The American Bahá’í/Volume 2/Issue 9/Text
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National Spiritual Assembly Announces Program to Improve Quality of Bahá’í Life[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly, acting upon its announcement in the July issue of THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í, decided upon a series of steps at its August meeting to improve the quality of Bahá’í life in the United States. Designed to stimulate the consolidation efforts of the community during the remainder of the Nine Year Plan, the Assembly’s action includes the following points:
- A series of 40 weekend seminars for Local Spiritual Assemblies will be held over the remaining months of the Nine Year Plan to strengthen these Assemblies in their responsibility to nurture the inner life of their communities and the individuals who compose them. This action was inspired largely by the assertion of The Universal House of Justice last Riḍván that “the authority and influence of National and Local Spiritual Assemblies will have to be strengthened in order to deal with larger Bahá’í communities.” All the members of all Local Spiritual Assemblies will be urged to attend these seminars, 20 this year and 20 next year.
- Five two-week seminars will be held next summer at different locations in the United States to involve at least an aggregate of 500 believers in serious, intense study of the Faith. Three major subjects will be treated: Bahá’í history, Bahá’í administration, and Bahá’í life. Each student will be required to participate in three hours of class work and three hours of reading daily.
- These seminars are to be held in addition to regular summer school sessions. The intended effect of the seminars is to deepen the friends in their knowledge of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation by training a corps of teachers and administrators, who can in turn spearhead and sustain widespread deepening and study throughout the community.
- One or more Deep South seminars will be held to train 200 of those friends who have become Bahá’ís as a result of mass teaching so that they can in turn become resources for further teaching and deepening in the South.
- The Office of Youth and Student Activities will be put in charge of a series of programs to assist youth throughout the country to understand the necessity of setting an example of Bahá’í conduct both within and without the Bahá’í community.
- The contents of the Tablet on Purity by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá will be circulated more widely. The current translation which appears in BAHÁ’Í WORLD FAITH will be checked against the original text before action is taken to develop a pamphlet based on the Tablet, in much the same way that the pamphlet “Universal and Lasting Peace” was written on the basis of the Master’s Tablet to The Hague.
The Continental Counsellors who joined the National Spiritual Assembly in a discussion of this five-point program, hailed its importance to the needs of the community and offered the full support and cooperation of all members of their institution in promoting it.
The National Spiritual Assembly holds that the key to the success of the entire program of consolidation is the Local Spiritual Assemblies themselves.
These institutions have the primary responsibility for the health of the Bahá’í community. There will be no consolidation if the Local Assemblies fail to do their work, and consequently no Bahá’í life. The great challenge facing these Assemblies, the foundation blocks of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, is to assist their communities to break from the mode of life of the society about them, a society whose dislocation and moral decline have been amply depicted by Shoghi Effendi in his essay “The Unfoldment of World Civilization.”
The details of this far-reaching program announced by the National Spiritual Assembly will be made available to the community as they are developed.
British NSA Member Visits Wilmette[edit]
Mr. Adib Taherzadeh, a member of the British National Spiritual Assembly who has lived in Ireland for the past twenty years as a Bahá’í pioneer, addressed a large and deeply appreciative audience of Bahá’ís at the House of Worship Saturday evening, August 28.
One of Mr. Taherzadeh’s grandfathers was martyred when Bahá’u’lláh was imprisoned in the Síyáh-Chál, and three of his brothers perished at a young age during a Bahá’í massacre in his home city of Yazd in Persia. Mr. Taherzadeh’s father, who died in 1953 at the age of 101, was one of Bahá’u’lláh’s disciples, and a well-known historian and teacher of the Faith; he also knew Bahá’u’lláh and spent
(continued on page 3).
782 Local Spiritual Assemblies Recognized[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly announced on September 1 in a statement addressed to the Bahá’ís of the United States the formation of 782 Local Spiritual Assemblies last Riḍván. This figure represents a gain of 265 over the previous year.
“It also delights us to assure you that the momentum that swept us to such a significant victory that we surpassed by far our Nine Year Plan goal of 600 Local Spiritual Assemblies continues to fan the enthusiasm of the community,” the National Assembly stated.
In making this announcement, the Assembly called attention to the “rapidly changing circumstances of the expansion of the Cause in America” which brought about this rich harvest of Local Assemblies, pointing out that “A review of the present status of our community will indicate that we are on the verge of a much greater and wider breakthrough than was experienced last year; it will also make clear the necessity for developing quickly the new phase of the administration alluded to by The Universal House of Justice last December, a phase that will accommodate the emergence of new auxiliary institutions and new administrative arrangements both at the national and local levels.” As an example of this new administrative phase, the Assembly referred to the establishment of five Regional Teaching Committees, each with a full-time office, in the Central, Northeastern, Southern and Western States, and in South Carolina, which has the largest Bahá’í population of any State in the Union.
The National Assembly extolled the devotion, diligence, and determination of the believers, expressing to the entire national membership its thanks “for the abundance of your labors on the homefront, the venturesomeness that has taken scores of American believers to foreign fields of service, and for the generosity that has lent so much of your support to major events of the Bahá’í world, particularly the Oceanic and Continental Conferences called by The Universal House of Justice.”
Growth Yields Two New Regional Offices in Central States and South Carolina[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly has approved the establishment of two new regional offices, one for the Central States region and one for South Carolina. These offices join their sister offices in the West, South, and Northeast to bring the total of Regional Offices to five. As a reminder, these Regional Offices, working under the guidance of a Regional Teaching Committee, have been approved by the National Spiritual Assembly to assist in the challenging work of consolidating the ever-increasing gains on the homefront in a more efficient and economical manner.
These offices are just another tangible sign of the accelerating growth of our Faith, a growth necessitating a new phase for the administration of the Cause in the United States.
To contact these offices, call or write:
- South Carolina Regional Office:
- Mrs. Alberta Williford
- 140 Clarine Dr.
- Hanahan, SC 29405
- (803) 797-1024
- Central Regional Office:
- Mrs. Ruth Hampson
- 112 Linden Avenue
- Wilmette, IL 60091
- (312) 256-4400 or 4405
- Address change for the Northeastern Regional Office:
- Mrs. Kathleen Javid
- 43 Lockwood Road
- Scarsdale, NY 10583
- (914) 472-5127
New Believers from South Carolina Visit House of Worship[edit]
About 30 friends from the Adams Run, Charleston, and Dillon areas of South Carolina arrived one weekend recently in an old school bus painted blue and decorated on the sides with paintings of people from around the world with joined hands. The picture (right) shows the back of the bus scarred with shotgun blasts which were fired during a teaching campaign in a white neighborhood where some people didn’t take too kindly to the concept of the Oneness of Mankind. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
[Page 3]
A Bahá’í delegation presenting a copy of THE PROCLAMATION OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH to the Honorable Mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts, Mr. Sean M. Dunphy. From left to right: Dr. Daniel Jordan, Mr. Gary Morrison, Mayor Dunphy, Mr. Angel Martinez, Mrs. Sylvia Baruch and Mrs. Anna Russell. During the short visit, the Bahá’í principles on the Oneness of Mankind were discussed and the Mayor was most attentive on the Bahá’í position, agreeing with several of the points made.
MR. TAHERZADEH[edit]
(continued from page 1)
some time in His presence in the prison city of ‘Akká.
During his talk, Mr. Taherzadeh referred often to the early days of the Faith, and he likened the American believers of today to those early martyrs who also were ordinary people, but who became spiritual giants through their association with Bahá’u’lláh. He told us that they were like iron which had come in contact with fire. He reminded us that, in the future, America will lead the world spiritually, and that this mission was given to us by the Creative Word.
In speaking of the power of the Creative Word, Mr. Taherzadeh also reminded us that Bahá’u’lláh was not a learned man, in terms of the standards of this world, that He received only the equivalent of an elementary education, and that His Revelation was not the result of learning. It was the Most Great Spirit which embodies every Manifestation of God that poured forth from Bahá’u’lláh. Always, in past Dispensations, that power has existed, but never has the outpouring been so intense. The Revelation streamed from the lips of Bahá’u’lláh in such torrents that there were volumes which were not recorded. But what has been recorded also amounts to volumes! Bahá’u’lláh often revealed a thousand verses in an hour. As an example, THE KITÁB-I-ÍQÁN (THE BOOK OF CERTITUDE) was revealed in a 48-hour period.
Mr. Taherzadeh spoke also of the power within the Administrative Order. He said that the Spiritual Assembly is a channel which is connected with the Ocean of Bahá’u’lláh. The Spiritual Assembly, no matter how young nor how tender, is a divine channel through which flows the Spirit of Bahá’u’lláh.
Mr. Taherzadeh reminded us that when we enter the council chamber we must regard ourselves as being in the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, that we must see Him Who cannot be seen, and that we should always consider how we would behave in His presence. How would we sit, for example? How would we speak? Most importantly, how would we behave in our heart? Would we belittle someone else’s opinion when in His presence? Would we do this in our heart? How could anyone, in the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, show anger, cruelty or pride? We, especially our young people, many of whom will become the administrators of the future, must think of these things and then put them into practice.
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Qualities to Live By
—‘Abdu’l-Bahá
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We should read BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION, paying serious attention to the explanations of true consultation, and then we must learn to feel and demonstrate love, unity and radiance of heart.
In reference to the building of the new World Order, Mr. Taherzadeh said there is nothing in the old world to compare with the work which we are doing. Do we build our Assemblies according to our own ideas? No! For then they would be dry and old, and with no spirit, like the old world that we came from. We get our building materials from the Creative Word of Bahá’u’lláh; from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Center of the Covenant which Bahá’u’lláh established with us; from Shoghi Effendi, the appointed Guardian of His Cause; and from The Universal House of Justice, the Supreme Body called into being by the Creative Pen of Bahá’u’lláh. We must learn the Teachings in their pure form. We must not embellish them with our imaginations, and thus allow foreign elements to creep into our Institutions. We must train ourselves to read the Writings often, even though we cannot always understand what we are reading. With Shoghi Effendi’s Writings, for example, we must keep reading them page after page, no matter how difficult it may seem, and we will slowly come to understand them. Mr. Taherzadeh urged the Bahá’í youth, in particular, to read everything that Shoghi Effendi has written, to enable them to put the Faith in its true perspective and to become aware of the power which lies within the framework of the Administrative Order.
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THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í is published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, 60091. Material must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication. Black and white glossy prints should be included with material whenever possible. Articles and news written in a clear and concise manner are welcomed from individuals as well as assemblies and committees. Address all mail to: The American Bahá’í Editorial Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, 60091. |
Treasurer’s Corner[edit]
In this first of a series of articles dealing with the allocation of Fund monies, we’d like to explore with you the International Goals budget of $265,000. Let us begin at the National Center.
| ADMINISTRATION | ||
| Postage | $1,200 | |
| Supplies | $800 | |
| Transportation | $2,000 | |
| Printing | $1,000 | |
| Total | $5,000 |
In addition to routine office work, postage, supplies, and printing are generally self-explanatory. Operating internationally, in constant communication with pioneers and National Spiritual Assemblies around the world, vast amounts of paperwork are required, involving duplication. Members of the staff from time to time must travel to other areas to conduct institutes or to consolidate teaching efforts. And, of course, continuing correspondence and materials developed must be circulated to their respective destinations, resulting in rapidly multiplying postage costs.
SALARIES - $25,000[edit]
The staff consists of five dedicated servants who voluntarily work long and irregular hours, including most Saturdays and/or Sundays with no overtime pay. They come from widely separated areas of the United States—California, Iowa, Washington, D.C., Michigan, and Arizona—sacrificing jobs or professions which often provided two-thirds more income, shorter hours, and more material benefits. (One worker left a job as Administrative Assistant to an executive of a very large, long-established, and well-known firm. And warm, vivacious Eileen Norman, who heads the International Goals office, was Assistant Director of the Urban League On-The-Job Training Program.)
In spite of these kinds of sacrifices prevailing throughout all the offices at the National Center, there are no complaints or regrets in this regard. There is a pervading spirit of cooperation and total commitment, the real “company man” attitude, as Mrs. Norman likes to call it, which is also shared by our sometimes large number of volunteers. There is that one common goal—to effect the swiftest, most efficient administration of the expansion and consolidation of the Bahá’í Faith around the world.
PIONEERING - $235,000[edit]
The greatest emphasis and largest provision of the International Goals budget (89%) is directed toward pioneering, to supporting the efforts of those 500 untiring, mostly self-supporting servants who have left their homes, families, and friends to serve the Cause in usually remote areas with only the barest facilities.
Out of this allocation, $36,000 remains earmarked for the use of the 300 early pioneers who have remained at their posts since The Ten Year Crusade (1953–63). Many, by now quite old, continue to endure great hardships in order to teach. Only recently, it was necessary to support one of these devoted servants in a nursing home.
Financial Aid ($8,000) is often provided to pioneers who lack the necessary funds to fill key posts abroad. In such cases, a loan might be arranged to be repaid at a later date. Also, unanticipated medical expenses are covered from this allotment when other funds are not available.
The Nine Year Plan Pioneer monies ($191,000) are severely strained, particularly since the National Spiritual Assembly has asked all offices to attempt to function with 80% of their budgets. This measure was adopted in order to prevent a catastrophic deficit, since we had failed to meet our contribution goals. Unfortunately, it also limits our ability to vigorously pursue our Nine Year Plan goals.
Within the framework of this amount, the International Goals Committee in Wilmette holds four day-long Pioneer Institutes (orientation sessions) for new pioneers to acquaint them with the cultures, customs, and locations in which they’ll be serving. The briefings are most often led by pioneers just returned from similar posts who share valuable first-hand knowledge and wonderful personal experiences. Housing accommodations for the friends attending the briefings are usually provided with loving generosity by members of the local Bahá’í communities, many times with meals included.
Pioneers learn that their efforts in a foreign country are under the jurisdiction of the National Spiritual Assembly of their new location. They must uphold and work within the administrative order, not independently.
The International Goals budget assists the expanded Summer Youth Programs involving 80 self-supporting youth attending training sessions in Mexico and Switzerland. Teaching materials, deepening books, and follow-up materials have to be provided.
Mass Teaching Teams have to be sustained while they are working full time in the field attracting souls to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. Everyone must be aware of the glorious victory in JAMAICA: a team of six traveling teachers spreading the news of the Blessed Beauty, resulting in the declarations of 1,000 new believers in three-and-a-half weeks. Such successes require great attention to follow-up and deepening so the new believers can begin teaching in their own neighborhoods and villages without delay.
There are three teachers from the South in AUSTRALIA (who will be going on to Samoa) doing a fantastic job, giving the Message in every direction. Two teachers will be going to the LEEWARD, WINDWARD, and VIRGIN ISLANDS. The Deep South Singers, who are traveling through CENTRAL AMERICA, have toured the CARIBBEAN, stirring souls wherever they go.
Imagine the volume of writings, songs, principles, announcements, and so forth which are necessary. Add to that the costs of newspaper advertisements, radio and television “spots” when used, and you can envision the crying need for contributions to the Fund and expanded budgets for teaching.
When asked in what way she would use ONE MILLION DOLLARS if it were added to her budget today, Mrs. Norman immediately replied, “I would use it for pioneering. If we had that kind of money to work with, EVERY GOAL OF THE NINE YEAR PLAN WOULD BE WON WITHIN TWO-AND-A-HALF MONTHS! We have many, many friends longing to go pioneering, but we just do not have the funds to support them.”
Unfortunately, the first areas to feel cutbacks when fund goals are not met are travel-teaching, special projects, and pioneering.
This brings to mind the Deputization of Pioneers. It requires just $150 to $250 per month (in some areas only $100) to support a pioneer in a foreign country. Individuals, groups, or assemblies can deputize a pioneer by earmarking one of these amounts for his support. It must be emphasized, however, that this amount must be guaranteed for periods predetermined, or for the duration of the residence in that foreign country as a pioneer.
Presently we’re operating with a minimum number of pioneers, but the need is there in many presently untouched areas. This kind of sacrifice from the believers would remove a great burden from the already suffering Fund, would enable us to send out many more pioneers and reach our goals in record time. Many Bahá’ís deputize whole families of pioneers, make large contributions to special projects, and ask that their contributions remain anonymous. Think of the bounties bestowed upon the generous friends who arise to help in these ways!
In the same light, there are those whose circumstances prevent them from making sizable contributions. Those souls must also be lovingly commended and encouraged heartily for the sacrifices they are making.
We hope the above has served more clearly to inform you of some of the major expenditures of the International Goals budget and to have illustrated why the need is so great to support these manifold activities.
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LIST OF FOREIGN PIONEER GOALS |
[Page 5]
REVERSE SIDE OF MAP
Western States
NOTE: The Jurisdiction of the Northern Arizona District Teaching Committee does not include the Navajo Reservation but does include the Hopi Reservation; however, both Reservations are a part of the Northern Arizona electoral voting district.
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|
- Cowlitz
- Gray’s Harbor
- Island
- Jefferson
- King
- Kitsap
- Klickitat
- Lewis
- Mason
- Pacific
- Pierce
- San Juan
- Skagit
- Skamania
- Snohomish
- Thurston
- Wahkiakum
- Whatcom
Central States
- Northern Illinois
- Includes counties of:
- Boone
- Bureau
- Carroll
- Cook
- De Kalb
- Du Page
- Grundy
- Henry
- Jo Daviess
- Kane
- Kendall
- Lake
- La Salle
- McHenry
- Mercer
- Ogle
- Putnam
- Rock Island
- Stephenson
- Whiteside
- Will
- Winnebago
- Southern Illinois
- Includes counties of:
- Adams
- Alexander
- Bond
- Brown
- Calhoun
- Cass
- Champaign
- Christian
- Clark
- Clay
- Clinton
- Coles
- Crawford
- Cumberland
- De Witt
- Douglas
- Edgar
- Edwards
- Effingham
- Fayette
- Ford
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Gallatin
- Greene
- Hamilton
- Hancock
- Hardin
- Henderson
- Iroquois
- Jackson
- Jasper
- Jefferson
- Jersey
- Johnson
- Kankakee
- Knox
- Lawrence
- Livingston
- Logan
- McDonough
- McLean
- Macon
- Macoupin
- Madison
- Marion
- Marshall
- Mason
- Massac
- Menard
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Morgan
- Moultrie
- Peoria
- Perry
- Piatt
- Pike
- Pope
- Pulaski
- Randolph
- Richland
- Saint Clair
- Saline
- Sangamon
- Schuyler
- Scott
- Shelby
- Stark
- Tazewell
- Union
- Vermilion
- Wabash
- Warren
- Washington
- Wayne
- White
- Williamson
- Woodford
- Northern Ohio
- Includes counties of:
- Allen
- Ashland
- Ashtabula
- Auglaize
- Carroll
- Columbiana
- Coshocton
- Crawford
- Cuyahoga
- Defiance
- Erie
- Fulton
- Geauga
- Hancock
- Hardin
- Harrison
- Henry
- Holmes
- Huron
- Jefferson
- Knox
- Lake
- Lorain
- Lucas
- Mahoning
- Marion
- Medina
- Mercer
- Morrow
- Ottawa
- Paulding
- Portage
- Putnam
- Richland
- Sandusky
- Seneca
- Stark
- Summit
- Trumbull
- Tuscarawas
- Van Wert
- Wayne
- Williams
- Wood
- Wyandot
- Southern Ohio
- Includes counties of:
- Adams
- Athens
- Belmont
- Brown
- Butler
- Champaign
- Clark
- Clermont
- Clinton
- Darke
- Delaware
- Fairfield
- Fayette
- Franklin
- Gallia
- Greene
- Guernsey
- Hamilton
- Highland
- Hocking
- Jackson
- Lawrence
- Licking
- Logan
- Madison
- Meigs
- Miami
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Morgan
- Muskingum
- Noble
- Perry
- Pickaway
- Pike
- Preble
- Ross
- Scioto
- Shelby
- Union
- Vinton
- Warren
- Washington
Southern States
- Northern Alabama
- Includes counties of:
- Bibb
- Blount
- Calhoun
- Chambers
- Cherokee
- Chilton
- Clay
- Cleburne
- Colbert
- Coosa
- Cullman
- DeKalb
- Etowah
- Fayette
- Franklin
- Greene
- Hale
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Lamar
- Lauderdale
- Lawrence
- Limestone
- Madison
- Marion
- Marshall
- Morgan
- Pickens
- Randolph
- Saint Clair
- Shelby
- Sumter
- Talladega
- Tallapoosa
- Tuscaloosa
- Walker
- Winston
- Southern Alabama
- Includes counties of:
- Autauga
- Baldwin
- Barbour
- Bullock
- Butler
- Choctaw
- Clarke
- Coffee
- Conecuh
- Covington
- Crenshaw
- Dale
- Dallas
- Elmore
- Escambia
- Geneva
- Henry
- Houston
- Lee
- Lowndes
- Macon
- Marengo
- Mobile
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Perry
- Pike
- Russell
- Washington
- Wilcox
Bahá’í Electoral Voting Districts for State/District Conventions[edit]
Are you aware that by participating in this year’s State/District Convention, you will be playing a very important role in the election of that infallible body, The Universal House of Justice, in 1973? Make your plans now to attend your Convention (see dates on page 5).
[Page 8]
REVERSE SIDE OF MAP
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Northeastern States
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- Brazoria
- Brazos
- Brooks
- Burleson
- Burnet
- Caldwell
- Calhoun
- Cameroon
- Chambers
- Colorado
- Comal
- Concho
- De Witt
- Dimmit
- Duval
- Falls
- Fayette
- Fort Bend
- Frio
- Galveston
- Gillespie
- Goliad
- Gonzales
- Grimes
- Guadalupe
- Hardin
- Harris
- Hays
- Hidalgo
- Jackson
- Jasper
- Jefferson
- Jim Hogg
- Jim Wells
- Karnes
- Kendall
- Kenedy
- Kerr
- Kimble
- Kleberg
- La Salle
- Lavaca
- Lee
- Liberty
- Live Oak
- Llano
- McMullen
- Madison
- Mason
- Matagorda
- Medina
- Menard
- Milam
- Montgomery
- Newton
- Nueces
- Orange
- Polk
- Real
- Refugio
- Robertson
- San Jacinto
- San Patricio
- Starr
- Travis
- Tyler
- Uvalde
- Victoria
- Walker
- Waller
- Washington
- Webb
- Wharton
- Willacy
- Williamson
- Wilson
- Zapata
- Zavala
- West Texas No. 1
- Includes counties of:
- Armstrong
- Bailey
- Borden
- Briscoe
- Carson
- Castro
- Childress
- Cochran
- Collingsworth
- Cottle
- Crosby
- Dallam
- Dawson
- Deaf Smith
- Dickens
- Donley
- Fisher
- Floyd
- Gaines
- Garza
- Gray
- Hale
- Hall
- Hansford
- Hartley
- Hemphill
- Hockley
- Hutchinson
- Jones
- Kent
- King
- Lamb
- Lipscomb
- Lubbock
- Lynn
- Moore
- Motley
- Ochiltree
- Oldham
- Parmer
- Potter
- Randall
- Roberts
- Scurry
- Sherman
- Stonewall
- Swisher
- Terry
- Wheeler
- Yoakum
- West Texas No. 2
- Includes counties of:
- Andrews
- Brewster
- Coke
- Crane
- Crockett
- Culberson
- Ector
- Edwards
- El Paso
- Glasscock
- Howard
- Hudspeth
- Irion
- Jeff Davis
- Kinney
- Loving
- Martin
- Maverick
- Midland
- Mitchell
- Nolan
- Pecos
- Presidio
- Reagan
- Reeves
- Runnels
- Schleicher
- Sterling
- Sutton
- Taylor
- Terrell
- Tom Green
- Upton
- Val Verde
- Ward
- Winkler
- Northern Virginia
- Includes counties of:
- Accomack
- Albemarle
- Alleghany
- Arlington
- Augusta
- Bath
- Caroline
- Clarke
- Culpeper
- Essex
- Fairfax
- Fauquier
- Fluvanna
- Frederick
- Goochland
- Greene
- Hanover
- Highland
- King and Queen
- King George
- King William
- Lancaster
- Loudoun
- Louisa
- Madison
- Middlesex
- Nelson
- Northumberland
- Orange
- Page
- Prince William
- Rappahannock
- Richmond
- Rockbridge
- Rockingham
- Shenandoah
- Spotsylvania
- Stafford
- Warren
- Westmoreland
| NUMBER OF DELEGATES PER STATE/DISTRICT | |
| Alabama - N | 1 |
| Alabama - S | 2 |
| Arizona - N | 2 |
| Arizona - S | 1 |
| Arkansas | 2 |
| California - N No. 1 | 2 |
| California - N No. 2 | 1 |
| California - C No. 1 | 5 |
| California - C No. 2 | 1 |
| California - S No. 1 | 7 |
| California - S No. 2 | 5 |
| California - S No. 3 | 1 |
| Colorado - N | 1 |
| Colorado - S | 1 |
| Connecticut | 2 |
| Delaware | 1 |
| Florida - N | 2 |
| Florida - S | 5 |
| Georgia - N | 1 |
| Georgia - C | 4 |
| Georgia - S | 2 |
| Georgia - E | 1 |
| Idaho | 1 |
| Illinois - N | 6 |
| Illinois - S | 2 |
| Indiana | 2 |
| Iowa | 1 |
| Kansas | 1 |
| Kentucky | 1 |
| Louisiana | 2 |
| Maine | 1 |
| Maryland/Washington D.C. | 3 |
| Massachusetts | 3 |
| Michigan | 4 |
| Minnesota | 1 |
| Mississippi | 1 |
| Missouri | 2 |
| Montana | 1 |
| Nebraska | 1 |
| Nevada - N | 1 |
| Nevada - S | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 1 |
| New Jersey | 2 |
| New Mexico - N | 1 |
| New Mexico - S | 1 |
| New York - E | 4 |
| New York - W | 2 |
| North Carolina - E | 2 |
| North Carolina - C | 3 |
| North Carolina - W | 1 |
| North Dakota | 1 |
| Ohio - N | 2 |
| Ohio - S | 1 |
| Oklahoma | 2 |
| Oregon | 2 |
| Pennsylvania - E | 2 |
| Pennsylvania - W | 1 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 |
| Rhode Island | 1 |
| South Carolina - No. 1 | 1 |
| South Carolina - No. 2 | 5 |
| South Carolina - No. 3 | 18 |
| South Carolina - No. 4 | 4 |
| South Dakota | 1 |
| Tennessee | 1 |
| Texas - E No. 1 | 4 |
| Texas - E No. 2 | 4 |
| Texas - W No. 1 | 1 |
| Texas - W No. 2 | 1 |
| Utah | 1 |
| Vermont | 1 |
| Virginia - N | 1 |
| Virginia - S | 3 |
| Washington - E | 1 |
| Washington - W | 3 |
| West Virginia | 1 |
| Wisconsin | 4 |
| Wyoming | _1_ |
| 171 |
STATE CONVENTION DATES
The National Spiritual Assembly has decided to stagger the schedule for State Conventions this year. State Conventions will take place over a period of 5 consecutive Sundays starting with October 17, 1971 and ending on November 14, 1971. The scheduled convention date for each state or district is as follows:
OCTOBER 17, 1971
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Northern Georgia, Southern Alabama, Southern Illinois, Michigan, Western Washington, East Texas No. 1, Montana, Southern Virginia, Minnesota, Northern Ohio, Northern California No. 1, Louisiana.
OCTOBER 24, 1971*
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Northern Florida, Northern Alabama, Indiana, Wisconsin, Oregon, East Texas No. 2, Idaho, West Virginia, South Dakota, South Carolina No. 1, Southern Ohio, Northern California No. 2, Mississippi.
Eastern New York, Western New York, New Jersey, Southern Florida, Arkansas, Iowa, Northern Colorado, Central California No. 1, Southern New Mexico, Utah, Kentucky, North Dakota, South Carolina No. 2, Southern Georgia, Central California No. 2, West Texas No. 1.
NOVEMBER 7, 1971*
Eastern Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania, Maryland/D.C./Delaware, Tennessee, Missouri, Northern Nevada, Northern Arizona, Southern Arizona, Southern Nevada, Northern Illinois, Wyoming, Central Georgia, Southern California No. 2, West Texas No. 2, South Carolina No. 3.
NOVEMBER 14, 1971*
Eastern North Carolina, Central North Carolina, Western North Carolina, South Carolina No. 4, Northern Virginia, Kansas, Nebraska, Northern New Mexico, Southern California No. 3, Eastern Washington, Southern Colorado, East Georgia, Oklahoma.
DISTRICT TEACHING COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING STATE CONVENTIONS
The National Spiritual Assembly has placed the responsibility for all arrangements of State Conventions with the District Teaching Committees in their respective districts.
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY REPRESENTATIVES TO ATTEND STATE CONVENTIONS
The National Spiritual Assembly will appoint representatives to the State Conventions this year. The primary responsibilities of these representatives will be to see that State Conventions are conducted according to established Bahá’í principles and procedures and to advise the Conventions of these principles as occasions arise. One of the functions of these representatives will be to meet with the Convention organizers the day before the Conventions to help in straightening out procedural matters as necessary. Representatives will not be sent to Conventions in their own electoral districts.
*Please note changes for South Carolina sines last issue of THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í
Outstanding Year Plan Goals to Be Filled by Riḍván 1972[edit]
| AFRICA | ||
| (F) | Afars and Issas (Fr. Terr.) | 1 |
| (E) | Botswana | 2 |
| (F) | Cameroon Republic | 2 |
| (F) | Central African Republic | 2 |
| (F) | Congo (Kinshasa) | 3 |
| (E) | Ethiopia | 1 |
| (F) | Ivory Coast | 1 |
| (E) | Kenya | 2 |
| (E) | Lesotho | 1 |
| (E) | Liberia | 1 |
| (E) | St. Helena | 2 |
| (E) | South West Africa | 2 |
| (E) | Tanzania | 2 |
| (F) | Togo | 2 |
| (E) | Uganda | 2 |
| AMERICAS | ||
| (S) | *Argentina | 3 |
| (S) | Bolivia | 5 |
| (P) | Brazil | 6 |
| (S) | Chile | 2 |
| (S) | Ecuador | 5 |
| (S) | Nicaragua | 2 |
| (D) | Surinam | 2 |
| (S) | Peru | 3 |
| (S) | Uruguay | 4 |
| (S) | Venezuela | 5 |
| Leeward, Windward and Virgin Islands | 5 | |
| ASIA | ||
| Afghanistan | 2 | |
| Indonesia | 2 | |
| Japan | 7 | |
| **Kazakhstan (CP) | 1 | |
| Laos | 2 | |
| Near East | 4 | |
| (P) | Portuguese Timor | 2 |
| **Ukraine (CP) | 1 | |
| AUSTRALASIA | ||
| (E) | Solomon Islands | 2 |
| (E) | Gilbert and Ellice Islands | 2 |
| (E) | Western Samoa | 1 |
| (E) | Tonga Islands | 2 |
| EUROPE | ||
| Austria | 2 | |
| (P) | Azores | 1 |
| Netherlands | 2 | |
| Denmark | 1 | |
| *Finland | 4 | |
| Eire | 2 | |
| Luxembourg | 2 | |
| Norway | 3 | |
| Portugal 1 | ||
KEY:
- E - English-speaking
- F - French-speaking
- P - Portuguese-speaking
- S - Spanish-speaking
**CP - Circumstances permitting
- * - Special circumstances: check with International Goals Committee
All applications or inquiries should be sent to:
- INTERNATIONAL GOALS COMMITTEE
- 112 Linden Avenue
- Wilmette, Illinois 60091
Pioneers gathered for a training institute in Wilmette as they prepared to leave for pioneering posts throughout the world. In addition to the informative classes held, these pioneers shared the bounty of prayers each day in the holiest House of Worship, calling on Bahá’u’lláh to assist them to carry God’s Healing Message to the remote comers of the world.
Job Opportunities Overseas[edit]
|
Important Notice
If you are planning an international Bahá’í travel-teaching project of whatever duration, please contact the International Goals Committee at least TWO MONTHS, if possible, before your date of departure. If you wish to ensure that your travel-teaching project runs smoothly and is of the most service to the Bahá’ís where you plan to go, inform us of your plans and we will do whatever possible to assist. |
SCIENCE MAJORS
If you have a Master’s or Doctor’s Degree in the Sciences and wish to pioneer in Brazil, please write to the International Goals Committee.
ENGINEERING MAJORS
If you have a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctor’s Degree in Engineering and wish to pioneer in South America (Brazil, Argentina, or Venezuela) or Central America (Nicaragua), please write to the International Goals Committee.
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
The International Goals Committee has just received some new references for jobs in the construction industry, too copious to reprint here.
Few realize the job opportunities which exist in the overseas construction industry (e.g., NURSES, SAFETY TECHNICIANS, CORPSMEN, CLERKS, SECRETARIES, PRINT GIRLS, ETC.)
Those interested, please write to:
- International Goals Committee
- 112 Linden Avenue
- Wilmette, Illinois 60091
New Era Trio Reaps Bounties in Central America[edit]
Members of the Deep South singers, Charles and Sandi Bullock and Jeanne Rebstock, have been traveling through Central America as the “New Era Trio”, appearing in cities and towns and singing the glad tidings of Bahá’u’lláh. A recent letter from them conveys the spirit of the victories being won:
“Alláh’u’Abhá! ... There is nothing we can do to adequately thank Bahá’u’lláh for so great a bounty as this tour. The joys seem to be coming in waves and they get higher and higher.
“In Honduras we had several proclamations with hundreds of people in attendance. With only about one-half hour notice, over 400 people in a village gathered and waited for about one hour to hear of Bahá’u’lláh. The next night we sang in a city park in Granada, Nicaragua - over 500 people gathered. We were singing on a stand in the center of the park - more and more people gathered around us. For fear of the platform falling in from the weight, we asked everyone to stand on the ground. The people were more than enthusiastic - they didn’t want us to stop singing. So we sang some more about Bahá’u’lláh and stopped. This, however, didn’t dampen the spirits, for about 200 people followed us from the park, down the streets, and right to the door of the pioneer’s house. We then realized that we didn’t have the key!... The friends who spoke Spanish were enclosed back at the park teaching and enrolling, so we sang some more songs.
“Soon the pioneer came and we went inside and about 40 people from the park came a little later for more deepening and there were more enrollments...
“Yesterday we took about a one-hour boat ride to a village from Bluefields. We were scared stiff in the boat. The people at this village had heard a great deal about Bahá’u’lláh from Hooper ten years ago. [Hooper Dunbar, member of the Continental Board of Counselors for South America.] There had been some enrollments from his efforts. However, the new Bahá’ís had been attacked by [one of the churches] which is rather strong in this area. The last day Hooper was on the island, the people had closed the doors and windows at the sight of his approaching.
“Now, ten years later, Hooper is back with the same Message. Most of the villagers gathered for the proclamation and listened with stern faces at first. After the proclamation, without even a direct invitation to enroll, they asked to join Bahá’u’lláh’s Faith, the first enrollee being the son of the pastor of the [same] church.
“We can’t put in words the spirit Bahá’u’lláh is showing in so many, many ways. Our only wish is that we can give more for Him, through His Divine Mercy...
“May our lives be burned up in service to Him.”
Periscope[edit]
Eight youth from the Paradise Pines Deepening Institute in IDAHO traveled over 1,600 miles in MONTANA spreading the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. Result? Eight new believers, most of whom are from Poplar.
Many listeners called in to express their views and ask questions during a two-hour interview with Bahá’í guests on the “Religion Today” radio program in Baltimore, MARYLAND.
Proclamation got a good start in Westboro, MASSACHUSETTS, when the Bahá’í group there rented a van, put a banner which read “Bahá’u’lláh” on top, decorated the sides with posters, then presented literature to interested passersby outside a supermarket.
Morristown, NEW JERSEY, recently entered a “What is a Bahá’í?” mural in a fence art contest, and presented showings of the film “It’s Just the Beginning” at firesides and schools which prompted a request for a Bahá’í speaker when school re-opens.
The 59th annual observance of the Thornton Chase Memorial will be held October 3 at 2 p.m. in the Inglewood Park Cemetery, southern CALIFORNIA. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited the gravesite in 1912. (Editor’s note: Mr. Chase was designated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the first Bahá’í in America.)
During a mass teaching weekend in Amarillo, TEXAS, five-year-old Darren Gray met his goal of leading one new Bahá’í to the Faith for this year. He met Mr. Waldo McDonald in the park and led him to the Bahá’í group - Mr. McDonald later declared his belief.
Fellowship Picnics in Tennessee and Washington[edit]
A few of the large number of Bahá’í friends and guests who attended a Fellowship Picnic sponsored by the newly formed (Riḍván 1971) Spiritual Assembly of Arlington, Tennessee. The Arlington area was the scene of mass teaching last February.
Bahá’ís and guests from the Toppenish and Yakima Indian Reservations attend a Fellowship Picnic which was sponsored by the Toppenish Spiritual Assembly in the State of Washington. Among the guests is Auxiliary Board Member, Mrs. Helen Wilks, from Swaziland, Africa (second row, extreme left).
New Introductory Book Available[edit]
THE BAHÁ’Í FAITH AN INTRODUCTION[edit]
By Gloria Faizi
A new introduction to the Faith, this slender volume fills the gap in Bahá’í literature between pamphlets and BAHÁ’U’LLÁH AND THE NEW ERA. It contains sections on the history of the Faith; on the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi; on spiritual and social principles; and on Bahá’í administration.
Simply written, almost in the manner of a fireside chat, the text contains a variety of analogies and many brief quotations from the Writings. Illuminating the simple explanations are four sections of short quotations from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh.
Produced in 4 1/4" x 6 1/2" size, THE BAHÁ’Í FAITH will be especially useful to those desiring a short introduction to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and in the mass teaching areas.
Paper.......$.50 NET
TABLETS OF THE DIVINE PLAN[edit]
By ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
A new printing of this important work by the Master is now available with revisions made by The Universal House of Justice in some of the prayers. Shoghi Effendi has referred to the TABLETS OF THE DIVINE PLAN as one of “the outstanding achievements that have embellished the brilliant record of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s unique ministry.”
Referring to the dark war days of 1916 and 1917 during which the TABLETS were written, Shoghi Effendi has told us it was then that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá “was moved to confer once again, and for the last time in His life, on the community of His American followers a signal mark of His special favor by investing them, on the eve of the termination of His earthly ministry, through the revelation of the Tablets of the Divine Plan, with a world mission, whose full implications even now, after the lapse of a quarter of a century, still remain undisclosed, and whose unfoldment thus far, though as yet in its initial stages, has so greatly enriched the spiritual as well as the administrative annals of the first Bahá’í century.”
The TABLETS OF THE DIVINE PLAN are essential not only for understanding the teaching plans initiated by Shoghi Effendi and The Universal House of Justice, but also for gaining an insight into the charter provided by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for teaching the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh throughout His dispensation.
Per copy.......$.75
Order through your local Bahá’í librarian when possible. Orders under $5 add postage and handling fee of $.30.
Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
Announcing Major Publishing Event for WORLD ORDER Magazine[edit]
The Fall 1971 issue scheduled to appear in October will be devoted entirely to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of His Passing.
There will be articles by such authors as Hand of the Cause of God H. M. Balyuzi, Amin Banani, Marzieh Gail, Kazem and Firuz Kazemzadeh ... and a republication of the article “The Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá” by Shoghi Effendi and Lady Blomfield, which was published in 1926 in the BAHÁ’Í YEARBOOK but is not now generally available to the community.
Order your subscription now so as to get this special issue, which will be sold at a higher price, $2 per single copy, than regular issues sold at $1.25 per copy. Subscribers will, however, get their copies as part of their regular subscriptions.
NOTE: Single copies of special issue will be available through your local librarian at $2 each.
Bulletin Board[edit]
ARTIST NEEDED FOR NSA-SPONSORED PROJECT[edit]
Artist experienced in graphics, layout, and illustration work, or with recently acquired degree in this field, for National Spiritual Assembly-sponsored project for development of deepening materials. Must work well in an atmosphere of close cooperation and consultation with other project staff members, be flexible and able to generate alternative approaches. If you qualify, and could locate temporarily (6-8 months) in the Northampton, Massachusetts, area, please write the Comprehensive Deepening Program, Miss Patricia Plecas, 409 Prospect Street, Northampton, MA 01060, and include samples of your work.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN MASS TEACHING AREA[edit]
Eagle Pass Independent School District is seeking Secondary Mathematics and English teachers; also teachers in Special Education. Minimum requirement: Liberal Arts Degree. Send applications to: Mr. Jesus Gomez, Acting Superintendent of Schools, Eagle Pass Independent School District, Eagle Pass, Texas 78852. Telephone number: (512) 773-9575.
JOB OPPORTUNITY IN WEST VIRGINIA[edit]
Wayne County School District is seeking a Junior High Mathematics teacher for Fort Gay. Minimum requirements: Bachelor’s Degree with 12-18 semester hours of mathematics. Send applications to: Mr. John Nolan, Wayne County School District, Wayne, West Virginia 25570. For housing information, contact Bahá’í pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. John Rice, 3208 Louisa Street, Fort Gay, WV 25514. Telephone number (304) 648-5336 (neighbor).
PIONEER AND CONTINUE EDUCATION[edit]
The Bahá’í Group of Ponce, Puerto Rico, would warmly welcome a youth pioneer who would be interested in studying at the Catholic University. It is hoped that an Assembly will be established in Ponce by next Riḍván. Admission to the Catholic University is readily accessible to students under the GI Bill. This would also be a good opportunity for students who wish to go pioneering to a Spanish-speaking country but do not yet know Spanish. The University also offers a training program for English-speaking students to learn Spanish. Those interested, please write: Mrs. Rachel Barick, Secretary, Puerto Rico Bahá’í Teaching Committee, Calle Margarita No. 1026, Urbanización Round Hill, Rio Piedras, PR 00926. Tel. No. (809) 761-5142.
AUTUMN IN RALEIGH[edit]
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Be Sure To Attend Your State Convention (See dates on page 5) |
Mature, veteran Bahá’ís of any age are invited to participate in a consolidation/expansion project in the heart of an important mass teaching area. Conditions are comfortable and the Bahá’í climate excellent. Housing will be arranged. Visitors must be partly self-supporting and should plan to arrive preferably in mid-October. For further information, please contact:
|
Subscribe Now To (See foot of page 11) |
Mrs. Patricia Hillow, Secretary, Spiritual Assembly of Raleigh, 124-1/2 Hillcrest Road, Raleigh, NC 27605. Tel. No. (919) 833-7652.
The American Bahá’í
112 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, ILLINOIS 60091
SEPTEMBER 1971
In This Issue
NSA ANNOUNCES PROGRAM TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF BAHÁ’Í LIFE
782 LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES RECOGNIZED
NSA ANNOUNCES TWO NEW REGIONAL OFFICES
BAHÁ’Í ELECTORAL VOTING DISTRICTS FOR STATE/DISTRICT CONVENTIONS
BRITISH NSA MEMBER VISITS WILMETTE
HOUSE OF WORSHIP ATTRACTS NEW BELIEVERS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í REVIEW INSERT
SPECIAL INSERT FOR BAHÁ’Í YOUTH