The American Bahá’í/Volume 20/Issue 7/Text

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Hand of the Cause Varqá elucidates law of Huqúqu’lláh

The following talk on the law of Huqúqu’lláh was given by the Hand of the Cause of God ‘Alí Muhammad Varqá at the sixth Bahá’í International Convention (May 1, 1988) in Haifa, Israel. Its significance is such that the National Spiritual Assembly would like to share it with the community as a whole.

Dearly loved friends,

At the inception of the Six Year Plan, which coincided with dramatic changes in many aspects of society, a new arena for rapid development of the Faith of God has been attained and the purpose and aim of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation have been unveiled before the very eyes of government authorities, heads of state and scholars who were not even aware of its existence.

At this time the Universal House of Justice has emphasized the importance of acquiring knowledge of the laws and ordinances revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, and adopted the translation of the Most Holy Book, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, into English as one of the sublime goals of this new Plan.

Among the commandments and decrees revealed in this sacred book is the law of Huqúqu’lláh, previously applicable only to the friends in the East.

The Western friends became aware of this law with the dissemination of the compilation of the Holy Text and the sacred writings prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice.

Huqúqu’lláh is an Arabic word composed of two words, "Huqua,” meaning "rights," and "Alláh," meaning "God." Therefore, Huqúqu’lláh means "the rights of God," a part of the individual's possessions and income offered at the Threshold of the Lord.

In a Tablet addressed to Jináb-i-Zayn referring to Huqúqu’lláh, Bahá’u’lláh says that the progress and the promulgation of the Faith of God depend on material means; therefore, the expansion and advancement of God’s Rev-

Florida Clean-up

Bahá’ís and their friends from all over southern Florida are pictured with the truckload of litter they collected April 1 at the Seven Mile Bridge Bayside Park in Marathon. The 'haul' totaled 4,160 pounds of trash and debris, or about 135 pounds collected by each person. The clean-up was organized by the Bahá’ís of the Middle Keys with help from local officials and businesses.

San Jose area steps up teaching momentum

Since the Vision to Victory Conference in January, the Bahá’ís in San Jose, California, have kept the momentum going with stepped-up activities along with "Metro 1000" events.

Metro 1000 is the area-wide effort whose purpose is to implement the National Spiritual Assembly's plan for large-scale teaching, proclamation and enrollments in greater San Jose.

At the end of January, the friends had a booth at the Tet Festival (Vietnamese new year). This was a direct result of the human rights award presented by the Bahá’ís to Vietnamese community leader Le Van Cao.

Many people stopped at the booth to talk, some Vietnamese Bahá’ís were found, and many new friends were made.

Bob Ruiz, a Bahá’í from Contra Costa, spent the entire two days and one evening making ribbon roses to give to visitors. The ribbon read "Bahá’í Faith" and listed the Bahá’í phone number.

Barbara and Kent Sellars from Fresno also spent the weekend at the booth, dressed in native costume, and made many friends for the Faith.

Phuoc Banh, a Bahá’í from San Jose, was there the entire weekend, too, and since then he and the Sellars have visited and found other Vietnamese Bahá’ís in the area.

On April 7, the music group Do'ah performed at Stanford University for an audience of about 380, 90-100 of whom were not Bahá’ís.

Most of those at the concert took copies of the peace statement and other pamphlets, and many stayed afterward to talk informally with members of the group.

Faith joins Sacred Literature Trust

Prince Philip launches interfaith publishing effort at UN ceremony

The Bahá’í Faith is one of eight major world religions taking part in the International Sacred Literature Trust, one of the largest and most ambitious interfaith projects ever undertaken.

The Trust was introduced May 22 at United Nations headquarters in New York City by HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Its establishment was inspired by an initiative of Prince Philip, in his capacity as president of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), when he launched its international network on conservation and religion during an interfaith conference at Assisi in 1986.

"The Sacred Literature Trust," said Prince Philip, "will make a significant contribution to interfaith dialogue and, hopefully, to a better understanding among followers of different faiths."

Under a single publishing imprint, the Trust will bring together, for the first time, scholars and literary figures from the world's major religious communi-

UN Ceremony Image Caption

HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (right), presents a copy of the charter of the International Sacred Literature Trust to United Nations Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuellar during a ceremony May 22 in New York City at which the Trust was formally launched. Behind the Secretary-General is a calligraphic illustration representing, in alphabetical order beginning with Bahá’í, the symbols of the eight major world religions that are members of the Trust.

Albuquerque hosts second conference on equality of the sexes

"The Untapped Reservoir," the National Committee on Women's second annual conference on equality of the sexes with special emphasis on American Indians and Hispanics, was held May 5-7 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

More than 150 people gathered at the conference to share their views, attend a variety of workshops, and hear talks by Juana Conrad, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Reynaldo Cruz, secretary of the National Teaching Committee.

Mrs. Conrad stressed the many accomplishments and sacrifices of Hispanic and American Indian women through the centuries, while Mr. Cruz shared many stories illustrating problems caused by gender inequality and provided examples of ways in which men can begin to change longstanding patterns and attitudes that tend to perpetuate sexual inequality.

Also taking part in the conference were Auxiliary Board members Robert Ramirez and Rick Wadleigh, and Mrs. Flore Kavelin, wife of the late member of the Universal House of Justice, H. Borrah Kavelin.

On Friday evening the friends were entertained by K.C. Porter, who was reared as the child of Bahá’í pioneers to Latin America, and by the Albuquerque Youth Workshop.

There was dancing Saturday morning by Pueblo Indian children, and a dramatic "fire dance" that evening by a troupe of Aztec Indians in traditional crimson and green feathered headdresses, gold and silver armor and brightly colored dresses.

Also, children from the Navajo Reservation and youth from a nearby Pueblo Reservation shared several spiritual ceremonies.

Workshops focused on the equality of the sexes from a number of aspects including the role of men, traditions of inequality within cultures, giving spiritual values to children, and ways in which the Bahá’í Writings provide guidance in establishing equality.

Many of the children's classes were taught by men, who represented a significant percentage of

National Assembly names sites for second series of 'Vision to Victory' conferences

The National Spiritual Assembly has chosen the sites for the six proposed Vision to Victory conferences to be held later this year.

Named to host the second in the series of conferences are Birmingham, Alabama; Phoenix, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Cleveland, Ohio; and Portland, Oregon.

The National Assembly and its representatives are working closely with each of these communities to help ensure the success of these upcoming conferences. [Page 2]

Trust

ties in an effort to produce the most accurate new English translations of their faiths' key texts.

"I think it is highly appropriate that this event should be taking place at the headquarters of the United Nations," said Prince Philip.

"This building symbolizes the yearning of all people of goodwill for a more peaceful and cooperative world. This can only be achieved when the great political and religious movements learn to be more tolerant and understanding of each other."

As a publishing venture, the Trust is unique in its involvement with all the major world faiths—Bahá’í, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and Taoism.

The Trust will also research and work to translate oral traditions and/or literature from the faiths of indigenous cultures such as the Australian Aborigines, the Yanamamo of South America, and the Japanese Shinto.

Following the ceremony at the UN, more than 50 of the dignitaries involved were luncheon guests of the Trust at the Bahá’í International Community's UN office.

The BIC was the liaison that facilitated Prince Philip's visit to the UN on behalf of the Sacred Literature Trust.

To date, the Trust is negotiating agreements for a new translation of the Bhagavad-Gita, the first-ever English translation of the Orthodox Bible, a library of post-Biblical Jewish classics, the first-ever standard English translation of the Hindi version of the Ramayana.

"Each faith or culture will have its own distinct series under the Trust's imprint," said Trust officer Martin Palmer. "To ensure that the 'voice' of the original text survives the translation, the best of English literary talent will work with the scholars of that faith."

The Sacred Literature Trust was established by and will operate under the auspices of ICOREC (International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture), a worldwide interfaith group specializing in cross-cultural education and publishing ventures.

In addition to the Duke of Edinburgh, a number of well-known world figures have confirmed their support for the Trust, among them:

The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum; Edgar Bronfman and Prof. Arthur Hertzberg, president and vice-president, respectively, of the World Jewish Congress; British poet laureate Ted Hughes; and His Excellency Dr. Karan Singh, former Maharaj of Kashmir.

The Duke of Edinburgh also announced the establishment of a new international award for literature, to be presented annually for the English-language novel, play or poem deemed to have made the greatest contribution that year to religious thought and understanding.

Two new works of art—a calligraphic illustration and a bronze sculpture—were created especially for the launch of the International Sacred Literature Trust.

The illustration, executed by The Jersey Scriptorium based on the Isle of Jersey, expresses the significance of each of the world's major religions by containing symbols from each along with quotes from their sacred texts.

It was presented by Prince Philip to UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuellar.

The sculpture, a pair of open hands in an attitude of prayer created by British sculptor Dr. Neil Lawson Baker, will serve as the symbol for the Trust's annual Religion and Literature Award.

A commemorative booklet about the Sacred Literature Trust is available from the Office of Public Information, packaged in an attractive folder with envelope. To order, send $1.50 per packet to the Office of Public Information, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Make checks payable to "Bahá’í Services Fund."

Children's Peace Collection

The Bahá’ís of Manhattan Beach, California, recently presented a number of books to the local public library to establish a Children's Peace Collection for which a separate shelf in the library was set aside. Inside each volume is a bookplate with a quotation from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and a statement that the Children's Peace Collection is a gift from the Bahá’í community. Books are chosen which show racial or cultural diversity, cooperation, consultation, equality, or the results of war. Pictured (left to right) at the first donation of books are Bahá’í children Tanya Goldman, Corinne Lee, Daniel Hendershot, Taraz Lee, Micah Goldman and Faizi Lee.

Hmong woman wins scholarship in Portland

As a part of its Naw-Rúz celebration, the Spiritual Assembly of Portland, Oregon, awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Tzer Vu, a young Hmong woman.

The scholarship, which is to be used for educational training, represents the cumulative efforts of 10 local Assemblies and the Portland Metro Bahá’í School, under the guidance of the Portland Bahá’í Hmong Committee.

Contributions to the award were accumulated during the past year from social events, sale of baked goods, and solicitation of individuals, Assemblies and other Bahá’í groups in the local area.

A slide show of Ms. Vu and her family was shown at the award ceremony, and a plaque commemorating the event was given to Ms. Vu.

Certificates of appreciation were given to two other applicants for the award, May Lee and May Sia, for their courage and determination.

The award and the process leading to it has helped to solidify the relationship between the Assembly of Portland and the Sen Ko Cha Foundation, the cultural organization of the Hmong community.

The Hmong women's scholarship has opened the door to future cooperative relations between the Bahá’í and Hmong communities of Portland.

Tzer Vu (second from left), recipient of the Hmong Women's Scholarship from the Spiritual Assembly of Portland, Oregon, displays the award plaque presented to her by Dr. Michael Balter, representing the Spiritual Assembly, as Bahá’í Hmong Committee members Laura Williams (second from right) and Maura Fox look on.

If you can't pioneer—deputize!

Thirty-five youngsters learn at Oklahoma's Intense Study Institute

On April 7-9 a dual Intense Study Institute (ISI) was held in Cameron, Oklahoma.

While youth wrestled with the topic of "mind, body and soul," the pre-youth (15 and under) learned techniques of effective teaching and discovered what virtues a teacher must possess.

Thirty-five young people attended the dual event, which was conducted by Jaleh Dashtezadeh and Jackie Eghrari-Sabet.

Seven major goals of Six Year Plan

1. Carrying the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh to the generality of mankind 2. Greater involvement of the Faith in the life of human society 3. A worldwide increase in the translation, production, distribution and use of Bahá’í literature 4. Further acceleration in the process of the maturation of local and national Bahá’í communities 5. Greater attention to universal participation and the spiritual enrichment of individual believers 6. A wider extension of Bahá’í education to children and youth, and the strengthening of Bahá’í family life 7. The pursuit of projects of social and economic development in well-established Bahá’í communities

The American Bahá’í (USPS 042-430) is published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091. Postmaster: Send address changes to Management Information Systems, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Executive editor: Jack Bowers. Associate editor: Laura E. Hildreth. The American Bahá’í welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Faith. Articles should be written clearly and concisely; color or black-and-white glossy photographs should be included whenever possible. Please address all materials to The Editor, The American Bahá’í, Wilmette, IL 60091. Copyright 1989 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. [Page 3]

Three important principles guide door to door teaching

A number of local Bahá’í communities have recently contacted the National Teaching Committee regarding the appropriateness of door to door teaching. Guidance on this topic is provided in messages from the Universal House of Justice and decisions of the National Spiritual Assembly.

It is acceptable for Bahá’ís to go from house to house or door to door when sharing the message of Bahá’u’lláh with others. The Universal House of Justice has left the details of this approach to teaching to the discretion of National Spiritual Assemblies, and our National Assembly has, likewise, left such matters to the discretion of local Spiritual Assemblies.

There are, however, three principles which must be taken into account when considering a door to door approach to teaching.

First, the dignity of the Faith must be carefully safeguarded. A message written on behalf of the Guardian indicated clearly that door to door distribution of pamphlets was "undignified and might create a bad impression of the Faith."

While an Assembly could approve a door to door effort to provide invitations to a Bahá’í event or to teach souls interested in hearing about the Faith, its consultation and final decision must take into account conditions within the local community and the manner of approach so that the dignity of the Faith is upheld.

The second principle is Bahá’u’lláh’s injunction in The Hidden Words: "The wise are they that speak not unless they obtain a hearing."

A teaching activity should not encroach on people's privacy, nor should it force the message on unwilling listeners.

The third principle involves integrity and sincerity. It is not appropriate to use deceptive methods to provide an opportunity to teach.

For example, a survey or questionnaire should only be used when it is necessary to gather answers to questions rather than as a means of initiating a conversation about the Faith.

In areas where there are no local Spiritual Assemblies, District Teaching Committees should, after consultation with local believers, make the decision about whether and in what way door to door teaching may be used in that area.

An exception to this occurs in areas where local Assemblies have adopted extension teaching goals; in such goal areas, the local Assembly should make the decision in consultation with local residents.

The National Teaching Committee can provide additional clarification or extracts from messages from the Universal House of Justice on door to door teaching to interested individuals or institutions.

UNITED NATIONS

So important is the issue of the status of women that the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) has assigned a representative to work exclusively on that issue. From 1947-89, nearly 60 statements on women were issued to UN bodies by the BIC.

In the past 12 months Mary Sawicki Power, BIC representative for women's issues, has taken part in a number of major conferences dedicated to the improvement of women's lives and those of their families.

Among these conferences were the Fourth Regional Conference on Pacific Women, Suva, Fiji, September 1988; the Post-Conference meeting of Bahá’í delegates, Suva, Fiji, September 1988; and the 32nd and 33rd sessions of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, Vienna Austria, March 1988 and 1989.

The BIC is presently the convenor of Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden for Women.

The Advocates are non-governmental organizations (NGOs), UN agencies and intergovernmental bodies working to heighten awareness of the importance of African women as the principal custodians of the continent's food system and the producers of two-thirds of its food.

The group has prepared informative material, sponsored several symposia and presented statements to the 1988 and 1989 meetings of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

Emphasis has been placed on encouraging governments and development agencies to help women in the production, marketing and transportation of food products, as well as making available fuel, water, credit and health services.

The representative assigned to women's issues also serves currently on the NGO Committee on UNIFEM, and is vice-president of the National Council of Women of the U.S. and the NGO Committee on the UN Decade for Women.

Says Ms. Power, "In recent years, I have been impressed by the growing interest in and impact of Bahá’í perspectives on the work of the United Nations related to women."

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.

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

NUR UNIVERSITY in Bolivia urgently requires Spanish-speaking academic professionals for its graduate school in marketing, finance, commerce and project management. Candidates with a masters or doctorate degree are preferred. Nur also wishes to hire a graduate school director to oversee all areas of the graduate program. Interested professionals are asked to contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

TURKS and Caicos: urgent need for assistant manager, Honda motorcycle sales, rental and service shop. Must have experience in motorcycle and bicycle mechanics, small engine repair and maintenance. Bookkeeping experience helpful; any experience with PVC and/or furniture manufacturing a plus. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

PART-TIME teaching position in English in Moji-Guacu City, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Degree in education not needed, but must speak English fluently. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

OVERSEAS jobs: Africa-Niger: agronomist-project coordinator. Nigeria: project adviser to work as primary health care specialist; BSc civil engineering; construction manager; mechanical and civil engineer; drilling manager. West Africa: resident engineer. At large: auditor; cooperative adviser and trainers to work in cooperative agri-businesses. Americas-Nicaragua: statistician/systems analyst. At large: auditor-international travel to audit field programs. Asia-Hong Kong: international affairs representative. India: mechanical engineer; resident engineer. Malaysia: BSc/C engineer; construction manager; electrical engineer; mechanical/process engineers. Nepal: resident engineer. Also, CARE is presently looking for short-term consultants in the field of micro and small enterprise development. They are also recruiting candidates for positions in agriculture, forestry and public administration. For information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

NUR UNIVERSITY in Bolivia is looking for Spanish-speaking professors of computer science and communications science (specifically in educational programming for radio and television), as well as administrative personnel. The minimum academic requirement to teach in the university is a bachelors degree exept in the graduate studies school where a masters or doctoral degree is required. Nur invites interested professionals and students who would like to study in South America to investigate Nur as a viable option. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

ARCHIVES

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following individuals: John Clifford, Harriet M. Cline (died Verdugo City, CA, 1942), Elizabeth S. Clinton, Carrick E. Cloud, Stanwood Cobb, Mary E. Coffin, Ina Coleman, Frances E. Coley and Carol Burnell Comstock. Anyone knowing family members of relatives who might have these letters from the Guardian is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking 1952-67 district convention voting lists for Wyoming, West Virginia, Washington state, Virginia, Vermont, Utah and Tennessee. Anyone having lists they could donate is asked to send them to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

SCHENECTADY, New York, a potentially jeopardized community, seeks help from homefront pioneers to increase its numbers and maintain its Spiritual Assembly. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stopped in Schenectady, a city of more than 68,000 about 17 miles west of Albany in northeastern New York state, in 1912, and many seeds have been planted by the believers since that time. Schenectady is three hours north of New York city, an hour away from the lovely Adirondack mountains, and just over an hour from Vermont and Massachusetts. Many jobs are available in Schenectady and Albany. Apartments and houses are affordable, public transportation is easily accessible. Union College and Schenectady Community College are here, and there are several other universities nearby. Schenectady is part of the "Capital District Bahá’í Area" and shares in excellent children's classes and other activities with Bahá’ís in the area. For more information or help in relocating to Schenectady, write to the Spiritual Assembly of Schenectady, Schenectady, NY 12307, or phone the Assembly secretary, Irene Bush, at 518-381-6381.

GET READY for next year! Retired Bahá’ís especially. Come and bring friends to Yreka, California, county seat of Siskiyou County, close to the border with Oregon. Leave the big cities to be pioneers to this beautiful National Forest area. As the county seat, Yreka has many facilities; the population is almost 7,000. For more information, please contact Mrs. Alice Lovejoy-Allen, P.O. Box 3, Dunsmuir, CA 96025 (916-235-4709) or Art Grigg, Mt. Shasta City, CA 96067 (916-926-6675).

PIONEER to Gulfport/Biloxi, Mississippi. We have a multi-cultural Bahá’í community, Keesler Air Force Base, jobs for medical professionals, social workers, and at a Naval/CB base. Also, plenty of hotels, motels and restaurants, a moderate climate, and 26 miles of beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.

WANTED

CAN YOU imagine teaching the Faith, deepening new believers, or educating your children without books? Many of our Bahá’í brothers and sisters around the world find themselves in this situation. I have the names and addresses of pioneers in many countries who need books of all kinds, Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í, new or used, for children or adults, fiction or non-fiction (except, so far, no requests for higher-level textbooks). Also needed are pamphlets, buttons, posters and educational materials for a pre-school. Do you have anything to give? Please let me know what you have to offer so that I can match your gift with the best recipient. Please do not send materials to me. Any donation is greatly appreciated. Write to Vonnie Lincoln, Lyons, OR 97358, or phone 503-859-2390.

HAPPY, happy, make our friends happy. The author of the worldwide and popular "Jasper Panel," the unique cultural way to teach the Faith, desperately needs your canceled POSTAGE STAMPS from any part of the world. Your stamps will be distributed throughout the Bahá’í community, by the author, to those Bahá’ís who want foreign stamps to complete, and make interesting, their Jasper Panels. Please help make these friends happy by sending your stamps to Jasper Nichols, Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera/Tenerife, Canary Islands, SPAIN.

ITEMS AVAILABLE

SPECIAL to Bahá’í treasurers: FREEWARE. Send a self-addressed No. 10 (long) envelope with 50 cents for postage for a FREE copy of my "spreadsheet and checkbook balancer." This menu-driven program distinguishes between different Bahá’í years in both screen calc. and EXACT checkbook format printout. Written for the Commodore 128. Send to Clyde Eugene Corson, P.O. Box 433, Lawndale, CA 90260.

Reminder: Bahá’ís are encouraged to lend support to UN Day of Peace

In 1959 the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly initiated the commemoration of World Peace Day, which was observed on the third Sunday in September.

On November 30, 1981, the United Nations General Assembly designated the third Tuesday in September as International Day of Peace, saying that it should be "devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideas of peace both within and among all nations and peoples."

In 1985 the National Spiritual Assembly replaced the observance of World Peace Day with Bahá’í support of the UN International Day of Peace.

Bahá’í student given top service fellowship

Suzanne Ament, a Bahá’í who is a graduate student in Russian history at Indiana University in Bloomington, was recently chosen from among students at all the Indiana University campus sites and schools to receive the John Edwards Fellowship.

The fellowship, given to a graduate student who demonstrates both academic merit and an outstanding record of public service, carries with it an award of $8,000.

Dates of upcoming Pioneer Institutes

The Pioneer Training Institutes offered by the Office of Pioneering have been developed to provide prospective pioneers with the spiritual and practical tools needed to plan for and succeed in this most meritorious service to our beloved Cause.

Dates of upcoming Institutes are:

August 10-13: Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, S.C.

October 26-29: Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine.

For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039). [Page 4]

Treasurer salutes Assemblies, Groups who give regularly

To the American Bahá’í community for the Feast of Nur Dear Bahá’í friends:

We wanted to write another kind of letter this month. We concluded this Bahá’í year with such a high level of attainment in the Fund goals, we had hoped that the level of contributions would be sustained. Unfortunately, the contributions level this past month was half the goal.

Awaken America! These are not normal times. The funds to sustain the growth of the Faith are needed on a regular basis. Reflect upon the world in which your children will live. Should it look like the current world or more like a Bahá’í society?

The goals for the current Bahá’í year will remain mere hopes and dreams if the Fund goal is not met. The progress of the Faith, internationally and nationally, is contingent upon our material sacrifices.

If individuals and Assemblies are not giving to the Fund, how do they feel about the Bahá’í Faith? How can they be close to Bahá’u’lláh, Who made giving to the Fund the obligation of every believer?

In our near attainment of the Fund goals last year, our community was distinctive among the religious communities in this country. Let us join together to continue this exciting pattern.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States William E. Davis, Treasurer

THE FUNDS

To keep the entire American Bahá’í community more fully informed, the National Treasurer shares a recent letter addressed to the community for the Feast of Nur (June 5).

The center spread of this Feast letter lists the local Spiritual Assemblies and registered Bahá’í Groups that contributed to the National Fund at least 15 to 19 Bahá’í months from January 1 to December 31, 1988. Subscribers to the Automatic Contribution System (ACS) are considered to have contributed regularly (once every 19 days) and are included on the list.

While compiling the list from computer files, we found that we had inadvertently omitted the local Assemblies of Lawndale, Los Angeles, Riverside (list reads “Riverside Judicial District”) and Santa Clarita, California; Mesa, Arizona; Key West, Florida; and Schaumburg, Illinois.

After the list was shared at Feast, several Bahá’í communities phoned the Office of the Treasurer, and after checking the records, we found that many local treasurers wait until they have several months’ contributions in hand before sending them to the Fund.

Since all contributions are credited to the Bahá’í month in which they are received by the Office of the Treasurer, the community would appear to not be giving 15 to 19 times per year. As a result of this consultation, many of these communities have decided to join the Automatic Contribution System.

If you think that your Bahá’í community should be on the list or if you would like to join the ACS, please phone the Office of the Treasurer, 312-869-9039.

Local Spiritual Assemblies and Registered Groups with Excellent Patterns of Giving to the National Bahá’í Fund for 1988

(Names of Groups are in italics)

Alabama: Huntsville, Montgomery. Arkansas: Rogers. Arizona: Clarkdale, Phoenix, Pima County, Pima County S., Prescott, Scottsdale, South Tucson, Tempe, Tucson. California: Agoura Hills, Alameda, Albany, Alhambra, Anaheim, Beverly Hills, Buena Park, Camarillo, Carlsbad, Citrus Heights, Claremont, Concord, Culver JD, Davis, Delta, El Cajon JD, Fillmore, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Fremont, Glendale, Glendora, Greater Santa Rosa, Hayward, Hemet, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Jurupa, Lafayette, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lakeport, Lakewood, Lemon Grove, Long Beach, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Manhattan Beach, Mission Viejo, Montebello, Monterey-Carmel JD, Moreno Valley, Mountain View, Novato, Oakland, Oceanside, Orange, Orange County W. JD, Oxnard, Pasadena, Petaluma, Pleasant Hill, Poway, Rancho, Cucamonga, Redding, Redwood City, Riverside JD, Sacramento County NW, Sacramento, San Diego, San Diego County N. JD, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, San Leandro-Hayward JD, San Mateo County S. JD, San Rafael, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria JD, Santa Paula, Santa Rosa, Simi Valley, Spring Valley, Sunnyvale, Temple City, Tuolumne County JD, Tustin, Union City, Vacaville, Victor JD, Vista, Walnut, Walnut Creek, West Hollywood, Carpinteria, Compton JD, El Centro, Fallbrook San Diego, Folsom, Hawaiian Gardens, Manteca JD, Menlo Park, Morro Bay, Ojai, Pacific Grove, Salinas JD, Seal Beach. Colorado: Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Grand Junction, Longmont, Louisville, Wheat Ridge, Palisade, Teller County. Connecticut: Hartford, New Canaan, Ridgefield Town, Woodridge, South Windsor Town. Delaware: Dover, New Castle County N, Newark. Florida: Brevard County, Cape Coral, Dade County C, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Gainesville, Greater Gainesville, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Lakeland, Largo, Manatee County, Martin County, Orange County W, Palm Bay, Palm Beach County C, Pompano Beach, Sarasota, Seminole County W, St. Lucie County, Palm Beach, Wilton Manors, Altamonte Springs, Leesburg, New Port Richey, Pasco County W. Georgia: Atlanta, Gwinnett County, Peach County, Richmond County, Dalton, Valdosta. Iowa: Ames, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Iowa City, Sioux City, Waterloo, Adams County, Dallas County, Manchester, Oelwein, Plymouth County. Idaho: Boise, Idaho Falls, Lapwai. Illinois: Alton, Aurora, Batavia, Decatur, Edwardsville, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Joliet, Maine Township, Northbrook, Skokie, Urbana, Waukegan, Wilmette, Chemung Township, East Peoria, Libertyville Township, Machesney Township, Mahomet Township, Park Forest, Woodstock. Indiana: Greenfield, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Speedway, Crawfordsville, Marion. Kansas: Derby, Dodge City, Hutchinson, Newton, Winfield. Kentucky: Frankfort, Louisville, Boyle County. Louisiana: Louisville, Avondale, E. Baton Rouge Parish, Shreveport. Massachusetts: Amherst Town, Arlington, Barnstable Town, Lowell, Milford, Northampton, Springfield, Watertown, Dartmouth Town, Grafton, Harwich, Ipswich, Nantucket, South Hadley, Wareham Town, Williamstown Township. Maryland: Baltimore County C, Baltimore County W, College Park, Greenbelt, Montgomery County NW, Westminster, Laurel. Maine: Eliot, Auburn. Michigan: Ann Arbor, Flint, Kalamazoo, Meridian Township, Saginaw Township, Troy, Wyandotte, Benton Township, Blackman Township, Fremont, Holland, Niles Township, Pittsfield Township, Scottsville, St. Claire Shores, Vassar, Washington. Minnesota: Coon Rapids, Duluth, Minneapolis, Rochester, St. Cloud, St. Paul, Baudette, Hopkins, Little Canada, Minnetonka. Missouri: Boone County, Jefferson County, St. Louis County W, Webster Grove. Mississippi: Gulfport, Jackson, Vicksburg, Warren County, Madison County, Meridian. Montana: Butte-Silver Bow, Flathead County, Great Falls, Helena, Missoula County. North Carolina: Asheville, Buncombe County, Durham, Greensboro, Mount Airy, Orange County, Raleigh, Watauga County, Yadkinville. North Dakota: Jamestown. Nebraska: Aurora, Grand Island, Lincoln, Gering, Scottsbluff. New Hampshire: Concord, Exeter Town, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Hinsdale Town. New Jersey: Hamilton Township, Manchester, Piscataway, Ridgewood, Teaneck, Dumont, Flemington, Hopewell, Lakehurst, Trenton. New Mexico: Farmington, Gallup, Las Cruces, Los Alamos County, Pajarito, Belen. Nevada: Boulder City, Henderson, N. Las Vegas, Paradise Town, Reno, Fallon. New York: Beacon, Brighton, Brookhaven Town, Buffalo, Geneva, Hamburg Town, Islip Town, Smithtown Town, Greenwich Town, Flower Hill, Hoosick Falls. Ohio: Bexley, Cleveland Heights, Columbus, East Cleveland, Kettering, Shaker Heights, Willoughby, Delaware, Miami Township, Urbana, Weller Township. Oklahoma: Moore, Norman, Oklahoma City, Tulsa. Oregon: Aloha, Astoria, Beaverton, Bend, Coos Bay, Corvallis, Greater Grants Pass, Jackson County, Lake Oswego, Lane County C, Linn County, McMinnville, Medford, Pendleton, Springfield, Troutdale, West Linn. Pennsylvania: Elizabethtown, Borough, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Piperville, Swarthmore. South Carolina: Anderson, Cross, Greater Loris, Greeleyville, Greenville County, Greenwood County N, Lexington County N, Lydia, St. Helena Island, Summerville. Tennessee: Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Knoxville, Nashville, Shelby County. Texas: Addison, Bedford, Carrollton, College Station, Corpus Christi, Denison, El Paso, Fort Bend County, Fort Worth, Graham, Grand Prairie, Harlingen, Harris County No-C, Harris County SE, Houston, Hurst, League City, Lewisville, McAllen, McKinney, Missouri City, N. Richland Hills, Plano, Richardson, Round Rock, Victoria, Benbrook, Cedar Hill, Duncanville. Utah: Bountiful, Salt Lake City. Virginia: Alexandria, Baileys Crossroads, Blacksburg, Falls Church, Greater Vienna, McLean, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Staunton, Virginia Beach, Monterey, Scottsville, Shenandoah County. Vermont: Bennington, Brattleboro, Hartford. Washington: Auburn, Clallam CCD No. 1, Des Moines, Greater Bellevue, Hi-Central, Issaquah, Kent East, Kingsgate, Kirkland, Kitsap County C, Kitsap County S, Lakewood, Mountlake Terrace, Mt. Vernon, Pullman, Redmond, Richland, Shelton, Snohomish County N, Snohomish County SW, Spokane CCD No. 1, Spokane CCD No. 2, Spokane, Squak Valley, Tacoma, Tumwater, University Place, Kingsgate (Woodinville), Yakima, Bainbridge Island, Pasco, San Juan Island, Wapato, White Salmon. West Virginia: Morgantown, Raleigh County. Wisconsin: Brookfield, Cedarburg, Green Bay, Janesville, Madison, Middleton, Stevens Point, Sun Prairie, Waukesha, Cudahy, Sheboygan, Waukesha Township. Wyoming: Laramie, Powell.

Albuquerque

from page 1

those attending the conference.

Much of the planning was done by a local task force which raised funds, provided meals and lodging for visitors from Mexico and nearby Reservations, and did most of the “behind-the-scenes” work.

Treasurer’s special greeting to community’s youngsters

This is a special Feast letter for the young ones of our community (and maybe the “not-too-young” ones can read it too). It has to do with your feelings and your happiness. When was the last time you smiled and laughed with a good friend? Being happy makes us feel good about ourselves and our families. What makes you happy? God wants you to be “a happy and joyful being.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá often asked everyone He met if they were happy.

Try and see how many people you can make smile. Children can make any adult smile because in you the adults see the hope for our world. If you say a prayer every day, it will help you feel happy. Please learn a short prayer, say it every day and share it at the next Feast.

Your National Spiritual Assembly loves you and wishes we could see your shining and radiant faces every day.

With warm regards,

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States William E. Davis, Treasurer

Friend points out caption error in ’43 Assembly photo

Our thanks to Estelle Rouse of Rochester, New York, who was one of the members of the first local Spiritual Assembly of Alexandria, Virginia, in 1943 for pointing out to us that we had an incorrect name in the photo caption (May, page 18) regarding the 45th anniversary observance of the formation of that Assembly.

The late Paul Haney’s wife was Marjorie Haney, not Mariam. Mariam Haney was Mr. Haney’s mother.

Automatic Contribution System Subscription Form

(PRINT FULL NAME)	residing at	(STREET ADDRESS)
		(CITY, STATE & ZIP)

hereby authorize the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States to charge my

checking account each (Gregorian) month the fixed amount of $___________ to be distributed as follows:

National Fund $___________ International Fund $___________ Continental Fund $___________

☐ Check here if this form is for a Local Spiritual Assembly or Bahá’í Group checking account and give the community name and LSA/Group ID #:

Community ______________________________________ LSA/Group ID # __________

Bahá’í ID # [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] Signed: ________________________________ Your Title (if for LSA or Group Acct.) __________

Date ________________________ Home Phone _________________ Work Phone _________________

• If your account is with a credit union or money market fund, please provide the address and telephone number of the office servicing your account.

• It takes 30-45 days (2 Bahá’í months) for your automatic contribution to be processed the first time. You may wish to continue contributing by sending your checks until we inform you of the date of first automatic withdrawal.

To our donors: A new Contribution Form is being developed by the Office of the Treasurer which will speed contributions to all the major funds—National, Continental and International. It will be introduced in 1989 and will supersede this and any other contribution forms currently in use. [Page 5]

Nur University promotes Bahá’í ideals through education

Bolivia, in the heart of South America, is home to a Bahá’í social and economic development project that aspires to achieve “a dynamic coherence between the spiritual and practical requirements of life on earth” by integrating Bahá’í ideals in an institution of higher learning.

This project, one of a number of innovative Bahá’í social and economic development efforts in Bolivia, is Nur University: promoting education through development, and development through education.

With a commitment to community service and the integral development of Bolivia, Nur University was founded by a small group of resident Bahá’ís on May 22, 1982.

In August 1984 the school received a presidential decree giving approval for Nur to begin its academic activities with full rights and privileges as a private university.

With the support of the Universal House of Justice and the Continental Board of Counselors, Nur has been guided through its initial embryonic stages and has succeeded in becoming a well-respected university in the city of Santa Cruz.

Nur identifies education as the central component that integrates other sectors of the educational process, and views education as a key factor in releasing human potential and promoting the continued advancement of society.

In this light, the school has focused on providing creative and appropriate educational programs designed to meet the developmental needs of Bolivia.

Presently, programs in administration, agricultural economics, communication science and computer science are offered as undergraduate degree programs.

Nur also offers a graduate program in administration leading to a ‎masters master’s‎ degree in business administration, the only program of its kind in Bolivia.

To meet other educational needs, Nur offers continuing education and extension education programs in areas outside of Santa Cruz. While these are few in number, plans to further develop such services are under way.

Nur University also takes part in and sustains other development projects in Bolivia, lending its support to Bahá’í programs and to organizations with aims similar to those of the Faith.

Nur has been circumspect in its efforts to introduce the Faith to the 800 students and 65 faculty members who together comprise its educational community.

The school has been able to integrate the ideals of universal education and humanitarian principles into its programs without formally aligning itself with any one religious philosophy.

As the university continues to develop, it recognizes the need to increase the Bahá’í content of its programs and to incorporate Bahá’í principles at all levels of its operation.

To this end, it encourages interested Bahá’í Spanish-speaking educators in all fields, as well as administrators and students, to consider a period of service at Nur University.

For information about the university, its programs, positions available, or application forms, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Gertrude Blum given Queen’s MBE honors

Gertrude Blum, a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh to the Solomon Islands, has been awarded the MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the New Year honors and awards for 1989 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for “services to the community.”

In a letter from the private secretary to the governor-general of the Solomon Islands, Mrs. Blum was congratulated on behalf of the governor-general for “the well-deserved award for your long and dedicated services to the Bahá’í Faith and to the community.”

Mrs. Blum, her husband, Alvin, who died in 1969, and their family arrived in the Solomons on March 1, 1954, in response to instructions to them from the Guardian to go to a virgin area in the Pacific.

Once there they established a business, several service industries (badly needed in the community), and became actively involved in a number of community organizations.

In 1959 they were instrumental in establishing the Regional Assembly of the South Pacific; in 1968, the Regional Assembly of the South West Pacific; and in 1970, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Solomon Islands.

ONGOING INTERNATIONAL TEACHING PROJECTS
AFRICA
Senegal	Need for traveling teachers, especially youth.
Zimbabwe	Bahá’í Deepening Institute.
AMERICAS
Haiti	Need for French-speaking traveling teachers.
Honduras	Ongoing teaching projects.
Jamaica	Need for long-term, mature traveling teachers.
Leeward Islands	Need for “resident teachers” who can stay from one to six months.
Panama	“Extended Project Sites” teaching project.
ASIA
Hong Kong	Mass teaching project.
Korea	Mass teaching project.
Singapore	Mass teaching project—need six full-time teachers.
Taiwan	Muhájir mass teaching project.
AUSTRALASIA
Eastern Caroline Is.	Need deepened, knowledgeable, mature traveling teachers who can stay for one to three months.
EUROPE
Switzerland	Need traveling teachers who can stay for short-, mid- or long-term service.

From May 26-June 1 the Youth Desk, National Teaching Committee and Office of Pioneering jointly hosted a week-long training institute in Big Bear, California, for prospective Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteers. The goal of this first institute of its kind was to prepare youth in spiritual and practical matters as they embark on their time of service to the Faith. The young people pictured here are slated to serve in Mexico, Thailand, Botswana, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil and Honduras. Helping to facilitate the event were Auxiliary Board member Edward Diliberto and returning BYSC volunteers Alex Carlberg and Julie Vaughn. Any Bahá’í youth who is interested in knowing more about the BYSC should contact the Youth Desk, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

Seattle Bahá’ís take part in ecology conference

The Bahá’í community of Seattle, Washington, was represented May 13 at an ecology conference sponsored by the Ecology/Theology Task Force of the Church Council of Greater Seattle.

The conference theme was “The Web of Creation: Peace, Justice and the Environment.”

Wesley Dyring, a member of the Bahá’í community of Seattle, became involved in the final stages of planning for the conference after joining the Ecology/Theology Task Force in February.

He and another Bahá’í, David Simmons, shared Bahá’í views on peace and the environment with others at the conference and prepared a display emphasizing Bahá’í involvement in environmental issues.

Among the handouts offered as part of the display were “The Promise of World Peace” and the statement on nature prepared by the Bahá’í International Community in 1987 when the Faith became the sixth major religion to join the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Network on Conservation and Religion.

National Assembly regrets delay in publishing letter on rights, freedoms

The National Spiritual Assembly regrets the considerable inconvenience that has been caused by the delay in the publication of the statement of the Universal House of Justice dated December 29, 1988, addressed to the followers of Bahá’u’lláh in the United States and concerning individual rights and freedoms in the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.

In releasing the statement in its first format the National Spiritual Assembly achieved a result that was neither intended nor desired.

The text of the statement has now been published in an appropriate form. This new edition will be supplemented in the near future with a study guide intended to present a structure for study of the statement.

Our great privilege National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

REGISTRATION FORMS 30th annual Bahá’í Conference Green Lake, Wisconsin September 15-17, 1989

[Page 6]

Deepening Our Understanding of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh for Today

Seat of God’s Throne

A dynamic videotape that captures the magnificence of the Arc on Mount Carmel and discusses its development at this crucial point in history

VT $25.00 BETA/VHS

Called the most ambitious project of its kind undertaken by our National Spiritual Assembly, this 35-minute video evokes feelings of awe as it visually depicts the spiritual significance of the Arc, reminding the viewer of the meaning of the Tablet of Carmel.

Featured in the video is Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, who articulates Shoghi Effendi’s process of creating the Arc, providing us with a rare and intimate glimpse of the events that shaped this sacred spot. Personal impressions of pilgrims visiting from all over the world help to capture the experience of being in the Holy Land and seeing the fulfillment of prophecy on the mountain.

Its stunning cinematography includes the first aerial film footage of the Bahá’í properties on Mount Carmel and views of the models of the future buildings and terraces on the Arc that help us imagine their grandeur upon ‎completion.. completion.‎

Seat of God’s Throne was produced with the assistance and cooperation of the Bahá’í World Centre and brings to life the vision of Shoghi Effendi and the plans of the Universal House of Justice to complete the remaining buildings of the Arc on God’s Holy Mountain.

The production is enhanced by a brilliant original musical score digitally mastered in stereo sound by John Barnes, using musical concepts and sounds from around the world. Additional vocal music by Jean White adds a poetic touch.

Directed by Fred Badiyan and written and edited by Charles Nolley, the project represents a collaboration between our National Assembly and the World Centre.

The video gives us a sense of the historical development and future glory of the spiritual and administrative center of the Faith. It is truly an awe-inspiring presentation that gives visual expression to the historic events that are transforming the face of Mount Carmel.

Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United States

Individual Rights and Freedoms in the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh

from the Universal House of Justice SC $3.00

This profound letter from the Universal House of Justice addresses issues that are crucial to understanding the relationship between individuals, the Bahá’í community, and Bahá’í institutions.

Speaking to the question, “What is true liberty?,” advice is offered to individuals and to institutions, on subjects such as the importance of the Covenant in unifying humankind; the differences between Bahá’u’lláh’s World Order and recognized forms of secular government; the role of freedom of thought, expression, and action in Bahá’í consultation; the appropriate channels for expressing criticism; and the balance between individual freedom and preserving unity in the Cause.

Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United States

Focusing on Consolidation for the Family

The Family Repairs and Maintenance Manual

by Agnes Ghaznavi SC $7.95

If you have ever been part of a family—mother, father, daughter, son, grandparent or teenager—this book is for you! Just a few of the themes of this wise, warm, helpful and humorous book include how to make your family a source of energy, helping your family become a learning ground for the human skills and qualities so badly needed in society, discovering how to move from the patriarchal style of family to a family of equal rights where consultation and unity in diversity ensure harmonious relationships and enable everyone in the family to grow. An excellent how-to book that helps put the pieces of family behavior together.

George Ronald, Publisher

Family Worship A Selection of Bahá’í Prayers

compiled by Wendi Momen HC $9.00

This beautiful new prayer book brings together 71 prayers of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for the home, for members of the family, and for those occasions when the family prays together. A wonderful gift for engagements, weddings and family anniversaries—suitable for families of all faiths. Available only in hardcover.

George Ronald, Publisher

PLEASE NOTE: Due to computer software malfunction, recent mailings from the Bahá’í Distribution Service have included many duplicate labels. This error has been corrected, and future mailings will reflect the most current address we have been given. If you receive duplicate mailings or have changed your mailing address within the past month and wish to continue to receive our mailings, please notify us immediately.

Annual price changes are reflected in our new alphabetical price list which appears in the center section of this issue of The American Bahá’í.

New Educational Materials to Assist our Process of Learning

God’s Creation — Level II, Ages 9—13

$10.95 Workbook /6 Lessons $9.95 Parent/Teacher Guide

New hands on materials for spiritual education in a series of six lessons totaling 109 pages, three-hole punched, with illustrations, quotations from the Sacred Texts, activities, puzzles, games and goal-setting exercises for pre-youth.

Workbook lessons cover such topics as love and unity, the worlds of God, the mineral kingdom, the vegetable kingdom, the animal kingdom, and the human kingdom. Can be used by one or as a series in classes or at home. Also available under separate cover, a 38-page Parent/Teacher Guide with instructions for each lesson.

Wellspring International

Bahá’í Education for Peace Curriculum Guide, Volume 2

HC $10.95 with binder

Including lesson plans, this curriculum guide addresses such topics as the mission of the prophets, teachings of the prophets, love, unity, and peace, and independent investigation of reality. Available in a three-ring binder, Bahá’í Education for Peace is the second in a projected series of nine volumes. Volume 1 is still available for $10.95.

Bahá’í Distribution Canada

New Titles from Australia Increase Our Resources for Teaching and Study

Bahá’í Consultation: A Lamp of Guidance, SC	3.25
Bahá’í Diary, 146 B.E.—1989 pocket calendar, SC	3.50
Bahá’í Faith and the Arts, PA	2.50/10 or 24.50/100
Bahá’í Faith Presentation Folder	TBA
Bahá’í Faith Unites Mankind, PA	TBA
Bahá’í Follower of Light, SC	3.95
Bahá’í Teachings--large print, SC	2.00
Basic Facts of the Bahá’í Faith, PA	13.00/100
From One Parent to Another, PA	2.00/10 or 16.95/100
Gemstones Deepening Program, SC	7.00
Greatest Name--8-1/2" X 11"-black, green or white	3.50
Greatest Name cards--asstd. colors--2" X 3-1/2" 10 pk.	5.00
Now You Are a Bahá’í, SC	2.25
Ocean of My Words, SC	3.50
One Universal Faith, PA	13.00/100
Spiritual Assembly’s Growing Pains, SC	2.25
Stirrings of the Heart	3.25
These Things Shall Be, SC	2.50
PER: Trustworthiness, SC	2.50
VIET: Authority and Duties of LSA, PA--10/pkg.	6.00
VIET: Basis of World Economy of Bahá’u’lláh, SC	1.50
VIET: We Are Seeking Day of World Rel., PA--10/pkg.	3.00
VIET: What Is the Bahá’í Faith?, PA--10/pkg.	3.50

Other Recent New Titles

The Bahá’í Faith PA $3.00 — 10/pkg. PA $12.50 — 50/pkg.

Community Life by Richard Thomas CS $8.00

The Glorious Journey by Craig Weaver and Helen Bond SC $7.95

Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh SC $6.95 Deluxe Edition

Huqúqu’lláh SC $.85

Journal of Bahá’í Studies Volume 1, No. 3 SC $5.00

Tokoloshe! by Hand of the Cause of God William Sears CS $29.95 / Set of 4

Bahá’í Distribution Service / 1-800-999-9019

415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 TAB 7/89

Ordered by: (Please print or type)	Date
Name
Address
City	State	Zip	Day Phone

Circle one: American Express MasterCard VISA Check Money Order

Expiration Date: ____________ Account Number: ______________

Signature: _____________________________________________

QTY	TITLE	COST	AMOUNT
TOTAL

VISA / MasterCard / American Express / Check / Money Order

Order through your local Bahá’í Distribution Representative, or send your order with payment to: 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091

1-800-999-9019

Order now through the Bahá’í Distribution Service [Page 7]

A

‘Abdu’l-Bahá—color litho., 11" X 14", PP 8.00 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Centre of the Covenant, SC 16.25 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, HC 17.50 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, SC 6.50 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Master, HC 8.50 Achieving Peace by the Year 2000, SC 5.95 Acquiring Virtues—card game, GM 5.95 Ad Slicks—various subjects, PR .75# Ad Slicks, Spanish—various subjects, PR .75# Address to Parents and Children, CS 8.00 Advent of Divine Justice, HC O/S Advent of Divine Justice, SC O/S Advent of Divine Justice, PS TBA* All Flags Flying, HC 20.00 All Flags Flying, SC 10.00 All Things Made New, HC 19.95 All Things Made New, SC 10.95 America’s Spiritual Destiny, SC 8.50 Ancient Beauty, CD 16.50 Ancient Beauty, CS 9.95 Another Song, Another Season, SC 2.00 Anthology for Bahá’í Children, SC 3.95 Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh, CS 8.00 Are You Happy?, CS O/S Ark of Destiny—Beta/VHS, VT 25.00 Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, SC 2.95 Atlanta Monthly article—reprint, PR .30# Ayyám-i-Há Camel, SC 8.95

B

B. J./Language of the Woodland, SC 4.95 Bábí and Bahá’í Religions, HC 25.00 Bábí and Bahá’í Religions, SC 14.75 Bahá’í Consltn: The Lamp of Guid., SC 3.25 Bahá’í Datebook, 1989-90, 146 BE, CA 3.50 Bahá’í Diary, 1989-90, 146 BE—Aus., CA 3.50 Bahá’í DayBook, SC 6.50 Bahá’í Education, SC 4.95 Bahá’í Education—"British" ed., SC 4.95 Bahá’í Ed. for Peace /Cur.Guide, Vol 1,HC 10.95 Bahá’í Ed. for Peace /Cur.Gde, Vol 2,HC 10.95 Bahá’í Faith—10/pkg., PA 3.00 Bahá’í Faith—50/pkg., PA 12.50 Bahá’í Faith—Perkins and Hainsworth, SC O/P Bahá’í Faith in America: 1892-1900, HC 19.95 Bahá’í Faith and the Arts—100/pkg., PA 24.50 Bahá’í Faith and the Arts—10/pkg., PA 2.50 Bahá’í Faith: The Emerg. Global Rel., HC 15.95 Bahá’í Faith: An Intro.—Beta/VHS, VT 29.95 Bahá’í Faith: An Introduction—Faizi, SC 1.50 Bahá’í Faith/ World Com.—10/pkg., PA 2.50 Bahá’í Faith/ World Com.—50/pkg., PA 10.00 Bahá’í Faith and Marxism, SC 4.00 Bahá’í Faith Presentation File Folder, FD O/P Bahá’í Faith Pres. Folder—Aus., FD 1.50 Bahá’í Faith: Eyes Young Bahá’ís, VT 25.00 Bahá’í Faith Unites Mnkd.—100/pk., PA TBA Bahá’í Faith: Unity/Diversity, VT 25.00 Bahá’í Faith/World Rel. Stats—10/pkg., PA 8.00 Bahá’í Focus on Development, SC 6.50 Bahá’í Focus on Human Rights, SC 6.50 Bahá’í Focus on Peace, SC 5.00 Bahá’í: Follower of the Light, SC 3.95 Bahá’í Funds: Contrib./ Administration, SC 2.50 Bahá’í History Calendar, 1989-90, CA O/P Bahá’í Marriage/Family Life—comp, SC O/P Bahá’í Marriage Fam. Life Study Guide, SC 3.75 Bahá’í Peace Program—5/pkg., PA 4.50 Bahá’í Pocket Cal. 1989-90—10/pkg., CA 3.50 Bahá’í Prayers, HC 9.95 Bahá’í Prayers, SC 5.50 Bahá’í Prayers—"British" edition, HC 5.95 Bahá’í Prayers and Holy Writings, SC 2.50 Bahá’í Principles for Children, SC 2.50 Bahá’í Readings, SC 9.00 Bahá’í References to Judaism, etc., SC 14.95 Bahá’í Religion, SC 5.95 Bahá’í Ringstone—illuminated print, PP 5.00 Bahá’í Statement on Nature, SC 1.75 Bahá’í Studies 2: Science of Religion, SC 5.00 Bahá’í Studies 6: Viol.-Free Society, SC 5.00 Bahá’í Studies 11: Concept/Spirituality, SC 5.00 Bahá’í Studies 12/13: Persecution, SC 5.00 Bahá’í Studies 15: Abiding Silence, SC 5.00 Bahá’í Studies 16:B. Faith: Sect or Rel., SC 4.00 Bahá’í Studies Notebook: Health, SC O/P Bahá’í Studies Notebook: Mar./ Family, SC 7.50 Bahá’í Teachings (large print), SC 2.00 Bahá’í Wall Calendar, 1989-90, CA 2.50 Bahá’í World: Volumes 1-12 (set), HC 335.00 Bahá’í World: Volume 1 (I), HC 14.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 2 (II), HC 20.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 3 (III), HC 20.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 4 (IV), HC 27.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 5 (V), HC 34.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 6 (VI), HC 33.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 7 (VII), HC O/P Bahá’í World: Volume 8 (VIII), HC 33.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 9 (IX), HC 33.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 10 (X), HC 32.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 11 (XI), HC 32.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 12 (XII), HC 33.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 13 (XIII), HC 27.00 Bahá’í World: Volume 14 (XIV), HC 16.00 Bahá’í World: Volume 15 (XV), HC 21.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 16 (XVI), HC 23.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 17 (XVII), HC 26.95 Bahá’í World: Volume 18 (XVIII), HC 40.00 Bahá’í Writings on Music, SC 3.50 Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, HC 13.50 Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, SC O/P Bahá’u’lláh/New Era—"British" ed., SC 4.75 Bahá’u’lláh: The Word Made Flesh, SC 6.25 Bahíyyih Khánum: Greatest Holy Leaf, HC 10.50 Bahíyyih Khánum: Greatest Holy Leaf, SC 5.50 Barley Bread and Reindeer Milk, CS 5.50 Basic Bahá’í Dictionary, HC 25.00 Basic Bahá’í Dictionary, SC 16.40 Basic Facts/Bahá’í Faith—100/pkg., PA 13.00 Basic Truth Series: Set 1—3/pkg., SC 8.95 Basic Truth Series: Set 2—3/pkg., SC 8.95 Because We Love the Faith, CS 8.00 Becoming Your True Self—5/pkg., PA 7.00 Beyond Disarmament, SC 1.50 Birth Announcements—10/pkg., CD 4.50 Blessed Is the Spot, HC 11.50 Blessed Is the Spot—Beta/VHS, VT 25.00 Blessings Beyond Measure, HC 13.50 Building the Ark: Adv./King. of God, CS 8.00 Building a Unified Community, PA 3.25 Burial Ring with silk pouch, JW 5.00

C

Call to the Nations, HC 6.95 Can You Sound Just Like Me?, CS 8.95 Carmel: Mountain of God, CS 8.00 Centers of Bahá’í Learning, SC 1.60 Chaste and Holy Life, SC 3.25 CHIN/ENG: Hidden Words, HC 14.95 CHIN/ENG: Peace Scroll, PS 4.50 CHIN: Prayer Book, SC 4.95 CHIN/ENG: Purify My Heart, SC 3.00 Children’s Prayer Scroll, PS 1.50 Christ and Bahá’u’lláh, SC 4.95 Christian Century article—reprint, PR .30# Circle of Peace, SC 11.95 Circle of Unity, SC 12.95 Closer Than Your Life’s Vein, SC 4.50 Come On, Rise Up, CS 8.00 Com. on the Will/Test./‘Abdu’l-Bahá, SC 3.50 Community Life, CS 8.00 Companions/Crimson Coloured Ark, CD 16.50 Companions/Crimson Coloured Ark, CS 9.95 Concord. to the H.Words/Bahá’u’lláh, SC 1.60 Concord. to the Writings/Bahá’u’lláh, HC 55.00 Constitution: The UHJ, SC 1.50 Consultation—compilation, SC 1.60 Continental Boards of Counselors, SC 4.50 Conversations, SC 11.95 Corinne True: Faithful Handmaiden, HC 18.95 Corinne True: Faithful Handmaiden, SC 11.95 Counsels of Perfection., HC 6.95 Covenant—compilation, SC 2.95 Covenant: Its Meaning, Origin, etc., SC 2.50# Creating Peaceful World—100/pkg., PA 28.00* Creating a Peaceful World, PA .30* Creating a Successful Family, HC 18.95* Creating a Successful Family, SC 11.95* Crisis and Victory, SC 4.50 Crown of Beauty—World Centre, HC 21.95

D

Dawn-Breakers—"British" edition, HC 20.00 Dawn Over Mount Hira, HC 2.00 Dawning Place, HC 9.95 Dawning Place, SC 4.95 Dawning Place of the Pacific, SC 8.00 Days to Remember, SC 8.50 Death: The Messenger of Joy, SC 3.95 Declaration of Trust/By-Laws/NSA/LSA, SC 1.10 Desire of the World, SC 7.50 Diamond in the Darkness, SC 4.50 Diary of Juliet Thompson, SC 13.95 Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh, SC 4.00 Divine Art of Living, SC 8.95 Divine Therapy, HC 17.95 Divorce: Writings Discouraging Divorce, SC 2.00 Do’a...the Early Years, CD 16.50 Do-It-Yourself Sticker Kit, CA 2.95 Door of Hope—World Centre, SC 17.95 Dragons of Rizvania, SC O/P Drawings, Verse & Belief, HC 19.95 Drops from the Ocean, SC 6.95

E

E. G. Browne and the Bahá’í Faith, HC 17.95 Earth Is But One Country, HC 16.50 Earth Is But One Country, PS 6.50 Echoes From the Lotus—set of 4, CS 29.95 Echoes From the Lotus—var. artists, CS 8.95 Education and the Bahá’í Family, HC 16.50 Education and the Bahá’í Family, SC 8.95 Education—Trustees—Beta/VHS, VT 30.00 Effective Teaching, CS 3.00# Effective Teaching Instructor’s Guide, SC 2.50# Effective Teaching Workbook, SC 2.50# Eminent Bahá’ís/Time Bahá’u’lláh, HC 35.00 Eminent Bahá’ís/Time Bahá’u’lláh, SC 19.95 Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, HC 17.95 Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, PS 5.50 Equal Circles, SC 12.95 Eternal Covenant, HC 19.95 Excellence in All Things, SC 2.25

F

Facts Sheet Set/3 (NSA), PR 1.00# Family Life—compilation, SC 3.50 Family Repairs Manual, SC 7.95* Family Worship, HC 9.00* Fasting: A Bahá’í Handbook, HC 11.95 Fasting: A Bahá’í Handbook, SC 7.95 Films of A. Q. Faizi—Beta/VHS, VT 49.95 Finding the Real You, SC 7.50 Fire on the Mountain Top, SC 3.95 Fire Tablet/Holy Mar.—Ara/Eng/Per, HC 19.50 Flickerings Colouring Book, SC 5.50 Fly Away Home, SC 5.50 For the Good of Mankind, HC O/S For the Good of Mankind, SC O/S Foundations of Learning, CS 8.00 Foundations of World Unity, HC 12.50 Four on an Island, SC 7.25 Fourth Epoch Opens—Beta/VHS, VT 19.95 From Behind the Veil, SC 4.95 From Copper to Gold, SC 16.50 From Mountain to Mountain, HC 19.95 From One Parent/Anoth.—100/pkg., PA 16.95 From One Parent to Another—10/pk., PA 2.00 From Strength to Strength, SC 2.00

G

Gemstones—Deepening Program, SC 7.00 George Townshend, SC 15.95 Gift of Life—10/pkg. with envelopes, CD 13.50 Gleanings /Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, HC 17.95 Gleanings /Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, PS 5.50 Gleanings/Writ.—Bahá’u’lláh—"Br." ed., HC 12.95 Glorious Journey, SC 7.95* God and His Messengers, SC 7.50 God Loves Laughter, SC 8.50 God Passes By, HC 24.00 God Passes By, SC 14.00 God’s Creation, Level II (Pkg/6 les.), SC 10.95 God’s Creation Par./Tchr Gde, Lev.II, SC 9.95 God’s Great Plan, SC 2.00 Golden Rule, SC 8.25 Gospels and the Christs, SC 7.95 Gr. Name—cd, asst. colors—10/pk, PP 5.00 Greatest Name—cd., white/gold/blck, PP 1.50 Greatest Name—illuminated print, PP 5.00 Greenlight Expedition—Beta/VHS, VT 39.95 Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, HC 27.50 Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, SC 13.95 Guebe and the Toy Truck, SC 4.50 Guidelines for Bahá’í Archives, SC 7.50 Guidelines for Parents, SC 2.00

H

Handmaidens of God: Prayers/Women, SC 2.00 He Loved and Served, SC O/P Heart of the Lotus—Beta/VHS, VT 25.00 Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, HC O/S Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, SC 4.95 Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh—delux. ed., HC 13.95 Hidden Words/Bahá’u’lláh—dlx. ed., SC 6.95 Hidden Words—"British" edition, SC 3.50 Hidden Words—Chinese/English, HC 14.95 Hidden Words and Sel. Holy Writings, SC 2.50 Horse of the Moonlight, SC 4.25 Hour of the Dawn: The Life of the Báb, HC 18.75 Hour of the Dawn: The Life of the Báb, SC 8.50 Huqúqu’lláh—compilation, SC 4.95 Huqúqu’lláh—compilation, SC .85

I

I Am a Bahá’í—Sunflower Set 2, SC 5.95 Imperishable Dominion, SC 14.50 Imp. of Deep./Know./Und./Faith, SC 3.00 In the Days of the Guardian, CS 8.00 In Galilee, HC 8.95 In His Presence, CS 8.00 In His Pres: Visits/‘Abdu’l-Bahá, HC 11.95* In Search of Nirvana, SC 8.95 In Search of the Supr.Talisman, SC O/P India Temple—poster, 11"x17", PP 10.00# India Temple—poster, 22" x 28", PP 15.50# Ind. Rgts/Free./W.Order/Bahá’u’lláh, SC 3.00 Individual and Teaching—compilation, SC 1.95 Iranian Refugees in America, SC 1.00 Inspirational Music, CS 8.95 Inspirational Music Book, SC 4.95 Inspiring the Heart, HC 9.50 Inspiring the Heart, SC 4.95 Iran Persecution Background Pkg., WB 4.00# Iran’s Secret Pogrom, SC 3.50

J

Jewel of the Lotus—various artists, CS 8.00 Journal of Bahá’í Studies (cur. iss.), SC 5.00

K

Kitáb-i-Íqán, HC 13.95 Kitáb-i-Íqán, PS 5.50 Kitáb-i-Íqán—"British" edition, HC 13.95 Kitáb-i-Íqán—"British" edition, SC 9.95

L

Leaf of Honey, SC 17.25 Leo Tolstoy and the Bahá’í Faith, HC 11.95 Leo Tolstoy and the Bahá’í Faith, SC 5.95 Let It Be This Generation—var. artists, CS 8.00 Let Thy Breeze Refresh Them, HC 6.50 Letters and Essays: Mírzá Abu’l-Fadl, HC 14.95 Lidia: Daughter/Founder of Esperanto, SC 14.95 Light of Bahá’u’lláh, SC 5.50 Light of Div. Guid. 2/Let. Germ./Austr., HC 21.95 Light Upon Light, CS 9.95 Lights of Guidance: A Bahá’í Ref. File, HC 29.95 Living the Life, SC 3.50 Local Spiritual Assembly, SC .50 Loving Hands, SC 9.95

M

Magnified Be Thy Name, HC 5.50 Major and Minor Plans of God, CS 8.00 Mama Buzurg Is Coming, SC 4.50 March of the Institutions, HC 8.50 Marriage: A Fortress for Well-Being, HC 16.50 Marriage: A Fortress for Well-Being, SC 8.95 Marriage Prayer Scroll, PS 1.50 Martha Root: Lioness at the Thrshld, HC 24.00 Martha Root: Lioness at the Thrshld, SC O/P Master in ‘Akká, HC 18.95 Meditations on the Eve of Nov. 4th, HC 4.50 Meeting the Master—Beta/VHS, VT 19.95 Meeting the Master, Volume 1, CS 8.00 Memorials of the Faithful, HC 12.50 Memorials of the Faithful, SC 13.50 Memories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, SC 7.50 Message of Bahá’u’lláh, PA 3.00* Messages from the UHJ, HC 4.50 Messages from the UHJ, SC 2.00 Microfilm: Am. Bahá’í, Nat’l B.Rev. 75.00# Miracles and Metaphors, SC 11.95 Mona with the Children, CS 8.00 Mona Music Video—Beta/VHS, VT 45.00 Mullá Husayn, SC 3.50 Mullá Husayn: Disciple at Dawn, HC 19.95 My Baby Book, HC 12.50 My Memories of Bahá’u’lláh, SC 5.95 My Name Is Nabil, SC 7.95 My Only Desire, CS 8.00 Mystery of God, HC 19.95

N

Naming of Femi’s Brother, SC 3.75 National Spiritual Assembly, SC O/S New Gospel, HC 11.95 New Gospel, SC 8.95 Nightingale, CS 8.00 Nothing in Common, SC 5.25 Now You Are a Bahá’í, SC 2.25

O

O God, Guide Me, SC 4.95 O God, My God..., HC 4.95 Ocean of My Words, SC 3.50 Once to Every Man and Nation, SC 7.50 One Universal Faith—100/pkg., PA 13.00 Open Door—10/pkg. with envelopes, CD 12.50 Ornament of Hope, CS 9.95

P

Paris Talks, SC 5.95 Pattern of Bahá’í Life, SC 3.50 Peace—compilation, SC 2.95 Peace Bible, HC O/S Peace: More Than an End to War, HC O/P Peace: More Than an End to War, SC 9.95 Peace Note Cards—9/pkg. with eps., CD 2.95 Peace Pamphlets: ass’t.—10/pkg., SC 2.25 Peace Pamphlets: ass’t.—100/pkg., SC 12.95 Peace Pamphlets: Gen’l Intro—50/pkg., PA 7.95 Peace Phmlt: More/End War—50/pkg., PA 7.95 Peace Phmlt: One Rel.—50/pkg., PA 7.95 Peace Phmlt: Race Unity—50/pkg., PA 7.95 Peace Phmlt: World Gov.—50/pkg., PA 7.95 Peace...The Promise, CS 8.00 Peace...The Promise—Beta/VHS, VT 25.00 Peace Quotation Scroll, PS 4.50 Pearls of Wisdom: Deepening Comp., SC 1.95 PER/ARA: Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, HC O/P PER/ENG/ARA: Fire Tab./Holy Mar., HC 19.50 PER: Alváh-i-Vasáyá-yi-Mubárak-yi Hadrat-i-‘Abdu’l-Bahá, SC 2.00# (Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá) PER: ‘Adam-i Mudákhilih dar ‘Umúr-i Síásí, CS 3.00# (Non-Involvement in Politics) [Page 8]

Bahá’í Publishing Trust & Distribution Service Price List — New Prices Effective July 1, 1989

PER: Amr Va Khalq, Volume 1 & 2, HC 23.50 (Revelation & Creation, Volume 1 & 2 — Bahá’í Laws and Principles)

PER: Amr Va Khalq, Volume 3 & 4, HC 29.50 (Revelation & Creation, Volume 3 & 4 — Bahá’í Laws and Principles)

PER: Amriká Sarzamín-i Muhájirín, SC 2.00# (America: A Nation of Immigrants)

PER: Ánchih Kunad’u Kunad, HC 15.50 (He Doeth as He Pleaseth—compilation on Bahá’í Laws & Principles)

PER: Áthár-i Guharbár, HC (Prec. Pearls) 13.95

PER: Badáyí’u’l-Áthár, Volume 1, HC 18.95 (Maḥmúd’s Diary, Volume 1)

PER: Badáyí’u’l-Áthár, Volume 2, HC 19.50 (Maḥmúd’s Diary, Volume 2)

PER: Bahár-Alláh’u’Abhá, CS 4.00# (Children’s Educational Packet)

PER: Bahíyyih Khánum, HC 16.50

PER: Bishárát’u’l-Núr, HC 22.50 (Tablets for the Departed)

PER: Chand Baḥth-i-Amrí, SC 4.00 (Some Bahá’í Discourses)

PER: Daryáy-i-Dánish, HC 8.95 (Collection of Tablets and Prayers)

PER: Diánat-i Bahá’í Yik Niḥdat-i Siásí Níst, SC O/S (Bahá’í Faith Not a Political Movement)

PER: Farámín-i-Tablíghí, SC 2.50 (Tablets of the Divine Plan)

PER: Golzár-i-Ta’állím-i-Bahá’í, HC 9.50 (Garden of Bahá’í Teachings)

PER: Gulshan-i Haqáyiq, HC O/P (Garden of Truth)

PER: Ḥaḍrat-i Nuqṭi-yi ‘Ulá, HC 24.95 (Life of the Báb)

PER: Hál Va Áyandih-yi-Jahán, SC 6.25 (Call to the Nations)

PER: Ḥayát-i Bahá’í, SC (Bahá’í Life) 1.75

PER: Ḥayát-i Ḥaḍrat-i ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, HC 24.95 (Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

PER: (Hidden Words), CS 5.00

PER: Insán dar Á’ín-i Bahá’í, HC 22.50 (Collected Works of Dr. Davudi)

PER: Iran Ayandeh, HC 29.95* (Prospect of Persia)

PER: Kháṭirát-i Nuh Sálih, HC 19.95 (Memoirs of Nine Years in ‘Akká)

PER: Khuláṣih-yi Vá’di-yi Ṣulḥ-i-Jahání, SC 1.00# (Promise of World Peace Summary)

PER: Lawḥ-i Aḥmad, HC (Tab. of Ahmad) 15.50

PER: Lawḥ-i Ibn-i-Dhi’b, HC 20.95 (Epistle to the Son of the Wolf)

PER: Majmú’ih’i az Alváḥ-i Jamál-i Aqdas-i Abhá, HC 26.50 (Tablets/Bahá’u’lláh After Kitáb-i-Aqdas)

PER: Majmú’i-yi Khaṭábát-i Ḥaḍrat-i ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, HC 18.95 (Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

PER: Mufávidát-i ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, HC 9.95* (Some Answered Questions)

PER: Muḥáḍirát (Ishraq-Khavari), HC 32.50 (Dialogs)

PER: Munáját-há-yi Ḥaḍrat-i Bahá’u’lláh, HC (Pray. of Bahá’u’lláh) 10.95

PER: Munáját-há-yi Ḥaḍrat-i Valí-yi-Amrulláh, HC 3.50 (Prayers of Shoghi Effendi)

PER: Muntaḥabátí az Makátíb-i Ḥaḍrat-i ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 8.00 (Selected Letters of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

PER: Muntaḥabátí az Makátíb-i Ḥaḍrat-i ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Jild-i-Duvvum, HC 6.50 (Selected Letters of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Vol. 2)

PER: Muntaḥabát-i Áyát az Áthár-i Ḥaḍrat-i Nuqṭih-yi ‘Ulá, HC O/P (Selected Writings of the Báb)

PER: Muntaḥabátí az Áthár-i Ḥaḍrat-i Bahá’u’lláh, HC 19.50 (Gleanings/Writings of Bahá’u’lláh)

PER: Muntaḥabátí az Payám-há-yi ‘Umúmí-yi Bayt’ul ‘Adl-i-A’zam-i-Iláhí Khaṭáb bi Yárán-i Irání, SC 6.95 (U.H.J. Messages to Iran)

PER: Muvaffaqiyyat dar Tablígh, SC 1.25 (Success in Teaching)

PER: Nár va Núr, HC (Fire and Light) 14.95

PER: Nawnihálán-i-Má, SC 3.50 (Our Children in the Cradle of the Faith)

PER: Nazm-i Idárí, SC 1.00# (Introduction to Bahá’í Administration)

PER: Ráhnimá-yi Abiyábí Irání, SC 2.00# dar Ayálát-i Muttahidih (Handbook for Newly-arrived Bahá’ís)

PER: Risáli-yi Madaníyyih, SC 6.50 (Secret of Divine Civilization)

PER: Tadrís-i ‘Arabí, CS 30.00# (Learning Arabic)

PER: Talkhíṣ va Tadvín-i Aḥkám-i Kitáb-i-Mustaṭáb-i Aqdas, SC 2.75 (Synopsis/Codification of Kitáb-i-Aqdas)

PER: Tasbíḥ-u-Tahlíl, HC 9.95 (Prayers and Meditations)

PER: (Trustworthiness), SC 2.50

PER: Tushbíḥ-Yi-Raḥmání, SC 7.00# (Sel. Writings—with English translation)

PER: Uṣúl-i-I’tiqádát-i Bahá’í’án, SC 2.50 (Principles of the Bahá’í Faith)

PER: Va’dí-yi Ṣulḥ-i-Jahání, SC .75 (Promise of World Peace)

PER: Va’dí-yi Ṣulḥ-i Jahání— Khushnivísí shudih, SC 3.00# (Promise of World Peace—presentation ed.)

PER: Zuḥúr-i ‘Adl-i Iláhí, CS 3.00# (The Advent of Divine Justice)

PER: Zuḥúr-i ‘Adl-i Iláhí, SC 4.25 (The Advent of Divine Justice)

Personal Computers and the Bahá’í Community, SC 22.50

Perspective Series: Intro/Bahá’í Faith—10/pkg., SC 9.95

Pers. Ser.: Social/Ec. Dev.—10/pkg., SC 9.95

Phoenix and the Ashes, SC 8.25

Pilgrimage—Beta/VHS, VT 39.95

Political Non-involvement, SC 2.65

Portals to Freedom, SC 8.95

Power of Divine Assistance—"Br. ed.", SC O/S

Power of Divine Assist.—"Can." ed., SC 2.75

Power of the Covenant—1-3 Set, SC 6.95

Power of Unity: Beyond Prej./Racism, SC 8.95

Prayer: A Bahá’í Approach, HC 9.50

Prayer: A Bahá’í Approach, SC 7.50

Prayers for Children, SC 2.50

Prayers and Meditations, HC 17.95

Prayers and Meditations, PS 4.95

Prayers and Meditations—"Br. ed.", HC 13.95

Prayers and Thoughts for Peace, SC 3.95

Presentation Packet—press kit, PR 8.00#

Priceless Pearl, SC 9.50

Prince of Peace, SC 9.95

Principles of Bahá’í Administration, HC 9.50

Principles of Bahá’í Administration, SC O/P

Principles of World Unity—card game, GM 5.50

Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh, HC 7.50

Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh, SC 3.75

Promise, No. 1, SC 10.50

Promise, No. 2, SC 10.50

Promise, No. 3, SC 10.50

Promise of All Ages, HC 12.50

Promise of All Ages, SC 4.50

Promise of Disarm.—Peace/50/pkg., PA 10.00

Promise of World Peace—dlx. edition, HC 10.00

Promise of World Peace—illus. sum., SC 1.75

Promise of World Peace—lg. format, SC 10.95

Promise of World Peace—PS, 10/pkg., SC 2.95

Promise of World Peace—pres. ed., SC 3.00

Promise of World Peace—study ed., SC O/P

Promised Day Is Come, HC 9.50

Promulgation of Universal Peace, HC 17.95

Purify My Heart—Chinese/English, SC 3.00

Purpose of Physical Reality, SC 10.50

Q

Quddús, SC 3.75

R

Race Unity—20/pkg.: 10 ea. of America’s Challenge & Interracial Marriage, PA 2.50#

Race Unity: Bahá’í Perspective, VT 20.00#

Radio Bahá’í Ecuador, SC 17.75

Reader’s Guide to Bahá’í Literature, HC 17.95

Reader’s Guide to Bahá’í Literature, SC 9.50

Rebirth: Mem. R. Szanto-Felberman, SC 8.50

Refuge and the Cave, SC 7.50

Reginald Turvey: Life and Art, SC 11.95

Religion for Mankind, SC 7.50

Remember My Days, SC 4.50

Renewal of Civilization, SC 3.75

Resurrection and Renewal, HC 29.95

Rev. of Bahá’u’lláh—4 vol. set/Guide, SC 75.00

Rev. of Bahá’u’lláh Study Gde, SC 3.50

Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Volume 1, SC 17.95

Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Volume 1, HC 29.95

Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Volume 2, SC 19.50

Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Volume 3, HC 25.00

Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Volume 3, SC 19.50

Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Volume 4, HC 29.50

Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Volume 4, SC 19.50

S

Samoa: The Dawning Place, VT 25.00

Science and Religion, SC 7.50

Scroll Cal., 1989-90, 146 BE—silk, CA O/S

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Seat of God’s Throne—Beta/VHS, VT 25.00

Second Birth, HC O/P

Second Birth, SC 5.95

Secret of Divine Civilization, HC O/P

Secret of Divine Civilization, PS TBA*

Secret in the Garden, HC 6.50

Secret of the Stolen Mandolin, SC 3.75

Selected Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, HC 13.50

Selected Writings of Shoghi Effendi, SC 1.00

Sel. from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, HC 12.50

Sel. from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, LT 6.95

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Sel. from the Writings of the Báb, HC 11.95

Sel. from the Writings of the Báb, LT 6.95

Sel. from the Writings of E. G. Browne, HC 36.50

Sel. from the Writings of E. G. Browne, SC 19.95

Seven Martyrs of Hurmuzak, HC 11.50

Seven Valleys and Four Valleys, HC 6.95

Seven Valleys and Four Valleys, SC 4.50

Shi’ih Islám: An Introduction, HC 33.00

Shi’ih Islám: An Introduction, SC 21.50

Shoghi Effendi: Recollections, HC 19.95

Significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Rev., SC 2.50

Six Year Plan, SC .75#

Some Answered Questions, HC 17.95

Some Answered Questions, PS 4.95

Some Spiritual Verities: Study Guide to the 4 Vol. of the Rev. of Bahá’u’lláh, SC 3.50

Song Celestial, HC 8.00

Song in the Ground, SC 4.00

Special Measure of Love, SC 1.60

Special Strengths, SC 4.50

Spiritual Assembly Growing Pains, SC 2.25

Spiritual Foundations, SC 1.60

SPN: Ad Slicks—various subjects, PR .50#

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SPN: Bahá’u’lláh y la Nueva Era, SC 4.95 (Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era)

SPN: Cristo y Bahá’u’lláh, SC 2.95 (Christ and Bahá’u’lláh)

SPN: Const: Casa Univer. de Justicia, SC 1.00 (Constitution: Universal House of Justice)

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SPN: Dios Pasa (God Passes By), SC 6.50

SPN: La Dispensación de Bahá’u’lláh, SC 2.95 (The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh)

SPN: El Día Prometido Ha Llegado, SC 5.25 (The Promised Day Is Come)

SPN: El Rosedal (Rose Garden), SC 1.00

SPN: Epístola al Hijo del Lobo, SC 4.95 (‎Espistle Epistle‎ to the Son of the Wolf)

SPN: El Estudio de los Escritos Bahá’ís, (Imp. of Deepening/Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith), SC 1.95

SPN: La Fe Bahá’í Teaching Booklet, SC O/P (Bahá’í Teaching Booklet)

SPN: Las Flores de los Altares, SC 5.00 (Flowers of the Altar)

SPN: Fortaleza para el Bienestar, SC 3.50 (Fortress for Well-Being)

SPN: La Hoja Más Sagrada, SC 6.50 (The Most Holy Leaf)

SPN: Kitáb-i-Íqán, SC 3.95

SPN: Oraciones Bahá’ís, (Bahá’í Pray), SC 1.95

SPN: Oraciones y Meditaciones, SC 4.50 (Prayers and Meditations)

SPN: Palabras de Dios, (Words of God), SC .75

SPN: Palabras Ocultas (Hid. Words), SC 1.50

SPN: Pasajes de los Escritos de Bahá’u’lláh, (Glean./Writings of Bahá’u’lláh), SC 8.50

SPN: El Poder de la Asistencia Divina, SC 1.00 (Power of Divine Assistance)

SPN: Prescripción para Vivir, SC O/S (Prescription for Living)

SPN: Promesa de la Paz Mundial, SC .75 (The Promise of World Peace)

SPN: Recopilación de Escritos, SC 3.50 (Selections from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, The Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

SPN: Renovación de la Civilización, SC 3.25 (Renewal of Civilization)

SPN: Respuestas a Algunas Preguntas, SC (Some Ans. Ques.) 12.75

SPN: Respuestas Bahá’ís (Bahá’í Answers), PA .25

SPN: La Sabiduría de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, SC (Paris Talks) 4.75

SPN: Selecciones de los Escritos de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, SC 10.95 (Sel. from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

SPN: Sinopsis y Codificación Kitáb-i-Aqdas, SC 1.75 (Synopsis & Codification/Kitáb-i-Aqdas)

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[Page 9]

Huqúqu’lláh

...elation and the establishment of a new Order and a new world civilization cannot be achieved without material means.

The embryo of this sacred law was established by the beloved Báb in the Bayán where, for the first time, the word Huqúqu’lláh was mentioned by Him. Bahá’u’lláh brought some modifications in its contents and accepted it as one of the executive ordinances of His Revelation.

Although Huqúqu’lláh is one of the most significant laws of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, we should not take the word "law" in its rigid and literal meaning, defined in the encyclopedia as "the obligatory rule promoted by a sovereign authority."

It is not a law that is enforced with pressure, but rather a spiritual obligation based on the love of the believer who is eager to obey the will of his Beloved. In this ordinance there is no room for pressure or intimidation. Obedience is a reflection of the highest degree of love and ardent desire.

Huqúqu’lláh, by its special and unique nature, combines might and humility, power and humbleness. It is one of the fundamental ordinances of the Faith, like prayer and fasting. Its importance has been manifested by these words of Bahá’u’lláh:

"Say: O people, the first duty is to recognize the one true God—magnified be His glory—the second is to show forth constancy in His Cause and, after these, one's duty is to purify one's riches and earthly possessions according to that which is prescribed by God...." (31)

(The numbers given after quotations refer to the number of the excerpt in the compilation on Huqúqu’lláh compiled in June 1985 by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice.)

By studying the writings revealed by Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá regarding Huqúqu’lláh, four essential points emerge.

First, in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Bahá’u’lláh states:

"Should a person acquire one hundred mithqáls of gold, nineteen mithqáls thereof belong unto God, the Creator of earth and heaven. Take heed, O people, lest ye deprive yourselves of this great bounty...." (10)

‘Abdu’l-Bahá emphasizes that Huqúqu’lláh is payable on whatever is left over after deducting one's yearly expenses.

The payment of Huqúqu’lláh is based on the calculation of the value of one's income in respect to the gold unit.

Whenever an individual's annual income, after deducting his complete year's expenses, reaches 19 mithqáls of gold in value (equivalent to 2.22456 ounces or 69.19112 grams), 19 percent of this amount is the Right of God and should be submitted to the Focal Point of the Faith.

The calculation of sustaining means of livelihood, which are exempted from Huqúqu’lláh, depends on the spiritual maturity of every believer and his innermost conscience.

No criterion can be established for this purpose, for it varies according to the living conditions and social status of each believer, and the degree of his spiritual attachment and material detachment.

The second point is that the payment of the Right of God is like a magnet which attracts divine blessings and confirmation. It is the mainspring of God's mercy and compassion. Bahá’u’lláh, in His writings, showers His limitless benedictions upon those who observe this law.

Again, in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Pen of Glory decrees:

"... and whoso fulfilleth the things he hath been commanded, divine blessings will descend upon him from the heaven of the bounty of his Lord, the Bestower, the Bountiful, the Most Generous, the Ancient of Days...." (10)

In another Tablet we read:

"They that have kept their promises, fulfilled their obligations, redeemed their pledges and vows, rendered the Trust of God and His Right upon Him—these are numbered among the inmates of the all-highest paradise...." (26)

In a Tablet revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, we find:

"Those who have observed this weighty ordinance have received heavenly blessings and in both worlds their faces have shone radiantly and their nostrils perfumed by the sweet savors of God's tender mercy...." (62)

The third factor is that as the payment of Huqúqu’lláh would attract divine bounty and blessings, its negligence or failure causes deprivation and is interpreted as tantamount to treachery to a Fund rightfully belonging to God.

This Fund is to be spent on whatever is of benefit for the promulgation of the Faith under the complete and absolute decision of the authority "to which all must turn." (96) Only this authority and none other, not even the donor, has the right to interfere in its management.

In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Pen of Glory warns those who neglect the payment of Huququ’lláh:

"O people! Act not treacherously in the matter of Huqúqu’lláh and dispose not of it, except by His leave...." (10)

Therefore, withholding the payment of Huqúqu’lláh or spending it on other concerns, no matter how charitable their nature, would be interpreted as misappropriation of the funds belonging to God, and an act of dishonesty.

Any donation for charity and beneficent purposes such as contributions to the various funds should be made after the contributor is free of his debt to God.

And finally, God Almighty has decreed that the payment of the Right of God is conducive to prosperity, and assists the progress of the human soul in the spiritual realms of the everlasting world.

Bahá’u’lláh says:

"... the treasures laid up by kings and queens are not worthy of mention, nor will they be acceptable in the presence of God. However, a grain of mustard offered by His loved ones will be extolled in the exalted court of His holiness and invested with the ornament of His acceptance.... (39)"

The high station of Huqúqu’lláh and its exceptional rank among the commandments of Bahá’u’lláh is endowed with a great veneration and respect. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, referring to the words of Bahá’u’lláh, says:

But, in fact, the purpose and aim of Huqúqu’lláh is far beyond that, and much greater and more spiritual than we can imagine.

In 1978/79, following the Iranian upheaval, when the most important source of revenue of the Faith stopped flowing, I asked the Universal House of Justice if it was time for the implementation of Huqúqu’lláh in some of the Western countries.

The House of Justice replied that Huqúqu’lláh is an important law, and that its implementation needed time and consultation in the future.

At the time, I could not comprehend the wisdom of what had been said. It was only after studying the Holy Writings in more depth that I have realized that Huqúqu’lláh, which could be interpreted as the material aspect of the Covenant of God, in reality is a spiritual and learning process, a way of strengthening the link of love and dedication between man and God, and its implementation needs studying and deepening.

Bahá’u’lláh, in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, says:

"Indeed there lie concealed in this command mysteries and benefits which are beyond the comprehension of anyone save God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed...." (10)

Therefore, we cannot expect to comprehend the essence and the wisdom hidden in this sacred law. They are kept in the treasury of God's knowledge and are related to the evolution and progress of the human soul in the world of God.

What we can conceive by our human understanding is that the payment of Huqúqu’lláh is the sign of our love and obedience, a proof of our firmness and steadfastness, and a symbol of our trustworthiness in the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh.

It creates and develops our spiritual quality which leads us toward perfection; it harmonizes and balances our material endeavors, protects us from excessive desire which is born in our human nature, and when unleashed turns into a preventive element for our spiritual growth.

When man realizes that a part of his income will be honored by the acceptance of the Lord, the presence of God is felt in all his endeavors, and undoubtedly he will strive to live his life in a just and legitimate manner in order that his offering may deserve to be spent in the path of God.

"... the utmost honesty hath to be observed in matters related to the Huquq. The Institution of Huquq is sacred." (72)

To respect its sanctity, Bahá’u’lláh strongly forbids soliciting Huqúqu’lláh. No individual or institution is authorized to demand it.

Whenever it is necessary to bring the importance of this obligation to the attention of the believers, it should be mentioned as a general reminder. Spiritual maturity, and nothing else, must stir the conscience of the believers.

In a Tablet addressed to Hájí Amín, the second Trustee of Huqúqu’lláh, Bahá’u’lláh says:

"No one should demand the Huququ’lláh. Its payment should depend on the volition of the individuals themselves. (51)

And again:

"... Ye may relinquish the whole world but must not allow the detraction of even one jot or tittle from the dignity of the Cause of God. Jináb-i-Amín—upon him be My glory—must also refrain from mentioning this matter, for it is entirely dependent upon the willingness of the individuals themselves. They are well acquainted with the commandment of God and are familiar with that which was revealed in the Book. Let him who wisheth observe it, and let him who wisheth ignore it...." (8)

The concept of Huqúqu’lláh is an evolutionary process subject to great changes, dependent on our spiritual growth and our deepening in the Holy writings.

Most of the friends believe that Huqúqu’lláh is a way for fund-raising, and its aim is to strengthen the material potential of the Faith.

Indeed the payment of Huququ’lláh contributes to a large extent to the needs of the Cause. It is an important instrument for building and strengthening the structure of the edifice of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, and when it is fully established there will be an ever-flowing source of revenue at the disposal of the Focal Point of the Cause of God to promote the Faith and to meet the growing needs of establishing a new World Order.

It is important to note that although there is some similarity between Huqúqu’lláh and the other donations, and that all are the marvelous fruits of love, enthusiasm and devotion of the believers, there are four major differences between them:

1. The payment of Huqúqu’lláh has priority over all other contributions because it belongs to God. The contribution of the believers to the funds should be made from their possessions and not from what belongs to the Lord.

2. The payment of Huqúqu’lláh, according to the explicit text of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, is an obligation subject to specific laws and ordinances, whereas other donations are not considered as a law. They are rather an indication of the sacrifice, generosity, detachment and magnanimity of the contributor to meet the needs of the administration of the Cause.

3. Huqúqu’lláh is determined precisely on accurate calculation, whereas there are no rules related to the frequency or amount of one's contributions to the funds.

4. The disposal of Huqúqu’lláh is left solely to the discretion of the Focal Point of the Faith, and none other, whereas the disposal of the other contributions can depend on the purpose for which the contribution has been earmarked.

Undoubtedly, the awareness of the friends about Huqúqu’lláh will raise many questions including those related to its calculation and the appraisal of that part of one's belongings which is subject to exemption.

One should consider that what is revealed in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas about Huqúqu’lláh is only the fundamental basis of this injunction, and the approach of the Blessed Beauty is confined to these guidelines and general principles. He has not set any specific rules or legislation.

According to a letter written in 1878 by His secretary to an early believer, for the first time the acceptance of Huqúqu’lláh was granted to those Persian friends who had the desire to contribute; therefore, during five years after the revelation of the law, Bahá’u’lláh did not accept Huqúqu’lláh, and on many occasions the offering of the friends was returned to them.

It could be assumed that since He, as the Central Figure of His Revelation, is the only recipient of Huqúqu’lláh, He did not want to go into details, but left them, in conformity to the Will of God, to the Universal House of Justice, the body which has the power to enact laws that are not precisely given in the Book.

When the Kitáb-i-Aqdas reached Iran, and as the friends became aware of its contents, a consultative body, which could be the nucleus of our local Spiritual Assemblies, was formed in Tehran. In their minutes we notice that the dissemination of the knowledge of Huqúqu’lláh was one of the goals set by that body 101 years ago.

The growing eagerness of the believers for the execution of God's injunction led them to ask Bahá’u’lláh for elucidation regarding Huqúqu’lláh, and this was given to them in various Tablets.

The most important guidance was revealed—in response to Jináb-i-Zayn's request—as an annex to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.

News Snippet

On May 13, a dinner and auction in Bellevue, Washington, raised $62,992.15 in cash and pledges for construction of the Arc on Mount Carmel. The guest speakers were Husayn Amanat (left), the architect of the Arc, and Inayatu'llah Rawhani of Vancouver, British Columbia, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada. Mr. Amanat presented a slide program on the buildings of the Arc, while Mr. Rawhani gave an inspiring talk on its significance. About 400 Bahá’ís attended the event. [Page 10]

شرایط مراجعه به منازل برای تبلیغ

CONDITIONS FOR “DOOR-TO-DOOR” TEACHING

اخیراً تعدادی از جوامع محلی از دفتر لجنه ملی نشر نفحات استفسار نموده‌اند که آیا رفتن به در خانه افراد غیربهائی به منظور تبلیغ امرالله مجاز است یا نه. لذا مطالب زیر جهت اطلاع یاران درج می‌گردد.

به طور کلی رفتن به در خانه مردم جهت ابلاغ پیام حضرت بهاءالله جائز است. بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی جزئیات مربوط به اینگونه خدمات تبلیغی را موکول به رأی محفل روحانی ملی فرموده و محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده نیز تصمیم درباره آن را به محافل روحانی محلی تفویض نموده است. در نقاطی که محفل روحانی محلی وجود نداشته باشد، باید با لجنات ناحیه‌ای نشر نفحات تماس حاصل شود.

اما مراعات سه اصل در رابطه با خدمات تبلیغی از این قبیل لازم به نظر می‌رسد: اول آنکه یاران عزیز باید همواره حفظ حیثیت امر مبارک را در مد نظر داشته باشند. مثلاً در یکی از مکاتیبی که از جانب حضرت ولی امرالله نگاشته شده، به وضوح ذکر گردیده که رفتن به در خانه افراد جهت توزیع جزوات امری سزاوار شأن امر مبارک نیست و ممکن است اثر سوئی در ذهن مردم بگذارد.

ثانیاً بیان مبارک حضرت بهاءالله در کلمات مکنونه فارسی باید مورد نظر احباء باشد که فرمودند: «حکمای عباد آنانند که تا سمع نیابند لب نگشایند.» فعالیت‌های تبلیغی یاران نباید با تجاوز به حریم خلوت افراد باعث مزاحمت آنان شود و یا با اصرار همراه گردد.

ثالثاً دوستانی که به تبلیغ امر مبارک قیام می‌فرمایند باید در نهایت خلوص و متانت به چنین وظیفه مقدسی مبادرت جویند مبادا که از گفتار و کردارشان راحه کریهه اختلا و ریا و فرصت جوئی استشمام شود. تبلیغ امر حضرت بهاءالله وظیفه مقدسی است. در راه ایفای این وظیفه نباید از هیچ وسیله‌ای که در خور آن نباشد، استفاده شود. فی‌المثل استفاده از پرسشنامه و بررسی‌های اجتماعی فقط در صورتی که حقیقتاً جمع آوری اطلاعات، مورد نظر و لزوم باشد، مجاز است نه آنکه وسیله‌ای برای فتح باب و شروع مذاکرات تبلیغی باشد.

کسانی که مایل به کسب اطلاعات بیشتر راجع به موارد فوق باشند می‌توانند با دفتر لجنه ملی نشر نفحات تماس حاصل نمایند. تلفن: (۲۱۲) ۸۶۹-۹۰۲۹

جامعه جهانی بهائی و موقعیت نسوان

BIC AND THE STATUS OF WOMEN

مسأله مقام و موقعیت زنان در جهان امروز چنان اهمیتی یافته که جامعه جهانی بهائی نماینده‌ای را منحصراً مسؤول امور زنان کرده است.

جامعه جهانی بهائی از سال ۱۹۴۷ تا ۱۹۸۹ شصت بیانیه در خصوص مسائل مربوط به نسوان خطاب به مؤسسات مختلف سازمان ملل متحد صادر کرده است. خانم مری ساویکی پاور Mary Sawicki Power که نماینده جامعه جهانی بهائی در مورد مسائل زنان است، در دوازده ماه گذشته در کنفرانس‌های مختلفی که در مورد بهبود شرایط زندگی زنان و خانواده‌های آنان انعقاد یافته، شرکت کرده است.

در حال حاضر جامعه جهانی بهائی مسؤول انعقاد کنفرانسی با عنوان «هواداران تأمین تغذیه در آفریقا: تقلیل بار زنان» است. هواداران شامل مؤسسات غیردولتی، دفاتر سازمان ملل متحد و سازمان‌های چند دولتی هستند که می‌کوشند که آگاهی مردمان را نسبت به اهمیت سهم زنان آفریقا در تولید مواد غذائی و اداره نظام تغذیه در آن قاره افزایش دهند.

بنیاد بین‌المللی کتب مقدسه

INTERNATIONAL SACRED LITERATURE TRUST

امر بهائی یکی از ۸ دیانت جهانی است که در بنیاد بین‌المللی کتب مقدسه شرکت دارد.

ایجاد این بنیاد در ۲۲ ماه می امسال در دفتر سازمان ملل متحد توسط شاهزاده فیلیپ همسر ملکه انگلستان اعلام گردید و تأسیس آن با پیشنهاد ایشان بعنوان رئیس «صندوق جهانی طبیعت» صورت گرفت.

شاهزاده فیلیپ در ضمن سخنان خود اظهار داشت که بنیاد کتب مقدسه سهم مؤثری در گسترش مشاورات بین ادیان و ایجاد تفاهم بیشتر در بین پیروان آنها خواهد داشت.

این بنیاد برای نخستین بار علماء و نویسندگان ادیان جهانی را جهت انتشار ترجمه انگلیسی دقیقی از کتب اصلی ادیان مذکور تحت اشراف مؤسسه مطبوعاتی واحدی گرد خواهد آورد. ادیان مشتمله عبارتند از امر بهائی، دیانت یهود، مسیحیت، اسلام، بودائی، هندو، سیکی و تائوئی.

اهداء بورس تحصیلی

SCHOLARSHIP FOR A HMONG WOMAN

احبای پورتلند در ایالت اورگان، ضمن برگزاری مراسم عید نوروز امسال، یک بورس تحصیلی به مبلغ ۱۰۰۰ دلار به یک خانم جوان همونگ (از قبائل کوه نشین لائوس) اهداء کردند.

بورس مذکور حاصل همدمی محفل روحانی محلی و مدرسه بهائی منطقه پورتلند است که تحت نظر لجنه بهائیان همونگ پورتلند جمع آوری گردیده است.

در مراسم اهدای این بورس تحصیلی برنامه اسلایدی از دریافت کننده و خانواده او به نمایش گذارده شد. همچنین به دو تن دیگر از متقاضیان اوراق قدردانی اهداء گردید.

اهداء این جوائز روابط میان محفل روحانی پورتلند و «بنیاد سن کو شا» Sen Ko Cha را که بنیاد فرهنگی جامعه همونگ است، استحکام بیشتری بخشیده و راه فعالیت‌های نزدیک بین جامعه بهائی و جامعه همونگ را هموارتر ساخته است.

دانشگاه نور در بولیوی

NUR UNIVERSITY IN BOLIVIA

عده معدودی از بهائیان مقیم در کشور بولیوی در ماه می سال ۱۹۸۲ به منظور اجرای برنامه‌های توسعه اجتماعی و اقتصادی به تشکیل دانشگاهی به نام «نور» مبادرت نمودند. دانشگاه مذکور در سال ۱۹۸۴ با صدور حکم ریاست جمهور جواز و کلیه حقوق و امتیازات يك دانشگاه ملی را دریافت داشت.

دانشگاه نور با مساعدت بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی و هیئت مشاورین قاره‌ای مراحل اولیه خود را پیموده و توانسته است که به صورت يك مؤسسه معتبر تحصیلات عالی در شهر سانتا کروز در آید. اساس این دانشگاه همانا بر فعلیت بخشیدن به استعدادهای نفوس انسانی و کوشش در جهت پیشرفت جامعه بشری برقرار شده است.

رشته‌هائی که فعلاً در این مؤسسه جهت اعضاء دانشنامه تدریس می‌شوند عبارتند از: مدیریت، اقتصاد کشاورزی، علوم ارتباطات و کامپیوتر. همچنین این دانشگاه قادر به اعطای درجه فوق لیسانس در رشته مدیریت بازرگانی است.

تاکنون در مورد معرفی دیانت بهائی به ۸۰۰ دانشجو و ۶۵ نفر معلم و استاد این دانشگاه رعایت احتیاط شده است. با توسعه این دانشگاه نیاز به ازدیاد محتوای امری برنامه‌ها و به کار بستن اصول بهائی در تمام سطوح فعالیت‌های آن محسوس است. بدین جهت احتیاج به استادان بهائی که بتوانند در رشته‌های مختلف به زبان اسپانیولی تدریس نمایند، و همچنین به مدیران و دانشجویان بهائی افزایش می‌یابد و بنابراین از اینگونه افراد درخواست می‌شود که برای خدمت در این مؤسسه تقاضای کار نمایند. علاقه‌مندان می‌توانند از طریق دفتر مهاجرت خارجه با دانشگاه نور تماس حاصل نمایند. تلفن: (۸۱۹) ۸۶۹-۹۰۲۹

غرفه بهائی در مراسم سال نوی ویتنامیان

BAHÁ’Í BOOTH IN VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

احبای سن حوزه در آخر ماه ژانویه امسال به داشتن غرفه‌ای در محل برگزاری عید سال نوی ویتنامیان توفیق یافتند. علت اصلی این موفقیت اهداء جایزه حقوق بشر بود که از جانب یاران به آقای لی ون کانو، رئیس جامعه ویتنامیان تقدیم گردیده بود.

اختصاص این غرفه به اهل بهاء باعث شد که چند تن از بهائیان ویتنامی که تا آن زمان از حضورتان در ایالات متحده اطلاعی در دست نبود، شناسائی شوند. همچنین بسیاری طرح دوستی‌های جدیدی را ریختند.

یکی از احبای کوستا ریکا تمام دو روزی را که مراسم ادامه داشت، با رویان‌های رنگی به درست کردن گل مشغول بود و آنها را به بازدیدکنندگان اهداء می‌نمود. بر روی این گل‌های رویانی نوشته شده بود «امر بهائی» و همچنین شماره تلفنی برای کسب اطلاعات راجع به امر مبارک مرقوم گردیده بود.

کارنامه سالانه دفتر امور پناهندگان

ANNUAL REPORT OF U.S. BAHÁ’Í REFUGEE OFFICE

هدف

تسهیل اسکان پناهندگان بهائی — که اکثراً ایرانی و هند‌و‌چینی هستند — در ایالات متحده امریکا شامل آلاسکا و هاوائی.

موقعیت کنونی

دفتر امور پناهندگان برنامه‌ها و مسؤولیت‌های خود را گسترش داده تا خدماتش علاوه بر پناهندگان ایرانی شامل پناهندگان هندوچینی نیز باشد. این دفتر با سازمان‌های کمک به پناهندگان و همچنین با وزارت امور خارجه و اداره مهاجرت ایالات متحده همکاری دارد. همچنین این دفتر با لجنه ملی امور احبای ایرانی/آمریکائی همکاری نزديك داشته است.

فعالیت‌ها

• همکاری نزديك با مؤسسات دولتی و غیردولتی طبق قوانین مملکتی و دستورالعمل‌های صادر از معهد اعلی.
• همکاری با محافل روحانی ملی پاکستان و ترکیه و تایلند و فیلیپین و نمایندگان آنها.
• اسکان ۱۲ بهائی از قبائل همونگ، كمك به اسکان ۱۲۵ بهائی ایرانی، اسکان ۲۰۸ بهائی خبر از کامبوج.
• تهیه اوراق عضویت به زبان خبر جهت تسهیل امور مربوط به انتقال بهائیان خبر.
• ادامه آگاه ساختن بهائیان آمریکا در مورد اسکان پناهندگان از طریق درج مطالبی در نشریه «امریکن بهائی».
• اداره برنامه‌ای در يك کنفرانس تبلیغی در ایالت ایلینوی راجع به دشواری‌های فرهنگی و سختی‌هایی که پناهندگان با آن مواجه می‌شوند.
• تهیه ترجمه فارسی مطالبی درباره امور مهاجرتی و قانونی جهت توزیع در مناطقی که تعداد بهائیان ایرانی در آن زیاد است.
• كمك به جامعه جهانی بهائی جهت یافتن ٤ بهائی ایرانی برای اداء شهادت در برابر کمیسیون سازمان ملل متحد درباره حقوق بشر.
• ارائه برنامه‌ای راجع به فرهنگ خاور میانه در کنفرانس «يك نوع و چندین فرهنگ» در فرزنو Fresno در ایالت کالیفرنیا.
• شرکت در کنفرانس آسیا و جزائر پاسیفیک که در سنگاپور منعقد گردید و اجرای برنامه‌ای درباره پناهندگان هندوچینی.
• ارسال نوارهای کاست به زبان خبر درباره اصول و مبانی امر بهائی و ضیافت نوزده روزه به مناطقی که عده بهائیان خبر آن زیاد است.
• تجدید چاپ جزوه «پناهندگان ایرانی در آمریکا» جهت استفاده بهائیان و غیربهائیان.
• چاپ ٤ هزار پوستر از منظره مشرق‌الاذکار هندوستان که عایدات آن صرف پناهندگان بهائی خواهد شد.
• ایجاد روابط حسنه با سازمان‌های دولتی و غیردولتی که منجر به پذیرش چند پناهنده ایرانی گردید که قبلاً با تقاضای پناهندگی آنان موافقت نشده بود.

نماینده دفتر امور پناهندگان بعنوان نایب رئیس کمیته استشاری امور مهاجران و پناهندگان در شهر شیکاگو بوده و در چندین سازمان ایالتی و ملی امور میندگی عضویت دارد.

کنفرانس‌های «از رؤیا تا پیروزی»

“VISION TO VICTORY” CONFERENCES

محفل روحانی ملی محل انعقاد ۵ کنفرانس از سلسله کنفرانس‌های «از رؤیا تا پیروزی» را که در سال جاری منعقد خواهد شد، تعیین نموده است.

شهرهایی که میزبان این کنفرانس‌ها خواهند بود عبارتند از: بیرمنگام Birmingham در ایالت آلاباما Alabama، فینکس Phoenix در ایالت آریزونا Arizona، دنور Denver در ایالت کلورادو Colorado، مینیاپولیس Minneapolis در ایالت مینه‌سوتا Minnesota و پورتلند Portland در ایالت اورگان Oregon.

محفل روحانی ملی امیدوار است بتواند کنفرانس ششمی نیز در سال جاری منعقد نماید. محل این کنفرانس بعداً اعلان خواهد شد.

حقوق‌الله

HUQUQU’LLAH

از دوستان عزیز مستدعی است که تقدیمی‌های حقوق‌الله را در وجه Bahá’í Huququ’lláh Trust به نشانی یکی از امنای حقوق‌الله ارسال فرمایند.

Dr. Amin Banani	Dr. Daryush Haghighi
Santa Monica, CA. 90402	Rocky River, OH. 44116
Dr. Elsie Austin
P.O. Box 927
Silver Spring, MD. 20910

تقویم فعالیت‌های امری در تابستان و پائیز امسال

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

یاران عزیز می‌توانند صورتی از فعالیت‌ها و برنامه‌ها و کنفرانس‌هائی را که در آینده نزدیک به وقوع خواهند پیوست، در صفحات انگلیسی ملاحظه نمایند. [Page 11]

Guía para enseñar la Fe a los amigos de China

ESPAÑOL

Pautas para instituciones bahá’ís sobre la enseñanza e ingreso de ciudadanos de la República de la China que residen en ultramar.

La Casa Universal de Justicia siente que en este momento la enseñanza de la Fe en la República Popular de China (RPC) debe llevarse a cabo con disimulo y con sabiduría, pero extensivamente, y solamente a nivel individual.

Fuera de la China, se alienta a los bahá’ís a que fomenten amistades con oficiales de Embajadas Chinas o Legaciones cuando se presenten las oportunidades, para familiarizar a estos individuos con los principios básicos de la Fe y nuestra adhesión al principio de la lealtad hacia el gobierno.

Esto debe llevarse a cabo discretamente para que no parezca que se están singularizando para adoctrinamiento o conversión. Si se les pregunta directamente sobre el estado de la Fe en China continental, los amigos pueden responder que no hay comunidades ni instituciones establecidas allí, aunque sin duda hay individuos bahá’ís en varias localidades.

También pueden decir que hay organizaciones bahá’ís en Hong Kong, Macau y Taiwan.

Los bahá’ís sin duda encontrarán muchas ocasiones para conocer a visitantes de la República Popular de China y definitivamente deben presentarles la Fe y sus enseñanzas mientras se presentan las oportunidades.

Sin embargo, debe ejercerse cuidado y sabiduría para evitar cualquier cosa que haga que los visitantes chinos se sientan incómodos.

La asistencia a funciones bahá’ís debe dejarse a su discreción, y el hecho de que hay ciudadanos de la República Popular de China que están involucrados en o participando en actividades bahá’ís no debe hacerse público, aun entre los bahá’ís.

Enseñanza

Los ciudadanos de la República Popular de China pueden aceptarse como creyentes sin hacer una declaración escrita de fe o ser registrados oficialmente.

Ingreso

Debe hacérseles claro que no hay administración bahá’í en la China y por lo tanto en este momento las leyes bahá’ís de estado personal no están en vigor, ni se les requiere que se den de baja de otras asociaciones.

Sin embargo, deben esforzarse por aprender sobre las leyes y los principios bahá’ís y deben, como asunto de consciencia, esforzarse por practicarlos los mejor que puedan.

Los creyentes bahá’ís quienes son ciudadanos de la República Popular de China sólo deben ser presentados unos a otros como bahá’ís si ellos están de acuerdo que esto se haga.

Pueden participar en la vida social de la comunidad bahá’í en una manera normal pero no destacarse por atención excesiva ni ser sometidos a la vista del público.

Se debe avisar a los bahá’ís de la RPC sobre el cuidado que se necesita en cuanto a la enseñanza de la Fe en la China continental y pedírseles que lo observen para su propia protección como también para la protección del futuro de la Fe allí.

La participación en la administración bahá’í

Por ahora, es poco aconsejable que los creyentes quienes son ciudadanos de la República Popular de China sirvan en Asambleas Espirituales, sean nombrados a comités, o se asocien oficialmente con la administración bahá’í. Estas precauciones se toman para que puedan evitar dificultades cuando regresen a su hogar, y para proteger el futuro de la Fe en la China.

Sin embargo, éstos amigos pueden participar en todas las demás actividades bahá’ís, incluyendo el votar en las elecciones bahá’ís.

Además, un comité local bahá’í puede, si lo cree apropiado, incluir a estos creyentes en sus reuniones y actividades siempre y cuando no se publiquen ni se anoten sus nombres en las actas y no se consideren como miembros del comité.

Registro de membresía de ciudadanos de la República de la China

Los registros de membresía de los bahá’ís quienes son ciudadanos de la República Popular de China actualmente se guardan en el Centro Mundial. Se le pide a cada Asamblea Espiritual Nacional que le provea a la Casa Universal de Justicia con la información siguiente sobre cada uno de estos amigos quienes han aceptado la Fe bajo su jurisdicción: nombre completo de la persona en letras chinas, nombre completo en alfabeto romano, dirección actual, dirección permanente en la China, fecha de declaración y profesión.

Localmente, los registros de estos nuevos ingresos deben permanecer confidenciales y no publicarse en forma alguna. No se les debe dar a los amigos ninguna tarjeta de identificación bahá’í.

Taiwan (conocido además como la República de China)

En el pasado se les ha dado aviso a los amigos sobre el proveer literatura publicada en Taiwan a los ciudadanos de la RPC. Sin embargo, con el relajamiento actual en las políticas de ambos lados, dicha literatura se puede usar actualmente.

Los bahá’ís de Taiwan tienen la libertad de reunirse con ciudadanos de la RPC en situaciones naturales.

Igualmente, los bahá’ís quienes son ciudadanos de la RPC cuando estén en ultramar, pueden, a discreción suya, compartir las enseñanzas de Bahá’u’lláh con los chinos de Taiwan.

Manteniendo contacto con los bahá’ís chinos que han regresado a su hogar

No hay manera específica de mantenerse en contacto con estos bahá’ís luego de que regresen a la RPC.

Se sugiere que el maestro que atrae a la persona a la Fe asuma la responsabilidad de mantener contacto con este amigo bahá’í.

Antes de regresar a su patria, puede que un bahá’í chino desee hacer arreglos para que un individuo de confianza en ultramar le envíe noticias que tal vez quiera transmitir a las instituciones bahá’ís en el futuro.

Ya que la correspondencia a veces se censura, se avisa que no se mencionen ni su membresía bahá’í ni actividades en la Fe al corresponder entre la RPC y ultramar.

Tres importantes principios cuando enseñamos de puerta a puerta

Recientemente un número de comunidades locales han contactado el Comité Nacional de Enseñanza concerniente a lo apropiado de la enseñanza de puerta a puerta.

Guía sobre este tema es proveída en los mensajes de la Casa Universal de Justicia y las decisiones de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional.

Es aceptable para los bahá’ís ir de casa a casa cuando comparten el Mensaje de Bahá’u’lláh con otros.

La Casa Universal de Justicia ha dejado los detalles de este método de la enseñanza a la discreción de las Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales, y la Asamblea Nacional ha, asimismo, dejado tales asuntos a la discreción de las Asambleas Espirituales locales.

Sin embargo, hay tres principios que deben tomarse en consideración cuando se están considerando los esfuerzos de la enseñanza de puerta a puerta.

Primero, la dignidad de la Fe debe ser cuidadosamente salvaguardada. Un mensaje escrito en nombre del Guardián indica claramente que la distribución de pamfletos de puerta a puerta era ‎indigno indigna‎ y puede crear una mala impresión de la Fe.

Mientras que una Asamblea puede aprobar un esfuerzo de puerta a puerta para proveer invitaciones a un evento bahá’í o enseñar a almas interesadas en escuchar sobre la Fe, su consulta y decisión final debe tomar en consideración las condiciones dentro de la comunidad local y la forma del método, para que la dignidad de la Fe sea mantenida.

El segundo principio es la orden de Bahá’u’lláh en las Palabras Ocultas, “Sabios son aquellos que no hablan a menos que tengan quien les escuche.”

Una actividad de enseñanza no debe ser una ‎invación invasión‎ en la vida privada de la persona, ni tampoco debe de forzar el mensaje en personas desinteresadas.

El tercer principio implica la integridad y la sinceridad. No es apropiado usar métodos engañosos para proveer una oportunidad de enseñar.

Por ejemplo, un examen o cuestionario solamente debe ser usado cuando es necesario reunir respuestas a preguntas en lugar de como un método para iniciar una conversación sobre la Fe.

En áreas en donde no hay Asambleas Espirituales locales, los Comités de Enseñanza por Distritos deben tomar la decisión si es posible y cómo la enseñanza de puerta a puerta debe ser usada en ‎una area una área‎ luego de consultar con los creyentes locales.

Una excepción a esto ocurre en áreas donde Asambleas locales han adoptado metas de enseñanza de extensión; en tales áreas que son metas, la Asamblea local debe tomar la decisión en consulta con los residentes locales.

El Comité Nacional de Enseñanza puede proveer a individuos e instituciones clarificación o extractos adicionales de mensajes de la Casa Universal de Justicia sobre la enseñanza de puerta a puerta.

Primer paso para la construcción de el Arco en el Monte Carmelo NOS REGOCIJAMOS AL ANUNCIAR COMIENZO PRUEBA GEOLÓGICA PASO PRELIMINAR ESENCIAL IMPLEMENTACIÓN PROYECTOS MONTE CARMELO. ESTE PASO HACE MÁS AGUDA NECESIDAD RÁPIDA ACUMULACIÓN RESERVA DE CINCUENTA MILLONES DE DÓLARES POR LA CUAL SE HIZO LLAMADO PERMITIR ‎ICIO INICIO‎ TRABAJOS MAYORES, DE LA CUAL SE HA CONTRIBUIDO UN TERCIO HASTA LA FECHA. EXHORTAMOS COMPARTAN INFORMACIÓN AMIGOS. LA CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA 28 DE ABRIL DE 1989

IN MEMORIAM

Emilio Arenas Sierra Vista, CA May 3, 1989	Mary Joe Howard Redmond, OR June 30, 1988	Mary Powers Tygh Valley, OR 1988
Carrie Bruce Asheville, NC Date Unknown	Carl Huit Jr. Fair Oaks, CA May 1, 1989	Walter Quinton Federalsburg, MD Date Unknown
Nettie Carrisoza Ramona, CA 1987	Gloria Jensen Ravenna, OH March 20, 1989	Edith Rondall N. Myrtle Beach, SC Date Unknown
Robert Charles Eureka, CA Date Unknown	Willie Johnson Jr. Gainesville, TX 1988	Henrietta Ross Florence, SC Date Unknown
Ramona Cottonwood Fort Yates, ND May 9, 1989	Mohammad Khavari Portsmouth, NH April 17, 1989	Charles Running Bird White River, SD March 21, 1989
Robert Ray Davis Boca Raton, FL October 17, 1988	Abbas Khorami Costa Mesa, CA April 3, 1989	Annie Russell Ridgeville, SC Date Unknown
Mattie Dubose Tuskegee, AL Date Unknown	Anthony Kidder Fort Yates, ND August 25, 1988	Tayyebeh Shayani Torrance, CA March 1989
Edgar Fitchpatrick Gainesville, TX 1988	Ona Koppe Tonga May 2, 1989	Diane Smith Florence, SC March 1989
Emma M. Fly Mobridge, SD March 9, 1987	Edward Lefman Staten Island, NY Date Unknown	Elma Springs Salem, OR February 1989
Roma M. Freeman Hyannis, MA April 12, 1989	Vereen Lele Wampee, SC 1987	Edward Washington Edwardsville, IL October 24, 1988
Phyllis Gates Dayton, OH April 18, 1989	Lawrence Lorne Sr. Gainesville, TX 1988	Nelly Weatherford Florence, SC Date Unknown
Leslie Gayton Fort Yates, ND October 25, 1988	James Loyd Nichols, SC Date Unknown	Edgar Whetstone Gainesville, TX 1988
Raye Golaskey Oklahoma City, OK April 27, 1989	Kathryn Motley Santa Barbara, CA June 9, 1988	Ruth White Rock Tonelea, AZ Date Unknown
Clyde Green N. Myrtle Beach, SC Date Unknown	Elizabeth Nieburger Daytona Beach, FL January 22, 1989	Lewis Willie N. Myrtle Beach, SC Date Unknown
Silvero Hernandez Pico Rivera, CA January 19, 1989	Ruth A. Ott Millburn, NJ May 28, 1989	Maria Yrigollen Carlsbad, NM June 1988

Herald of South announces competition for young writers in two age groups

Herald of the South, the magazine produced by the Bahá’ís of Australia and New Zealand, is holding a writing competition.

Cash prizes will be given to the winners in two age-groups (15-18 and 19-25 years) with free subscriptions to the magazine to the two runners-up in each group.

In addition, all six winning entries will be published in Herald of the South.

To enter, simply write one or more articles (each no more than 3,500 words long) on any topic suitable for inclusion in Herald of the South. Fiction or non-fiction is acceptable.

Entries should be in English, preferably typewritten and double-spaced. Closing date for entries is October 1, 1989. Send to:

Write Time, 4 Glenn Avenue, Mosman Park, Western Australia 6012, AUSTRALIA.

On a separate sheet of paper, give your full name and address, your date of birth and a signed statement agreeing that the entry is your own original work. [Page 12]

Huqúqu’lláh

from page 9

form of questions and answers. More guidance from the beloved Master, the Guardian, and, in recent decades, from the Universal House of Justice has shed light on Huqúqu’lláh, which we can find in the compilation issued by the World Center.

With the increasing awareness of the ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ and the fast-growing complexity of the social and economic system of society, the Bahá’í community will witness the establishment of rules and guidance on Huqúqu’lláh by the Supreme Authority of the Faith.

Meanwhile, should the Universal House of Justice’s letter of March 1, 1984, in the absence of explicit text and Holy writings on Huqúqu’lláh, the friends are free to honor the obligation of Huqúqu’lláh based on their own judgment and conscience.

Indeed, while the establishment of rules and directions can explain the different aspects of Huqúqu’lláh, the ideal functioning and efficiency of that legislation depends on the spiritual advancement of the friends and their deepening in the Holy Writings.

That is why the Universal House of Justice has, as one of its major goals of the Six Year Plan, adopted the education of Huqúqu’lláh as a priority, preparing the way for the implementation of the law of God in the Bahá’í world, and has asked for the fervent collaboration of the major institutions of the Faith, such as the National Spiritual Assemblies and Continental Boards of Counselors, to share this important task with the institution of Huqúqu’lláh in promoting the education of God’s injunction to the Bahá’í community at large.

During the past two years, some of the National Assemblies—in particular those of the United States and Canada, and a few others in other parts of the world—have offered remarkable assistance for this sublime goal, and it is hoped that many more will join in the future to help with this task.

As a result of the effort of such National Spiritual Assemblies, a number of western Friends are contributing to Huqúqu’lláh even before its formal implementation. This leads us to hope that education on this topic will become more widespread and that, by the end of the Six Year Plan, the Bahá’í world will have attained a higher level of flourishing spiritual advancement.

Calendar of Events

July 30-August 6: Project Dawn-Breakers, Bemidji, Minnesota. Teaching and consolidation on White Earth and Leech Lake Indian Reservations. Cost: $7 per day. Classes/sports for adults, children. Information: Julie Crawford, 218-751-4035. Registration: Nanette Missaghi, 218-751-8282.

August 11-13: Second National Bahá’í Festival of the Arts, Bishop’s University, Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada. Sponsored by the Bahá’í Arts Council of Canada. For information, write to the Festival Coordinating ... On-tario L3T 6L8, Canada, or telephone Roland Rutland, Bahá’í National Center, Toronto: 416-889-8168.

August 19: Consultative meeting, “Spirituality and Agriculture,” sponsored by the Agricultural Newsletter USA in conjunction with the Association for Bahá’í Studies, in Arizona. Purpose: to develop information to be presented at the September Conference of ABS in Irvine, California. Charge for registration and meals. Those who are interested in attending or submitting views on spirituality and agriculture are invited to write to Agricultural Newsletter USA, ... Chandler, AZ 85224, Attn: Chris English, editor.

September 14: Bahá’í International Health Agency, 8th annual Conference, Irvine, California. Theme: “Women’s Issues in ...” Please send papers on this or any other current health ... of general interest to: BIHA, 4265 Ste. Catherine Ouest, ...ount, Quebec H3Z 1P7, Canada. To register for the con... write to the Association for Bahá’í Studies, ... Ontario K1N 7K4, Canada, or phone 613-233-...

...mber 15-17: Association for Bahá’í Studies, 14th annual ...ence, Irvine (California) Hilton and Towers. Theme: “The ...y of Women and Men.” For information, write to the As...n for Bahá’í Studies, ... Ontario, ... K1N 7K4, or phone 613-233-1903.

...mber 15-17: Peace Fest ’89, Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í In...te, Hemingway, South Carolina. For information, phone the ..., 803-558-5093.

...ember 15-17: 30th annual Green Lake Bahá’í Conference, ...an Baptist Assembly, Green Lake, Wisconsin. Theme: ...ng of Age ... Rights of Passage.” Highlights: songs by ...rammer; Arts Forum with keynote speaker Tom Kubala; ...nual Saturday night party. Lodging and meals: write to ...an Baptist Assembly, Green Lake, WI 54941, or phone ...4-3323 or 800-558-8898. Adult program information: Sue ... Sun Prairie, WI 53590 (phone 608-837-... ...non-adult program information and sign-up: Laurie Kautz, ...2-5612.

...ember 22-24: Story-telling Festival to commemorate the ...visit of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, in 1912. Keynote story-teller: Counselor Robert Harris. Children’s festival, youth workshop, evening of ballad singing and dancing. Would-be performers contact Linda Brown, c/o CRW, ... Aspen, CO 81611. To register, contact Jean Luhrs, ... Grand Junction, CO 81504, or phone 303-243-6202 or 303-243-5364.

October 6-8: International Bahá’í Women’s Conference, Montevideo, Uruguay. Deepening and consultation on peace, the equality of men and women, and the development of women. For information, write to Conferencia Internacional Bahá’í de la Mujer, ... Montevideo, Uruguay.

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 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, 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.

A	ID#	Title	Full name—Please DO NOT use nicknames
1.
2.			Full name
3.			Full name
4.			Full name

B—NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS:	C—NEW MAIL ADDRESS:
House/Space #, Street or Description	P.O. Box or other Mailing Address
City Template:NbspTemplate:NbspTemplate:Nbsp State Template:NbspTemplate:NbspTemplate:Nbsp Zip	City Template:NbspTemplate:NbspTemplate:Nbsp State Template:NbspTemplate:NbspTemplate:Nbsp Zip

D—NEW COMMUNITY:
Name of new Bahá’í community Template:NbspTemplate:NbspTemplate:NbspTemplate:NbspTemplate:NbspTemplate:NbspTemplate:Nbsp Moving date

E—HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:	F—WORK TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Area Code Template:NbspTemplate:Nbsp Number	Area Code Template:NbspTemplate:Nbsp Number	Name
	Area Code Template:NbspTemplate:Nbsp Number	Name

G Template:NbspTemplate:Nbsp We receive extra copies because: [ ] we do not ‎nave have‎ the same last name. [ ] We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) whose name(s) and I.D. number(s) are listed above.

the last names and addresses on our address labels do not match exactly. We have listed above the full names of all family members as they should appear on the national records, their I.D. numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.

[ ] Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahá’í. I wish to receive my own copy as well, and have listed my name, I.D. number and address above so that I may be put on the mailing list to receive my own copy.

BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER Wilmette, Illinois 60091

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID WILMETTE, IL PERMIT NO. 479

San Jose

from page 1

The annual San Jose Bahá’í community’s Bosch Weekend, held April 8-9, was attended by 115 students including about seven friends of Bahá’ís.

Dr. John Hatcher’s session on prayer was especially well-received. It was video taped by a member of the community and is being edited so it can be more widely shared.

On April 26, a panel discussion on “Racism and Economic Disparity” was co-sponsored by the Bahá’ís of San Jose and the Metropolitan YWCA in downtown San Jose.

About 8-10 non-Bahá’ís were in the audience of 30.

Taking part on the panel were community leaders from the black and Indian communities as well as Bahá’ís.

A visit May 4-6 by David Hofman, retired member of the Universal House of Justice, included an hour-long interview on the popular Jan Huchens radio show and three other radio interviews.

Mr. Huchens was so impressed that he didn’t take the usual phone calls during the program, and the news director of another station, hearing the broadcast, called to insist on a phone interview as Mr. Hofman was departing at the airport.

Mr. Hofman’s visit has resulted in at least one declaration.

On May 7, a Bahá’í booth at the Cinco de Mayo Festival was seen by many people. Bahá’ís volunteered to clean up after the event, thus saving the cost ($175) of the booth and providing a service as well.

A “new believers’ party” was held recently to welcome the first wave of new Bahá’ís (believed to be around 100 to date). Such parties will be held regularly throughout the Metro 1000 area.

Morgan Hill, a long goal of the San Jose Bahá’í community, is showing signs of responding to the many ongoing efforts there.

Plans are being stepped up to bring that city to Assembly status—prayer breakfasts, bi-monthly firesides at the public library, and the “Borrah Kavelin Memorial Service Project,” to take place on June 24, are among the events presently planned.

Also under way are plans for next year’s ninth annual Community Service Awards banquet whose theme will be “Literacy,” in keeping with the UN’s International Literacy Year, 1990.

Library displays have been created and circulated throughout the Santa Clara library system. As a result, there have been inquiries about the Faith, and books have been checked out.

Metro 1000 created a television spot that was broadcast on Channel 26 (in Vietnamese) targeted at finding Vietnamese Bahá’ís who live in the area.

Many of these Bahá’ís have been located, and some new enrollments have resulted.

San Jose and the other communities taking part in Metro 1000 are well on the way as hopes and expectations rise in response to the call from the Universal House of Justice. We’re getting ready for “entry by troops!”—Natalie Reyes

UN Day kits available

UN Day kits, featuring “Rights of the Child” and “Pulling Together: A Program for America in the United Nations,” are available for $3 each. To order, send a check to UNA-USA, New York, NY 10017.