The American Bahá’í/Volume 18/Issue 11/Text

The American Bahá’í
Volume 18, Issue 11

Two more Baha'is, both imprisoned

for three years, put to death in Iran WITH PROFOUND SORROW AND DEEP SENSE OUTRAGE WE CONVEY REPORT JUST RECEIVED AT WORLD CENTER THAT ON 28 SEPTEMBER TWO BAHA’{S WERE EXECUTED IN TEHRAN. MR. ARDISHIR AKHTARI AND MR. AMIR-HUSAYN NADIRI WERE FORMER MEMBERS OF NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF IRAN. BOTH HAD BEEN IN PRISON SINCE 12 SEPTEMBER 1984. DEATH SENTENCES WERE PASSED WHILE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF UNITED NATIONS WAS VISITING IRAN. MESSRS AKHTARI AND NADIRI AS WELL AS MR. SURUSH JABBARI AND MR. ABU’L-QASIM SHAYIQ WHO WERE EXECUTED ON 3 MARCH 1987 WERE AMONG GROUP OF 14 BAHA’{ PRISONERS WHOSE FATE HAS BEEN SOURCE ACUTE CONCERN TO BAHA'IS IRAN SINCE BEGINNING THIS YEAR. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE OCTOBER 1, 1987

December 5, 1912:

Friends say sad farewell to Master

“Abdu’l-Bahá left America on December 5, 1912. During His last days in the U.S. the Master made few public addresses; he was busy with the friends, encouraging and instructing them as to what they should accomplish in His absence.

One of the things that He stressed in His instructions was the importance of building the House of Worship.

Many of the friends, coming to see ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for the last time, brought gifts for Him and His family. He asked that the gifts be

sold to help build the House of Worship:

“I am pleased with your services and I am grateful for all you have done for Me. ...Now you have brought presents for the members of My family. They are acceptable, but the best of all presents is the love of God which remains preserved in the treasuries of hearts.

“Material presents require chests and shelves for safe keeping while this is preserved in the repositories of the minds and hearts

and remains eternal and immortal Sorever in the divine worlds.

“I shall, therefore, convey to them your love which is the most precious of all gifts. No one uses diamond rings in our home and no one wants rubies. That house is Sree from all these things.

“T, however, accept your presents but I leave them in your safe keeping with the request that you will kindly sell them and send the proceeds to the funds for the

See FAREWELL page 32

American Baha’i

‘The real treasury of man is his knowledge. ’—Bahá’u’lláh Volume 18, No. 11

November 1987

Nearly 1,200 at Green Lake keep ‘service entrance’ busy

By LAURA E. HILDRETH

The nearly 1,200 people who gathered September 18-20 for the 28th annual Green Lake Bahá’í Conference at the American Baptist Assembly center in Green Lake, Wisconsin, were asked to ‘*Please Use the Service Entrance’’ because, as the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s historic visit to North America was being celebrated across the country, living a life of service to the Cause as exemplified by the Master was the central theme of the world’s largest annual Baha’i conference.

Bahá’ís and their guests enjoyed talks by a number of outstanding speakers, and attended a variety

United Nations honors Baha’i community as ‘Peace Messenger’ During a ceremony held September 15 at United Nations headquarters in New York City, the worldwide Baha’i community was honored for its ‘‘significant and concrete contributions’ to the 1986 International Year of Peace. The Baha’i International Community was designated by UN Sec retary-General Javier Pérez de .

Cuéllar as a ‘‘Peace Messenger’’ for its efforts during the year-long

See AWARD page 16

of optional Saturday afternoon sessions, each of which concerned some aspect of service to the Cause of God.

In helping the friends to prepare themselves for service, Counselor Robert Harris quoted the late Hand of the Cause of God Rahmatu’ll4h Muhájir: ‘‘Don’t wait until it’s convenient to serve. The opportunities will not be there if you wait.

“The day will come when you’ll be ready to serve the Faith; you’ll go to the Baha’i Center and say, ‘Please, let me sweep the floor!’ And you'll be told, ‘Sorry, all the brooms are busy now!’

“‘We have the vision,’’ Counselor Harris added, ‘‘the dream of

See GREEN LAKE page 4

Wok’

On October 9, Judge James F. Nelson (second from left), chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, presented a copy of ‘The Promise of World Peace’ to Ezra Taft Benson (second from right), president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), at the Church’s headquar

ters in Salt Lake City, Utah. Also pictured are Gordon B. Hinkley (left) and Thomas S. Mansen, first presidents of the Church, During the meeting, which lasted nearly half an hour, Mr. Benson presented Judge Nelson with a copy of the book The Mormons. A press conference followed at which

Judge Nelson spoke with representatives from seven media outlets including the Associated Press, one television station and two radio stations. He was also interviewed for an hour on the Bahá’í radio program in Salt Lake City.

Gregory Peace Fest ’87 features Peace Award, ‘Peace Orchestra’

By DAVID E. OGRON The presentation of a new Peace Award to the Attorney General of South Carolina and the first two performances of a 16-member Baha’i “‘Peace Orchestra’? were among the highlights of Peace Fest ’87 held September 16-19 at the Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute near Heming Pictured are members of the 1987 student body at the Louhelen Residential College, the first class ever enrolled in the college based at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Davison, Michigan (see article on page 2). Back row (left to right) are Sophia Bemnet (Ethiopia), Lisa Keillor (Costa Rica), Shirlene Brown (South Carolina), Najin Mansuri (Ecuador), Donna Jenkyns (Hai Ja, Israel), Kareem Abdullah (Mi chigan) and Erik Larson (Alaska). Front row (left to right) are Dirk Myers (Alaska), Calvin Pumpkinseed (South Dakota), Phyllis Be gay (Arizona), Perry Jenkyns (Haifa), Barbara Hennix (South Carolina) and Lutha Mae Williams (South Carolina). Not pictured are Seraj Ardakani (Michigan) and Philippa Cameron (Solomon Islands).

way, South Carolina.

The second annual Peace Festival also featured Gospel singing, dance, contemporary music, an international buffet, excellent speakers, and special recognition ceremonies.

The four-day event began September 16 with a jazz concert attended by some 350 Baha’is and their guests who saw and heard the premier performance of the Peace Orchestra, composed almost entirely of Baha’is from across the country and fronted by internationally acclaimed trumpeter John Birks (Dizzy) Gillespie.

Prior to the performance, Mr. Gillespie was presented the first

Louis G. Gregory ‘‘Ambassador of Peace’? Award.

Also on the program Wednesday evening was Palmetto Jazz, a group from Columbia.

The Peace Orchestra performed again the following evening, this time under the leadership of its coordinator, Marvin (Doc) Holladay, a Bahd’{ from Rochester, Michigan, who has played saxophone with some of the outstan ing big bands in the country cluding those led by Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Carter, Gerald Wilson and

See PEACE FEST page 29

Tenor saxophonist Roger Hogan takes a solo turn with the Bahá’í Peace Orchestra. (Another article, more photos on pages 28-29.) �[Page 2]2 / The American Baha’i / November 1987

Ceremony at Louhelen School opens its Residential College

The Louhelen Residential College was officially opened with inauguration ceremonies September 6.

This major development project, a first step in bringing about a full-fledged Baha’i post-secondary institution, was launched after four years of planning and consultation.

Fifteen students are enrolled in the first class including two Native Americans, two Persians, five whites (non-Persian) and five blacks.

The students have come from Ethiopia, Ecuador, Guatemala, the Solomon Islands and Israel as well as from Alaska, Arizona, Michigan, South Carolina and South Dakota.

They are living at the Louhelen Baha’i School and are enrolled in degree-earning programs at either the University of Michigan (Flint campus) or Mott Community College. (One student, Eric Larson from Alaska, is also taking pilot training at an area flight school.)

The students are also involved in a Baha'i Studies class, a study skills class, a weekly deepening program, and a program of service at Louhelen,

Dr. Vi Clark is conducting the formal Baha’i Studies class while other Baha’ is in the area are helping with deepening classes, tutoring, and social and recreational activities.

While the LRC is intended to provide a strong spiritual, social and intellectual framework for any college-age student, the National Assembly has directed the Louhelen school to help especially students from disadvantaged backgrounds and from regions where the growth of the Faith has been significant.

At the inauguration, held during Louhelen’s traditional Homecoming, William Davis, representing the National Spiritual Assembly, and Counselor Wilma Brady spoke to the students and a large number of guests.

A Tepresentative of the chancellor of the University of MichiganFlint also spoke and pledged its full support in the development of this joint educational venture.

Representatives of admissions and minority affairs offices at Mott Community College also were present.

The Universal House of Justice sent this message to the assembled students and guests:

“The inauguration of the Louhelen Residential College today marks a milestone in the progress of the Bahdé’{ community in the United States, initiating a process which it is hoped will culminate in the fulfillment of Shoghi Ef “GREATEST Name” plaques in plexiglass and picture frames in which to mount them are available in a number of attractive colors from “Unity,” 324 Highland Drive, Suite 103, Glen Burnie, MD 21061.

fendi’s vision for the emergence of a full-fledged university from the Baha’i summer school activities made possible by the generosity of Lou and Helen Eggleston.

“May the unflagging endeavor of all involved in this highly significant enterprise be so abundantly nourished and confirmed by the outpouring of Divine blessings as to result in the raising up of successive groups of uniquely trained, spiritually ennobled persons able, willing and ready to render services to the Cause of Baha’u’llah that will enrich the quality and contribute to the peace of all humankind.

“You are lovingly remembered in our ardent prayers at the Holy Shrines.””

The LRC hopes to admit a second class in the fall of 1988, bringing the student body to about 26.

Additional information about the Louhelen Residential College can be obtained from the Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

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By Chris Cholas, Corozal Town, Belize

Strong family society’s ‘basic building block’

VIEWPOINT

As we review the goals of the Six Year Plan, many of us are fascinated by the possibilities that lie ahead for our Faith.

We are bringing ourselves to account and developing, both individually and collectively, plans of action.

As we develop these plans it becomes all too easy to underestimate the role of the family in achieving growth, development and integration.

The family is not only the basic building block of society but part of the very foundation upon which will be built the promised World Order of Baha’u’llah.

In “The Promise of World Peace,’’ the Universal House of Justice says to the peoples of the world, ‘“‘If the Baha’i experience can contribute in whatever measure to reinforcing hope in the unity of the human race, we are happy to offer it as a model for study.””

With the eyes of the world on our Baha’i community, it is imperative that we develop our families which can contribute so greatly to the life of the community. Because the family is the basic unit of society, it must be the cornerstone of world unity.

“Abdu’l-Bahá asked that we “compare the nations of the world to the members of a family. A family is a nation in miniature. Simply enlarge the circle of the household and you have the nation. Enlarge the circle of nations

written

the U.S.A.

‘The American Bahá’í (USPS 042-430) is published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Office of Membership and Records, Bahd' National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Editor: Jack Bowers. Associate editor: Laura E. Hildreth. The American Bahá’í welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Faith. Articles should be

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 © 1987 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in

and you have all humanity.

“The conditions surrounding the family surround the nation. The happenings in the family are the happenings in the life of the nation ... for nations are but an aggregate of families.

“Therefore as strife and dissension destroy a family and prevent its progress, so nations are destroyed and advancement hindered.’’ (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 157)

The foundation of a strong family is a strong marriage. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá described what a strong marriage should be, saying:

“Bahá’í marriage is the commitment of the two parties one to the other, and their mutual attachment of mind and heart. ...

“The true marriage of Bahá’ís is this, that husband and wife should be united both physically and spiritually, that they may ever improve the spiritual life of each other and may enjoy everlasting unity throughout all the worlds of God.”’ (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 118)

We must prepare ourselves for marriage through a firm grounding in the Sacred Writings of the Faith and a thorough investigation of the character of a potential spouse.

Moreover, having married, we must continually strive to strengthen that bond through consultation, support and action. Growth

Our own families offer potential for the growth of our beloved Faith. Bahd’u’ll4h says, ‘Enter into wedlock, O people, that ye may bring forth one who will make mention of Me. ...’’ (Synopsis and Codification of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 17)

This entails not only bringing new life into the world through the procreative process but a manifestation of our philoprogenitive spirit in the education and training of our offspring.

Additionally, many of us have non-Baha’is in our immediate and extended families. We can strive to reach them with the healing

This month’s column, “The Bahá’í Family,’’ was written by Gilbert Smith of St. Croix, Virgin Islands.

Message of Bahá’u’lláh. Development

A major aspect of the development of the Baha’i community is the strengthening of Baha’i family and community life.

Many of our Six Year Plan goals reflect the import thereof. Some of them are:

to encourage and support the

improvement of Baha’i family life through the establishment of local and national programs on marriage, child-rearing, family development and other related topics;

to encourage individuals,

families and communities to engage regularly in dawn prayer;

to increase the understanding’

and practice of the art of consultation among children, youth and adults, within families, and among those serving on institutions of the Faith and their agencies;

to foster the development of

distinctive characteristics of Baha’ life among individuals, families and Baha’i communities;

© to further the development of the role of women and to foster the practice of the equality of the sexes both in the Baha’i community and in the society at large and, for these purposes, to hold conferences and initiate programs for women and men;

© to encourage the development of drama and the arts as an integral part of Baha’i life and to expand the participation of artists in all kinds of community activities, such as the Nineteen Day Feast, conventions and conferences.

Consultation is a commandment of God and a must in the development of strong Baha’i fami lies. Bahá’u’lláh has written:

“The Great Being saith: The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined with the two luminaries of consultation and compassion.

“Take ye counsel together in all matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding.’’ (Quoted in Consultation: A Compilation, p. 3)

The Universal House of Justice has added that ‘‘Bahá’u’lláh came to bring unity to the world, and a fundamental unity is that of the family. Therefore, one must believe that the Faith is intended to strengthen the family, not weaken it, and one of the keys to the strengthening of unity is loving consultation.

“The atmosphere within a Baha’i family as within the community as a whole should express ‘the keynote of the Cause of God’ which, the beloved Guardian has stated, ‘is not dictatorial authority but humble fellowship, not arbitrary power, but the spirit of frank and loving consultation.’ ”” (Quoted in Family Life, pp. 61-62) Integration

If we foster complete and total love and affinity within our families, we can have a profound impact on those around us. As ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says:

“‘When you love a member of your family or a compatriot, let it be with a ray of the infinite love! Let it be in God, and for God! Wherever you find the attributes of God love that person whether he be of your family or another.” (Paris Talks, p. 38)

“If love and agreement are manifest in a single family,” He tells us, ‘that family will advance, become illumined and spiritual; but if enmity and hatred exist within it, destruction and dispersion are inevitable.”’ (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 144-45)

Beyond developing unity and understanding, families can address social and cultural issues af See VIEWPOINT page 20 �[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 views or to attack anyone on a personal level. Opinions expressed in these columns are not necessarily those of the National Spiritual Assembly or the editors.

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

More about UNIFON

To the Editor:

In response to Susan Gilman’s letter (July) about the reformed English alphabet, UNIFON, while I can understand and sympathize with a wish to simplify what is admittedly a difficult language to learn and use, I have severe problems with some of the assertions made in her letter.

In teaching my five-year-old daughter the English alphabet, I am not “‘telling phonetic lies’ to her; I am teaching her the symbols used by my particular tribe to communicate.

The symbols used by UNIFON are no more or less honest than any symbols; they simply correspond more closely to 20th century spoken

‘As to whether or not this imparts enough of an advantage to justify the cataclysm that would be generated within our society by a change in alphabets, I have no opinion. Note, however, the enthusiasm with which we Americans have embraced the metric system for measurements.

Ms.. Gilman writes that UNIFON symbols would be ‘‘easily adaptable to computers.” As a software engineer, I agree that the symbols wouldn’t mind a bit. After all, they have no objective existence. Nor would the computers mind, being made out of Pieces of rock.

However, all operating system software, application software packages and programming languages would be rendered instantly obsolete, not to mention keyboards, video display terminals and printers. We’d be back to pencil and paper. (I started to say typewriters, but they’d be gone too, wouldn’t they?)

Changing from the ASCII and EBCDIC character sets to some as yet uninvented set of character codes for the UNIFON alphabet would be no harder than changing to Sanskrit, but no easier either.

An illustrative study in this area can be found in the recent effort to devise a good set of character codes for the Japanese

I find myself arguing against the merits of UNIFON, but this was not my intent. Everyone needs a hobby, and there is nothing wrong with Ms. Gilman having UNIFON as hers, or even as her profession if she can find someone willing to do the paying; but it’s not the “boon of boons.’’ God’s message is the boon of boons.

Nothing on this earth, not the field of education or anything else, will be a “‘veritable garden’’ until mankind accepts the balm offered by the True Physician.

Everyone, as I said, needs a hobby, but let’s keep our hobbies in perspective. We already have the divine remedy for the redemption of this tired old world; let’s not start adding ingredients just cause they’re handy and we like

the smell Mark A. Clark Fort Worth, Texas

To the Editor:

This is in response to Susan Gilman’s letter (July) about UNIFON. (a system to reform the English

age).

T have often felt the same frustration with English that she has, especially when it comes to spelling, and I must use my dictionary frequently. But I am not in favor of UNIFON, for several reasons:

1. Which English language would be used as the base for UNIFON? Sounds must correspond to letters, but whose sounds? The Australians? The British? The Canadians?

Is it possible to develop UNIFON without a great deal of international planning on the part of all English-speaking people? How will all the foreign diplomats, businessmen, tradespeople, tourist agents, and so on learn the new system without great expense to themselves?

2. And think of the tremendous expense that would occur in our own country as all of our literature, our Constitution and other documents, our highway signs, maps, in fact everything in print would have to be rewritten so that our younger generations could read them.

And there are our wonderful computers with their programs based on English, and our electric typewriters with their 50,000-word dictionaries, etc.

3. Would a free-wheeling society such as ours accept a sweeping change toward uniformity? I think not. As an example, one need only look at our excitement about using the metric system, which has been in general use elsewhere for some 200 years.

There is, however, a language which does use an exact sound-toletter relationship, has no exceptions, is extremely easy to spell, pronounce and learn.

Having studied that language, Esperanto, for more than 10 years, I have found it to be both uniform and user-friendly. Let our children study this amazing international language, now 100 years old and more useful than ever.

When students learn Esperanto, they’ll be learning the basic roots of their own and most western European languages.

With a good teacher, they'll also learn a new awareness of English and learn how its history appears in its odd spelling.

There is a reference in the Old Testament (Zephaniah 3:9) which says that at the time of the end, God will give the people a “‘pure language.”

‘We Esperantists believe that Esperanto is that very language, and that none of the present national

is pure because of the very nature of language.

Only Esperanto, having been developed and used as an auxiliary language to promote communication among all the various lan guage groups on earth, can, by its process of regulation through the Universal Esperanto Association, remain a fairly pure language, whereas any attempt to ‘‘purify’”’ English in any way would meet with insurmountable obstacles. June Fritz Wilber, Nebraska

Auxiliary Board member Marchia Morey wears the shawl she was given during a Bahá’í-sponsored ‘friendship dance’ in July on the Crow Reservation in Montana.

Credit where it’s due

To the Editor:

Your August issue reported on the Crow Reservation friendship dance; it did not mention that the event was initiated by James Door, a Crow Indian Bahd’{ at Crow Agency who consulted with other non-Indian Baha’is of Montana on how to begin the process of activating the Baha’i community at Crow Agency.

Mr. Door asked the Baha’is of Montana to help with a picnic. From this grew the event which eventually became the first Baha’i-sponsored dance on a Reservation.

In fact, it was pointed out by the Crow master of ceremonies that this was the first time anyone had ever brought them ‘‘a feed’’ since the Crow had always provided the food for their guests.

At this event, the Crow were the guests, and the Bahá’ís supplied the food, beverages and money for the drums and dancers.

They were very appreciative. Several of the Bahd’fs, including

The American Baha’i / November 1987 / 3

Auxiliary Board member Marchia Morey, were called out to be presented shawls or blankets.

It was a lovely event which all began because of the devotion of James Door who would like to see a closer association between the non-Indian Baha’is in Montana and the Baha’is on the Crow Reservation.

George B. Galinkin Butte, Montana

The ‘12-Step Programs’

To the Editor:

I was enlightened by the woman who wrote the letter (August) about the ‘‘12-Step Programs.”’ It interesting because the Green Acre School is having something on them this weekend.

At a Bahd’{ meeting in New Hampshire, it was brought up many times that Baha’is have to go outside the Faith to those support groups when they should be getting that support from the Baha’is themselves. I couldn’t agree more.

But one Bahd’{ near here has a book that we borrowed called Love and Estrangement in the Bahd’{ Community. In it are many things that are dealt with in the 12-Step Programs.

For example, there is a chapter on powerlessness which talks about admitting to God that we are powerless. That is also one of the 12 steps: admitting that one is powerless over alcohol, food, crags emotions, or whatever, to

I think that if every Baha’i were to read this book, many of the things that bring about disunity could be eliminated.

Lori Fabian

White River Junction, Vermont

Thanks to Project HELP

To the Editor:

Thank you for the article (August) on Project HELP.

I am impressed by the work of the principal organizers, David Langness and Deanne LaRue. I feel proud that a couple of Baha’is would initiate a massive medical relief airlift to the poorest and indigent children in the Philippines.

This effort reflects the sensitivity, generosity and practicality of the American Baha’is and the American nation.

J.S. Laurico Sacramento, California

‘Myth’—or prophecy? To the Editor:

Ben Norris’ letter (August), in which he refers to a session at the Bosch School on ‘‘Baha’i myths’” —that is, concepts which are held

as true by individual Baha’is although they do not exist in the Writings—has prompted me to write.

One of the ‘‘myths’’ concerned the idea that people in the future will become exclusively vegetarian. In Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era (p. 102), ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is quoted as saying:

“Fruits and grains (will be the food of the future). Medical science is only in its infancy, yet it has shown that our natural diet is that which grows out of the ground.”

On the same subject, the Master also said: ‘‘As humanity progresses, meat will be used less and less, for the teeth of man are not carnivorous. For example, the lion is endowed with carnivorous teeth, which are intended for meat, and if meat be not found, the lion starves.

“The lion cannot graze; its teeth are of a different shape. The digestive system of the lion is such that it cannot receive nourishment save through meat. The eagle has a crooked beak, the lower part shorter than the upper. It cannot pick up grain; it cannot graze; therefore, it is compelled to partake of meat.

“The domestic animals have herbivorous teeth formed to cut grass, which is their fodder.-The human teeth, the molars, are formed to grind. The front teeth, the incisors, are for fruits, etc.

“It is, therefore, quite apparent according to the implements for eating that man’s food is intended to be grain and not meat. When mankind is more fully developed, the eating of meat will gradually cease.”” (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 170-71)

I do not intend to make an issue of this, or to say that Baha’i law forbids meat-eating, when in fact, it does not. But it appears to me that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá clearly stated that mankind would someday discontinue the use of animals for food.

Wallace Pryor Farmington, Missouri

Let’s use our calendar! To the Editor:

Lately I’ve noticed a lack of desire to use the Baha’i calendar. T’ve heard the excuse that since the Test of society uses the Gregorian calendar it’s too confusing.

I feel the time has come for the American Baha’is to create a Baha’ identity, and one way is to use the Baha’i calendar prominently.

I was happy to see the calendar by the Publishing Trust conform

See LETTERS page 17

i

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�[Page 4]4/ The American Baha’i / November 1987

CHAMPIONBUILDERS

&

GEORGE W. HENDERSON

Shortly after becoming a Baha’i in 1915, Professor George W. Henderson moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he established a successful black business college.

The Faith was well-received in Memphis, but the development of a deepened Baha’i community was slow.

As Gayle Morrison notes in her biography of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis Gregory, To Move the World, Memphis was isolated from the greater Baha’i community, and the group of Baha’fs there depended heavily on Professor Henderson, who had many other interests and responsibilities competing for his time.

For many years, Louis Gregory was the Memphis community’s only contact with other Baha’ is.

In a letter dated June 13, 1921 (now in the National Archives in Wilmette), addressed to Louis Gregory, Professor Henderson wrote:

“It is not mine to write, but I try to teach. It seems that the city of Memphis has taken me up in its arms and put me on the mountain top.

“Churches, clubs, organizations of all kinds and the various schools are calling on me to talk from time to time. I have very little to say and yet they are always asking me to say that little.

“1 have been asked to conduct this Lyceum every Sunday during the summer. The attendance ranges from six hundred to one thousand people of all classes, ages and colors. ...Every church or denomination is representCg

With Mr. Gregory’s help, the Memphis community formed its first local Spiritual Assembly in 1941, and Professor Henderson was elected to serve on that Assembly.

When he died in 1944, Louis Gregory published a tribute to him in The Bahá’í World: “Professor George W. Henderson, Henderson Business College, Memphis, Tennessee, ascended to his eternal home December 24, 1944. Then ended a mortal career which in two ways bore a similitude to that of the Master.

“The length of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ministry as Center of the Covenant was 29 years. George Henderson’s Baha’i life, at a different time, covered exactly the same

See HENDERSON page 31

Green Lake

from page 1

world peace, and we have the Source of power to bring it about.

“‘We must serve mankind; give the world this dream that’s in our hearts. Let’s do it now, because when we feel like doing it, all the brooms may be busy.’’

Other featured speakers at Green Lake were Dr. Jane Faily, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada; Auxiliary Board member Morris Taylor; ErErnestine Berkey, representing the Baha’i National Committee on Women; Dr. Manuchehr Derakhshani, secretary of the National Persian/American Affairs Committee; and Dr. Daryush Haghighi, a Trustee of the Huqiqu’ lah.

Dr. Faily, speaking on ‘‘Servitude,” observed that we have been given the opportunity to serve during the Six Year Plan, 1986-1992, which coincides with the hundredth anniversary of the last six years of Bahá’u’lláh’s life.

During that time, she said, Baha’u’llah had left the prisoncity of ‘Akká and was living in the mansion of Bahjí, where He wrote the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, a warning to the people, calling them to account.

“The Universal House of Justice,”’ she said, ‘‘has said that the Faith has emerged from obscurity. Even as Baha’u’llah left the Most Great Prison, we have now emerged from the prison of obscurity.

“In ‘The Promise of World Peace,’ the House of Justice addresses the peoples of the world, repeating the warnings given by Baha’u’llah. Like Baha’u’llah, Who summoned the people to achieve their salvation, the Universal House of Justice summons the people of the world to achieve

peace.

“The old world order is crumbling around us. We have been given the opportunity to serve before the establishment of the Lesser Peace. We have a chance to respond to the agony of a world torn by racism. Let us seize this path of service; let us long to be servants!””

Mr. Taylor spoke about the possibilities of extraordinary Baha’i communities, describing the unique and impressive nature of the Baha’i world community.

“When we look at the big picture,’’ he said, ‘what we are able to achieve seems quite incredible, yet on the local-level, the global perspective is not always apparent to the friends.’’

Colorful costumes helped make the party a ‘knight’ to remember.

The challenge before us now, he said, is to use that power inherent in the Faith to do things that are “a little less spectacular,”’ in other words, to meet the challenges we deal with every day in the local community.

“Through the development of healthy Baha’i communities, building and maintaining strong relationships, and nurturing a distinctive Baha’ spirit in our large and diverse family,” said Mr. Taylor, ‘‘we can demonstrate to the world that our vision is indeed becoming a reality.”

Mrs. Berkey’s two addresses were entitled “‘Service Above and Beyond the Call’”’ and ‘‘The Maidservants of Bahd’u’ll4h.””

We need to ask ourselves, she said, ‘‘how we can best serve to help bring about the maturity of the Faith.

“It would be nice,’’ she added, “if, as the Faith emerges from obscurity, we as Baha’is would follow it and emerge also.””

In addition to the speakers, the main sessions included entertainment and two splendid audiovisual presentations.

Anne Atkinson of Wilmette, Illinois, delighted everyone with

“The Lotus,” a slide presentation

on the House of Worship in India produced by Charles Nolley, while Ben Levy of Lake Mary, Florida, presented a series of slides on “The Guardian: A Life of Service.””

The Green Lake bookstore included many new titles as well as new editions of old favorites.

A series of ‘‘peace posters’’ made by children was displayed, and a new feature was a slide presentation on ‘‘Service at the Baha’i National Center,”’ produced by the Department of Human Resources at the National Center.

This year’s 16 optional Saturday afternoon sessions were given

Auxiliary Board member ‘Morris Taylor urges the friends to look at the ‘big picture.’

titles which aptly described various ways in which to serve. The sessions, and those conducting them, were:

Soft Service (chanting in English): Donna Kime.

Integrated Service (the challenge): Kathleen Magill.

Social Service (social and economic development): Sharon and

Ron Hicks.

° Family Service (parenting teens): Steve Suhm.

¢ Recruiting Service (for potential authors): Betty Fisher, Terrill Hayes.

Recruiting Service (for potential employees): Mary Hansen.

Counselor Harris also addressed a special session for youth, saying today’s young people feel they are living in “‘Disney World.’’

“They need to be allowed to

Singer/guitarist Mark Spittal was among the many fine entertainers

at Green Lake this year.

travel to other countries where they can truly experience life,’’ he said. “‘They need to be shown those who are truly in need, so that their Baha’i hearts can respond to that need and they can learn how to serve.”

The younger children took part in a variety of activities including a “nature hike.” They enjoyed an afternoon in the kitchen baking cookies and a large ‘‘bread-person’ which was the hit of their Sunday morning party, at which they shared the products of their endeavors.

The musical presentations at Green Lake are always splendid, and this year was no exception.

The friends enjoyed music by guitarist Mark Spittal; singers Phyllis Peterson, Becky Rice, Jill Simon, George Davis, and ‘‘Songstone,’’ a quartet from Milwaukee; pianists Donna Kime and Mark Ochu; and the santourpiano duo of Kiu Haghighi and Rosamond Brenner.

Also greatly appreciated were eloquent speeches by three young Bahda’is, Erin Bodan, Errol Doris Jr. and Saba Firoozi; and dramatic performances by Anne Atkinson, Michelle Broussard and Gregory Gaboo.

Following Saturday evening’s session, many of the friends gathered at the Green Lake Barn for a gala dance and costume party, “Everybody Loves Saturday Knight,”’ whose theme was medieval but whose music was definitely modern.

Many of the friends came dressed as their favorite medieval “‘pun,”’ and enjoyed dancing and fellowship far into the ‘‘knight.”” �[Page 5]

TheNationalBana | 9 Fund

Financial, business pros meet to advise National Assembly

Fifteen business and financial professionals from throughout the American Baha’i community gathered September 26 at the Baha’i National Center in Wilmette

The American Bahd’{ / November 1987 / 5

“Make me ready, in all circumstances, O my Lord, to serve Thee and to set myself towards the adored sanctuary of Thy Revelation and of Thy Beauty. If it be Thy pleasure, make me to grow as a tender herb in the meadows of Thy grace, that the gentle winds of Thy will may stir me up and bend me into conformity with Thy pleasure, in such wise that my movement and my stillness may be wholly directed by Thee.” (Bahá’u’lláh, Prayers and Meditations,

Advancing the Faith around the World

™

ALL HANDS ON DECK! CALLING ALL SKILLS!

While many things were learned from our consultation with the handful of business and financial experts who gathered at the National Center in September (see article on this page), one message rang through loud and clear: We have a tremendous reserve of expesienee and talent in the Baha’i community that is waiting to be

The Office of the Treasurer needs to identify Bahd’{s with experience and training in the following areas: finance, investments, banking, real estate, tax planning, estate planning, business ownership, business financing, fund-raising, financial planning, accounting, business law, commercial law, insurance, pension planning, manufacturing, small business development.

If you have experience or training in any of these areas, or know of someone in your community who has such expertise, please let us know! To meet the challenges facing the National and International Funds, the National Spiritual Assembly will need to draw heavily upon your knowledge and experience. Lending your expertise is another way to give to the Fund; it saves dol‘lars that can be used for other needed projects.

Please fill in the attached form, or send us your resumé or a short letter describing your background. Tell us about your Baha’i friends too who are skilled in these areas—sometimes they are too shy or modest to tell us themselves, but we need to know. College and graduate students, that means you too!

Name

Address

Phone number: home work

Attach resumé or brief description of your background or business card where appropriate. Send to: Fund Development Director, Office of the Treasurer, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette,

to consult with and advise the National Spiritual Assembly on its management of assets and expansion of the financial resources of the National and International Funds.

The timing of this meeting, called for in June, proved auspicious in light of the letter of August 31 from the Universal House of Justice received only a few days before calling on each of us to help hasten the day when the ‘‘numerical strength,’’ ‘‘material power’’ and “‘spiritual authority” of the Faith will be increased a thousandfold.

Inspired by that message, and urged by the National Spiritual Assembly to bring to bear their experience in finance, investment, business planning, law, taxation, estate planning, real estate, capital development, insurance and money management on the challenges facing our community in meeting the financial needs of the Universal House of Justice and our National Assembly, the group divided itself into task forces and consulted at length on a variety of issues.

Initially, their consultation was focused on three areas:

1. Business planning and development including evaluating business proposals, cultivating a network among Baha’i businesspersons, and identifying experienced business owners, managers and advisers.

2. Financial management including cash management and investment policies, investigating the development of Baha’i-owned financial institutions, and assembling large amounts of capital.

3. Estate planning and fund development including sharing of estate planning techniques among the Baha’is, identifying financial planning and fund-raising expertise, and inspiring the friends to help one another increase their personal wealth and material support of the Faith.

Participants included Deanna Recker (Arizona); Ron Carrigan, Anthony Reid and Fred Bruning (California); Jeff Mondschein (Connecticut); Rick Miller (Florida); Bonnie Barnes (Georgia); Mike Hampton (Indiana); Ted Amsden and Steven Gonzales (Michigan); Mike Furst (Minnesota); Grant Kvalheim (New Jersey); Karen Kennedy (New Mexico); Don Decker (Oklahoma);

CL, p. 240)

i

To celebrate their son’s first birthday, a Bahá’í couple in Reston, Virginia, invited other members of the community to share a Persian dinner. The guests were asked not to bring presents; instead, there was a brief program that focused on the spiritual bounties of

giving. A Fund box was provided, and $400 was sent to the International Fund in young Nabil Amini’s name. Here he prepares to blow out the lone candle on his cake while his friends Jordan Glist (left) and Amelia Buczinski (with her father, Stephen) look on.

Speech on world peace garners splendid publicity for Durango, Colorado, Baha’is

A speech by Ruth TobeyHampson of Canon City, Colorado, was the occasion for unprecedented publicity for the Faith in Durango, Colorado, in mid-September.

Invited by the Spiritual Assembly of Durango to speak on September 15, the UN International Day of Peace, Mrs. Hampson spoke about the foundations of world peace.

Few people attended the talk, to which the public was invited, but local media provided a great deal of exposure for the event itself and for Mrs. Hampson’s message.

The local newspaper, television station, four radio stations, three religious groups and one women’s organization carried announcements prior to her talk, mentioning its Baha’i sponsorship.

One radio station twice broadcast a feature interview, while another (Fort Lewis College’s student radio) aired a 15-minute live interview the day after her ap pearance.

In addition, the newspaper carried a follow-up feature two days later under the headline ‘‘Believing peace is possible,”’ which mentioned many of the Baha’i principles pertaining to women and peace.

The substantial and cost-free coverage brought peace and the Faith to the public’s attention as never before in Durango.

CORRECTION

In a photo caption in the August 1987 issue of The American Baha’, the names of seven Bahá’ís martyred in June 1981 in Hamadan, Iran, are presented i correctly. The correct order is: standing (left to right) Husayn Kh4ndil, Dr. Nasir Vafé’i, Muhammad Suhrab Habibi, Dr. Firaz Na’imi, Tard4zu’llah Khuzayn, and (kneeling left to right) Suhayl Habibi, Husayn Mutlaq. We regret the error.

Stories relating to Faith, Fund sought

If you have any ideas, or personal stories, relating to developing an affection for the Faith and the Fund in children, youth or new believers, please share them with your Treasurer’s Office:

Office of the Treasurer

IL 60091.

and Iraj Radpour (Tennessee).

Milwaukee thanks those who attended ‘Indian Summer ’87’

The members of Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Baha’i Native American Task Force would like to thank those who attended ‘‘Indian Summer ’87’’ in Milwaukee.

Among the 24 Baha’is at the event was Kevin Locke, a Lakota Indian from South Dakota, who offered a prayer using a small flute in the traditional manner.

If you would like information about the Task Force or any of its upcoming events, phone Lyn Locust at 414-786-5926.

If you’re Involved In ecology...

The National Spiritual Assembly would like the names of individuals who are involved in ecology, conservation and related areas. Relations with national and international organizations have developed to the point at which the expertise of Baha’is in these areas is required. Those who are interested should send a resumé or description outlining their skills and experience to one of the following addresses:

National Baha’i Office of External Affairs 1606 New Hampshire Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009

Baha’i International Community

Office of Public Information

Attn.: Mr. Hugh Locke

New York, NY 10017

Fund Promotion Department Baha’i National Center Wilmette, Illinois 60091 Telephone 312-869-9039

“Huququ’llah is indeed a great law. It is incumbent upon all to make this offering, because it is the source of grace, abundance, and of all good. It is a bounty which shall remain with every soul in every world of the worlds of God, the All-Possessing, the AllBountiful.” —Bahá’u’lláh.

°

Payments for Huqtqu’lláh should be made to the Baha’i Huququ’ll4h Trust and sent to one of the Trustees:

Dr. Elsie Austin, P.O. Box

927, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone 301-589-8481).

¢ Dr. Amin Banani,

. Santa Monica, CA 90402 (phone 213-394-5449).

_ Rocky River, OH

44116 (phone 216-333-1506).

Inquiries regarding Huqiqu’lah should be referred to one of the Trustees or to the Baha’i Huququ’llah Trust, 21300 Avalon Drive, Rocky River, OH 44116 (216-333-1506). �[Page 6]6 / The American Baha’i / November 1987

Some thoughts on balancing pioneering, motherhood

PIONEERING

y

The Pioneer Post, a publication of the Office of Pioneering, has served as a vehicle for our pioneers to communicate among themselves, sharing events and thoughts that may be helpful to

Please exercise care in these countries

The following countries are ones in which special care must be exercised for the protection of the believers who live there. If you are planning to travel to any of these countries, please contact the OfSice of Pioneering for guidance: AFRICA Algeria, Angola, Comoros, Congo, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia.

AMERICAS

Turks & Caicos Islands.

ASIA

Afghanistan, Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia), Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kampuchea (formerly Cambodia), North Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen), Yemen, Democratic (South Yemen). AUSTRALASIA

Nuie, Wallis & Futuna Islands. EUROPE

Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Soviet Union, Yugoslavia.

one another.

In September, we included the Sollowing letter which we felt brought to light a universal concern. (The Garman family have been pioneers to Africa for 16 years).

.

Martha Garman, Nigeria— Merideth’s question about the balance of motherhood and Baha’i service (Pioneer Post, June 1987) needs addressing.

Now in my 17th year of trying it, some ideas have emerged of which the brief summary is this:

Family first—Bahá’u’lláh has made the family the foundation of society. Our service to God can take many forms and must mesh into our lives.

The institution of family has its own cycles: a couple, then babies join the couple, they grow to be school children, then teen-agers. And then, when they leave, a couple again.

Each stage requires varying amounts of input from Mom. Caring for the family is a primary service to God. The family will benefit from a happy Mom who can get a lot of her spiritual joy and satisfaction from her service to God through teaching the Faith and committee work.

Talents—If Mom is an American pioneer who can type, she often finds herself filling a need for organization, planning and secretarial work in whatever group of Bahá’ís she meets. She may need the wisdom to pick and choose the area of greatest contribution.

Mom cannot do everything she would like for everyone she meets or every Baha’i group that needs her talents. She needs to make choices based on prayer and experience, then proceed to carry out the decision with full concen

60091.

Pioneer Post: A window on world

“TI wonder how the Faith is progressing in Africa. ... news from South America, the Pacific, Europe. areal connection to the struggles and victories neers scattered throughout the world by subscribing to Pioneer Post. This newsletter, published quarterly for the past nine years by the Office of Pioneering, is offered on a subscription basis for only $4 a year. Please make checks payable to ‘‘Baha’i Services Fund,” earmarked for O/2P Pioneer Post, and send them to the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL

What's the 2”" You'll feel the U.S. pio

Twenty-eight future pioneers including five youth preparing for a Year of Service took part in a Pioneer Training Institute held August 20-23 at the Bahd’{ National Center in Wilmette, Illinois. Among their destinations were Kenya, Zimbabwe, Macau, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Costa

Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador. Unexpected special treats on the program were talks by the Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone, who was visiting Wilmette, and Ed Widmer, a pioneer to Guyana who is vice-chairman of that country’s National Spiritual Assembly.

tration.

Her prayers can ardently ask God to help those whose needs she cannot fill herself at that time. Don’t be afraid to say no. Here is the story of how I learned to say no.

One year my husband and I were serving as secretary or treasurer on five national committees at our pioneering post. I was also teaching college courses full-time and raising two girls.

After a big Baha’ project, feeling frustrated and exhausted, I resigned from my three committees in the middle of the Baha’i year.

Not long after, a lovely African Auxiliary Board member came, unexpectedly, for a visit. He played with the children, chatted about all kinds of things, and asked me—almost casually—what I thought should be done about some literature needs.

I gave my opinion and, as he encouraged me to talk, more and more ideas came out until I got really excited about what could be done.

It never occurred to us that he was sent to see what was the problem, as he was so tactful in his weekend visit that he never mentioned his assignment.

By the end of the visit, he saw the situation, heard about my frustration with too many committees, and had me offering to do work on the literature project.

In my letter to the National Assembly, and every National Assembly since then, I offered to accept any job they wished to give me, and I would do it with all of my heart.

Some news of events taking place in other countries of world

What’s cooking in St. Lucia? (Where is St. Lucia?)

St. Lucia’s Winter School will be held December 17-20 in Castries and will be preceded by a one-day Institute for Youth on December 13.

St. Lucia needs help in rejuvenating its youth activities and would like youth from the U.S. to help inspire and fire up the youth at these two events.

For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039. Great things are afoot in Botswana!

A Baha’i Youth Teaching Symposium will be held June 19-July 1, 1988. Its purpose is to train Baha’i youth to teach in the southern African region for the summer.

Botswana is collaborating with other National Spiritual Assemblies in Southern Africa to make this a widespread effort. The National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland has already requested 10 traveling teachers and five youth Year of Service volunteers.

Start gathering your resources for next summer to travel and teach in Africa. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

And in Switzerland ...

A conference on International Travel Medicine is scheduled April 5-8, 1988, in Zurich.

The conference will focus on is See OVERSEAS page 13

Martha (Marty) Garman (right) and her 2I1-year-old daughter,

When they gave me a second assignment, I would write to them, reminding them that I could accept only one job, and saying they could decide whether they wished me to do the first or the second.

For pioneering mothers around the world, surround your life with prayer, work in your profession to earn money and improve the rest of the world, enjoy the delightful

Julie, have been pioneers to Africa for 16 years.

development of your special Baha’i children who will enlighten the next generation, and develop Baha’i attributes through community service.

You'll find the balance for yourself and be a treasure to your family and your community. ... Service is an individual expression of love—everyone serves differently, and it’s okay!

One to teach in the university; one doctor 2

1

Total Africa BBririS, AMERICAS

North Abaco, Eleuthera, Andros, Cat Island, Long Island (©) Barbados i“ % Employment opportunities for a dentist (E) Belize pees, (8) For radio, consolidation, development projects; skills for National Secretariat (P) Brazil Des 12; Preferably for Amazon Project; possibly of Persian background (S) Chile o 10 Juan Fernandez Islands, preferably Spanish-speaking

couple (€) Dominica era (F) French Guiana 3: 10 Preferably Persian (€) Grenada 2 to. (F) Guadeloupe 2410 Opportunities for English teachers (©) Guyana 2 40 Preferably East Indians and blacks (S) Honduras 2° to

Bay Islands, Yoro, Colon; preferably

AFRICA Assigned Won @®) Burundi Tene 0, (E) Ciskei 2h) (E) The Gambia

Preferably Persian 2 0 ©) Kenya

Preferably outside

Nairobi eel () Nigeria aves ©) Sierra Leone = 0 (E) South Africa 2 M0: ©) St. Helena 27 4KO: (E) SW Africa/Namibia 2 0 ©) Transkei Dewdial (E) Uganda

U.S. International Pioneer Call Ridvaén 1987—Ridvaén 1988

self-supporting on Won (©) Jamaica i} Preferably self-supporting for rural areas to work in village development (F) Martinique eo: French-speaking youth to enroll in university or with musical talent (S) Nicaragua 2Ga 0 Preferably Persian (S) Paraguay ee 0: (B) St. Lucia an 0) Skills in community consolidation ©) St. Vincent/Grena 2 30 dines () Suriname 2a Preferably Persian () Trinidad/Tobago Zea Preferably Persian (S) Venezuela 2 (E) Virgin Islands, British 2 Total Americas 45

ASIA 2 ) India 1 (E) Malaysia

To help develop pub lic relations experts ©) Nepal 0 (M) Taiwan

Chinese background

Total Asia 6

oo ON

aa

AUSTRALASIA

(E) Marshall Islands To help with administration reo Total Australasia =)

EUROPE (P) Portugal . 0 Couples for goal areas outside greater Lisbon, preferably Portuguese or Spanishspeaking Total Europe 200

Language Key (E) English (D) Dutch

(®) French

(M) Mandarin (P) Portuguese “S) Spanish

�[Page 7]The American Baha’i / November 1987 / 7

(O

Northern Illinois University in DeKalb doesn’t have a lot of Baha’i students; in fact, the whole city of DeKalb has barely enough Baha’is for an Assembly. But you can’t measure the power of the Faith by counting the number of believers.

Last year the continued devotion and {aith of this small club and community allowed them the opportunity to present the peace statement to the president of the university.

Presenting the statement to the head of a university is always an achievement, even more so for a club with only three members, but the club and the community could never have suspected what results would come from the crumbling of the old world order and the universal power of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

Later that year the dark and evil cracks of racism which undermine the foundation of our society manifested themselves on the NIU campus. The administration took quick action and vowed to do everything in its power to assure that the Northern campus would be a model of racial unity from that moment on.

A “cultural awareness week’’ was one vehicle suggested; the university would celebrate the many cultures, races and religions represented on its campus.

A committee was set up to plan the week, and the Baha’i Club was asked to play a major role in its development.

The Blessed Beauty had handed the Bahá’ís a perfect opportunity to present the world-changing concepts of His Faith, to work with others interested in promoting those ideals, and to increase the recognition of the name ‘‘Baha’”” on campus.

The hand of God in all of this became especially obvious when the university president announced that he wanted to name the event ‘‘Unity Through Diversity Week.”

The week was scheduled to run from September 27-October 4, and included no less than 46 major events sponsored by a large number of groups and organizations.

The Baha’i Club was to sponsor three events and take part in a video to be shown in all the dorms which featured representatives of all the religious groups on campus.

First, the club planned special Baha’i devotions, and it was noticed that the director of housing and his wife were among the participants.

Next, they sponsored a workshop on building multi-cultural alliances that lasted for an entire day and was described as ‘‘incredible! Some people went through some profound changes.”

Finally, the Baha’i Club sponsored a mime and narration entitled ‘‘Stories from the Garden of the Human Family,”’ which was

See CAMPUS page 10

Youth Conference to center on service to Cause

International Youth Conference

THE BLOOMINGTON CONFERENCE

The Baha’ International Youth Conference ’88, to be held in Bloomington, Indiana, will be inspirational and entertaining, with the emphasis on discourse, the significance of this Day and of Bahá’u’ll4h’s teachings, and service to the Cause.

It is only by changing our characters and organizing our lives in conformity with the Baha’i principles that we can effectively promulgate the Message of Bahd’w’ll4h.

The youth around the world are expected to gather at the conference with unity, love and maturity. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet brothers and sisters from all over and to break cultural barriers.

Shoghi Effendi said time and again that the only way we can become effective teachers of our fellow youth is to set an example of high moral character, service to mankind, intellectual achievement, and loving unity.

The International Youth Conference will concentrate on four main ideas from the statement “‘Our Choice Is Change: Peace in Progress.””

From this, each day of the conference will focus on each of the

Youth Year of Service program marked by growth, enthusiasm

Are you out of, or soon to finish, high school? Do you yearn to grow spiritually by leaps and bounds? Would you like to dedicate a year or two to teaching the Faith or helping with development work?

If your answer is YES, then the Youth Year of Service program is for you. The program has been growing rapidly, and National Assemblies throughout the world, and local Assemblies in the U.S., have developed positions for youth to serve—full-time!

Such places as Peru, the Leeward Islands, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Samoa, Alaska, Honduras, Hong Kong, Zambia, the Cental African Republic, Venezuela, Swaziland, New Mexico South/Texas West, Portsmouth, Virginia, Providence, Rhode Island,

Arizona, and Canutillo, Texas, are beckoning to YOUth to arise to meet the challenge.

Remember, one soul can enlighten an entire continent. Will you be that one soul, or will God raise someone else up instead?

For more information, contact the National Youth Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

i

Ce ERT 10

JUNE 30 —

JULY 4, 1988

key words: choice, change, peace and progress. After the conference, there will be many service and teaching projects for youth to channel their energy and spirit in to.

There will also be projects before and during the conference for any of the expected 7,500 youth who would like to take part.

Meanwhile, your creative talents are being summoned. Individuals; families; regional schools; local, district and regional youth groups; local Assemblies, and communities are invited to make “peace banners.”’

Start planning now for these banners which are to be used for teaching and proclamation before, during and after the conference.

To make a banner, use a piece of cloth (3 by 5 feet) with the theme of peace; get ideas from the peace statement. Attach ribbons to the corners of the banner so that several banners can be tied together.

If you have any questions, please phone the National Youth Committee office, 312-869-9039.

Themes and logos are also needed; if you are one of those creative youth with any ideas, please send them to the National Youth Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Now is the time for youth to contact any local peace organizations and tell them about the International Youth Conference. It will be the largest international gathering of youth dedicated to peace, and those groups may wish to send a ‘‘peace ambassador”’ to attend the conference.

For guidelines on contacting peace and social associations, please contact the National Youth Committee office.

The gravity of the task facing the Baha’i youth in this age and how great are our responsibilities in changing the ‘fortunes of man

the Unity of Mankind.””

of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Jun! Everyone is welcome.

N. Illinois youth to discuss unity

Youth: mark the dates January 15-18, 1988, on your calendars because that’s when the District Youth Committee for Northern Illinois No. 2 will hold a conference on ‘Youth Working Toward

The conference, to be held at the Orrington Hotel in Evanston, will stress the need for Baha’i youth to work for the unity of mankind and explore ways in which this can be done.

Features will include dynamic speakers, workshops addressing various aspects of unity, a visit to the Baha’i House of Worship, and a Unity Dance to commemorate the anniversary of the birth

Youth (ages 14-28) are encouraged to attend and to take part in learning ways to contribute to the unity of mankind ...

To obtain conference and hotel registration forms, please contact the District Youth Committee of Northern Illinois No. 2, c/o Jian Khodadad, 627 Sheridan Road, Winnetka, IL 60093.

and have

kind”’ are illustrated in the following statement from a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi:

“The present condition of the world—its economic instability, social dissensions, political dissatisfaction and international distrust—should awaken the youth from their slumber and make them inquire what the future is going to bring.

“It is surely they who will suffer the most if some calamity sweeps over the world. They should there fore open their eyes to the evil forces that are at work and then with a concerted effort arise and bring about the necessary reforms—reforms that shall contain within their scope the spiritual as well as social and political phases of human life.”

It is hoped that the conference will cause a transformation within each person and direct each one to strengthen his Baha’i identity and personal development to maximize his service to ‘‘...this new World Order.’”

Youth urged to dedicate December to memory of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s U.S. visit

Seventy-five years ago, on December 5, 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá left the shores of America and returned to the Holy Land.

If we put ourselves in the position of the Baha’is who were living in the U.S. in 1912, we would probably want to give ‘Abdu’l-Bahá a gift, something to gladden His heart, satisfy His yearning, grant His every wish, and fulfill His heart’s desire.

What can we, the youth living in the U.S. today, give to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in memory of His leaving? During the last days of His life, He said:

“Friends! The time is coming when I shall be no longer with you. I have done all that could be done. I have served the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh to the utmost of my ability. I have labored night and day, all the years of my life.

“O how I long to see the loved ones taking upon themselves the responsibilities of the Cause! Now is the time to proclaim the Kingdom of Bahd! ...All the resources of my physical strength I have exhausted, and the spirit of my life is the welcome tidings of the unity of the people of Bahd. ...

“Ah me, Iam waiting, waiting, to hear the joyful tidings that the believers are the very embodiment of sincerity and truthfulness, the incarnation of love and amity, the living symbols of unity and concord.

“Will they not gladden my heart? Will they not satisfy my yearning? Will they not manifest my wish? Will they not fulfill my heart’s desire? Will they not give ear to my call?

“I am waiting, I am patiently waiting.’””

The National Youth Committee would like to ask each one of you to start thinking about how you can dedicate this December, and, if you are in school, your entire winter break, to pleasing the Master, giving Him the greatest gift you can give.

There are several teaching (teaching = expansion + consolidation) projects waiting for your support. If you plan to attend a conference this winter, consider how you can help in a project before, during or after the event.

your Regional Youth Committee right away for information on what projects are being held in your area, or contact the National Youth Committee Office, c/o Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

Archives has items available for sale

The National Baha’i Archives has the following items available for purchase through the Baha’i Distribution Service:

1. Guidelines for Bahá’í Archives. A 63-page manual on the organization and functioning of a Baha'i Archives. Price: $7.50.

2. The American Bahá’í (19701985) and National Bahd’/ Review (1968-1983) on 35mm microfilm. Set of five rolls of microfilm. Price: $75.

Send orders to: Baha’i Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. Overseas orders, add 15 per cent.

said Georgia ...

Did we say Sunshine State? That’s peachy!

OOOOOPS! Did we say a conference in Florida? ...No, we Well, maybe we did say Florida, but we meant to say Georgia! That’s Atlanta, Georgia, and the date is set: December 28, 1987, to January 1, 1988. Happy New Year!

‘What a New Year’s resolution—come to a great conference, one that will have a totally different approach from previous conferences. For more information, call Walter Canady, 404-7582524, or Layli Miller, 404-993-7067.

�[Page 8]8 / The American Baha’i / November 1987

SY

FOR NEW BAHA'IS

Poignant stories reveal suffering, Station of Baha’u’llah

The following stories, taken from various sources, concern themselves with the childhood and early life of Bahá’u’lláh, the Manifestation of God for this Day. In the first of them, Bahá’u’lláh says:

When I was a child ... one of my brothers intended to marry. ... The program for the last day of the entertainment for the guests was the play of Sultan Salim. ...

They raised a great tent in the middle of the court. Representatives of human forms only a few inches in height would come out of the tent and cry: “‘The king is coming. ...’’ Then other figures came out, sweeping the ground while a number were sprinkling the streets with water. Then another figure was presented who was supposed to be the herald bidding the people to be ready for review before His Majesty, the Sultan.

The ministers came ... while a number of others were garbed as chamberlains, aides-de-camp, ferrashes and executioners. ...All these lined up according to their station and class.

At last the king appeared with sovereign power and shining dia ly a thief, captured by the police, was brought before the king and a royal order was issued to behead him. Then the chief executioners took the captive and beheaded him. ...

While the Sultan was consulting with some of his ministers the news was brought that a certain person had become a rebel. The Sultan issued orders that several regiments of soldiers be sent to the scene to quell the disturbance.

After a few minutes the thunderous noise of guns and artillery was heard. ...I became astonished and bewildered at all these affairs. Then the review ended and the curtain descended.

After 20 minutes a man came out from behind the tent with a box under his arm. I asked him, “‘What is this box? Where are the king and all the men?”

He answered that all the great things and manifest objects, such as kings, princes and ministers, glory, majesty, power and sovereignty which we beheld were enclosed in this box.

I declare by the Lord Who has created all things through His Word that from that day all the conditions of this world and its

dem upon his head. ...Immediate greatness have been like that play

From the Writings...

O Jews! If ye be intent on crucifying once again Jesus, the

Spirit of God, put Me to death, for He hath once more, in My person, been made manifest unto you. Deal with Me as ye wish, for I have vowed to lay down My life in the path of God. ...Followers of the Gospel! If ye cherish the desire to slay Muhammad, the Apostle of God, seize Me and put an end to My life, for I am He, and My Self is His Self. Do unto Me as ye like, for the deepest longing of Mine heart is to attain the presence of My Best-Beloved in His Kingdom of Glory. ‘ollowers of Muhammad! If it be your wish to riddle with your shafts the breast of Him Who hath caused His Book the Bayan to be sent down unto you, lay hands on Me and persecute Me, for I am His Well-Beloved, the revelation of His own Self, though My name be not His name. I have come in the shadows of the clouds of glory, and am invested by God with invincible sovereignty. He, verily, is the Truth, the Knower of things unseen. ...O people of the Bayan! If ye have resolved to shed the blood of Him Whose coming the Bab hath proclaimed, Whose advent Muhammad hath prophesied, and Whose Revelation Jesus Christ Himself hath announced, behold Me standing, ready and defenseless, before you. Deal with Me after your own desires.””

“Know verily that whenever this Youth turneth His eyes towards His own self, he findeth it the most insignificant of all creation. When He contemplates, however, the bright effulgences He hath been empowered to manifest, lo, that self is transfigured before Him into a sovereign Potency permeating the essence of all things visible and invisible. Glory be to Him Who, through the power of truth, hath sent down the Manifestation of His own Self and entrusted Him with His message unto all mankind.’’—Bahda’u’llah, Gleanings, pp. 101-2

. Discuss the preceding passages with the Baha’i who taught you the Faith, or with another believer. Together consider the following questions: ° wae is Baha’u’llah’s relationship to other Manifestations of

What is Bahá’u’lláh’s relationship to God? ¢ What station does Bahá’u’lláh claim for Himself? .

The following books, along with many others, describe Baha’u’llah’s life and station, and are available from the Baha’i Distribution Service:

God Passes By, by Shoghi Effendi. This book is a history of the first century of the Baha’i Faith written by the Guardian. See es pecially Chapter 6. © Bahá’u’lláh, the King of Glory, by Hasan Balyizi. A biography of Bahá’u’lláh.

before my eyes. It has not nor will it ever have the weight of a mustard seed.

I wondered greatly that the people should glorify themselves in these affairs. Notwithstanding this, the people of insight will discern with the eye of certainty the end of the glory of every great one before beholding it. (Bahá’u’lláh, quoted in Star of the West, Vol. 8, No. 13)

one

Bahá’u’lláh, now that the Bab was no more, appeared in their (the divines and leaders of the government) eyes to be the archfoe whom they deemed it their first duty to seize and imprison.

To them He was the reincarnation of the Spirit the Bab had so powerfully manifested, the spirit through which He had been able to accomplish so complete a transformation in the lives and habits of his countrymen. The precautions the Russian minister had taken, and the warnings he had uttered, failed to stay the hand that had been outstretched with such determination against that precious Life.

From Shimiraén to Tihran, Baha’u’llah_ was several times stripped of His garments, and was overwhelmed with abuse and ridicule. On foot and exposed to the fierce rays of the midsummer sun, He was compelled to cover, barefooted and bareheaded, the whole distance ... to the dungeon. ...

All along the route, He was pelted and vilified by the crowds whom His enemies had succeeded in convincing that He was the sworn enemy of their sovereign and the wrecker of his realm.

Words fail me to portray the horror of the treatment which was meted out to Him as He was being taken to the Sfyah-Chal of Tihran. As He was approaching that dungeon, an old and decrepit woman was seen to emerge from the midst of the crowd, with a stone in her hand, eager to cast it at the face of Bahá’u’lláh. Her eyes glowed with a determination and fanaticism of which few women of her age were capable.

Her whole frame shook with rage as she stepped forward and raised her hand to hurl her missile at Him. ‘‘...I adjure you,” she pleaded, as she ran to overtake those into whose hands Bahá’u’lláh had been delivered, ‘“‘give me a chance to fling my stone in His face!”’

“Suffer not this woman to be disappointed,’’ were Baha’u’llah’s words to His guards, as He saw her hastening behind Him. “Deny her not what she regards as a meritorious act in the sight of God.”’ (The Dawn-breakers, pp. 606-8)

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We were in no wise connected with that evil deed (an attempt on the life of the Shah), and Our innocence was indisputably «stablished by the tribunals.

Nevertheless, they apprehended Us, and ... conducted Us, on foot and in chains, with bared head and bare feet, to the dungeon of Tihran. ...

We were consigned for four months to a place foul beyond comparison. As to the dungeon in which this Wronged One and

“= eae 2s The Mansion of Bahjí where Bahá’u’lláh spent His last days.

others similarly wronged were confined, a dark and narrow pit were preferable.

Upon Our arrival We were first conducted along a_pitch-black corridor, from whence We descended three steep flights of stairs to the place of confinement assigned to Us.

The dungeon was wrapped in thick darkness, and Our fellowprisoners numbered nearly a hundred and fifty souls: thieves, assassins and highwaymen. Though crowded, it had no other outlet than the passage by which We entered.

No pen can depict that place, nor any tongue describe its loathsome smell. Most of these men had neither clothes nor bedding to lie on. God alone knoweth what befell Us in that most foul-smelling and gloomy place!

Day and night, while confined in that dungeon, We meditated upon the deeds, the condition, and the conduct of the Babis, wondering what could have led a people so high-minded, so noble, and of such intelligence, to perpetrate such an audacious and Outrageous act against the person of His Majesty.

This Wronged One, thereupon, decided to arise, after His release from prison, and undertake, with the utmost vigor, the task of regenerating this people.

One night, in a dream, these exalted words were heard on every side: ‘‘Verily, We shall render Thee victorious by Thyself and by Thy Pen. Grieve Thou not for that which hath befallen Thee, neither be Thou afraid, for Thou art in safety. Erelong will God raise up the treasures of the earth—men who will aid Thee through Thyself and through Thy Name, wherewith God hath revived the hearts of such as have recognized Him.’’

..-During the days I lay in the prison of Tihran, though the galling weight of the chains and the stench-filled air allowed Me but little sleep, still in those infrequent moments of slumber I felt as if something flowed from the crown of My head over My breast, even a mighty torrent that precipitateth itself upon the earth from the summit of a lofty mountain. Every limb of My body would, as a result, be set afire. At such moments My tongue recited what

no man could bear to hear. (Bahá’u’lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, pp. 21-22)

see

Bahá’u’lláh loved the beauty and verdure of the country. One day He passed the remark: “I have not gazed on verdure for nine years. The country is the world of the soul, the city is the world of bodies.”

When I heard indirectly of this saying I realized that He was longing for the country, and I was sure that whatever I could do towards the carrying out of His wish would be successful. ...

One day I went to the Holy Presence of the Blessed Beauty and said: ‘‘The place of Mazra‘ih is ready for You. ..

He refused, saying: ‘I am a prisoner.’’ Later I requested Him again, but got the same answer.

I went so far as to ask Him a third time, but He still said ‘“‘No!”” and I did not dare to insist further.

There was, however, in ‘Akkáa certain Muhammad Shaykh, a well-known man with considerable influence, who loved Bahá’u’lláh and was greatly favored by Him. I called the Shaykh and explained the position to him. ...

He went directly to Bahd’u’ll4h

and ... asked, ‘‘Why do you not leave the city?” He said: “I am a prisoner.’’

The Shaykh replied: ‘‘God forbid! Who has the power to make you a prisoner? You have kept yourself in prison. It was your own will to be imprisoned, and now I beg you to come out.

For a whole hour he kept on pleading. At last Bahá’u’lláh said “Khayli khub’’ (very good), and the Shaykh’s patience and persistence was rewarded. ...

For two years He remained in that charming and lovely spot (Mazra‘ih). Then it was decided to remove to another place, at Bahjí.

.--Bahá’u’ll4h was nominally a _ prisoner (for the drastic firmans of Sultan ‘Abdu’l-‘Aziz were never repealed), yet in reality He showed forth such nobility that He was reverenced by all, and the Rulers of Palestine envied His influence and power. Governors and Mutasarrifs, generals and local officials, would humbly request the honor of attaining His presence. ... (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoted in Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, pp. 36-37)

�[Page 9]Dayspring School celebrates

+ EDUCATION

“The diversity of the human Samily should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord. If you meet those of a difJerent race and color from yourself... rejoice to be among them.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

.

I will long remember the Dayspring Baha’i School as a celebration of the greatest kind—a celebration of the power that is latent in the human family and that appears only in unity.

The school, held this year from July 2-6 in Westminster, Maryland, gathered people from all over our region to join in the creation of a Baha’i identity through study and friendship.

The school used a workshop approach in which the participants focused their thoughts by hearing a talk on the topic (this time, Unity in Diversity), then met in small groups to read and discuss the Writings together and bring to

life, through an activity, the principles of the Faith.

These workshops became the life of the school. Through the union of Baha’is and friends of all backgrounds: black and white, Persian and American, rich and poor, urban and rural, old and young—diverse as well in ideas, opinions and expression—we saw the truth of our oneness as spiritual beings.

The power we witnessed was the reflection of the attributes of God in each person.

One of our workshop activities was for each person to tell the others in the group of a divine attribute that was reflected in his or her actions within the group.

Wary of approaching a subject that hinted of show-and-tell, we soon found that our hesitation had stemmed from our lack of training in seeing the God-like in each other.

Fortitude, nurturance, search, sincerity, faith, justice, courtesy—these things were within us. Happily, we saw indeed that we are ‘‘the stars in the heaven of understanding.”’

Because of the bonds that were developed among the members of each workshop, the youth had a

Rick Johnson of Kansas recipient of Louhelen’s ’87 Hayden Fellowship

Rick Johnson, a writer and teacher from Winfield, Kansas, is the recipient of the 1987 Robert Hayden Fellowship in Poetry at the Louhelen Baha’i School in Davison, Michigan.

Mr. Johnson, who is on the faculty of Southwestern College in Winfield, has been writing poetry for 11 years and has had several poems published.

He was chosen as the 1987 Hayden Fellow by a board of four established poets. As part of the Fellowship, he and his family were in residence at the Louhelen Baha’i School for three weeks during, which. he worked on his poetry, participated in workshops, and gave public readings.

Mr. Johnson said it was a productive and rewarding time for him, and later wrote that the support given by Bahá’ís attending conferences during his stay ‘‘en couraged the hope that art may live in the hearts of all races and classes as a unifying force.’’

The fellowship program was established in memory of Robert Hayden, a Baha’i who was a renowned poet.

Mr. Hayden was the first black writer to be named Poetry Consultant to the Library of Congress. The author of many published poems and books of poetry, and a faculty member at the University of Michigan until his death in 1980, Mr. Hayden helped shape the direction of American poetry in this century.

The fellowship program is aimed at continuing Mr. Hayden’s practice of encouraging and supporting promising poets in developing their craft and in encouraging the development of the cultural and artistic elements in the emerging Bahd’{ society.

The theme ‘Let It Be This Generation’ was wonderfully demonstrated in Redlands, California, during July and August by SOS (Summer of Service) in which more than 100 Bahá’í youth took part. The summer was well-organized with service projects during the day and deepenings, firesides or social get-togethers in the evenings. All youth met for morning

prayers and breakfast before starting their day, then took part in service projects in the city such as yard work, painting the community center, clean-up for the police, moving for Family Services, and more. Letters from various organizations praised the youth for their refreshing character and their eagerness to serve.

desire to take part in the adult sessions.

Age ceased to be a factor in determining friendships as all shared together and contributed his or her wisdom, energy and humor to the whole.

And the spirit of our unity was channeled into expression in mime, dance, art and song throughout the four days, ending in an orchestra performance in which each person, with a simple instrument, helped make one piece of music.

Had anyone ever laughed so hard? We had found that ‘“‘perfect chord’’; we saw Baha’ principles in action.—Juliet Porch

The American Baha’i / November 1987 / 9

‘power of

An ‘orchestra’ comprised of simple everyday items performs dur ing the Dayspring Bahd’{ School

unity’

held last July 2-6 in Westminster, Maryland.

Louhelen School slates upcoming conferences

The Louhelen Baha’i School has scheduled the following Baha’i conferences for the coming months:

December 4-6. ‘‘Prevention of Substance Abuse: A Global Perspective”’ with Dr. A.M. Ghadirian, author of Jn Search of Nirvana; Elizabeth Ritter, a Baha’i active in programs in the San Francisco area; other professionals in the field, and individuals with experience in successful programs for substance abusers. Special Saturday evening session on ‘Coping with Stress,’ to which the public is invited.

December 27-January 1. Family Winter Session with classes and activities for adults, youth and children. Louhelen’s traditional Winter School will focus on developing the family as a source of unity, love and peace. Teachers include Jean Paul and Patricia Vader (Jean Paul is a former Auxiliary Board member in Sweden) on “Creating a Spiritual Home,’’ Linden Qualls on “‘Educating for Peace,’ and Vanessa Clark on “The Family and Interracial Understanding.””

January 22-24, Parents/Teens Conference with Dan and Linda Popov and Carole Dickson. Intense consultative weekend for parents and teens ages 13-19.

February 19-21. Singles Weekend with Paula Drewek and Auxiliary Board member Morris Tay lor, presenters. Fun-filled weekend with classes, recreation, devotions, social activities, etc. No children’s program planned.

February 26-28. Artists Conference planned by Michael Naylor, Marvin (Doc) Holladay, Rene Steiner and Jeanne Gazel. The conference will include discussions about the sharing of art by Baha’i artists, with emphasis on developing the cultural aspects of the new World Order, using art to teach the Faith and expand the vision of others, and establishing a formal organization of Baha’i artists. Writers, musicians, performing artists and visual artists are all encouraged to attend. Saturday evening will include a play written by Carolyn Duell and performed by students at the Louhelen Residential College and other local youth. Limited children’s program due to the nature of the conference.

March 19-20. Naw-Rúz Gala! Fun, food and merriment galore! Excellent event to bring friends and relatives to!

April 1-3. ‘Integration of

Diversity in the Baha’i Community’’ sponsored by the National Race Unity and Persian/American Affairs Committees.

April 8-10. Regional Youth Conference planned by the Louhelen Youth Board. Classes, recreation, / devotions, consultation and other activities for junior and senior youth.

April 22-24. ‘‘Financial Development in the Baha’i Community’’ with Yvor Stoakley (National Fund Development Officer) and Ted Amsden of the Louhelen Council, planners. To focus on ways to develop the financial resources of the community, both institutionally and individually. Also, special sessions for youth who are interested in pursuing careers in business.

April 22-24. “Developing Social and Economic Development

Programs’’—Michael Hyde, planner. Procedures and ideas for developing these programs will be discussed and case studies of communities that have successfully umhes such programs presented.

May 6-8. ‘“Baha’i Law and Administration,” planned and cosponsored by the Louhelen Council and the Baha’i Justice Society with Anna Lee Strasburg of the Baha’i National Center’s Office of Community Administration and members of the Justice Society as presenters. The conference will explore the scope and intent of Baha’i law and administration and its similarities with and differences from our present systems. Of special interest to local Spiritual Assemblies and to individuals working in any area of law.

Renew your spirit by attending Baha’i Winter School near you

“Such gatherings will give a chance to friends from different localities to come together and exchange views on the different problems of the Cause and also attract new souls to the spirit and teachings of the Faith. Not only will their knowledge of the writings deepen but also the unity of the Cause will be strengthened and the work of teaching be enhanced. ...”"—Shoghi Effendi ATTEND A BAHA’i WINTER SCHOOL. FALL/WINTER SESSIONS ARE:

Alabama. February 19-21, 1988 (Ascap Camp, Auburn). Contact: Linda Detweiler, 205-233-3841.

Arizona, February 13-14, 1988 (weekend school). Contact: Roberta Mevis, 602-375-0919.

California, Southern. January 1-3, 1988 (Pilgrim Pines). Contact: Hanna Osborne, 714-8390663.

Colorado, Eastern. December 25-27. Contact: Don Brayton, 303-577-1207.

Florida. November 26-29 (Lions Camp, Lake Wales). Contact: Ardeshir/Phyllis Khorsandian, 813-581-0829.

Georgia. February 5-7, 1988 (Rock Eagle, near Eatonton). Contact: Janet New, 404-834 January 1-3, 1988 (American Falls). Contact: Seme Newlin, 208-548-2677 or 2672. Illinois, Heartland. January 1-3, 1988 (Holiday Inn Confer

ence Resort, Decatur). Contact: Scott/Debbie Martin, 618-3823771.

Indiana, Nur’u’llah, December 26-29 (school for youth and junior youth only). Contact: Joy Sylvester, 317-632-4795 (evenings).

Minnesota. November 27-29. Contact: Ron Hick, 612-825-5048.

North Carolina. November 27-29 (Penn 4-H Center, Reidsville). Contact: Diane McKinley, 919-469-2783.

Oregon, Eastern. February 13-15, 1988. Contact: Polly Helmhout, 503-426-4372 (evenings).

Oregon, Western. November 26-29 (Menucha Center near Portland. School for youth and adults only). Contact: Star Stone, 503673-3737.

South Carolina. January 7-10, 1988 (Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute). Contact: Jaci Jones, 803571-2912 or 803-558-5093.

Texas. December 26-30 (Bridgeport. Attendees under 18 must have sponsor when registering). Contact: Shahran Rohani, 214642-8923.

Texas, Southern. November 26-29 (Pastoral Retreat Center, Corpus Christi). Contact: Jim Wonders, 512-939-8993.

Washington, Western. December 27-30 (Seabeck Conference Center). Contact: Harry Taylor, 206-435-8245.

Wisconsin, Southern. January 2-3, 1988 (youth conference at Green Lake Baptist Center). Contact: Kamyar Saian, 414-461-4140. �[Page 10]10 / The American Baha’i / November 1987

‘Word of God’ booklet designed for personal, group study

TEACHING

The Word of God has the power to attract and bind together the hearts of those who share it.

What better way to forge the bonds of unity in a community

Campus

from page 7

attended by 30 to 40 people.

Nan Wolgel, a club member, said, “The role of the Baha’is was clear ... just working on it (Unity Through Diversity Week) was real good; working with the administrators.’”

The club and the community that supported it worked together to make this an important and precedent-setting event at Northern Illinois University.

Not only was the word ‘‘Baha’f”’ presented to perhaps more students than ever before, but the Faith and the Baha’i Club were intricately connected and identified with the ideals and values of world unity and the elimination of prejudice.

If your club would like to know more about the events that the Bahá’í Club at Northern Illinois University held during Unity Through Diversity Week, write to Kern Kuipers (College Clubs coordinator), National Youth Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

than to deepen together using the sacred texts,

Recently, the National Teaching Committee released a new deepening booklet entitled ‘The Word of God.”’ Designed for use in individual study or as a text for group deepening, the booklet offers a series of six chapters each with commentary, short paragraphs from the Baha’i writings, and questions both for self-testing and group discussion.

It makes group deepening easy because all the materials including a glossary are for study right there. The $2 cost allows each person to have his/her own copy to mark up, and the questions to help focus the discussion.

The Baha’i community of East Lansing, Michigan, in an effort to promote community cohesiveness, encourage group study of the Creative Word, and deepen a new believer, held a six-week study series using “‘The Word of God.’”

Since the booklet is arranged to give communities latitude in the deepening format, the Baha’is in East Lansing decided to have a rotating chairman whose responsibility it was to summarize the chapter introduction, direct the session, and monitor the discussion so that everyone participated.

In addition, the chairman conducted the deepening in a manner he/she was comfortable with.

One approach, designed to encourage interaction with the Writings and promote universal participation in discussion, became a favorite.

After the chairman’s summary, each participant read the first pas

Commemorative print splendid souvenir of Master’s U.S. visit

The commemorative print, ““Abdu’l-Bahá in America,” is a lasting souvenir of the Master’s travels in North America and of our efforts to carry on His work for the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh during the 75th anniversary of His visit.

In a few short days, the commemoration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to America will be over. He left this continent on December 5, 1912, ending an historic eightmonth journey to the U.S. and Canada.

Through our efforts to celebrate His visit, many of us were deeply touched, possibly for the first time, by the fact that ‘Abdu’l-Baháé actually was here 75 years ago.

In the grove at West Englewood we thought, “Could He have stood at the spot where we are standing now?’’ At the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs we thought, ‘“‘Could He have sat on the bench where we are now sit

if He truly were here again—at unity picnics and at special commemoration programs in the cities and towns He visited from the east coast to the west.

Because of our experiences in commemorating His visit, many of us now feel that we know the Master in a somehow more intimate way than we did before the 75th anniversary of His visit, and we want to remember this special year often as we continue to try to carry out His exhortations for us to be unified and to teach.

The National Teaching Committee has produced, in a limited special edition, an 18- by 24-inch print to commemorate the anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to America.

The print is a photograph of a vase of roses in ‘‘‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s room”’ in Teaneck, New Jersey. Proceeds from its sale will help support the National Bahda’i Fund.

ting?” Please use the form below to Hundreds of the friends report- order. As this is a limited offer,

ed that they felt His presence—as _ please do not delay.

|, CAAA Or SE a= yee ene ant

| Commemorative Print of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's Visit to America |

' Name, 1

| Adis

| SitystateZip, | Amount Enclosed. +# of prints requested

| ($10.00 per print) ae |

| 1.25 for postage and handling) Make checks payable to: Babf' Services Pans |

|. Please send orderto: National Teaching Committee |

| Bahdii National r |

Wilmette, IL 60091 ee a ae eee ee a

Baha'i Distribution Service 415 Linden Avenue

Wilmette, Illinois 60091 800-323-1880

312-251-1854 in Illinois

Name

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Please send The Word of God at $2.00 each

Copies:

sage from the ‘‘Readings’’ section either silently or aloud.

Next, to foster the search for the “‘pearls of wisdom’’ hidden in Bahá’u’lláh’s words, everyone pondered the passage in silence and then wrote a comment or question on something in the passage found to be especially meaningful or striking.

Each person then took a turn and shared his/her comments. The comments often were quite different from one another, demonstrating the multi-layered nature of Bahá’u’lláh’s words and the variety of perspectives.

One participant said, ‘‘It’s as though we're looking at a jewel and each person’s insight gives us

Total: $

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an awareness of the outline of the jewel itself, not just our own side of it.”

Another said, “‘I like this method of deepening because it forces us to think and process the passage before speaking. It also prevents a few people from dominating the discussion and points out the importance of everyone sharing his own insight.”

According to those who have taken part, the benefits of this regular deepening series have extended beyond the room in which the deepening is held.

One benefit has been the establishment of new friendships between community members who previously saw one another only at Feasts.

A second has been the emergence of a sense of trust born of the feeling that each person’s opinions are valid, valued, and worthy of being acted upon.

In turn, there is a new sense of commitment to community life, especially toward the development of more cohesiveness between black and white members.

A third benefit has been the deepening of new believers as well as older but undeepened ones.

A new pattern has been initiated in community life that group members hope can be continued. Recommendations for future deepening series include ‘The Power of Unity’? and ‘‘Peace: More Than an End to War.””

By speaking from the heart ‘Abdu’l-Bahá set example in minority teaching

One of the goals of the Six Year Plan for the U.S. is to share the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh with minority groups, making ‘‘special efforts to enroll blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Asians.’’

However, we are not able to communicate freely and fluently with many of the members of these groups because of language or cultural differences.

How is it possible for us, as individual believers, to reach the minorities with the glorious Message of Bahá’u’lláh?

‘We must remember the example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá when He came to America 75 years ago.

He was not well-versed in English; indeed, He knew only a few words. He was not a trained public speaker—in fact, He had never addressed an audience in public before coming to the Western world. Nor had He, in His 40 years as a prisoner, become accustomed to Western culture.

Yet the scope of His influence in the Western world was so tremendous that, according to Shoghi Effendi, His years of traveling to spread the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh marked ‘‘a turning point of the utmost significance in the history of the century.’’

When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá taught the Faith, He spoke from the heart, and it was to this that people responded,

In Portals to Freedom, Howard Colby Ives tells the story of an illiterate miner who had made a long journey to see ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in San Francisco, and attended a meeting at which the Master spoke.

The miner was startled when an interpreter began speaking, and it had to be explained to him by one who sat nearby that it was necessary to translate the Persian into English. ‘‘Was he speaking in Persian?”’ the miner asked. ‘‘Why, anyone could understand that.’”

The story of the miner illustrates that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had the ability to communicate with the spirit of sincere love, with purity of motive, or, as we sometimes refer to it, from the heart.

When teaching in this way, firm knowledge of another’s language or culture is not really necessary. Although books about customs and languages can often be found at a public library, and it is welladvised for a Baha’i teacher to become basically familiar with cultural differences, what is more important is that those being spoken to are treated with courtesy and respect.

Once the spark of interest has been ignited in a seeker’s heart through sincere and dedicated efforts on the part of a Baha’i

friend, further teaching may occur through continued contact.

Baha’i literature is available in many languages through the National Teaching Committee, and can be offered to the seeker as a gift.

Imagine, if ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had not tried to share the Message of Bahá’u’lláh with Americans because our language and customs were different from His!

Fortunately for us, He put forth the effort, letting the spirit of the Baha’i teachings flow through Him. He was a true embodiment of the Hidden Word:

O SON OF BEING! Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent. Thy spirit is My place of revelation; cleanse it for My manifestation.—Baha’u’llah

$0 POWERFUL UMM RU Liab alt) a

For the second year, the small Bahd’{ community of Mountlake Terrace, Washington, entered a Sloat in the town’s annual parade. This year, braving late winter weather on May 2, the float won

at’

the third-place plaque and ceived considerable applause along the parade route. The float was constructed by Elsie and Corkie Gregory of nearby Edmonds.

�[Page 11]

Ay von

Pierre, South Dakota: Another state capital that needs pioneers

In the October issue of The American Bahá’í, readers were introduced to Cheyenne, Wyoming, as one of the National Teaching Committee’s homefront pioneering priority goal localities.

Cheyenne is a state capital that, along with Carson City, Nevada; Charleston, West Virginia; Dover, Delaware; Montpelier, Vermont; Trenton, New Jersey, and Pierre, South Dakota, does not have a Baha’i community large enough to form a local Spiritual Assembly.

In an effort to encourage and help potential homefront pioneers to move to these cities, the National Teaching Committee has prepared a series of articles containing helpful information about each of them. The fourth city to be highlighted in this series is:

PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA

Located along the Missouri River in the center of South Dakota, Pierre is an attractive smaller community that seems larger than its size because it is a state capital.

It is central to most of the state’s Indian Reservations, many of which have local Assemblies that need help with consolidation effarts.

There is only one adult Baha’i in Pierre’s population of 13,000. A Spiritual Assembly was formed there in 1977, but was lost a few years later.

Homefront pioneers are needed who can stay in Pierre on a longterm basis and who are skilled in effectively teaching the Faith.

A wide variety of employment opportunities are available in Pierre through the state and federal government, and there are further opportunities for those in education and the health professions, and for those with sales, computer, machine, construction or office skills. (Addresses and phone numbers of some potential employers are listed below.)

Pierre has one public high school, one junior high school and five elementary schools. For adults there is the Capital University Center, which is a community college, and a small secretarial school.

The price range for a two-bedroom home is $25,000-$30,000, and the range for three bedrooms or larger is $30,000-$50,000. Onebedroom apartments can be rented from $100 to $250 a month, and two-bedroom apartments from $200-$375.

For more information, write or

Doris Christmann (Baha’i),

_. Pierre, SD 57501 (phone 605-224-5488).

State of South Dakota, Bureau of Personnel, Public Safety Building, Pierre, SD 57501 (phone 605-773-4918).

Pierre Public Schools, 302 E. Dakota, Pierre, SD 57501 (phone 605-224-8896).

St. Mary’s Hospital, 800 E. Dakota Drive, Pierre, SD 57501 (phone 605-224-3170).

Your decision to move to Pierre could help achieve one of the goals of the Six Year Plan!

The American Baha’i / November 1987 / 11

Ongoing and Upcoming Teaching Projects

Eageoume.0 oo. ANGeSason provect ‘ANGUS COWEN PROMECT Baaeer Sree sense! oe Seth acta ‘deorese S408 ot Feces UPROVECT ae Oh, 7 aes JECT co nr “ ae TON DAYBREAK Trg uma PROWDENGE PROJECT sone sas toverkesce Se Police oF SUIhsey TeacHina PROKECT pl wn ker ‘OLINGA TEACHING PROJECT eee oe Bbrsesso iletratoc rrr Misosn rai Rimsaar” Weert Gngolng (1s oF "TEACHING PROJECT eo ece ‘oe PROJECT RAD PAVON aah i SOUTER PASIAN provecT SENOUA West PrOvECT Probe co,MO Naked PUN BUBLLS service provecT Lede a. Ort ante BeNcimeoy cette fava ‘AVONDALE TEACHING PROJECT en PROJECTARISE Coral Texas Emtien Tote TEACHNGPROUECT. Botha Qropeg, SENTRA Exaspnouecr YEttOwmnGse Provecr far N98 s0U436 1581 Stal Sr» (me: 19. 1087 Dee. 27,108 ae 5121820 5077 ‘4001896-4059 On the map above are listed the your community is sponsoringa “David (talk) ~SsCSOCSO:~CS~SsSCSOSS TEN ongoing and upcoming teaching teaching project that does not ap- o a projects that the National Teach- pear on this map, please fill out i ahh Teaching Projects -- 1987-88 At \ ing Committee has been informed _ the form (at right) and return it to | of as of October 5. The committee the National Teaching Commit- | \ame of Popes | Seels that there are probably more tee. If you would prefer that in- | “i | teaching projects that it is un- formation about your project not ‘Sponsor: aware of, and would like to be be published in The American Ba- | | able to count all the projects to- ha’{, please indicate this in the | Dates: | ward its goal of 200 this year. If ‘comments’ section of the form. | Tocations | ii Contact Person: UN Day of Peace celebration | ae

a Phone Number(s):

draws 85 in Harrisburg, Pa. 1a ae | More than 85 people including _ ities, accepting one another, and | Type Project & Goal(s): | about 20 who were not Baha'is of how people want peace regard- | | gathered September 13 in Harris- _ less of their backgrounds. | | burg, Pennsylvania, to observe He also shared highlights of é the United Nations International Congress held last eae tat Moet |, Comments: | Day of Peace. cow that was attended by 2,500 | | The event was sponsored by the physicians from 150 countries. —_| | Spiritual Assembly of Harrisburg Kathy Penn of Philadélphi with help from the Interfaith YY in iladelphia FE Returnto: National Teaching Commitee, Bahs't National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 }}

Peace Committee of Greater Harrisburg.

The mayor declared it the Day of Peace in the city, and a member of the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners read a proclamation declaring a Day of Peace in the county.

The speaker, Dr. Jim Jones, a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Interfaith Peace Committee, spoke of the need for personal relationships with those of different national spoke of achieving peace through prayer and meditation on an individual level for a universal and lasting peace.

Members of the ‘‘Peace Child’’ chorus, one of whom, Jaleh Zandieh, is a Baha'i child, sang three songs from that musical production.

Three newspaper articles advertised the event in advance, three radio stations announced it, and a cable TV station sent a crew to cover it.

Cen i

This float, entitled ‘Teaching Peace,’ is seen on its ‘maiden voyage’ in this year’s Hillsboro Happy Days parade, recognized as the largest Fourth of July parade in

ae

Oregon. The float, designed and constructed by the Oregon Bahá’í Float committee, has also been displayed in other parades throughout the state.

‘Heart of Lotus’ video highlights impact of Faith on grassroots growth in India

“Heart of the Lotus’’ is a 26minute documentary film (also available on video cassette) focusing on the Baha’is of India.

Produced by Asterisk Films of Toronto, under the supervision of the Office of Public Information of the Baha’i International Community, the film highlights the impact of the Faith on grassroots development efforts and provides a look at a rapidly developing religious community in action.

Although the film is primarily about development, it can be used in proclamation or teaching efforts.

“Heart of the Lotus”’ is suitable for presentation to a wide range of groups—students, social agencies, and religious organizations, for example—that are concerned with East Asian studies, Third World development, and/or comparative religion. It can also be used to help educate Bahd’{ communities on the effect that the Faith can have on the development of a country.

“Heart of the Lotus’? is available in VHS or Beta video tape for $25 through the Baha’i Distribu tion Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

It is also available in 16mm film for $250 (U.S.) through the International Baha’i Audio-Visual Centre, 7200 Leslie St., Thornhill, Ontario L3T 6L8, Canada.

Bahda’is recognized for dispute resolution

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times about the successful operation of Pasadena’s Community Dispute Resolution Center mentions five Baha’is who are involved with that organization.

The five are Judge Dorothy W. Nelson of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Judge James F. Nelson of the Los Angeles Municipal Court, both of whom are members of the National Spiritual Assembly; Juana Conrad, a Los Angeles court administrator and founder of Women for International Peace and Arbitration; and two volunteer mediators—Stephen Licata, an engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Lisa Edwards, a college student. �[Page 12]12/ The American Baha’i / November 1987

Annual observance of Day of Covenant honors ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His unique station as center of Baha’u’llah’s Covenant

The Day of the Covenant, a Baha’i Holy Day, is celebrated on November 26 in honor of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

The Baha’is in His time pleaded with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to be allowed to celebrate His birthday, but since the Master was born on the very eve that the Bab declared His mission, the Master told the believers that this particular day, May 23, was not under any circumstances to be celebrated as the day of His birth, insisting that it be exclusively associated with the Declaration of the Bab.

But since the Baha’is continued to ask for a day to be celebrated as His, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave them November 26, to be observed as the day of the appointment of the Center of the Covenant, which is known in the West as the Day of the Covenant.

In the distinctive manner of the perfect Exemplar, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had removed the emphasis from His personal self and placed it on His unique station as the Center of the Covenant.

The word ‘‘covenant’’ means “agreement.’’ Throughout the ages of mankind, God has kept an agreement with man through His Manifestations that if humanity accepts and follows the teachings of the next Manifestation, God will never leave humanity alone to its own devices.

In the same way that Abraham promised the coming of Moses, Moses promised the coming of Christ and so on until the Bab promised the coming of Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá’u’lláh also promised that, after at least a thousand years had passed, another Manifestation of God would appear.

Yet there was a second Covenant that Bahá’u’lláh made with His followers, a characteristic of His Revelation that made it unlike any others in the past.

Bahá’u’lláh, at first obscurely in the Kitdb-i-Agqdas and later quite clearly in His Will and Testament, indicated the One to whom the Baha’is should turn after His passing. He appointed His eldest Son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to

COMMEMORATE THE DAY OF THE COVENANT AND THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY of 'Abdu’l-Bahá's departure from America with VIDEOS!

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be the “Center of the Covenant” —the interpreter and expounder of His Writings and the exemplar of His Teachings.

It was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that the followers were instructed to obey. This was done to assure that there would be no disagreement, discord or disunity among the Baha’is in the absence of Bahá’u’lláh, so that the Faith could advance toward its primary objective of world unity without the interference and distraction of petty differences among the followers.

In His Will and Testament, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá made a Covenant with the believers, stating that after His passing the Bahá’ís should turn to the twin institutions of Bahá’u’lláh’s new World Order, the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice.

This year, on the Day of the Covenant, many of the Baha’i communities will be holding special observances in honor of ‘Abdu’)-Baha. As the Day of the Covenant also falls on Thanksgiving day, there will undoubtedly be much reflection upon how we, as American Baha’is, were especially blessed by the presence of ‘Abdu’ l-Baha 75 years ago.

And as the Day of the Covenant is only 10 days removed from the anniversary of the day on which the Master left America, we will not only reflect upon what the past has brought but will also look forward to carrying on in His absence to fulfill the spiritual destiny of America:

“Should success crown your enterprise, America will assuredly evolve into a center from which waves of spiritual power will emanate, and the throne of the Kingdom of God will, in the plenitude of its majesty and glory, be firmly established. ’’—‘Abdu’l-Bahá

The Hotel Colorado, site of the commemoration in September of

the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l Led by ‘Kay Zinky (far right), Bahá’ís at the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to Glenwood Springs,

Bahd’s visit to Glenwood Springs on September 27, 1912.

1 Colorado, share stories about the Master in the lobby of the Hotel Colorado where He stayed in September 1912.

Glenwood Springs, Colorado, observes 75th anniversary of Master’s visit there

At 2 a.m. September 27, 1912, a train from Denver pulled in to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, a small town on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains.

“Abdu’l- Baha 1 in America

November 1912

[Monday | Tuesday | Wednes ursday | _‘Friday |___ Saturday Continued to meet 1 ) crowds who sought Him. | Spoke at an inter-racial meeting. Viewed a private Later, went to the home of Mrs. FE collection of ancient art | Corrine True for a "board of and spoke of peoples’ | consultation meeting” with the ignorance of divine friends. Chicago Inter-Ocean igth ir reported on visit. 4 5 8 9 —| Sent a telegram to Arrived at Cincinnatt ‘Spoke at a synagogue; The friends held a banquet at Cincinnati informing | noon. Wenttothe —_| Travelledfrom - | Spoke atthe " | explainedwithforce and | Rauscher's Hall. 300 the friends that He Grand Hotel where a. | Cincinnatito | Church of clarity the unity of Judaism, | attended. Walked among would visitforaday. | publicmeetingwas | Washington | Brotherhood —_| Christianity, and Islam. them distributing candy and The Chicago Herald | held. 300 attended a_| D.C. Spoketo | and visited with | Also spoke with the friends. | flowers, and applying attar of had an article. meeting and banquet. | the friends. the friends. toses. Spoke to them concerning the living of Baha't ul 12 13] 14 15 | to: Condicod mary privat Went to Baltimore. From Nov 12 - Dec. 5 stayed in New York and deepened the friends. Addressed interviews. Granted interviews to _| Refused most interviews because He prefered to visit the believers. the Divine the press and spoke _| Refused invitations to the homes of prominent New Yorkers saying, “I Knowledge ata Unitarian Church. | have work with the poor and not with the rich. love all with heart and Club. + Had many interviews. | Wiredthe friends in | soul yet | am not here to visit the homes of the rich.” However, Andrew Afarewell banquet 23 Went tothe home ot | Philadelphia, to inform | Carnegie implored Him, and He did accept. was held at the Great Mr.and Mrs. Hannan | themthat He would. = | Northern Hotel. 300-600 for ameeting. see them atthe train | The Times reported: “Prophet 19 20) 21| — 22| attended. The Master spoke ‘Commented on the ‘station. Arrived in Blesses Morgan” referring to a visit to of the beauty of the inter- New York . ‘J.P. Morgan's library. Children gathered onenees racial gathering. near Him, wondering about the se es wither: 28 ‘of mankind 7 i ye tothe person who looked like Christ. “Theta wae net acres h 17 18 | They askedto meet Him and reat the Holy Being. He Wite were invited to. come. ene aa ution dalveriig ah ae Phy: address to a public meeting 24 25 26| 27 a or talking toa friend in His 2D | eomaty accected 30) ‘Along with the White friends | Crowds came | Spoke atthe | Visitors private chamber. [He]was | Spoke atthe Kinneys. | gits of the trends, ‘served the Black friends tosee Him but | Minerva Club's | and imparting joy to the sad, Told them to distribute | but told them to sell whom the management ofthe | He could not | annual talks. hope tothe hopeless, and | their otfer of money hotel excluded the night conveniently luncheon at the flame to the dormant, while | to the poor—best gift before. The Tribune reported: | see them all | Waldort- He guided the strugglers to _| is unity of the friends ™Abdul-Bahd Going Away.” | individually. | Astoria. the Right Path.” and service to God.

‘Abdu’|-Bahd, the Center of the Covenant, disembarked from the train and took some rooms at the Hotel Colorado.

There, for the first time since He began His historic journey to America several months earlier, He relaxed for one day to enjoy the scenery before continuing on to California.

From September 11-13, 1987, nearly 300 Baha’is gathered at the Hotel Colorado to commemorate the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to Glenwood Springs.

The commemoration program provided a unique opportunity to deepen on the central theme: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Covenant.

Featured speakers, all of whom touched on that theme in various ways, included Carol Brooks, Jalil Mahmoudi, Marge Gallagher, Kay Zinky and Ruth Hampson.

Those who attended also enjoyed a comprehensive slide presentation by Duane Troxel of the early history of the Faith in America which highlighted ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s travels.

Nine rose bushes were planted in a garden near the steps leading to the front entrance of the hotel by many of the youth who attended, and a commemorative plaque was placed near them.

Throughout the weekend the presence of ‘Abdu’ l-Baha was felt by those at this special event.

Baha'is traveling through the Rocky Mountains are encouraged to visit this site. Restored to the original grandeur of the time when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was there, the Hotel Colorado provides a wonderful atmosphere in which to relax as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá did before continuing His long and arduous journey to the west. �[Page 13]WLGI RADIO

Paul Mantle of Grass Valley, California, wrote the following report after serving at WLGI Radio last summer as a substitute broadcaster. He is presently working on a series of recorded excerpts from “The Promise of World Peace’’ for possible broadcast on WLGI.

.

Worldwide, there are now seven Baha’i-owned radio stations. As a licensed broadcaster, I had the privilege last summer of working for three weeks at one of them, WLGI, a 50,000-watt non-commercial station (90.9 FM) in a rural area of eastern South Carolina near Hemingway.

The station is funded solely by the Bahd’{s of the U.S. and is

Overseas

from page 6

sues surrounding the health risks faced by international travelers and residents.

For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

presently on the air from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week, except for certain Bahd’{ Holy Days.

Almost all stations east of the Mississippi River begin with the letter ““W.”” The ‘“‘LGI’’ comes from Louis Gregory Institute, the Bahd’{ teaching center campus on which the station is located.

When I was there in July, the programming went like this:

Each broadcast day begins with 10 minutes of Baha’i prayers (tape recorded) read by a variety of voices: old and young, male and female, black and white.

The rest of the first hour is devoted to gospel music, an entertaining and uplifting vocal music that is an integral part of the local culture.

At 7 a.m. the music shifts to WLGI’s primary format, urban contemporary, with an emphasis on black artists. The sizeable black population of the area is targeted as the station’s main listening audience.

In addition to current ‘“‘Top 40’’ pop songs, ‘‘oldies,”’ jazz, and even a bit of reggae, blues and “Baha’i music’? (Gordi Munro, etc.) are mixed in throughout the day.

All music is screened by the station’s staff to ensure that the lyrics are in keeping with Bahá’í moral standards.

Live public service announce

Pictured are children, youth ‘and adults who took part August 8 ina ‘Children’s Fun Day Institute’ in

“Chester, South Carolina. (Photo

by Dr. Kamran Borhanian)

Parents organize ‘Fun Day Institute’ for children in western South Carolina

The concern of a group of parents in South Carolina for the spiritual growth and development of their children led to the organization in August of a ‘‘Children’s Fun Day Institute’”’ held under the sponsorship of the Spiritual Assembly of Rock Hill in the spacious home of Dr. Kamran Borhanian in nearby Chester.

About 38 children and 20 adults attended the day-long event. The theme of “‘Baha’i identity’’ focused also on courtesy, which flowed throughout the programs and activities.

After prayers and songs, the children enjoyed a play on ‘‘The Conference of Badasht’’ which was put together by Mahin and Steve Kozlow. It was centered on the event that marked the beginning of women’s emancipation: the unveiling of Táhirih in the presence of men at the conference.

Afterward, the children en gaged in art projects based on the play.

In the afternoon, the group shared consultation and songs, while a series of skits displaying courtesy was performed by eight groups of about four children each.

Outdoor recreation included volleyball and other games. Leisure time was allowed for socializing, resting and preparing for supper.

Before the day ended, each child was given a certificate for displaying ‘‘extraordinary courtesy”” and a bag of candy.

‘The uniqueness of the day was that adults, youth and children spent it together to integrate all ages in classes, activities and recreation.

It was a learning experience for all, and everyone left feeling closer to one another; a sense of Baha’i identity was achieved.

ments and social and economic “spots’’ (brief recorded messages) on topics such as public safety, nutrition and consumer education alternate throughout the day with Baha’i spots that present the Faith and its principles.

Weather forecasts are given every other hour and a recorded Baha’i “‘Verse of the Day’’ (from the Writings) is played three times daily. Recorded public affairs programming also airs weekly at regular times.

Station ID’s (announcements of call letters and location) are given frequently during each hour and often include what are known as “image liners’’—phrases that define the station’s character and focus; for example, ‘Working for unity in the community, this is...” or “Uniting South Carolina one heart at a time, this is ...”” All station ID’s include the name “Radio Baha’i.’”

WLGI seems to have struck the right balance, its disc jockeys sounding neither too slick and commercial nor too unprofessional. As station manager Kurt Hein says, ‘‘The love our deejays have for our listeners comes across over the airwaves.”

On weekends the format changes somewhat with a Saturday afternoon ‘Dance Party Show’? for the youth (who comprise a large segment of the station’s listeners); an extended Gospel show on Sunday morning; and jazz and ballads featured on Sunday afternoon.

Every broadcast day ends the way it began, with 10 minutes of Baha’i prayers.

With the flexibility that community radio offers, occasional spontaneous events take place such as July’s in-depth interview with Glenford Mitchell, a member of the Universal House of Justice, which was conducted live by the director of the Louis Gregory Institute, Dr. Roy Jones.

The future holds exciting op portunities for WLGI. Despite shortages in the National Fund, the National Spiritual Assembly seems determined to maintain and stimulate the growth of the station, and recently approved funds that will enable it to produce new Baha’i programming and initiate extended community service and public relations projects. Thus far WLGI has succeeded in the significant accomplishment of becoming a popular station, accepted by the public as a viable voice in the community.

For many, it provides welcome

relief from the advertising ha The American Baha’i / November 1987 / 13

Volunteer worker comments on WLGI Radio’s progress

among others.

29554.

WLGI still needs your used records

A current need of WLGI Radio Baha’i in Hemingway, South Carolina, is to fill certain major gaps in its record library. There is a particular need for ‘‘oldies’’ (popular music of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s) in the rhythm and blues, soul and Motown genres.

Also useful would be modern gospel music records including “golden” gospel of the kind that originated in the late ’40s, the ’50s and the ’60s from groups such as the Pilgrim Travelers, Dixie Hummingbirds, Gospel Harmonettes, Swan Silvertones, Soul Stirrers, Staples Singers, and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama,

Contributed records, either albums or 45s, should be in good or excellent condition to be of use. Donations of scratched records do more harm than good, as the staff uses precious work time searching through them for material of ‘“‘air play’’ quality.

For information about donating records, contact Laurie James, WLGI Record Club, Route 2, Box 69, Hemingway, SC

rangues of its commercial counterparts, promoting ideals of unity and decency instead.

For this reason, it is trusted by parents in the area as the alternative of choice for their children and youth. The younger people identify with WLGI and count on it to play the music they like.

The challenge that lies ahead for WLGI is to keep the loyal audience it has already won while at the same time (1) becoming even more distinctly Baha’i in character; (2) integrating more substantive programming of an educational nature into its format;

and (c) broadening its base of appeal to include more adult listenership in diverse strata of society.

As the only Baha’i radio station in one of the most dynamic Baha’i national communities in the world, WLGI naturally assumes a leadership role for her sister stations in Africa and Central and South America.

The management, staff and supporters of WLGI stand poised and eager to move into the next stage of progress. With prayers and support from all of us, WLGI Radio Baha’i will continue to thrive and mature.

Baha’i chosen to play leading role in summer Shakespeare Festivals

Mehr Mansuri, a Baha’i from Costa Mesa, California, was chosen from more than 500 aspiring actors and actresses to play a leading role in this summer’s Utah Shakespeare Festival in Park City and in the Colorado Shakespeare Festival in Vail.

Ms. Mansuri, who was not able to take part with her fellow Baha’js in a “‘summer of service,’’ created instead a solo summer teaching project, mentioning the Faith in all promotional activities including radio, state fairs, an arts festival, in newspapers and other interviews while performing in the Shakespeare plays.

By befriending other members of the acting company, she was able to give firesides at pre- and post-show gatherings; as a result, one actor from Texas will be recontacting a Baha’i friend in Austin, two members of the company have promised to contact the Baha’i Club at the University of Utah, and an actor from New York City said he would like to attend firesides there.

MEHR MANSURI

Ms. Mansuri, who was graduated from the University of California-Irvine last June, received excellent reviews, with one notice describing her as ‘‘the jewel of the Festival.””

She has returned to Costa Mesa to serve on the local Spiritual Assembly and to continue teaching

New from George Ronald, Publisher

by René Derkse

history of the Faith.

Softcover $8.95

What is the Baha'i Faith? An Introduction for Young People

Written specially for the 12-16 age group, this book fills a long-neglected gap in Baha’i literature. The book discusses the idea of God, presents the teachings of Baha’u’llah for the well-being of the human race, and tells the

176 pages, 80 illustrations, full-colour cover

Order through your local librarian, or send check or money order to: Bahá'é Distribution Service. 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. �[Page 14]14 / The American Baha’i / November 1987

‘Let It Be This Generation,’ the audio tape made at this summer’s Bahá’í Youth Conference in London, Ontario, is now being sold through the Bahá’í Distribution Service. The tape includes a number of youth-oriented songs including two versions of the title

track, The second side of the tape is a play depicting the life of the Bdb called ‘Midsummer Noon.’ The artists on the tape include Jack Lenz, Doug Cameron, Greg Hoskins, Lynn Simmons, Jason Collett, and Warren Harness. ‘Let It Be This Generation’ is $8.

Distribution Service invites the friends to place their names on its mailing list

The Baha’i Distribution Service is inviting interested individuals to pa their names on its mailing

st.

Regular mailings of promotional materials are sent out by the Distribution Service to thousands of people around the country. The mailing list is made up of those who order items directly from the Distribution Service.

“A number of people have asked to be included on our list,’’ says Marketing Manager Robert Blum, ‘‘and we wanted to open it to anyone who would like to receive our flyers and brochures.

“We mail announcements of our new titles, reprints, and other items of interest about every other month.

“‘A number of people find this an easy way to find out about our

publications and to order them,”’ he says. ‘‘Each flyer includes a form that can be used to place an order.

“Of course, many Baha’is just want the mailings for their own information. That’s fine, too. We do purge the list periodically of people who haven’t ordered in at least two years.

“‘That’s simply to make sure we aren’t sending brochures to addresses that are no longer valid.’”

Anyone who wants to be included on the mailing list may send their name and address to Baha’i Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

If you have any questions, you may call the Distribution Service at 1-800-323-1880 (except in IIlinois).

Home Phone No. Work Phone No.

Bahd‘i Distribution Service ORDER FORM Astron Avoue

wate ot Date

Sooner Sante waneony

Fame Name

Address Address

fa Tare Tip Gy Sa Zip

"you have questions please call 1-800-323-1880,

The first in the Basic Truths Series of books for children is available now through the Baha’i Distribution Service. Twelve books by Bambi Betts are included in the series. The first three are ‘God Is ...,”” “Why in the World?” and “Growing.’’ These books are designed to explain to a young child some of life’s mysteries. Each page is illustrated with a line drawing that a child can color. Each set includes guidelines on how the booklets can be used. Set No. 1 of the Basic Truths Series from George

NEW! from the

Baha’i Distribution Service

Corinne True—Faithful Handmaid of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, a new biography of the woman who was a Hand of the Cause of God and known as ‘‘Mother of the Temple”’ for her work to help erect the House of Worship in Wilmette. Nathan Rutstein, author of several other books also published by George Ronald, has written the story of Corinne True, her family, and their remarkable services to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. Included in this biography is information about the voluminous correspondence between ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Mrs. True, which directed her toward her active defense of the Covenant, her public teaching, her involvement in advancing women in the administration of the Faith, and her role in the evolution of the Cause in North America. Corinne True—Faithful Handmaid of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is $18.95 in hardcover and $11.95 in softcover.

Ronald is $8.95.

Quantity | Title

Soft Cover, Poster, Cassette, Card, etc,

Young readers especially will enjoy this story set among the Yotuba people of Nigeria. It’s about a five-year-old named Femi, who has a new brother, only eight days old. The Yoruba have a special naming ceremony, and Femi is particularly excited about it. Because Femi and his family are Bahá’ís, the new brother is given a very special name. Author Kiser D. Barnes also uses his story to tell readers how the Manifestations of God received their names and titles. The Naming of Femi’s Brother is $3.75 in softcover.

_ The Naming of Fem

Crwcno Money Order HVIShar Mascaro Exon ate,

TAB 11/87

�[Page 15]NEW! from the

Baha’i Publishing Trust

Blessings Beyond Measure— Recollections of ‘Abdu’l-Baháé and Shoghi Effendi. Described in this new book are the unusual and intimate experiences of Ali Yazdi during an extraordinary 10-year period. In the years 1910-1920, Ali Yazdi was often in the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, either as a guest of the Master or when He came to visit the Yazdi family in Ramleh, Egypt. Later, as a student, Ali was both a friend and classmate of Shoghi Effendi’s in Beirut and at Oxford. Mr. Yazdi’s recollections of these two peerless figures in Baha’i history are the more treasured for the unique insights he offers— those of a Persian familiar with the customs of a Persian household written in English. Available in late November or early December. Hardcover only, $12.95.

Blessings

Measure Recollections

of Abdu’l-Bahá Shoghi Effendi

Beyond

and

7

ALI M. YAZDI

Bahawllah

Epistle to Son

ety

Reprints

Unto Him Shall We Return—

compiled by Hushidar Motlagh, this is one of the most popular compilations published by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust and is now being reprinted for the second time. The work deals with the nature of the human soul, spiritual growth, and life after death. The reprint is expected to be available late this month. Softcover, $7.95.

The Publishing Trust is expanding its series of pocket-size editions of the Sacred Texts with the publication of Epistle to the Son of the Wolf. In the introduction to his translation of this last major Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh, Shoghi Effendi says its Author ‘‘quotes some of the most characteristic and celebrated passages from His own Writings’ and ‘‘adduces proofs establishing the validity of His Cause.”’ Introduction by Marzieh Gail and glossary by the Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend. This is the fourth book of Baha’u’llah’s Writings published in a pocket-size edition and is expected to be available late this month. A reprint of the hardcover edition of Epistle to the Son of the Wolf is scheduled for publication in December.

The Purpose of Physical Reality— Dr. John Hatcher’s exploration of the reasons our life begins in a physical existence. The overwhelming demand for this title is due largely to its ability to offer answers to questions that philosophers and students of religion have been grappling with for thousands of years. A second printing is in progress to try and meet the rapid sales generated since its publication in April. Softcover, $9.95.

The American Baha’i / November 1987 / 15

Tr he Consolidating, S 1X. strengthening local Assemblies,

Ye ar communities Plan Tae

There are now about 1,650 local Spiritual Assemblies in the U.S. Some have been around, in one form or another, for 80 years and some for a matter of months.

They all hold one need in common: the need—expressed by the Universal House of Justice in the Six Year Plan—to consolidate and strengthen their activities.

Under that heading, the Six Year Plan includes among Assembly activities the challenging tasks of holding regular meetings with harmonious and productive consultation; properly organizing the Secretariat and Treasury; appointing and coordinating local committees; winning the respect of their communities in resolving problems; developing local Centers where appropriate; achieving incorporation or similar legal recognition; exercising their responsibilities for marriages and funerals; and maintaining a register of declarations, births, transfers of membership, marriages and deaths.

Some of the best tools to help those growing institutions are the various compilations prepared by the Research Department at the Baha’i World Center and by Publishing Trusts in various countries. These compilations deal directly with the issues raised in the Six Year Plan or with issues it suggests (such as the roles of the other administrative institutions of the Faith).

Each compilation includes the Creative Word of Bahá’u’lláh, the Sacred Texts of the Bab and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and the infallible guidance of Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice. The compilations suggested here are only a few of the ones that are available as resources to help individual Assembly members and the institutions themselves meet the challenges set before them by the Universal House of Justice in

its Six Year Plan.

‘eb cere num 0 joes The Local Spiritual Assembly The National Spiritual Assembly Softcover $.50 Softcover $1.00

The Continental Boards of Coun- Consultation Compilation selors Softcover $1.00 Softcover $3.00

1 Principles of Baha’ AdministraThe Individual and Teaching tion Softcover $1.50 Hardcover $6.00; Softcover $4.00

TRUSTWORTHINESS

Divorce Compiiation Trustworthiness Compilation Softcover $2.00 Softcover $1.50 �[Page 16]16 / The American Baha’i / November 1987

Minnesota Institute sponsors six Race Unity

Hi RACE UNITY

The Minnesota Baha’i Institute is presenting a series of six Race Unity Symposia this year in the metropolitan Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) area.

The programs are held in the homes of Bahd’{s in an atmosphere conducive to consultation, education and social interaction.

The symposia presented so far include:

February: ‘Prejudice: A Class Divided.’’ The video tape ‘‘Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes’’ with consul tation on conscious steps needed to build unity and achieve oneness.

April: ‘‘For a Drop of the Lover’s Blood.”’ Video tape with a letter from the Persian/American Affairs Committee and consultation on Persian/American relationships.

June: Presentation on “‘Institutional Racism’’ with consultation following.

August: Presentation on ‘‘Offsetting the Effects of Racism on Children” with consultation following.

October: ‘‘Weeding Out the Inheritance’’ with a presentation on discovering unconscious attitudes about race, followed by consultation.

Every two weeks, the Bahá’í Women’s Committee of Roswell, Georgia, sponsors a women’s luncheon for Bahá’ís and seekers in the metro Atlanta area. Pictured are those who took part ina

recent event at which the speaker was Dr. Gwenn Etter Lewis (seated at right), a Bahá’í from Ypsilanti, Michigan, who is researching an oral history of black women in the Bahá’í Faith.

The final program in the series, to be held in December, is entitled “Who’s Responsible for What?’’ and is a presentation on responsibilities of the races toward one another as described in the Baha’i teachings.

The Race Unity Symposia are designed to stimulate an awareness of the importance of applying spiritual principles within the Baha’i community regarding “‘the most challenging issue’ as described in the teachings of the Faith.

Those who are not Bahda’is, or groups concerned with the elimination of prejudice and building race unity, are welcome to attend.

To date, about 35 people have attended each of the programs.

The symposia are planned by a task force of the Minnesota Baha’i Institute. A conference on achieving race unity is being planned for 1988.

The Minnesota Baha’i Institute is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and operated by an appointed board of directors.

For more information about the Race Unity Symposia, the Institute and its other activities, you may write to: Minnesota Baha’i Institute, P.O. Box 18057, West St. Paul, MN 55118, or telephone 612-456-9391.

Standard course for Baha'i youth

The Standard is a 12-month correspondence course for Baha’i youth. Begin to increase your methodical study of the Writings as requested in the Six Year Plan by subscribing to The Standard today! Simply send your name, address and $5 to the National Youth Committee.

St. Petersburg Baha’is plant ‘race unity garden’

On June 14, the Baha’is of St. Petersburg, Florida, celebrated Race Unity Day by dedicating a Race Unity Garden they installed at a community center.

The meeting was well-attended by area Baha’is and non-Bahda’is, who numbered about half the audience.

An article about the dedication appeared in a local newspaper, as well as announcements and a display ad using the ‘‘Celebrate the Unity of Mankind’’ logo.

Among the non-Baha’i speakers was Judge James Sanderlin, a prominent civic leader who was the lawyer for the NAACP in the case for desegregation of the county’s schools in the 1960s.

Other speakers included the cochairmen of a prominent race relations organization, and the new director of the community center who mentioned the various ways in which Bahá’ís have been involved in its development.

Baha’i participants included

The members of the National Persian/American Affairs Committee Sor 1987-88 are (left to right) Riaz Khadem (chairman), Puran Stev t ens, Evander Gilmer, Sheila Banani, and Manuchehr Derakhshani (secretary).

Dr. Kerry McCord; the singing group ‘‘New Horizons,”’ and a group of young Baha’i singers ages 7-10, ‘‘The Peace Kids.’”

Dr. David Closson, a Baha’i from Orange County, inspired the gathering with a participatory presentation using African drums and bells that was an active demonstration of the theme of ‘‘unity in diversity.’”

Richard Juma Oketch, originally from Uganda, came from Davenport, Iowa, to speak at the dedication; he and his wife, Libba, spoke about race unity at a fireside and took part in other teaching activities.

In the opening talk, Evelyn Newman-Phillips, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of St. Petersburg, proposed that a race unity conference be held in St. Petersburg.

The Race Unity Garden was designed by landscape designer Cindy Holmes, a Baha’i from Jupiter, Florida.

In one area of the garden where the diverse and colorful flowers are grouped closely together, there is a sand-blasted redwood sign with raised letters reading ‘Ye are the flowers of one garden—Bahda’{ Faith’’ and a nine-pointed star.

Other plaques in the garden bear the inscriptions ‘Race Unity Garden, a gift from the Baha’ is of St. Petersburg”’ and ‘‘So powerful is the light of unity that it can illumine the whole earth.—Bahá’u’lláh””

ii “ i

Yusef Mjeni (center), program director of the Northwest Area Foundation and a nationally-traveled speaker on the topic, discusses ‘Institutional Racism’ during a symposium June 7 in the

symposia

ay ‘ Twin Cities sponsored by the Minnesota Bahá’í Institute. After his presentation Mr. Mijeni, who is not a Bahá’í, was given a copy of ‘The Promise of World Peace.’

Persian, Race Unity committees plan ‘spiritual integration’ program at Bosch

RACE UNITY

The National Persian/American Affairs Committee and National Race Unity Committee have met together a number of times recently to plan a special program to be held December 29-January 2 at the Bosch Baha’i School near Santa Cruz, California.

The session, titled ‘On the Way to Unity: Spiritual Integration’’ has as its purpose the task of instilling a sense of urgency among the participants to promote racial and cultural unity and to build models of unity in diversity.

It is expected that those attending will leave the session with a feeling of personal responsibility and the skills to become catalysts for change in their local communities.

Topics to be discussed include:

Defining integration.

° What conduces to racial and cultural harmony?

¢ Exploration of the problems associated with the integration, assimilation and dispersion of Persian believers.

The unity of East and West.

A variety of teaching strategies, speakers and audio-visual materials will be used throughout the session. It is hoped by the two committees that the session may serve as a pilot for similar programs in other parts of the coun The session is open to any Baha’i age 15 years or older. A $15 deposit is required, which can be sent to the school at 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.

For further information, please phone the school at 408-423-3387.

Award

from page 1

UN-sponsored observance.

In all, about 300 national and international organizations were awarded ‘‘Peace Messenger”’ certificates “‘in recognition of a significant contribution to the programme and objectives of the International Year of Peace.””

Among those organizations, and in addition to the Baha’i International Community, five national Baha’i communities—Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Kenya and Lesotho—received separate “Peace Messenger’? awards for their activities during IYP.

Separate award ceremonies were held in each of those countries.

In New York, Victor de Araujo, a UN representative for the Baha’i International Community, accepted the ‘‘Peace Messenger’’ award on behalf of the worldwide Baha’i community, which sponsored numerous activities and events to promote peace during 1986.

“The Baha’i International Community is honored to receive this award,’’ said Dr. de Araujo, “and would like to thank the Secretary-General for recognizing the efforts of all such organizations involved in attempting to advance the cause of peace.

“The Secretary-General should rest assured that the Baha’i International Community is committed to continuing this work.’”

In a letter notifying the Baha’i International Community of its selection as an honorary Peace Messenger, Vasiliy S. Safronchuk, the UN Under Secretary-General for Political and Security Council Affairs, said the award was being given to those organizations and institutions which had made ‘‘significant and concrete contributions”’ to the observance of the International Year of Peace.

During 1986, Baha’i communities in at least 109 countries sponsored activities or events to promote the [YP including peace expositions and exhibits, workshops and academic conferences, essay contests, and marches and caravans. �[Page 17]

More tips a tuecumation 0 help avoid confusion

In public information a wise and deliberate approach is required. Baha’ {fs should put aside their uniquely Baha’i perspective in order to use concepts and terms that will make sense to people who are not Baha’is. While Public Information Representatives will find the following guidelines helpful in their contacts with the communications media, individual believers may find them useful in their teaching efforts.

1, The names and titles of the Central Figures of the Baha’i Faith, and the titles conferred upon the members of their families, are designations that indicate the glory of their stations. They can, however, confuse journalists and their readers. The Office of Public Information advises that the names listed below are the wisest choices with the media:

Bahá’u’lláh—Avoid use of Blessed Beauty, Blessed Perfection, His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh, etc. Bahá’u’lláh was the prophetfounder of the Baha’i Faith.

The Bdb—Avoid references to the Primal Point, the Revealer of the Bayan, or the Blessed Bab. He was the prophet-herald of the Baha’i Faith.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá—Forgo the designations of Center of the Covenant, Mystery of God, the Master, and the Exemplar. He was appointed by Bahá’u’lláh as the interpreter of the Baha’i writings and as the leader of the Baha’i community.

Shoghi Effendi—Avoid the expression Beloved Guardian. He was the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, the authorized interpreter of the Baha’ teachings, and the successor to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as leader of the Baha’i community.

Mirza Mihdi, Bahiyyih Khánum, Navvdb—If the members of the family of Bahd’u’ll4h are mentioned, they should be mentioned by name. Do not refer to them as the Purest Branch, the Greatest Holy Leaf or, collectively, as the Holy Family.

Ruhtyyih Rabbani—Avoid references to Amatu’l-Bahá Rihiyyih Khánum. She is the widow of Shoghi Effendi, formerly Mary Maxwell.

2. “The Promise of World Peace’ is the document about peace issued by the Universal House of Justice. We should first refer to it by its title. In subsequent references it can be referred to as the Baha’i peace statement, the peace message, or by other descriptive terms. The title of the document says much about its content. It therefore plants the thought of the promise of peace in the mind of the reader or listener, and also helps to distinguish the Baha’i statement from other statements about peace.

Letters

from page 3

the Gregorian calendar to the Baha’i, but am cynical enough to realize it won’t last. Bahá’ís are too comfortable with the Gregorian calendar to bother with learning another—especially one that’s not in English.

One small step toward adjusting to the Baha’i calendar would be to use the Baha’i date when writing letters to friends (Baha’i or otherwise).

Another way would be for each community to create its own calendar of events—even if the only event is Feast.

The important thing is to introduce the Baha’i calendar into our everyday lives. A simple format that prominently displays the Baha’ months and days with plenty of space to write down later details is easy to create. Post it somewhere that everyone looks to see what’s happening.

Take down Gregorian calendars so the Baha’i calendar is the calendar in the house to be consulted about coming events. The Baha’ calendar may be supplemented, but not usurped, by the Gregorian.

How many of us know the Baha’i months and days? How many know the Baha’i month and date of the Holy Days? I know I don’t, and it bothers me.

Our community does have a regular Baha’i calendar, but it’s not consulted when we’re scheduling meetings or other events. Instead, everyone pulls out his or her Gregorian calendar to find a time. This disheartens me.

Faith makes inroads in newspapers,

on cable TV

© The St. Petersburg, Florida Times published a column August 29 condemning the persecution of Baha’is in Egypt and Iran. The columnist discussed the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and described the periodic persecution of Baha’is since the inception of the Faith.

She cited U.S. Bahá’í Report as one of the sources of her information.

° The Atlanta Bahd’{ Youth Workshop was featured in two articles in the Florence, South Carolina Morning News.

The coverage resulted from Baha’i participation in a ‘‘March for Mankind.”

The Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute and the Baha’is of Rock

Hill, South Carolina, were also featured in recent newspaper articles in South Carolina.

From the Office of Public Information ...

Max Media, which provides programming and services to local cable television systems throughout the U.S., will be distributing the psa’s to all of its clients.

These companies, as well as the Discovery Channel, are among those who have recently requested the use of Baha’i psa’s either nationally or regionally.

Book mirrors Baha’i views on equality

Riane Eisler, who was one of the speakers at the Baha’i International Peace Conference in San Francisco in August 1986, is the author of a widely praised new book, The Chalice and the Blade, which equates the movement toward peace with the equal partnership of men and women.

The book uses a 10-year study of 25,000 years of human history to illustrate that male dominance during the last 5,000 years of that

ed in earlier times.

For more than 20,000 years, she writes, our cultural evolution moved in a peaceful direction, orienting toward the ‘‘partnership model,”’ which is now re-emerging worldwide through the peace, feminist, ecological, humanist and other New Age, spiritual and economic movements.

Many of her conclusions parallel Baha’i thought with respect to the promise of world peace.

The Chalice and the Blade is

The American Baha’i / November 1987 / 17

We're constantly being told that the Faith is emerging from obscurity, yet we can’t seem to use our Baha’i calendar to help a national Baha’ identity emerge.

The American Bahd’ isn’t printed and mailed according to the Baha’i calendar; national events such as Conventions and conferences, all the Baha’i schools, and the UN days are scheduled according to the Gregorian calendar.

Perhaps the time has come for American Bahá’ís to accept the Bahá’í calendar and use it in their daily lives.

Kathi Wright-Hulett Doraville, Georgia

Some thoughts on youth

To the Editor:

In the spirit of sharing, in the spirit that we are all in the same boat in this turbulent channel, I would like to offer some thoughts about our Baha’i youth and invite more discussion on the topic from others.

One of the tasks of Baha’is at a fireside is to say silent prayers so that the spirit of the gathering can be raised and felt by the seekers.

The young person is just emerging as an independent self and does not have a firm grip on the Faith as yet; in that sense, it is similar to the journey of the seeker. So is the implication for the Baha’is to regularly remember a specific youth, or Baha’i youth in general, in daily prayers? Can we give youth less attention than we give seekers? .

A young person is seeking to make the Faith his own in a culture that is strongly pressuring him in other, non-spiritual, directions. Again, perhaps we can treat our friends, youth and seekers, with a special respect.

We know that the time of transition has begun. It is like labor when having a baby; we know we must prepare.

How are we preparing the average Baha’i youth? I don’t mean the ideal image of a Baha’i youth, one who attends all the confer ences, teaches constantly, etc.

There are plenty of young Baha’is who get into the alcohol scene, become a part of the drug culture for a time, and don’t make it to marriage easily. They stay with the peer group; they want to belong and not be ‘‘different.”” So the need to reach out to them is clear.

Whether we have children or not, we as adults can all be a Baha’i “‘aunt or uncle’ to the youth. We hear how a Baha'i can “‘adopt,”’ so to speak, a seeker or new Baha’i so that he or she does not get lost in the community; the same could be done by having an adult adopt a youth. That way, each youth would have at least one adult other than the parents looking out for him.

Can there be prayers for steadfastness at every Assembly meeting? Can there be youth deepenings and youth firesides along with the regular schedule?

If the youth are to ‘‘move the world” into the 21st century, there must be enough of them, and they must have a strong spirit, with the help of Bahá’u’lláh, to withstand whatever is to come and even what they must face today.

We adults won’t be in the first line, but we are vitally needed in the second line with our contact, prayers, support and encouragement of the youth. :

Youth want to have fun. It’s sort of their barometer that they are part of a peer group.

They know their peers are having fun. They also know the Faith says ‘‘no’’ to a lot of things. If they are having fun as Bahá’ís, this gives them some security. How can we join together and have fun as a community?

Judy Orloff Foxboro, Massachusetts

NOTICE

At its most recent meeting, the National Spiritual Assembly voted to remove the administrative rights of Dr. of Greater Vienna, Virgina, for his civil conviction of income tax evasion.

NEW! FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION

REPRINTS The Christian Century, December 3, 1986—‘‘Iran’s Baha’ is: Victims of Continuing Genocide.”’ 25 cents each.

period has resulted in a warlike society unknown to those who liv published by Harper and Row.

BAHA’{ WORLD CENTER ARCHIVES OFFICE

Did you receive a letter from the Guardian? Do you know anyone who received a letter from the Guardian? © The Universal House of Justice refers to the writings of the Guardian when preparing legislation and consulting on matters relating to the progress of the Faith. © The Baha’i World Center Archives maintains a collection of the Guardian’s letters. THE GUARDIAN WROTE AT LEAST 21,000 LETTERS TO INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS, GROUPS AND BAHA’t INSTITUTIONS IN THE WEST, BUT ONLY 11,014 OF THEM ARE IN THE ARCHIVES AT THE BAHA’{ WORLD CENTER.

If you, your family, friends or local Spiritual Assembly have any originals or photocopies of letters from the Guardian, please send them to the National Spiritual Assembly for forwarding to Haifa. Or send them yourself to the Archives Office at the Baha’i World Center.

If you wish to retain the originals, they will be returned to you after the necessary copies have been made for the-Archives. If you wish to donate the originals, to be kept in your name in the International Baha’i Archives, we will send you photocopies of them in return.

National Baha’i Archives Baha’i National Center Wilmette, IL 60091

Baha’i World Center Archives P.O. Box 155 Haifa 31 001, Israel

The Atlantic Monthly, April 1987—“‘Iran Holy Terror.”’ 25 cents each.

UPDATED MATERIALS Bahá’í Faith and Its World Community gives a concise overview of Bahd’{ teachings, history, laws, characteristics of the Bahd’{ community, the Administrative Order, Houses of Worship, relationship to the United Nations, Baha’i World Center, and the non-political character of the Faith. 20 cents each. Bahá’í Statistics— Worldwide gives statistics on the number of NSA’s, countries open to the Faith, localities, languages, schools, Temples, etc. 20 cents each. Special Background Package on Bahá’ís in Iran includes: Winter 1983-84 issue of World Order magazine, “‘The Baha’is in Iran: A Report on the Persecution of a Religious Minority,’’ ‘Major Developments: July 1982-July 1983,’’ Update Report, ‘‘The Baha’is in Iran: The Minority Rights Group Report No. 51,”’ ‘‘The Many Faces of Persecution.”’ $2 each. PRICE CHANGES

The following price changes are now in effect for Public Information materials available through the Baha’i Distribution Service: Ad Slicks. Various subjects (6 sheets/24 ads) NOW S50 cents each. Radio Public Service Announcements. ‘‘Bahdé’i Themes’’ (various), seven 30-second spots. NOW $6. ‘Dizzy Gillespie,’’ one 60-second spot. NOW $6. Y

- Make all checks payable to “‘Baha’i Services Fund.’’ Include

your full name and address. Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.** And please include 10 per cent to cover postage (minimum 75 cents) on all orders.

�[Page 18]18 / The American Baha’i / November 1987

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

THE BABA’ National Center is accepting applications for the following positions: Administrative Assistant to the U.S./UN Representative (Office of External Affairs—New York City); Secretary (Office of External Affairs— Washington, D.C.); Program Assistant-Area Committees (Persian/American Affairs Committee Office); Administrative Assistant (Office of Pioneering). For job descriptions and applications, please contact the Department of Human Resources, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-8699039.

‘THE LOUHELEN Residential College is seeking a qualified individual to serve as a Resident Counselor. The 15-member student body consists of students from around the world. Duties include serving as a personal counselor, helping to plan the students’ devotional, teaching, social and recreational activities, and overseeing their work at Louhelen. This person must have excellent skills in relating to ‘and communicating with young adults and must provide a strong Baha’i role model coupled with tolerance and understanding. The job requires being a concerned listener, a fair mediator, and a wise counselor. Should be in good physical condition and have an energetic and enthusiastic manner. The position includes room, boara and a weekly stipend. Those who are interested are urged to contact the Louhelen Residential College, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or to phone 313-653-5033.

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

BE A homefront pioneer where there are no Bahá’ís for an hour’s drive in any direction in the lovely Genesee Valley town of Hume, New York, birthplace of Lua Getsinger. In the future thousands of pilgrims will

ne to visit her birthplace. Former pioneers to Hume had to leave their post but would like to sell their sixbedroom home for less than $30,000 to Baha'is who could pioneer there. Ideal location in town of 650 for ‘bed and breakfast’ or other business. State park nearby; ideal location for nature lovers, retired-persons, or those with small children who would like to get out of the big city. Employment opportunities in teaching, health care and human services. Friendly community with many opportunities to teach and serve the Faith. Ideal location for future Bahá’í Center or school. For more information, phone Rick or Brenda Snyder, 716-372-3663.

BECOME part of the historical landmark of an original Arizona mining camp: Bisbee. Now a resort community, Bisbee, on the slopes of the Mule Mountains 90 miles from Tucson and five miles from the Mexican border, offers a mild, sunny, highdesert climate and a dynamic art community with poetry festivals, international bicycle races, theatre, and fascinating tourism. Housing is inexpensive, and employment is available in Sierra Vista or Douglas, each of which

is 30 miles away. Bisbee has maintained a Spiritual Assembly since 1973, but now its numbers are low. Needed are deepened, energetic, warm, | Baha'is to reinvigorate the community and help maintain the Assembly. Please come visit, and, if attracted, write to the Spiritual Assembly of Bisbee,

Bisbee, AZ 85603, or phone Carol Ann Telander, secretary, 602-4322037, or Herb and Sally Gilbert, 602-432-3426.

NEED a spiritual challenge? Are you able to support yourself? Yearn for a slower, more relaxed pace of life? Come to Williamston, a small town in eastern North Carolina, and live the Bahá’í life. Williamston is relatively close to Greenville, the home of East Carolina University, and a fairly short drive from the Outer Banks, a beautiful undeveloped coastal area. It would be a good place for a retired couple or single person. For more information, phone Warren Rochelle (919-772-1340), Art McKinley (919-469-2783), or Robert Barnes (919-792-1973), or write to

Williamston, NC 27892.

HOMEFRONT pioneers needed. There is already one family of homefront pioneers in Nashville, North Carolina, a cozy little town an hour or so from Raleigh and 10 minutes from Rocky Mount. Nashville (pop. 5,000) would be a good place for a retired couple or single person to settle down amidst tree-lined streets and flowering dogwoods. For more information, phone Warren Rochelle (919-7721340) or Mary Spires (919-446-5889), or write to Mary Spires,

Rocky Mount, NC 27803.

FORT BEND County: Small incorporated Assembly near Houston; area ripe for all teaching activities and homefront pioneering. Have lost population due to decline in oil/engineering industries. Flourishing medical, educational and legal fields: many colleges and universities in the area. Magnet school system K-12. Abundance of housing: buyer’s market. We lovingly invite Bahá’ís to heed the Guardian’s call and move to the central regions. Contact Bob or Sue Badrak, P.O. Box 1194, Missouri City, TX 77459 (phone 713-438-0521.

JEOPARDIZED Assembly in Easley, South Carolina, needs two or more Baha’ fs to move there. The city’s one Bahá’í family, trying to teach via weekly firesides, needs help. Easley’s population (14,264) is 12 per cent black. Median value of homes, $33,000; median rent, $117/month. Work available at nearby Clemson University, Furman University, two technical schools, Central Wesleyan, and in various industries within 15 miles. Good place to raise children, near lovely foothills; recreation areas include three lakes, national parks. Great nearby Baha'i communities. Contact Gail Black, asley, SC 29640 (phone 803-859-8514).

THERE ARE no deepened Baha'is in Williamston, South Carolina. Needed are homefront pioneers who can relate to blacks from a typically rural background. Population 4,310, 19 per cent black. Median value of homes, $25,300; median rent, $89 per month. Close to Anderson (the county seat), 17 miles away, for employment if none is found in Williamston, Small town environment. We need help. Contact Nancy Markovich,

Greenville, SC 29609 (phone 803-268-4971 evenings), or Gail Black, Easley, SC 29640 (phone 803-859-8514).

HEALDSBURG, California, with an active Assembly established in the 1950s, will need four adult Baha’is by Ridvan 1988 to maintain its Assembly status. The town is 70 miles north of San Francisco in a lovely agricultural region on the Russian River. Great climate with all services available (15 miles north of Santa Rosa, pop. 100,000). For information, write to

the Spiritual Assembly of Healdsburg, P.O. Box 158, Healdsburg, CA 95448.

WANTED: Homefront pioneer(s) to settle in scenic Port Jefferson on Long Island’s north shore. Open a locality while enjoying a lovely waterfront village, excellent schools, proximity to Stony Brook University and other colleges, employment opportunities, an easy commute by ferry to Connecticut. For more information, phone the Spiritual Assembly of Brookhaven, 516-289-2006.

BECOME a homefront pioneer to Cedar Hill, Texas, a lovely town in rolling hills 20 minutes from downtown Dallas. New lake and state parks, and a new three-bedroom home for sale or lease. Bahá’í Group was formed last year in this community of diverse neighborhoods and schools. Contact Clare or Margaret at 214-2919606.

THE BAHA’{ community of Lakeside, California, needs four adult believers to restore its Assembly. Lakeside offers a country atmosphere only 25 miles from downtown San Diego and some of Southern California’s finest beaches. There are five county parks within a 10-minute drive, and a major shopping mall is a few miles away. If you’re looking for a smallcommunity atmosphere with big-city amenities, Lakeside is for you. For more information, contact Linda Gurney, secretary, P.O. Box 1731, Lakeside, CA 92040, or phone 619-5615129,

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

EL SALVADOR, Central America: To comply with a request from the World Center, we are trying to locate the following people, their relatives, or people who have known them: John Eichenauer Jr., Clarence Iverson, William H. Maxwell Jr., Margaret Mills, Marjorie Stee, Flora Emily Hottes, and Natalia Chavez. Also, we are trying to locate letters sent to these people from 1937-57 by the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi. We are attempting to reconstruct the early history of the Faith in this country; anecdotes, photos, negatives or any information about El Salvador would be most appreciated. Please write to the International News and History Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of El Salvador, Aptdo.

- EI Salvador, Central America.

THE U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) on Andros Island in the Bahamas is seeking applicants for the following openings: Radar technician, requiring strong digital experience and 5-7 years in the operation and maintenance of communications equipment; Sonar/hydroplane technician, requiring at least three years’ experience appropriate for maintaining inwater tracking systems including digital and analog processors, underwater communications equipment and multichannel recorders; Diesel power generator mechanic, requiring 3-5 years experience in maintaining power generation plant diesel engines; Diese! power plant operator, requiring two years’ experience as a shift operator in a diesel electric generation station; Marine diesel mechanic, requiring four years’ experience in repairing and overhauling GM series diesel engines and all related shipboard equipment. For more information about these positions, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

FRANCE: The opportunity exists for a quality engineer to engineer ride systems, show and ride components and audio-animatronics figures for Walt Disney’s new Euro Disneyland. Duties include designing, analyzing, implementing and maintaining internal vendor surveys, audits and systems and helping in the preparation and review of acceptance test plans and pro cedures for procured hardware and systems. Applicants should have a technical degree with 10 years’ experience in all aspects of quality control, engineering and inspection including familiarity with nondestructive testing methods. Fluency in French is also required. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

DISTRIBUTORS: Individuals, groups or Assemblies are sought to serve as distributors of the “Mankind Is One’’ sweatshirts and T-shirts. Distributors will receive compensation. Write to Reflections, Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

THREE volunteer positions are open in Sierra Leone, West Africa, One volunteer is needed to run Institutes and deepening programs at the new Regional Baha’i Center; housing is available. A second volunteer is needed to deepen teachers and to provide extra materials for children at the government-approved Bahd’{ primary school; a is needed to help develop and run a proposed clinic. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

WANTED

THE BAHA’{ World Center Library is interested in making contact with all Baha’i professional librarians, library technicians, and others interested in libraries, to establish a network to exchange information and offer help with library- and book-related questions. The Library is also interested in maintaining contact with those who would be willing to do short projects for the Library, including researching reference questions, reviewing books that the Library may wish to purchase, clipping Bahd’{-related articles from newspapers and magazines, and so forth. Those who are interested should write to: Baha’i World Center Library, P.O. Box 155, Haifa 31 001, Israel. Kindly include background information on your experience and interests.

WANTED: an old used video cassette recorder that works. Great teaching tool for public meetings in Guatemala whose National AudioVisual Committee hopefully requests the donation of a VCR so we can use the great Baha’i videos that are available. Please contact Sta.-Janet Dodge, secretary, Comité Audio-Visual, c/o 3 Calle, 4-54, Zona 1, Guatemala City, Guatemala, Central America.

WOULD LIKE to share my mountain hideaway in a newly opened area on an American Indian Reservation. Would like musicians to form a group like Do’a in California. Painters are also welcome, but all must have income and transportation. There is an airport nearby; last outpost on a wild river, Mendocino. You must be willing to do it all for the Baha’i Faith. Send SASE to S. Bird, Santa Cruz, CA 95062.

THE LOUHELEN Residential College is accepting applications for fall 1988. A minimum of 13 additional students (for a total of 26) is needed to enroll in this program. Students live at the school, have classes in Baha’i Studies, and take part in Baha’i conferences, fellowship, social, recreational and devotional activities while enrolled in degree-earning programs at the University of Michigan-Flint or Mott Community College. For information and application materials, write to the Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033.

GREEN LAKE Baha’i Conference Children’s Activities Committee is looking for individuals with creati and innovative ideas for children’s activities. Age range is 3-15 years; ac

tivities are to effect positive attitudes and feelings through various experiences and activities. The committee strongly discourages the use of mere facts and figures unless they are absolutely essential in communi feeling or experience, or in facilitating the formation of a positive attitude. Those who would like to try out their ideas are asked to write for guidelines sod proposal procedure information

Stoughton, WI 53589. The Green Lake Baha’i Conference is held on a September weekend each year. Housing is provided for teachers. The deadline for submission of proposals is January 15, 1988.

1 AM planning a series of proclamation events for insurance agents in the U.S. and would appreciate hearing from Bahá’ís now or recently in the business, Please write and let me know your company affiliation, type of license, and location of your head office; I'll write back with details and a proposed timetable. Please understand that although I am now serving at the Bahd’{ World Center, this is something I am doing personally and not as an official activity of the World Center. Write to Jaellayna Lasky, P.O. Box 155, Haifa 31 001, Israel.

ELDERLY Baha’i woman in Fishkill, New York, presently living independently, seeks a young Baha’i woman, preferably a nurse, to share a house. Room in exchange for some assistance; live in a suburban town near a number of small cities with job opportunities in nursing, health care and other fields. Chance to move to a new area, learn from and help a deepened Bahd’{ and help return a Baha’i Group to Assembly status. Please write to Diana Metreaud, RD 2, P.O. Box M431, Monroe, NY 10950, or phone 914-496-7579.

WANTED: Bahá’í (female) to help the Bahá’ís of Clay County, Florida. Free room and board in exchange for getting children (all girls, ages 5, 11 and 14) off to school. Need to be at home when they return from school and if one is home ill. Would be responsible for cooking meals. Can work outside home if hours are flexible. For more information, write to Marie Smith, Green Cone Springs, FL 32043, or phone her at 904-284-0545. Can use you even if you want only to vacation in Florida for several months.

ARTISTS! The District Teaching Committee of East Texas No. 2 is seeking a T-shirt design for the Yellow Rose Teaching Project, which is aimed primarily at teaching the Faith to the Alabama-Coushatta Indians through service on their Reservation but is also directed toward the greater Livingston, Texas, area. Designs should reflect a theme of all peoples coming together based on Indian traditions. Please submit designs by March 1, 1988, to Kamran Mouzoon,

Houston, TX 77005.

(CHILDREN’S library abroad seeks used book dealer interested in supplying requested titles to a parent-supported library for Baha’i children. Please respond with information about terms and pricing policy to Rachel Collins, P.O. Box 155, Haifa 31 001, Israel.

WANTED: correspondence with someone versed in Vedic literature. Karen Gould, P.O. Box 141264, Dallas, TX 75214,

ARE YOU skilled with a camera? Can you capture on film images which convey the unity of faith and love that binds together the Bahá’{ world community, images which will touch the hearts and fire the imaginations of people who see them on books or posters? If you can, or if you have already built up a file of photos like this, we'd like to hear from you. OneWorld Publications is seeking photographs in color or black and white for a major publishing project. The visuals in this book will have to distinguish them�[Page 19]selves in competition on the bookstore shelves with the best that the publishing industry has to offer. They must teach the public the Baha’i Faith as surely as the finest text. To find out more and take up the challenge, contact us at P.O. Box 2543, Larnaca, Cyprus. (Telex 4567 LOVECY; telephone 041-2072.)

PIONEER to Costa Rica needs old copies of the following magazines: Glory, Varga, Child’s Way and Brilliant Star. If you have magazines you would care to donate, write to J. Mirenda, c/o Standard Fruit Co., P.O. Box 10304, Wilmington, DE 19850.

WRITER of children’s activities books wishes to collaborate with an ‘educator with a background in theory; specifically, matching program content to the child’s capabilities. Would prefer a Canadian or an American from the area around upstate New York, Ohio or Illinois. Write to Michelle Cooney, P.O. Box 155, Haifa 31 001, Israel.

WANTED. Stories to be published of Baha'is recovering from substance addiction or co-addiction, what it used to be like, what happened, and what it is like now. Include any special problems encountered in becoming (1) a Bahá’{, and (2) sober and clean. Anonymity will be respected. Also, if desired, relationship experiences between membership in 12 Step fellowships and the Baha’ Faith. Please forward all stories, questions, comments and observations to Dann Irish, P.O. Box 1865, Petersburg, Alaska 99833.

AS ONE of it: Six Year Plan goals, the National Sriritual Assembly of Tuvalu is trying to set up a lending library and welcomes donations of books from the friends, especially Baha’ books or those written by Baha'is. If you can help, the address is: National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Tuvalu, P.O. Box 48, Funafuti Island, Tuvalu Group.

THE BAHA‘IS of the Wounded Knee district in South Dakota are sponsoring a clothing/blanket/toy drive. Many of the friends in the area of the Pine Ridge Reservation are very poor, and need to feel the support and love of the American Baha’i community. Any donations would be greatly appreciated. They may be sent via UPS to Clynda Medicine, Wounded Knee, SD 57794 or by mail to Clynda Medicine, Box 027, Wounded Knee, SD 57794.

CHILDREN’S program teaching staff sought at the Louhelen Baha’ School: child education coordinator, master teachers, teacher assistants are needed for weekend conferences from November through May. For details and to apply, contact the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-6535033).

THE BAHA’[S of Bellingham, ‘Washington, are getting ready to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Faith in Bellingham and Whatcom County and need information on pioneers and traveling teachers to and from that area. If you have such information or know of anyone who does, please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Bellingham, P.O. Box 103, Bellingham, WA 98227, or phone Lina Zeine, 206734-6505 (evenings).

‘THE CENTER for Interracial U ty is seeking materials on models o} terracial unity and seeking to identify Baha’is who have worked and/or trained in this area. Please contact the CIU at the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

BOOKS, TAPES, ETC. CLEMENTINE and the Cage by Wendy Heller, a delightful story intended for children ages five and up, blends themes that touch the deepest concerns and most universal challenges of the human spirit—striving to

be the very best one can be in spite of ridicule and opposition, and facing the unknown with courage and faith. The use of Baha’i themes in an indirect way makes Clementine an excellent gift for Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís alike and a good library presentation item. Regularly $7.95 in hardcover, now available for $6.95! Order today from Images International by sending a check (plus 10 per cent for shipping and handling, minimum $1) to P.O. Box 1051, Dept. AB, Belchertown, MA 01007.

ON SALE now ... Gordi Munro’s “Unity in Diversity” audio cassette tape. Regularly $8.50, now only $7.99! Gordi Munro’s spirited and upbeat music will have everyone singing. Powerful themes of unity and love are echoed in all the songs by this exciting young Canadian musician. Order today from Images International by sending your check (plus 10 per cent for shipping and handling, minimum $1) to P.O. Box 1051, Dept. AB, Belchertown, MA 01007.

THE SONG Celestial, by Howard Colby Ives, is a book-length poem that captures the essence of the eternal conversation between God and man— man expressing his longing, his love, fears and doubts, while God offers love, reassurance and understanding. Beautifully written and printed; your choice of white or red in hardcover. A lovely gift by the author of Portals to Freedom now available from Images International for $5.95 (regularly $6.95). Order today by sending a check (plus 10 per cent for shipping and handling, minimum $1) to P.O. Box 1051, Dept. AB, Belchertown, MA 01007.

OUT-OF-PRINT books. The following titles are available only from the Los Angeles Bahd’{ Bookshop: Prescription for Living ($10.95); ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by H.M. Balyizi ($10.95); Muhammad and the Course of Islam (629.95); Bahd’! Readings, \catherbound ($15); The Heart of the Gospel ($3.75). Add 10 per cent (minimum $3) for shipping. These and 200 other hard-to-find titles are available from the Los Angeles Bahá’í Bookshop, 5755 Rodeo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90016; phone 213-933-8291. Send for our free price lists.

NOW AVAILABLE from Naturegraph: The Top of the Hill by Morris Taylor, the story of a young Indian boy who cannot conceive of life without his great-grandfather. It will touch the hearts of those from 8 to 80 as Great-Grandfather, a wise medicine man, leads the young boy to understand the purpose of this life as well as the life to come. 64 pages, illustrated. Send $4.95 with your name and address to Naturegraph, Box 1075, Happy Camp, CA 96039.

NATIVE American books and pamphlets: Four Remarkable Indian

ies, $1; The Return of the Indian Spirit, $1; Gospel of the Redman, $4.95; Tapestries in Sand, $6.95; many others. Los Angeles Baha’ Bookshop, 5755 Rodeo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90016. Telephone 213933-8291.

SPIRITUAL Mothering Journal, the quarterly magazine for Baha’i parents, offers a blend of practical and inspirational ideas on parenting based on the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. Each issue is arranged around a theme and

riage, and attribute acquisition. icated to the spiritual well-being of the family, Spiritual Mothering is a perfect gift for those of all faiths. By subscription only, $10/year. Write to

Sandy, OR 97055.

TAPES from Louhelen conferences: “Questions”” by Jack McCants (Get of four, $20); “The Forces of Light and Darkness” by Counselor Hooper Dunbar (set of four, $20); “Baha'i Development: The Practical Process of Transforming Mankind’?

by Holly Vick (set of three, $16); “Marriage Enrichment Institute’? by Dr. Hossein Danesh (set of four, $20); “Women and the Age of Equality” by Dr. Jane Faily and ‘‘Women of Color in America’? by Dr. Gwen Lewis ($6 per tape). Contact: Reflections, Louhelen Bahd’{ School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313653-5033).

BAHA'I books in Persian: we have more than 80 titles. Send two 22-cent stamps for a 12-page descriptive list. Los Angeles Baha’i Bookshop, 5755 Rodeo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90016. Phone 213-933-8291.

ONE WORLD Products is a Baha’ {owned company that distributes games, books, posters and other materials that reflect Bahd’{ values and principles (for example, ‘The Earth Game”’). For a free brochure, write to One World Products, 1710 South Barry, Apt. 3, Los Angeles, CA 90025.

“REFLECTIONS” catalog listing “Mankind Is One” sweatshirts and T-shirts, tapes, books and other Baha’(-related materials is available at no cost from the Louhelen Baha’ School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033).

CONFERENCE catalog of fall, winter and spring conferences at the Louhelen Baha’ School is available from the Registrar, Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

MISCELLANEOUS

INFORMATION about applying for the 1988 Robert Hayden Fellowship in Poetry may be obtained by writing to Dr. William Diehl, Louhelen Bahá’s School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. The deadline for applications is March 15. The fellowship provides room and board at Louhelen for three weeks during which one is free to write.

SUBSTANCE Abuse Conference scheduled December 4-6 at the Louhelen Bahd’{ School. Seeking Bahá’ís with training in that area, those whose lives have been disrupted by substance abuse, and representatives of Assemblies which have had to struggle with this problem. Please write to the Louhelen Bahd’f School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

RETIRED Baha’i couple with limited income interested in becoming caretakers at a Bahd’{ Center in a moderate climate. Phone Dale or Olive Sinclair, 815-758-2292.

The American Baha’i / November 1987 / 19

Pictured at the Bahd’f table during September's convocation ceremony at Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina, are the college president, Dr. Martha

Registration by the Spiritual Assembly of Rock Hill, South Carolina, with the local Chamber of Commerce paid off in September when the Assembly was invited with other community groups taken from the Chamber’s list to attend the annual convocation ceremony at Winthrop College.

The college provided a table and asked that the Assembly bring refreshments and literature to inform the public about Baha’i beliefs and activities.

The college also prepared a sign that read ‘‘Bahd’{ World Faith Church.” As the friends tried to take the word ‘‘church’’ off the sign, they drew attention that led to a number of impromptu firesides.

The Assembly asked three Bahá’ís to man the table: an American woman, Mrs. Helen Thomas; an Iranian woman, Mrs. Mahshid Yousefian; and a black man from

the Caribbean, Ralph Defetters.

Kime Piper (second from right) with Bahá’ís Helen Thomas (to Dr. Piper’s right) and Mahshid Yousefian.

Baha’is in Rock Hill take part in Winthrop College ceremony

The table was decorated with a floral centerpiece, homemade fig cookies, Bahá’í books, posters and many pamphlets.

Among the visitors to the display were members of the freshman class, faculty members, and members of churches and local civic organizations.

The president of Winthrop College, Dr. Martha Kime Piper, expressed her appreciation for the Bahá’ís’ cooperation and accepted a pamphlet on the equality of men and women and a copy of “The Promise of World Peace,”

A few days later Mrs. Thomas received a telephone call from a woman who said she was a reporter for the Charlotte Observer and had spoken with one of the friends at the convocation.

She asked to interview some of the Bahá’ís, the result of which was an article with photo in the Sunday, September 13, edition of the Observer.

new

‘om the Baha'i Publishing Trust

Introduce a Child to the Sacred Text

verses from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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and sensitively depict the diversity of the world’s peoples and cultures

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illustrate the

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�[Page 20]20 / The American Baha’ / November 1987

From the House of Worship

In the glow of the following letter from one of our summer youth volunteers, we are beginning to think about next summer and the bounties of having young people add their happy presence in service to the House of Worship. Jaleh Dashtizadeh, in writing to us about a Baha’i information booth on her college campus, says:

«*.,.We had four or five interest cards which is really incredible when compared with our lack of success in the past. After guiding at the House of Worship it was so much easier to talk with the people who stopped by—thank you so much for that opportunity to learn that it doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience!’

Our appreciation for the youth who were here this summer knows no bounds. We hope that many of you are thinking in terms of the House of Worship as a service project either for next summer or asa place for a Year of Service. If you’d like information on how to go about coming here, please feel free to write to us.

.

With fall in the air, special events are again stirring at the House of Worship. Beginning in October, our special event and Holy Day observances began earlier to encourage more family participation.

Children played a large part both in devotions and programs for Universal Children’s Day and the anniversary of the Birth of the Bab, providing devotional readings, program talks and music.

The newly formed Chicago Baha’i Children’s Choir is a great addition to House of Worship programs. United Nations Day (October 24) also encompassed the second birthday of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace.”

November’s programs were to include a celebration in music and prayer of the anniversary of the Birth of Baha’u’llah, and observances of the Day of the Covenant and the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. For December, we’re looking forward to United Nations Human Rights Day and the annual Corinne True awards to our volunteers.

.

A “friend of the Temple”’ from St. Louis, Missouri, sent us a copy of an article she wrote for her area newsletter. We'd like to share it with you and hope it brightens and encourages you as it did us:

“HOUSE OF WORSHIP NEEDS VOLUNTEERS ...

“T recently had the privilege of visiting the House of Worship on my way to the Green Lake conference. At both the Temple and Green Lake, the staff of the House of Worship made urgent pleas to the Baha’is to volunteer as tour guides. I was shocked to learn that sometimes only one person is available to guide the more than 1,000 people who pass through the House of Worship each day.

“There is a Baha’i stewardess from another city who stays over in Chicago once a month just so she can guide at the House of Worship. One woman drives to Wilmette from Iowa every month. Evidently, the need for guides is greater than the number of volunteers from the Chicago area.

“What a privilege it is to live in this day, and how much we should treasure. the opportunities to serve that will be denied to future generations. Perhaps in a short time there will be many thousands clamoring to be the ones to escort visitors and seekers through the holiest House of Worship on earth. Will we not regret not seizing the opportunity—an opportunity we may never see again?

“Don’t feel you are not deepened enough to guide. I met a woman at Green Lake who has been a Baha’i for two months, and the director of guides said she’s (one of) the best guides they have—because she has the right spirit and enthusiasm.

“You can commit yourself to regular (every few months, once every six months?) guiding or whenever you can get to Chicago. As a matter of fact, if you happen to be going to Chicago on short notice, you can call and ask to guide the next day. The staff at the House of Worship are grateful for whatever help they can get.

“And, of course, you yourself will have the assistance of the entire Concourse on High.’’

.

In closing, we again ask that those believers who became Baha’ is primarily through the influence of the House of Worship drop us a line— one of two or three pages—and share your experience with us. We hope to use these in a way that would indicate the power of the House of Worship to bring people to the Faith. We see it in action every day— how about your story from your point of view?

Help sought for exchange students

Student Exchange International (SEI) is conducting a nationwide search for part-time regional coordinators and community counselors to work directly with bright, interesting foreign exchange students, local families and school Officials.

The majority of the inbound students are from Northern Europe and are of high-school age.

A family’s solid belief system,

although not always the exact sameé religious affiliation as the exchange student’s, helps add stability and continuity to the student’s American stay.

If you are interested in becoming involved with the program, please send inquiries and resumés to SEI, c/o Dr. T.E, Ferah, director, Fresno, CA 93073. Honorariums are available.

The Archives would like to know the names of the Bahá’ís in this group and when and where the

picture was taken. Please send any information you may have to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í

National Center, Wilmette, IL

60091.

Viewpoint

from page 2

fecting the integration of the Baha’i community and the whole of mankind. An essential step is to develop, individually or collectively, a deeper understanding of and appreciation for our ethnic and cultural heritage.

It is important to note, however, that there will be instances when we must abandon tradition and cultural norms in favor of the Baha’i standard as evinced by our Sacred Writings and the example

5 Baha’i families in S.D. take part in ‘Peace Child’ play

Five Baha’i families from the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, area took part recently in a threeevening production of ‘‘The Peace Child’’ play.

The songs and script reflected Baha’i goals and concepts about peace.

The play was sponsored by the South Dakota Arts Council, the state Council for the Humanities, and the Shalom Center from a local private college, giving the cast a wonderful flavor of diversity drawn from the local community at large.

Visiting Bahá’ís attending the event were later able to participate in a mini-production of ‘‘The Peace Child’’ at a nationally advertised Conference on Non-Violence held in the Black Hills of western South Dakota.

Children in international costumes accompanied the cast for the finale, singing ‘‘Let There Be Peace on Earth.”’

Pocket-size copies of ‘The Promise of World Peace’’ were given to each cast member, and to stage hands, directors, members

of the music ensemble, production ~

coordinators and sponsors, resulting in several requests for information about the Faith and for “*Wage Peace’’ bumper stickers.

of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Families can also study other cultures in order to better understand and appreciate people whose heritage differs from their own.

Service

Service on administrative bodies, traveling teaching, pioneering, and other such activities ‘are obvious forms of service to the Cause. Another, often overlooked, form of service is the development of strong Baha’i families.

Development of a Baha’i culture will be threatened if our families are weak. Moreover, it is possible for us to find a balance in our lives between activities in support of the Cause and family development.

“A truly Bahd’{ home is a true fortress upon which the Cause can rely while planning its campaigns,”” the Guardian said in a letter of November 6, 1932, written on his behalf to an individual believer. “If __ and ___ love each other and would like to marry, Shoghi Effendi does not wish them to think that by doing

so they are depriving themselves of the privilege of service; in fact such a union will enhance their ability to serve.

“There is nothing more beautiful than to have young Bahá’ís marry and found truly Baha’i homes, the type Bahá’u’lláh wishes them to be.”” (Quoted in Family Life, p. 33)

As we survey the possibilities before us in strengthening our family life, let us not wait for “‘National’’ to develop new programs and services; let us instead arise in the spirit of individual initiative to act on some level, no matter how small.

We can seek support for our efforts from our fellow Baha’is as well as institutions and agencies that may assist in the spirit of the Six Year Plan and the Campaign of Unified Action.

Whatever measure of support we receive, we must work tirelessly to build model Baha’i families inasmuch as strengthening our Baha’i families will accelerate the unfoldment of God’s promised Kingdom on earth.

dents.

Louis Gregory Institute co-sponsors Atlantic Beach Heritage Festival

The Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute was a co-sponsor September 18-20 of the Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, Heritage and Founders Day Festival. Atlantic Beach is perhaps the only allblack incorporated township in the U.S.

On the final day of the festival, the Louis G. Gregory Unity Choir appeared with main speaker, Eric McNair, the brother of Challenger astronaut Ronald McNair. In addition to honoring Atlantic Beach, Mr. McNair presented the Ron McNair Foundation Scholarship program in support of potential science stu Also during the program, Mayor Joe Montgomery of Atlantic Beach received a copy of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace”’ on

behalf of its residents from Dr. Roy Jones, director of the Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute. Dr. Jones was also asked to open the program by giving the invocation and to close it with the benediction. In both instances, he selected appropriate Baha’i prayers.

After the program, the McNair family expressed genuine interest in what the Baha’fs were doing and appreciation for their prayerful support of the family after Ron McNair’s death in the Challenger disaster.

His mother told the Baha’is that she had attended Peace Fest ’87 at the Gregory Institute and listens regularly to WLGI from her home in Lake City.

�[Page 21]

Spirit, love carry Glad Tidings

Toward the beginning of August, the Spiritual Assembly of Florence, South Carolina, had a five-day project for youth wherein they went out to meet with Baha’is and do some proclamation work. More than 45 young people—American and Persian, black and white—participated, some from neighboring states. Here is what went on:

On the morning of the first day, after breakfast and prayers, a representative of the local Spiritual Assembly explained the aims of the project. The friends were reminded that they must be examples of Bahda’{ conduct, especially in the way they dress, then were divided into teams of three, and away they went.

Fifteen teams, each carrying folders containing the names and addresses of Baha’is, maps and Baha’i literature, went to different parts of the city to meet the Bahá’ís. On the second and third days, the same teams went out for proclamation.

One day was devoted to clearing the grounds of the newly bought Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of weeds, rocks and debris. The evening of the same day, in an atmosphere of devotion, the youth prayed under a shady tree near the Hazira for the accomplishment of the Assembly’s

s.

On the final day, everyone joined in a march for unity and peace—another program of the local Assembly. There were nearly 200 people, and excitement was in the air. The youth from Atlanta gave two performances of their group dance, the theme of which is the abandonment of prejudices and cooperation between the black and white races. The dance drew appreciative notices and prompted an article with photograph in the local newspaper.

Through it all, the team spirit and fellowship of the young people came through and ensured the success of the project. Differences of language, color and nationality were forgotten; it mattered not if one was a newly enrolled Baha’i or was born in a Baha’i family, or was from the north or the south.

An important aspect of the project was its efficiency and organization under the supervision of the local Spiritual Assembly. But perhaps what mattered most was the spirit of the participants who met two or three times each day to read the Writings together and strove to take the Message of Bahá’u’ll4h to the needy multitudes.

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�[Page 26]26 / The American Bahd’f / November 1987

Texas Baha'is take part in service at Church of White Eagle Lodge

On Sunday, July 5, six Baha’is from East Texas District No. 2 and Dallas gathered with 35 followers of the Church of White Eagle Lodge in Montgomery, Texas, the church’s center for North and South America.

As a result of a news release sent to various groups concerning the availability of the film ‘‘AmericanI Indian Prophecies and the Baha’i Faith,” the Bahd’fs were invited to take part in an Indian Heritage Retreat sponsored by the church.

Frank McLemore, secretary of the American Indian Teaching Committee, offered a presentation on tribal heritage prior to the showing of the film.

Afterward, he presented a copy of “The Promise of World Peace’’ to the Rev. Jean le Fevre, minister of the church and its representative in the Americas.

The Church of the White Eagle Lodge is a non-denominational Christian church founded 50 years ago in England. Despite its name, the members are not American Indians; their teachings are based on the Gospel of St. John and those of White Eagle, a title given by ancient American Indians to a spiritual teacher of great wisdom.

They are a peace-loving people who believe that all religions teach the same spiritual truths; to them, the eagle is the sign of a new age of brotherhood, the Aquarian

=

The retreat center in Montgomery is a place where emphasis on the spiritual healing of wounded animals occurs. Many veterinarians in the area refer injured animals there.

Navajo translation

A translation in the Navajo language by Chester Kahn of a summary of “‘The Promise of World Peace” is now available on an audio cassette for $3 from the Native American Baha’i Institute, P.O. Box 167, Houck, AZ 86506.

Some aspects of Baha’i burial law apply in West

A nine-pointed star may be used, or an appropriate quote from the Baha’i Writings.

NATIVE AMERICANS

The Baha’i law of burial, which consists of several parts, is found in the Kitdb-i-Agdas. However, not all parts of the law are binding on the believers in the Western world.

According to a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Ecuador, dated December 3, 1975, the parts of the law which are now obligatory are:

1, That the body must be buried, not cremated.

2. That the Prayer for the Dead is to be recited for a Baha’i of the age of 15 years or older. This is the prayer which appears as No. CLXVII in Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh.

3. That the body not be taken more than an hour’s journey from

Many newer Bahda’is would love to meet, study Faith with you

Afraid of teaching? It can be kind of scary meeting people for the first time and introducing them to the Faith.

There are many Baha’is who are new and would love to meet other Baha’is, and maybe read something from the Writings with you. They already believe in Bahá’u’lláh and could benefit from meeting other Baha’is, sharing time, fun, the Writings, and praying togeth er.

So if you think you might be able to serve the Cause in this way, please contact your Regional Youth Committee for a list of consolidation projects, or contact the National Youth Committee, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

We'll be more than happy to let you know where you can serve in this greatly needed

way.

the place of death. The method of transport is not specified, but the journey must not take longer than one hour.

Also, the body should not be embalmed unless the practice is required by state law.

There is nothing in the Writings which says that a body may not be left for scientific research or that organs may not be donated for transplant, but if this is done, care must be taken to stipulate in one’s will that the body may not be cre mated or taken more than one

hour’s journey from the place of death.

A Baha’i funeral service is usually handled by the local Spiritual Assembly, but can be carried out by individual Baha’is. Arrangements for the service should be made in consultation with the family of the deceased, and, because the family is often unaware of the Baha’i burial laws, it is important to make sure that the members are informed.

If the family does not wish to cooperate, the Baha’is must not interfere, but may wish to hold a special memorial service for the deceased Baha’i.

The funeral service itself should be simple, consisting of the Prayer for the Dead and a selection of readings from the Baha’i sacred texts. Flexibility, according to local traditions and customs, may be observed, and non-Baha’is are welcome to attend.

Some other parts of the burial law that are not presently binding on Baháa’is of the West are that, after the body has been carefully washed, a special burial ring is to be placed on a finger of the deceased, that the body is to be wrapped in cotton or silk, and placed in a coffin of crystal, stone or wood. When placed in the grave, the position of the feet should be toward ‘Akká.

The Universal House of Justice has stated that the building of a headstone should be left to the family of the deceased.

There is no specific ruling on the type of gravestone that should be used, but the beloved Guardian asked the Baha’is not to use any

American Indian Teaching Activitity October, 1987

form of the Greatest Name or the ringstone emblem as an inscription.

e Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, with help from non-Bahá’í friends, has planted three trees on campus it memory of the Bahd’{ martyrs in Tran. A plaque was placed in front

ABs “ Saati

of each tree so people would know why they were planted. One member of the Bahá’í Club, Swah Ojha (second from left) is pictured with other students and Dr. Dan Evans (left), a botany instructor at Marshall.

Oregon youth help at Shaker meeting, make many friends on service project

NATIVE AMERICANS

As part of a service project in which Baha’i youth of Oregon were involved on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in central Oregon during August, they picked up roadside litter on a driveway leading to the Shaker church.

To the delight of the Shakers, the youth attended services at the church on Sunday, the last day of the project.

The Baha’is were told that the Shakers were going to hold a convention at the church on September 11-13, and arrangements were made for them to return to help with that event.

A diverse core group of about 10 Bahá’ís from Oregon and Washington, with several others who came for part of the weekend, helped the Shakers during their convention.

Among the services provided by the Baha’is, most of whom were youth, were cooking, busing tables, and entertaining children while the Shakers met and consulted.

About 150-200 Shakers came from all over the Northwest. Most were American Indians, with

Katie Fools Crow, 95,

Lakota leader, dies

Funeral services were held September 16 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Kyle, South Dakota, for Katie Fools Crow, 95, who died September 11 at Bennett County Community Hospital.

She was born August 15, 1892, in Chicago, Illinois.

Katie, who was the wife of Chief Frank Fools Crow, declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh and was enrolled in the Faith in 1985,

She and her husband, respected elders of the Lakota people, graciously received visits from Baha’is after he became a Bah’{ in 1983. She will be greatly missed by her Lakota and Baha’i families.

many tribes represented.

Reference was made to the services of the Baha’fs several times during the program, and it was mentioned that, although they were “‘dressed”’ in many different ways, they got along with one another very well.

That weekend, many new friends of the Faith were made.

Young Bahda’is help in NABI development

As a part of the Six Year Plan, the Native American Baha’i Institute in Arizona has been under intense development. The Youth Task Force has been a major part of the process.

A large number of young Ba+ha’is from many parts of the western U.S. have been involved in such activities as office work, construction, participation in the 75th anniversary of the Pine Springs unity picnic, and almost everything else under the sun.

The goal of the youth project was to bring at least 64 people to the Reservation over the summer to help rejuvenate the Reservation.

Children’s cl: held In Tuba City

Meg DeAngelo, a teacher from Pennsylvania, joined forces this summer with Elizabeth Dahe, Anma Yazzie and Ken MorphetBrown to bring Baha’i children’s classes to the Tuba City, Arizona, area.

In July, classes were held in Dinnebito and Polacca, with some 23 children (Navajo and Hopi) attending.

After classes, the children went swimming at Tuba City. Teachers reported that they seemed to have a great time learning about Baha’w’ll4h, Navajo and Hopi culture, and each other.

Ms. DeAngelo and Rosanne Groger of San Francisco helped with children’s classes at the Native American Baha’i Institute in Houck which began August 2 and continued each Sunday through that month.

�[Page 27]4 Baha’is take part in Filipino-American Unity Conference

Four Baha’is were among the more than 800 people from 18 states who took part August 7-9 in the 2nd National Unity Conference of Filipino-Americans in Anaheim, California.

Two Filipino-American Baha’is—Mar Laurico, a member of the local Teaching Committee of Glendale, and Nelson Sapad, a member of the District Teaching Committee of Southern California No. 1—were joined at the conference by fellow Baha’is Sandy Chetendero of Zambia and Eileen Estes of Santa Monica.

The conference adopted the first constitution of the National Filipino-American Council, which is aimed at making Filipino-Americans more influential nationally and creating more support for the Philippines in the U.S.

Speakers at the event included Rep. Stephen Solarz of New York, chairman of the House Sub-Committee on Asian and Pacific Affairs; Mayors Tom Bradley of Los Angeles and Dianne Feinstein of San Francisco; and California Lt. Gov. Leo T. McCarthy.

The Baha’is were able to present copies of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace’’ to 186 people at the conference including:

ROYA BAUMAN

Baha’i graduates with honors from University of Pacific

Roya Bauman, a 21-year-old Bahda’{ who lives in Washington, D.C., was graduated with honors from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

She had a double major, music and psychology, and received many awards including Outstanding Graduate in the Social and Behavioral Sciences; Outstanding Graduate in the Department of Psychology; and the National Orientation Directors’ Association Student Leadership Award.

She served as secretary and chairman of the Bahd’{ Club, chapter president of the professional music fraternity, class coordinator of the Student Adviser Program, and was elected to Phi Kappa Phi national honor society and Phi Kappa Lambda national music honor society.

She is presently working toward a Ph.D in industrial/organizational psychology at George Washington University, where she received a university fellowship, a teaching assistantship and full tuition grant.

Col. (Ret.) Hermie T. Ongkeko, chairman of the National

Filipino-American Council.

¢ Mrs. Irene Natividad, chairman of the National Women’s Political Caucus.

¢ Nonong Guia, a member of the Jaycees who invited the Baha’is to present the Faith to a group of about 800 members in Los Angeles as soon as possible.

¢ Rey and Anita Ong Vano, a couple visiting from Cebu City, Philippines, who had already taken a keen interest in the Faith when they were invited to a Baha’i function in the Philippines.

During the Religion Workshop, the Baha’fs were able to join other participants in reciting a Bahd’{ prayer for unity.

nent San Francisco attorney, is pictured after receiving a copy of ‘The Promise of World Peace’

The American Baha’i / November 1987 / 27

‘from Bahd'’ts (left to right) Nelson Sapad, Sandy Chetendero, Eileen Estes and Mar Laurico. The presentation was made during the

L.A. hosts fourth Baha’i History Conference

Baha’is and their guests from several states and countries gathered at the Los Angeles Baha’i Center over the Labor Day weekend for the fourth annual Baha’i History Conference to be held in that city.

The purpose of the conference was to present research papers of scholarly interest and to discuss the present state of Baha’i studies.

One non-Baha’i scholar, Dr. Margit Warburg, a professor of the sociology of religion at the University of Copenhagen, received a grant from her university to attend the conference.

She presented a paper on the history of the Faith in Denmark that is to be published in a future volume of the Studies in Babi and Bahá’í History series.

Dr. Warburg traced the growth of the Baha’i community from the work of a lone Baha’i woman who came to Denmark in 1925, through the gathering of a group of believers around two American pioneers after World War II, the development of a brotherhood after the pioneers left in the 1950s, the consolidation of the country’s Baha’i administration, and the recent arrival of a number of Persian Baha’is following the Iranian Revolution.

Dr. Peggy Caton, who teaches at the University of CaliforniaSanta Barbara, presented the preliminary results of her work on the history of the Baha’i community of Sacramento. Those at the conference were fascinated to find similarities between the development of that community and the history of the Faith in Copenhagen.

Richard Hollinger, who is pursuing graduate work in history, discussed his research into the early American Baha’i community.

Trinidad/Tobago seek retirees as pioneers

The National Spiritual Assembly of Trinidad and Tobago suggests that suitable persons to come there as pioneers might be retired persons who might have a pension of about $1,500 U.S. per month.

The hope is that arriving pioneers would be able to settle in an area where they were most needed; therefore, not needing to find employment would be a great advantage.

Uncovering the teaching work of Ibrahim Kheiralla before 1897, and taking a second look at the early lists of believers, Mr. Hollinger challenged some current notions about the beginnings of the Faith in America.

Anthony Lee, a graduate student at UCLA and managing editor of Kalimat Press, presented a paper that represented the work of several authors on the history of the service of women on the institutions of the Faith.

The paper noted that the earliest local Assemblies in Iran and the U.S. were limited to men only. It traced the struggle of women in both East and West to gain admittance to those institutions.

Dr. Amin Banani of UCLA lectured on the figure and personality of Táhirih, presenting some of her poems in the original Persian and in translation.

He noted that one poem in particular was so strikingly modern in style and content as to demand a reassessment of TAhirih’s thought.

Dr. Jackson Armstrong-| presented a survey of artisti

pression in the early North American Baha’i community, and the conference held a forum on a recent article in World Order magazine on the laws of the Kitdb-iAqdas and the status of men and women.

Counselor Fred Schechter was able to attend a part of the conference, and to discuss the need for Bahd’{ scholarship and the role of the scholar in the Baha’i community.

By the end of the weekend, everyone felt that the gathering had been fruitful and looked forward to another session next year.

Winter School set in North Carolina

The North Carolina Baha’i Winter School will be held November 27-29 at the Penn 4-H Center in Reidsville, 25 miles north of Greensboro.

Sessions for youth and preyouth will be held.

For more information, please contact Diane McKinley,

_ . Cary, NC 27511, or phone 919-469-2783.

L 2nd National Filipino-American Unity Conference held August 7-9 in Anaheim, California.

Keene Productions casting new movie, ‘The Dawn-Breakers’

Keene Productions is casting a major motion picture, ‘The Dawn-Breakers,’’ which is scheduled for release in theatres next year.

The film, with a budget of $4 million to be financed by independent investors, explores contemporary issues while telling the true story of the Babi movement in Iran. The producer is Dr. Jim Keene.

Among the film’s major characters are (1) Mullá Ḥusayn, (2) a “‘wild and weird’’ 50-year-old dervish who becomes a Babi martyr, (3) the young American missionary Austin Wright, (4) Russian envoy Dimitri Dolgorukov, (5) Persian Prime Minister Haji Mirza Agasi, (6) Táhirih, (7) the young Babi Shaykh Hasan-i-Zunuzi, (8) Quddús, and (9) Vahid.

Aspiring performers should send a photo with age, height, weight and other data such as experience to Keene Productions, Villas del Mar Este 7-G, Isla Verde, Puerto Rico 00913.

Bahá’í Distribution Service

new from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust

Capture the Spirit of the Dedication of The Mother Temple of India

Four cassettes filled with more than five hours of material

Talks by Three Hands of

the Cause, a Counselor and the Temple architect

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�[Page 28]28 / The American Baha’i / November 1987

‘Peace Orchestra’ smash hit at Peace Fest 87

STORIES OF THE MARTYRS

DR. BAHRAM AFNAN

Dr. Bahram Afnan was born in the mid-1930s in Shiraz, Iran. His father was a descendant of the family of the Bab, which is why his last name is Afnan.

His mother was the daughter of a well-known Baha’i poet on whom Bahá’u’lláh had conferred the title “‘Andalib,”’ which means “nightingale.”

In his childhood and youth, Dr. Afnan was an active Baha’i, took part in all the Baha’i classes, and served on the local Youth Committee.

He attended school in Shiraz, completed his education in the medical field, became a heart specialist, and began practicing medicine in that same city.

Besides serving on the Spiritual Assembly of Shiraz, Dr. Afnan served on various committees.

After the Islamic Revolution swept Iran in 1979, Dr. Afnan was arrested along with a number of other Bahá’ís.

Many of the non-Baha’i physicians and residents of Shiraz signed a petition asking the government to release him on the ground that there were not enough doctors in the town. But the religious judge refused to do so; he argued that the work of even a competent Bahd’{ doctor would not be pleasing to God!

Those who were in prison with Dr. Afnan have reported that, while in the prison, despite torture and other forms of cruelty he was forced to endure, he demonstrated great forbearance and detachment. It is also said that his treatment of others in the prison was exemplary.

As with most of the Baha’i martyrs, Dr. Afnan was given a chance to recant his faith or face death. He refused to recant and therefore became a martyr.

He was a skilled physician, a kind, loving, intelligent, unassuming and gentle soul who spent his free time with the friends, helping them with their problems.

Dr. Afnan was hanged on June 16, 1983, with five other Baha’is. At the time of his martyrdom, he was 48 years old. He is survived by his wife and their three children.

NOTICE

At its recent meeting the National Spiritual Assembly voted to remove the administrative rights of Mr. of Tucson, Arizona, for his civil conviction of theft by extortion.

By DAVID E. OGRON

A group of Baha’is from 11 states who are professional musicians was assembled September 16-17 at the Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute near Hemingway, South Carolina, as ‘The Peace Orchestra,” a 16-member big band that performed on two occasions during the four-day Peace Fest 87.

During its first concert September 16 the orchestra was led by John Birks (Dizzy) Gillespie, a world-renowned jazz trumpeter and native of South Carolina.

The program that evening consisted primarily of Mr. Gillespie’s own musical compositions and arrangements.

For its second concert the orchestra turned to arrangements by a variety of well-known artists including charts by Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Marian McPartland and Don Sebesky.

Baritone saxophonist Marvin (Doc) Holladay, an associate professor of music at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, is coordinator of the Peace Orchestra.

The other members of the group, most of whom performed at both concerts, include:

Trumpets—Greg Ives, Warren Kime, Roger Lewis, Paul Seaforth.

Trombones—Todd Lowery, Charlie Lee, Jim Tangney, Ed Craft (bass), Scott Crum.

Saxophones—Jay Corre, Don Erdman, Roger Hogan, Daryl

Lowery, Abe White . Piano—Mike Longo (Wednesday), Charlie Glick (Thursday). Drums—Sherman Ferguson. Bass—Derrick Jordan-Polk.

Top: Flutist Daryl Lowery. Above: Drummer Sherman Ferguson.

"Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie leads the ‘Bahd’ Peace Orchestra.’

Members of the Peace Orchestra, all but four of whom are Baha’is, represent a wide range of ages and have an impressive array of professional credentials, having played with such bands as those led by Harry James, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Nelson Riddle, Lionel Hampton, Tex Beneke, Ray Anthony, Ralph Marterie, Benny Carter, Mercer Ellington, Quincy Jones, Gerald Wilson, Manny Albam, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis, Larry Elgart, and many others.

Besides performing with guitarist Kenny Burrell, trumpeters Bobby Shew and Shorty Rogers, saxophonist Benny Carter and others, drummer Sherman Ferguson of Los Angeles, who became a Baha’ last year, has been an actor on television and appears in four episodes of the current NBC-TV series ‘‘The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd.”

Trombonist Todd Lowery, one of the younger members of the orchestra at age 20, is a student at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York; his brother, Daryl, teaches at the Berklee School in Boston.

Another teacher is trumpeter Roger Lewis who played professionally for 21 years before settling down to teach at Wichita State University in Kansas where he directs the school’s jazz ensemble.

Roger Hogan, a much soughtafter musician on the West Coast, is a former member of the Airmen of Note, the official jazz ensemble

a:

The Peace Orchestra’s trombone section plays a unison passage

of the U.S. Air Force, and performed in the television version of “‘Ain’t Misbehavin’,”’ the story of the life of legendary pianist Fats Waller.

Trumpeter Paul Seaforth, with fellow musician Rob Jenkins, has recorded a tape for Kalimat Press entitled “‘Dove.”” Seaforth and Jenkins are popular performers at Bahá’í-sponsored events on the West Coast.

The idea for the Peace Orchestra sprang from last year’s Peace Fest at the Gregory Institute during which Dizzy Gillespie per Soloing: Saxophonist Jay Corre, trumpeter Roger Lewis.

during rehearsal for the Peace Fest ’87 jazz concerts.

formed with a small ‘group consisting of some musicians from New York City along with saxophonists Doc Holladay and Don Erdman.

Both Messrs. Gillespie and Holladay would like to see the Peace Orchestra become a permanent musical organization.

Mr. Holladay says that although the membership of the orchestra may change, as indeed it did to some extent during Peace Fest ’87, he hopes that the concept and the orchestra itself can continue in some form. �[Page 29]

Peace Fest

from page 1

others.

Earlier, members of the orchestra were interviewed on WLGI Radio Baha’i, which is located at the Institute.

On Friday, September 18, a Gospel jubilee, which lasted more than four hours, brought members of the audience to their feet to sing and clap along with seven top-flight Gospel groups.

The entertainment began with a performance by the newly formed Louis Gregory Baha’i Choir composed of area believers representing a wide range of ages.

Following the Gregory Choir onstage were the Andrews Community Choir, Sam and the Exciting Linen Singers, the Super Bowl of Gospel (three groups), and the

Dr. Robert C. Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, speaks during a panel discussion at the Gregory Institute’s Peace Fest ’87.

Above: The Umoja Dancers from

Charleston, South Carolina, perform. Below: Doc Holladay (sec Brown Brothers.

At the conclusion of the program, which continued until after midnight, Gospel singers and members of the audience carrying lighted candles formed a circle of unity around the large tent and sang songs of peace.

Then Dr. William Roberts, an Auxiliary Board member from Springfield, Massachusetts, read prayers of unity from the Baha’i Writings.

On Saturday, Dr. Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, was the first speaker during an inter-religious panel discussion on religion’s role in bringing about peace.

Dr. Henderson told the audience of about 200 that we must move beyond the artificial separation of people based on skin color and achieve the unity of races ‘‘at the kitchen table and on the sofa.”

In describing the need to eliminate the disparity of rich and poor, he used as an illustration the disaster which befell the S.S. Titanic in 1912, pointing out that although there were both rich and poor passengers on the ill-fated ship, its sinking took the lives of both the wealthy and those of more modest means.

Referring to humanity as a whole, Dr. Henderson said, “If there’s a hole in the boat, we will all go down.”

Other prerequisites to peace that must be addressed, he said, include elimination of the inequality between men and women, the need for universal education, and elimination of unbridled nationalism and religious strife.

The second speaker on the panel, which was moderated by Dr. Roberts, was Dr. Howard McClain, a research fellow at the Institute for Southern Studies at the University of South Carolina, who spoke of peace efforts being

ond from left) puts aside his saxophone to. sit in with the Ilu African Drummers.

developed within the Southern Baptist Assembly.

Pastors must give peace a continuing emphasis, he said, and their congregations must pick up this rhetoric.

Love conquers all, but hatred destroys all in its path, said the third speaker, Imam Ḥakím Abdu’l-Ali, a Sunni Muslim and head of the Islamic Society of Charleston.

The Imam used the example of a relay race to explain that in order to overcome racism, people must pass the baton of love from one person to another, and emphasized the role of religion in the peace process by using quotations from the Qu’rdn.

Later in the program, Dr. Roy Jones, director of the Louis Gregory Bahd’{ Institute, presented the Institute’s first Peace Award to Attorney General Travis Medlock, recognizing his initiative in working to eliminate drug abuse in South Carolina through the ‘Be Free to Succeed’’ program.

The plaque was accepted for Mr. Medlock by Deputy Attorney General Robert Cook, who spoke favorably about the Faith’s strong anti-drug position.

The ‘‘Be Free to Succeed” program was described to the audience by Casey Manning, an assistant to the Attorney General and former star basketball player at the University of South Carolina who heads the state’s drug task force.

This final day of Peace Fest ’87 included an international buffet luncheon with outstanding cuisine from five continents for all those attending, and entertainment by the Ilu African Drummers and Umoja Dancers from Charleston; the Atlanta Baha’i Youth Workshop; ‘‘Baha’i Brothers,” a youth rap presentation by young believers from Kingstree and Florence; and music by a rock band known as The Educators.

The Gregory Institute received from Gov. Carroll Campbell Jr. of South Carolina a proclamation designating September 14-20 as “Peace Week’’ in the state.

It was estimated that about 85 per cent of the 800 people who attended all or a part of Peace Fest ’87 were not Baha’is.

Alto saxophonist Skip Pearson of ‘Classic Collection.’

The American Baha’i / November 1987 / 29

Above: Dr. Roy Jones (right,

rector of the Louis Gregory Institute, presents the Peace Award to Deputy Attorney General Robert Cook, representing state Attorney

Among the crowd-pleasing entertainers at Peace Fest ’87 were

General Travis Medlock. Below: A part of the audience at the first of two jazz concerts by the Bahá’í Peace Orchestra.

members of the Atlanta Bahd’( Youth Workshop.

�[Page 30]30 / The American Baha’i / November 1987

Archives seeks letters to Baha’is from the Guardian

The Universal House of Justice has issued another urgent appeal for letters written by the Guardian or on his behalf and addressed to

would like to receive either a good photocopy or the original letter. Please send letters to the National Baha’ Archives, Bahd’{ National

Baha’i institutions or individual believers. It is important that the World Center maintain a complete collection of the Guardian’s letters as the House of Justice refers to his writings when preparing legislation and consulting on matters relating to the progress of the Faith.

The National Baha’i Archives is searching for the following letters written to Baha’is in the U.S. If you have a letter, the Archives

Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. °

27-SEP-1956 17-DEC-1956 03-MAR-1957 01-MAY- 1957 12-0¢T-1957 26-OCT-1957 03-FEB-1954 23-MAY-1954 27-DEC-1954 09-Nov-1956 06-SEP-1957 26-AUG-1937 24-JUL-1955 28-FEB-1956 21-APR-1957 05-SEP-1951 25-FEB-1950 08-MAY-1954 20-FEB-1955 08-MAY-1954 20-FEB-1955 06-SEP-1949 10-OCT-1956 01-JUN-1947 24-JUN-1955 05-SEP-1955, 28-SEP-1955 10-SEP-1932 28-NOV-1933 22-JUL-1934 10-DEC-1946 14-SEP-1953 21-FEB-1957 21-0cT-1941 31-MAR- 1947 03-FEB-1955 14-DEC-1924 30-NOV-1939 27-FEB-1928

ASSOCIATION TO MAKE ENGLISH INCORPORATED

Auxiliary Board member Miguel Osborne discusses ‘The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh’ with Bahá’ís who gathered July 18 at the Nine Oaks Bahá’í School in Arroyo Grande, California. That same evening, Mr. Osborne addressed a largely non-Bahd’{ audience at the school on the topic ‘Overcoming Obstacles to Peace.’

ATKINS, EDA R ‘ATKINSON, ¢ NEVELL ATKINSON, CHARLES SYONEY ATKINSON, HENRY A ATKINSON, HENRY A ATKINSON, HENRY A ATWATER, MARGARET 1 ATWATER, MARGARET H AUFORTH, MAI

AUFORTH, MAT

AUFORTH, MAI 4

‘AUFORTH, MAT 4

‘AUFORTH, MAI MARGARET ‘AULT, OWA

AULT, ONA

AULT, ONA M

AUPPERLE, ROSEMARY SEHMER

30-AUG-1953, O1-APR-1933 05-SEP-1946 06-MAY-1928 12-DEC-1928 24-MAR-1929 31-JUL-1938 12-JUL-1939 09-FEB-1942 20-MAY-1945 29-NOV-1926 26-SEP-1955, 11-FEB-1953 31-AUG-1951 11-Nov-1951 21-APR-1952 30-JAN-1952 (08-MAY-1942

Baha’ youth in Nigeria’s Oyo State enroll 802 in week-long teaching project

In September, the Universal House of Justice shared with Baha’i communities the following excerpt from a telex from the National Spiritual Assembly of Nigeria reporting teaching activities undertaken by youth in that country: “Six youth joined week-long teaching project in Balogun near Ife, Oyo State, August 17-22. Enrolled 802 majority Yoruba tribe

including 80 women.

“Team stayed in home of a local Baha’, walked to five villages, formed three new LSAs and strengthened two existing communities.

“The youth who had attended Samuel Bakare Teaching Project and used the same method included coordinator Sunday Egwu, Sarafa Amuda, Fatai Adesina, Solomon Wariso and Kemi.”

23-APR-1928 11-30-1965 12-SEP-1947 30-APR-1949 06-aPR-1952 20-JUL-1952 06-APR-1953 26-APR-1953,

b 04 -JUN-1953

AUSTIN, GEORGE J 31-MAR-1947

AUSTIN, HENRY R 20-JAN-1939

AUSTIN, OP 08-0cr-1927

AVERY, “GAIL 19-JUL-1954

AVERY, GAIL 10-DEC-1954

AYERS, AGNES HAE

AYRES, JW

AYRES, JN

AYRES, J

AYRES, JN MRS

AYRES, JN HRS

2 oN MRS:

AYRES, J NEVELL MRS AYRES, J NEVELL MRS AYRES, NEWELL

AYRES, NEWELL

AYRES, PAULINE

AYRES, PAULINE K

AYRES, PAULINE $ NEVELL AYRES, PAULINE $ NEVELL AZUMA, TY

AZUMA, TY

BAHAI YOUTH OF QUINCY, IL BAHAI YOUTH OF QUINCY, IL BAHAI YOUTH OF QUINCY, IL BAHAI YOUTH OF QUINCY, TL

‘YOUTH OF 14-DEC-1955

BAHA'IS OF ALBUQUERQUE, KM 30-DEC-1956

BAHA'IS OF ALBUQUERQUE, KM 26-JUN-1955

BAHA'IS OF ALBUQUERQUE, RM 05-SEP-1955,

BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, KM 28-SEP-1955

BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, KM 28-OCT-1955,

BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM 11-NOV-1955

BAHA'IS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM 31-JAN-1956

BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, KM 06-FEB-1956

AHATS OF ALBUQUERQUE, RM 11-MAR-1956

BANAT YOUTH OF THE, 28-Nov-1939

MIDDLE WEST .

fH -30-APR-1954 wt 1B-MAY-1954

BAHA'IS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NX 13-APR-195¢

BAHA'IS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM 27-APR-1956

BAPAIS OP ALBUQUERQUE, WM 04-JUL-1956

iat.

On July 11, the Bahá’ís of Jupiter, Florida, sponsored a World Peace panel discussion which focused on questions about the possibility of peace and what the individual must do to help make it happen.

Panelists included representatives of the National Organization for Women, the Miccosukee Indian Tribe, and the chairman of the Equal Opportunity Board as well as a local rabbi. The moderator

was Auxiliary Board member Charles (Cap) Cornwell (seated in center at table). More than 75 people, most of whom were not Bahá’ís, attended the event.

BAWATS OF ALBUQUERQUE, RM a BAWAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, RM 1 BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM Sa BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM 10-OCT-1956 _BANAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NX BAWATS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM 26-OCT-1956 BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, Nt BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM 18-NOV-1956 BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NH BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM 15-DEC-1956 BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM — 01-AUG-1957 BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM 27-DEC-1956 BANATS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM 22-AUG-1957 BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM — 13-JAN-1957 BAHAIS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM 02-OCT-1957

The Bahá’í National Youth Committee and the Bahá’í Distribution Service invite you to ...

By offering you a special discount throughout the Six Year Plan on selected books

Take advantage of this special offer and accomplish two goals:

“Increase the regular methodical study of the Bahá’í Writings” as requested in the Six Year Plan

Shoghi Effendi’s letter to the North American Baha’i community assuring us of our successes, responsibilities, and glorious future. Here the paramount importance of teaching is spelled out, with instructions and encouragement that will help each believer acquire the virtues and contribute to the achievement

Regular price

Please send me ____ copies of this month’s selection, The Advent of Divine Justice, at the special price of $7.65 each.

Name I enclose $. Mail order only. Payable by peciress check or money order. No postage necessary in the pet Rie eee vs 7 oUiSy Fourth ‘class shippangs Bahá’í Distribution Service only. Offer good only in the

415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091

of the destiny of this continent.

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continental U.S.

Errol Doris Jr., a 10-year-old Bahá’í from LaGrange, Illinois, was one of the speakers at the dedication September 20 in Evanston of the ‘Avenue of the Righteous,’ a park honoring heroic gentiles who

risked their lives to save those of Jews during the holocaust, 193345. Other speakers included Joan Barr, the mayor of Evanston; Dr.

Arnold Weber, president of Northwestern University; and Jewish, Catholic and Protestant clergymen. The program chairman was Robert Armbruster, a Bahá’í from Glencoe. Errol Doris is one of a number of children coached in public speaking by Gayle Woolson, a Bahd’{ from Evanston.

Resolution praises peace statement

When a member of the Baha’i Group of Arden Hills, Minnesota, approached the city administrator on behalf of the Baha’i community to arrange to present “‘The Promise of World Peace”’ to the mayor and city council, the city’s administrative staff ‘‘took the liberty’’ of adapting the Kansas legislature’s resolution about the peace statement and placing the matter first on the agenda at the next city counci! meeting (August 31).

After a brief introduction, the mayor and four council members were given copies of the statement. The mayor then asked if anyone was opposed to the resolution, and the council adopted it unanimously.

Among other things, the resolution says that “‘study of this document (The Promise of World Peace) is enthusiastically encouraged’’ by the city council of Arden. Hills. �[Page 31]

10 YEARS AGO

The American Baha’i community arises in response to a challenge issued by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and the National Spiritual Assembly to redouble its teaching efforts in the last critical days of the Five Year Plan.

By the end of the first week following ‘‘Victory Sessions”’ held in communities around the country, 20,755 firesides are pledged for the National Month of Firesides from September 20-October 20, and there are 109 offers to go pioneering overseas, 125 to pioneer on the homefront, 397 to travel and teach in the goal states of California, Illinois and New York.

Also, 5,874 postcards are received bearing the names of seekers the friends pledge to teach personally during the coming year, and $30,606 is pledged to the National Baha’ Fund. ...

275 Bahi’is from 20 states gather over the Labor Day weekend for a Southern States Teaching Conference hosted by the Spiritual Assembly of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Among the speakers are Dr. Magdalene Carney, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly; Auxiliary Board member Sam McClellan; John Conkling, secretary of the National Teaching Committee; Trudy White, secretary of the South Carolina Regional Teaching Committee; Larry Miller, a business motivation consultant from Marietta, Georgia; and Robert Imagire, a member of the Asian/American Teaching Committee.

Dr. Carney stresses the need for teachers to recognize that enrollment is a two-step process involving not only declaration but the consolidation of new believers. ..

Thirty-two Baha’is from across the U.S. spend August 18-21 taking part in a ‘‘Special Visit’’ program sponsored by the Baha’i House of Worship.

Besides touring the National Center, the visitors hear talks by the Hand of the Cause of God Zikru’lláh Khadem; Counselor Edna True; and Glenford E. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly. ...

Six Bahd’{ youth spend three weeks in July and August at the National Summer Youth Teaching Project, held this year at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

The projecteers, most of whom are teaching on a Reservation for the first time, are Nancy and Earl Henrikson, sister and brother of a homefront pioneer on the Reservation; Barbara Jennrich of Navajo, New Mexico; Robin Kelley and Cindy Simons, both of Waukesha, Wisconsin; and Jahangir Tavangar of Blacksburg, Virginia...

Seventy-seven National Treasurer’s Representatives (NTRs) spend the Labor Day weekend at the Baha’i National Center studying the meaning of the Bahda’{ Fund in terms of accounting and, more importantly, in terms of the Covenant.

Betty Morris, a Montessoritrained teacher from Fort Worth, Texas, is named program director at the Louis Gregory Baha’i Instioe in Hemingway, South Caro

The American Baha’i / November 1987 / 31

Powell Lindsay, Baha’i who was Broadway producer, actor, director, playwright dies at age 82 in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Powell Lindsay, 82, a former Broadway producer, director, playwright and actor, and a Baha’ since 1961, died September 22 at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, after a long illness.

Mr. Lindsay began his long theatrical career in New York City in the 1930s, moved to Detroit in the mid-’50s, and to Ann Arbor in the mid-’60s where he served the State Legislative Service Bureau and revived the Suitcase Theatre before his retirement in 1979.

On winning the Yale UniversityCity of New Haven Drama Tournament with his production | of “Mighty Wind A-Blowin’, which he also directed, Mr. Lindsay co-founded the original Harlem Suitcase Theatre with Langston Hughes in 1937, then formed the Negro Playwrights Company (with Theodore Ward, George Norford, Theodore Browne and Owen Dodson), staging and di

recting its first production, “Big White Fog,” in 1940.

He wrote, directed and starred in films produced by William D. Alexander, appeared on network television, and toured the U.S. and Canada nine times with his Negro Drama Group in the ’40s.

On Broadway, Mr. Lindsay coproduced (with Jack Kirkland) and starred in ‘‘Tobacco Road’’ in 1950, and co-produced (with John Young III) and starred in Garson Kanin’s ‘Born Yesterday’’ in 1953.

He brought his play ‘Flight from Fear’’ to Detroit in 1954, and the following year wrote, produced and directed “This Is Our America” for the Panorama of Progress at the Michigan State Fairgrounds.

During the 50s, Detroit television audiences became familiar with Mr. Lindsay in a variety of roles in ‘Youth Bureau’? and

Henderson

from page 4

length.

“‘At the Master’s funeral no Baha’i spoke, making way for non-Baha’i orators of various faiths, Christian, Jewish, and Moslem, all so eager to pay their tributes of veneration to their beloved teacher and the ‘“‘Father of the Poor.’” The only Baha’i speaker at the obsequies of His devoted follower was limited to a few minutes because of a similar condition.

“Months before, George was aware of his proximate end, remarking that he had much work but little time, as he would not

“‘He proceeded to set his house in order. He incorporated his school so that its services might survive him. He also provided that, agreeable to the wishes of the Baha’is, it might always be used by them.

“Despite stormy weather the funeral assembled a capacity audience. There were prayers for the departed. Remarks touching his success as educational pioneer and in discovering Bahá’u’lláh, whose Glory now encircles the earth,

“His bold proclamation of faith; his humble and grateful acknowledgement of it as the foundation and motivating power of his life’s work received mention.

“There followed an array of distinguished speakers from the clergy, the field of education, religious and secular, the officialdom of his native state.

“Most impressive of these was that of a venerable clergyman of the white race who left a sick bed to attend, exposing himself to further perils through taxi shortage on a stormy day. With tear-dimmed eyes and faltering voice, he pictured his great love for his brother; how they had spent long hours together meditating and conversing about the mysteries of

the divine worlds.

“His former Sunday school teacher told of the bright promise of his youth. The dean related his connections with faculty and students. A state official described the esteem of Tennessee, also how he found him an ideal companion. Another clergyman suspended a tule of his church to eulogize George Henderson.

“The pastor of the church which he often attended brilliantly portrayed him as a planter, builder, writer, and father, in all of which he was par excellent.

“The aroma of flowers, the spiritual atmosphere, the fine opportunity to teach the oneness of humanity to an interracial gathering, Tennyson’s beautiful poem, ‘Crossing the Bar,’ added joy to the solemnity.

“This tribute has come from Haifa:

“* ‘He (the Guardian) was sorry to hear Prof. Henderson had passed away. No doubt he will now find himself in that happy state promised by the Beloved as the reward of His faithful servants. The Guardian will pray for his spiritual advancement and that his deeds in the South may bear fruit.’ ’—Louis Gregory

Baha’is interviewed

On Sunday, August 16, two radio stations in Memphis, Tennessee, carried pre-recorded interviews on the Baha’i Faith.

The first, ‘‘Congregations United,”’ a 30-minute program on WHBQ AM sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, was devoted wholly to the Faith and featured an interview of Manooch Ḥakími by Dr. Harry Moore and Dr. W.C. Holmes.

The second, a program titled “Concern ’87’’ on WHKO FM, included a 15-minute interview of Mr. Ḥakími and Mark Gilman about the Faith and its approach to peace by the host, Coleman Brousky.

rewarded Abhaé Kingdom.

Kindly convey Sylvia Collins, Duncanville, Texas, our profound sympathy loss her dear mother devoted handmaiden Bahá’u’lláh Arabelle Haywood. Ardently supplicating Holy Shrines that her many years unstinting Baha’i service will be richly

Universal House of Justice ‘September 24, 1987

“Marriage Counselor,’’ produc tions of Granville Ryan.

During that time he also did a special study on police brutality for the NAACP that was published in The New York Times, and wrote a newspaper column, ‘‘The Curtain Is Up,” for the Ecorse Star Journal, a biographical feature series for The Michigan Chronicle, and articles and poetry for The Negro History Bulletin.

In addition, he performed special investigations for the Mayor’s Committee for the City of Detroit, “and public relations for the senatorial and gubernatorial campaigns of Philip A. Hart and John B. Swainson, respectively.

After becoming a Baha’i in 1961, Mr. Lindsay served as chairman of the Detroit Assembly’s Teaching Committee, co-directed (with Oliver LaGrone) ‘Outlook for Liberals,’’ a Human Relations Forum series for the Baha’i Club at Wayne State University, and (with June McKee) Detroit chapter activity of the Norman Cousins Society for Individual Responsibility.

On renewing in 1962 his collaboration with Langston Hughes for the Michigan Emancipation Centennial Commission, Mr. Lindsay conceived his first presentation of “*...these truths...,’” a documentary dramatizing the 400-year struggle of black Americans for full freedom, inspiring later productions by the Suitcase Theatre.

In 1965, Mr. Lindsay founded the Research Association for Michigan Negro History, and conducted for the Michigan Education Association in-service training of school administrators and teachers, helping to upgrade the coverage of the contributions of black Americans in American history textbooks.

For the occasion of the State Convention of Michigan Baha’is held in Lansing in November 1965, Mr. Lindsay wrote the Concurrent Resolution of Tribute to the Baha’i World Faith that was passed by the membership of the Michigan state legislature.

This was the first document of its kind to be asked for and received by the archives of all continental Bahá’í Houses of Wor

POWELL LINDSAY

ship as well as the Museum of Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí, near the Baha’i World Center in Haifa, Israel.

After the death of Langston Hughes, Mr. Lindsay launched programs of tribute from which his 1967-68-69 productions (with Kent Martin) of ‘‘Langston Hughes Looks at Dark America’’ emerged and were staged in Detroit’s Ford Auditorium after formances in Lansing and Arbor.

Mr. Lindsay revived the Suitcase Theatre in 1970, giving talented young people of all races equal chance to share in an international cultural exchange and to experience family living in other countries while demonstrating “democracy in action’ through racially integrated productions about life in America.

From its Lansing base, Suitcase Theatre became, in the words of then-Gov. William Milliken, “‘Michigan’s most unique export,’’ traveling to 13 countries on three continents in nine years.

Michigan State University Television produced two special programs on the troupe’s achievements, the Michigan Association of Classroom Teachers conferred an Award of Excellence, and the Michigan legislature and city of Lansing gave tributes to Suitcase Theatre.

Mr. Lindsay is survived by his wife, June; a son, Raymond, of Mt. Vernon, New York; and a stepson, Kris Costa-McKee, of Towson, Maryland.

IN MEMORIAM

Leila Antonson Charles Myers Daisy Mae Holman Lakewood, CA Willow Creek, CA Holly Hill, SC January 22, 1987 September 16, 1987 1986

Emma Lou Barnes Andy Otto Pass Carson Jackson Norway, SC Lewisville, TX Philadelphia, MS January 1987 July 1986 Date Unknown Raymond Chamption Sr. Alberta Tipton —_ Lula Johnson Lewisville, TX Monroe, LA Norway, SC

1986 August 28, 1987 1986

Frank Drayton Clarence Townsend Mattie Jones-Sampson Kissimee, FL Meggett, SC Alexandria, VA

Date Unknown April 1983 August 7, 1987 Gladys Flanders Vernell Welfare Grace Kenna Winnemucca, NV Holly Hill, SC Round Lake Beach, IL August 29, 1987 Date Unknown June 18, 1987

Hanson Ficklin Leslie R. White Rena Mack

Baton Rouge, LA Long Valley J.D., CA Holly Hill, SC December 9, 1986 Date Unknown May 15, 1987

Eva Lois Himes Swartz, LA July 24, 1987 �[Page 32]32 / The American Baha’i / November 1987

Dennis and Pam Johnson lead a group discussion of Bahá’í marriage during a Bahá’í Marriage

Workshop presented August 15 in the Twin Cities area by the Min nesota Bahá’í Institute,

17 couples attend Institute’s Minnesota Marriage Workshop

Seventeen Baha’i couples from Minnesota and Iowa attended a Baha’i Marriage Workshop presented August 15 in the Twin Cities area by the Minnesota Baha’ Institute.

The daylong workshop was conducted by Pamela Jones-Johnson and Dennis H. Johnson, Baha’is who are marriage and family therapists in private practice in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

The program began with selected prayers and readings from the Baha’i writings. Short presentations that included large group discussion were made by facilit: tors throughout the day. Participants also took part in smaller group consultation sessions and in consultation as couples.

With workshop facilitators, they consulted about the behaviors of healthy couples and reviewed characteristics of personality within the perspective of the

Farewell

from page 1

Mashriqu’!-Adhkár.””

As the time draws near for the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to this country to end, we are faced with a new challenge, as great as was the building of the holiest House of Worship. We have been directed by the Universal House of Justice to help complete the Arc on Mount Carmel.

Across the country, Baha’i communities are preparing to commemorate the departure of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with special gatherings. Again, gifts will be offered—this time in memory of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá—for another great enterprise in the establishment of the World Order of Baha’u’llah.

As a final gesture, it seems fitting and appropriate to carry on in the spirit of what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the perfect Exemplar, would have us do—to offer our gifts of love and appreciation in thanksgiving for all that He brought to us on His long journey to an enterprise which, as we are told in the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, will hasten the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth.

In gatherings either on the Day of the Covenant (which falls on Thanksgiving day this year) or on the 75th anniversary of the Master’s departure (December 5), communities are urged to join in the gift-giving to the Arc of the Covenant in memory of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His visit to America.

appreciation of differences and the dynamics that such differences can create in a growing marriage.

Couples also examined qualities of mutually rewarding and productive marriages, and pra techniques for setting priorities through consultation.

Throughout the workshop, the gift of consultation given by Bahá’u’lláh was shown to be the key to unity and to strengthening Baha’i marriages.

The distinct nature of the workshop was evident in the following characteristics:

(1) Participants were all Baha’i couples; (2) facilitators were Baha’is who integrate the Baha’i teachings into their theory and practice; and (3) greater scope and scholarly depth were exercised in the process of applying Baha’i principles to the marital relationship.

The Baha’i Marriage Workshop was prepared and offered as a result of a proposal generated from the Conference on Mental and Emotional Well-Being presented by the Minnesota Baha’i Institute in January 1987.

The Institute, which was created to promote and conduct activities to develop and foster Baha’i scholarship in the north central states, is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and operated by an appointed board of directors.

For more information about the Baha’i Marriage Workshop or the Institute and its activities, write to: Minnesota Baha’i Institute, P.O. Box 18057, West St. Paul, MN 55118.

Communicating topic at Bosch School’s winter holiday session

The Bosch Baha’i School’s winter holiday session for all ages (December 22-26) promises to help you become a more effective communicator in your family, at work, in the community, and as a teacher of the Faith.

A practical seminar on ‘‘Effective One-to-One Communications and Constructive Relationships’’ will be conducted by Jack Lee of Reno, Nevada, and Eileen Norman of Carlsbad, California.

To register for the session, which begins with dinner on Tuesday and ends with lunch on Saturday, send a deposit of $15 for each person to the Bosch Baha’i School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.

MOVING?

I TELL US YOUR I NEW ADDRESS

fo 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, Wi mette, IL 60091, as soon as you know wt 1 move and what your new

This form may be used for one person or your entire family. Please be sure to list FULL NAMES AND I.D. NUMBERS for all individuals, ages 15 years or older, who will be affected by this change.

A 1. 1D# Title Full name—Please DO NOT use nicknames 2. . 1DW Title Full name “De Title Full name 4. ID# 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 Gy State Zip D—NEW COMMUNITY: Name of new Baha’i community Moving date

L ‘Area Code Number

We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) whose name(s) and I.D. number(s) are listed above.

Wilmette, Iinois 60091

NON-PROFIT ORG. US. POSTAGE PAID WILMETTE, IL. PERMIT NO, 479

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the last names and addresses on our 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

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Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahs'i. 1 wish to receive my own copy as well, and have listed my name, 1.D, number and address above so that I may be put on the mailing list to receive my own copy.

me ee ee ee ee ee ae ae ee

Oregon Baha’is meet to discuss Regional Center

Members of Spiritual Assemblies in the metropolitan Portland, Oregon, area, met August 8 at the invitation of the Assemblies of Portland and Beaverton for a Metro Assembly Conference for a Regional Baha’i Center.

Twenty-five people from nine of the Assemblies and Groups in the area attended. The conference followed an in-depth survey and study by the Socio-Economic Development Committee’s Consortium for a Regional Baha’i Center.

Presenting findings of the Consortium, Farzam Majd of West Linn said the survey reflects the clear interest of the area’s Baha’ is to establish a regional Center.

Consultation flowered as the friends turned to the realities, knowing that there is a spiritual side to being able to do all the things necessary for God’s Cause.

One Baha’i pointed out that an expansive and positive vision is needed for the Cause, one that incorporates the vision of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Guardian, and the Universal House of Justice.

Another believer called for the vision to be one of a Center for

Copious notes were taken during a Metro Assembly Conference for a

the Northwest. When still another mentioned the existing fund for a Baha’i Center, a number of creative ideas burst forth.

Ideas were soon transformed into tasks, and a recommendation was made to make Portland the

Regional Bahá’í Center held August 8 in Portland, Oregon.

sponsoring Assembly to appoint a management board for completion of the tasks by February 1988.

The friends then rose up, formed a circle, and sang ‘‘Allah’u’Abha.”’ �