The American Bahá’í/Volume 7/Issue 6/Text
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House of Justice outlines needs[edit]
In its annual Riḍván message, The Universal House of Justice said the most critical need of the Faith is for every believer to concentrate on attaining the goals of the Five Year Plan, to “promote process entry by troops, achieve vast increase in community, increase number of steadfast self-sacrificing believers dedicated to conform every aspect of their lives to the high standards set by the Sacred Texts.”
The Universal House of Justice reported that the goals of the Plan are “lagging seriously behind” at present.
However, the Supreme Institution announced the completion of excavation on Mount Carmel for the Seat of The Universal House of Justice and the signing of a contract for marble to be used in the building. (See Page 2 for further details.) The Universal House of Justice also announced the appointment of six new Continental Counsellors and the authorization of 90 more members to the Auxiliary Boards. The Supreme Institution called for the election of seven new National Spiritual Assemblies next year, reported gains in pioneering and international traveling teaching, and paid tribute to the work of the Hands of the Cause of God and the International Teaching Center.
In a cable to The Universal House of Justice, the delegates to the National Convention said the Riḍván message “came like water to a thirsty traveller whose destination is clearly charted.”
Election of the National Assembly[edit]
Eight members of the previous National Spiritual Assembly and Soo Fouts of Fairfax, Virginia, were elected to the new National Assembly by delegates to the National Convention on May 1.
Listed in the order of highest number of votes, the National Assembly members are Dorothy W. Nelson, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Glenford E. Mitchell, Daniel Jordan, William Maxwell Jr., Magdalene Carney, Franklin Kahn, Richard D. Betts, and Mrs. Fouts. A total of 159 delegates voted in person, 10 voted by mail, and two did not vote.
At an organizational meeting, the National Assembly re-elected Dr. Kazemzadeh chairman, Dr. Jordan vice-chairman, Mr. Mitchell secretary, and Dr. Nelson treasurer. Determination as to whether there will be an assistant secretary has yet to be made.
Mrs. Fouts, born in Hawaii of Korean ancestry, has been a Bahá’í for 36 years and was one of the first three Bahá’í youth of Hawaii.
Dr. Maxwell told the delegates and friends at the convention that when the National Assembly of North East Asia was formed in 1957 with the able assistance of Charlotte M. Linfoot, the then secretary of the Asian Teaching Committee, Shoghi Effendi told that National Assembly to proclaim to the world that its members
Delegates applaud the new National Spiritual Assembly members who include, for the first time, Soo Fouts who accepts the good wishes (inset) of the friends.
Delegates pledge renewed efforts[edit]
In a message to The Universal House of Justice, the delegates at the National Convention pledged to renew efforts to revivify the spiritual life of the Bahá’í community, to inflame the spark of teaching enthusiasm, and to enlist troops of believers.
“Keenly aware of the magnitude of the global challenge and homefront responsibility,” the message said.
The delegates also expressed loving appreciation to The Universal House of Justice for the visits of four Hands of the Cause of God and two Continental Counsellors, and for the “unceasing guidance to the American Bahá’í community in administrative and teaching spheres.”
Circuit teaching projects planned[edit]
Plans are being developed for many homefront circuit teaching projects this summer involving adults and youth.
Bahá’ís interested in participating should notify the Bahá’í National Teaching Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091, so that arrangements can be made in advance.
Design for Victory book explained[edit]
A book has been published by the National Spiritual Assembly to serve as the guide for individuals, groups, and local communities in their efforts to win all the remaining goals assigned to the American Bahá’í community in the Five Year Plan.
The book, Design for Victory, was distributed to delegates at the National Convention and is available through local librarians or the Bahá’í Publishing Trust. It has two major purposes: to suggest personal goals which individuals can adopt to help win the goals, and to indicate ways in which individuals can determine to further the goals adopted by Local Spiritual Assemblies and Regional and District Teaching Committees.
Design for Victory includes specific suggestions for individuals and communities and contains maps of states and/or districts which show specific goals already named. It contains sections on teaching on the homefront, teaching internationally, proclaiming the Faith through mass communications, the role of youth, and the education of the community.
The book was prepared by the Bahá’í National Teaching Committee in collaboration with other national committees. The Hand of the Cause of God Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir, who participated in the development of the book, told the National Convention that the suggestions
Editorial[edit]
The critical tasks ahead[edit]
The Universal House of Justice is greatly cheered by the pledge of delegates at the 67th Bahá’í National Convention to renew efforts in the United States to enlist troops of believers under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh.
It should be obvious that the elected representatives of the American Bahá’í community to the convention cannot carry out such a weighty pledge alone. Every individual believer, all Spiritual Assemblies and groups must arise as one and successfully proclaim and teach the Message with dispatch.
In a statement of tremendous significance, The Universal House of Justice said in its Riḍván 1976 message that the course of human history in the decades immediately ahead depends in great measure on the efforts we now exert and the degree of our success. The Supreme Institution pointed out the critical tasks: (1) concentrate on attaining the goals of the Five Year Plan, (2) promote the process for entry by troops, (3) achieve a vast increase in the size of the Bahá’í community, and (4) increase the number of believers of true capacity.
The National Spiritual Assembly has provided a blueprint designed to assist individuals and communities in carrying out these vital objectives. It is contained in a new book, Design for Victory, which lists goals to be won and specific suggestions on how they might be achieved.
The heart of the matter is that we need to do more personal teaching which will result in the confirmation of many, many souls to the Cause. Proclamation alone is not enough. The scene is set. Enthusiasm for teaching is returning; the quality of activities in local communities has improved; the believers will be exhilarated by victory in the National Bahá’í Fund; and the delegates have returned home after having experienced the power generated by the presence at the National Convention of four Hands of the Cause of God—Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, Zikrulláh Khádem, Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir, and William Sears—Continental Counsellors Edna True and Sarah Pereira, and five Auxiliary Board members; and the loving spirit of Charlotte M. Linfoot, who is seriously ill.
In its annual report, the National Assembly said: “The atmosphere throughout the country is charged with new possibilities. But time is running out. We must seize our chance before it is too late.”
The Universal House of Justice awaits our response.
Excavation work completed for House of Justice Seat[edit]
The men are standing on the upper basement level of The Universal House of Justice Building site.
The Universal House of Justice has announced completion of the excavation work on Mount Carmel, the first step toward erecting the majestic edifice which will be the center of legislation of the Bahá’í Faith.
The announcement was made at the outset of the Riḍván 1976 message. The message also reported that a contract has been signed for Pentelikon marble which will be used for 58 columns, facings, entablature, and the dome. More than 200,500 cubic meters of marble will be used in the monumental building.
The Universal House of Justice said it is deeply moved by the enthusiastic response of the believers in all parts of the world to the challenging, glorious task of raising a befitting seat for the Administrative Order, the greatest single undertaking of the Five Year Plan.
In an address at the National Convention, the Hand of the Cause of God Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir spoke of the continued opportunity Bahá’ís have to assist in the erection of the building. Dr. Muhájir pointed out how the Guardian had told the friends when the Shrine of the Báb was being built that only they would be able to assist in this wonderful task, that future generations would not. It is the same now with The Universal House of Justice Seat.
Meanwhile, the World Center revealed further details of the building. It will be approximately 230 feet long, 111½ feet wide, and 85 feet from the ground floor to the top of the dome.
The portico surrounding the ground floor will have a colonnade of 18 columns on the front and rear, eight at each end, and six at the head of the staircase, for a total of 58. Each column, including the base and the Corinthian capital, will be 36 feet in height. All elements of the capital, which will be composed of three fluted drums, will be of marble quarried in Greece and cut and dressed in Italy. The same marble will be used for the dome of the building and for facing the upper terraces which have been carved from the side of Mount Carmel.
There will be an upper basement and a lower basement below the ground floor, three full floors above the ground floor, and a mezzanine under the dome, for a total of five floors.
The building will contain a council chamber of the House of Justice, a library, a concourse for the reception of pilgrims and dignitaries, accommodation for the secretariat and many other ancillary services that will be required, and storage vaults with air-purification for the preservation of original Tablets and other precious documents.
The building will face northward toward ‘Akká and Bahjí with the Shrine of the Báb and the International Archives Building to the northwest.
Letters to the editor[edit]
The American Bahá’í welcomes letters from readers on any Bahá’í subject. Write to Editor, The American Bahá’í, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091. Enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you would like your letter returned. The editors reserve the right to edit letters.
A thank you from Nassau[edit]
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
This is a thank you letter, but no mere piece of paper can adequately express the true feelings of gratitude that we wish to convey. The list of your feats of generosity is long. We can only begin to enumerate them by expressing thanks for the enormous and sacrificial gifts of funds which have afforded the purchase of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds building for the future National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahamas, the magnificent piece of land in the heart of New Providence Island from which, someday, will radiate a House of Worship, and the acquisition of an endowment property. Then we must add thanks for all those who have been directed to the Bahamas to educate, encourage and stimulate our community; members of the National Spiritual Assembly itself, members of staff of the National Bahá’í Center, the ministrations of our much-loved Auxiliary Board Member, Dr. William Tucker, travel teachers, and for the prayers offered with such love within the Most Special House of Worship, on our behalf; and the list goes on and on...
We pray that this Bahamian Bahá’í Community will arise as one soul and complete the tasks of the Five Year Plan.
- Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Nassau, Bahamas
Dates to remember[edit]
- June 10-13 Pioneer Training Institute (by invitation only). Sponsored by the International Goals Committee.
- June 13 Northern Cook County Race Unity Day Picnic. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Wheeling, Illinois.
- June 13-23 Summer Youth Work-Study Project (by invitation only). Sponsored by the Bahá’í National Youth Committee.
- June 18-20 National Spiritual Assembly meeting.
- June 18-20 Economics and the Bahá’í Faith seminar. Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine.
- June 19-25 Work-Study Camp, Conifer Hill, Lyons, Colorado.
- June 21-26 Special children’s week on the Kingdoms of God. Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, S.C.
- June 23-27 South Florida Summer School. Florida Air Academy, Melbourne, Florida.
- June 24 Feast of Raḥmat.
- June 26-July 2 Work-Study Camp, Conifer Hill, Lyons, Colorado.
- June 26-July 2 Washington West Summer School, Seabeck Camp, Seabeck, Washington.
- June 27-July 2 Oregon Summer School, Suttle Lake Camp, Sisters, Oregon.
- June 27-July 3 Summer School, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine.
- June 28-July 3 Special children’s week on the Covenant and progressive revelation. Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, S.C.
- June 29-July 5 Nebraska Summer School, Camp Harriet Harding, Louisville, Nebraska.
- July 3-9 Summer School, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California.
- July 3-9 Colorado East Summer School,
National Assembly reports unprecedented proclamation, but expansion rate lags[edit]
Glenford E. Mitchell explains enrollment trends.
Text of report, Bahá’í National Review, Page 4
Bahá’í year 132 was marked by an unprecedented range and intensity in proclamation activities, impressive progress in the international fields, but a lagging behind in the rate of expansion, the National Spiritual Assembly said in its annual report.
A serious deficiency in individual teaching was noted. However, the National Assembly said a sense of urgency seemed slowly to be stirring the friends to action as the year closed.
Proclamation activities, such as those associated with the observance of the Bicentennial of the United States, the 50th anniversary of the National Assembly, and International Women’s Year, “created a heightened awareness of the Faith,” the report said. However, enrollments which had been expected to follow fell short of expectations although there were slight numerical increases.
The report pointed to steps taken to increase the education of individuals, families, and Local Spiritual Assemblies; a more than doubling of international teaching trips, the near-completion of pioneer goals of the Five Year Plan; acquisition of further properties of the Plan; and a good year in providing literature and periodicals. The report added that much was done to strengthen the operations of the National Assembly by streamlining the functions of the Secretariat.
“We turn now to the path immediately ahead with a resolute feeling that more of last year’s good must be done but particularly that the lag in teaching must be no more,” the National Assembly said. “The atmosphere throughout the country is charged with new possibilities. But time is running out. We must seize our chance before it is too late.”
Many drops become a mighty ocean, National Fund deficit vanishes[edit]
Text of report, Bahá’í National Review, Page 9
An anticipated deficit in the National Bahá’í Fund has been eliminated by a sudden outpouring of contributions in response to the National Spiritual Assembly’s appeal in March for increased support of the Fund.
In its annual financial report to the National Convention, the National Assembly said that contributions from individuals increased by 28 per cent over the previous year. Local Spiritual Assemblies and groups increased their contributions by 14 per cent. The National Assembly said it is encouraged by the fact that many communities won their local goals and contributed regularly to the National Fund. The report also pointed to the growing importance of contributions from individuals, the deciding factor as to whether the monthly goal is won, and urged that this support be expanded.
Contributions fell short of the goal, however estate gifts were larger than expected, resulting in a balanced budget.
The generous and sacrificial gifts of Local Assemblies, groups, and individuals in the last two Bahá’í months of the year included many touching letters. Excerpts from some follow.
“The enclosed dollar is small—but it will help.”
“This is money I had set aside to enable me to attend an International Teaching Conference this year, but I feel it is more important to support the Fund.”
“I work as a teacher’s aide in a grade school and every day I watch the kids and wish that they could be freed from all the old and destructive things that are given to them. I’m a long way from understanding even a little about Bahá’u’lláh and this coming new world, but I want it to come as fast as possible. This is about a week’s salary, which seems a small thing to give to building a new world, but everyone helping as much as they can will hurry the process.”
“Mustering all my courage and strength, I know there is no choice but to gird up the loins of my endeavor and take the leap of faith... and try again to become a Bahá’í. I guess it’s time I renew my commitment to Bahá’u’lláh. This is money I hoped to use on a school project. But when the Cause of God is in a bind, the sacrifices must be made.”
“We are sure you will put this to better use than we would.”
“Because my financial means have become increasingly more slim, I have had to decrease my already small contributions to the Fund. After hearing that letter, I have decided to increase my contributions again, realizing no sacrifice is too great.”
“This contribution is from our daughter, age 8, and represents her total first prize winnings from an art contest sponsored by the Tribe and presented to her by the Chief.”
“My lovely young daughter gave me 50 cents from her allowance to forward to you, along with my check. May it serve the Blessed Beauty.”
“We had the honor and bounty at the Feast of Jalál after hearing the call for... assistance to the National Fund, to send our special local fund established for a new Bahá’í Center.”
“In order to ‘empty the cup’ for the new year, our Assembly decided to send the balance in our Local Fund to help the National Fund.”
“This is more than I anticipated being able to give, and less than I wish it were.”
Treasurer Dorothy W. Nelson
Contributions
Recommendations from the National Convention to the National Assembly[edit]
Delegates to the 67th Bahá’í National Convention voted to make the following recommendations to the National Spiritual Assembly:
1. That the National Assembly consider establishing a program for circuit teachers, to be subsidized if necessary, to be sent across the width and breadth of the United States, to stimulate and carry on the teaching work.
2. That the National Assembly appoint a special committee to reach those considered “elite” and who have expressed disenchantment openly in the media about the state of society—to give them the message of Bahá’u’lláh in a more personal and direct manner, tailored to the individual situation.
3. That the National Assembly prepare a tape of music presented during the devotional programs at the House of Worship to be available to the Bahá’í community for use at the devotional portion of the Feast. That tapes of other kinds of music, perhaps sing-along, also be made available to the community.
4. That the National Assembly devise a training program aimed at promoting the entry by troops into the Faith.
5. That the National Assembly prepare a comprehensive audio-visual program of the gardens of the Bahá’í Shrines and Holy Places, including the House of Worship in Wilmette, with special emphasis on the varieties of flowers, plants, trees, etc. for use in teaching garden clubs, in schools, etc.
6. That the National Assembly should have a master calendar for national events in order to help local communities avoid a conflict of activities.
7. That the National Assembly consider making information concerning transcendental meditation and similar subjects available to the Bahá’í community through publication in The American Bahá’í.
8. That the National Assembly make use of the District Teaching Committees, either directly or indirectly or through Local Spiritual Assemblies, in an advisory capacity in the selection of convention sites and that it be done earlier in the fall.
9. That the National Assembly consider publishing in The American Bahá’í the Tablet by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá concerning the friends embracing one another.
10. That the National Assembly reconsider the format of consultation at District Conventions or extend the time to allow for greater participation, perhaps breaking into small groups of areas of interest and then reconvening and reporting suggestions to the entire body.
Rúḥíyyih Khánum introduces film[edit]
Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum visited the National Convention to introduce her film of the Green Light Expedition to delegates, visitors, and Bahá’ís from nearby states.
The friends crowded into the auditorium of Howard Junior High School in Wilmette May 1 to see the Hand of the Cause and the film.
As the two-hour film unfolded its tapestry of gentle Indian and Bush Negro faces and voices, the audience responded with spontaneous applause, laughter, and tears. Many felt that it achieved the primary purpose desired by Amatu’l-Bahá: “If at the end of the film you feel that you came with us, then the film has done what we wanted it to do,” she said.
The film was premiered in Haifa on April 22 for members of The Universal House of Justice, the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land, and members of the International Teaching Center. The first public showing was on April 24 at the New York City Bahá’í Center. That city is special to her, Rúḥíyyih Khánum said, not only because ’Abdu’l-Bahá called it the City of the Covenant, but because it is her birthplace.
The film was also shown at about two dozen other National Conventions around the world. It will be available soon through the Bahá’í Publishing Trust.
Film review[edit]
In the introduction to her film, “The Green Light Expedition,” Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum told Bahá’ís gathered in Wilmette for a showing at the National Convention that her purpose in making it was to show those who may go pioneering in the future and those who cannot go “the people all over the world who are ready to accept Bahá’u’lláh.” She said that throughout her many travels she has wanted the Bahá’ís to share her experiences and now “they can come, too.”
The film achieves these two objectives during two hours of river, jungle, and mountain teaching adventures. Flowing for two hours down the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers and finally into the Andes, green peaks, it reveals the diversity of the indigenous peoples and the versatile teaching methods of Rúḥíyyih Khánum. Every different group she addresses, whether peasants, Indians of the jungle, bush Negroes, Incas, or city dwellers, receive her praises for their nobility, purity of spirit, cleanliness, or integrity. For example, she describes the bush Negroes as “the cleanest people I have ever seen, including the people in my homeland, Canada.” Of the tribal Indians in the remote jungle, she says that “spiritually they are on a mountain-top,” but through the bad effects of materialistic western civilization “they are dragged down into the valley of the shadow, but if they become Bahá’ís they will go from one mountain to another without being dragged down.”
Expedition members on Surinam River, above; tellers read ballots for first Local Spiritual Assembly of Kamaloea.
The narration by Rúḥíyyih Khánum is entertaining and informative both about the people being visited and about the role of the teacher or pioneer. At one point she comments that “the Indian people can communicate with their own people better than the foreign pioneers can, but the pioneers have prestige—the two together, that is the key.”
Camera work by Rodney Charters is consistently artistic and subtle. The film is edited to represent the actual sequence of events as they unfold during the expedition, and the various travel scenes of rivers, jungle trails, and mountainsides are powered with the music and drumming of the peoples and cultures visited.
“The Green Light Expedition” is a film of serene beauty that gradually invites and involves the viewer in an experience that opens the inner eye to the spiritual potential of mankind and the unfolding of our new civilization. Rúḥíyyih Khánum shows us that it won’t be like the old one.
Turn to prayer, Mr. Khadem says[edit]
“The love of Bahá’u’lláh will lead us to the right people to teach,” the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem said in an address at the National Convention.
This love must shine on our faces, Mr. Khadem said, so that others will want to know what “great, great treasure” we have found.
The Hand of the Cause urged the friends to turn to prayer to remove any traces of apathy, to put our trust in Bahá’u’lláh, and we will gain the necessary inspiration.
“We need to feel a closeness to the Central Figures of the Faith,” Mr. Khadem said. “We need to know who they are and to study their lives.”
In discussing the spiritual destiny of America, Mr. Khadem said that, according to a Bahá’í historian, Bahá’u’lláh said that America will become m’rikih, a Persian word which defies precise English translation. An approximate translation is extremely astonishing.
“Bahá’u’lláh singled out America to raise the banner of the Cause throughout the world,” Mr. Khadem said. He reminded the believers of the great station conferred on America by ’Abdu’l-Bahá and the great confidence placed in America by Shoghi Effendi and The Universal House of Justice.
Mr. Khadem urged the friends to turn to Bahá’u’lláh and press forward with winning the goals of the Five Year Plan.
Year of decision, Dr. Muhájir says[edit]
The Hand of the Cause of God Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir told delegates and friends at the National Convention that this is the most important year of the Five Year Plan, the year of expectation and decision.
Dr. Muhájir said that when the International Convention takes place in the Holy Land in 1978, many National Spiritual Assemblies will report that they have completed their goals. They are not waiting for 1979, the end of the Plan.
The Hand of the Cause said the Bahá’ís should be excited and offer their time for greater work. He said that homefront pioneers should go immediately to establish the localities which will become groups then Local Spiritual Assemblies.
Dr. Muhájir, introduced by Firuz Kazemzadeh, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, as a Hand of the Cause who had specialized in teaching the masses, said, “The moment you are satisfied, that’s when you go backward. We must have a constant stream of new believers. If we are united, we will progress.”
Since December, Dr. Muhájir has visited the friends all over the continent on at least 200 occasions. “I remember the wonderful meetings we have had,” he said. “I remember your enthusiasm, your love while we consulted together, planned together, and worked together.”
Dr. Kazemzadeh said that Dr. Muhájir has “contributed greatly to the inspiration and enthusiasm that has been generated in the Bahá’í community for fulfilling the goals and activating the teaching potentials.”
Following his address, Dr. Muhájir left to visit the National Convention of Alaska.
Arise and teach, Mr. Sears urges[edit]
The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears urged the believers to arise and approach the goals of the Five Year Plan with the spirit to win them.
“However hopeless the goals, if we set out to win them, Bahá’u’lláh will assist and reinforce us. And if we arise, Bahá’u’lláh will change the atmosphere and all the goals will be won,” Mr. Sears said at the National Convention.
Quoting the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ’Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and messages from The Universal House of Justice, Mr. Sears pointed out the promises to the individual who engages in active teaching: spiritual growth follows, the Divine confirmations are attracted. “Nothing brings success like service,” he said.
Mr. Sears praised the great victories of the American Bahá’í community in the past year in the international fields. But he sounded a warning on homefront objectives.
“We can’t go on the way we’ve been going. It’s not good enough for the Cause of God, not worthy of our station. The mission is urgent and vital to the fate of humanity. Believe that you are who Bahá’u’lláh says you are, and the year 133 will live forever in the history of America as the year of victory. Believe in the promises. Bahá’u’lláh has made the promises, and we will see them all fulfilled if we will only arise and obey Him,” Mr. Sears urged.
Counsellors, National Assembly hail spirit of cooperation[edit]
The steadily deepening relationship and the spirit of collaboration between the Continental Board of Counsellors and the National Spiritual Assembly were hailed at the National Convention.
In its annual report, the National Assembly said it “was enriched by the spiritual endowments” from several joint meetings held during the year with the Counsellors. The National Assembly called it “a matter of great portent.”
Counsellors Edna True and Sarah Pereira, in addresses at the National Convention, pointed to this growing spirit of cooperation to serve the Cause of God.
Miss True cited the accomplishments of the past year involving the Counsellors, mentioning the July 4 meeting in Wilmette which included three Hands of the Cause of God, the Counsellors, the National Assemblies of Alaska, of Canada, and the United States, a representative of the International Teaching Center, and a member of the National Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands; the call for prayers on the Anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh for the success of the teaching work; and the appointment of assistants to the Auxiliary Board members. In the annual report, the National Assembly listed the July 4 meeting as one of the major highlights of the year.
Dr. Pereira spoke about the responsibilities and challenges to individual teachers as the process of entry by troops intensifies.
Auxiliary Board members Darrell Borland, Eunice Braun, Thelma Jackson, Javidukht Khádem, and Peter Khan, and many Auxiliary Board member assistants attended the convention. Miss Jackson explained the significance of the appointment of the assistants, saying they were authorized by The Universal House of Justice to meet the needs of a growing Bahá’í community. At present, there are 75 such assistants for the United States, Alaska, and Canada.
Edna True
Sarah Pereira
Auxiliary Board member Dr. Khan resigns, returns to Australia[edit]
Peter Khan, an Auxiliary Board member in the United States for the past nine years, has returned to his native Australia.
In announcing his resignation, the Continental Board of Counsellors praised his many years of dedicated service to the American Bahá’í community. Dr. Khan served as Auxiliary Board member for Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New York.
Speaking at the National Convention, Dr. Khan said he feels sadness in leaving and joy in the possibilities of using the training and experience gained in the U.S. in serving the Faith in Australia. “I would like to express my gratitude to the American Bahá’í community,” Dr. Khan said.
Firuz Kazemzadeh, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, said the departure of Dr. Khan and his wife, Janet, “will leave a visible gap in our ranks.”
Dr. Khan, who decided to return to Australia after consulting with The Universal House of Justice and the Counsellors, will be a professor at the University of Queensland in St. Lucia, Queensland.
In a letter to the believers in the areas of his responsibility, Dr. Khan wrote: “I deeply appreciate the cooperation and assistance you have provided me over several years. I have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to serve the Cause, and to assist in the development of Bahá’í communities in this magnificent country which has been so richly blessed and praised by the Master.”
Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem has been assigned responsibility for New York. Assignments for Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota will be announced later by the Continental Board of Counsellors.
Peter and Janet Khan
Tributes paid to dedicated service of Miss Linfoot, who is seriously ill[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly, the delegates and friends at the National Convention, and the Continental Board of Counsellors paid moving tributes to the dedicated service of Charlotte M. Linfoot, assistant secretary of the National Assembly for 22 years, who has been seriously ill since suffering a stroke last December 17.
Miss Linfoot was unable to attend the convention, but her spirit permeated the deliberations.
In its annual report, the National Assembly said: “Charlotte Linfoot’s illness abruptly interrupted over twenty years of constant, heroic service at the National Center. We openly lament her absence and her pain. A sterling example of undaunted faith, uncommon loyalty, selfless devotion, and tireless vigor was removed from the administrative scene last December, perhaps never to return to its pristine radiance. No doubt her spirit helps us yet. We record in this report our testimony, however brief, to the inestimable magnitude of her gifts of mind and spirit to the progress of the Administrative Order in the United States. May able future scholars amplify this record with the details of her rich Bahá’í accomplishments.”
A “love letter” from the delegates and friends was presented to Miss Linfoot. It read: “We who are gathered here for the sixty-seventh Bahá’í Convention wish to convey to you our deep affection and our daily sense of loss that you are not with us. Please let us intrude on your modesty to express our collective appreciation of your years of selfless and tireless devotion to the Bahá’í community, the distinctive quality of your superlative services to the National Spiritual Assembly, and the extraordinary gifts of mind and pen that you brought to the service of Bahá’u’lláh. We cherish you and pray for your recovery.”
The delegates and friends gave Miss Linfoot a bouquet of 19 red roses which had been presented to the National Assembly from the National Assembly of Canada by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears. In addition, a contribution was sent to The Universal House of Justice in Miss Linfoot’s name.
Counsellor Sarah Pereira, who served on the National Assembly with Miss Linfoot for 13 years, spoke of her selfless service, her warm and loving friendship. “She was a quiet fortress of strength, a giant spiritually,” Dr. Pereira said.
Firuz Kazemzadeh, chairman of the National Assembly, talked about her clarity of mind. He also said that to many Miss Linfoot, who handled many unpleasant personal status cases, may have looked stern. “But that was just a shell to hide what would have been a vast, emotional outpouring of love,” he said.
When she suffered the stroke, doctors gave very gloomy reports regarding her immediate survival. Prayers were offered by The Universal House of Justice at the Most Holy Shrine at Bahjí. Prayers were said at the Holiest House of Worship.
In early January, Miss Linfoot showed remarkable signs of recovery which prompted the attending physician to use such terms as “astounding,” “very good.” Her faculties seemed suddenly to be revitalized and her whole being vibrated with life.
Miss Linfoot left the hospital in March and is gradually convalescing at a nursing home.
Local Assembly Development Program meets strong positive response[edit]
There has been an overall strong positive response to the successful launching of the Local Spiritual Assembly Development Program, the National Spiritual Assembly said in its annual report.
Emphasizing the importance the National Assembly places in the program, it was listed as one of four major highlights during the past year.
Between October and April, 150 Local Assemblies fulfilled the requirements of the program. A total of 402 Assemblies were invited to take the program during that period. Reports of the outcome of the program for 95 Assemblies have not been received, 74 did not complete their training, 11 cancelled their training schedule. 18 did not respond to the invitations, and 54 declined the program.
The Assembly Development Office reported that many Assemblies asked to participate were not given much lead time and some received their materials late. However, the current schedule has been developed through August, and the September through December schedule is being drawn up. Materials are now mailed well in advance.
The National Assembly has stated that Assemblies should give the program priority over all other activities. Purpose of the program is to strengthen and develop Local Assemblies, a vital objective of the Five Year Plan.
Many Assemblies which have completed the program have written to the National Assembly praising the effects, using such words as spectacular, highly instructive, spiritually uplifting, and tremendously exciting.
One Assembly wrote: “It is proof of the power of the Divine Spirit animating this Cause that we have done as well as we have, but when we contemplate the role of America leading the world spiritually, one realizes that this could only be achieved through the Divine institutions.”
Some Assemblies, which have seen the results on sister institutions, have requested early training dates. All Assemblies will be offered the program before the end of the Plan with priority going to newer Assemblies. Because of limited equipment, only 90 Assemblies can be trained in one month.
Green Acre, Bosch to offer complete Local Assembly Development Program[edit]
The Local Spiritual Assembly Development Program will be offered to all Bahá’ís at Green Acre and Bosch Bahá’í Schools this summer. The program will be held at Bosch July 24–30 and at Green Acre July 25–31.
Registrants for the program are expected to attend every session, to acquire and read Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies which is now available through local librarians or the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, and to bring a three-ring binder, pencils, and note paper. Registrants will be asked to provide their Bahá’í identification number, Bahá’í area code, official community name, and to state whether they are Local Assembly members. A second book used in the program, The Development of Local Spiritual Assemblies, will be available for purchase at the schools.
Individuals should not register for the program unless they intend to complete it.
Members of Local Assemblies who were unable to attend the program when it was given in their local community have been urged to attend one of the July sessions. Child care will be available at both schools, and Green Acre will run a youth program concurrently with the Local Assembly Development Program.
Members of five Local Assemblies meet with National Assembly on Plan goals[edit]
Members of the Spiritual Assemblies of Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., were guests of the National Spiritual Assembly at a luncheon meeting on May 1.
The Local Assemblies reported their accomplishments of the past year and plans to assist in attaining the goals of the Five Year Plan.
Also among the guests were the Hands of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem and William Sears and Continental Counsellors Edna True and Sarah Pereira. Firuz Kazemzadeh, chairman of the National Assembly, said at the National Convention that it was “one of the most exciting Bahá’í meetings in my memory.” Pleasure and delight with the reports of the five Assemblies were expressed at the luncheon by Mr. Khádem, Mr. Sears, Miss True, and Dr. Pereira.
Dr. Kazemzadeh pointed out that the five cities are important as centers of social, intellectual, economic, and cultural activities in the United States as well as centers of the worst elements in our society. He said these cities are particularly important to the Faith because they have a great spiritual legacy to fulfill as a result of the visits by ’Abdu’l-Bahá, and they have large numbers of Bahá’ís who must be called upon to advance the Cause.
Highlights of the reports from the Assemblies:
Chicago—Teaching activities include regular firesides and deepenings in Spanish; a six-week youth teaching project was very successful; the community has seven active Bahá’í college clubs; goals have been adopted and work is under way on extension teaching; children’s classes are held weekly; the Assembly has appointed a committee to look into the possibilities of renting or buying a new Bahá’í Center.
Los Angeles—A goal of 200 firesides in a 10-week teaching project was surpassed by 54, which resulted in 21 new believers; the goal for this year is to double the number of believers; extensive use of drama and music in proclamations; the local Fund goal was met with a new high level of participation.
New York—A new Bahá’í Center was purchased; contributions to the Fund increased by 100 per cent; attendance at Feast increased by 20 per cent; 50 to 60 children, some non-Bahá’í, attended weekly classes; weekly meetings at the Center attracted 60 to 70 persons; teaching activities have picked up, particularly the teaching of Chinese-Americans and Indians.
San Francisco—A new Bahá’í Center was purchased and is being renovated; 31 proclamation events were held during the year.
Washington—Renovation has started on the new Bahá’í Center; extension teaching is under way; a youth club has been formed; regular children’s classes were held.
House of Justice has great expectations in eight International Conferences[edit]
The Universal House of Justice said in its Riḍván 1976 message that the eight International Teaching Conferences are designed to generate tremendous impetus to the progress of the Five Year Plan.
The Hand of the Cause of God Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir told the National Convention that The Universal House of Justice has “very, very great expectations” in the conferences.
The conferences will be held at Helsinki, Finland, July 5–8; Anchorage, Alaska, July 23–25; Paris, France, August 3–6; Nairobi, Kenya, October 15–17; Hong Kong, November 27–30; Auckland, New Zealand, January 19–22; Bahia, Brazil, January 28–30; and Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, February 4–6.
Dr. Muhájir said the Helsinki and Anchorage conferences should open the entire Arctic and sub-Arctic to the Faith “like a necklace on this planet.” He said a new surge of enthusiasm, pioneering, and teaching is expected throughout Europe from the Paris conference. The Bahia and Merida conferences should fulfill the promises of ’Abdu’l-Bahá for the continents of North America and South America to come together, Dr. Muhájir said. He added that the Nairobi and Hong Kong conferences will offer opportunities to proclaim the Faith to many millions.
The National Spiritual Assembly has engaged the services of Bankers Trust Travel Planning Service of New York City to provide group travel arrangements to all eight conferences for the American Bahá’í community. The friends who have not yet made reservations should immediately contact Bankers Trust Travel Planning Service, 280 Park Avenue, Floor 10 West, New York, N.Y. 10017.
The friends study an exhibit on the International Conferences.
The Hand of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery will represent The Universal House of Justice at the Helsinki conference, which will be held in Finlandia Hall. Registration is scheduled July 5, with the conference sessions beginning July 6. Teaching activities will be conducted in Finland during the week immediately after the conference.
The Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone will represent The Universal House of Justice at the conference in Anchorage. Registration and a Unity Feast are planned for July 22. Conference sessions July 23–25 will be held at West High School, and a public meeting is scheduled July 26.
Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum will represent The Universal House of Justice at the Paris conference, which will be held in the Palais des Congres. Registration will be held August 3, and the conference sessions will begin August 4. Evening activities will take place in the conference rooms of the nearby Hotel Meridien.
National Assembly receives certificate for participation in Bicentennial
The National Spiritual Assembly has received from the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration a certificate of appreciation for the Assembly’s participation in the nation’s Bicentennial.
A letter to the National Assembly from John W. Warner, administrator of the agency, said:
“Americans across our entire nation are commemorating with individuality and diversity the two-hundredth anniversary of the founding of our nation. The contribution of religious thought to the formation and development of our nation is of such great significance that its reflection in the Bicentennial observance is essential. I am deeply gratified to note the varied activities within the religious community in this national observance.
“The pluralism which has marked American society throughout our history as a nation will continue to be a source of vitality and strength in the century ahead. The wide variety of programs developed for the Bicentennial contributes to the authenticity of this observance as an expression of the American experience.
“I am pleased to express on behalf of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration appreciation for the efforts of The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States to participate in the national Bicentennial observance.”
The National Assembly announced at the National Convention that it will continue to take part in the observances by publishing color advertisements in the July 4 edition of The New York Times Sunday Magazine and the August issue of Ebony magazine. The ads will be identical to the one used in the Bicentennial edition of Life magazine.
In addition to the Life ad, the National Assembly has placed exhibits at three major transportation centers in the United States and published and distributed more than 50,000 copies of the Bicentennial issue of World Order magazine. The magazine is one of several special publications by religious bodies selected for deposit in the Government Archives of America’s Bicentennial.
Teaching of Faith explained in address before U.N. group[edit]
A number of Non-Governmental Organization representatives at the United Nations gathered on April 26 especially to hear a lecture by Glenford E. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, on the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.
It was another example of the increasing prestige accruing to the Faith through the efforts of Bahá’í representatives at the United Nations.
Mr. Mitchell, representing the National Assembly, reported intense support for Bahá’í principles from his receptive audience. “It was an event of transcendent importance to the Bahá’í community,” the National Assembly said in its annual report.
Mr. Mitchell spoke on the dynamics of developing world society. Particular interest was expressed in the Bahá’í notion of economic order and the equality of men and women.
The New York meeting was the first in a series planned by Bahá’í representatives to acquaint the United Nations community directly with the teachings of the Faith.
Plans for Davison outlined[edit]
The Davison Bahá’í School, Davison, Michigan, will be converted into an educational institute devoted to training teachers and parents of children and youth, it was announced at the National Convention. New facilities will be designed with this objective in mind.
Daniel Jordan, vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, made the announcement and remarked that, “We can no longer leave to chance the job of creating a new race of men.”
Dr. Jordan said that a comprehensive and systematic plan for the education of children is being developed in order “to provide for each child the experiences he needs to gain the attributes of God.”
He said that when people come into the Faith, something has to be done with them. The phased conversion of Davison is designed to help meet the needs of the Bahá’í education of children, youth, and parents.
In a cable to the National Assembly, the Universal House of Justice said it is delighted with the decision.
In another development involving Bahá’í education, the National Assembly said in its annual report that an average of 800 persons a month participated in activities at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, “the lodestar of our educational endeavors in the South.” The report cited such events as deepening classes, children’s programs, work-study projects, social functions, and preparation of pioneers and traveling teachers.
Daniel Jordan
Inquiries double in just 1 year[edit]
The number of inquiries about the Faith received by the Bahá’í National Information Committee from January 1975 to January 1976 doubled over the previous year. The inquiries totaled 2,253. And the rate of increase for the first two months of 1976 over the previous year is 30 percent.
More than half of the seekers ask for something more than basic information. Many want to contact Bahá’ís in their communities. Some want literature catalogs; extra facts and statistics for school papers; specifics on the House of Worship; and literature in another language, usually Spanish. Some want to know how to join the Faith.
Almost half of the inquirers tell how they heard about the Faith. Of these, 40 percent heard about the Faith through Seals and Crofts, either through their records or during performances. Others read Bahá’í books or pamphlets, or saw ads or mention of the Faith in reference books or novels. About five percent heard through radio or TV, five percent in classes, and five percent met Bahá’ís. Some saw displays and fair booths.
Most ask for the history and origin of the Faith and its teachings. Many want to know Bahá’í attitudes toward other religions. The number of persons who include money or offers to pay for information is increasing, as is the number who would like subscriptions to Bahá’í periodicals. Some letters are from school libraries, saying that they received numerous requests from students for information on the Faith.
The largest number of inquiries came from Illinois, followed by New York, California, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
Bermuda, Bahamas represented[edit]
Bahá’ís from Bermuda and the Bahamas were special guests at the National Convention. The entire National Teaching Committee of Bermuda was present with two Bahá’ís from the Bahamas.
The Teaching Committee of the Bahamas cabled the convention that the presence of the Bahamians attested to the thanks of that Bahá’í community to the Bahá’ís of the United States for their assistance.
“In the Bahamas,” the National Spiritual Assembly said in its annual report, “a major push has been initiated in the teaching field largely as a result of efforts to strengthen the Bahama Teaching Committee, recruit and prepare traveling teachers from South Carolina and other Southern states, and to settle at least six pioneers this year.”
The formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahamas is one of the goals of the Five Year Plan.
Bermuda is now exchanging traveling teachers with the Bahamas, and has received this year pioneers from the United Kingdom and traveling teachers from the United States. A pioneer couple from Bermuda settled in Grand Turk to aid the re-establishment of the Spiritual Assembly there. They have strengthened efforts of the United States community to consolidate the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Pioneers from the United States also settled, just before Riḍván, in the Falkland Islands to ensure the re-formation of the Assembly there.
Free Bahá’í News ends with July[edit]
The July 1976 issue of Bahá’í News will be the last complimentary issue to be sent to Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í groups.
For several years, the National Spiritual Assembly has sent two complimentary copies of each issue of Bahá’í News to all Local Assemblies and groups as a service to the community because of the importance of the magazine as an international journal and because of the increasing value which back issues will have as reference material.
However, this service has become a severe burden on the National Fund because of rising costs of paper, printing, and mailing. Therefore, the National Assembly has decided to discontinue this service and to request that Local Assemblies and groups purchase their own subscriptions to Bahá’í News beginning with the August 1976 issue.
The National Assembly has strongly encouraged all Local Assemblies and groups to continue their subscriptions to Bahá’í News and, in addition, to initiate, if they have not already done so, subscriptions to the other two American Bahá’í periodicals, World Order and Child’s Way.
Local Assemblies and groups should contact the Bahá’í Subscriber Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.
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Members included representatives of the major races of mankind. “Proclaim to the Bahá’í world that your National Assembly has on it the representatives of the major races of mankind,” Dr. Maxwell beamed.
The new National Assembly members include one Oriental, one Indian, three blacks, and four Caucasians. Three are women.
“I was destined to be a Bahá’í,” Mrs. Fouts said. “How grateful I am.”
Mrs. Fouts said she was considered a rebel because it was unthinkable for an Oriental girl to break from tradition by leaving the established religion and marrying out of her race. She attended school in Hawaii, but did not complete her senior year of high school.
Mrs. Fouts and her husband, Leroy, moved from Hawaii to the continental United States in 1946. “We have had 20 different addresses all over the U.S. in the past 30 years,” Mrs. Fouts said. She has been a homefront pioneer in many areas, including Ogden, Utah, Chula Vista, California, Fairfax County, and Fairfax, Virginia. The Fouts have lived in the city of Fairfax for the past six years. Mr. and Mrs. Fouts have one son and two grandchildren.
Mrs. Fouts was a member of the National Teaching Committee at different times over the last eight years. She has also served on the original Deep South Committee, the Northeast Oriental Teaching Committee, and the Asian American Teaching Committee.
For the past 14 years, she has been administrative aide for the chairman of the board of a Washington, D.C., firm which specializes in finding buyers for newspapers and radio and television stations.
Continued from Page 1
provide a pattern and organization for teaching work.
At the conclusion of its annual report, the National Spiritual Assembly said: “May the friends throughout the length and breadth of the land ponder its offerings and act accordingly, putting the accent on action. For with such an agenda of prospects and expectations, we can confidently be poised for entry by troops.”
Notice to Bahá’ís going to Far East[edit]
Are you planning to visit the Far East?
The National Spiritual Assembly has requested that Bahá’ís who plan to travel to Far Eastern countries notify the National Assembly in advance.
In addition to traveling teaching trips, many friends go abroad on business or other purposes. It is likely they can render some service to the Faith if the National Assembly is aware of the trip in advance. In addition, the National Assembly may have specific guidance to offer.
The importance of complete addresses[edit]
The problem of mail being returned to the Bahá’í National Center because of incorrect or insufficient addresses continues.
The Office of Membership and Records reminds the friends that it is an individual responsibility to maintain a full and complete address and to notify the Local Spiritual Assembly or District Teaching Committee before moving.
In order to conserve funds, much of the mail from the National Center is sent second class or bulk rate. Postal regulations require full and complete addresses, including your name on your mailbox, to ensure delivery of such mail. For example, The American Bahá’í is mailed second class, and many copies are returned by the post office for various reasons.
The Office of Membership and Records has verified that the addresses of 12,000 Bahá’ís in the United States are unknown. In order to reduce that number, it is necessary that individuals announce when they are moving and notify the Local Spiritual Assembly or District Teaching Committee. They, in turn, notify the Office of Membership and Records as part of a monthly procedure designed to maintain up-to-date records.
Summer teaching projects planned[edit]
Traveling teaching projects involving United States Bahá’ís in Canada, Ecuador, and Guyana will be held this summer.
The project for Ecuador and Guyana will begin June 25 with training sessions in the U.S., followed by at least six weeks of teaching. The projecteers for French-speaking Canada will train in New England July 2–4 and spend August in Canada. Guyana is an English-speaking country. Projecteers to Ecuador should be familiar with Spanish or Quechua.
Believers interested in participation should consult with their Local Spiritual Assembly and then contact the International Goals Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.
Cost of the projects in Latin America is expected to be about $1,200 per person. The cost for persons going to Canada will be about $500–$750.
Photographs capture excitement of 67th Bahá’í National Convention[edit]
Delegates gathered at the 67th Bahá’í National Convention to elect the members of the National Spiritual Assembly and to consult on the affairs of the Cause in the United States. Many of the friends said it was one of the most exciting conventions in memory. These pictures tell part of the important story. From left to right, they show:
Top row—The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears urging the believers to arise and reach individual souls everywhere; Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum examining Bahá’í books with the assistance of Russell Busey, general manager of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, at the bookstore in the basement of the House of Worship; the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem greeting members of the new National Spiritual Assembly: Firuz Kazemzadeh, Glenford E. Mitchell, Magdalene Carney (partially hidden behind Mr. Khadem), Daniel Jordan, Franklin Kahn, William Maxwell, and Soo Fouts.
Second row—Dr. Kazemzadeh in his role as chairman of the convention; members of the National Assembly meeting with members of five Local Assemblies and other guests at a special luncheon; Dr. Kazemzadeh introducing David Claybourne, secretary of the Bahá’í National Youth Committee.
Third row—Walter Davis of South Carolina, Mrs. Fouts, Chris Cholas of Colorado, and Mr. Kahn participating in the discussions.
Bottom row—Delegates applauding some good news; delegates and friends enjoying a reception given by the National Assembly.
The experiences of one delegate at the National Convention[edit]
What is it like to be a delegate at the National Convention? Of the 159 delegates at this year’s convention, some of whom have served as delegates for many years and others who were first-time delegates, one was selected at random. The following are the impressions and reactions of the delegate to the proceedings of the convention.
When the young Bahá’í showed her the Ebony reprint she became interested. “I was impressed with the pictures: they were interracial, and the people were having a good time. And I offered the Bahá’í money, but he wouldn’t take it; and that impressed me, too.”
Aynor’s first Spiritual Assembly was formed in 1973.
Roll-call (5) is one of the first items on the National Convention agenda. Delegates mark the names as they are called and answered. “It gives you such a good feeling,” Mrs. Mack explained, “to know how many people are here, that they got here in time.”
Between sessions (6), Mrs. Mack discusses South Carolina’s children’s classes with Glenford E. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly.
“I couldn’t have made this trip if it wasn’t for all my friends and my dedicated husband,” said Betty Mack (1).
Mrs. Mack, a native of Aynor, South Carolina, was one of the delegates from that state at the National Convention.
“If we’re sending a woman up there from Aynor,” the Bahá’ís said, “we’d better see that she looks sharp.” Some friends gave gifts of fabric, and Mrs. Mack, who is a seamstress, made some new clothes for the trip. Friends gave her jewelry, and even a coat. One unexpected gift was from a non-Bahá’í woman who said, “You must really love your Faith, to make such a trip at such a sacrifice.”
Mrs. Mack and three friends (2) rented a car and drove from South Carolina to Wilmette. With Amber Spahn and Bobby Hillis, also delegates, and Janet Reardon, who visited the convention and saw the House of Worship for the first time, Mrs. Mack spent most of the trip singing. “Queen of Carmel” was her favorite.
Weary but excited after the two-day journey, Mrs. Mack shows her Bahá’í identification card as she registers (3) for the convention in Foundation Hall of the House of Worship.
“When I first became a Bahá’í, and I saw a picture of the Bahá’í House of Worship, I said, ‘Forget it. I’ll never get there.’ But here I am again,” she smiled.
For delegates and visitors, conventions are times of reunion. Betty and her “Aunt Maggie” meet (4) with a big hug: Maggie and Joe Rohling spent a year as homefront settlers in Aynor.
Mrs. Mack became a Bahá’í in Aynor in 1972. She was in her kitchen, scrubbing the floor, when her husband Archie called her to “come outside and see what this guy is talking about.”
“When we got started in Aynor we had children, children, children!” she exclaimed. “I’ll never forget the first children’s class. We must have had 30 children. We gave them books, and they would come back and report what they read. My son loves ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by the Hand of the Cause of God H.M. Balyúzi.”
With Design for Victory in her hands (7), Mrs. Mack listens as the Hand of the Cause of God Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir explains the uses of the book and the responsibility of the delegates to share it with the friends. “While he spoke, I kept thinking of myself: what have I done? Why can’t I do more?”
With laughter (8) and tears, Mrs. Mack hears the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears’ call (9) to arise and reach individual souls everywhere.
“Mr. Sears once came and spoke to our Assembly,” she said. “And when he walked in the door here, that was really it. I didn’t know he was coming. This has been the most exciting convention, full of such beautiful surprises!”
She casts her ballot (10) for the election of the members of the National Spiritual Assembly.
All available Bahá’í literature was displayed in the Temple bookstore (11), and Foundation Hall was colorful with displays erected by the national committees. Mrs. Mack and Mrs. Spahn enjoyed seeing friends in a slide show that was part of the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute display (12).
“There were so many Hands of the Cause here, and I especially loved the good things that the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem had to say. And there was something so special about the meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly with the New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington Assemblies—the local and national levels at one meeting in Wilmette.
“I mean to make sure that everybody I come in contact with will know how great this convention was,” said Mrs. Mack (13).
“I like to come to the convention to see just how happy everybody really is (14).”
News briefs[edit]
Mayor of Worcester receives Bahá’í book[edit]
Thomas Early, mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts, recently received The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh from the Spiritual Assembly of Worcester. The book was presented by the Assembly chairman, Luis Worcester. The mayor had heard of the Faith but was unaware of the growing, active Bahá’í community in his town.
The Bahá’ís also sponsored a booth at the Third Annual People’s Bazaar in the Galleria of the city’s largest shopping mall. They were one of about 80 groups represented. During the three-day fair, they spoke to many inquirers and distributed literature.
Announcer invites Bahá’ís, enrolls[edit]
Bahá’ís in Columbia, Missouri, participated in a regular weekly radio show called “Ethnic Music” during Riḍván.
John Cook, announcer for “Ethnic Music”, invited the Bahá’ís to participate and became a Bahá’í after Riḍván.
Mr. Cook had also arranged shows for the Bahá’ís at the time of the Anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh and at Naw-Rúz.
The two-hour shows featured music by Seals & Crofts and other Bahá’í performers, interspersed with discussion of the Faith that was based on questions phoned in by listeners.
Dallas Assembly marks 28th anniversary[edit]
The Bahá’ís of Dallas, Texas, commemorated the Bicentennial with an observance of the 28th anniversary of the Spiritual Assembly of Dallas. The program, attended by 100 Bahá’ís and a dozen seekers, included a talk on America’s spiritual destiny by Mrs. Dorothy Freeman, granddaughter of the late Hand of the Cause of God Dorothy Baker, and honored past and present members of the Dallas Assembly.
How Easley provides Summer School aid[edit]
Bahá’í adults and children in Easley, South Carolina, pick wild berries each summer and sell them to earn funds for three scholarships to Bahá’í Summer School. Five more scholarships are contributed by individual members of the small community.
The National Education Committee recently wrote about summer schools to all Spiritual Assemblies and Groups: “For new believers there is no better way to experience total immersion in Bahá’í community life. For Bahá’ís who are members of minorities, there is no better place to demonstrate unity in diversity. For children in the community, friendships are formed which are renewed and nurtured year after year. We therefore call upon all Local Spiritual Assemblies and individual believers to assist these individuals to attend Bahá’í schools through providing scholarships.”
Bahá’ís participate in women’s fair[edit]
Bahá’ís had a booth in the first of three Women’s Fairs by the Media Workshop for the Bicentennial Year in New York City. About 300 people took pamphlets from the booth at the United Nations Church Center February 2.
Many people photographed the display, which was put together by Marie Samuel and Eileen McCormack of New York’s Bahá’í Public Relations Task Force, and Eliane Hopson. The display featured a quotation from Ṭáhirih: “You can kill me ... but you cannot stop the emancipation of women,” with the date of her martyrdom, 1852. Panels on the equality of men and women prepared by the Bahá’í National Information Office were also used.
About 1,000 people came to the fair.
New sign erected at Green Acre School[edit]
A new sign has been installed at Green Acre Bahá’í School in Eliot, Maine. The wooden sign was hand-carved by Edwin Miller and was erected by Stephen Brandon and John Gorman of the Green Acre staff.
The sign is a graceful addition to the school property, which was blessed with the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1912.
What one believer can do for Faith[edit]
An isolated Bahá’í in Saranac Lake, New York, has operated a Bahá’í Center there for almost a year. He has introduced many seekers to the Faith and loaned numerous Bahá’í books.
The Center was a hub of activity during Saranac Lake’s Winter Carnival in February. Twelve Bahá’í traveling teachers assisted Saranac’s Bahá’í, Richard Pellegrino, by marching in the Winter Carnival Parade and by serving free hot drinks at the Bahá’í Center, which was on the parade route. The Bahá’í marchers carried banners and gave people rose-scented paper flowers with attached quotes from the Writings. Some spectators cheered the Bahá’ís, and some ran after them, requesting extra flowers for friends and families.
Many came to the Bahá’í Center at 71 Main Street for films, sing-alongs, and talks during the four-day proclamation that coincided with the Winter Carnival. A window display in the Center, which was an entry in the Winter Carnival window decoration contest, won honorable mention and was noted in The Adirondack Daily Enterprise newspaper. The contest theme was “Great Moments in American History,” and Mr. Pellegrino’s theme for the Bahá’í window was the dedication of the Bahá’í House of Worship by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Youth makes Fund box for his community[edit]
Janice Garrick, treasurer of the Spiritual Assembly of Jackson County, Oregon, receives a hand-made Fund box from Mike Gordon. The youth made the box himself as an Ayyám-i-Há gift for his community.
On the top of the box is a carving of the Greatest Name symbol, and there is a slot on the side for inserting contributions.
The Bahá’ís of Jackson County met their monthly Fund goal every month during 1975–76 and surpassed their annual goal two months before Riḍván.
Bahá’í Club presents tree to college[edit]
The only flowering tree on the campus of San Jacinto Junior College at La Porte, Texas, was presented to the school by the Bahá’í Club of the college April 22.
The tree is a mimosa, with pink blooms. With it, the Bahá’ís gave a pink granite, polished stone that reads in part: “Ye are all the leaves of one tree and the fruits of one branch.”—Bahá’u’lláh.
Thomas Spencer, president of the college, accepted the tree and shoveled soil over its roots, and several other faculty members were present. Hamed Nosrat, president of the Bahá’í club, made the dedication remarks, and Pat Amandi, secretary-treasurer of the club, read a prayer.
The gardener remarked to one of the Bahá’ís that she would take special care of the tree and that it would grow “with the help of God.” She volunteered to replace a large rose bush which is in front of the stone with a smaller one, so people could more easily see the stone.
Cleaning, painting at New York Bahá’í Center[edit]
New York City Bahá’ís are brightening their new Bahá’í Center into a fitting place to proclaim the Faith in the City of the Covenant. They are cleaning and painting the building, and the Spiritual Assembly is reviewing plans for remodeling.
The first major event in the new center was a meeting with the Hand of the Cause of God Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir; the next, a colorful Naw-Rúz celebration. Both were held in the auditorium, which is a fully equipped theater.
Bahá’í love and appreciation fills the new center: one elderly Bahá’í who lives alone in one of the city’s large hotels remarked that, on a bitter winter day, she had some lovely hours at the center “just sitting in the sun in the solarium—it was so warm.”
The purchase of the center filled a goal of the Five Year Plan for New York. The center is in a diversely-populated, pleasant neighborhood near New York University.
The passing of Mark Tobey[edit]
Mark Tobey as pictured in a brochure on his works.
DEEPLY GRIEVED ANNOUNCE PASSING DISTINGUISHED DEDICATED SERVANT BAHÁ’U’LLÁH MARK TOBEY. EVER REMEMBERED HIS CONSTANT SUPPORT BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION ACTIVITIES DEVOTED SERVICES ENGLAND JAPAN SWITZERLAND UNITED STATES UNSTINTING TESTIMONY INSPIRATION FAITH AS HIS FAME INCREASED. ARDENT PRAYERS OFFERED SACRED THRESHOLD PROGRESS HIS SOUL ABHÁ KINGDOM. — THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE.
From his entrance in the Bahá’í Faith at the age of 27, Mark Tobey demonstrated the effect of these teachings in bringing new direction to his life, both professionally and personally. Already attracting attention with his painting, as a new Bahá’í he turned to the history of the Faith and its holy Writings for inspiration; catalogues of his work pay tribute to this influence on his art, with many of his most important paintings drawing on Bahá’í themes.
As his painting began to bring financial rewards, he quietly assisted in many important Bahá’í projects and often left some tangible gift when visiting friends in the pioneering field. At the time of his passing, his work was assisting in proclamation of the Bahá’í Faith through an exhibit at Knoedler Gallery, New York, which was attended by more than 500 guests, with members of the International Bahá’í community, the New York Spiritual Assembly and other Assemblies in the area present.
Born in Trempealeau, Wisconsin, Mr. Tobey was best known for his “white writing”—fine white lines superimposed on many of his abstract paintings. He was 63 before he achieved fame, and often advised younger artists to be patient.
When he lived in Paris, following World War I, he moved in the circle of Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, and James Joyce. He visited Shanghai in 1934, where he learned Chinese brushwork and became strongly influenced by Far Eastern art. During World War II, he lived in Seattle, later moving to Europe. He was living in Basel, Switzerland, when he died on April 24. He was 85.
The National Spiritual Assembly sent this cable to his Bahá’í community in Basel: “Received with deep sorrow news passing distinguished Mark Tobey. Eloquent testimony his unique artistic accomplishments will doubtless live long after him to proclaim divine truth he carried in his heart. Be assured our fervent prayers at holiest House of Worship for progress his soul Abhá Kingdom.”
Mr. Tobey won many honors, including the top prize at the Carnegie Institute’s International Exhibition of Contemporary Painting and Sculpture in 1961, the first Art in America Award in 1958, and the 1956 Guggenheim International Award.
One of the more important works on exhibit at the Knoedler Gallery has been offered for sale at $60,000, with that amount being contributed to the Bahá’í Fund in the event of its sale.
Critics have paid tribute to the powerful effect of the Bahá’í Faith on Mr. Tobey’s work. William Seitz, author of the definitive catalog for the Museum of Modern Art Show in 1962, wrote: “In studying some of the ideas of the Bahá’í Faith in connection with Mark’s ideas, I was amazed to discover how much Bahá’í has influenced his art.” This is a comment from the Knoedler exhibit catalog: “The major event of these early years was undoubtedly his conversion in 1918 to Bahá’í, the most ecumenical of all faiths, which considers the founders of the great religions of the world—Christ, Buddha, Moses, Krishna, Zoroaster, Muhammad—as prophets sent periodically from a single God to a humanity in constant evolution, whose religious needs are also evolving from age to age. For an artist such as Tobey, whose concern from the beginning of the existence of such a religion no doubt confirmed what he already obscurely knew.”
Comments overheard during the Knoedler Gallery reception indicated the general interest in the spiritual aspect of Mr. Tobey’s work, an interest bound to increase as future showings add to his fame.
Central America position open[edit]
An executive secretary is urgently needed in the central office of the Continental Board of Counsellors of Central America. She will work five mornings a week in an office in San Salvador, El Salvador, under the supervision of Counsellor Artemus Lamb.
Applicants should be women in good physical and emotional health, ready and happy to adjust to a new culture. A college degree is desirable. Excellent typing and shorthand skills are necessary along with capacity for and experience in general office detail management and Bahá’í administrative experience. Excellent English is a must, with a willingness to learn Spanish quickly.
Applicants should write to the International Goals Committee, 112 Linden Ave., Wilmette, Illinois 60091.
Mensaje de La Casa Universal de Justicia[edit]
Anuncien delegados reunidos convenciones buenas nuevas terminacion excavacion Monte Carmelo en preparacion para elevacion majestuoso centro legislativo de fe de dios ese lugar sagrado, firma Italia contrato de cinco millones y medio de dolares para proveer mas de dos mil quinientos metros cubicos marmol Pentelikon de Grecia y hacer con el las columnas revestimientos ornamentacion dignos edificio monumental. Profundamente conmovidos respuesta entusiasta creyentes todas partes mundo esta tarea desafiante gloriosa. Acontecimientos Centro Mundial tienen su paralelo en adicional desenvolvimiento estructura administrativa niveles continental nacional a traves elevacion numero Consejeros Continentales a sesenta y uno por nombramiento Thelma Khelghati Africa Occidental; William Masehla Africa del sur; Burháni’d-Din Afshin Asia sur Central; Hideya Suzuki Asia Noreste; Owen Battrick Australasia y Adib Taherzadeh Europa; autorizacion cuerpos Consejeros nombrar noventa miembros adicionales Cuerpos Auxiliares, y anuncio eleccion para Riḍván 1977 siete nuevas Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales: dos en Africa, Mali con su sede en Bamako y Alto Volta con su sede en Ouagadougou, dos en las Americas, las Antillas Francesas con su sede en Pointe-a-Pitre y Surinam y Guayana Francesa con su sede en Paramaribo, una en Europa, Grecia con su sede en Atenas, y dos en el Pacifico, las Nuevas Hebridas con su sede en Puerto Vila y las Islas Marshall con su sede en Majuro, la ultima siendo logro suplementario del plan. Numero Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales elevado asi a ciento veinticuatro luego disolucion de Asambleas Nacionales Guinea Ecuatorial Nepal debido restricciones locales. De novecientos cincuenta y tres pioneros requeridos para puestos especificos, cuatrocientos noventidos y dos ya establecidos. Tambien cuatrocientos setentisiete otros pioneros procedieros paises metas. Gran efusion maestros viajeros internacionales notada. Conmovidos rendir homenaje servicios incansables Manos Causa Dios ano pasado en promover exitos mendionados arriba y en campos ensenanza proteccion preservacion proclamacion literatura fe asi como servicios notables Centro Internacional de Ensenanza que constituyen gran aumento fuerza Centro Mundial alivio cargos descansando Casa Universal Justicia. Ano medio del Plan Cinco Anos que ahora se abre atestiguara congregacion seguidores Bahá’u’lláh ocho conferencias internacionales ensenanza disenadas generar impetu inmenso progreso plan logro de cuyas metas ahora seriamente retrasado. Necesidad mas apremiante de la fe en esta coyuntura su mision redimir humanidad es que cada creyente todas Asambles Nacionales Locales se concentren logro metas puestas ante mundo bahá’í, promover proceso entrada por tropas, alcanzar vasto incremento tamano comunidad, aumentar numero creyentes firmes sacrificados dedicados a conformar todo aspecto sus vidas a altas normas establecidas textos sagrados. El campo es vasto el tiempo corto los trabajadores lamentablemente pocos, pero de los esfuerzos que hacemos nosotros los seguidores de La Bendita Beldad, del grado en que proclamamos y ensenamos su mensaje a los demas seres humanos, exitosa y rapidamente, depende en gran medida el curso de la historia humana en las decadas inmediatamente por delante.
- La Casa Universal de Justicia
- Naw-Rúz 1976
Mexico-U.S. project begins[edit]
Bahá’ís from Mexico and the United States met in Mexicali April 4-5 to begin a historic border teaching project sponsored by the National Spiritual Assemblies of Mexico and the United States.
About half of the projecteers were from Mexico and half from the U.S. Assisting the training were Continental Counsellor Carmen de Burafato, Shelley Pitman and Pedro Chu of the National Assembly of Mexico, Franklin Kahn of the National Assembly of the United States, Auxiliary Board member Arturo Serrano of Mexico, and Auxiliary Board member Fred Schechter of the United States.
Mrs. de Burafato recalled that once the border area had been one country. Now, she said, the Bahá’ís would break the border down and it would become one country again, in a spiritual sense. The love of the friends would be the force that would tear down that wall.
The conference had a fiesta-like atmosphere, with much music and gaiety, and participants continually remarked of the wonderful feeling of cooperation and unity.
Mr. Kahn told the friends of his personal love for the Mexican people, saying that for the first time he had experienced close contact with them. He felt that unity of United States believers with Mexican believers was already a fact and a reality.
Arturo Serrano led the United States Bahá’ís, and Ernest Lopez led the Mexican Bahá’ís in workshop discussions about how to make cultural differences a source of unity.
The border teaching work is now ongoing every weekend.
Franklin Kahn, left, Ernest Lopez, center, and friend discuss border teaching.
U.S. Bahá’ís travel teach in Central America[edit]
By bus, Land Rover, boat, and on foot, 13 Bahá’ís from the United States traveled through Central America March 19–April 4. After orientation in Managua, Nicaragua, they dispersed in teams to visit communities in Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Belize, and El Salvador.
“The tremendous need for traveling teachers and pioneers stood out to me when I arrived in Nicaragua,” said Ferncst Lopez of Illinois. “The friends, especially the native believers, had eagerly been anticipating our arrival since last summer’s project.”
Mr. Lopez went with Nick Bauers of Minnesota to Honduras. In Tegucigalpa, they attended a meeting addressed by the Hand of the Cause of God Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir. Mr. Bauers said that Dr. Muhájir’s message to the Honduran Bahá’ís “formed the basis of my communications to all the Bahá’ís I visited. That message is one of immediate action: teach!”
“Activities the first week in the north were the most visibly fruitful,” reported Anne King, who remained in Nicaragua to visit eight newborn Bahá’í communities with her teammate, Dee Carson.
“We were blessed by the presence of Dr. Muhájir and witnessed seven declarations in the two villages in which he spoke, with other declarations later. The north of Nicaragua is inhabited by some very strong, deepened, native believers.”
Edward Diliberto of California, who went from Managua to El Salvador with his daughter, Dawn, 19, and his son Tony, 17, also found wide-open paths for teaching. With several Salvadoran youth and some newly arrived pioneers from Iran, the Dilibertos traveled in pioneer Susan Leich’s Land Rover to 10 towns chosen by the National Teaching Committee of El Salvador. They visited a different town daily, traveling from the capital, San Salvador, where they stayed in the home of Jeanne and Quentin Ferrand, who have pioneered in El Salvador for 20 years. The teaching party drove through each town announcing the Bahá’í meetings through a loudspeaker in the Land Rover. At least 200 people attended every meeting, which included a talk, songs, and slide program. After the program, the teachers mingled with the audience, answering questions. Over 120 people enrolled in the Faith, and they are being visited each week by teams that are directed by the Teaching Committee.
All the traveling teachers found waiting souls. “When we went back to Concepcion to hold a special meeting,” reported Habiba Fennell of her experiences in Belize, “a middle-aged man who had attended the proclamation approached us and expressed his desire to become a Bahá’í. Since our last meeting with the friends of Concepción, which was two days before, this man had been reading a Bahá’í book. He knew about the banishments, imprisonment, and sufferings of Bahá’u’lláh, and was very affected by it. He felt the truth of the Message and came to us to declare.” Two other projecteers to Belize, Bill and Nancy Barnes, remained in response to a request by Dr. Muhájir.
“In Saloma we enjoyed a concert by a large marimba and brass band. Seven men play on two marimbas. It is happy music, and the people just stroll around the park in the warm night, enjoying community life,” said Christopher Ruhe of New York, who traveled through Guatemala with Marcia Baltgalvis of California, Jess Portillo of Kansas, and Ernesto Rosales, a young pioneer to Guatemala from El Salvador. “Two pure campesino men came over and sat down with us with silent interest, as if waiting for the Message. So we told them. The next day we visited some Bahá’ís, mostly youth. We arranged to have a meeting in the park that night. When we arrived at the park, we sat and sang. Soon a few of the youth approached us and then, before we knew it, we were absolutely surrounded by a multitude of faces. The attractive force of Bahá’u’lláh is so powerful! So we sang and taught, and before the night was through we had four or five new Bahá’ís. The Bahá’í youth, who had been very silent, were proudly standing up and announcing to their friends that yes, they were Bahá’ís, and had been Bahá’ís for a long time.”
In Honduras, Mr. Lopez noticed the attractive force of Bahá’u’lláh especially in Siguatepeque, where he spoke on a radio program.
Mr. Bauers saw the power of the Name as he traveled in a hired car to Olanchito, Honduras. “The car broke down in the mountains, and while repairs were being made, a heated religious discussion got under way among several passengers. Soon everyone was listening. When my opinion was asked of a certain belief, I replied that Bahá’u’lláh had explained it in such a manner. The argument vanished, as everyone questioned me about Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings. The result was a round of very favorable reactions to Bahá’u’lláh and a more amiable atmosphere in the car for the rest of the trip.”
“We taught on every bus trip,” said Mr. Ruhe. “We sat purposely in separate seats, so we could reach the soul that was guided to sit by us. Soon, everyone was reading a little pamphlet. We gave out hundreds of pamphlets. The power of traveling for Bahá’u’lláh causes people to be attracted to the traveler in an amazing way.”
A public meeting is held in San Salvador.
Pioneer describes Orinoco trip[edit]
“In one village every person was a Bahá’í,” a pioneer recently wrote from Venezuela. “It was the cleanest, loveliest village we had seen.”
The pioneer, Susan Isaacs, was describing part of her trip up the Orinoco River. In a small, covered boat called a lancha, she and her companions visited about six villages and helped elect Local Spiritual Assemblies in five of them. Her companions were a young Bahá’í woman from Caracas, a 60-year-old Bahá’í woman from San Cristobal, a 9-year-old girl, and two 14-year-old Indian motorists. Many of the villagers they met had welcomed ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum and her Green Light Expedition, which included a film crew.
“It will be wonderful when the films of this region will be available to the Bahá’ís,” wrote Miss Isaacs. “How wonderful it would be if the Indians in the U.S.
44 complete Pioneer Institute, leave for foreign posts[edit]
“I want to inspire the young Bahá’ís,” said 70-year old Lea Degan, who is using money she had saved for her funeral expenses to pay for her trip to Kenya, where she will pioneer. She was one of the 44 friends at a Pioneer Institute April 8–11 in Wilmette.
“The beloved Guardian said that the progress of the Faith that makes everyone astounded is because of the Plans, and he never said the Plans relied upon himself,” the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem told the pioneers. “Always the Bahá’ís carried out the plans, the Bahá’ís won the goals, the Bahá’ís built the Administrative Order. The Bahá’ís spread the Faith throughout the world.”
Continental Counsellor Edna True outlined for the pioneers their dramatic heritage, and Auxiliary Board member Javádíyyih Khádem spoke of the power of the Covenant, which is the power of unity, the power to renew the world.
Among the friends at the institute were families with tiny babies and small children; the oldest child present, an 11-year-old boy, listened attentively to every speaker. His family is going to Nicaragua. Others are going to Bangladesh, Chile, Thailand, Zaire, Turkey, Guatemala, Mexico, and India.
Katherine Faily, 70, who is going to Barbados, pioneered in Guam and for 19 years helped establish the Faith in South Carolina.
“Many years ago,” she said, “I wanted to pioneer so badly. I prayed and prayed. I was sure I would move and I did move. I moved next door!”
Frank Mausley will return to India. He first went with a teaching project two years ago and developed a love for the people and an admiration for them. “I think love is the best basis for consolidation work,” he said.
Anita and Dermot McHuth are returning to Zaire where they served as Peace Corps workers. “We’re going back because we love it,” they said. Their affiliation with the Peace Corps kept them from active teaching, but they learned Swahili and helped consolidate Bahá’í communities near their post in southeastern Zaire where “almost every village has a Spiritual Assembly.”
Continued from Page 13
could see the Bahá’ís of these Latin countries—how many Indian brothers and sisters they have here.”
In the Bahá’í village, “the people offered us a school house, helped us set up our hammocks, and stayed until well after dark waiting for the election results. It was completely new to me—the jungle, river travel, and the election of Local Spiritual Assemblies. In the communities we visited along the river, almost nobody reads or writes.
“We slept in hammocks, ate some canned foods, and once were given local fish that was delicious, the best meal we had. In one village we bought casaba, a flat bread made from roasted ground yucca—a root that the Indians plant. It’s a lot of work, and the people in the villages have very active, productive lives. It was interesting, because as we approached the villages after hours of travel in our lancha, I wondered what in the world people would do who lived ‘so far away from everything.’ But there’s a lot of work building homes, caring for the land and the children, planting, fishing, clearing new land, using the plants to make baskets.”
Miss Isaacs is pioneering in San Cristobal, in the Andes Mountains, where she said there recently were “a new declaration, a new district opened, and a group of youth coming to meetings and inviting us to hold public meetings in their homes for Intercalary Days. There are two that show up at 19-Day Feasts and want to sit with us during the devotional portions. This is what keeps a pioneer at her post.”
Themes, class topics for Bosch, Green Acre Summer School Sessions[edit]
Themes and class topics have been selected for the Summer School sessions at Bosch Bahá’í School and Green Acre Bahá’í School.
- June 27–July 3, GREEN ACRE, The Five Year Plan and You. His Joy in Words—the Letters of Shoghi Effendi. Pioneering—Practical and Spiritual Perspectives. Special in-depth session: God’s Purpose for Man.
- July 3–9, BOSCH, Dawn of a New Day: The Dawnbreakers (advanced course), God Passes By, Memorials of the Faithful.
- July 4–10, GREEN ACRE, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, Understanding Other Religions, Pioneering—Practical and Spiritual Perspectives, Teaching Opportunities for the Hosts of the Lord, Words of Bahá’u’lláh About the World—Guidance Toward Understanding of the Writings.
- July 10–16, BOSCH, The Perfect Exemplar, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (advanced), Challenge of Bahá’í Parenthood.
- July 11–17, GREEN ACRE, classes by Auxiliary Board member Elizabeth Martin, pioneering.
- July 17–23, BOSCH, Family Session, Knowing and Loving God: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (advanced), Challenge of Bahá’í Parenthood.
- July 18–24, GREEN ACRE, classes by Auxiliary Board member Albert James, Bahá’í Laws and Ordinances, Teaching and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Pioneering and Traveling Teaching, The Qu’rán and Islám.
- July 24–30, BOSCH, special session on the Development of the Local Spiritual Assembly.
- July 25–31, GREEN ACRE, Local Spiritual Assembly Development Week, Bahá’í Holy Days—Their Significance in Developing the Distinctive Characteristics of Bahá’í Life, in-depth session: Iqán, part II, and the Qu’rán.
- July 31–August 6, BOSCH, Signs of His Sovereignty, Gleanings (advanced), Short Tablets, Hidden Words.
- August 1–7, GREEN ACRE, classes by Auxiliary Board member Katherine McLaughlin. Developing Effective Teaching Methods, Bahá’í Proofs, in-depth: What do Bahá’ís Believe?
- August 7–13, BOSCH, Communion with God: Spiritual Significance of Prayer (advanced), Prayer Book, Deepening Materials “Supreme Gift”.
- August 8–14, GREEN ACRE, Teaching as a Way of Life, Community Life, Two Worlds—Can They Meet?, The Social Context of a Spiritual Organization, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.
- August 14–20, BOSCH, Our Spiritual Heritage: Islám (advanced), Religious Prophecy and the Bahá’í Faith, Progressive Revelation.
- August 15–21, GREEN ACRE, Bahá’í Administration, The Qu’rán and History of Islám, The Dawnbreakers, in-depth: Religion and Civilization.
- August 21–27, BOSCH, The Destiny of America: a course prepared by the Bahá’í National Education Committee, Teaching Opportunities for the Hosts of the Lord, Old Time Religion.
- August 22–28, GREEN ACRE, Deepening Week: Students will pursue independent study projects on topics of their choice. Deepened study directors will be on campus.
- August 25–27, GREEN ACRE, visit by the Hand of the Cause of God ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan.
- August 28–September 2, BOSCH, Youth Session, Hope for Tomorrow: Administrative Order of Bahá’í Institutions (advanced), Some Answered Questions, From Now Until Then: Your Role in Tomorrow’s World.
- Participants should register in advance. Write to Green Acre Bahá’í School, 185 Main Street, Eliot, Maine 03903, or Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, California 95060.
Continued from Page 2
- July 4–10 Carolinas Summer School, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, North Carolina.
- July 4–10 Summer School, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine.
- July 5–8 International Teaching Conference, Helsinki, Finland. Sponsored by The Universal House of Justice.
- July 5–10 Special children’s week on the history of the Bahá’í Faith, Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, S.C.
- July 9 Martyrdom of the Báb. Holy Day on which work should be suspended. Commemorate at about noon on July 9.
- July 10–16 Summer School, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California.
- July 10–17 Southern California Summer School, Camp Maranatha, Idyllwild, California.
- July 11–17 Summer School, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine.
- July 13 Feast of Kalimát.
- July 14–Aug. 1 Mass teaching proclamation, North Hempstead, Long Island, New York. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of North Hempstead.
- July 17–23 Summer School, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California.
- July 18–24 Summer School, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine.
- July 19–26 Special youth week. Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, S.C.
- July 23–25 International Teaching Conference, Anchorage, Alaska. Sponsored by The Universal House of Justice.
- July 24–30 Summer School, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California.
- July 25–30 Minnesota Summer School, St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota.
- July 25–31 Summer School, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine.
- July 25–31 Arizona Summer School, Arizona Church Conference Center, Prescott, Arizona.
- July 31–Aug. 6: Summer School, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California.
- Aug. 1–7 Summer School, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine.
- Aug. 1–7 Colorado West Summer School, Big Spruce Camp, Cedaredge, Colorado.
- Aug. 1–7 Davison Summer School, NEA Conference Center, Battle Creek, Michigan.
- Aug. 2–7 Oklahoma-Texas Summer School, Bridgeport Conference Center, Bridgeport, Texas.
- Aug. 3–6 International Teaching Conference, Paris, France. Sponsored by The Universal House of Justice.
- Aug. 5–8 Oregon Summer School, Apserkaha Camp, Ashland, Oregon.
- Aug. 7–13 Summer School, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California.
- Aug. 8–14 Davison Summer School, NEA Conference Center, Battle Creek, Michigan.
- Aug. 8–14 Summer School, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine.
- Aug. 8–14 Washington East Summer School, Camp Dudley, White Pass, Washington.
- August 9–14 Special children’s week on unity, Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, S.C.
- Aug. 9–16 New York Summer School, Oakwood School, Poughkeepsie, New York.
- Aug. 12–15 House of Worship Visit program (by invitation only). Sponsored by the Bahá’í House of Worship Activities Committee.
- Aug. 14–20 Summer School, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California.
- Aug. 15–21 Montana Summer School, Lions Camp, Red Lodge, Montana.
- Aug. 15–21 Summer School, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine.
- August 16–21 Special youth week, Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, S.C.
- Aug. 16–22 Family Camp, Conifer Hill, Lyons, Colorado.
- Aug. 16–23 New York Summer School, Oakwood School, Poughkeepsie, New York.
- Aug. 19–22 Pioneer Training Institute (by invitation only). Sponsored by the International Goals Committee.
- Aug. 20 Feast of Asmá.
- Aug. 21–27 Summer School, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California.
- Aug. 28–Sept. 2 Summer School, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California.
Bahá’í books and materials[edit]
Now Available—‘Design for Victory’ and Parts I and II of ‘The Green Light Expedition of Rúḥíyyih Rabbani’[edit]
Shown left to right: Design for Victory, an important new book intended to assist individuals and communities in their efforts to win the goals of the Five Year Plan; Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies; The Gift, a delightful new children’s book; Bahá’í Meetings/The Nineteen Day Feast, a new booklet compiled by The Universal House of Justice; and a scene from one of the two audiovisual programs entitled The Green Light Expedition of Rúḥíyyih Khánum.
New Bahá’í Literature[edit]
Design for Victory 1976-79:
Goals for Individuals and Communities during the Five Year Plan
Design for Victory is an important new book intended to assist individuals and communities in their efforts to win the goals of the Five Year Plan. The book has two major purposes: it suggests personal goals which individuals can adopt to help win the goals, and it indicates ways in which individuals can assist in winning the goals adopted by Local Spiritual Assemblies and Regional and District Teaching Committees.
Design for Victory is arranged in two parts. Part one discusses teaching on the home front, teaching internationally, proclaiming the Faith through mass communications, involving youth, and educating the community. Part two consists of more than 140 pages of maps of states and/or districts with accompanying charts specifying goals already named. The charts indicate the year in which the goals are to be won and provide space for individuals and communities to add other goals.
Design for Victory is highly recommended as a teaching aid for all Bahá’ís and Bahá’í communities. Prepared by the National Teaching Committee with the collaboration of other national committees. 8¼ x 11 inches. 162 pp.
7-68-41 paper.........$2.50; 10/$24.00
Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies
compiled by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies, a manual used in the Local Spiritual Assembly Development Program, is now available for sale to the entire Bahá’í community.
Compiled by the National Assembly, Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies brings together in a ready reference the principles, policies, and procedures by which the Local Assemblies should function. The manual includes extracts from the Bahá’í writings, principally from messages from Shoghi Effendi and letters of The Universal House of Justice. It also includes the By-Laws of a Local Spiritual Assembly.
The National Spiritual Assembly has eagerly invited all believers to acquire a copy of this document, learn from it the functions of the Local Assembly, and act in accordance with the guidelines it provides. The National Assembly has added that by studying and acting in accordance with the guidelines the believers can nurture Local Assemblies. Ivy green cover. Punched for use in three-ring binders. 8½ x 11 inches. 154 pp.
7-68-37 ...............$1.75; 10/$16.00
Bahá’í Meetings/
The Nineteen Day Feast:
Extracts from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi
compiled by:
The Universal House of Justice
Now available—a compilation on Bahá’í meetings and the Nineteen Day Feast. The booklet, which contains several previously unpublished Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, is arranged in two parts. “Bahá’í Meetings” contains extracts from the Bahá’í Writings concerning Bahá’í meetings of all kinds. “The Nineteen Day Feast” discusses all aspects of the Feast, including its lofty purpose, its effect on the hearts, and matters such as the date of Feast, the use of music, and so on.
Bahá’í Meetings/The Nineteen Day Feast will assist individual believers as well as Spiritual Assemblies and committees in their efforts to win the Five Year Plan goals related to teaching, deepening, and proclamation; to developing the distinctive character of Bahá’í life; and to the development and strengthening of Local Spiritual Assemblies. Tangerine cover. 5½ x 8½ inches. 33 pp.
7-15-56 .................$.60; 10/$5.00
The Gift
El Regalo
by Cynthia K. Walcott
The Gift is a delightful new children’s book which uses animals to explain the Bahá’í teaching on the progressive revelation of religions. The story shows how jungle and mountain animals—divided by the books they follow—learn to live happily together when they follow a new Special Book.
The Gift is also available in a Spanish edition entitled El Regalo. Either book may be purchased individually or in a package including a recorded cassette narration. The recorded narration enhances the story by adding music and animal sounds. The recording is bilingual—with English on one side and Spanish on the other.
When cassette and book are purchased together, the two are packaged in a reusable clear plastic bag complete with handle and hook for convenient carrying and storing.
The Gift and El Regalo are illustrated with charming four-color illustrations by Lynn Hutchinson Reynolds. Library binding. 7 x 10½ inches. 39 pp. Ages 6-10. The books and cassette narration are ideal for both Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í children. English and Spanish speaking.
7-52-51 The Gift | $4.75 |
7-93-68 El Regalo | $4.75 |
7-52-52 The Gift w/cassette narration | $6.95 |
7-93-67 El Regalo w/cassette narration | $6.95 |
6-31-23 The Gift/El Regalo cassette narration | $3.75 |
New Special Materials[edit]
The Green Light Expedition of Rúḥíyyih Rabbani
Part I: A Voyage on the Orinoco and Ventuari Rivers of Venezuela
The Green Light Expedition: Part I is the first in a four-program series tracing the progress of the Green Light Expedition, an historic “journey of friendship” by Rúḥíyyih Rabbani to the Indian people of South America. On the expedition, Rúḥíyyih Rabbani and seven others penetrated the Amazon River Basin, one of the few undeveloped and largely unexplored wilderness areas remaining in the world. Their purpose was to help people all over the world see the Indian villagers of the Amazon region “as they really are, and to feel the common bond of humanity linking us all together.”
In Part I, the viewer travels up the Orinoco and Ventuari rivers by tin-roofed barge and dugout canoe, visits the Indians in their villages, learns their way of life, follows their trails through the jungle, meets Bahá’ís, and lives the life Rúḥíyyih Rabbani and her companions shared on the Green Light Expedition.
This audio-visual program, whether viewed as an historical documentary, an anthropological study, or as a unique adventure, will spark the interest of almost any audience. Written and narrated by Rúḥíyyih Rabbani. Color. 38 minutes. 161 frames.
6-03-50 filmstrip program $6.75 NET
6-03-55 slide program...$15.50 NET
The Green Light Expedition of Rúḥíyyih Rabbani
Part II: The Bush Negroes of Surinam
The Green Light Expedition: Part II continues the four-program audiovisual series on the Green Light Expedition. In this stage of the journey, the expedition visited one of the least known and most fascinating people in South America, the Bush Negroes in Surinam. Descendants of African slaves who escaped from their captors, the Bush Negroes fled into the primeval jungles of the interior and were never recaptured. The viewer visits them in their villages, sees their unusually beautiful huts, glimpses their typically African way of life, and observes the election of the first Bush Negro Spiritual Assembly.
Whether viewed as an historical documentary, an anthropological study, or as a unique adventure, this audio-visual program will spark the interest of almost any audience. Color. 34 minutes. 112 frames.
6-03-60 filmstrip program $5.50 NET
6-03-65 slide program.....$10.75 NET
| House of Justice outlines needs | Rúḥíyyih Khánum introduces film | Turn to prayer, Mr. Khadem says |
| ... See Page 1; text of Riḍván message, Bahá’í National Review, Page 1; Spanish text, Page 12 | ... See Page 4 | ... See page 4 |
| Year of decision, Dr. Muhájir says | Arise and teach, Mr. Sears urges | Election of the National Assembly |
| ... See Page 4 | ... See Page 4 | ... See page 1 |
