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[Page 1]The American Bahá'í Volume 24, No. 1 ...knowledge is a veritable treasure for man....-Bahá'u'lláh Sultán B.E. 149/ January 19, 1993 The Universal House of Justice establishes an Office for the Advancement of Women The following letter from the Universal House of Justice was received by the Na- tional Spiritual Assembly on December 10: Dear Bahá'í Friends, We take much pleasure in announcing the decision to establish an Office for the Advancement of Women, which, as an agency of the Bahá'í International Com- munity, will promote the principles of the Faith through its interaction with interna- tional entities concerned with matters af- fecting the rights, status and well-being of women. It will also advise the National Spiritual As- semblies regarding pro- grams and projects in which the involvement of the community can encourage efforts toward the realization of the equality of men and women. The establishment of this office now is largely a consequence of two gratifying developments, namely: the great extent to which the work of our United Nations Office concerning women's is- sues has expanded in re- cent years; and the rising stature for the Bahá'í community which this work has achieved in in- ternational circles. We are delighted that, for instance, the Bahá'í International Commu- nity has been serving since 1988 as the con- venor of Advocates for African Food Security, a International Community with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) have fostered a mutual confi- dence that has encouraged UNIFEM to collaborate with the Bahá'í International Community in the launching in three coun- tries of projects aimed at promoting change in attitudes between men and women. All three projects involve the Bahá'í commu- nity at international, national and local levels. The inauguration of the Office for the Advancement of Women, as a companion of the other offices of the Bahá'í Interna- tional Community in New York, is a fur- ther significant step in the administration of the external affairs of the Faith and, of course, provides our community with a visible instrument for the practical appli- cation of one of the cardinal principles of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh. With loving Bahá'í greetings, The Universal House of Justice Over the years, the Bahá'í International Community (BIC) has gained a solid repu- tation as an advocate for women's progress and is known for its steady contribution to the work of the United Nations in abolish- ing discrimination based on gender. In addition, the BIC has established close cooperative relationships with other international non-governmental organiza- tions in status with the UN, which are seeking, through their activities, to pro- mote the advancement of women. Mary Power, the representative of the BIC to the UN who has specialized in women's issues for many years, has been appointed director of the newly formed See WOMEN page 2 Above: Up to 12 rows of anchors will be installed at the site of the Center for the Study of the Texts and Archives extension on Mount Carmel. This photograph taken on November 12 shows the 28-meter (92-foot) retaining wall. Left: Adjusting a drill for the rock anchors in the retaining wall as Phase Three of the Mount Carmel Projects gets under way. (Photos by Ruhi Vargha) coalition of non-governmental organiza- Phase Three of historic Mount Carmel Projects is under way tions, United Nations agencies and inter- governmental bodies formed in 1986 to raise awareness of women as producers of most of the domestic food in Africa; that our United Nations representative who specializes in women's issues is a member of the Steering Committee which is plan- ning the Non-Governmental Organiza- tions' Forum to be held in Beijing in 1995 at the time of the Fourth World Confer- ence on Women; and that she chairs the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, New York, a position of great prestige in the UN/NGO community. Furthermore, the relations of the Bahá'í INSIDE Success in Teaching: Part 5 2 Obedience to the Covenant 3 Youth Year of Service 4 Battling Racism in Dallas, Texas 5 Denver's spacious new Center 8 Letters to the Editor 9 TO THE BAHÁ'ÍS OF THE WORLD CONFIDENT FOLLOWERS BLESSED BEAUTY DELIGHTED ANNOUNCE INITIATION PHASE THROUGHOUT BAHÁ'Í WORLD WILL CONTINUE THREE MOUNT CARMEL PROJECTS. FOLLOWING PROTRACTED NEGOTIATIONS WITH HAIFA MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES NECESSARY PER- MITS FOR EXCAVATION SITE INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CENTER AND FOR COMMENCEMENT UPPER TERRACES WERE OBTAINED IN SEPTEMBER 1992. FURTHER CONTRACTS AMOUNTING TO FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS HAVE BEEN AWARDED AND EARTHWORK ON BOTH SITES HAS BEGUN ON 9 DECEMBER 1992. THEIR UNSTINTING SUPPORT THESE HISTORIC PROJECTS THUS ENSURING UNINTERRUPTED PROGRESS CONSTRUCTION. ARDENTLY SUPPLICATING SACRED THRESHOLD CONFIRMATIONS SPEEDY EXECUTION MAJOR UN- DERTAKING ESTABLISHMENT SEATS INTERNA- TIONAL INSTITUTIONS FAITH ON GOD'S HOLY MOUNTAIN. THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE DECEMBER 17, 1992 National Assembly to set up Regional Teaching Committees as a part of its national administrative reorganization plan BY KEN BOWERS For the past several months the National Spiritual Assembly has been moving for- ward its plan for the reorganization of the national administration. The new framework, designed to help create and maintain a greater unity of vision and action among local and na- tional institutions of the Faith, will facili- tate current activities while helping to prepare the American Bahá'í community for the potential developments of the next several years. One aspect of the plan is the creation of regional teaching committees to assist teaching activities in specific areas of the country. The National Spiritual Assembly, in consultation with the newly appointed See ADMINISTRATION page 9 [Page 2]

INTRODUCTION

This is the fifth in a series of articles, the intention of which is to delve into a statement, made by the Guardian in The Advent of Divine Justice, which outlines prerequisites of success in teaching the Faith.

Shoghi Effendi drew attention to the importance of deepening our knowledge of the Faith as a preparation for delivering Bahá’u’lláh’s Message. In this passage, the Guardian comments on various facets of deepening. The focus of this article is to discuss the direction to "ponder its [the Faith's] admonitions, tenets and purposes."

TEXT

"Those who participate in such a [teaching] campaign, whether in an organizing capacity, or as workers to whose care the execution of the task itself has been committed, must, as an essential preliminary to the discharge of their duties, thoroughly familiarize themselves with the various aspects of the history and teachings of their Faith. In their efforts to achieve this purpose they must study for themselves, conscientiously and painstakingly, the literature of their Faith, delve into its teachings, assimilate its laws and principles, ponder its admonitions, tenets and purposes, commit to memory certain of its exhortations and prayers, master the essentials of its administration, and keep abreast of its current affairs and latest developments." (The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 49)

ACTION

"... ponder its admonitions, tenets and purposes..."

To "ponder" is think deeply about a subject; the powers of reflection, perhaps in the form of meditation or contemplation, are called upon. "Admonitions" can be defined as advice, counsels, or instructions for actions; "tenets" refer to principles or doctrines, those standards and beliefs that inform people as to how to live their lives.

Deepening in the Faith involves both reading the Writings and actively thinking about the meaning of the words and their application to one's daily life. This "pondering" aids us to a more complete and satisfying understanding of the mission and purpose of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

Reflecting on the Word of God helps us to empty of self, to better know God and His desires for our lives. Detachment from the physical, material world comes through spiritual channels.

This study and contemplation of the Word of God serves the purpose of helping the individual's spiritual transformation and growth, and yet it also has implications for the growth of the community. The Bahá’í community grows when the teachings are shared, and it develops as the teachings are practiced in the daily life of each Bahá’í.

Account of Highlights from the World Congress Available in Vietnamese

A brief Vietnamese-language account of the second Bahá’í World Congress has been prepared by a Vietnamese Bahá’í in the U.S. to share with others of Vietnamese background information about this momentous gathering in New York City. Copies of the account are available free on request from the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

SUPPLEMENTARY REFERENCES

"Were any man to ponder in his heart that which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed and to taste of its sweetness, he would, of a certainty, find himself emptied and delivered from his own desires, and utterly subservient to the Will of the Almighty. Happy is the man that hath attained so high a station, and hath not deprived himself of so bountiful a grace." (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 343)

"Now is the moment in which to cleanse thyself with the waters of detachment that have flowed out from the Supreme Pen, and to ponder, wholly for the sake of God, those things which, time and again, have been sent down or manifested, and then to strive, as much as lieth in thee, to quench, through the power of wisdom and the force of thy utterance, the fire of enmity and hatred which smouldereth in the hearts of the peoples of the world. The Divine Messengers have been sent down, and their Books were revealed, for the purpose of promoting the knowledge of God, and of furthering unity and fellowship amongst men." (Bahá’u’lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 12)

"Bahá’u’lláh says there is a sign (from God) in every phenomenon: the sign of the intellect is contemplation and the sign of contemplation is silence, because it is impossible for a man to do two things at one time he cannot both speak and meditate.

"Through the faculty of meditation man attains to eternal life; through it he receiveth the breath of the Holy Spirit—the bestowal of the Spirit is given in reflection and meditation....

"Meditation is the key for opening the doors of mysteries. In that state a man abstracts himself; in that state man withdraws himself from all outside objects; in that subjective mood he is immersed in the ocean of spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of things-in-themselves." (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, pp. 174-75)

"I have been informed that the purpose of your class meeting is to study the significances and mysteries of the Holy Scriptures and understand the meaning of the divine Testaments. It is a cause of great happiness to me that you are turning unto the Kingdom of God, that you desire to approach the presence of God and to become informed of the realities and precepts of God. It is my hope that you may put forth your most earnest endeavor to accomplish this end, that you may investigate and study the Holy Scriptures word by word so that you may attain knowledge of the mysteries hidden therein. Be not satisfied with words, but seek to understand the spiritual meanings hidden in the heart of the words." (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 458-59)

"Live thou in accord with the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. Do not only read them. There is a vast difference between the soul who merely reads the words of Bahá’u’lláh and the one who tries to live them. Read thou the Hidden Words. Ponder over their meanings and embody the behests into thy life." (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Star of the West, volume 7, no. 18, p. 178)

"Now surely, if ever, is the time for us, the chosen ones of Bahá’u’lláh and the bearers of His Message to the world, to endeavor by day and by night, to deepen, first and foremost, the Spirit of His Cause in our own individual lives, and then labor, and labor incessantly to exemplify in all our dealings with our fellow-men that noble Spirit of which His beloved Son ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has been all the days of His life a true and unique exponent...

"Let us, with a pure heart, with humility and earnestness, turn afresh to His counsels and exhortations, and seek from that Source of Celestial Potency all the guidance, the spirit, the power which we shall need for the fulfillment of our mission in this life." (Shoghi Effendi, Bahá’í Administration, p. 35)

"Prayer and meditation are very important factors in deepening the spiritual life of the individual, but with them must go also action and example, as these are tangible results of the former. Both are essential." (Written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, in Spiritual Foundations, No. 51, p. 17)

"Dearly-loved friends, this is the theme we must pursue in our efforts to deepen in the Cause. What is Bahá’u’lláh’s purpose for the human race? For what ends did He submit to the appalling cruelties and indignities heaped upon Him? What does He mean by ‘a new race of men’? What are the profound changes which He will bring about? The answers are to be found in the Sacred Writings of our Faith and in their interpretation by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and our beloved Guardian. Let the friends immerse themselves in this ocean, let them organize regular study classes for its constant consideration, and, as reinforcement to their effort, let them remember conscientiously the requirements of daily prayer and reading of the Word of God enjoined upon all Bahá’ís by Bahá’u’lláh." (The Universal House of Justice, Wellspring of Guidance, pp. 114-115)

QUESTIONS

• How can I reflect on the Writings as I read them?
• How can I achieve a higher level of detachment in my daily life?

BIC’s Activities in the Field of Women’s Affairs

Pictured (left to right) are the members of the Bahá’í International Community’s delegation to the 36th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women held in Vienna, Austria in 1992: Mary S. Power, director of the BIC Office for the Advancement of Women; Liesbeth Bos de Jong, representative of the BIC’s UN Office in Geneva; Alasebu Gebre Selassie, representative of the BIC Office for the Advancement of Women; and Giovanni Ballerio of the BIC’s UN Office in Geneva.

Since the BIC obtained consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1970, its involvement in women’s issues has gradually increased in intensity from submission of statements to UN bodies on various aspects of equality (i.e., the education of girls, the importance of elevating the status of women as mothers, the relevance of women’s participation at local, national and international levels to the establishment of world peace, etc.) to the assumption of leadership roles in international forums.

An Overview of the BIC’s Activities in the Field of Women’s Affairs from 1970-1992 is available from the U.S. Bahá’í UN Office. Requests should be directed to that office at 866 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017. [Page 3]

History offers dramatic lesson in importance of obedience

Following is an excerpt from Adib Taherzadeh's The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, in which he discusses the importance and uniqueness of the Kitáb-i-’Ahd (The Book of the Covenant), the document in which the Blessed Beauty named ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His Successor. Mr. Taherzadeh also offers a partial description of one of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's most important Tablets, in which the Master relates the importance of obedience to the Covenant through the example of a previous religious Dispensation.

By this momentous document the station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh was announced to the believers. What was only implicit in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas was now made explicit in the Kitáb-i-’Ahd. The passage, "turn your faces towards Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root," revealed in the former Book, was now clearly stated to mean ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Bahá’u’lláh unequivocally affirms: "The object of this sacred Verse is none other except the Most Mighty Branch." (One of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's titles given to Him by Bahá’u’lláh was "The Most Mighty Branch." After the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, however, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá chose the title of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá [Servant of Bahá’u’lláh] and asked the believers to refer to Him only by this name.)

This clear appointment of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant safeguards the unity of the Bahá’í community and protects it against schism and all manner of division. No other religious dispensation, including that of the Báb, has brought into being an instrument designed to so ensure the unity of its community.

Through the institution of the Covenant, the mighty stronghold of the Cause of God has become invincible in spite of the powerful assaults launched against it over a long period of time by the Covenant-breakers. ...Mírzá Muhammad-’Alí and his supporters viciously attacked the Cause of God with such ferocity that the opposition made against the faithful in previous Dispensations fades into insignificance compared to it. In spite of this, the Covenant-breakers failed miserably and the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh triumphed.

It was not so in past religions. For instance, as we look back upon the history of Islám we note that after the Prophet passed away, His followers almost immediately became divided into the two major sects of Sunni and Shi'ah. It has been stated already...that Muhammad had made a verbal statement appointing ‘Alí-Ibn-i-Abú Tálib, known as Imám ‘Alí, as His Successor. But this appointment became a controversial subject as Muhammad left behind no document to support it.

There is an episode widely spoken of, especially among the Shi'ahs, concerning the last days of Muhammad's earthly life. It is claimed that as He lay in His death-bed, four of His outstanding followers were sitting at His bedside. They were Abú-Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmán and ‘Alí. Abú Bakr was the father-in-law of the Prophet, and ‘Alí was His cousin and son-in-law.

Muhammad is reported to have called for writing materials, wishing to leave some guidance for His followers. But the scheming ‘Umar, a shrewd tactician, did not allow the wish of the Prophet to be realized. He said that the Prophet, so near the time of His death, was not of sound mind and therefore no writing material should be given to Him.

The Shi'ahs, who follow Imám ‘Alí, claim that had the Prophet been allowed to write His will He would have confirmed the verbal statement He had made at Ghadir-i-Khumm concerning the appointment of ‘Alí as His Successor.

When Muhammad passed away, ‘Umar rallied the majority of the followers around the old and ailing Abú Bakr who enjoyed a great deal of prestige among the people. He became the first Khalif (Caliph) of Islám.

Two years later when Abú-Bakr died, ‘Umar became the second Khalif and soon under his direction the military conquests of the Muslims began. Through the influence exerted by ‘Umar the great majority of the followers of Muhammad, the Sunnis, rejected the claims of Imám ‘Alí to successorship.

It is a fundamental belief among the Bahá’ís that Imam ‘Alí was the lawful successor of the Prophet of Islám. After him his lineal male descendants known as the 'holy Imáms' led the Shi'ah community until the year 260 AH.

Bahá’u’lláh regarded the Imáms as the legitimate successors of the Prophet, acknowledged the value of their work in the elucidation of the Qur'án, confirmed many of their sayings as recorded in the books of ‘Ahádith (traditions), quoted several of these in His Writings, interpreted their words, extolled their station (especially that of Husayn, the third Imám) in glowing terms, and referred to them as "those unquenchable lights of divine guidance" and "those lamps of certitude." They guided their followers through the interpretation and elucidation of the many abstruse passages in the Qur'án, as well as their illuminating prophecies concerning the advent of the Qá’im, the Promised One of Islám.

Through his misguided opposition to ‘Alí, ‘Umar frustrated the intentions of Muhammad as to His successorship and the direction of the affairs of Islam. Imam ‘Alí attempted to assert his position as Muhammad's verbally designated successor and the expounder of the Words of God as revealed in the Qur'án. But the response of ‘Umar to this claim was his fateful remark: "The Book of God is sufficient unto us."

This short statement has echoed through the centuries and ages until ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in His celebrated Tablet, the Lawh-i-Hizár Baytí (Tablet of One Thousand Verses), described its woeful consequences. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states that it was this very statement which caused the foundation of the religion of God in the Islámic Dispensation to be shattered and the ignoble worshippers of self and passion to rule over the righteous souls. It became a deadly weapon with which the Imam ‘Alí himself was martyred, which caused great divisions within the nation of Islám, and which changed the loving spirit of that nation to that of warriors armed with sword and weapons.

As a result of this statement, the head of Imám Husayn, the most illustrious of the Imams, was decapitated on the plain of Karbilá, the other holy Imáms were inflicted with great sufferings, imprisonment and death, and the blood of countless innocent souls was shed for wellnigh twelve hundred years.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá further affirms that this statement uttered by ‘Umar was transformed into the hundreds of bullets centuries later which pierced the breast of the Báb in Tabriz, that this statement became the chains which were placed around the blessed neck of Bahá’u’lláh, and brought about the untold sufferings inflicted upon Him in the course of his successive exiles.

All these and many more atrocities committed during the Islámic dispensation ‘Abdu’l-Bahá attributes to the influence of the simple statement "The Book of God is sufficient unto us." It deprived the greater part of the Islámic nation from the wealth of spiritual knowledge which the holy Imáms imparted to the people.

The course of history itself changed as a result of ‘Umar's opposition to Imám ‘Alí. The successful breaking of the Covenant of Muhammad by ‘Umar through his refusal to submit to Imám ‘Alí as the lawful successor of the Prophet and the interpreter of His words, brought about, according to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the direst of consequences for many nations and peoples.

Who knows in what manner the Faith of Islám would have spread and its community developed had all the followers remained faithful to the wishes of Muhammad and followed Imám ‘Alí as His lawful successor? ‘Abdu’l-Bahá implies in the above Tablet that if the nation of Islám had been faithful to ‘Alí, many of the atrocities and cruelties committed since the passing of Muhammad could have been mitigated or avoided.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote the Tablet of Hizár Bayti to Jalil-i-Khú'í, a believer who was being drawn into the Covenant-breakers' net in Ádhirbáyján. The reason why ‘Abdu’l-Bahá dwells at length in this Tablet on the episode of ‘Umar and explains the dire results of his action in leading the people away from the lawful successor of Muhammad is to demonstrate the evils of Covenant-breaking and the tragic consequences of the violation of the Kitáb-i-’Ahd, Bahá’u’lláh's Will and Testament.

...Through this mighty document [the Kitáb-i-’Ahd] the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh was established and its Centre appointed....In this Dispensation the Covenant-breakers have never been, nor will they ever be, able to undermine the unity of the followers of Bahá’u’lláh or to seize the reins of authority from the divinely ordained institutions which are charged by Bahá’u’lláh to direct the affairs of His Cause.

History has so far confirmed this, and it is one of the distinguishing features of this Dispensation. There have been many powerful attacks launched against the Center of the Cause from within. Those who rebelled against ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were not ignorant or senseless people. On the contrary, most of them were intelligent and capable; some were highly knowledgable teachers, immensely respected by the Bahá’í community in Persia. In the Holy Land too, some members of the family of Bahá’u’lláh were knowledgable and powerful men. Mírzá Muhammad-’Alí, who so prided himself on his talents, was a master of calligraphy, which in those days carried great prestige in the community. He also exerted great influence over people.

The ceaseless efforts of the Covenant-breakers at the time of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to destroy the edifice of the Cause of God appeared to many to be successful at first, but as we have seen, all of them, together with their misguided notions and theories, were thrown into the abyss of extinction and perished miserably.

The Kitáb-i-’Ahd has been referred to by Bahá’u’lláh as the Crimson Book (crimson implies, among other things, tests and sacrifice). He used this term in alluding to it about a year before his ascension, in His Epistle to the Son of the Wolf. This designation is not used exclusively to refer to the Kitáb-i-’Ahd, but that Tablet is certainly a document which became instrumental in testing the faith of every believer, resulting in separation between the pure in heart and the insincere. Everything revealed in this mighty document may be summarized in this one short phrase: "Turn toward."

"When the ocean of My presence has ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces towards Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root." [Page 4]

Youth Year of Service

Movement builds as young people prepare to serve Cause

There is a topic that is finding its way into the normal conversation of today’s Bahá’í youth. It is discussed with great excitement and in terms of personal action at every youth gathering.

Sooner or later it will be discussed in every Bahá’í home, and parents will become well-informed. This exciting topic is youth service.

[Twelve North American teen-agers (including several American Indian youth) traveled throughout a Caribbean island nation for six weeks in the summer of 1987, presenting anti-drug programs to hundreds of youth. They taught the Faith in rural villages, established children’s classes and worked on construction of the annex to the National Bahá’í Center of that country. Their tests ranged from the impossible to the unbearable—but they have said they would do it all again.]

Youth can move the world

In its historic message of January 3, 1984, to the youth of the world, the Universal House of Justice issued a challenge to the young people living on our planet: "Undoubtedly it is within your power to contribute significantly to shaping the societies of the coming century; youth can move the world."

The Universal House of Justice points out that "the native urge of youth to move from place to place," and "their astounding zeal..." must lead them to a "mighty mobilization of teaching activities...."

They further state: "One pattern of this mobilization could be short term projects in other lands, dedicated to both teaching the Faith and improving the living conditions of people."

[A young Bahá’í college student volunteered for his year of service. He was placed as an assistant teacher at a bilingual school, the school being a social and economic development project directed by the Bahá’ís of this South American country. The young man’s duties included teaching moral training classes to children at the elementary level, working with the parents of students, and helping with maintenance at the school. His letters home spoke of the tests he faced, his newfound reliance on God, and his prayer to serve as a pioneer after completing his education.]

Crucial questions

Since 1984, the Continental Board of Counselors has been involved in constant consultation with the 41 National Spiritual Assemblies in the Western Hemisphere, working to find a suitable response to this historic and urgent challenge issued by the Universal House of Justice.

The spontaneous response by scores of youth who have already left North America to serve in Third World countries or at the Bahá’í World Center has been gratifying.

Hundreds more of our youth are seriously planning their own service. Certainly our consultation must take on a greater urgency to help these young people with their noble desires.

As we have examined how we might help them, four major issues requiring our attention have emerged. They are best expressed in four crucial questions directed to the four populations most affected by the call of the Universal House of Justice:

1. To the youth: Have you carefully and prayerfully examined your dedication, motivation, maturity, goals, timing, knowledge of the Teachings, health and service experience?

2. To the community sending the youth: Are the right youth chosen and are they well-prepared to meet the challenges awaiting them?

3. To the community receiving the youth: Is the community set up to welcome, orient, integrate and mobilize the youth in Bahá’í service?

4. To the parents: Are we willing to help our children reject "the low sights of mediocrity [and] let them scale the ascending heights of excellence in all they aspire to do"? Are we willing to support and encourage and even love their service to the Cause of God and to humanity?

[A Persian teen-ager (fourth generation Bahá’í) attending a top college was barely making average grades. Although he had fuzzy ideas about becoming a physician, his grades were making that possibility remote. He went on a summer medical service project to a Third World island. After seeing with his own eyes the poverty and need for even the most basic health care, he returned to college, motivated as never before. Now he is doing very well in medical school, much to the surprise and delight of his parents. He wants to return to that island to help his friends.]

The immediate challenge

Excited and motivated youth often find that their parents are not eager to help support them in their service, or even to let them go. Parents worry about timing (it may interfere with school or other plans), the youth’s maturity, or his/her motivation.

Many times youth appeal for someone to talk to parents and "convince them" to let their children go. The rule of thumb might be this: if you can’t make a plan for the completion of your education, and if you can’t convince your own parents, wait! You are not ready yet! Get yourself ready and able to serve. Like the old saying: Save the world...after you clean up your room!

Parents would do well to remember that the experience of those valiant youth who have already arisen to serve has shown that this extended service is a priceless education, an opportunity to serve selflessly and completely, a chance to interact with other cultures, to learn about the needs of our world, and to learn, most significantly, about oneself and one’s relationship to our Faith. It is, indeed, a major stepping stone in a lifetime of service to our Cause.

The Youth Year of Service is not yet well known among many of the friends, but it is a topic of constant conversation among the youth. The Universal House of Justice has indicated that this type of youth service will certainly become a permanent part of Bahá’í culture.

Right now, all over the world, National Spiritual Assemblies are establishing programs to channel and send youth, receive youth, orient them, and support their efforts. In the words of the Universal House of Justice: "It would accrue to the strength and stability of the community if such patterns [of service] could be followed by succeeding generations of youth."

In the years to come, young Bahá’í families will raise their children to plan for a period of service. "Youth service veterans" will visit their classes, sharing their experiences with children and parents. Local Spiritual Assemblies will help youth in every aspect of this worthwhile activity.

Our youth will be protected from adopting the mediocre goals of a dying civilization. They will be informed of the real needs of the world from first-hand experience, and they surely will be motivated by their experience to deliver an ever-increasing measure of the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh to a world so much in need.

[A 19-year-old girl volunteered to go to Africa. She was given her own hut in a village. For eight months she taught a literacy program to young girls and women, and established children’s classes. In many ways, she helped plant the seeds of change in that village. The generation of young women who learned to read and write with this youth’s love and encouragement will challenge the old patterns of oppression and poverty in that society. In the face of that kind of empowerment, growth and improvement will take place. The young woman who gave of herself in that period of service is astonished by her own spiritual growth. In Africa, she made some of the dearest friends she will have in her life. She is now back in a U.S. university, studying with mature intensity, preparing for the rest of her "life of service."]

TRAVELING TEACHERS

Area / Country	Goal	Filled
Ukraine	100	191
Kazakhstan	6	10
CIS (Other Republics)	150	265
Bulgaria	5	15
Czechoslovakia	30	68
DDR/East Germany	10	10
Hungary	35	25
Poland	15	31
Romania	10	27
Yugoslavia	40	9
Mongolia	4	2
China	35	102
Totals	440	760

No matter what they choose

One or two years of service, local youth projects, college club service, traveling teaching in the summer, a period of service in Haifa or Wilmette, studies overseas, or a life devoted to pioneering—whatever the young Bahá’í in your home or community chooses, youth must be constantly involved in the motions of selfless service to humanity. The Universal House of Justice makes it crystal clear: "Regardless of the modes of service, however, youth must understand to be fully engaged, at all times, in a climes and under all conditions."

For more information about the Youth Year of Service around the world, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-869-9039; fax 708-869-0247).

More than 100 take part in 'Service Weekend' at Louhelen planned by Bahá’ís in Cleveland area

More than 100 people took part November 7-8 in a "Service Weekend" at the Louhelen Bahá’í School.

Planned by a group of Bahá’ís from areas around Cleveland, Ohio, this significant volunteer effort contributed more than 800 man-hours of help to Louhelen’s maintenance and grounds upkeep.

Besides the benefit of having such a large quantity of labor to help with ongoing projects, the inclusion of many skilled professionals in the work force enabled progress to be made on a number of other projects that, without the presence of capable volunteers, would have required the purchase of expensive professional services.

People of all ages participated. It was especially uplifting to see the "mini-Bahá’í" work crews (children) spreading mulch around trees and shrubs with great devotion to the task. The young Bahá’ís walked a vast distance with buckets in hand, going back and forth from mulch piles to trees.

The well-organized effort included advance planning by a volunteer committee that inventoried skills in the community, organized work crews, planned for needed materials, and handled pre-registration. An evening program with a speaker and social activities completed this remarkable community event.

Cleveland-area youth had attended a youth conference last summer at Louhelen with this significant service weekend planned in lieu of payment of fees.

ABS Agriculture Seminar to discuss challenges

When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke in Montreal, Canada, in 1912, He emphasized the importance of agriculture and the general storehouse (Star of the West, December 1922).

The Association for Bahá’í Studies Agriculture Seminar will meet June 18 in Montreal to exchange ideas on how we can apply the Writings to the challenges of future agriculture.

Bahá’u’lláh says, "Special regard must be paid to agriculture..." (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 89-90), while ‘Abdu’l-Bahá calls agriculture "the fundamental basis of the community." (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 217)

All are invited to attend the Agriculture Seminar, which is a part of the 17th annual Conference of ABS. Any interested person is invited to submit a paper by March for possible presentation or distribution at the meeting.

For more information or to add your name to the mailing list, please contact the Seminar’s corresponding secretary, Nancy McIntyre, Route 3, Box 51-D, Floyd, VA 24091 (phone 703-745-2918; fax 703-745-3616).

"O Friends! Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty that must die, and set not your affections on this mortal world of dust." —Bahá’u’lláh [Page 5]

Progress Update November Year to Date

Nov-92 Contributions National Bahá’í Fund Nov-90 $5,000,988 Nov-91 $5,315,845 $5,853,404 Bahá’í International Fund $312,417 $567,089 $250,009 Arc Projects Fund $2,193,366 $458,618 $410,060 Continental Bahá’í Fund $159,897 $108,374 $119,721 Estate Bequests $387,559 $451,635 $8,054,227 $6,901,561 $1,720,001 $8,353,195 90/92 91/92 17% -20% 10% -56% -81% -25% -11% 10% 344% 281% 4% 21% Percent Change National Bahá’í Fund Bahá’í International Fund Arc Projects Fund Continental Bahá’í Fund Estate Bequests Manual and Automatic Contributions as of December 12, 1992 Local Assembly Contribution Goals Aggregate Total Commitments Aggregate Total Contributions Number of LSAs Contributing Portion of Year Elapsed Average Percent of Goal Met $8,876,597 $2,336,023 1,062 63% 26%

3 Bahá’ís take part in conference of American Academy of Religion

The annual conference of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) was held November 21-24 in San Francisco. Because the event coincided with the Bahá’í World Congress in New York City, the Bahá’í presence at AAR was smaller than usual this year. There was no Bahá’í Publishing Trust booth, and only three Bahá’ís attended the AAR. Nevertheless, a Bahá’í Studies program with three papers was held, and two papers were delivered by Bahá’ís on themes related to the Faith in other sessions of the AAR.

On Saturday, November 21, the Bahá’í Studies Colloquy was held. This year the program was not a regular part of the AAR, but was held immediately before the AAR session began and was listed as an "additional meeting."

The details of the meeting appeared in the annual meeting guide, so everyone had an opportunity to read about it. The papers presented were Todd Lawson's "Apocalyptic Motifs in the Writings of the Báb," which focused on the Súrih of Joseph as a work of apocalyptic literature; Robert Stockman's "The Bahá’í Faith: The History of the Efforts to Summarize Its Basic Teachings," which identified four phases in the Bahá’í community's understanding of its beliefs; and Paul Numrich's "The Bahá’í Faith: Its Treatment in Religious Studies Textbooks," which discussed the inadequacies of the treatment of the Faith in textbooks on religion. Dr. Numrich, who recently completed his doctorate in Buddhist Studies at Northwestern University, is not a Bahá’í but is interested in conducting research on the Faith.

On Saturday afternoon, Mr. Stockman presented a paper entitled "The American Bahá’í Community in the Nineties" to the New Religious Movements Group. An audience of more than 100 attended the session whose theme was "The Development and Maturation of New Religions."

On Monday afternoon, Mr. Lawson presented a paper on "Apocalypticism in Islam: The Báb’s Commentary on the Sura of Joseph," a different version of the paper he gave at the Bahá’í Studies Colloquy, to an audience of about 40 at a "Study of Islam Section" that centered on Qur'anic studies.

About 7,000 people attend the annual meetings of the AAR, at which about 900 talks are given.

Hmong Bahá’í one of 68 Southeast Asian leaders invited to White House, State Dept.

Chue Chang, a Hmong Bahá’í from Sacramento, California, was among a group of 68 Southeast Asian community leaders invited by the U.S. State Department to attend meetings in early October at the White House and with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at United Nations headquarters in New York City.

The meetings were called to discuss the concern of the U.S. government for Southeast Asians in the U.S. and for Southeast Asian refugees still awaiting departure from refugee camps in Thailand and the Philippines. The government's concerns included relationships among countries, focusing mainly on Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

CHUE CHANG

The first meeting, held at the White House on October 5, marked the first time that a group of Southeast Asian community leaders was invited by the White House and State Department to discuss domestic and international issues affecting Southeast Asians.

Among these issues were drug abuse, gang activity, and employment difficulties due to a lack of marketable job skills. The discussion of international issues was centered on normalizing diplomatic relations with Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos (including POW and MIA situations), and the 1993 free election in Cambodia. The Southeast Asian leaders were asked to be prepared to help rebuild their native countries once relations have been normalized.

On October 6, Mr. Chang and other community leaders took part in a meeting at the State Department centering on U.S. policy regarding the admission of Hmong refugees, the repatriation of Hmong and other Southeast Asian refugees, and the suicides among those remaining in refugee camps, brought to the government's attention by the suicides of two Hmong women earlier this year at a camp in Thailand.

At the meeting, Mr. Chang received first-hand information about U.S. and UN policies regarding the admission of Hmong refugees to the U.S., and was able to mention the efforts being made by the Bahá’í community to help Southeast Asian refugees, both in the refugee camps and in the U.S.

Later that day, after touring government offices in Washington, Mr. Chang and the other community leaders traveled to New York to meet with representatives of non-governmental organizations and discuss possible UN help for Southeast Asian refugees.

Before going to New York, Mr. Chang had visited the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs in Washington and attended the Bahá’í District Convention there, where he was invited to give a brief talk about how to reach Southeast Asian Bahá’ís in the Washington area.

Elizabeth Flores Velasquez (center), executive director of the Greater Dallas (Texas) Community Relations Commission, accepts a copy of "The Vision of Race Unity" from Bahá’ís Mark Todd and Susan Rauscher. The presentation was part of the project, "A Call to Eliminate Racism," being carried out by the Race Unity Task Force of the Spiritual Assembly of Dallas.

Dallas issues ‘Call to Eliminate Racism’

The Race Unity Task Force of the Spiritual Assembly of Dallas, Texas, has raised "A Call to Eliminate Racism," one of the largest projects of its kind ever undertaken in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

The project is designed to meet the immediate and long-term goals of presenting to area leaders copies of the statement "The Vision of Race Unity: America's Most Challenging Issue."

As of November, the statement had been presented to more than 30 civic, religious, government and educational leaders in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

Some 38 North Texas Bahá’í communities are supporting the project. Many Bahá’ís in the area have arranged their schedules to make themselves available for the presentations.

During a recent Native American observance, Mary Helen Deer Smith, director of the Dallas Inter-Tribal Council, quoted from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh contained in the statement, saying that the information in the statement is what is needed not only by Native American peoples but by the world as a whole.

A luncheon was held November 9 to acquaint even more local leaders with the contents of the statement. Close to 500 invitations were sent to media, local and state government officials, and leaders of various ethnic and cultural organizations, religious groups, and educators, more than half of whom responded "yes" to the invitation.

The luncheon's keynote speaker was Judge James F. Nelson, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly.

As a part of the project, the Task Force asked local communities to ask their mayors to proclaim November 1992 "Race Unity Month." Eleven communities obtained signed proclamations, which were displayed at the luncheon.

Presentations of the statement are to continue until Ridván 1993.

UPCOMING PIONEERING INSTITUTES

March 1993—Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine. May 1993—Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, Illinois. June 1993—Louhelen Bahá’í School, Davison, Michigan. Labor Day weekend 1993—Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina.

If you are interested in pioneering, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 or telephone 708-869-9039 or fax 708-869-0247 for more information. [Page 6]

Special Limited Editions

Call to Remembrance: Connecting the Heart to Bahá’u’lláh

Compiled by ‎Geoffry Geoffrey‎ W. Marks HC $20.00

A compilation of extracts primarily from Bahá’u’lláh’s writings telling the story of many major events in His life and ministry, from His extraordinary childhood and youth to His ascension and the inauguration of His Covenant. Brief explanatory passages provide context for the extracts. Call to Remembrance was published to commemorate the centenary of Bahá’u’lláh’s ascension. By bringing together passages not found together elsewhere and telling the story of His life mostly in His words, the book gives a sense of immediacy and emotional intensity not found in traditional biographies and histories.

For seekers and Bahá’ís the book is an excellent introduction to the subtleties and sublimities of Bahá’u’lláh’s life. It is also a valuable resource for drawing closer to Bahá’u’lláh’s will and purpose and gaining a view of His life that ‎lead leads‎ to what the Universal House of Justice calls a “rendezvous of the soul with the Source of its light and guidance”—a “retreat to one’s innermost being, to the dwelling-place of the Spirit of Bahá, that interior to which He summons us when He says: ‘Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful, and self-subsisting.’”

308 pp., preface, references, events in the life of Bahá’u’lláh, glossary, bibliography

Dr. Muhájir

by Irán Furútan Muhájir HC $40.00 SC $29.95

A long-awaited biography about ‎hand a Hand‎ of the Cause of God and Knight of Bahá’u’lláh, Dr. Muhájir. This is a story of a man who created an atmosphere of love, trust, and humble fellowship wherever he went. The special qualities which endeared him to his friends—his compassion, generosity, sincerity, and humor—are vividly recalled. His genuine empathy with the common folk in each country, which enabled him to bring thousands upon thousands of indigenous peoples to the Faith, is brilliantly revealed.

A rich variety of sources have been brought together for the first time in this book in order to celebrate the life of the ‘champion of mass teaching,’ including: extracts from Dr. Muhájir’s diary, personal recollections of Bahá’ís transformed by his guidance and example, more than 200 photographs illustrating Dr. Muhájir’s journeys around the globe, letters and reports of Spiritual Assemblies and the Universal House of Justice, special chapters devoted to his travels and teaching in Indonesia, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific, Europe, North America, and South and Central America, and Dr. Muhájir’s own proposals for proclamation, enrollment, and consolidation in different parts of the world.

This splendid new book will touch the hearts of all those who remember Dr. Muhájir. It also presents new generations with the example of a life dedicated to emblazoning the Name of Bahá’u’lláh around the globe. It will inspire all who read it to commit themselves to a campaign of personal teaching befitting the Holy Year.

5-3/8" x 8-3/4", 686pp., contents, about the author, acknowledgments, introduction, foreword, preamble, appendix, notes and references, index Bahá’í Publishing Trust - UK

Multifaith Calendar 1993

CA $8.50

A beautifully produced calendar which details the holidays and holy days of the world’s great religions. Brief explanations are included for the holy days of the following religions: Aboriginal Peoples, Bahá’í Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Unitarianism, and Zoroastrianism. A table containing a summary of the world’s religious festivals is printed at the back. Each month features an attractive full-color reproduction of original artwork, printed on high-quality glossy stock. This calendar will be a favorite for Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís as well!

10-1/2" x 13-7/16" Canadian Ecumenical Action

Transform My Spirit

by Bahá’u’lláh SC $7.00

A selection of twenty prayers of Bahá’u’lláh in English, Spanish, and French compiled especially for the Holy Year to help Bahá’ís recommit themselves to Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant, rededicate themselves to duty, and revitalize their energy for teaching. The prayer book is organized around an entire day devoted to prayer and meditation on Bahá’u’lláh and His Covenant. Morning prayers about depending on God and developing one’s spiritual nature are followed by prayers for help in teaching and reaching receptive souls, remaining steadfast in God’s commandments, and asking for strength, healing, and spiritual constancy. Evening prayers on committing oneself to God’s will and resting in His care and protection carry through to the day’s end the theme of constantly turning to God.

The book concludes with the three obligatory prayers. Published to commemorate the centenary of Bahá’u’lláh’s ascension and the inauguration of His Covenant, Transform My Spirit is one of the commemorative items sold at the World Congress. It is an excellent resource for personal devotions and can help Bahá’ís fulfill their pledge to the Covenant by reciting the verses of God in the morning and evening. It is also an appropriate gift for seekers, for it offers an excellent sampling of general prayers. One World Congress attendee who bought the prayer book for herself returned the next day to buy five more copies, saying, “The prayers are general enough that I can give the book to friends and family who are not Bahá’ís.”

9-1/4" x 7-1/4", 73pp., contents Bahá’í Publishing Trust U.S.

Forever in Bloom

by Raghu Rai and Roger White HC $75.00

An art photography book, commissioned by The Universal House of Justice, capturing the breath-taking beauty of the India temple in all four seasons. The text is written by well-known Bahá’í author Roger White, and provides interesting insights into the history of the construction period of the India temple and bears eloquent testimony to the spirit and teachings of the Faith in India and throughout the world. A letter written on behalf of The Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India, states: As this beautiful edifice has achieved wide international fame, the publication of a tasteful and artistic rendering of it by a master photographer was very timely, indeed. This book, entitled “Forever in Bloom”, will be a beautiful addition to any Bahá’í library, and a highly suitable gift for dignitaries and non-Bahá’í contacts on special occasions.

9" x 13", 127 pages, 102 photographs Time Books International

The Bahá’ís, Magazine

Bahá’í International Community Office of Public Information SC $2.25

Like nothing ever produced on the Faith, The Bahá’ís is an inexpensive but comprehensive and highly readable 80-page magazine-style booklet conveying the teachings, history, and present-day activities of the worldwide Bahá’í community. Produced by the Bahá’í International Community’s Office of Public Information, The Bahá’ís is written in an informative, non-proselytizing style, and makes extensive use of color photographs, graphic charts, time-lines and maps to give a panoramic overview of the Faith’s dramatic progress and its relevance to today’s major global issues. It is ideal for almost any kind of teaching work, and is especially suitable for presentation to local officials, journalists, and other prominent people who need complete but concise information about the Faith.

8-1/2" x 11", 80pp. Produced by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom

Bridges

CS $9.95

This versatile vocal group’s first recording offers a wide range of musical traditions from a Capella jazz to blue grass. Original compositions by talented song-writers Steve Hampton and Greg Shaw provide an exciting medium for Bridges’ diverse performing style. The songs speak to many Bahá’í themes: the openness of the human family, world peace, detachment. The tape ‎include an includes a‎ haunting yet triumphant story of the trial of Zarrin Maqimi who was a martyr in 1983; a tender love song inspired by the Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the Greatest Holy Leaf, and a beautiful musical setting for the writings of the Báb. A joyous blue grass piece talks about progressive revelation in a close harmony, country gospel style. Something for everyone!

32 minutes

Order now through the Bahá’í Distribution Service • 1-800-999-9019

SULTAN B.E. 149 / JANUARY 19, 1992 [Page 7]

Videotapes

Lasting Remembrances The complete proceedings of the 2nd Bahá’í World Congress $60.00 (net)

This special ten-hour video set features the following: complete coverage of each of the four plenary sessions, compete live transmission from the Bahá’í World Centre, music featuring 400 voice choir and 70 piece orchestra, dramatic presentations about the heroes and heroines of the Faith, talk by the Hand of the Cause of God Ruhiyyih Khanum and participants' stories 10 Hours

RACISM

T-SHIRTS 100% COTTON IN SIZES S-M-L-XL $10.00 EACH JUST UNDO IT

BUTTONS 2" SQUARE $1.00 EACH DELUXE PIN-BACK JUST UNDO IT

SWEAT-SHIRTS 100% COTTON IN SIZES M-L-XL-XXL $15.00 EACH

Cooperative Peace Strategies

edited by John Davison and Marjorie Tidman HC $18.00

The twentieth century has witnessed a degree of social change and technological progress which has no adequate precedent in recorded history. It has produced a global society with unique opportunities for human development, but afflicted by deep divisions and inequalities, and impoverished in its resources for dealing with conflicts.

The changes continue, running an apparently unpredictable course and testing all aspects of the political, economic, social and moral order. Nor is their gravity diminishing.

One interpretation of the meaning of these changes is that the human race is growing up. Old solutions no longer suffice, but the new remain unrealized because their adoption requires new thoughts and a new outlook. The basis of this outlook is the unity of the human race is the first reality. By embracing it a new perspective is achieved in which the solution of the other problems becomes possible.

Cooperative Peace Strategies takes this step and then addresses the interlocked problems of:

• Communication and the mass media
• Fostering skills in social interaction
• Social and economic development and the environment
• Developing global political and economic structures
• Involving the people in the peace process

6" x 8-1/2", 244pp., contents, introduction Bahá’í Publications Australia

World Congress Commemorative Video

VT $22.00

Three short video segments which were shown during the main program of the Bahá’í World Congress. These segments were shown on the second, third, and fourth days of the Congress.

The first video, "The City of the Covenant," provides a visual glimpse of the city of New York as it was in 19122. It explains the significance of the Master's many activities in the City of the Covenant, emphasizing how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's talks and statements, made so early in the 20th Century in New York, relate directly to the principal challenges which lay before the Bahá’í Community and the entire world. The second video, "The Victories of the Covenant," highlights the tremendous victories of the Bahá’í Community following the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. It recounts briefly and vividly how obedience and reliance on Bahá’u’lláh's Covenant have generated and accumulating series of achievements from 1921 through 1992. The third video, "Humanity's Encounter with Bahá’u’lláh," looks at the current convergence of the destiny of humanity with the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh. It looks to the future as more people throughout the world come to see in Bahá’u’lláh's Revelation the answers to toady's and the coming century's most pressing challenges. 39 minutes

Bahá’í Newsreel Vol. 3 No. 3

VT $16.00 (net)

This special one-hour edition of the Bahá’í Newsreel highlights events of the World Congress. The events include: the Formal Opening of the World Congress, Theme Pavilion: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in New York City, highlights of Ancillary Events and the Youth Movement Forum 60 minutes

The Prisoner of Akka

VT $32.00

The Holy Year has provided the occasion for a remarkable collaboration between the Bahá’í International Community and professional film-makers. BIC's Office of Public Information challenged producers Faramarz Ettehadieh and Klaus Lintschinger to condiser developing a documentary film that could truly "emblazon the name of Bahá’u’lláh across the globe." The team was delighted when Robert Guenette, and award winning documentary film-maker with international reputation, agreed to write and direct the film now entitled The Prisoner of Akka. Principal photography took place on location in the Holy Land during May and June of 1992. 28 minutes

Ordering Information

Please detach and mail Bahá’í Distribution Service/1-800-999-9019 5397 Wilbanks Dr., Chattanooga, TN 37343 FAX 1-615-843-0836

Ordered by: (Please print or type) Name_ Address City State Zip Daytime Phone:

Circle one: AMEX MasterCard VISA Check Money Order on Account Expiration Date: Account Number:

QTY TITLE COST AMOUNT (Please add 15% for shipping to address outside the U.S.) TOTAL [Page 8]

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS...

DAVID FREEMAN, a Bahá’í from Miamisburg, Ohio, has been chosen by the National Weather Association as its Television Broadcaster of the Year for 1992. The award is the highest honor given to a TV broadcaster by the Association, which includes non-broadcast meteorologists in its membership. Mr. Freeman, who is chief broadcast meteorologist for the CBS affiliate in Dayton, also does a weekly weather and environment feature, "Watching Over Your World," for WLGI Radio Bahá’í in Hemingway, South Carolina. The innovative program uses environmental topics to teach Bahá’í principles.

DUANE L. HERRMANN, a Baha’i from Topeka, Kansas, who is a professional writer and poet, has earned recognition recently from a number of sources. His poem "Rolling Seas" was chosen by the East and West Literary Foundation of San Francisco for inclusion in American Poets of the 1990s, to be published in 1993; a poem entitled "Pilgrimage" will be included in Vol. XIX (1983-86) of The Baha’i World; and another poem, "Family Plowing," was used in a creative writing text published recently by Johnson County Community College. As a result of these and other accomplishments, Mr. Herrmann has been chosen by the International Biographical Center of Cambridge, England, for inclusion in the next edition of the Dictionary of International Biography. He already is included in the International Authors and Writers Who's Who and Who's Who in Writers, Editors and Poets. In 1989, Mr. Herrmann received the Robert Hayden Poetry Fellowship from the Louhelen Baha’i School and now serves on the steering committee for the Fellowship.

Three Baha’is were among the eight American Indians recognized at this year's Cultural Awards Ceremony sponsored by the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission. ALVINA ALBERTS, of the Devil's Lake Sioux Reservation; FRANCIS CREE, of the Turtle Mountain Reservation; and PATRICIA LOCKE, from Standing Rock, were honored for their services as cultural educators working to promote the preservation of American Indian culture. The governor of North Dakota attended the event and presented the awards on behalf of the Commission.

DR. JELVEH LAMEH, a Bahá’í who is an assistant research pharmacologist at the University of California-San Francisco, has received the Scientist Development Award of $400,000 over five years from the National Institute of Mental Health.

VAHID FARZANEH, a 14-year-old Bahá’í from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, won first place in this year's regional National History Day competition for his research paper, "The Effect of the Islamic Revolution on the Bahá’í Community of Iran." At his eighth-grade graduation ceremony last June, Vahid received a number of awards including the Presidential Academic Fitness Award, the Principal's Award for Academic Achievement, the Outstanding Achievement in Spanish, and the Ohio Math League Contest award.

AHMAD AKRAMI, a Bahá’í from Westminster, Colorado, has been chosen as one of four Entrepreneurs of the Year for the state by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Akrami is president and CEO of TechniStar, a company that manufactures robotics and automated systems for the computer, food and airline industries.

TAMMY PALMER, a 17-year-old Bahá’í from Columbia, South Carolina, was elected Governor of South Carolina Girls' State this year and was one of two delegates from the state to attend Girls' Nation in Washington, D.C. Ms. Palmer is a senior at Dreher High School in Columbia.

GEORGE HATKE, a 14-year-old Bahá’í from Schenectady, New York, won a Gold Medal in the 1992 Scholastic Art Awards competition for his oil painting, Harmony of Contrasts. The work was included in several Scholastic publications and later purchased by Scholastics for its permanent collection in New York City. Earlier, Mr. Hatke won two Gold Key awards, one for the painting and another for a drawing, in the Eastern New York state segment of the Scholastic competitions. Only 500 of some 200,000 entries nationwide were chosen for the final exhibition.

MICHELE MARIE FRANKEN, a Bahá’í who is an art education major at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, has been awarded the 1992-93 Snyder Art scholarship based on her 3.5 grade-point average and her portfolio. She is also a recipient of SMSU's "Upper Class Regents Scholarship."

SHARON ANN PORTER, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of the Town of Amherst, New York, is listed in the 1993-94 editions of Who's Who in the World, Who's Who Among Emerging Leaders in America, and Who's Who of American Women. A teacher for nine years in Ohio before moving to New York, Ms. Porter is studying for a Ph.D in comparative international education at SUNY-Buffalo.

CHRISTA SCHANDA, a Bahá’í from Castro Valley, California, recently had a number of her mixed-media paintings exhibited at the Shoreline Interpretive Center in Hayward. The exhibit, entitled "Energy Fields-The Mysterious Marshlands," explored the marshlands and the many threats they face from human interference. Ms. Schanda teaches art in the Hayward and Castro Valley school districts.

TIFFANY DARABI, an 11-year-old Bahá’í from Gainesville, Florida, took part recently in the Florida Kids' Forum '92, submitting the question, "Do you believe in the statement 'the earth is but one country and mankind its citizens'? If so, how would your belief influence your foreign policy decisions?" Her question was one of nine chosen from more than 2,000 submitted by elementary, middle and high school students to be asked of candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's District 5. She asked the question on a televised program, and the candidates' response was positive as they agreed that "the earth is but one country and mankind its citizens."

The recently acquired Bahá’í Center in Denver, Colorado.

Denver Bahá’ís purchase spacious new Center dedicated to Mr. Sears’ memory

Through audacity, prayer and the help of an anonymous Bahá’í donor, the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Denver, Colorado, recently purchased a magnificent Bahá’í Center. The 18,000-square-foot building and two adjacent parking lots were obtained for considerably less than the asking price.

"The anonymous donor offered a large sum toward the purchase of a Baha’i Center," said Behrooz Far, treasurer of the Spiritual Assembly of Denver, "but when the Center committee showed him this particular property, the donor was so inspired by its beauty and suitablility that the gift was immediately increased to ensure the purhase."

The purchase of a Center was proposed immediately following the passing of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, who had been scheduled to visit the area. The building, officially named the Metro Denver Bahá’í Center, is dedicated to Mr. Sears’ memory.

The three-story building was erected in 1916 by Denver's Second Church of Christ Scientist. Due to the congregation's declining numbers and the considerable cost of maintaining the structure, the congregation decided to sell the property last year.

One condition of the sale to the Bahá’ís is that the congregation will lease back limited use of the property (five hours on Sundays and four hours on Wednesdays) for the next four years. The Bahá’ís will have the use of the Center for five mutually agreed upon Sundays every year for weekend-long events, such as regional conferences and conventions.

The Center, at 225 E. Bayaud St. in Denver, is under the jurisdiction of the Spiritual Assembly of Denver, with its day-to-day supervision delegated to a Center board of directors. The board, made up of Bahá’ís from the Denver metropolitan area, has created four task forces to maintain the Center and promote its services.

"This Center is surely an indication from Bahá’u’lláh that the Bahá’í Faith in Colorado is about to explode," said Mr. Far, who also serves as chairman of the Center's board of directors. "We are preparing ourselves in every way imaginable to take full advantage of this clear and glorious opportunity."

The Center includes an 800-seat auditorium with built-in public address system, mother-of-pearl windows and skylights, many classrooms and offices, a nursery, a large foyer and a pipe organ. It will be home to Feasts and Holy Days, the Gemstone Bahá’í School (a metro-wide Sunday school for children), a Bahá’í bookstore and lending library, weekly youth meetings and events, a Saturday-evening lecture series on the Faith, and a number of other events.

One of the Board's task forces is investigating use of the Center for social and economic development projects in the community, so future use may include literacy classes, adult education and other outreach activities.

Assemblies and individual Bahá’ís throughout Colorado have already begun pledging monthly contributions for maintenance, improvement and repayment of the personal loan for the property. Many items also have been donated to the Center, including a computer and printer, appliances, and a bronze-cast bust of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá created and donated by nationally renowned Bahá’í sculptor Rik Sargent.

Bahá’ís who wish to visit the Center are asked to call the board of directors at 303-744-6456 well in advance of their arrival. Visitors also are welcome to drop in on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., when the Center is open for prayers, meditation and fellowship.

The Spiritual Assembly of Denver would like to remind those visiting the area that the Clark House, a private home visited by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His stay in Denver, also is open to visitors who make arrangements in advance.—Jordis Langness Ruhl

Detroit-area Bahá’ís sponsor talk to aid racial understanding

On November 18, Bahá’ís from Detroit and Grosse Pointe, Michigan, co-sponsored a talk by Vivian Buffington, director of race relations with New Detroit Inc., to promote interracial understanding.

The talk, entitled "True Colors," included a video tape presentation of a part of ABC-TV's "Prime Time" program depicting incidences of racial prejudice.

About 25 people attended the event including U.S. Congressman John Conyers and two members of his staff; Judge Maureen Reilly of the Michigan Court of Appeals; Roland Hwang, Assistant Attorney General for Michigan, and his wife; Tom Kauffman, a member of the board of directors of the Racial Justice Center of Grosse Pointe; and Ellen Ha, representing the Korean-American community. The majority of those attending were not Bahá’ís. [Page 9]

Administration

National Teaching Committee, is working to establish four Regional Teaching Committees to begin with—for the Northeast, South, West and Midwest, the same regions outlined by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine Plan. The National Assembly expects that future growth will lead to the formation of more regional committees.

Although the U.S. has had Regional Teaching Committees in past years, these committees will be different in that they will include permanent offices. In this way the committees will be able to discharge more thoroughly their own responsibilities while taking up certain duties once handled at the national level.

Another aspect of the plan is that, in addition to providing more efficient communication and implementation of teaching strategies, there will be enough flexibility to allow for shifts in focus and for the special challenges faced in each region. In all of their activities the committees will be supported by their regional offices and staff.

Regional Coordinators to be chosen

Of particular importance to the plan will be the Regional Teaching Operations Coordinators, who will manage each of the regional teaching offices. They will be responsible for assisting the implementation of decisions made by the regional committees.

The Regional Teaching Operations Coordinators will be full-time employees of the National Spiritual Assembly and will be chosen based on the skills and qualifications needed for the position (see ad on page 10). The National Spiritual Assembly encourages anyone interested in these positions to contact the Office of Human Resources at the Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-869-9039).

Teaching work should continue

The National Spiritual Assembly has received many questions about the Regional Teaching Committees during the last several months, especially from those concerned about how the new structure will affect current teaching activities, many of which are overseen by District Teaching Committees.

The National Teaching Committee is working on detailed plans for the future operation of the teaching work, and urges the District Teaching Committees not to slow down their teaching work. Rather, they should carry on wholeheartedly, even extending their efforts, with confidence that their valuable enterprises will be continued. The essential thing to remember, the committee points out, is that the purpose of Bahá’í administration is to stimulate the teaching work.

In this year’s Ridván message from the Universal House of Justice, each individual believer is called upon to "mount a personal campaign of teaching" during the Holy Year, thereby setting the stage for launching the Three Year Plan in 1993. Based on this directive, the National Teaching Committee believes that we should carry on with our business and even redouble our efforts to take advantage of the momentum generated by the recent World Congress.

The House of Justice, in its satellite message broadcast to the World Congress, stated that the Bahá’í community "must advance rapidly toward the next phase in its evolution" if it is to meet the urgent challenges of the present day. We must anticipate "a deep encounter with the forces operating with such bewildering ferocity throughout the world." The restructuring now being undertaken is a step in that direction, which will ultimately lead to a greater unity and strength than we have ever enjoyed before.

Malaysian Bahá’í visits two California communities

At the invitation of the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office, Kanna Baran, a Bahá’í of Malaysian background, visited Modesto and Stockton, California, December 1-4 to meet with the Bahá’ís and teach them about reaching and consolidating people of Southeast Asian background.

While serving as a pioneer in Thailand, Mr. Baran worked in refugee camps and taught the Faith for a number of years. He arrived in Modesto on December 1 and was hosted by a family of Laotian Bahá’ís during his stay there. This enabled him to visit and befriend many other Laotian Bahá’ís.

On December 2, a large Bahá’í gathering was held in Modesto for Mr. Baran to talk about teaching and consolidating Southeast Asians. An exceptionally diverse group of Bahá’ís attended, as many people from other countries extended their stay in the U.S. after the World Congress. Guests came from as far away as India and Samoa.

Mr. Baran shared the following insights and suggestions, which pertain to every local Bahá’í community where Southeast Asians reside:

•Goal-setting. Mr. Baran observed that gatherings are very nice; however, at the end of each meeting there should be a direction and goal set for the teaching and consolidation work.

•Individual teaching. Mr. Baran stressed the importance of continuing individual teaching while mass teaching continues. Individual teaching (bringing one friend into the Faith each year) should, he said, be broken down into three parts: (1) the first four months are to establish a friendship; (2) the second four months to teach deepen and empower the new believer to the Faith, and (3) the final four months to teach.

• Mass teaching. Mr. Baran emphasized that while targeting a group, at least one teacher should be of the same culture as the target group and one should be from another race or culture. He said that the teacher from the same culture builds trust while the teacher from the other culture adds prestige to the teaching institute.

On December 3, Mr. Baran traveled to Stockton with an American Bahá’í and a Laotian Bahá’í. There they attended a multi-racial gathering whose 25 attendees included 20 Cambodians and two Hmong.

Mr. Baran urged the Cambodian believers through a translator to "rise up and teach" the Faith. He also recommended that the Bahá’ís of Stockton obtain a Bahá’í Center and develop regular deepening classes for Asian believers.

Mr. Baran returned to Southeast Asia on December 4.

Kanna Baran (left), a Bahá’í from Southeast Asia and long-time pioneer to refugee camps in Thailand, is pictured with Dr. Heshmat Taeed, the first Bahá’í pioneer to Laos, during their visit to Wilmette, Illinois, following the second Bahá’í World Congress in New York City.

LETTERS

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

The American Bahá’í welcomes letters to the editor on any topic of general interest. The purpose of the "letters" column is to allow a free and open exchange of ideas and opinions, never to denigrate another's views or to attack anyone personally. Opinions expressed in these columns are those of the writers, and are not necessarily those of the National Spiritual Assembly or the editors. Letters should be as brief as possible (a 250-word maximum is suggested) and are subject to editing for length and style. Please address all letters to The Editor, The American Bahá’í, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

The World Congress

To the Editor:

I would like to thank everyone who was responsible for producing a most wonderful World Congress. Every aspect of the presentation was so professional, the music so excellent—I have not had such a spiritually ennobling experience in my entire Bahá’í life.

It was the highest quality spiritual immersion, and I feel its effects will be self-perpetuating. I know now, as I suspected before, that I have an immense family of spiritual strivers, brothers and sisters around the world, and I no longer feel so alone in my "Bahá’í-"-ness.

I cherish the memory of the many stimulating conversations I had with other Congress participants. People sometimes forget to say "thank you" even when they appreciate a gift. Love and thanks to all who made the event possible!

Constance Borrero Carol Stream, Illinois

To the Editor:

I hope that all of us who were able to attend the Bahá’í World Congress in New York have brought home and shared with others—young and old, Bahá’í or not—the experience of living in the Kingdom of God.

It is time for the soldiers of light to sacrifice as they never have before. The greatest sacrifice, for most of us, is not in time or money, but in letting go of old habits, ways of thinking, and opinions.

We must, diligently and with fervor, clean the dross from our spiritual mirrors, leaving not a speck of dust or a smudge, so that we are able to reflect the attributes of God as perfectly as we can.

The Army of Light must beam brightly and constantly in the darkness of the world. We must pray, meditate, study and obey the Laws of God with renewed determination. We must allow God to transform us into beings of light and grace. We must be His army of saints, fearless and virtuous.

"O My Friend! Thou art the day-star of the heavens of My holiness, let not the defilement of the world eclipse thy splendor. Rend asunder the veil of heedlessness, that from behind the clouds thou mayest emerge resplendent and array all things with the apparel of light." (The Hidden Words, Persian, No. 73)

For me, the World Congress was a confirmation of all the things I had learned before coming to New York. I could see and hear and feel the power of the Covenant, the power of Bahá’u’lláh.

As I sat in the chorus next to people from all over the world, people who exuded love and acceptance toward me and everyone else; as I saw a parade of nations march before my eyes, singing the praises of Bahá’u’lláh, I saw the hope as a reality, the dream come true. I could see the human spirit created in God's image: noble, good, creative, wise, powerful, glorious, light upon light reflecting the attributes of God.

Surely, the earth itself was surrounded by light. I was in heaven. And I know I will never be the same. We can all stand on the mountaintop and behold the Promised Land, for the Kingdom of God is on earth as it is in heaven.

Julian A. Daniels Waterloo, South Carolina

Landegg Academy hosts Development Forum

Forty Bahá’ís from 20 countries took part last September in a Development Forum at Landegg Academy in Switzerland organized by Hasan Sabri, director of the Office of Social and Economic Development (OSED) and Iraj Poostchi, secretary of the International Society for Agriculture and Rural Development (ISARD).

Dr. David Ruhe, a member of the Universal House of Justice, led off the week-long meeting with a talk on the importance of education and the potential of Bahá’í schools as models of excellence.

Mr. Sabri, Falariva Taafaki, Shariff Rushdy and others with development experience outlined the present status of Bahá’í schools and other development projects and plans.

Dr. Poostchi and daily panels discussed the formation and development of Bahá’í villages, with emphasis on the importance of agriculture as the basis of a community. [Page 10]

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 ads 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 and care in responding to them.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

THE BOSCH Bahá’í School is seeking a recreational leader for its 1993 summer program. This person will work up to 40 hours per week during the summer session-10/11 weeks during the summer program-and will be housed on campus. Pay consists of room and board and 20 hours per week at minimum wage. Qualifications include knowledge of basic recreational activities such as volleyball, swimming, ping pong, baseball/softball. In addition, the person hired will be expected to conduct exercise/aerobics classes and morning jogs/walks, and will be responsible for checking out and maintaining in an orderly fashion all athletic/recreational equipment. This individual should also be able to serve as a swimming pool lifeguard, and musical talent would be helpful for sing-alongs and participation as needed during evening programs. Those who are interested should send a letter of intent to the Bosch School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or phone 408-423-3387 (fax 408-423-7564). Boseh will send an application form to those who ask for it by letter, phone or fax. Those who apply should understand that transportation at Bosch is limited, and the school is a good distance from metro areas, shopping centers or public transport. Service in this position would begin in early June 1993.

THE LOUHELEN Bahá’í School has a regular and continuing need for short-term and long-term volunteers in a variety of areas. Applications to serve are especially invited from individuals and/or couples interested in one-year or longer periods of service. The school is seeking help from professionally skilled Bahá’ís able to serve the school for a few days or weeks at regular intervals throughout the year. Especially needed are mechanics; building maintenance and heating/air conditioning specialists; gardeners and agriculturalists; and carpenters to provide scheduled service at mutually convenient times during the year and to help with preventive maintenance programs, seasonally-urgent projects, and special property-enhancement projects. Also needed is a talented gardener or small-scale agriculturalist who can offer long-term full-time service to the school. Room and board and full participation in Louhelen's active Bahá’í conference schedule and community life are available for the person or couple invited to serve in this extremely important role. Those who are interested in any of these positions are asked to write to Dr. Rick Johnson, director, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033; fax 313-653-7181).

ASSISTANT cook: a full-time position during the summer program (10-12) weeks and part-time the rest of the year (20-30 hours per week depending on the session) at the Bosch Bahá’í School. Should have experience in food preparation for large groups-up to 150-breakfast, lunch and dinner. Knowledge of meal planning, menu preparation, nutrition and use of restaurant-type kitchen equipment would be helpful. Housing at Bosch may be available. Please send a letter of intent to the Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Phone 408-423-3387 or fax materials to 408-423-7564. Bosch will send application forms on receipt of letters of intent or phone/fax calls. A car is necessary, as the school is some distance from major shopping and population centers.

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

BAHÁ’ÍS are needed to ensure continued Assembly status in the active and ethnically diverse Bahá’í community of Glenwood Springs, Colorado (population 6,500), which I was blessed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s only rest stop during His visit to the West Coast in September 1912. Glenwood Springs is 160 miles west of Denver between Vail and Aspen amidst mountains and rivers with clean air; home of the world's largest hot springs pool with year-round seasonal sports, many job opportunities in the tourist industry, support services, retail, light industry, Colorado Mountain College, and an 80-bed hospital. For information, write to the Spiritual Assembly of Glenwood Springs, P.O. Box 491, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602, or phone Jean at 303-945-6955.

FLORENCE, Alabama, is an ideal place for homefront pioneers to consider. It has an incorporated Assembly but only six adult Bahá’ís at present. There is a university with accredited programs, low tuition, and a Bahá’í Club eager for new members. The University of North Alabama is a major employer, is looking for a director of student activities and a director for its laboratory school, among other positions, and is eager to employ minorities. Florence has a lovely southern climate and low cost of living, which makes it ideal for retirement living. Most important, the Bahá’ís in the area have worked diligently for years to prepare the soil for teaching success. For more information, please phone Jacquie Osborne, 205-764-1766 (evenings) or 205-760-4244 (days).

Regional Teaching Operations Coordinators sought

As part of the reorganization of the national administration, the National Spiritual Assembly is recruiting for four Regional Teaching Operations Coordinators for new Regional Teaching Offices.

The Regional Teaching Operations Coordinators (RTOCs) are full-time employees who report to Regional Teaching Committees and who assist in the implementation of directives/plans of the Regional Teaching Committee, manage the regional offices, and provide administrative/operations support to the regional teaching work. Skills and qualifications include: (1) In-depth knowledge of the Bahá’í writings and Administrative Order; (2) experience in serving on administrative bodies of the Faith; (3) background and proven accomplishments in teaching as it pertains to the Faith; (4) knowledge of Bahá’í communities and activities in the region; (5) proficiency in consultation, ability to inspire and empower others, experience in problem-solving, strategic analysis, and developing short- and long-term plans; (6) ability to implement and manage change; (7) experience in managing 3-7 direct reports; (8) proven success in interacting with a wide range of people; and (9) availability to travel extensively.

The skills and qualifications listed in 1-5 above also pertain to Regional Teaching Committee membership.

To apply for the Regional Teaching Operations Coordinators positions or to express interest in serving on your Regional Teaching Committee, please send your résumé to the Office of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone Human Resources at 708-869-9039.

HOLLYWOOD bound? Aspiring media artists: writers, directors, producers, cinematographers. Get started with the priority of "sacrifice" by pioneering to Malibu, a lovely film community by the ocean, to bolster its floundering Assembly. Commute to Los Angeles (studios, universities) and return to the fresh Pacific breezes, a haven amidst chaos. Please write to R.R., Malibu, CA 90265, or phone 310-457-5336.

HEY, you Bahá’ís in California! When you are thinking of moving to Oregon, try our lovely coastal city of Florence, midway between Coos Bay and Newport, and 60 miles (Route 126) west of Eugene. A friendly city; new public library and hospital. We are a small Group, and need more Bahá’ís to help us grow. We need diversity; it would be good for our city. For information, write to the Bahá’ís of Florence, P.O. Box 1845, Florence, OR 97439, or phone 503-997-8011.

DOCTORS and nurse practitioners are urgently needed to serve two Indian Reservations near Yuma, Arizona. Position for internal medicine, family practice (both should be Board certified or Board eligible within two years of completing residency), and a family nurse practitioner. Please phone Dr. Jeane Washington at 602-343-0320 or 619-572-0217.

THE NEWLY formed Group of Goodyear, Arizona, invites you to consider moving to this growing rural community 30 miles west of Phoenix. Surrounded by active Bahá’í communities, you can expect a warm welcome and loving support for your teaching efforts and in your Bahá’í life. Write to Goodyear, AZ 85338, or phone Elaine or Herb Moran, 602-386-7655.

WHEN you are thinking of moving to Oregon, try our lovely coastal city of Florence, midway between Coos Bay and Newport, 60 miles west (on Route 126) of Eugene. A friendly city with a new public library and hospital. We are a small Group, and need Bahá’ís to help us. We need diversity, and it would be good for our city. For information, write to the Bahá’ís of Florence, P.O. Box 1845, Florence, OR 97439, or phone 503-997-8011.

PICTURE THIS: a small community in the midst of a big city with all the amenities- many schools and colleges, two major universities, good employment opportunities, excellent shopping, sunny beaches, and more-and all within 10 minutes of the largest Bahá’í Center in Southern California. Come join the Culver Judicial District, low numbers but high in spirit. For information, write to P.O. Box 10355, Marina del Rey, CA 90295, or phone 310-822-3174 or 213-299-2218.

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

EMPLOYMENT opportunities overseas: AFRICA-Lesotho: retired couple to serve as caretakers at National Center. AMERICAS- Brazil: elementary school teachers, kindergarten teacher. Guatemala: caretaker couple. ASIA-Sakhalin: teachers. For more information on any of the above, please contact the Office of Pioneering at the Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091, telephone 708-869-9039 or fax 708-869-0247, Attn: Office of Pioneering.

URGENT NEED: The School of Nations in Brasilia, Brazil, needs a kindergarten teacher and two elementary school teachers. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering at the Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091, telephone 708-869-9039 or fax 708-869-0247, Attn: Office of Pioneering.

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: Edith Morrell, A. Lawrence Morris (died Albuquerque, NM, 1949), E. Lenore Morris, Marjory Morten (died New York, NY, 1958), Ethel Mortensen, Fred Mortensen (died Chicago, 1946), Kathryn Mortensen and W. Gray Moseley (died Chicago, 1952). Anyone knowing family members or 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, or to phone 708-869-9039.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking District Convention voting lists for 1952- 67 for Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri and Montana. Anyone having voting lists they could donate is asked to send them to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

WANTED

IN SEPTEMBER 1993 I will be a Bahá’í for 30 years, and am looking for the person who introduced me to the Faith. Her name is Diane Thomson (formerly of Madison, Wisconsin). If she should read this, or if anyone knows her, please have her phone Perry Stockland, 812-372-2336.

(For the benefit of those who have similar requests, the National Spiritual Assembly will forward mail to individuals in there is a known address. Send the name of the person you wish to contact to Membership and Records, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.-Ed.)

THE GREEN LAKE Bahá’í Conference Committee is looking for an IBM 386 or above compatible operating system to enhance our efficiency during committee meetings and at the conference. If anyone has such a system and would like to contribute it to our committee, please phone Kamran Mesbah, 608-873-3467 after 7:30 p.m. Central time.

WANTED to buy: a copy of the book, The Covenant. If you have an extra copy you'd be willing to sell, please phone Gary or Judy at 800-472-7075 (8 a.m.-5 p.m. Eastern time) or 616-889-5789 (evenings).

STORIES about children who have distinguished themselves through courage, humor, creativity and imagination in service to the Faith are being sought in research for a book on the subject. All submissions, from favorite family anecdotes to heroic deeds, are welcome. Please contact Pat Cameron, P.O. Box 38101, King Edward Postal Outlet, Vancouver, BC Canada V5Z 4L9, or phone 604-877-0179.

WANTED: illustrations for a children's course on the history of the Faith. Pen-and-ink, nothing complicated. If you are interested in helping, I can send you sample drawings and provide a resume of the stories, which are in Spanish. This course will be used in most countries of South America and will be loved by many children. Approximately 15 letter-sized (8 1/2 by 11) drawings are needed. Please reply to Mignon Witzel, Venezuela, South America.

AN OPPORTUNITY to be of service to the National Spiritual Assembly: NSA Properties Inc. is looking to purchase a 7-9 passenger van with automatic transmission (new or nearly new). The van will be used to transport members of the National Assembly and visitors to the Bahá’í National Center. For more information, Please contact Heather Marshman, NSA Properties Inc. Phone 708-256-6552.

FORUM, a new international Bahá’í magazine, is being published under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand. The quarterly magazine, whose purpose is to bring Bahá’ís closer together by promoting an exchange of information and ideas, invites contributions from writers. If you have something to offer, or would like more information about the magazine, please write to Forum, c/o The Marshall Family, Dunedin, New Zealand (phone/fax (64 3) 473-7279). [Page 11]

World News

In India, the recent William Sears Mass Teaching Campaign resulted in 5,544 enrollments and the formation of 15 new local Spiritual Assemblies. One hundred Bahá’ís attended a two-day Victory Conference at the end of the project.

Following a recent teaching institute in Burundil, the seven Bahá’ís who took part engaged in street teaching, enrolling more than 70 people in the Faith within two weeks. Also in Burundi, more than 50 new believers were enrolled during the summer by a traveling teaching group that visited the provinces of Kayanza Ngozo, Rutana, Kirundo and Gitega.

The first fruits of traveling teaching teams launched last August by the European Youth Council have become visible in Thessaloniki, Greece, where four people have embraced the Faith.

It was recently reported that during the Six Year Plan, seven islands in the East Leeward Islands group were opened to the Faith.

Leaders of thought in the fields of aid, development and the environment were among those who gathered last October 10-11 in Dublin, Ireland, for a conference entitled "The Earth Is But One Country: A New World Order, the Environment and Development." The event was organized by the National Spiritual Assembly. Non-Bahá’í speakers included environmentalist Mary O'Donnell, Prof. John Roberts of the Association of World Federalists, and Filomina Chioma Steady from the UNCED Office in Geneva. The Bahá’í speakers were Les Gornall, Philip Hainsworth, John Huddleston and Halldor Thorgeirsson.

Bahá’ís in Czechoslovakia welcomed a number of visitors last summer who helped emblazon the name of Bahá’u’lláh and proclaim His Cause in that country. First to arrive was American Indian dancer and musician Kevin Locke and his teen-age children who appeared on national television and radio during their tour. Next, the Italian musical group "Light in the Darkness" presented concerts in six cities. In Bratislava, the group performed in an orphanage where children made their teachers promise that they would be allowed to attend another concert taking place in that city the following day. The Spanish group "Dulcamara" visited six cities on a 10-day visit, attracting large audiences with the high quality of their music and the spirit of their concerts. Many people asked for information about the Faith, and in one city 10 people were enrolled.

In Belize, these four young Bahá’ís were among the 50 who took part in the Dr. Ahmadiyeh-Shirley Warde Teaching Campaign held from June 28 to August 10. As a result of the campaign, 122 men, women and children were enrolled in the Faith.

Last July, more than 300 guests including several nobles and chiefs joined 200 Bahá’ís for a banquet and talk on the Holy Year later described as "the most successful proclamation in the history of the Faith" in Vava'u, Tonga, an island (population 17,000) located some 200 kilometers north of the main island, Nuku'alofa. After a welcoming speech by National Spiritual Assembly member Sione Taumoefolau, an inspiring talk was given by Counselor Betty Benson.

Thirty-two Bahá’ís gathered in Kaunas, Lithuania, last September 25-27 for the first Bahá’í Youth Conference ever held in that country. One young person commented that since becoming Bahá’ís these youth have had the opportunity to "open their hearts" for the first time. "The participants left the conference full of the love of Bahá’u’lláh and the desire to teach."

In Hong Kong, Rosalie Tran (left), representing the Bahá’í International Community's Office of Public Information, and Bahá’í United Nations Representative Marco Kappenberger present a copy of the statement on Bahá’u’lláh to Rita Fan Tsui Lai Tai, a member of the Legislative and Executive Councils of the government of Hong Kong.

A University Colloquium was held last August at the University of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, to mark the centenary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh. The event was organized by Dr. Will van den Hoonaard, a Bahá’í professor at the university, who asked non-Bahá’í colleagues to make scholarly presentations on Bahá’í-related topics. The 30 participants in the Colloquium were welcomed by Dr. Robin Armstrong, president of the University of New Brunswick. Local Spiritual Assemblies in the area provided financial support for the event.

A "highly successful" public meeting was held last October in Amasya, Turkey, to mark the 129th anniversary of Bahá’u’lláh's journey through that city. About 120 people attended the event including the head of the Security Department, four security officers, the head of the Intelligence Department, two clergymen and four journalists.

During its first visit to Northern Ireland, the Irish Bahá’í choir "Turning Point" conveyed greetings from the Lord Mayor of Limerick to the Lord Mayor of Londonderry. The choir performed on city streets and gave a free concert in the Shantallow area, all of which generated a great deal of media coverage. In Limerick, where many choir members live, the group performed at a fund-raiser for Somalia during which members talked directly about Bahá’u’lláh.

Landegg hosts Agriculture/Development Conference

The Joint Conference of the Office of Social and Economic Development, Bahá’í World Center, and the International Society for Agriculture and Rural Development was held September 14-20 at Landegg Academy in Wienacht, Switzerland.

The Bahá’í social and economic development segment of the conference covered major areas of special interest and concerns of National Spiritual Assemblies, whether in developed or developing nations.

The agricultural part dealt with major themes related to the development of future Bahá’í villages.

The participants were grateful for and benefited from the presence of Dr. David S. Ruhe, a member of the Universal House of Justice, and his wife, Margaret.

The 1993 Conference of the International Society for Agriculture and Rural Development will be held November 22-29, 1993, at the Landegg Academy. Its theme will be "Agriculture: Nutrition, Diet and Health—A Bahá’í Perspective."

Proceedings of the 1991 International Workshop are now available from the secretary of ISARD, Dr. I. Poostchi, ILP, United Kingdom.

Transcripts of Public Radio segment on Faith available

On November 25, National Public Radio broadcast a seven-minute segment on the Faith on its daily news program, "All Things Considered." For a transcript of the program ($10) or an audio tape ($12.50), write to NPR, Washington, DC 20036, or phone 202-822-2000.

Craftsmen being recruited to work on Temple

A team of craftsmen and technicians is being recruited to work year round as members of the House of Worship staff to provide ongoing care of the highest quality. A master tuckpointer and apprentice tuckpointer will carry out small ornamental concrete repairs, repointing, caulking and masonry cleaning. An engineering technician will perform inspections and supervise record-keeping, materials testing and development. This team will lead additional craftsmen during the warm-weather months.

If you or someone you know has skills in any of these areas, please contact the Human Resources Department at the Bahá’í National Center (phone 708-869-9039). Youth with career interests in crafts may wish to apply for summer positions. Other craftsmen, technicians and building professionals are encouraged to enter our refererence data base of talent by sending a letter or résumé. [Page 12]آمده بودند و عادت که ملل و نحل عالم را گونه گون ساخته نادیده از قریب یکصد و هشتاد کشور مختلف گرد هم عالم را به نور اتحاد روشن ،نماید شرق و غرب را به پرتو نمی گیرد و در صدد محو و نابودی آنها بر نمی آید قوة محركة جديدی را ظاهر ساخت که از آغاز مرحلهٔ محبت و نور اتفاق منور کند ای بخشنده مهربان دلها (ترجمه) و بالاخره بکوشیم تا مردمان عالم تصدیق کنند که دیگری در سیر تکامل امر الهی حکایت میکند مرحله ای را به نفثات روح القدس زنده کن و روی ها را مانند شمع امر حضرت بها الله "منادی وفاداری وسیع تر و آمالی که قبلاً آشکار نبوده است با نهایت رضایت شاهد تأثیرات افروخته نما تا جهان را نورانی کنند و نفوس را رحمانی گسترده تر از آنچه تا کنون نسل بشر را الهام بخشیده جاذبه و تحول بخش تجلی وحدت و یگانگی که منبعث از .نمایند تونی بخشنده تونی دهنده و تونی مهربان ع ع و تاکید آن دارد که منافع و انگیزههای کیفیت روش و رفتار افراد ،احباست بودیم روح وحدت و ملی باید تابع احتیاجات مبرم جهانی متحد شود. اتحادی که در کنگره جهانی به صورت همگانی و در ابعادی بهانی از يك سو تمرکز افراطی را در نظام جهانی مردود وسیع تحقق یافت بدون تردید حاکی از بروز و جلوه می شمارد و از سوی دیگر برای یکنواختی و همانندی را رد جدیدی از حالات نفوسی است که تحت تأثیر حقایق و میکند زیرا شعار آئین بهائی وحدت در کثرت است فضائل امر حضرت بها الله پرورش می یابند. با تجلی چنین روحیهای در حقیقت یکی از مواهب پایدار سال مقدس را می باشد. (ترجمه) بر امر بسیار فی الحقيقه قابل ملاحظه است که همزمان با سال برأی العین ملاحظه می نمائیم. مقدس بهائی امور بسیار مهم دیگری نیز مورد تکریم و از افرادی که استعدادها و تخصص های خود را بزرگداشت قرار میگیرند که از قرنها پیش آغاز شده و صرف تأمين وسائل مربوط به تهیه مقدمات و اجرای برنامه مقدر بوده است که اثمار باشکوه آنها در روز موعود الهی این اجتماع وحدت بخش کردند و هزاران نفر داوطلب مشتاقی حاصل گردد میتوان دریافت که حل و فصل نهائی که در امور کنگره همکاری ،نمودند بی نهایت تحسین و مسائل مهمی که این جریانات به وجود آورده و به مرور صمیمانه تقدیر می شود. زمان تحول یافته اند در نظام جهان آرای حضرت بها الله امید آنکه پیروان جمال قدم جل اسمه الاعظم که تحقق خواهد یافت در اثر ظهور و بروز قوای مکنونه در عهد و میثاق الهی حال افکار خود را به تاریخ حماسه اثر حضرت در کنگره جهانی روحی تازه یافته اند در هر جا که هستند عبدالبهاء به غرب مخصوصاً آمریکای شمالی معطوف و در هر شرایط شخصی که زندگی میکنند برای پیشبرد میداریم که در نيويورك برای پیروان غربی خود مفهوم قوة محرکه ای که در اثر موفقیت اعجاب انگیز اعلان امر واقعی عهد و میثاق حضرت بها الله را تشریح فرمودند. الهی در مدینه میثاق تقویت ،گردید جرأت و شهامتی تازه این اقدام به يك معنى جنبة تجديد حیاتی داشت که تحکیم یابند و عزم و اطمینانی جدید از خود به منصه ظهور مبانی وحدت بین دنیای قدیم و جدید به صورت واحدی رسانند. جهانی را بشارت میداد اينك نيويورك كه حضرت عبدالبهاء بدان لقب "مدينة ميثاق" عطاء نمودند واقعه هشتاد سال قبل را منعکس می سازد در آن زمان نيويورك آستانه اصلی ورود به ارض موعود برای میلیونها مردمی بود که در جستجوی آفاقی جدید بودند حال نیز آن مدينه محل اجتماع پیشوایان ملل و مرکز بین المللی مربوط به حصول اتحاد در قلمرو سیاست است و در فضای آن آمال دنیانی موج میزند که در جستجوست تا امورش را انتظام بخشد امروز قلوب بهائیان در سراسر جهان متوجه مدينة ميثاق است که در آن هزاران نفر از خواهران و برادران روحانی آنان از جميع جهات کره ارض در دومین کنگره جهانی بهائی گرد آمده.اند حضور چنین جمعی که نماینده تنوع وسیع نژاد بشری ،است قدرت وحدت آفرین عهد و میثاقی را اثبات میکند که این نفوس برای ستایش و تکریم آن گرد هم جمع شده اند. در این فصل آغازها و بزرگداشت آغازها ما بهائیان برای مساعی خود ملاک و میزان جدیدی تعیین میکنیم که بسی دلیرانه تر و پایدارتر از قبل است. امید چنان است که مبانی وحدت الهى وحدت ادیان و وحدت نوع انسان را گفتار ما بیان کند و رفتار ما نشان دهد و آفتاب عليرغم قلت عدد وظیفه خود را در آستان جمال قدم و عهد و میثاق حضرتش و بالاخره در قبال همه جامعة انسانی به انجام رسانیم

خطاب به کنگره جهانی بهائی

در این هنگام که اعضای امریکائی جامعه بهائی و نیز میلیونها نفر از بهائیان در سراسر جهان صدمین سال درگذشت حضرت بها الله بنیانگزار آئین بهائی را تجلیل میکنند بسیار خوشوقتم که پیام درود خود را به شما ارسال دارم می دانم در حالی که بسیاری از شما برای شرکت در کنگره جهانی خود در نیویورک گرد هم آمده اید و یا در دیگر نقاط جشن سرور برپا داشته،اید آن عده از همکیشان خود را که از آزادی و مدارای دینی برخوردار نیستند در خاطر دارید و این در حالی است که آزادی و مدارای دینی در قطعنامههای گوناگون کنگرۀ خود بارها اظهار امیدواری کرده است که بهائیان در ایران که گهواره آئین شماست مجاز باشند که آداب و مراسم دینی خود را چنانکه در منشور جهانی حقوق بشر تضمین شده است به جا آورند تعالیم بهائی درباره مدارای دینی و وحدت عالم انسانی و ترك تعصبات و تساوی حقوق زن و مرد و صلح عمومی اصولی را در بر دارد که تمامی مردمان خیرخواه آن را می ستایند و از آن پشتیبانی می کنند در این هنگام که زندگی و آثار حضرت بها الله را گرامی میدارید من نیز به شما می پیوندم و دعا میکنم که تحقق این اصول اساسی را در همه سرزمین ها ..ببینیم آرزو دارم این مراسم بزرگداشت به بهترین صورت انجام گیرد.

MESSAGE FROM THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF IRAN

خطاب به از تعالیم اصلی شماست. ایالات متحده در بیانیه های متعدد و انوار میثاق جميع اطباق را روشن و لامع و پرتوش از ملاء اعلی به حضیض ادنی رسید و هيكل عظیم امکان از نسیم جان بخش ریاض پیمان در اهتزاز و شرق و غرب سرمست بادۀ این رمز و راز و بلبلان گلشن تقدیس از این گل خندان پیمان در ساز و آواز یاران مهد امرالله با کمال سرور و حبور در این ایام تاریخی که خیل عاشقان باوفا در نهایت صدق و صفا در آن حفله نوراء که قمیص نقابت در بر کرده و در این کنگره عظیم تاریخی حضور یافته،اند خوش آمد میگویند یقین داریم که قلب و روح هموطنان جمال قدس جانان مقیم کشور مقدس ایران به جمع شما پیوسته و در عالم روح و به مدد دعا و مناجات با شما همراه و هم نوا گشته گر چه به ظاهر دوریم و لكن اشعه ساطعه که از محبت قلبيه لائح ،است در آن زجاجه نورانیه ظاهر و لامع الحمد لله سحاب تيرة سؤ تفاهمات در کشور مقدس ایران به تدریج مرتفع میگردد؛ روابط ودیه با هموطنان عزیز در حال پیشرفت است؛ حضور معدودی از یاران مهد امر الله در آن کنگره عظیم طلیعه امیدبخشی است بر این سیر تدریجی امید وطید چنان است که در آینده ایام شاهد تسهیلات بیشتری در زمینههای مختلف باشیم. اطمینان داریم که این تسهیلات و توفیقات موجب سرور موفور بندگان حضرت غفور خواهد بود. با استظهار به تأییدات لاريبية الهيه مطمئن هستیم که تلاقی ارواح مقدسه مؤمنین در آن حفله روحانی و اثرات دعا و مناجات خالصانه آن منادیان امر یزدان روح جدیدی در این سنه مقدس به هیکل عالم انسان می دمد. از حق تعالی رجا می کنیم که وحدت و یگانگی در سراسر عالم رخ بگشاید؛ جنگ و جدال ممالک مختلفه از بنیاد برافتد و مصیبات شديدة حالية نوع بشر در اکناف عالم به آسایش دل و جان تبدیل گردد و در نیل به این هدف مقدس اعلی متفقاً دست نیاز به آستان مقدس حضرت کبریا بلند میکنیم و خاضعانه این مناجات آغاز می نمائیم "خداوندا آمرزگارا این جمع را تأیید کن و توفیق بخش تا

ترجمه پیام بیت العدل اعظم مورخ ۳ دسامبر ۱۹۹۲ خطاب به بهائیان عالم

کنگره جهانی بهانی که در نیویورك منعقد گردید دومین واقعه مهم سال مقدس بود و در یوم میثاق با جلوه و شکوهی آسمانی خاتمه .پذیرفت کنگره مزبور به مراتب بالاتر از آنچه خوش بینترین افراد میتوانست انتظار داشته باشد تجلی گاه مظفرانۀ شور و حالی بود که در آن دوستان بهانی در پنج قارة عالم، عليرغم تنوع عظیمشان ناظر وحدت و اتحاد جامعه جهانی بهائی .بودند. چنین درجه ای از اتحاد و همبستگی جهانی برای یاران الهی امری کاملاً بی سابقه و جدید بود قلوب از شوق و شعف بی پایان پرهیجان و لسان از بیان مسرت و امتنان از شمول آشکار تأییدات رب منان ،ناتوان چه که مراسم تجلیل و تکریم و ابلاغ عمومی عهد و پیمان جمال قدم جل ذكره الاعظم با جلوه و جلالی عظیم تحقق یافت وحدت و یگانگی حاصله در بین بیست و هفت هزار نفر از شرکت کنندگان گوناگون در این مؤتمر عظیم که مساعی شرکت کنندگان در دومین کنگره جهانی

MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK STATE AND THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY

فرماندار ایالت نیویورک آقای ماریو کومو در پیامی که به شرکت کنندگان در کنگره جهانی ارسال داشته بود اظهار داشت از جانب همه مردم این ایالت حضور ۳۰ هزار نفر اعضای جامعه بهائی را... در نيويورك... خوش آمد میگویم.... همه ما میتوانیم از تعلیم اصلی حضرت بها الله - که به ما می آموزد که تنها يك نژاد وجود دارد و آن نوع انسان است درس بگیریم. اگر اعتقاد شما به برابری همگانی و ترك تعصبات راهنمای رفتار همگان ،بود این جهان جهان بهتری می بود. در این هنگام که برای برگزاری مراسم صدمین سال درگذشت بنیانگزار آئین خود حضرت بهاء الله نيويورك را با حضور خود سرافراز کرده اید برایتان همان آینده صلح و هماهنگی را که برای بشریت خواستارید آرزو میکنم شهردار نيويورك آقای دیوید دینکینز قبل از افتتاح جلسات کنگره جهانی خطاب به شرکت کنندگان در کنگره سخنی ایراد نمود ایشان پس از خوش آمدگونی گفت: ...... نيويورك پایتخت بین المللی تجارت و فرهنگ و ارتباطات است و بعنوان مرکز وسائل ارتباط جمعی آمریکا این فرصت را فراهم میسازد که رویدادهانی که در آن صورت می گیرد در سطح ملی به آگاهی مردم برسد.... خوشحالیم که نیویورک را برای برگزاری کنگره جهانی و بزرگداشت وحدت نژادی و قومی انتخاب کرده.اید هر چند هنوز از قید مشکلات قومی و نژادی رها نشده ایم با این حال نیویورک یکی از با مداراترین شهرهای دنیاست. هیچ محمل و بهانه ای برای تبعیضات وجود ندارد..... امیدوارم در آینده برابری و مدارا و حفظ حرمتی که سعی می کنیم در نيويورك تأسیس ،کنیم بازتابی در سراسر جهان داشته باشد. با این امید و آرزوست که بار دیگر حضور شما را در نيويورك خوش آمد می گویم [Page 13]...نشیب است. بدین دلیل افرادی که گاهگاه می‌کوشند تا مکانی در جامعه ایجاد کنند، ناچار با شکست کامل مواجه می‌شوند. به همین نحو اضطرابات و تضییقات بلاانقطاعی که جامعه بهائی در موطن حضرت بهاءالله در طول متجاوز از یک قرن مجبور به تحمل آن بوده است، نهایتاً از آن مشعل و یا وحدت حیاتی باشکوه این آیین زائل سازد. نتیجه حاصله، ترجمه جامعه مزبور را به صورت تندیس شکست‌ناپذیر الهی بر روی زمین است که در کتب مقدسه قبلاً وعده داده شده و حضرت بهاءالله نیز شخصاً آن را اعلام فرموده است.

حضرت بهاءالله به صراحت اعلام می‌فرمایند که یوم موعود فرا رسیده و آنکه ظهورش در کتب و صحف الهیه بشارت داده شده، به اتمّ ظهور در بین الارض و السماوات ظاهر شده است. این ‎خطاب خطاب خطاب خطاب‎ حضرت بهاءالله است: «یا ملأ الغیوب! هو البهىّ الابهى! قد تمّ ظهور ما کان مخزوناً فی ازل الآزال فی علم الله علام الغیوب و الشهود. طوبی لمن فاز بما شهد و ویل لمن غفل و اعرض.» (ترجمه: ای گروه پنهانی! اوست ابهای ابهی! به تحقیق به ظهور رسید آنچه در ازل ازل در علم خداوند دانای غیب و شهود پنهان بود. خوشا به حال کسی که مشاهده نمود و به آنچه دید فائز شد و وای بر کسی که غفلت نمود و روی برگردانید.)

حقیقت این است که ظهور حضرت بهاءالله دنیا را به عصر جدیدی وارد نموده است. لذا رابطه کاملاً بدیعی را بین انسان و صانع خویش ممکن ساخته است. خصوصیات این ارتباط در عهد و پیمانی خلاصه و متمثل است که در هنگام صعود حضرت بهاءالله و در یک قرن قبل آغاز گردید. این عهد و پیمان که حضرت بهاءالله تأسیس نمود، به منزله نیروی محرکه و زندگی‌بخش مؤسسات اداری و اصیل وحدت‌بخش آن و همچنین تأسیس روابطی و نظامات عمل کرده و ‎بهودی بهبودی‎ از عوارضی است که جوامع از آن رنج می‌برند. طبق مفاد و میثاق حضرت بهاءالله، مفهوم جدیدی به تاریخ و تکامل بشریت بخشیده و به مسائل اجتماعی از دیدگاه و مسیری تازه نگاه می‌کند. حضرت عبدالبهاء می‌فرمایند: «عهد و میثاق مانند شریان در هیکل عالم در طپش و نوسان است. (ترجمه)» حضرت عبدالبهاء همچنین می‌فرمایند: «قوه میثاق در کالبد عالم انسانی جریان یافته و تا اعماق افق‌های عالم انسانی نفوذ می‌نماید. این عهد، نظم جدید جهانی را پی‌ریزی کرده و بنیانی استوار برای ایجاد تمدن انسانی است.» در توضیح این حقیقت، حضرت شوقی افندی می‌فرمایند: «زود است که بساط عالم جمع شود و بساطی دیگر گسترده گردد.» و در توضیح آن می‌فرمایند: «قد ‎انطرب اضطرب‎ النظم من هذا النظم الاعظم و اختلف الترتيب بهذا البديع الذي ما شهدت بمثله عيون الابداع. شبهه...»

در بیان کیفیت این عواقب وخیم، تعالیم بهائی صراحت دارد که در نتیجه فساد بشری، زیب هیکل انسانی نابود شده و خلع مادی، تاج از سر بشریت برداشته است، از او خلع گردد، ناچار انحطاط تاسف‌انگیزی در سرنوشت بشر فی‌الفور به وجود می‌آید و با خود هر نوع فساد و انحراف و تبهکاری به همراه می‌آورد و در چنین حالی است که انحرافات در طبیعت انسان، اعمال و رفتار او ظاهر شده و انحلال در مؤسسات متعلق به انسان با بدترین و مفرط‌ترین وجهی ظاهر و آشکار شده و معنویت نشاط و طراوت خود را از دست داده و انحطاط در رفتار و اخلاق ظاهر شده و اعتماد و اطمینان سلب شود، رشته احتیاط از هم بگسلد، مفاهیم وظیفه خاموش شود، حجب و حیا از میان برود و رفتار متقابل و وفاداری، تمهیدات و همبستگی و احترام و ایثار و صفا و خلوص نیت و راستی و صداقت، صلح و آرامش و سکون و شادمانی و سرور و امیدواری از میان بروند. (ترجمه)

اساساً که در عصر حاضر، هم مؤسسات و هم افراد برای ادامه حیات به چنین هدایت و راهنمایی نیاز دارند. ضرورت و لزوم عهد و میثاق الهی، بیش از پیش حائز اهمیت می‌باشد. لزوم عهد و میثاق برای این است که بشریت امروز را در مقابل با این وضع تهدیدکننده به سرعت به سوی مرحله بعدی تکامل خود پیش برده، مرحله‌ای که در آن بشر به اراده خداوند الهی، ضرورت یابد تا با وحدت درونی و بیرونی خود سدها را درهم بشکند و پیمانی ببندد و پیمان جدیدی را برای پیشرفت و تکامل بر روی زمین پی‌ریزی کند که ضامن بقا و بیداری در اقدامات ما باشد. این عهد و میثاق که موجب تحرک و پایداری در اقدامات ما می‌شود، متمم ظهور حضرت بهاءالله است.

پایه و اساس عقیده ما مبتنی بر اقرار به سلطنت الهی است، ذاتی که ورای همگان و صانع قدیر است. وظیفه ما تسلیم به اراده و مشیت او است که در این عصر و زمان به وسیله حضرت بهاءالله نازل شده است. شناسایی فرستاده خداوند در یوم الله و متابعت از اوامر و تعالیم وی راه وصول به آن غایت و کمال باطنی است که خداوند برای آن انسان را خلق نموده است. این دو تکلیف برای هر انسانی است که به سن بلوغ و تمیز رسیده و در این مورد به او حق داده شده تا با کمال طیب خاطر و با اراده و اختیار خود این راه را انتخاب نماید. موهبتی که خداوند مهربان به نوع انسان عطا نموده است. در این عصر درخشان وسیله حصول موفقیت در انجام این دو تکلیف بزرگ عهد و پیمان حضرت بهاءالله است. عهد و میثاق ‎وسله‌ای وسیله‌ای‎ است که از طریق آن ایمان به مظهر ظهور الهی به صورت اعمال و رفتار مفید و ثمربخش جلوه‌گر می‌شود.

وحدت عالم انسانی، محور اصلی و هدف نهائی رسالت الهی حضرت بهاءالله است. مفهوم حقیقی این اصل به سادگی و صراحت در بیان جامعه مرکزی (ارکانیک) انسانی صورت پذیرد که جمیع اجزای تشکیل‌دهنده آن از حیاتی واحد، روحی واحد و هدفی واحد برخوردار بوده و مستقیماً از آن تبعیت می‌نمایند. (ترجمه) اصل بنیادین نظام جدید جهانی بهاءالله بر پایه همین اصل اساسی استوار است. حضرت بهاءالله برای نیل به این هدف متعالی، نظم جدیدی را پی‌ریزی نموده و لزوم وجود آن را در کتاب اقدس که مهم‌ترین کتاب دیانتی این دور و میثاق حضرت بهاءالله است اعلام نموده و راهنمایی وصول به این کتاب در عهد و پیمان بهاءالله مستتر است. حضرت عبدالبهاء به عنوان مرکز این عهد و میثاق در الواح وصایا، بر کتاب اقدس صحه گذاشتند و آن را راهنمای هدایت و وحدت معرفی فرمودند. حضرت شوقی‌افندی، ولیّ امر دیانت بهائی، درباره این امر چنین می‌فرمایند: (ترجمه) «این عهد و میثاق، صیانت‌بخش و نگهدارنده کل کلمات الهی است که مبیّن آن مرکز عهد و میثاق حضرت عبدالبهاء است.» حضرت شوقی‌افندی همچنین توضیح داده‌اند که حضرت عبدالبهاء با استفاده از اختیاراتی که کلام الهی به او عطا نموده است، بنای اداری الهی را بر این پایه ‎مستکحم مستحکم‎ نموده است. ایشان در توصیف ساختار نظم اداری می‌فرمایند: (ترجمه) «تشکیلات اداری، ابزار و آلاتی است که نظم بدیع جهانی برای فعالیت و اجرای مقاصد الهی و صیانت دیانت و پیشبرد منافع آن به آن نیاز دارد.» (ترجمه)

بنابراین نظم و دستگاه بدیع الهی که ساختی منحصر به فرد دارد و هیچ نظامی مشابه آن در تاریخ ادیان و یا در طول تاریخ بشری دیده نشده است، برای تحقق بخشیدن به آنچه لازمه حیات بشری است، اعطا گردیده، بلکه فضل و کرامتی است که خداوند بر نوع انسان ارزانی فرموده تا به وسیله آن نه تنها جوامع به صورت موقت راه تکامل پیمایند، بلکه شالوده و بنیانی همیشگی را ریخته تا بر اساس این شالوده متین، جوامع بتوانند با تکیه بر این قدرت پاینده و لایزال، راه بقای همیشگی خویش را بپیمایند و هدایت شوند. حضرت بهاءالله در این مورد می‌فرمایند: «قد اضطرب النظم من هذا النظم الاعظم و اختلف الترتيب بهذا البديع الذي ما شهدت بمثله عيون الابداع. (ترجمه: نظام عالم از این نظام اعظم در اضطراب افتاد و ترتیب عالم به این ترتیب بدیعی که مانند آن را چشمی ندیده دگرگون گشت.)»

هدف نهایی و منظور مظهر امر الهی از کلیه اقدامات برای تضمین تحقق مقصود و منظور مظهر امر الهی نیت نشده است.

اجتماعی حاصل گردیده و دانش بشری واقعاً فوران کرده است. اما جالب‌تر از همه شکوفایی بی‌سابقه در بیداری و قیام انبوه مردمانی است که قبلاً خاموش می‌بودند. این تجمعات جوامع در تمام کشورهای جهان که وسعت بسیار یافته خواستار صلح و موفقیت مشروع خویش هستند. این جوامع با پیشرفت حیرت‌آور ارتباطات و مخابرات که سرعت زیادی یافته انجام می‌گردد و حمل و نقل که به سرعت صورت یافته، جهان چنان به هم مرتبط شده است که گویی مردم در گوشه‌ای از واقعاً در همسایگی یکدیگر زیست می‌کنند و دور نیست که در اموال با یکدیگر باخبر و با یکدیگر به آسانی دسترسی دارند. با این‌همه پیشرفت‌های معجزه‌آسا و پیدایش سازمان‌های بین‌المللی و بالاخره کوشش‌های متهورانه و اقتصادی در کشورهای بزرگ و کوچک برای حل و مدارای با مسائل ناشی از فقر و نکبت و فقر و ذلت و اقدام و توافق بیش از پیش نسبت به یکدیگر بیگانه گشته و به عدم اعتماد و ترس و تحقیر دچار شده‌اند.

به موازات این تحولات، مؤسسات دینی و سیاسی که بنا به سنت معمول مرجع هدایت و بیداری جوامع بوده‌اند به چشم می‌خورند. بشریت در حالی که به چشم می‌خورد، با بی‌اعتنایی و عدم نظم درونی مواجه شده و به نظر می‌آید که اختیار خود را از دست داده و می‌بیند که در دنیایی که با رنج و غصه و ناامیدی و انفعالی که از دگرگونی‌ها پدید آمده و احساس بیهودگی و سرخوردگی و انحلال در زندگی شخصی گشته، معطوف شدن اراده، فقدان هدف و کمال و در زندگانی درونی انسان و نیز از تمدن صنعتی که با بحرانی روزافزون مواجه است، نشانی از شکوه و جلال دیرین باقی نمانده، آثار آنان مایه تسکین بشر آن است که خود را در دست داده و به خرد و بصیرتی نورانی برای اداره امور را از دست داده و با یاس و بیم و بیهوشی احتیاج به بسی دور و مهجور است.

عواقب عالمگیر ناشی از عدم ادراک مقصد الهی از خلق انسان و نیز فقدان هدایت و راهنمایی صحیح که به صورت تعالیم و فرامین الهی در ادیان گذشته به نوع بشر ابلاغ گردیده بود، به خوبی به چشم می‌خورد. اثرات این انحطاط که به صورت تشتت و تفرقه در جوامع بشری نفوذ کرده، حضرت بهاءالله آن‌ها را به صورتی دقیق و بارز توصیف نموده‌اند. ایشان به وضع اسفبار عالم بشری که بر اثر آن نظم درونی جوامع از هم گسیخته و از معنویت عاری گشته، به وضوح اشاره نموده و می‌فرمایند: «عالم در اضطراب است و آراء آن در اختلاف. از خداوند می‌طلبیم که آن را به طراز عدل و آرامش مزین فرماید. (ترجمه)»

اعضای جامعه بهائی با مداومت در تبلیغ امر حضرت بهاءالله در مرحله‌ای از رشد و بلوغ رسیده که به خوبی می‌توانند سرنوشت جریانات گوناگون تغییراتی را که در طی این قرن روی داده، دریابند. تعالیم بهائی به ما هشدار می‌دهد که این صعود و نزول و تالیف و تحلیل و انتظام و انقلاب که به موازات یکدیگر در عالم وجود مشهود است، از آثار تاثيرات متقابل ولی مستمر و محسوس و ملموس و از آثار بالا و جلوه‌ای از نقشه اعظم الهی است که به منزله یک اراده واحد و غیرقابل انفصال از دو مرحله متضاد ولی مکمل است و مؤسس و موجد و بانی آن نیز اراده الهی و حضور پیامبران الهی در هر دور و عصر است که در نهایت وحدت عالم انسان و استقرار صلح و سلام در بین کافه انام است. (ترجمه)

واقعیت این است که در عالم خلقت هیچ مشکلی است که جز به کمال متانت از آن در رفع آن برنیاید. تمدن علم وحدت و جمع شدن به صورت جامع، راه صلح و نفع از میان تمام منازعات اساسی بین ملل و اقوام عام است. مبنای آن چنان عدم اعتمادی است که در بین ادیان و نیز در داخل ادیان شیوع دارد و سبب تباهی تأثیر و نفوذ روحانی و اخلاقی می‌گردد، تأثیر و نفوذی که هدف نهایی ادیان است. حضرت بهاءالله می‌فرمایند: «اگر سراج دین مستور ماند، هرج و مرج راه یابد و نیروی عدل و انصاف و امن و اطمینان از نور باز مانند.»

این عهد و پیمان ضامن ممانعت از تفرقه و [Page 14]

پیام‌های بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی

MESSAGES FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

ترجمه پیام ۲۳ نوامبر ۱۹۹۲ بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی که توسط امة‌البهاء روحیه خانم معهد اعلی در ‎کنکره کنگره‎ جهانی خطاب به پیروان اسم اعظم در دومین ‎کنکره کنگره‎ جهانی بهائی قرائت شده است.

یاران عزیز و محبوب،

اجتماع یاران را در دومین ‎کنکره کنگره‎ جهانی بهائی که به مناسبت تجلیل و تکریم صدمین سال آغاز عهد و میثاق حضرت بهاءالله در نیویورک تشکیل گردیده، گرامی می‌داریم. اجتماع نفوسی از ملل و اقوام که خود جلوه واقعی نماینده کثرت در عین وحدت است، به درستی در خور واقعه‌ای تاریخی و عهد و میثاقی است که از طرفی نشان دهنده عطوفت و توانایی و قوای مکمونه عهد و میثاق الهی برای ایجاد استقرار و صلح و یگانگی بین ملل و اقوام روی زمین بوده و از طرفی دیگر حقیقت سپری است که عالم انسانیت را در مقابل امتحانات و اضطرابات مکرر، منزله قوّه نافذه میثاق که برای به ثمر رسیدن این اطمینان است که علی‌رغم وقوع دگرگونی عظیم در اوضاع و احوال مادی عالم، شأن میثاق و عهد و پیمان حضرت بهاءالله تردید ناپذیر خواهد یافت. و وجدان امت، مناظر غم‌انگیز و امیدبخش پیش چشم دیده‌وری، در صفحه خاطر نقش می‌بست؛ از یک طرف، مناظر حضرت بهاءالله، مظهر اعلای الهی در یک قرن پیش، مناظر رقت‌انگیز نفوس غم‌زده که در ‎بهبوهه بحبوحه‎ خاطر مشوش در اثر تبعید و حبس بودند اما از طرفی دیگر، بر آن خاطره وحشتناک، بارقه‌ای از آزادی و ابتهاج و شکوه و بزرگی، پرتو افکنی می‌نمود.

بود. اما غروب شمس ابهی سبب ظهور قمر عهد و میثاق گردید و روح پرفتوح و جلال حضرت عبدالبهاء، تأثیر و نفوذی عمیق بر ضمیر مؤمنان باوفا باقی گذاشت که سبب آرامش خاطر آنان گردید. زیرا در کتاب وصایای حضرت بهاءالله، کتاب عهدی این بندگان محبوب به مرکزیت و مرجعیت حضرت عبدالبهاء منصوص و منصوب شده بود. بدین ترتیب از همان بامداد لیله صعود، تأسیس آثار میثاق آغاز گردید که فوراً واقعه این تأسیس، تحقق بخش مقصد اصلی امر مبارک برای بقای هستی وحدت و یگانگی بشر است. حماسه‌آسای مرکز میثاق به آمریکای شمالی بود که در سفر حضرت عبدالبهاء به آنجا حاصل شد. در طی سفری پر از خاطرات، مرکز میثاق به نیویورک آمده بود که حضرت عبدالبهاء، نیویورک را «شهر میثاق» نامیدند. این مژده را به مؤمنین ابلاغ فرمودند. خاطرنشان ساختند و نمودار امیدی الهی و میثاقی گردیدند که بر آن تعلق یافتند تا خصوصیات اصلی آن عهد و میثاق و مقام حقیقی خود را به عنوان مرکز منصوص عهد و میثاق برای مردم ابلاغ فرمایند. این امر به صورت واضح در شهر نیویورک در زمانی که به نام مدینه میثاق نامیده شده، بیان گردید. شهر نیویورک به این نام مفتخر گردید که از جانب مرکز میثاق به این شهر عظیم که به نام مدینه میثاق تسمیه گردیده، تجلیل شد. تجلیل و تکریم از این نام نه تنها تجلیل و تکریم حضرت عبدالبهاء است، بلکه با شأنی خاص از آن تجلیل به عمل آمده که برای صدمین سال از آن واقعه این چنین منزلت شگفتی ایجاد نموده است. این شهر در سال ۱۲۹۱ هجری شمسی (۱۹۱۲ میلادی) همزمان با اظهار امر خود، از مجمعی از اهل مغرب زمین خطاباتی ایراد نمودند که در اماکن خود برای تبلیغ و ترویج امر الهی بیرون آیند. آیا این دعوت در مقصد جهانگیر امر حضرت بهاءالله که صوری کامل جذب و تلفیق نشده و در قالب نظم اداری که ریشه میثاق الهی است، به نحوی درخشنده و تابان محقق گشته است، یعنی همان نظمی که حضرت ولی‌امر الله آن را ستوده بود. اینک به نیویورک آمده‌اید تا درباره چنین واقعیت‌های فکر و تأمل نمایید.

ستایش شایسته و سزاوار موجب تکریم و جالب انتظار است که جلسات این اجتماع بسیار مهم به حضور سه نفر از حضرات ایادی امرالله که از یادگاران ممتن و حقیقی عهد و میثاق محسوب بودند، رونق یافته است. این نفوس با اراده و همت عالی، شوق و نشاط روحی و بر اساس احتیاطی که از جانب حضرت ولی‌امر الله مأمور و مخصوص گردیده بودند، به ابراز و ایفای وظایف خطیر خود همت گماشتند. هرگز نباید فراموش کرد که ایادی امرالله با صمیم قلب صمیمانه به وظیفه مقدسی که بلافاصله پس از صعود نابهنگام حضرت ولی‌امر الله به آنان تفویض گردید، همت گماردند و با کمال عالمانه به حفظ وحدت جامعه بهائی را حفظ نمودند و اعضای جامعه را به وحدت داشتند، وحدت جامعه بهائی را به کمال موفقیت آمیز نقشه جهانی ده ساله حضرت ولی‌امر الله و رهمنون گردیدند و نیز شهرتی درخشان و سیاسی را به ایادی امرالله در خدمات مستمر و خستگی ناپذیر حضرات ایادی امرالله در ترویج و صیانت از آیین محبوب الهی باز ایستادند. مخصوصا بسیار مسروریم که یکی از ایادی امرالله، آن ‎مآثر مأثر‎ عالی قدر امر، حضرت امة‌البهاء روحیه خانم، را در میان خود داریم.

این هیئت در طول این ‎کنکره کنگره‎ باشکوه، با اعلام اولین ‎کنکره کنگره‎ جهانی بهائی به مناسبت صدمین سال آغاز عهد و میثاق حضرت بهاءالله تجلیل نمودند و حضرت ایادی امرالله با تدبیر و کاردانی تحسین آمیزی ‎کنکره کنگره‎ مزبور را ترتیب دادند و برگزار نمودند. آن اجتماع فراموش نشدنی در تاریخ حیات دیانت بهائی در حدود سی سال قبل در لندن برگزار گردید، یادآور دورانی است که حضرت ولی‌امر الله به آنان بهاء ثابت و دائم داده بود که در آن زمان، امر حضرت بهاءالله، که یک دوران دراز دارای جامعه‌ای جهانی است، درآمده است. بهاء ثابت و دائم، به شکوه و جلال صدمین سال یادبود دیگری هستیم که نه تنها تاریخ افتخار آمیز صد ساله امر حضرت بهاءالله را با هم سرگرم برگزاری مراسم صدمین سال یادبود دیگری هستیم که نه تنها تاریخ مقاصد اصلیه و نبوی وحدت بخش آن را به جهانیان ابلاغ می‌گردد، صدمین سالگرد نزول کتاب اقدس است، بلکه مقصد بزرگ آیین جهانی بهائی که در سراسر جهان برای کل نوع انسانی است، اکنون جامعه بهائی در سراسر جهان برای گامی بلند در راه تجدید سازمان جامعه بهائی که شامل حدود و فصاحت در آن و تقویت و ترویج و شروع و ترویج و گسترش آن در اقدامات و عملیات صدمه و ترویج شود و حقایق و خصائص آن در تجدید سازمان جامعه جهانی بهائی در کلیه سطوح محلی، ملی، قاره‌ای و بین‌المللی بسیج مبذول خواهد شد، تا ثمرات مستتر جامعه بهائی به نوبه خود، راه را به کلیه سطوح جهان منتشر سازد تا قلوب جذب و عقول تنویر گردد. در سراسر جامعه جهانی ما، توجه و آگاهی جدیدی نسبت به ضرورت و ضرورت اغتنام فرصت و اقدام بر اجرای وظایف مقدسی که در قبال ماست حاصل شده است. این پیامی موعود است که در زمان مدینه میثاق که کانون اقدامات سال منتهی محسوب می‌گردد، مورد انتظار مخصوصی بود. امید آنکه در این چهار روز مراسم یادبود دوران عموما و به نحوی بی‌سابقه ایجاد وحدت در جامعه بهائی به نحوی شایسته درآید و این احساس صمیمیت و یگانگی به تدریج فزونی یافته و روابط روحانی یاران را بلافاصله در رفتار و روابط روحانی یاران نسبت به یکدیگر به نحو کاملی تحت تأثیر قرار دهد. امیدواریم در این اقدام با چنان عزمی جزم موفق شوید که ثمرات و نتایج آنچه را در این چند روز به دست می‌آید، در طول خود در روابط خود با جمیع افراد دیگر نیز ‎ثمره‌ای ثمره ای‎ ایجاد نماید. چنین طرح جدی و مصمم، جامعه جهانی بهائی را فزونی باشکوهی بخشیده و سبب اثبات این حقیقت مسلم برای عموم مردم خواهد شد که امر بهائی بیانی است جهانی و لایق و شایسته آن است که آنچه را مدعی است، مورد شناسایی عموم قرار گیرد.

حضرت عبدالبهاء در لوحی خطاب به احبای نیویورک امید و انتظار خود را با این عبارات که شایسته یادآوری در این مقام است، بیان می‌فرمایند: «من منتظر آنم که ‎تاییدات تأییدات‎ بزرگ نازل گردد و آوازه ثروت و غنای امرالله به گوش آفاق رسد. یقین است که روابط و احوال بر وفق رضای خاطر ما خواهد بود، آرزو دارم که میثاق و پیمان چنان نیروی خلاقی به ظهور آورده، در میان میثاق و پیمان یاران ظاهر گردد تا از آن تمکن اهل عالم، مشمول برکات و نعمات و فیوضات بی‌کران حضرتش گردند.» در هنگام تنظیم این ادعیه در مقام مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء، از آستان عاجزانه رجا کنیم که الطاف و ‎تاییدات تأییدات‎ ربانی‌اش شامل حال جمیع افراد جامعه مشتاق درآید.

بیت‌العدل اعظم

ترجمه پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم مورخ ۲۶ نوامبر ۱۹۹۲ این پیام در آخرین جلسه ‎کنکره کنگره‎ جهانی قرائت شد.

از زمان تأسیس عهد و پیمان حضرت بهاءالله و آغاز ترویج آن، یک قرن کامل می‌گذرد، این مشتاقان تجلیات محبت‌آمیز خود را به اعضای جامعه منتخب در دومین ‎کنکره کنگره‎ جهانی ابراز می‌داریم. ما در حالی که افتخاری بزرگ در این مراسم باشکوه داریم، ابلاغ می‌داریم:

موجب بسی خوش‌وقتی است که این اتفاق در سال مخصوصی فراهم آمده تا لحظاتی چند به اتفاق آن ساکنان جلیل ایمان در آن شهر که از سال ۱۸۹۲ تا به حال به نام «مدینه میثاق» یاد می‌شود، فراهم آمدیم. اهداف و مقاصد نظم و راه و نشانه‌ای است که بالطبع، قصد تثبیت و هدف تعهد و میثاق را مجسم می‌سازد که با شکوه و عظمت آسایش و ایجاد آن، وحدت اقوام و ملل روی زمین است.

بررسی این تاریخ هیجان و پیشرفت حیات جامعه، حاصله در این صد سال، قلوب را با صمیمانه‌ترین عواطف و احساسات عالیه روحانی می‌کشد. در پانزده سال اول حیات پس از صعود حضرت بهاءالله فقط محدود به پانزده کشور بود و اکنون پیروانش در بیش از دویست کشور جهان پراکنده گشته‌اند. اکنون جامعه بهائی سراسر زمین را در بر گرفته است. روح وحدت و یگانگی که مدارا در اثر ثمره کار و فعالیت نظم اداری بهائی طی سنوات است، تجلی و تحکیم می‌یابد. مایه سرور، مرور خاطر و اهمیت عهد و میثاق را به وضوح به اثبات رسانده است، وحدت و اتحادی واقعی که با خون گرم شهدا و میثاق الهی به وجود آورده، این امید و انتظار را شدیدا تقویت می‌نماید که وحدت و یگانگی نوع بشر امکان‌پذیر است و مسلما تحقق خواهد یافت.

در دورانی که جهان شاهد تغییرات شگرف و تکان دهنده است، آن را به نحوی بی‌سابقه به ورطه نگرانی و سرگردانی کشانده، به وجود آوریم. در حقیقت دنیا در شرایط جامعه‌ای است که در آن فشارهای گوناگون، تلاطم را آغاز کرده‌ایم تا به تدریج چنان فشاری که نه تنها آن‌ها را مهار کرد، بلکه طاقت و توانائی خود را از دست داده است. این دورانی است که کشورهای سلطنتی و امپراطوری‌های بزرگی با سرعتی باور نکردنی سقوط کرده و منقرض شده‌اند. دورانی است که عقاید و تفکرات نیرومند تسلیم قلوب و اذهان میلیون‌ها نفر را تسخیر کرده و سپس به رسوائی منتهی گشته‌اند، و بالاخره دورانی است که در آن دو جنگ جهانی بزرگ با آن همه ویرانی و دمار در سیستم زندگانی مادی بشر پدیده آمده است.

در پی اینچنین نابسامانی‌ها و اخطارهای هولناک، پیشرفت‌های بی‌نظیری در قلمرو علوم و فنون و سازمان‌های بین‌المللی رخ داده است. [Page 15]

More than 650 in Los Angeles honor memory of Diane Varga

In a touching demonstration of love and admiration, some of the West Coast's finest jazz and big band musicians and vocalists joined more than 650 Bahá’ís from the Los Angeles area and their guests to honor singer/producer Diane Varga who died December 9.

The unique occasion, which was the result of a spontaneous decision by more than 40 jazz musicians, all friends of Miss Varga, to come together and perform one last time for her, gave everyone present an opportunity to channel their grief and sense of loss over Miss Varga's unexpected death into a celebration of her remarkable life.

Miss Varga, a Bahá’í for more than 30 years, taught the Faith constantly during her career as an entertainer and featured singer in well-known bands including the Ray Anthony Orchestra.

For the last several years she alternated between performing and producing. Her most recent productions included the Queen Mary Jazz Festival, Frank Sinatra's 75th birthday gala, and her final, and most significant, production, a jazz concert at the New York Hilton Hotel for an audience of more than 3,000 during the second Bahá’í World Congress.

"I found Diane to be a gentle person, which it is hard to be in this business," said singer Frank Sinatra Jr. "She kept her wits about her and never became affected by show biz."

Mr. Sinatra sang two numbers at the memorial service including an original composition, "My Diane," performed with Miss Varga's fiancé, the well-known trumpeter Buddy Childers.

"Diane spread more love and joy to the world than anyone I've ever known," said Mr. Childers. "I feel that I'm the luckiest person in the world to have enjoyed the relationship we had. She taught me the Faith and saw to it that I never stopped learning. Beautiful."

Also sharing fond memories of their close friend were Dorothy and James Nelson, both members of the National Spiritual Assembly, who said Miss Varga "often played our living room" during firesides, entertaining guests while teaching the Faith.

Jazz musicians recalled Miss Varga's kindness and encouragement, while Bahá’ís remembered her generosity and indomitable teaching spirit.

Leonard Feather, music critic for the Los Angeles Times, described Miss Varga as "one of the best friends Southland jazz ever had."

Also performing at the service were singers Geraldine Jones and Sandra Simmons, both of whom are Bahá’ís, and trumpeter/singer Jack Sheldon. Gerald Wilson, whose 17-piece band ended the evening program to a standing ovation, said of Miss Varga, "Always a smile for everyone. She was truly a friend, a joy." — Muhtadia Rice

Covenant

toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root."

...To recognize the station of Bahá’u’lláh and believe in Him as the Supreme Manifestation of God is the first and the most essential step for man in his journey to his spiritual abode. But belief in Bahá’u’lláh will not be acceptable to God unless the believer turns to the Center of the Covenant, is submissive to Him and wholeheartedly carries out His commandments.

Moreover, this magical phrase "turn toward" is not limited to the Ministry of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá only. It is applicable for all time. After the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the believers had again to "turn toward" Shoghi Effendi, and today toward the Universal House of Justice.

To emphasize this important feature of the Covenant the following analogy may be helpful. An aircraft flies in the air because its engines create a special condition which enables the machine to fly; without them the craft will not move. Similarly, belief in Bahá’u’lláh as the Supreme Manifestation of God in this age uplifts the soul and enables it to soar into the spiritual realms.

A believer's faith in Bahá’u’lláh thus acts like the engine in the above analogy. But a powerful engine, however needed, cannot ensure the safety of an aircraft or its smooth landing at its destination. There is a need for the navigational signals which a modern aircraft receives from the control tower to determine its direction, height and speed, and the pilot obeys these instructions almost blindly until the machine lands safely. Without navigational aids and the readiness of the pilot to follow these signals, there is every likelihood that a disaster will take place.

Similarly, faith in Bahá’u’lláh is not completely sufficient unto itself. The believer has to faithfully obey the guidance he receives from the Center of the Cause. During the Ministry of Bahá’u’lláh, it was to Him that the believers turned for guidance. Later it was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Who became the Center for this guidance, after Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Faith, and today the Universal House of Justice.

If someone reaches the pinnacle of faith and certitude in the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, but refuses to follow the guidance of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, of Shoghi Effendi, or the Universal House of Justice, he cannot be considered a true believer. Those who regarded themselves to be followers of Bahá’u’lláh but arose actively in opposition to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá or Shoghi Effendi were pronounced Covenant-breakers and cast out of the community of the Most Great Name.

It is the same today. Those who claim to be believers, accepting the station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi, but who oppose the Universal House of Justice, are treated in the same way. (Reprinted by permission of George Ronald Publishers.)

William Zucker, pioneer to Guam, dies at age 42

William Zucker, a U.S. pioneer to the Fiji Islands, New Caledonia and Guam, died November 16 after a long illness. He was 42 years old.

Dr. Zucker, who returned to Guam with his wife, Siew Lian, to care for his father, Arthur Zucker, who died last March, served on the National Chinese Teaching Committee of the Mariana Islands, the local Spiritual Assembly of Dededo, and as youth adviser to the Bahá’í Club at the high school where he taught.

Mr. Zucker had served as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Fiji Islands and traveled throughout the Pacific area teaching the Faith. "Despite a long period of illness," the National Spiritual Assembly of the Mariana Islands wrote to the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, "Dr. Zucker continued to serve until the last days of his life, with determination and steadfastness..."

Mayor of Marshall, Texas, signs UN Day proclamation at urging of local Bahá’ís

In October, the Bahá’ís of Marshall and Harrison County, Texas, met with Mayor L. John Wilborn of Marshall to encourage him to sign a United Nations Day proclamation.

The mayor did so, and accepted a pamphlet on Bahá’u’lláh and a copy of "The Vision of Race Unity." The Bahá’ís took copies of the mayor's proclamation to the local newspaper and to each of the three radio stations in Marshall.

NEW! Statement on Huqúqu’lláh in Laotian

A three-page statement about Huqúqu’lláh ("the Right of God") is now available in the Laotian language. This illustrated statement provides a brief explanation of Huqúqu’lláh as well as directions about where to send Huququ’lláh payments. The statement is available on request from the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office for $1 per copy. To order, please specify the number of copies needed and send a check or money order in the appropriate amount to U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

A delegation of Bahá’ís from Tennessee recently presented a copy of "The Vision of Race Unity" to Gov. Ned Ray McWherter (left). Pictured with the governor are Bahá’ís (left to right) Casey Walton, Andrea Seals and Soheil Mansour. During their discussion afterward, Ms. Seals informed Gov. McWherter that Race Unity Day is the second Sunday in June, and invited him to have it recognized officially by the state.

IN MEMORIAM

John W. Bailey Madras, OR December 1992

Joseph C. Banks Enid, OK Date Unknown

Obra Bell Dover, OK Date Unknown

Sally P. Brown Atlanta, GA December 5, 1991

Lillian P. Brown Wewoka, OK Date Unknown

Ruth Davis Enid, OK 1991

Mahrokh Erfani Columbus, OH October 20, 1992

Nasrullah Erfani Columbus, OH October 20, 1992

R.H. Franklin Enid, OK Date Unknown

Harold Gail San Francisco, CA November 20, 1992

Maggie Harvey Kingfisher, OK 1988

Johnnie Hawkins Enid, OK Date Unknown

George S. Lewis Bemidji, MN Date Unknown

Everett Lindsey Kingfisher, OK Date Unknown

Mabel Mathis Enid, OK Date Unknown

Willie Newsome Kingfisher, OK Date Unknown

Alfred L. Schatz Mill City, OR October 20, 1990

Ernest Steele Enid, OK Date Unknown

Warren Stevens Bloomington, IN October 30, 1992

Scott Takasaki Seattle, WA June 19, 1992

Gracye Todel Kingfisher, OK Date Unknown

Charlene Younger Kingfisher, OK Date Unknown

William Zucker Mariana Islands November 16, 1992 [Page 16]As part of its observance of the United Nations International Day of Peace in September, the Spiritual Assembly of Jackson, Mississippi, honored three local citizens as ‘Champions of Foster Children.’ Reports of the award ceremony and photographs of the recipients appeared in two local newspapers. Those honored were (left to right) Rims Barber, director of the child advocacy group Human Services Agenda; Maggie Wade, producer of a television series, ‘Wednesday’s Child,’ on homeless children; and Ella Jones, a foster care provider for 17 years.

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 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. NAME(S): 1. __________________ I.D. # _______________ Title _________ 2. __________________ I.D. # _______________ Title _________ 3. __________________ I.D. # _______________ Title _________ 4. __________________ I.D. # _______________ Title _________

B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS: Street address ___________________________________________ Apartment # (If applicable) ________________________________ City ____________________________________________________ State __________________ Zip code ________________________

C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box or Other mailing address __________________________ Apartment # (If applicable) ________________________________ City ____________________________________________________ State __________________ Zip code ________________________

D. NEW COMMUNITY: Name of new Bahá’í Community ______________ Moving date ___

E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER: Area code ____ Phone number ______________ Name ________

F. WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S): Area code ____ Phone number ______________ Name ________ Area code ____ Phone number ______________ Name ________

G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE: [ ] we do not have the same last name. We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) and I.D. number(s) listed above. [ ] the last names and addresses on our address labels do not match. 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.

H. I WOULD LIKE A COPY: [ ] Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahá’í. I wish to receive my own copy. I have listed my name, I.D. number and address above.

BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FEBRUARY

6: Commemoration of the 130th anniversary of the introduction of the Faith in China, Taipei Grand Hotel, Taiwan. Sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of Taiwan. It is hoped that Bahá’ís who once pioneered to Taiwan will be able to return to see the wonderful results of their efforts throughout Taiwan.

6: “Prayer and Meditation” (Melanie Smith), Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

12-14: Illinois (Heartland) Bahá’í Winter School, Jumer’s Chateau, Bloomington. Theme: The Covenant. Hotel includes indoor pool, sauna, whirlpool and game room. Registrar: Leon Stevens, Salem, IL 62881 (618-548-0269).

12-14: “Strengthening Bahá’í Marriage,” a session for married couples, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

12-14: Florida Winter School, Leesburg (45 minutes from Disney World). Theme: “Know Ye the Value of These Days.” Range of rates with maximum (for weekend) of $64 for adults, $48 for youth, $43 for children. Registrar: Christina Lowcock, Lakeland, FL 33805 (phone 813-688-8162).

12-15: Winter Retreat session for Adults, Bosch Bahá’í School. A time for adults to seek “The Source of Our Light and Guidance” through healthy introspection, searching the Writings for groundings and growth in all aspects of a balanced life. Register (MasterCard/VISA) by phoning 408-423-3387, or send an $80 deposit to Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (fax 408-423-7564).

19-21: “Teaching: Commitment in Action,” Eagle Institute Youth Series, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

20: “Historical and Cultural Perspectives,” Accepting the Challenge of Leadership: Center for Interracial Unity Series, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

26-28: “Rendezvous of the Soul,” a special Holy Year program for personal reflection, Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, phone 408-423-3387.

26-28: Bahá’í Health and Human Services Conference, Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina. For information, phone 803-558-5093.

27: “Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings: Tablet to the World” (Rene Steiner), Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

MARCH

Pioneer Training Institute, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine, and Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, Illinois. For information, phone the Office of Pioneering, 708-869-9039.

12-14: “The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: Bahá’u’lláh’s Most Holy Book,” Eagle Institute Youth Series, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

20: “Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas” (Dr. Juan Cole), Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

28: Second Regional Women’s Conference, “Equal Partnership: The Foundation for Peace,” Lakewood, New Jersey. $25 fee includes lunch. For registration information, contact the Spiritual Assembly of Lakewood, P.O. Box 811, Lakewood, NJ 08701, or phone 908-905-9737.

APRIL

2-4: “Power and Empowerment: A Bahá’í Vision of Professional Development,” Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

9-11: “Fruit of the Holy Year: Strategies for Bahá’í Youth Workshops,” Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

16-18: Wisconsin Youth Retreat Weekend, Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, Stevens Point. Bahá’í Youth (ages 13-20) are encouraged to bring friends who are close to the Faith. Dormitory lodging; bring own sleeping bag for bunk beds. Meals provided. Rate: $25. Registrar: Lisa Reimer, West Bend, WI 53095 (414-338-3023).

24: “Love and Law” (speaker to be announced), Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

MAY

Pioneer Training Institute, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL. For information, phone the Office of Pioneering, 708-869-9039.

7-9: “World Order and Inner Oneness: Creating a Civilization That Makes Sense,” Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

15: “Making a New World Order in Our Backyard,” Accepting the Challenge of Leadership: Center for Interracial Unity Series, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

28-31: Marriage Enrichment Weekend, Bosch Bahá’í School. Register (MasterCard/VISA) by phoning 408-423-3387; for information, write to the school at 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or fax 408-423-7564.

JUNE

Pioneer Training Institute, Louhelen Bahá’í School, Davison, Michigan. For information, phone the Office of Pioneering, 708-869-9039.

JULY

21-25: Hungry Mother Youth Retreat, Hungry Mother State Park, Marion, Virginia. For information, phone Clint Dye, 703-873-6754.

23-25: Third annual Hemlock Haven Bahá’í Conference, Hungry Mother State Park, Marion, Virginia. For information, phone Maggie Hewitt, 703-783-7884.

AUGUST

28-September 4: 1993 World Parliament of Religions, Palmer House Hotel, Chicago, Illinois.

SEPTEMBER

Pioneer Training Institute, Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina. For information, phone the Office of Pioneering, 708-869-9039.

17-19: Green Lake Bahá’í Conference, American Baptist Assembly Conference Grounds, Green Lake, Wisconsin. To make housing reservations, phone 1-800-558-8890.

SULTÁN B.E. 149 / JANUARY 15, 1993