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The Master hosts Souvenir picnic in Teaneck, New Jersey

One of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s most outstanding and memorable accomplishments during His visit to North America in 1912 was to give a unity Feast to which all the friends were invited.

As a result of that Feast, He told the believers, “hearts will be bound together, spirits blended and a new foundation for unity established.”

The unity Feast was held in the form of a picnic in West Englewood (Teaneck), New Jersey.

Sharing with those who attended the event a glimpse of His divinely inspired vision of the future, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá told them that the gathering had “a significance which will last forever.”

The same words He spoke that day, he told them, would be repeated in commemorative meetings “for ages to come.”

The Master’s words, which appear below, will be read aloud at unity picnics all across America on June 27 as Bahá’ís commemorate the 75th anniversary of that historic occasion.

• * *

This is a delightful gathering; you have come here with sincere intentions, and the purpose of all present is the attainment of the virtues of God. The motive is attraction to the divine Kingdom.

Since the desire of all is unity and agreement, it is certain that this meeting will be productive of great results. It will be the cause of attracting a new bounty, for we are turning to the Kingdom of Abhá, seeking the infinite bestowals of the Lord.

This is a new Day, and this hour is a new Hour in which we have

See ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ page 4

The American Bahá’í

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

Volume 18, No. 6 June 1987

‘Abdu’l-Bahá (far left) with many of those who attended the ‘feast of unity’ held in June 1912 in Teaneck, New Jersey.

78th Bahá’í National Convention

‘A new level of maturity, awareness’

The 78th Bahá’í National Convention, held April 23-26 within the sacred precincts of the Mother Temple of the West in Wilmette, Illinois, was imbued with a maturity of deliberation and a sense of purpose perhaps unprecedented in the history of the American Bahá’í community.

“It’s another sign that we are truly coming of age,” said Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly who also served as secretary of the Convention.

“Due to the increase in grassroots activity, notably in the distribution of the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement,” he said, “and to concerted efforts within the community to foster unity, such as holding the Town Meetings last year, we are learning to shoulder more responsibility on the local level.

“As a result,” said Dr. Henderson, “delegates are coming here with much greater confidence, and consultation at this year’s Convention reached a new level of maturity and spiritual awareness.”

In addition, the new electoral units used for the first time last year produced a significant number of new and first-time delegates (47 per cent did not take part in the 1986 National Convention) including many from minority groups such as blacks, ‎hispanics Hispanics‎ and Native Americans.

This year’s Convention was blessed by the presence of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears who delivered the closing address Sunday morning, exhorting the friends to follow in the hallowed footsteps of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and to emulate His teaching methods as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Master’s historic visit to North America.

Other special guests included Counselors Wilma Brady, Robert Harris and Fred Schechter; Harriett Wolcott, the widow of Charles F. Wolcott, a member of

See CONVENTION page 13

The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears exhorts delegates and guests at the 78th Bahá’í National Convention to follow the Master’s example and teach the Cause unceasingly.

House of Worship marks 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s dedication of cornerstone

Rouhieh McComb, one of the ‘living treasures’ who met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His visit to North America in 1912, is helped onstage by Jaci Delahunt, secretary of the National Teaching Committee.

Twelve Bahá’ís who met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá shared their memories May 1-2 at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, during a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Master’s dedication of the cornerstone.

The weekend’s activities, given added significance by beginning on the 12th Day of Riḍván, included an address by Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly and professor of history at Yale University.

Dr. Kazemzadeh spoke of the House of Worship as the physical manifestation of the unity of mankind and a symbol of the unifying influence of the Word of God.

Quoting frequently from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s talks in America, he pointed out how the Master repeatedly referred to the Temple as a meeting place conducive to unity among all people, in addition to its purpose as a place for worship and prayer.

Afterward, Dr. Kazemzadeh was interviewed by a representative from the Voice of America which planned to broadcast excerpts from his talk to more than 120 countries around the world via its short-wave radio facilities.

Saturday’s events had begun in the morning with a special devotional service in the upstairs auditorium at which choirs from two area churches combined with the House of Worship’s choir to provide the music.

Introduced Friday evening as the “living treasures” of the Bahá’í community, the 12 who met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá shared their childhood memories of sitting on the Master’s lap, receiving a hug or a gift, or some other special thing that happened while they were with Him.

Some shared photographs of themselves with the Master, while others told of having been named by Him.

Two of the 12—Sophie Loeding of Wilmette (who in 1941 became the first full-time employee at the National Center), and Paul Voelz of Kenosha, Wisconsin—actually attended the cornerstone ceremony on the Temple grounds on May 1, 1912.

The others who shared their memories of the Master were Jean Bonn of Brillion, Wisconsin; Eva (Swingle) Daviduke of Glendale, Arizona; Joseph Ioas of Fresno, California; Monroe Ioas of Forest Park, Illinois; Donald Kinney of

See CEREMONY page 4 [Page 2]

Refugee Office seeks to gather information in efforts to find, help non-Iranian refugees

The U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office at the Bahá’í National Center is responsible for coordinating the efforts to help all (not just Iranian) Bahá’í refugees who enter the U.S.

To date, it has focused its attention primarily on the Iranian Bahá’ís in an effort to have them recognized as refugees so that they might receive United Nations protection and the right to enter the U.S.

Now that our channels for helping Iranian Bahá’ís are established, we are trying to gather information about non-Iranian refugees and to develop ways in which to facilitate their transfer and adjustment into the U.S. Bahá’í community.

As the spirit of man advances when tried by suffering, refugee populations often are ripe candidates for acceptance of the Bahá’í Faith.

We know, for example, that once information about the Faith reached refugee camps in Thailand the Faith grew by leaps and bounds in a short period of time to the point at which many refugee camps now contain more Bahá’ís than any city in the U.S.

However, record-keeping, elections and the like are quite new to these believers, and writing and reading materials are scarce.

In addition, world political turmoil and limited access to the refugees by the few Bahá’ís who are on the scene make it extremely difficult to know which refugees are Bahá’ís, when they are coming to the U.S., what help they might need, how to welcome them to the community, and where they might settle.

Therefore, we are asking for your help. Individuals, local Assemblies, Groups, District Teaching Committees, Youth Committees—please write to us to let us know how many non-Iranian Bahá’í refugees are in your area.

We would greatly appreciate whatever details you may be able to give us such as names, addresses, ethnic origins, needs, experiences, expectations of additional refugee arrivals, and so forth.

Please send information to the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

Thank you.

Bahá’í peace initiative given boost in Europe by Bavaria's important Peutinger Collegium

The Bahá’í peace initiative in Europe has received a major boost from Germany's prestigious Peutinger Collegium, a social and cultural association whose members and supporters include some of the most influential figures in the State of Bavaria.

In November, the officers of the Collegium dispatched special gift copies of the Bahá’í peace statement to all members of the State Parliament.

On December 3, at a gala event held in connection with the triennial presentation of the Collegium's gold medal, each of the 240 distinguished guests was given a copy of the statement, and heard the Collegium's president, Herr Gerhard Treutlein, pay warm tribute to the Faith, praise the heroic sacrifices of the Bahá’ís in Iran for the cause of world peace and unity, and call on the audience to "adopt and support" the Bahá’í ideals of peace.

Shortly thereafter, the January edition of the Collegium's magazine, "Bayerischer Monatsspiegel," reported to its readers on the distribution given by the organization to the Bahá’í peace statement, and included an unusually strong statement of support for Iran's Bahá’í community.

On the editors' own initiative, the magazine carried a related promotion piece advertising the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany's excellent documentation booklet on the Iranian persecutions.

The Office of Public Information in Haifa was advised that the next issue of the magazine, whose cover photograph will be the Shrine of the Báb, is to carry an article on the Faith commissioned from a German Bahá’í.

Such support is especially heartening because the magazine's 30,000 subscribers include persons who are prominent in industrial, government and communications circles throughout southern Germany.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá taught us ‘practically’ everything

By Heidi Burns, Lakewood, Ohio

VIEWPOINT

Prayer is the heartbeat of Bahá’í life, for we are a spiritual people. Through prayer we have all experienced, in our own ways, the fire and sweetness described in these words of Bahá’u’lláh, "Many a chilled heart, O my God, hath been set ablaze with the fire of Thy Cause, and many a slumberer hath been wakened by the sweetness of Thy voice."

But in our thirst for spirituality, in our efforts to be as spiritual and detached as was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, our perfect Exemplar, we sometimes overlook His other side: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was an eminently practical Man. Even non-Bahá’ís recognized that He "walked the mystic way with practical feet."

What does "practical feet" mean? Well, for one thing, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was a Man of action. He didn't merely talk about feeding the poor; He fed them, gave them clothing, gave them shelter. He didn't simply talk about going forth to teach the Faith—He traveled many thousands of miles, sometimes under exhausting conditions, to carry the Message of His Father.

And He did this in His late 60s, at an age when most of us are (or will be) retired from anything more energetic than a round of golf in an electric golf cart.

When world war came early in this century, Turkish misgovernment compounded the hardships and food shortages brought on by a locust infestation.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá responded by planting wheat on some of the Bahá’í-owned properties, and then shipping it by camel to feed the hungry in ‘Akká.

So extraordinary was His contribution that He was later knighted by the king of England. And when the British commanding general cabled London that his army had captured Palestine from the Turks, the message read: "Have today taken Palestine. Notify the world that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is safe."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá accomplished all this, and much more, despite nearly complete personal poverty: the wealth of His Father had been confiscated before ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was 10 years old.

Because of the responsibilities given to Him by Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá could not even have a job, as such, to feed His family (let alone His hungry neighbors).

So where did he get the money to accomplish all this? It had to come from somewhere, because without money, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá might never have been able to leave Haifa (His long journeys cost the equivalent of thousands of today's dollars).

Without money, He could not have fed or sheltered the poor. He would never even have been able to plant the wheat, nor would He have had the land to plant it on, in those lean years of World War I. Even seeds, after all, cost money.

Where did He get it? The answer is that He was supported by the friends. Through their contributions, He was deputized as a traveling teacher. Thanks to their generosity, He could be a true Friend to the poor.

With the help of the friends, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was able to sustain many hungry people through some extremely hard times. Without money from the friends, He would not have had so much as postage to send out those many Tablets from which we gain so much.

Among all the other lessons that He taught us, He showed us the importance and proper use of money in building the new World Order.

Those early believers understood that, through ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, their dollars and pounds, their francs and lira and rials, all were translated directly into spiritual progress for mankind. Like ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, these friends gave us an example to follow.

For without the "practical feet" of the Bahá’í Funds, there simply would be far fewer of us who would yet have heard the sweet voice of Bahá’u’lláh, and far fewer of us to sit down together at Feast this month to warm our souls with the fire of His Cause.

We are truly indebted to those early believers for their practical generosity, without which the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh might not have arrived in our lifetimes.

Uncounted future generations will know, by our own practical response, exactly how grateful we are.

(This month's article, "Yet Another Lesson from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá," was written by Dan Anderson of Tucson, Arizona.)

The bird and the squirrels

(Dear friends. He's d very good speaker... a touch shy... The following brief essay was written by Patrick J. Boyd of Rowland Heights, California.)

Once there were three squirrels who were trapped in a tree during a forest fire.

Seeing a bird flying toward them, they called to it in their desperate need. The bird, having seen their situation from afar, was already making her way to them.

"I will try to help you all," said the bird, "but there isn't much time."

As the bird landed, two of the squirrels hurried to her, saying, "Take me! Take me first!"

With no time to argue, the bird grabbed the begging squirrel closest to her and was off. The bird rose swiftly above the smoke and flames, taking the squirrel to safety.

Returning to the tree, which was now burning at its base, the bird grabbed the second begging squirrel and sped it safely away.

As quickly as she could, the bird made her way back to the third squirrel. Although both were nearly overcome by the smoke and flames, she managed to grab the squirrel and fly above the fire.

When they were far from the burning forest, the bird asked the squirrel, "Why did you choose to let your companions leave for safety before you?"

The squirrel replied, "Why did you return to a burning forest three times?"

Discovery Channel to air Bahá’í PSAs

The Office of Public Information has placed three Bahá’í public service announcements on the Discovery Channel, which is offered via satellite to local cable TV companies and their subscribers.

These are the first public service announcements ever accepted by the Discovery Channel.

Pathways to Peace director to walk ‘flame’ across U.S.

Last autumn 15 million people in 50 countries helped carry a Flame of Peace around the world in the first Earth Run.

Because the flame was flown across the U.S., only those on the East and West coasts were able to take part in the event.

A part of the flame has since been in the custodial care of the Spiritual Assembly of San Francisco, and this summer, Michael Felgen, a director of Pathways to Peace, will walk from San Francisco to New York City to share the flame and its message of peace with thousands of people along the way.

His walk will end on the International Day of Peace, September 15, at which time he will symbolically join the flame from the West Coast with the eternal flame at the United Nations in New York.

Mr. Felgen is familiar with the Bahá’í Faith and the Universal House of Justice's peace statement, and welcomes support from Bahá’í communities along his route. To offer their support, Bahá’ís may contact him or his organization at the following address:

Pathways to Peace, P.O. Box 1057, Larkspur, CA 94939 (phone 415-924-2412). [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.

Pioneers and 'shock'

To the Editor:

Last December a friend wrote informing me that she had bought a subscription to The American Bahá’í for me as a gift.

You can't imagine how happy this made me. I've been pioneering for nine years in Chile and only once in a rare while have I had access to this publication.

When the January issue came I read it from cover to cover like an eager child and absorbed everything like a sponge. One really doesn't realize what a beautiful publication it is until he lives outside the U.S. What a joy it is to read about all of the proclamations, teaching activities, summer schools, etc.

When I had finished reading it, I passed it on to other pioneers to read. Most of us had a similar response to the article "Every pioneer must face, beat 'culture shock." A visiting pioneer from another country said, "If I'd read this before leaving the States, I probably wouldn't have left in the first place!"

My thoughts and feelings were much the same after reading it too; however, we pioneers of long standing are so far removed from the American way of life that I believe we forget how there is so much of a psychological approach or analysis to so many things, Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í. In the States, we tend to make things so complicated and heady.

Certainly many of the points touched on in the article occur, and many others that were not mentioned, but they are part of the spice of life and the adventure of knowing new things.

One who goes pioneering should expect differences (unity in diversity) and changes (growing is natural, healthy and, sometimes, painful for a developing human being).

What a U.S. pioneer often does not realize until he leaves his "comfort-loving" culture is how much better off materially he is than most of the rest of the world, and how attached he is to that material comfort.

Also, he must come to realize—hopefully, sooner than later—that our purpose as Bahá’ís is to spread the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and not the cause of U.S. culture. This, in my opinion—others may feel differently—is what causes the so-called "culture shock" or "role shock" or whatever one chooses to call it.

Did ‘Abdu’l-Bahá suffer "culture shock" when He traveled through Europe and the U.S.? I don't believe so.

Why? Because He was the embodiment of His Father's teachings and principles. He knew what the teaching of unity in diversity was. Where He traveled He loved everyone, and His love unified the hearts. He was a citizen of the world, and the earth truly was his country.

As Bahá’ís raised in the U.S., we have a special spiritual destiny that we must arise to. I feel we will do this by expending less energy on psychologically analyzing everything and instead put that energy into being firm in the Covenant and teaching.

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

Of course, there was a part of me that was nervous and scared just before the plane for Chile took off, but that is normal for anyone heading for the "unknown."

However, if we truly believe that we are citizens of the world and that "the earth is but one country," this too will quickly pass. We will be traveling from one of our homes to another.

Most important of all is that our home is where Bahá’u’lláh is; if He is our priority, then we are always at home.

I hope that others will understand what I've tried to share and will arise to pioneer, because the need is still great.

If you are not able, then give to the Fund so that others can go and remain at their posts. With the incomes we earn in the U.S., this too is a bounty that has been granted to us by God, but that we don't fully appreciate at this time. Someday we will; but by then, I hope it is not too late and that too many opportunities have been lost.

Louise Garnett Valdivia, Chile

Poets and prophecy

To the Editor:

I was quite pleased to read Janet Ruhe-Schoen's comment (February) entitled "Poets and prophecies," in which she addresses the importance of the role of artists to preserve the highest dreams of humanity, speak out for their suffering fellow-men, and decry injustice.

Her examples of poetry and the lyrics of songs remind us of the impact that art can have on the shaping of a culture.

Bahá’í artists can emulate these examples by striving to "produce in art the divine spirit that animates their soul," a hope expressed by Shoghi Effendi in a letter to an individual believer (December 11, 1931).

Bahá’í communities can realize from these examples the importance of supporting and using the creative gifts of artists.

Specific goals of the Six Year Plan relate to the use of the arts—the House of Justice urges us to "make use of drama and singing in the teaching and deepening work and in Bahá’í gatherings, where advisable," while our own National Assembly calls for "the development of drama and the arts as an integral part of Bahá’í life and to expand the participation of artists in all kinds of community activities, such as the Nineteen Day Feast, conventions and conferences."

All too often the arts are not included in our programs, or are cut out when the agenda becomes too full. A recent example in which this was not the case was the National Women's Conference in Skokie, Illinois.

Here, the arts were well represented and were not extracted from the program even when scheduling became a challenge. I think that all the participants were moved by the diversity of expression and took pride in the accomplishments of those who shared.

It takes courage and determination both to produce art and to find ways of incorporating art in our lives and in Bahá’í events. But when we do so, we will be amply rewarded and surely will hasten the widespread acceptance of the new World Order.

Thank you again, Janet, for reminding us of this perspective.

Anne Gordon Atkinson Wilmette, Illinois

To the Editor:

To supplement Janet Ruhe-Schoen's selection of prophetic poetry (The American Bahá’í, February), may I submit these lines from Walt Whitman's Passage to India:

Lo, soul, seest thou not God's purpose from the first? The earth to be spann'd, connected by network, The races, neighbors, to marry and be given in marriage, The oceans to be cross'd, the distant brought neear, The lands to be welded together. A worship new I sing, You captains, voyagers, explorers, yours, You engineers, you architects, machinists, yours, You, not for trade or transportation only, But in God's name, and for thy sake O soul.... Then not your deeds only O voyagers, O scientists and inventors, shall be justified, All these hearts as of fretted children shall be sooth'd, All affection shall be fully responded to, the secret shall be told, All these separations and gaps shall be taken up and hook'd and link'd together, The whole earth, this cold, impassive, voiceless earth, shall be completely justified, ... Nature and man shall be disjoin'd and diffused no more, The true son of God shall absolutely fuse them.

The poem was written in 1864.

Ralph S. Chapman Madison, Wisconsin

'Source of Bahá’í love'

To the Editor:

Our family has found a source of Bahá’í love, an opportunity to live for a week in a Bahá’í community, a place to strengthen our children's (and our own) identity as Bahá’ís—all this, plus fun!

Where, you ask? At the Wisconsin Bahá’í Summer School at Camp Byron.

I've been surprised by the lasting impression the week made on our children, ages three and five years.

We try to take them to many Bahá’í events and to surround them in a Bahá’í atmosphere at home during the year. But it is their experience at Camp Byron that they continue to comment on and remember.

For example, "This is how we were taught to pray at Bahá’í camp," or "We ate this or that food at Bahá’í camp," or, "Remember our friend at summer camp?"

Bahá’í Summer Schools, and specifically Camp Byron, are a resource and an assistance that I would encourage all Bahá’ís to take advantage of.

Barbara Sheridan Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Using our resources

To the Editor:

I have followed with keen interest the dialogue about the costs of attending conferences and other Bahá’í-sponsored events.

In light of (until recently) chronic shortfalls in the Funds, I feel that we need, as a community, to take a closer look at our use of resources, both individually and collectively.

We might, for example, contrast the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on large conferences with the $6,000 that has recently put together an entire permanent facility for the Amoz Gibson Teaching Project on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Would it be to our benefit—spiritually as well as materially—to simplify our major gatherings, perhaps attempting to move them to lower-cost rural settings where the friends could imbibe some of the life-renewing elixir of the countryside?

‘Abdu’l-Bahá mirrored forth a shining example of simplicy, moderation and beauty in all of His undertakings. He advised Lua Getsinger, the mother-teacher of the West, to be (in her dress) "an admonition to the rich and a comfort to the poor."

Do our gatherings, where we show our face to the world, reflect His example?

Karen Jentz Pierre, South Dakota

When 'they' become 'us'

To the Editor:

I read Pamela Hawley's letter (February) about "the most challenging issue" (i.e., racism) with great interest.

As a Caucasian, I too have experienced the same feelings of being "on the outside" of a group of black or Persian Bahá’ís. And I too was disappointed that the harmony and unity we extol didn't just come with the declaration card.

However, I have had an experience that taught me first-hand an important lesson on overcoming that challenge, and a movie I saw last night brought it all into focus, and I'd like to share that with you.

Twelve years ago I was a three-striper on active duty in the Air Force. As an enlisted person, I took on the attitudes of my peers, one of which was that "officers' wives are stuck-up, snooty and materialistic," a nice simple box to put "them" in, because "they" somehow threatened "us."

I eventually became a mother...

See LETTERS page 31

new from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust

An Introduction to the Bahá’í Faith BAHÁ’U’LLÁH AND THE NEW ERA

BUILDING A PEACEFUL AND GLOBAL CIVILIZATION A CHALLENGE TO HUMANITY

A reprint of the popular and comprehensive introduction to the Bahá’í Faith, featuring

• new design
• updated statistics and facts about the Bahá’í community
• some new translations of passages from the writings
• new reference list

softcover $3.50

Order through your local librarian, or send check or money order (no charge for postage or handling) to: Bahá’í Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091 TEL 1-800-323-1880

• Price valid only in the United States

[Page 4]

CHAMPION-BUILDERS: PHILIP G. SPRAGUE

Philip Goddard Sprague was born January 1, 1899, in New York City, the son of Dr. Shirley and Marguerite Morette Sprague. While still a young boy he was taught the Faith by an aunt, Carrie Kinney, and when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá came to visit New York in 1912, Philip, bursting with youthful enthusiasm, was overjoyed to see Him.

In 1919 and 1920 he received several Tablets from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in one of which the Master advised him to go into business. At that time, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, through His secretary, sent weekly messages to certain American believers about events in Haifa. Young Philip was of great help to the Kinneys in distributing copies of these messages to those in the Bahá’í community.

Philip’s work among youth and young adults was outstanding; large groups thronged his fireside meetings, and many accepted the Faith through study classes which grew out of those meetings. Philip was always happiest when teaching, and those whom he taught felt his deep spiritual conviction as he spoke.

From 1926-29, Philip and Dorothy Champ, assisted by Keith Ransom-Kehler, held successful firesides at Dorothy’s home in Harlem. This was one of the first inter-racial groups in the city. During the Temple construction Philip inspired the friends everywhere to give to the Fund, and during the first Seven Year Plan (1937-44) he worked ceaselessly to secure settlers and pioneers so that the Cause might be established in every state.

As chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of New York City, he kept constantly before that community the Guardian’s messages, and urged his fellow-believers to sacrifice for the progress of the Faith.

When the Guardian’s translation of The Dawn-Breakers was released, Philip read with avid interest that immortal record of the early days of the Cause, and was transported to great spiritual heights by reading about the Báb and those holy souls who surrounded Him.

The book had a profound effect on his life, as did another book, An Early Pilgrimage, by his dear Bahá’í friend, May Maxwell. He read and re-read that account.

Ceremony

Leonia, New Jersey; Rouhieh McComb of Sarasota, Florida; Sylvia Parmelee and Edna True, both of Wilmette; Isabelle Windust of Benton Harbor, Michigan; and Shinji Yamamoto of Madison, Wisconsin.

Miss True’s mother, the Hand of the Cause of God Corinne True, was instrumental in fund-raising efforts to aid construction of the House of Worship, which was begun in 1920 and completed in 1953.

Joseph and Monroe Ioas are sons of the Hand of the Cause of God Leroy Ioas who served for a number of years as secretary of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly.

Miss Windust is the daughter of Albert Windust, an early Bahá’í in Chicago who was the first editor of Star of the West.

Mr. Yamamoto’s father, Kanichi Yamamoto, was the first Japanese to embrace the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave his first talk in this country in 1912 at the home of Donald Kinney’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, in New York City.

All of these “treasures” were present Friday evening for a program that included devotions in the auditorium followed by music, readings and warm reminiscences in Foundation Hall.

The audience also heard memorized talks on the Faith presented by a trio of children—nine-year-olds Erin Bodan and Errol Doris and 11-year-old Saba Firoozi—all of whom study public speaking with Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Gayle Woolson of Evanston.

The evening ended with a recording of the Master chanting a prayer.

Saturday afternoon’s public program included songs by Red Grammer, lead vocalist with the “Limelighters” who was one of the principal entertainers at last year’s Peace Conference in San Francisco; and selections by santour virtuoso Kiu Haghighi, accompanied by pianist Rosamond Brenner, and vocalist Robert Reneau.

A surprise guest Saturday evening was Barbara Breitlander of Glendale Heights, Illinois, a great-granddaughter of Nettie Tobin, the woman who acquired and transported the stone used by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the cornerstone during the Temple’s dedication ceremony in 1912.

Mrs. Breitlander said she had little knowledge of Mrs. Tobin’s involvement with the cornerstone until, several years ago, she attended a class where she met a Bahá’í couple who later invited her to a fireside at the House of Worship.

After the fireside, Mrs. Breitlander met Edna True who told her of Nettie Tobin’s sacrifice and how it was rewarded by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Mrs. Breitlander has since become a Bahá’í.—Robert Allen

Bahá’í wins award for oil painting of House of Worship

In April, Dayna Ring, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Larimer County, Colorado, received a third place award in the novice division of the Thompson Valley Small Painting Show with an oil painting entitled “Bahá’í Temple, Wilmette.”

Only 80 of the 150 paintings submitted were accepted by the judges. As a novice painter, this was the second juried competition that Mrs. Ring has entered, and both times her work was accepted.

At the opening reception, three people asked about the House of Worship, a fourth wanted information about the Faith, and another said she and her husband had “belonged to” the Faith years ago, and asked where they could attend meetings once again.

Mrs. Ring said she felt these inquiries were more exciting than the award she received.

Mrs. Ring’s painting instructor is a Bahá’í, Sharon Babbitt of Loveland, Colorado.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

come together. Surely the Sun of Reality with its full effulgence will illumine us, and the darkness of disagreements will disappear.

The utmost love and unity will result; the favors of God will encompass us; the pathway of the Kingdom will be made easy. Like candles these souls will become ignited and made radiant through the lights of supreme guidance.

Such gatherings as this have no equal or likeness in the world of mankind, where people are drawn together by physical motives or in furtherance of material interests, for this meeting is a prototype of that inner and complete spiritual association in the eternal world of being.

True Bahá’í meetings are the mirrors of the Kingdom wherein images of the Supreme Concourse are reflected. In them the lights of the most great guidance are visible. They voice the summons of the heavenly Kingdom and echo the call of the angelic hosts to every listening ear.

The efficacy of such meetings as these is permanent throughout the ages. This assembly has a name and significance which will last forever. Hundreds of thousands of meetings shall be held to commemorate this occasion, and the very words I speak to you today shall be repeated in them for ages to come.

Therefore, be ye rejoiced, for ye are sheltered beneath the providence of God. Be happy and joyous because the bestowals of God are intended for you and the life of the Holy Spirit is breathing upon you.

Rejoice, for the heavenly table is prepared for you.

Rejoice, for the angels of heaven are your assistants and helpers.

Rejoice, for the glance of the Blessed Beauty, Bahá’u’lláh, is directed upon you.

Rejoice, for Bahá’u’lláh is your Protector.

Rejoice, for the everlasting glory is destined for you.

Rejoice, for the eternal life is awaiting you.

How many blessed souls have longed for this radiant century, their utmost hopes and desires centered upon the happiness and joy of one such day as this. Many the nights they passed sleepless and lamenting until the very morn in longing and anticipation of this age, yearning to realize even an hour of this time.

God has favored you in this century and has specialized you for the realization of its blessings. Therefore, you must praise and thank God with heart and soul in appreciation of this great opportunity and the attainment of this infinite bestowal—that such doors have been opened before your faces, that such abundance is pouring down from the cloud of mercy and that these refreshing breezes from the paradise of Abhá are resuscitating you.

You must become of one heart, one spirit and one susceptibility. May you become as the waves of one sea, stars of the same heaven, fruits adorning the same tree, roses of one garden in order that through you the oneness of humanity may establish its temple in the world of mankind, for you are the ones who are called to uplift the cause of unity among the nations of the earth.

First, you must become united and agreed among yourselves. You must be exceedingly kind and loving toward each other, willing to forfeit life in the pathway of another’s happiness. You must be ready to sacrifice your possessions in another’s behalf.

The rich among you must show compassion toward the poor, and the well-to-do must look after those in distress. In Persia the friends offer their lives for each other, striving to assist and advance the interests and welfare of all the rest. They live in a perfect state of unity and agreement.

Like the Persian friends you must be perfectly agreed and united to the extent and limit of sacrificing life. Your utmost desire must be to confer happiness upon each other. Each one must be the servant of the others, thoughtful of their comfort and welfare.

In the path of God one must forget himself entirely. He must not consider his own pleasure but seek the pleasure of others. He must not desire glory nor gifts of bounty for himself but seek these gifts and blessings for his brothers and sisters.

It is my hope that you may become like this, that you may attain to the supreme bestowal and be imbued with such spiritual qualities as to forget yourselves entirely and with heart and soul offer yourselves as sacrifices for the Blessed Perfection. You should have neither will nor desire of your own but seek everything for the beloved of God and live together in complete love and fellowship.

May the favors of Bahá’u’lláh surround you from all directions. This is the greatest bestowal and supreme bounty. These are the infinite favors of God. [Page 5]

Treasurer's annual report chronicles 'extraordinary year'

The National Spiritual Assembly's annual financial report for 1986-87 was presented to delegates and guests April 25 at the Bahá’í National Convention in Wilmette. The entire report as presented to the Convention, with figures estimated as of April 30, is available on request from the Office of the Treasurer.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Bahá’í Fund has had an extraordinary year! Contributions were at record levels, permitting the National Assembly to retire all of its short-term bank debt and to reduce significantly its Fund deficit.

A total of 12,500 individuals gave to the National Fund at least once last year.

• Individual participation rose 6 per cent to an average of 7,644 contributions per month.
• Participation by local Assemblies, however, fell by 6 per cent.

Fund development

Steps are being taken to broaden the financial base of the Fund by assisting Bahá’ís with estate planning and business planning and by addressing the needs of special audiences within the Bahá’í community.

The National Assembly has established a Fund Development Department in the Office of the Treasurer and hired its first Fund Development Director. This department will focus on the strategic planning of our financial resources, development of estate planning programs, and serving the needs of special audiences within the Bahá’í community (e.g., children, youth, professionals, etc.).

This year's record level of contributions to the National Fund was clearly imbued with the fragrance of "the roses." Among the many activities carried out in the "Spirit of the Roses" were sacrificial donations of every size—from 1 cent to $1.5 million. As a result, we are more conscious of the spiritual potency of our material gifts to the Cause.

We made great progress this year:

• Contributions totaled $8,573,000, exceeding any other year in our history.

Automatic contributions

The Automatic Contribution System (ACS) now accounts for more than $850,000 annually.

The ACS expanded to more than 2,400 individual subscribers. It provides the National Assembly with a steady flow of funds. It reduces the cost of processing contributions.

• Greater participation by local Assemblies and Bahá’í Groups will be a primary focus for ACS this year.

WORLDWIDE SUPPORT

The National Fund continues to support the Faith all over the world. For example, during the last fiscal year, your contributions helped:

• Send $1.5 million (nearly 20 per cent of the National Fund total) to the Universal House of Justice.
• Put Radio Bahá’í in Liberia on the air, serving an estimated 1.4 million people.
• Send and care for 1,320 pioneers in 120 countries.
• Provide health care services for women and children and deepening classes for local Assemblies in Bangladesh.
• Support a Bahá’í school in Bophuthatswana attracting 268 people from 10 countries.
• Hold a major International Peace Conference in San Francisco, California, in which 7,100 people from 32 countries participated.
• Send a Native American traveling teacher to Lappland.
• Complete and maintain the newly dedicated Bahá’í House of Worship in Bahapur, India, which already has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors.
• Renovate the visitors' center at the House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.
• Hold the first National Bahá’í Women's Conference in the U.S.
• Prepare for the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's visit to North America.
• Send National Assembly representatives to meet with Bahá’ís in 60 local communities to consult on the Six Year Plan and the National Fund.
• Conduct 168 Town Meetings to help launch the Six Year Plan.

Statements of Fund Expenses

For years ended April 30, 1987 (estimated) and 1986 Exhibit 3

Expense Category	National Bahá’í Fund	NSA Properties, Inc.	Bahá’í Publishing Trust	Bahá’í Home	1987 Combined Total	1986 Combined Total
Salaries and wages	$ 3,037,000	$ —	$ 280,000	$ 174,000	$ 3,491,000	$ 3,387,000
Payroll taxes, health and welfare benefits	540,000	—	55,000	32,000	627,000	604,000
Travel	230,000	—	8,000	—	238,000	220,000
Meals, lodging and meetings	424,000	—	26,000	1,000	451,000	135,000
Supplies	136,000	—	16,000	5,000	157,000	165,000
Telephone	197,000	—	26,000	3,000	226,000	228,000
Postage and shipping	220,000	—	3,000	—	223,000	216,000
Office facilities, equipment rental, and maintenance	100,000	—	12,000	—	112,000	95,000
Professional fees	250,000	—	34,000	6,000	290,000	287,000
Property taxes	45,000	—	—	—	45,000	53,000
Insurance	150,000	—	9,000	5,000	164,000	120,000
Utilities	215,000	—	7,000	19,000	241,000	281,000
Maintenance and repairs	163,000	—	4,000	18,000	185,000	193,000
Transportation	101,000	—	5,000	—	106,000	101,000
Printing, literature and audiovisual	127,000	—	36,000	1,000	164,000	174,000
Contributions to the International Fund	1,500,000	—	—	—	1,500,000	1,500,000
Contributions to other related funds	120,000	—	—	—	120,000	140,000
Deputization and financial assistance	140,000	—	—	—	140,000	138,000
Food service	108,000	—	—	33,000	141,000	146,000
Interest	139,000	—	—	248,000	387,000	441,000
Cost of books and special materials	—	—	600,000	—	600,000	—
Bahá’í schools tuition	50,000	—	14,000	—	64,000	—
Depreciation	—	—	11,000	—	11,000	10,000
Miscellaneous	396,000	—	(320,000)	458,000	534,000	618,000
Transfers between funds	(509,000)	509,000	—	—	—	(348,000)
TOTALS	$ 8,240,000	$ 509,000	$ 973,000	$ 316,000	$ 9,759,000	$ 9,438,000

Approval given for Phase One of Green Acre restoration plan

"How is Green Acre? When will the season be opened? Green Acre is a most delightful spot. ... You must lay such a foundation so that the influence of the confederation of religions and sects may permeate to all parts of the world from Green Acre; and Green Acre for all the future ages and cycles may become the standard bearer of the oneness of the world of humanity. I will pray for the fulfillment of this truth." —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

On March 28, the National Spiritual Assembly formally approved Phase One of the restoration of the Green Acre Bahá’í School.

This first phase is to include the renovation of the distinctive Sarah Farmer Inn and enable the Inn to be used throughout the year.

This goal represents an important first step toward meeting the objectives of the Six Year Plan. Certainly, other goals related to teaching, sharing the love of Bahá’u’lláh, supporting family and community life, education and scholarship will be furthered through the development of this historic Bahá’í school.

This momentous project is being launched during the 75th anniversary of the visit to Green Acre of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and serves to remind us of His six days spent there in 1912.

Green Acre is the only ‘Abdu’l-Bahá school in North America visited by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He spoke of Green Acre as "the ‘Akká of the Western world—the green, delightful ‘Akká..."

As part of the "groundwork" for the restoration project, Ray LaBelle, director of operations at Green Acre, is seeking a foundation of "love letters" from the friends' experiences there.

Did you declare your faith or meet your husband- or wife-to-be there? Did you have an encounter that affected your life in another way? These remembrances will become a part of the archives as well as serving to convey the atmosphere created by the school over 80 years.

These "love letters" may be sent to: Green Acre Bahá’í School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903.

Two named to direct Treasurer's new Fund Promotion Department

As a part of the new developments in the Office of the Treasurer, Claudius Adebayo and Diana Harris have been appointed as coordinators of the new Fund Promotion Department.

This department, formerly known as Fund Education, will implement new approaches to educating the Bahá’í community about the principles underlying this unique institution.

Mr. Adebayo and Mrs. Harris will direct the efforts to train and inform local treasurers, and will maintain regular communications with local Bahá’ís and institutions regarding the spiritual significance of participation in the Fund.

They are also charged with developing and producing promotional materials as well as planning and implementing strategies for increasing both the level and regularity of Fund participation.

Mrs. Harris has a degree in edu- See FUND page 10

Fund Progress Since 1981

Total $45 million

Contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund increased 83% since 1981. Total contributions exceeded $45 million for the seven year period—an unprecedented level of financial progress.

• 1981: $4,649,000
• 1982: $5,683,000
• 1983: $5,867,000
• 1984: $6,270,000
• 1985: $6,427,000
• 1986: $7,500,000
• 1987: $8,500,000

[Page 6]

Pioneer couple 'builds new life' in Providencia

Two retired Bahá’ís, Mary Jane Carter and Andrew Johnson, met in June 1976 at a Pioneer Training Institute in Wilmette. Mary Jane, from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was slated to pioneer to San Andres Island, off the coast of Colombia, South America, while Andrew, from Pomona, California, was headed for Guyana.

When it was learned that their relationship had developed to the point of marriage, Andrew's assignment was changed and he joined Mary Jane in San Andres, where they were wed.

Living in crowded San Andres was not easy, but the couple reactivated a community which two previous pioneers, Helen and Charles Hornby, had opened. A few years later, the Johnsons changed their post to Providencia, a nearby island. We share here a delightful letter from them:

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Providencia, where the year has brought a wonderful change in our lives.

Seven years ago Andrew bought an attractive piece of land with a beautiful view of mountains and sea. He was toying with the idea of building a home, or so Mary Jane thought; but it turned out that he was in earnest.

Mary Jane would say to him, "Yes, dear, yes, dear," but secretly she thought he was chasing a rainbow.

To build a home at the age of 71! Where he didn't know who was trustworthy, and the prevailing attitude was that all North Americans were rich and thus fair game for any kind of chicanery; an area where the arrival of supplies is erratic; where, if one store doesn't have onions, there's not an onion on the island.

Last week you couldn't buy an egg, though chickens wander around in every yard and in and out of houses. For weeks, many people wait for a boat to bring propane gas, cement, gasoline and lumber.

But this was not our first problem. You've heard of "mañana," which means "not today." The idea here is, "Don't do anything today that you can put off 'til tomorrow."

Three and one-half years passed before we could get a "document" (deed) for the land. These were years of strenuous effort, with Andrew "touching every base" trying to find someone who would help him make a legal transaction.

Though nothing was said, everyone understood that some extra money here and there would have speeded up the process. But we could hardly succumb to the prevailing custom of bribery while teaching that this is one of the symptoms of a sick world.

Finally God led us to a woman in a responsible position who was outraged at our situation. She used just the right amount of persuasion, pressure and tact to procure our document.

We'll slide over the next 15 months spent in getting a permit to build. After almost five years, we were ready to start construction.

We thought we were fortunate in getting the services of some of the island's best workmen, but there were surprises ahead.

They didn't work from a blueprint. We wanted windows all across the front of the house, facing the beautiful view. When we talked with the man in charge about the arrangement of the door and the four big windows, he said, "I'm not sure we can get four windows in there."

Andrew said, "But you know the measurements of the house and the size of the windows." The reply was, "We'll see."

As it turned out, from this man's years of experience and an innate sense of balance, he produced a perfect arrangement.

Another "rule of thumb" was not so perfect. After the outside walls were up and the sheets of decorated plywood were being installed for partitions, we found that the plywood sheets (which had been on hand during the building) were about five inches shorter than the height of the outside walls. No matter. A five-inch strip added on top of the partition patched the gap.

So we have our home, with a lovely view, two good-sized bedrooms and a living room large enough for 30 adults at a meeting, or a class of 15 children playing active games.

Our whole life has changed. From cramped quarters in an obscure area, we now have ample room in a highly visible, accessible location.

People are in and out all the time. Many are tourists who take pictures from our porch. Often, they are curious about the Faith. We laugh inwardly when they ask if we have something for them to read. Pamphlets are always at hand. Sowing these seeds for world unity is a great satisfaction.

Besides that, our family has grown. A 16-year-old islander whom we have loved since she was seven is now living with us.

She is an enthusiastic Bahá’í, attracts people her own age, and is a perfect magnet to younger children.

In class she explains in their English dialect what Mary Jane says in North American English.

Also living with us temporarily is a young man from Bogotá, Colombia, who came to a "Year of World Peace" meeting and immediately found the Bahá’í Faith convincing.

So our family represents "unity in diversity": Mary Jane and Andrew, light and dark North Americans; Coleen, with an African-Chinese background and island experience; and Jaime, a world traveler with a Spanish-Colombian inheritance.

The future is bright. Our happiness lies in the small part we are playing in the "greatest drama of the world's spiritual history"; the perilous transition from a world of competition to a world of cooperation.

Trusting that things are going well with you, and hoping that you will write to us,

Andrew and Mary Jane Johnson, pioneers to Providencia Island off the coast of Colombia, South America.

Botswana schedules Youth Conference

"A New Challenge for a New Generation" is the theme of an International Bahá’í Youth Conference to be held August 16-22 at Molepolole College of Education in Molepolole, Botswana.

The conference is sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of Botswana and its National Youth Committee.

Besides classes and other activities, there will be many dynamic and well-known speakers plus special projects to help build fellowship among the participants.

For more information, contact the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Botswana, P.O. Box 466, Gaborone, Botswana.

Pioneer Training Institute

Judi Bryant and Mike Scott, visiting pioneers from South Africa, joined guest speakers Eunice Braun, Zylpha Mapp-Robinson and Auxiliary Board member Morris Taylor to present topics designed to assist 31 participants in a Pioneer Training Institute held April 9-12 at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois, to be successful at their new posts.

Bermuda was also represented by Mary Walker, a member of that country's National Spiritual Assembly, and her daughter, Elizabeth. Janice Lever, who had served for the past several years at the National Center, left almost immediately after the Institute for Kenya, while four youth in their Year of Service were bound for Ireland and Botswana. Two other young people had joined the Peace Corps and were headed for Africa. Two representatives from local Spiritual Assemblies took information about pioneering back to their communities.

Travel teaching isn't as 'scary' as it sounds

No kidding!

"International travel teach? You've got to be kidding!"

International traveling teaching is not as scary as it may sound; however, there are a few important things you should know:

(1) Be prepared to fall in love with your Bahá’í world family and its culture.

(2) Bahá’u’lláh will not call on you to do more than you are able.

(3) If you place your trust in Him, you may discover hidden talents you never dreamed you had.

(4) The best provision for your journey is trust in God.

The role of a traveling teacher is mainly to support the activities of the Bahá’ís who are already laboring so valiantly in their own communities.

Service in the international field can take on a variety of forms. You simply need to contact the International Goals Committee, inform the traveling teaching coordinator, Carolyn Das, that you would like to serve as a traveling teacher during your vacation or business trip, or that you are making a special trip for the purpose of teaching. After a few administrative requirements, you are prepared!

You'll be introduced to the receiving community and you may in turn inform them of your hopes, wishes and desire to serve the community.

You could choose to visit local Bahá’ís and pioneers, take part in a project if one has been planned, give firesides, deepenings and/or public talks, help in the election of local Assemblies, mass teach and consolidate, take part in radio and television interviews, or do anything else you can imagine. The receiving country will be delighted to use your talents.

Here are some accounts written by traveling teachers. You, too, may serve the Faith they have. Arise and be assured of ultimate victory!

Ruth Somerhalder—"I was able to visit with five American pioneers in Merida (Mexico), as well as have dinner in the home of an Auxiliary Board member and visit in the home of one Mexican friend I had met on my trip to India.

"It was wonderful to share ideas with the people—both receiving and giving. All the Americans seemed happy to have someone come and see them, to care about what they are doing, and to perhaps give some encouragement and present fresh ideas about what is happening here.

"I was also able to share my India slides with some of the friends in Merida.... Even though I did no direct teaching, I felt this trip was very worthwhile. Just letting people know that you care and are interested, and encouraging the pioneers, has a very positive effect.

"Also, for me, there was a great bounty in sharing a small part of the pioneering effort in Yucatan. Now, I am sharing my slides and experiences with people here (in the States).

"I strongly recommend a travel teaching trip to visit pioneers. I think it's beneficial both for the person traveling and also for the people—both natives and pioneers. They need to know that someone cares."

Nina Gordon—"I found much more intense teaching on this trip than any previous trip. I was amazed by the teaching work that was going on in [country name]. It was dead when I was there a couple of years ago, and I returned home sad and discouraged.

"This time, they worked me to death, and there were seekers in every place where the friends were sincerely interested in teaching. I had as many as 36 seekers in a little village... where a fairly new Bahá’í is on fire!

"The friends in the entire area of little towns around [area name] are really teaching. I was exhausted when I left. Exhausted, but happy!"

Mirta and Augusto Lopez—"On August 16, we took part in the first annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies in Chile.

"Among other participants, Mirta conducted a session on 'Consultation as a Key to Peace,' and I delivered an address entitled 'The Future of Mankind: A Bahá’í Perspective.'

"Nearly 50 people attended this conference." [Page 7]

On the homefront

See the listing of homefront teaching projects on page 11 of this issue of The American Bahá’í. For more information, contact the National Teaching Committee.

75th anniversary commemoration

In commemorating the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to North America, youth have a unique opportunity to again fulfill the wishes of the Master in each and every Bahá’í community across the country.

As youth, we can help carry out His wishes by travel teaching in areas that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was not able to visit. This June 27, youth can also support the souvenir picnics being held in their community. These picnics can bring together racial, religious, ethnic and special interest groups in the spirit of fellowship and unity.

Homefront pioneering

What is a homefront pioneer and how can I be one?

Many of us don't realize how important it is to be a homefront pioneer. One way is to move to "mass-taught" areas of the country and help consolidate them. Areas like many in South Carolina have a great number of people who have become Bahá’ís but have not become deepened or formed Assemblies. A pioneer to these areas would teach those who are already Bahá’ís the fundamentals of the Faith and help them to understand Bahá’í administration and to form Assemblies.

Another way to become a homefront pioneer is to save, or help form, a Spiritual Assembly. Someone who moves to an area with a jeopardized Assembly, or with a Bahá’í population that is less than nine, would qualify as a homefront pioneer.

There are also some states in the U.S. with relatively low Bahá’í populations. A Bahá’í who moves to one of these states is considered a homefront pioneer. A list of these states is available from the National Teaching Committee.

Students can be homefront pioneers by helping to save a jeopardized Bahá’í College Club, or by helping to form one. The opportunities to teach on campus are great, and a college club can be a helpful peer group while in school.

Homefront pioneering can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, and there are many ways to become a pioneer. For more information, or if you feel that you already qualify as a homefront pioneer, please contact the National Teaching Committee.

It's a Date!!!

ATE CELEBRATE MOTIVATE CONSECRATE • EDUCATE STIMULATE CONGREGATE ACTIVATE CELBATE MOTIVATE CONSECRATE

June 30 - July 4, 1988 Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana

a triple conference with separate sessions for youth • children • & their parents

We Can't Wait!!!

Bahá’í National Youth Committee Wilmette, IL 60091

Youth Conferences

Canada. 1987 Bahá’í International Youth Conference. Theme: "Peace-Let It Be This Generation." July 8-12 at the University of Western Ontario. Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í youth ages 14-28 are welcome; no adults or children are admitted. Cost: $150 (four nights shared accommodations, 10 meals, registration included).

Mexico. 1987 Bahá’í International Youth Conference, Guadalajara, Jalisco. Dates: July 24-26. Cost per night ranges from $10 to $39. Meetings, teaching trips, talks, entertainment. Two-week teaching project begins July 27.

United Kingdom. 1987 Bahá’í International Youth Conference, August 5-9, Manchester University. Nine travel-teaching trips immediately afterward (August 9-16). London mini-conference August 16-18 to share teaching experiences.

Africa. 1987 Bahá’í International Youth Conference. Theme: "A New Challenge for a New Generation." Botswana, Africa, August 17-22. All ages are welcome. Immigration process can take up to two months, so time is a concern. Workshops, youth speakers, and a whole lot more!

United States. 1988 Bahá’í International Youth Conference, Indiana University, Bloomington. A triple conference with separate sessions for youth, children, and their parents. For more information, contact the National Youth Committee by mail or phone 312-869-9039.

Overseas projects

Belize, Central America, is hosting a three-part summer teaching and consolidation project from July 15-August 15. Teachers are needed in Belize City, the Toledo District, and the western part of the country.

Dominica, a Caribbean island, needs summer school teachers. This is their first summer school project.

Guatemala, in Central America, would like teachers for the Livingston Project. There are 300 Bahá’ís in Livingston and the people are very receptive. The goal is for 10 per cent of the people in Livingston to be Bahá’í by the end of the Six Year Plan.

The Cayman Islands, a British Crown colony in the Caribbean, has many opportunities for teaching. The islands have an international flavor and need people for both teaching and visiting to deepen isolated believers.

Jamaica, in the Caribbean, is hosting a youth project and needs five youth from the U.S. and five from Canada to help stimulate youth in rural areas, help teach, hold children's classes, and help with additions to the National Hazíratu’l-Quds.

For more information about any of these opportunities, phone the International Goals Committee, 312-869-9039.

Youth Year of Service

The positions listed here are those presently open through the Youth Year of Service program sponsored by the National Youth Committee. More positions are being developed.

For more information about these positions and an application, write to the National Youth Committee.

It should be noted that transportation costs to and from the post are the responsibility of the volunteer. Many of the positions provide a stipend to cover some living expenses; most, however, require the volunteer to pay his or her own expenses.

Africa

Benin, Burkina, Central African Republic, Chad, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe: Young men are being recruited in these countries to man Mobile Institutes (vans equipped with audio-visual materials that travel from village to village to teach the Faith and deepen believers). Several are French-speaking and would require a fluency in French. Also important is the ability to drive and to make minor auto repairs. Stipend may be available.

Botswana: Deepening instructor for a national committee to help prepare deepening materials, set up deepening programs and conferences, and train teachers. May include supervision of grounds maintenance.

Botswana: Construction supervisor for rural Bahá’í Centers needed to supervise and assist in building the Centers in village areas. Must have basic building skills, especially in masonry.

Botswana: Consolidation team members are needed to serve under the direction of the National Teaching and Deepening Committee.

(Note: The National Spiritual Assembly of Botswana would welcome between 15-20 American Bahá’ís to help with deepening. Anyone who is interested should contact the National Youth Committee to discuss possible placement.)

Sierra Leone: Coordinator for a regional Center in Pujehun. Projecteer (male preferred) would organize, plan and coordinate activities at this regional Center.

Sierra Leone: Children's class coordinator is needed to train teachers and supervise classes. Includes travel to villages to set up classes with local Assemblies, and preparing visual aids.

Central America

Belize: Pre-school teaching supervisor needed in a school run by local youth. Oversees school finances, creates materials in a loving environment, works with sponsoring local Spiritual Assembly and parents.

Belize: Older youth needed to serve as executive secretary at the Bahá’í National Office.

Mexico: The National Spiritual Assembly would like to have two young men to travel and teach in established communities on the Yucatan peninsula. A good working knowledge of Spanish is necessary.

Additional posts are soon expected to become open in Bolivia and Guatemala.

North America

Arizona/New Mexico (Navajo-Hopi Project): An ongoing teaching and consolidation effort. Several homefront pioneers live on the Reservation, and youth are needed to help with the work.

Illinois (House of Worship): Volunteers are needed to serve as guides; some clerical/office duties may also be included. Stipend is available.

Illinois (Persian/American Affairs Committee, Bahá’í National Center): Help with the daily work of this office including answering the phone, responding to correspondence, filing and photocopying. Good knowledge of Persian, and ability to translate into and from Persian is necessary. Stipend available.

Illinois (Properties Office, Bahá’í National Center): Many jobs are available through this office. Needed are volunteers for the following categories: security, maintenance, handyman-type activities, office assistant, landscaping and grounds, drafting, painting, carpentry, plumbing and others. Experience in the category(ies) of

CAMPUS CLIPS

The Louhelen Residential College is now taking applications! Located on the campus of the Louhelen Bahá’í School near Davison, Michigan, the college offers students the opportunity to attend either Mott Community College or the University of Michigan-Flint while living at Louhelen. Here's a chance to go to college while living in a spiritual and supportive atmosphere.

The Louhelen Residential College also offers courses on the Faith and on college study skills. All this, plus opportunities to serve the Faith and to attend conferences and other activities at Louhelen.

For more information about the college, write to the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033. [Page 8]Map of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s travels in North America

Kansas House resolution lauds peace statement

On April 10, the Kansas House of Representatives adopted a resolution commending the Universal House of Justice’s statement to the peoples of the world, “The Promise of World Peace.”

The resolution reads in part:

“Whereas, peace and mutual understanding are the most compelling needs in this world of increasingly interdependent nations; and

“Whereas, the achievement of peace is frequently assumed to be incompatible with human nature, and this assumption leads to despair and a general paralysis of will; and

“Whereas, this paralysis can only be overcome by educating people and encouraging their involvement with a wide spectrum of social and interpersonal issues which are the foundations of peace; and

“Whereas, the Bahá’í world community has been in the forefront of such issues for over a century, contributing to social and economic development, to the emancipation of women, and to the elimination of prejudice; and

“Whereas, the experience of the Bahá’í world community at the grassroots level can inspire hope that international peace is possible as well as provide an example of how to lay its foundations; and

“Whereas, in this International Year of Peace, the ‎City of Cambridge State of Kansas‎ reaffirms its commitment to world peace; Now, therefore,

“Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas: That we commend ‘The Promise of World Peace,’ a letter to the peoples of the world by the Universal House of Justice, the governing Council of the ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ of the world, as a valuable resource for all citizens who yearn for peace, and that study of this document is enthusiastically encouraged.”

House Resolution No. 6120 was sponsored by Reps. Jessie Branson and Kathleen Sebelius.

If you can’t pioneer—deputize!

Week-long program marks Master’s visit to Washington, D.C.

This spring, the Bahá’ís in Washington, D.C., enjoyed a week-long program of special events commemorating the visit by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to that city in 1912.

The activities began Sunday, April 19, at the Bahá’í Center with a slide presentation of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit.

The next day, the diamond anniversary of the day the Master arrived in Washington, many of the friends took a bus tour of the places He visited while there.

Bahá’ís also gathered for prayers at the former Parsons residence, where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stayed while in Washington.

On Tuesday there was a special program on the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and on Wednesday a devotional program, both of which were held at the Bahá’í Center.

Thursday, April 23, featured a dinner and anniversary program commemorating ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to Howard University. At least 100 people attended the program in Rankin Chapel, where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá addressed an audience of more than 1,000 on that same day 75 years before.

The week’s activities came to a close Sunday, April 26, with a presentation at the Bahá’í Center on the life of the Master.

In the afternoon, the annual picnic at Fort Hunt Park, Virginia, was held in honor of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

A special task force in charge of planning and implementing the commemorative activities reported that the week’s events were well-attended and successful, both in proclaiming the Faith and in bringing the friends closer in spirit to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

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

In tribute to the 75th Anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to America, a limited edition of 2000 18”x24” commemorative prints have been made. Captured in this photograph is a vase of roses on a table in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s room’ at the Wilhelm house, Teaneck, New Jersey, where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stayed in the Wilhelm house in 1912 and at that time gave His Souvenir picnic unity feast in the grove behind the house. The proceeds from the sale of this print will offset the expenses of the Souvenir picnics.

Please send order to: National Teaching Committee Bahá’í National Center Wilmette, IL 60091

Name ______________________________ Address ____________________________ City/State/Zip _______________________

Amount Enclosed: ________ # of prints requested ________ ($10.00 per print) ($1.25 for postage and handling) Make checks payable to: Bahá’í Services Fund

‘Abdu’l-Bahá in America June 1912

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
| | | | | 1 Returned to New York and told the friends about His trip to Fanwood.
2 Returned to the Church of the Ascension for a brief talk and to answer questions.	3 Received visitors, one of which was the actor, Walter Hampden, who came to visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá every day until ‘Abdu’l-Bahá left for New Hampton. Another visitor was a Cabinet member who invited Him to his estate.	4 Left the estate and went back to New York.	5 Went to the Unity Club and spoke at a children’s affair. Various civic leaders and statesmen were present. Spoke at the Women’s Union on the education of women.	6 Received a large number of people in His home. Took a ride in a public park in Brooklyn. Walked alone in a garden near His home.	7 (Illustration)	8 Arrived in Philadelphia at 6:00 p.m. and checked into Hotel Rittenhouse. Was too exhausted to attend any meeting. However, made two speeches for the friends.
9 In the morning, spoke to the Unitarian Church congregation. In the afternoon, met visitors and reporters. In the evening, spoke before a congregation of 2,500 people in the Baptist Temple at Broad and Berks Streets.	10 At 9:30 a.m. addressed 50 people in the home of Jesse Revell—until His train left for New York. Conducted interviews at the Revell’s and at the Hotel Rittenhouse.	11 Spoke with the friends of His trip to Philadelphia.	12 Account of Juliet Thompson: “‘Abdu’l-Bahá was very tired, but He still spoke to people—afterwards He went to ‘His Garden’—that night, He attended a ‘Board meeting’ at the Kinneys’.”	13 Because of the lack of time and strength, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá could no longer see individuals so He arranged for a public meeting.	14 (Illustration)	15
16 Spoke at the Fourth Unitarian Church on Beverly Road in Flatbush. Had lunch at Mr. MacNutt’s home and spoke to the friends. In the evening, had a meeting with the Central Congregational Church on Hancock Street in Brooklyn.	17 Discussed the meeting of the previous evening. Was visited by a writer for a national magazine.	18 Five different sequences of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were filmed at the MacNutt home. Next, went to visit a Jewish friend who was ill, 40 miles from Brooklyn. That night, returned to New York, exhausted.	19 Final sitting for Juliet Thompson’s portrait. Appointed Lua Getsinger “Herald of the Covenant.” Had the Tablet of the Branch translated and read it to the friends. Designated New York the “City of the Covenant.” Approved Abu’l-Fadl’s book The Brilliant Proof.	20 Rode to Mrs. Kasebier’s with Lua, Hinkle Smith, and Juliet Thompson. In the afternoon, answered questions. Before leaving New York, told the friends of His wish to have a Unity Feast when He returned.	21 Arrived in Montclair, New Jersey where He rented a home and spoke to people who came to see Him.	22 Spoke with friends who came to visit.
23 Spoke with people about the history of the Faith. Talked about the martyrdom of the Báb and of Mirza ‘Abdu’lláh.	24	25 Instructed friends and visitors who flocked to His doors.	26 Breakfasted in the Edsall home.	27 Walked in the park. Passers-by stared at the unusual scene: Americans following an Easterner in reverence.	28 Took the friends to a bandstand in the park. Spoke about those in the Holy Land trying to imprison Him. The friends suggested He not return. He replied, “My source is the Holy Threshold. . . .” People passing by stopped to speak with Him about the Faith.	29 Left Montclair at 8:30 a.m. and went to West Englewood. The Unity Feast was held at the home of Roy Wilhelm. Walked and spoke with the friends. ‎Annointed Anointed‎ guests with attar of roses. After dark, candles were lit and everyone sat on the lawn.
30 Arrived in Morristown, stopped at the home of Mr. Topakyan, Persian Consul General. A barbecue was given in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s honor. In attendance were prominent New Yorkers and society folk. Spoke on the evil of materialism.	| | | |

Dates and events were extracted from the book 239 Days [Page 9]

Family Unity Night (Fun)

FIRST WEEK OF JULY: Martyrdom of the Báb, July 9. Thought for the week: "It is better to guide one soul than to possess all that is on earth."—The Báb. Prayer: Bahá’í Prayers (Remover of Difficulties). Lesson: Read one or more of the suggested lesson materials: 1. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by H.M. Balyuzi, pp. 45-46, 126-130. 2. Vignettes, No. 41, p. 29. 3. The Chosen Highway, pp. 30-32. 4. God Passes By, pp. 276-77. Activity: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá used the above-mentioned prayer when He was having difficulty purchasing the land for the Shrine of the Báb. Find the answers to these questions: 1. Who assigned the task of building the Shrine of the Báb to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá? 2. How long did it take ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to complete the task? 3. Who was martyred with the Báb and was that person young or old? (The Dawn-Breakers, pp. 507-8). Refreshments: WLGI Cookbook, "Nutties" or "Easy No-Bake Cookies."

SECOND WEEK IN JULY: Kalimát (Words), July 13. Thought for the week: "The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds."—Bahá’u’lláh. Prayer: Bahá’í Prayers, pp. 179-81. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials: 1. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by H.M. Balyuzi, p. 27 (Bahá’u’lláh’s description of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s teaching method). 2. Gleanings, p. 277. 3. Vignettes, No. 102, p. 103. 4. Brilliant Star magazine, March-April 1986. Activity: As a family, make a "Wheel of Fortune" game. Consult and make a wheel that can spin, draw lines to divide it into parts, and give each part a monetary value. Cut out pictures from a catalog or magazine for prizes to win. Write a word or phrase in large letters on a piece of paper and cut the letters apart. Try to use words or phrases from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, such as "Abbas Effendi" or "Be happy! Be happy!" To play: lay the letters of the word or phrase face down; one person spins the wheel and then asks if there is a certain letter in the word or phrase. If the person says, for example, "b" and there are any "b’s," turn them all face up. The person continues to play until he guesses incorrectly. Then it is another player’s turn. The first one to guess the word or phrase wins and gets to choose a "prize." Younger children: Learn to say "‘Abdu’l-Bahá" and "Be happy! Be happy!" Refreshments: Fresh fruit in season.

Louhelen sets 4th conference for training children’s teachers

The fourth National Children’s Teacher Training Conference is scheduled July 3-6 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School near Davison, Michigan.

Sponsored by the National Teaching Committee, and planned by a task force of that committee and the Louhelen Child Education Committee, this annual conference has served as a major opportunity for the training of new children’s teachers, and for an exchange of ideas and inspiration among more seasoned teachers.

Kurt Hein, a member of the National Teaching Committee, will conduct a session on "Bringing Cultural Diversity into the Bahá’í Classroom" and on "Building Multi-Cultural Awareness."

This workshop promises to present a challenging and engaging course appropriate for teachers of all ages.

Workshops on curriculum planning for three major age groups will also be held. Keith Boehme will conduct the "Under 8" workshop, Roger Davis the "8-12" workshop, and members of the Louhelen Youth Board the "Junior and Senior Youth" workshop.

In addition to these classes and workshops, mini-workshops and presentations will be held each evening.

Participants are asked to bring materials, curricula, and ideas to share at these mini-workshops so that everyone may benefit from each other’s areas of expertise.

Materials-making workshops will also be held throughout the conference.

The cost for the conference—including meals, lodging and materials—is $74 per adult (in a four-bed room).

Assemblies, Groups and inter-community schools are encouraged to send teachers. A 10 per cent discount is available for those sponsored by an Assembly.

To register, please contact the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033.

Any Bahá’í can give to the Fund— adult or child National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

California Assembly certifies business as minority-owned

Acting in an official capacity, the Spiritual Assembly of San Leandro-Hayward (California) Judicial District recently certified that a company was indeed a minority-owned business enterprise.

The company’s owners, who are neighbors of an Assembly member, were told that a good place to obtain a certifying letter would be a church; but instead of going to a church, they decided to approach their Bahá’í neighbor.

Assembly members arranged to meet with the owners and examine their birth certificates. After determining that the owners were in fact members of a minority group, the Assembly carefully drafted a letter and gave it to them.

Both the Assembly and the company’s owners are happy with the results: the Faith is before the public in an official way, and the company has the certification it needed.

Louhelen’s summer of ’87 promises study, fellowship, fun for everyone

Pictured are many of the 73 adults, youth and children who attended the fourth annual North Dakota Bahá’í Winter School held February 13-16 at Mayville State College. The focus and theme of the sessions was the Six Year Plan.

EDUCATION

Summer 1987 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School promises study opportunities, fellowship and fun for everyone in the Bahá’í family!

For children, there are children’s classes taught by outstanding Bahá’í teachers at most of the summer sessions. There are arts and crafts, nature and recreational activities as well.

Camp Louhelen—for children 7-10—is scheduled August 23-28. Run by James Lewicki, this camp will combine spiritual, educational, social, emotional and physical development through camp activities.

For youth, Louhelen plans a major conference for junior and senior youth from August 16-21.

The conference will be planned and taught by youth under the direction of the Louhelen Youth Board.

Youth who would like to be trained as teachers are especially encouraged to attend.

A Youth Academy for youth who want an intensive, serious study of the Faith, is planned for July 26-31. Enrollment is limited, so enroll early.

For single adults, there will be a "Singular Experience" conference from July 10-14; this will build on the spirit of "spiritual intimacy" and familial bonding that has been created at past Louhelen singles events.

For adults who desire an intensive study experience, there are two such events—one in Persian and the other in English—from July 26-31.

Classes in English will be taught by Dr. David Earl ("The Hidden Words") and Dr. Sam McClellan ("Toward a Bahá’í Culture in America") and will include intensive study, devotions and meditation as well as independent study.

For families of all sizes and ages, there are three sessions planned—each with classes for all ages as well as devotional, social, nature study, arts and crafts, and recreational activities.

Each session includes a beach trip, variety show night, and softball, volleyball, ping pong and basketball tournaments against the infamous "Louhelen No-Frills Bears."

The July 19-24 session includes, as adult teachers, Auxiliary Board member Steve Birkland and his wife, Nadjala ("Balancing Family, Work and the Bahá’í Life"), Holly Vick from the World Center ("Social and Economic Development") and Linden Qualls ("Activities to Teach Peace").

August 2-7 will have Auxiliary Board member Ronna Santoscoy ("Concepts of Growth") and Vanessa Clark ("The Most Challenging Issue") as teachers, while August 9-14 will feature Auxiliary Board members Trudy White and Ed Diliberto with "Deepening the Spiritual Life" and "The Unfolding Implications of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh," respectively.

Everyone is invited to attend Homecoming from September 4-7!

Fellowship, recreation, inspiration and fun mark this annual event. Older alumni of Louhelen are especially encouraged to come as the Council launches the writing of a history of the school at this event.

Whatever your age, whatever your need for growth and inspiration, Louhelen offers something for you this summer!

For more information, or to register, please contact the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033.

Be like the fountain— empty yourself, and be refilled National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

New from George Ronald, Publisher

HOUR OF THE DAWN The Life of the Báb MARY PERKINS

A clear, straightforward and easily readable account of the life of the Báb, based on the historical researches of Nabíl-i-A’zam and H. M. Balyuzi.

Here are the stories of the Letters of the Living, the Conference of Badasht, the siege of Shaykh Tabarsí, Nayríz and Zanján, the trial of the Báb, and finally that day in Tabríz when the sun was blotted out by the dust as 750 rifles fired their volleys.

224 pages, Hardcover $15.95, Softcover $7.95.

Order from Bahá’í Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091, TEL 1-800-323-1880 or through your local distribution representative no postage on orders shipped within the 48 contiguous United States (add 15% outside this area) [Page 10]

‘Spirit of Roses’ blossoms in reports of victories

Stories of victories accomplished in the Spirit of the Roses continue to flow in to the Bahá’í National Center.

From Arizona, we hear that the spirit is still going strong with an ever-increasing number of believers brought into the Faith and deepened through the Raul Pavón Teaching Project.

Kansas has meanwhile issued a challenge to Iowa, which began May 23, to vie with them in an effort to bring back to Assembly status all the communities that have ever lost their Spiritual Assemblies in those states, open new localities, and enroll believers from all ethnic backgrounds.

In Alabama, a local Spiritual Assembly which was formed for the first time in Florence—like so many other Assemblies formed for the first time this year due to efforts dedicated in the Spirit of the Roses—is now blooming.

The Spirit of the Roses was not a bed of flowers that suddenly withered when the 189 days dedicated to the Iranian martyrs came to an end on April 26. Indeed, we are now enjoying the Spirit as never before as the Roses appear in full bloom.

Attar of Roses permeates all of our activities with a new level of awareness of what can be accomplished when we arise in the spirit of service and sacrifice and go forward undaunted to meet the goals we have set for ourselves and our communities.

We are truly beginning to understand these words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “As ye have faith so shall your powers and blessings be.”

Please continue to keep the National Center informed of your ongoing activities in the Spirit of the Roses. The “spiritual journal” for the Iranian Bahá’ís—each page a fragrant petal—has not yet been closed.

Bahá’ís ready to assume leading role in ‘Global Peace’ Women’s Conference

On Thursday, April 24, the words of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Universal House of Justice gave courage to women in Texas, their families, friends and guests during the first national planning meeting for “Global Peace—An International Women’s Conference.”

The goal of “Global Peace” is to bring to Dallas on August 8, 1988, 10,000 women from every country in the world to discuss from a woman’s perspective how to bring about world peace, and to establish the framework for immediate international cooperation among the women of the world until peace is accomplished.

Vivian Castleberry, the initiator of “Global Peace” and founder of Peacemakers Inc., had previously been given a copy of “The Promise of World Peace.”

Before the main address at the planning session, she asked women from the Bahá’í, Christian and Jewish faiths to introduce to the large audience their beliefs concerning peace from a woman’s perspective.

The Bahá’í Faith was chosen to lead the discussion, she said, because of the position Bahá’ís have always maintained on global peace.

After a brief greeting, Carrie Paige Smith of The Colony, Texas, read selections from “The Promise of World Peace,” the Bahá’í compilation on women, and Paris Talks.

The strong audience applause verified eager acceptance of the Bahá’í position. Said Mrs. Castleberry, “It was just what we needed to set the stage for what we must accomplish.”

Anyone who is interested in becoming a part of “Global Peace—An International Women’s Conference” should contact Peacemakers Inc., P.O. Box 280799, Dallas, TX 75228.

Va. luncheon honors Albert James

Bahá’ís in Northern Virginia sponsored a luncheon April 12 in Great Falls to honor Albert James, an Auxiliary Board member for more than 20 years.

Nearly all the Assemblies in the district, coordinated by the District Teaching Committee, worked together to plan the event, which was attended by close to 100 Bahá’ís.

Among those present were Auxiliary Board members William Roberts and Tahereh Ahdieh.

Mr. James, who was born in 1915, became a Bahá’í in his early 20s after being taught and carefully guided by Louis Gregory.

Since his appointment to the Auxiliary Board in the mid-1960s, Mr. James has traveled more than half a million miles in his capacity as a Board member and as a traveling teacher.

Following the luncheon, Mr. Roberts paid tribute to Mr. James’ life of service and his outstanding spiritual qualities.

Although known for his sweet and gentle nature and his deep love for the Faith, said Mr. Roberts, Mr. James was known to change quickly to a roaring lion when defending the Covenant.

As a tribute to his work, the Bahá’ís of Northern Virginia presented Mr. James a plaque on which were inscribed words of their love and appreciation.

Several others shared stories about Mr. James and added their personal tributes.

In typical fashion, Mr. James tried to turn the focus of the meeting away from himself by speaking of the many things others in the room had done for the Faith.

Mr. James’ untiring work for the Cause continues in his present capacity as an assistant to Mr. Roberts.

And now, he says, that the burden of Auxiliary Board membership has been taken from his shoulders, he finally has the time to do what his heart and soul find most rewarding—traveling and teaching.

Albert James (second from left) was the guest of honor April 12 at a luncheon sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Northern Virginia to honor his more than 20 years of service as an Auxiliary Board member.

Fund

from page 5

cation from the University of Kentucky and has been working for more than 12 years in public relations, office administration, communications and sales.

Before joining the Office of the Treasurer, she was manager of the Tourism Division of the Greater Wilmington (North Carolina) Chamber of Commerce.

Mrs. Harris, a lifelong Bahá’í, is the mother of three children.

Mr. Adebayo has served as treasurer of both a local Spiritual Assembly and a District Teaching Committee in Wisconsin.

From 1978 to 1982, he pioneered to his native Nigeria where he worked as the technical training manager for the ‎Peugot Peugeot‎ Automobile Training Center.

Mr. Adebayo helped the National Spiritual Assembly of Nigeria translate Bahá’í literature into the Yoruba language spoken by nearly 60 million Nigerians.

As chairman of the National Proclamation Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of Nigeria, he helped introduce the Faith to top government officials and eminent citizens in that country.

Mr. Adebayo has spent the past five years as director of American Training and Development Consultants, a firm that specializes in curriculum development, management development, and technical training programs.

He has a degree in English from the University of London (1969); in chemistry and biology from the University of Lagos (1972); and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial education (1978) from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Mr. Adebayo is married and has two children.

‘Fireside’ video contest winners

This spring, the National Teaching Committee sponsored a contest for video taped fireside presentations. There were a three-way tie for the winning video. The winners were:

Bahá’í Fireside, produced by the Bahá’ís of Scottsdale, Arizona. A warm, effective speaker presents a comprehensive overview of the Faith and its major principles in a “typical” home-fireside setting.

The Bahá’í Faith: Put It to the Test, produced by the Bahá’í Information Office of Miami Valley, Ohio. An informative, investigative look at the Faith which especially addresses the questions of those who know about its teachings but are concerned that the Faith may be a cult rather than a legitimate world religion.

To Move the World, produced by Braz Productions. A moving presentation of the 1985 Bahá’í International Youth Conference in Columbus, Ohio. Creative and entertaining, the video holds the attention of the audience while providing a brief introduction to the Faith, and is especially relevant for youthful audiences.

Judging the entries were Tony and Marina Andrews (an interracial, non-Bahá’í couple); Jenny Williams (an American Indian serving on the Spiritual Assembly of Lapwai, Idaho); and Nat Rutstein (a communications specialist and author of several books including Teaching the Bahá’í Faith).

The availability of the winning video tapes will be announced in next month’s issue of The American Bahá’í.

Bahá’ís in Ohio host ninth Human Rights Day banquet

On December 14, the Bahá’ís of the Miami Valley area (Dayton-Springfield, Ohio), under the sponsorship of the Spiritual Assembly of Kettering, presented the ninth annual Human Rights Day banquet at the Holiday Inn in Moraine.

One hundred-fourteen tickets were sold with more than 30 purchased by non-Bahá’ís.

Plaques honoring their contributions to the cause of peace were given to the three recipients: the Friendship Force, the American Friends Service Committee, and David Hergesheimer, a local peace activist.

Youth for Social Responsibility, accepting on behalf of the American Friends Service Committee, gave a five-minute “rap” on racial equality; Mrs. Jeanne Comer of Friendship Force capped her acceptance speech by having her daughter sing an ode to unity.

The keynote speech by recently appointed Auxiliary Board member June Thomas was well-received. A video tape of the event was made.

The local media helped proclaim the event with three articles in the Dayton Daily News and Journal Herald, and an announcement on the local CBS-affiliated TV station’s late evening news.

Also, more than 1,800 invitations were sent to non-Bahá’ís, and several communities invited their public officials to attend.

Auxiliary Board member Dr. June Thomas addresses the ninth annual Human Rights Day banquet in Moraine, Ohio. The event was held last December 14.

Traveling teachers can help carry out Master’s dearest wish

One of the most well-known of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s statements to the American Bahá’ís in the Tablets of the Divine Plan is the quote, “Oh that I could travel, even though on foot and in the utmost poverty, to these regions, and, raising the call of ‘Ya Bahá’u’l-Abhá’ in cities, villages, mountains, deserts and oceans, promote the Divine teachings! This, alas, I cannot do. How intensely I deplore it! Please God, ye may achieve it.”

It is the hope of the National Teaching Committee, through its Traveling Teacher Office, to befittingly commemorate the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s historic visit to North America by making an effort to fulfill this wish of the beloved Master.

But offices and committees do not do traveling teaching—people do. If you would like to help carry out the wishes of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, please contact the Traveling Teacher Office, c/o Dale Sollars, Blackfoot, ID 83221 (phone 208-785-4495). [Page 11]

A new approach to Bahá’í booths

Across the nation, Bahá’í communities are in the process of preparing display booths for proclaiming the Faith at county and state fairs.

In the past, such booths have typically provided basic information about the Faith while Bahá’ís manning the booths were available to answer questions.

However, many visitors hesitated to approach—or even avoided approaching—the booths where Bahá’ís merely sat, staring into the crowds with hungry “step-into-my-parlor” looks in their eyes.

Last year, the Bahá’ís of Flathead County and Kalispell, Montana, tried a different approach at their county’s fair which produced an excellent response from the fair-goers.

Instead of having the usual information-only display booth, they offered an area where mothers of infants and toddlers could come to rest and attend to the needs of their children.

Bahá’ís manned the area with an emergency supply of baby care products and rocking chairs—plus Bahá’í pamphlets and posters. The grateful parents responded warmly to this service-oriented approach to proclamation and teaching.

Perhaps such an innovative, service-oriented approach could also produce excellent results at many of this year’s fairs.

It may be quite advantageous for Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í Groups to welcome and consider new ideas during the planning stages for summer and fall proclamation activities.

Jeanne Eugene, a 14-year-old Bahá’í from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who arrived in the U.S. from Haiti five years ago not knowing a word of English, is one of 30 students in a class of 450 at Sunrise Middle School in Fort Lauderdale inducted recently into the National Junior Honor Society. Induction in the Society is based on ‘scholarship, citizenship, service, leadership and character.’

‘Retired’ Bahá’í manages to keep busy

Lisel Lowen, a Bahá’í from Nyack, New York, retired in 1976 from the Rockland County Health Department, where she served as a public health educator.

Perhaps “retired” is not precisely the proper word to use here. Since leaving the health department, Ms. Lowen has volunteered her time with a number of agencies including Home Aids of Rockland, the Society for the Visually Impaired, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Audubon Society, the Extended Family Group of Rockland County, and Meals on Wheels.

In May 1986, she was honored with three other women at the annual “In Celebration of Women Day” in Suffern for their outstanding community services.

“I have an answering device on my phone,” she said in a newspaper article about her volunteer services that appeared five years ago, “and sometimes people who call think I’m an agency.”

Little wonder, as this “isolated Bahá’í” manifests in her actions the spirit of the Universal House of Justice’s directive that we serve mankind by becoming involved in social and economic development at the local level.

Teaching projects in U.S. spring up like ‘Roses’

As we enter the second year of the Six Year Plan, a heightened spirit of enthusiasm enlivens the Bahá’í community.

With our new awareness of our spiritual strength, the victories won during the 189 days dedicated to the Iranian martyrs in the Spirit of the Roses have blossomed into audacious plans to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the visit to North America of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Among the significant achievements last year was the hosting of more than 130 teaching projects by local Spiritual Assemblies and District Teaching Committees. The National Teaching Committee would like to see many of these projects continued in order to reach a total of 200 during 1987-88.

The ultimate goal is to have every Spiritual Assembly in the country sponsor a teaching project.

Listed here are a few of the teaching projects taking place this summer. Please use the form below to advise the National Teaching Committee of the teaching project in your community.

Phoenix, Arizona, area: PROJECT RAUL PAVÓN. Ongoing. Judith Spychalski, 602-269-2703.

Los Angeles, California, area: SUMMER OF SERVICE. July 17-August 30. Partow Khademi, 213-473-4281.

St. Petersburg, Florida: SOUTH-EAST ASIAN PROJECT. Ongoing. Marsea Ulmer, 305-825-0702.

Davenport, Iowa: FIRE IN THE HEARTLAND. Ongoing. Fred Frazer, 319-391-3621.

Navajo/Hopi Reservation, Arizona: NAVAJO/HOPI PROJECT. Summer 1987. Jeff Kiely, 602-367-5126, ext. 8595.

Tuolumne Mi-wuk Rancheria, California: TUOLUMNE MI-WUK PROJECT. Ongoing. Salimata Dia, 209-928-3252.

Georgia: NEW JERUSALEM. Ongoing. Layli Miller, 404-993-7067.

Wichita, Kansas: VICTORY HARVEST. Ongoing. Ken Tedder, 316-838-9125.

Portland, Maine: NORTHERN LIGHTS PROJECT. June 19-July 3. Carl Pabst, 207-642-4097.

Omaha, Nebraska: AMOZ GIBSON PROJECT. Ongoing. Kay Webster, 402-846-5459.

North Carolina: CAROLINA VICTORY TRAIN. Ongoing. Sam Williams, 919-679-2623.

South Dakota: AMOZ GIBSON PROJECT. Ongoing. Ed Roberts, 605-462-6309.

Wind River Reservation, ‎New York Wyoming‎: WIND RIVER PROJECT. July 1987. Pam and Gary Wolfe, 307-875-6409.

Lowell, Massachusetts: LOWELL PROJECT. Ongoing. Lorraine Matthews, 617-459-1604.

Buffalo, New York: PROJECT LUA. Ongoing. Jeane Delaney, 716-423-7491.

Providence, Rhode Island: PROVIDENCE PROJECT. Ongoing. Kingsley Swan, 401-273-8364.

Falls Church, Virginia: OLINGA TEACHING PROJECT. Ongoing. Thomas Ndousse, 703-848-0266.

Volunteers are highly prized by National Teaching Office

Pictured is Miss Electra Healy of Evanston, Illinois, who was eight years old when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá came to America.

Miss Healy helped the National Teaching Committee staff put together the “picnic packets” sent to Spiritual Assemblies and large Bahá’í Groups which contain materials to help in planning the June 27 picnics.

Miss Healy, a Catholic, has found the National Center a pleasant place to spend some free hours in volunteer service since she recently retired from her practice of orthoptics (an orthoptist is one who studies the eye muscles).

Another recent volunteer in the National Teaching Committee office was Frank Edwards-Hill of Auburn, Washington, who is a volunteer coordinator by profession.

While there, Mr. Edwards-Hill had a chance to find out what it is like to be a volunteer himself. He came to the National Center during his vacation, he said, with a desire to serve and a curiosity to find out “what really goes on” at the Center.

When asked what he had found, Mr. Edwards-Hill said, “I was truly pleased with the quality of the working environment; with the way people were relating to one another and with the high level of performance.”

The valuable services of volunteers such as Miss Healy and Mr. Edwards-Hill are very much appreciated.

Others who are interested in satisfying curiosity, contributing their skills, or filling in some free time may arrange to volunteer at the National Center by contacting the Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or by phoning 312-869-9039.

U.K. schedules Youth Conference ’87 August 5-9 at Manchester University

Youth Conference ’87, organized by the National Bahá’í Youth Committee of the United Kingdom, will be held August 5-9 at Armitage Centre, Manchester University.

The conference theme is “Service ... at all times, in all climes.”

Among those who are expected to attend are the Hand of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery; Dr. Peter Khan, the newly elected member of the Universal House of Justice; Counselor Aziz Yazdi of the International Teaching Center in Haifa; Counselors for Europe Dr. Agnes Ghaznavi, Adib Taherzadeh, Adam Thorne and Sohrab Youssefian; Douglas Martin, director of the Office of Public Information at the World Center; and members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom.

Performers will include Canada’s Doug Cameron and Jack Lenz.

Also scheduled are:

• a series of 20 workshops covering topics of special interest to youth;
• exciting sessions for Bahá’ís ages 12-15;
• fun-packed late night programs of entertainment, music and dancing; and
• full use of Armitage Centre facilities including tennis, squash, swimming, sauna and solarium.

Special events planned in association with the conference include the Bijan Talibi Project (July 18-25), the Payman Subhani Project (July 26-August 4), nine travel-teaching trips (August 9-16) and a London “Mini-Conference” (August 16-18).

For more information, write to Youth Conference ’87, 7 Kimblewick, By the Wood, Carpenders Park, Watford WD1 5AJ, United Kingdom.

Young Texas Bahá’í to attend Merchant Marine Academy

Vahid Morris, a member of the Bahá’í community of Roby, Texas, has been appointed to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.

He is one of 245 candidates chosen from a nationwide pool of 6,000 Congressional nominees.

Vahid, a senior at Roby High School, began thinking about attending the Academy when he was 13 and pioneering with his family in the U.S. protectorate of Micronesia in the South Pacific.

As an Academy Midshipman, he receives a four-year scholarship including tuition, room and board and uniform, and a salary of $500 a month, equivalent to an estimated $80,000.

Teaching Projects – 1987
Name of project:
Sponsor:
Dates:
Location:
Contact person:
Cost per participant:
Goal(s) of project:
Comments:
Return to: National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091

[Page 12]

The annual report of the National Spiritual Assembly

The annual report of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States:

One hundred and eighty-nine red roses, a gift of love and inspiration from the Persian Bahá’í prisoners to the American Bahá’ís, served as the principal catalyst for the victories of our community in the year 143 B.E., the first year of the Six Year Plan.

In a scene that we shall not soon forget, the roses were given, one by one, to the delegates to the 77th National Convention by the members of the Board of Counselors: Wilma Brady, Robert Harris and Fred Schechter.

Each delegate, in his turn, stepped forward to receive, in behalf of all the Bahá’ís in his district, a rose, a loving embrace, and a challenge to redeem the sacrifices of the martyrs with an unprecedented deluge of victories.

The gift of the roses, which touched the hearts of American Bahá’ís so deeply, inspired the campaign, “The Spirit of the Roses.” The Bahá’í community responded with over 8,000 letters documenting teaching efforts, service projects, community development activities, and contributions to the Fund all rendered in the spirit of redemption for the sacrifices of those who died and those who continue to be held captive for the sake of Bahá’u’lláh’s Cause.

The example of uncompromising steadfastness set by the Persian Bahá’ís has become the standard of service of the Six Year Plan.

In the midst of our efforts to formulate the goals and launch the activities of the Six Year Plan, we lost one of the “Chief Stewards of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic World Commonwealth,” the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem. His loving nurture of the American Bahá’í community for a period of more than 25 years stirred our hearts and deepened our faith.

A short time later, another champion of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, member of the Universal House of Justice Charles Wolcott, was taken from us.

His dedicated service to the Cause as an outstanding teacher, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, Secretary-General of the International Bahá’í Council, and member of the Universal House of Justice since its inception, sets him apart as one of the heroes of the American Bahá’í community.

Six Year Plan

The launching of the Six Year Plan coincided with two other historic developments in the Faith: first, the emergence of the Faith from obscurity; and, second, the beginning of the fourth epoch of its Formative Age.

At the outset of the Plan, the Universal House of Justice announced that, for the first time, the National Spiritual Assemblies, in close collaboration with the Continental Counselors, and with the participation of their agencies and local Assemblies, would formulate the goals of the Six Year Plan for their respective communities.

The House of Justice further stated that this new process “signalizes the inauguration of the unfoldment of a new stage of the Administrative Order.” It noted, “we have no hesitation in recognizing that this new development in the maturation of Bahá’í institutions marks the inception of the fourth epoch of that Age.”

Thus the formulation of goals at the local and national levels of our community stood both as the first challenge of the new Plan and as the inaugural task of a new stage of administrative responsibility for our continually evolving institutions.

Our community met this new challenge with great ‎enthusias.n. enthusiasm‎. Over 350 local Assemblies and Groups submitted statements of their goals for the first stage of the Six Year Plan.

In addition, 166 town meetings, involving individual believers, members of the Board of Counselors and its Auxiliary Board, and members of the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies were held to share local plans and to suggest recommendations for the national plan.

At the same time the National Spiritual Assembly launched a comprehensive effort to formulate plans for the national goals which included:

• the holding of a series of meetings with each of its major committees to review proposed strategies for their respective areas;
• the holding of special conferences on the subjects of Bahá’í education, Spiritual Assembly training, and community development;
• the soliciting and reviewing of recommendations from the offices and staff of the Bahá’í National Center;
• the analyzing and restructuring of the organization of its offices and committees; and
• the holding of a series of six meetings with the members of the Continental Board of Counselors residing in the United States.

The process of community-wide discourse, conducted in the spirit of unified action, contributed substantially to the formulation of the Six Year Plan for the American Bahá’í community.

The report which follows is organized, like the Plan itself, into three main categories: (1) growth; (2) development; and (3) integration.

Growth

The first year of the Six Year Plan saw a substantial advance in teaching activities. Although a complete recitation of the community’s achievements would be too long for this report, the following highlights serve to demonstrate our progress in this vital area.

The first International Peace Conference sponsored by the American Bahá’í community was an overwhelming success. More than 7,000 Bahá’ís and their guests gathered to proclaim the unity of the peoples of the world as the ultimate destiny of humanity.

The spectacle of Bahá’ís assembled from the four corners of the world, including the farmlands of the rural South, the Reservations of the Southwest and Midwest, the migrant labor communities of the Imperial Valley, and the Southeast Asian refugee communities of the West (U.S.) made an indelible impression on the hearts of everyone who attended.

The power of unity in diversity evidenced by the Bahá’ís caused many of the guest speakers to state, “There is not much I can bring to you that you do not already have.”

The Promise of World Peace, the statement from the Universal House of Justice to the peoples of the world, continued to provide the impetus for much of the teaching and proclamation activities of the community. Bahá’ís presented the peace statement to civic leaders and elected officials and planned conferences and other activities around its major themes.

The increase in the number of teaching projects was a great source of encouragement. Last summer over 130 projects were held, surpassing the goal of 95. Of these, over 40 projects represented ongoing teaching activities.

The progress of the Amoz Gibson Teaching Project, now in its fourth year, was powerfully reinforced by a visit from the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The growth of the Faith among Native Americans continued at a steady pace.

A study of the writings on the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár was undertaken to further our understanding of this unique spiritual institution and to develop guidelines for its use. The results of this effort will be the focus of an upcoming conference on the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and its dependencies.

Also, the redecoration of the Visitors’ Center outside Foundation Hall was begun this year. This project, when completed, will enhance the appearance and reinforce the teaching functions of the Center.

Although the scope and substance of our teaching activities have continued to grow, the rate of new enrollments has not advanced commensurately. The goal of a vast increase in enrollments remains the conspicuous exception to the community’s successes in other areas.

The challenges awaiting the community during the Six Year Plan are: (1) to increase dramatically individual teaching; (2) to maintain the steady expansion of teaching activities that deal with issues of broad social concern; and (3) to increase significantly the number and active participation of Bahá’í youth.

Development

The highlight of the development of our Bahá’í community in the first year of the Six Year Plan has been the close collaboration, wise counsel, and the loving and steadfast support of the Continental Counselors for the National Spiritual Assembly.

The spirit of this relationship, demonstrated by the participation of at least one of the Counselors in 16 of the last 17 meetings of the National Assembly, is the epitome of the Campaign of Unified Action. This is the same spirit of spiritual partnership that was evident at the town meetings and that must, to an ever-increasing degree, be established as the cornerstone of Bahá’í community life.

Among the other significant advances made toward the achievement of our development goals are:

• the initiation, by the National Spiritual Assembly, of the process for the establishment of two new national committees: (1) the Bahá’í Education Committee, which is to be responsible for the furtherance of the Bahá’í education of children, youth and adults; and (2) the Community Development Committee, which is to oversee the training and development of Spiritual Assemblies, Bahá’í community development, and projects of social and economic development.
• the sponsorship of a successful conference on “The Role of Women” by the newly appointed National Committee on Women, which started its work at a vigorous pace with the presentation of workshops on the Bahá’í teachings on women at the Bahá’í schools, participation in three national conferences, and the donation of a hand-sewn tapestry to the recently dedicated Mashriqu’l-Adhkár for the Indian Subcontinent depicting the role of women in its construction.
• the initiation, by the South Carolina Task Force, of a comprehensive plan to develop systematically the Spiritual Assemblies of South Carolina. The plan is supported by a heartwarming resurgence of activity among the friends in that state. Also, the Louis G. Gregory Youth Academy conducted its first session of academic and spiritual training last summer.

In addition to the many advances made during the year, the community experienced some major setbacks.

The first was the dissolution of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Los Angeles, California, which guided the largest and one of the most prestigious Bahá’í communities in the United States. Election of a new Spiritual Assembly in Los Angeles will not be held at Ridván. In the wake of this misfortune, the Bahá’ís of Los Angeles have arisen impressively to address the task of the spiritual revitalization of that important community.

The second was the persistent pattern of failure to meet our National Bahá’í Fund goal, resulting in the release of 25 employees of the National Assembly. The employees affected by the budget reduction were provided with outplacement services and individualized severance and benefits packages.

The response of the believers to this condition has been one of the high points of the Spirit of the Roses campaign. Contributions to the National Fund have increased dramatically, enabling the National Assembly to meet its pledged contributions to the International Fund and to retire much of its short-term debt.

Although the demands on the Fund continue to exceed contributions, this victory demonstrates the enormous capacity of the American Bahá’í community to rise and meet its challenges.

Integration

The unity of the races and cultures of humanity, the cardinal principle of our Faith, was an arena of great activity and achievement during the opening year of the Six Year Plan.

At a time when every indicator from the society at large announces the accelerating decay of interracial relations, we are intensifying our efforts to assume a major role in the establishment of race unity in this country.

Guiding the community in this area are the National Persian American Affairs Committee and the National Race Unity Committee through the development of models of unity in diversity in Bahá’í communities. The significant achievements resulting from their efforts include:

• the holding of the first Area Persian American Affairs Committee (APAAC) Conference in Wilmette which focused on the Six Year Plan—Persian integration, refugee resettlement, and the observing of Bahá’í laws;
• the holding of a series of conferences and area meetings in 10 major cities throughout the country;
• the publishing of numerous booklets, pamphlets, audio and video tapes for children and adults including those on Persian integration, racism, and interracial marriage;
• the producing of a two-part, hour-long video tape on race unity; and
• the publishing of a major compilation of the writings entitled The Power of Unity: Beyond Prejudice and Racism.

These important works were augmented by a series of 14 institutes, workshops and conferences sponsored by the National Race Unity Committee.

Conclusion

As we conclude the first year of the Six Year Plan, and approach the 75th anniversary of the visit of the beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to the North American continent, one can sense the presence of the Master Himself watching over the community. His influence invigorates us and spurs us on to even greater victories.

At this important moment in our history, we cannot fail to recall the unparalleled mission He assigned to the American believers, “whose spiritual destiny (it) is to usher in the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.”

During the deliberations of this National Convention, let us reflect on our special mission in the context of Shoghi Effendi’s plea to the American believers to “arise as one soul and to prosecute with unrelaxing resolve the high mission with which their immediate destiny is inextricably interwoven.”

We are the ones who must spread the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh to a moribund society.

We are the ones who must bind the races into one family.

We are the ones who must build communities which are havens of spiritual and social prosperity.

Finally, as we prepare to embark on the second year of the Six Year Plan, let each of us ponder in his heart these words of the beloved Master:

I have a lamp in my hand searching through the lands and seas to find souls who can become heralds of the Cause. Day and night I am engaged in this work. Any other deliberations in the meetings are futile and fruitless. Convey the Message! Attract the hearts! Sow the seeds! Teach the Cause to those who do not know. [Page 13]

Convention

from page 1

the Universal House of Justice, who was present at a memorial service in his honor Saturday evening; Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem, widow of the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem; and four people—Monroe Ioas, Sylvia Parmelee, Edna True and Isabelle Windust—who had met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Also present, at least in spirit, was another of the Hands of the Cause of God, Dorothy Baker, whose soul-stirring message to the 1953 Convention, replayed Saturday morning on audio tape, galvanized the delegates, refocused their consultation, and led them to recommend unanimously that the National Spiritual Assembly “design and promote a focused, multi-faceted, ongoing program to teach the black and Native American populations” in the U.S.

The Convention was opened Thursday evening with the seating of the delegates, an audio-visual presentation on the dedication of the Bahá’í House of Worship in India, and a reception in the visitors’ area adjacent to Foundation Hall.

The Ridván message from the Universal House of Justice was read Friday morning, followed by the annual reports of the National Spiritual Assembly and its two administrative arms—the Office of the Treasurer and Office of External Affairs—and a presentation by Mr. Schechter on behalf of the Board of Counselors.

“The first year of the Six Year Plan,” the National Assembly said in its report, “saw a substantial advance in teaching activities.”

However, it added, “the goal of a vast increase in enrollments remains the conspicuous exception to the community’s successes in other areas.”

“The challenges awaiting the community during the Six Year Plan are: (1) to increase dramatically individual teaching; (2) to maintain the steady expansion of teaching activities that deal with issues of broad social concern; and (3) to increase significantly the number and active participation of Bahá’í youth.”

The highlight of the community’s development during the first year of the Plan, it said, “has been the close collaboration, wise counsel, and loving and steadfast support of the Continental Counselors for the National Spiritual Assembly.”

“The spirit of this relationship, demonstrated by the participation of at least one of the Counselors in 16 of the last 17 meetings of the National Assembly, is the epitome of the Campaign of Unified Action.”

“This is the same spirit of spiritual partnership that was evident at the Town Meetings, and that must, to an ever-increasing degree, be established as the cornerstone of Bahá’í community life.”

As we approach the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to North America, the National Assembly said, “one can sense the presence of the Master Himself watching over the community. His influence invigorates us and spurs us on to even greater victories.”

On Saturday morning, while Convention guests toured the Bahá’í National Center, the delegates assembled at the House of Worship to elect the members of the National Spiritual Assembly for 1987-88.

Those elected were Robert C. Henderson, Dorothy W. Nelson, James F. Nelson, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Chester Kahn, Jack McCants, William Maxwell, William Davis and Alberta Deas.

Shortly after the tellers’ report was accepted Saturday afternoon, the National Assembly met briefly to elect its officers. They are James Nelson, chairman; Firuz Kazemzadeh, vice-chairman; Robert Henderson, secretary; and Dorothy Nelson, treasurer.

The members of the National Spiritual Assembly were presented to the delegates and guests Saturday evening, after which the National Teaching Committee presented a program entitled “Spirit of the Roses” in which some of the successes of that campaign, dedicated to the Bahá’í martyrs and prisoners in Iran, were dramatized.

The memorial service for Mr. Wolcott was held immediately after the Saturday evening session.

Dr. Hoda Mahmoudi, chairman of the National Teaching Committee, spoke on its behalf Sunday morning in a presentation honoring the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to North America.

Mr. Sears, who attended most of the Convention sessions and is to be present June 27 at the Souvenir Picnic in Teaneck, New Jersey, urged his audience to appreciate the glorious privilege of living in this day, and to seize the opportunity now to follow the example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and carry the Message of Bahá’u’lláh to every corner of this country and around the world.

Two messages were sent by the Convention to the Universal House of Justice, the second of which dealt with implementation of the Law of Huqúqu’lláh, which was among the topics of consultation on Saturday evening when a report was given by two of the Trustees of the Huqúqu’lláh in the U.S., Dr. Amin Banani and Dr. Daryush Haghighi.

Santour player Kiu Haghighi and pianist Rosamond Brenner entertain during the 78th Bahá’í National Convention.

Prayer for America

Above: Counselor Wilma Brady, director-general of the Bahá’í International Community’s office in New York City, addresses the Convention. Below left: Gilbert Smith, a delegate from Eastern Tennessee, offers a few remarks. Below right: The cap worn by this Convention guest expresses eloquently the overriding goal of this and other Bahá’í-sponsored events.

TO THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE THE 78TH NATIONAL CONVENTION, HONORED BY THE PRESENCE OF THE HAND OF THE CAUSE OF GOD WILLIAM SEARS, COUNSELORS BRADY, HARRIS AND SCHECHTER, AND SPECIAL GUESTS MRS. JAVIDUKHT KHADEM AND MRS. HARRIETT WOLCOTT, WAS EXALTED BY YOUR HEART-SEARCHING MESSAGE. OUR CONSULTATION WAS LIFTED TO EXTRAORDINARY HEIGHTS BY A COMBINATION OF UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS, MOST NOTABLY A NEW INFUSION OF THE SPIRIT OF THE NATIVE AND BLACK AMERICAN BELIEVERS; THE ACTIVE PRESENCE OF A MUCH GREATER PROPORTION OF NEW DELEGATES; THE DEMONSTRATION OF EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ELECTED AND APPOINTED INSTITUTIONS, AND THE RECOGNIZED GUIDANCE OF OUR BELOVED NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY. THE DELEGATES PLEDGE TO YOU THEIR PERSISTENT AND SACRIFICIAL EFFORTS IN PERFORMANCE OF THE GREAT AND WONDERFUL TASKS WITH WHICH YOU HAVE CHALLENGED US. DELEGATES ASSEMBLED AT 78TH BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CONVENTION

TO DELEGATES NATIONAL CONVENTION OUR HEARTS UPLIFTED DYNAMIC SPIRIT CONVEYED MESSAGE YOUR NATIONAL CONVENTION. PRAYING HOLY THRESHOLD YOUR PLEDGE REDEDICATION SACRED INESCAPABLE TASKS WILL INSPIRIT ENTIRE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY ENABLING IT TO WIN AND EVEN SURPASS ITS SIX YEAR PLAN GOALS. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

TO THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE DELEGATES ASSEMBLED AT THE 78TH BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CONVENTION IN THE PRESENCE OF TRUSTEES OF HUQÚQU’LLÁH HAGHIGHI AND BANANI, ENTHUSIASTICALLY ENDORSE THE SWIFT IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS GREAT LAW IN THE UNITED STATES AND PLEDGE OUR EFFORTS TO EDUCATE AND INSTRUCT THE BAHÁ’ÍS IN AMERICA CONCERNING ITS APPLICATION. DELEGATES ASSEMBLED AT 78TH BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CONVENTION

TO DELEGATES NATIONAL CONVENTION DELIGHTED YOUR SECOND MESSAGE. DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR ENTHUSIASM HUQÚQU’LLÁH. YOUR DETERMINED EFFORTS PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE THIS LAW AMONG FELLOW BELIEVERS WILL SURELY STIMULATE SPONTANEOUS PARTICIPATION AND HASTEN DAY ITS UNIVERSAL APPLICATION. ASSURE YOU LOVING PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

new from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust

The Purpose of Physical Reality The Kingdom of Names

• Why has God ordained that we begin our spiritual journey in a physical world?
• How can we use the world around us to further our spiritual development?
• How can our choices in earthly life affect the quality of our life in the world beyond?

Author John S. Hatcher examines the Bahá’í and other writings to show us how to unleash our human potential and take advantage of the unique opportunities of our physical existence.

159 pages, Bibliography SC $9.95

Bahá’í Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091 TEL. 1-800-323-1880

• Price valid only in the United States

[Page 14]

New releases from George Ronald include books on Báb, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Three new books are due late this month from George Ronald, Publisher, including a biography of the Báb, a book of prayers for women, and a written profile of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by the Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend.

Mary Perkins is the author of the biography of the Báb, Hour of Dawn, which is described as “a clear, straightforward and easily readable account of the life of the Báb.”

The story begins, the publisher says, “with the Báb’s childhood in Shiraz, His youth and marriage, and His declaration on that fateful night to Mulla Husayn, the first to believe in Him.”

In addition, the book details the persecutions that followed the Declaration of the Báb, His banishment and imprisonment, stories of the other 18 “Letters of the Living,” the conference at Badasht, the ‎seige siege‎ of Fort Tabarsi, the trial of the Báb, and the events leading to His martyrdom in Tabriz.

Hour of Dawn is $15.95 in hard-cover and $7.95 in softcover. Ms. Perkins, who co-authored The Bahá’í Faith, plans a sequel to the book on the life of Bahá’u’lláh.

George Ronald’s new book of prayers for women is entitled Handmaidens of God and will sell for $1.95.

The book contains prayers by both Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá “to be recited specifically by women,” the publisher says.

Included are prayers for praise and gratitude, children, husbands, parents, forgiveness, healing, protection, tests, purification, detachment, and spiritual qualities.

The publisher says the book can be given to both Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís.

Finally, George Ronald has compiled ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Master, which is described as “a portrait compiled from the writings of the Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend.”

This timely collection brings together in one volume the various writings of Mr. Townshend “to and about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” the publisher says. Shoghi Effendi called Mr. Townshend “...the preeminent Bahá’í writer.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Master is 80 pages in length and sells for $6.95 in softcover.

As usual, the bookstore at the Bahá’í House of Worship was a busy place during the 78th Bahá’í National Convention as delegates and guests used the occasion to buy many of the new releases.

Two booklets that have been out of print for several years have now been reprinted by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom. Success in Teaching, by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, is subtitled ‘An Intimate Talk with Bahá’ís Who Long to Serve the Faith,’ and covers the topics ‘The Ills of Mankind,’ ‘The Covenant Is the Hub,’ ‘The First Step,’ ‘Concern for Others,’ and ‘The Force of Example.’ The other booklet, Becoming Your True Self, by Dr. Daniel C. Jordan, is a primer on how the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh releases human potential. The booklet deals with social and spiritual environments for transformation, how faith affects the release of human potential, and how prejudice can block such progress. Each booklet is sold in packages of five for $7.

Distribution Representatives discuss their activities with representatives of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust and Distribution Service during a meeting April 4-5 at the Bahá’í Center in Austin, Texas. Pictured third from right is Terrill Hayes, general manager of the Publishing Trust; Robert Blum, the Distribution Service’s marketing manager, is third from left.

Distribution Service 25 best-selling books for Bahá’í year 143

1. The Bahá’í World, Vol. 18
2. Peace: More Than an End to War, SC
3. The Promise of World Peace, presentation edition
4. The Divine Art of Living
5. The Power of Unity
6. Stories from the Dawn-Breakers
7. The Promise of World Peace, study edition
8. The Promise of World Peace, deluxe edition
9. The Bahá’í Faith: The Emerging Global Religion
10. Divine Therapy
11. Bahá’í History Calendar
12. Bahá’í Wall Calendar
13. Bahá’í References to Judaism, Christianity and Islam
14. Women, a Compilation
15. Bahá’í Prayers, HC
16. Bahá’í Datebook
17. Bahá’í Prayers, SC
18. Thoughts: Education for Peace, SC
19. Teaching Peace
20. Throne of the Inner Temple
21. The Peace Bible
22. Peace: More Than an End to War, HC
23. O God, Guide Me!
24. Unity: Creative Foundation of Peace
25. Unrestrained as the Wind

GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS

by Margaret Ruhe

Guidelines for Parents is a new publication from the Publishing Trust of India written by Margaret Ruhe who brings her experience and training as family and medical social worker to bear along with her lifelong experience as a Bahá’í in this 35-page booklet. Mrs. Ruhe cites more than 60 sources as she discusses Bahá’í standards, the reason parents should pray for their children, when training of the children should begin, the roles of the mother and father, discipline, rules for the home, academic education, and Bahá’í family life. Guidelines for Parents is $2 in softcover.

Distribution Service 25 top accounts for Bahá’í year 143

1. Los Angeles, CA
2. Louhelen Bahá’í School, MI
3. Green Acre Bahá’í School, ME
4. New York, NY
5. Houston, TX
6. Clackamas County Northwest, OR
7. Cleveland, OH
8. Phoenix, AZ
9. Riverside, CA
10. Green Lake Bahá’í School, WI
11. Pasadena, CA
12. San Diego, CA
13. Bosch Bahá’í School, CA
14. Dallas, TX
15. Seattle, WA
16. Washington, DC
17. Wilhelm Bahá’í School, NJ
18. Florida Bahá’í School
19. Massanetta Springs, VA
20. Philadelphia, PA
21. San Francisco, CA
22. Grand Junction, CO
23. Alabama Bahá’í School
24. Cedar Rapids, IA
25. Indianapolis, IN

[Page 15]

Books, tapes keep alive Master’s visit to America

The following materials from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust and other sources will be helpful during our nine-month celebration and study of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit in 1912 to North America.

By ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

The Promulgation of Universal Peace, HC $16.

Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, HC $12.50; SC $6.50; LT $6.50.

Some Answered Questions, HC $14; PS $3.75.

A Traveler’s Narrative, HC $10; SC $5.

About ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Daily Lessons Received at ‘Akká, SC $6.

Memories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, HC $10.

239 Days: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Journey in America, HC $10.

And a new cassette tape:

Meeting the Master I, a recording of recollections by early believers of their first-hand experiences with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Speakers include Juliet Thompson, Dr. ‘Alí-Kuli Khan, Florence Breed Khan, Marguerite (Daisy) Smythe, Edward B. (Saffa) Kinney, and Curtis Kelsey. 60 minutes. CS $7.50.

New titles are hits at National Convention

Among the new titles released by the Publishing Trust at this year’s National Convention were a pocket-sized edition of The Promise of World Peace; a new reprint of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era; The Purpose of Physical Reality, by Dr. John Hatcher, an exploration of why we begin our existence on the physical plane; and The Gift of Life, a gift booklet on birth.

Dr. John Hatcher autographs a copy of his new book, The Purpose of Physical Reality, now available for $9.95. As well as explaining the Bahá’í teachings on physical reality, the book addresses such issues as how our physical experience changes us spiritually, how metaphor plays an important role in our spiritual education, and how our earthly performance affects our progress in the life to come.

The new pocket-sized edition of the peace statement is ideal for carrying in one’s purse or pocket or for mailing in a No. 10 envelope. 10/$5.50.

A reprint of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era features a new cover design, updated facts and statistics, and new translations of some of the passages from the writings. SC $3.50.

Coming soon!

Four tapes of music and talks from the dedication of the Bahá’í House of Worship in India.

And, Tablet of the Heart, a book of memory verses for children compiled from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, HC $9.95.

New gift booklet on the purpose of human creation, perfect for new parents or parents-to-be, on ivory stock with matching envelope. 10/$12.50.

NEW CASSETTE

The Major and Minor Plans of God, a new cassette tape of a talk by Dr. Peter Khan, is now available from the Publishing Trust through the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

Dr. Khan, who was recently elected to the Universal House of Justice, presented the talk at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette.

The tape focuses on the Bahá’í view of history, discusses the major and minor plans of God as described in the Writings, and includes a healthy approach to viewing potential or actual “calamities.” CS, $7.50.

Dr. Peter Khan, then a Counselor and now a member of the Universal House of Justice, speaks about the major and minor plans of God to an audience at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette.

Fostering the equality of the sexes

The 13th in a series of columns on the goals of the Six Year Plan.

At a recent conference sponsored by the National Committee on Women, participants were urged to envision a world without sexism. Responses to this exercise were varied—some could fully imagine what the reality of the equality of the sexes would be like; others simply drew a blank.

Despite many achievements made concerning the advancement of women and the realization of equality (both in society as a whole and within the Bahá’í community in particular), there is still much we can do to support these challenging goals of the Faith.

Transformation must begin within. Whether we are male or female, we can all actively seek to create an equality that will have a positive impact on our families, communities, and world. Discussed below are a few of the books and materials that can help us promote an awareness of equality—and ideas for using them.

The new package of 10 full-color note cards celebrating the station of women and their diverse work around the world provides an opportunity to send the message of the equality of the sexes to friends and seekers through the mail. The cards are taken from the tapestry by New Mexico artist Vickie Hu Poirier given to the women of India by the U.S. National Committee on Women at the dedication of the Bahá’í House of Worship in India last December. One card (shown here) depicts the entire tapestry; nine others show each of its panels. The panels feature a Navajo woman tending sheep and holding a child; a Persian woman harvesting fruit (also shown here); an African woman teaching; a Bolivian woman spinning wool; a black American woman working at a computer; a South American woman bearing wood; a Chinese woman sewing; and several men and women cooperating to carry out a common goal—the construction of the House of Worship in India. Ten cards, $12.50.

Another must for deepenings and firesides is the cassette tape of a talk by Dr. Peter Khan which examines the history of women, shows how religion has contributed to the subjugation of women in the past, and contrasts this attitude with the Bahá’í teachings. Also included are guiding principles that will help us build a civilization that is based on equality and is supportive of peace. Listen at home or while commuting. 60 minutes. CS $7.

For your own deepening, for discussion with friends, and for giving to seekers, use the new compilation of the Bahá’í writings on the importance of women and the equality of the sexes. The booklet covers such topics as the critical role of education in the development of women, the application of the principle of equality to family life, the station of women in the world at large, and the essential connection between the development of women and the establishment of world peace. A must for men and women seeking to establish consultative groups. SC $2.

Women: Equality and Peace by Counselor Peter Khan International Teaching Center member

On the horizon!

A video tape of talks by 12 of the “living treasures” who met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and attended the recent 75th anniversary celebration of the Master’s visit in 1912 to the site of the House of Worship.

To receive the video in time for your Souvenir picnic or other commemorative event, phone 1-800-323-1880 (in Illinois, 312-251-1854) for details and to place your order.

How to order

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

Bahá’í institutions outside the contiguous 48 states should order directly from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. [Page 16]

B.E. 143 in review: A few losses, spectacular gains

MAY

• Nearly 1,700 Bahá’ís gather May 1-4 for the 77th Bahá’í National Convention at Chicago’s McCormick Inn to savor the accomplishments of the Seven Year Plan, salute the Faith’s rapid emergence from obscurity, and set their course toward victory in the Six Year Plan.
• The Convention is blessed by the presence of two of the Hands of the Cause of God, Zikrullah Khadem and William Sears. Other special guests include Counselors Wilma Brady, Robert Harris and Fred Schechter; former Counselor Edna True; and Dr. Victor de Araujo, the Bahá’í International Community’s representative at the United Nations in New York.
• Consultation is lifted to a high plane of resolve and sacrifice by the moving gift of 189 red roses from Bahá’ís imprisoned in Iran, addressed to "the beloved ones of our heart and soul."
• The National Teaching Committee sets a goal of establishing at least 95 ongoing teaching projects in the U.S. A second goal is to involve 1,000 youth in these projects. As of the end of May, 15 projects are under way in 11 states.
• More than 40 Bahá’í are present May 29-June 1 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Michigan for a conference whose theme is "Preparing for Opposition."
• The conference, co-sponsored by the Board of Counselors in the Americas and the National Spiritual Assembly, is conducted in part by Counselor Wilma Brady and Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, vice-chairman of the National Assembly and director of its Office of External Affairs.
• Its main purpose is to develop through consultation recommendations to the senior institutions of the Faith concerning measures that can be taken by the American Bahá’í community to prepare itself for opposition.
• Later in May, Dr. Brady is named Administrator-General of the Bahá’í International Community’s office in New York. She is invited to begin her work with an orientation at the World Center in September before assuming her duties in New York the following month.
• On May 10, the Bahá’ís of New York City sponsor a Peace Conference and evening Peace Concert with Dizzy Gillespie at the Greenwich Village School in Manhattan.
• Among the participants are two prominent non-Bahá’ís: Major General Indar Jit Rikhye, director of the International Peace Academy; and Betty Reardon, program director of the peace education program at Columbia University’s Teachers College.
• A series of five Youth Teacher Training Seminars is held in May and early June at the Bosch, Green Acre and Louhelen Bahá’í Schools, the Louis Gregory Institute in South Carolina, and Quaker Acres near Wichita, Kansas.
• Programs focus on the development of teaching skills in preparation for the "mighty mobilization" during the summer of 1,000 youth projecteers, as well as for a life of service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.
• On May 4, immediately after the close of the Bahá’í National Convention, a reception is held at the Bahá’í House of Worship to unveil a unique "peace tapestry," seven feet tall and 25 feet wide, by Vickie Hu Poirier of Las Cruces, New Mexico, which conveys visually the major themes in the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement and is to remain on permanent display in the visitors’ center outside Foundation Hall.
• On May 10, more than 100 people attend a farewell dinner at the House of Worship for its administrator, Bruce Whitmore, who leaves later in the summer after more than 13 years at the National Center.

JUNE

• Reports received at the Bahá’í World Center indicate that by June 19, 168 special copies of "The Promise of World Peace" have been delivered to heads of state, 142 of which are given to leaders of independent countries. Of these, 51 are presented directly by representatives of National Spiritual Assemblies and 91 by intermediaries or through the mail.
• The Hand of the Cause of God John Robarts is an honored guest at the Southeastern Regional Bahá’í Youth Conference held June 18-22 near Huntsville, Alabama.
• This first Regional Youth Conference of the Six Year Plan is attended by about 150 Bahá’ís, most of them from the southern states.
• One hundred sixty-eight special Town Meetings are held across the U.S. in June to enable local communities and districts to make recommendations to the National Spiritual Assembly for its consideration in devising national goals and strategies for the Six Year Plan.
• Also in June, the Universal House of Justice announces an increase in the number of Auxiliary board members, to become effective in November 1986. The number is to be raised from 297 to 324 for protection, and from 405 to 432 for propagation. The number added for the Americas is nine for protection, making a total of 63 for protection and 117 for propagation.
• On June 26-29, 146 people from 10 states attend the annual South Carolina Bahá’í School at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute in Hemingway.
• Among the speakers are Counselor Wilma Brady, Auxiliary Board member William Roberts, and three members of the National Race Unity Committee—Duane ‎Humbleton Hambleton‎, Roy Jones and Mary K. Radpour.
• That same weekend, an historic workshop on "the most challenging issue" and the equality of men and women is held at the Green Acre Bahá’í School in Eliot, Maine.
• The workshop, entitled "Valuing Difference: Developing a Consciousness of the Oneness of Mankind through Multi-Cultural and Female-Male Awareness," is designed and conducted by Linda Giardina of Boston and Leonard Smith of Concord, Massachusetts.
• On June 7, the Bahá’ís of Greater Memphis, Tennessee, present their annual George Henderson Human Unity Awards to the Memphis Literacy Council, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and Maxine Smith, executive secretary of the Memphis branch of the NAACP.

JULY

• At a special meeting held July 19 in Los Angeles, California, the National Spiritual Assembly informs the members of that city’s local Spiritual Assembly of its decision to dissolve that Assembly "in the best interests of the community."
• The move is made "with deep regret" as a step toward the spiritual revitalization of the Los Angeles Bahá’í community.
• The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, responding to an invitation from the American Indian Teaching Committee to visit newly enrolled Native American Bahá’ís in South Dakota, speaks July 24 at a public meeting on the Pine Ridge Reservation where teaching activities over the past several years have led to the formation of 17 new local Spiritual Assemblies.
• Reports received at the Bahá’í National Center from the 168 Town Meetings held in June describe a wide range of proposed activities in teaching, child education, media proclamation, social and economic development, interaction with society, youth development, and many other areas of service.
• Some 80 teachers of Bahá’í children’s classes attend workshops during a National Children’s Teacher Training Conference held July 2-7 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Michigan.
• On July 27-29, the Louhelen School holds its first Women’s Conference.
• Its purpose is to strengthen a commitment to the advancement of women and to increase awareness of the diversity of responsibilities that women can assume in society and of the barriers that prevent them from fulfilling those responsibilities.
• Meanwhile, the first Regional National Treasurer’s Representatives and Local Treasurer’s Institute is held July 25-27 in Boulder, Colorado. It gives NTRs, local treasurers and staff at the National Treasurer’s Office an opportunity to share concerns and ideas about the institution of the Fund.
• On July 21-25, the Bahá’í teaching committee of Greater Orlando, Florida, guided by the Spiritual Assembly of Seminole County, plans a week-long series of classes for children in the area. The series is entitled "A Week with Mona" in memory of Mona Mahmudnizhad, a young Persian Bahá’í who loved children and gave her life for the Cause.
• During a visit July 18-22 to six cities in northeastern Mexico and southwestern Texas, Counselor Arturo Serrano presents talks on a wide range of topics to more than 200 people.
• On July 26, some 75 Bahá’ís and their guests gather at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, for "Women as Peacemakers: A Conference for Men, Women and Youth." The speakers include Auxiliary Board member Robert Postlethwaite; Juana Conrad, founder of Women for International Peace and Arbitration; and Dr. Hoda Mahmoudi, a WIPA member and chairman of the National Teaching Committee.
• A dozen Bahá’í youth ages 13-15 prepare to undergo a month of deepening and fellowship as the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute in South Carolina conducts the first session of its Bahá’í Youth Academy.
• Among the topics to be addressed at Academy sessions are Bahá’í history, black history, prayer, nutrition, self-concepts, the family, and education.
• Seven youth ages 12-24 from various parts of the country take part July 23-27 in the Payman Sobhani Teaching Project in North and South Carolina, named for a 15-year-old Bahá’í who was martyred in Iran the previous month.
• More than 500 people attend events associated with "WorldFest ’86," a citywide intercultural festival initiated by the Bahá’ís of Winfield, Kansas, and spread over a six-week period from June 5 through July 16.
• The festival is officially sponsored by Southwestern College in Winfield with the cooperation of a dozen community groups including the Bahá’ís.

AUGUST

• San Francisco, which survived a devastating earthquake in 1906, welcomed ‘Abdu’l-Bahá six years later, and saw the birth of the United Nations in 1946, makes history again August 28-31 as the site of the first Bahá’í International Peace Conference to be held in North America.
• About 7,800 people, nearly 800 of whom are not Bahá’ís, gather at San Francisco’s Civic Auditorium to celebrate the concept of peace and show by their presence that world peace is not only possible but inevitable.
• The keynote address is given by Dr. Ervin Laszlo, editor of the World Encyclopedia of Peace and a well-known authority in the relatively new fields of systems science and world order.
• Six panel discussions, each of which benefits from the presence of non-Bahá’í speakers and moderators, are held on the themes of "Spiritual Renewal," "Social and Economic Development," "The Equality of Men and Women," and "Conflict Resolution." Also taking part in the various panels are Counselor Wilma Brady and two members of the National Spiritual Assembly, Dr. William Maxwell and Judge Dorothy Nelson.
• Dr. Brady is one of seven Counselors at the conference. The others are Counselors for the Americas Eloy Anello, Robert Harris, Fred Schechter and Arturo Serrano, and two Counselor members of the International Teaching Center, Hooper Dunbar and Masu’d Khamsi.
• Seventy workshops, each conducted by an experienced and carefully chosen facilitator, are held concurrently with the panel discussions.
• And from an ethnic dance spectacular to music of many lands, from comedy and juggling to late-night jazz and dancing, conference-goers are treated to a veritable galaxy of the best entertainment the Bahá’í world has to offer.
• At the end of the conference, the audience stands and applauds as some 1,000 children, led by singer Red Grammer, enter the auditorium and serenade the friends with the conference theme song, "Listen."
• On August 3-4, Prime Minister Sir Thomas Davis of the Cook Islands and Lady Davis visit the Bahá’í World Center. The Universal House of Justice cables: "Occasion made historic by Prime Minister’s initiative in requesting consultation with Universal House of Justice regarding world peace. Visit also marked most concrete response to date by political leader to peace statement released to peoples of (the) world last October. ..."
• More than 150 Bahá’ís and their guests gather over the Labor Day weekend for a regional peace conference at the Green Acre Bahá’í School in Maine.
• The conference, co-sponsored by the Association for Bahá’í Studies’ New England Committee, sees three declarations, by people born in Japan, Armenia and Jamaica.
• It is reported that as of August 27, 5,000 Bahá’í children in the U.S. have been registered as a result of the initiation of child registration in November 1985.
• Dr. Betty J. Fisher, general editor of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, and associate editor Richard Hill present a workshop on writing and publishing at the 11th annual conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, held August 22-24 in London, Ontario, Canada.
• On August 15, Kenneth R. Jeffers of Laguna Niguel, California, becomes the new administrator of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.

[Page 17]

SEPTEMBER

• The National Spiritual Assembly reports that the condition of the National Fund has led to the permanent layoff of 20 staff at the Bahá’í National Center and Bahá’í schools.

"Almost every office, committee, school and institute has suffered the loss of personnel as a result of this action," the National Assembly says in a letter to the American Bahá’í community dated September 17, adding, "We are confident that the steps we are taking will lead us to a position of greater strength and financial balance. We ask for your prayers and support of these efforts."

• As a result of publicity surrounding the Peace Conference in San Francisco, more than 100 people telephone that city’s Bahá’í Center in September to request copies of the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement.
• Meanwhile, the National Spiritual Assembly reports that as of September 1, it has completed the first phase of distribution of the peace statement to a number of federal officials and to the presidents or heads of some 170 national peace-related organizations.
• About 250 people including many non-Bahá’ís gather September 19-20 at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute in South Carolina for a Peace Festival to celebrate "Peace Week" as proclaimed by Gov. Richard W. Riley. The event begins with a Jazz Fest led by famed trumpeter John Birks (Dizzy) Gillespie, a native South Carolinian.
• The 27th annual Green Lake (Wisconsin) Bahá’í Conference draws 969 people to the American Baptist Assembly in Green Lake. The conference theme is "The Unfolding Pattern: The Fourth Epoch."

Speakers include Counselors Eloise Anello and Robert Harris; Dr. Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly; and Tony Pelle, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands. Each of the 14 afternoon workshops deals with issues relevant to the Six Year Plan.

ELIZABETH MARTIN

OCTOBER

• On October 20, the anniversary of the Birth of the Báb, the American Bahá’í community launches a "Spirit of the Roses" campaign designed to redeem the gift of 189 red roses presented by Bahá’í prisoners in Iran to the 77th Bahá’í National Convention in April.

The campaign is to last for 189 days, ending on the final day of the 78th National Convention, April 26, 1987. The "189 days of victory" will be recorded by the National Spiritual Assembly in a journal that is to be forwarded after the Convention to the Universal House of Justice.

• A spokesman for the U.S. State Department, responding to the report that a 16-year-old Bahá’í, Bijan Talebi, has been stoned to death in Iran, says, "We wish to take this occasion to reiterate what President Reagan said on Human Rights Day in December 1985, when he noted the ‘rampant religious persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran.’ At that time, he asserted that ‘only the continued world outcry can help bring an end to their suffering.’ "

The spokesman calls upon the Iranian government to abide by the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion and Belief, to which it is a signatory.

• The National Spiritual Assembly joins members of the National Teaching Committee and more than 200 Bahá’ís from the New England area at a ceremony to inaugurate the restoration of the Green Acre Bahá’í School in Eliot, Maine.

JUANA CONRAD

• Shiva Tavana, the National Spiritual Assembly’s representative at the United Nations in New York, is the keynote speaker October 24 at the annual dinner sponsored by the Lincoln, Nebraska, chapter of the UN Association. It marks the first time that a Bahá’í has been asked to speak at this event.
• "The Preservation of Human Honor," a regional conference on social and economic development held October 25-26 at the Bahá’í Center in Los Angeles, California, draws 418 people from more than 120 communities in four states and three foreign countries.

The event is sponsored by the National Social and Economic Development Committee and the Administrative Committee of the Bahá’ís of Los Angeles. Among those taking part are Charles Wolcott, a member of the Universal House of Justice; Counselors Hooper Dunbar and Fred Schechter; and William Davis, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly.

• About 100 Bahá’ís from more than 40 cities in several states and three foreign countries attend the second annual Conference of Spanish-Speaking Bahá’ís held October 10-13 in San Fernando, California.

Among those present are two Counselor members of the International Teaching Center, Hooper Dunbar and Masu’d Khamsi.

• Reports indicate that the new electoral units used for the first time at District Conventions in October have been well-received. In several areas, a dramatic increase in participation is noted; in 40 units, more than 40 per cent of adult Bahá’ís with known addresses have voted.
• On October 30, a young Bahá’í in Wanblee, South Dakota, Donovan Returning Arrow, rushes into a burning mobile home to save the life of an infant who is trapped in his crib.

NOVEMBER

• On November 13, the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem, described by the Universal House of Justice in a cable to the Bahá’í world as an "indefatigable, fearless defender of the Faith," dies in Chicago after an illness of several months.

Two days later, hundreds of Bahá’ís gather for Mr. Khadem’s funeral and a memorial service at the Bahá’í House of Worship. Among those present to pay tribute to Mr. Khadem’s many years of devotion and service to the Cause are the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and members of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Alaska, Canada and the U.S.

• The National Spiritual Assembly announces the appointment of 27 Auxiliary Board members whose period of service to the American Bahá’í community is to begin on the Day of the Covenant, November 26.

On November 12, the newly appointed Board members gather for a four-day conference at the Bahá’í House of Worship to consult on the role of the Auxiliary Boards and their assistants in accelerating the growth of the Cause.

• The weekend of November 13-16 sees a number of substantive events for the Faith in the Wilmette area, among which is the first Area Persian/American Affairs Committee (APAAC) Conference at the Bahá’í National Center.

Meanwhile, the National Spiritual Assembly is meeting with members of the Continental Board of Counselors in the Americas and the newly appointed Auxiliary Board members while the National Teaching Committee, the National Race Unity Committee and others are meeting either at the Bahá’í House of Worship or at the National Center.

ZIKRULLAH KHADEM

• On October 25 and November 22, 67 Bahá’ís from Minnesota, South Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Missouri gather in Minneapolis for the first two sessions of a two-year course on the Bahá’í Faith offered through the recently created Minnesota Bahá’í Institute.

DECEMBER

• On December 9, the National Spiritual Assembly hosts a luncheon in Washington, D.C., to celebrate Human Rights Day. Judge James F. Nelson, chairman of the National Assembly, and its vice-chairman, Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, are joined by more than 100 guests including government officials, congressional staff, and representatives of non-governmental organizations. The keynote speaker is Richard Schifter, Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights.

JACK McCANTS

• Sacrificial gifts to the National Fund in the "Spirit of the Roses" enable the National Spiritual Assembly to reduce the Fund deficit by about $1 million and to send an additional $500,000 to the Universal House of Justice, reducing its outstanding pledge balance to $800,000.
• More than 8,000 Bahá’ís from 114 countries are present December 23-27 in New Delhi, India, for the dedication of the "Lotus of Bahapur," the Mother Temple of the Indian Sub-continent.

The Universal House of Justice is represented by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum. Also present are two other Hands of the Cause, Collis Featherstone and William Sears. Thirty-five tribes and races are numbered among the visitors, as are members of more than 100 National Spiritual Assemblies. A tent-city is erected to accommodate the more than 4,000 Bahá’ís from every State and Territory in India.

• Hearts are warmed December 26-30 during the annual Disney World Youth Conference in Orlando, Florida. Among those making the heartwarming presentations are Counselor Robert Harris; Dr. Jane Faily, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada; Auxiliary Board member Cap Cornwell; and members of the National Youth Committee.
• The National Spiritual Assembly names Terrill Hayes general manager of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust. He replaces Larry Bucknell, who has left to become chief administrative officer at the Bahá’í National Center.
• Also in December, the National Spiritual Assembly announces the appointment of a Management Information Systems (MIS) Committee to advise it on the application of new technology to serve the Faith’s increasingly complex communications needs.
• Pianist Mark Schu, a traveling teacher from St. Cloud, Minnesota, ends his 1986 tour in December, having presented more than 90 concerts arranged by Bahá’í communities across the U.S.
• More than 150 adults, youth and children attend the annual South Carolina Bahá’í Winter School at the Louis Gregory Institute. Among the teachers are Counselor Farzam Arbab and Auxiliary Board members Elizabeth Martin and Trudy White.
• A total of more than 200 Bahá’í children’s class teachers attend six regional children’s teacher training conferences in January. The meetings are held in Idaho, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina and Texas.
• The persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran and the dedication of the Bahá’í House of Worship in India combine to produce a well-written and sympathetic two-page article about the Faith in the January 26 issue of "Insight," a weekly news magazine published by the Washington (D.C.) Times newspaper.
• On January 17-18, more than 200 people attend the first Bahá’í Race Unity Conference ever held in New Haven, Connecticut. Among the speakers are Mayor Biagio DiLieto of New Haven; state Sen. John Daniels; Counselor Wilma Brady; Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly; and the entire National Race Unity Committee.

Video presentations are made on "Race Unity: A Bahá’í Perspective" and "The Promise of World Peace."

• On January 10, more than 170 people including about 40 non-Bahá’ís attend the sixth annual Community Service Awards banquet sponsored by the Bahá’ís of San Jose, California.

This year’s theme is education, and awards are presented to the state superintendent of public instruction, a professor of education at Stanford University, and the state’s public school teachers. The keynote speaker is Counselor Wilma Brady, director-general of the Bahá’í International Community’s office in New York.

JANUARY

• On January 26, Charles F. Wolcott, a member of the Universal House of Justice since its inception in 1963 and a former vice-chairman and secretary of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, dies at his home in Haifa, Israel.

Mr. Wolcott, a well-known composer, arranger and conductor for films, radio and television, resigned his position as general music director of the MGM Studios when he was elected secretary of the National Assembly in 1959. Two years later he was elected to the International Bahá’í Council, forerunner of the Universal House of Justice, and served as its secretary-general until the House of Justice was formed in 1963.

CHARLES WOLCOTT

• The National Spiritual Assembly announces before its January meeting the results of a by-election called in November to replace Soo Fouts, who was named an Auxiliary Board member after serving for a decade as a member of the National Assembly. Elected to replace Mrs. Fouts is Jack McCants of Weatherford, Oklahoma, who was a member of the National Assembly from 1968-70 before leaving to pioneer in the South Pacific.
• Holding a rare meeting in the U.S., the 17 members of the Continental Board of Counselors in the Americas spend the week of December 26-January 2 conducting business at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute in Hemingway, South Carolina.

The Counselors, who say they are especially interested in meeting at the Gregory Institute because of its deep commitment to teaching and development as well as to Bahá’í radio, hold an open meeting December 31 to greet some 200 friends from the area.

FEBRUARY

• "Equality is the Responsibility of All" is the theme of a wide-ranging and inspirational Bahá’í National Women’s Conference held February 20-22 in Skokie, Illinois.

Nearly 300 people attend the conference, which is sponsored by the National Committee on Women. Among the speakers are Counselor Wilma Brady; three members of the National Spiritual Assembly, Dr. Alberta Deas, Dr. Robert Henderson and Judge Dorothy Nelson; Ruby Gubatayao, chairman of the American Indian Teaching Committee; author Bahiyyih Nakhjavání; and the five members of the National Committee on Women. The keynote address is given by the Rev. Motlalepula Chabaku, a South African expatriate who now lives in See YEAR page 28 [Page 18]

CLASSIFIEDS

Classified notices in The American Bahá’í 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 for 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

AREA Persian-American Affairs Committee representative (Persian-American Affairs Committee Office)—researches, writes and develops articles and other appropriate materials on cross-cultural awareness issues for The American Bahá’í, pamphlets, monthly newsletter, conferences and conventions; maintains logs of APAAC correspondence, APAAC committee minutes and activities; maintains committee mailing lists; drafts and types acknowledgment of APAAC correspondence; compiles, types, photocopies and distributes reports and other written materials related to APAACS. Excellent English writing skills, strong organizational skills, clerical experience including typing at least 45 wpm are required. Word processing skills helpful. Deadline for applications is July 15.

HEAD resident sought for Louhelen Bahá’í School. Complete description of the position and application materials are available from the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033).

ASSOCIATE editor (Bahá’í Publishing Trust, editorial department)—assists the general editor in shaping the Trust’s publishing program: recruiting authors; developing and editing Bahá’í books for children, youth and adults; working with potential authors; and seeing books through the editing, design, typesetting and production phases. A liberal arts degree and at least two years’ experience in the editorial field are required; strong organizational skills are essential, as is an ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Computer experience is extremely helpful. Applicants must be well-grounded in the Bahá’í writings and works about the Faith and should have Bahá’í administrative experience, preferably on an Assembly. An immediate response is requested as the speed with which the Trust fills the position will impact on the success of its publishing program and its ability to meet the needs of the Six Year Plan. The deadline for applications is July 31.

EDITORIAL assistant (Bahá’í Publishing Trust, Editorial Department): Assists the general editor in carrying out the Publishing Trust’s publishing program; evaluating manuscripts; recruiting authors; copy editing and substantive editing; checking indexes; preparing manuscripts for typesetting; proofreading manuscripts; and preparing reprints. A liberal arts degree and at least one year’s experience in the editing field is required. Strong organizational skills and the ability to solve problems are required, as is the capacity for meeting deadlines and working without constant supervision. Computer experience is extremely helpful. Must be well-grounded in the Bahá’í writings and works about the Faith, and should have Bahá’í administrative experience. An immediate response is requested, as filling the position quickly will affect the Trust’s capacity to meet Six Year Plan goals.

Deadline for application is July 31. For more information and/or an application, contact the Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

WORLD Center staffing representatives (Administrative Services)—assists the Department of Human Resources at the Bahá’í National Center in fulfilling World Center position vacancies by developing recruitment strategies; writing announcements and recruitment letters to the American Bahá’í community; corresponding with potential candidates; setting up and maintaining applicant logs and files; conducting agency and business reference checks as warranted; and referring all applicant materials to the Department of Organization and Personnel at the World Center. An ability to read and evaluate applications and resumés and to maintain a high volume of detailed records is essential. Liberal arts degree with 2-3 years’ experience in the human resource field is preferred, as is a strong Bahá’í background with Assembly and/or DTC service. Pilgrimage or a visit to the Bahá’í World Center would be extremely valuable. Individual must be well-organized with good clerical, written and verbal communication skills and proven ability to work independently and with confidential materials.

NETWORK coordinator/assistant to the Secretary (National Youth Committee)—assists in the development of the Regional Youth Committees and District Youth Committees by responding to correspondence through letters and telephone calls; mailing informational packets to committees; managing appointment process; and maintaining mailing lists. Other tasks include writing articles for The American Bahá’í and the Youth Hotline. A liberal arts degree is required. Must be well-organized with good writing and clerical skills; experience or the desire to learn computer data entry, word processing and mail merging; and strong knowledge and understanding of the Youth Movement. A two- to three-year commitment is required. Apply to the Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

AN EXCITING summer of service awaits you at the Louhelen Bahá’í School! Louhelen is seeking a program director, assistant registrar, children’s class director and teachers, librarian, grounds assistant, food service assistant, and housekeeper. Positions are for July and August. Room and board and a weekly stipend are included. For information and application materials, write to the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

QUALIFIED individuals are being sought to fill vacancies in the National Teaching Committee office: Minority Development Coordinator—responsible for stimulating and developing all efforts related to minority teaching projects and issues. Experience working with minority groups is essential, with written and oral fluency in Spanish highly desired. College degree is preferred; some typing skills and a willingness to learn computer skills are required. Secretary—handles and processes a high volume of detailed work; works with staff at all levels, interacts with the public. Several years of strong secretarial and administrative work is required including excellent typing, word processing, oral and written communication skills. Flexibility also essential. Regional Development Coordinator—motivates and inspires the District Teaching Committees to set and fulfill goals; initiates and responds to inquiries from the field; helps coordinate and place traveling teachers and homefront pioneers; assists with conference planning; and maintains files for Assemblies, DTCs and Groups. A solid knowledge of Bahá’í administration is necessary together with Assembly and/or DTC experience. Good writing ability, a pleasant and courteous phone manner, strong organizational and clerical skills are required. For further information or an application, please contact the Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

SUMMER teaching staff sought at the Louhelen Bahá’í School: child education coordinator, master teachers, teaching assistants sought for July and August. You may serve for one week, two weeks, or even the entire summer. Room and board provided as needed; stipend for some positions. Experience preferred. For details or to apply, contact the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033).

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

PIONEER to a goal state and help form an Assembly in Danville, Kentucky (pop. 12,000), nestled in the rolling hills of the bluegrass country with a mild climate, nearby recreational lakes, a small college and a hometown flavor. Jobs are available in industry and in the health and service fields. Three large cities, each with a university, are within commuting distance. Danville is an energetic Bahá’í community with regular firesides and deepenings and many active seekers. We have some cultural diversity, but would welcome more. Will provide all possible assistance in helping you relocate. Write to the Bahá’ís of Danville, P.O. Box 176, Danville, KY 40422, or phone 606-236-7285.

MOVE to charming, cosmopolitan West Hollywood, California, a small city in Los Angeles County adjacent to Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Hollywood, and help strengthen a Bahá’í community. The West Hollywood community has been in existence for more than 40 years, but since many in the community have gone pioneering only 26 Bahá’ís remain. We need more active Bahá’ís to carry on the work of the Faith. Many attractive, inexpensive apartments are available. For more information, please phone Elena Allegro, secretary (evenings), 213-654-0356.

WANTED: homefront pioneer to a mass-taught area within a short drive of Memphis, Tennessee. We need to re-establish four lost Assemblies. Ample employment in the Memphis area; opportunities for teaching, consolidating and deepening all socio-economic groups. Write to Carolyn Eck, Jackson, TN 38305, or phone 901-664-1694 after 8 p.m. Central time.

RETIRED? Planning retirement? Considering relocating? The Bahá’ís of Des Moines, Washington, would welcome Bahá’ís to help stabilize the community and teach the Faith with a goal of increasing their numbers. Des Moines, on Puget Sound, 20 miles south of Seattle, is primarily a “bedroom community” with many retired persons living within the city limits. Recreational activities abound; community college in the city; Assembly is jeopardized. Write to the Spiritual Assembly of Des Moines, P.O. Box 98038, Des Moines, WA 98198.

NEEDED: certified teachers to teach kindergarten through eighth grade on the Sac and Fox Indian Reservation near Tama, Iowa, during the 1987-88 school year. Available positions provide excellent opportunities to serve the Faith as homefront pioneers. Please send resumés to: Sac-Fox Settlement School, Attn. Principal, Route 2, Box 56-C, Tama, IA 52339; phone 515-484-4990.

HAND therapist needed in northern North Carolina, an area with many mass-taught believers and a great need for homefront pioneers. OTR or LPT experience in hands needed for expanding private practice. Must be eligible for North Carolina license. Positions available in Wilson and New Bern. Contact Mike Hillis, OTR/L, Stantonsburg, NC 27883 (phone 919-238-3336).

MID-PLAINS Community College in North Platte, Nebraska, will be looking for a developmental reading and study skills teacher beginning in August, and the Bahá’í community of North Platte would like to notify any Bahá’í who may be interested in moving there to help strengthen the Group in its Lincoln County goal area. For information about the community, contact Colin Taylor, North Platte, NE 69101. For particulars about the teaching position, phone 308-534-4939.

TEACHERS of all sorts are needed in Exeter, New Hampshire. Bahá’í teachers are welcome, and school teachers as well. The Bahá’í community is seeking to make inroads with youth at Phillips Exeter Academy, where we were able last year to conduct an essay contest on world peace. Bahá’í staff or faculty would be a big help. Present openings at Phillips for September include the following: computer science (including PASCAL), English (reading and writing), math (through calculus), modern languages (French, with second capability in Chinese or Russian, preferred), religion (scripture and ethics), science (biology, chemistry, physics). Applicants should write to the Dean of the Faculty, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH 03833. For any other information, please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Exeter, c/o Phyllis Ring, secretary, P.O. Box 384, Exeter, NH 03833 (phone 603-772-4680).

AGRICULTURE and irrigation specialist, natural foods and produce specialist, appropriate technology wizard needed on the Amoz Gibson Project, Box 119, Wanblee, SD 57752, or write to Natural Resources Program, Oglala Lakota College, Box 490, Kyle, SD 57752.

WE HAVE the pioneering post, job, etc., but we still have a house! Homefront pioneer to a goal community within commuting distance of Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado. A lovely log home on 7.9 treed acres awaits a new Bahá’í family. A beautiful place to live in the country with job opportunities of the city nearby; the area is opened to the Faith with five Bahá’ís in the county. Come and teach and cross-country ski out your back door! For more information, phone Martha or Paul Tromp, 303-688-6686.

RACINE, Wisconsin, needs homefront pioneers to settle in this mid-sized city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, 70 miles north of the House of Worship and 25 minutes south of Milwaukee. Forming an Assembly in Racine by Ridván 1988 is a “Spirit of the Roses” goal of our district. We’ll help you in every way we can. Contact the District Teaching Committee of Southern Wisconsin, c/o Al Taborn, secretary, Milwaukee, WI 53218, or phone 414-464-5506.

PIONEERS are needed in Monroe, Louisiana, home of Northeast Louisiana University (11,000 students). NLU has excellent graduate and undergraduate programs. For more information, write to Dr. Chris Johnson, Dept. of Sociology, Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe, LA 71209, or phone 318-342-2039 (office) or 318-345-0482 (home).

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

A REGIONAL adviser on economic integration is needed in Ethiopia. The regional adviser will be expected to provide technical backstopping to the integration projects, and undertake practical studies and activities as may be required for the initiation of economic integration process for sub-regions falling under his responsibility. Requirements include an advanced degree in Development Economics, particularly economic planning; considerable practical experience in economic integration and multisectoral planning at the sub-regional level; and good knowledge of economic cooperation and integration problems. Some experience in a substantive position with intergovernmental groupings of international organizations dealing with economic cooperation would be an asset; working knowledge of French is also necessary. For more details, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

LIBERIA needs a project administrative officer for self-help village development. Duties include day-to-day administration, financial planning and overview, staff training, and monitoring and evaluating project performance. A degree in accounting, bookkeeping or other administrative discipline and previous administrative experience in one or more technical assistance projects is required. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

AIR conditioning technician is needed in the Marshall Islands. Job requires extensive experience in trouble shooting-teardown, repair and reassemblage of large air conditioning systems and experience and background to include Carrier water chiller with 190-ton capacity. For more details, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

THE EXPERIMENT for International Living’s School for International Training is looking for academic directors who are qualified to lead and teach College Semester Abroad programs for the academic year 1987-88 in many countries throughout the world including Indonesia, Germany, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and Thailand. Qualifications desired include experience in the country concerned, mastery of its official language, a background in teaching, and a master’s degree. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

ZAIRE: USAID is seeking an administrative division chief for the health component of a Basic Rural Health II project in Kinshasa. The period of service is one year with an option to renew. The project will establish a system of community-supported preventive, promotive and curative primary health care services to combat the prevalent public health problems in Zaire. The administrative division chief will establish and maintain an information system and improve the existing accounting system to assure daily controls for the disbursement of funds, the preparation of financial reports, and the justification of funds sent to health zones. Requirements include a B.A. (minimum) with master’s degree in public health or administration preferred. Minimum of two years’ experience in the management of public health projects, finances and personnel is necessary, as is some knowledge of French. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

ZAMBIA Development Bank is looking for a chief financial officer to be responsible for financial policy: planning management and control of bank funds; designing and implementing improved accounting procedures, practices and systems including computerization of records leading to an overall management information system; and evaluating the structure of the bank and making appropriate recommendations for improvement to [Page 19]allow for efficient and cost-effective operations and for a well-established and functioning Division of Finance capable of efficient financial planning and management of bank funds. For more details, please contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

SEYCHELLES, off the eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, is, from all accounts, a paradise. This island nation is presently seeking a gynecologist/obstetrician and a consulting physician. Medical degree and fluency in English are required. The Universal House of Justice is urgently seeking doctors who would be willing to settle in this important area. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

THE GOVERNMENT OF BARBADOS is seeking dentists to work on this lovely Caribbean island. There is an urgent need for pioneers to Barbados, and the Universal House of Justice is encouraging pioneers to pursue this opportunity. For more information, write to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

USAID is seeking an English teacher to serve in Somalia, East Africa. Salary is $2,000 per month. If interested, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

HAITI: The Learning Systems Institute of Florida State University is seeking a project management specialist to provide technical help to a large primary school support project in Haiti. Anticipated duration is two to three years. Responsibilities include establishing management and program budgeting systems for a six-year school support project covering several hundred sites in all regions of the country, training project personnel in necessary management skills, and helping project personnel to develop systems for improved school management at the local level. Candidates should have a minimum of a master’s degree in a relevant discipline, experience in managing development projects, and strong French and/or Creole competency. Previous experience with school administration, PVO management, or public service delivery is desirable. Salary is competitive and based on experience. For more information, write to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

FOR SALE

LEAVING for the pioneering field and wish to sell an optical dispensary, established four years with three referring MDs in the fastest-growing county in Northern California. A 1,700-square-foot home is available as a package deal or separately. Phone 707-263-1071 days or 707-263-0724 evenings and weekends.

GOING pioneering and must sell two chiropractic practices, one in a lovely suburb of Boston, the other in Cambridge near Harvard University. Equipment and real estate both negotiable. This is an excellent opportunity. Phone Dr. Mark Tanny, 617-964-3337 or 617-964-1183.

SCHOOLS, CAMPS

CAMP Kamál, a Bahá’í-run Wilderness Camp for pre-youth ages 10-13, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Beloit, Wisconsin, will be held August 1-9 in northern Wisconsin. The National Teaching Committee has generously contributed a scholarship for minority pre-youth to attend the camp. A week of outdoor living with young people your own age combined with the leadership of a Bahá’í counselor will provide growing experiences for all. To ensure a “family” environment, the camp is limited to 30 campers. For a brochure and parent information packet, please contact one of the co-directors: Monica Grismer, Beloit, WI 53511 (phone 608-365-0843) or James Lewicki, Route 2, Box 70E, La Crosse, WI 54401 (phone 608-788-7258).

THE LOUHELEN Residential College is accepting applications for the fall 1987 session. A minimum of 13 students are to enroll in this program. Students live at Louhelen, have classes in Bahá’í studies, and take part in Bahá’í conferences, fellowship, and 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 Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033.

HEAR YE! Hear Ye! Sir Viss and Lady Vine invite you to their fortress for well-being for the third annual Green Lake “Saturday Night Party” on Saturday, September 19. Come dressed as your favorite medieval pun. Wizards, jesters, and musicians will all be in attendance to make your “knight” most memorable.

WANTED

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking state and district voting lists used in State and District Conventions for the years 1952-67 for Kansas, Nebraska, Georgia, Texas, Virginia and Northern California. Anyone having lists they could donate is asked to send them to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

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 Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

ARTISTS are needed to design rubber stamps for Stampinks Unlimited’s second catalogue, which offers graphic rubber stamps that relate to Bahá’í subjects, ideas and ideals. We need artists who will depict the diverse nature of the world-wide Bahá’í family. We need sharp, clear, black-and-white original or children’s copyrighted artwork. We pay artists a royalty twice a year and give a free stamp of his or her design. For more information, write to Stephanie or Barbara at Stampinks Unlimited, Mentor, OH 44060, or phone Barbara (evenings), 216-357-0319.

WANTED: original Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the following individuals: Lars Johnson, Chicago (1909); Miss Belle Jorgenson, Baltimore (1910); Emma Kent; Mrs. Jennie Kingsbury, Chicago; Mrs. Emma Josephine LaPierre, Chicago (1902); and Peter Maus, Montana (1903, 1919). Anyone having information about the possible location of any of these Tablets is asked to write to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

VOLUNTEERS are needed to keyboard and proofread the Bahá’í writings into computer-readable form as part of a World Center-sponsored project to compile the primary Bahá’í texts on computer. If you are a good typist and have some skills as a proofreader, please write to Lee Nelson, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675, or phone him at 714-240-2092.

NAVAJO radio programs need funding support. The Bahá’í’s of Gallup, New Mexico, and Aneth, Utah, in collaboration with the Native American Bahá’í Institute, are developing radio spots and programs for use on local and regional stations, and need funds to buy advertising and program time. The new 50,000-watt Navajo radio station, KTNN-AM, reaches the entire Navajo Reservation and many Western states. Other stations are also available. Please help us tap into this great opportunity to proclaim the Faith. Contact Jim Stone, Gallup, NM 87301 (phone 505-863-6701), or the Native American Bahá’í Institute, Box 167, Houck, AZ 86506 (phone 602-367-5126, ext. 8595).

ITEMS AVAILABLE

AT LAST! The Tapestry Notecards depicting scenes of the tapestry by New Mexico artist Vickie Hu Poirier, which was given to the women of India by the U.S. National Committee on Women at the dedication of the House of Worship in India, are available. Send these lovely and inspiring cards to friends, seekers and family members. Each card exalts the station of women and celebrates the diversity of contributions made by women around the world. The package of 10 cards is $12.50. Order from: Bahá’í Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

CONFERENCE catalog of spring and summer conferences at the Louhelen Bahá’í School is available from the Registrar, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

HAVE YOU seen the lovely commemorative issue of Bahá’í News celebrating the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to North America? For only the second time in history the cover is in full color, and this cover is of the only color photo extant of the Master. Inside is an article about the laying of the cornerstone of the House of Worship by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself, and an article about the 25th anniversary observance of that event. Several photographs of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the early Bahá’ís who traveled with him and those He visited are featured with a unique calligraphed rendition of His prayer for America. We’ve printed an extra number of this special collector’s issue to be used in teaching, deepening, and to give as gifts to Bahá’í’s, friends, teachers and seekers. Extra copies are available at $2 each from Subscriber Service, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

Correction

In last month’s issue of The American Bahá’í, the Spiritual Assembly of Victor, New York, was listed as the sponsor of the Bahá’í Conference on the Equality of Men and Women to be held July 18-19 in Seneca Falls. Actually, the conference is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Geneva.

Also, the name of the contact person has been changed. For more information, write to Virginia Flood, Geneva, NY 14456, or phone 315-789-2435.

TAPES from the Louhelen women’s conference: “Women and the Age of Equality” by Dr. Jane Faily and “Women of Color in America” by Dr. Gwen Lewis are now available. $6 per tape. Write to Reflections, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033. VISA or MasterCard accepted.

DO YOU want to make Feasts as meaningful for the children in your community as they are for the adults?

The Nineteen Day Feast Lesson Guide for Children, a compilation of easy-to-teach lessons based on the Bahá’í calendar for ages four and up, is back in print. Designed to be used only during the business part of Feasts, the guide makes it possible for every adult to share the responsibility of teaching the children on a rotating basis. It’s that simple! The guide is a non-profit publication by Bahá’ís in the ‎Local publication by Bahá’ís. Local.‎ Copies of the current printing are $12 each (Texas residents please add 72 cents sales tax). Please make checks payable to BCC Publications and send to Bonnie Wilder/Claude Sellars, Houston, TX 77077.

“REFLECTIONS” catalog listing “Mankind Is One” sweatshirts and T-shirts, tapes, books and other Bahá’í-related materials is available at no cost from the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033).

Traveling

from page 6

interesting conference, which is Chile’s first effort to stimulate Bahá’í scholarship on a national level.

“As a result of the enterprise of the Association, more believers in Chile have begun to write essays on topics related to the Faith and are beginning to show a more active interest in the promotion of Bahá’í studies.”

Another way in which to render valuable service in the international field is to visit the same place several times, or, as former pioneers, to return as traveling teachers.

One such pioneer/traveling teacher, Erica Toussaint, says: “Everyone seemed very glad to see me—because I’ve lived there, I know many local believers, and the pioneers feel that they can let me carry some of the burden of the work without having to be escorted around. . . .

“A lot of spontaneous deepening took place with the pioneers, which seemed to perk up a few, and I devoted my time with the Grenadian believers to encourage them to take the lead in teaching—having long discussions about how well the Grenadians receive the Teachings from their fellow-countrymen. . . .

“I hope to continue periodic visits. It seems very helpful to all concerned, and of course makes me very happy, too.”

Well-known teacher Lea Nys of Belgium visits Central Florida

Bahá’ís in Central Florida enjoyed the benefits in January and February of a visit by Mrs. Lea Nys, a well-known traveling teacher from Brussels, Belgium.

Mrs. Nys took part in several events in Seminole County, was interviewed by a black-oriented radio station, and was well-received by the mayors of Sanford and Eatonville, the latter the oldest black incorporated city in the U.S.

In February, she spoke to the Rotary Club of Lake Mary during World Understanding and Peace Day—a talk that was covered by the local press—and conducted a fireside on the same topic.

The news editor of The Sanford Herald, impressed by Mrs. Nys’ life of service, wrote a two-part feature article about her which appeared in the April 5-6 issues of the paper.

Mrs. Nys was in Florida to visit her daughter and son-in-law, Francine and Ben Levy of Lake Mary.

new from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust

At last! New pocket-sized and hardcover reprints of Shoghi Effendi’s compilation of the prayers revealed by Bahá’u’lláh

Prayers and Meditations

Nearly 200 prayers and devotional passages revealed by Bahá’u’lláh in handsome new bindings that match the hardcover and pocket-sized reprints of Gleanings and Kitáb-i-Íqán

Order through your local distribution representative, or send check or money order (no charge for postage or handling on orders shipped within the continental U.S.) to:

Bahá’í Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091 TEL. 1-800-323-1880

• Price valid only in the United States

HC $14.95 SC $3.75 [Page 20]

STORIES OF THE MARTYRS: MRS. NUSRAT YALDÁ’Í

Nusrat Yaldá’í was born to an old and dedicated Bahá’í family in Nayríz, 100 miles southeast of Shíráz, where many of the events associated with the early history of the Faith took place.

Her mother was a descendant of Hájí Muhammad Taqí, a wealthy native of Nayríz who sacrificed his worldly possessions to aid Vahid and the Bábís who were defending themselves in that city, and was subsequently imprisoned and tortured.

In recognition of the tribulations Hájí Muhammad Taqi had suffered in the path of God, Bahá’u’lláh gave him the title "Ayyúb" (Job) and revealed the Súriy-i-Sabr (Surih of Patience), also known as Lawh-i-Ayyub (Tablet of Job) in his honor.

The devotion and detachment which characterized that illustrious ancestor were manifested in his great-granddaughter to such a degree that she became a martyr for the unity of mankind.

Mrs. Yaldá’í lived a simple yet spiritual childhood. By the time she was five years old, she had already memorized many prayers. Whenever she was asked, she would reverently cross her arms, close her eyes, and recite prayers with great spirit and devotion.

In her early adulthood she was married to Ahmad Yaldá’í, also a native of Nayríz, and they settled in Shíráz. She spent her youth serving the Cause and bringing up her children with Bahá’í values and standards.

One of her sons, Bahrám, was martyred only two days before her.

Mrs. Yaldá’í was eager to deepen herself in the Faith. To this end, she attended Bahá’í classes and studied the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Kitáb-i-fqán, and Some Answered Questions with the help of learned Bahá’ís in Shíráz.

In Shíráz, Mrs. Yaldá’ís home was like a Bahá’í Center. Although she served on various committees, serving the Faith in Shíráz did not quench her thirst for service.

In the dead of winter and in hot, sweltering summers, she would travel outside the city, to villages, to meet with the Bahá’ís in those areas. She would tell them of the progress of the Cause in Iran and elsewhere, and would shower the Bahá’ís with love.

NATIVE AMERICANS: Lapwai hosts Northwest Regional Conference

"It is an honor to see five different colors of the rose. It makes me cry," said Paul Johns, one of many Native Americans from the Northwestern states who attended the American Indian Bahá’í Northwest Regional Conference held March 28-29 in Lapwai, Idaho.

Nearly 100 people of various nationalities came together in Lapwai to discuss the theme "American Indian Teaching—Fulfilling the Prophecy."

The conference was sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Lapwai and the all-Indian inter-tribal assembly on the Nez Perce Reservation.

Ferris Paisano, vice-chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Lapwai, opened the meeting by stating the goals of getting together to share the spirit, discussing Indian teaching in general, networking, and forming a regional Indian Teaching Committee.

On Sunday, that committee was formed. Its members are Mary Gubatayao, Adele McConnell, Jim Lavadour, Lou Bighorn, Lorintha Warwick, Loris Kermani, Roberta Charles, Zem, Felix Charging Whirlwind, Delores Bellon, Behrad Majidi and Reggie Baskins.

Consultation was held on letters written by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, which were read to those at the conference by Constanscio Bolima.

One of the letters, which stressed her concern that we not miss the boat in teaching Native Americans, included the quotation from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: "You must attach great importance to the Indians, the original inhabitants of America....Should these Indians be educated and properly guided, there can be no doubt that through the Divine teachings they will become so enlightened that the whole earth will be illumined."

That prophecy, said Dwight Williams of the Nez Perce Reservation, "puts a heavy responsibility on the Indian people—the role of leadership.

"We need to put our heads together, plan action and do it. We need to trust in Bahá’u’lláh.

"There are so many 'ifs,'" he said. "If we do this, if we do that. Indian people can't sit back on their haunches. We just have to look at the writings, and the answers are there. We've got to have trust and firm belief. Pray that God will give us guidance, help us out, and it will happen. That's the attitude to have—trust in Bahá’u’lláh, rely on what He says.

"There are a lot of things going on, and a lot of resource people wanting to help. We need to use them."

Twenty-seven Bahá’í youth from the Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, areas made the 1,400-mile round trip to the Nez Perce Reservation for the conference.

They spent their spring vacation working in the Lapwai schools, helping with science projects, organizing materials, tutoring, checking papers, playing with children and making many friends.

The youth also helped senior citizens, and two of them were asked to help the secretary of the Tribal Council.

During the conference itself they handled registration, housing, child care, classes, and cooking. Five times in the past year, Bahá’í youth by their actions have influenced the town of Lapwai.

A special event took place Saturday evening when the Universal House of Justice's peace statement was presented by the Spiritual Assembly of Lapwai to Elliot Moffet, a member of the Tribal Executive Committee of the Nez Perce.

Mr. Paisano, accompanied by Bahá’í youth and members of various races, gave an eloquent presentation which drew from his own life experiences a testimony to the needs and concerns expressed in the statement.

Mr. Moffett responded by saying, "I accept this gift in the same spirit in which it is given to me."

He, his wife and child took part in a dance following the presentation, and Mrs. Moffett attended a part of the Bahá’í conference the following day.

"Something very special is happening here," said Auxiliary Board member Marchia Morey. "The Indian people are very spiritual; they are shining luminaries that will lift the people. We need to learn from our Native American believers."

Several Iranian Bahá’ís attended the Lapwai conference. Said one of them: "There is an awesome majesty about the Indians. I have learned more from them than they from me."

Native drummers beat time for a group dance that enlivened the Saturday evening session at the Regional Conference in Lapwai.

The conference was closed with a sand-painting demonstration by Navajo Bahá’í Mitchell Silas and his wife, Robin.

Everyone left feeling that much had been gained through consultation: self-determination, community service, less intellectualizing and greater communication, a deeper understanding of everyone's needs, and the need to learn to teach from the heart.

Second Health Care Fair held at Alabama Coushatta Reservation

As a part of the ongoing Yellow Rose Teaching Project in Eastern Texas, a second Health Care Fair was held April 18 at the Alabama Coushatta Indian Reservation's Community Center.

During the fair, medical pre-screening was available to the general public of Livingston and the surrounding area as well as to the Tribal people.

Seventy-five Bahá’ís, several of whom are medical professionals, were on hand to offer their services.

Also, three non-Bahá’í health agencies were represented. About 30 non-Bahá’ís, all of whom had serious health problems, received pre-screening treatment.

This summer, from July 17 to August 16, a special summer project will be centered in Town Bluff, Texas. Teaching and service activities will vary.

Anyone interested in taking part in the special project may contact Andreanea King, 409-886-4853.

Housing will be provided for projecteers, and limited scholarships may be available for blacks and American Indians who wish to participate.

Correction

A "typo" error in the November 1986 issue of The American Bahá’í was recently brought to the attention of the National Teaching Committee, which would like to correct the statement for the record.

In an article about the Unity Council Fire held last August at the Native American Bahá’í Institute in Houck, Arizona, it was reported that more than 1,000 people attended the event. The article should have read that more than 100 people attended.

'Project 95' endeavors to spread Faith to Indian Reservations along U.S. route

Immediately after the Regional Indian Teaching Conference held in March on the Nez Perce Reservation, Mary and Peter Bolima of Lapwai, Idaho, with their children, Leigh Anne, Alberta-Jane and Katalina, started south on Highway 95 to gather information about opportunities to promote the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh on the 19 Indian Reservations that this highway passes through or near as it winds from the Canadian border to Mexico.

Following the unity picnics on June 27, the group will be joined by other friends in an effort to bring the Bahá’í Teachings to the many contacts they have made on the Reservations, especially through service-oriented activities.

Some of those who are taking part in the traveling teaching project, called "Project 95," will be making several trips down Highway 95, not only to teach the Faith but also to deepen the new friends.

Early in May, the Bolima family had completed its tour of the 19 Reservations and had found enormous potential in the receptivity level of those whom they met.

On at least nine of the Reservations, they were able to speak to community leaders about the upcoming project, all of whom reacted positively to the plans.

This traveling teaching project is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Lapwai. Those who are interested in taking part may contact Peter Bolima, secretary, P.O. Box 638, Lapwai, ID 83540, or phone 208-843-2071.

Pine Springs fete to commemorate Master's U.S visit

The Spiritual Assemblies of Oak Springs Navajo Chapter, Arizona, and Gallup, New Mexico, are sponsoring a conference June 26-28 at the Pine Springs Community Center to commemorate the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to the U.S. and the 25th anniversary of the historic Pine Springs Conference of 1962, during which 300 Navajos declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

For details, contact Jim or Roan Stone, 505-863-6701, or the Native American Bahá’í Institute, 602-367-5126, ext. 8595. This promises to be an event you won't want to miss! [Page 21]

Subtle prejudices: part II

(This is the second of two articles on the theme of “Subtle Prejudices.” The first article appeared in this column last month.)

Last month we examined one form of subtle prejudice and discussed the need to root out any such subtle prejudices that we, as Bahá’ís, perceive within ourselves. Now let us examine more closely other factors that may impede our progress as we strive toward greater integration within our Bahá’í communities.

What are some of the subtler forms of prejudice or stumbling blocks on the road to unity and integration? One kind of prejudice stems from competition and fear, as when different ethnic or racial communities must share certain limited resources in common.

Sometimes different ethnic groups that are in competition for the same job market resent the social progress of other groups, not because of any dislike of the other group per se, but because they fear that their own social standing will suffer as a result. This kind of prejudice is just as harmful for society as the more obvious kind, because it looks at mankind as hostile, divided blocks and categorizes various groups as “rivals.”

To illustrate this, consider the Bahá’ís in Iran who were, in general, better educated and more prosperous than most other communities in Iranian society and were resented by non-Bahá’ís for their relative economic well-being. This resentment is compounded by the religious prejudice against the Bahá’ís, and is in part responsible for the brutality of the attacks against them.

We find many examples of this kind of resentment in American society, which is composed of many ethnic, religious and racial groups. For example, resentment is sometimes expressed toward Mexicans or Southeast Asians for “taking jobs away from us (real) Americans.” Neither do we need to think back very far to remember a time when many whites in America feared the demand for equal rights and freedom from discrimination that was raised by the black community, charging that the blacks were “moving too fast” in trying to change the status quo.

Another stumbling block to integration stems from the feeling that our group (us) is set apart from (read: above) the other group (them), because the other group does not subscribe to the same cultural, social and moral values that we uphold. We are uncomfortable with what we are unfamiliar with, so the easiest way to deal with “them” is to avoid or ignore “them.”

A white American may perceive that the habits and behavior of Black Americans or of Iranians differ from the habits and behavior he holds in common with other white Americans. He will naturally tend to feel more comfortable interacting with the group he understands better, and as a result, avoids the other groups.

Such barriers to integration are natural, but nonetheless debilitating; they prevent us from finding what we share in common or would like to share in common with cultures other than our own, and impede our ability to create greater unity in our communities.

In the Bahá’í community, we must work hard to overcome this separation of cultures and thoroughly integrate ourselves. It requires an effort on the part of each one of us to examine his own attitudes and to root out any residual prejudices or other barriers to integration that he may find within himself.

It requires an adventuresome spirit to learn about other cultures; it requires patience to overcome the misunderstandings and miscommunications that take place when people of vastly different backgrounds first interact. Most of all, it requires dedication to the vision of that peaceful, harmonious and world-embracing culture expounded in the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Guardian.

That future World Order of which they have written is within us now, to the extent that we are able to become united and integrated while still celebrating our manifold diversity. Let’s help and encourage one another to overcome our subtle prejudices and achieve our dream of a world that is united and at peace.

وحدت نژاد و بهائیان ایرانی

RACE UNITY AND THE PERSIAN ‎BAHA’ IS BAHÁ’ÍS‎

سیاهپوستان در آمریکا

از اوائل قرن هفدهم میلادی رفته رفته گروههای بیشتری از سفید پوستان اروپائی از کشورہائی مانند اسپانیا و انگلستان و فرانسه به آمریکا آمدند. غرض بسیاری از ایشان یافتن زندگی راحت تری در "دنیای جدید" بود. آنان میتوانستند در این سرزمین مذهب و دین خود را با آزادی انتخاب کنند و مراسم و مناسک آنرا بی‌دغدغه و بدون اینکه انگشت نمای این و آن باشند انجام دهند. با ازدیاد شماره ساکنان اولیه آمریکا و اخلاف آنان که بیشتر از مهاجران انگلیسی بودند و در اثر استبداد حکومت و پادشاه انگلستان زمزمه استقلال در میان این مهاجران بالا گرفت. در روز چهارم جولای سال ۱۷۷۶ سیزده ایالت اولیه استقلال خود را از امپراطوری انگلستان اعلام داشتند.

در اعلامیه استقلال آمده است: "ما این حقایق را به بداهت اصل میگیریم که همه انسانها یکسان آفریده شده‌اند، حقوقی مسلّم از جانب آفریدگار بدانان اعطاء گردیده است، از جمله این حقوق حق حیات و حق آزادی و حق کسب سعادت است. تشکیل حکومت جهت تأمین این حقوق است و قدرت آن از رضایت مردم مایه میگیرد."

علیرغم مفاد اعلامیه استقلال همه افراد در این ایالات متحده آزاد نبودند. از مدتها قبل تجار اروپائی سیاهپوستان آفریقائی را خریداری کرده در اروپا و آمریکا بعنوان برده میفروختند. برده‌داری و برده فروشی رواجی تام یافته و در حکم روش مرسوم نظام اقتصادی و زراعی درآمده بود. این شیوه غیر انسانی در حد خرید و فروش افراد انسان باز نمی‌ایستاد بلکه دامنه‌اش تا آنجا فرا رفته بود که اکثر سفیدپوستان بر آن بودند که سیاهان موجوداتی پست‌تر از نوع بشر و حتی فاقد روح مجرد انسانی میباشند. بر اساس این عقاید سالیان متمادی سیاهان از حقوق مدنی و اجتماعی و انسانی محروم بودند. حق تحصیل سواد نداشتند. جز در موارد محدود کسب تکلیف و شنیدن اوامر مولا و صاحب خود نمیبایست با آنان صحبت کنند. حتی در مواقع نیازهای پزشکی و درمانی از حقوق اولیه نصیبی نداشتند.

پس از چندی به دلیل مقتضیات اقتصادی ـ که در برهه‌ای از تاریخ به اشتباه مبنای روابط اجتماعی و انسانی میشود ـ بعضی از ساکنان ایالات شمالی بفکر الغای رسم برده‌داری افتادند. کم کم فکر تحریم این رسم بصورت فلسفه اقتصادی ایالات شمالی درآمد. ساکنان ایالات جنوبی که بردگان را وسیله اصلی اقتصاد کشاورزی خود میدانستند با ملغی شدن حکم آن مخالفت میورزیدند. این مخالفت بتدریج منجر به جنگ داخلی آمریکا در سال ۱۸۶۰ گردید.

در سال ۱۸۶۳ آبراهام لینکلن رئیس جمهور ایالات متحده آزادی بردگان را اعلام نمود و این آزادی به قانون اساسی آمریکا منضم گردید. بعد از خاتمه جنگ در سال ۱۸۶۵ تبصره‌هائی تدریجاً به قانون اساسی آمریکا اضافه شد که حقوق و آزادی اجتماعی و مدنی سیاهان را تأمین میکرد. ولی وجود نص قانون، وجدان اجتماعی سفیدپوستان اصل برابری سیاهان را با دیگران نپذیرفته بود. حتی در مواردی که بر اساس قانون حقوق مساوی برای سیاهپوستان و سفیدپوستان در نظر گرفته شده بود این حقوق رعایت نمیشد. در مدارس و اماکن عمومی سیاهان را یا راه نمیدادند یا از سایرین جدا میکردند. دامنه این تبعیضات روز بروز گسترش بیشتری مییافت و با این گسترش چهره شوم بیداد نمودارتر میشد. جمعیتہائی چون کوکلاکس کلن Ku Klux Klan با عقاید افراطی برتری نژاد سفید تشکیل گردیدند و عقاید خود را از حیطه نظر بعرصه عمل آوردند. در ابتدا به آزار و اذیت سیاهان و رفته رفته به شکنجه و قتل آنان نیز پرداختند و بدین ترتیب فصلی ننگین بر کتاب مظالم بشر افزودند.

تغییر اوضاع اجتماعی و سیاسی سیاهان و بهبود نسبی احوال آنان از نیمه دوم قرن بیستم آغاز گشت. بر اثر این تغییر سیاهان عملاً از آزادی و حقوق بیشتری برخوردار گردیدند. در سال ۱۹۵۴ دیوان عالی ایالات متحده مقرر داشت که اصل تساوی حقوق مندرج در قانون در مورد مدارس وافی به مقصود نیست و اطفال سیاهان و سفیدپوستان باید در جوار هم به تحصیل پردازند.

در سال ۱۹۵۵ گروهی از سیاهان و حتی سفیدپوستان بعنوان اعتراض به زندانی شدن یک زن سیاهپوست که حاضر نشده بود جای خود را در اتوبوس به يك سفید پوست بدهد، به راهپیمائی برخاستند. این راهپیمائی شروع نهضت اعاده حقوق سیاهپوستان در دو دهه پنجاه و شصت قرن حاضر در آمریکا بود. يك رهبر دینی مسیحی بنام دکتر مارتین لوتر کینگ بعنوان رهبر این نهضت به قیادت برخاست و با روش مقاومت مسالمت آمیز به دفاع از حقوق مدنی و سیاسی سیاهان و سایر اقلیتها پرداخت.

در سال ۱۹۶۲ جمعی در حدود دویست هزار نفر در شهر واشنگتن دی‌سی مجتمع شده برای احقاق حقوق مدنی سیاهان به تظاهرات گسترده‌ای پرداختند. سال بعد قانون حقوق مدنی به تصویب مجالس قانونگذاری ایالات متحده رسید. بر طبق این قانون دولت اجازه یافت که مردم و مؤسسات مختلف دولتی و خصوصی کشور را وادار به مراعات حقوق مدنی سیاهان نماید. در همان سال مارتین لوتر کینگ نائل به اخذ جایزه نوبل برای صلح گردید. در سال ۱۹۶۵ قانون جدید انتخابات به تصویب رسید که بر مبنای آن موانع شرکت در انتخابات برای سیاهپوستان بخصوص در ایالات جنوبی رفع گردید. در سال ۱۹۶۸ دکتر کینگ بدست يك نفر سفیدپوست بقتل رسید و قتل وی آتش شورشهای خشونت‌باری را از طرف سیاهان در شهرهای مختلف آمریکا دامن زد.

(ادامه در شماره بعد) [Page 22]آموز صرف و نحو شامل ٦ نوار صوتی جهت علاقمندان به فرا گرفتن زبان عربی برای مطالعه آثار امری بزبان عربی.

- انتشار کتاب "بهار" بهمراه نوار صوتی و راهنمای معلمین برای آموزش زبان فارسی به اطفال بهائی.

- تجدید چاپ "فرامین تبلیغی" حضرت عبدالبهاء و مجموعه "حیات بهائی" و ترجمه فارسی توقیع "ظهور عدل الهی."

- طبع "الواح وصایای حضرت عبدالبهاء" به مناسبت هفتاد و پنجمین سالگرد سفر حضرت عبدالبهاء به آمریکا.

- ترجمه پیام نقشه شش ساله و اهداف آن به فارسی و طبع نقشه مزبور در نشریه امریکن بهائی در ماه مارچ سال ١٩٨٧.

- ترجمه بیانیه دارالانشاء بیت العدل اعظم درباره "عهد چهارم عصر تکوین" و انتشار آن در نشریه امریکن بهائی در ژانویه سال ١٩٨٧.

- ایجاد کتابخانه کتابهای امری فارسی در دو ایالت اورگان و اکلاهما توسط لجنه ناحیه‌ای.

- ترجمه کتابچه "مهاجرت داخله" و فرم مخصوص از انتشارات لجنه ملی نشر نفحات National Teaching Committee جهت تشویق یاران ایرانی برای مهاجرت به نقاط داخلی ایالات متحده.

- نگارش مقالاتی در بخش فارسی نشریه امریکن بهائی درباره اطاعت از قوانین مدنی و الهی: پرداخت مالیات اجتناب از شرب مسکرات و غیره.

- نگارش شرح حال شهدای اخیر ایران به زبان انگلیسی در هر شماره نشریه امریکن بهائی.

- نگارش مقالاتی در هر ماه بزبان فارسی و انگلیسی درباره ادغام و اختلاط یاران و آگاهی از تفاوتهای فرهنگی ایرانیان و آمریکائیان.

- ارائه برنامه "وحدت نژاد و بهائیان ایرانی" بزبان فارسی در کنفرانس آریزونا در دسامبر سال ١٩٨٦.

- انعقاد جلسه‌ای در شهر سن‌حوزه در ایالت کالیفرنیا که در آن بیش از یکصد نفر شرکت داشتند. ناطق جلسه جناب رابرت هندرسن، منشی محفل مقدس روحانی ملی بودند.

- دعوت از جناب دکتر ریاض قدیمی برای اسفار تشویقی در شیکاگو و لس آنجلس و اورنج کانتی و ریور ساید و سن فرناندو و سن دیاگو و فینیکس و اکلاهما سیتی. اسفار فوق از تاریخ ١٨ فوریه تا ٣ مارچ سال ١٩٨٧ ‎بنول بنحو‎ انجامید.

- تهیه پرسشنامه وحدت نژاد برای کنفرانس آریزونا و درج آن در نشریه امریکن بهائی در ماه آوریل سال ١٩٨٧.

- انعقاد مجامع و جلسات متعددی توسط لجنات ناحیه‌ای امور احبای ایرانی/آمریکائی در بیش از ١٠ شهر.

ABOUT THE NINETEEN-DAY FEAST

حضرت نقطهٔ اولی و جمال اقدس ابهی با ظهور خود بساط کهنهٔ نظامهای قراردادی جهان را برچیدند و بنیادهای گوناگون اجتماعی را نظم نوینی طرح افکندند. همانگونه که در کتاب اقدس از قلم جمال قدم نازل گشته با ظهور مبارک "نظم" کهنه پریشان گشت و "ترتیب" بدست اختلاف سپرده شد.

یکی از مواردی که این "ترتیب" و "نظم" بر هم خورده مسئله تقویم است. حضرت اعلی در کتاب بیان فارسی سال را به ١٩ ماه ١٩ روزه تقسیم نمودند. جمال قدم این ترتیب را در کتاب اقدس تأیید فرمودند. البته بر این تقسیم بندی نتائجی مترتب است که بررسی آنها خارج از موضوع ماست. اما چون حضرت اعلی فرموده بودند در هر ماه بیانی باید ضیافتی ترتیب داد و حضرت بهاء‌الله نیز این حکم را صحه نهادند مختصری درباره ضیافت نوزده روزه مرقوم میگردد.

چنانکه گفته شد جمال مبارک حکم ضیافت را که حضرت اعلی نازل فرموده بودند تأیید فرمودند و مقرّر داشتند که یکبار در هر ماه بهائی دوستان گرد هم آیند و مجلس میهمانی بیارایند. بدین سبب است که بهائیان نیز امر مولا را اطاعت کرده با مهر و صفا در این ضیافت حضور مییابند. در ابتدای آن به تلاوت دعا و مناجات میپردازند و به آیات الهی گوش فرامیدهند. بدین طریق پیمان روحانی دوست حقیقی را بخاطر میآورند و خود را از مسؤلیت بزرگی که بر عهده دارند بیش از پیش آگاه میسازند.

از آن پس، از اخبار وقایع امری که در ١٩ روز گذشته رخ داده مطلع میگردند و با اقدامات و نقشه‌های محلی و ملی و بین‌المللی جامعهٔ بهائی آشنا میشوند. سپس با صداقت و صراحت و محبت به شائبهٔ دوروئی و ظاهر‌سازی به بحث و پرسش میپردازند. مسائل گوناگونی را که جامعهٔ بهائی با آن روبرو شده و میشود از نظر میگذرانند. اگر انتقاد سازنده و روشنگری داشته باشند آنرا ارائه میدهند و صحت آنرا در مقابل افکار دیگران میسنجند. بدین قرار اندیشه‌های مختلف با یکدیگر تصادم می‌یابد و چه بسا پرتو "حقیقت" که از این تصادم بظهور میرسد. اگر در نتیجهٔ مشورت و تبادل آراء پیشنهادی و یا نظری درباره بهبود اوضاع امری داشته باشند آنرا به اطلاع جامعهٔ محلی و ملی و یا حتی جهانی میرسانند. در صورتیکه این پیشنهادها و نظریات مورد تصویب قرار گیرد در آینده به موقع اجرا در می‌آید. بدین ترتیب حلقه‌های پیاپی افکار و نظریات بهم میپیوندند و در نتیجه بر تجربیات افزوده میشود و راه دستیابی به یگانگی هموارتر میگردد.

پس از خاتمهٔ قسمت شور با صمیمیت و مهر به الفت میپردازند. با همدلی از احوال یکدیگر با خبر میگیرند. بی آنکه رفتارشان رنگ تظاهر و تصنع گیرد یا خدای ناکرده زنگ ریا پذیرد با خوش آمد میگویند. اگر در بینشان اهل ذوق و هنری باشد ساز موسیقی مینوازند و آواز خوش میخوانند. بدین ترتیب قلوب بهم تقرب میجوید، شادی در دلها راه مییابد و آدمی لایق دیدار پروردگار و آئینه جمال او میشود که فرمود: "اِفْرَحْ بِسُرورِ قَلْبِکَ لِتَکونَ قابِلاً لِلقائی و مرآةً لِجمالی" (به شادی دل خود شادی کن تا شایستهٔ دیدارم شوی و آئینهٔ جمالم گردی.)

(ادامه در شمارهٔ بعد)

HUQUQU’LLAH

سر به گردون میکشم سودائی حبّ بهایم / از چه رو دل تیره دارم تا بود یارم خدایم

در غم بیهوده ما عمری به خسران رفت و حال / میکشم فریاد: من شیدائی گیسوی یارم

لطف حقّم شامل و فیض عنایت از بلا / گو معاند تشنه‌ام سرشار کن جام بلایم

برده فیض خدمت از هر گوشه‌ای خرد و کلان / ای خدای من مرا هم قسمتی من هم روایم

عاشقان مستانه در تبریز و یزد و ارض طاء / سوی حق با نعرهٔ یارب فدا یا رب فدایم

از عطای وصل جانان هر کسی را قسمتی / رو سیاهم من که محروم از عطای این لقایم

آنچه یاران از نوای عاشقی سر میدهند / نائی حق میدمد هیهات نبود این نوایم

از رداء فضل حق "مطلق" چرا غافل شدی / با همه عصیان بگو من ملتجی این ردایم

-- نظمی از شهید عزیز جناب حسین مطلق

جمال مبارک در لوحی میفرمایند: "امورات ارض را حق جلّ جلاله به اسباب معلّق فرموده، حقوق الهی را هر نفسی باید ادا نماید."

طبق صلاحدید و پیشنهاد هیئت امنای حقوق‌الله در آمریکا، تقدیمی‌های حقوق‌الله باید بنام Huququ’llah Trust و بنشانی یکی از امنای حقوق ارسال شود.

Dr. Amin Banani Santa Monica, CA. 90402

Dr. Daryush Haghighi Rocky River, OH. 44116

Dr. Elsie Austin P.O. Box 927 Silver Spring, MD. 20910 [Page 23]

یادی از خانم نصرت یلدائی

MARTYR’S FILE

خانم نصرت یلدائی زنی مؤمن بود که در خانواده‌ای متمسك و شریف چشم بجهان گشود. جدش، جناب حاجی محمد تقی اهل نیریز میان بزرگواری است که با نزول سورة‌الصبر از قلم اعلی مورد عنایت واقع گردیده و در همان لوح به لقب ایوب ملقب گشته است. جناب ایوب در زمان وقایع نیریز در دوره اولیه امر بابی از جمله یاران جناب سید یحیی دارابی ملقب به وحید بود که با وقف مال — که از آن بهره‌ای فراوان داشت — به خدمت امر بابی برخاسته بود. ایمان حاجی محمد تقی در نواده‌اش نصرت یلدائی جریان یافت و استمرار پذیرفت تا آنجا که این نواده نیز هر چه داشت در راه وحدت عالم انسانی باخت و در این سبیل به شهادت رسید.

باری، خانم نصرت یلدائی در نیریز متولد شد. طفولیتش با سادگی و روحانیت گذشت. مادرش میگفت که نصرت در دوران کودکی (چهار یا پنج سالگی) مناجاتهای زیادی از بر داشته و به مجرد آنکه اشاره‌ای میرفته دست در بغل میگرفته و با روحانیتی که نمونه آنرا بیشتر در اطفال میتوان سراغ داشت به تلاوت مناجات میپرداخته است.

خانم یلدائی پس از رسیدن به سن بلوغ با آقای احمد یلدائی ازدواج کرد و از این ازدواج صاحب چند فرزند شد که تنی از آنان، جناب بهرام یلدائی، دو روز قبل از شهادت مادر خود به شهادت رسید. دوران جوانی و برنائی خانم یلدائی به تعلیم فرزندان و تربیت روحانی آنان و خدمات گوناگون امری گذشت. خدمات امری را با کسب معلومات امری آمیخته بود و بخصوص نزد مبلغین فاضل امر در شیراز آثاری چون کتاب ایقان و کتاب مفاوضات را فرا میگرفت و بدین ترتیب خود را برای تبلیغ امر مبارک آماده میکرد.

هر چند خانه خانم یلدائی در شیراز مانند حظیرة‌القدس بود و خود او در لجنات متعددی عضویت داشت ولی به خدمت در شیراز اکتفا نمیکرد. به سفرهای تشویقی میپرداخت و دل آرزومند دوستانی را که در دهات و قری ساکن بودند شاد می‌ساخت. به اطراف شیراز می‌رفت و در زمستانها در کوچه‌های پر از برف و گل، و در تابستانهای گرم طاقت گیر خانه بخانه میگشت و دوستان بهائی را نویدهائی از مهربانی و دوستی میداد.

مخالفان در هر کوی و برزن دشنام میگفتند. بر او طعنه میزدند و ناسزا نثارش میکردند. اما از این تدبیرات طرفی بر نبستند. لاجرم چاره ناچار کردند و این آتش فروزان را فرو کشتند. خانم یلدائی در سن ٥٤ سالگی پس از گذراندن مدتی در زندان سرانجام به دار آویخته شد و داستانی و قصه‌ای دیگر بر قصص اولیاء و اصفیاء افزود.

اعتذار

CORRECTION

خاطر خوانندگان عزیز را مستحضر میدارد که هیئت تحریریه بخش فارسی نشریه امریکن بهائی با هدف آن بوده است که همواره در بهبود کیفیت صفحات فارسی بکوشد. سعی شده است حتی‌المقدور مطالب مندرجه هم از لحاظ کیفیت و موضوع و صحت و مطابقت ترجمه مطالب با اصل هم از لحاظ کمیت و مسائل مربوط به ظاهر صفحات از قبیل درج عکسها و املاء کلمات متین و صحیح و خالی از عیوب باشد. هم ما بر این بوده است اما هر از گاهی اشتباهاتی در این صفحات رخ داده و ما را به جایزالخطاء بودن خود گوشزد کرده است! از جمله اشتباهاتی که در درج مطالب وارد شده یکی در مورد شرح حال جناب روحی روشنی بود که در شماره قبلی مندرج گردیده است. قسمتهائی از شرح مذکور در وقت صفحه بندی بقدری پس و پیش شده که فایده خواندن آن بالمره از حیز استفاده ساقط گشته است. با تقاضای پوزش از خوانندگان عزیز استدعا میشود شرح مزبور را بنحو ذیل تصحیح نمایند.

ادامه مطالب ستون اول در بالای ستون سوم از خط اول تا آخر خط ١٦ و سپس از اول ستون دوم تا آخر آن و سپس از خط ۱۷ ستون سوم تا آخر شرح حال مندرج گردیده است.

مدرسه تابستانه سوئیس

SWISS BAHA’I SUMMER SCHOOL

مدرسه تابستانه بهائی سوئیس دوره‌ای را به جوانان بهائی ایرانی ساکن ممالك غربی اختصاص داده است. آغاز این دوره از تاریخ ۳ تا ۹ جولای سال ۱۹۸۷ خواهد بود. در اطلاعیه مدرسه تابستانه تذكر داده شده است "در صورت موجود بودن اطاق شرکت جوانان عزیز بهائی از سایر ممالك و دیار نیز بلامانع است و مقدمشان را گرامی میداریم." جهت کسب اطلاعات بیشتر با نشانی زیر تماس حاصل نمائید:

Tagunszentrum Landegg CH-9405 Wienacht/AR Switzerland

راپورت سالانه لجنه ملی امور احبای ایرانی/امریکائی

ANNUAL REPORT OF NPAAC

همانگونه که یاران عزیز استحضار دارند یکی از سه مقوله اصلی نقشه شش ساله جامعه بهائیان آمریکا ادغام و اختلاط یاران است. تحقق بخش بزرگی از اهداف این مقوله بر عده لجنه ملی احبای ایرانی/امریکائی است. از آنجا که ممکن است بعضی از یاران از جزئیات فعالیتها و وظایف این لجنه آگاه نباشند لذا خلاصه‌ای از راپورت سالانه لجنه که به محفل مقدس روحانی ملی تقدیم گردیده درج میشود.

‎امداف اهداف‎ اصلی لجنه عبارتند از:

۱- استفاده از نیرو و ظرفیت روحانی و انسانی بهائیان ایرانی جهت پیشرفت امر الهی در ایالات متحده و كمك به تحقق سرنوشت روحانی ایالات متحده.

۲- ایجاد آگاهی و مطلع ساختن جامعه بهائی ایالات متحده نسبت به ‎فرست فرصت‎ یگانه و بی نظیری که با حضور بهائیان ایرانی بدست آمده است. از این فرصت باید جهت ایجاد و تحکیم جامعه بهائی که الزاماً در امور ثانوی و جزئیات مختلف و متنوع است و در عین حال اساساً متحد و بهم پیوسته استفاده شود. تنها ایجاد فرهنگ و مدنیت بهائی که افراد بشر را مانند اعضای يك خانواده بهم میپیوندد و از محدودیت تفاوتهای ناشی از نژاد و دین و ملیت و زبان نجات میبخشد میتواند قلوب نفوس را به امر حضرت بهاءالله جلب نماید.

از ماه اکتبر سال ۱۹۸۶ که لجنه ملی امور احبای ایرانی/امریکائی برای هشتمین سال انتخاب گردیده تا انتهای سال تشکیلاتی، این لجنه موفق به انعقاد سه جلسه شده است. ذیلاً خلاصه‌ای از فعالیتهای لجنه که در سال گذشته بهائی صورت گرفته درج میشود:

- تهیه ۳ تا ۶ صفحه برای بخش فارسی نشریه امریکن بهائی در هر ماه.

- انعقاد اولین کنفرانس لجنات ناحیه‌ای امور احبای ایرانی/امریکائی. ۳۰ نماینده از ١٤ لجنه ناحیه‌ای در این کنفرانس شرکت کردند. موضوعهای مختلفی از قبیل ادغام و اختلاط یاران و اسکان پناهندگان و نقشه شش ساله و اطاعت از احکام بهائی مورد بحث و گفتگو قرار گرفت. ناطقین کنفرانس عبارت بودند از جناب رابرت هندرسن، Robert Henderson منشی محفل مقدس ملی، و سرکار خانم ویلما بریدی Wilma Brady و نمایندگان لجنات مختلف ملی. همچنین طرز استفاده و طریق ارائه نوار ویدیوئی "بخاطر قطره‌ای از خون عاشق" "For a Drop of the Lover’s Blood" به شرکت کنندگان نشان داده شد.

- چاپ و توزیع کتاب "تدریس عربی: خود [Page 24]

HISTORICAL PHOTOS NEEDED FOR THE WORLD CENTER

۲۶ ژانویه سال ۱۹۸۷

دوستان عزیز بهائی

مرکز جهانی امر بهائی بصورت گنجینه اصلی تاریخ مصوّر امر مبارک و منبع اولیه عکسها و تصاویر امری جهت استفاده محققین و فضلاء و نویسندگان درآمده است. از مرکز مزبور بنحو روز افزونی خواسته میشود که عکسهای امری را در اختیار طالبان آن قرار دهند و در بسیاری از موارد مرکز جهانی عکسهای مذکور را در اختیار ندارد و حال آنکه به وجود آنها احتمال قریب به یقین میرود. توجه وسائل ارتباط جمعی به امر مبارک، بویژه به دوران اولیه امر الهی، مقتضی مدارکی مانند عکسهای مختلف با کیفیت عالی است. جهت رفع اینگونه حوائج لازم است مجموعه مرکز جهانی با كمک تشکیلات و افراد بهائی بسط بیشتری یابد. بیت العدل اعظم از دارالانشاء خواسته اند که در این باره مطالبی به یاران نوشته شود.

احتیاج عمده در حال حاضر به اصل عکسهای حضرت عبدالبهاء و حضرت ولی امرالله و حضرات ایادی امر و مهاجرین اولیه و اماکن تاریخی امری تا قبل از آغاز جهاد كبير اكبر روحانی در سال ۱۹۵۲ میباشد. از افرادی که اصل عکسهای دوره مذکور را دارا باشند تقاضا میشود آنها را جهت تهیه منفی عکسها (نگاتیو) برای نگهداری در پرونده و آرشیو به ارض اقدس ارسال فرمایند. در صورتیکه یاران تقاضا کنند اصل عکسها پس از تهیه کپی به صاحبان آن اعاده خواهد شد. اگر یاران عکسهای مزبور را به آرشیو عکسهای مرکز جهانی تقدیم نمایند در صورت تمایل کپی اعلای آنها برایشان فرستاده خواهد شد. لطفاً برای تهیه و ارسال این مدارک گرانبها از دستورالعمل و اطلاعاتی که به ضمیمه در اختیار گذاشته شده استفاده فرمائید.

موجب حصول نهایت امتنان خواهد بود اگر یاران عکسهای مذکور را تا آنجا که ممکن باشد شناسائی نمایند یعنی اطلاعات مربوط به مکان و تاریخ تقریبی و نام اشخاص و شرایط موجود و بطور کلی جزئیات هر اطلاعی را که ارتباطی با عکس داشته باشد در اختیار گذارند. هر چه اطلاعات درباره عکسی بیشتر باشد استفاده مناسبتری در آینده از آن بعمل خواهد آمد. لطفاً روی عکسها چیزی مرقوم ننمائید و از استفاده از هر نوع چسبی بر روی عکسها خودداری فرمائید. برای شناسائی عکسها از طریقی عمل نمائید که صدمه ای به آنها وارد نشود.

در گذشته بسیاری از مؤسسات امری و یاران الهی در نظر داشته اند که مجموعه عکسهای امری خود را تقدیم مرکز جهانی امر مبارک نمایند ولی در آن هنگام نه مکان مناسب برای حفظ آنها وجود داشت و نه کارکنانی که بتوانند بنحو مطلوب از آنها نگاهداری نمایند. حال شرایط تغییر نموده و امکان قبول مجموعه های مزبور حاصل آمده است.

از آنجا که مکاتبات ارسالی آن لجنه بدست افرادی میرسد که ممکن است عکسهای با ارزشی از ایران با خود آورده باشند لذا لازم است که در این باب از آنان استمداد شود.

همکاری و كمک آن یاران درباره این مهم موجب حصول نهایت امتنان است.

با تحیات ابدع ابهى از طرف دارالانشاء

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE TRUSTEES OF HUQUQU’LLAH

دوستان عزیز روحانی

در این هنگام که مسئله آموزش عالم بهائی در امر حقوق الله یکی از اهداف نقشه شش ساله بیت العدل اعظم الهی قرار گرفته است اقدامات ذیل در مورد انتشار آثار مبارکه بعمل آمده است:

۱- دائره تحقیقات مرکز جهانی موفق به تهیه مستخرجات بیانات مبارکه به زبان نزولی و دستخطهای بیت العدل اعظم الهی در مورد حقوق الله و ترجمه آنها به زبان انگلیسی گردیده است.

ترجمه انگلیسی این مجموعه اخیراً توسط مؤسسه مطبوعات امری محفل مقدس روحانی ملی ایالات متحده شیدالله ارکانه چاپ و انتشار یافته است. دوستان عزیز میتوانند از طریق کتابداران تشکیلات محلی نسخ لازم را خریداری فرمایند.

۲- دو فقره از انتشارات اخیر دائره تحقیقات مرکز جهانی

1. A Codification of the Laws of Huququ’llah 2. The Development of the Institution for the Huququ’llah

اخیراً به دفتر حقوق الله واصل گردیده است. نسخی از این نشریات توسط محفل مقدس روحانی ملی ایالات متحده شیدالله ارکانه به تشکیلات محلی ارسال شده است. دوستان عزیز میتوانند جهت دریافت نسخ لازم با دفتر حقوق الله مکاتبه نمایند.

لجنات محترمه مدارس تابستانه ذیل:

Louhelen Bahá’í School Green Acre Bahá’í School Bosch Bahá’í School Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute

موافقت و تصویب فرموده اند که کلاسهای تزئید معلومات درباره حقوق الله در تابستان سال ۱۹۸۷ در این مدارس تدریس شود. در برخی از این مدارس جلسات هفتگی به این منظور تشکیل خواهد گردید.

پیشنهاد خالصانه هیئت امناء به دوستان عزیز اینست که از شرکت در این جلسات استقبال نمایند و موجبات شرکت جوانان عزیز خود را نیز در این کلاسها فراهم فرمایند.

ABDU’L-BAHA IN AMERICA

یکی از اقدامات فراموش نشدنی حضرت عبدالبهاء در آمریکا انعقاد ضیافت الفتی در وست انگل وود West Englewood در ایالت نیوجرزی بود. کلیه یاران به این ضیافت دعوت شده و حدود دویست نفر حضور بهم رسانده بودند. حضرت مولی الوری با انعقاد این محفل الفت اساس محبت و یگانگی یاران را در ایالات متحده پی افکندند و دوستان ایرانی و آمریکایی را به لطائف بیان درس برادری و اتحاد آموختند.

جناب میرزا محمود زرقانی در سفرنامه مبارک راجع به ضیافت مذکور چنین مرقوم داشته:

"... تا وقتیکه سفره چیده و طعام آماده میشد باز تشریف آورده اطراف مجلس سیر میفرمودند و در بین اطعام طعام شیشه های عطر را گرفته يك يك احباء الله و اماء رحمن را معطر و متبرک و ‎مُسخ مسح‎ مینمودند. کل مسیح بزم عبودیت شدند و روح بندگی درگاه احدیت یافتند ... و بعد در وسط محفل مشتاقان ایستاده نطق مکرر شیرینتر از شهد و شکر فرمودند: این محفل سبب حصول فیض جدید است. روز روز جدید است. ساعت ساعت جدید است. مجامع امروز ذکرش الى الابد باقی است و آثارش دائم و برقرار در جمیع عوالم الهی...."

TEACHING NATIVE AMERICANS

بدنبال پیشنهادی که در یکی از جلسات عمومی امة الرحمن شهر لوس آنجلس مبنی بر تماس با سرخپوستان شده بود سه ملاقات دسته جمعی با آنان صورت گرفته است.

در روز ۲۶ فوریه سال ۱۹۸۷ گروهی از بهائیان ایرانی به دیدن مرکز کامپتن Compton رفتند و اطلاعاتی درباره امر مبارک به علاقمندان دادند.

روز بعد ۱۵ نفر از احباء به منطقه سرخپوست نشین مورونگان Morongan حوالی پام اسپرینگ ‎Palm Spring Palm Springs‎ رفته با حدود ۴۰ نفر در کلوپی ملاقات کردند. ناهار را سرخپوستان آماده کرده و خانمهای ایرانی دسر خانگی تهیه دیده بودند. در این دیدار شمه ای از تعالیم امری با سرخپوستان در میان گذاشته شد.

سومین ملاقات در روز ۵ آوریل حاصل گردید. در این روز عده ای از دوستان ایرانی به دیدار يك مرکز درمانی در لانگ بیچ Long Beach رفتند. یاران عزیز مقداری غذا که برای اطعام ۲۵ نفر کفایت میکرد با خود برده بودند. در طی این دیدار نیز مطالبی جهت معرفی مقدماتی امر الهی ابراز گردید. [Page 25]

از ترجمهٔ دستخط مورخ ۳۱ اکتبر ۱۹۸۶

اخیراً اخبار نگران کننده‌ای به این مشتاقان واصل گردیده که مطابق آن دو نفس دیگر از اهل بهاء در ایران به قتل رسیده‌اند...

جناب ایرج مهدی‌نژاد که ۵۹ سال از سنشان می‌گذشته و از بهائیان برجسته و ممتاز بندر عباس بوده‌اند توسط گروهی به زخم خنجر به قتل رسیدند. در جسد ایشان شانزده ضربهٔ خنجر مشهود گردیده است. جناب مهدی‌نژاد در استخدام دولت بوده‌اند و مانند هزاران بهائی دیگر بعلت تدیّن به دیانت بهائی از کار اخراج گردیدند. ایشان جهت تأمین مخارج زندگی و بعلت احتیاج مالی در خیابانها به دستفروشی اجناس گوناگون پرداختند. پس از قتل ایشان پسر و دامادشان بمدت ۴۸ ساعت جهت بازپرسی بازداشت گردیدند. اما قاتلین که اعضاء خانواده‌ای بودند که یکی از افراد آن به امر مبارک اقبال نموده بود بعداً دستگیر شدند. حمله به جناب مهدی‌نژاد توسط بعضی از اعضای متعصب این خانواده صورت گرفته است...

جناب حبیب‌الله مهتدی که هفتاد سال از عمرشان سپری می‌شد افسر بازنشسته ارتش و فارغ‌التحصیل دانشکدهٔ حقوق بود. ایشان که در دوره انقلاب از کشور خارج بودند بعد از انقلاب جهت تصرف دارائی خود و ممانعت از مصادرهٔ آن به ایران باز گشتند. اما پس از فروش یکی از املاک خود فی‌الفور دستگیر شدند و عایدات فروش ملک از ایشان اخذ گردید. جناب مهتدی به مدت پنج سال زندانی گردید و کلیهٔ دارائی او بعداً مصادره شد. پس از استخلاص از زندان جهت اعاده تصرف در اموالی که بیدادگرانه مصادره شده بود قضیه را با تماس با اولیای امور دنبال مینمود. جناب مهتدی در روز ۲۷ آگست با ضربه‌ای که به سر ایشان وارد شده بود آناً به قتل رسید...

ظاهراً اعمالی مشابه توسط افراد متعصبی که بعلت عدم اقدامات حکومت جرئت یافته‌اند ارتکاب می‌شود. این افراد مطمئنند که اگر هم جنایتی مکشوف گردد هیچ مسلمانی برای ارتکاب جنایت علیه یک بهائی در برابر قانون مجازات نخواهد شد.

بیت‌العدل اعظم

ELECTRONIC LETTER OF THE 78TH NATIONAL CONVENTION TO THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

خطاب به بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی

هفتاد و هشتمین کانونشن ملّی که به حضور ایادی امرالله جناب ویلیام سیرز و مشاورین قاره‌ای سرکار خانم پریدی Brady و جنابان موریس Harris و شکتر Schechter و میهمانان مخصوص خانم جاویدخت خادم و خانم مریّت لکات مفتخر گردیده با استماع پیام دل‌افزای معهد اعلی به اوج تعالی واصل گشت. مشاورات نمایندگان بسبب مجموعه‌ای از خصائص بیسابقه به ذروه اعتلاء رسید که مهمترین آنها عبارت بودند از: دمیدن روح جدیدی از طرف مؤمنین سرخپوست و سیاهپوست، حضور فعّالانه عدهٔ بیشتری از نمایندگان جدید، ظهور همکاری موثر بین مؤسسات منتخبه و انتصبیه، و هدایت محفل مقدس روحانی ملی عزیز ما.

نمایندگان تعهد مینمایند که وظائف عظیمی را که بر عهدهٔ آنان گذارده شده با کوشش فداکارانه و مداوم ایفاء نمایند.

نمایندگان هفتاد و هشتمین کانونشن ملّی

REPLY OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO THE CONVENTION

خطاب به نمایندگان کانونشن ملّی

قلوب این مشتاقان از وصول پیام کانونشن ملّی که حاکی از روحیهٔ فعّاله آن یاران بود مشعوف. از درگاه الهی مسئلت می‌شود که تعهد آن یاران جهت ایفای وظائف مقدسهٔ محتومهٔ خویش روح جدیدی در کالبد جامعهٔ بهائیان امریکا بدمد و آنانرا جهت اکمال اهداف نقشهٔ شش ساله و حتی تجاوز از اهداف معینه قادر سازد.

بیت‌العدل اعظم

ترجمهٔ تلگراف دوّم نمایندگان کانونشن به بیت‌العدل اعظم

نمایندگان حاضر در هفتاد و هشتمین کانونشن ملّی در حضور امنای حقوق‌الله جنابان حقیقی و بنائی مشتاقانه اجرا و اعمال سریع این حکم محکم را در ایالات متحده تقاضا مینمایند و متعهد میشوند که جامعهٔ بهائیان امریکا را در مورد اجرا و اعمال آن تعلیم دهند.

نمایندگان هفتاد و هشتمین کانونشن ملّی

ترجمهٔ تلگراف دوّم بیت‌العدل اعظم به نمایندگان کانونشن

خطاب به نمایندگان کانونشن ملّی

از وصول پیام ثانی آن عزیزان مسرور. اشتیاق آن یاران در مورد حکم حقوق‌الله مورد تقدیر شایان این مشتاقان واقع. مساعی مشکوره آن عزیزان جهت نشر و ترویج آگاهی و اطلاع نسبت به این حکم مبین ما بین افراد مؤمنین یقیناً منجر به مشارکت داوطلبانهٔ افراد خواهد گردید و موعد تنفیذ عمومی آنرا تصریح خواهد نمود. به ادعیهٔ این مشتاقان در اعتاب مقدسه مطمئن باشند.

بیت‌العدل اعظم

78TH NATIONAL CONVENTION

هفتاد و هشتمین کانونشن ملّی از تاریخ ۲۲ تا ۲۶ آوریل سال جاری در مشرق‌الاذکار امریکا منعقد گردید. ۴۷ درصد نمایندگان برای اولین بار در کانونشن شرکت میکردند و جمع آنان شامل تعداد زیادی از بهائیان سیاهپوست و سرخپوست و اسپانیولی زبان بود.

در ‎رآپورت راپورت‎ سالانهٔ محفل ملّی به ۳ هدف اساسی اشاره شده بود.

۱- تزیید قابل توجه فعالیت‌های تبلیغی افراد.

۲- ادامه توسعهٔ آن دسته از فعالیت‌های تبلیغی که مربوط به ملاحظات اجتماعی میباشد.

۳- تزیید معتنابه عدهٔ جوانان و مشارکت فعّالانه آنان در خدمات امری.

همچنین در راپورت مذکور همکاری نزدیک و مشاورات حکیمانه و حمایت مشاورین قاره‌ای از محفل روحانی ملی بعنوان مهمترین حاصل سال اول نقشه شش ساله بشمار آمده است.

اعضای محفل روحانی ملّی که در کانونشن امسال انتخاب گردیدند عبارتند از: جناب رابرت هندرسن Robert Henderson، خانم دورتی نلسن Dorothy Nelson، جناب جیمز نلسن James Nelson، جناب فیروز کاظم‌زاده، جناب چستر کان Chester Kahn، جناب جک مک‌کنتس Jack McCants، جناب ویلیام مکسول William Maxwell، جناب ویلیام دیویس William Davis، و خانم آلبرتا دیس Alberta Deas.

کانونشن امسال شاهد حضور ایادی امرالله جناب ویلیام سیرز بود. ایشان صبح روز یکشنبه ۲۶ آوریل با ایراد نطقی دربارهٔ روش تبلیغی حضرت عبدالبهاء و اهمیت آن به جلسات کانونشن خاتمه دادند.

اخیراً اطلاعی به دفتر لجنهٔ ملی امور احبای ایرانی/آمریکائی رسیده که بر طبق آن خبر شهادت جناب عطاءالله حقانی از طریق بیت‌العدل اعظم تأیید گردیده است. در مکتوبی که از طرف دارالانشاء مرکز جهانی حسب‌الامر معهد اعلی خطاب به یکی از منسوبین جناب حقانی مرقوم شده مسطور است: "الحمدلله ... جناب عطاءالله حقانی در زمرهٔ نفوس نفیسه‌ای محسوبند که در سبیل امر اعظم جان خویش را باختند و سعادت جاودان یافتند." [Page 26]

Human being's relation to God is essence of religion

The relationship between an individual human being and God is the essence of religion. Through His Manifestations, God provides the means by which we can know Him.

From the moment of our recognition of the Manifestation, we are born into a new spiritual life that is made possible by our love for Him.

"Love Me, that I may love thee," Bahá’u’lláh says in The Hidden Words. "If thou lovest Me not, my love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant."

The individual's purpose in life is described in many ways in the writings. Bahá’u’lláh says that our purpose is to "know" and to "love" God, and that we have been created "to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization" (Gleanings, p. 65).

‘Abdu’l-Bahá adds that the purpose of life for a Bahá’í is "to acquire virtues" (Paris Talks, p. 177).

Through the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh we receive instructions and guidance in how to achieve our purpose—how to fulfill ourselves as spiritual and physical beings.

"The purpose of the one true God in manifesting Himself is to summon all mankind to truthfulness and sincerity, to piety and trustworthiness, to resignation and submissiveness to the Will of God, to forbearance and kindliness, to uprightness and wisdom. His object is to array every man with the mantle of a saintly character, and to adorn him with the ornament of holy and goodly deeds." (Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings, p. 137)

Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings are filled with guidance on how we should live, and the qualities we should strive to develop. This helps our progress in this life and prepares us with the capacities we will need for life in the next world.

Although we are to strive to gain divine virtues, the life of the individual Bahá’í is not the life of a spiritual recluse. While providing guidance in all the fundamentals of a strong personal spiritual life—prayer, fasting, meditation—Bahá’u’lláh requires that we be involved in this world.

For example, He calls upon us to work, to engage in the arts, a trade, or a profession. This work He has raised to the level of worship when performed to the best of our ability in service to humanity.

Bahá’u’lláh asks that we put concern for others above concern for ourselves; that we look always for love and unity, and that we avoid hurting others in any way. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá indicates that the highest station for a Bahá’í is that of servitude.

In the Bahá’í Faith there is no clergy; therefore, "the service once rendered by priests to their religions is the service every single Bahá’í is expected to render individually to his religion." (Letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, in The Individual and Teaching, p. 39)

Besides living a life that reflects the qualities enshrined in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, the individual believer can assist the progress of the Faith through teaching, supporting the Funds, and deepening in the Writings.

"The healthy development of the Cause," the Universal House of Justice states, "requires... the dedicated effort of every believer in teaching, in living the Bahá’í life, in contributing to the Fund, and particularly in the persistent effort to understand more and more the significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation." (Wellspring of Guidance, p. 25)

The House of Justice also states, "In addition to teaching, every believer can pray. Every believer can strive to make his 'own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold aspects the splendor of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh.'

"Not all believers can give public talks, not all are called upon to serve on administrative institutions. But all can pray, fight their own spiritual battles, and contribute to the Fund."

Participation in these activities not only helps the Faith to grow, it draws a measure of divine power to the individual. In this way, believers not only work to transform themselves, but also other individuals, and, ultimately, to change society as a whole, thereby bringing the blessings of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation to all humanity and establishing the promised Kingdom of God on earth.

"If every believer will carry out these sacred duties," the Universal House of Justice writes, "we shall be astonished at the accession of power which will result to the whole body, and which in its turn will give rise to further growth and the showering of blessings on all of us." (Wellspring of Guidance, p. 38)

From the Writings...

"Be generous in prosperity and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer to the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility. We pray God to protect thee from the heat of jealousy and the cold of hatred. He verily is nigh, ready to answer." (Bahá’u’lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, pp. 93-94)

Discuss the above passage with the Bahá’í who taught you the Faith, or with another believer. Together, consider the following questions:

• Make a list of the qualities Bahá’u’lláh refers to in this passage. Is this merely a listing of qualities, or do you think there is some reason for the ordering of those qualities? If so, what do you think is its significance?
• Which qualities do you think are the most important? Are some of the qualities basic to acquiring others?
• ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says that the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh should be lived, not just read: "There is a vast difference between the soul who merely reads the words of Bahá’u’lláh and the one who tries to live them." How can you establish a personal, systematic effort to acquire divine qualities? How would prayer, meditation and deepening support your effort? Select one or two of the qualities mentioned above and make a plan for personally developing them in yourself.

The Bahá’í Writings cover extensively the individual's development including the qualities that we should strive to obtain, the ways in which we can guide our own spiritual development, and the role of the individual in the growth of the Faith. The following are a few references available from the Bahá’í Distribution Service that address this topic:

The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Some Answered Questions, by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, especially pages 177-179. The Imperishable Dominion, by Udo Schaefer, which, in chapter 12, "The New Man," reviews and offers references to those qualities that Bahá’u’lláh calls on us to obtain.

Individuals changed by Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings demonstrate awesome power of His Revelation

In the history of the Faith, there are many individuals who have been transformed by Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation. These people attained such a high station, in both their personal character and their services to the Cause, that they stood out as proof of the divine power of His Teachings.

"Is the testimony of those acceptable and worthy of attention," Bahá’u’lláh asks in the Kitáb-i-Íqán, "whose outward behavior conforms with their inner life?

"If these companions, with all their marvelous testimonies and wondrous works, be false, who then is worthy to claim for himself the truth? I swear by God! Their very deeds are a sufficient testimony, and an irrefutable proof unto all the peoples of the earth, were men to ponder in their hearts the mysteries of divine Revelation." (Kitáb-i-Íqán, pp. 224, 226)

One example of such an individual was Nabíl-i-Akbár (not the same person who wrote the epic history The Dawn-Breakers). Nabíl was one of the most learned people in Persia. In 1853 he became a Bábí, and met Bahá’u’lláh in 1859, before the declaration of His mission. Nabíl-i-Akbár tells the following story of that meeting:

"The more I observed (Bahá’u’lláh) the less I discovered any sign which could point to His claiming a station. On the contrary, I observed in Him nothing, either in word or deed, except humility, self-effacement, servitude and utter nothingness.....

"It was through my vain imagining that in the gatherings of the friends I always used to occupy the seat of honor, assume the function of the speaker and would not give an opportunity to Bahá’u’lláh or anyone else to say anything. One afternoon, Bahá’u’lláh arranged a meeting in His house....Again, I occupied the seat of honor....

"In the course of the meeting, a certain question was asked. Having satisfied myself that no one in the room was capable of tackling the problem, I began to speak.

"All the friends were silent, except Bahá’u’lláh Who occasionally, while agreeing with my exposition, made a few comments on the subject. Gradually He took over and I became silent.

"His explanations were so profound and the ocean of His utterance surged with such power that my whole being was overtaken with awe and fear....

"After a few minutes of listening to His words—words of unparalleled wonder and majesty—I became dumbfounded...I felt deeply ashamed and troubled that I was occupying the seat of honor in that meeting.

"I waited impatiently until I saw that His lips were no longer moving when I knew that He had finished talking. Like a helpless bird which is freed from the claws of a mighty falcon, I rose to my feet and went out. There, three times I hit my head hard against the wall and rebuked myself for my spiritual blindness." (The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Vol. 1, pp. 92-95)

Nabíl-i-Akbár attended another meeting at which Bahá’u’lláh spoke and was awed by His wisdom and the significance of His words.

He asked Bahá’u’lláh what His station was, and readily accepted Him. Afterward, Nabíl-i-Akbár devoted his life to the service of the Cause, traveling to various parts of Persia to teach, and suffering much persecution. Shoghi Effendi indicated that Nabíl was one of the Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá said of Nabíl-i-Akbár: "When his eyes were opened to the light of Divine guidance, and he breathed in the fragrances of Heaven, he became a flame of God....

"...with all his powers he kept on spreading the Faith and setting forth its proofs, and was a guiding lamp to many souls. He was exposed to danger at all times...

"Like a candle, he was using his life; but in spite of his sufferings he was never dispirited, rather his joy and ardor increased with every passing day. He was eloquent of speech; he was a skilled physician, a remedy for every ill, a balm to every sore....

"A sign of guidance he was, an emblem of the fear of God. For this faith, he laid down his life, and in dying, triumphed. He passed by the world and its rewards; he closed his eyes to rank and wealth; he loosed himself from all such chains and fetters, and put every worldly thought aside....

"Praise be to God, at the end he was made the recipient of heavenly grace. Upon him be the glory of God, the All-Glorious. May God shed the brightness of the Abhá Kingdom upon his resting place. May God welcome him into the paradise of reunion, and shelter him forever in the realm of the righteous, submerged in an ocean of lights." (Memorials of the Faithful, pp. 1-5)

Book corner

To help our efforts as individuals to acquire the qualities of a true Bahá’í, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá refers us to specific Writings of Bahá’u’lláh.

"Read ye the Hidden Words, ponder the inner meanings thereof, act in accord therewith. Read, with close attention, the 'Tablets of Tarázát' (Ornaments), 'Kalimát' (Words of Paradise), 'Tajallíyyát' (Effulgences), 'Ishráqát' (Splendors), and 'Bishárát' (Glad Tidings), and rise up as ye are bidden in the heavenly teachings. Thus may each one of you be even as a candle casting its light, the center of attraction wherever people come together...." (The Importance of Deepening, p. 12).

"In these Tablets," He further states, "will ye have a model of how to live and how to be." (The Importance of Deepening, p. 13)

The Hidden Words, revealed around 1858, consists of a series of verses which, Bahá’u’lláh indicates, is "that which hath descended from the realm of glory ... revealed unto the Prophets of old. We have taken the inner essence thereof and clothed in the garment of brevity, as a token of grace unto the righteous...." The Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh is a collection of Tablets, including those mentioned above by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, revealed by Bahá’u’lláh after 1873. Both books are available from the Bahá’í Distribution Service. [Page 27]

Can you identify anyone in this picture?

This photograph was taken at the home of Ludmila Van Sombeek in Durham, North Carolina, date unknown. If you can identify anyone in the picture or know the year in which it was taken, please contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Sprague

from page 4

count of her first meeting with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. One of his favorite passages was: “As we gazed on Him, I realized that we could in no way comprehend Him; we could only love Him, follow Him, obey Him, and thereby draw nearer to His beauty.”

Such thoughts as these, which she had expressed as well in her talks and letters to Philip, found an echo in his own heart.

After Mrs. Maxwell’s death in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1940, Philip went to South America on a six-month teaching trip. His firesides in Buenos Aires were attended by large numbers of youth who loved him dearly.

He returned to the U.S. in February 1941, on the same ship with Mary Keene Manero, whom he later married.

In 1944 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S., and served as its treasurer from 1945-50, at a time when the National Assembly was engrossed in the first stages of the interior construction of the House of Worship.

In 1947 the National Assembly set up the Temple Construction Committee to oversee the interior decoration. The committee was comprised of four members of the National Spiritual Assembly: Amelia Collins, Paul Haney, Philip Sprague and Edna True.

Philip was ill for much of his life, and during the last few difficult years, his wife was a constant source of help and encouragement. He learned to be patient under the severest suffering.

“Staunch, exemplary, greatly admired, dearly loved Sprague,” the Guardian cabled following Philip’s death on September 23, 1951, and how well those words expressed the feeling of the Bahá’í community as a whole toward Philip, whose deep and abiding love for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Guardian attracted the hearts of the friends.

Often, in the last few months of his life, he was heard to say, “All I want is to be with the Master.”

RCA releases new album by Bahá’í performers

Ariola/RCA, one of the largest record companies in the world, has released a new album by two American Bahá’ís, singer/songwriters Ren Toppano and Paul Parish, which includes several songs consisting of complete passages from the Sacred Writings.

The company chose the album’s title, “The Royal Falcon,” from one of its songs which uses extracts from a Tablet in which Bahá’u’lláh says, “I am the royal Falcon on the arm of the Almighty. I unfold the drooping wings of every broken bird and start it on its flight.” (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, 1982 edition, p. 169)

Without realizing its significance, the record company chose April 21 (Riḍván) to release the album in Germany.

The day before, Messrs. Toppano and Parish were featured on the Albert Krogman show, which boasts one of the largest audiences in Germany.

Mr. Krogman recently traveled to Los Angeles to film this profile of the artists. Others included in that edition of the show were Princess Stephanie of Monaco and American film star Michael Douglas.

Subsequent to its launch in Germany, the album was to be released worldwide.

Ren Toppano and Paul Parish are managed by Marcia and Garnié Day, the team that launched Seals and Crofts.

‘Interfaith Tree’ is well-received in North San Diego

On December 17, at the regular meeting of the North San Diego County (California) Interfaith Council, Joan Engman, a Bahá’í from San Marcos, made dozens of white and gold Christmas tree decorations, each representing a different faith—even the American Indians.

Since some members of the Council objected to a strictly “Christian” tree, the “Interfaith tree” was well-received. About 70 people admired the decorations which were placed on the four-foot tall tree with twinkling lights.

Calling all Bahá’ís to take part in Maine’s ‘Northern Lights’ campaign in June-July

Urgent! All Bahá’ís are needed to participate in the largest teaching project Maine has ever witnessed!

We need your help with the Northern Lights Teaching Project—our response to the “Gift of the Roses”—which is being held June 19-July 3 in Portland.

Teaching will be done in teams with teaching methods decided by each team. The Northern Lights Committee envisions that individuals will take part in direct teaching, proclamations, issuing door-to-door invitations, speaking at firesides, manning booths, etc.

Firesides and deepenings will be held every evening for 14 days. Other public events include a benefit concert by Do’a; multi-lingual sunrise prayers; a Neighborhood Cultural Day; Souvenir Picnic; Grace Ross film showing, and many others.

Fund-raising efforts include the sale of buttons and T-shirts with the campaign logo printed on them.

Sweden to host Summer School

A Scandinavian Bahá’í Summer School will be held July 19-25 in Kungalv, Sweden.

It commemorates the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, and the 25th anniversary of the year in which each of those countries formed its own National Spiritual Assembly.

Former Social Security head given statement

Inspired by the “Spirit of the Roses,” Bahá’ís in Avondale, Louisiana, sent a copy of “The Promise of World Peace” (with the permission of the Office of External Affairs) to the former U.S. Commissioner of Social Security, Mrs. Martha McSteen.

Also, with the help of another Bahá’í, Mrs. Bernice Dormio, they presented a copy of the peace statement to the Eucharistic Missionaries of St. Dominic on behalf of the Bahá’ís of metropolitan New Orleans.

Errol Doris, a nine-year-old Bahá’í from LaGrange, Illinois, performs a humoresque by Dvorak during a musical celebration of Naw-Rúz in Foundation Hall at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette. The celebration, sponsored by the Bahá’í communities of Chicago and Niles, included performances by more than 30 local Bahá’ís including the Chicago Bahá’í Choir. (Photo by Joobin Mosbat)

New proclamation opportunities with pocket-sized edition of the peace statement by the Universal House of Justice

• designed to fit into a woman’s purse, a man’s jacket pocket, and a No. 10 envelope
• ideal for handy reference and for giving away

Order through your local librarian, or send check or money order (no charge for postage or handling) to:

Bahá’í Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091 TEL. 1-800-323-1880

• Price valid only in the United States

10/$5.50 packaged in tens

WANTED

A photograph of your Unity picnic for Mr. Sears’ album. Send it to the National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. [Page 28]

Bahá’ís urged to support UN Convention on Women

The establishment in 1947 of the Commission on the Status of Women was the first attempt within the United Nations system to consider women’s concerns, and this only within the context of human rights issues.

The Commission’s first task was to determine in which conditions and situations all over the world the most severe forms of discrimination against women occurred. Four areas in particular were found to give cause for concern:

• political rights and the possibility of exercising them;
• legal rights of women, both as individuals and as family members;
• access of girls and women to education and training, including vocational training;
• working life.

In recent years recommendations and conventions have been adopted in all four of these areas.

Although a total of 44 conventions relating specifically to women have been adopted by the UN system, by far the most important is the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which was adopted in 1979 and entered into force in 1981 after ratification by the required 20 countries.

A concise and comprehensive conclusion to the long process within the UN system to incorporate the principles of women’s rights and equality of the sexes in the provisions of international law, the Convention includes, in their most precise form, all provisions aiming at the elimination of discrimination against women previously covered by separate conventions. It also contains provisions covering issues omitted from earlier conventions.

The Convention also provides for follow-up, obliging member states to report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on the legislative and other steps taken to implement its provisions.

Governments must first report to the committee one year after the Convention has entered into force in their country, and every four years thereafter.

At the beginning of 1986, the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly asked the Bahá’í community to take part in a nationwide effort to ratify the UN Convention on Women. Bahá’í communities have a critical role to play in building grassroots support for this effort.

The U.S. was active in drafting the Convention on women and signed it in 1980; however, the Convention has been pending in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for seven years because that committee has never held hearings on it, the usual next step in the ratification process.

The committee must take its recommendations to the full Senate for its approval. This may include any resolutions, limitations or reservations.

A two-thirds vote of the Senate is needed for passage, after which it is submitted to the President for his signature.

More than 200 Bahá’í communities were asked to encourage their members to write letters of support for ratification of the Convention and for the holding of hearings to the members of the Foreign Relations Committee.

As of May 1987, 91 nations had ratified or acceded to the Convention. A number of the ratifying countries made declarations and reservations about aspects of the treaty with which they had difficulty because of their national laws.

Among the countries that have ratified are Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Brazil, Austria, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria and Australia.

Bahá’ís who would like to receive a copy of the Convention should write to: Bahá’ís of the United States, United Nations Office, New York, NY 10017.

Re: Convention on Women.

Arising to the challenge of achieving equality among humanity is a prerequisite to peace. As ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:

“When all mankind shall receive the same opportunity of education and the equality of men and women be realized, the foundations of war will be utterly destroyed. Without equality this will be impossible because all differences and distinction are conducive to discord and strife. Equality between men and women is conducive to the abolition of warfare for the reason that women will never be willing to sanction it.” (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, 1982 edition, p. 175)

Archives seeks selected books

The National Bahá’í Archives is seeking copies of the following books in good or excellent condition:

• The Hidden Words (cloth, 1948), The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys (paper, 6th through 11th printings), Foundations of World Unity (cloth, 1945), Some Answered Questions (cloth, 1930) and God Passes By (paper, 1944).

If you have any of these and can donate or sell them, contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

National Assembly’s Office of External Affairs recounts busy, productive year in annual report

During the last Bahá’í year the National Spiritual Assembly continued to maintain and strengthen its relationships with the U.S. government as well as with national non-governmental organizations and news media.

Through its Office of External Affairs the National Spiritual Assembly maintained contact with the U.S. Department of State (Bureau for Human Rights, Bureau for International Organizations, Refugee Bureau), the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Congress (both Senate and House of Representatives with their various committees and subcommittees) and the White House.

Special events in Washington included a luncheon held on the eve of Human Rights Day (December 9, 1986) that featured a talk by the Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, Richard Schifter, and was attended by the newly appointed UN Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance, Dr. Angelo Vidal d’Almeida Ribeiro, and some 100 other guests.

Bahá’ís participated in a number of government-sponsored conferences that dealt with human rights, the rights of women, and other topics of interest to the National Spiritual Assembly. On April 2 the co-chairmen of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Human Rights Caucus sponsored a breakfast meeting to discuss further measures for the defense of the Iranian Bahá’ís from persecution unleashed against them by religious fanatics.

A memorable event in December 1986 was the visit to the U.S. of the UN Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance. The Office of External Affairs helped organize his schedule. He was greeted and entertained by the Bahá’ís in New York (by the BIC New York Office), Washington and Chicago. While in Chicago, the Rapporteur visited Wilmette where he had a meeting and tea at the Hazíratu’l-Quds.

The Office of External Affairs continued to supervise the distribution of the peace statement of the Universal House of Justice to members of Congress and state governors. By April almost 300 had received the statement. Simultaneously, more than 500 national organizations also received the peace statement.

Through the National Committee on Women the National Spiritual Assembly carried out a letter-writing campaign to the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate on the UN Convention on Discrimination Against Women.

The National Spiritual Assembly co-sponsored with the Continental Board of Counselors a conference on “Preparation for Opposition” held at Louhelen in May 1986.

The San Francisco Peace Conference of September 1986 made a considerable impact on the relations between the National Spiritual Assembly and various non-Bahá’í organizations.

Contacts with national media of communications continued to bring the Faith favorable publicity. One must mention the editorial in The New York Times (November 20, 1986) as well as articles in The Wall Street Journal, Atlantic Monthly (April 1987), Insight magazine, and The Washington Times. Countless articles appeared in local and regional papers. The National Spiritual Assembly placed a 1/8-page ad in the March 31, 1987, edition of The Washington Post and its National Weekly Edition.

The National Spiritual Assembly continued to strengthen its capability in the field of external relations. An Office of Public Information has been reëstablished in Wilmette under the direction of the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of External Affairs.

The National Spiritual Assembly’s United Nations Representative in New York continued to carry out her multifarious duties, and the agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly collaborated with the Bahá’í International Community’s offices in New York, Geneva and Haifa.

Year in review

from page 17

North Carolina.

• Black History Month begins at the Bahá’í House of Worship with an outstanding program February 1 which features the “Do It for the Kids” choir directed by Milton Bullock, a member of The Platters singing group and founder of Do It for the Kids Inc., a non-profit group that channels the energies of youngsters into music.
• The guest speaker, Illinois state Sen. Ethel Sykes Alexander, tells of Benjamin Banneker, a son of slaves who overcame adversity to become a well-known mathematician and inventor. The third annual David Kellum Awards are presented to Mr. Bullock and to TWIGS (Together We Influence Growth), a group that brings children of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds together in an outdoor environment.
• On February 20-22, members of Regional Youth Committee No. 5 and District Youth Committees in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois gather at the Bahá’í House of Worship for a fun-filled weekend retreat. About 40 youth share teaching experiences and fellowship and hear talks by Auxiliary Board members Javidukht Khadem and Morris Taylor and two members of the National Youth Committee, Gail Etzenhouser and Phillip White.
• On February 14-16, members of 17 Bahá’í School Committees across the U.S. attend a conference at the Louhelen Bahá’í School whose purpose is to explore the role of Bahá’í schools in winning the goals of the Six Year Plan.
• Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie appears February 7 in a concert at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, about two miles from the House of Worship, and delights a sold-out house with his smooth blend of modern music and down-to-earth humor.

MARCH

• The Bahá’í Justice Society (BJS), at its second annual meeting March 27-29 in Evanston, Illinois, adopts by-laws and elects a new Board of Officers. Society members also review the group’s charter for the first time since its approval by the National Spiritual Assembly.
• The BJS is the first professional group established by the National Assembly as called for in the Six Year Plan.
• On March 20, the Universal House of Justice announces the election of Dr. Peter Khan to membership on that body, replacing the late Charles F. Wolcott who died in January.
• In an open letter to the women of the American Bahá’í community, the National Committee on Women restates some of the concepts outlined by the Universal House of Justice in its recent compilation on women. “The vision of women conveyed in this compilation,” the committee writes, “cannot fail to stir the hearts of all sincere believers. The National Committee on Women is choosing, however, to make a special appeal to the women of the American Bahá’í community, in the ‘Spirit of the Roses,’ to arise as never before and increase their services to the Faith and their support of the Fund.”
• Blanche Grant, the National Teaching Committee’s Regional Schools coordinator for the past seven years, resigns March 1 when the regional office is moved to the Bahá’í National Center in Illinois, and is replaced by Kathy Magill.
• International Women’s Day is commemorated March 8 in New York City with a Vigil for Peace whose theme is “Women Are a Key to Peace.” Bahá’ís join a number of other organizations in sponsoring the event, at which the Faith is represented by Shiva Tavana, the National Spiritual Assembly’s representative to the United Nations in New York.

APRIL

• In its annual Riḍván message to the Bahá’ís of the world, the Universal House of Justice observes that since the Six Year Plan was launched at Riḍván 1986, “the administrative institutions of this growing Cause of God” have “already begun to show signs of an increasing maturity, while at the same time emerging from the protective obscurity of their early days into the larger arena of public notice.”
• Through “a devolution of responsibility whereby all national communities through their National Spiritual Assemblies, in consultation with Counselors, Local Spiritual Assemblies and the generality of believers, were requested to formulate, for the first time, their own objectives for achievement during the new Plan,” and through “a united uprising of the entire Bahá’í community to distribute the statement, ‘The Promise of World Peace,’ ” the message says, the “growing strength and maturity of the Bahá’í world community” has been “heavily reinforced” and given “a more clearly defined and readily recognizable public image.”
• On April 2, two members of the National Spiritual Assembly—Dr. Robert C. Henderson, secretary, and Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, vice-chairman and director of the Office of External Affairs—attend a breakfast briefing in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the House of Representatives’ Human Rights Caucus.
• The co-chairmen of the Caucus, Reps. Tom Lantos of California and John Porter of Illinois, both say in their introductory remarks that in their opinion the plight of the Bahá’í community in Iran represents the most egregious violation of religious rights in the world today.
• Five other congressmen and many congressional aides also attend the breakfast.
• Also described by Counselor Robert Harris in a message to the Feast of ‘Ilm (October 15) as “a movement that illustrates the power of the individual to arise, that promises to shape the spirit of the entire Six Year Plan,” the “Spirit of the Roses” campaign reaches a triumphant conclusion at Riḍván. The successes of the campaign are outlined in a journal, compiled over the past 189 days and filled with stories of teaching activities, service projects, presentations of the peace statement, support for the National Fund, and many other examples of loving and sacrificial service, which is to be forwarded to the Universal House of Justice.
• On April 7, representatives of the U.S. Armenian, Jewish and Bahá’í communities take part in a press conference in New York City called by the Cambodia Documentation Commission to publicize the genocide of Cambodians under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.
• For the sixth year in a row, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights passes a resolution expressing its deep concern over human rights in Iran, in particular those of the country’s Bahá’í minority.

[Page 29]

INS taking applications from refugees who may qualify for U.S. legalization

On May 5, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) began taking applications for legalization.

If you were out of status with the INS prior to January 1, 1982, and have been a continuous resident of the U.S. since that date, you may qualify for legalization.

The INS has set up a series of social service agencies (qualified designated entities) to process the routine applications for legalization. You can locate these agencies by contacting your state refugee coordinator in the capital of your state of residence.

If you are unable to do this, you may call the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office at the Bahá’í National Center for the location nearest you.

As this is an extremely complex and detailed process, it is most important, before applying directly to the INS or its agents, that you contact one of these agencies to determine whether you qualify for legalization.

Archives mailing list

The National Bahá’í Archives is developing a mailing list of those who are interested in receiving its duplicate book auction catalogs.

If you would like to be on the mailing list, simply send your name and address to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Handmaidens of God: Bahá’í Prayers for Women

compiled by Marzia Rouhani

New from George Ronald, Publisher

This collection brings together for the first time in one volume the prayers so far translated into English, revealed by Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to be recited specifically by women.

Included here are prayers

• in praise and gratitude to God
• for children, both born and yet unborn
• for husbands
• for parents
• for forgiveness
• for healing
• for protection
• for assistance with tests and difficulties
• for purification
• for detachment and the increase of spiritual qualities
• to draw nearer to God

48 pages. Pocket size booklet, $1.95

Order from Bahá’í Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL, 60091 TEL 1-800-323-1880 or through your local distribution representative no postage on orders shipped within the 48 contiguous United States (add 15% outside this area)

Green Lake Bahá’í Conference

School Dates September 18, 19, 20 1987

Theme "Please use the service entrance"

Location South Central Wisconsin just West of the city of Green Lake

Site Name American Baptist Assembly

Site Phone 414-294-3323

Speakers Auxiliary Board Members Javidukht Khadem and Morris Taylor. National Spiritual Assembly Treasurer Dorothy Nelson. Member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Robert Harris.

Attractions Exhibition Hall featuring Publishing Trust Bookstore, Bahá’í Publishers, and suppliers, National Committee Booths, Bahá’í artists and artisans.

Plus, the third annual Saturday Night Party because..."Everybody Loves Saturday Knight!" Come dressed as your favorite medieval pun.

Classroom Facilities Most adult sessions in central meeting hall. During optional sessions, classes meet in 10-12 smaller classrooms spread over beautiful grounds in nearby buildings. Nursery, outstanding children's classes, pre-youth and youth classes also in nearby buildings. Persian sessions in main auditorium.

Recreation Facilities All recreational facilities are within the gates of ABA. Acres of serene meadows and woodlands with freely roaming deer and wildlife. Indoor pool, bicycling, boating, fishing, tennis, golf and miles of nature trails through hills and valleys. Ideal for photographers.

Accommodations for Meals and Lodging All accommodations in quiet seclusion of ABA grounds. Wide variety available from primitive to deluxe campsites, inexpensive dorms, private rooms for 1-4, cottage and cabins with cooking facilities, hotel rooms in classic and homey 81 room lakefront hotel, large luxury homes. Meals served cafeteria style on site. Overnight guests must take meal plan unless there are cooking facilities at accommodations (house, cabin, cottage, campsite). Day guests may buy meal tickets, use snack bar, use picnic facilities or restaurants off grounds. Vegetarian and specific diets available with advance arrangements.

Pre-registration Date While accommodations variety is great, the number in each category is limited. Room reservations should be made as soon as possible. The earlier the better—to insure your first choice.

All housing registration inquiries should be addressed to American Baptist Assembly, Registration, Green Lake, WI 54941 (telephone 414-294-3323 or 1-800-558-8898 toll free). Bahá’í contact for program information only, Sue Schaut, Planning Committee Secretary, Sun Prairie, WI 53590 (telephone 608-837-8609).

Rates To calculate Conference Cost, add the following three items:

1. Conference Fees A. overnight adults 12 and up: $11 B. overnight children infant to 11: $6 C. maximum family fee (parents and children 0 to 11): $33 D. day guest adult 12 and up: $6 E. day guest children infant to 11: $6

2. Accommodations Rates A. tots 0-5 NO CHARGE The following per person/per night rates apply to everyone age 6-adult: B. dormitory style room with central bath 1-2 per room: $12-26 C. rooms with semi-private bath 1-3 per room: $17-28 D. rooms with private bath 1-4 per room: $18-40 E. limited campsites, cabins, cottages and large luxury homes—contact the ABA directly for information.

3. Meal costs A. tots 0-5 NO CHARGE B. children 6-11 breakfast: $2.10 lunch: $3.10 dinner: $3.95 C. adults 12 and up breakfast: $3.65 lunch: $4.75 dinner: $6.15 All overnight guests must take meal plan unless the accommodations have cooking facilities.

GREEN LAKE BAHA’Í CONFERENCE Pre-Registration

RETURN BY SEPTEMBER 1, 1987

GREEN LAKE CENTER RESERVATION (one per family) Mail to Reservations and make check payable to: American Baptist Assembly—Green Lake, WI 54941 Advance Deposit—Room: 1 Day Room Charge. Housekeeping/Camping: % total charge.

Cancellation Fee— Room: Between 2 weeks and 4:00 p.m. day before reservation, deposit. Housekeeping/Camping: Between 30 days and 4:00 p.m. day before reservation, % deposit. After 4:00 p.m. day before reservation, no refund, either class.

SEND FORM DIRECTLY TO LAURIE KAUTZ, LODI, WI 53555 Conferees thru age 20 must pre-register. [Page 30]

Una lista de algunos de los deberes de un Bahá’í

Este manual sencillo ha sido preparado para satisfacer los deseos de algunos de los amigos Bahá’ís para tener disponible, en forma breve, una lista de algunos de los deberes de un Bahá’í, sin necesidad de buscarlos en los diferentes libros.

El orden de los deberes no indica necesariamente la relativa importancia de ellos, pues todos son de suma importancia. Esperamos que esto nos ayude a reflexionar.

1. Siempre enseñar la Fe: “La Pluma de lo Más Alto ha decretado y ha impuesto sobre cada uno la obligación de enseñar esta Causa.” —Bahá’u’lláh. “Seguramente el imán que atrae las bendiciones de Bahá’u’lláh hoy en día es el enseñar la Causa.” —Shoghi Effendi

2. Tomar parte activa en los trabajos de la Fe: “El (el Guardián) no puede urgirles a todos suficientemente ... la importancia de que los Bahá’ís entiendan que los trabajos Bahá’ís, directos y concentrados, y efectuados eficientemente, no es sólo su deber supremo sino también la mejor manera por la cual pueden servir a los intereses de la humanidad. Principios de Administración Bahá’í.

3. Orar diariamente, inclusive el uso de una de las 3 oraciones obligatorias: “Entona, Oh Mi siervo, los versos de Dios que han sido recibidos por tí, como fueron entonados por ‎áquellos aquellos‎ que se acercaron a El, para que las dulzuras de tu melodía puedan encender tu propia alma, y atraer los corazones de todos los hombres.” —Libro de Oraciones

4. Estudiar diariamente las enseñanzas: “Profundizar en la Causa, significa leer los Escritos de Bahá’u’lláh y del Maestro (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) en forma tan concienzuda como para poder darlos a otros en su forma pura. ... No hay límites para el estudio de la Causa. Mientras más leemos las Escrituras, mayor será el número de verdades que encontramos en Ellas, y veremos mejor que nuestras nociones anteriores eran equivocadas.” —Shoghi Effendi

5. Asistir a las Fiestas de 19 Días: “Esta institución ha sido llamada por el Guardián ‘la base del Nuevo Orden Mundial.’” —Principios de Administración Bahá’í

6. Observar los aniversarios Bahá’ís: “En las sagradas leyes de Dios en cada época y dispensación, hay fiestas santas, días festivos y días de guardar. En tales días, toda clase de ocupación, comercio, industria, agricultura, etc., deben suspenderse.” —Bahá’u’lláh y la Nueva Era

7. Contribuir con regularidad a los Fondos Bahá’ís: “Es la sagrada obligación de todo servidor concienzudo y fiel de Bahá’u’lláh, quien desea ver progresar su Causa, contribuir libre y ‎generamente generosamente‎ al aumento de ese Fondo.” —Principios de Administración Bahá’í

8. Observar las leyes del Kitáb-i-Aqdas: “El (el Guardián) siente que es su deber explicar que las Leyes reveladas por Bahá’u’lláh en el Aqdas, cuando sea práctico y no en conflicto directo con las leyes civiles del país, son absolutamente exigibles a todo creyente o institución Bahá’í. Ciertas leyes, tales como el Ayuno, las Oraciones Obligatorias, el Consentimiento de los padres antes del casamiento, Abstinencia del alcohol, la Monogamia, deberán considerarse por todos los creyentes, como universal y vitalmente aplicables en la actualidad.” —El ‎Orden Administración Orden Administrativo‎

9. Unidad y amor para con los otros Bahá’ís: “Si cualesquier diferencias surgen entre vosotros, mira a Mi de pie ante vuestro rostro, y olvidad las faltas de uno y de otro en mi nombre y como una señal de vuestro amor por Mi manifiesta y resplandeciente causa. Deseamos veros, en todo tiempo, convivir en amistad y concordia dentro del paraíso de Mi buen placer, e ‎inhaler inhalar‎ de vuestros actos la fragancia de amistad y unidad, de amorosa bondad y confraternidad.” —Bahá’u’lláh

10. Mostrar buenas acciones: “Decid: Cuidaos, Oh pueblo de Bahá, de no caminar en el sendero de aquellos cuyas palabras difieren a sus acciones. Dejad que vuestras acciones sean como una guía para toda la humanidad.” “El propósito del único y verdadero Dios, al manifestarse a los hombres ... es adornar a cada hombre con el manto de un carácter santo y embellecerlo con el ornamento de actos sagrados y buenos.” —Bahá’u’lláh

11. Consultar con la Asamblea y obedecer sus decisiones: “Es obligatorio de cada uno no tomar ninguna decisión sin consultar con la Asamblea Espiritual, y todos deben acatar indudablemente con todo corazón y alma, sus mandatos y obedecerlos para que todos los asuntos sean propiamente ordenados y bien dispuestos.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

12. No inmiscuirse en la política: “Hay que refrenarse de asociarse, sea con palabras o hechos, con las ocupaciones políticas de sus respectivas naciones. ... Y con las maquinaciones y programas de los partidos y facciones.” —Shoghi Effendi

13. Ser obediente al gobierno: “En todo país o gobierno donde miembros de esta comunidad residen, ellos deben comportarse hacia ese Gobierno con fidelidad, rectitud y veracidad.” —Bahá’u’lláh

14. No afiliarse con organizaciones religiosas: “No debe haber confusión entre los términos ‘afiliación’ y ‘asociación.’ Mientras no se permite la afiliación con organizaciones eclesiásticas, la asociación con ellas no solo debería ser tolerada sino aún alentada.” —Shoghi Effendi

15. Trabajar por ganarse la vida: “Todo individuo, no importa los impedimentos o limitaciones que tenga, tiene la obligación de ocuparse en algún trabajo o profesión, ya que el trabajo, especialmente cuando se ‎efectua efectúa‎ en espíritu de servicio, es, según Bahá’u’lláh, una forma de adoración. No solo tiene un propósito utilitario, sino que tiene un valor en sí mismo, ya que nos acerca más a Dios y nos permite comprender mejor su Propósito para nosotros en este mundo.” —Shoghi Effendi

“No penséis que hemos revelado a vosotros un mero Código de Leyes. No, más bien, hemos quitado los sellos del vino escogido por los dedos de potestad y poder.”

“Los preceptos establecidos por Dios, constituyen los medios más altos para el mantenimiento del orden en el mundo y la seguridad de sus pueblos.” —Palabras de Bahá’u’lláh

Youth Conference slated in El Salvador

A Bahá’í International Youth Conference will be held November 12-15 in El Salvador.

Detailed information about the program, costs, etc. will soon be forthcoming.

El Ayuno Bahá’í

En lo que se refiere al ayuno, constituye junto con las oraciones obligatorias, los dos pilares que sostienen la ley revelada de Dios. Estimulan el alma, la fortalecen, vivifican y purifican y así aseguran su desarrollo progresivo.

El ayuno es un símbolo. Ayuno significa abstenerse de toda sensualidad. El ayuno físico es un símbolo de abstinencia y un recordatorio; es decir, que así como una persona se abstiene de apetitos físicos, debe también abstenerse de apetitos y deseos personales. Es sólo un símbolo, un recordatorio, de otra forma no tiene importancia. Ayunar con este objeto no quiere decir privarse completamente de la comida. La regla de oro en cuanto al alimento es no comer demasiado ni comer muy poco. La moderación es necesaria.

“Estos son, oh Mi Señor, los días en que Tú ordenaste a tus siervos observar el Ayuno. Bendito aquel que observa el ayuno enteramente por Tu causa y con absoluto desprendimiento de todas las cosas excepto de tí. Ayúdame y ayúdales oh mi Señor, a obedecerte y a guardar Tus preceptos. ...” —Bahá’u’lláh

La ley del ayuno es una obligación espiritual ordenada por Bahá’u’lláh para todo creyente que ha llegado a los quince años de edad. El prescribe así en el Kitáb-i-Aqdas: “Os hemos prescrito orar y ayunar a partir del comienzo de la madurez; esto es ordenado por Dios, vuestro Señor y Señor de vuestros antepasados. El ha eximido de hacerlo a aquellos que están débiles por enfermedad o edad. ... El viajero, el enfermo, las que estén encintas o amamantando, no están obligados a ayunar. ...Absteneos de comer y beber desde la salida hasta la puesta del sol; y cuidáos, no sea que el deseo os prive de esta gracia designada en el Libro.”

El período del ayuno, que dura diecinueve días, comienza por regla el dos de marzo de cada año y termina el ‎vientre veinte‎ del mismo mes, implica abstinencia total de alimentos y bebidas desde la salida hasta la puesta del sol. Es ‎escancialmente esencialmente‎ un período de meditación y oración, de recuperación espiritual, durante el cual el creyente debe tratar de hacer los reajustes necesarios en su vida interior y refrescar y vigorizar las fuerzas espirituales latentes en su alma.

“No hagas terminar nuestros ayunos con este ayuno, oh mi Señor, ni los convenios que Tú has hecho con este convenio. Acepta todo lo que hemos realizado por amor a Tí y en aras de Tu complacencia, y todo lo que hemos dejado de hacer, como resultado de la sujeción a nuestros males y. ...” —Bahá’u’lláh

The Bahá’í year 144 had a lovely beginning in East Texas with the wedding at the Bahá’í Center in Karnack of Oscar Gottfried Nygren and Katie (Jefferson) Higgs. Seventy-five people including 45 ‘pre-Bahá’ís’ attended the ceremony, which was conducted by the Spiritual Assembly of Harrison County. News of the wedding was carried in 15 newspapers.

Se necesitan fotografías históricas de la fe Bahá’í

A Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales Queridos amigos bahá’ís

El Centro Mundial Bahá’í ha llegado a ser el repositorio principal de la historia fotográfica de la Fe, y el proveedor cardinal de fotografías a doctos, autores y personas que hacen estudios. Cada vez más se le pide proveer fotografías, y en muchos casos no tiene lo pedido, aunque es casi seguro que las ‎fotos requeridos fotos requeridas‎ existen.

El aumento de la publicidad dada a la Fe en los medios masivos de comunicación también ha abierto otra necesidad de documentación visual variada, específica y de alta calidad, especialmente con respecto a la historia tempranera de la Fe. Para hacer frente a estos ‎requirimientos requerimientos‎ es necesario aumentar la colección del Centro Mundial, como puede ser posible ahora, con la ayuda de instituciones bahá’ís y amigos individuales. La Casa Universal de Justicia nos ha pedido escribirles con respecto a este asunto.

En el momento actual se necesita principalmente de fotografías originales de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, las Manos de la Causa, creyentes pioneros de los primeros tiempos y fotografías tempraneras de lugares históricos para el periodo hasta 1953 cuando comenzó la Cruzada de Diez Años. A los individuos que puedan tener fotografías originales importantes de esos días en sus colecciones, se les pide que las manden al Centro Mundial para que negativos puedan hacerse para sus archivos.

En casos en que se recibe un pedido especial, las fotos originales serán devueltas luego de ser copiadas. Sin embargo, si uno dona las originales a los archivos fotográficos del Centro Mundial, recibirá copias de buena calidad, si estas son requeridas. Favor referirse a las pautas adjuntas para la preparación y el envío de este preciado material histórico de la Fe.

Se agradecería mucho que cada fotografía se identificara tan completamente como sea posible, es decir, con detalles con respecto al lugar, la fecha aproximada, nombre y apellido de las personas que se ven, la ocasión, y otra información del caso; si es pertinente, el origen de la fotografía debe indicarse. Entre más información haya con respecto a cada fotografía, más ‎util útil‎ puede ser en el futuro. Favor no identificar por escribir directamente sobre la foto, sino usar ‎algun algún‎ método que no la dañe. No usar cintas pegadizas en la fotografía.

En el pasado muchas instituciones y creyentes individuales han hecho el ofrecimiento generoso de donar colecciones fotográficas al Centro Mundial Bahá’í, pero en ese entonces no había ni el espacio ni el personal necesario para su manejo. Acontecimientos recientes ahora han posibilitado la aceptación de tales colecciones.

Puede ser útil que su Asamblea haga un llamado pidiendo fotografías, mediante su boletín noticioso nacional, y que posiblemente repita el pedido después de un intervalo de varios meses.

Se agradecerá profundamente su ayuda con esta tarea de importancia vital.

Con cariñosos saludos bahá’ís,

Por el Departamento de Secretaría

Casa Universal de Justicia

26 de enero de 1987

[Page 31]

10 YEARS AGO

The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears appears before the annual National Convention for the third time in three years to urge the friends to redouble their efforts in teaching the Cause. He recalls the delegates' promises at the previous two Conventions to increase teaching efforts. These promises, he says, have yet to be fulfilled.

"I don't think we realize how short the time really is," says Mr. Sears, referring to "the critical situation of the Five Year Plan." He exhorts the friends to "ride the crest of energy" released by the eight Bahá’í International Teaching Conferences. "We are standing," he says, "on the threshold of victory."

On Saturday, April 30, the delegates to the 68th National Convention elect the members of the National Spiritual Assembly: Dorothy W. Nelson, Daniel C. Jordan, Soo Fouts, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Glenford E. Mitchell, Franklin Kahn, Magdalene M. Carney, Richard Betts and James F. Nelson....

A proposal for a new Bahá’í school in Michigan, to be called the Louhelen Educational Center, is presented by the National Spiritual Assembly at the National Convention. The facility is to be built on the 56-acre site of the Davison Bahá’í School as funds become available. The Davison school was closed in 1973 when it was found that the buildings could no longer be used safely. The proposed project, which has the approval of the Universal House of Justice, will cost an estimated $5 to $7 million to complete....

The mayor of Plattsburg, New York, the first Catholic priest in the U.S. to become mayor of a city, is presented in March with a copy of The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh. Making the presentation are Bahá’ís Rouvan Lubow and Richie Pelligrino....

More than 250 people attend a play, "The Wonder Lamp," written by the Hand of the Cause of God A.Q. Faizi, which is performed by children at the Greater St. Louis (Missouri) Naw-Rúz celebration.

At approximately 1 p.m. on May 1, 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived at the site of the Mother Temple of the West in Wilmette, Illinois, to place the dedication stone.

At about that same hour on May 1, 1977, at the close of the annual Bahá’í National Convention, members of the National Spiritual Assembly, the Board of Counselors, and hundreds of delegates and visitors leave Foundation Hall, circumambulate the Temple which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had foreseen, and enter the upstairs auditorium through its nine doors to beseech assistance from Bahá’u’lláh.

Once inside, they join hands in a circle of unity and softly sing "Alláh’u’Abhá." The voices gather force and the strains are carried gently on the breezes through the open doors and into the gardens below....

Martyr

Because of her many services to the Cause and the manner in which she performed them, Bahá’ís loved and respected her immensely.

But opponents of the Faith disliked her as much; they insulted her and hurled obscenities at her as she passed them in the streets. After the Islamic revolution in 1979, the authorities arrested Mrs. Yaldá’í. Two days later, she was called for interrogation.

She was asked to give the names of the members of the Spiritual Assembly of Shíráz. Mrs. Yaldá’í, unwilling to involve other friends, refrained from giving the information that was demanded.

The following day she was taken to the basement of the prison and given 50 lashes on the soles of her feet, and another 50 on her back.

On the night of June 18, 1983, after a few months of imprisonment, Mrs. Yaldá’í was hanged at the age of 54 along with nine other Bahá’í women.

Letters

and got out of the military; my husband stayed in, went to school, and in time became an officer, which made me an officer's wife. I began to receive invitations to various functions—all with officers' wives. Where before I could retreat to my clichés, I then had to face people as people and deal with them on their turf.

To my surprise, I found that they were nice! They were concerned about their children, as I was; concerned about self-fulfillment, as I was; concerned about religious values, as I was.

It has taken me about five years of concentrated, sometimes uncomfortable confrontation with my self, but it has paid off. I can now join a group of either enlisted or officers' wives and feel an inner sense of belonging because my attitude has changed, not theirs.

The movie I referred to was about the first year in which women were admitted to West Point. The male students and instructors had quite an adjustment to make, and many made the plebe year extra miserable for those female cadets.

One of the women finally talked to the commandant about the heckling, and though he was supportive and understanding, he said something that we Bahá’ís could also take to heart:

"What did you expect here? That 173 years of tradition would just fly out the window when you walked in?"

The lesson, of course, being that we are that cadet and we are that officer's wife—faced with traditional modes of thought that do not conform to our high ideals, even in the hearts and minds of our fellow idealists!

We cannot change the other person's attitude, but we can change our own. Let's not keep asking others to be tolerant and accepting of us; let's take the reins ourselves and teach others as we teach ourselves to be accepting—of "their" failings, "their" fears, "their" closed minds and unfamiliar behavior, whoever "they" are.

Perhaps in such an atmosphere of acceptance we will find that the very people we think are shunning us are themselves uncertain or fearful.

At this stage in the evolution of America, I see blacks as having a powerful potential as effective teachers. Perhaps we adults are congealed in the "plebe era" so that we'll never lose all those old traditions, but our children and their children certainly have a better chance at it. Take heart—we are pioneers!

Sarah Lutz Newport News, Virginia

• • Peter Khan's talk**

To the Editor:

I would like to express my gratitude for the article (February) on the pioneering page titled "Bahá’ís must bring about an everlasting peace."

At the end of the article, which consisted of an excerpt from a talk by Counselor Peter Khan of the International Teaching Center, the reader was told that he/she might obtain a copy of the tape by sending $3 to the Office of the Treasurer at the National Center.

I have just finished listening to this wonderful tape, and to me, it is well worth purchasing.

It contains a special message to each one of us. I found it especially timely and useful to understand where we are as individuals (that is, Bahá’ís in America), and it gives us splendid ideas about what we need to do.

Foster M. Buckner Sierra Madre, California

• • Bahá’ís must use TV**

To the Editor:

For our beloved Faith to grow as never before and for these healing principles to truly exert influence over our society in this electronic age, it is my firm conviction that the enormous power of the television medium must now be tapped in a new and decisive manner.

This, Bahá’ís recognize, is the purpose for which the mass media have been given to us: to unite the world and to inform the masses of the Source of its renewal. Without such technology the maturation of world society would scarcely be possible.

Encouraging as have been the initial efforts in many parts of the country, we have yet to see the sort of dramatic, convincing and professional delivery of the principles of the Faith which is now possible on national TV.

The Bahá’í Faith has emerged from obscurity, but that only means that this kind of work can now at last begin. We must transmit to a distracted and disillusioned society the sure and thrilling vision of mankind's immediate destiny.

In my opinion, the best use of television is without question happening on PBS, the public television network. The style and substance of such programs as Nova and the James Burke series are professional, appealing and state-of-the-art. I feel we must study and adapt such proven formulae to our own task; we cannot afford second rate any longer.

The Faith must be seen in this critical period as an active and leading force for understanding and progress: rational and discerning as secular science, powerful and creative as divine religion.

Such serious and challenging work requires funds, but it also requires professional skills, insight and innovation. I believe that ours must be the generation to answer this call, to recognize these opportunities, and to seize these victories!

Kim Bowers Kilgore, Texas

• • An aesthetic 'conversion'**

To the Editor:

Recently I underwent a "conversion" in the most odd way—aesthetic, that is.

For years I had heard of a "down under" publication called Herald of the South, but never actually saw a copy. Then last year, searching for a publication for some of my articles, I sent a few, at the suggestion of George Ronald, to Herald of the South.

To my pleasant surprise, the editors accepted some of them, and when I received a complimentary copy of the January 1987 issue, it was the first time I had laid eyes on the magazine.

And what a stunning publication Herald of the South is! From beginning to end, the editorial board turns out a Bahá’í magazine of such superior quality that I instantly suffered both immoderate pride and humility to have my scribblings included in its pages.

It is the kind of publication all Bahá’ís can be justly proud of and can give, loan, buy, enjoy, display and keep with confidence.

I am immediately sending a subscription for my office reception room where it will be prominently displayed. The Herald needs and deserves our support because it is first-rate, top-drawer, almost too beautiful to be simply a magazine.

Having seen only one copy, I believe that Herald of the South deserves the full support of the world-wide Bahá’í community. Please consider subscribing; I know you'll be as pleased with the Herald as I am.

With greater awareness and support from the friends, perhaps it can become a monthly magazine. Wouldn't that be exciting? Everyone to whom I have shown my single copy has remarked about its beauty. Can you believe that?

Dr. Leonard D. Godwin Anaheim, California

IN MEMORIAM

Donna Allen Fernley, NV April 21, 1987

Geraldine Ankrah Phoenix, AZ January 22, 1987

Emmet Anthony Americus, GA June 1986

Irving Ashby Perris, CA April 22, 1987

Eleanor Ayres Ft. Lauderdale, FL February 1987

Patricia Bailey Columbia, SC February 27, 1987

Clara Beckstrom Los Osos, CA January 1986

Barry W. Bevan Anaheim, CA February 7, 1987

Marshall Bevan Portland, OR October 17, 1986

William Boatley Lancaster, KY Date Unknown

Estelle Brown Marshallville, GA 1983

Louis Brown Greenwood, SC August 1986

Marion Bruce Darlington, SC May 4, 1980

Florence Byrd Laurens, SC October 1985

Larry Carpenter Maple Valley, WA December 23, 1986

Lester C. Cates Oroville, CA March 28, 1987

Jesse Ceasar Lufkin, TX 1985

Johnnie Mae Collier Hawkinsville, GA Date Unknown

Frank Diggs Laurinburg, SC 1986

Lola Donaldson Stamford, CT April 13, 1987

Clarence Ellis Pembroke, NC Date Unknown

Jean Baptiste Eugene Ft. Lauderdale, FL April 13, 1987

Frederick Geisler Bremerton, WA Date Unknown

Eunice Gustus Montezuma, GA Date Unknown

George Halterman Ferguson, MO April 11, 1987

Clint Harris Duluth, GA 1982

Leon T. Hill Richmond, KY April 4, 1987

Eleanor Hollibaugh Vevey, Switzerland February 15, 1987

Earnest Jackson Gainesville, TX March 2, 1987

Willie Jacobs Pembroke, NC Date Unknown

Archie Johnson Darlington, SC March 1985

Lizzie Johnson Laurens, SC June 1986

Odell Laney Richland, GA Date Unknown

Nancy Lockbar Pembroke, NC Date Unknown

Jessie J. Lynch Charleston, WV April 6, 1987

Theresa Marten St. Helena, CA February 22, 1987

Lorne Matteson Hayward, CA April 27, 1987

Lottie McMillian Pembroke, NC Date Unknown

Eugene Mulholland Hayden Lake, ID April 13, 1985

Shirley Niss Glendale, WI 1985

Hester Patton High Ridge, MO March 1987

Gladys Pellman Hamburg, NY March 25, 1987

Jane Rowe Mishawaka, IN September 17, 1986

Sam Shumake Cleburne, TX July 18, 1984

Charlie Slaughter Hillsboro, TX Date Unknown

Annie Mae Smith Cleburne, TX September 1984

Lucille Walker Edgefield, SC June 17, 1985

Pauline Weaver Cross, SC April 7, 1987

Eugene J. Wells Davison, MI April 10, 1987

Catherine Williams Poughkeepsie, NY April 1, 1987

Hosea Williams Perry, GA February 1987

Howard Yarborough Darlington, SC 1985 [Page 32]On February 8, the Bahá’í community of Hollywood, Florida, hosted a Persian dinner and ‘talent auction’ in the ‘Spirit of the Roses.’ Guests were treated to authentic Persian stews and rice dishes cooked by Nosrat Scott (pictured here). After dinner, she auctioned off ‘latent talent’ from all the guests to raise money for the National Fund. Everyone enjoyed Persian, Native American and regional dances and songs, and $919 was raised for the Fund.

Youth

from page 7

your choice is helpful, but some training is available, as is a stipend.

Illinois (National Youth Committee, Bahá’í National Center): An administrative assistant is needed to help plan the International Youth Conference to be held in 1988. Must be self-motivated, well-organized and able to begin immediately and work until August 1988. Stipend available.

South Carolina (WLGI Radio): The station is seeking a volunteer to work on the many aspects of radio management. Some experience and/or knowledge of radio broadcasting is preferred.

South Dakota (Amoz Gibson Project): The ongoing teaching and consolidation project on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota needs youth to serve as full-time projecteers.

U.S. (National Youth Committee): Inter-university traveling teachers are needed to visit Bahá’í College Clubs to stimulate activity and help with club development. Must have a car.

Asia

Bahá’í World Center: Positions are open for male painter’s apprentices to help maintain Holy Places and Bahá’í-owned buildings. Experience is helpful but not mandatory; training will be provided. More important is a demonstrated capacity to exhibit mature and responsible attitudes toward work. Stipend available.

India: Key youth are needed to serve in various village communities to organize and coordinate activities for Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís.

India: The Rabbani Bahá’í School needs teachers in a number of areas: art; sports assistant-games coordinator; singing with option to teach guitar, flute and drums; primary level teacher; experienced horticulturist, dairy, poultry or fisheries; and a technician. Stipend is negotiable.

Papua New Guinea: Clerical assistant is needed for the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Papua New Guinea: A tutorial school teacher is needed to work with primary level students.

Papua New Guinea: An aide post orderly is needed with medical or nursing background to work in remote village areas.

Western Caroline Islands: An assistant to a pioneer family, male preferred, is needed to help teach and deepen; travel to village communities to help with Feasts, elections and Holy Day observances. All expenses paid by the National Spiritual Assembly.

Caribbean

The Bahamas: The National Spiritual Assembly is looking for one or two young men to live at the National Center and serve as coordinators for youth activities, both teaching and consolidation. Black men would be especially useful in this post.

Haiti: The Anis Zunúzí School wants a volunteer to help with various aspects of the school’s curriculum. The school sponsors and supports a number of self-help projects for the local community including childhood education, agriculture, nutrition, crafts, etc.

Europe

Ireland: The National Spiritual Assembly is seeking a youth to help with administrative work at its National Center and to plan and help carry out youth activities.

Bahá’ís present slide program at San Diego Interfaith meeting

On January 21, the Bahá’ís of Escondido and North San Diego County, California, served a buffet luncheon and presented a Bahá’í program at the regular monthly meeting of the North San Diego County Interfaith Council.

The slides, “Out of God’s Eternal Ocean,” narrated on tape by Joan Nemour, were shown, followed by a question-and-answer period.

About 60 people attended, many of whom later complimented the Bahá’ís on the luncheon and program.

MOVING? TELL US YOUR NEW ADDRESS

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your copy of THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í, send your new address and your mailing label to the OFFICE OF MEMBERSHIP & RECORDS, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, as soon as you know where you are going to move and what your new address will be.

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.

‘Promise of Peace’ given to legislators in South Carolina

At the request of the South Carolina Northern No. 1 District Teaching Committee, members of the Spiritual Assembly of Spartanburg last year presented copies of “The Promise of World Peace” to 16 members of the state House of Representatives and four state Senators including one, Liz Patterson, who since has become a U.S. Congresswoman from South Carolina.

In all cases, the statement was well-received with promises to peruse it.

Some 500 camera-ready copies of the statement were printed, and more than 70 were mailed, with a cover letter, to churches and individuals in Spartanburg.

Thirteen ministers received the study edition in person, while more than 200 of the camera-ready copies were distributed from April through December.

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‘The more one can give, the better it is ...’

National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

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‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s kindness to others shining standard for every Bahá’í to follow

Throughout His journey in America, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá constantly showed love to all those He met. He was always concerned with the well-being of those who came to visit Him, making sure that they were comfortable. He took care of the sick, encouraged people, to help ‎by, he‎ gave generously to the poor, and treated those who served Him with respect and dignity.

When expounding upon the principles of the Faith, He never argued, never pressed a point. He approached situations with tact and wisdom. He left a person free to investigate the truth.

So many people were attracted by His warm, humble, non-threatening attitude and His impeccable character—His glowing example as a follower of Bahá’u’lláh—that they soon became followers of the same Faith that He embodied. Those who were already believers became better Bahá’ís.

The Master wanted the friends to teach the Faith by example, with words supported by deeds. “The friends of God should weave bonds of fellowship with others and show absolute love and affection toward them,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said. “When the friends sense receptivity to the Word of God, they should deliver the Message with wisdom. They must first try and remove any apprehensions in the people they teach. In fact, every one of the believers should choose one person every year and try to establish ties of friendship with him. ... Only then, and gradually, must he teach that person. This is the best method.” (Quoted in The Individual and Teaching, p. 12)