden and dull? Ye must shine forth like the lightning, and raise up a clamouring like unto the great sea.”

Anyone who thinks about the qualities of lightning and of the ocean at its most powerful will realize that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá means business here. He is not urging us to wait sedately for a time when it will be comfortable to mention the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh to our friends and neighbors. We must be audacious.

He further states that “should a Bahá’í refrain from being fully, vigorously and wholeheartedly involved in the teaching work he will undoubtedly be deprived of the blessings of the Abhá Kingdom.”

None of us wants that kind of deprivation. Let’s not stop teaching now just because the month of firesides is over. Reading Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá will give us the incentive we need to live up to the loving—but high—expectations of the Master.

New release reinforces child’s Bahá’í identity

Drawings to color. Ideas to discover. A song to sing. Hidden pictures to find. Photographs from around the world. Dots to follow. A trip to the Temple. Pictures to draw or paste in. Sharing to uncover.

THESE are some of the activities for 3 to 7 year olds in I Am a Bahá’í, the latest in the series of Sunflower activity books by Deborah Christensen.

“I Am a Bahá’í includes four new Sunflower books in one,” says Dr. Betty J. Fisher, general editor of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust. “Each of the sections presents simple information about four aspects of Bahá’í life appropriate to the developmental stage of the 3 to 7 year old.

“The four sections are written in the first person from the child’s point of view, thus reinforcing his or her Bahá’í identity.”

“My Bahá’í Community,” the first section of I Am a Bahá’í, describes what a Bahá’í community is and does, and includes photographs of communities all over the world. It concludes with ways in which children can participate in the life of their community.

Another section, “My Feast Book,” contains parent-child activities that explain the Nineteen Day Feasts in terms of the names of the months.

The child learns that each name tells us something about God. A blank space for a drawing of what the Feast name suggests to the child will help relate an ‎abstact abstract‎ idea to something real in his or her world. Hidden butterflies and flowers to color also serve as analogies to the Bahá’í months.

THE THIRD section of the book, “Our Bahá’í Holy Days and Holidays,” introduces the child to the Holy Days and Intercalary Days by relating each to an historical fact or a building that is easily recognizable.

The final section, “Our Bahá’í House of Worship,” uses the Temple in Wilmette to explain what a Bahá’í House of Worship is.

In a pictorial tour, the child visits the auditorium, looks at the dome and doors, the pylons and religious symbolism, sees Foundation Hall, and learns a bit about the construction and dedication of the Temple. Photographs of other Bahá’í Houses of Worship are included.

A six-page “Message to Parents” describes how I Am a Bahá’í can be used with children and discusses some of the philosophy behind it.

“The Sunflower book series,” says Dr. Fisher, “is designed with the young child’s needs and abilities in mind. Its use in the home and in children’s classes can be varied according to the needs of each child or group of children involved.”

Designed by Pepper Oldziey and illustrated by Ms. Oldziey and John Solarz, I Am a Bahá’í is now available for $5.95. The previous four Sunflower books (published separately) are on sale for $2.50 for the set of four.

For ordering information, see the Bahá’í Distribution Service box at the bottom of this page, or turn to the Bahá’í Distribution Service page in this issue of The American Bahá’í.

Dr. Betty Fisher, Trust’s general editor, attends Association’s 9th Conference

Dr. Betty J. Fisher, general editor of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, represented the Trust October 1-4 at the ninth annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies in Ottawa, Canada.

“Our support of these conferences,” she says, “demonstrates our support for our sister institution, which not only promotes Bahá’í scholarship in light of the current Plan, but also has the blessings of its National Spiritual Assembly and the Universal House of Justice.

“The Association for Bahá’í Studies is becoming an increasingly international organization. Another reason for the Publishing Trust to be there is to see what directions Bahá’í scholarship is taking.”

Besides attending most of the sessions, Dr. Fisher was able to consult with several authors who were present at the conference.

“It was a very worthwhile experience,” she says.

Publishing Trust offers ‘gift of love’ for that special occasion

Deciding on the perfect gift for a Bahá’í friend, family member, or seeker can be a challenge.

FOR occasions such as Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days, February 26 to March 1), birthdays, marriages, births, anniversaries, and Naw-Rúz, gift certificates redeemable from the Bahá’í Distribution Service may be the answer.

The certificates are especially nice for the new Bahá’í who is just starting his or her book collection.

With a gift certificate of any value, the recipient can order any of the items carried by the Bahá’í Distribution Service—books, records, cassettes, posters, lithographs, calendars and other special materials.

Gift certificates are redeemable only through the Bahá’í Distribution Service. (Please do not ask your community or Bahá’í school librarian to honor them.)

Ordering a “gift of love” is simple. Send (1) the name and address of the recipient, (2) your name and address, and (3) a check or money order for the amount of the certificate in full dollars only—there is no handling or postage charge for gift certificate orders—to the Bahá’í Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 1-800-323-1880. You must provide VISA or MasterCard information on all phone orders.

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

Gift certificates cannot be charged to community or school accounts, and they are not eligible See GIFT Page 26

A Gift of Love

“The beginning of all things is the knowledge of God . . .” —Bahá’u’lláh

Ordering from Bahá’í Distribution Service

Individuals living anywhere in the world can order titles listed on this page from the Bahá’í Distribution Service at the prices quoted (see the coupon on Page 10). U.S. customers should add 10 per cent for postage and handling (minimum $1.50) for UPS or fourth class mail; foreign customers should add 15 per cent (minimum $1.50) for surface mail.

Bahá’í institutions outside the 48 contiguous states should order directly from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Varied menu spices attractive list of forthcoming releases

The Bahá’í Publishing Trust is pleased to announce its forthcoming titles for the winter and early spring season.

In early January, Special Strengths, a collection of four character-development stories by Gail Radley, will be released by Bellwood Press, an imprint of the Publishing Trust.

Designed for 7 to 11 year olds, Special Strengths deals with inner growth and transformation in the lives of four forest creatures. The stories make great bedtime reading and resource material for children’s classes.

Expected in February is Bahá’í Daybook: Passages for Deepening and Meditation, a book of daily devotions for each day of the Bahá’í year.

Along with excerpts from the Bahá’í writings, messages from the Universal House of Justice, and passages from the Bible and other holy books, the Bahá’í Daybook includes questions and answers about many aspects of Bahá’í life and definitions of difficult words from the writings.

Also in February, a new compilation on the reality and immortality of the human soul, Unto Him Shall We Return, by Hushidar Motlagh, will be released.

The most comprehensive compilation of the Bahá’í writings on this subject to date, Unto Him Shall We Return will serve as a valuable resource for individual deepening, study classes, and the preparation of funeral and memorial services.

Later in the spring, Volume 1 of The Bahá’í Faith in America by Robert H. Stockman will be released.

This well-researched history of the origin and growth of the Faith in North America from 1892-1900 uncovers the remarkable story of our Bahá’í roots. It will be followed by Volumes 2 and 3.

Look for more information about these forthcoming titles in the January and February issues of The American Bahá’í. [Page 25]

VIE Chart

Continued From Page 5

District Name	'Starting Block' Info			Current Month Info (Mashíyyat)
	Membership as of 12/9/83	Number of participants	Percentage of participation	Membership as of 10/12/84	Number of participants	Percentage of participation
Georgia S	1618	592	36.6	1693	303	17.9
Idaho N/Washington E	457	185	40.5	470	75	15.9
Idaho S	133	44	33.1	133	20	15.0
Illinois N No. 1	341	151	44.3	363	62	17.1
Illinois N No. 2	785	337	42.9	808	147	18.2
Illinois S	521	174	33.4	545	102	18.7
Indiana	708	252	35.6	733	126	17.2
Iowa	324	123	38.0	338	57	16.9
Kansas	486	192	39.5	509	87	17.1
Kentucky	290	89	30.7	302	39	12.9
Louisiana N	488	137	28.1	496	61	12.3
Louisiana S	1121	290	25.9	1148	165	14.4
Maine	194	94	48.5	205	50	24.4
Maryland W/D.C.	770	314	40.8	808	151	18.7
Massachusetts	885	411	46.4	930	222	23.9
Michigan Mainland	1307	495	37.9	1344	250	18.6
Minnesota N	174	76	43.7	185	34	18.4
Minnesota S	504	219	43.5	525	114	21.7
Mississippi	1109	323	29.1	1137	143	12.6
Missouri	622	233	37.5	647	122	18.9
Montana	235	101	43.0	250	31	12.4
Navajo/Hopi	2984	402	13.5	3037	185	6.1
Nebraska	167	57	34.1	179	29	16.2
Nevada N	177	65	36.7	180	23	12.8
Nevada S	319	107	33.5	338	45	13.3
New Hampshire	185	87	47.0	196	38	19.4
New Jersey	1046	397	38.0	1100	220	20.0
New Mexico S/Texas W	367	118	32.2	373	53	14.2
New Mexico N	556	172	30.9	569	78	13.7
New York E	1699	764	45.0	1754	404	23.0
New York W	395	153	38.7	409	75	18.3
North Carolina C	885	298	33.7	933	134	14.4
North Carolina E	1645	428	26.0	1714	212	12.4
North Carolina W	422	131	31.0	442	49	11.1
North Dakota	113	34	30.1	116	16	13.8
Ohio N	852	331	38.8	871	155	17.8
Ohio S	672	236	35.1	702	135	19.2
Oklahoma E	373	125	33.5	382	59	15.4
Oklahoma W	325	115	35.4	333	60	18.0
Oregon E	200	83	41.5	207	28	13.5
Oregon W	1188	483	40.7	1251	189	15.1
Pennsylvania E	871	372	42.7	903	194	21.5
Pennsylvania W	341	115	33.7	352	73	20.7
Rhode Island	147	65	44.2	155	37	23.9
South Carolina C	1774	393	22.2	1851	189	10.2
South Carolina E No. 1	1827	290	15.9	1845	147	8.0
South Carolina E No. 2	1533	252	16.4	1587	130	8.2
South Carolina N	2012	317	15.8	2127	209	9.8
South Carolina S No. 1	1729	290	16.8	1746	143	8.2
South Carolina S No. 2	1747	301	17.2	1813	147	8.1
South Carolina W	1221	256	21.0	1279	113	8.8
South Dakota	221	74	33.5	227	38	16.7
Tennessee E	318	113	35.5	328	62	18.9
Tennessee W	456	138	30.3	473	62	13.1
Texas C No. 1	529	207	39.1	557	95	17.1
Texas C No. 2	446	154	34.5	471	75	15.9
Texas E No. 1	579	171	29.5	609	87	14.3
Texas E No. 2	897	269	30.0	948	142	15.0
Texas N	1354	520	38.4	1431	251	17.5
Texas S	792	267	33.7	845	126	14.9
Utah	337	144	42.7	358	64	17.9
Vermont	236	115	48.7	250	60	24.0
Virginia N	790	362	45.8	846	196	23.2
Virginia S	846	305	36.1	871	144	16.5
Washington NW	1610	648	40.2	1709	313	18.3
Washington SW	771	312	40.5	808	113	14.0
West Virginia	279	103	36.9	290	52	17.9
Wis. N/Peninsular Mich	260	107	41.2	268	55	20.5
Wisconsin S	757	321	42.4	780	154	19.7
Wyoming	191	73	38.2	195	38	19.5

This group of four Bahá’ís was among the speakers June 10-14 at the fifth General Assembly and Exposition of the World Future Society in Washington, D.C. They are (left to right) Dr. Glen Eyford, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, who spoke on ‘The Bahá’í Approach to World Order: Metaphor and Model’; Robert Atkinson, a doctoral candidate from Philadelphia whose topic was ‘Identity in a World Community’; Amrollah Hemmat, the manager of a software engineering firm in Severn, Maryland, who discussed Bahá’í principles in his address; and William P. Gregg Jr. of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, who participated in a forum on ‘The Global Environment.’ A video tape, literature and displays were included in a Bahá’í booth, and a list of Bahá’í principles was published in a conference booklet which described the various booths.

Gifts

Continued From Page 25

for the 10 per cent community discount. They may be redeemed any time within two years of the date issued.

The recipient should plan on spending the gift certificate in full, as the Bahá’í Distribution Service is not able to return unused portions in credit or cash.

This year, why not give a gift of love?

Deficits

Continued From Page 5

House of Justice—but also that we obey the laws and teachings of the Faith.

The Bahá’í Fund was established by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and contributions to the various Funds of the Faith have been described as the privilege and the duty of every sincere believer by both Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice.

Firmness in the Covenant therefore implies that each individual is making an effort to support the Bahá’í Fund regularly.

The second condition identified for the Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh is love and fellowship among the believers.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá could have made it a condition that we show love for our fellow-men, but He didn’t. He asked us to love our fellow Bahá’ís to the extent that we are willing to lay down our lives for one another!

THIS is an internal, pure love affair—flowering and spreading joy and health within our family and creating a magnet of love that will attract others.

Similarly, the Bahá’í Fund is family business, uncorrupted by outside influences. Our unity in its support is but a token of our love and fellowship, and when our love is so strong that the Fund is healthy and vibrant, the Cause that binds us in love will also flourish.

The third condition set forth by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is teaching.

The relationship between teaching and the Fund is very important. As we impart the divine Message to others, we become confirmed ourselves and more eager to sacrifice for the Cause.

And, ultimately, the same corps of dedicated souls cannot continue unassisted to finance the work of the Cause. We need to attract a host of new believers who, sharing our love for the Cause, will add their drops to the mighty river that carries forward its work.

Firmness in the Covenant, love and fellowship among the believers, and teaching—this is what will transform us into “Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh.”

ACCORDING to the promises of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, once that transformation takes place, all the ideal forces and lordly confirmations will rush to our support and reinforcement.

We will behold all the doors open and all the strong fortifications and impregnable castles razed to the ground.

So arise, O ye Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh! Be firm and unswerving in your regular support of the Fund.

Let the light of your love for the Cause and the friends shine from a hand that is held open in generosity. Teach so that others may have the bounty of helping to build a new World Order.

Together, we, the Hosts of the Lord, can overcome every obstacle that impedes the progress of the Cause of God.

It is not the quantity, but the spirit— National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

Winter teaching project planned for Arizona’s Navajo/Hopi Reservation

A winter teaching project will be held December 15-January 31 on the Navajo/Hopi Indian Reservation in Arizona.

The direct teaching campaign will focus on the western area of the Navajo Reservation and possibly also on the Hopi Reservation, according to Gary Boivin, secretary of the sponsoring Navajo/Hopi District Teaching Committee.

The goals include saving a jeopardized Assembly and raising another locality to Assembly status. Participants will also be involved in consolidation activities.

Everyone is invited to take part, says Mr. Boivin, especially Bahá’í youth. Some hospitality is available, but participants should bring bed rolls and blankets, as it does get cold on the Reservations.

Those who are interested in the project are invited to contact Mr. Boivin at P.O. Box 2558, Tuba City, AZ 86045, or Jeff Kiely at P.O. Box 399, Houck, AZ 86506.

You may phone Mr. Boivin evenings at 602-283-4821, or Barbara Tong at 602-283-5765. [Page 26]

Ten Years Ago...

... in The American Bahá’í

The National Teaching Committee reports that more than 120 Local Spiritual Assemblies are in danger of being lost at Riḍván.

The principal cause of weakened Assemblies, says John Berry, secretary of the National Teaching Committee, is the mobility of the friends who move away and leave a fragile Assembly in jeopardy.

The problem, he adds, forms a pattern that has plagued the American Bahá’í community in recent years.

Mr. Berry reiterates the National Assembly’s goal that all communities attempt to reach and maintain a membership of at least 15 adult Bahá’ís ...

For the first time since its public dedication more than 20 years before, the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette is closed to the public for two days to allow cleaning and repair work to be carried out.

Crews work around the clock during the two-day period to clean the Temple’s interior ornamentation, dismantle and shine the brass fixtures, and repaint the gallery and alcoves.

The work, directed by the National Properties Committee, is part of an extensive, phased program of repairs that began shortly after the end of the Nine Year Plan and is expected to continue for several more years ...

The National Spiritual Assembly pledges the support of the American Bahá’í community for the UN-sponsored International Women’s Year 1975. The theme for the year-long observance is “Equality, Development and Peace.”

The National Teaching Committee suggests that the emphasis of the Bahá’í community’s response to the observance should be on individual and small group teaching efforts ...

A float sponsored by the Hawaiian Bahá’í community in that state’s annual Aloha Parade is seen on network TV by millions of American viewers.

The special CBS-TV report on Thanksgiving Day includes shots of the Bahá’í-sponsored float and a brief explanation of the aims of the Faith ...

Delegates to the 65th Bahá’í National Convention elect Dr. William Maxwell Jr. to fill a vacancy created by the departure of Dr. Dwight Allen who is pioneering in Africa.

Dr. Maxwell is associate dean of the School of Education at North Carolina State University in Raleigh ...

Letters

Continued From Page 3

... afford the nominal sum of $14.50 that we outside the U.S. must pay. An idea has occurred to me that may find its way into your heart.

Why not adopt a pioneer? Not financially (unless you want to), but you could ask the International Goals Committee for the name of someone who may not have family or friends in the States to correspond with, someone whose heart would overflow with joy at knowing there is someone in America who is saying prayers for them, perhaps writing once every month or two, and maybe even giving them a gift of The American Bahá’í once a month.

If you don’t want to subscribe for him or her, maybe you could send your copy when you are through reading it.

When one is pioneering, especially at the beginning, one can feel quite alone and somewhat forgotten by the community he or she has arisen to serve.

Can you imagine how it would feel to have a caring Bahá’í write on a somewhat regular basis with news of the community or simply to say, “I’m thinking of you”? Please consider it.

I feel fortunate to have friends and family who write to me, and I’d love for a fellow-pioneer to feel the same.

Meanwhile, please remember that we are saying prayers for the rapid advancement of our beloved Faith in our mother country.

Jan L. Huang

Taipei, Taiwan

To the Editor:

Recently I was asked by a Bahá’í what should happen to the thrust of media activities in light of the message from the Universal House of Justice on personal teaching.

FOR some reason, this Bahá’í, and perhaps many others, thinks that proclaiming the Faith through the media satisfies one’s obligation to teach. It does not!

I don’t believe that any of us who are involved with the media have asserted or implied that media activity replaces teaching; in fact, the opposite is true.

At the media conferences I’ve had the privilege of attending, one or all of us have stated that the use of media without personal teaching is like a farmer advertising a can of peas and then not putting them on the grocer’s shelf.

Likewise, in many areas Bahá’ís have been “advertising” and creating the basic urge for man to return to God, then not following up with a teaching response to that urge. The only way to satisfy that urge is through Bahá’í teaching, any way they feel moved to, but teaching.

In answer to the original question cited above, I feel that we should continue to proclaim the Faith through the media, but continue also to urge all of our fellow Bahá’ís to be more aggressive in talking about the Cause.

One of the many ways to do this is for each Bahá’í to commit himself to mentioning the Faith to at least one “new” person every day. This means that at least 365 people would hear some mention of the Cause each year, and soon we would find the “two per cent” to which the beloved Guardian alluded.

Dave Notley

Spokane, Washington

To the Editor:

Before reading the “letters” section (July) I always thought I was alone in thinking we have concerned ourselves with too many numbers lately.

I feel assured that our Faith will grow without worrying every month about quotas filled or Assemblies formed. Although this is all good news, it creates an earthbound, linear atmosphere around our teaching efforts.

It’s distracting, and if nothing else, very “old world.”

Also, I worry that this concern with numbers reflects “unconcern” about the quality of deepening of potential new believers.

Personally, I would feel bad about enrolling anyone who had little knowledge of what he or she was getting into.

I understand that some inspired seekers do not need much deepening ... they just feel the goodness of the Cause, but in my experience this is not always the case.

Perhaps if our faith in increasing our numbers is strengthened, it will help us to relax and let Bahá’u’lláh do His work. I think “certainty” is a key, and bothersome, worrisome “counting” only a hindrance.

As an isolated believer, I’ve felt the pangs of failure and the fever pitch of neighboring Assemblies worrying about my community.

It’s not the slightest bit reassuring to bring my beautiful new friendships and gentle experiences at teaching down to earth-bound numbers and a projected time line for the formation of an Assembly. As I said, it’s distracting ... even dehumanizing.

Judith Hutchinson

Davenport, California

To the Editor:

It seems that a great many Bahá’ís are responding to the torture and execution of our courageous fellow-believers in Iran by praying for them.

THIS IS as it should be, but possibly the response to the perpetrators of these outrageous acts has been more in keeping with “old world” tendencies than with the spirit of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings.

Bahá’u’lláh said, “This oppressed One is night and day engaged in thanking and praising the Lord of mankind, for it is witnessed that Our exhortations and advice have produced effect, and the conduct and manners of this community have attained to the rank of God’s acceptance; because an event has occurred which is the means of illumining the eyes of all in the world; it is this, that the friends have interceded for the enemies before the princes and rulers.” (Bahá’í World Faith, p. 177)

This intercession obviously pleased His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh; might it not also please Him if today’s Bahá’í community, instead of vilifying its tormentors, united to pray for the delivery of the perpetrators of these atrocities from the bonds of fanaticism and blindness?

Must we not strive as a community to let nothing harden our hearts, lest we, mirroring the world, return hate for hate and suffer forgiveness and mercy to go unmanifest in God’s Cause, so illumined by that very light.

After admonishing the ‎shiite Shi’ite‎ community for its vicious acts (Bahá’í World Faith, p. 178), Bahá’u’lláh writes, “Now, beg ye of God—exalted is His Glory!—and We beg of Him also to guide the ‎Shiite Shi’ite‎ community and to deliver them from unworthy attributes.”

Friends, let us obey His injunction and unite in prayer for our enemies. What greater proof of the victory of Bahá’u’lláh could there be than this evidence of transcendent love?

We might even witness a Paul rising from the ranks of the Pharisees.

Terry Britton

Fort Collins, Colorado

The Fund is the Life-Blood of the Faith National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

Svanhild H. Andersen, a former pioneer to Norway, died October 25 in Fort Worth Texas. Mrs. Andersen and her husband, Joseph, embraced the Faith in 1953 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and five years later went to their native country, Norway, as pioneers. Mr. Andersen died in 1965, and in 1974 Mrs. Andersen became a homefront pioneer by moving from Wauwatosa to Crowley, Texas.

N. Orleans Bahá’ís hold ‘walk for peace’

The Bahá’ís of New Orleans, Louisiana, observed World Peace Day in September with a public meeting and candlelight “walk for peace.”

At the public meeting, Robert Ancker, postmaster of Gary, Louisiana, spoke on “The Importance of World Peace.”

Articles and a photograph of the event appeared in local newspapers.

In Memoriam

Svanhild Andersen Fort Worth, TX October 25, 1984	Gussie Davis Lexington, SC 1984	Shannon Martin Minneapolis, MN July 14, 1984
Thais Baker Whittier, CA October 23, 1984	Grace Davidson Sioux City, IA October 12, 1984	Helen Patterson Niagara Falls, NY October 12, 1984
Esther Beardsley Kingsley, IA September 18, 1984	Lillie Drafts Lexington, SC Date Unknown	J.C. Rawl Lexington, SC Date Unknown
Evelyn Bradt Flint, MI August 3, 1984	Cephus Grayer Sr. Aynor, SC December 8, 1981	Archie Riley Sr. W. Columbia, SC 1983
Eddie Booker Columbia, SC October 7, 1984	Estelle Green Columbia, SC July 1984	Ambler Thompson Salem, OR October 11, 1984
William Brown Pomona, CA Date Unknown	Kathlene Hippman Decatur, GA June 18, 1983	Alfredo Torres Chico, CA August 1981
Kia Neng Cha Portland, OR October 1984	Margaret K. Holt Delmar, NY October 5, 1984	James Washington Jacksonville, IL Date Unknown
Hattie Corbin Columbia, SC Date Unknown	Stanislau Kurianski Romoland, CA February 14, 1984	Dorothy Westcott Keene, NH October 19, 1984
Harry Earle Silver Bay, MN June 1984	Anastasia Lucas Detroit, MI Date Unknown	Mae King White Memphis, TN July 1984
Georgienna English Little Camden, SC Date Unknown

[Page 27]

Comment

Continued From Page 2

House of Justice, they emphasized, had given them a clear mandate: “Youth can move the world,” and it was their sacred duty to take this message to their generation.

THEY HAD to let everyone know that they had the power to contribute significantly to shaping the society of the coming century.

The three youth meetings this summer were originally planned for the purpose of consulting on the characteristics of a possible youth movement, but so excellent were the qualities of the Bahá’í youth, so great were their spiritual susceptibilities, that the meetings served as sparks and rekindled the spirit that could be spread throughout the two countries.

Immediately after the first meeting at Louhelen, the participants dispersed throughout the country, and numerous meetings and conferences, large and small, were spontaneously held to consult about the destiny of the present generation of youth, the generation that was to move the world.

The participants at the next two meetings followed the same pattern, and soon hundreds of youth were touched by the power of a new vision and began to feel the effects of an upsurge of energy that could easily enable them to accomplish the greatest of tasks and win unprecedented victories.

What is even more significant, this rekindled movement of youth did not resemble at all the usual excitement that results after many gatherings and which unfortunately dies out too often before it bears its fruits.

AS THE summer progressed, it became more and more evident that we were witnessing a spirit of true dedication and a commitment on the part of an increasing number of youth to a new style of activity and to a renewed sense of mission.

The youth of North America were finally ready to fulfill the prayer of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “Verily, Thy lovers thirst, O my Lord, lead them to the wellspring of bounty and grace. Verily, they hunger, send down upon them Thy heavenly table. Verily, they are naked, robe them in the garments of learning and knowledge. Heroes are they, O my Lord, lead them to the field of battle. Guides are they, make them to speak out with arguments and proofs. Ministering servants are they, cause them to pass round the cup that brimmeth with the wine of certitude. O my God, make them to be songsters that carol in fair gardens, make them lions that couch in thickets, whales that plunge in the vast deep. Verily, Thou art He of abounding grace. There is none other God save Thee, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Ever-Bestowing.” ...

The youth have chosen only two words to describe their vision: discipline and discourse.

In choosing the word “discipline,” they wish to convey that love is not an amorphous empty play as it is depicted by those who manipulate a decadent society. Love is a discipline, a divine discipline, in constant battle with the forces of hatred and with the many manifestations of the individual and collective human ego.

But the true challenge is to become a soldier of love, to fight in the very intense battles of love, to be wounded for love, and to be tested in the field of service to the Cause of love.

TO BE a soldier of love implies discipline, the spiritual discipline that was shown by the Dawn-breakers and is being shown again by the believers in Iran. ...

The discipline of the Bahá’í Youth Movement is the discipline of a soldier of love who will fight first within his own being and then in society at large the manifestations of evil, who will respond to bitterness with sweetness, who will melt down prejudice with abundant love and compassion, the soldier who will accept to be wounded but will refuse to inflict a single wound.

BAHÁ’Í FAITH

The discipline of the Bahá’í Youth Movement is the discipline of a soldier of love who will fight first within his own being and then in society at large the manifestations of evil, who will respond to bitterness with sweetness, who will melt down prejudice with abundant love and compassion, the soldier who will accept to be wounded but will refuse to inflict a single wound.

The discipline of the movement is also the discipline of faith, of indomitable faith, faith in the glorious future of humanity, faith in the absolute validity of the principles enunciated by Bahá’u’lláh, faith in the efficacy of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, and in the infinite potential of its Administrative Order as a channel for the spirit of the Faith and as an instrument of change, but above all, the discipline of the Bahá’í Youth Movement is that of absolute submission to the Will of God. It is in this direction that the youth wish to excel themselves. . . .

The word “discourse” is used to describe the sum total of the constant and continuous conversation of the youth all across the North American continent.

But this is no idle talk. It is not a pointless and empty conversation. It is the conversation of those who have a clear purpose. IT IS focused on current and important issues. It is a constant consultation about the way change can be brought about.

It is the unfolding of a true understanding of the nature of the remedy the Divine Physician has prescribed for the ills of mankind, and it is action. It is the application of the remedy, the application of the innumerable gems that lie in the ocean of the revealed Word of God. . . .

The real fruits of the Bahá’í Youth Movement, however, are not to be seen only in the North American continent.

The services that this generation is to render in Latin America and the Caribbean, in Africa, India and other Asiatic countries, will surpass the expectations of the most optimistic among us.

The important question on almost everyone’s mind must be: “How can I be a participant in the Bahá’í Youth Movement?”

One obvious answer is that naturally, all Bahá’í youth are automatically members, but the youth who have participated in consultations during the last few months wish to present you with a challenge, and through you, present a challenge to all their peers across the continent.

You are a participant in this movement if you accept to strive with us to achieve the spiritual discipline of Mulla Husayn, Quddus and Táhirih, if you participate in our discourse and contribute to its enrichment, and, above all, if you wish to be a participant, to feel our energy, to add your energy to ours, to help us multiply our powers, and move forward with us.

IDEAS FOR AYYÁM-I-HÁ GIFT-GIVING

For infants: My Baby Book, HC; other books to begin the child’s library.

For children: I Am a Bahá’í (four new Sunflower books in one), SC; Sunflower books 1-4 (special sale price for set), SC; Special Strengths, SC (available in January); B.J. and the Language of the Woodland, SC; Fly Away Home, SC; The Spotless Leopard, SC; The Secret in the Garden, HC, SC; O God, My God . . . , HC; Happy Ayyám-i-Há, LP; Loving Hands, CS.

For youth: From Behind the Veil, SC; O God, My God . . . , HC; Youth in the Vanguard, HC; The Advent of Divine Justice, HC, SC.

For adults: The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, HC; Color lithographs of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (5x7, 11x14); Bahá’í Datebook 142 B.E.; The Dawning Place, HC, SC; Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold, HC, SC; Memories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, HC; To Move the World, SC; Greatest Name emblem, silver; Bahá’í Daybook: Passages for Deepening and Meditation, SC (available in January).

To order any of these items, please contact the Bahá’í Distribution Service. Ordering information is on Page 10.

Moving? Tell us your new address

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your copies of The American Bahá’í send your new address and your mailing label which includes your ID number to the Office of Membership and Records, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, as soon as you know that you are going to move and what your new address will be. We will do our best to see that changes are processed quickly so that the transfer of mail to your new home is accomplished with all possible speed.

Name Mr. / Dr. / Mrs. / Ms. / Miss ____________ Full name—DO NOT use nicknames Residence Address ________________ House or Space Number, Street, or Description City ____________ State ____________ Zip Code ____________ Mail Address ____________ Street, Rural Route, or Post Office Box Number City ____________ State ____________ Zip Code ____________ Home Telephone (_____) ____________ Area Code Number Work Telephone (_____) ____________ Area Code Number New Bahá’í Community ________________ Name of Local Assembly, group, or isolated locality where this person resides. Moving Date ________________ [ ] We have been receiving more than one copy of The American Bahá’í. Because we don't need extra copies, please remove my name from the mailing list for this publication. Please check box.

NOTE: Use this form for individual changes only.

BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER
Wilmette, Illinois 60091

Winter issue of World Order devoted to Bahá’í testimony on persecutions

The winter 1983-84 issue of World Order magazine is devoted entirely to the testimony of ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ last May before the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations of the House Foreign Affairs Committee concerning the persecution of their fellow-believers in Iran; to the concurrent resolution that was later passed by the Senate and House of Representatives.

The issue features many photographs of ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ who were martyred in Iran as well as statements by Congressmen Gus Yatron and John Porter; Assistant Secretary of State Elliott Abrams; Judge James F. Nelson; Dr. Wilma Brady; Said Eshraghi, a Bahá’í whose father, mother and teenage sister were martyred in Iran; four other Congressmen, and 11 Senators.

Subscriptions to World Order are $10 for one year, $18 for two years. Extra copies may be purchased for $3 apiece. The Spring 1982 issue featuring the Congressional hearings of May 1982, of which the recent hearings were an update, is also available for $3.

Orders should be sent to World Order Subscriber Service, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

‘The Life-Blood of the Faith . . .’

National Bahá’í Fund
Wilmette, IL 60091