U.S. Supplement/Issue 117/Text

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[Page 1]

Hands of the Cause Announce Departures and Replacement

The Hands of the Cause in the Western Hemisphere. announced to the National Spiritual Assemblies and Auxiliary Board members of North America the recent departure from the United States of two of the Auxiliary Board members. Mr. William Maxwell and Mr. Jack McCants have shown their dedication to the Cause of God by "forsaking their country for the purpose of teaching" the Cause of God, which the Abhá Beauty states is the "prince of all goodly deeds". They have recently gone to Africa.

The Hands of the Cause are happy to announce the appointment of Mrs. Jane McCants, as a Board member, to replace her husband, with the same territorial assignment, until she departs for Africa.

The National Teaching Committee Shares a Suggested Timetable for Local Proclamations

In launching a proclamation week or days in a community, appropriate time schedules should be followed. Since the believers in all areas will be increasingly involved in proclamation, one such suggested time schedule or timetable is presented below. The National Teaching Committee shares this schedule with the friends since it has been found useful and successful when used previously in proclamation campaigns already reported. It is presented only as a suggestion and is not to be considered as a nationally approved plan appropriate for all local proclamation efforts. Proclamation activities will take place not only in the cities and large towns, but also in rural and village areas where conditions will be greatly different. In all cases, however, it is important to realize that advance planning of many months is required for success.

Time-Table

Six Months Prior to Proclamation—(1) Book a place for the public meetings, and (2) line up speakers, and obtain resu nes for: "Proclamation Week" and the public meetings being held in the pre-proclamation period

Five Months Prior to Proclamation—Book speakers into colleges, high schools, clubs, other organizations by calling key people on the telephone, and with a follow-up letter.

Four Months Prior to Proclamation—Get the Mayor's proclamation if one is desired, and invite him to attend the opening program of the "Proclamation Week."

Three Months Prior to Proclamation—Have weekly public meetings with as much publicity as possible, and hold regular firesides on the written Word of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi.

Two Months Prior to Proclamation—Order and prepare materials for "Proclamation Week": 1. Posters 2. Window Displays 3. Get "Fact Sheets," resumes, etc. together for TV, radio, newspapers. 4. Invitations (printed). 5. Have programs printed 6. Get news-conference material together 7. Prepare the bookmobile; order books and pamphlets

One Month Prior to Proclamation—Contact TV and radio personalities to get speakers interviewed for newscasts, and on programs.

Two Weeks Prior to Proclamation—(1) Set up the news conference and (2) mail invitations, flyers, and programs.

Ten Days Prior to Proclamation—(1) Put up posters; (2) Have all general newspaper, TV, and radio releases written 10 days prior to mailing; and (3) Check with TV and radio personalities on speakers' appearances and interviews.

One Week Prior to Proclamation—(1) Check details for public meetings, speaking engagements, hospitality for speakers, and publicity; (2) Start the bookmobile around the city; (3) Mail news. releases.

"Proclamation Week"—(1) Car pool to take speakers to engagements, trains, bus, etc.; (2) Implement plans for public meetings, firesides and other public appearances of speakers; and (3) Continue to work with the bookmobile.

Post Proclamation - Follow Up—(1) Hold one public meeting each week for a three month period; (2) Have study classes each week for contacts; (3) Hold firesides; (4) Start brief paid ads in the newspapers; and (5) Hold social events such as teas, song fests, musicals, art displays.

Follow-up planning is very important and it must be carried out with great love and understanding. [Page 2]

Passing of Mr. Fairfield Lundberg, Chicago

CONVEY FAMILY ASSURANCE PRAYERS PROGRESS SOUL FAIRFIELD LUNDBERG AND BEHALF SISTER ELFIE LONGTIME DEVOTED BELIEVERS BLESSED ATTAINMENT PRESENCE MASTER CHICAGO

-UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE September 10, 1967.

Commentary by National Spiritual Assembly:

The foregoing cablegram was read at the funeral of Fairfield Lundberg of Chicago on September 11. Mr. Lundberg and his sister Elfie as young children were in the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá when He visited Chicago in 1912. Their mother was one of the earliest believers. Her devotion was an inspiration both to her children and to her fellow Bahá’ís. Fairfield and Elfie have always served the Bahá’í House of Worship and the Faith quietly and consistently, never looking for praise or thanks.

Date of U.S. Annual Convention for 1968 Announced

In accordance with the instructions of the Universal House of Justice, the Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of the United States will occur on May 23-26, beginning with an evening session on May 23rd. Details of the Convention will be given later. This change is made because of the International Convention at the World Center during Ridván 1968.

Suggestions Invited

In preparation for the next reprinting of Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era, the National Spiritual Assembly, with the approval of the Universal House of Justice, has begun to compile suggestions as to changes that should be made in the present text and references to bring this valuable book up to date. Any Bahá’ís who wish to submit suggestions and ideas for revision of the book are invited to do so as soon as possible. They should be mailed to the National Spiritual Assembly.

NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í FUND

Monthly Income: 1967-1968

Local Assemblies Contributing Each Month

• Regular contributions
• Special contributions & Miscellaneous
• Estates
• Other income

Human Rights Day

December 10, 1967 A Special Event for Proclaiming the Bahá’í Faith to the Public

Theme: Human Rights—Bond of Humanity.

Suggested Materials: Material Suggested by U.N. Committee; Poster Kit from BAHÁ’Í DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT; Tomorrow and Tomorrow, One World One Family; Bahá’í Declaration of Human Rights from BAHÁ’Í PUBLISHING TRUST.

Reports: Good Photographs and reports of outstanding meetings should be sent at once to the PUBLIC INFORMATION DEPARTMENT, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.

U.S. Bahá’í Winter Schools 1967

Southwestern Bahá’í Winter School Lake Bridgeport Methodist Camp, Bridgeport, Texas December 26 (5 p.m.) through 30 (breakfast) Rates: Daily: 10 yrs. and up $6.00; 6-9 yrs. $3.00; 1-5 yrs. registration fee only. Registration fee $2.00. Reservations and information: Mrs. Jean M. Minney, 2920 Daniels Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75205. Telephone: 214 EM 8-2947.

Southeastern Bahá’í Winter School Camp John Hope, Fort Valley, Georgia December 26 (2 p.m.) through January 1 (noon). Reservations and information: Mrs. Margaret Quance, 2402 Van Dyke, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607. Telephone: 919 832-1610

Southern States Bahá’í Institute Waveland, Mississippi November 23 (6 p.m.) through 26 (noon). Reservations and information: Gerald E. Reisinger, Jr., 821 Robin Hood, Shreveport, Louisiana 71106. Telephone: 318 861-7880 [Page 3]

The House of Worship: A Shelter for Many Activities

The Temple Children's Committee

A dedicated core of workers at the House of Worship comprise the membership of the Temple Children's Committee, who coordinate and staff the weekly classes held in the Foundation area for children from 4 through 14 years of age. The Bahá’í Teaching Guides for Children have been used by the staff along with other materials designed to teach the Faith to Bahá’í children and others. These classes are held for one hour on Sunday mornings beginning at 10:30 a.m., and during the summer months a fellowship hour with storytime, arts, crafts and learning games is conducted at this same time.

Sitter services are provided by this committee for infants and young children whose parents wish to attend the Sunday afternoon programs. of devotions and public meetings. They also provide this same service for the Bahá’í children during the four days of the National Convention.

Joyous and meaningful celebrations are planned for the children and their families on the festive Holy Days at the Temple or its immediate environs, and many of these programs have been described in The Child's Way.

Added Uses of Computer and Personal Questionnaires

The voting lists mailed to all adult Bahá’ís last month for use at the state conventions were produced in approximately 30 minutes by the electronic computer. In past years this required several weeks of manual typing. One particular benefit is a more up-to-date voting list since it will include changes during the entire month of September. (Last year's voting list was prepared as of September 1.) Supplemental lists updating the record through mid-October have been provided to state goals committees for use at the state conventions, shortening the time required to bring the lists up to date, and leaving more time available for important consultation.

One of the chief by-products of the computer is prompt statistics on national and local membership. For its meeting in September the National Teaching Committee was provided with the number of assemblies, groups and isolated centers, and the total voting membership in these centers for each state or other electoral district. These data are being provided quarterly and permit periodic assessment of progress in achieving the goals of the Nine Year Plan. National changes of all types in adult and youth membership are now being prepared on a monthly basis.

For the first time the computer compiled in October a special mailing list of all youth based on the birth dates which are part of the tape record. It can be seen how important it is to have this birth date, particularly for youth. This is but one of many useful items of information available from the personal questionnaires. Over two-thirds of all Bahá’ís had returned theirs by October 1. Stating the information in the questionnaires in terms of numbers or "coding" has been carried out by a dozen volunteers, several in military service and one while recovering from wounds, who performed this necessary chore in their spare time. All coded information has been added to the computer tape. These personal data first appeared on the September listings provided for the National Center and the state goals committees. They have already helped in finding pioneers for foreign goals. The information should prove equally useful to the state and district committees in winning their goals.

Later this month new enrollees will receive a questionnaire and all those who have not returned their questionnaires are being given another opportunity to do so. Everyone is again reminded of the necessity of reporting a change in their address promptly, even in advance if it is known, along with the date of the change.

Calendar of Events

FEASTS

• November 4—Qudrat (Power)
• November 23—Qawl (Speech)
• December 12—Masá’l (Questions)
• December 31—Sharaf (Honor)

HOLY DAYS

• November 12—Birth of Bahá’u’lláh
• November 26—Day of the Covenant
• November 28—Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1:00 a.m.)

PROCLAMATION EVENTS

• November 12—Birth of Bahá’u’lláh
• December 10—Human Rights Day

U.S. STATE CONVENTIONS

• November 5

AUXILIARY BOARD TEAM CONFERENCES

• November 25-26—Los Angeles, California
• December 2-3—San Francisco, California
• December 9-10—Chicago or Evanston, Illinois

U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS

• November 10-12
• December 15-17

Bahá’í House of Worship

Daily Visiting Hours 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday Devotions 3 to 3:30 p.m.

Sunday Public Meetings 3:45 p.m. [Page 4]

Bahá’í Directory Changes

Assembly Secretaries

Central California Dist. No. 1 Richmond: Mrs. Nathelle Judd, pro-tem, 5291 Creeley Ave., 94804

Southern California Dist. No. 2 Jurupa J.D.: Mrs. Anna M. Rehling, 5981 Vista DeOro, Ribidoux, Riverside 90509

Southern California Dist. No. 3 Pismo Beach: Mrs. Ruth I. Hesseldenz, 327 Palomar Ave., Pismo Beach 93449 Santa Barbara-Goleta J.D.: Mrs. Esther Singer, 6522 El Greco Rd., Apt. A, Goleta 93017

Colorado Pueblo: Mrs. Mary Johnson, 1901 Beulah Ave., 81004.

Georgia DeKalb County: Raymond Lindsey, Chairman, 1730 Highland Pl., Decatur 30032

Indiana Kokomo: Mrs. Isola Clark, 902 E. Jefferson, 46901.

Iowa Cedar Rapids: Mrs. Helen E. James, 346-18th St., S.E., 52403

Nevada Sparks: Miss Maxine Oas, 1300 Sullivan Lane, Apt. 2, 89431

Eastern New York New York: Mrs. Myrtle McLellan, 50 Brighton 1st Rd., Brooklyn 11235 (to relist secretary's mailing address)

South Dakota Rapid City: Local Spiritual Assembly of Rapid City, Box 693, 57701

Eastern Texas LaPorte: Mrs. Frances Locher, P.O. Box 86, 77571

Eastern Washington Spokane: Mrs. Donna M. Brown, 1609 E. 14th St., 99203

Western Washington Everett: Mrs. Kathleen Javid, 4116 Cliff Drive, 98201

State Goals Committees Secretaries

Central California Dist. No. 2 Mrs. Barbara Cook, P.O. Box 331, Reedley 93654

Colorado Mrs. Ruth Jensen, 1233 Cumberland, Colorado Springs 80907

North Carolina Mrs. Frances Falvey, 2402 Van Dyke Ave., Raleigh 27607

Wyoming John F. Dumbrill, Chairman, 2939 Pine St., Cheyenne 82001

New Mexico Mrs. Ruth Bronson, 8805 Snowheights Blvd., N. E., Albuquerque 87112 (to correct printer's error in current Directory)

In Memoriam

Mrs. Lulu H. Alexander Whitehall, Ohio. August 30, 1967

Leon Brooks Beverly Hills, Calif. August 15, 1967

Mrs. Eda M. Burns Las Vegas, Nevada September 10, 1967

John Keith Craig Kirkland, Wash. August 29, 1967

Benjamin F. Dacus. Englewood, New Jersey. September 23, 1967

Louis L. Gravet Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. September 16, 1967

Fairfield Lundberg Chicago, Illinois September 8, 1967

Mrs. Fleury Mellitt Fitchburg, Mass. September 5, 1967

Fred F. Minnich Schuylkill Haven, Penna. August 20, 1967

Mrs. Helen Nelson. Las Vegas, Nevada August 7, 1967

Bahá’í Marriages

NOVEMBER 1967

Sacramento M.C.D., Calif.: Miss Carolyn Herrmann to John P. Warhus on July 15, 1967

San Francisco, Calif.: Miss Jeri-Ann Harper to Charles Brewster Holm on July 22, 1967 (non-Bahá’ís)

San Francisco, Calif.: Miss Roberta Davis to James David Stokes, Jr. on August 13, 1967

Atlanta, Ga. Miss Rita Olivia Durr to George Gresham on August 12, 1967

Chicago, Ill.: Mrs. Dorothy M. Jackson to William Allen on November 5, 1966

Chicago, Ill. Miss Frances Marie Holsinger to Nourollah Rowhani on July 22, 1967

Chicago, Ill.: Miss Rochell L. Berman to Frederick J. Gunther on August 5, 1967 (non-Bahá’ís)

Peoria, Ill. Miss Beverly Whitcher to Thomas Dale Bennett on August 19, 1967

Sparks, Nev.: Mrs. Christelia Monadjem to Richard C. Arding on July 15, 1967

Albuquerque, N.M.: Miss Jenni Lynn Beary to Dennis C. Smith on June 16, 1967

Albuquerque, N.M.: Miss Karen Jensen to Orell A. Phillips, Jr. on July 2, 1967.

New York, N.Y.: Miss Joan Phyllis Leader to William Henry Zucker on July 16, 1967

Lane Co., Ore.: Mrs. Ann C. Sherwood to Clinton C. Mills on July 22, 1967

Everett, Wash.: Miss Teressa L. Woodworth to William E. Lowery on August 19. 1967

Antelope J.D., Calif.: Miss Margaret Anna Young to Robert Harold Reinhardt Risley on September 8, 1967 (non-Bahá’ís)

Berkeley, Calif.: Miss Monireh Labib to Andre Lanzaro on September 9, 1967

Los Angeles, Calif.: Mrs. Lillie M. Hayes to Michael Carl Willis on September 11, 1967

Riverside, Calif.: Mrs. Annie Jane Flenory to George Ramirez Galvan on September 2, 1967

San Luis Obispo, Calif.: Miss Janet Richards to Randall Morgan Wilson on August 12, 1967

San Mateo, Calif.: Mrs. Patricia De Martini to Paul R. Sands on September 1, 1967

Southern J.D.-San Mateo Co., Calif.: Mrs. Sally L. (Benedict) Grube to Delton Sylvester West on August 12, 1967

Manatee Co., Florida: Miss Alida Dorothy Wattles to John Herman Hilke on August 19, 1967

Wilmette, Ill.: Miss Ruth L. Engler to Thomas V. Randle on August 19, 1967

Eliot, Maine: Miss Claudia D. Waite to Leo A. Joyce on August 27, 1967

Ann Arbor, Mich.: Miss Cheryl Lynn McDaniel to Ronald M. Holubik on August 5, 1967

Ypsilanti, Mich.: Miss Carole Sternfeld to Vincent J. Bonacci on August 6, 1967

Rochester, Minn.: Miss Nancy Jean Tuttle to John M. Blondell on September 2, 1967

St. Louis, Mo.: Miss Mildred Bell to Ralph T. Thomas on August 25, 1967

Santa Fe, N.M.: Miss Carol Titus to James Wood, Jr. on August 26, 1967

Pendleton, Ore.: Miss Virginia Rinehart to Edwin Earl Storey on August 19, 1967

Pittsburgh, Pa.: Miss Arlene C. Chereck to Dr. Siroos Samadani on August 26, 1967

Nashville, Tenn.: Mrs. Elizabeth Pinder to Aaron Reddick on September 25, 1967

Salt Lake City, Utah: Miss Carolyn Ingram to William L. Staples on July 23, 1967

Kirkland, Wash.: Miss Judith Ann Heath to Thomas G. Craig on December 17, 1966

Seattle, Wash.: Miss Mary Ida Loney to Donald J. Betz on August 26, 1967

Walla Walla, Wash.: Miss Jeanette F. Howard to David S. Phelps on August 26, 1967 [Page 5]

Teaching in Rhinelander, Wisconsin

“O ye believers of God! Endeavor ye; so that ye may take hold of every means in promulgation of the religion of God and the diffusion of the fragrances of God” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, BWF p. 427

Teaching activities in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, continue to blossom forth with evidences of the assistance of “the hosts of the Concourse on high”. As reported recently in the Teaching Bulletin, the isolated believer and various traveling teachers have helped open many interesting areas of the town to the Faith. Several Catholic Sisters and the Bahá’ís have been “consorting with joy and happiness”, working cooperatively in bringing the message into Catholic classrooms. The WAEO television studios of Rhinelander and the National Bahá’í Public Information Department have jointly produced two 30-minute color programs for possible availability nationally.

Dr. Daniel Jordan, Terre Haute, Indiana, Mrs. Natalie DiBuono, Bahá’í Public Information Dept., two other adult Bahá’ís and three youth arrived in this northern Wisconsin city late in August to take part in the television programs. The first program includes 18 children of varied ethnic backgrounds (Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Negro, Indian, German, etc.) gathered around the piano to hear Dr. Jordan’s inspirational, gentle and informative musical presentation of the Faith, called “Keys to Harmony”.

The other production, “An Adventure in Understanding A Bahá’í Fireside,” featured a Congregational minister, a Catholic nun, an Indian woman from the LacDuFlambeau Indian Reservation, a Negro man from the Blackwell Job Corps, and the Bahá’ís, with the Rhinelander Bahá’í acting as hostess. The programs are now the property of the Public Information Department.

Full advantage was taken of the visit of these traveling Bahá’ís to publicize the Faith locally, also. Dr. Jordan was interviewed on the radio station and the television station was so impressed by his abilities that it made tapes for local use, in addition to the two previously mentioned productions. A dinner-fireside was held for the television personnel in appreciation.

The CBS color film, “And His Name Shall Be One,” was shown to Catholic grade school children this fall, and the Superintendent of Public Schools may permit its use in his classrooms. Also, school board members will discuss its use in the rural schools.

Earlier in the summer two traveling teachers spent a busy day assisting the isolated believer with teaching. May 23, a blessed Holy Day, was indeed a time of great celebration in the city. With the noon arrival of Mrs. DiBuono and Arden Lee of Shorewood, Wisconsin, the following 24 hours were ones of memorable experiences.

One fireside was interrupted by a phone call from one of the receptive Catholic nuns of the local convent, sharing news of the transfer of seven nuns to localities throughout the country. Assurance was given that they could continue their relationships with Bahá’ís wherever they went. This brought much happiness and consolation at a time of regretful transfer. The Bahá’ís also went to a Catholic school to answer questions of 40 eighth-graders who had been stimulated by a previous presentation of the Faith. Although the loving, fair-minded Sister Superior was fearful her students lacked the capacity and interest to use the full allotted hour, she was greatly astonished to see raised hands an hour later. The Bahá’ís then proceeded to another school for more presentations.

The Sister Superior who made these contacts with the nuns and school children possible visited the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette and dined with Chicago Bahá’ís. Upon return to Rhinelander, she helped print 500 mimeographed copies of directions to the Bahá’í’s home. She was helping to guide 500 people to hear of the Bahá’í teachings.

Referring to the day of teaching in the classrooms, the isolated believer in Rhinelander said, “Words could not possibly express the apparent miraculous and profound spirit that surrounded these adventures. The reference came to mind of. . . ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s answer to one who asked Him why it was that those who came from His presence possessed a shining face. He said, that if it were so it must be because He saw in every face the face of His Heavenly Father. was so obvious that every face that was seen during the twenty-four hours by the Bahá’ís (who had given of themselves, performing in harmony with each other) did shine too, creating an atmosphere that can only be felt and explained on the spiritual realm.”

By this time the momentum of the spirit in Rhinelander had reached such a high peak that it hardly seemed necessary for the Bahá’ís to return to the earthly requirement of purchasing gasoline for the long journey home. Upon waving good-by to the Bahá’í spiritual sisters, the isolated believer noticed that the gas station attendant was so affected that he inquired of the Bahá’í left behind as to what it was that they possessed.

Every soul does respond when Bahá’ís, like ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, our Exemplar, love our fellow men and with a penetrating eye, see in them the “image and likeness of God.” [Page 6]

Message Given at Fairs

The Bahá’í message was carried to fairgoers from coast to coast this summer through the many beautiful Bahá’í exhibits at state and county fairs. The booths proved to be spiritually stimulating for visitors and even fair officials, as well as for the participating Bahá’ís who got added enjoyment and satisfaction in bringing the teachings to so many. The booths were tastefully decorated and on several occasions fair officials complimented the Bahá’ís on their attractive entries. Some Bahá’ís used the booths to launch their local proclamation of the tablets to kings and rulers of the world. Southern Illinois Bahá’ís used the state fair as the first stop for a traveling exhibit which will tour all southern counties during the proclamation year. The Illinois booth featured a model of the House of Worship loaned from Foundation Hall, supplemented with a pictorial and written backdrop and literature. Over 50 cards were signed by persons requesting more information or for the exhibit to come to their towns. Said a participating Bahá’í: "The opportunity to discuss the Faith with so many, so often, has been an inspiring experience for the Southern Illinois Bahá’ís".

The booth at the Fresno County Fair, California, was planned by the sponsoring Local Spiritual Assembly of Fresno J. D., also as a local observance of the Proclamation to the Kings and Rulers Centenary. Thousands attended the fair during its ten-day run.

A great deal of time and effort went into the successful Topeka, Kansas, and Hutchinson, Kansas, fair booths and a small Bahá’í group of Manassas County, Va., worked tirelessly on their county fair. The local radio station offered free time for interviewing and Manassas County is said to be well covered with the Bahá’í message.

For the third consecutive year a Bahá’í booth was entered in the Virginia State Fair at Richmond. Sponsored by the Fairfax County Local Spiritual Assembly, the booth was manned by various "family teams". The booth at the Arizona State Fair held this month was planned to introduce the Faith to a large number of Arizona residents, while the Rhode Island Bahá’ís planned a large walk-in booth at the Rocky Hill State Fair and entertained viewers with evenings of Bahá’í singing.

New Group Sings of 'Good Neighbors'

The recently formed Bahá’í group of Roseville, California, gave a weekend music festival called "Good Neighbors" to make friends for the Faith in Roseville and vicinity. Assisted by the State Goals Committee, the group held two performances, one at the Roseville Veterans Memorial Auditorium and the other at the Sierra Junior College in Rocklin. The selections covered a wide range of vocal and instrumental works with classical, pop, folk, traditional, ethnic and international origins. Officials of a nearby prison permitted the Bahá’ís to perform a musical Sunday service for the inmates.

Bahá’í Youth Visits the Vice President

Christopher Moore, Bahá’í youth of Boston, Massachusettes, was selected Boy Vice President For A Day and visited with Vice President Hubert Humphrey in Washington, D.C. The youth's other accomplishments include a full four-year tuition scholarship at Suffolk University upon completion of his studies at Boston Latin High School where he was awarded a special prize medal for declamation.

Bahá’í on Cruise Conducts Service

A Bahá’í passenger aboard the S.S. Shalom this summer was privileged to conduct Bahá’í services for many of the Christian and Israeli passengers aboard. Earlier in the day, during the non-denominational service, a Rabbi read a Bahá’í prayer at her suggestion. He had recently been in Haifa and prefaced the Bahá’í prayer with laudatory comments about the Bahá’í shrines and gardens on Mount Carmel.

Then at the noon Bahá’í service, attendance numbered about 200 persons, including many Christians and Israeli staff members of the Shalom whose permanent homes are in Israel. By a show of hands the Bahá’í discovered that most of the audience had seen the Haifa Bahá’í shrines and gardens and that many Chicagoans were aboard who had visited the House of Worship in Wilmette.

The Bahá’í, Mrs. Betty S. Feldman of Baltimore, Maryland, reports the Bahá’í Faith became the main topic of conversation, including some controversy, during the remainder of the cruise. Some passengers requested literature and it is hoped the recipients will contact Bahá’ís at home.

Pre Dec Council for Junior Youth

Twenty-nine junior youth met at a Y.M.C.A. camp in the Glendora, California foothills for a two day council sponsored by the San Gabriel Valley Inter Community Committee. Planned for those between the ages of twelve and fifteen this meeting was designed to fit the special needs of this age group who are no longer children and not yet Bahá’í youth. The young people themselves chose the title "Pre-Dec Council" for the affair and plans are already underway for a repetition of it annually.

Six Bahá’í youth volunteered to be team teachers at the Council and drew up their own curricula. Classes were kept to a minimum, the rest of the time being spent in getting acquainted, games, skits and singing. There was a well moderated discussion of Bahá’í subjects and preparations were made for the Feast of Names which fell on the night after the Council.

With the exception of three adults serving as cook, nurse and coordinator the attendance was limited to the age group for which it was designed and the youth who served as leaders and teachers. Two of the fifteen-year-olds in attendance officially enrolled in the Faith at the next Feast and many of the fourteen-year-olds expressed regrets that they were one year too young. [Page 7]

Auxiliary Board Members

Their Territories and Responsibilities United States 1967-1968

Auxiliary Board Members Grouped as Teams

Albert James — Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Virginia

Javidukht Khádem — New York, New Jersey, East Pennsylvania, Ohio

Katherine McLaughlin — New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut

Curtis Kelsey — Florida

Jane McCants — Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama

William Tucker — North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee

Peter Khan — Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, West Pennsylvania

Velma Sherrill — East Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma

Beth McKenty — Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota

Anthony Lease — Southern California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas

Florence Mayberry — Northern California, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada

Chester Kahn — Indian Teaching on all Reservations

Servicing Assigned Territories

1. Each Auxiliary Board member is individually responsible for,

(a) Keeping the Hands of the Cause currently informed of all conditions relating to the protection and propagation of the Faith in his or her allocated territory.

(b) Assisting the Hands, as directed, in the protection of the Faith; and in promoting the teaching work throughout the assigned territory through visits to Bahá’í communities and through correspondence.

2. Teams: Auxiliary Board members listed as "teams" are not expected to visit the same communities at the same time, but rather to cooperate in the discharge of duties through,

(a) Meeting for periodic conferences, and exchange of correspondence, in connection with current teaching progress and needs in the territory covered by members of the team.

(b) Possible interchange of visits to the various territories being serviced by each member of the team.

(c) Forming conferences for the believers and inviting all the Bahá’ís residing in the areas assigned to each team.

3. Auxiliary Board members are free to initiate correspondence with local assemblies, state goals committees and Bahá’í groups within their allocated territory, extending offers of teaching assistance.

4. Local spiritual assemblies and Bahá’í groups are free to correspond directly with the Auxiliary Board member assigned to their territory, requesting assistance in the areas of protection and propagation. Assemblies and groups desiring the assistance of a Board member not assigned by the Hands to their territory, should request same of the Hands of the Cause through the National Spiritual Assembly.

5. National assemblies and national committees desiring the services of an Auxiliary Board member are free to request such services of the Hands of the Cause. In the case of the committees, the request is channeled through the National Assembly.

6. In addition to servicing individually allocated territories, Auxiliary Board members will, from time to time, be called upon by the Hands of the Cause to undertake specific missions in the interest of the protection and propagation of the Faith. [Page 8]

Functions and Relationship of Hands of the Cause and Auxiliary Board Members

NOVEMBER 1967

In the messages* of Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá’í world and in communications to the Hands of the Cause and National Spiritual Assemblies between 1952 and a month before his passing in November 1957, the beloved Guardian clearly defined the functions and the relationship of the Hands of the Cause of God both to their Auxiliary Boards and to the National Spiritual Assemblies.

In his cablegram of June 4, 1957 he clearly reminded us that the Institution of the Hands of the Cause, brought into being first by Bahá’u’lláh and then by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, was "divinely appointed" and that by virtue of the authority conferred upon the Hands in the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, they are invested, "with the twin functions of protecting and propagating the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh."

In that same message, the beloved Guardian called upon the Hands and the National Assemblies, "to establish henceforth direct contact and deliberate, whenever feasible, as frequently as possible, to exchange reports to be submitted by their respective Auxiliary Boards and national committees, to exercise unrelaxing vigilance and carry out unflinchingly their sacred, inescapable duties." He further directed, "The security of our precious Faith, the preservation of the spiritual health of the Bahá’í communities, the vitality of the faith of its individual members, the proper functioning of its laboriously erected institutions, the fruition of its worldwide enterprises, the fulfilment of its ultimate destiny, all are directly dependent upon the befitting discharge of the weighty responsibilities now resting upon the members of these two institutions, occupying, with the Universal House of Justice, next to the Institution of the Guardianship, foremost rank in the divinely ordained administrative hierarchy of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh."

On October 8, 1952 the Guardian called upon the Hands in the five continents, "by virtue of their supreme function as chosen instruments for the propagation of the Faith" to appoint during Ridván, 1954, Auxiliary Boards who would act "as their adjuncts, or deputies. ..." In a cablegram dated April 6, 1954 the beloved Guardian further instructed that the allocation of areas to the members of the Auxiliary Boards and subsidiary matters regarding development of their activities, and the manner of collaboration with the National Assemblies were left to the discretion of the Hands; and that, "all Boards must report and be responsible to the Hands charged with their appointment." In that same message Shoghi Effendi called for the initiation of five Continental Bahá’í Funds which, "as they develop, will increasingly facilitate the discharge of the functions assigned to the Boards."

Tasks of the Auxiliary Boards

The Guardian gave further instructions that the members of the Auxiliary Boards "will not have administrative functions" but will, under the direction of the Hands in their area, cooperate with the administrative bodies to strengthen the teaching work. All situations or problems which they encounter and which need correction are to be reported to the Hands who in turn will call them to the attention of the National Spiritual Assembly for appropriate action. Servicing of assigned territories proceeds under the direction of the Hands, and includes trips whenever feasible, as well as correspondence.

In accordance with instructions from the Guardian, from the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land, and decisions made during the Conclave of the Hands at the World Center in October, 1965 the Hands of the Cause in the Western Hemisphere have from time to time made additional appointments to the Auxiliary Boards for the Americas. These have been announced in previous issues of BAHÁ’Í NEWS. This insert lists the present Auxiliary Board members for the United States, Canada and Alaska, the territory allocated to each for 1966-1967 and the nature of the services to be performed by the members.

The friends are requested to preserve this insert for ready reference and to observe the instructions given as to how to make requests for the service of the Board members.

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• Messages to the Bahá’í World, by Shoghi Effendi, available from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, $2.00 per copy.