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Homefront Goal Requires Fifty New Local Assemblies This Year; NSA Lists Preferred Cities for Concentrated Teaching Activity
The homefront goal for the United States in the World Crusade is 300 “firmly grounded, well informed, actively functioning communities” by 1963. This requires the American Bahá’ís to bring into being fifty additional local spiritual assemblies in April 1960 and fifty more in April 1961, in addition to holding all those now in existence.
Such an achievement will leave but two brief years (1961-1963) in which to consolidate these new communities and to concentrate on the large task of bringing the Faith to the masses. Your National Spiritual Assembly is convinced that this can be done if every believer will arise at once and make teaching the Cause “the head corner-stone” of his Bahá’í life.
Order is the keynote of the Cause of God; thus we must approach this tremendous task in an orderly manner. The National Spiritual Assembly, after careful study and consultation with the American National Teaching Committee, has compiled the accompanying list of “preferred goals” on which intensive teaching assistance will be concentrated this year, with the aim of raising them to assembly status by next Riḍván.
These particular groups have been chosen because, for the most part, they have a membership of five or more adult believers, are functioning in a unified manner, and have effective, sustained local teaching activities in progress.
The services of Auxiliary Board members, circuit teaching, extension teaching on the part of nearby local assemblies, and settlers will augment the efforts being made by the groups themselves. Also, the area teaching committees will lend all possible assistance to the larger groups that are already very near assembly status and to the smaller ones that may qualify for inclusion in the “preferred list” next year.
Here then is our specific goal—our great challenge in homefront teaching this year: to raise at least fifty groups to assembly status by Riḍván 1960, whether on the “preferred list” or not! Which fifty will they be? This will be determined by the groups themselves, by the degree of their own unified, intensive teaching efforts, and their response to the services offered them by the American National Teaching Committee, their area committees, and neighboring local spiritual assemblies.
They cannot depend wholly upon settlers because of the priority needs for pioneers in Latin America and
Europe. Furthermore 175 of the existing Bahá’í communities have fewer than fifteen members, the minimum required to safeguard their own assembly status. The main sources of pioneers and settlers for all purposes are the few large communities and the isolated Bahá’ís. The National Spiritual Assembly appeals to the believers in both of these categories to arise now and settle in a goal city.
In connection with moving, the National Spiritual Assembly pleads with the friends not to leave a preferred goal or small Bahá’í community without first consulting the National Assembly or the American National Teaching Committee. Even if a move becomes necessary for business or health reasons, please make the facts known before leaving, and if there is any freedom of choice as to location, please do give first consideration to the goal cities.
The National Spiritual Assembly has made the American National Teaching Committee responsible for the movement of settlers on the homefront; therefore all offers, as well as requests for settlers, are to be addressed to that committee in care of its secretary, Mrs. Velma Sherrill, 411 N. 7th Street, Suite 1311, St. Louis 1, Mo.
In January the National Spiritual Assembly will review the progress that has been made in all groups. How many will be “promising assemblies” by that time? It is possible that, based upon their own unified teaching efforts, others will be added to the “preferred” list to receive intensive assistance during the balance of the Bahá’í year.
Dear friends, this may seem a formidable task in light of the slow progress we have made in the past, but never before have we had the opportunity to mobilize so many forces and so much assistance for our own homefront objectives. Let us not dwell upon our past weaknesses and frailty, but rather recall the words of the Báb to the Letters of the Living: “. . . Fix your gaze upon the invincible power of your Lord, your God, the Almighty . . . Arise in His name, put your trust wholly in Him, and be assured of ultimate victory.” Let us remember, too, the words of the beloved Guardian: “. . . we are in this day the chosen instruments of God’s grace, . . . our mission is most urgent and vital to the fate of humanity, and fortified by these sentiments, arise to achieve God’s holy purpose for mankind.” Finally, let us take heart from these
SEPTEMBER ‘1959
loving passages from Shoghi Effendi’s letter written to the American believers on July 19, 1956 (“Inestimable Prizes within our Reach”):
“The history of a century-old Faith eloquently leaves witnesses to . . . unnumbered successes won, in both the Apostolic and Formative Ages of the Bahá’í Dispensation, in circumstances even more challenging than those which the American Bahá’í Community now finds itself.
“So magnificent a victory . . at such a time, in a country so vitally affecting the immediate destinies of mankind, singled out to play so predominant a role in the unification and spiritualization of the entire human race . . . will, no doubt, exert not only a profound influence on the ultimate victories of an entire nation and people, but will galvanize, through its repercussions, the entire Bahá’í world.”
“That the American Bahá’í Community may, in this one remaining field, where so much is at stake, and where the needs of the Faith are so acute, cover itself with a glory that will outshine the splendor of its past exploits is a prayer which I never cease to utter in my continual supplications to Bahá’u’lláh.”
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Preferred Goals for 1959-1960
California New Hampshire Bakersfield Concord Burlingame Hinsdale Healdsburg Judicial Dis- Portsmouth 11-ict New Jersey Hermosa Beach Englewood La Mesa Springfield Redondo Beach New Mexico San Leandro—Hayward Roswell Judicial District Santa Fe San Rafael New York Saratota Buffalo ventura Huntington Township Whittier Judicial District Niagara Falls Colomdo North Hemstead Township Suburban Colorado Springs N°"h D3-k°ia Connecticut Fargo Hartford Ohm _ Cleveland Heights Florida Toledo Dunedin Rhode Island samsota Providence Georgia South Carolina Augusta North Augusta [daho Tennessee Lewiston Orchards TChatt3n00ga Pocatello 3335 Illinois Austi“ Elmhurst Odessa Melrose Township Utah Park Ridge PI‘°V° Peoria Heights ve""°_m Richwood Township _Bu_rlfngt°n Virginia Massachusetts Cambridge Ver-ona Washington Falmouth Everett Ipswich Monroe Miqhisan Snohomish County, First Hlghland Park Commissioners’ District Niles Spokane County, Central Montana Commissioners’ District Billings Wisconsin Great Falls Greenfield Missoula Manitowoc
Anonymous Communications
Some individual, apparently a member of the Bahá’í community, is sending throughout the country an anonymous typewritten statement calling for an investiga tion of the fact that no picture of a “Black African Local Spiritual Assembly” has appeared in BAHA’I' NEWS, and inquiring whether Bahá’í books are being translated to qualify African Negroes for membership on local spiritual assemblies.
This communication is entirely erroneous as to fact, and moreover has been issued in direct contravention of the directive published in BAHA'I News many years ago by the National Assembly to the effect that anonymous communications are in opposition to the spiritual and administrative nature of the Bahá’í Faith, and therefore are to receive no attention.
It is not necessary for any local assembly to report such communications to the National Assembly, unless they can also report the name and address of the sender. The Bahá’í membership status of the sender of the present communication will be subject to question if the National Assembly becomes aware of him or her.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Hand of Cause William Sears to Speak in Ten States During September, October
Hand of the Cause William B. Sears will carry out the following schedule of visits during September and October:
Spokane, Wash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Sept. 15
Seattle, Wash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Sept. 19-20
Portland, Ore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Sept. 22
Reno, Nev. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Sept. 24
San Francisco, Calif. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Sept. 26-27
Fresno, Calif. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Sept. 29
Bakersfield, Calif. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Oct. 1
Los Angeles, Calif. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Oct. 3-4
Phoenix, Ariz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Oct. 5
Las Vegas, Nev. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Oct. 7.
Salt Lake City. Utah . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Oct. 10-11
Denver, Colo. . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Oct. 13
Albuquerque, N. Mex. . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Oct. 15
Dallas, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Oct. 17-18
Jackson, Miss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Oct. 19
Where only one date is given Mr. Sears will speak to the Bahá’ís only. Where his visit extends over the weekend, a public meeting for Bahá’ís and contacts is to be scheduled for the Saturday evening. The friends in the area surrounding these localities are urged to attend these meetings, which are arranged at the specific request of the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Distribute "Bahá’í Directory" Part II
With this issue of BAHA'I NEWS each American Bahá’í will receive Part II of the annual Ba.hci’t' Directory. We regret that it is so late, but there was unusual delay this year in receiving the acceptances from individuals appointed to the committees and the reports of the election of committee officers.
[Page 3]
U.S. SUPPLEMENT
3
The friends are urged to make use of this directory for information about the services available to them from the various committees. The last page lists the committees that distribute teaching materials. All requests for these materials should be mailed directly to the committees and not to the National Spiritual Assembly. Also, please watch Bahá’í NEWS for announcements of new materials that these committees have to offer from time to time.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Many Bahá’ís Respond to Plea for Pioneers; More Volunteers, Contributions Needed
The U.S. National Spiritual Assembly and the intercontinental teaching committees are very grateful for the number of believers who have already responded to the appeal of the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land for Bahá’í pioneers and settlers “to reinforce and bring to assembly status those groups which are
. the most promising nuclei for new assemblies
. as prerequisites for the election of their national spiritual assemblies,” A more complete report on the number of volunteers, and the areas in which they have settled, will be published in the next issue of Bahá’í News.
In the meantime every possible effort is being made to get approved pioneers to their posts with minimum delay.
There is still an urgent need for more volunteers, especially for Latin America and the homefront. A number of believers have been assigned posts, but cannot leave until they have been replaced in their communities, which might revert to group status without replacements.
A gratifying number of contributions, large and small, has been received for the joint deputization fund, but much more is needed to prevent the possibility of having to hold back pioneers because of lack of funds.
Your National Spiritual Assembly will endeavor to keep you informed frequently on the progress of the pioneer work.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
New UN-Bahá’í Teaching Program Kit To Be Distributed by U. S. UN Committee
A new type of United Nations-Bahá’í study and teaching program will be distributed to all U.S. local spiritual assemblies and some groups early in September by the U.S. Bahá’í United Nations Committee.
It is a kit of six separate sessions on aspects of the United Nations, with parallel Bahá’í teachings on each of the subjects. Appropriate UN literature will be included in the kit for further study, discussion, and reference.
This material can be used (1) as a series of six fireside programs; (2) as a panel discussion, with each panelist taking one of the subjects and the moderator using the parallel introductions; or (3) as a public lecture, by gleaning the highlights from each of the six sessions and the introduction. It can also
be adapted in many other ways to suit local conditions.
The lessons of this kit are printed on standard loose-leaf sheets for insertion in a binder for permanent use. As the committee compiles additional sessions on other aspects of the UN and parallel Bahá’í teachings, these may be added to the binder.
This UN-Bahá’í kit contains ample material for use in the observance of United Nations Day on October 24, and Human Rights Day on December 10.
When the kit is received, the committee suggests that a thorough study be made at once, in order to determine how it may be used, particularly in connection with these two important special events for proclaiming the Bahá’í Faith to the public.
National Youth Committee Announces
Theme for Year's Youth Program
The National Bahá’í Youth Committee has announced that the theme for the youth program for this year is “Youth, the Vitalizing Agent in the New World Order.”
The first National Bahá’í Youth Conference will be held in twelve areas of the United States on October 25-26, 1959. Topic for these meetings will be “The Function of Youth in the World Crusade.”
Conference cities will be chosen by the area youth committees. The National Bahá’í Youth Committee will send an agenda and program suggestions to these area youth committees in the near future.
New Radio Script Ready for Distribution
The Radio Service Committee announces publication of a new script entitled “God’s Plan For A United World.” This is a Bahá’í program in the form of a panel presentation, with three readers. Because of its fundamental beauty, power, and effectiveness, it could be used for many purposes such as a public meeting, a radio or a television program. It could also serve as a pattern for programs on other subjects, and for other needs and situations. The cost is 35 cents a single copy, or three for $1.00. A minimum of three copies would be needed for presenting the panel. Order from M1‘s. Charlotte Keefrey, secty.; 2416 Waunona Way; Madison 5, Wis.
Press Service Requests Publicity Clippings
Would you like to save the Bahá’í Fund $600.00? You can, by sending in one copy of every clipping of publicity and advertising as they appear in your local papers to the Bahá’í Press Service, 434 Thomas Ave., Rochester 17, N.Y. Otherwise this committee will be obliged to subscribe for the services of a commercial clipping house at this price.
If you are not on the Bahá’í Press Service mailing list, and wish the promotion material for observing the special events, please write them immediately. Why not take this opportunity to appoint a press representative to receive their service regularly?
[Page 4]
SEPTEMBER 1959
WORLD CRUSADE BUDGET Seventh Year: 1959-1960
Annual Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$400,000.00 llIIIIlllllIIIIlllllllllllIIIllIIIIllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllIIIIIIIIIIIIllIIIIIIIllllIIllIIIIIIIIllIIIIIIIIllIIllllIllIllIIII|||||ll|||l|ll||llI|l||l Total Requirements: May 1 to July 31 . . . . . .. 99,999.00 llIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Total Contributions: May 1 to July 31 . . . . . .. 83,400.00 llllIlllll||||ll|||ll||||II||ll|
Requirements for July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33,333.00 IlllIllllllllIHIIlllllIIllllllllllllllIlIIllIlllllllillllllll|I||llIlllllIllliHllIHlllll|||IIIlilIIlllllHIIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Contributions for July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 31,300.03
llllllllllllllllllIllIIllIIIIIIIIIIIIlllll|||||l||l||||l|||I||ll|l||l||||||||l||||I|||||||l1|||ll|H||lH||||IIIIII||||l||||lIll||lH|l||||[Ill
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Eureka, Ca|if., Crusade Goal, Publicizes Faith With Newspapers, Radio, Television
Eureka, Calif., a small city 300 miles north of San Francisco, on Humboldt Bay and the Pacific Ocean, has been a goal city since the beginning of the TenYear Crusade, but even today has only one resident believer. However, there are a few Bahá’ís living nearby who assist to whatever extent is possible in publicizing and promoting the Faith in Eureka.
A recent report from the lone believer there, Mrs. Jane S. Gardner, states that the first Eureka resident to accept the Faith on March 30 moved on June 1 to Nevada, but the same day a believer who had been attending college in Arcata moved in.
Among the accomplishments within three months were the following: a series of articles on comparative religions published in the newspaper in the neighboring town of Arcata; favorable contacts with radio, press, and television; maintenance of fifteen literature racks in such places as libraries, hotel lobbies, dental reception rooms, and self—service laundries; Sunday evening firesides, children’s classes on Sunday morning, and a television program by Hushidor Motlagh, the Persian Bahá’í student attending the college at Arcata. The latter included views of Haifa and the Bahá’í House of Worship, with an explanation of these
pictures, followed by an interview by the person in charge of the station.
On the occasion of a visit to Eureka by the Glenn Lissner family, returned pioneers from Africa, an excellent impromptu radio program was arranged, followed by a fireside the same evening. Twenty persons attended this fireside, fifteen of whom were non-Bahá’ís; of these, three were Negroes.
An outstanding item of newspaper publicity was an article on the observance of the Martyrdom of the Bab in Haifa.
Race Amity Day Picnic Proclaims Faith For First Time in Edmonds, Wash.
The members of the Bahá’í groups of Lynnwood and Edmonds, Wash., with the co-operation of the area teaching committee and believers in nearby communities, observed Race Amity Day with a picnic in the city park in Edmonds, attended by nearly 150 persons, including a number of contacts and children. It was a very happy day, and the fun which every one had and the large sign identifying the picnic group as Bahá’ís aroused a great deal of curiosity and interest. This was the first undertaking by these Bahá’í groups to bring the Faith to the attention of the public.
Marriages
Los Angeles, CaIif.: Miss Alice Gallego to Mr. Robert W. Staudigel on June 28, 1959
Balboa, Canal Zone: Miss Alda Rendina to Mr. William T. Spell on May 3, 1959
In Memoriam
Mrs. Evelyn Siefert Peoria, Illinois June 26, 1959
Mrs. Marie Brown Fort Snelling, Minnesota No date
Mr. Walter Gates Denver, Colorado July 12, 1959
Mr. Fred Geisler Chicago, Illinois June 25, 1959
Mr. Martin C. Larson Kirkland, Wash. July 2, 1959
Mrs. Sarah Wiener Ontario, Calif. July 11, 1959
Mrs. Velma Linfoot Oakland, Calif. August 5, 1959
BAHA'I DIRECTORY CHANGES
ASSEMBLY SECRETARIES
Arizona
Phoenix: Mrs. Nancy Phillips, 736 Encanto Dr., S.E. Northern Illinois
Oak Park: Mrs. Virginia Conner, 189 N. Marion St. Michigan
Detroit: Miss Helen Gaines, 4059 Scotten. Z. 10 Western New York
Jamestown: Mrs. Sarah Vullo, 85 Lister St. Ohio
Dayton: Mrs. Fannie L. Powell. 322 Lookout Ave., Z. 17
Virginia Arlington: Mrs. Ruth Ford, 4707 N. Carlyn Spring Rd.
ADDRESS CHANGES & CORRECTlONS
Massachusetts
Boston: Mrs. Mary Lou Moore, 4 E. Brookline St., Z. 18 Oregon
Salem: Mrs. Katherine Chambliss, 1095 Church St., N.E. Texas
Galveston: Mrs. Patricia Conger, 708 Broadway
