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[Page 1]

Mr. Chance, Dr. Ruhe resign from Universal House of Justice

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

Beloved Friends,

Conscious of the increasing burden of advancing years and the effect of this on the services they can render, Mr. Hugh E. Chance and Dr. David S. Ruhe have, after prayerful consideration of the best interests of the Cause of God, requested permission to relinquish their membership on the Universal House of Justice, in accordance with Article V.2.(c) of its Constitution.

The House of Justice has regretfully accepted the resignation of these beloved members, who have rendered highly valued services in the Holy Land, since 1963 in Mr. Chance's case, and since 1968 in that of Dr. Ruhe. They will thus be able to continue their services to the Cause of God free from the inexorable pressure of work at the World Center.

In view, however, of the imminence of the next international election, we have requested them to remain in office until that time, and to this they have readily agreed.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Universal House of Justice

November 11, 1992

Farewell, Diz

John Birks Gillespie, a giant of jazz who proclaimed the Cause of God all over the world, dies at age 75

"The song is ended, but the melody lingers on."—Irving Berlin, 1927

BY JACK BOWERS

John Birks (Dizzy) Gillespie, a colossus of American music whose virtuosity and creative energy were rivaled only by his deep and abiding love for humanity, died January 6 in Englewood, New Jersey, a little more than two months after his 75th birthday.

Mr. Gillespie, a Bahá’í since 1968, proclaimed the Cause of God in cities, towns and villages all over the world, winning the hearts of everyone from European royalty to African villagers and South American campesinos with his warmth and humor even as he amazed them with the brilliance and technical facility of a trumpet style that made him one of the most honored and respected jazz musicians of the 20th century.

Mr. Gillespie was "so much the compleat trumpeter," wrote critic Francis Davis in The Atlantic magazine, "that it was difficult to say which was more impressive his ease in unfurling lengthy and rhythmically compounded phrases or the inflections he could squeeze out of one note....

"There was nothing that could be done on a trumpet that Gillespie in his prime could not do, and nothing imaginable either rhythmically or harmonically that he hadn't seemingly already thought of."

But despite his well-earned celebrity, Mr. Gillespie was loved and admired by people all over the world as much for his unfailing charm, ready wit and buoyant humor as for his incomparable music-making. With his trademark bulging cheeks and horn bent upward at a 45-degree angle, he was one of the world's most recognizable musical figures, and one whose rapport with an audience was without peer.

"We've lost one of the true giants, not just of music but of humanity," said one of Mr. Gillespie's legatees, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. "With his passing, a source of encouragement and love for many musicians and for music itself is extinguished.

"But he wouldn't want us to be sad. He'd want us to celebrate and enjoy the vast legacy we've been bequeathed."

In the mid-1940s, with the saxophonist Charlie (Bird) Parker and a handful of others including pianist Thelonius Monk, Mr. Gillespie virtually rewrote the music called jazz, adding to the traditional melodies and harmonies of the swing era a more cerebral and deeply layered style of musical expression which Dizzy, in trying to explain its unique sound to others, labeled be-bop.

"Be-bop changed the whole lyrical emphasis of jazz," said the noted critic Ira Gitler. "It not only broke new ground harmonically, but it broke new ground rhythmically."

"What they did was develop a new language of jazz," said pianist Mike Longo, a member of Mr. Gillespie's quintet in the 1960s who later became his music director and resident composer/arranger. "For example, one of the things they did was to couple African rhythmic principles with the melodic lines and harmonic principles of European music."

"The style of the music was created by Charlie Parker, all of us know that," Mr. Gillespie said with typical modesty in 1987. "The style of our music is based on the way he played. That was the criteria. You wanted to sound like that.

"I had something to do with the harmony and the rhythmic sense. [Thelonius] Monk created the harmony, and [drummer] Kenny Clarke created the rhythm to go with it. We developed all of that to go with [Mr. Parker's] music."

John Birks (Dizzy) Gillespie: 1917-1993

He and Mr. Parker, who died in 1955, were the leading exponents of the new music, and Mr. Gillespie, besides earning a reputation as a trumpeter without equal, made a further mark as a composer with such enduring jazz classics as "A Night in Tunisia," "Groovin' High," "Salt Peanuts," "Manteca," "Birks' Works," "Con Alma" and "Woody 'n You."

Mr. Gillespie's thirst for innovation did not end with be-bop. Drawn to the infectious rhythms of the music of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, he incorporated them into his own idiom and created a new and popular musical genre known as Afro-Cuban jazz. He is credited with recording, in the early 1960s, the first album of Brazilian bossa nova music in the U.S.

World Center to schedule pilgrimages from U.S.

The function of scheduling pilgrims from the United States is in the process of being transferred to the Bahá’í World Center where the program will henceforth be administered.

In view of the logistical complexities involved, the National Spiritual Assembly anticipates that the transition will take several months to complete. While the new system is being implemented, no further applications for pilgrimage will be issued or accepted.

Please be assured that when the pilgrimage office at the Bahá’í World Center is prepared to accommodate the scheduling of pilgrimage for the believers in our community the friends will be notified through The American Bahá’í.

'Role of Women in United Europe' theme of international conference at Landegg

"The Role of Women in a United Europe" was the theme of an international conference last October 28-November 1 hosted by the Landegg Academy in Wienacht, Switzerland.

In lectures and workshops, 90 participants from almost all European countries explored means by which women can play an active role in uniting the countries of Europe while simultaneously advancing the equality of the sexes.

The conference was held under the auspices of Catherine Lalumière, secretary-general of the Council of Europe, and Regula Lanz-Bauer, president of the National Council of Women's Organizations of Switzerland.

In her welcoming address, Ms. Lanz-Bauer spoke of the hope that the integration of European nations would lead to the necessary integration of women in all areas of society, and that in the Europe of tomorrow there would truly be unity in diversity.

She illustrated the results of this integration by citing a passage from "The Promise of World Peace" which had been quoted in the conference program brochure: "Only as women are welcomed into full partnership in all fields of human endeavor will the moral and psychological climate be..." [Page 2]

INTRODUCTION

This is the sixth 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 "commit to memory certain of its exhortations and prayers."

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

"...commit to memory certain of its exhortations and prayers..."

The "exhortations" of the Faith are the counsels, or principles, that are given to advise our choices in life; prayers sustain our spirit. The action verb "to commit" can have several different meanings, including "to promise," "to dedicate," "to devote," "to accomplish," or "to practice." Practicing and devoting to our memories the Words of Bahá’u’lláh brings us ever closer to the Unknowable Essence.

The act of memorization greatly assists in personal transformation. Studying the Word of God reveals to the student divine truths; the repetition needed in memorization provides opportunities to deeply examine these truths. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke of the positive effects of concentrating one’s thoughts: "So long as the thoughts of an individual are scattered he will achieve no results, but if his thinking be concentrated on a single point wonderful will be the fruits thereof." (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 110-111)

Memorizing passages from the Writings also has a positive effect on our teaching efforts. Our imperfect explanations of His Cause can only be improved by use of His Words. The more the teacher can quote from the Writings, the purer the Message received by the seeker.

The Word of God is endowed with powers and potentials beyond this world. Increasing our knowledge and use of this precious gift not only transforms the individual, but hastens the process of transforming the world.

SUPPLEMENTARY REFERENCES

"The sanctified souls should ponder and meditate in their hearts regarding the methods of teaching. From the texts of the wondrous, heavenly Scriptures they should memorize phrases and passages bearing on various instances, so that in the course of their speech they may recite divine verses whenever the occasion demandeth it, inasmuch as these holy verses are the most potent elixir, the greatest and mightiest talisman. So potent is their influence that the hearer will have no cause for vacillation." (Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 200)

"Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men." (Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 295)

"O thou spiritual friend!

"Thou hast asked the wisdom of prayer. Know thou that prayer is indispensable and obligatory, and man under no pretext whatsoever is excused from performing the prayer unless he be mentally unsound, or an insurmountable obstacle prevent him. The wisdom of prayer is this: That it causeth a connection between the servant and the True One, because in that state (i.e., prayer) man with all heart and soul turneth his face towards His Highness the Almighty, seeking His association and desiring His love and compassion. The greatest happiness for a lover is to converse with his beloved, and the greatest gift for a seeker is to become familiar with the object of his longing...." (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 684-685)

"It is very good to memorize the logical points and the proofs of the Holy Books. Those proofs and evidences...establish the fact that Bahá’u’lláh is the fulfillment of the Promises of the Holy Books. These proofs ought to be collected and memorized. As soon as someone will ask you—What are your proofs?—you may cry out at the top of your voice and say: 'Here they are!" (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Importance of Deepening, p. 18, No. 64)

"There is no objection to children who are as yet unable to memorize a whole prayer learning certain sentences only." (Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny, p. 446)

"Surely the ideal way of teaching is to prove our points by constant reference to the actual words of Bahá’u’lláh and the Master. This will save the Cause from being misinterpreted by individuals. It is what these divine Lights say that is truth and therefore They should be the authorities of our statements." (on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, The Importance of Deepening, p. 32, No. 103)

"The Guardian was truly pleased to note that you have already started reading some Bahá’í books, and would specially advise you to endeavor to commit to memory certain passages from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, and in particular, some of His prayers. This training would undoubtedly be of tremendous help to you in your future studies of the Cause, and would also serve to considerably deepen and enrich your own spiritual life at present." (on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, The Importance of Deepening, p. 42, No. 130)

"The Holy Word has been extolled by the Prophets of God as the medium of celestial power and the wellspring of all spiritual, social and material progress. Access to it, constant study of it and daily use of it in our individual lives are vital to the inner personal transformation toward which we strive and whose ultimate outer manifestation will be the emergence of that divine civilization which is the promise of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh." (The Universal House of Justice, letter of July 10, 1989)

QUESTIONS

• How can I create a plan and pattern for memorization?
• What specific passages from the Writings should I memorize?

The American Bahá’í is published 19 times a year by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201. Second class postage paid at Evanston, IL, and additional mailing offices. ISSN Number: 1062-1113. Executive editor: Jack Bowers. Associate Editor: Ken Bowers. Art director: Scot Corrie. The American Bahá’í welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Bahá’í Faith. Articles should be clear and concise; color or black-and-white glossy photographs should be included whenever possible. Please address all materials and correspondence to The Editor, The American Bahá’í, Wilmette, IL 60091. Postmaster: Send address changes to Management Information Systems, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201. Copyright © 1993 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

Landegg

...created in which international peace can emerge.

Helvi Sipilä of Finland, the first woman to be appointed by the United Nations to the position of assistant secretary-general, said it is praiseworthy for women to work in non-governmental organizations, as many do, provided they can also influence decision-making bodies. But, she added, it is even better if they are a part of the decision-making body itself.

In the Scandinavian countries, women have been most successful in attaining such high positions, especially in Finland where, for example, 38.5 percent of the members of Parliament are women.

The portrayal of humanity as a bird with two wings—one female and one male—which can only fly when both wings are fully developed, was repeatedly mentioned to underline that the issue of equality is not about struggle but cooperation and development.

In workshops, conference participants examined in closer detail the issues raised by speakers and consolidated them through an exchange of experiences.

Issues discussed included changes in education, woman-talk, man-talk, women and the environment, promoting a healthful lifestyle, women in management, mothers and daughters, women and science, and a workshop on the role of men, conducted by men for both men and women.

One recurring element in many discussions was an emphasis on a future-oriented education, especially of girls, given their role as mothers who are the first educators of children in moral and social values and thus trail-blazers for cultural development.

Snohomish Bahá’ís observe anniversary of Ascension

On November 8, the Bahá’ís of Snohomish County, Washington, held a public commemoration to observe the 100th anniversary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh.

The event was a collaborative effort of Assemblies and Groups in the county, inspired by the message from the Universal House of Justice that encouraged local and regional events for the public to take part with Bahá’ís in observing this significant anniversary and its commemorative activities.

Some 350 formal invitations were delivered to public officials, educators, and heads of humanitarian organizations. Several newspapers were invited to send representatives. A reporter for the Mukilteo newspaper visited an Assembly member and afterward wrote an extensive article on Bahá’u’lláh and Bahá’í beliefs in a free circular mailed to the 5,000 residents of Mukilteo, thereby informing the entire population of Bahá’u’lláh’s coming and His teachings.

One of the local radio stations, which was unable to take part in the event, nevertheless indicated a desire to have the Bahá’ís take part in a series of talk shows on various social issues facing American society.

The Bahá’ís of Snohomish County gathered with 30 guests at the Everett Pacific Hotel to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Bahá’u’lláh’s passing.

Help Save Jeopardized Assemblies

Below are Bahá’í communities that are in danger of losing their Assembly at Ridván because their community membership has fallen below the nine adult believers necessary to form an Assembly. Bahá’ís in surrounding communities are asked to assist with teaching efforts in these areas, traveling teachers are encouraged to arrange itineraries that include these Bahá’í communities, and prospective homefront pioneers are urged to consider them as pioneering posts. Spiritual Assemblies in danger of being lost which have not yet reported their jeopardized status should contact the National Teaching Committee Office.

• • CALIFORNIA**
• Lompoc

• • COLORADO**
• La Plata County

• • ILLINOIS**
• Bolingbrook
• Glendale
• Glen Ellyn
• Moline
• Roscoe Township

• • MINNESOTA**
• Hopkins
• West St. Paul

• • MISSOURI**
• Jefferson City
• Independence
• Rolla
• St. Louis Co. W.

• • MONTANA**
• Butte-Silver Bow
• Ravalli County

• • NEBRASKA**
• North Platte

• • NEW MEXICO**
• Taos

• • OHIO**
• East Cleveland
• Euclid
• Toledo

• • OREGON**
• Aloha
• Coos Bay
• Gladstone
• Hillsboro
• Lane County East
• McMinnville

• • SO. DAKOTA**
• Pierre*

• • WASHINGTON**
• Gr. Walla Walla
• Moses Lake
• Toppenish

• Top priority: State capital city

[Page 3]

THEN AND NOW

1993 Parliament of the World's Religions celebrates the past century as it prepares for the next

Almost 100 years ago, a young man clad in ocher took the stage at the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Swami Vivekenanda, principal disciple of the Indian sage, Sri Ramakrishna, stood silent for a moment and then spoke:

"Sisters and brothers of America, it fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions; and I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

"I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions to be true.

"The present Convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: 'Whosoever comes to me, through whatsoever form I reach him, they are all struggling through paths that in the end always lead to me."

"Sectarianism, bigotry and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have possessed long this beautiful earth. It has filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for this horrible demon, human society would be far more advanced than it is now.

"But its time has come, and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this Convention may be the death knell to all fanaticism, to all persecutions with the sword or the pen, and to all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal."

That day in Chicago, Vivekenanda's words electrified a gathering of 7,000, many of whom came to hear the words of the "Hindoo Swami." But the message of this simple man eclipsed the expectations of the crowd.

He had come to speak about the then unspeakable. He tantalized the assemblage with the dangerous notion that sectarianism had run its destructive course. He voiced for the first time the extraordinary idea that religions might converge.

In that fall of 1893, the world had turned its attention to Chicago as the city hosted the World's Columbian Exposition. The World's Parliament of Religions was the centerpiece and the most remarkable of the many congresses that shaped the Exposition.

The platform of the World Parliament of Religions on the morning of September 14, 1893.

For 17 days that September, the Parliament brought together some 400 men and women representing 41 religious traditions and denominations. Meeting on the site now occupied by the Art Institute, the Parliament of Religions was far and away the most popular, with the public and the press, of all the congresses hosted by the Columbian Exposition.

As the most popular event of the Exposition, the Parliament drew audiences of 4,000 or more to each of the 17 daily sessions.

The 1893 Parliament was a watershed event in world religious history. It marked the first genuine interfaith encounter between the religions of the West and those of the East. It heralded the emergence of Judaism and Catholicism as mainstream American traditions, and recognized blacks and women as authentic religious and spiritual leaders. It signaled the beginning of religious pluralism in the new world.

Many religions, including the Bahá’í Faith, Buddhism and Hinduism, owe their introduction and/or their first real foothold in the West to the 1893 Parliament. As one observer put it, "It was the most important religious gathering which had ever assembled."

As the Parliament drew to a close, participants were optimistic that it would be but the first of a continuing series of international interfaith gatherings that would make a vital contribution to understanding, peace and progress. But it was not to be.

As the century since suggests, interfaith understanding has not kept pace with the realities of a culturally and morally pluralistic world. Religious intolerance and violence have played a major role in the hundreds of wars that have riven the planet. And the very idea of progress has lost much of its once-unquestioned appeal.

In the spring of 1988 the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR) was formed with the commitment to celebrate in 1993 the 100th anniversary of the first World's Parliament of Religions, and to reawaken, broaden and deepen its vision and purpose.

Since its inception, the CPWR has brought together a remarkable number of individuals and groups, representing a great variety of religious traditions, all dedicated to celebrating the centennial of the 1893 Parliament and to the search for new visions of the future.

The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Chicago was one of the first co-sponsors, followed in 1992 by the co-sponsorship of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly. The Bahá’í International Community has recently applied for co-sponsorship. Bahá’ís are serving actively on the Board of Trustees and its Executive Committee, the Program Committee, Worship Committee, Planning Committee, Logistics Committee and Parliament staff.

In 1990, the CPWR joined forces with the Virginia-based Institute for 21st Century Studies. Together, the two groups have undertaken to create an extraordinary opportunity for the religions of the world to open a new era of cooperation for their mutual benefit and for the benefit of the planetary community.

The Council and the Institute are now involved in the design and creation of one of the most powerful dimensions of the 1993 Parliament: the engagement with science of the religious and spiritual in addressing the critical issues facing humankind at the threshold of the 21st century. Their hope is grounded in the belief that global interfaith efforts can make a genuine contribution to healing the misunderstandings that have fueled the division, competition and mutual condemnation that has shaped world history, and that there is a need for a moral/ ethical foundation in considering the remedies to these problems.

Four and one-half years of dreaming, planning and outreach have begun to yield results. The 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions will be held August 28-September 5, 1993, in Chicago.

The Palmer House Hilton will serve as the principal venue, but related events will take place throughout metropolitan Chicago. Temples, mosques, synagogues and churches will host exhibits, open houses, dialogues, lectures and tours. Chicago museums and other cultural institutions will offer programs directly tied to the central themes of the Parliament.

The gathering will celebrate the unity and diversity of the world's religions in a spirit of openness, mutual respect and shared humanity. The stated goal of the Council, its more than 100 co-sponsors, and the faith communities who have committed their time and considerable energies to the project is to extend and build on a century of interfaith dialogue.

(In the next issue of The American Bahá’í: The Parliament program-a look at the activities planned and information on how to register.)

Indiana Interreligious Commission on Human Equality elects Bahá’í to serve as president for 1993-94

At its meeting last November 19, the Board of Directors of the Indiana Interreligious Commission on Human Equality (IICHE) elected a Bahá’í, Hamilton Niss, as president. It marks the first time that a Bahá’í has served as IICHE president, and the first time that the post has been held by a non-clergyman.

IICHE is a statewide organization composed of the organizational bodies of religious congregations. Its main goal is to promote better race relations and interfaith understanding, as well as other topics of social betterment.

Bahá’í paticipation in IICHE is opening many opportunities for people to learn about the Faith, Bahá’u’lláh, and Bahá’í solutions to humanity's problems.

Mr. Niss was also elected to a second term as chairman of the Interfaith Alliance of Indianapolis. Thus the two most significant interfaith organizations in Indianapolis are now headed by a Bahá’í. (Adapted from the Indianapolis Bahá’í Bulletin) [Page 4]

New IRS form simplifies filing for expatriates

(Excerpts from "International Employment Hotline," January 1993.)

Two new initiatives by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will make filing tax returns from abroad easier this year. One is the creation of a short version of Form 2555. The other is an additional extension of time for Americans who work and/or live overseas to file beyond December 15 under certain hardship conditions.

The new short form, dubbed the 2555-EZ, is tailored for those who do not make over (U.S.) $70,000 in a year and have no expenses to claim. You can use it if you are not self-employed, have no business or moving expenses, and cannot claim a foreign housing exclusion or deduction.

Even if you qualify for the $70,000 exclusion and think you owe no taxes, you have to file a tax return with the IRS, reporting your income and any expenses related to it. To claim the exclusion for overseas earnings you have to attach either a Form 2555 or Form 2555-EZ to your Form 1040.

To obtain U.S. tax forms and/or obtain help in filing your tax return from overseas, contact U.S. Embassies in Bonn, Caracas, London, Mexico City, Nassau, Paris, Rome, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney or Tokyo. In the U.S., phone 800-829-3676. You can also receive a complete package of overseas tax material by writing to IRS, Forms Distribution Center, P.O. Box 25866, Richmond, VA 23289, U.S.A.

UPCOMING PIONEERING INSTITUTES

April 1-4—Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine. May 6-9—Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, Illinois. June 17-20—Louhelen Bahá’í School, Davison, Michigan. Labor Day weekend—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.

AFRICA (F) Burundi.

HOLY YEAR BAHÁ’Í YOUTH SERVICE CORPS TRAINING THROUGH SUMMER 1993

The schedule of upcoming Bahá’í Youth Service Corps (BYSC) training institutes is as follows: March 30-April 4 at Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, ME. May 6-9 at the Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL. June 24-27 at Louhelen Bahá’í School, Davison, MI. Labor Day weekend at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, SC.

Remember, you must take part in a training institute before you leave for your post! To make your plans to attend, write the Office of Pioneering at the Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 or phone 708-869-9039.

Bahá’í Youth Service Corps

The international arena of service open to Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteers is now under the direction of the Office of Pioneering. If you have applied or are interested in applying for a year of service, and would like to obtain information regarding the international posts, the required skills, costs of living, and other relevant materials, please contact us. Also you and your parents are encouraged to consult with your local Spiritual Assembly regarding the expectations, obligations, and responsibilities as a Youth Year of Service volunteer. Contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone (708) 869-9039.

6 YEAR PLAN U.S. PIONEERING GOALS

AMERICAS - Continued

SHORT-TERM PIONEER GOALS AFRICA Goals Months (months) Completed Ciskei 24 7 Guinea-Bissau 12 6 Liberia 12 0 Nigeria 12 17 Tanzania 36 24 Uganda 24 0 Zambia 24 60 Totals 144 114

AMERICAS Argentina 24 0 Bahamas 12 23 Barbados 12 12 Brazil 24 24 British V.I. 12 14 Colombia 24 10 Dominica 12 0 Ecuador 12 24 Guyana 24 46 Honduras 24 30 Jamaica 24 30 Leeward Islands 12 53 Martinique 12 0 Mexico 36 88 Nicaragua 24 5 Panama 36 32 Paraguay 24 0 Puerto Rico 12 3 Uruguay 24 23 Venezuela 12 22 Totals 396 439

ASIA India 24 25 Japan 24 0 Pakistan 12 0 Taiwan 36 17 Totals 96 42

AUSTRALASIA Mariana Islands 24 0 Marshall Islands 12 6 W. Caroline Islands 12 17 Totals 48 23

EUROPE Portugal 24 4

Goals Open / Assigned Goals

AFRICA (E) Ciskei: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (E) The Gambia (Preferably Persians): Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (E) Kenya (Preferably Outside Nairobi): Goals Open 1, Assigned Goals 0 (E) Nigeria: Goals Open 3, Assigned Goals 0 (E) Sierra Leone: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (E) South Africa: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (E) St. Helena: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (E) Namibia: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (E) Transkei: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (E) Uganda (One to teach the Faith in the university; one doctor): Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (E) Venda: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 Total for Africa: 22, 0

AMERICAS (E) Bahamas (North Abaco, Eleuthera, Andros, Cat Island, Long Island): Goals Open 5, Assigned Goals 0 (E) Barbados (Employment opportunities for a dentist): Goals Open 1, Assigned Goals 0 (E) Belize (For radio, consolidation, development projects; skills for the National Secretariat): Goals Open 1, Assigned Goals 0 (P) Brazil (Preferably for Amazon project, possibly of Persian background): Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (S) Chile (Juan Fernandez Islands, preferably a Spanish-speaking couple): Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 2 (E) Dominica: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 1 (F) French Guiana (Preferably Persian): Goals Open 3, Assigned Goals 1 (E) Grenada: Goals Open 1, Assigned Goals 0 (F) Guadeloupe (Opportunities for English teachers): Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 1 (E) Guyana (Preferably East Indians and Blacks): Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (S) Honduras (Bay Islands, Yoro, Colon; preferably self-supporting): Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 1 (E) Jamaica (Preferably self-supporting for rural areas to work in village development): Goals Open 4, Assigned Goals 0 (F) Martinique (French-speaking youth to enroll in university or with musical talent): Goals Open 1, Assigned Goals 0 (S) Nicaragua (Preferably Persian): Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (E) St. Lucia (Skills in community consolidation): Goals Open 4, Assigned Goals 0 (E) St. Vincent & Grenadines: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (D) Suriname (Preferably Persian): Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 1 (E) Trinidad & Tobago (Preferably Persian): Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (S) Uruguay: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 1 (S) Venezuela: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (E) Virgin Islands, British: Goals Open 1, Assigned Goals 0 Total for Americas: 45, 8

ASIA (E) India: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (E) Malaysia (To help develop public relations experts): Goals Open 1, Assigned Goals 0 (E) Nepal: Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 0 (M) Taiwan (Chinese Background): Goals Open 1, Assigned Goals 0 Total for Asia: 6, 0

AUSTRALASIA (E) Marshall Islands (To help with administration): Goals Open 1, Assigned Goals 0 Total for Australasia: 2, 0

EUROPE (P) Portugal (Couples for goal areas outside greater Lisbon, preferably Portuguese or Spanish-speaking): Goals Open 2, Assigned Goals 1 Total for Europe: 2, 1

Total goals assigned: 77 Total goals filled: 67 Pioneers to goal countries: 270 Pioneers to non-goals: 510 Pioneers filling goals for other countries: 18 Total Pioneers sent: 798

Language Key: (E) English (D) Dutch (F) French (M) Mandarin (P) Portuguese (S) Spanish

ONGOING TRAVELING TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

AUSTRALIA; ALBANIA; BAHAMAS; BANGLADESH; BELIZE; BULGARIA; BURKINA FASO; CAMBODIA; CHINA; CISKEI; COLOMBIA; COOK ISLANDS; COSTA RICA; DOMINICAN REPUBLIC; EAST LEEWARD ISLANDS; EQUATORIAL GUINEA; FIJI; FRENCH POLYNESIA; THE GAMBIA; GERMANY; GUATEMALA; GUADELOUPE; GUINEA BISSAU; GUYANA; HAITI, HONG KONG; HUNGARY; ICELAND; INDIA; IRELAND; ITALY; MALAYSIA; MALTA; MOZAMBIQUE; NEPAL; NEW CALEDONIA; PAKISTAN; PANAMA; PHILIPPINES; PORTUGAL; PUERTO RICO; ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES; SAMOA; SIBERIA; SIERRA LEONE; SWEDEN; TAIWAN; THAILAND; TONGA; TRANSKEI; TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO; TUVALU; UGANDA; UNITED KINGDOM; VANUATU; WEST LEEWARD ISLANDS; YUGOSLAVIA; ZAMBIA. [Page 5]

Regional Treasurer's seminars to start in February

At its meeting in January, the National Spiritual Assembly authorized a high-priority program of seminars for local Treasurers and interested Assembly and community members. The first of an estimated 30 such gatherings to be held nationwide are being scheduled for February 6-7. Further meetings will be held each weekend through Ridván.

"We want to train local Treasurers along the lines they themselves identified in the survey we recently sent to all local Assemblies," said William Allmart of the Office of the Treasurer. "The response to the survey was both encouraging and prompt. The friends pointed out a number of areas of concern, and we expect to address those during these seminars."

The questionnaire, sent to all local Spiritual Assemblies, was answered by more than 600 Assemblies or their local Treasurers. The purpose of the survey was to obtain information about what worked, what was not working, and what was simply missing at the local level.

software for Treasurers; local Fund charts that can be used as visual aids at Feast; and training in Fund development and promotion in a local context. While existing materials seem to be widely used and are generally considered effective, there was a general recognition that they are out of date and not well-suited to some of the challenges local Assemblies face today.

The survey responses also highlighted a number of areas for more in-depth discussion.

"We want to talk a lot of things through with local Treasurers and Assembly members," Theresa Zingery, who coordinated the survey for the Office of the Treasurer, pointed out. "What is a 'well-prepared' Treasurer, for example? What should the community and the Assembly expect from their Treasurer? Right now the Treasurer's function seems to be defined in terms of accounting competence, but that is really only a part of the full range of responsibilities a Treasurer and the Assembly actually carry."

With this information in hand, the Treasurer's Office Some of the needs identified included computer has worked out an agenda that includes:

• Preview of the Three-Year Plan
• Restructuring of the National Administration
• Principles and Techniques of Fund Development and Promotion
• What Are the Treasurer's Core Skills?
• National Treasury Programs
• Questions, Problems and Answers

An important part of these full-day seminars will be the sharing by Treasurers of their successes and problems.

"Treasurers and the other attendees should leave these meetings having shared their concerns and achievements and with answers to all the questions their communities might have about national programs," Mr. Allmart said.

"The National Assembly is eager for the friends to take full advantage of these meetings as an aid in their work, especially with Ridván coming up, and that means having practical discussions about budgeting, the local goals, and a number of other topics."

Local Assembly Goal Program questions and answers

Here are some of the more frequently asked questions about the Local Assembly Goal Program, and the answers given by the Office of the Treasurer.

Does the National Spiritual Assembly no longer emphasize individual participation in giving to the Bahá’í National Fund?

There has indeed been an emphasis historically on individual giving to the National Fund. Universal participation is the ultimate goal, but as we look ahead to a time of rapid growth, it becomes clear that the traditional system could not stand the pressure of such numbers. Entry by troops will reveal much more clearly the role of local bodies as the natural point of contact for a vastly larger community.

Local institutions will gradually become the primary entry point for all the Funds. There are important reasons why this makes sense. Local Assemblies are the primary educators of the friends. They are also the divine institution that is closest to the believers, so they are in the best position to address local questions and at the same time communicate to the friends the Faith's needs at every level.

Shoghi Effendi's injunction not to create any obstacles to giving indicates that local Assemblies will not be the exclusive entry point, nor should they become bottlenecks hindering the free flow of the Faith's lifeblood. The importance of their role, however, cannot be over-emphasized.

The choice before the believers is not an "either/or" proposition; it should not be a question of giving either to the National or the local Fund. It is both spiritually and economically vital for individuals and institutions to support all the Funds of the Faith; the mechanics of giving are secondary in importance.

Doesn't the process of setting contribution goals for the Bahá’í National Fund simply transfer the basic problem to local Assemblies?

The goal concept is intended to apply the same approach to local support for the All Bahá’ís must secure permission from the Universal House of Justice before traveling to Israel, whether for business, to visit relatives, a three-day stay in Haifa, or any other reason. The address of the Universal House of Justice is P.O. Box 155, Haifa 31 001, Israel.

National Bahá’í Fund as the National Spiritual Assembly today uses in its support for the Bahá’í International Fund. What does this mean in practice?

For the last three years, the National Assembly has set a national goal for the amount of money ($25 million) it feels is the appropriate level of the community's support for all the major funds in light of the American Bahá’í community's unique station and capacity and the many tasks we Bahá’ís must do. From the part of the $25 million contributed to the Bahá’í National Fund, the National Assembly has committed to contribute at least $2 million to the Bahá’í International Fund on behalf of the American community.

Thus, while the Assembly monitors all contributions flowing through its national office and tries to encourage the believers to strive for the over-all goal, it also pays particular attention to its own commitment, trying to manage its affairs in such a way as to meet that goal. The community has an over-all goal, which it can achieve by giving individually and collectively to all the Funds of the Faith; the National Spiritual Assembly has a goal for the International Fund which it must meet out of its own contribution revenues.

The National Assembly feels this is like the situation in which local Assemblies operate. The friends give individually to the various Funds; they also support the local Fund and their Assembly's budgeted contributions for those same Funds.

An Assembly, at the same time, has the specific responsibility of setting and meeting a commitment out of its own income for the National Bahá’í Fund. The Assembly may or may not be aware of the full extent of giving by the friends in its community, but it does know the progress it is making toward its own pledge to the National Fund.

Should contributions be earmarked or not?

The key question of "earmarking" is up to you. It is neither more nor less convenient to the National Assembly for the friends to give one way or another.

There are two ways of "earmarking." One is to restrict the use of the gift for a certain purpose; the second is to ask one institution to pass a gift along to another on the donor's behalf, as, for example, when an Assembly contributes to the Continental Bahá’í Fund via the National Fund, or when a friend gives to the Arc Projects Fund via her or his local fund.

Confusion on this matter stems from the fact that the word "earmarking" is used in both these situations although they seem to be somewhat different in concept and practice. A different term for the second method might be "directed contribution", since the receiving institution's hands are not tied in any way--it never "owned" the funds in the first place. The important thing is for the giver to be clear in his or her own mind about the purpose and spirit animating the gift, and to indicate that purpose to the institution.

At the present time, the system for processing contributions does not allow for regular totals of Fund contributions by locality, hence the National Assembly's continued emphasis, with regard to Assembly goals, that only unrestricted contributions by the local body itself "count" toward the committed amount.

Ideally, the believers will not simply re-apportion contributions to accommodate a new program. The National Assembly hopes the believers will regularly consider their needs, priorities and capacities in light of the current opportunities facing the Cause, and effect an increase both in the number of givers and in the amounts given.

What is the community's pattern of behavior in giving?

Today, there appear to be about 40,000 believers who contribute regularly or at some time during each year to the Funds. Their accomplishments are truly commendable, and many of them sacrifice mightily out of their love for Bahá’u’lláh. On average, this group gives roughly 2-3 percent of its income to the Faith, while some individuals give 5 percent and even 10 percent of their income. These facts appear to indicate that there are factors beyond economic conditions that hold us back.

Information gleaned in meetings and from correspondence indicates that some of the friends give a nominal amount that does not change year after year. Others are upset by some action of the local or National Assembly, and give instead to one of the other funds. Still others feel that money is not a part of the spiritual life, or that discussing finances is too delicate a matter. The uncertainties of the present time have paralyzed some, while others worry about the number of different financial needs and requests.

Careful reading of the available guidance will help each person decide how much weight to give each of these concerns. What we cannot do is avoid making a commitment.

For its part, the National Spiritual Assembly considers money a tool for achieving the goals of the Faith, hence it tries to discuss it with the same openness as teaching or race unity activities.

HUQUQU’LLÁH

Payments for Huqúqu’lláh should be made to "The Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust" and sent to one of the Trustees:

Dr. Elsie Austin, Rocky River, OH 44116.

Video tapes of talks by the Hand of the Cause of God and Trustee of Huqúqu’lláh Dr. Ali-Muhammad Silver Spring MD Varqá, and by Ali Nakhjavání, a member of the Universal House of Justice, are available from the Office of the Secretariat for $6 each (postage included). 20901 (Tel. 301-589-8481).

Dr. Amin Banani, Santa Monica, CA 90402 (Tel. 213-394-5449).

Dr. Daryush Haghighi, Rocky River, OH 44116 (Tel. 216-333-1506).

Inquiries regarding Huqúqu’lláh should be referred to one of the Trustees or to the Office of the Secretariat, Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust,

Copies of the compilation "Huqúqu’lláh, Extracts from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice" can be obtained from the Bahá’í Distribution Service at 85 cents per copy. [Page 6]

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 will lead 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 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’í’s 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

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.

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’is Bahá’ís‎ and ‎non-Bahá’is non-Bahá’ís‎ as well!

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

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 ‎edition 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 a cappella‎ 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 includes‎ ‎an a‎ haunting yet triumphant story of the trial of Zarrin Muqimi 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 [Page 7]

Martin Luther King Day January 18, 1993

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

BUTTONS 2" SQUARE $1.00 EACH RACISM JUST UNDO IT

DELUXE PIN-BACK RACISM 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 Cooperative Peace Strategies

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

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

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 City of the Covenant "The Victories of the Covenant Hummy's Encounter with Bal

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

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 Circle one: AMEX MasterCard Expiration Date: Daytime Phone: State Zip VISA Check Money Order on Account Account Number:

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

Bahá’ís of Ventnor take part for 18th year in Convention of the N.J. Education Association

The Bahá’í Group of Ventnor, New Jersey, took part for the 18th year in this year's Convention of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) held November 5-6 in Atlantic City.

Because of the Holy Year and the proximity of the convention to the World Congress in New York City, the Bahá’ís doubled their efforts to make this appearance at the Convention the best ever.

In two days they distributed 7,616 pieces of Bahá’í literature and other materials including 4,544 "United Doves" poster-pamphlets and 1,122 copies of beautifully calligraphed copies of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s "Prayer for America," both produced by Special Ideas of Santa Fe, New Mexico; 800 copies of "The Vision of Race Unity"; 230 copies of the statement on Bahá’u’lláh; and hundreds of other pieces including almost 400 copies of the National Spiritual Assembly's "open letter" to President Bush.

Thirty-four people filled out interest cards asking for more information about the Faith including five who wanted speakers for classes or information about how to join. Two nuns signed up for information about the Faith, and one of them asked to attend meetings.

Several visitors who had heard of the Faith in places such as Australia, Brazil, Israel or Sierra Leone were surprised to learn that there are Bahá’ís in the U.S.

A number of teachers stopped at the Bahá’í booth to say that they have Bahá’í children in their classes. Others greeted some of the Bahá’í educators they knew who were helping to man the booth.

Bahá’ís in Tacoma pursue innovative way to reach Cambodians in community

The Bahá’í community of Tacoma, Washington, found an innovative and highly successful way to reach Cambodians in the community by holding a Twa Bune (Cambodian unity feast) in early December 1992.

The Twa Bune was set up for Kanna Baran, a member of a National Spiritual Assembly in Southeast Asia, who was to have visited the community in December. Although Mr. Baran was unable to travel to Tacoma due to a change of plans, the Tacoma community went ahead with the gathering.

About 40 adults (as many as 35 of Cambodian background) and 80 children attended the Twa Bune. Most of the Cambodians were non-Bahá’í friends and family members of Cambodian Bahá’ís in the Tacoma area.

Cambodian participants selected and read from the Bahá’í prayers (in Cambodian) and four or five passages from the Cambodian-language translation of "The Flowers of One Garden."

The unity feast included a deepening on the Bahá’í Fund, and all the Bahá’ís attending were given pre-addressed envelopes to facilitate their contributions to the local Fund.

The Cambodians greatly enriched the event with their lively spirit and took part with unreserved joy in singing and dancing. Two Americans performed traditional Cambodian music on hand-crafted instruments, much to the Cambodians' delight.

Chance meeting opens door to friendships in Plano, Texas

While visiting a public library, a member of the Bahá’í community of Plano, Texas, gave a copy of "The Vision of Race Unity: America's Most Challenging Issue" to a gentleman who was working on a paper on religion.

Mike Ard, a Bahá’í from Plano, Texas, plays guitar and sings at a recent public meeting for the 'Celebration of the Oneness of Mankind' held in one of many members of a local church who attended the Bahá’í-sponsored event.

The man, Don Bright, turned out to be the pastor of the Open Bible Fellowship Church, a small Baptist African-American church in Plano. A telephone conversation followed, and with the pastor's permission the Bahá’í community member started to attend a Bible study class once a week. She, along with some other Bahá’ís, attended several Sunday church services and met most of the congregation.

About a month and a half later the Bahá’ís sponsored a public meeting, "A Celebration of the Oneness of Mankind," attended by 60 people including 25 non-Bahá’ís. Pastor Bright opened the meeting with the Lord's Prayer and spoke on the need to educate youth and children to be free of racism. His church's Open Bible Choir also performed several Gospel songs. Mike Ard spoke on the oneness of humankind on behalf of the Bahá’í community and sang some Bahá’í songs along with the church members.

On another occasion the North Dallas Bahá’í Sunday School youth class attended a Sunday service at the church and joined the congregation's youth for bowling.

The Mayor of Plano, at the request of the Bahá’ís, proclaimed last November "Race Unity Month" and presented the proclamation to the Bahá’í community. On December 5, a framed copy was presented by the Bahá’ís to Pastor Bright and his congregation. Pastor Bright was pleased with the initiative shown by the Bahá’ís and expressed his desire to continue the relationship.

Bahá’í faith emerges from obscurity to mainstream

During November and the first two weeks in December the Faith received unprecedented coverage in newspapers throughout the U.S. Within a span of six weeks, newspapers in virtually every major metropolitan area in the country published articles about the Faith.

In November, nearly 1,500 articles were published with references to the Faith. More than 1,025 of these articles were about the Bahá’í World Congress. Most of them described the Faith in detail and explained the purpose of the World Congress. Several newspapers carried articles about local Bahá’ís who attended the Congress, or about local gatherings to watch the satellite broadcast.

Stories by wire services such as the Associated Press, Religious News Service, the New York Times and Chicago Tribune appeared in hundreds of newspapers.

So far during the Holy Year, more than 5,200 articles have been published that refer to the Faith. This exceeds by more than 1,000 the total number of such articles ever published in an entire year. [Page 9]

HORN OF PLENTY

Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie: music on a higher scale

As one who believed wholeheartedly in the oneness of humankind, Mr. Gillespie was among the first musical leaders in this country to integrate his performing groups, hiring musicians on the basis of talent alone and ignoring the issue of race.

"Dizzy always hired musicians of different races, since the beginning of be-bop," said Mr. Longo. "When I joined his band, most other bands were still segregated. But not Dizzy's. He was always an exponent of racial unity."

In 1968, a fan gave Mr. Gillespie a book about the Bahá’í Faith, and it wasn't long before he had embraced its precepts and become an ardent teacher of the Cause.

"The book explained just what I felt about the unity of all the Prophets of God," he later said. "It all went along with what I had always believed. I always believed that we come from the same source and that no race of people is inherently superior."

Mr. Gillespie was a tireless performer and indefatigable world traveler who even when approaching his 75th birthday averaged more than 200 days each year giving concerts. In 1990, for example, Mr. Gillespie, then 73, played in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, Japan, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland—not to mention his many performances here in the U.S. His schedule for 1991-92 was almost as full, and was cut short only by his surgery last March for pancreatic cancer.

His illness forced Mr. Gillespie to forego an appearance in November at a Carnegie Hall birthday celebration held in his honor on the third evening of the second Bahá’í World Congress in New York City. Among the musicians who paid tribute to him on that occasion were two Bahá’ís, Mr. Longo and saxophonist Marvin (Doc) Holladay.

When the Bahá’í Peace Orchestra was assembled in 1986 to perform at the Louis Gregory Institute's annual Peace Fest in South Carolina, Mr. Gillespie was the obvious choice to lead the group, which he did for three years until other commitments forced him to hand the baton to Mr. Holladay.

Mr. Gillespie had toured part-time since 1988 with his 15-member United Nation Orchestra, with whom he recorded a live concert at London's Royal Festival Hall. In keeping with his philosophy concerning the oneness of humanity and of music, the orchestra includes musicians from a number of countries including Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Puerto Rico.

In 1990 Mr. Gillespie starred in and wrote the music for The Winter in Lisbon, a European film in which he portrays a disgruntled black expatriate who forms a bond of friendship with a young white pianist who worships him.

Mr. Gillespie remained unaffected by the many honors bestowed on him during his more than half a century as a performing artist, among them no less than 17 honorary doctoral degrees.

Cited in 1976 by his native South Carolina for his contributions "to the world of music and the state of South Carolina," Mr. Gillespie responded by introducing himself before the state legislature as a Bahá’í and reading an editorial for America's bicentennial, "Two Hundred Years of Imperishable Hope," from World Order magazine.

In 1990 he received the Kennedy Center Honor, America's most prestigious public recognition of an artist's lifetime contribution to the performing arts, was awarded the Smithson Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, and was honored with ASCAP's "Duke" award for his lifetime achievements as a musician, composer and bandleader.

Those honors followed the presentation to Mr. Gillespie of the National Medal of the Arts by President Bush; the Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France's highest honor in the arts; his installation as a traditional Nigerian chief with the title "Bashere of Iperu," and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, from whom he had received Grammy awards in 1975 and 1980.

He played at the White House on at least three occasions, and in 1978 performed a memorable televised duet of "Salt Peanuts" with then-President Jimmy Carter.

John Birks Gillespie was born October 21, 1917, in Cheraw, South Carolina, the youngest of nine children. His father, a bricklayer and part-time musician, died when Mr. Gillespie was 10.

Mr. Gillespie was an admirer of the trumpeter Roy Eldridge, then a mainstay with the Teddy Hill band, and by age 15 had taught himself the rudiments of the instrument, playing for the first year in only the key of B-flat. He widened his musical horizons at the Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina, and two years later, after the family had moved to Philadelphia, began to play professionally.

Fired by pianist/organist Bill Doggett because he couldn't read music well enough, Mr. Gillespie caught on with the Frank Fairfax band, which included trumpeter Charlie Shavers and clarinetist Jimmy Hamilton, before replacing Mr. Edridge in Teddy Hill's band.

According to legend, it was Mr. Hill who gave Mr. Gillespie his nickname because of his unusual wardrobe and his penchant for horseplay and practical jokes. "He'd say, 'Look at that dizzy trumpet player from down south,'" Mr. Gillespie told an interviewer. "The name stuck."

It was with Mr. Hill's band that Mr. Gillespie recorded his first solo, on "King Porter Stomp," in 1939, the same year in which Mr. Gillespie joined the orchestra led by Cab Calloway for an extended tour. It was while on the road with Mr. Calloway's band in 1940 that Mr. Gillespie met Charlie Parker in Kansas City.

Although Mr. Gillespie played with a number of well-known musicians during the next five years and was a member with Mr. Parker of singer/trombonist Billy Eckstine's avant garde band, it was not until 1945 that he recorded under his own name with a January session that included "Good Bait" and "Salt Peanuts," and a later session with Mr. Parker that produced "Groovin' High," "Hot House" and "Dizzy Atmosphere."

"These recordings," Peter Watrous wrote in The New York Times, "with their tight ensemble passages, precisely articulated rhythms and dissonance as part of the palate of jazz, were to influence jazz forever."

In 1947 an old friend, trumpeter Mario Bauzo, introduced Mr. Gillespie to the Cuban conga player Luciano (Chano Pozo) Gonzales, with whom he wrote "Manteca" and began the movement known as Afro-Cuban jazz.

"Without the sophisticated arrangements and the conjunction of Latin rhythms and jazz harmonies that Mr. Gillespie provided," wrote Mr. Watrous, "both jazz and Latin music would be radically different today."

Legendary jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie in his element: 'clowning' with a group of delighted young fans in Florida in 1982.

Always on the lookout for younger musicians whose developing talents could be nurtured, Mr. Gillespie hired a number of them for his big band including vibraphonist Milt Jackson, pianist John Lewis, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Kenny Clarke who went on to form the Modern Jazz Quartet, now in its 40th year.

"It was an incredible experience because so much was going on," said Mr. Lewis. "Not only was [Mr. Gillespie] using these great be-bop arrangements but he was so encouraging. It was my first job, a formative experience."

In 1953 Mr. Gillespie began a decade-long relationship with producer Norman Granz, recording for Mr. Granz' Verve label. Also that year, the story goes, someone accidentally stepped on Mr. Gillespie's trumpet, bending the horn upward. When he played the misshapen instrument, Mr. Gillespie found that he could hear the sound more clearly, and so he kept it that way. Along with the bulging cheeks, it became his signature.

In 1956-57 Mr. Gillespie toured the Middle East, Asia and South America with his big band on behalf of the U.S. State Department as a musical "good will ambassador." The band, whose members included the 18-year-old trumpeter Lee Morgan, saxophonists Phil Woods, Billy Mitchell and Benny Golson, trombonist Al Grey and pianist Wynton Kelly, recorded several albums including a live appearance at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival.

Throughout the 1960s and '70s, and in fact until his illness early in 1992, Mr. Gillespie toured the world as an elder statesman of jazz, appearing at concerts and festivals on every continent and playing up to 300 shows a year. He also made music education a priority, presenting workshops and clinics as often as his schedule permitted at high schools and colleges.

In 1979 Mr. Gillespie published his autobiography, "To Be or Not to Bop."

Early last year, in honor of his 75th birthday, Mr. Gillespie played a four-week engagement with some of the world's best-known jazz musicians at the Blue Note club in New York's Greenwich Village. His last public appearance was at a Seattle, Washington, nightclub in February 1992.

Mr. Gillespie died peacefully in his sleep, seated in a chair next to his hospital bed while "Dizzy's Diamonds," a compilation of his recordings made from 1954-64, played softly on a nearby stereo.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Lorraine.

Staff writer is sought for The American Bahá’í

WANTED: A talented, capable writer for The American Bahá’í to replace the present staff writer who is leaving to become the National Spiritual Assembly's National Teaching Office Coordinator (NTOC). If interested, please send a résumé and other relevant information including writing samples to Jack Bowers, editor, The American Bahá’í, Wilmette, IL 60091 (if sending via UPS or other private carrier, send to 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201). [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). Bosch 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)

THE BAHÁ’Í community of Garner, North Carolina, warmly invites anyone interested in homefront pioneering to join our community. Garner, near the nationally recognized Research Triangle, is only minutes south of the capital city, Raleigh, three hours east of the mountains and an hour and a half northwest of the beach. Major employers in the area include Glaxo, Northern Telecom, American Airlines, Burroughs-Welcome, and ITT. N.C. State University is 15 minutes away, as are several community colleges. The Garner Bahá’í community has eight adults, three youth and four children. For more information, please write to the Assembly secretary, Mojdeh Barghassa, Garner, NC 27529, or phone Corinne Mills, 919-779-1541.

CALIFORNIA’S central coast is an excellent rural location for homefront pioneers. We have four communities that need only one adult each to reach Assembly status, and one lapsed Assembly that needs three adults and one jeopardized Assembly that needs one adult by Ridván 1993. The area, extending from Cambria to Ojai, is halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, ideal for retirees but with limited employment opportunities. For more information, please write to the District Teaching Committee, Southern California No. 3, c/o Arroyo Grande, CA 93420, or phone 805-481-6921.

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.

NORTH DAKOTA needs long-term, strong, dedicated Bahá’ís with professional medical or educational experience or who are retired and self-supporting to locate on any of the state's four Indian Reservations and help with teaching and administrative tasks. One's own transportation is necessary. There are new Bahá’ís who need nurturing and an abundance of ready-to-harvest souls. Please consider this opportunity to gladden the heart of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by pioneering to these American Indan areas of North Dakota. The District Teaching Committee stands ready to help you. Write to the District Teaching Committee of North Dakota, Marian Kadrie, chairman, Fargo, ND 58103, or phone 701-235-3725 (evenings).

RETIRED believers who are self-sufficient can help with teaching on Indian Reservations by relocating to homefront pioneer. For more information, please contact Ada James at the National Teaching Committee Office, 708-869-9039, ext. 361.

DREAM of helping bring in entry by troops? Want Bahá’í peers for your children/youth? Want to become a homefront pioneer to South Carolina? Wished for an older remodeled wood-frame house (3,800 square feet, porch, two-story on 3/4 acre for only $53,000) on an integrated street? Wow! And only 40 minutes to the Louis Gregory Institute. You can listen to WLGI every day while helping to strengthen an Assembly! Kingstree is a small, rural community with active children, youth, and the Kingstree Bahá’í Choir. The community is great for teachers or retirees. For information, phone 803-354-5339 or 803-354-5229.

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

EMPLOYMENT opportunities overseas: AFRICA—Lesotho: retired couple to serve as caretakers at the Bahá’í National Center. Namibia: water project manager. Senegal: retired caretaker couple. AMERICAS—Brazil: elementary school teachers, kindergarten teacher. Paraguay: chiropractic practice for sale. ASIA—Macau: primary school teachers. Sakhalin: teachers. Taiwan: ESL coordinator. Thailand: psychiatric nurse. EUROPE—Armenia: visiting faculty to teach graduate courses at American University of Armenia. Hungary: lecturer in English syntax. Poland: professionals to provide technical English language instruction. MULTI-REGIONAL—tradesmen in concrete formwork, rebar, electrical, interior and exterior design work; plumbing, for contract work in West Africa. University lecturers needed by Civic Education Project (CEP). 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.

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: Mrs. C.L. Moss, Mary Rumsey Movius (died Buffalo, NY, 1948), Frank Moxey (died Newark, NJ), Ethel Murray, Bahiyyih Hamideh Nabil, Augusta Nelson (died Kenosha, WI, 1960), Fanny Neuburger, James A. Newby, and Pauline S. Newell. Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these letters from the Guardian are 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 has prepared a series of biographical sketches of prominent African-American, American Indian, Hispanic and Asian Bahá’ís for the use of local communities during Black History Month, for Race Unity Day or other special events observances. Any local Spiritual Assembly wishing copies of these sketches or more information about them is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or to phone 708-869-9039.

WANTED

I AM IN the process of editing a book, tentatively titled In the Eyes of His Beloved Servants: Accounts from the Second Bahá’í World Congress, and am looking for written submissions of experiences, regardless of whether you actually attended the Congress, as long as the account is in some way related to the spirit of the Congress. Whatever your experience, I am interested in reading about it. If you prefer anonymity, please state this when you submit your essay. Mail submissions to Michael Kafes, 51 Putnam Road, Peekskill, NY 10566, or if you have an electronic mail account on the Bahá’í National Center BBS, you may mail your submission electronically to Michael Kafes. I can also be reached by phone at 914-737-4789 evenings and weekends or 212-785-9630 during the day.

WANTED by an isolated family of homefront pioneers for their children: a set of William Sears' cassette series, "Stories from the Dawn-Breakers." If you or your community library has an old set for sale, please write to Jim and Susan Wilds, Jackson, KY 41339, or phone 606-666-4018.

NEEDED: Spiritual Assemblies interested in hosting a Youth Year of Service volunteer to focus full-time on teaching the Faith. Please contact the National Teaching Committee Office, 708-869-9039, ext. 361.

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: 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.

THE INTERNATIONAL Bahá’í Audio-Visual Center (IBAVC), a field agency of the Universal House of Justice, is looking for writers of radio scripts. We are especially interested in obtaining script series on topical issues such as the environment, racism, and world peace. IBAVC offers scripts to Bahá’í communities around the world—a wonderful way to multiply the effects of your teaching efforts. For more information, or to submit scripts, write to IBAVC, Maracaibo, Venezuela, or fax (59) (61) 618572 or (59) (61) 912958.

FOR SALE

FOR SALE: a 60-minute cassette recording of the Arabic Hidden Words for use as a lullabye tape for children or as a memorization aid for all ages. The Hidden Words are sung by a woman against an ethereal "new age"-type instrumental background. All proceeds from the sale go to the "Nara Project," a Bahá’í scholarship fund established by the Spiritual Assembly of Rochester, Vermont. Please make checks out for $10 to "Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Rochester, Vermont," earmarked "Nara Project," and send to Peggy Goding, P.O. Box 326, Rochester, VT 05767. [Page 11]

World News

The Dr. Ahmadiyeh Teaching Campaign in the Carib Territory of Dominica has resulted in "the highest level of Bahá’í activity among the Carib people in the history of the Faith in Dominica." The project gained momentum last March with the arrival of short-term pioneer Therese Elijio, a Garifuna Bahá’í from Belize who worked with youth in the area to increase their teaching activity and help them establish children's classes. In June her brother, James Elijio, arrived, also as a short-term pioneer, and took part in teaching activities that led to the enrollment between March and October of 29 new believers. According to a report from Dominica, most of these new Bahá’ís are actively teaching the Cause to family members, friends and prominent people in their community including former religious leaders. In the village of St. Cyr, where most of the new enrollments took place, the friends are holding Feasts and Holy Day observances, have regular deepening classes, conduct children's classes, and maintain a Bahá’í lending library. A shelter adjoining the home of a new believer serves as a temporary Bahá’í Center, providing a meeting place for the friends.

In Dominica, pioneer James Elijio holds a baby at the Bahá’í Center in St. Cyr during the Dr. Ahmadiyeh Teaching Campaign. As a result of the campaign, 29 people in Dominica’s Carib Territory embraced the Faith between March and September 1992.

More than 700 parents, relatives and friends gathered last June 20 at the Maxwell International Bahá’í School in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Canada for the school's first graduation ceremony. The 38 members of the first graduating class were described by the school's principal, Ray Johnson, as offering "a glimpse of the long-anticipated new race of women and men."

Each year someone from a different faith is asked to give an address on the occasion of the opening of the Law Term for the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. It is one of the country's major events, attended by the President, the Prime Minister, members of both houses of Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps, the Chief Justice, judges and attorneys. This year's speaker was a Bahá’í, Dr. Hamid Farabi, whose remarks were broadcast live on radio with excerpts shown on television that night.

A seminar on "Building a New World Economy" was held last August 27 at the National Bahá’í Center in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The guest speaker, the Hon. M.K. Anwar, Minister of Commerce, said he appreciated the ideals of the Faith and quoted from Bahá’u’lláh, "The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens."

As part of a campaign to proclaim the Faith widely during the Holy Year, the National Spiritual Assembly of Kenya paid for two large articles about the Faith to be published in newspapers of national importance. The first, printed in The Standard on May 29, was a special supplement about the centenary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh; the second, which appeared August 7 in the Weekly Review, was a three-page article headlined "The Bahá’í Faith Unites Humanity." The National Spiritual Assembly also held a press conference at a hotel in Nairobi that drew reporters from newspapers and radio and television, government-owned and private. Among those addressing the media were Counselors Kiser Barnes, Friday Ekpe, Zekrollah Kazemi and Lucretia Warren. As a follow-up to these proclamation events, a series of public meetings was held.

In September, the Bahá’ís of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, took part in the fourth annual National Book Week Festival at Arnatogrou Hall. According to the coordinator of the Bahá’í booth, many of the 15,000 who attended the Festival looked at the Bahá’í display, and many asked questions about the Faith. Among the special visitors to the booth were the Minister for National Education and Culture and the Minister for Higher Learning and Science and Technology. As the latter admired the Bahá’í books, someone said to him, "These are some of the writings of the Bahá’í Faith." To his surprise, the minister replied, "Don’t say Bahá’í writings. Say these are the writings of Bahá’u’lláh." The minister added that he has known about the Faith for a long time.

Donald Rogers, a Counselor member of the International Teaching Center in Haifa, traveled to Russia, Georgia and Armenia in September and October to meet with artists and prominent people at museums and art institutions, making contact with more than 300 people in addition to the 45 Bahá’ís who arranged the events in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Mr. Rogers is an abstract painter who was a Professor of Fine Arts at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada for almost 30 years before he was asked to serve on the International Teaching Center. In 1991, there was a major exhibit in Canada of the Counselor's recent paintings. The central theme of Mr. Rogers' public talks in St. Petersburg and Moscow was the advent of Bahá’u’lláh and the influence of His Revelation in all fields of endeavor, as exemplified in the field of art.

National Assembly looking into problems with Congress travel, hotel accommodations

The National Spiritual Assembly is aware that certain of the logistical operations of the Bahá’í World Congress substantially inconvenienced some of the friends who registered for the Congress. The National Assembly is investigating the situation and reviewing it with the travel agency the National Assembly engaged to help the friends with their travel and hotel accommodations. The National Assembly will make a full investigation and is committed to pursuing appropriate remedies.

In the meantime, the National Spiritual Assembly asks that the friends please comply with the following requests:

1. If there are any monies owed, please send them directly to the World Congress Logistics Office at the Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201. Do not send payments directly to Corporate Travel Consultants.

2. If you have unused tickets, please forward them to the Bahá’í World Congress Logistics Office at the Bahá’í National Center.

A Bahá’í-sponsored Race Unity Forum is held at Stanford’s Quadrangle where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke during His visit in 1912

A Bahá’í-sponsored Race Unity Forum was held last October 8 at Stanford University's Main Quadrangle, the same spot where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke during His visit to the school in 1912. Some 500 people attended the event, which featured three invited speakers and a message from U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos.

After an opening introduction by Bahá’í student Steve Phelps, the Rev. Diana Akiyama, associate dean of Stanford's Memorial Church, spoke on the fundamental need for a spiritual foundation for efforts to build racial harmony.

A member of the Episcopal Church's National Commission on the Status of Women and a former member of its National Commission on Racism, the Rev. Akiyama focused on the opportunity for harmony among members of different religious faiths.

She was followed by Stanford Dean of Students Michael L. Jackson, who noted that Stanford had only 100 students of color when he started there as a freshman, whereas today the number is over 3,000, or 48 percent of the student body. Dean Jackson emphasized the need to extend such positive achievements to the larger society.

Following Dean Jackson, Congressman Lantos' statement of support for Bahá’í efforts was read. Dr. Robert C. Henderson, secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly, then spoke. He began with a thorough definition of the demographics and challenges of the race unity process in the United States. He offered insights from the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh on the oneness of humanity and closed with illustrative lessons from the recently completed "Models of Unity" study.

In attendance for the address were about 100 non-Bahá’ís, including university students, faculty and staff, a number of whom also attended a fireside with Dr. Henderson that followed.

Positive articles covering the event appeared on the front page of the Stanford Daily, in the Stanford Review and in the San Jose State Spartan. During the week following the event the Stanford Bahá’ís received two invitations to speak about the Faith at student dormitories on campus. The Spiritual Assembly of Stanford was very pleased with the event, and attributed its success to three factors:

• Community unity and 100 percent participation. Among the most delightful effects of this event was the creation of an enhanced new level of unity in the Bahá’í community. This was achieved in part by turning the first portion of local Assembly meetings into expanded working committee sessions to which all community members were invited. Every Bahá’í in Stanford played a significant role in planning and executing the forum; as a result, all were drawn much closer together and now feel empowered to carry out more events.

• Publicity. Every Stanford student and faculty member, as well as many individuals from the surrounding community, received an invitation to the forum through a successful direct mailing. This approach contributed to the Bahá’ís' efforts to emblazon the name of Bahá’u’lláh and spread His teachings on race unity.

• Networking and contacts. In planning the event the Bahá’ís established relationships with people of influence who are promoting racial and religious harmony. The community recently received an invitation from Stanford Dean Robert Gregg to participate in the re-opening ceremony of Stanford's Memorial Church. Also, the believers learned the importance of help from experts in other Bahá’í communities, whose contributions to the event proved invaluable.

The Stanford Bahá’í community, besides continuing its regular fireside program and the efforts of its Institute on the Healing of Racism, is planning two more major race unity events at the university this academic year. [Page 12]

MESSAGES FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

ترجمه پیام بیت العدل اعظم مورخ ۱۱ نوامبر ۱۹۹۲ خطاب به عموم محافل روحانی ملی

یاران عزيز الهی

جناب هیو چانس و جناب دکتر دیوید روح با جلب توجه به ثقل روزافزون ناشی از تقدم سن که در کیفیت خدماتشان تأثیر مینماید پس از توسل به دعا مناجات و تفکر و تأمل در مصالح امر الهی تقاضا نموده اند که طبق مفاد قسمت از بند دوم ماده سوم و پنجم قانون اساسی بیت العدل اعظم از عضویت آن مستعفی گردند.

بیت العدل اعظم با کمال تأسف استعفای این دو عضو ارجمند را پذیرفته است جناب هیو چانس از سال ۱۹۶۳ و جناب دکتر روح از سال ۱۹۶۸ به خدماتی بسیار ارزنده در ارض اقدس قائم بوده و اکنون خواهند توانست خدمات خود را به امرالله بدون احساس فشار طاقت فرسای مشاغل عدیده در مرکز جهانی بهائی استمرار بخشند اما به علت نزدیکی تاریخ انتخابات بین المللی بهائی تقاضای این هیئت را فوراً قبول نموده اند که تا آن تاریخ به انجام وظائف محولة کنونی ادامه دهند.

با تحیات ابدع ابهی بیت العدل اعظم

ترجمه ابلاغية بيت العدل اعظم مورخ ۱۷ دسامبر ۱۹۹۲ خطاب به بهائیان عالم

شروع سومین مرحله اجرای طرح های ساختمانی جبل كرمل را با مسرت و شعف اعلام میداریم. در پی مذاکرات طولانی با مقامات شهرداری حیفا مجوزهای لازم برای خاک برداری محل ساختمان دارالتبليغ بین المللی و شروع ساختمان طبقات فوق مقام اعلی در سپتامبر ۱۹۹۲ کسب گردید و قراردادهای جدیدی بالغ بر پنج و نیم میلیون دلار ترتیب داده شد و در روز نهم دسامبر ۱۹۹۲ خاک برداری برای هر دو ساختمان آغاز گردید.

اطمینان داریم که پیروان جمال اقدس ابهی در سراسر عالم به تقدیم بی دریغ تبرعات خود به این مشروع تاریخی ادامه خواهند داد و بدین ترتیب پیشرفت بلا انقطاع امور ساختمانی را تضمین خواهند نمود. در آستان قدس الهی برای اجرای سریع این مشروعات عظیم جهت تأسیس مقر مؤسسات بین المللی امر بهائی بر این جبل مقدس از صمیم قلب طلب تأیید می کنیم.

بیت العدل اعظم

با ابراز مسرت تصمیم به تأسیس دفتر ترقی تقدم نسوان را بعنوان یکی از دوائر جامعه بین المللی بهائی اعلام می داریم. این دفتر با ایجاد روابط متقابل با مؤسسات بین المللی که علاقه مند به امور مربوط به حقوق و مقام و رفاه زنان هستند، به ترویج اصول امر بهائی خواهد پرداخت. دفتر مزبور همچنین درباره طرح ها و برنامههائی که مشارکت جامعه بهائی در آنها بتواند مشوق کوششهانی برای تحقق تساوى رجال و نساء گردد به محافل روحانی ملی نظر مشورتی خواهد داد.

تأسیس این دفتر در این موقع بیشتر در اثر حصول دو موفقیت رضایت بخش بوده است یکی توسعه قابل ملاحظه اقدامات دفتر جامعه بین المللی بهائی در سازمان ملل در زمینه مسائل مربوط به زنان و دیگری توفیق اقدامات مزبور در دوائر بین المللی که موجب افزایش حیثیت جامعه بهائی گردیده است. مایه خوشنودی است که مثلاً مسؤولیت ترتیب دادن جلسات مجمع حامیان تأمین خواربار برای افریقا از سال ۱۹۸۸ به جامعة بین المللی بهائی تفویض گردیده است. مجمع مزبور متشکل از سازمانهای غیر دولتی و مؤسسات وابسته به سازمان ملل و هیئتهای همکاری بین دول مختلف است که در سال ۱۹۸۶ تشکیل شده تا میزان آشنائی و آگاهی زنان که متصدی تولید و تهیه اکثر مواد غذائی در خانوادهها هستند بیفزاید.

یا مثلاً نماینده جامعه بین المللی بهائی که متخصص امور مربوط به زنان است، به عضویت هیئت تنظیم برنامه مجمع سازمانهای غیر دولتی انتخاب شده که قرار است که در سال ۱۹۹۵ همزمان با چهارمین کنفرانس جهانی زنان در پکن تشکیل گردد. نماینده مزبور همچنین ریاست کمیته ای را بر عهده دارد که سازمان های غیردولتی در نیویورك برای اعتلاء مقام نسوان انتخاب کرده اند. این سمتی است که در جامعه سازمانهای غیر دولتی وابسته به سازمان ملل حائز اهمیت و حیثیت مخصوص است. بعلاوه روابط جامعه بین المللی بهائی با صندوق سازمان ملل برای ترقی زنان (یونی فم UNIFEM) چنان مایه اعتماد متقابل شده که سبب گردیده یونی فم برای طرحهائی که در سه مملکت افریقا به منظور ترویج تغییر طرز رفتار زنان و مردان نسبت به یکدیگر به اجرا در آمده است با جامعه بین المللی بهائی همکاری نماید. در هر سه طرح مزبور جامعه بهائی در سطوح محلی و ملی و بین المللی مشارکت دارد.

افتتاح دفتر ترقی و تقدم نسوان بعنوان یکی از دفاتر جامعه بین المللی بهائی در نیویورك قدم بارز و مهم دیگری در اداره امور خارجی جامعه امر محسوب میگردد و بدون تردید موجب آن است که جامعه بهائی به کیفیتی بارز و قابل ملاحظه در اجرای یکی از اصول اساسی امر حضرت بهاءالله سهیم گردد.

یادی از جناب محمد علی فیضی

ترجمه تلگراف بیت العدل اعظم خطاب به محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده مورخ ۲۹ دسامبر ۱۹۹۲

از صعود جناب محمد علی فیضی عمیقاً محزونیم کارنامه طولانی فعالیتهای تبلیغی و اداری ایشان را در مهد امرالله با نهایت محبت به یاد می آوریم و آثار برجسته قلمی و سفرهای ایشان را به کشورهای خاور میانه از خاطر میگذرانیم و بیش از هر امر دیگر انسانیت و آرامش و پشتکار ایشان را که در خدمات خالصانه به ظهور میرسید با عطوفت یاد می کنیم اعضای خانواده ایشان را از همدردی صمیمانه این جمع اطمینان دهید. با ادعیه حاره در اعتاب مقدسه برای حصول اجر جزیل در ملکوت ابهی دعا می کنیم.

بیت العدل اعظم

ترجمه دستخط بیت العدل اعظم مورخ ۱۰ دسامبر ۱۹۹۲ خطاب به عموم محافل روحانی ملی

یاران عزيز الهی

در آخرین روزهای سال ۱۹۹۲ جامعه بهائی یکی از خادمان برجسته خود را از دست داد بیشتر یاران ایرانی با جناب محمد علی فیضی آشنائی داشتند و از محضرش استفاده کرده بودند خلاصه ای از احوال ایشان را جناب حسن افنان از نوشته های جناب فیضی اقتباس کرده و برای دفتر امور احبای ایرانی امریکائی ارسال داشته اند که در زیر درج میشود:

ایشان از نواده های ملا محسن فیض کاشانی بودند که از علمای مشهور و دانشمند مذهب تشیع در دوران صفویه بوده و مدرسه فیضیه قم یادبود آن عالم معروف است.

پدر جناب فیضی مرحوم میرزا عبدالحسین خان و مادرشان صدیقه خانم بودند که با هم قرابت خانوادگی داشتند. پدر و عموهایشان از نفوس محترم شهر قم و اهل فضل و دانش بودند و با دیانت بهائی آشنائی داشتند و لكن بر حسب ظاهر رعایت حکمت میکردند و با خانواده و اطفال در این مورد صحبتی نمی داشتند.

پدرشان در اداره تلگراف به خدمت مشغول و غالباً در شهرهای مختلف ایران مأموریت داشتند. از این خانواده دو پسر باقیماند که پسر بزرگ تر جناب محمد علی فیضی متولد سال ۱۹۰۰ و پسر دیگر ایادی امر الله جناب ابوالقاسم فیضی متولد سال ۱۹۰۶ بودند.

جناب محمد علی فیضی تا سن ۱۵ سالگی در شهر قم ابتدا در مکتب خانه و سپس در مدرسه جدیدالتأسیس به تحصیل پرداخته و بعداً همراه پدرشان به ملایر عزیمت کردند و در آنجا به مدرسه امریکائی که تازه تأسیس شده بود وارد و علاوه بر تحصیل با دستگاه مخابرات تلگراف نیز آشنا شدند و به پدرشان كمك می کردند.

در این مدرسه با شاگردان بهائی آشنا و رفیق شدند در حالی که هیچ اطلاعی از امر بهائی جز آنچه معاندین تهمت و افترا وارد می آوردند نداشتند روزی با مرحوم سید علی آوارگان که بهائی بود مذاکره می کردند و در جواب سؤال ایشان گفتند: بهائی ها به هیچ چیز اعتقاد ندارند مدتی که در ملایر بودند به اتفاق پدرشان با بعضی از بهائیان رفت و آمد داشتند بعدها به همدان منتقل شدند. در همدان با احباء بیشتر مراوده داشتند و با هدایت آنان به مدرسه تأیید که از تأسیسات جامعه بهائی بود وارد و در کلاس ششم پذیرفته شدند کارکنان و اغلب شاگردان این مدرسه... [Page 13]...بهائی بودند و در اثر معاشرت و مراوده و شرکت در جلسات تبلیغی که غالباً در منزل مرحوم حکیم هارون تشکیل می‌شد و جنابان سید حسن هاشمی زاده و میرزا محمد خان پرتوی مبلغ آن جلسات بودند، اطلاعات امری کسب کردند و موفق به ایمان به امرالله شدند. در همدان در اداره تلگراف استخدام شدند و مشغول کار گردیدند.

در سن ۱۸ سالگی بر حسب اصرار عمویشان که در قم ساکن بود و موافقت پدرشان بر حسب سنن اسلامی وکالت دادند که طوبی خانم، دختر عمه ایشان را برایشان عقد اسلامی نمایند و پس از چند ماه به قم رفتند و مراسم عروسی انجام گردید که نتیجه این ازدواج دو دختر و يك پسر به ترتیب به نام‌های قدسی خانم و پرویز و ثریا خانم بودند که در حال حاضر قدسی خانم در حیات و دو نفر دیگر به ملکوت ابهی صعود نمودند.

پس از چندی به طهران منتقل شدند و موجبات مسافرت برادرشان ایادی امرالله جناب ابوالقاسم فیضی را به بیروت فراهم نمودند. در طهران به تشکیلات امری راه یافتند و از مصاحبت دانشمندان و مبلغین امر از جمله جناب فاضل شیرازی و جناب عزیزالله مصباح و جناب مودت و جناب پرتوی و جناب هاشمی زاده و دیگران بهره‌مند شدند و اطلاعات کافی به دست آوردند. در تشکیلات امری شرکت و در لجنات تبلیغ و خادمین اطفال عضویت داشتند و مدتی عضو محفل روحانی و خلاصه مذاکرات نویس محفل بودند. پس از چندی به اصفهان منتقل شدند و در اداره پست و تلگراف مشغول کار شدند و سپس به طهران آمدند و به وزارت دارائی منتقل شدند.

مدت خدمت ایشان در ادارات دولتی بالغ بر ۲۲ سال گردید و تقاضای بازنشستگی نمودند و بنا به درخواست خودشان و موافقت محفل روحانی به سمت مبلغ معرفی شدند و در ردیف ناشرین نفحات الله به خدمات امری پرداختند. اولین مسافرت ایشان به همدان در همان شهری که موفق به ایمان شده بودند بود که یکسال و نیم به طول انجامید و سپس به طهران و کاشان و اصفهان و شیراز تشریف بردند و در همه جا که خدمات امری و شرکت در تشکیلات و عضویت محافل و لجنات و ادارۀ کلاس‌های معلومات امری مشغول بودند.

ایشان اوقات خود را به تبلیغ و تعلیم جوانان و مکالمه با دانشمندان بهائی و غیربهائی و تألیف کتب و نشریات مفیده می‌گذراندند و جمعاً بالغ بر ۱۵ جلد کتاب از مطالب دینی و تاریخی و توضیح در اطراف آثار مبارکه تألیف و منتشر نمودند که بسیار مفید و مورد استفاده عموم است. بعلاوه مقالات مفیده‌ای از ایشان در نشریات و مجلات امری منتشر گردیده است. آثار منتشر نشده ایشان نیز بسیار است که امید است بعداً منتشر شود.

در اوایل سال ۱۹۷۸ در طهران دچار سکته مغزی شدند که برای معالجه به آمریکا منتقل شدند و پس از بهبودی باز به خدمات امری ادامه دادند. مدتی در شهر کلمبوس بودند و سپس به لوس آنجلس و ساندیاگو تشریف بردند و در همه جا موفق به خدمات و تشکیل کلاس‌های معلومات امری بودند. محضرشان بسیار مغتنم و اطلاعاتشان وسیع و صفات و ملکات اخلاقی ایشان خارج از حد توصیف و بیان است.

جناب فیضی در سن ۹۳ سالگی در اثر سکته‌های مجدد مدت ۲ ماه و نیم بستری بودند و در حدود ساعت چهار و نیم بعد از ظهر روز دوشنبه ۲۸ دسامبر سال ۱۹۹۲ به ملکوت ابهی صعود نمودند. عنایت‌نامۀ معهد اعلی که به مناسبت صعود ایشان شرف صدور یافته، بهترین گواه و مبین خدمات ایشان و رضایت آن عصبه جلیله از ایشان است. بازماندگان ایشان با نام خانوادگی مهجور و معانی مشهورند و هم در نهایت ایمان و ایقان در ظل امرالله به خدمات موفق می‌باشند. طوبی له و حسن مآب.

انجمن ادب و فرهنگ ایرانی

PERSIAN ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION

چنانکه یاران عزیز آگاهی دارند، سومین کنفرانس انجمن ادب و فرهنگ ایرانی از غروب پنجشنبه اول ماه اپریل سال جاری تا ظهر یکشنبه ۴ اپریل در شهر مانت ایگل در ایالت تنسی تشکیل خواهد شد. این کنفرانس بر دو موضوع تاکید خواهد داشت: یکی جهان و جامعۀ بهائی در سال ۱۸۹۲ و دیگری جناب ادیب بیضائی. دانشمندانی چون دکتر فیروز کاظم زاده و دکتر علی توانگر و دکتر نادر سعیدی در این کنفرانس به ایراد سخنرانی خواهند پرداخت. همچنین برنامه‌های گوناگون هنری و شعرخوانی در این کنفرانس اجراء خواهد شد. از یاران دعوت می‌شود که در این کنفرانس شرکت جویند و بدین ترتیب بر رونق آن بیفزایند. اطلاعات و ورقه مربوط به نام‌نویسی و محل اقامت و غیره در "آمریکن بهائی" شهرالشرف درج شده است. تقاضا می‌شود به آن شماره رجوع شود.

زیارت ارض اقدس

PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND

امور مربوط به کسب اجازه برای زیارت ارض اقدس که از این پیش از طریق محفل ملی صورت می‌گرفت، در شرف انتقال به مرکز جهانی بهائی است. محفل روحانی ملی با در نظر گرفتن پیچیدگی‌هایی که این امور در بر دارد انتظار می‌برد که انتقال کامل وظایف چندین ماه به طول انجامید. مادامی که این انتقال در شرف انجام است، تقاضانامه‌های مربوط به زیارت ارض اقدس ارسال یا پذیرفته نخواهد شد. محفل روحانی ملی یاران را اطمینان می‌دهد به محض اینکه دفتر مخصوص زیارت ارض اقدس حاضر به قبول تقاضانامه‌های جدید شود، دوستان را از طریق نشریه "آمریکن بهائی" مطلع خواهد ساخت.

اعلان

ANNOUNCEMENT

بنا به فرموده بیت العدل اعظم الهی يك دوره از مجموعه‌های الواح خطی که چندین سال قبل توسط لجنۀ ملی محفظۀ آثار امری ایران به صورت فتوکپی تکثیر شده بود، برای کتابخانه کرسی مطالعات بهائی که اخیراً در دانشگاه مریلند تأسیس گردیده، مورد نیاز است.

از دوستانی که مجموعه‌های مذکور را در اختیار دارند و آماده اند که اصل یا فتوکپی آن را تقدیم نمایند، تقاضا می‌شود با دفتر امور احبای ایرانی/آمریکائی در دفتر محفل روحانی ملی تماس حاصل فرمایند. تلفن: ۹۰۳۹-۸۶۹ (۷۰۸).

درگذشت دیزی گیلسپی

PASSING OF DIZZY GILLESPIE

جان برکس گیلسپی John Birks Gillespie معروف به دیزی گیلسپی که یکی از پایه‌های موسیقی جاز آمریکا به شمار می‌رود، روز ۶ ژانویه سال جاری در انگل وود Englewood در ایالت نیوجرزی درگذشت. دیزی گیلسپی در سراسر زندگی هنری خود با طبع شوخ و مهارت حیرت انگیزش در نواختن شیپوری که مخصوص او درست شده بود، شنوندگانش را شیفته خود ساخت و بعنوان یکی از بزرگ‌ترین نوازندگان موسیقی جاز شناخته شد و از سال ۱۹۶۸ که به امر بهائی اقبال کرد، پیام امر مبارك را نیز در شهرها و قریه‌های گوناگون جهان از خانواده‌های سلطنتی گرفته تا ده‌نشینان افریقا به گوش همگان رساند.

مردم دیزی گیلسپی را دوست داشتند و می‌ستودند اما این ستایش تنها به خاطر شهرت و مهارت او نبود بلکه طبع شوخ و شخصیت جذاب و دوست داشتنی او نیز در این محبت عام نسبت به او دخیل بود. دو ویژگی منحصر به فرد دیزی او را از شناخته‌ ترین هنرمندان می‌کرد: یکی شیپورش که مخصوصاً برای او ساخته شده بود و قسمت بوق مانند آن زاویه ای ۴۵ درجه به طرف بالا داشت و دیگری طریقه نواختن که در آن هنگام باد به گونه‌ها می‌افکند و تمام قسمت پائین صورتش از زیر گوش تا غبغب متورم می‌نمود.

وینتن مارسلز Wynton Marsalis که یکی از نامدارترین شیپورنوازان جهان در زمان حال است دربارۀ درگذشت دیزی گفت: "یکی از بزرگ‌ رادمردان راستین را از دست داده‌ایم، نه تنها در رشتۀ موسیقی بلکه در عالم انسانیت. با مرگ او یکی از سرچشمه‌های تشویق و عشق برای بسیاری از نوازندگان و همچنین برای عالم موسیقی خشکید. اما او نمی خواهد که ما اندوهگین باشیم. اگر بود می‌خواست که از این میراث عظیمی که برایمان به جا نهاده است، بهره‌مند شویم."

دیزی گیلسپی در سال‌های دهۀ ۴۰ به همراه گروهی از نوازندگان تغییراتی اساسی در موسیقی جاز ایجاد کرد و به هم‌آوازی‌ها و نغمه‌های سنتی جاز سبکی افزود که انتزاعی‌تر و عمیق‌تر بود. دیزی این سبك را بی‌باپ be-bop نامید. بی‌باپ تأکید غنائی موسیقی جاز را دگرگون ساخت و در مورد هماهنگی و ریتم نوآوری‌هائی کرد و زبان جدیدی برای جاز به وجود آورد. یکی از این نوآوری‌ها ترکیب ضرب‌های افریقائی با اصول نغمه‌سازی موسیقی اروپائی بود.

اما عطشی که دیزی گیلسپی برای نوآوری در موسیقی داشت با ایجاد بی‌باپ فرو ننشست. بعدها ضرب‌های موسیقی افریقائی و آمریکای لاتین و موسیقی کارائیب را هم با یکدیگر آمیخت و سبك نوین دیگری به وجود آورد که امروزه جاز افریقائی-کوبائی نامیده می‌شود.

دیزی گیلسپی ‎توانمند ای توانمندی‎ خستگی ناپذیر بود و حتی در ۷۵ سالگی بیش از ۲۰۰ روز را در سال به اجرای کنسرت می‌پرداخت. در سال ۱۹۹۰ هنگامی که ۷۳ ساله بود به غیر از برنامه‌هائی که در ایالات متحده اجرا می‌کرد به آرژانتین و برزیل و شیلی و کوبا و چکسلواکی و انگلستان و فرانسه و آلمان و یونان و هلند و ایتالیا و نامیبیا و ژاپن و روسیه و افریقای [Page 14]جنوبی و اسپانیا و سوئد و سوئیس نیز برای اجرای برنامه سفر کرده بود!

دیزی با اعتقاد استواری که به وحدت عالم انسانی داشت، یکی از اولین نوازندگانی بود که در گروه خود آمیزه‌ای از همه نژادها را جای می‌داد، زیرا تاکید او بر یافتن و پروردن استعدادهای جوان بدون در نظر گرفتن رنگ و نژاد آنها بود.

یکی از دوستداران دیزی در سال ۱۹۶۸ جزوه‌ای در معرفی امر بهائی به او داد. دیری نگذشت که به امر مبارک اقبال کرد و خود به صورت یکی از ناشران آن درآمد. بعدها در این مورد چنین گفت: این جزوه تمام چیزهایی را که درباره وحدت پیغمبران باور داشتم، توضیح می‌داد. همیشه بر این اعتقاد بودم که همه ما از يك چشمه مایه می‌گیریم و هیچ نژادی برتری ذاتی نسبت به دیگر مردم ندارد.

در سال ۱۹۷۶ ایالت کارولینای جنوبی از خدمات دیزی گیلسبی به عالم موسیقی و آن ایالت تقدیر کرد. دیزی در برابر مجلس قانونگذاری حضور یافت و خود را بعنوان يك بهائی معرفی کرد و مقاله‌ای از نشریه نظم جهانی World Order قرائت کرد.

هنگامی که ارکستر بهائی صلح در سال ۱۹۸۶ تشکیل شد و قرار بود که در مؤسسه بهائی لوئیس گرگوری برای جشنواره صلح برنامه‌ای اجرا کند، دیزی رهبری آن را بر عهده گرفت و این خدمت را به مدت سه سال ادامه داد.

دیزی در روز ۲۱ اکتبر سال ۱۹۱۷ در ایالت کارولینای جنوبی چشم به جهان گشود و آخرین فرزند از ۹ فرزند خانواده بود. در ۱۰ سالگی پدرش را که مردی آجرکار و علاقه مند به موسیقی بود، از دست داد. از کودکی شیفته موسیقی بود. ذوق و استعداد خود را رفته رفته با آموختن ظرافت‌های موسیقی از این و آن پرورش داد و بعنوان یکی از بزرگان موسیقی جاز آوازه در جهان درافکند و روز ۶ ژانویه سال ۱۹۹۳ در حالی که نوای موسیقی‌اش از دستگاه استریو پخش می‌شد، در عالم خواب به عالم ابدی پیوست. روانش جاودانه شادمان باد.

انتشارات امری

PERSIAN PUBLICATIONS

در زیر صورتی از کتاب‌ها و جزوه‌ها و نوارهای امری به زبان فارسی که در مؤسسه توزیع مطبوعات امری موجود است، درج می‌شود. از دوستان عزیز تقاضا می‌شود هنگام سفارش "کد" مخصوص را از یاد نبرند. تلفن: ۹۰۹۱-۹۹۹ (۸۰۰).

عنوان	کد	قیمت به دلار	عنوان	کد	قیمت به دلار
– منتخباتى از مكاتيب حضرت عبدالبهاء،‎،، ،‎ جلد دوم	PMMAB2	۶/۵۰	– مجموعه لغات منتخبه از آثار امری به زبان های فارسی و عربی و انگلیسی	CSWBW	۱۲/۹۵
– حال و آینده جهان	PHVAJ	۶/۲۵	– مجموعه مناجات فارسی و انگلیسی (جلد شمیزی)	PBP	۲/۷۵
– حضرت روح عیسى بن مریم	PIIIJC	۳۵/۰۰	– ادعیه حضرت محبوب (جلد چرمی)	PAHM	۱۵/۹۵
– هوالله، جلد ۱ و ۲	PH12	۱۳/۰۰	– ظهور عدل الهی	PADJ	۴/۵۰
– هوالله، جلد ۱	PH1	۶/۹۰	– اختران تابان	PAT	۱۹/۹۵
– هوالله، جلد ۲	PH2	۶/۹۵	– امر و خلق جلد ۱ و ۲	PAVK1	۳۱/۹۵
– انسان در آئین بهائی	PIDABH	۲۲/۵۰	– امر و خلق، جلد ۳ و ۴	PAVK3	۳۷/۹۵
– ایران آینده	PIA	۳۶/۹۵	– امریکا، سرزمین مهاجرین	PANI	۲/۰۰
– جمال ابهی حضرت بهاءالله جل اسمه الاعلى	PJIA	۲۵/۰۰	– آنچه کند او کند	PAKK	۲۱/۹۵
– حیات حضرت بهاءالله	PLBH	۳۸/۹۵	– آیات الهی	PAIH	۲۴/۰۰
– محاضرات، جلد ۱ و ۲	PM1K	۴۱/۹۵	– بدایع الآثار، جلد ۱	PBA1	۲۵/۵۰
– منتخباتى از آثار حضرت بهاءالله	PMABH	۳۱/۹۵	– بدایع الآثار، جلد ۲	PBA2	۲۵/۹۵
– منتخباتى از پیام های بیت العدل اعظم			– دیانت بهائی: آئین فراگیر جهانی	PBFEGR	۱۳/۹۵
– خطاب به احبای ایرانی	PMPUBA	۹/۵۰	– نمونه حیات بهائی	PTBL	۴/۰۰
– موفقیت در تبلیغ	PMDT	۱/۲۵	– ایام متبرکه (نوار کاست)	PBHD	۹/۹۰
– نفحات فضل (نوار کاست)	PNIF	۹/۹۵	– بهاءالله، شمس حقیقت	PBKG	۶۵/۰۰
– نار و نور	PNVN	۱۷/۹۵	– بهائیه خانم حضرت ورقۀ مبارکۀ علیا	PBK	۱۶/۵۰
– نونهالان ما در مهد امرالله	PNM	۵/۵۰	– بیت العدل اعظم	PBAA	۷/۹۵
– نظم اداری	PIBA	۱/۲۵	– بشارۀ النور (منتخباتی از آثار برای جلسات تذکر)	PBN	۳۰/۹۵
– اصول عقاید بهائیان	PPBF	۳/۵۰	– چند بحث امری	PCBA	۶/۹۵
– رسالة مدنیه	PRM	۷/۹۵	– تاریخ مختصر ادیان	PCBHR	۷/۰۰
– سطوت میثاق، جلد ۱	PSM1	۷/۵۰	– دریای دانش	PDD	۴/۵۰
– سطوت میثاق، جلد ۲	PSM2	۷/۵۰	– تاریخ نبیل (مطالع الانوار)	PDB	۶۵/۰۰
– سطوت میثاق، جلد ۳	PSM3	۷/۵۰	– دیانت بهائی يك نهضت سیاسی نیست	PDBYNS	۴/۰۰
– صداقت و امانت	PSVA	۳/۰۰	– فرامین تبلیغی	PTDP	۲/۷۵
– سخنی کوتاه دربارۀ آئین بهائی	PSKDAB	۴/۵۰	– گلبانگ معانی (مجموعه اشعار)	PGMA	۶/۹۵
– تلخیص و تدوین حدود و احکام کتاب مستطاب اقدس	PSCKA	۳/۰۰	– گلزار عشق	PGI	۲۰/۹۵
– مجموعۀ خطابات حضرت عبدالبهاء	PTAH	۲۳/۹۵
– تسبیح و تهلیل	PTT	۹/۹۵
– وعدۀ صلح جهانی	PVSJ	۱/۰۰
– نظم جهانی بهائی (جلد مقوائی)	PWOBH	۲۴/۹۵
– نظم جهانی بهائی (جلد شمیزی)	PWOBS	۱۴/۹۵
– يك عمر يك خاطره	PYUYK	۹/۹۵
– چشم انداز وحدت نژادی	PVRU	۰/۵۰

[Page 15]

Bahá’ís of Columbus, Ohio, take part in area-wide ‘Interfaith Concert of Choirs’

The oneness of religion was tunefully demonstrated last November 15 at a choral concert that brought together performers from eight religious communities in Columbus, Ohio.

The "World of Difference Interfaith Concert of Choirs," planned over a nine-month period, nearly filled the 800-seat Riffe Center for Government and the Arts in downtown Columbus.

The 10-voice Greater Columbus Bahá’í Choir shared the stage with 150 members of other choirs from the Christian (African Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic), Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh religions.

"A World of Difference" is a prejudice awareness and reduction campaign of the Anti-Defamation League and is sponsored in Columbus by the ADL, the Columbus Urban League, the Columbus Commission on Ethics and Values, and WCMH-TV, which broadcast a news story in advance of the concert and showed filmed highlights afterward.

Tom Mennillo, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Columbus and co-founder of the Bahá’í Choir, served on the concert's planning committee. Bahá’ís Jennifer Wilson and Dr. Houshang Ma’ani also helped shape the event as members of the religion committee of "A World of Difference."

A concert program, written and designed by Mr. Mennillo, contained descriptions of the religions and of each song performed.

Music by the Bahá’í Choir included "We Are the People of Bahá," "Oh Sweet Lord," "O My God," "Ya Bahá’u’l-Abhá," and "Blessed Is the Spot."

Larry Olson directs the Greater Columbus Bahá’í Choir. Other members are Wendy Green, Joe Keehner, Kim Mennillo, Tom Mennillo, Behdad Mottahed, Brian O'Dell, Lee Anne Olson, Cathy Williams and Lorraine Williams.

Switzerland's Landegg Academy hosts second annual International Music Forum

The rooms of Landegg Academy in Switzerland were filled with music, joy and reflection last October 22-25 at the second annual International Music Forum.

Opening night featured a concert by three of the participating musicians for an audience of more than 100, mostly non-Bahá’ís, at the Grubenmann Church in the neighboring village of Grub.

Works by Schubert, Beethoven, Kreisler, Bartok and Saint-Saens were performed by violinist Bijan Khadem-Missagh of Vienna, American pianist Mark Ochu, and composer/pianist Michael Neunteufel of Austria.

Artists from nine countries took part in this year's Forum, whose theme was "The Role of Music in a Changing World."

Lectures were given on topics ranging from music and ethics to the role of the artist in an emerging world order, creativity and community, and the transformation of artistic practices in a new world order.

Mr. Khadem-Missagh, who coordinated the program in collaboration with the Landegg Academy, is artistic director of the renowned International Chamber Music Festival of Austria and the Tonkünstler Chamber Orchestra of Vienna.

El Ruiseñor / The Nightingale

El Ruiseñor/The Nightingale is a bi-lingual (Spanish-English) Bahá’í publication sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and is distributed quarterly worldwide.

The editorial content is varied and includes items of interest to Bahá’ís such as current developments and goals of the Cause throughout the world, articles aimed at deepening our understanding of the Teachings, reports of victories in teaching in Hispanic and North American communities as well as articles on Education and essays from individual believers.

The publication is distributed in the United States and abroad through subscriptions and donations. Subscriptions within the United States and Canada are $15.00 per year, and $18.50 per year internationally.

Ruiseñor/The Nightingale welcomes donations and subscriptions from Bahá’í institutions as well as from individual Bahá’ís.

Please send your subscription request to: El Ruiseñor/The Nightingale, P.O.Box 512, San Fernando, CA 91340

NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: TELEPHONE: STATE: ZIP:

The Spiritual Assembly of Plano, Texas, leased a satellite dish for one day to bring the spirit of the closing session of the World Congress to the Bahá’ís of North Dallas and surrounding communities who were unable to attend the Congress in New York City. Nearly 60 Bahá’ís and their guests from eight communities in three states gathered on Thanksgiving morning to see the highlights of the first three days followed by the live satellite broadcast.

Bahá’ís in Detroit and Grosse Point, Michigan, continue series of talks on racial understanding

Bahá’ís from Detroit and Grosse Pointe, Michigan, continue to co-sponsor a monthly series of talks to promote interracial understanding.

In August, Kevin Early, professor of sociology at Oakland University, spoke to about 35 people on "Perceptions of Suicide in the African-American Community." In September, Richard Thomas, professor of history and urban affairs at Michigan State University, gave a talk on "Overcoming Racial Prejudice: Bahá’í and Other Working Models" to 40 Bahá’ís and their guests. In October, David Snider, a consultant in race relations, conducted a workshop on prejudice that was attended by 25 people. Most of the speakers and about half of the persons attending these programs have been non-Bahá’ís.

Some of the results of this continuing series include a request for a Bahá’í representative on the board of directors of the Racial Justice Center of Grosse Pointe, and a request from the Japanese-American community for Bahá’ís to arrange social interactions between African-American women and Japanese-American women.

Anita Stackpole Dougan, who pioneered to Panama with her family, dies at 58

Anita Stackpole Dougan, 58, died last December 7 in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Anita, her husband, Ed, and their two children pioneered to Panama in 1969, helping with activities surrounding the construction and dedication of the Temple there and serving for a time as its caretakers. The Stackpoles served a total of 15 years as pioneers in that country.

Anita was crippled by polio as a child, but never allowed the physical handicap to lessen her services to the Faith. She was a noted watercolor artist, a writer and historian, lecturer and librarian. Mrs. Dougan was buried in Nantucket.

Sando Berger, pioneer to Mexico, dead at 67

Sando Berger, a native of Czechoslovakia who pioneered from the U.S. to Mexico in 1971, died last November 11. He was 67 years old.

Originally traveling in Mexico with exhibits of his art work, Mr. Berger decided to stay as a pioneer. He and his Mexican wife, Margarita, and their two children stayed in the Cholula Pueblo area for years, operating a model self-sufficient cheese factory and raising their own goats. At the time of his death Mr. Berger was in his 21st year of service as a pioneer.

IN MEMORIAM

Alvin Buffalohead Ponca City, OK December 5, 1992

Theodore Dodge Tucson, AZ November 7, 1992

Anita Stackpole Dougan Nantucket, MA December 7, 1992

Madelane Fredrick Kirkland, WA Date Unknown

Harold Gail San Francisco, CA November 19, 1992

Eve Geary Carpinteria, CA 1991

Nicholas Giammarrese Jersey City, NJ November 1989

Ida Goodman Mexican Hat, UT Date Unknown

Mary Nell Graham Sarasota, FL Date Unknown

Sandra Guilbault Sierra Vista, AZ 1992

Ruth Hood Folsom, WV November 4, 1992

Mary Kitchen Muskegon, MI November 7, 1992

Hugh Lowery Bakersfield, CA November 17, 1992

Rhoda Menefee Whittier, CA October 25, 1992

Merwin Moulton Issaquah, WA December 21, 1992

Ruby J. Perkins Marietta, GA September 20, 1992

Shahnaz Poursharif Arlington, TX September 9, 1992

Freeman Porter Chicago, IL November 23, 1992

Jamshid Qobadi Carpinteria, CA November 28, 1992

Lillian D. Richards Fort Worth, TX November 11, 1992

William Ross The Bronx, NY Date Unknown

Maria F. Serson Loveland, CO November 23, 1992

Elizabeth Simmons Milledgeville, GA 1991

Elting B. Smalls Sr. Beaufort, SC December 6, 1992

Gregory Taylor Decatur, IL November 14, 1985

Bah Tsosie Ganado, AZ 1990

Diane Varga Studio City, CA December 9, 1992

James Velkov Sunnyside, NY 1992

Lois Wright Las Vegas, NV Date Unknown [Page 16]

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The legendary jazz trumpeter John Birks (Dizzy) Gillespie, a Bahá’í since 1968, is pictured as he performed during the Bicentennial year, 1976, for the South Carolina state legislature. Mr. Gillespie, who died January 6 at age 75 following a long illness, was honored that year by his native state (he was born in Cheraw) for his contributions 'to the world of music and the state of South Carolina.' A tribute to Mr. Gillespie's remarkable life and career begins on page 1.

MOVING?

TELL US YOUR NEW ADDRESS.

A. NAME(S): 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.

1. I.D. Title 2. I.D. Title 3. I.D. Title 4. I.D. Title

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.

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

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, 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.

Moving date

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

FEBRUARY

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.

19-21: Texas A&M Bahá’í Youth Conference, "Living the Life: Dedication to Bahá’u’lláh." For information, phone Christy Busch, 409-764-3160 or 409-693-6789.

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.

21: Third Conference on the Equality of Women and Men, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Royal Oak, MacGregor Library, Highland Park, Michigan. Fee (includes all materials and lunch): $20 per person, $30 per couple, $10 for youth (ages 15-21), no charge for children. On-site child care provided. Advance registration required. For information or to register, phone Sharon Russell, 313-583-1863, or Jane Russell, 313-244-9160.

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

5-7: Spiritual retreat weekend, "Bahá’u’lláh's Four Valleys and Seven Valleys...A Rendezvous of the Soul," Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine. For information, phone 207-439-7200.

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.

30-April 4: Youth Service Corps training session, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine. For information, phone 207-493-7200; fax 207-439-7202.

APRIL

1-4: Pioneer Training Institute, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot Maine. For information, phone 207-439-7200; fax 207-439-7202.

2-4: "Power and Empowerment: A Bahá’í Vision of Professional Development," Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 3131-653-5033.

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

6-9: 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

17-20: Pioneer Training Institute, Louhelen Bahá’í School, Davison, Michigan. For information, phone the Office of Pioneering, 708-869-9039.

24-27: Bahá’í Youth Service Corps training session, Louhelen Bahá’í School, Davison, Michigan, For information, phone 313-653-5033; fax 313-653-7181.

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

4-7: Pioneer Training Institute and Bahá’í Youth Service Corps training session, 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.