Bahá’í News/Issue 364/Text
| ←Previous | Bahá’í News Issue 364 |
Next→ |
| No. 364 | BAHA’I YEAR 118 | JULY, 1961 |
Hands in Holy Land Share Recent Victories
“Impelled share recent evidence (of) vitality, rapid expansion (and) consolidation (of) beloved Faith. Twenty-one Latin American national bodies successfully formed raising total number (to) forty-eight throughout (the) Bahá’í world. Formation (of) all European goal Assemblies including one extra (in) Holland, Denmark (and) Spain (and) eight new Assemblies (in) Ceylon now constitutes firm foundation (for) election next Riḍván (of) twelve independent national bodies, future pillars (of the) Universal House (of) Justice. Mass conversion stipulated (in) last message (of) beloved Guardian (as) essential feature (of) second half (of) Crusade (is) steadily gaining momentum (in) Africa, India (and) South America. Central East Africa membership (has) increased three thousand since March, (During) past four months seventeen hundred new believers (have) enrolled Ujain district (in) India. Bolivian community now boasts fifteen hundred Indian Bahá’ís (with) twenty-five local assemblies largely (of) Indian membership. chad (was) recently opened (to) Faith raising countries illumined (by) revelation (of) Bahá’u’lláh (to) two hundred fifty-eight. Constant evidences (of) grace (of the) Blessed Perfection, realization (of) Divine Plan (of) Center (of the) Covenant (and) sustaining inspiration (of) be loved Guardian uplift all hearts (and) inspire every believer (to) renewed effort (and) determination (to) win all goals. Invite friends (to) join (in) prayers (of) thanksgiving (and) supplication (for) still greater viotories. Airmail copy (to) Hands (and) National Assemblies.”
(signed) HANDSFAITH
May 23, 1961
COMMENTARY:[edit]
Dear Friends:
This latest communication from the Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land brings into sharp focus the results of dedicated effort by individual believers and assemblies, both national and local, to carry the Message of Bahá’u’lláh to all parts of the planet earth. The establishment of the National Spiritual Assemblies in Latin America and the formation of the requisite number of local assemblies in Europe and Ceylon necessary to establish twelve additional National Assemblies next Riḍván make an impressive record of accomplishment during this fourth phase of the beloved Guardian’s World Crusade.
With mass conversion an essential feature of the last half of the Ten-Year Plan, reports from Africa, India and South America give thrilling testimony to the rapid expansion of the Faith in these areas. Chad, recently added to the list of countries where Bahá’ís reside, is one of the new nations in Western Africa.
Although the United States with its largely urban population hardly seems ready for mass conversion, we need but apply the Master’s injunction to each lead one soul to the Faith every year. Such action on the part of each one of us would result in the enrollment of thousands. Could this not be our measure of thankfulness for the grace bestowed on us by Bahá’u’lláh? Let us accept this challenge and teach.
U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Latin American Conventions Elect First NSA’s[edit]
Costa Rica[edit]
The delegates and other Bahá’ís assembled at the first national convention of Costa Rica were enkindled to a profound degree by the Hand of the Cause of God, Mr. Zikru’lláh Khádem. It was made unmistakably clear to all present that the spirit of the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, was manifest at the convention.
The atmosphere was charged with a creative potency released by the messages received from the Hands of the Faith and the friends turned to the World Center in gratitude for its gift which initiated Costa Rica’s National Fund.
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Costa Rica was elected as follows: Mr. Esteban Canales, chairman; Mr. Richard Mirkovich, vice-chairman; Mr. Humberto Ulloa F., secretary; Mr. Theodore Cortazzi, recording secretary; Mr. Antonio Soto G., treasurer; Mr. José Barquero, Mr. Edgard Gomez, Mr. Aaron Barnes, Mr. John Rutan.
The new National Assembly states: “Our first action was to attempt to express befittingly our profound gratitude to the Hands in the Holy Land for their tremendous help and guidance to us; our deep gratitude to the Hands of the Western Hemisphere and our profound gratitude to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States for their monumental support and guidance.” . . . “Our pledge this year is to increase our local assemblies in Costa Rica, doubling our present five to the number of ten and to establish five new groups by next Riḍván.”
Bahá’ís attending the first National Convention of Costa
Rica, Hand of Cause Zikru’lláh Khádem (first row
standing, fourth from left).
Reception held for Bahá’ís and their friends at the Hotel
Palace preceding the first National Convention of
Guatemala. Hand of Cause William Sears (second row,
center) was the speaker.
Guatemala[edit]
A new pillar to support the cupola of the International House of Justice was joyfully raised in the city of Guatemala the weekend of April 29 and 30, lovingly guided by revered Hand of the Cause William Sears, who led the believers step by step to progressively new heights of understanding and consecration, culminating in the indescribably sacred moments of the election of the first National Spiritual Assembly of Guatemala. In an atmosphere of unity, love and resolve, the nine new stewards chosen on this historic occasion spoke with moving simplicity of their profound humility and awe in the face of their sacred trust.
All four local spiritual assemblies of the country of Guatemala were represented, and also the virgin area of British Honduras, now under the administrative orbit of the new National Assembly of Guatemala. Delegations of devoted Indian Bahá’ís came from Chichicastenango and Quezaltenango. The lights of mass conversion are beginning to be seen on the horizon in this great country of the ancient Mayans.
Memorable moments were: the reception in the Hotel Palace attended by many friends of the Faith in the capital, Who were filled with enjoyment at the inspiring words of Hand of the Cause William Sears; the Feast of Riḍván held in the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds with an a cappella singing in Spanish of “From the Sweet-scented Streams.” But the height never surpassed was the witnessing of a new spiritual Divine Institution forming itself before the eyes of all, each participant being guided to new spiritual understanding and consecration.
Guatemala is a large country with a mixture of varying currents and civilizations. Its destiny for the Faith cannot help but be great. The Indians of the country are beginning to say thoughtfully, “This is the Faith to help the people of my race,” and some are even now Voluntarily asking to take the Light of Bahá’u’lláh to their own villages, even before they have become Bahá’ís themselves.
[Page 3]BAHA’I NEWS
Bahá’ís attending the first National Bahá’í Convention
of Honduras, 1961.
Honduras[edit]
The first annual convention of the Bahá’ís of Honduras was held April 28, 29 and 30 in Tegucigalpa. There were nine delegates representing six communities and an estimated attendance of fifty, The nine delegates were representative of the body of believers which include Spanish, Mestizo, Indian, Negro, pioneers from the United States and Latin American pioneers. Throughout the convention and during the celebration of the Riḍván Feast, the presence of the revered Hand of the Cause Mr. H. Collis Featherstone greatly inspired the believers. The many messages of love and greetings from the Hands of the Cause and from no less than thirty national and regional assemblies from every part of the globe, impressed upon the gathered friends the reality of the universality of the Faith and the strong bond that draws us all together. The news of the success and growth of the Faith all over the world and the realization of the election of twenty-one independent national spiritual assemblies in Latin America made this historic convention three glorious, memorable days.
During the annual reports, the National Teaching Committee presented goals for the coming year which include mass conversion on the North Coast (the area of the victories won last year with the forming of three LSAs in La Ceiba, Tela and Puerto Cortés) and the sending of native pioneers to the newly-acquired territory of the Misquita where reside Carib and Misquita Indians of whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke so glowingly in His Tablets of the Divine Plan, He compared them to the ancient inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula who on receiving the light of the Mohammedan Dispensation, became so illumined that they brightened the world around them. Each local Bahá’í community has a goal to take the teachings to nearby villages and hamlets. This has already begun in Tela where a village called Triumfo (which means Victory) has three who are preparing themselves to enter the Faith.
Three other provinces of Honduras are to be opened this year. They are Lempira whose capital is named Gracias, Intibuco whose capital is named La Esperanza, and La Paz whose capital has the same name.
The spirit of this historic convention inspired the believers to arise with fresh determination to serve and teach the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh so that this country will become illuminated with the light of the Cause of God.
The National Spiritual Assembly of Honduras for 1961-1962 is as follows: Luis Bouche, chairman; Robert Ancker, vice-chairman; Shirley Ross, corresponding secretary; Vivian Haley, recording secretary; George Haley, treasurer; Jóse López; Mazie Haylock; Olinda Andrade and Wanita George.
Nicaragua[edit]
The first annual Bahá’í Convention of Nicaragua was held in Managua, April 21-23, 1961. Delegates and visitors were present from Nicaragua’s three communities, Managua, Nandaime and Bluefields. There was also present an Indian believer from Raitipura.
The convention began with an informal banquet on the night of the 21st where revered Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featherstone personally greeted each believer. Afterwards his comments brought the friends very close to believers in other communities.
On the second day of the convention, after much deliberation and prayer the nine delegates elected the first National Spiritual Assembly of Nicaragua. This institution began to assume the great responsibilities that lie ahead in laying the foundation for new goals to be achieved to spread and strengthen the Faith throughout Nicaragua. There was present a feeling of spiritual strength and unity in the awareness that with the birth of the National Assembly in this country, twenty others were being formed in the neighboring countries of Central America, South America and Mexico.
The convention was highlighted by the reading of the inspiring message from the Hands of the Faith and by the reading of letters and cablegrams of congratulation. In these precious moments, the tremendous scope, power and glory of the Faith was deeply felt in the hearts of all.
Mr. Featherstone closed the convention with a profoundly moving tallr which filled the believers with a new impetus to arise in devotion and dedication to double by next year the goals set this year.
Delegates to the first Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís
of Nicaragua with Hand of Cause H. Collis Featherstone (back row, center). Front row, left to right: Lloyd
Forbes, Pablo Perez, Ruth Yancey, Luis Bonilla, Humberto Guevara. Back row, left to right: Ormando
Fonseca, Jorge Harper, Solomon Escalante, Oscar
Lizano.
First National Convention of the Bahá’ís of the Republic
of Panama held in Panama City, April 1961. Hand of
Cause Zikru’lláh Khádem (sitting, second from right).
Panama[edit]
On the evening of April 28, 1961, the Bahá’ís met in the Hotel Colon for a reception dinner, prior to the actual convention proceedings of the following two days. Hand of the Cause Zikru’lláh Khádem brought light and confidence into the convention proceedings, giving guidance and inspiration throughout the gathering.
The National Assembly stated: “The spiritual heights attained during that gathering gave us a new impetus on the crest of which five native pioneers arose to teach the Faith, seven believers offered full or partial deputization to carry forward the teaching work, and we set the minimum goal of doubling our five local assemblies the first year of the Two Year Plan as well as consecrating ourselves to the sacred task of taking the Cause to each city, town and village in the Republic of Panama by April, 1963. Towards the end of mat glorious convention every Bahá’í in Panama pledged his or her complete and unqualified support to gain these teaching goals.”
Prior to the convention William Sears, Hand of the Cause, visited Panama and sowed the seeds for the new teaching efforts. Following convention, another Hand of the Cause, Enoch Olinga from Africa, inspired the gathering towards obtaining unprecedented individual conversion among the 60,000 Guaymi Indians located in the Chiriquí Province mountains and among the San Blas Island Indians. Two of the five pioneers have volunteered for this work.
The first National Assembly of the Republic of Panama was elected on Sunday, April 30. Its members and officers are: Alfred E. Osborne, chairman; Frederick J. Berest, vice-chairman; Donald R. Witzel, corresponding secretary; Raquel de Constante, recording secretary; James V, Facey, treasurer; Kenneth Frederics, assistant corresponding secretary; Adolphus Holder: Harry Haye and Alan Pringle.
Paraguay[edit]
The convention in Asunción, Paraguay, which brought into being the first National Spiritual Assembly of this country was far more than a two-day convention of administrative procedure. It was the imbibing of that rare fragrance of love that Dr. Ramatu’lláh Muhájir, Hand of the Cause of God, brought with him from the other continents where he has been teaching.
In spite of the fewness of numbers with only two local assemblies and one small group to participate in this first national step, the animated faith of the Hand of the Cause got the convention into almost instant teaching action. With a large map of Paraguay in front of them, they divided the country into small sections where Indians reside, and when the call of Dr. Muhájir came, to volunteer to go into those areas. the plans assumed almost immediate realization. Volunteers from both Asunción and Encarnación, as well as the group of Concepción, pledged help in various ways. Some of the stout-hearted will go into the barren stretches of the Chaco for reconnaissance with the primitive tribes there; some will go in another direction where they can speak the language of the natives; others determined to renew intensive teaching in the two cities where local assemblies are already established; others will go into the small country-places where the Word of Bahá’u’lláh has yet to be heard.
A cablegram of thankfulness for me establishment of the new National Spiritual Assembly of Paraguay and a plea for prayers for guidance, was sent to the Hands of the Faith in Haifa.
Peru[edit]
“We felt very humble as we gathered at the Bahá’í Center in Lima, Peru, to participate in the activities and discussions which were to reach their climax in the election of the first National Spiritual Assembly of Peru, one of the twenty-one new national spiritual assemblies which will form the pillars which will sustain the Universal House of Justice,” wrote the secretary of the National Assembly of Peru.
Mr. Hasan Balyuzi, Hand of the Cause, came from London, England, for this historic occasion. The Bahá’ís were most grateful for his patient explanations, his dignified, loving-manner and wonderful sense of humor. The five busy days included a two-day pre-convention school; a trip in taxi, car and open truck to the newly-purchased Temple land; meals consisting of typical Peruvian dishes were served in the Center; an evening of Bahá’í talent including songs in Quechua, the ancient language of the Incas, sung by one of the Indian Bahá’ís, and the showing of slides.
On May 1 the National Spiritual Assembly of Peru was elected. Each of the local spiritual assemblies in Peru is represented on this newly-created body. “A spirit of dedication was present and we are well aware that we must, in the words of Mr. Balyuzi, ‘march shoulder to shoulder’ to carry out our objectives in the years ahead.”
Delegates and visitors at firat National Convention of
the Bahá’ís of Peru.
Delegates and visitors at the first National Bahá’í Convention of the Dominican Republic, held in Ciudad Trujillo, April 21-23, 1961. Hand of Cause Enoch Olinga,
standing center.
Bahá’ís attending National Convention of Bolivia, 1961,
held in garden of the Bahá’í Center in La Paz. Hand of
Cause Dr. R. Muhájir in last row, center.
Delegates and visitors to the first National Convention
of the Bahá’ís of Jamaica, April 1961. Hand of Cause
General S. ‘Alá’í, holding Greatest Name.
Those in attendance at the Annual Convention of the
Bahá’ís of Southeast Asia held in Djakarta, April
28-30, 1961.
Group taken at Bahá’í Convention, Auckland, New
Zealand, 1961.
Fifth Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of Alaska, 1961.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
Peru with Hand of Cause Hasan Balyuzi (holding Greatest Name). Front row, left to right: Lester Long, Mercedes Sanchez, Josefina de Rosas, Guillermo Aguilar.
Back row, left to right: Jorge Bejar, Enrique Sanchez,
Grover Gonzalez, Demetrio Molero, Cesar Benavides.
The first National spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
Paraguay. Front row, left to right: Asadu’llah Akbari,
Rezsi Sunshine, Angélica E. de Doldán, Rosa de
Haterza, Keihamosh Azampanah. Back row, left to
right: Aníbal Torres, Luis Van Strate, A. Azampanah,
Francisco Haterza.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
Nicaragua. Seated, left to right: Pablo Perez, Dora
Escalante, Ormando Fonseca, Ruth Yancey, Oscar
Lizano. Standing, left to right: Solomon Escalante,
Jorge Harper, Hooper Dunbar, Donald Newby.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the
Republic of Panama with Hand of Cause Zikru’lláh
Khádem (holding Greatest Name). Front row, left to
right: James V. Facey, treasurer; Mrs. Raquel Constante, recording secretary; Donald Witzel, corresponding secretary; Adolphus Holder. Back row, left to right:
Frederick Berest, vice-chairman; Alfred E. Osborne,
chairman; Alan Pringle; Harry Haye; Kenneth Frederics, ass’t. corresponding secretary.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
Honduras, elected April 29, 1961. Front row, left to
right: Vivian Haley, Wanita George, Shirley Ross,
Mazie Haylock, Olinda Andrade. Back row, left to
right: George Haley, Luis Bouche, Robert Ancker, José
López.
Members of the first National Spiritual Assembly of
the Bahá’ís of the Dominican Republic with Hand of
Cause Enoch Olinga (holding Greatest Name). Seated,
left to right: Sheila Rice-Wray, Daisy García de Vargas,
Frieda van Hmlten de Gémez, Celestino Gdmez Cuevas,
Standing, left to right: Manuel Garcia Vazques, Manuel
Camino Rivera, Benito Alejandro Pérez, Félix Ramón
Gomez, Wilfredo Rowland.
Eight members of the first National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of Bolivia. Seated, left to right: Sabino
Ortega (first Indian teacher); Andres Jachakollo
(first Indian believer in Bolivia), vice-chairman; Yolanda de Lopez, secretary; Daniel Mauricio (founder
of first Bahá’í school). Standing, left to right: Massoud
Khamsi, chairman; Alberto Saldias, treasurer; Athos
Costas (pioneer from Argentina); Estanislao Alverez,
recording secretary. Absent: Alberto Rocabado.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
Costa Rica with Hand of Cause Zikru’lláh Khádem
(front row, second from right). Front row, left to right:
John Rutan, Esteban Canales, Aaron Barnes. Back row,
left to right: Theodora Cortazzi, José Barquero, Edgard
Gómez, Humberto Ulloa F, Richard Mirkovich, Antonia
Soto G.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Uruguay, elected April 30, 1961. Front row, left to right:
Mrs. Elena Caraballo, Mrs. Else Cazcarra, Mrs. Carola
Escofet, Miss Mary Dutra. Back row, left to right: Edward Belcher, Mario R. Marius, Leopoldo Caraballo,
Francisco Flores, Roberto Cazcarra.
Eight members of the first National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of Jamaica. First row, left to right: Miss
Alice Maud Gallier, Percival Aiken, Miss Emily Taylor,
Mrs. Margarine Ullrich. Second row, left to right: Randolph Fitz-Henley, W. A. W. Mitchell, Alfred Senior,
Clarence Ullrich.
Central and East Africa, and South Pacific Conventions Cite Growth
Central and East Africa[edit]
A Unity Feast on the first evening opened the sixth annual convention in the Central and East Africa Region. A total of 125 delegates, including thirty-five from Kenya, three from Tanganyika, eighty-one from Uganda, and those from the Congo, gathered for four days, April 21-30, 1961, at the Nkoma Junior Secondary School near Mbale in Eastern Uganda. For the first time since the formation of the Regional Assembly, dearly loved and revered Hand of the Cause Músá Banani was unable to be present at the convention. A special message of greeting was sent to him.
Throughout the convention the friends were seated in language groups and translators spoke in Ateso, Luganda, Swahili and Lubukusu.
The final statistics for the Region are as follows: 17,028 believers, nearly 3,000 of whom were added during March and April. There are 1,122 centers and 473 local spiritual assemblies. In the Congo the number of believers has increased from 500 last year to 1,200 this Riḍván, and the local assemblies from thirteen in 1960 to thirty-seven this year.
After consultation devoted to the convention messages, and reports with emphasis on mass conversion, the election was held for the members of the National Spiritual Assembly: ‘Ali Nakhjavaní, chairman; Max Kanyerezi, vice-chairman; Philip Hainsworth, secretary; Hassan Sabri, treasurer; Oloro Epyeru; Sospateri Isimai; Charles Nalika; Kolonario Oule; and Isabel Sabri.
The Bahá’í Schools committee reported on progress towards the forthcoming opening of the new Bahá’í Primary Schools in Uganda and of a number of small local centers of temporary materials in various parts of the Region. Also the progress of correspondence courses was discussed and the plans for conducting them in the vernacular languages. In Uganda a literacy campaign is being conducted as an adjunct to the teaching program, and a special plan is being worked out for winning entire villages to the Faith.
Slides of the Holy Land and Kampala Temple Dedication were shown.
South Pacific[edit]
The third Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of the South Pacific was held at Suva, Fiji, preceded by a teaching conference The conference opened by the reading of prayers in four languages, Gilbertese, English, Tongan, and Samoan. The chairman greeted the believers and mentioned the joy of having Miss Violet Hoehnke of New Guinea at the conference. Many subjects were discussed including local teaching, translations, attending Bahá’í summer schools, serving on local assemblies, the Bahá’í Fund, the importance of prayer and the Nineteen-Day Feast.
The convention was opened on April 28, 1961, by the chairman of the Regional Spiritual Assembly. It was brought out that eight years ago there was only one Bahá’í community and that was in Fiji. Now there are communities in the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Gilbert and Ellice, Solomons and New Hebrides.
Miss Margaret Rowling from New Caledonia, member of the Auxiliary Board, brought greetings to the convention from Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featherstone. Eight delegates out of the nineteen were able to be present.
Third Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of the South
Pacific held at Suva, Fiji Islands, April 1961. It was
preceded by a two-day teaching conference.
Seven members of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of
the Bahá’ís of the South Pacific, 1961-62. Left to right:
Miss Margaret Rowling, Mr. Latu Tu’akihekolo, Miss
Mabel Sneider, Mrs. Elsa Blakely, Mr. Alvin Blum,
Miss Irene Jackson, Mr. Walli Khan. Not present: Mr.
Suhuyl Ala’i, Mrs. Dulcie Dive.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of Indian village of
Villa Nieque, Bolivia, formed Riḍván 1961.
Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Trieste,
Italy, formed Riḍván 1961, Left to right: Mr. Mohamad
Nuri, Mrs. Mahsolta Nuri, Mr. Ahsan Taid, Mrs. Fatemeh Taid (Kazemi), Mr. Gholamreza Tahmassebi,
Mrs. Toba Tahmassebi, Mrs. Malmal Tahzib, Mrs.
Malihe Tahzib (Mahdi), Mr. Ahmad Tahzib.
First Local spiritual Assembly oy me Bahá’ís of Peigan
Indian Reserve, Alberta, Canada, formed Riḍván 1961.
Seated, left to right: Louise Whitecow, Charles Strike-With-A-Gun, Rose Knowlton. Standing, left to right: Sam Yellow Face, Ben Whitecow, Joyce McGuffie,
Dale Olivier, Guy Yellow Wings, Chief Samson
Knowltun.
Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Pocatello,
Idaho, formed Riḍván 1961.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Quezaltenango, Guatemala, farmed Riḍván 1960.
Crusade Goals Achieved in Europe[edit]
As a vital step in the world-encircling Crusade, the attainment of the goals in Western Europe this past Riḍván drew the attention of the Bahá’í world. It will be recalled that at the beginning of his Ten Year Crusade the beloved Guardian assigned to the goal countries in Western Europe the striking task of “quadrupling” rather than “doubling,” as elsewhere, the then existing number of local spiritual assemblies, raising their total to seventy-two, To fulfill these requirements nine of the eleven European goal countries had to gain, within one year, twenty-seven new local assemblies. These had to be formed at Riḍván 1961 in preparation for the election during Riḍván 1962 of the eleven National Spiritual Assemblies, pillars of the Universal House of Justice.
The friends of many countries shared directly in the victories won in Western Europe last Riḍván. The response of the individual believers to the renewed call for pioneers, the assistance from the Joint Deputization Fund, the ready cooperation of all the administrative bodies involved, and the European believers themselves, made possible this bright and total victory. The eleven goal countries of Western Europe now have seventy-five local spiritual assemblies — three beyond the Crusade goal. France has its own National Spiritual Assembly established in 1958 in fulfillment of another Crusade goal. Next Riḍván eleven additional National Spiritual Assemblies will be formed, thus readying the continent of Europe to take its proper place in the Great Jubilee of 1963 and in the election of the Universal House of Justice.
The American Bahá’ís once more arose to the needs of the Crusade and sent eighty-three of their members to pioneer in Europe during last year, reinforcing those who had earlier carried this Divine Message from the shores of America to the continent of Europe. The Persian friends also played an important role in the pioneering field, 119 of them entering eight of the goal countries. Other countries supplying the invaluable pioneers are Canada, England, Peru, Venezuela and Germany.
This field of service — the pioneering field — the initial purpose of which is to carry the healing love of Bahá’u’lláh to all mankind, is one of infinite toil and heroic self-sacrifice. Some have made the supreme sacrifice in Europe during this year of building divine institutions. Frances Wells was the first to give her life and her body lies in her pioneering post of Differdange, Luxembourg. Mrs. Jennie Anderson, another pioneer of many years, passed on to the Abhá Kingdom in Goteborg, Sweden. James O‘Keefe, young and eager to pioneer — just twenty-one — met a tragic death in an automobile accident in Italy where he had gone less than a month previously from Las Vegas, Nevada. The Richard Walters family of four — Richard, Sr., Evelyn, Tina (fourteen) and Richard (eighteen) — pioneers in Portugal, is now a family of only three. Young Richard, a declared Bahá’í youth of just one month, gave his life with the hope on his lips that he would guide some soul to the Cause of God. “A child of two pioneers of many years, he was forced to make many sacrifices and accept countless hardships, some of which mature adults would find difficult to bear,” his mother and father wrote. Then, “Our son gave everything he possessed to the service of God, even his life.”
We cannot overlook the great sacrifice of those two young men who served the lonely and isolated post of Spitzbergen, where the long months of night and storm, the isolation in a remote hunting cabin, the lack of opportunity to teach the Message of Bahá’u’lláh, calls for a living self-sacrifice. Especially do we owe deep gratitude to Paul Adams who has just completed his third winter in this desolate post, renouncing the more satisfying service of contact with people and teaching them directly, in order to fulfill the direction of the Guardian that Spitzbergen be opened to the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh during the Ten Year Crusade.
Surely, the selfless devotion of these friends and many others not mentioned here will bring to the needy continent of Europe that sovereign remedy “Which only the Plan, conceived by a divinely appointed Physician, can administer.”
The year just entered calls for further effort and endurance to consolidate the prizes won in order to establish the firm and unshakable foundation upon which the National Assemblies must be built.
Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of Italy and Switzerland
Youth Winter School held in Leysin, Switzerland, Dec.
24, 1960 to Jan. 3, 1961, was sponsored by the Italo-Swiss Youth Committee.
Sydney Temple Progresses Steadily[edit]
The work is proceeding steadily on the construction of the House of Worship in Sydney, Australia. Recent activity has included the finishing off and painting of the interior of the dome; insertion of glass sections in the precast sections forming the fleche; pouring the steps around the temple, leaving a rough finish upon which the final pouring is to be made; and beginning the placement of the gallery windows, each of which has been pre-cast in three sections.
The caretaker and temple guides have reported large numbers of visitors coming to the temple on Saturdays and Sundays. The dedication of this mother temple of the Antipodes is set for September, 1961.
Temple Site Acquired Near Paris[edit]
An important goal of the Ten-Year Crusade has been achieved with the purchase of a temple site by
held at the Savoy Hotel in Bern, Switzerland, April 29-30 1961.
German Bahá’í Youth held their traditional Winter
school from Dec. 26, 1960 to Jan. 5, 1961, on the Schauinsland in the Southern Black Forest. A teaching program was carried out as well as participation in winter
sports.
the National Spiritual Assembly of France. It is located seventy kilometers from the center of Paris
on a hill overlooking two bends in the majestic river
seine. It consists of 20,000 square meters and was
purchased for approximately $12,000 from a portion
of a gift left in the will of Miss Edith Sanderson.
Miss Sanderson was an American believer who became a Bahá’í in France in the early 1900’s, remaining there until her death in 1955. It was at the formation of the National Assembly of France in 1958 that Miss Edna True, representing the National Assembly of the United States, shared the news with the French Community that they had been the recipients of a gift of $25,000 left by this devoted and steadfast believer.
For several years a committee had searched for a suitable piece of land for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of France. Shoghi Effendi had indicated that it should be “on the banks of the Seine.” Any desirable site seemed too exorbitant in price. It was just before Riḍván 1960 that a property was shown that appeared to have the necessary requirements and the final transaction was completed on December 13, 1960.
Left: Bahá’í children of Tolla-Calla, Bolivia, who came to greet Hand of Cause Dr. Muhájir. Right: Revered
Hand of Cause Dr. Muhájir (standing center) among believers of Tolla-Colla and neighboring friends.
New Zealand Bahá’ís Call on Iranian U N Representative[edit]
Following receipt of a cable from the Hands in the Holy Land requesting that Beryl van der Vaart and Hugh Blundell of New Zealand make a courtesy call on the official Iranian representative to the United Nations Human Rights Conference, these believers flew 500 miles to Wellington, N.Z., on Feb. 17, 1961.
Representing the National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand and the one hundred and fifty Bahá’í centers in Australia and New Zealand, Mrs. van der Vaart and Mr. Blundell were received by Dr. Bashir Ameli, Under-secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Teheran, Iran. Dr. Ameli was assured of the deep affection with which Bahá’ís throughout the world regard his country, as being the cradle of their Faith. Both of the Bahá’í representatives were personally invited to attend the remainder of the United Nations Conference, and Dr. Ameli presented each with a copy of his address to the Seminar.
International News Briefs[edit]
The Regional Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific has received a gift of tapestry once used by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and which for many years hung in the Shrine of the Báb. This was delivered personally by Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featherstone, as a gift from the Hands in the Holy Land. On his return from attending the first annual conventions of Nicaragua and of Honduras and visiting other countries in Central America, Mr. Featherstone spent four days in Suva, Fiji Islands. He met with Regional Assembly members, spoke at a Feast and at a fireside held at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Suva.
This Riḍván saw the establishment of fifteen new local spiritual assemblies in Vietnam totaling twenty-eight. This more than doubled the thirteen established last year. The number of believers approached 1,000 as compared to slightly over 400 last Riḍván.
A teaching conference was held recently in Saigon, Vietnam, with 110 believers present from thirteen assemblies.
Luxembourg National Day was observed by about forty Luxembourg Bahá’ís, highlighted by an address from Monsieur Tamenne, secretary of the National Assembly of France, who spoke of the many recent victories for the Faith in France. No guests were invited to this meeting since a study session on preparation for the forming of local spiritual assemblies had been planned. This was followed by an explanation of the difference between administration and procedure by Virginia Orbison, and by a demonstration election and formation of a spiritual assembly explained by Ronald Bates. A discussion led by Claude Levy, chairman of the National Teaching Committee, resulted in a recommendation that pioneers should take jobs when possible in order to normalize their status in Luxembourg, relieve the Fund, and be enabled to make contacts.
The third Bahá’í Summer School of Addis Ababa was held at the Bahá’í Center, April 7 to April 12, 196l. The program of the summer school was designed to deepen the knowledge of the Bahá’ís and at the same time be attractive to the many contacts from Addis Ababa who attended the school. The greatest benefit was derived by the friends who had come from two neighboring towns, Jimma and Wolisso, five of whom were newly declared Bahá’ís. At a public meeting one evening. attended by many contacts as well as believers, Dr. Leo. Neiderreiter of Asmara gave an interesting talk on “The Road to World Peace,” which was followed by a lively discussion.
The Benelux summer school will be held in Oostduinkerke, Belgium, from August 26 to September 3, 1961. A hotel has been rented on the dike facing the beach. All class sessions will be held in the morning. Translations Will be provided in the four languages of the school — French, Dutch, English and Persian.
Enthusiastic Youth Swell Enrollments[edit]
Although there was no National Bahá’í Youth Committee in the United States during the past year, the enrollment of new Bahá’í youth exceeded that of all previous years and there was very noticeable improvement in the quality and effectiveness of youth conferences. The latter may very well be due to the fact that local spiritual assemblies and area teaching committees themselves have given more attention to this important aspect of Bahá’í teaching than they did when there was a national committee on which they relied for initiative and direction.
Following are a few reports of youth activities received during the past two months which may offer suggestions to other communities and areas for using the talents of their youth members and for bringing the Faith to the attention of larger numbers of young men and women of high school and college age.
“Building a Bridge to the New World Order” was the theme of a youth conference held in Pendleton, Ore., April 1-2, with sixty-nine in attendance. This was a joint undertaking by the Pendleton Spiritual Assembly and its youth committee, assisted by the Northwest Area Youth Panel, The three basic aims for the conference were: teaching contacts, deepening the faith and understanding of the Bahá’ís, and social activities to become better acquainted. The report of this event published in the area teaching committee bulletin states:
“The variety of methods of program presentation yielded an excellent conference, participation-wise. Methods used were speeches, panel discussions, moderated group discussions, and 8 series of topics by the Northwest Youth Panel. These topics included the Covenant, youth’s role and station in the World Crusade, teaching classmates, group standards versus individual standards and morals, youth-adult relations, and the worth of conferences.”
Third annual National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Burma held in Rangoon, April 28-30, 1961.
Bahá’í World Youth Day, March 25, served as a special occasion for many youth programs throughout the
country, some carried out by youth members themselves, and some planned by communities having no
youth members for the purpose of attracting young
people to the Faith. Colorado Springs, Colo., was one
community which observed this event during which the
youth studied portions of Some Answered Questions and
discussed plans for the annual conference held in
Pueblo.
The Bahá’í College Club at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, with the assistance of the Milwaukee Spiritual Assembly, held its World Youth Day program in Union Lounge at the University. with seventy-two present — ten non-Bahá’í youth, ten non-Bahá’í adults, sixteen Bahá’í youth, and thirty-six adult Bahá’ís — from Milwaukee and surrounding communities. Dan Jordan of Chicago was the speaker, his subject being “The Meaning of Anxiety.” A large case of Bahá’í literature, and a display of a model of the Bahá’í House of Worship with the book The Spell of the Temple opened at the architect’s picture were on exhibition for the entire week and were the subject of much discussion.
The Clayton, Mo,, Bahá’í Group also was host to a group of college students and youth for World Youth Day, when Paul Moon, Ben Weil, and Fay Anderson presented a “panel directed discussion” on “Challenge to Chaos.” Several contacts were themselves challenged to ask many questions and re-evaluate their own stand in the challenge to youth today.
The Bahá’í community of Rochester, Minn., was the
Some of the attendants at a Bahá’í Congress sponsored
by the Haitian Teaching Committee and held at the
Donald Corbin home in St. Marc on Feb. 26, 1961.
Fifty Bahá’ís came from Cap Haitian, Liancourt, Porta-au-Prince and St. Marc, Haiti.
host to another very successful type of week-end youth
conference March 31-April 2. It was inspired largely by
the only youth member of the community but it received the strong support, not only of the Rochester
Assembly but of the neighboring area teaching committees as well. Forty-four youth and eight adults were
present from eighteen communities in Illinois, Iowa,
Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The newspapers gave excellent publicity; there were radio announcements and two television appearances.
The first evening was social in character in order to enable the young people to get acquainted. Saturday morning’s session was devoted to the discussion of “Careers.” Dr. Rodney Belcher served as moderator and the panel members were, besides Dr. Belcher, Kenneth Jeffers, Mrs. Dawn Belcher, and Miss Judy Phillips. The careers discussed were: professional, business, women’s, and college. The afternoon session was a discussion of “Bahá’í Dating,” led by Dan Jordan who also gave a talk on Sunday morning on “Bahá’í Youth and the World Crusade.” Charles Hassan, recently returned from three years in Ethiopia, showed colored slides of that and other parts of Africa. All sessions were opened by a devotional period, and the evenings were spent in social activities.
Randy Weil of Clayton, Mo., whose history class was studying the religions of the East and had used as guest speakers a Moslem, a Jew and a Buddhist, asked the teacher if the class could not also have a Bahá’í speaker. His suggestion was readily accepted, and on March 17 the seventeen students and two teachers listened to a Bahá’í talk by Mrs. Clarice Well on progressive revelation as seen historically and what self-fulfillment means to youth.
Another Bahá’í youth, Malcolm Thomas of Dunedin, Fla., was also instrumental in bringing the Bahá’í Faith to the attention of thirty-five young people at an interfaith meeting in his own high school.
These few examples of the vitality and enthusiasm of Bahá’í youth call to mind the words of the beloved Guardian addressed to the American Bahá’í youth in The Advent of Divine Justice when he said: “Through such participation (in the teaching and administrative spheres of Bahá’í work) the critics and enemies of the Faith . . . can best be convinced of the indubitable truth that such a Cause is intensely alive, is sound to its very core, and its destinies in safe keeping.”
Hand of Cause Enoch Olinga spent several days last March with the friends in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and surrounding areas. He spoke at a public meeting in Cap Haitien (left photo), and met with the Bahá’ís in St.
Marc and in Liancourt (fight photo, M1. Olinga is standing third from left).
Know Your Baha’i Literature[edit]
“God Passes By”[edit]
God Passes By, by Shoghi Effendi, is the first historical study of the religion heralded by the Báb in Persia one hundred years ago which carries the survey through the four stages of the development of the Faith associated with the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Al:ldu’l-Bahá, and with the administrative order which has arisen since the death of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1921.
The historian of a spiritual cause must be far more than a collector of facts and observer of events. The true history of a religion is the conscious expression of the religion in all its spiritual aims, its written truths and principles, its sacrifice and devotion, and the activities of its body of adherents. Religious history is nothing else than the religion itself made articulate at a given time The time represented by God Passes By is the Centenary of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.
In addition to the Foreword written by the author, God Passes By has an Introduction contributed by [the late] Dr. George Townshend, Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, and Archdeacon of Clonfert. Examining the structure of the book, we note that the 412 pages of text, plus the xxiii pages of introductory material and list of contents, are divided into four historical periods: The Ministry of the Báb, 1844-1853; The Ministry of Bahá’u’lláh, 1853-1892; The Ministry of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1892-1921: and The Inception of the Formative Age of the Bahá’í Faith, 1921-1944, concluding with a chapter entitled Retrospect and Prospect in which the author, chosen and appointed spokesman of the Faith, stands upon the boundary line dividing past and future, summing up what has been and confidently outlining what is still to be.
The weight of Shoghi Effendi’s spiritual exposition consists in the fact that Bahá’í history parallels and demonstrates in action the Bahá’í teachings and principles. In successive chapters he unfolds the story of the greatest religious drama of all time resulting from the proclamation of the message of spiritual and social unity to an age which had brought nationalism, racialism, class movements and sectarianism to their climax of separatist organizations.
In this drama the first act is the Báb’s declaration of His mission, its heroic promulgation by followers in Persia, the leaders imprisonment and early execution, followed by an orgy of persecution and torture inflicted upon thousands of martyrs.
The next act discloses the potent spirit of Bahá’u’lláh establishing the new Dispensation heralded by the Báb, His imprisonment and eventual banishment with a few followers from Tihran to Baghdad, from Baghdad to Constantinople, thence to Adrianople, and at last to the prison city, ‘Akká where Bahá’u’lláh left this world in 1892.
The next act of this drama witnesses the freeing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá from confinement as result of the downfall of the Sultan, His consolidation of the Bahá’ís of East and West in one spiritual organism, His public mission which bore Him not only to North America but to England, France, Germany, Austria and Hungary, the enrichment of the literature of the Faith by publication of His addresses and His Tablets written to individual Bahá’ís, the formulation of the Bahá’í peace program in letters sent to the First Races Congress in London, the Committee on Durable Peace, The Hague, and in His discourse at the Lake Mohonk Peace Conference in New York, and His passing on November 23, 1921, at Haifa, honored and lamented by a great host of admirers and followers from various sects and creeds.
With the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the basis of Bahá’í unity is maintained through the provisions of His will and testament which established the station of Guardianship, explained Bahá’u’lláh’s institution of the House of Justice, and called for the formation of elective bodies known as Spiritual Assemblies, hundreds of which now exist throughout the world. “The moment had now arrived,” Shoghi Effendi writes (page 324) “for that undying, that world—vitalizing Spirit . . . to incarnate itself in institutions designed to canalize its outspreading energies and stimulate its growth.” “The Administrative Order which this historic Document has established, it should be noted, is, by virtue of its origin and character, unique in the annals of the world's religious systems” (page 326). For the application of Bahá’u’lláh’s truth to human life produces not a church or denomination but a community. The Faith of Bahá’u’lláh manifests itself through a social organism in which the individual finds his fulfillment in a loyalty to the highest interests of mankind. The function of religion as a society-building force has been restored to earth, but its goal in this age is the attainment of world order and world civilization.
In all the annals of religion, there is no book or record equivalent to this history of the Bahá’í Faith in its first hundred years, written by one who stands at the very central point of this great far-ranging movement in the life of mankind.
God Passes By is not a book to read and lay away; it is a world to enter and learn with all one’s poweri For here we have the only coherent, unified, reliable and hope-sustaining picture of human life in this crucial age; its motivating forces, its aims and goals, its worship, its truth, its future civilization; the working out of divine cause and human effect in the whole body of mankind.
(ED. NOTE: The above review is condensed from an article by Horace Holley in World Order Magazine, January, 1945. God Panes By, 435 pages with Index, is available from Bahá’í Publishing Trust, Wilmette, Illinois, at $3.00. A study outline by Horace Holley is also available on this work at 3.15)
[Page 16]‘I6 JIILV 1961
Winnetka Day Held at Temple[edit]
‘Abdu’l-Bahá has stated: “If the heart is strengthened, all the organs of the body are reinforced. . . .” Bahá’ís living in the shadow of the Temple located in the heart of America, have striven to stimulate this heart through a new proclamation effort, An open-house, “Winnetka Day,” was held especially for the residents of Winnetka and vigorously proclaimed through illustrated articles, ads and an editorial in the weekly newspaper, Winnetka Talk. Large posters were placed, printed invitations were sent to religious, social and business organizations — augmented by a presentation of new books to the public library. A highlight of this effort was the cover illustration of the Temple used on the Winnetka Talk, as shown in above photo. Winnetka Bahá’ís served as hosts that day, welcoming the guests, many of whom remained for the afternoon service.
South Carolina and Mississippi Recognize Bahá’í Marriages[edit]
On March 15, 1961, the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Jackson, Miss., sent the National Spiritual Assembly a copy of a resolution filed with and approved by the Secretary of State of Mississippi granting authority to the Jackson Assembly to perform legal Bahá’í marriages.
In a statement rendered April 3, 1961, the Attorney General of the State of South Carolina rendered his judgment that under the existing laws of that state local spiritual assemblies have authority to perform Bahá’í marriages, with the chairman and the secretary of the assembly acting as the representatives of the Bahá’í Faith for this purpose. This significant achievement was accomplished through the efforts of Richard Benson, member of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Greenville, S.C.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Calendar of Events[edit]
FEASTS[edit]
July 13 — Kalimát (Words)
August 1 - Kamál (Perfection)
HOLY DAY[edit]
July 9 — Martyrdom of the Báb
U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS[edit]
July 21, 22, 23
Baha’i House of Worship[edit]
Visiting Hours[edit]
Weekdays
10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Entire Building)
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Auditorium only)
Sundays and Holidays
10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Entire building)
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Auditorium only)
Service of Worship[edit]
Sundays
3:30 to 4:10 p.m.
BAHÁ’Í NEWS is published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States as a news organ reporting current activities of the Bahá’í World Community.
Reports, plans, news items, and photographs of general interest are requested from national committees and local assemblies of the united states as well as from national assemblies of other lands. Material is due in Wilmette on the first day or the month preceding the date of issue for which it is intended.
BAHÁ’Í NEWS is edited by an annually appointed Editorial committee. The Committee for 1960-61: Mrs. Eunice Braun. International News; Miss Charlotte M. Linfoot, National News; Miss D. Thelma Jackson and Mrs. Harriett Wolcott, Editors.
Editorial Office: 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.
Change of address should be reported directly to National Bahá’í Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.