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The United Nations and the Bahá’í Faith
The record “Prelude to a New Age,” produced by the U.S. United Nations Committee a year ago, stimulated a number of surprising inquiries concerning the exact relationship between the Bahá’í Faith and the United Nations. One correspondent even hoped to be assured that the United Nations approved the Bahá’í Faith above all other religions.
It is true that an official of the United Nations suggested that the Bahá’ís should produce a radio program and offered the facilities and cooperation of the United Nations Radio Division. The purpose behind the offer was to widen and deepen the understanding and appreciation of the work of the UN—to reach new audiences, not to favor the Bahá’ís above others.
Actually, the Bahá’í International Community and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States are two of a list of approximately one hundred and fifty non-governmental organizations that are invited by the UN to appoint “observers” and their “alternates.” These representatives are expected to attend frequent “briefing sessions” at the United Nations in order to become well informed about the organization, its work and accomplishments. All the listed organizations believe in and work for world peace, international cooperation and the UN, among other objectives. The observers are expected to serve as channels of communication and also to submit annual reports on what their organizations have been doing to promote the UN. Several other religions beside Bahá’í are represented on the list.
A fine distinction drawn by the UN should be noted. The world organization does not “recognize” or approve any of the hundred-odd non-governmental organizations listed, but does recognize the observers and the alternates whom they have accredited. Still less does the UN recognize the U.S. Bahá’í United Nations Committee, which is purely and simply a working committee appointed by our National Assembly, serving the Bahá’ís and having no direct relationship with the UN whatsoever. A direct relationship is the privilege accorded solely to the observers and the alternates.
In addition to the briefing sessions mentioned, the UN holds annually at headquarters a two-day conference. On May 22 and 23, 1962, eight Bahá’ís attended either as delegates or observers. While attending the briefing sessions, and, to a lesser degree (because of their size and infrequency) the conferences, our ob News
AUGUST 1962
servers and alternates have the opportunity to become acquainted with the personnel of the United Nations. Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh and Mrs. Lee Blackwell, who have served as observers for many years, are well known and most favorably regarded by UN personnel, some of whom realize that Bahá’ís have a wider distribution over the globe than many of the other non-governmental organizations.
The annual reports submitted by our observers reveal outstanding activity on the part of the Bahá’ís in the celebration of United Nations Day and Human Rights Day. This fact has been appreciated by some UN officials, particularly the one who made available the UN radio facilities for the production of “Prelude to a New Age.”
The U.S. Bahá’í United Nations Committee, believing that Bahá’ís should understand their true relationship to the UN, hopes that this explanation highlights also the extreme importance of keeping the committee completely informed on local UN activities, in order that our observers may make an adequate report to the United Nations.
—U.S. Bahá’í UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE
Indian Bahá’í Artist Featured in California Public Meetings
In late May the believers in the San Francisco Bay area staged a highly successful series of public meetings featuring David Villasenor of Pasadena, widely known Bahá’í artist and American Indian sand painter.
Gatherings at the San Francisco and Burlingame Centers were followed by a third meeting in Oakland’s American Indian Friendship House, where Mr. Villasenor addressed a group of Indian women.
The high point of the series was reached when, following a talk on the Teachings by Mrs. Helena Bascom, the Bahá’í artist spoke to an audience of 150 persons, many of them Indians, at the Kaiser Center in Oakland. Because of its being held in the beautiful and famous building, the final meeting in particular greatly enhanced the prestige of the Faith in the area.
As a result of the meetings a class at the city college in Oakland asked for a Bahá’í speaker, and a schedule of follow—up firesides was started. In addition a twenty minute interview with Mr. Villasenor was conducted on a prime-time news telecast over station KTVU——a real television breakthrough in the Bay region.
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AUGUST ‘1962
Local Assembly of Provo, Utah, Can Point to An Unusual History
Eight enrollments in the last calendar year is the record of the Provo group. Since the community was first established in 1954 with the initial two pioneers, twenty-one enrollments have taken place and thirty five Bahá’ís have been involved in the community through residence or enrollments, almost enough for four complete assemblies. An assembly was first formed in 1956, reestablished in 1960, and again this year.
This rather unusual record resulted from the moving away of twenty-three believers due to employment conditions and schooling. Through the enrollments and transfers, five new centers have been started, ranging from isolated believers to an assembly, and including one group doing important teaching work among the Ute Indians. At least nine other communities now have transfers from Provo, in most cases serving on assemblies.
(From the Southwestern States Area Bulletin.)
Bahá’í Marriages
Sacramento. Calif; Miss Christelia Stritzcl to Farhad Monadjem on May 19, 1962
San Francisco, Calif.: Mrs. Edna Rae Keith to Charles John Peterson on March 27, 1962
DeKalb, Georgia: Miss Kathryn Loraine Horlacher to Harris J. Fisher on May 1, 1962
Eliot, Maine: Mrs. Vera Flagg Pierce to Apthorp Richard Heath on May 22, 1962 =
Milwaukee. Wisconsin: Miss Carol Eunice Schiller to DeWane J. Merget on May 19, 1962
World Peace Day September ‘I6. 1962
A Special Event for Proclaiming the Bahá’í Faith to the Public
Sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly
Theme: Giant Step toward World Peace.
Suggested Publicity Materials: Radio, TV releases and posters from National Bahá’í Headquarters. The Destiny of America and Bahá’í Peace Program from Bahá’í Publishing Trust.
Reports:
Newspaper clippings are to be sent immediately to National Bahá’í Headquarters.
Reports and good photographs of outstanding observances should be mailed at once to Bahá’í News Editorial Committee.
Books for Nigeria Requested by Africa Teaching Committee
The success of the appeal for Bahá’í books for libraries in Ghana has led the U.S. Africa Teaching Committee to launch a similar campaign for Nigeria. Books for Ghana have come from widespread points in this country and have been placed in Ghanian libraries soon after they were received. They are located in remote as well as metropolitan areas and are used frequently.
Because certain books proved to be particularly popular on this previous project, the committee plans to place emphasis on the same works for Nigeria: Some Answered Questions, The Bahá’í World, Release the Sun and Thief in the Night.
Sherman Rosenberg of Lagos, Nigeria, has agreed to take the responsibility for placing the books which are donated. Since Nigeria has the largest population of any African country, the task of reaching the many peoples there is a great one. Giving books is one way in which many of us can help in the great work of consolidation.
Bahá’í works other than those mentioned above will also be most acceptable, provided they are current. Please send all books to the secretary of the committee: Mrs. Sylvia Parmelee, 4700 47th St. N.W., Washington 16, D.C.
Attention All Correspondents
In writing to the National Spiritual Assembly, or to any of the national offices, please make certain that the name and address of the sender-and when applicable the name of the administrative body involved—appear on the letter itself. Otherwise, if the letter and envelope become separated, it is difficult to identify the sender and delay ensues.
in Memoriam
Mrs. Vivian Juanita Boston Gallup, New Mexico May 21, 1962
Mrs. Nannie Lee Grasby North Little Rock, Ark. May 26, 1962
Mrs. Nelle Crowley Binghamton, New York May 25, 1962
Mrs. Ethelwyn Drew Hall Santa Barbara, Calif. June 2, 1962
Mrs. Ovidia M. Hansen Cambrian Park, Calif. No date
Mrs. Ella W. Duffield Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Nice, France
June 21, 1962
Mrs. Emma Farnham Brewer, Maine No date
Mrs. Charlotte Z. Gillen Seattle. Wash. May 25. 1962
Carl Sigurd Hogberg Uppsala, Sweden June 27, 1962
Mrs. Nell M. Ring Jackson, Miss. June 6, 1962
George Wink North Augusta, S.C. May 24, 1962
