U.S. Supplement/Issue 36/Text

Home Front Teaching Shows Marked Acceleration

At the January meeting the National Spiritual Assembly reviewed with members of the American National Teaching Committee the progress of the teaching work on the home front in relation to winning new local spiritual assemblies and extending consolidation and teaching assistance to the new and small assemblies. From this review the following statistics, as of December 31, 1960, are shared with the believers.

Assembly status seems assured by Riḍván in thirtyeight goal and promising groups. Seventeen of these already have nine or more members.

Thirty-two local spiritual assemblies are in jeopardy, but almost all of these need only one more believer. Further, on the positive side, a large percentage of these have excellent teaching work in progress and have contacts studying.

Reports on the consolidation program and circuit teaching reinforce the above. The new and small assemblies that have had the consolidation program completed or in process December 31 total ninety-six. Interspersed in these NSA-approved programs of deepening and assistance to the newly formed and small assemblies, the teachers made additional two to threeday visits to forty-three goal groups. The American National Teaching Committee and the area teaching committees have completed more than 280 extended and week-end teaching visits by circuit teachers to the goal groups and small communities, and have in process or scheduled an additional seventy-five circuits. This is far in excess of the teaching work and intra-area teaching work that was scheduled and completed up to this time last year.

Up to the present, emphasis has not been placed on appeals for settlers on the home front in deference to the needs for pioneers in Europe. However, we strongly urge that anyone who cannot go into foreign fields but can make himself available for the home front, get in touch with the American National Teaching Committee immediately.

This report, in addition to reflecting a marked increase in circuit teaching activities, discloses a rededication on the part of the believers generally to the task of winning the 300 “firmly grounded, well informed, actively functioning” local spiritual assemblies called for by the beloved Guardian as a home front Crusade goal. However, we are at the critical period of the year,

with less than three months left in which to bring in the harvest of new assemblies at Riḍván. As noted, in most cases only one or two additional enrollments are needed to bring a goal group to assembly status or maintain the status of an assembly in jeopardy. May we all arise in the spirit of love and unity and resolve to express our faith in action — to “each one win one” by Riḍván.

“Faith is the magnet which draws the confirmations of the Merciful One. Service is the magnet which attracts the Heavenly strength.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

——NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASS!-IIVIBLY

Hugh E. Chance Elected to NSA

At a by-election held on December 20, 1960 the delegates to the 1960 Annual Bahá’í Convention elected Hugh E. Chance of Davenport, Iowa, to fill the vacancy in the National Spiritual Assembly created by the resignation of Ellsworth Blackwell to pioneer in Haiti.

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Fifty-Third National Convention

Meets in Wilmette April 27-30

The Fifty-Third Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of the U.S. will be held in Foundation Hall of the Bahá’í House of Worship, Wilmette, Ill., April 27-30, 1961.

A list of nearby hotels with their rates will be published in the next issue of BA}-I.A’l News. Delegates and visitors who wish this type of accommodation are requested to make their own reservations with the hotel of their choice. Friends wishing accommodations in private homes should send their request for reservations to:

Mrs. Gertrude D. Marks 3239 Central Avenue Wilmette, Illinois

As usual, the Convention Arrangements Committee will limit child care to the daytime sessions only. Also, it will not be equipped to care for children in arms or for other very young children requiring individual attention.

—CONVEN'rION ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE

[Page 2]FEBRUARY ‘1961

Bahá’í World Youth Day March 25. 1961

A Special Event for Proclaiming the Bahá’í Fulfil to file Public

Sponsored by the American National Teaching Committee

Theme: What It Means to be a Bahá’í Youth

Suggested Publicity Materials: Bahá’í: World Faith for Modern Man from Bahá’í Publishing Trust

Reports:

Newspaper clippings from U.S. communities are to be sent immediately to Bahá’í Press Service.

Written reports and photographs for publication in Bahá’í News are to be sent as soon as possible to the Bahá’í News Editorial Committee.

NSA Reports Attendance and

Voting at State Conventions

In spite of the repeated reminders sent to the believers through BAHA’l NEWS, local spiritual assemblies, and area bulletins about the importance of voting for the 171 delegates to the 1961 Annual Bahá’í Convention, the results as reported by the tellers at the state conventions held on December 4, 1960 were even less satisfactory than in 1959 in that only 67.5% of the registered voters took any part. A number of small states made excellent showings, notably Nevada, North Carolina and South Dakota where the percentage of voters participating was 89.5%, 90.5% and 91%, respectively. In most of the so-called large states one-third of the believers neither attended nor voted.

The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to express its appreciation to the local spiritual assemblies and the area teaching committees for their cooperation and efforts to impress upon the believers the importance of exercising their obligation and privilege to participate in this vital institution of the Faith. We thank also all those who served on the state convention committees, as convention officers, and as tellers.

The actions taken on the recommendations sent to the National Spiritual Assembly will be reported in the next issue of Bahá’í News, U.S. Supplement.

-——NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Subject Indexes for "Hidden Words" and "Seven Valleys and Four Valleys" Available

The first two of a series of “Subject Indexes” of Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings are now ready for distribution: one for Hidden Words and the other for Seven Valleys and Four Valleys. Arranged under the basic headings established for the Master Index, these indexes are eight and seven pages respectively, mimeographed, and each reference (alphabetically arranged) is a summary of what is given about the heading-subject in one paragraph or section of the text. Similar indexes will soon

be available for the rest of Bahá’u’lláh’s currently published Writings. Cost for these two: 35 cents and 30 cents respectively, including regular postage. Order from: National Reference Library Committee, Mrs. Marian C. Lippitt, Secretary and Treasurer, 1587 Virginia Street E., Charleston 1, W. Va.

Still available at the same address is the following additional reference material (mimeographed): Set of four articles by Mrs. Gene Crist intended as a “bridge” between Christianity and the Bahá’í Faith, 75 cents; compilation on “Teaching the Bahá’í Faith,” 15 cents; outline of “Historical Events Relating to the Bahá’í Cause in America” as recorded in The Star of the West and The Bahá’í Magazine up to 1912 prepared by Mrs. Juliet A. Cole, 30 cents.

‘Sure/y \/4!? ml/tiff £8 61 gdédl . . .”

The following is an excerpt from a statement by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Alaska printed in the November issue of the Alaska Bahá’í News:

“ . . let us remember these words of the beloved Guardian (Guidance for Today and Tomorrow, Chap. 12, para. 1):

“ ‘Teaching is the responsibility of each individual. So, too, is upright conduct. Each day more people are watching to see if Bahá’ís practice what they preach or if they speak louder with words than they do with deeds}

“There is a tendency to judge the whole by the part. If there is one person in a community whose actions are short of Bahá’í standards, standards that require a degree of uprightness long ago abandoned by the crumbling institutions of the world around us, the non-Bahá’í public will often judge all believers in the light of that one. Thus, not only does the individual harm himself spiritually through his conduct, but he also hinders, or in extreme cases almost halts, the dedicated efforts of his fellow believers.

“Each one of us can rightfully call himself a Bahá’í only when he makes an honest attempt to improve his thoughts, actions, speech, and motives to mirror those qualities so powerfully taught by the example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. We cannot allow rationalizations to perpetuate faults which harm the Cause. While we often see the errors of others, we seldom examine our own lives to determine where we might improve. If we desire to win the last goal of the Crusade, the longawaited mass conversion, let us each begin by a selfexamination of our own, and no one else’s, daily living. Having found weaknesses—and an honest examination is sure to uncover some—let’s do something about it.’

“To show our gratefulness to God for the bounty of life in these historic times, let us rededicate ourselves to strive every waking minute towards recognition for outstanding conduct, so that people will say: ‘His life is so spotless, surely he must be a Bahá’í.’ Then we will be prepared to move forward unitedly as an example to the world around us, so that other people will wish to become a part of the Kingdom of God on Earth which it is our privilege to offer them. If we pray for guidance, perfect our character, and teach the Cause constantly, we will reach total victory.”

[Page 3]U.S. SUPPLEMENT

WORLD CRUSADE BUDGET Eighth Year: 1960-6|

Annual Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$375,000.00 llIIIlllllllllllllllllllllIIIllIIllI|||llIllIlllllIIIIIlllIIllllIIIIIIllI|l|llIllllIlllllllllll||l|I|||l|||I|||llll|l||||||llllI|||||||l||||||l|||l|ll|l Total Requirements: May 1

to December 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . ..250,000.00 lllllllllIIllIlllI|||ll||||lllllI|||IIllIIIIIIIllIIllIllllll||||llllIIll||l||||l||l|||||l||l|l|l Total Contributions: May 1

to December 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .l83,200.00 llllllIllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIllllIIIIIIIIIII||||l|||ll|l|I||||||||lI Requirements for December 1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . ..3l,250.00 IlllIllIlllllllllllllllIllllllllllllIlllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIlllllllllIlllllllllllllllllIIIIllIllllllllllllllllllllll|l|l|||Il||lI|||l Received for December 1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34,150.00

IIlllllllllIlllllIIIlllllllllIllllllllllllllIlllllllIllIIIIIIllllllllllllllIIllllllllIIIllllllllllllIllllllllllllIllIIIIIllIIlllIlllllllllllllllllllllll Special non-recurring gifts received during present Bahá’í year —— (not included above) . .41,350.00

—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

NSA Calls By-election to Fill Vacancy

Due to the resignation of Mrs. Florence Mayberry who left February 1 to pioneer in Guadalajara, Mexico, with her husband, David Mayberry, and their son, Michael, the National Spiritual Assembly called a byelection by mail to fill the vacancy on the Assembly. The delegates to the 1960 Annual Convention were asked to send their votes by mail to the National Spiritual Assembly which appointed tellers to count the ballots and report the results of the election on January 29.

-—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

TV Kinescope Available

For Local Use

Over station WTTW, the Chicago Bahá’í Community presented a television program on the Bahá’í World Faith under the title, “The Unity of God, His Prophets and Mankind,” as one of the “Time for Religion” series. Through the generosity of Mr. Benjamin Mashaw the program was kinescoped and is now available as a 30 minute, 16 mm, black and white sound print.

In light of the highly local nature of the introduction and closing, the kinescope should not be used as a television rebroadcast program. Rather it is recommended as a useful local proclamation. (See also TV program materials available through the Audio-Visual Committee.) Since the film portrays a studio version of a Bahá’í service of worship, the kinescope will have value for selected teaching occasions. All users are strongly advised to preview the film before using it, in order to plan appropriate presentations.

The film can be ordered from: Dr. David S. Ruhe, 2628 West 91 Terrace, Leawood, Kansas.

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Marriages Berkeley, Calif.: Miss Lydia Teresa Vasquez to Lorin Lee Whittaker on October 29, 1960

San Jose, Calif.: Miss Constance Hard to John DeVictoria on November 4, 1960

Wilmington, Delaware: Miss Terry Berkley Taylor to Howard Kent Walker on September 10, 1960

Great Falls. Montana: Mrs. Ida May Tobin to Harvey M. Evans on November 4, 1960

Teaneck, New Jersey: Miss Manijeh Samandari to Robert

Charles Quinn on October 29, 1960

Cincinnati, Ohio: Mrs. Bernice J. Lacey to Ralph C. Wiggins,

Jr. on June 28, 1960

Lima, Ohio: Mrs. Eda M. Burns to Ross F. Lindstrom on

December 10, 1960

Tacoma, Wash.: Mrs. Elsie E. Larson to Lyle E. Ames on

October 29, 1960

In Memoriam

Mrs. Laura Kelsey Allen Tripoli, Libya November 20, 1960 Mrs. Katherine Baldwin Maui, Hawaii November 25, 1960 George Bowers Lima, Ohio October 8, 1959 Mrs. Vera Marie Cannon Long Beach, Calif. October 24, 1960 Mrs. Pauline English Cresskill, New Jersey December 16, 1960 Mrs. Louise Erickson Sweden October 12, 1960 Mrs. Louise 0. Haensel New Orleans. Louisiana November 12, 1960 Mrs. Alice Hall Vista, Calif. October 13, 1960 Mrs. Jennie Anderson Goteborg, Sweden October 3, 1960 Wallace A. Bussell Escondido, Calif. March 28, 1960 Mrs. Annie V. Crockett Maui, Hawaii October 8, 1960 Mrs. Gladys Lemmon Columbus, Ohio October 14, 1960 Levi Nutt Fargo, North Dakota August 19, 1960 Mrs. Gertrude Piutti San Francisco, Calif. August, 1960 Mrs. Rose Schwarz Chicago, Illinois October 10, 1960 Mrs. Lucille Snider Decatur, Illinois June 4, 1960

Mrs. Alma W. Heath Boise, Idaho November 6, 1960 Mrs. Lillian Johnson Los Angeles. Calif. August 9, 1960 Mrs. Raye Kelley Monroe, Wash. December 11, 1960 Robert P. Knoche, Sr. Los Gatos, Calif. October 17, 1960 Mrs. Florence McRoberts Columbus, Ohio October 19, 1960 Mrs. Rachel Mothersill Villa Park, Illinois December 8, 1960 Earl H. Reames Clarksdale, Mississippi December 16, 1960 Walter M. Robinson New York, N.Y. No date Miss Catherine Thigpen Princeton, New Jersey June 3, 1960

Mrs. Ethel Thompson Mill Valley, Calif. October 20, 1960

Mrs. Athena B. Tibbetts South Brewer, Maine No date

Mrs. Clara Van Meet Chicago, Illinois October 2, 1960

Mrs. Cordelia Wallace Burlingame, Calif. October 15, 1960

Mrs. Jessie Wood Everett, Wash. October 1, 1960

Mrs. Anna Zimmermann New Haven, Conn. August 15, 1960

[Page 4]FEBRUARY 1961

BAHA'l DIRECTORY CHANGES

ASSEM BLY SECRETARIES

Northern California Cloverdale J. D.: (new secretary to be reported) Louisiana Shreveport: (New secretary to be reported) Minnesota St. Paul: Mrs. Catherine Hanson, 586 Aurora Ave., Z. 3 (new address) (to correct erroneous listing in December Supplement) Mississippi Gulfport: Mrs. Charles E. Stoakley, 2004 - 30th Ave., (new address) New Jersey Englewood: Mr. David Palmberg, Secty, protem, 143 Tenafly Rd. New Mexico Gallup: Mrs. Mary E. Gibson, 806 W. Logan Ave. Oregon Astoria: Mr. Robert Lindstrom, 4436 Leif Erickson Dr. Texas Galveston: Miss Montie Holt, 61-A Island City Homes San Antonio: Mrs. Katheryn Paschall, 753 Chaffee Rd., Ft. Sam Houston Western Washington South King Co. Comm. Dist.; Mrs. Opal L. Conner, 1170515th Ave. So., Seattle 88 Wisconsin Mequon: Mrs. Beula Brown, Rt. 4, Box 540, Mequon (new address)

ADDITIONS TO COMMITTEES

Temple Children’s School Mrs. Edna Fechtner

Area Teaching Committe-—North Atlantic Ntates Mrs. Emmalu McCandless Raymond G. Wilcox William Zucker

Area Teaching Committee—Tennessee Valley States Lester Himes James Kimbrough

Bahá’í College Bureau Mrs. Dorothy Munson Mr. William Munson

BAHA'l SUMMER SCHOOL COMM|TTEES— l96'0-l9bl

Green Acre Bahá’í Institute Program Committee

Mr. Harry Merson, Chairman

Mrs. Joan Appleton, Secretary, Box 363, Ipswich, Mass. Mrs. Ethelinda Merson

Mrs. Mildred McClellan

Dr. Sam McClellan

Mrs. Irene Miniutti

Mrs. Leonora Norman

Mrs. Pamela Webster

Dr. Alfred Neumann

Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh

Mr. Farhang Javid

Mrs. Kathleen Javid

Miss Marina Kazemzadeh

Davison Bahá’í School Program Committee Mrs. Betty Weston, Convenor, 22413 Francis, Dearborn 8, Mich. Mrs. Helen McClusky Mr. Fred Sudhop

Miss Phyllis Hall

Dr. Harrison Langrall Mrs. Mary Jane Langrall Mr. Marion R. Finley, Jr. Mrs. Jean Shepherd

Mr. Jack Shepherd

Davison Bahá’í School Maintenance Committee

Mr. Robert Z. Willson, Chairman

Mrs. Barbara Willson, Secretary, 1617 Pearson, Ferndale 20.

Mich.

Mrs. Laura Post

Mr. Harold Johnson

Mr. John W. Nash

Mr. Clinton Wideman

Mr. Fred Dillingham

Mr. Phillip Cavanagh

Mr. Gerald Horne

Mrs. Eulie Horne

Mr. Robert Hammond

Mrs. Elizabeth Brogan

Southeastern Bahá’í School Program Committee Miss Kathryn M. Potter, Secretary, 124 Oak Court, Greensboro, N. C.

Mrs. Gail Curwin

Mrs. Corinne Bowman

Mr. J. Kenton Allen

Mrs. Carlotta Holmes

Mr. Wiley B. Allison

Miss Nancy Ford

Mr. Albert James

Miss Lois M. Gawen

Southwestern Bahá’í School Program Committee Mr. Robert Hopkins, Chairman _ Mrs. Betty Hopkins, Secretary, 3430 Rankin Ave., Dallas 5, Texas

Mrs. Allene Squires

Mr. Leo Squires

Mr. Howard Menking

Mr. Raul Walls

Geyserville Bahá’í School Program Committee Mrs. Adrienne Reeves, Chairman Miss Helena J . Somerhalder, Secretary, 4850 Hamilton Ave., San Jose, Calif. Dr. Dwight W. Allen Mrs. Hazel Littman Mr. Fred Littman Mrs. Elizabeth Greene Mrs. Mary Ellen Zamzow Mr. Richard Groger

Geyserville Bahá’í School Maintenance Committee

Mr. James W. Zamzow, Chairman

Mrs. Mary Ellen Zamzow, Secretary, Rt. 1, Box 452, Boulder

Creek, Calif.

Mr. Richard Groger

Mr. Adolph Wielk

Mr. Fred Littman

Mr. Myrvin Somerhalder

Mr. Donald F. Phillips

Mr. Harry Irwin

Mr. Robert 0. Jordan