The American Bahá’í/Volume 15/Issue 3/Text

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The American Bahá’í March, 1984

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[Page 1]Some 20 Bahá’ís from across the country were invited by the National Spiritual Assembly to participate January 26-29 in a financial planning seminar at the Louis Gregory Institute in South Carolina.

Pressures in Iran mount as 3 Bahá’ís are martyred, 250 more are arrested

PRESSURES AGAINST BELEAGUERED BRETHREN CRADLE FAITH UNCEASING. THREE MORE STALWART SUPPORTERS GREATEST NAME JOINED RANKS MARTYRS, AS FOLLOWS:

• MR. ABDU’L-MAJID MUTAHHAR IMPRISONED ISFAHAN 4 SEPTEMBER 1983 DIED SHORTLY AFTER CONFINEMENT.
• MR. RAHMATULLAH HAKIMAN MYSTERIOUSLY PASSED AWAY IN PRISON IN KIRMAN EARLY JANUARY 1984 FEW DAYS AFTER BEING IMPRISONED.

ON 19 NOVEMBER IN VILLAGE OF MUHAMMADIYYIH NEAR ISFAHAN, MR. BAHMAN DIHQANI, WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED BAHÁ’Í, DIED AS RESULT OF MOB ATTACK. SINCE BURIAL NOT ALLOWED HIS VILLAGE, BAHÁ’ÍS CARRIED BODY TO NAJAFABAD AND BURIED HIM THERE.

FULL DETAILS CIRCUMSTANCES ALL THREE DEATHS UNKNOWN.

SINCE LAST REPORT 7 NOVEMBER OVER 50 BAHÁ’ÍS INCLUDING INFANTS AND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN ALL PARTS COUNTRY. NEARLY 70 OF THESE WERE DETAINED BETWEEN 31 DECEMBER 1983 AND 3 JANUARY 1984.

OTHER DESPICABLE ACTS AGAINST BAHÁ’ÍS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS PERMITTED ENTER BAHÁ’Í HOMES WITHOUT WARRANTS, CONFISCATE VALUABLE PERSONAL POSSESSIONS. COMPLAINTS TO AUTHORITIES UNAVAILING.

SOME IMPRISONED BAHÁ’ÍS WHO WERE EXPELLED FROM THEIR JOBS HAVE BEEN PROMISED RELEASE IF THEY REPAY ALL SALARIES PAID TO THEM FROM BEGINNING OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT, SOMETIMES UP TO 30 YEARS.

Teaching Committee secretary shares concerns as enrollments sag, jeopardized Assemblies rise

With Riḍván and the end of the second phase of the Seven Year Plan drawing ever closer, the National Spiritual Assembly has shared with the American Bahá’í community its growing concern over the recent decline in enrollments and the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies that are in jeopardy.

ENROLLMENTS during January totaled only 139, the lowest figure since May 1978 when 133 were enrolled.

If enrollments should continue at the same pace through Riḍván, said a member of the National Teaching Committee staff, we would end the year with the lowest yearly enrollment total in more than a decade.

Although January's enrollment figure was down only slightly from the total of 143 in January 1983, it represents a sharp decline from the 793 who were enrolled in January 1982 and the 517 in January 1981.

Meanwhile, the number of jeopardized Assemblies has risen to its highest level ever, with 177 Assemblies reported in jeopardy during the first week of February. This compares with 135 jeopardized Assemblies at this time last year and 115 two years ago.

The decline in enrollments and the increase in the number of jeopardized Assemblies come at a time when the Faith has received unprecedented publicity from U.S. news media and has gained much wider acceptance among people all over the country as one of the world's major religions.

To help gain a better understanding of the reasons for the decline in enrollments and the increase in the number of jeopardized Assemblies, the following questions were put to Robert G. Wilson, secretary of the National Teaching Committee.

Bulletin!

A Hmong Bahá’í, Phia B. Cha, was elected last December 11 as a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Portland, Oregon.

It is believed to be the first time that one of the Hmong people from Laos has been elected to serve on an Assembly in the U.S.

Fifty-six Bahá’ís voted in the by-election in which Mr. Cha replaced Leonard Bell, who resigned because of illness.

National Assembly receives guidelines for implementing social, economic plans

The National Spiritual Assembly has received from the Universal House of Justice's Office of Social and Economic Development guidelines for the implementation of social and economic development projects.

The guidelines state that in spite of limited resources it should be possible for Bahá’í communities to undertake development projects.

Their success, say the guidelines, "will depend upon the degree to which we bring the spiritual teachings of our Faith to reflect upon all aspects of the selected project, its objectives, design, implementation, personnel, and evaluation."

The guidelines propose that conferences and seminars be held to acquaint the Bahá’í community with issues of social and economic development, and to demonstrate our interest in "the improvement of the immediate environment, in the way of life of the people..."

The guidelines offer advice to Bahá’í communities on the selection of projects they might wish to undertake, on methods of implementation, and on evaluation and financing.

They also provide examples of the kinds of projects Bahá’í communities might wish to undertake in the areas of education, promotion of health and hygiene, agriculture, community development, and appropriate technology in the service of the community.

The National Spiritual Assembly will gradually share these guidelines with Local Assemblies which may be interested in initiating such projects and programs.

Feast letter

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE JANUARY 17, 1984

International Fund faces new crisis

Dear Friends:

We send you for your serious consideration and consultation a recent letter of the Universal House of Justice dealing with the gradual decline in contributions to the Bahá’í International Fund.

THE ISOLATION of the Iranian Bahá’í community which is no longer able to play a major part in supplying funds, and the simultaneous expansion of Bahá’í activities throughout the world have created extraordinary financial pressures on that Fund.

The American Bahá’í community, champion-builders of the world order of Bahá’u’lláh, is once again called upon to redouble its efforts and to surpass its earlier achievements.

It is the American community, blessed above all others with material affluence, that must supply the funds needed for the uninterrupted prosecution of the world-wide activities of the Cause.

The friends should be aware that although immediate sacrificial action is required in behalf of the International Fund, the flow of contributions to our own hard-pressed National Fund should not be disrupted.

We feel confident that the triumph achieved by the campaign to build radio station WLGI was a true demonstration of the deep-seated commitment to service that has characterized the American Bahá’í community since its inception, and that it is a token of further victories to be achieved in the path of our glorious Faith.

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

To the followers of Bahá’u’lláh in every land

Dearly-loved Friends,

The gathering of the representatives of the Bahá’í world at the International Convention last Riḍván was held in an atmosphere charged with awareness of the sacrifices being made by our fellow believers in Iran and with eager anticipation of the new prospects opening before the Cause as a result of changing conditions in the world, the widespread publicity that the Faith has received in all continents, and the growing maturity of its administrative institutions.

DURING THE SUCCEEDING eight months we have been developing the agencies and formulating the plans to enable the Faith to seize the unprecedented opportunities now before it, but we are confronted with a shortage of funds which, if not remedied, could frustrate these plans.

For the last two years there has been a decline in the amount of contributions to the international funds of the Faith, and we note that many national funds also are facing the danger of deficits. [Page 2]

Feast letter

Beyond carrying on the general work of the Cause there are four areas where immediate action is required.

The first is the completion of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkárs in India and Samoa. Any delay in this work can but make it more expensive and also seriously injure the reputation of the Faith in these two vital areas.

The second is the development of the World Centre, the focal point ofne entire Administrative Order of the Faith where, in the words of Shoghi Effendi, "the dust of its Founders reposes, where the processes disclosing its purposes, energizing its life and shaping its destiny all originate."

THE THIRD IS in the prosecution of programs of social and economic development. Bahá’í communities in many lands have attained a size and complexity that both require and make possible the implementation of a range of activities for their social and economic development which will not only be of immense value for the consolidation of these communities and the development of their Bahá’í life, but will also benefit the wider communities within which they are embedded and will demonstrate the beneficial effects of the Bahá’í Message to the critical gaze of the world.

Funds for initiating and carrying out these projects will be dispensed very gradually and with great care in order not to undermine the natural growth and sense of responsibility of these communities, but the field is so vast, the opportunities so far-reaching, that the need will stretch the resources of the Cause to the uttermost.

The fourth area is in the development and coordination of world-wide efforts to present to a far more extensive audience than ever before the divine remedy for the problems besetting society and its individual members, to establish the universality of the Faith and the implications of its teachings in the eyes of statesmen, and to ensure that the leaders of thought become thoroughly aware of the Bahá’í Revelation and the profundity of its message.

The work on the Temples is already well advanced and must not be stopped; the development of the agencies of the World Centre, located in one of the principal trouble-spots of the world, cannot be indefinitely held back; the time for the expansion of social and economic development as an aspect of the work of the Cause has arrived and cannot be neglected without grave consequences to the life of Bahá’í communities; the unprecedented opportunity for proclamation of the Faith has been given to us as a direct result of the persecutions inflicted on the believers in the Cradle of the Faith.

If we are to be worthy of the sacrifices of these valiant friends, and if we are not to betray the trust that Bahá’u’lláh has placed upon us for the redemption of mankind in this hour of its acute need, we must not fail to seize the opportunities now before us.

THIS FOURFOLD CHALLENGE faces us at the very time when the world is in the midst of an economic crisis and is overshadowed with threats of war and other disasters. These conditions, far from daunting the followers of Bahá’u’lláh, can only drive home to us the urgency for our response.

We therefore call upon every true-hearted Bahá’í to consecrate his life anew to the service of God and the betterment of the lot of mankind, so that manpower will not be lacking in the fields of pioneering, teaching and administrative service.

Most urgently, may every believer give sacrificially of his substance, each in accordance with his means, to the funds of the Cause, local, national, continental and international, so that the material resources—the lifeblood of all activities—will be adequate to the tremendous work that we have to perform in the months and years immediately ahead. It requires a concentration of effort, a unity of purpose and a degree of self-sacrifice to match the heroic exertions of the victors of past plans in the progress of the Cause.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Universal House of Justice January 2, 1984

National Assembly names Dr. Donald Streets to head community administration department

The National Spiritual Assembly has appointed Dr. Donald T. Streets of Escondido, California, to head the department of community administration at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette. He replaces the acting head of the department, Dr. John Bustard, who is retiring.

Dr. Streets has served for more than nine years as a member of the National Education Committee and is a former member of the National Youth Committee.

Before assuming his new responsibilities at the National Center on January 10, he was an associate professor of education at U.S. International University in San Diego.

Dr. Streets is a former associate dean of graduate studies and former associate chairman of the department of education at National University, also in San Diego.

The National Spiritual Assembly has given the department of community administration two primary areas of responsibility: (1) dealing with violations of Bahá’í law and standards of conduct that are referred to the National Assembly by local communities, and (2) educating, guiding and helping to strengthen Local Spiritual Assemblies.

Dr. Streets' department also oversees the coordination of arrangements for pilgrimages to the Bahá’í World Centre.

Dr. Streets, a native of South Bend, Indiana, has been a Bahá’í since 1951. He and his wife, Ruhiya, have two sons, Ramin and Nabil.

Missouri City, Texas, raises $9,000 for WLGI

Taking to heart the challenge by the Bahá’ís of North Georgia to vie with that district in reaching a contributions goal of $9,000 for radio station WLGI, the Bahá’í community of Missouri City, Texas, one of 22 Assemblies in East Texas District No. 2, raised $9,000 on its own with an auction for the station.

In all, a total of $16,493.89 was raised in that district by the end of December.

Stages of an Assembly's growth parallel those of the community

This month's article, "The Evolution of a Local Spiritual Assembly," is the second in a two-part series by M. Kathryn Jewett, an attorney who lives in Richmond, Virginia.

Stage One: 9 to 25-30

During the early stages of a Bahá’í community, when the number of its active adherents ranges from nine to 25 or 30, a Local Spiritual Assembly's primary focus is on its very survival. It learns how to become organized and begins to explore the tasks that lie before it. Although some of these tasks are delegated to individuals or committees, by and large the work of the community is carried out by the Assembly members themselves.

Assembly officers during the early period of its development should, of necessity, be chosen for their ability to perform certain tasks themselves. For example, the secretary should be able to draft and type letters, and the treasurer should know how to keep simple financial records. The chairman's role is not as important as it is during later stages of a community's development; he or she need only know how to conduct small meetings.

It is at this time that an Assembly often begins to acquire the basic equipment needed to carry out its work, such as filing cabinets, a typewriter, and letterhead stationery. It begins also to build a community lending library and appoints a community librarian who is responsible for book sales and library maintenance.

THE majority of meetings, including the Nineteen Day Feasts and those of the Assembly, are held in homes. The community functions as a single unit with one Feast and with activities geared to attract the participation of all of its members. Often, a high percentage of the community's income is forwarded to the National, Continental and International Funds since most of its material needs are taken care of by community members and it does not have the expense of a building or staff.

To make maximum use of limited resources, many activities are carried out in cooperation with nearby communities. The number of children and youth is too small to develop an exciting program for those age groups without pooling with other communities.

When the community has 15 active members it should incorporate, thus giving the community its first true indicator of permanence.

By the time a community reaches 25 to 30 members it begins to find that it can no longer fit comfortably into any but the largest homes. Its workload has become too heavy for the members of the Spiritual Assembly to carry without help. It has begun to enter the next stage of development.

From this transition point until the community reaches Stage Four, the Assembly will be concerned with the problem of having suitable space for meetings. Consequently, it should begin setting aside funds for the day, rapidly approaching, when the community no longer will be able to hold Nineteen Day Feasts in the homes of its members.

Stage Two: 25-30 to 100-150

By the time a community expands from 25 or 30 Bahá’ís to 100 or 150, the Spiritual Assembly usually has learned how to perform many of its fundamental tasks. It has found that it must delegate more of its work, and has a growing number of committees, few of which function consistently because the Assembly remains a novice at delegating and supervising tasks.

WHILE the Assembly members themselves continue to carry out many duties, such as working with the children or contacting the media, they begin to find that they have little time for any responsibility other than the Assembly's own meetings. They do, however, serve in many cases as the Assembly's liaisons to its committees.

The Assembly officers continue to carry out their jobs themselves, although the secretary's duties have usually been divided between a corresponding and recording secretary, and perhaps even a membership secretary. The chairman has become more important, not only for the smooth conduct of the Assembly's lengthening agenda but for conducting the consultation at the Nineteen Day Feast.

The Assembly's records have grown to the point at which storage in homes is a problem. It is ready to rent office space where it can store its records and equipment, maintain its lending library and archives, and hold Assembly and committee meetings. Once it has an office where it can keep its typewriter, filing cabinets and office supplies, it can begin acquiring furniture such as bookshelves, a desk, and a conference table. [Page 3]

Article on Covenant merits deep contemplation

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

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

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

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

To the Editor:

The article headed "Covenant our spiritual pledge to Bahá’u’lláh," by Auxiliary Board member Jalil Mahmoudi (December) merits the deepest contemplation of the believers.

Let there be no doubt that at this stage in our endeavors to promote the Cause of God we should all be united in the performance of our sacred duties.

Dr. Mahmoudi was forthright in his presentation, leaving no room for doubt as to our obligation in this solemn Covenant to which we are all committed, and pinpointing the explicit teachings, guidelines and methods we must embrace as we begin the journey toward spiritual growth.

In brief, this is how I see his exposition: diligent compliance with (1) daily obligatory prayers, (2) the Fast, and (3) teaching.

In perusing the list, I have felt constrained to add a fourth item if we are to make a determined effort to get off the ground in terms of our spiritual growth; that item is "monthly donations to the Bahá’í Funds."

The Guardian, when pointing out the spiritual obligation of giving, referred to the Funds as "the lifeblood of the Cause," "the true test of our faith," and so forth.

Perusal of such works as the Synopsis and Codification of the Laws and Ordinances of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Gleanings, and Principles of Bahá’í Administration should leave no room for hesitation in complying with these sacred obligations.

Ruperto Pringle Whittier, California

To the Editor:

I must respond to the letter (September 1983) from Ron Frazer of Arizona.

In general, I agree with him and share his feelings concerning the martyrs in Iran. But he hit a sore spot with me that is the inspiration for this letter.

I AM referring to the statement, "I believe that the martyrs are dying because of the collective disobedience of the Bahá’ís."

I understand that belief. It is prevalent among many Bahá’ís, and goes even deeper than that. It makes us suspicious, judgmental and depressed.

I am so tired of this attitude. Do we believe in a God Who inflicts punishment on the innocent because of what the guilty do? Is this really the answer to this terrible thing that's happening? Do we feel this way about each other?

I believe in an unknowable God Who doesn't intervene in our lives like that. I believe Bahá’ís do the best they can with what they know, and I do not know what is in each man's heart.

So where does this put my anger and frustration? I am angry with Khomeini and his followers. I am angry with life's injustice and the pain we give each other. I am angry because my local paper doesn't print our press releases about the martyrs.

But I don't blame my fellow Bahá’ís, the people I depend on to lift me up when I'm down, for what is happening over there.

The Bahá’ís in Iran are dying at the hands of mad men, and this gives us a responsibility to rise up, but we are innocent and blameless, and I won't have anyone pointing the finger at my friends.

I do believe in the positive effect our prayers and works of faith can have, and we must continue to do this, as Mr. Frazer expressed so well in his letter.

We need to lift each other up right now, and I feel it is wrong to tear each other down in the process of building the Cause.

Norma Severns Torrance, California

To the Editor:

I would like to respond to a part of the letter from Nancy Niss Guzman (January).

She is obviously brimming with Bahá’í love, but feels "frustrated when efforts to teach seem to be met with no visible results."

Perhaps my story will offer some encouragement.

TEN YEARS ago some Bahá’ís in Cambridge, Massachusetts, set up a library bulletin board that listed the principles of the Faith.

I saw that board. The message stayed with me. I have no idea who created that display. More importantly, the Bahá’ís who planted that "seed" have no idea that it germinated a decade later. I declared my belief in Bahá’u’lláh last July 9.

So don't worry if you do not see the results of your efforts. Be more concerned with sowing as many seeds as possible. Others will witness the accomplishment if you do not.

Since I have become a Bahá’í, I have been amazed to witness that some of the "seeds" I've planted have cast off more seeds.

Shortly after I declared, I told a lawyer associate of mine about the Faith. As I walked past his office one day, I heard him describing the Bahá’í Faith over the phone to a lawyer who was opposing us in a lawsuit!

Since then I have seen other instances of non-Bahá’ís with whom I have talked spreading the message themselves—"secondary seeds." I wonder how many more secondary seeds I have sown through others which I haven't accidentally discovered. Surely there are many more.

Plant as many seeds as possible. And have confidence that accomplishments will result.

Ted Amsden Mount Clemens, Michigan

To the Editor:

The emergence of Child's Way magazine into Brilliant Star and its subsequent growth is an exciting new dimension in Bahá’í publications for children.

Not only is the magazine useful for home education and enjoyment, it is a good resource for Bahá’í children's classes and can serve as an excellent teaching tool, even for adults.

The new format, with its high quality illustrations and interesting articles and stories, is appealing to people of all ages and backgrounds.

When the magazine was shown recently to a teacher and a mother (both non-Bahá’ís), their immediate response was, "How can I subscribe?"

Perhaps some of the friends are not aware that the magazine's self-sufficiency can be achieved only through an increase in subscriptions. There is also an endowment fund set up to help alleviate its drain on the National Fund.

One of the ways in which our Assembly is encouraging more subscriptions is by offering half-price gift subscriptions to families with children in our area as a special Ayyám-i-Há gift.

We also plan to buy a subscription for a Bahá’í doctor's office. There are countless other ways in which communities can help support Brilliant Star.

One very important way is for talented people (writers, artists, photographers) to submit materials for consideration. In this way, the magazine can reflect the growing diversity of the American Bahá’í community.

Anne Atkinson Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

To the Editor:

This is in response to the exciting message from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the world announcing the formation of the Office of Social and Economic Development.

In that letter of October 20, 1983, the Supreme Body wrote:

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

To get things started, I suggest that community development discussion groups be formed in every community.

Their aim would be to consult on the meaning of this message and the possible ways in which it can be implemented by individual, community or even regional action.

Discussion groups could be started by any Bahá’í in his home, and perhaps opened to non-Bahá’ís. This would open up many new teaching opportunities.

At present, we don't have solutions to the world's problems, but we do have the spiritual principles with which to solve them.

Let's make a start with prayers and discussions; the ideas and actions will follow. If we think constantly of expansion, we'll all become happy Bahá’ís.

Charles Beachner Santa Rosa, California

To the Editor:

I am writing to correct a reference on the Native American page (November 1983) to the word "Bahanna" in Hopi prophecy.

According to "The Hopi Story," which was made available last October during a presentation at the United Nations in New York, "Bahanna" is not "the Purifier who would come from the East wearing a red coat," as indicated in the article, but is a general term, rather derogatory, designating the people of European descent who now occupy this country and are imposing a government and laws that are foreign to the Native American way of life.

The booklet "From the Beginning of Life to the Day of Purification, the Hopi Story," as told by Dan Katchongva, is free, and may be ordered from Hopi Land and Life, Santa Fe, NM 87501. A voluntary contribution to cover the cost of mailing would be appreciated.

Eliane A. Hopson New York City

To the Editor:

I would like to thank Catherine Elliott (July 1983) and Linnea Brush (October) for expressing their thoughts on womanhood and motherhood as they relate to the Bahá’í Faith.

I have often encountered negative attitudes from fellow Bahá’ís toward my husband's and my choice not to have children yet, and have been made to feel that I am somehow less a Bahá’í because I do not long for motherhood.

I am also concerned about the prevalent attitude toward married Bahá’ís whose spouses are not Bahá’ís. I sometimes get the feeling that my main goal in life should be to convert my husband.

A person's spiritual growth is of high and noble importance, but growth on this planet does not always include becoming a Bahá’í.

Prejudice is such a danger, and we Bahá’ís seem to be quite good at recognizing it in its more ob-

From George Ronald: A Major Publishing Event

Bahá’í Scripture by subject Quotations at your fingertips

AN INDEX OF QUOTATIONS FROM THE BAHÁ’Í SACRED WRITINGS Compiled by James Heggie

This volume gives you — indexed and cross-referenced — quotations from all those major publications of Bahá’í Sacred Text indispensable to a proper understanding of Bahá’í teaching. More than a standard concordance, it can be used as a self-contained book for study.

50,000 entries under 4,000 headings 1,000,000 words, 824 pp, 8½ x 11 in

Sewn, reinforced, cloth-bound Hardcover $37.50* (368-062) Sewn, Softcover $24.50* (368-063)

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

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

• This title not exported by the Publishing Trust

[Page 4]

Champion builders: LOULIE ALBEE MATHEWS

"... thou shalt become ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s lion and roar across the Seven Seas" was the Master’s promise to Loulie Albee Mathews during her early days as a Bahá’í.

IN fulfillment of that promise, Mrs. Mathews’ life of service to the Cause included pioneering in Paris in the early years of the Faith’s establishment there; her creation of an international lending library in Italy; teaching trips to Hawaii, New Guinea, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil, and the establishment of a training center for pioneers at her ranch in Colorado.

Loulie Mathews was in her mid-40s when, in 1913, she first learned of the Faith in New York City and received a copy of the Kitáb-i-iqán from Asa Cocheran, her first teacher.

It was in Mrs. Cocheran’s home that Mrs. Mathews first saw a photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and was captivated by it even before she had any idea who the Person in the photograph was.

After returning to the U.S. from a short, and as she described it, "disastrous" visit to Paris to see World War I first-hand, Mrs. Mathews again saw a photograph of the Master—this time as she regained consciousness following an automobile accident in New Hampshire.

After the accident she was taken to a nearby home, and it was there that the photograph was hanging on a wall. When she had regained her strength Mrs. Mathews became a Bahá’í.

WHILE pioneering in Paris in 1916 Mrs. Mathews began a letter to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:

"Dear ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, I think I’d better go home—I don’t know enough about the Faith to conduct a center and besides, I am not good enough."

She hadn’t yet mailed the letter when a Persian arrived that same day from Haifa and handed her a...

Seminar probes new, improved funding methods

Twenty Bahá’ís from across the country participated January 26–29 in a financial planning seminar at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute near Hemingway, South Carolina.

THE seminar, called for and sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly, had four main purposes:

• To develop more fully existing methods of funding Bahá’í properties.
• To explore new methods of funding Bahá’í properties.
• To develop mechanisms that will promote the economic progress of individual Bahá’ís.
• To determine practical funding methods for the development of WLGI Radio and the Louis Gregory properties.

After more than three days of intensive consultation, the participants compiled a comprehensive report that is to be presented to the National Assembly for its consideration.

In its pre-seminar invitation to participants, the National Assembly pointed out to them the widening scope of their endeavor:

"SINCE we communicated with you first, a letter has arrived from the Universal House of Justice telling the Bahá’í world about a variety of projects that Bahá’í institutions will be called upon to undertake in coming years....

"The emphasis that the Universal House of Justice has now placed on service will propel the Bahá’í community into new fields of endeavor.

"You can easily see how a conference such as the one which you will be attending will be necessary to provide Bahá’í institutions with the knowledge and management of funds without which no social and economic development projects will ever succeed.

"Thus you find yourselves with an unparalleled opportunity to be present at the origins of a great new trend in the development of the Bahá’í world community."

Taking part in the seminar were:

Hussein Ahdieh (New York), educational administration and funding, Fordham University.

Bonnie Barnes (Washington, D.C.), MBA candidate, Wharton School.

Abbas Bashir (Maryland), medical doctor, real estate investor.

Rainy Broomfield (Virginia), assistant vice president of a real estate investment banking firm.

Abbas Ejtemai (Virginia), entrepreneur.

Victor Frank (Washington), real estate investor.

Michael Furst (Minnesota), corporate finance and banking.

A. Hemmat (Maryland), program planning, funding and control, GTE Spacenet.

Kirk Kraft (Montana), land development and construction, real estate agent and broker.

Jaellayna Lasky (Oregon), financial planner, investment broker, tax and retirement planner, community educator in money management and investing.

Shaida Mali (South Carolina), entrepreneur, founder of the New Era Learning Center.

Mary Palmer (South Carolina), real estate broker.

David Pauls (Michigan), CPA, computer audit specialist for IRS, tax shelter adviser.

Alex Resnick (Oklahoma), entrepreneur.

James Smith (Maine), land developer for HUD.

Robert Thaggard (Florida), CPA, real estate development and partnership adviser.

Melville Thomason (North Carolina), realtor, CEO of several non-profit organizations.

Ronald Van Pelt (Michigan), banking, finance and administration.

Lecile Webster (Maryland), entrepreneur.

Geralyn West (Washington), territory management, contract negotiation, farm management consultant.

The seminar convenor and chairman was Sam Clark of Michigan.

Also participating were Dr. Alberta Deas, director of the Louis Gregory Institute and a member of the National Spiritual Assembly; Steve Jackson, assistant to the national Treasurer; Bob Shaw, representing the WLGI Project Committee; David L. Smith, secretary of the National Education Committee; and Geoff Wilson, controller, Bahá’í National Center.

Administrative support was provided by seminar coordinator Mary Hansen; documentors Michael Hickey and Frank Lucatelli; and typist Susan Reedy.

from UNICEF

On Saturday, December 3, the Bahá’í children’s class of West Hartford, Connecticut, sponsored a booth at the Morley School fair to benefit UNICEF. Featured was a display of 26 pieces of children’s art from around the world, loaned to the Bahá’ís by the U.S. committee for UNICEF. The children, supervised by Pauline Vancour and Suzanne Henck, made ‘crazy critters’ to sell at the craft show. Proceeds were sent to UNICEF. Pictured at the Bahá’í booth are (left to right) Alisa Vancour, Jessica Henck, Amanda Henck and Suzanne Henck.

More than 80 attend teaching conference at Baltimore Center

Representatives of nine Local Spiritual Assemblies were among the more than 80 people who attended an intercommunity teaching conference January 15 at the Bahá’í Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

The conference, arranged largely through the efforts of the Spiritual Assembly of Bel Air, was designed to implement a request from the National Teaching Committee to help local communities and goal areas set and carry out specific goals.

Communities represented included Baltimore County West, Baltimore County Central, Frederick County, Frederick City, Howard County, Westminster, Silver Spring (Montgomery County Southeast), Bel Air, and Baltimore City.

Speakers shared the successes, the needs, and the concerns of each of these communities.

The afternoon session was a sounding board for "finding the balance" amid community needs. Shirley Ganao of Washington, D.C., led a discussion of how to meet those needs by developing methods for reaching the masses, while Parviz Ighani served as coordinator for the formation of Friendship Teams.

Another discussion, on identifying and teaching significant minority groups, was led by Auxiliary Board member Albert James.

Fred Myers led a discussion on organizing proclamation events, and Frank Akonom did the same on personal firesides.

The conference was chaired by Serena G. Mills, a member of the Baltimore City Assembly.

1984 'Who's Who' for U.S. colleges lists Bahá’í student

Carol A. Sannes, a Bahá’í from Lindenhurst, Illinois, who is a senior at Barat College in Lake Forest, has been selected for inclusion in the 1984 edition of "Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges," a publication that recognizes the country’s most outstanding campus leaders.

Mrs. Sannes, who is majoring in English and art, was chosen by the faculty and administration at Barat based on academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities, and future potential.

Price correction

In the January issue of The American Bahá’í, the price of Bahá’í Proofs was incorrectly listed as $14. The correct price is $15. [Page 5]

Unified effort can bring Fund goal within reach

The American Bahá’í community is ready to flex its spiritual muscles between now and the end of April as it strives to win the contributions goal for the National Bahá’í Fund.

A total of $10 million this year will accomplish the following:

• PROVIDE $6 million to pay for expenses involved in teaching, proclaiming, consolidating and administering the Faith in this country, including the repayment of all outstanding debts.
• Provide $2.5 million for the Bahá’í International Fund. The American Bahá’í community had been contributing at the rate of $1 million a year before the news came of an anticipated $3 million deficit facing the International Fund this year.

A $10 million Fund victory means $2.5 million for the Bahá’í International Fund, $1.5 million for Temple repairs, and repayment of all our outstanding debts. Universal participation will do the job.

The National Assembly immediately increased its contribution by 50 per cent to a rate of $1.5 million per year, but can further increase it to $2.5 million if the $10 million contributions goal is won.

• Provide $1.5 million toward the badly needed repair of the House of Worship in Wilmette. The National Assembly had originally planned to set aside $2.5 million for this purpose from the $10 million budget, but an inspection by a group of experts indicated that the work could be done over several years. Spreading the payments for that work over several years will make it possible to allocate the additional $1 million for the Bahá’í International Fund.

As of February 7, $4.5 million had been contributed to the National Fund, leaving a balance of $5.5 million to be raised during February, March and April.

Five and one-half million dollars is a large sum to contemplate raising in such a short span of time. As more Bahá’ís capture the spirit of the "VIE" campaign, however, the principle of universal participation can bring this goal within reach.

Without suggesting a minimum donation, simple arithmetic shows how easy it would be to win the goal.

$10 mil. in Contributions VIE $10 mil. in Expenses

If, for example, 50,000 believers "VIE" in support of the National Fund, an average of $110 contributed by each of them between now and the end of the current fiscal year (April 28) would raise the needed amount.

Or, if only 20,000 believers participated, contributions from them averaging $275 would win the goal.

The National Spiritual Assembly is confident that the believers will arise to the challenge and contribute in sufficient numbers to make it possible to win the national contributions goal.

The goal for WLGI Radio was won not by a few large contributions from a small number of individuals, but through the unified action of the community.

That same spirit of love and unity directed toward the needs of the National Fund will bring about an even more stunning victory for the Cause of God in America and throughout the world.

Chart supplies Fund’s ‘VIE-tal’ statistics

The "VIE" chart beginning on this page shows the individual participation in the National Fund for each district in the U.S.

The first set of columns indicates the "starting block" for the race—a three-month average obtained last August and September. Progress throughout the race will be measured against this starting point.

THE SECOND set of columns reports the most recent Bahá’í month for which statistics are available (the month of Sharaf, December 31-January 18).

The "Winners’ Circle" recognizes the 19 districts that have excelled in two categories: first, those with the highest over-all participation; and second, those that have shown the most improvement since the beginning of the "race."

You should be aware that although many districts showed some improvement during the month of Sharaf when compared to the "starting block," virtually every district registered decreased participation during Sharaf when compared with the month of Qawl (reported in the February issue). We attribute this to the fact that participation was unusually high during Qawl because the WLGI fund-raising campaign was drawing to a close. The National Spiritual Assembly looks for dramatic increases in participation in succeeding months as the districts endeavor to outdo each other in this area of service to the Cause.

A final thought: this "race" was triggered by Bahá’u’lláh’s statement to "vie ye with each other in the service of God and His Cause..."

There are many facets of Bahá’í life to which this instruction applies for the individual believer. Each individual can "VIE" in supporting the Funds, in becoming better informed about the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, in teaching the Faith, and in living the Bahá’í life.

Your aggressive participation in each of these areas will enable us to win every goal facing our community. Participate! Act! VIE!

Contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund by District

District Name	Membership as of 12/9/83	Number of participants	Percentage of participation	Membership as of 1/9/84	Number of participants	Percentage of participation
Alabama S/Florida NW	349	10	3.0	352	9	2.5
Alabama N	307	21	6.8	310	22	7.0
Arizona N	941	51	5.4	940	39	4.1
Arizona S	410	21	5.1	408	12	3.0
Arkansas	476	24	5.0	476	33	6.9
California C No. 1	2,722	190	7.0	2,724	143	5.2
California C No. 2	445	40	9.0	448	40	8.9
California N No. 1	585	70	12.0	583	58	9.9
California N No. 2	389	41	10.5	394	33	8.4
California S No. 1	2,709	180	6.6	2,705	132	4.9
California S No. 2	1,158	112	9.7	1,174	66	5.6
California S No. 3	441	42	9.5	439	33	7.5

The Winners’ Circle

Highest Percentage Participation

1. Wisconsin N/Penin. Michigan 2. Vermont 3. Iowa 4. Louisiana 5. Georgia, Northeastern 6. Kansas 7. New York, Western 8. Nevada, Southern 9. Wisconsin, Southern 10. Tennessee, Eastern 11. Ohio, Northern 12. Minnesota, Southern 13. New Hampshire 14. Indiana 15. Pennsylvania, Western 16. Pennsylvania, Eastern 17. Ohio, Southern 18. Idaho N/Washington E 19. Michigan, Mainland

Most Improved Participation

1. Arkansas 2. Navajo/Hopi 3. Vermont 4. Kansas 5. Nevada, Southern 6. Minnesota, Northern 7. (tie) Colorado, Southeastern and South Dakota 8. Louisiana, Northern 9. New Mexico S/Texas W 10. Illinois, Northern No. 1 11. Wisconsin N/Penin. Michigan 12. Florida, Central 13. Alabama, Northern (Note: Only 14 districts improved their participation percentage over the starting point—a three-month average—so only those are listed. Let’s see all 19 next month!) [Page 6]

Teaching Faith should be theme of our lives

The theme of this month's issue of The American Bahá’í is teaching. The theme of our lives must also be "teaching."

TO TEACH does not necessarily mean to do so while pioneering in foreign fields, or through giving wonderful lectures in great halls, or even by proclaiming the Message on radio, television or in the newspapers. While all of these things are needed, teaching is far more than that. The Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, taught us how to triumph. He wrote (in Bahá’í Administration):

"Not by force of numbers, not by the mere exposition of a set of new and noble principles, not by an organized campaign of teaching—no matter how world-wide and elaborate in its character—not even by the staunchness of our faith or the exaltation of our enthusiasm, can we ultimately hope to vindicate in the eyes of a critical and skeptical age the supreme claim of the Abhá Revelation.

"One thing and only one thing will unfailingly and alone secure the undoubted triumph of this sacred Cause, namely, the extent to which our own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold aspects the splendor of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh."

He goes on to describe to us the spiritual prerequisites for success:

... a high sense of moral rectitude in their social and administrative activities, absolute chastity in their individual lives, and complete freedom from prejudice in their dealings with peoples of a different race, class, creed, or color."

WHY IS this topic being covered on the pioneering page of the paper? Because the International Goals Committee is vitally concerned about the health and well-being of the homefront, the pool from which must come the international pioneers called for by our Supreme Institution, the Universal House of Justice.

One of the ways to measure whether the homefront is healthy is to count the number of new enrollments and the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies.

By this measure, we as a national community need to scurry to catch up to where we should be at Ridván.

When we contemplate the stirring and exciting message from the Universal House of Justice dated October 20, 1983 (see the December issue of The American Bahá’í) and realize that we are embarking on the next stage of growth in the establishment of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, it is not difficult to understand why we need strong, vital Local Assemblies everywhere in the world.

We cannot afford to lose even one Assembly. We must form the requisite number of new ones. For these Assemblies are the institutions that will guide and coordinate the steadily evolving processes upon which we have already started.

YES, we have indeed started. We have Bahá’í schools in various communities that are open to all. Some communities hold classes for non-English speakers, which are open to Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís. Some of our youth have organized things like clean-up campaigns on Indian Reservations.

Bahá’ís chauffeur senior citizens, volunteer their time in nursing homes. One can think of a thousand ways in which Bahá’ís have contributed and are contributing to the social and economic development of their cities and towns.

The only difference is that, for the most part, their deeds were not performed in the name of the Faith, but because they were "living the life."

Now we are going to do all these things and more in an organized way, and we will do them in the name of the Bahá’í Faith.

Most of these projects will take place on the local level under the guidance of Local Spiritual Assemblies.

FOR THEM we need active Bahá’ís who are manifesting in their inner lives and private characters the splendor of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh.

The words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which were given to Martha Root by the Greatest Holy Leaf, tell us why we must teach:

To Teach is to Learn To Learn is to Work To Work is to Serve To Serve is to Love To Love is to Sacrifice To Sacrifice is to Die To Die is to Live To Live is to Strive To Strive is to rise above all earthly limitations and enter the Eternal Realm.

The Bahá’í world is looking to the United States to supply those Bahá’ís who will help Third World countries in their social and economic development. Let us redouble our efforts so that we will be able to meet the challenge.

Teaching by example: Slow but often effective

Anita and Ed Dougan, Isla Contadora, Panama—There are three of us Bahá’ís here on this island—a young Persian girl from Spain and ourselves.

It is a tourist resort, and we handle the scuba diving concession for the hotel.

The island is only 1 1/2 miles wide and two miles long. There are few opportunities to teach, other than by example... Just when we get discouraged and wonder if we are wasting our time, a confirmation will appear.

For instance, last winter a boy stayed with us for two months to help out. Some weekends his wife and 3-year-old son would visit from Panama.

He asked a little about the Faith, but not much. We didn’t push, but were disappointed that he didn’t seem more interested.

Last month we visited a couple of our Bahá’í "children" and they said, "Do you remember Jim, who stayed with you last winter? He works with Greg now and rides to work with him every day. Asked a lot of questions about the Faith. The thing that impressed him was that you folks didn’t put any pressure on him about it. Only answered his questions."

We once were told that one of the best ways to teach is to think about what attracted you to the Faith and teach in that way, because the sincerity of it will shine through and attract others.

Since it was the hospitality of the Bahá’ís toward us as "strangers," their life style, and the fact that they never "pushed" the Faith onto us, but patiently nurtured us, that attracted us, we have tried to do the same for others.

It is such a slow process compared to some other ways that it is rewarding when you get a glimpse of it perhaps working.

David and Mitra Detweiler, Germany—Our firesides have been filled with people interested in the Faith, who ask questions and want to know more—people who go right to the heart of the matter, that Bahá’u’lláh Himself claimed to be the Manifestation of God for this Age.

They want to know what is behind a religion whose followers are willing to die for their beliefs.

One woman has declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh. Her husband, who promised his mother long ago never to change his faith as long as she lived, is teaching his mother all about the Faith.

On a visit to their home, he asked me a question that began, "Every time I say the long obligatory prayer, I discover something new..."

He has even given up his beer and schnapps. One cannot appreciate enough such sacrifices on the part of a German, especially when his enrollment as a Bahá’í has not even taken place—yet.

Another young man was very active in a large German political party here, with leadership responsibilities. He has given it up—much to the consternation of his colleagues.

His comment to us was, "Only the power of Bahá’u’lláh could have brought me to this decision..."

Pioneer produces cassette tape of songs

Joany Lincoln, a pioneer to Africa for 13 years who is well-known for her inspiring and heartfelt songs about the Faith and pioneering, has produced a cassette tape featuring several of her songs in English, French and several African languages. The tape is now available from the International Goals Committee.

If you would like a copy, please write to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, and include $8 for the tape and postage costs.

PIONEER POST

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

California solons hear Bahá’í prayer

When the Bahá’ís of Sacramento, California, offered to read a prayer at the opening session of the California State Assembly, the offer was quickly accepted and a Bahá’í was asked to read the opening prayer at the Assembly's session on January 26.

Read in its entirety was the prayer for mankind revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that begins, "O Thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock..." (pp. 102-3 in the new edition of Bahá’í Prayers)

Shown are the 31 participants in a Pioneer Training Institute held January 6-8 at the Bosch Bahá’í School near Santa Cruz, California. The speakers included Counsellor Fred Schechter and Dr. Ethel Martens, executive secretary of the Bahá’í International Health Agency. Participants were making plans to pioneer to Australasia, Nicaragua, the Bahamas, Antigua, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, Yucatán, Uruguay, Malta, Truk and the Marshall Islands. Also present at the Institute were returned and visiting pioneers from Benin, Denmark and Nicaragua; representatives from two District Teaching Committees; Mary Louise Suhm, secretary of the International Goals Committee, and staff member Dan Uhrik.

Important notice to travelers

If you are traveling outside the United States for any reason, please contact the International Goals Committee office. A temporary Bahá’í identification card will be issued to you, if needed. [Page 7]

Youth volunteer services overseas clarified

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

The Universal House of Justice has been consulting upon aspects of youth service in pioneering throughout the Bahá’í world, and has requested that we convey its views on service in other lands undertaken by Bahá’í youth with voluntary non-sectarian organizations.

IN THE PAST, the policy adopted by some National Assemblies was to discourage young Bahá’ís from enrolling to serve in activities sponsored by non-Bahá’í voluntary organizations, as the Assemblies were under the impression that these young people would not be able to engage in direct teaching, nor participate, for the most part, in Bahá’í activities while serving abroad in such programs.

Perhaps in some instances the Bahá’ís involved were not sure how to function as members of the Bahá’í community in order to give each aspect of their lives its proper due.

FABIANA PLACENCIA: Young Texas Bahá’í listed among top high school students

Fabiana Placencia, a Bahá’í youth from Eagle Pass, a border town on the Rio Grande River in southern Texas, is listed in the 1982-83 edition of "Who's Who Among American High School Students" for her achievements in academics, athletics, and school and community service.

Fabiana, who is fluent in English and Spanish, is a member of the Intercommunity Bahá’í Youth Club.

As a student, she is active in the Future Homemakers of America, the Future Business Leaders of America, the Vocational-Industrial Clubs of America, Office Education Association, Girls Athletic Association, the chorus, and the Spanish Club.

Fabiana has had a perfect attendance record throughout her high school years. She plans a career in nursing.

Her parents, Narciss and Arcadia Placencia, are both Bahá’ís, and her mother is a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Eagle Pass.

In the light of experience, however, it is now clear that we should have no misgivings in encouraging young Bahá’ís to enroll in such voluntary service organizations as the United Nations Volunteers, U.S. Peace Corps, Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO) and similar Canadian agencies, the British Volunteer Programme (BVP) of the United Kingdom, and other voluntary service organizations.

Other countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries are understood to have similar service organizations which are compatible with Bahá’í development goals as now tentatively envisaged.

Some of the advantages of such service to the Faith are worth mentioning. Volunteers will receive thorough orientation and sometimes will be taught basic skills which will enable them to help the Bahá’í community in projects undertaken in developing countries.

WHEREVER they serve, these volunteers should be able to participate in Bahá’í activities, and contribute to the consolidation of the Bahá’í community.

The freedom to teach is to a large extent dependent upon the local interpretation of the group leader, but even if volunteers do not engage in direct teaching, being known as Bahá’ís and showing the Bahá’í spirit and attitude toward work and service should attract favorable attention and may, in many instances, be instrumental in attracting individuals to the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

And finally, the period of overseas service often produces a taste for such service, and volunteers may well offer to directly promote the pioneer work either in the same country or in another developing country.

It is well known that a considerable number of Bahá’ís have already gone abroad to serve with these agencies and that others have espoused the Faith while serving in foreign lands with voluntary service organizations.

National Spiritual Assemblies which hold orientation courses for pioneers may benefit from including the subject of rural development in their programs, and, as in the past, from inviting people who have served in voluntary service organizations to participate in planning orientation programs and having them share their experiences as volunteer workers in developing countries.

The House of Justice expresses the hope that the information contained in this letter will dispel the misunderstandings that have in the past surrounded the question of participation of Bahá’í youth in projects sponsored by non-Bahá’í voluntary organizations.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Universal House of Justice Department of the Secretariat December 13, 1983

Start making plans now to take part in exciting summer of ’84

It’s not too early to begin making your plans for the summer of ’84. There will be a variety of fresh and exciting opportunities for Bahá’í youth to teach, to serve, to travel, and to learn.

Among the programs being planned are:

a Youth Pilgrimage to the World Centre in Haifa. The pilgrims will be working with international teaching projects following their nine-day visit to the Holy Land.

an International Youth Conference in Canada. The conference will be held August 24-28 at the University of London in London, Ontario.

a variety of summer teaching projects, both domestic and international. Sites are being confirmed this spring for projects in at least 10 locales in the U.S.

Summer Schools will feature specially developed Youth Weeks with coordinators having received training from the National Education Committee.

several locally sponsored conferences are being planned from California to Pennsylvania.

... and much, much more!

The summer promises to be chock-full of new and exciting challenges for Bahá’í youth, and everyone is encouraged to plan his summer vacation early, setting aside ample time for participation in a variety of activities.

Watch the Youth Page in The American Bahá’í and the "Youth Hotline" for more details on this summer’s outstanding programs for Bahá’í youth!

’84 Western Regional Youth Conference to be held in Concord, California, in July

The 1984 Western Regional Bahá’í Youth Conference will be held July 13-16 at the Concord Hilton Hotel across the bay from San Francisco in Concord, California.

The theme of the conference, which is being planned by the Contra Costa County Bahá’í Youth Club, is "Spiritually Awakened."

The ambitious program will include workshops, speakers, and evening entertainment. Don't miss the opportunity to energize yourself for the future!

To register, please fill out the form below and mail it by June 8, 1984, to the Bahá’í Youth Energizing Service, P.O. Box 42, Concord, CA 94522.

1984 WESTERN REGIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE Concord, California

Please print Name Address City Age Sex I.D. No. Phone ( ) Zip Code State

( ) I would like to stay at the CONFERENCE HOTEL, the Concord Hilton. Prices (including tax) are: 4 people, $65.10 per night; 3 people, $59.68 per night; 2 people, $54.25 per night; 1 person, $48.83 per night. ( ) Send me information on CHILD CARE. Pre-registration required.

The full registration and other materials will be sent to you soon after we receive this form. Thank you.

Send registration form by June 8 to the Bahá’í Youth Energizing Service, P.O. Box 42, Concord, CA 94522.

Nearly 80 young Bahá’ís attend seventh College Clubs Conference at Green Acre

Nearly 80 young Bahá’ís were present the weekend of January 27-29 at the Green Acre Bahá’í School for the seventh annual College Clubs Conference.

Organized again this year by the Bahá’í Club at MIT, the program featured a wide variety of activities.

Among the highlights: excellent classes, all taught by the youth themselves; a showing of the new Canadian film, "This Undying Flame"; a slide presentation of the International Bahá’í Youth Conference held last summer in Austria; a musical concert by Mark Leverault and John Cate; dancing, fellowship, love, and of course, "the Purple Rhinoceros."

The Rhinoceros is the title that has evolved for an evening of fun in which people are divided into groups and given 45 minutes to prepare a skit about some aspect of Bahá’í life.

As in past years, the skits combined clever plot lines, sparkling dialogue, and uproarious humor. For example, one skit portrayed Dorothy, a Bahá’í from Kansas, and her search for Bahá’í virtues, a search closely paralleling the story of the Wizard of Oz.

Another weekend high point was a cross-continental phone call from the Bosch Bahá’í School in California, where a similar conference was being held that same weekend, planned by the Stanford University Bahá’í Club.

BAHAI YOUTH DISNEY WORLD 1983-4 YOUTH CONFERENCE

Participants in the fourth annual Bahá’í Youth Conference held December 29-January 1 at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, signed a poster for the Hand of the Cause William Sears who had prepared a taped message for the conference. Shown signing the poster is Cyndy Holmes.

"The more one can give, the better it is..." National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091 [Page 8]

EDUCATION

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

Assembly mini-courses chart steady course

The following is an interview with the National Education Committee about the Assembly Development Program.

Question: In March 1981 the National Education Committee began introducing Assembly Development Program mini-courses to communities on a state-by-state basis. Are the courses now available across the country?

Answer: The mini-courses are now being presented in all states except Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia. There are also a few areas in other states where the courses are not available, either because we have experienced difficulty in recruiting qualified people to serve as instructors or because the instructors we’ve recruited have moved to other states. We are considering ways to make the courses available in the uncovered areas and states.

Q: How have communities responded to the mini-courses?

A: Very favorably. Our office has received about 700 evaluations from the first six mini-courses offered to communities. Ninety-five per cent of the evaluations say the courses benefited the community, three per cent said they merely reinforced information already known, and only two per cent said they were of little or no benefit.

We think this is a good indicator that the courses are on target in addressing the administrative needs of local communities.

Q: What topics do the courses cover?

A: The topics of the first six courses are “The Newly Formed Assembly,” “The Local Spiritual Assembly: A Divinely Ordained Institution,” “The Role of Assembly Officers,” “Consultation With Individuals,” “Building a Unified Bahá’í Community,” and “The Year of Waiting and Divorce.”

We’ve just completed a second series of mini-courses that will soon be offered to communities. These cover “Bahá’í Consultation,” “Enrolling New Believers,” “The Appointment and Supervision of Committees,” “The Local Spiritual Assembly and the Bahá’í Fund,” and “Adopting and Nurturing an Extension Teaching Goal.”

Q: How do Local Spiritual Assemblies go about participating in the courses?

A: Participation is voluntary. An Assembly wishing to participate contacts an instructor in its area and arranges a mutually agreeable meeting time for presenting the courses. If an Assembly does not know who the instructors are in its area, it can contact the National Education Committee office. Each course is about two hours long and is a self-contained unit. The Assembly can participate in as many courses as it wishes. In addition, the courses are open to the entire community and not just Assembly members.

Q: Are the courses available to Groups and jeopardized Assemblies?

A: Unfortunately, the limited number of instructors does not make it feasible at this time for us to offer the courses to the many Groups across the country. For this reason, we encourage participating Assemblies to invite neighboring Groups and isolated believers to attend their sessions. Of course, one way that a Group wishing to participate in the courses can receive them is to raise itself to Assembly status.

Courses are not offered to jeopardized Assemblies so that they might channel their energies toward the more immediate concern of preserving the Assembly. There are a large number of Assemblies presently in jeopardy, and it is imperative that they not be lost at Ridván if we are to win the goals of the Seven Year Plan. Jeopardized Assemblies and neighboring communities should do everything they can to assure that the Assemblies are preserved.

Q: What are some of the benefits communities derive from participating in the mini-courses?

A: First, they receive the most up-to-date information available on how local Bahá’í communities should be functioning. Second, they receive an administrative context for their teaching work. As Shoghi Effendi stated in a letter written on his behalf to an individual believer on May 31, 1935: “Without the study and application of the Administration the teaching of the Cause becomes not only meaningless but loses in effectiveness and scope.” A community that is not familiar with the basic principles of Bahá’í administration and does not apply them in its functioning will not be effective in confirming its new believers.

Third, the courses support the actions of Local Spiritual Assemblies, helping community members to see that the Assembly is not acting capriciously, but is following a divinely revealed course of action.

Q: Do the course instructors become involved in helping communities resolve specific problems that they may be experiencing?

A: Only to a limited degree. If the problem is addressed in the course material—say it involves the way in which Assembly officers are elected—the instructor’s presentation of the material will certainly contribute to the resolution of the problem. The instructor’s role is, however, purely educational. Instructors do not become involved in disputes or in specific cases being handled by a Local Assembly. If Assemblies are experiencing severe difficulties in functioning or with a specific issue, they should either contact the National Spiritual Assembly or their Auxiliary Board members and their assistants.

Q: If the mini-courses have proven beneficial to communities, why hasn’t there been a stronger effort to promote participation in them?

A: In March 1980 the National Education Committee adopted a three-stage strategy for revitalizing the Assembly Development Program. Stage 1 would last one year and would involve development of the first six courses and a plan for implementing them.

Stage 2 would involve training individuals in how to present the courses to communities. Since the program is administered by a single staff member with limited financial and material resources, we determined that the training of instructors would have to be done on a state-by-state basis over a three-year period.

At the beginning of 1983, the courses were available in only half the continental United States. Since half the states could not receive the courses if they requested them, it was not feasible to begin a promotional campaign.

However, now that the courses are available nationwide, Stage 3 of our strategy includes strong promotion of the courses. It also includes development of additional courses, closer supervision of course instructors, and helping communities with specialized needs.

Q: What direction do you expect the Assembly Development Program to take in the future?

A: That depends upon the wisdom and guidance of the National Spiritual Assembly and any future plans and directives it may receive from the Universal House of Justice. We anticipate, however, that there will always be a need to help Local Spiritual Assemblies in their development.

But it is important to keep in mind that the education of these developing Assemblies can take many forms and that it involves more than just our committee. The Continental Counsellors, Auxiliary Board members, their assistants, the National Teaching Committee, National Treasurer’s Office, and the Office of Community Administration are only a few of the many other institutions and agencies making important contributions to Assembly development in the U.S.

Truly, it is through the combined efforts of all of them that we are able to directly address the Seven Year Plan goal of giving greater attention to the development and consolidation of Local Spiritual Assemblies.

Video tapes available

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

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

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

The Bahá’í Group of Portsmouth, Virginia, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Norfolk, hosted a successful nine-week Comprehensive Deepening Program for Personal Transformation last October 16-December 18. Also participating were friends from Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Hampton, and Norfolk. Pictured are participants (front row left to right) Lisa A. Brown, Archie Abaire (program facilitator), Fredrick C. Walker Jr.; middle row (left to right) Donna L. Brown, Judith Janis Semark, Robert Vines, Loretta D. Brown, Donna L. Leaver; and back row (left to right) Bonnie Thompson, Emma Z. Moore, William Schumacher, Woodrow Brown, Sarah Jane Lee (program facilitator), Lillie B. McDonald (who declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh at the end of the program) and Thelma Norman. Not pictured is James Semark.

Nine-day auction at Green Acre raises funds for WLGI Radio

Everyone who attended the Winter School at the Green Acre Bahá’í School in Eliot, Maine, had an opportunity to participate in a nine-day auction to raise funds for WLGI radio.

THE five items on which people could bid were a set of early volumes of The Bahá’í World; a portrait by Gordon Laite; a gift certificate to the Green Acre bookstore; a scholarship to Green Acre; and a set of napkins which had belonged to the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum and which she had previously sold to raise money for a teaching trip to Africa.

After the final Winter School class, everyone gathered in Fellowship House to see the bids opened, hear the winners’ names announced, and find out how much money had been raised.

To everyone’s delight, the auction netted $798 for the station, while the sale of WLGI cookbooks, spiritual “stock certificates” and maps of Bahá’u’lláh’s exiles raised the total to $1,102.03.

As the totals were announced, a non-Bahá’í couple who had come to attend the weekend program decided that they wanted to participate, so they declared their faith and signed declaration cards.

During the Thanksgiving school, a silent auction for a large hand-made quilt, donated by the Bahá’ís of Brattleboro, Vermont, raised $801 for WLGI, bringing the total from the friends at Green Acre to $1,903.

“Everyone enjoyed participating in the silent auction,” said school administrator Richard Grover, “and felt that their bid, no matter how small, was a part of the total amount raised for WLGI.”

Puzzle’s author no longer puzzled about the Faith

When Eliane Hopson, the public information officer for the Spiritual Assembly of New York City, noticed that the name of the Faith was used in a crossword puzzle in New York magazine and was referred to as “a Moslem sect,” she wrote to the puzzle’s author giving additional information about the Faith.

The author, Maura Jacobson, wrote a friendly reply saying she had visited the “beautiful gardens in Haifa” and was grateful for the information.

Since then the name “Bahá’í” has been used several times in the New York crossword, always with the proper clues. [Page 9]

Directory of inter-community schools planned

The National Education Committee is developing a directory of all the Bahá’í inter-community schools in the U.S., according to David L. Smith, secretary of the committee.

“WE KNOW there are many Bahá’í schools being held each week around the country,” says Mr. Smith. “We want to identify them so we can facilitate the exchange of information and provide a measure of assistance.”

The Glad Tidings Bahá’í School in Little Canada, Minnesota, is a fine example of an inter-community school that has struggled through eight years of growing pains and is now emerging strong and effective.

The school draws more than 60 children each week from some 20 communities in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Some families commute 45 minutes each way to attend.

The beginnings of the Glad Tidings School were modest. It started in 1975 as the “North Suburban Children’s Classes” and consisted of a handful of children and a struggling group of parent-teachers. It was sponsored at that time by the Spiritual Assembly of Anoka.

From 1976 to 1982 the school was sponsored by the Roseville Assembly, and it is now under the guidance of the Assembly in Golden Valley.

Please send name of school, contact

If your school committee secretary has not already done so, please send the names of your school and contact person to the National Education Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Those who participate will receive the National Directory of inter-community schools when it is completed as well as the inter-community Bahá’í newsletters.

THE SCHOOL is administered by an eight-member committee appointed each year by the Assembly. The committee, in turn, oversees the work of 15 regular faculty and staff members.

A turning point in the school’s development came in 1979 when the committee rented a child development center in a location central to the metropolitan area. For a reasonable rate, it provides eight classrooms and a large meeting room where all can gather together.

Classes are held for 1 1/2 hours each Sunday during the fall, winter and spring for children ages 2 1/2 through 14 years. There is also a parent-participation nursery for infants and a deepening class for adults.

There are seven classes, divided by age groups, each of which lasts for one hour. Classes are suspended on Holy Days and the whole school celebrates together with music, skits, filmstrips, refreshments and games.

During the summer, classes are replaced by monthly special events such as picnics, beach outings, fund-raising carnivals and similar events.

THE BIGGEST challenge and the greatest bounty for any school committee lies in developing a cadre of skilled, dedicated teachers.

The Glad-Tidings School is blessed with a faculty of 12 who have committed themselves to teaching for the whole year, to becoming personally involved with their students, and to doing much advance planning and preparation of their lessons.

Each of the teachers participated over the summer in a one-day training workshop. Because of their enthusiasm, the quality of the classes has shown dramatic improvement. This, in turn, has created a greater commitment on the part of parents to bring their children regularly.

The school is supported by regular contributions from five Spiritual Assemblies, by contributions from individuals, and by fund-raising activities. No tuition or registration fees are charged.

Operating expenses are about $100 per month, which includes rent and supplies. There is no paid staff. Books and equipment are purchased as funds are available. The present inventory is valued at about $3,000.

THE GROWTH of the school has been a source of satisfaction to everyone concerned. It is seen as making a major contribution to the goal of the Seven Year Plan, “the Bahá’í education of children, including the holding of regular Bahá’í classes.”

A survey taken in the spring of 1983 showed that parents feel the school enhances community unity and strengthens family life. It provides a community of people who are aware of the needs and capacities of children at various ages and are appreciative of the job that parents are doing.

“The National Education Committee is pleased with the accomplishments of the Glad-Tidings Bahá’í School,” says Mr. Smith. “The persistence and continued sacrifices of everyone involved have made it a fine example of Bahá’í education at the local level. We think there are dozens of schools across the country with similar stories to tell, and we’re hoping to connect with them.”

Children and their parents and teachers gather for a Sunday session at the Glad Tidings Bahá’í School in Little Canada, Minnesota.

1st U.S. Child Education Conference scheduled for May 26-27 in Wilmette

The National Education Committee is sponsoring a National Bahá’í Child Education Conference over the Memorial Day weekend (May 26-27) in Wilmette, Illinois.

The conference will be of special interest to local education advisers, but is open to anyone interested in Bahá’í education.

“THE LOCAL education adviser is a valuable resource person to the local Bahá’í community,” says David Smith, secretary of the National Education Committee.

“By assessing education and consolidation needs in the local community, the adviser can recommend to the community educational materials and strategies that have been developed by the National Education Committee to help meet those needs.

“We hope,” says Mr. Smith, “that the Local Spiritual Assemblies will help support the child educators in their area if the Assembly recognizes a financial need. It will broaden the positive impact of the conference if friends from all over the country are able to attend.”

Conference workshop topics will include organizing and administering inter-community schools, curricula, quality programs for Bahá’í youth, and National Education Committee materials and resources.

An “Activities Fair” will display curricular materials that have been developed in various parts of the country.

PARTICIPANTS are encouraged to bring with them children’s activities/games that have proven successful in teaching children in their own areas.

Conference costs are: Dorm (shared room), $12.50 per night per person; meals, $4 per meal (3 meals on Saturday and Sunday, breakfast on Monday); registration fee, $7, for a total of $72.50.

There is a rental fee of $6 for a blanket, or registrants may bring their own.

Pre-registration for the conference is required. There is no provision for child care.

Those who are interested in attending the conference should return the completed registration form with a $7 registration fee to the National Education Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Checks should be made payable to “Bahá’í Services Fund.”

BAHÁ’Í CHILD EDUCATION CONFERENCE Registration Form

(Please print)

Name ____________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Tel. No. __________________________________________________

(Please check, if applicable) I am a Local Education Adviser ___ I am a Local District Coordinator ___

Please include $7 registration fee Send to National Education Committee Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091

Louhelen to present training program on marriage, divorce, year of patience

The Louhelen Bahá’í School will present a training program April 13-15 for members of Local Spiritual Assemblies on how to deal with problems related to marriage, the year of patience, and divorce.

Helping to conduct the session will be Mrs. Anna Lee Strasburg, a member of the staff of the Office of the Secretary at the Bahá’í National Center.

Since 1977, Mrs. Strasburg has been advising Assemblies on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly about how to deal with cases of marriage and divorce and other personal problems.

Among the topics to be covered are the scope of an Assembly’s responsibility in dealing with marriage-related problems, how cases can be handled most effectively, and what Assemblies can do to foster strong, stable and happy marriages, thereby contributing to reducing the divorce rate in the Bahá’í community.

Participants will be divided into “mock Assemblies” and given “cases” to consult on, and their consultation will be critiqued.

Ample time will be allotted for answering questions on perplexing issues.

Those who are interested in attending the session can write to the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033.

Louhelen offers varied spring menu

The Louhelen Bahá’í School will be offering the following programs this spring:

April 6-8: Bahá’í Parenting Conference. National Spiritual Assembly member Dr. Dwight Allen, Auxiliary Board member Dr. Carole Allen.

April 14-15: Assembly Training Program—Marriage, the Year of Patience, and Divorce. Mrs. Anna Lee Strasburg, staff member in the Office of the Secretary, Bahá’í National Center, to be among those conducting the sessions.

April 21-22: Ridván Festival. Bruce Whitmore, manager of the Bahá’í House of Worship.

May 11-13: Work weekend. Room and board will be provided for those coming to help get the school and grounds ready for summer sessions. (Rain date is May 18-20.) [Page 10]

TEACHING THROUGH FRIENDSHIP TEAMS

Members of the Friendship Team who recently sponsored a Unity Feast for the friends in Reno and Sparks, Nevada, are (left to right) Ernestine Moore, Gabrielle Restivo, Mary Ann Risley, Shirley Barnes, and Jo Bartlett. On the cake is a replica of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.

So now you’ve formed your Friendship Team, and, like the other 400 or so teams in the U.S., you’re wondering what you are supposed to do next.

THERE IS only one basic guideline for Bahá’í Friendship Teams, and it’s the same as the guideline for all ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎: teach the Bahá’í Faith.

How you teach is up to you. Some Friendship Teams are actually teaching teams that go regularly from door to door teaching and have some community as their goal.

For example, one Friendship Team in Chicago sends invitations to firesides and public meetings on a regular basis to interested seekers.

Friendship Teams have no administrative duties and are not appointed or assigned. They have a freedom that is limited only by their imagination.

How often have we had a great idea, but felt held back by the commitment or energy it would take? Holding a Unity Feast is an example.

A Friendship Team in Reno, Nevada, decided to host a Unity Feast for the friends in Reno and Sparks.

FROM the pictures we received, it seems that the friends there had a wonderful time, and our column this month includes its first Friendship Team photo.

The National Teaching Committee would welcome more photos of Friendship Teams in action. Your ideas, victories, helpful hints, plans and pointers will all find a place in this column.

FROM KNOXVILLE ... a

See FRIENDSHIP Page 12

Teaching Committee secretary shares concerns

Continued From Page 1 Teaching Committee:

Question: Why are enrollments down?

Answer: What are we talking about when we proclaim the Message? Often, we talk about the martyrdoms, human rights awards we have given or received, and so on ... this is fine, but it doesn’t necessarily attract people to the Faith.

The key word is “responsible.” We must teach responsibly. We have to be self-critical in a sense, too. We must learn how to tie proclamation to expansion and expansion to consolidation. Effective teaching is comprised of all three: proclamation, expansion and consolidation.

Q: Have we had too much proclamation?

A: Of course, we must continue to proclaim the Faith, because it is necessary that the public have an idea of what the Faith is and what it stands for.

But people ordinarily won’t become ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ solely through proclamation activities. It’s a delusion to think that the good publicity the Faith is receiving today can be turned into enrollments. People become ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ through personal contact—through the love and care we show toward them.

Q: How do we tie proclamation into expansion?

A: When we have a public meeting, how do we create an audience that we can teach the Faith to on a one-to-one basis? We can put invitations on all the chairs inviting the people to firesides; make friends with the people who come; cease talking to each other and begin talking to our non-Bahá’í guests.

A float in a parade is another example. When we pull it into the garage after the parade, that’s when our work should begin. We should go door-to-door or meet the people at the parade and say, “Did you see our float, ‘Oneness of Mankind,’ in the parade? Tonight we’re having a meeting on the same theme ...”

Sometimes it’s best to look at teaching backward; that is, start with the consolidation process. Ask yourself, “What are we going to do with 10 new believers? How is our community going to nurture them?”

Then ask yourself, “How can we get 10 new believers? What methods should we use? Where are the receptive souls?”

And finally, ask, “What kinds of media and proclamation coverage can we use to find receptive souls?”

One process does not come before another. We consolidate as we teach; we teach as we proclaim; we proclaim as we consolidate the Faith.

Q: How do we teach?

A: As I see it, teaching is easy. There are four fundamentals. The first is to possess spiritual attributes—patience, kindness—what we call a “Bahá’í life.” The second is good deeds, service to mankind in some tangible way.

The third fundamental is an utterance that is “crystal clear”—in other words, we have to be able to speak about the Faith.

Last but not least, we should be happy, and this should be reflected in our faces and our attitudes. When we have these four characteristics, we are successful teachers.

Q: Should we hold firesides?

A: Fireside teaching is still the best teaching method. At a fireside, the Faith is proclaimed informally before and after the fireside and during the meeting itself.

Regarding expansion, most of us have become ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ through firesides; they are a wonderful opportunity to get close to people and express our inner feelings.

As far as consolidation is concerned, many of us have learned more about the Faith at firesides than anyplace else—listening to speakers, being referred to books, etc. To date it’s the most solid method of teaching. Proclamation, expansion, consolidation—all present at the fireside meeting!

Q: Why should we teach the Bahá’í Faith?

A: It is vital to our own spiritual growth. When we teach, we grow and develop. We receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit when we arise to teach. Everyone who has mentioned the Faith, no matter how little, has felt that surge of emotion and excitement. This is an important aspect of spiritual life.

Q: What should the individual believer do to help increase enrollments and save jeopardized Assemblies?

A: We must be committed. We have to search our souls and ask ourselves if we are truly committed.

For example, we now have more than 170 jeopardized Assemblies. We’ve called every one of them and asked why they are in jeopardy.

Ninety per cent are jeopardized for what they call “economic reasons.” In other words, people have left town because of jobs.

Of course, you can’t blame a person for moving to support a family, but where do we draw the line between an economic crisis and sticking with it because we were committed to maintaining an Assembly?

Obviously, every individual has to decide for himself, but we have to ask ourselves where our priorities are and what we’re really committed to. Our actions show where our commitment lies.

The second thing is prayer and deepening. We have to study the Writings and find out what they mean to us. We have to look at

See TEACHING Page 11

Leaving Assembly in jeopardy inconsistent with spirit of Faith

Why are there more than 170 jeopardized Assemblies in the U.S.? Why are ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ leaving Assemblies in jeopardy?

IT IS obvious that in areas of economic depression jobs may be eliminated, making a move to a more productive area necessary.

It is also conceivable that in some cases Bahá’ís are transferred by employers from one area to another. But we know that in many cases Bahá’ís move simply because they want to move.

No one wants to restrict the free movement of the believers; but to leave an Assembly in jeopardy unnecessarily is not consistent with the spirit of our Faith.

We are engaged in the awesome task of creating a new society; in building strong institutions for the progress of the world.

We do this by building strong Local Spiritual Assemblies. Many have sacrificed much so that an Assembly could form. These valiant efforts must not be brought to nothing.

The National Teaching Committee can provide guidance so that a move may serve both the individual and the Faith.

EVEN as a human infant, an Assembly requires infinite patience, much self-sacrifice, and the nurturing skills of a wise and loving parent.

Just as it is inconceivable that a parent would neglect the needs of a child, so the parenting members of that Assembly must be alert to the needs of the infant institution.

There will be times when the requirements of the Assembly may try the patience and sap the strength of its members, as an infant crying for its 2 a.m. feeding will.

But the 2 o’clock feeding is necessary for the child’s growth and development. Every good and caring parent places the needs of the child before his own.

Bahá’u’lláh makes “parents” of those who live in an Assembly area. He puts in our safekeeping a delicate organism with tremendous potential, a sacred trust:

“Spiritual Assemblies are shining lamps and heavenly gardens ... from which the lights of knowledge are shed abroad over all created things. From them the spirit of life streameth forth in every direction. They, indeed, are the potent sources of the progress of man, at all times and under all conditions.”

When we understand the divine station of an Assembly and know that it is Bahá’u’lláh Himself who called them into being, we will realize that our reason for being ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ is to help Him achieve His divine Mission.

Only then will we turn the tide and see our Faith achieve all the victories that we have been promised.

Kansas City begins introductory classes on Faith for public

The Spiritual Assembly of Kansas City, Missouri, has begun a series of three six-week introductory classes on the Faith.

The public is invited to the classes through advertisements in the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Community-run bulletin.

Such classes have been successful in the past with several people attending consistently.

Class materials were prepared by Mary Rowe of Kansas City. The Assembly plans to continue using this method as a means of reaching new people who may be interested in the Faith.

Friends urged to fill goals on homefront

The National Spiritual Assembly has sent the following mailgram to Assemblies whose communities number more than 30 believers:

“To achieve victory second phase of Seven Year Plan, we urge friends to arise and fill homefront pioneer posts before Riḍván, bringing large Groups to Assembly status and saving jeopardized Assemblies. Please keep National Teaching Committee informed. Praying for our joint success. National Spiritual Assembly.”

The mailgram mentions a specific goal for each Assembly contacted, either an extension teaching goal or a nearby Assembly that is jeopardized. [Page 11]

The homefront pioneer

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

At this crucial time of the year, each Bahá’í is encouraged to consider the possibility of homefront pioneering.

Every effort is being made to place homefront pioneers in communities with jeopardized Assemblies or large Groups in an effort to win the goals of the American Bahá’í community by Ridván.

In some instances, homefront pioneering need not mean a move across the country but simply a move across town. To discuss the possibilities or to obtain more information, call the National Teaching Committee.

Quoting excerpts from a letter from the Guardian to her husband, Estelle Benson Rouse has written the following article about homefront pioneering. We offer it for your thoughtful consideration:

The Ridván 1967 message from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the world, “Worldwide Proclamation: A New Dimension,” included the following statement, as timely today as it was then, and likely to remain so for many decades to come:

“THE constant need for pioneers ... (renders it) ... imperative to pay special attention, in every continent, to the homefronts, for they are the sources of manpower and of administrative experience, the solid bases from which all expansion begins, both at home and abroad.”

This puts a strong spotlight on the homefronts.

It is easy sometimes for a Bahá’í to feel he is not doing his part for the great Plans of the Faith unless he can go somewhere far away, anywhere that is not here, right where he is.

Pioneering, it seems, can take on the connotation of “leaving the country.” If for whatever reason the way seems blocked, this can lead to feelings of inadequacy and discouragement, which then dim our power to attract.

Longing to pioneer elsewhere, a state of suspension can develop in which the Bahá’í is neither here nor there. When he thinks of “service,” he thinks of some other place. Thus, he misses the golden opportunities which lie right at his door.

See HOMEFRONT Page 29

New programs boost Washington’s ‘Project 1000’

The Washington, D.C., Bahá’í community’s “Project 1000” teaching campaign was helped by the recent appearance there of Vahid Hedayati of Graham, Texas.

In a letter to the National Teaching Committee, the friends in the nation’s capital report that the teaching institute conducted by Mr. Hedayati “has put us on the path to winning our goal of 1,000 new believers by Ridván 1984.”

ALSO visiting the Washington area in recent weeks were two traveling teachers from the Chicago area, Monira Sohaili and Aqdas Ashraq.

Washington reports that there were 10 declarations during the week in which Mr. Hedayati conducted the institute whose focus was on reaching the masses with the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

To help win its goal of 1,000 new believers, the Washington community has initiated several programs including an International Worship Service that is held every Sunday morning at the Washington Bahá’í Center.

That program, designed to promote understanding among the various faiths of God, includes prayers and readings from the Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Bahá’í scriptures in English, Spanish, Arabic, French, Persian and other languages.

People of other faiths are invited to read from their holy books and to take part in the discussions that follow.

A professor from the ‎Peoples People’s‎ Republic of the Congo enjoyed his first visit so much that he has returned for most of the services.

THREE Christian clergymen, asked to place notices of Bahá’í interfaith programs on their bulletin boards, not only agreed to do so, but one of them requested a Bahá’í speaker for a class on comparative religion at his church.

Thanks to funds contributed by an anonymous donor, the Washington Bahá’ís have been able to send a letter-invitation to 21,000 homes in the neighborhood around the Bahá’í Center.

The letter includes a return postcard for those who would like to know more about the Faith.

Districts in which teaching is being carried out have been named for disbanded Assemblies in Iran, while teaching teams bear the names of recent Iranian martyrs.

Although the Bahá’ís in Washington are enthusiastic and optimistic about winning their goals, more help is needed, especially full-time teachers. The friends can help them by providing food and lodging.

Inquiries and offers to help should be addressed to Shirley Ganao, c/o Washington Bahá’í Center, 5713 16th St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20011.

If you wish to call, the phone number is 202-829-0731. Ask for Shirley Ganao or DuBois Johnson, the Center’s resident manager.

This Bahá’í teaching booth, which is being used in Washington, D.C.’s ‘Project 1000’ teaching campaign, was designed by Tom Mann of Herndon, Virginia.

Teaching

Continued From Page 10

deepening in a new way.

What is our attitude toward the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh? Do we go to the Writings for information, to increase our personal knowledge, to justify our beliefs, to rationalize what we are doing or what is happening, or for our personal intellectual development?

If we do, we may be deepening ourselves for the wrong reasons. I believe we should go to the Writings to receive the grace of God, to understand His bounties, to receive spiritual guidance—in short, to become spiritually enkindled. These, in my opinion, are some of the reasons we should go to the Word of God.

We must pray to be led to receptive souls. And of course, after prayer comes action.

Right now (at the time of this interview) we’re talking about less than 80 days before Ridván. We can’t be too grandiose in our plans; we have to be realistic.

The only thing at this point that will gain the victories are homefront pioneers. Some people from the larger communities must move into jeopardized areas and areas that have large Groups.

Now, this isn’t a permanent solution, and it’s certainly not the solution the National Teaching Committee wants to fall back on all the time.

Another thing we can do is teach in our extension teaching goals, concentrating on those that have seven or more believers. We shouldn’t dissipate our energies on goals that have six or fewer believers because we simply don’t have the time.

If we can save our jeopardized Assemblies by teaching and by moving in homefront pioneers and raising up large Groups, then we will have the victory that the House of Justice anticipates this Ridván.

Bahá’í named UN representative for Romani Union of world’s gypsies

Joseph Andrejchak Galata, a Slovakian Gypsy who is a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Sparks, Nevada, has been named representative to the United Nations for the Romani Union, the official organization representing the five million Gypsies throughout the world.

Mr. Galata was appointed to the post by Dr. Jan Cibula of Geneva, Switzerland, who is the director of the Romani Union.

He was informed of the appointment by Marco Kappenberger, who represents the European Bahá’í community at the UN in Geneva.

Mr. Galata, who works for the U.S. government as a counselor for teen-agers, is also a member of the Northern Nevada Bahá’í Media Committee.

Aid is requested for Assemblies, Groups

The National Teaching Committee has announced that all traveling teachers have been asked to concentrate their efforts on helping to save jeopardized Assemblies and raise large Groups of seven or more to Assembly status at Ridván.

In a letter to the traveling teachers dated February 2, the National Teaching Committee asked that they phone jeopardized Assemblies and large Groups in their districts and offer to speak at or participate in teaching events.

The traveling teachers have also been asked to visit the larger communities to encourage them to send out as many homefront pioneers as possible between now and Ridván.

Vahid Hedayati, a Bahá’í from Graham, Texas, conducted a recent teaching institute during Washington, D.C.’s ‘Project 1000’ teaching campaign designed to enroll at least 1,000 new believers by Ridván 1984. With Mr. Hedayati are (back row left to right) Shirley Ganao, new declarants Joyce Worth and Charles Worth, Wledia Bright, Ann LaCrosse, Behrouz Tavanghar, and (front row left to right) Roya Movaddat, Nahid Tavanghar, Herman Freeman, and Joerikorn Thanadabouth. [Page 12]

RACE UNITY

‘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)

Ralph R. (Dick) Hauck, a member of the Bahá’í community of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been appointed by the mayor of Charlotte and the chairman of the Board of County Commissioners to serve on the Charlotte Community Relations Committee, which was established to deal with racial problems, promote equality of opportunity, foster understanding and respect, and provide channels of communication among various racial, religious and ethnic groups. Mr. Hauck, a medical electronics equipment salesman, is the first Bahá’í named to serve on the committee.

Book offers fresh look at Dr. King, ‘movement’

Let the Trumpet Sound: The Life of Martin Luther King Jr., by Dr. Stephen Oates. Harper & Row, 1982 ($19.95 hardcover, $6.95 paperback).

In view of Congress’ recent decision to make the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a national holiday beginning January 15, 1985, it seems fitting to begin our series of book reviews with a biography of Dr. King.

In it, the author carefully traces Dr. King’s life from his early years in Atlanta, Georgia, to his tragic death in Memphis, Tennessee.

Yet Let the Trumpet Sound is far more than the life story of a single man; it is a fascinating account of the civil rights movement between 1955 and 1968.

Dr. King’s life is placed within the context of its historical significance. The opening chapter examines young Dr. King’s preparation for the mass movement he was to lead starting at the age of 26.

Well-educated, Dr. King was graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta and received his Ph.D from Boston University in 1955.

It was during his years at Boston University that he met and married Coretta Scott.

After taking a position as pastor of the Dexter Street Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. King would, for the next 13 years, be undeniably considered the single most influential voice for freedom, equality and justice in America.

Dr. King’s “inauguration” as leader of the “movement” came with his inspiring speech which led to the Montgomery bus boycott:

“We’re here this evening for serious business. We’re here in a general sense because first and foremost, we are American citizens, and we are determined to acquire our citizenship to the fullness of its meaning.

“We are here also because of our deep-seated belief that democracy transformed from thin paper to thick action is the greatest form of government on earth. But we are here in a specific sense because of the bus situation in Montgomery.

“We are here because we are determined to get the situation corrected. But, there comes a time when people get tired. We are here to say to those who have mistreated us so long that we are tired—tired of being segregated and humiliated; tired of being kicked out by the brutal feet of oppression . . .

“We have no alternative but to protest. For many years, we have shown amazing patience. We have sometimes given our white brothers the feeling that we liked the way we were being treated. But we come here tonight to be saved, to be saved from patience.

“Unity is the great need of the hour, and if we are united we can get many of the things we not only desire, but which we justly deserve . . .”

Such timely and insightful speeches gave Dr. King a reputation as one of the greatest orators of our time.

It is common knowledge that Dr. King led the freedom marches of the civil rights campaign throughout the South, which led ultimately to sweeping changes in civil rights laws and segregation practices.

His commitment to non-violence and human rights earned him worldwide respect and, in 1964, the Nobel Peace Prize.

But what is not so commonly known by those of us who were not closely involved with the movement he led are the behind-the-scenes fears, frustrations, doubts, sacrifices, setbacks and acts of courage.

Dr. Oates describes extremely well this very human side of the civil rights movement. This may well be one of the best books available on the life of Dr. King and on the history of the civil rights movement in this country.

Bahá’ís support event honoring Dr. King’s birth

Bahá’ís figured prominently in a commemoration January 15 of the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sponsored by the Glencoe, Illinois, Human Relations Committee.

Bonnie Taylor, a Bahá’í from Glencoe, is president of the committee’s board of directors and was a member of the planning committee for the event.

Another Glencoe Bahá’í, Gwen Bentley Clayborne, was chairman of the planning committee.

Bob Bellows, a Bahá’í from Skokie, entertained with piano selections during the dinner hour and accompanied other entertainers.

Jini Hammond, a Bahá’í who is a prominent Chicago architect, designed the Rebecca Crown room of North Shore Congregation Israel in which the observance was held.

Six students, one of whom, Kelsey Taylor, is a Glencoe Bahá’í, read letters to Dr. King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, that were composed by groups of students working together at their school.

About 220 people including many Bahá’ís from the greater Chicago area attended this year’s event, more than doubling last year’s attendance figure.

The Faith was mentioned twice during the observance.

Friendship

Continued From Page 10

Friendship Team there has had regular firesides with good attendance by seekers. The firesides are publicized by means of a personal computer owned by one of the members.

The computer, equipped with a letter-quality printer and word processing program, generates personalized letters addressed to each member of a growing mailing list of friends and seekers.

FROM GREENSBORO, N.C. . . . an idea to stimulate regular weekly firesides. How about a commitment to host a fireside once a week for nine consecutive weeks?

If started immediately, a community, Friendship Team, family or individual could host nine weekly firesides before Riḍván. Remember, a seeker is encouraged to return when he knows a fireside is going to be held at the same time and place week after week.

FROM THE NATIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE . . . up to this point, Friendship Teams have had a low profile. Now it may be time to set an example for the rest of your community, local and national.

How many seekers come to your firesides? We all know Bahá’ís who declared at their first fireside and some who took a bit longer, but we all remember that first fireside as one of the most special times in our life.

Would your Friendship Team like to “vie” with another to see who can get the most attendance by seekers by Riḍván? April 10 is the deadline for the May issue of The American Bahá’í. Start sending us your counts, and we’ll publish them in the May and June issues.

What others are doing ...

Two fraternities at Penn State University joined together January 28 for an Ebony and Ivory Weekend designed to tear down social barriers between black and white students.

The Alpha Phi Alphas, an all-black fraternity, and the Beta Sigma Betas, a Jewish fraternity, teamed up for speeches, films, concerts and discussions to “break the ice that has formed between blacks and whites,” according to Keith Burris of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Penn State’s enrollment at its main campus is 33,445; of that number, only 977 students are black. The attitude on campus is one of “indifference,” not racism, says Harold Cheatham, a Penn State professor.

The Alphas got the idea for the weekend of friendship and decided to co-sponsor the event with an all-white fraternity to “send a message to the university,” says Dale Fisher, social director of the Alphas. The university helped stage and fund the event.

According to Mark Wiser of the Betas, “We wanted to do something to show that the races can work together.”

Census data offers comparison between U.S. whites, minorities

The Chicago Urban League has used 1980 census data to compare several socio-economic disparities between blacks, Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites in 11 major urban centers in the U.S.

CITIES included in the study are Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles-Long Beach, San Francisco-Oakland, and Washington, D.C.

They were chosen based on the proportion of their minority and non-minority population.

The eight indicators used to determine the relative status of minority and non-minority groups were (1) median family income, (2) percentage below the poverty level, (3) labor force participation rate, (4) population employment ratio, (5) unemployment rate, (6) percentage of female-headed households with children, (7) percentage of 25-year-olds who are high school graduates or more, and (8) percentage who live in owner-occupied housing units.

Briefly, the findings indicated that Chicago had the worst overall showing among the cities studied with respect to the socio-economic gap between blacks and whites.

However, the socio-economic gap between Hispanics and whites was greatest in Boston.

The study concluded by emphasizing the following points:

1. Blacks in all of the larger SMSAs (Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas) in this country are experiencing consistently lower socio-economic status than whites.

2. To a slightly lesser degree, the same pattern holds for Hispanics, although Hispanics generally fare better than blacks.

3. Perhaps the Midwestern conservatism in Chicago, the prevalence there of strong ethnic communities that are particularly hostile to blacks, and/or some other factors are part of the root causes of the especially large gap between blacks and whites in that city.

4. The socio-economic disparity between blacks and whites is consistently larger in the Frostbelt than it is in Sunbelt SMSAs.

Bahá’í cable TV series in Minnesota gets under way with program on marriage

On January 11, the Bahá’ís of Hopkins, Minnesota, taped a program for Minnesota Cable TV Systems entitled, “Marriage: A Fortress for Well-Being.”

The program, the first in a planned series called “Bahá’í Perspectives,” was broadcast four times in February.

The participants were James Borland, moderator; William and Jean Harley, Joel and Vicki Nizin, and Phillip Carlson, who provided the background music.

Minnesota Cable Systems reaches Hopkins, Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and Richfield. [Page 13]

Persian Affairs Committee gives newcomers helping hand

By DAVID E. OGRON

The Persian Affairs Committee, established by the National Spiritual Assembly in October 1979 to facilitate the integration of Persian believers into the American Bahá’í community, sees evidence of gradual but positive changes in the way in which the Persian friends are being assimilated into the mainstream of Bahá’í community life in this country.

THERE IS evidence of acceptance of and support for newly arrived Persian believers, and a change in the attitudes of those who have recently come here from Iran, according to Manouchehr Derakhshani, secretary of the Persian Affairs Committee.

The newly arrived Bahá’ís, he says, have begun to see themselves as being more a part of the American Bahá’í community than as visitors to this country.

“The committee,” says Dr. Derakhshani, “has seen examples of Persian friends who rise up to shoulder their share of responsibility in helping to achieve the goals of the U.S. Bahá’í community.”

In addition to Dr. Derakhshani, who handles the day-to-day business of the committee at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, the members of the Persian Affairs Committee are Julie Badiee of Westminster, Maryland; Marina Banuazizi of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts; Manouchehr Haghani of San Diego, California; Ghodratollah Rowshan of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Puran Stevens of Wilmette, who also works in the committee’s office at the National Center.

The committee is most concerned about the delicate balance that must be struck for Persian Bahá’ís in the U.S.

ON THE one hand, Dr. Derakhshani explains, the committee is pushing for integration of the Persian believers in the areas of language and customs.

“But on the other hand,” he says, “we hope that the Persian friends retain some familiarity with their own culture, especially their ability to use Persian and Arabic in order to read the sacred Writings in their original languages.”

The coming together of two culturally different groups of people, says Dr. Derakhshani, is bound to create some misunderstandings or problems of adjustment and adaptation to a new environment.

“However,” he adds, “this is an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate the ideal of the Bahá’í Faith, which is nothing less than the unity of mankind.”

Problems arise, he says, as a result of one’s attachment to cultural traditions, but if we can transcend our cultures and realize that it is the principles of the Faith that should guide us, Persians and Americans can each contribute the best of their cultures to that ultimate Bahá’í culture.

THAT IS the guiding principle behind the work of the Persian Affairs Committee.

Besides serving as the executive arm of the committee, the Persian Affairs Office at the National Center is the liaison between the Persian-speaking members of the American Bahá’í community and the various agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly.

The responsibilities of the office are many and varied. For example, it provides help to Persian Bahá’ís who are applying for refugee visas to enter the U.S.

Much time is spent relaying information to relatives of Persian believers who are stranded abroad or to the National Assemblies in countries where refugee processing centers have been established or where large numbers of Persian Bahá’ís are waiting to be admitted to this country.

Between July 1 and December 1, 1983, some 90 Persian Bahá’ís were cleared for transfer to the American Bahá’í community, while 31 requests for enrollment were carefully evaluated and submitted to the National Spiritual Assembly for its consideration.

THE verification process is time-consuming but extremely important, says Dr. Derakhshani, because of the present situation in Iran.

During the same six-month period from July through December, the Persian Affairs Office supplied 100 letters of introduction for Persian Bahá’ís who were applying for asylum to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.

The committee arranged for printing 2,000 copies in Persian of the open letter to the government of Iran from that country’s now disbanded National Spiritual Assembly.

Some copies are being distributed to prominent Persian-speaking non-Bahá’ís. Others have been sent to Persian-language newspapers and periodicals, to the producers of six Persian-language radio and television programs, to the 11 area Persian Affairs Committees, and to selected Local Spiritual Assemblies in the U.S.

Because it cannot implement all of the various activities it has initiated, the committee has asked several Spiritual Assemblies in areas where there are large numbers of Persian Bahá’ís to sponsor area Persian Affairs Committees to carry out functions of the national committee at the local level.

AS A part of its ongoing effort to help integrate Persian believers into the American Bahá’í community, the committee uses a video taped deepening program on cultural differences entitled “The Feast.” A second video tape is now being prepared.

Articles in The American Bahá’í by Dr. Badiee and Dr. Carole Allen on overcoming cultural barriers were written at the request of the Persian Affairs Committee.

Each month, its office prepares for publication in The American Bahá’í Persian-language translations of messages from the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly, Counsellors, and various national committees.

Other important documents, such as the complete text in Persian of the open letter from the former National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, have also been published in The American Bahá’í.

The Persian Affairs Committee is involved in the publication and distribution of Bahá’í literature in Persian, and has prepared for publication a Persian translation of the compilation “The Bahá’í Life” which was prepared by the Universal House of Justice and first published by the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran.

The committee has completed work on a final draft of a Persian translation of the Synopsis and Codification of the Laws and Ordinances of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas which will be sent to the World Centre for final approval.

THE committee also has been working with the Bahá’í Publishing Trust to import other Persian-language publications to the U.S.

And it has prepared a handbook to help newly arrived Persian Bahá’ís in this country.

The Persian Affairs Committee is greatly concerned about the proper training of Persian children and youth because so many Bahá’í teachers and scholars from Iran have been lost to us.

In response, the committee has suggested that programs of Bahá’í study be organized for selected Persian Bahá’ís, especially for the youth, so that they can gain an in-depth familiarity with the Writings in Persian and Arabic.

The committee suggested and helped to prepare a two-week

See PERSIAN Page 18

Members of the Persian Affairs Committee are (left to right) Manouchehr Haghani of San Diego, California; Julie Badiee of Westminster, Maryland; Ghodratollah Rowshan of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Marina Banuazizi of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts; the committee secretary, Manouchehr Derakhshani of Wilmette, Illinois; and Puran Stevens of Wilmette.

Mrs. Farzaneh Rezvani is a valuable member of the Persian Affairs Committee office staff at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, handling many of the clerical and secretarial duties. [Page 14]

Wisconsin family sponsors Persian refugees

A Bahá’í family of four in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, recently grew to a household of 10.

It happened with the arrival in November of a family of Persian Bahá’ís who had been stranded in Cyprus.

LAST October, Jack and Georgia Johnson made known their desire to sponsor a refugee family to the National Institute for Migration and Population Services, a private, non-profit refugee resettlement organization with headquarters in Beaumont, Texas.

One of the Institute’s organizers is a Bahá’í, and there are several Bahá’ís on its staff, but the organization is not formally associated with the Faith or any of its institutions.

Fereidoon Rayga, his wife, Tayebeh, their three daughters, and Mr. Rayga’s mother left Iran in 1978 to pioneer to Cyprus.

Last September, their visa to remain in Cyprus expired and was not renewed. They traveled to Athens, Greece, and later to Rome, Italy, where they were processed by the United Nations refugee processing center.

While they were in Rome, word was received at the UN processing center that the National Institute for Migration and Population Services had found an American family to sponsor the Rayga family in the U.S.

AS A result, the Rayga family of Tehran, and more recently of Larnaca, Cyprus, now lives in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where their arrival raised the size of the Bahá’í Group of Lafayette Township to eight adults with high hopes of soon forming its first Spiritual Assembly.

Georgia Johnson is enthusiastic about the experience of sponsoring the Raygas. Her own family, she says, has benefitted ‎from more from more from‎ having the Raygas as their guests than the Rayga family has benefitted from coming to Chippewa Falls.

‎Jack “Jack‎ feels for the first time in his life that he has a ‘brother,’ ” she says, “and it is beautiful to watch the children of the two families unite almost as siblings in one family.”

The presence of the Raygas has opened many teaching avenues in this small Wisconsin town both with non-Bahá’í relatives of the Johnsons and with the community as a whole, says Mrs. Johnson.

It appears that the idea of sponsoring refugees is catching on in Chippewa Falls, she reports, since two seekers there say they also would like to sponsor a Bahá’í refugee.

MANY other Bahá’í refugees who are stranded in other countries could find new homes in the U.S. if they had sponsors here, says Stormy Cribb, an employee of the National Institute for Migration and Population Services. But, she adds, there are two qualifications.

Sometimes, sponsoring families in this country must wait longer than the Johnsons did to receive their new arrivals from overseas, and only those Iranian Bahá’ís who fled Iran and are classified as refugees by the United Nations and the U.S. government are eligible to enter this country as refugees.

A major requirement for refugee status, explains Dr. Manouchehr Derakhshani, secretary of the Persian Affairs Committee, is that the person or persons in question have no visa from any other country and nowhere else to go.

In many cases, says Mrs. Cribb, even a temporary visa from another country disqualifies a person from refugee status. Yet in spite of this, there are many eligible Persian Bahá’í refugees who may be brought into the U.S.

The National Institute for Migration and Population Services invites those who are interested in sponsoring one or more such refugees to contact that organization.

The address is P.O. Box 3462, Beaumont, TX 77704, or you may phone them at 409-838-9090.

In addition to the refugee program, it is possible for Persian Bahá’ís who are already in the U.S. to help close relatives overseas come to live here. The Institute can help by providing the necessary information and taking care of paperwork.

Members of the Rayga family of ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ from Tehran are shown with their new ‘family,’ the Johnsons of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, whose sponsorship enabled the Raygas to come to the U.S. from Cyprus last November. From left to right, they are Leila Yaghobzadeh Yopehy, Gita Rayga, James Halmstad, Georgia Johnson, Roberta Halmstad, Jack Johnson, Bita Rayga, Fereidoon Rayga, Tayebeh Rayga, and Ladan Rayga (standing in front of her mother).

Migration Institute helps relocate refugees

Your Bahá’í community could help save a jeopardized Assembly, provide a humanitarian service, raise a Group to Assembly status—all through one effort!

THE National Spiritual Assembly and offices at the National Center are working with the National Institute for Migration and Population Services to facilitate and direct the placement of Bahá’í refugees into jeopardized Assemblies and large Bahá’í Groups. Sponsors are needed to make this possible.

In cooperation with the National Teaching Committee, the sponsors can facilitate placement of a refugee or refugee family into a nearby goal locality.

Is it difficult to sponsor a refugee?

No. Such sponsorship is not difficult. All that has to be assured is that housing is available and that community help and guidance will be provided for the refugee or family during their first months in your community.

How do you get the family started in their new life?

Here is where group action makes it all possible. Arrange to have the members of the household visit the local supermarket and provide some guidance in economical shopping habits.

Arrange to have employable people in the household visit with potential employers, and arrange for the children to attend school.

What about our legal and financial obligations as sponsors?

As a sponsor you assume no legal obligation. At the most, there is a moral commitment to help your new neighbors.

What if a problem should arise?

We certainly hope that every resettlement will be problem-free. But if anything should come up that you see as a problem, please don’t hesitate to ask for help from the National Institute for Migration and Population Services, P.O. Box 3462, Beaumont, TX 77704 (phone 409-838-9090 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday).

Telephone Pioneers of America receive Bahá’í Human Rights Awards in Alabama

Elaine Greer (left) presents Bahá’í human rights awards to representatives of the five Birmingham, Alabama, area councils of the Telephone Pioneers of America (left to right) Dan Beaty, Mary Martin, Mary Ruth Kasulka, Georgia Glenn and Thelma Hodgen. The awards were presented last December 10, UN Human Rights Day, on behalf of the Spiritual Assembly of Jefferson County, Alabama, and the Birmingham Bahá’í Public Affairs Committee.

On UN Human Rights Day, December 10, the Spiritual Assembly of Jefferson County, Alabama, and the Greater Birmingham Bahá’í Public Affairs Committee presented Bahá’í human rights awards to representatives of the five Birmingham area councils of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

The Pioneers, who raise funds and volunteer their time to help a variety of charitable organizations, were recognized for “loving and devoted service to humanity.”

The keynote speaker at the award ceremony was Lawrence Miller, a Bahá’í from Roswell, Georgia, who is president of Tarkenton and Company in Atlanta.

Ashley Alvis was master of ceremonies, and Elaine Greer made the award presentation.

Academic papers are sought for presentation at 2nd Los Angeles Bahá’í History Conference

Academic papers relating to the Bahá’í Faith are being sought for presentation at the second annual Los Angeles Bahá’í History Conference to be held August 30-September 2 at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Topics to be considered include literature, theology, social sciences, and other related areas. All papers submitted will be considered for publication by Kalimát Press in its series Studies in Bábí and Bahá’í History.

Authors should notify the conference committee as soon as possible of their intention to submit a paper. The deadline for completed papers is August 1.

Limited funds are available to help defer the costs of travel expenses for those who are approved to present papers. Those who need such help should inform the committee no later than April 1.

Please send all correspondence to the Bahá’í Club, P.O. Box 197, 308 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

If you wish to communicate by phone, call Kalimát Press, 213-208-8559.

The purpose of the conference, which is sponsored jointly by the Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles, the UCLA Bahá’í Club, and Kalimát Press, is to survey the present state of academic knowledge of Bahá’í history, present papers that will further that knowledge, foster communication among scholars in this field, and discuss new avenues of inquiry.

AVAILABLE NOW From the Bahá’í Service for the Blind In Braille or on cassette tape— Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh The Priceless Pearl More than 100 other titles For a catalog send $1 to: Bahá’í Service for the Blind Tucson, AZ 85716 (Please specify complete catalog or catalog for tapes and cassettes only.)

[Page 15]

New Books and Pamphlets for TEACHING • DEEPENING

Preparing Yourself to Teach

The Individual and Teaching: Raising the Divine Call Contains stimulating guidelines to be used in the teaching work. Designed to help you cast aside your fears and do your part in sharing the greatest gift of all—the gift of teaching. Softcover Catalog No. 215-060 $1.50

Teaching Booklets

The Bahá’í Faith teaching booklet An easy-to-use booklet containing photographs and simple text designed to aid seekers in catching “the spark of the Faith” and becoming informed about the Central Figures, Bahá’í laws, and Bahá’í administration. English Catalog No. 267-002 10/$14.00 Spanish Catalog No. 231-006 $1.50

God’s Great Plan Use the cover of Henry Ginn’s popular study guide on progressive revelation to open a discussion on the topic. With simple explanations and Biblical quotations the text unfolds the Bahá’í teachings to Bible-oriented seekers. Softcover Catalog No. 341-012 $2.00

Inexpensive Pocket-Sized Books for Seekers

Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh (pocket-sized ed.) Share a comprehensive selection of the Creative Word with seekers close to the Faith—with the handsome, inexpensive pocket-sized edition of Gleanings. Pocket-sized Catalog No. 103-031 $3.50

Kitáb-i-Íqán (pocket-sized ed.) For seekers who are interested in Bible-oriented topics and progressive revelation, the inexpensive pocket-sized Íqán enables you to provide those close to the Faith with their own copies. Pocket-sized Catalog No. 106-032 $3.50

Some Answered Questions (pocket-sized ed.) For your spring and summer teaching efforts—‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s answers to general questions about the Bahá’í Faith plus discussions of Christianity, Biblical prophecies—and more. Pocket-sized Catalog No. 106-043 $3.50

General Teaching Pamphlets

Basic Facts of the Bahá’í Faith In Spanish and English—a pamphlet containing the basic teachings of the Bahá’í Faith, its history, and the pattern for the future. English Catalog No. 340-014 50/$4.00 Spanish Catalog No. 440-070 1/$.10

One Universal Faith An inexpensive pamphlet with a chart illustrating the concept of progressive revelation. Shows how Bahá’u’lláh is the Promised One of all previous religions. Pamphlet Catalog No. 340-037 50/$4.00

Topical Pamphlets

Building a Unified Community A thoughtful pamphlet for people who are interested in unity as it emerges in a marriage and a family and in one’s local, national and international communities. Pamphlet Catalog No. 340-098 10/$3.00

Equality of Men and Women: A New Reality Excellent for anyone who is interested in the harmonious and equal relationships of the sexes. Pamphlet Catalog No. 340-074 10/$3.00

The Environment and Human Values: A Bahá’í View A perceptive discussion of how environmental problems spring from social structures and value systems that do not meet current human needs. Pamphlet Catalog No. 340-056 10/$3.00

One World, One People: A Bahá’í View Discusses the spiritual standards needed to resolve the interlocking economic and social problems of our day. Pamphlet Catalog No. 340-099 10/$3.00

New Books

The Light of Divine Guidance A selection of letters from Shoghi Effendi to Germany and Austria. Covers the period between 1922 and 1957. Hardcover Catalog No. 308-054 $21.00

The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Vol. 3, ‘Akká, the Early Years: 1868-77 This volume in Adib Taherzadeh’s series covers the nine years from the arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in ‘Akká to His departure from the prison-city, and includes the revelation of His Book of Laws, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Hardcover Catalog No. 331-094 $18.50

Bahá’í Proofs Mírzá Abu’l-Fadl’s much-loved treatise addressed to 20th-century Christians. New preface by Juan Ricardo Cole plus index. Hardcover Catalog No. 332-116 $15.00

Four on an Island Bahíyyih Nakhjavání’s story of four Bahá’ís who chose to be exiled with Bahá’u’lláh but found themselves sent to Cyprus with Bahá’u’lláh’s enemies. Hardcover Catalog No. 332-117 $8.95 Softcover Catalog No. 332-118 $4.50

A Sudden Music Roger White’s deft blending of fact and fiction—the story of a young American student in the Paris of 1910, who awakens to the first stirrings of Divine and of human love. The novella unfolds against the background of the visit to Paris in 1909 of May Ellis Maxwell and describes the visit in 1911 of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Hardcover Catalog No. 332-114 $11.95 Softcover Catalog No. 332-115 $5.50

Back in Stock

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Lightweight ed. Catalog No. 103-029 $6.00

Selections from the Writings of the Báb Lightweight ed. Catalog No. 105-051 $6.00

Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Lightweight ed. Catalog No. 106-040 $6.00

A Crown of Beauty Hardcover Catalog No. 332-097 $14.95 Softcover Catalog No. 332-098 $9.75

Portals to Freedom Softcover Catalog No. 331-022 $6.50

The Wine of Astonishment Softcover Catalog No. 331-064 $2.75

ORDER FORM

Qty	Title	Price	Qty	Title	Price
___	Kitáb-i-Íqán, PS	$3.50	___	A Crown of Beauty, HC	$14.95
___	Gleanings, PS	3.50	___	A Crown of Beauty, SC	9.75
___	Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh	6.00	___	Portals to Freedom, SC	6.50
___	Selections Writings of the Báb	6.00	___	Wine of Astonishment, SC	2.75
___	Selections Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá	6.00	___	Bahá’í Faith tchg bklt, Eng.	10/14.00
___	Some Answered Questions, HC	12.00	___	Bahá’í Faith tchg bklt, Spn.	1.50
___	Some Answered Questions, PS	3.50	___	God’s Great Plan, SC	2.00
___	Light of Divine Guidance, HC	21.00	___	Basic Facts Bahá’í Faith, Eng.	50/4.00
___	Individual and Teaching	1.50	___	Basic Facts Bahá’í Faith, Spn.	1/0.10
___	Bahá’í Proofs, HC	15.00	___	One Universal Faith	50/4.00
___	Rev. Bahá’u’lláh, Vol. 3, HC	18.50	___	Building a Unified Community	10/3.00
___	Four on an Island, HC	8.95	___	Equality of Men and Women	10/3.00
___	Four on an Island, SC	4.50	___	Environment Human Values	10/3.00
___	A Sudden Music, HC	11.95	___	One World, One People	10/3.00
___	A Sudden Music, SC	5.50

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

Charge to: ($10.00 minimum order)

VISA _______ MC _______ Card expires _______

Send to: Name _______ Address _______ City _______ State _______ Zip _______

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

Bahá’í Publishing Trust 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 TAB 3/84 Prices good through May 15, 1984 [Page 16]

CLASSIFIEDS

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

THE TEMPLE Restoration Committee is seeking qualified persons interested in working as field engineer during the restoration of the House of Worship. The position requires experience in building construction, preferably in-the-field, either in an engineering or architectural capacity, and calls for mature judgment in several areas of construction, with emphasis on structural steel and waterproofing. A degree is an asset, but not a requirement. The term of employment is indefinite, but probably not more than two years. Anticipated starting date may be as early as May 1984. If interested, please reply to the Personnel Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, stating qualifications and salary requirements.

SECURITY guards are critically needed to protect our Bahá’í Holy Places at the World Centre. These positions require shift work, physical fitness, and the ability to learn some Hebrew. Single men only should apply. A commitment of about two years is desirable. For applications and further information, please contact the Personnel Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

NEED a homefront pioneer? Help us to send one to your locality. Keep us informed about jobs, schools, rooms for rent, homes to share, and a general description of your community. These are most helpful in matching pioneers to posts. Please write to the National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or telephone 312-869-9039. Thank you.

IMMEDIATE response needed! Golden opportunity to serve Bahá’u’lláh, help form an Assembly, be a homefront pioneer, obtain a job, live in lovely New Mexico. A position for a social worker is available in Ramah-Navajo community. Work with another Bahá’í, become the eighth member of the Ramah Chapter Bahá’í Group. Bilinguality not required. Phone the homefront pioneer coordinator at 312-869-9039, ext. 235.

THE BOSCH Bahá’í School needs books for its non-Bahá’í elderhostel programs. The following is a typical such reading list: Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America; Barbara Hannah, Jung, His Life and Work; Clement Bezold (ed.), Anticipatory Democracy; Fritjof Capra, The Turning Point, The Tao of Physics; Ronald W. Clark, Einstein-His Life and Times; Paul Ehrlich, The End of Affluence; Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Conspiracy; John Kenneth Galbraith, The Age of Uncertainty; Hazel Henderson, Politics of the Solar Age, Creating Alternative Futures; Ivan Illich, Tools for Conviviality, Medical Nemesis; Thomas S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions; Frances Moore Lappé and Joseph Collins, Food First-Beyond the Myth of Scarcity; Thomas Merton (ed.), Gandhi on Non-Violence; Jonathan Schell, The Fate of the Earth; Alvin Toffler, The Third Wave. If you have copies of any of these books, in good condition, or any other titles dealing with international economic or social issues, disarmament, peace studies—all those changes leading to world order—the Bosch library would welcome them as a contribution. Please send to the Bosch Bahá’í School/Community Services, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.

AGRICULTURAL economist is needed for a project in the African country of Mali. It involves the introduction of forage legumes into the traditional farming system. Should be fluent in English and French and have a Ph.D in agricultural economics with seven years working experience. Information about this position will be given to Bahá’ís whose applications for pioneering have been accepted by the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

WORK in beautiful southwestern Oregon. A position is open for the fall of 1984 at Illinois Valley High School in Cave Junction for an industrial arts teacher (woodworking), possibly some electronics or electricity, and mechanical drawing (grades 9-12). School population is about 380. Must apply by April to Hugh Fulton, principal, Illinois Valley High School, River St., Cave Junction, OR 97523, and to John Mayfield, Superintendent, Josephine County School District, Grants Pass, OR 97526. For more information please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Illinois Valley, P.O. Box 973, Cave Junction, OR 97523. Jeopardized Assembly needs you here!

LOUHELEN Bahá’í School needs several items for its after-school enrichment program. Among them are 35mm cameras (in working condition), several home computers (Commodore Vic-20 or Vic-64, Apple, etc.), small black and white TVs or computer monitors, typewriters (manual or electric), and a laminating machine. If you are able to donate any of these items, or know how we can acquire any of them, please write to the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033.

SONGS are needed for a song book that will consist of a variety of material either written by Bahá’ís or reflecting the principles of the Faith. They should be "sing-along" (easy to pick up) type materials which could be used at Bahá’í summer schools, in children's classes and at community events. We are looking for Spanish, American Indian, Persian and English songs. If you have any material you would like to submit for consideration, please send a cassette tape and/or score with the name of the lyricist and composer (for copyright purposes), as well as your own name and address, to Lindsay LaMarche, St. Peters, MO 63376.

TEACHING materials are needed by overseas pioneers. Articles on any aspect of American culture are desired as well as biographies, particularly of historic or literary figures, a Boy Scout or Girl Scout handbook, and various plays. Plays by Joseph Conrad, George Bernard Shaw, Doris Lessing, and John Galsworthy are especially appreciated. If you would like to donate any materials to pioneers abroad, please send them to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

THE GREEN Acre work/study program is an opportunity to spend two weeks at the school at minimal cost to attend classes and be of service to the school. Please contact the Green Acre Bahá’í School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking copies of the following books by Shoghi Effendi, in good or excellent condition: The Advent of Divine Justice (cloth, 1940, 1956, 1963, 1969; paper, 1956, 1963, 1969); Bahá’í Administration (cloth, 1968; paper, 1928, 1933, 1936, 1941); God Passes By (cloth, 1950, 1957, 1964; paper, 1944). Please contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

BAHÁ’Í communities in the New Orleans area are preparing for the World's Fair to be held there from May-November 1984. In the spirit of universal participation, we are inviting the friends to send us their ideas and suggestions for cost-effective proclamation of the Faith during that period. As pre-planning is essential, we request that you send your ideas and thoughts as soon as possible to Robert Pruski, secretary, New Orleans Metro Media Public Information Committee, 63 Thornton Drive, Chalmette, LA 70043.

SPANISH-speaking or bi-lingual homefront pioneers are needed on any of three Indian Reservations in Washington state: Toppenish, Wapato, Yakima. Please contact the National Teaching Committee, 312-869-9039.

TEACHING position available in the Kilby Laboratory School at the University of Northern Alabama in Florence, a goal locality. MA plus five years teaching experience. Please contact the National Teaching Committee immediately at 312-869-9039, ext. 235.

CONIFER Hill Bahá’í School in the Colorado Rockies is seeking qualified cooks and assistant cooks to plan and prepare nutritious, appetizing meals based as much as possible on the use of natural foods. One cook and three assistants are needed for the family session from August 10-19. Additional cooks and assistants are needed for five weekend sessions: July 21-22, July 28-29, August 4-5, August 25-26 and September 1-2. The cook and assistants are helped by volunteers in preparing meals and in clean-up afterward. Forty to 80 students attend each meal. A small salary will be paid, and on-site lodging will be provided for the cook. Scholarships covering room and board will be available for assistant cooks. Each assistant will help the cook for one meal a day and will be free to participate in school activities for the rest of the time. Applicants for cook or assistant cook should apply to Marilyn Fisher, Boulder, CO 80302, or phone 303-443-6422.

INTERESTED in attending or performing at a Ridván festival-proclamation in Philadelphia? Write for details or send a proposal to the Ridván Committee, Anne Atkinson, secretary, Philadelphia, PA 19143.

THE BRITISH Virgin Islands, a crucial goal of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Virgin Islands, needs pioneers. Those with either British or Canadian passports have a better chance of becoming self-supporting. Retired people, or those with another source of income, would be ideal. If you would like more information about this lovely island, please contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

BEAUTIFUL Lompoc, California, where the temperature averages in the 70s year-round, is again seeking help in developing a more diverse racial community to continue building strength in its teaching efforts. Lompoc, a city of about 27,000, is in southern California, 50 miles from Santa Barbara and 10 miles from Vandenburg Air Force Base. The Lompoc Valley serves a population of more than 50,000. Six Bahá’ís are struggling to rebuild a lost Assembly. Please contact us at

BRILLIANT Star/Child's Way magazine needs these back issues: any from 1949-1955; January/February 1956; July/August 1957, section 1; March/April 1959; May/June 1959; July/August 1959; September/October 1959; March/April 1960; September/October 1960; January/February 1962; September/October 1968; November/December 1968; January/February 1969; May/June 1979; May/June 1982. Can you help? Please send to Brilliant Star, Suburban Office Park, 5010 Austin Road, Hixson, TN 37343.

PANAMA has a new postage stamp which shows the Bahá’í Temple there. A pioneer in Panama would like to exchange this and other stamps with other Bahá’ís. If you are interested in contacting this pioneer, please address a letter to "Stamp Collector, c/o IGC, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091," put a 20-cent stamp on it, and it will be forwarded for you.

H.F.P. (homefront pioneers), please call "home"! Have you recently arrived at a homefront pioneer post? Remember, you cannot be counted if we do not have notice of your arrival. Send us your new address, Bahá’í I.D. number, phone number, and previous Bahá’í community. Thank you! Love, the National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

OPPORTUNITY for a qualified person as a journeyman plumber to help a business in Alpine, Texas, maintain an established reputation of quality service. Must have experience in service and repair, remodeling and new construction. Alpine, in the lovely Big Bend country, is a growing college town (home of Sul Ross State University) and retirement area with a mild year-round climate and excellent, progressive and expanding medical and service facilities. A great place to rear children or spend one's retirement years. Teaching and consolidation opportunities are unlimited with four mass-taught Assemblies in the immediate area. Only 87 miles from Presidio/Ojinaga, Mexican border towns with about 250 new believers. Bahá’ís of all ages are needed to help build a strong, permanent and active community in Alpine. We'll see that retirees and/or youth receive information from the Chamber of Commerce and the university. Journeyman plumber please apply to Pete Ibsen Plumbing, P.O. Box 114, Alpine, TX 79831, or phone 915-837-5188.

SUMMER jobs at the Green Acre Bahá’í School include those for cooks, innkeeper, librarian, book sales, housekeepers, kitchen help, and directors/teachers for the adult, youth and children's programs. Please contact the Green Acre Bahá’í School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903.

MACAU: An experienced computer systems analyst is needed by a Bahá’í-owned software company in Macau, a small Portuguese-administered territory near [Page 17]

'Trail of Light' travels in Navajo-Hopi country

By REGINA ANCHONDO Part Four

The day after our evening program in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we left the motor homes once more, this time to visit the Navajo and Hopi people in northern Arizona.

By this time the group had grown to include three more members—Chester Kahn, a Navajo Indian who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly; Roha Ta’eed, who would help as translator; and Barbara Taylor, Counsellor Lauretta King’s secretary.

THE RIDE was spectacular. We passed several of the western Pueblos—Zuni, Acoma and Laguna—which we hoped to visit on the return trip to Albuquerque. At Window Rock we paused for lunch at the home of Bahá’ís, then continued on to Tsaile, site of the main branch of Navajo Community College.

As soon as we arrived there we were taken to meet several members of the school’s board of trustees who were meeting at that time.

After talking briefly with them we were introduced to several faculty members and two medicine men, and accompanied them to a classroom where we could sit and talk.

The highlight of our conversation was the exchange between the South Americans and the medicine men. Because one of them spoke only Navajo, it was necessary to have three-way translations.

THESE gentlemen serve as consultants to the cultural component of the faculty at the college. Much information was exchanged regarding the work of these men and their counterparts in the Mapuche culture (who, by the way, are women).

The visitors from South America were especially impressed by the organization of the school and its stress in the curriculum on Indian values and skills.

After a potluck supper, courtesy of the Bahá’ís of Tsaile, the Trail of Light performed on campus before a sizable audience, among whom were people who had been invited to the dinner/reception that had taken place earlier that evening.

The audience was lively, and afterward asked some serious questions relating to culture.

Amoz Gibson project to continue this summer in Wanblee, S. Dakota

The Amoz Gibson teaching project in Wanblee, South Dakota, will continue in 1984 as the Amoz Gibson Project, Second Summer.

Although last year’s project represented only a small beginning, there were more than 60 enrollments and three new localities were opened to the Faith and raised to Assembly status.

THIS SUMMER, there is the potential for many times that. It seems that on the Pine Ridge Reservation, where Wanblee is located, and on the adjoining Rosebud Reservation, nearly everyone is willing to learn about the Faith. Success in this area is limited only by a lack of teachers and funds.

The Amoz Gibson Project, Second Summer, will begin June 2 and run through August 17. You can be a part of this effort. Present needs are as follows:

1. Project director(s): People are needed who have experience in directing projects and working with Native Americans. A candidate for director must be available for the entire period, as continuity is essential. Please send resumé (with phone number) to Edwin Roberts, R.R. 2, Box 406, Sioux Falls, SD 57101.

2. Education coordinators for the adult and children’s classes. It is preferable that they also be available for the entire project period. Send resumés and phone numbers to Mr. Roberts at the above address.

3. Teachers are needed for adult and children’s classes. You can qualify as a teacher even if you are able to participate for only a week or two.

Literature: Especially the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Gleanings, Some Answered Questions, etc.). If you have spare copies of anything you would like to contribute, please send them to the South Dakota District Teaching Committee, 220 S. Grant, Pierre, SD 57501.

Funds: If you can help in this way, contributions may be sent to the South Dakota District Teaching Committee at the above address. The more resources that are available in advance, the greater the victories can be.

From much of the country we hear, "I would like to teach the Faith, but no one wants to listen." The Amoz Gibson project is taking place in an area where the lament is, "I know those people are asking for Bahá’ís, but we have no one to send. They’ll have to wait!"

We hear reports of many whose feelings have been hurt because the Bahá’ís didn’t come. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity.

The most notable question, one that would be asked throughout the tour, was why there were no women on the Trail of Light (translators didn’t count—we weren’t Indians, and Counsellor King wasn’t from South America).

IT WAS explained that the team visiting Alaska and Canada included two female members, and that more than that had not been able to escape family commitments and participate.

It was the only issue over which the team was ever put on the spot. After questions and an exchange of gifts, Leopoldo Richard taught everyone a Cuna Indian dance.

When we left New Mexico and the pueblos, I had assumed that opportunities for teaching Hispanics would be non-existent. Not so! Egon Nieto and I became friends with a tall, attractive woman from the Dominican Republic who was at the college on, of all things, a basketball scholarship.

We met her at the potluck dinner and she came to the program. Although the next day or two would be spent on the Hopi Reservation, we invited her to ride with the Bahá’ís from Tsaile to our next two programs on the Navajo Reservation a few days later.

WE SPENT the night in the homes of the Bahá’ís of Tsaile. They live in faculty housing, which in keeping with the spirit of Navajo Community College, is patterned after the hogan, the typical Navajo home.

The structures are eight-sided with front doors facing east. The living-dining areas comprise the center, while bedrooms and bathrooms open off of the various sides. They are a beautiful adaptation of modern facilities to traditional architecture.

Early the next morning we left Tsaile for the Hopi Reservation, which lies in the middle of Navajo territory. Our first destination was Canyon de Chelly where we said morning prayers near the site of a battle and siege between Spanish troops and the Navajo nearly two centuries ago.

A family visiting the site asked permission to photograph the Bahá’ís from South America and stood by respectfully as we prayed. Afterward, Clemente Pimantel scared us half to death by perching on the edge of a precipice and playing his tarqa (flute)—it would be a while before we realized how comfortable he felt with mountains.

WE ARRIVED at Polacca on the Hopi Reservation in time for lunch with a Pueblo-Hopi Bahá’í and her family, taking the opportunity to rest for a while before starting our tour.

While inside the house I heard laughter outside, and ran out to see what was happening.

Someone from the village had been passing by on his horse and had stopped to chat with Egon and Leopoldo. He let them climb on the horse, Egon first and then Leopoldo.

Egon sat with great confidence, but Leopoldo looked somewhat uncomfortable. Soon we realized that it was the first time he'd ever been on a horse—there aren't many in the jungles of Venezuela. He did pretty well under the circumstances, and we all got a laugh out of it.

Charles Nolley, our official video "chronicler," met us in Polacca, and after lunch we all went up to the First Mesa for a visit.

THE HOPIS have built their homes atop the high, flat shafts of rock that project out of the landscape. The stone-made homes were cool and refreshing after our walk to the mesa in the hot sun.

Along the way, we stopped to talk with residents who sat outside whittling or making pottery, and were told that many of the women were busy preparing for a ceremony that would take place later that day. They were underground in the ceremonial site, the kiva, and the village seemed deserted.

After visiting briefly with the cousin of our Hopi-Pueblo Bahá’í friend, we went to the Second Mesa to check into our motel.

The motel is part of a cultural complex that includes a museum of Hopi artifacts and several stores offering Hopi, Zuni and Navajo jewelry, clothing and crafts.

When the storekeepers learned that our friends were Indians from South America, they gave them

Golden Harvest for a Spiritual Feast

Bahá’ís in Latah County and Moscow, Idaho, prepared this booth for the Latah County Fair in mid-September. Using the fair theme, 'A Golden Harvest,' the friends attracted fair-goers with the slogan, 'Golden Harvest for a Spiritual Feast.' Scattered among the sheaves of wheat were ribbons outlining nine major tenets of the Faith.

Bahá’ís take part in historic meeting with Hopi delegation at United Nations

Bahá’ís were represented at an historic meeting last October 23 at which a delegation of Hopi Indian elders offered their first official declaration at the United Nations in New York, citing centuries-old Hopi prophecies that warn of developments that could lead to the destruction of the human race.

The Hopi delegation, which was received in the lobby of the UN General Assembly building by Dr. Robert Muller, assistant UN secretary general, was accompanied by a drum-led procession of elders from several tribes including an Inca and an Aztec from Mexico.

Chanting the sacred song of Crazy Horse, they joined representatives of various faiths in a prayer circle in which the Bahá’í Faith was represented by Dr. Tahirih Ahdieh, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of New York City.

Marie Samuel, secretary of the Bahá’í Native American Relations Committee (NARC) of New York City, and Eliane Hopson, public information officer and Assembly liaison for NARC, were among the 200 observers at the "by invitation only" event at which Bahá’í literature was displayed with other authorized materials.

The following day, the Hopi elders appeared at a four-hour press conference to comment on the momentous UN event and announce further actions to inform the peoples of the world about Indian prophecies.

These events gave the Bahá’ís an opportunity to contact other Indian leaders and to introduce the Faith to Aztec medicine man Kuiz Kalkoatl.

Francis Merle des Isles, NARC chairman, presented Mr. Kalkoatl with a pamphlet of Bahá’í quotations in the Aztec language which he had kept 22 years waiting for such an opportunity.

Mr. Kalkoatl was delighted to receive the pamphlet and promised to visit the Bahá’í Center on his next visit to New York City. [Page 18]

Temple Restoration Committee goes to work

The six-member Temple Restoration Committee, appointed December 1 by the National Spiritual Assembly, met twice that month and on January 14 to discuss details of its work in overseeing the restoration of the Mother Temple of the West.

ACCORDING to committee secretary Robert Armbruster of Oak Park, Michigan, the group feels that the entire restoration can easily be completed in two years.

Other committee members are David Hadden, a civil engineer from Port Hope, Ontario, Canada; Frederic McCoy, an architectural coordinator and project manager from Ferndale, Michigan; Robert Shaw, a civil engineer, builder and developer from Middleton, Wisconsin; Shinji Yamamoto, an architect from Madison, Wisconsin; and Chengiz Yetken, an architect and designer of high-rise steel structures from Oak Park, Illinois.

Mr. Armbruster, a civil engineer and project management specialist, served on the Louhelen Bahá’í School Project Committee, as did Mr. McCoy.

Mr. Yetken serves as a consultant to the Louis Gregory Institute radio station project.

The committee has been receiving proposals from structural engineering firms who are interested in the restoration of the Temple.

Structural engineers, says Mr. Armbruster, will be asked to describe specific repairs that should be made as a result of corrosion that has taken place in the dome of the House of Worship.

THEY WILL also be asked to analyze the entire dome to assure its structural integrity and to be certain that no members of the dome are weaker than they should be.

This step, he says, will serve as a double-check on the findings of the House of Worship restoration seminar held last November 18-20.

Another reason for the needed analysis is that the committee does not have the original structural design calculations from the time of the Temple’s erection.

As to the actual work of restoration, the committee describes the operation as consisting of four major steps.

The first of these is to repair specific steel members of the dome and to thoroughly clean and protectively coat the entire exposed steel dome.

Second, says Mr. Armbruster, will come replacement of the existing skylight (inside the dome itself). The entire light must be replaced owing to the age of its materials and the difficulty of easily replacing parts of it.

THE committee anticipates that this operation can be completed without opening the entire dome by carrying individual pieces up into the dome.

Next, says Mr. Armbruster, comes the water-proofing of the entire Temple including gutters, downspouts, sealants, roofing areas, window glazing, flashing and the like.

This will follow a thorough analysis of the waterproofing aspects of the Temple.

The final step in the restoration process involves repairs to the decorative pre-cast concrete ornamentation. "Not much is actually needed," says Mr. Armbruster.

Participants in the restoration seminar and other consultants were impressed by the exceptionally fine condition of the concrete panels that decorate the exterior of the House of Worship.

"IT WILL require a lot more study," says Mr. Armbruster, "but needed repairs here appear to be minor in nature."

New techniques are now available, he adds, to help this aspect of the restoration work.

Mr. McCoy is among those who were impressed by the present condition of the Temple despite the severe climate at the site and the adverse effects of moisture.

"The building was very technically advanced for its time," says Mr. McCoy.

The Temple Restoration Committee has been given an initial budget for analysis of the needed restoration and for temporary repairs to prevent further damage before the full-fledged repair program can be undertaken.

The committee plans to have a more detailed budget estimate for submission to the National Assembly in March, and hopes to begin structural repairs in the spring.

The restoration project is especially exciting to him, says Mr. Armbruster, because of the high quality of the Temple structure itself and because of its spiritual significance.

He predicts that restoration of the Mother Temple will have a similar effect on the American Bahá’í community as a whole, "... moving us forward to a more advanced form."

A Persian dinner held December 18 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, raised $3,311.75 for WLGI radio. The money was donated in the name of four Assemblies: Jupiter, Florida, and three that were disbanded in Iran—Mashhad, Isfahan and Shiraz. Above: A Persian group entertains during the supper. Below: The friends help themselves to some of the delectable Persian food.

The Bahá’í children’s class of Ventura, California, celebrated the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh last November 12 with a "friendship luncheon." The children, ages 2 through 7, were dressed in international costumes as they presented a play entitled "Stone Soup" which tells the story of how unity came to the village of Discordia. The play ended with the songs "God Is One" and "We Will Have One World." Forty-one people including 18 non-Bahá’ís attended the luncheon and were served a hearty soup prepared by the children and an assortment of delicious breads.

Breakfast, auction used to raise funds for Clarke County, Georgia, proclamation

On September 11, the Bahá’ís of Clarke County, Georgia, sponsored a fund-raising breakfast and auction to help finance a proclamation event October 15 at the Georgia Square Mall in Athens.

The event was quite successful, and $594.50 was raised.

At the mall, the Athens and Clarke County communities set up a booth decorated with posters about the Faith. Literature was given away along with 1,000 balloons bearing the message "Wage Peace—Bahá’í Faith" and two local phone numbers for seekers.

After the proclamation, $245.50 was left, of which $61.38 was sent to the National Fund, $122.75 to WLGI Radio, and $61.38 was kept for the local Bahá’í Center fund.

On December 10, the Clarke County community held a fund-raising dinner at which $159 was raised for WLGI.

That event was coordinated and hosted by Kathy Benson, who has been a Bahá’í for only a few months, helped by several Korean friends who prepared the dinner. Music was provided by Ms Benson, David Alley, Bonnie McCarty and Eric Mandel.

Persian Affairs

(Continued from a previous section): course on the Persian Bayán held last August at the Louhelen Bahá’í School.

IT HAS appointed a task force to develop Persian-language teaching materials for Bahá’í children’s classes. These would be in addition to any regular, community-sponsored children’s classes.

Another of its task forces is developing a periodical in Persian that would be aimed at Persian Bahá’í youth.

Other goals of the committee include:

Intensifying efforts to decentralize the operations of the Persian Affairs Office; increasing the number and improving the quality of programs designed to bring about the integration of newly arrived Persian Bahá’ís into the American Bahá’í community; and expanding efforts related to the resettlement of Persian-speaking Bahá’ís in international and homefront goal areas.

The committee also is working to develop a comprehensive resource list of Persian Bahá’ís in the U.S., and to provide greater assistance to displaced Bahá’ís from Iran who wish to join relatives in the U.S. or who are seeking refuge in this country.

Professors hear Dr. Kazemzadeh at Stanford dinner

In December, the Bahá’í community of Stanford, California, held a formal dinner to which 17 distinguished professors including a Nobel laureate from that university were invited to hear Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, a Stanford graduate who is now secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, speak on the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran.

Following a moving and informative talk by Dr. Kazemzadeh, the audience remained for nearly 45 minutes to ask questions about the situation of Bahá’ís in Iran.

Several days later, an updated version of the information packet prepared by the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs was presented to each of the invited guests. [Page 19]

50 take part in Augusta teaching conference; Dr. Roberts named Auxiliary Board member

About 50 Bahá’ís participated January 21-22 in a teaching conference in Augusta, Georgia.

Among those present were Dr. Adrienne Reeves and Dr. William Roberts of South Hadley, Massachusetts, the newly appointed Auxiliary Board member for Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and Bermuda.

Dr. Reeves stepped down to devote more of her time to the teaching work in South Carolina after serving as the Board member for those areas for more than 14 years.

She will continue her service in South Carolina as an assistant to Auxiliary Baord member Elizabeth Martin.

Dr. Roberts, a clinical psychologist, has served for more than two years as a member of the National Education Committee and was its chairman for the past year.

After Dr. Reeves announced her retirement from the Board at the Augusta conference, she was presented a bouquet of roses by Dr. Roberts on behalf of the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Americas.

In a letter accepting Dr. Reeves' resignation, Counsellor Sarah Martin Pereira praised her "meritorious services through the years," adding, "You will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of serving with you..."

Dr. Roberts spoke to the conference Saturday morning about the joys of teaching the Faith.

Other presentations were made by Carole Miller of the Northeast Georgia District Teaching Committee, and Dr. Jean Scales, who has served as an assistant to Dr. Reeves in North Carolina.

National Assembly maps long-range plans to year 2000

The agenda for the National Spiritual Assembly's meeting November 30-December 1 at the Bosch Bahá’í School in California was unique.

It contained only one item for consideration: the development of the Faith in this country over the next 16 years; that is, until the year 2000.

THE extraordinary meeting was quite successful, says Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary of the National Assembly, "because we were not pressed. We did not have to come up with any particular plan or plans but were giving ourselves a chance to speculate."

Participating in the consultation with the members of the National Assembly were five members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Americas who were invited to offer their ideas and advice (see The American Bahá’í, January 1984, p. 2).

The minutes of the meeting refer to the remarkably high level of consultation that ensued: "It would not be an exaggeration to say that never before had the two institutions achieved such cordial, free and unrestrained exchange of views."

About 20 Local Spiritual Assemblies also had input into the gathering at Bosch.

These Assemblies, which were chosen on the basis of size, location, and diversity of membership, were asked to present their views of the future including what they see as the principal issues confronting the American Bahá’í community and their proposals for coming to grips with them.

THE NATIONAL Assembly had also asked before the meeting for input from many of its national committees, the Office of the Treasurer, and some departments at the National Center.

Preparations also included the development of papers by members of the National Spiritual Assembly on specific topics such as the administration of the National Center, financing the National Assembly's enterprises, and other topics judged to be of crucial importance to the future progress of the Faith in this country.

For example, Dr. Kazemzadeh presented a paper about the Secretariat that assumed a certain rate of growth within the U.S. Bahá’í community and described the kind of Secretariat we are going to need to meet the requirements of the community from now until the turn of the century.

His over-all conclusion was that change is definitely needed. "Sitting in this chair and with the facilities we have now," he observed, "I cannot see how we could possibly get to where we want to go."

At least three other members of the National Assembly submitted papers dealing with aspects of national administration including the conduct of National Assembly meetings, functions of the Office of the Secretary, the relationship between the national secretary and national treasurer, the role of the National Assembly chairman, methods of supervising national committees, personnel, and accountability.

FROM the great mass of materials and input offered by the National Assembly members, Counsellors, Local Assemblies and committees, five topics emerged as being of greatest concern: teaching the urban masses; the policy on acquiring local Bahá’í Centers; community development; financial management; and deepening.

National Assembly members agreed, says Dr. Kazemzadeh, that the Assembly must provide "firmer leadership."

But this cannot be accomplished, they concluded, without a "drastic improvement" in administrative methods, which is the foremost concern of the National Assembly itself for the next 16 years.

The concern is heightened by uncertainty about the parameters of the American Bahá’í community in the year 2000. When members of the National Assembly tried to imagine its size at the turn of the century, estimates varied greatly.

The pressing need to reach all strata of American society with the Message of Bahá’u’lláh was thoroughly discussed.

At the present time, says Dr. Kazemzadeh, the Bahá’í community in this country is composed of many middle class and rural people including many from minority groups, but we have not yet reached the upper layers of the society and its leaders of thought.

WE HAVE not done well, he adds, in teaching academics, scientists or blue collar workers.

Education is another area to which considerable thought was given.

One Local Assembly asked about the possibility of establishing a Bahá’í tutorial school since many people had expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of education in local schools.

The National Assembly endorsed the concept of tutorial schools and asked that Assembly to submit a specific proposal for what could become a model for the American Bahá’í community.

The wide range of topics introduced at Bosch included even Bahá’í burial, with some Assemblies asking about the possibility of acquiring Bahá’í cemeteries.

THE IDEA from which the National Assembly's unusual meeting sprang was contained in a letter sent by the Universal House of Justice in anticipation of the fifth International Bahá’í Convention which was held at the World Centre in Haifa last April 26-May 2.

In that letter, the Supreme Body said it had set aside time at the Convention during which members of various National Assemblies might consult together about the remaining few years of this century and the needs and challenges they present for the Bahá’í community.

As these consultations took place, members of the U.S. National Assembly realized that more time than could be taken during a busy International Convention would be needed to delve as deeply as necessary into this important topic.

This led to a decision that the National Assembly devote an entire meeting to consulting solely on the progress of the Cause in America over the next 16 years.

The next step, now that that consultation has taken place, says Dr. Kazemzadeh, is for the National Assembly to consolidate and refine the many ideas that emerged from its meeting at Bosch and begin to formulate plans and programs for the future.

Trust ends special New Era orders

Orders for the hardcover edition of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era at the special price of $3 are no longer being accepted as of March 1. The Publishing Trust wishes to thank all who helped reduce the stock of the book to desired levels.

Elimination of racial prejudice focus of March/April issue of Brilliant Star

The March/April issue of Brilliant Star magazine focuses on the important topic of race and the elimination of prejudice.

In "Teddy Meets Mr. Ledbetter," a young boy teaches the Faith through his clear acceptance of all races.

And in "Night of the Love-Feast Bandits," two youngsters meet an angel named Martin Luther King Jr. who asks them to join the war on poverty, ignorance and prejudice. Read about their parade!

An Indian-inspired poem and another about Louis Gregory join a beautiful song, "Enoch Olinga Be Happy!" And don't miss a calendar of activities and projects for the Fast; a photo essay, "Muffin Gets a Haircut," and a parents' page for everyone entitled "Nutrition... Providing the Best for Our Children and for Our- selves" by Elizabeth Bowen.

If you're not already receiving Brilliant Star, or if you'd like to share it with someone, send $9 for one year (U.S.) and $17 for two years (U.S.) to Brilliant Star, Suburban Office Park, 5010 Austin Road, Hixson, TN 37343.

Monterey Human Rights Day luncheon

The Bahá’ís of the Monterey, California, area held their fourth annual Human Rights Day award luncheon December 10. Seventy-six people, half of whom were not Bahá’ís, attended the event. Pictured is Mrs. Nell Meyer of Pacific Grove (standing), who was given the award, an inscribed certificate with a quotation from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, for her work with other people, especially Guide Dogs for the Blind. [Page 20]حضرت مولى الورى جل ثنائه فرموده اند: امروز روز عبودیت درگاه است و وقت اعلا كلمة الله و یوم نشر نفحات الله امام را غنیت دانیم و فرصت را از دست ندهیم و هوس خویش نپردازیم فانی در جمال ابهی گردیم و در هر دمی هزار جانفشانی نمائیم اگر در این سبیل و بهوی سلوک کنیم جمیع ابواب مفتوح است و صدور مشروح والا از حیات نه نتیجه و تمری و از شجره وجود نه شکوفه و برگی.

وقت تنگ است و به خاتمه مرحله ثانی از نقشه هفت ساله بیت العدل اعظم آلهی بیش از چند هفته باقی نمانده است. بیش از یکصدو هفتاد محفل روحانی محلی در خطر انحلال است و بسیاری از اهداف مهاجرت داخله هنوز تکمیل نشده است.

لجنه مجلله ملی تبلیغ و سایر دوائر محفل روحانی ملی مساعی خود را در این ایام به تأمین و تکمیل اهداف باقیمانده اختصاص داده اند و از عموم محافل مقدسه روحانیه و افراد احیای گرامی استدعای همکاری و مساعدت مینمایند.

با ایجاد تسهیلاتی که براثر اقدامات محفل روحانی ملی در کار صدور ویزای پناهندگی برای عده ای از احیای ایرانی که در ممالک مختلفه سرگردانند فراهم شده امید میرود که عده ای از احیای تازه وارد در نقاط لازم المهاجرة مستقر گردند تا کمکی به تحقق اهداف نقشه بشود.

مؤسسه ای خصوصی و غیرانتفاعی که بعضی از مؤسسین و مدیران آن بهائی هستند و در زمینه کمک به ورود و استقرار پناهندگان فعالت میکند آمادگی خود را برای همکاری در این مورد اعلام نموده و تا کنون موفق شده است ترتیب ورود جمعی از احیای ایرانی را بر اساس ویزای پناهندگی بدهد.

لجنه مجلله ملی تبلیغ با مؤسسه مزبور در ارتباط است و اطلاعات لازم را برای هدایت تازه واردین در اختیا ر آن مؤسسه قرار میدهد. به ایالات متحده و همچنین درباره شرایط قبول تكفل میدان خدت پناهندگان در اختیار علاقه مندان بگذارد. برای کسب اطلاع ممکن است بنشان دیل مراجعه کرد.

National Institute for Migration and Population Services P.O. Box 3462 Beaumont, Texas 77704 Phone: (409) 838-9090

دفتر لجنه ملی تبلیغ در دارالانشاء محفل روحانی ملی نیز آماده است که فهرست نقاط لازم المهاجره را تقدیم دوستان گرامی و محافل روحانی محلی نماید.

امکانات خدمت در میدان مهاجرت خارج نیز هنــوز برای احیای ایرانی وجود دارد از جمله لجنه اهداف بین المللی اطلاع حاصل نموده است که هیچ مهاجر ایرانی به کشور کایانا نرفته است و احیای آن سامان مشتاق و منتظر ورود مهاجرین عزیز ایرانی هستند.

باران رحمانی و محافل محلی بتنهائی با با مشارکت دیگران میتوانند با قبول تکفل یک یا چند نفراز پناهندگان ضمن کمک به باران عزیزی که در ابتدای ورود محتاج به حمایت و راهنمائی هستند از انحلال محافل جلوگیری نموده با نقطه جدیدی را فتح نمایند.

تکفل پناهندگان متضمن قبول مسئولیتهای سنگین مالی یا قانونی نیست بلکه عبارتست از ا علام آمادگی برای فراهم آوردن مقدمات استقرار تازه واردین راهنمایی آنان در مورد تهیه مسکن و شغل، کمک در ثبت نام اطفال در مدرسه و آشنا ساختن خانواده به محیط جدید و امکانات موجود.

حقوق الله

اگر ارزش دارائی شخص لااقل معادل ۱۹ مثقال طلا باشد فریضه روحانی او این است که نوزده درصد مجموع آن را برای یک مرتبه بابت حقوق الله بپردازد بعضی اقلام دارائی مانند بیت مسکونی از ادای حقوق الله معاف است. بعد از آن هرگاه عایدات شخص بعد از وضع مصارف لازمه بقدری باشد که ارزش دارائی او را به لااقل معادل ۱۹ مثقال طلا افزایش دهد باید نوزده درصد این افزایش را بپردازد و بهمین قسم برای اضافات بعدی اقدام کند از ترجمه تلخیص و تدوین احکام کتاب مستطاب اقدس که در آینده نزدیک انتشار خواهد یافت.

مالیات بر درآمد

موعد تکمیل و راق تعرفه های مالیاتی نزدیک است و باران رحمانی یقیناً کوشش خواهند فرمود که مطابق قوانین این کشور و ایالتی که در آن سکونت دارند حساب مالیاتی را که بر درآمد آنان تعلق میگیرد شویه نمایند. بقرار اطلاع کسانی که بتوانند مدارک کافی ارائه نمایند که قسمتی از اموال یا املاک آنان مصادره گردیده است و یا بنحوی قادر به استفاده از آن نیستند ممکن است بتوانند قیمت آن اموال را بعنوان ضرر منظور نموده معافیت مالیاتی تحصیل نمایند. بدیهی است این اقدام بایستی با راهنمائی و کمک متخصصین امور حقوقی و مالیاتی انجام گیرد تا مشکلات قانونی ایجاد نشود.

انجمن شور روحانی ملی

هفتا دو پنجمین انجمن شور روحانی ملی از ۲۶ تا ۲۹ ماه آوریل ۱۹۸۴ در مهمانسرای مک کورمیک در شیکاگو تشکیل خواهد شد. فرم مخصوص ثبت نام برای شرکت در جلسات کانونشن و اطلاعات لازم درباره گرفتن اطاق در هتل و رفت و آمد از فرودگاه در صفحه ۱۸ امریکن بهائی ماه فوریه بطبع رسیده است آن اطلاعات و بعضی یادآوریهای دیگر در اینجا از نظر با را نگرامی میگذرد

۱ - نشانی و تلفن مهمانسرای مک کورمیک: McCormick Inn 23rd and the Lake Chicago, Illinois 60616 Telephone: 1-800-621-6909 In Illinois call collect 312-791-1901

۲ - کرایه اطلاق: ۴۸ دلار با ضافه مالیات برای هر شب هر اطاق دارای دو تختخواب دو نفره است و نرخ کرایه اطاق برای یک نفر تا چهارنفرتابت است. تخت اضافی از قرار ۱۰ دلار هر شب موجود است. آپارتمانهای یک اطاق خوابه از ۹۶ دلار تا نا ۲۰۰ دلار و دو اطاق خوابه از ۱۴۴ دلار ۲۴۸ دلار برای یک شب اجازه داده میشود هر آپارتمان علاوه بر اطاق خواب دارای اطاق نشیمن و یک کانا یه است که تبدیل به تختخواب میشود.

۳ - نگا هداری جا: بایستی مستقیماً با دفتر هتل تماس گرفت. در مکاتبه یا تماس تلفنی بایستی ذکر کرد که در کانونشن بهائی از ۲۶ تا ۲۹ آوریل شرکت میکنید و از آنها بخواهید که تأیید رزرو اطاق را کتباً بشما اطلاع دهند. لطفا نام کلیه کسانی را که در اطاق خواهند بود در وقت رزرو جا ذکر کنید و اگر تسهیلات خاصی لازم است اطلاع دهید زیرا برای مثال تعداد اطاقهای مناسب برای کسانی که با صندلی چرخ دار حرکت میکنند محدود است.

۴ - ایاب و زهاب از فرودگاه ها: کرایه اتوبوسهای مخصوص (Continental Air Transport) از فرودگاه O'Hare ۶ دلار و از فرودگاه Midway ۵ دلار است. از هر دو فرودگاه با تاکسی هم میتوان به هتل رفت

۵ - ثبت نام: دفتر کانونشن در ساعات ذیل برای ثبت نام مفتوح است: پنجشنبه ۲۶ آوریل ۲ بعدازظهر الی ۱۰/۵ شب. جمعه ۲۷ آوریل ۸/۵ صبح الی ۱۰ شب. شنبه ۲۸ آوریل ۸/۵ صبح الی ۱۰ شب. یکشنبه ۲۹ آوریل ۹ صبح الی ۱ بعداز ظهر

بهتر است ورود خود را طوری ترتیب بدهید که در ساعاتی که دفتر کانونشن برای ثبت نام مفتوح است به مک کورمیک برسید. اگر بنا چار بعداز تعطیل دفتر وارد شدید صبح روز بعد میتوانید ثبت نام کنید. باید متذکر بود که ثبت نام فقط شخصاً و با همراه داشتن کارت بهائی یا ورقه تاییدیه ثبت نام قبلی ممکن است هیچکس نمیتواند بجای سایر اعضاء خانواده با دوستان ثبت نام کند. [Page 21]

مسافرت اعضاء لجنه ملی امور احبای ایرانی به اطراف کشور

موافق با تصمیم لجنه ملی امور احیای ایرانی مبنی بر انتهاز فرصت برای ملاقات با لجنات امور احیای ایرانی و محافل روحانی محلی در نواحی تجمع احبای ایرانی جلسه لجنه ملی از ۲۷ الی ۳۰ ژانویه ۱۹۸۴ در کالیفرنیای جنوبی تشکیل شد و طی جلساتی با حضور اعضاء لجنه های اموراجبای ایرانی منطق لس آنجلس و سن دیگو و جلسه ای با مشارکت نمایندگان عده ای از محافل روحانی لس آنجلس کانتی اهداف اصلی لجنه ملی و لجنات ناحیه ای که عبارت است از کمک به آشنائی احیای تازه وارد ایرانی با فرهنگ و رسوم محیط جدید و ورود آنان به جامعه بهائی ایالات متحده، استقرار آنان در نقاط لازم المهاجره، و تأمین اطلاعات و وسائل لازم برای رفاه و آسایش آنان در ابتدای ورود مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. در این جلسات همچنین درباره برنامه ها و فعالیتهای لجنه های ناحیه ای و امکانات موجود برای مشارکت بیشتر احبای ایرانی در خدمات امری و کمک به تحقق اهداف نقشه هفت ساله شور و تبادل آرا برشمری انجام گرفت.

ایادی عزیز امرالله جناب خادم در جمع یاران در لس آنجلس

ضمناً لجنه ملی امور احیای ایرانی از حضرت ایادی عزیز امرالله جناب ذکر الله خادم دعوت نمود که در همان ایام به کالیفرنیای جنوبی تشریف آورده در جلسات عمومی که برای ملاقات با احیای ایرانی لس آنجلس و سن دیگو ترتیب داده شده بود حضور یابند و با بیانات خود موجبات تشویق و تحریض یاران رحمانی را فراهم آورند فی الحقیقة جلسات مذکور با حضور جناب خادم و قرینه محترمه جاوید دخت خانم رونقی مخصوص داشت و حاضرین با استفاده از بیانات شیرین حضرت ایادی به اهمیت این ایام و جانفشانیهای خواهران و برادران عزیز ایران و لزوم به قیام به خدمت در میادین تبلیغ و هجرت و تقدیم تبرعات بجای یأس و نومیدی متذکر و متوجه شدند و با عزم راسخ و روح اینا رو فدا کاری جلسه را ترک نمودند.

در جلسات مذکور برنامه جدید سمعی و بصری که از طرف لجنه ملی امور احیای ایرانی در زمینه رابطه دو جامعه بهائی ایران و آمریکا از ابتدای قرن حاضر تا کنون تهیه شده است نیز نمایش داده شد مورد توجه یاران قرار گرفت.

در ادامه خط مشی لجنه ملی نمایندگان لجنه نیز به بعضی دیگر از مراکز تجمع احبای ایرانی مسافرت نموده و مینمایند و با نمایندگان محافل روحانی منطقه و اعضاء لجنه امور احبای ایرانی ملاقات و تبادل افکار مینمایند و حتی الامکان از فرصت استفاده نموده جلساتی برای ملاقات با احبای ایرانی ترتیب میدهند. من جمله دو نفر از اعضاء لجنه روزهای ۲۱ و ۲۲ ژانویه ۱۹۸۴ سفری به کانزاس سیتی نمودند و یکی از اعضاء لجنه روز ۲ فوریه به فینیکس در ایالت آریزونا و روز ۵ فوریه به سالت لیک سیتی در ایالت یوتا سفر کرد. در هر نقطه فرصتهای متعددی برای ملاقات با احبای عزیز ایرانی و مشورت با نمایندگان محافل محلی و لجنات منطقه ای فراهم شد که بدون شک لجنه را در تهیه طرح ها و برنامه های جدید و اقدامات آینده کمک و راهنمائی خواهد نمود.

لجنه امور احبای ایرانی امیدوار است بتواند تا قبل از خاتمه سال تشکیلاتی در اکثر مناطقی که دارای جمعیت قابل ملاحظه ای از احبای ایرانی است فرصتهای مشابهی برای ملاقات و تبادل نظر ایجاد نماید.

اعضاء لجنات امور احبای ایرانی لس آنجلس و لجنه ملی امور احیاء ایرانی

داستان داستان

برادر عزیزم خواهر مهربانم: الله ابهی

با قلبی پر درد و اندوهگین و از طرفی مسرور و شادمان خبر آزادی پدر گرامی و عزیزم پدر مهربانم پدر دلسوز و زحمتکشم را به شما ابلاغ میدارم بلی پدرم آزاد شد آزاد شد بخاطر هدف، عقیده. ایمانش از این همه درد و ناراحتی دنیا، این دنیای فانی راحت شد. روح شاد و مسرورش همواره نظاره گر ماست.

پدر مهربانم همیشه بخاطر ما زحمت میکشید خون دل می خورد تا ما آسوده باشیم. آرزویش این بود که ما سرافراز باشیم و همواره محبت را سرلوحه کارمان قرار دهیم و همیشه راضی بود به رضای جمال مبارک، رضای حق.

امروز، یکشنبه ... جسد مطهرش را بخاک سپردیم همواره آرزو داشت که در بستر راحت، و در خانه از دنیا نرود، بلکه در راه حق جان ببازد و این آرزویش به تحقق پیوست. روحش شاد باد، همینطور که فوت ناگهانی وی طبق جواز دفن ایشان بعلت سرطان خون (لوسمی) و عوارض ناشی از آن ذکر گردیده و تاریخ فوت پدر در روز ... به ثبت رسیده است. و خبر فوت پدر دیشب توسط خانواده زندانیان به ما رسید. قلب شکسته ما پر از درد است بخاطر از دست دادن این شمع فروزان تاریخ، این اسطوره استقامت و شهامت.

خود پدرمان همیشه میگفت بخاطر رفتن من شیون و زاری نکنید بلکه شادی کنید ولی مگر میشود؟ چطور من قدر این پدر مهربان این زحمتکش مومن این یاور امرالله را نداشتم. ما همیشه ادامه دهنده راه او هستیم راه او محبت بود، بلی محبت. روحش شاد باد.

امروز جامعه بهائی شهر ... به سوک از دست دادن این روحانی، جامه سیاه برتن کرد. روحش شاد باد. هیکل مطهرش شاداب تر از همیشه با چشمانی باز و در حالتی متفکرانه و نورانی بود.

بعد از حدود ۴ ماه بالاخره موفق به دیدار پدر شدیم. در حالتی که روحش از تنش جدا شده بود. بله، موفق به دیدارش شدیم. روحش شاد باد خوشا به سعادتش که به آرزویش رسید. خوشا بحالش.

خوشا به سعادتش که جمال مبارک او را برگزید. خوشا به حالش.

پدرم در زمان حیاتش میگفت: پس از مرگم برایم شیون و زاری نکنید، بلکه تفکر کنید به اینکه روزی همه خواهند رفت چه دیر و چه زود فقط این مهم است که شخص در چه راهی جان ببازد. خوشا به سعادتش که بهترین راه را انتخاب کرد که همانا جان باختن در راه حق بود.

آرزو میکنم کاش من هم لیاقت آنرا پیدا کنم که راه پرافتخار پدرم را ادامه دهم.

برادرتان

نوروز

عیدنوروز و صیام و اول شهر البهاء ست نام نامی اش بنام ذات پاک کبریاست جمع یاران از صفا و مقدم يوم البهاء با حرارت هم مسرت بخش و بی ریب و ریاست گشته ویران این جهان از کثرت ظلم و ستم مهر رخشان منتقل از برج حوت اندر حمل شکوه بلبل ز گل با بوق و سوت و کرناست انحطاطش بین چه نزدیک و وعودش بی بداست بیت عدل اعظمش شد مستقر درجای خویش محور امرش وسیع و مرکزش کوه خداسـت ساغر زهر ویلا در دست اعدای عنود جان عشاقان ایران در ره امرش فداست نظم عالم منحط عرش سلاطین منهدم آنچه گردیده عیان از وعده های انبیاست همتی یاران برای صحت نوع بشر دارو و درمان عالم در ید اهل بهاست عهد خود را با خدا بندیم در سال جدید حضرت عبدالبهاء ناظر بر این پیمان ماست جامه خدمت به تن بنموده با عزمی متین در نجات آدمی کوشیم کاندر این ... در ره تبلیغ و خدمت کوش (مهری) این زمان کز غرور آدم و از غفلتش غوغا بیاست [Page 22]یکدیگرند. بیت‌العدل اعظم معتقدند که این اقدامات زودگذر و موقت شاید بتواند آلام و اضطرابات فعلی بعضی از یاران را تسکین بخشد ولکن تأثیر قابل ملاحظه‌ای بر مسیر وقایع ایران نخواهد داشت. منابع انسانی ما بسیار محدود است و لهذا این منابع محدود باید به مؤثرترین وسائل برای مقابله با وضع حادث اختصاص یابد. اقداماتی که اثرات عمیق روحانی مترتب بر این تعدیات را منعکس سازد و با متانت و خوش‌بینی و نورانیت شهدای دلاوری که طبق متن وصیت‌نامه‌های منتشر شده آنان بخوبی از علل تحمل صدمات و قبول شهادت در سبیل الهی آگاهند تطابق دارد بمراتب پرارزش‌تراست. مضافاً بر اینکه بالمال بصالح امر نیست که دقیقاً در زمانی که از مرحله مجهولیت خارج میشود در انظار و افکار عمومی بعنوان جامعه‌ای که علاماتی چون بستن نوار به بازو و نصب روبان و غیره مشخص گردیده شناخته شوند.

"اگرچه یومی بمقتضای حکمت بالغه امور ظاهره بر خلاف مراد جاری شود بأسى نبوده و نیست مقصود آنکه کل بافق اعلی ناظر باشند و بآنچه در الواح نازل شده متمسك."

با تحیات ابدع‌ابهی

دارالانشاء بیت‌العدل اعظم

ترجمه پیام منیع بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی خطاب به پیروان امر حضرت بهاءالله در هر مرز و بوم مورخ ۲ ژانویه ۱۹۸۴

نمایندگان عالم بهائی، در کانوِنتشن بین‌المللی در رضوان گذشته، در شرائط و احوالی مجتمع شدند که شدیداً تحت تأثیر وقوف بر جانبازی‌های یاران ایران و مشتاقانه منتظر فرصت‌های جدیدی بود که تحول اوضاع جهان و اشتهار عالمگیر امر حضرت‌منّان و ازدیاد میزان رشد و بلوغ تشکیلات و مؤسسات امریه نصیب آئین نازنین الهی ساخته است.

بیت‌العدل اعظم، طی هشت ماه اخیر، بتأسیس و توسعه مؤسسات و طرح و تنظیم نقشه‌هائی اقدام نموده است تا امر الهی به اغتنام فرصت‌ها و امکانات بی‌سابقه‌ای که نصیب گردیده نائل آید. ولیکن این اقدامات مواجه با محدودیت مالی است که اگر مرتفع نشود بلااثر خواهند ماند زیرا در دو سال اخیر میزان تبرعات واصله به صندوق‌های بین‌المللی تقلیل یافته و ملاحظه میشود بسیاری از صندوق‌های ملی نیز مواجه با خطر کسر عواید شده‌اند.

علاوه بر اداره امور عمومی امرالله اقدام عاجل در چهار مورد ذیل ضروری است:

اول اتمام بنای مشارق‌اذکار هند و ساموآست که تعویق و تأخیر آنها موجب ازدیاد مصارف و لطمه شدید به شهرت و حیثیت امر در آن دو منطقه مهم و حیاتی میشود.

دوم توسعه و تکامل مرکز جهانی یعنی کانون نظم اداری امر بهائی است که بفرموده حضرت ولی امرالله "مقر و مدفن رمیم اطهرین شارعین این امر نازنین و منشاء ظهور و بروز جریاناتی است که مقاصد و نوایایش را مکشوف و حیاتش را تقویت و مقدراتش را تعیین میکند" (ترجمه).

سوم اجرای برنامه‌های توسعه و عمران اجتماعی و اقتصادی است. جوامع بهائی در بسیاری ممالک به مرحله‌ای از وسعت و رشد رسیده‌اند که نیاز‌مند و بالفعل قادر به تعهد مجاهداتی در سبیل توسعه و عمران اجتماعی و اقتصادی هستند که نه‌تنها برای تقویت اساس و استحکام بنیان و رشد و تکامل حیات بهائی جوامع مزبور ضروری است بلکه سبب انتفاع جوامع بزرگتری میشود که این جوامع بهائی را در بر گرفته‌اند و تأثیرات نافعه رسالت بهائی را در مقابل انظار نکته‌سنج جهانیان جلوه‌گر میسازد. معارف ابداء و اجرای این طرح‌ها در نهایت تدریج و در کمال حزم و تدقیق پرداخت خواهد شد تا رشد و تکامل طبیعی و احساس مسئولیت اهلیه را در جوامع مزبور مختل نسازد و تحت‌الشعاع قرار ندهد.

ولیکن میدان چندان وسیع و امکانات چنان پراکنده است که منابع مالی را بنهایت درجه تحت فشار قرار خواهد داد. چهارم توسعه نطاق و هم‌آهنگی و اداره مساعی و مجهودات جهانی برای منتفع ساختن جمعیتی بمراتب بیش از پیش از درمان الهی برای تشفی آلام و اسقامی است که افراد انسان و جامعه بشری بدان مبتلا‌ست و اثبات عمومیت امرالهی و مقاصد و مآرب تعالیم مبارکه‌اش در انظار زمامداران و تأمین موجباتی است که پیشوایان افکار را کاملاً با آثار قلم اعلی آشنا و از عظمت رسالت جمال اقدس ابهی مطلع و آگاه سازد.

ساختمان معابد مذکور بمراحل نهائی نزدیک میشود نباید متوقف گردد. توسعه مؤسسات و مشروعات مرکز جهانی امر که در یکی از مناطق پرخطر و تلاطم جهان واقع شده نباید برای مدت نامعلومی بتعویق افتد. زمان وسعت بخشیدن برنامه‌های عمران و آبادانی اجتماعی و اقتصادی بعنوان یکی از جنبه‌های خدمات امری فرارسیده و نمیتواند مورد غفلت قرار گیرد زیرا متضمن عواقب وخیمی برای حیات جوامع بهائی است. در نتیجه مستقیم اظهارات و تضییقات وارده بر یاران در مهد امرالله فرصت‌بی‌سابقه‌ای برای اعلان عمومی امر نصیب گردیده. اگر بخواهیم لیاقت فداکاری‌های آنان یاران شجیع را داشته به امانتی که حضرت بهاءالله بما سپرده وفادار باشیم یعنی به نجات عالم انسانی در این زمان که شدیداً محتاج کمک و مساعدت است بشتابیم نباید در اغتنام فرصت‌هائی که فراهم آمده اندک مساهله و اهمال روا داریم.

در زمانی باین چهار اقدام مهم مواجه هستیم که دنیا دستخوش بحران اقتصادی است و خطر جنگ و بلایا و مصائب دیگر بر جهان سایه افکنده‌ است. این اوضاع و احوال نه‌تنها نباید سبب وحشت و اضطراب پیروان امر حضرت بهاءالله گردد بلکه باید ما را بیش از پیش متوجه ضرورت و فوریت اقدامات مورد نظر نماید.

لذا از فرد فرد یاران راستان تقاضا میشود بار دیگر حیات خود را وقف خدمت آستان حضرت منّان و ترقی و اعلاء عالم انسان نمایند تا نفرات لازم برای مهاجرت و تبلیغ و خدمات اداری موجود باشد. از همه ضرور‌تر آنکه هر یک از احباء به نسبت امکانات از دارائی خود با نهایت فداکاری تبرعاتی به صندوق‌های امری محلی و ملی و قاره‌ای و بین‌المللی تقدیم دارد تا منابع مالی، یعنی مایه حیات‌بخش اقدامات امری، برای اجرای وظائف عظیمی که باید در شهور و سنواتی که در پیش است انجام گیرد کفاف دهد. تمرکز اقدامات و وحدت در مقاصد و اهداف و فداکاری و ازخودگذشتگی لازم است تا بتوان در نصرت و تقدم امرالله با مساعی و مجهودات قهرمانی ناصران و مجریان نقشه‌های سابق گوی‌سبقت ربود.

با تحیات ابدع ابهى

بیت‌العدل اعظم

نکته مهمی در دفاع از یاران ایران

نکته مهمی که باید در مد نظر قرار گیرد آنست که اقدامات ما در جهت دفاع از یاران ایران بایستی مؤید به فعالیت‌های ما برای تحقق اهداف تعیین شده باشند. اشتغال فکری به بحران ایران داشتن به بهای غافل شدن از نقشه ‎منبعه منبعثه‎ هفت‌ساله جامعه جهانی امرالله که از وصول به توفیقات لازم برای ‎تحیم تحکیم‎ مبانی امر و انهدام اعداء محروم و ممنوع میسازد. در مقابل شدائد و مصائب یاران عزیز ایران چنین غفلتی شایسته نیست. غایت مطلوب که البته همواره مورد نظر بوده وهست آنست که ضمن دفاع مجدانه از آن عزیزان از کلیه فرصتهائی که بر اثر فداکاری‌های آنان بدست می‌آید برای ارتفاع صیت امرالله استفاده گردد. معرفی بی‌سابقه امر، تسلیم درخواست‌های متوالی به حکومت‌ها و مراجع بین‌المللی، تماس‌های روزافزون با ‎متکمران متفکران‎ و اندیشمندان و بالاتر از همه مضاعف ساختن فعالیت‌های تبلیغی و تحکیم بیشتر و عمیق‌تر جامعه امرالله بر اساس ارشاد و هدایت معهد اعلی بالمال بهترین وسائل جهت دفاع از جامعه بهائی ایران و تخفیف آلام آن گشته مظلومه است. بعلاوه باین ترتیب جامعه جهانی بهائی آمادگی بیشتری برای مقابله با حملات و مخالفت‌های غیرقابل اجتنابی پیدا میکند که در سایر نقاط عالم ظاهر خواهد شد.

دعای قلبی معهداً علی آنست که احبای عزیز آمریکا به همان روح تسخیرناپذیری که ایمان راسخ برادران و خواهران روحانی آنانرا در مهد امرالله قوت بخشیده مؤید گردند و از همان چشمه امیدی تر و تازه شوند که از وعده‌های محتومه جمال قدم به عزیزانش در آن سرزمین الهام میگیرد، عزیزانی را که به "صبر و سکون و وقار" وصیت فرموده به این بیانات مبارکه تسلی می‌بخشد:

"آنچه بر شما وارد للّه بوده ‎هداحق هذا حق‎ ‎لاريب لا ریب‎ فيه و حال هم جمیع امور را با و راجع نمائید و بر او توکل کنید و تفویض نمائید البته او هم‌شما را وانمیگذارد اینهم لاريب فيه. هیچ پدری اولاد را به سبع نمیدهد و هیچ صاحب غنمی اغنام خود را به گرگ نمیسپارد البته در حفظش سعی بلیغ مبذول میدارد" [Page 23]

پیامهای بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی

ترجمه مرقومه دارالإنشاء بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی به محفل مقدس روحانی ملی بهائیان آمریکا مورخ ۷ دسامبر ۱۹۸۳

یاران عزیز روحانی:

در ماههای اخیر نامه‌هایی از بعضی افراد احبای آمریکایی به بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی واصل شده است که حاکی از مراتب تألم و تأثر از مظالم مستمر وارده بر برادران و خواهران روحانی آنان در ایران و حاوی پیشنهاداتی چون برپاساختن تظاهرات عمومی و بستن نوار به بازو و غیره بعلامت اعتراض به مظالم وارده می باشد. لذا بیت معبد با عنایت به نظرات واصله بشرحی است که ذیلاً ملاحظه میفرمایید.

شبهه‌ای نیست که برای یاران الهی آسایش و آرامش و سکون و قرار بهنگامی که جامعهٔ بهائیان ایران بر اثر تضییقات تحمیلی بشدت ناتوان و جامعهٔ احبای آمریکا مستقیماً از تأثیر در تغییر این وضع ناموفق بنظر میرسد بسیار دشوار میباشد. اما اینکه وضع امر در ایران با همه دشواری و وخامت بتواند بقرار گزارش واسطه موجبی برای افسردگی و ملالت و یا کناره‌گیری یاران آمریکا شود و یا مانعی برای حصول توفیقات تبلیغی آنان در داخله گردد دال بر این است که یاران به وجهه نظر و دیدگاه صحیحی احتیاج دارند. در توقیعات و خطابات مبارکه حضرت ولی‌امرالله که در سالهای ۱۹۵۶-۱۹۵۵ بافتخار جامعهٔ بهائیان آمریکا عزّ نزول یافته تشابه شگفت انگیز عکس‌العمل یاران آمریکا و نحوهٔ برخورد و طرز تلقی آنان در قبال بحرانهای آن زمان و زمان حاضر ملاحظه میباشد. مطالعهٔ مجدد دستخط ‎منبع منیع‎ مورخ ۲۰ آگست آن مولای مهربان متضمن شرح وقایع آن اوقات و امکاناتی که بر اثر آن حوادث برای اعلان و انتشار امرالله بوجود آمد و همچنین تلگرافات مبارکه مورخ ۵ ژانویه، ۲ فوریه و ۲۲ ژوئن آن حضرت (Citadel of Faith صفحات ۱۴۲-۱۳۲) مبنی بر فوریت و ضرورت عمل و اقدام بسیار عبرت‌انگیز و آموزنده است. جامعهٔ یاران آمریکا در گذشته ایام متناوباً دچار عدم تحرک و رکود گردیده و حضرت ولی‌امرالله به تناوب آن جامعه را نسبت به این موضوع متذکر فرموده‌اند و آخرین توقیع مبارکشان به احبای آمریکا مورخ ۲۱ سپتامبر ۱۹۵۷ عمدتاً به این مسأله اختصاص داشت. بیت‌العدل اعظم با آنکه گمان نمیبرند که یاران آمریکا بطور عموم دچار ‎جنین چنین‎ حالت افسردگی و ملالت باشند معهذا بر اساس نامه‌های واصله و فرض عمومیت این حالت مصلحت میداند که نظرات ذیل باطلاع کلیهٔ عزیزان برسد.

جامعهٔ بهائیان آمریکا برای سالهای متمادی در صف مقدم مدافعین مظلومین و ملهوفین قرار داشته و امتیازاتی در این زمینه بکرات مورد تمجید و تحسین مولای عزیز واقع شده است. توقیع ‎منبع منیع‎ مبارک مورخ ۲۵ دسامبر ۱۹۳۸ (ظهور عدل الهی) مؤید این مطلب است. در قبال ضربات و لطمات متعددی که در آن زمان جوامع بهائی موجود را تهدید به انزوا مینمود آن هیکل مکرم جامعهٔ بهائیان آمریکای شمالی را به عناوین "‎حصنی املّی حصن امنی‎ و استوار، با روشی توانا که علم امری شکست ناپذیر را همچنان مرتفع نگاه داشته" توصیف فرموده‌اند. دفعات متعددی که در سالهای بعد آن جامعهٔ جلیل به یاری و یاوری سایر جوامع بی‌دفاع برخاست گواه بر حضور و اجابت مؤثرش در مواقع احتیاج و ابتلا میباشد. اما وضع هم در دنیا و هم در جامعهٔ امر تغییر یافته و در نتیجه عکس‌العمل‌های عادی و متعارف نسبت به اقدامات آمریکا نیز تغییر پذیرفته است در حالی که این تغییر بهیچ وجه نقش ممتازی را که برای جامعهٔ بهائی آمریکا در شکوفائی نظام جهانی امرالله مقدر ومعین گردیده منتفی نمیسازد الزاماً ایجاب میکند که یاران آمریکا ادراک عمیق‌تری از وضع خود در قبال مقتضیات و شرائط تغییر یافته حاصل کنند.

پاسخ یاران به وضع فعلی امر در ایران نباید منحصراً عملی و یا صرفاً روحانی باشد بلکه باید اختلاطی از این هر دو بوده و علاوه بر آن بایستی هم با بوی بحران فعلی باشد و هم متناسب با اهمیت مقتضیات این موقع تاریخی و در هر دو مورد ارزیابی نتایجی که تاکنون حاصل شده باید ‎بدموجب موجب‎ مزید رسوخ عزم یاران باشد نه سبب خمودت و ملالت. حتی اگر چه از عکس‌العمل‌های وحشیانه اولیای امور در ایران چنین بنظر میرسد که اعتراضات و درخواست‌های جامعهٔ بهائی آمریکا بالاخص، و جوامع بهائی عالم بطور اعم، در جلوگیری از ظلم و تعدی بر خواهران و برادران روحانی ما بی‌اثر بوده است اما دلائل متقنی در دست است که اگر احبای الهی در سراسر عالم دست به چنین اقداماتی نزده بودند وضع یاران عزیز در ایران بمراتب مصیبت‌بارتر میبود. و همچنین اگرچه اقدامات مستقیم که ممکن بود معمول داشت بسیار است ولکن باید توجه داشت که هر اقدامی مناسب زمان و وضع حادث نیست. اقداماتی که در چارچوب جامعهٔ بهائی آمریکا مناسب و مفید بنظر میرسد هنگامی که در قالب وسیعتر جامعهٔ جهانی امر در نظر گرفته شود ممکن است نتیجه معکوس بخشد. جامعهٔ جهانی بهائی با وجود تنوع اجزاء متشکله‌اش تحت ارشاد و هدایت ‎معبدی معهدی‎ و تشخیص آن مقام اسنی از اوضاع و احوال زمان و منابع موجود و با توجه به نظرات و عقاید محفل مقدس روحانی ملی ایران که تا قبل از انحلال اخیر شجاعانه و دلیرانه بمدافعه از حقوق افراد تحت اشراف خود قائم بود عمل میکند. نظر باینکه جامعهٔ جهانی امر باید چون واحدی متشکل کار کند چنانچه یکی از اجزاء این هیکل جهانی رأساً سیر خود را در مقابله با موقعیت موجود تعیین نماید، هرقدر هم که این اقدام از حسن نیت کامل برخوردار باشد، توفیق نهائی و کلی شامل حال نخواهد شد.

بیت‌العدل اعظم توصیه میفرمایند که یاران عزیز آمریکا به تباین و تفاوت عظیم بین مجهولیت نسبی امر قبل از این بحران و معروفیت و اشتهاری که از آن پس حاصل نموده‌اند نظر نمایند، و به تأثیر قابل ملاحظه‌ای که جوامع ملیه بهائی در سراسر عالم بر دولت‌های متبوعهٔ خویش و همچنین بر سازمانهای بین‌المللی گذاشتند بیندیشند، و برطرف شدن خارق العاده موانع را در وسائط ارتباط جمعی با قیاس به خاموشی و سکوت و عدم رغبت و توجه آنها نسبت به امر الهی تا چند سال قبل در مدنظر گیرند، و بالاخره تأثیر همهٔ این مزایای حاصله را در فعالیت‌های تبلیغی مورد توجه قرار دهند و آنگاه منصفانه حکم کنند که آیا براستی امکانات پیشرفت امرالله بیشتر از گذشته است یا کمتر.

تعالیم مبارکه ما را به این حقیقت تردیدناپذیر بصیر و آگاه میسازد که مخالفت با امرالله موجب ایجاد امکانات برای تقدم و پیشرفت آنست. مسلماً احبای عزیز ایران با قبول کامل این واقعیت اعتقاد خود را به قدرت و اثر آن اثبات و ابراز نموده‌اند، و تعدادی از جوامع بهائی در نقاط مختلفه عالم بر اثر درک این حقیقت به فعالیتهائی پرداخته‌اند که نتایج ‎جالی عالی‎ در تحکیم و توسعهٔ امرالله در آن اقطار داشته است. یاران آمریکا نیز برای آنکه احساس واقعی تأثر و تألم خود را از ظلمی که بر برادران و خواهران روحانی آنان در ایران وارد میشود ابراز دارند باید به ارزش درک چنین بینشی پی ببرند و بر طبق آن عمل کنند.

در توقیع مبارک "ظهور عدل الهی" که سالها قبل از کلک مطهر حضرت ولی‌عزیز امرالله نازل گردیده و همچنین در توقیعات منبعهٔ متعددهٔ دیگری که متعاقباً از نزول بخشیده درایت و هدایت و اندرزات و تشویقات آن مولای حنون ‎بمیان اندازه بی‌اندازه‎ و حتی شاید بیشتر از زمان صدور متناسب با وضع موجود میباشد. قصد هیکل اطهر آن بود که این مطلب را القاء و تفهیم نمایند که پاسخ یاران آمریکا به این بحران آگاهی و معرفت بیشتر روحانی و وصول به رشد و بلوغ عمیق‌تر معنوی است تا آن جامعه بتواند مسیر مقدر خود را با موفقیت طی نماید. باید متذکر بود که حضرت مولی‌الوری وعده فرموده‌اند، همانطور که حضرت ولی‌امرالله در توقیع اولیه خود بافتخار یاران آمریکا یادآور شده‌اند، که امتحانات معنوی بجای امتحانات و شدائد جسمانی خواهند فرستاد تا آنان را پاک و مطهر نموده برای سرنوشتی که خداوند برای آنها مقدر فرموده آماده گردانند. همچنین شرائط لازم جهت موفقیت را که مولای مهربان برای جامعهٔ یاران آمریکا معین و مشخص فرموده‌اند نبایستی از نظر دور داشت. در قالب چنین شرائطی است که توفیق و یا شکست جامعهٔ یاران آمریکا بالمال مورد سنجش و ارزیابی قرار میگیرد و نه از جهت یأس و حرمان و عدم توفیق آنان در ایجاد تغییر مطلوب در وضع احبای ایران، وضعی که علیرغم پریشانی و اضطرار آن جامعه از هر اقدام و کوشش دیگری در این قرن در زمینهٔ اعلان و اشهار امرالله در خارج از آن کشور مؤثر‎نبر تر‎ بوده است.

در ساحه‌ای که مردم آن چون مردم آمریکا به اعتراض و تظاهرات خو گرفته‌اند نشانه تظاهراتی از قبیل براه انداختن دستجات خیابانی و بستن نوار به بازو و غیره ممکن است تا حدودی جلب توجه عموم نماید و یا حتی در بعضی زمینه‌ها و تحت شرائط خاصی مؤثر واقع شود. اما اثر و نفوذ چنین اقداماتی را مشکل میتوان برای مدتی طولانی حفظ کرد بخصوص در کشور شما که تظاهرات عمومی گروه‌های بیشماری برای جلب نظر و توجه عامه دائماً در رقابت با... [Page 24]

World NEWS

Radio Bahá’í of Lake Titicaca, Peru, marked its second anniversary of broadcasting last November 26-27 with a folk music festival that drew an audience of more than 4,000 people.

One hundred-eleven music groups (seven more than a year ago) performed during the “folk-loric music festival” which was transmitted simultaneously to the Aymara and Quechua Indian peoples in the Lake Titicaca area where more than 200 Local Spiritual Assemblies were elected last Ridván ...

The Faith was proclaimed in the mass media in Oaxaca, Mexico, on the occasion of World Peace Day last September through the efforts of the Spiritual Assembly of Oaxaca.

That Assembly sent a letter to the editors of all the state’s major newspapers explaining the Bahá’í views on world peace, while a shorter statement was sent to local radio and television stations.

One of the newspapers published the letter on its front page under a headline that read, “Bahá’í’s Call for Disarmament and Understanding for World Peace.”

Another paper printed a long two-part article, and the Bahá’í statement was read during the hour-long morning news program on radio, the most listened-to news broadcast in Oaxaca ...

Acting on a suggestion from a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Akineyele, Nigeria, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired three programs on the Faith last November 8-10 that were heard by the BBC’s estimated daily audience of 100 million.

The programs included discussions of the principles of the Faith, the Bahá’í view on the status of women, and the present persecutions in Iran, narrated by Norman Bailey, a British Bahá’í who is a well-known opera singer.

The programs came about as a result of a letter to the BBC from a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Akineyele who suggested that the Faith be included in its regular religious series entitled “Reflections.” ...

The Faith was mentioned last December 30 in Pacific Stars and Stripes, a daily newspaper for American military and civilian personnel in South Korea, Japan, Guam and the Philippines.

The references to the Faith appeared in an article about Sara Hatch, a pioneer to Korea from the U.S. who is an artist and who teaches English at Keimyung University in Taegu ...

More than 275 people from 16 localities attended the annual Bahá’í Summer School last December 29-January 1 in Santa Tecla, El Salvador ...

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Continued From Page 16

Hong Kong. The company is involved in producing home computer software for the U.S. and also does consulting work in Macau. The vacancy is primarily for consulting work. It cannot offer a salary or benefits comparable to large U.S. firms but can offer challenges, excitement, and the satisfaction of pioneering to an important area of the world. Must have a college degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with microcomputers, programming experience, and knowledge of either Chinese or Portuguese are desirable but not essential. Information about this position will be given to Bahá’ís whose applications for pioneering have been accepted by the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

PEOPLE are needed to work with refugees in the Philippines. Pioneers with masters or bachelors degrees or equivalent experience in teaching English as a second language or in cultural orientation to work in curriculum development, teacher training, group leadership supervision, training facilitators for workshops, management positions, and as an evaluation officer. Also needed are people for educational programs for refugees. Information will be given to Bahá’ís whose applications for pioneering have been accepted by the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

HELP US achieve the goals of the Seven Year Plan. The Bahá’í National Center is seeking individuals to serve in a variety of secretarial positions. Strong organizational skills, fast and accurate typing, and a friendly and courteous disposition are essential if the goals are to be realized. Live and serve beneath the shadow of the Mother Temple of the West. For applications and information, please contact the Personnel Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or telephone 312-869-9039.

NEED to relocate. Seeking a town of 1,000 to 25,000 which needs a Bahá’í to help build or fill an Assembly. I am a licensed beautician and will set up a beauty shop business wherever I move to support myself and my 12-year-old son. If both needs can be met in your community, please contact Jeanette Koller, P.O. Box 172, New England, ND 58647, or phone 701-579-4741.

NEEDED: Bahá’ís to help religious, political and warfare refugees. Duties include sponsorship, volunteering as staff members in regional offices, providing services and contributions. Many of the refugees are Persian Bahá’ís who wish to be reunited with their families, fill goal areas, and teach the Faith. Other refugees are from Poland, Vietnam, Cambodia, Afghanistan and Laos. For information contact the National Institute for Migration and Population Services, P.O. Box 3462, Beaumont, TX 77704, or phone 409-838-9090 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST Monday through Friday.

WANTED: Information or thoughts on the field of behavioral analysis and therapy and its relationship to the Bahá’í Faith and building the new World Order. Specific references to the Writings and behavioral literature would be most helpful. I am most anxious to exchange information and viewpoints. Write to Shahla S. Alá’í, Carbondale, IL 62901, or phone 618-529-1419.

VHS VIDEO tape player needed by the Louhelen Bahá’í School. If you have one you would like to donate or sell at a good price, please contact Dr. William Diehl, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033.

HAVING trouble finding a certain story for Feast, an article for a class, or a specific Parents’ Page to help with a problem? Indexes for Brilliant Star magazine, March 1981-January 1982 (B.E. 138) and March 1982-January 1983 (B.E. 139) are available for $2 each. The next index, for Brilliant Star (B.E. 140) will be ready this month. Write to Brilliant Star, Suburban Office Park, 5010 Austin Road, Hixson, TN 37343.

PAPUA New Guinea needs a head of energy planning and an energy economist. The former will be responsible for formulating and administering national policy and energy demand management. Should have an advanced degree in economics, engineering or a related discipline with five years of professional experience in energy planning. The energy economist will work on economic/financial evaluations of energy supply and demand forecasts. Should have university training and experience in demand forecasting, project evaluation, and energy pricing. Information about these positions will be given to Bahá’ís whose applications for pioneering have been accepted by the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

LOVE to ski? Then move to Golden, Colorado, and help its five-member Group reach Assembly status. Golden, the county seat of Jefferson County (renowned for its excellent public schools), combines a small town atmosphere (est. population 15,000) with metro Denver accessibility and Rocky Mountain skiing. Golden is the home of the Colorado School of Mines. If you are a college student who wants a career in mining or energy, here’s your chance to become a homefront pioneer. For more information write to the Bahá’í Group of Golden, Golden, CO 80401, or phone 303-279-1004.

ST. VINCENT in the Caribbean needs a teacher of Spanish for a girls’ high school. St. Vincent will form a National Spiritual Assembly at Ridván. Information about this position will be given to Bahá’ís whose applications for pioneering have been accepted by the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

GARDEN helpers. ‎Bahá’í is Bahá’ís‎ with experience in gardening are encouraged to offer their services for six months or more at the Bahá’í World Centre. Physical fitness is important, and owing to the nature of the work and local customs, only men should apply. These short-term positions require that the individual underwrite his own travel expenses to and from the World Centre. For applications and further information, please contact the Personnel Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

DOMINICA, a U.S. pioneering goal to be filled by Ridván, needs several people for road work development throughout the island. Information about these positions will be given to Bahá’ís whose applications for pioneering have been accepted by the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

THE BAHÁ’Í Publishing Trust is seeking a multi-talented person to serve as promotions coordinator in the editorial department. The position requires experience in writing promotional copy, strong editorial skills, and basic clerical experience. Applicants must be widely read in Bahá’í literature. To obtain an application, please contact the Personnel Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

THE WORLD Centre has an immediate and urgent need to fill a number of trade positions such as cabinet maker, roofer, plumber and painter. Solid training plus several years experience is preferred. Come and help with the expansion and maintenance of the administrative center of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh. For applications and further information, please contact the Personnel Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

A BAHÁ’Í in Morovis, Puerto Rico, must move to the U.S. for an indefinite period and is offering her home to a Bahá’í couple who may be considering pioneering to Puerto Rico and wishes to rent it. The two-bedroom wooden house is completely furnished and carpeted with hot and cold running water and a chimney (it can get cold in Morovis). Monthly rent to be discussed with the owner. For more information please contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

GREELEY, Colorado, a lovely park-laden city of 60,000 near the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, home of the University of Northern Colorado, had an Assembly since the 1950s. Now, because of graduating students, we are inviting the friends to consider moving to this friendly area to help us keep our Assembly status. The university offers a wide variety of programs at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. There are many ski areas about an hour away, as are the Rocky Mountain National Park and Denver. If you’ve always wanted to live in Colorado and serve the Faith, here’s your chance! Please contact Steven or Susan Christianson, Greeley, CO 80631, or phone 303-356-2228.

BACK issues of Brilliant Star and Child’s Way magazines are available. Fill in collections, stock up for classes, schools or future children. Child’s Way, $1.50 per issue; Brilliant Star, $2 per issue. Please specify date(s) desired. Write to Brilliant Star, Suburban Office Park, 5010 Austin Road, Hixson, TN 37343.

AN ELDERLY Bahá’í in Belize is seeking a companion, a woman who is able to cook a little and keep her company. Room and board and “pin money” will be supplied. The pioneer, who is in her 80s, has a maid to do housework. Belize, in Central America south of Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, is an English-speaking former British colony whose cost of living is quite reasonable. Information about this opportunity will be given to Bahá’ís whose applications for pioneering have been accepted by the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

THE SPIRITUAL Assembly of Rosemead, California, is in jeopardy and needs three Bahá’ís to move to this quiet community in the San Gabriel Valley to help save it. Rosemead is centrally located, close to downtown Los Angeles, jobs, schools and shops. Its unified and diverse Bahá’í community is quite friendly, and would welcome any and all interested Bahá’ís. (A large Bahá’í-owned home with swimming pool is available to purchase.) For more information, please phone Lamar at the Los Angeles Bahá’í Center, 213-933-8291 (days) or 213-572-7233 (evenings).

NEEDED for a forthcoming biography: photographs, letters, information about Marion Little, a Bahá’í pioneer to Luxembourg and Sweden who lived for a time in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mrs. Little’s husband was a partner in

See ADS Page 26 [Page 25]

INTERMEDIA

News from the Office of Public Affairs

A dozen states pass resolutions condemning persecutions in Iran

RESOLVED THAT: In the states

One by one state legislatures are passing resolutions condemning the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran. Alabama, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Washington state have joined the ranks of those protesting the inhuman behavior. Resolutions are pending in nine other states from Arizona to Virginia.

In addition, designated Bahá’í communities are actively pursuing passage in 20 states. Although another seven have not yet reported, we expect to have resolutions passed in a minimum of 41 states in the next few months. By 1985 (some legislatures do not meet until then), if a resolution is still necessary, we hope to have every state in the union enlisted.

And the cities

The cities are not far behind. Have you requested a resolution from your city council? This is an excellent way to inform your local government leaders about the persecution of the Bahá’ís, and, incidentally, about the existence of the Faith, and to let them know that there are Bahá’ís residing in their community.

Put your city on the “resolution map” alongside Reno, Nevada; Melbourne, Florida; Wilmette, Illinois; Palo Alto, Santa Ana, Stanton and Orange County, California; and Roanoke, Virginia. The Office of Public Affairs can help by providing a packet of background information, sample resolutions and press releases (cost: $5). Let us all help the nation hold high the torch and “bind with the hands of justice the broken” as exhorted by Bahá’u’lláh in His Most Holy Book.

They can get it on

The Spiritual Assembly of Grants Pass, Oregon, has found that even though it will cost a considerable amount of money to buy TV time for “The Spiritual Revolution” series, when the cost is shared by every Assembly in the viewing area it is affordable. The plan includes advertising the series and scheduling “viewing breakfasts” at show time on Sunday mornings.

Firsts

Bay City, Michigan, achieved a first in The Bay City Times—a quarter-page article by Steve Callander who interviewed Kenneth and Ann Augustine about the persecutions in Iran.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, in its first major article on the Faith, featured a “two-pager” by its religion writer, Pamela Schaefer. Ditto for the Springfield, Illinois, State Journal-Register with an article by two of its writers. A half-page article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, a quarter-page in a Canon City, Colorado, paper, and half-page articles in the Raleigh, North Carolina, News and Observer and the Madison, Wisconsin, Capital Times indicate that interest is on the rise and the media is responding.

‘Bahá’í’ clipped

The Office of Public Affairs uses two newspaper clipping services that clip articles from newspapers around the country in which the word “Bahá’í” is mentioned. One set is mailed to the Universal House of Justice for its archives. During January, one clipping service sent in more than 500 articles. There is a noticeable trend toward featuring local Bahá’í activities and the Faith itself. The count is now almost 50 per cent about the Faith and 50 per cent about the persecutions. Another point of interest is that articles mentioning the world’s major religions now often include the Faith—a rewarding indication of the power of martyrdom to open doors of understanding.

An annual affair

The Bahá’ís of Wilmington, Delaware, are preparing for their fourth annual Race Unity Festival which features booths, displays and the native dress and food of various cultures. Events such as human rights award banquets, when held regularly, may seem insignificant at first but gradually can attract the involvement of other organizations and enlist the support and participation of a growing segment of the community. Don’t give up on the first try. The systematic, planned approach will always win in the long run.

Isolated but ‎enervated energized‎

If you want to know how effective a lone Bahá’í can be, check the achievements of an Ian Bamber or a Nosrat Solhjoo.

Ian succeeded in getting a letter to the editor about the persecutions in Iran into his local newspaper, thus expanding by a factor of about 5,000 his ability to reach his neighbors ...

Nosrat Solhjoo, a Bahá’í from Los Alamitos, California, was almost single-handedly responsible for obtaining resolutions about the persecutions and/or World Peace Day from the cities of Los Altos, Stanton, Long Beach, Santa Ana, Orange County, and the California state legislature! A mini-whirlwind of activity.

Irvine, California, uses telephone answering machine to present many two-minute ‘firesides’

During the first two years and four months of its operation, a teaching program in Irvine, California, that uses a telephone answering machine to offer callers a two-minute message about the Faith has received 1,256 calls representing that many two-minute firesides.

AT LEAST three of the callers have since become Bahá’ís while several others have expressed their desire to do so.

The public has been made aware of the Bahá’í phone listing through a series of paid newspaper ads which were obtained from the Office of Public Affairs at the Bahá’í National Center.

They were given to the newspaper with instructions to add the phone number and the words “recorded message” in parentheses. The weekly paper is free to choose which of the 13 supplied ads it publishes every other week.

Eighteen calls were received in response to the first ad that appeared, and two of those callers left messages on the machine indicating they would like more information.

When calls are received from outside Irvine, a packet of Bahá’í materials is mailed to the caller and the appropriate Assembly is contacted for possible follow-up.

SINCE last July, each caller who requests more information has been sent the packet of literature and an offer to participate in a Bahá’í correspondence course.

The course materials were supplied to the Assembly in Irvine by the Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles.

Members of the Irvine teaching committee send hand-written invitations to each of the 70 people who had asked for more information on the Faith as of last July.

Seven of them asked to take the correspondence course, and all seven completed it.

One of the women then asked for and received a two-hour fireside in her home that was also attended by one of her friends.

By the end of December, the number of people who had called the Bahá’í phone number and asked for literature about the Faith had grown to 141.

At least two of the more recent inquirers are attending firesides, and one of them is taking part in two deepening sessions each week.

The teaching committee has sent about 460 Bahá’í books and pamphlets to those who have requested literature through the telephone teaching project.

The Bahá’í Media Committee of Southeast Nebraska, using creativity to overcome great distances and fewness of numbers, entered a float in three county fairs last year and provided a portable fair booth for three county fairs and one rodeo celebration. The float uses the theme ‘America the Peacemaker’ and displays prominently the words ‘Bahá’í Faith.’ The committee plans to use the same float this year at the Arbor Day parade in Nebraska City, the centennial parade in the village of Burchard, and the Fourth of July parade in Beatrice. The portable fair booth, which features posters of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, uses the themes of ‘education,’ ‘peace,’ ‘children’ and ‘humanity’ with Bahá’í quotations.

Bahá’í wins top Seattle Design ‘Gold Award’

Burl Barer, a Bahá’í creative consultant from Walla Walla County, Washington, has received the Seattle Design Association’s prestigious 1983 “Gold Award” for his contributions to the “Generra Primavera Estate” brochure.

The theme of the brochure, which also garnered two Silver Awards for Mr. Barer, is a quotation from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “When spring comes you will observe creation clad in a new robe of expression.”

In addition to the three awards from the Seattle Design Association, the brochure received an award of excellence from the Art Directors Guild.

Mr. Barer, a Bahá’í since 1970, serves as an assistant to Auxiliary Board member Opal Conner. He is known to many Bahá’ís as the developer and voice of the “Jeff Reynolds” radio programs.

UC-Davis conference

The Bahá’í Club at the University of California-Davis is hosting a day-long “Wage Peace” conference Saturday, April 7, at the university.

The conference will be followed by an evening workshop and pot-luck dinner.

Notice to youth attending 75th Convention

ATTENTION: Youth who are planning to attend the 75th Bahá’í National Convention in April. The National Youth Committee urges you to consider volunteering some of your time and talents in service at the Convention.

There are opportunities for youth to help with registration, the children’s program, and in other areas. Anyone who wishes to donate his or her services should contact the National Youth Committee before April 13. Write to the committee at Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315, or phone 305-462-1919. Please be sure to note any special skills or talents so you can be put to good use!

The National Youth Committee is planning a number of special activities for youth who attend this year’s National Convention including a youth social and presentations by noted Bahá’í speakers.

YOUTH are encouraged to attend and participate, and the Youth Committee invites everyone to stop by the youth display to learn about some of the exciting programs that are being planned for the final phase of the Seven Year Plan which will be launched at the Convention. [Page 26]

75TH BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CONVENTION

(April 26-29, 1984)

CONVENTION SEATING REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION BY LETTER IS ACCEPTABLE; HOWEVER, PLEASE INCLUDE ALL THE INFORMATION REQUESTED BELOW. NOTE: THIS DOES NOT RESERVE HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT THE HOTEL DIRECTLY.

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

(Mr./Mrs./Miss) ________________________________ Bahá’í I.D. No. __________

(Mr./Mrs./Miss) ________________________________ Bahá’í I.D. No. __________

(Mr./Mrs./Miss) ________________________________ Bahá’í I.D. No. __________

(Mr./Mrs./Miss) ________________________________ Bahá’í I.D. No. __________

Address ___________________________________________ Telephone ( ) ____________

CHILDREN’S REGISTRATION

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

Child’s name	Sex	Age	Special needs

A QUALITY CHILDREN’S PROGRAM IS PLANNED. PRE-REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL TO INSURE YOUR CHILD’S PLACE IN THIS PROGRAM.

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!

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

More information about 75th U.S. Bahá’í Convention

The 75th Bahá’í National Convention will be held April 26-29 at the McCormick Inn, 23rd & the Lake, Chicago 60616. The toll-free phone number is 1-800-621-6909 (in Illinois, phone COLLECT 312-791-1901).

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

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

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

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

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

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

Registration hours: Thursday, April 26, 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Friday, April 27, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, April 28, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, April 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Your arrival: You should try to time your arrival so that you can register before the registration area closes at night. We are open later on Thursday to accommodate those few individuals who have later arrival times. However, if you should come too late, do not despair that you will miss the morning program. Registration is usually slow in the morning, and you should be able to register in a few minutes.

Peak registration time: For those of you arriving on Thursday, we’ve noticed that people attending the Convention tend to register in waves that fluctuate about every half-hour between 2 and 7 p.m. This information can’t be exact, but it seems that we have a large group registering at 2 p.m., that this subsides around 2:30, grows again around 3 o’clock, and so on until 7 p.m.

And remember ... You must register in person, with your Bahá’í membership card in hand. You may not register another family member or a friend by proxy.

If you don’t have your Bahá’í membership card (or your letter confirming your pre-registration), you will need to go to the special HELP! window before you can complete your registration.

Ads

Continued From Page 24

Little, Brown Publishers in New York; her brother was Granville Mellon of the Pascagoula shipyards in Mississippi. Please send any information you may have to Dorothy Edwards, East Ridge, TN 37412, or phone 615-867-3384.

DOMINICA needs a project manager for a fish marketing and storage project to be implemented in April. Academic qualifications beyond a basic university degree are not essential, but applicants must be fluent in English and have at least seven years experience in the preparation, handling, processing, storage and marketing of fish. Working knowledge of management also is expected. The Caribbean island of Dominica is one of the few remaining overseas goals to be won by the U.S. by Ridván. Information about this position will be given to Bahá’ís whose applications have been accepted by the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

200 attend UN Day observance in L.A.

“Obtaining World Peace” was the theme of the Los Angeles Bahá’í community’s observance of United Nations Day which was held last October 30 at the University of Southern California.

About 200 people, many of whom were non-Bahá’ís, attended the event which included talks by Bahá’í Lisa Janti and Dr. Robert Woetzel of the UN Association of Los Angeles.

Entertainment was provided by flutist Brett Tarnet and pianists Brian Whitcomb and Don Addison.

$1,700 raised for Funds

More than 200 Bahá’ís from a 200-mile area in Southern California participated last October 16 in an auction in Solvang at which $1,700 was raised for radio station WLGI, the Temple Restoration Fund, the Persian Relief Fund, and the Thornton Chase Memorial Fund.

The auction was co-sponsored by the Spiritual Assemblies of Grover City and Solvang Judicial District.

THE BAHÁ’Í Publishing Trust in Fiji, which serves the entire South Pacific area, needs a manager. The pioneer should have good management skills and experience in editing, proof-reading, graphic design and layout, and purchasing. The position needs to be filled as soon as possible, as back orders are accumulating. Information about this position will be given to Bahá’ís whose applications have been accepted by the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

RADIO Bahá’í projects in South America need trained broadcast engineers who can be self-supporting while volunteering their free time to the station. These radio stations reach many thousands of people with the Bahá’í message, and must be kept operational. Information about these positions will be given to Bahá’ís whose applications have been accepted by the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

to help you win a goal of the 7 Year Plan!—

the CREATIVE WORD in Pocket-Sized Editions

handsome, deep-red flexible cover stamped in gold—

$3.50* EACH

(Catalog No. 103-032) (Catalog No. 103-031)

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

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

• Price valid only in the United States

[Page 27]

Bahá’í Writings

Some Answered Questions: a ‘must’ for teaching Christians

The new pocket-sized edition of Some Answered Questions—long a staple for teaching and deepening—has made the book more accessible and affordable than ever before.

How can it help you in your teaching activities?

One, it is a must for teaching Christians. It contains more on topics of interest to Christians than any other book by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The birth of Christ, the baptism of Christ, the resurrection, the second coming—and many more topics—are covered succinctly and accessibly in Some Answered Questions.

Two, it is an indispensable reference book on the unity of the Manifestations of God or on Their powers and conditions.

Three, it is essential for any discussion on the origin, powers and conditions of man.

Four, it will bring you quickly to answers about such diverse topics as reincarnation; pantheism; the nonexistence of evil; and body, mind and spirit.

But Some Answered Questions can do more than help you answer questions from seekers. It can help you to such a “firm hold” on the spirit and tenets of the Faith that you will be inspired to teach others and render genuine service to the Cause. It will help you to become “firm and steadfast” and “unwavering in your support of the institutions of the Faith.”

The quotations above are from Shoghi Effendi. Do you suppose the importance of Some Answered Questions to the teaching and deepening work is why he said we should read it “over and over again”?

Hardcover, Catalog No. 106-037, $12.

Pocket-sized, Catalog No. 106-043, $3.50.

Can you identify anyone in this picture?

This is a photograph taken in 1942 of the Spiritual Assembly of Atlanta, Georgia. The National Archives would like to identify the individual Bahá’ís in the picture. If you have any information about them, please write to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Champaign-Urbana’s three-hour ‘music fest’ celebrates anniversary of Bahá’u’lláh’s Birth

Among the participants in a Bahá’í ‘music fest’ last November 12 in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, were (left to right) Bill Wilson, Mickey Cheek, Brad Alan Wright-Hulett, Cheryl Dougherty, Ann Keehner and Shery McDonnell. (Photo by Afshin Khazra)

To celebrate the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh last November 12, the Spiritual Assemblies of Champaign and Urbana, Illinois, co-sponsored a three-hour long Bahá’í “music fest.”

Bahá’í composers and performers from 10 communities participated, demonstrating the quantity, variety and quality of Bahá’í-oriented music in the central Illinois area.

Also presented was a slide-and-music presentation, “The Greatest Undertaking,” about the raising of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.

Program notes told about the participants, gave the words of some of the songs, described how and why some of them were composed, included a compilation of some of the Bahá’í writings about the effect of music on the spirit, and gave other information about the Faith.

Composers included Dr. Rosamond Brenner (Glen Ellyn), Phil Smith (Mattoon), Gregg Brown (Danville), and Ann and Joseph Keehner (Savoy), all of whom performed their own and others’ music.

One friend of the Faith who had three of his compositions presented was so invigorated he has since composed several songs about the Faith.

Besides the composers, performers included the Bahá’í choir of the Champaign-Urbana area, Bill and Pej Clark (Decatur), the intercommunity group “Jamal,” Shirley Crenshaw (Washington), Brad Alan Wright-Hulett (Morton), Shery McDonnell (Bondville), William Rickards, Cheryl Dougherty and Mickey Cheek (Champaign), William Wilson (Danville), and Jamak Khazra and Danny Blubaugh (Urbana).

Roxane Cheney and Al Firmin drove from Dearborn, Michigan, in their new broadcast van to video tape the event for possible future use.

Bullock papers, Buffin correspondence

Collections focus on homefront pioneering

A number of the collections in the National Bahá’í Archives have material relating to homefront pioneering and traveling teaching in the United States.

EXAMPLES of this are two of the smaller collections, the Matthew Bullock papers and Lucile Hoke Buffin correspondence.

The Buffin correspondence consists primarily of materials relating to Dr. Zia Bagdadi’s homefront pioneering in the Southeastern U.S. in 1936 and 1937.

Dr. Bagdadi had long been a prominent member of the Bahá’í community of Chicago when he decided in 1935 to make arrangements to go to Florida to teach the Faith.

Early in 1936 he went to Miami, and from there made teaching trips to Deland and St. Augustine.

In September 1936 Dr. Bagdadi moved to Augusta, Georgia, where he established a Bahá’í Center in which he also lived and later practiced medicine.

He remained in Augusta, apart from occasional brief teaching trips, until his death in April 1937.

THE BUFFIN correspondence includes Dr. Bagdadi’s reports of his teaching work in Florida and Georgia.

In these reports are accounts of his speaking engagements in churches and clubs; two months of radio broadcasts in Augusta; classes for inquirers; and the holding of integrated meetings in Georgia.

The Matthew Bullock papers also contain material related to a teaching trip in the South.

In 1963, at the age of 81, Mr. Bullock, a distinguished black lawyer, made a teaching trip to North Carolina, where he had been born, and South Carolina.

Earlier, in the 1950s, Mr. Bullock had taught the Faith in Haiti and the Caribbean and had made teaching trips to Africa and Portugal.

The papers include examples of the notes he made on the background and possibilities of places he was planning to visit; notes for talks on the Faith; itineraries; and notes of his attendance at the Kampala Conference in 1953 and the World Congress in London in 1963.

In collections such as these we find documented the time and effort required to teach effectively, and the benefits such efforts can have in stimulating communities and individuals.

Archives to be open on Sundays in June

The National Bahá’í Archives will be open to researchers during the following Sundays: June 3, 10, 17 and 24.

Researchers are still required to obtain in advance of their visit permission and an appointment by writing to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Cassette tapes of Association talks available from Images International

Cassette recordings of the presentations made at the Association for Bahá’í Studies’ 1983 annual Conference are now available from Images International.

These talks by distinguished Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í speakers deal with such topics as uses and abuses of power, arts and sciences in the Bahá’í era, violence and crime, the future of penal law, world development, personal and social change, and the defense of the Faith against its enemies in Iran.

They join a list of recordings from Association Conferences since 1980 which treat marriage and family life, world development, and figures in Bahá’í history as well as other worthy topics.

These tapes and others from the 1982 international conferences in Montreal, Dublin and Lagos, plus Hands of the Cause of God, Auxiliary Board members, and speakers at other Bahá’í gatherings of recent years are available from Images International, Vienna, VA 22180.

They may be purchased for $5 per tape or any 12 tapes for $55, plus 10 per cent for shipping and handling (minimum $1.50 per order).

A list of tapes from Conferences of the Association for Bahá’í Studies or a complete listing of titles is available upon request. [Page 28]This office is the community’s first Haziratu’l-Quds; but as it looks toward the day when it will own a building, the Assembly may also decide at this stage to purchase a piece of land where a Bahá’í Center can be built once a sufficient amount of money has been saved. The goal of the community will be to acquire or construct a building large enough to accommodate the entire community.

The community has given up holding Feasts in living rooms and has rented a hall. Because of a lack of time and the large number of people who are present, consultation has decreased and there is a feeling of loss of intimacy. Time limits must often be set for each of the sections of the Feast. The chairman, following a carefully planned agenda, has become the key to a successful business portion. In spite of the Assembly’s best efforts to exercise control, there are many announcements and reports that consume time and sometimes deaden the Feast.

THE community librarian has had to become better organized to manage the growing lending library and book sales; the librarian’s tasks may even have to be shared among several persons. Because Feasts are now held in a rented temporary facility, it is difficult to have a wide range of items available for sale.

The community now has enough children and youth to warrant active programs for those age groups. The percentage of community members participating in activities such as deepenings and social events has decreased, as has the percentage of income sent to the various Bahá’í funds.

As the community grows toward 100 or more active members, it continues to try and function as a single unit with one Feast, but the size of the community and its diversity of interests make apparent the need to divide the community into smaller units. Already, small "friendship groups" or cliques have developed naturally within the community.

Stage Three: 40-60 to 300-400

When a Bahá’í community has between 40 or 60 to 300 or 400 members, the Assembly finds two urges pulling it in opposite directions. It wants the community to function as a single unit, while at the same time it sees the need for smaller units of activity, usually based upon neighborhoods. By now the community has a Center or is actively working to acquire one, and the Assembly is finding it increasingly difficult to hold large meetings for the entire community.

Meanwhile, the Assembly has had to learn to delegate responsibility. It has become a planning, organizing and supervising body that leaves the execution of most tasks to committees or representatives. The committees themselves have begun to assume greater responsibility for planning and to have subcommittees; even personal problems are usually delegated to a committee or representatives who may not even be Assembly members. Because of its heavy agenda, the Assembly tries to spend little time conferring with individuals.

THE DUTIES of Assembly officers have evolved as well. Now the chairman must be able not only to chair an Assembly meeting but also to speak well in front of a large audience. To present reports at large gatherings, the corresponding secretary must likewise have some public speaking ability and must have the capacity to supervise and work well with those whom he or she now must call upon to help with at least some of the routine clerical work. The treasurer must have a good knowledge of bookkeeping and finance, for the community may now have funds that must be skillfully invested including trust funds given as gifts to the community. The secretary, and perhaps the treasurer, may at this juncture receive some financial compensation for their time, and/or have the help of a part-time or full-time assistant, possibly paid.

With a growing amount of clerical work the Assembly may begin to consider buying more equipment, such as a copier to ease its paper work and an inexpensive microcomputer to help maintain its membership and financial records. If there is a Center, it may include a bookstore with part-time or full-time staff.

In communities of more than 200 active members, the Feasts possibly are conducted in homes according to geographical areas. At the outset of this arrangement, at least one Assembly member will usually be present to chair each Feast, and the Assembly will prepare in advance packets that include an agenda for the business session; copies of correspondence to be read from the Universal House of Justice, National Spiritual Assembly, Auxiliary Board members, and so on; a report from the Local Spiritual Assembly; and announcements and information about book sales and the lending library. Someone will be designated to report the results of consultation to the Assembly.

OCCASIONALLY, the entire community will meet for a combined Feast which requires considerable advance planning. Consultation at these larger gatherings is usually difficult, as only those who feel comfortable speaking before a large audience contribute.

The Bahá’í Center, once acquired, consumes a large amount of income for its upkeep. It has become a mixed blessing that improves community activities by giving the friends a more permanent home while at the same time adding to its problems because of its maintenance and staffing needs.

It has also become increasingly difficult to communicate quickly with the community, and events must be planned farther in advance to publicize them effectively to the Bahá’ís.

The committee structure has become centered gradually on the geographic areas used for the Feasts. For example, the teaching committee may have subcommittees for each Feast area that plan events in their neighborhood. Social, teaching and deepening activities have become increasingly neighborhood-centered. The community’s size has decreased the need for planning joint activities with nearby Bahá’í communities.

Stage Four: 300-400 +

When a community has grown beyond 300 to 400 active members, the Assembly ordinarily has delegated its tasks to the point at which is primarily a policy-making body that handles only the most important matters. Its officers have become executives with a paid staff, and the secretary must usually, of necessity, be at least a part-time employee.

IT HAS become virtually impossible to attempt to have a Nineteen Day Feast for the entire community, even occasionally. Instead, Feasts are held in homes by neighborhood. After a point, there are so many Feast observances that it is no longer possible to have an Assembly member present at each one of them. The Assembly may therefore decide to appoint chairmen for each area who are then instructed as to how the Assembly wants each Feast to be conducted.

Area committees have become increasingly important, not only in planning and carrying out activities in their neighborhoods, but in keeping the Assembly informed about the health of the community in each area. These committees serve at the behest of the Assembly, possibly after an advisory vote by the Bahá’ís in each area.

Gradually, as the community has evolved through each stage, the variety of community activities has become increasingly more diverse. The Assembly finds more and more that the needs within its own community consume a larger share of its income, leaving a smaller percentage for contributions to outside Funds. The community’s resources have grown to the point where it no longer needs to pool resources with its neighbors. In fact, while the community may invite others to attend its events, there are actually fewer jointly planned activities or intercommunity committees than there were when the community was small.

The future holds promise that the path the community is now traveling will continue, with more decentralization and delegation as the community keeps growing. Feast areas will shrink from neighborhoods to city blocks, and perhaps even smaller units. Like a cell redividing, the possibilities for growth reach far beyond our present limited perspectives of Bahá’í community life.

Final Comments

The experience of existing Bahá’í communities suggests that it is important for each community to evolve naturally through each stage of growth rather than to try to jump too quickly from one to another or to bypass a stage altogether. For example, a small Bahá’í community that acquires a Center before it is ready for one will often be paralyzed by a responsibility it cannot handle. On the other hand, a Spiritual Assembly in a larger community that has never learned to delegate responsibility will find itself quickly incapacitated.

Conifer Hill to present five weekend sessions, 9-day school this summer

The Conifer Hill Bahá’í School in the Colorado Rockies is open and having sessions this summer. The sessions will consist of five weekends and a nine-day school.

THE FIRST and last weekends, July 21-22 and September 1-3 (Labor Day weekend) are work-oriented.

Emphasis in classes on those weekends will be a study of the new economic and development responsibilities which the Universal House of Justice has asked Bahá’ís to undertake.

The weekends of July 28-29 and August 25-26 will be devoted to youth activities and classes for young people.

The weekend of August 4-5 will feature a variety of social and recreational activities.

The dates for the nine-day school are from Friday evening, August 10, through Sunday, August 19.

The nine-day school program is divided into three parts—the two weekends and the five days in between.

JANET Herbst of Ganado, Arizona, will teach "Developing Positive Attributes" the first weekend, while Dr. Dan Popov of Evergreen, Colorado, will coordinate a workshop entitled "Facing the Social Challenges of This Day" during the school’s second weekend.

During the five middle days, Sam Jackson of Jacksonville, Florida, will teach Bahá’ís how to give effective public talks.

A course on researching a chosen topic in the Bahá’í Writings will be offered, as well as an inspirational class whose subject matter has not yet been finalized.

Correction

In the January issue of The American Bahá’í, a photo caption was inadvertenly omitted on Page 22. The caption reads as follows:

"Diann Timm (left) and Darlene Harvey, recipients of the 1983 Ina Primm Bahá’í Scholarships to Johnson County (Kansas) Community College, are shown at the presentation ceremony. The scholarships, for $100 each, are underwritten by the Spiritual Assemblies of Prairie Village and Overland Park, Kansas. Neither of the recipients is a Bahá’í."

1984 Spring Institute at Nur’u’lláh School in Indiana set April 7

The Nur’u’lláh (Indiana) Bahá’í School will hold its annual Spring Institute on Saturday, April 7, at Brown County State Park near Nashville, Indiana.

The theme of the day-long event is "Krishna: What a Bahá’í Ought to Know About Hinduism but Didn’t Know Enough to Ask."

The speakers will be Paula Drewek, a teacher of humanities and comparative religion at Macomb Community College, Warren, Michigan, and Ali Muhammad Faizi, a Bahá’í scholar of Hinduism from Columbus, Ohio.

A separate program will be offered for children.

Rates for the institute are $5 per person or $10 per family in advance. Lunch is $5 per person. There are overnight accommodations at the park averaging $60 per room for four (two double beds). Entrance fee to the park is $1.25 per car.

For more information please contact the registrar, Joy Sylvester, Indianapolis, IN 46201, or phone 317-632-4795.

Friends are invited to join peace vigil

Bahá’ís are invited to participate with other groups around the world at noon, April 4, in observing "Two Silent and Still Minutes for Peace, Worldwide."

The two-minute period of silence will follow the sun from time zone to time zone, flowing like a wave around the world and carrying a simple but urgent message—the desire of humankind for peace.

The idea for the observance originated with Ted Moe, a postmaster in East Swanzey, New Hampshire, who is the brother-in-law of Jean Williams, a Bahá’í from Greenfield, Massachusetts.

Cedar Rapids Bahá’ís secure yellow pages cross-reference

The Spiritual Assembly of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reports:

"The Assembly requested a cross-reference in the yellow pages from ‘Churches—Bahá’í’ to ‘See Religious Organizations.’

"Now the Faith is listed under religious organizations along with the Jewish and Muslim faiths." [Page 29]

Trail of Light

the usual 50 per cent discount on purchases by Native Americans, included the rest of us in the deal, and treated us to much-appre-ciated cold sodas.

OUR NEXT stop was Oraibi, near the Third Mesa, where we had hoped to visit with the tribal chairman.

Unfortunately, he was unavail-able, but we were able to speak with a young man who is the pub-lic relations representative for the tribe.

He spoke of Hopi traditions, es-pecially the time of purification, which he felt we are now in the midst of. The South Americans agreed.

He then mentioned that his clan is that of servants, and that al-though it is considered to be the lowliest of clans, he was proud that they could be of service to others.

Sabino quickly agreed, and told him that in the Bahá’í Faith the station of servant is one of the highest.

THE PROGRAM that evening was well-attended and well-re-ceived. For the first time we had to set up for filming, and several of us helped Charles Nolley get everything prepared.

Our public relations friend from the tribal office came, and we asked him to accept the gift that the Trail of Light team wish-ed to leave with the Hopi people. Later, he participated when Leo-poldo taught everyone a Cuna dance.

Interesting people popped up all along the tour. As we sampled re-freshments after this particular program, we met a young Hopi man who was familiar with some of the musical instruments that Egon and Clemente played.

It turned out that he had made friends and played with a group of South American musicians, and was happy to be able to hear the music once more.

The following day we headed back to Window Rock in Navajo territory for a television interview and a meeting with Peterson Zah, the chairman of the Navajo.

THE EXISTENCE of a radio and television station owned and operated by the Navajo tribe was extremely impressive, especially since they broadcast in the Navajo language.

Of all the Reservations visited by the Trail of Light, the Navajo Reservation would remain upper-most in their minds as an example of what Indians can accomplish in terms of development, mainten-ance of culture, and self-determi-nation.

That afternoon, Ann Jorgen-sen, our other translator, accom-panied the team members to the meeting with Chairman Zah while I stayed behind to rest.

We translators really came to depend on one another, and a bond was formed between us that was quite separate from that with the Trail of Light team.

Ann was entirely selfless and single-minded in her pursuit of the well-being of the team, and ob-serving her helped me to become better at my task.

MANY of our Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í acquaintances from Tsaile attended our presentation that evening in Fort Defiance including our friend from the Dominican Republic.

In fact, she said, some of her friends at the school had tried to talk her into attending a dance in-stead, but she had insisted on coming to the Bahá’í event.

On Saturday morning we left Window Rock for the Southwest Bahá’í Institute at Burntwater. This had been the training site for the original Trail of Light team from North America of which Counsellor King was a member.

We spent the day meeting with friends from around the area in-cluding those from Tsaile-and yes, our Dominican friend came again to see us.

The afternoon session took place under a thatch-topped struc-ture with benches made of logs. Roha served as translator for the South Americans, there were short talks by Ben Kahn and Chester Kahn, and songs were sung.

LATER, we broke for dinner and then continued the meeting inside the newly constructed hogan. It is a lovely building with each log in the structure looking as though it had been created specifically for that purpose.

More residents from the area around the Bahá’í Institute came as the evening of our last night in Navajo-Hopi territory progressed, and there was much lively dis-cussion of the Faith and of life in South America.

We had hoped the next morning to visit a couple of the western pueblos we’d passed by on the way to Navajo-Hopi, but were told that wasn't possible.

We stopped instead at a beau-tiful site near Lupton and did some filming in and around the rock formations. This footage was later put to good use in South Dakota.

After lunch we returned to Al-buquerque. The next day was our "free" day.

Ann, Lauretta and Barbara went to the Santa Fe area to visit friends and relatives, while I went shopping with the South Amer-icans, who needed warm coats and shoes for the next leg of our jour-ney.

SHOPPING was fun, but din-ner was even more so. Our hostess took us to a bowling alley where she and her husband have a food concession and treated us to ham-burgers and a few games of bowl-ing.

It was the first time any of the South Americans had bowled, and they had a great time bowling and playing video games. By the time we left, Sabino was considering the pros and cons of opening a bowling alley back in Cocha-bamba.

We spent the rest of the evening resting and packing for our early departure the next morning for the plains of South Dakota where we hoped to make more friends with whom we could share the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

Next: South Dakota

Archives slates 1984 Institute July 19-22 at National Center

The National Bahá’í Archives Committee is planning to hold its 1984 Archives Institute July 19-22 at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois.

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

The institute is designed to in-troduce believers who are inter-ested in the archival field to the nature and functions of a Bahá’í archives.

Attendance is to be limited to eight persons, and each partici-pant is responsible for his or her own expenses and housing.

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

Counsellors name three members as liaisons’ to serve areas in U.S.

At its seventh plenary session, held last December in San José, Costa Rica, the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Am-ericas named the three of its mem-bers who are resident in the U.S. as "liaison Counsellors" to serve designated areas of the country and supervise the services of the Auxiliary Board members there.

Counsellor Sarah Martin Per-eira will serve Alabama, Dela-ware, Florida, Georgia, Ken-tucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Vir-ginia and Washington, D.C.

Counsellor Fred Schechter will serve Arizona, California, south-ern Nevada, New Mexico and west Texas.

Counsellor Velma L. Sherrill will serve the remainder of the country.

Each of the three Counsellors has the responsibility, on behalf of the Board, for the customary Counsellor-Auxiliary Board ser-vices performed in the assigned territory.

No one Counsellor has been named "coordinator," although the three Counsellors may agree that one of them will act as co-ordinator in particular circum-stances.

Mrs. Consuelo Thompson (cen-ter), the mayor of Española, New Mexico, was visited recently by two representatives of the Spiri-tual Assembly of Española, Ruth Vargas (left) and Jeanette Rob-erts, who presented the mayor with flowers and several books about the Faith. The purpose of the visit was to inform the mayor of the formation of Española’s first Spiritual Assembly and to of-fer the help of the Bahá’ís in her work. Mrs. Thompson said she has several close friends who are Bahá’ís and was pleased to learn that there are Bahá’ís in Española.

Homefront

nor there, perhaps unhappy be-cause he cannot leave, losing sat-isfaction and interest in local undertakings, feeling "left out" for not performing "the most meritorious deed" of foreign pio-neering.

Of utmost importance is the outlook that each of us, by the very fact of our being a Bahá’í, is a pioneer. Only Bahá’ís are doing Bahá’í work or contributing funds for Bahá’í work.

WE MUST keep clearly in mind that wherever a Bahá’í finds him-self, there must he concentrate his efforts joyously in whatever ave-nues are open to him.

No other Bahá’í has the exact same opportunity you have to spread the word for this Day. Are you the only Bahá’í at your place of business? In your club? In your professional circle? At the school you attend or where you teach? Then you are the only Bahá’í with an ideal entree to that particular group.

No amount of radio, news-paper, television or other adver-tising could reach these people as well as your own personal daily as-sociation can, whether by word or by example. You are a pioneer.

Only by taking advantage of given opportunities can progress take place, either in one’s personal deepening or in his efforts to make known the purposes and ob-jectives of the Faith..

The importance of this ap-proach to pioneering was made clear to a young couple in a letter to them from the Guardian, writ-ten through his secretary and dated July 8, 1942:

"PIONEER service in these epoch-making days need not be confined to going out in foreign fields. The friends can pioneer on their assemblies in helping to bring about a keener vision of what their duties are; they can pioneer in developing new local teaching methods, new contacts with new classes of people; indeed they can even be said to pioneer inwardly in finding new depths in their own souls and new ways in which their own God-given capa-cities can be put to use in serving the Faith."

The Universal House of Justice has said it is "imperative" to "pay special attention... to the homefronts." If we couple that statement with the Guardian’s definition of pioneering, which "need not be confined to going out in foreign fields," we can find a strong motivation for the tasks in our immediate area.

We can help strengthen our homefront goals, "the solid bases from which all expansion begins," and we shall surely be better pre-pared for action in foreign fields in the future, if such doors should open to us.

Further, in its letter of January 1981 to the Bahá’ís of the U.S., the House of Justice includes the following statement:

"Strive to achieve an unprece-dented increase in the number of avowed adherents of the Faith throughout the country and from all levels of society."

In the U.S. there is about one Bahá’í for every 225,000 people. Clearly, each of us has a vast field for cultivation on the homefront.

Fort Collins statement brings warm response

The Spiritual Assembly of Fort Collins, Colorado, has received what it describes as "an over-whelming response" to a letter about the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran that was sent recently to 60 local and state leaders of thought, clergymen, and friends of the Faith in Fort Collins.

The local newspaper ran the let-ter in full on its editorial page just prior to Human Rights Day. Says the Assembly, "It has given us an opportunity to continue an on-going correspondence with several officials who are becoming in-volved on our behalf." [Page 30]

VIE Chart

Continued From Page 5

District Name	‘Starting Block’ Info			Current Month Info (Sharaf)
	Membership as of 12/9/83	Number of participants	Percentage of participation	Membership as of 1/9/84	Number of participants	Percentage of participation
California S No. 4	981	82	8.4	981	75	7.6
Colorado NE	483	61	12.6	480	47	9.8
Colorado SE	181	15	8.3	182	17	9.3
Colorado W	195	23	11.8	196	19	9.7
Connecticut	471	57	12.1	468	38	8.1
DelMarVa	292	15	5.1	292	14	4.8
Florida C	382	19	5.0	396	21	5.3
Florida N	284	19	6.7	287	13	4.5
Florida SE	1,113	54	4.9	1,117	50	4.5
Florida SW	495	43	8.7	498	31	6.2
Georgia NE	339	48	14.2	338	48	14.2
Georgia NW	876	17	1.9	879	12	1.4
Georgia S	1,158	8	0.7	1,193	8	0.67
Idaho N/Washington E	473	63	13.3	478	49	10.3
Idaho S	183	21	11.5	184	18	9.8
Illinois N No. 1	596	52	8.7	596	56	9.4
Illinois N No. 2	1,148	143	12.5	1,153	109	9.4
Illinois S	742	68	9.2	741	62	8.4
Indiana	541	66	12.2	537	61	11.4
Iowa	383	63	16.4	384	58	15.1
Kansas	340	35	10.3	342	44	12.9
Kentucky	231	25	10.8	235	18	7.6
Louisiana N	84	11	13.1	83	12	14.5
Louisiana S	536	21	3.9	537	17	3.2
Maine	216	26	12.0	218	22	10.0
Maryland W/D.C.	752	79	10.5	758	69	9.1
Massachusetts	946	103	10.9	955	79	8.3
Michigan Mainland	1,171	126	10.8	1,171	118	10.1
Minnesota N	166	26	15.7	168	31	18.0
Minnesota S	434	79	18.2	433	51	11.7
Mississippi	415	18	4.3	407	13	3.2
Missouri	657	75	11.4	655	63	9.6
Montana	347	36	10.4	351	33	9.4
Navajo/Hopi	370	9	2.4	378	12	3.2
Nebraska	307	45	14.7	309	29	9.4
Nevada N	165	14	8.5	164	14	8.5
Nevada S	150	16	10.7	151	19	12.6
New Hampshire	339	44	13.0	340	39	11.5
New Jersey	693	78	11.3	686	60	8.7
New Mexico S/Texas W	979	22	2.2	983	24	2.4
New Mexico N	481	37	7.7	479	35	7.3
New York E	1,254	93	7.4	1,250	83	6.6
New York W	582	78	13.4	587	75	12.8
North Carolina C	636	31	4.9	633	30	4.7
North Carolina E	654	17	2.6	653	11	1.7
North Carolina W	408	32	7.8	409	17	4.2
North Dakota	137	16	11.7	132	12	9.1
Ohio N	551	66	12.0	552	65	11.8
Ohio S	388	46	11.8	392	41	10.5
Oklahoma E	358	26	7.3	351	23	6.5
Oklahoma W	499	28	5.6	496	19	3.8
Oregon E	276	4	1.4	273	2	0.7
Oregon W	1,255	103	8.2	1,265	98	7.7
Pennsylvania E	452	60	13.3	452	49	10.8
Pennsylvania W	195	26	13.3	199	22	11.0
Rhode Island	108	13	12.0	109	10	9.2
South Carolina C	1,314	10	0.76	1,315	7	0.53
South Carolina E No. 1	2,397	3	0.12	2,396	3	0.13
South Carolina E No. 2	2,017	6	0.29	2,014	5	0.25
South Carolina N	821	4	0.48	821	1	0.12
South Carolina S No. 1	627	6	1.0	628	6	0.95
South Carolina S No. 2	794	4	0.5	796	2	0.25
South Carolina W	386	15	3.9	390	6	1.5
South Dakota	266	7	2.6	269	8	2.9
Tennessee E	159	23	14.5	160	19	11.8
Tennessee W	300	19	6.3	298	12	4.0
Texas C No. 1	528	34	6.4	525	20	3.8
Texas C No. 2	105	3	2.9	105	1	0.95
Texas E No. 1	1,269	83	6.5	1,285	69	5.4
Texas E No. 2	838	70	7.4	845	41	4.8
Texas N	186	13	7.0	186	10	5.4
Texas S	219	12	5.5	217	12	5.5
Utah	251	29	11.6	255	21	8.2
Vermont	156	20	12.8	157	26	16.6
Virginia N	670	53	7.9	673	35	5.2
Virginia S	538	40	7.4	540	31	5.7
Washington NW	1,011	93	9.2	1,019	80	7.8
Washington SW	356	38	10.7	359	31	8.6
West Virginia	178	15	8.4	179	11	6.1
Wis. N/Peninsular Mich.	237	41	17.3	238	44	18.5
Wisconsin S	757	130	17.2	758	93	12.3
Wyoming	151	15	10.0	149	15	10.0

Dr. Dwight Allen, Dr. Carole Allen set to conduct Louhelen parenting session

Dr. Dwight W. Allen and Dr. Carole Allen, members of the National Spiritual Assembly and the Auxiliary Board, respectively, will conduct a conference on Bahá’í parenting April 6-8 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School.

The conference will include a Friday evening session on the roles of men and women in the new age, and sessions Saturday on the parent-child relationship.

Attention will be given to the differing needs of, and approaches to be taken with, younger children and adolescents. A session Sunday morning will focus on the family as a whole and its role in the context of the emerging global society.

There will also be a panel discussion Saturday evening dealing with parenting techniques and the challenges of setting limits and maintaining order in the home while creating a loving environment that encourages personal growth.

Dr. Carole Allen earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Massachusetts about 10 years ago, and has spent several years conducting anthropological research into family practices among tribes in Africa, where she also served on the National Spiritual Assembly of Lesotho.

Dr. Dwight Allen is a professor of future studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Allens have five children, all of whom are Bahá’ís who are actively serving the Faith.

Information about registration and costs for the conference can be obtained by writing the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or by phoning 313-653-5033.

Connecticut believer presents lecture, dramatic narration

On December 6, Ruth Frank Rosenwald, a Bahá’í from Westport, Connecticut, presented a lecture and dramatic narration entitled “Genocide Against the Bahá’ís in Iran” at the Westport Unitarian Church.

About 20 people attended the program, which was arranged by the minister of the church, the Rev. Hewlett.

Trust sets inventory

The Bahá’í Publishing Trust has announced that it will be closed April 2-9 for inventory.

Only those orders received by March 28 will be processed and shipped before the inventory begins. Make plans now to order those materials you’ll need in early April.

Mathews

Continued From Page 4

letter in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s handwriting.

Mrs. Mathews had the letter translated as quickly as possible, and learned that the Master had written, ‘Thy determination to return home is very dear to the heart of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The home is the center from which life radiates to all horizons. Do thou go home and be humble and bye and bye, thou shalt become ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s lion and roar across the Seven Seas.’

Mrs. Mathews took the Master’s advice about returning to the U.S. and spent the rest of her life fulfilling the last part of His message. She served the Guardian faithfully and sought his guidance in deciding where she could best serve the Faith.

WHILE in England in 1929, Mrs. Mathews was stricken with pneumonia, and her doctor said she would die.

Her daughter, Wanden, cabled the Guardian to ask for prayers on her mother’s behalf. Shoghi Effendi replied that “... your mother’s work is not finished and she will live to complete it.”

Mrs. Mathews’ doctor later said that nothing in his medical career had prepared him for her recovery.

During her early years as a Bahá’í, Mrs. Mathews was heavily involved in interracial teaching work, serving as chairman of the Inter Racial Amity Committee in 1931 and as a member of that committee the following year.

In 1933 Mrs. Mathews, accompanied by her husband, undertook a teaching trip to the Antipodes and the Pacific.

Later, she sought the Guardian’s advice about her desire to travel to India, and he urged her to travel instead to South America.

SHE THEN began her teaching work in Central and South America and established the pioneer training center at her ranch for prospective pioneers to Latin America.

In the area of Bahá’í publications, Mrs. Mathews was a contributing editor to The Bahá’í Magazine, served on the National Publishing Committee, and was responsible for compiling the 1929 edition of the Bahá’í prayer book.

She also contributed articles to The Bahá’í World and published a booklet entitled “Whence Comes the Light?”

She served for many years as a member of the Spiritual Assembly of New York City and was elected a delegate to the Bahá’í National Convention for more than 10 years.

Her autobiography, Not Every Sea Hath Pearls, was published in 1951.

Loulie Mathews died in 1966 at about the age of 97. [Page 31]

Ten years ago...

... in The American Bahá’í

The National Spiritual Assembly announces that speakers at the St. Louis Conference called to launch the new five-year global teaching plan will include the Hands of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum and William Sears.

As many as 10,000 people are expected at the conference, which is scheduled for August 29-September 1 ...

The Universal House of Justice announces that the Hand of the Cause of God Paul Haney will represent the Supreme Body at the U.S. Bahá’í National Convention to be held April 26-29 in Wilmette, Illinois ...

Members of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the U.S. and Canada attend the first formal conference between the two institutions since an independent Canadian National Assembly was created by the Guardian in 1947.

The meeting, held at the National Hazíratu’l-Quds in Wilmette, focuses on issues of mutual concern.

“It isn’t often that two governments will sit down together to discuss matters in an atmosphere of love and unity, as members of the same household,” says Glenford Mitchell, secretary of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly.

At an evening session, members of both National Assemblies are joined by the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem and members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for North America ...

One hundred twenty-eight representatives of 30 Spiritual Assemblies in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island attend a seminar on the Local Spiritual Assembly at the University of Hartford, Connecticut.

Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, represents that body at the seminar, which is one of 49 such gatherings across the country sponsored by the National Assembly between November 1973 and March 1974.

The seminars are designed to help Local Assemblies discharge their responsibilities more effectively at a time when greater demands are being made upon them ...

Local Bahá’í community observances of United Nations Day in 1973 range from a luncheon in New Orleans, Louisiana, attended by 300 people and featuring a U.S. Congressman as speaker, to a meeting in Sacramento, California, at which a Bahá’í prayer for mankind is read to an audience of more than 250 ...

Margaret Danner, well-known Bahá’í poet, dies

Margaret Danner Cunningham, a Bahá’í whose poetry was known and read by people all over the world, died January 1 in Chicago.

A memorial tribute was held Sunday, February 1, at Chicago’s DuSable Museum.

MRS. Cunningham, whose poetry was published under her maiden name, Margaret Esse Danner, first received public recognition in 1945 when she won second prize in the poetry workshop of the Midwestern Writers’ Conference at Northwestern University.

Afterward, the Chicago native received numerous honors including the Harriet Tubman and American Writers awards.

She also won a John Hay Whitney Fellowship for poetry.

She was the first black assistant editor of Poetry magazine where she published several of her poems during the 1950s.

She served as poet-in-residence at Wayne State University in Detroit and, until recently, as poet-in-residence at LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, Tennessee.

An accomplished speaker, she had engagements all over this country and in France and Africa. She was a special favorite of high school and college audiences.

EDITIONS of her poetry include “Impressions of African Art Forms,” “Poem Counterpoem” (with Dudley Randall), “To Flower,” and “The Down of a Thistle.”

She edited several anthologies of students’ poetry, and her work was published in a number of anthologies of literature including American Negro Poetry, Beyond the Blues, Black Writers of America, Broadside Treasury and Cavalcade.

Periodicals that have published her work include “Poetry,” “Chicago Magazine,” “Negro Digest,” “Voices,” “The Negro History Bulletin,” and “South and West.”

Sometimes called a poet ahead of her time, Margaret Danner extolled the beauty of African art while it was often regarded by others as primitive and exotic.

Through her works she heralded African culture as a valuable and significant heritage to be cherished and celebrated.

She denied neither her racial past nor present, but blended them through brilliant imagery that resulted in richly textured, highly evocative poetry about the black experience.

Elizabeth Gladys Roberts, long-time Colorado Springs Assembly secretary

File:Gladys Roberts.jpg

GLADYS ROBERTS

Elizabeth Gladys Roberts, who served for nearly 40 years as secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Colorado Springs, Colorado, died last October 20 at the age of 80.

Ms. Roberts was a close friend of Loulie Albee Mathews, with whom she studied the Faith, and was instrumental with Mrs. Mathews in establishing the Bahá’í International School for Pioneers to South America at Mrs. Mathews’ Temerity Ranch in Pine Valley, north of Colorado Springs.

Mrs. Mathews prefaced her autobiography, Not Every Sea Hath Pearls, with these words:

“To Gladys, without whose support I would never have survived to write this book. With love, Loulie Mathews.”

Ms. Roberts was a delegate to the Bahá’í National Convention from 1959-64 and 1966, and traveled to London in 1963 for the Faith’s centennial celebration at the Royal Albert Hall.

Besides serving as secretary of the Assembly in Colorado Springs, she maintained and housed its lending library and preserved much of its archival materials.

After Ms. Roberts was moved to a nursing home in 1979, her son gave the Bahá’í permission to make use of her Bahá’í possessions.

The Assembly held a sale at which $2,000 was raised to begin a Bahá’í Center fund in Colorado Springs. Its establishment had long been one of her special wishes.

Kay Pope Hippmann; helped to form first Assemblies in DeKalb County & Decatur, Ga.

Mrs. Anne Kathlene (Kay) Pope Hippmann, who helped form the first Spiritual Assemblies of Decatur and DeKalb County, Georgia, died last June 18.

Mrs. Hippmann was a television executive who produced and directed award-winning and syndicated series of educational programs on WETV and the Georgia Educational Television Network.

Rowena Currington, actress, pioneer to Alaska, dies at 55

Rowena Burack Currington, a Bahá’í who was born in New York City but spent the last 20 years of her life as a pioneer to Alaska, died last December 13 in Anchorage. She was 55 years old.

Mrs. Currington, an actress who had appeared regularly in such television shows as “Ben Casey,” “Hazel,” “The Untouchables,” “Dennis the Menace,” and “Dr. Kildare,” and who had a speaking part in the movie “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” was twice elected to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska.

As a young woman she had earned a master’s degree in speech and drama at New York University and spent eight years in stock company theatre on the East Coast before moving to Hollywood.

Besides serving for many years on Local Assemblies in Fairbanks, Nenana and Anchorage, she lent her dramatic talents to a number of Bahá’í enterprises including the introductions to some of the “Light of Bahá’u’lláh” series.

In Memoriam

Mary Adams E. St. Louis, IL December 28, 1983	J.D. Daniel Fort Valley, GA December 17, 1982	Quintelea Hodge Mullins, SC 1983	Ronnie Moore Dallas, TX January 20, 1984	Laura Stanley Eastman, GA Date Unknown
Willie Adams Sr. Marshallville, GA 1981	Margaret Danner Chicago, IL January 1, 1984	Jeanine Horne Deer Lodge, MT December 24, 1983	Harry Nelson Wauwatosa, WI December 13, 1983	Violet Starr Roosevelt, UT January 17, 1984
Clinton Ames Fort Valley, GA October 18, 1983	Mary Davis Buena Vista, GA October 1983	Gevaver Hull Blacksburg, SC Date Unknown	James Oglesby Marshallville, GA Date Unknown	Charlotte Thompson Kenosha, WI January 8, 1984
Mahmoud Ashdji Eustis, FL December 16, 1983	Mattie Ellison Marshallville, GA Date Unknown	Silvestre Inzunza Nogales, AZ Date Unknown	Holstein Percy Bethesda, MD June 1983	Margarite Ullrich Bradenton, FL January 7, 1984
Majdeddin Bastani Bellaire, TX December 23, 1983	Wilson French Kathleen, GA 1981	Mary Jackson Marshallville, GA Date Unknown	Eddie Pickney Cross, SC 1983	Sam Vullo Jamestown, NY December 21, 1983
Mary Blassingame Fort Valley, GA September 19, 1983	John Fuller Hahira, GA Date Unknown	Thomas L. Johnson Cheraw, SC 1983	Brady Posey Dallas, TX November 17, 1983	Nelson Wallace Sr. York, PA February 28, 1982
Lawrence Booke Blacksburg, SC Date Unknown	William Gaston Great Falls, SC January 1983	Mohammed Khazel Richardson, TX June 13, 1983	Virginia Rhyne Alturas, CA November 21, 1983	Sara P. Walker Weatherford, TX November 15, 1983
Juanita Brown Georgetown, SC December 2, 1983	John W. Green Perry, GA Date Unknown	Elizabeth Larry Marshallville, GA Date Unknown	Grace Ross Portland, ME December 22, 1983	Sid Warren Dawson, GA Summer 1982
Curtis Calendar Lester, WV November 6, 1983	Albertine Guy Lansing, MI December 29, 1983	Mattie C. Lester Unadilla, GA 1983	Venus Rumph Marshallville, GA Date Unknown	June Watko Hopewell, VA December 27, 1983
William T. Carter Houston, TX Date Unknown	Joyce Herndon Novato, CA December 22, 1983	Grace Macklin Palms, CA January 22, 1983	Myron Schlesinger Goleta, CA January 11, 1984	Ruby Webber Americus, GA Date Unknown
Larry Cooper Dawson, GA Date Unknown	Dahela Hick St. Paul, MN December 3, 1983	Ricardo Macias W. Hollywood, CA January 9, 1984	Ann Staiker Pittsfield, MA January 19, 1984	Dorothy Wilson Tuba City, AZ December 17, 1983
Yvonne Cuellar Littleton, CO December 7, 1983		Ralph L. Miller Longboat Key, FL November 21, 1983		Idella Wimberly Jeffersonville, GA Date Unknown

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Letters

Continued From Page 3

...vious sociological guises.

But it can also creep into our lives in smaller, more subtle ways, and these prejudices can also cause harm, and hinder our climb toward the virtues we seek.

The guilt inflicted on Bahá’ís in these situations can be painful and confusing. I’ve always known that an individual’s choices are to be respected, but reading the Universal House of Justice’s reply to Mrs. Brush’s question was very comforting.

Judith Andrew Ithaca, New York

To the Editor:

It was with joy and thanksgiving that, upon receiving the December issue of The American Bahá’í, I found that someone had translated the message from the Universal House of Justice dated October 20, 1983, and placed it in the Spanish section for us to use at the Feast of Sharaf.

This community is made up of Hispanic and non-Hispanic Bahá’ís, and all meetings are conducted in Spanish and English.

As a first-year Spanish student, I have prayerfully attempted to translate the Bahá’í mail from English to Spanish so that everyone can understand.

It is true that, as I study, my translations will improve. But I had only to look into the faces of my friends at the Feast of Sharaf to realize how much better was your own. I hope that the one who translated it realizes that we are, indeed, one heart.

Regina Williams Glen Ellen, California

To the Editor:

Two letters in your November 1983 issue caught my eye: one remonstrating against a lack of appreciation shown by Bahá’ís for services rendered by a fellow Bahá’í, and the other asking us to “look for the positive,” as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wished us to do.

IT SEEMS to me, too, that the American Bahá’í community needs more warmth, love and mutual encouragement—individuals for our elected institutions, institutions for individuals, and of course each of us for each other.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote: “Concern yourselves with one another. Help along one another’s projects and plans ... Befriend one another until ye become as a single body, one and all ...” (Consultation: A Compilation, p. 9)

How easy it is to criticize, and how hard to encourage! But isn’t this only because we have formed the wrong habits?

In the world around us, people are constantly laying the blame for problems at someone else’s door. Whether it be a neighbor, a different political party, another race, or a foreign nation, there is always a “them” to vilify.

The Bahá’í teaching of the oneness of mankind strikes at the root of this divisive attitude. As Bahá’ís, whether as individuals or members of institutions, we must learn to replace criticism and blame with encouragement, love and mutual help.

WHEN we do, we often find difficult human situations transformed overnight into positive and fruitful relationships. Everyone, after all, likes being loved and helped.

Sometimes we become preoccupied with the problems of our daily lives or with administrative details, and we forget the love and nurturing that is essential to our spiritual growth as a community.

When problems are brought to an Assembly, the members usually show great concern and care. But while paying so much attention to the ailing plants in our garden, we may forget to water and fertilize the healthy plants, and our harvest suffers.

From its first days, our Supreme Institution, the Universal House of Justice, has taken time from its pressing concerns to write letter after letter of love and encouragement to individual believers, especially those who have arisen in service to the Cause.

The House dispenses justice when it is deserved, but encouragement also flows freely from that august Institution.

In administration, the opposite of encouragement is a spirit of dictatorial authority. We find in the letters of the Guardian addressed to this country a number of warnings against an overly authoritarian attitude:

“They (the elected representatives) must ... free themselves from a domineering attitude ... They should, within the limits of wise discretion, take the friends into their confidence ... and seek their advice and counsel.”

Again, he writes: “... the keynote of the Cause is not dictatorial authority but humble fellowship, not arbitrary power, but the spirit of frank and loving consultation.”

Finally, the Guardian writes that the moderate path between “mercy and justice, ... freedom and submission” will only be found through “the spirit of a true Bahá’í.” (Bahá’í Administration, pp. 63-64)

One form of encouragement is to support each other’s “projects and plans.” Not only must we, as individuals, support the plans of our elected institutions, but our institutions must encourage the initiative and zeal of the believers.

The Guardian told us that the power to accomplish the tasks of the Cause lies with the body of individual believers (Citadel of Faith, pp. 130-31, 148, 155). This power can only be released through a loving and open relationship between the believers and their institutions, reinforced by constant mutual encouragement.

The Guardian wrote, through his secretary, that “The first quality for leadership both among individuals and Assemblies is the capacity to use the energy and competence that exists in the rank and file of its followers.” (The Local Spiritual Assembly, pp. 22-23)

It would be interesting to see what victories would result if we were truly to follow the advice of the Guardian, written to our National Spiritual Assembly in 1927:

“... they (the National and Local Assemblies) should, by every means in their power, stimulate the spirit of enterprise among the believers in order to further the teaching as well as the administrative work of the Cause. They should endeavor ... to imbue the body of the faithful with a deep sense of personal responsibility, and urge every believer, whether high or low, poor or wealthy, to conceive, formulate and execute such measures and projects as would redound, in the eyes of their representatives, to the power and the fair name of this sacred Cause.” (Bahá’í Administration, p. 128)

This, as I understand it, is the idea behind the “friendship teams” and the “campaign of unified action” spearheaded by our National Spiritual Assembly. Let us put them into practice.

Greg Dahl Carmel, California

To the Editor:

With the new directive from the Universal House of Justice regarding social and economic development, the Master’s Secret of Divine Civilization flares up with intensely exciting relevance.

From this brief book, we can gain a fuller sense of what the juncture is at which we stand, with the Seat of the House of Justice gleaming above us and Carmel’s arc of consummation clearly visible.

Although ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is overtly, and anonymously, addressing the Persians of 1875, His blessed, plaintive voice seems also to call directly to the American Bahá’í of 1984:

If Emperor Constantine could do so much under Christ’s influence to bring justice and medical care to the Roman people, if the Muslims could be so effective in extending the benefits of arts and sciences, not only to themselves but to all of Europe, what can you do to help lay the foundations of the universal Divine Civilization, the felicitous system of the Father, now that you are given the opportunity and the spiritual means by God’s infallible Supreme Body?

Read in the light of the October 20 letter from the Universal House of Justice, The Secret of Divine Civilization can be an extremely inspiring and illuminating guide to action.

It is my opinion that we should all re-read and study this important book.

Bret Breneman Gainesville, Florida

To the Editor:

We all probably realize that we Bahá’ís are under more stress than most others in our society.

Likewise, our marriages are under more stress than many marriages. Dr. (Hossain) Danesh has mentioned this in various ways.

WHAT is important are the implications for us in our marriages and our family and community life.

Some of us may remember Dr. Haim Ginott, author of Between Parent and Child, who popularized the idea of the home as a safe harbor, especially for adolescents.

This is not an easy thing to create, but its fruits are there for all to see. When youth are in turmoil, there must be at least one safe base for them—that is a law of nature.

The home is the natural anchor, so let the home be the harbor, safe and there as needed.

It seems that in our married lives too, we are providing a harbor for our spouse within this most fundamental and important relationship.

AFTER doing battle each day with the world at large, when we gather together in our home, let it be a harbor for each, not a battlefield. Let it be the refuge and place of nurturing.

So it should also be in our Bahá’í community, which serves as a harbor of love, support, caring, listening and appreciating among our Bahá’í “family.”

The gardener (Assembly) may come along later to evaluate how the plant (plan) is growing, and trim and worry and discard.

But the watering and sunning must be in place—the harbor for the human beings, the souls, the hearts that make up that Bahá’í “family” in a town—the Bahá’í community.

Mrs. Judy Orloff Foxboro, Massachusetts

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