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U. S. SUPPLEMENT
Baha |
No. 117 BAHA'I! YEAR 124
‘News
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 Abha 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 m:etings 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 Baha’u’llah, ‘Abdu’l-Baha 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.
Invitations (printed)
Have programs printed
Get news-conference material together 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.
NO
Follow-up planning is very important and it must be carried out with great love and understanding.
NOVEMBER 1967
[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-Baha 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 Baha’is. Fairfield and Elfie have always served the Baha’i 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 Baha’is 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 Ridvan 1968.
Suggestions Invited
In preparation for the next reprinting of Baha’u’llah 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 Baha’is 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 BAHA'! FUND Monthly Income: 1967-1968
Thousand
120
S P
Monthly 38.3: Budget |
80
2h BR SER EG
BSE eBE GSR
JAN, FEB. MAR
| Regular contributions fq Special contributions & Miscellaneous
| Other income
NOVEMBER 1967
Human Rights Day December |0, 1967
A Special Event for Proclaiming
the Baha'i Faith to the Public Theme: Human Rights—Bond of Humanity. Suggested Materials: Material Suggested by U.N. Committee; Poster Kit from BauA’i DistTrRIBUTION AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT; Tomorrow and Tomorrow, One World One Family; Bahd’i Declaration of Human Rights from BaHA’i PuBLisHING TRUST. Reports: Good Photographs and reports of outstanding meetings should be sent at once to the Pusiic INFORMATION DEPARTMENT, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.
U.S. Baha’i Winter Schools 1967
Southwestern Baha’i 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 Baha’i 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 Baha’i 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
Local Assemblies Contributing Each Month
375
350
300
250 200 150
AUG
SEPT. OCT.
NOV. DEC JAN, FEB.
MAR
APR
MAY §
JUN
[Page 3]
U.S. SUPPLEMENT
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 Bahda’i Teaching Guides for Children have been used by the staff along with other materials designed to teach the Faith to Baha’i 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
Added Uses of Computer and Personal Questionnaires
The voting lists mailed to all adult Baha’is 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 Baha’is 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 ques
attend the Sunday afternoon programs. of devotions and
public meetings. They also provide this same service
for the Baha’i 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.
tionnaire 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—Masa’l (Questions) December 31—Sharaf (Honor)
HOLY DAYS November 12—Birth of Baha’u’llah November 26—Day of the Covenant November 28—Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha (1:00 a.m.)
PROCLAMATION EVENTS November 12—Birth of Baha’u’llah 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
Baha'i 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]
BAHA'I! 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 Ist 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
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
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
NOVEMBER 1967
Baha'i Marriages
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-Baha’is)
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-Baha’is)
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-Baha’is)
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]
U.S. SUPPLEMENT
TEACHING BULLETIN
Of The Nine Year Plan
NATIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE
DEPARTMENT OF TEACHING
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND COLLEGE ACTIVITIES
No. 32 NOVEMBER 1967
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” ‘Aspu’L-BaHA, 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 Baha’is 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 Baha’i Public Information Department have jointly produced two 30-minute color programs for possible availability nationally.
Dr. Daniel Jordan, Terre Haute, Indiana, Mrs. Natalie DiBuono, Baha’i Public Information Dept., two other adult Baha’is 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 Baha’i 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 Baha’is, with the Rhinelander Baha’i acting as hostess. The programs are now the property of the Public Information Department.
Full advantage was taken of the visit of these traveling Baha’is 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 Baha’is wherever they went. This brought much happiness and consolation at a time of regretful transfer. The Baha’is 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, fairminded 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 Baha’is then proceeded to another school for more presentations.
The Sister Superior who made these contacts with the nuns and school children possible visited the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette and dined with Chicago Baha’is. Upon return to Rhinelander, she helped print 500 mimeographed copies of directions to the Baha’i’s home. She was helping to guide 500 people to hear of the Baha’i 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’]-Baha’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. It was so obvious that every face that was seen during the twenty-four hours by the Baha’is (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 Baha’is to return to the earthly requirement of purchasing gasoline for the long journey home. Upon waving good-by to the Baha’i spiritual sisters, the isolated believer noticed that the gas station attendant was so affected that he inquired of the Baha’i left behind as to what it was that they possessed.
Every soul does respond when Baha’is, like ‘Abdu’lBaha, 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 Baha’i message was carried to fairgoers from coast to coast this summer through the many beautiful Baha’i 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 Baha’is 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 Baha’is on their attractive entries. Some Baha’is used the booths to launch their local proclamation of the tablets to kings and rulers of the world. Southern Illinois Baha’is 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 Baha’i: ‘‘The opportunity to discuss the Faith with so many, so often, has been an inspiring experience for the Southern Illinois Baha’is’’.
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 Baha’i 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 Baha’i message.
For the third consecutive year a Baha’i 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 Baha’is planned a large walk-in booth at the Rocky Hill State Fair and entertained viewers with evenings of Baha’i singing.
New Group Sings of ‘Good Neighbors’
The recently formed Baha’i 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 Baha’is to perform a musical Sunday service for the inmates.
NOVEMBER 1967
Baha'i Youth Visits the Vice President
Christopher Moore, Baha’i 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.
Baha'i on Cruise Conducts Service
A Baha’i passenger aboard the S.S. Shalom this summer was privileged to conduct Baha’i services for many of the Christian and Israeli passengers aboard. Earlier in the day, during the non-denominational service, a Rabbi read a Baha’i prayer at her suggestion. He had recently been in Haifa and prefaced the Baha’i prayer with laudatory comments about’ the Baha’i shrines and gardens on Mount Carmel.
Then at the noon Baha’i 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 Baha’i discovered that most of the audience had seen the Haifa Baha’i shrines and gardens and that many Chicagoans were aboard who had visited the House of Worship in Wilmette.
The Baha’i, Mrs. Betty S. Feldman of Baltimore, Maryland, reports the Baha’i 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 Baha’is 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 Baha’i 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 Baha’i 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 Baha’i 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-yearolds 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]
U.S. SUPPLEMENT
Auxiliary
Board Members
Grouped as Te
Albert James
ams
Javidukht Khadem ....
Katherine McLaughlin
Curtis Kelsey .
Jane McCants
William Tucker
Peter Khan...
Velma Sherrill
Beth McKenty
Anthony Lease
Florence Mayberry ....
Chester Kahn
Auxiliary Board Members
Their Territories and Responsibilities United States 1967 - 1968
Territories Assigned Each Board member
Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Virginia
New York, New Jersey, East Pennsylvania, Ohio
.New Hampshire, Maine, Ver mont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
Florida
Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisi ana, Georgia, Alabama
North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee
Michigan, [Illinois, West Pennsylvania
Indiana,
East Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota
Southern California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas
Northern California, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada
Indian Teaching — on all Reservations
1,
2.
Servicing Assigned Territories
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 Baha’i communities and through correspondence.
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 Baha’is residing in the areas assigned to each team.
. Auxiliary Board members are free to initiate cor respondence with local assemblies, state goals committees and Baha’i groups within their allocated territory, extending offers of teaching assistance.
. Local spiritual assemblies and Baha’i 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.
. National assemblies and national committees desir ing 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.
. In addition to servicing individually allocated ter
ritories, 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]
NOVEMBER 1967
Functions and Relationship of Hands of the Cause
and Auxiliary Board Members
In the messages* of Shoghi Effendi to the Baha’i 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 Bahaé’u’llah and then by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, was ‘“‘divinely appointed’’ and that by virtue of the authority conferred upon the Hands in the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, they are invested, ‘‘with the twin functions of protecting and propagating the Faith of Baha’u’lah.”’
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 Baha’i 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 Baha’u’llah.”’
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 Ridvan, 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 Baha’i Funds which, “fas 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 BaHA’I 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.
- Messages to the Baha’i World, by Shoghi Effendi, available from the Baha’i Publishing Trust, $2.00 per copy.