BAHA'I NO. 200 OCTOBER, 1947

National Publicity Under Way on Temple Interior '

The most widespr.ead and intensive publicity plan yet undertaken by American Baha'is has been initiated by the Public Relations Committee in a national press and m agazine campaign devoted to the design for the Temple interior recently ap­proved by the Temple Trustees un­der the Guardian' s authorization.

The campaign is based upon the two sketch views of the interior de­sign which have been reproduced as inserts to this issue of Baha'i News, and announces the early beginning of work to complete the House of Worship.

After a careful and expert survey of the press and magazine field , the committee adopted a mailing list for its releases and illustrations totaling

1,482 different publications and news agencies. This number includes: dai­ly papers in towns with 25,000 or more population; dailies in towns with a population between 10,000 and 25,000; dailies in towns of less than 10,000 population; race and foreign language papers; architectural and builders magazines; news and gen­eral magazines; religious maga­zines; magazines devoted to educa­tion; and encyclopedias and books of reference .

These publications have been di­vided into two classes - those which make their own halftone illustrations or mats from photographs supplied, and those which can only use mats furnished them . The mailing, there­fore, consists of two different sets

Twin Spires in the Sky. Published in the July 18, 1947 issue of Chicago "Sun". Taken by their staff photographer.

NEWS YEAR 104 BAHA'I ERA

of material. The magazines and bet­ter-equipped papers receive a mime­ographed release stating the basic facts concerning the interior design and the building plans, with para­graphs explaining the general aims of the Faith, a photograph of the Temple as it now stands, with com­pleted superstructure and exterior ornamentation, a photograph of the sketch of the central domed audito­rium, and a photograph of the sketch of one of the arched alcoves or bays . To each of these photographs is at­tached a separate piece of copy des­cribing the picture, from which cap­tions and comments can be prepared for each illustration selected for use. To the smaller papers is sent a mail­ing consisting of the mimeographed general release already mentioned and· a mat combining the sketch of the auditorium with a picture of the building . The mat carries a caption or comment announcing the selection of the interior design and the build- · ing plans.

In planning this material, the com­mittee aimed at the accomplishment of three purposes: to tell the editors the story of the Temple, backed by three pictures of unusual beauty and impressiveness; to provide material for a feature article filling up to a full newspaper page or several mag­azine pages; to provide material for a minimum story using one or two pictures with brief comment.

The campaign, however, is not lim­ited to the 1,482 papers and maga­zines classifieci above. If the budget a llows, another mailing is to go to 4,000 weekly newspapers. This sup­plementary list would not receive photographs or mats but a photo­offset announcement carrying text and illustrations with an offer to send mats or photographs on request. This method has proven to be both ef­fective and inexpensive.

For the Baha'is themselves, the committee has planned to mail more than 400 copies of the general release

(Continued on page 2)

2

Special Supplement Sketches of Temple Interior The National Assembly has

authorized the Baha'i News Editorial Committee to include in this issue a special sup­plement for the friends . This supplement consists of halftone reproductions of two sketch­renderings of views of the Terriple interior visualized from the modified Bourgeois design recently approved by the Tem­ple Trustees.

By making these reproduc­tions separate inserts on good quality paper the friends have these new Temple views in a form suitable for framing or preserving in some manner.

They afford us glimpses into that longed-for completed in­terior wherein services of Baha'i worship can at last be held in a House of Worship des­tined to become one of the most renowned and influential struc­tures in the world.

National Publicity (Continued from page 1)

with the three photographs and des­criptions to assemblies, groups, na­tional committees responsible for teaching, radio work, etc., and to the Inter- America and European teaching committees for distribution in their particular areas. The ma­terial.also goes to the National Spiri­tual Assemblies of other lands.

Each assembly and group is urged to do its utmost to see that the Tem­ple interior design and announce­ment of building plans appears in at least one local paper. Even if the editor has received the material from the Public Relations Committee by mail, our effort has not been fully carried out until the local Baha'is have demonstrated that the story has local as well as general news inter­est. The committee, in addition, has on hand a supply of mats and a mat can be obtained by writing the com­mittee at its office address, 410 Lin­den Avenue, Wilmette, Ill.

The Temple interior, exemplifying as it does a new spiritual idea as well as impressive architectural beauty, comes to us as the ideal op­portunity for publicity.

This campaign is an important part of our work to accomplish the ob­jects of the Seven Year Plan.

OCTOBER, 1947

Baha'i group in Shiraz, May, 1947. Robert Gulick to left of the Greatest Name, and at the right of him is Hadrat-i-Agnan, third cousin of' the Bab and custodian of the House of the Bab.

Baha'i Pilgrimage In the course of the spring and

summer of this year, Robert L. Gu­lick, Jr. visited our co-workers in England, France, Spain, Switzer­land, Egypt, 'Iraq and fran. He cele­brated the Feast of Ric;lvan in Paris and on the 9th of Ric;lvan addressed the friends at the I:Ia~iratu 'l-Quds in Cairo. He was in Spain on June 24th when the first two believers enrolled in that land. He made the pilgrimage both to the House of Baha'u'llah in Ba@dad and to the House of the Bab in filiiraz; he was the first Baha'i from the west to be present in the Holy House in $_biraz on the anni­versary of the Bab 's Declaration, May 22nd. From Cairo, he had tele­phone conversations with RuJ:iiyyih Khanum before and after traveling to Persia .

With Oriental believers, he placed flowers on the tomb of the "immor­tal Lua" and Mirza Abu'l-Fac;ll in Cairo and on the grave of Keith Ran­som-Kehler in "far-away I~fahan." In Ba@dad, friends guided him to what was the Garden of Ric;lvan and they crossed the Tigris River and paused at the old mosque whch has not been changed in the eighty-four years that have elapsed since Baha­'u 'llah used to rest there; it was in these hallowed precincts that the Blessed Beauty composed the Hidden Words. Mr. Gulick gave lectures on

three continents before audiences ranging in size up to 3,000 persons.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Persia has written (3 Nur, 104) as follows about Mr. Gulick's visit to the birthplace of our Faith:

"His account of the spiritual servi­ces of the trusted American friends, of the advance of the Cause of God in that spacious land, of the fact that the beloved of God are exhilarated with the breaths of the Spirit, over­whelmed us all in a sea of real joy. ... In a very large gathering, com­posed of great number of 'fihran Baha'is and held in the main audi­torium of the National Headquarters, he delighted the eager believers of 'fihran with good news of the Faith. Afterward, he went on a journey to filiiraz, in order to make his pilgrim­age to the Holy House, meeting the friends in I~fahan, Najafabad, Dih­Bid, and Abadih . . . In truth , the radiance and spiritually of this hon­ored person affected everyone, and all have asked and continue to ask on behalf of this illustrious soul, Di­vine confirmations in ever-increas­ing measure from the holy presence of the powerful Lord, may our lives be a sacrifice to His grace. " It is our hope that in future the eyes of the Baha 'is of Persia will continue to

be brightened with looking on the comely faces of the well-loved be­lievers from the West."

The following is Mr. Gulick's own account of his visit to ~iraz· :

Cradle of a World Faith Americans are inclined to picture

most of Persia as a desert. This is a most _ inadequate conception, as a good deal of the empty space is merely dry land that requires only water for abundant production. But greater by far is the need for that Water of Life which was brought to humanity in filliraz.

It was my inestimable bounty to be the first pilgrim from the West to enter the new Mecca, the Blessed House of the Bab, on the anniversary of His inauguration of the new world faith which holds out to mankind the promise of a peaceful world of free­dom, justice, and happiness . I have often visited the beautiful Baha'i Temple in Illinois and it has been my privilege to be in the precincts of the Holy House of Baha'u'llah in Ba@dad, not to mention Kazimayn an.d other shrines of Islam and such Christian cathedrals as Notre Dame de Paris. But in the Holy House in filliraz, I found a spiritual atmos­phere more exalted than I had ex­perienced elsewhere. Even persons of other faiths and of no religion comment on their feeling that the Declaration Chamber is in reality an "upper room." The French ambas­sador on the occasion of his visit to the House gave vent to similar senti­ments.

The way to the House, past ba­zaars and through winding, noisome alleys, was anything but p"romising. Inside the portal, however, was an­other world. The Persian friends and I performed our ablutions with water from the same well that the Bab had used. It is virtually unchanged and the water is cold and refreshing . Next to it is the . sour orange tree planted by the Bab and nearby is a small pool bordered by flowers. The pilgrims remove ther shoes before entering this tiny courtyard. The crossing of each threshold, the as­cending of each step, is an occasion for prayer and demonstrations of de­votion. After placing our lips and our foreheads on the steps leading into the House, we entered a chamber on the main floor and I:Ia<;J.rat-i-Afnan, the• third cousin of the Bab, poured rosewater into our hands so that we

BAHA'I NEWS

might anoint our heads before climb­ing the eight steps leading to the floor above. I do not care to intro­duce interpretations but it interested me to note that the Bab's Declaration inaugurated the eighth of the world's established religions.

The friends asked me to chant in Persian and Arabic and I felt highly honored to participate in the praying in such a wondrously holy spot. In my prayers, I remembered many friends in various part of the world and also the National Spiritual As­semblies of Persia and America.

I also thought of that model Ameri­can teacher, Martha Root, who touched her forehead to the sacred Threshold and wept and wept. That such a great Cause, that a Messen­ger of God, should have come from such a small House filled her heart with sadness. The House seemed to me to be a gem, just the right size. In the future when vast multitudes make the pilgrimage to this place, it will not be possible for the friends to enter the House.

Finally, we assembled in the room where the glorious Youth of 25 years had bidden His friend, Mulla Husayn, to enter-a hundred and three years ago. Rare tablets were framed and placed on the walls . A magnificent rug, donated by Shoghi Effendi at the time of the Centenary, covered the floor. The room has five win­dows which face the garden. We turned toward the corner near the first window where a lamp marked the place where the Bab sat as He gave the glad-tidings of the birth of a wondrous, world-embracing Cause. He had truly prophesied at that im­mortal time: "This night, this very hour will in the days to come, be celebrated as one of the greatest and most significant of festivals."1

Later, we went to the house of Ha<;l.rat-i-Afnan and he showed us rel­ics of the Bab, Baha'u'llah, and 'Ab­du'l-Baha. There were garments wo·rn by the Bab when He went to Mecca; we were surprised to see how small that precious Being must have been, although He was of about the average height · of the fillirazis of that day, and that very smallness enhanced our appreciation of His grandeur. We saw a ring on which the Greatest Name was cut and we learned that it had been worn by Baha'u'llah. Space does not permit

(Continued on page 6)

3

Ralph Garner of Flint, Mich.

A Quiet Servant The Detroit Sunday News for Au­

gust 24th brought public recognition to a Baha'i who has performed years of faithful service in unpaid assist­ance to teen-age youth. All the more to his credit is the fact that this work is not even paFt of the formalized programs of local or national Baha'i plans. It lies only in that realm of endeavor where Baha'fs are admon­ished to be of service to all humanity in any way possible.

He is Ralph Garner of Flint, Michi­gan, long an active member of the faith, whose courage and cheerful­ness seem to increase as the malady which afflicts him has in recent years necessitated his being carried from bed to his desk. · Here he dials the telephone which puts him in touch with those prospective employ­ers for the youngsters whom he in­terviews in person. All sorts troupe into his room, orphans, juvenile de­linquents, those from broken homes, problem children, seeking odd jobs after school, new homes, or just good advice. Many are referred to him from the juvenile court as law of­ficials have come to know of his good offices.

The newspaper writeup came through a state placement bureau worker, Mrs. Kimball, seeking a home and part time work for a 12th grade girl who is orphaned. The Flint officials she visited referred her to Ralph, whose prompt results pleased her. When she told her hus­band about it, he being a staff pho­tographer on the Detroit News, he received an assignment to write and photograph the story.

4 OCTOBER, 1947

This World Freedom Beloved friends :

As national committees, regional committees, groups and communities carry out their public campaign on the theme of World Faith for World Freedom, it would be well for us Baha'is ourselves to make the ut­most use of that World Freedom we already, as Baha'is, possess. Out freedom to serve the Faith is our most precious treasure, something to guard with infinite care lest it be seized from us by a world of dis­traction without or a world of dis­traction within.

Ours not to yield to the forces of confusion which de.prive other com­munities from effective action. Ours not the responsibility to conduct a nation along its dark and dangerous path, nor maintain an empire's economy, nor re-apply an extinct creed to a world condition its theolo­gians could not foresee. But we are held responsible for preserving the integrity of our faith, keeping it po­tent from day to day; and we are held responsible for contributing to the unity of our local Baha'i com­munity group, large or small.

Abiding Gratitude Message from the Guardian Greatly welcome evidences of

a notable expansion of activi­ties and increased intensifica­tion of efforts for publicity. I urge believers and local As­semblies to redouble their ef­forts in support of vital Nation­al Fund. Praying ardently for realization of your highest hopes. Appreciate action (for preservation of) Keith's grave. Do not advise you transmit further funds to Persia for the grave. I appeal to North Amer­ican believers to exert their utmost to insure the formation of required number of Assem­blies by next April. Further sacrifices demanded, rich re­ward assured. May entire body of American believers arise to fulfill their glorious destiny.

Abiding gratitude, deepest love.

(signed) SHOGHI

Received September 10, 1947

Faith in Baha'u'llah takes us into His world, where we are safe and secure. There no one can deprive us of power to serve except ourselves . This freedom to serve is as great as our will and our intention. Its re­newal is as close to us as the words of the nearest open Baha'i book.

Therefore from every local Baha'i community there should come evid­ences of great undertakings and continuous spiritual achievement. Others are enchained by fears, op­pressed by problems and burdened by cares . As Baha'is may we dem­onstrate what freedom God has given us-freedom to abandon a a dead past, freedom to live and act in the new Dispensation! The greater our faith, the clearer we see that societies perish because they come to deal with imaginary forces, immersed in shadows who forsook the Light.

Great events are upon us-let us be great of soul so that the event can be made to reflect · the Baha'i Faith to masses who lose hope and direction.

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

More Assemblies Sponsor a Group

To the list of local Spiritual As­semblies already published, the National Assembly is happy to add the following: Phoenix, Minneapolis, Berkeley? Oakland, Seattle, Washing­ton, D. C., Flint. About 40 Assem­blies have now pledged their help in bringing at least one group to Assembly status by April, 1948. Their concentrated effort is sorely needed to assure success in meet­ing the goal of a total of 175 Assem­blies this year .

Enrollments Toledo, Ohio, 1; Findlay, Ohio, 2;

Niles, Mich., l ; San Rafael, Cal., 2; Marin City, Cal., 2 ; Oakland, Cal., 2; Ca nada, l ; Riverda le N.J., l; Seattle, Wa sh. , l; Cleveland, Ohio , l; Chicago, IIL, 2; Little Rock, Ark. , l; Greensboro, N.C., l; West Chester, Pa., l; No . Al­buquerque, N.M. , 3 ; Sioux Falls, S.D., l; Boston, Mass. , l ; Philadelphia , Pa., l; Burlingame, Cal. , 4; Spokane, Wash., l; Youth, 2.

Baha'i Greeting to Annual Congress Esperanto

Association of North America

Through the kindness of Miss Roan Orloff, chairman of the World Language Committee serving last year, the message written by the National Spirit­ual Assembly to the Annual Congress, Esperanto Associa­tion of North America, was de­livered in person. She has re­ported that the Baha'i greeting was well received.

"On behalf of the members of the Baha'i Faith throughout North America we send a cor­dial greeting and best wishes to the Esperantists assembled in their Annual Congress. It is our hope that your sessions will bring a great reinforcement to the movement for a World Lan­guage the outcome of which is so vital to the attainment of World Peace and that ultimate World Civilization which has today become the radiant and visible goal of human evolu­tion.

"Language, that divine in­strument for the mutual asso­ciation of human beings in the world of truth and· law, has too long been a king in exile , an innocent being condemned to participation of r a c e s , classes, nations and creeds in their struggles for victory one over the other.

"Baha'is share your longing that language may soon be freed from those fetters and manifest its destiny as unifier of all whose minds and hearts recognize the oneness of God. Baha'is are grateful to you for your unique service to the common goal"

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Statement to United Nations Commission on Women's Rights

The National Spiritual Assembly, through its United Nations Commit­tee, has submitted a statement on the Baha'i conception of the rights of women to a UN Commission com­piling material for a world code.

The text is reproduced in Wo°rld Order Magazine, October issue.

An Appeal From World Order Magazine

BAHA'i NEWS 5

One of the expressed wishes of 'Abdu'l-Baha during His American -tour in 1912 was that the magazine then entitled, STAR OF THE WEST,

Where We Are

CONVENTION

1948 Where We

Ought to Be

the first issue of which had been published March 21, 1910, should be maintained . . . How well that ex-pressed wish has been observed is evidenced by WORLD ORDER MA-GAZINE, the present-day title under which the magazine is known after 37 years of unin~errupted publica-tion.

Reflecting the history, activities and development of the Baha'i Faith, WORLD ORDER MAGAZINE has become a powerful teaching medium in addition to its interest stimulating appeal to Baha'i Believers.

A few months ago, the continuous increasing cost of printing the maga­zine made it necessary to increase the yearly subscription rate, and commencing with the April 1947 is­sue the price was advanced from $1.50 to $2.00 yearly. Before the May 1947 issue was published our printers imposed a further increase to be im­mediately effective . .. We are seek­ing by every means available to avoid making a further increase in the subscription rate and this is a CALL FOR HELP from our Baha'i Friends.

1,000 new subscriptions at the pre­sent yearly rate of $2.00 will insure the magazine being on a self-support­ing basis . . . CAN THIS BE AC­COMPLISHED . . . YES! - If only 1,000 of our present subscribers will each donate one GIFT subscription, the problem will be solved . . . A years subscription to a friend may mean a NEW BELIEVER, or there are 1,000 PUBLIC and UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES where a year's sub­scription may result in arousing con­siderable interest in THE BAHA'f FAITH. If your own local Library is already receiving the magazine, each $2.00 donated to THE WORLD ORDER LIBRARY SUBSCRIPTION FUND will record a years subscrip­ton to a library not at present on our list, with the name and address of donator given to the selected li­brary.

Address subscription orders or do­nations to WORLD ORDER LI­BRARY SUBSCRIPTION FUND to World Order, 110 Linden Ave., Wil­mette, Ill.

May 1, 1948 $300,000

April 1, 1948 275,000

Mar. 1, 1948 250,000

Feb. 1. 1948 225,000

Jan-. 1, 1948 200,000

Dec. 1, 1947 175,000

Nov. 1, 1947 150,000

Oct. 1, 1947 125,000

Sept. 1, 1947 100,000

Aug. 1, 1947 75,000

July 1,1947 50,000

June 1, 1947 25,000

FINANCIAL BUDGET 1947-1948

Assemblies Contributing to the National Fund. Aug. 194 7

Alaska-Anchorage. Arizona-Phenix. Arkansas - Little Rock. California -Al­hambra; Berkeley; Beverly Hills; Bur­bank; Burlingame; Carmel ; Cloverdale Twp.; Glendale; Inglewood; Long Beach; Los Angeles; Monrovia; Oakland; Pasa­dena; Sacramento; San Francisco; San Diego; Santa Barbara; San Mateo. Canada-Edmonton; Vancouver ; Hamil­ton; Vernon. Colorado--Coforado Springs; Denver. Connecticut-New Haven. Dis­trict of Columbia-Washington. Florida­Jacksonville ; Miami. Hawaii-Honolulu; Maui. Georgia-Atlanta; Augusta. Idaho -Boise. Illinois - Chicago; Danville; Elmhurst ; Evanston; Maywood; Oak Park ; Peoria; Springfield; Urbana ; Wil­mette ; Champaign; Limestone Twp. Indiana - Fort Wayne; Indianapolis; South Bend. Iowa-Cedar Rapids. Kan­sa,s - Topeka. Kentucky - Louisville. Louisiana - New Orleans . Maryland­Baltimore. Massachusetts - Boston; Brookline; Springfield. Michigan - Ann Arbor; D etroit; Flint ; Grand Rapids; Lansing; Muskegon; Roseville. Minne­apolis; St. Paul. Mississippi - Jackson. Missouri - Independence; Kansas City; St. Louis. Montana-Butte; Helena. Nev­ada - Reno. New Hampshire - Ports­mouth. New Jersey-Dumont; East Or­ange; Montclair; Red Bank ; Teaneck.

New Mexico-Albuquerque; North Albu-· querque. New York - J amestown; New York; Rochester ; Yonkers. North Car-· olina - Greensboro. Ohio - Cincinnati; Cleveland; Columbus; Dayton; LimQ.. Oklahoma - Oklahoma City. Oregon­Portland. Pennsylvania - Philadelphia; Pittsburgh ; Scranton. Rhode Island­Providence. South Carolina-Greenville. South Dakota-Sioux Falls. Tennessee­Memphis. Texas - Houston. Utah - Salt Lake City. Vermont-Brattleboro. Vir­ginia-Alexandria; Arlington. Washing­ton-Monroe; Seattle; Tacoma. West Vir-­ginia - Charleton. Wisconsin- Kenosha; Madison ; Milwaukee; Racine; Wauwa­tosa.

Baha'i Addresses National Office:

536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Illinois.

Treasurer's Office: 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.

Baha'i Publishing Committee: 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.

Baha'i News Editorial Office: 1001 W. Genesee St. Lansing, Mich.

6

Baha'i Pilgrimage (Continued from page 2)

more than a glimpse of the wonders in store for the pilgrim to filiiraz.

~_!:.liraz is famed for nightingales, roses, lovers-and poets to write about them. Some Baha'is who oper­ate a bus service placed a vehicle at our disposal and we first went to the tomb of Hafiz , a poet who was greater than 'Umar Khayyam but one who lacked a Fitzgerald. On an­other occasion, we visited the grave of Sa'di, perhaps even more admired by the Persians than Hafiz, and we noticed with interest that some of

·the inscriptions on the walls sur-rounding the tomb were verses from the blind Baha'i poet, Shuridih, whose own grave is in another room not far distant.

Much could be related about our departure from the 'fihran Airport and the many friends who came to bid us au revoir. Of interest was the comment of a wealthy non-Baha'i who was going on the same plane: see how much love these Baha'is show toward each othe r; nobody cares very much whether we go or stay. It was exciting to see the friends of I:;;fahan rushing to the plane during the brief stop in that delightful city; they brought flowers and candy, especially gaz for which the place is famous, and also books to meet the requirements of their co­workers .

One of my most thrilling experi­ences in Iran was an appearance before an assemblage of 340 Baha'i children in filiiraz. r urged them to store up in their minds those verbal treasures which are to be discovered in the Hidden Words and other Baha 'i books and I referred to the tablet revealed by the Master when Shoghi Effendi, as a small boy, told Him of a dream in which he saw the Bab. I was followed on the pro­gram by Jinab-i-Samandari, an ex­tremely capable and devoted believ­er, who on the spot-without advance warning as to what I would speak about-described the circumstances of the dream of that marvelous fig­ure who is now our guardian, pro­duced the text of the tablet , and also quoted the affirmative words of 'Abdu 'l-Baha to an American woman · who had inquired as to whether the Guardian had yet been born.

In the footsteps of Martha Root, we also visited Persepolis, Talrtit-i­J amW.id, that enduring testimonial

OCTOBER, 1947

Baha.'is and friends attending Baha'i classes in Sandia Mountains, near Albuquer­que, N.M., July, 1947.

Publishing Announcements Baha ' i Writings - Prayers of Baha­

'u ' lla, 'Abdu'l-Baha and excerpts from the Bahai Writing s, which has been out of stock for some time is again avail­able. Bound in red paper

Each ............... $ .75 Introduction to the Baha'i Teachings by

Mamie L. Seto. R efer ence books re­quired, B a ha'u'lla h and the New Era , Selected Writings (the little libra ry of three books , Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi) The National Teaching Committee especially recommend this outline with accompanying books for study groups or for individual believers.

Outline with books . ..... $ .75

of 'Iran's past greatness. Sixty years ago the Master described various ar­ticles at Persepolis ; the discoveries occurred a half-century afterward. A few miles from there is Talrtit-i­Tavus, a holy place of the Zoroastri­ans where are to be found inscrip­tions in Pahlavi and Latin.

filiiraz fills the receptive soul with wonderment. Yes, the skies are blu­er and the stars much brighter than in California , and there is an a ir of peace and repose. In that blessed city we acquired-even if only for the time being-some of the "price­less possessions of the people of Paradise" and we sensed in a meas­ure the experience of the gate of the Gate of God: "Methinks I was in a place of which it could be truly said: 'Therein no toil shall reach us'; 'No vain discourse shall they hear there­in, nor any falsehood, but only the cry, Peace ! P eace ' "2 1 The Dawn-Breakers, p. 61. 2 The Dawn-Breakers , p . 62.

Albuquerque Sponsors Conference

The gales of God seemed to blow with unusual and terrific force stir­ring up the dust of the ages in the great desert plateau of New Mexico . That was the night of the inception of the plan sponsored by the North Albuquerque Assembly, in which a majority of the believers of the en­tire region joined in an effort to car­r y the beloved Faith to the masses in accord with the Guardian's Seven Year Plan. Those who had braved the stinging sand of the whirling dust stor_m, after full and free discussion , voted unanimously to have a Baha 'i Conference to begin July 4th . It was then the night of July 1st. There was no place, no money, and there had been no previous arrangements. Baha 'u'llah, however, opened doors in an amazing way. Through a non­Baha 'i friend , the Girl Reserve Camp, 7000 feet high in the Sandia mountains, accommodating 40 to 50 overnight guests, was obtained; with the opportunity to purchase supplies through their office. It was a well­equipped camp that would put to shame similar camps costing $150 to $200 per week. It was arranged to be used by the Baha'is and their friends for 10 days at the low rental of $15.00!

Courses were given on: "The Ad­vent of Divine Justice," " Fundamen­tals," " Baha 'i Keys to Bible P rophe­cy," and " The Challenging Require­ments of the Present Hour." The

{

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Commemoration of the Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab and the Feast of Kilimat were particularly beautiful. Cooperative voluntary help served in shifts, taking care of meals and household chores.

The climax of the Conference was an ·Interracial Program and Dinner given in Albuquerque on July 20th. Seventy attended including 2 Chi­nese , 7 Indians, 9 Negroes, 2 Jews and the remainder Whites, some with Spanish background. Four speakers, an Indian, a Negro, a Jew, and the Conference director, Ruth Moffett, made this, many said, one of the finest and most successful Baha'i programs ever given in the state of New Mexico .

The results were amazing for so short a period and with so little prep­aration. This experiment of the North Albuquerque Assembly shows what a small community can accomplish when it calls in its Baha'i brothers to assist in a unified plan for carry­ing the Faith to the masses. There was a deepening in the understand­ing of the Message of Baha'u'llah. There was a unifying of all those in attendance in learning how to live and work together day by day. There was a newly born eagerness to arise and serve God in this great Day.

Are You A Nurse? If you are a graduate nurse ,

there is a splendid opportunity for you to pioneer in Alaska. There is an Alaska Native Ser­vice whose function it is to look after the health and welfare of the Natives and who employ nurses. These nurses are re­quired to live among the na­tives and are furnished living quarters and other necessities. Thus a pioneer, in such a posi­tion, would have the chance to serve native Alaskans in a very practical way, combining in one effort a physical and a spiritual service. If you are interested, write either to the National Teaching Committee in care of Mrs. Margery Mc­Cormick, 924 Judson Ave. , Ev­anston, Ill. , or to Mrs. Frances Wells, Box 45, Anchorage, Al­aska.

BAHA'I NEWS

Suggestions for Daily Readings

NOVEMBER The Nearness and Presence

of God Nov. 1. Gl, p. 184-186. or Ba-

Nov. 2. Nov. 3. Nov. 4. Nov. 5.

ha'i World Faith, p. 97-98. Gl, p. 70-73. Gl, p. 261-264. Gl, p. 325-326. Arabic Hidden Words, 34-35, 58, 59, 60. Per-sian Hidden Words, 21, 22, 46.

Nov. 6. Gl, p. 139-140. Nov. 7. Prayers and Med. p.

240-242. Life and Sacrifice of

Baha'u'llah Nov. 8-9. Baha'i World Faith,

p . 220-224. Nov. 10. Baha'i World Faith,

p. 31-32. Nov. 11. Baha'i World Faith,

p. 33; 55. Nov. 12. Baha'i World Faith,

p. 233-234; 89-91. Nov. 13. Baha'i World Faith,

p. 80-82. or Prayers and Med. p. 310-313.

Nov. 14. Baha'i World Faith, p. 349-350.

Detachment and Sacrifice Nov. 15. Baha'i World Faith,

p. 141 (Essence of De­tachment); 68.

Nov. 16. Baha'i World Faith, p. 105-106.

Nov. 17. Baha'i World Faith, p. 374-375; 378-379.

Nov. 18. Gl., p. 275-276. Nov. 19. Gl., p. 328-329. Nov. 20. Arabic Hidden Words,

7, 59; Persian Hidden Words, 39, 40.

Nov. 21. Baha'i World Faith, p. 354-355.

Life, Station, and Words of 'Ahdu'l-Baha

Nov. 22-23-24. Chapter IV in Baha'u'llah and the New Era . .

Nov. 25. Baha'i World Faith, p. 357-359.

Nov. 26. Baha'i World Faith, p. 394-395 ~ 407-408.

Nov. 27. Baha'i World Faith, p. 447-448.

Nov. 28 . Baha'i World Faith, p. 217-220.

The Mashriqu'l-Adhkar. Nov. 29-30 Baha'i World Faith,

p .. 414-419.

7

Youth Registration The friends are requested to bear

in mind the fact that every Baha'i youth, on becoming twenty-one years of age, whether isolated, a member of a group or member of an or­ganized community, is expected to see that he or she is definitely listed as a voting Baha'i.

In the National Office, and also in the records of local Assemblies and of Regional Teaching Committees, Baha'i youth are classified as such and do not appear on the list of vot­ing Baha'is until their classification is changed.

The friends are also reminded that when confirmed as a Baha'i, the youth of between fifteen and twenty­one years of age should sign the Youth Registration enrollment card which is transmitted to the National Office, whereupon the name and. ad­dress are duly recorded.

It is very important to have a complete record of Baha'i youth, in­cluding their changes of address in the city or transfer to another city. The National Office needs the infor­mation, and all youth data received is reported to the National Youth Committee.

Winter Session at Louhelen The Louhelen Program Committee

is making plans for a winter session December 26 through January 1, with a special Youth Day December 28. Subjects of the two courses are: Inner Strength to Meet Today's Challenge and What Do You Know about the Baha'i Faith? Rates Dor­mitory, $2 per day per person, Single room, $3 per day per person. This session is open to youth and adults alike. (Plans are subject to approval by the NSA.)

Calendar Feasts:

Nov. 4-Qudrat-Power Nov. 23-Qawl-Speech

Anniversaries: Nov. 12--Birth of Baha'u'llah

Suspend Work 26-Day of Covenant 28-Ascension of 'Abdu'l­

Baha-Observe at 1 A.M.

NSA Meeting: Nov. 7, 8, 9.

8 OCTOBER, 194 7

Latin American News Plans for Congresses

This year the National Teaching Committees of the two great zones in Latin America, the northern and the southern, in consultation with the Inter-America Teaching Commi­tee decided that hereafter the meet­. ing places of the annual Congresses should be awarded on a merit basis. The accessibility of the place to a majority of assemblies must also be taken into account. It was agreed, too, that the Congresses should be followed by sessions of the first in­ternational Baha'i schools. This plan was approved by the National Spiri­tual Assembly and by the Guardian.

Among the northern Latin Ameri­cas (the six Central American coun­tries, Mexico and the West Indies) Mexico and Coast Rica had shown the greatest advances. Mexico has gained two new assemblies and Costa Rica has initiated and tested a new type of teaching by intensive cor­respondence. (For details of this plan see Baha'i News, May, 1947, page 2.) This resulted in the new assembly of Quepos, now a community of six­teen active members and five new small groups. The choice for the congress has gone to Mexico and it will be held in Vera Cruz, a beauti­ful city by the sea and one of the two goal cities for Mexico this year.

Of the South American countries, it was recognized that Columbia, Chile and Brazil had made the great­est advances. Colombia led with four new assemblies, making a total of six in all, plus four new groups. Great advances have been made in carrying the Faith to large, organ­ized groups such as the Masons, Lions and Rotarian clubs, Cultural Centers and Theosophical Societies. The Masons added especially in the organizing of public meetings and helped, individually, to form the new Baha'i communities. Colombia had clearly won the honor of the next Congress, but was so remote in point of travel and expense from a ma­jority of the other South American Assemblies , that it was reluctantly passed by.

Chile came second with one new assembly and ten small groups. Chile has four assemblies in all, the sec­ond largest number in a single South American country. Santiago and Val­paraiso are easily accessible to a majority of the South American com-

munities and Santiago was finally chosen for this year by the South American Teaching committee and this choice was confirmed. The Con­gresses and Baha'i schools will prob­ably be held in January and the exact date will be announced later.

Intensive Teaching Campaign Initiated

Charles Joas of Chicago has re­turned from Mexico after spending his summer vacation assisting the new assemblies in Pueblo and Coate­pec and making preliminary prep­arations for the coming Congress . The Regional Teaching Committee of Mexico gives highest praise for this brilliant young pioneer.

Octavio Illescas of Clovis, Califor­nia, leaves early in October for Mex­ico. It will be his task to give deep confirming classes in "The Reality of the Divine Manifestation'' for . the strengthening of the new communi­ties in Puebla and Coatepec, to car­ry through the group in Vera Cruz to confirmation, complete prepara­tions for the Congress, and, if pos­sible, remain as special representa­tive of the Inter-America Committee at the Congress, and teach a deepen­ing class during the International School session.

Campaigns are under way in Gua­temala, El Savador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Panama is carrying the Faith to Santiago, Panama, as a new goal city, now that an assembly is assured in Colon. Mrs. Viva Lismore of Havana and Miss Kathrine Mey­er are teaching in Cenfuegos, Cuba, and M.iss Jean Silver is en route back to that city after a brief vaca­tion in New York.

It is hoped that Mrs. Marcia Stew­art may be able to go to Cuba after the Congress and help in following up contacts that have been made with 104 Masonic Lodges in that country.

Intensive campaigns are planned for Haiti during the visit of Mrs. Mabel Snyder of Panama in Octo­ber and with the coming of Mr. Ra­phael Pnrnpelly of New York togeth­er with his daughter, Mrs. Amelie Bates and her family, to Port-au­Prince early in the fall. Mr. and Mrs. Bates plan to settle as pioneers in Haiti.

Another intensive campaign in the Islands is planned for Jamaica where Mrs. Cora Oliv er of Panama

Manuel Gorgas of the San Blar, Indian tribe, first Indian to enroll in Panama.

will work w ith the Regional Com­mittee in goal city teaching in Octo­ber and November.

In South America intensive teach ing campaigns are under way in Ve­nezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile. The last named country is using the Costa Rica Correspondence Plan in two regions in conjunction with trav­el teaching. Argentina is preparing to use this same type of teaching campaign.

Mrs. Helen Shearer of Phoenix, Arizona, is doing goal city teaching in Campinas and Santos, Brazil. She writes that she loves the people and finds the Brazilians very open to the Cause. Mr. and Mrs. Edmnnd J. Miessler report twenty-two eager new students in Sao Paulo. Ten are now studying "The Dispensation." Mr. and Mrs. Bode report Rio de Janeiro as being very open to the Cause. Special Baha'i meetings were synchronized with the holding of the Pan American Conference near that city.

Colombia plans a three country re­gional conference when the Pan American conference meets in Bo­ga ta in January. Venezuelian and Eduadorian Baha'is are being invited to participate with representatives from the six Colombia Assemblies and various groups.

The incorporation of the Panama City Spiritual Assembly makes the second Central American country to have an assembly incorporated. Pa­nama is the fourth country in Latin American where an assembly has

Mildred Mottahedeh Visits Ten European Countries (A condensation of Mrs. Mottahedeh's

report)

In England I visited a small fire­side group at the home of the Baly­uzis . . . The English friends are working very hard and making good progress on their Six Year Plan. Still much remains to be done. The fewness of their numbers and the time consuming business of getting the bare necessities of life have made the going slow but the pace is steadily accelerating and success seems sure and close ... All over the British Isles the work proceeds through the sacrifice of the friends.

In France I met with many of the friends individually and then spoke to them as a group at a reception they gave for me . The Paris friends were pleased and amazed to hear about the Convention. They had not realized the manifold activites of the Faith in the United States. The Guar­dian has given them a Five Year Plan but the only beginning they are making is to publish new translations of the Guardian's letters in French. They are somewhat at a loss as to how to begin their work due to the fewness of their numbers and the advanced age of many in their group.

The progress of the work in Ger­many is phenomenal under the pre­sent difficult conditions . . . It was

actually received its decree of in­corporation. Several other assem­blies have their applications pend­ing.

The Radio Committee has trans­lated into Spanish the script now used with special slides in the Tem­ple, and is making disc presenta­tions of this script for u se with the pictures throughout Latin America:.

All these plans for spreading the Faith in Latin America are being initiated or approved by the National Teaching Committees of the two zones. All members of these com­mittees with the exception of one secretary, are native Latin Ameri­cans. These committees, too, will have direct charge of the annual C o ng r e s s e s and Internation­al Schools. In this way the Latin Americans are taking up the reins of their own Baha 'i Adminstration in preparation for the fulfillment of the Guardian's second Seven Year Plan.

BAHA'i NEWS

heartening to see the war mth of their affection for the believers of other countries. Like a ph oenix, the Faith is arising f.rom the ru ins and starva­tion of Germany.

A Nineteen Day Feast was held in Vienna and it was their first meeting with a Baha'i from another country in ten years. The Vienna group has lost over three-fourths of their num­ber during the war because of the extermination of the Jewish Baha'is. Their plight is indeed sad . Only thir­teen are left of a group that formerly numbered more than sixty. Hunger is their constant companion and if it were not for their faith and the food sent to them their condition would be even more desperate. Both in Austria and Germany food, cloth­ing, and Baha'i literature are essen­tial for the progress of their work and for life itself.

In Switzerland two meetings were held at the International Bureau· in Geneva and contacts were made with university teachers and artists in Zurich. The friends in Switzerland are ceaselessly striving to establish new assemblies and good progress is being made.

In Sweden five meetings were held. The pioneers in Stockholm have numerous contacts and seem to be able to produce a really interested audience of thirty or more at a few hours notice. Through the letter of introduction from the United Nations an opportunity was afforded to meet the Chief of Foreign Affairs of the Swedish government and a newspa­per story followed. After it appeared several persons wrote and tele­phoned. All the contacts were turned over to the pioneers.

The pioneers in Copenhagen were newly established but their few con­tacts were all good prospects for the Faith. At a small tea party held at the apartment of Dagmar Dole and Eleanor Hollibaugh our guests amazed us by their readiness to ac­cept the Faith. It was as though they were awaiting the moment of the arrival of the Good Tidings.

In Holland meetings were held in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. A con­ference with officials of various or­ganizations in the Hague was a re­sult of the United Nations connection and served to open new doors for the friends in Holland. Holland was one of the most interesting of the

9

ten countries I visited. The plea of the audience is for spiritual talks. The Dutch people have a highly evolved culture, little religious or race prejudice, and a deep interest in spiritual matters.

Two meetings were held in Luxem­bourg. The pioneers are well liked and widely respected and the spirit they evince has been felt by all whom they have contacted.

At a public meeting in Brussels the question and answer period showed that many of those present were really interested. Belgium has special problems. Part of the coun­try speaks French and the other part a form of Dutch. There is one Baha'i in the Dutch speaking area. Belgium is one of the few prosperous coun­tries in present day Europe and the gloom of economic problems does not press heavily upon them . The people in Brussels seem very cosmo­politan and the friends hope that it will prove the fertile soil that will bring an assembly in one or two years.

The American friends would be happy indeed if they could see for themselves the devotion and pro­gress of the pioneers in the goal countries. Their open loving hearts have made it easy for them to adapt themselves to their new homes and to be received by the people. They are truly citizens of the world and this lack of national prejudice has been a cause for wonder among the Europeans. As the Guardian reminds us, they are the redemption of Eu­rope.

Non-Baha'i Books Referring to the Faith

The NSA would like to ask the friends to send in to the National Archives Committee the title, publication date and publisher, of non-Baha'i books which contain anything like an extensive reference to the Faith, whether favorable or non-favorable. The purpose is to enable the Assembly to de­velop a complete National Baha 'i Library, so that all such references will be available when needed-in meeting at­tacks, etc.

10 OCTOBER, 194 7

News From Other Lands Geneva Bureau News Exchange

Baha'is in Hamburg in the British Zone in Germany experienced hard­ships in getting meetings and teach­ing work started. An attempt was made in 1945 but with no post, no trains in the evening it became too difficulty. When the Baha'i heard of progress in Southern Germany they got in touch with the friends there at the Nineteen Day Feasts. Their own regular weekly meetings began with the Unity Feast September 8, 1946. It has been impossible to find all who belonged to the community previously. There are now seventeen~ During the severe winter there were great hardships. It was not always possible to get a heated room for meetings , often they sat in the dark, nevertheless there were always at least ten present and the three young people did not miss a meeting. Now there is an ever larger number at the public lectures on the first Sun­day of each month. The friends are doing much translation from Eng­lish pamphlets. One friend is compil­ing a Baha'i Lexicon which will be a reference book giving information on suggestions that concern the Ba­ha'i Faith. It is not expected that this will be completed before several years, but an abridged form will be issued as soon as possible.

Three Baha'i Summer Schools were held in Germany, one for youth, followed by two for adults.

Remarkable spiritual power was evident at the annual convention of the Baha 'is of India and Burma. " The afternoon session of the 30th of April witnessed such moving scenes of love and unity and sacri­fice as will never be forgotten by those present." The matter of the National Haziratu'l-Quds furnished an outlet for expressing this love in sacrifice. A large sum of money was necessary to make the first payment on the building and site which it had been decided to purchase. " One As­sembly offered to bear the total cost of the next convention and later ac­cepted the suggestion to divert thi s sum to the National l.Iaziratu'l-Qud s fund." Many other gifts were made. " Children brought in their gifts to be sold and dedicated to the National Headquarters Fund. So intense was the enthusiasm and love and unity that animated the delegates that a three hour session almost doubled it-

self without the friends being aware of it or yet prepared to leave!"

The NSA of Iran announces the plan to publish "Baha'i News and Reviews" in English and the first copy dated April, 1947, has been re­ceived. It tells of cruel persecutions, tortures and martyrdoms in 1943-4

· which accompanied the launching of their teaching plan, and of renewa l of plans in 1946. The new Plan covers a period of 45 months and ends July 9th, 1950, the lOOth anniversary of the martyrdom of the Bab. It has definite goals as to number of new assemblies, reinstatement of old ones and other aims. In Tihran alone 262 teaching meetings have been or­ganized and work is going on all over the country. Reports indicate that 192 new believers have been regis­tered.

At the time of writing the Baha 'is of Switzerland were earnestly pre­paring for the 32nd World Esperanto Congress held in Berne the last of July. An imposing exhibit of Baha'i literature, large Temple posters, etc. was being arranged and a special Baha'i session being planned .

Italy (Condensation of a letter from Rome

by Ugo Giachery) After weeks of search yesterday

afternoon we had a most wonderful Baha 'i meeting with Signora Verena Venturini, who had known of the Cause from her sister and had had two talks with Mary Hanford Ford; two talks on the Baha'i Faith which she had never forgotten. That was in 1910 ! Her sister Mrs. Max Scho­bert met 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1912 and asked Him to pray for her sister Verena and her husband, at the time very ill. The Master said that He would pray for them. Shortly after Signor Venturini passed away and the two sisters went to Amerca and lived for a while in Berkeley, Cal­fornia, where they met many of the old believers . Later Verena and her daughter retur ned to Italy . During the war her home was occupied by the German army. Once when speak­ing to one of the officers, a n inter­preter, she said that the Baha'i Faith was dear to her heart . Immediately he said, " I too know of the Baha'i religion ." After that he gr eeted her with " Allah 'u'Abhit."

We had some wonderful hours to­gether for she had not seen or heard

from any Baha'i for many years. Sig­nora Venturini is now a declared be­lever, firm in her faith and will do her utmost for our Cause.

Anchorage, Alaska A special meeting of the Anchor­

age Community was held for con­sultation on the Guardian' s latest message, " The Challenging Re­quirements of the Present Hour. "

Special consultation was also held on how to reach the Eskimos in ac­cordance with the Guardian's in­structions. Recommendations were made to the Alaska Regional Teach­ing Committee to forward.

Incorporation of the Anchorage As­sembly has been started.

The weekly radio talks and news­paper advertising continue. "Read­ers," or statements about the Baha'i Faith in the news ' columns, are now being used, as well as news com­ments on the public meetings .

Public meetings were held during August.

Hawaii The Maui radio station K . M. V. I.

opened their new station on March 16, 1947. The Maui Baha'is have a recording of six Baha'i prayers . This radio station opens each morning's broadcast with a prayer from vari­ous churches on this Island. On the morning of June 5, 1947, through the program director's own planning, the station opened with a Baha'i prayer. We Baha 'is felt this significant , as it was a day for our Nineteen Day Feast. A' Baha1i prayer is used at 6:00 A.M. two and three mornings a month over this station.

The Maui Baha'is have ·sponsored a thirteen week radio program, pre­senting the transcriptions sent u s by the National Radio Committe. We have also been able to announce our regular monthly public lectures over this station . Whenever we have our lectures, we are also given publicity by the Maui Drug Co. , at 9:45 P . M.

.on Thursdays, the owner, Mr. Carl Nata has offered to do this for us. Our lectures are also announced over K . G. U. in Honolulu , on their five­minute weekly broadcasts. The Maui Baha'is have sent $5.00 every month for the past four years to help with the Honolulu Baha'i radio expense, as well.

Mr. Richard Mawson, the mana­ger of the Maui radio station, has made some very favorable com­ments about the transcription mate­rial. Our weekly radio broadcast on

. '

/

K. M. V. I. costs us $11.40 for fifteen minutes. It has been interestng to note the favorable comments of the people, in regard to these transcrip­tions. As soon as the radio committee have more transcriptions available, we intend to sponsor another series of radio broadcasts, as they truly are far reaching. During the month of May, two fifteen minute talks were given over the Maui station by Mrs. Mabel Van Valkenburg. Her topics were, "Beauty and Harmony in Di­versity," and "The Law of Love."

Notices of Local Meetings in Temple

A visiting guide at the Tem­ple recently said, "Today I have told 20 new people about the Faith and at home we hold regular firesides and public meetings and feel happy if 20 different people come in the course of a year." It is true­here at the Temple, people come to us by the thousands.

We who are guiding these visitors, realize fully our re­sponsibility in preparing our­selves so that the message we give them during their tour of the Temple is such that it will awaken their hearts to a fur­ther search into the Teachings after they go home. We are do­ing our utmost to interest them in filling out the questionnaire cards, so we can build up an active mailing list of really in­terested souls for local assem­blies, the National Teaching Committee and Regional Com­mittees.

Guides are always needed! We are planning to use a Bul­

letin Board on which we can place notices of the regular public meetings all over the United States and Canada. During the tours, the guides plant the seeds. It will be the opportunity of the assemblies and groups to reap the harvest. Please send notice of the time and place of your regular meetings to BAHA'f TEMPLE PROGAM COMMITTEE, Mrs. Nina Matthisen, 77 E. Cedar St., Chicago Ill.

(In the immediate Temple area-Chicago and suburbs­we can list fireside meetings also.)

BAHA'I NEWS 11

Pioneer (These selections from Martha

Root's diaries and letters have been prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Ford of Little Falls, N.Y., and are to be continued.)

The Baha'i world is in its first year of a Second intensive Seven Year Plan to carry the Faith of Baha'u'llah to the people of all coun­tries. As we study the task, make our plans, and send the first teachers abroad, we turn in our minds and hearts to the archtype of a Baha' i itinerant teacher, Martha Root.

She it is who traveled continuously for twenty years, four times around the globe, teaching, ever teaching. Tens of thousands heard her call, from royalty to peasants . Embark­ing with unswerving resolve and a spirit of sublime detachment, she went her way across the earth. Age, ill health, meager resources, ex­tremes of climate or great dangers, did not restrain her efforts.

Dear, indomitable Martha, with her seventeen suitcases containing all her belongings, struggling for­ward, writing, lecturing, denying herself every comfort, even adequate food and rest. Physically small, frail of body, plain of feature, unassum­ing in her appearance, with none of the talents the world thinks one must have for greatness; she had the courage of a lion, the strength and "staying powers" of a Gibralter, a will which defied and won over all obstacles, and a love that warmed hearts as the spring sun melts March snows. She became a spiritually dy­namic and saintly woman who ren­dered manifold services to humanity. How gloriously she attained her goal of spreading the Baha'i Faith!

The example of her life never leaves us; she is a continuing in­spirati9n. In the task ahead of us, we need her guidance. What does she say to us?

From South American 1919 (Shipboard Going Do·wn) After real illness . . I did not try

to solve the problem of giving the Message for two days, my vivid thought was that I of all people was least fitted to meet such a group. I was not well, did not dance or play cards, nor was I an enthusiastic sportswoman. Still, reading the Cre­ative Word, every line that seemed to spring up from the pages was a path for me to follow: "Let not con-

ventionality cause you to seem cold and unsympathetic when you meet strange people from other countries. - Be kind to the strangers - help them to feel at home - ask if you may render them any service; try to make their lives a little happier .. Let those who meet you know with­out your proclaiming the fact that you are indeed a . Baba' I."

Again, "If we are true Baha'is speech is not needed. Our actions will help-on the world, will spread civilization, will help the progress of science and cause the arts to de­velop. - It is not through lip service only that the Elect of God have at­tained to Holiness, but by patient lives of active service they have brought the Light into the World."

Serving everybody and praying for more capacity to serve intelligently and lovingly, I received my first op­portunity: All the men had given money to buy prizes for sports. I took the best small article of my apparel, did it up as nearly as I could in the artistic fashion in which the Japanese present a gift and took it to the sports committee to be used as a prize. (It was the only woman's gift). I explained that I did not know much about sports, but to join in the "family party" I was going to go in for all except the heavy weight contests.

The next day being the first Sun­day at sea I asked the Captain's permission to speak in the evening on the Baha'i Cause. The purser put up a large notice on the bulletin board. No person aboard had ever heard of the Baha'i Movement. The men of the sports committee were the first ones to enter the music room; they helped to make the meet­ing popular ... The Captain, purser and several officers came to the talk. The ship pitched so that I had to hold on to a pillar with one hand while speaking. After the talk of over an hour, the purser made a little speech of thanks. Then after dismis­sal a Bishop took the floor and spoke against the Baha'i Cause. Not that he had ever heard of it before but he said one could never be a Chris­tian and believe in these other re­ligions too. I replied to him point by point and from that evening we have been friendly , his very arguments against the Movement later made friends for it ..

12

Bahia (South America) Nearing Bahia .. It was high sea,

raining torrents, stomachs were sea­sick but when the little boats came out to get the passengers the only two men on board who spoke Eng­lish were Americans and both of­fered to take me up to the hotel ... They took me to the hotel as easily as violets come up in the spring . An African carried all my luggage on his head!

Ill as a result of the storm and running a high temperature how vividly the words came to me: "Let one not call himself a captain until he stands before an opposing army, nor a Baha'i until he meets the tests ." The words in the Tablets of the Divine Plan were my healing, and the prayers. Above everything else I felt the eternal importance of what the Manifestation said: "Plant this Branch in the ground of the hearts and make it Holy from sha­dow and arising." From the Andes

The plan was to cross the Andes and come up the West coast of Pana­ma .. I started amid gifts of books, flowers, fruit, candy and lunches . .. The trip by mule back over the " Top of the world,'' for the Andes are among the highest of ranges . . . was thrilling enough for the most sensational. To pray the Greatest Name among these minarets of God was to glimpse the glory of the Eter­nal, Unknowable. The ancient trail led 10,400 ft. above sea ·level. The people on mule back were infinitesi­mal specks clinging to mighty ter­races that bear no other appearance of humanity except the cavalcade. As "ants in an endless and boundless forest" so we huddled cin the edge of jagged peaks, frozen chasms, and stiffened mountain torrents ... Every friend met on this trip is just the beginning of a long friendship. Let­ters and literature can be ex­changed . From the West Coast (South America)

The trip up the west coast on a Chilean ship was immensely inter­esting. Grippe had to be the shadow to make one appreciate the sunshine, so the first few places are but me­mories of trying to get ashore to the newspaper offices to explain the Baha'i Message, then leaning against the friendly lamp posts for strength to drag oneself back to the boat ... Baha'is, for the decades just ahead, must master as many languages as

OCTOBER, 1947

possible. In order to meet these South Americans half way, I started on this ship to learn Spanish pro­nunciation and first principles. One can only do one's best, but every hour spent by a Baha'i on language study will help . . .

(To be continued)

World Order Magazine Contents for October, 1947

The Faith of BaM'u'llah By Shoghi Effendi

Nicaragua By Robert Montgomery Hooker

A Charter Day Message from the United States

By Trygve Lie A Baha'i Statement on the

Rights of Women In the High Sierras

By Marzieh Gail The Gates of Paradise, poem

By L . Khai The Nature of Divinity

By Duart Brown The Discinle, poem

By N. D. B. If You Are Not a Baha'i

By Garreta Busey Struggle for Bill of Rights,

book review By Helen Interlied

The Mature Man With Our Readers

Coming in November Special Temple number with

pictures of the proposed inter­ior decoration and articles by Horace Holley and Gertrude Robinson on the building of the Baha'i House of Worship.

WORLD ORDER

In Memoriam "Death proffereth unto every confi-

. dent believer the cup that is life in­deed. It bestoweth joy and is the bearer of gladness. It conferreth the gift of everlasting life." Mr. Albert Dougherty( Anacortes, Wash.,

May, 1947 Mrs. Karin Meyers, Kenosha, Wis., July

31, 1947 Miss Alice L. Doolittle, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, June 27, 1947 Mr. Augustin G. Wilburt, Oakland, Calif.,

July 17, 1947 Mrs. Herbert Rich, Mineola, L.I., April,

1947 Mrs. Olive Kretz, Sterling, Ill., Aug. 24,

1947 Mrs. Catherine B. Leins, Danville, Ill.,

Aug., 1947 Mrs. Edward Chiatte, Los Angeles, Cal.,

April 2, 1947 Mrs. Judson Burch, Veni_ce, Cal., Aug.

26, 1947

Baha'i News is published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada as the official news-letter of the Baha'i Community. The first issue appeared in December, 1924.

Baha'i News is edited for the Na­tional Spiritual Assembly by its Baha'i News Editorial Committee: Mrs. Roberta Christian, chairman, Mrs. Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick, Mr. Gordon A. Fraser. Editorial office : Mrs. Roberta Christian, 1001 West Genesee St., Lansing, Mich.

Please report changes of address to which Baha'i News is to be sent and other matters pertaining to its distribution to the Baha'i Na­tional Office, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Illinois.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page Col. Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3 Alaska, Nurse Wanted . . . . . 7 1 Albuquerque Conference . . . 6 3 Assemblies Sponsor Group . . . . . 4 2 "Baha'i Pilgrimage" . . . . . . . . . 2 2 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 3 Daily Readings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2 Enrollments . . . . . . 4 2 Fund

Assemblies Contributing . . . . . 5 2. " Where We Are" . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2

Guardian, Message . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1 Latin America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 1 Louhelen, Winter Session . . . . . . 7 3 Mernorium . .. ................. 12 2 Mildred Mottahedeh in Europe . . 9 1 National Spiritual Assembly

Greeting American Esperantists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 Letter, "This World Freedom" 1 1 References to Faith in non-Baha'i books . . . . . . . . 9 3 Women's Rights Statement . . 9 3

News from Other Lands . .... . . 10 1 P,ctures

Albuquerque Conference . . . . . 6 2 Garner, Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 Gorgas, Manuel, of Panama . . 8 3 Shiraz Group with Robert Gulick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 ''Twin Spires in the Sky'' . . . . 1 1

"Pioneer" . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 1 Publicity, National Campaign . . 1 1 Publishing Announcements . . . 6 2 "Quiet Servant, A" . . . . . 3 3 Root, Martha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 1 Supplement, Temple Interior

Sketches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 Temple

National Publicity Campaign 1 Notices of Local Meetings . .. 11 Sketches of Interior . . 2

World Order Contents, October ......... . .. 12 1 Special Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1

Youth Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 3