The American Bahá’í/Volume 3/Issue 12/Text
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O my beloved friends! You are the bearers of the name of God in this Day. You have been chosen as the repositories of His mystery.
It behoves each one of you to manifest the attributes of God, and to exemplify by your deeds and words the signs of His righteousness, His power and glory. The very members of your body must bear witness to the loftiness of your purpose, the integrity of your life, the reality of your faith, and the exalted character of your devotion. For verily I say, this is the Day spoken of by God in His Book: ‘On that day will We set a seal upon their mouths; yet shall their hands speak unto Us, and their feet shall bear witness to that which they shall have done.’ Ponder the words of Jesus addressed to His disciples as He sent them forth to propagate the Cause of God. In words such as these, He bade them arise and fulfill their mission: ‘Ye are even as the fire which in the darkness of the night has been kindled upon the mountain-top. Let your light shine before the eyes of men. Such must be the purity of your character and the degree of your renunciation, that the people of the earth may through you recognize and be drawn closer to the heavenly Father who is the Source of purity and grace. For none has seen the Father who is in heaven. You who are His spiritual children must by your deeds exemplify His virtues, and witness to His glory. You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? Such must be the degree of your detachment, that into whatever city you enter to proclaim and teach the Cause of God, you should in no wise expect either meat or reward from its people. Nay, when you depart out of that city, you should shake the dust from off your feet. As you have entered it pure and undefiled, so must you depart from that city. For verily I say, the heavenly Father is ever with you and keeps watch over you. If you be faithful to Him, He will assuredly deliver into your hands all the treasures of the earth, and will exalt you above all the rulers and kings of the world.’ O My Letters! Verily I say, immensely exalted is this Day above the days of the Apostles of old. Nay, immeasurable is the difference! You are the witnesses of the Dawn of the promised Day of God.... The days when idle worship was deemed sufficient are ended. The time is come when naught but the purest motive, supported by deeds of stainless purity, can ascend to the throne of the Most High and be acceptable unto Him. ‘The good word riseth up unto Him, and the righteous deed will cause it to be exalted before Him.’ You are the lowly, of whom God has thus spoken in His Book: ‘And We desire to show favour to those who were brought low in the land, and to make them spiritual leaders among men, and to make them Our heirs.’ You have been called to this station; you will attain to it, only if you arise to trample beneath your feet every earthly desire, and endeavour to become those ‘honoured servants of His who speak not till He hath spoken, and who do His bidding.’ You are the first Letters that have been generated from the Primal Point, the first Springs that have welled out from the Source of this New Revelation. Beseech the Lord your God to grant that no earthly entanglements, no worldly affections, no ephemeral pursuits, may tarnish the purity, or embitter the sweetness, of that grace which flows through you. Heed not your weaknesses and frailty; fix your gaze upon the invincible power of the Lord, your God, the Almighty. Arise in His name, put your trust wholly in Him, and be assured of ultimate victory. The Báb
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This farewell address of the Báb to the Letters of the Living will inspire all of us to rededicate our lives to this Mighty Cause of God with renewed vitality. As we approach the end of the Nine Year Plan, each one of us will want to consider what has yet to be accomplished before Riḍván 1973 and what we can do to spur on the victories.
Hand of the Cause William Sears Visits Communities in Louisiana and Florida[edit]
The Slidell and St. Tammany Southeast Parish Bahá’í communities were blessed by a recent, unexpected visit of beloved Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and his lovely wife, Marguerite, who had stopped in Louisiana on their way to the summer school in South Carolina.
At least 100 Bahá’ís, including some from as far away as Tennessee and Maryland, gathered to hear Mr. Sears talk on the importance of unity and universal participation.
This area of the South considers itself especially blessed, and will long remember this visit by Mr. Sears. (From an article submitted by the St. Tammany Assembly.)
The presence of Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and his dear wife, Marguerite, in southern Florida was a spiritual boon for the Bahá’ís and their friends.
On August 10 a special meeting for Spanish-speaking Bahá’ís and seekers from Broward and Dade Counties was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Levy in South Dade. Its purpose was twofold: to spur the friends on to intensify their efforts in teaching the vast number of Spanish-speaking people residing in the greater Miami area, and to hear a tape in Spanish by Mr. Sears and a group of believers in California on the subject of The Local Spiritual Assembly.
In his burning desire to communicate to the Bahá’ís in Central and South America the significance of that divine Institution, Mr. Sears had secluded himself in a room for five days to memorize his part in Spanish. This act, coupled with the knowledge he imparted, deeply moved everyone. Among those present were Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Maxine Roth and pioneer Mr. Harry Kurit from Colombia, South America, and believers from South Dade, the Redlands Migrant Camp, and North Miami. (From a report submitted by Ben and Francine Levy.)
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TEACHING CONFERENCE A teaching conference to be sponsored by the District Teaching Committee of Western Colorado and hosted by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Palisade, Colorado, will be held February 17 and 18, 1973, in Palisade. Topics to be covered at the conference include: Fulfilling the Remaining Goals of the Nine Year Plan Teaching the Masses The Bahá’í Life The Significance of the Bahá’í Fund Materials to be used include recent Messages from The Universal House of Justice which have appeared in The National Bahá’í Review and Suggested Guidelines for Teaching the Masses. Much of the conference will be devoted to workshop discussions on the above topics. A warm invitation is extended to all Bahá’ís, and it is important that they bring their Bahá’í Identification Cards. Information regarding food and lodging can be obtained by writing The Spiritual Assembly of Palisade, Ethel Rider, Secretary, P.O. Box 332, Palisade, Colorado 81526. |
Institutes on the Covenant
Southern Colorado received a big inspirational boost recently when Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Velma Sherrill presented the one-day Institute on the Covenant in Durango. Bahá’ís from all over southern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico attended, and everyone left with a much deeper understanding of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.
Mrs. Sherrill visited the Southern Ute Reservation while in the area. With members of the Durango Bahá’í community, she presented the Ignacio Town Marshal with materials on the Bahá’í Faith. Later that day, she visited the principal of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Boarding School in Ignacio where several Navajo believers stay during the school term.
That evening, Mrs. Sherrill gave a talk in Durango on Life After Death. During her stay, she also attended the Feast of Mashíyyat. (From a report submitted by the Durango Assembly.)
Bahá’í friends from various parts of Louisiana are pictured above at the one-day Institute on the Covenant, sponsored by the Continental Board of Counsellors for North America, and hosted by the Spiritual Assembly of East Baton Rouge Parish. Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Thelma Khelgati conducted the Institute. Classes for children were held simultaneously in another room. At the end of the day, the children were invited to join the adults and share with them what they had learned.
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THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í is published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091. Material must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication. Black and white glossy prints should be included with material whenever possible. Articles and news written in a clear and concise manner are welcomed from individuals as well as assemblies and committees. Address all mail to: The American Bahá’í Editorial Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091. |
National Spiritual Assembly Announces Third National Bahá’í Youth Conference to be held June 20-24, 1973 (details to follow in subsequent issues of The American Bahá’í)
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Qualities to Live By
What a blessing it is when the torrents, streams, currents, tides, and drops are all gathered in one place! They will form a great ocean and the real harmony shall overcome and reign in such a manner that all the rules, laws, distinctions and differences of the imaginations of these souls shall disappear and vanish like little drops and shall be submerged in the ocean of spiritual unity. By the Ancient Beauty, in this case and condition, the blessings of the great ocean will overflow and canals shall become as spacious as an endless ocean and each drop shall become as a boundless sea. O ye friends of God! Strive to attain to this high and sublime station and show forth such a brightness in these days that its radiance may appear from the eternal horizons. This is the real foundation of the Cause of God; this is the essence of the divine doctrine; this is the cause of the revelation of the heavenly Scriptures; this is the means of the appearance of the Sun of the divine world; this is the way of the establishment of God upon the bodily throne. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoted in Bahá’í World Faith, pp. 401-2 |
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words calling the believers to “Fellowship, fellowship! Love, love! Unity, unity!” certainly manifested themselves in the hearts of the friends gathered at this year’s State Convention in Kentucky. It was as though everyone had thirsted with parched lips for this day. If the Convention’s contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund are any indication of the unity which prevailed, $467.35 is quite a sum of money from only 42 friends, especially when one considers the traveling expenses of the majority of those present.
It can be truthfully said that the fellowship among the friends was spontaneous. The spirit during prayers was especially warm, and the participation during the singing was both uninhibited and joyful. As the friends associated with each other, a growing excitement seemed to grip everyone. There was such a strong feeling of unity—a pleasing, warm, inner glow. Many, many excited comments were to be heard about what was taking place within the walls of that building and within the hearts of the believers.
I think everyone left with a new sense of purpose, a desire to achieve even greater unity among all of the believers in Kentucky, and an urge to do more to help win the goals of the Nine Year Plan.
(From the report of the Secretary for the State Convention of Kentucky, Mr. Bob Lyons.)
Bounties Unspeakably Glorious[edit]
“The best of men are they that earn a livelihood by their calling and spend upon themselves and upon their kindred for the love of God, the Lord of all worlds.” (The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, No. 82, from the Persian)
One of the greatest qualities of a Bahá’í is his unselfish devotion in service to God and his fellowman, and each one of us is striving to attain this quality to the greatest extent of our ability and capacity.
We find that when we give generously of ourselves and our substance, the bounties we receive are unspeakably glorious. One of the greatest bounties, for example, is in being able to see the tremendous growth of the Cause all over the world, and in knowing that every sacrificial effort we are making is helping toward the furtherance of that growth and the establishment of peace on earth.
Office of the Treasurer
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Do You Speak a Language Other than English? If so, the House of Worship Activities Committee would like to know. We need Bahá’í guides who can communicate with people from other countries in their own language. We also need help in translating written and oral materials for use at the House of Worship. If you can be of service, please write: House of Worship Activities Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 |
Bahá’í Child Education And Family Life[edit]
With the “holiday season” around us, Bahá’í children and their families often experience confusion. In school, the children are faced with the problem of Christmas parties, plays, exchanging of gifts, etc., and must surely wonder to what extent they may participate in these activities. Many families have at least one parent who is not a Bahá’í or have close relatives who are not Bahá’ís. What do we do about Christmas?
The Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, Shoghi Effendi, has given, through his secretary, the following guidelines:
“...As regards the celebration of the Christian Holidays by the believers; it is surely preferable and even highly advisable that the friends should IN THEIR RELATION TO EACH OTHER discontinue observing such holidays as Christmas and New Year, and to have their festival gatherings of this nature instead during the intercalary days and Naw-Rúz....” (Bahá’í News, No. 134, 1940.) (Emphasis added.)
In their relation to others, Bahá’ís should “Consort with all the people of religions with joy and fragrance.” Bahá’u’lláh has said that “Through this utterance, whatever was the cause of foreignness, discord and disunion has been removed.” (Bahá’í World Faith, p. 175)
It is important that Bahá’í parents educate their children from the earliest age to a fuller understanding of their relationship to other religions, so that their actions and attitudes will always be respectful and conducive to a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.
The parents also must begin to emphasize more excitingly and personally in the home the celebration of Bahá’í Holy Days. Since a child relates first to his family, we should begin with family activities for these days. Invite family and friends over. Plan a special dinner. Think of ways to make your home look especially pretty on these Bahá’í Holy Days. Start planning for them in advance, letting the children participate in the planning and in carrying out the activities. In this way, we can begin to build a set of happy expectations about the approaching Bahá’í Holy Day celebrations.
“Bestir thyself, and magnify, before the entire creation, the name of God, and celebrate His praise, in such wise that all created things may be regenerated and made new.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 27)
CHILDREN’S CORNER
This is a time of year when many people celebrate Christmas and New Year. Shoghi Effendi has asked the Bahá’ís not to celebrate these holidays among themselves. He says we should have extra special celebrations during the Bahá’í intercalary days and Naw-Rúz. These special days have been given to us by Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá’u’lláh is a new Messenger from God and has brought new days to be celebrated. Some day, many people in the world will celebrate the intercalary days and Naw-Rúz with us.
Just think how wonderful it is that we know about the new special days.
Have you told your friends about these new days?
ACTIVITY:
- Start making a list of ways to celebrate the intercalary days and Naw-Rúz.
- Try to learn this by heart:
“We have, then, called into being a new creation, as a token of Our grace unto men.”
(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pages 29-30)
Plan now for the intercalary days (February 26 to March 1) and Naw-Rúz (March 21). You are invited to send reports and pictures of your activities to: The American Bahá’í, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.
THE PALM OF VICTORY IS NOT YET OURS—
Only Four Months Left to Win the Remaining Goals of the Nine Year Plan[edit]
Below are two lists of remaining goals. One is a listing of pioneering goals specifically assigned to the United States and indicates the number of pioneers needed. The other is a supplementary list recently circulated by The Universal House of Justice showing areas of the world requiring assistance in the completion of their goals.
| AMERICAS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bonaire Island | 1 | |
| (Collaboration goal with Venezuela) | ||
| Martinique Island | (F) \ | |
| Guadeloupe Island (SC) | (F) - | 2 |
| Marie-Galante Island | (F) / | |
| (Note: Although the numerical goals for Latin America have been completed, these remaining assignments must be filled before the end of the Nine Year Plan.) | ||
| AFRICA | ||
| Dahomey | (F) | Filled! |
| Gabon | (F) | 1 |
| Lesotho | (E) | 1 |
| Malawi | (E) | 1 |
| St. Helena | (E) | 1 |
| Tanzania | (E) | Filled! |
| Togo | (F) | 1 |
| Zaire Republic | (F) | 2 |
| AUSTRALASIA | ||
| Western Samoa | (E) | Filled! |
| EUROPE | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azores | (P) | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| Denmark | (D) | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Finland | Filled! | ||||||||||||||||
| Italy | (I) | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Portugal | (P) | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| ASIA | |||||||||||||||||
| Indonesia | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Japan | Filled! | ||||||||||||||||
| Laos | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Portuguese Timor | (P) | 1 | |||||||||||||||
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| AFRICA | *Territories with greatest need. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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If you can fill any of the goals listed, please contact: INTERNATIONAL GOALS COMMITTEE, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 (Tel. 312/256-4400)
| PROCLAMATION OF THE BAHÁ’Í FAITH CHINATOWN, NEW YORK CITY
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Each One Teach One
Souls are liable to estrangement. Such methods should be adopted that the estrangement should be first removed, then the Word will have effect. If one of the believers be kind to one of the negligent ones and with perfect love should gradually make him understand the reality of the Cause of God in such a way that the latter should know in what manner the Religion of God hath been founded and what its object is, doubtless he will be changed; excepting abnormal souls who are reduced to the state of ashes and whose hearts are like stones, yea, even harder. If by this method every one of the friends of God were to try to lead one soul to the right path, the number of the believers would be doubled every year. But this should be carried out with perfect wisdom and in such a manner that no harm would ever result therefrom. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoted in Bahá’í World Faith, pp. 385-6 |
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BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL TEACHERS WANTED
“Of all the gifts of God the greatest is the gift of Teaching....” “...in this New Cycle, education and training are recorded in the Book of God as obligatory and not voluntary.” These two quotations underscore the need that our Bahá’í schools offer specific courses that are both definite in their purpose to educate our children and that are taught by teachers capable of, and willing to, carry out the mandate to teach them. To reach this objective, the National Bahá’í Schools Committee is preparing a roster of teachers specifically for children’s classes. If you would like to participate in this endeavor, please fill out the attached roster, circling the appropriate answer to numbers 1-6, then cut out and mail it to:
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Cut out
CHILDREN’S TEACHER ROSTER
Yes, I would like to teach a children’s class at a Bahá’í School.
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Cut out
“...the beloved of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful must train their children with life and heart and teach them in the school of virtue and perfection.” “Whosoever is indifferent therein [to this duty] depriveth himself of the great bounty.” (Bahá’í World Faith, pp. 398 and 399)
DON’T DELAY - FILL OUT THE ROSTER AND MAIL TODAY! |
The 1973 UNICEF Wall Calendar, featuring children’s art from around the world, is now available and calls attention to four Bahá’í Holy Days. Order yours now from:
- United States Committee for UNICEF
- Information Center on Children’s Cultures
- 331 East 38 Street
- New York, NY 10016
1972-73 CAMPUS TEACHING CAMPAIGN[edit]
College Club Reports[edit]
In September, all Bahá’í college clubs received from the Office of Youth and Student Activities a list of goals to be achieved during the 1972-73 Campus Teaching Campaign. Briefly, these goals are:
- to bring to the awareness of everyone on campus the Message of Bahá’u’lláh;
- to make special efforts to reach all minorities and foreign students on campus;
- to adopt a small college as a teaching goal;
- to attend a “WE” Institute; and
- to encourage all Bahá’í students on campus to strive always to be at the head of their classes through hard study and true merit and to help them to accomplish this in whatever way possible.
These are the priorities for college clubs this year; however, the clubs are also encouraged to establish additional goals, especially in cases where some of those listed above are irrelevant; for example, where there are no minorities or foreign students on campus.
Various clubs have submitted reports of their progress to date, and we are happy to share the following:
University of Michigan
Nine clubs from Ohio, Indiana and Michigan were represented at the Tri-State Bahá’í College Club Conference, October 6-8, which was sponsored by the University of Michigan Bahá’í Student Group. In coming together the clubs were able:
- to share and discuss stimulating ideas which have already been tested and found to be successful, and to come up with some new, exciting and dynamic ones;
- to establish lines of communication between Bahá’í clubs in the tri-state area and to design plans for mutual support; and
- to investigate ways in which to develop the quality of Bahá’í life.
University of Chicago Circle Campus
As part of its efforts to reach everyone on campus, the Bahá’í club held a concert featuring “Sphere,” a musical group comprised of Bahá’ís of different nationalities who play a variety of the world’s instruments, and who put to music some of the verses of Bahá’u’lláh. Several people from the audience approached the group afterwards to ask questions about the Faith.
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, home of this University, has also the youngest, and one of the largest and newest Bahá’í communities in North Dakota. It has thirty-six believers, two-thirds of whom are twenty-five years of age and younger. Besides teaching on their own campus, members of the Bahá’í club have been involved in teaching at three high schools and in Grand Forks itself. The club has also begun to make plans for reaching the minority groups and foreign students on campus. One of the professors who is an American Indian will be invited to speak on the religious beliefs of the American Indian, particularly the Sioux. The following week, an Indian Bahá’í will speak on the relationship of these beliefs to the Bahá’í Faith. In order to reach a larger number and a more diverse group of people, a multimedia presentation of songs, music, readings, etc., is being developed.
Almost every Sunday morning, the club members meet for devotions. A “WE” Institute has been scheduled. The club has also adopted Devil’s Lake Junior College, about a ninety-minute drive from Grand Forks, and has been in touch with a new Bahá’í there to offer help with teaching and deepening activities.
University of Wisconsin at Madison
The Bahá’í club is attempting to reach more people on campus through more appealing firesides. Each fireside will have a particular theme aimed at the interest of a specific group; for example, one will focus on the effects of the environment on one’s character and spirit, and will be directed toward classes on environmental psychology, interior design, and landscape architecture. Using primarily the talents in its own community, the club will program other firesides to reach the following groups: the Afro-American Center, the African Students Association, the African Literature and Language Department, the African History Department, environmental design majors, urban and regional planning majors, art majors, the Art History Department, the Latin-American Students Association, Japanese students, North American Indian students, Chicano students, women’s groups, the Psychology Department, the Engineering Department, the Medical School, and several professional fraternities. The firesides will be announced on campus bulletin boards, in both campus newspapers, on the campus activities calendar, and over both campus radio stations.
The club has also scheduled a “WE” Institute. Additional goals are to keep the group close and unified through regular contact and interaction, and to aim for universal participation in all Bahá’í activities on campus. Club members meet for prayers once a week, and club meetings are held once every two weeks.
The club has been in touch with a Bahá’í at the Technical College in Madison, and is hoping to hold firesides there.
Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts
Firesides are being held every Thursday night this semester, two of which will be given by black couples and two by interracial couples. Deepening classes are being held every Wednesday night, and the club is arranging a Saturday luncheon and talk to which they will invite all campus leaders. Posters proclaiming Bahá’u’lláh’s Name, in addition to fireside notices, will be put up at various spots on campus. The club is attempting to get a bulletin board of its own.
Northampton Junior College and Northampton High School have been adopted as teaching goals. There is a Bahá’í attending Northampton Junior College and he has been offered assistance with firesides. Attempts are being made to put up posters in the High School, to have a road show, to talk before various classes and to show Bahá’í films. Attempts are also being made to have the films shown at Northampton Junior College.
St. Cloud State College, Minnesota
During the fall quarter, this club is placing emphasis on reaching foreign students. First, they obtained a list of campus organizations and a list of foreign students. These students are contacted individually and in small groups, and receive invitations to firesides.
Reaching everyone on campus will be the emphasis during the winter quarter. A Bahá’í Week is being planned for some time in February when Bahá’í films will be shown several times, talks given, and a “coffee house” held. The event will be publicized at both St. Cloud and St. Benedict’s Colleges.
During the spring quarter, the club plans to adopt nearby St. John’s College where it hopes to present the film, “It’s Just the Beginning.”
The St. Cloud Bahá’í community holds deepening classes every week in which the club members participate, and a “WE” Institute is being incorporated into this. Weekly firesides are held on campus.
[Page 10]
Bahá’í booths play a prominent role in teaching the Faith. This attractive nine-sided booth, well stocked with Bahá’í pamphlets and surrounded by a lovely garden, served as a silent teacher at the California Exposition and Fair in Sacramento from August 25 to September 13.
Musical groups also play an important role in teaching our beloved Cause. These two pictures show the New World Singers (above) and the Bahá’í Children’s Chorus (below) performing at the Annual Fair in Bell Gardens, California.
Our warm, loving greetings go to Miss Martha Heber who recently celebrated her 101st birthday at a special luncheon given in her honor by the Bahá’í friends in Eliot, Maine. In trying to find out when Miss Heber became a Bahá’í, we found no record of it at the National Bahá’í Center. This prompted an inquiry to the friends in Eliot. Miss Heber had just attended a Feast and had been telling the friends about her early years as a Bahá’í. She had first heard of the Faith in 1912 and had attended several meetings, but she herself could not recall the exact date on which she became a believer, or even the year. Miss Heber did recall going to New York when the beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, was in this country, but she did not have the bounty of meeting Him.
The Buffalo (New York) Children’s classes are held every Sunday morning, coinciding with deepening classes for the other members of the community. Photographed above, from left to right, are: Charlene Love, Angelia White, Charlene Woodard, Alisa White, Gregory Love, Audrey White, and Jalal Yates. Picture was sent by their teacher, Mrs. Ruth White.
BAHÁ’Í BOOKS AND MATERIALS[edit]
BAHÁ’Í LITERATURE[edit]
The Power of the Covenant
This attractive, light green compilation on the Covenant, prepared by the National Spiritual Assembly and first published in 1956, is now available in a revised edition. Extracts from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Master, and the Guardian have been grouped to explore the themes of the eternal Covenant of God, Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant with the Bahá’ís, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament, and the duties of the Bahá’ís as parties to the Covenant. The National Spiritual Assembly has called on each Bahá’í to “make this message the very fiber of his being” and suggests using The Power of the Covenant in study groups and firesides.
Paper/$.35
The National Spiritual Assembly: An Institution of the Bahá’í Administrative Order
A new compilation by The Universal House of Justice, similar in format to the compilation on the Local Spiritual Assembly, is now available. Taken from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi, this booklet covers the membership, authority, and role of the National Spiritual Assembly; its relation to the National Convention, to National Committees, to the Bahá’í community, and to the outside world; the function of officers; the process of appealing decisions; and the spirit and form of Bahá’í administration. Essential for understanding this important institution of the Bahá’í Administrative Order.
Paper/$.75
The Environment and Human Values: A Bahá’í View
This pamphlet was prepared by the Bahá’í International Community for presentation at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in June 1972 in Stockholm. It pinpoints the cause of current environmental problems as social structures and value systems which cannot meet human needs. The pamphlet contains an outline of Bahá’í principles concerning the human environment which are necessary for bringing about a world civilization capable of tackling environmental problems with united action on a worldwide scale. Excellent for groups interested in the environment and for special events associated with the United Nations.
10/$.75
BAHÁ’Í LESSON PLANS, Grade 1
This booklet, as all others in this lesson plan series, covers history, teachings for the individual, and social teachings. “Bahá’í Heroes” contains stories about Mullá Ḥusayn, Ṭáhirih, Quddús, the Greatest Holy Leaf, and Louis Gregory. The section on the “Knowledge of God through His Prophets” provides short lessons on the Manifestations of God. “Elimination of Prejudice” is taught through short stories praising diversity and showing the causes of prejudice to be fear and ignorance.
$1.40
La Fe Bahá’í: Una Introducción
A paperback Spanish edition of Gloria Faizi’s introductory book on the Faith is now available.
Paper/$.50 NET
‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Talks in Europe and America (Arabic)
A collection of the talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Europe and America is now available in Arabic.
Cloth/$7.00 NET
Paper/$4.50 NET
SPECIAL MATERIALS[edit]
6-69-23 1973 Bahá’í Date Book
This bright green pocket date book provides a full Gregorian calendar for the 13 months from January 1973 to January 1974. Feast days are shaded in green, and Holy Days are identified with nine-sided rosettes, and detailed information about special observances is provided. Each page contains excerpts from Bahá’í Writings. Calendar weeks begin with Monday, putting the weekend days together for easier planning.
$.35 NET
2-01-71 Bahá’í Unity Calendar Diary
Attractive desk calendar covering the Bahá’í year 130, beginning with Naw-Rúz (March 21) 1973. Contains pictures of the many peoples around the world who have become united by the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, as well as quotations from the Writings on various types of unity. The calendar shows both Bahá’í and Gregorian months and serves as a convenient reminder of Bahá’í Holy Days and Feast days. Makes a beautiful and meaningful gift for both Bahá’ís and friends of the Faith. 8 x 6 1/2 inches.
$1.75 NET
6-69-53 Bahá’í Pocket Calendar, 1973
Feasts and Holy Days are indicated on this convenient billfold or purse calendar. The back of the bright green calendar lists Bahá’í Holy Days, noting which ones require suspension of work; the intercalary days, and the days of fasting. Calendars should be included with special materials orders.
5 copies/$.25 NET
100 copies/$4.00 NET
6-69-33 Bahá’í Wall Calendar, 1973
The 1973 wall calendar features a view of the newly dedicated House of Worship in Panama. Bahá’í months are indicated by alternating blocks of green and rust numerals, while Gregorian months are indicated in the usual manner. Feast days and Holy Days are indicated by circles and squares around the numerals. Detailed information on special observances is printed on the back of the calendar. Calendars should be included with special materials orders.
Per copy/$.25 NET
10 copies/$2.00 NET
25 copies/$4.00 NET
Note: It is very costly to process orders for less than $5.00. Community members should combine their calendar orders and order only through local librarians. Isolated believers who wish to order a calendar should try to make up an order of at least $5.00 of various items.
HOW TO ORDER
Literature and Special Materials items must be handled separately. Using the order blank below, total each category in the space provided, and add the appropriate postage and handling charges before figuring the amount of your remittance. Personal orders must include full payment.
If possible, always order through a Bahá’í Community Librarian for postpaid handling on Literature orders of $5 or more and Special Materials orders of $10 or more.
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Standard for Bahá’í Students
“Let the corps of students and professors be impressed with the purity and holiness of your lives, so that they may take you as paragons of worthiness, examples of nobility of nature, observers of the moral laws, holding in subordination the lower element by the higher spirit, the conquerors of self and the masters of wholesome vital forces in all the avenues of life. “Strive, always, to be at the head of your classes, through hard study and true merit. Be always in a prayerful state and appreciate the value of everything. Entertain high ideals and stimulate your intellectual and constructive forces.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to the Bahá’í students at the American University at Beirut, quoted in The Bahá’í World, Vol. IX, p. 513) |
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To All College and High School Students Where there are two or more Bahá’ís on a high school or college campus, a Bahá’í club can be formed. Materials concerning the formation of Bahá’í clubs can be obtained by writing:
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High School Club Information[edit]
There are now 63 Bahá’í high school clubs throughout the country, and 142 in the process of forming! Since all Bahá’í high school clubs can now be formed off campus, we are eagerly awaiting the establishment of these additional clubs.
For those believers who are new to the Faith, let us share with you the following information regarding Bahá’í high school clubs. Where there are two or more Bahá’í youth on a high school campus, the National Spiritual Assembly encourages the formation of a club. Each Bahá’í club is sponsored by either a Local Spiritual Assembly or a District Teaching Committee, and is assisted by an adviser appointed by the sponsoring body. The Office of Youth and Student Activities at the National Bahá’í Center in Wilmette serves in a coordinating capacity.
At the present time, this Office sends mailings every Bahá’í month to all Bahá’í high school clubs and their sponsoring bodies. These materials include suggestions for teaching and deepening, as well as ideas for family activities. News, events, club functions, etc. are shared through these mailings and, from time to time, are included in The American Bahá’í.
This year’s program and mailings will concentrate on how to improve the quality of our lives and become more spiritual beings, and the need to set personal goals in order to achieve this.
We are eager to receive reports on the progress your club is making. Please write: Office of Youth and Student Activities (High School Clubs), 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.
The American Bahá’í
112 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, ILLINOIS 60091
DECEMBER 1972
In This Issue
INTERNATIONAL GOALS YET TO BE WON
HAND OF THE CAUSE OF GOD WILLIAM SEARS VISITS LOUISIANA AND FLORIDA
PROCLAMATION OF BAHÁ’Í FAITH IN CHINATOWN, NEW YORK CITY
BAHÁ’Í FAMILY LIFE AND CHILD EDUCATION
COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL CLUB INFORMATION
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY ANNOUNCES NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í YOUTH CONFERENCE TO BE HELD JUNE 20-24, 1973