The American Bahá’í/Volume 5/Issue 4/Text
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Details Children’s Program Outlined[edit]
A devotional, educational, and recreational program for children will be a prominent feature of the St. Louis Conference, next Aug. 29–Sept. 1. This children’s program, to be designed and executed by professional educators, will be conducted in separate facilities, away from the main conference area. The following article, developed by the St. Louis Conference Children’s Program Committee, explains the intent of the program. The registration form for the children’s program is found on page 3. An application form for volunteer teachers, assistants, nurses, and pediatricians is also found on page 3.
During the past 15 years the character of the community has changed qualitatively in many ways. One of these changes has been the addition of large numbers of young parents and their children to our community. This is a welcome change and one that necessitates new elements in the planning of programs for the community. The Five Year Plan reflects this particular aspect of our growth and includes a definite mandate to educate our children. The St. Louis Conference represents a step in accordance with this mandate. One of its prominent features will be a devotional, educational, and recreational program for children and youth.
The central aim of the program is to help our children gain a sense of themselves as spiritual beings who are growing up in an ever-expanding Bahá’í community that cherishes them, cares for them, and wants them to fall in love with learning so that all their talents and abilities may be developed and devoted to the welfare of mankind.
The program being planned will provide a wide range of learning experiences geared to serve each child no matter what his developmental level. It is being designed to serve as a tentative prototype for planning educational programs for our children at summer schools, weekend institutes, conventions, and in our communities.
The basic program will serve children and youth ranging from ages three to fifteen. (The children in the basic program must be toilet trained.) Youth aged 15 and over may participate in some of the field trips and recreational activities, while also attending several of the activities of the adult program.
A cooperative nursery will also be organized for children under three years of age, who are weaned and can crawl or walk. Both the basic program and the cooperative nursery will run from 9:15 to 12:15 in the morning, and from 2:30 to 4:30 in the afternoon, on each day of the conference.
Staffing of the Program[edit]
The St. Louis Conference Children’s Program Committee will provide two days of training (August 27 and 28) in St. Louis—prior to the opening of the conference—for 75 volunteers interested in participating as full-time staff members. We are particularly concerned with having volunteers who have had some teaching experience, and who are interested in working with children at summer schools, conventions, weekend institutes, and in local communities in the years to come.
These 75 volunteers, functioning as full-time core staff, will be supplemented by parent volunteers who
Pioneer Institute
The last Pioneer Training Institute of the interim year was held in Wilmette March 29-31. Seventeen persons attended; all but three left immediately afterward for their foreign posts. This new contingent brought to 92 the total of pioneers assigned during the interim year. The first Pioneer Training Institute of the new Five Year Plan is tentatively scheduled for June 6-9 in Wilmette.
Number Saved LSA’s Encouraging[edit]
More than 80 Local Assemblies were still in jeopardy as THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í went to press a little more than two weeks before Riḍván.
Although the figure was higher at this time than it has been in years past, it still represented a drop in jeopardized Assemblies from the high of more than 100 recorded just two months ago.
The National Teaching Committee was encouraged about the prospects of saving many of the threatened Assemblies, as a result of the pace of teaching activities and the movement of homefront settlers to threatened localities in the closing weeks of the interim year.
“The NTC is very encouraged,” said Dr. Philip Christensen, secretary of the committee. “The committee is doing the best it can, and has managed already to save more than 50 Assemblies. We are expecting miracles at Riḍván.”
Efforts to save the threatened Assemblies increased in intensity as the day for the election drew closer. More than a month before Riḍván a National Assembly representative was appointed for each jeopardized Assembly. That representative was instructed to meet with his Assembly at least once, to pray and discuss teaching strategies, and to participate in at least one teaching event at which the representative would be featured.
Every community in the country with more than 15 believers was asked to consult on the kinds of assistance that could be offered to jeopardized Assemblies. Of particular interest to the National Teaching Committee was the number of homefront settlers that could be recruited in the closing weeks of the Bahá’í year.
National Assembly representatives were also asked to attend the Feast of Jalál in the fifteen largest communities in the country to discuss the issue of homefront pioneering directly with the friends.
Spanish Page Begins[edit]
Beginning in this issue a Spanish page will become a regular feature of THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í, for the convenience of the growing numbers of Spanish-speaking believers around the country. The section (page 5 of this issue) will carry messages from The Universal House of Justice, letters from the National Assembly, accounts of national and international teaching activities, and brief educational and inspirational articles that may be of interest to the Spanish-speaking friends.
Green Acre Dates Corrected
The Green Acre Summer School program will be conducted from June 30 to August 25, a total of eight weeks. THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í incorrectly reported the dates in March.
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Children’s Program
(Continued from page 1)
will serve for one or two sessions, to maintain a one-to-five teacher/child ratio.
Parents whose children are enrolled in the basic program will be required to contribute a morning and/or an afternoon of their time as assistants working with the core staff. Parents will be assigned to time slots after they have sent in the early registration forms for their children. When they bring their children to the first session at the conference, the assigned time slot will be confirmed or reassigned. Reassignment may be necessary, depending on the number of children participating.
Parents whose children will be enrolled in the cooperative nursery will be responsible for staffing the program. Coordination and administration of the nursery will be provided by the committee. How much volunteer time from parents will be required will be determined by the number of children to be served and the number of parents available.
See registration and volunteer assistance forms on page 3.
Deadlines Near[edit]
Two deadlines are quickly approaching. The deadline for submitting artwork for the scheduled exhibition at St. Louis is July 1. The deadline for early Conference registration is July 31.
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the American Bahá’í
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. Copyright © 1974, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. |
A pre-registration form is located on page 11. A fee for Conference costs will be charged at the rate of $10 for individuals, $15 for families.
Each Bahá’í artist may submit three samples of his work to the exhibition judges for consideration, by sending a photograph of each work, along with his name, address, date of entry, title of each work, and the dimensions of the originals to the National Teaching Committee, 112 Linden Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091. Selections for exhibition will be made no later than July 15. Artists whose works are chosen will be responsible for framing, insuring, and shipping their art to St. Louis. The artists must agree not to sell any of their material at the Conference.
The exhibit will be limited to oil and watercolors, pen and ink and charcoal drawings, and photographs. No images of the Central Figures of the Faith can be accepted.
Charter Services Not Scheduled for Hawaii Conference[edit]
Details on the Bahá’í International Youth Conference (August 4–8, 1974, sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands), plus a Conference registration form, were printed in the January 1974 issue of The American Bahá’í.
A number of individuals have inquired whether charter transportation will be arranged for those desiring to attend the Conference. The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States will not be arranging any charter flights or ships to the Hawaiian Conference. Individuals are, of course, free to make their own personal plans to attend this event.
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Youth Week at Green Acre
July 28–August 3
Highlights of the week:
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Rutstein
Hemingway
Journalists offer information guides[edit]
Despite the severe gasoline shortage in New England, twelve people from throughout the state attended a Bahá’í Information Service workshop in Amherst, Massachusetts, on Saturday, February 16. Some participants traveled more than 200 miles round-trip to attend the workshop.
Mr. Steve Hemingway and Mr. Nat Rutstein, both veteran journalists and broadcasters, attempted to furnish the workshop participants with a greater insight into the workings of the mass media. In their discussions, they explained how newspaper editors and broadcasting producers view approaches by public relations people and emphasized the importance of abiding by Bahá’í principles in dealing with the news media.
“When a representative approaches an editor,” Mr. Rutstein said, “he is representing the Bahá’í Faith, and what he does will have an impact on the Faith’s reputation.”
Both journalists pointed out that sometimes in our desire to get the name “Bahá’í” before the public, we exercise a bit of deceit. When we stoop to that, they said, we suffer spiritually, and the reputation of the Faith in the community suffers as well.
The workshop leaders offered specific guidelines for approaching news media people:
- Pray for guidance.
- Show respect and appreciation for the time they give you; be punctual, precise, courteous.
- Make sure that your request on behalf of the Bahá’ís will be meaningful to the community served by the newspaper, radio, or television area.
- Never request news coverage because your community has placed ads in a newspaper previously.
- on’t use the opportunity to mention the Faith to tell an editor or producer all about it during their work hours. If the person asks about it, give him a few facts and perhaps the fact sheet produced by the National Information Office. If an editor or producer is genuinely interested in the Faith, pursue a discussion away from the office.
- Don’t flaunt your knowledge of the media. Let it show naturally as you articulate the potential news stories within the Bahá’í community. Remember, an editor or producer is looking for the unusual. There is a great deal in the Faith that is unusual: Bahá’í weddings, the fast, the election of Assemblies.
- Make yourself available to help in the coverage of a Bahá’í news story.
- Make sure you supply a way they can contact you.
Dr. Juan Caban, the National Information coordinator for the workshop, was happy with its success. Mr. Al Simmons of South Hadley, Massachusetts, said, “It was the most fruitful workshop I’ve ever attended.”
Dr. Caban announced that a similar workshop is being planned for the near future in the Boston area.
World Order
WORLD ORDER, a Bahá’í magazine, stimulates, inspires, and serves thinking people in their search to find relationships between contemporary life and contemporary religious teachings and philosophy.
Children’s Staff[edit]
Staffing the Children/Youth program for the St. Louis Conference will require a large number of teachers and assistants (over and above the parent volunteers), a number of nurses, and several pediatricians who will be willing to be on call. Those who want to serve as teachers, assistants, nurses, or pediatricians on call, please fill out the form below and return to:
Ms. Carla Jeffords Box A Amherst, MA 01002
Teachers serving as core staff members will be provided with room and board. Nurses working part time will be provided with room.
The committee will select from among the applicants those who will be invited to serve as members of the core staff and will be notified as promptly as possible of the committee’s decision.
The Mail[edit]
Pioneers report having grand time in Nairobi[edit]
Dear friends,
Two years ago today we landed in Nairobi. So many fantastic things have happened to all four Garmans in two years we can’t imagine what could happen next. Professionally we’re having a grand time—very relevant and demanding work. As a family unit, we’re enjoying each other—the girls now 6 and 8. The camping outings and observations of wildlife cannot be captured on film. The uncountable species of birds and flowers in our yard alone—not to mention the country. The warmth and simplicity of African people. The reality of experiencing the oneness of mankind. Our house full of Bahá’ís traveling from many places in the world. Forty-year-old Kenyans cooking Ugali in our kitchen, who traditionally know it as women’s work, and serving fellow Bahá’ís with cheerfulness. Feast so full of warmth and love, even the Africans can only smile—they love long wordy speeches!
Reading from Some Answered Questions while sitting on logs with 40-50 other friends under this brilliant equatorial sky at midnight with only a paraffin lamp. Being in a study class when Bahá’ís catch a glimmer of the true meaning of consultation for the first time and sit on the edge of their seats with excitement. Typing minutes of national committee meetings with very good news for the National Spiritual Assembly. Being visited by a young father whose only child just died and being asked what is the Bahá’í procedure for burial. Explaining to a toothless old man the Message of Bahá’u’lláh through a translator in a small hut with such intensity of eye contact the soul is barren. A pause, silence, the slow outpouring of pleasure at knowing of the new Manifestation of God, that he had never previously accepted other religions, that he was a medicine man and from now on he would only practice “good medicine”! Reading a sentence of the Guardian from The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh and hearing a Form 4 youth with sparkling eyes explain a deep 20th-century, educated meaning of the words.
I could go on and on—two years’ worth. What a bounty this has been and we thought we were going to sacrifice for the Cause!
Of course, the focal point of all these experiences has been the first brief visit to the Holy Shrines and the recent nine-day pilgrimage to the World Centre. What a privilege to make these visits. What inspiration. What an opportunity for thanksgiving. What encouragement to keep our hearts on the goal for humanity in spite of the world. Are we happy? Yes indeed.
- Charles and Martha Garman
- Julie and Debbie
“Talk board” fireside a lesson and a success[edit]
Dearest Friends,
I’d like to tell you the story of a remarkable Bahá’í from a neighboring community. I’m writing about her because she gave a unique fireside in our community, and because she is very much loved by the El Cerrito Bahá’ís.
Roberta Sauer is a 20-year-old girl with sparkling blue eyes and long blond hair, a slim figure, a lively mind, and a wonderful sense of humor. She is in her second year of college studying to be a medical records librarian. Roberta is outgoing and has many friends.
The remarkable thing about all this is that Roberta Sauer is afflicted with an unknown nervous disorder which confines her to a wheelchair. She cannot speak but communicates through a “talk board.” She has great difficulty with muscular control. In such a condition, most people would find it easy to “give up,” to feel sorry for themselves, and to do nothing. Roberta’s strong character and deep faith in God, however, have enabled her to rise above these difficulties and live as normal a life as possible.
Roberta’s fireside was a very touching experience. About 30 people—non-Bahá’ís included—attended. Roberta had typed out her speech beforehand—a slow process for her—and a fellow Bahá’í read it. In it, she told us what her life had been like. Ridiculed as a child, she wondered what meaning her life held, knowing only that her unknown disease was progressively degenerative. These were terrible challenges, and becoming a Bahá’í in 1971 helped her face them. After the speech, Roberta typed out answers to questions. Her fireside was a huge success, and a lesson to us all. Most of us had tears in our eyes at one time or another.
Since Roberta’s fireside, she has made a big decision to undergo dangerous brain surgery. Realizing that she might lose even her mental abilities—she has put her trust in God and decided to go ahead. Presently, she is in Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco. She’ll be there almost another month. Her surgery is in stages and so far has given some improvement. We hope that other Bahá’ís will join us in healing prayers for Roberta.
- With much Bahá’í love,
- Linda R. Blalock
Small Texas community reports forward march[edit]
Dear Friends,
Our watchword is growth, for it is the best word to describe the spiritual and physical activity of the Beaumont Bahá’í Community. For over four years now, the banner of Bahá’u’lláh has been raised in this city, and with each passing year, it waves brighter in the sky.
We are a small community, but the fewness of our numbers has yet to stop us in the face of many problems. To recount to you our many activities would take, in itself, a book; instead, we shall recount a few of our more memorable moments.
At the end of August, a local newspaper did a half-page feature article on our community, as the headline read, “Bahá’í Faith Growing With Peaceful Sounds.”
Our march is always forward, and as we marched forward, we went to the Fair. For the third straight year, we sponsored a booth at the Southeast Texas State Fair. For ten days, over 100,000 persons heard and learned about the Bahá’í Faith.
One cannot imagine the feeling one has when three separate persons, at three separate times, walk up to your booth and demand to know about the Bahá’í Faith; or the old man who looked into the eyes of one of the friends and said, “You have inspiring eyes.”
This is not the end of our story—it is just the beginning, for you shall hear from us again.
What it’s like to be an inquirer...maybe[edit]
The following was written by Dr. Garreta Busey in an effort to help remind Bahá’ís that they should try to remember what it is like to be an inquirer. It is a letter from a young lady to her friend, Jane.
Dear Jane,
Mary and I went all out Sunday. We went to a Bahá’í service! As you know, we’ve been floundering around, looking for a religion we might take to. We saw something in the newspaper about a Bahá’í meeting at 3 o’clock at the Bahá’í Center Sunday afternoon and decided to give it a try. It was quite an adventure.
We found the place and got there early—about 20 minutes before 3. It looked like a private residence, one of those old-fashioned homes, but it had a sign (rather dimly out by the street), and so we went up to the door. There was nothing there to indicate that this was the place, but we rang the bell anyway, and an old lady answered it. She seemed to have been just coming downstairs. We asked if there was to be a Bahá’í service there, and she smiled and said “yes” and invited us in. It seemed very strange—a couple of big rooms with easy chairs around the walls—and nobody else was there. We wondered what we’d got into.
The lady said she’d thought somebody would be there by that time to set things up, and she seemed a little apologetic. “They’re a little late,” she said. “You know we’re very informal. Come in and sit down, and we can talk while we wait.” So we sat on some of the chairs around the wall, and pretty soon, a good-looking guy came rushing in. “Hello, Bob!” the woman said, and she introduced us. “I don’t know who’s supposed to set things up. Do you?” “No,” he said, “but I’ll do it.” And he hastily got out a couple of rows of folding chairs. By this time, it was 3 o’clock, and people began coming in. There were only about a dozen, and I thought this must be a very small church. But it was interesting—Black and white, old people and children—and they all seemed very friendly. One of them sat at the edge of the crowd and showed in a few latecomers.
The young man who had set up the chairs gave the talk, and it was good. It wasn’t about the Bahá’í religion but about Hinduism. I gathered that the Bahá’ís aren’t Hindus but agree with them in some things. He said we could ask questions, and so we did. Afterwards, Mary and I stayed a while and talked with a few of them, who answered some of our questions about their religion. They gave us some little books, but I haven’t had time to read mine yet.
It was all very friendly, and we enjoyed ourselves—after it got going. I don’t know whether I’ll go back or not, but I’ve decided that if I do go to a Bahá’í meeting again, I’d better be late than early. I might find them with their hair still in curlers.”
Chicago exhibit[edit]
On February 22, the Chicago Today newspaper published an article concerning a new exhibit in the Museum of Science and Industry. Entitled “Exploring a Museum Attic,” the exhibit was created from artifacts found in the storage area of the museum. Among the collection of pieces from the previous art shows was a model of the Bahá’í Temple in Wilmette. The caption over the photograph of the model suggested that seeing it was the next best thing to visiting the House of Worship itself.
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Comensando con esta edición una página en Español será parte regular de este periódico bahá’í, para asistir a los amigos de habla-Española a través del país. Esta sección publicará mensajes de La Casa Universal de Justícia, correspondencia de la Asamblea Nacional, anuncios de acontecimientos bahá’ís nacionales e internacionales, y articulos breves sobre temas educativos e inspiracionales que puedan interesar a los amigos Hispano-Americanos.
Día de felicidad[edit]
Bahá’u’lláh ha escrito: “Cuando recordamos el día de la suprema felicidad, el día en que los labios del más antiguo de los días ha hablado, cuando Él partía de Su casa, al proceder al lugar desde donde Él derramó sobre la entera creación los esplendores de Su nombre, el Todo Misericordioso... si fuéramos a revelar los secretos ocultos de aquel día, todo lo que mora en la tierra y en los cielos se desvanecería y moriría con excepción de aquello que será preservado por Dios, el Todopoderoso, el Todo conocimiento, el Todo Sabio... La primavera divina ha venido, oh Más Exaltada Pluma, el festival del Todo Misericordioso se está aproximando rápidamente, ... la estrella del día de la suprema felicidad brilla encima del horizonte de nuestro nombre, el Bienaventurado, tanto más que el Reino del nombre de Dios ha sido adornado con los ornamentos del nombre de tu Señor el Creador de los cielos...” (Fragmento del libro Dios pasa.)
La declaración en Riḍván, cerca de Bagdád. Después de muchas negociaciones y a pedido del gobierno del Irán, una orden fue dictada por el gobierno de Turquía llamando a Bahá’u’lláh a Constantinopla. Sus discípulos se quedaron consternados al recibir esta noticia. Sitiaron de tal modo la casa, que la familia tuvo que acampar por doce días en el jardín de Najib Pasha, en las afueras de la ciudad, mientras se preparaban las caravanas para el largo viaje. En el primero de estos doce días, 21 de abril a 3 de mayo de 1863, o sea diecinueve años después de la declaración del Báb, Bahá’u’lláh anunció a muchos de Sus discípulos la buena nueva de que era Él el escogido de Dios y el prometido de todos los profetas, cuya venida había anunciado el Báb. El jardín donde esta memorable declaración tuvo lugar fue después conocido por los bahá’ís con el nombre de “Jardín de Riḍván,” y los días que Bahá’u’lláh pasó allí se conmemoran como la “Fiesta de Riḍván,” la cual se celebra anualmente cada aniversario de esos doce días. Durante esos días Bahá’u’lláh, en vez de estar triste y deprimido, demostró gran gozo, dignidad y poder. Sus discípulos se mostraron felices y entusiastas y grandes multitudes venían a rendirle homenaje. Todos los notables de Bagdad, aún el mismo gobernador, le hicieron honores al prisionero que partía.
Fiesta Bahá’í[edit]
Música, cine, bocadillos y camaradería fueron los ingredientes básicos de una fiesta extraordinaria, patrocinada por la Asamblea Espiritual de Northampton, celebrada la tarde del domingo, 17 de febrero pasado, en el domicilio de una familia bahá’í en Amherst, Massachusetts.
Asistieron bahá’ís de Northampton, Easthampton, Holyoke y Worcester con sus respectivas familias y amigos; los primeros para enseñar, los últimos para conocer la fe de Bahá’u’lláh. Se mostró la película “El Alba” basada en la dedicación de la Casa de adoración bahá’í en Panamá, dando a los concurrentes la oportunidad de ver bahá’ís de Centro, Norte y Sudamérica, así como de otros paises.
Todos los participantes pasaron un rato muy ameno y cordial.
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Rendimiento artístico del frente de la sede permanente de La Casa Universal de Justícia diseñada por el arquitecto Husayn Amanat.
Mensajes de La Casa Universal de Justícia
Anuncio plan seleccionar arquitecto “JUBILOSAMENTE INFORMAMOS MUNDO BAHÁ’Í EXTENSIÓN MUNDIAL ACELERACION CRECIMIENTO CAUSA BAHÁ’U’LLÁH NIVELES LOCAL NACIONAL Y RESULTANTE EXPANSION ACTIVIDADES CENTRO MUNDIAL NOS IMPULSAN AHORA ANUNCIAR ANTES TERMINACIÓN PLAN NUEVE AÑOS DECISIÓN INICIAR PROCEDIMIENTO SELECCIONAR ARQUITECTO DISEÑO EDIFICIO PARA SEDE CASA UNIVERSAL JUSTICÍA CONTEMPLADO AMADO GUARDIAN SOBRE ARCO EXTENDIDO CORAZON MONTE CARMELO CENTRADO. CONSAGRADOS SEPULCROS HERMANA HERMANO MADRE AMADO MAESTRO. CONSTRUCCION ESTE CENTRO LEGISLACION ORDEN DE DIOS QUE REDIME AL MUNDO CONSTITUIRA PRIMER DESENVOLVIMIENTO MAYOR DESARROLLO AREA QUE RODEA SANTO SEPULCRO DESDE TERMINACION EDIFICIO ARCHIVOS INTERNACIONALES. IMPULSADOS DAR TRIBUTO EXPRESA. ORANDO FERVIENTEMENTE PROYECTO AHORA INICIADO PUEDA DURANTE AÑOS INMEDIATAMENTE POR DELANTE PROGRESAR ININTERRUMPIDAMENTE ALCANZAR RAPIDAMENTE CONSUMACION MAJESTUOSA.” CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTÍCIA
7 DE JUNIO DE 1972 Diseño aceptado sede permanente “REGOCIJADOS ANUNCIAMOS ACEPTACION DISEÑO EXQUISITO CONCEBIDO POR HUSAYN AMANAT PARA EDIFICIO QUE SERVIRA COMO SEDE PERMANENTE CASA UNIVERSAL JUSTÍCIA MONTE CARMELO. DECISION TOMADA PARA PROCEDER A NEGOCIAR CONTRATOS EDIFICIOS DESTINADOS A ERIGIRSE ALREDEDOR DEL ARCO Y QUE CONSTITUIRAN CENTRO ADMINISTRATIVO MUNDIAL BAHÁ’Í.” CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTÍCIA
Centro de Enseñanza establecido “ANUNCIAMOS ESTABLECIMIENTO EN TIERRA SANTA CENTRO INTERNACIONAL ENSEÑANZA PREVISTO POR LARGO TIEMPO DESTINADO EVOLUCIONAR EN UNA DE AQUELLAS INSTITUCIONES ADMINISTRATIVAS QUE SACUDIRAN, ABARCARAN Y DIRIGIRAN AL MUNDO, ORDENADAS POR BAHÁ’U’LLÁH, ELUCIDADAS POR SHOGHI EFFENDI. NOMINA DE ESTA NACIENTE INSTITUCION COMPRENDE TODAS MANOS CAUSA E INICIALMENTE TRES CONSEJEROS QUIENES CON MANOS PRESENTES TIERRA SANTA CONSTITUIRAN NUCLEO SUS FUNCIONES VITALES. PEDIMOS A HOOPER DUNBAR, FLORENCE MAYBERRY, AZIZ YAZDI VENGAN TIERRA SANTA PARA ENCARGARSE DE ESTE ALTAMENTE MERITORI O SERVICIO. OFRECEMOS ORACIONES GRATITUD PROFUNDA SAGRADO UMBRAL ESTA NUEVA EVIDENCIA EVOLUCION ORGANICA ADMINISTRATIVO BAHÁ’U’LLÁH.” CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTÍCIA
JUNIO DE 1973 Cuadrante embellecido durante conflicto “REGOCIJADOS ANUNCIAMOS AMIGOS EMBELLECIMIENTO DURANTE CONFLICTO QUE AGITA MEDIANO ORIENTE, DEL CUARTO CUADRANTE DEL ÁREA QUE CIRCUNDA MAS SAGRADO SANTUARIO ABARCANDO OLIVAR SUDOESTE CASA PEREGRINOS BAHJI. BENDITO SANTUARIO Y MANSION YA SE ENCUENTRAN COMPLETAMENTE RODEADOS BELLOS JARDINES INSPIRADOS POR PATRON ḤARAM-I-AQDAS CREADO POR AMADO GUARDIAN. ORAMOS SAGRADOS SANTUARIOS QUE SOSTENEDORES MAS GRANDE NOMBRE CADA PAÍS PUEDAN REDUPLICAR ESFUERZOS PROMOVER INTERESES PRECIOSA FE EN ESPERA DEL PLAN DE CINCO AÑOS QUE PRONTO SERA LANZADO.” CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTÍCIA
4 DE DICIEMBRE DE 1973 |
News Briefs[edit]
Television program broadcast[edit]
Participants in the West Chester, Pennsylvania, community’s recent television program watched the monitor as slides of religious holy places flashed across the screen. The panel members were, from left to right: Ms. Stephanie Dornbrook, Mr. Steve Wilder, Mrs. Mae Anderson, Mr. Dustin Dornbrook, Mrs. Judy Alamia, and Mr. Frank Alamia.
On February 20 the educational television station in Philadelphia broadcast a half-hour program on the Bahá’í Faith during primetime. An estimated 200,000 people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware watched the program.
The show was designed to answer the kinds of questions usually asked by people when they first encounter the Faith. It was divided into three segments: music, slides of religious holy places, and discussion about the basic characteristics of the Bahá’í Faith. Each of the six members of the panel also explained his or her reason for declaring.
The West Chester Bahá’ís found that their program elicited new respect from persons who had a prior acquaintance with the Faith. The fact that they had seen a program about the Faith on television gave it a respectability and legitimacy it had not had before in their eyes. A number of requests for literature and information were received as a result of this program.
The community found that work on the program served as an excellent vehicle for consolidation and deepening. Each member of the community was asked to participate in some way in developing the program, and before it was finally broadcast, most had sacrificed time and energy to meet their important goal.
Student reception[edit]
On February 20 the Bahá’í Association of the University of Florida held a reception for international students in their student union, “to stimulate and create bonds of friendship and mutual cooperation between peoples of all races and nations,” as they put it. It was an official event of the annual International Week, sponsored by the Council of International Organizations, which represents the university’s 1,400 foreign students (from 84 countries). The 50 people who attended were from Latin America and the Caribbean, India, and several European countries. The Bahá’í Association reported spending a “warm and friendly evening” with their guests, viewing slide presentations about different countries of the world, enjoying refreshments, and informally answering questions about the Bahá’í Faith. The Association suggested that this type of reception may be fruitful in other communities where there are considerable numbers of international students.
Children’s conference[edit]
A conference was held in La Place, Louisiana, January 26. Thirty-four children attended, from localities within a 300-mile radius of this Southern Louisiana community. A deepening program for their parents was conducted the same day by Auxiliary Board members Mrs. Eunice Braun and Mr. Theodus Washington.
During the conference the children learned about the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith, the Administrative Order, and the basic teachings and Bahá’í laws. Some of the older children, after a brief instruction period, assisted in teaching small groups of younger children.
The conference was held on a Saturday to make traveling easier in a period when serious gas shortages threatened the State.
Weekend conference focuses on careers[edit]
More than 100 Bahá’í students from thirty New England colleges attended a weekend conference (“Preparing for a Lifetime of Service”) at the Mount Holyoke College campus, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, April 12-14. A Friday evening orientation and fellowship session was followed by two days of talks and workshops designed to present information on career preparation, race relations, marriage, and campus life.
Featured speakers included Dr. Daniel C. Jordan, Professor of Education at the University of Massachusetts; Mrs. Eileen Norman, secretary of the International Goals Committee; Mr. Robert Henderson, chairman of the National Teaching Committee; and Mr. Vaudevan Nair, a Bahá’í active in teaching, from Indiana.
To emphasize the need for thoughtful career preparation, Bahá’ís working in media, journalism, engineering, and education were available to offer guidance and information. In addition, youth who had lived and traveled in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas related their experiences and described the difficulties of living and working abroad.
Entertainment Saturday evening included folk and gospel singing, folk dancing, and a magician’s bag of tricks. The Saturday program was open to the public.
Conifer Hill camp[edit]
The Conifer Hill Work/Study Camp, 8,100 feet high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, will be open to Bahá’í youth this summer for the third consecutive year. Conifer Hill, provided for summer school use by a local Bahá’í, is located thirty miles from Boulder, and has 230 acres of woodland and lakes.
Bahá’í youth attending the camp each summer spend part of their time improving the grounds and facilities, and part of their time studying the Writings and deepening. This year a stand of pine trees infested with beetles will be removed to prevent the beetle larvae from maturing and attacking healthy trees. Ponderosa Pine Bark Beetles have already destroyed pine trees in large areas of the Rocky Mountains. The trees felled this summer will be used for future building at Conifer Hill.
Four one-week sessions will be conducted this year: June 22-28; June 29-July 5; July 6-12; July 13-19. The sessions will begin at noon Saturdays, and will end at noon Fridays. Room and board will cost $35 per week per person. There is no electricity or central heating at Conifer Hill. Campers live in semi-open cabins, use latrines, and have only cold running water to wash with. Summer weather in the Rockies can become chilly, so campers should bring warm clothing, as well as light summer apparel.
Two staff positions are still open for this year’s program. A work foreman, with experience in logging and carpentry, and the care and repair of equipment, is needed. The foreman should relate well to people and have the capacity to be both a friend and instructor to the campers. A staff cook must also be found. He should be able to prepare nutritious, economical, and tasty meals for approximately 35 people. Both positions pay $65 per week, plus room and board.
All inquiries and applications should be sent to the Conifer Hill Schools Committee, c/o Mrs. Marilyn Fisher, 437 Pine, Boulder, Colorado, 80302. Phone: (303) 443-6422.
Vacation and teaching linked[edit]
Bahá’í youth on vacation trips this summer should be sure to inform the Local Assemblies and District Teaching Committees in areas where they plan to travel of their presence and availability to participate in teaching and consolidation projects. Large commitments of time are not always necessary. Many Assemblies and DTC’s would appreciate even modest commitments.
The District Teaching Committees for Minnesota and Connecticut are two institutions that have planned summer activities, and that would appreciate assistance from Bahá’í youth.
In Minnesota the DTC has located a cannery that will hire summer help. Many of the employees are Mexican-Americans, whom the DTC feels could be receptive to the Bahá’í Faith. Housing is available through the cannery. The DTC will plan teaching and consolidation work for Bahá’ís interested in working at the cannery.
The Connecticut DTC has created a network of travel teaching circuits to be covered by part-time workers in the evenings and on weekends. It would welcome assistance from Bahá’í students in the state during the summer.
Teaching in Spanish areas[edit]
Street teaching in Spanish-speaking areas of South Tucson was organized by the Southern Arizona District Teaching Committee in early February. Using former pioneers who had served in Latin America as instructors and guides, the District Teaching Committee first held a workshop on mass teaching 10 February, and then a weekend of street work and neighborhood canvassing, inviting people to attend a Bahá’í festival on 16 February. There was a good turnout for these proclamation activities despite the serious shortage of gasoline in the area at the time.
Three persons attending the Bahá’í festival joined the Bahá’í Faith. One of the new Bahá’ís was a Papago Indian from the nearby reservation. The Spanish film, “El Alba,” with scenes of the dedication of the Panama Temple, was used for the public program. The film is available from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust.
Hand Cause visits[edit]
The Hand of the Cause of God John Robarts visited the National Center from March 20-24. During his stay he consulted with both the National Spiritual Assembly and the Continental Board of Counsellors. Both institutions held meetings in Wilmette during this period. On March 20, at the Naw-Rúz celebration at the House of Worship, he addressed a gathering of more than 500 people on the subject of prayer.
Costume party[edit]
“Unity in Diversity” was the theme of an Intercalary Days international costume party held February 25, 1974, by the Salt Lake County, Utah, Bahá’í community and attended by approximately 50 people. The program included Hawaiian and Persian music and dancing, folk singing, and a piñata for the children.
Film festival[edit]
More than 100 people attended a free Bahá’í film festival at a downtown theater in Northampton, Massachusetts, March 21-22. Six films were shown; among them such Bahá’í films as “It’s Just the Beginning” and “Give Me That New Time Religion.” Two classrooms full of children from a nearby public school were among those attending. Films were shown continuously from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
Summer Teaching Projects[edit]
Of the hundreds of proposals for summer teaching projects, thirteen have been selected for development by the National Teaching Committee. Many more will be sponsored by local institutions around the country, attesting to the need for, and interest in, prolonged and sustained teaching projects.
Because of the number and diverse character of summer projects this year, volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. Normally participants must be at least 17, but exceptions can be made. All projects will be carefully organized and chaperoned.
This summer in particular, youth of tested maturity are needed for the projects, which will constitute the first teaching activities under the new Five Year Plan. Volunteers should send their name, address, phone number, age, talents, and Bahá’í experience, to the National Teaching Committee (Re: Summer Projects), 112 Linden Ave., Wilmette, Ill., 60091. A statement of project preference (if any), and an explanation of what financial resources the volunteer will have available, should accompany the application.
Bahá’í youth who cannot contribute as much time as these summer projects call for may wish to consider notifying their District Teaching Committee about their availability for other Bahá’í service during the summer months.
Domestic summer projects for which youth and other interested Bahá’ís may volunteer include the following:
- Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan
- June 15-July 28
- Planned activity: travel-teaching throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, including the Bay Mills Indian Reservation.
- Cost: $70 for travel and incidentals; lodging and food are provided.
- Crete and Norfolk, Nebraska
- June 9–15, orientation at Bahá’í summer school.
- Planned activity: working for as many weeks as one chooses on farms, harvesting corn and milo, teaching fellow workers by example. Work will be approximately 10 hours per day, outdoors in the heat. Wages are about $1.40 per hour. Various kinds of work will be available, and prior experience is not necessary. Projecteers should be very neat and conservative in appearance.
- Cost: Expenses for food and inexpensive local housing; wages will cover at least part of this.
- South Carolina
- Mid-June to Mid-August (six-week project throughout this period—projecteers should come for at least six weeks).
- Planned activity: deepening, teaching, helping to develop community life and administrative abilities of the Bahá’í communities.
- Cost: About $3.00 per day per projecteer.
- Pierre, South Dakota (capital city where an Assembly is not yet established)
- Mid-June to mid-July
- Planned activity: firesides, street-teaching, proclamation.
- Costs: For food, travel, and some housing expenses, at least $150.
- Maine and Vermont
- Mid-July to mid-August
- Planned activity: circuit-teaching, inviting people to firesides, conducting firesides (musical and dramatic ability especially helpful in travel-teaching).
- Cost: $100 for four weeks, for food and travel; housing provided; additional funds, approximately $25 per week, should be brought for projecteers staying longer.
- Special requirements: French-speaking and minority youth would be particularly valuable here.
- Fort Yates, North Dakota, Standing Rock Indian Reservation
- June 23-July 31
- Planned activity: consolidation and community development, especially work with youth.
- Cost: Approximately $150 for food and gasoline.
- Special requirements: Eight especially mature projecteers needed, conventional dress, several adults as well as youth.
- Princeton and Bluefield, West Virginia
- Early June to mid-August
- Planned activity: consolidation and community development in a mass teaching area; youth may hold part-time jobs.
- Cost: $25 per week for food and gasoline; housing provided; transportation necessary.
- Special requirements: very mature, deepened, and exemplary youth needed, 2 males and 2 females; musical talent helpful.
- Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation, New Mexico
- Early June, to culminate in trip to St. Louis Conference in August
- Planned activity: deepening, strengthening administrative abilities, promote understanding and acceptance of the Faith, establish a musical group which will leave behind a nucleus singing group of local people, help organize a Council Fire, take youth to teach on other reservations, possibly take groups to Bahá’í summer school and to the St. Louis Conference.
- Cost: $90 per month estimated for housing, food and gasoline; transportation needed.
- Special requirements: exceptionally mature and deepened Bahá’ís needed for this project; must be able to work in difficult teaching situations; musical talent very helpful.
- Delaware-Maryland-Virginia Peninsula
- June 16-June 29 (those who can stay longer can travel-teach)
- Planned activity: consolidation and deepening of mass-taught believers in rural areas.
- Cost: $50 for two weeks includes food and gasoline; projecteers may contribute towards housing, provided by the District Teaching Committee, which will be in two cabins at a beach resort; transportation will be helpful.
- Central Texas
- June 7-July 20, 1st session; July 12-August 24, 2nd session
- Project A
- Bartlett, Texas
- Planned activity: consolidation and proclamation in a mass teaching area.
- Cost: $125 for food and travel; housing is provided; transportation is needed.
- Special requirements: 1 female projecteer.
- Project B
- San Marcos, Texas
- Planned activity: teaching, proclamation, some consolidation.
- Cost: $125 for food and travel; housing provided; transportation (a bicycle) helpful.
- Special requirements: 1 Spanish-speaking youth.
- Project C
- San Angelo and Abilene, Texas
- Three weeks in each location.
- Planned activity: consolidation in San Angelo, consolidation and some college campus teaching in Abilene.
- Cost: $125 for food, travel, and possibly a small housing cost for several weeks.
- Special requirements: 1 male projecteer needed.
- Taos and Los Alamos, New Mexico
- June 15-July 13
- Planned activity: direct teaching, firesides; music and films will be used.
- Cost: $15 per week for food; housing provided for two weeks; camping in Taos for two weeks (projecteers must bring bedroll, etc.).
- Special requirements: Six, male and female, including two Spanish-speaking youth; musical talent needed.
- Salt Lake City and County, Utah
- Throughout July, projecteers with additional time will be used as travel-teachers.
- Planned activity: proclamation, metropolitan teaching, developing public awareness of the Bahá’í Faith.
- Cost: For two weeks, $40; those who plan to travel-teach, additional $25 per week; transportation helpful.
- Northern Louisiana
- 2-3 weeks in June
- Planned activity: teaching, deepening, and proclamation throughout the area which will culminate in one or more conferences.
- Cost: $20-30 per week for food and gasoline; transportation needed.
- Special requirements: French-speaking people will be helpful with musical ability and experience in mass teaching.
BAHÁ’Í BOOKS AND MATERIALS[edit]
BAHÁ’Í LITERATURE[edit]
The Spiritual Revolution
The Spiritual Revolution, a new pamphlet imported from Canada, discusses the outstanding features of the global revolution, including its spiritual character, its universal range, and its uncontrollable inevitability. The commentary also explores the twin processes of worldwide disintegration and universal reorganization and traces the path mankind must follow through revolution to organic community. The pamphlet contains numerous quotations from the Bahá’í writings which analyze present trends and describe the qualities which must become integrated into the life of the individual.
The Universal House of Justice has written that it is “deeply impressed” with The Spiritual Revolution and has stated, “We feel it to be of such pertinence to the present situation of the international Bahá’í community and so well documented with quotations that we would like to see it available to the friends everywhere.”
The Spiritual Revolution is an excellent introduction to the Faith for those not initially interested in progressive revelation or the nature of the Manifestation and will be very useful in reaching college students and liberal intellectuals. It also provides material for stimulating deepenings on the responsibilities facing Bahá’ís living through the “dark heart of this age of transition,” so vividly described by Shoghi Effendi. Colorful pop art graphic cover. 5½ x 8½ inches. 18 pp.
7-40-68 | p $.35; 10/$3.00 |
Guidance for Today and Tomorrow
This compilation of the writings of Shoghi Effendi is now available at new prices. Topics covered include the Central Figures and the Holy Family, the Covenants of Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb, the Administrative Order, the relation of the Bahá’í Faith to other religions, world unity, the station and responses of kings and religious leaders, teaching the Faith, the station of America, an analysis of the present day, and a review of the achievements of the Faith. Attractive blue and white dust jacket. 256 pp.
7-08-26 | cl $4.50 |
Bahá’í Prayers—British
The British edition of Bahá’í Prayers is now available at a new price. The British prayer book contains several prayers and Tablets not included in the American prayer book. Maroon cover. Index. 162 pp.
7-15-12 | cl $2.25 |
English Imports
Several books published by the British Publishing Trust are again available from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust. Please check prices carefully as some books have new prices.
7-08-32 Principles of Bahá’í Administration | p $2.25 |
7-15-30 Pattern of Bahá’í Life | p $.50 |
7-31-44 Three Meditations on the Eve of November the Fourth | cl $1.25 |
7-06-15 Paris Talks | cl $3.25 |
7-06-16 Paris Talks | p $2.50 |
Fire on the Mountain-Top
by Gloria Faizi
Fire on the Mountain-Top, a new book by Gloria Faizi, is now available. The book is a collection of touching and inspiring stories about nearly thirty early Persian Bahá’ís. The stories tell how these dawn-breakers learned of the Faith and show their teaching methods and the variety of persecutions they suffered in the path of God. 140 pp.
7-31-68 | p $.75 |
Bahá’í Lesson Plans, Grade 9
This booklet, as all others in this lesson plan series, covers history, teachings for the individual, and social teachings. “Formative Age of the Faith” explores the foundations of the Administrative Order in the writings and reviews major events in the building of the World Order. “Teaching the Cause of God” includes reasons for teaching, preparation for teaching, teaching opportunities, and suggestions for a practice fireside. “Bahá’í Institutions” discusses the Covenant, the Guardianship, The Universal House of Justice, the Hands of the Cause and Auxiliary Boards, Local and National Spiritual Assemblies, the World Center, various Bahá’í Funds, and the House of Worship and its dependencies.
7-52-29 | p $1.40 |
Communion With God
Communion With God, a pocket-size collection of the prayers of Bahá’u’lláh, The Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, is now available at bulk prices.
7-15-09 | $.15; 100/$9.00; 200/$15.00 |
SPECIAL MATERIALS[edit]
Presentation Folders
Attractive gold presentation folders, similar to those containing material on the Faith of interest to law enforcement officials and funeral directors, are now available. These multi-purpose folders enable communities to design special information kits for local civic, governmental, and religious leaders, making their own selection of appropriate materials. The cover of each folder is stamped in black “The Bahá’í Faith” and contains a nine-pointed rosette. 9½ x 11¾ inches.
6-67-20 | $.50; 10/$4.00 |
1st National Bahá’í Conference - 5 Year Plan
St. Louis, Missouri
Aug. 29 - Sept. 2, 1974
Dates To Remember[edit]
| April 21 | First Day of Riḍván |
| April 25 | National Spiritual Assembly Meeting |
| April 26-28 | National Convention, Wilmette, Ill. |
| April 28 | Feast of Jamál (Beauty) |
| April 29 | Ninth Day of Riḍván |
| May 1 | The American Bahá’í Deadline for June Issue |
| May 2 | Twelfth Day of Riḍván |
| May 4-5 | Education Conference, Mankato, Minnesota |
| May 10-12 | Dayspring II Conference, Kent, Ohio |
| May 17 | Feast of ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) |
| May 23 | Declaration of the Báb—1844 |
| May 29 | Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, 1892 |
| June 9 | Race Unity Day |
| August 29- September 1 |
ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE |
Sioux Prayers[edit]
- O mita Wakantanka!
- O mita Wakantanka!
- Nita okiye cantepi, yuwitaya
- iwicacuye ka wokonze tanka nitawa
- kin wanyang wicakiye ye, nita woope
- kin opapi nuwe. Woope ogna
- ikluhapi ni, owicakiye ye.
- O Wakantanka wo iyutapi tawapi
- el ku ṇitawacin econpi kta.
- Wowasaḳe wicak’uye, O Wakantanka
- awicayuṡtan ṡni ye, ’kerṡ waslolye
- iyoyanpa el mani, wicakiy a yo
- wowaṡtelake nitawa on cantepi kin
- iyokipi wicaya ye, awicakehan
- wawokiya ka Itancan tawapi
- he niye.
- Bahá’u’lláh
- Onajin kin le luwakan kte
- Nan tipi kin le
- Nakun o-unyekin he
- Na nakun otonwahe kin he
- Wicocante kin nakun
- Na paha kin ko
- Nakun onaṗe kin he
- Makahloke kin koya
- Onaṗe kin hena ogna
- Na makoglakinyan
- Mniwancan kin koya
- Wita kin he akan
- Makoṡka kin hena Wakantanka
- Ko el yuwotanin pi kte
- Na nakun woyatan ’kupi kte.
- Bahá’u’lláh
St. Louis Charter[edit]
A charter flight to St. Louis is being organized by the Local Assembly of Brookline, Massachusetts. The flight will leave from Boston on the morning of August 29, and will return on the morning of September 2. The round-trip fare will be $125 per passenger. Those interested in reserving seats should send a check to the Brookline Assembly, c/o Mrs. Helen La Vey, 360 Woodland Rd., Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 02167.
A Good Example[edit]
Once in a train car in India, a Bahá’í from a Hindu Brahmin background who had a seat in the overcrowded vehicle picked up a child of an untouchable family and put her in her lap. The people in the train car, which held 50, despite the sign that read, “occupancy 17,” fell silent. A soldier leaned over the Bahá’í and said, “Madam, what is your religion?” She told him she was a Bahá’í. He said, “I would like to learn more about it. This is the first time in my life I have seen a Brahmin willingly touch a poor child.”
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Registration Information
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| INSIDE | THE HAND OF THE CAUSE of God John Robarts visited Wilmette recently and spoke to Bahá’ís at the House of Worship on the subject of prayer. His visit, and other brief stories of interest to Bahá’ís, are covered in Newsbriefs, appearing on page 5 and page 6. | A LISTING of travel expenses to the St. Louis Conference from many parts of the United States appears on page 10. Conference registration forms appear on page 11. Registration forms for the Children’s Program appear on page 3. | TWO EXPERIENCED journalists and broadcasters offer advice on ways to approach newspapers and television news editors. Mr. Rutstein and Mr. Hemingway took part in a recent information conference in Massachusetts, where they gave helpful hints to fellow Bahá’ís. Story page 3. |
| THE HAND OF THE CAUSE OF GOD William Sears, a surprise visitor to the Spanish Speaking Regional Conference in Santa Monica, California, March 16-17, holds up a sign announcing what he called the most important event for Bahá’ís to attend. |
Details Children’s Program, page 1
Youth Summer Projects listed, page 8
