The American Bahá’í/Volume 15/Issue 7/Text

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The American Bahá’í July, 1984

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[Page 1]

Persecutions in Iran take more insidious turn

TO ALL NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES DEAR BAHÁ’Í FRIENDS PERSECUTION FRIENDS CRADLE FAITH PERSISTS, TAKING EVEN MORE INSIDIOUS TURN. IN MARCH AT LEAST THREE PRISONERS DIED UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, TWO IN TIHRÁN AND ONE IN BÁFT, KIRMÁN. BODY OF MUHSIN RADAVÍ, 55 YEARS OLD, SHOWED EVIDENCE OF HANGING. OTHER TWO, ‘ABDU’L-HUSAYN SHAKIRI-HASANZÁDIH, 64, AND NUSRATU’LLÁH DÍYÁ’Í, 61, WERE BURIED WITHOUT FRIENDS RELATIVES BEING INFORMED.

ARRESTS CONTINUE WITH LEAST AMOUNT PUBLICITY. SINCE LAST REPORT 17 JANUARY ALTHOUGH SOME BAHÁ’Í PRISONERS RELEASED, 111 HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, MOST OF WHOM WERE MEMBERS OF SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES BEFORE THEIR DISSOLUTION LAST YEAR. NUMBER BAHÁ’ÍS KNOWN TO BE IN PRISONS IN IRAN TOTALS 704.

ACCURATE INFORMATION IN HAND DESCRIBES TORTURES PERPETRATED AGAINST SOME VERY PROMINENT BAHÁ’ÍS. FOR EXAMPLE ONE BAHÁ’Í SEVERELY TORTURED UNDER EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES FORCED CONFESS TO FALSE CHARGES. OTHERS SIMILARLY TORTURED RESISTED PRESSURES EXERTED ON THEM TO MAKE FALSE PUBLIC CONFESSIONS FOR BENEFIT RADIO TELEVISION.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE APRIL 10, 1984

TO ALL NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES DEAR BAHÁ’Í FRIENDS, FURTHER OUR MESSAGE 10/11 APRIL JUST RECEIVED DISTRESSING NEWS EXECUTION BY FIRING SQUAD IN EVIN PRISON TIHRÁN FOLLOWING BELIEVERS:

MR. KÁMRÁN LUTFÍ, 32 YEAR OLD UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, IMPRISONED MAY 5, 1983.

MR. RAHÍM RAHÍMÍYÁN, 50 YEAR OLD BUSINESSMAN, IMPRISONED MAY 5, 1983.

MR. YADU’LLÁH SÁBIRIYÁN, 60 YEAR OLD PRINTING PRESS MANAGER, IMPRISONED FEBRUARY 9, 1982.

SINCE EXECUTIONS NOT ANNOUNCED AND BODIES UNCEREMONIOUSLY BURIED WITHOUT FAMILIES RELATIVES BEING INFORMED, EXACT DATE EXECUTIONS UNKNOWN. FEARFUL OTHER BAHÁ’Í PRISONERS RECEIVED SAME FATE.

NOW ESTABLISHED FACT THAT ‘ABDU’L-HUSAYN SHAKIRI-HASANZÁDIH WAS ALSO EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD INSTEAD OF DYING MYSTERIOUSLY IN PRISON AS REPORTED.

DUE OMINOUS TURN BAHÁ’Í SITUATION IRAN REQUEST YOU PROCEED PUBLICIZE RECENT PERSECUTIONS INCLUDING INFORMATION REGARDING TORTURES PREVIOUS MESSAGE.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE APRIL 13, 1984

WLGI Radio goes on the air May 23 with test broadcast

WE HASTEN TO SHARE WITH UNIVERSAL HOUSE JUSTICE THE JOY OF VICTORY. TODAY, MAY 23, 1984, AT 4:35 P.M. EDT, RADIO STATION WLGI WENT ON THE AIR IN TEST BROADCAST THAT BEGAN WITH TAPED STATEMENT BY HAND CAUSE WILLIAM SEARS.

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MAY 23, 1984

SHARE YOUR JOY MAIDEN BROADCAST WLGI. WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE MAY 24, 1984

Mr. Sears says 'Bravo!'

At the start of the first test broadcast May 23 on WLGI Radio in South Carolina, the voice of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears radiated from atop the station's 500-foot FM tower, reaching nearly one-third of the state's residents with these words:

"This is WLGI, 90.9 megahertz, the voice of the Louis Gregory Institute. Bravo!"

The antenna for the first Bahá’í-owned and operated radio station in North America had been connected only minutes before the first broadcast.

Later that same evening, WLGI came back on the air with music and station identifications.

Bahá’ís from Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Florence and Orangeburg began phoning the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute near Hemingway to report hearing the new station, says Dr. Alberta Deas, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly who is director of the Gregory Institute.

Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, phoned the other members of the National Assembly, who were meeting that weekend at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Michigan, with news of WLGI's first broadcast.

Initially, the station began broadcasting four to five hours each day with music and station identifications. On June 3, says Dr. Deas, the station's operators filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to begin regular programming and to receive a station license.

Broadcasting by the new Bahá’í station, she says, will be increased gradually from the initial four to five hours each day to 12 and later 18 hours daily.

Eventually, WLGI may broadcast 24 hours a day, but initial plans do not call for it to do so.

Dynamic Louhelen conference maps strategy for achieving goals of Plan

The National Spiritual Assembly convened an extraordinary conference May 25-27 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Michigan "to forge a new and common understanding of the Campaign of Unified Action" and to use that understanding as the basis of a cohesive and dynamic strategy for winning the goals of the Seven Year Plan.

TAKING part in the conference with eight members of the National Spiritual Assembly were:

Four members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas: Farzam Arbáb, Sarah Martin Pereira, Fred Schechter and Velma Sherrill.

Dr. Peter Khan, a Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre in Haifa.

• Representatives of the American Indian Teaching Committee, Business and Professional Affairs Committee, International Goals Committee, National Education Committee, National Teaching Committee, National Youth Committee, Persian Affairs Committee, NSA Properties Committee, Race Unity Committee, Social and Economic Development Committee, and South Carolina Regional Teaching Committee.

Auxiliary Board members Stephen Birkland, Dorothy Borhani and Khalil Khavari.

Dr. Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, chairs a plenary session during the meeting of senior institutions, national committees and National Center staff at Louhelen.

Senior staff from the Bahá’í National Center, the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, and the Louhelen Bahá’í School.

The vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly...

U.S. House again condemns persecution of Iran's Bahá’ís

On May 22, the U.S. House of Representatives approved House Concurrent Resolution 226 which holds the government of Iran responsible for protecting the rights of all its citizens including the Bahá’ís, condemns the edict of August 1983 labeling organized Bahá’í activities "criminal acts," and calls on the President to work through appropriate channels to help relieve the plight of the Bahá’ís in Iran.

THE Resolution, whose introduction in the House coincided with the 140th anniversary of the birth of the Faith in Iran, won passage 20 days after Bahá’í testimony before the House Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations and exactly one year after a dramatic appeal by President Reagan on behalf of the Bahá’ís in Iran.

It was drafted by Rep. John Porter of Illinois who said in his remarks that its 188 co-sponsors included many members of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.

Also speaking in support of the resolution were Rep. Gus Yatron of Pennsylvania, chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations; Rep. Jim Leach of Iowa, the subcommittee's ranking minority member; Rep. Fortney (Pete) Stark of California; Rep. Carroll... [Page 2]

A message from Louhelen

On May 25-27, the National Spiritual Assembly met at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Michigan with four members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas; Dr. Peter Khan, a Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre in Haifa; members of each of its national committees; three Auxiliary Board members; and senior staff from the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette.

Following this extraordinary gathering, whose purpose was to devise plans and strategies designed to win the remaining goals of the Seven Year Plan, the National Spiritual Assembly composed a letter to the Bahá’ís of the United States, “the community of victors,” as they were called by the Universal House of Justice in its message of Riḍván 1984, to share with them the National Assembly’s feelings of joy, gratitude and commitment, and to call upon them to mobilize their resources to assure that victory in the Plan will be won at Riḍván 1986. The text of the National Spiritual Assembly’s message is reprinted here.

To the Community of Victors The Bahá’ís of the United States Dearest Friends,

On May 23, 1984, the anniversary of the inauguration of our Faith, coincidental with the historic first broadcast of Bahá’í Radio in North America, the National Spiritual Assembly convened at the Louhelen Bahá’í School a meeting of the members of the National Spiritual Assembly, four members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Americas, members of the Auxiliary Board, all national committees and National Center staff. The gathering was honored by the presence of a member of the International Teaching Centre, Counsellor Peter Khan.

The purpose of this meeting was to forge a new and common understanding of the Campaign of Unified Action and its implications for the achievement of the remaining goals of the Seven Year Plan.

We were exhilarated by the praise bestowed upon this community by the Universal House of Justice in its message of Riḍván 1984, referring to our “defense with such dexterity and irrepressible vigor” of our “sore-oppressed fellow Bahá’ís in Iran,” and exulting in our many other “remarkable feats.”

At the same time we stood in sober recognition of the lament of the Supreme Institution at the “sad lag in the rate” of our enrollments. Having so recently caught a glimpse of the potential of the Campaign of Unified Action as represented by the astounding success of the Day of Unity and Sacrifice, we met in the conviction that we could achieve the unity of purpose and direction necessary to accomplish the goal of unprecedented growth in the American Bahá’í community.

The fundamental purpose of the Campaign of Unified Action is to mobilize the American Bahá’í community to capture its glorious destiny as envisaged by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Its urgency is magnified by the sacrifices of the Bahá’ís in Iran and the consequent release of spiritual energy throughout the Bahá’í world. Its specific goal is to enable the present generation of American Bahá’ís to contribute its share to the realization of this destiny by achieving an unprecedented level of enrollments. Its basic concern is to connect human hearts with Bahá’u’lláh. Its object is the fulfillment of our long-time dream of attaining unity in diversity:

“Consider! When the rain, the heat, the sun and the gentle zephyrs cooperate with each other, what beautiful gardens are produced! How the various kinds of hyacinths, flowers, trees and plants associate with each other and are conducive to the adornment and charm of one another! Hence the oneness of the bounty of the sun, the oneness of rain and the oneness of the breeze have so overcome all other considerations, that the variety of hues, fragrances and tastes have increased the adornment, the attraction and sweetness of the whole.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Seized with this vision, we call on every individual believer to free himself from any consideration of limitation or inhibition and to assert his rightful claim to the distinction of being a teacher for Bahá’u’lláh.

We call on every Local Spiritual Assembly to remove every impediment to individual initiative and to assure community support for the exercise of that initiative. We ask each to open and continue consultation with the community in order to develop and sustain systematic and viable plans for teaching. These plans should be focused on specific targets, have realistic numerical goals, stimulate the release of the full spectrum of individual talents, and enlist the resources of all institutions and agencies which exist to serve the friends.

Furthermore, we urge each (Assembly) to evaluate periodically the progress of its plans and communicate to us its experiences so that they may be shared with the national community.

After this meeting, confirmed in our commitment to unity, our committees, agencies, Auxiliary Board members and their assistants will endeavor to organize their activities to serve, to support and to help assure the success of your plans. We restate our pledge of partnership with you in every enterprise. We take upon ourselves and our agencies the obligation to help formulate plans, to stimulate activity, and to mobilize resources to help sustain your efforts in order to achieve all the goals of the Seven Year Plan.

Our deliberations together at Louhelen gave us a new appreciation of our destiny, reaffirmed by the Universal House of Justice when it addressed us:

“You are a community of victors; you occupy the front ranks of Bahá’u’lláh’s invincible army of light; indeed, you must remain in the vanguard of its thrust.”

May the confirmations of the Holy Spirit bless the united efforts of our community.

The Continental Board	The National Spiritual Assembly
of Counsellors	of the Bahá’ís of the United States
Farzam Arbab	Robert C. Henderson
Sarah Pereira	Secretary
Fred Schechter
Velma Sherrill

Summer Schools lead way to better tomorrow

This month’s article on Bahá’í Summer Schools was written by Anne and Robert Atkinson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Imagine a day begun with prayers in a variety of languages, songs from around the world, children reciting by heart the verses of God, followed by stimulating lectures and discussion groups with a mingling of views, friends from many cultural backgrounds gathered together, young and old alike sharing in afternoon recreational activities and evening programs of spirited entertainment ...

DOES this sound like community life in the Bahá’í commonwealth of the future? Perhaps so. But it also describes fairly closely a day at a Bahá’í Summer School of the present.

Sometimes, it seems, we take the existence of our Summer Schools too lightly.

Do we really know the power and impact they can have on our lives? Do we understand the role they can play in Bahá’í community life, in helping to build that dream of the Bahá’í commonwealth we all share?

In numerous passages, the Guardian conveyed to the friends the nature and purpose of the Summer Schools, which he referred to as “nascent Bahá’í institutions of learning,” “powerful centers of Bahá’í learning,” and “the very basis upon which Bahá’í universities of the future will be established.”

While there are many other activities around us that are calling for our time during the summer, it is only our Summer Schools that are, in the words of the Guardian, “designed to foster the spirit of fellowship in a distinctly Bahá’í atmosphere.”

THIS is where we can gain the necessary training to become better Bahá’í teachers, study the history and teachings of the Faith, and acquire the insight required to better understand the Faith’s relation to other religions and to society in general.

And what better place for our children and youth to acquire the education and enthusiasm we desire for them?

The Guardian encouraged all the believers to “spend a few days in one of these schools and take an active part in their development,” and to “persevere in raising the standard, both intellectual and spiritual, of their Summer School and to heighten its prestige in the eyes of the friends, and of the general non-Bahá’í public outside.”

This is our challenge, and also our reward. For as the Guardian assures us, attending a Bahá’í Summer School is often “the means of bringing to light hitherto unsuspected capacities among the friends.”

It carries out the work of “bringing forth jewels from the mine of humanity,” and most important, serves as a “vital and inseparable part of any teaching campaign, and as such ought to be given the full importance it deserves in the teaching plans and activities of the believers.”

Combining the “threefold features of devotion, study and recreation,” the Summer School, says the Guardian, fulfills “its true function of deepening the knowledge, stimulating the zeal, and fostering the spirit of fellowship among the believers in every Bahá’í community.”

IT WAS the Guardian’s hope that everyone who attends a Summer School “will have derived such mental and spiritual benefits, and acquired such a fresh enthusiasm to serve as will enable him, upon his return to his local community, to labor with a determination and vigor that will excite the envy and admiration of his fellow believers, and stimulate them to greater heights of consecration to the service of our beloved Cause.”

In addition, he said, “The Bahá’ís must realize that they belong to a worldwide order, and not an American civilization.

“They must try and introduce the Bahá’í atmosphere of life and thought into their Summer Schools, rather than making the Summer School an episode and a pleasant vacation period, during which they learn a little more about the Faith.”

Certainly the Summer Schools, as national and not merely local institutions, can widen the scope of our understanding of our purpose as Bahá’ís.

They can help us to clarify goals, strengthen our families, give us direction and a greater measure of certitude.

In return, we can give to them our input and services which will hasten their growth as centers of Bahá’í learning.

Since teaching the Cause is our ultimate goal, perhaps no other experience at this time of the year could inspire us more to develop and carry forward the teaching work so vital to the transformation of the hearts of humanity.

(All quotations in this article are from Centers of Bahá’í Learning, extracts from the writings of Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice.) [Page 3]“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 opinion or attack anyone on a personal level.

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

Teaching Faith not like selling worldly goods

To the Editor: Concerning the letter from a salesman (May 1984) about dealing with the lack of enrollments: I don’t believe that teaching the Faith of God is quite the same thing as selling worldly goods.

Sure, we Bahá’ís could all learn to refine our techniques of presenting the Faith to the people with whom we come in contact in our daily lives.

Many of us, including myself, could use more confidence in our teaching efforts, but I’m not so sure that this is something that is a directly-teachable frame of mind.

I believe that “enrollment-getting” is not a learned skill, but rather the result of a deep and spiritual process and state of being. The following quote by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, from “The Individual and Teaching,” is pertinent here:

“The intention of the teacher must be pure, his heart independent, his spirit attracted, his thought at peace, his resolution firm, his magnanimity exalted and in the love of God a shining torch. Should he become as such, his sanctified breath will even affect the rock; otherwise there will be no result whatsoever.”

These are qualities that as individuals we must acquire, but I do not believe they can be taught except by example.

The guidance we need to help us learn how to teach the Faith with confidence is in the writings themselves, such as “The Individual and Teaching,” “Victory Promises,” and the Tablets of the Divine Plan.

Duane P. Dawson

San Antonio, Texas

To the Editor: Banking and savings institutions have recently begun offering a variety of new services, one of which is called, among other things, automatic check withdrawal, in which checks for a pre-determined amount are sent out to designated receivers on pre-set days.

This service is meant for regularly occurring, unchanging bills such as rent, car payments, mortgages, and so forth.

Obviously, the service can be used also for donations to the Fund, and such donations will then be “forget-proof” and dependable for National.

Unfortunately, my bank cannot be set up to send the checks every Bahá’í month, as it is still on the “old world” calendar, so twice monthly is as close as it could get, but your bank may be more flexible.

So for a one-time commitment, when you set the payments up, you can support the Fund for as long as you stay financially solvent.

If your bank doesn’t offer this service, you can support the Fund the old-fashioned way, or change banks, as I couldn’t think of a better reason to switch than to support the Fund.

Michael Tabor

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

To the Editor: Some time, I’m not certain when, during the nearly 11 years I’ve been a Bahá’í, I coined the term “statistical religion.”

What is statistical religion? It is a constant emphasis on numbers of enrollments, percentages of participation in the Fund, numbers of communities opened, numbers of Assemblies formed, and other numerical goals, goals, goals.

It turns me off.

Julian Briggs

Cloverdale, California

To the Editor: For those who may find stimulation from new ideas, let us address some of our problem areas.

In the National Assembly’s letter for the Feast of ‘Alá we read: “It is inexplicable yet true that some friends do not see the connection between material sacrifice through contributions to the National Fund, teaching the Faith, and the inner life of the individual.”

THE WORD “inexplicable” becomes less mysterious when we see the over-all picture from a more objective viewpoint.

Our basic handicap is that our involvement in the Faith has not yet caused us to change ourselves quite as much as we would like to believe. This is difficult to accept because we have not learned to truly “know” ourselves very well.

These unfortunate circumstances spring partly from our preoccupation with slightly more materialistic matters than with inner life.

Thus, we are more readily “turned on” by ideas about a new radio station than by the “deeper” aspects of individual spiritual growth.

And the “inexplicable” becomes crystal clear when we realize that the real “relationship” is such that once our inner spiritual state becomes more fully matured, the other problems we face will also be solved. There will be a better balance.

Much of this is related to deepening. Yet our deepening sessions often seem reminiscent of traditional “Bible study groups”—being little more than memorizing, or familiarizing ourselves with the proper use of words.

Eventually, we realize that a true change within ourselves is not primarily the acquisition of new ideas, feelings or behavior, but rather a transformation in the “innermost essence” of our being.

What we need is a deeper capacity for understanding, dedication, love, responsibility, and other spiritual qualities of that nature.

Merely learning new ideas does not do that. A much more rigorous training and guidance is required.

But there is hope for the future. Our present difficulties may be the fire of purification. There is a growing possibility that a “new race of men” may well be germinating within our own ranks.

C. M. Gordon

Denton, Texas

To the Editor: So often Local Spiritual Assemblies make gift subscriptions to schools and other organizations in their area and do not know whether or not they are appreciated.

We would like to share a recent experience our community had.

For several years we have been sending a gift subscription to World Order magazine to the library at the University of California at Santa Cruz and had no feedback.

Somehow, by accident, the subscription lapsed and no one in our community noticed—but the university did.

We received a call from the periodicals department asking us if we could possibly continue the subscription as they did not have the funds to continue it themselves but really appreciated the magazine and wished to continue receiving it.

Naturally, at our next Assembly meeting it was happily agreed that the Assembly would renew the subscription and make a greater effort to see that it does not get forgotten in the future.

It sure is nice to know from time to time that we are appreciated.

S. Ruth De Fay

Spiritual Assembly of the

Bahá’ís of Santa Cruz, California

To the Editor: The May issue of The American Bahá’í gave me a delightful opportunity to review my Spanish.

After reading the Riḍván message from the Universal House of Justice on Page 1, I found the Spanish translation on Page 25.

Knowing the content from the English version, it wasn’t too hard to follow the reading in the Spanish version.

It does take a bit of study, but there it is. And having the same message in both languages saves many a trip to the dictionary.

I don’t know Persian, but could anyone who does read Persian have the joy of reading the message in English in the same way?

Violet Wuerfel Clark

Ann Arbor, Michigan

To the Editor: “Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind.”

This profound statement by Bahá’u’lláh, if practiced by the people of the world, can by itself create world unity and peace.

We in the U.S. have immense material comfort, freedom and opportunity. But are we aware of the status of the rest of the world, especially the Third World countries?

And if we know about the malnutrition, hunger, illiteracy, economic inequality and other problems of the Third World, are we as Bahá’ís willing to take an active role in solving them?

With the establishment of the Office of Social and Economic Development, the Universal House of Justice has demonstrated its concern for the Third World. What is needed now is devoted and concerned individuals to follow up on the Supreme Body’s concern and actually pioneer to places where they are needed the most.

I am specifically asking our Bahá’í medical doctors, nutritionists, engineers, agriculturists, teachers, university professors, and other specialists to consider immediately pioneering to an underdeveloped country where they can teach the principles of the Faith and address the spiritual needs of the people while providing the desperately needed medical, educational and other needs of those souls.

I think this is a great way to prove to the world and to ourselves that we see this planet as one home, and that we are directly working for the achievement of peace, justice and unity in our world.

Payám Foroughi

Logan, Utah

To the Editor: I had always hoped that my first letter to The American Bahá’í would be profound, thought-provoking and inspirational.

Well, perhaps next time, but for now I have a useful hint to offer: 19 issues of The American Bahá’í fit perfectly into a shredded wheat box. Covered with paper, they store nicely on a shelf.

Not exactly a miracle, but I thought it was worth sharing.

Teresa Olander

Navajo Indian Reservation

Shonto, Arizona

To the Editor: Regarding the use of “enrollment-getting Bahá’ís” as mentioned in the May issue, and in keeping with the clear desire of the Universal House of Justice for us to sustain a lively and productive consultation, I offer a differing perspective:

AS A physician, I find many See LETTERS Page 28

THE DAWNING PLACE

Bruce W. Whitmore’s long-awaited story of the building of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette and the forging of the North American Bahá’í Community

331 pages with foreword, appendices, notes, index 83 black-and-white photographs and illustrations

Hardcover Cat. No. 332-119	$20.00*
Softcover Cat. No. 332-120	$12.00*

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

Bahá’í Publishing Trust

415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091

• Price valid only in the United States

[Page 4]

ISABELLA BRITTINGHAM

Referring to Isabella D. Brittingham, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, "...her services which she renders to this Cause are always before my eyes. They are written in the Book of the Kingdom, in the Heavenly Books, and will never be forgotten..."

MRS. Brittingham's teaching efforts were never-ending. Whenever someone she was teaching declared his or her belief in Bahá’u’lláh, Mrs. Brittingham would send that person's declaration of faith to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

At one time, the Master laughingly referred to her as "...our Bahá’í-maker."

Born February 21, 1852, Isabella was among those who attended the first Bahá’í classes ever held in New York City in 1898. Three years later, she made the first of her two pilgrimages to visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in ‘Akká.

After returning to the U.S. in September 1901, she wrote an essay entitled "The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh" which was published the following year by the Bahá’í Publishing Society in Chicago.

Her efforts were highly praised by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Who wrote:

"BLESSED art thou that thou hast compiled in the name of thy Lord, the Clement, a treatise comprising evident proofs regarding the appearance of the Kingdom of God in this sublime age."

Dr. Susan Moody, a physician who spent many years as a Bahá’í pioneer to Iran, expressed gratitude to Mrs. Brittingham for the deepening instruction she gave her in 1903.

Isabella's husband, James Brittingham, was a firm and active Bahá’í, but because of his work in a railroad company's New York City office, was not often able to accompany his wife on her many teaching trips around the country.

In 1919, Mrs. Brittingham listed the places where she had been engaged in teaching the Faith.

"I have raised the call of the Kingdom in Arizona, Southern...

...tional Spiritual Assembly, Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, was unable to attend the conference as he was preparing testimony for a June 26 appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington, D.C.

THE conference was begun Friday morning with a "brainstorming" session chaired by the National Assembly secretary, Robert Henderson.

From that session emerged the framework within which smaller workshop groups would consult Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, developing plans and proposals to be presented to plenary sessions Friday and Saturday evenings.

The over-all goal toward which consultation was directed was clarification of the Campaign of Unified Action.

The six workshop groups, each of which included at least one member of the National Assembly, and in which the Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members were active participants, consulted on three levels: (a) vision, (b) process, and (c) structures, roles and relationships.

The first of these, vision, included as its subtopics (1) the destiny of America and conquest of the planet, (2) Bahá’u’lláh—the Source, (3) unprecedented growth, and (4) appreciating and achieving unity in diversity.

UNDER process, the friends consulted on (1) reliance on the Creative Word, (2) expansion and consolidation, (3) releasing the potential of the individual, (4) communication, (5) learning from experience, and (6) social and economic development.

The third topic, that of structures, roles and relationships, had as its subtopics (1) the individual, (2) the family, (3) the community, (4) the Local Spiritual Assembly, and (5) national committees and agencies including the Counsellors, the National Spiritual Assembly, the Auxiliary Boards and their assistants.

Each workshop group presented oral reports at the plenary sessions and compiled comprehensive written reports that were entered into a computer and compiled for the National Assembly and other conference participants before the close of the meeting on Sunday morning.

The positive feeling that emerged from the conference was clearly evident at each of its sessions, and is reflected in the National Spiritual Assembly's letter to the American Bahá’í community:

"Our deliberations together at Louhelen gave us a new appreciation of our destiny, reaffirmed by the Universal House of Justice when it addressed us: 'You are a community of victors; you occupy the front ranks of Bahá’u’lláh's invincible army of light; indeed, you must remain in the vanguard of its thrust.'"'

BAHÁ’Í youth, so vital to the success of any campaign, were very much a part of the conference, which in fact was preceded by another gathering May 23-24 at Louhelen at which 35 youth from the U.S. and Canada met with Counsellors Arbáb and Schechter to study the writings of the Guardian concerning the destiny of youth in the North American community and discuss their unique role in helping that community to win final victory in the Seven Year Plan.

From that meeting came the broad outline of a new "youth movement," which is not a new campaign but rather a revitalization of the Bahá’í youth in North America "to support and reinforce the teaching effort and the winning of the goals of the Seven Year Plan."

Details of the "movement" were presented by members of the National Youth Committee at Saturday evening's plenary session.

The National Spiritual Assembly will use the proposals formulated at the Louhelen conference as a basis for its ongoing consultation on the Campaign of Unified Action "and its implications for the achievement of the remaining goals of the Seven Year Plan."

Hartford fund-raiser

On April 21, the Bahá’ís of West Hartford, Connecticut, observed the first day of Ridván and celebrated the re-formation of their Assembly with a "day of sacrifice."

Bahá’ís from Winsted, South Windsor, New Britain, Hartford, Enfield and Newington were present at a potluck fund-raiser and auction sponsored by the West Hartford Assembly at which $643 was raised and sent to the National Fund. [Page 5]

Friends are urged to establish habit of giving regularly to Fund

The Treasurer’s Office is aware of a concern in the community about the level of fund-raising or Fund-oriented activity last year.

AND since enrollments were down during the same period, some have suggested that emphasis on the one has affected the other.

Whether or not this theory is true is not known and perhaps cannot be known.

The Treasurer’s Office reminds the friends of what is known: anything done to excess will result in an imbalance.

In the Bahá’í Faith, we seek moderation—a moderate balance of activities, lifestyle, community—for, as Bahá’u’lláh has told us, “Whatsoever passeth beyond the limits of moderation will cease to exert a beneficial influence.”

If a local community finds itself devoting all or most of its time to only one facet of Bahá’í life, whether it be deepening, teaching, administration or fund-raising, something else will surely suffer.

With regard to the health of the National Fund, we know that the ultimate solution is a constant flow of funds from both the individual and the community.

The Treasurer’s Office thus encourages the friends to establish the habit of regular monthly contributions so that the need for emergency fund-raising activities at year’s end will be eliminated.

It is perfectly all right to be enthusiastically involved in a temporary activity, putting extra effort and time into a single project or direction. But the success of our lives as Bahá’ís depends on a “well-rounded,” moderate approach to our many privileges and responsibilities.

Law of Huqúqu’lláh doesn’t yet apply to western world

There has been a great deal of interest in the Law of Huqúqu’lláh since the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem called on those at the National Convention to supplicate the Universal House of Justice to apply that law to all believers in the American Bahá’í community.

Since then, the Treasurer’s Office has received letters and phone calls of inquiry and has noted that some individuals are trying to use the law, as they understand it, as a method or standard for giving to the Fund.

The eagerness with which these believers are viewing Huqúqu’lláh and their desire to know more about its application are commendable. But the friends are advised not to concern themselves with “figuring out” the Law of Huqúqu’lláh at this time because it still does not apply to the western world.

When the Universal House of Justice sees fit to apply this law of God to the American Bahá’ís, a full and complete explanation will be provided.

Here’s a mid-summer ‘wake up quiz’

Summer has begun, and many of us are enjoying a break from our usual routine. The Office of the Treasurer thought it might be stimulating during this time of general relaxation to test the community’s mental agility with a “pop quiz.” See how well you can do!

Mid-Summer Wake Up Quiz

1. The Australian nation was described by Shoghi Effendi as being persevering and determined. Which nation did ‘Abdu’l-Bahá describe as “equipped and empowered to accomplish that which will adorn the pages of history to become the envy of the world and be blest in both the East and the West for the triumph of its people”?

2. Which people are called the “apostles” of Bahá’u’lláh?

3. Japan is recognized as the nation that will play a large role in the spiritualization of the Chinese mainland. Which continent is “in the eyes of the one true God, the land wherein the splendors of His light will be revealed, where the mysteries of His Faith shall be unveiled ...”’?

4. The American continent ______ lead all nations spiritually. Which of the following words correctly completes the above statement made by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá? (a) can; (b) should; (c) might; (d) will; (e) could.

Did that last question give you a clue as to how to answer the others? America is the object of all these wonderful promises found in the Writings—the continent that will lead all nations spiritually.

During May, Peter Khan, a Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, crossed the country drawing these statements and many others to our attention as he sought to remind us of our glorious destiny. His comments whetted an appetite in many of his listeners to take a closer look at the Bahá’í teachings on the destiny of America.

Coincidentally, the Office of the Treasurer has, within the last year, prepared a study course entitled “America’s Spiritual Destiny.”

Until this time it has been available only through the National Treasurer’s Representative program. Now, with the cooperation of Counsellor Khan and the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, the course will be available to any individual or community who would like to pursue this important topic.

The Publishing Trust will offer a special package that includes a cassette tape of Dr. Khan’s talk at the House of Worship, the course “America’s Spiritual Destiny,” and a copy of The Advent of Divine Justice at a greatly reduced price.

See QUIZ Page 26

VIE campaign hits summer slump

Contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund by District

District Name	‘Starting Block’ Info			Current Month Info (Jamál)
	Membership as of 12/9/83	Number of participants	Percentage of participation	Membership as of 5/4/84	Number of participants	Percentage of participation
Alabama S/Florida NW	349	10	3.0	338	12	3.6
Alabama N	307	21	6.8	306	20	6.5
Arizona N	941	51	5.4	928	57	6.1
Arizona S	410	21	5.1	395	20	5.1
Arkansas	476	24	5.0	470	24	5.1
California C No. 1	2,722	190	7.0	2,634	168	6.4
California C No. 2	445	40	9.0	442	41	9.3
California N No. 1	585	70	12.0	588	67	11.4
California N No. 2	389	41	10.5	384	51	13.3
California S No. 1	2,709	180	6.6	2682	160	6.0
California S No. 2	1,158	112	9.7	1145	154	13.4
California S No. 3	441	42	9.5	449	42	9.4
California S No. 4	981	82	8.4	949	76	8.0
Colorado NE	483	61	12.6	458	42	9.2
Colorado SE	181	15	8.3	179	22	12.3
Colorado W	195	23	11.8	181	15	8.3
Connecticut	471	57	12.1	457	49	10.7
DelMarVa	292	15	5.1	290	22	7.6
Florida C	382	19	5.0	387	24	6.2
Florida N	284	19	6.7	286	17	5.9
Florida SE	1,113	54	4.9	1062	59	5.5
Florida SW	495	43	8.7	492	61	12.4
Georgia NE	339	48	14.2	330	39	11.8
Georgia NW	876	17	1.9	862	16	1.9
Georgia S	1,158	8	0.7	1175	11	0.9
Idaho N/Washington E	473	63	13.3	480	61	12.7
Idaho S	183	21	11.5	188	20	10.6
Illinois N No. 1	596	52	8.7	584	46	7.9
Illinois N No. 2	1,148	143	12.5	1159	135	11.6
Illinois S	742	68	9.2	705	58	8.2
Indiana	541	66	12.2	522	46	8.8
Iowa	383	63	16.4	366	51	13.9
Kansas	340	35	10.3	345	32	9.3
Kentucky	231	25	10.8	229	19	8.3

See VIE CHART Page 26

The Winners’ Circle

Highest Percentage Participation 1. Nevada, Southern 2. Pennsylvania, Western 3. Wisconsin, N/Michigan 4. Nebraska 5. North Dakota 6. Minnesota, Northern 7. Vermont 8. Maine 9. Iowa 10. New Hampshire 11. Louisiana, Northern 12. California, Southern No. 2 13. Wisconsin, Southern 14. California, Northern No. 2 15. New York, Western 16. Idaho, N/Washington E 17. Florida, Southwest 18. Colorado, Southeast 19. Tennessee, Eastern

Most Improved Participation 1. Oregon, Eastern 2. Nevada, Southern 3. Texas, Central No. 2 4. South Carolina, South No. 2 5. New Mexico, Northern 6. South Carolina, Central 7. South Carolina, South No. 1 8. DelMarVa 9. Colorado, Southeast 10. South Carolina, Western 11. Florida, Southwest 12. South Carolina, East No. 1 13. California, Southern No. 2 14. Navajo/Hopi 15. North Dakota 16. Georgia, Southern 17. Texas, Southern 18. California, Northern No. 2 19. Maine [Page 6]

Caribbean key area in winning goals of Plan

Do you realize that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was addressing you as an Apostle of Bahá’u’lláh in the Tablets of the Divine Plan?

When our beloved Master used the term “Apostles,” He was referring only to the American Bahá’ís, who are charged with the primary responsibility for bringing about the reconstruction of society and establishing an everlasting peace.

OUR TASK is no less than to help usher in a world civilization and the Kingdom of God on earth.

America’s destiny is to lead all nations spiritually. To be able to do this, Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi conferred spiritual powers on us Americans to enhance our natural attributes, and called us fearless, tenacious, efficient, with foresight, organizing ability, and enthusiastic eagerness.

We have a spectacular destiny, but we must work hard to bring it about. Our task now is to fill all of the goals given to us by the Universal House of Justice.

When we do this, we know that we are carrying out the Will of God for this moment in history.

As part of an ongoing series, we will describe this month various goal islands in the Caribbean. Nine islands are to receive 14 pioneers, but we will leave descriptions of Barbados and Dominica for a future issue of The American Bahá’í.

MOST people think all Caribbean islands are much the same. This is not so. All are different—culturally, politically and socially. All, however, have a strong British background, where English is spoken.

One of our pioneers writes from St. Lucia: “What strikes me as a young person is that there aren’t more retired people in the islands. We have fabulous beaches, beautiful weather, and cheap living.

“You can have a live-in maid for about $50 U.S. a month. Health care is about 1930-ish by U.S. standards. Even if your health isn’t good, you have to die somewhere. Why not at a post?

“Life is really wonderful here. When you think of the dear souls who are pioneering in a dusty plain in Africa, while you’re sipping a coconut crush under a palm tree at the beach, you can feel downright guilty.

“I want to comment on the weather. We expected a lot worse. Coming from Arizona, we expected the humidity to be a problem. It wasn’t at all. The moderate temperature and trade winds make the humidity hardly even noticeable.

“We just went through the rainy season, which wasn’t what we expected either. The rains tend to be hard but brief. They usually come at night. Days are wonderfully sunny with puffy clouds, just like in the travel brochures.

“Most people here eat fruits and vegetables with fish and chicken for protein. You can eat steak and potatoes, but it will cost more, even though less than in the U.S. All the food is fresh and naturally grown.”

U.S. goals in Caribbean
Bahamas
San Salvador Is.	1
Barbados	2
Dominica	2
Grenada	2
Jamaica
Cayman Islands	2
Leeward Islands
Anguilla	1
Montserrat	1
St. Lucia	1
St. Vincent	2

Bahamas-San Salvador Island (1 pioneer).

The Bahamas is a parliamentary democracy of the British Commonwealth, which has been independent since 1974. San Salvador is a small, flat, sandy island with a population of about 900 and one Bahá’í, a pioneer from Canada who arrived a few months ago.

Of all the goal islands, this is probably the most isolated and rustic, but the people are friendly, polite, open, kind and questioning. There is almost no crime.

The pioneer who goes there needs to be able to live a quiet, simple life with few amenities. The only jobs available might be for teachers K-12 with good qualifications. Half the teachers there now are not Bahamian, and half the islanders are unemployed.

There is no hotel or guest house, but houses and cottages can be rented. A two-bedroom cottage with living room, dining room, kitchen, bath and all utilities included is $500 U.S. a month.

Teachers hired by the government receive free housing in nice cottages on the beach. Food obtained locally costs about $30 U.S. a week.

There are two small grocery stores, no clothing store, no canned goods. Occasional trips to Nassau ($96 round trip) or Miami ($96 round trip from Nassau) are necessary for buying necessities and renewing one’s tourist visa.

A traveling doctor is available once a week, but dental work and medicines must be obtained in Nassau or Miami. One can always charter a plane for quick trips off the island. A bike or scooter is helpful for getting around.

It is important to consult the International Goals Committee before going to the Bahamas or any other island, to obtain more complete data and the latest visa information for Bahá’ís.

Grenada (2 pioneers).

This lush tropical island is mountainous in the center, turning to forest and bush at the shoreline, with lovely beaches. It has an interim government composed of a nine-member council of non-political administrators mandated to bring into being a “Westminster” model democratic government by the end of 1984.

The National Spiritual Assembly of Grenada was elected for the first time at Riḍván. There are about 400 adult believers in a population of about 110,000.

The National Assembly’s present goal is to attain 1 per cent of the population as Bahá’ís. The people are friendly, open and receptive to the Faith, but as yet, many think the Faith is merely another sect of Christianity.

The kinds of pioneers needed are stable families who can be good examples of family life and structure; retired people in good health who are willing to live in remote areas; people with skills that are not available on the island; single people willing to blend in with the culture and find local spouses. Iranian Bahá’ís would have no problem settling here. One Iranian family already has been granted citizenship.

Skills most needed include teachers (especially science and math), doctors, nurses, nutritionists, administrators, agriculturists, technicians, and those in the tourist industry. Private businesses may soon be encouraged by the government.

A family of 3-4 could manage on about $400 a month U.S., but if the children are of school age, school fees would have to be considered. Fairly good private and government-run schools (British) are available.

Rent for a three-bedroom house is about $200 U.S. a month; food is $150 a month, utilities $50 a month for a family of three. Conditions are generally good, with plentiful food and good water.

Health care is free, with two hospitals, a public dental clinic and two or three private ones. Health care is poor, however, owing to a lack of supplies and equipment. It is best to make an exploratory trip to find out about the culture and way of life before uprooting a family and pioneering there.

One pioneer writes: “Grenada is the most beautiful place on earth. The people are warm and generous. The weather is pleasant. A better place to retire is unimaginable; there’s even a nine-hole golf course. The Bahá’í community is radiant and motivated. Coming here is like stepping into a beehive of Bahá’í work. The rewards are beyond words.”

Jamaica-Cayman Islands (2 pioneers).

This is a British Crown colony, internally self-governing but under British rule in international matters. There is an appointed governor to represent the Queen in the islands.

There are three small, mainly flat islands about 200 miles northwest of Jamaica. The lifestyle is much like it is in Florida, but the cost of living is about one-third higher.

The islands are very pro-U.S. Retired people are welcome. Excellent schools (British system) from kindergarten through high school, and good medical and dental facilities are available.

The Bahá’í community consists of about 15 believers, and there is a great need for consolidation, teaching, deepening and Bahá’í administrative knowledge.

Single women definitely should not go alone to the Caymans, but married couples of any age would be helpful if they are steadfast, self-motivated, independent and deepened in the Faith.

Expatriates can own property, but businesses must be 60 per cent Cayman-owned. Foreign investment is encouraged. Any kind of well-equipped repair shop is needed, to fix outboard and inboard motors, electronic equipment, etc.

Nurses, teachers and other health- and education-related jobs are available. Accountants, insurance people, bankers and legal people are needed. However, work must be obtained before arriving in the islands.

A modern automatic telephone system links the islands to the world, enabling Cayman operators to dial numbers worldwide 24 hours a day. Telex is also available.

“Island fever” is often experienced by North Americans who spend any unbroken length of time in the islands when they find there is nowhere to go. The largest of the islands is 20 miles by eight miles.

Pioneers should be dedicated to pioneering and teaching, not just “escaping” to a new way of life. The Caymanians are a deeply religious people who identify with the U.S. more than any other Carib-

See GOALS Page 17 [Page 7]Lessil Richards, a 16-year-old member of the Bahá’í community of Challis, Idaho, has been chosen one of four boys to represent his area at Boys’ State. To qualify, the young men must maintain a certain grade point average and be nominated by their teachers as potential leaders. They are then judged by members of the local American Legion, Lions Club and high school staff to whom they deliver a 10-minute speech. The boys will participate for one week at the state capital and have a chance to compete for Boys’ Nation in Washington, D.C. Lessil, who is treasurer of the South Idaho District Youth Committee, spent 10 years pioneering in South West Africa with his parents, and has been in an English-speaking school for only the past two years. The family plans to pioneer to the Caribbean this fall, and Lessil is looking forward to beginning the third phase of his education there.

Youth ‘movement’ energized at Louhelen meeting

On May 23-24 a group of 35 Bahá’í youth from the U.S. and Canada gathered at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Michigan at the invitation of Counsellors Farzam Arbáb and Fred Schechter to conduct in-depth consultation on the revitalization of the youth movement in the Faith in North America.

THE participants gained direction and focus from the Riḍván 1984 message from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the world which states:

“Bahá’í youth, now rendering exemplary and devoted service in the forefront of the army of life, must be encouraged, even while equipping themselves for future service, to devise and execute their own teaching plans among their contemporaries.”

After many hours of discussion about the responsibility of the North American Bahá’í community to execute its divinely appointed mission, the youth designed a specific plan of action which received the endorsement of the Counsellors and the National Assemblies of Canada and the U.S.

The “movement” they devised is not a new program or campaign but rather a “rebirth” of the movement that captured the hearts and souls of the Dawn-breakers during the early years of the Faith in Persia.

At that time, 20,000 Bábís and Bahá’ís offered their lives through the inspiration of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, and with a unity of purpose and a clear and distinct vision of the destiny of the infant Faith of God, sacrifices were made and the Faith grew.

IT IS TOWARD the revitalization of that spirit and process that the youth of North America are now directed.

The movement is expected to spread across the continent as young Bahá’ís from Canada and the U.S. participate in many teaching projects this summer.

These victories will be celebrated August 24-28 at the International Youth Conference being held under the sponsorship of the Canadian Bahá’í community.

The attendees at the historic Louhelen gathering pledged to welcome at least 222 new Bahá’ís into the Faith before that conference.

Above: Bahá’í youth who met May 23-24 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School to revitalize the ‘youth movement’ in North America are shown with Counsellors Farzam Arbáb and Fred Schechter; Dr. Dwight Allen, a member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly; Dr. Jane Faily, a member of the National Assembly of Canada; Karen Pritchard, secretary of the National Youth Committee; and Cap Cornwell, secretary of the National Teaching Committee.

Right: Youth take time out for songs and fellowship.

Brian Walker, a Bahá’í from Littleton, Colorado, who recently graduated with honors from Heritage High School, took part this year in a nationwide competition for high school students in all areas of work, placing first among students from Colorado and 14th in the nation in engineering/drafting. Heritage High placed first in Colorado. Brian plans this fall to attend the University of Colorado in Boulder.

5th Disney World conference set

The fifth annual Bahá’í Youth Conference at Disney World near Orlando, Florida, has been scheduled for December 27-31 under the sponsorship of the National Bahá’í Youth Committee.

Youth and the young at heart are encouraged to make their plans now to attend this important gathering which is expected to accommodate from 350-400 participants.

Registration information will be printed in upcoming issues of The American Bahá’í as well as in “Youth Hotline,” the monthly newsletter for Bahá’í youth.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Let Deeds, Not Words, Be Your Adorning,” and will feature discussions and workshops on Bahá’í service.

Visits to the Epcot Center or the Magic Kingdom at Disney World are a part of the conference schedule, and a children’s program will be offered on a cooperative basis.

Plan now to attend ... bring the family and come prepared to teach. A pre- and post-conference teaching program will be offered.

YOUTH still have time to register for Canadian Youth Conference

Yes, you may still be able to attend the International Youth Conference being held this summer in Canada, and NO, it’s not too late to register!

The gathering will be held August 24-28 at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, and its theme, “If Only You Knew,” focuses on the role of youth in the growth of the Cause.

Special guests will include the Hand of the Cause of God A.A. Furútan, Counsellor Farzam Arbáb, Auxiliary Board member Robert Harris, and many others.

Registration forms are available from the National Youth Committee. Please write to the committee at ‎ ‎ Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315, or phone 305-462-1919. Or you may contact the Bahá’í National Center of Canada at 416-899-8168.

Early registration is a must, and you are urged to make your travel plans early.

Several summer teaching projects need your support

Due to the efforts of many, summer teaching projects have been completed or are well under way in many places throughout the U.S. But don’t despair. It’s not too late to get involved!

Projects in Wanblee, South Dakota (at the Pine Ridge Reservation of the Sioux Nation); Rochester, New York; Southern California; northwest Washington state; eastern Oregon; South Carolina, and southwest Georgia are either continuing or haven’t yet begun.

These projects need your support. For dates, places, contact persons, and other information, please phone the National Youth Committee office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 305-462-1919, today!

Remember: YOUTH can move the world!

A REMINDER TO BAHÁ’Í COLLEGE CLUBS

Monies raised by college clubs can only be used for college club activities. They cannot be donated to Local Spiritual Assemblies, the National Fund, or any other institution or committee associated with the Faith.

If there are any questions about this policy, please contact the National Youth Committee at 305-462-1919. [Page 8]

Family Unity Night (Fun)

FIFTH WEEK OF JULY/FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST: KAMAL/PERFECTION. Thought for the week: “Kam, kam; ruz bih ruz.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) Prayer: Steadfastness, p. 167. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials. Keep in mind that the perfection of anything takes consistent effort until it is a natural habit. Think of it as a process as well as a state of being. 1. Arabic Hidden Words No. 12, No. 31. 2. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 115. 3. Some Answered Questions, pp. 235-37; also p. 6, “Therefore, it becomes ...” Activity: 1. An artist/sculptor perfects a design in slow, careful increments. Think of yourself thusly. Think of a small step toward perfection that you could take this week (keep toys picked up, say a teaching prayer each morning, etc.). Have each person write it down as a goal to achieve. May share the results at next week’s FUN. 2. Perfect a paper airplane. Select a design, color or decorate your plane. Test fly it, perfect it if it needs correction. (a) Blind landing: place a target such as a rock or stick if outside, or a book if inside. Each person, in turn, is blindfolded, and tries to see how close he can land his airplane to the target. Now try it with the blindfold off! (b) Airborne record: Have each family member fly his or her airplane to see which one can stay aloft the longest. (c) Upside-down flight: Have each person fly his airplane upside-down and see which one goes the farthest. Refreshments: Fruit basket upset. Everyone chooses a favorite fruit. Go to the store to buy and bring home. Each prepares own fruit and add fruit to salad bowl. Ummmm-good!

SECOND WEEK OF AUGUST: DETACHMENT (Krishna’s birthday, August 4). Thought for the week: O Son of Being! Busy not thyself with this world, for with fire we test the gold, and with gold We test Our servants. (Bahá’u’lláh) Prayer: Detachment, p. 56. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials. Assess personal attachments to material possessions, and the “names” (kind, happy) attached to our personality/character by others. How can we be more detached? Through pure humility? 1. Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 155, p. 159. 2. Read about Krishna from Divine Symphony, pp. 7-19. 3. Synopsis and Codification of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 16 (No. 10, 2nd paragraph). 4. Gleanings, p. 319, No. CXLIX. 5. Persian Hidden Words, end pp. 51-52. 6. Arabic Hidden Words, No. 8, No. 16. Activity: 1. Go for a family walk or jog in a new place or route you don’t frequent. Come back and talk about the things you saw, smelled, heard. How many new things did each one notice? 2. Make a home band out of pot lids, wooden spoons, comb and paper kazoo, etc. Play along with your favorite music or march around while playing to the music. Refreshments: Watermelon. While eating or after, have a watermelon seed-spitting contest—outside, of course! Who can spit his seeds the farthest?

THIRD WEEK OF AUGUST: ASMA/NAMES. Thought for the week: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.” Prayer: Spiritual qualities, p. 141, or praise and gratitude, p. 122. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials. How do we know God? How can we perfect the attributes of God in ourselves, and strive for true detachment? (Remember the lessons from the last two weeks.) Labels on children can become self-fulfilling prophecy. 1. Gleanings, pp. 184-192, No. XCIII. 2. Kitáb-i-Íqán, pp. 141-143. 3. Selections from the Writings of the Báb, from “Excerpts from the Dala’il-Sab’ih,” p. 125. 4. Selections from the Writings of the Báb, “Excerpts from the Kitáb-i-Asmá,” p. 131. Activity: 1. The Names of God appear after most prayers. Make a list of as many of these Names and Attributes as you can. 2. Play “spin the bottle.” Write on a slip of paper fun, simple activities like: stand on your head, make a funny face, tell about your favorite birthday, mime an animal for others to guess, etc. When the bottle is spun and stops at you, pick a slip of paper and do as it says. 3. If the weather seems right, take the family swimming or perhaps dip your feet in a wading pool or run in a sprinkler. Refreshments: Enjoy fresh berries and cream.

FOURTH WEEK OF AUGUST: PRAYER. Thought for the week: “Life is fragile—handle with prayer.” Prayer: Steadfastness, p. 161; Spiritual Qualities, p. 149; the Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials. Think of prayer as your personal communion with the Source of all creation, and your channel of assistance and guidance for your individual perfection as well as that of all mankind. 1. Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 78. 2. Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 39. 3. Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 161-62. 4. Bahá’í World Faith, p. 368, “Prayer Is Indispensable.” 5. Vignettes, p. 133, No. 29; p. 131, No. 27; p. 130, No. 26. 6. “When People Pray Aloud” by Ellen Walker, p. 28, Child’s Way, Jan./Feb. 1983. 7. Sing along with “We Are Bahá’ís” tape: Morning Prayer; Alláh’u’Abhá; Noon Day Prayer; O God, Guide Me. Activity: Since meal time prayer is not a Ba-

See FUN Page 9

1st national Bahá’í Child Education Conference is held over Memorial Day weekend in Evanston

The first National Bahá’í Child Education Conference was held May 26-27, the Memorial Day weekend, in the environs of the Bahá’í National Center and the Mother Temple of the West.

TWO HUNDRED persons for whom the Bahá’í education of children and youth is a personal priority participated in morning and afternoon workshops at Kendall College in Evanston, Illinois, and attended evening programs in Foundation Hall at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette.

Workshop topics at the conference, which was sponsored by the National Education Committee, included “Bahá’í Youth Programs,” “Inter-Community Schools,” “Bahá’í Curriculum Development,” “LEAP” (Local Education Adviser Program), and a double workshop devoted to Bahá’í summer day school programs.

The last named topic included a video tape demonstration of strategies to teach Bahá’í children how to be reverent and was entitled “Attracting the Heart.”

The Saturday evening program in Foundation Hall included a public speaking demonstration by children followed by a talk entitled “Child Education” by Mrs. Nancy Mondschein of the Office of Community Administration at the National Center.

On Sunday evening, members of the National Education Committee who had just returned from a meeting with members of the National Spiritual Assembly, Counsellors, Auxiliary Board members and members of national committees and National Center staff at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Davison, Michigan, shared their experiences at Louhelen and addressed the topic of “Bahá’í Identity.”

THEY read to conference participants a message from the National Spiritual Assembly conveying its warmest greetings and best wishes for the success of the conference.

The question-and-answer period that followed the talks was concerned and lively. Refreshments, prepared by the Bahá’ís of Skokie, Illinois, were enjoyed by attendees after the Saturday and Sunday evening programs.

A special feature of the conference was an activities fair which displayed curricular materials that had been developed by the friends in many areas of the country.

The National Education Committee plans to sponsor a National Child Education Conference every two years, with regional conferences scheduled in alternate years.

Regional conferences will focus particularly on teacher skills and on sharing curricular materials that have been developed by the friends. National conferences will address more general and fundamental issues of Bahá’í child education in the national community with input from each of the several regions.

“You are the answer to many prayers,” Mrs. Mondschein told participants at the Saturday evening program.

The National Education Committee is pleased with the enthusiastic support given to the conference, both in attendance and quality of participation.

Friends from Canada prepared a map of the U.S. on which participants marked their home locations, and a majority of the 51 states was represented.

Amber Smith, age 12, takes part in a children’s public speaking program presented by Mrs. Gayle Woolson, a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh (at podium). Seated are other young participants, Maia Ashby, age 7, and Jian Khodadad, 10.

Mrs. Nancy Mondschein of the Office of Community Administration addresses the conference.

Volunteers help spruce up, refurbish Green Acre Bahá’í School facilities

Many devoted friends of the Green Acre Bahá’í School have volunteered their time and talents in recent months to help improve the school’s facilities.

BAHÁ’Í HALL has a new ceiling of acoustic tile to go along with the four ceiling fans which came from a generous gift last fall.

The library has new sound-deadening insulation, attractive new wall paneling and new curtains in the bedrooms.

And the interior of the Schopflocher House has been spruced up by a large group of volunteers spearheaded by Mary and Robert Hatcher. They’ve put up new wallpaper, painted the woodwork, placed new lamps in the rooms and arranged for new carpeting.

The building, named in honor of the Hand of the Cause of God Fred Schopflocher, is getting some professional attention too.

The roof has been re-shingled, and in the late summer and fall the entire house will be repainted and, for the first time, will be insulated and have new combination storm windows.

“The Green Acre Council extends its gratitude to the donors of the gifts and to all the volunteers,” says school administrator Richard Grover. “There is much more work to do, and other people, especially those with carpentry or painting skills, should contact the school.

“We can provide room and board,” he adds, “and Green Acre is a lovely place to spend a weekend or a week of vacation.”

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

[Page 9]

Louhelen hosts Bahá’í Studies development conference

A Conference on Social and Economic Development was held June 1-3 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Michigan under the auspices of the Association for Bahá’í Studies Midwestern Regional Committee.

ONE HUNDRED thirty-eight Bahá’ís from Canada and the U.S. took part in the three-day gathering whose speakers included Counsellor Fred Schechter; Dr. Jane Faily, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada; Paul Ojermark, director of the Social and Economic Development Unit of the Bahá’í International Community and consultant to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO); and Frank Lucatelli, an architect in private practice.

On Sunday morning, participants were divided into discussion groups to consider ways in which Bahá’í communities in North America can respond to the message of October 20, 1983, from the Universal House of Justice concerning social and economic development.

One of the groups discussed ways in which Bahá’í communities in North America can contribute to development work in the Third World.

Dr. Faily spoke twice, on “Spiritual Foundations of Social and Economic Development” and “The Canadian Bahá’í International Development Services (CBIDS).”

Counsellor Schechter spoke on “Development: Implications for the North American Bahá’í Community,” while Mr. Ojermark’s topic was “The Bahá’í Community and Its Entrance into the Field of Development.”

Mr. Lucatelli spoke Friday evening on “The Seven Valleys: A Key to the Structural Relationships Among Religion, Art and Science.”

On Saturday evening, attendees enjoyed dancing, volleyball, a slide presentation on “The Artwork of Betty Filstrup,” and a video tape, “Bahá’í Education in India.”

Shown at right are many of the 138 Bahá’ís from Canada and the U.S. who attended the Conference on Social and Economic Development held June 1-3 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Michigan. The conference was sponsored by the Association for Bahá’í Studies Midwestern Regional Committee.

10 ASSEMBLIES SHARE THEIR RESPONSES TO THE BUILDING A UNIFIED BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY MINI-COURSE

“Delightful! Very well prepared.” — Amherst, MA

“Stimulated practical ideas that we can use in our community. We received many fresh perspectives.” — Lakewood, OH

“Everyone seemed to get a lot out of this course.” — Delta, CA

“It especially increased our awareness of things that are sometimes overlooked.” — Salt Lake City, UT

“Brought out new ideas. Thought-provoking.” — Orange County, FL

“Dealt with the brass tacks issues. Best course yet. We got a lot out of it.” — Jamestown, ND

“Extremely interesting.” — Denton, TX

“Consultation at Feast has improved as a result of the course.” — Wauwatosa, WI

The Assembly felt the course was thoroughly worthwhile. We now have some new ideas with direct actions for positive and immediate results. We’re very excited!”’ — Snohomish CCD No. 3, WA

“We enjoyed an excellent discussion.” — Pima County, AZ

If your Assembly and community would like to participate in the Building a Unified Bahá’í Community course, or one of the other Assembly Development Program mini-courses, contact an instructor near you or mail the coupon below to:

National Education Committee Bahá’í National Center Wilmette, IL 60091

OUR ASSEMBLY WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FOLLOWING ASSEMBLY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MINI-COURSES (check one or more):

____ The Newly Formed Assembly ____ Consultation With Individuals

____ The Local Spiritual Assembly: A Divinely Ordained Institution ____ Building a Unified Bahá’í Community

____ The Role of Assembly Officers ____ The Year of Waiting and Divorce

NAME OF LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY _______________________________________

ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________

TELEPHONE NUMBER ( ) _________________________________________________

Counsellor Arbáb, family are guests at Green Acre ‘Conferencia Hispanica’

Farzam Arbáb, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas, and his family were the special guests May 5-6 at the sixth Regional Conferencia Hispanica at the Green Acre Bahá’í School in Eliot, Maine.

More than 50 people attended, many of whom are from a wide variety of Central and South American countries.

Classes on Bahá’í topics were held exclusively in Spanish.

A feature of the weekend was a Bahá’í board game developed by the Castillo family of New York. Based on quotations from the Bahá’í Writings (in Spanish, of course) it was played with enjoyment by people of all ages.

Before the conference ended, plans were made for the seventh such gathering to be held at Green Acre the weekend of September 8-9.

FUN

Continued From Page 8

há’í tradition, you might think of another time for family prayer. Consult together on choosing a time for activity No. 1. 1. For one week choose a specific time each day for the family to gather together for prayer. Family members may choose one prayer each to share at this time, or each one, in turn, may choose one day to select and recite prayer(s) for the rest of the family. 2. Play hide and seek together outside or indoors as weather dictates. 3. Hold relay races. Determine the starting and finishing lines. Divide into two teams (a) “Under-over”: a ball or balloon is passed to teammates alternating under legs, over head. (b) “Don’t Drop the Cargo”: race to finish line and back to start carrying a peanut or ping pong ball on a large spoon. If you drop the cargo, you must go back and start over. (c) “Run and Pop It”: Each team member in turn must run to the finish line where a sack of balloons is contained, pick up one balloon, run back to start and sit on balloon to pop it. Refreshments: Popsicles. You may make them at home with real fruit juice frozen in an ice cube tray with a toothpick in each division, or buy them pre-made at the store. [Page 10]

The homefront pioneer

A brief description of the various kinds of homefront pioneer goals was included in this column last month.

This month we highlight the top priority goal of consolidating mass-taught areas. No better words could be found than those in this lovely, heartwarming letter from a new homefront pioneer to Perry, Georgia. We’d like now to share it with you.

Dear Friends,

As you know I have already reached my post in Perry, Georgia.

The home is absolutely perfect for a Bahá’í home, as well it is. I can easily sleep eight people and have plenty of room for firesides, Bahá’í meetings, and study classes.

I AM praying to be guided to the whites as well as blacks whom God has already prepared to receive the Teachings, and I would like to have a nice home for that reason also.

I went to a newcomers’ meeting last night and learned they have their meetings in private homes. Naturally, I offered my home for that purpose.

If they come to my home and see the beautiful portrait of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (and the) picture of the Temple they are bound to ask some questions.

I’ll try my best to do as Shoghi Effendi said, “Don’t tell them everything you know. Only that portion they are ready to hear.”

The third day I was here I decided to make a walking tour of the town. I stopped in various shops (and) mentioned I had just moved to Perry. ...

When I told them I was from St. Simons Island they couldn’t understand why I would leave such a lovely place to come to Perry.

I TOLD them I was a Bahá’í, and since there were so many other Bahá’ís scattered about south and middle Georgia I wanted to be in the area. I also quickly told them I had always been attracted to Perry since I passed through it every time I traveled from St. Simons to Atlanta, which was often.

On the fourth day I visited Mrs. Ethelyn Clerkley, who is a Bahá’í here. When I phoned before going she said she was sick in bed.

When I arrived, however, she was dressed and looked great. She said that after I called she started feeling so much better. It is so rewarding to see how happy every Bahá’í here is when you visit them.

We had lunch together and spent several hours talking about the Faith.

See HOMEFRONT Page 11

60 attend Alabama conference on development

Local projects aimed at meeting the challenge from the Universal House of Justice to improve the fabric of society were proposed during an Alabama Bahá’í Conference on Social and Economic Development held May 6 in Birmingham.

About 60 Bahá’ís from all areas of the state attended the conference, which was sponsored by the Auxiliary Board to consult on the message of October 20, 1983, from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the world.

That message stated, “Progress in the field development will largely depend on natural stirrings at the grassroots, and it should receive its driving force from those sources ....”

Following opening addresses by Auxiliary Board members Ben Levy and Sam McClellan, participants were divided into four workshop groups.

Some of the proposals coming from those workshops were:

Inventory the resources of local Bahá’í communities and offer those resources to help ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ and social agencies; form a network for sharing resources among Bahá’í communities; further develop Bahá’í community life so as to affect society in general; and assure that projects do not detract from the teaching work and, in fact, that they operate concurrently with it.

Conference participants reported on some efforts already under way such as a program in Jerusalem Heights, Alabama, to teach Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís alike to read; and conducting an in-depth survey of Bahá’í resources with the goal of setting up a Bahá’í business to employ Bahá’ís, and being effective promoters of race unity in Pensacola, Florida.

Tim Tyson (third from left), an assistant to Auxiliary Board member Ben Levy, and Jack Guillebeaux (fourth from left), an assistant to Auxiliary Board member Sam McClellan, lead a workshop session on the implications of social and economic development during a day-long conference held May 6 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Second Amoz Gibson summer project needs volunteer workers

The second Amoz Gibson Summer Teaching Project needs volunteers to work and serve together this summer among the Sioux Indians in Wanblee, South Dakota.

The campaign is sponsored by the American Indian Teaching Committee and the District Teaching Committee of South Dakota.

THIS IS an intensive heart-to-heart teaching and deepening campaign that includes daily children’s classes, youth activities, traveling teaching, and adult outreach.

We want to build an army of love wherein foot-soldiers work hand in hand with one another at a variety of tasks that exemplify a spirit of cooperation and joy throughout the entire camp.

Bahá’ís of any age are sought to share any skill or talent, especially those who seek to learn to teach at their own highest level.

Experienced teachers and coordinators are needed for children’s classes. Advance notice is not required.

Any Bahá’í who can bring a recommendation from a Local Spiritual Assembly (or District Teaching Committee) will be warmly welcomed; the basic requirement is a happy and unifying spirit.

It is possible to consult and make plans on this project in the morning, and to see them realized in the afternoon. Individual initiative will be given a high priority, under the guidance of the camp director.

Projecteers should be prepared to undergo fairly primitive conditions including extremes of heat and cold, the threat of violent thunderstorms, and rugged terrain.

YOU’LL be camping out under the stars, although indoor plumbing is available. Bring camping equipment, sleeping bags and blankets, and a tent if possible.

Five dollars a day is suggested to cover food and expenses. Consider being deputized by your local community, or interested individuals; but if you don’t have the money, come anyway.

Any form of contribution is valuable, none is too small. We invite contributions—such as children’s materials, sports and camping equipment, media supplies, books, food or money—to be sent to Marinell Rhine, project registrar, Pierre, SD 57501 (phone 605-224-0336).

As much more than a summer conference or school, the Amoz Gibson Summer Teaching Project is a high point of the summer and an excellent training ground for experiencing another culture, which also gives one a taste of foreign pioneering.

Come pray, consult, teach, and fly with the golden eagle to victory.

New Development Committee slates 1st national conference at Louhelen

The recently appointed Committee for Social and Economic Development will hold its first national conference December 7-8 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School near Davison, Michigan.

The aims of the conference are to identify the relevant Bahá’í writings on such themes as educational development, health, community development, and appropriate technology, and to identify Bahá’ís with experience in these and other areas of development who may be used as resources.

In addition, the financial and legal implications of social and economic development projects will be discussed.

Among the participants will be Counsellor Farzam Arbáb who will give special attention to the relationship of teaching to social and economic development and the spiritual dimensions of development.

Attendance at the conference is by invitation. Those Bahá’ís who may wish to attend should send a letter describing their professional background to the Committee on Social and Economic Development, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Letters of intent should be received no later than August 1.

Green Acre featured

The Green Acre Bahá’í School in Eliot, Maine, was featured prominently April 20 in a three-page feature article in Foster’s Daily Democrat, a local newspaper in Dover, New Hampshire.

The article, in the paper’s weekly magazine section, “Showcase,” presents a complete history of the school, describing in detail how Sarah Farmer, the daughter of a Dover transcendentalist and Eliot philanthropist, decided to dedicate Green Acre to the Bahá’í Faith after meeting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1899.

Lost and found

The following items were collected at this year’s National Convention’s lost and found department.

If you are the owner of any of these items, please contact the Office of Membership and Records at the Bahá’í National Center.

• One men’s blue heather sweater, size Tall-Medium (38-40), made by Brentwood Sportswear.
• One book titled The Life of Dorothy Baker: From Copper to Gold, autographed by the author “To Eleanor.”
• One book titled Dr. Seuss’s ABC, missing the front cover.
• One pair of child’s sunglasses, blue, with Mickey Mouse perched on the corner of each lens.
• One yellow paper bag with four postcards of the House of Worship and a House of Worship visitors’ brochure.

[Page 11]

TEACHING THROUGH FRIENDSHIP TEAMS

Friendship Teams have been checking in from all over the country, sharing news of their victories and introducing us to their new friends.

In Rhode Island three Friendship Teams near Cranston have chosen three completely different fields of service.

One team invites Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í friends alike to meet for prayers and readings from the writings of all religions over lunch.

Another team helps in the extension teaching goal of Warwick, while several friends formed a third team that has traveled to Bermuda to teach the Faith.

A Friendship Team in Pennsylvania has joined the Pottstown Council of Churches, and promises to send a photograph soon.

In Maryland there has been great success with Friendship Teams composed of Iranian refugees. The Spiritual Assembly of Westminster writes:

“In the last two months we have formed two Friendship Teams. Recently, our first team spoke at a retired persons’ development in Westminster.

“The home has interdenominational Bible study groups. They called us in February and asked that we send some Bahá’ís to speak in April.

“The three women (Bahá’ís) did a marvelous job, and the older people were particularly awed by our dear refugee (Jahan Jamshidi) who is 58 and endured a great deal of sacrifice to come to the U.S.

“They’ve been invited back in the future to speak on another topic. We are thrilled with this success.

“Our second team is composed of two Persians and an American who have formed a deepening team to deepen new believers and also present members of the community.”

It seems that Friendship Teams can do almost anything! Does your Friendship Team have an exciting report to make? This is your space; let us hear from you.

Bahá’í named to board of human rights panel

Following the Human Rights Day observance in January in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, one of that Bahá’í community’s newest members was elected to the board of the Sheboygan Human Rights Association.

Spirit in Action: A new perspective on teaching

The individual believer has become the rallying point of the final two years of the Seven Year Plan.

Publicity, public attention, and news articles about the Faith, unprecedented in the past, commonplace during the last five years, have served to pave the way for the individual believer to act.

“TEACH My Cause,” Bahá’u’lláh tells us; become “a brilliant lamp, a shining star, and a blessed tree adorned with fruit.”

The individual believer as teacher is each and every one of us, no matter how unworthy or unskilled we may feel.

Often, when given examples of successful teachers, or of how to teach the Bahá’í Faith, we are introduced to the giants of the American Bahá’í community: Louis Gregory with his golden heart; Martha Root who did not begin to teach until after she was 40 years old; and more recently, Dorothy Baker who was considered for many years an “inactive” Bahá’í.

Reading about their tests and trials, we learn that they had to cope with problems and disappointments too. But what a challenge! Become another Louis Gregory, another Martha Root, another Dorothy Baker?

Spirit in Action: Teaching the Bahá’í Faith by Nathan Rutstein will give you a different perspective on teaching.

Filled with teaching stories, successes, heartbreaks, triumphs, honesty and growth, it is a book about the individual believer.

Rather than listing suggestions, Mr. Rutstein shares confirmations. In chapters headed “Overcoming Fear,” “Training Our Spiritual Selves,” “The Importance of Deepening,” and “Awakening the Desire to Teach,” he tells the stories of individuals like you and me.

These examples are people who were scared, lonely, helpless, impatient and demanding. Unnamed, these average Bahá’ís find success through prayer, deepening, perseverance and action.

Again and again the point is made that to win a goal, to teach the Faith effectively, we must each pray, make a decision, and then act.

Few of us feel inside the confidence we see in others. The examples presented to us seem to be out of reach unless we find that opportunity to share a test, hear a sorrow, and find that those we admire so much are really so much like ourselves.

Teaching the Bahá’í Faith is our chance to share a cup of tea with those friends who are known as teachers and to hear their secrets of success.

California, South Carolina lead way in enrollments for B.E. 140

Listed here according to the numbers of Bahá’ís enrolled are last year’s enrollment figures for each state.

Of course, the first few states on the list should come as no surprise. Both South Carolina and California have large, active Bahá’í communities with many Spiritual Assemblies and District Teaching Committees plus the Bosch Bahá’í School in California and the Louis Gregory Institute in South Carolina.

Oregon, Texas, Florida and Arizona have been known for many years as active teaching areas. While these states are our leaders and examples, not all the most exciting teaching victories were won there last year.

Washington, D.C., a community that grew little for several years, has begun its “Project 1000.” Although by the end of the year the National Center had received only 16 enrollments as a result of the campaign, those 16 represent almost a 300 per cent increase over the previous year.

Kentucky, which has only five Spiritual Assemblies, enrolled 15 new believers, and Mississippi, with only 10 Assemblies, enrolled 22 new Bahá’ís.

In addition, South Dakota showed remarkable growth as a result of the Amoz Gibson teaching project. Watch for more good news from South Dakota this year as the project continues.

The total number of new Bahá’ís enrolled during the past year was 2,313 or 89 per cent of the 2,608 enrolled the year before.

Did we teach 11 per cent fewer seekers? Or did we only follow up on 89 per cent of our interested friends?

If we all pledge to give 100 per cent in our teaching, no matter how much or how little we can do, perhaps our enrollments will leap by that 100 per cent also.

Enrollments by state

California 304, South Carolina 269, Oregon 177, Florida 137, Texas 130, Arizona 103, New Mexico 95, Illinois 87.

Georgia 85, Washington 68, New York 62, South Dakota 61, North Carolina 59, Michigan 49, Colorado 46, Ohio 40.

Virginia 40, Wisconsin 33, Massachusetts 32, Nevada 32, New Jersey 32, Missouri 30, Nebraska 25, Mississippi 22.

Pennsylvania 21, Maryland 20, New Hampshire 20, Minnesota 17, Tennessee 17, Idaho 16, Iowa 16, Louisiana 16.

Washington, D.C. 16, Kentucky 15, Oklahoma 15, Indiana 13, Kansas 13, Maine 12, Montana 12, Vermont 11.

Connecticut 9, Wyoming 8, Rhode Island 6, Utah 6, Alabama 5, West Virginia 4, Arkansas 3, North Dakota 3, Delaware 1.

More than 40 Bahá’ís from Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Colorado participated April 7-8 in a Rocky Mountain States Teaching Conference at Teton Village, Wyoming (near Jackson Hole), sponsored by the Wyoming District Teaching Committee. The speakers, including Auxiliary Board member Dennis Jenkyns, presented a variety of teaching-oriented talks including ways to reach people in smaller towns and rural areas, and teaching minorities and business people.

Frank Mead, a Native American believer from Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation, comments on a talk by Carlos Velazquez (left) on ways to reach minority groups.

Homefront

Continued From Page 10

I left some tapes with Mrs. Clerkley, and a prayer.

So far I have loaned tapes to seven Bahá’ís. I show them how to operate the players, and the first tape I play is one by Steve Hampton, a Bahá’í from Carrollton.

THIS has really worked wonders. When the music starts, even the babies stop crying. When you hear the words “O God, refresh and gladden my spirit ...” you can’t help but get a profound feeling of love in the entire house.

...most of these Bahá’ís are visited only once a year, and that is to form an “Assembly.”

There are many Bahá’ís from outside the area who have given of their time, which no Bahá’í has much of, to help form these Assemblies, but I strongly feel we need knowledgeable Bahá’ís who can live here, put down roots, so to speak. There is so much opportunity here.

Most of the Bahá’ís I have met, and that is quite a few, feel the loving spirit of the Bahá’ís who visit them, but as to actual knowledge of the Faith—they certainly need to be deepened.

I think the tapes will be a great help, but nothing can take the place of personal contact and planned studies with perhaps two or three or even one person to start with.

I am praying that Bahá’u’lláh will lead me to the Bahá’ís in each locality who have the best potential for learning and then taking the initiative to help establish an active community.

I know I can’t do this alone. It is only to the extent that I allow Bahá’u’lláh to use the talents He gave me that I can succeed.

With Bahá’í love,

Sally Brown Perry, Georgia

Stamford presents copy of Master’s talk to NAACP director

On April 24, the Bahá’ís of Stamford, Connecticut, presented to Dr. Benjamin Hooks, the national director of the NAACP, a copy of the address given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the fourth national convention of the NAACP held in April 1912 in Chicago.

The presentation was made by two members of the Spiritual Assembly of Stamford, Charliene Bynum and Azalee Fitchbein, during a dinner commemorating the NAACP’s 75th anniversary.

More than 400 non-Bahá’ís attended the dinner.

The Fund Is the Life-Blood of the Faith

National Bahá’í Fund

Wilmette, IL 60091

[Page 12]

Resolution

A. Campbell Jr. of South Carolina; and Rep. Dante Fascell of Florida.

"The purpose of the resolution," said Rep. Porter, "is threefold. First, it holds the government of Iran responsible for upholding the rights of all its citizens including the Bahá’ís.

"Second, it condemns the Prosecutor General’s edict banning the Bahá’ís.

"AND THIRD, it calls upon the President of the United States to work in the United Nations and other forums with leaders of other countries to form a broad-based appeal to the Iranian government."

Congressman Porter, in whose district is Wilmette, site of the Mother Temple of the West and the Bahá’í administrative headquarters in the U.S., said, "It is an ironic crime against all humanity that these gentle and peaceful people have been persecuted in their homeland through 140 years of history but especially since the rise to power of the murderous Khomeini regime....

"Last year the Prosecutor General of Iran issued an edict banning all Bahá’í religious activities as criminal acts. Like the Nuremberg laws, this edict establishes the so-called legal grounds for mass arrests and genocide, and that is what is occurring... genocide.

"In response to this decree, elected leaders of the Bahá’í Faith in Iran did dissolve all Bahá’í institutions there, citing obedience, as they always do, to the civil law of the land.

"But... this has done nothing to prevent more torture, more persecution, and more executions....

"THE SETTING in Iran today resembles Nazi Germany during Hitler’s rise to power... and the world must speak out against it. ...

"The world must learn what is happening in Iran and bring the pressure of civilized opinion to bear on this barbaric situation....

"This resolution will not, in itself, change anything, but the people of this planet, united in their opposition to genocide in any form, can.

"The Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations," said Rep. Yatron, "...has long recognized the severity of the situation facing the Bahá’í community in Iran....

"Over 170 prominent Bahá’ís have been executed since Khomeini came into power. Their places of worship have been destroyed, their possessions have been confiscated, and their religion banned....

"Bahá’ís in Iran have always experienced tremendous pressure and persecution but they are being slaughtered by the Khomeini regime for adherence to their faith. For this reason, I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 226."

REP. LEACH, who was a member of the subcommittee when Bahá’ís first offered testimony in May 1982, said, "One cannot help but conclude that the aim of the Iranian government is the extirpation of the Bahá’í faith from Iran, either by forced conversion of Bahá’ís to Shi’ite Islam or 'extermination.' The analogies between Iran today and Germany under Hitler are towering.

"The acts of inhumanity and brutality that have been heaped upon members of a peaceful religion are incomprehensible to civilized humanity. Among those recently executed are 10 women including three teen-age girls. The Revolutionary Guard tortures others in prison, whipping them with metal cables, pouring boiling water on their heads.

"While there is some tentative glimmer of hope that worldwide protests against this persecution may have diminished the Iranian authorities’ appetite for executions, the abuses continue to occur and demand our unflagging efforts to bring all pressure possible to bear on that government for its crimes.

"...it is my hope that those Bahá’ís who remain in Iran and who live in the darkness of this terror will hear our words and know of our actions today.

"Accordingly, I urge the unanimous support of my colleagues for this resolution as a symbol that the Islamic Republic of Iran cannot perpetrate an evil of this nature in silence. International protests may prove futile, but ignoring the plight of this gentle, committed people would be morally negligent."

ON MAY 2, three Bahá’ís appeared before the House Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations to offer new information concerning the situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran since the subcommittee heard testimony two years ago.

Among them was Said Eshragi, an Iranian Bahá’í now living in Texas whose father, mother and 22-year-old sister were among 18 Bahá’ís hanged in Shiraz in June 1983.

Also testifying were Judge James F. Nelson, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly; Dr. Wilma Brady, the National Assembly’s vice-chairman; Rep. Porter; and Elliott Abrams, Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs.

Rep. Tom Lantos of California, who chaired the hearing in the absence of Rep. Yatron, proposed an international conference devoted solely to discussing the persecutions in Iran with an eye toward devising possible solutions.

Mr. Abrams, who expressed the administration’s support for House Concurrent Resolution 226, said such a conference is certainly within the realm of possibility.

H. CON. RES. 226

Whereas more than one hundred and fifty members of the Bahá’í faith have been brutally executed by Iranian authorities since the 1979 Islamic revolution;

Whereas many Bahá’ís in Iran have disappeared and others have been tortured, persecuted, and deprived of their fundamental rights to personal property and employment;

Whereas an edict issued by Iran’s Prosecutor General on August 29, 1983, has far-reaching implications that threaten the lives of three hundred thousand Bahá’ís residing in Iran and places the future practice of Bahá’ísm in jeopardy by dismantling the administrative structure of the Bahá’í religion; and

Whereas these actions for the first time establish an expressed national policy which lays the legal foundation for executions, arrests, the confiscation of property, denial of jobs and pensions, expulsion of Bahá’í children from schools, and other pressures which may be brought to bear by Iranian authorities on the Bahá’ís: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress—

(1) holds the Government of Iran responsible for upholding the rights of all its nationals, including the Bahá’ís;

(2) condemns the recent decision taken by the Government of Iran to destroy the Bahá’í faith by labeling as "criminal acts" all Bahá’í teaching and organized religious activities, including the attempts by Bahá’ís to elect their own local and national leaders, to meet in assemblies, to communicate among themselves, and to work for volunteer committees; and

(3) calls upon the President—

(A) to work with appropriate foreign governments and the allies of the United States in forming an appeal to the Government of Iran concerning the Bahá’ís;

(B) to cooperate fully with the United Nations in its efforts on behalf of the Bahá’ís and to lead such efforts whenever it is possible and appropriate to do so; and

(C) to provide, and urge others to provide, for humanitarian assistance for those Bahá’ís who flee Iran.

Sec. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit a copy of this concurrent resolution to the President.

Children and youth at Geyserville Bahá’í School, 1939

This photograph was printed in the September 1983 issue of The American Bahá’í and the following individuals were identified from letters to the National Bahá’í Archives. Front row (left to right) Zahrl Schoeney, Roderick Ward, unknown, Dale or Dwight Allen. Second row, Alicia Ward Cardell, Genay Schoeney, Rosella Schoeney, Richard Groger, unknown, Beatrice Groger Link, unknown, Theresa Groger Ganong, Hal Rutledge, Nairn Ward, David Rutledge. Third row, Eleanor Jones, Theresa Marney Jones. Back row, Lloyd Schoeney, Betty Dibble, Anne Holley Brierley, John Cornell (Jack Fatooh), unknown, John Eichenauer, Laila Storch, Peter Caswell, Edward Rutledge. If you have further information, please write to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Board members to meet in Montana

"Mining the Spiritual Gems" is the theme of an Intermountain Auxiliary Board Conference to be held September 14-16 at the Copper King Inn in Butte, Montana. Keynote speakers will include Counsellor Velma Sherrill; Judge James F. Nelson, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly; and Auxiliary Board members Opal Conner and Margaret Gallagher.

A special guest will be Mrs. Florence Mayberry, a former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre in Haifa, who will speak about the Guardian at a Saturday evening meeting.

There will be programs for children and youth, and a nursery. Area motels include:

Copper King Inn, 4655 Harrison Avenue (406-494-6666). War Bonnet, 1-90 and I-15 (406-494-7800). Thrift Inn, 2900 Harrison Avenue (406-494-3500). Capri Motel (uptown), 22 N. Wyoming (406-723-4391). Rocker Inn Interchange, west of Butte (406-723-5464). Mile Hi, 3499 Harrison Avenue (406-494-2250). Eddys, Montana & Front (406-782-0471). Rose Motel, 920 S. Montana (406-782-9101). City Center, 641 W. Park (406-782-0401). KOA Campground, I-15 Mont. Exit (406-782-0663).

For conference information, send a stamped self-addressed envelope to P.O. Box 3922, Butte, MT 59702, or phone (Montana only) 1-800-448-4357, or 406-723-8224 or 406-494-3767. [Page 13]How can you help assure the destiny of North America?- Find out for yourself in a new edition of the glorious destiny of North America the spiritual prerequisites that will assure the success of all Bahá’í activities the hows and whys of teaching and pioneering the relationship between the spiritual and the practical that enables YOU to help ensure America's destiny Use the new thematic table of contents to help you study the Guardian's vision of America as you have never studied it before

THE ADVENT of DIVINE JUSTICE

Overview of the North American Bahá’í Community-Its Successes , Responsibilities, and Glorious Future 1-16. The Health of the Community 1-2 The Crises Affecting the Bahá’í and Non-Bahá’í Worlds 2-6 The Unique Station of the North American Bahá’í Community 6-11 The Prime Mover and Pattern for Western Bahá’í Communities 6 The Torchbearers of the Cause 7 The The Descendants of the Dawn-Breakers 7 The of the Administrative Order 8. The Achievements of the American Bahá’ís 8-11 The Tasks Lying Ahead of the American Believers 11-15 The Spread of the Faith in the Western Hemisphere The Spread of the Faith around the World 12-13 Unnamed Mission of the Future 13-14 Yet The As The Opportunities of the Distant Future 14-15 Bahá’u’lláh’s Promised Aid 15-16 The Importance of Daily Exertions 16

Call for the Acquisition of Virtues Needed to Equip the North American Bahá’ís to Fulfill Their Destiny A Warning about the Shortcomings of North Americans 16-20 The Importance of Purging Inherited National Flaws 20-21 16-43 The Cultivation of Spiritual Qualities Essential for All Teaching Plans. Temple Projects, and Financial Plans 20-43 Introduction 20-23 Rectitude of Conduct 23-29 Chastity and Holiness 29-33 Freedom from Prejudice 33-41

Call for the Fulfillment of the Material Aspect of America's Task, upon Which Depends Future Successes The Challenge of the Temple 44 The Challenge of Teaching 44-72 Universal Participation 45-46 The Urgency of Teaching 46-49 49-50 Prerequisites for Successful Teaching 49 Pioneers Prerequisites for 50-51 Summary-Weapons for Regenerating the Bahá’ís and Non-Bahá’í Communities 41-43

"Available from Bahá’í Publishing Trust. Wilmette, IL, U.S.A., at prices listed plus 10% postage and handling. Or order from your National Bahá’í Distribution Service: prices may vary.

Individua Initiative and Planning Methods for Considering Oppo idation 51-52 Expansion and Working with Administrative Agencies 52-53 Making Teaching the First Priority 53-54 Teaching Minorities 54-56 Homefrint Goals 56-58 Winning Foreign Winning Goals 58-68 dministrative Preparation for Teaching 59 Individual Preparation for Teaching 59-61 Assurances of Aid 61-62 Establishing Foundations for Local and National Institutions 62-65 Translating Literature 64-65 Finding Souls of Receptivity and Capacity 65-66 Appeal for Self-Supporting and Deputized 66-68 66-68 Pioneer tance of Collaborating with Bahá’í Institutions s and Native Believers 67 bail

Assurance of the North American Bahá’í Community's Success in the Unfoldment of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablets of the Divine Plan 72-85 The Importance of Self-Supporting Pioneers - 68 Tribute to Women Pioneers 68-69 Appeal to Youth to Help Win Goals 69-70 The Special Importance of Panama 70-72 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Assurance of North America's Destiny 73-74 Shoghi Effendi's Faith in the North American Bahá’ís 74-75 Passages from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh to Aid in Discharging Multiple Tasks 75-85 The High Station of the People of Bahá 75-77 The Greatness of the Day of God 77-80 The Regeneration of Human Life 80-81 Warnings and Counsels about the End of an Age 81-82 The Paramount Importance of Teaching 82-85 The Destiny of America 85-91

Bound in navy blue and silver 104 pages + new index and thematic table of contents Hardcover Catalog No. 108-045 $1200* Softcover Catalog No. 108-046 Available from Bahá’í Publishing Trust 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091 $650*

Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh

FLASH! JUST RELEASED! egimee Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh The American Bahá’ís a dynamic talk by Counsellor Peter Khan on the challenges and promises of America's glorious destiny 60-minute cassette Catalog No. 831-047 $7.00

PLUS America's Spiritual Destiny a guide for personal or group study; 104 pages Catalog No. 363-026 $4.50

ORDER NOW AND SAVE

special offer good through August 31, 1984

Destiny Package A contains Apostles cassette tape America's Destiny guide Catalog No. 560-101 $8.00 now ($10.00 after August 31, 1984)

Destiny Package B contains Apostles cassette tape America's Destiny guide Advent of Divine Justice, HC Catalog No. 560-102 $19.00 now ($23.50 after August 31, 1984)

Destiny Package C contains Apostles cassette tape America's Destiny guide Advent of Divine Justice, SC $13.00 ($18.00 after August 31, 1984)

Coupon for Ordering from the Publishing Trust

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

Cash orders must be accom- panied by a check or money or- der for the full amount (includ- ing 10 per cent for postage and handling, minimum $1.50). Credit card orders are accep- ted by phone (1-800-323-1880) and by mail; a VISA or Mas- terCard account number and expiration date must be in- cluded. Send orders to Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Qty. Title Price Destiny Package A $8.00 Destiny Package B $19.00 Destiny Package C 13.00 Advent Divine Justice, HC 12.00 Advent Divine Justice, SC 6.50 America’s Spir. Destiny 4.50 Apostles Bahá’u’lláh, CS $7.00 Bahá’í Proofs, HC 20.00 Dawning Place, HC 15.00 Dawning Place, SC 12.00 Fly Away Home, SC 5.50

Enclosed is my check or money order for $ $7.00 (including 10 per cent for postage and handling. minimum $1.50).

Charge to: ($10.00 minimum order) Visa Card expires. MC Card expires.

Name Address City State Zip

Bahá’í Publishing Trust (All orders are NET-no discounts. No charges on librarians' accounts accepted. Credit card orders ac- cepted by phone: 1-800-323-1880.) Prices good through September 15, 1984 Prices valid only in 48 contiguous states of the United States 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091 [Page 14]

Service for Blind provides reading, listening materials

More than 50 years ago the Bahá’í Service for the Blind, a committee of the National Spiritual Assembly, began its work.

SIMPLY put, the committee’s purpose is to provide printed literature in a form that can be used by the visually impaired.

The two major mediums used by the blind are Braille and/or tape recordings. Materials ‘‘in large print’’ can be used by some, but the production of this medium is the responsibility of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust.

Brailled material is produced by Bahá’ís who have been certified by the Library of Congress as Braille transcribers.

A course for learning Braille is available from the Service’s Braille Production Office in Ludington, Michigan. Depending on the individual, the course and preparation of a trial manuscript for certification takes about a year.

The preparation of a book in Braille requires a great deal of time and patience. It means literally copying an entire book word for word, line by line into the Braille code.

To transcribe a book of 200 pages into Braille takes about five to six months. Another four to five months is then needed for proofreading and making corrections.

THIS transcription constitutes the master from which copies are made and bound. Copies are made by placing a sheet of heated plastic over each page and molding them to the master page through a vacuum process called thermoforming.

Braille is considered by most people to be the major form of communicating the written word among the visually impaired. However, many individuals are unable to learn Braille or, due to other physical disabilities, are unable to use it.

For these individuals—as well as Braille users—tape recorded material is the medium used.

Again, Bahá’í volunteers record books onto tape (usually cassettes) which are then duplicated for sale and the lending library.

Considerable time and patience are needed for this work. For example, the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Vol. 3, which contains 448 pages, required 20 hours to record.

Though certification is not required to tape record books, certain requirements must be met. Good reading skills, a pleasant voice, and an absence of regional accent are necessary.

ALTHOUGH tapes are supplied by the Service, equipment and a quiet place to record are the responsibility of the tapist. Many people become tapists but soon abandon the work because they did not fully appreciate the amount of time and commitment required.

Since books can be produced on tape much faster than in Braille, the collection of titles available on tape greatly exceeds that in Braille.

Books for the blind are sold below cost. Books on tape sold to the sighted are at 10 per cent above the catalog price, and this additional amount (plus donations to the Service, earmarked through the National Fund) helps to offset the price difference.

One of the biggest problems facing the committee, in spite of the fact that it now has more than 140 books and pamphlets available on cassette tape and/or in Braille, is the fact that many of the blind Bahá’ís are unaware of the services available to them.

For that matter, most Bahá’ís—blind or sighted—are unaware of the committee’s existence.

You can help by making sure that your Assembly or District Teaching Committee knows about the committee and its services for the blind.

In addition to its work in this country, the Service supplies copies of Braille books to other English-speaking countries, to blind pioneers living in foreign countries, and to the World Centre library in Haifa.

You may request a catalog of materials for $1. Be sure to state which catalog is desired—Braille, tape or both. Also, please include your Bahá’í I.D. number.

For a catalog or more information, please write to Bahá’í Service for the Blind, Tucson, AZ 85716.

On April 6, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (second from right) of Ohio’s Ninth District was visited by a delegation of Bahá’ís from northwestern Ohio who expressed their appreciation for her support of a concurrent resolution which condemns the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran. Shown with Rep. Kaptur are (left to right) Mehrdad Fazli, Zhaleh Fazli, Kathi Zmeskal (seated) and Dr. Otto Zmeskal. The visit was arranged by the Spiritual Assembly of Sylvania.

CELEBRATE... GREEN LAKE!

Theme: "25th Year Celebration/Confirmation of Your Initiatives."

Dates: September 14-16. Location: American Baptist Assembly, Green Lake, Wisconsin. Capacity 1,400.

Note: The National Spiritual Assembly will be the honored guest speakers on this special 25th anniversary occasion. Many other surprises are being planned, to be announced later. A unique exhibition hall features Publishing Trust bookstore, Bahá’í publishers and suppliers, National Committee booths, Bahá’í artists and artisans.

Classrooms: Most adult sessions in central meeting hall. During optional sessions, classes meet in 10-12 smaller classrooms spread over grounds in nearby buildings. Nursery, outstanding children’s classes, pre-youth and youth classes also in nearby buildings.

Accommodations: All accommodations in the quiet seclusion of the American Baptist Assembly grounds. Wide variety available from primitive to deluxe camp sites; inexpensive dorms and rooms for 1-4, cottages and cabins with cooking facilities, hotel rooms in a classic and homey 81-room lakefront hotel, large luxury homes. Meals served cafeteria style on site. Overnight guests must take meal plan unless there are cooking facilities at accommodations (house, cabin, cottage, camp site). Day guests may buy meal tickets, use snack bar, use picnic area or restaurants off grounds. Vegetarian and special diets can be accommodated with advance arrangements.

Recreation: All recreational facilities are within the gates of site. Acres of serene meadows and woodlands with freely roaming deer and wildlife. Indoor swimming pool, bicycling, boating, fishing, tennis, golf, and miles of nature trails that are ideal for photographs.

Pre-register: All registration inquiries should be directed to the American Baptist Assembly, Green Lake, WI 54941. 414-294-3323.

Rates: To figure conference costs, add these three items: 1. Conference fees (overnight children, infant-11, $3.50; overnight adults, 12-older, $6.25; day guest children, infant-11, $3; day guest adults, 12-older, $5. Day guests will also be charged $2.50 a day by the American Baptist Assembly.) 2. Accommodation rates (tots 5 and under, $5 per night, all rooms; for everyone ages 6 to adult, the following apply: dormitory style room, central bath, $8-12; rooms with semi-private bath, 3-2-1 per room, $14-$26; rooms with private bath, 4-3-2-1 per room, $12-$38; limited number of campsites, cabins, cottages and large luxury homes available. Contact ABA directly for availability and costs.) 3. Meal costs (children through age 5, no charge; children 6-11, breakfast $2, lunch $2.95, dinner $3.75; adults 12 - older, breakfast $3.50, lunch $4.50, dinner $5.85).

GREEN LAKE CENTER RESERVATION (one per family)
Mail to Reservations and make check payable to American Baptist Assembly — Green Lake, WI 54941
Advance Deposit — Room: 1 Day Room Charge. Housekeeping/Camping, ½ total charge.
LAST NAME __________________________________________________________________
Age if under 18 | Title Mr. Mrs. Rev. etc | Conference Attending
| |
| |
| |
I plan to room with ________________________________________________________________
I desire single occupancy ___________________________________________________________
If not checked, a roommate may be assigned.
Arriving by Car ____ Public Transportation ____
If using public transportation please give Date, Time, City and Place to be met if known, otherwise send when finalized.
Confirmation
Address ____________________________________________________________________
City & State _________________________________________________ Zip ___________
Telephone __________________________________________________________________
Arrival date ____________ Cycle Time __ AM PM | (v) | $$ Before Breakfast
Departure date __________ Cycle Time __ AM PM | (v) |
FRIDAY DINNER — NO. ATTENDING _______

GREEN LAKE BAHÁ’Í CONFERENCE Pre-Registration for Children’s Classes
CHILD’S BAHÁ’Í EXPERIENCES: _________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
PLEASE LIST ANY SPECIAL MEDICAL OR DIET RESTRICTIONS:
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
SAT. AFTERNOON _______
Send form directly to Jo Welter, Madison WI, 53703.
Children 4–10 must pre-register

[Page 15]

IYY: Challenge, opportunity for Bahá’í youth

“You are already engaged in the thrust of the Seven Year Plan, which provides the framework for any further course of action you may now be moved by this new opportunity to adopt. International Youth Year will fall within the Plan’s next phase; thus the activities you will undertake, and for which you will wish to prepare even now, cannot but enhance your contributions to the vitality of that Plan, while at the same time aiding the proceedings of the Youth Year. Let there be no delay, then, in the vigour of your response.”—The Universal House of Justice, letter to the Bahá’í youth of the world, January 3, 1984

Background

In 1979, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 1985 as International Youth Year (IYY) and selected as its theme the triple emphasis of “Participation, Development and Peace.”

The Universal House of Justice, in its message of January 3 to the Bahá’í youth of the world, has referred to this commemorative year as an apt, exciting and portentous opportunity for youth to “enlarge the scope of your endeavors in precisely that arena of action in which you strive so conscientiously to distinguish yourself.”

The Bahá’í youth of the U.S. hold a key position in the international scope of IYY ’85. Not only do we have unparalleled freedom to serve the Faith, but we have also at our disposal plenteous resources, boundless energy and a vital measure of support and inspiration from Bahá’í institutions at all levels.

The Bahá’í response

In the spring of 1983, the Bahá’í National Youth Committee appointed a task force of youth to propose our national and local response to International Youth Year 1985.

Acting on the advice of this dedicated group, a plan of action was developed by the committee which was subsequently approved by the National Spiritual Assembly.

This plan of action has been designed to tap the abundant zeal and enthusiasm of American Bahá’í youth and young adults and to channel these energies into deeds of service to mankind—deeds that will exemplify the high standards of the Faith and serve as well to put the Faith before the public.

The activities which will serve as the Bahá’í response to International Youth Year are two-fold in nature:

On a national scale

Bahá’í youth are called upon to support “The Tree Project,” a campaign with a minimum goal to plant 20,000 trees in memory of the early martyrs of the Faith.

This important effort will tie the Bahá’í youth into a world-wide reforestation campaign that involves tree planting by youth during International Youth Year. The Tree Project is a program adopted by non-governmental organizations, including the Bahá’í International Community, and was also adopted by the UN General Assembly.

In order for the American Bahá’í youth to achieve the objective of planting 20,000 trees, all youth clubs and committees and every individual youth must participate in The Tree Project.

Another national observance of International Youth Year 1985 will be the holding of a Continental Youth Conference hosted by the American Bahá’í community during the summer of 1985. The site will be the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, and the program will be held from July 3-7.

The theme, “YOUth Can Move the World,” was excerpted from the message of the Universal House of Justice dated January 3, 1984. This program promises to attract Bahá’ís from throughout North America as well as from other continents, and will feature many noted Bahá’í speakers along with a full range of workshop topics of special interest to youth and young adults.

To complement these national programs, the National Youth Committee has decided to organize contests that will allow for scholarly and artistic expressions of both The Tree Project and the theme “YOUth Can Move the World.”

In addition, a national celebration of International Youth Year Day is to be planned which will involve Bahá’í participation at all levels of the national community.

On a local level

A major emphasis of the Bahá’í observance of International Youth Year stems from the grass-roots level. In addition to planting trees in the local community, youth are asked to implement service programs that address local needs.

In consultation with Local Spiritual Assemblies, youth groups and clubs as well as individual youth are to identify target groups in the public sector that can be served. Whether this service is directed toward the aged, the child or the refugee, the service should be meaningful and should demonstrate the dedication of Bahá’í youth to upraising the quality of human life.

To underscore recent directives to develop close relationships with those in authority and leaders of thought, the National Youth Committee is calling on all Local Youth Clubs to work with government agencies (i.e., city or county councils, office of the mayor, etc.) in developing public programs for International Youth Year. This process will afford Bahá’í youth an opportunity to be in the forefront of planning and implementing meaningful celebrations of IYY ’85.

The National Youth Plan for the final phase of the Seven Year Plan has been launched in conjunction with the early observance of International Youth Year. The Plan directs the American youth to:

• Participate, at all levels, in the observance of International Youth Year 1985, through support of local and national service and proclamation programs.
• Provide 19 youth to serve for year-long development, service and teaching programs, both domestically and abroad, in observance of International Youth Year 1985.
• Concentrate on being of service, with a commitment to the observance of International Youth Year 1985.

Wholehearted support

If these vast undertakings are to be successful, the commitment of the individual Bahá’í youth and young adult is primary. The observance of International Youth Year 1985 offers us a priceless opportunity to apply, through our deeds, the Healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

Each of us must arise to carry out these objectives with vigor and enthusiasm. The family has a key role to play in this special year of activities as well. A unified response to the objectives of the Bahá’í program for IYY 1985 can only serve to distinguish the Faith in the eyes of the public.

Finally, if these objectives are to be successfully achieved, support from the Local Spiritual Assembly will be required. Loving guidance and support from these “potent sources of the progress of man” will assuredly enhance all our efforts, be they small or large.

Archives seeking Guardian’s letters to early believers

The National Bahá’í Archives Committee is trying to locate original letters from the Guardian to the following individuals:

Mrs. H.W. Birins, Ralph C. Browne, Helen Campbell, Dorothy Dent Dopieralska, Walter Guy and Bertha Harmon.

The originals or photocopies of these letters are needed by the Universal House of Justice in its efforts to study and compile the letters of the Guardian.

Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of these letters is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

New from BellwoodPress

a tale of mystery, fantasy, and reality for children 8 to 80

FLY AWAY HOME

written by STEVEN BRET BRENEMAN illustrated by CAROL JOY

three worlds—of the unruly hawks and crows, of the gentle Eva and Reed, and of the seeking sparrows and ladybug—merge into one pervaded by the mysterious presence of a nightingale who shows how one can fly away home into a fantasy that is reality

74 pages 5½ x 8¼ inches $4.50* Softcover Cat. No. 353-021

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 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.

BRILLIANT STAR magazine has a constant need for good illustrators. We need people who are skilled in portraying with sensitivity and their own personal flair a variety of racial and ethnic minorities. Please send photocopies (5-10) to Rita Leydon, art director, Brilliant Star, Lahaska, PA 18931.

LESOTHO, in southern Africa, has several openings in education from high school to university positions. Teachers are needed for math, geography, economics, biology and the sciences. There are also job opportunities for a systems analyst to develop and maintain computer systems for business applications, and a few accounting positions in business and education. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

HOMEFRONT pioneer needed to fill job in goal area in Kansas. Position available for someone to take care of a handicapped man. Some salary plus room and board. This non-Bahá’í gentleman and his family have requested that a Bahá’í fill this position. If interested, please phone the National Teaching Committee immediately at 312-869-9039, ext. 235.

DIRECTOR of finance is needed for the city of Unalaska, a seafood processing community in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Qualifications include at least 10 years of financial management experience with at least five in a city or borough government; an accounting degree; extensive knowledge of fund accounting and government budgeting practices; and excellent oral and written communication skills. Salary range is $45,587 to $52,247 to start plus a liberal fringe benefits package. For more information contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or telephone 312-869-9039.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives would like to contact relatives of William Dodge about the Dodge family papers. William Dodge, a long-time member of the Bahá’í community of New York City, died in 1973 in Bluepoint, New York. Anyone having information about his relatives is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

BETTER yet Connecticut! Planning to vacation in Connecticut this summer? Have a few hours you’d be willing to spare for traveling teaching? If so, please write to the District Teaching Committee secretary, Mrs. Sharon Ramsharran, Hartford, CT 06120, or phone (mornings or evenings) 203-247-7550.

LARGE six-bedroom house for rent or sale ($32,000 or $270/mo.) to prospective Bahá’í homefront pioneers to Hume, New York, the birthplace of Lua Getsinger in the lovely hills of Allegany County. In the village of Fillmore (pop. 650) there are a bank, public library, supermarket, pharmacy, hardware store, Fillmore Central school, a health clinic with three doctors only three miles away, and various other services. Employment opportunities are available in health care, teaching, social work, farming and small business. A private college is only four miles away, and there are four other universities within an hour’s drive of Fillmore. The present pioneers there are leaving to help save an Assembly and would like to see the five years of “seed-sowing” continued. There are presently four adult Bahá’ís in Allegany County. Write to Richard and Brenda Snyder, Fillmore, NY 14735, or phone 716-567-2325.

PIONEERS to Sierra Leone, West Africa, need a set of “Star Study Program” booklets, which are no longer available from the Publishing Trust here. If you have a complete set which you no longer need, please send it to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, so that we can forward it to our beloved pioneers.

I AM gathering information about Zoroaster. If anyone would like to contribute items, from any source, they would be much appreciated. Has anyone seen reference to predictions by Zoroaster about the coming of the religion of the Arabian Prophet, which would be followed in time by the appearance of two more Prophets from His native land, Persia? Please contact Mark Townsend, Garden City, KS 67846.

“FREE and Low-Cost Broadcast Time”—that’s the theme of a new media guidelines booklet in preparation. If you’ve had experience getting a radio or TV program on the air free or for little money, please jot down your story and RUSH it to Mrs. Ann Jorgensen, Albrook, ‎Republica República‎ de Panama. Many Bahá’í communities around the world will be grateful for your help! Please include your name and address. Thanks from CIRBAL Mass Media Centre.

IF YOU like avocados, have we got an orchard for you! You can grow them, keep horses, and generally enjoy the good life in Fallbrook, California, where an Assembly needs to be restored. ‎Its It’s‎ right next door to Lawrence Welk Village in scenic Southern California, has an ideal climate, and is near the mountains and ocean. Please contact the District Teaching Committee of Southern California No. 4, Carlsbad, CA 92008.

EVER dream of serving hundreds of your fellow Bahá’ís in a special way? Such an opportunity exists at the largest annually attended Bahá’í conference in the U.S. Wonder how? Contact Ian Bamber, secretary, Green Lake Planning Committee, Marinette, WI 54143, or phone 715-735-9075. It’s a rare opportunity to serve so many, and enjoy it at the same time.

SIMON’S ROCK College in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, offers a unique opportunity for high school or private school students to enter college one or two years early. It is a small, rural liberal arts college offering both A.A. and B.A. programs and has a good academic reputation. There are two Bahá’ís there who would love to have more devoted believers to help build a community. Teaching is unique—more than 10 per cent (30) of the student body attended the first fireside. To hear more, write to Alex Blake, Simon’s Rock College, Great Barrington, MA 01230, or phone 413-528-9734. For school catalogs or information, write to the Admissions Office (same address).

TEACHING jobs in Colombia are relatively easy to obtain if one has a college degree or a teaching certificate. There are about eight American schools in Colombia, all of which pay well and often provide a housing allowance. English teachers are especially needed, usually requiring at least a BA in English. If you are a teacher and would like to help fill this goal of the Seven Year Plan, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

SPIRITUAL Mothering Journal, a journal for mothers and fathers, is seeking an individual or group interested in becoming editor and staff of the journal starting in January 1985. Responsibilities include coordinating articles, selecting themes, editing, production, advertising, subscriptions, and distribution. Despite attempts to end the journal, it

Essential to Our Progress National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

See ADS Page 27

SPECIAL GIFTS

Detach or copy this form for special gifts to the National Bahá’í Fund in honor or in memory of another.

IN HONOR	And if, at any time, any gift were presented to Him, that gift was accepted as a token of His grace unto him that offered it. —Bahá’u’lláh
Name of Individual Honored: ____________________
Honor gift card sent to: ____________________ Name
Street Address ____________________
City ____________________	State __________ Zip __________
Occasion (optional): ____________________ Examples: Birthday, Graduation, Marriage, Anniversary, Bahá’í declaration or anniversary, Pioneering move, Firesides given, Hospitality, Services rendered, Contributions to other Funds, etc.
Name of contributor(s) making gift: ____________________	ID Number(s) ____________________

IN MEMORY	The progress of man’s spirit in the divine world, after the severance of its connection with the body of dust, is through the bounty and grace of the Lord alone, or through the intercession and sincere prayers of other human souls, or through the charities and important good works which are performed in its name. —‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Name of Individual Deceased: ____________________
Memorial gift card sent to: ____________________ Name
Street Address ____________________
City ____________________	State __________ Zip __________
Name of contributor(s) making gift: ____________________	ID Number(s) ____________________

NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í FUND [Page 17]More than 60 children and 25 parents from 10 Bahá’í communities attended a recent session of the Portland, Oregon, Bahá’í Metro children’s classes. Shown are several of the children who are saying prayers before their class.

Pictured with Dr. Walter White (center), the current chaplain of the Chapel of Four Chaplains at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are four Bahá’ís who were honored for humanitarian service during a recent observance at the chapel. They are (left to right) Prudence Mason Runyan, Donald Camp, Rita Leydon and Robert Atkinson.

Goals

Continued From Page 6

bean islanders.

Dialects and vocal intonations used by Caymanians have puzzled linguists, but you should have no difficulty communicating with them. Their speech is a mixture of American southern drawl and English slur, with a Scottish lilt to end a statement, all combined to be charming.

Anguilla (1 pioneer). This is one of the islands under the National Spiritual Assembly of the Leeward Islands. It is an Associated State within the British Commonwealth, with an executive council under the Queen.

The small, flat coral-limestone island of some 22,400 acres is 70 miles north of St. Kitts.

There are no cities, only villages, and few stores. Retirement homes that can be rented by outsiders are being built by Anguillans, most of whom are transient, traveling back and forth to St. Maarten often. This is not a tourist island.

Anguillans are among the world’s best boat-builders. Their chief exports are salt and lobsters. There are no lakes on Anguilla, but there are lovely beaches.

The island has four health care centers, with emphasis on prenatal and postnatal care, child welfare, and family planning. Two medical officers and one dental surgeon live there. Primary and secondary schools are available.

Montserrat (1 pioneer). This is the second island under the National Spiritual Assembly of the Leeward Islands for which the U.S. has been given a pioneer goal. It is also an Associated State of Great Britain.

To get there, one must fly three and one-half hours from New York to Antigua, and 15 minutes from Antigua to Montserrat.

Iranians are welcome, especially if they have British travel documents. Employment is hard to find, but there is a need for doctors at the medical school. Teachers and others with skills that local people do not have are needed. Businesses must have native partners.

The authorities are quite positive toward the Faith, and the people are attracted to unity but are strongly fundamentalist Christian. There are 10 to 15 active Bahá’ís on the island.

There is a small tourist trade. Housing is $200 to $300 a month U.S. and food is expensive. The government is encouraging hotel investors. To this end, it has obtained an aircraft which provides supplementary services in and out of Montserrat and guarantees speedy connections to the island.

Radio Antilles provides a commercial broadcasting service in English, French and Spanish while Radio Montserrat is a local government-operated station.

A medical school and a technical school are there. The medical facilities are adequate, with a new hospital. Children who graduate from the local schools can transfer quite readily to U.S. colleges.

Because of differing sexual mores, it is best that women avoid teaching men, and vice versa, because intentions might be misconstrued. Dress, although casual, is more conservative than on some other islands.

Montserrat is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. Tourist visas are good for 3-6 months, and residence visas are available after two years with property ownership, or seven years with an independent income.

St. Lucia (1 pioneer). St. Lucia has its own National Spiritual Assembly. It is one of a chain of volcanic islands with steep hills and interior rain forests. It is 27 miles long and 14 miles wide.

A simple lifestyle is possible in comfortable, well-constructed and furnished houses. Mature couples, single men, single women with companions (never alone), and those with independent incomes are welcome.

The island is predominantly Roman Catholic. The Bahá’í community numbers about 1,400 with 27 Assemblies. It needs consolidation and deepening so that the St. Lucians will arise and teach.

Ruhi Institute materials are being used more and more, and anyone who is familiar with their use would be welcome.

Teachers may find jobs in elementary, high school, or technical school if they arrive in early summer and submit applications for the fall semester. Otherwise, jobs are practically non-existent, even for St. Lucians.

Other possibilities are U.S. AID and the Peace Corps, or apply after arriving for jobs with medical, social services professions in government. It could take six months to a year to find a job.

Investment is encouraged for any business or industry that would provide nationals with employment and would reduce reliance on imports.

Housing is plentiful and inexpensive, depending on whether you are satisfied with modest accommodations and no luxuries.

St. Lucia is a two and one-half hour flight from Miami. There is good local public transport at reasonable cost. The languages are English and Patois (French Creole).

St. Vincent (2 pioneers). This island also has its own National Spiritual Assembly.

St. Vincent is one of the poorer islands in the Windward chain, but if one is on the island and has the requisite skills, work is relatively easier to find than on other islands.

Medical specialists, teachers, agriculturists, nutritionists, and lab technicians are needed. There are also many investment possibilities.

Export businesses might work, and Iranians have had no problems, but they must apply for visas before leaving the U.S. Single women should not go alone, but single men are acceptable.

Formerly a British colony, St. Vincent is now a democracy with a parliamentary government. It is tropical, with a volcano to climb, and has abundant fruits and vegetables as well as many mosquitos.

Rent for a two-bedroom house is $150-$200 a month, and a teacher’s income may be $300 a month. Food costs $50-$60 a month, not including meat but including coffee and other such luxuries.

There are 1,000 Bahá’ís on the rolls, but not all are active. The Minister of Foreign Affairs lives next door to a family of pioneers, has read “Call to the Nations,” and is supportive. Some people are receptive and eager, others are closed to teaching efforts.

Numerous mini-buses provide relatively inexpensive transportation to most parts of St. Vincent. New Japanese cars are plentiful at reasonable prices.

If you’ll write to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039, you will be given more complete information and individualized consultation regarding whether you and your family might do well in one of these goal islands.

Bahá’ís sweep Texas dulcimer contest

Bahá’ís took first place in all three state championship contests at the third annual Lone Star State Dulcimer Festival held May 11-13 in Glen Rose, Texas.

Enayat Ziaie of Euless won first place in the hammer dulcimer competition; Steve Smith of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was the winner in the mountain dulcimer competition; and Mr. Smith and his wife, Jean, won top honors in the dulcimer ensemble contest.

Mr. Ziaie, a Persian Bahá’í who has been in the U.S. for about 10 years, fascinated the judges by playing traditional Persian music on a santour which he had built.

Since the santour is an ancestor of the hammer dulcimer, differing only in the tuning, he was allowed to enter the contest, and won a trophy, cash, a new hammer dulcimer and paid entry into the National Hammer Dulcimer Competition.

Mr. Smith, who won first place last year in the Texas and Southern Regional hammer dulcimer contests and placed second in the national competition, this year entered and won on a mountain dulcimer, a traditional American instrument that is strummed, picked or plucked while held in one’s lap.

He won a trophy, cash, a new mountain dulcimer, and paid entry into the National Mountain Dulcimer Competition.

Mrs. Smith, who joined her husband in the ensemble competition, plays both hammer and mountain dulcimer, and also sings.

Although Mr. Ziaie and the Smiths have performed many times in their own states, they met for the first time at the Texas festival and had ample opportunity to teach the Faith during the weekend.

Next on the agenda is the national competition in September where Mr. Ziaie, Mr. Smith and possibly Mrs. Smith will compete in hammer dulcimer, and Mr. Smith will enter the mountain dulcimer competition as well. [Page 18]

مستدعیات لجنه ملی امور احبای ایرانی

۱ - لجنه ملی امور احبای ایرانی از دوستان گرامی که از ابتدای سال ۱۹۸۳ با استفاده از ویزای پناهندگی Refugee Visa وارد آمریکا شده‌اند تمنا مینماید در اسرع وقت نام و نشانی خود و همراهان و نحوه تحصیل ویزای پناهندگی را به دفتر این لجنه اطلاع دهند. این اطلاعات برای تهیه گزارشهای احصائی مورد نیاز است.

۲ - چنانکه در گذشته نیز باستحضار یاران رسیده است دفتر لجنه ملی امور احبای ایرانی مجموعه‌ای از عکسها و مدارک مربوط به وقایع اخیر ایران و صدمات وارده بر یاران آن سامان تهیه نموده است. بالاخص عکسها و نامه‌ها و اسناد مربوط به شهدای عزیز مورد لزوم است. از دوستان و منسوبین شهداء و کلیه کسانی که چنین مدارکی را در اختیار دارند تمنا می‌شود آن مدارک را ‎بمانت بامانت‎ در اختیار لجنه قرار دهند. پس از تهیه نسخی برای مجموعه این لجنه اصل عکسها و مدارک به صاحبانش مسترد خواهد شد.

۳ - احبای الهی مطلعند که کلیه مکاتبات و امور اداری جامعه بهائی و از آنجمله مکاتبات و بایگانی‌های دارالانشاء محفل روحانی ملی به زبان انگلیسی اداره می‌شود. هر وقت نامه‌ای با گزارشی به زبان فارسی به دارالانشاء محفل مقدس ملی میرسد ناچار به دفتر امور احبای ایرانی ارجاع میشود که به انگلیسی ترجمه شده به دفتر محفل ملی یا به دائره مربوطه ارسال گردد. متأسفانه حجم کار و اشتغالات دفتر امور احبای ایرانی بحدی است که در بسیاری از موارد رسیدگی به مراجعاتی که بزبان فارسی نوشته شده بتعویق میافتد. ضمن عرض معذرت از این تأخیر که ناشی از قلت امکانات دفتر مذکور است از یاران روحانی استدعا میشود حتی الامکان مکاتبات خود را بزبان انگلیسی مرقوم فرمایند. این همکاری نه تنها از تراکم کار دفتر امور احبای ایرانی جلوگیری مینماید بلکه موجب تسریع در انجام مراجعات دوستان نیز خواهد شد.

۴ - در بین احبائی که از ایران آواره شده در ممالک مختلف سرگردانند شایع شده که هر کس بعنوان پناهنده وارد آمریکا شود ماهانه مبلغ قابل توجهی از دولت دریافت مینماید. این شایعه بی اساس موجب گشته که حتی یارانی که امکان اسکان در سایر ممالک را دارند عزم آمریکا نمایند. اگرچه در ابتدای ورود کمکهای ناچیز و موقتی به پناهندگان میشود ولکن محفل مقدس روحانی ملی ترجیح میدهند مگر در موارد اضطراری از این کمکها استفاده نشود تا شهرت جامعه محفوظ ماند و امکانات فعلی برای ورود احبای عزیز بصورت پناهنده مجدداً محدود نگردد.

۲ تا ۶ می ۱۹۸۴

ایادی محبوب امرالله حضرت امة‌البهاء روحیه خانم پس از حضور در اولین انجمن شور روحانی ملی و تأسیس محفل مقدس روحانی ملی در جزائر آندامان در اقیانوس هند در دوم ماه می ۱۹۸۴ (دوازدهم عید اعظم رضوان) در حالیکه سرکار ویولت خانم نخجوانی ایشانرا همراهی میکردند سرزمین تاریخی سیام را بقدوم مبارکشان مزین و مفتخر فرمودند. در فرودگاه بانکوک مراسم استقبال رسمی بعمل آمد و حضرت امة‌البهاء و همراهان از هواپیما با اتومبیل مخصوصی به تالار پذیرائی از مسافران مخصوص و مهم راهنمائی شدند. در سالن مزبور اعضای محفل مقدس روحانی ملی تایلند و محفل روحانی بهائیان بانکوک و هیئت‌های معاونت و جمعی از احباء از مهمان عالیقدر استقبال نمودند و حلقه‌های گل برسم تایلند از طرف محفلین حضورشان تقدیم گردید. حضرت امة‌البهاء مستقبلین را مورد عنایت قرار داده دقایقی چند در تالار مذکور با یاران الهی به گفتگو پرداختند و شرح مختصری از اسفار قبلی به بانکوک بیان فرمودند و سپس عازم "امباسادور هتل" محل اقامتشان گردیدند.

غروب روز ۴ می بدعوت جمعی از احبای بانکوک حضرت امة‌البهاء در مراسم شامی که ترتیب داده شده بود شرکت فرمودند و از صنایع دستی و آثار باستانی و رقص‌ها و موسیقی و آوازهای ملی تایلند بازدید بعمل آوردند. روز ۵ می ابتدا در حظیرة‌القدس ملی در اجتماع والدین بهائی که اطفال خود را از اطراف و اکناف مملکت برای زیارتشان آورده بودند شرکت جستند. تالار حظیرة‌القدس برای تشریف فرمائی مهمان عزیز و والامقام تزئین و گل آرائی شده بود. حضرت امة‌البهاء پس از ملاحظه برنامه‌ای که کودکان بهائی ترتیب داده بودند به سئوالات والدین پاسخ عنایت فرمودند و سپس در باغچه حظیرة‌القدس با نونهالان بهائی عکسهای یادگاری برداشته شد.

ظهر روز ۴ می حضرت امة‌البهاء در جلسه ناهار اعضای محفل روحانی ملی و هیئت‌های معاونت حضور داشتند و در مسائل مختلف امری مخصوصاً اهداف مرحله نهائی نقشه هفت ساله مشورت بعمل آمد. غروب همانروز جلسه مصاحبه مطبوعاتی تشکیل گردید و حضرت امة‌البهاء به سئوالات مخبرین جراید پاسخ عنایت فرمودند. مصاحبه مزبور منجر به درج مقاله بسیار جامعی در جریده کثیرالانتشار تایلند گردید.

با انتشار خبر تشریف فرمائی حضرت امة‌البهاء احباء و مهاجرین از نقاط مختلف تایلند به بانکوک آمده بودند از جمله جمعی از احبای روستائی از شمال شرقی تایلند مشتاقانه جهت زیارت ایشان به بانکوک سفر کرده بودند. شب ۶ می که آخرین شب اقامت حضرت امة‌البهاء در بانکوک بود احباء و مسافرین در تالار هتل اجتماع کردند و ورود حضرت امة‌البهاء را با تقدیم حلقه‌های گل و سرود الله ابهی خیر مقدم عرض کردند یکی از خانمهای تایلندی با لباسهای مخصوص سنتی رقص معروف "خوش آمدید" را اجرا کرد و برگهای گل سرخ نثار مقدم مبارک نمود. حضرت امة‌البهاء نطق مفصل و مؤثری در وظائف اهل بهاء مخصوصاً در سالهای نهائی نقشه ایراد فرمودند و به سئوالات حاضران جواب عنایت فرمودند. قسمتی از بیاناتشان راهنمائی در نحوه تبلیغ امرالله و استفاده از فرصت موجود برای اعلاء کلمة‌الله بود.

صبح روز ششم می حضرت امة‌البهاء و ویولت خانم نخجوانی به فرودگاه آمدند و در تالار پذیرائی مهمانان عالیقدر در اجتماع احباء حاضر شدند. احبای تایلند و اطفالشان برای مشایعت و بدرقه جمع شده بودند. متجاوز از یکساعت حضرت امة‌البهاء در نهایت لطف و بشاشت به سئوالات و تقاضاهای فرد فرد احباء از بزرگ و کوچک توجه فرموده جواب عنایت میفرمودند. احبای لائوسی ساکن اردوگاه پناهندگان لائوسی بسته‌ای حاوی کارهای دستی از جمله قطعات اسم اعظم برای تقدیم به حضور حضرت امة‌البهاء فرستاده بودند. احبای روستائی بعضی نقاط دوردست نیز هدایای یادگاری فرستاده بودند که تقدیم حضور مهمان عزیز و بزرگوار گردید. اجتماع خانواده‌های بهائی در فرودگاه و روحانیت و شور و اشتیاقی که در آن محفل روحانی و نورانی موجود بود اولیاء فرودگاه را بشدت تحت تأثیر قرار داده بود. حضرت امة‌البهاء صبح روز ششم می بانکوک را بمقصد ‎پئول سئول‎ پایتخت کره ترک فرمودند.

در فاصله دو هفته‌ای که از این سفر معجز اثر میگذرد برای اولین بار موفقیتهای تبلیغی پی در پی در نقاط مختلف نصیب گردیده و آثار قدسیه انفاس روحانیه آن ایادی عزیز امرالله مشهود و آشکار شده از جمله در دو دانشگاه بزرگ بانکوک برای اولین بار استقبال شدیدی از دانشجویان ظاهر گردید و تا بحال متجاوز از بیست نفر از دانشجویان بصرافت طبع برای تسجیل و عضویت در جامعه بهائی مراجعه نموده‌اند و این هنوز "از نتایج سحر است".

اعلان

یکی از احبای آمریکائی در صدد تهیه کتابی در شرح حیات حضرت ورقه مبارکه علیا میباشد و در این مورد احتیاج به همکاری افرادی دارد که حتی برای یکبار به حضور ایشان مشرف شده باشند. اگر شما خود به حضور ایشان مشرف شده‌اید و یا افرادی را میشناسید که این افتخار نصیبشان شده است لطفاً با آدرس ذیل مکاتبه و در جمع‌آوری مطالب با این نویسنده جوان همکاری فرمائید.

Diane Taherzadeh

Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197 [Page 19]

جانبازان راه حق

دل قوی دار که این شام سحر خواهد شد قصه غصه ما نیز بسر خواهد شد گشت افسانه فرهاد دگر بازیچه عشق یاران بهاء فخر و ثمر خواهد شد کاروان شهداء راه بقا پیش گرفت شیدرخ بین که امیر است و سفر خواهد شد حشمت و جاه سلیمان به خدا افسانه است حشمت‌الله کنون صاحب‌فر خواهد شد کورس از فخر بشاهی و امیری می‌کرد کورس ما چو طلا و چو گهر خواهد شد شعر و افسانه فردوسی بس کهنه شده‌ است زانکه فردوسی ما فخر بشر خواهد شد خسرو از کوس بزرگی و شهنشاهی کوفت خسرو اهل بهاء تاج بسر خواهد شد تاج عشق رخ جانان و فداکاری و مهر که به آئین بهاء فخر و هنر خواهد شد صوت و آوازه داود خوش است خاموش زانکه داودی داود اثر خواهد شد ز موحد چه بگویم که بحار علمش بس خروشنده‌تر از بحر خزر خواهد شد به کمالات خوش و بخت نکویش سوگند کتیبه‌ای‌ست ‎بسفن به فن‎ و هنر خواهد شد قائلانش که کنون سر ز دو پا بشناسند سهمشان آتش و در قعر سقر خواهد شد خون محمودی و زینوس جهان را لرزاند نام مجذوب سر آغاز سفر خواهد شد کامران همسفر روشنی و روحانی است این سفر خود سبب شور و شرر خواهد شد عزت‌الله فروهی دو عزیزی عزیز خونشان برثمر و نیک اثر خواهد شد مکتب امر بهاء بین که چو مهدی پرورد چون امین است امین صد ‎صرر ضرر‎ خواهد شد آنکه شیوای بهاء بود به خوبان پیوست رخ برافروخته و شیفته‌فر خواهد شد یاوری یاور یاران بهاء گشت شهید داغ او سوز دل و خون جگر خواهد شد روحی روشنی از مخزن گیتی بگرفت ملکوتش پس از این جا و مقر خواهد شد آنکه راهش ره رحمانی ابراهیم است برکشود و همه افراخته‌بر خواهد شد آنکه تسلیم رضای دل جانانه شده راه او ره سپر اهل خطر خواهد شد قائم راه فدا گشت منوهر از عشق آه، پروانه صفت سوخته پر خواهد شد نادری نام عزیزش به بهاء منسوب‌ است قدرش را هر اهل نظر خواهد شد این دگر کام ز صهبای خوش وصل گرفت صادقانه شد و صدقش به ثمر خواهد شد آه از یوسف دوران که شمیم خوش او هادی و حامی هر راهگذر خواهد شد

چون قدیم است وفایش بتعالم بهاء نام او زینت هر خانه و در خواهد شد شد نجمی منجی یاران خدا همچو حسین صدر اسلام دگر هجر و هدر خواهد شد و اندک قرب بهاء جست و عطای رویش در سپاهش سر و جان داد و شرر خواهد شد چه مسیحا نفسی بود و مسیحانه برفت آنکه پاینده بفرهنگ بشر خواهد شد این یکی یوسف و نامش صفت عهد بهاء است نام عباس و را افسر سر خواهد شد ز شهیدان بهاء آنکه بدیع است و فرید بدر علمش بجهان کهنه شجر خواهد شد وای فرهنگ مودت شد از این کهنه سرا که بفرهنگ جهان مد نظر خواهد شد هاشما فر تو افسانه ‎نبوّ نبی‎ و نو است خون تو قوّه این تازه شجر خواهد شد یاد از خلق و سجایای بزرگ علوی با بهاء در سفر و هم به حضر خواهد شد شد منوهر حکیمانه شهید دوران آنکه خاکش بس از این کحل بصر خواهد شد چون شهیدی ز وفا تاج شهادت بر بود کاتب وحی خدا گشت و ‎فتر فخر‎ خواهد شد خاک انگیخته در چشم عدو می‌گردد شمع افروخته در راه سفر خواهد شد خاطر و یاد شهیدان دل و جان بگدازد دلم از حسرت و غم تار و کدر خواهد شد ملجأ و مأمن ما محکمه عدل خداست قصه ها ‎موسم مونس‎ و شعر و ‎شحر سحر‎ خواهد شد یک بیک غصه ظلم و ستم بی دینان که به عشاق بهاء رفت شمر خواهد شد حق ز ظلم احدی نگذرد و نگذارد حق این جور و ستمها به قدر خواهد شد خون پاک شهدا امر بهاء را پرورد دشمن از حسرت خود پس به ‎حسر حسرت‎ خواهد شد حق بفرموده خود مُهر تحقق زده است منزل و مأوی او قلب بشر خواهد شد نوبت هلهله و شادی ما نزدیک است ریشه ظلم و ستم زیر و زبر خواهد شد ستم و ظلم نپاید که وحدت آید بشر از پستی و عدوان به حذر خواهد شد وحدت نوع بشر دوستی و نیکدلی با تعالیم بهاء سهم بشر خواهد شد طاهره دل به بهاء بند و بیاران پیوند هر که جز راه بهاء رفت خسر خواهد شد عزیز ایران سروده شد طاهره فروغی خدا دوست ژانویه ۱۹۸۲

حقوق‌الله

در لوح سمندر از کلک اطهر نازل قوله تعالى : في الحقيقه امر حقوق‌الهی امر بزرگی است . بر جمیع ادای آن لازم . چه که اوست سبب نعمت و برکت و خیرات . و ما يكون مع كل نفس في كل عالم من عوالم ربها الغنی الكريم .

نشانی معاونین محترم امناء حقوق‌الله

Dr. Amin Banani Santa Monica, CA 90402

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

نشریه عندلیب

احبای عزیز ایرانی مقیم کشور آمریکا :

متجاوز از دو سال است که مجله‌ای بزبان فارسی در کشور کانادا تحت اشراف محفل مقدس روحانی ملی کانادا بنام "عندلیب" هر سه ماه یکبار منتشر میشود که حاوی الواح و آثار مبارکه بخط بسیار زیبا ، ترجمه پیامهای بیت العدل اعظم الهی ، شرح حال شهدای اخیر با عکس آنان ، اشعار ، مقالات تحقیقی ، اخبار و بشارات و بسیار مطالب دیگر میباشد .

مجله عندلیب پس از انتشار شماره اول مشمول عنایات بیت العدل اعظم الهی واقع و بموجب تلکس مورخ ۲۲ مارچ ۱۹۸۲ عنایات و توجهات معهد اعلی بشرح ذیل به خادمین مجله ابلاغ گردید :

"انتشار مجله فارسی عندلیب را تبریک گفته تحسین عمیق ما را بلحاظ چنین مجله سرشار از ذوق و بموقع و وزین بمسؤولین ابلاغ و با ‎دعیه ادعیه‎ ما اطمینان دهید . بیت العدل اعظم"

برای مزید اطلاع اعلام میدارد که مجله عندلیب تنها اختصاص بکشور کانادا نداشته بلکه در سراسر جهان احبای علاقمند ایرانی آنرا مشترک شده و مرتباً دریافت میدارند . حال با آغاز انتشار سال سوم آن هنوز بعضی از دوستان از وجود چنین نشریه‌ای اظهار بی‌اطلاعی نموده و به محض استحضار خواستار دریافت شماره‌های قبل نیز شده‌اند که مع‌الاسف طبق اطلاع واصله از هیئت تحریریه بعضی از شماره‌های سالهای گذشته موجود نبوده تا برای دوستان مشتاق ارسال شود .

احبای عزیزی که مایل به اشتراک مجله هستند لطفاً نام و آدرس کامل خود را همراه با حق اشتراک که برای کشور آمریکا سالانه ۲۵ دلار و برای سایر کشورها ۳۰ دلار آمریکائی تعیین گردیده بآدرس زیر ارسال فرمایند تا مجله برای ایشان ارسال شود .

'ANDALIB' Thornhill, Ontario, Canada L3T 2A1

با رجای تأیید و توفیق کمیته محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان آمریکا [Page 20]

نهضت جوانان

بدعوت جناب فرزام ارباب و جناب فرد شکتر مشاورین قاره ای آمریکا ۳۵ نفر از جوانان بهائی آمریکا و کانادا روزهای ۲۳ و ۲۴ ماه می در مدرسه بهائی لوهلن مجتمع شدند و در خصوص تجدید حیات نهضت جوانان بهائی در آمریکای شمالی بمشاوره و مطالعه اساسی و عمیقی پرداختند. پیام منبع رضوان ۱۹۸۴ بیت العدل اعظم الهی خطاب به یاران سراسر عالم الهام بخش و نقطه نظرگاه جوانان در مطالعات و مذاکراتشان بود. معهذا علی در آن پیام جوانان بهائی را چنین مخاطب فرموده اند:

"جوانان بهائی که در حال حاضر نیز بخدماتی خالصانه و سرمشق آمیز در صف مقدم سپاه حیات و جنود نجات قائمند باید تشویق شوند که در ضمن اینکه به تجهیز خود برای خدمات آینده اشتغال دارند به طرح و اجرای نقشه های تبلیغی مخصوصی در بین اقران و همسالان خود اقدام کنند."

جوانان مجتمع در لوهلن پس از ساعتها شور و تبادل نظر طرح اجرائی پیشنهاد نمودند که مورد تأیید حضرات مشاورین و محافل ملیه آمریکا و کانادا واقع گردید. شخصیتی که جوانان طراحی نموده اند نقشه و برنامه جدیدی نیست بلکه تجدید حیات همان نهضت روحانی است که قلوب و ارواح مؤمنین و ‎باسلان باسلان‎ عهد رسولی را در ایران تسخیر نمود. در آن زمان ۲۰۰،۰۰۰ بهائی ببرکت فیوضات ساطعه حضرت رب‌اعلی و جمال اقدس ابهی به مقام رفیع شهادت رسیدند و فداکاریهای بیشماری در سبیل تقدم آئین نوزاد الهی نمودند که نتیجه روح اتحاد و اتفاق مؤمنین و ‎تمور تنویر‎ روشنی بود که از سرنوشت امرالله داشتند. جوانان آمریکای شمالی امروز در جستجوی همان روح و همان بینش قدم برمیدارند.

هدف اینست که نهضت جوانان در طول تابستان بر اثر مشارکت جوانان در طرحهای مختلف تبلیغی در سراسر کشور گسترش یابد و در مؤتمر بین المللی جوانان در کانادا بشارات فتوحات جوانان اعلام گردد. جوانان حاضر در لوهلن متعهد شده اند که تا تاریخ انعقاد مؤتمر جوانان اقلاً ۳۳۲ نفر مصدق جدید داشته باشند.

مؤتمر بین المللی جوانان از ۲۴ الی ۲۸ ماه اوت در دانشگاه آنتاریوی غربی، در شهر لندن در ایالت آنتاریو، تشکیل میشود و حضرت ایادی عزیز امرالله جناب علی اکبر فروتن و جناب فرزام ارباب مشاور قاره ای آمریکا میهمانان عالیقدر مؤتمر خواهند بود. برای ثبت نام ممکن است با لجنه ملی جوانان به نشانی زیر مکاتبه نمود.

Bahá’í National Youth Committee Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315 تلفن 462-1919-305

قطعنامه کنگره ایالات متحده در دفاع از احبای ایران

روز ۲۲ می ۱۹۸۴ مجلس نمایندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا قطعنامه شماره ۲۲۶ آن مجلس را تصویب کرد. این قطعنامه دولت ایران را مسئول حفظ و حمایت حقوق مدنی عموم اهل ایران از جمله بهائیان میداند. و همچنین حکم مورخ آگست ۱۹۸۳ را که فعالیتهای تشکیلاتی بهائی را در ایران جرم شناخته محکوم میکند و از ریاست جمهوری آمریکا دعوت مینماید که از طرق مقتضی در جهت تخفیف مصائب و بلایای وارده بر احبای ایران فعالیت کند.

این قطعنامه که طرح آن در کنگره با یکصد و چهلمین سالگرد تأسیس امرالهی در ایران مصادف بود ۲۰ روز پس از حضور نمایندگان جامعه بهائی در جلسه سوکمیسیون حقوق بشر مجلس برای تقدیم گزارشی از وضع یاران ایران بتصویب رسید. متن قطعنامه از جانب آقای جان پورتر نماینده ایالت ایلینوی تهیه شده بود و ۱۸۸ نفر دیگر از نمایندگان که اکثراً از اعضای فراکسیون حقوق بشر مجلسند آنرا تأیید کرده بودند.

آقای پورتر در آغاز سخنان خود گفتند که مقصد ما از این قطعنامه سه چیز است:

۱ - مسئول شناختن دولت ایران برای حفظ حقوق جمیع ملت ایران من جمله بهائیان. ۲ - محکوم کردن رأی دادستان کل انقلاب ایران مبنی بر غیرقانونی شناختن تشکیلات بهائی. ۳ - دعوت از رئیس جمهوری ایالات متحده به کوشش و همکاری با رؤسا و رهبران سایر دول در چارچوب سازمان ملل متحد و تشکیلات جهانی دیگر برای مراجعه به دولت ایران در دفاع از بهائیان آن کشور.

آقای پورتر در ضمن سخنان خود اظهار داشتند:

"در واقع ظلم و اعتساف ۱۴۰ ساله نسبت به بهائیان ایران، جامعه ای که از نفوس سلیم‌النفس و خیرخواه عالم بشری تشکیل شده است، جنایتی است علیه عالم انسان. در سال گذشته دادستان ایران رأی بر غیرقانونی بودن فعالیت های بهائی داد. در حقیقت این رای مانند قوانین نورمبرک زمینه قانونی برای دستگیری دست جمعی بهائیان ایران و قتل عام آنان فراهم میکند و در حقیقت حال ابتدای آن قتل عام است.

در پاسخ باین رأی دادستان کل ایران اولیای منتخب جامعه بهائی در ایران تمام تشکیلات خود را منحل کردند و دلیل آن را مأموریت بهائیان به اطاعت از حکومت اعلام داشتند. ولکن این اطاعت و تعطیل تشکیلات مانع از شکنجه و ظلم و اعتساف و اعدامهای بیشتر نشده است. امروز موقعیت ایران به آلمان سازی در زمان ارتقاء هیتلر ‎بمدارت بمراتب‎ عظمی شباهت دارد... باید عالم انسانی این رفتار را محکوم کند.

دنیا باید بداند در ایران چه میگذرد، و بایستی فشار بر افکار عمومی مردم متمدن به این اوضاع وحشیانه متوجه شود. ممکن است این قطعنامه بنفسها کاری از پیش نبرد ولی مردم جهان متّحداً بر علیه قتل عام اعضاء یک گروه با ‎امتقبام انتقام‎ نمایند میتوانند از آن قتل عام ممانعت کنند."

آقای پاترسن رئیس سوکمیسیون حقوق بشر اظهار داشتند: "سوکمیسیون حقوق بشر و سازمانهای بین المللی کنگره ایالات متحده از مدتی قبل متوجه وخامت اوضاع جامعه بهائی ایران بوده است. بیش از ۱۷۰ بهائی از ابتدای روی کار آمدن خمینی اعدام شده اند. معابد آنان منهدم شده، ما یملکشان بغارت رفته، و دیانتشان غیرقانونی اعلام شده است. بهائیان ایران همیشه تحت فشار و مورد ظلم و اعتساف بوده اند ولکن اخیراً دولت خمینی آنان را بدلیل ایمانشان بقتل میرساند این است که من از همگی همکاران خواهش میکنم قطعنامه ۲۲۶ را تصویب نمایند."

و آقای لیچ نیز ضمن اظهارات خود گفتند: ناگزیریم باین نتیجه برسیم که منظور دولت ایران قلع و قمع دیانت بهائی در ایران است یا از طریق ‎شیری تغییر‎ اجباری بهائیان یا با قتل عام. شباهت وضع کنونی ایران با آلمان هیتلری خیره کننده است.

میدان خدمت

بیت العدل اعظم الهی وظیفه ای بی سابقه بعهده جامعه بهائی آمریکا محول نموده که بایستی تا قبل از رضوان آینده عملی شود. این وظیفه اعزام ۸۲ مهاجر به نقاط لازم‌المهاجره در اطراف عالم است. البته کلیه اعضاء جامعه بهائی میتوانند در این میدان قائم به خدمت باشند ولکن معهذا علی بالاخص یاران ایرانی را مأمور تکمیل ۱۲ نقطه از ۸۲ نقطه نموده اند که از این تعداد ۸ نقطه مهاجرتی در جمهوری ایرلند واقع است و ۴ نقطه دیگر در کشور بنین در آفریقای غربی است.

این امر به دیوان عدل الهی مسؤولیتی جدید بعهده یاران ممتحن و جانفشان ایرانی قرار داده است که بروال معمول عاشقانه قیام فرمایند و در این مرحله نهائی نقشه منیع هفت ساله گوی جدیدی از میدان خدمت آستان الهی بربایند و تاجی جدید بر افتخارات گذشته خود بیفزایند. دوستانی که علاقه مندند در این طرح جدید شریک گردند میتوانند با دفتر لجنه ملی اهداف بین المللی در دارالانشاء International Goals Committee محفل روحانی ملی مکاتبه نمایند و یا بوسیله تلفن ۴۶۹-۹۰۴۹ (۳۱۲) کسب اطلاع کنند. [Page 21]

پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی

عطف به پیام ۱۰ می این هیئت راجع به ‎شکنجه‌بهائیان شکنجه بهائیان‎ در ایران خلاصه ذیل راجع به وضعیت اخیر جامعه بهائی در آن کشور را که از منابع موثق بدست آمده برای شما ارسال میداریم.

از ابتدای انقلاب اسلامی تا کنون بیش از ۳۰۰ منازل مسکونی بهائیان مورد غارت و یا حرق قرار گرفته است.

قریب ۱۷۰ بهائی که اکثر آنها دارای موقعیتی برجسته در جامعه بهائی بوده‌اند به طرق مختلف بوسیله جوخه آتش یا چوبه دار، بقتل رسیده‌اند.

در مناطق شهری املاک صدها خانواده مصادره گردیده است و در ‎فری قری‎ و قصبات باغها مورد تخریب قرار گرفته، و مزارع و اراضی کشاورزی مصادره شده است و عرضحال و التجا به اولیای امور بی‌جواب مانده است.

وزارت کار و امور اجتماعی کشور ایران رسماً به مؤسسات صنعتی و تجاری کشور دستور داده است که به بهائیان اجرت داده نشود.

بیش از ۱۰،۰۰۰ بهائی مستخدم در دوائر دولتی یا در بخش خصوصی بدون سابقه از کار اخراج شده‌اند و بازنشستگی و سایر مزایای آنان لغو گردیده است. از این گذشته به بعضی از آنان دستور داده شده دستمزدی را که در سالیان گذشته دریافت نموده‌اند مسترد دارند.

دانشجویان بهائی از دانشگاهها و سایر مؤسسات تعلیمات عالیه اخراج شده‌اند.

در اکثری از شهرها و ولایات اطفال بهائی را اجازه ورود بمدارس ابتدائی نداده‌اند و بدین سبب هیچگونه دسترسی حتی بتعلیم ابتدائی نیز ندارند.

بیش از ۷۰۰ بهائی از مرد و زن و کودک را در زندانهای سراسر ایران محبوس و مسجون کرده‌اند.

بیش از ۹ ماه است که اولیای امور ملاقات با ۴۰ نفر از محبوسین را اکیداً قدغن نموده‌اند و از سرنوشت آنان اطلاعی در دست نیست.

در زندان‌های اوین و گوهردشت عده‌ای از محبوسین بهائی مورد شکنجه‌های بی‌حد و حصر قرار گرفته‌اند. منظور اولیای امور از این شکنجه‌ها این است که احبای مظلوم را بدروغ وادار به اعتراف به جاسوسی و فعالیت بر علیه جمهوری اسلامی ایران بنمایند. ماه‌ها است که آنها را با وارد آوردن ضربات شلاق بتمام بدن مخصوصاً بپاهای آنها زجر میدهند.

بعضی اوقات تا ۴۰۰ ضربه شلاق با شلاق‌های سیمی بر بدن محبوسی وارد آورده‌اند و پس از این شکنجه آن بیچاره را مجبور براه رفتن کرده‌اند و چون نتوانسته راه برود روی دست و زانو بمقر خود داخل زندان تاریک خزیده است. در یزد و مشهد غالباً با لوله‌های لاستیکی بر سر و صورت زندانی‌های بهائی می‌زنند. در سایر زندان‌ها نیز روشهای مشابهی ولی کمی خفیف‌تر بکار میبرند. آنهایی را که باین ترتیب مورد آزار و شکنجه قرار گرفته‌اند حس شنوایی و بینایی خود را از دست داده‌اند و برخی دیگر توانایی‌های ذهنی خود را. اجساد چهار زندانی که چنین رفتارهایی با آنها شده بود قبل از اینکه آنها را در قبور ناشناس مدفون کنند دیده شده است. باین دلیل ترس از این است که بقیه کسانی که اجساد آنان بدون اطلاع فامیل بخاک سپرده شده است به همین سرنوشت دچار گردیده بوده‌اند.

بهائیان هیچگونه امنیتی در منازل خود احساس نمیکنند. زیرا پاسداران شب یا روز به میل خود به منازل آنان وارد شده ساکنین را اذیت و تهدید کرده مضروب میسازند. هنگامی که پاسداران بقصد توقیف یکی از بهائیان بمنزل او وارد میشوند اگر او را نیابند معمولاً اعضای دیگر آن خانواده حتی اطفال را بعنوان گروگان توقیف مینمایند و خانه را زیر و رو نموده آنچه میپسندند ضبط میکنند.

هر وقت رئیس یا یکی از اعضای اصلی خانواده‌ای شهید شده و یا حتی به زندان افتاده بازماندگان را مجبور به ترک منازل مسکونی کرده‌اند و اجازه نداده‌اند از اشیاء و اثاث زندگی خود چیزی بهمراه ببرند حتی در وسط زمستان کسانی که چنین رفتاری با آنها شده راهی برای احقاق حق ندارند زیرا اولیای امور غالباً توجهی به عرضحال آنان نمیکنند. بالاخره عائله‌های بهائی در اصفهان، مشهد، طهران، ارومیه، و یزد در تحت چنین شرایط مشکلی قرار دارند.

اخباری که هم اکنون از ایران رسیده حاکی از شهادت ۴ نفس دیگر از احبای با شهامت و استقامت ایران است:

تبریز - ۵ می، جناب جلال پیروی، تاریخ دستگیری ۲۲ اکتبر ۱۹۸۱ جناب مقصود علیزاده، تاریخ دستگیری ۲۷ ژانویه ۱۹۸۲

طهران - ۱۵ می، جناب علی محمد زمانی، ۴۵ ساله، جناب جهانگیر هدایتی، ۶۱ ساله، مهندس ساختمان، عضو محفل ملی ایران که اخیراً منحل شده، تا تاریخ ربوده شدن ماه جون ۱۹۸۳ هر دو در زندان تحت شکنجه قرار داشتند.

همچنین جناب اسدالله کامل مقدم روز ۲ می در زندان صعود کردند. چگونگی صعود نامعلوم. احبای ایران نگرانند که وضع تعداد زیادی از محبوسین بهائی وخیم است.

بیت العدل اعظم ۲۱ می ۱۹۸۴

افتتاح رادیو بهائی

در بهجت و سرور شما بمناسبت پخش اولین برنامه رادیو WLGI شریک و سهیمیم و صمیمانه تبریک میگوئیم.

بیت العدل اعظم الهی ۲۴ می ۱۹۸۴

پیام تلگرافی فوق در پاسخ عریضه تلگرافی ذیل از ساحت رفیع بیت العدل اعظم الهی صادر گردیده است:

با کمال مسرت بشارت پیروزی را به ساحت بیت العدل اعظم تقدیم میداریم. امروز ۲۳ می ۱۹۸۴ ساعت ۴ و ۲۵ دقیقه بعد از ظهر بوقت ساحل شرقی آمریکا فرستنده رادیو WLGI با نواری از بیانات ایادی امرالله جناب ویلیام سیرز شروع به پخش برنامه آزمایشی نمود.

محفل روحانی ملی ۲۳ می ۱۹۸۴

مشاورات محفل ملی با مشاورین قاره‌ای و لجنات ملیه در مدرسه بهائی لوهلن

محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده کنفرانس فوق‌العاده‌ای از ۲۵ الی ۲۷ می ۱۹۸۴ در مدرسه بهائی لوهلن ترتیب داده بودند که هدف اصلی آن ایجاد تفاهم صحیح و عمومی از "برنامه وحدت عمل" و بکار گرفتن آن در تمهید ‎سیل سبیل‎ برای نیل به اهداف باقیمانده نقشه هفت ساله بود.

در این کنفرانس ۸ نفر از اعضاء محفل روحانی ملی و چهار نفر از مشاورین قاره‌ای جناب فرزام ارباب، امة‌الله سارا پریرا، جناب فرد شکتر، و امة‌الله ولما شریل و جناب پیتر خان یکی از مشاورین عضو دارالتبلیغ بین‌المللی و نمایندگان یا اعضاء لجنه های ملیه و دوائر مختلفه دارالانشاء محفل ملی و سه نفر از اعضاء هیئت معاونت جناب استیون بیرک‌لند، امة‌الله دوروتی برهانی، و جناب خلیل خاوری شرکت داشتند. جناب دکتر فیروز کاظم‌زاده نایب رئیس محفل روحانی ملی بعلت اشتغالات مربوط به تهیه مقدمات شرکت نمایندگان جامعه بهائی در جلسه کمیسیون روابط خارجی سنای آمریکا موفق به حضور در کنفرانس مذکور نشدند.

صبح روز جمعه ۲۵ می در جلسه‌ای عمومی، تبادل نظر و آراء با شرکت کلیه شرکت‌کنندگان بعمل آمد و بر اساس پیشنهادی که در آن جلسه ارائه شد طرح کلی تهیه گردید که مبنای مشاورات دوستان در گروه‌های کوچک قرار گرفت. خلاصه مذاکرات هر یک از جلسات گروهها توسط گزارشگر گروه در جلسه عمومی قرائت شد و بوسیله کامپیوتر ضبط و تدوین گردید. مجموعه نظرات و پیشنهادی ارائه شده تقدیم محفل مقدس روحانی ملی گردید تا در جلسات آتیه مورد بررسی و شور آن هیئت نورانی واقع شود.

عموم شرکت‌کنندگان در خاتمه جلسات کنفرانس اظهار میداشتند که در اثر مذاکرات صریح و دوستانه‌ای که صورت گرفت خلوص و صمیمیت بیشتری بین مسئولین شاخه‌های مختلف نظام اداری بهائی در آمریکا ایجاد گردیده است و همگی امیدوار بلکه مطمئن بودند که اثرات این تفاهم و الفت در همکاری نزدیکتر مؤسسات مختلفه تشکیلات بهائی و تقدم روزافزون امر الهی در این سرزمین آشکار خواهد شد. [Page 22]

World NEWS

Twenty-two new Spiritual Assemblies were formed and 66 localities were opened to the Faith as the result of a recent teaching campaign in the Malemba Nkulu zone of Zaire.

Six Bahá’ís comprised two groups which proclaimed the Faith, traveling on foot for many miles. Each group contacted more than 1,000 people, and each enrolled more than 200 of them.

One of the teams then decided to continue traveling for a five-month period to deepen new believers in the 66 newly opened localities ...

One hundred-eight people were enrolled in the Faith in Sikkim during the last two weeks in December by a teaching team composed of nine Bahá’ís.

The team included two members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Sikkim, one member of the National Youth Committee, and members of several Local Spiritual Assemblies ...

One hundred-seven people were enrolled in the Faith last December and a new Spiritual Assembly was formed in Malawi’s southern region ...

Bahá’ís in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands had completed by February 2 the formation of their 20 goal Assemblies, thus paving the way for the formation at Ridván of their own National Spiritual Assembly ...

The Bahá’í Youth Academy at Panchgani, India, devoted its seventh and eighth sessions last November and December to courses for the secretaries of India’s State Teaching Committees and the editors of newsletters and magazines.

The final session was marked by the presence of all five members of the Continental Board of Counsellors residing in India and eight members of that country’s National Spiritual Assembly ...

The first Spiritual Assembly on the island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands has been elected in the town of San Jose, and the island of Agrihan in the northern Marianas has been opened to the Faith by a local pioneer ...

Zimbabwe’s roving Teaching Committee sent a teaching team last February 9 to Murewa. In only two days, the team enrolled 130 new Bahá’ís and helped bring about the election of a Spiritual Assembly in Duku ...

Connections Ltd., a television production company in Anchorage, Alaska, that is owned by local Bahá’ís, recently won a gold medal for best energy documentary at the 26th annual International Film and Television Festival in New York City.

Its entry was a 30-minute film titled “Alaska: America’s Energy Frontier.” ...

27 SUBJECTS YOU WOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT:

1. The Afterlife 2. Health and Nutrition 3. Work and the Economic Problem 4. The Social Philosophy of Alain Locke 5. The Importance of Meditation 6. International Health Work 7. The early years of Louis Gregory 8. Bahá’u’lláh’s Prison Sentence 9. Spiritual Education 10. Children and Television Violence 11. The First 138 years of Christianity 12. The Deification of Jesus 13. Drug Abuse 14. The First 138 years of Islám 15. Mormonism and the Bahá’í Faith 16. Four Kinds of Love 17. The First 138 years of the Bahá’í Faith 18. Robert Hayden 19. Bahá’í Bhajans 20. Freedom and Authority 21. Congressional Resolutions 22. Walter Harke’s Art 23. Juliet Thompson and Khalil Gibran 24. Mark Tobey 25. Solving Urban Problems 26. Raising Bilingual Children 27. The Persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran

World Order

Articles on every one of these subjects have appeared in recent issues of World Order. But it should really come as no surprise that this magazine has dealt with many of the major social and intellectual issues of the times. The careful scrutiny of current affairs is really what this Bahá’í journal is all about. Its purpose is to stimulate, inspire, and serve thinking people in their search for relationships between religious thought and contemporary life.

All back issues of World Order are available with the exception of the Winter 1969/’70, the Fall 1971, and the Fall 1982 issues. Some issues have limited quantities, so order now to be assured of receiving the issues you want. Write for order form.

World Order is a vital spiritual resource for contemplative minds, for thinking people like you. Why not fill out the subscription coupon below and mail it today? It may turn out to be the most thought-provoking decision you have made in a long time.

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INTERMEDIA

News from the Office of Public Affairs

“... increase the use of press, radio and television for the proclamation of the Faith.”—The Universal House of Justice, message to the Bahá’ís of the United States, Naw-Rúz 1979

Moving out! As a result of the significant successes achieved in the last four years in the area of external relations, and animated by the desire to expand and consolidate our gains, the National Spiritual Assembly has established an Office of External Affairs to deal with the government, media, and leaders of thought.

The office will have branches in New York City and New Haven, Connecticut. Later, an office will be opened in Washington, D.C.

Heading the External Affairs Office will be Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, the vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly. The Public Affairs Office at the National Center has been placed under its supervision, and close contact will be maintained with the Persian Affairs Office and the National Center’s media production studio.

Shirley Lee has been named Public Affairs coordinator for the Bahá’í network of local media committees and representatives, and will remain at the National Center.

Public Affairs outreach The Bahá’ís of Sarasota, Florida, hosted a Sunday morning meeting May 6 with Public Affairs coordinator Shirley Lee. Media projects, news from the National Office of Public Affairs, and media methods were shared by some 25 western Florida Bahá’ís.

The success of this informal format portends more frequent visits to local communities by members of the staff of the Office of Public Affairs. Participants were mutually inspired to increase the use of today’s marvelous media channels to proclaim the Bahá’í Message.

Information for funeral directors Attractive, newly designed kits for funeral directors are now available from the Office of Public Affairs. Has your community contacted funeral directors to inform them of Bahá’í burial practices? Do you have a kit on hand should an urgent need arise?

The packet contains information about appropriate gravestone markings, a selection of Bahá’í prayers for the dead, basic information about the Faith in America, a commentary on “Coming to Terms with Death,” and the pamphlet of the Encyclopedia Britannica description of the Faith. The cost is $5. Please make checks payable to the Bahá’í Services Fund.

Bahá’ís top the field! Two of the new Bahá’í TV public service spots, directed by Karl Krogstad and created and produced by Barer/Goldblatt and Associates, came out on top in the 17th annual Northwest Film and Video Seminar sponsored by the advertising industry in Washington, Oregon, California and two Canadian provinces.

The spots were judged “Best in the Northwest” for TV psa’s (public service announcements) in the under-$5,000 category—which is where most of the competition exists. The judges had to view 33 hours of film and video spots before making a decision. The screening was at the Seattle Center Playhouse, and awards were presented at a banquet May 11.

On that same day, the Barer/Goldblatt 60-second radio spot on “Racism” received the 1984 Tri-City “Award of Excellence” presented by the Tri-Cities Ad Club Federation of Washington state.

So get your orders in now for these professionally produced, award-winning spots. They’re certain to be accepted and used by radio and TV outlets in your community because they’re the best! (Series of six Krogstad-Barer/Goldblatt psa’s, $20—introductory price until August. Price after August is $30. Racism radio psa, $5. Send orders to the Office of Public Affairs.)

Do’a ensemble releases 4th album

Do’a World Music Ensemble, co-founded in 1974 by Randy Armstrong and Ken LaRoche, recently released its fourth album, Companions of the Crimson Coloured Ark, on Philo Records.

The album is dedicated to the Bahá’ís in Iran and to all oppressed people throughout the world.

The New Hampshire-based ensemble has toured professionally throughout the U.S. and Canada for the past nine years.

Its members perform original compositions reflecting jazz, folk, classical and world music influences on more than 70 instruments from India, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Do’a World Music Ensemble has recently expanded from a duo consisting of Randy Armstrong and Ken LaRoche to a quintet with the addition of Bahá’í musicians Marty Quinn and Charlie Jennison and John Hunter, a friend of the Faith.

The ensemble recently completed a tour of the eastern U.S. with featured appearances at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City and the Bear Mountain Festival of World Music and Dance.

The ensemble seizes the opportunity to proclaim the Faith at concerts, and many times coordinates firesides after performances with local Bahá’í communities in the area.

Members of Do’a World Music Ensemble (left to right) Charlie Jennison, John Hunter, Randy Armstrong, Ken LaRoche, Marty Quinn. The Ensemble recently released its fourth album, Companions of the Crimson Coloured Ark, on Philo Records.

For more information about Do’a World Music Ensemble, please write to Friends of Do’a, Box 518, Dover, NH 03820.

24 attend Green Bay-sponsored conference designed to lend support to isolated believers

On April 7, the Spiritual Assembly of Green Bay, Wisconsin, sponsored an “Isolated Believers’ Conference” whose purpose was to give support to isolated believers in their efforts to achieve “heroic deeds” for the Faith.

MORE than 50 invitations were sent to isolated believers and small Groups, primarily in the northeastern section of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Twenty-four adults attended representing the communities of Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, ‎DePere De Pere‎, Green Bay, Algoma, Kewaunee, Marinette, Sturgeon Bay, Mosinee, Menasha and Appleton, Wisconsin, and Iron River, Michigan.

The guest speaker was Auxiliary Board member Stephen Birkland who compared the similarities between the isolated believer and our Iranian brothers and sisters, as both are very reliant on prayer, meditations and the Holy Writings.

He also spoke about the practical aspects of the Faith—where physical goals symbolize the spiritual. To elucidate the idea, he used the House of Worship and the creation of its dependencies as an example of the material representing the spiritual.

Mrs. Lori Block, an assistant to Mr. Birkland, spoke about how the isolated believers can further identify themselves with their community, telling of the more than 44,000 isolated centers and small Groups that have within them the potential to become future Local Assemblies.

OTHER speakers were Dale Starr of Algoma; Colleen Brandt, public information representative for the Bahá’í community of Green Bay; Ian Bamber of Marinette; Judy Moran, representing the District Teaching Committee of Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan; and Mary and Chauncey Washburn of Mosinee.

Mr. Birkland closed the conference with inspirational stories of the early believers in Iran and how the “power of Divine assistance” enabled many of those early believers to carry out acts of heroism in arising to teach the Cause.

Special mention should be given to the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs and National Teaching Committee who not only supported the conference but also furnished materials (as handouts) geared to the special needs of isolated believers and small Groups.

Santa Fe’s ‘Fun(d) carnival’ raises $760

Bahá’ís in Santa Fe, New Mexico, raised more than $760 in a Unity Day Fun(d) Carnival Saturday, April 21, the first day of Ridván.

Despite cloudy and windy weather, some 40 believers from Santa Fe and surrounding communities bought hot dogs and coffee, threw darts at targets, posed for caricatures, and bid for a variety of auctioned items.

A puppet show, “The Search for Unity,” by the Santa Fe youth group, closed the event.

Among the highlights was the Persian-style auction of a 1950 first edition of Prescription for Living, signed by its author, the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, which had been willed to the local Bahá’í library by Amy Brady Dwelly, a well-known and beloved early believer who was the first editor of Child’s Way magazine.

The winner of the auction promptly gave the book to a young Bahá’í in another community as a birthday gift.

National Assembly names advisory panel to assist social, economic development

In response to the message of October 20, 1983, from the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly has appointed a new advisory committee to assist in the implementation of its social and economic programs.

The members of the committee are Alice Bathke of Albuquerque, New Mexico; William Davis, Menlo Park, California; Anne Rowley, Florence, South Carolina; and Dr. James Turpin, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

As its first task, the committee has been asked to plan a national conference to discuss the message from the House of Justice on social and economic development, identify individuals within the Bahá’í community who have expertise in those areas, and examine the developmental experience of the Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í world.

In the Ridván message from the Universal House of Justice, the American Bahá’í community was given the goal of starting one or two programs on Indian Reservations. The committee is responsible for overseeing the completion of that goal.

Letters of inquiry may be directed to the committee through the Office of the Secretary, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. [Page 24]

La jornada termina; esperanzas para el futuro

Por REGINA ANCHONDO

Los bahá’ís de Lapwai y la reserva Nez Perce nos encontraron en el aeropuerto de Lewiston, Idaho, y nos arrebataron en una casa móvil gigante a la reserva.

YA HABÍA cita para conocer el consejo tribal y algunos oficiales del ‎Búro Buró‎ de Asuntos Indígenas, y una visita a la clínica para Clemente Pimantel que se arregló anteriormente en North Dakota.

La visita a la clínica resultó un asunto complicado. El médico preguntaba a Clemente ‎encuanto en cuanto‎ a sus síntomas, yo traducía la pregunta al español para Sabino Ortega y el la comunicaba a Clemente en quechua. Al responder Clemente, todo se hizo al revés.

Sacando los rayos X se volvió una situación bien cómica. La técnica del rayo X sacaba la cabeza y decía -Dígale que respire así... -Entonces yo traducía y demostraba para Sabino, y el en su turno entraba al ‎cúbiculo cubículo‎ para explicarlo a Clemente. Hubiera sido una película silente muy chistosa.

Mientras esperamos las recetas de los médicos en la clínica, aprovechamos la oportunidad para hablar con todos en la sala de recepción ‎y invitarles e invitarles‎ personalmente al programa de la noche.

Una señora entró y reconoció a los sudamericanos inmediatamente. Ella estuvo en Rapid City, South Dakota, como participante en un congreso nacional para educadores indígenas y vió las noticias de nuestra llegada al estado en la televisión.

ESTO nos hizo meditar sobre el ‎numero número‎ de educadores cuyas tribus no llegamos a visitar, pero que, a pesar de todo, llegaron a saber del Camino del Sol.

El primer programa entre los Nez Perce fue maravilloso. Miembros del consejo nos dieron la bienvenida y nos regalaron plumas de águila.

Uno de los bahá’ís nativos sirvió de maestro de ceremonias y lo hizo de maravilla, presentando al Camino del Sol y coordinando el intercambio vivo de bailes que lo siguió.

Celebramos el Nacimiento del Báb el día siguiente con bahá’ís de la región norteña de Idaho. Después Doug Harris, nuestro chofer, corrió a todos de la casa para que el equipo descansara un poco antes del programa planeado para la noche.

Mientras algunos dormitamos los sudamericanos salieron a caminar sobre los cerros cercanos.

Muy temprano el día siguiente salimos para el estado de Washington y las últimas visitas de la gira.

Yo me quedé atrás para hacer algunos arreglos mientras los otros salieron rumbo a la reserva Yakima.

LOS arreglos terminados, seguí después con dos bahá’ís. Cuando llegamos a la reserva ya se habían reunido con el consejo tribal.

Nos encontramos en la tienda de un bahá’í. Mientras yo miraba una colección de cuentas, una bahá’í me presentó a una señora indígena que acababa de entrar.

Ella agarró la manga de mi chaqueta y me pidió que ‎traduciera tradujera‎ lo que ella decía para los sudamericanos. Desde que entró en la tienda ‎sintía sentía‎ que ellos tenían un poder espiritual muy fuerte. Mientras me lo dijo los ojos brillaban con lágrimas.

Tuvimos la noche libre, pero el día siguiente fue lleno de actividad.

Empezó con una entrevista en una radioemisora hispana, seguido por una boda tradicional a la cual les había invitado el consejo tribal el día anterior. Resultó que el novio era hijo de la señora a la cual conocimos en la tienda.

EL programa que se presentó esa noche en la reserva comenzó con una cena a la cual asistieron por lo menos 300 personas.

Hasta nuestros amigos de Idaho aparecieron. Después del programa Sabino hizo una corta entrevista para televisión.

El día siguiente asistimos a la escuela bahá’í, otra recepción en el centro cultural yakima, y visitamos la casa de la señora hispana que entrevistó el equipo el día anterior a su invitación.

Nuestros espíritus quedaron un poco apagados por la noticia del fallecimiento del muy amado Consejero Raúl Pavón, quien había trabajado muy estrechamente con los miembros del equipo.

En la mañana partimos para Seattle, parando para una visita corta en la reserva Suquamish a la pedida de un bahá’í sioux que vive entre ellos.

Hubo una reunión muy cordial con los mayores y miembros del consejo, seguido por una visita al museo tribal donde miembros de una familia nos regalaron paquetes de salmón ahumado para llevar.

ENCONTRAMOS a los bahá’ís de Seattle en una recepción esa noche y después nos acomodamos en las casas de nuestros anfitriones.

El día siguiente acompañé a Egon Nieto y Leopoldo Richard al servicio de inmigración y naturalización para extender sus visas para este país.

Leopoldo quería visitar a su hijo en Utah y regresar a Arizona y Nuevo México mientras Egon pensaba visitar a su hermano y cuñada en Oregon.

Nos encontramos con los demás después y los sudamericanos comieron su primera comida china. Después regresamos para preparar las maletas para nuestra salida el día siguiente y planear el programa de la noche.

Al salir de Seattle nos esperaba mucho que hacer. Hubo una entrevista por radio cerca de Bellingham, almuerzo con los mayores de la tribu lummi, una presentación pública en esa reserva, y en la tarde una entrevista de televisión para un programa cristiano.

El día siguiente salimos para Neah Bay en la reserva Makah, donde esperamos participar en la reunión grande con el otro equipo Camino del Sol que viajó por Canadá y Alaska y los amigos que todos habíamos invitado en el camino.

Llegamos allí en la tarde. La reserva es hermosa de manera salvaje con costa de mar y cerros arbolados.

Me recordó de los pueblos de pesca en Nueva Inglaterra. Cenamos en casa de bahá’ís locales y durante la comida llegaron amigos de varios lugares. Después los sudamericanos se alojaron en el motel de un creyente makah, mientras los otros fuimos a otro hotel.

En la mañana visitamos las oficinas tribales de los makah y en eso llegaron los del otro equipo. Fue una reunión feliz para todos, quienes se conocieron anteriormente en Panamá durante la orientación.

La reunión formal empezó el día siguiente, y los bahá’ís de este país, Canadá y Alaska hablaron sobre los éxitos del Camino del Sol en sus regiones y formularon planes para aprovechar de la buena voluntad ‎esparcido esparcida‎ por ellos.

DESPUÉS de una visita a la playa sagrada en la tarde cenamos con los mayores de la tribu, y así empezó una experiencia memorable.

Al terminar la cena nos sentamos con los miembros del Camino del Sol sentados juntos. Algunos empezaron a cantar una canción de bienvenida y todos se pusieron en pie.

La canción duró por lo menos media hora y mientras cantaban, todos pasaron en frente de los huéspedes para darles la mano.

Fue la bienvenida más hermosa y conmovedora que he visto. Mientras pasaban también pusieron billetes en una caja como regalo a los huéspedes para su viaje de regreso, ‎otro costumbre otra costumbre‎ de ellos.

La entrega de obsequios y el programa del Camino del Sol siguieron. Entonces nuestros anfitriones makah hicieron algunos bailes tradicionales, muy distintos a todo que habíamos visto hasta la fecha.

La noche terminó con todos bailando a un tambor que los bahá’ís indígenas de Portland, Oregon, trajeron y tocaron.

La consulta reanudó la mañana siguiente y continuó hasta la hora de almorzar. Se ‎despedieron despidieron‎ todos y después los miembros de los equipos y los Consejeros y miembros del Cuerpo Auxiliar presentes nos quedamos para consultar sobre nuestras experiencias.

El sentimiento sobresaliente fue de agradecimiento a todos los nuevos amigos, bahá’í y no bahá’í, ‎cuyos cuyas‎ caras y hechos llevaremos siempre en los corazones.

About 250 people, many of them Bahá’ís, attended an Ayyám-i-Há party February 25 hosted by the Bahá’í community of Mansfield, Texas. Included were food, music, games for the children (provided by the nearby Arlington Bahá’í community), and fellowship. The Mansfield Bahá’í community is comprised of 14 adults, two youth and five children.

La persecución de creyentes en Iran sigue; ‎quatro cuatro‎ bahá’ís más ejecutados

A todas las Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales

Queridos amigos bahá’ís,

La Casa Universal de Justicia ha enviado un telex a Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales seleccionadas el 13 de abril, trasmitiéndoles la información que se detalla abajo:

SIGUIENDO TEMA NUESTRO MENSAJE 10/11 ABRIL ACABAMOS DE RECIBIR AFLIGENTE NOTICIA EJECUCIÓN POR PELOTÓN FUSILAMIENTO EN PRISIÓN DE EVIN TIHRÁN SIGUIENTES CREYENTES:

SR. KÁMRÁN LUTFÍ, PROFESOR UNIVERSITARIO, DE 32 AÑOS DE EDAD, LLEVADO PRESO 5 DE MAYO 1983.

SR. RAHÍM RAHÍMÍYÁN, HOMBRE DE NEGOCIOS, DE 50 AÑOS DE EDAD, LLEVADO PRESO 5 DE MAYO 1983.

SR. YADU’LLÁH SÁBIRÍYÁN, GERENTE DE IMPRENTA, DE 60 AÑOS DE EDAD, LLEVADO PRESO 9 FEBRERO 1982.

YA QUE EJECUCIONES NO ANUNCIADAS Y CUERPOS ENTERRADOS SIN CEREMONIA Y SIN INFORMAR A FAMILIAS PARIENTES, FECHA EXACTA EJECUCIONES DESCONOCIDA. SE TEME OTROS PRISIONEROS BAHÁ’ÍS TUVIERON MISMO DESTINO.

AHORA HECHO ESTABLECIDO QUE ‘ABDU’L-HUSAYN SHÁKIRÍ-HASANZÁDIH TAMBIÉN FUE EJECUTADO POR PELOTÓN DE FUSILAMIENTO EN VEZ DE MORIR MISTERIOSAMENTE EN LA PRISIÓN COMO SE INFORMÓ.

DEBIDO GIRO OMINOSO SITUACIÓN BAHÁ’Í IRAN ‎PEDÍMOSLES PEDIMOSLES‎ PROCEDER DAR PUBLICIDAD PERSECUCIONES RECIENTES INCLUYENDO INFORMACIÓN RESPECTO TORTURAS MENSAJE ANTERIOR.

CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA 13 DE ABRIL DE 1984

2 Bahá’í law students honor graduates

Two Bahá’ís, Yvor Stoakley of Batavia, Illinois, and Anthony K. Reid of Chicago, were honor graduates this spring at Northwestern University’s School of Law.

Mr. Reid, who received two degrees, an MBA and Juris Doctor, won a second place award for his paper, “Secondary Liability Under Section 12(2) of the Securities Act of 1933,” which was submitted to and accepted for publication by the Law Journal Review.

He will work for a law firm in Palo Alto, California, where his wife, Amy, enters the Stanford University Law School in the fall. Mr. and Mrs. Reid both became Bahá’ís during the past year.

Mr. Stoakley, who received a Juris Doctor degree, was a member of the 1983 Moot Court team which represented Northwestern University in Washington, D.C., at which time he achieved the first chair.

The accomplishment won for him the position of adviser to this year’s team that won fifth place.

He will work for a Chicago law firm which is involved primarily in corporate law. [Page 25]‘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)

Bahá’ís from North and South Carolina were joined by 35 guests from area churches January 15 for a World Religion Day observance in Tryon, North Carolina, that was co-sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Landrum, South Carolina, and Tryon. Speakers represented Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Bahá’í Faith. Pictured (left to right) are Judy Glassman, a Bahá’í from Tryon; Auxiliary Board member Elizabeth Martin of Winnsboro, South Carolina; Rabbi David Kraus; Sultan Suluki Mustafa; and the Rev. Darryl Maxwell.

Trends

New book sees resurgence of black Islamic groups in American society

The two predominantly black groups of Islam in the U.S. are once again experiencing a resurgence, according to C. Eric Lincoln, author of the 1961 book, The Black Muslims in America.

Dr. Lincoln, speaking recently at the College of Charleston, South Carolina, attributed their growth to the new orthodoxy of the American Muslim Mission movement, headed by Walith D. Muhammad, and the recent political activism of the Nation of Islam, headed by Louis Farrakhan.

Walith Muhammad, the son of Elijah Muhammad, who founded the Nation of Islam (Black Muslims), was educated at the Islamic University in Cairo, Egypt.

When his father died in 1975, Walith turned his back on power and wealth (or, as Dr. Lincoln puts it, “on being the only big frog in a small pond”) to bring the Nation into orthodoxy.

The decision cost him many adherents and assured the creation of a separate sect.

Walith Muhammad dismissed many of the teachings of his father, such as that God is a superior black man, that whites are devils, that blacks must eat only one meal a day, and that women may work outside the home only if they work in Muslim establishments.

Dr. Lincoln characterizes the members of the American Muslim Mission movement, who are Sunni Muslims, as being patriotic as well as promoters of international brotherhood.

The Nation of Islam, says Dr. Lincoln, also has softened many of its teachings under the tutelage of Louis Farrakhan, a protégé of Malcolm X.

His followers also talk of brotherhood, but they have no faith in the American system.

Dr. Lincoln, who is a professor of religion and culture at Duke University, the author of 10 books and co-author of several others, says Black Americans are being drawn to these two groups for seemingly different yet quite similar reasons.

In embracing the international brotherhood of Islam, he says, the American Muslim Mission movement gives blacks a sense of belonging and protection.

“Under international Islam,” he says, “it is felt that the persecution of blacks will cease. No Christian nations came to the rescue of blacks when they were being lynched in this country. Under Islam this would never happen.”

The Nation of Islam, says Dr. Lincoln, offers what it always has, “a program for their (blacks’) condition here in the U.S.

“It (deals) with the problems of racism, economics and powerlessness. And there is the excitement of participating in something that might shape the world.”

Note: It is anticipated that by the end of the century there will be six million Muslims (eastern and American) in the U.S. On March 2, members of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. met in Atlanta, Georgia, to learn more about Islam and how it will affect the nation.

A dozen Bahá’í youth from Ohio and Michigan have come together to form the ‘Neda Bahá’í Choir’ The choir, which sings in English, Persian and Arabic, is offering its services to ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. Pictured are (back row left to right) the choir’s conductor, Mehrdad Fazli of Sylvania, Ohio; Farshid Ahmady-Izady, Shahriar Farhadi, Kamiar Khani Oskouee, and (front row left to right) Shiva Toufighi, Sepideh Meshinchi, Zhaleh Fazli, Naghmeh Farhadi, Dina Toufighi. Not shown are choir members Hooshmand Anvari, Shahrokh Khani Oskouee, and Shadan Tofighi Ghamsari.

Letter

Friends mustn’t ignore history’s lesson in dealing with ‘Most Challenging Issue’

Dear Friends:

As a part of its continuing effort to increase the community’s awareness of “The Most Challenging Issue,” our Race Unity Committee (in San Diego) recently sponsored an informative/educational presentation, “The Black Experience in the History of America.”

DURING the discussion, one of the questions referred to a “negative approach” to the black/white issue.

Innocent though it was, one comment was to the effect that “we shouldn’t dwell on the past.”

Yet, everything we know about learning and the acquisition of knowledge—regardless of the subject or discipline—requires that we study its history for even a basic understanding.

I believe there are many injustices in our society that are too often overlooked (even among Bahá’ís) and taken for granted as not being of any significance.

‎pean European‎ history are required for study in our schools and included in curricula from the earliest grades through college. Yet, the planned and systematic exclusion of the black contribution/experience (also brown and Native American) in the building of this nation from nearly all textbooks and classes—except for the annual references during “black history month” by some—continues to be accepted.

This exclusion contributes to at least two negative factors:

1. Black children continue to be formally educated with little knowledge of their heritage, creating an historical identity gap—identity that is vital and necessary to one’s personal growth and development.

2. Whites and others are prevented from learning and knowing the total (true) history of America, which hinders the possibility of raising their level of awareness and consciousness with respect to blacks.

As most of us know, the phenomenon of racial prejudice crosses all racial and ethnic boundaries, and it was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who told American Bahá’ís that racial prejudice is “the most challenging issue” facing this country.

All Bahá’ís have the responsibility (in the words of Bahá’u’lláh) to “close your (our) eyes to racial differences...”

We must instead open our minds and hearts to discuss this issue whenever appropriate, just as we might the history of other people who make up our diverse society.

Jihmye Collins San Diego, California

Young Bahá’í captures top science fair awards

Tahirih Z. Stoakley, a 12-year-old Bahá’í from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, recently won first place awards in science fairs at Hadley Junior High School, where she is a seventh grade student, and the regional fair at the University of Illinois Circle Campus in Chicago, entitling her to compete in the state Science Fair in Champaign-Urbana where, competing mainly against high school students, she won a second place award for her project, a lie detector.

Tahirih is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Xuylor Stoakley.

THE BAHÁ’Í PROOFS

Mírzá Abu’l-Fadl’s only book ever written for an American audience

Available in a facsimile edition

• contains proofs of the world’s great religions
• the Manifestations of God
• and much more—

Also includes A Short Sketch of the History and Lives of the Leaders of This Religion, a second work by Mírzá Abu’l-Fadl—complete text of 1929 edition—new index—new preface by Juan Ricardo Cole

Hardcover Cat. No. 332-116 $15.00

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 26]

VIE Chart

Continued From Page 5

'Starting Block' Info and Current Month Info (Jamál)

District Name	Membership as of 12/9/83	Number of participants	Percentage of participation	Membership as of 5/4/84	Number of participants	Percentage of participation
Louisiana N	84	11	13.1	81	11	13.6
Louisiana S	536	21	3.9	506	21	4.2
Maine	216	26	12.0	215	32	14.9
Maryland W/D.C.	752	79	10.5	766	62	8.1
Massachusetts	946	103	10.9	944	92	9.7
Michigan Mainland	1,171	126	10.8	1,157	131	11.3
Minnesota N	166	26	15.7	158	25	15.8
Minnesota S	434	79	18.2	432	35	8.1
Mississippi	415	18	4.3	395	20	5.1
Missouri	657	75	11.4	648	65	10.0
Montana	347	36	10.4	346	34	9.8
Navajo/Hopi	370	9	2.4	365	12	3.3
Nebraska	307	45	14.7	294	47	16.0
Nevada N	165	14	8.5	176	12	6.8
Nevada S	150	16	10.7	154	36	23.4
New Hampshire	339	44	13.0	351	48	13.7
New Jersey	693	78	11.3	696	74	10.6
New Mexico S/Texas W	979	22	2.2	993	22	2.2
New Mexico N	481	37	7.7	471	55	11.7
New York E	1,254	93	7.4	1,244	89	7.2
New York W	582	78	13.4	587	77	13.1
North Carolina C	636	31	4.9	624	24	3.8
North Carolina E	654	17	2.6	645	12	1.9
North Carolina W	408	32	7.8	395	30	7.6
North Dakota	137	16	11.7	126	20	15.9
Ohio N	551	66	12.0	539	64	11.9
Ohio S	388	46	11.8	388	36	9.3
Oklahoma E	358	26	7.3	328	17	5.2
Oklahoma W	499	28	5.6	479	31	6.5
Oregon E	276	4	1.4	264	11	4.2
Oregon W	1,255	103	8.2	1,254	117	9.3
Pennsylvania E	452	60	13.3	451	49	10.9
Pennsylvania W	195	26	13.3	196	32	16.3
Rhode Island	108	13	12.0	104	12	11.5
South Carolina C	1,314	10	0.76	1,298	15	1.2
South Carolina E No. 1	2,397	3	0.12	2,337	4	0.2
South Carolina E No. 2	2,017	6	0.29	1,994	7	0.4
South Carolina N	821	4	0.48	805	3	0.4
South Carolina S No. 1	627	6	1.0	602	9	1.5
South Carolina S No. 2	794	4	0.5	796	7	0.9
South Carolina W	386	15	3.9	383	22	5.7
South Dakota	266	7	2.6	261	8	3.1
Tennessee E	159	23	14.5	156	19	12.2
Tennessee W	300	19	6.3	290	18	6.2
Texas C No. 1	528	34	6.4	513	33	6.4
Texas C No. 2	105	3	2.9	97	5	5.2
Texas E No. 1	1,269	83	6.5	1,279	63	4.9
Texas E No. 2	838	70	7.4	856	60	7.0
Texas N	186	13	7.0	176	10	5.7
Texas S	219	12	5.5	206	15	7.3
Utah	251	29	11.6	237	21	8.9
Vermont	156	20	12.8	154	24	15.6
Virginia N	670	53	7.9	672	33	4.9
Virginia S	538	40	7.4	541	35	6.5
Washington NW	1,011	93	9.2	1,003	95	9.5
Washington SW	356	38	10.7	360	35	9.7
West Virginia	178	15	8.4	175	18	10.3
Wis. N/Peninsular Mich.	237	41	17.3	246	40	16.3
Wisconsin S	757	130	17.2	747	100	13.4
Wyoming	151	15	10.0	150	13	8.7

Former pioneer to Hungary, Poland marks 100th birthday

Hermine Isaac, a former pioneer to Poland and Hungary, receives a special commemorative pin on behalf of Mayor Tom Bradley of Los Angeles from Eve Catron, a member of the mayor’s staff, on the occasion of Mrs. Isaac’s 100th birthday February 9.

Hermine Bauer Isaac, a former Bahá’í pioneer to Hungary and Poland, recently celebrated her 100th birthday and 31 years as a Bahá’í.

MANY Bahá’í friends visited Hermine on this occasion at the convalescent home in Los Angeles where she now resides.

Eve Catron, a member of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley’s staff, presented her with a special memorial pin on behalf of the mayor.

Hermine was born February 9, 1884, in what is now known as Krakow, Poland, but was at that time a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

As a young woman she earned a degree from the Vienna Conservatory of Music. She also sided with Polish patriots seeking a unified, independent Poland, and participated in the early Zionist movement, which was unpopular among her peers.

In 1910, in Budapest, she married businessman John Isaac, and the couple had two daughters.

The Isaacs moved to New York City in 1947, and Mr. Isaac died six years later. That same year, 1953, she heard of the Bahá’í Faith while in Dumont, New Jersey.

IN A TAPE of her recollections, Hermine said she became quite excited upon hearing about the Faith and within a few weeks was ready to become a Bahá’í, but was told she must first study more. Later that year she joined the Faith.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1955 to be with one of her daughters, she held firesides and deepenings in her home, and frequently attended Bahá’í meetings, but felt it was not enough for Bahá’u’lláh.

“I wanted to pioneer to my homeland where they knew nothing about the Faith,” she said. “I had written to friends and relatives about the Faith, but it was difficult to interest them from so far away.”

After a 16-year absence from her native land, Hermine returned in 1963 to Poland and Hungary as a pioneer—at the age of 79.

She lived most of the time in Budapest, near her other daughter, but also spent two years in Krakow.

In the early ’60s it was politically dangerous to speak openly of the Faith in Poland or Hungary, and the U.S. National Assembly urged her to exercise caution.

STILL, Hermine managed to find opportunities to share the Faith. She later recalled one such meeting with a college professor in Krakow.

Hermine first taught him the Bahá’í principles without mentioning the Faith. “When the man became excited,” she said, “I told him about Bahá’u’lláh.”

In their following meetings, she said, he wanted only to speak of the Faith.

Later, the professor wrote to say that he had given a presentation on the Faith to fellow Esperantists in Krakow.

Hermine was concerned that he might endanger himself by speaking so openly, but he reassured her, saying the group wanted to know everything he could tell them about the Bahá’í Faith.

When Hermine lived in Budapest she was the city’s only Bahá’í. Although forbidden to teach, she said she occasionally met Hungarians who had heard of the Faith in other parts of Europe.

At age 95 she returned to California, leaving behind one new Bahá’í in Budapest.

Of her work as a pioneer, Hermine says, “It is not to my credit if people were interested. I am only a tool in the Hand of Bahá’u’lláh.”

Quiz

Continued From Page 5

price. Of course, the individual items may also be purchased separately.

This is the first time that a course developed specifically for the National Treasurer’s Representative program has been made available to the community at large.

We join Counsellor Khan in urging the friends to take advantage of this special opportunity to study an exciting and inspiring topic.

And now, the commercial message over, we return to our mid-summer wake up quiz:

5. Why has America been chosen for its unique mission? (a) America was chosen for some mysterious purpose that will be revealed in the future; (b) America was chosen because of the evils in its society; (c) America was chosen because of the inherent excellence of its people; (d) America was chosen because, as a nation, it has special merit.

6. What is the cause of the evils that afflict American society? (a) Ungodliness; (b) prejudice; (c) materialism; (d) sex and drugs.

7. Name three barriers standing between man and God that hinder man from attaining God’s presence.

wealth

8. Shoghi Effendi has described the “progressive stages” through which a “sore-tried Faith” must pass. Can you arrange the following stages in the correct order? ___ Complete Emancipation ___ Unmitigated Obscurity ___ State Religion ___ Active Repression ___ Independent Faith ___ Bahá’í World Commonwealth

Bahá’í State

Get your own copy of the course “America’s Spiritual Destiny,” dig in and find the answers to these questions.

‘There can be no limit to one’s contributions ...’ National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

Teaching Fever IS CONTAGIOUS!— have YOU Caught the Fever Yet?

[Page 27]

Ten years ago...

... in The American Bahá’í

Thirteen of the 123 preliminary pioneering goals assigned to the U.S. in the Five Year Plan are filled, and an additional 38 pioneers are ready to leave by the end of the year to settle in a dozen more goal communities, according to a report from the International Goals Committee.

The preliminary stage of the new Plan calls for pioneers to settle in 57 countries, islands and territories ...

Nearly 4,500 people have registered to attend the St. Louis conference with registration forms continuing to arrive at the Bahá’í National Center at the rate of about 100 a day ...

The Spiritual Assembly of Baltimore, Maryland, hosts a tea party to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Assembly’s establishment.

Several Bahá’ís who are long-time Baltimore residents share their recollections of the early days of the Faith in Baltimore.

The Baltimore Assembly, the first in that state, was formed in 1909, and that same year its chairman visited ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in ‘Akká and delivered a letter to Him from the Bahá’ís of Maryland ...

Bahá’í youth in Fresno, California, plan a successful week-long proclamation campaign that includes a proclamation by the mayor, radio and newspaper publicity, a booth at a shopping center, and the distribution of more than 8,000 copies of a special “newspaper” that includes information about the Faith and the schedule of activities for the proclamation week.

Bahá’ís address audiences at California State University in Fresno and Fresno City College ...

Six Bahá’í musicians using the name “Day-Star” perform in various localities in northern Idaho and eastern Washington state each weekend under the sponsorship of their District Teaching Committees.

The group appears in ‎Moses Moscow‎, Idaho; Spokane, Wenatchee, Pasco, Seattle, and Walla Walla, Washington, and plans to perform at the St. Louis Conference in August ...

A two-day on-campus proclamation is the first event sponsored by the recently formed Bahá’í Club at Southeastern Massachusetts University in North Dartmouth.

The campaign includes a display of Bahá’í materials in the student union and an article on the Faith in the university’s newspaper.

Ads

Continued From Page 16

thrives with a life of its own. Plans for incorporation are in progress. The present editor/publisher would love to see her vision for the journal grow. Contact Melinda Armstrong, P.O. Box 128, Dover, NH 03820.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed in Pacific Grove, on California’s Monterey Peninsula, whose Assembly is in serious jeopardy. There are three military installations and a large private hospital nearby. The area is cross-cultural, and the climate ideal. For more information please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Pacific Grove, P.O. Box “HF,” Pacific Grove, CA 93950.

CASSETTE tape is urgently needed of the children’s public speaking program that was presented at the first National Bahá’í Child Education Conference by the undersigned on Saturday evening, May 26, at the Bahá’í House of Worship. It would be appreciated if anyone who tape recorded that evening’s program, or anyone who knows someone who did record it, would contact Mrs. Gayle Woolson, 2420 Harrison, Evanston, IL 60202. Will reimburse.

PSYCHIATRIST needed for lovely island in the Caribbean. Information about qualifications can be obtained from the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

MEDIA project on the martyrdoms of Zhinus and Hushang and Shiva Mahmoudi. Need taped or written reminiscences of those who knew them, as well as tapes of their own voices, video and/or film footage from their appearances on media, photos, letters, documents, scientific essays (preferably in English, but Persian acceptable). Please mail to RFR, 52 Prospect Ave., Weston, CT 06883 U.S.A.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed to help consolidate the Spiritual Assembly of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Many employment opportunities in the area including the University of North Carolina and a major teaching hospital; Duke University and hospital; and the Research Triangle Park. Help is available for locating a home and job. For more information, contact Barbara Pyle, secretary, Spiritual Assembly of Chapel Hill, P.O. Box 1065, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, or phone 919-929-3331.

WANTED: The National Bahá’í Archives Committee is seeking diaries and personal recollections of pilgrimages to Haifa, especially for the period 1898-1957. Anyone having such materials which he or she would be willing to donate to the National Bahá’í Archives should write to the Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

YOUR HELP is needed to record history. A book is being compiled on “The Hands of the Cause of God” including short stories, brief biographies, and unique photographs (return assured). Please contact B. Rainwater Nichols, 1215 Holman Way, Sparks, NV 89431, or phone 702-358-7370.

THE BAHÁ’Í community of Huntsville, Texas, needs active Bahá’ís to help strengthen its Assembly. Huntsville is the home of Sam Houston State University, a state-supported school of about 10,500 students that is known for its programs in criminal justice, teacher education, and business. If you are not a student, Huntsville, a city of 25,000 about 60 miles north of Houston, still has much to offer including job opportunities through the school district or the Texas Department of Corrections. Interested? Please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Huntsville, P.O. Box 1836, Huntsville, TX, or phone 409-291-2634.

ST. LUCIA, part of the Windward Islands in the Caribbean, has several medical and health positions opening now and later in 1984. Needed are general practitioners, internists, dentists, radiologists, dermatologists, pediatricians, ophthalmologists, optometrists, obstetrics-gynecologists, urologists, pharmacists, a psychiatrist, dental hygienists, lab technicians, and nurses. For more information contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

ARE YOU “home-schooling” your Bahá’í children or have you formed your own Bahá’í school? If so, please contact us. We are two home-schooling families who wish to correspond with other Bahá’í families with similar interests. Write to Dave and Helene Van Manen, P.O. Box 18, Beulah, CO 81023, or phone 303-485-3191.

HELP! Does anyone out there have extra copies of Release the Sun or All Things Made New? If you have an extra copy of either and don’t mind parting with one or the other, I would be most happy to purchase them from you. Write to Gwynne Taylor, 636 10th Ave. West, Kalispell, MT 59901.

A BAHÁ’Í-RUN school in Honduras needs someone to run its boarding school. This person would have to plan meals, budget and buy provisions, maintain discipline and a home-like atmosphere among the students (boys and girls between 7-16 years). The job provides housing and a salary adequate to support an individual or couple. For more information, write to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

Brittingham

Continued From Page 4

California, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Utah, and very briefly, in Reno, Nevada,” she said. “I have given the Message in one church in Arizona and three in California, to employees of the lunch room of the Great Northern Shipping Dock, Seattle, to army boys at Fort Wright, Spokane, in the state prison, Salt Lake City, and to Metaphysical, Theosophical and many other gatherings in halls and homes, having thus addressed up to January 1, 1919, 133 assemblages.”

HER EFFORTS in Douglas, Arizona, helped establish the first Bahá’í community in that state.

In a moving address which she delivered in Chicago in 1916, Mrs. Brittingham described five of the Tablets of the Divine Plan, recently received from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as the greatest call the Master had ever given to the American Bahá’í community, and urged every Bahá’í to rise up immediately to the field of action in response to His call.

In 1920 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asked Mrs. Brittingham to visit Philadelphia, which she did not once but several times.

During one of her last visits to the Philadelphia home of Ethel and Jessie Revell, Mrs. Brittingham presented a series of radio talks on the principles of perfect justice.

In one of these addresses, entitled “Progress,” she explained the only way in which to establish Divine Law throughout the world without ever mentioning the word “Bahá’í.”

Mrs. Brittingham died January 28, 1924, in the Revell home in Philadelphia.

The beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, acclaimed her “immortal services” and referred to her as a “disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.”

A photograph of Mrs. Brittingham is among those of outstanding champion-builders of the Faith which hang in the Mansion at Bahjí.

In Memoriam

J. Chester Allen Jr. San Diego, CA December 1983	Anna Howard Canon City, CO April 30, 1984	Geneva Pringle Ridgeville, SC July 1979
Shirley Ann Beall Lumpkin, GA Date Unknown	Clarence James Latta, SC 1983	Jake Rogers Washington, NC Date Unknown
Curtis Bell Terrell, TX Date Unknown	Elijah James Latta, SC 1981	Earl Royster Salem, MA August 12, 1983
Sarah Bradley Lumpkin, GA Date Unknown	Dellena Joyner Washington, NC Date Unknown	Naomi W. Smith Wake Forest, NC March 1984
Bill Brice Terrell, TX Date Unknown	David Koonce Ayden, NC Date Unknown	Ida Mae Thomas Lumpkin, GA Date Unknown
Thomas Brooks Esmont, VA October 3, 1982	Kenneth Loban Coos Bay, OR May 3, 1984	Olivia Tilton Dayton, TX Date Unknown
Amie Carter Terrell, TX Date Unknown	Timothy Martinez San Luis, CO February 1984	Clemme Timmons Avondale, AZ May 1983
Lovelia Cobbs New York, NY January 13, 1984	Marie McCullough New York, NY March 8, 1984	Florence Tisdell Latta, SC 1979
Eddie Cooper Charleston Hts, SC Date Unknown	Claudie McFadden Greeleyville, SC Date Unknown	Betty Tyson Carrollton, GA Date Unknown
Mrs. Bama Edens Port Arthur, TX Date Unknown	Evelyn Miller Omaha, NE January 13, 1984	Edna N. Voigt Brookfield, WI April 29, 1984
Moses Edwards Latta, SC 1983	Peter Minute Wake Forest, NC 1979	Christine Walker St. Albans, NY May 12, 1984
Laura K. Eiler Gahanna, OH January 24, 1984	Eulalia Olivares Laveen, AZ Date Unknown	James Williams Tamms, IL September 1982
Gar Frazier Terrell, TX Date Unknown	Amy Parker Columbia, SC Date Unknown	Pearl Williams Dillon, SC Date Unknown
Gwendolyn Frazier Moncks Corner, SC December 1983	Gracie Preston Independence, KS September 16, 1983
Dave Gay Ridgeville, SC March 1984	Eva Pringle Ridgeville, SC February 1984

[Page 28]

Letters

Continued From Page 3

useful lessons in my professional practice. For example, the foundation of healing is the self-effacing caring for others.

This allows one to dispassionately identify the obstacles to a patient’s well-being and remove them. Then the healing power of God can transfuse the individual and produce health.

Is this different from teaching? I think not.

There is a subtle yet profound danger in applying the American cultural practices of “salesmanship” to obtaining enrolments.

The salesman is encouraged through meetings and symposia to see himself as the source of influence on a prospective customer. When teaching is considered as “sales,” this cultural attitude, of which the American may be entirely unaware, becomes an obstacle to the seeker.

The salesman is also taught to be aggressive. This aggressiveness is not appropriate in a matter as intimate as religion. An unbridled aggressiveness can damage a community and other Bahá’ís.

Let us carefully apply the norm of the Guardian as our primary means of obtaining enrolments. Remember, enrollment is not an end but a stage in the teaching process which does not specifically end until that seeker will “arise independently, in his turn, and devote his energies to the quickening of other souls, and the upholding of the laws and principles laid down by his newly adopted Faith.” (The Advent of Divine Justice, 1941 ed., pp. 43-44)

Dr. R.C. Morrow Katy, Texas

To the Editor:

I’ve been thinking about the imperative need for single adults of all ages to have fellowship with other singles throughout the world.

This need has met with much controversy, and apparently no conclusion has been derived from it. It, however, becomes greater with each passing day.

Perhaps the National Assembly should dwell on setting up some guidelines for addressing the situation. The youth conferences seem to be well organized and thriving—why should we single adults be any different?

I’d like to propose to the editors that we start an adult “pen pal club,” if nothing else for starters. It would be up to the honor of those who join it to conduct the sort of correspondence that is in keeping with the Bahá’í way of life.

We single Bahá’ís are many in number, and we are reaching out to our Faith in the hope that with a better balance in our lives we may be able to better serve the Cause.

Recently I joined an organization for single adults that, morally, leaves much to be desired. I do not feel comfortable there, and the men I’ve met are accustomed to anything but a Bahá’í lifestyle.

I hope this letter will be given some consideration, as my primary interest is spreading the good news of the Bahá’í Faith.

Geneva Evans Carrizosa Compton, California

To the Editor:

People will always talk about a subject they find interesting. If we have a profession, a hobby, a sport we enjoy, or if we find literature, art, music or a craft interesting, we enjoy talking about it.

WE WILL talk non-stop about food or the latest film or television show. Why, then, will Bahá’ís not talk about the Faith, not only to strangers but to a large extent even among themselves?

In other words, why don’t we Bahá’ís give the Glad Tidings?

In my opinion, we no longer do so because we no longer feel glad or happy about the Bahá’í Faith.

The reason, I believe, is that we have failed to bring the masses into the Faith and to support the Funds, and also because there is in Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings a promise of peace, love and spiritual joy that eludes us as individuals and as a community. How did this happen?

We have turned the Faith of God into a “fun and games” social group that sometimes tickles our palate but leaves us undernourished as far as the inner and deeper verities of religion are concerned.

We have established a mutual admiration social club based on a superficial love of people instead of on the love of Bahá’u’lláh and His Teachings.

WE HAVE also followed every modern gimmick from balloons to T-shirts to psychological fads to cult movements. With all of this, we seem to have forgotten that the Bahá’í Faith is a religion.

The Bahá’í Faith teaches that “the core of religion is that mystic feeling that unites man with God” and that “this comes from prayer and meditation.”

To me, this means that we should commune with the Spirit of God and meditate on His attributes of love and beauty, peace and joy, etc. These are the spiritual attributes we can establish in ourselves and offer as a precious gift to all those who cross our path.

Bahá’u’lláh is speaking to each one of us: “Forget the world and commune with My Spirit, this is the essence of My command.”

Enlightenment, the chief individual goal of religion, is the establishment of a day-by-day, moment-by-moment awareness of the Presence of God. Who else can we turn to for protection, guidance and courage in this fast deteriorating world?

We must inspire, through our common endeavors, the ordinary Bahá’í to talk freely and joyfully about the Faith, and reduce to a minimum the time- and money-consuming public meetings and “celebrity” speakers that have proven so ineffective.

If the entire community is not taught to teach, we will fail. Mass enrollments can come only from mass teaching.

We must move the Faith back to the neighborhood and the home. The themes of “Each One Teach One” and “Heart to Heart” teaching have not been improved upon.

How much time do we have left?

Charles Beachner Santa Rosa, California

To the Editor:

At the 1984 National Convention, Firuz Kazemzadeh said that as few as 35 letters from a congressman’s constituency could cause him to champion an issue.

It is letters to legislators that help them design the best platforms and plans.

When Americans vote, they are voting on platforms and promises based upon lobbying by special interest groups, letters from voters, and some degree, hopefully, of a legislator’s wisdom.

The vote is merely a choice between two or more already formulated sets of ideas. If I understand correctly, the time to have input into the issues is before the elections.

Most Bahá’ís I have talked to fear that writing to legislators is partisan politics. So the wisdom arising from the Teachings, which Shoghi Effendi says is the one remedial scheme for the reorganization of the world (World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 36-38) is not flowing through this powerful channel.

We know that we are not to write as Bahá’ís or in the name of the Faith unless directed by the National Assembly. And we are not, as individuals, to contact local authorities and persons of national or international prominence without the approval of the Local or National Assembly (National Bahá’í Review, No. 57, September 1972, p. 7). Nor are we to support or work against particular parties or candidates.

The question is, may we as individual Americans, without mentioning the Faith, acquaint our local or national legislators with the specific guidance concerning modern problems that is available to us?

MAY WE, without mentioning the Faith, express our opinion about actions to be taken in areas such as human rights, education, justice, etc.?

Of course, not every Bahá’í would express the same opinion in the same way, and some of us would express ideas that were incorrect. Letters from constituents are usually not a source of exact details for social change; they are a force for social change.

In this writer’s opinion, writing to legislators is not only not partisan politics, but is part of a citizen’s responsibility.

When the ideas and encouragement of Bahá’ís is withheld, it seems to me the only source of contact between the legislators and the information they need is severely blocked.

I would like to see some dialogue on this issue in The American Bahá’í. And of course, any guidance the National Assembly can give on this is most welcome.

I’m sure there are others like myself who occasionally write to a legislator on an issue, then throw the letter away, not certain that to express an opinion is not meddling in politics.

Rouha Rose Normandy Park, Washington

Hand of Cause Khadem special guest at Massanetta Springs Bahá’í School

“Threshold of Light” is the theme of the 1984 Massanetta Springs Bahá’í School to be held August 31-September 2 in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Special guests will include the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem; Soo Fouts, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly; and Auxiliary Board members Robert Harris, Javidukht Khadem and Nathan Rutstein.

Rates are $58 (semi-private room with bath) or $38 (dorm) for adults, and $29 (semi-private room with bath) or $19 (dorm) for children.

The site has a capacity of 600, and recreational facilities include tennis and swimming.

Registrations must be received by August 20. Write to the registrar, Verbis Counts, Vienna, VA, or phone 703-556-0507.