U.S. Supplement/Issue 17/Text

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U.S. Supplement Issue 17

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[Page 1]

Seventeen New Local Assemblies Formed, But Total Decreases

The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to express its loving gratitude and congratulations to all the local believers, traveling teachers, extension teaching committees, and area teaching committees whose teaching efforts helped to bring into being eleven new local spiritual assemblies last Riḍván, and the restoration of six others. This is a real victory for the World Crusade in these localities. The names of these communities can be found in the Bahá’í Directory, Part I.

Unfortunately, this addition of seventeen assemblies was offset by the loss of nineteen which were unable to maintain their status because of the loss of membership or the indifference of certain individuals. In addition, the status of two others is still in question, so that there may be a possible total loss of twenty-one assemblies that were in existence last year, thus reducing the total number of assemblies in continental United States from 197 to 193.

This is indeed a crucial year! Not only must the lost assemblies be restored in April 1960, but every effort must be expended to raise all “promising groups” to assembly status as quickly as possible. Generally speaking, a “promising group” is one with five members; however, those with lesser membership comprised of truly active, dedicated Bahá’ís can make the goal within a single year.

The challenge is directed to each and every member of every Bahá’í group, no matter how small, to exert every effort and to make every possible sacrifice to attain this objective without further delay. They should avail themselves of every offer of assistance from their area teaching committees, the nearest Bahá’í communities, and all committees that can aid in attracting and winning new believers.

The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to hear from every Bahá’í group what definite plans have been made for an intensive teaching effort, and what assistance is most urgently needed to help them accomplish their goal.

—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Attain Wide Proclamation of Faith in Salt Lake City Teaching Campaign

The results that can be obtained from a well-organized public proclamation effort has been reported in detail by the Local Spiritual Assembly of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Assembly planned a special teaching campaign around the recent visit of Mrs. Margery McCormick, who stopped over in that city on her return from the first annual convention of the Bahá’ís of the South Pacific in the Fiji Islands. Included in the preparations for Mrs. McCormick’s public address on “Moslem-Christian-Jew, Can They Unite?” were the following:

Mailing of 1,000 attractively printed invitations, hand-addressed to representatives of many organizations and individuals, with warm personal notes asking them to announce the meeting to their groups.

Distribution of 150 posters, more than half of which were posted in the meeting places of various organizations, such as The Exchange Club, The University Club, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Westminster College, the University of Utah, and many of the churches. One was also posted on the bulletin board at the airport beside a photograph of Mrs. McCormick taken by the airline’s photographer as she deplaned. On the same bulletin board were photographs of other new arrivals by air, such as Justice Wm. O. Douglas, Carl Sandburg, and Nat King Cole.

Radio and television publicity, which included newscast announcements of the public meetings and interviews with Mrs. McCormick, were repeated several times during the two days preceding the public meeting. Several of the interviewers and newspaper reporters expressed great interest in the Faith.

Newspaper publicity including an eight-inch article with a photograph of Mrs. McCormick in one of the largest newspapers, and a twelve-inch article and a four-inch release in another, four two-inch ads in these two papers, and one three-inch ad in the University of Utah newspaper.

Through contacts made by the Salt Lake City Bahá’ís, Mrs. McCormick was invited to attend a number of luncheon meetings of women’s organizations and church groups at which the public meeting was announced. The minister of the Episcopal Church announced it from the pulpit. Mrs. McCormick and a number of the Bahá’ís were guests at a barbecue by [Page 2]

WORLD CRUSADE BUDGET

Seventh Year: 1959-60
Annual Budget: ..............................	$400,000.00
Total Requirements: May 1 to May 31 ......	33,333.00
Total Contributions: May 1 to May 31 ......	25,350.00
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

the United World Federalists, at which the meeting was announced. Mrs. McCormick was invited to speak briefly to the seventy-five persons present.

With the cooperation of the counsellor for the foreign students at the University of Utah, the 120 foreign students on the campus were also invited to the meeting.

How the National Budget May Be Attained

The National Spiritual Assembly feels that, at the present stage of maturity of the American Bahá’í community, a resolve plan for the National Fund similar to those undertaken several years ago, would not be appropriate. However, in answer to suggestions made at the National Convention, the following table is presented as an aid in visualizing the number of contributions of various sizes which would successfully meet the total annual budget for this year of $400,000.

This figure, taken by itself, may seem an impersonal, almost unattainable amount. Yet it can be seen that it can easily be collected if all active Bahá’ís participate by contributing sums which are quite reasonable in relation to average incomes. The important thing is broad, consistent participation. This table is merely intended to serve as a rough rule of thumb, not to be taken literally.

If this number of Bahá’ís	Contributed this amount during the year	The National Fund would receive this amount in total
400	$ 25	$ 10,000
1,300	50	65,000
1,000	100	100,000
500	200	100,000
200	500	100,000
25	1,000	25,000
3,425		$400,000
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Talking Book for the Blind Issued

The National Committee on Bahá’í Service for the Blind is happy to report that The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh has been released as a talking book, recorded in the studios of the American Foundation for the Blind.

This talking book consists of two double-faced twelve-inch records, with a playing time of twenty-seven minutes per side. Following the reading of the complete Hidden Words, there are four selections from “Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh.”

During Riḍván the distribution of gift copies of this talking book to thirty Lending Regional Libraries for the Blind, listed by the Library of Congress, was completed, making copies available to thousands of readers.

A limited number of copies may be purchased from the committee, and are priced at $3.50 per copy, plus shipping charges of 25 cents per copy. Remittance should accompany all orders.

Correspondence and orders for both Braille and talking books should be addressed to: Bahá’í Service for the Blind, 842 N. Hayworth Avenue, Los Angeles 46, Calif.

Marriages

Davenport, Iowa: Miss Nancy Swisher to Mr. Bruce Woodford on February 4, 1959

Wauwatosa, Wis.: Miss Arden Thur to Mr. Jack H. Lee on April 19, 1959

Madison, Wis.: Miss Barbara Nelson to Mr. Donald Otto Rogers on April 14, 1959

Los Angeles, Calif.: Mrs. Dorothy Slike to Mr. Robert L. Moore on February 22, 1959

Honolulu, Hawaii: Mrs. Frances G. Heller to Mr. Sidney Heller on January 1, 1959

Oakland, Calif.: Miss Hazel Duette Rochelle to Mr. Hooshang Sohrab on March 22, 1959

Quincy, Ill.: Miss Connie Lee Uebner to Mr. Floyd Donley on December 26, 1958

Wauwatosa, Wis.: Miss Judith Ann Vance to Mr. Carl M. Lewis on May 9, 1959

Wauwatosa, Wis.: Mrs. Esther H. Coleman to Mr. John M. Weiss on May 8, 1959

In Memoriam

Mrs. Margaret Harris Cross Keene, New Hampshire January 22, 1959	Mrs. Lucy Wilson Meadville, Penna. April 12, 1959
Mrs. Caroline Ford Pico-Rivera, Calif. February 7, 1959	Dr. William Kenneth Christian Djakarta, Java, Indonesia May 3, 1959
Mrs. Daisy M. Smythe Boston, Mass. February 22, 1959	Mrs. Bessie Washington Liberia, West Africa April 23, 1959
Mrs. Naivete M. Stevens Coloma, Michigan February 1959 (no date)	Mr. Victor Archambault Eliot, Maine May 5, 1959
Mrs. Mollie Young Mexico City, Mexico January 24, 1959	Mrs. Lillian Bergman Springfield, Illinois May 5, 1959
Mrs. Katherine E. Page Roseville, Michigan March 22, 1959	Mr. Aron G. Seberg Racine, Wisconsin May 10, 1959
Mrs. Mary Tomlinson Santa Rosa, Calif. January 5, 1959	Mrs. Clara Borgersen Racine, Wisconsin About April 30, 1959
Mrs. Mary J. Elmore Cleveland, Ohio March 12, 1959	Miss Charlotte Lindenberg Columbus, Ohio May 8, 1959
Mr. Arno Schuldt West Allis, Wisconsin March 7, 1959	Mrs. Jesma Herbert Los Angeles, Calif. May 21, 1959
Mrs. Anne Parker Waukesha, Wisconsin April 3, 1959	Mrs. Ellie B. Tarot San Francisco, Calif. May 1959 (No date)
Mrs. Ella N. Guthrie Orleans, France March 25, 1959	Mrs. Naomi Simmons Greensboro, North Carolina May 17, 1959
Mr. Clarence A. Hughes Minneapolis, Minnesota April 16, 1959

[Page 3]

1959-1960

Event	Date	Theme	Some Suggested Materials	Sponsoring National Committee
Declaration of the Báb	May 23	The Birth of a New Universal Cycle	Press release, One Universal Faith*
Race Amity Day	June 14	The Oneness of Mankind	Press release, poster, Man One Family*	Bahá’í Interracial Teaching Committee
Martyrdom of the Báb	July 9	The Martyr-Prophet of a World Faith	Press release, The Martyr-Prophet of a World Faith*
Bahá’í Proclamation Day	Sept. 20	America’s Spiritual Destiny	Press release, The Destiny of America*	Bahá’í Press Service
United Nations Day	Oct. 24	United Nations — for a United World	Press release, A Pattern for Future Society*	United Nations Committee
Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh	Nov. 12	The Promised One of All Religions	Press release, The Mission of Bahá’u’lláh*
Bahá’í State Convention	Dec. 6	Progress of the World Crusade	Press release
U.N. Human Rights Day	Dec. 10	Human Rights — Justice for All	Press release, Faith for Freedom*	United Nations Committee
World Religion Day	Jan. 17	The Fundamental Oneness of Religion	Press release, The God Who Walks With Men*	Bahá’í Press Service
Naw-Rúz	Mar. 21	The Renewal of Religion	Press release, Lord of the New Age*
Bahá’í World Youth Day	Mar. 25	Man’s True Destiny	Press release, What is a Bahá’í?*	National Bahá’í Youth Committee
Bahá’í National Convention	Apr. 28-May 1	Progress of the World Crusade	Press release.

[Page 4]

Attention: Local Assemblies & Groups

The series of public events listed on the other side of this sheet provides local assemblies and groups with an effective opportunity to publicize the Faith and establish relations with a larger circle of seekers. All are directly sponsored, announced, and conducted under Bahá’í auspices, and their Bahá’í identity is not to be submerged in any inter-organization arrangement.

Experience has demonstrated that even a small group can, with persistence and ingenuity, achieve excellent publicity and conduct successful public meetings, radio and television programs. World Religion Day has been so effectively promoted in the United States and in other countries that it has for several years been listed in calendars of special events published by national organizations. The same notice is now being taken of our Race Amity Day.

The National Spiritual Assembly appeals to all assemblies and groups to prepare careful plans in advance for each public event. This sheet should be preserved and referred to frequently. The friends should also watch for additional announcements and suggestions in the UNITED STATES SUPPLEMENT.

The items identified by an asterisk (*) are to be ordered from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust. The press releases and posters are distributed by the Bahá’í Press Service. The U.S. United Nations Committee makes suggestions for the Bahá’í observance of United Nations Day and Human Rights Day. Be sure to send orders to the proper addresses (see your Bahá’í Directory) to insure prompt service.

Bahá’í anniversaries need only local sponsorship.

All newspaper publicity on these events are to be mailed to the Bahá’í Press Service. Reports on United Nations Day and Human Rights Day are to be sent immediately following these events to the U.S. United Nations Committee, which will compile the report for BAHÁ’Í NEWS. Reports on World Religion Day and the remaining events are to be sent within ten days to BAHÁ’Í NEWS direct, in order to be incorporated in stories of the nationwide observance of the particular occasion. Good photographs are also requested and each should carry appropriate captions.

Wilmette, Illinois July 1959

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES