U.S. Supplement/Issue 59/Text

Every Available Dollar Needed to Advance the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh

Dearly Beloved Friends:

We are in the climactic phase of the World Crusade, the final fleeting moments, never to be duplicated, when we can take actions which will directly follow the instructions of our beloved Guardian and achieve the goals which were so dear to his heart. This is a crash program into which we must throw all of our energies and resources, so that we may attend the World Congress in London with the full knowledge that we have truly done everything in our power to achieve the total success of this monumental effort.

The National Fund furnishes the fuel for our activities on all fronts. If it falters we cannot fully capitalize on our opportunities and make the greatest use of our facilities and personnel for teaching, proclamation, settling and administration. So far the financial results this fiscal year have been disappointing, as is shown by the following figures representing cumulative totals for the period May 1 to November 15, 1962:

Regular contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$178,334.12 Special large non-recurring contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 53,858.95 Total receipts . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$232,193.07 Pro-rated budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338,546.00 Deficit before receipts from estates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 106,352.93 Proceeds from estates . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 17,952.53 Deficit after receipts from estates 88,400.40 Excess of expenditures over pro-rated budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6,960.90 Actual Cash Deficit . . . . . . . . . .$ 95,361.30

If we assume that expenditures for the entire year do not exceed the budget of $625,000, we will need income from all sources of $374,854.40 in the period November 15, 1962, to April 30, 1963, if we are to avoid a deficit. This is an average monthly contribution for the next five and one-half months of $68,155.52, which is 30.8% greater than the budget and 77.3% greater than the contributions, including those from estates, received in the first six and one-half months of this year. This is the measure of the challenge facing the American Bahá’í community.

The past two and one-half months have shown a notable improvement over the first four months of the year. Contributions for September were $37,410, for

October $39,466, and for the first half of November, $21,337. We trust that this trend of growth will continue and accelerate, and that the needs of the Fund will constantly be in the forefront of the consciousness of every individual Bahá’í, as well as the subject of consultation at every Feast and assembly meeting.

But more than that, the friends should realize that the success of the Fund is tied in closely with the achievement of the Crusade goals. If we really go allout in a crash teaching program in these last few months, if through sacrificial expenditure of funds and time and energy we build the number of local assemblies and bring in 10,000 new believers, this success will itself assure the future soundness of the Fund. Our immediate tasks are to direct to the Fund every dollar we can possibly spare and to utilize eificiently and effectively every minute of time and every ounce of energy in advancing the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. If we all do this in the few weeks which remain, our meeting together in London will indeed be a jubilant Jubilee.

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY Arthur L. Dahl, Treasurer

London World Congress

lmporfanf Announcement

The final date for payments on the chartered planes for London was January 5, 1963. However, due to unexpected cancellations, there are some seats available on several of the scheduled flights.

The National Congress Arrangements Committee therefore urges any Bahá’ís who have not yet made reservations, but who now find they can attend the Congress, to immecliately notify the Committee and every effort will be made to assign them places on the chartered flights.

Applications for London hotels or any tours, if desired, should be made at the same time as for the flights.

The National Assembly hopes that all seats on every chartered flight will be filled.

Payments for Tours

Bills for balance payments on all of the special tours will be sent to everyone registered by the Overseas Travel Company.

[Page 2]Special Credentials for Jubilee

NO ONE will be admitted to Albert Hall in London without a book of tickets and special attached credentials. All believers going by charter flight will automatically receive theirs before leaving. Bahá’ís making their own travel arrangements must notify the National Spiritual Assembly immediately in order to be provided with these important credentials.

Aliens Reminded to Register

The United States government requires all aliens to report their addresses in January. Forms for this purpose may be obtained at any Post Office or office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Willful failure on the part of any alien to comply with this requirement carries a penalty of possible fine and deportation.

Guardian's Directives Recalled by Interracial Committee

The Crusade rushes to its conclusion, and the immense task of reaching the masses of Negro Americans remains unfulfilled. The Bahá’í Interracial Service Committee urges the friends to read and meditate once again on the material in The Advent of Divine Justice, pp. 28-34. Then let the communities consult on ways of carrying out these directions. Let the individual arise, seizing the remaining opportunities within his reach to inform the Negro citizens of the message of Bahá’u’lláh.

One of the major duties of the Interracial Committee is to find “ways and means of bringing the Bahá’í Faith to the attention of the Negroes throughout the country.” While the committee is working on various projects to fulfill this obligation, it would like to remind the friends that the most fundamental method of such teaching was explained to us by our beloved Guardian. The direction to show racial oneness “in every phase of their activity and life” may sound simple, but we should not overlook the great teaching that can result.

Let our minds and hearts dwell on such passages as these from the pen of Shoghi Effendi: “As to racial prejudice . . . it should be regarded as constituting the most vital and challenging issue confronting the Bahá’í community at the present stage of its evolution . . . A long and thorny road . . . still remains untraveled, both by the white and the Negro exponents of the redeeming Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.”

“Let them call to mind, fearlessly and determinedly, the example and conduct of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá while in their midst . . . ”

“Freedom from racial prejudice . . . should . . . be

JANUARY 1963

adopted as the watchword of the entire body of the American believers . . . ”

“ . . . Let them . . . call to mind the warnings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and visualize, while there is yet time, the dire consequences that must follow if this challenging and unhappy situation that faces the entire American nation is not definitely remedied.”

—Bahá’í INTERRACIAL SERVICE COMMITTEE

New Subject Index for Will and Testament

The National Reference Library Committee announces a new Subject Index for the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Instead of being based on summaries, this short text lists all verities—each statement of truth about each of the basic subjects with which it deals. The result is a series of short compilations about each of the listed subjects, bringing together the many brief facts that are scattered through the three parts of the document. It is hoped that the 20-page index may be found useful in studying this vital instrument, and that it ‘will be kept available for ready reference.

Copies are $.75, and may be ordered from Edward G. Lippitt, Treasurer, 1556A Quarrier St., Charleston 1, W.Va.

Still available from this source are Subject Indexes previously announced: Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings in Bahá’í World Faith and Gleanings (combination), 75 pages, $2.00; Kitdb-i-iqan, 50 pages, $1.50; Hidden Words, 9 pages, $.35; Seven Valleys, 8 pages, $.30.

BAHA'I DIRECTORY CHANGES ASSEMBLY SECRETARIES

Northern California San Jose: Mrs. Natalie Owen, pro-tem, 824 Teresi Ct., Apt. 2 Sonoma J.D._: Miss Dorothy Smithson, P.0. Box 231, Kenwood Southern California District #1 Inglewood J.D.: Mrs. Vanice Carrick, 14009 Doty Ave., Hawthorne Massachusetts Boston: Miss Eva Johnson, 185 Beacon St., Z 16 Michigan Grand Rapids: Mr. Edward Rivers, P.O. Box 1952 New Jersey Jersey City: Mrs. Betty Zingali, P.0. Box 495, Journal Square Station, Z 6 Oregon Portland: Mrs. Bonnie Teague, 6532 N. Congress Ave. Western Washington Tacoma: Mrs. Gloria Jacobs, 3324 S. 7th, Z 6

RESIGNATION FROM COMMITTEE

Area Teaching Committee—South Central States Mrs. Jeanne Laite

CORRECTION

Bahá’í World Editorial Committee, Vol. XIV Mrs. Molly King, Claremont, Calif.