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Volume 17, Issue 3

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[Page 1]

The

merican

Baha’

‘The real treasury of man is his knowledge.’—Bahá’u’lláh

Volume 17, No. 3

March 1986

On November 18, the eve of the Reagan/Gorbachev Summit Conference, Baha’is in the Oklahoma City area joined with members of other religions in a ‘Summit InterFaith Worship Service.’ Mrs. Iran

Toosi spoke about the Baha’i outlook on peace, and Baha’is were asked to host 30 minutes of the worship service by offering prayers. Pictured (foreground) is one of the Baha’i children at the ser vice, Jimmy Busby of The Village, Oklahoma. (Photo from the November 19, 1985, issue of The Dai: ly Oklahoman. Copyright © 1985, The Oklahoma Publishing Co.)

Baha’is

The Baha’i National Center continues to receive exciting reports about activities associated with the presentation of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace’’ to organizations and individuals throughout the country.

Among the more recent reports are these:

© The Baha’is at Whitman College, Washington, presented a lecture series about the Baha’i Faith, the promise of peace, and the role of women in helping to achieve it. Among the results was a half-page article in the Walla Walla Union Bulletin.

In Webster, New York, the

Baha’is sent the peace statement to all local clergy, choosing to present it first to churches because Baha’u’llah said that religion is

“the greatest of all means for the

National Assembly responds to advice

The following is a summary of the National Spiritual Assembly’s responses to recommendations by the delegates at the 1985 Baha’i National Convention. Also included are responses to some of the suggestions made.

1. Publish 12 lesson plan books or textbooks on all aspects of the Faith for grades 1-12.

Response: The National Teaching Committee is developing materials for a sequenced Baha’i curriculum for children that will accommodate the cultural and social diversity of our national community. In addition, many resources are presently available to help the friends in developing their own lesson plans.

2. Consider appointing a national committee on peace.

Response: This is under consid eration by the National Spiritual Assembly.

3. Publish successful models of teaching in The American Baha’i in enough detail that other communities will consider trying similar methods in their own area.

Response: In preparing articles for The American Bahd’s from the reports it receives, the National Teaching Committee does try to include detailed information so that this is possible.

4. Adopt the budget as proposed by the National Spiritual Assembly.

5. Adopt a “‘secret”’ goal of $9 million.

Response: The proposed budget of $8.3 million was adopted. The National Assembly did not estab See RESPONSES page 4

Viewpoint. . Letters . The Funds. IGC: Pioneering. Youth News.... Education Teaching . Distribution Service

REGULAR FEATURES

Publishing Trust. Classifieds Spanish. . Persian/American United Nations. The Media... Native Americans In Memoriam....

interest from ind

the U.S.A.

The American Baha’i (USPS 042-430) is published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, $36 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Office of Membership and Records, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091: Editor: Jack Bowers. Associate editor: Laura E, Hildreth. The American Baha’i welcomes news, letters and other items of juals and the various institutions of the Faith. Articles should be written in a clear and concise manner; color or black and white glossy photographs should be included whenever possible. Please address all materials to The Editor, The American Bahá’í, Wilmette, IL 60091. Copyright ° 1986 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahd’js of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in

The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears (left) receives a ‘Fireside Teaching Doll’ courtesy

of Fannie Jude of Huntsville, Alabama, from Counsellor Robert Harris,

Mr. Sears’ challenge: 20,000 contributions to Fund in 20 days

A third ‘smashing victory’ for the Faith before the end of the Seven Year Plan—20,000 contributions to the National Bahd’{ Fund in 20 days—is the latest challenge to the American Bahd’{ community from the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears.

During the month of the Fast and Naw-Rúz, Mr. Sears said in a tape-recorded message for the Feast of Mulk, Baha’is throughout the country ‘‘will demonstrate their love for the Faith’’ by offering continuous outpourings to the National Fund.

He is calling on us, he said, ‘to perform the ‘hat trick,’ as they say in hockey—three great victories in

a row. “For us together,’’ said Mr. Sears, ‘‘ it’s a breeze. In fact, this one is in the bag,’’ he added, recalling with confidence and enthusiasm two other recent victories for the Cause of God—the construction of WLGI Radio and the fireside teaching campaign.

“The Baha’i Fund,”’ Mr. Sears asserted, ‘‘is the life-blood of the planet. And the condition of the Fund is a measure of our Faith.””

The plan he has set forth for the period of the Fast, he said, ‘‘is quite simple and entirely within our capacity.””

See CHALLENGE page 4

arise,

carry ‘Promise’ throughout U.S.

establishment of order in the world.”” The Baha’is also asked for prayers for religious unity on January 19, World Religion Day.

In Los Altos, California, Baha’is participated in a library exhibit on world peace.

© In Fenton, Missouri, a Baha’i negotiated for space for a ‘‘nonreligious’’ peace exhibit by volunteering to design and set it up. The display will feature books available at the library related to the major themes of the House of Justice’s peace statement.

In Decatur, Illinois, ‘The Promise of World Peace’ was presented January 6 to members of the city council during its monthly meeting. Mayor Gary Anderson of Decatur proclaimed 1986 ‘‘The Year of Peace’’ in Decatur. The proclamation offered “the hope that all our citizens will strive to eliminate the barriers to peace found within our own com See PROMISE page 4

Vendors are invited to apply for space at peace conference

The planning committee for the Baha’i International Peace Conference to be held August 28-31 in San Francisco, California, is inviting applications for vendors who wish to sell merchandise at the conference.

Groups or organizations interested in selling items should write to Mrs. Carol Yetken, Conference Coordinator, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Applications will be accepted through May 15.

“Space for vendors will be limited,” says Mrs. Yetken. “When we receive a written request from a potential vendor we’ll send him an application and the guidelines for vendors that have been established by the planning committee.”

Requests for applications should be marked ‘‘Peace Conference Vendor Application”? on the outside of the envelope.

[Page 2]2 / The American Baha’i / March 1986

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Lt | VIEWPOINT

Recently I was contacted by the National Spiritual Assembly and asked to speak to the individual believers in this area about the urgent needs of the National Fund.

The request led me to do some serious thinking, which in turn led me to write down my thoughts.

As you know, the National Fund is responsible for paying the bills for our National Center, its projected and realized satellite organizations (home for the aged, hospital, etc.), our lovely House of Worship, and all the programs and activities we are so privileged to take part in.

Most important, the Fund is responsible for the monies put into teaching the Faith.

The Faith is the hope of the world, It is the only viable future for the children of the world. Not just those children ‘‘over there’’the ones who are starving to death in Ethiopia, the ones ravaged by war in Nicaragua or Pakistan, the ones ‘‘accidentally”’ killed in Beirut, the ones torn from their Baha’i parents in Iran, the ones denied their God-given rights in South Africa, the ones savaged by the street environment in New York and other large American cities, or even the ones who are abused by their own families right next door.

No, the Faith is the last hope of our children—yours and mine. It is to that future, to that last hope, that our money goes when we give to the Fund.

Until the principles taught by Bahá’u’lláh have been woven into the very fabric of society at every level—but most important, at its most fundamental levels: the individual and family—there will always be huge grain reserves and starving children, the merest hope of peace and the awesome threat of imminent global or local war, diverse and fragmented groups of concerned people and a general apathy, people who care and governments that do not, parents lovingly raising their children and adolescents who take their own lives in desperation.

Our contributions to the National Fund give this struggling community the material means to spread the principles of the Faith far and wide.

They need not be large contributions; we all know that. We all know that the principle of universal participation is the most important element of our physical contribution to the Administrative

by Darian Smith, Apex, North Carolina

World Order worth more than gold

This month’s column, “‘A Comment on the National Fund,’”’ was written by Maya K. Bohnhoff of Grass Valley, California.

Order.

A dollar each month from every registered Baha’i in the U.S. would wipe out our debts and lay the foundation for progress that would not only benefit the Baha’i institutions but would allow the: American community to become more actively involved in an outreach to every man, woman and child in this country.

A mere dollar! And if a dollar is out of reach, send a quarter, a dime, a nickel or even a penny. The fact that you give is all important.

And our goal—to bring more of humanity under the banner of the Cause of God—is it a materialistic goal? A ‘‘numbers game’’? Hardly—although I’ve heard that said and used as an excuse mot to “‘trust’” our elected bodies with our hard-earned cash.

I can’t help but feel that this kind of sentiment is not only defeating to the Faith, but shortsighted and, frankly, superficial.

This Faith, given to us by a loving Creator, is the only way to provide, for future generations, a world free from fear—without desperation, apathy, hatred, confusion, futility.

We spend our money on things for our children—toys that become broken, clothes that are outworn, belongings that are discarded as the child grows to adulthood. Can we not afford to spend a little on the quality of their future?

Consider this: the money we cherish so dearly—and indeed the things we buy with it—are not ours. Everything we “‘possess’’ is merely loaned to us by our Creator for the duration of our stay here.

We borrow the money, we use it, we die, and the money is no longer ours. It still belongs to God and is loaned to someone else—inherited, perhaps, by our children.

Spirituai well-being, the love of God—these are the things we can truly possess. These are the things that cannot be taken from us.

We can pass these things along to our children, and in doing so provide them with the tools to continue to forge a world that is a secure, safe and sane place in which to live.

It won’t come about through prayer alone. Nor through meditation. Nor charitable works. Nor good intentions. Nor wishful thinking. Nor donations to charitable organizations whose remedy affects only one symptom or another.

To make it come about, we must give our prayers, our thoughts, our energies, our dreams, our best wishes, and our material wealth.

After all, we are only returning to God a small part of what He has so generously given us. He’s

not asking for all, only a portion.

And in return, He has promised us a very great thing—the Kingdom of God on earth, a day that will not be followed by night, the Most Great Peace.

Can’t we afford to spend a little ‘on that?

Shown with their Louis G. Gregory Awards for Service to Humanity are Dr. H. Elsie Austin (center) of Silver Spring Maryland, the first Bahá’í to receive the

award, and Dr. Elaine Brown of

Philadelphia. The awards were presented on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly at a ceremony last May 5 in Glenside, Pennsylvania, by Steven Barnes of

Washington, D.C. Seated behind Mr. Barnes and the recipients are members of Philadelphia’s ‘Singing City’ chorus, which Dr. Brown founded 37 years ago.

National Assembly’s Louis Gregory Awards given to Drs. Austin, Brown

The Louis G. Gregory Awards for Service to Humanity were presented last May 5 on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly to Dr. H. Elsie Austin of Silver Spring, Maryland, and Dr. Elaine Brown of Philadelphia.

The awards program in Glenside, Pennsylvania, entitled ‘‘To Move the World’’ and attended by nearly 200 people, about half of whom were not Baha’is, was arranged by the Spiritual Assembly of Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Austin gave an address on the achievements and contributions to humanity of the Hand of.

the Cause of God Louis Gregory, for whom the award is named.

After the awards were presented on behalf of the National Assembly by Steven Barnes of Washington, D.C., Dr. Brown led a select group from Philadelphia’s ‘‘Singing City’’ Choir, which she founded 37 years ago, in concert.

The Louis Gregory Awards, established by the National Spiritual Assembly in 1968, were designed and constructed by Vernon Voelz, a noted American sculptor from Sarasota, Florida, who graciously came out of partial retirement to make the awards for this occasion.

Dr. Austin, a lecturer, author and teacher with a background in human relations and law, has traveled all over the world as a volunteer and as an official representative of various national and international organizations. While with the U.S. State Department, she worked with women’s organizations in 13 African countries.

The first black woman graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Law, Dr. Austin was also the first black woman to serve as an Assistant Attorney General

See AWARDS page 17 [Page 3]

LETTERS

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

The American Bahá’í welcomes letters to the editor on any topic of general interest. The purpose of the “‘letters’” column is to allow a free and open exchange of ideas and opinions, never to denigrate another’s opinion or to 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, Baha’i_ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

To the Editor:

Do Assemblies consult often and in depth on the cost-effectiveness of the hard-earned dollars they spend?

Shoghi Effendi’s management of the properties on Mount Carmel deserves careful study and emulation.

We have heard Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khanum speak of how the Guardian would stand in the rain and cold for up to 10 hours in order to most effectively supervise operations.

On one occasion he asked for estimates for building a service road related to the construction work on the International Archives Building. An American known to all of us brought in a bid which the Guardian found too high. He asked Muhammad Baha’i, a collateral descendant of Baha’u’llh, to look into the situation, and the result was that the road was built for perhaps a tenth the original bid.

“Abdu’l-Bahá provided us with excellent examples of superior financial management when He acquired properties near the southern-end of the Lake of Galilee, lands that were later exchanged for properties in the precincts of the Most Holy Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. He advised the Baha’is in Adasiyyih to plant banana trees, and they did so to their extreme economic benefit.

We have great and unused managerial expertise in the Faith. Perhaps the National Assembly should invite an expert to produce criteria on the optimal allocation of our limited resources. Local Assemblies could benefit greatly from such guidelines which should lead to profitable consultation.

The counsel of Jesus that one should calculate the cost of building a house before erecting it lest one become the laughingstock of the neighborhood may have applications for teaching and other projects.

The children of Baha should be wiser in their day and generation than the children of this world. Assemblies can provide fascinating case studies, revealing a host of do’s and don’ts.

Robert L. Gulick Jr. Glendale, Arizona

To the Editor:

I recently arrived for a threemonth stay at the Amoz Gibson Project and am overwhelmed by the need for long-term people here.

It’s wonderful to have people

coming for a week or two. But in only two days I’ve seen the great importance of personal relationships with seekers and new Baha’is.

In two days I’ve spoken to six people who have said, ‘Will you come again tomorrow?’’ Unfortunately, this is simply not possibl

The demands of supervising Feasts for 19 communities (with a half-hour drive to each), organizing the election of new Assemblies (which cannot be done simply by calling a group meeting), etc., takes so much time.

Think about how you came into the Faith. How would you have progressed if you had contact with only one Baha’i (and a different one at that) once every two or three months?

We're all aware of the reasons for not being able to pioneer: no money, family responsibilities, job, etc. But if you can’t go, remember that only $35 a week is needed to deputize a pioneer.

Perhaps groups of friends could deputize someone together. The AGP would appreciate a commitment of one year’s time.

If deputees can’t come for that long, come anyway! Once you’re there you won’t be able to leave.

Yes, it’s not always possible to go pioneering, but how wonderful it is to be able to tell ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, “‘I cou/dn’t go, but I saw to it that someone else did.””

Write to the Amoz Gibson Project, P.O. Box 508, St. Francis, SD 57572, or phone 605-747-2302.

Devon Matsumoto St. Francis, South Dakota

To the Editor:

You printed a letter (November) from Thomas F. Armistead about the peace movement ‘‘Beyond War,’’ which, he wrote, ‘‘shares the same goals, motivations and methods”’ as the Baha’is.

We are encouraged to work with other groups that are working for the same things we are. Is there a way we can work with them besides telling people about them?

I wrote to Creative Initiative,

- Palo Alto, CA

94301, for information and liked their response.

Carolyn des Granges

Roxbury, Massachusetts

To the Editor:

Since anyone who read J.F. Strain’s letter (September) may have been left with the impression that John Solarz must give his permission or receive royalties for the use of the ‘‘Love That Child’’ logo, the following facts should be presented.

“Love That Child’’ was created by me for the National Spiritual Assembly under the direction of the National Information Committee during my tenure as National Information Officer from August 1978-June 1979. The objective was to create a multi-media public awareness campaign for the UN’s International Year of the Child.

The ‘‘Love That Child’’ theme and all copy were created by me and approved by the National Information Committee. It was decided that all the materials should be produced and distributed by the Baha’i Publishing Trust.

Dr. Betty Fisher, general editor of the Trust, and I coordinated the production of all the print materials—brochures, ad slicks, posters, bookmarks and so on, and the reproduction of all the audio-visual materials.

John Solarz was employed by the Publishing Trust at that time as an artist and designer. He was asked to design a logo for the campaign, which he did, and for which he was paid.

It would seem to me that this designation on a brochure published by the Trust settles once and for all the issue of who owns the ‘‘Love That Child’’ copyright.

Also, ad slicks carrying the logo were distributed through the Trust, and these were either purchased or mailed free (I can’t remember which), so it would seem that any Spiritual Assembly or individual would need only to ask permission from the National Spiritual Assembly for use of that logo. Part of the purpose of obtaining copyrights is to protect the Faith from use of its Sacred Writings and any other of its published materials by unauthorized groups or individuals.

While Dr. Fisher, Mr. Solarz and I were all paid for the work we did on the ‘‘Love That Child’”” campaign, a number of Baha’is made enormous contributions of time, resources and considerable talents to make the campaign the success that it was, among them:

Donna Kime, who wrote the

“Love That Child’? theme song and donated the use of her recording studio for production of the song and audio announcements.

Kevin Schuler, who took the

well-known photo of the little black boy and white girl with their arms around each other, and contributed other photos for ad slicks.

Kurt Hein, who edited the

brochure and gave much-needed suggestions concerning its content.

° The National Spiritual Assembly and its employees, who provided the much-needed support and encouragement for a project of such magnitude to be undertaken.

And of course, Baha’is the

world over who purchased the materials and used them to proclaim the Faith so that the time and expense invested were not in vain.

It was an honor and a privilege for me to have been able to serve the National Assembly as National Information Officer, and to have had the opportunity to create the “Love That Child’’ campaign. It certainly was a year to remember.

Susan Lewis St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

To the Editor:

I believe that not enough emphasis is made, locally or nationally, to encourage attendance at Baha’i summer schools by everyone regardless of age.

For the past six years, Wisconsin has had a Baha’ summer school. Everyone who has attended has given the school committee every indication that the school far exceeded their expectation, and most of them return year after year.

The facilities, food, courses for

The American Baha’i / March 1986 / 3

adults and children, recreational activities, close association with other Baha’is, and efficiency of scheduling all make the Wisconsin summer school one of the best in the Midwest—and, the committee feels, one of the best in the country.

~ Imagine five days in a total Baha’i atmosphere with no outside world influences! It’s an experience every family and every adult and child should have at least once a year.

Please place next July 21-25 on your calendar for 1986 and give yourself a glimpse of the future!

The name of the school is Camp Byron. It’s in Brownsville, Wisconsin, a few miles south and west of Fond du Lac.

Oops! I almost forgot an important fact: the cost! The four nights’ lodging, four breakfasts, five lunches, four suppers, registration, all materials and classes, and the recreational facilities which include a swimming pool and nature trails, has in the past cost only $90 for adults, $40 for children ages 5-9, and was free for children under age five.

The committee hasn’t set the prices for 1986 yet, but keeps the fees as low as possible based on expected attendanc

low Baha’is and their families in Wisconsin next July.

Robert B. Amerson

Waukesha, Wisconsin

To the Editor:

Recently, the Dallas-Fort Worth (Texas) Metroplex Baha’ is (we have about 30 Assemblies and Groups in the area) have been working closely with and supporting United Nations Association (UNA) activities and events.

We cooperated with them on a very successful United Nations Day program October 24 and are planning an even more extensive public program with them on Human Rights Day, December 10.

A number of individuals in our area have joined or were planning to join the Dallas UNA. Then we, in discussions among ourselves, concluded that it would be much more productive to join as Assemblies or Groups, allowing much more flexibility. We are en couraging all the Baha’i communities in our area to do this. In discussing this with the U.S. United Nations office in New York, I was made aware that not many Baha’i Assemblies or Groups have done this. The annual membership fee in Dallas is

$35.

Since Baha’is and Baha’i communities have been cooperating with UNAs around the world for these past 37 years, this would seem to be a way in which to solidify and further coordinate Baha’i United Nations activities.

Dick Suhm Public Affairs Officer Dallas, Texas

To the Editor:

I was happy to read the letter from Carol Walborn (December). It brings some needed illumination to matters in the Faith that are not usually known because of confidentiality.

At a time when the Bahda’{ world is being swept by fresh winds of the peace statement and the message on involvement in social and economic development from the House of Justice, it is good to examine these issues and to encourage a dialogue about them.

Recently our Assembly was pressured by some community members to exercise its duty to be more strict about the laws. I was disturbed by this, and it led me to much soul-searching about the role of Assemblies in relation to the moral laws of the Faith.

First, I don’t believe that anyone has ever been able to dictate morality to any other person. This can only lead to estrangement or hypocrisy, not true spiritual growth.

To me, virtue is a state of being, a spiritual quality to be inspired, not forced. It has to come from an inner decision, an inner determination, or it is a fraud.

If we abdicate our moral decisions to any group of people, we become dependent children again. I don’t mean by this that an Assembly cannot play an active role in communicating the principles and being a source of inspiration

See LETTERS page 27

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[Page 4]4/ The American Baha’i / March 1986

AUNT FLY’S HELPFUL HINTS

‘FAST’ FOODS By Fly A. Wayholm

With half of the old World Order seemingly obsessed with dieting during these winter months, it’s time we Baha’js also turned our attention to our diet.

A life of hurry and rush doesn’t leave much time for “spiritual nutrients’’ either. If it’s a quick breakfast of coffee and juice, a few fries and chicken nuggets for lunch, and gourmet microwave entrees for dinner, what happens to prayer and meditation?

And what about those other rich foods such as the long obligatory prayer, the Fire Tablet, deepening in the Writings, teaching one’s children, and acts of love and holiness?

I ask you, do we have time to feed ourselves really well? Is our spiritual diet to be as abbreviated as our culinary habits?

Perhaps if we could schedule a really complete meal for weekends we might get by during rush-rush days with some ‘‘quick food snacks.”

Served attractively, our Baha’i “‘fast food’’ needn’t be too high in saturated fats and calories and can provide the proper nutrients for those busy days. It’s better than starving!

Why, last week, chasing around all day, I nearly fainted from spiritual dehydration. I don’t want that to happen again.

You will agree that one should never go without breakfast, won’t you? Your soul needs at least a few calories to run on for the morning ride, if nothing else.

For starters, a one-page morsel from the Bahá’í DayBook provides some quick nourishment to boost one’s spiritual circulation.

Then, how about your midmorning coffee break? For light refreshment at this time of day, I always prefer a song snack to give me a little lift. The ‘Hawaiian Unity Song’’ whistled, hummed or sung heightens life’s flavors and reduces hunger pangs.

If you’ve been eating properly during the morning, you won’t be so ravenous at lunch and you can “Let Thy Beauty to be my food, and Thy Presence my drink.’’

Beauty really makes a nutritious lunch, is high in emotional content, yet isn’t overly filling. I hate going through the afternoon with that drowsy, lethargic feeling from over-eating.

If dinner has to be on the run, you won’t leave the table hungry after a light dessert of nine “Greatest Names’’ as the perfect finishing touch, your perfect noncaloric sweetener.

Ah, but it’s hard to get through those long evening hours without a favorite snack, isn’t it?

You probably remember something in your distant past that you associate with warm fuzzies, or for which you have a special weakness. For me, it’s The Hidden Words.

Gosh! I have almost no resistance to them. Just one or two is addictive, and I find myself devouring them all!

For an all-purpose snack food, probably nothing has more balanced vitamins and minerals than

See AUNT FLY page 28

Promise

from page 1

munity.’”

© The village Board of Trustees in Wilmette, Illinois, site of the Baha’i House of Worship, also passed a resolution in January designating 1986 as the “‘Year of Peace’’ in Wilmette and mentioning the ‘‘lofty ideals’? embodied in the peace statement. In December, the members of the Board received copies of the statement from Dr. Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, who presented them on behalf of the Spiritual Assembly of Wilmette.

In Ashland, Oregon, an interview with local Baha’is about the peace statement led to a three-column article in the local newspaper about the statement, the Faith, and plans to distribute the statement to government officials and others.

© The Baha’is of Howard County, Maryland, presented the peace statement to county officials during a luncheon at a local restaurant. Those receiving the document included the county executive, council members, the president of the school board, police chief, library director, and representatives of county offices and private organizations including the county Peace Action Committee.

Challenge

from page 1

First, said Mr. Sears, ‘‘we are going to vie with each other.

“That’s VIE—Victorious Individual Effort; or, if you prefer, Very Important Enterprise.

“We shall accomplish this amazing, heroic victory,’’ he added, ‘‘during the month of the Fast ...

“The 19 days of the Fast plus one day, Naw-Rúz itself, making 20 days in all.

“The number 20 becomes very significant and important to us because during this wonderful fasting month, each one of these 20,000 contributions will be dedicated to the 20,000 martyrs who gave their lives for us during the days of the Dawn-breakers20,000 for 20,000.

“The sky’s the limit,” said Mr. Sears, ‘‘and first prize is already in your hands if you arise in that spirit.”

During the past year we have seen Baha’is rising to several important challenges including the presentation of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace’’ to representatives at the highest levels of American government.

Simultaneously, the condition of the Baha’i Fund has been steadily strengthened, reflecting the increased level of activity in the American Baha’i community.

By putting all of our actions, prayers and spiritual energy into achieving one of the greatest single victories of the Seven Year Plan—20,000 contributions to the National Baha’i Fund in a 20-day period—we will, in the words of Mr. Sears, ‘‘astonish and arouse the entire Baha’i world,’’ and “‘together, win the greatest single victory of the Seven Year Plan and end the plan on another note of joyous triumph.””

the Village Board of Niles, Illinois, received the peace statement as a part of the agenda at their regular meeting. ‘Before’? and “after’’ articles appeared in the local paper.

© In Lansing, Michigan, an article in the local paper headlined “Local Baha’is Delivering Message of Peace’’ announced plans for distribution of the statement to state and government officials, organizations, associations and friends.

© In Fairfield, Iowa, a Baha’i responded to a letter to the editor of the local paper in which the peace statement was criticized, stating that differences in interpretation of Holy Scripture had caused many divisions within and among religions. He then quoted the passage from the peace statement about the challenge facing religious leaders.

© In Pensacola, Florida, Baha’i Lynda Couture, who writes a weekly column in The Pensacola Voice, a black-oriented newspaper, offered the peace statement to the editor who divided it into two parts and printed it in successive issues of the weekly paper.

© In Hemingway, South Carolina, the District Teaching Committee presented the statement to the mayor at a gathering at the Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute. The speaker was Dr. Roy Jones, the director of the Gregory Institute.

Meanwhile, news continues to be received from other countries about their use of the peace statement including peace conferences, press coverage, and presentations. For example:

More than 250 participants,

half of whom were not Baha’is, attended a National Peace Conference in Hawaii to inaugurate the International Year of Peace.

Among those attending were all the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Hawaii; two Counsellors; Auxiliary Board members; representatives of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Council of Churches, the Alliance for Peace, Ground Zero, the University of Hawaii, and many other academic, civic and peace organizations.

The dynamic, spiritually charged and emotionally moving spi of the conference affected Baha’is and non-Baha’is alike, unleashing a powerful energy for peace.

Quite different but also significant were four seminars on

Education for International Cooperation organized by the Spiritual Assembly of Albano Laziale, Italy.

Although attendance was small, the seminars triggered widespread comment, interest and applause as far away as Rome.

During the seminar, two of Canada’s leading Marxist scholars and a Marxist expert on Central American politics presented the

Marxist position, history and viewpoint on the nature of man and society.

Although they did not concede their fundamentally different position, the Marxist representatives remarked at the close of the meeting on the beauty of the Baha’i vision, and expressed their admiration for the atmosphere of intellectual search, substantive discussion and freedom from dogma.

For their part, the Baha’i representatives were inspired to make further efforts in their study of the Writings to generate the necessary conceptual tools for applying the Revelation to the affairs of humankind and to develop a consistent framework of thinking and ways of expressing it in words that can communicate with those who are more familiar with current, ever-changing and differing world views and philosophies.

a

Mayor Robert Whiting of Dover, New Hampshire, receives a copy of the book Waging Peace from

and Kay Cichon after proclaiming September 17 ‘International Day of Peace’ in Dover.

Dover Baha’is Sharon Lester (left)

Responses from page 1

lish a ‘‘secret’’ goal, but did increase the budget to $8.7 million in early summer.

6. Send each believer 50 cents to keep or return as a contribution.

Response: The National Assembly did not adopt this suggestion.

7. Make available the slide presentation ‘‘The Plan of God’’ shown at the Convention in conjunction with the National Teaching Committee presentation.

Response: A video tape which was made from the slide program is now available as part of the “Effective Teaching’? workshop.

8. Set dates for the delegates to give post-Convention reports throughout the country.

Response: This is under consideration as part of a program to better coordinate delegate reports.

9. Evaluate our fund-raising methods and consider the successJul methods used by other organizations.

Response: Many Baha’ professionals with expertise in fundraising and finance met last July as a National Baha’i Fund Advi ory Task Force to address this i sue. Several of the ideas that resulted from the meeting were implemented and have proven to be quite effective.

10. Encourage district commit. tees to use computers for maintaining membership lists.

Response: The Data Processing Office and the Computer and Telecommunications Committee are working on developing ways in which to make it easier for regional and local agencies to maintain computerized membership lists.

11. Focus attention on the financial needs of specific projects

that could be undertaken with sufficient funds.

Response: This is being done. The District Convention Fund brochure, and articles and ads in The American Baha’i, have emphasized projects such as the distribution of the peace statement and the fulfillment of our pledge to the World Centre. An educational program for children has also been developed to focus attention on the needs of the House of Worship in India.

Set a numerical goal for automatic deduction contributors and publicize its status in The American Baha’i.

Response: The National Assembly is considering such a goal. The progress of this program will continue to be reported on a regular basis.

13. Consider setting up a tollfree “800” number for inquiries about the Faith.

Response: The cost appears to be prohibitive at this time; however, the National Teaching Committee is working with the District Teaching Committee of Kansas in testing this on a regional basis.

14. Encourage local treasurers to ask community members if they would like to be reminded to contribute to the Fund.

Response: This was tried in the past and did not work well; however, local treasurers are welcome to try it in their community.

15, Promote homefront pioneering as aggressively as the International Goals Committee promotes international pioneering.

Response: The National Teaching Committee is working closely with the International Goals Committee to enhance homefront pioneering during the upcoming Six Year Plan. Pioneering institutes are being planned, and target localities are being identified in each district. [Page 5]The American Baha’i / March 1986 / 5

a THE FUNDS

Fasting period time to examine resources, reassess our values

What can we do during this month of fasting and the joyous Holy Day of Naw-Rúz to pay tribute to our spiritual forebears?

We can examine our material resources—all gifts from God placed in our care—and make a deeply sacrificial contribution to the Baha’i Fund.

Then we can surprise ourselves by giving again. It’s hard to imagine the depths of our ability to sacrifice for the Cause once we start down the mystical path of ‘fulfilling our sacred obligations.

The conduct of the early Dawnbreakers gives us an example of the true meaning of detachment from all things save God. A sense of astonishment stirs us when we recount the glorious consequences of their steadfastness.

Let us then strive to embody our title of ‘‘spiritual descendants of the Dawn-breakers,”’ arising as one soul in many bodies to replenish the fountain of sacrifice with our material wealth.

In this day we are called to spend our days in “living sacrifice’’—generously pouring out our material wealth that the Kingdom of God may be built, brick by brick, on earth.

Together we can storm the gates of the Abha Kingdom with 20,000 tokens of love during these special days.

Harrisburg welcomes Cambodian Baha’is with social evening

The Baha’is of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, welcomed Cambodian Baha’is to the community with a social evening December 23.

Eighteen Baha’is and their children enjoyed fellowship and refreshments with 10 adults, four youth and 10 children from Cambodia.

One of the highlights was songs in Khmer by 15-year-old Maly Sim and two songs in English by other Harrisburg Baha’is.

Five of the adult Cambodians, two youth and six children are Baha’is, some of whom accepted the Faith in the Philippines and some in Thailand. The other 11 are friends and/or close relatives.

The cry went out for thousands more

to participate in a loving chore.

The friends responded across the land -much much more than the mailman planned.

Love is what will win the day!

Our hearts assure us we're half-way. We've left ten thousand in the dust! Fifteen has now become a "must."

With America’s heart firmly in it.

There's nary a chance that we won't win it Although we can guess the glorious news, there won't be a peep till after Naw Ruz!

The promise of peace

The Challenge of ACTION

Record Fund streak continues in Sultan with $437,000 given

Contributions to the National Baha’i Fund for the month of Sultdn rose to $437,000, nearly 36 percent above the amount contributed during the same month a year ago.

This gratifying total comes on the heels of three consecutive goal-breaking months.

The enthusiastic response of the Baha’i community to the pressing needs of the Fund has enabled the National Assembly to make substantial contributions toward its pledge of $1.5 million this year to the Baha’i International Fund.

To date, $700,000 has been sent to the World Centre. The remaining $800,000 of the National Assembly’s pledge needs to be sent before the end of the Baha’i year (March 21).

Contributions during the month of the Fast (‘Al4) have often sparked an immediate rise in giving that continued to grow to an end-of-the-year peak.

A continuation of the recent loving response to the needs of the Fund will assure the historic attainment of our Fund goal for a second time in this decade.

“The National Fund must be firmly

established, generously supported and universally

WLG/... and continually upheld, for it is the prerequisite of future reinforcing hope progress and achievement.” —SHOGHI EFFENDI in the unity TheNational Baha’i of the human race.

Southern Idaho on top; Eastern Oregon most improved

Highest percentage participation 1. Idaho Southern

California S No. 3 California S No. 4

Contributions to the National Baha’i Fund by District 2. Maine string Mt Caretta ew) | out District Name Membership — Number Membership Number _ Percentage of saennee (12/9/84) giving participation (01/21/86) __giving participation Goniruraitn: Alabama N 7. Georgia Northeast Alabama S/Florida NW 8. (tie) Pennsylvania Western Arizona N Colorado Western Arizona S 10. Utah Arkansas’ ; 11. Tennessee Eastern California C No. 1 12. Idaho N/Washington E California C No. 2 13. New Hampshire So eee ie 2 15. Pennsylvania ern, ‘alifornia S No. 1 16 iinesota oath

California S No. 2 1 SEGRE

17. (tie) Ohio Northern Colorado Southeast

19. (tie) Wisconsin Southern Nevada Southern

See VIE CHART page 26

Fund

Wilmette, IL 60091

Winners’ Circle

Most improved participation 1. Oregon Eastern

2. South Carolina East No. 1 3. South Carolina Western 4. Alabama S/Florida NW 5. Idaho Southern 6. Florida Northern 7. Texas Southern 8. Georgia Southern

9. Kansas

10. Colorado Southeast

11. New Mexico S/Texas W 12. Maine

13. Mississippi

14. Texas Central No. 1

15. Texas Central No. 2

16. Arizona Southern

17. Florida Southeast

18. Texas Northern

19. California Southern No. 3 [Page 6]6 / The American Baha’i / March 1986

Left photo: Auxiliary Board member Ed Diliberto was among those who presented inspirational talks to prospective pioneers during the Pioneer Training Institute

Mom, dad, kids have unique roles to play

held in January at the Bosch Bahá’í School near Santa Cruz, CaliSornia. Right photo: Participants in the Pioneer Training Institute assemble in front of one of the

dorms at the Bosch School. Besides Mr. Diliberto, the prospective pioneers also heard from International Goals Committee member Dr. Alfred Neumann.

Nearly 2,000 U.S. pioneers have settled at overseas posts since beginning of Seven Year Plan

March is that time of the year when we individual Baha’is look inward to assess what spiritual progress we've made during the past year.

Our thoughts and prayers turn toward Baha’u’llah in gratitude for the many blessings He has bestowed, as well as for divine assistance for all that we have yet to accomplish. This same process

In Hatch family, everyone’ Sa pioneer

When any of us talks to pioneers, we are often delighted to discover the many ways they have found to proclaim the Faith.

Often, just the manner in which they conduct their daily affairs serves as a strong attraction to their neighbors or business associates.

In pioneer families everyone is a teacher, but not always in the same way. There are many ways the Faith can be taught.

Iceland schedules late June conference north of Reykjavik

The National Youth Committee and National Properties Committee of Iceland are planning a conference June 28-July 5 at the Baha’ endowment property in Porskafjordur, about five hours north of Reykjavik.

Each day’s activities are divided in half with morning classes befare lunch, mostly youth-oriented, and afternoon work in the gardens at the huge property where the camp is held.

The cost is $70 or $10 per day. Small additional costs may include those for gas and use of swimming facilities.

Time will be set aside each day for swimming, hiking and other outdoor activities.

If you plan to attend the conference and would like to travel and teach either before or after, please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

OPEN GOALS AFRICA (F) Mauritania 2

AMERICAS

(S) Argentina

(S) Easter Island

(E) Dominica

(S) Ecuador, Galapagos Is.

(F) French Guiana

een w

AUSTRALASIA (©) Tuvalu 2

Replacement goals

LANGUAGE KEY E—English F—French S—Spanish

For example, Richard and Sara Hatch and their children, pioneers to Japan living in Okinawa, have been quite busy since their arrival there.

Each member of the Hatch |

family has a unique way of contributing. Recently, we received a letter from them telling us of an exciting event: Sara Hatch, an artist and teacher, was having an exhibit of her art work in Okinawa.

In the letter, she described how the exhibit proclaimed the Fait “As a result of this exhibition there were 2,00 flyers picked up. 700 of them were sent by mail to the regular customers of the Sher

aton Hotel. 300 were distributed ...

“There were two TV interviews scheduled. ...Two more inter views were scheduled for an English-language magazine and an Okinawan newspaper.

“During each interview, the Baha’i Faith is said to be the inspiration for the art work. The doors seem to open wide for publicity.””

As Sara continues to have periodic art exhibits, the rest of the Hatches are far from idle.

Jeremy and Jenna, the Hatches’ children, are active pioneers. The Hatches write:

“« they have been able to make many very close friends with the native children and adults. Jeremy and Jenna are years ahead of their peers in maturity and outlook.

“In every Baha’i community that we have lived in, their behavior has been commented upon as exemplary.”

The International Goals Committee office is constantly made aware of the rapid adjustment that the children of pioneers make at a post. In many instances, it is the children who pave the way for native-born adults to approach the pioneers to learn more about an they seem so open and friend ly.

Sara Hatch describes her husband as “‘the rock of Gibraltar upon whom we all depend.”’ Richard works for the U.S. Civil Service on a military base in Japan, which allows Sara to pursue her art.

During the firesides in the Hatches’ home, it is Richard who gives what is often described as ‘‘a wonderful Baha’; talk.’’ And it is

Richard and Sara Hatch, pioneers from the U.S. to Japan, and their

to Richard that the family members turn with their problems, big or small.

The Hatches are a good example of how living a Baha’i life at a pioneering post is an effective way of teaching. For some, the idea of pioneering is at the same time attractive and a bit scary. Often, those who hear about the experience of pioneers conclude that they may not be the right ones to go; that they don’t have “‘the right stuff.’”

Actually, Bahd’u’ll4h and the beloved Guardian lay down for us what ‘‘the right stuff’’ is: “They that have forsaken their country for the purpose of teaching Our Cause,’” Baha’u’llah says in Gleanings (p. 334), ‘‘these shall the Faithful Spirit strengthen through its power. A company of Our chosen angels shall go forth with them, ... Such a service is, indeed, the prince of all goodly deeds, ...””

children, Jenna and Jeremy.

The Guardian states, ‘‘Neither the threatening world situation, nor any consideration of lack of material resources, of mental equipment, of knowledge, or of experience— desirable as they are—should deter any prospective pioneer teacher from arising ...”” (Guidance for Today and Tomorrow, pp. 227-28)

With Ridvan approaching and the Six Year Plan to be published soon by the Universal House of Justice, now is the time for those Baha’is who have thought about pioneering to make a beginning.

For those who haven’t yet considered it, it’s an ideal time to deepen their understanding of pioneering. Whichever category you’re in, contacting the International Goals Committee office at the Baha’i National Center is a good first step toward continuing your lifetime of service to the ‘Cause.

takes place in the Divine Institutions.

In looking back over the accomplishments in the pioneering field, the International Goals Committee was surprised to realize that since the beginning of the Seven Year Plan, some 1,828 pioneers have gone from the U.S. to carry the Message to other lands.

In only the last two-year phase of the Plan, 465 posts were settled.

Of course, mere numbers don’t begin to tell the story, but how pleased Baha’u’llah must be with these Baha’is. Their number will grow larger as we approach Ridvan, and it doesn’t even include the thousands of children who have pioneered with their parents or who were born at their posts.

“Oh, how I long to announce unto every spot on the surface of the earth, and to carry to each one Of its cities, the glad-tidings of this Revelation ...’’ (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings, p. 16)

Many of these pioneers are still in the field, joining the hundreds of others who left the shores of America and adopted other countries as their home before and during the Ten Year Crusade, the Nine Year Plan, and the Five Year Plan.

Others have found it necessary to return to the U.S., where they continue to serve on the homefront. To all of them we owe a debt of gratitude beyond expression.

As we look ahead to the immediate future, March and April 1986, we beg your prayers that the unfilled international goals assigned to us by our Supreme Body will be filled successfully. We will then embark upon the Six Year Plan with renewed energy and zeal.

West African Centre seeks tour speakers

The West African Centre for Baha’i Studies, established under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assembly of Nigeria, has as one of its major objectives the task of initiating and increasing Baha’i activities in the universities of the region so as to make them familiar with the teachings of the Faith.

To that end, a series of international lecture tours of the universities is being planned, and the Centre is seeking Baha’i_ scholars and academics, preferably self-supporting, who can visit the various universities and devote whatever time is necessary to presenting the Faith either directly or through the medium of other academic disciplines in which they may be proficient.

Those who are competent to undertake such assignments are advised to please consult with the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa (P.O. Box 30512, Nairobi, Kenya) and the National Spiritual Assembly of Nigeria for help and guidance.

[Page 7]John Khadem, a Baha’i youth who served last summer as a traveling teacher in the U.S., tells the audience at the Grand Canyon Youth Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, about the Amoz Gibson Teaching Project in Wanblee, South Dakota.

First Grand Canyon Youth Conference sees 1,700 attend

About 1,700 people from the U.S. and other countries attended the first Grand Canyon Baha’i Youth Conference held December 27-30 at the Hyatt-Regency Hotel and Civic Plaza in Phoenix, Arizona.

The conference was sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Phoenix and planned by youth in the greater Phoenix area.

Besides the U.S., those taking part in the conference came from Canada, Chile, mainland China, Hong Kong and Venezuela.

Among the speakers were Marilyn Greene of the National Race Unity Committee; Jerry Bathke, Social and Economic Development Committee; two dynamic Baha’i youth from New Zealand, John and Helen Danesh; and Homa Sabet, a Baha’i youth from Los Angeles.

Topics addressed were ‘Vision of Universal Peace,’’ ‘Teaching Peace by Resisting Peer Pressure’ and ‘*Youth: The Key to Peace,’’ with workshops on international service, racism/nationalism, and world peace and individual action.

Entertainers who showed up to enliven the program included Leslie and Kelly, the New Generation, the Nayriz Youth Connection, and the San Francisco Drama Workshop.

Planned direct teaching a ties with follow-up consolidation were ongoing throughout the Valley area during the conference, and a previously arranged teaching trip to the Sacaton Indian Reservation, where youth conducted a Nineteen Day Feast on December 30, resulted in 16 declarants.

To help the National Spiritual Assembly meet its $1.5-million pledge to the Universal House of Justice, about $200,000 was raised during an unscheduled 45-minute auction, with funds earmarked to the Universal House of Justice, the Persian Relief Fund, and the Phoenix Baha’i Fund.

Three television stations sent news teams to cover the conference while the Phoenix Gazette published an article about it.

Of the press releases sent, 11 were known to have been printed.

The excitement generated by the conference has left the Valley Baha’is eager to undertake more and greater challenges to demonstrate that “deeds, not words’ will bring about the triumph of the Cause of Baha’u’llah.

Conferees assess ‘Youth Movement’ progress

YOUTH

The Baha’i Youth Movement was the main topic of discussion at an historic meeting held February 1 at the Bahd’{ National Center.

Attending were Counsellors for the Americas Eloy Anello, Farzam Arbab, Wilma Brady, Robert Harris, Lauretta King, Donald Rogers, Fred Schechter and David Smith.

The Counsellors invited the National Youth Committees of Canada and the U.S. as well as representatives of Alaskan youth to gather for this joint consultation on the progress of the Youth Movement in North America.

An overview of progress made by North American youth since the first meetings were held in the spring of 1984 to launch the Movement revealed that enormous strides have been made, as evidenced by:

the successful observance of

the International Year of Youth in 1985,

and the successful establish

Youth Conference set for Richmond

The Baha’i Regional Youth Committee of the Atlantic Coastal States is sponsoring its first Regional Youth Conference to be held April 4-6 in Richmond, Virginia.

The $49 cost includes registration, motel housing and all meals ($54 for persons registering after Naw-Riz).

For more information, please contact Sohail Dadressan, registrar, Baltimore, MD 21239, or phone 301-339-7214.

ment of a structure designed to facilitate rapid communication among the youth, a system critical to the strength of any social movement.

It was noted that these achievements, along with many others, have been realized since the receipt of the letter of January 1984 from the Universal House of Justice in which the Supreme Body challenged youth to “‘move the world.””

The Baha’i Youth Movement, which was begun out of a desire to fulfill that challenge, has served as an effective vehicle to mobilize the youth and will continue to influence youth’s commitment and expression, both active and creative.

Much of the consultation between Counsellors and youth committees focused on the issue of choice.

Should we be content with the level of success thus far achieved under the umbrella of the Movement, a level that can be seen as impressive and historic, or can steps be taken to continue the growth and development of the Movement into a true avenue of social and spiritual change that will confirm Baha’i youth and attract their contemporaries to the Cause?

The choice was inevitable and complete. The full resources of the Counsellors, as well as those of the continent’s National Youth Committees, have been pledged to the ongoing progress of the Movement.

The establishment of a youth movement, said Gail Etzenhouser, a National Youth Committee member from Kansas, ‘involves a long-range commitment with a vision of where we want the Faith to be in the coming years.

“The Six Year Plan offers a long-range time frame for focus,’’ she said. ‘“‘What shall we have achieved by the end of that Plan and how can the Movement serve as the vehicle for meeting those ends?””

In this country, the National Youth Committee has initiated some structural changes in the Youth Network, changes that will aid consultation and communication among the youth and allow for a constant exchange between segments of the youth population.

The establishment of Regional Youth Committees and the direct sponsorship and appointment of District Youth Committees (there

More than 80 youth attend ninth annual College Club Conference at Green Acre

More than 80 youth gathered January 24-26 for the Green Acre Baha’i School’s ninth annual College Club Conference, planned and carried out by the Regional Youth Committee.

A special guest was Counsellor Eloy Anello who spoke Sunday morning at a standing-room-only session, discussing the Lesser and Greater Peace and the role of Baha’i youth in bringing them about.

The Counsellor ended his talk by sharing stories from the December gathering of the Continental Boards of Counsellors in Haifa.

The conference opened Saturday morning with a session on changing society through our professions. In the afternoon, everyone was divided into groups ac cording to their fields of study, and each group prepared a 20-minute presentation addressing three questions:

1. What is the present thinking in this field?

2. What is the ideal state of this field?

3. How can Baha’is bridge this gap?

The reports, given Saturday evening, generated intense discussion.

A guest speaker from the United World Federalists spoke Saturday afternoon and then answered questions for an hour.

To the above activities were added singing, laughter, dancing and friendship. People are already talking about next year’s conference.

The American Baha’i / March 1986 / 7

are presently more than 100 regional and district agencies in place), was “‘tailor-made for the growth of the Movement,’’ said Ms. Etzenhouser.

“*We have never been in a better position to get the Movement on a firm footing and to begin the exciting work of sharing the principles of the Faith with our peers under this umbrella.””

Following the joint consultation, the National Youth Committee met to consult on the immediate challenges to be faced.

It was decided to hold both regional and district meetings in the weeks ahead to convey to all youth the impact, both short- and long-range, of this historic meeting and to consult with youth at all levels on steps that can be taken to expand the influence and

aims of the Movement, both among Baha’i youth and their

peers. :

In addition to the local and regional Movement meetings being held in the next couple of months, the big push will be to begin that ‘‘mighty mobilization” mentioned by the House of Justice in its January 1984 message to youth by raising up 1,000 youth projecteers this summer.

Last year, more than 500 youth took part in summer projects, and it had earlier been decided to double the participation this year.

More information about the various summer opportunities will appear in upcoming issues of The American Bahá’í and “Youth Hotline,” and details are also available through the National Youth Committee office.

Baha’ youth can play important role in meeting Mr. Sears’ ‘20,000’ challenge

The friends have been given one more exciting challenge by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears for the final phase of the Seven Year Plan.

Thrilled by the community’s response to his previous challenges associated with the construction of WLGI Radio and the ‘month of firesides’’ campaign, Mr. Sears is now challenging the community in the area of giving to the National Fund.

During the Fast (March 2-20) and Naw-Rúz (March 21), 20 days in all, the challenge is to have at

I want to be counted among the 20,000 ional Fund. Please count me in!

YES, MR. SEARS contributors to the

Name Address

City

least 20,000 Baha’is contribute directly to the National Fund ... and Baha’i youth can make an important contribution to the challenge!

With more than 4,000 Baha’i youth in the community, young Baha’is can, through universal participation, achieve 20 percent of the goal with relative ease.

So that every youth’s contribution is counted, it is important that your Baha’i 1.D. number is written on the check, or that you fill out the coupon below and enclose it with your donation.

Baha’i 1.D.

State ___ Zip

Mail with your contribution before March 21 to: National Baha’i

Fund, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Warriors of Peace launch campaign to win youth Plan goals in Southeast

The Army of Light has a couple of brand new regiments.

Calling themselves the ‘*Warriors of Peace,”’ youth in Region 8 of the Youth Network (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi) have launched an ambitious teaching campaign to help in the effort to win the goals of the Seven Year Plan.

Coordinated by the Regional Youth Committee, the District Youth Committees in each district have planned teaching events each weekend in March. In addition, each youth in the region is being urged to hold individual firesides each day of the first month of the new Baha’i year.

“The youth here are so excited about these plans,’’ Corky McNeil of the Regional Youth Committee said of his recent trip to Mississippi and Louisiana. ‘‘When they heard about the Warriors of

Peace, they sat right down and planned all four weekends of teaching. And the neat thing is how supportive the adults are of them and what they want to do.””

A new teaching fire is spreading as well in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area.

“Project Olinga’’ was born of

See WARRIORS page 16

Summer teaching

Attention young people ages 18-25: Summer teaching projects are being arranged in Europe, and possibly in Spain, Italy and Finland.

If you are interested in being considered to participate, or want more information, please contact the Internat Committee, Baha’ Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, as soon as possible!

arise to pioneer. Just think ...

Youth pioneer? Let us hear from you

Last call for youth homefront pioneers for the Seven Year Plan! Are you between the ages of 15 and 21? Did you move in the last two years? Does your new hometown lack an Assembly? Or are you attending a college that doesn’t have.a Baha’i club? If you think you might be a youth homefront pioneer, call Carey at 305-584-1844. Baha’u’llah promises special bounties to those who you may be a recipient of these bounties and not even be aware of it!

[Page 8]8 / The American Baha’i / March 1986

TITH Baha’i NATIONAL CONVENTION (May 1-4, 1986)

CONVENTION SEATING REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION BY LETTER IS ACCEPTABLE; HOWEVER, PLEASE INCLUDE ALL THE INFORMATION REQUESTED BELOW.

NOTE: This does not reserve hotel accommodations. Please contact the hotel directly.

PLEASE PRINT USE ONE FORM PER FAMILY

LIST ALL ADULTS ATTENDING. (Mr./Mrs./Miss)

a 2RDl None (Mr./Mrs./Miss) ae 1.D. No. (Mr./Mrs./Miss) A uA SL DANO. 3 (Mr./Mrs./Miss) =biebheel od DC 'Sinal’ " metame ED SNO ued ohaslt

Address tess tay Phone (ip) ete |

LIST ALL YOUTH ATTENDING Name Age Special needs

LIST ALL CHILDREN ATTENDING

Name Age Special needs

Wilmette,

A QUALITY CHILDREN’S PROGRAM IS PLANNED. PRE-REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL TO ASSURE YOUR CHILD’S PLACE IN THIS PROGRAM.

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!

Mail to: Office of the Secretary, Baha’i National Center, |L 60091. Attention: National Convention Registration.

More important information about 77th Baha’7i National Convention May 1-4

The 77th Baha’ National Convention will be held May 1-4, 1986, at the McCormick Inn, 23rd & the Lake, Chicago, IL 60616. The toll free number is 1-800-621-6909 (in Illinois, phone collect 312-791-1901).

Rates: $55 per night (plus tax)—1, 2, 3 or 4 in a room (two double beds). Rollaways are available @ $10 each.

Suites available: 1- and 2-bedroom suites are available (phone the hotel for rates). All suites have parlors with sleepers in

Colorado Assembly offers T-shirts to support Fund drive

To support this month’s drive for contributions to the National Baha’i Fund, the Spiritual Assembly of Aurora, Colorado, is offering T-shirts with the logo “Be One of the 20,000.””

To order, contact Mrs. Elinor Walker, secretary, Spiritual Assembly of Aurora,

Aurora, CO 80013, or phone 303-693-1884.

All proceeds from sales of the T-shirts will go to the National Fund.

addition to the bedrooms.

Reservations: Must be made directly with the hotel. Please be sure to identify yourself as attending the Baha’i Convention, May 1-4, Request confirmation to ensure that your reservation was received. Please (1) give the names of all those sharing the room with you, and (2) indicate any special facilities needed for the handicapped (rooms to accommodate wheelchairs, etc.), as the number of such rooms is limited.

Sharing rooms: The hotel will not find you a roommate. You must make your own arrangements.

Transportation: There is regular bus service—Continental Air Transport—to the McCormick Inn from O’Hare Airport ($7.50) and from Midway Airport ($6.50). Taxis are also available.

Remember: You must register in person, with your Baha’i membership card in hand. You may not register another family member or a friend by proxy. The coupon above includes registration information for seating and for registering children and youth at the Convention.

Pictured are participants from 18 states, Canada and the Bahamas

at a conference entitled ‘Baha’is 10-12 at the Louhelen Baha’i and the Legal Profession’ January School.

48 at Louhelen conference discuss ‘Baha’is and the Legal Profession’

J EDUCATION

A conference entitled ‘‘Baha’is and the Legal Profession’? was held January 10-12 at the Louhelen Baha’i School.

Forty-eight Baha’is from 18 states, Canada and the Bahamas including 29 lawyers, judges and law students participated.

In addition to law, those taking part came from a variety of fields including accountants, teachers, students and dentists.

The participants made a number of recommendations to the National Spiritual Assembly regarding bringing a Baha’i Legal

Society into being, and made recommendations for a charter.

They also consulted on the need for Bahd’{ legal professionals to be able to consult with one another regarding ethical questions that may arise.

Proposals included developing a compilation from the Baha’i writings about professional ethics and establishing an ethics advisory board.

They also discussed ways in which to contribute to the legal profession and to society as a whole by participating in legal societies, writing on law-related topics, offering the services of Baha’i individuals and institutions as mediators and arbitrators, combating racism, and promoting the tule of law in the world.

Another topic for consultation was how the relatively few Baha’i lawyers can better serve the needs of the Baha’i community.

The need for a directory of Baha’i lawyers and some form of referral service was underscored by two requests for legal assistance received during the conference, one from a local Spiritual Assembly in California, the other froma National Assembly in Central America.

Pending formal establishment of a Baha’i Legal Society that will be supported by the dues of its members, those at the conference contributed to a special earmarked fund at the Louhelen School.

The conference appointed a

See LOUHELEN page 24

Brilliant Star

Cone year $12.00 (six issues)

Ci two years $23.00

O foreign, surface, one year $15.00

O foreign, surface, two years $28.00 O foreign, air (A.0.), one year $25.00 D foreign, air (A.0.), two years $47.50

Name Street City

State & Zip

Age of recipient ___

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

purpose. Send to: ; Brilliant Star Suburban Office Park 5010 Austin Rd 4 q

Hixson, Tn. 37343

[Page 9]

Family Unity Night (Fun)

FIRST WEEK OF APRIL: April 9, Jalal (Glory). Thought for the week: “He hath chosen out of the whole world the hearts of His servants, and made them each a seat for the revelation of His glory.”” Prayer: Bahá’í Prayers, pp. 122-23. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials: 1. The Hidden Words, No. 8, p. 5. 2. Gleanings, pp. 320-21 (‘Hear Me, ye ...””) 3. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, No. 175, p. 204; No. 177, p. 205. Activity: Refer to Gleanings, p. 320, regarding the Flower that hath to bloom. Draw or paint a garden with this flower in it. Use creativity—this could be a collage decorated with glitter, beads, sequins, etc., or it could be a mosaic of tiny pieces of paper (cut or torn), If preferred, a similar activity can be done with a heart, as mentioned in the “‘thought for the week’? above. Save this as a decoration for Ridvn. Refreshments: Veggie sticks, dip and juice.

SECOND WEEK OF APRIL: Law and Justice. Thought for the week: his is not the Day of Justice but the Day of Grace, ...”” Prayer: BaPrayers, pp. 36-37. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials: 1. The Hidden Words, No. 2, pp. 3-4. 2. Glean: ings, pp. 289-90; 330-33. 3. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, No. 105, pp. 132-33. Activity: Play a game using the sense of touch. Gather together some objects/toys and place them in a bag. Have the child close his eyes and feel the object. If he cannot identify it, see if he can tell something about it, such as hard/soft, round/square, warm/cold, etc. The only rule in this game is to keep one’s eyes closed until the turn is over. Refreshments: Cheese bites—1. Toast several slices of bread (light toast). 2. Butter the bread and cut each slice into small squares. 3. Put squares of cheese on the bread and place it on a broiler pan. 4. Put under the broiler until the cheese is melted. 5. Serve with juice or milk.

THIRD WEEK OF APRIL: Riḍván. Thought for the week: “This is the day when the Day-Star of Truth rose over the horizon of life, ...”” Prayer: Bahá’í Prayers, pp. 144-45. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materi: 1, Anthology for Bahá’í Children, pp. 23-24. 2. The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh at Baghdad, Vol. 1, pp. 259-63. 3. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, No. 73, pp. 110-12. Activity and refreshment: As a special treat, make ‘Forgotten Cookies”: 2 egg whites beaten very stiff; 3/4-cup of sugar added gradually to egg whites; 1 6-ounce package of chocolate chips folded in; 1/2-cup nuts chopped fine and folded in; 1/8-tsp. vanilla folded in; 1/2-tsp. nutmeg folded in. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drop cookies by teaspoons onto a foil-lined cookie sheet. As soon as the cookies are in the oven, turn the oven off. Leave the cookies in for at least three hours or overnight. (Many concepts are learned by a child in cooking. The children should be encouraged to help whenever possible.)

FOURTH WEEK OF APRIL: April 28, Jamal (Beauty). Thought for the week: “All that is in heaven and earth I have ordained for thee, except the human heart, which I have made the habitation of My beauty and glory; ...”” Prayer: Bahá’í Prayers, p. 19. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials: 1. The Hidden Words, No. 11, p. 25; No. 36, p. 12; Nos. 12 and 14, p. 26. 2. Anthology for Bahá’í Children, No. 31, p. 21 (also can be found in Bahd’u'lláh and the New Era, pp. 52-53). 3. The Chosen Highway, pp. 97-98. Activity: Read the fairy tale, ‘Beauty and the Beast,’” or play a family game together. ReSreshment: family’s choice!

> EDUCATION

The Bahd’{ Faith places great importance on the acquisition of knowledge and learning. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, ‘‘There are certain pillars ... established as the unshakable supports of the Faith of God. The mightiest of these is learning and the use of the mind ...’’ (Baha’i Education, p. 25)

Baha’i parents and communities face the challenge of applying this principle to the material and

. Spiritual education of their children.

When new trends appear in American society, such as the movement to teach formal academic subjects to preschool children, Baha’is must weigh them carefully on the scale of the Teachings.

This article highlights some of the Baha’i principles that relate to preschool education. It briefly addresses three specific questions:

What is the difference between education and schooling?

Education and schooling

Education is not the same as schooling. Education is the release of human potential. It goes far beyond the narrow boundaries of what children learn in school.

Education is life-long. In fact, it begins before we are born with prayers for the unborn child and continues after we die through all the worlds of God.

Schooling is a part of education, but not the only, or even the most important, part of education.

The Baha’i writings make it clear that although attending school is necessary, the most important education is begun and carried out in the family and is the responsibility of the parents. ‘Ab

More than 50 people including 17 non-Baha’is attended a ‘naming

babies were then officially introduced, and there were refresh ceremony’ November 17 organized by the Baha’i Groups of Parma and Strongsville, Ohio. The program included a short introductory talk on the Faith, prayers, readings and music. The two new

ments and socializing. Pictured with their new babies, Pablo DiAngelo and Serena Dawn, are Janet Tyler (left) and Layli Khorsandian.

du’l-Baha says:

“*...it is incumbent upon the father and mother to train their children both in good conduct and the study of books ...’’ (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 127)

And again, ‘‘It is incumbent upon every father and mother to counsel their children over a long period, and guide them unto those things which lead to everlasting honor.”’ (Ibid., p. 134)

How children develop

How people develop has direct implications for how we educate children. ‘Abdu’l-Baháé makes it clear that human growth is a grad Archives seeks copies of Alaska Baha’i News

The National Baha’i Archives is seeking the following copies of the Alaska Bahá’í News to fill gaps in its collection: Nos. 2, 6, 7, 13, 19, 22, 24, 27, 35, 42-45, 49-55, 59 and 60.

Anyone having copies he can donate is asked to contact the National Baha’i Archives, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

The American Baha’i / March 1986 / 9

ual process that is marked by stages. He says:

“From the beginning to the end of his life man passes through certain periods or stages each of which is marked by certain conditions peculiar to itself.”” (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 438)

He also says, ‘‘The seed does not at once become a tree, the embryo does not at once become a man... they grow and develop gradually.”’ (Bahá’í World Faith, p. 312)

The Master further explains: “We must be guided entirely by the intelligence and development of the child as to how soon we should begin to teach it.’’ (Star of the West, Vol. 7, No. 15, December 12, 1916, p. 142)

This suggests that not only is a person’s growth gradual and marked by stages, but also that children are unique and learn things at different times.

Just as a plant will grow when it is ready, a child will learn best when he or she is ready. We provide the sunlight and good soil of love, patience and understanding.

We also can provide a stimulating en nment that will give the child the best opportunity to learn when it is time. To expect children to do things before they are ready can lead only to frustration and failure.

On the other hand, when a child is ready to learn something he will learn it quickly and easily. This is why ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells us, ‘“‘We must be entirely guided by the intelligence and development of the child (Ibid., p. 142)

What should children learn?

‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, ‘‘These children must be given a good training from their earliest childhood.” (Baha’i Education, p. 73)

The Writings make it clear that the family is the primary educational institution for young children. What is good training? The Holy Writings say that children should learn religion, good character, and useful arts and sciences.

Baha’u’llah says, ‘‘The parents must exert every effort to rear their offspring to be religious ...’” (Baha’i Education, p. 6)

He also says, ‘‘That which is of paramount importance for the children, that which must precede all else, is to teach them the oneness of God and the Laws of God.” (Bahá’í Education, p. 6)

In particular, the law of prayer is mentioned as indispensable in building the proper foundation for a child’s spiritual development. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, ‘These children are even as young plants, and teaching them the prayers is as letting the rain pour down upon them ...”” (Bahá’í Education, p. 28)

Also, ‘‘When the children are ready for bed, let the mother read or sing them the Odes of the Blessed Beauty, so that from their earliest years they will be educated by these verses of guidance.” (Bahd’/ Education, p. 40)

Other passages emphasize the importance of children memorizing prayers and the Holy Writi

ings. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells us,

| Faith places great emphasis on Cchild’s proper education

...from the very beginning

mothers must rear their infants in the cradle of good morals.” (Baha’i Education, p. 22)

He also says, ‘‘Good character must be taught” (Baha’i Education, p. 23), and “‘ ...the indispensable basis of all is that he should develop spiritual characteristics and the praiseworthy virtues of humankind.” (Bahá’í Education,

p. 42) Such characteristics as good manners, courtesy, politeness,

kindness, purity, firmness of purpose and high aims, as well as many others, are specifically mentioned.

The Writings also make it clear that children should learn ‘‘useful arts and sciences.’’ This is why children should go to school.

However, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says that even when children begin school, formal academic subjects are not the most important things they should learn: ‘The subjects to be taught in children’s schools are many rst and most important is training in behavior and good conduct.” (Baha’i Education, p. 42)

And again, ‘Training in morals and good conduct is far more important than book learning. ...If, however, the child be trained to be both learned and good, the result is light upon light.” (Baha’i Education, p. 43)

This does not mean that preschool children should only learn good conduct. Nor does it mean that programs for preschool children are inappropriate.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá also says that children should be taught in their early years and gives us ideas about how to do this:

“Beginning in childhood they must receive instruction. They cannot be taught through books. Many elementary sciences must be made clear to them in the nursery; they must learn them in play and amusement.

“Most ideas must be taught them through speech, not by book learning. One child must question the other concerning these things, and the other child must give the answer.”’ (Bahd’ Education, p. 73)

The Master explains that formal schooling should not begin until the age of five. Even then, the child should learn mostly through play, He says, and good character still must be taught:

See EDUCATION page 28

Equality to be theme of New England ABS’ Green Acre conference

The Association for Baha’i Studies New England Regional Committee is sponsoring a conference on the equality of men and women April 11-13 at the Green Acre Baha’i School.

The conference, entitled ‘New Dimensions of Equality,”’ is designed to explore deeper meanings of the issue. As a member of the planning committee said, ‘‘We want to develop a positive vision, to see the bird in the air.”’

People are encouraged to preregister by contacting the Green Acre Baha’i School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903.

[Page 10]10 / The American Baha’i / March 1986

A commentary on consolidation by the National Teaching Committee

In February, the Baha’is of South Carolina held a statewide meeting to discuss expansion and consolidation through the end of the Seven Year Plan and into the Six Year Plan.

The consultation was quite productive. The friends emerged from the meeting unified and renewed; District Teaching Committees, local communities, and individual believers assumed new responsibilities for the growth of the Faith previously directed by the Regional Teaching Committee.

During consultation, two lines of thought developed on methods for consolidation of new believers.

One, which was generally put forward by white Baha’is, was an emphasis on systematic visits and plans for meetings; the other, generally expressed by black Baha’is and especially by natives of South Carolina, stressed the need for simple human interaction—creating fellowship and a family bond among Baha’is, ¢specially in interactions with new believers.

The need for systematic action and planning was well understood by Shoghi Effendi. Yet, he recognized this as subordinate to an individual living a Baha’i life. It was not by ‘‘an organized campaign of teaching’’ that we would “‘secure the undoubted triumph”’ of the Cause, he wrote. Rather, there was ‘‘one thing and only one thing”’ that would be effective, namely, ‘‘the extent to which our own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold aspects the splendor of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh.”” (Baha’i Administration, p. 66)

“Until the people of the world see a shining example set by us,” he also wrote (in a letter of March 13, 1944, to an individual believer), ‘they will not embrace the Cause in masses, because they require to see the teachings demonstrated in a pattern of action.”

This, of course, does not eliminate the need for direct teaching, which remains essential for the spread of the Cause. But “‘unless and until the believers really come to realize they are one spiritual family, knit together by a bond more. lasting than mere physical ties can ever be, they will not be able to create that warm community atmosphere which alone can attract the hearts of humanity, frozen for lack of real love and feeling.’’ (The Individual and Teaching, No. 59) ‘Combined with such deeds, you can teach the Faith easily.”” (The Individual and Teaching, No. 61)

Historically, because of the fewness of our numbers, the Faith has been spread in the U.S. through meetings, proclamation events, and by traveling teachers who introduced the teachings and afterward often had infrequent contact with new believers. These are the patterns with which we are familiar and comfortable through practice. But now that we have increased our numbers, new patterns of interaction—beyond gathering for meetingsmust be established if we wish to build strong communities that can attract the masses of humanity.

Our relationships among believers and indeed with all people must extend to our daily lives: jointly experiencing problems and joys, sharing meals, visiting regularly and socializing, and tending to the needs of the young, the elderly and the sick. One new believer summed up this point with a statement about a fellow Baha’i: ‘‘He’s a good Baha’i; he brings me soup when I’m sick.’” There comes a time when we must go beyond talking about the Faith to living it daily.

We must become a true family in every sense of the word. On

. such a foundation the teaching work will flourish. This holds true for South Carolina, but also for California, Illinois, New York, or any local community in the U.S.

There is an additional point to learn from the consultation. It comes from noting the source of the recommendation—the native, black believers from South Carolina. Their invaluable participation reminds us that to become a true Baha’i society, we must have the contribution of every culture within our community. Recognizing the beauty and value of diversity, and incorporating it into the development of our community life, is an inseparable part of our efforts to become one family.

Floyd Ferrell (second from left),

Jeannie Radford (holding Jen the mayor of Rolla, Missouri, holds a copy of ‘The Promise of World Peace’ which was presented to him in December by the Bahá’ís of Phelps County. Shown with the mayor are Baha’is (left to

right) Richard Meier, Cheryl Clark, Anita Henderson and

nifer Radford). This photograph appeared December 27 in the Rolla Daily News. The peace statement also was presented to the mayor of St. James, Missouri, and to the St. James Public Library with a copy of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era.

On December 7, after months of planning, Bahá’ís from several communities in Southern California District No. I presented a successful peace seminar in Pasadena whose speakers represented four groups: the Bahd’{ Faith, the United Nations, Beyond War, and Women for International Peace and Arbitration. Of the 140 or so

D

a. Ae people who attended, at least 50 or more were unfamiliar with the principles of the Faith. Everyone received literature from each of the organizations represented as well as a copy of the peace statement from the Universal House of Justice. Pictured (left to right) are the moderator, Judge Dorothy Nelson, treasurer of the National

Spiritual Assembly; Judge James Nelson, chairman of the National Assembly; Gloria Haithnian of WIPA; Don Kenyon of Beyond War; and Dr. Thurman Couch, representing the United Nations. Music was provided by a Bahá’í singing duo, Seaforth and Jenkins.

Peace conference set for June 13-14 in Lansing, Michigan

In response to the release of “The Promise of World Peace,” the Midwest Regional Committee of the Association for Baha’i Studies is co-sponsoring a peace conference June 13-14 with the Mainland Michigan District Teaching Committee at the Lansing Civic Center.

It is anticipated that about 400 people from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Canada and other areas will attend.

The planning committee’s agenda already has the inclusion of splendid Baha’i and non-Baha’i speakers including Dr. William Maxwell, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Also included will be workshops on critical issues: affecting humanity, a variety of entertainment, the involvement of local and state officials, and meaningful participation by various non-Baha’i_ peace and human rights groups.

If you have any ideas to share or have any personal connection to Baha’i or non-Baha’i peace and human rights organizations, the ABS would welcome hearing from you. Write to Diane Taherzadeh, secretary,

Ypsilanti, MI 48197,

or phone her at 313-434-3744 (home) or 313-763-7115 (work).

Black, white churches unite, honor Dr. King

The Spiritual Assembly of Moses Lake, Washington, was the catalyst that brought together three black churches and two white churches in January for a song fest honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The spirit was high and publicity was excellent. Katie Shaw read ‘Abdu’ l-Baha’s passage on ‘‘Unity in Diversity’? and Brad Lucas read a Baha’i prayer for mankind.

Many are talking about how to make the event even bigger next year.

List of jeopardized Assemblies in U.S.

Alabama, Northern: Jefferson County.

Alabama, S/Florida, NW: Macon County North.

Arizona, Northern: Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Sedona, West Buckeye.

Arizona, Southern: Cochise County sw.

‘Arkansas: Washington County.

California, Central No. 1: Albany, Lafayette.

California, Central No. 2: Tulare.

California, Northern No. 1: Red Bluff.

California, Northern No. 2: Petaluma, Sonoma County South J.D.

California, Southern No. 1: Calabasas-Topanga, El Monte, El Segundo, La Canada-Flintridge, Lakewood, Lawndale, Rosemead, South Gate, West Covina.

California, Southern No. 3: Grover City.

California, Southern No. 4: Lemon Grove, National City.

Colorado, Northeast: City, Greeley, Northglenn.

Colorado, Southeast: Beulah, Fremont County.

Connecticut: Ridgefield Town.

DelMarVa: Sussex County.

Florida, Central: Gifford.

Florida, Southeast: Benbow, Bryant, Carol City, Jupiter, Marathon, ‘Tamarac.

Florida, Southwest: Clearwater, Citrus County, Collier County, Gulfport, Lakeland, Pasco County West.

Commerce

Georgia, Northeast: Columbia County West. Georgia, Northwest: Barnesville,

Cherokee County, Clayton County, Cobb County SE, Douglasville, Henry County, Lincoln Park, Rockdale County, Thomaston.

Idaho, N/Washington, E: Lewiston, Millwood, WA, Nez Perce Res., Toppenish, WA, Wapato, WA.

Illinois, Northern No. 2: Berwyn, Cicero, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Morton Grove, Northfield Township, Schaumburg.

Illinois, Southern: Alorton, Chatham, Limestone Township, Mahomet Township.

Indiana: Marion, Speedway.

Towa: Cedar Falls, Marshalltown.

Kansas: Prairie Village, Winfield.

Maine: Gorham, South Portland, York Town.

Maryland/D.C.: Bel Air, College

Park, Takoma Park.

Massachusetts: Amesbury, Beverly, Pittsfield, South Hadley.

Michigan, Mainland: Battle Creek, Lincoln Park, Pontiac, Royal Oak, Saginaw Township, Southfield.

Minnesota, Northern: Mille Lacs.

Minnesota, Southern: Hopkins.

Mississippi: Madison County.

Missouri: Clayton, Jefferson City, Maplewood, St. Joseph.

Navajo-Hopi: Gallup, NM.

Nebraska: Crete, Sarpy County.

Nevada, Southern: Clarke County West, North Las Vegas.

New Hampshire: Exeter Town.

New Jersey: Middleton Township, Piscataway Township.

New Mexico, Northern: Espanola, Taos County.

New York, Eastern: Hempstead Village.

New York, Greece Town.

North Carolina, Central: Orange County.

North Carolina, Mount.

Ohio, Northern: Akron, Euclid.

Oklahoma, Western: Anadarko, Duncan, Midwest City, Noble.

Oregon, Eastern: Umatilla Res.

Oregon, Western: Creswell, Klamath Falls, Polk County.

Pennsylvania, Eastern: Bethlehem, Cheltenham Township, Lower Merion Township, Radnor Township.

Pennsylvania, Western: State College.

South Carolina, Boggy Swamp.

South Carolina, Northern: Gaffney, Greater Cowpens.

South Dakota: Rosebud, Soldier Creek, Vermillion, White River.

Texas, Eastern No. 1: Allen, Marshall, Mesquite.

Texas, Southern: Brownsville.

Western: Clarence,

Eastern: Rocky

Eastern No. 2:

Vermont: Hartford Township, Rochester. Virginia, Northern: Springfield. Virginia, Southwest: Highland

County, Roanoke County. Washington, Northwest: Normandy Park.

Washington, Southwest: Pierce County Peninsula, Shelton. Wisconsin, Southern: Delafield,

Janesville, Shorewood. Wyoming: Cheyenne. [Page 11]

TEACHING

In a letter of Riḍván 1982 the Universal House of Justice called Sor a ‘‘mighty upsurge of effective teaching”’ to meet the challenge of the growing hunger of peoples of the world for “‘the love of God and reunion with Him.” This is the eighth in a nine-part series that explores the principles of teaching the Faith. Every believer can, through the simple and direct guidance found in the Writings, become an all-confident, effective Bahá’í teacher, capable of uniting hearts with Bahá’u’lláh.

.

No matter which method of teaching is chosen, the time comes when the teacher must directly deliver the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

“Tt is at such times,”’ ‘Abdu’ lBaha wrote, “‘that the friends of God avail themselves of the occasion, seize the opportunity, rush forth and win the prize.

“If their task is to be confined to good conduct and advice, nothing will be accomplished. They must speak out, expound the proofs, set forth clear arguments, draw irrefutable conclusions es

festation of the Sun of Reality. ...”” (The Individual and Teaching, No. 22)

At this point, a number of basic principles outlined by Bahda’u’llah, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi guide the interaction of the teacher with the seeker.

One of the most important of these principles relates to the attitude of the teacher. There must be no trace of superiority. The teacher should approach the seeker as if. he were offering a gift to a king.

“The teacher should not consider himself as learned and others ignorant,”’ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote. “Such thoughts breed pride, and pride is unconducive to influence. The teacher should not see in himself any superiority; he should speak with the utmost kindliness, lowliness and humility, for such speech exerts influence and educates the souls.”” (The Individual and Teaching, No. 21)

‘Abdu’l-Baháé advises that “when attempting to explain and demonstrate, we should speak as if we are investigating the truth, saying ‘Here these things are before us. Let us investigate to determine where and in what form the truth can be found.’ ”’ (The Individual and Teaching, No. 21)

In the exchange of views, the teacher must carefully listen to the opinions of the seeker, and avoid any trace of argument. Bahá’u’lláh stated:

“The teacher must carefully listen to whatever a person has to say—even though his talk may consist only of vain imaginings and blind repetitions of the opinions of others. ...The teacher must avoid disputes which will end in stubborn refusal or hostility, because the other person will feel overpowered and defeated.

“Therefore, he will be more inclined to reject the Cause. One should rather say, ‘Maybe you are right, but kindly consider the question from this point of view.’

“Consideration, respect, and love encourage people to listen and do not force them to respond with hostility. They are convinced because they see that your purpose is not to defeat them, but to convey truth, to manifest courtesy, and to show forth heavenly attributes. This will encourage the people to be fair. Their spiritual natures will respond and, by the bounty of God, they will find themselves re-created.

“Consider the way in which the Master teaches the people. He listens very carefully to the most hollow and senseless talk. He listens so intently that the speaker says to himself, ‘He is trying to learn from me.’ Then the Master gradually and very carefully, by means that the other person does not perceive, puts him on the right path and endows him with a fresh power of understanding.’’ (Attributed to Bahá’u’lláh in Stories from the Delight of Hearts, p. 109)

Having first diagnosed the needs and understanding of the seeker, the teacher must ‘‘identify the malady, then prescribe the remedy, for such is the perfect method of the skillful physician. (‘Abdu’l-Baháé, The Individual

ASSEMBLIES

Lee, NH Milledgeville, GA Anne Arundel Co. E, MD

NEW BAHA’iS

Seven Year Plan goal. Since Ridvan

South Carolina 1,866 California 258 South Dakota 252 North Carolina 176 Texas 171

Seven Year Plan Teaching Progress

\ssembly goal (Seven Year Plan) cmblies formed...... ies on Indian Reservations (goal: 50)

Wcicome to these new Assemblies:

Remember that although we have surpassed the goal, we need to ensure this total at Riḍván by continuing to form new Assemblies and strengthening jeopardized Assemblies.

Number of youth (included in total)

Enrollment statistics for the top 10 states since Ridvan are:

1,750 alsa, -61

Kerrville, TX Portsmouth, VA Enid, OK

“unprecedented increase” 4,178 (as of January 24) ... 1,145 (27% of total)

Massachusetts 157 Georgia 127 Arizona 117 Florida 112 Oregon 77

and Teaching, No. 28)

By this is meant that the teacher should identify what approach, or what aspect of the teachings, would appeal to the seeker. It also means that the presentation. should fit the background and capacity of the seeker. For, “‘if at the outset a word is uttered beyond his capacity, he will refuse to hear it and will arise in opposi The American Baha’i / March 1986 / 11

Teacher must ‘speak out, expound proofs’

tion.” (Bahá’u’lláh, The Individual and Teaching, No. 3)

This approach, in which the presentation is matched to the capacity of the seeker, embodies the essence of wisdom: “‘ ...not that wisdom which requireth one to be silent and forgetful of such an obligation, but rather that which requireth one to display divine tolerance, love, kindness, patience, a

goodly character and holy deeds.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Individual and Teaching, No. 26)

Finally, after delivering the Message of Bahd’u’ll4h to the seeker, the teacher should accept the response without argument, anger or dismay.

“Consort with all men, O people of Bahá, in a spirit of friend See TEACHING page 23

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Subtotal Handling Total

[Page 12]12_/ The American Baha’i / March 1986

BAHA'l CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. A deep sleep.

4. Racial attitudes are not inborn, they are ‘

8. It is “ ...the responsibility of the American believers .. to ___ out, by every means in their power, those faults, habits and tendencies which they have inherited from their own nation .. (Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 17).

9. “The seventh candle is unity

that is, the choice

rsal tongue in which all peoples will be instructed and converse.’’ (The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 39).

11. Ultra High Frequency (initials).

12. One’s nearest relatives.

“Racial prejudices ... should be regarded as constituting the most vital and challenging confronting the Baha’i community in America.”” (The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 28).

15. Class or color should never be allowed to become a of contention among Bah:

19. To form an unfavorable, irra tional opinion without facts about

Peace statement given to members of Congress

The National Spiritual Assembly has begun to receive reports from local Spiritual Assemblies across the country which have presented the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement to members of the U.S. Congress.

In Gallup, New Mexico, the Spiritual Assembly reports that Congressman Bill Richardson re

On Tuesday, December 24, a delegation of Baha’is from the Los Angeles and West Hollywood communities presented a copy of the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement to U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman at his office in Los Angeles. Pictured (left to

ceived the statement on January

Of the 14 people present, one was a journalist who took copious notes and later was given her own copy of the statement. At the end of the ceremony, two-year-old Jenny Nakai gave Mr. Richardson a red rose.

The Spiritual Assembly of To il right) are Douglas McGrath, West Hollywood; Mohi Sobhani, Los Angeles; Lisa Janti, Los Angeles; Congressman Waxman; Mary Lou Monfort, West Hollywood; Nelson Sapad, Los Angeles; and Velura White, Los Angeles.

Assemblies write to Congress, urge passage of UN Genocide Convention

For the last year the National Spiritual Assembly has been collaborating with Amnesty International in an effort to urge U.: senators to ratify the United Nations Genocide Convention.

Last spring, at the request of the National Assembly, several local Spiritual Assemblies nationwide wrote to their senators asking them to vote in favor of ratifying the Convention which had been signed by the United States in 1947,

In the spring of 1985 the Genocide Convention was under discussion in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which voted to attach several amendments to the original text that would affect the interpretation of the United States’ liability should it ever be

accused under the provisions of the Convention.

Amnesty International asked again in November 1985 for Baha’i collaboration. As a result, Baha’is in 16 states were asked to contact specific senators who had expressed doubts about ratifying the Convention with its added provisions.

The Baha’is told these senators that as Baha’is they believed ratification of the Convention would be an important step toward the protection of all the peoples of the world and that the U.S. should be in the forefront of international efforts to secure human rights.

As of late January, debate in

the Senate had not yet been scheduled.

ledo, Ohio, received a letter from Rep. Marcy Kaptur that read in part, “‘ ...You can be certain that I will take your statement back to Washington and refer to it in the coming months as I and my colleagues discuss the issue of world peace. ...’”

Rep. Charles Stenholm met January 10 with a delegation of three Baha’is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Graham, Texas.

He asked the Baha’is to sit down with him after he had received the statement and to tell him more about the Faith. He asked several questions about the Baha’is in Iran and the relationship between Christianity and the Faith.

The Spiritual Assembly of Middleton, Wisconsin, met January 6 with Rep. Robert W. Kastenmeier who responded positively as the members of the delegation read aloud the one-page synopsis of the peace statement prepared by the National Spiritual Assembly.

Rep. Kastenmeier expressed an interest in learning about the efforts of the Baha’is to disseminate the peace statement around the world.

Employee award brings use of car for Hawaii Baha’i

Linda Price, a Baha’i from Kailua, Hawaii, recently won the free use for a month of a 1984 Pontiac Firebird when she was named the first recipient of Castle Medical Center’s “‘Employee of the Month Award.”

Use of the car included insurance and the first tank of gas free.

Mrs. Price, who earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Hawaii in 1983, and her sister, Simonetta, grew up ina Baha’i household and pioneered with their parents to Maui before they had reached their teens.

In an article in the Medical Center newsletter, Mrs. Price attributed her selection to ‘the Baha’i teaching that work is equivalent to the worship of God if done in the spirit of service to humanity ...””

another race is to pre.

them.

21. The opposite of love.

23. A sound used in Hindu medi tation.

24. ‘Freedom from racial preju dices should be adopted as the

watchword of the entire body of n_ believers.’’

(The Advent of Divine Justice, p.

30).

27. 1st word: O Thou the Glory of

Glories! (trans.).

28. One who refuses to learn.

32. ‘He whose morals and virtues

are praiseworthy is preferred in

the presence of God; he who is de voted to the Kingdom is

beloved!’’ (The Advent of Divine

Justice, p. 31).

33. “Close your eyes to racial dif ferences and welcome all with the

light of .”’ (The Ad vent of Divine Justice, p. 31).

34. Medal of Honor (initials).

DOWN 1. ‘*Consider the flowers of a garden. Though differing in kind, , form and shape, this

diversity increaseth their charm and addeth to their beauty.””“Abdu’l-Bahá

2. “...the foundation of the Faith of God ... is the consciousness of the Oneness of a (World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 36).

3. A protecting influence or power.

4. Law (scrambled).

5. Road (abbrev.). 6. ‘‘It does not ignore nor does it seek to suppress the diversity of nical origins, of climate, of history, of language and tradition ... that differentiates the people of the world.”’ (World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 41). 7. “Say: Beware O people of Baha, lest ye walk in the ways of them whose words

from their deeds.” (The Advent

of Divine Justice, p. 21).

10. Sun (scrambled).

11. The planet PL___.

14. United Nations (initials).

15. ______s are the largest

racial minority in America at the

present time.

16. One (scrambled).

17. No two

alike.

18. ‘‘God maketh no distinction

between the _________ and the

black. If the hearts are pure, both

are acceptable to Him.”’ (The Ad vent of Divine Justice, p. 31).

19. ‘‘The virtue of this Most Great

Manifestation is that We have ...

recorded therein that which leads

to unity, harmony and accord.

unto those who practice!””

(Baha’u’llah, Baha’ World Faith,

p. 179).

20. “How unpleasing to the eye if

all the flowers and plants ... and

the trees of that were

all of the same shape and color.””

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, World Order of

Bahá’u’lláh, p. 42).

22. Tea (scrambled).

25. ‘‘The sixth candle is unity of » making all that dwell

on earth peoples and kindreds of

one race.” (World Order of

Baha'u'llah, p. 39).

26. ‘‘O ye children of men, the

fundamental purpose animating

the of God arid His

Religion is to safeguard the in terests and promote the unity of

the human race.” (World Order

of Baha'u'llah, p. 202).

29. Baha’is, both black and white,

must every opportunity

to show amity and harmony in

their dealings with one another.

30. The most virulent and long standing form of prejudice in

America is rac. "

31. To perform an action.

32. Anyone who answers the ques tion, ‘‘Who’s there?””

beings are

Answers to this month’s crossword are on page 26

Ronald Blackwood (left), the mayor of Mount Vernon, New York, receives a copy of ‘The Promise of World Peace’ from Farhad Arbab, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Mount Ver

non. The presentation was made

in December at a ‘Unity is Everybody’s Business’ breakfast honoring Mayor Blackwood for his efforts to unite the various community elements in. Mount Vernon.

[Page 13]we AHA’ FAITH \

On Saturday, November 23, the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Riuhtyyih Khanum spoke to an overflow audience of Baha’is from the New York City area at Public School No. 41 in New York. Among the topics covered were the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement and her presentation of that document to United Nations Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar.

L.A. Center is host to 56 refugees; five declare belief

The following is reprinted from the Los Angeles Baha’i Journal:

When Eileen Estes mentioned to her English-as-a-second-language class that she was a Baha’, hands shot up and questions bounced around the room like popcorn.

Reluctant to answer in depth in that setting, she asked those who would like to read something about the Faith to sign a paper, and almost went into shock when more than 30 signed up and practically the whole class signed another paper saying they’d like to visit the Los Angeles Baha’i Center.

A community Feast had been schéduled for the following Sunday, and Eileen was able to ask the friends for help with food and transportation. The Baha’is of Santa Monica rushed to help, and oh, yes, the Los Angeles Baha’i Youth Workshop would perform.

Sunday arrived and the caravan moved toward the appointed rendezvous point. Would any of the seekers actually be waiting?

There they were—a whole crowd of them including some children!

Counting those who came in their own cars, there were 56 refugees at the Baha’ Center from Cambodia, Vietnam, Iran, Romania and Ethiopia.

The tables were laden with soup, curried chicken, rice and fruit. After enjoying the marvelous repast, the group of about 100 Baha’is and their guests gathered to hear musical presentations, watch the Workshop dance, and do some quiet teaching.

One won’t soon forget those special moments when the multilingual group joined in singing “We Are the World’”’ and ‘‘One Planet, One People, Please,” which Eileen had taught them in class.

The joyful event came to a glorious conclusion when five of the visitors declared their belief in Baha’u’llah.

Reaching the people of mainland China with the Message of Baha’u’llah is extremely important.

How important? Consider that more than one-third of the world’s population lives in China and that these people need to learn of the healing Message of Baha’u’llah.

However, because mainland China is a ‘“‘closed’’ country, teaching the Faith there is highly restricted. The challenge of reaching the mainland Chinese is considerable, and much of the answer lies in our contact with those Chinese who are presently living and studying in the U.S.

The National Spiritual Assembly has appointed a national committee to help in those efforts. Farzam Kamalabadi, a member of the committee, shared the following insights with the National Youth Committee:

“There are only 20,000 students and visiting scholars from mainland China who are either studying or doing research in the universities outside China.

“Only 10,000 of them are in the U.S. at this time. These people are the ‘cream of the crop’ of more than a billion Chinese. They will be the leaders of the future Chinese society in all the academic, administrative, political and economic institutions of the country, often serving as heads of their department, or university, or even becoming local or national leaders of such a vast nation.

“They are situated now in only two dozen or so universities and thus are within the reach of our Baha’i Clubs to associate with them, befriend them, and familiarize them with the name and tenets as well as the spirit of our precious Faith.”’

What a unique opportunity, privilege and responsibility! The most effective way to share the gift of the new World Order with mainland Chinese is by befriending them in the spirit of the Master, to reach out to them with hospitality and warmth, and to demonstrate, through deeds, the spirit of the Faith.

Your special efforts to develop genuine friendships with the Chi Plans announced by National Assembly for MIS Committee

A Management Information Systems (MIS) Committee is being formed by the National Spiritual Assembly,

The committee will be comprised of individuals representing a broad range of expertise in such areas as data processing; data acquisition; systems design; software development, design and application; office automation; telecommunications, and hardware disciplines.

The committee will undertake specific assignments from the National Spiritual Assembly relating to the current information and organizational needs of the Baha’ National Center and the American Baha’i community.

Baha’is who are interested in serving as members of this committee should submit a resumé before April 15 to the Department of Human Resources, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

nese in our area will surely bring many rewards.

‘If there is a base of Chinese students at your university, you are encouraged to contact the Chi The American Baha’i / March 1986 / 13

Answer to reaching Chinese lies here in U.S.

nese Teaching Committee, c/o Ms. Jacki Delahunt, National Teaching Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9093) or the

National Youth Committee, 1371 Sunset Strip, Sunrise, FL 33313 (phone 305-584-1844) for more complete details on reaching the Chinese students on your campus.

Can you identify anyone in this picture?

The National Archives has no information as to which community

taken, or who the individual Baha’is are. If you can identify

this is, when the photograph was anyone, please write to the Na- 60091.

et

5 4

tional Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL

Harrisburg to sponsor 9th Conference of Nur

The Spiritual Assembly of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is sponsoring the 13th annual Conference of Nur (Light) May 30-June 1 at Elizabethtown (Pennsylvania) College.

The conference theme is ‘‘The Unfoldment of World Peace.” Sessions will focus on how peace can be achieved through (1) changes in society, (2) changes in human ties and bonds, and (3) changes in international institutions.

The speakers will include Counsellor Robert Harris; Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem; and Peter Oldziey, an assistant to the Auxiliary Board.

Workshops will follow each topic session. Those who plan to attend are asked to read in advance ‘‘The Promise of World Peace,”’ ‘The World Order of Baha'u'llah, and ‘‘Waging Peace.””

Youth, pre-youth and children will have special programs, and Mrs. Khadem will conduct a special session for women only on topics of concern to them.

Anyone bringing children is ex ABS sets California peace conference

The Association for Baha’i Studies and the Baha’i Club at the University of California-Irvine are sponsoring a conference, ‘‘Transition to a World at Peace,”’ to be held April 18-20 on the UCI campus.

The purpose of the conference is to generate and disseminate information relevant to the issue of world peace.

All communications concerning the conference should be addressed to the Association for Baha’i Studies, Pacific Southwest Regional Committee, P.O. Box 2924, Newport Beach, CA 92663.

pected to help with at least one session of the children’s program so that everyone can have a meaningful experience.

Entertainment Saturday evening will include international folk dancing and music by Van Gilmer of Washington, D.C., and Scott Anderson and Lee Feldman of York, Pennsylvania.

Pre-registration by May 11 is a

must for everyone including commuters. Partial scholarship help is available; please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Harrisburg for details.

For registration forms and information about costs, write to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Harrisburg, Attn: Registrar, P.O. Box 3108, Harrisburg, PA 17105, or phone 717-232-9163.

Amoz Gibson Centre files incorporation documents, looks toward university tie

Legal documents necessary to incorporate the Amoz Gibson Training Centre for Baha’i Media in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, as a nonprofit educational institution have been signed and filed and await government notice of the new corporation’s official registration.

Meanwhile, the Centre has been looking into a number of options for obtaining accreditation for its programs,

One exciting development is the possibility of an affiliation with the Interamerican Universit Puerto Rico’s leading private stitution of higher learning.

A cordial meeting was held last October 22 with the university’s president, and the Centre’s pr posal for a joint one-year Certi cate program in ‘Broadcasting and Media Arts’’ is now under consideration.

If successful, the initial cooperative venture might later be expanded into a two-year Associate of Science degree program with the Centre supplying half of the courses, and, eventually, to a bachelor’s degree in conjunction with Interamerican, a Middle States-accredited institution.

In another recent development, Miriam and Michael Beechy, who met during a radio course at the Centre, were later married and are now working at the World Centre

in Haifa, have agreed to serve as the Amoz Gibson Centre’s hosts and caretakers.

She is Bolivian, he Canadian. Besides speaking several languages between them, it is said that they are both excellent international cooks.

The new caretakers will reside in the Centre’s newest building, a model solar home designed to serve as both a living quarters and institutional kitchen.

Those who are interested in learning more about the Centre or receiving a brochure outlining its upcoming programs should make note of its new mailing address: Amoz Gibson Training Centre, HC-02 Box 14765, Arecibo, PR 00612. The telephone number is 809-878-4189.

Correction

In the January issue of The American Baha’i (page 17), in an article headed ‘‘Prayer magazine includes article on Baha’is in Iran,’’ a quotation published in the magazine Fellowship in Prayer is attributed to Bahá’u’lláh.

Actually, the quotation, which appears in Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, is by the author of that book, J.E, Esslemont.

We apologize for the error. [Page 14]14 / The American Baha’i / March 1986

Information readied on books in Persian

Jo | DISTRIBUTION 0 SERVICE

The Baha’i Distribution Service and Office of Persian/American Affairs are beginning an effort to disseminate more information regarding books available in Per

“We're hoping English-speaking Baha’is will help,”’ says Marketing Manager Robert Blum, “by taking the initiative to assist Persian Baha’is, especially those who are newly arrived, to become more aware of the books that are available in Persian.

“The Office of Persian/American Affairs is helping the Distribution Service to improve its ability to provide more and better information about these books to the Baha’i community.””

Several books made available_

by the National Persian/American Affairs Committee are considered of vital importance: Tablets of the Divine Plan, The Advent of Divine Justice, and The Synopsis and Codification of the Kitdb-iAqdas.

“Many Persians have lost their

identity, their jobs, their titles,” says Puran Stevens of the Office of Persian/American Affairs. “It is difficult to live here in such circumstances and be proud of yourself—unless you feel that you have a role to play.” “The main point,’’ adds Manuchehr Derakhshani, director of the Office of Persian/American Affairs, “‘is that newly arrived Iranian Baha’is need to understand the nature and destiny of the American Baha’i community.

“They need to know the role the U.S. is destined to play in spiritualizing the world.

“We believe that ‘Abdu’l-Baháa’s Tablets of the Divine Plan and The Advent of Divine Justice

Presentation edition of peace statement in second printing

The second printing of The Promise of World Peace presentation edition ($3 SC) was received by the Baha’i Distribution Service the first week of February.

Shipments began going out immediately for the large number of back orders which had accumulated.

“It’s obvious,’’ says Distribution Service Marketing Manager Robert Blum, ‘‘from the continuing requests for the $3 version that the community is having success in making presentations of the peace statement.

“We've had order for more than 30,000 copies of the presentation edition in just over four months, and we still have many months left in the observance of the International Year of Peace.

“*We urge communities,’’ he says, ‘‘to plan their presentations and order their copies of the presentation edition of The Promise of World Peace quickly, so that they’ll be assured of having copies on hand when Opportunities to use them arise.””

are central to developing this understanding,’’ says Mr. Derakhshani. ‘‘ Tablets of the Divine Plan ($4.50 SC) had been available in Persian but was printed in a compilation of Tablets by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. We published it separately with an introduction by Dr. Mahmud Majdhub, who was a respected lawyer in Iran before his martyrdom in 1981 along with his fellow members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran.””

The Advent of Divine Justice ($4.25 SC) had also been available in Persian but changes were made by the Universal House of Justice in the newly published edition. The edition of The Synopsis and Codification of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas ($2.50 HC) had never before been available in Persian.

“We must ask ourselves,” says Mr. Derakhshani, ‘“‘why this influx of Persians into the U.S. has taken place. We believe the underlying reason is spiritual.

“With the emergence of the Faith from obscurity, we need to be able to demonstrate to the outside world an ever more closely unified community. The arrival of the Iranian Baha’is offers an excellent opportunity for creating and sustaining this organic unity.

“If the sacrifices of the friends in Iran are the cause of the progress of the Faith throughout the world, as has been repeatedly affirmed by Bahd’u’ll4h, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and the Guardian, then the resulting influx of Persians to this country is also a part of God’s plan.”

Another booklet sent to all ar riving refugees, says Mrs. Stevens, is The Handbook for Newly Arrived Persians, which is available from the Distribution Service for $2. The booklet has a table of contents in English. Persian/American Affairs has also made available through the Distribution Service a presentation copy of ‘“‘The Promise of World Peace’’ in Persian calligraphy. It can be given to non-Baha’i Persians, says Mrs. Stevens. “Two other books that are

available and can be given to non-Baha’i Persians,’’ she says, ‘‘are The Baha’i Faith Is Not a Political Movement ($4 SC) and Principles of the Baha’i Faith ($2.50 SC). “These two books have been published, at the instruction of the Universal House of Justice, especially to respond to the ii inquiries of Iranians about the Faith. The Distribution Service, says Mr. Baha’is considering several other ways of making it easier for Persian Baha’ is to learn about the

available items.

“‘We’re exploring the possibility of producing and distributing a separate price list in Persian, as well as providing more information to our Distribution Representatives (librarians) around the country.

“‘We know how vital the Creative Word and the Sacred Texts are in our own lives and how especially important they must be to those who have sacrificed so much for their Faith.”

Book on Tolstoy’s relationship to Faith, novel about sufferings in ut new from George Ronald

A book about one of the world’s best known writers and a new novel are the two latest offerings from George Ronald Publishers.

Leo Tolstoy and the Baha’i Faith ($9.95 HC, $4.75 SC) by Luigi Stendardo “‘traces the developments and fluctuations of Tolstoy’s attitude (about the Bahd’{ Faith) as more information was made available to him,’’ according to the publisher.

“(The book) is based on (Tolstoy’s) correspondence and diaries, as well as the memories of those close to him and Baha’is who came into contact with him. Most of the material is here made available for the first time in English, translated from Russian, Persian and French, and includes a hitherto unpublished Tablet of

Abdu’l-Bahá.””

George Ronald’s publicity ma

terial on the books says that Tolstoy became dissatisfied with the Church as a young man and was eventually excommunicated in 1901.

Last week in January a record-setter with more than 1,000 orders shipped by Distribution Service

In the last week in January the Baha’i Distribution Service set a record for orders processed in one week when it shipped more than 1,000 orders to its customers.

“It’s always nice to set a record,’’ says General Manager Larry Bucknell, ‘‘but we were surprised by the size of this one. Our previous high had been 738 orders in one week, and we shipped 1,127 in the last week of January.””

A number of circumstances, he says, contributed to the large total.

“We received both the shipment of All Flags Flying by William Sears ($20 HC, $10 SC) from South Africa and the shipment of the deluxe edition of The Promise of World Peace ($30 HC) which we produced for the National Spiritual Assembly.

“Those titles,’’ says Mr. Bucknell, ‘‘had a large number of advance orders and standing orders. They and another new title—The Master in ‘Akká ($11.95 HC) from Kalimat Press—arrived, and finally, we received a reprint of The Promise of World Peace study edition from World Centre Publications.

“All of a sudden we had more than 1,000 orders ready to be processed and more coming in all the time. We began recruiting staff members who don’t normally work in the shipping operation, and on Tuesday alone we shipped a daily record of more than 400 orders. The driver who picks up the United Parcel Service shipments was the only one who was unhappy about our accomplishment.

“‘While we’re proud of the record,”’ says Mr. Bucknell, ‘“‘we’re really more pleased with what it represents.

“Tt shows a high degree of acceptance by the Baha’i community of the kind of books we’re making available, and it also shows that our attempts to make the entire order processing operation more efficient are working.

“‘We’re now able to ship more orders in one day than we could in a week only two years ago, and we’re doing it with half the staff we once had in our warehouse.

“When we produce more work with fewer people,”? Mr. Bucknell concludes, “‘that translates ultimately into an ability to hold down the cost of the books and other materials we distribute.”

of Sincerity.

“ JD. a

“y GAs er a é ” ‘Ki

The author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina gradually developed a vision of ‘the establishment on earth of the Kingdom of God, that is to say, the replacement of an organization of life in which division, falsehood and violence are all-powerful, by a new order in which harmony, truth and brotherhood (would) reign.’”

In his last mention of the Baha’i Faith prior to his death in 1910, Tolstoy describes the religion of Baha’u’llah as ‘‘very profound. I know of no other so profound.””

George Ronald’s second new book, The Touchstone of Sincerity ($6.50 SC), by J.D. Albert, is a novel describing the sufferings a a fictional Baha’i in today’s fran.

A member of the United Kingdom’s Baha’i Reviewing Board calls the book ‘‘a moving story ... a very remarkable novel and one that should help us understand the travail of the Iranian Baha’is ... gives credible insights into the situation. ...””

Both books were expected to be available in early March.

Quan.

All Flags Flying, HC Tau Flags Flying, SC

Baha’i Datebook i Pocket Calendar "(Faith in America, HC The Divine Art of Living, SC

—The Master in “Akka, HC —O God, Guide Me!, SC —Onee to Every Man and Nation, SC

NET price

Z£7Onm Dmoz

—Leo Tolstoy and the Baha’i Faith, HC —Leo Tolstoy and the Baha’ Faith, SC

Amt. — Quan, Amt. $20.00 __Peace: More Than an End to War, HC $16.00 10.00 8.95 2.00 425 10/1.85 Per: Synop, Codif of Kitáb-i-Aqdas, HC 2.50 19.95 Per: Tablets of 425 7.95 _Prayersand Meditations-British Ed., HC 11.00 9.95 _Promise of World Peace-Deluxe Ed., HC 30.00 CARD NO. 4.75 _Promise of World Peace-Presentation Ed., SC 3.00 a 11.95 _Promise of World Peace-Study Ed., SC 15 3.95 Touchstone of Sincerity, SC 650 Name 5.95 _Unrestrained as the Wind, SC 195 —Unto Him Shall We Return, SC 795 Address City

Baha’i Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE

WILMETTE, IL 60091

Credit card orders ($10.00 minimum) are accepted by phone: 800-323-1880 (outside Illinois), or 312251-1854 (within Illinois).

‘TAB 3/86

(S1.50 minimum for postage) Enclose a check for the full amount, or

VISA/MC (CIRCLE ONE) EXP. DATE Total plus 10 per cent postage —__

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Z£7FOnm wmmyozro

Prices good through April 30, 1986

[Page 15]The Creative Word

Prayers and Meditations —must reading during \ period of the Fast as Paes we turn to inner life

During the Fast we turn our attention to our inner life and our link with God in a special and concentrated way. Prayers and Meditations, a collection of some of the most potent prayers of Bahá’u’lláh, can be an inspirational source to which we can turn at this uniquely important time of the year.

When Prayers and Meditations was first published, the Guardian’s secretary wrote on his behalf: ‘‘He is pleased to know that the book of Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah has been out in time to enable the friends to read it during the Fast, and he has every hope that the perusal of such a precious volume will help to deepen, more than any other publication, the spirit of devotion and faith in the friends, and thus charge them with all the spiritual power they require for the accomplishment of their tremendous duties towards the Cause.’”

Now, almost 40 years later, the challenge is still before us to renew and transform ourselves spiritually. With all of the proclamation opportunities presented by the peace statement and the International Year of Peace, with the ending of the Seven Year Plan and the beginning of the Six Year Plan, and with the goal of becoming ever more familiar with and reliant upon the Creative Word, we cannot ignore the advice of Shoghi Effendi, who could foresee our tremendous duties.

Prayers specifically for the Fast are found on pages 9-10, 67, 79-86, 143-46, 288-93, and 299. Prayers for spiritual sustenance appear on Pages 126, 155, 234, 258, 261 and 299.

With these gems on which to meditate, we can surely spend our devotional hours in a way that will bring us closer to the “‘life-giving waters” of Baha’u’llah’s Revelation.

Prayers and Meditations is presently available through the Baha’i Distribution Service in hardcover only in the British Publishing Trust’s edition for $11.

ee eee

With one month left in the Seven Year Plan, we are eager to hear from you, our readers, about how this column has (or has not) helped to inspire you to fulfill the goal asking us to ‘‘pursue a nationwide campaign, with emphasis on the use of the Creative Word, designed to inspire every believer to live the Baha’i life, thus demonstrating to their fellow-countrymen the beneficent effects of the Baha’ way of life.””

Any feedback or suggestions for future articles on specific books or topics would be welcome. Please address your responses to Anne Atkinson, Baha’i Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. Thank you and Happy Naw-Rúz!

PUBLISHING TRUST

b

You’ve been waiting for years for it to be reprinted so you can once again give it to all your favorite friends, relatives and seekers.

You still refer to your old edition, which is dog-eared and worn from use. Or, as a new Baha’i, you have heard older Baha’is talk about it as their favorite compilation.

The ‘‘it’”” we refer to is The Divine Art of Living—now updated, revised and expanded with two new chapters and a new

The American Baha’i / March 1986 / 15

New Divine Art of Living finally here

cover.

“Tt”? has been one of the most popular Baha’i books for more than four decades—and finally, “it”? has returned with an even broader scope to meet the needs of the present.

The new Divine Art of Living includes material on marriage and family life, child-rearing, peace and unity, and the importance of contributing to the regeneration of society—as well as on individual spiritual development.

All of these topics will help us work toward goals of the Six Year Plan.

Now that The Divine Art of Living has returned, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. And start reading!

The new edition of The Divine Art of Living, in softcover only, is available at $7.95 from the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

Questions, answers about peace compilation

Question: I have read with interest about your forthcoming compilation on peace. Now that our community has made detailed plans to present the peace statement in our area, how can we use the new compilation?

Publishing Trust: Peace: More Than an End to War, which will be available in early April, is the most comprehensive collection of the Baha’ writings on peace to date. This means that it will be an excellent resource for community and personal deepening and will help us broaden—and truly deepen—our awareness of how the Revelation of Baha’u’llah establishes the means to achieve peace and the reordering of human society. This will also help clarify our role—as individuals, as family members, and as Baha’ communities—in the establishment of peace.

Q: Will the peace compilation be appropriate for non-Bahd’( readers?

BPT: Yes, it was compiled with a non-Baha’i readership in mind. Thus it will be an important book to present to those who have been receptive to ‘‘The Promise of World Peace.””

Addressing in detail the major points mentioned in the peace statement, it will answer many of the questions raised by those whose curiosity is piqued by the statement. It will also be a good book to give to libraries and to display at proclamation events.

Persons to whom you may wish to consider giving the peace compilation include government officials, educators, clergy, service organizations, media people and individuals, especially those who have warmly received the peace

Review of Baha’i Faith in America calls Faith ‘an important new world religion’

O God, Guide Me! reprinted

A review of Robert Stockman’s book, The Bahá’í Faith in America: Origins, 1892-1900, appeared in the December 1985 issue of Choice magazine, a monthly periodical that many acquisition librarians read to consider new books to purchase.

The review accurately summarizes the book, presents the Faith in a positive light, and recommends The Baha’i Faith in America for all readers. It states:

“Stockman presents in very candid detail and with careful thoroughness the story of the introduction of the Baha’ Faith in the U.S. and Canada.

“‘His book covers a very short period of the early development, organization, leadership and

Lights available

Lights of Guidance ($20 HC) is presently (as of late February) in stock at the Baha’i Distribution Service. A limited number was received, so those who want a copy should order early.

How to order

To order any titles listed on this page, individuals living anywhere in the world should see the Baha’i Distribution Service coupon in this issue.

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

teachings of Baha’i as it was received throughout the U.S. and Canada in the last decade of the 19th century.

“The basic teachings of Baha’i as understood and interpreted by Ibrahim George Kheiralla are presented in much detail and with great clarity. Just as the presentation and reception of Baha’i in America depended to a large extent on the thought and activity of Ibrahim Kheiralla, so, too, the greatest challenge and ‘crisis’ for this faith was caused by his disaffection from the Baha’i Faith.

“The first of a three-volume study, this work is a fascinating and well-told story and an invaluable aid in better understanding a very important ‘new’ world religion. Extensive footnotes; bibliography; index. Highly recommended for all readers, though most appropriate for lower-division undergraduates and public library patrons.””

Let Thy breeze refresh them in order that they may be trained. grow and develop. and appear in the utmost beauty Thou art the Giver Thou art the Compassionate.

Abdul Baha

J

A double-page spread of the new edition of O God, Guide Me!, a collection of prayers for children. The revised prayer book has a completely new design, one new prayer, and updated translations of others. The 22 interracial illustrations by the late Gordon Laite delight the eye and reinforce the meaning of the prayers. Recommended for children ages 3-7. Now available (in softcover only) for $3.75.

statement. The second presentation could serve as a follow-up to previous contacts.

Q: How else will the new compilation be useful to us?

BPT: In many ways. For example, Peace: More Than an End to War can help us in working on the goals of the Six Year Plan.

How? By helping to enlarge the status of the Faith in the world when we offer it to non-Baha’i readers; by relating to the goal of increased distribution and use of Baha’i literature; by promoting the understanding of the Baha’i way of life; and by involving the Baha’i community in the needs of the world around it through an increased awareness of the issues related to peace.

Peace: More Than an End to

See QUESTIONS page 26

Friends respond to new Datebook

Several responses have come in from customers regarding the new Baha’i Datebook 143 B.E.

The responses, which are as varied as they were last year, focus on changes in the Datebook—changes made necessary by rising costs for typesetting and production and by an interest in gradually shifting to the Baha’i calendar system.

The following are representative of this year’s responses:

“The datebooks are wonderful! It is a beautiful design, simple yet contains everything and then some. Thank you, thank you!””

“Most folks in this group feel the new 143 B.E. Datebook is useless. The format used in the 141 B.E. Datebook is generally considered (to be) the best in recent years. It is hoped that you might return to that model next year and stick with it 3

“Please go back to making the calendars and datebooks from January through December or March. We can’t use them the way they are now because in December we start making notes for January and February.””

Readers are welcome to send in their own reactions to and comments about the new Datebook format. Please address them to: Special Materials Department, Baha’ Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

[Page 16]16 / The American Baha’i / March 1986

CLASSIFIEDS

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

°

EMPLOYMENT

DEDICATED professionals are needed who are willing to use their skills and expertise to advance the affairs of the Faith in this country. The Baha’i National Center, located near the Mother Temple of the West, is seeking qualified individuals to take part in ushering in the Six Year Plan. Service at the National Center can be exciting and challenging with many Opportunities for activity in the surrounding communities and at the House of Worship. All positions at the National Center are paid and offer generous benefits. If you would like to explore the possibility of this form of service, please write to Karen Crenshaw, Department of Human Resources, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039. Following is a list of current vacancies at the National Center: Pioneer consultant (International Goals Committee office). Recruits, trains and counsels prospective pioneers, corresponds with and advises pioneers in the field. Must be mature with ability to understand political environments, climate, travel, languages, jobs and other adjustments required of pioneers. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential. Strong organizational skills, general office experience and typing are required. Pioneering experience preferred. Assistant manager (External Affairs, New Haven, CT, office). Helps with public relations and media work relating to U.S. government agencies and reps, national media, national organizations and prominent individuals. Requires excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong organizational ability, typing at least 55 wpm.

Warriors

from page 7

individual efforts early this year, and within two weeks had raised up 10 new believers in the Old Town area of northern Virginia.

Teams of youth and adults are going each weekend and systematically visiting the new believers and teaching in the area near where these individuals live.

“Everyone is really excited and happy about the way things are going,”’ says Khotan Shabazi of the metro D.C. District Youth Committee. ‘‘We’ve even had offers of help from youth in North Carolina. We hope this new enthusiasm will grow and grow.”

If you’d like to become a part of these exciting efforts, contact the National Youth Committee for details. Better yet, we’d like to hear of the fresh initiatives launched in your area!

Administrative assistant (U.S. UN Representative, External Affairs, NY City office). Helps the U.S. UN Representative in preparing for briefings, conferences and special projects. Maintains files and accounts. High energy, college degree, good verbal and written communication skills, typing 55 wpm required. Fluency in a second language (European), basic accounting skills and public speaking skills are desirable. Secretarial assistant (Persian-American Affairs Committee office). Provides clerical support, greets visitors, makes appointments, helps with other projects. Good secretarial and organizational skills, typing 55 wpm, and fluency in Persian (written and verbal) are necessary, together with a pleasant demeanor and telephone manner. Records clerk (Office of Membership and Records). Helps maintain the National Spiritual Assembly’s central files and membership and address records, processes transfers, performs data entry and responds to telephone inquiries. Typing 45-55 wpm, good spelling and eyesight are necessary. Persian preferred.

WANTED: Professional recording/engineering technician for Dawnbreakers Studio. Must be willing to move to the Los Angeles area. Down time used for Baha’i projects. Live on premises. Send resumé to Garnie Day,

San Fernando, CA 91340, or phone 818-365-5653 or 818-361-5766.

NEEDED: Printer with two years’ experience on 11x17 offset press for a Baha’i-owned commercial print shop and advertising paper. Send resumé, photo and Bahd’{ history; also hobbies. We need more members to strengthen an Assembly. Write to Soldotna Printing, _ Soldotna, AK 99669 (Attn: Paul Gray), or phone 907-262-9000.

THE FEDERAL government has many openings for natural resource management positions. These jobs are often in rural areas, on Indian Reservations, or in U.S. Trust Territories. Some of them are: Soil Conservation Technician-458. Many openings; control number WA9028. When requesting information about this announcement, refer to SCTNW-2. Soil Conservationist-457. Many openings; control number WA9027. When requesting information, refer to LS-NW-1. Soil Scientist-470. Many openings nationwide; control number WA9030. When requesting information, refer to LS-NW-1. Range Conservationist-454. Control number, WA9026; announcement, LS-NW-1. Mailing address for any of the above is U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Attn: SEU, P.O. Box 37636, Washington, DC 20013 (phone 202-447-5748).

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, invites potential homefront pioneers to help establish a functioning Assembly. Brownsville, directly across from Matamoros on the Mexican border, enjoys an appealing cultural diversity and a sub-tropical climate, which has made it the home of choice for many retirees. Teachers are presently in demand, and there is a fair amount of manufacturing done by U.S. companies across the border in Mexico. Brownsville has a small university, a world

famous zoo, and quick access to the beach—it’s a great place to be! For information, contact Steven Ramirez, _ . Boca Chica Road, Brownsville, TX 78520, or phone 512-541-6562.

BRUNSWICK (pop. 18,000) is a thriving coastal Maine community with two hospitals, a Naval Air Station and Bowdoin College, eight miles from Bath (Bath Iron Works, Bath Memorial Hospital), 20 miles from Lewiston, and 30 miles from Augusta or Portland. The naval base and college, among other things, help give Brunswick a fair amount of racial and ethnic diversity. Housing is available at moderate prices. We are now a Group of six adults, one youth and seven children, and have established a Baha’i presence in the town. We warmly welcome anyone who would like to come help our community grow. Contact Patty Whyte, secretary,

. Brunswick, ME 04011 (phone 207-725-6238).

NEEDED: One homefront pioneer to save the jeopardized Assembly and help create a unified Persian/American community in Speedway, Indiana. For more information, write to Mr. or Mrs. Spicklemyer,

_ a Speedway, IN 46224; phone them at 317-2489099, or phone Mr. or Mrs. Loghmani, 317, 299-6052.

COME to Kentucky! The District Teaching Committee beckons you to the Bluegrass State. We can use homefront pioneers in Richmond, a university town with four active Baha’is; Lancaster, where help is needed to consolidate a mass-taught Assembly; Jessamine County, near Lexington; St. Matthews, near Louisville and close to Assembly status; Bowling Green, a university town with an active Baha’i community; and Hopkinsville, a nice town near the “Land Between the Lakes”’ with an active Baha’i family. Kentucky is a lovely and friendly state in which to live, with mild weather and many employment opportunities opening up in the auto industry. If you would like to know more, please write to William Wiley, Kentucky District Teaching Committee,

. Frankfort, KY 40601, or phone him at 505-875-5962.

HAVE UNITY ... need diversity! The Spiritual Assembly of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, numerically jeopardized, needs at least one more member by Ridvan. This loving Baha’i community, situated in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is composed entirely of Caucasians and would love to assimilate some Persian, black, Spanish-American, Cambodian or other minority believers into the ‘“‘family,’’ although we would welcome any lover of Bahá’u’lláh! Please write to P.O. Box 50, Elizabethtown, PA 17022, or phone 717-367-5075, and we’ll fill you in on statistics (college town, low unemployment, low taxes, lovely rural setting, good public transportation to larger cities, etc.).

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed to help save a jeopardized Assembly in Northeast Harris County, Texas, a suburb of Houston. There are presently seven Baha’is here, four living in Kingwood, whose bike trails, pools, library and schools make it an ideal community for families. The school district was recognized by

President Reagan in 1985 for excellence. Kingwood is 30 minutes from downtown Houston; property values are stable in a buyer’s market. Help save our Assembly and lend a helping hand to a small but active Group in an upper middle class community. Write to Joe and Robin Cain,

- Kingwood, TX 77339, or phone (evenings) 713-359-2876.

SEEKING pioneer support for Blackfeet, Crow, Northern Cheyenne and Fort Peck Indian Reservations in Montana to maintain or renew Assembly status. Also desire pioneers on the Fort Belknap Reservation. Inquire c/o the District Teaching Committee Secretary, Topaz Dosen,

_ Bozeman, MT 59715.

THE GROUP of five Baha’is on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, needs help in re-forming its Assembly. Tourism, real estate and construction are the largest businesses. There are three schools (high school is expanding), a home for the aged, hospital, insurance businesses, several airlines, etc. The hospital needs a doctor for x-rays. Housing is expensive and tight, especially in the summer, but wages are high. Write to Anna Hall, _

Nantucket, MA 02554, or phone 617-228-2904.

ONLY ONE more Baha’i is needed to maintain the Assembly in Braintree, Massachusetts, close to the ocean, within commuting distance of Boston, and about an hour from Cape Cod. Unemployment in the state is about three to four percent; the Baha’is of Braintree will help in any way they can in locating housing and employment. Write to Esther Rastegari,

Braintree, MA 02184, or phone 617-848-8663 and leave a message on the recorder.

HEALDSBURG, California, a town of 9,000 in beautiful Sonoma County, 70 miles north of San Francisco, needs homefront pioneers by Ridvan to save its Assembly. Nearby are a state university and junior college, as well as employment opportunities in electronics. The Assembly has been established for more than 20 years and has a loving, active community of believers. P.S.—Healdsburg is only a few miles from the original Bosch Baha’i School in Geyserville.

COME to beautiful Vermont, a lovely place to live, work, study and, above all, become a homefront pioneer in a goal area. Vermont offers employment opportunities in education, high tech firms, tourism, construction and service industries. There are several good universities and medical centers. For more information, contact the District Teaching Committee of Vermont, c/o Khodadad Varahramyan, _

Colchester, VT 05446, or phone 802-864-4430.

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

NIGERIA, a goal country for the Seven Year Plan, has academic vacancies in its universities; positions from lecturers to full professors. Applicants should have an advanced degree and recent university experience in one or more of these disciplines: engineering; computer science; physical, chemical or biological sciences; environmental design, architecture or surveying; medical sciences; business management;

agriculture; mass communication; law; social sciences; veterinary medicine; education; general and ious studies; physical education; library sciences; theatre arts; or fine and applied arts. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

THE NATIONAL Spiritual Assembly of Panama is looking for a couple to be in charge of public relations at the Baha’i House of Worship in that country. Must be bi-lingual (Spanish/English), without small children, financially independent, and have ability to relate to the public. In return, housing, utilities and transportation within the country will be provided. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

SETTLE in sunny Hawaii to help strengthen local Spiritual Assemblies, a goal of the Seven Year Plan. Two communities on the Big Island of Hawaii need immediate settler families: North Hilo (40 minutes from the University of Hawaii-Hilo campus) and Ka’u, a remote area as lovely as Tahiti with a black sand beach and high school, a picturesque community for an artist, writer or someone who can offer a community service such as tutoring in manual skills or the performing artspreferably a retired couple or someone of independent means. The other target area is the filming location for the movie ‘‘South Pacific,” on Kauai, north of the most populated island, Oahu. The community is Hanalei, a remote resort featuring the famous golf course of Princeville, exotic rainbows, and miles of white sand beaches. Again, one needs independent means to set up a business. for tourists or offer some community service; Hanalei is about an hour and a half from the county seat, in Lihue. There is an additional opportunity for a beekeeper to work on Niihau, an island that is inaccessible to outsiders except when a certain skill is needed. Should an expert beekeeper be available, this would be an outstanding opportunity for a pioneer. If you wish to consider filling any of these goals, or would like further information about them, please phone the National Teaching Committee of Hawaii, Robert McClelland, chairman, 808-922-6926, or Scarlett O’Hara Bill, secretary, 808-322-3564.

A UNIVERSITY on the island of Macau (near Hong Kong) needs a professor in chemistry and math for the upcoming September term. MS degree is preferred, but applicants may qualify with a bachelor’s degree. Fluency in English is required; knowledge of Portuguese would also be helpful although not required. The work requires approximately 15 hours per week. Good salary. If you would like more information about the position, write to the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

HOTEL manager is needed in Cyprus. Applicants should be 35 or older, have a degree in hotel management, and at least five years experience. Experience in accounting preferred. A generous salary program is included. Cyprus, in the Mediterranean Sea, [Page 17]

CLASSIFIEDS

is a goal of the Seven Year Plan. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-8699039).

TRAVELING TEACHERS

SPIRITUAL Assemblies: We are willing to send traveling teachers to more affluent Assembly areas in return for help in raising funds for a much-needed Baha’i Center in Florence, South Carolina, the heart of mass teaching, WLGI Radio, and the spirit of Tabarsi. We have everything but money! If interested, please write to Anne Breneman, secretary, Spiritual Assembly of Florence, P.O. Box 4323, Florence, SC 29501 (phone 803-667-1540).

TRAVELING teachers are needed in Florence, South Carolina, to help win the goal of 1,000 avowed believers by Ridvan 1986. Bring sleeping bag and car, if possible. For information about hospitality, phone Dr. or Mrs. Rassekh, 803-667-8140. Come join the spirit of Tabarsi!

BAHA'I SCHOOLS

SUMMER jobs at the Green Acre Baha’i School: cooks, program directors, staff for the children’s and youth programs, nursery supervisor, book sales, librarian, kitchen, housekeeper. Please contact the Green Acre Baha’i School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903.

GREEN Acre Volunteer Program: Many skills are needed, especially carpentry and painting; room and board provided. If you have a weekend, a week, or even more in which to help, please contact the Green Acre Baha’i School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903.

COULD you receive college credit for working in the Green Acre ‘School’s program for children or youth this summer? Excellent experience, good for your resumé. Contact the Green Acre Baha’i School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903.

ARCHIVES

WANTED: Original Tablets of “Abdu’l-Bahá to the following individuals, with approximate dates of the Tablets: Louise Dixon Boyle, Washington, DC (1913); Edward Braithwaite, Washington, DC (1911); Mrs. Rose Constance Byrne, Sandusky, OH (1909); Dr. Sarah F.K. Burgess, Chicago (1904); Mamie Agnew, Chicago (1909); Mary Serrant Burton, Echo Mountain, CA (1909); and Miss Margaret Campbell, St. Louis, MO (1908). Anyone having information about the possible location of these Tablets is asked to contact the National Baha’i Archives, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

THE NATIONAL Baha’i Archives has available a guide to those collections open for research. The 19-page guide covers 149 collections of institutional records, personal papers, community histories and personal recollections, giving the collection title, quantity, and some information about contents and significance. The guide can be ordered for $2

from the National Baha’i Archives, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

WANTED

A COUPLE is wanted to be house parents at Penn Center in Frogmore, South Carolina, in the beautiful coastal area near Charleston and Hilton Head. Salary is $11,000 plus room, board and the use of a van. Children are okay, but as this work is with boys, male children are preferable. Contact Larry Perry, Mental Health, Beaufort, SC 29902, or Amber Spahn, secretary, Southern No. 2 District Teaching Committee, P.O. Box 236, Frogmore, SC 29920 (phone 803-838-5453). Come join the wonderful, active South Carolina Baha’i community and help with expansion and consolidation in the lovely coastal areas!

WANTED: Baha’i who is willing to mail his/her copies of The American Baha’i to a pioneer, Frank Paccassi, Box 669, Castries, St. Lucia, West Indies. Please mail direct to him.

THE OFFICE of Public Affairs at the Baha’i National Center would like to hear from Spanishspeaking Baha’is who can help in the development of national media materials. Help is needed with straight translations, which means taking current materials and translating them into Spanish. Also, Baha’is with radio and TV talent including script w1 and creative conceptual ability are needed to produce scripts and generate ideas. If you can help with these efforts and/or you own or have access to radio and TV production facilities, contact Marcia LeRoy, National Audio-Visual Program coordinator, Baha’i Office of Public Affairs, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

WANTED: For future projects, Baha’is with radio and/or television talent including script writing and creative conceptual ability to help develop national media materials. If you can help in this way and/or you own or have access to radio and TV production facilities, contact Marcia LeRoy, National Audio-Visual Program coordinator, Baha’i Office of Public Affairs, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

I AM _ looking for articles, papers and information about Dr. Daniel C. Jordan and his work with the ANISA model. I’m particularly interested in any research findings on the applications and implementation of the ANISA model in school programs. Please write to Marylou Krummenacker,

Las Cruces, NM 88001, or phone 505-522-7834.

WANTED: Baha’i music groups to perform August 1-3 at a Baha’i weekend school and at a proclamation in the beautiful mountains of southwestern Colorado in the quaint, historic mining town of Telluride, in a county that needs to be opened to the Faith. You'll also have an opportunity to bring warmth and love to an isolated area of the American Baha’i community. Write to Messel McHugh,

Durango, CO 81301, 303-247-0732.

SERVICES

HAVE WORKSHOP, will travel—or provide correspondence class. The Radiant Community is (1) a series of three

or phone

weekend workshops designed for medium-sized Baha’i communities (18-90 adults, 6-30 youth and children); (2) designed to facilitate consultation leading to action upon the socio-economic needs of your community; and (3) grounded in the Writings: Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, Baha’i World Faith, Tablets of the Divine Plan, Selected Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the peace statement, and the message from the Universal House of Justice on social and economic development (October 1983). For more information please write to Ann Schoonmaker (Anya Boyd), P.O. Box 283, Eliot, ME 03903, or phone 207-439-3306.

ARE WE READY for world peace? Is the world ready for world peace? ‘‘The Psycho-Historical Challenge of World Peace”’ is a series of three special proclamation programs designed to appeal to mature college or university audiences: 1. The Inner Tasks for World Peace; 2. Unveiling the Feminine Potent World-Wide Quality Circles: Learning to Benefit from Diversity. The program includes stepby-step guide on how to involve professors plus necessary publicity materials for your college group of dedicated students to follow for maximum coverage. Plan ahead for late spring or early fall. For more information please write to Ann Schoonmaker (Anya Boyd), P.O. Box 283, Eliot, ME 03903, or phone 207-439-3306.

MISCELLANEOUS

THE FIRST Regional Youth Conference in Richmond, Virginia, will be held the weekend of April 4-6. The $49 cost ($54 for those registering after Naw-Riz) includes registration, motel housing and all meals. For more information, please contact Sohail Dadressan, registrar,

. Baltimore, MD 21239, or phone 301339-7214.

HOMECOMING in Frankfort, Kentucky. In May 1986, the Spiritual Assembly of Frankfort will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a homecoming celebration. If you have ever been a Baha’i in Frank The American Baha’i / March 1986 / 17

fort or Franklin County and we have lost touch with you, please write to Sally Wiley, corresponding secretary, Frankfort, KY 40601, 502-875-5962.

A FREE GIFT to those who have learned the international language, Esperanto: Receptoj por Fruktoj Frandajoj. Send a stamped self-addressed envelope to Darlene Evans, P.O. Box 203, Hart ‘or phone

ford, IA 50118. For those who would like to learn Esperanto, ask for the free 10-lesson course.

BAHA’E radio operators: the second issue of Callbook was issued about a year ago. If you did not receive one, or have moved or upgraded, send your name, address and call to be included in the third issue to Terry Bebertz,

Vassar, MI 48768. a

Awards

from page 2

of the state of Ohio. She holds honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Wilberforce (Ohio) University.

Dr. Austin has served on Baha’i administrative institutions or the local and national levels incluumg membership on the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly and on the first regional National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of North and West Africa.

In 1975 Dr. Austin headed a Baha’i delegation to the International Women’s Year tribute in Mexico City. In 1982 she was a member of the Phelps Stokes study team that did research in the People’s Republic of China, and in that same year she was a speaker at the International Baha’i Conference in Lagos, Nigeria.

Dr. Austin is the first Baha’i to receive the Louis Gregory Award from the National Assembly.

Dr. Brown, recognized as one of the outstanding choral directors in the country, has dedicated her musical gifts through Singing City, an all-amateur choir, to the search for achieving peace and harmony among people of various cultural, economic and religious backgrounds.

A conscious effort has been made not only to involve a diverse group of people in the choir but to instill in them an acceptance of and a caring for one another.

The choir has performed in schools, churches, synagogues, hospitals and retirement homes, in the streets of Philadelphia and in concerts with such renowned conductors as Eugene Ormandy, Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta and

Riccardo Muti.

Since its inception, the choir has grown from a small chorus to a significant musical organization that has recorded with major orchestras and conductors and has given as many as 36 concerts a year.

Dr. Brown, who has remained the director and guiding spirit of Singing City, is a former member of the distinguished panel of choral advisers to the National Endowment for the Arts, and a lecturer and guest conductor who is in constant demand throughout the country.

She is Professor Emerita at Temple University in Philadelphia and has been the recipient of numerous honors including the Gimbel Philadelphia Award, the Prix d’Exellence from the French government, the B’nai B’rith Interfaith Award, and the award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

Dr. Brown holds honorary degrees from Villanova University and the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music.

Among the selections performed by the Singing Choir at the Gregory Award presentation were two Baha’i prayers, ‘‘Blessed Is the Spot’? and ‘‘O Thou, by whose name ...”’ set to music by Charles Wolcott.

Other music ranged from parts of the Brahms ‘‘Requiem,”’ which the choir recently performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, to the Negro spiritual, ‘‘My Lord, what amornin’,’’ which closed the program.

The Bedrock of All Other Institutions National Baha’i Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

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[Page 18]18 / The American Baha’i / March 1986

Se anuncian comienza de Plan de Seis Afios y Afio Sagrado para 1992

A los bahd’is del mundo Muy amados amigos,

_La esperanza emocionada con que dimos la bienvenida el 27 de diciembre a sesenticuatro Consejeros de los cinco continentes al Centro Mundial para consultar con el Centro Internacional de Ensefianza sobre los desafios y las oportunidades que enfrentan a la comunidad mundial baha’i, se ha trasmutado, al concluir su conferencia histérica, en sentimientos de la mas profunda alegria, gratitud y amor.

Agraciada por la presencia de las Manos de la Causa Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khanum, Ugo Giachery, ‘Ali-Akbar Furdtan, ‘AliMuhammad Varga y Collis Featherstone, la Conferencia fue organizada y administrada con previsién y eficiencia admirables por el Centro Internacional de Ensefianza, cuyos miembros individuales velaron por, y sirvieron incansablemente, las necesidades de los participantes y el progreso de la Conferencia misma.

Convocada en el salén de actos de la Sede de la Casa Universal de Justicia mientras los Consejeros del mundo baha’{ entraban en su nuevo periodo de servicio de cinco afios; a pocos meses de la terminacién del Plan de Siete Aiios y el inicio del nuevo Plan de Seis Afios; su atmésfera realzada por las potencialidades espirituales de los Santuarios Sagrados y el sentido eufdrico de victoria y bendicién que penetra el mundo baha’i entero en la actualidad; la Conferencia alcanzé tales alturas de exaltacién, espiritualidad y poder consultivos como sélo quienes servimos a la Bendita Belleza podemos gozar.

El crecimiento orgdnico de la Causa de Dios, indicado por recientes’ desenvolvimientos significativos en su vida, se hace notablemente aparente a la luz de los principales objetivos y expectaciones del Plan de Seis Afios: una expansién vasta de los recursos numéricos y financieros de la Causa; el engrandecimiento de su prestigio en el mundo; un incremento mundial en la produccién, distribucién y utilizacién de la literature baha’i; una demostracién més firme y mundial del modo de vida baha’i, que requiere consideraci6n especial de la educacién baha’i de los nifios y jévenes, el fortalecimiento de la vida familiar baha’i, y atencién a la participacién universal y al enriquecimiento espiritual de la vida individual; aceleracién adicional en el proceso de la maduracién de comunidades locales y nacionales y una consolidacién dindmica de la unidad de las dos ramas del Orden Administrativo; la extensién de la participacién de la comunidad mundial baha’i en las necesidades del mundo que la rodea; y el proseguimiento del desarrollo social y econédmico en comunidades baha’is bien establecidas. Estos son algunos de los rasgos del Plan de Seis Afios que empezar el 21 de abril de 1986 y terminard el 20 de abril de 1992.

El Ridvan de 1992 sefialara el comienzo de un Aifio Sagrado, durante el cual se observara el Centenario de la Ascensién de Bahá’u’lláh por medio de conmemoraciones alrededor del mundo, y la inauguracién de Su Convenio se celebrara en la Ciudad del Convenio, mediante la reali zacion del segundo Congreso Mundial Baha’i.

Los amados Consejeros, fortalecidos y enriquecidos por sus experiencas en Tierra Santa, consultardn tan pronto como sea posible con todas las Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales sobre medidas para concluir triunfalmente el Plan actual, y sobre preparaciones para lanzar el Plan de Seis Afios. Anticipadamante a esas consultas, las Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales recibiran el anuncio completo de los propésitos y las caracteristicas de ese Plan para que, junto con los Consejeros, puedan formular los planes nacionales que, para cada comunidad, estableceran su proseguimiento de los objetivos generales.

Este nuevo proceso, por medio del cual las Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales y los Cuerpos Continentales de Consejeros habran de formular en gran medida las metas nacionales del proximo Plan, sefiala la inauguracién de una nueva etapa en el desenvolvimiento del Orden Administrativo. Nuestro amado Guardian previé una sucesién de épocas durante la Edad Formativa de la Fe; no vacilamos en reconocer que este nuevo desenvolvimiento en la maduracién de las instituciones baha’is sefiala el inicio de la cuarta época de esa Edad.

Shoghi Effendi percibié en la vida orgdnica de la Causa una dialéctica de victoria y crisis. Los triunfos sin precedentes, generados por la firmeza inquebrantable de los amigos iranies, inevitablemente provocaran oposicién para probar y aumentar nuestra fuerza. Que cada baha’{ del mundo tenga la seguridad que cualquier cosa que suceda a esta creciente Fe de Dios no es sino evidencia incontrovertible del cuidado amoroso con que el Rey de la Gloria y Su Heraldo martirizado, mediante el incomparable Centro de Su Convenio y nuestro amado Guardian, estan preparando a Sus humildes seguidores para un triunfo foal y magnifico. Nuestras oraciones amorosas les acompajfian a todos ustedes.

La Casa Universal de Justicia 2 de enero de 1986

Counsellor Harris to speak in Nebraska

Counsellor Robert Harris will be among the speakers March 22-23 at a Peace Conference sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Lincoln, Nebraska.

The conference theme is ‘‘Pathway to Peace.’’ Mr. Harris will be the keynote speaker at a sitdown dinner Saturday evening, March 22.

The conference will include five workshops: ‘“‘The Importance of Women,” led by Auxiliary Board member Ronna Santoscoy; ‘‘International Language/Communi cation Skills’? (June Knudsen

Fritz); ‘‘Consultation’’ (Collin Taylor); ‘‘The Oneness of Mankind” (Dr. Dan Rae), and a

special workshop for older children and youth led by Auxiliary Board member Robert Postlethwaite.

Information is available from Ruth Hansen,

Lincoln, NE 68510 (phone 402-489-1570); reservations can be made through Robert Walker,

Lincoln, NE 68503 (phone 402-477-9076).

Cursillo de estudio profundiza conocimientos de La Casa Universal de Justicia y de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Los articulos siguientes son tomados de un ‘‘Curso de Informacién Baha’i”’ escrito en Argentina. El curso consta de material tomado del libro El Nuevo Jardin por Hushmand Fatheazam.

Para mds informacién sobre este curso, por favor escribe al: National Teaching Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

°

La Casa Universal de Justicia Una de las instituciones tnicas de la Fe Baha’i es la Casa Universal de Justicia cuyos miembros estan elegidos entre los baha’is de todo el mundo por medio de sus epee Espirituales Nacio ee ’ll4h nos ha asegurado que El continuard guiando a los baha’is por medio de la Casa Universal de Justicia durante la Dispensacién Baha’i.

Bahá’u’lláh nos ha dado las leyes fundamentales y las ensefianzas de Dios para esta edad, pero El ha dicho que necesitaremos otras leyes también, las cuales tendran que ser establecidas gradualmente de acuerdo con nuestras necesidades cambiantes.

Estas reglas y disposiciones sociales, dijo Baha’u’llah, deben ser establecidas por la Casa Universal de Justicia, la cual estar siempre bajo la guia infalible de Dios.

La Casa Universal de Justicia no cambiara aquellos principios fundamentales que Baha’u’llah nos ha dado. Lo que hard es sentar reglamentos que nos guiaran a llevar a cabo las leyes de Baha’w’llah.

Por ejemplo, Baha’u’ lah ha ordenado que tengamos un idioma universal en el mundo, pero no ha mencionado cual idioma debe ser. Esto se ha dejado para la Casa Universal de Justicia lo decida. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá; El ejemplo perJfecto de como vivir las ensefanzas y los principios de Bahá’u’lláh

‘Abdu’l-Bahá fue el exponente de la Fe de Dios, el intérprete de los escritos de Bahá’u’lláh, y el

‘U.S. Baha’i Report’ aids in presentations to public officials

The winter 1985-86 issue of U.S. Baha’i Report is a perfect companion piece for official presentations of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace.””

The issue features the presentation of the peace statement to President Reagan, using the same photographs that appeared in December in the special issue of The American Baha’i.

It also reports on the human rights resolution by the UN General Assembly on behalf of the Baha’is in Iran, and the meeting between UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar and the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rubiyyih Khanum.

Assemblies that would like to order multiple copies for use in their communities should contact Baha’i Subscriber Service, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039. There is a nominal charge per issue.

perfecto ejemplar de sus ensefianzas. Baha’u’llah lo ha llamado “El Misterio de Dios.””

‘Abdu’l-Bahá significa el ‘“‘siervo de la Gloria’ 0 “‘siervo de Bahá’u’lláh.”’ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá era el hijo primigénito de Bahá’u’lláh y nacid el 23 de mayo de 1844, la misma noche en que el Bab annuncié su misién.

Tenia solamente 8 afios cuando Baha’u’llah fue encerrado en la terrible mazmorra. Desde muy temprana edad estaba deseoso de compartir los sufrimientos de su padre amado.

Acompaiio a Baha’u’llah en la dificil jornada de Tihran a Baghdad, y pasé 40 afios de su vida en la prisién o el exilio.

Cuando ‘Abdu’l-Bahá fue finalmente puesto en libertad, era un hombre anciano. Pero el amor de Dios lo habja conservado feliz en las horas mas amargas de su vida.

Su felicidad espiritual era tan profunda que ni siquiera las prisiones mas tenebrosas se la pudieran quitar. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá queria que nosotros gozdramos de esta clase de felicidad. El dijo:

“La felicidad es de dos clases: Jisica y espiritual. La felicidad Sisica es limitada, No dura mds de un dia, un mes, un afio. No tiene resultado. La felicidad espiritual aparece en el alma, con el amor de Dios y hace desear y obtener las virtudes y perfecciones de la humanidad.””

A pesar de que era s6lo un nifio, “‘Abdu’l-Bahá reconocié el rango de su padre. Se arrojé a sus pies y le rog6 que lo aceptase como un sacrificio a su causa.

Desde aquel dia, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá brindé su vida al servicio de Bahá’u’lláh y sacrificé cualquier comodidad.

Gané el respeto y el amor de los seguidores de Bahá’u’lláh desde muy temprana edad, y mas tarde fue conocido entre ellos como ‘“‘el Maestro.”

Cuando Bahá’u’lláh murié, y fue abierto su testamento, el cual es llamado el ‘Libro del Convenio,’’ los baha’is se alegraron al saber que Baha’u’llah habia nombrado a ‘Abdu’l-Bahá como el Centro de su Convenio y que lo habia autorizado como intérprete de sus ensefianzas.

El nombramiento del Centro del Convenio es una caracteristica de la Fe Baha’i. Todas las religiones del pasado se han dividido después de la muerte de su fundador, ya que los seguidores no sabian a qué atenerse o a quién dirigirse.

Empezaban entonces a interpretar las ensefianzas de Dios como ellos las entendian y como no las entendian de la misma manera, estas ensefianzas eran explicadas en diferentes formas.

Esto, por supuesto, fue la causa de desunién entre los seguidores de las religiones antiguas. En la Fe Baha’i, sin embargo, el. caso ha sido diferente.

Baha’u’llah, que habia venido a disolver toda clase de desunién entre los pueblos del mundo, no permitié que la Fe Baha’i se dividiera. Escribié un documento en el que designo a ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

como aquel a quien todos los baha’is deberian volverse, pidiéndole guia en cualquier asunto que se relacionara con sus ensefianzas.

Este documento, el ‘‘Libro del Convenio,”’ salvé a los baha’is de la division.

Preguntas

1. Cémo explicaria ud. los titulos de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: ‘‘El Misterio de Dios’’ y ‘‘El Siervo de la Gloria’?

2. Imaginese que esté en una prisién sin aqua potable, sin mucha comida, sin poder ver flores ni arboles. No puede salir para pasear y jugar. Podria estar feliz? Cudnto tiempo podria aguantar esa condicién.

3. Qué es su entendimiento de la palabra ‘‘convenio’’?

4 Oscar P. Stone, a Baha’i from New Haven, Connecticut, received the President’s Award from the New England chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture during the recent annual meeting in Worcester, Massachusetts. Mr. Stone has served the past seven years as editor for the New England Chapter of ISA and is also secretary and editor for the Connecticut Tree Protective Association, the oldest arboriculture educational group in the U.S. Mr. Stone, who became a Baha’i as a youth in West Englewood, New Jersey, in 1931, has worked in the tree care field for more than 40 years. He is now a consultant and teaches tree care at Quinnipiac College in Hamden, Connecticut.

Los Angeles Baha’is honor Dr. King with public meeting, film

On Sunday, January 19, the Baha’i community of Los Angeles, California, observed the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a public meeting at the Los Angeles Baha’i Center at which “I Have a Dream,”’ a filmed documentary of Dr. King’s life and his contributions to world peace, was presented.

The program also included a presentation of Dr. King’s 1967 speech entitled ‘‘Beyond Viet

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Iran: Quite a diverse country

Iran is a country of 630,000 square miles (that makes it somewhat larger in size than Alaska) and a population (as of 1971) of 30 million people. By contrast, the 1980 population of California was around 26 million.

Although we have been conditioned to think of Iran and Iranians as a monolithic entity, in reality Iran is a quite diverse country. For example, in addition to the Shi'ite majority, there are many Sunnis (especially among the Kurds and Turkmen), about 200,000 Christians, 70,000 Jews, 25,000 Zoroastrians and 350,000 Baha’is. Many converts to the Baha’i Faith over the last 100 years or so have been from the minority populations, especially Jewish and Zoroastrian.

Despite the fact that Persian (Farsi) is the official language of Iran taught in the schools, nearly half the country’: 's population speaks a mother tongue other than Persian. Other languages include Azari, Turkish, Armenian and several other Iranian dialects.

At the next Nineteen Day Feast, ask your Persian friends about their family’s religious background, or what part of Iran they come from. You may be surprised to learn that just because you’ve met one Iranian, it does not necessarily follow that you know them all.

For instance, the northeastern province of Iran is known as Khurásán. Here we find the city of Mashhad, the resting place of the eighth Imam and a site of pilgrimage for Shi’ites. Khurásán has produced many renowned poets, scientists, philosophers and politicians including the poet-astronomer Omar Khayyam from the city of Nayshabur.

The area to the north of Tehran along the southern shore of the Caspian Sea is known as Mazandaran, where Baha’u’llah’s ancestral home was located. It is a beautiful place, lush and humid, whose inhabitants are said to be proud and independent.

To the northwest, between the borders of Turkey and the Soviet Union, lies the province of Adharbayjan and its capital city, Tabríz, where the Bab was martyred. This area is populated largely by Azari Turks, whose mother tongue is a blend of Turkish and Persian.

Iṣfahán, a city in central Iran, has been called “Iṣfahán-nisf-i-jahan”’ (Iṣfahán, half the world), because of its importance and beauty. It was the capital city of the Safavid dynasty beginning in the 16th century, and can lay claim to the greatest masterpieces of Islamic architecture.

Shiraz, to the south, is the lyrical city of poets, birthplace of Hafiz and Sa’di, and, of course, birthplace of the Bab. Shiraz is famous for its lovely gardens and flowers, as well as for the sweet accent of its inhabitants.

Tehran, on the other hand, is a sprawling urban metropolis, in many ways like any large modern city of the west. Because it is the capital and the city with the largest population, most Iranian Baha’is you know probably lived in Tehran before coming to the United States.

But ask them about their background. They might have come from Qazvin like Táhirih, or, like Hujjat, another Babi hero, from the town of Zanjan, or they may have known one of the martyrs of Yazd.

Whatever their background, ask them about the personal experience of having been a Baha’i in Iran, of growing up as a member of a religious minority. We should be able to learn something from their experience that will help to strengthen the Baha’i community here

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[Page 22]22_/ The American Baha’i / March 1986

Bolivia, Peru review socio-economic gains

UNITED NATIONS

During a briefing session held January 10 at the Baha’i International Community’s Office of Public Information, Elloy Anello, president of Nur University, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and Tom Lysaght, director of social and economic development projects for Radio Baha’i in Puno, Peru, presented encouraging reports about Baha’i development projects in Bolivia and Peru.

In both countries, Baha’i radio stations have been instrumental in promoting literacy, health care, and native culture.

Peru

Radio Baha’i began its initial transmission on July 9, 1981, in Chucuito, which is about 10 miles from Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca, legendary birthplace of the Inca people.

In the area there are about four million Aymaras, distinguishable from other Indian groups by their

Peace conference in Woodland draws mayor, 100 others

Nearly 100 people attended a peace conference January 11 sponsored by the Baha’is of Woodland, California.

The conference was opened by Dr. Harry Walker, the mayor of Woodland. Richard Rodda, the president of the UN office in Sacramento, spoke on the role of the United Nations in establishing

peace.

Topics addressed by the Baha’i speakers were “The Promise of World Peace,’’ ‘“‘The Socio-Economic Aspect of Peace,” ‘‘The Spiritual Aspect of Peace,’’ and “The Role of Women in World Peace.””

The conference was used as a means of presenting the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement to the residents of Woodland. City and county officials, humanitarian organizations and churches were invited.

language and deeply rooted customs.

Consequently, all programs are broadcast in Aymara, Quechua and Spanish. At the present time Radio Baha’i is the only culturally-oriented radio station in the area.

Radio Baha’i broadcasts a literacy program under an agreement with the Ministry of Education, while announcements have been prepared to support vaccination programs, and a cooperative relationship has been established with the Forestry Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to the Ministry of Education’s evaluation of mass media in Puno, Radio Baha’i is the most popular station in the area.

In Peru, where one in four births results in death from dehydration, the Baha’is are engaged in innovative techniques to teach UNICEF’s oral rehydration meth

Their three-stage program is being implemented in the rural areas of Peri among the indigenous population. First, a rural village theatre troupe performs a play that dramatizes for the villagers and youth the main points of UNICEF's oral rehydration program.

The performers are 15-year-old youth who depict the following major strategies: (1) the importance of breast feeding to nourish and protect the infant from infection; (2) oral rehydration therapy consisting of a simple treatment with salts and glucose in clean water for a child suffering from diarrheal dehydration, the number one killer; (3) immunization against tetanus, measles, polio, whooping cough, diphtheria and tuberculosis, which cripple and kill millions of children every year; and (4) growth monitoring to detect early signs of malnutrition and deal with it.

Second, Radio Baha’i broadcasts well-prepared programs that reinforce the message of the play and encourage local community participation in and support of the oral rehydration program,

Third, additional reinforcement

Three Baha’i Holy Days listed on NCCJ 1986 ‘Calendar of Religious Holidays’

Three Baha’i Holy Days (Ridvan, Naw-Riz, and the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh) are listed with brief explanations by the National Council of Christians and Jews on ‘‘A Calendar of Religious Holidays and Ethnic Festivals.”

The calendar is an attractive and informative four-page brochure that bears the symbols of the Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish and Sikh faiths and covers two academic years of broadly selected holidays and festivals to include both large and small religious and/or ethnic communities.

“The calendar,”’ it says, “‘is designed to encourage Americans to be aware of and to learn about the great mixture of religious and ethnic groups that are in the United States. It is a tool for civic, corporate, religious and educational organizations.

“Teachers may find the calendar particularly helpful because it

contains festivals that can be occasions for objective, non-credal instruction on particular cultures and because it will alert them to religious observances which may result in student absences.””

According to Celia Lewis, the calendar editor who made the initial contact the U.S./UN Baha’i Office in July 1984, the calendar is distributed by the 75 regional offices of the National Council of Christians and Jews and is used largely in school programs as well as in conjunction with programs sponsored by the NCCJ.

If you would like a copy (25 cents each) or a quantity (bulk rates available), you may write to NCCJ Inc., 71 Sth Avenue, New York, NY 10003, Attention: Celia Lewis.

When Ms. Lewis was thanked for including Baha’i Holy Days in the calender, her response was, “How could we not?’”

and support is provided through the training of selected villagers from the surrounding region in the use of specially prepared audio tapes to lead the local villagers in discussions of oral rehydration.

After the training, each villager returns to his or her community with copies of the audio tapes and serves as a discussion leader for the village.

The use of audio tapes, which have been produced by the Baha’is, appears to overcome some of the problems caused by illiteracy, which often prevents the success of the oral rehydration program.

Bolivia

After initiating a tri-lingual broadcast on March 31, 1984, Radio Baha’i in Caracollo started broadcasting for eight hours each day.

Although most of the programming has been music, especially native Indian folk music, other programs include community service, local sports and news, and family education and agriculture.

The station has also produced a community newspaper and is collaborating with UNICEF in the design and production of radio programs focusing on oral rehy dration. It has prepared a cassette tape on UNICEF’s interventions and distributed it to 15 rural radio stations throughout the region where UNICEF has its program in operation.

Radio Baha’i has also pioneered

me

On November 2, the five-member Baha’i Group of East Windsor, New Jersey, marked the 40th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations with a public meeting whose speaker was Richard Falk (fourth from left), Albert G. Milbank Professor of International Law and Practice at Princeton University. In his talk, entitled ‘Can the UN Bring About World Peace,’ Prof. Falk, who is not a Bahá’í, spoke highly of the Universal House of Justice’s peace

an experimental exercise in structured listening groups by involving 50 Mothers’ Clubs through the use of prepared tapes that are designed to stimulate a dialogue and discussion of the UNICEF pro gram.

statement, calling it ‘a very eloquent, important document that should be studied as a foundation Sor trying to think about how to promote peace in the world.’ The local newspaper carried an article covering Prof. Falk’s address and listing many of the principles of the Faith. Shown with Prof. Falk are East Windsor Baha’is (left to right) Richard Chapas, Jenina Lepard, Brian Lepard, Mohammad Roayaie and Mehri Roayaie.

UN publishes two exciting new books especially for children

UNITED NATIONS

Two new United Nations books for children are now available:

The United Nations From A to Z by Nancy Winslow Parker is published by Dodd, Mead & Co., 79 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016. The price is $12.95 (hardcover), $5.95 (softcover).

On the inside cover, the book is described as follows:

“What is the United Nations? What does it do? Who belongs to it? After World War II, the leading nations of the world wanted to work together to prevent wars from ever happening again. They formed the United Nations.

“On June 26, 1945, the UN Charter was signed in San Francisco. Today there are 159 member nations.

“Here, in a handy alphabetical guide, with a concise text and clever illustrations, you can find out about the General Assembly, the Security Council, the peacekeeping forces, and all the other organs and agencies that make up the United Nations.

“Tn this 40th anniversary of the United Nations, discover what this international organization for peace and human rights is all about.’”

Papito’s Speech by Margaret and John Travers Moore, published by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI No. 800), is $3.95 (softcover).

Papito’s Speech is the UN’s first attempt at publishing a children’s book, rights to which were purchased from the authors, among America’s leading poets.

From the description on the cover:

“A dream of peace—There is nothing wrong with dreaming. For more than 40 years a dream has become more and more real at the United Nations. And in his visit to the UN in New York, Papito makes a speech at the General Assembly that touches the dreams of all the world.””

To order either of these books, write to the UN Bookstore, General Assembly Building, Room GA-32B, New York, NY 10017. Make checks payable to UN Bookstore.

New design; durable cover 48 pages 22 illustrations

Price valid only in the United States

from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust

. O God, Guide Me!

Prayers to bind the hearts of children to Baha’u’1lah

= excellent for family devotions and fostering a sense of Baha’i identity

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[Page 23]INTERMEDIA

News from the Office of Public Affairs

SIGNIFICANT MENTIONS

The Associated Press wire service release about President Reagan’s human rights proclamation was picked up by newspapers all over the country. Of the clippings that have come pouring in so far, more than 34 towns have printed the story quoting both the President and Judge James F. Nelson, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Austin magazine in Austin, Texas, in an extensive article on corporate giants, featured Ginny’s Copying Service Inc., founded by a Baha’i, Virginia Rogers. The article stated that the company ‘‘took a dramatic turn in 1977, when Rogers began implementing the teaching of the Bahá’í Faith about rewarding one’s employees.’”

BUSY BAHA'IS

The Baha’is of White Plains, New York, sent the peace statement to the editor-in-chief of the Reporter Dispatch. Result: A reporter contacted them, published a four-column-inch article that included a photograph, summarized the main points of the statement, and included the history and background of the Faith. The article, headed ‘‘Baha’i Faith stresses peace, unity,’’ appeared as the lead article on the religion

page.

A unified effort in Arizona resulted in an impressive full-page ad for peace in in The Independent. Contact numbers were printed for the Baha’i communities of Cottonwood, Rural Verde, Camp Verde, Jerome and Sedona. On another page the ‘‘Wage Peace’’ ad was published with a tear-off coupon offering a complimentary copy of the peace statement.

Baha’ is pooled their efforts in the northeastern area of Florida to enable the media committee to place a half-page ad in the Jacksonville Times Union (circulation 400,000). The ad displayed a graphic design of adove and said, “‘PEACE ... the attainable goal toward which humanity is striving ... THE BAHA’{ FAITH.” It listed phone numbers for two Baha’i communities as well as a toll-free number.

The Baha’is of Brattleboro, Vermont, made a presentation to their local governing officials and two state senators, and a large article, headed ‘‘Baha’is Offer Promise of World Peace,” was printed in the Brattleboro Reformer after a local Baha’i met with the religion editor. A week earlier, a non-Baha’i friend had written a letter to the editor of that same paper about the persecution of the Baha’ is in Iran.

The Baha’is in Howard County, Maryland, got several column inches of coverage in The Columbia Flier’s ‘‘Focus on People’ section in an article headed ‘‘Baha’is Present Message of Peace.”’ The article, which mentioned the presentation of the peace statement to Howard County officials, included references to Bahá’u’lláh, listed the basic principles of the Faith, quoted frequently from the peace statement, and included comments by local Baha’is.

The Valley Vanguard, the student newspaper at Saginaw Valley (Michigan) State College, published a large article headed ‘‘Baha’i and the Promise of Peace’’ as part of a series of articles the paper is printing about the various religions on campus. As a part of its activities, the Baha’i Club sponsored a global holiday exhibit featuring traditional craft items and costumes associated with festivals around the world. Impressed, the Bay City Times published an article describing the exhibits and referring to the Baha’ is as ‘‘promoters of world understanding and cultural diversity.’’ The event was planned in cooperation with the International Studies Committee and the Office of Sponsored Programs.

More than 50 Baha’is in the Greater Washington, D.C., area volunteered to answer phones during WETA-TV’s recent fund-raising campaign. Not only did the station frequently mention the Baha’is, but the racial diversity of the community was visible to the station’s many viewers when the cameras focused on the volunteers as they manned the telephones.

Baha’is in Derry, New Hampshire, were recently featured in two significant articles in The Derry News. One, about the United Nations presentation, was headed ‘‘Baha’is Release Peace Statement,” and the other, about the Human Rights Day ceremony at the White House, was headed “Reagan Condemns Iran’s Persecution of Baha’is.’”

The Baha’is of Cary, North Carolina, busy spreading the message of “The Promise of Peace,”’ sent a two-page summary of the statement with a cover letter to more than 500 businesses, professionals, school principals and individuals in Cary. The recipients were asked to consider the message and to contact Baha’is if they wished more information. The positive response included an article in The Cary News which covered the content of the peace statement and explored the history of the Faith as well. A local contact number for the Baha’ community was included.

The Baha’i College Club at the University of New Hampshire remembered to include publicity as an important part of every proclamation activity. Throughout the year they have published a list of their activities in the ‘‘Notices’’ section of their school paper, The New Hampshire. Display ads and photos have added up to impressive P.R. There’s no question their campus community knows about the Baha’is.

We are delighted to see that “‘Bahd’!’”’ and “‘Peace”’ are so prominently linked in today’s headlines.

language of utmost kindliness and good-will. If it be accepted, if it

Teaching

from page 11

liness and fellowship. If ye be aware of a certain truth, if ye possess a jewel, of which others are deprived, share it with them in a

fulfill its purpose, your object is attained. If any one should refuse to accept it, leave him unto himself, and beseech God to guide him. Beware lest ye deal unkindly with him.”’ (Baha’u’llah, The Individual and Teaching, No. 6)

Xenia, Ohio, Baha’is show teaching can lead to splendid media coverage with well-planned local campaign

Sy | MEDIA

Teaching projects provide excellent opportunities for media coverage!

In preparation for a direct teaching weekend, the District Teaching Committee of Southern Ohio. sought permission from the illage council to hand out ren to a public discussion about peace.

During the meeting, the Baha’is presented the council with the peace statement. Later, 100 invitations to the peace discussion were distributed to the public.

As sometimes happens, only a group of enthusiastic Baha’is showed up. Not disheartened, they used the opportunity to consult about peace-related activities. The result was a decision to hold a week-long prayer vigil at the Xenia Baha’i Center.

It was an interfaith event to which all the residents of Xenia were invited to offer prayers around the clock for the establishment of world peace. Candles were lit in the window of the Baha’i Center to remind people of the vigil.

The outcome was gratifying. The mayors of Yellow Springs and Xenia and the Greene County Commission proclaimed it “World Peace Week.””

On New Year’s eve, a candlelight service was held. Representatives from various religions and nationalities offered prayers for world peace at the Greene County Court House.

Extensive media coverage followed.

Print media

Prior to the vigil, a photo of the Baha’i delegation presenting the peace ‘statement to Congressman Mike DeWine appeared in the Beavercreek News with the bold heading, ‘‘Baha’is Present Peace Statement.’”

Other peace-related activities were covered as follows:

© The Yellow Springs News printed a photo of members of the Baha’i community taken during the candlelight prayer service, a letter to the editor from a Baha’i expressing gratitude to the village council, newspaper and radio station WYSO for supporting the

Mayor of Hemingway given peace statement

On January 10, the Baha’is of Hemingway, South Carolina, presented a copy of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace” to W.B. Harmon, the mayor of Hemingway.

The presentation was made at the Louis G. Gregory Baha’i Institute near Hemingway. Among those taking part were Dr. Roy Jones, administrator of the Gregory Institute, and Ernest Hilton, chairman of the District Teaching Committee.

The mayor was also given a copy of the book, The Baha’i Faith: The Emerging Global Religion, by William Hatcher and Douglas Martin.

and

06 civitization; and WHEREAS, major obstactes

ehininate these barriers; and

ment of Wortd Peace. NOW THEREFORE, I, Waeter

1985, as WORLD PEACE WEEK in Xenia

Proclamation

WHEREAS, the United Nations has declared the period from October 24, 1985, to October 24, 1986, as International Year of Peace;

WHEREAS, wortd peace is the goat of a harassed humanity; and WHEREAS, we Live in a wortd of nations whose interdependence

makes universal peace a frst priority gor the survival and advancement

the prejudices that separate men and cause disunity, and we must work £0

WHEREAS, we in America have been given great spiritual capacities ‘and blessings, and we must take the Leadership in the quest fox an attain Xenia, Ohio, hereby proctaim the week of December 25 through December 31,

everpohere with take his time £0 nededicate themselves to work at att Lines to eLininate these barriers to wortd peace, particutarty atk forms 06 prejudice tounnd people of déggerent races, nationalities or creeds, and t0 foster a high standard of justice for att.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seat of

Pictured is a copy of the proclamation signed by the mayor of Xenia, Ohio, for ‘World Peace Week’ in that city. The proclamation can be used as a sample and adapted for other communities and other peace-related events.

£0 the attainment of wortd peace ane

L. Warshake, as Mayor of the City of

4x the prayersul hope that Americans

ofgéce as Mayor of the City of Xenia,

Ohio, this 12th day of December, 1985.

} gh

in Of the City of Xenia,

peace activities, a photo of Baha’is presenting a copy of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace’’ to the village library, and an announcement headed ‘‘Baha’i Fireside’’ that included a number to call for more information.

The Dayton Daily News featured an article headed ‘Xenia

Baha’is Hold Week-Long Prayer Vigil for Peace.’”

Electronic media

The public radio station, WYSO, aired a 30-minute interview with the Baha’is. Also, WHIO-TV did a segment on its evening news about the presentation of the peace statement to a congressman.

The weather man on the six o’clock news held up a pointer with a candle on one end and announced the peace vigil and candelight service that was to take place that evening.

Besides the articles already mentioned, the largest paper in the Dayton area sent its Greene County bureau reporter to interview the Baha’is at the Center. Nine articles later appeared in the morning and evening editions of

the Journal Herald and Dayton Daily News.

The candlelight service drew an audience of more than 40 from the Columbus and greater Dayton areas.

These examples offer proof positive that the media is more receptive than ever to the news we have to offer. Don’t forget to include this powerful resource when planning your projects.

Baha’is in Dallas among sponsors of Rights Day meeting

The Baha’is of Dallas, Texas, were among the sponsors of a UN Human Rights Day observance held December 10 at Southern Methodist University.

Eighty people including 50 non-Baha'is attended the event whose theme was ‘‘Human Rights in Dallas.”

Marvin Sadovsky, chairman of the Dallas chapter of the UN Association, moderated a panel discussion whose leaders included experts on domestic violence; ethnic and racial discrimination; the plight of the homeless; restrictive business and employment practices; and criminal justice.

The Baha’is manned a literature table at which the new peace

pamphlets and a Dallas-produced

Earth” brochure were given out.

SMU printed invitations and programs and provided the auditorium, all free of charge. [Page 24]24 / The American Baha’i / March 1986

World Centre continues search for workers

WORLD CENTRE

The Bahd’{ World Centre is continuing its search for qualified individuals to serve in a variety of positions in the Holy Land.

Anyone who has an interest in serving the Universal House of Justice in this rewarding and challenging way should contact Karen Crenshaw, Department of Human Resources, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039) for an application and/or further information.

Following is a listing of imme diate needs at the World Centre with a brief description of the duties encompassed in each position and the experience needed:

Administrative Assistants/Executive Secretaries: To compose and draft letters and reports, conduct research, organize and maintain files. At least five years’ experience in high-level secretarial or administrative positions, as well as in the Baha’i Administrative Order; accurate typing and good stylistic sense in English are necessary; shorthand, knowledge of more than one language and familiarity with word processing equipment are desirable but not essential.

Cook/Kitchen Supervisor: As

Louhelen

from page 8

membership committee and a committee to plan its next conference, and elected temporary officers as follows:

Ted Amsden, chairman (phone 313-468-2423, home; 313-5686554, work); Dr. Gwen TaylorGhods, vice-chairman (517-3513572, home; 517-483-1126, work); Steven Gonzales, secretary (517351-1415, home; 517-373-3476, work); Brent Poirier, treasurer (505-522-7189, home; 505-5248624, work).

At present, the friends can write to the Bahd’{ Legal Society c/o Steven Gonzales, 1010 Michigan Avenue, East Lansing, MI 48823.

The conference was privileged to have among its participants two members of the National Spiritual Assembly, Judges James and Dorothy Nelson.

Student Exchange looking for hosts

The American Intercultural Student Exchange (AISE) is seeking host families for the 1986-87 school year for 40 high school students from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Brazil, Australia and Japan.

AISE is a non-profit tax-exempt educational organization dedicated to fostering international understanding.

The students, ages 15 through 18, will arrive in the U.S. in August 1986, attend the local high school, and return to their home country in late June 1987.

Host families, which are responsible for providing room, board and parental guidance, are eligible for an income tax deduction of $50 per month.

AISE is also seeking American high school students, ages 15 through 17, who would like to spend a school year in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, France, Spain, Australia or Switzerland; to take part in a fiveweek Host Family stay in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, France or Spain; or who would like to participate in a Host Family/Language Study program in Germany, France or Spain.

Families who are interested in this program should contact Barb Madsen,

Jacksonville, IL 62650 (phone 217-245-8869), or phone (toll-free) 1-800-SIBLING.

“This was an historic event,’’ said Dorothy Nelson. ‘‘I was impressed with the array of talent the Baha’i community possesses, and the wonderful proposals for the progress of the Cause the friends at the conference made.

“This organization will, in the future, not only be of invaluable assistance to the Baha’i community in such matters as estate planning and properties, and representing the Faith at various international conferences; it will also help to establish such world-wide institutions as the Supreme Tribunal, which the Guardian said would be an element in establishing the Lesser Peace.”

On January 16, the National Teaching Committee received the following telex from the Universal House of Justice:

“Impressed efforts being exerted by Baha’is in legal profession with encouragment your National Assembly to increase their services Cause Bahá’u’lláh. Pleased prospect formation Baha’i Legal Society. Assure participants recent conference our loving prayers that Baha’u’llah may surround them with His abounding confirmations.””

Another conference is being planned, the particulars of which will be published in The American Baha’i as they become available.

For now, Baha’is who wish to contribute to the work of the Baha’i_ Legal Society may send checks payable to the Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, earmarked for the Baha’i Legal Society.

A list of those who attended the conference, and a summary of its proceedings, can be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Steven Gonzales at the address mentioned above.

The Baha’i Legal Society encourages interested Baha’is, whether lawyers or not, to take part in its work.

Unity Feast in Lincoin serves double purpose

About 40 people including 11 non-Baha’is attended a Unity Feast in Lincoln, Nebraska, January 19 to celebrate World Religion Day and honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Among those present were a Buddhist and members of several Christian denominations. All enjoyed readings from the Holy Writings, stories, and light refreshments brought by members of the Assembly.

sumes responsibility for meal programs at the Seat of the Universal House of Justice including food preparation; supplies coffee and tea service; maintains standards of cleanliness and sees that supplies are purchased and stocked.

Electrician: Preferably licensed, familiar with electrical codes, especially European; work involves old and new construction; ability to read electrical blueprints is essential.

Tron Worker: Several years’ experience in the fabrication of wrought iron gates, fences, security grilles and doors is required. Should qualify as a welder and forge blacksmith and be able to read blueprints.

Professional Gardeners: Responsible for supervising garden work and training’ short-term help. Education and broad experience in either horticulture, landscaping or agriculture; knowledge of pest and general biological control is useful.

Indexer: To review a variety of documents and record selected data, using a video terminal. Work includes analysis of subjects, writing summaries and teaching work procedures. Requires good analytical and writing skills, basic typing, and knowledge of the Faith; a bachelor’s degree or adequate general education is necessary; library and/or information science degrees, library technician certificate or experience in those professions is desirable.

Together with these positions requiring immediate attention are

Rights removed

The National Spiritual Assembly has removed the administrative rights of Mr. , Mr. and Mr. of Saranac Lake, New York, because of their continual disobedience to Baha’i institutions and their personal conduct which has adversely affected the image of the Faith in their community.

many others for which there exists an ongoing need.

Positions that require individuals who are available for shortterm service of up to one year include those for interns in the Archives Office, garden helpers, janitorial and security staff (18

months).

Other positions, which require a commitment of two and one-half years and possibly longer, include carpenter, plumber, mason/plasterer, painter, automotive mechanic, curator, bookkeeper and general office helper.

Members of the Baha’i Youth Club of Lakewood, Colorado, with their award-winning float in last September’s Summerset Festival parade. Shown (left to right)

are P. Tony Duran, Jeremy

Green, Jason Haddad, Robin Campbell, Ryan Campbell and Julie Higgins. The green-andwhite ‘Bahá’í Colorado’ sign is a replica of the state’s auto license plate.

Lakewood, Colorado, Baha’i Youth Club gets running start with variety of projects

To provide fellowship and a Baha’i identity for local youth and pre-youth, the Spiritual Assembly of Lakewood, Colorado, last year formed a local Youth Club.

Instrumental in its formation was 24-year-old P. Tony Duran, who not only serves as a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Lakewood but also is chairman of Regional Youth Committee No. 10.

Before the club was formed,

Tony organized Lakewood adults and youth last May to plant more than 80 trees in the Wheat Ridge Green Belt. »~ In August, a float was planned and built and was later used in two parades in September where it was seen by about 12,000 people.

In the second parade, the Sum merset Festival, the float won first place in the non-commercial division and the marshal’s trophy for the best depiction of the parade theme: Our Community.

In October, the club served dinner for Doug Cameron and his band before their concert in Denver at which Roya Mahmoudi, a Denver-area Baha’i who portrayed Mona Mahmudnizhad in the ‘‘Mona’’ video, was mistress of ceremonies.

In November, traveling teacher John Khadem showed club members slides of the Amoz Gibson teaching project in South Dakota.

Future club plans include electing officers, scheduling regular meetings, building the membership, and fund-raising.

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[Page 25]Sixty attend two-day ‘Friendship Feast’ on Lummi Reservation

A two-day ‘‘Friendship Feast,” initiated by Baha’is, was held in December on the Lummi Indian Reservation in northwest Washington state.

Sixty people from seven religious denominations attended each day.

The program included music by various groups including a Baha’i group from Seattle, ‘‘Phoenix’’; discussions about the social and economic problems on the Reservation and possible solutions to those problems; and several guest speakers.

The event was planned as a social gathering for tribal members, and was so successful that a second ‘‘Friendship Feast’’ was planned for January. The Baha’is were acknowledged several times as having initiated and supported the project.

Those plans were begun when Felix Whirlwind Jr., his wife and two-year-old son, and Behrad Majidi traveled from Seattle to the Reservation some 90 miles to the north to visit Indian Baha’is, and found only a few of them.

During the visit they found there had been little if any social activity between Baha’is on the Reservation and other Baha’is.

The Lummi Baha’is said the Reservation needed positive social activities, so together they began to plan a social event, inviting other church groups on the Reservation to help.

About 20 people attended the first planning meeting. After that, Felix, Behrad, a local Baha’i, and members of the Indian Shaker church continued the planning.

The two months of preparation were culminated in the successful social activity for the Lummi Reservation community, meeting the goal of increasing unity within the community.

Circumpolar Council to be held in Canada

Spirit North is the name given to a circumpolar council for Native peoples to be held July 5-12 in Frobisher Bay, Northwest Territories, Canada.

The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rubiyyih Khanum will be a special guest, and is to be present July 9 for a commemoration of the Martyrdom of the Bab.

This promises to be a unique gathering of indigenous peoples from North America and the circumpolar coun » with its theme being the spii tural heritage of Indian and Inuit peoples as reflected in teachings, music, dance and song.

Many workshops will be held on a variety of topics including the role of indigenous people in establishing peace; the education of children for world citizenship; removing prejudices; the role of elders, women and youth; and overcoming hurt through spiritual understanding.

The Council is sponsored by the Baha’ National Teaching Committee for the Artic, Canada. For pre-registration forms, you may contact the American Indian Teaching Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or write to the Baha’i National Center in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada.

NATIVE AMERICANS

In the first nine months of Baha’i Year 142, the Native American Baha’i Institute has held many training sessions, conferences, and other community activities.

The following statistics present a partial picture of the activity during that time: 17 events were held with 220 different people registered and an over-all attendance of 553. Of these, 87 were Indian people, for an over-all attendance of 196.

Most noteworthy among the many activities:

Ruhj Institute workshops conducted last May by Mary Lucas, a pioneer to Colombia, using materials and methods used in the teaching and consolidation of the Faith in Colombia; a Summer Recreation Program involving local Navajo youth in the Houck Chapter community; a summer youth project helped by Dwight Allen and Baha’is from the San Francisco Bay area; a visit to the Institute by Mary Gibson, widow of the Universal House of Justice member and well-loved Indian teacher, Amoz Gibson; the Gordon Tong Memorial Council Fire

in August with Dr. Ingo Hofman, an Auxiliary Board member from Germany, attending; and a public program in October presented by Sarita Birkey and her husband, Dick Birkey, a former pioneer on the Navajo Reservation and in Nepal.

The Institute is working with Chester Kahn, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, on a taped translation in Navajo of “The Promise of World Peace’’ as well as on the duplication and distribution of Navajo-language Baha’i deepening tapes.

The Institute is continually developing, although in the past year most of the work has involved maintenance, renovation, upgrading and cleaning to move the facility to ever-higher standards of beauty and usefulness.

In September, a temporary office facility was purchased and brought on campus, thereby making the activity and residential buildings available for their primary purpose.

As the work goes on, the lovely prayer hogan, built last winter and now lit up at night by gentle floodlights, enriches the Institute with a special measure of beauty and serenity, inspiring and welcoming every passerby and traveler and offering the security and peace of prayer, meditation, and spiritual conversation.

Talented Kevin Locke spends week teaching, performing in S. Dakota

The Baha’is on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Indian Reservations in South Dakota enjoyed the talents of Kevin Locke for the week of January 27-31.

Mr. Locke is a Lakota Baha’i and cultural representative of the Standing Rock Sioux whose performances of dances and traditional flute music are in demand across the U.S. and around the world.

He spent the days working with children at the Porcupine Day School where he had been invited as a guest teacher.

Each evening he spoke at meetings on behalf of the Faith in the towns of Martin, Mission and Wounded Knee.

Near the end of his visit Mr. Locke performed the traditional hoop dance for a large audience at the Porcupine School, to which

many local Baha’is were invited.

One important evening meeting was devoted to the presentation of “The Promise of World Peace’’ to Alex Lunderman, the tribal chairman of the Rosebud Tribe, who is a long-time friend of Mr. Locke’s.

Mr. Lunderman shared with the Baha’is many interesting stories and conveyed his sincere thanks for having been presented with a copy of the statement from the Universal House of Justice.

As an added treat during his visit, Mr. Locke brought with him a Baha’i brother from Alaska, Maynard Eakin, who is an Inuit.

Mr. Eakin shared many fascinating stories of his boyhood in Alaska as well as about his travels throughout North America teaching the Faith to Native Americans,

e = ig <

Baha’is and their guests gathered last December 29 in Colchester, Vermont, to learn about the culture and present-day needs of the Albenaki Indians in Vermont. The event was sponsored by Project

Nur, which was recently initiated by the District Teaching Committee of Vermont for teaching Na tive Americans in that state through love supported by deeds,

The American Baha’i / March 1986 / 25

Native American Institute has busy schedule

Mary Gibson (center), the widow of Amoz Gibson, receives a giftof last year to the Native American

a Navajo sand-painting of ‘The

4 f Greatest Name’ during her visit

Bahá’í Institute in Arizona,

Three young traveling teachers get warm reception in Tuba City

Two Navajo elders were already waiting at the Tuba City (Arizona) Community Center when three young traveling teachers from Colorado arrived on the morning of November 30 to make a presentation on the Faith.

Later, when the meeting got under way, Baha’is and non-Baha’is from Kaibito, Red Lake and Tuba City listened to the presentation on “‘The Wonderful Reality of Man”’ and ‘‘The Greatest Message of Unity.’’

The speakers said that man was created to know and love God, and that each person must seek the truth for himself.

The greatest message of unity, they said, is that in following the teachings of Bahd’u’ll4h, we will have the ability to establish world peace and will continue to live peacefully with one another by eli minating the root causes of war, which are prejudices—racial, economic, religious, prejudice among nations, and prejudice between men and women—and by holding firmly to the principle of the oneness of mankind.

“The Story of Mona,” a video tape about a 16-year-old girl who gave her life rather than deny her Faith, was shown, and many Baha’ pamphlets were taken.

Two people, relatives of Ruth Watson, a Navajo Baha’i from Red Lake, Arizona, were enrolled in the Faith that day. Ruth helped teach and enroll them.

In the evening, a large group of people who are related to some of the Navajo Baha’is in Tuba City attended a talk given by the three youth from Colorado, Kevin Barnes, Jenny Redson and Taraz Samandari.

Pictured are Baha’is at one of the Institutes for pioneers and new believers sponsored every four to six weeks by the Amoz Gibson ProJect in South Dakota. Attendance by new believers has been growing by about 50 percent per meeting. At the third Institute, held in Oc

tober, the focus was social and economic development of Baha’i communities. Consultation permitted the sharing of ideas and suggestions about how a plan for one community might be adapted to be more appropriate for another.

Steadfast Pine Springs Baha’is carry on despite winds of change in community

Twenty-four years ago, nearly 1,000 people gathered for an historic Council Fire at Pine Springs on the Navajo Indian Reservation. On that occasion, some 300 Navajos declared their belief in Bahda’u’ lah.

Since then people have come and gone, and the number of Baha’is living in Pine Springs has stabilized at about 30 including

the children.

These steadfast souls continue to carry on the Baha’i life, as evidenced at the Feast of Sultan held January 19 at the home of Fannie Russell and attended by more than 20 men, women and children including families from the neighboring Houck Chapter

‘See FEAST page 26 [Page 26]26 / The American Baha’i / March 1986

VIE Chart

from page 5

District Name

Membership: as of 12/9/84

‘Starting Block’ Info

Number giving

Percentage of participation

Membership (01/21/86)

Current Month Info (Masa’il)

Number giving

Colorado NE Colorado SE Colorado W ‘Connecticut DelMarVa Florida C Florida N Florida SE Florida SW Georgia NE Georgia NW Georgia S Idaho N/Washington E Idaho S.

Illinois N No. | Illinois N No. 2 Illinois S Indiana

lowa

Kansas

Louisiana S Maine

Maryland W/D.C Massachusetts

Michigan Mainland Minnesota N

Minnesota S

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Navajo/Hopi

Nebraska

Nevada N

Nevada S

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico N

New Mexico S/Texas W New York E

New York W

North Carolina C

North Carolina E

North Carolina W

North Dakowa

Ohio N

Ohio S

Oklahoma E

Oklahoma W

Oregon E

Oregon W 1 Pennsylvania E Pennsylvania W

Rhode Island

South Carolina C South Carolina E No. 1 South Carolina E No. 2 South Carolina N South Carolina S No. 1 South Carolina S No. 2 South Carolina W South Dakota Tennessee E

Tennessee W

Texas C No. |

Texas C No. 2

Texas E No. | 1 Texas E No. 2

Texas N

Texas S

Utah

Vermont

Virginia N

Virginia SE

Virginia SW Washington NW Washington SW

West Virginia

Wis. N/Peninsular Mich. Wisconsin S

Wyoming

(New districts; established after 12/9/84)

Peruvian Consul among those at meeting in Houston Center

The Peruvian Consul in Houston, Texas, was among those who attended a meeting December 28 at the Houston Baha’ Center at which Tom Lysaght, a pioneer to Peru and staff member of Radio Baha’i del Lago Titicaca near Puno, gave a slide presentation depicting the station’s social and economic development programs in the Puno area.

The slides illustrated how Radio Baha’i helps in the human and cultural development of the rural Indians of Puno, and fosters selfrespect and dignity by broadcasting indigenous music in local Indian languages and by hiring local Indian villagers who comprise more than half the station’s staff.

Mr. Lysaght was asked by Benjamin and Susan Hansen of Houston, with whom he stayed during his two days in Houston, to give the slide presentation.

The Peruvian Consul and ViceConsul accepted the Hansens’ in vitation to attend, as did many Baha’is including all nine members of the Spiritual Assembly of Houston.

The Peruvians were visibly moved by Radio Baha’i’s efforts to combat oral dehydration among children in Peru, and expressed their deep appreciation for the station’s efforts on behalf of their countrymen.

Speaking of Mr. Lysaght, the Consul, Sr. Paredes, was heard to remark that even Peruvians from coastal Lima are loathe to brave the bleak, windswept and chilly environment of Andean Puno, and here was an American who had left the comforts of the U.S. to help his people.

As the Consul voiced his appreciation and placed himself at the disposal of the Houston Baha’i community, one of the many unforeseen benefits of the “‘prince of all goodly deeds’’—pioneering—was readily perceived by all.

Baha’is in Butte-Silver Bow, Montana, proclaim Faith with number of projects

The Bahd’{ community of Butte-Silver Bow, Montana, has recently completed a number of projects designed to promote an awareness of the Faith in that community:

The Baha’i Club at Montana

Tech presented the following books to the school library: The Bahá’í Faith: The Emerging Global Religion; For the Good of Mankind: August Forel and the Baha’i Faith, and The Heart of the Gospel.

The children’s class presented

three books to the public library’s children’s section: Dragons of Rizvania, The Spotlessly Leopard, and B.J. and the Language of the

Feast

from page 25

community.

Prayers and Writings were shared in English and Navajo, followed by consultation on arrangements for Ayyam-i-Ha and the presentation of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace”’ to local Chapter leaders, and a delicious traditional meal of mutton and fry bread.

Joining the friends for the social part of Feast were Fannie’s son and his Hopi wife, not yet Baha’is, who were visiting for the weekend from their home near Winslow, Arizona.

Warm friendships were made, with promises of future visits back and forth between the Baha’is and their guests.

Questions

from page 15

Pawtucket Baha’i children visit nursing home

On December 22, eight students from the Baha’i Sunday School in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, accompanied by five adults, visited the Maynard Rest Home where they joined the 19 residents in singing holiday songs.

The three- to five-year-old class, led by a Baha’i youth, Diane

Foulk, presented greeting cards they had made in class.

The eight- to 14-year-olds, led by Rondelle Merlino, presented small mugs with candies as gifts, while Ms. Merlino presented the staff of the rest home with a copy of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era for its library.

Also presented to the residents were a fruit tray and holiday wreath, crafted by both classes under the direction of Sunday school administrator Pauline Labbe.

Photographs were taken for the Pawtucket Baha’i archives and the nursing home’s photo album.

War is a resource with endless possibilities for use. We are sure that your community will find creative ways to take advantage of this new compilation. But a word of warning—be sure to order copies early, before they sell out!

(Peace: More Than an End to War will be available by early April in hardcover for $16 and in softcover for $8.95.)

Woodland.

¢ A fund-raising auction held on the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh_ raised more than $1,000 for the National Fund. Auctioned were books from three former community members who willed their books to the Assembly.

The ‘‘Mona’’ video was

shown to a high school class and used as the basis of several firesides. Also, the ‘Mona’? record was loaned to the college radio station.

° A special fireside was held with J.F. Strain of Anthony, Idaho, who presented slides with music and illustrated how to use proclamation materials to attract attention to the Faith.

An all-afternoon showing of

Baha’i videos was held with several non-Bahda’js present.

Also, 40 copies of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace’’ have been given to interested persons in the community with plans to distribute nearly another 100 copies.

Answers to crossword puzzle ACROSS

1. Coma 3. Aegis

4. Learned 4. Lwa

8. Weed 5. Rd

9. Language 6. Eth 11. UHF 7. Differ 12. Kin 10. Uns 13. Issue 11. Uto 15. Bone 14. UN 19. Judge 15. Black 21. Hate 16. Noe 23. Om 17. Human 24. America 18. White 27. Ya 19. Joy 28. Dunce 20. Garden 32. Most 22. Tae 33. Oneness 25. Races 34. MH 26. Faith

29. Use

DOWN 30. Ism

1. Color 31. Do

2. Mankind 32. Me [Page 27]

10 YEARS AGO

The Hand of the Cause of God Rahmatu’ll4h Muhájir travels to 13 cities in 11 southern states to discuss the new Southern Teaching Program, encouraging support and commitment.

Dr. Muhájir urges the friends to teach families, set up children’s classes, and make weekly visits to new believers.

His itinerary includes stops in Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; Miami and Orlando, Florida; Memphis, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; Houston and Dallas, Texas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Jackson, Mississippi; Columbia, South Carolina; Richmond, Virginia, and the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina ...

The new program for mass teaching in the southern states is announced the weekend of January 24 at the Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute in South Carolina.

The program calls for the immediate resumption of efforts to enroll large numbers of people in nine states having nine or more local Spiritual Assemblies. The nine are South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, Oklahoma and Georgia ...

The Spiritual Assembly of New York City acquires a Baha’i Center at 53 E. 11th St. in Manhattan.

The National Spiritual Assembly cables the Spiritual Assembly of New York City: ‘Acquisition property marks another milestone in steady advance New York toward destiny foreseen by beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Baháé, when He designated it City of the Covenant”’ ...

Baha’is and their guests in San Francisco enjoy an open house celebration December 2 at that city’s newly purchased Baha’i Center, whose acquisition is made possible through a trust fund left to the’ Baha’i community by Ella Goodall Cooper.

Mrs. Cooper and her mother, Helen Goodall, were instrumental in the establishment of the Faith in San Francisco ...

Baha’i exhibits and dioramas honoring the U.S. Bicentennial year are placed February | in six major transportation centers.

Exhibits are installed at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, the Penn Central railroad station in New York City, and Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C.

Dioramas are set up at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and at the airports in Atlanta, Georgia, and Dallas, Texas.

A toll-free number for the Baha’i National Center is included in each exhibit ...

On World Religion Day, January 18, Baha’is throughout the country open proclamation doors.

In New York City, a display is set up in a branch of the New York Public Library. It emphasizes the oneness of religion featuring holy books, symbols, photographs of Temples of each major religion, and quotations from all of the Manifestations of God.

The first program in Shawano, honoring World Religion Day, includes prayers, a brief talk, and the film, ‘‘A New Wind.’ ...

Letters

from page 3

and encouragement to the believers. Also, I know there are times when an Assembly must intervene to protect the Faith, which comes up frequently as a justification for stern action.

Certainly, we all want the Faith to appear high-minded and upstanding in the eyes of the world. In fact, in Iran, if the enemies of the Faith discern moral laxity they sometimes use this as a reason for their persecutions. But in this country we don’t live with that sword over our heads.

There is a fine line here that can be too easily crossed. Carried to an extreme, it can become a superficial image while the inner quality is sacrificed.

The Faith is a body of believers, not simply an abstract principle. As Ms. Walborn wrote, everything has to proceed with love in it.

Recently, the UN condemned Iran for its treatment of the Baha’is and its infringement of their human rights.

“Human rights are God-given rights.’’ It is one of our quotations. Perhaps it would be good to continually review our record on human rights within the Baha’i community itself, They are sometimes easy to forget.

Our country is one of the few places on earth where human rights are a basic principle. In our rush toward one world, we should make sure that our best principles don’t get left behind.

Freedom always appears more chaotic from the outside, but only freedom will ensure the growth of inwardly disciplined and responsible citizens. I would hate to live in a world where one order prevailed and human rights had been forgotten.

The Founders of the Faith promised us that when we are united, our Assemblies will truly become spiritual bodies.

To me, unity is not talking the same, looking and acting the same, or believing in exactly the

Mrs. Esther Glauder,

pioneer to Zimbabwe, dies at post at 78

Esther Glauder, a pioneer since 1961 to Zimbabwe, died November 10 following a brief illness. She was 78 years old.

Mrs. Glauder, who was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and her husband, Ernest, became Baha’is in 1959 during a Naw-Rúz celebration at the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.

They established a school in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) that grew from 20 students to more than 400 while nurturing a steadily growing Bahdé’{ communi ty.

Mrs. Glauder was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly in the mid-1970s and served as national treasurer for four or five years.

The Glauders were instrumental in obtaining property and facilities for a National Baha’i Institute near Harare.

On learning of her death, the Universal House of Justice cabled: “Deeply grieved passing loyal steadfast Esther Glauder. Convey loving sympathy, assure you fervent prayers Holy Shrines progress her soul Abha Kingdom.”

same ideas. It is rather that sense of the One Who created us and moves in all of us.

The closer we can come to sensing that Oneness, the more loving and caring we will become. In that day there will be no more “‘wounded hearts.’”

Constance Black Kensington, Maryland

To the Editor:

I’ve been hearing a lot of talk lately that ‘You don’t make Baha’is, you find them.””

I would dispute that. In fact, Bahá’u’lláh chooses them. There are many people in the world who live like Baha’is, and some of them, after hearing about the Faith, never declare.

I hope I won’t hear anymore about ‘‘finding Baha’is,’’ because it’s Bahd’u’ll4h who chooses them. He may lead us to them, but we don’t find them on our own.

Lori Fabian San Diego, California

To the Editor:

Frances Edelstein (letters, November) says she finds Kenneth Lyons’ remark that he would like to see a Baha’i Bible ‘‘a puzzlement.’’ Perhaps it is not so puzzling if considered in another way.

As we know, the Old Testament is composed of the five books of Moses, which were put together in one corpus, as were later the four gospels.

Each of these books might be considered separately and also sold separately, but they have been brought together for the sake of convenience.

I think what Mr. Lyons was suggesting is that it would be convenient if some of the writings of Bahda’u’llah were brought together in one book. Thus in one book there would be, for instance, the Kitdb-i-Iqgdn, The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys, The Hidden Words, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, and so on.

This would enable one to find in one book several of the books of Baha’u’llah, which are now sold separately.

‘When, for instance, a person were to travel, it would be convenient to have only one book to carry rather than five or even 10. That is one reason why a Baha’i “‘Bible’’ would be convenient.

Another factor is cost. If one were teaching the Faith to someone who could not afford to buy many separate volumes, perhaps one book with some of the major writings could be purchased or given at a lower price.

In any case, I think we should pray and consult about whether a collection of Bahá’u’lláh’s writings in a single volume would be of service to His Cause.

Robert Lefkowitz Brooklyn, New York

To the Editor:

The October 1985 issue of “Youth Hotline’’ (Volume 5, No. 1), indicated to me that some Baha’is do not have current information on college fraternities. I be Martha’s Vineyard to host peace conference

On April 19, the Baha’i Group of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, is sponsoring a conference honoring the United Nations Year of Peace.

For information about ferries (most important) and accommodations, contact Victoria de Leén, P.O. Box 994, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 (phone 617-693-4581).

The American Baha’i / March 1986 / 27

lieve that the advice given was inappropriate.

College fraternities in America are not ‘‘secret societies’ such as those forbidden to Baha’is. A secret society is one whose membership, objectives, and operations are secret to all but its mem bers.

College fraternities are societies with secrets. Their members, purposes, accomplishments, etc. are matters of public knowledge.

The “‘secrets’’ they guard are generally limited to their passwords, handshakes, and initiation ceremonies. The secrets are used as the means by which members from chapters at other schools are identified.

The right we exercise as individuals in choosing our friends is incorrectly seen as discrimination when exercised by an organized group. If the membership provisions and requirements of the various groups were researched, the absence of specific requirements based on economics, social class, race or national origin would be evident.

Restrictive clauses were generally removed in the 1960s. These organizations could not exist if they were exclusive, because not enough people would qualify to keep them alive.

Perhaps the greatest loss to the Faith is the non-participation of Baha’i youth in college fraternities and sororities. I introduced my Sigma Chi fraternity brothers to the Faith, and they were receptive to.it.

Think of the opportunity to teach the Faith by leading a Baha’i

I don’t feel that advising Baha’i youth to consult with the local Spiritual Assembly before deciding to affiliate was the best advice. Few Assemblies have enough knowledge about specific fraternities to give accurate advice.

I hope Baha’i youth will take a closer look at the fraternity and sorority systems on their campuses. Fraternity life can be very rewarding.

Albert H. Saunders Rockville, Maryland

To the Editor:

I have been a traveling teacher for some time now. There is much work that needs to be done.

Sometimes in my travels I find that homefront pioneers have been in a particular locality but that they have left before the Baha’is of the area or community knew they were there.

This has happened twice in Silver City. When I received its membership list I noticed some new names. I quickly called the Baha’is and asked that they get in touch with the newcomers, but ° they found that the homefront pioneers had already moved back to larger communities or simply left.

Please, homefront pioneers, before you leave your post, get in

touch with your Auxiliary Board member or District Teaching Committee and ask for help. Thank you.

Oscar Arrambide Anthony, New Mexico

If you can’t pioneer

life while living in a fraternity or deputize! sorority house.

IN MEMORIAM Ismail Bassim Elaine Ingersoll Mary Preston Potsdam, NY Afton, VA Delavan, WI Date Unknown July 24, 1985 November 29, 1985 Dennis Beasley Clare Irwin Julia Mae Pridgett Morgantown, WV Healdsburg, CA Covington, GA November 10, 1985 November 28, 1985 November 1985 Annie Blackwell David Jones Hazel Rinaldi Covington, GA Corvallis, MT Wells, ME January 13, 1986 October 3, 1985 October 27, 1985 Wallace Carter Sr. Ramon Lazarin * Juan Rubio

Escondido, CA November 10, 1985 Matt Cole Covington, GA January 10, 1986 Olive Craig Edgemont, CA

December 1981 1984

La Union, NM December 19, 1985 Tobe Leslie Madison, AL Date Unknown Maude Maddox Covington, GA

Sunland Park, NM September 10, 1985 Ismael Saenz

La Union, NM April 21, 1985 Elliot Sater Scottsdale, AZ Date Unknown

Jessie Davis Margarito Macias Ralph H. Scott Cowpens, SC Anthony, NM Corvallis, OR Date Unknown Date Unknown November 1985 Frances Dunlap Fazlollah Mavaddat Michael Vereen Mira Loma, CA Escondido, CA Conway, SC November 24, 1985 April 4, 1985 April 22, 1985 Tiny Evans Anthony McCants Pearl Warren Conyers, GA Chicago, IL Neah Bay, WA January 1, 1986 December 7, 1985 January 16, 1986 Emma Flanigan Harry McCarty Sr. Addie Webb Conyers, GA Neah Bay, WA Covington, GA 1984 December 5, 1985 December 7, 1984 Earl Hamm Earl L. McKeever Sue Williamson Conyers, GA Berkeley, CA San Diego, CA 1984 December 21, 1985 November 29, 1985 Loraine Hawes Badieh Parsiani-Rafii Rose Woghan Lucerne, CA San Diego, CA Tucson, AZ December 1984 November 22, 1985 January 4, 1986 Gail Houlihan Stanley Perry Edmund Zablockas Boulder Creek, CA Brier Hall, NY Berkeley, CA

December 16, 1985 William Howard Marshallville, GA. Date Unknown

Date Unknown Willie Phillips

Covington, GA Date Unknown

December 12, 1985 [Page 28]28 / The American Baha’i / March 1986

Children

from page 9

“« ...From the age of five their formal education must begin. That is, during the daytime they should be looked after in a place where there are teachers, and should learn good conduct.

“Here they should be taught, in play, some of the letters and words and a little reading—as is done in certain countries where they fashion letters and words out of sweets and give them to the child.” (Bahd’/ Education, p. 39)

Keeping in mind these principles, there are many ways that we can organize highly suitable activities for our preschool children at summer schools, winter schools, children’s classes, and special events. These should not be confused with formal education or schooling.

‘Alternate’ New Year’s eve party staged by youth in Pawtucket

“yOUth Can Move the World’’ was the theme of an ‘‘alternate New Year’s Eve party’’ sponsored by the Baha’i Youth Committee of Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

The party provided an alternative for area youth: a drug-free, alcohol-free rock ’n roll party.

Among those attending were nine non-Bahd’{ youth and one non-Baha’i adult.

During a break, the video “Mona With the Children’’ was shown, followed by a brief talk on the Faith and the Baha’i Youth Movement.

At midnight, a non-alcoholic toast was drunk and everyone linked arms in a circle of unity to sing “‘We Are the World.”

The non-Baha’i youth commented about the good time that was had without drugs or alcohol, and asked ‘that the party become an annual event. Some said they would like to come to firesides to learn more about the Faith.

HUB firesides held

The Spiritual Assembly of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is sponsoring monthly HUB firesides for area Baha’is and their friends.

World peace is to be the major topic, with each of the gatherings introducing one of the Baha’i principles that leads to peace. The first fireside, in February, focused on “World Peace Through True National Unity.”’

Aunt Fly

from page 4

a “‘one- or two-Valley’”’ dip. Accompanied by Prayers and Meditations, it delivers those very necessary mystical amino acids, the building blocks of spiritual growth.

Come the weekend, lay off the snacks and indulge yourself with a fully cooked meal consisting of an hour or more of the writings of Baha’u’ llah (real proteins).

For a really substantial breakfast, we recommend a Tablet of Ahmad and the long obligatory prayer. Added to your Baha’i community activities, these provide a real feast of certitude for your banquet of spiritual delights.

Happy eating!

Aunt Fly

The key is to plan activities so

that children can learn important

things, such as prayers and simple ideas about the Faith, as well as manners, courtesy, politeness, sharing, etc., in a loving and enjoyable environment.

The Writings also suggest that activities should promote child-tochild interaction, so that ‘‘one child may question the other.’’

This implies that children learn even when they are not being “‘taught,”’ and perhaps that young children learn best when they are actively engaged in their own learning with many interesting things to do.

Baha’ children’s programs for preschoolers can be rich and happy times. These are the years for building the foundation of the child’s love of God, good character, and love for learning.

Teachers should keep, in mind that these children are young, and classes should include frequent changes of activities—inside/outside, quiet/active, group/individual, teacher-directed/free choice, etc.

Teachers should also remember that there are many ways to learn other than ‘‘book learning”’songs, games, arts and crafts, drama and movement, field trips, walks, invited guests, exploring and collecting, making and taking apart, being of service, discussions and questions, etc.

Let us also remember that preschool children have important tasks to accomplish -in many areas—spiritual, social, emotional, intellectual and physical. They are preparing for a lifetime of more formal learning and living.

Perhaps we should consider the advice which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave to a five-year-old Shoghi Effendi on the child’s request for a letter:

«* _..Now is not the time for you to read and write, it is a time for jumping about and chanting ‘O my God!,’ therefore memorize the prayers of the Blessed Beauty and chant them that I may hear them, because there is no time for anything else.’’ (The Priceless Pearl, p. 8)

MOVING? TELL US YOUR NEW ADDRESS

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your copy of THE AMERICAN BAHA'I, send your new address and your mailing label to the OFFICE OF MEMBERSHIP & RECORDS, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, as soon as you know where you are going to move and what your new

This form may be used for one person or your enti family. Please be sure to. lit 9 FULL NAMES AND I.D. NUMBERS for

all individuals, ages 15 years or older, who | will be affected by this change.

address will be. A 1. IDF Title Full name—Please DO NOT use nicknames 2. IDF Title Full name a t ID# Title Full name 4, 1D# Title Full name B—NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS: C—NEW MAIL ADDRESS: House/Space #, Street or Description P.O. Box or other Mailing Address City State Zip City State Zip D—NEW COMMUNITY: ‘Name of new Baha’i community Moving date

Zs

Area Code — Number

E—HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:

“i Area Code

sein io/ ot Area Code

F—WORK TELEPHONE NUMBERS:

Please indicate in the right-hand space whose work numbers these are.

Number

Name

oa

‘We receive extra copies because: we do not have the same last name. please cancel the copy for the per son(s) whose name(s) and I.D. number(s) are listed above.

Wilmette, Illinois 60091

Subscribers, not National Fund, pay for shipping U.S. Baha’i Report

Who pays for U.S. Bahá’í Report? Not the National Fund. It is those Baha’is who subscribe to U.S. Baha’i Report who pay the bills for shipping more than 1,400 copies to non-Baha’i leaders of government, institutions and the media.

The response from those leaders. has been warm and encouraging. For example, Ohio state Sen. Robert Ney responded to the fall issue, which included a report of his talk to the Baha’ International Youth Conference last July, with a letter that read:

“Thank you for sending me a recent copy of U.S. Baha’i Report. As you know, I am an active follower of the struggles of the Baha’i faith and found the articles in your report to be most informative on these issues. Thank you again for keeping me informed.”’

If your Baha’i community has developed friendly relations with state senators and representatives, especially while sponsoring state resolutions on behalf of the Baha’is in Iran, forward their names to Baha’i Subscriber Service and they can also receive U.S. Bahá’í

Report. Baha’is who wish to subscribe can do so for only $10 a year or $18 for two years and know that they are supporting the newest and perhaps the most influential Baha’i publication in the U.S.

Mayor of Fort Collins given peace statement at formal reception

On January 5, at a formal reception in the city’s elegant Lincoln Center, the mayor of Fort Collins, Colorado, received a copy of the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement, ‘The Promise of World Peace.”

In December, the mayor and city council had proclaimed 1986 the International Year of Peace in Fort Collins.

About 80 of the more than 500 people who were invited attended the semi-formal reception in January including people from Bolivia, China and France.

Among the groups represented were the Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom and the Poudre Nuclear Freeze Beyond War.

the last names and addresses on our

We do not want extra copies, so address labels do not match exactly.

We have listed above the full names of all family members as they should appear on the national records, their I.D. numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.

Baha’i NATIONAL CENTER

Our household receives only one copy of The American Baha’i. I wish to receive my own copy as well, and have listed my name, I.D. number and address above so that may be put on the mailing list to receive my own copy.

BAHA’Ii

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NON-PROFIT ORG. US. POSTAGE

! I ! PA ID I l 1

WILMETTE, IL. PERMIT NO. 479

HILL WA

BETTY

MRS

BOTHELL

Joe McLaughlin, the ‘mayor of

Pendleton, Oregon, accepts a copy of ‘The Promise of World Peace’ from Pendleton Bahá’í Bernice Erskine. The presentation was made on Human Rights Day, December 10. Afterward, the mayor signed a proclamation de

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claring 1986 ‘International Year of Peace’ in Pendleton. This was followed by a radio interview which included a synopsis of the peace statement and an announcement of a January peace symposium to be conducted by artist Jim Lavadour. �