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NCA Calls Conference to Discuss Paramount Needs of Ten-Year Plan
Among the first steps taken to carry out the instructions contained in the messages to the Fifty-First Annual Convention from the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land, the National Spiritual Assembly has already done the following: (1) sent to every American Bahá’í with the May issue of Bahá’í NEWS an application form by means of which to express his intention or desire to pioneer at home or abroad; (2) appointed a central pioneer committee composed of members of the National Assembly to expedite the handling of applications for pioneering, particularly from those believers who have no special choice of area; (3) established a deputization fund to which believers who cannot pioneer at present can contribute for the support of another who is able to go but is in need of financial assistance; (4) set up a nationwide series of conferences for the weekend of June 27-28 at which American Hands of the Cause. members of the Auxiliary Boards, and members of the National Assembly will meet with the Bahá’ís to discuss the paramount homefront needs of the remaining years of the World Crusade and how we can accomplish them.
Following are the conference localities and the names of the conference leaders. The area teaching committees will notify assemblies, groups, and individual believers of the address of the meeting places for the conferences to be held in their respective areas.
Western States Seattle, Wash.
June 27—Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh Pasco, Wash.
June 28—Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh Riverside, Calif.
June 27——Charles Wolcott Los Angeles, Calif.
June 28—Charles Wolcott Phoenix, Ariz.
June 27—Mrs. Florence Mayberry Albuquerque, N.M.
June 28—Mrs. Florence Mayberry Denver, Colo.
June 28—Mrs. Velma Sherrill Central States St. Louis, Mo.
June 27—Dr. Katherine K. True Minneapolis, Minn.
June 28-—Dr. Hushang Javid
Wilmette, Ill.
June 27—Horace Holley Milwaukee, Wis.
June 28—Horace Holley Des Moines, Iowa
June 28—Miss Edna M. True Northeastern States Boston, Mass.
June 27—Arthur L. Dahl New York, N.Y.
June 28—Arthur L. Dahl New Haven, Conn.
July 5-H. B. Kavelin Philadelphia, Penn.
June 28—William B. Sears Pittsburgh, Penn.
June 27—William de Forge Columbus, Ohio
June 28—William de Forge Buffalo, N.Y.
June 27—Mrs. Katherine McLaughlin Syracuse, N.Y.
June 28—Mrs. Katherine McLaughlin
Southern States Washington, D.C. June 28—H. B. Kavelin Nashville, Tenn. June 28—Dr. Sarah Pereira Raleigh, N.C. June 27—Ellsworth Blackwell Augusta, Ga. June 28—E1lsworth Blackwell Atlanta, Ga. June 27—Curtis D. Kelsey Birmingham, Ala. June 28—Curtis D. Kelsey Little Rock, Ark. June 27—Mrs. Margery McCormick Shreveport, La. June 28—Mrs. Margery McCormick The conferences will begin at 10:30 a.m. and continue to 4:30 p.m. with an hour’s luncheon recess. These meetings are for enrolled Bahá’ís only. The agenda will be an informal one and will allow time for questions and discussion. —U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
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JUNE 1959
Retommendations of the Fifty-First Convention to the National Assembly
The several recommendations adopted by the delegates at the Fifty-First Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of the United States, requiring action by the National Spiritual Assembly, were carefully considered at the Assembly’s meeting immediately following the convention. Following are these recommendations and the decisions and actions resulting from the Assembly’s consultation:
1. That the National Spiritual Assembly work out techniques that will enable the believers to teach and gain contacts for the Faith.
Action: The National Assembly will publish, in an early issue of Bahá’í NEWS, reference to the help that already exists for meeting this need, and it also reminds the friends that the present homefront campaign will also eventually bring the friends other suggestions along this line.
2. That the National Spiritual Assembly consider ways and means for making a bolder proclamation of the Faith this coming year.
Action: The National Assembly will endeavor to carry out this year the directions from the beloved Guardian in his message of July 28, 1954, that “a systematic campaign designed to proclaim the Faith to the masses through the press and radio must moreover be launched and maintained with vigilance, persistence, and vigor.” The believers are urged to be alert to all the possibilities and opportunities within their own local communities for securing television and radio time for the proclamation of the Faith, and also to submit to the National Assembly material that could be suitable for radio programs.
3. That the National Spiritual Assembly consider bringing to the United States a small group of African Bahá’ís to assist in teaching in this country where there are large Negro populations.
Action: The National Assembly expects the national teaching work this year to be based strictly upon the convention message from the revered Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land, and that all efforts and funds will be directed toward carrying out the instructions of the Hands. The members are confident that all of the believers will be more active in teaching and in offering their services for the pioneer field both abroad and at home, and that as a result the work in the south will be greatly accelerated this year.
4. That the National Assembly consider the plan of sending teams of three people, comprised of both white and Negro believers, through the south as well as the north to help with interracial teaching.
Action: The National Spiritual Assembly approves this plan, which has been carried out in the past, and will try to intensify it this year.
5. Recommended that, in view of the fact that the homefront campaign inaugurated last August has had the effect of increasing contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund, future statements from the National Assembly include references from Shoghi Effendi and from Rúḥíyyih Khánum of a nature that will enable the believers to acquire a better understanding of the spirit of giving.
Action: The friends are advised to read carefully the Treasurer’s statements to the American Bahá’í community, which are designed to provide this understanding.
6. That bus loads of Bahá’í young people go out from different parts of the country to converge on the Bahá’í summer schools, and that meetings be arranged for them en route to which the youth of the communities will be invited.
Action: The National Spiritual Assembly approves this recommendation in principle, but points out that the many elements that have to be considered in implementing it require careful study. An effort will be made to carry it out for the summer of 1960, which seems to be the earliest time when such an ambitious project can be undertaken.
7. That this year every local assembly and all large Bahá’í groups sponsor two or three special youth activities, that the National Bahá’í Youth Committee be given opportunity to study their respective plans before they go into operation, and that there be careful followup by the assemblies and groups to determine the results.
Action: The National Spiritual Assembly will give careful consideration to this recommendation at the time it appoints the national and area youth committees and defines their functions.
8. That the National Assembly establish a national committee on education whose function will be to assist the local assemblies and communities in finding and employing teaching and study techniques that conform to the principle of independent investigation.
Action: Voted to inform the friends that this recommendation requires considerable study on the part of the National Spiritual Asseinbly before it can give a definite answer.
9. That the National Spiritual Assembly discontinue the use by the area teaching committees of the application for enrollment forms that call for designation of the applicant’s race.
Action: This recommendation has been approved.
10. That the National Spiritual Assembly consider a unit method of bringing the Faith to the masses.
Action: It is assumed that this recommendation means that some type of technique be developed and made available to the friends that will combine the use
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U. S. SUPPLEMENT
of both audio and visual material in a given program. Careful consideration will be given to means that might be employed in order to carry out this recommendation.
11. That the National Spiritual Assembly provide information, as soon as possible, regarding a plan by which friends who are unable to leave their present posts to pioneer can deputize others who are free to go.
Action: In order to carry out the directions from the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land, the National Assembly has set up a special deputization fund to which the believers are free to contribute over and above their normal contributions to the national and local funds in order to carry out the spirit of this recommendation. Any funds sent to the Treasurer for this purpose should be so marked.
12. That the National Spiritual Assembly have the prayer for the Hands of the Cause printed on gummed paper of the right size so that the believers may paste it into their prayer books.
Action: Under the instructions of the beloved Guardian it is not permissible to have a special prayer for the Hands distributed; however, all the friends are free to refer to page 172 of Bahá’í World Faith, where a prayer for the Hands of the Cause may be found.
13. That a copy of the pioneer application form be included as an insert in an early issue of BAHA’I News to make it easy for the friends to offer themselves for pioneer service.
Action: This recommendation was approved, and an application form was included in the May issue of Bahá’í News.
14. That a letter expressing the love of the American friends be sent from the convention to the revered Hand of the Cause ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum.
Action: This recommendation was approved and acted upon by the National Assembly.
15. That the type of assistance given by the National Spiritual Assembly in the past year to the area teaching committees, local spiritual assemblies, groups, and individuals be continued.
Action: It is assumed that this recommendation refers to the assistance that was given in connection with spiritual reinvigoration and deepening in the Faith. The National Assembly will continue this effort
16. That arrangements be made by the National Spiritual Assembly for delegates to meet in informal groups of not more than fifteen on the day preceding the opening of the convention next year to consult on important matters such as homefront teaching.
Action: The National Assembly will be pleased to make such arrangements.
17. That a larger budget be provided for the National Bahá’í Youth Committee’s work for the coming year.
Action: The National Assembly has already taken this action when proposing the total budget for the new year.
18. That the National Spiritual Assembly encourage the development of literature about the Bahá’í Faith in pamphlet form, with a controlled vocabulary of about 1,000 words, to be used in teaching the American Indians and others with limited education and knowledge of English.
Action: Steps have already been taken by the National Spiritual Assembly to secure some introductory material of this type.
19. That consideration be given to producing a booklet which will be an introduction to the Faith for the World—Wide Library in New York.
Action: The National Assembly favors this recommendation, and will study ways in which it can be most effectively carried out.
20. That the inspirational talks given at the convention by the Hand of the Cause William B. Sears. Hand of the Cause Horace Holley, Miss Flora Emily Hottes. and Miss Edna True be made available to all of the friends.
Action: The Audio-Visual Education Committee has been authorized to make tape recordings of these talks available at prices given in the announcement on page 4.
Any further action taken by the National Spiritual Assembly on these recommendations will be reported in due course in Bahá’í News.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
"Implacable Enemy of the Faith"
The National Assembly of Iran writes that information has been received about lectures being given in certain parts of America by Dr. Fatemi, and reminds us of a statement written by the Guardian in 1957 that he is a “sworn and implacable foe” of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.
In view of this instruction our National Assembly directs the believers not to attend any meetings called by Dr. Eeyfoor Fatemi or anyone associated with him.
——U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Spurious Tablet Attributed to Bahá’u’lláh
On many occasions in recent years the National Assembly has had occasion to write a local assembly or an individual believer in answer to an inquiry concerning the status of “A Tablet to a Physician," circulated by a non-Bahá’í organization in California.
The friends are reminded that if this Tablet were a genuine utterance of Bahá’u’lláh it would be included in the Bahá’í literature made available through the Publishing Trust. Apparently emanating originally from Ahmad Sohrab, this so-called “Tablet to a Physician" is to receive no attention from the friends. Any believer receiving a copy should destroy it and not circulate it among his friends nor present it to the local or National Assembly.
——U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
List Itinerary of William 3. Sears in U. S. and Canada Through August 9
As announced in a recent issue of Bahá’í News, Hand of the Cause William B. Sears has been assigned by the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land to assist the American believers in every way possible to arise and carry out the objectives of the beloved Guardian’s Crusade on
JUNE 1959
the homefront, and to encourage them to pioneer at home and in foreign fields.
A schedule, which will enable him to meet most of the believers in the United States, is being worked out by Mr. Sears in cooperation and with the aid of the National Spiritual Assembly. The places and dates for the period from May 30 to August 9 are as follows:
May 30-31: Ann Arbor, Mich.
June 6-7: Cleveland, Ohio
June 13-14: Rochester, N.Y.
June 15-26: West Englewood, N.J., to work with the Audio-Visual Education Committee in making tape recordings.
June 27: West Englewood. Talk at the Souvenir of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to Evergreen Cabin.
June 28: Philadelphia to conduct the National Assembly-sponsored conference called for this area.
July 4-5: Green Acre Bahá’í School
August 1-9: Canada
It will be noted that the visits are scheduled to take place over the weekend. The pattern for the meetings is as follows:
Saturday:
Morning—Mr. Sears will be available to meet the press, radio, and television, and for other publicity interviews.
Afternoon—2:00 to 5:30 p.m.—Meeting with Bahá’ís of the area. (This meeting is for enrolled Bahá’ís only.)
Evening—8:00 p.m.—Public meeting. This meeting will be for the proclamation of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh, and should be given as wide publicity as possible among the believers and their contacts from the entire surrounding area.
Sunday:
Morning—10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.—Meeting with the Bahá’ís of the area. This meeting will be for believers only.
Afternoon—2:30 to 5:30 p.m.—Fireside meeting to follow up on contacts who attended the public meeting and who may wish to ask questions. Close contacts of the believers may also be invited to come.
Evening—8:00 p.m.—Final meeting with the Bahá’ís of the area. This meeting also will be for Bahá’ís only.
The Saturday evening public meeting will be for the purpose of awakening an interest in the Coming of Bahá’u’lláh. There will not be a question period at the public meetings, but anyone wishing to know more about the Faith can attend the fireside on the following Sunday afternoon.
The Bahá’í Press Service will work closely with the local spiritual assembly and press representative in each locality to be visited in order to secure as much publicity as possible.
As soon as Mr. Sears has planned his itinerary for the balance of the Bahá’í year, it will be announced in Bahá’í NEWS.
Other than these two days of sessions at the scheduled cities (and summer schools), Mr. Sears will not be available for additional meetings in other towns. However, tape recordings of the talks at the weekend meetings will be made available for all isolated believers, groups, and communities which Mr. Sears will not be able to visit. Watch Bahá’í News for further information about these tapes.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
National Assembly Members and Officers, Meeting Dates for Year Are Listed
The members and officers of the National Spiritual Assembly for 1959-1960 are: H. B. Kavelin, chairman; Charles Wolcott, vice-chairman; Horace Holley, secretary; Charlotte Linfoot, assistant secretary; Edna M. True, recording secretary; Arthur L. Dahl, treasurer; Ellsworth Blackwell, Dr. Katherine K. True, and Mrs. Florence Mayberry.
The schedule of meetings for the balance of the Bahá’í year is as follows:
June 12-14 December 31-January 3 July 24-26 February 12-14 September 4-7 March 25-27 October 9-11 April 27
November 28-29 Local spiritual assemblies or national committees wishing to present matters requiring consultation by the National Spiritual Assembly are requested to have their communications in the hands of the secretary at least ten days before the date of the meeting. —U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Tape Recordings of Six Convention Talks Available from Audio-Visual Committee
In response to the requests of many Bahá’ís who attended the recent national convention, the AudioVisual Education Committee has been authorized to make available tape recordings of several of the most important talks. They may be ordered direct from the committee.
Tape A—1,200 feet, two sides, contains the talk by Hand of the Cause William B. Sears on “The Covenant and the World Crusade,” by Hand of the Cause Horace Holley on “Bahá’í Administration and the World CruSade." and by Miss Flora Emily Hottes on “Living the Bahá’í Life and the World Crusade.” It also carries the address given by Mr. Sears at the Riḍván Feast observed during the convention. Price: $3.75 postpaid.
Tape B——600 feet, two sides, contains two talks by Mr. Sears given at the convention. The first is on the Hands of the Faith and the Holy Land, and the second is on the meaning of the Covenant. Price: $2.00.
Please send remittance for the tape desired to: Audio-Visual Education Committee, 126 Evergreen Place, West Englewood, N.J.
Bahá’í Publishing Trust
The Sheltering Branch. By Marzieh Gail. This little
'book presents a portrait of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, depicting
chiefly His philosophy and teaching methods. It is based largely on the Master’s own talks in the West, and includes some reminiscences of the author’s mother. (George Ronald, England) Per copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $1.50 Bahá’í PUBLISHING TRUST 110 Linden Avenue Wilmette, Illinois
