U.S. Supplement/Issue 2/Text

Special Appeal for National Archives Material

The National Spiritual Assembly urges the American believers who have one or more letters written them by the beloved Guardian (usually written on the Guardian’s behalf by his secretary) to keep copies for themselves and send the original letters to the National Archives Committee, 112 Linden

Avenue, Wilmette, Ill.

These letters now possess greatly amplified importance in view of the Guardian’s passing, and many of them may contain passages which future Bahá’í historians and workers will find very significant. The friends must remember that nothing but original Tablets revealed by the Master, or original letters written by or approved by the Guardian, are regarded as

authentic.

Bahá’í Teaching on College Campuses

Teaching on the college level presents a unique opportunity. For the students, college presents the severing of the traditional ties with both home and family, and exposure to a wealth of new and disturbing ideas. New vistas are opened and areas previously closed are critically reviewed. But the void created by the shatterings of old traditions cannot remain a vacuu-m for long; it must be filled with new values. No wonder the students are casting around for “spiritual anchors,” for answers, for certitude, before the humdrum routine encompasses them, and the search for values is displaced by the mechanics of everyday life. This interim period, brief as it may be, presents to us as Bahá’ís an opportunity to promulgate the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh which we must fully utilize.

Recognizing the importance of effective teaching at colleges and universities, the National Spiritual Assembly created the Bahá’í College Bureau and charged it with the responsibility of coordinating and intensifying college teaching by en couraging the activities of individual Bahá’ís enrolled as students or employed as members of the faculty and staff, by providing speakers, encouraging the distribution of Bahá’í books to college libraries, and providing professors whose courses have a natural tie-in with the Bahá’í Faith, e.g. Comparative Religion —wi-th factual material concerning the history and teachings of the Faith. While the College Bureau will do its best to further teaching activities at colleges, the challenge of this opportunity still rests primarily on those individuals who are at college and who by their words and acts can broadcast the message of Bahá’u’lláh. Some of the activities which have been found useful in the past are outlined below.

There are two separate and complementary areas of teaching activities: the sphere of the individual and the organized activities of a group. The individual Bahá’í must by his conduct and by his words attract his fellow students and inform them of the message of Bahá’u’lláh. This assumes, first of all, that he

MARCH 1958

will become thoroughly familiar with the Writings, for everything he says will be questioned and critically examined. It assumes that he will live the teachings and practice the commandments of racial and religious equality and the principle of consultation at all times, for his words will be measured up against his deeds. It means that he must, whenever the opportunity presents itself, make mention of the Faith, whether it be over a cup of coffee, at lunch or at an informal discussion. The opportunities are many, for religion is one of the most frequent topics of every bull session.

Whenever possible these informal contacts should be followed up by a more organized activity. Probably the best way of doing this is the formation of a Bahá’í group on the campus, which is discussed in detail in another section of this article. But organized activities are by no means limited to the formation of such a group. If a Bahá’í assembly or group exists in one of the surrounding communities, it is frequently possible to arrange for special firesides aimed particularly at college youth. through the cooperation of the members of such communities. This provides an off-campus activity, which sometimes comes as a welcome break from the college routine. The serving of refreshments at such an occasion, even just a cup of coffee, provides a feeling of fellowship which can form the basis of further understanding of the meaning of Bahá’í.

The big advantage of an organization on campus recognized by the school authorities is that it usually provides access to the advertising of meetings and other activities through the school paper, posters. and other media. The recognition of a Bahá’í Group by the school usually also means a chance in participat [Page 2]2

ing in inter-faith activities, arranging for religious services, and facilitates the planning of public meetings using outside speakers.

A model constitution is available on request from the College Bureau. This constitution is to be considered as a guide only, for each campus situation is different and the constitution will have to be altered to meet campus requirements. Certain basic requisites, however, have been established with the approval of the National Spiritual Assembly and should be adhered to in the formation of a college group.

A Bahá’í Club may include both Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís. If college rules permit, it is suggested that members of the faculty and staff also be invited to join, to increase the membership potential. However, a club should not be established unless there is at least one Bahá’í student (and in most cases it is not advisable unless there are three). It must be remembered that this is the Bahá’í requirement, and that on most campuses there is a higher minimum requirement for official college recognition. When it is not possible to obtain official recognition, it may still be advisable to organize a Bahá’í Club olf—campus which can be recognized by the Bahá’í Administration. We feel that there is always an advantage in organized activity, and a Bahá’í Club should be established on or off campus as long as membership is drawn from college sources.

Before a Bahá’í Club obtains a college charter, its constitution must be approved by the National Spiritual Assembly (by first submitting it to the College Bureau which forwards it to the National Spiritual Assembly for final approval). The same procedure applies to amendments to the constitution. If the college campus lies within the jurisdiction of a local spiritual assembly, the Bahá’í Club will be responsible to it. If this condition does not prevail, the Bahá’í Club will be responsible to the Area Teaching Committee. In either case, it is desirable that local communities and Bahá’í Clubs cooperate quite closely, for through such cooperation activities will be more successful. Whenever an activity is sponsored off campus, it must be coordinated with any Bahá’í groups involved.

The Bahá’í Club must obviously be

entirely consistent with Bahá’í principles. The following points are particularly brought to your attention since they have frequently occurred in connection Vlzith the establishment of the Bahá’í Clubs:

1. There must be no compulsory dues; contributions can be received from all members on a voluntary basis and should be used solely for the carrying out of the Club’s activities.

2. The method of selection of officers must be in accordance with the procedures of Bahá’í elections, with no nominations and no campaigning.

3. The Bahá’í Club, as a body, cannot officially endorse any partisan group even on a campus level. It must not become involved in any campus politics.

4. When non-Bahá’ís make up part of the membership, the constitution must clearly provide that the officers and policy-making bodies must be controlled by the Bahá’í members of the Club. This is to insure that the Club cannot be perpetuated in the name of the Bahá’í Faith when there are no longer any Bahá’ís on campus.

5. The activities in which it engages must at all times be consistent with Bahá’í principles and in some way contribute to the progress of the Faith.

6. Care must be taken in the establishment and function of the Club not to unduly antagonize college authorities.

7. No discriminatory restriction, expressed or implied, may be imposed on Club membership. All interested persons who are members of the college community must be invited to join.

As a rule, only the most general principles should be included in the constitution itself. The more particular organizational rules should be in the by-laws which may be changed without the approval of the National Spiritual Assembly. On some campuses, however, the bylaws may be incorporated in the constitution itself.

The College Bureau is most eager to be of further assistance, giving you the benefit of the experience of other Bahá’ís in establishing clubs on other campuses. If you have any particular question which has not been discussed in this article, please feel free to contact us and we will

MARCH 1958

do our best to help you resolve any difficulties. We know that with the number of Bahá’ís on a campus at a minimum there are many very difficult problems to be overcome, but the increased opportunities which such a club offers will more than compensate your efforts.

The College Bureau has a list of qualified speakers residing throughout the United States and will attempt to provide a speaker when requested to do so. It will also attempt to keep the friends informed of all college activities by means of a column in the Bahá’í Youth Bulletin. For this reason it requests all groups to report their activities promptly to the College Bureau, thus enabling it to make a comprehensive report of the college scene.

—Bahá’í COLLEGE BUREAU P.O. Box 956 Stanford, Calif.

Conference, Banquet, Public Meeting

Augment Florida State Convention

The weekend of December 7-8, 1957, was utilized by the Florida Bahá’ís for three gatherings in addition to the State Convention, with the cumulative effect of the fellowship and consultation giving added enthusiasm and stimulation.

Around lunch-time on Saturday, December 7, the Bahá’ís began arriving at the McAllister Hotel in Miami. This was the first time it had been possible to hold the Convention in Miami, and there was much joy at this sign of progress.

After lunching together in the hotel coffee shop, the friends assembled at two o’clock for an Area Teaching Conference. The first half of the program was a presentation of the last two messages of the Guardian by Mr. and Mrs. Chester Davison, Jr. Three main points were brought out for discussion: Spiritual Reinvigoration, Administrative Expansion, and Material Replenishment.

The second half of the program was devoted to the compendium, “Bahá’í Philosophy of Education,” to inform the friends of the importance of education in the Bahá’í Faith, to inspire them to start work in this field in their home communities, and to use these principles for reaching new contacts and spreading the Faith. Mrs. Ruth Thomas of

[Page 3]U. S. SUPPLEMENT

Dunedin and Vernon Voelz of Sarasota explained the main points of this study. The friends participating in the Conference were most generous in giving their experiences and methods of teaching, whether in a Bahá’í home or to non-Bahá’í children.

That evening an Area Fellowship Banquet was held. Looking from the base of the long, beautifully decorated T-shaped banquet table at the faces of the 61 friends attending the dinner was an impressive sight. The guest speaker for the evening public meeting, representatives of the Area Teaching Committee for the South Atlantic States, and various communities of the Miami area sat at the table that formed the cross of the T.

On Saturday evening after the Area Fellowship Banquet a public meeting, with 67 present, was held at the hotel. William K. Williams spoke on “The Atom — Friend or Foe?” Col. C. B. Cleveland skillfully outlined the Bahá’í point of view and those principles that can bring about community action to make a peaceful world.

An Appeal for Action

We are approaching the end of another Bahá’í year and should be concerned about taking inventory of our progress during that year.

Although reports from all areas are encouraging, the American National Teaching Committee wishes again to remind the friends to direct their efforts most effectively during the remainder of this year. We should concentrate on building up only those groups, lost assemblies or assemblies with only six, seven, or eight members which would result in strong 100% active assemblies. What remaining time there is before April should not be dissipated in fruitless effort.

An example of fruitless effort would be to build up to nine, an eight—member group which has only five, six, or seven active members. This would result in a local spiritual assembly which cannot function and would therefore have to be dissolved.

Many of the friends who have indicated their intention to resettle or pioneer have not yet done so.

DON’T DELAY—D0 IT NOW! —AMERICAN NATIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE

WORLD CRUSADE BUDGET

Fifth Year-— 1957 - 1958 Annual Budget . . . . . . . ..$425,000.00 Total Requirements

May 1 to January 31 318,750.00 Total Contributions May 1 to January 31 246,200.00

—NA'1’IONAL Srmrruar. ASSEMBLY

Geyserville School Plans

Seven Weeks of Summer Sessions

The Geyserville Bahá’í School will be in session for seven weeks during the summer of 1958, opening on Sunday, June 29. The School will continue for six consecutive weeks, will close August 10 for a short interval, and open again Sunday, August 24, with the Unity Feast followed by a special one-week session.

The six consecutive weeks will be divided into two-week sessions with complete courses for each week. The courses of the first week will be followed by related or more advanced courses during the second week.

The split-session with the special week of intensified study at the end of the summer is an experiment, and the success or failure of it will depend upon the attendance. There has been considerable demand for the opportunity to attend the Geyserville School after the college summer sessions are over, and for those who have late vacations. During this week there will be a separate concentrated course each day, but the courses will be related and will follow each other in logical sequence based upon content.

Every Wyoming Bahá’í Attends

State Convention at Laramie

An especially striking and visible demonstration of the spirit of determination to enhance and perfect our devotion and unity at this critical juncture in the annals of the Faith was made at the State Convention in Laramie, when every believer in Wyoming was present.

A worthy resolution for all believers was the following, included in a solemn declaration of faith approved and submitted by one of the conventions: Let us strive, with increasing dedication, to take upon our collective shoulders the many responsibilities which our beloved Guardian so long and so earnestly asked us to assume.

NEWS BRIEFS

A talk on “Eternal Religion” by Kay Zinky at a public meeting in Greeley, Colo., on November 15, brought a warm reception from a college student in attendance, demonstrating the value of our efforts to find those souls who are ready for the Faith. At a study class a week later a Negro contact, a university professor’s wife who has worked with the Negroes of the deep South, and a third contact all expressed a wish for further study.

A stimulating interracial meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. P. Eldon Davis in North Little Rock, Ark., was held on November 24. Eighteen friends and guests heard a talk by Mr. Kidwai, a geologist from Pakistan. Later, talks and a discussion on the Moslem and Bahá’í Faiths held the interest of the audience.

The El Paso, Texas, Bahá’í group is presenting a series of weekly public talks by members of various religions. Before each meeting the Bahá’ís meet privately for discussion of the previous meeting, and ways and means of approaching people of the different faiths.

The first unpaid publicity on the Faith in Warsaw, Ind., was secured with a “Letter to the Editor” published in the Warsaw Times-Union concerning the observance of Human Rights Day.

Rhode Island Bahá’ís commemorated the anniversary of United Nations Human Rights Day with a meeting in Providence. Professor Whitney T. Perkins of the Political Science Department of Brown University spoke on the present status of human rights.

In Memoriam

The decision to publish a United States Supplement to BAHA'I News makes it possible for the National Spiritual Assembly to resume the publication of the “In Memoriam” listing of the names of members of the American Bahá’í community who have entered the Abhá Kingdom. Following are the names of those reported to have passed away since the publication of the last list in the June 1957, issue of BAHA'I News. Unfortunately it is not possible to give the dates but this information will be included in future listings.

[Page 4]4

Miss Marion R. Stevens Needham, Mass.

Mr. Burt E. Beach Medina, Ohio

Miss Olivia Cassel Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Lily Smith West Englewood, N.J.

Mrs. Clara Meyer Watsonville, Calif.

Miss Ida Konz Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Mrs. Mildred C. Murray Stockton, Calif.

Mr. Wm. Penn Smith Philadelphia, Pa.

Mrs. Margaret Rice Temple City, Calif.

Miss Angela Morgan Mount Marion, N.Y.

Mrs. Laura Jackson Dayton, Ohio

Mrs. Mary B. St. Laurent Palmdale, Calif.

Mr. Joseph Stauss Loveland, Ohio

Mrs. Lillian Halliday Seattle, Wash.

Mrs. Mary Remey Bremerton, Wash.

Mr. W. C. McAllister Big Bear Lake, Calif.

Mrs. Fred Vallery Peoria, Ill.

Mr. Donald Stewart Palatine, 111.

Mr. Charles E. Ellis, Jr. Los Angeles, Calif.

Mr. Wm. Sandoz E. Cleveland, Ohio

Miss Hettie Hamper New York, N.Y.

Mrs. Henry McAlear Boston, Mass.

Miss Elizabeth Smith Boston, Mass.

Mrs. Elsie Christ Wauwatosa, Wis.

Mrs. Gladys Meranda Deep Park, Wash.

Mrs. Roberta Culwell Atlanta, Georgia

Mrs. Sara Arias Niles, Michigan

Mrs. Jimmy D. Cunningham

South Bend, Ind. Mr. Floyd Spahr

Mr. William Leen Chicago, 111.

Dr. Clyde S. Longyear Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Dr. Frank Paruch Gibson City, Ill. Mrs. Donald DeJong

Chicago, 111. Mrs. Leslie W. Ames Tacoma, Wash. Mrs. Cavett Roberts Dearborn, Mich. Mrs. Helen Bryan Hollywood, Calif. Mrs. Lela M. Laird National City, Calif. Mrs. W. B. Cooper Fremont, Ohio

Mrs. Frederick C. Favre

Closter, N.J.

Mr. Spencer Howland Bahamas, B.W.I.

Mr. Earl Jenkins Zelionople, Pa.

Mrs. Emma Gorrell Lima, Ohio

Mr. Herbert R. Gould West Newton, Mass.

Mr. Alexander Gerard

New York, N.Y. Mrs. Alice M. Fowler Waterford, Va. Mr. William Loveday Burlington, Vt. Miss Grace Morgan Lima, Ohio Mrs. Griffin Jackson Modesto, Calif. Mrs. Ida Mae Porter East Chicago, Ind. Mrs. Maud Houser Hollywood, Calif. Mrs. Jene Pace Boise, Idaho Miss Elizabeth Duffy Sacramento, Calif. Mr. Norman Osborne Las Vegas, Nevada

Mr. Wilbur James Walsh

Muskegon, Mich. Mr. W. W. Paton

Fenneville, Mich. Mrs. Gladys 1. Cliff

Lincoln Park. Mich. Mrs. D. A. Bresett

Las Vegas, N.M. Mr. D. A. Bresett

MARCH ‘1958

Mrs. Patricia Alexander Miami, Florida

Mrs. Olivia L. Price Englewood, N.J.

Miss Helena Robinson West Chester, Pa.

Mrs. Emma Richards Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Elizabeth McKenzie Boston, Mass.

Mrs. Ann Marie Henry Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Mary A. McDonald Portland, Maine

Mr. E. R. Mathews Colorado Springs, Colo.

Miss Iva B. Russell Somers Twp., Wis.

Mr. William Lefkowitz Red Bank, N.J. Mrs. Freddie Stanley Salt Lake City, Utah Miss Mary Edna Tarmon Ft. Wayne, Ind.

Mrs. Mary C. Roff Montclair, N.J.

Mrs. Della Robertson Portland, Ore.

Mrs. Blanche Foster Jersey City, N.J.

Mrs. Rachel Lloyd Scranton, Pa.

Mrs. Jessie Hall Royal Oak, Mich.

Mrs. Nellie Gorman Los Angeles, Calif.

Mrs. Harold Clough Taunton, Mass.

Mr. James Lewis Elcho, Wis.

Mr. Manley Whittier Gurnee, Ill.

Mrs. Susie Van Wagner Eagle River, Wis.

Mr. Sylvanus French Glendale, Ariz.

Mrs. Edith Louise Paton Fennville, Mich.

Mrs. Geneva Sherman Mountain City, Nevada

Mr. Harry Battle Boston, Mass.

Mr. William L. Crippen Sandusky, Ohio

Mr. George Richards Brooklyn, N.Y.

Miss Margaret Pirkey

Lima, Ohio Las Vegas, N.M. Bloomington, Ill. BAHA'I DIRECTORY CHANGES ASSEMBLY SECRETARIES RES!GNAT|ONS FROM COMMITTEES Massachusetts Area Teaching Committee — Central States

Boston: Mrs. Mary Lou Moore, 687 Boylston St., Z 16

New Hampshire

Portsmouth: Mrs. Caroll S. Gobbi, 30 Parker St.

Washington

Richmond Highlands: Mrs. Goldie Neffew, 18029 Linden Ave..

Seattle 33

Wisconsin

Green Bay: Mrs. Janet Reimer, 1574 Main St.

Miss Barbara Nelson ADDITIONS TO COMMITTEES

Area Teaching Committee — Central States Miss Carol Eggert

Bahá’í SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Southwestern Summer School Committee Mrs. Thelma Gorham, Secty.. 2049 N.E. 17th St., Oklahoma City 17, Oklahoma