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Secretary-General of International Bahá’í Council Will Reside in Holy Land
At the July 21-23, 1961 meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly the chairman and secretary who had recently returned from attending the first meeting of the International Bahá’í Council in Haifa, Israel, reviewed certain decisions taken by the Council and approved by the Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land. Because these decisions affected the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, the Assembly members felt it important to inform the American Bahá’í Community of the facts.
The message from the Hands of the Cause of God meeting in Bahjí at their fourth annual gathering (see Bahá’í News Dec. 1960) contains this reference: “The International Bahá’í Council, fulfilling yet another stage in its evolution and efflorescence into the Universal House of Justice, must be elected and means be provided for at least a quorum of its members to function in Haifa.” However, during the eight-day meeting it became apparent the day to day responsibilities assigned to the Council could not be adequately or fully discharged by a mere quorum of its members living in Haifa.
In view of these facts, Charles Wolcott, elected secretary-general of the International Bahá’í Council, will resign as secretary and member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly to take up residence in the Holy Land in the fall. In accordance with the precedent of non-residence established by the beloved Guardian in his designation of Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery to be member-at-large of the appointed first Council, H. Borrah Kavelin, elected member-at-large, has been given permission by the Hands resident in the Holy Land to continue serving in an administrative capacity on the American home front. Mr. Kavelin will therefore remain in the United States functioning as chairman of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly and fulfill his Council responsibilities by periodic trips to Haifa.
The delegates to the Fifty-Third Annual Convention held in April 1961 will be required to vote by mail to fill the vacancy created when Mr. Wolcott resigns from the National Spiritual Assembly. Notice of this byelection will be sent to the delegates.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Thirty-Four Cities Will Host NSA-Sponsored Conferences
The dates and places for the NSA-sponsored conferences referred to in the U.S. SUPPLEMENT for August were selected by the National Spiritual Assembly at its July meeting. Since there is a possibility that a few changes may be necessary, the friends are requested to watch for the announcements in the area teaching bulletins which will give the addresses of the meeting places and substitutions of other cities or dates that may have to be made after this list has gone to print early in August. The information contained in the area
bulletins will be up-to-date and accurate.
The dates and places are as follows:
September 30
Seattle, Wash. Sacramento, Calif. San Diego, Calif. Dallas, Texas Wilmette, Illinois Waterloo, Iowa Cleveland, Ohio Stamford, Conn. Washington, D.C. Boston, Mass. Miami, Fla. Pendleton, Ore. Nashville, Tenn.
October 7
Salt Lake City, Utah Green Lake Conference, Wis.
October 1
Portland, Ore.
San Jose, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif. Kansas City, Mo. Fort Wayne, Ind. Peoria, 111. Detroit, Mich. Rochester, N.Y. New York, N.Y. Philadelphia, Penn. New Orleans, La. Helena, Mont. Minneapolis, Minn. Greensboro, N.C. Atlanta, Ga.
October 8
Colorado Springs, Colo. Sarasota, Fla. Albuquerque, N.M. Phoenix, Ariz.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
SEPTEMBER ‘1961
UN Day Provides Opportunity To Proclaim Faith
Bahá’í-sponsored observances of United Nations Day, October 24, provide an ideal means of proclaiming the Faith to the masses, especially through the prestige publicity which accompanies them.
This year, a fifteen-minute recorded public service type of program is available for use on local radio stations. It is also excellent material for firesides. (See August 1961 Bahá’í NEWS, U.S. SUPPLEMENT.) Entitled “United Nations—Prelude to World Peace,” the record was produced at the suggestion of ol-‘ficial U.N. sources by the United Nations Committee of the Bahá’ís of the United States.
Other suggested ideas which have proven successful in the past are as follows:
Public meetings stressing the oneness of mankind, with representatives of various races and nationalities presenting brief accounts of how United Nations has helped their countries, and with a Bahá’í speaker pointing out the correlation of U.N. objectives with Bahá’í teachings.
Symposiums presenting viewpoints on an appropriate theme. This type is especially ideal for foreign students.
Firesides based on discussion built around the recording referred to above, or around the United Nations-Bahá’í Kit material. (A limited number of kits is available at fifty cents each from Mrs. Hortense Sawyer, 124 West 90 St., New York City, N.Y.)
Dinner meetings featuring foreign dishes.
Prayers for peace. Open a Bahá’í home for a specified time each day during U.N. Week fo'r prayers. Invite participation of all faiths through news items, paid advertisements, or personal contact.
Prominent displays featuring books or posters placed in public libraries, schools, stores, etc.
Cooperation with city officials, merchants, organizations, churches and the local chapter of A.A.U.N. in promotion of United Nations Day observances.
Program of music and folk dances of various nations, presenting, in addition, a speaker.
It is suggested that advantage be used of every publicity medium available in each community. Further, knowledge of the United Nations objectives can help to arouse interest in the Bahá’í Faith.
—UN COMMITTEE or THE Bahá’ís or THE U.S.
Change in Name of Bahá’í Press Service Is Made
At the July meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly action was taken to change the name of the National Bahá’í Press Service to “Public Information Service of the Bahá’ís of the United States.” The headquarters of this Service is 121 Linden Ave., Wilmette, Ill. This action is in line with the added responsibilities given to the former Bahá’í Press Service.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
United Nations Day October 24. 1961
A Special Event for Proclaiming the Bahá’í Faith to the Public
Theme: Prelude to a New Age
Suggested Publicity Materials:
Press Release from Bahá’í Public Information Service
Pattern for Future Society and
Bahá’í Peace Program from Bahá’í
Publishing Trust
Record for radio from Frank B. Sawyer, 203 West 138th St., New York 30, N.Y.
Reports:
Newspaper clippings are to be sent immediately to Bahá’í Public Information Service.
Written reports and photographs for publication in Bahá’í News are to be sent immediately to the Bahá’í News Editorial Committee.
College Bureau Needs Your Help
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 teaching of the Faith among college students by encouraging the activities of individual Bahá’ís enrolled as students or employed as members of the faculty and staff, through 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 with 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 real challenge of this opportunity rests primarily on those individuals who are at college and who, by their words and actions, can broadcast the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.
The College Bureau appeals to each college student, faculty or staff member to assist in this tremendously important task, and in order to help the Bureau to help you, please send, as soon as possible:
1. Your address;
2. News releases on all Bahá’í activities at your
college or university;
3. Pictures for possible publication in Bahá’í NEWS.
All correspondence should be addressed to Bahá’í College Bureau. P.O. Box 5683, Stanford, California.
[Page 3]
U.S. SUPPLEMENT
The Human Body, Temple of the Spirit, Must Be Treated With Respect
The following excerpt from a letter to an American believer from the beloved Guardian through his secretary, dated March 22, 1957, is published here because in a few words it answers the increasing number of inquiries coming to the National Spiritual Assembly from individual Bahá’ís and local spiritual assemblies on these subjects:
“There is nothing in the Teachings against leaving our bodies to medical science. The only thing we should stipulate is that we do not wish to be cremated, as it is against our Bahá’í laws.
“As many people make arrangements to leave their bodies to medical science for investigation, he suggests that you inquire, either through some lawyer friend or through some hospital, how you could do this, and then make the necessary provision in your will, stipulating that you wish your body to be of service to mankind in death, and that, being a Bahá’í, you request that your remains not be cremated and not be taken more than an hour’s journey from the place you die.
“The spirit has no more connection with the body after it departs, but as the body was once the temple of the spirit, we Bahá’ís are taught that it must be treated with respect.”
—NA'rIONAL Spmrruar. Assamnmz
Association with Detectors Forbidden
In reviewing the published lists of individuals supporting the Remey claim or associating with such defectors, it has been noted that several persons were inadvertently omitted from the several listings in the U.S. SUPPLEMENT 'ro Bahá’í NEWS.
The following persons who have been removed from the membership rolls must be considered in the same category as those listed in the October and November 1960 U.S. SUPPLE‘.MENTSZ Mrs. Margaret Patzer—Lancaster, Pennsylvania Robert Taggart—Quincy, Illinois
Mrs. Lois Taggart—Quincy, Illinois
Mrs. Elsa B. Croker—Quincy, Illinois
Grover Croker—Quincy, Illinois
Mrs. Frances M. Wavrek—Quincy, Illinois Gilbert M. Wavrek—Quincy, Illinois
Miss Emma Siemens—Quincy, Illinois
Barbara Hanawalt (youth)—Quincy, Illinois Ellis C. Hanawalt (youth)—Quincy, Illinois Margaret E. Vorndam (youth)—Quincy, Illinois Bernita Hockgraver (youth)—Quincy, Illinois
Miss Lorna Wall—Joplin, Missouri -—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
News Briefs
The program of an international dinner co-sponsored by the American Overseas Educators Organization, Inc., and the Committee on International Relations of the National Education Association, held in Atlantic City, N.J. in June 1961 was opened with the Bahá’í Prayer for America, which served as the keynote setting the tone of the dinner and program.
The goal group of Garden Grove, Calif. was host to a large fireside in June which was attended by eightysix persons representing fourteen nearby communities. The interest sparked at this meeting has served as a basis for the group's plans for its teaching program for the year, which will consist primarily of scheduled firesides and follow—up study classes leading to enrollment. At this initial meeting a Bahá’í talk was given and color slides with narration were presented.
The Sarasota, Fla. Bahá’ís were successful, after numerous attempts, in obtaining a location for an interracial picnic this summer, and fifty-four Bahá’ís and friends celebrated this victory and enjoyed the happy fellowship of the occasion.
Following Dr. Allan Ward’s lecture on the Bahá’í Faith at Washington University, the Clayton, Mo. Bahá’í Group was informed that a question on the Faith was included in the final examination given the students.
The Hawaii Bahá’í Summer School, held July 1-4 at the Honolulu Bahá’í Mid-Pacific Center, was well attended and presented opportunity for much valuable study of Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, God Passes By, and such topics as “Teaching the Faith” and “Bahá’í Administration.” A social gettogether was held on July 2 at which a delightful teriyaki al fresco dinner was preceded by swimming and relaxation on the beautiful beach.
Two Bahá’í Youth events took place in Southern California in June which featured programs of recreation and lunch and seminar type discussions on the subject of maintaining high ideals as related to popularity. A one-day conference held at Big Bear Lake attracted approximately forty youth, while over fifty attended a seminar held in Manhattan Beach.
The local teaching committee of East Cleveland, Ohio, writes: “We are in the midst of much activity and feel that proclaiming the Faith is becoming not only more urgent but more fruitful each day!” The committee relates that the cause of so much successful activity is due to a greater use of prayer and continued perseverance in the teaching work. As Riḍván approached, East Cleveland, with only seven members, was faced with the danger of losing its assembly. Their united prayers were answered by the enrollment of one believer and the settling of one of the Bahá’ís from Cleveland. Since that time their teaching activities have grown steadily, including an extension teaching project, and have resulted in opportunities for wider proclamation of the Faith and in gaining the sincere interest of some of the contacts and the friendship of many others.
[Page 4]
SEPTEMBER ‘1961
WORLD CRUSADE BUDGET
Ninth Year: I 96 I -62
Annual Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$550,000.00
llIIIIllIIIiIIIIllllllllllllllllilllllIIIllIIIllllllllllllllllillllll|l||l|||llllllllIllllilllllllllllllllllll|||||IIllllIIIllIII|||||||l|l|l||l|i||l|||J Total Requirements: May 1
to July 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 137,502.00 vlllllllllllIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Total Contributions: May 1
to July 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 77,960.00 illlllllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Requirements for July 1961 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 45,834.00 Received for July 1961 . . . . A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23,122.00
‘llIIllll||ll|I|IIlflllllllllllllllillllllI||lIllIIII||tllIIlI|l|l||ll|Illl|l Special non-recurring gifts received during present Bahá’í year (not included above) . .. 19,347.00
During the first three months oi! the current Bahá’í year, contributions have averaged $25,986.00 per month, or 43.3% below the current pro-rated budget of $45,833.00. If this trend continues, we will face a very serious condition. Every item in the budget is urgent and necessary for the successful completion of the World Crusade. The farther behind we get, the harder it will be to catch up. It is hoped that all communities and individuals will seriously ponder this situation and take action to bring regular contributions to the Fund up to the level of the budget and to maintain them at that level for the balance of the year.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Marriages Wilmette, Illinois: Mrs. Lillian Lunn to W. Randolph Lacey, Sr. on April 25, 1961
Detroit, Michigan: Mrs. Helen D. Gaines to Roy C. Caldwell on June 30, 1961
Columbus, Ohio: Miss Kathryn A. Herting to B. Richard Carmichael on June 10. 1961
BAHA'I DIRECTORY CHANGES ASSEMBLY SECRETARIES
Southern California Hermosa Beach: Mrs. Virginia Curtis, 117 Ardmore Ave.
Montana Billings: Mrs. Maxine Koyl, 2316 Meadowood St., (new address)
New Hampshire Portsmouth: Mrs. Elizabeth Frazier, 148 State St. (new address) New Mexico Santa Fe: Mr. David Smith, 206 Navajo
Eastern Washington Spokane County Second Comm. Dist.: Miss Alverna Soper, pro-tem, N. 1319 Argonne Rd., Spokane 62 Wisconsin Brookfield: Mrs. Vera Nickel, 2380 Kevenauer Drive
Radio Service Committee Offers Scripts
The National Radio Service Committee announces the following new approved radio scripts are available:
“World Crisis — World Rebirth” (30 cents), fourteenminute script for one voice which gives a message of hope for today and tomorrow; “The First Hundred Years” (30 cents), fourteen-minute script for one voice which relates the parallel between the first one hundred years of Christianity and the first century or so of the Bahá’í Faith; “World Religion Day Interview” (15 cents), five-minute script for two voices, which reviews the current trend of the Christian merger as the beginning steps toward the Bahá’í principle of a world religion; and “Human Rights Day Interview” (15 cents), five-minute script for two voices.
Orders should be placed through Mrs. James J. Keefrey, 2416 Waunona Way, Madison 5, Wis.
NSA Seeks Knowledge of Whereabouts of Major Pigford
If any of the friends know or learn the whereabouts of Major Pigford, a member of the Seattle, Wash., Bahá’í community, please inform the National Spiritual Assembly promptly. Mr. Pigford is carrying a current Bahá’í identification card issued by the Seattle Assembly.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
in Memoriam
Mrs. Eleanore Clendenon Long Beach. Calif. June 19, 1961
Mrs. Ada Mae Fadner Fort Collins, Colorado July, 1961
Harold R. Hunt Butte, Montana July 4, 1961
Mrs. Enola Kenner Elgin, Illinois July 18, 1961
William H. Linfoot Oakland, Calif. July 16, 1961
Mrs. Daisy Wheeler Nestor Honolulu, Hawaii June 19, 1961
Miss Hazel M. Thurston Grand Rapids, Michigan April 20, 1961
