The Baha'i World- Volume 20 (1986-1992)

THE BAHA'f WORLD VOLUME XX

142- 148 OF TH E BAHA'i ERA 21 APRIL 1986- 20 APR fL 1992 A.O. Th e Mashriqu 'l-Adhkar in New Delhi, India. THE BAHA'i WORLD AN INTERNATIONAL RECORD

Prepared under the supervision of the Universal House ofJustice

VOLUME XX

142-148 OF THE BAHA'i ERA 21 APRIL 1986-20 APRIL 1992 A.D.

NOTE: The spelling of the Oriental words and proper names used in this volume of Th e Baha'i World is according to the system of transliteration established at one of the International Oriental Congresses.

ISBN 0-85398-994-X

A Cataloguing-in-Publication entTy is available from the British Library

Set in Times New Roman at the Baha ' i World Cenháe Printed in Italy, Stamperia Va ldonega PREFACE THE successive volumes of The Baha 'i World have come to be anticipated by Baha'is as the record of their own collective endeavours on behalf of their Faith, of the establishment and development of its administrative order throughout the world and as the source of data, both historical and statistical, relating to the rise of the Faith during its fo rmative age. For librarians and students The Baha 'i World represents a source of authentic inf01mation about the aims, tenets, history, activities, organization and growth of a world religion that is attracting ever-increasing public interes t. The editors therefore seek to preserve an even balance between the presentation of material of supreme interest to believers and of a fai r and objective picture to enquirers. In this they are guided by the policy of Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Baha'i Fa ith, who directed the compilation of the successive volumes from I to XII covering the years 1925 to 1954. The first volume, known as Baha 'i Year Book, was in fact a one-year survey ; the next seven volumes were biennial, terminating in 1940; vo lume IX recorded the four years from 1940 to 1944; volume X was again biennial and volumes XI and XII presented the periods 1946 to 1950 and 1950 to 1954 respectively. All these volumes were published in the United States under the supervision of the Guardian of the Baha ' i Faith and the aegis of the National Spiritual Assembly. Volume XIII, which recorded the passing of the Guardian and the course and completion of his Ten Year Crusade, covered the entire period from 19 54 to 1963 and was produced under the guidance of the U niversal House of Justice, which thenceforth assumed responsibility for publication. CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

AIMS AND PURPOSES OF THE BAHA'I FAITH, by David Hofman

PART ONE THE BAHA 'i REV ELATION

I. EXCERPTS FROM THE BAHA ' i SACRED WRlTINGS 1. Baha'u'llah ... .... ... ........ ................ .... .... ....... ........... .. ... ........... ... .... ........ ...... ... 11 2. The Bab .......... ...... ... .. ......... .. ..... ...... ..... ... ... .. .... ............... ...... .... ... ... ...... ....... . 17 3. 'Abdu'l-Baha .. ..... ........................... ..... ... ...... ... .. ...... ......... .. ..... ..... .... ...... .... .. 23

II. EXCERPTS FROM THE WRlTINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI Excerpts from Call to the Nations 29

PART Two THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES

I. THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF ' ABDU'L-BAHA'S VISIT TO THE WEST 1. The Visit of 'Abdu'l-Baha to the West .......................... ............................... 53 2. Commemorations of 'Abdu ' l-Baha 's Visit to the West 75

II. THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE F IRST S EVEN YEAR PLAN IN THE AMERICAS 1. The First Seven Year Plan of the Baha ' is of the United States and Canada . . 78 2. Fiftieth Anniversary of the Faith in Latin America Celebrated 90

III. THE TEN Y EA R CRUSADE AND THE KNIGHTS OF BAI-IA 'U'LLAH 93

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PART THREE INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA 'f ACTIVITIES

I. THE SIX YEAR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING PLAN 1986-1992 1. The Completion of the Six Year International Teaching Plan A. The Baha'i World Centtáe a. Publication of the Kitab-i-Aqdas in English ......... ........... ............ ..... . 115 b. Education of the Baha'i World in the Law of J:Iuq11qu 'llah ..... ......... 116 c. Restoration and Protection of Holy Places ......... .. ..... .. .. .. ... ............... 120 d. Signing of the Status Agreement ...... ............. ............ .................... .... 123 e. The Arc and Tenaces on Mount Carmel ............................ ............... 124 f. Broadening the Basis oflnternational Relations of the Faith 131 g. Turmoil in the Middle East Enveloped the Holy Land .............. ........ 133 B. World-wide Objectives a. Carrying the Healing Message of Baha'u ' llah to the Generality of Mankind .. ... .. ... . . ....... .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. ... .. ... ... . .. .. .. ... .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. ... ... ... . ... .. .. . 136 b. Greater Involvement of the Faith in the Life of Human Society 149 c. Increasing the Worldwide Availability and Use of Baha ' i literature 157 d. Further Acceleration in the Process of Maturation of Baha'i Con1ll1unities .... .. .. ... .. .. . .. ... .. .. .. . .. ... .. ... .. .... .. ... .. .. ... ... ... ..... .. ... .. .. ... .. ... ... ... . .. ... .. . 160 e. Promoting Universal Participation and the Spiritual Emichment of Individual Believers ............................................ .... ... ... .............. .... ... 170 f. Baba 'i Education of Children and Youth and Baha ' i Family Life 174 g. Pursuing Social and Economic Development Activities in Well-Established Baha'i Communities ..................... .......................... ...... ..... ...... 179 APPENDIX: "Health, Education and the Role of Women" .. .... ......... .... ... 191 2. Expansion and Consolidation of the Baha'i Faith: Sun1ll1aiy Statistics of the Six Year Plan 1986- 1992.............................. .. .. ... .... .... ...... ...... .......... 192

II. THE Two YEAR SUBSIDIARY PLAN 1990- 1992 196

III. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 1986- 1992 1. The Opening of the Fourth Epoch of the Formative Age ................. .. ......... . 225 A . A Letter from the Universal House of Justice .... .... ... ..... .... ..... .. .... ... ...... . 229 B . Statement by the Research Department on the Epochs of the Formative A~ ..... .. ... ................................................................ .... ........ ...... ..... .. ..... .. 23 1 C. International Collaboration Goals .... ......................................................... .. 236 D. Public Recognition of the True Character of the Baha'i Community a. "World Religious Statistics" ........................................ ......................... . 239 b. "What is the Baha ' i Faith?" .. ..... .. ........ .. ... .. ................................ ....... ... . 242 2. Survey by Continents A. Africa ....... .... ... .. .... .... ... ..... ..... ..... .. ... ....... ............ .... ..... ... ..... .. ................. . 247 B. The Americas 269 C. Asia 303 D . Austtáalasia and the Pacific Islands 325 E. Europe 349

Vlll CONTENTS

3. The Persecution and Defense of the Baha'i Community ofiran 1986-1992 A. The Baha'i Question .. .. .... ............ ....... ...... ....... ..... ........ ...... ...... .... .... ...... . 371 B. Baha'is Killed in Iran Between Ri~van 1986 and 1992 ......... ....... .. ...... .. 383 C. Baha 'is Killed in iran (1978-20 April 1992) ....... .. ............. .......... .... .. ... . 390 D. Baha'is Who Disappeared Without Trace in Iran and are Presumed Dead (1979-20 Apri l 1992) ........... ......... ............. .. ....................... .. .. .. ............. . 398 E. Response of the United Nations to the Persecution of the Baha'is (1980- 20 April 1992) .... ....... .. .......... ... ............. ...... .... ..... ..... .................. .. .. ........ . 401 4. Women's Activities 409 5. Youth Activities A. Youth Year of Service 421 B . European Baha'i Youth Council ... .... .......... .. ....... .... ............ ............ ..... . . 432 C. Special Youth Projects .............................. ..... ....... .. ........ .... ................ ... . 443 6. Baha'i Scholarship A. The Establishment of Baha'i Chairs at Universities ....... ..... ..... ..... ..... ... . 45 3 B. Baha'i Courses in Universities .............. ...... ........................... ... ... .. ... .. ... 456 C. Landegg Academy and Institute of International Education and Development 45 7 D. General Systems Research Conference, Budapest 1987 .. ............. .. ..... ... . 459 E. The Associations for Baha'i Sh1dies .............................. .. ...... ................ . 461 7. Baha'i Professional Associations ... ............................. .. ............................... . 471 8. Use of Computers by the Baha'i Community During the Six Year Plan 481 9. Relations Between National Spiritual Assemblies and Governmenta l and Non-Governmental Organizations and with the Public in General ............ .. 485 A. Brazil: Constitutional Reform .............................................. ......... ...... .. . 485 B. South Africa: Views Submitted on Constitutional Reform 493 C. Singapore: Statement on National Ideology ............................ .... .... .... .. . 500 D. United States: Statement on Racia l Unity ........................ .. ...... ............ .. 502 10. Individual Rights and Freedoms in the World Order ofBaha'u'llah 508

IV.BAl-IA'i INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION 1. The Baha'i Faith and the United Nations: Summary of the Years 1947- 1986 519 2. The United Nations Office of the Baha'i International Conununity 1986-1992 521 Am1ex I ....... ................. .. ..... ... .......... ..... ... ....... ..... ....................................... . 527 A1mex II ... ........ ..... .................................. .. ..... ..... .. ........ ....... .. ... .. ... ....... .... .. . 529 Am1ex III ..... .... ........ ....... .. ..... .. ........ .. ..... .... .. ..... ...... ................. ..... ..... .. ...... . 536 3 . The Office of Public Information 537 4. The Baha'i Office of the Environment 541

V. RECOGN ITI ON OF THE BAHA ' i FAITH I. Incorporation of National Spirihrn l Assemblies ........................................... 544 2. Incorporation of Local Spiritual Assemblies .. .. ... .. .. ....... .. ........................... . 550 3. A Selection of Other Documents Recording Official Recognition of the Faith 4. The German Court's Legal Recognition of Assembly Status ... ................... 554 A. The decision of the Federal Constih1tional Cami, in German....... .... .. .. .... . 571 B . A Translation of this Deci sion into English.............. ......... ............... .......... 572 C. An E lucidation of the Abbreviations Used 600 D . Decision of the German Court: Background and Significance................... 602

IX CONTENTS

PART FOUR

THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH

I. THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE 1. The Constitution of the Universal House of Justice 609 2. The Sixth International Convention for the Election of the Universal House of Justice .. ... ... . ... .. ..... ....... .. ... .. ... .... .. .. ... .. .. .............. ...... .. ... . .. .. .. . ... ... .. 618 II. THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD 1. The Hands of the Cause of God and the Extension of their Functions into the Future A. The Rulers and the Learned .. .... .. ... .. .. .. ..... .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... . .. .. .. .. ... ... . .. .. .. ... 624 B. The Hands of the Cause of God ............. ............. .. .. ........ ........ ..... ..... ...... 625 C. The Continental Boards of Counsellors 626 D. The International Teaching Centre ............ .......... ........................... ....... .. 630 2. The Work and Travels of the Hands of the Cause ............ ........................ ... . 634 3. Hands of the Cause Who Represented the Universal House of Justice at Conventions for the Election of National Spiritual Assemblies ................. . 672 4. The Development of the Institutions of the International Teaching Centre and the Continental Boards of Counsellors ... ........... ... ... .................... ..... .. ......... . 673

III. THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY 1. Introduction ........... .......... ........................ ........................................ .......... .... . 694 2. A Model Declaration of Trust and By-Laws for a National Spiritual Assen1bly .................. ... .................................................. .......... ..... ................ . 696 3. A Procedure for the Conduct of the Annual Baha'i Convention ........ ... ...... . 705 4. New National Spiritual Assemblies 708

IV. THE LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY 1. Introduction ............................................................... ........ .. ... .................... ... 718 2. By-Laws of a Local Spiritual Assembly ........ .......................... .......... .... ....... 720

V . THE INSTITUTION OF THE MASHRJQU'L-ADHKAR 1. Foreword, by Horace Holley ... ..... ........................... ............. .............. .... ...... . 728 2. The Spiritual Significance of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar .... ........ ..... ............. ... . 729 3. The Dedication of the first Mashriqu'l -Adhkar of the Indian Sub-Continent and the International Teaching Conference, New Delhi, India, 1986 ........... . 731 4. The Temple ofBahapur as Silent Teacher ......... ....... ........ .... .......... ............. . 743

VI. THE NON-POLITICAL CHARACTER OF THE BAHA'i FAITH 1. Excerpts from the Writings of Shoghi Effendi 754

VII. RELATIONSHIP TO GOVERNMENT I. Loyalty to Government ..... ............................ ....... ....... .. ... .......... ... ... ................. . 761 2. The Baha'i View of Pacifism ........................................ ............ ..... ........... ...... .. 762 3. Summary of the Guardian's Instructions on the Obligations of Baha 'is in Connection with Military Service ................. ... .. .................. ......................... 762

x CONTEN TS

VlII .BAHA ' i CALENDAR, FESTIVALS AN D DAT ES OF HI STORJCAL SIGN IFICANCE 1. Foreword ............... ... ... .. ... ... ....... .. ....... ............ .... .. .......... ... .. ................ ... .. ... . 2. Baha'i Feasts, Atmiversaries and Days of Fasting ................... .... .. ............. .. 3. Baha ' i Holy Days on Which Work Should be Suspended ..................... ..... . 4. Additional Material Gleaned from Nabil ' s Narrative Regarding the Baha'i Calendar .... ........ ................................................... .. ............. ... ... .... .... .. ...... ... . 5. Historical Data Gleaned from Nabil 's Narrative Regarding Baha'u' llah 6. Dates of Historical Significance in the Rise of the Baha'i Faith ... .... ...... ... . .

PART FIVE IN MEMORIAM Ahdieh, Mansour ....... .... ..... .... 873 Hopper Welsh, Eleanore Lorraine Alm1adiyeh, Hedayatoullah 984 (Rene) ... ......... ...... ...... ... ......... . 916 Aidun, Gol ............................. . 860 Iqani Koirala, Masheed 844 Ariki, Pa Tepaern ............. .... .. 953 Jarral $alal:i ............. .. ....... .. .. .. 931 Ashton, Beatrice Owen .. ....... .. 896 Jensen, Knud ................. .. ...... .. 885 Baghdadi, Adib Radhi 912 Kanyerezi, Max .............. ....... .. 1013 Bagley, Florence E. .. ......... .... . 1003 Kavelin, Howard Borrah 821 Bausani, A lessandro .... ... ...... .. 895 Kazemzadeh, Kazem ......... .. .. . 945 Bernal De Sanchez, Aura Maria 838 Khabirpour, 'Aziz .. ....... .. ... .... . 832 Bishop, Helen Pilkington 1005 Khadem, Zikrnllah ............ ... .. . 839 Blakely, Elsa Lilian (Judy) 929 Khan, Fazal Mohamad 784 Camey, Magda lene Margaret 1021 Khazeh, Jalal ........ ............. .. ... . 788 Caswell, Louise ............ ........ .. 867 Khianra, Dipchand L. ..... .. ..... . 829 Dobbins , Bertha .... ... ........ ...... . 848 Laws, Frederick .. .. .............. ... . 892 Duna, Rudolfo ........ ..... ......... .. 846 Leong, Yan Kee .. ... .......... ... .. .. 834 Evans, Esther .. ..... ... ........... .. .. . 942 Lindstrom, Shirley ........ .. ... ... . . 920 Featherstone, H. Collis 809 Lohse, Doris .......................... .. 970 Fitzpatrick, Henry Bertran 877 Lutchmaya, Roddy Dharmah 940 Fozdar, Shirin ........................ . 1027 Macdonald, Charles ............ .. .. 1015 Francis, Dorothy .......... ... ... .... . 990 Malakooti, Ehsanollah 943 Friedland, Eberhard K. 1025 Master, Mahvash .......... .... ...... . 977 Garcia Vazquez, Manuel 955 Mazakmat, Apelis .................. . 853 Giachery, Ugo ............ ..... .... .. . 777 McLaren, Edith ..................... .. 1011 Gualavisi Farinango, Rufino 965 McLaughlin, Robert W . 950 Gulick, Robert, Jr. .. .. .. .. ........ .. 882 Menking, JoAnne L. ............... 907 Habibi, Habib ........... ............. . 947 Mingorance Fernandez, Jose 837 I:Iaddad, Akbar .............. ........ . 991 Munje, Harilal ....................... .. 933 Haenni de Bons, Mona 1010 Nahvi, Saeed ..... ............. .... ... .. 871 Harvey, Winnifred ..... ...... ...... . 988 Navidi, Azizollah .... ...... .... ..... . 886 Hawthorne, Rose ....... .... ... ..... . 914 Newman, Beatrice ............... .. .. 937 Heller, Frances .... ..... ............. . 998 Nielsen, Lotus ............. .......... .. 101 8 Hoahania, Hamuel ...... .......... .. 843 Nounou, Salim ...... ................ .. 975 Hollibaugh, Eleanor ....... .. .... .. 868 Olson, Cynthia and Edgar 899 H0eg, Johanne ........ .. ............. . 923 Ortiz Gutierrez, Aparicia 960 XI CONTEN TS

Papai, Ludwig ... ... .. ................ . 997 Suleimani, Suleiman .... .. .. ....... 889 Parsa Mazzoni, Noranieh ....... . 995 Sumah, Mohamed Lamin 875 Perks, Thelma .... ............ ...... ... 903 Tanyi Tambe, Solomon 968 Quigley, Robert Joseph 949 Te Paa, Epluáaim ...................... 971 Rice-Wray, Edris Rawshan 958 Trojankova-Bendova, Juliana 857 Rezvani, Monireh .................. . 1001 True, Edna M. ....... ......... ......... 925 Robarts, Jolm ................... ...... . 801 Umegae, Kazutomo .. .. ......... .. .. 1026 Saavedra Gallardo, Melit6n 921 Val~id-i-Tiluáani , Qudratu' llah 825 Sabet, Habib .......................... . 961 Vajdi, Khodadad H. ........... .. ... 957 Sabet, Ros tam ..... .............. ..... . 963 Villiers-Stuart, Jane .... .. .... ... .... 981 Sala, Emeric ........................... . 993 Walker, Zlmarian Stoakley 935 Sanchez Matiinez, Juan 880 Warde, Shirley A. ............. . . . . . . 1023 Sears, William ....................... . 795 White, Tumanuvao William 851 Shayani, 'Azizu' llah .. ......... ... . 910 Wi1manik and Mubarak ... ....... . 827 Sivapiragasam, Kandiah 891 Wolcott, Charles .................. .. . 818 Stebbins Dodge, Isabelle 858 Wotih Lamb, Dora (Dee) 918 Storch, Juanita Marie ..... .. ... ... . 863 Zucker, Arthur Allen .... .......... . 1009

PART SIX DIRE CTORY, BlBLIOGRAPHY, GLOSSARY

I. BAI-IA 'i DIRECTORY 1. The Universal House of Justice ...... ..... ......... ... ..... ........ .. ............ ... ... ............ . 1033 2. The Hands of the Cause of God .. ................ .. .... .. ... .. ............. .... .. .. .... ...... ..... . 1033 3. The International Teaching Centre .. .. .. .... ..... ..... ... .. ... .. .. ..... ......................... .. 1033 4. Continental Boards of Counsellors ... .... ............ ... ....... ... .... .... ... ................ .. .. 1033 5. Baha ' i International Community .................. ... ..... .... .................................. .. . 1034 6. Na tional Spiritual Assemblies ....... ...... ..................... ..... ..... ..... ... ...... ... ....... ... 1034 7. Baha ' i Publishing Trusts .. ............ ..... ... ........ .... .... .... .. ..... ......................... .. ... 1035

II. BAI-IA 'i BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Baha 'u'llah's Best-Known Works 1037 2. The Bab's Best-Known Works 1039 3. 'Abdu ' l-Baha's Best-Known Works in English ......................... .. .............. .. 1040 4. Some Compilations from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, the Bab and ' Abdu'l-Baha ...... ....... ...... .... ... .. .. ......... .. ........ ... ...................... ....... .... .. ... .. ... .. 1041 5. Shoghi Effendi' s Best-Known Works .. .... ...................... .... .. ... ..... ........... ..... . 1042 6. Language and Literature Achievements ........ .. .... ... .. ... ......... .. ........ ......... ...... .. .. 1043 7. A Bibliography of Theses Relating to the Baha ' i Faith ... ...... .... ......... ....... .. . 1044 8. A Patiial Listing of Cunent General Baha'i Periodicals A. Produced Under the Auspices of Baha 'i Institutions ... ....... ......... .... ... ... . 1048 B. Produced Under Non-Institutional Auspices ............... .. ... .. .... .... ..... ..... .. . 1049 9. A Partial Bibliography of Conm1ercially Produced Slide Shows on the Baha' i Faith, 1971- 1992 ............................................ .. ......... ........... ....... ... .... .. ...... .... 1049

XII CONTENTS

III. ORIENTAL TERMS I. Transliteration of Oriental Words Frequently Used in Baha'i Literature 1053 2. Guide to Transliteration and Pronunciation of the Persian Alphabet 1055 3. Notes on the Pronunciation of Persian Words ............. ...... .............. .. ........... 1056 4. Definitions of Some of the Oriental Terms used in Baha'i L iterature 1057

PART SEVEN LITERARY AND MUSICAL WORKS

I. ESSAYS AND REVIEWS 1. The Suffering, Tribulation, Exile, Captivity, and Confinement ofBaha'u'llah, compiled by Donald R. Witzel ............ ... .......... .... ......... ... ..... ... ... ... .. ..... .. ...... 1069 2. The Concept of Law in the Baha'i Faith and the Law ofI:Iuququ'llah, by Amin Banani . .... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. .. ..... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. .. ... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 1086 3. Interdependence of Baha'i Communities-Services of North American Baha'i Women to Iran, by Baharieh Rouhani Ma' ani ... ...... ...... ... ..... .. ......... 1091 4. Jamal Effendi, by Elham Afnan ............. ....................................................... 1115 5. The Fundamental Principle: Agriculture and the Promise of Peace, by Paul Hanley ...... ... .......... .. .. ..... ..... .......... ...... ......... ....... .... ...................................... 1119 6. The Spiritual Role of Art, by Ludwig Tuman .................................. ....... ...... 1136 7. Altruism and Extensivity in the Baha' i Religion, by Wendy M. Heller and Hoda Mahmoudi ... .. .. .. ... ... .. .. ..... .. . .. .. ... .. ... .. .... ..... .. .. ... .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .... 1159

II. VERSE 1170

III. MUSIC 1188

X Jll LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Frontispiece: The Mashriqu' l-Adhkar in New Delhi, India

Part One: The Baha'i Revelation

Page An ornamental eagle in front of an entrance to the Mansion ofBaha'u 'llah at Bahji 10 The doorway into the courtyard of the Mansion ofBaha'u'll3h at Mazra'ih ........ . 13 The western doorway into the Shrine of the Bab ... ............ ..... .. ...... .... ....... ... ........ . 16 Detail ofone of the columns along the Arcade of the Shrine of the Bab ....... ..... ... . 19 The House of 'Abdu ' l-Baha in 'Akka, known as the House of' Abdu ' llah Pasha ... 22 Detail of the House of'Abdu ' llah Pasha, in 'Akka 25 The Seat of the Universal House ofJustice, on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel ..... 28 Details of the pillars and gardens surrounding the Seat of the Universal House of Justice ....... .. ... ...... .. ..... .. .. ..... ...... ... ... .. ..... ........................... .................... ....... . . 37 Detail of a column and window of the Seat of the Universal House ofJustice ..... . 42 The Resting Place of Shoghi Effendi, in the Great Northern Cemetery, London, England .... .......... .. ............ .... ... ...... ..... ...... ..... ... ....... ..... ...... ...... .... ......... ... .. ... .. . 49

Part Two: The Commemoration of Historic Anniversaries

' Abdu ' l-Baha, the Master, in New York City; June 1912 ..... ... .. ............ ... ..... .... ... . 52 'Abd u'l-Baha in London, Eng land; September 1911 .................... ... .......... ... ....... . 56 ' Abdu'l-Baha with Baha ' i friends in Chicago, Illinois; May 1912 ..... ....... ..... ..... . 60 'Abdu ' l-Baha in Brooklyn, New York, with His secretary, translators, and companions; June 1912 .. ..... .... .... ................... ..... ........... ... ..................................... . 62 'Abdu' l-Baha meeting with friends in Oakland, California; October 191 2 .......... . 63 Banquet for ' Abdu'l-Baha in New York City; November 1912 ................. .. ..... ... . 66 'Abdu ' l-Baha with Baha' i friends in Ess lingen , Germany; April 1913 ... ........ ... ... 71 ' Abdu'l-Baha with friends in the Austro-Hungarian Empire; April 1913 72 Pioneer Vivian Lismore with Baha'i fr iends in Havana, Cuba, in 1943 .......... ... .. . 79 Pioneer Gayle Woolson during formation of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of San Jose, Costa Rica in April 1941 .................. ...... ...... .. .... ....... .................. ...... . 82

XIV LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Pioneer Louise Caswell visiting Baha'i friends in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in October 1941 ... .. .. ... .. ...... ... .. ... .. .. .. ...... .. ... .. ........ ... .. ... .. .. ... ... .. .. .... ... ... ... .. ...... .... . 83 Pioneers Gladys Stua1t and Cora Oliver visiting a group of believers in Belize, British Honduras, during the first Seven Year Plan ........................................... 86 Pioneers Honor Kempton, Helen Robenson, and Dagmar Dole in Anchorage, Alaska, in January 1944 ......... .. .. ....... .. ............................................................... 88 The fiftieth anniversary of the fo1mation of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, being celebrated in October 1990 ...... ..... ............................ . 89 Th~ fiftieth anniversary of the Baha'i community in El Salvador being celebrated in November 1989 ......... ....... ............... ............................................................. . 92 Friends gathered in Sydney, Australia, to commemorate the Centenary of the Declaration of the Bab; May 1944 .... .. ............................................................... 98 The Hand of the Cause of God Leroy Joas greeting the friends on behalf of the Guardian during the first Intercontinental Conference, held in Uganda in 1953 . 99 Knights of Baha 'u' llah to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, Charles Dunning and Brigitte Hasselblatt, posing together in the 1950s ...... .. ..................................... 102 Knights of Baha'u'llah to the Solomon Islands, Alvin and Gertiude Blun1, with their daughter Keithie, Mr. John Mills, and the Head of the Bamu Tribe; 1954 . 103 Knight ofBaha'u'llah to Goa, Feroza Yaganegi, with Mrs. Gulnar Aftabi; 1953 .. . 103 Knights of Baha'u'llah to French Togoland, Vivian Wesson and David Tanyi, with new believers in Accra in 1956 ...... ......................... ........ ........................... 104 Knight ofBaha'u ' llah to the Queen Charlotte Islands, Edythe MacArthur; 1953 . 104 Knights ofBaha'u'llah to the Canary Islands, Gertrude Eisenberg, and George and Marguerite True, with Bany Tme; 1953 ................................... .. ...................... 105 The first Baha'i World Congress, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1963 112

Part Three: International Survey of Current Baha'i Activities

First page of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, in the handwriting of 'Abdu ' l-Baha 114 Attendees of the I:Iuq11qu'llah Conference held in Haifa in January 1987 ............ . 116 A deepening on the law ofl:luququ'llah in Kenya; November 1990 ..................... 119 A luncheon held as part of the opening ceremonies of the north wing of the House of 'Abdu' llah Pasha; Apri l 1990 ...................... .. ................................ 120 Restoration of the stencilled artwork on the balcony of the Mansion of Baha 'u ' llah atBahji; October 1987 ..... .. ................................ .. .......................... .................... 121 The ceiling of the colonnade of the Sluáine of the Bab, being refinished in 1991 122 A Status Agreement between the Governn1ent of Israel and the Baha'i World Centre being signed; April 1987 .................................................. .. ...... .. ............ 123 Members of the Universal House of Justice with architects Husayn Amanat and Fariburz $ahba on the consháuction site; March 1988 .......... ...... .............. .. ........ 125 Earthwork on the terraces below the Shrine of the Bab; October 1991 .................. 126 The pool on Terrace Nine, built during the Ministry of' Abdu '1-Baha, incorporated into the new te1Tace design .... ........ .. ......................... ....................................... .. 126 Excavation of the site of the Centre for the Study of the Texts; Februa1y 1992 ..... 127 Model of the buildings planned for the east and south side of the Arc .. .. .. ............. 128

xv 1 '.• LIST OF ILL UST RATIONS

The Hand of _tJ1e Cause. of God Amatu'l-Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khanum greeting the President of the Marshall Islands, Amata Kabua, during his visit to the Baha'i World Centre in June 1990 .. .... ... .. ... ...... ... ..... ... .. .. ... .... .. .. ... .. .. . .. ... .. .. ... . .. ... .. .. ..... 129 The Hand of the Cause of God 'Ali-Akbar FurUtan greets Dizzy Gillespie during Mr. Gillespie's visit to the Baha'i World Cenháe in July 1991 .. ....... ...... ... .. .... ... 129 Members of the Universal House of Justice with the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Sir Thomc,is Davis, during the Prime Minister 's visit to the Baha'i World Centre in August 1986 .... .. .. .... ..... .... .............. ..... .......... .......................... 130 The Hand of the Cause of God 'Ali-Akbar Furutan accompanying the President of Israel, Chaim Herzog, during his visit to the Baha'i World Cenháe in May 1989 130 The President of Honduras, His Excellency Jose Azcona-Hoyo, visiting the Baha' i World Cenháe in May 1987 .. ......................................... ............ ................ ......... 130 The British Ambassador to Israel, His Excellency Mark Elliot, and Mrs. Elliot, visiting the Baha'i World Cenháe in June 1989 ........... ....... ..... ..... ......... ....... .... .. 130 Participants in the External Affairs Conference held in Langenhain, Germany, in November 1987 ....... .............. .. .... .... ..... .... .. ..... .............................................. 132 Participants in the External Affairs Conference held at the Baha ' i World CentTe from 30 December 1988 to 1Januaty 1989 ......... ........ ...... ...... ....... ... ........... ..... 133 Baha'i World Centre staff helping each other learn how to use gas masks in November 1990 ....... .. .......................................... ..... ..... ... .......... .. .. .... ..... ... ....... 135 Baha ' i youth from Antsirabe, Madagascar, walking to a village to teach the Faith in April 1988 ............... ... .............. ........... .................................. .................... .. ... 136 In India, a bicycle for two was made in 1989 to facilitate teaching work .. ............ 139 In the Solomon Islands, a motorized canoe being used as a Maritime Teaching Institute; 1991 .. .. .. ... ... .... ... ... .. ..... .. ..... ... ... ... .. ... .. .. .... ... .. .. ..... .. ...... .. ..... .. ... ...... .. .. 140 A teaching team emailing a new believer in Macau in May 1989 .... .. .... ........ ... .. .. 142 El Viento Canta performing during the Baha'i International Music Festival held in Gaborone, Botswana , in December 1989 ...... .. .. .......... ...... ..................... ..... ...... 144 Irish Baha'i youth taking part in a Walk for World Peace in October 1987 ........... 147 Counsellor Beatrice Asare presenting the Peace Statement to the Asantahene of the Asante State of Ghana in September 1988 ................................................... 150 Counsellor Viol ette Haake presenting the Peace Statement to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands in October 1990 .. .. ... ...... .. .. . .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. .. ... .. .. . 150 Baha ' i representatives presenting the Peace Statement to NATO Base persom1el in Keflavik, Iceland, in October 1988 .. .. ... ........ ... .... ................ ................... ........... 150 Baha'is in Lesotho receiving the United Nations' "Peace Messenger Award" in September 1987 ............... ..... .................... .... ...... .... ... ........ ............... .. ... ............ 152 Mr. Dexter King, son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at the Baha ' i Peace Conference held in Oslo, Norway, in October 1986 .... ... .................. ...... .......... ..... .... ... 153 The President of France, His Excellency Franc;:ois Mitterrand, with a Baha' i pioneer to Reunion at a reception in Paris in March 1990 ... ........ ..... ..... .... ........ ..... 156 The booth staffed by the Baha'i Publishing Tmst of Argentina during the International Book Fair held in Buenos Aires in April 1989 .. ....... .... ...... .. .. .... .... .... ..... 158 Counsellor Edith Senoga visiting Baha ' i communities in western Uganda in Febmary 1990 .... ....... ........................................ ............... .. ....... ..... ... ... .. .................. 161

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The National Spirihial Assembly of the Baha'is of French Guiana with two Auxiliary Board memb.ers in April 1987 .......... .... .. ........... ......... ........................... ..... 163 Participants in the National Convention of the Baha' is ofCiskei in April 1987 164 Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha' is of Jamaica at the International Convention in Haifa, Israel, in April 1988 .. ..... .. .. ...... ... ... ... ....... .. 165 Counsellor Violette Haake at a meeting with Auxiliary Board members in New Caledonia in November 1991 ............................ .................. ....... .... ... ..... ... .. ...... 165 Participants in a conference for Auxiliary Board members ' assistants held in Swakopmund, Namibia, in July 1988 ........ ..... .. ......... ................ ... .. ......... .... ...... ... .... 166 Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre Magdalene Carney visiting with the National Spirihial Assemblies of Senegal and the Gambia ............ 166 The Hand of the Cause of God Amah1 ' l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum opening the Local Baha'i Centre in Sheun"g Simi, Hong Kong, i1~ November 1990 ............... 168 Counsellor Lucretia Warren with members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Mozambique in front of their newly acquired National Centre, March 1989 .... 168 The new offices of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Kiribati, dedicated in 1989 ... .. .. .... ........ .. ..... .. ... .. ......... .. ... ..... ....... ...... .. ....... .... ...... ... ... ... .. 168 Friends gathered for the inauguration of the Baha'i Centre in Ndava, Burundi, in October 1989 .... ..... ..... ... ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ....... .. ... .. ... .. .. ... ..... ... .... ... .... .. ...... .. ... .. 168 Children in a Baha'i tutorial school in Ngoakiri, Central African Republic; 1987 .. 174 A Baha'i children's class in Florida, Uruguay, in November 1988 ...................... . 175 A Baha ' i tutoria l school in Chaco, Paraguay, in March 1989 ................................ 176 The wedding of two Baha 'i couples at the Lenakel Baha'i Centre on Taima Island, Vanuatu, in January 1987 ....... .. .......... ....... ...... ....... ... ... .. ..... .. ... .. ... .. .. .. ...... ... .. ... 177 Children from the Inarajan Baha'i School on Guam, in the Mariana Islands, planting acacia seedlings in October 1990 .............. ................................... ........ .. ... ... 179 An experimental pepper farn1 being developed in Sarawak, Malaysia; 1988 181 The Dorothy Baker Centre in Bolivia, used for environmental studies; 1987 ........ 181 In Switzerland, Baha'is participating in the annual clean-up of marshland fo1med where the Rhone Rivers flows into Lake Geneva; March 1992 181 A Baha ' i doctor prescribing medicines to a patient she examined during a free medical camp held on Bhit Island near Karachi, Pakistan; 1989 .. .. .. .... .... .... .... . 184 Inauguration of a public well built by the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bata, Equatorial Guinea; November 1988 .. .................... ......... ... ......... .... ...... .... .... ..... 185 Participants in a fence-making course held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as a rural development project in November 1988 ........ .. ........... .. .... ........ .. ..... .... ...... .. ...... 186 A geography lesson at the Baha' i School of the Nations in Aracibo, Puerto Rico, in April 1992 ... ..... .. .. .... .. .. ...... ... .... .. .. ... .. .......... .. ..... .. .. .... .. .. ..... .. .. ........ ..... .. .. .. .. . 187 The children of the Mbabane Pre-School in Swaziland singing a song; 1987 187 A Mobile Baha ' i Institute in Cotonou, Benin, in January 1989 ...... ... ... .... ..... ..... .. . 189 The first Nineteen Day Feast possible since the 1930s was celebrated in Moscow inAprill989 ...... ........ .... .. ...... ........ ..... ........... .. .................................................. 197 The first open teaching project in modern Russia; Murn1ansk, July 1989 ..... .. .. .... 200 A music group spontaneously forn1ed during a teaching project in Neptune, Romania, in July 1991 , attracting large crowds to gather around Baha 'is .................. 202

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Travelling teachers from Brazil singing for youth in Poland in 1990 ............... ..... 202 Members of El Viento Canta being interviewed at a radio station in Zagreb, Yugoslavia; 1990 ............ ....................... .............................. .................. ...................... 202 Participants in the first National Baha'i Conference of the Soviet Union, held in February 1990 near Moscow ...... .................. ................................................ ..... 202 A group of Baha'is spent three weeks sailing on a Viking-styled ship down the Volga and Don Rivers teaching the Faith during the summer of 1990 .. ... .... .. .. . 204 The Hand of the Cause of God 'Ali-Akbar Funltan visiting Baha ' is in Samarkand in April 1990 .. .. .... .. ... .. ... .. .. ..... ... .. ... .. ... ...... ....... .. ... .. .... ........ .... .. ... .. .... ........ ... .. .. 206 A Baha'i delegation met with the President of Albania, His Excellency Ramiz Alia, in his offices in Dunes in November 1991 ............... ..... ........................... 206 Baha'is attending the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace, held in Ulaan-Baatar, Mongolia, in September 1990 ... .. .... .... ... .. ... .. ... .. ..... ... . .. ..... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. .... .. ........ 209 Knight ofBaha'u'llah 'Abbas Katirai, who arrived, with his wife, Ric;Jvaniyyih, in Sakhalin in March 1990 ................................................................... ... ............... 212 Baha'is in Tallin, Estonia, in June 1987 ............................. .................................... 214 Pioneers in Riga, Latvia, holding their first Nineteen Day Feast in September 1989 214 Baha'is attending the National Teaching Conference held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, in October 1991 ...... ... ....... ..................... .. ..................... ....... .............. .... ... ......... .... 216 Participants in the regional conference held in Odessa, Ukraine, in February 1992 216 Baha'i youth from several countries staffing a display in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, in August 1990 .... .. ..... ..... .. ... ..... .. ... .. ....... .... .. ... .. .......... ..... ............ .. .. .. ... .. .. . 218 Five members of New Zealand's Youth for One World, who travelled to teach in eastern Europe during the summer of 1990 ... .. .. .. ... .. ... .. ..... .. ..... .. . .. ............ .. .. .. . 219 Knight ofBaha'u'llah for Mongolia Sean Hinton, seated with the first native Mongolian Baha'i, Oyundelger; 1990 ........... ..... ................... ............ ... ..................... 220 Friends posing with the first issue of the Russian Baha'i newsletter, The Express, publishing in December 1991 ............... ............ ................................................. 224 Members of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Marv, Turkmenistan, Russia. Elected in September 1990 .... ...... ......... .. ... .... ... .. ...... .. ... ..... .. ... .. ... .. ........... .... .. .. 224 Counsellor Donald Rogers meeting with community members in Kingston, St. Vincent, in May 1986, to consult about the Six Year Plan ............................ ... . 226 In Thailand, Baha'is living in refuge camp "Site Two" were married during aceremony held in October 1987 227 American Baha'i ente1iainers Leslie and Kelly holding a press conference during their teaching trip to Taiwan in May 1986 ............................ ... ... .. ..................... 235 Two Baha'i youth pariicipating in a cross-border teaching project held in Zacatecas, Mexico, in July 1987 .... .. ..... ............. .. .............. ....................................... .. 237 In St. Lucia, representatives of National Assemblies from thirteen eastern Caribbean countries gathered for a planning session held in October 1987 ....... ........ 238 Representatives of fiv e National Assemblies and Baha'i International Community offices in New York and Geneva met to discuss external affairs; Febmary 1988 238 Pope John Paul II meeting the Baha'i representative to the World Conference on Religion and Peace held in Italy in July 1991 .. .. .. ... .. .. . .. ..... .. ... .. .. ...... .. ...... ... .. .. . 245 Presentation of the Peace Statement to the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, the Right Honorable Sir Lynden Pindling, in February 1988 ................... ........... .... 245 XVlll LIST OF ILLUSTRATIO NS

Liberian Baha'i refugee children in Cote d'Ivoire, March 1991. "Perchance ... the brilliant pearls of the Kingdom ... " .......................................................... ......... . 246 The President of the Seychelles, His Excellency Albert Rene, meeting with a Baha'i delegation in Victoria in December 1991 ........................................ ..... . 248 Baha'is taking part in a parade on the anniversary of the proclamation of independence of the Central African Republic, December 1986 .... .............................. . 249 During a teaching conference in Assomada, Cape Verde, in 1987, two youth present a theatrical piece about teaching in Iran .... ................................... ........ . 250 In Burkina Faso, a training and refresher course for primary health workers being held in Koalio in May 1990 ................................ ........... ... ..... ... .... .. ... ... ....... ..... . 252 In Lome, Togo, children in the Rainbow International School and Kindergarten during a Peace Festival held in March 1990 ......... ........ ......... ....... .... .. ..... ... ... .. .. 252 A literacy class being held in Ginkongozo-Rugazi Prefecture, Rwanda, in 1988 252 Staff members at Radio Baha'i Liberia (ELRB) in Monrovia in March 1987 254 The Baha' i booth during the Transkei Agricultural Show held in Umtata in October 1990 ....... ............. ............................ .. .......... ..... ........................................... . 255 Two young musicians playing at the Baha'i International Music Festival held in Gaborone, Botswana, in December 1989 ........ .... .... ....... .................................. . 256 The Baha'is of Manzini, Swaziland, laying the cornerstone of their regional Baha'i Centre during a ceremony held in October 1990 ................................... . 258 Participants in a Family Life Conference held in Limbe, Cameroon; February 1991 áááááá ááááááá ááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá áááááááá áááááááááááááááááááá áá ááá ááá ááááááááááááááááááá 259 Pottery being created during the National Baha'i Women's Conference in Nakuru, Kenya, in February 1989 ............. ..... ................................................................ . 259 A group ofBaha'is who walked 800 kilometres from their village to attend a conference held in the Fizi Zone of Zaire in July 1989 .... .... .... ....... ..... .... ... ...... .. ... . 259 New Baha'is in Lewfen, Senegal, who embraced the Faith during the Viera Teaching Project in 1988 ........... ..... ..... ....... ..... ........... ....... .. ........ ..... .. .......... .. .... .. ...... . 259 Youth participating in the 'Star 88' teaching project in Botswana; June 1988 261 Counsellor Lally Wanen visiting with friends in the village ofKabwafu, Malawi, in August 1990 .. ...... .......................... ..... .......... .................. .............................. . 262 Teaching institute held at the William Masehla Baha'i Institute in Zambia; 1986 264 Participants in a deepening seminar held in Gueckedou, Guinea; December 1990 264 Baha'is helping with construction of their new Teaching Institute at Titye, Kashlu, Kigoma, Tanzania in 1990 ... ................... ....... ............................. .. ............... ..... . 264 On Rodriquez Island, friends in La Ferme pose with Counsellor Gilbert Robert and his wife, Daisy Robert, during their visit in October 1990 ......................... . 266 Friends working together to make mud bricks for the new Baha'i Primary School in Yakandor, Pujehun District, Siena Leone; 1987 .................................... .... ... 266 A Teaching fastitute being held in Bamako, Mali, in December 1987 .............. ... . 266 A Baha'i doctor offering medicine to Liberian Baha'i refugees in Cote d'Ivoire . March 1991 ...... ........ ...... .......... ... ... ... ..... ............. .... ..... ....... .............................. . 267 Friends attending the Baha'i International Peace Conference in San Francisco, California, in August 1986 ...... .................... ............. ....................................... .. 268 Friends with plaque presented to the Brazilian Society of Educators for Peace; 1989 270 XIX LI ST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Members of the Raul Pavon teaching team with women in Puno, Peru. 1990 271 Singers Seals and Croft participating in the Martin Luther King Day Parade in Atlanta, Georgia, in January 1991 .. .. .. .. . .. .. ... .... .. ... .. ... ..... .. ..... ... .. ....... ...... .. ... .. .. 272 Baha'is in Havana, Cuba, welcoming visitors from Mexico in November 1996 273 In the United States, First Lady Barbara Bush welcomes a Baha'i International Community representative to a White House reception held in June 1990 274 In Guadeloupe, a Baha 'i reads "Education for Peace" during a World Religion Day progranm1e held in January 1987 ............... .. .............................. ................ 274 In Trinidad, Baha' is gather to commemorate the United Nations' Human Rights Day in December 1988 .. ............ .. .............. ...... ..... ..... ... .. ..... ........ ..... ...... ..... ... .. . 274 A Radio Baha'i, Bolivia, staff member during a campaign to fight cholera; 1991 278 A Radio Baha'i, Panama, staff member preparing to broadcast music; 1987 278 The staff of WLGI, the Baha'i radio station in Hemingway, South Carolina, in November 1987 ................... ................. .. ..... .... .. ..... ............. .............. .......... .... .. 278 Exterior view of the facilities for Radio Baha' i, Chile; February 1988 .................. 278 Friends teaching the Faith during a radio interview held in Colima, Mexico; 1987 279 A staff member of Radio Baha ' i, Ecuador, interviewing a villager; 1987 ............. 279 Some of the friends who produce the weekly Baha' i radio programme in the Guajiro language in Maracaibo, Venezuela; 1990 ....... .......................... .... .... ....... ... 279 Exterior view of the facilities for Radio Baha' i, Peru; 1988 279 A Garifuna Baha'i teacher in the Carrib Territory of Dominica; 1991 285 Participants in the second Regional Youth Conference for the Caribbean, held in Grenada, August 1988 ........ ..... ....... .... .. .... .......... ...... .. .............................. ......... 288 Participants in a youth conference held in Barbados in August 1990 ....... .. ...... ..... 289 Teaching on the island ofCayemite, off the coast of Haiti, in November 1989 290 Baha ' i participants in an orientation for a teaching proj ect in Belize; June 1990 290 Children performi ng traditional dances in the Guaymi Cultural Centre in Panama. April 1989 ............... ....................... .. .. ....... .......................... ............................... 292 Friends gathered at the Peigan Baha ' i Institute, Alberia, Canada ; December 1989 295 A Toba Baha ' i woman in the Chaco Region of northern Argentina ; 1989 296 Students of violin at the School of the Nations, Brasilia, Brazil; 1988 .................. 297 Exterior of the Maxwell Baha'i School near Vancouver, Canada; 1992 ....... ......... 297 A Baha'i tutori al school in the Guajiro Region of Colombia; 1987 .................. ..... 297 Nicaraguan youth who took training classes in children's education; January 1992 297 Participants in a workshop that was part of the Baha'i winter school in Haiti; March 1987 ................... ......... .... .. ... ... ..... ..... .... ......... ............. ............................ 300 Martinique 's ninth National Convention, held in Fort-de-France; 1992 ...... ....... ... 301 Members of a Baha ' i Regional Native Council in Panama taking a break from their meeting to visit the House of Worship ; June 1991 .. .... ... .. ... .. ... ........ ... ... .. 30 1 In Bermuda, friends gathered for a winter schoo l held in February 1987 ..... ..... .. .. 301 A moilier and daughter at the Local Baha'i Centre in Tai Dong, Taiwan; 1988 302 Baha'is consulting during the Vajdi Memorial Teaching Project held on Great Nicobar Island in February/March 1990 .... ...................... ............... .. ... .......... .. .. 306 Presentation of the Peace Statement to the wife of the Minister of Lands and Land Development of Sri Lanka; June 1988 ..... ........ .................. ........ .... .................. . 307

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T he Crown Prince of Thailand receiving a handmade art object from a young representative of the Sp iritual Assembly; September 1989 ..... .. .......................... ... 308 The Minister of Tourism for Nepal , Ram Hari Joshy, award ing a prize to a w inner of the Baha' i youth song contest held at Naw-Ri'.1z in Kathmandu ... .. .. ... .......... 308 The Prime Min ister of Bang ladesh, Begum Khadela Zia, presenting Counsellor Jab bar Eidelkhani with the "Young Scientist Award 1990"; July 1991 ... . ......... 308 An Auxili ary Board member speaking about individual transformation during an á interfaith seminar held in Coimbatore, India, in January 1991 ....... .......... .. ....... 3 10 T he Hand of the Cause of God Amatu' l-Baha Ri'.1!)iyyih KMnum visiting w ith students from the School of the Nations in Macau in May 1989 ........................ .... 312 The Prime Minister of India, H is Exce llency Raj iv Gandhi , presenting a "Friends of Trees Award- 1986" to a representative of the Rabbani School ... ........... .. .. 312 Students in a class at the Tadong School in Ranipul , Sikkim, in 199 1 312 Participants in a Ba ha'i Children 's Institute held in Larut Matang, Ma laysia; December 1987 ..... ... . .. ... . . ... ... .. .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ..... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. ...... .. .... .. .. .. .. .. ... . 312 A Baha' i doctor during a three-day med ica l clinic sponsored by the Nationa l Spiritual Assembly of the Phili pp ines at Naw-Ri'.1z 1987 .. .. ..... .... ... .... 3 15 T he Local Baha ' i Centre at Ban Vieng Kham Ta i, Laos, dedicated in May 1986 . 3 17 T he Local Baha'i Centre at Mandalay, Myanmar, dedicated in January 1991 3 17 Baha'is participating in a World Religious Book Ex hibition held in Tokyo, Japan, inJuly 1990 .. ....................................... ..... ..... ..... ...... .. ..... ................. ................. 318 Baha'is participating in the third International Book Fair held Beijing, China, in September 1990 . .. . .. .. .... ... .. .. ... .. . . ... ..... .. .. ... .. ... .. ... ... ... .. ... .. .. .... . ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ....... 318 A Mangyan Baha'i family on its way to a teaching conference he ld in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines, in 1986 ...... .............................................. ......... 322 Baha'i children in Singapore supporting the co untry's Green and C lean Week in November 199 1 by designing and displaying banners about the env ironment .. 323 Two Baha' i friends at a National Teachi ng Conference in Sydney, Australia, "in December 1987 .... .................................................... ..... ..... ........................ .... .... 324 Traditional dancers fro m Kimama vi llage in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea during a teaching project in 1989 .. .... ........... ............. ............. .... .. .... .. ... 326 Baha' is dancing during a National Teaching Conference held in Ap ia, Samoa, in July 199 1 .. .... ........ ... ....... .. ... .. ... .. ... ... .................................. .... .... ...... ......... ........ 327 A New Zea land Baha' i with a long spear-like Maori weapon he turned into a digging tool as a g ift fo r the Baha'i House of Wo rship in India; 1988 ......... ......... .. 328 Four Samoan Baha'i women visiting the Cook Islands in September 199 1 as part of the Ocean of Light proj ect .. ... .. .. .. ... ... .. .. ... .. .. .... . ... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. . .. ... ... . .. .. .. .. .. . .. . 329 Mr. Peter Kaltoli, the first loca l person to become a Baha'i in Vanuatu (then ca lled the New Hebrides), w ith Counsellors Bruce Saunders and Sirus Naraqi in 1991 330 Counsell or member of the International Teaching Centre Donald Rogers visiting Baha'is in Perth, Western A ustrali a, in 1990 ............... ... ........... ..... ................... 33 1 In the Marshal l Islands, President Amata Kabuajoining Baha ' is during a dinner to commemorate the Internati onal Year of Peace; October 1986 .......... ..... ........... 334 In Western Samoa, Baha'is wa lking with the conmrnnity's fl oat in a parade to ce lebrate the 25th anniversary of the cou ntry's independence; June 1987 ............. 334

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In the Solomon Islands, Baha'i youth with the float they created to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of the country's independence; July 1988 ..... ................ .. 334 The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Eastern Caroline Islands; 1987 336 Baha'i representatives to the meeting sponsored by the South Pacific Commission and held in Fiji in September 1988 ........ .. .. .. .. .... ...... .. ............ .. .. .. ........ .... .......... 340 Children attending the Baha'i kindergarten KoloJo 'ou, Nuku'alofa in Tonga; 1990 342 Members of the group Youth for One World, which formed in 1990 to use music to proclaim the Faith, posing in Masterton , New Zealand .. .......... .. ........ .......... 343 A special prayer service held at the Baha' i House of Worship in Samoa during the summer school in January 1987 ........................................................................ 346 A day-long gathering for Baha'i families and their friends held at the Baha' i House of Worship in Sydney, Australia, in 1988 .............................. .. .......... .... 346 Participants in the European Baha'i Youth Conference held in July 1989 in the Netherlands ............. .... .... .. ..................................... ... ................ ... ...................... 348 A view of the Great Eastern Conference held in Dieburg, Germany; March 1987 350 A mural painted by Baha'i youth of the Canary Is lands in 1988 .. ...................... .. .. 352 The Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Ugo Giachery celebrating his 90th birthday during the summer school held in Filipstad, Sweden, in July 1986 ..... .. .. .. .... .... 353 Balloons being released in San Marino ' s main square during the European Baha'i Youth Conference held in July 1989 ... .. .... .... .... .. ... .... .......... .. ................ .. ......... 354 Participants in the National Baha' i Youth Conference held in Sete, France, in 1989 356 Romani (Gypsy) Baha ' is ofTorreviej a, Spain, celebrate Naw-Ruz in 1987 .. .. ..... 358 Mrs. Meherangiz M unsiff w ith a family of Gypsies she met during her trip to Lappeeranta, Fi nland, in July 1987 .. .... .... .... .. ...... .... .............................. .. .. .. ...... 358 Participants in a teaching project held in Cyprus in 199 l 358 Counsellor Loui s Henuzet receiving the "Peace Messenger Award" on behalf of the Baha'i community of Belgium during a ceremony held in Brussels; 1987 .. .. ... 360 A group of new Baha' is in Koyuslukow, Sivas, Turkey, gathering to establish their first Local Spiritual Assembl y; January 1992 ..................................... ........ ....... 361 The first International Dialogue on the Transition to a G lobal Society being held at Landegg Academy in Switzerland in September 1990 ...................................... 362 Baha' is receiving a commemorative stamp issued by the Post Office of the United Ki ngdom to honour Bernard Leach, a potter and a Baha'i; November 1987 ..... 364 An exhibition of Baha' i books held as part of a Congress on Religious Studies at the New University in Lisbon, Portugal, in January 1992 ...... .. ......................... 366 An exhibition of Baha'i books displayed during the International Book Fa ir in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in October 1990 .. .. ...... ..... ............. .. ........... .. ................ .. 367 Oneworld Publications' edition of The Hidden Words ofBaha ' u'llah displayed in a Sherratt & Hughes bookstore in the United Kingdo m in July 1989 ...... .. .. .. .... 368 The Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone with other participants in the summer school held in Iceland in August 1987 ......... .. ........ ....... ....................... 369 Participants in the opening of the first Baha' i Schoo l in Vej le, Denmark, in September 1989 ..................................................... ..... .. ..... .. .. .. .... ..... .. ..... ........ .. ...... 369 The House of the Bab in Shiraz, being demolished by Iranian authorities soon after the Islamic revolu tion in 1979 .................. .. .......... .. .................... .... ..... .... .......... 370

xxii LIS T OF ILLUSTRATIONS

A photograph taken around 1896, showing a Baha'i father and son in chains after being arrested with fellow Baha'is. Both were subsequently executed ............ 372 A photograph taken in May 1955, showing members of the Shah's army and Muslim leaders joining in the destruction of the National Baha' i Centre; Tihran, Iran 373 The House of the Bab in Shiraz, a place of pilgrimage for Baha'is, was destroyed by Revolutionary Guards in 1979 and later completely razed .. .. .. .. ..... ..... .... ..... 375 Shortly after the Islamic Revolution , the National Baha' i Centre in Tihran was confiscated by authorities ... ... ... .. ... .... ...... ... .. ...... ........ ...... ...... ........ .... ... .... ....... . 377 Destruction of a Baha'i cemetery in Shiraz in 1979 ........ .. ... ... ............... .. ... .... .. .... . 381 Light fixture on the colonnade of the Shrine of the Bab .... ... .... ..... ..... .... ....... ....... .. 382 Individual photographs of some of the martyrs .. ........................ .. ....... ................... 399 In the Gambia, participants in a Baha'i Women 's Institute held in the Regional Baha' i Centre of Latri-Kunda in 1987 .. .. ........ .. .................. ... ......... ..... .. ... ....... 408 In the United States of America, a reception to honour Laura Dreyfu s-Barney held at the UNICEF House in Washington, D.C., in July 1988 ................. ...... ..... .... . 408 In Chad, the "Roses Noires" Baha'i women's group ofSarh learning sewing skills in June 1988 ............ ... ...... ..... ..... ....... .......... ... .. ....... ........ .... .. ................... ......... . 410 In Malaysia, Richard and Mona Grieser meet with participants in the "Traditional Media as a Change Agent" project in Sarawak; 1992 ............. ... ...... .... ..... ...... ... 412 In Luxembourg, the Baha'i Women 's Union organized a conference with concert heldin0ctoberl988 ........ ..... ..... ........... ................. .......... .... ..... .. .. .... .... .. .......... 413 In Mexico, Rosalinda Espinoza de Frazelle talks about "Women and Peace" during a Baha'i women's conference held in 1987 ..... .. ........ .. ...... ....... .... ........ ....... 413 In Bangladesh, Shirin Boman addresses a Baha ' i women 's conference held in Dhaka in 1986 .... .......... ........................... ..... ... ..... .. ... .. ..... .. .. .. ... ....... ................. 413 In Kenya, one of the fri ends makes a point during the National Baha' i Women 's Conference held in the Nakuru Baha'i Centre in February 1989 ... .. ... ...... ......... 413 Uruguay hosted an International Baha ' i Women ' s Conference held in Montevideo in October l 989 .. ..... .... .. .. .. . .... . .. .. ..... ..... ... .. .. .. ... ..... . ... .. .... ... .... .... .. ...... .. .. .. .. ... ... 414 A Pacific Baha'i Women's Conference held in Hilo, Hawaii , in mid-1991 415 Louise Profeit-Leblanc gives a presentation during the Conference for the Association for Baha'i Studies held in Irvine, California, in September 1989 ............. 417 In the Solomon Islands, Baha'i women and children presenting their custom dancing during the Women ' s Week celebrations held in September 1988 ....... ...... .. 418 In Pakistan, a public meeting held in memory of Tahirih was organized by the Local Ladies Committee of Karachi; August 1989 .. ...... .. ...... .... ...... .. ...... ...... ... 419 In the Philippines, President Corazon Aquino and the Vice President of the All Nations Women's Group, a Baha ' i, in May 1990 ..... ..... ........... .............. .. .. ..... .. 420 Participants in the Rubi Institute International Training Course for Tutorial School Teachers and Preparation for Youth Year of Service, Colombia; November 1986 422 Youth volunteers in "The Temple Brigade" helping to clean the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, India, in 1988 .......... .................................... ........ ..... ... 423 Some of the youth serving at the Baha'i World Centre in March 1990 ..... .... .... ..... 424 A Baha' i youth of Vanuatu with students of the literacy class he teaches on Tanna as part of his Year of Service; February 1992 ... ........... ...... ... .... ............... ... .. ... .. 426

XXlll LIST OF I LLUSTRA TIO NS

Youth Year of Service volunteers went into the Kalahari Desert in Botswana to hold deepenings for the Baha' is who live there; October 1987 .. ...... ..... ...... 427 In Hawaii , American Baha' i youth cooking during a two-week-long summer camp held on Maui for Russian youth in 1988 ........... ....... ... .. ..................................... 428 In the U.S. Virgin Islands, a Sparks for Peace team of Baha ' i youth reinstalling a fence as a service project in a national park in 1989 . .. ... ... .. ..... .. .. .. .. .. .. ....... .. .. ... 428 In the Dominican Republic, a yo ung graduate of the Olinga Institute courses in service to the Cause teaching a children's class in 1991 .................................... 428 In Luxembourg, Baha'i youth volunteers working to clean and maintain the Garden of Wiltz; 1990 ....... .. .. .... .... .. ... ... .. ....... .. .... ............. ........ ........ ... ... .. .... .. ... .. .. . 429 In Uganda, part of the youth programme during the summer school in Mbale was to help clean up the local hospital ; 1991 ... ..... .................................................... 429 In Tonga, a Baha'i youth group after cleaning downtown Nukualofa in support of World Health Day; 1990 ........... ... .. ...... ...... ... .. ... ..... ..... ........ ........... ........... .... .... 429 In Scotland, youth participants in Operation Mona, after cleaning up a section of the River Clyde in July 1986 .. .... .. .. ..... ..... ....... ..... .. ........ ......... .. .... .... .. ........ ...... 430 In Singapore, yo ung Baha'is after helping to clean up a beach as a community service project in 1990 ... . .. ... ... ........ .. .. .. ..... ... . ..... .. ... .. .. ... .. ... ... .... ... ..... ........ .. .. .... .. . 430 In St. Vincent, children and youth participating in a Baha' i-sponsored activity to clean up Villa Beach; April 1992 ... .... .... .. .... ....... ......................... ...... .... ....... .... 430 In Panama, Baha' i youth performing cultural dances as part of the International Day of Peace activities in Boca de! Monte; 1989 ....... ......................... ........ ...... 431 In Nigeria, members of the Baha ' i youth ' s football club, called The Peace Makers, during the semi -final match in a local soccer competition; 1987 ............... ....... 431 In Taiwan , six youth who enro lled in the Faith during the Muhajir Teaching Project in 1987 are members of three ethnic minorities .. .............. .. ......... ... ..... . 431 The third Peace Moves '89 Regional European Youth Conference, held in July 1989 in Madrid, Spain ..... .............. ........ ....... ....... ....... .......... .... ....... ....... .... 436 The members of the first European Baha' i Youth Council after their first meeting in London , England, in November 1989 ..... ..... ..... ......... ... ........... .... .... ... ...... ... .. 437 Participants in one of the four European Youth Conferences held in the summer of 1991 took place in Neptune, Romania .. ... .. ........ ... .... .... .......... ..... ........ .............. 439 Participants in the George Adam Benke Project in Bulgaria attending the National Teaching Conference held in Plovdiv in October 1991 .... ....... ...... .......... .......... 440 The members of El Viento Canta before beginning their tour of Europe in 1988 .. 443 Members of El Viento Canta with children on the grounds of the Baha ' i House of Worship near Kampala, Uganda, during their tour of Africa in 1989 ... ............. 444 Members of El Viento Canta in U laan-Baatar, Mongolia, with Knight ofBaha'u ' llah, Sean Hinton, and some of the first Mongolian Baha'is; 1990 ............. ....... ....... 445 Members of the Wildfire Youth Theatre Group during a performance in New South Wales, Australia, in February 1989 .. .......... ... ..... ... ...... .......... ..... ..... ........ 449 Light in the Darkness performing during the European Baha'i Youth Conference held in Neptune, Romania, in July 1991 .. ......... ....... ......... .... ... ..... ...... ...... .... ... .. 450 Musical entertainment being presented during a youth conference held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in November/ December 1991 ........... ...... .... .... .... .. .... .......... 451

XX IV LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Participants in Austria's National Youth Conference; Spital am Pyhrn; 1992 45 l The Prime Minister of Guyana, His Excellency Hamilton Greene, addressing the Caribbean Baba 'i Youth Conference held in Georgetown in August 1989 451 Friends attending a youth institute in P01t Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in December 1988 .. .. .. .. ... .. .... .. ..... ... . .. .... .... .. .. .. ... ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .... ..... ... .... ....... .. .. .. ... .. 452 Participants in a quiz held during the National Youth Conference in Lahore, Pakistan, in September 1988 ............ ......... .... ............... ......... ........... .......... ..... .... ...... 452 A group photograph taken during the International Youth Conference held near Harare, Zimbabwe, in August 1990 ....... .. .. ...... ... ............ .... ... ............ ... ............. 452 Two guest lecturers and friends associated with the Chair for Baha'i Studies at the University oflndore, India, in January 1992 .. ........... ......... ..... ... ......... .. ... ...... ... 455 The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu'l-Baha Ru l~iyyih Khanum and Dr. Erwin Laszlo followipg the General Systems Research Conference in Hungary; 1987 460 Participants in the Australian National Baha ' i Studies Conference, held in Adelaide in March 1989 .. .... ... ..... .. .. .. ...... .. ... .. .. .... ..... .. ... .. ... .. .. ....... ... ... ..... .. .. ... .. ... ... 461 The first meeti ng of the Association for Baba ' i Studies in East, Central, and South Africa being held in Nairobi, Kenya, in September 1990 ........ .......................... 463 The Association for Baha'i Studies, French-Speaking Europe, holding its third annual meeting in Luxembourg in November 1986 .......... .... ................. .. ......... 465 The Association for Baha'i Studies, German-Speaking Europe, during its fifth ammal conference, held in Austria in 1989 ... ................... ... ....... .. .... ...... ..... ...... 466 The Association for Baba 'i Studies, Japan, during its first a1mual conference, held in Tokyo in December 1991 .. .... .. ... .. ... .. ............................. ....... ....... ... ..... ......... 467 A speaker during the thirteenth meeting of the Association for Baha'i Studies, N01th America , held in Ottawa, Canada, in October 1988 ........ ..... .............. .. ... 468 A Seminar on Intercultural Issues preceding the Conference of the Association for Baha ' i Studies held in Irvine, California, in 1989 ... ....... .. ..... ...... .. .................... 469 The Association for Baha'i Studies, Papua New Guinea, holding its second conference, in Po1t Moresby in May 1989 .. ........................................ .......... .... ...... 470 A member of the Baha'i International Health Agency visiting the home of a Baha'i Health Education Agent in Sarh, Chad, in June 1988 ... ............ .... .... .. ... 4 72 The European Baha ' i Business Fomm ho lding its second a1mual conference in Paris, France, during the late summer of 1991 ... ............ .... .... .... ... ..... ..... ... .. ... .. 476 Participants in Art Forum '9 1, held at the Baha'i Conference Centre in De Poort, Netherlands .. ... ..... .......................... ...... ... .... ...... .... .. .............. ........ ..... .......... ... ... 479 Art Forum East, held in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, in July 1991 ........................ 480 Students at the Tadong Baha 'i School in Sikkim, India, learning to use computers as part of their regular curriculum; 1991 ...... .. ... ..... ........ .... ... .... .... .. ... .. .. ... ... ... .. 483 Dr. Ethel Martens at the Baha'i Internationa l Community display during at the World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland, in May 1988 . .. .. ... .. ... . .. 524 A representative of the National Assembly of the Baha 'is of Brazil receiving the United Nations' "Peace Messenger Award;" September 1987 ..... .. ................... 526 Baha'i International Conmmnity representatives Mrs. Mary Sawicki Power and Mrs. Tinai Hancock at a South Pacific Committee Conference held in Suva, Fiji, in September 1988 ...... .. .................................. ............ ............................ ... 535

xxv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu'l-Baha Rul:J.iyyih Khanum presenting a copy of the Baha'i Statement on Nature to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in Winchester, England, in October 1987 .... .. ..... ...... .. ... ......................... 541 Certificate of Incorporation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Cook Islands; 2 February 1989 ......... ... ......... .. ........ ....... ..... ......................... 545 Recognition of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Guinea-Bissau in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution; 7 July 1988 .... .... ... ..... .. 546 Receipt of the Declaration of Trust for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Guinea; 29 May 1986 (first page) .................................................... 547 Certificate of change of name from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of South and West Africa to the National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa; 27 March 1987 .. .... .. ... .. ... .. .. . .. .. ... .. .. . .. ... .. ... .... .... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. .. ... ........ .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. . 548 Certificate of Incorporation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha 'is of the West Leeward Islands; 23 October 1991 ..................................................... 549 Decree by the Government of Quebec, Canada, regarding the Civil Registtáy of Baha'i Local Spiritual Assemblies in Hull, Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, Longueuil, and Montreal; 1990 (first page) ....................................................... 551 Registration of the Baha'is of Ashkhabad of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic by the Council of Religious Affairs at the Council of Ministers of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; 25 Janua1y 1990 ................................................. 552 Recognition of the Baha 'is of Dushanbe of the Tadzhik Soviet Socialist Republic by the Council of Ministers ofTadzhikistan; 14 November 1990 .......... ........... 553 Appointment by the Attorney General of a Baha'i Marriage Office in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Effective from 10 March 1988 ............................. 556 Approval of a legal representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Burundi by the Minister of Justice, dated 12 October 1988 ............. 557 Letter from the Ministry of Finance of Equatorial Guinea, recognizing the right of the National Spiritual Assembly to be exempt from taxes; 29 April 1986 ........ 558 Certificate of recognition of the Lomaivuna Baha'i Kindergarten by the MinistJ.y of Education of the Government ofFiji; 21August1987 .................................. 559 Circular Letter from the Minister for the AdministJ.áation of the Territories of Gabon stating that the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Gabon 560 may carry out all activities; 6 May 1987 .......................................................... .. Ce11ificate registering the offices of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha' is of Ireland as a place for the solemnisation of marriage; 8 September 1988 ááá áááááááááááááááá áááááááááááááááááááá ááá ááá áá ááá ááááá ááá ááá áááá áááá áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá 561 The Malawi Gazette Supplement, dated 7 November 1986, giving notice of the licensing of the Baha'i Centre in Limbe, and the Baha'i Teaching mstitute in Amalika Village, as a place for the celebration of marriages ......... .. ...... ........ ... 562 Rental agreement between the Baha'i Property Incorporate and three individuals for a Baha'i Centre, filed with the clerk of Courts on Santo Island, Kwajalein Atoll, in the Marshall Islands; 14 November 1986 .................. ....... ..... ....... ....... 563 Letter from the Department of Education for the Conunonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands recognizing Baha'i Holy Dates when children may be excused from classes; 10 September 1987 ....... .. .......... .......... ............................... .. ........ 564

xxvi LIST OF IL LUSTRAT IONS

Notification by the Government of Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Affairs of the appointment of a Baha' i on the Advisory Council for Minorities Affairs ...................... ............... ............. ..... ...... ..... ... ....... .................. 565 Certificate of Registration of a Permitted School in Papua New Guinea for the Baha' i Study Centre to operate as a high school; 14 November 1986 ...... ..... .... 566 Marriage contract of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Philippines, which was approved by the government in 1987 ... ........... .. .................... 567 Certificate of Registration by the Republic of Zambia of the William Mmuthe Maseltha Baha' i Institute; 5 October 1988 ........... ... ...... ... ............... .... ....... ...... . 568 First Day Cover of a commemorative stamp portraying the House of Worship in Apia, issued by the Government of Western Samoa for Christmas 1988 .. .. .... .. 569 The Postal Department of India depicted the House of Worship in New Delhi on a postage stamp to mark the Diamond Jubilee of that city .................... .... .... ... ... . 570

Part Four: Th e World Order of Baha 'u 'llah

Partial view of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice from the south 608 Five Hands of the Cause leading friends attending the International Convention towards the Shrine of the Bab for the observance of the Ninth Day ofRic;lvan ... 619 A delegate casting her ballot during the election of the Universal House of Justice during the International Convention held at Ric;lvan 1988 .. .............. ... ... .. ... ... ... 619 A delegate expressing his views during a consultative session during the International Convention .. .. .... .. ... .. ... .. .. .. ...... ... .. ... ... .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. ... ... ... ... ... .. .... .. . .. . .. ... .. 620 A delegate during one of the special continental sessions held as part of the International Convention . ... . .. ... .. .... .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. . .. ... ..... .. ..... ... ... .. ..... ... .. ... .. .. ... . .. .. . .. 620 The Hands of the Cause of God Amatu ' l-Baha Ri'1l;iyyih Khanum, Dr. 'Ali- Mul;ammad Varqa, and William Sears during International Convention, 1988 .. 622 The members of the Universal House of Justice elected at Ric;lvan 1988 .. .. ... .. ...... 623 The Hand of the Cause Jolm Robarts and his wife planting a tree in Northern Ireland during their visit there in August 1986 .......... .. .... .......... .. .......................... 638 The Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featherstone and his wife attending the National Convention in Mauritius in May 1987 ... ... ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. . .. ... . .. ... .. .. .. ...... .. . ...... .. .. . 642 Amatu ' l-Baha Rul:iiyyih Khanum presenting a copy of the Peace Statement to the Governor of Macau in April 1989 .. ....... ... ...... ....... .... .... .. .. ... ... .... ........ ........... ... 653 The Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Ugo Giachery with Lilian Alai and Tosi Malietoa during the National Convention held in Apia, Western Samoa; April 1989 653 The Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featherstone and his wife attending the Aboriginal Baha'i Institute held in Forsayth, Australia, in June 1989 ................ ........... 656 The Hand of the Cause H . Coll is Featherstone and his wife visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in August 1989 ...... ... .. ............. ... .......... ........................... .. ........ 658 Amatu ' l-Baha Rul:iiyyih Khanum meeting the President of Argentina, Dr. Carlos Menem, during the "Uniting the Americas" conference; Febrnary 1990 ....... .. . 662 The Hand of the Cause Mr. 'Ali-Akbar Furutan visiting with members of a Baha 'i fa mily in Dushanbe, Tadzhik, in the Soviet Union, in March 1990 ... .. .......... .... 663

xx vii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The Hand of the Cause of God Wi ll iam Sears in Worcester, Massachusetts, in October 1.99 1, encouraging the friends to fil l the Six Year Plan goa lsá .. ... L .. ... 668 The Hand of the Cause Dr. 'Ali-Mul?ammad Varqa with Baha'i children in Greenland in Apri l 1992 ........................................................................................ .. .... 67 1 T he members of the Uni versal House of Justice, fi ve Hands of the Cause of God, Counsell or m embers of the International Teach ing Centre, and members of the Continenta l Board of Counse ll ors in Haifa in May 1988 .................................. 682 Counsellor Beatrice Asare be ing greeted by member of the U niversal House of Justice Dr. Peter Khan in the Seat of the International Teaching Centre; 1988 .. 682 The Hands of the Cause of God Dr. 'Al i-MuJ:iammad Varqa, Wil lia m Sears, Amatu' l-Baha Rlil?fyyih Kha nu m, 'Ali-Akbar Furu tan, and H. Coll is Featherstone at the Mansion of Mazra' ih during the Counsell ors' Conference; 1988 .... 683 Coun sell ors Robert Harris and Arturo Serrano consu lti ng w ith Coun sellor member of the International Teaching Centre Dr. Magdalene Carney; May 1988 ......... 683 The members of the Inte rnati onal Teaching Centre; June 1988 ...................... .. ..... 685 The Continental Board of Counse ll ors for Africa in 199 1 .............................. .... ... 688 The Continental Board of Counsell ors fo r the Ameri cas in 199 1 688 T he Continenta l Board of Counse llors for Asia in 199 1 690 T he Continental Board of Counse ll ors for Australasia in 199 1 ... ........ .... .......... .. .. 690 T he Continental Board of Counsell ors for Europe in 199 1 .. .. ....... .. ............ .......... . 69 1 In Suriname, Counsellor Jacq uel ine Delahunt consu lts w ith Mrs. Terry Madison during the National Convention held in Paramaribo in April 1990 .................. . 692 In Czechos lovakia, Counsell or Rul?u' llah Mumtazi visits with frie nds in Prague in December 1986 ................................................ ..... .. ....... ...... ............................. . 692 In Hawaii , Counsellor Gayle Morri son during a meeting w ith the National Spiritual Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands and the Local Assembly of Honolulu ; 1987 692 In Ko rea, Counse llor Kim Myung Jung j oins in the celebrati on of the Seventi eth Anniversary of the Introdu ction of the Faith in Korea; Seoul , February 1992 .. 693 In Guatema la, members of the Continental Board of Counsell ors fo r the Americas and some Auxi li ary Board members meeting with members of the Nationa l Sp iritual Assembli es of Central America; 1990 .. .. ...... .. ................... .. ............... 693 In Bophuthatswana, Counsell or member of the International Teaching Centre Dr. Magda lene Carney meets with Counsellors Dani el Ra moroes i and Lall y Warren, and Auxiliary Board members Enos Makhele and Sohail Rowhan i; 1989 693 Counse ll or Ursul a Milhl schl egel participates in the National Convention held in Athens, Greece; April 1987 .................................... ..... .. .............. .. .. .. .... .. .......... 706

New National Spiritual Assemblies

Page Page Guin ea-B issa u (1989) ................ .. 708 West Leeward Islands ( 199 1) .. .. 7 11 Macau ( 1989) ....... ....... .. .. .. ........ .. 709 Ango la ( 1992) ......... .. ... .... ...... .. 7 11 Union of Soviet Socialist Rep ubli cs The Baltic States ( 1992) .......... . 7 12 ( 199 1) ááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá áááá 709 Albania ( 1992) ....................... .. 712 Ro mania ( 199 1) .. ............ .. .... .. .. .. . 710 Hungary ( 1992) .. ....... .. .... .. .... .. 7 13 Czechoslovakia ( 1991 ) .. .......... .. .. 7 10 Po land (1 992) .. .... .. .. .. .. ....... .... . 71 3

XXV l ll LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova Greenland (1992) . . 714 (1992) ........ ....... ..... .... ...... ..... 714 Bulgaria (1992) 715

Re-established National Spiritual Assemblies

Page Page Zaire (1987) .. .... ........ ... ... ..... ....... . 715 Niger (1992) ......... ....... .. ...... ..... . 717 Azerbaijan ( 1992) .. .... ..... ...... .... ... 716 Central Asia (1992) ..... .... ....... .. . 717 Congo Republic (1992) ....... ....... . 716

Seven members of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Loja, Spain, in October 1986 724 The Local Spiritual Assembly of Ashkhabad, Turkmen, S.S.R., re-formed in 1989 after a lapse of fifty years .. ... .. ..... .. ..... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. .. .... ... .. .. ... .... .. .. . ... .. ....... ... ...... 724 The Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha' is of District 10 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, elected at Ri~van 1990 .. ..... ..... ........ ................ ...... .......... .... .... ... ........ 724 Members of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Johannesburg, South Africa, consulting during a meeting in 1988 ........... ... .. ........... ........ ...... ........ .. .. 725 Chi ldren gathered for Baha'i classes in the local l:{a:.:-:iratu ' l-Quds in Dzitya, Yucatan , Mexico, in 1987 ......... ... .. .. ..... ...... ........ ..... .......... ..... .... .. ............ ... .... .. 725 Members of local youth committees meeting with the National Youth Committee of Germany to consult about the Six Year Plan. Mainz, Germany; March 1987 725 A Nineteen Day Feast being. held áat the Khao-i-Dang Annex Refugee Camp in Thailand in 1987 .............. :. .... .............. ............ ..... ... ...... .... ...... .... ...... ....... .. ..... .. 726 Roslyn Buie reading a prayer during the devotional part of the Naw-Ruz celebrations held in Port Vila, Vanuatu, in March 1992 . .... . ...... ... .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 726 Children of Ambano, Madagascar, singing during the Naw-Ruz celebrations held in their community in March 1991 .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. . .... .. ... .. .. .. .. ... ... ... .. .. .. .. ..... . ... ... 726 Friends enjoying the Ayyam-i-Ha celebrations sponsored by the Local Spiritual Assembly of San Jose, California, USA, in February 1988 .... .. .. ............. .......... 727 A social activity held during a Weekend Baha'i School in Macau in January 1988 727 Young friends providing entertainment during the Naw-Ruz celebration held in Paramaibo, Suriname, in March 1988 ..... ......... ... ..... ...... ........ ....... ......... .. .... ... .. 727 The Mother Temple of the Asian Continent, in New Delhi, India, on the day of its Dedication, in December 1986 .. . ... .. .. .. .. ... ... .. .. . .. .. .. ... .. ... .. .. .. ... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 732 The three Hands of the Cause of God who attended the Indian Temple Dedication: Amatu ' l-Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khanum, William Sears, and Col lis Featherstone ...... 735 Three choirs performing during the Indian Temple Dedication service ... ... ...... .. ... 736 Arn atu ' I-Baba Ruf:iiyyih Khanum addressing the opening session of the International Teaching Conference held in New Delhi in December 1986 .......... ........ 739 Exterior and interior views of the "Lotus ofBahapur" ... ..... .. .... .. .... ...... .. .... .... .. .. .. . 741 Aerial view and details of the exterior of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar .. ........ ... ... ......... 742 The British High Commissioner in Delhi during his visit to the Baha ' i House of Worship in January 1989 ... .... ..... ... ......... .. ..... ....... .. ... ....... .. .... ...... ...... .... ........... 747 The Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church being escorted to the Temple for an official vi sit in January 1989 ... ......... .. ... ....... .... .. ......... .. ...... .. .. .... ...... ............ 747

XXIX LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The Assistant Permanent Representative of Haiti to the United Nations at the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in February 1989 .............. ..... .......... ....................... ..... .. ..... 747 The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka during his visit to the Temple in March 1988 .. .. 748 The Ambassador of the United States to India attending the Dedication ceremo~ nies for the House of Worship in December 1986 ..... ........... .. ......................... .. 748 The Ambassador of Thailand to India at the Lotus Temple in April 1990 ............. 748 The Vice-Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Broadcasting, Film and Television at the Baha'i House of Worship in October 1990 ......... ...... .... .. ...... .......... ......... 749 A delegation of Soviet film artists vis iting the Temple in January 1989 ..... .... .. ..... 750 The Ethiopian Minister of Labour and Social Welfare during his visit to the "Lotus ofBahapur" in January 1990 ........ ....... ......... ................................ ... ........ ... ....... 752

Part Five: In Memoriam

Page Giachery, Dr. Ugo ...................... . Khadem, Zikrullah (Dhikru'llah Khadim) ...... .... ....... ................ ... Khazeh, Jalal (Jalal'u'Ilah Kha<;li') Sears, William ............................ . Roba1is, John .................. ..... ..... . . Featherstone, Collis .. ..... ..... .... .... . Wolcott, Charles ......................... . Kavelin , Borrah .......................... . Tihrani, Qudratu ' llah .... . Winnanik and Mubarak ... .. .. ... ... . Khianra, Dipchand ..................... . Khabirpour, 'Aziz ('Azizu' llah Khabirpur) .. ... ...... .. .... .. ... ... ...... . Leong, Yan Kee ......... ..... ... ... ...... . Mingorance Fernandez, Jose .. ... . Bernal de Sanchez, Aura Maria .. . Khan, Fazal Mohamad ..... ... ....... . Hoahania, Hamuel ...................... . Koirala, Masheed Iqani (Mashid iqani Koirala) .. ..... ...... .. .~...... . Duna, Rudolfo .. ......... .. .. .. ........ ... . Dobbins, Bertha ..................... .. .. . . White, Tumanuvao William ....... . Mazakrnat, Apelis ...................... . Trojankova-Bendova, Juliana ... . . Dodge, Isabelle Stebbins ............ . Aidun, Go! .................................. . Storch, Juanita Marie ........... ... .... . Caswell, Louise ...... ........ ............ . Page 778 Hollibaugh, Eleanor ..... .. ...... ..... . 870 Nahvi, Saeed (Sa'id Na~vi) ....... . 872 788 Ahdieh, Mansour (Man~t'.ir 791 'Ahdiyyih) ............. ........... .. ... .. 874 797 Su mah, Mohamed Lamin ... .. .... . 876 806 Fitzpatrick, Henry Bertron ... ..... . 878 815 Sanchez Martinez, Juan ...... .. ... .. 881 819 Gulick, Robert Jr. ................. ... .. . 883 823 Jensen, Knud .. ... ....... ..... ........ ... . 885 826 Navidi, Azizollah ('Azizu'llah 828 Navidi) ...... .... .... .. .......... .. ....... . 888 831 Suleimani, Suleiman (Sulayman Sulaymani) ............................. . 890 834 Sivapiragasam, Kandiah ............ . 891 835 Laws, Frederick ...................... .. . 894 838 Bausani, Alessandro ...... ........... . 895 839 Ashton, Beatrice Owens ...... ... .. . 898 841 Olson, Cynthia and Edgar ......... . 900 844 Perks, Thelma ........................... . 906 Menking, Jo Anne .................... . 908 845 Shayani, 'Azizu'llah ...... ........... . 911 847 Baghdadi, Adib Radhi (Adib Ra<;li 849 Baghdadi) ....... ... ... ... ............. ... 914 852 Hawthorne, Rose ........... ...... ..... . 916 855 Hopper Welsh, E leanore (Rene) 917 858 Lamb, Dora Worth (Dee) .......... . 920 860 Lindstrom, Shirley (Adaz 862 Ayamdagoot) ......... ........ ........... . 92 1 865 Saavedra Gallardo, Melit6n .. .... . 923 868 H0eg, Johanne ..... .... ......... ....... . 925

xxx LIST O F ILLUSTRATIONS

True, Edna ..... .... ..... ......... .. .. ...... . 928 Master, Mahvash ......... ... ...... ... .. 978 Blakely, Elsa Lillian (Judy) .... ... . 930 Villiers-Stuart, Jane ..... ...... ..... .. . 983 Jami~ , $ala~ ... ............ ..... ... ......... 933 Ahmadiyeh, Hedayatoullah Munje, Harilal 934 (Hidayatu'llah A~madiyyih) .. . 986 Walker, Zlmarian 936 Harvey, Winnifred ....... ............. . 989 Newman, Beatrice .. .. .. ............. .... 939 Francis, Dorothy .... ... ... .. ........... . 991 Lutchmaya, Roddy Dharma ...... .. 941 I:f addad, Akbar ....... ...... ...... ....... . 992 Evans, Esther .. .. .. .. .... ...... ........ .. .. . 942 Sala, Emeric ... ........... ... .... ........ .. 995 Malakooti, Ehsanollah (I~sanu 'llah Parsa Mazzoni, Noranieh MalakUti) .................................. . 944 (Nuraniyyih Parsa Mazzoni) .. . 997 Kazemzadeh, Kazem (Ka~im Papai, Ludwig .. ... .... .... .............. . 998 Ka~imzadih) .. .. ........ .... ........... . 947 Heller, Frances Gordon ........... .. 999 Habibi, Habib (I:fabib I:fabibi) .... . 948 Rezvani, Monireh (Munirih Quigley, Robert Joseph ...... .. .... ... 950 Ri<;lvani) .................................. . 1002 McLaughlin, Robert ...... ... ..... ... .. 952 Bagley, Florence .. ................ .. ... . 1004 Pa Tepaeru Ariki (Lady Davis) .. . 955 Bishop, Helen .... ..... ....... ... ... .. .. . 1007 Garcia Vazquez, Manuel ........... .. 956 Zucker, Arthur Allen .... ........ ..... 1009 Vajdi, Khodadad ............ .. ......... . 957 Haenni de Bons, Mona ............ .. 1011 Rice-Wray, Edris .... ... .. .. .. .... ... .... . 959 McLaren, Edith ... .. ... .... ... .. .... ... .. 1013 Ortiz Gutierrez, Aparicia ............ . 960 Kanyerezi, Max .................... .. ... 1014 Sabet, Habib (I:fabib Thabit) ..... .. 962 Macdonald, Charles .................. . 1017 Sabet, Rostam (Rustam Thabit) .. . 964 Nielsen, Lotus ... .... .... .. ..... .... .. ... . 1019 Gualavisi Farinango, Rufino ... .... 967 Camey, Magdalene ... ...... .... .. .... 1022 Tanyi Tambe, Solomon ... ... .. ...... . 969 Warde, Shirley ................. ..... .. ... 1024 Lohse, Doris ....... ........................ . 970 Friedland, Eberhard ....... .. ......... . 1026 Te Paa, Ephraim .... ............... ..... .. 973 Umegae, Kazutomo .... .... .. ....... .. 1027 Nounou, Salim ...... ........ .. ....... ..... . 976 Fozdar, Shirin ....... ......... ... ..... ... . 1029

Part Six: Directory, Bibliography, Glossary

Relics ofBaha'u'llah, including His pen and pencase ..... ..... ..... ....... .. ... ..... ....... ... 1032 The International Baha'i Archives Building, on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel .... 1052

Part Seven: Literary and Musical Works

The Prison Cell in the Most Great Prison in 'Akka .... ... .. ..... ....... ..... .. ... ... .. ... .. . .. .... 1068 Lua Getsinger, whom 'Abdu' l-Baha surnamed Liva (Banner) .......... .. ...... .. .. ... ... .. 1092 Miss Lillian Kappes, Dr. Sarah Clock, and Dr. Susan Moody with Mu~tafa Khan and Tahirih Khanum in Tihran, iran; circa 1912 .......... ............. .. ..... .. ... ... Dr. Susan Moody with two young children on her lap. Tihran; circa 1912 ....... .. ... =... 1093 1095 Miss Lillian Kappes, Muchul Khanum, Dr. Susan Moody, Dr. Sarah Clock, and Miss Elizabeth Stewart with children and a servant in Tihran; circa 1912 1097

xxxi LIST OF ILLUSTRAT IO NS

M iss Lillian Kappes with boys in the Tarbiyat Schoo l in Ti hran; circa 1912 1100 M iss Lillian Kappes, Dr. Sarah Clock, Dr. Susan Moody, and Miss Elizabeth StewartinTiluáan; 19 13 .... .... ......................... ..... ........ ....... ................................ 1102 Dr. Genevieve L. Coy during her visit to Haifa in Apri l 1922, on her way to take up her post at the Girl's Tarbiyat School in Tihran ..... .... ............ ..... ........ ...... ... . 1103 Miss Adelaide Sharp with the Baha'i Youth Group in Tihran; circa 1937 ............. 1104 Keith Ransom-Kehler at the seventh Persian National Baha'i Convention ; 1933 .. 1107 Martha Root with Baha'i women in T ihran; 1930 ................................................. 1110 Jamal Effendi with friends in Egypt ...... ............................................ ..................... 111 7 Students of the New Era Development Institute's Community Development Facilitator Course planting rice w ith fellow Baba ' is in Maharashtra, India; 1991 1123 Members of the Baha ' i communi ty of Caserta, Italy, pl anti ng aco rn seedl ings on a hillside as an environmental project in March 1987 .... .. ...... .............................. 11 23 A papaya farm in Dzitya, Yucatan, Mexico, which Baha ' is are working as a rural development project; 1986 .............. .......... .... .............. .............. .... .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .... 1 130 A piggery project in Liancou1i, Haiti , conducted by the local Baha' i com munity; 1987 ....... .... .. .............................. ........ .. ... .. ........... ......... ........ ............... .............. 1130 T he Tahirih Farm in Moissala, Chad, initiated by the local Baha ' i community as a social and economic development project; 1989 .............................................. . 1130 A gift from the Baha'is of Alaska to the Baha'is of Samoa for the House of Worsh ip in Apia .... .... ..... .. .... ..... ....... ................. .... .. ........ .......................................... 11 37 Roya Aschari playing the violin during Art Forum '9 1, organized by the Baha ' i Association for the Arts and held at De Poort, Netherlands .............................. 1140 Baha'is using street theatre to teach principles of development during an 'awareness camp' held in Jhapua, Madhya Pradesh, India; May 1988 ................ .. ...... I 144 Detail of a tapestry by Vickie Hu Poirier made as a gift for the first Sino-American Women's Confe rence, held in Beijing in 1990 ............ .. ...... .... .......................... 1151 In Vanuatu, Baha'is in Lawital, Tanna, performing a custom dance during a Spirituali zation and Teaching Institute held in January 1992 .................... ....... .. ....... 1154 The Baha ' i puppet theatre group known as El Retablo del Mosqu ito , from the May Maxwe ll Cultural Centre in Buenos Aires, Argentina, performing in 1988 ...... 1156 A painting by a prisoner in Yazd, f ran , showing nine fel led trees representing the 115 8 nine ma1tyrs of Yazd in the 1980s ..... ................................... ...................... ....... . The Hux tables-a Baha'i fa mily on St. Helena Island, in the South Atl an tic; 1986 1161 In Malawi, friends help to get the ca r of a visitor up the road; August 1990 .......... 1161 Members of the Spirit ofBadi ' teaching project in New Zealand; 1988 ..... ........... 1161 Children in the Baha'i literacy classes in the Upper Corentyne District ofBerbice, Guyana, searching for letters whi ch spell "I Love Guyana"; 1990 .................... 11 64 An American Baha'i Youth Year of Service volunteer in Botswana usi ng a globe to make a point during a deepening session with some friends; 1987 .......... .... . 1164 Women learning to read and write at the Baha'i Vocational Institute for Rural Women in Kalyanpu ra, Madhya Pradesh, India; 1988 ..... .................. ....... ..... ... 11 64

XXXll INTRODUCTION

AIMS AND PURPOSES OF THE BAHA'i FAITH

DAVID H OFMAN

RELIGION has two objectives, the re- which a harassed humanity is striving. generation of men and the advancement of Nation-building has come to an end. The mankind. All men have been. created to anarchy inherent in state sovereignty is cany forward an ever advancing civilization moving towards a climax. A world, growing proclaims Baha 'u ' llah, and Th e purpose of to maturity, must abandon this fetish, recogthe one true God, exalted be His glo1y , in. nize the oneness and whol eness of human revealing Himself unto men is to lay bare relationships, and establish once and for all those gems that lie hidden within the mine of the machinery that can best incarnate this their true and inmost selves. fundamental principle of its life.' 1 These aims of religion, universal and Religion sees the course of history as eternal, nevertheless have been conditioned an organic process, moving towards the full to the capacities of each age or dispensation realization of all the potentialities implanted and the great religions of the past have in man. The vicissitudes, the great advances, developed their social orders within gener- the hiatuses it regards as the natural w1foldally definable times and areas. Judaism, for ment of that process just as the succession of instance, attained its peak under Solomon bud, leaf, flower and frnit is the natural and was confined, before the dispers ion, unfoldment in the life of a háee; or infancy, to the Near East; Zoroastriani sm remained childhood, youth and maturity in that of a Persian until the Arab conquest and the man. Indeed, Baha' i scripture explains, the settlement of a renmant in Western India; process is the same. The sun is the effective Christianity became the religion of Euro- agent in the organic life of the earth; religion pean civilization; the building of the nation in that of humanity. Th e Sun of Truth is the state undertaken by Islam remained a Muslim Word of God upon which depends the eduexperiment until feudal Europe learned the cation of those who are endowed with the lesson and its city states gave way to and power of understanding and of utteran.ce. 2 adopted the more advanced order. It has The creative Word, revealed in each stage of remained for the Baha ' i religion to declare human progress by a Manifestation of God, and promote the cause of world order- the and conditioned to the requirements of the sine quo non of its existence- and to time, is the effective agent in the long, single disc lose the concomitant unities of religion, process of humanity 's development from of mank ind and of historical purpose. 'Unity of fa mily, of lTibe, of city-state, and nation I Shoghi Effendi, Guardi an o f the Ba ha ' i Faith, The have been successively attempted and full y Unfold111e11t of World Civilization . established. World unity is the goal towards 2 Baha'u ' llah , Dniyiry-i-Dlr11i0_. 2 T HE BAHA ' I WORLD

infancy to World Order. This truth is embodies that divine energy in an adminisenshrined in all revealed religion although it trative order capable of bringing within its needs the illumination ofBaha'u' llah 's reve- shade all the diversified ethnic groups and lation to enable men to perceive it. myriad types of the human race, who may 'The first picture presented in the Bible find within its wide embrace a full, happy is that of human unity in its simplest form; and purposeful life. Baha'i activity therefore that of a single family. The last picture is that is directed not only, as in the past, to the of a unity manifold and universal in which spreading of the Word, but to the establishall kindreds and tongues and peoples and ment of the fabric of that Order which, nations are gathered into one and unified enshrined within the creative Word itself, in the enjoyment of a common worship, a becomes the chief instrument for the further common happiness, a common glory. diffusion and social application of the 'The great problem which, according to Divine Message. This World Order, which the Bible, confronts the human race in its the Baha'i Faith exists to establish, is none progress is that of advancing from the bar- other than that long-promised Kingdom in est, baldest unity through a long experience which peace, justice and brotherhood shall of multiplying diversities till ultimately a prevail universally and 'the earth shall be balance between the two principles is struck, filled with the knowledge of the glory of the poise is gained and the two forces of variety Lord, as the waters cover the sea '. 3 The and unity are blended in a multiple, highly establishment of this World Order is dependeveloped world fellowship, the perfection dent upon the regeneration of mankind of whose union was hardly suggested in the which must tum again to God and recognize prinlitive simplicity of early man.' 1 His purpose. The two aims of religion are, This spiritual view of evolution is the therefore, interacting and interdependent. constant theme of religion. Each revelation Such a world-shaking transformation refers to the past, looks forward to the future ca1mot be brought about by any movement and concentiáates upon the immediate need ofrefom1, however disinterested, nor by any for spiritual regeneration and enlightenment. unaided human effort. Modem man has The Prophet evokes in human hearts a sacri- turned away from God, and bereft of his fic ial love which transcends self-interest and traditional sanctions, has inevitably wrecked causes the early believers to dedicate them- his old order which, in truth, is lamentably selves entirely to the practice and diffusion inadequate to modern conditions and is not of the new message. As it spreads it works susceptible of repair. Soon, is Baha 'u' llah's like leaven in society, reforming its morals, prophetic view of our day, will the presentuplifting its vision and promoting a greater day order be rolled up, and a new one diffus ion of love in social action. spread out in its stead. Likewise, The signs 'World history at its core and in its of impending convulsions and chaos can essence is the story of the spiritual evolution now be discerned, inasmuch as the prevailof mankind. From this all other activities of ing order appears to be lamentably defective. man proceed and round it all other activities The current aim of religion, embodied in revolve. ' 2 the aims and purposes of the Baha'i Faith, is Unlike the revelations of the past, the the promotion of the next stage in the organic Baha 'i revelation releases not only the process of human evolution- the coming of creative Word necessary to the renewal of age of the human race. The achievement of spiritual vitality in the human spirit, but this maturity will be attested by the unification of mankind and the federation of the I George Townshend , The Heart of the Gospel, 1939. 2 ibi d. 3 Habakkuk 2: 14. INTRODU CT ION 3

world in a single, all-embracing world society 'Abdu'l-Baha, the Centre of the Covenantof human brotherhood. But great objectives its monuments and gardens, and of its 'worldare reached by dedicated pursuit of the shaking, world-embracing, world-directing preliminary and intermediate stages of the administrative institutions' .1 task, without ever losing sight of the The Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha ultimate goal, and this has been and is now is the charter for the development of the the occupation of the Baha'i world commu- administrative order of the Faith. In this nity- the completion within specified times majestic document, the child of 'that mystic of specified goals. These teaching plans to intercourse between Him Who communiwhich the Baha 'is eagerly devote their lives cated the generating influence of His divine do far more than simply increase the size Purpose and the One Who was its vehicle and consolidation of that world conununity. and chosen recipient, ' 2 are delineated the They are devised and launched by the head structure of the administrative order, its of the Faith-the Guardian and now the modus operandi, its main institutions, the Universal House of Justice-and are therefore chain of authority, the source of guidance conceived from a global view, directed to and the position of every believer vis-a-vis the immediate needs of the great objective, the Covenant. It has been well called the conservative of the conununity's resources, 'Charter of the New World Order of world-wide in scale permitting the organic Baha'u'llah'. development of each part according to its The Tablets of the Divine Plan , a series stage of growth but with due regard for the of fourteen letters written by 'Abdu'l-Baha needs of the whole, fostering intensively the to the believers of the United States and unity, the international co-operation, the Canada, some addressed to the entire comdiversification of the ethnic, religious and pany of believers in the North American social backgrounds of its increasing mem- continent and others to those in named geobership and developing new resources for graphical areas of the continent, constitute the next step fo1ward. the charter for teaching the Faith throughout It should be noted that none of these plans the world. 'Abdu'l-Baha names the places, is isolated in aim or conception but all are the people to whom teachers must go, the directed towards the implementation of three conditions under which they must travel and great charters, enshrined in Balla' i sacred settle and He reveals several prayers for Writings, which authorize and guide the those who undertake this all-impo1tant task. expansion of the Faith and the development All the international plans of the Faith of its institutions. In past Dispensations the launched so far have set specific goals aimed command to 'spread the Gospel' has been at implementing these three charters and it is general and unspecified. It was the inspired incontrovertibly apparent that never in any guidance of the beloved Guardian of the preceding Dispensation has the command to Baha'i Faith which disclosed to a spiritually spread the Word of God been given, in the delighted and grateful community yet sacred text, such explicit guidance and another of the unique features of this Dis- detailed objectives. pensation in the specific guidance given in As the Faith of Baha'u'llah increases in these three chatters for the implementation size and influence other aims and objectives of this eternal command. become apparent and possible of pursuit. Baha'u'llah's Tablet of Carmel is the The relationship with agencies, institutions charter for the development of the Baba ' i and authorities of the non-Baha ' i world World Centre in the twin cities of 'Akka and Haifa, the site of its most sacred Shrines- I Shoghi Effendi, Messages to America. the tombs of the twin Prophets and of 2 Shoghi Effend i, Th e Dispensation of Bahn 'u 'l/tih. 4 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

becomes an important consideration once the of the Baha'i conummity.' 3 'A chaste and community emerges from obscurity, and has holy life must be made the controlling prinled to public relations programmes and the ciple in the behaviour and conduct of all development of closer association with the Baha'is, both in their social relationships United Nations . The Baha'i International with the members of their own conununity, Community is accredited as a non-govern- and in their contacts with the world at mental agency with consultative status to large. ' 4 'It requires total abstinence from all the United Nations Economic and Social alcoholic drinks, from opium, and from Council (ECOSOC) and in various ways to similar habit-forming drugs. It condel1Uls the other agencies of the United Nations. The prostitution of art and of literature, the fostering of this relationship has been the practices of nudism and of companionate goal of all international plans so far, and is marriage, infidelity in marital relationships, visualized as a continuing process. There are and all maimer of promiscuity, of easy other objectives related to the special char- familiarity, and of sexual vices. ' 5 ' As to acteristics of Baha'i life which become more racial prejudice, the corrosion of which, for and more important as the Faith grows and well nigh a century, has bitten into the fibre, engages greater and greater public attention. and attacked the whole social structure of They affect Baha'i individuals, conununities American society, it should be regarded as and institutions alike. TI1ese objectives fall into constituting the most vital and challenging two groups-those concerned specifically issue confronting the Balla ' i conununity [of with standards of conduct and those which that country] at the present stage of its relate to special Baha'i practices . evolution. ' 6 The &tandards of conduct enjoined by The regeneration of men- the first objecthe Prophet are invariably different from tive of religion mentioned in this essay- is and sometimes diametTically opposed to the therefore seen as the prime objective of the generally accepted ones of His day. High Baha'i Faith. Membership in the Faith is standards of conduct are, throughout Baha'i drawn from that society which permits and scripture, constantly upheld and urged upon indulges itself in all those conupt, inrn1oral the believers, but the Guardian of the Faith and prejudiced activities which Baha' is are in an essay written in 193 8 addressed to the required to renounce, and since the Faith is believers in the United States and Canada steadily but persistently growing in numbers laid great stress upon the 'spiritual prerequi- there is reason to hope that slowly but surely sites. . . which constitute the bedrock on a regeneration will take place. which ... all teaching plans ... must ultimately Further, these Baha'i standards of conrest ... 1 He writes of ' .. . a high sense of duct are not for individuals alone. They must moral rectitude in their social and administra- be the hallmark of Baha'i institutions and tive activities, absolute chastity in their conununities. 'Such a rectitude of conduct,' individual lives, and complete freedom from wrote the Guardian, ' must manifest itself, prejudice in their dealings with peoples of a with ever-increasing potency, in every different race, class, creed or colourá.2 In verdict which the elected representatives of his expansion of this theme he declared that the Baha'i collIDmnity, in whatever capacity 'This rectitude of conduct, with its implica- they may find themselves, may be called tions of justice, equity, truthfulness , honesty, upon to pronounce. It must be constantly fairn1indedness, reliability, and trustworth i- reflected in the busi ness dealings of all its ness, must distinguish every phase of the life 3 Shoghi EITendi , The Adve111 of Divine Justice . 4 ibid. 1 Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divin e Justice. 5 ibid. 2 ibid. 6 ibid. INTRODUCTION 5

members, in their domestic lives, in all man- Order which 'may well be regarded as the ner of employment, and in any service they brightest emanation ' 3 of His mind and is may, in the future, render their government none other than the long hoped for, Christor people." 'It must be made the hallmark promised Kingdom of God on earth. To of that numerically small , yet intensely prepare men for the gifts of that Kingdomdynamic and highly responsible body of the peace, brotherhood, spirituality- and to raise elected national representatives of every its very fabric in the world, are the immedi- Baha ' i community, which constitutes the ate and long-time objectives of the Baha'i sustaining pillar, and the sole instrument for Faith. the election in every community, of that The energies of the Ba ha ' is therefore, in Universal House whose very name and title, pursuance of these aims, flow in three major as ordained by Baha ' u ' llah, symbolizes the channels: individual spiritual development, rectitude of conduct which is its highest conveying the message of Bah a 'u ' llah to mission to safeguard and enforce. ' 2 others , and developing the pattern of world The attitudes deriving from such stan- society embodied in the Baha ' i administradards, and from all the varied teachings tive order. All these activities derive from of Baha ' u' llah, must pervade all Baha'i the sacred text and it is the unique feature of communities and imbue them with distinc- the Baha ' i revelation that whereas the first tive characteristics which can be recognized, two are common to all revealed religions amid the welter of opposing or mutually it is only Baha ' u'llah Who creates the instiuninterested groups and factions into which tutions and reveals the laws , delineates the modern society is disintegrating, as easily as social order and establishes the principles the features of an individual in a crowd. of the civilization to which His revelation Those special Baha ' i practices which will will give rise. Neither Moses nor Christ, inevitably characterize the Baha'i commu- Mul~ammad, Buddha, Zoroaster or Krishna nity, are the regular observances of its Holy did this, although They all foretold that it Days and Festivals, the abstention from would be done by Him Who would take the work on nine such days during the year, the government upon Hi s shoulders and establish observances by all members of the commu- the Kingdom in peace and righteousness. nity of the annual fast, of the laws governing None of the traditional motives operates marri age and di vorce, of dail y prayer, of the to create the Baha' i community, neither invariable practice of consultation in all former associations, political or economic affairs of life, and particularly by the regular identity of interest, racial or patriotic groupobservance of the Nineteen Day Feast. ing. Only the recognition and love of The habitual practice of such laws and Baha ' u' llah brings into close relatedness ordinances is an objective pursued by all and co-operative action people from every Baha'is and Baha ' i families. human background , of all types of character It is seen that the aims and purposes of and personality, divergent and diversified the Baha ' i Faith may be stated as the raising interest. Through their brotherhood in up of a world-wide community recruited Baha'u ' llah the old crystallized forms of from every race, nation , colour, religious human divisiveness to which they formerl y and social background known on the planet, belonged, whether of class, race, religion , inspired, united and regenerated by the occupation, temperament or degree of civispiritual teachings and love of Baha ' u' llah, lization lose their rigidity and eventually dedicated to the building of that New World disintegrate. The growing Baha ' i community on the other hand is essentially based on I Shoghi Effendi, Th e Adve111 of Divine Juslice. 2 ibid. 3 Shoghi Effendi , God Passes By, p. 2 13. 6 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

love, is a brotherhood, a family, each the needs and adjust the relationships of member delighting in the diversity of its all races and peoples. A world executive, membership, welcoming the former pariah backed by an international Force, will carry or outcast as a new flower in the garden, out the decisions atTived at, and apply the each as proud of his humanity as was ever laws enacted by, this world legislature, and the fo1mer chauvinist of his country. will safeguard the organic unity of the whole Within such .a community the sun of commonwealth. A world tribunal will adju- Baha'u'llah's revelation can evoke new dicate and deliver its compulsory and final morals , new attitudes , new conventions, new verdict in all and any disputes that may arise hopes and visions, all enshrined within the between the various elements constituting text of the revelation itself and which pro- this universal system. A mechanism of world vide the spiritual atmosphere and distinctive inter-communication will be devised, embracculture of the new day . Such a community, ing the whole planet, freed from national as it grows, becomes more and more a true hindrances and resháictions, and functioning social order, providing a soil to human life, a with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularclimate for its best development, an arena ity. A world meháopolis will act as the nerve for the practice of its highest aspirations, and centre of a world civilization, the focus a beacon light to attract and guide the disil- towards which the unifying forces of life lusioned, spiritually impoveri shed, frenetic will converge and from which its energizing and frustrated peoples of the earth. influence will radiate . A world language will The energies of this new culture, guided either be invented or chosen from amo ng and conserved to the service of human wel- the existing languages and will be taught in fare by the agencies of Baha'u ' llah's World the schools of all the federated nations as an Order, will result in the proliferation of new auxiliary to their mother tongue. A world arts and sciences, new social and economic script, a world literature, a uniforn1 and relationships, new educational methods and a universal system of currency, of weights and general accession of well-being and felicity. measures, will simplify and facilitate inter- The vision of the Baha ' i Faith, though glori- course and understanding among the nations ous, is a practical one, and the number 'Jf its and races of mankind. In such a world society, dedicated promoters grows with increasing science and religion, the two most potent speed. It is summarized in the fo llowing words forces in human life, will be reconciled, will by the Guardian of the Baha' i Faith, in his co-operate, and will harmoniously develop. essay The Unfoldment of World Civilization : The press will, under such a system, while 'The unity of the hun1an race, as envisaged giving full scope to the expression of the by Baha'u'llah, implies the establishment of divers ified views and convictions of mana world commonwealth in which all nations, kind, cease to be mischievously manipulated races, creeds and classes are closely and per- by vested interests, whether private or public, manently united, and in which the autonomy and will be liberated from the influence of of its state members and the personal contending governments and peoples . The freedom and initiative of the individuals that economic resources of the world will be compose : ..:mare definitely and completely organized, its sources of raw materials will safeguarded. This commonwealth must, as be tapped and fully utilized, its markets cofar as we can visualize it, consist of a world ordinated and developed, and the disháibution legislature, whose members will, as the of its products will be equitably regulated. hustees of the whole of mankind, ultimately 'National riva lries, hatred, and inháigues control the entire resources of all the compo- will cease, and racial animosity and prejunent nations , and will enact such laws as dice will be replaced by racial amity, shall be required to regulate the life, satisfy understanding and co-operation. The causes INTRODUCTION 7 of religious strife will be permanently any other agency that can stimulate the intelremoved, economic baniers and restrictions lectual, the moral, and spiritual life of the will be completely abolished, and the inordi- human race. nate distinction between classes will be 'A world federal system, rnling the whole obliterated. Destitution on the one hand, and earth and exercising unchallengeable authorgross accumulation of ownership on the ity over its unimaginably vast resources, other, will disappear. The enormous energy blending and embodying the ideals of both dissipated and wasted on war, whether eco- the East and the West, liberated from the nomic or political, will be consecrated to curse of war and its miseries, and bent on such ends as will extend the range of human the exploitation of all the available sources inventions and technical development, to the of energy on the surface of the planet, a increase of the productivity of mankind, to system in which Force is made the servant the extennination of disease, to the extension of Justice, whose life is sustained t y its of scientific research, to the raising of the universal recognition of one God and by its standard of physical health, to the sharpening allegiance to one common Revelation-such and refinement of the human brain, to the is the goal towards which humanity, impelled exploitation of the unused and unsuspected by the unifying forces of life, is moving.' resources of the planet, to the prolongation PART ONE

THE BAHA'i REVELATION 10 THE BAl-L.\'i WORLD

An ornamental eagle infront of an entrance to the courtyard of the Mansion of Bahri 'u 'llrih at Ball}i. I EXCERPTS FROM THE BAHA'i SACRED WRITINGS

1. BAHA'U'LLAH

I EXTRACTS FROM THE KrTAB-I-AQDAS

37 Whoso layeth claim to a Revelation you through the power of truth. We are truly direct from God, ere the expiration of a full almighty. Whoso hath recognized Me will thousand years, such a man is assuredly a arise and serve Me with such dete1mination lying impostor. We pray God that He may that the powers of earth and heaven shall be graciously assist him to retract and repudiate unable to defeat his purpose. such claim. Should he repent, God will, no doubt, forgive him. If, however, he per- 53 Should differences arise amongst you sisteth in his error, God will, assuredly, send over any matter, refer it to God while the down one who will deal mercilessly with Sun still shineth above the horizon of this him. Terrible, indeed, is God in punishing! Heaven and, when it hath set, refer ye to Whosoever interpreteth this verse otherwise whatsoever hath been sent down by Him. than its obvious meaning is deprived of the This, verily, is sufficient unto the peoples of Spirit of God and of His mercy which the world. Say: Let not your hearts be perencompasseth all created things . Fear God, turbed, 0 people, when the glory of My and follow not your idle fancies . Nay, rather, Presence is withdrawn, and the ocean of My follow the bidding of your Lord, the Al- utterance is stilled. In My presence amongst mighty, the All-Wise. Erelong shall clamorous you there is a wisdom, and in My absence voices be raised in most lands. Shun them, 0 there is yet another, inscrutable to all but My people, and follow not the iniquitous God, the Incomparable, the All-Knowing. and evil-hearted. This is that of which We Verily, We behold you from Our realm of gave you forewarning when We were dwell- glory, and shall aid whosoever will arise for ing in ' Iraq, then later while in the Land of the triumph of Our Cause with the hosts of Mystery, and now from this Resplendent the Concourse on high and a company of Spot. Our favoured angels.

38 Be not dismayed, 0 peoples of the world, 58 Beware lest the desires of the flesh and when the day-star of My beauty is set, and of a corrupt inclination provoke divisions the heaven of My tabernacle is concealed among you. Be ye as the fingers of one hand, from your eyes. Arise to further My Cause, the members of one body. Thus counselleth and to exalt My Word amongst men. We are you the Pen of Revelation, if ye be of them with you at all times, and shall strengthen that believe. 12 THE BAHA'i WORLD

105 W hoso interpreteth what hath been sent times, been regarded as lawful, to none is down fro m the heaven of Revelation, and given the right to question His authority. altereth its evident meaning, he, verily, is of Whoso will hesitate, though it be for less them that have perverted the Sublime Word than a moment, should be regarded as a of God, and is of the lost ones in the Lucid transgressor. Book. 163 Whoso hath not recognized this sublime 121 When the ocean of My presence hath and fundamental verity, and hath failed to ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is attain this most exalted station, the winds of ended, tum your faces toward Him Whom doubt will agitate him, and the sayings of the God hath purposed, Who hath branched infidels will distract his soul. He that hath from this Ancient Root. acknowl edged this principl e wi ll be endowed with the most perfect constancy. 132 0 peoples of the world! Give ear unto All honour to thi s all-glorious station, the the ca ll of Him Who is the Lord of Names, remembrance of which ado rneth every Who proclaimeth unto you fro m His habita- exalted Tablet. Such is the teaching whi ch tion in the Most Great Prison: " Verily, no God bestoweth on you, a teaching that will God is there but Me, the Powerful, the deliver you from all manner of doubt and Mighty, the All-S ubduing, the Most Exalted, perplexity, and enabl e you to attain unto salthe Omniscient, the All-W ise ." In tn1th, vat ion in both this world and the next. He, there is no God but Him, the Onmipotent verily, is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Ruler of the wo rlds. Were it His Will, He Bountiful. He it is Who hath sent forth the would, tluáough but a single word proceeding Messengers, and sent down the Books to from His presence, lay hold on all mankind. proclaim "There is none other God but Me, Beware lest ye hesitate in your acceptance of the Almighty, the A ll-Wise". this Cause-a Cause before which the Concourse on high and the dwellers of the Cities 174 0 people of the world' When the Mystic of Names have bowed down . Fear God, and Dove will have winged its fli ght from its be not of those who are shut out as by a veil. Sanctuary of Praise and sought its far-off Burn ye away the veils with the fire of My goa l, its hidden habitation, refer ye whatsolove, and dispel ye the mi sts of vain imagin- ever ye understand not in the Book to ings by the power of thi s Name through H im Who hath branched from this mighty which We have subdued the entire creation. Stock.

161 B lessed is the man that hath acknowl- 175 0 Pen of the Most High! Move Thou edged his belief in God and in His signs, and upon the Tablet at the bidding of Thy Lord, recognized that "He shall not be asked of the Creator of the Heavens, and tell of the His doings". Such a recognition hath been time when He Who is the Dayspring of made by God the ornament of every belief Divine U nity purposed to direct His steps and its very foundation. U pon it must towards the School of Transcendent Onedepend the acceptance of every goodl y deed. ness; haply the pure in heart may gain Fasten your eyes upon it, that hapl y the thereby a glimpse, be it as small as a whi sperings of the rebe llious may not cause needle's eye, of the mysteries of Thy Lord, yo u to slip . the A lmighty, the Onmiscient, that lie concealed behind the veils. Say: We, indeed, set 162 Were He to decree as lawful the thing foot within the School of inner meaning and which fro m time immemorial had been for- explanation when all created things were bidd en, and forb id that whi ch had, at all unaware. We saw the word s sent down by THE BAHA'I REVELATIO N 13

The doorway into the courtyard of the Mansion of Baha 'u 'llah at Mazra 'ih.

Him Who is the All-Merciful , and We 176 0 people of the Bayan! We, veri ly, accepted the verses of God, the Help in set foot within the School of God when ye Peril, the Self-Subsisting, which He 1 pre- lay slumbering; and We perused the Tablet sented unto Us, and hearkened unto that while ye were fast as leep. By the one true which He had so lemnly affirmed in the Tab- God! We read the Tabl et ere it was revealed, let. This We ass ured ly did beho ld . And We while ye were unaware, and We had perfect assented to His wish through Our behest, for knowledge of the Book when ye were yet truly We are potent to command. unborn. These words are to your meas ure, not to God's. To this testifieth that which is I The Bab. enshrined within His know ledge, if ye be of 14 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

them that comprehend; and to this the the Kingdom, We would say: "In tn1th, God tongue of the Almighty doth bear witness, if created that School ere He created heaven ye be of those who understand. I swear by and earth, and We entered it before the God, were We to lift the veil, ye would be letters B and E were joined and knit dumbfounded. together." Such is the language of Our servants in Our Kingdom; consider what the 177 Take heed that ye dispute not idly tongue of the dwellers of Our exalted concerning the Almighty and His Cause, for Dominion would utter, for We have taught lo! He hath appeared amongst you invested them Our knowledge and have revealed to with a Revelation so great as to encompass them whatever had lain hidden in God's all things, whether of the past or of the wisdom. Imagine then what the Tongue of future . Were We to address Our theme by Might and Grandeur would utter in His Allspeaking in the language of the inmates of Glorious Abode!

II EXCERPT FROM THE LA WI:I-I-RA ' IS, TRANSLATED FROM THE PERSIAN

WHEN I was still a child and had not yet and cummerbunds after the Persian fashion, attained the age of maturity, My father the second wielding battle-axes, and the third decided to make arrangements in Tihran for comprising a number of sergeants-at-am1s the marriage of a grown-up brother of Mine; and executioners bearing clubs and canes. and as is customary in that city, the wedding Finally a splendid figure , arrayed in regal festivities lasted for seven days and nights. majesty, wearing a kingly diadem upon his On the last day it was announced that a spe- head, and bearing himself with the utmost cial entertai1m1ent named after Shah Sul~an haughtiness and grandeur- now advancing, Salim would be presented on that same day . now pausing in his progress- came strutting A large number of princes, dignitaries, and onto the scene and, with unparalleled solemprominent people of the capital were present nity, gravity, and sedateness, proceeded to for the occasion, and I ascended to one of seat himself upon a throne, whereupon a volthe upper rooms of the building where I sat ley of shots was fired, a fanfare of tmmpets down to observe the scene. Presently a tent was sounded, and the king and tent were was pitched in the courtyard, and before enveloped in a pall of smoke. long some small figures in human form, When the smoke had cleared, the king each of which seemed no more than about a was seen to be ensconced upon his throne and handspan in height, came out of the tent, and surrounded by a suite of ministers, princes, raised the call "The Sultan is coming! Set and dignitaries of state who, having taken out the chairs!" Other figures then emerged, their places, were standing at attention in his some of whom were seen to be engaged in presence. At this moment a captured thief sweeping, others in sprinkling water, and was brought before the king, who gave the thereafter another character, who was pro- order that the offender should be beheaded. nounced to be the chief herald, raised up his Without a moment's delay the chief execuvoice and bade the people assemble for an tioner proceeded to execute upon him the audience with the king. Next, three groups royal sentence, whereupon a red-coloured of figures made their appearance and took liquid resembling blood came trickling from their places, the first group attired in hats his headless torso. This done, the king fell THE BAl-IA'i REVELATION 15 into conversation with those in attendance, eyes of this You th akin to that same specand while he was thus engaged, intelligence tacle. They have never been, nor will ever arrived that rebellion had broken out on such be, possessed of any we ight, though it be to and such a frontier. Thereupon the king the extent of a grain of mustard seed. How reviewed his troops and despatched several greatly I used to marvel that men would regiments supported by units of artillery to pride themselves upon such vanities, whilst quell the uprising. A few minutes later can- those possessed of insight, ere they witness nons were heard booming from behind the any evidence of human glory, perceive with tent, and it was announced that the king's certainty the inevitability of its waning. troops were at that moment engaged in battle "Never have I looked upon any thing save with the insurgents. that I have seen extinction before it; and I was greatly perplexed and bewildered to God, verily, is a sufficient witness ." conceive the nature of this spectacle. When It behoveth eve1yone to traverse this brief the show was over, the curtain of the tent was span of life with sincerity and fairness. drawn. Then, after some twenty minutes, a Should one fai l to attain unto the recognition man emerged from behind the tent carrying of Him Who is the Eternal Truth, let him a box under his arm. at least comport himself with reason and jus- "What is this box?" I asked him, "and tice. Erelong these outward trappings, these what was the nature of this display?" heaped-up treasures, these earthly van ities, "All these lavish trappings," he replied, these amassed battalions, this gorgeous "the king, the princes, and the ministers , finery, these proud and overweening soulstheir pomp and glory, their might and power, all shall pass into the confines of the grave, everything you saw, are all now conta ined as though into that box. In the eyes of those within this box." possessed of insight, all this conflict, dissen- I swear by My Lord Who hath brought sion and vainglory hath been, and will ever into being all things through a single word be, like unto the sport of children. Take thou from Him that, ever since that day, all the good heed, and be not of those who see and trappings of the world have seemed in the yet deny. 16 TH E B A H A' i WORLD

Th e wes tern doorway into the Shrin e of the Bab. THE BA l-IA' i REVELAT ION 17

2. THE BAB

I EXCERPTS FROM TH E QAYYUMU'L-ASMA' (SELECT!ONS FROM Tf-IE WRITINGS OF Tf-IE BAB)

0 PEOPLES of the world ! Whatsoever sanctified above the praise of all men. He is ye have offered up in the way of the One veril y independent of the whole of creation . True God, ye shall indeed find preserved (Chapter XXlll.) by God, the Preserver, intact at God's Holy Gate . 0 peopl es of the earthl Bear ye alle- ISSUE forth fro m your cities, 0 peoples of giance unto this resplendent light wherewith the West and aid God ere the Day when the God hath graciously invested Me tluáough Lord of mercy shall come down unto you in the power of infa llible Truth, and walk not the shadow of the clouds with the angels in the footsteps of the Evil One. 1 inasmuch circl ing around H im,5 exalting His praise as he prompteth you to disbelieve in God, and seeking forgiveness for such as have your Lord, and verily God will not forgive truly believed in Our signs. Veril y His disbelief in Himself, though He will forgive decree hath been issued, and the conm1and other sins to whomsoever He pleaseth. 2 of God, as given in the Mother Book, hath Indeed His knowledge embraceth all things .. . indeed been revealed ... (Chapter XVII.) Become as true brethren in the one and indivisible religion of God, free from dis- 0 PEOPLES of the East and the West! Be tinction, for verily God desireth that your ye fea rfu l of God concerning the Cause of hea1ts should become minors unto your the true Joseph and barter Him not fo r a bretluáen in the Faith, so that ye find yourpaltry price 3 established by yourselves, or selves reflected in them, and the y in you. for a trifle of yo ur ea rthly possess ions, that This is the true Path of God, the Almighty, ye may, in very truth , be praised by Him as and He is indeed watchful over your actions . those who are reckoned among the pious (Chapter X L VI.) who stand nigh unto this Gate. (Chapter XX!.) BE Thou patient, 0 Qurratu '1- 'Ayn, for God 0 QURRATU 'L-'AYN!4 We have, verily, hath indeed pledged to establish Thy soverdilated Th ine heart in thi s Revelation , which eignty throughout all countries and over the stands truly unique from all created things, people that dwell therein. He is God and verily and have exa lted Thy name through the He is powerful over all things. (Chapter Lf!J.) manifestation of the Bab, so that men may become awa re of Our transcendent powe r, THIS divinely- inspired Book hath firmly esand recognize that God is inm1easurably tablished His Proof for all those who are in the East and in the West, hence beware lest cf. Qur'an 2:204. ye utter aught but the truth regarding God, er. ibid . 4:5 1. ct". ib id. 12:20. for I swear by your Lord that this supreme In these passages of the Qayyt'.1mu' l-Asma' the name Proof of Mine beareth witness tmto all things ... Qu1Tatu'l-'Ayn (Solace of the Eyes) refers to the Bab Himself. 5 cf. Q ur'an 2:206. 18 THE BAHA'I WORLD

0 servants of God! Be ye patient, for, do it not, Our secret wi ll never be made God grant, He Who is the sovereign Truth known to the people,6 wh ile the purpose of wi ll suddenly appear amongst you, invested God in creating man is but for him to know with the power of the mighty Word , and ye H im . Indeed God hath knowledge of all sha ll then be confounded by the Truth itself, things and is self-sufficient above the need and ye shall have no power to ward it off, 1 of all mankind . (Chapter LX!!.) and verily I am a witness over all mankind. (Chapter LIX) WHENEVER the faithfu l hear the verses of this Book being recited, their eyes will THE infidels of a truth , seek to separate God overflow with tears and the ir hearts wi ll be from His Remembrance, 2 but God hath deeply touched by Him Who is the Most determined to perfect H is Light3 through His Great Remembrance for the love they cher- Remembrance, and indeed He is potent over ish for God, the A ll-Praised. He is God, the all things .. . (Chapter LX/.) A ll-Knowing, the Eternal. They are indeed the inmates of the all-highest Paradise 0 PEOPLES of the earth! Verily the wherein they will abide for ever. Verily they resplendent Light of God hath appeared will see naught therein save that which hath in your midst, invested with this unerring proceeded from God, nothing that will li e Book, that ye may be guided aright to the beyond the compass of their understanding. ways of peace and, by the leave of God, step There they will meet the believers in Paraout of the darkness into the light and onto dise, who will address them with the words this far-extended Path ofTruth 4 ... ' Peace, Peace ' lingering on their lips ... God hath, out of sheer nothingness and 0 concourse of the faithful! Incline your ears through the potency of His command, created to My Voice, proclaimed by this Remembrance the heavens and the earth and whatever lieth of God. Verily God hath revealed unto Me that between them. He is single and peerless in the Path of the Remembrance which is set fmih His eternal unity with none to join partner by Me is, in very truth , the straight Path of with His holy Essence, nor is there any sou l, God, and that whoever professeth any reliexcept His Own Self, who can befittingly gion other than this upright Faith , will, when comprehend Him ... called to acco unt on the Day of Judgement, 0 peoples of the earth! Verily His discover that as recorded in the Book no bene- Remembrance is come to you from God fit hath he reaped out of God ' s Rel igion ... after an interval during which there were no Fear ye God, 0 concourse of kings, lest ye Messengers,5 that He may purge and purify remain afar from Him Who is His Rememyo u from uncleanliness in anti cipation of the brance [the Bab] , after the Truth hath come Day of the One true God ; therefore seek ye unto yo u w ith a Book and signs from God, whole-heartedly divine blessings from Him, as spoken through the wondrous tongue of inasmuoh as We have, in truth, chosen Him Him Who is His Remembrance. Seek ye to be the W itness and the Source of wisdom grace from God, for God hath ordained for unto all that dwell on earth .. . yo u, after ye have believed in Him, a Garden 0 Qurratu ' l-'Ayn! Proc laim that which the vastness of which is as the vastness of hath been sent down unto Thee as a token of the who le of Paradise. Therein ye shall find the grace of the merciful Lord , for if Thou naught save the gifts and favours which the Alm ighty hath graciously bestowed by vircf. Qur'an 21 :40. tue of thi s momentous Cause, as decreed in 2 cf. ibid. 4: 149. 3 cf. ibid. 9:32. the Mother Book. (Chapter LXJJJ.) 4 cf.ibid.5:15-1 8. 5 6 cf. ibid. 5:22 . cf. ibid . 5:7 1. THE BAl-IA'i REVELAT ION 19

Detail of one of th e columns along th e arcade of the Shrine of the Bab.

SAY, 0 peoples of the world! Do ye dispute they shall be re warded with a sure stance in with Me abo ut God by vi1iue of the names the presence of their Lord? He indeed whi ch ye and your fathers have adopted for beareth witness unto all things .. . Him at the promptings of the Evi l One? 1 When the verses of thi s Book are recited to God hath indeed sent down this Book unto the infidels they say: 'G ive us a book like Me with truth that ye may be enab led to rec- the Qur' an and make changes in the verses. ' ognize the true names of God, inasmuch as Say: ' God hath not given Me that I should ye have strayed in error fa r from the Trnth. change them at My pleasure. ' I fo llow only Verily We have taken a covenant from every what is revealed unto Me. Verily, I shall fea r created thing upon its co ming into being My Lord on the Day of Separation, whose concerning th e Remembrance of God, and advent He hath, in very hi.1th, irrevocably there shall be none to avert the binding co m- ordained. 2 (Chapter LX.Xf.) mand of God fo r the purification of mankind , as orda ined in the Book whi ch is writt en by 0 PEOPLES of the ea1th' Verily the hi.1e the hand of the Bab. (Chapter LXVff !) God ca lleth saying: He Who is the Remembrance is indeed the sovereign T ruth fro m DOTH it seem sháange to the people that We God, and naught remaineth beyond háuth but should have revealed the Book to a man error,3 and naught is there beyond en-or save from among themselves in order to purge fire, irrevocably ordained ... them and give them the good tidings that 2 er Qur' an I 0: 16. I e f. Qur 'an 7: 69; 12:40. 3 er ibid. 10: 33 . 20 THE BA HA ' i WOR LD

0 Qurratu ' l- 'Ayn! Point to Thy trnthful 0 YE peoples of the earth! By the righteousbreast through the power of truth and ness of God, the True One, the testimony excla im: I swear by the One true God, herein shown forth by His Remembrance is like lieth the vicegerency of God; I am indeed unto a sun which the hand of the merciful the One Who is regarded as the Best Lord hath raised high in the midmost heart Reward 1 and I am indeed He Who is the of the heaven, wherefrom it shineth in the Most Excellent Abode. (Chapter LXX!f.) plenitude of its meridian splendour ... With each and every Prophet Whom We 0 YE concourse of the believers ! Utter not have sent down in the past, We have estabwords of denial against Me once the Truth is lished a separate Covenant concerning the made manifest, for indeed the mandate of Remembrance of God and His Day. Manithe Bab hath befittingly been proclaimed fest, in the realm of glory and through the unto you in the Qur'an aforetime. I swear by power of truth, are the Remembrance of God your Lord, this Book is verily the same and His Day before the eyes of the angels Qur 'an which was sent down in the past. that circle His mercy-seat. (Chapter XCI) (Chapter LXXXI.) 0 HOUR of the Dawn! Ere the resplendent HAD it been Our wish, We would have glory of the divine Luminary sheddeth its brought all men into one fold round Our radiance from the Dayspring of this Gate, call Remembrance, yet they will not cease to thou to mind that the appointed Day of God differ, 2 unless God accomplish what He wil- will indeed be at hand in less than a twinkling leth through the power of truth. In the of an eye. Thus hath the decree of God been estimation of the Remembrance this command- issued in the Mother Book. (Chapter XC! V.) ment hath, in very truth, been irrevocably ordained ... GOD had, in truth , proposed Our Mission God hath indeed chosen Thee to warn the unto the heavens and the earth and the people, to guide the believers aright and to mountains, but they refused to bear it and elucidate the secrets of the Book. (Chapter were afraid thereof. However, Man, this LXXXV.) 'Ali, Who is none other but the Great Remembrance of God, undertook to bear it. SHOULD it be Our wish, it is in Our power Hence God, the All-Encompass ing, hath to compel, through the agency of but one let- referred to Hirn in His Preserved Book as the ter of Our Revelation, the world and all that ' Wronged One ', and by reason of His being is therein to recognize, in less than the twin- undistinguished before the eyes of men, He kling of an eye, the truth of Our Cause .. .. hath, according to the judgement of the Truly other apostles have been laughed to Book, been entitled 'the Unknown ' ... 5 scorn before Thee, 3 and Thou art none other Erelong We will, in very truth, tonnent but the Servant of God, sustained by the such as waged war against I:Iusayn [Imam power of Truth. Ere long We shall prolong I:Iusayn ], in the Land of the Eupluates, with the days of such as have rejected the Truth the most afflictive torment, and the most dire by reason of that which their hands have and exemplary punishment. ... wrought,4 and verily God will not deal God knoweth well the heart of I~Iu say n , unjustly with anyone, even to the extent of a the heat of His burning thirst and His longspeck on a date-stone. (Chapter LXXXV!f.) suffering for the sake of God, the Incomparable, the Ancient of Days; and unto Him God cf. Q ur' an 18:42. is verily a witness. (Chapter X ff. ) cf. ibid. 11: 120. cf ibid. 6: I 0. 4 5 cf. ibid. 3 172. cf. Qur'an 33 :72. THE BAHA ' i REVELATION 21 THIS Book which We have sent down is INDEED We conversed with Moses by the indeed abounding in blessings 1 and beareth leave of God from the midst of the Burning wih1ess to the Truth, so that the people may Bush in the Sinai and revealed an infinitesirealize that the conclusive Proof of God in mal glimmer of Thy Light upon the Mystic favour of His Remembrance is similar to the Mount and its dwellers, whereupon the one wherewith Mul)ammad, the Seal of the Mount shook to its foundations and was Prophets, was invested, and verily great is crushed into dust. .. the Cause as ordained in the Mother Book. 0 peoples of the earth! I swear by your (Chapter LXVI.) Lord! Ye shall act as fmmer generations have acted . Warn ye, then, yourselves of the WE have in truth sent Thee forth unto all terrible, the most grievous vengeance of men, by the leave of God, invested with Our God. For God is, verily, potent over all signs and reinforced by Our unsurpassed things. (Chapter LIII.) sovereignty. He is indeed the appointed Bearer of the Trust of God ... 0 QURRA TU ' L- 'A YN! I recognize in Thee 0 Qurratu'l-'Ayn! Persevere steadfastly as none other except the ' Great Announce- Thou art bidden and let not the faith less ment'-the Announcement voiced by the amongst men nor their utterances grieve Thee, Concomse on high. By this name, I bear since Thy Lord shall, by the righteousness of witness, they that circle the Throne of Glory God, the Most Great, pass judgement upon have ever known Thee. them on the Day of Resurrection, and surely 0 concourse of the believers! Do ye har- God wih1esseth all things. (Chapter LXXXIV) bour any doubt as to that whereunto the Remembrance of God doth summon you? THIS Religion is indeed, in the sight of God, By the righteousness of the One true God, the essence of the Faith of Mu~ammad; He is none other than the sovereign Truth haste ye then to attain the celestial Paradise Who hath been made manifest tluáough the and the all-highest Garden of His good- power of Truth. Are ye in doubt concerning pleasure in the presence of the One True the Bab? Verily He is the One Who holdeth, God, could ye but be patient and thankful by Our leave, the kingdoms of earth and before the evidences of the signs of God. heaven in His grasp, and the Lord is in h-uth (Chapter XL VIII.) fully aware of what ye are doing ... Indeed I am but a man like unto you . 0 MY servants! This is God's appointed Day However, God bestoweth upon Me whatever which the merciful Lord hath promised you favours He willeth as He pleaseth, and that in His Book; wherefore, in very truth, glorify which your Lord hath decreed in the Mother ye abundantly the name of God while treading Book is unbounded. (Chapter LXXXVIII.) the Path of the Most Great Remembrance .. . Verily God hath granted leave to His 0 QURRATU ' L-' AYN' Say: Verily I am Remembrance to say whatsoever He willeth the One Who is hailed in the Mother Book as in whatever manner He pleaseth. Indeed the ' Great Announcement' . Say: TI1e people whatsoever He chooseth is none other than have grievously differed over Me, whereas what is chosen by Us. TI1e Lord, in truth, in truth there is no difference between Me wih1esseth all things . (Chapter LCCCV!f.) and the Bab; and God, the Eternal Truth, is sufficient wimess . (Chapter LXXVII.) c f. Qur 'an 6:93 . 22 THE BAHA' I WORLD

Th e House of 'Abdu 'l-Baha in 'A kka, known as the House of 'A bdu 'llah Pasha. THE BAHA'i RE VELAT IO N 23

3. 'ABDU'L-BAHA

DEARLY loved friends of ' Abdu' 1-Baha, their efforts to raise on high the Word of Your letter bearing the happy news of the God, to shed abroad His holy fragrances, to election of the Spiritual Assembly hath educate the soul s of men, and to promulgate an-ived, affording great pleas ure in the the Most Great Peace, they must become knowledge that-praise be to God!-the standard-bearers of guidance, and ensigns of friends in your area have conducted the elec- the Concourse on high. Truly, those who tion in a spirit of the utmost fellowship, have been elected are blessed, holy souls. concord and amity, and have been successf-t.il When I read their names , my heart was in electing consecrated souls and well- immediately filled w ith joy, joy at the favoured servants of His heavenl y Threshold tidings that- praise be unto God!-souls whose firmness in the Covenant is acknowl- have been raised up in that land who are seredged by the genera lity of th e believers. vants of the Kingdom, and who stand ready Now, with all radiance, joy and heartfelt to lay down th eir lives in the way of the devotion, attracted by the fragrances of God Peerless King. and the confirmations of the Holy Spirit, the members of this newly elected Assembly From a Tablet dated 29 May 1907 to the Assemb ly of must devote themselves to service; and, in Chi cago.

SOON will the Western regions become importance to cruelties and injuries, but as radiant as the horizons of the East, and the rather regard them as the wanton acts of Sun of Truth shine forth with a refulgence children. For ultimately the radiance of the that will cause the darkness of error to fade Kingdom w ill overwhelm the darkness of away and vanish. Great is the multitude who the world of being, and the holy, exalted will rise up to oppose you, who will oppress character of yo ur aims will become unmi syo u, heap blame upon you, rejo ice at yo ur takably apparent. Nothing shall remain misfortunes, account yo u people to be concealed: the oli ve oil , though stored shunned, and visit injury upon you; yet shall within the deepest vault, shall one day burn yo ur heavenl y Father confer upon you such in brightness from the lamp atop the beacon . spiritual illumination that ye shall become The small shall be made great, and the poweven as the rays of the sun which, as they erless shall be given strength; they that are chase away the sombre clouds , break forth of tender age shall become the children of to flood the surface of the earth with li ght. It the Kingdom , and those that have gone is incumbent upon you, whensoever these astray shall be guided to their heavenly tests may overtake you, to stand firm , and to home. be patient and enduring. Instead of repaying li ke with li ke, ye should requite oppos ition From a Tab let dated 14 November 1909 to an ind ividal, with the utmost benevolence and lovi ng- publi shed in Crisis and Vic101y (London: Baha' i Pubkindness, and on no account attach li shin g Trust, 1988 ), p. 24. 24 THE BAHA 'i WORLD

III

ERELONG the wicked-doers in that the hol y Manifestations, the people acted in land will arise to heap denunciations upon just this manner; and now, in these days, the true believers, and vent their spite upon it is inevitable that they will repeat such the company of the faithful. Each day they actions, nay, act with greater perversity than will inflict a galling wound, each hour a before . .. Hence it is certain that thou wilt be stunning blow. Rebuking the friends for afflicted with adversities, tests and injuries the love they bear Baha ' u'llah and 'Abdu ' l- for the sake of the Blessed Beauty; yet these Baha, they will consider justified their afflictions shall be the purest bounties and denunciations, their scorn and malice, and bestowals, and a token of thy acceptance at spare no effort to do the friends whatever the Divine Threshold. injury it lieth within their power to inflict. Such conduct is at one with the modes and practices of the people aforetime: in bygone Fro m an undated Tablet to an indi vidual , published in centuries, in the days of the appearance of Crisis and Victo1y (London: 1988), p. 6.

0 THOU Pure and Omnipotent God! 0 the Pacific Ocean, to reach the shores of Thou my kind Lord! Grant us such power as both East and West. to enable us to withstand the peril s of the entire world , and give us such mi ght as to cause the waves of our endeavours, like unto From a Tablet to an indi vidual.

v 0 YE denizens of the Kingdom! unto you. It is high time that ye should, in How many are those who devote their recognition of these manifold bounties, set lifetime to pious worship and to asceticism, your hearts firmly upon Him, draw nearer cherishing the ardent desire for admission unto His court and become so captivated and into the Kingdo m. Yet they all failed. How- inflamed that the music of the hymns ye sing ever, ye have achieved this goal and entered in praise of the Desired One may ascend the Kingdom without any toil or hardship unto the Celestial Concourse, that each one even as, in the days of Christ, the Pharisees of you may, even as a nightingale, warble and the priests were denied access to the melodies in glorification of the Lord of Kingdom while Peter, John and Andrew Hosts and be enabled to foster the education attained thereto though they were neither of all mankind . fanatical worshippers nor ascetics. Therefore render ye thanks unto God, Who hath crowned you with this diadem of eternal From a Tablet to the friends in Switze rland and g lory and vouchsafed these endless favours Germany. Tl-IE BAI-IA' i REY E LA TIO N 25

Detail of the Hous e of 'Abdu 'llah Pasha, in 'Akka.

. .. THOU shouldst initially adopt that demeanour, thy fervour, thy chaste and lucid course of prudence that the Faith enjoins. In utterance, thou shalt have succeeded in winthe early stages, thou shouldst seek out the ning the affection of one and all , then shall company of the eminent members of the the porta ls of heavenly guidance be opened populace and, turning thyself in utter lowli- wide; then shall the bounteous cup be borne ness to the unseen realm of Glory, thou around and all the souls that drink therefrom shouldst pray for succour and protection be inebriated with the wine of holy mysterso that the Holy Spirit may, through the ies and truths. outpourings of its grace, grant thee its assistance. When, by thy godly conduct and From a Tablet to a n indi vidu a l. 26 THE BAl-IA'i WORLD

VII

YE should strive to widen the circle of are of the finest, yet they do not realize that those with whom ye enjoy friendly relations, all the powers of the earth are impotent and to establish the closest contact with either to establish universal peace or to prothose benevolent souls whose only thought mote the oneness of the human world. is to do good, who are labouring in the cause Nothing short of the power of the Word of of universal peace, and who cherish no God and the breaths of the Holy Spirit can desire but to wih1ess the unification of the ever succeed. world of humanity. Ye should seek out the company of such people as these, that ye may imbue them with an awareness of the From a Tablet dated 13 Jul y 1912 to the Assembly of heavenly Kingdom, for albeit their motives New York.

VITT

0 THOU who art turning W1to theKingdom sweet music of their voices is causing the of God! rea l essence of all things to move and Thy Jetter hath been received and perused. quiver. It affo rded us joy and pleasure, gave us good 0 my spiritual friend! Dost thou know news and is a token of the wealth of thy from what airs emanate the notes sung by love. This period of time is the Promised those birds? They are from the melodies of Age, the assembling of the human race to peace and reconciliation, of love and unity, the Resurrection Day and now is the great of justice and security, of concord and har- Day of Judgement. Soon the whole world, as mony. In a short time this heavenly singing in springtime, will change its garb. The turn- will intoxicate all humanity; the foundations ing and falling of the autumn leaves is past; of enmity shall be destroyed; unity and the bleakness of the wintertime is over. The affection shall be wimessed in every assemnew year hath appeared and the spiritual bly; and the splendours of the love of God springtime is at hand. The black earth is will shine forth in these great fest ivals. becoming a verdant garden; the deserts and Therefore, contemplate what a spirit of mountains are teeming with red flowers; life God hath given that the body of the from the borders of the wilderness the tall whole earth may attain life everlasting ! The grasses are standing like advance guards Abha Paradise will soon spread a pavilion in before the cypress and jessamine háees; the midmost heart of the world , under whose while the birds are singing among the rose shelter the beloved shall rejoice and the pure branches like the angels in the hi ghest heav- hearts shall repose in peace. ens, announcing the glad-tidings of the approach of that spiritual spring, and the From a Tablet dated 1903 to an indi vid ual. THE BAHA ' i REVELATION 27

Q FRIENDS ofGod! Boundless treasure is in the hand of the Do ye know in what cycle ye are created King of Kings! Lift the hem of thy gam1ent and in what age ye exist? This is the age of to receive it. the Blessed Perfection and this is the time of This is the time for growing; the season the Greatest Name! This is the century of the for joyous gathering! Take the cup of the Manifestation, the age of the Sun of all hori- Testament in thy hand; leap and dance with zons and the beautiful springtime of the ecstasy in the triumphal procession of the Eternal One! Covenant! Place your confidence in the The earth is in motion and growth; the everlasting bounty, turn to the presence of mountains, hills and prairies are green and the generous God; ask assistance from the pleasant; bounty is overflowing; mercy uni- kingdom of Abha ; seek confirmation from versal; rain is descending from the clouds of the Supreme World; tum thy vision to the compassion; the brilliant sun is shining; the horizon of eternal wealth; and pray for help full moon adometh the ethereal horizon; from the Source of Mercy! the great ocean-tide is flooding every little Soon shall ye see the friends attaining stream; gifts and favours follow one upon their longed-for destination and pitching the other and a refreshing breeze is blowing, their tents, while we are but in the first day wafting the fragrant perfume of the of our journey. blossoms. Ifwe are not happy and joyous at this sea- To the Asse mbl y in Samarkand , Russ ia. New translason, for what other season shall we wait and tion of a Tablet published earli er in Tablets of Abdu/- for what other time shall we look? Bnha Abbas, p. 641.

x 0 YE beloved friends of God and hand- source of life in both worlds, and of salmaids of the Merciful! vation unto such as have gone astray . Today Call ye to mind the blessed Name of our this hallowed Name serveth as a shield for peerless Beloved, the Abha Beauty, in an all mankind, and as a veritable refuge for the uplifting spirit of unbounded ecstasy and children of men. It is the wondrous accent of delight, then unloose your tongues in His the Lord of Mercy, and His celestial melody. praise in such wise that the realm of the Wherefore, 0 faithful friends, raise ye the heart may be purged from the woes and sor- triumphal cry of Ya-Baha ' u' l-Abha! 0 ye rows of the world of water and clay, that the who yearn after the Beauty of the Almighty! great heights of spiritual perception may be Lift up your faces toward the Supreme Horiunveiled before your eyes, that the glorious zon. Rest not, even for a moment. Breathe signs of His Divine Unity may shine not a single breath save in remembrance of resplendent, a fresh outpouring of His grace His love and in recognition of His grace, in may stream forth, and a liberal effusion of the promulgation of His Utterances and the celestial confirmations may be vouchsafed vindication of His Testimonies. unto you. Verily, this is the Magnet of divine con- His Name is indeed the healing medicine firmations . This is the mighty Force which for every illness, and imparteth warmth unto will surely attrnct heavenly assistance. those starving with cold. It is the sovereign remedy and the supreme talisman. It is the From a Tablet to a group of believers. 28 Tl-IE BAI-L.\'i WORLD

Th e Seat of the Universal Hous e of Justice, on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Tsrael. II EXCERPTS FROM THE WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI

FROM CALL TO THE NATIO NS

HUMAN1TY, whether viewed in the the political and economic unification of the light of man's individual conduct or in the world-a principle that has been increasexisting relationships between organized ingly advocated in recent times-provide in communities and nations, has, alas, strayed itself the antidote against the poison that too far and suffered too great a decline to be is steadily undermining the vigour of orgaredeemed through the unaided efforts of the nized peoples and nations. best among its recognized rulers and states- What else, might we not confidently men-however disinterested their motives, affirn1, but the unreserved acceptance of the however concerted their action, however Divine Programme enunciated, with such unsparing in their zeal and devotion to its simplicity and force as far back as sixty cause. No scheme which the calculations years ago, 1 by Baha 'u'llah, embodying in its of the highest statesmanship may yet devise; essentials God's divinely-appointed scheme no docháine which the most distinguished fo r the unification of mankind in this age, exponents of economic theory may hope to coupled with an indomitable conviction in advance; no principle which the most ardent the unfailing efficacy of each and all of its of moralists may strive to inculcate, can pro- provisions, is eventually capable of withvide, in the last resort, adequate foundations standing the forces of internal disintegration upon which the future of a distracted world which, if unchecked, must needs continue to can be built. eat into the vitals of a despairing society. No appeal for mutual tolerance which the It is towards this goal- the goal of a new worldly-wise might raise, however compel- World Order, Divine in origin, all-emling and insistent, can calm its passions or bracing in scope, equitable in principle, help restore its vigour. Nor would any gen- challenging in its fea tures-that a harassed era l scheme of mere organized international humanity must strive. cooperation, in whatever sphere of human To claim to have grasped all the impliactivity, however ingenious in conception, cations of Baha'u'llah's prodigimis scheme or extensive in scope, succeed in removing fo r world-wide human solidarity, or to have the root cause of the evil that has so rudely fathomed its import, would be presumptuous upset the equilibrium of present-day society. on the part of even the declared supporters Not even, I venture to assert, would the very act of dev ising the machinery required for 1 Written in I 93 1. 30 THE BAl-IA' i WORLD

of His Faith . To attempt to visualize it in all that are implicit in Baha'u ' llah 's supreme its poss ibilities, to estimate its future bene- declaration of the Oneness of Mankind- the fits , to picture its glory, would be premature chief and distinguishing fea ture of the Faith at even so advanced a stage in the evolution He proclain1ed? For the principle of the of mankind. Oneness of Mankind, the corner-stone of All we can reasonably venture to attempt Baha'u'llah's wo rld-embracing dominion, is to strive to obtain a glimpse of the first implies nothing more or less than the enforcestreaks of the promised Dawn that must, in ment of His scheme for the unification of the the fullness of time, chase away the gloom world- the scheme to which we have already that has encircled humanity. All we can do is refen-ed. "Jn eve1y Dispensation," writes to point out, in their broadest outlines, what 'Abdu ' l-Baba, "the light of Divine Guidance appears to us to be the gu iding principles has been focused upon one central theme ... underlying the World Order ofBaha' u ' llah ... . In this wondrous Revelation, this glorious That the umest and suffe ring afflicting centwy , the foundation of the Faith of God the mass of mankind are in no small measure and the distinguishing f eature of His Law is the direct consequences of the World War 1 the consciousness of the Oneness of and are attributable to the unwisdom and Mankind. " sho rt-sightedness of the fra mers of the Peace How pathetic indeed are the efforts of Treaties only a biased mind can refuse to those lea ders of human institutions who , admit. . .. It would be idle, however, to con- in utter disregard of the spirit of the age, tend that the war, with all the losses it are striving to adjust national processes, involved, the passions it aro used and the suited to the ancient days of self-contained grievances it left behind, has sole ly been nations, to an age which must either achi eve responsible for the unprecedented confusion the unity of the world, as adumbrated by into which almost every section of the Baha' u ' llah, or perish. At so critical an hour civilized world is plunged at present. Is it in the hist01y of civilization it behoves the not a fact- and thi s is the centra l idea I leaders of all the nations of the world, great desire to emphasize- that the fundamental and small, whether in the Eas t or in the cause of this world unrest is attributable, not West, whether victors or vanquished, to give so much to the consequences of what must heed to the clarion call of Baha 'u' ll ah and, sooner or later come to be regarded as a thoroughly imbued with a sense of world transitory dislocation in the affairs of a solidarity, the sine qua non of loyalty to His continually changing world, but rather to the Cause, arise manfully to cany out in its fai lure of those into whose hands the imme- entirety the one remedia l scheme He, the diate destinies of peoples and nations have Divine Physician, has prescribed for an been committed, to adjust their systems of ailing humanity. Let them discard, once for economic and political institutions to the all, every preconce ived idea, every national imperative needs of a rapidly-evolving age? prejudice, and give heed to the sublime Are not these intermittent crises that convulse counsel of 'Abdu' l-B aha, the authorized present-day society due primarily to the Expounder of His teachings. "You can best lamentab le inability of the world's recog- serve your country ", was 'Abdu ' l-Baha's nized leaders to read aright the signs of the rejoinder to a high official in the service of times, to rid themselves once for all of their the federa l government of the United States preconceived ideas and fettering creeds, and of America, who had questioned Him as to to res hape the machinery of their respective the best manner in which he could promote governments according to those standards the interests of hi s government and people, "il you strive, in your capacity as a citizen of the Written in 193 1 and refers to the first Worl d War. world, to assist in the eventual application of THE BAl-IA'i REVELATION 31 the principle of federalism underlying the nay the human race as a whole should government ofyour own countly to the rela- resolve, with eve1y power at its disposal, to tionships now existing between the peoples destroy that govern ment. Should this greatand nations of the world." est of all remedies be applied to the sick In The Secret of Divine Civilization, body of the world, it will assuredly recover 'Abdu'l-Baha's outstanding contribution to fiwn its ills and will remain eternally safe the future reorganization of the world, we and secure." read the following: "A few ," He further adds, "unaware of the "True civilization will unfurl its banner in power latent in human endeavour, consider the midmost heart of the world whenever a this matter as highly impracticable, nay even certain number of its distinguished and beyond the scope of man's utmost efforts. high-minded sovereigns-the shining exem- Such is not the case, however. On the plars of devotion and determination-shall, contrary, thanks to the unfailing grace of for the good and happiness of all mankind, God, the loving-kindness of His favoured arise, with firm resolve and clear vision, ones, the unrivalled endeavours of wise and to establish the Cause of Universal Peace. capable souls, and the thoughts and ideas of They must make the Cause of Peace the the peerless leaders of this age, nothing object of general consultation, and seek by whatsoever can be regarded as unattainable. every means in their power to establish a Endeavour, ceaseless endeavour, is required. Union of the nations of the world. They must Nothing short of an indomitable determinaconclude a binding treaty and establish a tion can possibly achieve it. Many a cause covenant, the provisions of which shall be which past ages have regarded as purely sound, inviolable and definite. They must visionmy, yet in this day has become most proclaim it to all the world and obtain for it easy and practicable. Why should this most the sanction of all the human race. This great and lofty cause-the day-star of the supreme and noble undertaking- the real firmament of true civilization and the cause source of the peace and well-being of all of the glory, the advancement, the wellthe world-should be regarded as sacred by being and th e success of all humanity-be all that dwell on earth. All th e forces of regarded as impossible of achievement? humanity must be mobilized to ensure the Surely the day will come when its beauteous stability and permanence of this Most Great light shall shed illumination upon the Covenant. In this all-embracing Pact the assemblage of man." limits and ji-ontiers of each and every In one of His Tablets 'Abdu ' l-Baha, nation should be clearly fixed, the principles elucidating further His noble theme, reveals underlying the relations of governments the following: towards one another definitely laid down, "In cycles gone by, though harmony was and all international agreements and obli- established, yet, owing to the absence of gations ascertained. In like manner, the size means, the unity of all mankind could not of the armaments of evety government have been achieved. Continents remained should be strictly limited, for if the prepara- widely divided, nay even among the peoples tions for war and the militmy forces of of one and the same continent association any nation should be allowed to increase, and interchange of thought were well-nigh they will arouse the suspicion of others. The impossible. Consequently intercourse, underfundamental principle underly ing this standing and unity amongst all the peoples solemn Pact should be so fixed that if and kindreds of the earth were unattainable. any government later violate any one of In this day, however, means of communicaits provisions, all the governments on earth tion have multiplied, and the jive continents should arise to reduce it to utter submission, of the earth have virtually merged into one .... 32 Tl-IE BAl-IA' i WORLD

Jn like manner all the members of the human "the concourse of the rulers of the earth", family, whether peoples or governments, revealed the fo llowing: cities or villages, have become increasing ly " Take ye counsel together, and let your interdependent. For none is self-sufficiency concern be only for that which profiteth any longer possible, inasmuch as political mankind and bettereth the condition ties unite all peoples and nations, and the thereof .. . Regard the world as the human bonds of trade and industry, of agriculture body, which, though created whole and and education, are being strengthened every pe1fect, has been afflicted, through divers day. Hence the unity of all mankind can in causes, with grave ills and maladies. Not for this day be achieved. Verily this is none one day did it rest, nay its sicknesses waxed other but one of the wonders of this won- more severe, as it f ell under the treatment of drous age, this glorious century. Of this past unskilled physicians who have spurred on ages have been deprived, for this century- the steed of their worldly desires and have the centwy of light- has been endowed with erred grievously. And if at one time, through unique and unprecedented glo1y, power and the care of an able physician, a member of illumination. Hence the miraculous unfold- that body was healed, the rest remained ing of a fi'esh marvel eve1y day. Eventually it afflicted as before." . .. will be seen how bright its candles will burn In a further passage Baha'u'llah adds in the assemblage of man. these words: "Behold how its light is now dawning "We see you adding every year unto your upon the world's darkened horizon. The first expenditures and lay ing the burden th ereof candle is unity in the political realm, the on the people whom ye rule; this verily is early glimmerings of which can now be naught but grievous injustice. Fear the sighs discerned. The second candle is unity of and tears of this Wronged One, and burden thought in world undertakings, the consum- not your peoples beyond that which they can mation of which will ere long be witnessed. . endure .... Be reconciled among yourselves, Th e third candle is unity in freedom which that ye may need armaments no more save in will surely come to pass. The fourth candle is a measure to safeguard your territories and unity in religion which is the corner-stone dominions. Be united, 0 concourse of the of the foundation itself, and which, by the sovereigns of the world, for thereby will the power of God, will be revealed in all its tempest of discord be stilled amongst you splendour. Th e fifth candle is the unity of and your peoples find rest .. .. Should any one nations-a unity which in this century will be among you take up arms against another, securely established, causing all the peoples rise ye all against him, for this is naught but of the world to regard themselves as citizens manifestjustice." of one common fatherland. The sixth candle What else could these weighty words is unity of races, making of all that dwell on signify if they did not point to the inevitable earth peoples and kindreds of one race. The curtailment of unfettered national soverseventh candle is unity of language, i.e. the eignty as an indispensable preliminary to the choice of a universal tongue in which all formation of the future Commonwealth of peoples will be instructed and converse. Each all the nations of the world? Some form of a and every one of these will inevitably come to world super-state must needs be evolved, in pass, inasmuch as the power of the Kingdom whose favour all the nations of the world of God will aid and assist in their realization." will have willingly ceded every claim to Over sixty years ago, 1 in His Tablet make war, certain rights to impose taxation to Queen Victori a, Baha'u ' llah , addressing and all rights to maintain armaments, except for purposes of maintaining internal order Now we ll over a cen tury; the Tablet to Q ueen within their respective dominions. Such a Victoria was written about 1870. THE BAHA'i REVELAT ION 33 state wil l have to include within its orb it an institutions in a manner consonant w ith the International Executi ve adequate to enforce needs of an ever-changing world. It can supreme and unchallengeable authority on conflict with no legitimate allegiances, nor every recalcitrant member of the common- can it unde1111ine essentia l loyalties. Its wealth ; a World Parliament whose members purpose is neither to stifl e the flame of a sane shall be elected by the people in thei r and intelligent patriotism in men's hearts, nor respective countries and whose election to abolish the system of national autonomy shall be co nfi rmed by their respective gov- so essential if the evi ls of excess ive centralernments; and a Supreme Tribunal whose ization are to be avoided. It does not ignore, judgement will have a binding effect even nor does it attempt to suppress, the diversity in such cases where the parties concerned of ethnical origins, of climate, of history, of did not vo luntarily agree to submit their case language and tradition, of thought and habit, to its co nsideration . A world communi ty that differentiate the peoples and nations of in which all economi c barriers wi ll have the world. It calls for a w ider loyalty, for a been permanently demolished and the inter- larger aspiration than any that has animated dependence of Capital and Labour definitely the human race. It insists upon the subordinarecogni zed; in which the clamour of tion of national impulses and interests to the religious fa naticism and strife wi ll have been imperative claims of a unified world. It repuforever stilled; in which the fl ame of racial diates excessive centra li zation on one hand, animosity wi ll have been finall y exti nguished; and di sclaims all attempts at uniformity on in wh ich a single code of international law- the other. Its watchword is unity in diversity the product of the considered judgement of such as' Abd u' l-Baha H imself has explained: the world's federated representatives-shal l "Consider the flowers of a garden. have as its sanction the instant and coercive Though differing in kind, colour, form and intervention of the combined fo rces of the shape, yet, inasmuch as they are refreshed federated units; and finally a world commu- by the waters of one spring, revived by the nity in which the fury of a capricious and breath of one wind, invigorated by the rays militant nationalism will have been trans- of one sun, this diversity increaseth their muted in to an abid ing consc iousness of charm. and addeth unto their beauty. How world citizenship-such indeed ap pears, in unpleasing to the eye if all the flowers and its broadest outl in e, the Order anticipated plants, the leaves and blossoms, the fruit, the by Baha' u' ll ah, an Order that shall come to branches and the trees of that garden were be regarded as the fairest fruit of a slowly all of the same shape and colour! Diversity maturing age. of hues, form and shape enricheth and ador- "Th e Tabernacle of Unity," Baha ' u' llah neth the garden, and heighteneth the effect proclaims in His message to all mankind, thereof Jn like manner, when divers shades "has been raised; regard ye not one another of thought, temperament and character, are as strangers ... . Of one tree are all ye the fruit brought together under the power and influand of one bough the leaves .... Th e world is ence of one central agency, the beauty and but one count1y and mankind its citizens .... glory of human p e1fection will be revealed Let not a man glory in that he loves his and made manifest. Naught but the celestial country; let him rather glory in this, that potency of the Word of God, which ruleth he loves his kind. " and transcendeth the realities of all things, Let there be no misgi vin gs as to the is capable of harmonizing the divergent animating purpose of the world-wide Law of thoughts, sentiments, ideas and convictions Baha ' u' llah. Far from aiming at the subver- of the children of men. " sion of the ex isting foundat ions of soc iety, T he ca ll of Baha ' u ' ll ah is primarily it seeks to broaden its basis, to remould its d irected against all fo rms of provincialism, 34 THE BAHA'I WORLD

all insularities and prejudices. If long-cher- give way to a new gospel, fundamentally ished ideals and time-honoured institutions, different from, and infinitely superior to, if certain social assumptions and religious what the world has already conceived. It formulae have ceased to promote the welfare calls for no less than the reconstruction and of the generality of mankind, if they no the demilitarization of the whole civilized longer minister to the needs of a continually world- a world organically unified in all the evolving humanity, let them be swept away essential aspects of its life, its political and relegated to the limbo of obsolescent machinery, its spiritual aspiration, its trade and forgotten doctrines. Why should these, and finance, its script and language, and in a world subject to the immutable law yet infinite in the diversity of the national of change and decay, be exempt from the characteristics of its federated units. deterioration that must needs overtake every It represents the consummation of human human institution? For legal standards, politi- evolution- an evolution that has had its earcal and economic theories are solely designed lies t beginnings in the birth of fa mily life, its to safeguard the interests of humanity as a subsequent development in the achievement whole, and not humanity to be crncified for of tribal solidarity, leading in turn to the the preservation of the integrity of any constitution of the city-state, and expanding particular law or doctrine. later into the institution of independent and Let there be no mistake. The principle of sovereign nations. the Oneness of Mankind- the pivot round The principle of the Oneness of Mankind, which all the teachings of Baha ' u'llah as proclaimed by Balla 'u ' llah, carries with it revolve- is no mere outburst of ignorant no more and no less than a solemn assertion emotionalism or an expression of vague and that attainment to this final stage in this pious hope. Its appeal is not to be merely stupendous evolution is not only necessary identified with a reawakening of the spirit but inevitable, that its realization is fast of brotherhood and good-will among men, approaching, and that nothing short of a nor does it aim solely at the fostering of power that is born of God can succeed in harn1onious co-operation among individual establishing it. ... peoples and nations. Its implications are Who knows that for so exalted a concepdeeper, its claims greater than any which the tion to take shape a suffering more intense Prophets of old were allowed to advance. than any it has yet experienced will have to Its message is applicable not only to the be inflicted upon humanity? Could anything individual, but concerns itself primarily with less than the fire of a civil war with all its the nature of those essential relationships violence and vicissitudes-a war that nearly that must bind all the states and nations as rent the great American Republic- have members of one human family . It does not welded the states, not only into a Union constitute merely the enunciation of an ideal, of independent units, but into a Nation, in but stands inseparably associated with an spite of all the ethnic differences that charinstitution adequate to embody its truth, acterized its component parts? That so demonstrate its validity, and perpetuate its fundamental a revolution, involving such influence. It implies an organic change in the far-reaching changes in the strncture of sostructure of present-day society, a change ciety, can be achieved through the ordinaty such as the world has not yet experienced. processes of diplomacy and education seems It constitutes a challenge, at once bold and highly improbable. We have but to turn our universal, to outworn shibboleths of nationa l gaze to humanity ' s blood-stained hist01y to creeds- creeds that have had their day and realize that nothing short of intense mental which must, in the ordinary course of events as well as physical agony has been able to as shaped and controlled by Providence, precipitate those epoch-making changes that THE BAHA' i REVELATION 35 constitute the greatest landmarks in the hands . It implies at once a warning and a history of human civilization. promise-a warning that in it lies the sole Great and far-reaching as have been those means for the salvation of a greatly suffering changes in the past, they cannot but appear, world, a promise that its realization is at when viewed in their proper perspective, hand. except as subsidiary adjustments prelu ding Uttered at a time when its possibility had that transformation of unparalleled majesty not yet been seriously envisaged in any part and scope which humanity is in this age of the world, it has, by virtue of that celestial bound to undergo. That the forces of a world potency which the Spirit of Baha'u'llah has catastrophe can alone precipitate such a new breathed into it, come at last to be regarded, phase of human thought is, alas, becoming by an increasing number of thoughtful men, increasingly apparent. That nothing shoti of not only as an approaching possibility, but the fire of a severe ordeal, unparalleled in as the necessary outcome of the forces now its intensity, can fuse and weld the discor- operating in the world. dant entities that constitute the elements Surely the world, contracted and transof present-day civilization, into the integral fmmed into a single highly complex organism components of the world commonwealth of by the marvellous progress achieved in the the future, is a truth which future events will realm of physical science, by the world-wide increasingly demonstrate. expansion of commerce and industry, and The prophetic voice ofBaha'u'llah warn- snuggling, under the pressure of world ing, in the concluding passages of Th e economic forces, amidst the pitfalls of a Hidden Words, the peoples of the world that materialistic civilization, stands in dire need an unforeseen calamity is following them of a restatement of the Truth underlying all and that grievous retribution awaiteth them the Revelations of the past in a language tlrrows indeed a lurid light upon the immedi- suited to its essential requirements. And ate fotiunes of sorrowing humanity. Nothing what voice other than that of Baha'u'llahbut a fiery ordeal, out of which humanity the Mouthpiece of God for this age-is capawill emerge, chastened and prepared, can ble of effecting a transformation of society succeed in implanting that sense ofresponsi- as radical as that which He has already bility which the leaders of a new-born age accomplished in the hearts of those men and must arise to shoulder. women, so diversified and seemingly irrec- I would again direct your attention to oncilable, who constitute the body of His those ominous words of Baha'u'llah which declared followers tluáoughout the world? I have already quoted: "And when the That such a mighty conception is fast appointed hour is come, there shall suddenly budding out in the minds of men, that appear that which shall cause the limbs of voices are being raised in its support, that its mankind to quake." . .. salient features must fast crystallize in the One word more in conclusion. The procla- consciousness of those who are in authority, mation of the Oneness of Mankind- the head few indeed can doubt. That its modest corner-stone of Baha'u'llah's all-embracing begimtings have already taken shape in the dominion-can under no circumstances be world-wide Administration with which the compared with such expressions of pious adherents of the Faith of Baha 'u ' llah stand hope as have been uttered in the past. His associated only those whose hearts are is not merely a call which He raised, alone tainted by prejudice can fail to perceive .... and unaided, in the face of the relentless and combined opposition of two of the most Excerpts from Th e Goal of a New World Order, in powerfu l Oriental potentates of His day- Call to the Nations ( Hai fa: Baha'i World Centre, 1977). while Himself an exile and prisoner in their C hapter II. 36 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

FEW will fail to recognize that the Spirit dismay the bankruptcy of their ideas, and the breathed by Baha'u'llah upon the world, and disintegration of their handiwork, would do which is manifesting itself with varying well to him their gaze to the Revelation of degrees of intensity through the efforts con- Baha'u'llah, and to meditate upon the World sciously displayed by His avowed supporters Order which, lying enshrined in His teachand indirectly through certain humanitarian ings, is slowly and imperceptibly rising organizations, can never permeate and amid the welter and chaos of present-day exercise an abiding influence upon mankind civilization. They need have no doubt or unless and until it incarnates itself in a visible anxiety regarding the nature, the origin, or Order, which would bear His name, wholly validity of the institutions which the adheridentify itself with His principles, and ents of the Faith are building up tluáoughout function in conforniity with His laws. That the world. For these lie embedded in the Baha'u'llah in His Book of Aqdas, and later teachings themselves , unadulterated and 'Abdu'l-Baha in His Will- a document which unobscured by unwarrantable inferences, or confirms, supplements, and correlates the unauthorized interpretations of His Word . . .. provisions of the Aqdas- have set forth in their entirety those essential elements for the THE omushing forces so miraculously constitution of the world Baha ' i Common- released through the agency of two indepenwealth, no one who has read them will deny. dent and swiftly successive Manifestations are According to these divinely-ordained adniin- now under our very eyes and tluáough the care istrative principles, the Dispensation of of the chosen stewards of a far-flung Faith Baha'u'llah- the Ark of human salvation- being gradually mustered and disciplined. must needs be modelled. From them, all They are slowly crystallizing into institutions future blessings must flow, and upon them that will come to be regarded as the hallmark its inviolable auth01ity must ultimately rest. and glory of the age we are called upon to For Baha'u 'llah, we should readily recog- establish and by our deeds i1m11ortalize .... nize, has not only imbued mankind with It would be utterly misleading to attempt a new and regenerating Spirit. He has not a comparison between this unique, this merely enunciated certain universal princi- divinely-conceived Order and any of the ples, or propounded a particular philosophy, diverse systems which the minds of men, at however potent, sound and universal these various periods of their history, have contrived may be. In addition to these He, as well as for the government of human institutions. ' Abdu ' l-Baha after Him, has, unlike the Such an attempt would in itself betray a lack Dispensations of the past, clearly and specif- of complete appreciation of the excellence ically laid down a set of Laws , established of the handiwork of its great Author. How definite institutions, and provided for the could it be otherwise when we remember essentials of a Divine Economy. These are that this Order constih1tes the very pattern of destined to be a pattern for fuh1re society, that divine civilization which the almighty a supreme instrument for the establishment Law of Baha ' u' llah is designed to establish of the Most Great Peace, and the one agency upon earth? The divers and ever-shifting for the unification of the world, and the systems of human polity, whether past or proclamation of the reign of righteousness present, whether originating in the East or in and justice upon the earth .... the West, offer no adequate criterion where- Leaders of religion, exponents of political with to estimate the potency of its hidden the01ies, governors of human institutions, who virtues or to appraise the solidity of its at present are witnessing with perplexity and foundations. THE BAl-IA'i REVELATION 37

Details of the pillars and gardens surrounding the Seat of the Universal Hous e of Justice.

The Baha'i Commonwealth of the future, This new-born Administrative Order of which this vast Administrative Order is incorporates with in its structure certain the so le framework, is, both in theory and elements which are to be found in each of practice, not only unique in the entire history the tluáee recognized forms of secular govof political institutions, but can find no ernment, without being in any sense a mere parallel in the aru1als of any of the world 's replica of any one of them, and without recognized religious systems. No form of introducing within its machinery any of the democratic government; no system of autoc- objectionable features which they inherently racy or of dictatorship, whether monarchical possess. It blends and harmonizes, as no or republican; no intermediary scheme of a govermnent fashioned by mortal hands has purely aristocratic order; nor even any of the as yet accomplished , the salutary h-uths recognized types of theocracy, whether it be which each of these systems undoubtedly the Hebrew Commonwealth, or the various contains without vitiating the integrity of Christian ecclesiastical organizations, or the those God-given verities on which it is Imamate or the Caliphate in Islam- none of ultimately fo unded. these can be identified or be said to conform The Adminisháative Order of the Faith of with the Administrative Order which the Baha 'u ' llah must in no wise be regarded as master-hand of its perfect Architect has purely democratic in character inasmuch as fashioned. the basic assumption wh ich requires all 38 THE BAHA'I WORLD

democracies to depend fundamentally upon laws requiring the election by universal sufgetting their mandate from the people is frage of all local, national, and international altogether lacking in this Dispensation. In Houses of Justice, the total absence of episthe conduct of the administrative affairs of copal authority with its attendant privileges, the Faith, in the enactment of the legislation corruptions and bureaucratic tendencies, necessary to supplement the laws of the are further evidences of the non-autocratic Kitab-i-Aqdas, the members of the Univer- character of the Baha'i Administrative Order sal House of Justice, it should be borne in and of its inclination to democratic methods mind, are not, as Baha 'u ' llah's utterances in the administration of its affairs. clearly imply, responsible to those whom Nor is this Order identified with the name they represent, nor are they allowed to ofBaha'u'llah to be confused with any sysbe governed by the feelings, the general tem of purely aristocratic government in view opinion, and even the convictions of the of the fact that it upholds, on the one hand, mass of the faithful, or of those who directly the hereditary principle and entrusts the elect them. They are to follow, in a prayerful Guardian of the Faith with the obligation of attitude, the dictates and promptings of their interpreting its teachings, and provides, on conscience. They may, indeed they must, the other, for the free and direct election from acquaint themse lves with the conditions among the mass of the faithful of the body prevailing among the community, must weigh that constitutes its highest legislative organ . dispassionately in their minds the merits of Whereas this Administrative Order cannot any case presented for their consideration, be said to have been modelled after any of but must reserve for themselves the right these recognized systems of government, it of an unfettered decision. "God will verily nevertheless embodies, reconciles and assiminspire them with whatsoever He willeth," ilates within its framework such wholesome is Baha'u' llah's incontrovetiible assurance. elements as are to be found in each one of They, and not the body of those who either them. The hereditary authority which the directly or indirectly elect them, have thus Guardian is called upon to exercise, the vital been made the recipients of the divine and essential functions which the Universal guidance which is at once the life-blood and House of Justice discharges, the specific ultimate safeguard of this Revelation . ... provisions requiring its democratic election Nor can the Baha'i Administrative Order by the representatives of the fa ithful- these be dismissed as a hard and rigid system of combine to demonstrate the trnth that this unmitigated autocracy or as an idle imitation divinely revealed Order, wh ich can never of any form of absolutistic ecclesiastical be identified with any of the standard types government, whether it be the Papacy, the of government referred to by Aristotl e i.n Imamate or any other similar institution, for his works, embodies and blends with the the obvious reason that upon the international spiritual verities on which it is based the elected representatives of the followers of beneficent elements which are to be found Baha'u ' llah has been conferred the exclusive in each one of them. The admitted evil s right of legislating on matters not expressly inherent in each of these systems being rigrevea led in the Baha'i writings. Neither the idly and permanently excluded, this unique Guardian of the Faith nor any institution Order, however long it may endure and apati from the International House of Justice however extensive its ramifications, cannot can ever usurp this vital and essential power ever degenerate into any form of despotism, or encroach upon that sacred right. The abo- of oligarchy, or of demagogy which must lition of professional priesthood with its sooner or later corrupt the machinery of all accompanying sacraments of baptism, of man-made and essentially defective political communion and of confession of sins, the institutions .... THE BAHA' i RE VELA T!ON 39 Significant as are the origins of this disillusioned and sadly shaken society can mighty administrative strncture, and how- ill afford to ignore. ever unique its features , the happenings that Compare these splendid manifestations of may be said to have heralded its birth and the spirit animating this vibrant body of the signalized the initial stage of its evolution Faith of Baha'u'llah with the cries and seem no less remarkable. How striking, how agony, the follies and vanities, the bitterness edifying the contrast between the process of and prejudices, the wickedness and divisions slow and steady consolidation that charac- of an ailing and chaotic world. Witness the terizes the growth of its infant strength and fear that torn1ents its leaders and paralyses the devastating onrush of the forces of the action of its blind and bewildered statesdisintegration that are assailing the outworn men. How fierce the hatreds, how false the institutions, both religious and secular, of ambitions, how petty the pursuits, how deeppresent-day society! rooted the suspicions of its peoples! How The vitality which the organic institutions disquieting the lawlessness, the conuption, of this great, this ever-expanding Order so the unbelief that are eating into the vitals of strongly exhibit; the obstacles which the a tottering civilization! high courage, the undaunted resolution of Might not this process of steady deterioits administrators have already surmounted; ration which is insidiously invading so many the fire of an unquenchable enthusiasm that departments of human activity and thought glows with undiminished fervour in the be regarded as a n ~cessary accompanin1ent hearts of its itinerant teachers; the heights to the rise of !his almighty Arm of of self-sacrifice which its champion-builders Baha'u'llah? Might we not look upon the are now attaining; the breadth of vision, the momentous happenings which . . . have so confident hope, the creative joy, the inward deeply agitated every continent of the earth peace, the uncompromising integrity, the as ominous signs simultaneously proclaiming exempl ary discipline, the unyielding unity the agonies of a disintegrating civilization and solidarity which its stalwart defenders and the birth-pangs of that World Ordermanifest; the degree to which its moving that Ark of human salvation- that must Spirit hath shown itself capable of assimilat- needs arise upon its rnins? ing the diversified elements within its pale, of cleansing them of all forms of prejudice Excerpts from The World Order of Bahn "u 'I/ah: Furth er and of fusing them with its own shucture- Considerations and 771e Dispensation of Bah a '11 'I/ah, 111 these are evidences of a power which a Call to the Nations. Chapter Ill . 40 THE BA HA'i WORLD III THE contrast between the accumulating equilibrium'', He explains, "hath been upset evidences of steady consolidation that through the vibrating influence of this accompany the rise of the Administrative Most Great, this new World Order. Man- Order of the Faith of God, and the forces of kind 's ordered life hath been revolutionized disintegration which batter at the fabric of through the agency of this unique, this a travailing society, is as clear as it is wondrous System, the like of which mortal arresting. Both within and outside the Baha' i eyes have never witnessed." "The signs world the signs and tokens which, in a of impending convulsions and chaos," He mysterious manner, are heralding the birth warns the peoples of the world, "can now be of that World Order, the establishment of discerned, inasmuch as the prevailing Order which must signalize the Golden Age of the appeareth to be lamentably defective." ... Cause of God, are growing and multiplying No machinery falling short of the standay by day. No fair-minded observer can dard inculcated by the Baha'i Revelation, any longer fail to discern them. He cannot be and at variance with the sublime pattern misled by the painful slowness characteriz- ordained in His teachings, which the collecing the unfoldment of the civilization which tive efforts of mankind may yet devise can the followers of Baha'u'llah are labouring ever hope to achieve anything above or to establish. Nor can he be deluded by beyond that "Lesser Peace" to which the the ephemeral manifestations of returning Author of our Faith has Himself alluded in prosperity which at times appear to be capa- His writings. "Now that ye have refi1sed the ble of checking the disruptive influence of Most Great Peace," He, admonishing the the chronic ills afflicting the institutions of kings and rulers of the earth, has written, a decaying age. The signs of the times are "hold ye fast unto this the Lesser Peace, that too numerous and compelling to allow him haply ye may in some degree better your to mistake their character or to belittle their own condition and that ofyour dependents." significance. He can, if he be fair in his Expatiating on this Lesser Peace, He thus judgement, recognize in the chain of events addresses in that same Tablet the rulers of which proclaim on the one hand the irre- the earth: "Be reconciled among yourselves, sistible march of the institutions directly that ye may need no more armaments save in associated with the Revelation ofBaha ' u' llah a measure to safeguard your territories and and foreshadow on the other the downfall dominions ... Be united, 0 kings of the earth, of those powers and principalities that for thereby will the tempest of discord be have either ignored or opposed it- he can stilled amongst you, and your peoples find recogni ze in them all ev idences of the rest, if ye be of them that comprehend. operation of God's all-pervasive Will, the Should any one among you take up arms shaping of His perfectly ordered and world- against another, rise ye all against him, for embracing Plan. this is naught but manifest justice." "Soon," Baha'u'llah's own words pro- The Most Great Peace, on the other hand , claim it, "will the present-day Order be as conceived by Baha'u'llah-a peace that rolled up, and a new one spread out in its must inevitably follow as the practical constead. Verily, thy Lord speaketh the truth sequence of the spiritualization of the world and is the Knower of things unseen. " "By and the fusion of all its races, creeds, classes Myself," He solemnly asserts, "the day is and nations-can rest on no other basis, and approaching when We will have rolled up can be preserved through no other agency, the world and all that is therein, and spread except the divinely appointed ordinances out a new Order in its stead. He, verily, that are implicit in the World Order that is powerful over all things." "The world's stands associated with His holy name. In His THE BA HA ' i REVELATION 41

Tablet, revea led almost seventy 1 years ago That mystic, all-pervasive, yet indefinable to Queen Victoria, Baha'u'llah, alluding to change, which we associate with the stage this Most Great Peace, has declared: "That of maturity inevitable in the life of the which the Lord hath ordained as the sover- individual and the development of the fruit, eign remedy and mightiest instrument for the must, if we would correctly apprehend the healing of all the world is the union of all its utterances of Baha'u'llah, have its counterpeoples in one universal Cause, one common pari in the evo lution of the organization of Faith. This can in no wise be achieved human society. A similar stage must sooner except through the power of a skilled, an or later be attained in the collective life of all-powe1fu l and inspired Physician. This, mankind, producing an even more striking verily, is the truth, and all else naught but phenomenon in world relations , and enerror" ... "ft beseemeth all men in this dowing the whole human race with such Day", He, in another Tablet, asserts, "to take potentialities of well-being as shall provide, .firm hold on the Most Great Name, and to tluáoughout the succeeding ages, the chief establish the unity of all mankind. There is incentive required for the eventual fulfilno place to fl ee to, no refitge that any one ment of its high destiny .... can seek, except Him. " Only those who are willing to associate The Revelation of Baha 'u ' llah, whose the Reve lation proclaimed by Baha 'u ' llah supreme miss ion is none other but the with the consununation of so stupendous an achievement of this organic and spiritual evolution in the collective life of the whole unity of the whole body of nations, should, human race can grasp the significance of the if we be faithful to its implications, be words which He, while alluding to the glories regarded as signalizing tluáough its advent of this promised Day and to the duration of the coming of age of the entire human race. the Baha'i Era, has deemed fit to utter. "This It should be viewed not merely as yet is the King of Days," He exclaims, "the Day anotl1er spiritual revival in the ever-changing that hath seen the coming of the Bestfortunes of mankind, not only as a further Beloved, Him Who, through all eternity, stage in a chain of progress ive Revelations , hath been acclaimed the Des ire of the nor even as the cu lmination of one of a World." "The Scriptures of past Dispensaseries of recurrent prophetic cyc les, but tions ," He further asserts, "celebrate th e rather as marking the last and highest stage great jubilee that must needs greet this in the stupendous evolution of man 's collec- most great Day of God. Well is it with him ti ve life on this planet. The emergence of a that hath lived to see this Day and hath world conununity, the consciousness of recognized its station ." ... world citizenship, the founding of a world Though the Revelation ofBaha ' u ' llah has civiliza tion and culture-all of which must been delivered, the World Order which such syncluonize with the initial stages in the a Revelation must needs beget is as yet unfoldment of the Golden Age of tl1e Baha ' i unborn. Though the Heroic Age of His Faith Era-should, by their very nature, be is passed, the creative energies which that regarded, as far as this planetary life is Age has released have not as yet crystallized concerned, as the furthermost limits in the into that world society whi ch, in the fullness organization of human soc iety, though man, of time, is to mirror fo rth the brightness of as an individual, wi ll, nay must indeed as His glory. Though the framework of His a result of such a consununation, continue Administrative Order has been erected, and indefinitely to progress and develop. the Formative Period of the Baha' i Era has begun, yet the promised Kingdom into W ritten in 1936. Now more than a hundred. (The which the seed of His institutions must ripen Tabl e t to Queen Victoria was written about 1870.) remains as yet uninaugurated. Though His 42 THE BA HA' I WORLD

Detail of a column and window of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.

Voice has been raised, and the ensigns of such moral and social gloom as can alone His Faith have been lifted up in no less than prepare an unrepented humanity for the prize fo1ty countries 1 of both the East and the she is destined to inherit. West, yet the wholeness of the human race is Into such a period we are now steadi ly as yet unrecognized, its unity unproclaimed, and irresistibly moving. Amidst the shadows and the standard of its Most Great Peace which are increasi ngly gathering about us unhoisted .... we can faintly discern the glimmerings of For the reve lation of so great a favo ur a Baha' u ' llah's unearthly sovereignty appea rperiod of intense tmmoil and widespread ing fitfully on the horizon of history. To us, suffering would seem to be indispensable. the "generation of the half-light'', living at a Resplendent as has been the Age that has time which may be designated as the period witnessed the inception of the Mission with of the incubation of the World Commonwhich Baha'u' llah has been entrusted, the wealth envisaged by Baha'u ' llah, has been interval which must elapse ere that Age assigned a task whose high privilege we can yields its choicest fruit must, it is becoming never sufficiently appreciate, and the arduincreasingly apparent, be overshadowed by ousness of whi ch we can as yet but dimly recognize. We may well believe, we who are Written in 1936, since when the number has called upon to experience the operation of increased to 235 , compri sin g 190 independent coun - the dark forces destined to unloose a flood tri es and 45 dependent territori es . Tl-IE BAI-IA' j REVELATION 43 of agonizmg afflictions, that the darkest "A new life," Baha' u' llah proclaims, "is, hour that must precede the dawn of the in this age, stirring within all the peoples Golden Age of our Faith has not yet struck. of the earth; and yet none hath discovered Deep as is the gloom that already encircles its cause, or perceived its motive." "O ye the world, the afflictive ordeals which that children of men," He thus addresses His world is to suffer are still in preparation, nor generation, "the fimdamental purpose anican their blackness be as yet imagined. We mating the Faith of God and His Religion is stand on the threshold of an age whose con- to safeguard the interests and promote the vulsions proclaim alike the death-pangs of unity of the human race .. . This is the straight the old order and the birth-pangs of the new. path, the fixed and immovable foundation. Through the generating influence of the Whatsoever is raised on this foundation, the Faith announced by Baha'u ' llah this New changes and chances of the world can never World Order may be said to have been impair its strength, nor will the revolution of conceived . We can, at the present moment, countless centuries undermine its structure." experience its stirrings in the womb of a "The well-being of mankind," He declares, travailing age-an age waiting for the "its p eace and security are unattainable appointed hour at which it can cast its unless and until its unity is firmly estabburden and yield its fairest fruit. lished." "So powerful is the light of unity," is "The whole earth," writes Baha'u ' llah, His further testimony, "that it can illuminate "is now in a state of pregnancy . The day is the whole earth. Th e one true God, He Who approaching when it will have yielded its knoweth all things, Hims elf testifieth to the noblest ji-uits, when fi'om it will have sprung truth of these words... This goal excelleth forth the loftiest trees, the most enchanting eve1y other goal, and this aspiration is the blossoms, the most heavenly blessings .. .." monarch of all aspirations." "He Who is "The Call of God," 'Abdu'l-Baha has your Lord, the All-Merciful," He, moreover, written, "when raised, breath ed a new life has written, "cherisheth in His heart the into the body of mankind, and infi1sed a new desire of beholding the entire human race as spirit into the whole creation. ft is for this one soul and one body. Haste ye to win your reason that the world hath been moved to its share of God 's good grace and mercy in this depths, and the hearts and consciences of Day that eclipseth all other created days." men been quickened. Ere long the evidences The unity of the human race, as envisaged of this regeneration will be revealed, and the by Baha'u' llah, implies the establishment of fast asleep will be awakened." ... a world commonwealth in which all nations, Unification of the whole of mankind is races, creeds and classes are closely and the hallmark of the stage which human pe1rnanently united, and in which the autonsociety is now approaching. Unity of family, omy of its state members and the persona l of tráibe, of city-state and nation have been freedom and initiative of the individuals that successively attempted and fully established. compose them are definitely and completely World unity is the goal towards which safeguarded. This commonwealth must, as a harassed humanity is striving. Nation- far as we can visualize it, consist of a world building has come to an end. The anarchy legislature, whose members will, as the inherent in state sovereignty is moving hi.1stees of the whole of mankind, ultimately towards a climax. A world, growing to control the entire resources of all the compomaturity, must abandon this fetish, recog- nent nations, and wi ll enact such laws as nize the oneness and wholeness of human shall be required to regulate the life, satisfy relationships, and establish once for all the the needs and adjust the relationships of all machinery that can best incarnate this funda- races and peoples. A world executive, mental principle of its life. backed by an international Force, will carry 44 THE BAHA' i WORLD

out the decisions arrived at, and apply the understanding and co-operation. The causes laws enacted by, this world legislature, and of religious sháife will be pennanently will safeguard the organic unity of the whole removed, economic barri ers and restrictions comm onwea lth. A world háibunal will adju- will be completely abolished, and the inordidicate and deliver its compulsory and final nate distinction between classes will be verdict in all and any disputes that may arise obliterated. Destitution on the one hand, and between the various elements constituting gross accumulation of ownership on the this universa l system. A mechanism of other, will disappear. The enormous energy world intercommunication will be devised, dissipated and wasted on war, whether embraci ng the whole planet, freed from economic or political, will be consecrated to national hindrances and restrictions, and such ends as will extend the range of human functioning with marvellous swiftness and inventions and technical development, to the perfect regularity. A world metropolis will increase of the productivity of mankind, to the act as the nerve centre of a world civiliza- exte1111ination of disease, to the extension of tion, the focus towards which the unifyi ng scientific research, to the raising of the stanforces of life will converge and from which dard of physical health, to the sharpening its energizing influences will radiate. A and refinement of the human brain, to the world lang uage will either be invented or exploitation of the unused and unsuspected chosen from among the existing languages resources of the planet, to the prolongation and will be taught in the school s of all the of human life, and to the furtherance of any federated nations as an auxiliary to their other agency that can stimulate the intellecmother tongues . A world script, a world tual, the moral, and sp iritu al life of the entire li terature, a uniform and universal system human race. of currency, of weights and measures, will A world federal system, ruling the whole simplify and facilitate intercourse and earth and exercising unchallengeable authorunde rstanding among the nations and races ity over its unimaginably vast resources, of mankind. In such a world society, science blending and embodying the ideals of both and religion, the two most potent forces the East and the West, liberated from the in human life, wi ll be reconciled, will co- curse of war and its miseries, and bent on the operate, and w ill harmoniously develop. The exploitation of all the available sources of press will, under such a system, while giving energy on the surface of the planet, a system full scope to the express ion of the diversified in which Force is made the servant of Jusviews and convictions of mank ind, cease tice, whose li fe is sustained by its universal to be mischi evously manipulated by vested recognition of one God and by its allegiance interests , whether private or public, and will to one conm1on Revelation- such is the goal be liberated from the influence of contend- towards which humanity, impelled by the ing governments and peoples. The economic unifying forces of life, is moving . resources of the world will be organized, its sources of raw materials will be tapped and fully utilized, its markets will be co-ordinated and developed, and the distribution of Exce1vts from The Unfold111ent of World Civilizntion , in its products will be equitably regu lated. Call to the Nations, Chapter IV.

National rivalries , hatreds, and intrigues will cease, and racial animosity and prejudice w ill be replaced by racial amity, THE BAHA'i REVELATION 45

As we gaze in retrospect beyond the dwell in one common fatherland, which is immediate past, and survey, in however the planet itself." cursory a manner, the vici ssitudes afflicting What we witness at the present time, an increasingl y tormented soc iety, and recall during "this gravest crisis in the hi story of the strains and stresses to which the fabric civilization," recalling such times in which of a dying Order has been increas ingly " reli gion s have peri shed and are born," is subjected, we cannot but marvel at the sharp the ado lescent stage in the slow and painful contrast presented, on the one han d, by evolution of humanity, preparatory to the the accumulated evidences of the orderly attainment of the stage of manhood, the unfoldment, and the uninterrupted multipli- stage of maturity, the promise of which is cation of the agencies, of an Admini strati ve embedded in the teachings, and enshrined in Order designed to be the harbinger of a the prophecies ofBaha'u ' ll ah. The tumult of world civilization, and, on the other, by the this age of tra nsition is characteristi c of the ominous manifestations of ac ute political impetuos ity and irrational instincts of youth, conflict, of social unrest, of rac ial animosity, its follies, its prodigali ty, its pride, its selfof class antago nism, of immorality and of assura nce, its rebelli ousn ess, and contempt irreligion, proclaiming, in no uncertain terms, of di scipline. the co1Tuption and obso lescence of the insti- The ages of its infancy and childhood are tutions of a bankrupt Order. .. . past, never agai n to return , while the Great Age, the consummation of all ages, which "The winds of despa ir," writes Baha'u ' ll ah, must signalize the coming of age of the entire as He surveys the immed iate destinies of human race, is yet to come. The convulsions mankind, "are, alas, blowing fro m eve1y of this transiti onal and most turbulent period direction, and the strife that divides and in the annals of humanity are the essential afflicts the human race is da ily increas- prerequisites, and herald of the inevitable ing .... " "Such shall be its plight," He, in approach, of that Age of Ages, "the time another corn1ection, has dec lared, "that to of the end," in whi ch the folly and tumult of disclose it now would not be meet and strife that has, since the daw n of history, seemly." "These fruitless strifes," He, on the blackened the ann als of mankind, wi ll have other hand, contemplating the future of man- been finally transmuted into the wisdom and ki nd, has emphatically prophesied, in the the tranquillity of an undisturbed, a universal , course of His memorabl e interview w ith the and lasting peace, in which the di scord and Persian orientalist, Edward G. Browne, separati on of the children of men w ill have "these ruinous wars shall pass away, and given way to the worldwide reconciliation, the 'Most Great Peace' shall come .... These and the complete unification of the di vers strifes and this bloodshed and discord must elements that constitute human society. cease, and all men be as one kindred and This will indeed be the fitting climax of one family. " .. . that process of integration which , startin g "All nations and kindreds," 'Abdu ' l-Bahi with the family , the small est uni t in the scale likewise has written , " ... will become a single of human organization, must, after having nation. Religious and sectarian antagonism, called success ively into being the tribe, the the hostility of races and peoples, and differ- city-state, and the nation, continue to operate ences among nations, will be eliminated. All until it culmin ates in the unification of the men will adhere to one religion, will have whole world, the final object and the crown - one common faith, will be blended into one ing glory of human evol uti on on this planet. race, and become a single people. All will It is this stage whi ch humanity, w illingly or 46 THE BA HA' l WORLD

unwillingly, is res istless ly approaching. lt is in th e human kingdom man reaches his for this. stage that this vast, this fiery ordeal maturity when the light of his intelligence which humani ty is experiencing is mysteri- attains its greatest power and development .... ously paving the way . It is with this stage Similarly there are periods and stages in that the fo rtunes and the purpose of the Faith the collective life of humanity. At one time it of Baha'u ' llah are indisso lubl y linked. It is was passing through its stage of childhood, the creative energies which His Revelation at another its period ofyouth, but now it has has released... that have instilled into entered its long-predicted phase of maturity, humanity the capacity to attain this final the evidences of which are eve1y where apparstage in its organic and co llective evolution. ent. . . . That which was applicable to human It is with the Golden Age of His Dispensa- needs during the early history of the race tion that the consummation of this process can neither meet nor satisfy the demands of will be forever associated. It is the structure this day, this period of newness and consumof H is New World Order, now stirring in the mation. Humanity has emerged ji-om its womb of the administrative institutions He form er state of limitation and preliminmy Himself has created, that will serve both as a training. Man must now become imbued pattern and a nucleus of that world common- with new virtues and powers, new moral wealth which is the sme, the inevitable standards, new capacities. New bounties, destiny of the peoples and nations of the pe1f ect bestowals, are awaiting and already earth. descending upon him. Th e gifts and bless- Just as the organic evolution of mankind ings of the period of youth, although timely has been slow and gradual, and invo lved and sufficient during the adolescence of successively the unification of the family, mankind, are now incapable of meeting the the tribe, the city-state, and the nation, so requirements of its maturity." ... has the light vouchsafed by the Revelation This is the stage which the world is now of God, at various stages in the evo lution approaching, the stage of world unity, which, of religion, and reflected in the successive as ' Abdu'l-Baha assures us, will, in this Dispensations of the past, been slow and centmy , be secmely established. " The Tongue progressive. Indeed the measure of Divine of Grandeur," Baha'u'llah Himself affirms, Revelation, in evety age, has been adapted "hath . .. in the Day of His Manifestation proto, and commensurate with, the degree of claimed: 'ft is not his to boast who loveth his soc ial progress achieved in that age by a country, but it is his who loveth the world."' constantly-evolving humanity. " Through the power," He adds , "released by " ft hath been decreed by Us," explains these exalted words He hath lent a fresh Baha ' u ' llah, "that the Word of God, and all impulse, and set a new direction, to the birds the potentialities thereof; shall be manifested of men's hearts, and hath obliterated eve1y unto men in strict conformity with such trace of restriction and limitation from conditions as have been fore-ordained by God's Holy Book." Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise ... A word of warning should, however, be Should the Word be allowed to release uttered in this connection. The love of one's suddenly all the energies latent within it, no country, instilled and sttáessed by the teachman could sustain the weight of so mighty a ing of Islam, as "an element of the Faith of Revelation." "All created things," ' Abdu' l- God," has not, through this declaration, this Baha, elucidating this truth, has affirmed, clarion-call of Ba ha 'u ' llah, been either con- "have their degree or stage of maturity. The demned or disparaged. It should not, indeed period of maturity in the life of a tree is the it cannot, be construed as a repudiation, or time of its ji-uit-bearing .. .. The animal attains regarded in the light of a censure pronounced a stage offu ll growth and completeness, and against a sane and intelligent pattáiotism , nor THE BAl-IA'i REVELATION 47

does it seek to undermine the allegiance and destruction, must needs convulse the nations, loyalty of any individual to his country, nor stir the conscience of the world, disillusion does it conflict with the legitimate aspira- the masses, precipitate a radical change in tions, rights, and duties of any individual the very conception of society, and coalesce state or nation. All it does imply and ultimately the disjointed, the bleeding limbs proclaim is the insufficiency of patriotism, of mankind into one body, single, organiin view of the fundamental changes effected cally united, and indivisible. in the economic life of society and the To the general character, the implications interdependence of the nations, and as the and features of this world commonwealth, consequence of the contraction of the world, destined to emerge, sooner or later, out of through the revolution in the means of the carnage, agony, and havoc of this great transportation and conununication- condi- world convulsion, I have already referred in tions that did not and could not exist either my previous conummications. Suffice it to in the days of Jesus Cluáist or ofMuhanm1ad. say that this consummation will, by its very It calls for a wider loyalty, which should not, nature, be a gradual process, and must, and indeed does not, conflict with lesser loy- as Baha'u'llah has Himself anticipated, lead alties. It instills a love which, in view of its at first to the establishment of that Lesser scope, must include and not exclude the love Peace which the nations of the earth, as yet of one's own counh-y. It lays, tluáough this unconscious of His Revelation and yet loyalty which it inspires, and this love which unwittingly enforcing the general principles it infuses, the only foundation on which the which He has enunciated, will themselves concept of world citizenship can thrive, and establish. This momentous and historic step, the sh-ucture of world unification can rest. It involving the reconstruction of mankind, as does insist, however, on the subordination of the result of the universal recognition of its national considerations and particularistic oneness and wholeness, will bring in its interests to the imperative and paramount wake the spiritualization of the masses, conclaims of humanity as a whole, inasmuch as sequent to the recognition of the character, in a world of interdependent nations and and the acknowledgment of the claims, peoples the advantage of the paii is best to of the Faith of Baha'u'llah- the essential be reached by the advantage of the whole. condition to that ultimate fusion of all races , The world is, in truth, moving on towards creeds, classes, and nations which must its destiny. The interdependence of the signalize the emergence of His New World peoples and nations of the earth, whatever Order. the leaders of the divisive forces of the Then will the coming of age of the entire world may say or do, is already an accom- human race be proclaimed and celebrated by plished fact. Its unity in the economic sphere all the peoples and nations of the earth. Then is now understood and recognized. The will the ba1mer of the Most Great Peace be welfare of the part means the welfare of hoi sted Then wi ll the worldwide soverthe whole, and the distress of the part brings eignty of Baha ' u' ll ah- the Estab lisher of disháess to the whole. The Revelation of the Kingdom of the Father foretold by the Baha'u'llah has, in His own words , "lent a Son, and anticipated by the Prophets of God fi'esh impulse and set a new direction" to before Him and after Him- be recognized, this vast process now operating in the world. acclaimed, and firmly established. Then will The fires lit by this great ordeal are the a world civilization be born, flourish, and consequences of men's failure to recognize perpetuate itself, a civilization with a fullnes s it. They are, moreover, hastening its consum- of life such as the world has never seen nor mation . Adversity, prolonged, world-wide, can as yet conceive. Then will the Everlastafflictive, allied to chaos and universal ing Covenant be fu lfilled in its completeness. 48 THE BA l-IA' i WORLD

Then will the promise enshrined in all the moment, and however dark the misery that Books of God be redeemed, and all the enshrouds the world, the ability of prophecies uttered by the Prophets of old Baha ' u' llah to fo rge, with the hanu11er of come to pass, and the v ision of seers and His Will, and tluáough the fire of tTibulation, poets be realized. Then will the planet, upon the anvil of this háavailing age, and galvanized through the universal belief of its in the particular shape His mind has endwellers in one God, and their allegiance to visioned, these scattered and mutually one common Revelation, mirror, within the deshi.1ctive fragments into which a perverse limitations imposed upon it, the effulgent world has fallen, into one single unit, solid glories of the sovereignty of Baha 'u ' llah, and indivisible, able to execute His design shining in the plenitude of its splendor in the for the children of men. Abha Paradise, and be made the footstool of Ours rather the duty, however confused His Tluáone on high, and acclaimed as the the scene, however di smal the present outearthly heaven, capable of fulfilling that look, however circumscribed the resources ineffable destiny fixed for it, from time we dispose of, to labour serenely, confidently, immemorial, by the love and wisdom of its and unremittingly to lend our share of assis- Creator. tance, in whichever way circumstances may Not ours, puny mortals that we are, to enable us, to the operation of the forces which, attempt, at so critical a stage in the long as marshall ed and directed by Baha'u' llah, and checkered hi story of mankind, to arrive are leading humani ty out of the valley of at a precise and satisfactory understanding misery and shame to the loftiest Sutlli11its of of the steps which must successive ly lead a power and glory. bleeding humanity, wretchedly oblivious of its God, and careless ofBaha 'u ' llah, from its ca lvary to its ultimate resurrection. Not ours, Excerpts from Messages to the Bahná; World and the living witnesses of the all-subduing The Promised Day is Come in Call to the Nations, potency of His Faith, to ques tion, for a Chapter V. Tl-IE BAl-IA'i REVELAT ION 49

Th e Resting Place ofShoghi Effendi, in the Great No rth ern Cemete1y, London, England. PART TWO

THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 52 THE BAHA'i WORLD

'A bdu 'l-Baha- th e Master- in New York City; June 1912. I THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA's VISIT TO THE WEST

1. THE VISIT OF 'ABDU'L -B AHA TO THE WEST SH ERNA D EA MER

IN September 1910, 'Abdu ' l-Baha- the and Cairo. On 11 August 1911 He sailed Head of the Baha ' i Faith-left His home in with a party of four to Marseilles, and prothe Holy Land and traveled first to Egypt, ceeded, after brief stays at Thonon-les-Bains and then to the West, visiting England and and Geneva, to London , w here He arrived Scotland, France, Germany, Hungary, Aus- on 4 September. A follower of Baha 'u ' llah tria and Switzerland, and the United States - Sara Louisa, Lady Blomfield, whom of Ameri ca and Canada. His journey lasted 'Abdu ' 1-Baha called Sitarih Khan um-put for three years, and everywhere He went her apartment at 97 Cadogan Gardens at His He proclaimed the Teachings of Baha ' u ' llah disposa l. "He arrived, and who shall picture through word and through deed. Him?" she asks. '"Abdu'l-Baha was at this time broken in A silence as of love and awe overcame health", His grandson, Shoghi Effendi, tells us. us, as we looked at H im; the gracious He suffered from several maladies figure , clothed in a simpl e white garment, brought on by the strains and stresses of a over which was a li ght-co loured Persian tragic life spent almost wholl y in exile ' aba; on His head He wore a lowand impri sonment. He was on the thresh- crowned taj , ro und which was fo lded a old of three-score years and ten. Yet as sma ll , fine-linen turban of purest white ; soon as He was released from His forty-year His hair and short beard were of that long captivity ... He arose with sublime snowy whiteness which had once been courage, confidence and resolution to con- black; His eyes were large, blue-grey with secrate what little strength remained to long, black lashes and well-marked eye- Him, in the evening of His life, to a service brows; His face was a beautiful oval w ith of such heroic proportions that no parallel warm, ivory-coloured skin, a straight, to it is to be found in the anna ls of the finely-modelled nose, and firm, kind first Baha'i century. 1 mouth. These are merely outside details He spent almost a year in Egypt, first in by which an attempt is made to convey Port Said, and then in a residence in Ramleh, an idea of His arresting personality. His a suburb of Alexandria, later visiting Zayrun figure was of such perfect symmetry, and so full of dignity and grace, that the Shoghi Effendi , God Passes By (Wi lm ette : Baha ' i first impression was that of cons iderable Publishing Tru st, 1987), p. 2 79. height. He seemed an incarnation of loving 54 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

understanding, of compassion and power, classes. You are loosed from ancient of wisdom and authority, of strength, and superstitions which have kept men igof a buoyant youthfulness, which some- norant, destroying the foundation of true how defied the burden of His years; and humanity. The gift of God to this enlightsuch years! One saw, as in a clear vision, ened age is the knowledge of the oneness that He had so wrought all good and of mankind and of the fundamental mercy that the inner grace of Him had oneness of religion . War shall cease grown greater than all outer sign, and the between nations, and by the will of God radiance of this inner glory shone in the Most Great Peace shall come; the every glance, and word, and movement as world will be seen as a new world, and all He came with hands outstretched. ' I am men will live as brothers. 2 very much pleased with you all. Your This was a powerful call to the West to love has drawn me to London. I waited recognize the new Light from the East and forty years in prison to bring the Message He expanded His theme when addressing to you. Are you pleased to receive such a the congregation of St. John the Divine, at guest?" Westminster, at the request of the Venerable 'Abdu'l-Bah:i gave the Message of the Archdeacon Wilberforce. He spoke to the Baha'i Faith, in eloquent and unequivocal Theosophical Society at their headquarters, terms, in a number of public talks during His at the express request of their president, and stay in England. The first was from the pulpit also to a meeting at the Higher Thought of the City Temple in Holborn on 10 Septem- Centre in London. ber 1911, at the invitation of the Reveiáend R. From the point of view of His hostess, J. Campbell. "Oh Noble friends; seekers afte r however, "The history of 'Abdu'l-Bah:i 's God!", He began: stay in our house lies in the relating of vari- Praise be to God! Today the li ght of ous incidents, connected with individuals, Truth is shining upon the world in its who stand out from amongst the crowd abundance; the breezes of the heavenly of those persons who eagerly sought His garden are blowing throughout all Presence" . regions; the call of the Kingdom is heard Oh , these pilgrims, these guests, these in all lands, and the breath of the Holy visitors! Remembering those days, our Spirit is felt in all hearts that are faithful... ears are filled with the sound of their The sea of the unity of mankind is lifting footsteps-as they came from every up its waves with joy, for there is real country in the world! Every day, all day communication between the hearts and long, a constant stream. An interminable minds of men . The banner of the Holy procession! Ministers and missionaries, Spirit is uplifted, and men see it, and are Oriental scholars and occult students, assured with the knowledge that this is a practical men of affairs and mystics, new day. This is a new cycle of human Anglican-Catholics and Nonconformists, power. All the horizons of the world are Theosophists and Hindus, Christian Sciluminous, and the world will become entists and doctors of medicine, Muslims, indeed as a garden and a paradise. It is the Buddhists, and Zoroastrians. There also hour of unity of the sons of men and of called: politicians, Salvation Army solthe drawing together of all races and all diers, and other workers for human good, women suffragists, journalists, writers, Blomfield, Lady, The Chosen Highway (Wilmette: Baha'i Publi sh in g Trust, 1967) , pp. 149- 150. For 2 'Abdu '/-Baha in London; Addresses and Notes of editorial consistency, the personal pronouns related to 'Abdu '1-Baha in this and other old texts quoted in the Con versations (London: Baha'i Publishing Trust, article have all been capitalized. 1982), pp. 19-20. THE COMMEMORAT IO N OF HISTORlC ANNIVERSARIES 55 poets and healers, dressmakers and great and women discussing Education, Socialladies, artists and artisans, poor workless ism , the first Reform Bill, and the relation people and prosperous merchants, mem- of submarines and wireless telegraphy to bers of the dramatic and musical world, the new era on which man is entering.3 these all came; and none were too lowly, One day after a meeting when, as usual, nor too great, to receive the sympathetic many people had crowded round Him, consideration of this holy Messenger, who ' Abdu ' 1-Baha arrived home very tired . was ever giving His life for others' good. 1 We were sad at heart that He should be so "He rose very early, chanted prayers, took fatigued, and bewailed the many steps to tea, wrote Tablets, and dictated others," be ascended to the flat. Suddenly, to our Lady Blomfield tells us. "He then received amazement, the Master ran up the stairs those who flocked to see Him, some arriving to the top very quickly without stopping. soon after dawn, patiently waiting on the He looked down at us as we walked doorsteps until the door would be opened for up after Him, saying with a bright smile, their entrance." These visitors were received from which all traces of fatigue had indi vidually, or by twos or threes. "Then, vanished: ' You are all very old! I am very about nine o ' clock, He would come into the young!' Seeing me full of wonder, dining room whilst we were at breakfast to 'Abdu ' l-Baha said: 'Through the power greet us. 'Are you well? Did you sleep well?'" of Bah a 'u ' llah all things can be done. I Certain of those who thronged to see have just used that power.' That was the the Master, having travelled from far only time we had ever seen Him use that countries, were naturally anxious to power for Himself, and I feel that He did spend every possible moment with Him .. . so then to cheer and comfort us, as we Therefore it came about that day after were really sad concerning His fatigue. day, whilst the Master was teaching, the Might it not also have been to show us an luncheon gong would sound, and those example of the great Reserve of Divine who remained would be invited to sit at Force always available for those of us food with Him. We grew to expect that who are working in various ways in the there would be nineteen guests at table, so 'Path of the Love of God and of Mankind.' often did this number recur. These were A celestial strength which reinforces us much-prized times; 'Abdu ' l-Baha would when our human strength fails. 4 continue the interrupted di scourse, or tell Another lesson was given to the friends some anecdote, often humorous, mean- as they walked with 'Abdu ' l-Baha in while frequently serving the guests with His Richmond Park "as the evening light was own hands, offering sweets, or choosing wan ing. Rows of shining lamps beneath the various fruits to distribute to the friends. 2 trees, stretching as far as our eyes could see At the invitation of the Lord Mayor of into the distance, made that part of London London, 'Abdu'l-Baha breakfasted with him into a glowing fairyland ." at the Mansion House. On another occasion, ' I am very much pleased with this He sat in the bow window in the after- scene. Light is good, most good. There noon sunshine, His arm round a very was much darkness in the prison at ragged but very happy little boy who had 'Akka,' said the Master. come to ask for sixpence for his money Our hearts were sad as we thought on box and for hi s invalid mother, whilst those sombre years within that dismal forround Him in the room were gathered men tress ... When we said 'We are glad ... that

1 3 Th e Chosen Highway, pp. 150- 15 1. God Passes By, p. 285. 2 4 ibid . p. 161. Th e Chosen Highway, p. 169. 56 THE BAHA'I WORLD

'A bdu 'l-Baha in Passmore Edwards Settlement Hall, London, England; 29 September 1911.

you are free ', He said: 'Freedom is not a presence and bearing is occasionally lighted matter of place, but of condition. I was by a delicate and tactful humour, which is as happy in that prison, for those days were unaffected as it is infectious and delightful." passed in the path of service. To me She continued: prison was freedom. Troubles are a rest On His last afternoon in London , a to me. Death is life. To be despised is reporter called to ask Him of His future honour. Therefore was I full of happiness plans ... When, in answer to this query, all through that prison time. When one is 'Abdu ' l-Baha told in perfect English of released from the pri son of self, that is His intention to visit Paris and go from indeed freedom! For self is the greatest there to Alexandria, the press representaprison. When this release takes place, one tive evinced surprise at His faultless can never be imprisoned. Unless one pronunciation. Thereupon 'Abdu'l-Baha accepts dire vicissitudes, not with dull proceeded to march with a free stride up resignation, but with radiant acquies- and down the flower-scented drawing cence, one cannot attain this freedom. ' 1 room, His Oriental garb contrasting Lady Blomfield recorded a number of strangely with His modern surroundings; stories such as these, but, she wrote, "There and, to the amusement of the assembly, is a note in 'Abdu'l-Baha's character that uttered a string of elaborate English words, has not been emphasized, and without [including 'hippopotamus', H.M. Balyuzi which no idea of Him is complete. The tells us on p.155 of his book about' Abdu'limpressive dignity which distinguishes His Baha2] laughingly ending, 'Very difficult English words I speak! ' The Chosen Highway, p. 166. THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTOR IC ANNIVERSARIES 57 On 3 October 'Abdu'l-Baha was sched- The visit of one man made a profound uled to leave for Paris. The secretaries and impression upon us: 'O 'Abdu ' l-Baha, I friends were ready to start for the train, but have come from the French Congo, where 'Abdu ' l-Baha sat cal mly writing. W hen I have been engaged in mitigating the rem inded that it was time to leave, He looked hardships of some of the natives. For sixup, saying: "There are things of more impor- teen years I have worked in that country.' tance than trains," and He continued to write. 'It was a great comfort to me in the dark- Suddenly in breathless haste a man ness of my prison to know the work which came in, carrying in his hand a beautiful you were doing. '2 garland of fragrant white flowers. Bow- Horace Holley, who was an eyewitness, ing low before the Master, he said : 'In the was quoted as saying that "As London name of the disciples of Zoroaster, The emphas ized the social and spiritual as pects Pure One, I hail Thee as the "Promised of Bahaism, so Paris reveal ed its intellectual Shah Bahram"! ' Then the man, for a sign, content and unparalleled power of defigarlanded 'Abdu' l-Baha, and proceeded nition ."3 One reality 'Abd u' l-Baha clearly to anoint each and all of the amazed defined is that man- the true man- is soul , friends who were present with precious oil , not body. For example, on 17 November which had the odo ur of fresh roses . This 'Abdu ' l-Baha told the frie nds: brief but impressive ceremony concluded, T here are in the world of humanity 'Abdu ' I-Baba, having carefully divested three degrees; those of the body, the soul , Himself of the garland, departed for the and spirit. The body is the physical or train . We had witnessed a so lemn act in the animal degree of man. From the bodily Mysterious Sacred Drama of the World. point of view man is a sharer of the 'Abdu' l-Baha's sojourn in London was animal kingdom .... unlike the animal, man ended. We stood bereft of His presence. 1 has a rationa l soul , the human intelli- In Paris, an apartment was fo und for gence. This intelligence of man is the 'Abdu ' l-Baha by H ippolyte and Laura intermediary between hi s body and his Dreyfus-Barney at 4 avenue de Camoens, sp irit. . .. Illumined by the spirit through adjacent to the Trocadero Gardens where the the instrumentality of the soul, man ' s radi- Master often took so litary, restful walks. As ant intelligence makes him the crowningin London , every morning, point of Creation. But on the other hand, the Master expounded the principles of when man does not open his mind and the Teaching ofBaha' u' llah to those who heart to the blessing of the spirit, but gathered round Him , the learned and the turns his sou l towards the material side, unlearned, eager and respectfu l. They towards the bodily part of hi s natu re, then were of all nationalities and creeds, fro m he is fa llen from his high place and he the East and from the West, in cluding becomes infer ior to the inhabitants of the Theosophists, agnostics, materialists, spiritu- lower animal kingdom .4 alists, Christian Scientists, social reformers, As events brought closer the outbreak Hindus, Sufis, Muslims, Buddhists, Zoro- of the first World War, 'Abdu' l-Baha also astrians, and many others. Often came described the causes of war in no uncertain workers in various humanitarian societies, terms. For example, on 21 October, 'Abdu'lwho were strivi ng to reduce the miseries of Baha told the friends that "The news of the the poor. These received special sympathy Battle of Benghazi grieves my heart. I wonder and blessing ... Th e Chosen Highway, p. 18 1. 2 3 Ba lyuz i, H.M. , 'Abdu "/-Baha (Oxford: Geo rge 'Abdu"/-Baha, p. 159. Ronald, 1987), p. 155. 4 ' Abdu ' l- Baha, Paris Talks (London: Baha 'i Publ ish- The Chosen Highway, pp. 173- 174. ing Trust, 1972), pp. 96-97. 58 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

at the human savagery that stil l exists in the politics are feeble.' Speaking of religion world! " He continued: and science, the two great wings with How is it possible for men to fight from which the bird of humankind is able to morning until evening, killing each other, soar, He said: 'Scientific discoveries have shedding the blood of their fel lowmen: increased material civilization. There is And for what object? To ga in possession in existence a stupendous force, as yet, of a part of the earth!. . . However great happily, undiscovered by man. Let us the conqueror, however many countries supp licate God, the Beloved, that this he may reduce to slavery, he is unable to force be not discovered by science until retain any part of these devastated lands spiritual civilization shall dominate the but one tiny portion-his tomb! .. . But human mind. In the hands of men of war is made for the satisfaction of men's lower material nature, this power would ambition; for the sake of worldly gain be able to destroy the whole earth. ' 2 to the few, terrible misery is brought to This is a very prescient and profound numberless homes, breaking the hearts of statement considering Japan's later experihundreds of men and women! How many ence in the second World War. widows mourn their husbands, how many But 'Abdu'l-Baha did not dwell on the stories of savage cruelty do we hear! ills of the world around Him. Rather, He How many little orphaned children are focussed His audiences on the prescription crying for their dead fathers , how many for remedying those ills. "A ll true healing women are weeping for their slain sons! comes from God!" He told His aud ience on There is nothing so heart-breaking and 19 October. "There are two causes for sickterrible as an outburst of human ness, one is material, the other spiritua l. If savagery! 1 the sickness is of the body, a material The Japanese Ambassador to Madrid, remedy is needed, if of the soul, a spiritual Viscount Arawaka, and hi s wife were in remedy." 3 Baha'u ' ll ah had come to bring Paris at the same time as 'Abdu ' 1-Baha and the spiritual remedy that humanity needs for were told of His presence. They were this Day. anxious to meet Him , but the wife of the During His last public talk in England, to Ambassador had a severe cold and could not the Theosophical Society, on 30 September, go out. Upon hearing this, 'Abdu'l-Baha He had for the first time made a systematic offered to call upon them . Accordingly, they presentation of some of the basic principles met in the Tapestry Room of the Hotel of the Faith of His Father; in Paris He pred 'Jena. sented them again and again . Shoghi Effendi 'Abdu ' l-Baha talked with the Ambas- summarized these as follows : sador and his wife of conditions in Japan, The independent search after truth, of the great international importance of unfettered by superstition or tradition ; the that country, of the vast service to oneness of the entire human race, the pivmankind, of the work for the abolition of otal principle and fundamental doctrine of war, of the need for improving conditions the Faith; the basic unity of all religions; of li fe for the worker, of the necess ity of the condemnation of all forms of prejueducating girls and boys equally. ' The dice, whether religious, racial, class or religious ideal is the soul of all plans national; the harmony which must exist for the good of mankind. Religion must between religion and science; the equality never be used as a tool by party politi- of men and women, the two wings on cians. God ' s politics are mighty, man's 2 Th e Chosen Highway, pp. 183- 184. 3 Paris Talks, p. 19. I ibid. pp. 28- 29. THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 59

which the bird of human kind is able to of night is past, the Sun has risen.' 'But, soar; the introduction of compulsory Master, how shall it be with the blinded education; the adoption of a universal eyes that cannot see the Sun's splendour? auxiliary language; the abolition of the And what of the deaf ears that cannot extremes of wealth and poverty; the hear those who praise its beauty?' 'I will institution of a world tribunal for the pray that the blind eyes may be opened, adjud ication of disputes between nations; that the deaf ears may be unstopped, the exaltation of work, performed in the and that the hearts may have grace to spirit of service, to the rank of worship; understand.' As 'Abdu ' l-Baha spoke, the the glorification of justice as the ruling troubled mien of the artist gave place to principle in human society, and of reli- a look of relief, satisfied understanding, gion as a bulwark for the protection of all joyous emotion. 3 peoples and nations ; and the establish- "It was of great interest'', Lady Blomfield ment of a permanent and universa l peace wrote, "to notice the effect the presence of as the supreme goal of all mankind .. . I 'Abdu'l-Baha had upon some children. One "The words of 'Abdu'l-Baha can be put little girl whispered, 'Look, that is Jesus on to paper," Lady Blomfield wrote, "but when He was old.' Perhaps their unstained how to describe the smile, the earnest plead- nature sensed the breath of holiness which ing, the loving-kindness, the radiant vitality, was always with Him, and caused these little and at times the awe-inspiring authority of ones to liken Him to the most Holy One of His spoken words? The vibrations of His Whom they were conscious." 4 voice seemed to enfold the listeners in an This effect was dramatically displayed atmosphere of the Spirit, and to penetrate two days before the close of' Abdu'l-Baha's to the very core of being. We were experi- vis it in Paris, when a woman came hurencing the transforming radiance of the Sun riedly into the gathering at the avenue de of Truth; henceforth, material aims and Camoens: unworthy ambitions shrank away into their Oh, how glad I am to be in time! I must trivial, obscure retreats." 2 tell you the amazing reason of my hurried In fornrnl talks in Paris, 'Abdu'l-Baha journey from America. One day, my little continued to use the " unparalleled power of girl astonished me by saying: 'Mummy, if definition" of the Baha' i Faith to explain the dear Lord Jesus was in the world now, human mind, body, sp irit, and soul, the Holy what would you do?' ... ' I wou ld feel like Spirit, God, and the relationship between all getting on to the first train and going to of these. With individuals He went from the Him as fast as I could.' 'Well , Mummy, general to the specific, such as the evening He is in the world .' ... 'What do you an artist was presented to Him in the home mean, my precious? How do yo u know?' of Monsieur and Madame Dreyfus-Barney: I said. ' He told me Himself, so of course ' Thou art very welcome. I am happy He is in the world.' Full of wonder, I to see thee. All true art is a gift of the thought: Is this a sacred message which is Holy Spirit. ' 'What is the Holy Spirit?' ' It being given to me out of the mouth of my is the Sun of Truth, 0 Artist.' 'Where, babe? And I prayed that it might be made where, is the Sun of Truth?' 'The Sun of clear to me. The next day she said, insis- Truth is everywhere, It is shining on the tently and as though she could not whole world.' ' What of the dark night, understand: 'Mummy, darlin ', why isn 't when the Sun is not shining?' 'The darkness you gone to see Lord Jesus? He's told me

God Passes By, pp. 28 1-28 2. 3 ibid. p. 182. 2 4 Th e Chosen Highway, p. 181. ibid. p. 186. 60 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

'Abdu 'l-Baha with Baha 'i friends in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois, on3Ma y /912. two times that He is really here, in the In the course of His several visits to world.' ' Tiny love, Mummy doesn ' t Egypt He had more than one interview know where He is , how could she find with the Khedive, ' Abbas I:Iilmi Pasha II, Him ?' ... I was naturally perturbed. The was introduced to Lord Kitchener, met same afternoon, being out for a walk with the Mufti, Shaykh Mu~ammad Bakhit, as my child, she suddenly stood still and well as the Khedive's Imam, Shaykh cried out, 'There He is! There He is!' She Mu~ammad Rashid, and associated with was trembling with excitement and several 'ulamas, pashas, Persian notables, pointing at the windows of a magazine members of the Turkish Parliament, store where there was a picture of editors of leading newspapers in Cairo 'Abdu'l-Baha. I bought the paper, found and Alexandria, and other leaders and this address, caught a boat that same representatives of well-known institutions, night, and here I am. 1 both religious and secular. 3 "The reader will understand that it is 'Abdu'l-Baha embarked on His second impossible to find fitting words for the journey to the West on the steamship Cedric, thoughts and feelings which were with us setting out on 25 March 1912 and sailing via in those Paris days", Lady Blomfield Naples direct to New York. He arrived in concludes. 2 America on 11 April. From France, ' Abdu ' l-Baha returned to He comes on a mission of international Egypt in December 1911 where He again peace, to attend and address the Peace took up His residence in Ramleh. Conference at Lake Mohonk the latter part of thi s month , and to address various I ibid . pp. 185- 186. 2 3 Cod Passes By, p. 283. ibid. p. 187. THE COMMEMORATIO N OF HI STORIC A NNIV E RSA R IES 61

peace meetings , educational societies, attain to perfection except thro ugh the religious organizations, etc.' , wrote uplift of spiritual civ ili zation .2 Wendell Phillips Dodge, a reporter for the ' Abdu 'l-Baha proclaimed the message of New York City News Association, who universal peace from the Atlantic to the boarded the Cedric at quarantine and Pacific coast of North Ameri ca and back interviewed 'Abdu ' l-Baha coming up the aga in. For eight months He traveled, often bay. The story was given to all of the having as His hostess Grace Robarts, a New York newspapers and, through the teacher of domestic science in a college in Associated Press, was sent to newspapers Canada. He would ask her to go ahead and throughout the world. 1 secure an apartment for Him and prepare it Indeed, 'Abdu ' 1-Baha spoke of world for His arrival. Then she wo uld serve as peace during His first public add ress in housekeeper and hostess. "S he kept the America, given on ly three days after His home imm aculate," we are told, "and always arrival to the congregation of the Church of ready for the constant stream of guests from the Ascension in New York City. morning to ni ght, Baba' is and enquirers and Today . the world of humanity is in soul s in difficulty to whom 'Abdu' l-Baha need of internation al unity and concilia- was always the loving Father." 3 tion. To estab lish these great fund amental Volumes have and wi ll continue to be principles a propelling power is needed . It written about the activities of ' Abdu ' 1-Baha is self-evident that the unity of the human in America, but in God Passes By Shoghi world and the Most Great Peace cannot Effendi selects seven which he states fully be accompli shed through material means. demonstrate the importance of that visit: They cannot be establi shed through The layin g with Hi s own hands, of political power, for the political interests the dedication stone of the Mashriqu '1- of nations are various and the policies of Adhkar, by the shore of Lake Michigan peoples are divergent and conflicting. . .. the dynamic affirmation by H im of the They cannot be fo unded thro ugh racial implications of the Covenant instituted by or patriotic power, for these are human Ba ha ' u ' ll ah, fo ll owi ng the reading of the powers, selfish and weak. The very nature of new ly translated Tablet of the Branch, in racial differences and patriotic prejudices a general assemb ly of His fo llowers in prevents the realization of this unity and New York ... the moving ceremony in agreement. Therefore, it is evidenced that Inglewood, Cali forn ia, marking His spethe promotion of the oneness of the king- cial pilgrimage to the grave of Thornton dom of humanity, which is the essence of Chase, the ' first American believer,' and the teachings of all the Manifestations of indeed the first to emb race the Cause of God, is impossible except through the Baha'u'llah in the Western world; the divine power and breaths of the Holy symbolic Feast He Himself offered to a Spirit. Other powers are too weak and are large gathering of His disciples assemincapable of accomplishing this. bled in the open air .. . at West Englewood, For man two w ings are necessary. One in New Jersey; the blessing He bestowed wing is physical power and material on the Open Forum at Green Acre, in civ ili zation; the other is spiritual power Maine .. . which was to evolve into one of and divine civil ization . With one wing the first Bah a ' [ summer schools of the on ly, flight is impossible. Two wings are Western Hemisphere ... His address to an essential. Therefore, no matter how much material civilizati on advances, it cann ot ' Abdu ' l-Baha, Th e Pro111u/gatio11 of Un iversal Peace (Wilmette: Baha' i Pub li shing Trust, 1982), pp. 11 - 12. T/i e Bafia á; World, vo l. VII I (Wilm ette: Baha ' i Pub- Star of tlie West, vo l. 111 , no. 3, p. I (28 April 19 12). li shin g Committee, 1942), p. 658. 62 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

'Abdu 'l-Baha in Brooklyn, New York, in June I 9 I 2 with His secretary, Mirza Ma~mud-i Zarqani, His translators A~mad Sohrab and Amin 'ullah Farid, and His companions 'Ali-Akbar Nal5J!javani, Valiyu 'llah Varqa and Siyyid Asadu 'llah Qumi.

audience of several hundred attending the as a loving contribution ... It was truly a last session of the newly-founded Baha'i symbolic seed sowing for countless of thou- Temple Unity held in Chicago; and, last sands of similar loving contributions ... 2 but not least, the exemplary act He per- The second act highlighted by Shoghi formed by uniting in wedlock two of His Effendi- the affirmation by 'Abdu'l-Baha of followers of different nationalities, one of the implications of the Covenant instituted the white, the other of the Negro race. 1 by Baha' u'llah-took place in New York 'Abdu'l-Baha laid the cornerstone of the City. The Tablet of the Branch revealed by first Baha'i House of Worship of the West Baha'u'llah in Adrianople, had recently been on 1May1912, in Wilmette, lllinois. translated, and read, in part: For the doing of the first work a golden There hath branched from the Sadratu 'ltrowel was presented ... 'Abdu'l-Baha next Muntaha this sacred and glorious Being, called for the implements necessitated by this Branch of Holiness; well is it with him the gravelly nature of the soil, and in that hath sought His shelter and abideth response there was brought to Him first an beneath His shadow. Verily the Limb of axe and then a shovel. With these tools of the Law of God hath sprung forth from this the everyday life of the workers of the Root which God hath firmly implanted in world 'Abdu'l-Baha and friends from every the Ground ofHis Will, and Whose Branch race present, excavated a resting place for hath been so uplifted as to encompass the a stone which had been brought to the spot whole of creation... Render thanks unto

1 2 God Passes By, p. 288. Star of the West, vol. III , no. 4, p. 6 ( 17 May 1912). THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 63

'Abdu 'l-Baha in Oakland, California, at a meeting with the friends at the home of Helen S. Goodall, 12 October 1912.

God, 0 people, for His appearance; for the Blessed Beauty among its distinctions verily He is the most great Favor unto you, is that He did not leave people in perthe most peifect bounty upon you; and plexity. He entered into a Covenant and through Him every mouldering bone is Testament with the people. He appointed a quickened. Whoso turneth towards Him CENTER OF THE COVENANT. He wrote with hath turned towards God, and whoso tur- His own pen and revealed it in the Kitabneth away from Him hath turned away from i-Aqdas, the Book of Laws, and Kitab-i- My Beauty, hath repudiated My Proof, and 'Ahd, the Book of the Covenant, appointtransgressed against Me. He is the Trust of ing Him ('Abdu ' l-Baha) the Ex- pounder God amongst you, His charge within you, of the Book . .. This is an explicit text of His manifestation unto you and His appear- the Blessed Beauty. So there is no excuse ance among His favored servants ... 1 left for anybody. 2 When this Tablet was read to the assem- 'Abdu'l-Baha had already traveled to the blage on 19 June, 'Abdu ' l-Baha declared His West when He heard that Thornton Chase own station: the Center of the Covenant. had passed away on 30 September. He jour- In fom1er cycles no distinct Covenant neyed from San Francisco to Los Angeles was made in writing by the Supreme Pen; especially to visit the grave of the "first no distinct personage was appointed to American believer'', and on 19 October He, be the Standard differentiating falsehood with about twenty-five of the friends, took from truth ... But in this Dispensation of the streetcar to the cemetery in Inglewood

1 2 Shoghi Effendi , Th e World Orde1' of Ba ha 'u 'I/ah Star of the West , vol. 111 , no. 14, p. 9 (23 November (Wilmette: Baha ' i Publi shing Trust, 1982), p. 135. 1912). 64 THE BAHA 'i WORLD

where He scattered flowers over Chase's How many blessed souls have longed for resting place. this radiant century, their utmost hopes Then, still facing the grave, He turned and desires centered upon 'the happiness in the direction of ' Akkci and chanted the and joy of one such day as this ... ' 3 Tablet of Visitation- the Tablet which On 16 August 1912 'Abdu'l-Baha traveled is read in the Shrines of the Bab and to Green Acre, an estate of nearly two hun- Baha'u'llah. Following that, He chanted a dred acres on the banks of the Piscataqua prayer for Thornton Chase and spoke of River in Eliot, Maine. It was owned by the services which that dedicated man Sarah Farmer, who had opened it in 1894 as had rendered to the Faith .... At the con- a conference center for people of advanced clusion of His visit, 'Abdu ' l-Baha knelt and liberal views. Two years later she had on the ground and kissed the grave of embraced the Baha'i Faith, and while on Thornton Chase. 1 pilgrimage to ' Akka she had offered the facil- He asked the friends to visit the site every ities to 'Abdu ' l-Baha, thus making Green year on His behalf. Acre one of the earliest Baha'i endowments 'Abdu'l-Baha gave a unity feast in West in America. Englewood, New Jersey, on Saturday 29 June 'Abdu'l-Baha spent one week at Green for the Baha'is of New York City and the Acre. Some of His efforts, I:Iasan Balylizi vicinity. About three hundred attended. wrote, There in the fragrant pine grove, on a ... were inevitably directed towards counbrightJune day, 'Abdu'l-Baha, Himself the tering the effects of the eccentric ideas host, smiling joyously and radiating the being disseminated by various pseudospirit of good wi ll, welcomed the happy mystics and cranks who were attracted to friends .... He talked to them from the the free platform provided there. On one center of a large circle around which the occasion He was seen distributing sweets tab les were arranged. He said [in paii]: 2 to a group of people, telling them that ' This is a delightful gathering; you have they ought to eat and enjoy their food ... come here with sincere intentions, and the Spirituality, He said, had nothing to do purpose of all present is the attainment with abstaining from food, with the of the virtues of God. The motive is mortification of the flesh. On another attraction to the divine Kingdom. Since occasion He spoke about the rigorous the desire of all is unity and agreement, disciplines of the ascetics, and the harm it is certain that this meeting will be pro- ensuing from them. He cited superstitions ductive of great results ... Such gatherings to be found in India. He also had to face as this have no equal or likeness in the fortune-tellers and palmists whom He world of mankind, where people are treated with great ki ndliness. 4 drawn together by physical motives or in On 20 August Fred Mortensen arrived at furtherance of material interests, for this Green Acre to see 'Abdu'l-Baha. "In my meeting is a prototype of that inner and youth'', he wrote later, "my environment complete spiritual association in the eter- was not of the best and being around boys of nal world of being. True Baha'i meetings hard character I guess I determined to be as are the mirrors of the Kingdom wherein tough as any, which I very easily did ... " He images of the Supreme Concourse are had gotten into trouble with the law, and reflected . In them the lights of the most Albert Hall, a Baha'i, had helped to get him great guidance are visible ... Rejoice ... out of prison and had told him about the

1 3 Promulgatio11, pp. 213-214. 'Abdu á1-Baha, pp . 309-310. 2 4 Star of the West, vo l. Ill , no. 8, p. 16 (I August 19 12). 'Abdu '/-Baha , pp. 240-241. THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIV ERSARIES 65

Baha'i Faith. Mr. Mortensen, in Minneapolis, this temple was founded for the unification Minnesota, wanted to meet 'Abdu'l-Baha. of mankind, the law preceding and creat- When he heard a rumor that He might not ing it came forth in the manifest Word .. .. travel to the West he determined to go to see That is why Baha' u'llah has conunanded Him. "As my finances were low I of neces- that a place of worship be built. .. 2 sity [lay on the rods between the wheels of " ... and, last but not least," Shoghi Effendi trains] to Green Acre." There, ' Abdu'l-Baha wrote of'Abdu ' l-Baha's activities in America, greeted him warmly and asked if he had had was "the exemplary act He performed by a pleasant journey. uniting in wedlock two of His followers of I explained to Him how I rode on the different nationalities, one of the white, the trains, after which He kissed both my other of the Negro race ... " The two Baha'is cheeks, gave me much fruit, and kissed were Louisa Mathew and Louis Gregory, the dirty hat I wore, which had become and their union apparently came about in the soiled on my trip to see Him. 1 following way. Shoghi Effendi included ' Abdu ' l-Baha's Miss Mathew and Mr. Gregory had met address to an audience attending the public each other as Baha'i pilgrims visiting session of the Baha' i Temple Unity as having 'Abdu ' l-Baha in Ramleh, and in the Holy special significance. This took place on Land, " . .. and although greatly attracted to 30 April in the Masonic Temple in Chicago. each other not even dimly realized its future The Baha' i Temple Unity was a national bearing." In America, ' Abdu '1-Baha gave organization created in March 1909 at a Miss Mathew a white rose to give to convention called under 'Abdu'l-Baha' s direc- Mr. Gregory, and in other ways conveyed tion to carry out the construction of the first that He wished her to marry Mr. Gregory. Baha'i House of Worship in the West. It was Curiously enough after this love began incorporated in the State of Illinois and to grow in my heart & the desire for invested with full authority to hold title to the marriage whereas before I only liked the Temple property and to provide ways and Mr. Gregory as a friend . Later ' Abdu'lmeans for its construction. The fourth annual Baha said before Dr. Getsinger, Fareed & convention of Baha'i Temple Unity was being others in the train to Chicago to me, 'How held while ' Abdu ' l-Baha was in Chicago. are you & Mr. Gregory getting along?' Among the institutes of the Holy Books Startled I answered, ' What do you mean, is that of the foundation of places of wor- we are good friends? ' To which He replied ship. That is to say, an edifice or temple is emphatically & with His face wreathed to be built in order that humanity might in mischievous smiles, ' You must be very find a place of meeting, and this is to be good friends .. . Later. .. He told Louis it conducive to unity and fellowship among would give Him much pleasure if he & I them. The real temple is the very Word of would marry, which came as an utter God; for to it all humanity must tum, and surprise to Louis who had no thoughts of it is the center of unity for all mankind ... marriage. 'Abdu'l-Baha said, 'What is the Temples are the symbols of the divine matter? Don ' t you love her?' 'Yes as a uniting force so that when the people friend ' Louis said. 'Well think of it' said gather there in the House of God they may 'Abdu'l-Baha, ' &let me know; ... marriage recall the fact that the law has been is not an ordinance & need not be obeyed, . .rev...ealed _for J:b.em _and J:hat-1.h.e Jaw .J.s J:o .but _i.t w..o.uld .gi v_e ..me Jllll.Cb ple.asur.e if unite them. They will realize that just as you & Miss Mathew were to marry.'

Star of the West, vol. XIV , no. 12 , p. 367 (March 1924). 2 Promulgation , p. 65. 66 THE BAHA'i WORLD

'Abdu 'l-Baha at a banquet held in His honor at the Great Northern Hotel in New York on 23 November 1912.

The wedding took place at noon on no less than eight months, would be beyond 27 September 1912 in the parsonage of the scope of this survey. Suffice it to say that an Episcopal church in New York City. in the city of New York alone He delivered 'Abdu'l-Baha was on a train headed public addresses in, and made formal visits westward from Denver at the time, but to, no less than fifty-five different places .... His encouragement 'contributed to the Secretaries of State, Ambassadors, Baha' i atmosphere of the wedding' . 1 Congressmen, distinguished rabbis and ' Abdu ' l-Baha 's activities with the Ameri- churchmen, and other people of eminence can Bah a' is were designed to " .. .pave the attained His presence, among whom were way for the erection of their central House of such figures as Dr. D.S. Jordan, President Worship, to fortify them against the tests they of Leland Stanford University, Prof. Jackwere soon to endure, to cement their unity, son of Columbia University, Prof. Jack of and to bless the beginnings of that Adminis- Oxford University, Rabbi Stephen Wise trative Order which they were soon to initiate of New York ... Alexander Graham Bell, and champion'', wrote Shoghi Effendi . Rabindra Nath Tagore, Hon. Franklin K. No less remarkable were 'Abdu'l-Baha's Lane, Mrs. William Jennings Bryan, public activities in the course of His associa- Andrew Carnegie, Hon . Franklin Maction with the multitude of people with whom Veagh, Secretary of the United States He came in contact during His tour across a Treasury, Lee McClung, Mr. Roosevelt, continent. A full account of these diversified Admiral Wain Wright, Admiral Peary, activities which crowded His days during the British, Dutch and Swiss Ministers in Washington .. . 2 Morrison. Gay le. To Move the World (Wilmette: Baha ' i Publi shing Trust, 198 2), pp. 66-68. God Passes By , pp. 288-290. THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 67 ... pictures from the tragic past ... must There is no other reality of meaning to the have many a time overpowered Him with different religions . Their purpose is one, feelings of mingled gratitude and sorrow, the teaching is one. 2 as He witnessed the many marks of 'Abdu'l-Baha moved on to London on respect, of esteem, and honor now shown 16 December. Lady Blornfield again put Hirn and the Faith which He represented. her residence in Cadogan Gardens at the "O Baha 'u 'llah! What hast Thou done?" disposal of the Master, and it seemed that He, as reported by the chronicler of His His first visit to the British capital was being travels, was heard to exclaim one evening reenacted . There was, as before, a stream of as He was being swiftly driven to fulfil visitors from every walk of life at all hours His third engagement of the day in Wash- of the day and into the night. ington, "O Baha 'u '!!ah! May my life be One day a woman asked to be permitted sacrificed for Thee! 0 Baha 'u '!!ah! May to see the Master. 'Have you an appointmy soul be offered up for Thy sake! Ho w ment? ' ' Alas! No.' ' I am sorry,' answered full were Thy days with trials and tribula- the over-zealous friend who met her in tions! How severe the ordeals Thou didst the hall, 'but He is occupied now with endure! How solid the foundation Thou most important people, and cannot be dishast finally laid, and how glorious the turbed.' The woman turned away, feeling banner Thou didst hoist! " 1 too humble to persist in her appeal, but, ' Abdu ' l-Baha bade farewell to the Ameri- oh! so bitterly disappointed. Before she can Baha'is and sailed for Europe on board had reached the foot of the stairway, she the S.S. Celtic on 5 December, arriving at was overtaken by a breathless messenger Liverpool on 13 December 1912. He stayed from 'Abdu'l-Baha. 'He wishes to see you, in that port city for two days, speaking to the come back! He has told me to bring you Theosophical Society on 14 December, and to Him.' We had heard His voice from the at Pembroke Chapel, a Baptist Church, on door of His audience room speaking with 15 December. "When I was in America, I authority: ' A heart has been hurt. Hasten, had many opportunities of addressing the hasten, bring her to me!' Theosophical Society there'', He began His Another day, whilst several personages first talk. were talking with 'Abdu'l-Baha, a man 's The Theosophists are very dear to me, voice was heard at the hall door. ' Is the for they have abandoned all prejudice .... lady of this house within?' ... After a while All the religions of the world are the poor fellow began his pitiful story: 'I submerged in prejudice. A Jew is a Jew was not always as you see me now, a disbecause his father was before him. A reputable, hopeless object. My father is a Christian is such for the same reason, and country rector, and I had the advantage of it is the same with a Musselman. All being at a public school. Of the various follow the precepts of their fathers, refus- causes which led to my arrival at the ing to go forth and seek for themselves ... Thames embankment as my only home, I All the different religions of God that _need not speak to you. Last evening I had have risen on the face of the earth have decided to put an end to my futile, hateful one purpose: to educate man and to life, useless to God and man! Whilst takinform him of the spiritual, the luminous, ing what I had intended should be my last the divine, so that he may partake of walk, I saw "a Face" in the window of a heavenly spirit and find eternal life, show newspaper shop. I stood looking at the forth the virtues of mankind, and from a face as if rooted to the spot. He seemed to world of darkness enter a world of light. 2 Star of the West, vo l. Ill , no. 17, p. 3 (19 January I ibid . p. 293 . 19 13). 68 THE BAHA'I WORLD

speak to me, and call me to Him! 'Let me in the fields. I can earn what I need for my see that paper, please,' I asked. It was the simple wants. When I have saved enough face of 'Abdu'l-Baha. I read that He is I shall take a little bit of land, build a tiny here, in this house. I said to myself, 'If hut upon it in which to live, then I shall there is in existence on earth that person- grow violets for the market. As He says age, I shall take up again the burden of my 'Poverty is unimportant, work is worship .' life. I set off on my quest. I have come I need not say "thank you," need I? Farehere to find Him. Tell me, is He here? well. ' The man had gone. 1 Will He see me? Even me?' Of course He During ' Abdu'l-Baha's first visit to will see you. Come to Him. In answer to Britain the only city He had stayed in the knock, 'Abdu ' l-Baha Himself opened beside London was Bristol. During the the door, extending His hands, as though nearly six weeks of His second visit He to a dear friend , whom He was expecting. not only revisited Bristol, but also trav- ' Welcome! Most welcome! I am very much eled to Edinburgh and Oxford. Every pleased that thou hast come. Be seated.' place He went He was welcomed by dis- The pathetic man trembled and sank tinguished leaders of thought. However, on to a low chair by the Master's feet, as when it was suggested that a meeting though unable to utter a word . The other might be arranged between King George V guests, meanwhile, looked on wonderingly and 'Abdu ' l-Baha, 'Abdu ' l-Baha advised to see the attention transferred to the against it. He had come to the West to strange-looking new arrival, who seemed meet the poor, He said, not monarchs and to be so overburdened with hopeless noblemen. He would meet any seeker misery. 'Be happy! Be happy! ' said with affection, but had no particular wish 'Abdu ' l-Baha, holding one of the poor to meet the rulers. Moreover, He noted, hands, stroking tenderly the dishevelled, such moves could be misunderstood and bowed head. Smiling that wonderful misconstrued, and might create alarm. 2 smile of loving compassion, the Master On 22 December 'Abdu ' l-Baha attended continued: 'Do not be filled with grief a performance of Eager Heart, a play prewhen humiliation overtaketh thee. The sented at Church House, Westminster. bounty and power of God is without limit This was a memorable occasion, as it for each and every soul in the world. Seek was the first time He had ever witnessed a for spiritual joy and knowledge, then , dramatic performance. The Master wept though thou walk upon this earth, thou during the scene in which the Holy Child wilt be dwelling within the divine realm . and His parents, overcome with fatigue, Though thou be poor, thou mayest be rich and suffering from hunger, were met by in the Kingdom of God. ' These and other the hesitation of Eager Heart to admit words of comfort, of strength, and of them to the haven of rest which she had healing were spoken to the man, whose prepared, she, of course, failing to recogcloud of misery seemed to melt away in nize the sacred visitors. The Master the warmth of the Master' s loving pres- afterwards joined the group of players. It ence. As the strange visitor rose to leave was an arresting scene. In the Eastern set- Him Whom he had sought and found, a ting the Messenger, in His Eastern robes, new look was upon his face , a new erect- speaking to them in beautiful Eastern words ness in his carriage, a firm purpose in his of the Divine significance of the events steps. 'Please write down for me His which had been portrayed.3 words. I have attained all I expected, and even more.' 'And now what are you 1 Th e Chosen Highway , pp. 159-161. going to do?' I asked. 'I'm going to work 2 'Abdu "/-Balui, p. 370. THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 69 On Christmas night, 'Abdu'l-Baha When He reached Cadogan Gardens that visited the poor of the Salvation Army night, it was apparent that the condition of Shelter, Westminster, where each year a the unfortunate had distressed Him. Christmas dinner is provided for those As always, He did not dwell on the probwho have no homes and no friends, and lem. True help for the poor in this Day could but for the shelter would have no lodg- only be found in His Father's Teachings, and ings. There were about 1,000 present on the most useful immediate action that one this occasion. It was a most impressive could take would be to spread the Message. scene-the dinner for the homeless and During a discussion of Spiritual Assemblies the Master from the East delivering held on 16 January He said: Christ's message to the poor. As a true All the deliberations, all consultation, test of attention, many of the hungry men all the talks and addresses must revolve forgot to eat and listened intently ... around one focal center and that is: 'I feel tonight great joy and happiness TEACH THE CAUSE! TEACH! TEACH! to be in this place, because my meetings Convey the Message! Awaken the souls! and callings have ever been mostly with Now is the time of laying the foundation . the poor, and I call myself one of them . Now must we gather brick, stone, wood, My lot has ever been with those who have iron, and other building materials! Now is not the goods of this world. When we not the time of decoration. We must strive look at the poor of humanity, we behold a day and night and think and work. What world of brothers. All are sheep of God; can I say that may become effective? God is the real shepherd .. . Consider His What can I do that may bring results? Holiness Christ: He appeared in the world What can I write that may bring forth as one of the poor. He was born of a fruits? Nothing else will be useful, today. lowly family; all the apostles of Christ The interests of such a Glorious Cause were of humble birth and His followers will not advance without undivided attenwere of the very poorest of the com- tion. While we are carrying this load we munity. This is what Christ states in the cannot carry any other load! 2 Gospels . "It is easier for a camel to go On 21 January 1913 , ' Abdu'l-Baha left through the eye of a needle than for a rich London for Paris, where He stayed at 30 rue man to enter into the Kingdom of God." ... St. Didier. This second visit to the French Sorrow not, grieve not. Be not unhappy capital, which lasted two months, because you are not wealthy. You are the assumed certain characteristics of its brothers of Jesus Christ. Christ was poor; own ... numbers of Baha' is had arrived Baha'u'llah was poor. For forty years from the East for the specific purpose of He was imprisoned in poverty . .. .Be ever attaining His presence ... Moreover, vicishappy ... Trust in God .. .' I situdes of fortune had brought to Paris a At the close of His talk, ' Abdu'l-Baha multitude of emigres from iran and the made a contribution to the Shelter so that Ottoman Empire. These men were from the poor might have a similar dinner on New the ranks both of reactionaries-supporters Year's night. He was shown all around the of the old regime-and of liberals and hostel, and at the door he said to the attendant constitutionalists. Many of them sought in charge, "May God prosper you . May you ' Abdu'l-Baha and requested to meet Him. all be under the protection of the Almighty!" To them , too, He gave of His time impartially. 3 3 Th e Chosen Highway, pp. I54-I 55. 1 2 Star of the West, vol. III , no. I8, pp. 8-9 (7 February Star of the West, vol.IV, no. I, p. I6 (2 I March I9 I3). I9I3). 3 'Abdu '1-Bahci, p. 372. 70 THE BAHA'I WORLD

I:Iaji Amin, who was the trustee of the Miss Edith Sanderson's, were also venues I:Iuquq, had brought seven hundred pounds for these gatherings which 'Abdu ' l-Baha to present to ' Abdu ' l-Baha. In a humorous addressed from time to time. 3 mood, 'Abdu' l-Baha said that the I:Iaji had On 17 February, ' Abdu'l-Baha accepted brought seven hundred pounds, but had an invitation to speak at Pasteur Monnier's already obtained a thousand pounds from Theological Seminary in Paris. The audience Him for this and that. Zarqani comments was composed of professors, clergy, and that one indeed marvelled at the way theological students, and they had prepared 'Abdu'l-Baha administered His finances. a list of questions: "Who was Christ, and He spent freely to uphold the dignity of what was He? What is your belief about the Faith, and gave generously to relieve Him"; "What is the similarity between the distress and poverty, and to aid the sick. Cause of Christ and that of Baha'u'llah? But He Himself did not possess a good And what relation do they hold towards each winter coat. His attendants had to beg other?"; "What is the relation of Christ and again and again to obtain His permission Baha'u'llah with God?"; and, "Is the unificato order a new coat to be made for Him. 1 tion of religion possible? If so, w hen and how Lady Blomfield wrote: and through what channel will it be realized?" One striking fact was that 'Abdu'l- 'Abdu' l-Baha answered each question Baha never asked for donations, and even clearly and reasonably, explaining the Faith's refused to accept money or any costly gifts teachings on progressive revelation as He that were offered to Him. One day in my had to audiences all during His travelspresence a lady said to Him: ' I have here Christi an, Jew, and Muslim. "In short", He a cheque from a friend, who begs its ac- concluded, ceptance to buy a good motor-car for your ... misunderstanding between the religions work in England and Europe.' The Master is conducive to differences . When these replied: 'I accept with grateful thanks the misunderstandings and blind imitations gift of your friend. ' He took the cheque are forgotten then the unification of the into both His hands, as though blessing it, religions will become a reality. and said 'I return it to be used for gifts to ... there have been wars and rumors of the poor. ' 'We have never seen the like war amongst the people of the world for before. Surely such deeds are very rare' , many thousand years; much innocent it was whispered amongst the friends .2 blood has been shed, many kingdoms and A number of Iranian students visited empires have been laid waste. Now it is 'Abdu' l-Baha on January 31st. He spoke enough! Religion must be the means of to them about agriculture and industry and good fellowship and love. It must upraise commerce and told them that Iran needed the standard of harmony and solidarity. iron-smelting plants, because industry If religion is conducive to hatred and and agriculture alike depended on found- enmity, irreligion is better, because such ries. In the evening of that day a meeting pseudo-religion gives no result, nay rather was held at the home of Monsieur and its existence is harmfu l to the welfare of Mme Dreyfus-Barney. These weekly meet- the body-politic. ings of the Baha'is, to which seekers and Pasteur Monnier asked, "Is your aim to enquirers came as well , were a regular found a new religion?" feahire of the life of the Paris community. 'Abdu' l-B aha answered: "Our aim is Other homes, M . and Mme Scott's and to free the foundations of the religion of God from dogmas, for the Sun of Reality 1 'Abdu '/-Bahri , pp. 373-374. 2 The Chosen Highway, p. 157. 3 'Abdu '/-Balza, p. 376. THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 71

'Abdu 'l-Bahci with Bahci 'i friends in Esslingen, Germany, on 4 April 1913.

is prevented from shining forth by black By the end of March 'Abdu'l-Baha felt impenetrable clouds. We desire to dispel strong enough to make another journey, so these clouds, so that the regions of the took the train from Paris to Stuttgart, arrivworld may be flooded and illumined with ing during the evening of 1 April. He stayed its luminous rays, so that these foul clouds in the Hotel Marquardt and soon established may never return. The rays of the Sun of His routine of meeting with the friends in Reality may encircle all countries, for this His hotel in the mornings, and going out Sun has no beginning and no ending." 1 to meetings at their homes or elsewhere in The strain of His continual travels began the afternoons and evenings. One day He to trouble 'Abdu ' l-Baha in Paris. He did "remarked that the hotelier might leave his not sleep well and occasionally had a fever. hotel and seek refuge elsewhere, because of The food at His hotel did not agree with such numbers pouring in. Indeed the staff of Him, and by 26 February He had succumbed the hotel were shaken and astonished to see to a severe cold. Meanwhile, the Baha'is of so many of their countrymen pay such atten- Germany were pleading with Him to visit tion and respect to an Easterner who, as it their country, and He received a letter from seemed, had come from nowhere." 3 Mr. and Mrs. Stark inviting Him to visit On 2 April He went to the home of Herr Hungary. During the first week of March, a Wilhelm and Frau Marie Herrigel, where a group ofBaha'is from Germany arrived with great number of people had gathered. "How their pioneer teacher, Miss Alma Knobloch. are you all?", He asked, and addressed them They once again begged for the bounty of in Persian which was translated into English receiving Him. 2 by Mirza AJ:.imad Sohrab, and then rendered into German by Herr Herrigel. Star of the West, vol. IV, no. 3, pp. 54-5 (28 April 1913). 2 3 'Abdu 'I-Balza , p. 379. ibid. p. 380. 72 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

'Abdu 'l-Bahti visited Budapest and Vienna after His travels in North America. This photograph was taken in April 191 3, during His one-month stay in the Austro- Hungarian Empire.

Praise be to God! because your faces Meetings were held in the homes of other are radiant with the light of the G lory of Baha'is including Herr Eckstein, Consul God; yo ur hearts are attracted to the Albert and Frau Alice Schwarz, and Herr Kingdom of Abha ... .Your hearts are illu- Friedrich and Frau Annemarie Schweizer. minated, your inner vision clear. ... You During the evening of3 April, ' Abdu ' l-Baha must live in accordance with the Teach- addressed a large audience in the upper hall ings of Baha'u'llah. Be loving to all of the City (Burger) Museum, on 5 April mankind. Consort with all religions in spoke to the Esperanto Society, and on amity and fragrance. You must be the 6 Apri l gave a well-attended public talk at cause of the education of the world of the Obere Museum. "We have had some humanity. At present the world is still wonderful meetings", Alma Knoblock wrote very dark. From one side there threatens to her sister Pauline (Mrs . Joseph Hannen), the darkness of ignorance; from another but "the one in Esslingen surpassed them all." side black enmity is visible; from the other It was the children's meeting, last side we hear of war and rumors of war. Friday, April 4th, 1913 , in the afternoon. We must, like a candle, shine with the light They had secured a very pretty hall , which ofBaha ' u'llah, in order that through your was most beautifully decorated with efforts this darkness may be dispelled. 1 greens, plants and flowers, with large and small tables near the walls and round 1 tables in the center. About fifty children Star of the West, vol. IV, no. 4, p. 67 ( 17 May 1913). THE COMM E MORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 73

and eighty adu lts were present. In a smaller to form the first nucleus. Baha' i friends room adjoining the hall the children had all over the world are requested to help been assembled holding flowers in their by sending good advice and propaganda hands, forming two lines for 'Abdu' l-Baha literature. 3 to pass through. It looked most beautiful as From Budapest, 'Abdu ' l-Baha went to 'Abdu' l-Baha came upstairs. He passed Vienna on 19 April, where He took residence through a short hall and looked so pleased in the Grand Hotel. His first courtesy call in and delighted to see the dear children. 1 that city was to the Turkish Ambassador in 'Abdu ' I-Baba intended to leave for Vienna, who was so impressed by this visit Budapest on April 7th, but was persuaded that he insisted on keeping ' Abdu ' l-Baha for by Consu l Schwarz to visit Bad Mergen- luncheon. The Master spoke to the Theosotheim, approximate ly sixty miles distant phists of Vienna on three occasions , was from Stuttgart, where the Consul owned visited by Iranian residents of the Austrian the hotel and the mineral bath. ' Abdu'l- capital, and was the guest of the Persian Baha said at Bad Mergentheim that since Minister. Before 'Abdu ' l-Baha left Vienna He had left Persia He had never until then Frau Tyler called to express her newly-found heard so many nightingales singing in devotion, and He also received among others such beautiful sutToundings. However, He Baroness von Suttner, a well-known worker would not stay for more than one night. 2 for the cause of peace. On 8 Apri l, ' Abdu'l-Baha reh1rned to "As you may know," Wi lhelm Herrige l Stuttgart and then caught the 8:00 p.m. train wrote to the Star of the West at a later date, for Budapest which He visited "at the invita- "I was invited by our dear Master, ' Abdu'ltion of the Hungarian Peace, Esperanto and Baha, to accompany Him from Stuttgart to Feminist societies, and of the Oriental Com- Budapest and Vienna. While in Vienna He mercial Academy... He spoke to a great permitted a sculptor to mode l Him, and this public gathering arranged by these institu- sculptor asked me to spread copies of this tions and besides, on three evenings, to the statuette ia all Baha'i centers of the world. Theosophical Society, to the Star of the East Therefore, I am sending one to yo u for members and the Turanian Society. About reproduction in the Star of the West. This 800 peop le listened to His address .... statuette can be ordered through me ..." 4 During 'Abdu ' l-Baha's sojourn in Bu- 'Abdu'l-Baha left Vienna and traveled back dapest He received many distinguished to Stuttgart, where He arrived on 25 Apri l visitors, among others the celebrated and took rooms again in the Hote l Mar- Hungarian Orientalists, Prof. Vambery quardt. During this second visit to Stuttgart, and Prof. Goldzieher. Prof. Robert Nadler, which also lasted a week, He was not well. a Hungarian painter of great renown, A co ld contracted in Budapest had persisted made a portrait sketch of 'Abdu ' l-Baha. and was now affecting His chest. More important than the outward hon- The Baha 'is of Stuttgart had arranged ors given to Him is that His words and and advertised a meeting for the evening personality gave a new start to the Baha' i of the 25th at the Burger Museum. In the Cause in Hungary, which is on the border afternoon the condition of His chest worsof the East and the West... 'Abdu'l-Baha ened, causing great concern. Physicians honored Mr. Leopold Stark, whose ad- to ld Him that He should not go out... His dress is II Nyulucta 5, by charging him to health was for the purpose of serving the unite all those in Budapest who are likely Faith ['Abdu'l-Baha said]. While Wilhelm

1 S1ar o/1he Wes!, vol. IV, no. 9, p. 155 (20 A ugust 3 Siar of !he Wes!, vol. IV, no. 5, p. 86 (5 June 19 13). 1913). 4 Siar of the West, vol. IV , no. 9, p. 158 (20 August 'A bdu '1-Bahci , p. 383. 19 13). 74 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

Herrigel was giving a talk in His stead, it was the anniversary of the birth of He walked into the hall, to the utmost ' Abdu'l-Baha, but He told them that the delight and surprise of the audience, and day should be considered and celebrated using His full voice delivered a discourse only as the anniversary of the Declaration on the need of world peace and the power of the Bab. That was why it was a blessed that guarantees it. 1 Day. It was incidental that He had been On the morning of May 1st 'Abdu ' l- born on the same date. The Feast was Baha met the Baha'is of Stuttgart in groups . celebrated in the evening at the home of He spoke very tenderly to them. To one Laura and Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney ... group He said that He wished to converse May 30th witnessed a noteworthy gathwith them, but His chest was not helpful ; ering at the home of the Dreyfus-Barneys, He would always anticipate their good when diverse nationalities were represented . news. To another, He spoke of the two Consul Schwarz had come from Germany ways in which people say farewell ; for and spoke at the meeting. In His talk, some, memories gradually fade away, but ' Abdu ' l-Baha underlined the true import others keep their memories ever fresh .. . of that harmonious and loving association To a third group He said that, although of people of so many origins, brought about His time in Stuttgart was limited, He by the power ofBaha' u ' llah .. .. hoped that the harvest would prove limit- On June 12th at 8 a.m. 'Abdu' l-Baha left less. Then He left for Paris. His hotel for the station. There He spoke On this third visit to Paris, 'Abdu'l- with the Baha'is who had come to say Baha resided at Hotel Baltimore, in ave- farewell, urging them to be united at all nue Kleber... His physical strength had times. At noon His train left for Marseilles, suffered greatly and He was unable, on which it reached twelve hours later. He several occasions, to go to the meetings stayed the night at a hotel next to the held in the homes of the Baha' is. But He station, and boarded the P. & 0. steamer, was always receiving visitors at the hotel , Himalaya, at 9 a.m. the next morning. giving a talk whenever they gathered in 'Abdu' l-Baha's historic tour of the West numbers. He also kept, as far as possible, was over. 3 His daily habit of a walk out of doors . Shoghi Effendi puts the journey into this [On I 0 May] He spoke of the Cove- perspective: nant, that its purpose was to safeguard the A most significant scene in a centurystrength and the power of the Cause; old drama had been enacted. A glorious without it the circle of Baha'is would chapter in the history of the first Baha' i have broken up completely. ' Some peo- century had been written. Seeds of ple have imagined,' He said, 'that the undreamt-of potentialities had, with the Blessed Perfection had taken relations hand of the Center of the Covenant Himbetween father and son into account. self, been sown in some of the fertile They do not know that He has instituted fie lds of the Western world. Never in the the power of the Covenant for the propa- entire range of religious history had any gation of the Cause of God and for the Figure of comparab le stature arisen to victory of His Word.' 2 perform a labor of such magnitude and On May 23rd, Baha'is came with bou- imperishable worth.4 quets of flowers throughout the day, as

1 3 'Abdu '1-Bahii, p. 389. ibid., pp. 394-395. 2 ibid ., pp. 390-392. 4 God Passes By, p. 294. THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES

2. COMMEMORATIONS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA's VISIT TO THE WEST

FROM August 1911 to December 1913 , During the weekend of 26 and 27 June 'Abdu' l-Baha traveled through North America 1987, approximately 1,500 picnics were held and Europe writing, what Shoghi Effendi across the United States to celebrate the calls in God Passes By, a "glorious chapter Unity Feast 'Abdu ' l-Baha had hosted in in the history of the first Baha' i century." West Englewood, New Jersey, on 29 June "Never in the entire range of religious 1912. The Hand of the Cause of God history had any Figure of comparable stature William Sears, Counsellors Wilma Brady arisen to perform a labor of such magnitude and Robert Harris, and members of the and imperishable worth," he continued. National Spiritual Assembly attended the Celebrations of the seventy-fifth anniversary special picnic held on the site in New Jersey of those travels were held by Baha'is in hallowed by the presence of the Master. those countries which 'Abdu ' l-Baha visited. In New York City, on 8 July 1987, a copy of The Promise of World Peace was pre- THE UNITED STATES sented to William F. Gibson, the chaimrnn A moving event was held in the Baha'i of the National Association for the Advance- Temple in Wilmette, Illinois, on 1 May 1987, ment of Colored People. The presentation where friends gathered to commemorate the was made by the Secretary of the National laying of its foundation stone by 'Abdu'l- Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Baha. Twelve believers who had met the United States, whose remarks included Center of the Covenant shared some of their statements made by 'Abdu'l-Baha when He recollections of Him. On the following day, addressed the fourth annual convention of a formal commemorative program in the the NAACP in Chicago on 30 April 1912. House of Worship was attended by a number The presentation was made during the of civic leaders. annual convention of the NAACP, and was Meetings held in Chicago between 1 and given an enthusiastic reception by the 5 May included commemorations of the audience. Master's talk in All Souls Church, and His address to the National Association for the CANADA Advancement of Colored People. The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears Near Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Firuz visited all ten provinces of Canada and two Kazemzadeh spoke about 'Abdu'l-Baha's territories from 30 August to 9 September life, and the significance of His visit to 1987-the period corresponding to 'Abdu'l- America, during a meeting held on 5 June at Baha's sojourn in that country. Baha'is all the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in over the country held special teaching Cambridge. The following day, Boston's projects during the same period, both in Baha'i community held a ceremony to honor support of Mr. Sears' efforts and to supplethe couple who founded Freedom House, an ment them. organization dedicated to bettering the lives In Montreal, firesides were held in French of minority youth by enabling many to go to and English, during which Mr. Sears shook college. Following the presentation, Baha'is the hand of each child present and gave each and their friends walked along the path taken one a souvenir. Nightly firesides were held by the Master during His visit to Boston . by the friends for the eleven days in Halifax 76 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

and throughout Nova Scotia. In Winnipeg, a At the end of 1987, 210 Baha' is from new Baha'i Center was opened and, in France and Switzerland met for a winter Calgary, a Baha'i meeting was attended by school held at Sevrier. The high point of the more than 1,000 friends . During a meeting schoo l was the evening commemorating the in Vancouver, the friends were urged to seventy-fifth anniversary of ' Abdu'l-Baha's become more heroic, more saintly, and to visit to the West through lectures and audioappreciate their station as Baha'is. In White- visual aides. horse, Baha'i children presented the Hand of the Cause with their impressions of ' Abdu' 1- UNITED KINGDOM Baha in prose and poetry. In the Northwest In late February or early March 1988, Territori es, a two-day conference was held members of the Bristol Baha'i community for the fr iends. In Toronto, two people celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversary of embraced the Faith during Mr. Sears' visit. the visit of 'Abdu'l-Baha to Bristol in 1913 . A Peace Train paralleling 'Abdu ' l-Bah a's The event was held in the Holiday Inn with journey from Montreal to Niagara Falls v ia about 260 people attending, including 50 Toronto carried 127 Baha'is on 6 and 7 Sep- guests of Baha'is. One special guest was the tember 1987. Five hundred other friends resident at 17 Royal York Crescent, where greeted the travellers at stops along the ' Abdu'l-Baha had stayed while in Bristol. route. Hundreds of copies of Th e Prom.ise of The program included music, a slide show World Peace were de li vered by the train of 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit to England pretravellers, and the Baha ' i message was given sented by Counsellor Adam Thorne, and a to scores of people, including the Mayor of reading of"The Seven Cand les of Unity" by Niagara who expressed interest in learning some of the Baha'i children. about the Faith. GERMANY FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu ' l-Baha The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu' l- Rul?iyyih Khanu m joined approximate ly Baha Ru!;iiyyih Khanum, accompanied by 1,200 friends gathered in Stuttgart on 9 April Mrs. Violette Na~avani, traveled to Europe 1988 for a conference held during the festivto participate in some of the activities held to ities related to the seventy-fifth anniversary commemorate the Master's visits on that of the Master's visit to that country. A lso continent. present at the conference were member of In France, the Hand of the Cause took the International Teaching Center Anneliese part in a National Teaching Conference held Bopp, Counsellor Ursula Milhlschlegel, and in Paris on 28 and 29 November 1987 which members of the National Spiritual Assemb ly. was attended by about 500 friends. In adc Amatu'l-Baha Ru!;iiyyih Khanum addressed dition to talks given by Amatu ' l-Baha, the conference in the German language. Counsellor Agnes Ghaznavi and members of On 10 April, the Hand of the Cause was the French National Spiritual Assembly the specia l guest at a festive event held addressed the gathering, stressing the needs in the historic Kurhaus in Bad Cannstatt, of the Six Year Plan. Stuttgart, to commemorate the seventy-fifth Following the Conference, the Local anniversary of the visit of 'Abdu'l-Baha to Spiritual Assembly of Pari s entertained Germany. The Mayor of Stuttgart, Dr. Man- Ru!;iiyyih Khanum at lunch, then conm1emo- fred Rommel, gave the welcoming address rated her visit by going to the Eiffel Tower to the nearly 900 friends and guests who to have a photograph taken in the same place had gathered for the event. fn her ceremonial where the beloved Master had been photo- address, Amatu' l-Baha Ru!;iiyyih Khanum graphed seventy-five years earl ier. fondly recalled her time in Germany in 1936 THE COMMEMORAT ION OF HI STOR IC AN NIV ERSAR IES 77 and 193 7, and spoke of the early followers UNITED KINGDOM of Baha'u'llah in that land. Counsellor On 30 June 1988, the first Human Rights Anneliese Bopp, Dr. Massoud Berdjis and Award presentations in the United Kingdom Werner Gollmer spoke of the li fe, teachings were made at St. John 's Church, Westminster, and travels of 'Abdu'l-Baha, and selections London, commemorating the Master's visit fro m His Writings were read. Press confer- to London in 1911. The six recipients were: ences were attended by representatives of Dr. Edward Carpenter, awarded for his work major newspapers and broadcast services. in the field ofreligious unity; the Right Reverend Bishop Trevor Hudd leston, honored HUNGARY for hi s work to promote racial uni ty; the late On 9, 10 and 17 April 1988 the Baha ' is of Richard St. Barbe Baker, whose award was Budapest held celebrations to mark the an ni- received on his behalf by the Chairman of versary of 'Abdu' l-Baha's visit to that city, the Men of the Trees; the late Bernard Leach, w ith the Austrian musical group The Dawn- whose awa rd was received on his behalf by Breakers participating. The main event took his wife, Janet Leach; Bob Geldof, for his place in the home of Barbara Maennig, work to aid the famine victims in Ethiop ia, with about twenty friends from Hungary and the awa rd being received on his behalf by Austria attending. The program consisted of Dr. Gessess, Director of Band Aid; and a spiritual portion w ith music, and a social Bertha Bradby, for her work for women's potiion with refreshments. rights. An article about the ceremony was published in the Church Times, the official AUSTRIA newspaper of the Church of England. On 16 April 1988, the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu'l-Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khanum FRANCE joined the Baha ' [ communi ty in celebrating Acti vities celebrating 'Abdu' l-Baha's jow11ey the anniversary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit to through Marseilles led to extens ive procla- Vienna. The event was held in the Ingeni eur mation of the Fa ith in March 1989. After an und Architektenverein, and people of capac- official ceremony held in the Pala is du Faro, ity in Austrian society had been sent special a public meeting was held in the Odeon letters of invitation. Counsellors Ursula Theatre. Announcements of the event were Milhlschlegel and Leo Niederreiter also broadcast on radio and television, printed in attended the ceremony, as did friends from newspapers, and distributed throughout the many parts of Europe. In honor of the occa- city on 11 ,000 posters of different sizes. The sion, the Local Spiritual Assembly produced theme of the program was peace, and about a German publication entitled, 'A bdu 'l-Baha 160 people attended. A variety of music and im Wien, and a committee of the National a slide sho w were presented, foll owed by a Spiritual Assembly published a booklet, also concert by an American Baha'i piani st, Marc m German, entitled, 'A bdu 'l-Baha im Ochu , who accompanied his performance Budapest. with comments on the Peace Statement. II THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST SEVEN YEAR PLAN IN THE AMERICAS

1. THE FIRST SEVEN YEAR PLAN OF THE BAHA'is OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA Sl-IERNA D EA MER

"'T' 1 RAVEL ye to the East and to the West unto the ancient inhabitants of the of the world and summon the people to the Arabian Peninsula, who, prior to the Rev- Kingdom of God," 'Abdu'l-Baha wrote to elation of Mu~1ammad, were like savages. the Baha'is in the United States and Canada When the Mu~iammadan Light shone only three-and-a-half years after His historic forth in their midst, they became so enkinvisit to America in 1912. In a series of Tab- dled that they shed illumination upon the lets that have come to be known collectively world. Likewise, should these Indians as the Tablets of the Divine Plan, ' Abdu'l- be educated and properly guided, there Baha exhorted the American Baha'is to can be no doubt that through the Divine spread the Faith. " ... do ye not think it per- teachings they will become so enlightmissible to leave [any] region deprived of ened that the whole earth will be the breezes of the Morn of Guidance. " illumined. In a Tablet revealed on 8 April 1916 in All the above countries have importhe garden outside the Sllfine ofBaha'u'llah, tance, but especially the Republic of 'Abdu ' l-Baha specifically told the North Panama, wherein the Atlantic and Pacific American friends to carry the Faith through- Oceans come together through the Panout the Hemisphere: ama Canal. It is a center for travel and Alaska is a vast counliy ... yet the call passage from America to other continents of the Kingdom of God is not yet raised of the world, and in the fitture it will gain through that spacious territory. most great importance. Likewise the Republic of Mexico is Likewise the islands of the West Indies, ve1y important .. . such as Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Similarly, the six Central American Jamaica, the islands of the Lesser Anti- Republics, situated south of Mexico-- lles, Bahama Islands, even the small Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicara- Watlings Island, have great importance; gua, Costa Rica, Panama and the seventh especially the two black republics, Haiti country Belize or British Honduras ... and Santo Domingo, situated in the clus- You must attach great importance to ter of the Greater Antilles. Likewise the the Indians, the original inhabitants of cluster of the islands of Bermuda in the America. For these souls may be likened Atlantic Ocean have importance. THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSAR IES 79

Mrs. Vivian Lismore, seated second from left, pioneered to Havana, Cuba, during the Seven Year Plan. She is shown in her home in 1943, surrounded by Cuban Baha 'is.

Jn a similar way, the republics of the that your heads shall be crowned with the continent of South America-Colombia, diadem of everlasting so vereignty, and at Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, British Guiana, the threshold of oneness you will become Dutch Guiana, French Guiana, Bolivia, the favored and accepted servants. 1 Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, A few individuals and local communities Venezuela; also the islands to the north, responded immediately to the Master's call. east and west of South America, such as Martha Root took her first journey around Falkland Islands, the Galapagos, Juan South America in 19 19, and in February Fernandez, Tobago and Trinidad. Like- 1921 Leonora Holsapple became the first wise the city of Bahia, situated on the Baha' i to live in Latin America when she eastern shore of Brazil. Because it is moved from the United States to Bahia, some time that it has become known by Brazil, to teach the Faith. But in the main, this name, its efficacy will be most potent. 'Abdu'l-Baha's mission went unfulfilled .. .send to those parts fluent speakers, because no institutions existed capable of who are detached from aught else save arousing unified action. God, attracted with the fragrances of It was left to Shoghi Effendi, after the God, and sanctified and purified from all passing of 'Abdu'l-Baha, to slowly, painsdesires and temptations. Th eir sustenance takingly, raise up the Administrative Order, and food must consist of the teachings of first in the United States and Canada, and God. First they must themselves live in then elsewhere around the world. Nor was accordance with those principles, then guide the people ... Should you be aided 1 ' Abdu ' l-Baha, Tablets a/the Divine Plan (Wilmette: to render such a service, rest ye assured Baha ' i Publi shing Trust, 1977), pp . 3 1- 34. 80 THE BAHA'i WORLD

this undertaking only a matter of estab lishing American believers dated 10 January 1936, Assemblies and committees. The Guardian he directed the friends towards a more active had to help the community to move beyond teaching program. the subjective and personal elements of faith This new stage in the gradual unfoldto a world of action . There needed to be a ment of the Formative Period of our Faith transition from the idea of teaching as an into which we have just entered-the individual achievement to an understanding phase of concentrated teaching activitythat the greatest results for the Faith came synchronizes with a period of deepening when these separate efforts were gu ided and gloom, of universal impotence, of evercoordinated. increasing destitution and widespread dis- In a letter written to the North American illusionment in the fortunes of a declining Baha' is dated 2 1 April 1933, the Guardian age. This is truly providential and its sighelped the friends understand the develop- nificance and the opportunities it offers us ment of the Faith during its first forty years should be fully apprehended and utilized. 2 in America: In his message to the 1936 Convention of The first of these four decades ( 1893- the Baha'is of the U nited States and Canada, 1903), characterized by a process of slow the Guardian moved from the general to the and steady fermentation, may be said to specific in terms of teaching goals: have culminated in the historic pilgrimages WOULD TO GOD EVERY STATE WITHIN AMER I- undertaken by 'Abdu'l-Baha's American CAN REPUBLIC AND EVERY REPUBLIC IN disciples to the shrine ofBaha'u'llah. The AMERICAN CONTINENT MIGHT ERE TERMINA- ten years which followed ( 1903- 1913), TION THIS GLORIOUS [FIRST BAHA'i) CENTURY so full of the tests and trials which EMBRACE LIGHT FA ITH BAHA'U ' LLAH AND agitated, cleansed and energized the body ESTABLISH STRUCTURAL BASIS HIS WORLD of the earli est pioneers of the Faith in that ORDER. 3 land, had as their happy climax 'Abdu'l- "The Convention was electrified", wrote Baha's memorable vis it to America. The Garreta Busey in an article entitled "Unitthird period (1913-1923), a period of quiet ing the Americas". "Tardily aware of the and uninterrupted consolidation, had as its instructions given so long ago by the Master, inevitable result the birth of that divinelyonly half comprehending their implications, appointed Administration, the foundations slow to believe in their own ability to pursue of which the Will of a departed Master a teaching program so much more extensive had unmistakably establ ished. The remainthan that of the present time, the American ing ten years (1923- 1933), distingui shed Baha'is were at first dazed and then galvathroughout by further internal developnized into action by the sweeping demands ment, as well as by a notable expansion of the message." 4 of the international activities of a growing Between Ric;lvan 1936 and 1937 Baha'i community, witnessed the completion of groups or individual believers were estabthe superstructure of the Mashriqu ' llished in five of the twelve unopened States Adhkar-the Administration's mighty bu lor Provinces-Nebraska, Wyoming, Oklawark, the symbol of its strength and the homa, North Dakota, and North Carolinasign of its future glory . 1 and the Faith had been carried to forty-two The first stage of the fonnative period came to end in 1935, Shoghi Effendi announced, and in a letter to the North Shoghi Effendi, Messages to America (Wilmette: Baha'i Publi shing Committee, 1947) , p. 6. 3 ibid. p. 6. 1 4 Shoghi Effend i, The World Order of Bahci '11 '//ah The Bahci á;World, vol. IX (Wi lmette : Baha ' i Pub- (W ilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1974), p. 80. li shing Committee, 1945), p. 187. THE COMMEMORAT ION OF HI STORIC ANNIVERSARIES 81

new cities in North America. But the work aid all the fa ith, the determination and in Latin America was largely untouched. energies of which it is capable, and set Garreta Busey stated: out, single-minded and undaunted, to To most of the people in the United attain still greater heights in its mighty States, the countries in South and Central exertions for the Cause of Baha 'u ' llah. 2 America, thus opened up before us, were In his message to the Convention of 1937, unknown , romantic lands much more Shoghi Effendi first called the teaching inidistant than the continent of Europe soon tiative the Seven Year Plan, adding to the to be closed to us completely. Teaching in goals before the American believers that of the United States and Canada seemed completing the exterior ornamentation on already to tax to the utmost our spiritual the House of Worship in Wilmette: energies. How then could we succeed in DUAL GIFT PROVIDENTIALLY CONFERRE D establishing the Cause in every republic AMERJCAN BAHA'i COMMUNITY INVESTS RE- of the southern continent? The time for CIPI ENTS WITH DUAL RES PONSIB ILITY FULFIL the unfoldment of that particular phase of HISTORJC MISS ION. FIRST PROSECUTE UNrN- the Divine Plan had, however, come, and TERRUPTEDL Y TEACHING CAMPAIGN INAUGU- on May 19 the Guardian cabled his call for RATED LAST CONVENTION rN ACCORDANCE pioneers permanently to reside in Central DIVINE PLAN. SECOND RESUME WITH INFLEX I- and South America, and gave £3 00 as the BLE DETERMrNATION EXTERJOR ORNAMENTA- nucleus of a fund for the new teaching TION ENTIRE STRUCTURE TEMPLE .... ADV ISE work. The action of the National Spiritual PROLONGATION CONVENTION SESS IONS EN- Assembly in response to these messages ABLE DELEGATES CONSU LT NATIONAL AS- was the estab li shment of a special teach- SEMBLY TO FORMULATE .FEASIBLE SEVEN ing fund of $30,000 in the national budget YEAR PLAN TO ASSURE SUCCESS ... NO SACRI- and the appointment of the first Inter- FICE TOO GREAT FOR COMMUNITY SO ABUN- American Committee. 1 DANTLY BLESSED REPEATEDLY HONORED.3 Shoghi Effendi was pleased with the ini- "At the beginning of the Seven Year tial response, but on 30 May 1936 he wrote to Plan," Leroy Joas reported in an article the Baha' is of the United States and Canada: entitl ed "Teaching in North America", "after A systematic, carefully conceived, and the Fa ith had existed in this country for 43 well-established plan should be devised, years, there were 72 Spiritual Assemblies rigorously pursued and continuously in 26 States and Provinces, with 24 Baha'i extended. Initiated by the National repre- Groups and 246 Isolated Believers with sentati ves of the American believers, the the Fa ith established in 303 cities. In the vanguard and standard-bearers of the remaining seven years of the first Baha'i radiant army of Baha' u' llah, this plan century, the American Baha'is were called should receive the whole-hearted, the upon .to establish .the Faith in 34 new States sustained and ever-increasing support, and Provinces, 10 of .which did not have both moral and financial, of the entire even one Baha ' i. Furthermore, these areas body of His followers in that continent. .. were found to be among the most backward, The fi e ld is immense, the task gigantic, not only from the standpoint of religious the privilege immeasurably precious. Time intolerance, but also in the way of educais short, and the obligation sacred, tional development, cultural achievements, paramount and urgent. The American and economic welfare." 4 community must muster all its force , concentrate its reso urces, sum mon to its 2 Messages ta America, p. 7. ibid. p. 9. ibid. p. 187. 4 I Th e Balui 'i World. vol. IX, p. 202. 82 T HE BAHA'i WORLD

Th e first Local Spiritual Assembly of San Jose, Costa Rica, organized on 21 April 1941, was also the first Local Assembly in Central America. Pioneer Gay le Woolson stands back center.

The challenge of bringing the Faith to its undoubted sovereignty, are receiving Latin America was even more daunting as fresh luster every day and its manifold in that vast area there was only Leonora institutions are driving their roots deeper Holsapple, still at her post in Bahia, Brazil; and deeper into its soil. Blest and honored Isabel Dodge, who had gone with her geolo- as none among its sister communities has gist husband to his job site in Chupaca, Peru; been in recent years, preserved through and one or two other resident Baha' is. The the inscrutable dispensations of Divine task would have been insurmountable Providence for a destiny which no mind without the constant love, encouragement, can as yet imagine, such a community and vision offered by the Guardian. For cannot for a moment afford to be content example, on 25 November 1937 he wrote: with or rest on the laurels it has so deserv- ... As I lift up my gaze beyond the edly won. It must go on, continually go strains and stresses which a struggling on, exploring fresh fi e lds, scaling nobler Faith must necessarily experience, and view heights, laying firmer foundations, shedthe wider scene which the indomitable ding added splendor and achieving added will of the American Baha'i community renown in the service and for the glory is steadily unfolding, I can not but marvel of the Cause of Baha'u'llah. The seven at the range which the driving force of year plan which it has sponsored and with their ceaseless labors has acquired and which its destiny is so closely interwoven, the heights which the sublimity of their must at all costs be prosecuted with faith has attained. The outposts of a Faith, increas ing force and added consecration. already persecuted in both Europe and All should arise and participate. Upon the Asia, are in the American continent measure of such a participation will no steadily advancing, the visible symbols of doubt depend the welfare and progress of THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 83

Pioneer Louise Caswell visits some Baha '£friends in the Parque La Concordia in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in October 1941.

those distant communities which are now and nations of the Old World, invest the battling for their emancipation. To such a Seven Year Plan, now operating in both priceless privilege the inheritors of the the northern and southern American conshining grace ofBaha ' u' llah cannot surely tinents, with a significance and urgency be indifferent. The American believers that cannot be overestimated. 2 must gird up the loins of endeavor and The Seven Year Plan can be divided into step into the arena of service with such four periods: (I) from Ricfyan 1937 to 1939; heroism as shall astound the entire Baha'i (2) from Ri<;lvan 1939 to mid-point in the world. Let them be assured that my Plan; (3) from October 1940 to Ri<;lvan prayers will continue to be offered on 1942; and (4) the final two years . their behalf. 1 The first phase was characterized by And on I 0 September 1938: friends traveling to teach. Mr. and Mrs. Louis I feel tru ly exhilarated as I witness the Gregory spent several months in Haiti, and ever-recurrent manifestations of unbroken left a number of serious students of the solidarity and unquenchable enthusiasm teachings. Mrs . Nellie French sailed by ship that distinguish every stage in the pro- around South America and had particular gressive development of the nation-wide success in Bahia, where she met up with enterprise which is being so unflinchingly Leonora Holsapple, and in Lima, where she pursued by the whole American Baha'i worked with Isabel Dodge. Mrs. Frances community. The marked deterioration in Stewart attended the People's Conference at world affairs, the steadily deepening gloom Buenos Aires in November 1937, and found that envelops the storm-tossed peoples interest among the Latin American delegates.

Messages to America, pp. I 0-11 . 2 ibid. p. 14. 84 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Beatrice Irwin devoted some six months STEP PROGRESSIVE, SYSTEMATIC PENETRA- to teaching in Mexico City and other Mexican TION LA TIN AMERICA. UPSURGE BAHA'U- towns during 1937, lecturing, holding study 'LLAH'S IMP ELLING SP IRIT CAN NOT, WILL groups and supplying literature to people of NOT, BE STEMMED IMPEDED. METHODICAL influence and capacity. Mrs. Stewart also ADVANCE ALONG LINE TRACED PEN 'ABDU ' L- went to Mexico City and found it possible to BAHA IRRESISTIBLE. GUATEMALA, HONDU- instruct a group who, on 21 April 1938, pro- RAS , SALVADOR, NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA, ceeded to establish the first Local Spiritual PANAMA , CUBA, DOMINICA, HAITI IMMEDIATE Assembly in the Americas outside of the OBJECTIVES. THOUGH POLITI CALLY UNSET- United States and Canada. TLED , RELIGIOUSLY INTOLERANT, SOCIALLY The National Spiritual Assembly of the BACKWARD CLIMAT ICALLY INHOSP ITABLE, United States and Canada invited a represen- THESE UNEXPLORED TERRITORIES HOLD tative of the new Local Spiritual Assembly of FORTH INESTIMABLE PRIZES AUDACIOUS the Baha'is of Mexico City to participate in ADVENTURES PATH BAHA'i SERVICE. 2 the National Convention held in April 1939. That same year, the Guardian's inspiring Four Mexican Baha'is accepted the hospital- and challenging message "To the beloved of ity, including Sra. Maria del Refugio Ochoa, God and the handmaids of the Merciful recorded as the first Mexican Baha ' i. "The throughout the United States and Canada'', occasion was one of great rejoicing," we are The Advent ofDivine Justice, was published. told by Garreta Busey, "inspiring both to the "Be unrestrained as the wind, " is older community and to the new believers, Baha'u' llah's counsel to every would-be who on their return to Mexico City, incorpo- teacher of His Cause, "while carrying the rated their assembly, began issuing a News Message of Him Who hath caused the dawn Letter, and plunged into the work of translat- of Divine Guidance to break. Consider how ing the Writings into Spanish." 1 the wind, faithful to that which God hath The Guardian sent a cable to the Conven- ordained, bloweth upon all regions of the tion, praising the American Baha' is on the earth, be they inhabited or desolate. Neither victories they had won, and setting out the the sight of desolation, nor the evidences of new work to be accomplished: prosperity, can either pain or please it. It BRILLIANT CONCLUSION SECOND YEAR SEVEN bloweth in eve1y direction, as bidden by its YEAR PLAN EVOKES UNIVERSAL ADM IRATION Creator." BAHA'i WORLD, DEEPENS SP IRITUAL "And when he determineth to leave his CONSC IO USNESS MITIGATES HARDSHIPS ITS home, for the sake of the Cause of his Lord, " INCREAS INGLY HARASSED COMMUNITIES. Baha' u' llah, in another passage, referring to CLOS ING PHASE TEMPLE ORNAMENTATION such a teacher, has revealed, "let him put his ALREADY ENTERED. INITIAL STAGE INTER- whole trust in God, as the best provision for CONTINENTAL TEACHfNG CAMPA IGN SUC- his journey, and array himself with the robe CESSFULLY TERMINATED. FIRM ANCHORAGE of virtue .... If he be kindled with the fire of IN STITUTIONS ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER His love, if he forgoeth all created things, PERMANENTLY ESTABLISHED EVERY STATE the words he uttereth shall set on fire them PROVfNCE NORTH AMERI CAN CONTINENT. that hear him. "3 MEXICO, LYING FOREFRONT SOUTHWARD The community of the organized MARCHING ARMY , RECENTLY ENLISTED. promoters of the Faith of Baha ' u' llah PEDRO ESP INOSA 'S AUSP ICIOUS ATTENDANCE in the American continent- the spirititual CONVENT ION WELCOME EVIDENCE. SETTLE- MENT CENTRAL AMERICAN REPUBLICS NEXT 2 Messages to America, p. 20. 3 Shoghi Effendi, Th e Advent of Divine Justice (Wil- Th e Bahri "i World, vol. IX, p. 190. mette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, rev. ed. 1984), p. 50. THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 85 descenants of the dawn-breakers of an Another North American Baha'i who heroic Age, who by their death pro- gave his life to spread the Faith was Mathew claimed the birth of that Faith-must, in Kaszab, who had been a student at the turn, usher in, not by their death but Un iversity of New York when he met through living sacrifice, that promised Mrs. Louise Talbot and learned about World Order, the shell ordained to Baha'u' llah. "From that moment, Mathew's enshrine that priceless jewel, the world real life began", wrote Loulie Mathews. civi lization, of which the Faith itself is "The heroic age of the Bab and the martyrs the sole begetter. 1 absorbed his mind and The Dawn-Breakers By now the response was too great to became his constant companion .. . " chronicle with individual's names, specific "When Shoghi Effendi's Advent of Divine locations, and exact dates. But at least two Justice was published in February, 1939 ... North American dawn-breakers did sacrifice [its] dynamic utterances carried Mathew their very lives to spread the Faith during the away, and without delay he set out for Seven Year Plan. Panama." The Inter-America Committee "Departure South America by wish of asked him to go on to Nicaragua, and, "the beloved Guardian!" May Ellis Maxwell good so ldier of Baha'u ' llah that he was, he had cabled before departing from New accepted our suggestion ... " 3 York on 24 January 1940 on the steam- He went to work in the gold mines of ship Brazil. "She was able to teach 'one Blue Fields. He described the deplorable lovely woman on the boat, the wife of a conditions of poverty and vice and was so distinguished arn1y man"', Marion Holley appalled by the ignorance of the miners' wrote about the trip. chi ldren, that he took a night shift and In Rio de Janeiro, with the aid of taught school in the day time. When I Leonora Holsapple who had come from remonstrated with him because he was Bahia, she arranged two teas at her hotel, giving himself no time for sleep, he the Gloria, one for nineteen guests, while replied that his time was so short he could a third meeting was held at the home of not afford to sleep! All his efforts at bet- Mr. and Mrs. Lee Worley. She spoke also terment in Blue Fields having failed, he to the president of the Homeopathic returned to Managua. College. Yet despite these two weeks of Sudden ly, while walking on the street, exhilarating success, she was eager to he was arrested. The reason given was reach Buenos Aires ... that he uttered words in criticism of the They arrived [May Maxwell and her Nicaraguan government. This may have niece, Jeanne Bolles] on February 27th, been the reason or not- the cause is very after one-day stops in Santos and Mon- obscure. He remained in prison from tevideo .. . On the night of February 29th March 1st to 23rd. As sudden ly as he was they dined alone in her room at City interned, he was liberated. Hotel ... her mood was radiant. But the He determined to leave Nicaragua, next morning a terrible pain came high in sensing danger, and began to make prepaher breast, and though the doctor reas- rations for his departure. When they were sured them both, by afternoon 'the Wi ll complete, he came to say goodbye to our of God took her from our midst'. first native believer, who was teaching "Priceless honor (of a) martyr's death!" school nearby. He was loved by the Shoghi Effendi included in his tribute to May Maxwelt. 2 2 Th e Baha'i World. vol. VIII (Wi lmette: Baha'i Publi sh in g Committee, 1942), pp. 631 - 642. ibid. p. 7. 3 I Th e Baha'i World. vol. IX , pp. 614- 615. 86 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Pioneers Gladys Stuart and Cora Oliver, sitting on the left side of the stairs, visit a group of believers in Belize, British Honduras, during the Seven Year Plan.

children of the school, who gathered around Aires, and groups in Havana, Tegucigalpa, him and sang their songs for him ... Guatemala, Montevideo, and Panama. As When he reached the airport, an officer early as April, Shoghi Effendi cabled to the stepped forward and presented a warrant Convention his joy that the believers had for his arrest. The day was September 28th outstripped the goal set for 1939-1940. By of 1942. It was some time before his friends April 1942 the number of assemblies was .learned the sad news. On November first nine: Mexico City, Puebla, Buenos Aires, Mathew was attacked by an illness the Montevideo, Tegucigalpa, San Salvador, nature of which was never learned, hi s San Jose, Puntarenos, and Havana. condition was so grave that he was moved In his message to the National Convenfrom the dungeon to the guard's hospital.... tion of the Baha' is of the United States and At that time death seemed imminent Canada sent on 26 April 1942, Shoghi but his strength slowly returned and he was Effendi wrote: sent back to the prison. On December 28 ... FIRST BAHA' I CENTURY FAST RUNNING OUT. the authorities announced that he was AGON IES TRAVAILI NG AGE INEXORABLY free, but must leave the country. Silently CULM INATING . BAB ' S STIRRING UN IQUE IN- and alone, he took a plane to Mexico C ity JUNCTION DIRECTING PEOPLES WEST LEA VE and there reembarked for Brownsville, THEIR C ITI ES ENSURE TRIUMPH DIVINE CAUSE Texas, where he di ed January 13th, 1943. 1 RECORDED CENTURY AGO QA YYDMU'L-ASMA'.

By mid-point in the Seven Year Plan, in BAHA'U'LLAH ' S S IGNIF ICANT SUMMONS October 1940, assemblies had been estab- CAL LI NG UPON ALL PRESIDENTS REPUBLICS

lished in Mexico City, Bahia, and Buenos WESTERN HEM ISPHERE C HAMP IO N CAUSE JUSTI CE ISSUE D SEVENTY YEARS AGO JN 1 HI S MOST HOLY BOOK. BROAD OUTLINES The Baha 'i World, vol. IX, pp. 6 15- 6 16. THE COMM EMOR AT IO N OF HISTORI C ANN IVERSAR I ES 87 'A BDU ' L-BAHA'S MATCHLESS DESIGN CON- evolves. Threads of friendly human con- CE IV ED TWENTYF IV E YEARS AGO BENEFIT tacts weave back and forth, bringing out NORTH AMERICAN BELIEVERS TRANSMITTED in ever elaborated beauty the Divine Plan POSTERITY TABLETS DIVINE PLAN. SEVEN of World Unity.' As individuals became YEAR ENTERPRISE REGARDED INITIAL STAGE more active, the communities as units EXECUTION WORLD MISSION ALREA DY began also to take on more responsibilities, LAUNCHED. GIGANTIC TEMPLE UNDERTAK- demonstrating their growing maturity ING CONSTITUTING MAJOR OBLIGATION THIS under the Administrative Order. One sign ENTERPRIS E, VIRTUALLY CONSU MM ATE D. of their development was the recognition VAST INTERCONTINENTAL TEACHING CA M- of the Costa Rican assemblies and that of PAIGN VISIBLY YIELDING FIRST FRUITS EVERY Montevideo by their respective govern- REPUBLI C LATIN AMERICA. UPON CRUCIAL ments. The Assembly of Buenos Aires now YEAR AHEAD HI NG E FORTUNES HI STOR IC accepted the responsibility of publishing CRUSADE ... MYS ELF DEPRIVED PERSONAL PAR- and disseminating Baha ' i books in Latin TICIPATION TASK ALLOTTE D PROSECUTO RS America. The Mexican assemblies were EPOCH MAKING PLAN IMP ELLED DEPUTI ZE carrying on extension work in various FIVE MEMBERS AMERICAN BAHA'i COM MUN I- parts of their country. San Salvador had TY HELP FULFILL MY BEHALF WHATEVER PIO- begun teaching in Santa Ana, the second NEER FIELD MOST VITAL ITS URGENT largest city of El Salvador. Youth groups REQU IREMENTS . PLEDG ING FIV E THOUSAN D and children's classes were organized ... 2 DOLLARS ACCOM PLISHMENT THIS PURPOSE. 1 Nor was the work in North America In "Uniting the Americas", Garreta Busey neglected. " ... on March 28 , 1944, we find reported: 136 Spiritual Assemblies, 197 Baha'i ... the most noticeable characteristic of Groups, and the Faith vigorously functioning this last period of the Seven Year Plan in over 1,300 cities on the North American was the work undertaken by the local continent;-the Faith of Baha' u'llah shining believers. Many of them were engaged in in resplendent glory from the vast expanses translating Baha' i literature. The Mexican of Alaska to the Keys of Florida; from the believers .. . had begun that great task. It isolation of Prince Edward Island to the was continued by the Baha'is of Buenos sunny shores of California." 3 Aires, and in Uruguay three believers, In addition, the exterior ornamentation of having finished the "Thirty-Six Lessons'', the Baha 'i House of Worship was completed embarked upon the gigantic task of trans- in 1943. lating "The Dawn-Breakers" .. . Shoghi Effendi cab led to the friends Latin American teachers arose. gathered for the All-American Centennial Sr. Tormo went, with Wilfred Barton, to Convention on 13 April 1944: Paraguay. Sr. Ulloa went from Costa Rica The greatest collective enterprise ever to Panama to assist the pioneers there. launched by the Western fo llowers of Study groups in three cities of Argentina Baha' u' llah and indeed ever undertaken were taught by believers from Buenos by any Baha'i community in the course of Aires. The Baha'is of Santiago were car- an entire century, has been gloriously rying the Faith into other parts of Chile. consummated. A victory of undying fame As time went on the visits between has marked the culmination of the fifty communities were more frequent until in year long labors of the American Baha'i 1941 the Inter America Committees community in the service of Baha' u' llah wrote: 'Thus the Divine Plan continually 2. The Baha 'i World, vo l. IX, pp. 197- I98. Messages to America, p. 55. J ibid. p. 202. 88 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Pioneers Honor Kempton, Helen Robenson and Dagmar Dole shown in Anchorage, Alaska, in Januaiy 1944.

and has shed imperishab le lustre on the To the band of pioneers, whether settlers immortal records of His Faith during the or itinerant teachers, who have forsaken first hundred years of its existence. The their homes, who have scattered far and exploits that have marked the progress of wide, who have willingly sacrificed their this prodigious, this three-fold enterprise, comfort, their hea lth and even their lives covering a field stretching from Alaska for the prosecution of this Plan; to the in the North to the extremity of Chile in several committees and their auxiliary the south, affecting the destinies of so agencies that have been entrusted with great a variety of peoples and nations, special and direct responsibility for its involving such a tremendous expenditure efficient and orderly development and of treasure and effort, calling forth so who have discharged their high responsiremarkable a spirit of heroism and self- bilities with exemplary vigor, courage sacrifice, and undertaken notwithstanding and fidelity ; to the national representatives the vicious assaults and incessant machi- of the community itself, who have viginations of the breakers of ' Abdu ' l-Baha' s lantly and tirelessly supervised, directed Covenant, and despite the perils, the trials and coordinated the unfolding processes and restrictions of a desolating war of of this vast undertaking ever since its unexampled severity, augur well for the inception; to all those who, though not in successful prosecution, and indeed assure the forefront of battle, have through their the ultimate victory, of the remaining financial assistance and through the instrustages of the Plan conceived, a quarter of mentality of their deputies, contributed to a century ago, by 'Abdu ' l-Baha for the the expansion and consolidation of the followers of Baha'u 'llah in the North Plan, I myself, as well as the entire Baha'i American continent. world, owe a debt of gratitude that no one THE COMMEMORATIO N OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 89 can measure or describe. To the sacrifices my own behalf, as well as in the name they have made, to the courage they of all Baha'i communities sharing with have so consistently shown, to the fidelity them, at this great turning-point in the they have so remarkably displayed, to history of our Faith, the joys and triumphs the resourcefulness, the discipline, the of this solemn hour, feel moved to convey constancy and devotion they have so the expression of our loving admiration, abundantly demonstrated, future genera- our joy and our gratitude for the brilliant tions viewing the magnitude of their conc lusion of what posterity wi ll no labors in their proper perspective, will no doubt acclaim as one of the most stirring doubt pay adequate tribute- a tribute no episodes in the history of the Formative less ardent and well-deserved than the Age of the Faith of Baha' u'llah, as well recognition extended by the present-day as one of the most momentous enterprises builders of the World Order ofBaha'u'llah undertaken during the entire course of the to the Dawn-Breakers, whose shining first Century of the Baha'i Era. 1 deeds have signa lized the birth of the Heroic Age of His Faith . . . . to all the privileged attendants of such an epoch-making Convention , I, on Messages In America, pp. 69- 7 1.

' _ _..._á _j_ '

Celebration of the fiftieth anniversaiy of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil- the oldest Assembly in South America. Mrs. Margot Worley, seated center, served on the first Local Assembly. THE BAHA'I WORLD

2. FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FAITH IN LATIN AMERICA CELEBRATED

FROM Ric;Ivan 1937 to Ric;!van 1944, the While in Argentina, Amatu'l-Baha, ac- Baha'is of the United States and Canada companied by Mr. Monadjem and a member engaged in the first Seven Year Plan in of the National Spiritual Assembly, had an response to the call from the Guardian: interview with the President of Argentina, WOULD TO GOD EVERY STATE WITHIN AM ERI- Carlos Menem , and two Cabinet members. CAN REPUBLIC AND EVERY REPUBLIC IN The Hand of the Cause also called on the AMERI CAN CONTINENT MIGHT ERE TERMI NA- Mayor of Buenos Aires and presented him TION THIS GLORIOUS [IST BAHA'I] CENTURY with a copy of the pamphlet "A Pattern for EMBRACE LIGHT FAITH BAHA'U ' LLAH AND Future Society'', which consists of an extract ESTABLISH STRU CTURAL BASIS HIS WORLD from the writings of Shoghi Effendi on the ORDER. coming world civilization. By the end of the Plan, the Faith had been Media coverage of the conference was established from Alaska to Chile. No state in excellent. There were items on both radio the United States, province in Canada, or and television, and articles in several newscountry in Latin America was without a papers including one with two full pages, group of believers. Celebrations of the 50th one of which was in color. anniversaries of these victories were held throughout Latin America. BOLIVIA About 150 Baha'is and their friends attended ARGENTINA a public meeting held in the salon of the The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu'l-Baha National Library in Bogota on 12 December Ru~iyyih Khanum attended the "Uniting the 1991 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Americas" conference held in Buenos Aires the Faith in Bolivia. Rosario de Moazes from 27 February to 1 March 1990 to cele- presented a short summary of the Baha' i brate the fiftieth anniversary of the Faith in activities during the Faith' s half-century in Argentina. the country, and Roberto Nothaft gave a talk The conference also honored the memory on the Baha ' i Faith and the new World of May Bolles Maxwell, the mother of Order. Rul~fyyih Khanum, whose flame-like love A story about the celebration was broadfor the Cause led her, at the age of seventy cast on the television news that evening. and in ill health, to voyage to Buenos Aires and, in the words of Shoghi Effendi, "lay BRAZIL down her life in such a spirit of consecration The Local Spiritual Assembly of Salvador, and self-sacrifice as to merit the crown of in the state of Bahia, Brazil, is the oldest martyrdom". Assembly on the Continent. Established in About 1,250 attended the conference 1940, it is the "Mother Assembly" of South including Counsellors Eloy Anello, Isabel America. de Calderon, and Shapoor Monadjem. As On 16 October 1990, the Local Spiritual many as 400 of the participants were not Assembly held a reception to celebrate its Baha'is and, during the course of the three fiftieth anniversary. About two hundred days, twelve people enrolled in the Faith. people attended, including Margot Worley, THE COMM EMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 91

one of the first Baha' is of South America enriched by the music performed by a choir and a member of the first Local Spiritual called "Heredia Canta." Assembly. Also attending was Rolf van Czekus, a member of the Continental Board CUBA of Counsellors in the Americas. On 2 December 1989, the Baha'is of Cuba The Assembly received messages of filled the National Center in Havana to congratulations from the Governor-elect, celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Antonio Carlos Magalhaes, the commanding establishment of the Faith in their country. officer of the consular corps of Bahia, and Songs and dances were performed and, folmany other non-Baha ' is. Commendations lowing a lavish luncheon , a commemorative were also received from the National cake was served. Spiritual Assembly of Brazil , the National Perfecto Rerez Toledo, the first Cuban to Spiritual Assembly of the United States, and recognize Baha' u ' llah, spoke to the Baha'is a large number of Local Spiritual Assem- and their guests. Evoking those early days blies in Brazil. of 1939, he paid tribute to the Baha'is who As part of the anniversary events, two helped to found and develop the Cuban special prayer sessions were held at the Baha'i community: Philip and Laily Marangraveside of Leonora Stirling Armstrong, gella, Josephine Kruka, Jean Silver, William "the spiritual mother of the Baha' is of Brazil'', de Forge, Emogene Hoagg, Gayle Woolson, with many local Baha'is attending. and Ruth Moffett. He also mentioned A photographic exhibit of the first fifty the Hands of the Cause of God Zikrullah years of Baha' i activities in Bahia was Khadem [Dhikru'llah Khac:Iim], Dr. Ugo assembled and displayed, and a video docu- Giachery, and "the unforgettable Dorothy mentary of the history of the Cause in Bahia Baker." was launched. An article about the development of the Faith in Bahia was published in EL SALVADOR A Tarde, the widest circulated newspaper in On 12 November 1989, the Baha' i community the state. of El Salvador celebrated the Anniversary of the Birth ofBaha ' u ' llah and the fiftieth anni- COSTA RICA versary of the arrival of the Faith's first The fiftieth anniversary of the election of the pioneer to their country, John Eichenauer. first Local Spiritual Assembly of San Jose, Mr. Eichenauer was able to be present for Costa Rica, was held on 21 April 1991 in the the occasion. auditorium of the Federal College of Engi- The program was held in the Instituto neers and Architects in San Jose. The event Baha' i Jamaliyyih, about 35 kilometres from was attended by the head of the national the capital, with more than 200 people Social Security system, a representative of attending. One of the friends talked about the Governor of the Province of San Jose, the year 1920, when the Hand of the Cause the President of the San Jose City Council, of God Amelia Collins had walked the and the Rector of the University of Costa streets of old San Salvador saying the Great- Rica. est Name, and Mr. Eichenauer told of how, Special guest for the celebration was hearing of this, he was inspired to go to Mrs. Gayle Woolson, one of the first two El Salvador to pioneer. pioneers to Costa Rica and a member of the The Faith enjoyed extensive television first Local Assembly. The other special exposure during the weeks preceding the guest was also a member of the first Assem- celebration. During one interview, the bly, Mrs. Consuelo Miranda Yda . de Araya . Baha' is were able to speak for two hours on The beautiful commemorative program was the Baha'i approach to peace in response to 92 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

The first pioneer to El Salvador, Mr. John Eichenauer (seated center with the Greatest Name plaque), returned to celebrate the Baha 'i community 's fiftieth anniversary. The event was held at Jamaliyy ih Baha'i Institute on 12 November 1989.

generally helpful and friendly questions from national theater. A local newspaper pubthe moderator and the television audience. lished an article about the commemoration.

PARAGUAY URUGUAY A memorial service for the first Baha'i of A series of events called "Days of Peace on Paraguay, Sr. Roque Centurion Miranda, the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Baha ' i Faith was held on 30 January 1990 to commemo- in Uruguay", organized by the Maldonado rate the thirtieth anniversary of his passing community and held from 18 to 20 November on that date. A floral offering was carried to 1988, was given extensive media coverage the Baha' i Cemetery in Lambare, and under in the area. the pine trees by his gravesite prayers were Activities began with a slide show of the read and Sr. Centurion Miranda's two daugh- Baha'i Holy Places and a presentation of ters shared anecdotes about their father. statistical information about the Faith in During the evening of 30 January, a pro- Uruguay. On the second day members of gram was held at the National Baha'i Center the Baha' i community visited a home for in Asuncion to celebrate the fiftieth anniver- the aged and the Children's Council, and sary of the Baha'i Faith in Paraguay. The held a youth gathering. On the third day, a Director of the Performing Art School of program for chi ldren was held with clowns the Municipality of Asuncion participated, and acting. The final activity was a presentaas did Mercedes Janet, a noted actress. A tion about women and peace. young student gave a reading of the biogra- A display of books and photographs about phy of Sr. Roque Centurion Miranda as a the Baha'i Faith was exhibited at the Baha' i Paraguayan citizen, and as a lover of the Centre for the three "Days of Peace". III THE TEN YEAR CRUSADE AND THE KNIGHTS OF BAHA'U'LLAH

Adapted from a talk gi ven by MR. ' ALf NAKHJAVANi to the Baha' i World Centre staff in April 1992

MANY of us are working here and abroad di ffus ion of that same light over one hunto prepare for the events of the coming Holy dred and thirty-one additional territories Year-the Centenary of the Ascension of and islands in both the Eastern and West- Baha'u' llah. Among the events whi ch will ern Hemi spheres, through the operation be held in the Holy Land will be a reception of a decade-long world spiritual crusade for the Knights of Baha' u'll ah. These pre- whose termination will, God willing, cious souls had a unique part to play in an coincide with the Most Great Jubilee extremely important period of Baha' i his- commemorating the centenary of the dectory, the Ten Year Crusade. As we look back laration ofBaha'u' llah in Ba~dad. 1 over the development of the Faith during the The tenth part is everything we will be one hundred years since the passing of the doing till the end of the Dispensation of Blessed Beauty, it is appropriate to take the Baha'u'llah. Shoghi Effendi continues: time to review a subject which engaged the And finally the tenth part of this mighty entire Baha' i world during the latter years of process must be the penetration of that the ministry of Shoghi Effendi. light, in the course of numerous crusades The signifi cance of the Ten Year Crusade and of successive epochs of both the Forwas described by Shoghi Effend i in a mative and Go lden Ages of the Faith, into message he sent to the Intercontinental Con- all the remain ing territories of the globe ference in America on 4 May 1953. It was through the erection of the enti re machina long message, read to the assemb ly by ery ofBaha'u'llah's Admin istrative Order Amatu' l-Baha Rt'.tl~iyyih Khanum, towards in all terri tories, both East and West, the the end of which he reviewed the entire stage at whi ch the light of God 's triumspiritual evolution of humanity. He sa id that phant Faith shining in all its power and this process-this stupendous vast process- glory will have suffused and enveloped consists of ten parts. Part one consisted of the entire planet. 2 all of the Prophets of God before the Bab. Of the entire range of the Baha' i Dispen- Part two began with the Bab, and then fol - sation , we are in the tenth part. The ninth lowed five parts rep resenting major phases part-only ten years-was the Ten Year of the Faith up to 192 1. The eighth part was hi s own ministry up to 1953. 1 Messages to rhe Baha 'i World, A compi lat ion of Then he wrote: letters from Shogh i Effend i (Wilmette: Baha' i The ninth part of this process-the Publi shing Tru st, 195 8), pp. 154- 155. stage we are no w entering- is the further 2 ibid. p. 155 . 94 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Crusade. And in the entire range of the uni- Seven Year Plan there would be a Ten Year versal process of spiritual evo lution of Plan, not only for the United States and Canhumanity this stage stands out. This is an ada, but for the entire Baha' i world. indication of the importance of the topic. Therefore, that third Seven Year Plan was cancelled, and was superseded by the Ten TEACHING PLANS Year Plan. The first Plan with world-wide From 1844 to 193 7 there were no Baha'i international collaboration was the Ten Year Teaching Plans. The friends knew about Crusade. teaching, about traveling to teach, and about At the mid-way point of the Ten Year martyrdom. 'Abdu'l-Baha had encouraged Plan, Shoghi Effendi passed away. The the friends to form local assemblies and to Hands of the Cause of God took over custoset up funds and associations, and He had dianship of the Faith and the Spiritual given the American believers the Tablets of Crusade was completed. The Universal House the Divine Plan but there was no Adminis- of Justice came into existence and it took trative Order to prosecute this vision. one year to review the situation before it During the first years of his ministry, developed, after consultation with the Hands Shoghi Effendi began to create the structures of the Cause, the Nine Year Plan, from 1964 that we know today. He named the United to 1973 . Following Shoghi Effendi's style, States as the crad le of the Administrative the House of Justice gave a year of respite Order as there was one National Spiritual from Ric;lvan 1973 to 1974, then gave the Assembly there as well as for Canada, and friends the Five Year Plan to carry out from they had been the recipients of the Tablets of 1974 to 1979, followed by the Seven Year the Divine Plan. Everything in terms of the Plan, 1979 to 1986, and the Six Year Plan, formal inauguration of the Administrative 1986 to 1992. Now we have the Holy Year, Order began with the North American Baba'i Ric;lvan 1992 to 1993 , then we are to have community. For 16 years, from 1921 to the Three Year Plan, 1993 to 1996. What will 1937, he said he built up the Administrative happen after that, only Baha'u'llah knows. Order in the United States and Canada. Then, at Ric;lvan 193 7, he gave them the first MESSAGES LEADING UP TO THE Seven Year Plan. Although it was a national TEN YEAR CRUSADE plan, the messages were shared with the The Guardian used the word "Crusade" as Baha'i world collectively. far back as 1939. Of course, this word has At the end of the first Seven Year Plan, historical connotations in connection with in 1944, the Guardian gave the American the military expeditions of the European friends a two-year respite. Then he gave them Christians who went to the Holy Land to libthe second Seven Year Plan, from Ric;lvan erate Jerusalem from Muslim rule. In 1939, 1946 to 1953. During the second Seven Year two years after the inauguration of the first Plan of the United States, he urged the other Seven Year Plan of the American believers, ten National Spiritual Assemblies to have he began to use the term "Crusade" instead Plans, too. Consequently, the second Plan was of "Plan." In his Persian writings he used paralleled by other Plans in Asia, Africa, the word "Jihad," which is "Holy War." He Europe and Australasia. subsequently used "Crusade" for the second In letters from the Guardian, there was Seven Year Plan, and then for the Ten Year reference to a third Seven Year Plan to take Plan so that the latter became known as place after three years of respite. However, the Ten Year Crusade, even more than the he changed his mind and decided that imme- Ten Year Plan. He sometimes referred to the diately upon the completion of the second pioneers as "crusaders ." THE C OMMEMORATIO N OF HISTORIC A NN IVERSARI E S 95

Shoghi Effendi did not give the Baha'i National Assembly. In this letter he stated world any indication of this Crusade in the that at the end of the Two Year Plan, earlier years of his Guardianship. However, the Baha'i world was to have undertakings in 1951 , six years before he passed away, which would involve and engage all National when he began to build up the World Centre Assemblies, and there were eleven at that by inviting outstanding believers to come to time. the Holy Land to serve on the International In this letter he also gave the Baha'i world Baha' i Council or to come as Hands of the a foreshadowing of two stages: one period Cause of God, he started referring to some- with undertakings involving all National thing very great that was going to happen. Spiritual Assemblies, that is, the Ten Year For example, on 25 February 1951 , in Crusade; to be followed throughout the a letter to the British National Spiritual Epochs of the Formative Age by enterprises Assembly (and almost on the same date he which would be launched by the Universal sent a cable to the American National Spiri- House of Justice. I remember the discustual Assembly repeating virtually word for sions in Tihran by the scholars of the Faith word what he had told the British Baha ' is), about why Shoghi Effendi had said that he instructed the British Baha'i community those enterprises would be embarked upon to have a Two Year Plan, beginning in 1951 by the Universal House of Justice. Why and ending in 1953, to recruit pioneers to didn ' t he say under the aegis of the Africa. Guardianship? On the success of this enterprise, [the In this one short paragraph, Shoghi Two Year Plan] unprecedented in its Effendi told the friends about the future in scope, unique in its character and immense two ways. First something great was going in its spiritual potentialities, must depend to happen, then major enterprises were to the initiation, at a later period in the For- occur under the aegis of the Universal House mative Age of the Faith, of undertakings of Justice. embracing within their range all National Nine months later, on 30 November Assemblies functioning throughout the 1951, the Guardian sent a message in which Baha' i World, undertakings constituting he said that the Baha'i World would hold in themselves a prelude to the launching intercontinental conferences for the first of world-wide enterprises destined to be time. There had always been local and embarked upon, in future epochs of that national conferences. Now, he said, the same Age [the Formative Age] , by the Faith was entering a new phase. Universal House of Justice , that will Forthcoming celebrations must be symbolise the unity and coordinate and signalized through inauguration long unify the activities of these National anticipated intercontinental stage in Assemb lies. 1 administrative evolution of Faith marking This was the first hint Shoghi Effendi its gradual development through succesgave of the Ten Year Crusade. Under the sive phases of local , regional, national, Two Year Plan, he had instructed only five international Baha' i activity. Initiation National Assemblies to work together to this highly significant measure further open Africa south of the Sahara and he put cementing Baha' i National Assemblies in these National Assemblies under the aus- five continents of globe will be acclaimed pices and coordination of the British by posterity as counterpart to consolidation Faith at its World Centre through Unfo lding Destiny : Th e Messages fro m the Guardian recent formation International Baha'i of the Baha 'i Faith to the Baha 'i Community of the Council in Holy Land. 2 British ls/es (London: Baha ' i Publi s hing Tru st, I 98 I), p. 261. 2 Messages, p. I 7. 96 TH E BAHA ' I WORLD

This was another hint that the Baha'is nigh, to resolve never to flinch, never to were to engage in collaboration involving all hesitate, never to relax, until each and National Spiritual Assemblies very soon. every objective in the Plans to be pro- At Naw-Ruz 1952, Shoghi Effendi claimed, at a later date, has been full y announced that the eleven National Spiritual consummated.2 Assemblies of the Baha'i world were to be That shook the Baha'i world. The friends joined by a twelfth, the Halo-Swiss National reali zed that while there was a wonderful Assembly. He praised the work of Dr. Ugo thing happening- there would also be national Giachery in that cable, and said how impor- Plans; each of these twelve National Spiritant it was that at the beginning of this new tual Assemblies was going to have its own international phase we had a new National Plan, just as the Halo-Swiss was to have its Spiritual Assembly. own Plan- and that there would be some Anticipate entrusting to the youngest rough times ahead. among the twelve National Assemblies of Then came the auspicious moment, on the Baha' i World a specific plan enabling 8 October 1952, when Shoghi Effendi it, in conjunction with its sister National announced the summary of the Ten Year Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'i World, Crusade. He gave the Baha'i world the Cruto promote in the course of the ten years sades ' s objectives, and the preamble of the separating the second from the Most Great message read as follows: Jubilee the Global Crusade designed to Feel hour propitious to proclaim to the hoist the standard of Baha' u' llah in the entire Baha'i world the projected launching remaining states, dependencies and islands on the occasion of the convocation of the of the whole planet. 1 approaching Intercontinental Conferences Here it was : the first intimation of the Ten on the four continents of the globe the fate- Year Crusade. laden, soul-stirring, decade-long, world- The next message I want to quote was embracing Spiritual Crusade involving the written in June 1952 and was heartrending: simultaneous initiation of twelve national No matter how long the period that Ten Year Plans and the concerted particiseparates them from ultimate victory; pation of all National Spirih1al Assemblies however arduous the task; however formi- of the Baha ' i world aiming at the immedidable the exertions demanded of them; .. . ate extension of Baha'u' llah's spiritual however grievous the ordeal of temporary dominion as well as the eventual establishseparation from the heart and nerve-center ment of the struchire of His administrative of their Faith which future unforeseeable order in all remaining Sovereign States, disturbances may impose upon them, I Principal Dependencies comprising Princiadjure them, by the precious blood that palities, Sultanates, Emirates Shaykhdoms, flowed in such great profusion, by the Protectorates, Trust Territories, and Crown lives of the unnumbered saints and heroes Colonies scattered over the surface of the who were immolated, by the supreme, the entire planet. The entire body of the glorious sacrifice of the Prophet-Herald avowed supporters of Baha' u 'llah's allof our Faith, by the tribulations which its conquering Faith are now summoned to Founder, Himself, willingly underwent, achieve in a single decade feats eclipsing so that His Cause might live, His Order in totality the achievements which in the might redeem a shattered world and its course of the eleven preceding decades glory might suffuse the entire planet- I illuminated the annals ofBaha'i pioneering.3 adjure them, as this solemn hour draws ibid., pp. 38- 39. 1 3 Messages, p. 23. ibid., p. 41. THE COMM E MORATION OF HISTORIC A NN IVERSARIES 97 He went on giving a summary of these the clouds which immediately after its rise goals. This message had an electrifying in those somber surroundings obscured its effect on the friends. splendor. It was destined to mount to its By May 1953, Shoghi Effendi had already zenith in the far-away city of Adrianople, announced not only the summary but the and ultimately to set in the immediate details of the Ten Year Plan. Intercontinen- vicinity of the fortress-town of' Akka. 1 tal conferences were held. To each one he In these three short sentences, Shoghi sent a special message enumerating all the Effendi described the process of the Revelagoals pertaining to that continent. He sent tion of Baha'u'llah. What happened during Hands of the Cause to be present at the the period of the Bab should be considered Conferences, with a designated Hand repre- as the period of the dawn. As the rim of the senting him personally. All of this happened orb of the Sun appeared-sunrise-that moduring that Holy Year. ment was the birth of the Baha' i Revelation in the Siyah-Chal in Tihran. That began the first Holy Year. The Morning Sun was seen HOLY YEARS in Baghdad, the Declaration by Baha'u'llah The Guardian first used the term "Holy Year" of His Mission. The process reached its zenith in a letter written on his behalf by his secre- in Adrianople, when Baha'u' llah wrote His tary to the American Baha'i community in letters to the Kings, the Proclamation of His November 1951. He explained in that letter Faith: That "Sun" proceeded on its predesthat the Holy Year was to mark the Year tined path and then set in the city of' Akka, Nine, a reference to the Bab's prophecy that at Bahji, in 1892. As to the second Holy Year: in the Year Nine-that is nine years after sunrise fixed the time for the first Holy 1844, His own Declaration-the Promised Year, and sunset will fix the time for the One would come and the new Revelation second Holy Year. would be born. The first Holy Year, announced by The Year Nine began from the time when Shogh i Effendi, stretched from 15 October Baha'u'llah received the intimation of His 1952 to 15 October 1953, and during this Revelation in the Siyah-Chal in Tihran. He time the first four Intercontinental Conferentered the Siyah-Chal in August of 1852, ences were held. The second Holy Year, and stayed in that Black Pit for four months . announced by the Universal House of Jus- Shoghi Effendi explained that this intima- tice, is to begin at Ric;lvan 1992 and end at tion- this dream or mystic experience that Ric;!van 1993 with commemorative events to Baha'u'llah wrote about-occurred at the be held in the Holy Land in May 1992, and mid-way point of this period of four months. the second Baha' i World Congress in New Baba ' u 'llah entered the Siyah-Chal approxi- York in November 1992. mately on 15 August, so Shoghi Effendi took 15 October as the beginning of the Holy CENTENARIES Year. To better understand the Holy Years, I Another subject which might be helpful as refer you to this passage from God Passes By: background is the centenaries we have had The first dawnings of that Light of so far during the Formative Age. The first peerless splendor had . .. broken in the city was the Centenary of the Declaration of the of Shiraz. The rim of that Orb had now Bab, the First Jubilee, in May 1944, the appeared above the horizon of the Siyah- Chal of Tihran. Its rays were to burst 1 Shoghi Effendi , God Passes By (Wilmette: Baha'i forth, a decade later, in Baghdad, piercing Publishing Trust, 2nd ed. , 1987), pp. I 02- 103. 98 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

Friends from Australia and New Zealand gathered in Sydney for the Dedication of the National Ifazirat 'ul-Quds and the Commemoration of the Centenary of the Declaration of the Bab, 20 May 1944.

highlights of which were celebrations held Conferences convened by the Universal all over the Baha'i world. The second was House ofJustice. Hands of the Cause of God the Centenary of the "Martyrdom of the Bab went to all of these Intercontinental Conferin July 1950, for which Shoghi Effendi called ences. Six of the Hands first visited the on the entire Baha'i world to hold commem- House of Baha' u ' llah in Adrianople before orative events. Next was the Birth of the scattering, carrying with them a copy of the Revelation of Baha' u ' llah, the intimation of portrait ofBaM'u'llah taken in Adrianople, His Mission, referred to by the Guardian as which the friends at these conferences were the Second Jubilee, or sometimes the Great privileged to view. The Centenary of the Jubilee. This was the beginning of the first Ascension ofBaha'u'llah is ahead of us, and Holy Year, as described above, and its high- the beginning of the Holy Year, Ric;lvan lights were the first four Intercontinental 1992 to Ric;ivan 1993 . The highlights will be Conferences. the events here and in New York. The fourth centenary was the Centenary of Baha' u' llah's Declaration in April 1963. THE TEN YEAR CRUSADE This was the Third Jubilee, or, as Shoghi Effendi called it in other writings, the Most Shoghi Effendi sent his manuscript of the Great Jubilee. The highlights were worldwide Ten Year Plan to two National Spiritual celebrations, particularly culminating in the Assemblies, the United States ahd the British first Baha'i World Congress held in London . Isles, asking each of them t6 publish it. It Next was the Centenary of the Revelation of is called, The Bahti 'i Faith 1844 to 1952, the Suriy-i-Muluk in Adrianople where, Information Statistical and á Comparative, Shoghi Effendi said, the Sun "had reached and it is in two parts. The first part consists its zenith." This was in September 1967, and of statistics of the Baha' i world as of 1953. the highlights were the six Intercontinental The second part is called, "Supplement: Ten THE COMMEMORATIO N OF HISTORIC ANN IV ERSARIES 99

The Hand of the Cause of God Leroy Joas greeting the friends on behalf of the Guardian during the first Baha'i Intercontinental Conference, held in Kampala, Uganda, from 12 to 18February1953.

Year International Baha'i Teaching and Africa, thirty countries in Europe, twenty- Consolidation Plan 1953-1963." The bottom seven countries in the Americas. However, of the cover reads: "Compiled by Shoghi during the evolution of the Plan, one new Effendi, Guardian of the Baha' i Faith." From territory was added raising the total to one pages 50 to 74 are the details of the Ten hundred and thirty-two, as will be explained Year Crusade as laid out by the Guardian in later. full detail and in full splendor. The next goal was the translation and The first goal was, "Adoption of prelimi- publication of Baha'i literature into ninetynary measures for the construction of one additional languages, the names of which Baha'u'llah' s Sepulchre in the Holy Land." Shoghi Effendi specified. There were to be Some of the friends asked if Shoghi Effendi forty in Asia, thirty-one in Africa, ten in was plaiming to build a superstructure for Europe, ten in the Americas, and he assigned the Shrine ofBaha'u'llah. He answered that responsibility for translating and publishing what he had in mind was to cleanse the these books and publications to designated sun-oundings of the Shrine and to create the National Spiritual Assemblies. I:Iaram-i-Aqdas. This was accomplished. The fourth goal concerned the construction The second goal was the opening of one of two Mashriqu ' l-Adhkars, one in Tihran hundred and thirty-one virgin territories, and one in Frankfurt. Circumstances in Iran whose names he specified. At that time did not pennit the construction of the Temple roughly the same number of territories had in Tihran so, at a later date, he announced already been opened, so opening one hun- that the Kampala Temple in Uganda would dred and thirty-one new territories was equal replace the Temple in Tihran as a goal. A to doubling the number of "countries within few months later he added Sydney, Australia, the pale of the Faith." There were forty-one so two Houses of Worship were erected countries in Asia, thirty-three countries in instead of the one in Tihran. 100 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Next was the acquisition of a site for the of religious courts, and indeed a reduction of Temple on Mount Carmel. Mrs. Amelia Collins the power and authority of religious courts. provided the funds, and Shoghi Effendi was This was studied very carefully by the able to purchase that very precious and impor- Hands of the Cause, who produced docutant property which had been blessed by the ments expla ining why this goal was not footsteps of Baha 'u' llah Himself at the time feasib le under current circumstances. He revealed the Tablet of Carmel. The next goal was the codification of the Another goal completed was the erection Laws and Ordinances of the Kitab-i-Aqdas. of the first dependency of the Temple in Shoghi Effendi himself worked on this, and Wilmette, the Home for the Aged. a large package of his notes was passed to Next was the purchase of Temple sites in the Universal House of Justice when it was eleven countries, which he named-three on elected. These form the basis of the present the American continent, three in Africa, two in Synopsis and Codification of the Kitab-i- Asia, two in Europe and one in Australasia. Aqdas that was published, almost ninety-five The eighth goal was, "Development of the per cent of which was the work of Shoghi functions of the institution of the Hands of Effendi. The Universal House of Justice the Cause". That became very important as completed and published the book. the years went by. During the years that he Next was the estab li shment of six Baha' i was alive after launching the Ten Year Plan, courts in chief cities of the Middle East. He Shoghi Effendi added more Hands to the named them: Tihran, Cairo, Baggdad, New number he had already appointed, then called Delhi, Karachi, Kabul. None of these were on them all to appoint Auxiliary Boards of possible, some for the same reason that a nine for each continent. Later he said that court could not be established in Israel, and there should be two Auxiliary Boards instead others because in those countries they were of one-one for protection and one for ultra-orthodox in their attitudes. The friends teaching the Faith. Towards the end of his tried and were able, for example in Pakistan, life he added more Hands of the Cause, and to have the Baha' i marriage certificate described them as the Chief Stewards of the recognised, which is part of the work of a Embryonic World Commonwealth. As can be Baha'i court, so some aspects of the goal seen , the institution of the Hands developed were achieved . Likewise in New Delhi it very rapidly during those four-and-on e-half was possible to obtain official recognition of years. the Baha' i marriage certificate. The ninth goal was the establishment of The twelfth goal was the extension of the a Baha ' i Court in the Holy Land. Shoghi international Baha' i endowments in the Holy Effendi did not intend for there to be a court Land. Shoghi Effendi acquired many parcels which would supervise and oversee the of property both in Bahji and in Haifa during judicial decisions of National Spiritual As- the four years he was ali ve at the beginning semblies, since the Head of the Faith was of the Plan. Had he not acquired these propsupervising and coordinating the work of the erties on Mount Carmel we would not be National Assemb lies. The intention was ab le to work on the Arc and Terraces as we something different. Just as other religions are now. in Israel had certain rights according to the Construction of the International Baha' i civil and religious laws of the land and had Archives Building was a goal which caused the right to have religious courts, so too tremendous problems. Shoghi Effendi had should the Baba' i Faith have a right to a reli- the design made by Mason Remey, under his gious court in Israel. But that court never own supervision, and had it erected but could materialized because there occurred a trend not complete it. During the last few years of in Israe l towards referral to secular instead the Plan, after the passing of Shoghi Effendi, THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 101

the building was completed under the direc- related to the goal above. As was explained, tion of the Hands of the Cause in the Holy some of these National Assemb lies could Land and all the archives that had been kept not be incorporated. in the three rooms to the south of the Shrine The twenty-first goal was the establishof the Bab were transferred to the new ment of six national Publishing Trusts. All of location. these were established-two in the Americas, It was a goal to construct a Tomb for the two in Asia, one in Africa and one in Europe. Wife of the Bab in Shiraz. The National Spiri- Next, "Participation by the women of Pertual Assembly of Iran did its best, but until sia in the membership of National and Local today it has not been possible to achieve this Assembl ies," was accomplished with flying important goal of the Ten Year P lan. colors. The first year that this permission The next goal was the transfer of the was made effective two Baha'i women were remains of the Father ofBaha'u ' llah and the elected to the Nationa l Spiritual Assemb ly Mother and the Cousin of the Bab to the Baha'i off ran. (Incidentally, Shoghi Effendi gave cemetery in Baghdad. The remains of the the same instruction to the National Spiritual Father ofBaha'u'llah were actually transferred Assembly of Egypt and Sudan, one year after and they are now in the Baha'i cemetery. Persia.) But the remains of the Mother and the Cousin The next goal was the establi shment of of the Bab have sti ll not been identified. seven Israeli branches of National Sp iritual These are among the last wishes of Shoghi Assemblies. This was ve1y interesting. Shoghi Effendi that wil l have to be carried out in Effendi established under Israeli law what future years. are today called "friendly societies." Instead The sixteenth goal was the acquisition of of ca lling them, let us say, "Baha'i Holding four Baha'i Holy Places in iran and 'Iraq. Societies," he had each one named after a Circumstances did not permit any progress National Assembly operating at that time: in realizing the goal in 'Iraq. In Iran , how- for example, the National Spiritual Assembly ever, although it was possible to acquire two of the Baha'is of the United States- Israel of the properties, these were subsequently Branch. One of the wonderful things that he confiscated by the authorities after the did was to incorporate one of these "friendly Revo lution. societies" in the name of the National Spiri- The seventeenth goal was the establish- tual Assembly of the Baha' is of Iran- Israel ment of forty-eight new National Spiritual branch. Shoghi Effendi used to say that in Assemblies. All of these were estab lished Iran the authorities did not recognize us but during the Ten Year Crusade. in Israel the National Spiritual Assembly of The next goal was met with the acquisi- Iran had been incorporated. He transferred tion of forty-nine new I:Ia?'.iratu' 1-Quds. property in the names of these various legal The acqui sition of forty-nine national entities. On Panorama Road, above the Shrine endowments and the framing of national of the Bab, there is still a piece of land Baha' i constitutions for each of the new recorded in the land registry in the name of National Spiritual Assembl ies was the next the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha' is goal. Unfortunately in some countries, such of Iran-Israel branch. as Iran , it was not possible to incorporate the The twenty-fourth goal was the establish- National Assembly. However, national con- ment of a national Baha'i Printing Press in stitutions were drawn up and the National Tihran. This was with the understanding that Assemb lies operated within the terms of the National Assembly of iran would be these documents. incorporated and have its own printing press. Next was the incorporation of fifty-one This was not possib le. However, the National National Spiritual Assemb lies, which is Assembly of iran succeeded in estab li shing 102 THE BAHA'i WORLD

an informal publishing house which pub- he named them. It was subsequently learned lished Baha'i books without actually owning that there were Baha'is in some of these a printing press. The books were typed, areas, whose presence had not been reported mimeographed, bound and distributed. Many to him . A few territories were opened by books in our Baha ' i library today are those traveling teachers. We will discuss these published during that period of the Ten Year matters later. Crusade. It was not official, but it was on the The last goal, the twenty-seventh goal, path to the fulfilment of this goal fonnulated was the convocation of the Baha' i World by the Guardian . Congress áin 1963 in Bag!:!dad. As events Baha'is had ties with the United Nations, unfolded, it was not possible to have the Conbut Shoghi Effendi made it a goal to rein- gress in Bag!:!dad and it was held in London . force them. Two years before he passed away, In retrospect it seems so appropriate that it the persecutions in Iran allowed the friends was held in London because that was where to develop much closer connections with Shoghi Effendi had passed away. Many various UN agencies such as the Security Baha'is went to that first Congress, on the one Council, the Human Rights Commission and hand to pay their respects to their Guardian other agencies in New York. The Guardian who had passed away while labouring for seemed to have anticipated this development, the Cause at the mid-way point of his Spiriand urged the friends to build on those rela- tual Crusade, and on the other to celebrate tionships. This process has continued, and the one hundredth anniversary of the Declanow we have an efficient office in New York, ration ofBaha'u ' llah. another in Geneva, yet another in the Pacific, After giving the friends the objectives and so on. of the Ten Year Crusade, Shoghi Effendi For the purposes of the Ten Year Crusade explained that it was to have four phases. Shoghi Effendi treated the Soviet Union as The first phase was the opening of the virgin two parts, the European section which he territories, to occur over the first year. Durcounted as part of Europe, and the Asian ing the year he named the Knights as they republics which he regarded as part of Asia. arrived at their pioneer posts. Second was According to his reports, there were thirteen the acquisition of national I:Ia~iratu'l-Qudses unopened republics in the Soviet Union and and endowments, over a period of two years. There was a tremendous effort by the Baha'is all over the world to win these goals. Third, the multiplication of Baha' i localities and the formation of sixteen new National Spiritual Assemblies over a period of two years. This was done. And then, just before his passing, he said the fourth phase was to witness a vast increase in the number of believers and localities and the erection of the Temples of Africa, Australasia and Europe. The Hands of the Cause of God continued working on this fourth phase for the rest of the ten years.

Charles Dunning, the Knight of Baha 'u 'llah THE KNIGHTS OF BAHA'U'LLAH for the Orkney Islands, The word translated as "knights" was used by with Brigitte Hasselblatt, the Knight of Baha'u'llah in His Writings. 'Abdu'l-Baha Bahci 'u 'llahfor the Shetland Islands, also used the word, as well as the word c. 1954. "horsemen." By knights they meant heroes: THE C OMME M ORATIO N OF HI ST ORI C ANN IVE RS ARI ES 103

pioneers who would go to these unconquered regions. This caught the imagination ofBaha'is all over the world. About a month later, Shoghi Effendi explained what he had in mind. In letters written on his behalf, he gave many explanations, two of which I will quote from: There are no objections to more than one pioneer settling in these areas [meaning these virgin areas]. If the original one to whom the territory has been assigned [meaning the NSA] cannot proceed at this moment, they will still be reaching their goal even though someone else might reach that point sooner than they. All who proceed to these points at this time will be designated as Knights ofBaha'u'llah and their names be carried on the Roll of Knights ofBaha 'u 'llah Alvin and Gertrude Honor to be deposited permanently in the Blum at their post in the Solomon Islands with Shrine of Baha'u ' llah. their daughter, Keithie (front) , John Mills All pioneers reaching virgin areas at (left) and the Head ofthe Bamu Tribe in 1954. this time are carried on the honor roll as they used the word as translated by Shoghi Knights of Baha'u'llah. In other words, Effendi with a lower case "k." Shoghi Effendi there may be four or five Knights of took this word and used it as an accolade. It Baha' u 'llah for one country. The Guardbecame a title, with a capital "K." After ian has been considering how long this annow1cing the goals of the Ten Year Crusade, period of settlement by the Knights of Shoghi Effendi made this announcement on Baha'u'llah should continue, but has not 28 May 1953: yet set the date. Up until that time, every Planning inscribe, chronological order, individual settling in a virgin area will be names spiritual conquerors illuminated carried on the honor roll. Roll of Honor, to be deposited entrance door inner Sanctuary Tomb ofBaha' u'llah, as permanent memorial contribution champions His Faith victorious conclusion opening campaign Global Crusade . . . 1 This was the first time he had used the words "Roll of Honor." It was a new term for the Baha'is, as were "Holy Year" and "Crusade," and of course, "Knights" as a title. As we just saw, Shoghi Effendi wanted one hundred and thirty-one countries and territories of the world opened to the Faith during one year. To encourage the friends to arise, he said he would open a list upon Feroza Yaganegi (left), one of the Knights of which he would inscribe the names of those Baha 'u 'llah for Goa, with Gulnar Aftabi, wife of the other Knight of BahQ 'u 'llahfor Messages , p. 49. Goa in 1953. 104 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Shoghi Effendi had named 131 territories to be opened, including Anticosti Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. The National Assembly wrote to Shoghi Effendi to state that no pioneer could go to Anticosti as it was owned and entirely controlled by a paper company. Only people employed by that company could go there, and Baba' is had been unsuccessful in obtaining jobs. Two further possibilities were for hunters or for people related to the islanders to go there, but neither of these were opened to Baha'is. Shoghi Effendi wrote back to tell them to choose another island. They consulted and The Knights of Baha 'u 'llah for French chose the Gulflslands, which Shoghi Effendi Togo/and, David Tanyi (second from left) approved. and Vivian Wesson (second from right), In the end, the National Assembly was with new believers in Accra in 1956. able to open Anticosti Island, as originally envisaged. Shoghi Effendi named a Knight Friends started rushing : they longed to for Anticosti and it is on the Roll of Honor. be on the Roll of Honor and among the Because the Gulf Islands had already won Knights of Baha'u'llah. When you examine the honor of being a virgin territory which the Roll of Honor today you will see that produced a Knight, the Baha'i world ended some of the difficult countries only have one with 132 virgin territories instead of the solitary Knight, and some of the easier coun- original 131. tries have five, six, seven Knights. One may note that 122 territories opened Then, in May 1954, came this ominous by Knights of Baha'u ' llah do not equal the announcement: 132 virgin territories named by Shoghi The Roll of Honor, after the lapse of one year since the launching of the World Crusade, is now closed, with the exception of pioneers who have already left for their destination, as well as those first arriving in the few remaining virgin territories ... 1 When Mr. Abbas and Mrs. Rezvanieh Katirai went to the Sakhalin Islands in 1990, they became Knights since it was the last unopened territory left from the Ten Year Crusade. They set the seal on the Knights of Baha' u'llah. The total number of territories opened by Knights was 122, with a footnote which reads, "Including the Gulf Islands, supplementing the Anticosti Islands, both in Canada." The story of this footnote is as follows. Edythe MacArthur, who moved to the Queen Charlotte Islands of Canada in 1953 and Messages, p. 69. was named a Knight of Baha 'u 'llah. THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 105

Effendi. This is because 10 were opened by Shoghi Effendi had planned to deposit it other means. There were some countries where because when he sent a picture of the new there were Baha' is about whom Shoghi door to the Shrine (the present door to the Effendi had never received reports. When he Shrine) to the American National Assembly learned of these he announced in one of his he asked them to pub lish the picture and Ri9van messages that he now considered describe it and to add that immediately these countries a lready opened. As the behind this door the Roll of Honor would be Baha'is there had gone before the opening of deposited. the Ten Year Crusade they could not be A map has also been made. It is in the named Knights. In other cases, countries style of the maps of Shoghi Effendi, and were opened by traveling teachers who shows the 132 territories. From each country could not reside there-Baha ' is who went there is a line on which the name of each back and forth- and through them people Knight is written, and like an arrow the line enrolled in the Faith. Usually it was not just pierces the country. It is in color, and will one person, but a whole group of people also be displayed. A copy will, of course, be who went at different times. Together there made available to the friends . were JO territories in these categories which explains the 122. The total number of Knights was 257: 131 men; 126 women . The total number of Knights still alive is 159. The total number still living at pioneering posts is 14. The number settled during the lifetime of Shoghi Effendi and still at their post is 10- God bless them. The number of Knights intending to be present at the Centenary events in the Holy Land is 108.

THE ROLL OF HONOR The Roll of Honor is on a parchment that Shoghi Effendi himself ordered. He also found the artist who would put the names on Th e Knights of Baha 'u 'llah to the Canary the Roll. It has spaces, like cartouches, for Islands, Gertrude Eisenberg (right) and each country, in four columns. If there was George and Marguerite True, with the more than one Knight of Baha' u' llah for a True 's son Barry in 1953. country their names were written in smaller letters, and if there was just one name, that name enjoyed the full space of the cartouche. This Roll of Honor wi II be displayed when the Knights of Baha ' u' llah come to the World Centre. The next day, it will be placed in a [Reprints of the Roll of Honor as well as the special sealed box and then laid by Amatu'l- map showing the 132 territories drawn by Baha Rlil)iyyih Khanum at the entrance to Shoghi Effendi , are enclosed in the cover the Shrine of Baha'u' llah. We know where pockets of this volume of The Baha 'i World.] 106 THE BAHA 'f WORLD

THE KNIGHTS OF BAHA'U'LLAH

LISTED BY VIRGIN TERRITORIES AND DATES OF SETTLEMENT 1953-1990

ADMIRAL TY ISLANDS BALEARlC ISLANDS Violet Hoehnke VII 1954 Virginia Orbison VIII 1953 Jean Deleuran XII 1953 ALBANIA Tove Deleuran XII 1953 Found to be already open Charles Ioas I 1954

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS BARANOF ISLAND Elaine Caldwell VIII 1953 Grace Bahovec Jenabe Caldwell VIII 1953 Helen Robinson IX 1953 Elinore Putney V 1954 Gai l Avery II 1954

ANDAMAN ISLANDS BASUTOLAND Khodadad M. Fozdar XI 1953 Elizabeth Laws X 1953 Frederick Laws X 1953 ANDORRA William Danjon X 1953 BECHUANALAND Audrey Robarts II 1954 ANTICOSTI ISLAND John Robarts II 1954 Mary Zabolotny IV 1956 Patrick Robarts II 1954

Supplemented by: BHUTAN GULF ISLANDS Ardeshir Faroodi VI 1954 Catherine Huxtable IX 1959 Shapoor Rowhani VI 1954 Clifford Huxtable IX 1959 BRlTISH CAMEROONS ASHANTI PROTECTORATE Enoch Olinga X 1953 Benedict Eballa IV 1954 BRlTISH GUIANA AZORES Malcolm King X 1953 Lois Nolen X 1953 Richard Nolen X 1953 BRlTISH HONDURAS Cora Oliver IX 1953 BAHAMA ISLANDS Shirley Warde X 1953 V. Gail Curwin X 1953 Gerald Curwin X 1953 BRlTISH TOGOLAND Ethel Holmes X 1953 Albert Buapiah IV 1954 Maurice Holmes X 1953 Edward Tabe IV 1954 Andrew Matthisen I 1954 Nina Matthisen I 1954 THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC AN N I VERSARIES 107 BRUNEI CYPRUS Harry Clark II 1954 Abbas Vakil VIII 1953 Charles Duncan II 1954 R. Hugh McKinley IX 1953 John Fozdar IV 1954 Violet McKinley XI 1953 Samira Vakil XI 1953 CANARY ISLANDS Gertrude Eisenberg X 1953 DAMAN George True X 1953 Ghulam Ali Kurlawala VI 1953 Marguerite True X 1953 Shoghi Riaz Ruhany VI 1954 DIU Gulnar Aftabi XII 1953 CAPE BRETON ISLAND Kaykhusraw Dehmobedi XII Frederick Allen X 1953 1953 Jean Allen X 1953 Bahiya Rowhani XII 1953 Grace Geary X 1953 Irving Geary X 1953 DUTCH GUIANA Elinor WolffX 1953 CAPE VERDE ISLANDS Robert WolffX 1953 Howard Menking I 1954 Joanne Menking I 1954 DUTCH NEW GUINEA Elly Becking X 1953 CAROLINE ISLANDS Lex Meerburg IV 1954 Virginia Breaks XI 1953 DUTCH WEST INDIES CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO Matthew Bullock XI 1953 Puva Murday V 1957 John Kellberg IV 1954 Marjorie Kellberg IV 1954 CHANNEL ISLANDS Ziaoullah Asgarzadeh IX 1953 ESTONIA Evelyn Baxter IX 1953 Opened by traveling teachers

CHILOE ISLAND FALKLAND lSLANDS Zunilda de Palacios X 1953 John Leonard II 1954 Louise Groger VI 1954 FAROE ISLANDS COCOS ISLANDS Eskil Ljungberg VIII 1953 Frank Wyss VI 1955 FINNO-KARELIA COMORO ISLANDS Opened by traveling teachers Mehraban Sohaili VIII 1954 FRANKLIN COOK ISLANDS K. Gale Bond IX 1953 Edith Danielsen X 1953 J. Jameson Bond IX 1953 Dulcie Dive I 1954 FRENCH CAMEROONS CRETE Meherangiz Munsiff IV 1954 Rolf Haug X 1953 Samuel Njiki IV 1954 108 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

FRENCH EQUATORIAL GREECE AFRICA Am in Banani VIII 1953 Max Kanyerezi IX 1953 Sheila Banani VIII 1953 Carole A llen IX 1953 FRENCH GUIANA Dwight A llen IX 1953 Eberhard Friedland X 1953 HADHRAMAUT FRENCH SOMALILAND Adib Baghdadi XII 1953 Fred Schechter VIII 1953 Wahida Baghdadi XII 1953 Fahimah El ias V 1954 Husayn I:Ialabf II 1954 Sabri E li as V 1954 HAIN AN FRENCH TOGOLAND John Z.T. Chang VIII 1959 David Tanyi IV 1954 Mavis Nymon V 1954 HEBRIDES Vivian Wesson V 1954 Gerald ine Craney X 1953

FRENCH WEST AFRICA lT ALIAN SOMALILAND Labib I~fahanf XI 1953 Sohei l Samandari III 195 3 Habib I~fahani IV 1954 Mehd i Samandari XI 1953 Ursu la Samandari XI 1953 FRISIAN ISLANDS Elsa Grossmann IX 1953 JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLAND Geertrui Ankersmit X 1953 Adela I. de Tormo X 1953 Ursu la Yon Brunn X 1953 Salvador Tormo X 1953

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS KARIKAL Gayle Woolson IV 1954 Salisa Kermani VIII 1953 Haik Kevorkian V 1954 Shirin Noorani VIII 1953

GAMBIA KEEWATIN Feriborze Roozbehyan II 1954 Dick Stanton IX 1953

GILBERT & ELLICE KEY WEST ISLANDS Arthur Crane VII 1953 Elena Fernie III 1954 Ethel Crane VII 1953 Roy Fernie III 1954 Howard J. Snider IX 1953

GOA KAZAKHSTAN Roshan Aftabi VII 1953 Found to be already open Feroza Yaganegi VII 1953 KIRGIZIA GRAND MANAN ISLAND Found to be already open Doris Richardson IX 1953 KODIAK ISLAND Jack Huffman VI 1953 Rose Perkal VII 1953 Bernard Guluáke II 1954 THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC AN NIVERSARIES 109

KURJA-MURJA ISLANDS MAHE Munir Vakil I 1954 Lionel Peraji X 1953 Khodarahm Mojgani III 1954 LABRADOR Qudratollah Rowhani III 1954 Howard Gilliland IV 1954 Bmce Matthew IV 1954 MALTA Una Townshend X 1953 LATVIA Olga Mills XI 1953 Found to be already open John Mitchell VII 1954

LEEWARD ISLANDS MARGARJTA ISLAND Earle Render X 1953 R. Katharine Meyer X 1953 Ben Weeden X 1953 Gladys Weeden X 1953 MARJANA ISLANDS Charles Dayton II 1954 Robert Powers Jr. V 1953 Mary Dayton II 1954 Cynthia Olson V 1954 David Schreiber II 1954 MARQUESAS ISLANDS LIECHTENSTEIN Gretta Jankko III 1954 Amir Huschmand Manutschehri VIII 1953 MARSHALL ISLANDS Marcia Atwater VIII 1954 LITHUANIA Opened by traveling teachers MAURITIUS Ottilie Rhein XI 1953 LOFOTEN ISLANDS Mildred Clark VIII 1953 MENTAW AI ISLANDS Loyce Lawrence VIII 1953 Ral~matu 'llah Muhajir II 1954 Iran Muhajir II 1954 LOY AL TY ISLANDS Daniel Haumont X 1955 ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON MACAO Ola Pawlowska X 1953 Frances Heller X 1953 Carl Scherer XIJ 1953 MOLDAVIA Loretta Scherer XII 1953 Annemarie Kriiger

MADEIRA MONACO Ella Duffield IX 1953 Nellie French IX 1953 Elizabeth Hopper IX 1953 Azizullah Navidi II 1954 Sara Kenny IX 1953 Shamsi Navidi II 1954 Adah Schott IX 1953 Olivia Kelsey III 1954 Florence Ullrich III 1954 MAGDALEN ISLANDS Kathleen Weston IX 1953 MONGOLIA Kay Zinky IV 1954 Sean Hinton XII 1988 ll0 THE BAHA'I WORLD

MOROCCO PORTUGUESE TIMOR (INTERNATIONAL ZONE) Florence Fitzner VI 1954 Manoutchehr Hezari IX l 953 Haro ld Fitzner VI 1954 Hormoz Zendeh IX l 953 Jose Marques VII 1954 E lsie Austin X 1953 Mohammed Ali Ja lali X 1953 QUEEN CHARLOTTE Hossein Rowhani Ardekani ISLANDS XI 1953 Edythe MacArthur VIII 1953 Nosrat Rowhani Ardekani XI 1953 REUNION Ali Akbar Hassanzadeh Opal Jensen X 1953 Rafii-Rafsandjani XI l 953 Le land Jensen III 1954 Shayesteh Rafii-Rafsandjani XI 1953 RHODES Abbas Rafii Rafsandjani Elizabeth Bevan I 1954 XI 1953 Mary L. Suhm IV l 954 RIO DE ORO Richard Suhm IV 1954 Amin Battah X 1953 Evelyn Walters IV l 954 Richard Walters IV 1954 ROMANIA Fereidun Khazra i XI 1968 NEW HEBRIDES Bertha Dobbins X l 953 RUANDA-URUNDI Dunduzu Chisiza VI 1953 NICOBAR ISLANDS Mary Collison VI 1953 Margaret Bates VII l 957 Rex Collison VI 1953 Jeanne Frankel VII 1957 ST. HELENA NORTHERN TERRITORIES Elizabeth Stamp V 1954 PROTECTORATE Julius Edwards IX 1953 ST. THOMAS ISLAND Martin Manga IV 1954 Elise Schreiber II 1954

ORKNEY ISLANDS SAKHALIN Charl es Dunning X 1953 Abbas Katirai Ill 1990 Rezvanieh Katirai III 1990 PONDICHERRY Saeed Nahvi VII 1953 SAMOA ISLANDS Shyam Behari Lal VIII 1953 Li lian Wyss I 1954 Shokat Nahvi XI 1953 SAN MARINO PORTUGUESE GUINEA Tabandeh Payman IX 1953 Hilda Rodrigues IX 1953 Sohrab Payman IV 1954 Jose Xavier Rodrigues IX 1953 SARDINIA Mari e Ciocca XI 1953 THE COMMEMORATION OF HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES 11 1

SEYCHELLES ISLANDS SPANISH MOROCCO Kami! Abbas XI 1953 (continued) Abdul Rahman Zarqani I 1954 Luella McKay X 1953 Bahia Zeinol-Abedin X 1953 SHETLAND ISLANDS Fawzi Zeinol-Abedin X 1953 Brigitte Hasselblatt IX 1953 SPANISH SAHARA SICILY MuJ:iammad Mu~tafa X 1953 Carol Bagley X 1953 Florence Bagley X 1953 SPITS BERGEN Gerrald Bagley X 1953 Paul Adams VI 1958 Stanley Bagley X 1953 Susan Bagley X 1953 SWAZILAND Emma Rice X 1953 John Allen IV 1954 Valera Allen IV 1954 SIKKIM Bula Mott Stewart IV 1954 Udai Narain Singh VIII 1953 TADZHIKISTAN SOCIETY ISLANDS Found to be already open Gretta Lamprill X 1953 Gladys Parke X 1953 TIBET Udai Narain Singh IX 1955 SOCOTRA ISLAND Mirza Aqa Khan Kamali- TONGA ISLANDS Sarvistani III 1955 Stanley Bolton Jr. I 1954 Dudley Blakely VII 1954 SOLOMON ISLANDS E lsa Blakely VII 1954 Alvin Blum III 1954 Gertrude Blum III 1954 TUAMOTU ARCHIPELAGO Jean Sevin I 1954 SOUTH WEST AFRICA Ted Cardell X 1953 UKRAINE Found to be already open SOUTHERN RHODESIA 'Izzatu'llah Zahra'i VI 1953 UZBEKISTAN Claire Gung X 1953 Found to be already open Eyneddin Alai XII 1953 Tahereh Alai XII 1953 WHITE RUSSIA Kenneth Christian I 1954 Helmut Winkelbach XII 1978 Roberta Christian I 1954 WINDWARD ISLANDS SPANISH GUINEA Esther Evans X 1953 Elise Schreiber V 1954 Lillian Middlemast X 1953

SPANISH MOROCCO YUKON Earleta Fleming X 1953 Joan Anderson IX 1953 John Fleming X 1953 R. Ted Anderson IX 1953 Alyce Janssen X 1953 N

View of the interior of the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, as it looked when thousands of Saha 'is gathered for the first Saha 'i World Congress, held from 28 April-2 May 1963. PART THREE

INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES

142-148 OF THE BAHA'i ERA 21 APRIL 1986-20 APRIL 1992

'-"" i

First page of the Kitab-i-Aqdas in the handwriting of 'Abdu 'l-Baha. This Tablet belonged to Baha 'u '!!ah Himself. I THE SIX YEAR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING PLAN 1986- 1992

1. THE COMPLETION OF THE SIX YEAR INTERN A TI ON AL TEACHING PLAN

A. THE BAHA'f WORLD CENTRE

a. Publication of the Kitab-i-Aqdas in considered by the review committee and the English draft was amended as needed. During the In its Ric:Ivan message of 1986, the Universal same period a companion work, Questions House of Justice announced that the time and Answers, was also translated from the had come for the preparation of a copiously Persian for inclusion in the volume; this annotated English háanslation of the complete work consists of questions put to Baha'u'llah text of the Most Holy Book. The accom- regarding certain laws of the Aqdas, and His plislm1ent of this project was specified as a responses. major goal of the Six Year Plan for the Parallel with this process, researchers World Cenháe. Its publication was scheduled began collecting pertinent passages from the during the Holy Year. Baha' i Sacred Writings, the Holy Books of Shoghi Effendi himself had already háans- the past, the interpretations of Shoghi Effendi lated just over one-third of the text of the and other materials needed in the prepara- Aqdas. The basic task, then, was to provide tion of the extensive annotations that were suitable renderings of the remaining passages to accompany the text. A list of the items of the Book. This was initially assigned to a requiring notes was first prepared and conmlittee ofháanslators at the World Cenháe. approved. In composing the notes, the focus Their work was subsequently reviewed and of concentration was on those points about revised a number of times until an accept- which the reader would need elucidation. able version was approved. The standards The notes are not intended to be a compreadopted to guide the translation were accu- hensive commentary on the text, which would racy of meaning, beauty of language, and be a task beyond the capacity of present conformity of style with that employed by resources. Shoghi Effendi. The volume also include_s a preface, an During the course of the work, a well- inháoduction, Shoghi Effendi ' s description of advanced draft was shared with a number of the contents of the Book, supplementary knowledgeable Baha'is around the world who passages, a synopsis and codification of the were asked for their comments and sugges- laws and ordinances of the Aqdas, a glossary tions. The points they submitted were then and an extensive index. 116 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Attendees of the Jfuququ 'llah Conference held at the Baha'i World Centre in Janumy I 987 From left to right, fiáont row: Mr. Hugh Chance, Dr. 'Ali-Muhammad Varqa, Mr. Salim Nounou, Mr. Hadi Rahmani. Middle row: Mr. Jan Semple, Mr. 'Ali NaY!Javani, Mr. Glenford Mitchell, Mr. Mas 'iid Khamsi, Mr. Hushmand Fath eazam, Dr. Amin Banani, Mr. Charles Wolcott, Dr. Dmyush Haghighi. Back row: Mr. Parviz Hatami, Mr. Khudarahm Payman, Dr. David Ruhe, Mr. Borrah Kave/in, and Mr. David Hofman.

b. Education of the Baha'i World in the The first compi lation was supplemented Law of J.luququ'llah in due course by a study guide comprising The Universal House of Justice decided to a simple codification of the law, a brief initiate a program of education about the law history of the development of the institution of l:J.uququ'llah for Baba ' is throughout the of l:J.uququ 'llah, and the text of an informaworld to explain the details and, above all, tive address given at the International Baha' i the spiritual significance of this law, and had Convention in 1988 by the Trustee of a compilation of texts on l:J.uququ 'llah pre- l:J.uququ'llah, the Hand of the Cause of God pared and sent to all national communities in Dr. 'Ali-Muhammad Varqa. These materials 1985. With these materials in hand, educa- were translated into many languages and tion of the body of beli evers became a goal were further supplemented by the production of the Six Year Plan. of many other educational items in different INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACT IVITIES 117 parts of the world. To prepare for the world- Kitab-i-Aqdas, the progress of the buildwide application of the law, the Universal ing projects on Mount Carmel, the conclu- House of Justice called the first }::Iuququ ' llah sion of the Six Year plan, the inception of Conference in the Holy Land in 1987, the Holy Year-animates the expectations attended by the Trnstee, five of his deputies, of the Baha' i world, sets the stage for representatives of the International Teaching mightier endeavours than have already Centre and the World Centre ' s Department been attempted, and points us all to the of Finance. opening of a new phase of history. It Of the many meetings and conferences seems fitting, then, that the sacred law subsequently held on }::Iuququ'llah during which enables each one to express his or the Plan, the gathering called by Dr. Yarqa her personal sense of devotion to God in in conjunction with the 1988 International a profoundly private act of conscience Convention and attended by over fifty depu- that promotes the common good, which ties and representatives, including seven directly connects the individual believer Continental Counsellors, deserves mention. with the Central Institution of the Faith, This conference promoted increased cooper- and which, above all , ensures to the obeation among the institutions of the Faith in dient and the sincere the ineffable grace the implementation of the goal and gave a and abundant blessings of Providence, renewed impetus to the education of the should, at this favourable juncture, be believers. embraced by all who profess their belief One of the steps taken by the Trnstee in in the Supreme Manifestation of God. preparation for the worldwide application of With humility before our sovereign Lord, the law was to greatly increase the number we now anno1mce that as ofRi9van 1992, of deputy háustees on all continents as well the beginning of the Holy Year, the Law as the number of representatives selected by of I:Iuququ ' llah, the Right of God, will these deputies to assist them in their work. become universally applicable. All are N umerous activities for the education of the loving ly called to observe it. friends were also undertaken by the Conti- In response to this am1ouncement Hand nental Boards of Counsellors and the of the Cause of God Dr. 'Ali-Mul~ammad National Spiritual Assemblies. Yarqa called another Internationa l }::Iuququ- Perhaps the best indicator of the success ' llah Conference to prepare for the universal of these efforts was the increase in the num- application of the law. This was held at ber of believers observing this law. During Landegg Academy in Switzerland in August the Six Year Plan the amount received by 199 1, and was attended by twenty-three the I:Iuququ 'llah fund greatly increased. One deputy trustees from all over the world. of the most gratifying aspects of this increase In November 1991, following consultawas the number of payments received from tion with the Trustee, the Universal House Western believers who, although not then of Justice announced the establishment of obligated to fulfill the law, paid the I:Iuququ- a central office for I:Iuqi'.1qu' llah in the Holy 'llah eagerly because of their love for Land. One of the fruits of this new develop- Baha'u' llah and their increased awareness of ment was the publication in January 1992 of its importance. the first edition of a }::Iuququ'llah newsletter In 1991 the Universal House of Justice designed to link the greatly increased numannounced in its Ri9van message that the ber of deputy trnstees and representatives law of }::Iuququ 'llah would become, as of the around the world by exchanging news of following Ri9van, universally applicab le: their activities and providing them with Such an exceptional confluence of immi- helpful material for their rapidly expanding nent achievements- the publication of the functions. 11 8 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

LIST OF COMPILATIONS ANO CODIFICATIONS OF ~IUQUQU'LLAH (BY LANGUAGE) HELO IN Tl-IE BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE LIBRARY

The Research Department of the Universal Huququ 'llah (June 1986); and, Development House of Justice prepared: Compilation of of Huqilqu 'llah (March 1987). These have l:fuqilqu 'llah (July 1985); Codification of been translated into the following languages:

Language Title Publisher Year

Afrikaans Hugt'.1gu'llah, die reg va n God - Abri dged NSA of So uth Africa 1988 Compilati on and Codificati on

Amharic Ye Hugt'.19u'llah hig ater ):'.a le trazi - Abridged NSA of Ethiop ia 199 1 Compilation Be):'.e ariestu sir l:'.e takafafelul:'.e Hugugu 'llah hig NSA of Ethiopia 199 1 Codification Ara bic Huqugu'llah - Co mpil at ion Ed itora Baha ' i, Brasil 1986 Hugt'.1gu'llah - Compi latio n NSA of Pakistan 1986? Chinese "Hu ku gu la" gu-gui BPT of Malaysia 1987 Danish Hugt'.1gu ' llah, Guds rel - Compi lation NSA of Denmark 1989 Dutch Hugugu ' llah, het recht van God - Compilation NSA of the Netherlands 1988 English Hugugu ' Jl ah - Compilation NSA of New Zealand 1985 HuqC1gu ' ll ah, the Ri ght of God - Compil at ion BPT of Un ited Kingdom 1986 Hugt'.1qu ' ll ah - Deve lopment and Codification BPT of Malaysia 1987 and Abridged Compilation l-lugt'.1gu ' Jl ah - Compi lation NSA of Malaysia 1985 The Law of Hugt'.19u'Jl ah - Codification and NSA ofTranskei 1987 Deve lopm ent and Abridged Com pil ation l-lu9C1qu'Jl ah - Comp il at ion BPT of Indi a 1986 l-lugC1gu'Jlah, a Stud):'. Guide - Codification and BPT of United Kin gdo m 1989 Development, and The Right of God (by Dr. Varga) l-luqC1qu'Jl ah, the Ri1jht o f God - Comp ilation BPT of United Kingdom 1989 Huqugu'llah - Compilation Baha ' i Canada Publications 1989 Finnish Hugugu ' ll ah, Kokoelma - Abridged NSA of Finla nd 1991 Compilation French Hugt'.1gu ' ll ah ou le droit de Di eu - Compil ation MEB of Belgium 1987 Hugugu ' Jlah , hi storigue et codification MEB of Belgium 1987 German Hu9C1gu'Jlah - Comp il ation NSA ofGennany 1987 Systematische Darstel lung des Hugugu'llah- NSA ofGennany 1987 Gesetzes - Codification I ban Hugt1qu'Jl ah - Comp il ation State Baha ' i Co un cil of 1992 Sarawak, Ma laysia

Icelandic Login um Huqugu'llah - Abridged Compilation Icela nd 1992 INTE RNA TIO NA L SURVEY O F CURRE NT BA HA' I ACT IVIT IES 119

Language Title Publisher Year Ita li an Huq(1gu ' ll ah - Co mpilati on Casa Ed itrice Baha' i 1987 Korean Hugugu ' ll ah - Compi lation Seoul 1992 Norwegia n Lovem om Hugugu ' ll ah - Co mpi lation Baha' i Forlag 1990 Persian Hugugu ' llah - Compi lation Dr. Varga, Canada 1984 Spanish El Huqugu'llah ):' los Fondos Baha' is Editorial Baha' i de Espa na 199 1 Swedish Huguqu ' ll ah - Co mpil ati on Baha' i fo rlaget 1988 Tamil Hukukull a - Abridged Comp ilation BPT Committee of Ma laysia 1987 Urd u Hugugu ' llah BPT of Pakistan 1986

A deepening in the law ofHuququ '!!ah at Menu Balui 'i Institute, Western Province of Keny a, November l 990. 120 THE BAHA'I WORLD

A luncheon held as part of the opening ceremonies of the north wing of the House of 'Abdu 'llah Pasha, 28 April 1990.

c. Restoration and Protection of Holy On 19 June 1990, the Universal House of Places Justice sent the following messages to all The Office of Holy Places mobilized most of National Spiritual Assemblies: its resources and efforts during the Six Year REJOICE ANNOUNCE COMP LETION RESTORA- Plan to accomplish two major tasks: the TION NORT H WING OF HOUSE OF 'ABDU ' LLAH restoration of the north wing of the House of PASHA IN 'AKKA PERMITTING FIRST VISIT 'Abdu'llah Pasha; and completion of the ADDITIONAL AREA THIS HOLY PLACE BY urgently needed architectural, photographic, CURRENT GROUP PILGRIMS ON SEVENTEENTH and inventory documentation of the Holy JUNE. WING CONTA INS HALL JN WHICH Places-sacred and priceless legacies that 'ABDU'L-BA HA HELD FEASTS AND OTHER

must be protected from environmental and GATHERINGS AND ALSO ROOM OCCUPIED political perils. In addition, several other BY SHOGHI EFFEND I DURJNG BOYHOOD, BOTH major projects were completed. ROOMS BEFITTINGLY FURNISHED BY AMATU ' L- The restoration of the north wing of the BAHA RU~liYYIH KHANUM. House of 'Abdu'llah Pasha began in 1987 During this time, RuJ:iiyyih Khanum also and took three years to complete. The personally undertook the furnishing of two project-phase two of an overall plan for the additional rooms in the south section which building-followed restoration of the south were then opened to pilgrims, namely the wing, which had been completed in 1983. biruni of 'Abdu'l-Baha and a room that was The restoration was based on the design used for teaching children. work of architect Mr. Saeed Samadi, with Several properties encroaching on the the work supervised and managed by archi- courtyard of the House or bordering the tect Mr. Fariburz $ahba. walls were also acquired, ensuring the future INT ERNAT IONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 121 protection of the perimeter. The vaults and - The ceiling of the colonnade of the underground sections were surveyed. Shrine of the Bab was plastered and refinished In addition to the work on the House of and the specially designed brass ornamental 'Abdu'llah Pasha, architectural, as built, light fixtures were affixed, completing the drawings of most of the Holy Places were design of the Hand of the Cause of God completed, together with photo-documenta- William Sutherland Maxwell for this part of tion of the buildings and their contents. the superstructure. Identification and description of items The superstructure of the Shrine was careaccording to museum standards neared com- fully washed, and the dome was repainted pletion. The following major tasks were also and protected against rain water seeping into accomplished during the Plan: the interior. A new scaffolding system for - The coordinates, both latitude and accessing the interior and exterior of the longitude on the Israeli Grid, of the resting dome was erected. place ofBaha'u'llah were finally established - The Room in which Baha'u'llah passed accurately, enabling the direction of the away in the Mansion of Bahji was com- Qiblih to be ascertained from any point on pletely restored. Particular care was taken the earth's surface. to replicate the beautiful pattern of the stencilled artwork both in this room and in the balcony area. - Detailed research on the Prison Cell of Baha'u'llah was undertaken in preparation for its complete restoration. This was accomplished with the cooperative efforts of the Israeli Antiquities Authority. The plaster layer covering the walls was removed to expose the stones that were there at the time ofBaha'u'llah. - The Ri<;[van Garden fountain was carefully excavated after serious cracks developed in the structure, and it was completely restored. The Pump House erected by the Guardian over the older structure that was in place at the time of 'Abdu'l-Baha and which had collapsed, was also restored. Extensive restoration work also took place on the pebbled paths and the exterior of the building housing the Room ofBaha'u'llah. Using old photographs and photogrammetric measurement techniques, drawings were made of the original bench of Baha'u- 'llah and the other benches used by pilgrims. This was done in preparation for completely rebuilding the benches. A property within the Firdaws Garden that was sometimes used by the Master was Restoration of the stencilled artwork on the re-acquired. balcony of the Mansion of Baha 'u 'llah at - The property of the Junein Garden, Bahji, October 1987. which Baha'u'llah used at one time, was 122 THE BAHA'f WORLD

acquired and restoration begun . It is located - All remains of Baha' is still in the Musin Nahariyyih, close to Mazra'ih. lim cemetery in Tiberias were transferred to - Tiles on the roof of the International the Baha'i cemetery in En Gev which houses Archives Building were removed and protec- the remains ofBaha'u'llah's faithful brother tive layers placed. The roof was completely Mirza Mul:iammad Quli and his family. re-tiled. - The land for a Baha ' i cemetery in - The Monuments of the Greatest Holy Jerusalem was acquired, the Qiblih coordi- Leaf, the Purest Branch, Navvab and Munirih nates established, and the perimeters for the Khanum were carefully cleaned and restored. cemetery secured and built. - At the Haifa Cemetery, following the - The property ofKhan-i-'Avamid, which establishment of the Qiblih coordinates and does not belong to the Faith but which is the demolition of old structures that were ille- visited by pilgrims during the pilgrimage gally occupied, work began to align graves program, was surveyed and documented for and paths, erect new retaining walls, and future purposes. complete landscaping.

The ceiling of the colonnade of the Shrine ofthe Bab was plastered and refinished, and the specially designed brass ornamental light fixtures were affixed. 1991. INT ERNATIO NA L SU RV EY OF CU RR EN T BAHA' I AC TI VITI ES 123 d. Signing of the Status Agreement is the H ead of the Baha' i Faith and its Supreme Institution in accordance with its Adapted from a letter from the Universal Constitution. House of Justice to the Baha 'is of the world The Government of Israel recognizes dated 30 April 1987. that the holi est places of the Baha' i Faith, On 22 April 1987, in a ceremony at Israel ' s in accordance with the Baha ' i Sacred Foreign Ministry, an Agreement comprising Scriptures, are located in Israel , and conan exchange of letters was signed by firms that the Universal House of Justice Mr. Shimon Peres, Vice-Premier and Forei gn is the Trustee of the Baha' i International Minister, on behalf of the Government of Community over the Holy Places of the Israel and Mr. Donald Barrett, Secretary- Baha ' i Faith in Israel and over the Baha ' i General of the Baha' i International Community, endowments in Israel. on behalf of the Baha' i World Centre. These friendl y relations trace their foun- Among the contents of this Agreement are dation to the inspired initiatives of 'Abdu ' lthe following statements of recognition: Baha Himself, particularly during the period The Government of Israel recognizes following the Revolution of the Young Turks the members of the Baha' i Faith as a rec- in 1908 when a general amnesty was effected ognized religious community in Israel in for religious and political prisoners held accordance with Article 2 of the Palestine under the old regime. The prestige acquired Order in Council, 1922- 1947, and con- by the Faith through the dynamic force of firms that the Baha'i World Centre is the the Master' s unique spirit was demonstrated world spiritual and administrative centre after his release from imprisonment in the of the Baha ' i world community and that actions He took to establish His residence in the Universal House of Justice in Haifa Haifa at the foot of Mount Carmel, to inter

A Status Agreement was signed by His Excellency Shimon Peres, Vice-Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs (center) , and by Mr. Donald Barrett, Secretary-General of the Baha 'i International Community (right) , on 22 April 1987. Minister Mosh e Shahal (left) looks on. 124 THE BAHA' i WO RLD

the sacred remains of the Bab in the mauso- action of the Government thus signals the leum which had been erected by Him on the ripeness of the time to pursue the obligation spot designated by Baha' u' ll ah Himself, and acutely fe lt by th e entire Baha ' i worl d to to trave l extensively in the West. Subsequent bring to frnition, as soon as possible, the to these travels, it was more conspicuously work begun by Shoghi Effendi in the erecillustrated through the excell ent relations He tion of the Archives Building and carried fo rged with high and low alike, the social forward in the completion fo ur years ago of impact of His liberal min istrations to the the Seat of the Universal House of Justice. needs of the people in the Holy Land, and The plans to be made and the material the conferring of a knighthood upon Him by requirements fo r so extraordinary an underthe Bri tish Crown. taking will , of course, be communicated to This legacy of prestige was evident in the friends in due course. the recognition accorded Shoghi Effendi as Head of the Faith by the authori ties of e. The Arc and Terraces on Mount the Bri tish Mandate. The extent of the Carmel Guardian's energeti c exertions to achi eve In His soul- stirring Tabl et of Carmel, recognition of the independent status of the Baha 'u ' ll ah glorified M ount Carmel and Fa ith, whose permanent spiritual and admin- declared that God had made it " the dawningistrative centres in the Holy Land, is beyond place of His signs and the dayspring of the the scope of this letter and must, in due time evidences of His Revelation. " He also combe afforded fu ll háeatment in the work of municated to 'Abdu ' l-B aha His majestic fu ture historians. Let it suffice to reaffim1 vision fo r the holy mountain. here that what he was able to accomplish ' Abdu ' l-BaM undertook the great work during the years of the Mandate, in securing of erecting a suitable resting place fo r the custody of Baha ' i properties in obtain ing Sacred Remains of the Bab . He Himself official protection of the Holy Pl aces, recog- consháucted the original mausoleum, and nition of the Baha'i marriage certificate and in 1909 interred in it the Blessed Dust of of the Baha' i Holy Days, and relief fro m the Bab. Soon after 'Abdu ' l-Baha 's pass ing, certain taxes, combined to reflect a status for Shoghi Effendi added three additional the Faith whi ch was accepted by the new rooms, and in 1953 compl eted the spl endid Government when the State of Israe l was superstructure of th e Holy Shrine, designed established in 1948. by Mr. Sutherland Maxwell. He also beauti- Dear Friends, the Status Agreement now fied the holy spot with magnificent gardens, achieved makes an indelible mark on the and took the first steps to shape the lower Formative Age of our Fa ith, assuming a spe- nine terraces. cia l place among the swiftly accum ulatin g With the Tablet of Carmel as his gu ide, evidences of the divine confomations which the Guardian initiated consháuction of a series have thus fa r distinguished the opening of buildings upon an arc on Mount Carmel period of the fo urth epoch of that Age. that would constitute the adminisháative One practical and spi ritually confirming center of the Baha' i world. Shortly before effect of the signing of the Status Agreement his death in 1957 he oversaw the completion is that it brings us within reach of the real- of the Archives building, the first of fi ve ization of the beloved Guardian 's vision for buildings to rise in the immediate vicinity of the Arc on God ' s Holy Mountain. For with the sacred resting pl aces of four members of the Agreement in hand formidable obstacles the Holy Family. After the passing of the to the execution of the Arc Proj ect have been beloved Guardian, the challenging task of removed. The conjunction of the completion erecting the remaining four buildings of the of the architect's design and the favo urable Arc and of compl eting the terraces became IN TERNAT IO NAL SU RV EY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 125

Members of the Universal House of Jltstice with architects Husayn Amanat and Farfburz $ahb6 on the construction site, March l 988. From left to right: Dr. Peter Khan, Mr. Glenford Mitchell, Dr. David Ruhe, Mr. David Hofman , Mr. 'Ali Na!E!Javani, Mr. Hugh Chance, Mr. Amanat, Mr. Sahba, and Mr. Borrah Kave/in.

the responsibility of the Universal House of extension of the International Archives Justice. Building. A brief description of each of In 1983, the Seat of the Universal House these will convey an impression of their of Justice, designed by Mr. Hossein Amanat, significance for the Fa ith. was completed at the apex of the Arc. Then The Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab. in 1986, as the Six Year Plan opened, the In His plans for the development of House of Justice announced its plan to com- Mount Carmel, 'Abdu ' l-Baha envisaged mence rearing the remaining buildings on nineteen monumental tenaces from the the Arc, employing designs by the same foot of the mountain to its crest, nine architect. It also appointed Mr. Fariburz leading to the tenace on which the Shrine $ahba, the architect of the Indian House of of the Bab itself stands, and nine above it. Worship, to design the terraces above and These plans were often refetTed to by below the Shrine of the Bab, and to function Shoghi Effendi, and he completed in as Project Manager for constrnction of the preliminary form the nine tenaces constiadditional buildings envisaged in the plan. tuting the approach to the Shrine fro m the In a letter to the fo llowers of Baba 'u ' llah central avenue of the fom1er German throughout the world, dated 31 August 1987, Templer Colony. the Universal House of Justice wrote, in part: The International Teaching Centre Five closely related proj ects demand will be the seat of that institution which is our attention: the erection of the three specifically invested with the twin funcremaining buildings on the Arc and, added tions of the protection and propagation of now to these, the conshuction of the the Cause of God. The institution itself, terraces of the Shrine of the Bab and the referred to by the beloved Guardian in his 126 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

Earthwork on the terraces below the Shrine of the Bab in October 1991.

Some historic features of the terraces, such as the water cistern and pool built during the Ministry of 'Abdu '1-Bahti, have been retained and incorporated into the new terrace design. Ninety percent of work on the main terrace had been completed by 15February1991. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' i ACTIVITIES 127 Excavation of the site of the Centre for the Study of the Sacred Texts, between the Seat of the Universal House ofJustice and the International Archives Building, in February 1992.

writings, was established in June 1973, decades its functions must grow, it will bringing to fruition the work of the Hands serve as an active centre for knowledge in of the Cause of God residing in the Holy all fie lds, and it will become the kernel of Land and providing for the extension into great institutions of scientific investigation the future of functions with which that and discovery. body has been endowed. In August 1988, the Mount Carmel The Centre for the Study of the Texts. Projects Office was estab lished in Haifa to This bui lding will be the seat of an institu- design the terraces of the Shrine of the Bab, tion of Baha'i scholars, the efflorescence to take charge of the project management of the present Research Department of and construction administration of all the the World Centre, which will assist the projects, and to represent the Baha'i World Un iversal House of Justice in consulting Centre in all matters related to the projects the Sacred Writings, and will prepare and act as liaison between the Universal translations of and commentaries on the House of Justice and consultants, contracauthoritative texts of the Faith. tors, and the different departments and offices The International Archives Building. of the Baha'i World Centre as eventual users We have decided to construct, westwards, of the buildings and faci lities to be conan extension to the basement of the present structed. From its establishment to Ric;!van Archives Bui lding to provide accommo- 1992 the office grew to include structural, dation for the central office of the ever- mechanical , irrigation, and electronic engi - growing Archives at the World Centre. neers, architects, and experts in the area of This institution is charged with responsi- management, design and supervision. bility for the preservation of the Sacred Throughout the Six Year Plan many chal - Texts and Relics and the historic docu- lenges were met in pursuing the vision of ments of the Cause of God. Baha'u ' llah, 'Abdu ' l-Baha, and Shoghi The International Baha'i Library. Effendi. The House of Justice advised the This Library is the central depository of Baha' i world that it must accumulate a fifty all literature published on the Faith, and million dollar reserve before any construction is an essential source of information for could begin, a goal achieved by February the institutions of the World Centre on all 1991. Other challenges included meeting legal subjects relating to the Cause of God and procedural requirements of the national and the conditi ons of mankind. In future and municipal governments and their agencies. 128 THE BAHA 'i WORLD

With the problems came unexpected the Bab, the facing of its wall with stone and bounties. The City of Haifa announced its reinforcement of its base, and the extension hopes to renovate the harbor and to begin to of the te1nce gardens eastward over a new restore the nineteenth-century German Tem- building that will house workshop service pler Colony which lines Ben Gurion A venue areas for the gardens, thereby making the ternorthward from the foot of the terraces. race symmetrical on both sides of the Shrine. Plans were made for a promenade at the In June 1991 phase two commenced: crest of the mountain above the projected excavation for the Centre for the Study of the nineteenth terrace. Through the efforts of the Texts and for the extension of the Archives Mount Carmel Projects Office, these exter- building, an unusually massive excavation nal, independent plans are being integrated for the nine levels of the new buildings, six to the extent possible with the grand design of which will be below ground. The excess for the World Centre properties. rock from the construction site was trans- The official approval of the Town Plan- ported down the mountain to raise and shape ning Scheme, essential for the initiation of the lower terraces, while a thirty-meter-high the Projects, was given by the Local Town retaining wall, anchored by deep-seated Planning Committee and Haifa City Council metal bars, stabi li zed the mountain behind on 11 October 1989. District Commission the future buildings. approval to the proposed Scheme was given The Universal House of Justice wrote to on 23 July 1990. In the course of mnnging the followers of Baha 'u ' llah throughout the for the Town Planning Scheme and the world on 31 August 1987: various building permits, much time was The great work of constructing the devoted to identifying and documenting the terraces, landscaping their surroundings, properties making up the Baha' i World and erecting the remaining buildings of the Centre holdings on Mount Carmel. Arc will bring into being a vastly aug- On 24 May 1990, the Universal House of mented World Centre structure which Justice sent the following message to all will be capable of meeting the challenges National Spiritual Assemblies: of corning centuries and of the tremen- With feeling of profound joy announce dous growth of the Baha' i community to followers of Baha'u ' llah in every land which the beloved Guardian has told us to that on morning of twenty-third May, one expect... . Thi s is the time for which we hundred forty-six years after the Declara- must now prepare ourselves; this is the tion of the Bab, work on extension ter- hour whose coming it is our task to hasten. races commenced. This historic occasion marked by visit His Shrine and Shrine of 'Abdu' l-Baha by Hands of the Cause of God Amatu'l-Baha Ru~iyyih Khanum and 'Ali-Akbar Furutan, the members of the Universal House of Justice and Counsellor members of the International Teaching Centre with Fariburz ~ahba, architect of the Terraces and manager of the Arc Project to pray for Divine confirmations enable uninterrupted prosecution this majestic enterprise. The first phase of the Terraces Project was the lengthening and reinforcement of the Model of buildings on the Arc as seen main terrace on which stands the Shrine of from the northeast. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF C URR ENT BAl-IA' i ACT IVITI ES 129

Th e Hand of th e Cause of God Amatu 'l-Baha Riihiyyih Khanum greets the President oft he Marshall Islands, Amata Kabua, during his visit to the Baha'i World Centre, 23 June l 990.

Th e Hand of the Ca use of God 'A li-Akbar Fun/tan greets well-known musician and Baha'i Dizzy Gillespie during Mr. Gillespie's visit to the Baha'i World Centre on 17 July 199 l. 130 THE BAHA'I WORLD

M embers of the Universal House of Justice at the Mansion of Bahji with the Honourable Sir Thomas Davis, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands (secondfiáom right, Font), who vis ited the Bahiz 'i World Centre in August 1986.

The Hand of the Cause of God 'A Ii-Akbar Funltan accompaning the Presiden t of Isra el, Chaim Herzog (centre) during his visit to the Baha 'i World Centre on. 25 May J989. /

Above: The President of Honduras, His Excellency Jose Azcona-Hoya, visiting the Baha'i World Centre on. 30 May J98 7.

Right: The British Ambassador to Jsrael, His Excellency Mark Elliot, and Mrs .Elliot (centre), visiting the Baha'i World Centre 28 Jun e J989. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITI ES 131 f. Broadening the Basis of International In 1985, the Universal House of Justice Relations of the Faith addressed all of humanity about the central As Islamic religious leaders increasingly as- issue facing the human race-global peace. sumed control of the Revolutionary Republic In a letter "To the Peoples of the World" of Iran in the years following 1979, the entitled The Promise of World Peace, the country's government began to lend official Statement cha1is the one course that can lead support to a systematic, organized campaign humanity into the next century, and offers to destroy eve1y trace of the Baha'i Faith in countless evidences that global peace is the land of its birth. "It is absolutely certain within our grasp. "If the Baha' i experience that in the Islamic Republic of Iran there is can conháibute in whatever measure to reinno place whatsoever for Baha'is and Baha'ism," forcing hope in the unity of the human race," the President of the Revolutiona1y Court in the House of Justice stated in the concluding Shiraz announced. section, "we are happy to offer it as a model Baha' is of the world tushed to the defence for study." of their co-religionists. Guided by the Univer- As soon as the Statement had received the sal House of Justice, the Baha' i International signature of the Universal House of Justice, Commmlity sought intervention by the United presentation copies were sent by courier Nations Secretary-General and by United to the waiting National Assemblies through- Nations specialists in human rights ; National out the world who had already been asked to Spiritual Assemblies sought swift and clear seek audiences with the Heads of State of condemnation of the persecution from their their respective nations and territories. This governments and from other national lead- fo1mal approach to the leaders of the world ers; and Loca l Spiritual Assemblies sought was the first stage in a program of dishibution support for the Baha' is of iran tluáough the designed eventually to enlist the pa1iicipation media and tluáough their local govermnent of every follower ofBaha 'u 'llah and to reach representatives. millions of human beings with the message These actions coincided with a new stage of peace. in the unfoldment of the World Order of The combined effo1is of the Baha'is on Baha'u' llah- the introduction of social and behalf of their co-religionists in Iran, in supeconomic development projects, an integral port of social and economic development, part of Baha ' i activity. After decades of and pursuant of world peace resulted in the energy concenháated on the establishment of emergence of the Faith from obscurity. All groups at the loca l level across the entire over the world at all levels of society people planet, some critical mass had been reached became aware of Baha 'u'llah and the which gave Baha ' is the human and material followers of His Faith. Awareness brought resources needed to apply the Teachings of curiosity; Baha ' is were asked for more Baha 'u' ll ah to solve the most practical of information, and they strnve to provide it. problems. Health, education, appropriate It became clear that coordination was teclmology, enviro1m1ental studies ... individ- needed to best cha1mel these eff01ts in exterual Baha ' is had always worked to help the nal affairs and public relations. The Universal conmmnity at large, but all Baha'is were House of Justice created an Office of Public enjoined to work toward "the ordering of Information in 1985 as a specialized agency human affairs in such a way as to bring in to of the Baha'i International Conmmnity to being a world unified in all the essential systematize the handling of inf01rnation on the aspects of its life. " (L etter from th e Univer- Cause at the international level. The report sal Hous e of Justice to the Baha 'is of th e of its activities during the Six Year Plan can World, dated 20 October l 983) be found starting on page 537 of thi s volume. 132 Tl-IE BAl-IA ' i WORLD

The House of Justice also convened a the United Kingdom, and the United States planning meeting for all senior staff members to send representatives to meet with a memof Baha ' i International Community offices in ber of the Universal House of Justice and Haifa, New York and Geneva who worked with representatives of the United Nations in external affairs and public relations. Held Office and the Office of Public Information in New York City from 31 October to of the Baha ' i International Community. 7 November 1986, the meeting marked "a Presentations were made by National new, potent stage in the development of the Spiritual Assembly representatives on the external affairs of the worldwide Baha' i relationships they had established with their community," the House of Justice wrote to national governments. Next, the possibilities those gathered. "This stage .. . is characterized and dynamics were explored of the crossby the new, inescapable challenges immedi- national sharing of human resources as a ately to be met as a direct result of the means of supporting the diplomatic or public operation of the omushing processes through information work. Reports were presented which are evolving the reconstructive influ- about the activities of the Baha' i Internaences ofBaha 'u ' llah 's World Order." tional Community's United Nations Offices Representatives of the National Spiritual in New York and Geneva, the Office of Public Assemblies of Canada and the United States Inf01mation in Haifa and New York. Then, were also asked to join in the deliberations consultation was held on communication to "pave the way for closer collaboration in and coordination concerning external affairs fields United Nations and public information between the Baha'i World Centre and activities" and "further reinforce divinely National Spiritual Assemblies. ordained ties two leading Baha' i communities It was a "ground-breaking event," the N01ih America." member of the Universal House of Justice One year later, the Universa l House of stated. "Foundations have been laid upon Justice called an International Conference on which we can build more 'stately mansions ' External Affairs, held from 27 to 29 November for the Cause of God." A proposal was 1987 at Langenhain, Ge1many. Specifically, put forward for follow-up meetings: a Panthe Supreme Body invited the National European Conference; and a meeting for Spiritual Assemblies of Austria, Belgium, representatives of five National Assemblies Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Genuany, (Canada, France, Germany, the United King the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Nor- dom, and the United States). This recomway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, mendation was sent to the House of Justice.

Participants in the External Affairs Conference held in l angenhain, Germany, fiwn 27 to 29 November 1987. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' f ACTIVITIES 133 The Universal House of Justice called for WORLD-REDEEM ING MESSAGE VAST REGIONS ... a Pan-European Meeting in 1988. It was SOV IET UN ION AND EASTERN EUROPE. REJOICE held from 25 to 28 December at Langenha in, JN MOUNTING PRESTIGE CAUSE GOD WORLD- Germany, and was attended by thirty-eight WIDE. INVITE ALL FRIENDS JOIN IN OFFERJNG representatives from nineteen countries. Again PRAYERS THANKSGIVING BAHA ' U'LLAH FOR HIS reports were given of relevant activities, SUSTA INED ABUNDANT BLESSINGS." insights were shared from experience gained, and consul tation was held on proposals made. g. Turmoil in the Middle East Enveloped One such proposal was that perhaps a Baha' i the Holy Land International Community office for European On 2 August 1990, the Government of Iraq Affa irs cou ld be estab lished to contribute to invaded Kuwait. The international reaction the ongoing growth and unified actions of which quickly followed suggested the probaexternal affairs work and to help mobilize bility of a concerted military effo1i to reverse the energy of the European commun ities for the invasion. One feature of the mounting the development of the Cause. crisis was a threat by Iraq that if it were A meeting of senior officers of Baha'i attacked by any nation it would attack Israel International Community offices in Haifa, in retaliation. Consequentl y, the Israeli gov- New York, and Geneva, and representatives ernment began a series of civi l defence of five National Sp iritual Assemblies (Can- measures, and the Universal House of Justice ada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, began to review actions that could be taken and the United States) took p lace at the to protect the Baha'i Holy Places and the Baha'i World Centre from 30 December to staff of the Baha'i World Centre. 1 January 1989. "FAR-REACHING DELIBERATIONS On 29 August, the Universal House of CENTRED ON INC REAS ED EXTERNAL ACTIV ITIES Justice appointed an Emergency Prepared- FAITH", the Universal House of Justice wrote ness Task Force to act as li aison w ith the to all National Spiritual Assemb li es on Israel Civi l Defence officials and provide 5 January 1989. "MUCH ENCOURAGED EV I- the World Centre with info rmation as DENCES EVER CLOSER TIES COLLABORATION needed. On 30 September the World Centre WITH UN ITED NATIONS, ITS AGENCIES A D staff was advised that emergency supplies of NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS MANY LANDS, food wo ul d be distributed the fo llowing RESULTING EXPANDED SP HER E INFLUENCE week, and that 20-litre j errycans of water FA ITH FIELD INTERNAT IONAL INITI ATIV ES. should be fil led, battery-operated radios and HEARTENED BY REVIEW INDICATING fNCREAS - flas hli ghts checked, and plastic tape for seal - ING OPPORTUN ITIES SHARE BAHA ' U' LLAH 'S ing w indows should be stored in a readily

Participants in the External Affairs Conference held at the Baha'i World Centre, Haifa, Israel 30 December 1988 to 1 January 1989. 134 THE BAl-L.\'i WORLD

accessible place. The staff received training has also been cancelled. The House of in use of the protective kits distributed by Justice hopes it will be possible to conthe Israeli Government, and gas masks and vene such a conference at a later date. kits were handed out on 5 November. The friends should not allow their con- In each principal work place at the World cern about the situation in these regions Cenháe, an emergency team was appointed to deter them from their efforts to proand a "safe room" assigned. The rooms mote the vital interests of the infinitely were stocked with supplies of food, water, precious Faith of God. and protective materials, and several air raid On 7 January 1991 , the Universal House drills were held for emergency preparedness. of Justice wrote to all National Assemblies : On 8 October 1990, a letter to National We are conscious that the friends Spiritual Assemblies was written on behalf around the world are concerned by the of the Universal House of Justice which read: unsettled conditions in the Middle East, The Universal House of Justice has so we are writing to assure you that we been following with close attention the have taken all steps that are necessa1y to development of the situation in the Mid- safeguard the essential requirements of dle East, and has decided to postpone all the Cause of God. pilgrimages which have been scheduled In January 1981 we addressed a mesbetween the beginning of the pilgrimage sage to all Continental Boards of Counseason on 29 October and 31 December sellors through the International Teaching 1990. Messages to this effect are being Centre, and a copy of that message was sent to all those who have been invited shared at that time with all National Spirifor that period. tual Assemblies. It confitmed that if at The Baha'i World Centre itself will any time communication with the World continue to function as usual, as it has Centre would be cut off, the Counsellors during all the previous disturbances which would, both collectively and individually, have tluáeatened or shaken the Holy Land. assist National Spiritual Assemblies to Whatever háanspires, we can be confident ensure the unintem1pted continuation of that it will be but one more step in the the normal administration of t11e Faith by mysterious unfoldment of God 's Major these Assemblies until conununications Plan for the unification of the world and could be restored. the establishment of His Kingdom on We rely now, as then, on the Continenearth. tal Boards of Counsellors and the National On 3 December 1990, the following letter Spiritual Assemblies to ensure that the to National Sp iritual Assemblies was sent on all-important work of teaching the Faith behalf of the Universal House of Justice: and consolidating its institutions will con- Further to our letter of 8 October 1990, tinue with unabated zeal in every part of in view of the continued unsettled condi- the world. tions in the Middle East, the Universal On a number of occasions in the his- House of Justice has decided that pilgrim- tmy of the Faith the World Centre has ages to the Holy Land up to the end of been threatened by dangers of various March 1991 should be cancelled. The kinds, and the knowledge of how the individual pilgrims scheduled for this Almighty has preserved the vital interests period are also being informed. of His Faith in the past will reinforce the For the same reason, the conference certainty of all the believers that whatever for the Counsellors which was scheduled occurs will but serve to carry forward the to be held in the Holy Land from 28 realization of His immutable purpose for December 1990 tluáough 3 January 1991 mankind. INTERNATIONA L SU RV EY OF C URRENT BA HA' i ACT I V ITI ES 135 We shall remember you all at the of governments had launched a massive Sacred Threshold and shall pray for the aerial attack against Iraq, and that work was bounties of Baha' u ' llah to guide and sus- suspended for the day. tain you in the execution of your vital At about 0315 on 18 January staff responsibilities in the promotion of His members were awakened by the sounds of Cause. explosions, air raid sirens going off, and Meanwhile, World Cenháe staff had been telephone calls fro m neighbors announcing organized into "Neighborhood Groups," with that Iraq had started its retaliatory raids "telephone trees" so that information could against Israel. Once again work was susbe distributed systematically during non- pended for the day. office hours. Additionally, a number of staff The Baha' i World Cenháe stayed on members had been ttáained in first aid and "emergency footing" for the duration of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation. War-from 17 January to 28 February 1991 . On 15 January 1991 , the Universal House Work was suspended for four days , and of Justice wrote to the friends at the Baha' i hours were shortened for eight days. World Cenháe: During the "100 hours" of the Gulf War, We have noted with waim appreciation a total of thirty-nine missiles were reported the devoted sp irit in which, despite the to have been fired at Israel during 18 sepaincreasingly tense situation in the Middle rate attacks. Of these, six landed in the East, the friends are going about their Haifa/Akka area causing extensive property usual business; and we wish to assure you damage but no injuries. There was no damof our continued prayers that the Blessed age to any of the Baha ' i prope1iies. Beauty will sunound the World Cenháe On 28 February 199 1, the President of the with His protection now as in the past. United States, George Bush, announced that Every practical step is being taken to the multinational fo rce was stopping all attend to the needs of the World Cenháe as offensive action. At noon the Israeli Civi l circumstances require. Defence authoriti es said the emergency was The Emergency Preparedness Task over, and that people could pack their gas Force w ill keep you info1med and advised masks in their original boxes and unseal as necessary. The Task Force has our full their "safe" rooms. The Baha' i World Cenconfidence, and we urge you to fo llow its tre went off "emergency footing". The Gulf instructions in case of a real emergency War was over. arising from the situation in the Gulf. Our hea1is are now huned to the dear, steadfast friends in Iraq, Kuwait and adj acent counháies. We invite you to join us in praying on their behalf at this time when great danger bangs over them. At midnight on 15 January 1991 Eastern Standard Time in the United States (0700 on 16 January in Israel), the United Nations' deadline fo r Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait passed. That day the World Cenháe staff members were adv ised to start carrying their gas masks with them at all times . At approximately 0530 on 17 January, the staff was advised by way of the Ne ighbor- World Centre staff help each other learn hood Group "telephone ttáees" that a coalition how to use gas masks in case of an attack. 136 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

Baha 'i youth ofAntsirabe, Madagascar, walking to a village five kilom eters away to teach the Faith on 2 I April I 988.

B. WORLD-WIDE OBJECTI VES

a. Carrying the Healing Message of communities witness the beginnings of that Baha'u'llah to the Generality of Mankind entry by troops promised by the beloved The Six Year Plan witnessed a further emer- Master and which Shoghi Effendi said would gence of the Faith from obscurity as the lead on to mass conversion." In a summary fo llowers ofBaha 'u ' llah spread His message report of the Plan the National Assembly in new and creative ways to an increas ingly of Brazil made a comment which could be diverse audience throughout the world. The echoed by many sister communities : "The Universal House of Justice, in its message of preoccupation with teaching on a wide scale Ric;lvan 1992, declared that the proclamation was a tonic in this Six Year Plan, and efforts of the Faith "attained an entirely new stage" were made to help the diverse regions to tum during this period. The emollment of at least examples of successful proj ects into founone and a half million new Baha'is was one tains of enthusiasm to stimulate the whole consequence. country." Although some form of large-scale en- L ARGE- SCALE ENROLLMENT rollment occurred on every continent, the In its Ric;lvan 1987 message the Universal most dramatic numbers of new believers House of Justice a1mounced that "the stage entered the Faith in Asia. India launched is set fo r universal, rapid and massive growth approximately 300 teaching projects, more of the Cause of God." One year later it than doubling the number of Baha ' is from shared the news that "more and more national fewer than 1 million to more than 2.2 million. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACT IVITIES 137 The Baha'i population in Bangladesh increased volunteered their serv ices, and fifteen local from 9,000 to nearly 63,000 believers, al- youth spent six months to one year each most a sevenfold gain; during a single three- serving full-time on the teams. month period in 1988 alone, some 5,000 In Brazil entry by troops was also purnew souls embraced the Cause and 108 new sued systematically, with the establislunent Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed. By of a national Department for Teaching on a the end of the Plan the populations of nearly Wide Scale. Special materials were prepared one hundred villages in Bangladesh were and seminars regularly held, leading to such won over to the Faith. Two major projects successes as 1,500 emollments in Pauda Lima in Taiwan resulted in a sevenfold increase and nine hundred in the southern conmmnity in the community from fewer than 2,000 to of Alvarado, where many of the new believmore than 14,000 believers; during the early ers had been made aware of the Faith months of its Muhajir Project the National through a Baha' i school in the town. Assembly of Taiwan reported an average A year of teaching in Ecuador dedicated of ten to fifteen individuals enrolling per to the Hand of the Cause Dr. Rahmatu ' llah day. National communities doubled in Hong Muhajir brought some 2,300 people into the Kong, trebled in Pakistan, and, with at least Faith during its first eight months by targettwelve full-time mass teachers in the field ing five goal areas and offering four weekeach year, the Philippines witnessed an in- long teacher-training institutes. The work of crease of some 37,000 believers. full-time teams from within Ecuador was India's Muhajir Project, which alone was supplemented by visiting teachers from seven responsible for bringing more than 14,000 countries, and forty-si x new Baha ' is joined souls into the Cause, demonstrated how the more experienced teachers to make the systematic efforts could bring about large- campaign a success. sca le enrollment. Spanning a little over one Short-term mass teaching projects also year, the project consisted of three "move- achieved impressive results. A month-long ments": an initial teaching conference and project in Venezuela, spearheaded by an call for volunteers followed immediately by international travelling teacher, welcomed a week-long teaching campaign; the creation 400 believers into the Cause and formed of a local task force to organize permanent twenty-six new Local Assemblies; another teaching and community activities; and ap- series of projects in that country, dedicated pointment of assistants to Auxiliary Board to the Baha ' is of Iran and called We Cannot members to help the task force create strong Fail Them, resulted in more than 1,000 en- Local Spiritual Assemblies. rollments. A total of 548 Bolivians joined The powerful effects of applying orga- the Faith in one week when ten teams of nized and concentrated teaching efforts to Baha'is, inspired by a two-day conference a particularly receptive area were also in Sucre on the theme of entry by troops, witnessed on the other side of the world set out for ten different places to proclaim in Guyana, where a tluáee-year pilot project Baha' u' llah's message. In tota l nearly 2,000 launched in 1989 was instrnmental in new souls embraced the Faith in the most achieving the Plan 's final success of almost receptive areas. 36,000 new believers. The Resident Teacher Although ongoing campaigns spanning Project began with thi11een overseas believ- several years and invo lving numerous teachers and sixteen local believers teaching full- ers contributed significantly to large-scale time; within six months, 12,000 people had enrollment, focus and dedication were more declared their faith in Baha'u ' llah. During important characteristics of teaching teams this pilot project, forty-two local teachers than size . When a team of twelve teachers and eighteen international participants from five different counháies spent nine 138 THE BAHA'l WORLD

weeks among the Garifuna people of Belize, REACHING P EO PLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS more than 1,000 embraced the Faith. One When two pioneers settled in Sakhalin in of the most dramatic teaching victories oc- 1990, the last remaining territorial goal ctmed in Pem where 1,764 people became named by Shoghi Effendi in his Ten Year Baha'is during five days of teaching follow- Global Plan was fulfilled. After the miracuing a two-day mass teaching workshop in lous opening to the Faith of the Soviet Union the Lake Titicaca region; at one high school and Eastern Europe and the successfu l in the area, the principal, all teachers and prosecution of the subsidiary Two Year students emailed. Teaching Plan in those areas, the Universal In Trinidad and Tobago teaching projects House of Justice was able to state in its with a few full-time, self-supporting teach- Ri~van 1992 message that "the Faith of ers and one homefront pioneer who arose for Baha'u'llah is represented in every country about nine months increased the number of on earth." Baha'is by more than 5,000. In 1988, the Baha'i conmmnity's success Although Asia and Latin America proved in the wide diffusion of Baha'u'llah's mesthe most receptive to enháy by háoops, sage and settlement of its adherents was focused teaching efforts achieved a fair mea- publicly recognized when the Encyclopaedia sure of success on all continents. In Kenya a Britannica, in its Britannica Book of the variety of short-term projects led to the en- Year, tem1ed the Faith the second most rollment of 17,950 people, and in Nigeria widely spread religion after Christianity. 802 members of the Yoruba háibe were The numerica l enrollment victories of the brought into the Cause by six youth who Six Year Plan were possibly exceeded by spent one week visiting five vi llages. In the achievements in increas ing both the diversity Mariana Is lands a full-time teaching team of the populations with whom the message serving on Saipan for three months in 1990 was shared and, more impmiantly, the diverenro lled more than 1,000 believers. In Fiji sity of the Baha'i conummity itself. Ongoing the Olinga Project, carried out between efforts to spread the Faith to all comers of August 1989 and July 1991, brought into the the globe were expanded by campaigns to Cause some 1,5 00 individuals, with almost share its teachings with a greater number of equal propotiions from each of the islands' etlmic groups and to reach individuals from major ethnic groups. all social sháata. Even in Europe, where growth in numbers Within national borders the dissemination remained relatively slow until the former of Baha'u ' Jlah ' s teachings to all areas Eastern Bloc dramatically opened to the Faith, continued. Thus in South America Baha'is the effects of pointed and consistent efforts established themselves in all the states of were fully demonsháated. "The whole Italian Brazil; in Chile they created a "virtual chain Baha'i community has been galvan ized by a of communities reaching from the far nmih new spiritual atmosphere," reported that and extending to the far south" ; and in cow1try's National Assembly after between Paraguay Local Assemblies were elected in sixty and seventy people began attending almost every pati of the counh-y. Japan 's each fireside in the goal town of Portici. One goal of having Baha'is in all the country ' s of the main features of this project was the prefectures was accomplished during the inunediate involvement of the newly enrolled Plan. In Taiwan 145 new localities, including Baha' is in the consultative process and their three previously lU1opened islands, claimed ass umption of responsibility for specific new adherents. In the Philippines 1,800 new activities. Within a year approximately 100 localities were opened. Nations as diverse as people had embraced the Faith and enro ll- No1way and Malawi were similar in their ments continued at a fairly steady pace. fulfillment of geographic distribution goals: INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAHA ' i ACTIVITIES 139

Norway reached its aim of opening all coun- music dming gatherings. A substantial ties to the Faith, in the process bringing increase in declarations of faith among the message to seven different islands, while Carolinians and Chuukese on Saipan in the Malawi achieved its objective of 1,500 Mariana Islands occurred when, at the localities. Baha'i Center, Chuukese believers shared In addition numerous minority groups Baha'i songs, along with island da nce and were reached for the first time, from the food , with their relatives. Dhimal and Sherpa of Nepal to the Gypsies The Guaymi Cultural Center in Panama, of Thailand and the Travelling People of inaugurated in 1987, provides an outstanding Ireland. In the Philippines thirty-eight new exa mple of the Baha ' i community's efforts háibal areas were opened to the Faith. Mali to help an indigenous people preserve its culreported that all ethnic groups in the counháy tural heritage and simultaneously strengthen could count at least one Baha ' i. In Taiwan the Faith. The Center became the focus of a tluáee entirely tribal Local Assemblies were Guaymi tutorial school network and cultural, formed. health and agricultural activities, all support- Just as geographic representation was ed by the broadcasts of Radio Baha'i Panama. often widened by foc used teaching in partic- Effo1is were made in many countries to ular areas, so was greater ethnic diversity reach people from all social strata with an attained by concenháated efforts. In Spain emphasis on people of capacity . Courtesy an international conference to analyze the calls on government officials were made, inprocess of teaching and deepening Gypsies, terfaith prayer gatherings sponsored and followed by three national consultative attended, and receptions held to inháoduce meetings and a compilation on the subject Baha'i professionals to their colleagues. issued by the National Assembly, resulted in Many government and religious leaders, a considerable increase in Gypsy enrollments. professionals and academics who were made In Ausháalia formation of the Aboriginal and aware of the Faith's central teachings re- Islander Working Group in 1988 was fol- sponded favorably. lowed by a surge in conversions among those In several countries consistent effo1is to populations. Ausháia experienced group dec- inform government officials about the Faith larations among Turkish workers when it were rewarded when they began attending "concentrated on making their participation and even addressing Ba ha ' I-sponsored events. in our community life possible" tluáough lan- Cabinet ministers and chiefs in Botswana guage courses, specia l unity feasts and folk often attended Baha'i events, and the

In India, a bicycle for two was made to facilitate travel teaching in Uttar Pradesh. 1991. Since women cannot travel alone in this area, th e cycle made it possible for two women or husband and wife teams to participate in the teaching work. 140 THE BAHA' I WORLD

counháy's Minister of External Affairs ad- of prominence, during the Plan it was cardressed a reception held in honour of the ried to peoples everywhere from all walks of African Board of Counse llors. Five minis- life. Such were the accomplishments in ters in Bangladesh attended functions at the bringing Baha'u'llah's healing message to National Center, and in Hong Kong the people of all national, ethnic, economic and Director of Environmental Protection and educational backgrounds that the Universal the Consuls-G eneral of Israel, Panama and House of Justice affamed at Ridvan 1990 Chile participated in a celebration of the that: "a significant milestone in the fourth Birthday ofBaha ' u' llah. epoch" had been reached, and "the Adminis- Two of the most significant signs of trative Order now embraces a community of growing govenm1ent awareness of the Faith wider diversity than ever before." occurred at the end of the Plan. Brazil 's Federal Chamber of Deputies announced its intention to conu11emorate the Centenary CH INESE TEACHING of the Ascension of Ba ha' u' llah with a spe- The House of Justice has repeated ly emphacial solenm session; and the Prime Minister sized the importance of teaching the Chinese of Guyana, the Honorable Hamilton Green, people around the world. The establishment addressed the United States' National Con- in March 1989 of the Baha'i International vention at Ridvan 1992. Community 's Office of Public Infotmation in One activity which conháibuted very sig- Hong Kong, and the launching of the Chinificantly to the Faith's emergence from nese edition of One Country in mid-1990, obscurity was the continuing disháibution of were two major steps taken to atháact the The Promise of World Peace. By Ri~van interest of the world's Chinese population. 1987 the statement had been presented to Additionally, the appoinh11ent of the Baha'i heads of state, a large number of the mem- Conmuttee for China by the House of Justice bers of national governments, diplomats, in June 1989 signalled the importance of teachers, háade unionists, leaders of religion, careful planning and coordination of various eminent members of the judiciary, the efforts in this area. police, legal, medical and other professions, Between 1988 and 1990, the Hand of members of local governments, clubs and the Cause of God Amatu ' l-Baha Rul:iiyyih associations, and thousands of individuals . Khanum, accompanied by Mrs. Violette While initial presentations had concentrated Na1!!javani, visited mainland China four on national govenm1ent leaders and people times. She met with numerous prominent

Jn the Solomon Islands, Auxiliary Board members have overcome the problem of transport between the many islands by using a motorized canoe to serve as a Maritime Baha'i Teaching Institute. J99 I. INTERNAT IONAL SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAH A' I ACTIVITIES 141

people, particularly in Beijing and Dalian, The Green Light Expedition videotape showed slides of her trip to the Amazon was broadcast in five segments i11 Guangzhou entitled the Green Light Expedition to vari- in November 1989, reaching approximately ous distinguished guests, and addressed five million peopl e. The same month a camstudents and staff at Nanka i University in era crew from China National Te levision Tianjin, where both Martha Root and Agnes in Beijing visited Bahapur, India, to include Alexander had also spoken during their the House of Worship in a documentary film visits to China. Her four visits included a about India. one-month trip, in the summer of 1988, to The videotape Jewel in the lotus about Guangzhou (Canton), Urumqi, Beijing, the Temple in India was aired in Tianjin Shanghai, Suzhou and Guilin, as well as a in two segments in January 1992, reaching one-week trip to Tibet in 1990. more than 3.5 million viewers each time. In the fa ll of 1989 she made a five-week The nanation was dubbed in Mandarin, and trip to Taiwan, travelling over 2,000 kilome- Baha' is in the area reported encmmtering ters and visiting some mass-teaching areas , people who were deeply moved by the film. as well as major cities. During this visit A series of ten-minute radio programs she presented a special copy of the Peace produced by the Baha' i Office of the Envi- Statement in Chinese to the Minister for ronment of Taiwan, an agency of the National Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, was received by Spiritual Assembly of Taiwan, reached the Minister of the Interior and the Secreta1y- approximately three million primary school Genera l of the National House of Represen- students. These weekly programs, which tatives, and had interviews with severa l contained Baha'i spiritual principles and maJOr newspapers. which mentioned the name of the Faith, While in the Far East A mah1 ' l-Baha also were broadcast to primary schools tluáoughattended a large forma l banquet organized out Taiwan for a ten-week period begi1ming by the Spirih1al Assembly of Hong Kong in in March 1992. The M inistry of Education honor of the passage, by the Legislative sponsored and partially funded these educa- Council , of " the Baha'i Ordinance" Act, and tion programs. visited U laan-Baatar in Mongolia for one The Chief of the Beinan Tribe in Taiwan, week, in 1989. Chen Wen-Sheng, adopted the Faith in The Hand of the Cause of God H . Co llis August 1990. He was the first tribal chief of Featherstone and Mrs. Madge Featherstone Taiwan (and greater China) to become a travelled to China for the first time in Baha'i. His son, Chen Chien-Hong, the next September 1988. They visited Guangzhou, hereditary chief, also emailed at the same Lanzhou and Beijing before departing at time. The Beinan Tribe (also known as the the begi1ming of October. During a tour of Puyuma Tribe) is the fifth most populous of Zhongshan University (Sun Yat-sen Univer- the nine major aboriginal tribes in Taiwan. sity) in Guangzhou, Mr. Featherstone was Taiwan ' s Ministry of the Interior reported invited unexpectedly to speak to the sh1dents the total popul ation of the Beinan to be over of the Department of Philosophy about the 8,5 00 at the end of 1988. Faith. Two days later he presented a lecture Efforts were made to share ideas about on "The Baha'i Fa ith: Its History, Teachings Chinese teaching among national conmmniand World-wide Development. " The sub- ties . The International Chinese Teaching jects covered included the oneness of Conunittee sponsored six highly successful mankind, the oneness of the Prophets, the international teaching conferences around relation of Baha' u ' llah to the Founders of the globe between 1988 and 199 1. In order the previous religions and the importance of to exchange ideas and strengthen their teacheliminating prejudices. ing program, members of the Taiwanese 142 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Members of a teaching team enrolling a new believer in Macau in May 1989.

conmmnity visited twenty-o ne countries MASS MEDIA which had established Chinese Teachi ng When the Six Year Plan began, the press Conm1ittees . was aware of the Baha'i Fa ith largely In some countries assoc iation with Chinese because of the persecutions in Iran. Wide co11ill1tmity organizations fac ilitated Chinese distribution of the peace statement provided teac hing, as in Hawaii, where interaction opportunities to broaden that image . Increaswith the Worldwide Farmers' Association ingly, members of the media sought out opened the door to sponsorship of a China Baha 'is fo r stories on their peace-related Peace and Friendship Tour in 1992. More activities, and even the press which had been than one hundred Chinese community lead- resistant to the Faith in some areas became ers in Hawa ii were presented with the Peace more receptive. The shift in press interest Statement. from the persecuti ons in Iran to the teach- The quantity of Baha'i li terature in ings of Baha'u ' llah was exemplified in the Chinese languages was greatly increased United States, where the number of significant during the Plan. The Baha ' i committee for articles about the Baha ' i Cause increased China and the International Chinese Teach- from approximately 2,000 to 3,800 per year. ing Conu11ittee jointly worked on trans lating This greater publicity provided the .necesse lections from Gleanings jimn the Writings sary incentive for Baha' is to develop more of Baha 'u '/Lah under the auspices of the sophistication in dea ling with the media, and Baha ' i World Centre. Other translations were encouraged them to produce more acceptmade of selected compilations produced at able material for use in radio, television and the World Centre. A group of Baha ' is in newspapers. China translated a compilation of various Radio was widely used for proclamation, Writings and prayers which was subsequent- and Baha' i radio operations became increasly published by the Spiritual Assembly of ingly involved in teaching effmis . In addition Maca u. to the progranuning on newly launched INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 143 Baha'i-owned radio stations in Chile and world market. Large-scale distribution of Liberia, and the continuing broadcasts of videotapes and audio-tapes has been steadily Baha'i stations in the United States, Ecuador, expanded by IBA VC from its bases in the Panama, Pem, and Bolivia, Baha'i programs United States and Venezuela, and the new were aired on non-Baha ' i stations in very Music Clearinghouse began a libraiy of music many countries, including such places as tapes by Baha ' i composers and perfom1ers Guyana, Belize, Grenada, Hawaii, Puerto developed for radio, Nineteen Day Feasts Rico, Malaysia, Thailand, Spain, Chad and and other uses. Lesotho. In Rwanda, broadcast of a weekly A number of regular television programs ten-minute radio program began in 1989 and about the Faith were also aired. The quickly attracted a large audience. The fol- Canadian-produced Bahci 'i Perspective was lowing year, when civil disturbances made broadcast a total of sixty-six hours ; Baha' is travelling extremely difficult, the program in El Salvador produced fifty-four episodes became one of the few means still available of a weekly program; a thirty-minute program for teaching. The listeners were invited to was shown twice monthly in Dominica; send questions, and the subsequent corre- twelve shows on the Faith were screened in spondence led to an average of ten Kenya; and Alaska produced four awarddeclarations per day. wim1ing, sixty-second public service an- In El Salvador public service a1mounce- nouncements called Peace Talks. ments about peace were broadcast twenty Numerous single-episode programs were times per day for one month, and in the produced, such as half-hour shows screened Republic of Ireland feahire subjects on the tluáoughout the United Kingdom and Portu- Faith were transmitted on all but one of the gal, a panel discussion on peace with newly legalized local stations. Radio stations representatives of various religions in throughout the length of Chile aired selec- Lesotho, and the broadcast of a Baha'i chiltions from The Hidden Words on an hourly dren ' s program on Transkei television. In basis for over a month as a public service many countries television news coverage of project; and Baha'i stations repeatedly pre- Baha'i events included interviews with local sented the Writings. Baha ' is, trave lling teachers and Counsellors. The International Baha ' i Audio-Visual Further significant programs included: the Centre (IBA VC), through its offices and broadcast of the International Convention representatives in several lands, continued video in Bolivia, Saint Lucia, South Africa, to support Baha' i spot use of radio and tele- Sri Lanka and Thailand; references made to vision by providing materials and advice. the Faith on C-SPAN and CNN in the Over fifty workshops and training seminars United States; and a seven-minute story on in the production and use of audio-visual the Faith which aired nationwide in prime media were conducted by IBA VC in thirty- time in Australia. seven countries and in all continents of the Proclamation in newspapers increasingly g lobe. Ten different monographs were pro- included regular publication of selected duced during the Plan, ranging from relating Writings, press releases about Baha'i events, spirihiality to media subjects to highly and feature a1iicles prepared about the Faith specific 'how-to ' papers, such as how to pre- and its followers. pare radio spot announcements. IBA VC By the end of the Plan most National distTibuted radio scripts and tapes in various Assemblies had a public relations office or languages to countries throughout the world, committee to prepare and review informaand adapted many films and videotapes, tion about the Faith. In most cases, the including the Green light Expedition , to officer chiefly concerned with the work also the various television standards used in the served as the national representative for the 144 THE BAHA'I WORLD

global network created by the Baha' i the end oft11e Plan, Hawaii called its external International Community's Office of Public affairs program an indispensable part of its Info1mation, receiving news from this source. teaching work. Many Local Assemblies also appointed individuals or cmmnittees to monitor the THE ROLE OF THE ARTS public relations activities of the conm1unity. That day will the Cause spread like wildfire The Office of Public Infmmation created a when its spirit and teachings are presented manual to guide the work of these agencies, on the stage or in art and literature as a distributing it tluáough its worldwide netwhole. Art can better awaken such noble work. Some national conm1w1ities also held sentiments... especially among the mass of training sessions, such as Brazil ' s "Latin the people. American Baha ' i Seminar on Public Rela- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi tions and External Affairs" in early 1992, Effendi dated 10 October 1932, Baha 'i News, and Canada's public affairs training confer- 73 [May 1933] p. 7.) ences held across the country. Training was also held locally in Bangladesh, Ecuador, The truth of these words was increasingly Mauritius, Norway, Thailand, Taiwan, demonstrated as a growing number of music, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe. drama and dance performances proclaimed The majority of training in public rela- both the content and spirit of the Baha'i tions occurred through practical experience, teachings to ever-wider audiences. Most of as the media increased their attention to the performing arts groups were composed Baha'i activities during the Plan. One prom- of youth. inent example of iliis was in Hawaii where El Viento Canta (The Wind Sings), a specific issues such as the status of women group which formed while its members and the state of the environment were identi- were serving at the Baha ' i World Centre, fied from the Peace Statement, and an shared Latin American fo lk music as well as external affairs officer was made responsible the principles of the Faith with audiences for developing a portfolio on each issue. At throughout Europe, Africa, the fo1mer Soviet

El Viento Canta pe1forming in Botswana in December J989 during the Bahiz 'i International Music Festival held in Gaborone. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' i ACT IVITIES 145

Union, Mongolia and China. The group Theatre Festival in Canada . Peace Child, a played to substantial audiences (for example, musical drama produced by a committee of 3,000 attended one concert in Spain) and the National Assembly of the Hawaiian received extensive radio and television cov- Islands, was performed at the Kennedy Cenerage which often included long interviews ter in Washington, D.C., and a documentary and led to many enrollments. was made of it by a major television net- Another Latin American youth group, work. In Australia an Aboriginal theater Planeta Paz (Planet Peace), began perfonning group called The Storytellers was fo1med. in Brazil in August 1991 and spearheaded a The power of dance to transcend language national proclamation effort in Argentina in barriers and connect hea1is was demonsháat- December. Each show combined music with ed by the enthusiastic responses of audiences Baha ' i themes, folk music and slide shows , to various performing groups. For example, opening with a tribute to Baha'u'llah and dance groups called Youth Workshops ending with invitations to embrace the Cause. formed throughout the United States and at The National Assembly of Brazil attributes Canada's Maxwell School; Youthquake toured at least three hundred declarations of faith to in the United Kingdom; and a well-known their concerts in that country. Lakota Sioux Indian believer perfo1med a Other musical groups formed by youth háaditional hoop dance in numerous commuincluded Let It Be This Generation which nities in Canada, the United States, Europe completed a 150-concert tour of Canada; and elsewhere. Light in the Darkness, a European group Baha'is also used other fine arts to spread which attracted eighty new believers during the message. In Denmark an exhibit of one concert in Romania; and the Carmel artwork based on Baha'i quotations and ac- Minstrels , six young Guyanese musicians companied by Baha'i books was displayed who shared the Baha'i message throughout three times. Excerpts from the Peace Statethe Caribbean in 1987. Travelling to other ment formed the basis of an art exhibit in continents to perfom1 was not unusual: Belize. The organizers of a peace festival in Malawi's Kwayera Mbee was invited to tour Japan invited the Balla ' is to conháibute a Europe; the Thailand performances of a display that blended photographs, háaditional group from New Zealand and Australia floral arrangements, artwork on peace themes ca lled Wildfire led to hundreds of enroll- by local children , and Baha'i books. ments ; and New Zealand's Youth for One Consultation on the use of arts in teaching World taught the Faith in Hong Kong. was facilitated by the founding, in August Music played a pa1iicularly impmiant role 1986, of the International Baha ' i Associain Africa, where numerous local choirs were tion for Arts, by several forums held at formed and Baha' i songs composed. The Landegg Academy in Switzerland, and by International Music Festival in Botswana the development of the Baha ' i Youth Instiwas described by the nation's Assembly as tute in Costa Rica as a center for háaining "one of the most significant achievements" youth to use arts in service to mankind. Conof its Plan, and Kenya 's Assembly reported sultation was followed by teaching projects that "many of our Baha'i communities have having an explicitly artistic emphasis. The been kept alive because of music and thou- European Baha ' i Youth Council organized sands have become Baha'is because ofit." a project called Peace Through A1iistic The history and principles of the Faith Expression in Yugos lavia in 1990 during were also widely shared through drama. The which hundreds attended special open-air Sacred Writings were combined with music concerts. In Belize a 1988 project which and dance to tell the story of the Bab when centered around the arts was reported to Badasht was performed at the International result in at least seventy-nine enrollments. 146 THE BAHA'I WORLD

In 1991 the Music, Arts and Drama "many Baha'is have concrete personal goals." Committee of Czechoslovakia organized a In Brazil a Campaign oflndividual Teaching one-week Art Forum in collaboration with from Heart to Heart had 500 regular particithe Baha'i Association For Arts chapter in pants over a two-year period. Zimbabwe Bratislava; Baha'i artists and musicians from reported that a corps of travelling teachers, more than fifteen countries, including repub- averaging between six and ten individuals, lics of the former Soviet Union, shared ideas was in the field at any given time. The for proclaiming the Name of Baha'u'llah, National Assembly of Switzerland estimated and public performances were held daily. In that some 2,000 teaching activities were 1988 approximately 1,000 people participat- ca1Tied out by 230 believers. India reported ed in Canada's first Festival of the Human that the number of friends taking part in Spirit, a four-day series of workshops, ex- teaching activities increased tenfold. hibits and performances on using the arts in Teacher training took a variety of forms, teaching. from orientation sessions for travelling teachers and pioneers to seminars and institutes E XPANDI NG THE TEA CHIN G FORCE open to all believers. Several pennanent in- Efforts to encourage and support individual stitutes provided ongoing training, such as the teaching, provide teacher training and estab- '!!mi Teaching Institute in Lahore, Pakistan, lish permanent teaching teams all helped which in l 991 began to offer ten days of stimulate an increase in the number of dedi- classes per month, and the Jamaliyyih Institute cated souls actively spreading Baha' u' llah's in EI Salvador which trained approximately Message. The Universal House of Justice I 00 teachers. Annual national and regional reiterated the crucial importance of personal teaching conferences were held on all teaching in its Ric;!van l 988 message, saying: continents. "Every individual believer- man, woman, One paiiicular innovation which expanded youth and child- is summoned to this field the teaching force was the Universal House of action; for it is on the initiative, the reso- of Justice's call for sho1i-term pioneers. In lute will of the individual to teach and to September 1989 National Assemblies were serve, that the success of the entire commu- assigned a number of short-term pioneering nity depends." goals measured by months of service. Be- National Assemblies encouraged individ- cause the believers filling these goals did not ual initiative in a variety of ways. A series of intend to stay permanently (some stayed Vision to Victory conferences in the United only three months) they were freed from the States ended with participants submitting need to find employment, and thus more of personal pledges of teaching service. The the friends were able to participate. National Assembly of the Eastern Caroline The teaching work was also carried out Islands sent a booklet called A Personal by permanent teams in a number of coun- Teaching Campaign to all Local Assemblies tries. For example, the permanent teams of to be shared with their communities. Numer- Guyana's Resident Teacher Project inspired ous National Assemblies sent circular letters similar teams in Belize, Brazil, EI Salvador to Local Assemblies and held local seminars and Honduras; and full-time teams were on the topic . formed in four states of the United States While evidence of increased individual near the end of the Plan. Also in the United personal teaching is not easily monitored, States, approximately 1,000 teaching institutes National Assemblies on all continents made were formed, with members committing observations such as "a greater commitment themselves to teach a particular segment of to individual teaching"; "more involvement the population over a period of at least five and efforts in the field of teaching"; and years. Teaching institutes were also tried in INTERN AT IONAL SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 147

five pilot areas of Turkey and then spread all from Costa Rica joined the teaching proover the country. grams in Honduras. A highlight of the teaching work was the growing involvement and initiative of INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION indigenous peoples. Fo llowing a seminar in With strong encouragement from the Uni- Bolivia in July 1989 on the development of versal House of Justice, many steps were the Faith among the Indian peoples of Latin taken to win the goals of international col- America, a one-week teaching project was laboration in the teaching field . Conferences held during which some 500 people emolled. on border teaching were held in Europe and The seminar had been attended by seventy Centra l America, and successful exchanges Balla ' is representing nine distinct indige- of teachers took place when the Thai-Camnous groups from eight countries. In 1986 a bodian border opened for trade in 1991. gathering of all the sacred societies of the Major internationa l collaboration among in- Peigan Reserve in Albe1ia, Canada, was stitutions was achieved when the Promise of called by Elder Joe Crowshoe, a Balla' i, to World Peace Tour was organized: sixty-two exp lain the teachings and plan for further Balla'is from eight nations travelled to the intersocietal gatherings . Soviet Union in 1989 to disseminate the Indigenous believers increasingly volun- Peace Statement. teered travel teaching services. Four Garifuna Probably the most dramatic examples of teachers from Belize and Honduras formed a international collaboration occuned when team called Trail of Light and shared the the countries bordering Eastern Europe were Faith with the Carib descendants of their given responsibility for quickly organizing ancestors in Dominica. Mayan believers teaching plans and sending teachers when played a significant role in a 1989 project in the Eastern Bloc opened to the Faith. Myriad Mexico which led to the enrollment of 220 other international teaching projects were people in the first week. Teams of Bri Bri canied out collaboratively during the Plan.

!rish Baha'i youth walked ji-om Cork to Limerick, a distance of 64 miles, on behalfof World Peace in October 1987. 148 THE BAHA'i WORLD

YOUTI-I with a focus on reaching refugees from The Six Year Plan witnessed a widespread Mozambique. In the Netherlands the Youth acceptance by Baha'i youth in many parts Committee composed its own plan and invitof the world of the concept of a period of ed each youth to choose a personal goal service, undertaken generally as a temporary toward its fulfillment. interruption to their formal educational program and devoted fully to the promotion of HOUSES OF WORSHIP the teaching work. Youth in all continents Since the Mother Temple of the Indian subwere reported to be in the forefront of teach- continent was dedicated to public worship in ing activity. In its Ridvan 1992 message the December 1986, more than thirteen million Universal House of Justice affirmed that people have crossed its threshold, one day Youth activities took on a special char- alone registering 143,635 visitors; it is now acter shaped by the idea of a youth year one of the most visited religious edifices in of service. The involvement of the youth India. As the Temple's fame spread, its visiin the Six Year Plan as short-te1m pio- tors ' log became a roster of dignitaries from neers, travelling teachers and projecteers around the globe: heads of state, government had a profound effect on the teaching ministers, ambassadors , scholars and reliwork overall... gious leaders wrote of their admiration for Youth dominated the teaching work in the unique strncture, and for the principles Eastern Europe. Other examples of signifi- that inspired its singular and enthralling cant youth activity include the four STAR beauty. teaching projects carried out between 1987 The Houses of Worship on each of the and 1990 in Botswana with international other continents continued to act as silent participation, and the ongoing Sparks of teachers of the Cause. The national commu- Peace project which brought youth together nities in Australia and Samoa took particular every summer for an intensive campaign advantage of their Mashriqu'l-Adhkars to throughout the English-speaking Caribbean. introduce prominent people to the Faith; The United States reported that youth partic- special services held in conunemoration of ipated in nearly every ongoing project and United Nations Days were well attended by comprised most of the full-time teaching people of capacity from many professions. teams. The initiative taken by youth to form Refurbishment of the Temple in Uganda music, dance and drama groups to proclaim began, to make it once again East Africa 's the Faith is yet another aspect of the promi- jewel. In Panama the national secretariat nent role they played in the teaching work. was moved to the Temple grounds and a The level of initiative and organization large auditorium consháucted for visitors. At demonstrated by youth also rose, as exem- the Mother Temple of the West in Wilmette, plified by the establishment by the House of U.S.A., a long process of rehabilitating the Justice in October 1989 of a European Baha' i architectural concrete components began. Youth Council charged with coordinating In 1991 Germany ' s House of Worship was the various activities of the European Baha ' i classified as a Cultural Monument under youth and representing them in dealings with the provisions of the Historical Monument other youth groups and agencies. In Malawi Preservation Law. In all of the Houses of a strong National Youth Committee planned Worship, many teaching programs compleand canied out the Collis Featherstone Project mented the regular worship services. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 149

b. Greater Involvement of the Faith in the 1987 the Kansas State House of Representa- Life of Human Society tives in the United States also encouraged When the Six Year Plan began, the Universal study of the peace statement. House of Justice had just offered, in The As government officials became increas- Promise of World Peace, the experience of ingly aware of Baha'i teachings and activities the Baha'i community as a model for the related to peace and world order, Baha'i peoples of the world to study. Throughout communities took bolder steps to assert to the six years the believers increasingly shared those in authority the indispensability of that experience through association with indi- Baha'u'llah's principles. In countries underviduals and organizations working to solve going constitutional revisions such as Brazil, the problems addressed by Baha'u'llah. By Haiti, Paraguay, South Africa and Thailand, Ridvan 1992 Baha'i views and participation National Assemblies submitted to their govwere actively sought by individuals and gov- ernments documents offering suggestions ernments alike. for new national constitutions. The President of the South African Law Commission, the judge acting on behalf of the government, CONTACT WITH PROMINENT PEOPLE AND commented that the Baba' is were the one AUTHORITIES group whose ideas had provided a "spiritual The Promise of World Peace, which intro- and moral foundation" for a constitution. duced people from all walks of life to the Baha'i views were also made known to Baha'i Faith, led to unprecedented contacts various governmental organizations concerned with prominent people and government with solving social problems. In May 1991 authorities. By the end of the Plan Baha'i the National Assembly of Barbados submitviews on peace had been shared with gov- ted The West Indies in the 90's and ernment authorities in nearly every nation of Beyond-A Baha 'i Perspective to the West the world. Indian Commission Preparing the West A sample of the prominent people who Indies for the Future, a body established to were presented with the Peace Statement study the future of the Caribbean community includes: all 559 senators and congressmen and regional unification. A number of presenundertaking to write Brazil's new constitution; tations were also made to that Commission delegates to the Chuuk State Constitutional on behalf of other National Assemblies. In Convention and the Federated States of Taiwan the Ministry of the Interior arranged Micronesia National Constitutional Conven- a special seminar called "Resolving Social Ills tion, both in the Eastern Caroline Islands; through the Teachings of the Baha' i Faith." and the presidents of seven South American Significant connections were also made nations attending an intergovernmental meet- with professionals of many specialties. Seming in Uruguay. Presentations of the statement inars were held to share Baha' i ideas with to government and media officials in Cuba experts in various fields, receptions for were reported to have been warmly prominent Baha'i professionals brought received. them together with colleagues who were not After the Baha 'is of Cambridge, Massa- Baha'is, and monographs providing a Baha'i chusetts, U.S.A., presented The Promise of perspective in special fields such as educa- World Peace to their city council, the council tion and the environment were distributed . unanimously passed a resolution encourag- Baha'is also helped form professional assoing citizens to read and study the document ciations related to peace, such as the and paid tribute to the Baha'is for their lead- Association of Physicians for Peace and the ership in a range of peace-related issues. In Association of Educators for Peace, both in 150 THE BAHA' I WORLD

Counsellor Beatrice Asare presents a copy of the Peace Statement to the Asantahene of the Asante State of Ghana at his palace in Kumasi in September 1988. -.; "'

Counsellor Violette Haake presents a copy of the Peace Statement to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mr. lnatio Akaruru, in October J990.

Baha 'i representatives present a copy of the Peace Statement to NA TO Base personnel in Kejl.avik, Iceland, in October J988. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' i ACTIVITIES 151 Brazil. Baha'i involvement with social and In 1988, Baha' is in Burkina Faso were economic development projects also brought the only members of a religious community the Faith to the attention of professionals in in the country to take part in a commemoradevelopment-related fields, such as educa- tion of the UN's International Peace Day tion and health care. and Children's Day; and for the first time in The presentation of awards sponsored that country, Baha'is were invited to particiby Baha'i communities to honor individuals pate in an official UN Day reception. for their service to humanity created many The National Assembly of Venezuela paropportunities to meet and encourage com- ticipated in a meeting of the UN Economic munity leaders. In Alaska the Honor and Social Council for Latin America which Kempton Award for Service to Humanity, led to the Assembly's hosting a meeting which is named after the woman known to of non-govenm1ental organization represen- Baha'is as the spiritual mother of Alaska and tatives; Baha' is subsequently helped to form Luxembourg, continued to be presented the Association of Non-Governmental Orgaaimually; each year more than 100 guests, nizations in Venezuela. including prominent figures , attended the Baha'is demonstrated their belief in reliawards banquet. Presentation of the National gious unity tluáough closer association with Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands' annual other religions. The Inter-Religious Under- Agnes Baldwin Alexander Award for Ser- standing Association was formed by fifteen vice to Humanity received substantial press groups in India including Baha' is; a significoverage. In 1988 the Baha' is of the United cant relationship was reported to have Kingdom presented their first Human Rights developed between the Baha'is of Nepal and A wards as pati of their commemoration of the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace; the 75th anniversary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit an "active and thriving link" was established to London. between Baha'is and the Interfaith Group which represents most religions in Fiji; and LIKE-MINDED 0RGANIZA TIONS Guatemalan Baha'is participated in a Con- Baha' is contributed their knowledge of gress for Peace with representatives of all Baha'u'llah's Teachings and their time to the country 's religious denominations. In many of the organizations which promote 1990 the Baha ' i International Community Baha'i ideals. Numerous individuals volun- formally associated itself with the World teered with local and international groups, Conference on Religion and Peace. such as commissions working to prevent The interfaith groups occasionally addmg abuse. In addition, Baha' i communities dressed a pressing social need. In Zimbabwe increased their support of United Nations' members of an association of religious activities and their involvement in interfaith groups collaborated with UNICEF to help associations. alleviate the physical sufferings of children Some of the most substantial collabora- in southern Africa. In Hawaii the Council of tion with United Nations initiatives took Churches co-sponsored the first Institute for place in the United States where the National the Healing of Racism in that state. The insti- Assembly, through its office at the United tute was formed by the Baha' is, modelled Nations , worked throughout all six years after similar institutes in North America. toward the ratification of various UN human Baha' is often addressed envirom11ental rights Conventions, helped to commemo- issues by co-sponsoring fomms , seminars rate the International Year of Peace and the and exhibits in conjunction with other International Year of Literacy, and became groups. For example, the National Assembly more actively involved in UN Association of the United States became a member of the activities. Global Tomonow Coalition, an organization 152 THE BAHA'I WORLD

of 150 groups involved in issues related to Rights Day have evolved into a government resources, the environment and sustainable event in Berrnuda. Essay contests on peace, development. That Assembly also became a sponsored in a number of lands, draw the member of the Advisory/Planning Board of attention of youth to the teachings of the the North American Environmental Sabbath Faith. Committee; a Baha'i symbol now appears on Balla 'i organizations were foimed to prothe newsletter masthead and Baha'i quota- mote Baha'i principles among specific audiences tions were included in 10,000 kits distributed including the Baha'i Medical Association in for a special event. France and Health for Humanity in the United States. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES When renewed incidents of interracial Increasingly, Baha'is not only participated violence erupted in the United States, the in activities with like-minded organizations, Baha'i community was already offering its but also initiated their own events and orga- healing perspective on the problem through nized groups dedicated to addressing problems distribution of the statement The Vision of facing society. Race Unity: America's Most Challenging Numerous Baha'i seminars, conferences Issue, and through the holding of a series of and public meetings were augmented by Institutes for the Healing of Racism. unique events such as Brazil 's International Exposition on Education for Peace, carried S IGNS OF RECOGNITION out with the collaboration of twenty-three A growing number of prominent individuals embassies and educational institutions, and and groups sought the support of Baha' is Singapore's Arts for Nature exhibit which during the Plan. Invitations to participate in earned favorable recognition from the Min- peace-related activities, public mention of istry of the Environment and the Council of Baha'i views by prominent people, and Women's Organizations. requests for advice all pointed to increasing Several events initiated by Baha'is have recognition that the Faith offers solutions to gradually become a part of life in the greater the crises facing humanity. community. Annual Race Unity celebrations Milestone changes occurred in recogniare held in hundreds of United States cities. tion of the Faith by public officials. The Observances of World Religion Day have Prime Minister of the Cook Islands , Sir become annual national events in Suriname. Thomas Davis, accompanied by Lady Davis, The Baha'i commemorations of UN Human visited the World Centre in August 1986 to

In Lesotho, Baha 'is were invited to the Royal Banquet Hall on 15 September 1987 to receive the United Nations' "Peace Messenger Award" for the • community's involvement in peace activities. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 153 consult with the Universal House of Justice Martin Luther King Federal Holiday Comabout world peace. Later that year the Presi- mission. In 1992 the Baha'i representative to dent of Dominica quoted from The Promise the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia, was of World Peace during a radio broadcast invited to a gathering of 500 religious leaders on the International Day of Peace. In April convened by former President Jimmy Carter 1990 President Amata Kabua of the Mar- to explore religious involvement in "Project shall Islands, while officially visiting Israel, Atlanta," a social and economic development came to Haifa with his secretary and his project. The Baha 'i representative was then ambassador to confer informally with mem- elected to the project's six-member Advisory bers of the Universal House of Justice on the Council. role of the Marshall Islands in establishing Intensive Baha'i involvement in ecologyworld peace. related activities led to requests for Baha'is Baha ' i views on issues related to social to take greater leadership roles. Two memjustice were sought by the Central American bers of Hawaii's National Assembly were Institute for Business Administration during the only religious representatives among its seminar on "Post-War National Recon- sixty-two groups invited to patiicipate in the struction in El Salvador"; the Vice-President Governor's statewide Eaiih Day planning of Guyana requested a meeting with the session in 1990. A member of the United National Assembly of that country to discuss States National Assembly's Washington, D.C., Baha'i participation in the "Social Impact staff became pa1i of a working group to draft Amelioration Program"; and the Macau suggestions for the United States govern- Basic Law Consultative Committee asked ment's Ea1ih Summit position paper m the Macau Spiritual Assembly to send three 1992. representatives to a joint meeting with the Awareness of the Baha'i teachings on Basic Law Drafting Committee from China religious unity were demonstrated when a and various religious groups, after which the Baha' i became the only non-Buddhist speaker Baha' is were asked to submit their views in invited to address a public meeting held in a formal paper. conjunction with the "Asian Buddhist Con- In the United States Mrs. Coretta Scott ference for Peace" in Mongolia. In Guyana King, wife of the late civil rights leader, Baha'is were appointed to the President's the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs. invited Baha'is to co-chair the National Baha'is were included in panel discussions Religious Involvement Committee of the on "Action Through Faith" and "East Meets

Mr. Dexter King (right) , son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was the keynote speaker at a Bahiz 'i Peace Conference held in Oslo, Norway, on 23 October 1986. Here he is being interviewed by the press. 154 THE BAHA'I WORLD

West" at the International People's College Mental Health in New Zealand; and the in Denmark. director of Ghana 's Institute of Renewable Baha'is in Hawaii were asked to serve in Natural Resources spoke to a group from a significant number of advisory groups: the Cameroon's International Relations Institute Governor's Permanent Commission for the on "Religion in a World in Search of Peace Commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, -A Baha'i Approach" and on agroforestry, Jr., Week; the Governor's Commission on noting that the Faith offers solutions to glothe Status of Women; and the Governor's bal environmental problems. Task Force on AIDS. Also in Hawaii, the The Faith was also directly presented to chairman of a government task force chose the world of academia during meetings with the Baha'i submission on education refmm professors, presentations of The Promise of for broadcast on the radio. World Peace to university faculties, and conferences related to religious studies. A ACADEMIC CIRCLES visiting professor at Belgium's University of In 1990 in the United States the Baha'i Chair Antwerp taught a course on the Faith to the for World Peace was established at the Uni- faculty of the Comparative Religion Departversity of Maryland's Center for International ment; a member of Portugal 's National Development and Conflict Management. Pro- Assembly spoke at the Congress on Religious posed by a non-Baha'i professor in response Studies held at the New University of to the Peace Statement, the Chair was created Lisbon; and the National Assembly of Guyana to conduct and publish research, design sent an overview of Baha'i community procourses and lead seminars in the fie ld of grams to 240 faculty members of the Baha'i studies and world peace within an University of Guyana. interdisciplinary context; to initiate public Awareness of the Baha'i Faith among fornms for discussing the issues proposed in scholars increasingly led to its inclusion in The Promise of World Peace; and to establish university courses. In some cases Baha'i academic links with, and provide technical approaches were incorporated into the study assistance to, Baha'i institutions in the fields of other issues , such as at the University of peace education and international devel- of California, Santa Cruz, U.S.A., where the opment. The creation of the Chair marked Baha' i Club helped to design a course called the first initiative by a prestigious insti tution "The Economics of a World Commonof higher learning to fornmlate a serious pro- wealth." In Guatemala 300 student teachers gram of Baha'i studies. Later that year Indore studied the booklet Education for Peace over University and the National Assembly of a period of twenty sessions. In other cases India signed a document establishing another the Faith itself became the subject of study: Cha ir for Baha' i Studies with a similar range lectures were given in comparative religion of functions to be developed. courses at Bermuda College, Malawi 's Recognition of the Fa ith ~ s principles as Chancellor College and the University of legitin1ate and irnportant subj ects of study Zimbabwe; the Faith was pari of an extenwas cultivated when Baha'is delivered papers sion course on religious studies at Fij i's and lectures relating the teachings to current University of the South Pacific; and entire issues. A Baha ' i scholar presented his analy- courses on the Faith were offered at Brazil's sis of the Third World debt at the prestigious Federal University of Santa Catarina and the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzer- Univers ity of Hawaii ' s Hilo Campus. An land; papers on refugee mental health and office of the United States National Assema case study on a Baha'i refugee settlement bly drafted A Curriculum Guide to the program were received with considerable Baha'i Faith to help college professors interest at the World Conference on Refugee include the Faith in their courses. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACT I VITIES 155

Two institutions which contributed to the should guide the nation, the Assembly of that increasing respect afforded the Faith in country offered its Statement on the National scholarly circles were the Associations for Ideology, which recommended that consulta- Baha'i Studies, with their international co- tion be applied to the whole decision-making ordinating centre in Canada, and Landegg process. Two pioneers at the University of Academy, founded in Switzerland in 1988. Benin conducted a research project in which Baha'is also influenced the curriculum of they used consultation with local farmers to public schools at the primary and secondary demonstrate its value in rural development. levels. In Australia, after a retired Baha'i Increasingly, a variety of organizations teacher offered a multifaith religious educa- recognized the value of this important Baha ' i tion course to Queensland school officials, principle, and requested advice and training. the Queensland Department of Education In 1986, following a three-hour session on invited a Baha 'i representative to be present consultation led by Baha ' is, the Social and at Curriculum Development Committee Ethics Committee of the Canadian Nuclear meetings, and the State Religious Education Association requested that the Baha ' is facili- Advisory Committee voted to offer commit- tate discussion between the various factions tee membership to officers of the Faith. In in the nuclear energy debate. A mayor in Peru high school teachers assigned research New Zealand called the Local Assembly on concerning the Faith as homework, refer- behalfofhis city council to request a meeting ring to Radio Baha'i as a resource. British on consultation; the council met with three Columbia's Ministry of Education in Canada Baha ' is who explained and demonstrated the accepted The Hidden Words and The Seven concept. Valleys as literature which could be studied in high schools. PROMOTING EQUALITY OF THE SEXES The believers initiated and supported numer- ADVOCATING CONSULTATION ous activities to promote the equality of men As Baha'is worked to improve the level of and women. In most cases this took the form consultation within their communities (see of enhancing the status of women. Baha' is also "Higher Levels of Consultation," p. 167), sponsored hundreds of conferences open to they simultaneously increased efforts to the public; formed Baha ' i women's groups share this dynamic concept with the rest of which associated with other organizations the world. pursuing similar aims; and participated in Education about consultation took various various commissions and projects dedicated forms. In Guyana members of the Women's to equality of the sexes. (See also "Women's Affa irs Task Force presented the principle Activities", p. 409.) to sixteen representatives of women 's groups; Local, regional and national conferences the Baha'i model was demonstrated in a were hosted by Baha'is to address this issue graduate course at the University of Hawaii in such diverse locations as Cape Verde, to overwhelmingly positive response; and Chad, Grenada, Korea, Paraguay and Spain. Tonga ' s National Women's Greater Involve- The most noteworthy of these gatherings ment in the Life of Human Society Committee were: a 1988 international women's confersponsored a highly successful conference on ence in the United States which provided a consultation. forum for more than 1,000 women from In different ways, Baha'is seized opportu- sixty-five countries to discuss their role in nities to educate decision-making bodies the global peace-making process; the about the impo1iance of consultation. When Pacific Women's Conference spearheaded the government of Singapore invited groups by Hawaii ' s South Hilo Local Assembly in to submit their views on the core values that 1991 and attended by seventy people from 156 THE BAI-IA •j WORLD

seventeen nations; and a Caribbean Women's contributions to food production in Africa Conference held in the Leeward Islands in and the importance of their involvement in 1988 with pa1iicipants from twelve countries. all levels of decision-making. Baha'i groups forged links with non- A number of related projects and com- Baha' i associations working toward similar missions benefited from the involvement of goals by registering with umbrella organiza- individual oelievers and Baha'i communities. tions, co-sponsoring events and speaking at The Faith was represented by both women meetings. The Baha ' i Women 's Committee and men at meetings called by the UN Comof Singapore collaborated with the Sin- mission on the Status of Women, including gapore Council of Women's Organizations , global and regional conferences, seminars which is composed of thirty-four groups; two and workshops. During the Plan fifteen state- Baha' is served as Executive Board members ments were presented to the Commiss ion on for a combined total of four years. In Nigeria such topics as social and economic developthe Baha'i Women's Development Board ment, education and the status of girls. One registered with the National Council of direct result of this involvement was a joint Women's Societies. Ireland's Baha'i National project supported by the United Nations Committee for Fostering the Equality of the Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Sexes fom1ed strong ties with other commu- called "Traditional Media As Change Agent." nity groups. In cooperation with various consultants Since 1988 a representative of the Faith Baha' i agencies, National Assemblies, and has served as convenor of "Advocates for UNIFEM, Baha'is created a project using African Food Security: Lessening the Burden traditional means, such as music and dance, of Women," a coalition of United Nations to stimulate discuss ions about women's agencies with non-governmental and inter- and men's roles in society. The project governmental organizations. Participants commenced in localities in Bolivia, Brazil, educate policymakers about women's vital Cameroon, Malaysia and Nigeria.

The President of France, His Excellency Franr;ois Mitterand, with Mrs. Peggy Maichoo, pioneer to Reunion (right), at a reception at the Elysee Palace in Paris, in commemoration of International Wom ens ' Day, 8 March 1990. INT ERNA TION AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACT IVITI ES 157

c. Increasing the Worldwide Availability has a permanent collection of 1,000 volumes and Use of Baha'i Literature and also sells Baha'i books. In addition, the A worldwide increase in the translation, Local Spiritual Assembly ofMoissala, noting production, distribution and use of Baha'i the paucity of educational facilities available literature was designated as a priority during to villagers , started a mobile library in colthe Six Year Plan with a view to proclaiming laboration with the Local Spiritual Assembly the Faith and its principles to all sections of of Munich, Ge1many; it contains both society and broadening the Baha'i commu- Baha 'i and general reference materials and nity's understanding of Baba 'u' llah and His travels between villages, spending one day Message. This objective was energetically in each place. addressed throughout the Baha' i world in a number of ways. PRO DUCTION AND TRANSLATION Trans lations of Baha ' i literature were signifi- AVAILABILITY cantly increased in a number of languages, Efforts to present Baha' i literature to both covering a greater range of subj ect matter. the general public and the Baha'i commu- Spiritual Assemblies strnve to enrich Baha' i nity were intensified, taking m any fo1ms. literature in national and local languages . The most widespread were the participation Many such efforts were acclaimed for their of Baha'is in book fairs and exhibitions, the conháibution towards the preservation of culdistribution of Baha' i literature to public ture and heritage. In Dominica, for example, libraries, and the establishment of book the first háanslation of The Hidden Words depots and lending libraries. It is not possi- into Creole was received with appreciation ble to enumerate the achievements of every by a high-ranking government official and community in this sphere of activity, but to was seen as advancing the culture of the focus on the accomplishments of a few is island. revealing. The National Spiritual Assembly of In India the Baha'is participated in some Switzerland published a booklet in Ladin, a thirty-eight book fairs, held nearly two main dialect of Romansch, the fourth lanhundred book exhibitions and established as guage of Switzerland; the booklet was many as 110 book depots an d 865 lending disháibuted to the media and to agencies libraries. In one Indian state the Baha'is engaged in preserving the language. In the received a request from the Director of Netherlands a national teaching conference Public Libraries for 3,000 copies of Baha' i was organized by a Loca l Assembly to celebooks to be distributed among the 1,500 brate the publication and to develop plans public libraries throughout the state. In for the use of a compilation of the Writings Argentina the Baha'is took part in the ammal of 'Abdu ' l-Baha in Frisian, a language of the Buenos Aires Book Fair, one of the most Frisian Islands and the northern Netherlands. important in Latin America, drawing nearly In Togo and Benin, where selected Writa million people each year. At the Interna- ings were háanslated into the native tongues tional Book Fair held in Yugos lavia and of villagers, a powerful effect on Baha' i attended by nearly 400,000 people, the conmmnities was achieved. To encourage Baha' i Book Distribution Service of Austria application of Baha'i teachings certain háibal gave out some 2,800 items. Baha'i publish- chiefs also made recordings of the obligaers attended three ammal International Book tory prayers so that illiterate villagers could Fairs in Beijing, China. In Chad the Olinga listen to the Words of Baha ' u ' llah; other Bookstore-Library was opened in Moissala audio recordings of the Writings amplified in the presence of religious, civi l and military this mode of learning prayers and studying leaders; the library, open to the public daily, the Creative Word. 158 THE BAHA'I WORLD

In Papua New Guinea a booklet of prayers the publication of a number of bibliographies from several of the world's major religions of Baha' i works and an English-language was translated into Nalik, one of the local Baba 'i dictionary. Two more concordances languages, the first book ever printed in that were added to the seven already available, language; a written forn1 of Nalik had to be and the Sacred Writings in an electronic created by Baha'is before this could occur. format became accessible for the first time The booklet, entitled Saaule Nakmai, a tradi- through the publication of two software tional Nalik call for assistance from God, programs. was part of the Baha' i community's contri- With the overall enrichment of Baha'i bution to the United Nations International literature throughout the world, it became Literacy Year. necessary to ensure that the desire to create A clear trend emerged and gained momen- variety did not overshadow the need to make tum during the Plan to produce more Baha'i basic Baha' i literature available to the literature on a broader range of subj ects. masses of humanity. Cognizant of this need, New Baha' i publications appeared on themes the International Teaching Centre fostered a such as health and hea ling, marriage and program that is now known as the "core family, decision-making and consultation, literature" program. Core literature refers to implications and applications of peace, and a a selection of titles comprised of Holy Writrange of social and economic development ings, works on the Life and Miss ion of issues. Prior to the Plan only a handful of Baha'u' llah, and introductory and deepening Baba ' i publications existed on the subject of materials, which are printed in large numliteracy. By its close, the number of Baha'i bers and made available to the friends at publications related to literacy easily reached affordable prices. The list of titles chosen forty. Among the languages in which Baha' i as core literature for a given language not literacy materials can now be found are: only is unique to that language, but grows Hindi and Marathi for India; French and and changes as the community develops and Creole for Haiti; Lunda for Zambia; Guaymi as the general enrichment of literature for Panama; and Spanish, Portuguese and progresses. Quechua for Latin America. Nowhere did this approach prove more It is also interesting to note the marked useful than in the former Eastern Bloc, upsurge in the publication of Baha'i refer- where the sudden opening of the countries of ence materials. The Six Year Plan witnessed the region to the rest of the world in late

An estimated 1,000,000 people visited the i nternational Book Fa ir held in Buenos A ires in April I 989. Th is was th e sixth year the Bahri 'i Publishing Trust of Argentina participated in the Fair and its booth attracted much attention. INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 159 1989, and the large-scale teaching efforts systematize efforts in translation, publication that followed, created an unprecedented and distribution on the various continents. demand for Baha'i literature. In languages Likewise, the first International Chinese spoken in those countries experiencing large- Baha'i Writers' Seminar was held in Malayscale expansion, namely Albanian, Bulgarian, sia in June 1991, which explored the need Romanian and Russian, a packet of basic for suitable Baha'i materials in Chinese. In core literature was printed in large quantities order to enhance the range of Baha'i literato put essential items into the hands of the ture available in Arabic, a committee known people. While the production and distribu- as the "Reviewing Board of Baha'i Literation of core literature was vigorously pursued, ture in Arabic" was appointed by the House parallel plans were developed to create a of Justice in September 1991, with its base broad spectium of Baha'i literature in these in London. A Baha'i publishers' conference, languages. Both processes gradually gath- held in England in February 1992, was ered momentum during the last two years of attended by forty-four representatives of the Plan and will continue for many years to twenty-two publishers from seventeen councome. tries. As an outgrowth of that conference, However, it was not only in the former the International Association of Baha' i Eastern Bloc where this approach proved Publishers was formed with its base in the useful. Core literature programs were also Netherlands. developed for languages spoken in other regions of the world where large-scale expan- DISSEM INATION sion is taking place, including Hindi, Khmer, The capacity of the Baha'i world to dissemi- Lao, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Portuguese and nate literature on specific issues to thousands several vernacular languages of Africa, such of people increased enormously. The release as Bemba, Igbo, Yoruba and Sara. of The Promise of World Peace provided the impetus for the development of this COLLABORATION capacity. Greater collaboration among Publishing Since the appearance of the Peace State- Trusts and Baha'i publishers was brought ment, some National Spiritual Assemblies about by technological advances in the field have published items focusing on issues relof printing and the increase in organizational evant to their own countries and have called capacity throughout the Baha 'i world. On an upon their national communities to use these operational level, closer collaboration was publications extensively in their proclamawitnessed in the increasing number of Pub- tion and teaching efforts. The most outstanding lishing Trusts sharing computer discs and/or example is the statement prepared by the films of manuscripts to facilitate the printing National Spiritual Assembly of the United of the same book in different locations, thus States in 1991 entitled The Vision of Race avoiding the cost, difficulties and delays of Unity: America 's Most Challenging Issue. transporting books over long distances and There is every indication that this newly across borders. acquired capacity will be fully utilized in On an organizational level, this collabora- the dissemination of the Statement on tion was reflected in the number of international Baha'u'llah. Issued in April 1991, the Stategatherings and consultative meetings about ment had already been translated into at least literature which took place during the Plan. forty-eight languages by the close of the In 1987, for example, Argentina held the Plan, and reports were received at the World first Baha' i conference on the production of Centre of its presentation to many prominent literature in Spanish to coordinate and figures in various lands. 160 THE BAHA'I WORLD

d. Further Acceleration in the Process of An illustrated booklet outlining the major the Maturation of Baha'i Communities tasks of a Local Assembly was distributed at The Six Year Plan itself, its goals and the a national convention in Togo. method used to fommlate them, reflected a Seminars, workshops and regular visits new level of community maturity. In its let- provided the other major fom1 of education. ter of2 January 1986 the Universal House of In the United States, Auxilia1y Board mem- Justice stated: "This new process ... signalizes bers, assistants, Counsellors and National the inauguration of a new stage in the Assembly representatives conducted a series unfoldment of the Administrative Order." of eighteen local conferences as part of the "Local Spiritual Assembly Development STRENGTHENING LOCAL SPIRITUAL Program" launched in 1989. The sessions ASSEMBLIES were based on training modules and on a In some areas of the world, most notably new compilation prepared at the National Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union Center called Developing Distinctive Bahti 'i and East Asia, the number of Local Assem- Communities: Guidelines for Local Spiritual blies significantly increased, reaching and Assemblies. sometimes surpassing national goals. A mile- Members of the various institutions stone in Local Assembly formation occurred working together in Spain established tl1e when the central authorities in Moscow "Consolidation Project for Local Spiritual approved the Baha'is' application to restore Assemblies." A similar National Conunittee the long-lost Assembly of Ashkhabad for the Support of Local Spiritual Assem- ('Ishqabad) in 1989. Yet the primary empha- blies was created in the Netherlands. sis during the Plan was on encouraging In the Philippines a simplified Local existing Local Assemblies to manifest their Assembly manual translated into Tagalog full potential. was distributed during seminars run by the National Assemblies created innovative Area Teaching Committees' "Local Spiritual and effective deepening programs for mem- Assembly Development Project." A "Travel bers of Local Assemblies, and Auxiliary Deepeners' Program," created in Tanzania, Board members and their assistants worked worked with twenty Assemblies during the tirelessly to nmture these vital institutions. Plan, and the National Assembly of Ethiopia Local Assemblies took greater initiative in conducted mini-deepenings for members of holding regular meetings, canying out their its urban Assemblies. administrative functions, reformillg themselves The Assembly of Chad reported that without outside assistance, and conducting individual Baha'is travelled thousands of extension teaching projects. kilometers per year by bicycle to regularly A number of National Assemblies pro- visit, encourage, deepen and deliver mail to duced deepening materials for their local Local Assemblies, greatly contributing to institutions. In Brazil a set of nine booklets their development. Similarly, in tl1e Central called Forming Conscientious Local African Republic, the assistant secreta1y of Spiritual Assemblies was shared with more the National Assembly rode some 1,200 than 200 Local Assemblies. Standards for kilometers by bicycle to hold institutes for organizing and conducting secretariat and thirteen Local Spiritual Assemblies in five treasury tasks were formulated by the locations, reaching nearly 300 individuals . National Assembly of the Eastern Caroline The effects of such efforts could be seen as Islands and sent to all Local Assemblies. local institutions began demonstrating more The National Assembly of Fiji taped and responsibility and initiative. distributed materials related to Assembly Local Assemblies increasingly handled development in Fijian, Hindi and English. their basic duties without undue reliance on INT ERNAT IONAL SURVEY OF CURREN T BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 161

Counsellor Edith Senoga (second from left) visits Baha 'i communities in the remote western region of Uganda , near the Ruwenzori Mountains; Februmy 1990.

National Assemblies . For example, by the Local Assemblies in Bolivia organized and end of the Plan, incorporated Assemblies in locally financed regional conferences with Singapore and Hawaii were handling their between 200 and 600 participants each. Fifty own administrative work to maintain incor- Canadian Assemblies initiated their own poration, and eight Assemblies in Taiwan deepening programs and fourteen were overhad assumed responsibility for their own seeing the functioning of bookstores and local centers. The minutes of Norway 's info1mation centers at the end of the Plan. Local Assemblies showed these institutions Eleven Local Assemblies in Transkei adopted to be increasingly advising individuals on and pursued twenty-four extension teaching their personal problems and on avenues for goals. service to the Cause. Hawaii reported that the number of personal cases reaching the D EVELOPING LOCAL BAHA'I COMMUNITIES National Assembly radically decreased after "It is not enough to expand the rolls of the Auxiliary Board members held deepen- Baha'i membership, vital as that is, " the ings with Local Assemblies on how they Universal House of Justice reminded the might handle this aspect of Assembly believers of the world in its message of responsibility themselves. Ri~van 1989. "Souls must be transfmmed, Many Assemblies went beyond bas ic communities thereby consolidated, new functioning and fully developed loca l models of life thus attained." activity plans. All Local Assemblies in the It is difficult to measure the develc.pment Netherlands composed their own arumal of local communities, because no numbers plans which were then confim1ed by the can be applied to the spirit at a Holy Day National Assembly. Thailand reported that celebration, to the level of cooperation four Assemblies created their own plans, among the friends on a daily basis, or to became financially self-sufficient and the creativity poured into preparation for supported surrounding communities. Italy's a Nineteen Day Feast. However, as the National Assembly dissolved its National National Assembly of the Cook Islands Corrunittee for the Assistance of Local reported, " .. .if the spirit of enthusiasm and Assemblies because of the level of maturity loving unity among the members of our that had been achieved. community has anything to do with the Finally, more Assemblies developed maturity of the community, then we have sufficiently to begin initiating activities of made great strides over the past six years in benefit to the wider community. Several this area. " The National Assembly of Nepal 162 THE BAHA'I WORLD

similarly reported, "no doubt the greatest of members of the Mura Tribe, was elected progress during the Six Year Plan has been at Ri~van 1990. The number of native Seneregistered in the area of the maturation of galese on the National Assembly of that local communities." country reached eight in the last year of the The successes of large-scale enrollment Plan; as the number of pioneers decreased, in various parts of the world created an the Senegalese have "taken over, in the immediate and pressing need for community administration as in the teaching, and in so consolidation. India's "Muhajir Project" doing, have developed a greater sense of combined deepening with mass teaching, belonging to the Faith". The Pygmies of the using a mobile deepening institute to help Central African Republic fom1ed their first newly formed communities to hold Nineteen Local Assembly in 1987. Day Feasts, Holy Day celebrations and to Another sign of maturation was the perform administrative functions. Also in attention given to achieving greater equality India, the Baha'i Academy in Panchgani between men and women within the Baha'i significantly contributed to the process of community. Women's issues and the topic consolidation through well-designed courses of equality were studied at numerous Baha'i which were attended by Baha ' is from both schools, conferences, mini-courses and sem- India and abroad, and conferences and semi- inars, and entire conferences focusing on nars for Auxiliary Board members and women were held in countries as diverse as assistants. Puerto Rico, Korea, Austria, Mauritius and In the Khulna area of Bangladesh, where Cape Verde. the populations of approximately 100 vil- Baha'i groups were formed to provide lages came close to becoming 100 percent support for women and to encourage com- Baha'i, the Regional Teaching Committee munities to address the issue of equality. designated a few as "model Baha'i villages" The Women's Association for Development and focused efforts on making the difference of Peace and Unity in France consisted of between Baha'i and other villages readily ninety members in four regional groups and apparent. held deepenings at various Baha'i gather- One outstanding sign of community ings. In Spain the National Committee for growth was the greater participation of Women was created to provide articles, native believers in activities and institutions. lectures and deepenings. A committee in the As culh1ral expressions of indigenous people Eastern Caroline Islands, which was formed were better incorporated into Baha'i com- to foster equality, developed a participatory munity life and as Baha'is sought to preserve workshop on the topic. the most positive aspects of native cultures, Women from rnral areas and indigenous loca l people took greater responsibility for tribes also exhibited greater pariicipation in their Baha'i communities. Zimbabwe, for community life. In Costa Rica in 1992, tluáee example, reported that one of the highlights indigenous communities were represented of the Six Year Plan was the transfom1ation by women at the National Convention for the of pioneer-dominated activities into collec- first time. In India large numbers of women tive efforts supported by local believers. were reported to be taking responsibility for The increased number of native believers the affairs of the Faith in Rajasthan, and in elected to institutions reflected this greater November 1988 sixty-two Indian women participation. At the end of the Plan the from thirteen villages attended a deepening majority of the members of twenty-two Local conference at the Malhousi Baha'i Center in Assemblies in Guatemala were indigenous Uttar Pradesh, a reported "miracle" for people. The first indigenous Local Assembly women to leave their homes to share their in the Amazonas State in Brazil, composed views with others. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURREN T BAHA'i ACTIVIT IES 163 STRENGTH EN ING NAT IONAL SPIRJTUAL Baha'i elections, often carried out by the ASSEMBLIES Counsellors, contributed to greater Assem- Between 1986 and 1992, new National Spiri- bly maturity and improved the quality of tual Assemblies were formed or re-fo1med in elections, so that they reflected an increas- Angola, the Congo Republic, Guinea, Guinea- ingly spiritual atmosphere. One recurring B issau, Greenland, Macau, Niger, the West deepening program, which was developed in Leeward Islands, Zaire and throughout East- Hawaii for delegates, evolved into a national ern Europe and Central Asia. The twelve educational program on the electoral process. National Assemblies formed at Ria:van 1992 Higher levels of cooperation and greater alone equalled the total number in the world understanding of how to apply Baha'i prinof forty years ago. ciples were reported by Assembly members . Overall, National Assemblies functioned Kenya reported growth in planning, consulmore effectively as secretariats improved; tation and organization, stating "members are elections more closely reflected the Baha'i more committed, more loving, more vigoridea; Assemblies delegated more tasks to ous, and they have been trying to play their strong committees or councils; and members rightful role as 'servants'." Togo's Assembly generally developed greater understanding reported becoming more understanding of of their roles. the importance of administering with justice Record-keeping and organization of the the affairs and property of the Faith. The administrative work of Assemblies improved National Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands with greater access to office technology. declared that its degree of growth "is Membership records were computerized reflected in the fundamental unity among in numerous places , including Dominica, its members, the increased reliance on the Taiwan, Sri Lanka, the Eastern Caroline power of divine assistance in decision- Islands and Zimbabwe; and many secretari- making, and the constant attempt to make ats tluáoughout the Baha ' i world acquired decisions based on principle and to arrive at word processors and fax machines to facili- consensus and wrnnimity ... " tate their correspondence work. In Canada In several communications to National comprehensive information on localities was Assemblies, the Universal House of Justice entered into a database and a history of Local recognized greater Assembly maturity by Assembly establishment was compiled. delegating more responsibility to these insti- The emphasis in some areas on educating tutions . In 1986 Assemblies were urged to convention delegates in the unique nature of develop their own national archives, and in

The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha 'is of French Guiana, with two A uxilimy Board members, in April 1987. 164 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

1990 the House of Justice encouraged and Assemblies in the Netherlands worked National Assemblies to begin selecting pio- together to provide deepenings and children's neers to be deputized and to match them with classes. In some cases Local Assembly sponsors, thereby complementing the efforts collaboration was international: seventy of the International Deputization Fund. believers from twenty-five localities in Some National Assemblies, in turn, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom moved to decentralize their activities as their met in 1988 to consult on ways they could communities and workloads grew. Malay- join efforts to better teach in their local sia's first State Baha'i Councils were communities. established, and several oflndia's Councils, Regional consultations among National created in 1986, developed sufficiently to Assemblies provided additional opportuniinclude their own secretariats, committees, ties for exchange. In October 1990 the Feast newsletters and journals. Encouraged Continental Board of Counsellors in the by the Co unsellors to appoint stronger Americas organized a meeting in Guatemala committees, Hawaii held its first two- for seven Central American National Assemday National Committee Training Institute, blies. Thirty-seven representatives of the focused on making committees into effec- twelve National Assemblies of the Eastern tive arms of the Assembly, with authority Caribbean met in Saint Lucia in 1987 to to act without further approval except in foster collaboration among the participating cases involving a principle, policy or major communities. That same year representafunding . tives of the Assemblies of Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan began what COLLABORATION AMONG INSTITUTIONS became annual joint meetings ; they were As Baha'i institutions at all levels matured, joined by the new Assembly of Macau in greater efforts were made toward sharing 1990. Representatives of the Assemblies of ideas and encouraging collaboration in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bangcommon goals among Local Assemblies, ladesh, India, Nepal, Sikkim and Sri Lanka National Assemblies, and between the elected met in India in 1989. Several joint meetings and appointed institutions. and institutes have been held between the At least twenty collaborative endeavors Assemblies of Thailand and Laos. involving 105 Local Assemblies took place In Africa members from the National in Canada; forty-one Assemblies in Guyana Spiritual Assemblies of Zimbabwe, Zambia participated in regional conferences in 1991 ; and Malawi met with Counsellors in 1988 to

Participants in the National Convention of the Baha 'is in Ciskei, April 1987. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 165

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Members ofthe National Spiritual Assembly Counsellor Violette Haake (right) meeting of the Bahri 'is ofJamaica at the Interna- with Auxiliary Board members in tional Convention in Haifa, Israel, 1988. New Caledonia in November 1991.

discuss the goal of entry by troops on both institutions in Belgium. Several National that continent. In Europe that year members Assemblies made observations similar to of the National Assemblies of the United Hawaii's: "Trust and confidence between Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland met the institutions and the collaborative spirit of in Belfast with some 150 Baha'is from learning from each other, growing and both countries to consult on winning border- working together have characterized the two teaching goals. The Netherlands reported arms of the administrative order. ... " greater collaboration among the National This spirit of cooperation manifested itself Assemblies of Belgium, Gem1any, Luxem- in gatherings of representatives of all the bourg and the United Kingdom, including the institutions. One conference held in Moscow regular exchange of teachers. in 1990 was sponsored by the National In June I 987 the Universal House of Assembly of Germany and attended by Justice assigned international collaboration members of three Continental Boards of goals to National Assemblies. National com- Counsellors and all Assemblies involved in munities were encouraged to aid each other teaching in the Soviet Union. with teaching, contribute toward properties A national Six Year Plan conference in and needed equipment, share course materi- Canada brought together representatives from als and collaborate on literature translation every institution, which then was followed projects. (See also "Increasing ... Baha' i by five meetings for large groupings of Literature'', p. 157.) Local Assemblies and, finally, six smaller In May 1986 the House of Justice regional gatherings. Togo's National Assemannounced an expansion of the Boards of bly reported that a "big step forward in Counsellors and the Auxiliary Boards, and the process of maturity" took place when throughout the Plan these institutions forged members of both institutions held two conever-stronger relationships with National and secutive meetings to discuss divergent points Local Assemblies. A few examples of efforts of view on the best time in the teaching to increase consultation between Counsellors process to elect Local Assemblies. The frank and Assemblies include joint regional and consultation "brought the participants to tum national conferences of the elected and to the directives and advice of the Guardian appointed institutions held in Pakistan; annual and of the Universal House of Justice. This meetings between the Assembly of Chad effort... has released an energy which has and its Auxiliary Board members; and annual spurred our efforts during the last three weekend meetings with representatives of months of the Plan." 166 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Participants in a conference for Auxiliary Counsellor member of the International Board members' assistants held at Teaching Centre Magdalene Carney met Swakopmund, Namibia in July 1988. NSAs of Sen egal and Gambia, May 1990.

COMMUNICATION AND DISSEMINATION OF Advanced technology- including fax NEWS machines, conference calls and electronic Baha'i news and ideas continued to be shared mail- enabled a worldwide network of among the believers primarily through pub- Baba' i communication to be established. lications and radio, but communication was Electronic bulletin boards such as "Newsenhanced by increasing access to television, wire" in the United States, and international fax and electronic mail. When the Office and national computer networks such as of Public lnforn1ation at the Baha'i World "bahai-net," allowed individual believers in CentTe a1mounced the creation of a Baha'i far-flung locations to exchange ideas and International Information Network to better make contacts. The regular use of satellites coordinate effmts to proclaim the Cause and to link believers in the Cook Islands, defend its interests, another step was taken Hawaii, Western and American Samoa and toward increasing unity through improving the United States, beginning in 1986, forecommunication among Baha'is. shadowed a time when satellites would Newsletters for assistants to Auxiliary connect the whole Baha'i world. Board members and regional bulletins pub- In 1990 the Media Services Depa1tment lished by Teaching Conmlittees complemented of the United States National Center began national newsletters and Feast letters to regularly producing Baha 'i Newsreel, a videoform the backbone of inforn1ation exchange. tape highlighting Baha' i events around the Baha ' i radio stations, which by the end of world. Six editions of the newsreel were the Plan were broadcasting an average of produced and sent to almost all National thirteen hours per day each, seven days a Spiritual Assemblies during the Plan. In the week, year-round, also served to unite final year, tapes also became available in believers in their listening areas. Particularly Spanish and French. in Africa, radio was used to announce The importance of face-to-face communi- Feasts, Holy Days and teaching campaign cation was not lost in the midst of the new events; in India national public radio was possibilities opened up by technology. The available for a1mouncements. Radio has United States initiated two programs to served as a primary vehicle for conmlllnica- foster greater unity among members of its tion in rmal areas of South America, where geographically widespread community: the a considerable amount of programming is "Weekend Visits Program," begun in 1989, done in native languages such as Guaynli, brought groups of fifteen to thirty Baba ' is to Quechua, Mapuche and Aymara. the National Center to exchange thoughts INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 167 and concerns with the National Assembly; "families" for a demonstration of consultathe "Town Meetings Program" begun in 1990 tion in this context; the groups discussed and planned by the Treasurer's Office and the rights and responsibilities of each family members of the Auxiliary Boards, "fostered member, family discipline and the eliminaincreasingly open and frank discussion with tion of prejudice. the conununity and has provided. .. vital National Assemblies in Bolivia, Guyana, information about many aspects of the com- Mali and Norway reported reserving time munity's life." during their meetings for regular study of In Taiwan the National Assembly and passages in the Baha'i Writings on consultanational committees held meetings around tion. the country to help members meet as many individual believers as possible. In Zimbabwe SUPPORT OF THE FUND the Regional Teaching Committee system The health of the Baha'i Fund is yet another created a communication network using trav- indicator of the community's developing eling teachers to deliver news and messages. maturity. Although there is no way to measure the spirit of sacrifice and sense of duty HIGHER LEVELS OF CONSULTATION behind voluntary contributions, effo1is by A sign of growing maturity in Baha'i com- local believers to take more responsibility munities was the importance given to better for the needs of national and international practicing the art of consultation. The believ- funds indicate spiritual growth. ers developed materials, organized classes In 1989 Landegg Academy held its first and seminars, and began Assembly meetings study course on "Effective Fund Managewith deepenings on this fine art. ment for the Development of the Faith," Among the materials created and distrib- which illustrated the importance of fostering uted were Brazil ' s Baha'i Consultation and a spiritual basis for donations . Consult to Decide Better; audio-visual aids In the United States the "Local Assembly and a booklet were produced and dissemi- Goals Program for the National Fund" nated in Bangladesh; a complete course was was launched in October 1990. Based on prepared in Madagascar; and a document factors such as locality size and past record was written for presentations during Baha' i of donations , the National Assembly made hannattan schools in Togo. specific recommendations to a number of Consultation was often studied in confer- Local Assemblies which reflected the level ences, institutes and summer schools in of sacrifice felt to be within the local commany countries. India organized an annual munity's power. conference on it, and workshops were held In Canada the Loca l Assembly of West in Botswana, Burkina Faso, Denmark, El Vancouver, British Columbia, initiated what Salvador, Luxembourg and Spain. became a national program to contribute in The practice of consultation formed a specified units toward elimination of the major portion of several courses. During a 1990- 91 National Fund deficit. nine-day workshop in Australia, Baha'is from The number of regular contributors to the three Aboriginal Reserves elected a mock National Fund of Thailand increased four- Assembly and practiced consulting on hypo- teenfold after the national treasurer began thetical issues; an Auxiliary Board member making personal visits to communities and joined the process, thereby helping partici- sessions on the Fund were included in nearly pants to gain insight into the role of that all schools and conferences. institution. At a conference in the Western Local communities in several countries Caroline Islands sponsored by a Regional regularly supported their National Funds by Teaching Committee, participants formed planting crops to sell just for this purpose. 168 THE BAHA'I WORLD

The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu 'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum opening the local Baha'i Center in Sheung Shui, Hong Kong, in November J990.

Right: Counsellor Lucretia Warren with members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Mozambique in fiwit of their newly acquired National Baha'i Center, 1989.

Above: The new National Office of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha 'is of Kiribati which was dedicated in 1989.

Right: Friends gathered at the Baha 'i Center in Ndava, Burundi, for the inauguration held 22 October 1989. INT ERNAT ION AL SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 169 Frnit grown on the national endowment LEGAL RECOGNITION OF BAHA'i property at Fam1ers, St. Thomas Parish, INSTITUTIONS Barbados, was used to make jam to sell fo r The Universa l House of Justice was able the Fund. The Local Assembly ofNyiakungu, to call fo r the re-formation of the National Kenya, grew and sold tomatoes to become Assemblies of the Congo Republic and Niger the first Assembly to meet its contribution at Ri9van 1992 after the Faith had been goal for the National Fund. The Local Assem- legally recognized by the authorities in both bly of Tshilaka, Zaire, harvested crops of countries. These significant events were part coffee, com, manioc, beans and peanuts to of a trend toward governments ' officially benefit the Fund. Believers in Danane, Cote recognizing the Faith's independence. This d'Ivoire, cultivated rice for three consecu- facilitated the incorporation of its Assemtive years to support their Local Fund. blies, and acceptance of the legality of Baha'i maniage and absences of Baha'i students BAHA'I PROPERTIES from public schools on Holy Days . As the Baha ' i community expanded, a greater A milestone in legal recognition of the number of localities were able to build, Faith occurred in Germany in February 1991 purchase or rent local, regional and national when the Federal Constitutional Court, Baha'i centers. Efforts were also made to the highest legal authority in the country, renovate existing properties, encouraged by affirmed the legality of Assemb ly bylaws, the message from the House of Justice in upholding the constih1tional appeal made by October 1990 outlining standards for main- the Local Spiritual Assembly of Ti.ibingen taining Baha 'i properties. after a series of lower courts had refused New national centers were acquired in incorporation. The lower courts had based Ciskei, Macau, Mozambique, Romania and their decision on the grounds that the author- Saint Lucia. In Botswana, Project "Buy a ity granted to the National Assembly in the Brick" was initiated in 1988 to accelerate bylaws of the Local Assembly violated the contributions for the new center. The great- legal principle requiring all legally incorpoest number of new regional centers were rated associations to be autonomous . In a acquired in African countries such as decision with far-reaching implications, the Burnndi, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Siena Leone Federal Court affi1med the right of the and Zimbabwe. More than 200 local centers Baha'is to organize as a hierarchically were opened throughout the world. shuctured legal community according to the Two of the most significant achievements revealed Law of God. Because the decision in this area were the constmction of the was based partially on the constitutional Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent, right to freedom of religious practice, the which was dedicated to public worship in Court declared its recognition of the Faith as December 1986 (see pp. 731-740), and the an independent religion, stating, "the characopening of the De Poort Conference Centre ter of the Baha ' i Faith as a religion and the in the Netherlands in June 1987. De Poort, Baha'i Community as a religious community which means "the gate," is owned and oper- is evident, in actual everyday life, cultural ated by the Dutch Baha'i community and tiáadition, and in the understanding of the hosts gatherings sponsored by members of general public as well as of the science of the European Baha ' i community and various comparative religion. " The Court even took other organizations. the rare step of issuing a statement to the Renovation of a number of Baha'i proper- press explaining its decision. ties also took place, the most extensive being In June 1988, the Legislative Council of the refurbishment of the Houses of Worship Hong Kong passed an ordinance giving the in Kampala, Uganda, and in Wilmette, U.S.A. Baha ' i Assembly a new status which may 170 THE BAHA'I WORLD

well afford the Faith further legal protection lifted. Chicago' s Board of Education in in the years beyond 1997 when Hong Kong the United States, the Superintendent of becomes a part of the People ' s Republic of Education for the Northern Mariana Islands, China. The National Assembly of Saint Germany's Bavarian State Ministiáy for Lucia was also incorporated, and the Ciskei Education and Culture, and the Cantonal Assembly's constitution was approved by its authorities in Bern, Switzerland, all gave Government. permission for Baha'is to be absent on Holy Government documents acknowledging Days. In Zimbabwe the Holy Days are listed the Faith were used in India, where the on government calendars. Authorities in Director of the Census instlucted all enu- three counties of the Republic of Ireland merators to record the Baha'i Faith as an have granted a holiday to all pupils for the independent religion and list the believers Birthday of Baha 'u 'llah. properly. In Turkey, some fifty believers were able to change the religion section e. Promoting Universal Participation and of their birth certificates from "Islam" to the Spiritual Enrichment of Individual "Baha'i. " In Austria, Baha ' i credentials Believers became accepted as valid documents for In its Ric;lvan message of 1988, the Universal obtaining visas, and, in Saint Lucia, Baha ' i House of Justice wrote: registration of births and deaths was ... it is on the initiative, the resolute will recognized. of the individual to teach and to serve, The National Spiritual Assembly of the that the success of the entire community Hawaiian Islands was issued mailboxes in depends .... The ultimate tiáiumph of the the State Senate and the House of Represen- Cause is assured by that 'one thing and tatives to receive copies of all bills before only one thing' so poignantly emphasized the legislature. Baha'i institutions received by Shoghi Effendi, namely, 'the extent to tax exemptions in Equatorial Guinea, Guinea- which our own inner life and private Bissau, New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands, character mirror forth in their manifold and Uruguay. aspects the splendor of the eternal princi- Advances were made in recognition of ples proclaimed by Baba 'u 'llah'. Baha' i maniage. The Nigerian government pern1itted Baha'i institutions to issue gov- UNIVERSAL PARTI CIPATION ernment maniage certificates; five additional Baha'i institutions nurtured believers toward Local Assemblies in Uganda were authorized higher levels of participation in community to conduct legally valid marriage ceremo- life and service to the Cause by using educanies; Baha'i marriages were recognized for tional methods that reached the widest the first time in an additional nine National possible Baha'i audience, and by relating the Assembly areas; and Baha'i marriage offic- Teachings to the particular backgrounds of ers were appointed in Grenada, Guyana, the individuals in the community. Pakistan, Saint Lucia and Transkei. A wide Baha ' i audience was reached Progress was also made toward excusing through ongoing study guides published in more students and teachers from schools on national newsletters, such as the course on Baha'i Holy Days. In Ecuador permission the Kitab-i-Iqan that ran in the October and was granted for the Raul Pavon School to November 1989 issues of The American close on Holy Days. In Uganda the Educa- Bahiz 'i and was reproduced by the National tion Department of Mbale granted students Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands and exemption from classes on the nine Holy mailed to all believers through Local Assem- Days, the first instance of Holy Day recogni- blies. In addition, a study guide on the tion since the 1979 ban on the Faith was Epistle to the Son of the Wolf was published INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 171 in the Febrnary, March and April 1991 issues. Particular efforts were made to help Other methods used to reach believers believers integrate their ethnic identities and included an experimental program in India their Baha'i identities, particularly for indigoffering insh-uction through television, and enous people entering the Faith. In New increased use in Brazil of riverboats to carry Zealand a "Whare Wananga" (School of Baha'is along the Amazon River and its trib- Leaming) was established in June 1987 to utaries, providing deepening from village to provide twice-yearly intensive courses for village. the Maori Baha'is on the teachings and Correspondence courses were used to history of the Faith and the relationship reach believers who might not otherwise between Maori culture and the teachings . have access to regular deepenings or be able Also in New Zealand 107 Maori Baha' i to attend Baha'i schools. During the Plan women, including National Assembly and courses were developed in places such as National Teaching Committee members, Canada, El Salvador, Bangladesh, Thailand, held their first National Women's "Hui", or Burkina Faso and Tanzania, and previously traditional gathering, in Febrnary 1987. In published lessons continued to be disháibuted May of that year the National Convention in Saint Lucia, India , Botswana, Chad and of New Zealand was held for the first time at Malawi. In Belize, Brazil and Bangladesh, a "marae" (háaditional Maori meeting place). all of which experienced the challenges of The message from the Convention to the consolidation fo llowing large-scale emoll- World Centre said the decision to hold the ments, at least one correspondence course convention at a "marae" tapped the spiritual was sent to each new believer. Zimbabwe reservoir of the indigenous culture. reported that 4,5 00 believers participated in In the United States in August 1988, correspondence courses. Courses specifi- Native American men and women representcally for children were published in Taiwan ing fifty háibes gathered under a giant tent and Malaysia. surrounded by teepees near the sacred burial New believers were helped to establish site of Chief Sitting Bull at Standing Rock the foundations of their Baha'i identities in Reservation in South Dakota to attend the a variety of ways, the most common being Baha'i-sponsored "Fifth Continental Indigethe sending of Baha'i books, compilations of nous Council". Written pledges to serve the the Writings, or correspondence courses with Cause and carry the Faith to Africa, Europe welcome cards. In Guyana a "National and South America were received by the Deepening Program" for new believers was National Assembly on the last night of the launched in 1992, in which 1,000 have Council. In July 1989 Baha'is from eight pa11icipated. In the Netherlands all new countries joined seven Counsellors for a believers were invited to the National Center conference in Bolivia on the development of to meet the National Assembly and study the Faith among the indigenous peoples of the administration, and to a special weekend Latin America. Deepening conferences and of study at De Po011 Conference Centre. training programs specifically for the Lunda The National Assembly ofBurw1di regularly people of Zambia also resulted in offers to reserved one day of its program of classes háavel to teach and homefront pioneer. In fo r new Baha'is to ask questions. The Saint Lucia assistance was provided for National Assemb ly of Rwanda regularly indigenous believers to take part in overseas corresponded with new believers , sending conferences and teaching projects. news, deepening courses and selections from Zimbabwe provides another example of the Holy Writings. In Puerto Rico several success in encouraging the pai1icipation of regional conferences for new believers were native believers. The majority of Regional held. Teaching Committee members were local 172 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Baha'is, ninety percent of Convention dele- basics of Baha'i life by producing two comgates were indigenous, deepening institute pilations, Prayer and Meditation and Shining teachers were indigenous and classes were Examples, and then launching a National conducted in vernacular languages. Teaching Conmlittee plan, printed in booklet Strengthening the Baha'i identities of fo1m, called Spiritualization in Action. Meetnew believers was particularly crucial in ings on each island conducted by National areas where mass enrollment had occmTed. Assembly members began in November The method used by resident teaching teams 1991. The Spiritual Enrichment Committee in Guyana of immediately revisiting new produced a series ofleaflets on the requisites believers, providing deepening, and involv- for spiritual growth to be used to stimulate ing them in the teaching work right away, consultation during Nineteen Day Feasts. spread to other countries experiencing entry Material promoting reflection on spiritual by troops. For example, a 1988 teaching principles was also provided to national project in Bolivia began with a two-day conmmnities by the Universal House of spiritualization and training course at the Justice. A compilation on tmstworthiness Firdawsi Institute in Caracollo, resulted in prepared by the Research Department of the the enrollment of more than 1,000 new souls Baha' i World Centre was sent to all National and ended with deepening courses designed Assemblies in January 1987, and extracts to maintain the momentum of expansion and from the Writings concerning the sanctity of consolidation. Baha'i marriage, together with a statement on preserving Baha'i maniages, were sent INDIVIDUAL SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT in December 1990. Regular deepenings sponsored by Baha'i institutions or initiated by individual believ- LITERACY ers, and armual summer, winter and spring In its Ri<;lvan 1989 message the Universal schools held regionally or nationally contin- House of Justice stated that "further systemued to provide consistent opportunities for atic attention needs to be given to the the Baha'is to develop their understanding eventual elimination of illiteracy from the of the Teachings and to experience the spiri- Baha'i community, an accomplishment tual unity of these gatherings. The focus of which would, beyond anything else, make study shifted more and more to the Life of the Holy Word accessible to all the friends Baha'u'llah as the Holy Year approached. In and thus reinforce their efforts to live the Alaska all believers were sent a copy of the Baha'i life." Statement on Baha'u' llah. The importance of such a campaign was The Assembly of Thailand reported greater again emphasized when the House of Justice enthusiasm and participation in Baha' i sum- wrote a Jetter to all National Assemblies mer and winter schools when the programs on 10 July 1989, calling on each to address were changed from lecture format to interac- itself to this objective. "Access to [the Holy tive learning. Word]," the Jetter read, "constant study of The word "institute" was used to designate it and daily use of it in our individual lives a variety of Baha'i educational entities, from are vital to the inner personal háansformation comprehensive consolidation and spiritual towards which we sháive and whose ultimate enrichment programs, to permanent facilities outer manifestation will be the emergence of offering regular courses, to one-time week- that divine civilization which is the promise end workshops. of the World Order ofBaha'u'llah." One example of a comprehensive program Baha'is responded to this call in various was Hawaii's Spiritualization Campaign, ways, participating in commemorations of which focused the entire community on the the United Nations International Literacy INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 173 Year in 1990, joining local adult literacy which described the society-building proprograms and creating their own programs. cesses of the Baha'i community and the operation of the Administrative Order using BAHA'i SCHOLARSHIP the language and concepts of general evolu- Notable advances were made in the develop- tion and systems theories, was ve1y well ment of Baha'i scholarship during the course received. Contact with this society, later of the Plan, such that an increasing number renamed the International Society for the of believers were engaged in analyzing the Systems Sciences, was maintained through problems of humanity and demonstrating the the presentation of papers with Baha'i conefficacy of the Baha ' i teachings in solving tent at each of its annual meetings. (See also these problems. "General Systems ... ", pp. 459-460) The process of relating the Teachings to In 1988 Switzerland 's Landegg Conferthe cunent issues of concern to the people of ence Center, a venue used for conferences, the world was fostered by the activities of seminars and summer schools since being the Associations for Baha' i Sh1dies which acquired by Baha ' is in 1983, became the are to be found now in every continental home of Landegg Academy which offers area, and which attract a growing number seminars, symposia, conferences and fornms of people, both Baha'is and others, to their for Balla ' is, such as a conference for young periodic meetings on such topics as racial professionals on "Reaching People of unity, the equality of men and women, the Capacity," and for the wider academic development of world order, and the spiri- community, such as symposia on conflict rual foundations of social development. (See resolution and the global environmental also pp. 461-470) crisis. In September 1990 the historic first A significant role is played by the Associ- "International Dialogue on the Transition to ation for Baha'i Sh1dies in North America, a Global Society," organized by Landegg in which has published proceedings of some of cooperation with the Vienna Academy for its conferences in books such as Unity: The the Srudy of the Furure and the University of Creative Foundation of Peace; Racial Unity: Maryland, brought together eighty leaders of An Imperative for Social Progress; The thought from around the world to present Bah6. 'i Faith and Islam; and Th e Baha 'i papers and discuss the changing world Faith and Marxism .. order. The inauguration in 1988 of Th e Journal In August 1989 Landegg launched the of Baha 'i Studies, a quarterly, trilingual "Ce11ificate Programme in Baha ' i Srudies." journal that publishes articles by scholars of Designed to foster systematic Baha ' i scholthe Baha'i Writings, created a fornm open to arship as called for by Shoghi Effendi, the all researchers . three-year independent srudy course requires Several Baha' is participated in a scientific pa11icipants to spend the month of August conference organized by the International each year at Landegg and to submit a num- Society for General Systems Research in ber of papers throughout the rest of the year. Budapest, Hungary, in 1987. Dr. Ervin The program began with twenty-eight Laszlo, a renowned scientist and member of srudents from eleven countries. the Club of Rome, had encouraged the The establishment of Baha'i Chairs at Baha ' is to participate and requested that a universities in the United States and India paper on the Faith be presented. The Baha'i also marked a significant step in the devel- Community as a Model for Social Change, opment of Baha'i scholarship. 174 TH E BAHA'I WORLD

f. Baha'i Education of Children and traditions of child education had been estab- Youth and Baha'i Family Life lished ten or twenty years earlier, previously The education of chilc!Jen and youth and the weak Local Assemblies were beginning to nurturing of Baha'i families have been im- function and new generations of stalwart p01iant components of several recent Plans . believers were arising . However, the efforts required to open new Following this letter and others in a simiareas to the Faith and to consolidate new lar vein, the idea of placing emphasis on communities often meant that few resources children and youth increasingly became the were available for this crucial concern. Dur- focus of the believers' thinking, consultation ing the Six Year Plan the institutions of the and planning. In Africa, Latin America and Faith, encouraged by the Counsellors, gave Asia, as a result of large-scale enrollments fresh attention to the needs of children and among the masses, many Baha'i communiyouth. As the Plan drew to a close the training ties were particularly obliged to take a new of children 's teachers and the development look at the challenges of chi ld education. of children's materials were progressing In Colombia, beginning in 1990, háaditional with increased vigor and resolve, often as campaigns of expansion and consolidation a major activity of the growing number of were altered to pay greater attention to permanent teaching institutes. children and junior youth and, through them, Renewed focus on the imp01iance of to their parents. In the Caribbean also, it educating children, youth and fa milies, and was found that where organized children's greater understanding of the requirements classes occurred, they provided the greatest for building successful programs, were major access to the people. In many villages of the achievements of the Plan in this area. world it was not only Baha ' i children but also children and junior youth in the general BAHA ' I C I-llLD REN ' S EDUCATION population who showed an ardent desire to A December 1988 letter from the Interna- receive Baha'i education. As the Plan drew tional Teaching Centre to all Continental to a close, more communities were incorpo- Counsellors shared a vision of the children rating the establishment of children's classes of the world as teachers of their own genera- into their plans of action for large-scale tion, and as agents for the deepening of expansion. others, placing pa1iicular emphasis on chil- Teachers of children's classes were trained dren aged ten to sixteen. The Counsellors during a number of seminars organized by had seen how in conmmnities where strong national and local Baha'i institutions and by

Children in a Bahri 'i tutorial school in Ngoakiri 11, in the Central Aji-ican Republic, 1987. INTERNAT IONAL SURVEY OF C URRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 175 permanent institutes. The International Teach- children. Nicaragua 's first National Chiling Centre, in a letter to all Counsellors in dren's Conference was held in Managua November 1992, foresaw the Six Year Plan in 1990, with more than forty children from setting the stage for the corning Three Year six communities participating in deepenings, Plan, and stated that "the rapid multiplica- singing, games and the breaking of a tion of programs for the training of children's traditional "piiiata" filled with gifts. Two class teachers represents one of the most children's conferences were held in Japan in promising developments of institutes around the last year of the Plan. The first "Children's the world". Unity Camp" was organized in Malaysia. The Ruhi Institute in Colombia continued to train youth as facilitators capable of stim- CURRI CULA AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ulating other youth to educate themselves Efforts to create materials for use in chilin order to become effective Baha'i teachers dren's classes were carried out in a number for the children in their communities. Ruhi of countries. The Children ' s Education Task materials are designed to help the believers Force in Australia developed a complete curlearn to study the Sacred Writings on their riculum of Baha'i studies for children up to own and to apply them in their daily lives, age fifteen and worked to fulfill its National thus spurring them on to higher and higher Assembly's international collaboration goal levels of service to the Cause. The materials to produce and exchange materials with were also used in other Latin American coun- other National Assemblies in the Pacific. tries, several African nations and in India. The School of the Nations in Brazil and the The National Assembly of India published Maxwell International School in Canada one of the Ruhi Institute manuals in Hindi, each began long-range projects of rewriting and in June 1991 held an intensive course to the curricula of their academic courses to prepare over forty individuals as trainers of reflect a spiritual approach to the subjects children's class teachers. This effort formed and to provide appropriate ethical content. part of a program to train hundreds of teach- Curricular materials for Baha'i children's ers in the Hindi-speaking states. classes were developed in many communi- The New Era Development Institute in ties , including Canada, Fiji, France, Gabon, India and Nur University in Bolivia also pre- Kenya, Norway, Singapore, Thailand and pared material for training teachers. the United States. Special activities to complement classes A number of National Assemblies and added to the positive Baha'i experiences of Baha' i educational institutions developed

A Bahci 'i children 's class in Florida, southern Uruguay, poses for a happy photograph, November J988. 176 THE BAHA'i WORLD

A Bahci 'i tutorial school in Chaco, Paraguay, in March 1989.

curricula for teaching comparative religion reserved for children. Chile published chiland the Baha'i Faith in public schools. A dren's letters and artwork in a quarterly particular milestone was the approval of a bulletin called Capullitos, and a publication Baha'i curriculum for public schools in the for children called Light of the Lotus was states of New South Wales and Queensland, produced in the Canary Islands. in Australia. The Chilean Ministry of Education approved the inclusion of study programs YOUTH about the Faith in the general high school cur- Throughout the Plan the Baha'i education of riculum, and the National Assembly prepared youth took a variety of forms, including teachers for this task. Courses on religion and national and international youth conferences moral education prepared by Baha'is were á (often organized largely by the youth themused in Brazilian public schools, and efforts selves), deepening retreats, youth camps were made to introduce courses on the and week-long study institutes. For example, Faith in the educational systems of Bolivia, in the United States an international youth Cameroon and Spain. conference organized in 1988 attracted some Near the end of the Plan, Malawi's 8,000 participants. Youth schools, youth Regional Education Officer in the Southern symposia and forums for young profession- Region accepted a plan for Baha'is to present als, held at Landegg Academy in Switzerland, the history and moral teachings of the Faith among other places, provided opportunities in secondary schools . Also, a curriculum on for intensive study and international exthe Faith developed by the National Assem- change. blies of Jamaica and of Trinidad and Tobago Education programs that focused on prewas submitted to the Caribbean Examina- paring youth for the teaching field proved tions Council for use in the English-speaking particularly successful. In the summer of 1991 , Caribbean islands. following several intensive teacher háaining Publications for children also helped to courses for youth that were sponsored by the involve children in the rhythm of Baha'i National Teaching Committee in the United community life. A one-page lesson in every States and included field experience, some Feast letter in Zimbabwe was said to be in- sixty full-time teaching teams arose. Some shumental in establishing children's classes of the youth became so excited by their in rural areas; a separate Feast letter for chil- experiences that they decided to postpone dren was distributed in Brazil; and in Puerto their studies for one year to continue teach- Rico a page of the national newsletter was ing full-time. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIV!TlES 177

ASSISTING PARENTS and fifty children needing medical háeat- Parental guidance is central to the education ment, were commended by the government. of Baha'i youth and children, and a number In Papua New Guinea a National Women's of programs were devised to help parents Conference in October 1987 covered the prepare for their vital role. Efforts were háaining of children. made to ass ist African mothers who wished The Baha' i Mothers' Deepening Project of to supplement their education so that they the Baha'i National Teaching Committee of would be better prepared to educate their the Philippines was designed to give Filipina children; the African women Counsellors in Baha'i mothers and future mothers guidance particular saw this as a worthy mission and on the care, education and training of chilundertook extensive travels to further this dren; on maintaining a Baha'i atmosphere in aim. The Baha'i Programme for Mothers, an their homes; and on cultivating rapport with expanding series of booklets published by their husbands and fami lies. The intensive the National Spiritual Assembly of Kenya, project began in February 1988 with the provided guidance on raising healthy chil- holding of twenty-one Mothers ' Deepening dren, teaching good character and creating a Classes in different parts of the counh-y, and spiritual home environment. Translated into culminated in seven large Family Life Conalmost forty languages, the booklets are ferences in March and April 1988. A meeting widely used by parents throughout Africa, to explore the principle of the equality of and in 1987 a set was sent by the House of women and men was held in Cote d'Ivoire in Justice to all National Assemblies. October 1990, in which the Baha'is were The Baha 'i Education Network Commit- joined by a dozen other concerned parties to tee in Canada collaborated with various Local discuss the role of women as the first educa- Assemblies to sponsor more than thirty tors of their children, the importance of workshops on helping parents teach values mutual support and common goals among and virtues to children. The workshops were women, and ways to enhance understanding attended by over 1,000 people, half of whom between mothers and daughters. were not Baha'is. In Costa Rica a conference devoted to fami ly consultation and BAHA'i MARRIAGE AND FAM ILY LIFE parent-child relations was well attended. Various efforts were made throughout the In July 1986 classes for women in Pakistan world to develop programs to foster wholeon the basics of health care, hygiene and the some Baha'i family life, including deepenings, feeding of infants, attended by fifty women conferences and special classes at summer

Th e wedding of two Bahti 'i couples at the l enakel Bahti 'i Centre on Tanna island in Vanuatu. Janumy 1987. 178 THE BAHA'I WORLD

and winter schools. Baha'i families were interest among the participants, and invitaencouraged to become fully involved in tions to address the public followed. A practicing the basic teachings of the Faith, National Women's Conference, held at the with emphasis on prayer, maintenance of a Nakuru Baha'i Center, Kenya, in February loving and humble attitude toward others, 1990, focused on the spiritual, intellectual reading of the Writings, upholding family and material well-being of the Baha'i family; unity through consultation and encouraging the National Women's Committee arranged teaching of the Cause. television publicity and invited women rep- A conference was held in Cameroon in resentatives of the Government of Kenya to June 1986 to discuss the development of take part. The Baha'i youth of the Andaman women, marriage, family life and child edu- and Nicobar Islands joined other island youth cation. Also in Cameroon, mothers and to form a discussion group on Baha'i marfathers were invited to paiiicipate in regional riage in July 1990. The State Baha'i Council conferences on family life held periodically of Andhra Pradesh in India held a "Baha'i during the Plan; topics discussed included Family Conference" in November 1990. chastity, consultation in the family, the role In addition to studying the topic of family of fathers, discipline without physical pun- life, communities worked to create Baha'i ishment, and the effects on children of activities for families to enjoy together. parents' words and deeds. Every year the House of Worship in Sydney, The Baha'is of San Juan, Pue1io Rico, Australia, hosted a Children's Day celebrasponsored weekly talks on "Marriage as a tion in which families participated in readings, Fortress for Well-Being". The talks, pre- prayers and festivities. In Liberia a 400-acre sented by a Baha'i psychiatrist under the fatm owned by the National Assembly was auspices of the Auxiliary Board, attracted used early in the Plan as a center for the media attention which led to five radio sta- education of families. In Belize a nineteentions' broadcasting weekly announcements day program of readings and activities for about the project, and one popular station' s families was distributed. The Assembly of airing two-hour "call-in" shows for several Sri Lanka reported that its efforts to hold months on topics related to healthy marriage. family conferences and deepenings and to Elsewhere around the world, a prominent arrange individual visits to homes resulted Baha'i psychiatrist conducted a one-week in an increase in the number of identifiable seminar on marriage at the Landegg Academy Baha'i families. in Switzerland in 1986, which participants Families were the focus of teaching reported was practical, scholarly and cre- efforts in one city of El Salvador. A Local ative. In September 1987 the National Baha'i Spiritual Assembly chose a middle-class Women's Committee of Zaire held a Re- neighborhood where a Baha'i family lived gional Women' s Conference in Kinshasa, in which to proclaim the Faith during March Zaire, on marriage, family life and the edu- 1990. Of the 355 families visited by memcation of children. A traveling teacher visited bers of the Baha'i community, almost all Singapore in August 1989 and conducted a accepted literature, and follow-up visits workshop on "Marriage and Family Life", were made to thirty-six families. About fifty which focused on setting life goa ls, defining people from the neighborhood attended at one's personality, determining what one has least one evening event. By the end of four to offer the Faith, and examining one ' s weeks ten people had embraced the Faith expectations from a partner. A traveling and there continued to be interest among teacher in Lesotho conducted a three-day In- people in at least ninety households. Classes ternational Deepening Institute on Marriage in morality and virtues were established and and Family Life; the issues provoked intense offered to the children in the neighborhood. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAI-IA'i ACTIVITIES 179 g. Pursuing Social and Economic Develop- strengthened existing programs to ensure ment Activities in Well-Established Baha'i that new ventures proceeded from a strong Communities foundation. Baha'is worldwide now general- The dramatic worldwide expansion of Baha'i ly possess a much clearer understanding of social and economic development activities the unique Baha 'i approach to development since the October 1983 message by the and have gained invaluable experience in Universal House of Justice contributed in developing the art of applying spiritual conno small measure to the emergence of the cepts to the practical challenges of daily Baha'i community from obscurity and con- life. At the conclusion of the Plan a reported stitutes one of the distinguishing characteristics 1,344 Baha'i development endeavors were of the development of the Cause of God functioning throughout the world under the in the past decade. The virtually exponential jurisdiction of 137 National Spiritual Asexpansion achieved in the number of devel- semblies . (See Appendix.) opment activities during the Seven Year Baha'i programs established a reputation Plan (1979- 1986) became more gradual dur- for honest management and altJ.uistic service. ing the Six Year Plan as Baha'i communities Collaboration with other organizations gained momentum as support was received from organizations such as UNICEF, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNlFEM), and governments as widespread as Canada, India and Norway. Baha'i institutions began to be identified as important contJ.áibutors to international development, while the Baha'i administJ.áative network was seen as a potent force for coordinating development activities within a global framework. Many communities developed their consultative skills in order to more effectively identify feasible projects, formulate the necessary plans, and guide the resulting undertakings. The wisdom of starting small and ensuring that initial activities could be canied out successfully with local resources became increasingly evident. Assemblies became more adept at recognizing whether and how proposed development projects would contribute to the sttáengthening of the community. Many communities, especially those with permanent programs, began taking steps to ensure that effective development activities would continue even if external sources of supp01i were to be withdrawn. To an ever greater degree, National Spiritual Jn Guam, l 8 children from the Jnarajan Assemblies recognized the importance of in- Baha'i School planted 600 acacia seedlings creasing the local communities' awareness on 2 l October l 990. A statement of appre- of needs and possibilities, and of guiding ciation was issued by the Forestry Division and coordinating the efforts resulting from of Guam's Department of Agriculture. such awareness. Administtáative capabilities 180 THE BAHA'I WORLD

grew and Baha ' i institutions continued the objective was to supplement or improve the process of building the organizational infra- nutritional value of the local diet, while in structure needed to guide and nurture more other instances the friends contributed their complex programs. The diversity of Baha'i labor to cultivate a communal field to raise development undertakings also increased money for a useful purpose, such as the dramatically. A high proportion of these Baha'i Fund, a Baha'i center or a tutorial ventures, especially in basic education and school. For some communities agricultural vocational training, targeted women and self-sufficiency was the goal. youth. A highly successful fish culture program Effective models for stimulating self- was implemented by the Baha 'is of Enteban sustaining community development were Ulu in Malaysia. The seven fish ponds profo1mulated and refined during the Six Year duced enough fish to meet the needs of the Plan and, as Baha'i communities throughout entire village of two hundred people. the world began to address their develop- The Community Development Program ment concerns, a remarkably diverse pattern of the Rabbani School, Gwalior, India, of activities emerged. From modest coopera- achieved notable success with its model farm. tive agricultural projects which raise funds The farm enabled this residential school for construction of a local Baha'i center, to to become almost self-sufficient in food community health education programs which production, while providing a real-world increase the prevention of endemic diseases; laboratory for the students to learn practical from ttáee-planting efforts to training semi- agricultural skills, and setting an outstanding nars which combat racism; from programs example for area farmers. Technical assiswhich offer succor to orphaned children to tance was offered to local agriculturists who those which confront the problems of mug wanted to introduce ecologically sound abuse; Baha'i communities discovered myriad farming practices. ways to express their faith through service to In Queensland, Australia, forty acres of humanity. New ttáaining programs for teach- bushland were donated by a Baha'i family ers of Baha'i childiáen's classes emerged, based to be used by Aboriginal people for growing on an increasingly sophisticated understand- bananas and other crops. It was dedicated ing of the learning needs of prospective in a ceremony attended by many Aborigines teachers who generally possessed limited as well as the Hand of the Cause of God educational backgrounds and teaching expe- H. Collis Featherstone. rience. Baha ' i educators began rewriting traditional academic curricula to reflect the INTEGRATED COMMUNITY D EVELOPM ENT spiritual perspective of the teachings. They Certain Baha'i development programs have also developed curricula for public schools, been conceived and designed with a confor adult literacy programs, and for courses scious understanding that all social and on the Faith or on human values. All these spiritual needs are interrelated. This requires notable areas of progress either emerged or that social and spiritual change go hand in became more evident during the Six Year hand, progressing from simple to more com- Plan, and are described in more detail below. plex unde1iakings. Activities of the Bayanda Project in Zaire and the New Era Develop- AGRICULTURE ment Institute in India are examples of this Small-scale agricultural activities, including approach. training courses for the improvement of fa1m- From the first contact of the Bayanda ing practices and productivity, were carried people (the Pygmies of northeastern Zaire) out by a number of Baha' i communities in with the Faith, they received assistance and developing counttáies. In some cases the encouragement from the Baha 'i community. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BA HA'I ACT IVI TI ES 181

An experimental p epper farm is a Bahci 'i economic development project in Sarawak, Malays ia. 1988.

Jn Bolivia, Baha 'is use the Dorothy Baker Center for Environmental Studies. 1987.

Jn Switzerland, Bahci 'is participate in the annual cleanup of the marshland form ed where the Rhone River flows into Lake Geneva. March 1992. 182 THE BAHA'I WORLD

During the Plan agricultural activities enabled Community responsible for conducting the the Bayanda to improve their diet and to activities of the Faith related to the environbecome relatively self-sufficient; classes were ment. A compilation entitled Conservation held for the children; many adults learned of the Earth's Resources was subsequently to read and write: and health education issued by the World Centre. Communities programs improved nutrition, sanitation and and schools sponsored environmental educahygiene. The Bayanda developed greater tion and action programs involving wetlands confidence and a new vision for their future conservation, afforestation, pollution control, thus enabling them to interact more success- teclmological advancements, community refully with the wider community. sources and energy efficiency. Outstanding The Community Development Facilitator environn1ental programs were canied for- Program of India 's New Era Development ward in Taiwan and Bolivia. During the Institute trained young people to stimulate final year of the Plan the Office of the Enviand assist local communities to embark on ronment and the Baha'i community of Brazil the path of self-sustaining development. Dm- diligently prepared for the Earth Summit to ing the closing months of the Plan institute be held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. staff reported major success in implementing Among other Earth Sunmlit activities, a a new model for community development in major recognition award was to be bestowed which a group of highly unified trainees with upon the Baha'i Vocational Institute for modest development-related skills spent four Rural Women in Indore, India, for its guinea or five days in a village and conducted a worm eradication project. training institute for the local youth. The During the concluding year of the Six Year program included moral education classes, Plan twenty-six Baha'i tree-planting proj ects conununity service activities and training were undertaken, along ,with twenty-six in a practical skill which could be learned other enviro1m1ental activities. Many of quickly . The unity and spirit of service these activities were conducted in support of exemplified by the group of visitors, who government-sponsored programs or to mark would share in the life of the village for a World Environn1ent Day and Earth Day. relatively extended period of time, com- Some of the more notable initiatives during bined with integrated spiritual education and this period were those of the Anis Zunuzi valued community service, had a profound Baha'i School in Haiti and the Rabbani impact. In one instance the entire village School in India, where tree nurseries were enrnlled in the Faith and appeared ready to established and many thousands of seedlings introduce important changes in the organiza- were planted in villages. In 1986 the Rabbani tion of village life based on their growing School received a national award for its understanding of the Baha ' i teachings. afforestation activ ities. Subsequently, its wasteland reclamation effo11s, both at the CONSERVATION/ENVIRONMENT school farm and in the surrounding villages, Creation reflects the names and attributes of which had already reclaimed many acres of God, and mankind has a profound responsi- salt-affected soil, attracted widespread attenbility to protect the natural environment and tion from government authorities of Madhya preserve its ecological balance. Thus , in its Pradesh. This continuing project was con- 1989 Ric;lvan message the Universal House ducted in collaboration with the Society for of Justice called on Baha ' is to increase their Promotion of Wasteland Development in activities in support of environmental con- New Delhi. setvation, and in October it announced the Among others, collaborative tree-planting establishment of the Office of the Environ- eff011s were conducted in Colombia and ment as an agency of the Baha'i International Guam. In Colombia Baha'i youth joined INT ERNATION A L SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACT IVITIES 183 forces with a group called the Corporation to HEALTI-1 Defend the Bucaramanga Plateau and planted The importance of both preventive and curanumerous trees. On the island of Guam, a tive health care is clearly stated in the group of eighteen Baha'is assisted a govern- Writings . When the Universal House of ment foresháy agency in its tree-planting Justice released its message on social and work. economic development in 1983, there was A very successful environmental program only one modest Baha'i health care project was developed in Taiwan where the National in operation; by the end of the Six Year Plan, Assembly's Baha'i Office of the Environ- national communities around the world had ment and the Taiwan Council of Agriculture undertaken fifty-six health projects of varycollaborated in a "Nature Awareness Educa- ing scopes. tion Project." During 1990 thirty-six workshops Baha'i community health education proon environmental education for more than grams were conducted in Burkina Faso, 750 kindergarten and elementary school Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Ecuador, India, teachers were conducted. A second series of Kenya, Laos , Malawi, Malaysia, Swaziland, twenty-seven workshops was held in 1991. Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia Public awareness of the Faith in Taiwan and Zimbabwe. Generally speaking, proconsequently rose and cordial relations with grams were organized to serve areas having government authorities were promoted. a significant number of relatively well- In Cochabamba, Bolivia, the Dorothy established Baha'i communities . Participating Baker Center for Environmental Studies, communities nominated one or more mature a private non-profit institution owned by and dedicated believers to receive háaining Baha 'is, managed an environmental research which would prepare them to serve as voluncenter and an interactive educational fac ility. teer health educators. The initial course The Center developed a unique approach to normally lasted approximately two weeks, environmental studies integrating elements focusing on inununization, basic hygiene of academic and environmental education, and sanitation, maternal and child health, sustainable agriculture and health care. nutrition and first aid. The participants also In Northern Ireland believers organized received intensive spiritual education based an environmental education program to learn on the Baha'i teachings, such as learning about community resources. Topics included prayers and passages on health from the wind power, conversion of agricultural Writings . A further development of the comwastes, small-scale water power, integrated munity health workers' program was the education of children, tree planting, fish selection and training of some of the experistocks in the area, willow biomass and fuel enced vo lunteers to serve as háainers for from the wetlands. Similarly, the Associa- future participants. tion for Baha' i Studies in Colombia and a The volunteers, working with their Local socio-eco logical group of the United Nations Assemblies in a mutually supportive way, organized an ecological fo1um entitled "Edu- were expected to offer at least several hours cation has an Enviromnental Conscience." of service per week to their local communities, In Brittany, France, Baha ' is joined members often working in tandem with govenm1ent of a regional Society for the Study and Pro- health workers. In some cases, usually tection of Nature to carry out a tluáee-week where funding had been obtained from an conununity service project to beautify a international development agency, it was nature reserve ; tasks included collecting possible to provide minimal full- or patifirewood, clearing the land, making observa- time staff support to coordinate activities tion lookouts for animal and bird watchers, and maintain contact with the volunteers. and painting and repairing a house. Overall, dropout rates were very low and 184 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Dr. Zeeba Faroughi prescribing medicine to a patient she has examined during a ji-ee medical camp held on Bhit Island near Karachi, Pakistan. 1989.

indicators of community health status sug- medical assistance were also pursued in the gested that the programs were having a Baha'i world. A few Baha'i communities significant impact. The outstanding success and individuals constructed small rural hosof several of these programs attracted the pitals or clinics to serve areas with limited attention of development agencies and gov- access to medical care. In such areas the proernments at local, national and international vision of curative care as well as preventive levels. health measures contributed significantly to For example, the Baha ' i Community De- the leve l of health of the communities which ve lopment Project on Health commenced they served. operation in Sarh, Chad, in 1984 as a The Bayan Project in Palacios, Honduras, humanitarian relief project in response to composed of a small hospital with out-patient the emergency situation which had resulted services, was established in 1985 by two from civil war and widespread famine. The doctors and their families who pioneered to . project expanded rapidly, and by the end of this remote area on the Caribbean coast. the Plan community health workers were Before its establishment the nearest hospital providing health care services in almost sixty was more than four hundred kilometers villages to more than 12,000 people. The away and was only accessible by air or water project, which received support from inter- transport. The new hospital provided medinational funding agencies, was praised by cal consultation and surgical treatment, and Chadian government officials. In 1991 a its staff conducted health education in the government official stated that the Baha'i local area. The hospital received support health program had been responsible for from various Baha'i and non-Baha ' i sources. blocking the spread of a cholera epidemic Baha'i communities in several counháies, into the district of Moyen-Chari, where the especially Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, project operated and the largest concentra- conducted medical camps in areas where tion of Baha'i communities in the country access to medical facilities was limited, was found. The health program also gave offering free consultations and basic medirise to the development of a network of eigh- cines. Camps specializing in eye and dental teen tutorial schools serving over 1,300 care were particularly effective. children. One of the most successful medical assis- In addition to health educational programs, tance programs was conducted in Guyana a number of endeavors aimed at offering where a number of Baha'i physicians from INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 185 other countries offered their professional substance abuse, orphans and homeless peoservices to the health authorities on a short- ple, the elderly and handicapped, persons tem1 basis. Some physicians made repeated with marital difficulties, refugees and victims visits, providing specialty care and conduct- of disasters . ing in-service seminars for medical staff. In Hawaii the Baha'i Community Assis- Following this initiative, arrangements were tance Program (B-CAP) was established in made to provide shipments of medical sup- 1987 to provide deepening and counseling plies to hospitals. Not only did the success on marriage and remarriage, assistance for of these activities foster wa1m relations family problems, a food bank and an elders ' between the Guyanese authorities and the program. Three essential characteristics of National Assembly of Guyana, but it also B-CAP were its reliance on Baha'i Writings inspired the creation of a similar program in for approaches to personal problems; refer- Nicaragua. rals to professional agencies, doctors or social workers qualified to handle particular RACE UNITY ACTIVITIES problems; and Local Assembly supervision Baha'i communities in the United States of each program. B-CAP, as an arm of the launched institutes for racial understanding National Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands, and cooperation in response to this, "the became a means by which the Baha'i commost vital and challenging issue" facing the munity could begin to take care of its own American nation. In addition to many con- members, as well as train a cadre of ferences and seminars, training sessions were volunteers. conducted for members of several local In Brazil the Lar Linda Tanure Center for police departments at their request. Within Social Well-Being, begun in 1986, offered a framework emphasizing the oneness of shelter, aid and education to needy children humanity, police officers and cadets were who were referred by the Juvenile Justice encouraged to adopt positive attitudes and Court in the Amazonas area. It had thirty behavior in their interactions with minority resident children, with 150 children attending groups. its preschool and youth programs. The Center fo1med part of the Association for the SOCIAL SERVI CES Coherent Development of the Amazon. Its Tluáoughout the world Baha'i communities activities for youth emphasized moral eduoperated programs offering compassionate cation and agricultural skills. The Center assistance to people in need: sufferers from also provided courses for women in health,

In auguration of a public well built for the community by the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bata, Equatorial Guinea. November 1988. 186 THE BAHA 'i WORLD

hygiene, nutrition and the prevention of program. It taught village women, most of disease. whom came from extremely isolated tribal A number of American and Canadian areas in Madhya Pradesh and many of whom Baha'i communities assisted refugees and had never been away from home before, new immigrants to adapt to life in North to read and write, and provided training in America. Often the Baha'is conducted classes practical skills which would enable them to in English as a second language, helped the be self-supporting in their home conununities. newcomers to find jobs, and oriented them Moral education, personal hygiene, nutrition to available social services. and basic agricultural techniques were also Several Baha'i conununities assisted with taught by a devoted staff which surrounded disaster relief operations in the wake of the young women with loving-kindness and devastating storms. Relying on prayer and personal attention. The consistent result was consultation, Baha'i conununities drew upon a dramatic transformation in the characters the friends' sp irit of service to play an and competence of the participants, and the important role in quickly and calmly mobi- women' s home communities shared in these lizing the community during emergencies benefits upon their return. and in coping with the lingering effects of a Another project, involving Baha'i comdisaster. As one examp le, in the aftem1ath munities in Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, of Hurricane Hugo in 1989, the Baha ' is of Malaysia and Nigeria, promoted the equality the Virgin Islands actively assisted with of men and women. During the programs food distributions, counseling, provision of men and women examined traditional gender temporary roofing for homes of the elderly, roles based on the perspective of the Baba' i management of a shelter, and opened a local teachings. The facilitators strove to create a Baha'i center to a homeless family-all this loving, supportive atmosphere to encourage despite the fact that many of the Baha'is' participants to modify their behavior in own homes were damaged or destroyed. appropriate ways. In Bolivia, Cameroon and Malaysia these activities were supported by WOM EN UNIFEM. Many Baha'i development act!Vlt1es fo- In Uganda the Baha'is collaborated with cused specifically on realizing the potential the Uganda Women ' s Finance and Credit of women. The Baha ' i Vocationa l Training Trust and the Uganda Women Lawyers ' Institute for Rural Women in Indore, India, Association in a five-day gathering which is the longest-running example of such a enhanced the participants' knowledge of

Participants in a fence-making course held by Bahri 'is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as a rural development project in November 1988. INTERNAT IONAL SURVEY OF CU RR ENT BAHA ' i AC TI VITI ES 187

A geography lesson at the Baha'i School of the Nations in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, in April I 99 2.

The children of the Mbabane Pre-School in Swaziland pose for the photographer while singing one of their favorite songs; I 987. 188 THE BAHA'i WORLD

financial management, marketing, book- These schools conducted simple village-level keeping, legal issues and laws of marriage programs which provided basic education for and succession. The workshop, which brought children with limited educational opportutogether nearly thirty leading women, had nities. the overall aim of enabling these women to In many cases Baha'i tutorial school become more effective in guiding their own teachers themselves possessed only modest destinies and in contributing to the progress levels of education, but they often compenof their country. sated for their lack of academic training through their love for the children and the YO UTH spirit of service which animated their work. Youth around the world provided much of Likewise, the wholehearted support of the the energy, enthusiasm and spirit of service sponsoring local Baha' i community contribanimating Baha' i development programs by uted to the success of such ventures. The participating in a broad range of community teacher frequently functioned as a key service activities, and especially as tutorial believer who stimulated a wide variety of school or children's class teachers. A large activities in the local Baha' i community, and number of proj.ects were also specifically the tutorial school became a center for addiaimed at enhancing the social and spiritual tional activities. During the Plan many development of these young people. Two Baha'i tutorial schools, even some of those such locally initiated programs in the United which had commenced operating under a States, the Elbow Learning Lab and Fathers háee, evolved to t11e stage of offering a basic Incorporated, gained warm commendation primary school education in accordance with and recognition for their services. The Elbow the government-approved curriculum. Learning Lab in Griffin, Georgia, helped At the end of the Plan the most notable to meet the remedial education needs of tutorial school programs were those oflndia, children and youth in a low-income area where Baha' is operated almost 200, and where illiteracy and other social problems Zaire, where over ninety were functioning. were widespread. In July 1992 the project Other countries with major tutorial school received recognition as a "Point of Light" programs included Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, from the President of the United States. Chad, Colombia, Malawi, Panama and the Fathers Incorporated provided academic assis Philippines. tance and positive role models for inner-city In contrast to tutorial schools , Baha 'i youth in Detroit, Michigan, with the goal of academic schools are formally established improving academic competence and enhanc- institutions which have, or seek, official ing self-esteem. Activities included workshops accreditation from government authorities . and consultations on marriage and family These schools employ full-time staff and life, interviewing and resume writing, dress, usually offer academic subj ects which are behavior, peer pressure and substance abuse. taught according to government standards. Knowledge of the program's success spread During the Plan the number of Baha ' i in the wider communi ty, and outside finan- academic schools increased fro m forty-one cial assistance was rece ived to help fund a to one hundred and seventy-eight largely due summer project. to the evolution of many tutorial schools. In general, enrollments substantially increased, BAI-IA' i S CHOOLS the range of subjects taught broadened, and At the end of the Plan there were almost 500 physical faci lities were expanded or Baha ' i tutorial schools se1ving an estimated upgraded. Major academic schools include 20,000 children in developing countries in the New Era, Rabbani and Tadong Schools Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. in India; the New Day Schoo l in Pakistan; INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 189 the Santitham School in Thailand; the Ruaha Masetlha Baha'i Institute in Zambia had per- School in Tanzania; School of the Nations haps the most highly diversified programs. in Brazil; the Anis Zumizi School in Haiti; Others effective in promoting development Colegio Nill in Chile; the Raul Pavon School activities included the Vocational Institute in Ecuador; and the Maxwell International for Rural Women in India, the Djalal Eghrari School in Canada. Polytechnic Institute in the Amazon region Baha'i schools increasingly distinguished of Brazil, the Ruhi Institute in Colombia, the themselves through their academic achieve- Yukon Institute in Canada and, in the United ments and the praiseworthy character of their States, the Native American Baha'i Institute, students. The schools generally followed a the Louis Gregoty Institute, and Louhelen, formal academic program, as established by Bosch and Green Acre Baha 'i Schools. the educational authorities, complemented by regular prayers, religious studies, commu- LITERACY nity service and vocational training. Several Access to the transforming power of the schools pioneered efforts to infuse Baha'i Word of God is an essential human right. concepts into their entire academic curricula. In July 1989 the Universal House of Justice In addition to schools operated by Baha'i called on all National Assemblies to aim at institutions, a number of private educational the elimination of illiteracy from the Baha'i establishments were founded by believers community. In response to this call many who strove to operate their programs in ac- Baha'i communities and the offices of the cordance with the basic principles, aims and Baha'i International Community actively objectives which vivify Baha'i development supported the United Nations International activities. Nill University in Bolivia and the Literacy Year in 1990 and either instituted School of the Nations in Macau are perhaps literacy programs or began to support existthe best known of these institutions ofleaming. ing ones. During the Plan the number of reported TRAINING INSTITUTES Baha'i literacy programs, many of them During the Six Year Plan several permanent short-term, rose from sixty-seven to 186. Baha' i institutes emerged as major centers Their goal was to teach reading and writing of the Faith's social and economic develop- to youth and adults who either had been ment activities. The New Era Development deprived of a formal education or who Institute in India and the William Mmutle had left school functionally illiterate. Baha' i

A Mobile Baha'i Institute in Cotonou, Benin, in January 1989. 190 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

educators specializing in literacy began public schools. The Baha' is of Namibia were to advocate an approach using "root" or invited to participate in efforts to restructure "generative" words with spiritual meanings the national education system, while the in order to teach vocabulary while evoking Baha'i community of Swaziland has been meaningful discussions on vital issues. Re- involved in a significant manner in the trainsults have indicated the effectiveness of this ing of preschool teachers nationwide. Also in approach for teaching literacy and, of equal Swaziland two Baha ' i educators have been importance, for stimulating personal growth developing core international curricula for and community development. environmental education based on the per- For example, in Panama, Guaymi Indian spective of the teachings. Baha'is collaborated with government liter- Ongoing teaching efforts in colleges and acy instructors to develop a literacy course universities have resulted in a large number in their native tongue focusing on the use of of short courses on the Baha'i Faith and its words having spiritual significance as part of principles. The most notable achievements a systematic effort to preserve and revive were the establishment of two university traditional culture. Chairs related to Baha ' i Studies: one at the The most ambitious literacy project was University of Maryland in the United States established by the National Assembly of India. in January 1990 and one at Indore Univer- Its goal was to eventually achieve universal sity in India in April 1990. literacy among the more than two million The accomplishments of the Baha'i com- Baha'is in the subcontinent. Comprehensive munity in the area of social and economic teaching materials were developed for courses development during the Six Year Plan reflect in the Hindi and Marathi languages, and ini- great audacity and cornn1itrnent to service. tial tráaining sessions for prospective trainers The believers worked to apply spiritual prinof literacy instructors were conducted. ciples to practical needs. The goodwill towards the Cause generated by these CURRICULUM D EVELOPMENT services has created countless opportunities A number of National Spiritual Assemblies for the future. The friends have seen that and Baba' i educational institutions have their endeavors in the path of service, no developed curricula to teach comparative matter how modest, have set in motion proreligion. Baha' is have also contributed to cesses which will long continue to produce improving the overall curricula of some beneficial effects. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CU RR EN T BAHA'i ACT IV IT I ES 191

APPENDIX

Bahn 'f lnlernationa/ Community Statement, Ninlh Meeting of !he Committee of Represen tatives of Governments and Administralions, South Pacific Commission, 23rd lo 27th May 1988, Noumea, New Caledonia.

Health, Education and the Role of Women The Ba ha' i International Community representing the Baha'i Communities of the Pacific Region wishes to express its appreciation to the South Pacific Commission for the invitation to attend thi s meeting of the Committee of Governments and Administrations. Although we are keen ly in terested in the variety of concerns bein g discussed at this meeting, we would like to direct our comments to the areas of health and ed ucation. The dynamic relationship between these two dimensions of human development is fu ndamental to the realization of all others. Baha'is beli eve that health is more than the absence of disease or infirmity. In add ition to the three w idely recogn ised aspects of health-physical , mental and soc ial wel l-being- the spiritual dimension is likewise important and shou ld be manifested not on ly in the indi vidua l, but also in the life of the family and the community. Consequently, Baha'i communities stri ve to address the needs of indi vidua ls, fam ili es, and the communi ty as a whole in their activities. The role of education in the reali za tion of thi s harmonious ba lance between all aspects of life cannot be overemphas ized and the ed ucation of wo men is of particul ar importance in thi s process. Women, as the main agents of primary health care, play an essen tial role in mai nt aining fam il y and commun ity hea lth. They are the ones who are most aware of sickness and su ffering in the communi ty because of their soc ial ro le as nurturers and care-takers of the youn g, the old , the sick and the handi cap ped, and they exert an important inn uence on health habits in the fam il y. Although it is o ften recogn ised that primary hea lth care has to respond to the needs of people, and that women have the most extens ive awareness of these needs, their opinion is hard ly ever so licited when hea lth care programmes are being formul ated. In order fo r communities to benefit from the knowledge whi ch wo men possess, a renewed self-confide nce of wo men has to be encouraged. Women have to learn to regard themselves as capable human beings with important contributions to make on the basis of their life experience and their accumul ated wealth of knowledge. Furthermore a conscious effort has to be made to enable women to organise and to vocalize the information they have acqu ired. If thi s partic ipation is to become a real ity, women mu st penetrate all levels and all areas of the hea lth care system. They have to be doctors, nurses, community deve lopment agents, educators, agricu ltural extens ion workers, public health officials, pl anners, legis lators, politicians. At the same time , they have to enco urage the participation o f people at the grass-roots, incl udin g women and women 's organizations, in th e decisions affectin g indi vidua l and co mmuni ty hea lth . None o f these resu lts can be reali zed unl ess special efforts are made to organise education and vocational and professiona l training in such a way that more girls and wo men can take advantage of them . Investing reso urces in primary health care programmes which includes health education and the app lication of health promoting activities based on simple but scientifica ll y so und measures in which women can participate at the local level, is likely to prov ide more benefits than traditional efforts ded icated to the formation of highl y skilled physicians who practice medicine in clinics and hospital s. Primary health care activities should be fu ll y integrated w ith the activities of other sectors involved in community devel opment, agriculture, education, pub li c works, housing, and communication, and the local population shou ld be active ly involved in the formulation and impl ementation of these activities , so that health care can be brought into lin e with loca l needs and prioriti es. These priorities will be based on decisions resulting from a continuo us d ialogue between the people and the se rvices. The Baha' i In ternational Community is active ly involved in primary health care. In India, Ma lays ia, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and many more countri es inc lu din g the Pacific region , Baha ' i vi ll ages are implementing health and educat iona l programmes of many kinds and are hav ing much success. It is our view that these programmes are successful because the ove rall ed ucation of women is the key facto r and conseque ntl y they recogn ize their own va lue, thereby enab lin g them to participate more readily in decisions concerning their communitys' hea lth. While the Baha'i International Community continues to work toward the improvement of li fe in our commun ities thro ugh these programmes we also welcome the opportunity to lend sup port to health programmes which req ui re loca l as we ll as profess iona l volunteers. 192 THE BAHA'I WORLD

2. EXPANSION AND CONSOLIDATION OF THE BAHA'i FAITH

SUMMARY STATISTICS OF THE SIX YEAR PLAN 1986- 1992

WORLD TOTALS 21April1986 20 April 1992 National Spiritual Assemblies................. ..... ....... .......... ...... .. 148 165 National I:Ia'.?iratu ' l-Quds ... ...... ............... ..... .. ....... ... .. ...... .... . 141 146 Baha'i Temples. ... ...... ........ .... .... ..... ....................... ..... .......... . 6 7 Sites for national Baha'i Temples. .............. ..... ....... ... ... ... .. ... 124 127 Baha' i Publishing Trusts... .................................................... 25 28 Languages into which Baha'i literature has been translated. 802 NIA+ Baha'i schools ............................................ .. ....................... .. 599 666 Social and economic development projects ..... ........ .. ..... .. ... . 431 678 . (other than schools) Countries that exempt the Baha'i community from payment of taxes on properties .... .. .. ......... .. ...... ..... .. . . 61 77 Countries that recognize Baha'i Holy Days ... .... ....... .. ...... ... . 76 81 -. Countries that recognize Baha ' i maITiage ....... ...... .... ........... . 60 70 Localities where Baha'is reside .... ..... ... ..... ..... .. .... ... .. ... .. ...... . 114,988 120,046 Isolated centres and groups .................. ..... ........ ... ...... ..... ..... . 89,658 99,611 Local Spiritual Assemblies ... ........ .... .. ... ....... .... ... ..... .......... .. . 25 ,33 0 20,435*

+ No information available. * Between 1986 and l 988, a numerical dec rease of 11 ,000 Local Spiritual Asse mblies and 6, I 00 loca liti es occurred in India due to rev ised civil areas of jurisd iction. Similar changes took place in some other countries.

I AFRICA 2 l April I 986 20April 1992 National Spiritual Assemblies..... ............... .. .......... ....... .. .. .... 43 47 National I:Iaziratu '1-Quds ............ ... .............. ..... ........ ...... ...... 41 42 Baha' i Temples.......... ....................... ..... ....... ..... ....... ....... ...... 1 1 Sites for national Baha'i Temples ....... ... ...... ...... ..... ........ .... .. 36 36 Baha'i Publishing Trusts. ............. .......... ......... ............. ......... 4 4 Languages into which Baha' i literature has been translated. 266 NIA Bahc't' i schools .. ... .. ... .. . .. . .. ... ... ... ... .. .. .... .. . .. .. .. ... ...... .. .... .. ... .. .. 143 166 Social and economic development projects ..... ........... ..... ..... 139 120 (other than schools) Countries that exempt the Baha' i community from payment of taxes on properties. .... ....................... .. ... 16 21 INTERNATIONAL SU RVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIV ITIES 193

Countries that recognize Baha'i Holy Days .. .... ...... .... ..... ..... . 16 18 Countries that recognize Baha'i marriage ....... ... ..... ....... ...... . . 10 13 Localities where Baha' is reside .. ................... .... .... .. ....... ..... ... 36,145 33,270 Isolated centres and groups ... ....... .. ... ..... .. .. .. ... ....... ... ... .. ..... .. . 29,878 27,366 Local Spiritual Assemblies ..... ..... ... .. ...... ............ .... ............ ... . 6,267 5,904

AMERlCAS 21April 1986 20April 1992 National Spiritual Assemblies..... ......... ... .... ...... .. .. .... ... .. ... .... . 41 43 National I:Ia?'. iratu ' l-Quds ... ... .... .. .. .... ... ....... .... .... .. ...... ........... 40 41 Baha'i Temples .. .. .................. .... ............... .. .. ....... .... .. ... ...... ... 2 2 Sites for national Baha'i Temples....... .. ...... ........... ... .. ....... .... 32 31 Baha'i Publishing Trusts........................... ............. ............. ... 3 3 Languages into which Baha'i literature has been translated. . 172 NIA Baha'i schools ..... ... ... .......................... .. ...... ....... ........ .. ... ....... 106 184 Social and economic development projects ... .. . .. ... .. . ........ .. .. . 98 195 (other than schools) Countries that exempt the Baha'i community from payment of taxes on properties ............ ... .. ..... .. ..... ... .. 18 23 Countráies that recognize Baha'i Holy Days .. .. .. ..... ..... ..... .. .. .. 24 25 Countries that recognize Baha'i marriage .... ..... .... ..... .. ........ .. 13 17 Localities where Baha' is reside ....................... .. ......... .. .... .... . . 26,514 27,470 Isolated centráes and groups ..... .... .... ... ......... ...... .... ...... .... .... ... 20,303 22,079 Local Spiritual Assemblies .... ... .. .. ... .... ........ ... ... .. ..... .. ... ... ... .. . 6,211 5,391

ASIA 21Aprill986 20April 1992 National Spiritual Assemblies ....... ~ .................. ..... ... .. .. ..... .... . 27 29 N ational I:Ia?'. iratu ' l-Quds ....... ....................... ... ...... .... ........ .... 23 25 Baha'i Temples ....... .. ......... ............... ..... ... ... ...... ...... .. .......... .. 0 Sites for national Baha'i Temples ..... ..... ..................... ......... .. 22 24 Baha'i Publishing Trusts ....................................... ...... .......... . 8 9 Languages into which Baha' i literature has been tráanslated .. 174 NIA Baha'i schools ... .................. ....... .. ... ....... ..... ....... .... ......... ..... .. 342 300 Social and economic development projects ........... ............. .. 15 1 232 (other than schools) Counháies that exempt the Baha'i conununity from payment of taxes on properties ... ..... ........... ....... ..... ... 11 13 Countráies that recognize Baha ' i Holy Days ....... .. .. .. ..... .. .... . .. 13 13 Countráies that recognize Baha ' i marriage ......... .. ... .. ..... ....... . . 12 12 Localities where Baha'is reside .. ..... ...... ... ....... .. .. ... ............. .. . 46,270 51 ,119 Isolated cenháes and groups .... ........ ..... .... ..... .. ... ....... ......... .... . 34,976 43,700 Local Spiritual Assemblies ........... .... .. ......... ... ......... ....... ... .... . 11 ,294 7,419 194 TH E BAH A' I WORLD

AUSTRALASIA 21 Aprill986 20April 1992 National Spiritual Assemblies ... .... ....... ........ .... ................. .... . 17 17 National I:Ia~iratu' 1-Quds ............. ... ... ..... ..... ..... ... ... ..... ..... ... .. 17 17 Baha' i Temples ........ ....... .... ....... ... .. ....... ... ... ............ ... ..... .. .. .. 2 2 Sites for national Baha' i Temples .... ... .... ........ ............ ... ... ... .. 15 16 Baha'i Publishing Trusts .... .... ... .... .. ....... .. ..... ................... ... .. . 2 2 Languages into which Baha'i literature has been translated .. 110 NIA Baha'i schools .................................. .. .... ...... ....... .. ........... ..... . 8 16 Social and economic development projects (other than schools) ... ... .... .... ...... .... ............... .. ... ......... .. .... . 20 101 Countries that exempt the Baha' i community from payment of taxes on properties .... ..... .................. .. .. ... 8 8 Countries that recognize Baha'i Holy Days .. .. ... ........ .. ... ..... .. 11 12 Countries that recognize Baha'i marriage ..... .... ..... .... .. ... ..... .. 16 18 Localities where Baha' is reside ............ ..................... .. .... ... .. . 3,062 4,094 Isolated centres and groups ....... ............. ... ...... ......... ...... ... ... .. 2,257 3,218 Local Spiritual Assemblies ... .. ........... ............. ........... .... ...... .. 805 876

EUROPE 21Aprill986 20April 1992 National Spirih1al Assemblies .. ..... .. ...... ..... .... ... ...... ............... 20 29 National I:Ia~iratu'l-Quds........... . ....... .. ...... . ........... .. ........ . ..... 20 21 Baha'i Temples ..................... .................................... .. ......... .. Sites for national Baha' i Temples .................. .. .................... .. 19 20 Baha'i Publishing Trusts .. ......... .. ........................................... 8 10 Languages into which Baha' i literature has been translated.. 80 NIA Baha'i schools ... ....... ..... .... .. ...... ..... ... ....... ....... ..... ... ...... ......... 0 0 Social and economic development projects ... .... ... .. .. ........... .. 23 30 (other than schools) Countries that exempt the Baha'i community from payment of taxes on properties ... ... ........ .... .... ... .. .... ... 8 12 Countries that recognize Baha' i Holy Days .. ...... .. ...... .. ....... .. 12 13 Countries that recognize Baha'i marriage ............ ... ... .......... .. 9 10 Localities where Baba' is reside ...................... .. .. .. ............. .. .. 2,997 4,093 Isolated centres and groups .. ................ ....... ..... ........ .. ... .... .... . 2,244 3,248 Local Spirih1al Assemblies ............. .. ........ .......... .. .... ..... ...... .. 753 845 II THE Two Y EAR SUBSIDIARY PLAN 1990-1992

ON 8 Febrnary 1990, the Universal House COUNTRIES AS POSSIBLE UP TO AND INCLUD- of Justice sent the following cable to the fol- ING RTQV AN I992. lowers ofBaha'u ' llah throughout the world: CALLING UPON THOSE NATIONAL ASSEM - FAR-REACHING EVENTS BEING ENACTED BLI ES EUROPE, AS IA AND AMER ICA WH ICH WORLD STAGE, PARTICULARLY JN EASTERN BEAR PRIMARY RESPONSIB ILITY FOR IND IVID- EUROPE AND SOV IET UN ION, ON THRESHOLD UAL NATIONS INVOLVED, TO CONSULT WITH FINAL FATE-LADEN DECADE CENTURY OF COUNSELLORS AND FORMULATE DETAILS LIGHT, PROVIDE FURTHER DRAMATIC SPEC IFIC GOALS INCORPORATING AND SUP- EV IDENCE RES ISTLESS OPERAT ION OF GOD'S PLEMENTING THOSE ALREADY ADOPTED AND MAJOR PLAN FOR TRANSFORMATION OF IN PROCESS ACCOMPLISHMENT UNDER SIX HUMAN SOCIETY. RAPID UNFORESEEN DEVEL- YEAR PLAN. MOVED PAY TRIBUTE PRESENT OPMENTS NECESS ITATE CORRESPONDING HOUR REMARKABLE UNSUNG ACH IEVEMENTS PARALLEL ACCELERATION IN LIFE-GIVING THOSE INSTITUTIONS A D INDIVIDUAL ENTERPRISES BEING PURSUED BY INHERITO RS BELIEVERS PRESE TL Y LABOURING AD- BAHA°U'LLAH'S RESPLENDENT REVELATION. VAN CEMENT CAUSE IN EASTERN EUROPE AND REJOICE THEREFORE ANNOUNCE LAUNCHING SOVIET UN ION, ACHIEVEMENTS WH ICH HAVE AT RIQVA. 1 OF SUBSID IARY TWO YEAR BLAZED TRAILS FOR COMING LARGE-SCALE TEACH ING PLA N FOR VAST REMA IN ING IN ITIATIVE. CALL UPON BAHA'i WORLD AR ISE REACHES EASTERN EUROPE AND AS IA. SUPPO RT DIFFUS ION WORLD-REDEEMING MOMENTOUS STEP INVOLVES FURTHER SYS- MESSAGE FAITH GOAL AREAS THROUGH SET- TEMATIC UNFOLDMENT PROVISIONS TABLETS TLEMENT PIONEERS AND THROUGH DISPATCH MASTER-PLAN OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA ALREADY STEADY FLOW TRAYELLING TEACHERS, ESPE- IN ADVANCED STAGE OF OPERATION OTHER CIALLY THOSE WITI-1 KNOWLEDGE LANGUAGES AREAS PLANET. REG IONAL ENTERPRISE, CON- COUNTRIES AND REPUBLICS EASTERN BLOC. CEIVED IN CONSU LTATION INTERNAT IONAL CONCOM ITANT TH ESE MEASURES, VITAL TEACH ING CENTRE, DES IGNED SIG NIFI CANT- ONGOlNG PROCESS CHINESE TEAC HING RE- LY RE INFORCE CURRENT SIX YEAR GLOBAL CEIVING FURTHER IMPETUS. PLAN. OBJECTIVES INCLUDE ATTRACTION BROAD VISTAS NOW OPEN TO FA ITH GOD NUMEROUS NEW SU PPORTERS FA ITH , GREAT PROVIDE UN PRECEDENTED OPPORTUN ITI ES INCREASE TRANSLAT ION, PUB LICATION AND WIN FRESH VICTORIES AS WORTHY OFFERING DISS EMINATION BAHA'i LITERATURE IN SACRED THRESHOLD BLESSED BEAUTY REQUISITE LANGUAGES ENTIRE AREA, AND OCCAS ION COMMEMORATION FIRST CENTE- EXTENSION BENEFICENT INFLUENCE DJVINEL Y NARY HIS ASCENS ION COMING HOLY YEAR. APPOINTED ADMIN ISTRATIVE ORDER THROUGH fMPLORING ABUNDANT OUTPOURING DIVIN E ERECTION FRAME-WORK LOCAL NAT IONAL CON FIRMATIONS PARTI CIPANTS ALL FACETS BAHA'i INSTITUTIONS IN AS MANY EASTERN HISTORIC SIX YEAR CAMPAIGN. 196 THE BAHA'I WORLD

1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The countries included in what was known He expressed the wish that Budapest "might as the Eastern Bloc had witnessed signifi- become a centre for the reunion of the East cant developments in the spread of the and West, and that from this city the light Cause towards the end of the nineteenth might emanate to other places". The first century and in the early decades of the twen- Local Spiritual Assembly in Budapest was tieth. In Baha'u ' llah 's lifetime, Baha'is were elected in 1939. living in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and The indomitable Martha Root visited Turkistan (now known as Central Asia) , the Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, first Baba' is settling in the latter in 1882. Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania A flourishing Baha ' i community devel- and Yugoslavia during the 1920s and 1930s. oped in Ashkhabad ('lshqabad) and became Queen Marie of Romania penned her hearta centre of Baha'i scholarship. In 1902, felt tributes to Baha' u' llah and His Message, construction began in Ashkhabad of the first earning the immortal distinction of being the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar of the Baha'i world, an first among royalty to raise her voice in His act characterized by Shoghi Effendi as "the praise. Small Baha' i communities grew in a first major undertaking launched through the number of these lands. Yuk Echtner, in concerted efforts of His followers in the Czechoslovakia, learned of the Faith in 1925 Heroic Age of His Faith". Russia became and later was imprisoned for being a Baha'i. the first country to extend full recognition, Bulgaria was blessed from 1930 to 1954 by justice, and protection to the followers of the the selfless labours of Marion Jack, whom Baha'i religion. Strong Baha' i communities, Shoghi Effendi called a "shining example to with their own Local Spiritual Assemblies, pioneers'', and by the laying to rest in its soil were eventually established in Moscow, of her and of Adam Benke, the pioneer from Balm, and other centres in the Soviet Union; Germany whom Shoghi Effendi designated indeed in 1925 two National Spiritual as the first European Baba' i martyr. Assemblies, that of the Caucasus, with its Esperanto played an important role in the seat in Baku, and that of Turkistan, with its spread of the Faith in these regions, particuseat in Ashkhabad, came into being. larly in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, where The Faith had also attracted the attention believers continued to reside throughout the of prominent figures in Russia, such as Leo entire period. The earliest records of the Tolstoy. A Russian translation of the Kitab- Baha'i Faith in the Baltic States mention i-Aqdas had been made by Aleksandr four persons in Lithuania in the early 1930s Grigorevich Tumanskil and a compilation of who were Esperanto correspondents of the Writings of Baha'u'llah in Arabic was Dr. Hermann Grossmann and his wife, Anna. published in St. Petersburg in 1908. The These men showed interest in the Baha'i poetess and dramatist Grinevskaya had writ- teachings and were eventually visited by ten two dramas, one on the Bab and one on Martha Root in 1934. One of the earliest and Baha'u'llah; they had been performed in most outstanding believers in Poland was St. Petersburg and other places, including in Lidia Zamenhof, daughter of the creator of Germany after they had been translated by Esperanto. the poet Fielder. With the consolidation of Communist rule In the countries of Eastern Europe outside in the Soviet Union, restrictions began to be the Soviet Union, the Faith had been intro- imposed upon Baha'i communities, becomduced by various means . 'Abdu'l-Baha ing more pronounced in 1928 and increasing Himself visited Budapest in 1913 and during the next ten years. The Soviet authoraroused the interest of eminent Hungarians. ities confiscated documents, books, and a INT ERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACT IVITI ES 197

The Saha 'is of Moscow celebrating a Nineteen Day Feast for the first time since the 1930s. The event took place in the Hainsworths' home. 9 April 1989.

printing press, dissolved Baha'i committees, Romania and White Russia (Belarus) and and took over Baha'i schools. Hundreds of for consolidating Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Baha'is were imprisoned, some were Hungary, Poland, the Russian Soviet sentenced to exile in Siberia and other penal Federated Socialist Republic (S.F.S.R.), and settlements, and others were deported to Iran. Yugoslavia. The National Assembly of Turkistan was The National Spiritual Assembly of the dissolved. The Temple in Ashkhabad was Baha 'is of Iran was made responsible for expropriated and turned into an art gallery. opening Kirgizia (later named Kyrgyzstan), A small number of Baha'is continued to Mongolia, Tajikistan (Tadzhikistan) and reside in the region, striving to keep the Uzbekistan, and for consolidating Azerbaijan, flame of their faith alive in the face of inten- Am1enia, Georgia, and Turkmenistan. sive atheist propaganda, the ever-present The National Spiritual Assembly of the danger of renewed persecution, and the United States was responsible for opening disability imposed by the prohibition of Kazakhstan, Sakhalin, and the Ukraine. teaching religion to anyone under the age of Goals for the translation of Baha'i literaeighteen. For these reasons, the flow of news ture into many of the languages of these from the Baha 'is in the Soviet Union to their countries were also part of the Ten Year fellow believers outside virtually ceased, á Crusade. and only very gradually over the years did it The Guardian expressed all these goals as become possible to re-open avenues of being subject to "circumstances pem1itting." communication in a few instances. Nevertheless, activities were carried out World War II and the subsequent advance with increasing efficacy through all the of Communism in Eastern Europe left only succeeding decades. The Baha'is of Germany tiny remnants of Baha'i communities. and Austria in particular were spurred on by Devoted individuals and families remained words of the Guardian such as these: steadfast through many difficult years. De- ... a community that has achieved so spite this situation, Shoghi Effendi included much in the past for our Faith, that has all these territories in his Ten Year Plan, been so dearly loved by 'Abdu'l-Baha, unveiled in 195 3, as follows. and is destined to spread, as He foretold, The National Spiritual Assembly of the light of God 's sacred Revelation not Ge1many and Austria was made responsible only in the heati of Europe but throughfor opening Albania, Estonia, Finno-Karelia, out that dark, war-devastated spiritually Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia (Moldova), famished continent. (22 November 1946) 198 THE BAHA'I WORLD

.. .carry the fame of this community ... The work continued patiently, and quietly, as far as the Eastern fringes of the Asiatic with relays of travelling teachers continually continent. (30 October 1951) crossing and recrossing these lands, contact- The administrative base from which it ing old believers, bringing new souls into must spread out into Eastern and South- the Faith, and fostering wann relationships ern Europe, and beyond these spheres with seekers. Such was the danger that little into the heart of Northern Asia, as far as if any of this activity could be reported to the the China Sea, must first be thoroughly Baha'i world. Already during the latter years consolidated. (30 October 1951) of the Guardian's lifetime it was found that The beloved Guardian referred to these there were Baha'is living in certain of the tasks as "the Mission envisaged for them by Central Asian republics which had previously 'Abdu ' l-Baha, and now confirmed through been reported to be virgin territories. Later the provisions of the Ten-Year Plan". (14 Firaydun Khazra' i settled in Romania and August 1957) Helmut Winkelbach settled in White Russia As the years passed and new National (Belarus), becoming Knights ofBaha'u ' llah. Assemblies came into existence, some of the Moldavia (Moldova) was opened to the goals originally allotted to the community of Faith by a single believer, Annemarie Kri.iger, Germany and Austria were reassigned. The who through persistent visits and teaching newly formed National Assembly of Austria brought the first native Moldavian into the was given responsibility for Czechoslovakia, Faith in Kishinev (Ch~ in~u); she was Hungary, and Yugoslavia. The National As- named a Knight of Baha'u'llah by the Unisembly of Finland was given responsibility versal House of Justice for this achievement. for the goals in Estonia, a country whose In 1979, a Baha'i of Polish background, Alma language is akin to Finnish. TI1e National Monadjem, pioneered with her family to Po- Assembly of Sweden was given responsibility land and settled on the farm of her ancestors. for Latvia and Lithuania. Responsibility for During the 1980s, accounts were found in Sakhalin was transferred from the National the International Archives of the pioneering Assembly of the United States to that of work done in Albania by Mr. Refo <;:apari, a North East Asia (later Japan). Fi1mo-Karelia Baha'i of Albanian descent from New York ceased to be a separate Soviet Socialist Re- who had anived in Tirana in 1931. He had public (S.S.R.) and became an Autonomous stayed in Albania and died there alone and Soviet Socialist Republic (A.S.S.R.) of the of starvation. Meanwhile, a flourishing Baba 'i Russian S.F.S .R. community had been established which had When persecutions in the Cradle of the conesponded with the Guardian. The records Faith made it no longer feasible for the revealed that the conditions of World War II Iranian Baha ' i community to pursue its and its afte1math had dispersed these believgoals in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and ers, and indicated that members of Mongolia, responsibility for these areas was Mr. <;:apari's family might be living in Yutransferred. Mongolia and the republics of goslavia. The National Assembly of Austria Centrnl Asia for which Iran had been therefore sent Baha ' is to look for them. The responsible were given first to the National search was fruitful, and these faithful, long- Assembly of India, then to Germany, while suffering believers put the Baha'i institutions the Caucasian republics (Almenia, Azerbaijan, in touch with another member of their family and Georgia) were transferred directly to who had been living as the only Baha'i in Germany. The Central Asian republic of Albania for forty years, raising her children Kazakhstan and the Ukraine remained under as firm believers in the Faith. Thus began the jurisdiction of the National Assembly of the unprecedented efflorescence of the the United States. Baha'i community of Albania. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 199 The emergence of the policies of glasnost An example of the kind of painstaking, and perestroika in the mid-1980s and the re- persistent work which helped make possible forms launched in the Soviet Union aroused the open teaching projects of the Two Year intense interest in the countries which were Plan, comes from an individual who saw a responsible for the establishment of the need and arose to fill it. In October 1987, Faith there. These new opportunities and the Lynda Godwin made her first journey to the steps necessary to take advantage of them Soviet Union, travelling under the auspices were major themes of the consultation at the of a programme called Citizen Diplomacy, Counsellors' Conference held in the Holy which encouraged individuals to design pro- Land at the end of 1986. Shortly thereafter jects of cultural exchange between Americans the National Assembly of Germany held a and Soviets. She developed one project, special conference, at the end of March 1987 called the Soviet/American Teachers Task in Langenhain, for the representatives of Force, which brought American teachers to the various responsible National Assemblies the Soviet Union to team teach in Soviet class and committees to consult on the situation. rooms, and another called Birthday Friends This was immediately followed by a "Great for Peace, which made pen pals out of Soviet Eastern Conference" in Dieburg. At the re- and American children with common birth quest of the National Assembly of Germany, dates. The projects were so successful that which attached great importance to these she was invited back numerous times, making conferences, the Universal House of Justice more friends each visit as she worked with sent one of its members to represent it. At Soviet guides and translators and ananged that time it was unclear whether the precious for visitors to stay in Soviet homes. Between opportunities then available would remain October 1987 and April 1992, Lynda Godwin for long. It was decided that, in either even- made at least twenty trips into what became tuality, it was vital for the Baha'is to seize the forn1er Soviet Union, each time intrntheir chance without delay. Two Counsellors ducing a new group to the region and finding particularly stimulated and assisted the teach- different avenues for exchange. ing work in Eastern countries: 'Abbas Katirai Two plans projected by the Universal in Asian Russia and Sohrab Youssefian in House of Justice were the opening of Baha'i Albania and Romania. Paul Semenoff was Inforn1ation Offices in Moscow and Budanoteworthy for his work in European Russia pest. Documentation was prepared, a search and the Ukraine. was begun for suitable premises in both The fourteen believers who made up the cities, and a formal approach was made to Hungarian community in 1987 were blessed the appropriate agency of the Soviet Governto be visited by the Hand of the Cause of ment on behalf of the Baha'i International God Amatu'l-Baha R!'.Il_iiyyih Khanum, who Community. However, events advanced so inspired them with a vision of the future. rapidly that these initiatives were subse- The Hand of the Cause also visited Mongolia quently superseded by the rapid spread of in 1989, where she was invited to give lec- the Faith in both countries and the establishtures about her travels and about world peace ment of Local and National Assemblies. to students of English at a university. In some The accelerating growth of the Baha'i cases, the Faith could be directly promoted, communities and the drastically changing as in Poland where a Baha ' i booth was set conditions in the Soviet Union and the Eastup at the World Esperanto Congress in 1987 ern Bloc impelled the Universal House of and public events were held to proclaim the Justice to call for a subsidiary Two Year Faith. But generally, teaching consisted of Teaching Plan to rnn from Ric;lvan 1990 to making friends and preparing for a time when Ric;lvan 1992, with greatly increased goals restrictions on religion would be lifted. for all these lands. 200 THE BAHA'I WORLD

2. TRA YELLING TEACHERS AND PLONEERS The laws concerning the practice and shar- Statement, holding fund-raisers , and giving ing of religion in the Soviet Union had interviews about the project during the begun to change in 1989, the same year that course of a year, sixty-two Bahi'is from the Berlin Wall was breached. Restrictions eight nations entered the Soviet Union under on bringing in literature were lifted and the the auspices of Youth Ambassadors Internafirst open teaching event occurred when tional. They presented 3,000 copies of the Baha' is from Scandinavia participated in the Peace Statement and proclaimed the Teach- Murmansk Peace Festival organized by the ings of Baha ' u'llah from public platforms, Red Army. In August 1989, an individual in schools and universities, and in Soviet working in the region wrote: "This is a very homes. The man largely responsible for the special moment in the history of the Russian first public presentation of the Statement in nation and the Soviet peoples. It is a mo- Kazan later embraced the Faith, was elected ment, I feel, as do most of those who are chairman of the first Spiritual Assembly deeply involved in the work there, especially there, and eventually was elected to the first created by God to facilitate the presentation National Spiritual Assembly of the Union of of the Greatest Gift, the Message which the Soviet Socialist Republics at Ri~van 1991. King of Glory has brought for all mankind. As laws and attitudes changed, a hunger There are mighty spiritual forces at work for information about the Faith became evithroughout the length and breadth of that dent, and Lynda Godwin found herself in the land .. . forces which make possible the real- position to help meet this need. She was able ization of the most audacious of plans. All to draw on her experience and contacts from that is required is for the instruments of His leading projects sponsored by non-Bahi'is Faith, we the believers, to be present, to hT1st to organize explicitly Baha ' i endeavours. A fully in and be willing to follow the clear company called Inter National Soviet Redirection given by Bahi' u ' llah. " sources, Inc. was formed to oversee the work. In November 1989, The Promise of World Another group of Bahi ' is in the United Peace Tour became the largest group of States created the Soviet-American Cooper- Bahi ' is ever invited to enter the Soviet ative Society, and in Canada NetEast was Union with a specific Baha ' i purpose ap- established to assist Canadian Bahi'is to unproved by Soviet officials: to disseminate derstand the needs of the Faith in the Soviet the Peace Statement. After studying the Union and how they could be of service.

Th e Baha'i display at the Murmansk Peace and Environment Festival, organized by the Red Army in July 1989. This was ~ the first open teaching event in the U.S.S.R. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 201 Among the projects Lynda Godwin and Canta perform at its next destination, as they others organized were two international deeply missed being near the spirit of the women's forums which allowed Baha'is and group. One admirer journeyed thirty-two non-Baha'is from different backgrounds to hours . share their ideas about the issues facing Another perforn1ing group which had women; two business seminars in the Ukraine formed at the Baha'i World Centre and to share the Baha'i principles related to eco- which greatly stimulated the teaching work nomics and ethics; the Lesson in Peace in the Soviet Union was Daystar. Twentyteaching trip; and tours of the musical per- three singers and dancers and a French mime formers Red Grammer, El Viento Canta, and artiste spent July 1990 enchanting hearts, Days tar. making friends, and sharing Baha'u ' llah' s In fact, Baha'i musicians and singing Message in the major cities of the Soviet groups responding to the call of the Two Union. The group travelled with eight Soviet Year Plan brought many people into contact guides and stayed in Russian homes, learnwith the Baha'i Faith for the first time. A ing as much as they could about the culture variety of talented performers drew large they were privileged to visit. crowds in the streets, parks, schools, and Among the venues for Daystar's welltheatres of the Eastern Bloc, as they demon- attended concerts were parks, a philharmonic strated the unique beauty of art expressed in hall, a children's camp, and the dining car of praise of God. When audience members the train from Leningrad to Kiev. A presensought the source of the artists' special tation on the Faith, which included slides, spirit, they found Baha'u'llah. was shown nightly in hotel lobbies. The El Viento Canta, a group which had group's members had the honour of being formed at the Baha'i World Centre and which the first Baha'is ever to visit Chernovtsy, in had travelled throughout Western Europe the Ukraine, where they met children who and Africa sharing traditional Latin Ameri- had never before seen anyone from outside can music and teaching the Faith (see also Russia. "Special Youth Projects'', p.443), began a In the summer of 1991, six youth formed three-month tour of the newly opening areas Daystar II as part of the "Youth Can Move in January 1990. Their route took them from the World" project. The project drew on the Yugoslavia to Hungary, Poland, Estonia, spirit and talents of Daystar, another music Russia, the Ukraine, Siberia, and Mongolia. group called Bridges which played folk, They played before audiences ranging from bluegrass, contemporary, and country music fifty to 1,000, and performed and were inter- from the United States, and thirty-eight other viewed on television in Yugoslavia, Hungary, international participants. The group was and in Leningrad and Moscow in Russia. divided into three teams, each assisted by Following El Viento Canta's concerts, four or five Russians who served as guides lively discussions of the Faith continued for and translators. Through their efforts people hours around the stage and in coffee shops, were able to witness, some for the first time, hotel lobbies, and private homes . One night living examples of the transforming power in Odessa, conversations about the Faith were ofBaM 'u'llah. in progress in four dormitory rooms at once, Light in the Darkness, a music group in English, German, Spanish, and Russian. It which had formed in Italy in December 1988, was not uncommon for people to stand in spread the Faith in Yugoslavia, Poland, and line for over half an hour after conce1is to Romania during the Plan. Audience memregister in a guest book for later contact and bers at their concerts heard the principles of literature. More than once, audience mem- the Faith explained between the singing of bers travelled many hours to see El Viento Baha ' i songs and popular songs about peace. 202 THE BAHA'I WORLD

A music group spontaneously formed among participants in the Tahirih II Teaching Project in Neptune, Romania, in July J99 J. ft pe1formed in the streets, causing crowds to gather.

Travelling teachers ji-om Brazil sing for Members of El Viento Canta giving a radio young Fiends in Poland in J990. interview in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, 1990.

Baha 'is attending the first National Baha 'i Conference to be held in the US.SR. in about 60 years. The event took place on 24-25February1990 near Moscow. INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAH A' I AC TIV!Tl ES 203 At the end of each concert, audience mem- Renowned violinist Bijan Khadembers were directly invited to join the Baha'i Missagh shared his talents during one of the community. public concerts associated with the Ali Forum. In summer 1991, Light in the Darkness Mr. Khadem-Missagh and singer Ahdieh performed at the first European Youth Con- Pakravan also brought the name of the Faith ference in Neptune, Romania, and at other to many of the inhabitants of Dushanbe, locations in the area. When the group took a Tajikistan, during concerts given in the break during one concert that had 1,000 autumn of 1991. spectators, people began lining up at a Baha'i The European Baha' i Youth Council information booth near the stage. Eighty of helped channel the energies of European them declared their belief in Baha' u 'llah. youth into the work of the Two Year Plan The world renowned jazz musician Dizzy by organising teaching projects in Czecho- Gillespie mentioned the Baha'i Faith from slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the stage during concerts in East Berlin, Yugoslavia during the summer of 1990. In Moscow, and Prague in May 1990. The addition, the George Adam Benke Project musical tour was organized by professional held in the autumn led to the forn1ation of agencies in honour of a European event the first Local Spiritual Assembly in Bulgaria called One World Week. At each concert, since World War II. The Youth Council about 2,000 people heard the announcement continued to contribute significantly to the that the performance was a contribution of teaching work during the remainder of the Baha'i community to the special week the Plan. (See also "European Baha' i Youth and that it was dedicated to peace and global Council", p.432.) understanding. The East Berlin concert was With the Tablets of the Divine Plan as attended by the President of the East Geiman their guide, a group of youth from the United Parliament, and portions of it were broadcast States formed the Marion Jack Teaching on East Gern1an television. In Moscow, the Project in the summer of 1990 to bring performance was held under the patronage Baha 'u'llah's Message to the Soviet Union. of Mrs. Raisa Gorbacheva and was followed Canying 10,000 copies of the Peace Stateby a one-hour press conference attended by ment and 2,000 copies of The Hidden Words eighty international journalists. The Presi- in Russian, the youth travelled from the dent of the new Republic of Czechoslovakia, Ukraine to Siberia. When members of the Vaclav Havel, and his wife attended the con- team visited the village ofKolodnia, Siberia, cert in Prague. Following a press conference the chief invited them to return to "our with about one hundred reporters, Dizzy village and tell us how to become a Baha'i Gillespie and the Baha'i representatives were village". A second Marion Jack Project was received privately by the President. organized for January 1991, and Marion In July 1991, an International Baha'i Art Jack III took place that summer. Forum, held in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, While members of the first Marion Jack brought together approximately fifty aiiists Project were traversing the Soviet Union from around Europe and the Soviet Union to west to east, nineteen Baha' is from nine exchange ideas, share their work, and dis- countries were sailing south down the Volga cuss the contributions artists could make to and Don Rivers from Petrozavodsk toward the coming Baha'i Holy Year. An art gallery the Black Sea. A group of Soviet citizens had exhibited works by Baha'i artists, and every decided to build three Viking-style ships and evening for a week, public performances sail them from the Soviet Union to the Holy were held. Two musicians embraced the Land. When Captain Alexander Dubovsky, Faith during the week. who had become a Baha'i in the summer of 204 THE BAHA'i WORLD

1989 at an Army-sponsored peace fair, heard streets, in the houses of the friends where we of the plan for the Golden Age Mission, he were received with unforgettable hospitality, recruited Baba'is for it. When none of the on the beach, in the hall of the Albanian Parother passenger groups showed up for the liament, in hotels, in universities, and musical journey, it became a mission for Bah a 'u 'llah. academies-and enrolments occurred every- Down the rivers they sailed, going ashore where". and teaching by setting up display stands In August 1991, thirteen Baha' is from six with pictures and Baha'i literature in town European countries took part in teaching after town. Conditions were extremely rug- projects in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and in ged, as the little ships (18 x 20 metres) had Bishkek, Kirgizia. The teams set up book no cabins and were caught in storms several stalls in a busy square, in a town, and at a times . Yet each member carried a copy of university; spoke about the Faith to mema letter of encouragement from the Universal bers of a spiritual organization; and were House of Justice, and they "huddled around interviewed for radio and television. it during storms, shouted it in exaltation and On 1 January 1991, a French Baha'i mutmured it in wonder and praise". In al- group, calling itself Caravan of Peace, was most every port of call, one or more people able to present the Peace Statement to the embraced the Faith, and eleven members of authorities of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. the ships' crews became believers. Although The collapse of the Eastern Bloc's politithe Baha'is had to end their journey in the cal, economic, and social systems, coupled Soviet Union, the ship called "Hope" arrived with the region's emergence from decades in Haifa in September with twenty-four of isolation, created great demand for infor- Russians aboard . The travellers spent three mation on a wide range of topics. Baha ' i days meeting with members of the Baha' i experts in various fields travelled to the area World Centre staff and visiting the Holy to share their professional experience and to Shrines. explain how Baha'u'llah's principles speak Many groups organized themselves dur- to the needs of the modem world. ing this period to make short-term teaching The Hand of the Cause 'Ali-Akbar Furutan trips. For one week in June 1991, fifteen was able to visit Russia in 1990 after Baha' is from Austria and Italy travelled to more than sixty years away. He was invited Albania and were able to enrol 150 people to speak to the approximately 380 particiinto the Faith. "Teaching was carried out pants of the "International Conference of everywhere", a participant reported, "in the Young Psychologists" at Moscow University.

A group of nineteen Baha 'is spent three weeks sailing down th e Volga and Don Rivers on this and two other Viking - style ships in the summer of 1990, teaching the Faith to both ship crews and dock-side visitors. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 205 Mr. Furutan also gave a lecture on education sought information about life outside the at the Murmansk Institute of Pedagogy. Eastern Bloc. In addition to coverage of the Counsellors conducted seminars on moral events described above and fairly regular education in Albania and Czechoslovakia, interviews of travelling teachers around the and possibilities for future cooperation and region, several films on the Faith were exchange were discussed. Also in Czecho- broadcast. Russian television aired a docuslovakia, an environmental consultant was mentary on the Baha'i Faith called "A able to approach high-ranking government Temple on My Way" which was produced officials responsible for environmental issues. by the Russian company Rus-film. The video In 1988, a presentation entitled "Participa- "Jewel in the Lotus'', about the Baha'i tory Radio for Rural Development: the House of Worship in India, was broadcast Baha'i Experiments" was presented at the on national television in Bulgaria through the International Colloquium on Communication unified efforts of the Varna Baha'i commuand Culture in Bled, Yugoslavia. nity and travelling teachers. Polish television A number of Baha'i doctors were able aired a documentary about the Faith called to consult their Eastern European colleagues "The Fold of the Ninth Prophet". for the first time . In the spring of 1990, a As the teaching work began to include doctor visiting Uzbekistan was able to share more and more native believers, (see also secthe Faith at a hospital in Tashkent. In every tion on "Numerous New Supporters attracted depa1tment, at least one doctor read the to the Faith'', p. 207 .) teaching conferences Peace Statement and discussed it with fellow were held to stimulate and coordinate these physicians. In the autumn of 1991 , a Baha ' i efforts. The first national teaching conferwas invited by the Institute of Preventative ence in Albania, held in Durres in November Medicine in Uzbekistan, to present two pa- 1991 , drew 200 Albanian Baha'is from ten pers at a congress of genetics and molecular different localities and fifty travelling teachbiology. The doctor was able to mention the ers. A journalist who attended all the sessions Faith in his speech and during informal talks decided to spread the Faith through his with doctors and scientists. He stressed the newspaper. The teaching conference ended impo1tance of cooperation between the East with a public meeting at a hall in the centre and the West. of the city. The first national teaching confer- Three doctors from three different coun- ences of Bulga1ia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, tries spent twelve days in August 1991 at the and Yugoslavia also occurred in 1991. In university town of Olomouc, Czechoslova- January 1992, the first teaching conference kia, where they conducted an unprecedented of Croatia and Slovenia took place in Kranj. combined course in medical English and Approximately 400 believers performed "The Promise of World Peace" for a group "the prince of all goodly deeds" during the of Czechoslovakian doctors. Also at the Two Year Plan, leaving their homes to reset- University of Olomouc, the Baha'is helped tle in the Soviet Union or Eastern Europe. organize a symposium called "Rational Faith The final two pioneering goals of the Ten and Blind Science?" which was addressed Year Crusade were fulfilled when Sean by a Baha'i physicist from Germany. Two Hinton settled in Mongolia and 'Abbas and Baha 'is were frequent visitors to Czechoslo- Ric;lvaniyyih Katirai settled in Sakhalin. As vakia, where they lectured on psychology at the Plan progressed, native believers began different universities and assisted with the arising to pioneer. The first Slovak hometeaching work. front pioneers of Czechoslovakia moved to Media coverage of many Baha'i-sponsored Jindrichuv Hradec in 1991. The first Ukraievents was excellent, as journalists eagerly nian pioneer settled in Minsk in early 1992. 206 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Th e Hand of the Cause of God 'A li-Akbar Funitan in Samarkand (US.SR.) , visiting with some Baha 'i fiáiends on 1 April I 990.

Baha'is meeting with the President of Albania, His Excellency Ramiz Alia, in his offices in Durres, J November J99 I. Shown Ji-om left: Mrs. Luci Bylykbashi of the Local Assembly of Durres, President Alia, Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre Farzam Arbab, Mrs. Laurie Arbab, and Mr. Gian-Franco Mazzoni of the National Assembly of Italy. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITI ES 207

3. NUMEROUS NEW SUPPORTERS ATTRACTED TO THE FAITH By the end of the Two Year Plan, more than heart from reading it in Baha 'u 'llah and the 12,000 people in Eastern Europe, the former New Era. Soviet Union, and Mongolia had embraced Also in Albania, a young man approached the Cause of Baha' u'llah and thousands some travelling teachers to ask them where more had been exposed to His Message. they came from, and upon hearing of the Many who had not formally emolled in the Faith, said that a Faith like this can only community had expressed their deep appre- be hue. He said the oneness of mankind is ciation for the teachings and helped make it the highest aspiration of today's man. After possible for them to spread. emolling in the Faith three days later, the People from all backgrounds became Baha'is. man shared the teachings with a co-worker The comments of one travelling teacher in who then requested a meeting with the trav- Albania were very typical: "Many different elling teachers . After some discussion, this kinds of people accepted the Faith-cultured man called on yet another friend and said, "I people, artists, professionals, students, musi- have met some Italian friends who have cians, actors, directors, judges, refugees and disclosed to me a religion that spiritualizes the unemployed". A seventy-year-old nun, democracy and democratizes spirituality." after forty-eight years of service to the Cath- Both men joined the Faith, the latter returnolic Church, accepted the Baha' i Faith in ing to his home, waking up his wife and Maribor, Yugoslavia. After reading Thief in seventeen-year-old son, and sharing the the Night, she said, "I came to the clear Cause with them. Both accepted Baha'u'llah understanding that I have to strive for com- that night. plete integration into the Baha' i community." In Romania, 350 people in at least sixty In the village ofKolindo in Sakhalin, a mayor different localities accepted the Faith during and leaders of the indigenous minority were a three-week teaching campaign. among more than 150 people who declared In the Soviet Union, it was more common their allegiance to Baha'u'llah. for those first hearing about the Faith to ea- A readiness to accept the Faith quite soon gerly begin an intense study and application after first hearing about it was not unusual in of its teachings which could continue for a Eastern Europe. In one case, a Baha'i was number of years before emolment in the speaking to an Albanian lawyer regarding community. Travelling teachers were often official recognition for the Faith when the amazed at the depth of tmderstanding and lawyer said, "I have always believed in these commitment demonstrated by seekers and teachings . Please register my name. I want new believers. to be a Baha'i." The Baha' i who had been One of the numerous examples of this speaking to her was surprised by her readi- comes from the Ukraine. A man was exness and asked for an opportunity to explain posed to the Faith at a Baha'i business forum, more. During the next fifteen minutes, she and after the Baha'is left, he continued to stopped him two or three more times, repeat- think deeply about what he had learned. He ing her wish to emol. The next day, when began abstaining from the use of alcohol and contacted by one of the local believers, the then made the major decision to resign his lawyer said, "I have consulted all my membership in the Communist Party, a friends ... . They all want to join [the Fa ith]". move that would cause him to lose his job as When she was visited later by her original manager at a large plant. He formed the goal teacher and was offered a wall hanging with of creating his own business based on the three prayers on it, she said she already principles learned at the Baha'i fornm. He knew the short obligatory prayer almost by also decided that although he would like his 208 THE BAl-IA'i WORLD

family members to become Baha'is, and that One of the people to declare his faith in according to tradition he could issue this de- the Soviet Union just before the Two Year cree, he would instead expose them to the Plan was a sixteen-year-old boy who immeteachings and let them reach their own con- diately taught his mother what he had learned. clusions. "My whole family will be Baha'i A few months later, she enrolled and set in someday but it must be when they discover motion the Russian film project about the it in their hearts," he said. Faith. She in tum taught her parents who For several years prior to 1990, four men brought nine residents of their Ukrainian from Leningrad University had studied the village into the Faith. Faith without knowing that there were any Much of the teaching work was facilitated Baha' is in their city or that there was litera- by the enthusiastic support of non-Baha'is ture in Russian. The situation came to light who appreciated Baha'i prmciples and conwhen the men wrote a letter to the Associa- tributed to their diffusion. One family, who tion for Baha'i Studies in Canada. When a discovered the Baha ' i Faith when they pioneer later visited them, she found four offered to host a travelling Baha'i in their dedicated believers. home, called themselves devout atheists, yet When a travelling teacher asked a mem- they regularly talked late into the night with ber of a new Local Spiiitual Assembly about their guest about God, religion, Christianity, the election, the relatively new Baba 'i ex- and the Teachings ofBaha'u'llah. Each day plained in great detail the whole election they would share what they had learned with procedure, including rules for absentee votes co-workers. When Baha'is returned to the and tellers, and showed the ballot that had city for other teaching projects, the family been carefully prepared. The visitor stood in repeatedly allowed their home to be used as silence as the native believer demonstrated a central point of contact for Baha 'is needhis clear understanding of the important pro- ing to exchange messages. Another woman cess of which he had become a part. who hosted a travelling Baha'i made her A fervent eagerness to share their new- modest flat available for firesides, coming found Faith with others was common among home from work each night and preparing new believers throughout the Eastern Bloc. food for twenty-five to thirty-five people on Speaking about some of the 126 people who a tiny two-burner stove. enrolled in Bulgaria duriI1g December 1991 Following a Baha 'i business seminar in and January 1992, one travelling teacher the Soviet Union, one company chief called said, "Watching them teach and talk about all his employees together to announce that Baha'u ' llah made one wonder whether these the office would begin applying some newlyare the ones who could cross the seven leamed spiIáitual principles to its work. He valleys in 'seven steps, nay rather in seven told the employees that they would be using breaths, nay rather in a single breath'". consultation so he could hear their cont1ibu- Within a day or two of enrolling, some of tions and feedback. This was an entirely new them took full responsibility for the teaching concept, and the employees were amazed. efforts, translating talks and articles, distrib- In one of the Soviet cities where the music uting leaflets, giving public talks, inviting group Daystar performed, the director of a people to join the Faith and giving their philharmonic hall offered the facility and the phone numbers as contact points. In Albania, staff at no charge. F ollowmg El Viento Cana travelling teacher found that "once they ta' s tour, university students in another city heard about the Faith, they immedi ately be- instantly prepared the necessary documents came active so as to make their contribution to make the visits of more Baha'i groups to the establishment of the World Order of possible and offered to cover the expenses of Baha'u'llah". the concert hall and accommodations. INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'f ACT IVITIES 209 One university student in the Ukraine, fact, the Ministry co-sponsored the event, who was not a Baha'i, received the highest which was initiated by Baha'is and wellmark in his class for his presentation on the received by the 300 university professors, Faith in a course called "Scientific Atheism". teachers, educational administrators, and The student had discovered the teachings students who attended. The Ministry offiwhen he volunteered to help guide a group cials said the symposium had provided them of travelling teachers. He read all the books with the impetus they needed to begin he was given and prepared a thirty minute changing their educational system in a oral presentation which won the praise of his fundamental way. professor. After a successful public meeting in Sofia, In Mongolia, the organizers of the eighth Bulgaria, a high government official asked Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace invited the Baha'is to help draft legislation on relithe Baha'i International Community to send gious tolerance. In Tajikistan, a member of representatives. The delegation received a the Supreme Soviet attended quite a few warm response to its statement, "The Com- Baha'i meetings and expressed several times mon Goal of Universal Peace in Buddhism her great respect and love for Tahirih and and the Baha'i Faith'', which was delivered for the Baha ' i Faith in general. The forn1er by the only woman speaker at the gathering. President of Uzbekistan said he was deeply A Baha'i International Community represen- impressed and highly interested in the Faith tative was the only non-Buddhist speaker to after visiting the House of Worship in India address a public meeting arranged for the and then meeting Baha'is back in Uzbekistan. conference's final day. After the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Other support for spread of the Faith came Republic of Croatia was visited and presentfrom the organizers of the centenary Univer- ed with The Promise of World Peace, he said, sal Czech Exhibition. The Bahi'is were the "Your Peace Message has been studied in only religion to have a special exhibit, be- our Ministry and we support this initiative". cause the organizers were attracted to the One of the prominent people who not concept of the oneness of religions and felt only supported the Baha'is but joined the the Baha'i Faith could represent all the faiths. community was the first Deputy Minister of The Albanian Minister of Education Culture of Tajikistan, who became a Baha' i attended the opening session of a national along with twenty-four members of the symposium called "A New Framework for Opera Choir in Dushanbe, after the concert Moral Education" held in Tirana in 1991. In of Bijan Khadem-Missagh in 1991.

' The delegation of the Baha 'i International Community, which was invited to attend the eighth Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace, held in Ulaan-Baatar, Mongolia, in September J990. 210 THE BAHA'I WORLD

For both those who declared their belief realized that they are not alone in their strugin Baha'u'llah and those who chose to take gles. Even the West is going through hard more time to investigate, their encounters times and must change. We can encourage with the Faith often meant an end to many each other and share skills to implement upforms of isolation. Living in societies where to-date thinking as we jointly prepare for the ideas were tightly controlled, spiritual needs twenty-first century." A Soviet participant in were not acknowledged, and interaction the school said it was the first time she had with foreigners was extremely limited, the seen the eyes of the businessmen shine. people of these regions had been deprived of When the first Moscow Baha'i conference exposure to the world's growing acceptance took place in December 1990, it was a comof oneness. At one international women's pletely new experience for the Soviets to forum which the Baha'is organized in Len- openly gather for expressly spiritual reasons, ingrad, a participant commented that it was a to meet people from different areas without whole new thought for her to realize that she the need for suspicion, and to realize that was part of a global sisterhood. Similarly, a there was no hierarchy among them. Even Baha'i who travelled to the Soviet Union though they had known there were Baha 'is and participated in a Baha'i business forum scattered throughout their vast country, it observed: "The Soviets made a 180 degree was the first time they actually sat side by tum from the first day to the last. They side.

4. TRANSLATION, PUBLICATION, AND DISSEMINATION OF B AHA 'f LITERATURE IN REQUISITE LANGUAGES OF THE ENTIRE AREA

In the early years of the twentieth century, in Romanian included a prayer book printed a number of translations of Baha'i Sacred in 1982, Bah6 'u 'llah and the New Era in Writings and introductory materials about 1983, and The Hidden Words in 1984. The the Faith were produced in the languages of Eastern Literature Committee in Germany the region that later became the Eastern was particularly active, preparing and pub- Bloc. As already mentioned, a Russian trans- lishing Baha'i literature in most of the lation of the Kitab-i-Aqdas was made, and languages of the countries for which the a compilation of the Writings ofBaha'u ' llah German community had responsibility. was published in St. Petersburg in 1908. In However, as manuscripts were not allowed addition, Paris Talks was printed in Polish into or out of the countries of the Eastern in 1915. Literature printed in Albanian in- Bloc before the collapse of communism, cluded Words of Wisdom in 1930, the Kitab- the translations were often done by native i-Iqan in 1932, and Baha 'u '!Lah and the speakers living in exile, many of whom did New Era in 1933. A Bulgarian translation of not speak the most current version of the The Hidden Words was printed in 1937. language. In 1989, the laws restricting reli- During the decades that followed, a few gious literature in the Soviet Union were other publications were also produced. An lifted, and in 1990 the Spiritual Assembly of Introduction to the Bah6 'i Faith in Albanian Moscow obtained government permission came out in 1954. Paris Talks was printed in to have Baha' i books published in Russian. Estonian in 1968. A book of selections from Despite the obstacles that existed when the Baha 'u '!Lah and the New Era in Hungarian Six Year Plan began, nearly two dozen was printed in 1979, followed by a selection Baha'i books, booklets, Tablets and introof prayers in 1981 , and The Hidden Words ductory pamphlets were translated and in 1982. A Polish translation of The Hidden printed in Russian during this period. Also, Words was produced in 1979. Publications 50,000 copies of a Russian edition of INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACT IVITIES 211 the Hand of the Cause of God 'Ali Akbar cancellation in 1989. At the close of several Furlitan's book Mothers, Fathers and Chil- book fairs , Baha'i books were donated to the dren were printed in 1992. Lenin Library in Moscow which in tum dis- To serve the needs of the rapidly expand- tributed them to other libraries, including ing Baha'i communities in Albania, Bulgaria, one of the main libraries in Leningrad. Romania, and Russia, particular effo1is were An annual international book and video made to quickly print large quantities of"core fair in Budapest, Hungary, first held in 1989, literature" in the languages of these coun- included Baha'i participation every year. tries. (See p.158 for an explanation of the The Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom core literature programme.) In all the nations organized the Baha'i booth, which was visitof the former Eastern Bloc, previous transla- ed by prominent people such as the Minister tions were revised, new translations made, of Education, and drew the attention of the and reprints of existing materials produced. Hungarian National Television and Radio The translations and publications are too Company. Hundreds of items of literature numerous to list, but a few examples will were distributed each year. provide a sense of the range of projects The Baha'i Committee for Eastern Literaundertaken in such a short period of time. ture organized a very successful book fair During the Two Year Plan, prayer books in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1989, at which were printed in Azeri, Croatian, Macedonian, 4,500 copies of the Perspective Series and Slovene; the Kitab-i-Iqan was printed in booklet The Bahci 'i Faith in Serbian were Romanian; Selections from the Writings of disháibuted. The following year, the Baha'i Ba!ui 'u 'llah was printed in Hungarian; the Book Distribution Service Austria participat- Kitab-i- 'Ahd was printed in Polish; The Re- ed in the thirty-fifth International Book Fair ality of Man was printed in Czech and in Belgrade. Approximately 2,000 introduc- Slovak; Paris Talks was printed in Serbian; tions to the Faith, 700 copies of The Promise The Promise of World Peace was translated of World Peace, and one hundred copies of into Estonian, and printed in A1menian, prayers were distributed. Georgian, and Latvian; Baha 'u 'llah and the A Baha'i Book Exhibition, held in Riga, New Era was translated into Lithuanian; and Latvia, in October 1990 under the auspices Pathway to Peace was printed in Mongolian of the Central Latvian State Library, attractand Uzbek. The Hidden Words was published ed some 600 people. Following the exhibit a in Armenian in the prestigious bimonthly great number of the Baha 'i books were connewspaper Punik in 1991. tributed to the State Library. Even before the Two Year Plan, book It is difficult to convey the significance of fairs in the Eastern Bloc had provided an im- the translation, production, and distribution po1iant vehicle for bringing Baha'i literature work which intensified during the Two Year to the attention of a wide audience, and they Plan. Perhaps its importance can be hinted at continued to serve this vital function . by recounting the story of a Russian believer, The German Baha'i Publishing Trust, in who, when she saw Baha 'u 'llah and the New collaboration with other Baha'i Publishing Era in Russian for the first time, was "like a Trusts, began its successful biennial repre- starving person who just found food" . She sentation at the Moscow International Book grabbed two copies, held them to her breast Fair significantly before the Two Year Plan, and cried, "Now my friends can see that I and continued participation until the fair's am telling the truth ... they can read these". 212 THE BAHA •j WORLD

Knight ofBaha 'u 'llah 'Abbas Katirai (left) arrived in Sakhalin on 24 March 1990 with his wife, Ri<f,vaniyyih, fulfilling the last remaining pioneer goal of the Ten Year Crusade.

5. DEVELOPMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

By the end of the Two Year Plan, 127 Local for the largest country of the world; reflected Spiritual Assemblies had formed throughout on the high expectations of the Guardian Eastern Europe, Mongolia, and the former concerning the progress of the Faith in the Soviet Union. Baha'is were residing in more Soviet Union; and prepared the delegates for than 700 localities. In a region of the world their heavy responsibility. Mr. Furutan also where just a few short years earlier it had read, in Russian, the message from the been illegal to openly teach the Faith, the ad- Universal House of Justice to the Baha' is of ministrative order brought by Baha'u ' llah the U.S .S.R. for Rigvan 1991. had taken root. When the time came for representatives of other National Assemblies to present gifts The Spiritual Assembly of the Union of to the new Assembly, the Soviet Baha'is Soviet Socialist Republics also felt moved to proceed to the front of the In March 1990 the Hand of the Cause of hall and make their contributions. Some God 'Ali Akbar Furutan, who had lived in gave books, others funds , and others rethe Soviet Union from 1914 to 1930, study- counted the great difficulties they had faced ing at Moscow University and serving the during the past decades and expressed their Cause in Ashkhabad, returned to the U.S.S.R. utmost joy about the formation of the and witnessed the re-election of the Local Assembly. For more than ninety minutes, Spiritual Assembly of Moscow after a lapse Baha'is from throughout the Soviet Union of some fifty years. Slightly more than one proceeded to the front to express their joy. year later, at Rigvan 1991, he returned again, In March 1992, after the dissolution of this time as a representative of the Universal the Soviet Union, the Spiritual Assembly of House of Justice to attend the historic elec- the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was tion of the first Spiritual Assembly of the renamed the Regional Spiritual Assembly of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. the Commonwealth of Independent States, In the three major addresses Mr. Furutan the Baltic States and Georgia. At Rigvan 1992 gave to the Convention in the Russian lan- this Assembly was renamed the Regional guage, he related some of his early experiences Spiritual Assembly of Russia, Georgia and in Moscow; spoke about the spiritual impor- Armenia, and the territory under its jurisdictance of the election of a Spiritual Assembly tion was reduced. Four other National or INTERNATIONAL SURV EY OF CURRENT BAH A' i A CTIVITI ES 213 Regional Spiritual Assemblies were estab- 150 believers, the majority living in Baku. lished to cover the territory of the former Furthermore, the Baku Assembly was offi- U.S.S .R.: the National Spiritual Assembly of cially registered. Azerbaijan; the Regional Spiritual Assembly Teaching and consolidation were carried of the Baltic States; the Regional Spiritual out in the early stages of the Six Year Plan Assembly of Central Asia; and the Regional by travelling teachers making contact with Spiritual Assembly of the Ukraine, Belarus relatives in Azerbaijan. Many of the descenand Moldova. dants of the early believers had kept their deep love for the Faith through all the years The Regional Spiritual Assembly of of religious oppression. Later in the Plan Russia, Georgia and Armenia radio and television interviews brought the At the beginning of the Six Year Plan, there Faith to the attention of the public. had been seven believers in Russia. Baba' is By the end of the Plan, four long-term from various countries had been studying in pioneers had settled in Azerbaijan. Like the the U.S.S.R., and a young couple from the travelling teachers, they played a crucial role United Kingdom had settled in Moscow in in the development of the community, and 1982. After the beginning of the Six Year their effmis produced notable results . Plan, other pioneers followed who greatly At Ri<;lvan 1992, the National Spiritual Asassisted the teaching work which had been sembly of Azerbaijan, with its seat in Baku, persistently pursued by relays of travelling was elected after a lapse of more than fifty teachers for many years. years. In 1990 'Abbas and Ri<;lvaniyyih Katirai settled in Sakhalin, for which they were The Regional Spiritual Assembly of the named Knights ofBaha'u ' llah, thereby com- Baltic States pleting the pioneering work called for by the The Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Guardian at the opening of the Ten Year Lithuania were independent countries before Crusade. At the end of the Six Year Plan, being annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940. there were some forty pioneers in Russia. These republics became sovereign countries By Ri<;lvan 1992 there were some thirty again in 1991. Local Assemblies in Russia, one in Armenia At Ri<;lvan 1992 the first Regional Spirand one group in Georgia. Assemblies in itual Assembly of the Baltic States was Moscow, Ulan-Ude, Kazan, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk established with its seat in Tallinn, Estonia. and Kholmsk were registered, and a local One hundred Baha' is from the Baltic States centre had been purchased in Kazan. The and ten other countries filled the hall to Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Baha' is capacity for this historic firs t convention, at of Russia, Georgia and Armenia was over- which the Hand of the Cause of God ' Ali seeing the largest Baba 'i territorial area in Akbar Furutan represented the House of the world, with a general population of over Justice. Mr. Furutan spoke in Russian when 15 5 million. conveying the love and greetings of the House of Justice to the friends. The National Spiritual Assembly of Estonia, whose population of nearly two Azerbaijan million is eighty per cent Lutheran, had only There is no accurate record of the number of three Baha ' is at the beginning of the Six believers in Azerbaijan at the beginning of Year Plan, including Brigitte Lundblade, the Six Year Plan. The goal of the Two Year who had returned to her country of birth in Plan was to form two Local Assemblies. By April 1989. Other pioneers joined her, and Ri<;lvan 1992, Azerbaijan had three Local their dedicated efforts led to the formation of Assemblies, five groups and approximately two Local Assemblies: one in the capital city 214 THE BAHA'l WORLD

Balui 'is in Tallinn, Estonia, US.S R. on 7 June J987. From left to right: Johannes Palu, Raja Palu, Antonina Apollo, Vjaceslav Hromov.

Jn Riga, Latvia, pioneers Darrel and Sylvia Vice, with their children Tamara and Talis, held theirfirst Nineteen Day Feast on 7 September 1989. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIV ITI ES 215 of Tallinn formed at Ric;lvan 1990, and one in formulated a one-year teaching plan which Tartu, formed at Ric;lvan 1991. was received by the assembled believers with Latvia, with a population of nearly three joy and appreciation. million people, has three primary religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Russian The Regional Spiritual Assembly of the 01ihodox. The first Local Spiritual Assem- Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova bly of Riga, the Latvian capital, was formed In the Ukraine, three Local Assemblies had in January 1991. By the end of the Plan, two been formed by 1990 as a result of the conpioneers resided in this country. solidation work of travelling teachers and a Lithuania, with a population of nearly four few pioneers. By Ric;lvan 1991 the commumillion, is ninety per cent Roman Catholic. nity had grown to six Local Assemblies and The first Local Assembly of Vilnius, the 200 believers; by the end of that year, Lithuanian capital, was formed in Septem- eighteen long-te1m pioneers were settled in ber 1990. In January 1992 Lithuania held its various parts of the country. The Plan ended first large-scale teaching project called with some 250 believers in the Ukraine. "Project Kaunas". It was sponsored by the Belarus (White Russia) had been opened International Goals Committee of Sweden by Knight of Baha'u'llah Helmut Winkeland proved to be very successful. The Plan bach in 1978, who stayed for two years. He ended with four pioneers in Lithuania. returned in 1986 with his wife, Olga, a native of that country. Their teaching efforts The Regional Spiritual Assembly of and the an-ival of one more pioneer pro- Central Asia duced a group of eight believers by Ric;lvan The population of this region is approximate- 1991. By September that year a Local ly fifty million and includes the republics of Assembly had been formed in Minsk. Other Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turk- enrolments occun-ed after a group of twenty menistan and Uzbekistan. There is no accurate enthusiastic travelling teachers came through record of the number of believers in these from the United Kingdom. By the end of the republics at the beginning of the Six Year Plan there were twenty-three adults, six Plan; however, by the end of the Plan, there youth and one Local Assembly in Belarus. were approximately 500 Baha' is, and all the Moldova began the Six Year Plan with goals had been achieved, with eight Local one believer. In May 1991 the first Local Assemblies established or re-established. The Assembly was formed in C hi§in~u (Kishhistoric re-establishment of the Local Spiri- inev), and a pioneer from the United States tual Assembly of Ashkhabad had taken place an-ived. At the end of the Plan there were at Ric;lvan 1989, and the Assembly had been approximately fifty believers in Moldova. registered the same year. The first Local At Ric;lvan 1992 as a result of the teaching Assembly in Tajikistan had been formed in activity during the Two Year Plan, the Dushanbe at Ric;lvan 1990 and was recog- Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Ukraine, nized by the Ministry for Religious Affairs in Belarus and Moldova was formed with its November of that year. A local centre had seat in Kiev. The Hand of the Cause of God been purchased in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Dr. 'A li -Mul~ ammad Varqa represented the At Ric;lvan 1992 the Regional Spiritual House of Justice at this Regional Convention. Assembly of Central Asia with its seat in By then there were six Local Assemblies in Ashkhabad was re-formed, having previously the Ukraine with two, Kiev and Odessa, offiexisted fro m 1925 to 1939 as the National cially registered; one Local Assembly in Spiritual Assembly ofTurkistan. lnspired and Belarus; and one in Moldova, all goals guided by the Counsellors at the Convention, having been achieved. A local centre had the new National Assembly immediately been purchased in Chi§ in~u, Moldova. 216 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Seventy-five Baha 'is from twelve cities and villages attending the National Teaching Conference held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from 25 to 27 October 1991.

Participants in the regional conference held in Odessa, Ukrain e, fro m J4 to J6 Februmy, J992. "Fellowship, deepening, and rich artistic presentation filled our hours, " according to the conference report. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 217 Other Countries of the Former Sofia. By the end of the Six Year Plan, there Eastern Bloc were 400 Baha'is residing in twenty-five ALBANIA localities with ten Local Assemblies. The The goal of the Two Year Plan for Albania first National Spiritual Assembly of Bulgaria was to establish one group of nine adults and was elected at Ri9van 1992 in the presence open three localities, but by the end of that of the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu '1- Plan there were between 3,000 and 4,000 Baha Rul)iyyih Khanum, the representative Baha 'is in Albania with eighteen Local Spir- of the Universal House ofJustice. ihial Assemblies and fourteen groups. The Nearly 200 people from eighteen counnumber of travelling teachers and the subse- háies and twenty-one localities in Bulgaria quent diffusion of the Faith had accelerated attended the Convention, which was held in dramatically following the contacts made Sofia. "Bulgaria is bursting into a beautiful with descendants of the <;apari family in and abundant spring which seems symbolic 1985 in Tirana. These áactivities had been of the wonderful, united, enthusiastic and enthusiastically promoted by the National happy spirit animating the first Baha'i Con- Assembly of Italy, which had been asked to vention held in this promising land," it was lead this work, sharing the responsibility long reported. On the last day of the Convention, held by the Baba 'is of Germany. the participants accompanied the Hand of the The National Spiritual Assembly of Albania Cause to the burial places of Adam Benke was elected at Ri9van 1992 at a Convention and Marion Jack in the central cemetery of attended by over 180 Albanian Baha'is from Sofia. That evening, ninety per cent of the all parts of the country. The news of this audience, carried away by sheer joy, opti- Convention and the announcement of the mism and exuberance about the significance election of the Assembly was broadcast of the convention, danced together holding the following day by the national television hands, a snaking column winding around the during prime-time news. aisles of the hall.

BULGARIA C ZECHOSLOVAKIA The original Six Year Plan goal for Bulgaria At the begi1ming of the Six Year Plan there was to establish one group of nine believers were fifteen believers in Czechoslovakia, and open six localities. With the Two Year and the initial goal was to form one group of Plan the goal was expanded to establish two nine adults and open five localities to the Loca l Spiritual Assemblies and open six Faith. With the Two Year Plan this goal localities to the Faith. was raised to forming four Local Spiritual The first Local Spiritual Assembly was Assemblies, opening six localities and formformed in Plovdiv in January 1991. During ing a National Spiritual Assembly at Ri9van the week of the election there were teaching 1992. These goals were all surpassed. The activities in which thirty-one people em- first Local Assembly was elected in Prague braced the Faith. In March 1991 the Local in June 1990. Approximately forty-five per Spiritual Assembly of Sofia was re-formed, cent of the growth in the number of believers and by Ri9van there were 150 Baha'is in during the Six Year Plan occurred during the eight localities with three Local Assemblies. final year. By the end of the Plan, Czecho- During that same year the first National slovakia had five Local Spiritual Assemblies, Teaching Conference was held and the first seven groups and approximately 170 believ- National Teaching Committee appointed. ers, including forty-one pioneers. The Faith was officially registered in The National Spiritual Assembly of Bulgaria on 26 November 1991, and by that Czechoslovakia was elected at Ri9van 1991 date a small Baha'i centre had been rented in in the presence of the Hand of the Cause of 218 THE BAHA'I WORLD

God Dr. 'Ali-Mul;ammad Varqa as repre- in that region was elected in March 1992 in sentative of the Universal House of Justice. Erfurt. By the end of the Six Year Plan there The Convention participants reported: "In- were approximately fifty Baha'is in the eastdeed, a new and glorious chapter in the ern part of Germany, with two Local Spiritual history of the Baba' i community of Czecho- Assemblies and twenty pioneers. slovakia has opened. The future is truly dazzling. We stand committed to face these HUNGARY prospects united in service to our beloved The goals of the Six Year Plan for Hungary Lord, ever mindful of the immeasurable sac- were to form two groups of nine adult rifices made by those heroic souls whose Baha'is each and to open six localities. In immortal services have brought us to where 1987 Amatu'l-Baha Ru~iyyih Khanum visitwe now stand." ed Budapest, greatly encouraging the small number of local friends and inspiring an EAST GERMANY increase in the flow of travelling teachers. Although the territories of both parts of By 1989 there were five pioneers residing Germany had always been under the juris- in three localities. In that same year the first diction of the National Spiritual Assembly of summer school was held, followed by one Germany, that Assembly had experienced each subsequent year. By 1990 there were great difficulty in making contact with the forty believers, including eight pioneers. few Baha'is living in the East until the fall of The Local Assembly of Budapest was rethe Berlin Wall in 1989 and the opening of fom1ed in the presence of a Counsellor, the the frontier. members of the National Spiritual Assembly In September 1990, just before the unifi- of Austria, and fifty Hungarian believers and cation of the two parts of Germany, the Austrian visitors, at what was called the most National Spiritual Assembly obtained offi- joyous Ric;lvan since before World War IL cial recognition from the Cabinet Council's The friends recalled the historic visit of the Department of Religious Affairs as "The beloved Master to Budapest and His stay Religious Community of the Baha'is in the only a few metres from the place the election German Democratic Republic". This far- was being held. sighted action by the National Assembly By 1991, after a number of teaching ensured the recognition of the Faith in each projects and the formation of the first Nationof the five new eastern states of the united al Teaching Committee, the community had Federal Republic. The first Local Assembly grown to two Local Spiritual Assemblies

- Bah a'i youth from several different countries staffing a display in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, on 27 August 1990. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 219 and eight localities, and there were nineteen Council of Ministers, in Warsaw, thus ensurresident pioneers. By the end of the Plan ing full legal status for existing and future there were 130 believers, four Local Spiritual Assemblies. The National Assembly was Assemblies, twenty-six localities and twenty- elected at Ri<)van 1992 in the presence of the five pioneers scattered around the country. Hand of the Cause of God Amatu 'l-Baha The first National Spiritual Assembly was Ru]:iiyyih Khanum, who served as the repreelected at Ri<)van 1992, with the Hand of the sentative of the Universal House of Justice. Cause of God 'Ali Akbar Furutan represent- Almost the entire Polish Baba 'i community ing the Universal House of Justice. After the and guests from thirty-four countries attenddevotional part of the Convention, the ap- ed the first National Convention, held in proximately 160 participants from nineteen Warsaw. The Convention paid a special tribcountráies were thrilled to witness the enrol- ute to Knight ofBaha'u'llah Ola Pavlovska, ments of three more Hungarian friends into who after many years in the pioneering field, the Faith. was able to return to her native Poland.

POLAND ROMANIA Poland was opened to the Faith in 1926 by After the communist takeover of Romania Martha Root, who visited again in 1932. following World War II, the Baha'is were After the seeds she planted lay dormant for forbidden to teach the Faith. In 1989 governmany years, the Faith began to blossom in ment restraints relaxed, and the Faith began 1990 when Baha'is from many countries, to spread with the support of travelling particularly Germany, the United Kingdom teachers from Austria and Germany. At the and Ireland, responded to new teaching outset of the Six Year Plan the Romanian opportunities. In 1991, Ola Pavlovska re- Baha'i community consisted of three students turned to the land of her birth and settled in from Germany and one native believer. Warsaw. By the beginning of the Six Year By Ri<;lvan 1989 six localities had been Plan thirteen believers were reported to be in opened to the Faith, and there were sixteen Poland; by the end of the Two Year Plan adult believers. Many music groups and there were approximately eighty. travelling teachers continued to spread the By April 1992, there were seven Local Faith in different parts of the country, lead- Assemblies in Poland, and the Baha'i Faith ing to the holding of the first National Baha'i was officially registered and recognized by Teaching Conference in 1990, at which forty the Department of Religious Affairs of the people became Baha' is.

Five members of New Zealand 's Youth for One World, who travelled to East Germany in the summer of J990, then went on to Romania. 220 THE BAHA'i WORLD

The Knight of Baha 'u 'llah for Mongolia, Sean Hinton (left) seated with the first native Mongolian Baha 'i, Oyundelger; 1990.

By Ric}van 1991 the great receptivity of four Local Spi.J.itual Assemblies, increase the the Romanian people and the ardent services number of localities to thirteen and form the of the Baha ' is had raised the community to National Assembly . All of the goals were twelve Local Assemblies, twenty-eight groups reached except the formation of the National and fifty-seven isolated centres, with some Assembly, which could not be achieved due 1,000 believers in all. A firm foundation had to the extreme political unrest in the counhy been created for the election of the National The National Assembly of Austria con- Assembly that Ric}van, in the presence of the ti.J.med to be responsible for the Faith in Hand of the Cause Amatu ' l-Baba Rul:iiyyih Yugoslavia throughout the period. After the Khanum, representing the House of Justice. political breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 two The historic Convention was covered on Regional Teaching Committees were fom1ed a forty-minute-long national television pro- to cover the geographical areas of the fom1er gramme which included an interview with republic. They were named the Regional Rul:iiyyih K.hanum. A dynamic press confer- Teaching Committee of the Baha'is ofBosniaence with twenty-four journalists was also Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and held. During the Convention and closing pub- Serbia; and the Regional Teaching Commitlic meeting, the 300 participants welcomed tee of the Baba'is of Croatia and Slovenia. forty-four new believers into the Faith. Despite the challenges of ethnic rivalries, Following the Convention, Amatu'l-Baha political unrest and exháemely diverse cultures Rul:iiyyih Khanum visited the grave of Queen and languages, Baha'i travelling teachers, Marie of Romania with Baha'i friends. mainly from Austria, contributed greatly to the growth of the Faith in Yugoslavia. YUGOSLAVI A Greater awareness of the Faith had been The goal of the Six Year Plan for Yugoslavia raised in 1988 when BaM' is presented pawas to form two groups of nine adults and to pers on current issues at several conferences. open eleven localities. The goal of the By the end of the Plan the former Yugosubsidiary Two Year Plan was to establish slavia had approximate ly 120 believers, INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 221 including twenty pioneers, and four Local of 1990, the music group El Viento Canta Assemblies. In April 1992 the Faith was communicated the Baha'i spirit to nationofficially recognized in Slovenia. wide television and radio audiences, and the second and third Mongolians became Baha'is. MONGOLIA One of these new believers, Burembayar, When Sean Hinton, a young Baha'i from translated the first Baha ' i prayers into Australia, first entered Mongolia in December Mongolian. 1988 to do research, it was still a virgin terri- The goal of the Two Year Plan was to tory and one of two remaining pioneer goals establish one group and to open three localifrom the Ten Year Crusade. Mr. Hinton was ties. Travelling teachers from Germany, named a Knight ofBaha'u'llah for being the Switzerland, Canada, the United States and first Baha' i to settle in Mongolia. He spent Malaysia were among those who visited the several prolonged periods in the country country, and two new pioneers, one from studying Mongolian folk music, sometin1es Germany and one from the United States, in very remote areas of the Altai Mountains. joined Mr. Hinton in settling there. In 1989, the first Mongolian enrolled in the Toward the end of 1991 responsibility for Faith. the Faith in Mongolia was transferred from Amatu'l-Baha R1ll_iiyyih Khanum visited the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany Mongolia for one week in May 1989. She to the Spiritual Assembly of Singapore. The gave a series of lectures about her travels formation of the first Mongolian Local Spirand about world peace to university students itual Assembly in Ulaan-Baatar was reported studying English in Mongolia. In the spring at Ri~van 1992.

6. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE Two YEAR PLAN There is no doubt that the day will come hitherto unmatched vigour, to atone for when the very people who are now their past failures. They will join the engaged in destroying the foundations of ranks of the followers of Baha 'u ' llah and faith in God and promoting this baseless arise to promote His Cause ... doctrine of materialism will arise and, by This time seems finally to have come. An their own hand, snuff out the flame of this indication of the extraordinary achievements commotion .. ., made during the sho1t span of the Two Year the Guardian wrote in 1923, concerning Plan can be seen from the listing of the goals the events then transpiring in Russia. at the outset of the Six Year Plan, the goals They will sweep away the entire structure established for the Two Year Plan, and the of their unrestrained godlessness and actual situation in each country at Ri~van will arise with heart and soul, and with 1992 when both plans came to an end. 222 THE BAHA'I WORLD

GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN EASTERN EUROPE AND MONGOLIA

Six Year Plan Two Year Plan Territory Achievements Goals Goals

Albania Open to the Faith One group of9 in 18 LSAs Tirana 21 other localities Open 3 localities NSA formed and registered at Ri<;lvan 1992

Bulgaria Form 1 group of9 Form 2 LSAs 10 LSAs Open 6 localiti es Open 6 localities 25 localities NSA formed at Ri<;lvan 1992

Czechoslovakia Form 1 group of 9 Form 4 LSAs 5 LSAs Open 5 localiti es Open 6 localities 11 localities Establish NSA at NSA formed at Ri<;lvan 1992 Ri<;lvan 1991

Former East Form 4 groups of9 Form 6 LSAs 2 LSAs Germany Open 30 localities 26 other localities At least 12 groups

Hungary Form 2 groups of9á Form 5 LSAs 4 LSAs Open 6 localities Open 13 localities 17 localities Establish NSA at NSA formed at Ri<;lvan 1992 Ri<;lvan 1992 Poland Form 4 groups of9 Form 6 LSAs 8LSAs Establish NSA at 29 other localities Ri<;lvan 1992 NSA formed at Ri<;lvan 1992 Faith registered

Romania Open 6 local iti es Form 4 LSAs 25 LSAs Open I 0 localities 485 localities Establish NSA at NSA formed at Ridvan 1992 Ridvan 1991

Yugoslavia Form 2 groups of9 Form 4 LSAs 4 LSAs Open 11 localities Open 13 localities 20 other localities Establish NSA at Political situation Ri<;lvan 1992 did not allow NSA to be formed

Mongolia Open to the Faith Establish 1 group I LSA in Ulaan- Open 3 localiti es Baa tar INTERNA TIO NAL SURVEY OF CUR RENT BAHA' I ACT IVITI ES 223 GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION

Six Year Plan Two Year Plan Territory Achievements Goals Goals

Armenia Conso lidate LSA in Yerevan LSA Yerevan

Azerbaijan Consolidate Establish 2 LSAs 3 LSAs 5 other localities NSA at Ri<;!van 1992

Belarus (Bielarus) Reopen to the Faith Form LSA in 1 LSA in Minsk Minsk

Estonia Form 1 group of9 Form 1 LS A 2 LSAs Open 4 localities 3 other localities

Geo rgia Consolidate Form 1 LSA in 1 group in Tbilisi Tbilisi

Kazakhstan Consolidate Form ILSA 1 LSA Form 1 group 1 loca lity

Kyrgyzstan Consolidate Form 1 LSA in 1 LSA in Bishkek (Kirgizia) Bishkek (Frunze)

Latvia Form 1 group of9 Form 1 LSA 1 LSA in Riga Open 3 localiti es 2 other localities

Lithuania Form 1 group of9 Form 1 LSA 1 LSA in Vilnius Open 3 localiti es 2 other localities

Moldova Settle one pioneer Form 1 LSA in 1 LSA in Kishinev (Moldavia) Kishinev (Chi~ in~ u) (Chi~in~u)

R ussia Groups of 9 in Len- Form at least 7 25 LSAs ingrad & Moscow LS As Mo re than 50 other Open Petrosko i I LSA and 3 locali - localiti es Open at least 6 ties in Sakhalin NSA formed at local ities Establi sh NSA at Ri<;!van 1991 Ri<;lvan 1992

Tajikistan Consol idate LSA in Dushanbe 1 LSA in Dushanbe (Tadzhikistan) 3 other localities

Turkmenistan Consolidate Form 2 LSAs 3 LSAs 3 other localiti es 224 THE BAHA ' I WORL D

GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS I N TH E FORME R SOVIET UNION (CONTINUED)

Six Year Plan Two Year Plan Territory Achievements Goals Goals

Ukra ine Conso lidate Form 4- 5 LSAs 7 LSAs More than l 0 other loca liti es

Uzbekistan Consolidate Form 2 LSAs in 2 LSAs in Tashkent Tashkent and and Samarkand Samarkand 2 other localities

Th e first issue of the Russian Baha 'i newsletter, "The Express", is done after friends worked all night to meet their selfimposed deadline. December 1991 .

Th e first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha 'is of Marv, Turkmenistan, Russia. Formed on 23 September 1990. III INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 1986-1992

1. THE OPENING OF THE FOURTH EPO CH OF THE FORMATIVE AGE S HER NA DE AME R

The Reve lati on of Baha' u' llah, whose supreme mi ss ion is none other but the achi evement of [the] organi c and spi ri tual unity of the whole body of nati ons, should .. . be regarded as ... marking the last and highest stage in the stupendous evolu tio n of man' s collective li fe on this planet. 1

THE growth of the Baha ' i Faith could be the International Baha'i Council, in 1951, as charted, Shoghi Effendi wrote, in terms of the foremnner of the Universal House of th1ee major stages : the Heroic Age (1844- Justice. 1921) associated with the Central Figures of The third epoch encompassed 1963- 1986, the Fa ith; the Formative Age (1921- ), during when the influence of the Faith began which the Administrative Order would be extending into the world at large, and the established; and the Golden Age, which wi ll Baha' i conmmnity began to demonstrate its see the emergence of the Kingdom of God potentialities. The third epoch began with on earth. the inaugural election of the Universal House Within each Age, Shoghi Effendi described of Justice, and witnessed the writing of the distinguishable periods. In the Formative Age constitution of that Supreme Body, the he used the tenn "first epoch" for the period codification of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, and the 1921-1 944/46, when the foundations of the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy when the Administrative Order were first erected- Universal House of Justice moved into its the Local and National Spiritual Assemblies. pe1manent Seat at the apex of the Arc on The second epoch encompassed 1946-1963, Mount Carmel. The institutions of the Conwhen the Faith spread, its administration tinental Boards of Counsellors and the matured, and its World Centre was consoli- International Teaching Centre were created dated. A notable fea ture of this epoch was and developed during the third epoch. the designation by Shoghi Effendi, beginning The opening of the fourth epoch of the in 1951 , of Hands of the Cause of God to F01mative Age of the Faith was announced ass ist him, and then, in 1954, of Auxiliary in a letter dated 2 January 1986, written by Boards to assist the Hands. He also created the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of the world. In that letter, a process was Shoghi Effendi, Th e World Order of Balin '11 '/liili outlined whereby the task of fommlating (Wi lmette : Baha' i Publi shing Trust, 1974), p. 163. national goals would devolve largely on the 226 THE BAHA'I WORLD

National Spiritual Assemblies, in consultation period from 1979 to 1986. At the end of this with the Boards of Counsellors, rather than Plan, Baha'is were living in 116,707 localibeing specified by the Universal House of ties around the world, representing about Justice or the International Teaching Centre. 2, 100 ethnic groups with members who had Emphasizing the significance of this devel- embraced the Faith. One hundred and fortyopment, the House of Justice stated that eight National Spiritual Assemblies and 32,854 " ... we have no hesitation in recognizing that Local Spiritual Assemblies were elected at this new development in the maturation of Ri~van 1986, and thousands of properties Baha'i institutions marks the inception of enhanced the ability of the Baha'is to carry the fourth epoch of that Age". forward the work of the Cause. The concept of national goals had first The numerical growth in the rolls of been introduced by 'Abdu'l-Baha in a series believers reflected the growing spiritual transofletters He had written to the Baha'is of the formation of the lives of the believers. From United States and Canada between 1916 and the early days of the Cause Baha 'is had 1917. Called the Tablets of the Divine Plan, founded schools and hospitals, homes for they had offered a vision of the Faith spread the aged and charities for the poor. As around the world and encouraged the friends Baha ' is developed the attitudes of service to act on that vision. Shoghi Effendi had used called for by their Faith, they found new the Tablets of the Divine Plan as the charter abilities to translate its Teachings into for a series of Plans he designed to spread the action. By the end of the Seven Year Plan, Faith, and to provide an administrative order an Office of Social and Economic Developfor the community. The Universal House of ment had been established at the Baha' i Justice had continued to develop Plans for World Centre to help coordinate the more the Baha'i world, in consultation with the than one thousand projects initiated by Baha'is International Teaching Centre after that insti- in the fields of agriculture, community develtution was created in 1973. opment, health, education, improvement of The last Plan of the third epoch was the the status of women, environment, and other third Seven Year Plan, which covered the areas of activity.

Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre Donald Rogers (center) facilitated community consultation on th e Six Year Plan held in Kingstown, St. Vincent, in May 1986. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF C URR ENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 227 The increasing numbers of Baha'is and World Peace to the Heads of State of their the activities they sponsored demanded a respective nations and territories, and by corresponding maturation of the institutions Ri9van 1986 a total of 138 such presentaof the Faith. Births were recorded, marriages tions had been made. Concunently, the conducted, and funerals organized. By the Baha'i world community began to distribute end of the Seven Year Plan, locally spon- The Promise of World Peace to other leaders sored children's classes were held in 165 of society as well as to their friends and countries or territories, youth activities in neighbours, so that within eighteen months 143, and special women's activities in 116 of its release, more than a million copies, in countries or territories. Funds were raised, some seventy languages, had been presented. newsletters were published, properties were The law1ching of the Peace Message had acquired, and legal recognition of the Faith an electráifying effect upon the Baha'is of the was attained. world, and evoked a new confidence in the In 1985, the development of the Faith elected administrators of the Faith. But the took a dramatic new course with the release most dramatic development of the Faith's of The Promise of World Peace, a Jetter institutions during the third epoch was the from the Universal House of Justice to the result of forces outside of the control of the peoples of the world. This was the first time believers. In its 1986 Ri9van message to the the House of Justice had ever addressed Baha ' is of the world the Universal House of itself directly to the generality of human- Justice wrote: kind, and it took up the central issue facing The opening of [the Seven Year] Plan the human race in the closing years of the coincided with the recrudescence of savtwentieth century. (For the full text of Th e age persecution of the Baha'i community Promise of World Peace see pp. 324-333 of in Iran, a deliberate effort to eliminate the The Baha 'i World, volume XIX.) Cause of God from the land of its birth. The Universal House of Justice asked the The heroic steadfasmess of the Persian National Spiritual Assemblies around the friends has been the mainspring of tráeglobe to present copies of The Promise of mendous international attention focussed

Jn Thailand, Baha 'is in a refi1gee camp called "Site Two North Camp" were married during a ceremony held on 7 October 1987. 228 THE BAHA'I WORLD

on the Cause, eventually bringing it to the Each N ational Spiritual Assembly was agenda of the General Assembly of the also asked to meet with a member of the United Nations, and, together with world- Continental Board of Counsellors before wide publicity in all the media, accom- Ric:lvan 1986, "so that from this initial conplishing its emergence from the obscurity sultation a basis will be laid for consultation which characterized and sheltered the on the goals at the National Conventions". first period of its life. Delegates from throughout each country The implications of the Faith's emer- gathered during Ric:lvan and shared their gence from obscurity were discussed during thoughts and feelings about the proposed the fifth Baha'i International Convention, goals, then took new ideas home to be disheld in the Holy Land from 30 April to cussed at the grassroots level. Meanwhile, the 2 May 1983. Among the themes especially National Assembly members elected during emphasized was the importance of the fol- the Conventions consulted with Counsellors lowers of Baha'u'llah living up to the high about the ideas presented by the delegates standards set by the Blessed Beauty, so that and drafted a set of goals for the Six Year Baha'i institutions and community life can Plan to be considered at the Baha'i World confidently welcome examination by the Centre. peoples of the world. Each set of goals was evaluated by the To ass ist National Spiritual Assemblies Universal House of Justice and the Internadetermine their own levels of maturity, the tional Teaching Centre in relationship to the Baha'i World Centre's Department of the country's strengths and weaknesses as Secretariat sent a letter on behalf of the Uni- described by the National Assembly itself versal House of Justice to each Assembly on and in relationship to the goals of other 25 November 19 84, asking it to evaluate its National Spiritual Assemblies. If the goals community's strengths and weaknesses: seemed within the country's potential and the broader direction of the Faith's develop- 1. Current Status and Specific Needs of ment, they were warmly endorsed. Where the Baha'i Community. What distinctive further consideration was needed, they were strengths and weaknesses do you see in referred back to the Spiritual Assemblies your community? Are there any unusual concerned for consultation and revision. features of the condition of the Faith in It was this involvement of the total your community which must be taken community in setting goals through selfinto account in the fo1mulation of the evaluation, consultation at all levels, and full next Plan? cooperation between the appointed and 2. Condition of the Nation. Do the social, elected arms of the Administrative Order political and economic trends indicate that was a new feature of the development any unusual opportunities or difficulties of the Faith, one that distinguishes the fourth for the development of the Baha'i com- epoch of its history. munity in the immediate years ahead? Once the goals of the new Plan were set and published, the friends began working The assessment of each country's toward their fulfilment. As one result, by the strengths and weaknesses became "the pre- end of the first six years of the fourth epoch, liminary steps in goa l-setting", the Universal at least one and a half million new Baha'is House of Justice wrote to all 1-fational Spir- had emolled in the Faith. The community's itual Assemblies ill a letter dated 25 February s~ccess in á the wide difflision of Baha 'u- 1986. They "will undoubtedly be of great 'llah's Message was publicly recogmzed assistance to each one of you as you enter when the Encyclopaedia Brita1mica, in its the next stage of the process". Britannica Book of the Year for 198 8, INTERNA TIO NAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 229 described the Faith as the second most of the Baha ' is in Iran brought the Faith to a widely spread religion after Christianity. new level of recognition, and the increasing In addition to the Six Year Plan goals set maturity of its life gives its experience great by the National Spiritual Assemblies for importance for the social and moral developthemselves, the Universal House of Justice ment of humanity generally. The views of assigned international collaboration goals Baha'is are being sought by people working for National Assemblies. Communities who on problems at local, national, and internahad the advantage of bonds that crossed tional levels. Examples of this are replete in nationa l borders, such as commonality of the pages of this volume. language, racial background or cultural That the world sorely needs an encouragtraditions, were asked to work together to ing model as it moves into the twenty-first support international projects including cenh1ry is made only too clear with any teaching activities, the translation and distri- cursmy glance through a daily newspaper. bi1tion of Baha'i literature, the development In The World Order of Baha 'u '!!ah, Shoghi of Baha ' i, educational material for children, Effendi referred to the "two-fo ld process" and the production of audio-visual materials. which is "to bring to a climax the forces In many cases communities were asked to that are transforming the face of our planet". supply funds to support social and economic One process is destructive, the other is condevelopment activities, or other work of the strnctive. "The constructive process stands Faith in other lands. associated with the nascent Fa ith of Baha- The international collaboration goals were 'u' llah, and is the harbinger of the New World conveyed to all National Spiritual Assem- Order that Faith must erelong establish. " blies in a letter from the Universal House of In a world the structure of whose political Justice dated 5 June 1987. and social institutions is impaired, whose The goals are devised not only to ac hieve vision is befogged, whose co nscience is objectives, but to encourage mutual coop- bewildered, whose religious systems have eration and sharing of ideas between become anemic and lost their virtue, this National Spiritual Assemblies, processes healing Agency, this leavening Power, which will strengthen the Baha'i world this cementing Force, intensely alive and conununi ty and enable it to present to all-pervasive, has been taking shape, is mankind the pattern of a truly organic, crystallizing into institutions, is mobilizuniversal, diversified but united society. ing its forces, and is preparing for the Both the change in the numbers of fol- sp iritual conquest and the complete lowers of Baha'u'llah and the way in which redemption of mankind . 1 they are working together are altering the 1 Th e Wo rld Order of Bnhri á11 'l/rih , p. 195. public image of the Faith. The persecution

A. A LETTER FROM TI-IE UNIVERSAL HOU SE OF JUSTICE 2 January 1986 fac ing the Baha'i wo rld community, has, at To the Baha ' is of the World the conclusion of their historic conference, been transmuted into fee lings of deepest Dearly-loved Friends , joy, gratitude and love. The eager expectation with which we wel- Graced b y the presence of the Hands of comed to the World Centre, on 27 December, the Cause Amatu'l-Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khanum, sixty-four Cow1sellors from the five conti- Ugo Giachery, ' Ali-Akbar FurUtan, 'Alinents to discuss, with the International Teaching M u l~anunad Varqa and Collis Featherstone, Centre, the challenges and opportunities the Conference was organized and managed 230 Tl-IE BAHA.'i WORLD

with admirable foresight and efficiency by by commemorations around the world and the International Teaching Centre, whose the inauguration of His Covenant will be individual members watched over and served celebrated, in the City of the Covenant, by untiringly the needs of the participants and the holding of the second Baha' i World the progress of the Conference itself. Congress. Convened in the concourse of the Seat of The beloved Counsellors, strengthened the Universal House of Justice as the Coun- and enriched by their experience in the Holy sellors of the Baha'i world entered upon Land, will, as early as possible, consult with their new five-year term of office, within all National Spiritual Assemblies on meamonths of the te1mination of the Seven Year sures to conclude triumphantly the cmTent Plan and the opening of the new Six Year Plan, and on preparations to launch the Six Plan, its aura heightened by the spiritual Year Plan. In anticipation of those consultapotencies of the Holy Shrines and the tions, National Spiritual Assemblies will euphoric sense of victory and blessing now receive the full announcement of the aims pervading the entire Baha'i world, the Con- and characteristics of that Plan, so that ference attained such heights of consultative together with the Counsellors they may exaltation, spirituality and power as only formulate the national plans which will, for those serving the Blessed Beauty can enjoy. each community, establish its pursuit of the The organic growth of the Cause of God, overall objectives. indicated by recent significant developments This new process, whereby the national in its life, becomes markedly apparent in the goals of the next Plan are to be largely light of the main objectives and expectations formulated by National Spiritual Assemblies of the Six Year Plan: a vast expansion of and Boards of Counsellors, signalizes the the numerical and financial resources of the inauguration of a new stage in the unfold- Cause; enlargement of its status in the world; ment of the Administrative Order. Our a world-wide increase in the production, beloved Guardian anticipated a succession distribution and use of Baha'i literature; a of epochs during the Formative Age of the finner and world-wide demonstration of the Faith; we have no hesitation in recognizing Baha'i way of life requiring special consider- that this new development in the maturation ation of the Baha 'i education of children and of Baha'i institutions marks the inception of youth, the strengthening of Baha 'i family the fourth epoch of that Age. life and attention to universal participation Shoghi Effendi perceived in the organic and the spiritual enrichment of individual life of the Cause a dialectic of victory and life; further acceleration in the process of the crisis. The unprecedented triumphs, genermaturation of local and national Baba 'i com- ated by the adamantine steadfastness of munities and a dynamic consolidation of the the Iranian friends, will inevitably provoke unity of the two arms of the Adminisháative opposition to test and increase our sháength. Order; an extension of the involvement of the Let every Baha'i in the world be assured that Baha'i world conununity in the needs of the whatever may befall this growing Faith of world around it; and the pursuit of social and God is but incontrovertible evidence of the economic development in well-established loving care with which the King of Glmy Baha'i conununities. These are some of the and His martyred Herald, through the features of the Six Year Plan which will open incomparable Cenháe of His Covenant and on 21 April 1986 and tenninate on 20 April our beloved Guardian, are preparing His 1992. humble followers for ultimate and magnifi- Ric;lvan 1992 will mark the inception of cent triumph. Our loving prayers are with a Holy Year, during which the Centenary of you all. the Ascension ofBaha'u' llah will be observed The Universal House of Justice INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF C URRENT BAHA ' i ACTIV ITI ES 231

B. STATEMENT BY THE RESEARCH D EPARTMENT ON THE EPOCHS OF THE FOR1\1A TIVE AGE

5 February 1986 In relation to the Heroic Age of our Faith, To all National Spiritual Assemblies the Guardian, in a letter dated 5 June 194 7 to the American Baha' is, specified that this Dear Baha'i Friends, Age consisted of three epochs and described In the letter dated 2 January 1986 written the distinguishing features of each: by the Universal House of Justice to the ... the Apostolic and Heroic Age of Baha ' is of the world, reference was made our Faith, fell into three distinct epochs, to the inception of the fourth epoch of the of nine, of thirty-nine and of twenty-nine Formative Age. In response to questions years' duration, associated respectively subsequently put to the House of Justice with the Babi Dispensation and the minisabout the periods related to the earlier epochs tries ofBaha 'u ' llah and of 'Abdu'l-Baha. of that Age, the Research Department was This primitive Age of the Baha' i Era, requested to prepare a statement on the subunapproached in spiritual fecundity by ject. This has now been presented, and a any period associated with the mission of copy is enclosed. the Founder of any previous Dispensation, Kindly share this material of topical interwas impregnated, from its inception to est with the friends, as you deem fit, so that its termination, with the creative energies it may be studied in their deepening classes, generated through the advent of two summer schools, conferences and similar independent Manifestations and the estabgatherings. lishment of a Covenant unique in the With loving Baha'i greetings , spiritual annals of mankind.7 For Department of the Secretariat The Formative Age, in which we now live and serve, 8 was ushered in with the The Epochs of the Formative Age passing of 'Abdu ' l-Baha. 9 Its major thrust is Prepared by the Research Department ofthe the shaping, development and consohdat10n Universal House a/Justice of the local, national and international insti- INTRODUCTION tutions of the Faith. 10 It is clear from the In disclosing the panoramic vision of the enumeration of the tasks associated with the unfoldment of the Dispensation ofBaha'u 'llah, Fonnative Age that their achievement will Shoghi Effendi refers to three major evolu- require increas ingly mature levels of functionary stages through which the Faith must tioning of the Baha ' i community: pass- the Apostolic or Heroic Age (1844- During this Formative Age of the Faith, 1921) associated with the Cenháal Figures of and in the course of present and succeedthe Faith; 1 the Formative or Transitional Age ing epochs, the last and crowning stage (1921- ),2 the "hall-mark" 3 of which is the rise in the erection of the framework of the and establishment of the Administrative Order, Administrative Order of the Faith of based on the execution of the provisions of Baha' u' llah- the election of the Universal 'Abdu' l-Baha's Will and Testament; 4 and, the House of Justice-wi ll have been com- Golden Age which will represent the "conpleted, the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the Mothersunm1ation of this glorious Di spensation".5 Book of His Revelation, will have been Close examination of the details of Baha ' i codified and its laws promulgated, the history reveals that the individual Ages are Lesser Peace will have been established, comprised of a number of periods- insepathe unity of mankind will have been rable parts of one integrated whole. 6 232 THE BAHA ' i WO RLD

achieved and its maturity attained, the began in 193 7, with the inception of the First Plan conceived by 'Abdu ' l-Baha will have Seven Year Plan of the North American been executed, the emancipation of the Baha ' i community, and concluded with Faith from the fetters of religious ortho- the successful completion of the Ten Year doxy will have been effected, and its Crusade in 1963. 19 The second epoch of independent religious status will have 'Abdu ' l-Baha 's Divine Plan commenced in been universally recognized, .. . 11 1964 with the inauguration of the Nine Year Plan of the Universal House of Justice.) The epochs of the Formative Age mark The prin1ary focus of this statement is on progressive stages in the evolution of the the epochs of the Formative Age of the Disorganic Baha ' i community and signal the pensation ofBaha'u'llah. maturation of its institutions, thus enabling the Faith to operate at new levels and to THE F IRST EPOC H OF TH E FORMATIVE AG E initiate new fimctions. The timing of each 1921- 1944/46 epoch is designated by the Head of the Faith, The first epoch of this Age witnessed the and given the organic nature of evolutionary "birth and the primary stages in the erection development, the transition from one epoch of the framework of the Administrative Order to another may not be abrupt, but may well of the Faith". 20 The epoch was characterized occur over a period of time. This is the case, by concentration on the fom1ation of local for example, in relation to both the inception and national institutions in all five contiof the Formative Age and the end of its first nents, 21 thereby initiating the erection of the epoch. In re lation to the former, the passing machinery necessary for future systematic of 'Abdu ' l-Baha is the transitional event most teaching activities. This epoch was further often identified with the close of the Heroic marked by the launching, at the instigation Age and the beginning of the Formative of the Guardian, of the First Seven Year Plan Age. 12 However, the Guardian also asserts (1937- 1944) by the American Baha ' i comthat the Apostolic Age of the Faith con- munity. This Plan, drawing its inspiration from cluded "more particularly with the passing the Tablets of the Divine Plan, represented [in 1932] of His well-beloved and illustrious the first systematic teaching campaign of the sister, the Most Exalted Leaf-the last survi- Baha'i community and inaugurated the inivor of a glorious and heroic age". 13 With tial stage of the execution of'Abdu'l-Baha' s regard to the termination of the first epoch Divine Plan in the Western Hemisphere.22 of the Formative Age, Shoghi Effendi has placed this between the years 1944 14 and THE S ECOND EPOCH OF THE FORMA TTVE AG E 1946. 15 1946-1963 Before describing the individual epochs This epoch extended the developments of the of the Formative Age, it is important to com- first epoch by calling for the "consummation ment on the use of the term "epoch" in the of a laboriously constmcted Administrntive writings of the Guardian. In a letter dated Order",23 and was to witness the formul ation 18 January 1953, written on his behalf to a of a succession of teaching plans designed to National Spiritual Assembly, it is explained facilitate the development of the Faith beyond that the term is used to apply both to the the confines of the Western Hemisphere and stages in the Formative Age of the Faith, and the continent of Europe. 24 This epoch was to the phases in the unfoldment of 'Abdu ' l- distinguished, in the first instance, by the Baha's Divine Plan. 16 We are currently in sinmltaneous and often spontaneous prosethe fourth epoch of the Fom1ative Age 17 and cution of Baha' i national plans in both the the second epoch of 'Abdu' l-Baha's Divine East and the West. 25 For example, in a letter Plan. 18 (The first epoch of the Divine Plan written at Naw-Ruz 105 to the Baha'is in INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURR EN T BAHA'I ACT IVITIES 233 the East, the beloved Guardian listed the the Guardian and proclaimed the commencespecific plans tmdertaken by the United States, ment of the third epoch of the Fmmative British, Indian, Persian, Australian and New Age, an epoch which called the Baha ' is to a Zealand, and 'Iraqi National Spiritual Assem- yet more mature leve l of administrative blies, and indicated that this concetied action functioning, consistent with the expected signa lized the transition into the second vast increase in the size and diversity of the epoch of the Formative Age. 26 The internal community, its emergence as a model to consolidation and the administrative experi- mankind, and the extension of the influence ence gained by the National Assemblies was of the Faith in the world at large. The House utilized and mobilized by the Guardian with of Justice, in a letter dated October 1963, the launching of the Ten Year Crusade 27- a stated: crusade involving the simultaneous prosecu- Beloved friends , the Cause of God, tion of twelve national plans. The plans guarded and nutiured since its inception derived their direction from ' Abdu ' l-Baha's by God's Messengers, by the Cenháe of Divine Plan, and the goals were ass igned His Covenant and by His Sign on earth, by Shoghi Effendi from the World Centre of now enters a new epoch, the third of the the Faith.28 A second distinguishing feature Fom1ative Age. It must now grow rapidly of this epoch was the "RISE" 29 and " STEADY in size, increase its spiritual cohesion and CONSOLI DA TION" 30 of the World Centre of the executive ability, develop its institutions Faith. and extend its influence into all strata The second epoch thus clearly demonstrated of society. We, its members, must, by the ft.niher maturation of the institutions of constant study of the life-giving Word, the Administrative Order. It witnessed the and by dedicated setvice, deepen in spiriappointment of the Hands of the Cause,31 the tual understanding and show to the world inháoduction of Auxiliary Boards, 32 and the a mature, responsible, fundamentally asestablishment of the International Baha' i sured and happy way of life, far removed Cotmcil.3 3 The culminating event of the epoch from the passions, prejudices and disháacwas the election of the Universal House of tions of present day society.36 Justice in 1963 . It fmiher demonsháated the more effective and co-ordinated use of the The period of the third epoch encomadminisháative machinery to prosecute the passed tluáee world plans, involving all goa ls of the first global spiritual crusade, and National Spiritual Assemb lies, under the the emergence in ever sharper relief of the direction of the Universal House of Justice, World Centre of the Faith. namely, the Nine Year Plan (1964- 1973), the Five Year Plan (1974- 1979), and the Seven TH E TH IRD EPOCH OF TH E FORMATIVE A GE Year Plan (1979- 1986). This third epoch 1963- 1986 witnessed the emergence of the Faith from In addressing the British National Sp iritual obscurity 37 and the initiation of activities Assembly in 195 1, the Guardian foreshad- designed to foster the social and economic owed "world-wide enterprises destined to be development of commutlities. 38 The institution embarked upon, in future epochs of that of the Continental Boards of Counsellors same [Formative] Age, by the Universa l was brought into existence39 leading to the House of Justice". 34 In announcing the Nine establishment of the International Teaching Year Plan, " the second of those world- Centre.40 Ass istants to the Auxiliary Boards encircling enterprises destined in the course were also introduced.4 1 At the World Centre of time to cany the Word of God to every of the Faith, the historic construction and human soul" ,35 the Universal House of Justice occupation of the Seat of the U niversal embarked upon the process anticipated by House of Justice was a crowning event. 42 234 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

TH E FOURTH EPOCH OF THE FORMATIVE AGE This new process ... signalizes the inau- 1986- guration of a new stage in the unfoldment In a letter dated 2 January 1986 written by of the Administrative Order. Our beloved the Universal House of Justice to the Baha' is Guardian anticipated a succession of epochs of the World, the Supreme Body announced during the Fmmative Age of the Faith; the inception of the fourth epoch of the we have no hesitation in recognizing that Formative Age. It highlighted the significant this new development in the maturation developments that had taken place in the of Baha'i institutions marks the inception "organic growth of the Cause of God" 4 of the fourth epoch of that Age. 44 during the course of the recently completed third epoch, by assessing the readiness of the Baha'i community to begin to address the FUTURE EPOC HS objectives of the new Six Year Plan sched- The tasks that remain to be accomplished uled to begin on 21 April 1986, and, outlined during the course of the Formative Age are the general aims and characteristics of this many and challenging. Additional epochs new Plan. Whereas national plans had previ- can be anticipated, each marking significant ously derived largely from the World Centre, stages in the evolution of the Administrative in this new epoch the specific goals for each Order and culminating in the Golden Age national community will be fommlated, within of the Faith. 45 The Golden Age, itself, will the framework of the overall objectives of involve "successive epochs" 46 leading ultithe Plan, by means of consultation between mately to the establishment of the Most the particular National Spiritual Assembly Great Peace, to the World Baha'i Commonand the Continental Board of Counsellors. wealth and to the "birth and efflorescence As the Universal House of Justice states: of a world civilization". 47

NOTES

Shoghi Effendi , Citadel of Faith (Wil mette: Baha ' i I 0 ibid . p. 324. Publishing Trust, 1980), pp. 4- 5. Letter dated 11 Citadel. of Faith, p. 6. Letter da ted 5 June 1947 to 5 Jun e 1947 to the American Baha ' is. the American Baha'is. 2 Shoghi Effendi , Th e World Order of Ba hit '11 'llith 12 God Passes By, p. xiv . (W ilmette: Baha ' i Publi shin g Trust, 1974), p. 98. 13 The World Order of Bahit '11 'I/Ith, p. 98. Letter Letter dated 8 February 1934. dated 8 February 1934 . 3 Th e World Order of Ba hit 'u 'I/Ith , p. 156. Letter 14 Citadel of Faith, p. 5. Letter dated 5 Jun e 1947 to dated 8 February 1934. the American Baha ' is. 4 Citadel of Faith , p . 5. Letter dated 5 June 1947 to 15 Messagesto theBahit 'iWorld, 1950- 195 7 the American Baha'is. ( Wilmette: Baha ' i Publishing Tru st, 197 1), p. 89. 5 Th e World Order of Bahit '11 'I/Ith , p. 156. Letter Cabl egram dated 23 Augu st 1955. See al so letter dated 8 February 1934. dated 18 January 1953 written on behalf of the 6 Shoghi Effend i, God Passes By (Wilmette : Baha 'i G uardi an to the Nationa l Spiritual Assembl y of the Publi shin g Trust, 1970) , p. xv. United States (reference cited in no. 16 below). 7 Citadel of Faith, pp. 4- 5. Letter dated 5 June 1947 16 Bahit 'i News, no. 265, March 1953, p. 4. Letter to the American Baha' is. dated 18 January 1953 written on behalf of the 8 Th e World Order of Bahit '11 'I/Ith, p . 98. Letter G uardi an to the National Assembl y of the U. S. dated 8 February 1934. 17 Letter dated 2 Janu ary 1986 written by the Univer- 9 God Passes By, p. xiv. sa l House of Justice to the Baha' is of the World. INTERNAT IONAL SURVEY OF CURR ENT BAHA'I ACT IV IT IES 235 18 Uni versa l House of Justice, Wellspring of Guid- 34 Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny (Lond on: ance (W il mette: Baha' i Publishing Trust, 1969), Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1981), p. 261. Guardian's p.25. Letter dated Ric;lvan 1964 from the Universal postscript to a letter dated 25 February 195 1, House of Justice to the Baha'is of the World. written on hi s behalf to the National Assembly of 19 Baha'i News, no. 265, p. 4. Letter dated 18 January the Bri tish Isles. 1953 wri tten on behalf of the Guardi an to the 35 Wellspring of Guidance, p. 14. Letter dated Oc to- National Spiritua l Assembl y of the United States. ber 1963 written by the Un iversal House of Justi ce 20 Citadel of Faith , p. 5. Letter dated 5 June 1947 to to the Baha' is of the World. the Ameri can Ba ha'is. 36 Wellspring of Guidance, pp. 17- 18. Letter dated 2 1 Messages to th e Baha'i World, 1950- 1957, p. 19. Oc tober 1963 written the Universa l House of Jus- Cablegram dated 24 December 195 1. tice to the Baha'is of the World. 22 Citadel of Faith, p. 5. Letter dated 5 June 1947 to 37 Letter dated 19 May 1983 written by the Universal the American Baha'is. House of Justice to the Baha' is of the World. 23 Citadel of Faith, p. 6. Letter dated 5 June 1947 to 38 Letter dated 20 October 1983 written by the Uni - the Ameri can Baha'is. versal House of Justice to the Baha'is of the World. 24 ibid. p. 6. 39 Wellspring of Guidance, p. 139. Cablegram dated 25 Messages to th e Bahii 'i World, 1950- 1957, p. 13. 2 1 June 1968 fro m the Universa l House of Ju sti ce Cablegram dated 25 April 195 1. to the Ba ha'fs of the World. 26 Tawqi'at- i-M11barakih, 102- 109 8.E. (Ti lm\n: 40 Letter dated 8 June 1973 written by the Universal Baha' i Publish ing Trust, 125 B.E.), pp. 99- 188. House of Justice to the Baha ' is of the World . Letter dated Naw-Ruz 105 8.E. to the Baha' is in 4 1 Letters dated 8 Ju ne 1973 written by the House of the East. Justi ce to the Continental Board of Counse ll ors, 27 Citadel of Faith, p. 140. Letter dated 20 August and, 7 October 1973 to the Baha'is of the World . 1955 to the American Baha' is. 42 Telex dated I February 1983 written by the Uni ver- 28 Messages to the Baha'i World, 1950- 1957, pp. sa l House of Justice to the Baha' is of the Worl d. 151 - 153 . Letter dated 4 May 1953. 43 Letter dated, 2 January 1986 written by the Univer- 29 ibid., p. 13. Cablegram dated 25 April 1951. sal House of Justice to the Baha' is of the World. 30 Messages to the Baha'i World. 1950-1957, p. 13. 44 ibid. Cablegra m dated 25 Apri l 195 1. 45 Citadel of Faith, p. 6. Letter dated 5 June 1947 to 31 ibid., pp. 18- 20. Cablegram dated 24 December the American Baha' fs. 195 1. 46 Messages to the Baha'i World, 1950- 1957, p. 155. 32 ibid., p. 44. Cablegram dated 8 Oc tober 1952. And , Letter dated 4 May 1953. pp. 127- 128. Letter dated October 1957. 47 Citadel of Faith, p. 6. Letter dated 5 June 1947 to 33 ibid., pp. 7- 8. Cab legram dated 9 January 195 1. the Ameri can Baha' fs.

American Baha'i entertainers Leslie and Kelly (second and thirdfi'om left) in Taipei, Taiwan, during a news conference held in May J986. 236 THE BAHA'I WORLD

C. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION GOALS

IN addition to the Six Year Plan goals set in June 1987. As the Plan progressed goals by National Spiritual Assemblies for them- were added, eliminated or modified. selves, the Universal House of Justice This information is based on coITesponassigned international collaboration goals for dence and other material received by the National Assemblies to support and assist Department of Statistics before the end of each other in a variety of ways. These special 1992; only goals achieved by Ric;lvan 1992 goals were conveyed to National Assemblies are included.

Summary of Collaboration Achievements by National Baha'i Communities

AFRICA: 44 13 Provision of international travelling teachers 18 Cross-border teaching activities Assistance with special teaching activity 4 Emichment and translation of Baha ' i literature and training material 8 Development and provision of Baha' i educational material for children

AMERICAS 154 78 Provision of international travelling teachers 25 Cross-border teaching activities 2 Assistance with special teaching activity 10 Emichment and translation of Baha' i literature and training material 29 Development and provision of Baha'i educational material for children 4 Development of audio-visual material 4 Contribution of funds to acquire/maintain property 2 Miscellaneous collaboration

A S IA 138 34 Provision of international háavelling teachers 3 Cross-border teaching activities 12 Enrichment and translation of Baha'i literature and training material 15 Development and provision of Baha' i educational material for children 8 Establishment or consolidation of national communities 38 Conháibution of funds to acquire or maintain property 7 Conháibution of funds to acquire or equip a mobile institute or vehicl e 3 Conháibution of funds to establish rnral schools 7 Contribution towards youth patticipation in Baha ' i schools 4 Support of twin-city projects 7 Miscellaneous collaboration

AUSTRALAS IA 41 25 Provision of international háavelling teachers 1 Assistance with special teaching activity 13 Development and provision of Baha'i educational material for children Conháibution of funds to acquire/maintain property Miscellaneous collaboration INT ERNAT IONAL SURVEY OF CURREN T BAHA ' i ACTIVITIES 237 EUROPE 98 33 Provision of international travelling teachers 37 Cross-border teaching activities 1 Assistance with special teaching activity 3 Enrichment and translation of Baha'i literature and training material 12 Development and provision of Baha'i educational material for children 2 Development of audio-visual material 5 Contribution of funds to acquire/maintain property 3 Contribution of funds to acquire/equip a mobile institute or vehicle 2 Miscellaneous collaboration

WORLD TOTAL 475 183 Provision of international travelling teachers 83 Cross-border teaching activities 5 Assistance with special teaching activity 29 Enrichment and translation of Baha'i literature and training material 77 Development and provision of Baha'i educational material for children 6 Development of audio-visual material 8 Establishment or consolidation of national communities 48 Contribution of funds to acquire/maintain property 10 Contribution of funds to acquire/equip a mobile institute or vehicle 3 Contribution of funds to establish rnral schools 7 Contribution towards youth participation in Baha' i schools 4 Support of twin-city proj ects 12 Miscellaneous collaboration

Two Bahit 'i youth fi'om the United States participate in a cross-border teaching project which took place in Zacatacas, Mexico , in July 1987. 238 TH E BAHA'i WORLD

In St. Lucia, representatives of National Assemblies from thirteen eastern Caribbean countries and the International Baha 'i Audio-Visual Center gathered for a Planning Conference heldfi'om 16- 18October1987.

Representatives offi ve National Assemblies and Bahiz 'i International Community offices in New York and Geneva met in Februaiy 1988 to discuss external affairs work of the Faith . Represented were: Canada, France, Germany, th e United Kingdom and the United States. INT E RNATIONA L S URV EY O F C URR ENT BA HA'I A CTIVITIES 239 D. PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF THE TRUE CHARACTER OF THE BAHA 'f COMMUNITY

Of the myriad examples ofpublic recognition of the true character of the Bahti 'i community mentioned throughout this volume, two have been chosen for reproduction: "World Religious Statistics," an article published in the 1988 Britannica Book of the Year; and "What is the Baha'i Faith?", a leaflet published by the [Roman Catholic) Bishops' Conference of England and Wales' Committee for Other Faiths .

a. World Religious Statistics Reprinted from the 1988 Britannica Book of the Year

The 1987 table below gives details of the global spread of the world 's 16 largest faiths or ideologies. It illustrates the articles on the various religions by showing each religion's continental statistics in the overall global context. It also demonstrates an extraordinary religious development of the 20th century religious pluralism. As the right-hand column demonstrates, over 14 major religious systems are each now found in over 80 countries. C hristianity, Islam, and the Baha' i World Faith are the most global; agnosticism and atheism are also widespread. Hinduism has recently spread to 88 countries, Buddhism to 86. This 20th-century spread has brought the religions into contact with each other as never before. Thus we find Filipino Catholics and Korean Protestants in Saudi Arabia, Gujarati Hindus in rural England, Tibetan Tantrists in Wales, Muslim mosques in every capital of Western Europe including Rome. The long-term effects of this mass proximity are sure to be profound. They are certainly resulting in unprecedented interest in other people's religions, expressed in seminars, courses, discussion, dialogue, tolerance, and even acceptance. (David B. Barrett)

NOTES : C ontinents. UN demographic practice divides the world into e ight continental areas as shown below (see United Nations, World Population Prospects , New York, 1986, with population of all countries covering the period 1950- 2025). Countries. The las t co lumn enumerates sovereign and nonsovereign countries in which each re ligion has a s ignifi cant followin g. Rows. The li st of re li gion s is arranged by descending order of magnitude of global adherents in 1987 (las t two columns but one). Adherents. As defin ed and enumerated for eac h o f the world 's countries in World Christian Encyclopedia ( 1982) , projected to mid-1 987 C hristians. Followers of Jes us Christ a ffili ated to churches (church me mbers, including ch il dren), plus persons pro fessi ng in census or poll s though not so affi li ated. Other Christians. Catholics (non-Roman), marginal Protes tants, crypto-Chri sti ans, and adherents of Afri can, As ian , Bl ack, and Latin-American indigenous churches, Muslims. 83% Sunni s, 16% Shi 'ahs, I% other schools. Nonreligious. Persons professing no re ligion, non-believers, agnosti cs , free thinkers, dereligion ized sec ul ari sts indifferent to all reli gion. Hindus. 70% Va\shnavites, 25 % Shaivi tes, 2% neo-Hindus and reform Hindus. Buddhists. 58% Mahayana, 38% Theravada, 6% Tantri sm. Atheists. Persons profess ing atheism, skepti cis m, disbeli e f, or i1Teli gion, including anti reli gious (opposed to all reli gion). Chinese folk religionists. Followers of traditi onal Chinese reli gion (local de ities, ancestor veneration, Confuci an ethics, Taoism, uni versism, di vin ation, some Buddhi st elements). New-Religionists. Foll owers of As iatic 20th-century New Reli gions , New Reli gious movements, rad ical new cri sis reli gions , and non-Christian syncreti sti c mass reli gions, all fo unded si nce 1800 and mostl y since 1945. Jews. 84% Ashkenazim , 10% Ori entals, 4% Sephardim Confucian s. Non-Chinese fo ll owers o f Confucianism, mostl y Koreans in Korea. Other religionists. Inc ludin g 50 minor world reli gions and a large number o f spiritist reli gions, New Age reli gions , quasi re li gions, pseudoreli gions, parare li gions, religious systems, mystic systems, reli gious and semireli gious brotherhoods of numerous varieti es. Total Population. UN med ium variant figures for mid-1 987 , as give n in World Population Prospects ( 198 6) pages 72-77 . 240 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

ADHERENTS OF ALL RELIGIONS BY EIGHT CONTI ENTAL AREAS, 1987:

A frica East Asia Europe Latin A merica

Christians 27 1,035,700 78,100,000 4 13,920,700 395,554,500

- Roman Catholics 102,522,200 9,204,000 257, 155,000 37 1,863,600

- Protestants 71,883,000 32, I 00,000 76,652,000 13,960,000

- Orthodox 24,746,700 8 1,000 35,606, 100 570,000

- Anglicans 22,389,900 334,000 32,886,200 1,2 10,000

- Other Christians 49,493,900 36,38 1,000 11 ,62 1,400 7,950,900

Muslims 245, 1 I 0,500 23,795,000 8,90 1,500 645,000

Nonreligious 1,495 ,000 64 1,756,600 50,923,940 13,237,000

Hindus 1,4 10,000 10,100 590,000 660,000

Buddhists 12,800 154, 796,300 2 16,000 490,000

Atheists 240,000 I 36,886,000 I 7,803,000 2,53 8,000

Chin ese folk religionists 9,500 179, 103,100 49,000 60,000

New-Re ligionists 13,000 42 ,2 17,200 34,000 370,000

Tribal religionists 68 ,219,450 730,000 100 1,160,000

Jews 257,000 1,800 1,483,600 990,000

Sikh s 26,000 1,000 215,000 6,000

Shama nists 1,000 I 2,500,000 400 400

Confucians 500 5,900,000 1,000 500

Baha'is 1,265,000 48 ,400 70,500 570,000

Jains 47,500 500 9,900 2,000

Shintoists 50 3,400,000 360 800

Other religionists 65,000 62,000 3 10,000 6,768,800

Total Population 589,208,000 1,279,308,000 494,529,000 423,053,000

Th is article updates the Ma cropcedia arti cles the B udd ha and BUDDHISM; CHRISTI AN ITY; EASTERN ORTHODOXY; Mul:iamrnad and the Rel ig ion of !SLAM; JUDA ISM; PROTESTANTISM; Th e Study and C lass ifi cation of RELIGIONS; ROMAN CATHOLIC ISM; and Micropcedia entries on the vari ous denominations. I NTE RNA TIO NAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I AC TI V IT I ES 24 1 ADHERENTS OF ALL RELIGIONS (CONT.)

Northern Oceania South Asia U.S.S.R. World % Coun- America tries 232,048,400 2 1,287,100, 129,076,700 103,373,400 1,644,396,500 32.9 254

9 1,209,800 7,434,000 8 1,694, 100 5, 111 ,900 926,194,600 18.5 242

94,965,500 7,5 10,000 26, 142,100 8,803,800 332,016,400 6.6 230

5,910,000 507,400 3,200,000 89,442,300 160,063,500 3.2 98

7,5 11,000 5,350,000 290,000 400 69,971,500 1.4 148

32,452, 100 485,700 17,750, 500 15,000 156,150,500 3.1 110

2,682,600 96,000 547,350,500 3 1,807,200 860,388,300 17.2 172

21,047,700 2,884,400 20,65 1,100 84,332,030 836,327,770 16.7 220

8 10,000 295,000 65 1,9 18,900 1,200 655,695,200 13. 1 88

190,000 16,000 153,585,000 320,000 309,626,100 6.2 86

1,073,000 512 ,000 5,300 ,000 60,774,500 225, 126,500 4.5 130

110,000 16,000 8, 169,400 100 187,517,100 3.7 56

1,075 ,600 6, 100 66,990,000 200 110,706,100 2.2 25

60,000 8 1,000 24,508,200 0 94,758,750 1. 9 98

8,084,000 86,000 4,050,000 3,123 ,000 18,075,400 0.4 125

9,500 6,600 16,340,000 50 16,604,150 0.3 20

200'1..._ 200 10,000 250,000 12,762,200 0.2 IO

10,000 ' 200 2,000 200 5,914,400 0.1 3

310,000 59,000 2,300,000 5,000 4,627,900 0.1 205

2,000 900 3,400,000 20 3,462,820 0.1 10

1,000 500 200 100á 3,403,010 0. 1 3

750,000 25,000 230,000 6,000 8,216,800 0.2 170

268,264,000 25,372,000 1,633,882,000 283,993,000 4,997,609,000 100.0 254

l.. 242 THE BAHA'I WORLD

b. Getting to Know People of other Faiths (A leaflet published by the [Roman Catholic] Bishops' Conference of England and Wales' Committee for Other Faiths)

What is the Baha'i Faith?

To a Baha'i there is no demarcation between religion and everyday life. The most Introduction important prayer, Baha ' is say, is a person's daily life. Religion, in other words, is an atti- In the Vatican II ' Declaration on the rel a- tude towards God reflected in life. tionship of the Church with Non-Christians' we find that the Church speaks with warmth Today there are between 5 and 6 million and openness and greets People. of Faith as Baha'is in the world, extending over more partners in a single great enterprise. These than three hundred and forty countries, terrireligions contain much that is good and holy tories and island groups. In England there and provide ways of salvation for millions of are 6,000 registered Baha'is (1989) with 180 people all over the world. Throughout the local Assemblies, resident in over 400 localdocuments of Vatican II we find encourage- ities. At least 9 people are needed to fonn a ment to respect, accept and meet as friends, local assemb ly. The Scriptures of the Baha' i those who profess faiths different from our Faith consist of the writings of the founders own. The Baha'i Faith will be introduced and are translated into over six hundred here in this spirit. languages. The rapid growth they have experienced puts them in the category of a world religion, the youngest in the line of Who are the Baha'is? the prophetic tradition.

The Baha ' i founders sprang from Islam ic roots, but are seen by the Baha'is as found- Origins of the Baha'i Faith ing a religion that fulfils all previous religions . Today Baha'is are people who for- The Forerunner of the Baha'i Faith Was a merly had different religious backgrounds. young Persian merchant known as the Bab They have been Christians, Jews, Muslims, (the Gate), who in 1844 proclaimed Him- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians or self to be a Messenger of God and a herald else they had no religion at all. They give of One greater than Himself-One who equal homage to all the past prophets, but would inaugurate a new era in religion and believe that religion progressively evolves, civilization. Like earlier Messengers of God, and that Baha'u'llah is God's spokesman for the Bab was opposed and denounced. After this age . Although Baha'is are from differ- six years of persecution He was publicly ent religious, racial , national , economic and martyred at the age of 30 in Tabriz. soc ial classes, the Baha'i teachings have given them a higher loyalty- the loyalty to Its founder was Baha'u'llah (the Glory of humanity. God), a Persian noblem an who in 1863 INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 243 declared Himself to be the One whose com- the elimination of prejudice of all kinds, uniing the Bab and all the previous Prophets versal education, elimination of extráemes of had foretold. Like His predecessor, He wealth and poverty, the protection of culwas bitterly opposed and persecuted. During tural diversity. It also advocates individual nearly forty years of exile and imprison- search after truth, the harmony of science ment He cormnitted to writing the teachings and religion, use of an auxiliary universal of His revelation, some of them in letters language and world government. to the most important kings and leaders of religion, as well as teaching and training His followers. His fourth and last place of ban- The Baha'i House of Worship ishment, reached in 1865, was the prison city of 'Akka (Acre), Palestine, where He passed A Baha' i house of worship is open to people away in 1892 at the age of seventy-four. of all nations, races, classes and creeds. It is a place of prayer and meditation for all, a Its authorised interpreter and exemplar was gift from the Baha'is and a demonstration of Abdu'l-Baha (the servant of the Glory), eldest their faith of the oneness of God, the oneson of Baha'u'llah, who was appointed by ness of His Prophets and the oneness of his father as the Centre of His Covenant and mankind. the one to whom all must tum for instruction and guidance. Abdu'l-Baha was the close There is one major Baha' i House of worship companion and constant helper of his father, in each continent. For local regular gatherwhose sufferings he shared. He remained a ings the Bah a' is hold meetings in their prisoner until 1908, when the old regime in homes or in hired halls. The community has Turkey was overthrown and all religious neither a priesthood nor rituals. The Baha' is and political prisoners throughout the Turk- see their teachings as a ringing call to action. ish Empire were liberated. Afterwards he They see them as offering hope, courage and tráavelled widely in Egypt, Europe and vision, in a world beset with universal America, explaining and exemplifying the problems . principles of the Faith and inspiring and directing the activities of its followers throughout the world. He passed away in Baha'i Administration Haifa in 1921 , mourned by people of all faiths. His life was and continues to be a Consultation is the keynote of all Baha' i shining example to all. In his will and testa- administration. ment, Abdu ' l-Baha appointed his grandson, There is no clergy and no ritual. Shoghi Effendi, to be the Guardian of the The Scripture is in written fom1, preserved Faith, and the interpreter of its scripture. and authentic . Administrative bodies are Under his guiding hand, the faith spread rap- called Spiritual Assemblies; they are local, idly. He passed away in London in 1957. national and international. All Assemblies Since 1963 the Faith has been under the meet in a spirit of prayer. guidance of the Universal House of Justice. These spiritual Assemblies are elected by the people, but their responsibility is trust The Baha'i Faith .... from God to whom alone they are answerable. Proclaims:- The Oneness of God, the Oneness of Religion and of Mankind, and the There is no seeking for votes, no candiequality of men and women. It encourages dates, no platfo1m promises, no parties. 244 THE BAHA'I WORLD

The Nineteen Day Feast is a community 2. In what areas would cooperation with occasion, for the reading of prayers, dis- people of Baha'i faith be most fruitful cussion of affairs with the Local Spiritual and possible? Assembly, and material refreshment together. Suggested further reading The Universal House of Justice-an elected ' The Baha'i Faith' Leaflet published by the International body constituted by Baha'u' llah Baha'i publishing Trust, 6 Mount Pleasant, as the supreme legislative and governing Oakham, Leicestershire. body of the Faith-carries out its duties at ' The Baha'i Faith' Booklet Ibid. the Baha' i World Centre in Haifa, Israel. ' Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u' llah' . Only members of the Baha'i Faith may con- 'Paris Talks' by Abdu'l-Baha. tribute to the Baha' i Fund. ' Guidance for Today and Tomorrow' by Shoghi Effendi. Questions for discussion 'Baha 'u'llah and the New Era' by Dr. J. E. Esslemont. 1. Baha' is clearly place great emphasis on A complete catalogue of Baha ' i literature can social teaching and the community of be obtained by writing to: The Baha'i Pubhumankind. How do we as Christians re- lishing Trnst, 6 Mount Pleasant, Oakham, spond to the social teaching of the Church? Leicestershire LE15 6HY.

This is part of the series of leaflets prepared for the Catholic community by the Committee for Other Faiths . Understanding andji-iendly relations with those who believe in God and live their lives with religious principles and purpose contribute to the harmony of society and the happiness of all. The series offers useful information to those who want to overcome the obstacle of ignorance and promote through dialogue, prayer and action the Catholic Church 's teaching of respect and love for all peoples.

The Committee is grateful to its member Sr. Elizabeth West YSCJ for this contribution + Charles Henderson Chairman

COMM ITTEE FOR OTHER FAITHS PUBLICATIONS "Getting to Know People of Other Faiths"- introduction to the seri es. "Ne ighbours and Neighbourhood- a Catholic introduction to liv in g with neighbours of other Faiths". "W hat is Islam?". "What is Buddhism?" . "Who was the Buddha?". "What is Hindui sm?". "The Mosq ue- th e Muslim Hou se of Prayer" . "What is the Baha ' i Faith?" . "Ou r S ikh Ne ighbou rs". " Is God at work outs ide the Church?". "Chri stian Prayer and Eas tern Meditation" .

ORDERS may be sent to: C.F.O.F., 6a Cresswell Park, London SE3 9RD. Orders up to 25 lea fl ets will be c harged at !Op per lea fl et plus 50p postage and pack in g. Orders in bundles to 50 of the same leaflet £3.00 post free (U.K. onl y) . Pl ease make cheques payab le to: N.C.F. (Other Faiths). Postage increases should be added.

Further information and copies of these leaflets can also be obtained from: The Multi-Faith Ce11tre, Harbome Hall, Old Church Road, Harbome, Bir111i11gham Bl7 OBE and The Westmiuster Interfaith Programme, 110 Thornbury Road, Osterley, Middlesex TW7 4NN.

COMMITTEE FOR OTHER FAITHS Bishops' Conference of England and Wales INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 245

/ I

II I ' .

Pope John Paul JI, and Franco Ceccherini (left) representing the Baha 'f International Community, at a meeting between the International Council of the World Conference on Religion and Peace held 4 July 1991.

Baha'i representatives presenting a copy of The Promise of World Peace to the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, the Right Honourable Sir Lynden Pindling, on 3 February 1988. 246 TH E BAH A ' i WORLD

It is said that in South Africa, a diamond mine is discovered. Although this min e is most valuable, yet after all it is stone. Perchance, God willing, the mine of humanity may be discovered and the brilliant pearls of the Kingdom be found. - 'Abdu 'l-Baha INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES

2. SURVEY BY CONTINENTS

A. AFRICA

BARA 'is in the approximately fifty diverse projects in the areas of health and education countries which made up the African conti- which gained the respect of governments nent in 1986 faced a daunting array of and the peop le involved. challenges. Few areas escaped the effects The perseverance of the African believers of political strife, extreme poverty, under- and pioneers brought the continent closer to developed infrastructure, and the ravages of its destiny, as illumined by the words written civil wars . Yet the believers, seeing these on behalf of the Guardian: problems in the larger context of God's Africa is truly awakening and finding unfolding plan , ever kept in view the beauty, herself, and she undoubtedly has a great strength, and potential of Africa. message to give, and a great contribution Faced with limited material means, the to make to the advancement of world Baha'is continued to seek out and capitalize civili zation . To the degree to which her on the unique resources existing in their people accept Baha'u' ll ah, will they be countries. In areas where illiteracy rates blessed, strengthened, and protected. 1 were high and televisions scarce, radio was widely and effectively used to share the Faith Government Relations and to connect its adherents. Recogni zing Much of the political life of Africa in the late the importance and pervasiveness of music twentieth century was characterized by upin African culture, the believers shared their heaval and violence, as many nations on the Faith through song and organized music fes- continent struggled to establish new directivals to stimulate the development of this tions following their independence. Yet art forn1 . The warn1th and hospitality charac- Baha'i communities in Africa were able to teristic of much of African society and the remain politically neutral while gaining goventhusiasm and dedication of the African ernment permission and even support for Baha'i youth created a recipe for continued their activities by following Baha' u'llah 's teaching success. Teachings on loyalty to government and At the same time, Baha' i communities non-participation in partisan politics. The strove to develop the resources they had Baha'is worked to create and respond to identified as lacking when the Six Year Plan opportunities for educating public officials began. Noting the crucial need for meeting about the Faith, and growing awareness led places, the believers found ways to stretch to new legal rights being granted. limited funds and build or acquire more Baha'i delegations met with Heads of local and regional centres than any other State and high government officials in a continent. Recognizing the importance of number of African nations, presenting some providing Baha' i literature in the many lan- with copies of The Promise of World Peace. guages of Africa, the believers made great During the Plan, the Peace Statement was strides in the area of translation . Understand- presented in person to the Presidents of ing the contributions which Baha'u'llah's Teachings make to the field of development, 1 4 June I954 to the British Africa Committee, the believers established and expanded published in Unfolding Destiny, p. 330. 248 THE BAHA'f WORLD

Chad, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa; ments . Extensive Baha'i participation in the the King of Lesotho; and the House of Chiefs Kenya Expanded Programme for Immunizain Botswana, the nation 's highest traditional tion (see subsection on Social and Economic body. When the Baha'is of the Seychelles Development, p. 179) over a period of five met with the President of the Republic, years helped to estab li sh a good working France Albert Rene, in December 1991 , the relationship between the Government and delegation found that the questions he asked the Baha'is. Similarly, relations between the demonstrated he was already well-informed Malawi Government and the Baha'is were about the spread of the Faith in the Indian strengthened in 1990 when the Primary Ocean region. Health Care Programme began. A meeting with the President of Zaire, The establishment of Radio Baha'i Liberia Mobutu Sese Seko, which took place in in 1987 drew attention and praise from November 1990, resulted in the gradual government officials. At the inauguration emergence of the Faith from obscurity in ceremony, the Assistant Minister for Posts that country; the National Spiritual Assem- and Telecommunications spoke of his admibly received requests for Baha'i literature ration for the Baha' is and their talent for from other important government dignitar- maximizing materials and human resources . ies, and then distributed books at all levels. He stated, "Radio Baha' i, in our view, is a When the King of Lesotho, His Majesty significant achievement ... a turning point in King Letsie III, met with the Baha'is in our existence as a nation." April 1991 , he expressed his admiration for Some of the most significant fruits of the the Baha'i principles and his hope that they growing awareness of and respect for the would spread across his country. work of the Baba' is came in the form of The Peace Statement was also distributed legal recognition of the Faith's institutions. to the Chairman of the Counci l of State in Five National Assemblies were formed or Ciskei, several hundred administrative author- re-formed in Africa during the Plan, and ities in Burkina Faso, Government ministers three of these Assemblies received official in Togo, countless Government officials in recognition. In 1988, the Government of Transkei, and the Head of State of Rwanda Guinea-Bissau signed a document recogni zthrough the Chief of Etiquette. ing the National Spiritual Assembly, and in In addition to meetings with officials, 1989 the Government Gazette published the Baha'i involvement in development projects "Official Recognition and Statutes of the brought the Faith to the attention of govern- National Spiritual Assembly"; in September

The President of the Seychelles, His Excellency Albert Rene (centre) met with a Bahir. 'i delegation in Victoria on 31December1991 . Counsellor Gilbert Robert (second from right) joined five representatives of National Assemblies of the Indian Ocean. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACT ! VfTfES 249 1991, the Government of the Congo acknowl- Yet another sign of good relations edged the legal existence of the Baha' i between Baha' is and African governments comm unity; and in December 1991, the was the increasing frequency with which Government of Niger authorized Baha'i governments invited Baha'is to participate institutions in that country to engage in the in official functions and to contribute their activities of the Faith. ideas. The National Spiritual of Assembly of When the Government of Uganda orga- Zaire was re-formed in 1987; the National ni zed a National Seminar for Religious Assembly of Guinea-Bissau was formed in Leaders in July 1989 to discuss ways the 1989; and the Assemblies of Angola, of the Government and religious institutions could Congo Republic, and of Niger were estab- work together in harmony, the Baha'is were lished in 1992. invited to send six representatives. The Pres- Baha' i marriage was recognized by sev- ident of Uganda opened the seminar, urging era l governments. In September 1988 the re ligious leaders to play their part in reha- Baba' is of Nigeria were granted a marriage bilitating the moral conduct of society. He licence which authorized them to hold wed- emphasized the importance of women in dings at the National Teaching Institute in society and the role of science and technol- Oghara, Bendel State. The licence is a privi- ogy in development. The Baha ' is responded lege granted only to some religions . In 1989 to his challenges by preparing a written the federal government granted the Faith, as statement with quotations from the Writings a religious institution , authori zation to issue on the equality of men and women, the hargovernment marriage certificates. mony between science and religion , and In Uganda, additional Local Spiritual work as worship . The statement was distrib- Assemb lies were empowered to conduct uted to all seminar participants. Baha'i marriages, extending the general rec- During the seminar, Uganda ' s Minister of ognition granted just prior to the beginning State invited the Baha' is to meet with him of the Plan. Baha' i marriage was also recog- later, which three members of the National nized in Guinea-Bissau. Assembly did . During the meeting, the Min- In Zimbabwe, recognition of the Faith ister asked questions about the origin of the resulted in Baha ' i Holy Days being listed on Faith and its administrative structure, and government and pub lic school calendars to the Baha'i delegation spoke about the relamark when teachers and students could be tionship of the Faith to government and the excused from class. Baha' i perspective on peace. The Minister

Baha 'is taking part in a parade in Bangui on the occasion of the twenty-eighth anniversaty of the proclamatio11 of Indep endence of the Central African Republic. 1 December 1986. 250 THE BAHA'i WORLD

was presented with the Peace Statement and religion was allocated eight minutes in an a copy of The Earth is But One Country. evening programme which was performed in When the Rural Development Office of the presence of the Head of State, the Prime the Transkei Government began to plan an Minister, many other high officials, and an event for World Environment Day in 1990, audience of more than 1,500 people. The members of the organizing committee met Baha'i presentation was very well received . Baha'is who worked in the water department The Head of State pointed out in his closing and, through them , became fully acquainted speech that what Zambia needs is unity in with the Baha'i Office of the Environment in diversity; the master of ceremonies, a staff Transkei. The two Baha'i water department member of the State House, introduced the officials, who shared Baha'i concepts related Baha'i group by saying, "they have a beautito the environment, were asked to help ful message to give"; and the audience organize the event. The Baha'is were also applauded the message from the National requested to prepare a statement on behalf Spiritual Assembly when it was delivered. of the Chairman of the Military Council to Members of the National Spiritual Assembe broadcast over the radio, and they were bly of Kenya were routinely invited by the invited to participate in a radio panel Office of the President to attend official discussion . functions. Baha'i representatives were also The Baha'is of Zambia reported that "sig- consistently invited to attend major events in nificant progress towards the recognition of Cape Verde, as the Faith is one of only four the Faith" took place in October 1990 when officially recognized religions in the coun- Baha'is received, for the first time, an invita- try. In Botswana, cabinet ministers and tion from the Cabinet to participate in the chiefs often attended Baha'i activities. The nation's independence anniversary. Each Baha'is of Togo were invited by the Chief of State to have a stand at an international commercial fair; the Baha'i exhibit was visited by thousands of people, including the Chief of State and his entourage.

Universities Politicians were not the only leaders of thought to become more familiar with the Baha'i Faith. African academicians also expanded their knowledge of the Teachings, and the Faith was recognized as a topic worthy of serious study by a growing number of universities. The Faith was included in courses taught by both Baha'i and non- Baha' i professors. By the end of the Six Year Plan, the Faith had been part of the curriculum at the University of Swaziland for more than four years. Baha'is taught the history, principles, and administration of the Faith to third year students. In 19'9 l, university officials asked During a teaching conference in Assomada, the Baha'is to develop a curriculum on spe- Cape Verde, in 198 7, two youth present a cific Baha'i subjects in relation to African theatrical piece about teaching in iran. customs and traditional religions. INTERNATIO N AL SURV EY OF C URRENT BAH A 'i A CT IVITI ES 251 Courses based on Baha'i principles and Kenya, the head of Christian Religious Edutaught by Baha ' is were offered several times cation at Shanzu Teacher Training College at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. in Mombasa invited three Baha ' i speakers to In 1989, Dr. Tim Rost designed and taught address first-year sh1dents at the school. The courses called "Peace and Justice" and "Reli- 420 students subjected the speakers to many gion and Development" . This led members questions. The Faith was added to the syllaof the Department of Religious Studies to bus of the College's religious education visit the House of Worship in Kampala to section as a new topic of study. familiarize themselves with the Faith and its Other African nations where the Baha'i institutions. Faith was included in post-secondary courses In 1991, Dr. Mark Perry was invited to of study included: South Africa, where it join the Department at Makerere University was part of the syllabus for a course called to teach special courses on "Religion and "Science and Philosophy of Religion" at the Social and Economic Development' and University of Westville, Durban, in Natal; ''Research Methods". The course on devel- Zimbabwe, where portions of the curriculum opment, which examined the contributions for comparative religious studies at the Unithat religion can make to the transformation versity of Zimbabwe and Gwem Teacher of Ugandan society, included a specific dis- Training College included the Faith; and cussion on the Baha'i Faith. The course on Sierra Leone, where a pioneer started a research methods generated a great deal of course on the Faith at Makeni Teachers interest in, and discussion of, fundamental College. spiritual principles . When the Spiritual Assembly of Malawi Social and Economic Development responded to a request for information from In its message to the Baha ' is of the world at the Head of the Department of Religious Ric:lvan 1990, the Universal House of Justice Sh1dies at the University of Zomba, the wrote, 'The affairs of mankind have reached Baha 'is discovered that the professor had a stage at which increasing calls will be already been using Bahri 'u '!!ah and the New made upon our community to assist, through Era to teach the Faith in his classes. After advice and practical measures, in solving critmeeting with some Baha ' is, he invited them ical social problems''. Development projects to address his students, who responded were one type of assistance offered to an enthusiastically to the presentation and asked ailing humanity. During the Plan, existing many questions. progranm1es were expanded and new initia- Talks on the Faith were also given at tives launched. The majority of the Baha'i Malawi 's Chancellor University in a course social and economic development projects on comparative religion. At the end of the in Africa related either to health care or Six Year Plan, the government approved a education. In fact, Africa was the continent plan for the Baha'is to present the Faith, its with the greatest number of health-related history and moral teachings, in teacher háain- projects. ing colleges around the country. In accordance with a philosophy of devel- In Burkina Faso, the Higher School of opment which emphasizes local self-reliance Law of the University of Ouagadougou gave and self-determination, the Baha'i health permission for two courses on "The Pro- professionals trained local believers to gramme of Baha ' u ' llah for Peace" to be become leaders in health education. In Zaire, taught, fulfilling one of the National Assem- the Regional Social and Economic Developbl y's goals for the Six Year Plan. One of the ment Conm1ittee of Kivu (CREDESE) Baha ' is of Burkina had already given two prepared participants in its programmes to courses on the Baha'i Faith and peace. In teach different health-related subjects using 252 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Jn Burkina Faso, a training and reji-esher course for primm y health workers was held.fimn 4 to 7 May 1990 in Ko alio as part of an on-going sanitation and nutrition educational project sponsored by the National Baha'i Social and Economic Development Committee.

Jn Lome, Togo, children in the Rainbow International School and Kindergarten present their cultures during a Peace Festival held March 1990.

Jn th e Prefecture of Ginkongozo- Rugazi, Rwanda, children, paren ts and tutors can be seen during a literacy co urse held in J988. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 253 simple teaching aids. This training was part received support from international funding of CREDESE's support for the activities of a agencies. Training programmes for commularge number oflocal Baha'i Councils work- nity health workers were also conducted in ing to transforn1 their communities. In Cameroon, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda. Zambia, instrnctors from the William Mmutle Throughout the Plan, Canadian Baha'i Masehla Baha'i Institute travelled to villages Dr. Ethel Martens háained Baha'is in Kenya to give seminars on the causes of various and Swaziland to become primary health illnesses and how they can be prevented. care workers. The Masehla Institute also offered its first In several areas where access to hospitals All-Women Training Programme for Com- was limited, Baha' is helped to provide munity Primary Health Educators. maternity and emergency care. By 1991 , the Throughout the Six Year Plan, Baha ' i Hakim Dispensary in Moissala, Chad, which volunteers assisted with the operation of opened in 1985, had a permanent staff of the Kenya Expanded Progranune for Immu- seven and operated a laboratory and a pharnization, helping to inocu late more than macy. In Swaziland, the Piggs Peak Clinic, a 7 ,500 children. In 1988, Balla 'i participation private facility operated by a Baha ' i doctor, became more formalized under the name offered regular medical consultations and Kenya Baha'i Social Mobilization Pro- conducted a health ouháeach progranm1e granu11e for Inununization, the first project which included visits to outlying rural areas Baha'is embarked upon in collaboration with and the screening of school children for the Canadian Public Health Association. diseases. Working with the Kenya Expanded Pro- Education was the other area of deve lopgranm1e for Inmmnization, the Baha'is ment which received the most attention in offered a series of seminars to train primary Africa. Zaire had one of the most notable health care workers to educate people about progranunes of tutorial schools in the Baha'i the importance of inununization. Other sem- world, with approximately ninety operating inars brought together various members of toward the end of the Plan. By Ric;lvan 1992, communities interested in health, such as Baha ' i tutorial schools in Chad were serving medical personnel, traditional healers, and more than 1,3 00 students. Baha'is in Swazilocal officials, to share info1mation and land operated tluáee preschools and one ideas. The project was approved by Kenya's primary school using a cmriculum largely of Ministry of Health. their own design. This curriculum was In September 1990, the Baha'i adminis- approved by the educational authorities for trator of the inununization progranune was use in schools throughout the country. In invited by the Ministry of Health to attend a Tanzania, the emolment of the Ruaha Techseries of workshops on health care planning, nical Secondary School grew from 160 and he chaired one of the sessions. The Dis- students at its opening in 1986 to 400 by trict Conm1issioner of Bungoma, where the Ric;lvan 1992. workshops took place, conunended the A conunittee appointed by the Universal Baha'is, in both his opening and closing House of Justice worked during the Plan to statements, for their good work in the promote the development of educational Disháict. activities in Africa. The Central and East Conummity health workers were also African Regional Development Conmlittee trained in Burkina Faso, where members of (known as READCO), which was appointed the Health and Nutrition Project taught basic in November 1985, produced a wide range nutrition and sanitation and provided first of educational materials for Baha'i chilaid care. In Chad, the Conmmnity Develop- dren's classes, conducted institutes for the ment Project on Health expanded and háaining of children's class teachers, and 254 THE BAHA'I WORLD

sponsored conferences and workshops on dedicate this regular programme to the Baha'i education. African child. Baha'i Writings and United Nations statistics on the plight of children Radio were broadcast. Baha'i children also pre- The first Baha'i radio station on the African pared a special forty-five-minute edition of continent, Radio Baha'i of Liberia, was the radio programme, "Kids' Special'', aimed officially inaugurated on 21 March 1987 in a at presenting the Baha'i teachings. ceremony attended by the Assistant Minister On a Sunday morning in September 1991 , of Telecommunications, the Deputy-Minister Radio Transkei aired the first of nine fifteenof Information, a traditional chief, media minute programmes based on The Promise representatives and several hundred Baha'is. of World Peace. Each segment consisted of The event was covered on national news, music, an introduction, a reading from the and several days of continuous announce- Peace Statement in the Xhosa language, and ments over national radio followed. By the quotations from the Bible and the Writings end of its first year, Radio Baha'i Liberia's of Baha'u'llah. A Baha'i prayer and music broadcasts had already stimulated consider- closed each broadcast. able growth in the Baha'i community. A Radio Lesotho gave the Baha'is a fifteenreport from a station staff member in March minute time slot every Sunday evening for 1988 read, "We simply cannot keep enough one year. Beginning in September 1990, Baha'i literature ... Some have walked miles "Tumelo Ke Thebe" ("Faith is a Stronghold") to the station to get us to tell them more ... covered topics such as life after death, mar- There have been enrolments at the station, riage and divorce, and The Promise of World and demand from listeners for more Baha' i Peace. Each programme concluded with programming." readings from the Sacred Texts. Regular radio programmes prepared by Weekly radio programmes were also pro- Baha'is were also aired on non-Baha ' i duced in Burkina Faso, the Central African stations. The Local Assembly of Bamenda, Republic, Chad, Ciskei, and Rwanda. In Cameroon, produced a weekly programme Madagascar, a Nineteen Day Feast tape procalled "Mothers, Fathers, and Children". duced by the Radio and Television Team of When the Bamenda Baha'is joined other the National Assembly was regularly aired religious groups and government authorities on National Malagasy Radio. to plan a week-long celebration of the African News stories about Baha 'i events and Day of the Child in 1991, they decided to interviews with travelling teachers were

Staff members at Radio Baha 'i Liberia (ELRB) in Monrovia in March 1987. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIV ITI ES 255

Jn Transkei, hundreds of people stopped at the Baha 'i booth to learn about the Faith during the Agricultural Show held in Um ta ta fi"om 9-12 October 1990.

broadcast on radio in Cameroon, Guinea- two weeks, a total of2,500 people signed the Bissau, Kenya, and Sierra Leone. The first guest book at the display, and during a public such interview to be aired in Equatorial meeting on the exhibition 's last day, thirteen Guinea- with a travelling teacher and two people enrolled in the Faith. In Transkei, a National Spiritual Assembly members- oc- public meeting called "The Pre-Conditions cuned during the Plan. of Peace in Southern Africa and the World" In a number of African countries, includ- followed the second annual week-long book ing Cape Verde, Togo, and Uganda, radio display in the Unitra Library, creating a sigwas used to announce Baha'i activities and nificant amount of interest in the Faith. In Holy Days. Zimbabwe, two displays were organized in libraries. Book Exhibitions Agricultural fairs provided forums for the Many Africans discovered the Creative Word display of Baha ' i literature in several southof Baha 'u ' llah for the first time when they ern African nations. In addition to regular came upon book exhibitions organized by displays at regional and national fa irs in Baha'is. Universities, libraries , and agricul- Zambia and Zimbabwe, a booth was orgatural fairs were the most common venues. nized at the Transkei Agricultural Show in Book displays in the students' halls of Umtata in October 1990. Approximately residence at Nigeria's University of Benin dm- 400 people visited the booth, including the ing four evenings in January 1989 attracted Minister of the Department of Agriculture, approximately 1,400 students. The Peace and many Baha'i books in Xhosa and English Statement was the most popular document at were sold. a book exhibition held at the University of The National Assemb ly of Burkina esti- Zambia in 1988, and another display was mated that 1,000 people visited Baha'i book organized in 1989. Hundreds of students vis- exhibitions held in Ouagadougou, Koudougou, ited a book exhibition at Kenya's Kenyatta and Dedougou Fada during 1987. Then in University near the end of the Plan. Two 1988, the Baha ' is mounted an exhibition of successful book displays were held at the books related to peace and chi ldren after University ofTranskei . being invited by the Government to play a The municipal library of Atakpame, central role in the commemoration of Inter- Ogou, Togo, was the site of a Baha' i exposi- national Peace Day and Children 's Day. The tion in September 1990 which was visited by exhibit was officially opened by a represen- 300 people on the first day. In the following tative of the Head of State, who , with his 256 THE BAHA'I WORLD

entourage of government officials and ambas- Music sadors of various countries, listened to an ... the Manifested Light, Bahli 'u 'llah, in introduction to the Faith. this glorious p eriod has revealed in Holy A week-long book exhibition was held at Tablets that singing and music are the the Independence Hotel in Burkina Faso in spiritual food of the hearts and souls. In 1989, and in 1991, the Baha'is of Ouaga- this dispensation, music is one of the arts dougou organized three book and poster that is highly approved and is considered exhibitions with the assistance of the United to be the cause of the exaltation of sad Nations Infom1ation Centre and the Move- and desponding hearts. ment for Civil Rights of Burkina Faso. The Th erefore ... set to music the verses and exhibits were displayed during a one-week the divine words so that they may be sung convention and included a stand at one of with soul-stirring melody in the Assemthe entrances to the marketplace. Some of blies and gatherings, and that the hearts those who visited the display were invited to of the listeners may becom e tumultuous a fireside and later embraced the Faith. and rise towards the Kingdom of Abha in Thousands also heard of the Faith at Togo supplication and prayer. 2 Fair 2000, where the Baha' is displayed liter- On a continent where music has long ature. Book and poster exhibits followed by played an exceptionally important role in public conferences were found to be suc- conmmnity life, it was natural for those cessful in that country. Book displays in who embraced the Cause of Baha 'u 'l lah to urban areas were used to proclaim the Faith express their love of the Blessed Beauty and in the Gambia, and in Rwanda, a public share His principles through song. During reading room was opened at the National the Six Year Plan, music festivals and com- Centre. petitions were sponsored, new Baha'i songs were composed, and a number of music groups were formed both to spread the Cause and to emich the spirihial life of the believers. The Continental Board of Counsellors organized three Inter-Regional Music Festivals in 1989. Held in Botswana, Liberia, and Kenya, these festivals encouraged and inspired musicians across the continent and gave birth to many other music-related activities . Despite the political h11111oil in Zaire 111 late December 1991, the Baha'is managed to attract more than 1,8 00 people to the first Baha'i Youth Music Festival in Kaboke Nudu, Fizi. Eighteen choirs and youth clubs presented songs, plays, and poems on the theme of "The Life, the Mission, and the Sufferings of the Blessed Beauty". Ananged as a means of preparing the youth of the

'Abdu ' l-B aha , Bahlr 'f World Faith: Selected Writings The Baha 'i International Music Fes tival in of Bahlr '11 '//lrh and 'Abdu '/-Bahlr (Wilmette: Baha'i Gaborone, Botswana in December I 989. Publishing Trust, 1976), p. 378. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 257 South Ki vu province for the Holy Year ( 1992- National Assemblies taking part in the bi- 93 ), the festival generated much enthusiasm, annual event. The awards ceremony was held with some groups composing and performing before an audience of approximately 300 more than twenty songs. film-makers, writers, and journalists from The Baha'is of Transkei held a National three continents and was broadcast on radio Music Festival in 1989 in Umtata which was and television. attended by about one 100 people from seven communities. The festival generated ~a~iratu'l-Quds considerable publicity in the press and on Africa stood out for the number ofI:Ia~iratu ' l radio. That same year, the National Music Quds which were acquired or built on the and Drama Committee of Zambia organized continent during the Plan. Particularly in a competition on the use of the Faith's prin- areas where individual houses were insufficiples in music. Arumal music and drama cient for gatherings, I:I~iratu'l-Quds provided competitions were held in rural areas of crucial meeting places for the believers. Zimbabwe during the Plan, and the Spiritual Inauguration ceremonies for the local, Assembly of Botswana called its Interna- regional, and national centres provided tional Music Festival in Gaborone "one of the oppo1tunities to share the Faith with surmost significant achievements of the Plan". rounding communities. In Mauritius, the Baha'is organized cultural Local centres were built or acquired or activities for non-Baha'i guests to mark the land obtained in at least fifteen African World Music Day. countries, including the war-ravaged Angola, At a cultural festival held in Uganda in Liberia, and Mozambique. An estimated August 1991, the Baha'is ofMbale came first thi1ty-five local centres were established in in the competition for composed songs. The Uganda. The believers in a Local Spiritual National Assembly noted that the festival Assembly area of Burundi whose members provided a great opportunity for proclaiming were all Pygmies fmished building their own the Faith, and opened new avenues of collab- local centre by Ri<;ivan 1992. The Local oration with rural women's organizations. Spiritual Assembly of Gamma Koni Koni in The festivals provided just one forum for Guinea also constructed a local centre withlocal music groups to perform. Local singing out any outside assistance. Local initiative in groups were also active in teaching and com- Guinea-Bissau resulted in the purchase of a munity life in the Central African Republic, local centre. At the inauguration ceremony Chad, Mauritius, and Rwanda. In Kenya , for the cenháe of Agboville, Cote d'Ivoire, eight choirs performed at a Holy Day cele- tluáee dignitaries were presented with casbration in 1988 attended by more than 900 sette tapes of the Peace Statement in the people. The group Kwayera Mbee, which local dialect. formed in Malawi, sang at youth conferences Inauguration ceremonies fo r regional cenin Botswana and Zimbabwe and was invited tres were regularly attended by prominent to tour in Europe. The Nationa l Assemblies people who praised the establishment of of Equatorial Guinea and Siena Leone such institutions. The first regional Baha' i reported that a number of local songs were centre in Siena Leone was dedicated at composed on Baha'i themes during the Plan. Pujehun at a ceremony in January 1987 A film about the role of music in bringing attended by the Paramount Chief, a member about racial integration was awarded a spe- of Parliament, and the Inspector of Schools. cial prize by the National Spiritual Assembly When the Regional Cenháe of Tabligbo, of Burkina during the 12th Panafrican Film Togo, was inaugurated in June 1987, a repand Televis ion Festival in 1991. The resentative of the regional prefecture spoke National Assembly joined other African hopefully about how the cenháe would serve 258 THE BAHA'i WORLD

the interests of both the area and Togo in market. Regional centres were also estabgeneral. When a new regional I:Ia~iratu'l lished in places such as Cape Verde, Ghana, Quds was opened at €urepipe, Mauritius, in Mali, and Transkei. November 1986, the Mayor of Curepipe, In September 1987, Mauritius dedicated a who was formerly Minister of Health of the new national I:Ia~iratu'l-Quds in Port Louis Mauritian government, praised the Faith in a in a ceremony that included participation of speech which concluded with the hope that the Governor-General of the nation, and was the new centre would "dispel social and spir- publicized in newspapers and on radio and itual darkness in this region". His talk was television. In November 1987, the Baha'is heard on radio and television. of Mozambique acquired their first national The first regional centre in Burundi was cenháe, and in 1990, Ciskei opened its first inaugurated in January 1989, on a road lead- national I:Ia~iratu'l-Quds. At Ri~van 1992, ing out of Bujumbura which is widely the National Cenháe of the Cenháal African travelled by people bringing products to Republic was inaugurated in Bangui.

Th e Baha 'is of Manzini, Swaziland, laying the cornerstone for their Regional Bah6 'i Centre during a ceremony held on 15 October 1990.

Women The emancipation of women, the achieve- are welcomed into full partnership in all ment of full equality between the sexes, is fields of human endeavour will the moral one of the most important, though less and psychological climate be created in acknowledged prerequisites of peace. The which international peace can emerge. 3 denial of such equality perpetrates an The National Assemblies of a number of injustice against one half of the world's African countries noted that women participopulation and promotes in men harn1ful pated in Baha' i activities to a greater degree attitudes and habits that are carried from than previously, and they used their creativthe family to the workplace, to political ity and energy to initiate projects which life, and ultimately to international rela- would lead to their further emancipation. tions. There are no grounds, moral, practical, or biological, upon which such 3 Universa l Ho use of Justice, Th e Promise of World denial can be justified. Only as women Peace. INT ERNAT ION AL SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAHA'I AC TIVITI ES 259 Left: Participants in a Family Life Conference held in Limbe, Cameroon, on 17Februmy 1991.

Below: Participants in the National Baha 'i Women's Conference held at the Nakuru Baha 'i Centre in Kenya; February 1989.

Below: This group of Baha 'is walked 800 kilometres fi'om their village to attend a Baha 'i conference held in th e Fizi Zone of Zaire in July l 989.

Some of the new Baha 'is in Lwefeu, Senegal, who embraced the Faith during the Viera Teaching Project in 1988. 260 THE BAHA'I WORLD

New national women's committees and family Baha' is in Cameroon and N igeria particicommittees were born in various countries, pated in the project 'Traditional Media as and regular meetings among women were Change Agent' supported by the United instituted, from the national to the vi llage Nations Development Fund for Women level. (UNIFEM). In cooperation with various Conferences were the most common type National Assemblies, Baha' i agencies , conof activity organized both by and for women. sultants and UNIFEM, Baha'is used Regional and national gatherings were held traditional means, such as music and dance, in many countries. Among the most note- to stimulate discussions about men 's and worthy were: the International Women's women's roles in society. In Liberia, a Conference held in Nigeria in November Balla 'i woman was recognized by the Minis- 1991 which was attended by more than 200 try of Information, Culture and Tourism for people coming from sixteen countries and starting the first magazine in the country representing 44 ethnic groups; the National dedicated to advancing the status of women. Women 's Conference in Mauritius in August A Baha'i villager from Zaire organized the 1987 which drew members of seven Mothers' Committee of South Kivu with the National Assemblies and participants from goals of liberating women from the back- Reunion, Madagascar, Cote d' Ivoire, and breaking labour of grinding maize; teaching France; and the first Baha'i Women's Con- literacy; establishing creches for the care of fe rence in the Wes tern Region of Ghana, infants whose mothers work in the fields; held in a mud-walled centre filled with bam- supplying pure drinking water; forming boo benches aITanged for the 78 Baha' is local stores for the sale of their products; and attending. protecting pregnant women from hard field Women comprised the majority of partic- labour. ipants at three consecutive conferences in Baha'i involvement in development Za ire, each of which devoted a special ses- projects led to education of the public on the sion to women. Held in July 1989 in Fizi, status of women in the Baha'i teachings. Mwenga, and Bukavu, the conferences drew Interaction with other women's groups and thousands of people, some of whom had to participation in special events also served walk 800 kilometres to reach the gathering. this purpose. In Uganda, a written statement The final conference in Bukavu was covered on the Baha'i perspective on women was by four radio and newspaper jomnalists and presented to religious leaders during a attended by the Regional Secretary for national seminar organized by the govern- Women's Affairs. ment in July 1989. In December 1989, a Some of the conferences focused on discussion-debate on "The Rights of Women development projects related to the advance- and Social Progress" was held in Cote d'Ivoire ment of women. Following one conference under the patronage of the Minister of Priin Cameroon in the summer of 1986, literacy mary Education and the President of the classes were established for wo men in nine Federation of African Jurists. Baha'is fully conununities. At Kenya 's amm al women 's pa1ticipated in activities marking National and conference in 1989, a presentation was made International Women' s Days in Cameroon, on income-generating proj ects, and partici- Nigeria, and Uganda. pants visited a hospita l and heard a talk called "Spiritual Life, Immunization, and Youth Nutrition" . An interview with a panel of The endurance of youth under arduous Baha 'i women was recorded for broadcast conditions, their vita lity and vigour, and on a telev ision progranune called "Women their ability to adapt themselves to loca l and Development". situations, to meet new challenges, and to INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 26 1 impart their warmth and enthusiasm to those they visit, combined with the standard of conduct upheld by Baha ' i youth, make them potent instruments for the execution of the contemplated proj ects . Indeed, through these distinctive qualities they can become the spearhead of any enterprise and the driving force of any undertaking in which they participate, whether local or national. 4 The quotation above was reprinted in a compilation called Youth Can Move the World prepared by the National Youth Committee of Nigeria and published in 1991. By this time, the youth of Africa had already demonstrated the truth of these words by their actions during the Six Year Plan. Increasingly, they took the initiative to organize conferences, teaching campaigns, and children ' s classes, and accepted responsibility for their own Baha ' i education. The youth of Botswana organized several international youth conferences which were well attended and received media coverage. Baha 'i youth participating in the "Star 88" The 1987 conference, which included partic- teaching project in Botswana; June 1988. ipants from seventeen countries, was opened by a member of Parliament and closed by National and regional youth conferences Chief Seepapitso IV. Eighteen countries were organized in Mauritius, Senegal, and were represented by the 130 youth attending Togo. "The Role of Baha'i Youth" was the the conference in 1988, and most of the theme of two regional conferences held in sess ions were conducted by African youth. Ma lawi in 1990. A number of conferences During the 1989 conference, called "A New took place at the Na ti onal Centre in Sierra Spirit, A New Generation- Peace'', eighteen Leone, and the youth of Kenya held annual indigenous youth accepted the Faith. conferences. The international youth conference held Conferences stimulated you th to increase in neighbouring Z imbabwe in August 1991 their service to the Cause, and often this was completely organized by youth between took the forn1 of joining or creating teaching the ages of thirteen and eighteen. More than proj ects . Following the success of the 1987 seventy youth from eleven countries studied European Youth Third World Teaching their role in the community, learned about Project in Botswana, which involved eleven the Youth Year of Service, and prepared for young Baha ' is from five countries who each the coming Holy Year. In Gabon, youth pre- served at least one month in the Kalahari sented the entire programme of workshops Desert communities, a series of summer and talks at a national youth conference in teaching proj ects was born. "S tar 88" began December 1988. with a two-week orientation programme at the University of Botswana which acquainted From a letter of the Uni versal House of Ju sti ce to al l the international participants with aspects of National Spiritual Assembl ies, 25 May 1975. traditional African cu lture and provided an 262 TI-IE BAI-IA ' [ WORLD

opportunity to learn from experienced teach- the Collis Featherstone Project which brought ers. The youth were also educated about the healing Message of Baha 'u ' llah to refuhow to begin village development projects. gees from Mozambique. The Star projects continued throughout the In February 1988, more than two hundred remainder of the Six Year Plan. people attended a round-table conference in The National Spiritual Assembly of Cameroon called "The Challenge to the Zambia reported that the youth of Lusaka African Youth in the Modern World". Orgaorganized themselves to participate in all the nized by the Yaounde University Baha'i country's teaching plans. One example Club, the conference was held to inspire the comes from 1989, when the youth created a Cameroon youth to higher ideals and to prolarge book display at the Lusaka Public vide a sense of direction for all young people. Library and placed banners and posters all The progranm1e included addresses by tluáee over the town announcing the exhibit. Local university lecturers from different departradio and television stations broadcast inter- ments. A thirty-minute interview with a views with the Baha ' is associated with the Baha'i speaker was broadcast tluáee times by display, and newspapers can-ied stories on it. the national radio station. As a result of the proclamation, at least eigh- In addition to helping Baha'i communities teen people emolled in the Faith. grow, African youth contributed to commu- Zambian youth also played a major role nity development by organising deepenings, in a proclamation project organized by the assisting with children's classes, and under- Baha'is of Ndola in November 1988. They taking service projects. The youth of helped distribute more than two thousand Mizpah, Zimbabwe, built a Baha ' i Youth pamphlets to government offices, banks, Library out of ttáee branches, plastic sheets, schools, hospitals, shops, newspaper offices, fence wire, and thatch for the roof. A sevenand private industries, while inviting people teen-year old girl was elected librarian. A to a public meeting. A report from the Local youth library was also established by the Spiritual Assemb ly of Ndola said, "The Nationa l Youth Conunittee of Malawi, news reception of the public was ovetwhelming", of which was reported in the first issue of and the meeting was covered in the Times of Malawi Saha 'i Youth Newsletter, published Zambia. in July 1990. The Spiritual Assemb ly of Malawi The youth of Zimbabwe also produced reported that the country ' s sttáong National their own publication, The Saha 'i Star, Youth Committee planned and carried out through which they encouraged their friends

Counsellor Lally Warren (standing on the far left) , visiting with ji-iends in the village of Kabwafi1, Malawi, during August I 990. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I A CTIVITIES 263 throughout the country. The National Spir- raised up 353 new believers . In the same itual Assembly commented at the end of the area in 1988, twenty-eight Local Assemblies Plan that "It has been very encouraging to and 643 enrolments were the result of the witness the involvement of Baha'i youth in Olinga-Akwa lbom Teaching Project. Durthe work of teaching, adminisháation, trans- ing the first three years of the Plan, at least lation of the Baha'i books in vernacular five large-scale teaching projects were carlanguages ... " ried out in Nigeria. Such initiative was also seen in the Sey- In December 1988, 414 new believers, chelles, where the Youth Task Force, born including ten chiefs, embraced the Faith and in 1991, demonstrated its capacity to move ten new Assemblies were formed during the quickly on assignments. Representatives as- two-week Behin/Calabar-Mamfe Road Teachsisted with deepening classes, visited the ing Project. The teachers involved were all Bougainville community to discuss mainte- native believers. The Kay Wilson Teaching nance of the future regional I:Ia?'.iratu'l-Quds Project held in Nnewi, Anambra State, and of South Mahe, and visited the Takamak the Elizabeth Gibson Project, both held in community to discuss the formation of a for- 1989, together were responsible for more mal programme for the friends. The youth of than 1,400 enrolments. The projects in Nigeria Gabon were rep01ted to be holding regular were can-ied out in a wide variety of setdeepening classes in four cities, and in South tings, bringing the Faith to Christians, Africa regional and local youth committees Muslims, and traditional village elders. Over were formed . and over, success was attributed to the unity In March and April 1992, a six-week- among the teachers. long development institute for youth was Teaching projects led to almost 18,000 held in Cote d'Ivoire. This was the first enrolments in Kenya and almost 16,000 in attempt in West Africa to give youth specific Chad. training, both practical and spiritual, to pre- National Assemblies reported noticeable pare them for a year of service in their increases in the number of individuals taking countries. responsibility for the teaching work outside of projects organized by the institutions of Teaching the Faith. Greater awareness of the teaching Forn1ally planned projects and individual needs and commitment to fulfil them were efforts to attain personal goals comple- noted in Btfrkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, and mented the teaching achieved through all Transkei. The National Assembly of Tanzathe activities summarized in the previous nia could only attribute approximately 35 per sections. cent of the new believers to formally The teaching projects held in Africa dur- planned and funded projects, suggesting that ing the Plan-many dedicated to Hands of much individual teaching took place. In the Cause of God or outstanding teachers in Zimbabwe, a corps of travelling teachers Africa ' s history-are too numerous to was trained whose members were continurecount. However, a few examples drawn ous ly active ; an average of six to ten from the dramatic story of the Nigerian com- teachers were in the field at any given time. munity ' s expansion illustrate the readiness The National Spiritual Assembly of Uganof many Africans to accept the Message of da wrote: "As evidenced by the increased Baha 'u'llah . communication between the Assembly and During the first week of the Enoch Olinga individual believers, there was quite an Project in Eket, Nigeria, in 1987, twenty increased number of individuals who dedidedicated Nigerian teachers brought four- cated themselves more to serve the Cause, teen new Local Assemblies into being and especially the youth. The result of it all is 264 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

Teaching institute held at the William Masehla Bahri 'i Institute in Zambia; J986.

Participants in a deepening seminar held in Gueckedou, Guinea, fi'om 2 6-3 J December J990, included two members of the Auxilimy Board and seven members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Bahri 'is working on the construction of their new Teaching Institute at Titye, Kasulu, Kigoma,Tanzania in 1990. INT ERNA TIO NAL SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAHA ' l ACT IVIT IES 265 that there are now more workers for the officer duties. The Spiritual Assembly of Cause than before." Bophuthatswana organized a fruitful seminar in 1989 to generate ideas on maintaining Local Spiritual Assemblies Local Spiritual Assemblies. With increasing public attention being As Assemblies ga ined experience and infocused on the Cause of God, it becomes creased their understanding of the institution, imperative for Baha'i institutions to im- they took more initiative and responsibility, prove their perforn1ance, through a closer sometimes collaborating with neighbouring identification with the fundamental verities Assemblies . One example comes from of the Faith, thrnugh greater conformity Burkina Faso, where in 1989, about thirty to the spirit and form of Baha'i adminis- members of the eight Loca l Assemblies of tration and through a keener reliance on the Zecco region organized a teaching project the beneficial effects of proper consulta- in the village ofNibrogo. On the third visit to tion, so that the communities they guide the village, 100 people embraced the Faith will reflect a pattern of life that will offer and a new Assembly was formed. The same hope to the disillusioned members of group of Assemblies later launched proj ects society.5 in Ziou and Affombissi. In order to further educate members of In 1990 and 1991 , the Local Assembly of Local Spiritual Assemblies about their Nabou, Burkina Faso, canied out two phases duties and foster greater maturation of these of a successful teaching campaign called 'El crucia l institutions, a variety of methods Bab' which opened fifteen localities, resulted were used to overcome obstac les in Africa in the forn1ation of ten new Local Assemsuch as the difficulty of travel, poor systems blies, and emolled more than three hundred of communication, and low leve ls of people. literacy. In Transke i, eleven Local Assemblies In Chad, believers used bicycles to travel adopted twenty-four extension teaching goals, thousands of kilometres to visit, encourage, visiting the areas at least once a month and and deliver mail to Local Assemblies. In some as often as weekly. The National Tanzania, twenty Assemblies were reached Spiritual Assembly wrote: "One of the by the Travel Deepeners Programme. In Togo, encouraging points about these campaigns is an illustrated booklet on the major tasks of that they have all been organized by the the Local Assembly was published and dis- respective Local Spiritual Assemb lies and tributed to all the delegates at the National supported by the whole nation". Convention in 1988. One example is the cooperation between In Rwanda, some Local Assemblies were the Local Assemblies of Umtata and Pelini invited to send two representatives to a deep- to teach the Faith in Mngamnye. Their conening institute and teaching project, which tinuous collaboration to organize numerous so stimulated participants that they helped to trips, proclamation events, and deepenings fonn fifteen new Assemblies and were able resulted in the re-fo rmation of the Assembly to elect their own Assemblies the follow ing ofMnganmye. year without assistance. Of the many new Local Spiritual Assem- The National Assembly of Zimbabwe blies that were formed in Africa during the sent a letter to every member of a Loca l Plan, severa l examples are noteworthy. In Assembly along with deepening material, 1987, due to the efforis of the Baha'is ofBataland distributed info1rnation on elections and imo in the Central African Republic, that countly fo1111ed its first Local Assembly made From a letter of the Un ive rsal House of Just ice to the up of Pygmy believers . Two members were Baha ' is of th e World , Ric:l van 1990. later able to attend the National Convention. 266 THE BAHA'I WORLD

On the island of Rodriguez, in the Indian Ocean, some of the Baha 'is of La Ferme pose with Counsellor Gilbert Robert, shown fourth from left, and his wife, Daisy Robert, on far right, during the couple's visit to the island in October 1990.

Jn Sierra Leone, Baha 'is in Yikandor, Pujehun District, work together to make mud bricks for a new Baha 'i Primary School. Jn addition to labour, the friends contributed cash, wood, stones, and sand for the construction; 1987.

A Teaching Institute being held in Bamako, Mali, on 19 and 20 December 1987. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I A CT IVITIES 267 Liberian refugees held fast to the importance spiritual, social and material progress. of the Baha'i Administrative Order, establish- Access to it, constant study of it and daily ing a Local Assembly in a camp in Nigeria use of it in our individual lives are vital to and virtually transferring the membership of the inner personal transformation towards three Assemblies from Liberia to Cote which we strive and whose ultimate outer d 'Ivoire. There the community expanded to manifestation will be the emergence of include twenty-five Local Assemblies and that divine civilization which is the promnearly one thousand believers, both Liberians ise of the World Order ofBaha'u'llah. and I vorians. During the Plan, efforts continued to be The Baha ' is of Ethiopia rose to the chal- made to provide the greatest access to the lenge of replacing the one Assembly of Addis Sacred Writings by háanslating the Holy Ababa with twelve new ones when the gov- Word into as many languages as possible. erm11ent sectored the city into districts, each Among the African languages into which the with its own municipal seat. The National Writings were translated were: Kwangali in Assemb ly considered the community 's re- Namibia, Kimndi in Bumndi, Kinyarwanda sponse to this opportunity to be the single in Rwanda, Bambara in Mali, Tigrinya in most important achievement of the Plan, as Ethiopia, and Fang in Equatorial Guinea. it increased the base of the work-force in the Translations were made into multiple local area. Deepening courses were provided for vernaculars in Burkina Faso, Cote d ' Ivoire, the urban Assemblies, which in tum strength- South Africa, and Uganda. ened the believers under their jurisdiction In order to bring the Creative Word to who increased their participation in the illiterate seekers, the Writings were recorded activities of the Faith. on audiotape in languages such as Portuguese Creole in Guinea-Bissau and Santiago Literature Translation Creole in Cape Verde. In a letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies The Cenháal African Republic, Transkei, dated 10 July 1989, the Universal House of Malawi, and Zambia reported great sháides Justice wrnte: forward in the area of háanslation, with the The Holy Word has been extolled by the latter increasing its production by using pro- Prophets of God as the medium of celes- fessiona l translators whose work was then tial power and the wellspring of all reviewed by Baha' is .

Dr. Bahman Sadegzadeh, an Auxiliary Board member, handing medicine to Liberian Baha 'i reji1gees in Cote d 'Ivoire during a conference held in March 1991 . He also addressed the fi'i ends on the subjects of hygiene and the use of natural remedies. 268 TI-IE BAHA'f WORLD

0 ye friends of God! Exert ye with heart and soul, so that association, lo ve, unity and agreement be obtained between the heart... Should success crown your enterprise, America will assuredly evolve into a center/ram which waves of spiritual power will emanate ... - 'Abdu 'l-Baha INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 269

B. THE AMERICAS MOST of the countries ofNorth and South Assemblies in their growing relations with America share important commonalities in governmental and non-governmental organirelation to the Faith, such as relative free- zations and with the public in general'. Condom of worship and freedom to teach. tacts with government officials and profes- However, any summary of activities in the sional and conununity affairs organizations vast area of the Americas must be read with were particularly notable in the Americas, an awareness of the significant cultural, eco- where they continued to develop throughout nomic, and political differences between the the Plan, increasingly leading to invitations United States and Canada on the one hand for Baha ' i participation and advice. and the region of Central America, South One of the most outstanding examples America, and the Caribbean on the other. of this trend comes from Brazil, where the The Baha 'i communities in each area Baha'i conmmnity responded to the needs of tended to capitalize on their strengths. Thus its nation at a unique historical moment. when it is reported that large numbers of Possessing a strong national administration, individuals enrolled in the Faith in the a diverse conmmnity, and an ample amount Americas, many of them indigenous peoples of translated literature, the Baha ' is were who then arose themselves to share the Mes- ready to seize the opportunities presented by sage, it is Latin America which provides this Brazil's transition to democracy which virnews. In this region, a general openness to tually coincided with the begirming of the religion, increasingly active native believers, Six Year Plan. Before the Plan began, the and good relations with governments com- Baba ' is reported that few prominent people bined with severe economic crises to create were aware of the teachings of the Faith. an environment in which people searched By the end of the Plan, contacts with govfor deeper solutions to their immediate prob- enunent officials were so extensive and lems and found them in the Baha'i Faith. consistent that the country's Federal Cham- In the United States and Canada, where ber of Deputies had announced its intention material and political conditions were much to commemorate the Centenary of the Asmore stable but where there are many groups cension ofBaha 'u ' llah with a special solenu1 working to solve social problems, the session. believers spread understanding of the Faith After twenty years of military rule, a to a large extent through deepening their civilian president took office in Brazil in relationships with service organizations, high April 1985, and in February 1987 a Constitugovernment officials, and the media. Using tional Assembly was installed to draft a new their resources in communications, the fine constitution. This political change transpired arts, and the academic realm, the Baha'i amidst economic turmoil, including high conununities of the United States and Canada foreign debt, more than two hundred per generated more widespread awareness of the cent inflation and a steadily widening gap Faith and greater respect for its activities between the wealthy and the poor. In 1987 than ever before. the National Spiritual Assembly presented twenty proposals concerning law, human Greater Involvement with Society rights, international relations, education, the In its Ric)van message of 1988, the Universal economy, the rights of indigenous peoples, House of Justice wrote that a new stage had the rights of women, and other subjects to been reached in the external affairs of the the 559 Congressmen writing the country's Cause. This stage was ' characterized by new constitution. Each Congressman also a marked maturation of National Spiritual received a folder including The Promise of 270 THE BAHA'I WORLD

World Peace, information on the Faith, and In August 1986 a group of Baha'i physia letter from the National Assembly stating cians established the Brazilian Society of the basic contributions the Baha'i Faith Physicians for Peace to awaken professioncould give to the new constitution . More als in medicine to the importance of their than one hundred cables and letters and contributions to peace. The Society was also many telephone calls were received express- to serve as a forum for studies on scientific, ing gratitude for the suggestions provided. ethical, psychoaffective, educational, social, In 1992 the Brazilian Government selected and spiritual aspects of peace. A decision was the Baha'i report "Religions and Environ- taken by the Brazilian Society of Physicians ment- A Specific Approach for the World for Peace to work for the elimination of Ecological Crisis" to be included in its prejudices of race, class, nationality, and report for the United Nations Conference belief, promoting unity among peoples, and on the Environment and Development (also to avoid any involvement in political or known as the "Earth Summit"), at the re- ideological disputes. quest of the Brazilian Forum of Spiritual The Society's inaugural ceremony was at- Traditions and Environment. And then, just tended by 120 doctors, the presidents of the a few days following the close of the Six Medical Association and the Medical Coun- Year Plan, the President of Brazil ' s Federal cils, professors of medicine in universities , Chamber of Deputies spoke to forty-five and the most outstanding authorities in medfederal deputies about the magnitude of the icine and health of the region. Hundreds of Personality and Teachings of Baha' u ' llah, cables and letters of support came from phyquoting from His Writings on the establish- sicians and hospitals. These included special ment of a new world order. messages sent by the Brazilian Office of the Involvement of Brazilian Baha'is in the United Nations Organization and the intersocial issues facing their country went be- national entity Physicians for Prevention of yond contact with government officials to Nuclear War, whose founders , Drs. Lown include sponsorship of and support for orga- and Chazov, were awarded the Nobel Prize nizations working toward Baha'i principles. for Peace. Through these activiti es, the believers were The inauguration included lectures about able to simultaneously proclaim the Faith 's the role and the influence of physicians in seteachings, form relationships with like- curing peace, preceded by the announcement minded people, and work toward social that the initiative was launched by a group of change. Baha' i physicians. The Peace Message of the

Th e bronze plaque reads: "The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens. -Bahti 'u 'llah (1817- 1892)." The group is shown with one of three such plaques presented, along with copies a/The Promise of World Peace, to the Brazilian Society of Educators for Peace. 1989. INT ERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITI ES 271

Members of the Raul Pavon Teaching Project held in Peru in 1989 are shown with members of the Moth ers ' Club in Puno.

Universal House of Justice was presented in or approving new constitutions. Presentaan audio-visual programme by a member of tions were made on behalf of the National the Auxi liary Board. Assemblies of Barbados and Guyana to the Later in the Plan, the Brazilian Society of West Indian Commission Preparing the Educators for Peace was formed which be- West Indies for the Future, a body estabgan organizing seminars for teachers. Then lished to study the future of the Caribbean in 1990, the Brazilian National Assembly conununity and regional unification. In sponsored the first International Expos ition El Salvador, the Central American Institute on Education for Peace with the pariicipation for Business Adminisháation invited Baha ' is of twenty-three embassies and educational to participate in a seminar on a Post-War institutions. Displays featured the efforts of Reconstruction Plan. various countries to reach peace tluáough In some counháies authorities recognized education. the importance of the Faith by including Permanent monuments to peace bearing Baha'is in official proceedings or sending quotations from Baba 'u 'llah were erected in officia ls to Baha ' i events . In January 1987 1986 and 1991. The first stands near the spot the Bahit' is of Trinidad and Tobago were the where the borders of Argentina, Brazil, and first presenters during an inter-faith service Paraguay touch, in Foz do lguaya, and it is follow ing the formal opening of Parliament. inscribed with the symbol of the Greatest In Barbados, the Prime Minister opened a Name, the symbol of the UN International Caribbean Peace Conference sponsored by Year of Peace, and the words, "The earth is Bahit'is in October 1986. In Guyana, the but one count1y and mankind its citizens. Vice President requested a meeting with the Baha 'u'llah (1817-1892)". The second National Assembly to discuss Bahit 'i particimonument was erected in the city ofFlorian- pation in the "Social Impact Ameliorati on opolis, Brazil, in December 1991, bearing Program". By the end of the Plan, Guyana 's quotations related to the disintegration of the then-Prime Minister Hamilton Green had old world and the emergence of the new. become so familiar with and respectful of Baha ' i communities in other nations of the the Faith, that he addressed the National Americas also contributed to their govern- Convention of the Baha'is of the United ments' efforts to bring about positive socia l States at Ric;lvan 1992. change. Written statements offering Baha' i Bahit'is also tried to contribute to the perspectives were presented in Paraguay and conununities in which they lived by work- Haiti to individuals responsible for writing ing with existing organizations concerned 272 THE BAHA'I WORLD

with community affairs and organizing or after the Local Assembly of Saskatoon creco-sponsoring events of benefit to the wider ated an environment desk. society. As their conháibutions came to be Racial unity was a major focus of the known, Baha'is were increasingly invited to work undertaken by believers in the United share their views and experiences. Baha'i States. The long-standing involvement of perspectives on the topics of the environ- Baba ' is with commemorations honouring ment, race unity, and world peace were Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , continued to expa1iicularly sought out. pand. In 1988, Coretta Scott King invited the The National Assembly of the United Baha'is to co-chair the National Religious States co-sponsored two Global Structures Involvement Committee of the Ma1iin Luther Convocations on Environment and Develop- King Federal Holiday Conunission, and in ment, in 1989 and 1992. The Assembly also 1992 a member of the National Assembly continued to conháibute to the work of the was invited to serve as co-grand marshall of Global Tomonow Coalition, an organization Atlanta, Georgia's King Day Parade, speakof more than 150 members involved in is- ing to a rally of one hundred thousand sues related to resources, the environment, people. In June 1991, the National Assembly and sustainable development. Just prior to issued the statement Th e Vision of Race the end of the Plan, a member of the National Unity-America's Most Challenging Issue, Assembly's Washington, D.C., staff became which by the end of the Plan had sold appart of a working group to draft suggestions proximately two hundred thousand copies. for the United States Government's position The Baha'is in the United States increaspaper to be presented at the Earth Summit. ingly received requests for support and Baha'is in Mexico participated in a public consultation from organizations wanting to fornm in Mexico City in March 1991 called improve race relations. As early as 1987, for "Preservation and Improvement of the Envi- example, a governor's aide in Kansas reronment", joining representatives of several quested that the Baha'is help train local law Latin American countries. The Latin Ameri- enforcement officers in racial issues and colcan Council of Churches invited the Baha ' is laborate with the state Boards of Education of Ecuador to collaborate on a round table to develop local programmes dealing with discussion called "The Churches and Ecolo- racial problems in schools. gy". Ba ha' is in Canada were invited by Baha ' is throughout the Americas conháibthe Saskatchewan Environmental Society to uted extensively to the promotion of world help plan education programmes for schools peace. The Presidents of seven Cenháal and

Jn the United States, Baha 'i singers Seals and Croft participate in the Martin Luther King Day Parade held in Atlanta, Georgia, on 21 Janumy 1991. Th e Parade was televised, and the reporter spoke of the Saha 'i principles of race unity. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 273 South American nations received The representatives of all the religions being prac- Promise of World Peace during an intergov- ticed in the country. ernmental meeting in Uruguay in October Celebrations of United Nations Days and 1988. A milestone was reached in Cuba Years and public meetings held to discuss when , in 1986, the Baba' is were ab le to UN-related issues occurred regularly in a distribute the Peace Statement to a number number of countries. In the United States parof prominent people for the first time. The ticularly, the National Assembly increased same year, the President of Dominica, His its support of United Nations initiatives- Excellency Sir C larence Seignoret, quoted such as the International Year of Peace and from the Statement during a radio message International Literacy Year-and worked to he delivered on the International Day of support ratification of UN human rights con- Peace. ventions on torture, the elimination of all In July 1987, five outstanding Baha'i forms of discrimination against women, and professionals visited Costa Rica to give pre- the rights of children. sentations at a Seminar on Family Education Early in the Plan, an ad hoc group of orfor Peace held at the University for Peace in ganizations working for U.S. Congressional San Jose. During the Plan, Costa Rican ratification of the United Nation Genocide Baha'is were honoured by Peace Radio, of Convention invited the Baha'is to particithe University for Peace, with a certificate of pate, and the National Spiritual Assembly thanks for support and collaboration; the be- took a leading role; within one year, the conlievers worked with the University in various vention was ratified . The National Spiritual activities, including a large peace conference Assembly's representative to the United and a series of forums on educating chi ldren Nations also became heavily involved in UN for peace. In Venezuela, four believers spoke Association activiti es, serving as Chair of at the First International Encounter for the UNA-USA Executive Committee of the Peace, Disarmament and Life, and an expo- Conference of United Nations Representasition of photographs and quotations was tives in New York and later as a member of displayed at the site. A course based on the the Board of Governors of that body. Peace Message was prepared for schoo ls in The UN International Year of Peace was Haiti, and annual peace fairs were held in celebrated in the United States with an Belize City, Belize. In both 1990 and 1991 , International Peace Conference held in San the Baha'is of Guatemala participated in Francisco in August 1986 and attended by the Congress for Peace which involved 7,800 people. In Bolivia, the Ministry of

Balui 'is of Havana, Cuba, welcome the visit ofMrs. Carmen de Burafato, member of the National Assembly of Mexico (seated centre), and Miss Teresa McGregor, a member of an Auxiliary Board in Mexico, (second from left) in November 1986. 274 THE BAHA'i WORLD

In the United States, First Lady Barbara Bush welcomes the Baha'i International Community Representative, Daniel Wegener, to the White House during a reception held on 20 June 1990 for delegates to the United Nations' "World Conference on Education for All".

In Guadeloupe, ~RTS-Pl'P Mr. Louis Luce reads the Bahci 'i ~ statement "Education for Peace", while Mr. Kamran, chairman of the World Religion Day activity, looks on; 18January1987.

In Trinidad and Tobago, friends gather to commemorate the United Nations' Human Rights Day on I 0 December 1988 in Port of Spain. INTE RNAT IONAL SURVEY OF CURRE T BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 275 Foreign Affairs and Religions invited the 1987 when he visited and spoke about com- Baha'is to be part ofa commission responsi- puters and about world peace to professors, ble for the International Year of Peace students, and prominent people. The creation activities. Baha ' is in Grenada supported the of the Association for Baha 'i Studies in Chile International Literacy Year, 1990, by host- led to interaction with experts in many fields. ing a Literacy Conference which included Efforts to contribute to the fi eld of educaa panel of experts and was opened by the tion included co-sponsorship by the Baha'i Governor General. Other support of United community of Bucaramanga, Colombia, and Nations activity included participation by the Latin American Language Centre of a the Venezuela Baha'is in a meeting of the forum in October 1988 called "Excellence in UN Economic Commission for Latin Ameri- Education", which attracted 70 people; disca and the Caribbean, following which the tribution of the monograph Educaci6n Moral National Assembly helped forn1 the Associ- to educators in the Dominican Republic; and ation of Non-Governmental Organizations. organization of a seminar on education by the Canadian Baha'is worked with a team at the Center for Baha'i Studies in Ecuador, which University of Ottawa's Human Rights was followed by Baha' i participation in Research Centre over a two-year period to national consultation organi zed by the Minismount a nationwide campaign of activities try of Education. In March 1987 the Baha' is for the 35th Anniversary of the Universal of Manizales, Colombia, held their first Peace Declaration of Human Rights. Baha'is in Encounter with non-Baha ' is in the field of Bermuda sponsored regular commemorations education. Paiiicipants analyzed issues such of Human Rights Day, which eventually be- as the principles governing peace, the nature came government-sponsored events. of man, and the dynamics of consultation, Greater involvement in society also meant and worked to define their own attitudes and that Baha' i professionals in the Americas decide on actions to take toward achieving formed new relationships with colleagues peace. and contributed to their fields by forming associations and sponsoring seminars and Mass Media conferences. In Guyana, for example, dinner The instruments of mass media were widely receptions were held for visiting profession- used to foster awareness of the Faith in the als to introduce them to their colleagues; Americas. As in other areas of the world, visitors included artists, an ophthalmologist, oppotiunities greatly increased for Baha'is and an expert in the area of drug abuse to share the principles of Baha'u'llah and prevention who gave presentations to social to announce their events through radio, teleworkers, health professionals, doctors, and vision, and newspapers, and media coverage medical students during a seven-country tour of the Baha' i community's activities was of Central and South America. unprecedented. An Association for Baha'i Studies con- Radio was the medium through which the ference on science and religion held in widest variety of people in the Americas October 1987 in the United States provided heard about Baha' u'llah, given its unique opportunities for Baha'is to make val uabl e abi lity to reach remote areas and transcend connections with eminent members of the the barrier of illiteracy. In addition to the regscientific community. A conference entitled ular programming on Baha'i-owned radio "The Architecture of the Baha 'i Ed ifices" stations in Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama, held in Uruguay in July 1988 attracted thirty Peru, and the United States, weekly pronon-Baha ' i professionals. A Baha' i with grammes were aired in Belize, Dominica, expertise in computer science opened many Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and doors to professional circl es in Colombia in the West Leeward Islands. 276 THE BAl-IA ' i WORL D

Chile provides an example of the use of well-known media personality, created a radio as a strong force for teaching and com- radio programme háansmitted from 10 p.m. munity development, particularly among the to midnight from Monday to F1iday, designed Mapuche Indians. Given the expense of to create a meditative atmosphere each travel relative to the income level of much of evening using se lected poems, stories, the population, limitations on travelling to legends, and writings from different sacred teach in Chi le made the advantages of radio scriptures, accompanied by specially selectparticularly welcome. ed music. The popularity of the programme For five years preceding the launching grew rapidly, and by early 1989 it was of the Six Year Plan, Baha'is participated estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 in a weekly programme reaching the entire listeners in the metropolitan area of Santiago country, creating the basis for a regular and nearby small towns were enjoying it listening audience. And for a brief period in each evening. 1986, selections from The Hidden Words of As phone calls and letters mTived, the own- Baba ' u ' llah were read every hour all day on er of the station approached Mr. Amenabar, twenty-eight stations. Then, having obtained conunending him on his initiative and offerapproval for their own frequency a few ing to repeat the same programme on months before the Plan, the Baba'is launched co-owned stations in three other centres. Radio Baha ' i de Chi le on 20 December 1986. Mr. Amenabar began making increasing use The station was establ ished in Labranza, of the Writings of, and literature about, the Commune ofTemuco, in the heart ofMapu- Baha'i Faith, always mentioning the source che Indian territory. Radio Baha'i Chile both of the work, creati ng a wide public awarecontributed to the preserva tion of Mapuche ness of the Faith. Many people appearing at culture and welcomed the contributions of firesides and public talks first heard about the native population to its mission. the Faith through this programme. In July 1988, six Mapuches attended the Further tribute to the positive effects of station ' s first institute held in part to train the progranune was accorded by the Miniscommunity members to support the work try of Telecommunications when it awarded of the station. Early in 1989, Radio Baha ' i the owner of the station a free frequency in Chile was chosen by the Government as the the Va lparaiso area (where previously it was prime vehicle for a development project in- impossible to obtain a frequency), in recogvolving bilingual literacy classes in Spanish nition of the "special programme dedicated and Mapuche. Two rural Mapuche Baha'i to peace and unity". schools were among ten selected to serve as Special broadcasts in other parts of the liaisons between the station and the students Americas also reached large audiences. In for the project, for which the Regional June 1986, the official government shmtwave Ministry of Education provided materials , in Cuba, Radio Havana, invited Baha'is to scripts, and planning, and Radio Baha 'i taped be on a show called "Religion in Cuba". An and transmitted broadcasts. The project, interview with the chairman of the National according to the Nationa l Assembly, indicat- Assembly about the principles, history, and ed the recognition accorded by the Ministry current development of the Faith was broadof Education to the status and capacity of cast at intervals for a total of six hours Radio Baha'i. in seven languages . In Ja nuary 1987, the The initiative of an individual believer in Baha'is of Guadeloupe received wide radio Santiago, Chile, also resu lted in unprece- coverage of their activities for World Relidented radio proclamation for the Faith and gion Day. For the nine days smTotmding the a positive conháibution towards peace and event, eight different radio stations broadconununity health. Francisco Amenabar, a cast various interviews and programmes, INTERN AT! ONAL SURVEY OF C URRENT BAHA ' I ACT IV IT IES 277

and on the day itself, the most popular com- evident from the active participation of inmercial station aired a two-hour phone-in digenous friends , mostly youth, and greater show with a prominent Baha ' i. In Peru, the participation by women. Baha ' is produced an educational radio One of the exciting developments in the series, broadcast in Aymara and Spanish, use of television in the Americas came in which addressed subjects such as rural fami ly Puerto Rico in early December 1989, when life, prayer, consultation, and the value of the Baha 'is were asked by the local televinative languages. During December 1991 , sion station whether they wou ld produce a public service announcements about peace ninety-minute holiday special programme, were aired twenty times a day on two sta- fea turing guests from different religious tions in El Salvador. backgrounds speaking on the theme of peace. In late 1991 , the Baha'i community of The station offered to pay fo r the production Argentina reported a great increase in its crew and to donate sh1dio and air time, if the opportunities to proclaim the Faith through Baha' is would build the set, obtain the hosts radio broadcasts and interviews. In Almirante and guests, and write the script. The pro- Brown, the five- to-ten minute slot originally gramme was táansmitted on various cable given to the Baha'is on the local FM radio services reaching fourteen localities . It was was increased to an hour-and-a-half every shown on six consecutive days at various Saturday dming which the diverse themes of times . Publicity for the Baha' i-sponsored the Cause could be discussed. In La Rioja, programme included radio spots on two stathe Faith was proclaimed for fifteen minutes tions a thirty-second television announcement after the presenter of the programme "Can- shown frequently, street banners at major tares de! Litoral" ("Songs of the Littoral") intersections and the shopping mall, and alleft the radio booth and handed the micro- most one thousand flyers handed out by the phone to the Baha ' is to talk about the Faith television station ' s pers01mel. and its principles . During an interview with In 1988 the Baha' i Office of Public Afthe Baha'is by Radio Nacional in Mendoza fairs for the Greater M ilwaukee, Wisconsin, which lasted one hour and fifteen minutes , area in the United States was given the the interviewer showed great enthusiasm and Conmmnity Access A ward for Religious receptivity towards the Faith and Baba 'u ' llah. Progranuning by Viacom, the cable televi- This programme prompted calls from listen- sion service for the Milwaukee suburban ers who expressed their happiness at hearing area. The Baha ' i Broadcast Media Task such a message of peace. Force used "The Spiritual Revolution", a One sign of the movement toward more series consisting of thirteen half-hour intersophisticated use of radio was the holding views with a number of knowledgeable of several Radio Baha' i Seminars in Latin Baha' is about the Faith, and adapted it for America during the Plan. The second semi- local use by adding an inháoduction and an nar, held in Lima, Pem, in 1988, was attended ending which explained how viewers could by more than fifty radio experts, six mem- obtain further info rmation about the Faith. bers of the Continental Board of Cow1sellors, Another regular television programme all the members of the International Baha ' i aired in El Salvador: a weekly show of fifty- Audio-Visual Centre, and representatives of four episodes called "Journey Towards the seven Baha ' i radio stations (five of them Future". Also in El Salvador, fifty-two interindigenous peoples). Reporting on the fourth views used to promote public meetings were seminar, held in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in aired free of charge. 1991 , the Latin American Radio Adv isory In 1987, the Public Information Office at Committee commented that signs of increas- the United States National Baha'i Center ing mat11rity within the radio fa mil y were was asked by two television enterpri ses to 278 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Left: All of the resources of Radio -- Baha '£, Bolivia, - being used in a campaign to fight cholera in 1991.

Above: The staff of the Baha 'i radio station WLGI Hemingway, South Carolina, U.S.A. November 1987. Left: A staff member at Radio Bahci 'i, Panama, in Boca de! Monte, preparing to broadcast music; 1987.

Exterior view of the Baha'i radio station in Labranza, Chile, in February 1988. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAI-IA'i ACT IVITIES 279

Below: Baha 'is teach the Faith during a radio interview held in Colima, Mexico, in l 987.

Above: A staffmember of Radio Balui 'i Ecuador (left) interviews a villager as part of the " Walking Together" project; J987.

Right. The first weekly Baha'i radio programme in the Guajiro language aired on 2 September J990 in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

~--á-~ - .91&NVENIDOS á . llftOIO IRHlt'I .

- OCL UGO TITICllCll .... . ISOKHi Leji: Exterior view of Radio Baha'i on Lake Titicaca, Peru; J988. This, like all Baha'i - ~á-.~áá' .._,. radio stations, is - .... ~ t• ..,:,"}' community-based .:. á..~~ ~J;._-_.::-á.f~~á. ~ áá.$.~~: and participatory. 280 THE BAI-IA'f WORLD

supply Baha'i public service announcements teachings with television audiences. The Infor a cable channel to use on its satellite ser- ternational Convention video was broadcast vice to cable television systems throughout in Bolivia and St. Lucia in 1988, and the the United States, and for the Max Media Canadian music video "Mona" was shown organization to distribute to thousands of nationwide in Paraguay in October 1986. cable system operators for regular local use. Newspaper coverage of the Faith in- In 1988 the Global News Network also creased and broadened its focus from the requested Baha' i public service announce- persecutions in Iran to Baha' u ' llah and His ments to be telecast over its new satellite and Teachings. The National Assembly of the cable television channel. United States reported that during the Plan In May 1988, the Baha' i community of the number of articles on the Faith increased Alaska received an award from the Interior from an average of 2,000 per year to 3,800. Alaska Ecumenical Peace with Justice Regular quotations from the Writings ap- Council, in Fairbanks, for the "Peace Talks" peared in papers in Guyana and Haiti, and television campaign. "Peace Talks", devel- special features included a full page summaoped in 1987, comprises four sixty-second ry of the Peace Statement in Ecuador and public service television and radio announce- an eight-page supplement in El Salvador's ments , using ideas adopted from the Peace Diario El Mundo , which was sold to 40,000 Statement. Each announcement focuses on a people. different aspect of the theme, "Peace is The Public Relations Committee of the More Than Just an End to War", and con- National Assembly of Guatemala achieved veys the overall concept that achieving real extensive press coverage of the Faith in the peace involves change in many areas of hu- first few months of 1987. In early January, man interaction. At least 35,000 households the most widely read newspaper in the counin the Anchorage area and more than 240 try, Prensa Libre, published an article on villages in Alaska regularly received the an- the inauguration of the House of Worship in nouncements. They were also aired on radio India. A few weeks later the Committee arand television all across Canada in English, ranged a press conference with Counsellor French, and Inuktitut, as well as on local Arturo Serrano of Mexico during one of television in the Arecibo region of Puerto his frequent visits to Guatemala. In early Rico . February two leading newspapers interviewed In Canada, at least 66 hours of the pro- Mr. Hassan Sabri, head of the Office of gramme "Baha' i Perspective" were broadcast Social and Economic Development at the on cable television during the Plan. In Feb- Baha ' i World Centre. All newspaper a1iicles ruary 1992, the new season began with a included photographs, and the interviews thirty-minute talk about Baha'u ' llah based often quoted the Baha ' is. on the Statement on Baha'u' llah, which had In the Bahamas in 1988, the National been prepared by the Office of Public Infor- Assembly answered charges made against mation at the request of the Universal House the Faith by delineating Baha'i principles of Justice. According to the repo1i, "The and providing a comprehensive history of programme is not only excellent for Baha ' is the Faith in a long letter which appeared in studying the Statement on Baha'u'llah, but it the Nassau Guardian. also is perhaps the most complete half-hour An overall increase in media coverage of summary ofBaha ' u ' llah's life and teachings Baha'i activities was reported in a number of that exists on video" . countries, including Chile and the Dominican Baha ' i videotapes, such as those showing Republic. The Baha' is of Bermuda reported highlights of the International Convention, that their Public Relations and Communicaprovided another vehicle for sharing the tions Committees were in regular contact INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIV ITIES 281

with representatives of all types of media, In an exchange of "war toys for peace and it became commonplace for visiting prom- toy", the children of Ensenada were invited inent Baha'is to be interviewed. Friends to exchange their rifles, swords, toy soldiers, travelling to teacher in St. Lucia were also etc. for other toys suggesting peaceful activsubjects of television and radio interviews, ity. Most of the new toys were donated by and a reporter was sent to cover regional the Baha' is of several communities near San consu ltatio n between Caribbean National Diego, California, in the United States. The Spiritual Assemblies. Newspaper artic les public and media response to this particular about the Faith multiplied in Argentina, and event was extremely positive. at the end of the Plan the National Assembly During the weeks preceding the El Salvasaid "the doors of radio stations are com- dor Baha ' i commun ity's celebration of the pletely open ... " Proclamation via media was Anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u' llah and called a "strong suit" in Bel ize, where teach- its own fiftieth anniversary in 1989, the ing teams often found people who were Baha'is enjoyed extensive television expoready to become Baha'is after listening to sure and excellent publicity in newspapers, weekly radio programmes. Television broad- including three major dailies, two of which casts featuring Baha'i travelling teachers contained full-page articles featuring verses also reached nationwide audiences in that of Baha'u'l lah. The Baha' is were able to coun try. The National Assembly of Suriname speak for two hours on the Baha'i approach stated that because of the mass media, "the to peace during a special television inter- Name of Baha'u'llah is well-known to the view, responding to generally helpful and population." friend ly questions from the moderator and The Baha'is in the Arecibo region of the television audience. During a second P uerto Rico establ ished such a friend ly rela- showing the following Sunday, the moderationship with the local media that they began tor phoned one of the Baha'is to say that it having difficulty keeping up with the publ ic- had been one of the most significant proity opportunities presented to them. By early grammes he had ever produced. He asked 1990, the newspapers were regularly pub- whether the Baha'is, though removed from lishing articles, photographs, and publicity political contention, could teach the spirit for the twice-monthly Baha' i television pro- and methods of Baha'i consu ltation to the gramme. One of the local radio stations adversaries in the nation 's confl ict. invited the Baha'is for a two-hour interview on the Faith. The interview was aired " live", The Arts and also taped to be repeated in the future. T he arts were used to proclaim the principles A wave of publicity for the Faith oc- of the Faith, to directly teach about the curred in Mexico in early 1990 during the Cause, and to celebrate the diverse cu ltures first phase of an intensive cross-border represented in the Baha'i community of the teaching project, held in Ensenada, Baja Americas. The media used included music, California. As a result of continuous contact drama, dance, slide shows, painting, video, with the media, supplying key individuals and puppetry. in television, newspapers, and radio with in- The Canad ian Baha'i community stands formation on the Faith and regular news out for its use of virtually all these artistic releases about the different activities of the media to proclaim the Faith. Finding itself, at project, there were more than fifteen articles, the beginning of the Plan, with good resourceleven radio interviews, numerous thirty- es in the arts, and noting a growing openness second "spots" and several announcements to diverse forms of cultural expression in the on the local evening television news country, the community particularly moved programme. to fulfil its Six Year Plan goal "to make use 282 THE BAHA'I WORLD

of drama and singing m the teaching and provide opportunities for sharing the Faith deepening work". with different groups in the community. In order to provide a forum for the Held in the city 's Centennial Theatre, the exchange of ideas on how best to achieve event included dance, theatre, readings, muthis goal, the Baha'i Arts Council, Canada, sic, and visual arts from different cultures sponsored "Invitation 88: A Festival of the dedicated to the promotion of unity through Human Spirit". Held at the University of diversity. More than seven hundred people Western Ontario, London, Ontario, during attended the concert, including local authorithe summer of 1988, the festival attracted ties and representatives of the media. approximately 1,000 participants at various In many regions of the Americas, music times to its programme of workshops, exhib- was used for proclaiming the Message, either its, and performances. through the songs themselves or through the A report reads : "During the course of the musicians speaking of the Faith in between festival we recognized in each other diverse numbers and during publicity interviews. and previously undreamed of capacities for Reporting on the "Concert for Peace" given creativity and expression of the Faith". The in July 1987 by Baha'i pianist Alfredo festival impressed both Baha'is and the gen- Speranza at the Solis Theatre, Montevideo, era l public with the excellent quality of Uruguay, the National Assembly called it performances, talks, workshops, and displays "an important success which attracted almost and reflected the words of the Universal a thousand spectators to ... the principal hall House of Justice: "New prospects for teach- in the country". Invitations were sent around ing the Cause at all level s of society have the country through Local Spiritual Assemunfolded". blies, schools and universities, and the That same year the Canadian youth troupe media. The artist, an Italian citizen born in Let It Be This Generation won the hearts of Uruguay, was interviewed by reporters from youth in high schools, colleges, universities, television channels, radio stations, and newsand community centres across the country papers, with mention made of his Baha' i during a nationwide, ISO-performance, peace- beliefs and his worldwide service on behalf promoting tour. The presentation, based on of the Faith. In addition, Maestro Speranza the inevitability of peace and the steps to spoke at two public meetings at the National attain a united global community, communi - Baha'i Centre on the subjects of music, cated its ideas through dance, slide shows, unity, and the Baha' i Faith. music, theatre, and movement. The troupe Starting in October 1986, the Louis G. performed in high schools, jw1ior high schools, Gregory Baha 'i Institute in Hemingway, elementary schools, and public places, and South Carolina, U.S.A., held annual oneestimated that about 12,000 people saw the week Peace Feasts: four-day programmes of show, aside from television audiences. The jazz, gospel, and contemporary music, dance, team also gave away between six and eight and addresses by distinguished speakers. thousand copies of the Peace Statement. In 1987, the Governor of South Carolina, The Sacred Writings, along with music Carroll Campbell, Jr., issued a proclamation and dance, were used to tell the story of the designating the week of 14-20 September as spiritual and social revolution of the Faith of Peace Week in the State. the Bab at an international theatre festival in In March 1987, the small Baha'i commu- Canada in 1990. The production , named nity of the city of Araguari, Brazil, "Badasht", drew audiences totalling nearly (population 30,000) organized a big public 450 people. musical show called "A Chance for Peace" Baha'is in Vancouver, Canada, organized performed by Baha' i musicians from a larga "Peace of Art" concert in May 199 l to er neighbouring community. The show INTERNATIO N AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACT I VIT I ES 283 attracted an audience of a tho usand and Atlanta Baha'i Youth Workshop to give a received wide press and radio coverage. si ngle performance of a programme entitled Hundreds of pamphlets were given to the "Barriers to Peace" in October 1989, resultpublic. The same show was later sponsored ed in the youth giving a number of repeat by another small community, where five performances and remaining all day in the hundred attended. school. A singing group fro m Guyana called The During the week before the scheduled Carmel M instrels performed throughout the performance, the high school had expericountry and completed a Caribbean tour in enced an increase in racial tension among the 1987. The group was included in several students. After consultation with a Baha' i national and governmental events and per- yo uth attending the schoo l, the principal and formed fund-raising concerts for social and the Board of Education decided to use the economi c development projects. Atlanta Baha' i Youth Workshop as a tool to In Puerto Rico, at least five concerts were help defuse the tensions. The Workshop's presented to audiences of more than a hundred four performances of song and dance were people. A ll of these included presentation of arranged with ninety-minute breaks in the Faith and di stribution of literature. between to enable students to meet with Theatre groups capitalized on the inherent members of the Workshop and to consult drama of the Faith, presenting its history and about rac ism. Much of the discussion led to principles on stage. In Brazil in 1988, a the- proposed so lutions from the Baba' i perspecatrical prod uction relating the life of Muna tive. Enthusiasm about the programmes Mal~mudnizhad , the youngest of the ten quickly spread. Students encouraged others women martyred on 18 June 1983 in Shiraz, to participate and many students and teachers Iran, rece ived official authorizatio1-;-after attended more than once. government review, to be presented any- Slide shows were used in several counwhere in the country. It marked the first time tries to present the main points of The a production by Baha'is, using a cast of both Promise of World Peace. A slide show Baha'is and non-Baha'is, received such based on excerpts fro m the Statement was recognition. shown to about five thousand students and Baha'is in Arequipa, Peru, formed a teachers in seventeen primary-secondary group in 1986 ca lled Universal Peace The- schools of Co lomb ia in 1986. The proatre which attracted favourab le notice fro m gramme was first conceived as a deepening the Director of UNESCO clubs in Arequipa. tool for Baha' is, but its use as a teaching aid After hearing a rad io interview with the was discovered when a group ofBaha'is in a group, he invited the ir patiicipation in the teaching campaign decided to present the December ce lebration of H uman Rights Day sl ide show in a school , and it was well at the National Cu ltural Institute. They were received. Baha' is were invited to return to heard on radio stations and performed for one of the schools until they had shown the students in schoo ls of Arequipa "teaching audio-visual presentation to nearly thousand the concept of world citizenship in support students. of the Internation al Year of Peace". Two other slide shows based on the Peace Baha'i Youth Workshops- youth groups Statement were shown wide ly throughout using dance and drama to convey the princi- Brazil. "From War to Peace" was directed ples of the Faith-multiplied in the United toward ad ult audiences and "The Peace States, formi ng in dozens of cities. One ex- Pigeon" was aimed at children. fn 1989, the amp le of their power comes from Georgia . Secretary for Education and Cul tural Mat- What began as an invitation by the Milton ters of the State of Espirito Santo authorized High School in Alpharetta, Georgia, for the the Baha' is to give talks abo ut the Peace 284 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Statement in all the public schools in the the show, the performers would tell their state, opening the way for a great number of audience that Baha'u'llah is the Messenger students to see the slide shows. of God for our time, and they would invite The Promise of World Peace was also those who identified themse lves with His the inspiration for an art exhibit sho wn for Message to embrace the Cause. During the six days in 1986 and co-sponsored by the first two months of its perfonnances, the National Spiritua l Assembly of Belize and group presented twelve shows in the the country ' s National Arts Council. The Brazilian states of Sao Paulo, Parana, and "Peace Exhibit" was arranged around ex- Santa Catarina. During this time, 150 peocerpts from the Message and quotations ple embraced the Faith through the group 's from the Writings in beautifu l calligraphy by presentation. In the four following months, a Baha'i artist. The art gallery was filled Planeta Paz, ass isted and guided by the with works in a variety of med ia- painting, Auxiliary Board members in each counháy, drawing, graphics, scu lpture, need lework, perf01med in more than ten cities in Argentina, and stained glass- all on the theme of Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay. peace. A poetry competition for children and A support group háavelled ahead of Planeta youth from severa l schools and colleges was Paz and organized institutes to prepare local publici zed on radio, and winners were an- communities for mass teaching. Local youth nounced at the exhibition, where gifts were were deeply involved in the consolidation of awarded by the Committee. those who enrolled in the Faith as a result of At the opening ceremony for the exhibit, the performances. Severa l articles in newsthe Mayor of Belize City, who is himself an papers, some radio and two telev ision artist, spoke briefly, and then the wife of the interviews helped bring the musical group to President of Belize cut the ribbon starting the attention of the general public. The final the event. It is estimated that three hundred result was more than 500 new believers and to four hundred people saw the exhibit and proclamation to thousands. received pamphlets on peace. Carrying on a tradition of cultural ex- In 1989, the video production "Peace ... the change among indigenous peoples from Promise" won an award as a finalist among divergent paits of the Americas, begun by more than three thousand entries from more a group called Trail of Light in 1982, a fourthan thi1ty countries at the International Film person Garifuna (Carib) team from Honduras and Television Festiva l in New York. and Belize shared dances, music, and legends Some performing groups used a wide from their culture, as well as describing how variety of artistic media to teach the Faith. the Baha'i teachings of unity and diversity An idea put forward at the Baha ' i Interna- have encouraged them to be proud of their tional Youth Conference in Brazil in 1991 heritage . Among the teaching activities of became a reality: a performing arts group this new Tra il of Light was the presentation ca lling itself Planeta Paz (Peace Planet) was of cultural performances at five schools in formed , with five members from Argentina, St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1988 . It one from Uruguay, and four from Brazil. was repo1ted that at one school a teacher The show consisted of music with Baha'i became so enthusiastic about the team ' s prethemes, folk music, dancing, and a slide sentation that he closed the programme with show conveying the principles of the Faith. a sunm1ary of the Faith ' s teachings on unity A display about the Faith was also put up at and diversity. The hi story of the Garifuna each venue. people is intimately linked with St. Vincent, Each Planeta Paz concert began with a wh ich, in their folklore, is the place of their háibute to Baha'u'llah, stating that He gave origin and the most beloved of all places to His li fe for peace and unity. At the end of them. INT ERNATIO NA L SURV EY OF CU RR EN T BAl-I A 'i ACT IVITI ES 2 85 "Play Jazz for Peace" was the name of a In January 1989, the Baha'is of Argentina concert organized by a travelling teacher in reported that the Baba ' i Cultural Cenháe of June 1989 in Caracas, Venezuela. More than Buenos Aires , named the May Maxwell four hundred people attended the concert at Cenháe, was rmming a puppet show for the which a group of professional musicians children of the disháict every fifteen da ys, played tunes inspired by the . ideal of peace. and an average of fifteen children not from At the same time, the Baha'i community of Baha'i families were attending. The show, Caracas mounted an exposition of Sacred presented by El Retablo de! Mosquito (The Writings and photographs related to the Mosquito ' s Retable), a group made up of peace theme, which was viewed by several BaM' is and their friends, was also being taken hundred people. to events arranged by other organizations. From June 1989 until the end of the Plan, Baha' is in El Salvador sponsored seven Large-scale Enrolment musical and art festivals in cooperation with Special focused teaching proj ects involving other loca l organizations. Audiences ranged cooperation among various institutions, fullfrom sixty to three hundred people. An arts time teams , Baha'i radio broadcasts, and festiva l was also organized in Nicaragua by enthusiastic youth all played important roles the National Baha ' i Youth Conm1ittee in in bringing about large-scale enrolment in 1989. About three hundred people attended Latin America and the Caribbean. A variety the three-hour event which both proclaimed of projects- some with very few teachers the Faith and raised funds for the pediaháics and a short amount of time- met with sucward of a hospital in the city of Jinotepe. cess, demonstrating the great receptivity of Puppetry also served as an effective vehi- the souls in these areas. cle for teaching. The People of Paradise The most outstanding example of large- Puppets of Barbados performed before hw1- scale enrolment came from Guyana, where dreds of children at Baha'i and non-Baha 'i during the first year of a three-year pil ot function s, using puppettáy to address issues teaching proj ect, more than 20,000 enrolof social concern, such as the use of illegal ments were reported. This more than doubled drugs. In Guyana, about thirty-five believers the number of Baha'is from two to five per took part in four puppet workshops in three cent of the country 's population of 750,000. regions of the country during 1991 , learning The first 5,000 Baha ' is embraced the Faith how to use this art to proclaim the Faith. during the project's initial six weeks.

A Garifuna Baha'i (right) travelled to teach the Faith in the Carib Territory of Dominica during f Januwy and Februwy J99 J. 286 THE BA HA ' I WORLD

Conceived at the Baha'i World Centre by Several of the teaching groups found that the International Teaching Centre in consul- someone accepted the Fa ith in every home tation with the Universal House of Justice, they visited, and sometimes whole families the project was launched in October 1989 became Baha'is. One of the teams was based under the direction of the enthusiastic Na- in the village of Crabwood Creek, which tional Spiritual Assembly . It had two goals: subsequently enrolled a thousand believers, large-scale expansion and conso lidation to or about twenty per cent of the village popuhelp raise the number of Baha'is in Guyana lation. The community held its Nineteen Day to an appreciable percentage of the entire Feast in the park, as no house was large population, and the training of existing enough to accommodate all who arrived. human resources and an ever-increasing A visit in March 1990 by two Counsellors number of new believers to become dedicat- from the International Teaching Centre helped ed workers for the Faith. to clarify the impmiance of the proj ect's Guyana was chosen for the project be- second goal of consolidation: to raise up ten cause of the success Baha ' is had had to fifteen per cent of the new believers as in teaching projects there, the continuous dedicated workers, primarily tluáough "good support given to teachers by the National teaching" and a mature, systematic approach Spiritual Assembly, the Baha'is' good rela- to deepening through the Institute Protionship with the authorities, and the fact gramme. that the community had a significant number The Institute Programme involved new of deepened and dedicated youth. The size Baba' is in basic deepening courses to help of the community was also deemed suitable each develop a spiritual identity. Intensive for a pilot project, and Guyana ' s racially study of the Creative Word was put into di verse population seemed to be the most action tluáough various paths of service, conreceptive in South America. foming the believers in their newly found Twelve experienced Baha'is from Brazil, Faith, and preparing them for more special- Canada, Pern, the United States, and Vene- ized Institute courses such as teacherzuela were selected by the Continental training and children ' s education. More than Board of Counsellors to serve as resident a thousand new believers participated in the teachers for the project. Selection was based progranm1e during the project's first year. on a number of spiritual and material consid- Children's classes were also held in all erations, but primarily on each individual' s of the teaching areas, and deepening was capacity to be obedient to the institutions pursued thrnugh radio ; the National Assemand to reach a unified vision with their bly increased its radio time from tluáee fe llows. The overseas teachers were joined progranm1es per month to two per week and by twenty-six local Baha'is who gave from added a devotional programme every day. six to twelve months to the proj ect. Small In addition, the concept of revisi ting newly full-time teaching teams spread over six dif- enrolled believers soon after their enrolment ferent areas of Guyana, with a goal . of and providing deepening on prayer and establishing teams in all regions of the teaching became part of the method used by country. the resident teams. The teaching work was carried out using One consequence of this attention to various methods: proclamation events, mar- simu ltaneous expansion and consolidation ket displays, use of the media, presentations was the significant involvement of new to schools, and service projects. Baha ' i Infor- believers in service and teaching. Hundreds mation Centres were established throughout of new believers in the eastern part of Guythe country to coordinate teaching activities ana arose to ca rry out conununity service and make Baha' i literature available. proj ects developed at Feast consultations. INTERNAT IONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAI-1.. \' i ACT IV ITI ES 287 They worked in a spirit of cooperation and A five-day teaching campaign in February service to humanity to design and construct 1992, which constituted one element of the a children's playground, build a seventy-foot ongoing Muhajir Project begun in Septembridge to link two villages, and improve the ber 1991 , also focused on areas reached by condition of a local hospital. A series of Radio Baha ' i broadcasts. During the five literacy programmes was also developed in days, more than five hundred people recogdifferent parts of Guyana, and a three-day nized Baha' u ' llah, five new Local Spiritual Baha'i Peace Festival sparked invitations for Assemblies were formed, and thirty-eight the Baha'is to speak to a community service localities were opened. group and make similar presentations to The important role played by youth in students in sixteen schools in the area. large-scale expansion also deserves special When the National Assembly, in February mention. Just one example comes from 1990, called for an increase in the number of Colombia, where a team composed of an believers involved in teaching, the number Auxiliary Board member and seven youth quadrupled. This broader base of participa- brought 1,245 new believers into the Baha'i tion in the teaching field contributed to the community during the initial three-month success of the pilot project; at its conclusion, phase of an ongoing proj ect. Guyana had approximately 36,000 new During the period between September and believers. December 1988, the team travelled to fifteen Teaching teams (see next subsection) also communities in the departments (states) of met with success in Ecuador, where a year Atlantico, Bolivar, and Sucre. Each day of teaching dedicated to the memory of the began with prayer, study, and the memoriza- Hand of the Cause Ral:unatu'llah Muhajir tion of the Holy Writings. A slide show brought at least 2,300 people into the Faith. based on the Peace Statement was shown in Begi1ming in January 1990, teachers from high schools and some public places, and a seven countries supplemented the full-time conespondence course was offered to inter- Ecuadorian teams in visiting each of the five ested people. The team then visited homes goal areas targeted by the National Spiritual teaching the Faith directly, using the booklet Assembly. Four week-long teacher-training l et 's Get to Know the Baha 'i Faith. institutes were held as part of the project, as Two special aims of the project were the well as several weekend training seminars. formation of youth groups and finding youth The effectiveness of radio in preparing capable of carrying out regular children' s large numbers of people to accept the Faith classes. Youth were also encouraged to focus was demonstrated repeatedly in Bolivia. on service and develop community projects. Following a two-day training course at the One teacher later returned to the community Firdaws i Institute in November 1988, forty of Santa Catalina and found youth group of the sixty patiicipants volunteered to visit members had already initiated a children ' s communities in listeners' range of Radio class and were teaching a group of thirty stu- Baha'i. During nine days , more than a thou- dents how to read, using the Baha ' i literacy sand people embraced the Faith. The project, training booklet, God Illumines Us. designed by the National Teaching Commit- While large-scale emolment was taking tee in collaboration with a member of the place in South America, numbers were also Continental Board of Counsellors and of the dramatica lly increasing in the Caribbean. A National Assembly, continued, and by the report from the National Spiritual Assembly end of February 1989, it had attracted and of Haiti in September 1988 relayed news of confirmed more than 2,000 believers. In ad- the large-scale enrolments occurring in that dition, fifty communities were opened to the country: It wrote: "Joyously inform results Faith, some of which became entirely Baha' i. first phase Sununer Teaching Campaign. 288 THE BAHA'I WORLD

[Two thousand, three hundred and seventy- with the teaching, deepening meetings were one] adults, youth, children accepted organized and Baha ' i children's classes Baha'u'llah. [National Teaching CommitteeJ formed. A large amount of Baha'i literature planning second phase emphasis consolida- was distributed, along with prayers and piction new believers. [Eight]-D ay Deepening tures of the Indian Baha'i Temple. During Institute planned ... for new Baha'is." regular visits to the new believers, the project In 1991 , 34 people took pmi in a teaching members showed films and conducted deepinstitute held to prepare believers for entry ening sessions. by troops in Haiti. As a result, two teaching Even very short-term projects brought teams were formed and they visited Bainet, in hundreds or even thousands of believers, Blockhaus, Lavalee, and Musac during July strikingly demonstrating the receptivity of and August. The role of the teams was both souls in Latin America to the Teachings of to teach and deepen new believers, and by Baba 'u' llah. the end of the four-week campaign, more In just two days in Febrnary 1990, 228 than 3,300 people had embraced the Faith souls embraced the Cause in the Southern and some 135 localities had been opened. Teaching Project in the town of Alvorada, A three-week teaching activity in Trin- Brazil. The joint efforts of an Auxiliary idad and Tobago in the beginning of 1989 Board member, four Local Spiritual Assembrought five hundred new believers under blies, travelling teachers from three states, the banner of the Cause of Baha'u' llah. The and pioneers resulted in this exciting camactivity was part of the ongoing Covenant paign. For fifteen years Alvorada had had a Project, carried out in memory of the es- Baha' i school, so many of the new Baha'is teemed Mr. H. Bonah Kavelin, late member were long-time friends of the Faith and were of the Universal House of Justice. In June already quite familiar with its teachings. and July of that year, 850 new believers The unified efforts of a member of the were enroll ed in Chaguanas in the central International Teaching Centre, a member part of the country, after the visit of a special of the Board of Counsellors, four Auxiliary teaching team aided by tluáee members of the Board members, and members of the National Teaching Conm1ittee, two full-time National Spiritual Assemblies of Peru and teachers, one travelling teacher and a few Bolivia rekindled the Lake Titicaca region other Baha'i friends. of Peru in September 1988. A two-day mass An important pmi of the Covenant Project teaching workshop attended by sixty teachwas the consolidation process; simultaneous ers was followed by a five-day teaching

Participants in the second Regional Youth Conference/or the Caribbean, held in Grenada Ji-om l 2 to 14 August 1988. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACT IVITIES 289 project in which 1,764 new believers em- greater attention to be paid to the consolidabraced the Cause of the Blessed Beauty- tion component of large-scale teaching. 738 youth and 1,026 adults, almost half of Honduras began the Plan with a relatively whom were women. large Baha'i population and freedom to A one-day sháike and demonsháations teach, but faced the challenge of developing which blocked roads did not hinder the strong Baha'i communities following mass progress of the Baha'i teachers, who enrolment. Throughout the Plan, teams were succeeded in their efforts. One historical used to continue proclaiming Baha'u'llah's highlight was the teaching carried out at a Message to the large, receptive audiences high school in Villa Quebrada, where the while simultaneously working to establish the principal, all the teachers and students en- foundatio ns for self-sustaining communities. rolled in the Faith. The project culminated in One of the goals of the Plan for Honduras a two-day conference where results were was "to ensure mass teaching and the enevaluated and future directions suggested. trance of troops in the Garifuna areas''. One Ten vo lunteers offered to continue with con- step in accomplishing this goal was Project solidation work. Muhajir, the first phase of which was the formation of a permanent team of five Teaching Teams members in Janua1y 1989. The team visited The large-scale enrolment experienced in Baha'i Garifuna conunw1ities for approxi- Guyana was intimately linked with the use of mately seven days at a time to proclaim, teaching teams in that country. The work of teach, and deepen. They worked to enrol teams , both full-time and pe1manent (long- new Baha ' is, establish children's classes, te1m) also contributed to the rapid growth of ensure the celebration of the Nineteen Day the Baha ' i community in a number of other Feasts, and train several key Baha'is to carry countries in the Americas. In addition to the on these activities. An important aspect of advantages of concentrated resources and the plan was to make return visits to each continuity provided by teams, such a method village to reinforce prev ious efforts and of organization allowed new believers to continue the consolidation process. work with more experienced teachers and The team worked w1der very arduous native believers to join with travelling teach- physical conditions: all transportation was ers. This diversity demonstrated the by foot or dugout canoe and food was principles being taught, and the variety of critically scarce even for the indigenous talents represented on the teams allowed population. However, in the first five months

Participants in a youth conference held in Barbados in August 1990. 290 TH E BAl-IA'i WORLD

On the island of Cayemite, off the coast of Haiti, a member of a teaching team (right) shares the M essage of Baha 'u '!!ah in !h e village of Anse-a-Macon during a project held in November 1989.

The Baha'i teachers who participated in a five-day orientation as preparation for the second phase of the Mirza Mihdi Project in Belize fi-mn 15- 19 June 1990. As a result of this phase of the Project, 32 7 people enrolled in the Faith. INTERNAT IONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' f ACTIVITIES 291

of the project there were about a hundred level of service to the Cause, as well as to new enrolments, and the team felt a firm the team , was a continual source of inspirafoundation was being established for entry tion for all", the National Spiritual Assembly by troops. By the end of its first year, Project reported. By the Institute's end, the local be- Muhajir reported more than 1,300 new be- lievers had committed themselves to hold lievers, many from the Garifuna area. four firesides every Baha'i month, and to On 1 January 1990, Project Olinga was establish and carry out at least seven study launched in the same area, bringing into the groups and four children's classes weekly. community 1,419 new believers in the first From Santa Rosa, the team went to Flor eight weeks . During the rest of 1990, more de Campo, a neighbourhood of the nation 's than 7,000 men, women, and children were capital , Tegucigalpa, to help that Assembly's enrolled in the Faith in Honduras, largely teaching campaign. Over the next week due to the effoiis of teaching teams. another three hundred souls were enrolled in Under the inspired guidance of Counsellor the Cause. Many of the earlier new Baha'is Hidayatu'llah Al:imadiyyih, one team grew were visited in their homes, and meetings during a six-month period into five teaching were held to inspire the new believers. teams composed of old and new Garifuna From Tegucigalpa the team journeyed believers working in different areas of the to El Tular, a small town in the south of the coast developing weekly adult study groups country. After four days, more than 400 and children's classes. The project carried on more people joined the Faith, including two following Counsellor Al:imadiyyih 's death in policemen, four school-teachers, the Post August, and by November, nearly one hun- Office chief, and other prominent people in dred weekly study classes involving more the community. Nightly meetings were well than five hundred new Baha'is in twenty- attended, and hundreds of pamphlets, bookfive communities were being held, as well as lets, and prayer books were distributed. some thirty children's classes. The work of teaching teams in Honduras Five-day training sessions were held on continued in 1991. On 24 June of that year, five occasions to inspire more believers to a teaching team of nine youth and one adult, participate in the work of the teams . More from Honduras, Canada, Iran and the United than fifty Garifuna believers at one time or States, enrolled 99 people in Tegucigalpa. another were involved in the teaching work. The National Spiritual Assembly reported In December, under the guidance of the that the total number of enrolments in the National Teaching Committee, a teaching capital in the preceding year had reached team composed of three Garifunas, two one thousand. Latin-Hondurans and one pioneer travelled The ninth pem1anent teaching team was to three different areas of the country to formed in the State of Santa Barbara in assist the mass teaching efforts. 1991. A member of the National Spiritual In the first area, Santa Rosa de Copan, the Assembly who arose to serve full-time in group attracted 254 men, women, and chil - the teaching work coordinated the team's dren to the Faith during a five-day period. efforts. In the period between January and Joined by youth and two pioneers in Santa July 1991 , five thousand people embraced Rosa de Copan, the group also helped to the Faith in Honduras. organize four evening meetings, and partici- Success with full-time and permanent pated in an Entry by Troops Institute teams was also experienced in Belize during sponsored by the National Teaching Com- 1988 and 1989, after which the Mirza Mihdi mittee. Teaching Project was launched in February "The spirit of love and fellowship among 1990 by a group of twelve teachers from the Santa Rosa believers and their outstanding Belize, Canada, Jamaica, Mexico, and the 292 THE BAHA'I WORLD

United States. The first nine-week phase of on 15 June 1990. More than thirty teachers, the project, which concentrated primarily on building on the successes of phase one, enthe Garifi.ma people, resulted in more than a rolled 327 new believers. thousand souls being enrolled in the Faith. "We have received reports full of joy The town of Dangriga, in Stann Creek from the teaching field' ', began an article district, was chosen as the main base for the in a newsletter from the National Spiritual project. Two houses were rented- one for Assembly of the Dominican Republic in female and the other for male members of 1990. It referred to the full-time work of the team-with one of the homes being used five Balla' is teaching the Faith in a special also as a teaching centre for deepenings and project dedicated to the memory of Dr. evening programmes. For the first six weeks Abmadiyyih. Their efforts were supported the teachers stayed only in Dangriga, during by other Baha'is who were able to serve for which time 450 people embraced the Faith. varying lengths of time, from one week to Then for the last three weeks of the project more than a month. the twelve teachers, plus a few Baha 'is who "The latest news is that there are 46 new were on spring vacations from schools, went believers in the province of San Juan, and to villages in the district and to Punta Gorda 36 new Baha'i adults plus 36 children in in neighbouring Toledo district. Barahona. The key is to instrnct and inte- "One man in Punta Gorda knocked on the grate these believers at once to achieve the door of the Baha'is'', it was reported. "He transformation which is the purpose of the had come in from a village especially look- Faith of God. With this in mind, the project ing for them. He told them that he had heard teams are incorporating the new believers in about Baha'is on Radio Baha ' i Ecuador and the teaching work, and deepening institutes he wanted to join the Faith. Several times, are being planned." both in Dangriga and Punta Gorda, Baha'is The work of permanent teaching teams were stopped in the street by receptive souls was also reported in El Salvador, where asking if they could join the Faith." members participated in national teaching The project's successes, in addition to projects under the supervision of the National the team's original goal of bringing tluáee Teaching Conunittee and coordinated by the thousand Garifuna people under the baimer Regional Cormnittees . In the United States of Balla 'u 'llah, inspired a second phase of also, approximately one thou sand teaching the Mirza Mihdi Project. Phase two of the teams were formed, with members commitproject was held for nine weeks begim1ing ting themselves to regularly teach a certain

Children pe1form traditional Guaymi dances as part of th e closing ceremony of the Bilingual Training Seminar, held on 21 April 1989 in the Baha 'i Guaymi Cultural Centre in Panama. The training was in Spanish and Guaymi literacy. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVIT IES 293 segment of the population for a period of at listeners, included reports of lost animals, least five years. Several full-time teams requests for transportation, announcements composed of youth also met with success in of classes, medical services available, and that counhy other topics of general interest. Also in 1989, the radio station sponsored Indigenous Peoples the Sabanero Festival in Boca de Soloy, A particular strength of the teaching work in attracting over two hundred participants . the Americas was the attention given to Sabanero, the original language of the sharing the Cause with indigenous peoples Guaymi, embodies and preserves both the and incorporating the positive aspects of culture and the religion of the people. It has their cultural traditions into Baha'i comnm- come to be spoken only by the older generanity life. Increasingly indigenous peoples tion. A special guest who had been invited to from all parts of the continent arose to spread sing háaditional Sabanero songs and promote the Faith themselves. Guaymi culture, commented that his partici- The efforts made by the Baha'is of Panama pation in the Festival was due to the to conháibute to the preservation of Guaymi sincerity of the Baha'is and their awareness culture exemplify this háend. In Febrnary 1987, of the importance of preserving the Guaymi the Guaymi Cultural Cenháe was inaugurated culture. He presented three gifts to the in Boca de Soloy (Chlliqui Province), Panama, Baha'i Guaymi Cultural Cenháe. to become the focus of a Guaymi tutorial That same year, the personnel at Radio school network as well as cultural, health, Baha'i's háansmitter link in Soloy participatand agricultural activities. The inauguration ed in a bilingual (Spanish-Guaymi) seminar was attended by well over two thousand on education and literacy held at the Cultural people, including the general Chiefs of three Cenháe. Staff members also took an active provinces, representatives of the national role in a teaching campaign in the Guaymi government and members from nine indige- area of Tole and helped with elections of nous tribes of six counháies. Local Spiritual Assemblies. During the Plan, the Cenháe sponsored The work of the Faith in preserving regular deepening institutes for groups of Guaymi culture was noted by the director of twenty-five live-in students at a time. The a Guaymi dance group during its perforinstitutes combined study with service, such mance at the Twelfth National Craftsmanship as making recordings for Radio Baha'i Fair held at Atlapa Convention Centre in Panama and preparing Cenháe land for the August 1989. The group of sixteen Guaymi planting of beans and yucca. The Centre also Baha'is, who called their presentation "Trahosted special events such as a Health Day ditions of Guaymi Dances", came from Boca in June 1988 which brought together twenty- de Remedio, an indigenous community whose two Guaymi women to study nuháition and population is entirely Baha' i. preventive medicine in honour of the fortieth During a seminar on the development of anniversary of the World Health Organi- the Faith among the Indian peoples of Latin zation. America held in Bolivia in July 1989, the The work of the Cultural Cenháe included case of the Guaymi of Panama was cited as the work of Radio Baha' i Panama, also one example of a people who decided to reestablished with the goal of cultural preser- create their own culture in relationship to the vation and education. For example, in 1989 Faith, drawing upon the Creative Word to Radio Baha'i Panama began broadcasting strengthen their culture's positive characterpublic service messages six days a week to istics. Some of these characteristics include help provide a means of communication in religious devotion, courtesy, hospitality, cothe Guaymi area. The messages, sent in by operative work, education in traditional 294 THE BAHA'i WORLD

values, strong family life, and a love for three hundred were present from all parts nature. of Canada, including some members of the The importance of our demonstrating Canad ian National Spiritual Assembly. The appreciation for indigenous cultures was Naat owa'pii Centre in Brocket, Albertaeloquently emphasized by the Hand of the the heart of Blackfoot Indian area-was Cause of God Amatu'l-Baha Rul:iiyyih officially dedicated in a special ceremony. Khanum in a telegram she sent from the At the end of her trip she crossed the heart of Canada's Blackfoot Indian area in border into the United States and visited 1986: "Feel very strongly world-wide com- the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota munity Baha'is especially pioneers, teachers, where a concentrated teaching plan was unmust learn show proper respect profound derway. "We slept at the Oglalla Community customs and spiritual associations indige- Co llege", Amatu'l-Baha wrote, "and held a nous peoples if we desire share bounti es large potlatch and powwow in this important Baha'u'llah's Message with them. All too centre in the heart of Sioux Indian territory. often, alas, we neglect follow beloved Mas- Sioux believers and others from as far away ter's footsteps who showered deep love and as Navajo Reservation [Arizona] ensured a understanding, sincere praise and respect on most happy and memorable evening for us those of different backgrounds. Such loving all. This impotiant reservation now has ninerespect other people 's way and deep feeling teen Local Assemblies, one of the all-Indian essential if we intend pass healing cup this ones showering me with special gifts." Revelation to other lips ." In August 1988, also in South Dakota, Amatu' l-Baha's extensive travels in Canada native men and women, Baha'i and nonand the United States visiting with Native Baha'i, representing fifty tribes, gathered American leaders and participating in tradi- under a giant red and white tent surrounded tional gatherings powerfully demonstrated by tepees, near the sacred burial site of Chief the truth of her words. In Montreal, she Sitting Bull at Standing Rock Reservation, spent time on the Kahnawake Mohawk in Indian Memorial Park, Mobridge, to attend Reserve with Grand Chief Joseph Norton the Fifth Continental Indigenous Council. A and Chief Eugene Montour, and in Regina, telex describes the gathering: "We ... assem- Saskatchewan, she had lunch with promi- bled beneath a canopy of unity, on a plain nent Indian leaders, including a number of surrounded by the Missouri River, today women. In Frobisher Bay, she attended part audaciously pledge our warrior peace-making of Spirit North Council, a gathering of one spirits to win the foremost objective of the hundred believers and guests, approximately Six Year Plan-to carry the healing Message sixty per cent native Eskimos and Indians. of Baha'u'llah to the generality of Man- Amatu'l-Baha reported that a moving com- kind." Written pledges to serve the Cause memoration of the Martyrdom of the beloved and carry the Faith to Africa, Europe, and Bab was "held outside on hill overlooking South America were received by the National unbelievably beautiful Frobisher Bay full of Spiritual Assembly on the last night of the scintillating pack ice, touched all heatis, Council. and I was able share petals from Threshold The Council was attended by distin- Baha'u'llah's Shrine in Bahji with friends .... " guished visitors including a member of the Amatu'l-Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khanum was also Universal House of Justi ce, for whom an the special guest at a ceremony on the Honor Dance was performed; a Counsellor Peigan Reserve which was presided over by member of the International Teaching Centre; Chief Crowshoe, the only surviving chief of four Continental Counsellors; and members five chiefs who had given her the name of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Natuocist during her visit in 1960. Over Alaska, Canada, and Mexico. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 295 On the closing day the National Spiritual Gordon Tong, one of the original group that Assembly visited the Looking Horse family, had worked to found the Institute. keepers of the Sacred Pipe of the Lakota In September 1986 it was announced that people. The Assembly presented the family The Promise of World Peace had become with gifts including a framed photograph available in summary form in the Navajo of 'Abdu ' l-Baha. The National Spiritual language on cassette tape. The publication Assemb ly members then met with the was one result of a translation institute Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council in which served the double purpose of produc- Eagle Butte where they presented individual ing new translations of the Creative Word copies of the Peace Statement. The Council and deepening the thirteen participants. members also received copies of The Seven Throughout the Plan, the Native American Valleys and the Four Valleys, this book Baha'i Institute addressed the educational having special significance as the numbers needs of the local population, initiating a seven and four have great importance 111 tutoring programme in conjunction with a their traditions. nearby school and holding classes on Navajo "Native Americans and the Promise of culture. Peace" was the theme of a Unity Council The education of young Indians was also Fire held in August 1986 at the Native Amer- addressed by Baha'is in Brazil, where the ican Baha'i Institute in Arizona, U.S.A . Mr. Polytechnical Rural Institute Djalal Eghrari Maynard Eakan, an Inuit Baha'i, had trav- entered into an agreement with FUNAI elled to several Reservation communities to (National Foundation of the Indian) to serve invite the Navajo, Hopi, and Pueblo friends, the Indians of the Amazonas region. more than one hundred of whom attended. The significance of the teaching work Highlights of the Council Fire were a among indigenous peoples was also featured Saturday evening performance by the Pine at the International Indigenous Believers' Springs Singers, a group of children who Seminar held in Sucre, Bolivia, in July 1989. had become popular performers of Navajo Seventy Baba' is representing nine distinct traditional songs and dances under the guid- indigenous groups from eight countries, ance of the Pine Springs Baha' i community; seven Counsellors, eight Auxiliary Board a talk explaining to the group the symbolism members, members of the National Spiritual of the beautifully carved and decorated Assembly of Bolivia, and pioneers discussed "talking stick" given to him in Alaska; and the participation of indigenous peoples 111 Saturday afternoon prayers at the grave of building an ever-advancing civilization.

Friends gathered at the Peigan Balui 'i Institute in Alberta, Canada, in December 1989. 296 THE BAHA'i WORLD

This seminar was followed by a National in order to participate in a teaching project Teaching Conference attended by more than in Paraguay and Argentina. It is also an old two hundred Baha'is. Following the confer- Toba custom for the women to chant a ence, nineteen teams went out "in search of prayer for the dawn to wake the family in the souls ready to accept the Faith". This one- morning; the chant is said to be "from the week-long teaching project resulted in five Maid of the Heavens". hundred enrolments and the opening of ten A substantial increase in enrolments took new communities. place among the Amerindian and Bushnegro The results of teaching work among the populations of Suriname, and Guatemala Toba people of northeastern Argentina over finished the Plan with twenty-two Local a period of more than fifteen years were Assemblies counting indi genous members demonstrated when the Toba inaugurated in the majority. The first Local Spiritual a District I:Ia~iratu ' l-Quds in May 1986 in Assembly of the Mura Tribe in Amazonas Puerto Tirol, a small town near the provin- State, Brazil, was formed at Ri~van 1990 cial capital. At the time, the Tobas numbered after a tráibal vi llage, located twelve hours by 54,000, making them the second most nu- boat from the village of Bernri, was visited merous tribe in Argentina . The first teaching by some of the friends. The Mirza Mihdi teams into the Toba region in 1970 had been Projects in Belize attracted an estimated headed by Hooper Dunbar (then a pioneer in 1,200--1,500 Garifuna people into the Cause. Argentina), and fittingly, Mr. Dunbar was Teaching among the Garifuna people in present for the inauguration of the Toba Honduras (see also p. 284) also bore frnit. In Distráict Centre. Sixteen years after the first 1989, the National Assembly reported the contact, there were thi1ty-five localities and enrolment of more than 1,3 00 new believers twelve Local Assemblies; three local centres in the Garifuna area, and between January had been acquired and a Baha'i tutorial and September 1990, a total of over seven school had begun operating. thousand people accepted the Faith. One Many Baha'i teachings were found to be project, carried out by twenty-four women, compatible with Toba custom, including the men, youth, and children who organized importance of music and of dawn prayer. meetings in thirteen different cornrnunities New Baha'is among the Toba began making on the north coast of Honduras, resulted in songs from the Writings and even revived new enrolments reaching I, 170 in their area. their old tribal songs again. Two members In Ecuador, full-tin1e teams spent several prepared their native instruments and songs months teaching the Quechua-speaking

A Toba Baha 'i woman jiáom the Chaco Region of northern Argentina; 1989. INTERNAT IO NAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIV ITI ES 297

Left: Students of violin at the School of the Nations in Brasilia, Brazil. The School was opened on 1 September 1980, and in December 1987 was officially inaugurated at its new permanent headquarters.

Above: The exterior of the Maxwell International Baha'i School near Vancouver, Canada; 1992. Right: A Baha'i tutorial school in Colorado in the Guajira region of Colombia, in 1987.

Right: Jn Nicaragua, young Baha 'is meet with Costa Rican youth who offered teacher training classes in Januaiy 1992. The young travellers are working with believers who want to learn how to give ch ildren 's classes in their own communities. 298 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Indians in Imbabura Province, their efforts in Dominica during September 1988. This resulting in 250 enrolments during this peri- visit corresponded with the ammal celebraod. Also in that counháy, the Peace Statement tion of Carib Week. The Carib Chief, Irvince was presented to the Chief of the Saraguro Auguiste, whose council acted as host to the Indians and the governor of the Colorado In- group during its stay, received the group at dians, both of whom then gave authorization the airport. On arrival at Bataka in the Carib to teach among their people. Tenitory, a local television team was wait- A significant sign of the teaching work's ing, wishing to make a feature on the Carib success came when greater numbers of language. The dance team was interviewed indigenous believers arose to become teach- and an impressive five-minute feature was ers of the Cause themselves. In Costa Rica, aired on cable television. The group's activiindigenous believers were reported to have ties were also mentioned several times on participated in large numbers of teaching the national radio station and in the weekly projects. Interchanges took place between newspaper. the Bribri and the Guaymis, including joint At the gala cultural show held for Carib visits to the Baha'i Guaymi Cultural Cenháe Week, the group presented a twenty-minute in Soloy, Panama, and to the International performance of drnnm1ing and dancing to Native Council in June 1991. Teams ofBri- the 500-strong audience, as special guests of bri teachers actively collaborated in teaching the Carib Council. At the close of the proprojects in Honduras for a number of gramme the Carib Council presented gifts of months. A teaching team which worked in baskets and carved calabashes to each team four Garifuna villages of Honduras in 1990 member. This was reciprocated by a presenincluded two Belizean Garifunas, two Costa tation from the team to the Council. In Rican Bribri, twelve Honduran Garifunas, addition, presentations of the Peace Stateone Misquito Indian, two Latin-Hondurans, ment were made to other officials and the and others. This effort was dedicated to the Kitab-i-Iqan was presented to the Carib late Counsellor AJ:imadiyyih, and resulted in Chief. 1,207 new souls embracing the Faith. During their stay the team members also The first week of a teaching proj ect visited local craftspeople and elders to dislaunched on the eve of Naw-Ruz 1989 in cuss aspects of their culture, and further Quintana Roo, Mexico, was significant for performances were given. A local historian the leading role played by the Mayan believ- remarked that this was the first time a cultural ers. The campaign resulted in ninety-four exchange of Garifuna-speaking people had adults, forty-seven youth, and seventy-nine taken place in Dominica. children embracing the Faith. In the summer of 1990, new Baha ' is con- Academic Circles háibuted greatly to a teaching project on In its Ric:lvan 1990 message to the Baba' i Canada's Peigan Reserve, being responsible world, the Universal House of Justice for half the enrolments. By December of that praised efforts that had been made to reach year, the total number of enrolments had such a wide variety of indigenous peoples, reached eighty-five since the sunm1er effort stating "we have achieved a marvellous dibegan, and registration cards were coming versity in the large numbers of etlmic groups into the National Cenháe from Peigan at the represented in the Faith ... " Then it called rate of twelve or so eve1y week. on the believers to increase the conmmnity's The four-perso n Carib (Garifuna) Baha'i diversity in yet another direction, by sháiving music and dance team Trail of Light from to share the Message with "people of capaci- Belize and Honduras made a memorable ty, including persons of accomplishment and one-week visit to their fellow Carib people prominence in the various fields of human INT ERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITI ES 299 endeavour". One avenue of this pursuit led excellent opportunity for Baba 'i as well as to the world of academia. non-Baha'i academics to discuss common Efforts to relate the Baha 'i teachings to questions of scholarship and to engage in an the thoughts and problems of the wider soci- in-depth discussion of the points raised in ety led to greater interaction between the broad range of presentations. Baha ' is and educators from the university to "Vast changes on the international scene the primary school. As understanding of the have prompted talk of the emergence of a principles of the Faith grew, so did inclusion 'New World Order', began the description of the Faith in cunicula. of a course offered by the Faculty of Part- In the United States, strong relationships time and Continuing Education at the had been forged with members of the aca- University of Western Ontario, Canada, in demic community before 1990, but in the spring of 1992. The subject had been January of that year a milestone was reached suggested by the Association for Baha'i when a Memorandum of Understanding was Studies Campus Club at the University. signed to establish the Baha' i Chair for The course description in the Faculty's World Peace at the University of Maryland's catalogue continued: "The phrase 'new world Center for International Development and order ', coined by the Baha'i Faith in the Conflict Management. Proposed by a non- 1800's, articulates a vision ofa new, unified B aha ' i professor in response to the Peace world order, and its premises serve as a Statement, the Chair was created to conduct point of departure for this series of info1mal and publish research, design courses and lead lectures and discussions on the world as it seminars in the field of Baha' i studies and might be." The class topics were "Moral world peace within an interdisciplinary con- Foundations of a New World Order", "The text; to initiate public forums for discussing International Economy: New Disorder", the issues proposed in The Promise of World "Political and Legal Dimensions of World Peace; and to establish academic links with, Order'', "Feminism: International Movements and provide teclmical assistance to, Baha'i Towards Equity", "Environment: Globa l institutions in the fields of peace education Directions in Education", and "Racial Diand international development. The creation mensions of a New Social Order". of the Chair marked the first initiative by a The Association for Baha'i Studies, with prestigious institution of higher learning to its headquarters in Canada, continued to fornrnlate a serious programme of Baha'i sponsor annual conferences on themes from studies. the Writings , and published some of the A variety of contacts between Baha' is proceedings, such as Unity: The Creative and university professors had preceded Foundation of Peace; Racial Unity: An Imthis momentous event. For example, in perative for Social Progress; and Th e Balui 'i December 1987, the New England Regiona l Faith and Marxism. In 1988, the quarterly, Committee of the Association of Baha'i trilingual Journal of Bahri 'i Studies was Studies in North America held a conference inaugurated to create a forum for all reon the relationship between the Baha ' i Faith searchers of the Baha ' i Writings. (See also and Cluáistianity at Harvard Divinity School. sub-section on the Associations for Baha'i A number of prominent non-Baba ' i speakers Studies, pp. 461-470.) joined the Baha'i speakers to address many Other universities in the Americas also current theological issues. offered opportunities to study the Faith. A During the same month, a Baha'i seminar course on the Faith was established in was held as part of the conference of the Brazil 's Federal University of Santa Catarina, American Academy of Religion in Boston, and lectures were given in comparative Massachusetts. The Conference provided an religion courses at Bermuda College. In 300 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Guatemala, the booklet Education for Peace the Middle East, the history of the Faith, the was studied with a group of three hundred Covenant, group dynamics, children's rights, student teachers at a college for twenty race unity, prayers, the creative power of the periods of forty minutes each. In the United Word of God, and the subject of peace. States, a document called "A Cuniculum In 1988, the National Spiritual Assembly Guide to the Baha'i Faith" was drafted to of Jamaica was asked to prepare a detailed help college professors include the Faith in curriculum for a chapter on the Baha'i Faith their courses. The National Assembly of in the first year compulsory Caribbean Ex- Suriname reported that a number of non- amination Council Course on comparative Baha' i individuals had written theses related religion. The Assembly, working in conto the Faith. The Baha'i Club at the Univer- junction with the National Assembly of sity of California, Santa Crnz, helped design Trinidad and Tobago, submitted the material a course called "The Economics of a World for consideration. Commonwealth" for an Elderhostel pro- The Faith was also included in the curricgramme in 1988. ulum of at least one government primary In 1991 , the Baha'i community of Joao school in Bennuda. In Peru, high school Pessoa, in the State of Paraiba, Brazil, suc- teachers assigned research of the Faith, ceeded in having study of the Baha'i Faith refening to Radio Baha'i as a resource. included in the ctmiculum of the Ecumeni- In 1991 the Ministry for Education for cal Institute of Theological Sciences. The British Columbia, Ca nada , approved study Institute, which was founded in March 1990, of The Hidden Words and The Seven Valleys offers undergraduate studies in theology and the Four Valleys as valid for meeting for high school teachers of religion. poetry requirements. At Maxwell Interna- The efforts of Baha'is to have the Faith tional Baha'i School, students memorized an included in primary and secondary curricula extract from The Hidden Words each week also bore fruit. Study programmes about as part of their English literature progra1m11e. the Baha'i Faith for basic general education On weekly work sheets they recorded their in public schools in Chile were approved by understanding of the metaphors and symbolthe Ministry of Education in June 1989. In ism used, and they sometimes compared the response to this, the National Spiritual metaphor or symbol with a previously studied Assembly's Department of Education held extract. Teachers found that this exercise several training courses for teachers of the stimulated students' use of their reflective Faith. Topics of study included geography of and contemplative powers.

Participants in a workshop that was part of the Saha 'i winter school held in Haiti in March l 98 7. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I AC TIVITI ES 301

Leji: Jn Martiniqu e, the ninth National Convention was held at Fort-de- France; 1992.

Right: Jn Panama, members of a Balui 'i Regional Native Council taking a break from their meeting in Sa lay to visit the House of Worship on 27June1991 .

Left: Jn Bermuda, friends gathered for a winter school held in Februa ry 1987. 302 TH E BAHA ' I WORLD

How good it would be... that through this going and coming they [Baha 'i travelling teachers] may establish the oneness of the world of humanity, summon the people to the Kingdom of God and spread the teachings. - 'A bdu 'l-Baha INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACT IVITI ES 303

C. ASIA

DURING the Six Year Plan, more than teachers found hundreds of thousands one million souls embraced the Cause in of people eager to embrace Baha'u ' llah ' s Asia. Although such large-scale enrolment Teachings about the oneness of mankind. in the Faith provided a special energy and In India, where the legal abolition of excitement to the work on the continent, it the caste system had not eliminated longwas not new to the region, which boasted a standing attitudes which support it, the number of devoted fourth-generation believ- Baha'i community more than doubled its ers. Thus the believers were also able to membership, reaching well over two million focus their energies on the major challenge believers. The State Baha ' i Councils, created of cha1melling this widespread love and in 1986, launched approximately three belief into knowledge and action that would hundred teaching projects , and the number transform conmmnities. of believers participating in teaching and Several Baha'i principles, identified at the consolidation activities multiplied ten times. beginning of the Plan as needing attention if Groups of Baha'i teachers followed in the communities were to truly develop, were footsteps of the late Hand of the Cause of given particular focus . Extreme conditions God Dr. RaJ:imatu' llah Muhajir, often carryof inequality between men and women, for ing out their teaching in his name. example, and lack of full participation by In the state ofUttar Pradesh, an estimated women in Baha' i activities were addressed 100,000 people enro lled dming one month with education and encouragement. Illiteracy of teaching organized by the State Baha'i among much of the mral population was Council. Three simultaneous projects held in confronted by ever-expanding development June 1988 focussed on women, youth, and projects. Believers were trained for their families. The percentage of women accountwork in the administtáative order with semi- ing for enrolments was impressive compared nars and educational materials. Efforts were to previous experience in India . made to reach individuals with formal edu- A variety of methods were used to pursue cation and prominence so that their expertise the enormous task of consolidation in Uttar could be called upon during this complex Pradesh. Audio-cassettes with a talk in the process of social change. Hindi language, the Words of God, Baha'i " It is not enough to expand the rolls of prayers, and Baha ' i Temple dedication Baha ' i membership, vital as that is", wrote music were prepared. On another audio-casthe Universal House of Justice in its Ri~van sette, information on the history of the Faith, message of 1989 . "Souls must be ttáans- the Covenant, the administration, and the formed, communities thereby consolidated, principles were all woven into a folk song new models of life thus attained." The sung in typical village style which was taped Baha'is of Asia reached out in a variety of by one of the village groups. In addition, directions to pursue this noble goal. typical village-style dramas using various Baha ' i subjects were being prepared for Large-scale Enrolment video-taping and mass distribution. A pup- Dramatic teaching campaigns that led to pet show was also being developed. large-scale enrolment were certainly among Late in 1988, the State Baha' i Council of the most striking of all the activities carried Uttar Pradesh arranged for nine peopleout on the continent of Asia. In an area of members of the Continental Board of Counthe world with firmly rooted traditions of sellors, the Auxilia1y Board, the National social separation based on religion, gender, Spiritual Assembly, and development project education, and cultural background, Baha ' i staff- to visit six villages. The village of 304 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Rajja-ka-Purwa of Panchayat Bamnouti-a was spent praying and meditating upon full Baha'i village- was holding regular the Word of God and attending deepening Local Spiritual Assembly meetings, Nine- classes . Following this, the teachers were teen Day Feasts, Fund collections, children's expected to maintain contact with the new classes, tutorial school sessions and socio- believers through visits and conespondence. economic development programmes. The The second movement involved the cre- Continental Board of Counsellors reported ation of a task force for permanent teaching that because of the visitors, "for the first activities. Members travelled to the new time, the village women dressed in their areas, conducted deepening classes and finery and sat on the same ground as the invited the more enthusiastic new Baha'is menfolk". In another village, "because of a to institutes at central locations. In eve1y large munber of women guests, the village village a teaching conunittee was formed to women came shyly forward to sit alongside organize Feasts, children's classes and youth the menfolk for the first time. Usually for activities, establish literacy classes where any video film they sit on the roofs so the possible, hold deepenings, and communicate men can't see them. At every village the with the State Baha'i Council. The commitwomen were encouraged to respond and did tee also encouraged as many believers as so." possible to attend the election of the Local Teaching projects dedicated to the late Spiritual Assembly for the area. Hand of the Cause Dr. Muhajir were canied The third movement was intended to creout in the states of Tamil Nadu, Orissa and ate strong Local Spiritual Assemblies from Karnataka. the very outset. Assistants to the Auxilia1y The success of the Muhajir Project in Board members were appointed in all areas . Tamil Nadu-more than 5,000 enrolled dur- The task force, along with the local conuniting a six-month period- inspired a second tees and the assistants, canied out local phase which then outsháipped the first in teaching projects. Thus, teaching campaigns, its achievements. In a nine-week period, activities to strengthen local communities, 14,000 people embraced the Teachings of and expansion at the local level were all Baha'u ' llah. being canied out simultaneously. Near the closing of the first part of the The dynamic example of Dr. Muhajir project, a Counsellor, tluáee Auxiliary Board was also the inspiration for a teaching and members, three State Council members and consolidation project in Orissa held from about thirty-five of the teachers involved in May to November 1990. Earlier in the Plan, the proj ect gathered in high spirits to evalu- Orissa had experienced large-scale emolment, ate its success. It was determined at this including 2,600 declarations in October conference that the proj ect consisted of tluáee 1988, a number which rose to 5, 150 by early movements. December. The Muhajir Project of 1990, The first movement was a series of teach- which itself brought 1,75 0 people into the ing campaigns. The process consisted of a Faith, gave particular attention to consolteaching conference, a call for volunteers fol- idation. lowed by an institute for the volunteers , and Of the newly enrolled Baha ' is, 95 were finally , the launching of the teaching cam- particularly encouraged to attend Pe1manent paign. During the campaign, five days were Teaching Institute courses, to work with the spent teaching and emolling new believers, Mobile Deepening Institute, to go to local and on the sixth day the teachers returned to conferences, and to participate in Assembly the areas where the teaching had taken place teaching activities. As a result of this inuneand invited the new believers to a deepening diate involvement in the Faith, sixty of these class in a nearby village. The seventh day new Baha 'is imn1ediately began assuming INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAHA'I ACT IVITIES 305 responsibilities in their home communities Radio Pakistan, and the meeting was by assisting in the conducting of Nineteen reported in six newspapers, mostly on their Day Feasts, Holy Day programmes, and front pages. The National Assembly children's classes. reported that following this event, "Every One goal of this Muhajir Project was to day, both morning and evening, editors and revisit the mountainous west of Orissa and reporters have been visiting to contact the to deepen the many tribal people who had Baha'is in their houses! They come to colaccepted the Faith out of love but whose lect information for their papers as well as understanding of its teachings was relatively for themselves ." limited. This goal was vigorously pursued In August 1986, the first Baha'i press and resulted in a good number of believers conference in the history of Bangladesh with deepened understanding and knowl- was organized by the Local Assembly of edge of the Faith. Mymensingh, with all twenty-four invited The Muhajir Project launched in Kama- .representatives of national and local newstaka in July 1988 won the support of the papers attending. Focusing on the Interna- District Assistant Commissioner and the tional Year of Peace, the presentation drew Chairman of the town municipality and praise from the audience. When questions brought wide media coverage. Five district- were invited from the members of the press , level newspapers reported all the Baha' i an editor said, "We have nothing to say activities, and one paper agreed to publish except to appreciate the Baha 'i Faith, and "Baha'i Views" as a regu lar weekly feature . these goals are our hearts' wishes ... please The project attracted more than three hun- say what kind of help we can offer." dred people from colleges and offices to Positive public relations and intensive embrace the Faith. teaching activity caused the total number of Professionals and more formally educated Baha'is in Bangladesh to almost double people became Baha' is in other regions of between September 1988 and September India as well. A significant percentage of the 1989. Much of the activity took place in 20,000 people who joined the Cause in the Khulna. The Quddus Project, which began Morena Distráict of Madhya Pradesh in 1988 in that district in November 1988, had were doctors, engineers, schoolteachers, and brought 7,500 seekers into the Cause by other professionals. October 1989. A highlight was the emol- In remote Gum.la, India, approximately ment of two entire villages of the Monda 7 ,000 people in villages scattered among the Adibashi tráibe and the formation of its first hills and valleys in thick forests were also Local Assembly. touched by the Teachings of Baha' u ' llah. Bangladesh surpassed its Six Year Plan The people had never embraced any estab- goal for Local Assembly formation, raising lished religion before. the number from 143 to 630. In the Rajshahi Successes like those in India were also District, Assemblies were fo1med despite experienced by its notiheastem neighbour, considerable obstacles, such as conmmnica- Bangladesh. The Baha'i community there tion problems, lack of books in the local increased five-fold, with one hundred vi l- language, illiteracy, and the extreme poverty lages becoming almost completely Baha' i. of the tribal people. About twenty youth A public gathering on peace held in the contributed to the formation of sixty Assem- Distráict of Khulna, Bangladesh, at the begin- blies during fiv e months of a special project ning of the Plan created a great deal of in 1991. During this time, three of the vilinterest in Baha 'u'llah's Teachings. A part lages in Rajshahi- Galimpur, Bahanpur and of the talk given by an Auxiliary Board Fulkuri-were named " model Baha'i vilmember before 150 peop le was broadcast on lages" by the Regional Teaching Committee. 306 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Baha 'is consulting during the Vajdi Memorial Teaching Project held on Great Nicobar ji-om 21 February to 9 March 1990.

All over Asia, Baha'i communities dra- students and teachers saw the dynamic matically expanded. In the Andaman and perf01mances of the Baha'i youth. After Nicobar Islands, one of the community's Six the shows, held in universities, schools, col- Year Plan goals was fulfilled when three leges, public parks-and even one benefit hundred people enrolled and fifteen locali- for the flood victims of Chumpon Provties were opened during a four-week period, ince-850 young people became Baha'is. allowing the establishment of twenty-five The Thai youth contributed much to the Local Assemblies. The number of Baha'is teaching work of the seven-day tour and in the Philippines increased by 37,000. The added their beautiful Malay and Indian clas- Hong Kong community more than doubled sical dances to the shows. The tour helped to during the Plan. The Pakistani community raise the total of new believers in the south tripled. And in Taiwan, the increase was of Thailand to 1,900 (between June and more than seven hundred per cent. November). The power of the performing arts in stimulating large-scale enrolment was dem- People of All Backgrounds onstrated in Hong Kong and Thailand. One The Cause of God has room for all. It of the tours of the Wildfire Theatre Group, would, indeed, not be the Cause of God if composed of youth from Australia and New it did not take in and welcome everyone- Zealand, generated unprecedented media poor and rich, educated and ignorant, the coverage for the Faith in Hong Kong, in unknown, and the prominent-God surely both Chinese and English-language news- wants them all, as He created them all. 1 papers and on television and radio. As the In accord with this counsel, efforts to first ente1iainment group ever to enter nine bring the healing Message of Baha 'u' llah to Vietnamese Refugee Camps and Detention large numbers of people were not limited by Centres, they won the admiration and praise focus on certain geographic areas or particuof the United Nations High Commission for lar populations. Believers in Asia particularly Refugees and local Social Service Agencies. expanded their efforts to share the Faith The National Assembly credited the five tal- with individuals from a wide variety of geoented youth with advancing entry by troops graphic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. in the territory "through their untiring and noble efforts". During Wildfire's tour of southern Thai- 1 From a letter written on behalfofShoghi Effendi, land in November 1989, more than 8,000 I 0 December 1942. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 307

Presentation of the Peace Statement to Mrs. Dissanayake, the wife of the Minister ofLands and Development of Sri Lanka, on 7June1988. In the Philippines, the number of locali- Saeed Hindi Teaching Project, carried out in ties with resident Baha'is rose from 5,500 to lower Punjab in February 1990, resulted in 7,300. This included the opening of38 islands more than five hundred new believers from located near strong Baha'i communities, Muslim, Hindu, and Ahmadi backgrounds, some of which accounted for the 38 new and teaching among the Hindus in Sindh tribal areas opened to the Faith. The people resulted in several thousand souls entering on ten islands of Myanmar heard of the Faith the Faith. for the first time. New tribes gaining representation in the Teaching in Taiwan resulted in all nine Faith in Asia included the Monda and major tribes being represented in the Faith, Arakan in Bangladesh, the Dhimal and with Local Assemblies established in six of Sherpa in Nepal, the Phuket Sea Gypsies in the tribal areas. Assemblies made up entirely Thailand, and thirty-two ethnic groups in of tribal peoples were formed among the India. In Myanmar, members of the Eikaw, Tsao, Bunung, and Peinan. Also in Taiwan, Insa, Naga, and Lwalla tribes were introthe number of localities reached rose from duced to the Faith. 130 to 275. This included the opening of three islands which previously had no Prominent People Baha'is. In a Tablet to an individual believer, 'Abdu'l- Increases in localities were also achieved Baha advised: in Japan, where the goal of having Baha'is You should always seek to guide promin all the country's prefectures was reached inent p eople inasmuch as once such a for the first time ; in Korea, where the goal of person is regenerated he is likely to bring 300 localities was surpassed by more th an about the quickening of a thousand souls. 200; and in Pakistan, where the number of Thus the spirit of truth would flow forth localities rose from 270 to more than seven unimpeded into the veins and arteries of a hundred. The last remaining territorial goals multitude. 2 named by Shoghi Effendi in his Ten Year By Ri4van 1988, the Universal House of Global Plan were fulfilled during the Six Justice noted "a remarkable display of inter- Year Plan when Sean Hinton opened Mon- est" in the Baha'i community by prominent golia in 1988 and Abbas and Rezvanieh Katirai settled in Sakhalin in 1990. 2 Translated from the Persian, in Prominent People. The teaching in Pakistan reached people Compiled by the Research Department of the Univerfrom a variety of religious backgrounds. The sa l House of Justice; 1990. 308 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Jn Thailand, the Crown Prince receives the winning art piece made by a youth during the country's National Youth Week in I 989. The gift is being offered by a youth representative of the Spiritual Assembly, which had been invited to make the presentation to the Prince.

In Nepal, the Minister of Tourism, Ram Hari Joshy (left) , awards a prize to one of the winners of the Baha'i youth song contest. The occasion was a Naw-Riiz party held in Kathmandu which was attended by more than 80 people, including 20 non-Bahiz 'is.

Jn Bangladesh, Prime Minister Begum Khadela Zia presents Counsellor Jabbar Eidelkhani (left), with the " Young Scientist Award I 990" during a ceremony in Dhaka on 5 July 1991. Th e award was in recognition of Mr. Eidelkhani 's work on computers in the Bengali language. INTERNAT ION AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 309 personalities, and by Ridvan 1992, it was The Spiritual Assembly of Hong Kong able to share the news that "the drive of the reported that significant progress was made ramified proclamation campaign has pro- in developing relationships with prominent duced a public resonance about the Faith, people in that country. Meetings were which can be said to be known to the most arranged and the Peace Message presented significant public institutions and prominent to 80 religious leaders, consuls general, edupersons on eaiih". cators, business leaders, and press agencies. In Asia, the Mother Temple of the Indian In 1991, the Anniversary of the Birth of Sub-continent, dedicated in New Delhi in Baha'u' llah was celebrated in Hong Kong December 19 86, undoubtedly provided the witl1 a banquet attended by 82 people, includgreatest number of opportunities for promi- ing the Consuls General of Israel, Panama nent people to come in contact with the Faith and Chile, representatives of the Xin Hua (for details, see aiiicle on Indian Temple). News Agency, and the Director of Environ- However, persistent effo1is by the believers mental Protection for Hong Kong. The in a variety of Asian countries to bring statement Baha 'u 'llah and the Peace State- Baha'u'llah's Teachings to the attention of ment were presented as gifts. people of capacity were also rewarded. Members of the Baha'i conununity of As occurred on other continents, many Thailand consulted with hundreds of people government authorities were introduced to of capacity during the Plan, including rethe Faith through Th e Promise of World presentatives of the Economic and Social Peace. In addition to being distributed to Conunission for Asia and the Pacific, the UN ministers , ambassadors, and local officials, High Commission for Refugees, the National this Statement was presented to the Presi- Women's Council, city mayors, college prodent of Bangladesh in December 1991; the fessors, and labor union representatives. Governor of Macau in April 1989; and the The Constitution Drafting Conunittee of President of Singapore. In Korea, the State- Thailand became aware of Baha'i views ment was given to 2,000 notables throughout when the Spiritual Assembly submitted the Plan. selected Baha'i Writings to that body for its The presentation to the President of consideration in writing the new national Bangladesh took place when a group of constitution. Baha'is was invited to the annual general Prominent Baha' is visiting Taiwan were meeting of the Society for the Rule of Law introduced to the Ministers of Foreign at which the President and the Finance Min- Affairs, the Interior, and Conununication; ister were the prominent guests. At the end the Director of the Government Information of the meeting the two officials also received Office; the Deputy Director of the Council Call to the Nations and The Baha'i Faith: of Agriculture; and the mayors of six cities. An Introduction. Contacts were established between Baha' is Baha'is invited in 1987 to attend birthday and lawyers, judges, and teachers . Opportucelebrations for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit nities for interacting with professionals of Thailand had the great honour of present- increased after the Baha' i Office of the ing the Peace Statement into the hands of Environment for Taiwan was established in Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on 11 1989. August at the Chitrlada Palace. Over 3,000 Between 1988 and 1990, the Hand of people were present, representing a whole the Cause of God Amatu'l-Baha Rul_1iyyih range of business, cultural, social, and other Khanum, accompanied by Mrs. Violette organizations. Copies of the Statement were Na~avani , visited mainland China four later presented to the King and Queen and times. She met with numerous prominent the Prime Minister, tluáough their secretaries. people, particularly in Beijing and Dalian, 310 THE BAHA'I WORLD

showing slides of her trip to the Amazon organizations working to solve problems entitled the "Green Light Expedition" to which the Baha'i Writings address. various distinguished guests, and addressed The National Assembly of tire Philippines students and staff at Nankai University in submitted two proposals to the Constitu- Tianjin, where both Martha Root and Agnes tional Commission in August 1986 for Alexander had spoken during their visits to possible inclusion in the new constitution. China. Her four visits included a one-month The proposals concerned the provision of trip, in summer 1988, to Guangzhou (Canton), free education and the principle of inculcat- Urumqi, Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Guilin, ing a consciousness of tire essential unity of as well as a one-week trip to Tibet in 1990. the human race as the only viable standard In the fall of 1989 she made a five-week for social and economic justice. In Taiwan, trip to Taiwan, during which she "circumam- the Ministry of the Interior organized a spebulated" that island, travelling over 2,000 cial seminar called "Resolving Social Ills kilometres and visiting some of the mass- through the Teachings of the Baha'i Faith". teaching areas, as well as its major cities; In Singapore, after a White Paper on the during this visit she presented a special copy Maintenance of Religious Harmony Bill was of the Peace Statement in Chinese to the published in 1990, the Government asked for Minister for Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, was feedback from the public, and the Spiritual received by the Minister of the Interior and Assembly submitted a statement. The Asthe Secretary-General of the National House sembly presented another statement on the of Representatives, and had interviews with core values the nation should be embracing several major newspapers. after the government requested opinions on While in the Far East she also attended a this subject. large formal banquet organized by the Spir- Respect for Baha' i contributions was itual Assembly of Hong Kong in honour of demonstrated in Macau when the Basic Law the passage, by the Legislative Council, of Consultative Committee invited the Spiritual "the Baha'i Ordinance" Act, and visited Assembly to send three representatives to Ulaan-Baatar in Mongolia for one week, in its first meeting with the Basic Law Drafting 1989. Committee from China in 1990. After pro- In addition to presenting Baha'i views viding written documents on the history and through meetings with prominent people and status of the Faith, the Assembly was asked presentations of the Peace Statement, the to submit its views to the Committee in a believers made contact with individuals and formal paper.

SEMINAR O N Auxiliary Board ELIGION IN THE ARMC member V. Thamil Chelvi speaking about individual transforma- Of THE S OR tion during an interfaith seminar on "The Role of Religion in the Harmonious Blending ofthe Soul Force" held at Coimbato re, India, on 12 Januaiy 1991. INT ERNAT IONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I A C TIV ITIES 3 11 Good relationships were also established Training courses for teachers enabled many with religious leaders in Asia. In October of the schools to expand their activities 1987 the Baha ' is of India co-sponsored a beyond mere functional literacy and numerseminar called "Religion in the 21st Cen- acy to include a range of primary classes . tury" with the World Conference on Religion Fourteen tutorial schools operated under for Peace. During the 1991 gathering of the the auspices of the Rabbani School Rural Asian Conference on Religion and Peace in Development Project in Madhya Pradesh, Nepal, Baha' is participated in workshops, India. The Proj ect served twenty villages in read prayers at the interfaith service, and pre- the area of Gwalior. The schools taught the pared a statement on the Faith for publication government curriculum plus moral education, in the conference magazine. A representa- personal health, and hygiene, each administive of the Baha'i International Conununity tered by the local community it served. was the only non-Buddhist speaker invited The Baha'is encouraged a number of to address a public meeting in conjunction educational initiatives at refugee camps in with the Asian Buddhist Conference for Thailand. In 1986 it was reported that a Peace in Mongolia in 1990. school at the Viehiamese "Site Two" camp had opened and was serving three hundred Social and Economic Development students in eight classes . Courses were Asia stands out among the continents for its taught in English and Chinese. In July 1986 progress in the area of social and econ0111ic a second school to teach English was opened development, with more than 530 proj ects with 90 students. Other schools existed at operating during the Plan. Tutorial schools, Khao 1 Dang and Khao 1 Dang Am1ex. academic schools, literacy projects, and Teachers at each of the schools contributed health care proj ects accounted for the major- their services voluntarily. In 1989 the school ity of the undertakings. at Ban Vinai refugee camp was reported to The Philippines operated a very successful have 150 students. programme of tutorial schools, each involv- Academic schools- formally established ing one or more teachers conducting classes institutions which had or were seeking official in reading and writing, character training, accreditation from government authoritiesand other elementa1y subj ects under the aus- also operated, employing fu ll-time staff, pices of a Baba 'i administrative institution. using rented or specially built faci lities, and In 1992 it was repo1ied that twenty such offering traditional academic subjects. With schoo ls in the Philippines were serving more over 1,300 students, India 's Tadong Baha'i than five hundred students, over half of School was the largest fu ll academic school whom were girls. operated by institutions of the Faith during The National Baha'i Development Institute the Plan. The school offered classes from in Bangladesh, which assumed responsibility nursery school through grade 10, having for coordinating development programmes earned the reputation as one of the best in the country in 1987, oversaw nineteen schools in Sikkim. tutorial schools serving approximately tluáee The New Era High School in Panchgani, hundred students. In 1991 the New Garden India, continued to successfully háanslate the School, operating from the National Baba 'i ideals of Baha'i education into notable Cenháe, reported an enrolment of 56 stu- ach ievements. Having statied operation in dents . 1945, New Era is one of the longest-estab- The National Assembly of India oversaw lished Baha'i schools in the world. By the the largest system of tutorial schools in the close of the Plan, it was offering schooling Baha'i world, with nearly two hundred pro- for over 550 boarders and 130 day students grammes and more than 10,500 students. from kindergarten through grade 12. 312 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu 'l-Baha Rilhiyyih Khanum visiting with students fi"om the School of Nations in Macau on 4 May 1989.

The Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi (left) , presents the "Indira Gandhi Friends of Trees Award- 1986 " to the Rabbani School.

Above: Pupils during one of their classes at the Tadong School in Ranipul, Sikkim, in I 99 I.

Left: Participants in the Baha 'i Children's Institute held in Lantt Matang, Malaysia, from 7 to I 3 December I 987. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 313 In 1986 half of the grade 12 students at In 1991 the National Spiritual Assembly New Era passed their examinations with dis- outlined the first phase of the National tinction. In 1989 the grade I 0 results helped Baha'i Literacy Mission, which was develplace the school in the "merit" level among oped in consultation with the Indian Task the schools in India. The School's academic Force for International Literacy Year. The programme was recognized by London Uni- programme was proposed to take place in versity as able to conduct GCE "O" and "A" seven Hindi-speaking states, and to later level examinations, and the school was rec- expand to include Marathi-speaking states. ognized by the Central Board of Secondary Classes would be conducted by volunteers Education in New Delhi. The Junior College chosen by their State Baha'i Council in conwas also recognized by the Maharashtra sultation with their Local Assembly and the Board of Education. During 1990 the science Auxiliary Board members. stream of the Junior College was begun, and The Department of Social and Economic a one-year kindergarten was re-established. Development oflndia assumed responsibility The Santitham School in Thailand, which for coordinating the training and an-anging the Baha' is began operating in 1971, em- for the production and distribution of literbarked on a large-scale programme of capital acy materials. The proposal emphasized the development over the period 1982- 1992. In importance of involving the State Baha'i 1991 it was reported that the school had Councils, the Local Spiritual Assemblies, 50 students enrolled in the nursery school, and the Auxiliary Board members and their 242 in the kindergarten, thirteen in the assistants in monitoring the programme. newly opened first primary grade class, and The first training session was held in 35 in the commercial section. Delhi in March 1991. The last two days Baha'i principles were also incorporated were devoted to the preparation of literacy into the curriculum of the privately-operated materials in Hindi, which were soon field School of the Nations in Macau, which tested and made available to all Hindibegan operating in 1988. Offering a bilin- speaking areas of the country. In November gual programme in English and Chinese, the 1991 literacy materials began being develschool was serving 270 students represent- oped in the Marathi language. Both the ing thirty-four nationalities by the end of the Hindi and Marathi materials offered a philo- Plan. sophical background, teachers' notes, and Baha'i efforts to promote literacy, both practical lesson plans. through assisting with established pro- By 1992 it was reported that literacy grammes and developing new ones, received classes, using the materials developed added stimulus when the Universal House of th.rough the programme, had commenced in Justice sent a letter to all National Spiritual Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Assemblies in July 1989 emphasizing the At the same time, literacy classes were also critical importance of giving people access to being sponsored regularly by the New Era the Holy Word. The House of Justice urged Development Institute, the Rabbani School, the believers to support the United Nations the Baha'i Vocational Training Institute for International Literacy Year 1990 and to con- Rural Women , and a number of local comtinue to seek opp01tunities to make progress munities. in this area . National Baha'i literacy pro- In Bangladesh, courses in literacy and grammes evolved during the Plan, with the vocational training were offered by the development of appropriate literacy materi- Baha'i Hostel to teenage boys from tribal als being given greater priority. Nowhere villages. The students were also deepened in was this process more noticeable than in the Faith so that they could assist with teach- India. ing, deepening, consolidation of Spiritual 3 14 THE BA HA' I WORLD

Assemblies, and teaching children's classes. surprised at how much they could teach their All the gradu ates from the first year's course children through games and discussion. The achieved full literacy, and were expected to women themselves seemed also to fe el more return to the villages to assist with teaching aware of their own potential. They began in the tutorial schools. to come forward to participate, offer ideas, The third major type of development organize, and most significant of all, to lead. proj ect undertaken in Asia, besides schools In this aspect the project was a definite sucand literacy proj ects, involved health educa- cess in training more women local managers tion and medical services. and developing the status of women. A Health Awareness Project was launched The project also stimulated other develin 1989 by the National Baha' i Women's opment activities in the area. Conmmnity Conunittee of Malaysia, in response to members became aware of their need to do requests from women from different areas more for themselves and thus to take on of the country. The obj ective of the five-year other development projects such as the pavprogramme was to assist women to be more ing of a di1t track, literacy classes, and self-reliant by providing education in health educational activities for children. and child development. A variety of medical services was offered The progranune was implemented in in Bangladesh, one of the most extensive three mral areas of the country at Bukit being medical camps to serve the needs of Tunggal Estate, Bintasan in Sabah, and people who could not otherwise afford Kampong Bugudiyan in Sarawak. The initial health care. These were organized under the response was enthusiastic and other villagers auspices of the National Baha' i Developalso participated. The medical officers began ment C 01mnitt~e , and many were held in regularl y visiting the villagers to check on memory of Hands of the Cause of God and conm1on problems, and the villagers them- the mattyrs of Iran. The progranm1e began selves, with the assistance of selected in mid 1986, offering treatment to over volunteers, learned about hygiene. 2,400 people in its first year. During 1987 The willingness ofBaha'is to reach these and 1988 more than 1,000 people were remote conmmnities brought much admiration treated ammally, and in a single month, and positive publicity for the progranune, May 199 1, more than 1,000 people received and the conunittee was invited to extend the ass istance at Khulna and in cyclone-ravaged proj ect. This second phase involved ten areas of the country. A further 475 people low-income areas throughout Malaysia with received treatment at six camps held during seven different etlmic groups , and was September 199 1. successfull y completed in 1990. Education The Glory Clinic, which began operations in health and chil d development was in Febrnary 1985 , continued to provide free offered, and mothers were helped to create or low-cost medical services to the people an improved learning environment for the ofRajshahi , Bangladesh. By 1992, the clinic children and to develop resource centres for was serving about 2,000 people annually. their communities. Another health care service project The in1pact of the project was ev ident in conunenced in Bangladesh in June 1990 to the improved cleanliness of the conmmnities provide primary hea lth care to people in vilinvolved and in the increasing number of lages near the site of the future Masluáiqu ' 1- health-related questions posed. Very often Adhk<ir. The programme included medical in the more remote and conservative areas, check-ups and the provision of medicines women would ask questions related to for minor ailments. One doctor visited the myths, fa llacies, and superstitions about site every two weeks, and complicated cases health . Women in the ten communities were were referred to the nearest hospital. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF C URRENT BAI-IA'i ACTIVITIES 315 In July 1991 , a health project started as Quetta, and Rawalpindi. As a result, thouan outreach programme of the New Garden sands of people received medical care. School in Bangladesh. The purpose of the In August 1986, it was proposed that a project was to provide basic health educa- health education programme be started for tion on personal and environmental hygiene the Mangyan people in the Philippines . The to children attending the school and to their Baha'i community focused on improving the mothers. health of the children in Mansalay through Baha'i communities throughout India immunization, and by helping the existing also offered medical treatment to isolated health service centre. It also sought to propopulations or communities without access vide health education to the mothers of the to formal health care services. The extensive immunized children. health programmes offered by the Rabbani The project strategies included: training Community Development Project included tutorial school teachers in basic health sponsorship of medical camps, distribution education, conducting education campaigns, of Vitamin A and iron tablets, participation bringing the drugs from Meháopolitan Manila in immunization programmes, and education to Mansalay, establishing cenháes for immuon topics such as the importance of pure nization, and making home visits. The drinking water and of keeping the village project was supported by the Department of environment clean. Hygiene, disease trans- Health which provided some basic medimittal, infant care, nutrition for pregnant cines and vaccines and, in 1988, a fo1U1al women and nursing mothers, control of malaria, use of oral rehydration techniques, and an understanding of different types of fever were also addressed. Many of the activities conducted were in collaboration with regional medical departments. The New Era Development Institute in Maharashtra, India, sponsored a primary health care education programme which focussed on prevention. The programme's three elements were: a) training courses for voluntary community health workers, b) inservice training in which the community health workers returned each month for a one-day programme, and c) health education programmes in which films were shown and discussion groups conducted in the communities. For many years before the Plan, volunteer doctors in India staffed medical camps which successfully provided háeatment to a large number of people. During 1990 and 1991 it was reported that approximately ten medical camps were being conducted every year. In neighbouring Pakistan also, more than twenty medical camps were held annu- Dr. Sa eed Takizadeh during a three-day ally between 1988 and 1992, organized by medical clinic sponsored by the National the Local Spiritual Assemblies of Karachi, Assembly of the Philippines in 1987. 3 16 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Baha 'is and a govenunent agency unit on rural conmmnities. Students were trained, malaria control. encouraged, and assisted to establish service In Laos, 45 Baha'i village health volun- cenháes in their home communities. As with teers were trained in 1991. The programme the community development programme, emphasized communication skills and educa- the basis of this programme was the application techniques designed to encompass local tion of high moral and ethical concepts in health customs and conditions and seven a practical way oriented towards human elements of primary health care: health dignity, self-reliance, and service to the education, promotion of good nutrition, ma- community. ternal and child health care, immunization, India 's Rabbani School also oversaw basic san itation , treatment of common an extensive conmmnity development prodiseases and injuries, and prevention and gramme. The school fatm offered agricultural control of locally endemic diseases. training to the students, and enabled the A training session was also conducted school to attain self-sufficiency in food proat a university for 25 government health duction. Farmers from surrounding villages leaders, which resulted in Baha'is receiving were welcome to attend háaining courses official letters of recognition fro m the held on the school property, assisting them government. to achieve higher productivity. Nearly all Baba ' i development projects The school initiated extens ive waste land involved some form of education, but a reclamation activities which provided a few focused intensely on educating local valuable model for local communities. This people to direct the course of their own com- aspect of the Rabbani programme was conmunity development. In India, the New Era ducted in co llaboration with the Government Development Institute (NEDI) conducted a Department of Waste Land Reclamation , programme to train community development with the ultimate result that all available facilitators. This one-year course was land became usable, and productivity was designed to train the students to encourage substantially improved. and advise rural communities in planning Other community development activities and implementing their own social and eco- conducted at the school included village nomic development activities. health education, adult literacy classes, the The programme began in 1989, serving founding and support of fourteen village fifteen to twenty volunteers each year. Both schools, the promotion of the use of approspiritual and practical components were priate technology in villages (including the included in the programme, and during the promotion of smokeless, energy efficient three trimesters the following subj ects were cooking stoves), and vocational training covered: the spiritual and ethica l basis for both for students and for unemployed vill age development, communication and commu- youths. nity, women in development, afforestation, One innovative project in the area of rural adult education, community health, adminis- development in India, conducted in April tration and management, rural teclmology, 1988, used the medium of drama to motivate agriculture, children's education, and public tribal villagers in self-development. The speaking. The students also spent signifi cant proj ect was organised by the Jhabua loca l amounts of time in host villages. centre of the Baha'i Vocational Institute for At the same time, NEDI's rural technol- Rural Women, Indore, and sponsored by ogy training progranm1e worked to provide CAPART (Ministry of Rural Development vocational skills and knowledge to rural Gove1m11ent oflndia). youth and thus enable them to earn an The proj ect operated in five villages in income while providing serv ices needed in the Tirnbua distr ict. Five organizers from INTERNATJONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 317 each of these villages were chosen and to collaborate with others in projects of trained in the need for mral development at social and economic development?" a vi llage level, deepening their own under- By Ric;lvan 1992, the Universal House of standing of the problems, needs, and demands Justice cited advances in the consolidation of village life and how to take initiative to of the Baha' i administrative system as one resolve them. Then these women created of the major indicators of progress in the plays using local costumes and folk music Baha'i community. to highlight issues relating to health, child One sign of institutional flexibility in care, hygiene, water sanitation, forest devel- Asia was the establishment in both India and opment, education, self employment, family Malaysia of State Baha'i Councils under the planning, and many other in1portant devel- National Assembly, due to the special condiopment issues. tions which applied in both countries. India established its State Councils at the begin- Maturation of Institutions ning of the Plan while Malaysia ' s first The Universal House of Justice, in its letter Council was elected in October 1991. of Ric;lvan 1987 to the Baha' is of the world, Increased communication and cooperation stated that when the Six Year Plan began, among Assemblies of various regions also the administrative institutions of the Faith signified greater administrative maturity. were already beginning to show signs of in- Joint regional meetings of the Spiritual creasing maturity- enough, in fact, to Assemblies of Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, prepare them for the task of fo1mulating Singapore, and Taiwan were established in their own objectives. In its Ric;lvan 1989 1987 and continued throughout the Plan. message, the House of Justice asked, "Have Joint meetings and institutes were held we not witnessed the increasing strength of between the Spiritual Assemblies of Thailand National and Local Spiritual Assemblies in and Laos. On the local level, ammal intertheir ability to conceive and execute plans, Assembly conferences were conducted in in their capacity to deal with governmental Pakistan, in addition to regional conferences authorities and social organizations, to re- of Local Spiritual Assemblies and members spond to public calls upon their services and of appointed institutions.

The Local Baha'i Centre at Ban Vieng Kham The local Baha 'i Centre of Mandalay, Tai, Laos, was dedicated 2 May 1986. Myanmar, was dedicated 4 January 1991 . 318 TH E BA HA' I WORLD

fn Tokyo, Japan , Baha 'is participated in a World Religious Book Exhibition, which was held from 19 to 2 3 July 1990. Baha 'i books in Japanese, English, and German were displayed. Th e official attendance number fo r the exhibition was 153,467 persons.

fn Beijing, China, Baha 'is participated in th e third International Book Fair, which was held from I to 7 September 1990. Bahil 'i books in Portuguese, English and German were displayed. Fair mganizers estimated that there were about 70, 000 visitors during the week. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I A CTIV!TlES 319 As Local Assemblies became stronger among the 1,500 public libraries throughout and more self-sufficient, they took on greater the state. responsibilities. In Singapore, incorporated In the state of Karnataka, India, Baha' is Local Assemblies began handling their own placed literature in four major libraries : the annual administrative work associated with Legislative Library, used by members of the maintaining incorporation, and several As- State's Legislative Assembly and Legislasemblies took on responsibilities which had tive Council; the Secretariat Libra1y, for the previously been canied out at the national use of government officials working in the level, such as organizing Holy Day cele- Secretariat building; the State Library, which brations, maniages, and funerals. Thailand is open to the general public; and the City reported that the number of actively func- Central Library, which serves the people of tioning Local Spiritual Assemblies tripled, Bangalore City. Most of the books were in and four developed to the extent that they the local Kannada language. created their own plans, became financially A set of twenty-four books was also preself-sufficient, and supported activities of sented to Karnataka 's State Librarian, who the surrounding communities. The National was so impressed with the volumes that a Spiritual Assembly of Nepal wrote, "No request was made for another two sets of the doubt the greatest progress during the Six same books to be distributed to the State Year Plan has been registered in the area of Libra1y, the Library's copyright section and the maturation of local communities." the Parliament Library of New Delhi. Singapore Baha'is reported that the hlrn- Distribution of Literature over of Baha ' i books in public bookstores The sacred task of bringing all humanity into indicated a demand for this literature. Comcontact with the Writings ofBaha'u ' llah was mercial outlets in Malaysia and Thailand pursued in Asia largely through participation were also selling Baha'i books. in book fairs and contributions to public and To make the Sacred Writings more readily university libraries, and through the estab- available to believers, regional libraries, booklishment of book depots and lending shops, or book depots were established in libraries. Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, and Baha'i publishers attended three annual Taiwan. In India, 110 book depots were set International Book Fairs in Beijing, China. up in 17 states, and 865 lending libraries In India, the Baha' is participated in some were created. 38 book fairs and held nearly two hundred The Baha'i Publishing Trust of Hong Kong book exhibitions during the Six Year Plan. was established in April 1992. In Hong Kong, thousands of people visited the Baha'i booth at the International Book Women Fair held in August 1991; more than 10,000 On a continent where women have traditioncopies of pamphlets and other free literature ally not been permitted to be full participants were distributed, and a substantial number in all fields , and have not received encourof books were sold. agement to think independently or to openly Baha ' i books were donated to universities speak their minds, great efforts were made in Korea, Nepal, and Macau, and in Laos the to help women overcome baniers to investi- Ministry of Culture granted pe1mission for gating the Baha'i Faith and to address the Baha' i literahire to be placed in the Lao needs of women in their conmmnities. PDR National Library. In one Indian state A dramatic departure from traditional the Baha' is received a request from the women's roles occurred when 62 women in Director of Public Libraries for three thou- India attended a deepening conference given sand copies of Baha' i books to be distributed by the State Baha' i Council ofUttar Pradesh 320 THE BAHA'I WORLD

at the Malhousi Baha 'i Centre in November There was a great spirit of camaraderie 1987. They came from thirteen villages, present among all the women." transported to and from their homes by jeep. Women's conferences were also held in Some were attending such a conference for Bangladesh, Japan, and Korea. More than the first time, and their enthusiasm was nota- 200 women participated in a national womble. In repo1iing on the event, the director of en's conference held in Myanmar in May Baha'i Tutorial Schools for Uttar Pradesh, 1988. In Malaysia, three women made a four- Mr. P.C. Agnihohi said, " ... Very often you day journey to attend a women's conference ask about miracles in the Baha'i Faith. This held in the village of Kg. Belimbing Besi in gathering itself was a miracle, where ladies February 1989, which atháacted fifty-five had come outside of their homes to discuss other participants from six communities. the evils of society and to give their views." In addition to working toward making the He called the event "a unique occasion for Baha ' i community fully reflect the principle enlightening the women of this area", sug- of equality, Baha'is made efforts to promote gesting that a women's winter school in the equality in the wider community. region could help to "activate the other half In Singapore, the Baha'i Women' s Comof India's strength, the ladies, who have mittee worked with the Singapore Council of been imprisoned within four walls for. .. so Women's Organizations, an umbrella body many centuries". of thirty-four affiliated women's groups. Large numbers of women were reported Two Baha'is served on the Executive Board to be taking up responsibilities in the Faith for a total of four years. The Baha'i Women's in Rajasthan, India, according to a report Committee also organized a "Women for from Counsellor Zena Sorabjee in March Peace" conference in 1988 which had fifty 1991 , who saw this activity as one sign of participants. the emergence of the Faith in this state. The On International Women ' s Day in 1988, community encouraged this pa1iicipation by Mrs. Shirin Fozdar of Singapore was given a having a bulletin for women printed in the plaque of appreciation for her work support- Hindi language. ing equality and women's rights . More than The first Training Institute for Baba 'i one hundred people attended the celebration women in Uttar Pradesh atháacted 29 pa1iici- organized by the Singapore Council of pants from thirteen villages. The event, held Women. Mrs. Fozdar was described as an in May 1991, took place at the Narayan Rao ardent champion of women's rights, an Vakil Institute in Malhousi. "Women were influential leader, an idealist, and a wellable to participate practically in every lesson known social worker. She founded the Sinthat was conducted," it was reported, "and gapore Council of Women, through which they asked many questions, giving an idea she worked to bring discrimination and malof the social conditions prevalent in their treatrnent of women to the attention of the villages, how they could be improved, and public and campaigned against the practice what the women could do for the bettern1ent of polygamy. Her activities included leading of their own lives and those of their families. delegations to international conferences, lec- "The principle of justice was emphasised. turing by invitation in various cow1tries, and Some of the women had not gone anywhere sta1iing schools for rural children in both outside their own village.... The evenings Thailand and India. were spent in singing and folk dancing .... It In Malaysia on 25 August 1988, National was an exháemely loving and united atrno- Women ' s Day and the Silver Jubilee of the sphere .... No-one thought twice about Baha ' i National Council of Women's Organizations women from different backgrounds meeting were celebrated, with the Baha ' is playing together and enjoying each other's company. a prominent role. The Malaysian Baha'i INTERNATIONAL SURV EY OF C URRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITI ES 321 Women ' s Committee was an affiliate of the residential training courses, and staff mem- NCWO and one of its most active support- bers from the Institute travelled frequently to ers. The occasion was attended by Her villages to stimulate interest in the pro- Majesty, the Queen of Malaysia, Sultanas of gramme, to support those women who had different states, the wives of governors, graduated from the Institute, and to consoliprominent women leaders, and 1,000 guests. date the gains which the women had The Baha'i Women's Conunittee was in- achieved. At the end of the Plan, the Institute volved in the organization of the celebration began seeking funds for a three year training and was entrusted with the production of programme designed to train two hundred souvenir progranunes for each function . A young women as community workers in Baha'i was one of three women selected rural communities around Indore. to represent the women of Malaysia m a The activity of the women of the villages pledge-taking ceremony. in the Bastar tribal area clearly indicates the International Women's Day 1989 was type of fundamental changes which the commemorated by the Baha'is of Bangkok, Institute endeavoured to promote. Among Thailand, with a two-hour progranune in a the prevailing social customs which they popular shopping mall. Hundreds of people challenged were child marriages, the dowry heard readings from the Baha'i Writings con- system, wearing of the veil, and the use of cerning women. Many pamphlets on peace drugs and alcohol. and women were distributed, and staff at the mall invited the Baha'is to propose future Strengthening Families activities which would promote peace. A truly Bahit ' i home is a true fortress The State Minister for Religious Affairs upon which the Cause can rely while of Bangladesh was among the dignitaries plarming its campaigns. 3 who attended the conference "Equality of The need to continue the work of creating Men and Women-a Prerequisite for World families based on equality between women Peace" held in Dhaka in September 1991. In and men and respect for the rights and addition, the president and general secretary responsibilities of all family members led to of the Bangladesh Women Writers' Associ- a focus on this topic during conferences and ation and journalists from several national special seminars. newspapers attended the talks. Ammal semi- Five regional Baha ' i family conferences nars promoting equality and special courses were organized in Bangladesh and ten marfor vocational training of women and girls riage seminars held in Malaysia. The subject were also sponsored in Bangladesh. of marriage and family life was also Just after the Plan began, the Madhya included in all national and regional confer- Pradesh Council of Science and Technology, ences of both countries and in winter schools Government of India, Bhopal, requested the and training institutes held in the former. Baha ' i Vocational Institute for Rural Women All the State Council/State Teaching in Indore to conduct a workshop on the Committees of India introduced the topic of socio-economic development of tribal women marriage and family life at least once a year in Madhya Pradesh and appropriate technol- during summer schools and conferences. ogy. Many representatives from government Twenty-five family conferences were held agencies attended. This was the fust work- in ten states and special material for guiding shop sponsored by a government agency at a parents was produced. Baha'i Institute. The work of the Baha'i Vocational Institute for Rural Women in India continued during 3 From a letter written on behalf or Shoghi Effendi, the Plan. The Institute offered a variety of 6 November 1932. 322 THE BAHA'I WORLD

A Mangyan Baha 'i family on its way to a teaching conference held in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines, in 1986.

Workshops on family life were conducted The Environment in Singapore and Thailand, and one national Baha'u'llah taught that nature reflects the and two local family conferences were held names and attributes of God and is the in Korea. Also in Thailand, a Baha'i doctor expression of God's Will in the contingent wrote and published a book called Bahci 'i world, and a number of Baha'i communities Family Life and produced two cassette tapes in Asia acted on this understanding by which were broadcast on the radio. contributing to the work of environmental In the Philippines, the Baha 'i Mothers ' protection agencies and initiating projects of Deepening Project of the Baha ' i National their own. In a number of countries, Baha 'is Teaching Committee provided guidance on became known as supporters of environmenthe care, education and training of children; tal education and protection. on maintaining a Baha'i atmosphere in the After the National Spiritual Assembly of home; and on cultivating rapport with hus- Taiwan established the Office of the Envibands and extended-family members. The ronment in Taiwan in 1989, the Council of intensive project began in February 1988 Agriculture of the Executive Yuan (Senate) with the holding of twenty-one Mothers' agreed to co-sponsor a series of teacher Deepening Classes in different parts of the training workshops on environmental educacountry. tion. During a twelve-week period in 1990, In Pakistan, at least ninety women the Baha'i community conducted 36 workattended classes on health, hygiene, and shops on environmental education for more feeding of infants which were held as part than 750 kindergarten and elementary school of free medical camps run by Baha' is in the teachers. Following this success, a second summer of 1986. series of twenty-seven workshops was held The Spiritual Assembly of Singapore in 1991. The Baha' i Environmental Protecreported that one of its community' s tion Education Programme was the first of strengths was its relatively large number of its kind of co-sponsorship between the strong Baha'i families. An increase in the National Assembly and a major Taiwanese number of identifiable Baha'i families was governmental agency. also reported by the Spiritual Assembly of An article on the Office of the Environ- Sri Lanka, which credited special confer- ment, published in Taiwan's largest evening ences, deepening materials, and individual newspaper, resulted in the Baha'is receiving visits to families. over two hundred requests for participation INTERNATION AL SURVEY OF C URRENT BA HA'i AC TIVITI ES 323 in a correspondence course they had devel- seminars, exhibits, displays, and contests oped on the environment. The Council of about the environment. Baha'is in Malaysia Agriculture also asked the Office to assist it and in Singapore spoke to Rotary Clubs in formulating its plan for protecting and about uniting efforts to confront environbuilding up Taiwan's ecological resources. mental problems. The Office of the Environment in Taiwan In 1986 the Rabbani School in India was also produced a radio series on the environ- awarded the "Indira Gandhi Friends of the ment, called "Only One World", which was Trees A ward" for its service in the field of funded by the Ministry of Education. The reforestation. An extensive effort had been fifteen-minute programmes began broad- launched in 1985 which included the plantcasting to 2,400 elementary schools across ing of trees and the development and the country in March 1992. maintenance of plant nurseries, both at the An exhibition involving more than sixty school and in smTounding villages. pieces of artwork related to the environment Recognition of Baha'i initiatives led to was organized by the Baha'i Women 's Com- invitations to participate in various projects mittee of Singapore in 1990. The "Aris for related to the environment. Singapore's Nature" display caused the Baha'i commu- Baha' i community was invited by the Minisnity to be recognized by the Ministry of the try of the Environment to gather signatures Environment and the Singapore Council of for the Earth Pledge to be presented at the Women 's Organizations as a major propo- Earth Summit in 1992. Representatives of nent of environmental protection. the World Wide Fund for Nature in Hong Baha 'is in Singapore also carried out the Kong invited a Baha'i to visit a nature "Grow With Nature Banner Proj ect" in 1991 , reserve and a conservation studies centre. organizing pupils from thirty-five schools to The Friends of the Earih in Hong Kong send eighty banners on environmental themes invited Baha 'is to participate in an event which were then displayed along a river. called "Ecology in the Light of Religion" In Thailand, the Baha'i community which then resulted in another invitation to worked with various agencies to organize speak on the issue.

Balui 'i children support Singapore's Green and Clean Week in November 1991 by displaying banners about the environment they had designed and put up along the river. 324 TH E BAHA'i WORLD

Know ye ofa certainty that in whatever meeting ye may enter, in the apex of that meeting the Holy Spirit shall be waving and the heavenly confirmations of the Blessed Pe1fection shall encompass all. -'A bdu 'l-Baha INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 325

D. AUSTRALASIA

DURING the Six Year Plan, there were a of ocean. While this presents unique chalnumber of highly significant developments lenges to the development of the Faith, it in Australasia, which reflected the growing also offers opportunities the like of which maturity of the various national Baha'i com- may occur nowhere else in the world. In munities in that vast region of the planet, many small countries of Australasia, the and the increased receptivity of its peoples Baha'i community has become a substantial to the Message ofBaha'u'llah. and visible proportion of the total popula- One of the most heartening features was tion, and the character of its community life the emergence into the forefront of Baha'i is readily perceived by all; thus its unity and activity of the indigenous believers in the harmony, the diversity of its composition, its Pacific Islands. The services rendered by the commitment to the process of change, its valiant pioneers are unforgettable, and are respect for indigenous culture, and its openyielding their fruit in the full involvement ness to new ideas are evident, and are of the islanders in the teaching and adminis- attractive to seekers. trative work of the Cause. This welcome These circumstances have also made it development provides a striking example of possible for the Faith to be proclaimed to the the practice of the oneness of mankind, and highest levels of government and to people offers the promise of the even more prodi- of influence in the society, with the result gious achievements of the peoples of the that the Baha'is have won the friendship and Pacific Islands in the construction of the respect of heads of state and of government World Order of Baha'u'llah in the future . in a number of nations, and Baha' i concepts Associated with this development has been and perspectives have been offered to the the great participation of the indigenous solution of the issues arising as these nations Baha'is of such countries as Australia, New seek to find their place in a fast-changing Zealand and Hawaii in all aspects of Baha'i and interdependent world. community life. In the light of these considerations, the Amidst culh1res which have traditionally future for the Baha'i Faith and its communot accorded to women the freedom to par- nity in Australasia must be regarded as ticipate as equal to men in the activities of extiáemely bright It must surely build on the society, the Baha' i community in Austiáala- impressive strength it has now acquired, and sia has attracted favourable attention for the proceed to victories of a magnitude which involvement of women in its affairs at all will astonish both admirers and adherents, levels, including service in its international and will propel it forward to the attainment and adrninistiáative institutions. Educational of its high destiny. programmes, training institutes and conferences have aimed to encourage and prepare Indigenous Peoples Baha' i women and girls to fulfil their Great as are the services rendered by pioordained role as full participants in commu- neers, and unforgettable as are the deeds nity life, and to encourage men and boys to they accomplish, "they cannot take the give their total support to such vital endeav- places of the indigenous element which ours. must constitute the bed-rock of the Com- The Australasian region is composed munity, carry on its own affairs, build its largely of island states, which have rela- own institutions, support its own funds, tively small populations and which are publish its own literature, etc. A mother separated from each other by vast expanses gives bi1ih to a child, but the child then 326 THE BAHA'i WORLD

A group of traditional dancers, Bahti 'is from Kimama Village in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, involved in a teaching project in 1989.

has to grow for itself. The older it gets, of the trip from his home to the Convention the more responsible it is for its own in Melbourne to devise a 6,500 kilometre acts. 1 route, visiting Baha'is and teaching along As teachers of the Cause reached a more the way. When he met with the believers in sophisticated understanding of how to share northeast Australia in June 1988, it marked the Revelation of Baha'u'llah in its purest the first meeting between Aboriginal Baha'is form without adding their own cultural from the far-flung northwest and northeast biases to the Message, methods of teaching regions. indigenous peoples evolved and greater On the south coast of New South Wales, numbers responded. Native peoples took the a tribal elder of the Yuin people enrolled initiative to teach their kin, and added their in the Faith in 1989. Well-known throughout unique perspectives to the consultative pro- the country, Mr. Gubboo Ted Thomas was cess through greater participation in the a keynote speaker at the "Earthwalk Conferadministrative order. ence" in April 1989, a major gathering at The Aborigines of Australia enrolled in Ayers Rock which was attended by indigethe Faith in large numbers during the Six nous people from North America, Africa, Year Plan, mainly in the relatively isolated New Zealand, and parts of Australia. region of the northwest. Several prominent Baha' is expanded their knowledge of Aborigines embraced the Cause, and the Aboriginal culture and provided opportunirespect and attention they commanded in ties for public education during several their cornrnunities induced greater numbers peace-related expositions they sponsored. At to listen to the Message. In July 1986, Jack one peace festival co-sponsored by Baha 'is Malardy, tribal leader of the Kanadjarrie in Caboolture, Queensland, in October 1986, people, and his wife, Lilly, became the first an Aboriginal pavilion displayed artifacts Aboriginal believers in the region of Bidy- from a museum, story-tellers recounted traadanga, Western Ausháalia. In the spring of ditional legends, craftsmen demonsháated 1988, when Mr. Malardy was 90 years old, their skills, and video presentations educated he was elected as a delegate to the National viewers about Aboriginal culture. When Convention of Australia. He took advantage Baha'is held an exposition in conjunction with a local annual festival in Herberton From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the N ational Spiritual Assemblies of Brazil , Peru , Shire, north Queensland, the same month, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, 3 Jul y 1957, in the Jittabul Aboriginal tribe of Ravenshoe The Importance of Teaching the Masses , p. 12. strongly supported them. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRE NT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 327

Baha 'is from all around Samoa converged on their National Centre in Apia in July 1991 for a National Teaching Conference. Many of the friends danced, p roviding an opportunity f or the children to see and learn cultural traditions.

Following the "Tablelands Peace Expo" in the audiences said they were delighted in May 1986, which was attended by 4,500 that they, and especially their children, could people, the Office of the Premier of New catch a glimpse of the beauty of their cul- South Wales, Special Advisor on Community tural heritage". Relations, wrote a letter to the organizing In a report about the activity taking place committee, saying that "yours is so far one among the Aborigines of northwest Australia of the most successful peace initiatives in during the Plan, one observer commented on the whole of the Commonwealth of Australia. the intangible aspects of the changes occur- You can also proudly take the title that you ring. "It is of qualities like gentleness and of have involved more Aboriginal people than emotional and spiritual bonds between peoany other peace initiative in any State or ple, that a revolution is being forged in the Territory." northwest. It is no media event. The profile One of the first teaching trips initiated stays low, but the roots of fa ith, without and undertaken by Aboriginal believers which no civilization can long endure, go occurred in July 1991 when two Baha'is deeper into the soil." from Queensland travelled to Kowanyama The Baha' is of New Zealand named in the remote "Gulf Country'', where they Maori teaching a priority for the Six Year enrolled six more Aborigines. When added Plan. The growing commitment of Maori to the existing community, this provided Baha'is to teaching contributed noticeably to enough believers to form the Local Spiritual an increase in enrolments. More and more, Assembly there. Baha'i activities incorporated elements of Also in 1991 , Aboriginal men, women, Maori culture. youth , and chi ldren from eight areas in Early in the Plan, a delegation of Baha' is northern Queensland, the Northern Territory, led by Maori Elder Ephraim Te Paa preand Western Australia, fanned a group sented copies of The Promise of World called The Storytellers as a means of sharing Peace to the first Maori Governor-General Baha' u'llah's Teachings with other Aborigi- of New Zealand, the Most Rev. Sir Paul nes. The shows included traditional dances, Reeves. Copies of the statement in both the singing, playing of the traditional wind Maori and English languages were presented instrument, the didgeridoo, and a play about after an exchange of Maori greetings, and at the connection between traditional laws and the end of the visit, the Governor-General laws suited to new times. A report on several bade farewell with a traditional Maori of their first performances stated: "Aborigines embrace . 328 THE BAHA'i WORLD

In 1987, New Zealand's National Con- and teachings of the Faith in conjunction vention was held on a marae-a traditional with study of Maori culture. Seventeen Maori meeting place-for the first time in believers attended the first course at the the thirty-one years since the establishment Kearoa Marae. of the National Assembly. A call to unity in In 1988, a Maori carving became a highly the Maori language was sent from the significant symbol of the power which gathering to the Baha'i World Centre, the Baha'u'llah's Revelation possesses to unite message stating that the momentous deci- and yet still preserve diverse cultures. The sion to hold the Convention on a marae had carving, a long spear-like Maori weapon tapped the spiritual reservoir of the indige- converted into a digging tool, was given as a nous culture. gift from New Zealand's Baha'i community Another first occurred when a marae was to the Bahe\. 'is oflndia to mark the first amlichosen as the venue for a major National versary of the opening of the Baha'i House Teaching Conference in October 1987. Coun- of Worship in that country. It was unveiled sellor Lisiate Maka of Tonga was given a during a moving ceremony in Whangarei, at customary welcome with full Maori protocol, the workshop of its creator, Master Carver to which he responded in his mother tongue. of the Tai Tokerau people, Mr. Wallace The National Assembly called the gathering Heteraka. The participation of some of the a "hallmark conference" symbolizing a tran- country's prominent Maori leaders and local sition the New Zealand community was dignitaries contributed to the stirring blend passing through. "There was a strong shar- of tradition and change. From Whangarei, ing of cultures and a welding together of the carving was taken to the Baha' i World groups in an atmosphere of joy and empa- Centre and then to the Indian Temple. thy'', the Assembly reported. The participation of Maori believers in The National Spiritual Assembly of New Baha'i community life steadily increased. Zealand acted to deepen understanding of The first Maori family pioneered during the the relationship between Maori culture and Plan, and in early April 1992, a large per- Baha'u'llah's Revelation by establishing a centage of the Maori Baha'is attended a Whare Wananga (School of Learning) for national hui (gathering) at Tanuwhara Marae Maori Baha'is in June 1987. The Whare to discuss initiatives of the Maori friends Wananga took the form of intensive courses and to consult on teaching and deepening. held on maraes at least twice a year in differ- An Auxiliary Board member reporting on ent parts of the country to study the history the event said, "Nearly every believer stood

Wallace Heteraka (centre), a Maori Baha'i from N ew Zealand, converted a long sp ear-like Maori weapon into a digging tool as a gift from New Zealand's Bahci 'i community to the Baha 'is of India ; 1988. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIV ITI ES 329 and spoke from the heart without feeling traditions and to draw on their particular intimidated. It was wonderful to see friends strengths as teachers. The name of the ongowho had never spoken before at any hui I ing project was suggested by indigenous have attended, speak quite freely ." Counsellor Betra Majmeto. The Baha'i population of the Mariana In June 1991 , about fifty Baba 'is repre- Islands, which grew from approximately senting Australia, Fiji, the Hawaiian Islands, 250 to 1,400 during the Plan, was reported to Kiribati, the Mariana Islands, the Marshall have become noticeably more representative Islands, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, and of the ethnic groups on the islands. On Tuvalu met in Samoa to prepare for the cam- Guam, a grassroots institute devoted to paign. A representative of the International teaching and deepening among Microne- Teaching Centre, all members of the Board sians met with unprecedented success during of Counsellors for the region, members of the final year of the Plan. More than 90 new National Spiritual Assemblies in Australabelievers, mostly youth, became very active sia, Auxiliary Board members, and the in the teaching work. On Saipan, substantial Knight ofBaha'u'llah for Samoa, Mrs. Lilian enrolments took place among the Carolin- Ala'i, were present. "We marvel at the ians and Trukese, largely as a result of power of the Holy Spirit which has instantly gatherings at the National Centre where created a Pacific family in an intimate atmo- Trukese believers shared the Faith and cele- sphere of joy, empathy and genuine love," brated their cultural traditions with their participants reported. "The Pacific Ocean relatives. will be set ablaze, turning the 'water hemi- In Tuvalu, all the teaching in the outer sphere ' into an ocean of light that will islands during the Plan was carried out by illuminate the earth with Baha'u ' llah 's local believers. Revelation." Near the end of the Six Year Plan, the This preparatory meeting motivated a initiative demonstrated by Australasia's group of four Samoan women, headed by indigenous peoples rose to an entirely new Her Highness Tosi Malietoa, to visit the level with the inauguration of the Ocean of Cook Islands for one week. It marked one Light teaching campaign. Inspired by the of the first times a group of women from Trail of Light project in the Americas, this Samoa had travelled overseas to teach the campaign in the Pacific sought to support Faith. The women visited the President of the efforts of indigenous Baha 'is to express the House of Ariki and Pa Ariki, and the the Faith within the context of their own Queen's Representative and his wife. They

In response to the call for travelling teachers to arise during the Ocean of light project four Baha 'i women ji'Oln Samoa travelled to the Cook Islands in September 1991. A welcoming fri end fi'om the Cook Islands is second fiwn right. 330 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Mr. Peter Kaltoli (centre) , the first local believer in Vanuatu, shown with members of the Continental Board of Couns ellors Bruce Saunders (right) and Sirus Naraqi; 199 l.

were given a Polynesian-sty!~ official wel- very quiet and stood at the back, but when it come by one of the local Queens, and they was his tum to speak, it was as though a travelled to the island of Mangaia, which light bulb had been turned on inside him. He never before had been visited by royalty. seemed to radiate from his love for During this visit to the Cook Islands, Tosi Bah::i 'u' llah. Malietoa was interviewed by radio, televi- A traditional Maori welcome began a sion, and newspaper reporters. To each of meeting held in New Zealand in January these she explained that the main purpose of 1992 to examine the role of the Maori and her journey was to promote peace and unity Pacific Island believers in the Ocean of Light among mankind. campaign. Organized by the National Spiri- The Baha'is of Efate Rural, Vanuatu, tual Assembly of New Zealand, the gathering exemplified the initiative being taken by was attended by 600 people, including Counindigenous believers when they organized a sellor member of the International Teaching teaching project to celebrate the Anniversary Centre Joy Stevenson, the Australasian Counof the Birth of Bah::i'u'llah in 1991. Two sellors, and Auxiliary Board members. Talks groups of about twelve Bah::i'is each walked were interspersed with singing and dancing from the picnic site where the community by Maori, Tongan, and Samoan friends, and was commemorating the Holy Day to neigh- participants reported that "awareness of spebouring groups of houses to share the Faith. cial forces set in motion by the Ocean of "Today is a Baha'i Holy Day," one of the Light campaign was heightened". friends would begin, and after a brief expla- Just before the close of the Six Year Plan, nation of the Faith, the teacher would say, the spirit of the Ocean of Light project "In honour of the occasion we would like to touched the community of Vanuatu in a siggive you a gift". Then the listeners would be nificant way. The events of March 1992 presented with copies of The Promise of dramatically demonstrated how hearts were World Peace in either Bislama or English, as opened when Pacific Island Bah::i'is prethe recipient preferred. sented the Faith to their peers in a traditional Baha'i men, women, youth, and children manner. all participated in this activity, and all of the As part of the campaign, Counsellor adults and youth took turns giving the talks. Afemata Moli Chang of Samoa, a traditional If a male spoke, then a female presented the High Chief, re-enacted the landing of his Peace Message, and vice versa. There was ancestors at Port Resolution, this time bringone youth who, according to the report, was ing the Message of Bah::i'u'llah. Samoans INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 331 had brought Christianfty to Vanuatu in the Cause their own and arising to serve in their 1800s. own unique ways crowned the achievements The people on the island of Tanna had of Australasian communities during the Six been eagerly awaiting a special message, Year Plan. believing that 1992 would be significant for them. They happily greeted Mr. Chang, who Activities Among the Chinese wore his traditional dress as a High Chief of The friends of Australasia also reached out Samoa. to the Chinese population in their midst. The One of Tanna's most respected chiefs, Baha'is of Hawaii reported that their efforts Chief Fangota, honoured Mr. Chang by to share the Faith with the Chinese popula- . presenting him with a kava root, a highly tion of the islands resulted in much greater valued cultural symbol. He said, "I give you diversity at Baha'i-sponsored events. "By the key of my life'', a statement which, the end of the Six Year Plan it was not according to custom, means that he and his uncommon to witness public events at the people will follow the teachings given to Baha'i National Centre filled to capacity them. with Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, African- Another chief told of a dream he had of Americans, Tongans, Hawaiians, Caucasians, a person coming to his village bearing aloft Fijians, Persians ... ". a bright light. This happened a few days The National Spiritual Assembly of the before Mr. Chang arrived on Tanna. He later Hawaiian Islands presented more than 100 had a dream of two horses racing towards Chinese community leaders with the Peace him. He put out his arms and was able to Message during the first year of the Plan and stop one of them. On Tanna, horses repre- regularly distributed fifty copies of the sent courage and power: the fact that he Chinese edition of One Country. When the could stop a horse confirmed to him that the International Society for Chinese Philosophy light that he saw in the first dream had the brought 200 scholars together in July 1989 power and that he must now join the Faith. in Hilo, a Baha'i presented a paper on the By the time of National Conventions at evolution of Chinese and Western philoso- Ri~van 1992, several countries had been phies toward a universal philosophy for touched, inspired, and challenged by the world peace and unity. The Baha'is were Ocean of Light and mentioned its influence granted permission to have a book and pamin their convention messages. This shining phlet display during the conference, and example of indigenous peoples making the conference officials requested sufficient

Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre Donald Rogers (back row fourth jiáom right) visiting Bahri 'is in Perth, Western Australia, in 1990. 332 TI-IE BAHA'I WORLD

copies of the Peace Statement to give to each Student Association at Waikato University. participant upon registration. Most of the Chinese people had never been The Local Spiritual Assembly of South in a Maori meeting hall before so their pri- Hilo established an annual Gordon Tong mary goal was to learn more about Maori A ward, named after a believer of Chinese culture and to teach people about Chinese descent from Hawaii who was killed while culture. Additionally, there was extensive serving the Cause. That Assembly also spon- discussion of the Baha'i Faith and its sored welcoming parties for Chinese students principles. entering the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Weekly firesides, Sunday afternoon talks, In 1992, interaction between the National and English classes held at the Cabramatta Assembly of Hawaii and the Worldwide Farm- Centre in New South Wales, Australia, ers Association resulted in co-sponsorship of attracted many Asian visitors to the warm a China Peace and Friendship Tour. Parti- atmosphere, with regular announcements of cipants constituted the first large group of activities made on the radio. Baha'i study Baha'is to visit China under co-sponsorship courses presented in Chinese were held sevofa Baha 'i community. eral times at the Yerrinbool Baha' i School. In Australia, several cultural evenings pro- Articles and advertisements about the vided forums for Chinese artists and speakers Faith appeared in the Chinese Herald, Austo share their traditions with Baha'is and the tralia's Chinese weekly newspaper with a general public and to learn about Australian circulation of 9 ,000 in all the major cities of culture. Distinguished Chinese scientists, the country. physicians, academics, and students attended such an event organized by the Baha'is of Peace Activities Sydney in April 1987. The evening, titled Foilowing the release of The Promise of World "Dragon Night", included music, demonstra- Peace in October 1985, Baha' is around tions of classical painting, and screenings of the world increased their involvement with cultural films. organizations and events promoting peace, In 1988, a multicultural evening in Aus- sharing the message of the Universal House tralia attracted more than 500 people, 300 of of Justice as widely as possible. Thus when whom were Asian guests from China, India, the Six Year Plan began, in the middle of the Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, International Year of Peace (IYP), Baha'i Vietnam, and Thailand. Highlights of the activity in this area was in full swing. A evening included an address by the Deputy- number of significant and well-attended Chairman of the Ethnic Affairs Commission events took place in Australasia. for New South Wales, musical presenta- Numerous peace expositions, festivals , tions, demonstrations of classical Chinese and fairs met with stunning success in Auspainting and cultural dances, and an expla- tralia . More than 4,000 people attended a nation of the geographic significance of "Festival of Peace" organized by the Local Australia with translations in Mandarin. Spiritual Assembly of Fremantle, Western In New Zealand, an unusual cross-cul- Australia, in September 1986. The two-day tural event allowed Chinese and Maori event included forty stalls, twenty-two people to learn about each other's customs. workshops, live entertainment, a programme More than 100 Chinese people met with for children, an art exhibit, and a film festi- Baha'is in a traditional Maori gathering val. In August 1988, a second peace festival organized by the Local Spiritual Assembly took place in Wes tern Australia, this time of Hamilton in consultation with the commemorating the 25th anniversary of Waikato Chinese Association, the Chinese Martin Luther King, Jr. 's famous "I have a Heritage Society, and the International dream" speech, delivered in Washington, INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 333 D.C. All the exhibitors, entertainers, and "Peace Messenger", one of only 300 organispeakers who participated in "Celebration of zations worldwide to be so named. a Dream" were presented with copies of the Significant peace-related activities took Peace Statement. A report on the event, place all around the Pacific. The Balla 'is which was attended by 4,500 people, said: of Fiji made major contributions to Peace "The unity and devotion of the Wes tern Week in November 1988, held to mark the Australia Baha'i community ... has demon- 20th anniversary of the National Council strated in undeniable terms the power of the of Women in Fiji. The Baha'i National Baha'i message and this has been clearly Women's Committee organized a devotional recog- nised in the comments from non- programme, which was highly praised, and Baha 'is praising the spirit and organization the believers participated in a peace march, of the Festival and noting the diversity of carrying a banner which displayed a quotathe Baha'i community." tion from the Writings of Baha'u'llah. An Also in Australia, a Peace Garden was article submitted by the Baha'i National dedicated in Toowoomba in 1987. The gar- Council of Women on the contributions of den is circular to symbolize the gathering of women to peace was published in the Fiji the races, nations, classes, and religions, and Times, and a group of Baha'i youth perhas nine pathways leading to the centre. formed a musical drama before an audience The Balla' is were recognized for their of 900 people. efforts by the Australian Government. In In Papua New Guinea, 1,000 people 1986, the Foreign Affairs Department of the attended a highly successful peace festival International Year of Peace Secretariat asked held in Lae in July and August 1986. The the Baha 'i community ofTasmania to deliver festival was opened by the Vice-Chancellor peace kits to all the schools in the State. of the University of Technology and attended Direct praise of the efforts made by Baha'is by the Premier of the Province. Panellists came from Mrs. Stella Cornelius, Director of representing many professions and several the International Year of Peace for the religions led seven seminars on peace. An Government. She wrote: "The Baha'i partic- opening concert was attended by 700 people. ipation in the International Year of Peace A peace exposition initiated by the has been inspirational. I know this to be true National Assembly of Papua New Guinea both nationally and internationally. Baha'i garnered the enthusiastic support of Port expos itions in 1986 have brought together Moresby Baha'is and prominent community dozens of seemingly diverse themes, and members. Held at the end of August 1986, thousands of seemingly diverse people .... the exposition attracted 2,000 visitors. A All over Australia, I have noticed with joy- high point of the event was a peace forum ous acknowledgement, how members of the attended by 250 university students, profes- Baha'i Faith have made themselves part of sors, and government officials. Counsellor other IYP programmes. With impeccable Tinai Hancock presented a Baha'i perspecobjectivity they have brought reconciliation tive, and eight other distinguished speakersto factions in the cause of peace-building. including the Governor-General of the country The history of the year must include how -delivered talks. much we owe to the Baha'is .... To all the In the latter months of 1986, several more participants I say: 'Your work for IYP will major peace-related activities took place go far beyond the confines of this year. It is in Papua New Guinea. On 2 September, a blessing for all times. '" the Baha'is of Port Moresby presented The In 1987, the United Nations Secretary- Promise of World Peace to the Central General designated the National Spiritual Provincial General Assembly and the Gov- Assembly of the Baha' is of Australia as a ernment of the Central Province. The 334 THE BAHA'I WORLD

In the Marshall Islands, President Amata Kabua (second from left), and First Lady Ernaline Kabua (secondfiáom right), join Bah<i 'is during dinner to commemorate the International Year of Peace; 24 October 1980.

The Baha'i float entered in the parade held in Apia, Western Samoa on 3 June 1987 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Independence of Western Samoa. The Baha'i float won third place in the competition.

Bah<i 'i youth with the float they created to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of the independence of the Solomon Islands. About 20,000 spectators saw it in a parade held in July 1988. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 335 Deputy Premier requested the presentation American-stopped to speak in schools, after he had received the Peace Statement in before community organizations, and on a private presentation the day before. radio and television, always emphasizing the On 24 October, the Baha'is ofLae hosted oneness of mankind. The ship's captain was seventy people, including leaders of the quoted in the Samoa News of 7 August as Government, the University of Technology, saying, "Once this is universally recognized, and the community, at a peace luncheon to humanity will then be able to develop a sysobserve United Nations Day. At the same tem that is fair for everyone". time, the Baha'is of Goroka began a threeday celebration of the International Year of Prominent People Peace which included the dedication of a Courtesy calls paid to government officials, Peace Park and an inter-faith prayer meeting public events organized to commemorate in the new park. special days, and awards banquets honouring In Hawaii, a Baha' i float with a world outstanding community service provided some peace theme won the first place Mayor's of the opportunities for prominent people in Award, non-commercial category, in the Australasia to become better acquainted annual Aloha Week parade in 1986. Multi- with the Faith. coloured flowers displayed the earth with The Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook two doves, and floral flags of many nations Islands received the Peace Statement in encircled the float. Parade observers and October 1990 during a courtesy call paid by television audiences equalled approximately Mrs. Violette Haake. It was reported that half a million people. he was most appreciative and stated that he To celebrate World Peace Day in Hawaii was very happy with the Baha' is of the Cook in 1986, the Baha'is took part in a Candle- Islands and their loyalty to the Government. light Peace Walk and released more than When Counsellor Haake returned to the 11,000 copies of The Promise of World islands in April 1991 , she met with the Peace through publication as a local news- Prime Minister, the Queen's Representative, paper insert. On the same day in Honolulu, and a number of other prominent people. the Local Assembly achieved publication of An Aux iliary Board member wrote in a the Peace Statement in the combined Sunday report about Mrs. Haake's visit that a noticeedition of the Advertiser Star-Bulletin with able change had occurred in the attitudes of an approximate circulation of 300,000. leaders toward the Baha'i Faith. "Every dig- Other peace-related events sponsored by nitary visited by the Counsellor was aware Baha' is included: a Peace Symposium held of the Baha'i teachings and knew some of on Guam which exposed the community "to the Baha'is," Auxiliary Board member the public as never before"; an inter-religious Teata Makirere wrote. On the Twelfth Day observance of the 40th anniversary of the of Ri<;lvan, the Queen's Representative, his UN Declaration of Human Rights at which wife and an attendant, the Speaker of the the Governor of Guam gave the primary Parliament, the Minister of Health and his address; and a national peace conference in wife, the Ombudsman, and the former Prime the Marshall Islands, co-sponsored with the Minister, Sir Thomas Davis, attended a Unity Peace Corps, called "What is the meaning of Feast. The Speaker of the Parliament comworld peace to me?" mented during the evening that "I can feel As these events were occurring, a group from your prayers, readings, and the talk by of eight young Baha'is was sailing the the Counsellor that your thinking and my Pacific in the Iron Butterfly to promote own thinking are the same". world peace. The youth-two Tongans, four Toward the end of the Six Year Plan, Sir New Zealanders, one Iranian, and one Thomas Davis, who had visited the Baha'i 336 THE BAHA'i WORLD

World Centre and consulted with the Uni- Amata Kabua-were welcomed to that State versal House of Justice in August 1986 (see with flowers or fruit baskets sent on behalf pp. 152-153), referred to "the new world of the Hawaiian Baha'i conununity. order perceived by Baha'u'llah" in a paper Earlier in the Plan, in September 1986, a written as his contribution to the Pacific delegation of seven members of the National Islands States and World Peace Project. Spiritual Assembly of Samoa met with the In August 1990, all thirty-one members Prime Minister of Western Samoa, His of the Constitutional Convention of the Fed- Excellency Afioga Vaai Kolone. The delegaerated States of Micronesia were presented tion presented the Peace Message and called with copies of The Promise of World Peace attention to the persecution of the Baha'is by members of the National Assembly of the in Iran, spoke of the principle of loyalty to Eastern Caroline Islands. The presentation government, and assured the Prime Minister was made during a brief recess in a conven- of the Assembly's willingness to sponsor a tion session, called by the President who special service in the House of Worship in announced the purpose of the pause. Three honour of the 25th anniversary of Western Baha'is came forward bearing copies of Samoa's independence, inviting representathe Peace Statement, each gift-wrapped, tives of all religions and strata of society to personally addressed to a delegate, and participate. accompanied by a letter from the National In the Western Caroline Islands, the Pres- Assembly. The Constitutional Convention is ident of the Republic of Palau, seven held every ten years to review and make members of his cabinet, and the Attorneyamendments to the country 's constitution, General all received copies of the Peace with the delegates representing the highest Message in 1991. The National Spiritual ranks of elected officials of the nation-state Assembly of New Caledonia and the Loyalty governors, senators, and congressmen. Islands met with one of the Melanesian High Welcome gifts were presented by the Chiefs from the South Province of New National Spiritual Assembly of the Eastern Caledonia after he had received the Peace Caroline Islands to members of the South Message. In French Polynesia, tribunal Pacific Forum during its meeting in Ponape presidents, mayors, military personnel, and in 1991. Dignitaries visiting Hawaii-includ- members of the Senate received The Promise ing United States President George Bush, of World Peace during a 42-day intensive former presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy campaign conducted by a team of local Carter, and Marshall Islands President believers in November and December 1991.

Photo of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha 'is of the Eastern Caroline Islands taken in 1987. That Assembly presented copies of the Peace Message to participants in the i.l South Pacific Forum in 1990. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 337 The Baha'i Faith became quite well- university professors, doctors, lawyers, media known among prominent people in Hawaii, people, United Nations personnel, ethnic as evidenced by the invitations the Baha'i council leaders, and consul-generals from community received to be represented at overseas legations attended. The programme important gatherings. In December 1988, featured musical performances, the reading the Director of the Baha'i Office of External of a passage from Baha'u'llah 's Writings, Affairs was among the 200 delegates and and a ten-minute talk. All guests were given observers invited to consult on Hawaii 's a copy of The Promise of World Peace and a future role in the Pacific at the "Governor's red rose as they left. Congress on Hawaii's International Role", The Baha'is of the Hawaiian Islands celeconvened by Governor John Waihee. brated Naw-Ruz 1990 with an International Baha'is were appointed to the Governor's Literacy Year Banquet which included the Commission on the Status of Women, the presence of fifty special guests. The Gover- Governor's Task Force on AIDS, and the nor of the State of Hawaii, a State Senator, a Permanent Commission for the Commemo- State Representative, the managing director ration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Week. of a television station, and the head of the Two members of the National Assembly University of Hawaii Institute for Peace were were the only representatives of a religion among those attending. among sixty-two environmental groups to be A special dinner in honour oflnternational invited to participate in the Governor' s state- Year of Peace was hosted by the National wide Earth Day planning session. Assembly of the Marshall Islands in 1986. The Governor of Hawaii invited the President Amata Kabua, cabinet members, director of the United States Commission on and other high officials were present. A sim- Civil Rights in Hawaii and the head of the ilar occasion for local and traditional leaders state's Affirmative Action programme to was held on the island of Milli. attend a presentation by the Baha'is of the President Kabua visited the Baha'i World statement, The Vision of Race Unity. Centre during his trip to Israel in June 1990 In Tonga, 200 copies of Complete Obe- (see also p. 129 and p. 153). In January 1992, dience to Government were published and the National Assembly of the Marshall distributed to government leaders to famil- Islands worked with the Continental Board iarize them with the Baha'i teachings on this of Counsellors for Australasia to host a subject. The National Assembly of Tuvalu reception for the President, members of the reported that Baha'is were well represented cabinet, foreign ambassadors, and the Presiin non-governmental agencies and at gov- dent of the Chamber of Commerce. ernment functions during the Plan. When the Baha'is of Australia held a spe- Baha'is created opportunities to meet cial service at the House of Worship in 1986 community leaders by organizing public cel- to commemorate United Nations Day and ebrations of Naw-Ruz and by sponsoring celebrate the International Year of Peace, special gatherings to commemorate events the Governor-General made an official visit related to the teachings of the Faith. and read one of the selections for the pro- One celebration ofNaw-Ruz in Auckland, gramme. It appears to mark the first time a New Zealand, in 1991 became an occasion Head of State participated in a service at a for sharing the Faith with community lead- Baha'i House of Worship. ers. The Local Spiritual Assembly invited Through the Human Rights and Minoriabout 140 guests to join 100 Baha'is for a ties Portfolio of the Office of External special dinner at one of the city's leading Affairs in Hawaii, the National Assembly hotels. Many of Auckland's city councillors, hosted at the National Centre numerous digdistrict court judges, high school principals, nitaries concerned with racial unity. Among 338 THE BAHA'i WORLD

those visiting the Centre were the founder Women of CORE (Congress of Racial Equality), the In a letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies president of the Hawaiian chapter of the dated 23 January 1985, encouraging the NAACP (National Association for the Ad- Baha' is to plan for the International Year of vancement of Colored People), and the Peace, 1986, the Universal House of Justice publishers of the Afro-Hawaii News. wrote: "Calling upon local and national In Hawaii, numerous prominent people Baha'i communities to sponsor a wide range were introduced to the Faith when they of activities which will engage the attention attended awards banquets sponsored by the of people from all walks of life to various Baha 'is. The Agnes Baldwin Alexander Award topics relevant to peace, such as: the role of for Service to Humanity was bestowed bi- women .. ." This challenge was taken up by annually, honouring individuals such as a the Baha'is of Australasia. chairman of several organizations in Hono- Throughout the International Year of lulu devoted to self-help housing projects, Peace, the Baha'is of Hawaii organized conand the head of the University of Hawaii ferences on "The Role of Women in Peace". Institute for Peace. Presentation of the During the following two years, "Especially Award in December 1986 was carried out in for Women" conferences were held on each conjunction with the presentation of a spe- of the major islands. A Pacific women's cial International Year of Peace Award to conference called "Empowering Women to United States Senator Spark Matsunaga. Achieve" was co-sponsored by the National Baha' is also worked to create links with Spiritual Assembly of Hawaii, the Local fellow professionals and religious leaders. In Spiritual Assembly of South Hilo, the Hilo New Zealand, a series of symposia called College Club and the University of Hawaii the Auckland Forum included speakers from at Hilo in the final year of the Plan. More a variety of backgrounds. In Australia, the than seventy people representing seventeen Baha'i Business and Professional Associa- countries participated in activities designed tion held regular functions with speakers to help women develop leadership skills. on business-related topics. The Baha'is of The Baha'is of Papua New Guinea orga- Hawaii sent representatives to professional nized a number of women's conferences and gatherings such as the State Conference on weekend institutes, and sessions on equality Global Education in 1988- 1989, the Pacific were incorporated into youth conferences. Rim Lawyers Conference, and the Pacific One national conference, co-sponsored by Educational Conference. A Baha'i also par- the Baha' i community and the Morobe ticipated in the Asia Pacific Dialog. Women's Association in July 1989, received At a special "Prayers for Peace" gathering significant attention from the media when in Hawaii in 1991 honouring visiting Pope several prominent people attended. Among Shenouda III, head of the Coptic Christian the participants were the President of the Church, Baha'i prayers were chanted and the National Council of Women, the President Peace Message was presented to the Pope. of the Morobe Women's Association, the Also in Hawaii, Bishop Joseph Ferrario Regional Member for Morobe Province in received the pamphlet "What is the Baha'i the National Parliament, and the wife of the Faith?" (see pp. 242-244 for the full text of Prime Minister. the pamphlet) and then requested 250 copies To meet one of the goals of the Six Year to be distributed among his church's leaders. Plan, the National Assembly organized a More than 200 professionals attended a talk regional women's conference which was by a Baha'i at a seminar held during the held at Moreguina Station, Cape Rodney, in International Conference of the Council of September 1991. Attended by over 200 peo- Churches in Canberra, Australia. ple from four provinces, the conference gave INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 339 many participants their first opportunity to A series of women's conferences was stand up and address a large gathering. A also organized in the Solomon Islands by the highlight of the event was the performance National Women's Committee, and women's of a drama portraying the life of Tahirih conferences took place every few months at which was written and produced by the Port the beginning of the Plan in Tonga. Baha'i Moresby Baha'i Women's Literacy Group. consultation was the topic of one conference Reports from a number of conferences in for sixty women in Tonga, held in October Papua New Guinea mentioned that contrary 1986; the topic was new to the women of to traditional custom, the men took care of Ma' ufanga, who responded with enthusiasm. the cooking, washing, water-fetching, and One particularly successful women's conchild-minding during the gatherings, thereby ference in New Caledonia and the Loyalty leaving the women free to focus on the dis- Islands highlighted the lives of Tahirih and cussions. In some remote villages, this was Bahiyyih Khanum as models for present-day considered a major achievement. Non-Baha'i women. visitors were impressed by witnessing such Baha'is served as representatives to variexamples of principle in practice. ous women's organizations, sharing their In New Zealand, more than 100 "hand- viewpoints and contributing to the work maidens of all ages" met in the heart of the already under way to raise the status of tribal area of Ngati Tuwharetoa in February women. A major breakthrough for Baha'i 1987, for the first women's hui (traditional women in the Pacific took place when, after gathering) . Members of the National Spiritual years of involvement between the Baha'i Assembly, members of the National Teach- International Community and the South ing Committee, and irnmigrant women from Pacific Commission, the Commission invited the Pacific Islands sang, prayed, laughed, Baha'i women from around the Pacific, as and confronted difficult issues together. members of a non-governmental organiza- Participants in another women's hui, held tion, to attend a Regional Women's Affairs in May 1991 at the Tutanekai Marae in meeting in Fiji in September 1988. The Rotorua, reported the following: "We South Pacific Commission is made up of addressed, with courage, conviction and twenty-seven member nations from the audacity, the diverse, frightening, challenging Pacific region, as well as France, the United and thrilling matters affecting us, our homes, Kingdom, and the United States. our families, our work, our intellect and our Two members of the Continental Board souls .... The result is that we leave here with of Counsellors in Australasia and thirtyour vision clear, our purpose unshaken, our six Baha'i women from nineteen Pacific zeal undiminished, our hopes undinm1ed. countries attended the conference, which was We know we are destined to achieve great organized to assist Pacific women policythings for our beloved Cause". makers and trainers to review the programmes Baha'is were among those who helped for women. Recommendations from the organize the first International Indigenous conference to the South Pacific Commission Women's Conference, called "Finding Com- reflected a weighty contribution from Baha'i mon Ground". Held in Australia in July pa1ticipants. 1989, and funded by UNESCO, the confer- The Commission also invited three ence was attended by more than 1,000 Baha'i women to serve as resource people women. The gathering began with a two-day on a panel discussion addressing health and celebration of the arts of indigenous peoples. education, economic planning, and rural Topics discussed during the conference development, in relation to women. included women and racism, education, and Following the gathering, the Baha'i pardomestic violence. ticipants met for three days to discuss the 340 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Two members of the Continental Board of Counsellors, representatives of the Baha 'i International Community, and Baha 'i women from 19 Pacific countries 1 attend a meeting sponsored by the South Pacific Commission and held in Fiji in September I 988.

relationship between the conference and the a music festival, at which a well-known Six Year Plan, particularly in regard to pro- band performed songs about peace, women, motion of equality in the Baba' i community. and a safe and happy home. When four When the six delegates from the Mariana judges presided over a competition among Islands returned home, the Baba 'i Public thirteen groups for best songs and perfor- Affairs Committee sponsored a post-confer- mances, the winning group was the Baha'i ence forum at the Hilton Hotel on Guam. Dawnbreakers from New Ireland. Baha'is The delegates, all featured speakers at the also set up a bookshop for the event and conference, shared experiences and impres- handed out flyers with songs, prayers, and sions of the conference, as well as their Baha'i Writings. recommendations for the next Women's In Port Moresby, two Baha 'is were invited Affairs Conference. to participate in planning the Women 's Day Other recognition of Baha'i work on events, and one of them was chosen to be women's issues came in New Zealand when Mistress of Ceremonies. The Baha'is took the Baha'i Women's Committee was invited part in all the activities-reading Baha'i to become affiliated with the National Coun- prayers, serving as judges for several events, cil of Women. The speaker who proposed presenting a short drama, performing tradithe admission during the Council's annual tional dancing, and singing in a choir. Baba ' i conference in September 1986 spoke appre- books, posters, and pamphlets were on disciatively of her branch' s good relationship play at a stand. "The word 'Baha'i' seemed with the Baha'i community. The vote of to be on everybody's lips through the day", acceptance was unanimous . one participant said. In Papua New Guinea, Baha'is achieved In 1986, the National Women's Council representation on the National Council of of Vanuatu asked two Baha'i women to help Women in 1989, fu lfilling one of their goals set up a non-political, non-denominational for the Six Year Plan. At the time of this women 's committee for the Port Vila municachievement, the Baha'is were already col- ipal area. The two women were subsequently laborating with other women's organizations elected President and Vice-President of a of East New Britain to prepare for celebra- committee of twelve. Eventually, a place was tions of National Women's Day. reserved for a Baha'i representative. Two In the town of Rabaul, Papua New Baha'i women also served for several years Guinea, Women's Day was celebrated with on the National Women's Council. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHki ACTIVITIES 341 Baha'i women of the Solomon Islands As efforts were made by Baha'is all over contributed to Women's Week in 1988, Australasia to raise awareness of women's which was sponsored by the Honiara Council potential and seek ways to remove barriers of Women. Baha'is marched in a parade; a standing in the way of women's progress, Baha' i prayer was chosen as the first prayer signs emerged of greater participation by for the official opening following the march; Baha'i women in the areas of teaching and and the President of the Honiara Council- a the administration of the Cause. Baha'i and the only female lawyer in the At the 1990 National Convention of Kiri- Solomon Islands-was chosen to deliver an bati, two indigenous women were elected to address . the National Spiritual Assembly, for the first For National Women 's Day in Samoa in time in the history of Kiribati. In 1991, a 1990, the Baha' is created a float in the shape Gilbertese woman was elected as chairman of a bird completely covered with fresh of the Assembly. In relation to this occurflowers and a sign that read "Equality of rence, Counsellor Ben Ayala said, "When I Men and Women". The Baha'i women was assigned to work in Kiribati over five walking in the parade with the float sang, years ago, the women were subdued-they "With two wings, we will fly ... " kept quiet. Gradually, with the constant The Baha'i Women's Committee of Fiji encouragement of the Auxiliary Board was represented at a national "Women in members, they came out of their shells and Development" conference held in July 1986. began to speak up . At the Convention all A Baha'i stall displayed pamphlets and women delegates very actively participated handicrafts. In July 1991 , the Baha' is of in the consultation." Australia were represented at the "Recogni- In 1989, the Baha' i women of the island tion for Women in Australia" seminar hosted of Yap in the Western Caroline Islands were by the House of Representatives Standing reported to be holding regular weekly meetings Committee on Legal and Constitutional at the Baha'i Centre in Colonia. Invitations Affairs, Office of the Status of Women and to the public to join these gatherings were the Department of the Prime Minister and being broadcast over radio repeatedly on Cabinet. Monday and Tuesday mornings. Eleven In March 1989, United Nations ' Interna- women from American, Palauan, Ulithian, tional Women's Day was celebrated in and Yapese backgrounds attended the first Australia with a special service at the Baha 'i meeting and discussed the role of women in House of Worship in Sydney. Eminent working for peace in the family, the village, community leaders were among the readers and the world. at the service, including the President and The National Spiritual Assembly of the Vice President of the Women's International Marshall Islands reported that an "increase League for Peace and Freedom. of women's participation in the teaching In 1989, the Baha'i women of Guam work is witnessed in all Baha'i communities formed a Baha 'i Women' s Association- a throughout the Marshalls". step towards achieving some of their goals for A report from the Continental Board of the Six Year Plan. The purpose of the Asso- Counsellors in November 1988 relayed news ciation was defined as "promotion of the role of the active involvement of Papua New of women in working for peace in the family, Guinea women in the administrative chanthe community, and the world through edu- nels of the Faith, with the proportion of cation, spiritual enrichment, investigation of women on national and regional committees the true significance of the equality of men close to fifty per cent. The report also noted and women, and through appropriate philan- the full support for women's initiatives being thropic and social service activities". demonstrated by men. 342 THE BAHA'i WORLD

In Tonga, the Baha'i kindergarten Kolofo'ou Nuku'alofa is located in the National Bahd 'i Centre and is run by the National Children 's Committee. Only four of the twenty-one students of this Englishlanguage school are Baha 'is; 1990.

Education of Children The project began in August 1991, and by We prescribe unto all men that which will the end of the Plan, at least seven Baha'i lead to the exaltation of the Word of God preschools were being operated by local amongst His servants, and likewise, to the communities, with demand for more conadvancement of the world of being and tinuing to grow. Integral to the programme the uplift of souls. To this end, the great- was the involvement of mothers. est means is education of the child. To Progress was made around Australasia this must each and all hold fast. 2 in the area of developing curricula for chil- One of the most outstanding achieve- dren's classes. The National Child Education ments in the area of Baha'i education in Committee in Hawaii created a standard cur- Australasia came when in 1988 the Depart- riculum for Baha'i education and sent teams ment of Education in New South Wales, to meet with Local Assemblies and present Australia, granted permission for Baha'i model classes. In Samoa, a children's curricreligious instruction to take place in state ulum was developed, translated into various schools. Classes in primary schools in New vernaculars, and distributed to all Local South Wales grew to such an extent that Assemblies holding classes. Systematic lesparents asked for classes to continue in the son plans were also developed in Fiji. high schools. Later, the State Department In Papua New Guinea, the Child Educaof Education of Queensland invited a Baha'i tion Committee prepared a curriculum for representative to be present at meetings of primary classes. A resource centre for child the Curriculum Development Committee, education material and teacher training operand the State Religious Education Advisory ated in the town of Goroka. In the Marshall Committee voted to offer membership to the Islands, a manual written in Marshallese was Baha'i Faith. distributed to all Local Assemblies holding In Kiribati, a preschool project initiated classes. New materials for children's classes by a small group oflocal women and coordi- were developed in Australia, including five n.ated by the National Child Education textbooks and audiotapes of songs and Committee gained recognition from national stories. and international organizations, such as the Regular children's classes were held in University of the South Pacific and UNICEF. virtually all Local Spiritual Assembly areas in New Zealand, the Marshall Islands, and Baha'u'llah, fro m a Tablet translated from the Per- Tuvalu. Regular activities for junior youth, s ian, in Bahn 'i Education, p. 3. such as special camps, were organized in INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAI-IA'i ACTIVITIES 343 Australia and Hawaii, and an institute for Several musical performances drew quite pre-youth to study the Peace Statement was large audiences. "Peace Child'', a musical established in New Caledonia. drama produced in Hawaii by the National Spiritual Assembly's International Year of Performing Arts Peace Committee, had an average of 900 Music, dance, and drama acted as powerful people at each of three performances, in links between the various cultures of Aus- addition to a special presentation for more tralasia and the wide range of people waiting than 500 school children. A major television to hear Baha'u'llah's Message of unity. network also produced a prime-time news In Samoa in 1987, Baha'is were involved feature on the drama. extensively in Arts Fiafia, a celebration Also in Hawaii, a musical drama called honouring both traditional art fo1ms and "On the Road to Montgomery"-written, modem creative expressions. Baha'is helped produced, and directed by a Baha'i-was erect and paint displays, performed in the given a major perfo1mance at the War International Folk Dance Troupe, and dis- Mem01ial Convention Hall for Martin Luther played original paintings. Interest in artist King Week. Duffy Sheridan's portrait of 'Abdu' l-Baha About 1,000 people attended a musical led to a ten-minute television special on the history of New Zealand hosted by the painter and his art. Baha'is of Lower Hutt in November 1990 In the Marshall Islands, a number of peo- and held in Wellington's Michael Fowler ple were introduced to the Faith when they participated in a multicultural variety show to celebrate Naw-Ruz in 1991. Music and dance played important roles in conferences of Ausháalian Aborigines, and they helped to attract many people from the sunounding communities. Several perfonning groups went on tour, using their talents to spread the teachings. The Wildfire Theatre Group from Ausháalia toured every year of the Plan, offering a programme of music, dance, and comedy on peace themes. Their performances were seen all over Australia, in Eastern Europe, and in parts of Asia. Youth for One World formed in New Zealand and toured throughout the country and in Eastern Europe, Australia, and the Cook Islands. The Storytellers formed and toured among the Aborigines of Austráalia. The Rainbow Dancers, a twenty-person theatre group composed of Aborigines, Australians, Chinese, Maoris, Persians, and Tongans received extensive publicity on television, radio, and in the press for its per- Posing on a playground in Masterton, New fo1mances around Australia of ethnic songs Zealand, members of Youth for One World, and dances . New Caledonia 's music group a group which form ed in 1990 to use music Tcho Era toured New Zealand. to proclaim the Faith. 344 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Centre. Called "New Zealand Panorama", where the International Convention of 1988 the production was an official project for the and several women's conferences during the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary Plan were reported on television. In the of New Zealand's founding document. Pro- Eastern Caroline Islands, the text of Th e ceeds from the show benefited the Child Promise of World Peace was read in English Cancer Foundation. The Assembly reported six times on Ponape radio. it was the first time so many non-Baha ' is Baha'i-produced programmes were heard had gathered in such a prestigious venue and on radio and seen on television. "Practical heard the principles of the Faith. Peace" was the title of a four-programme series based on The Promise of World Peace Mass Media and aired over the National Radio network Press coverage of Baha'i activities increased of New Zealand. Produced by a Baha ' i for in a number of Australasian nations. The Radio New Zealand' s Continuing Education National Assembly of Australia reported Unit, the series was broadcast in September that media achievements were "remarkable", and October 1986. Also in October 1986, a with newspaper articles escalating from 45-minute documentary about the making ninety-five in the second year to 400 in the of the music video "Mona with the Children" last. More than 1, 100 articles were printed was shown on New Zealand National Teleduring the Plan. Radio programmes in Aus- v1s10n. tralia increased from seven to a final count In the Western Caroline Islands, after preof 100. At one point the Australian Broad- vious unsuccessful attempts to have Baha' i casting Commission requested a half hour videos shown on television, permission was interview with a member of the National granted in August 1988 to show "Mona with Assembly to discuss basic information about the Children". Subsequently, four additional the Faith. The number of television pro- Baha' i films were televised. The Baha'i grammes rose from four in the first year to media staff in Yap reported: "It has been genthirty during the final year. In July 1987, a erally observed that the airing of these videos seven-minute story on the Faith was broad- has created a ...respect for and acceptance of cast in prime time. the Baha 'i Faith and the Baha' is in Yap". To facilitate use of radio, the National In the Cook Islands, a thirty-minute Assembly of Australia prepared an introduc- musical fireside which aired in September tory Baha' i radio manual and distributed it 1990 began a series of four locally produced to all Local Spiritual Assemblies and groups Baha'i television programmes broadcast on with public stations in their areas. A data- Cook Islands Television. Other educational and base was also created listing all public informative programmes followed. Weekly stations accessible to Bah:i'is, and a large radio programmes were aired for several number of scripts and sample cassettes were months in 1989 in Ponape, Eastern Caroline dispatched to institutions and individuals. Islands. In the Solomon Islands , the National In Samoa, the involvement of Baha'is in Assembly was offered a fifteen-minute proany conference was published in local gramme on Radio Solomon beginning in papers. Radio Vanuatu featured news items August 1988. It marked the first time and interviews about the Faith on a number Baha' is were given time on this station, of occasions. Local communities in Hawaii which reached 5,000 villages throughout the were provided with public inforn1ation kits islands. on special events and Holy Days to use Radio Baha' i Hawaii, a weekly one-hour when contacting the media. talk show on the Faith, began in 1990. This Baha ' i news was also of increasing inter- led to an invitation for the Bah:i'is to join est to the media of Papua New Guinea, the Olelo Project, a programme to train INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 345 community organizations in the use of tele- which provided opportunities for new visivision. Baha' i programmes were featured at tors to enjoy the beauty and peace of the least four times a year on statewide televi- Temple and for Baha' is to meet people from sion, and a thirty-minute Baha'i programme different community organizations working on public access cable television was shown toward similar aims. every Sunday morning. The Governor-General of Australia, Sir Excerpts from the Writings appeared in Ninian Stephen, and Lady Stephen, attended the sole local newspaper of New Caledonia a service held in October 1986 in celebration almost weekly during the whole Plan. For of the International Year of Peace. These two years, the National Spiritual Assembly special guests were escorted into the House of the Mariana Islands placed selected Writ- of Worship by the Hand of the Cause of God ings in the region's major newspaper, Pacific Collis Featherstone. At least 300 of the 850 Daily News. Toward the end of the Plan, a attending were guests of the Faith, including Local Assembly in Samoa sponsored daily political and community leaders, media radio programmes which included prayers representatives, and a high-ranking Tibetan and readings in the mornings and at midnight. Buddhist monk. A programme for 200 chil- Hawaii's Office of External Affairs officer dren was simultaneously held in a large tent was invited to write a monthly column on on the Temple grounds. Afterwards, 1,000 "Unity in Diversity" for Aji-o-Hawaii News , people were served lunch on the lawns. in which he regularly quoted from the Baha'i The main service included the perfor- Writings. mance of a choir which deeply moved the guests. Following the service, a member of Houses of Worship Parliament wrote: "I felt that only in heaven The world of existence may be likened to would I enjoy such peace and beauty." this temple and place of worship. For just Several special services spoke to the as the external world is a place where the Asian population of Australia. In October people of all races and colors, varying 1987, approximately 170 people, forty-five faiths, denominations and conditions come of whom were of Chinese origin, attended a together-just as they are submerged in service with readings in various Chinese diathe same sea of divine favours-so like- lects, Vietnamese, Khmer, and English. On wise, all may meet under the dome of the the Chinese New Year in February 1989, Mashriqu'l-Adhkar and adore the one more than 350 attended a service conducted God in the same spirit of truth; for the in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and English. ages of darkness have passed away, and In June of that year, prayers for China and the century of light has come. 3 world peace were offered at a service The Baha'i Houses of Worship in Australia attended by 250 people. and Samoa continued to serve as meeting- Other special days commemorated by places where members of the diverse human services in Australia ' s House of Worship family could worship together in peace. In included World Environment Day and addition to regular weekly services, a variety United Nations International Women's Day of special services were devoted to various Eminent cornnmnity leaders were among the themes, such as the environment, children, 400 people who attended services for Interand peace. national Women 's Day in March 1989. The House ofWorship in Sydney, Australia, W arid Environment Day was observed was the site of numerous special services in June 1991 with a completely filled auditorium. 'Abdu ' I-Baha, The Promulgation a/Universal Peace, National Refugee Week, 18-24 June pp. 65- 66. 1989, sponsored by the Refugee Council of 346 THE BAHA'I WORLD

A special prayer service held at the Baha'i House of Worship in Samoa during the summer school in January 1987.

A day -long gathering for Baha 'i families and their friends held at the Baha 'i House of Worship in Sydney, Australia, in 1988. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF C URRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 347

Australia and by Austcare, was marked with attended a special service held to mark the a service attended by representatives of the culmination of a year of activities in support Department of Immigration, Local Govern- of International Year of Peace. Among the ment and Ethnic Affairs; the National 400 people present were the Prime Minister Refugee Council; Austcare; UNICEF; and and his wife, the Speaker of the House, the Australian Council of Churches. members of the Parliament, and members of Annual events at the Australian House of the diplomatic corps representing many races Worship included United Nations services and religions. Readers for the service attended by a range of prominent people, included United Nations officials; staff from and celebrations of United Nations Children's government offices, the University of the Day. For the latter event, invitations were South Pacific, and the Peace Corps; and sent to local schools and organizations and individuals from Japan, Tonga, and New advertisements were placed in local news- Zealand. A programme on peace took place at papers. At the celebration in 1992, twenty- the ancillary building following the service. five children read during the programme. His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II was Children also played major roles in ser- also present for a service in May 1987 comvices at the House of Worship in Samoa. memorating the 25th anniversary of the Universal Children's Day was celebrated in independence of the state of Western Samoa. October 1987 with the participation of Scouts, More than 400 people heard a beautiful Cubs, Rangers, Guides, Brownies, and Path- choir and listened to readings given by a finders. Altogether, 122 children and youth variety of government officials. After the were present, and twenty-two readings were service, the ancillary building was filled presented by children ranging from a four- with guests who witnessed the presentation year-old Baha'i to a teenage Scout. The cel- of a gift to His Highness: a large portrait of ebration of this day in 1989 included 200 the Malietoa rendered in oils by a Baha'i participants and focused on "The Rights of artist, Duffy Sheridan. the Child". The ancillary building was deco- Samoan Independence Day was comrated with the artistic creations of ninety memorated annually with a special service Baha'i children who had gathered for a con- in the Temple. ference just prior to the service. In 1990, following a parade to mark the When a National Youth Conference called 50th anniversary of the service of His High- "Youth for Peace" took place in Apia in ness Malietoa Tanumafili II to the people of October 1986, a special service for youth Wes tern Samoa, guests filled the House of was held at the Temple. Worship to commemorate the event. The Temple was honoured several times The Government of Western Samoa with the presence of Samoan royalty. In issued four new postage stamps of religious October 1986, His Highness Malietoa buildings in December 1989, one of which Tanumafili II and members of his family featured the Baha'i House of Worship. 348 THE BAHA'I WORLD

...the breaths of the Holy Spirit [should} be diffused to all parts of. .. Europe, that the call of the Kingdom of God may exhilarate and rejoice all the ears, the divine principles bestow a new life, the different parties may become one party, the divergent ideas may disappear and revolve around one unique center .. - 'Abdu 'l-Baha INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 349

E. EUROPE

THE drama of God's unfolding Plan played Europe ananged meetings to consult on itself out with special poignancy in Europe common goals and to plan joint teaching where, for the first time in many decades, projects. Such gatherings were coordinated the Faith was allowed to be openly spread among the communities of Finland, Norway, in the countries of the former Eastern Bloc. and Sweden; the Republic of Ireland and Although Baha'is had continued to live the United Kingdom; and Austria, Denmark, behind the Iron Curtain during the long France, Germany, the Netherlands, áand period of prohibitions against religion, and Switzerland. In April 1988, seventy believindividuals had been able to quietly lay the ers from twenty-five localities in Belgium, foundations for acceptance of the Faith in France, and the United Kingdom met to these regions over many years, it was not consult on ways the countries could collabountil the period of the Six Year Plan that pio- rate more closely in their Baha'i work. neers and travelling teachers gained the Representatives of European National Teachfreedom to openly teach about Baha'u'llah. ing Committees met in Paris in January 1990 One by one, the countries of Eastern Europe to consult on the final phase of the Six Year and the former Soviet Union lowered the Plan. baniers that had separated them from the Collaboration and unity among Counsel- West, and Baha'is responded to this oppor- lors, a National Spiritual Assembly, Auxiliary tunity. Board members, and teaching committees Such a challenge stimulated activity in bore sweet fruit in Portici, Italy, where a Western Europe. Europeans were foremost long-term project led to more than a 100 among the teachers who answered the call to enrolments in the first year. The initiative share the Faith with their formerly isolated began in 1989 and quickly galvanized the neighbours, and the excitement created by community, as enrolments stimulated greater responding to this urgent need could not enthusiasm for teaching. Counsellors, Auxilhelp but affect the ongoing work in the iary Board members, and the National West. Particular strides forward were made Teaching Committee organized systematic in the areas of teaching minorities, gaining deepening and consolidation, immediately legal recognition of the Faith, and advancing involving new believers in the consultative Baha 'i scholarship. process and the teaching work. Yet even close cooperation among the Teaching institutions of the Faith would not have led Sharing the Message of Baha'u'llah in to teaching success without the commitment Europe during the Six Year Plan was charac- of individuals to arise and play their roles. In terized by increasing collaboration among reporting on the successes of reaching goals the institutions of the Faith and by renewed of the Six Year Plan, numerous National individual dedication to winning goals, both Spiritual Assemblies in Europe noted an of which prepared the believers in Western increased commitment to individual teach- Europe for the unprecedented challenge of ing, and a trend toward setting and working responding to the opening of Eastern Europe. toward personal teaching goals . As the (For a more detailed account of the history National Spiritual Assembly of Iceland, for of the Faith in Eastern Europe and its example, reported: " ... the friends are stronger progress up to 1992, see the article on the Baha 'is, more knowledgeable Baha' is, more Two Year Subsidiary Plan, pp. 196-225.) dedicated Baha'is, and more vigorous, more From the beginning of the Six Year Plan, eager Baha 'i teachers than at any previous National Spiritual Assemblies in Western time". 350 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Some 800 Baha 'is attend the Great Eastern Conference held in Dieburg, Germany, in March 1987-shortly before the opening of countries of the former Eastern Bloc.

In March 1987, two significant confer- the Message of Baha'u'llah. The Spiritual ences bore witness to the important roles Assemblies of Austria, Finland, Germany, played by both institutions and individuals Italy, and Sweden were each given key in spreading the Cause. Both conferences responsibilities for directing the teaching were organized as forums for consultation work in these newly-opened countries. on the situation in Eastern Europe. The first When the Berlin Wall crumbled in 1989, gathering, held in Langenhain, Germany, the Baha'is of Germany responded with comprised representatives of the Continental speed and imagination, distributing thou- Board of Counsellors in Europe, the Euro- sands of copies of The Promise of World pean Continental Pioneer Committee, and Peace and sending almost twenty pioneers the National Spiritual Assemblies involved into East Germany. The National Assembly in the work in the East. It helped bring about of Germany also organized large-scale a common understanding of the situation in teaching projects in Bulgaria beginning in Eastern Europe, of the wide differences 1990. among the various countries, and of the need When the twenty-three-year ban on for the closest collaboration among the religion in Albania was lifted in 1990, Assemblies and Committees involved. The Baha'is from Austria, Italy, and Germany second conference, held in Dieburg, began making regular teaching trips to this Germany, and called the "Great Eastern country. Starting in 1991, Italy virtually Conference", was directed to the mass of blanketed Albania with travelling teachers in believers in Germany and Austria. It an organized campaign. In October 1991, included prayers, talks, consultation, and Italy arranged the first National Teaching music, impressing the 800 participants with Conference in Albania. the urgency of the teaching work and its Baha'i teachers from Germany, Ireland, importance in relationship to the develop- and the United Kingdom were among those ment of the Faith in the world as a whole. who developed the Faith in Poland. Partici- Both conferences were important enough to pants in Poland' s first summer school in be attended by a representative of the 1990 worked together on a service project Universal House of Justice. which they reported knit together pioneers, Because of such cooperation and commit- native believers, and travelling Baha'is from ment, when the baniers separating Western the various Western European countries. and Eastern Europe began to come down, The first pioneers to Central Asia, the Baha'is were ready to reach out with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania came from INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'[ ACTIVITIES 351

Western Europe. Among the individuals When it became possible to perform in Eastwho contributed to the growth of the Faith in ern Europe, the group undertook a threethe former Soviet Union were members of month tour of this vast region, delighting the Promise of World Peace Tour wh ich audiences and stim ulating teaching which travelled to the area in December 1989 led to many declarations. under the auspices of Youth Ambassadors Also contributing to the progress of International in the United States and the teaching in Eastern Europe were the musical Foundation for Social Innovation in Moscow. groups Light in the Darkness from Italy, the The idea for the tour was born when four- Dawnbreakers from Austria, Turning Point teen Soviet youth were hosted by Baha' is at from Ireland, and Dulcamara from Spain. a summer camp in Hawaii in 1988. In December 1989, a group of sixty-two Baha' is Youth led by Annette Donner spent five days in Before the countries of Eastern Europe began Moscow and four days in Kazan, becoming opening their doors in 1989, and Western responsible for the birth of the Baha'i European Baha'i yo uth flooded these areas community in the latter city. The Peace bearing the precious gift of Baha'u'llah's Statement was distributed during home Message, education had been taking place visits by youth and presentations to various and systems of communication had been institutions such as a university and a hospi- established to prepare th is Army of Light. In tal. Millions of Soviet citizens heard of the fact, the energy, dedication, organization, Faith during television and radio interviews and cooperation demonstrated by the youth with members of the Tour. of Europe throughout the Six Year Plan Numerous other Americans and Canadians made possible the historic formation of the helped spread the Faith in the former Soviet European Baha'i Youth Counci l in August Union during dozens of teaching trips orga- 1989, which in turn stimulated youth activnized by individuals as soon as this ity to rise to an entirely new level. (For a full opportunity presented itself. account of the events leading to the forma- Cross-border cooperation among European tion of the Counci l and the activities nations continued with an Eastern European initiated by that body, seep. 432.) Teaching Conference held in Hofl1eim , As early as July 1986, 150 youth from Germany, in March 1990. The event was fifteen countries, meeting at the Landegg Conattended by 950 Baha'is from at least twenty- ference Centre in Switzerland for a youth five countries, including Czechoslovakia, East school, resolved to share plans, projects, Germany, Hungary, Romania, the Soviet and reports of successes as they launched a Union, and Yugos lavia. Baha'i Youth Movement in Europe. They One of the greatest teaching tools in were insp ired and edified by the presence of Europe proved to be music, as exemplifi ed the Hand of the Cause of God 'A li-Akbar by the dramatic impact of the singi ng group, Furutan and 'At<i'iyyih Furutan. El Yiento Canta (see also p. 444). Formed A European Baha' i Youth Movement while its members were serving at the Information Centre was established in the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, the group Netherlands to serve as a channel for regular performed traditional Latin American music communication. A newsletter called Baha'i and taught the Faith following concerts. Youth Movement-Europe began publica- Toward the beginning of the Plan, El Yiento tion in August 1986. Canta dazzled large audiences in Austria, Just three months later, in October, Belgium , Cyprus, France, Gerniany, Greece, representatives of the National Youth Com- Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, mittees of Europe met in Strasbourg, France, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. to "forge lasting links of understanding that 352 THE BAHA'I WORLD

will bind the Baha'i youth of Europe for In October 1987, Irish youth and their years to come" and to make practical plans Baha'i friends from four other countries of action for the next six years. The twenty- walked sixty-four miles, from Cork to eight youth from eleven nations who were Limerick, on a March for World Peace. Sevgathered requested the Continental Board of eral hundred copies of the Peace Statement Counsellors in Europe to consider creating a were dish"ibuted along the route, including body that would provide direction and coor- one each to the Lord Mayor of Cork and the dination to European youth activities. Mayor of Limerick. Pa1iicipants said the Representatives of the National Youth example of recent martyrs in iran and Committees of nineteen European countries the unifying effect of the cross-section of took part in the first European Youth Semi- humanity the group represented eclipsed nar, held at the Landegg Conference Centre the physical strain of the long walk. The in Switzerland in May 1987. Three members National Assembly commented that the of the Continental Board of Counsellors in march signalled a change in the youth of Europe participated, as did members of nine Ireland, who showed themselves to be ready Na ti on al Spiritual Assemblies. and eager to carry the healing Message of Following one international youth confer- Bahci'u'Ilah to a waiting world. ence in August 1987, nine mini-buses filled Exhilarated by the success of a national with dedicated youth left Manchester, youth school held in the Canary Islands in England, for service and teaching projects April 1988, fourteen young Baha'is offered throughout the United Kingdom. The con- their services for projects in four towns. Subference had been attended by 1,3 00 youth stantial financial contributions were offered from forty-two countráies, and included nearly to support a travelling theatre group to teach fifty challenging workshops led by experts the Faith in the towns of Fuerteventura, one on topics related to careers, the contempo- of three inhabited islands lying off the coast rary world, the arts, and correlation of the of Morocco. The next month Baha'i youth teachings with current thought. Significant were given permission to paint a large wall features of the event included the eager mural in front of a university campus which participation of many ethnic minorities of led to a number of inquiries and a repeat of the Manchester area, an art exhibit, a Baha'i the mural in two other cities. The mural film festival, and the debut performance of a depicted representatives of different races Baha'i choir which was a Six Year Plan goal and the words, "The earth is but one counhy for the youth. and mankind its citizens".

Mural painted by Bahit 'i youth on the wall of a university campus in la Laguna, Tenerife, in the Canary Islands in 1988. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 353 Nineteen Baha'i youth from eight coun- Also in the summer of 1988, the youth of tries were among the 700 participants at the Norway experienced great success using a 44th World Esperanto Youth Congress held variety of teaching methods. In late June and in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, in July 1988. It early July, a series of service projects carried marked the first time an official delegation out by twenty Norwegian youth and two of Baha'i youth was invited by 'the World Swedish guests attracted much attention from Esperanto Youth Organization to attend the local people and tourists, and resulted in a Congress as observers. Baba' is presented newspaper article. Activities included painttwo lectures (one on consultation and the ing the exterior of a museum, cleaning a other on the Faith, accompanied by a slide beach, entertaining with music at five instiprogramme) ; participated in an International tutions, and co-organizing, with a local group Evening; comprised half the audience of an called SOS Racism, an international feast. inter-religious meeting during the Congress; In July and August, a four-week intensive and were the subject of an article in the Con- proclamation and teaching effort in the area gress newspaper. chosen to be the focal point of teaching in International gatherings continued: in Norway received extensive media coverage. August 1988, the first Iberian Youth Confer- The project began with a peace march led by ence was held in Lisbon, Portugal, with more a horse-drawn decorated wagon carrying than 120 participants from nine European youth who distributed invitations for firecounháies. The same month, a European sides and visited social institutions to Baha ' i Youth School was held at De Poo1t entertain with music. The march led to the Conference Centre in the Netherlands, with site of a sununer school which attracted 230 participants coming from twenty-four coun- Baha'is and guests from twelve counháies. tries. A distinct feature of the school was the Following the school, youth spent two support demonstrated by the national institu- weeks teaching. First they used a questiontions, the Counsellors, and the Auxiliary naire to interview peop le about peace and Boards. All nine members of the National held multicultural events in the evenings, Assembly of the Netherlands attended, as did one of which drew sixty non-Baha'is. Then Assembly members from Belgium, Canada, youth spent a week studying the enviromnent Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the and cleaning a main river in the city of United Kingdom. A special sub-committee Trondheim. set up teaching projects during and after the A new nation-wide enthusiasm for teachconference. ing in Sweden was generated by the Eskil

Th e Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Ugo Giaclwy (third jimn left) celebrates his 90th birthday during the summ er school held in Filipstad, Sweden, in July I 986. ' .. - 0 ! •••••••••••• :.----~~ 354 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

More than 500 balloons being released from San Marino 's main square during the European Bahiz 'i Youth Conference held in San Marino in July 1989.

Ljungberg Project, based in Uppsala and The spirit and participation of the youth initiated in January 1989. A team of six was still strong by the summer of 1989. Five youth greatly assisted the project by moving major regional "Peace Moves" conferences, to Uppsala, some to work full time on the held days apa1i, drew large crowds and activities. Newspaper articles on two major further galvanized the youth. The first of the events-a World Religion Day celebration gatherings, which took place at De Poort, and a cultural evening-were among at least attracted participants from fifteen countries. ten items to be printed about the Faith in the After intensely studying the writings of first two months of the campaign. Almost all Shoghi Effendi during the seven-day conferhigh schools and junior high schools in the ence, the youth committed themselves to area welcomed visits by the Baha'is, and honour their brethren in the Cradle of the weekly meetings in a rented centre attracted Faith by proclaiming and teaching the Faith a steady flow of interested people. on an unprecedented scale. The youth of the Netherlands reached out Significant public recognition was granted to their teachers in March 1989. All 319 the approximately 600 youth from twenty teachers at the Technical University in Delft countries who gathered for the regional conreceived a copy of the Peace Statement and ference in San Marino at the same time. The a letter from the Delft Baha'i Student Circle conference was held under the patronage of containing a plea for the coming together of the Ministry of Education and Culture of San science and religion as a necessary prerequi- Marino, with the collaboration of the State site for world peace. The project was reported Tourist Bureau. It was officially inaugurated in the Delftse Post. by the Minister of Education and Culture in Also in March 1989, 300 Baha' i youth the presence of the Minister of Transport and profoundly impressed the eminent scholar Communications, Tourism and Sports, who Professor Ervin Laszlo when they attended also gave a speech. Other guests included his series of lectures on evolution presented the Ambassador of Italy in the Republic of in Viserbella, Italy. Professor Laszlo was San Marino, government authorities, jourreported to have remarked on the maturity of nalists, and television reporters . The opening the Baha'i youth and the pertinent questions ceremony was broadcast on San Marino posed during a debate on the Laszlo theory. state television. A guest of Professor Laszlo, Professor Mazulli A delegation composed of one represenof Bologna University, also expressed his tative for each country taking part in the amazement at the capacity of the youth. conference, accompanied by the Minister of 356 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Participants in the National Baha 'i Youth Conference held in Sete, France, in 1989.

In the summer of 1991 , the European auspices of the European Youth Centre of the Baha' i Youth Council organized regional Council of Europe. In 1992, the European conferences in Estonia, France, Ge1many, Baha' i Youth Counci~ appointed a Repreand Romania, and launched sixteen major sentation Committee responsible for further teaching projects. During the course of the developing relations with European youth year, teaching projects organized by the organizations and other agencies on its Council in collaboration with national insti- behalf. tutions were carried out in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Signs of cooperation between National Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Youth Committees and their non-Baha ' i Turkey. peers included the following: the National In January 1992, the first European youth Youth Committee of Ireland became an conference on Baha'i activities in universities associate member of the country's National was held in Brno, Czechoslovakia. Twenty- Youth Council; the Youth Committee of four delegates from twelve nations consulted Luxembourg was invited by Luxembourg's on how to improve efforts in this vital area. National Office of Youth to participate in a One of the main functions assigned to the Youth Festival; and youth in Norway helped European Baha ' i Youth Council by the members of the Youth and Environment Universal House of Justice was to represent, organization and the World Wildlife Fund on a conti.nental basis, the European Baha' i to clean a river. Baha'i youth in the United youth with non-Baha'i youth groups and Kingdom were active in the British Youth other agencies. TI1is was done, while on a Council. A national youth conference held national level, a number of Youth Commit- in Germany to commemorate the 75th annitees also successfully forged links with other versary of ' Abdu'l-Baha 's visit to that land youth organizations in their countries . included an inter-religious service attended In December 1988, the Peace Moves by 280 people. Committee (the precursor of the European In addition to the workshops and semi- Baha' i Youth Council) was represented at a nars organized for youth by Auxiliary Board meeting of the Council of Europe 's European members, National Youth Committees, and Youth Foundation in Strnsbourg, France. organizers of surnn1er schools, Landegg Soon after its formation the European Baha' i Academy in Switzerland contributed signifi- Youth Council participated in the Second cantly to the education of European youth, Annual Conference on Intolerance held in providing a venue for their meetings and Strasbourg, in December 1989, under the sponsoring forums that spoke to their INTER NAT IONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 355 Education and Culture and by a representa- the conference were the emolment of seven tive of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is new believers, the dispersal of 100 volunof the Republic of San Marino, went to the teers to a dozen cities to carry out projects Government Building where they were organized by the National Teaching Comgranted an official audience by Their Excel- mittee, and contributions to the Arc Fund. lencies the Captains Regent (Heads of State) The remaining two Peace Moves conferof the Republic of San Marino. During the ences were held in Sheffield, England, and course of the audience, a proclamation was Thorshavn, Faroe Islands. read by the Italian Baha'i representative on These five conferences in 1989 marked a behalf of the whole group. turning point in the European youth move- Six articles were published before and ment. Participants reviewed the many teachduring the conference in the most important ing activities undertaken by the youth during newspaper of San Marino, thus increasing the first half of the Plan, rejoiced over the significantly the publicity already staited successes achieved, and eagerly anticipated when 7,700 invitations were sent to heads of the appointment of the first European Baha'i families residing in the Republic. Also, a Youth Council. After the Youth Council was number of copies of the Peace Message were formed in August 1989, it acted to further distributed among the citizens of the Re- stimulate and coordinate the teaching activpublic during a very joyful afternoon which ity, particularly in the newly-opened Eastern began with the release of over 500 balloons Europe. (See also chapters on the Two Year from San Marino's main square. Plan and on the European Baha ' i Youth With high spirits, the conference partici- Council.) pants joyfully am10unced the initiation of Beginning in January 1990, the Council an Arc Project Fund for youth in the name began sponsoring annual conferences for of the beloved Hand of the Cause Dr. Ugo representatives of European National Baha' i Giachery, who had just passed away. " It has Youth Committees to consult on the future motivated the participants to return to their direction of the continent's youth. In April home communities as ambassadors of the 1990 the first issue of the European Baha 'i Cause in order to obtain outstanding goals Youth Newsletter was published. for the Arc Fund, and to be the spearheads During the summer of 1990, the Youth of the maturation of the Baha ' i local and Council organized teaching proj ects in five national communities and to wholeheartedly Central and Eastern European cow1tries. The invite their peers to join them and become projects constituted the first formal Baha'i spiritual revolutionaries determined by teach- youth teaching enterprise in the formerly ing His Cause to break loose from the communist countries of Europe. manipulation of the old world order", the Youth from Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, youth wrote. The campaign eventually raised Hungary, Romania, and the former Soviet close to $200,000. Union were among those attending the 1991 The 700 youth from twenty-six countries conference for members of Youth Commitwho met in Madrid, Spain, for the third tees, held at De Poort. Also attending was a regional conference constituted the largest representative of the newly-formed Turkish group of Bah::i' is ever to have gathered in National Baha'i Youth Committee, and just that country. The reading of a soul-stining two months later that body organized two message from the youth of Iran and the Regional Youth Seminars reaching more active presence of youth from North Africa than 100 youth. The participants discussed posed a challenge to the European youth to the Mission of Baha' u' llah, transformation, seize their abounding opportunities to teach individual initiative, and the meaning of the Cause. Among the irmnediate results of having vision. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF C URRENT BAH A' i AC TIVITIES 357 particular needs. Among the offerings were By 1987, a Baha 'i not of Romani descent, forums for young adult Baha'i professionals Eliane A. Hopson, had been given the honour on topics such as "Reaching People of Capac- of representing the Romani Union, a nonity" and "Alternative Futures : the Baha'i governmental organization, at the United Model in Perspective". Annual symposia Nations. That year a Baha ' i delegation parprovided opportunities for youth to explore ticipated in the First World Romani Congress critical social issues in consultation with in Spain, where the leader of the Romani experienced adults . Union mentioned the Baha' is favourably. The representative to the United Nations Minorities reported that the Romani leadership was out- Minmities in Europe- including ethnic groups spoken in its praise of the activities of the traditionally excluded from power- received Baha'is in the interests of the Romani people. special attention from the Baha 'is. The She observed that the Romani Union leaders groups which responded with the greatest "hope to channel their ancestral resiliency enthusiasm to the Faith were the Gypsies 1 toward the social evolution needed at this and the Sami 2 people. time for their survival in a new civilization'', At the beginning of the Plan, Spain had and some of them look toward the Faith "for two small groups of Romani believers in two spiritual guidance and confirn1ation of their towns . By the end of the Plan, Romani and own hope for unity and progress". other Gypsy Baha'is resided in at least twenty- Good relations between the Baha'is and three localities, and accounted for the mem- the Romani Union were established early bership of five Local Spiritual Assemblies. in the history of the organization when its Several national consultative meetings were founder, Dr. Jan Cibula, a Swiss physician held on the subject of sharing the Faith with of Gypsy origin, accepted the help of a Gypsies, including an international confer- Baha' i in drafting the group ' s by-laws. The ence in May 1987. The National Spiritual Baha' i, a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly sent a compilation on the topic to Assembly of Bern, also helped the Romani all local communities. Union obtain accreditation with the United Romani artists in Spain, both Baha'i and Nations, since the group ' s aim is to preserve non-Baha 'i, pa1iicipated in a Flamenco Fes- the cultural heritage of the Gypsies and to tival organized by the Spiritual Assembly of unite their various organizations worldwide. Malaga to mark the end of the International The Austrian Baha ' i community actively Year of Peace, 1986. Original songs were supported an International Roma Summer perforn1ed before an audience of 200. The School organized by the Romani Union in Malaga Assembly reported that it was "the July 1990. Held in Vienna, the school drew first time that Romani Baha'is have pre- participants from all over Europe. The sented themselves in public to sing in Baba' is were invited to give talks about the honour of Baha'u ' llah. We consider this to Faith. Also in Austria, a Roma Club was be an outstanding event.. .. " fo1med by a Baha'i in Burgenland to assist Romas in that area. The term "Gypsies" is sometimes used interchan ge- Gypsies in Cyprus also showed interest in ably with the terms " Romani people" or " Roma peo- the Faith, and enrolments occurred among pl e"; however in some cases the term " Romani" them. refers to a parti cul ar sub-group of Gypsies. Many members of minority groups The term Sa mi re fers to indi genous peopl e of a region responded most enthusiastically to the Baha'i known as Lapland which compri ses northern Norway, Sweden, Finland , and the Kola Penin sula of Russ ia. teachings when they were shared by a It is so metimes used interchangeabl y with the term member of another minority group, some- " Lapp" . tin1es from across the world. When a 358 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

Romani (Gypsy) Bah<i 'is of Torrevieja, Spain, celebrate Naw- Ruz in 198 7.

Mrs. Meherangiz Muns if! (seated left) with a Gypsy family she met during her trip to Lappeeranta, Finland, in July 1987.

Participants in a teaching project held in Cyprus in 1991. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I A CTIVITIES 359 Peruvian Indian woman and her children set- In Sweden, contact was made with a numtled in Spain, the Gypsy Baha'i community ber of Sarni cultural agencies, and teaching in her area began steadily growing. The pio- among the Samis generally increased. A neer family had a special way of transmitting teaching project among the Samis of the Message from heart to heart and inspiring Finland, Norway, and Sweden took place for the Gypsies to further share the Message three weeks in April 1990. When the first with their relatives . Local Spiritual Assembly oflnari, Filtland, was The Sarn.i people of Lapland enthusiasti- fo1med that year, north of the Arctic Circle, cally received travelling Native American two of its members were Sarni people. Baha 'is. When an American Lakota Sioux Other examples of Baha'is reaching out Indian, a renowned hoop dancer and flute to minority groups include: the enrolment of player, visited Lapland in 1986 and per- large groups of Turkish workers in Gem1any fo1med in Sarni villages, his artistry and and in Austria after the Baha'is organized stories of the Native American peoples language courses, special unity Feasts, and powerfully affected the Sarni people. opportunities for cultural exchange; the cre- In 1987, two more Native Americans ation of a Regional Committee for the Basque travelled and taught the Faith in Lapland for People in Spain; and the emol:ment of indifive weeks, carrying their love and the viduals from Ireland's Travelling People. American Indian culture to the Sarni people of Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The teach- Recognition ers represented the Baha'i community at the During the Six Year Plan, governments, annual meeting of one of the major Swedish public figures, people in positions of author- Sarni organizations in Kiruna, above the ity, and religious leaders publicly and legally Arctic Circle. Then they continued to touch recognized the independence of the Baha'i hearts during their participation in the annual Faith and the importance of the contribu- Arctic Baha'i Midsummer Camp in Karesu- tions made by the Baha'i community. These ando, where one of them conducted a peace achievements signified ever-growing public pipe ceremony at the riverside. At one of the awareness of the unique nature of the Cause many firesides and public meetings held in of Baha'u'llah and the relevance of His Finland, a Sarni youth choir performed, and Teachings to modem life. Indian dancing was demonstrated. During One of the most significant breakthroughs the visit of one of the friends to a Lapp cul- occurred in Germany, where the Federal tural centre in Sweden, a Sarni flag, adopted Constitutional Court, the highest legal the year before for use by all Sarni people, authority in the country, affirmed the legalwas raised for the first time in history, in ity of Local Spiritual Assembly by-laws. In honour of the visiting Baha'i. February 1991 , the Court upheld the consti- Three Native Americans continuing the tutional appeal made by the Local Assembly tradition of the Trail of Light visited Finnish of Tiibingen after a series of lower courts and Swedish Lapland in 1988. Their visit challenged the validity of its incorporation. developed into a mutual sharing of cultures. The lower courts had based their decision on The highlight was reported to be the day six the grounds that the authority granted to the village women, five of whom were Sarni, National Spiritual Assembly in the by-laws came to a handicraft circle, and the conver- of the Local Assembly violated the legal sation lasted from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., principle requiring all legally incorporated covering such topics as the role of women in associations to be autonomous. With its the family and the world today, establishing a decision in favour of the Local Assembly, nmturing atmosphere in the village, cultural the Federal Court affirmed the right of minorities and their role, and world peace. the Baha' is to organize as a hierarchically 360 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Counsellor Louis Henuzet (left) receiving the "Peace Messenger Award" on behalf of the Baha'i community of Belgiwnfrom the director of the United Nations Information Office in Brussels: 1987.

structured legal community according to the granted official permission for the National revealed Law of God. Spiritual Assembly to hold its National Con- Because the German Court's decision was vention. The National Assembly also obtained based partially on the constitutional right to a post office box in its name and a telephone freedom of religious practice, the Court registered in the name of the Baha 'is of declared its recognition of the Faith as an Turkey. Also during the Plan, the religion independent religion, stating that "the char- section of the birth certificates of about fifty acter of the Baha'i Faith as a religion and friends were changed from Islam to Baha' i. the Baha'i Community as a religious com- These were significant developments in this munity is evident, in actual everyday life, officially secular but largely Muslim country. cultural tradition, and in the understanding In Austria, Baha' i credentials became of the general public as well as of the science accepted as essential documents for refugees of comparative religion". The Court even by Ministry and Police authorities for the took the rare step of issuing a statement to issuing of visas. In Sweden, the National the press explaining its decision. (For the Spiritual Assembly was fully recognized by full text, see p. 571) the immigration authorities as the proper The independence of the Baha'i Faith was authority for deciding who is a Baha'i. In the also affirmed in Belgium. In 1986, the fol- United Kingdom, the chairman of a Local lowing paragraph appeared in the official Spiritual Assembly was given the authority government publication, Impots sur !es to validate passport applications. Contribu- Revenus: "It is accepted that the Baha'i tions to the National Baha'i Fund of Denmark World Faith is a religion; its aim is to spread were declared tax-deductible in November the ideal of Baha'i life based on principles 1988, and contributions to the Local Baha'i of brotherhood, unity of mankind, and peace Fund of Geneva, Switzerland, were granted among peoples, as proclaimed by Baha' u' llah, the same status that year. In Germany, the Founder of the Baha'i World Faith, and on Baha'i House of Worship was classified as the development of Baha'i institutions in the a cultural monument under the Historical world .... " Monument Preservation Law, and a four- A number of milestones in the area of page article on the Faith accompanied by official recognition occurred in Turkey in photographs was included in a public school 1987. For the first time, the Government textbook. It was the first extensive reference INTERNATIONAL SURV EY OF C URRENT BAHA ' I AC TIVITIES 361 to the Faith to appear in a book officially Sikh, Christian, Zoroastrian, and African approved for use in German public schools, and American Indian leaders to take a more according to the knowledge of the National active role in promoting world peace". A year Assembly. later, the Baha'i community of Prato, Italy, Baha'i Holy Days were recognized in was recognized for its outstanding activities several countries and students granted in support of peace with an invitation by the permission to be absent from school. In Municipality of Prato to collaborate on an Germany, the Bavarian State Ministry for international meeting on peace. Two Baha'i Education and Culture sent a circular letter speakers were among the eminent scientists to educational authorities in January 1987 and physicians from many countries who explaining a new policy to excuse Baha'i conducted two days of seminars. students from school on the nine Holy A representative of the Baha' i Interna- Days. In the Republic oflreland, three inter- tional Community met with the Pope in July denominational "Project Schools" closed 1991 as part of a delegation from the Interon 12 November in observance of the Anni- national Council of the World Conference versary of the Birth of Baha' u'llah. In on Religion and Peace. The World Confer- Switzerland, the cantonal authorities in Bern ence on Religion and Peace represents about delivered a seven-page decision in favour of ten religions. the right of Baha'i children to be excused Baha'is in the United Kingdom were from school on the Holy Days. invited to send a representative to an historic In addition to being legally recognized, meeting of the Houses of Parliament in July the increasing status being accorded the 1988. The secretary of the National Spiritual Faith was demonstrated by the actions of Assembly joined representatives of Buddhist, public figures and institutions. This included Christian (Franciscan Catholic) , Hindu, invitations to participate in important inter- Muslim, Jewish, and Sikh groups at a gathfaith gatherings on an equal basis with ering in the House of Commons organized by representatives of other major religions . the International Consultancy on Religion, A news story by United Press Interna- Education, and Culture. Called the "All Party tional on 28 October 1986, reporting on the Conservation Group of both Houses of Prayer Surnnnt for Peace sponsored by Parliament and the World Wide Fund for Pope John Paul II in Assisi, Italy, stated that Nature, United Kingdom'', the meeting "John Paul exhorted the Baha'i, Buddhist, marked the first time speakers of Faiths other Hindu, Moslem, Jewish, Jainist, Shintoist, than the Anglican Church were allowed to

Jn Koy uslukow, Sivas, Turkey, a group of women who have just become Baha 'is are meeting to establish their Local Spiritual Assembly. January 1992. 362 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

meet in the House of Commons and present on the endowment land which the believers their views to both Houses. Each participant had been cultivating. The Ministry said that submitted a statement giving brief details of the Baba' is were the only recipients of this what his or her Faith was doing, or propos- kind of gift, as other groups had not handled ing to do, with regard to conservation, and government help in such a responsible way. why it was involved in the movement. The texts of the presentations were reproduced in Baha'i Scholarship U.K. parliamentary journals circulated to the By establishing and improving programmes parliaments of Australia, Canada, India, and for the systematic study of the Baha' i Faith, New Zealand. and sharing the Faith with scholars at In 1989, the Netherlands' Council of academic gatherings, the Baha'is of Europe Chmches invited the Baha'is to attend the advanced Baha'i scholarship and enhanced country's first Churches Day. The series of its reputation in the academic community. meetings and workshops was attended by The Landegg Conference Centre in about 16,000 people, including Christians, Wienacht, Switzerland became the home of Hindus, and Muslims, the majority of whom Landegg Academy in 1988, and began offerhad never heard of the Faith before. ing a series of seminars, conferences, and On 23 May 1986, representatives of reli- forums for Baha'is interested in serious study gions other than the Baha'i Faith joined of the Cause and the development of Baha ' i devotional services for peace in the European scholarship. Annual symposia for youth, on House of Worship for the first time. Dming such topics as conflict resolution and the the rest of the Six Year Plan, a number of global environmental crisis, provided opporinter-faith services were held in the Temple. tunities for participants to explore critical In a calendar distributed throughout the social issues. In September 1990 the historic Republic of Ireland by major companies in first "International Dialogue on the Transition 1988, the National Centre of the Baha' i to a Global Society", organized by Landegg Faith was listed first among seven religions, in cooperation with the Vienna Academy for under the heading "Major Religious Denom- the Study of the Future and the University of inations". Maryland, brought together eighty leaders of In Iceland, the trustworthiness of the thought from around the world to present Bahi'is was recognized when the Ministry papers and discuss the changing world order. for Forestry gave the Bahi ' is 3,000 saplings In August 1989, Landegg launched the of three different kinds of trees to be planted "Certificate Programme in Baha' i Studies"

CD Th e first International Dialogue on the Transition to a Global Society held at Landegg Academy in Switzerland in September 1990. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'f ACTIVITIES 363 (see also p. 457.) Designed to foster system- As an extension of the symposium, the atic Baba' i scholarship as called for by Ministry of Education arranged for two Shoghi Effendi, the three-year independent smaller symposia to take place at the universtudy course required participants to spend sities of Gjirokaster and Elbasan. The one month each year at Landegg and to meeting at the University of Gjirokaster was submit papers throughout the rest of the attended by over 200 professors, educators, year. The programme began with twenty- and students, and the meeting in Elbasan eight students from eleven countries. attracted 100 participants. In addition to the In November 1991 , Landegg Academy's symposium and its satellite meetings, a efforts to share the fruits of Baha'i scholar- number of other activities were conducted ship with a wider audience brought the by the Landegg team. These included dis- Academy into contact with educators in the cussions with faculty members of Tirana formerly isolated Eastern Europe. Landegg's University working to develop a curriculum Institute of International Education and on the philosophy of religion; a meeting Development collaborated with the Albanian with Ministry of Education officials about Ministry of Education to organize a national pre-school education; and consultations with symposium in Tirana called "A New Frame- the editors and staff of a textbook publishing work for Moral Education". Described as house who wanted to discuss ways moral "successful beyond all expectations", the education could be incorporated in school symposium was conducted by a team of books. fourteen Baha ' is from six countries who had In June 1987, the Dutch Baha'i commubeen invited by the organizers from Landegg nity officially opened the doors of De Poort Academy. More than 300 university profes- ("the gate"), a new conference centre built to sors, teachers, educational administrators, become "a centre of Baba' i scholarship and and students from around Albania attended. a beacon for seekers, not only for the areas A group of fifty participants travelled every in which it is established, but for the Netherday from the city of Durres on a bus put lands and the greater part of northwest at their disposal by the local authorities. Europe". During the remainder of the Plan, The main part of the programme consisted this venue was used for a variety of forums, of presentations by Baha'is: "Living in a seminars, and conferences. Rapidly Changing Society: Transition to Annual conferences of European chapters Maturity"; "A New Frame for Moral Educa- of the Association for Baha'i Studies contintion: A Di scussion of Guiding Principles"; ued to be held, including regional gatherings "Moral Capabilities"; "Spiritual Qualities"; for English-speaking, German-speaking and "A Pedagogy for Moral Education"; and "The French-speaking Europe. The Association for Role of Consultation". The plenary sessions Baha'i Studies for French-speaking Europe were chaired by the Vice-Minister of Educa- established contacts with institutions of tion. Albanians and members of the Landegg higher education and scholars, and organized team participated in panel discussions. conferences devoted to themes of general "D iscussion groups were lively", accord- interest. The proceedings of these meetings ing to the report. "At the beginning, the were published. Albanians were timid about participating in A new ABS chapter was formed in Spain, the discussions, but gradually they began to and its first conference was held in Barcelona express their own views. By the end, there in September 1988. Thirty of the 150 particiwas no doubt that the majority had accepted pants were not Baha'is, including prominent the framework presented to them and were people from the academic realm and the eager to apply it to their own individual world of art. At least four newspapers pubsituations." lished articles about the gathering. 364 THE BAHA'i WORLD

The Association for Baha' i Studies chap- thought, attempting an interdisciplinary apter in Austria established relations with the proach that included moral and social factors. Vienna Academy for the Study of the Future. Several Baha'is participated in a scientific Also in Austria, four public lectures were conference organized by the International held at the University oflnnsbruck. Society for General Systems Research in A course on the Baha'i Faith was taught Budapest, Hungary, in June 1987 (see also in the faculty of comparative religions at p. 459). At the request of the Universal House Belgium's University of Antwerp in 1989. of Justice, Amatu'l-Baha Ru~iyyih Khanum Dr. Suheil Bushrui taught the course while headed the Baha'i delegation which included serving as a visiting professor in the Depart- Mrs. Violette Na!sb.javani and Dr. Janet ment of English Literature. Khan from Haifa, and Dr. Ingeborg Franken Baha'i scholars took part in a number and Dr. Udo Schaefer from Germany. The of academic conferences. In October 1986, conference, held in a city visited by 'Abdu'l- Baha'is from several countries attended a Baha and much admired by Him, attracted "Physis" conference in Florence, Italy, held some of the foremost systems scientists from under the official sponsorship of the Ministry Eastern Europe and the West. They were of Culture and the City of Florence with par- drawn from such disciplines as mathematics, ticipation of the General Evolution Research physics, engineering, economics, manage- Group, the Club of Rome, and the United ment, and the biological and social sciences. Nations University. Physis is described as a A featured speaker was the President of the new science, integrating the living and the Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R. non-living, arising out of recent thinking Dr. Ervin Laszlo, a renowned scientist among scientists on the nature of man. Con- and member of the Club of Rome, had nected with the conference, Baha'i scientists encouraged the Baha'is to participate in the and academics hosted a reception for the Budapest meeting during a visit to the twelve members of the General Evolution Baha'i World Centre. He also requested that Research Group, headed by Dr. Ervin Laszlo. a paper on the Baha'i Faith be presented dur- A member of the New York Office of Public ing the section of the conference arranged by Information explained to the guests that the his General Evolution Research Group. This reception had been arranged to make known provided a rare opportunity to respond to an the Baha'i attitude of the harmony between invitation to make a presentation on aspects science and religion, and to acknowledge the of the Baha'i teachings at an international effort by scientists to re-examine scientific scientific conference.

Representatives of the Local Assembly of In verness receiving copies of the commemorative stamp issued by the Post Office of the United Kingdom to honour the famous potter and Baha'i, Mr. Bernard Leach. I 9 November 1987. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 365 Dr. Janet Khan delivered a paper entitled covering the event paid tribute to Forel's "The Baha'i Community as a Model for greatness as a scientist, thinker, social Social Change" which described the society- reforn1er, and dedicated servant to humanity. building processes of the Baha ' i community Another exhibit was displayed in the Centre and the operation of the Administrative Medical Universitaire in the spring of 1989. Order, using the language and concepts of A lso in Switzerland, Baha'i scholar Hafez genera l evolution and systems theories. The Sabet delivered a presentation on his book paper was very well received and elicited Die Schuld des Norden (The Debt of the many questions about the Faith, its teach- North) at the prestigious World Economic ings, its relationship to science, and its Forum in January 1992. manner of functioning in the world. Four representatives of the Baha'i Faith Dr. Franken, a physicist, and Dr. Schaefer, participated in an international conference a public prosecutor, participated in a work- on science and religion in March 1988 called shop on peace organized by a special interest "One World-Changing Perspectives on group of the Society. During the discussion Reality". Held at the University of Twente periods, they were able to describe the in the Netherlands, the conference attracted elements of the Baha'i peace programme 150 people. During workshops held to supand the activities of the world-wide commu- plement the main presentations, a German nity in sensitizing humankind to the need for Baha'i physicist, Dr. Ingo Hofmann, presenand the inevitability of peace. ted the concept that progressive revelation is When the Post Office of the United the spiritual parallel to the role of "time" in Kingdom issued a commemorative stamp the evolution of modern physics. He also honouring the famous potter and Baha'i, proposed that the role of "creativity" as the Bernard Leach, in October 1987, Baba ' is propelling force in physical evo lution finds made special efforts to inform the academic its parallel in the spiritual and religious commun ity of the spiritual aspect of development of human nature. Mr. Leach's work. In Northern Ireland, the At the New University in Lisbon, Portugal, Baha'i Information Office sponsored two Baha ' is participated in a special week set lectures by potter and arts academic, V ictor aside in June 1989 to examine the eth- Priem, himself a Baha'i. One lecture was nology, anthropology and sociology of reliheld at the University of Ulster's Art gions. A large display of Baha'i books, College, and the other at Queen's University pictures, and posters was arranged as part of of Belfast. The Arts Council of Northern a book fair related to the religious studies Ireland undertook major distribution of week. Speakers for the event were also publicity. presented with the Peace Statement. In Switzerland, exhibitions were orga- The New University in Lisbon was also ni zed by the University of Zurich to honour the venue for a Congress on Religious Professor August Fore!, a famous researcher Studies in which the Baha'is participated in medicine and natural science and a social in Jan uary 1992. A member of the National reformer who became one of the first Baha ' is Spiritual Assembly of Portugal delivered a in that country. One exhibition, held in 1986, lecture on the Faith, a Baha'i book exhibiwas attended by a number of scientists, tion was arranged, and several books were government representatives, and members of presented to university professors. Dr. Forel ' s family. Quotations about the In 1990, a French university requested a Baha'i Faith from Forel's testament were review copy of a Baha'i book to include in displayed, as were books, including For the a bibliography used by religious scholars in Good of Mankind-August Fore! and the 80 countries. The Universite des Sciences Baha'i Faith by Dr. J.P. Vader. The media Humaines de Strasbourg asked the National 366 THE BAHA'i WORLD

A Baha 'i staffing a book exhibition which was part of a Congress on Religious Studies, held at the New University in Lisbon, Portugal, in January 1992.

Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom Yugoslavia, was the site for an International for a copy of The Seven Candles of Unity. Book Fair in which Austria's Baha'i Book The same university previously had re- Distribution Service participated. The fair quested Unless and Until: a Baha'i Focus was attended by approximately 400,000 peoon the Environment. ple, and in addition to Baha'i books being Just prior to the end of the Six Year Plan, seen at the Baha'i booth, five Baha' i books twelve scholarly articles reviewing works of were selected for display at the booth of Baha' i literature were accepted for pub- a commercial English-language distribution lication in volume III of the EncyclopMie service "because they were expected to sell philosophique universelle. The purpose of well in Yugoslavia", the company representhe articles was to inform philosophers, tative said. theologians, and university students about the Extensive publicity about the Faith was philosophical implications of Baha'i teach- stimulated in Riga, Latvia, where hundreds of ings. This significant achievement marked Baha' i books were exhibited at the Latvian the first time the Baha'i Faith was repre- Central State Library in October 1990. The sented in terms of philosophy in such a books were in nineteen different languages, prestigious publication. including Latvian, Lithuanian, Armenian, and Moldavian. The exhibition led to three Distribution of Literature broadcasts on national television news of a The Sacred Writings of the Baha'i Faith were brief interview with a Baha' i; an interview increasingly made accessible to the public in on a very popular radio programme for Europe as Baha'is participated in book fairs youth ; and a ten-minute radio interview on a or exhibitions and signed contracts to make Swedish broadcasting station. Baha'i literature available in bookstores . The Baha' is of Funchal, on the island of From the Canary Islands to Yugoslavia, Madeira in Porh1gal, began participating in from Latvia to Portugal, major book exhibi- an annual local book fair in 1990. After the tions included Baha'i material. In the Canary second year, the community experienced Islands, books such as Bahli 'u 'llah and the greater receptivity to the Faith, being inter- New Era, Thief in the Night, and Religion viewed by three different radio stations, and for Mankind were found to be the most pop- seeing two local newspapers publish articles ular at book fairs . In October 1990, Belgrade, on the Faith. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 367

The Bahri 'i Book Distribution Service of Austria participated in " the International Book Fair held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Ji-om 24 to 31October1990. About 400,000 people visited the Fair, of whom some 2, 000 took introductory literature about the Faith .

Twelve Baha'i publishers from four and the New Era and The Promise of World continents were represented at the first Peace in Greek, and one store also sold The Geneva International Fair for Books and the Hidden Words and Selections ji-om the Writ- Press, held in May 1987. The Baha'i stand, ings of 'Abdu '!-Bahri. Baha ' is in the Canary which was visited by 40,000 people, was Islands increased their distribution of books dominated by a large colour photograph of to commercial bookstores; at least thirteen the House of Worship in India. More than a stores carried Baha'i titles. In Sweden, a hundred titles in eight languages and The contract was signed with a company to dis- Promise of World Peace in thirty languages tribute Baha'i publications to bookstores. In were displayed under the headings: Peace, the United Kingdom, trade representatives Family, Education, Religion, and History. were trained in selling Baha' i books to com- During the inauguration, the official cortege mercial outlets, which led to increases in stopped at the Baha'i stand while the president trade accounts and sales. In 1989, Oneworld of the Fair introduced the Faith to the guests Publications ' edition of Th e Hidden Words of honour and dignitaries who followed him. was among thirty books selected by a major Five Baha'i authors signed their books dur- book chain in the United Kingdom, Sherratt ing two special events, and constant contact & Hughes, to participate in a nationwide was maintained with dozens of journalists promotion on the theme of comparative relipresent at the Fair. gion. A quotation from The Hidden Words The long-standing participation of the was used to adorn the banners hung across German Baha 'i Publishing Trust in the the shop and window displays, and Sherratt Moscow Book Fair continued during the & Hughes acquired a large quantity of the Plan, as did involvement of the Baha' i Pub- books to meet the expected demand. lishing Trust of the United Kingdom in book In the Netherlands, Baha' i literature in fairs in Budapest, Hungary. The Baha' is of Frisian was accepted for sale by the General Belgium, Spain and Sweden also displayed Frisian Teaching Commission, the official Baha'i literature at book fairs in their respec- body responsible for education in the Frisian tive countries. language and culture. The Flysk en Frij, More bookstores in Europe began stock- the only weekly publication in the Frisian ing Baha'i books during the Plan. Several language, also published an extensive article bookstores in Greece carried Bahri 'u 'llrih outlining the work of the Baha'is' National 368 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Oneworld Publications' edition of The Hidden Words of Baha 'u 'llah (right) was exhibited in the win.dows of the book chain Sh erratt & Hughes, in the United Kingdom, for three weeks in July 1989, among other books on the theme of comparative religion.

Translation Committee and providing infor- Islands, France, Luxembourg and Spain, mation about the Faith. among other countries. In Germany, a When the Iron Curtain separating the East- National Committee for Maniage and Family ern Bloc from the West came down, Baha'is was established and offered many conferin Western Europe moved quickly to trans- ences on the topic. In the Republic of late the sacred literature into the needed Ireland, a sub-committee on parenting prolanguages. Selections ofbasic Baha'i literature duced a series of deepening packets which were printed and distributed in large quanti- were used throughout the country. One year ties in many Eastern European languages. the Irish summer school was devoted to the The Baha'i Publishing Trust of Portugal subject of marriage and the following year to was established during the Plan. family life. The National Spuitual Assembly oflceland Strengthening Families gave particular attention to the development While Baha'is were endeavouring to share of Baha'i families, organizing weekend with an increasingly despairing public the institutes with Icelandic and visiting experts. solutions they had found in the Teachings of Summer schools and youth gatherings Baha'u'llah, they also strove to move closer focussed on the subject, and local communito His ideal in their own lives. In an age of ties sponsored deepenings. The compilation dissolving families , they worked to strengthen Baha 'i Marriage and Family Life was transthis fundamental unit, recognizing the critical lated into Icelandic. link between family unity and world peace. Landegg Academy established a Depart- Seminars, workshops and lectures on ment of Education and Family Life to family life were held in Austria, the Canary develop projects related to this vital area. INT E RNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I AC TI V ITI ES 369

Th e Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone, Mrs. Madge Featherstone, and Counsellor Adib Taherzadeh were among the participants in the Baha'i summer school held in Iceland in August 1987.

Participants in the opening of the first Baha'i School in Vejle, Denmark; 3 September 1989. The school has classes eve1y second Sunday for children between the ages of 5 and J 4. 370 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Th e House of the Bab, in Shiraz, lran- one of the holiest sites in the Baha 'i world- was destroyed by revolutionmy guards in 1979. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACT IVITI ES

3. THE PERSECUTION AND DEFENSE OF THE BAHA'i COMMUNITY OF IRAN 1986-1992

A. THE BAH.A. 'i QUESTION Iran's Secret Blueprint for the Destruction of a Religious Community An Examination of the Persecution of the Baha' is of Iran 1979-1992*

INTRODUCTION minority. In March 1992, Balunan Samandari, For more than a century, the Baha' is of iran a well-known Baha' i businessman in Tihran, have continually been persecuted for their was summoned to Ivin Prison and summarily religious beliefs. With the triumph of the executed. Islamic revol ution in 1979, the persecution By the end of the period covered by this of Baha' is intensified as the government volume, the Baha' is of Iran remained in a embarked on a systematic campaign to erad- precarious state. They were denied the right icate the Baha' i community of fran. Despite to practice their faith free ly, a right guaranthe fact that Baba 'is are committed to teed under international human rights non- vio lence , tolerance, and loya lty to instruments, such as the International Bill of govern ment, they came to be classified as Human Rights, to which Iran was a party. " unprotected infidels" with no rights under The administrative institutions of their Faith the constitution. were dismantled in accordance with a gov- Between 1978 and 1988, nearl y two ernment edict. They lived each day knowing hundred promin ent Baha ' is were executed that their government sought to block their by the Iranian government. The majority of development as a communi ty, and that even them were members of the community's the slightes t infraction could result in the democratically elected governing councils. deprivation of their livelihood, impri sonment Hundreds more Baha'is were imprisoned, or worse. while tens of thousands were deprived of Yet the Baha'i communi ty in Iran posed jobs, pensions, businesses, and educational no threat to the Iranian authorities. The opportunities. Baha' is faced these persecu- Baha'i community in Iran was not aligned tions so lely because of their religious beli efs. with any government, ideology, or opposi - In the face of intense international tion movement. Indeed, the principles of the pressure, the most notabl e example of which Baha'i Faith require Baha' is to be obedient was a series of United Nations resoluti ons to their government and to avoid partisan against Iran, the Irani an government in the political invo lvement, subversive activity and late 1980s reduced the rate of executions and all fo rms of violence. the number of Baha' is held in prison. How- The Baha'is in Iran sought no special ever, the government did not give up on privileges. They so ught onl y their rights its goal of destroying the 350,000-member under the Un iversal Declaration of Human Baha ' i co mmunity, Iran ' s largest religious Rights, including the ri ght to life, the right to liberty and security of person, the right to *Adapted from a paper by the United Nat ions Office education and work, and the right to profess of the Baha' i Intern ati onal Com munity. and practice their reli gion. 372 THE BAHA'i WORLD

HISTORJCAL BACKGROUND universal divine Messenger anticipated in The status of human rights in the Islamic the scriptures of all the major religions . Republic of Iran cannot be fully understood The teachings of the Bab, which were without taking into account the historical embraced by thousands of followers , were background of persecution against the Baha'i seen by both secular and religious authoricommunity. ties as a threat to their power. Widespread Persecution of the Baha'i Faith in Iran persecutions followed, and some 20,000 folbegan with its founding there in the mid- lowers, who were known as Babis, paid with 1800s. Baha'is understand that the pattern of their lives. The Bab Himself was executed oppression experienced in the cradle of their by the government. Faith is a manifestation of the misunder- Among the followers of the Bab was an standing and fear that often occur when a Iranian nobleman named Baha'u'llah. In 1863 new religion emerges from the matrix of a He announced that He was the Messenger well-established orthodoxy. TI1e pattern has the Bab had heralded, founding the Baha'i been repeated through the ages; indeed, Faith. The central theme of Baha'u'llah's virtually all of the world's great religions message is that humanity is a single race and have faced intense persecution at their birth. that the day has come for its unification into There can be no doubt that the claims of the one global society. "The earth is but one twin Founders of the Baha'i Faith, especially country and mankind its citizens", He wrote. when viewed through the lens of traditional Baha'u'llah also taught that there is only Islam, are as bold as those of any Prophet in one God, and that all of the world 's religions ancient times. are expressions of a single, unfolding Divine An initial wave of persecution came in plan, "the changeless Faith of God, eternal response to the claims of a young Iranian in the past, eternal in the future" . Baha'is merchant, known as the Bab, who announced understand that God has revealed religious in Shiraz in May 1844 that He was the bear- truth to humanity progressively, through a er of a new revelation from God. This new series of Divine Messengers, each of Whom revelation, He said, fulfilled Islamic prophe- has founded a great religion. The Messengers cies for the coming of "the Twelfth Imam". have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, His primary mission, the Bab said, was to Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Mul;ammad. The prepare humanity for the advent of "Him latest of these Messengers are the Bab and Whom God Shall Make Manifest", the Baha'u'llah.

Jn a photograph taken around 1896, a Baha'i father and son (at left) are shown in chains after being arrested with fellow Baha 'is. Both were subsequently executed. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITI ES 373 The idea that the Bab and Baha'u'llah are of men and women, and acceptance of the new Messengers of God was viewed by scientific method, as antithetical to the tradimany Muslims as heresy. In the Qur'an, tions oflslam. Mul)ammad referred to Himself as the "Seal The persecutions continued intermittently of the Prophets'', and most Muslim scholars in the twentieth century, coinciding most interpreted this to mean that He would be the often with some need of the government to last Messenger of God. shore up its support with certain elements of Baha 'is, however, believe that the coming the Islamic leadership in Iran. of the Bab and Baha'u'llah pose no contra- Sometimes outbreaks of violence against diction with Islam. Baha'is understand, in Baha'is were directed by local or regional fact, that Mul;ammad did indeed end or authorities. In 1903, for example, some 101 "seal" the prophetic cycle; then, with the Baha'is were killed in the city ofYazd after advent of the Bab and Baha 'u' llah, a new era the populace was incited by hostile Mullas. of religious fulfillment was entered. Baha' is At other times the oppression of Baha'is understand that this is all in accordance with was an official part of the government's the prophecies of Islam and the world's national policy. For example, during the early other major religions . years of the Pahlavi Regime (1927 to 1979), Other aspects of Baba ' i teachings also the government formalized a policy of aroused opposition among some followers discrimination against the Baha 'is as a conof Islam. In outlining His vision for a new cession to the clergy. Beginning in 1933, world civilization, Baha'u'llah advocated a Baha'i literature was banned; Baha'i series of highly progressive social principles. marriages were not recognized; Baha'is in These principles include: the elimination of public service were demoted or fired; and all forms of prejudice; equality between the eventually Baha'i schools were closed. sexes; recognition of the essential oneness of Another round of persecutions was underthe world's great religions ; the elimination taken in 1955, when the government allowed of extremes of poverty and wealth; universal the nationwide broadcast of a series of ineducation; the harmony of science and reli- cendiary se1mons against the Baha'is by a gion; a sustainable balance between nature leading Shi'ih preacher in Tihran. A wave of and technology; and establishment of a world anti-Baha ' i violence swept the country, with federal system, based on collective security. murders, rapes and robberies reported in Some Muslims viewed the progressive many areas. Government officials joined in nature of these teachings, such as the equality the seizure and destruction of the national

Members of the Shah's army and Muslim leaders join in the destruction of the National Saha 'i Centre in Tihran, ii-an, in May i955. 374 THE BA H A' i WORLD

headqua1iers building of the Baha'i commu- When the Republic 's new constitution nity, and the government announced it had was drawn up in April 1979, the rights of the ordered the suppression of all activities of Christian, Jewish, and Zoroasháian minori- "the Baha 'i sect". ties in Iran were specifically mentioned and It is important to understand that the per- protected. The rights of the Baha'i commusecution of the Baha 'is in Iran was in no way nity, the largest religious minority, however, related to some underlying issue of ethnicity were not mentioned. or political involvement. The overwhelming Under Iran's concept of an Islamic govmajority of Iranian Baha'is came from the ernment, this exclusion came to mean that same Persian and Azerbaijani ethnic stock Baha'is enjoyed no rights of any smi, and as the rest of the population, and they rep- that they could be attacked and persecuted resented a cross section of Iran ' s social with impunity. Courts in the Republic classes. denied Baha'is the right ofredress or protec- Only their religious beliefs distinguished tion against assault, killings or other f01ms them from their fellow countrymen- beliefs of persecution- and mled that Iranian which Baha'is are forbidden from imposing citizens who killed or injured Baha'is were on others, and which are, paradoxically, not liable for the damages because their virtually unknown among Muslims in iran. victin1s were "unprotected infidels". Despite the fact that the Baha'i Faith origi- Without any claim to civil rights, the posinated in Iran, there persisted an almost tion of the Baha'i community within Iranian universal ignorance of the religion's nature, society deteriorated rapidly. In March 1979, teachings, and history. The Iranian Baha'i the House of the Bab, the holiest Baha'i community was consistently denied the use shrine in Iran, was turned over by the govof any means of mass communication, in- ernment to a Muslim cleric known for his cluding radio, television, newspapers, films, anti-Baha' i activities. Then, in September, the distribution of literature, and public the House was destroyed by a mob led by lectures. Mullas and officials of the Department of Instead, ignorance of the true nature of Religious Affairs . the Baha'i teachings was cultivated by the In November 1979, an edict from the eccles iastical authorities into a full-blown Ministry of Education required not only the and deeply ingrained prejudice. dismissal of all Baha'i teachers, but also held them responsible for the repayment of RECENT PERSECUTIONS all salaries they had previously received. With the establishn1ent of the Islamic Repub- At least seven Baha'is were killed in 1979. lic in 1979, a new chapter in the persecution Two were executed by the government and of the Baha'is ofiran was opened. one was hanged in prison. Others were beaten Even before the Ayatollah Khomeini to death or simply killed in local incidents. returned from exile to assume power in February that year, an increase in attacks on EX ECUTIONS Bahe\. 'is presaged the wholesale persecution Buoyed by their growing influence over all that was to come. In 1978, at least seven aspects of Iranian life, in 1980 the clergy Bahe\.' is were killed, most as a result of mob moved "to cut off the head" of the "heretiviolence. cal" Baha'i movement by destroying its While many Iranians hailed the revolu- leadership, believing that the majority of the tion as the dawn of a long awaited era of Baha'is would then succumb to social political liberty and national reconshuction, pressures to recant their Faith. it was clear fro m the start that the Baha' is This policy is reflected in the fact that would be unjustly reviled for their beliefs. well over half the Baha 'is executed in Iran INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 375 after 1979 were members of national and Others are pagaris. Pagaris must be eliminated." local governing councils of the Baha'i com- Under Isiarnic law in Iran, "People of the munity, known as Spiritual Assemblies. Book" included only Muslims, Jews, Christiaris Among the first aimed at Baha'i leader- and, by special dispensation, Zoroastrians. ship was the execution on 10 June 1980 of The National Spiritual Assembly of the Yusuf Sub~ani, a highly regarded member Baha ' is of Iran was reconstituted through of the 'fihran Baha'i community. This was new elections but was again ravaged by the followed by the executions of the chairman execution of eight of its members on 27 Deand another member of the Local Spiritual cember 1981. In all at least 48 Baha ' is were Assembly of Tabriz on 14 July 1980, a killed in Iran during 1981 ; of those, all but member of the Spiritual Assembly of Rasht two were executed by the government. on 16 July 1980, and two prominent Baha' i Executions continued apace through 1982, spokesmen in 'fihran on 30 July and 15 Au- 1983, and 1984. At least 32 Baha'is were exgust 1980. ecuted or killed in 1982, 29 were executed or On 21 August 1980, all nine members of killed in 1983, and 30 were executed or the national Baha'i governing council, the killed in 1984. And, again, the targets of National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is these executions were often members of of Iran, were arrested and disappeared with- Baha'i governing councils. Four members of out a trace. It seems certain that they were the National Spiritual Assembly, which had executed. once again been reconstituted through fresh During 1980 at least 24 Baha ' is were elections, were executed in 1984, although killed in Iran; 20 were executed by the by then the institution had been disbanded in government and the rest were stoned, assas- accordance with a government decree, and sinated, or burned to death. the individuals held no official position in Despite a growing international outcry, the the Baha' i community. (See pp. 390-396 for rate of executions continued to grow through a complete list of those who have been killed 1981. By late summer that year, revolution- or executed.) ary courts were openly sentencing Baha'is One of the most dramatic groups of exeto death on purely religious grounds and cutions came in June 1983, when 10 Iranian announcing the fact in Iranian media. The Baha'i women, including two teenage girls, Attorney General, Siyyid Mussavi-Tabrizi, were hanged . The primary charge against stated: "The Qur' an recognized only the them: teaching Baha ' i children's classes- People of the Book as religious communities. the equivalent of Sunday School in the West.

The House of the Bab, a place of pilgrimage for Bahfi 'is, was destroyed by Revolutionary Guards in 1979 and later razed by the Government. Th e Hous e was located in Shiraz, !ran. 376 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

The women were subjected to intense death. In these cases, the bodies were buried physical and mental abuse in an effo11 to by the authorities before the families could coerce them to recant their Faith-an option view them. that was almost always pressed upon Baha' i prisoners. Yet, like most Baha'is who have SOC IAL AND ECONOMIC INTIMIDA T!ON been arrested in Iran, they refused to deny The authorities also conducted a campaign their beliefs. Nevertheless, the fact that so of economic, social and cultural intimidation many Baha'is were given the option of against the Baha' i community of Iran. The recanting, with the promise of release if they objective, it is clear, was to deprive Baha'is did so, is among the strongest proofs that the of their rights to education, to a job and to a persecutions were based on religious beliefs. home of their own-once again with the intention of forcing them to recant. IMPRJSONMENT AN D TORTURE Beginning in the 1930s, the Baha'is of Since 1979, nearly 1,000 Baha'is have been Iran were forbidden to run their own educaarrested and imprisoned. At one point in tional establishments, therefore forcing them 1986, some 747 Baha'is were being held in to educate their children at state-run schools prisons throughout Iran. In most cases, they and universities where they often suffered had no trials. discrimination and persecution. The level of The torture of Baha 'is in Iranian pris- discrimination and persecution in schools ons-and particularly of those who had been rose sharply following the Islamic revolution members of Baha'i governing councils- in 1979. In 1981, an official decree was iswas routine and systematic. Again, accord- sued barring Baha'i students and professors ing to Baha ' is who survived, the purpose of from admission to or employment at any the torture almost invariably was to make university in Iran. Universities published the Baha'is recant their Faith or confess to new prospectuses in 1981 requiring that apsome treasonous activity. plicants belong to one of the four religions Torture included sustained beating and recognized in the constitution, namely the flogging, the bastinado (whipping the soles Muslim, Jewish, Christian or Zoroastrian of the feet), the pulling out of fingernails and religions. teeth, and the deprivation of food and water Admission to primary and secondary for days at a time. schools was refused to those who identified Baha'is were also subjected to psycholog- themselves as Baha'is, and hundreds of ical torture, including mock executions and students were expelled. being forced to wimess the torture of family members and friends. DEPRJVATION OF EMPLOYMENT Thus an elderly Baha'i woman, who was The Iranian government also sought to ina member ofa local Baha 'i council, was tor- timidate Baha'is by making it impossible for tured in front of a dozen other Baha'is in an them to earn a living. In 1979 the governeff011 to persuade her and them to deny their ment started dismissing all Baha'i civil Faith. The woman's jailer took her by her servants without compensation. By July hair and continually banged her head against 1982, all Baha'i public servants had been the wall. She was beaten about the head for a dismissed and the pensions of all retired long time, until her body was covered with Baha'i civil servants had been te1minated. blood. After two years of imprisonment, she In late 1984, the Attorney General started was summarily released, with no recourse issuing summonses demanding that all those against the abuse she had received. Baha'i civil servants who had been dis- At least thirteen Baha'is who died in pris- missed repay all the salaries they had on are believed to have been tortured to received during their employment. They INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 377 were threatened with imprisonment if they plunder and destrnction of the livestock and did not comply. Obviously, repayment of a crops of Baha'i farmers. lifetime's wages was beyond the means of most victims. Many were imprisoned as a CONFISCATION OF COMMUNITY ASSETS result of failure to meet this absurd demand. The Baha'i community in Iran was not al- The government also systematically lowed to hold community property in its own sought to drive Baha'is in the private sector name. As a result, all community property to economic ruin. In the early 1980s, the had to be held in the name of a non-profit trading licenses of most Baha'i businessmen company created for this purpose. This were revoked, the assets of businesses rnn body, the Umana Company, was allowed to by Baha 'is were confiscated, and bank administer such properties without undue accounts of most Baha'i businessmen were interference until the change of government frozen. In addition, the authorities intimidat- in 1979. ed private employers into dismissing many One of the first acts of the new govern- Baha'i employees. ment was to confiscate the Umana Company Almost every dismissal notice served on and all its holdings. This meant that in one a Baha'i employee, whether in the public or stroke all Baha'i community properties were the private sector, stated that the reason for arbitrarily transferred to the state without dismissal was membership in the Baha'i Faith compensation. The government also confisand that the person's job would be restored cated the assets of all Baha' i welfare ifhe or she would recant his or her faith. agencies, which provided services to people In addition to depriving Baha'is of a live- of all religions on an equal basis. lihood, the government in the early 1980s Among the government 's next steps were sought to deprive an-ested Balla' is of many to desecrate and in many cases desháoy of their possessions, including their homes. Baha' i holy places throughout Iran. As Through its takeover of the major Baha 'i noted, these properties included the holiest savings company, Nawnahalan, the govern- Baha'i shrine in Iran, the House of the Bab ment in one move swept away the life in Shiraz, which was confiscated and then savings of its 15 ,000 Baha'i shareholders destroyed. The House ofBaha'u'llah in Takur, and investors. In addition, thousands of where the Founder of the Balla 'i Faith spent Baha'is, rich and poor alike, had their homes His childhood, met a similar fate: it was and personal possessions confiscated by the demolished and the site was offered for sale government, and thousands more had their to the public. homes desháoyed by arson and looting. In In Tihran and other cities throughout Iran, rural areas, the authorities encouraged the Balla' i buildings were looted and burned,

Shortly after the Islamic Revolution, the National Baha 'i Centre in Tihran was confiscated by authorities and turned into a "Tempormy Islamic Propaganda Centre " and an "Open Muslim University. " 378 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Baha'i cemeteries were bulldozed and Baha'i contraty, the Pahlavi regime consistently pergraves were broken open. In the Tihran area, secuted the Baha'i Faith, and SA YAK was the Baha'is were forced to bury their dead in one of the main agencies of this persecution. a baITen stretch of land reserved by the For Baha' is in Iran, the idea of collaborating authorities for "infidels". Having access to with SA VAK would have been unthinkable. their own cemeteries is especially important The lran.ian government alleged that cettain to Baha'is because, as might be ex:pected, SA VAK officials were Baha'is . These alle- Baha'is were not allowed to bury their dead gations are completely untrue, fabricated to in Muslim cemeteries. mask the religious nature of the persecutions. • That Bahii. 'is are heretics or enemies of " JUSTIFI CATI ONS" OF TH E P ERSECUTION Islam. Despite the overwhelming proof that the Baha' i community in Iran was being perse- Both charges are false . The Baha ' i Faith cuted solely because of its religious beliefs, is widely recognized as an independent the Iranian government continued to justify world religion-even by Islamic scholars. this persecution by charging the Baha'i As long ago as 1924, a Sunni appellate court conununity with a variety of offences. All in Egypt recognized that the Baha'i Faith such charges demonstrated an ignorance of was an independent world religion in its the basic principles and history of the Baha'i judgement that: "The Baha'i Faith is a new Faith. No evidence was ever brought for- religion entirely independent. ... No Baha' i ward to support any of these accusations. therefore can be regarded as Muslim or vice The principal charges advanced by the gov- versa, even as no Buddhist, Brahmin or errm1ent were: Christian can be regarded as Muslim." Accordingly, no charge of heresy can be made. • That Baha 'is were supporters of the Baha'is revere MuJ:iammad and His book, Pahlavi regime and the late Shah of!ran; the Qur'an, as they do Jesus, Buddha, and the that they collaborated with SAVAK, the founders of the other great religions. Indeed, secret police; and that the Baha 'i Faith alone among the followers of the world's was a political organization opposed to other major independent religions, only the Iranian Government. Baha'is recognize the station of Mul)a111J11ad Baha 'is are required by the basic princi- as a Prophet of God. ples of their faith to show loyalty and • That Bahii. 'is are agents of Zionism. obedience to the goverIU11ent of the country in which they live. The Baha'i community in This charge is based solely on the fact Iran thus did not oppose the Pahlavi regime, that the Baha'i World Centre is in Israel. just as it did not oppose the government of The Baha' i World Centre was, however, the Islamic Republic of Iran. Indeed, mem- established on Mt. Carmel in the last bers of the community obeyed evety law and centuty, long before the State oflsrael came instmction of the government, including the into existence, in accordance with the instruction to disband all Baha'i adm.inistra- explicit instructions of Baha'u'llah, Who tive institutions in Iran. was exiled there from Iran. Baha 'i principles also require the avoid- • That Bahii. 'is are involved with prostituance of any form of involvement in partisan tion, adulte1y and immorality. politics. Accordingly, Iranian Baha' is were precluded by membership in their faith from This charge, like the others, is utterly accepting cabinet posts or similar political without foundation. Baha'is have a strict positions under the Pahlavi regime. They moral code and attach great importance to did not collaborate with SA YAK. On the chastity and to the institution of marriage. INTERNATIONAL SURV EY OF CURRENT BAHA'I AC TIVITI ES 379 111e Baha' i marriage ceremony was not rec- was the continuing investigation into the huognized in Iran and no civil marriage ceremony man rights situation in Iran by Reynaldo existed. Consequently, Baha ' is were faced Galindo Pohl, a human rights specialist from with the choice of denying their faith in order El Salvador. He was appointed in 1986 by to be married according to the rites of one of the Commission on Human Rights as its the religions recognized in iran, or of marry- Special Representative on Iran. Mr. Galindo ing in accordance with the rites of their own Pohl produced a series of reports on human faith. They consistently chose to be married rights in Iran. In the course of his work, he in accordance with Baha' i law. The govern- visited iran three times. ment did not recognize these marriages and Although his reports were in many ways denounced Baha'i wives as prostitutes. consh"ained by the diplomatic language The other charges of adultery and immo- required within the United Nations system, rality against Baha'is were based solely on Mr. Galindo Pohl nevertheless over the the fact that, in accordance with the Baha'i years managed to catalog the whole range principles of the equality of men and women, of abuses and persecutions which the Baha'i there is no segregation of the sexes at Baha'i community in iran had experienced. gatherings. For example, Mr. Galindo Pohl's 1990 report to the General Assembly noted that he THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONS E had received extensive documentation that The international community responded to provides "evidence of discrimination, confisthe persecution of the Baha'i community in cation, rejection by universities, suspension Iran with overwhelming sympathy and con- of pensions, demands for the return of cern for the Baha'is and condemnation of pensions earned and paid, denial of passport the Iranian government. The Baha ' i commu- and other irregularities." nity believes that this outpouring provided a The report added that "it would seem that sh"ong resh"aining force against the govern- the attitude towards the Baha ' is and their ment, preventing a pogrom on a much greater situation depends on the temperament and scale. personal convictions of individual officials. The United Nations Commission on This keeps the Baha ' is in a perpetual state of Human Rights passed eleven resolutions uncertainty about their activities." expressing concern about reports of human Iran's responses to the United Nations rights violations in Iran. Each resolution were always less than satisfactory. As noted, made specific mention of the situation of the they produced a wide range of unsubstan- Baha' i community there. The specific refer- tiated charges against the Baha ' is-from ence to a religious community was quite accusations of spying to being Zionistsunusual for the Commission, which nmmally aimed at justifying their persecution. confined itself to expressions of diplomatic In addition to efforts by the United concern and general references to charges of Nations and its subsidiary bodies and agenhuman rights violations and discrimination. cies, numerous national legislatures, as well Following the lead of the Commission on as regional bodies, spoke out against Iran's Human Rights, the United Nations General h"eatment of the Baha' i community over the Assembly itself approved six resolutions last decade. Expressions of concern for since 1985 which specifically mentioned the Iran's Baha'is came from the Council of situation of the Baha' is in Iran and Europe, the European Parliament, the United expressed concern over reports of human States Congress, and from the legislatures of rights violations there. Aush"alia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, the Nether- Among the most salient features of the lands, Norway, and the United Kingdom, United Nations attention to the Baha'i case among others. Many heads of state and 380 TH E BAHA' i WORLD government leaders also voiced their dismay and that the govenm1ent remained bent on over Iran's treatment of the Baha'is. destroying the Baha ' i conlli1unity of Iran as International and national non-governmen- a viable entity. ta l organizations also rose to the defence of Among the most egregious and wonisome Iran's Baha'is. Amnesty International, the signs of Iran 's continued efforts against the Minority Rights Group, and Middle East Baha'is was the execution in March 1992 of Watch, among others, close ly monitored the Balm1an Samandari, a Tih.ran businessman. situation of the Baha'is in Iran and published The killing of Mr. Samandari came as a extensive reports which confirn1ed the per- shock, both to the worldwide Baha'i conmmsecutions there. nity and those in the international community The world's mass media, as well, reported who follow human rights issues. After tluáee extensively on the persecution of Iran 's years during which no Baha' is were executed Baha'i community. Major articles and edito- by the government, Mr. Samandari, who had rials which detail, confirm and condenm the run a well-known Tiluáan travel agency, was persecutions appeared in Le Monde, Th e sunlli1oned to Ivin Prison by authorities on Times of London, The New York Tim es, The 17 March 1992, ostensibly to receive a doc- Washington Post, Th e Economist, Th e Times ument from them. The next day, he was of India, among others. Associated Press, secretly executed. Reuters, and Agence France Press also car- Mr. Samandari's famil y-and the world ried numerous dispatches on the persecution at large- learned of the execution two of Baha' is in Iran and the response of inter- weeks later when Mr. Samandari's widow, national organizations and agencies. who had visited the prison frequently to Indeed, in many respects the Baha'i case inquire about her husband, was handed a became a model for how international human copy of hi s will, dated 18 March, the day of rights machinery can be used to protect an his execution. Although no death certificate oppressed minority. International support for was issued, inquiries at the offices of the the Baha 'is prevented wholesale genocide of Tiluáan general cemetery confirmed that the communi ty in iran. Mr. Samandari's name had been entered in its records. Upon requesting that his clothes TH E SITUATION AT RIQYAN 1992 be returned, fa mily members were told that Duri ng the late 1980s and early 1990s, there he had been buried in them. were signs that the govenlli1ent had begun No charge or verdict was announced and to feel the weight of the international outcry inquiries by fa nlily members produced vague against its actions and had reconsidered its indications that Mr. Samandari 's execu tion policies towards the Baha' is. was related to his previous anest over fo ur In 1987 and 1988, fo r example, most of years earlier when he and fo ur other Baha' is those Baha' is being held in prison were were arrested for having a prayer meeting in released and the number of executions his home. dropped sharply after 1985. At the time of this arrest on 21 October During this period, Baha' i cllild.ren were 1987, charges were laid against him because allowed to re-emol in primary and secondaty of his membership in the Baha'i conmrnnity. schools in most parts of the country. Some He and his fellow prisoners were released on Baha'is were allowed to obtain new business 18 December 1987, after the title to his licenses, while restrictions on other forms of home had been turned over to the authorities econonlic activity appeared to lessen. along with a large sum of money as bail. Nevertheless, there were indications that During 1992, the arbitrary arrest and dethese improvements were cosmetic at best, tention of Baha ' is in Iran continued, as did INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 381 the economic oppression. Many of the experienced difficulties in circulating Baha' i 10,000 Baha'is who had been dismissed books among themselves and in holding from government and education positions in classes to instruct their own children in spirthe early 1980s remained unemployed and itual and moral values. received no unemployment benefits . The re- As individuals, Baha'is remained officialtirement pensions of Baha'is dismissed on ly "unprotected infidels", and their rights religious grounds had been tern1inated. were often ignored. The non-recognition of As of the spring of 1992, Baha'is still their religion manifested itself in various were not officially allowed to open their own ways, including the denial of the right to businesses, and Baha'i farmers were denied freely express their religious beliefs, a right admittance into fa1mers' cooperatives which upheld by international law. Baha'is continoften were the only source of credit, seeds, ued to be deprived of inheritance rights, and pesticide and fertilizer. Baha'i marriages and divorces remained Baha ' i property rights were not protected. without legal recognition. Over the years, large numbers of private and Baha' is were not free to travel outside business properties, including homes and Iran, as it was almost impossible for them to fa1ms , had been arbitrarily confiscated from obtain passports. Baha'is. Baha'i cemeteries, holy places, his- The Baha'i community did not have the toric sites, administrative centers and other right of assembly and the right to elect and assets, seized mostly in 1979, remained con- maintain its administrative institutions. Befiscated or had been destroyed. Baha'is were cause there is no clergy in the Baha' i Faith, not permitted to mark the graves of their these institutions constitute the sole source fellow Baha'is , making it almost impossible of organization and guidance of religious to identify the graves of loved ones . community life. Without them, the very Baha'is continued to be denied access to existence of the Baha'is as a viable religious institutions of higher learning. They also community was endangered.

Destruction at a Baha'i cemete1y in Shiraz, 1979. 382 TH E BAHA ' i WORLD

Light fixture on the colonnade of the Shrin e of the Bab. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 383

B. B AHA'fs KILLED IN IRAN BETWEEN Rrpv AN 1986 AND 1992

1986 to explain the matter, he, while confessing to be a Baha'i, refuted the accusations to the Mr. Sirru'llah Va~dat-Ni~amf, 4 May 1986, satisfaction of his superiors. 'fihran, Executed Val)dat rendered valuable service to the Sirru'llah VaJ:idat-Ni~ami was born in 1930 Baha'i community, mostly through memberinto a Baha'i family. His parents gave him a ship on various committees and Spiritual spiritual education, and his eagerness and Assemblies. Once, the Local Spiritual Assemeffort to pursue his studies in school and bly of Shiraz decided to acquire a house for under Baha'i teachers made him an exem- a pioneer but faced difficulties from neighplary Baha'i youth. bours. About that time Val)dat was sent to He used to tell stories about the persecu- Shiraz by the army, and he assisted in the tions suffered by his parents for being purchase of the property. Baha'is; he also had bitter memories of his Mr. VaJ:idat applied for retirement from own harassment during his childhood and service in the army six months after the Revyouth. The annoyances and afflictions con- olution began in Iran, and his application tinued after the passing of his father. For was approved. However, five months later example, the family 's one piece of land was his pension was cut off on the grounds that confiscated and no matter how they tried to he was a Baha'i. About this time he became recover through legal channels it they could sick and was hospitalized. His illness grew not get it back because they were Baha'is. worse every day until the doctors gave up Upon finishing high school, VaJ:idat treatment. In this condition he told his wife emolled in the Officers' College in '"f ihran to and friends that he did not wish to die begin his military service. After graduation because of illness: "I beseech the Blessed he served at various administrative posts in Beauty to help me accomplish the duties He the army, both in '"fihran and in the prov- has assigned to me, and sacrifice my life in inces. His honesty and diligent service were the path of exalting His Cause." appreciated by his associates and superiors VaJ:idat's illness lasted six months, but he and he reached the station of full Colonel. finally recovered and left the hospital. He He went out of his way to be helpful to his was, however, pursued by enemies who subordinates, solving their problems if he wanted him arrested because he was a memcould. ber of the Local Spiritual Assembly of VaJ:idat was known to be a Baha'i; from '"f ihran. He and his wife had to abandon their the beginning of his army service he never home and for more than a year they stayed concealed his faith. Often during his trips to with friends. In one of his letters to his the provinces, the enemies of the Baha'i daughter he wrote: "You don' t know how Faith complained against him to the authori- delightful it is to be wandering about in the ties and asked to have this Baha ' i officer path of the Beloved. Your mother and I discharged because, they said, he spread the spend each night in a different home I" Baha'i religion among the officers under Shortly after the Government banned him. Fortunately, these complaints were the Baha'i institutions in Iran, the National ignored or, if on occasion Val)dat was called Spiritual Assembly ordered all of the Local 384 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Spiritual Assemblies to dissolve. Mr. VaJ:idat, endured tests and trials four times with comhowever, continued to serve the friends . plete firmness and perseverance. Often he visited them and, as much as possi- In the early days of VaJ:idat's imprisonble, provided means for their comfort and ment, his wife, Sudabih Val)dat, went to the consolation. He expressed his feelings , and prison authorities and demanded to be told what he observed during his visits, in the where her husband was . In response, the letters he wrote to his relatives: authorities arrested and put her in prison too. She remained in prison for 45 days, and had How the old mother prayed in silence at a chance to meet her husband twice during the memorial for her young son, and the that time; each time she was taken blindyoung spouse smilingly consoled us and folded to the room in which he was kept; glorified the heroism of her husband! then the blindfold was removed and the Messrs. MasiJ:i Farhangi, Alavian and couple had a few minutes to see each other. Vafa ' i, seated at the memorial for their Sirru'llah Val)dat-Ni?ami spent 27 months lost ones, seemed to be sitting on the in prison. Finally he was executed by hangthrone of glory and splendor! Friends ing on 4 May 1986. kept arriving to visit them but did not dare to console them! Silence prevailed; Mr. Fidrus Shabrukh, 9 May 1986, only the sound of chanting prayers could Zahidan, Executed be heard, not moaning and groaning! Fidrus Shabrukh was born in March 1945 in They felt honoured because their dear Zabul, a remote town in the southeast of ones had courageously given up their Iran. His parents had pioneered to that homelives and taught us the lesson of sacrifice. front goal during the Fo1iy-Five-Month Plan You should pray for us that in preserving of the National Spiritual Assembly ofiran. every drop of their pure blood we may As a young man, Fidrus moved from not be afraid of any trial, and learn the Zabul to Zahidan where he pursued his lesson of love and sacrifice from them so family business, operating a print shop and that when our tum comes we may remain stationery store which served most of the steadfast. province of Baluchistan. He manied a Baha' i, On 13 February 1983, Val)dat went to Elahih Matin, and they had two sons, visit a Baha'i, Miss Man~ur, who was being Shamin and Shirvin. closely watched by government agents. Miss In Zahidan, Mr. Shabrukh devoted his life Man~ur's brother, Ata ' u' llah, was also in the to the service of the Faith and soon became a house. A few minutes after Val)dat arrived central figure in the Baha ' i community. He government agents invaded Miss Man ~ ur's was elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly, home and arrested all three. They asked the serving as its secretary for many years. names, and were glad to have found Val)dat He was well-known among the people by chance. Ata'u'llah was released after six of Zahidan as an active Baha' i. When the months in prison, but Miss Man~ur was con- persecution by the Revolutionary regin1e demned to ten years imprisonment. was intensified a mob broke into his home VaJ:idat was placed in solitary confine- and plundered its contents in front of his ment for some time; the place of his wife and children, then threw them out of confinement was kept secret and God knows the house. The print shop and stationery how much torture and torment was inflicted store were confiscated, and Mr. Shabrukh upon him. Later the place of prison was was arrested. He was among the first group changed; he was taken out of solitary con- of Baha'i friends who were arrested and finement and placed in one of the two rooms imprisoned in Zahidan; but that time he was where f01iy Baha'is were imprisoned. He released on bail after tluáee months. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 385 He was forced to leave Zahidan with his 22 months in prison, he never was allowed family but refused to leave Iran although to have visitors. He was executed on 10 June there was no doubt he would be arrested 1986, probably by hanging but none of his again. He repeatedly said: "How can I family or friends ever saw his body. He was abandon the front line of our spiritual battle buried in Kharun Abad without his family and leave my friends and co-workers at the being informed until later. mercy of the enemy?" For more than one year he wandered Mr. J.Iabibu 'llah Muhtadi, 27 Aug. 1986, about destitute and homeless. Finally, in 'fihran, Killed Tihran, he presented himself to the authori- I:Iabibu'llah Muhtadi, the son of Hassan and ties and was arrested and put in Ivin prison, Funighiyyih, was born in 1916 in Tihran. In where he remained for 23 months. Later he 1957 he married Paridukht Farzam, and was transferred to Zahidan prison, where he together they had two daughters and one was kept for six months under very severe son. He graduated from law school in conditions of compulsory labor and the Tihran, and served in the Iranian Air Force. agony of separation from his dear wife and When he retired from the military he children. However, to his wife he used to began to work in the construction business . say: "I love you and the children very much, He was arrested for being a Baha'i on 2 May but above you and the children there is 1981, and was held in prison for four-and-aanother Being which I love much more!" half years . He was released on 28 October Fidrus Shabrukh was finally executed by 1985, but after ten months, on 27 August hanging on Friday 9 May 1986. 1986, he was killed in the streets of Tihran. The actual cause of death was háauma due to Mr. Farid Bihmardi, 10 Jun. 1986, head injuries. 'fihran, Executed Farid Bihmardi, son oflsfandyar and Tal ' at, Mr. Babak 'falibi, 2 Sep. 1986, Karaj, was born in Tiberias, Palestine, in 1939. His Beaten family moved to Iran, where he graduated Babak Talibi was born in 1969, in Kan, a from high school. He worked in the National village near Tihran. He was a student when Bank in Yazd, but later, because he knew his father was arrested after incitement by English and was interested in music, he the clergy, and later his father died. To help started his own business importing musical support his family, Babak gave up school instruments. and found a job. After the Revolution in iran, Mr. Bihmardi Babak moved to Shiraz where he worked had to close his business. He then became and studied at the same tin1e. In September very active in Baha'i activities, dedicating 1986, while visiting his family in Tihran, he himself to serving the friends and the com- went for a bicycle ride. When he did not munity and spending all of his time helping return, his family searched for him and 24 others. He was appointed to different com- hours later found his body in a garden . He mittees and served as an Auxiliary Board had been beaten to death. The authorities member, then was elected to the National refused to take any action against the Spiritual Assembly. murderers because Babak was a Baha'i. As a member of the National Assembly he was under constant pressure and lived in Mr. iraj Mihdinizhad, 3 Sep.1986, Bandarmany different places until he was arrested ' Abbas, Mobbed in a street in Tihran. He was imprisoned in fraj Mihdinizhad, a prominent Baha'i in Ivin Prison, was tortured, and spent nine Bandar-' Abbas, was stabbed to death by a months in solitary confinement. During his small group of people on 4 September 1986. 386 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

He was 49 years old. Sixteen knife wounds Mr. Surush Jabbliri, 3 Mar. 1987, were seen on his body. Tihran, Executed Mr. Mihdinizhad, like thousands oflranian Surush Jabbari was born into a Baha'i fam- Baha' is, had been dismissed from his job as ily in 1942, in the village of Saysan, near a civil servant because of his faith and so, Tabriz. His father was Jibra'il Jabbiri and out of necessity, had become a street vendor. his mother was A~li Shahbiziyan. When he Following the murder, his son and son-in- was four years old his family pioneered to law were detained for questioning by the the town ofMiyanih. There, his father had to police for 48 hours. Later, the murderers accompany him to school to protect him were arrested. They belonged to a family from assault by his fellow-students because that had been angered when one member of the family's belief in Baha'u'llah. had studied the Baha'i Faith and accepted it. At 16 years of age, Surush went to Tihran Mr. Mihdinizhad had been targeted because to finish high school, and after graduating he was a prominent and active Baha'i. got a job as a draftsman in a construction The police assembled a file of evidence company. He continued working for the on the crime and sent it to the Attorney- firm, becoming director of the drafting General. However, the Attorney-General section. At the same time, he was very active was apparently notified in advance that the in the Baha'i community, serving on the matter involved the murder of a Baha' i. As National Youth Committee and in other a result, before the file reached his desk he administrative capacities. left his office, instructing his subordinate to Surush - married Mahnaz -Khusrawani in refuse to accept the file on the pretext that 1976, and the couple had three children. At the Attorney-General had gone on leave. In the beginning of the Islamic Revolution he the meantime, the police who had initially was discharged from his job for being a prepared the file suddenly changed their Baha' i, and was out of work for three years. approach to the case. When the file was Finally in 1983 he found a job with a private returned to them, the police indicated that company. no action would be taken and even advised On 15 September 1984, Revolutionary Mr.Mihdinizhad 's famil y to drop the matter. Guards climbed the walls to his house at midnight and arrested him. For a long time 1987 his family was not allowed to visit him in the prison in Gawhardasht, Karaj. Later he was Mr. A~mad Kavih, 26 Jan. 1987, I~fahan, transferred to Ivin Prison in Tihran, where Executed he was executed along with Abu'l-Qasim Al:imad Kavih was born in a village near Shayiq on 3 March 1987. Lanjan, I~fahan, in 1935. He graduated from high school and worked for banks, several Mr. Abu'I-Qasim Shayiq, 3 Mar. 1987, companies, and a newspaper. He married, Tihran, Executed and he and his wife had five children. Abu'l-Qasim Shayiq was born in 1940, and Mr. Kavih was not born into a Baha'i studied history at university. He worked for family; he accepted the Faith on his own, and the government for a number of years, but was a very active Baha ' i teacher. After the was dismissed after the Revolution because Revolution, he was forced to leave his home he was a Baha'i. and his house was looted. He moved from Mr. Shayiq was imprisoned on 13 Februplace to place for several years, but finally ary 1984, and held without trial. In early he was arrested in Tihran in November 1987 the authorities promised his family that 1984. He suffered imprisonment until he was he and the other Baha'is in the prison would executed on 26 January 1987. be released, but a few days later, on 3 March INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 387 1987, Abu'l-Qasim Shayiq and Surush Nadiri from the descendants of Va~1id, and Jabbari were both executed, and their deaths his mother was Qudsi Malakutiyan, the were kept secret until after they were buried. granddaughter of Akhlind Mulla 'Abdu '1- Ghaniy Ardikani. During a period in Iran Mr. Ardishir Akhtari, 28 Sept. 1987, when there was great opposition to the Faith, Tihriin, Executed the Local Spiritual Assembly ofYazd asked Ardishir Akhtari was born in September his family to be the custodians of the exten- 1937 in Tabriz, but his family moved to sive facilities of the local Baha'i Centre, so Tihran while he was still a baby. When he from a very young age Amir helped with its was about 15 years old he lost his father and upkeep and related endeavours. had to leave school to work for a living. He Amir-I:Iusayn was a talented student, both was employed in a factory while continuing in school and in Baha'i classes. He studied his studies and eventually received his mas- in Tihran and later in Beirut, then worked ter' s degree in accounting. for the government as an engineer with the In 1965, Mr. Akhtari manied Vajihih Ministty of Health. ~arif-Zadih and the couple had two children. In 1969 he married Pari Gulzari, and at He still kept up his Baha' i administrative the same time started to sh1dy accounting. work, however, and became well known He excelled in this field, and later was hired for his diligence . He was also known for as a teacher in the accounting college. Next his lack of pretension, and for his straight- he took a position as Budget Specialist in the forwardness . He would not do things he Ministry of Culture and Fine Atis. He was a thought were incorrect in order to please respected senior staff member of the Minisothers, nor say things that he did not intend try when the Revolution broke out but he to do. Also, he had a reputation for never was fired because he was a Baha'i. doing anything for personal gain that would Mr. Nadiri was known for being a knowlhurt or cause discomfort for someone else. edgeable teacher, as well as for being an Mr. Akhtari had a good job in the active member of the Baha'i Faith. In 1982 National Insurance Company, as the head of he was elected to the National Spiritual the Aviation Department, but was fired after Assembly, and served under ve1y difficult the Revolution for being a Baha ' i. He was circumstances. He was arrested on 11 Sepintelligent and hard working, with a pure tember 1984 with several others who had and kindly heart who served his family, been members of the last National Spiritual community, and country all his life. Assembly. He suffered torture and imprison- He served on different local and national ment until 28 September 1987, when he was Baha'i committees and as a member of the executed in the Ivin Prison in "fihran. Local Spiritual Assembly of Tih.ran. He was a member of the last National Spiritual Mr. fraj Afshin, 26 Nov. 1987, Tihnin, Assembly when it was dissolved in September Executed 1983. He was anested in early September fraj Afshin was born in 1933 in Ardistan, 1984 in Tihran. He spent three years and and was persecuted there as a child because fifteen days in prison, then was executed on his family was Baha'i. He attended the 28 September 1987. Military Academy in "fihran, where he was a distinguished student much admired by his Mr. Amir-I.Iusayn Nadiri, 28 Sept. 1987, fellow students and appreciated by the author- Tihnin, Executed ities. After graduation he served in the Iranian Amir-I:Iusayn Nadiri was born in Yazd in Army, being promoted to the rank of Colonel. 1934, into a very distinguished Baha'i fam- Mr. Afshin was a faithful and intelligent ily. His father was Janab-i-Siyyid Ma~mud officer, a talented painter and musician, and 388 THE BAHA'I WORLD

a dedicated member of the Baha' i commu- He was a dedicated, loyal and trustworthy nity. He was arrested on 29 January 1986 employee and also was very active in the in Tihran, suffered imprisonment for nine Baha'i community. He was very friendly months, and was executed on 26 November and kind, sincere and patient. He lived a 1987. very simple life, but his whole being was faith in Baha 'u' ll ah. 1988 Mr. Pasha'i pioneered to Simnan and other difficult areas and suffered a great Mr. Mihrdad Maq~udi, 6 Feb. 1988, deal. At the beginning of the Revolution his Urumiyyih, Killed house was set on fire and he was imprisoned Mihrdad Maq~udi , son of Fac:Ilu 'llah and for about a month in Sangsar. He lost his Tahirih, was born into a Baha'i family in job for being a Baha'i. Miyan-Duab on 11 June 1964. He was a He was elected to the Local Spiritual high school student when the persecution Assembly of Simnan, and in 1983 he was of Baha ' is started in Miyan-Duab, so his arrested again with other Baha'is from that family sent him to Urumiyyih to continue city. He was kept in Sirnnan's prison for his education where he ga ined distinction in seven months, five-and-a-half of these spent his work and studies. in solitary confinement, and then was trans- During one of his school religion classes, fered to the Ivin prison in Tihran. his teacher started to denigrate the Baha' i The Baha 'is had a very hard time in Ivin Faith so Mih1dad arose to defend it, thereby prison and were transfered to a prison in making himself the target of ridicule by the Karaj. One year later, Mr. Pasha ' i and other teacher and students. When he arrived home Baha' is were returned to Ivin. Although he received a note from the Revolutionary he suffered from poor health, he served Guard demanding that he go to their center everybody- especially the aged and sick for questioning. Shortly thereafter, on 1 Jan- prisoners. His other love was study of the uary 1986, he was arrested in the house of Baha' i Writings. his uncle. Mr. Pasha' i was imprisoned for almost He was put in the political section of the five years, during at least one year of which prison in Urumiyyih, then was taken to the he was forbidden to have visitors. He was prison in Tabriz. He was martyred on 6 Feb- martyred in prison during the autuinn of ruary 1988, and his body was prepared for 1988. The news was received on 3 Decemburial by the guard in the presence of his ber 1988. family. The guard burned Mihrdad 's clothes. His family pursued the case through the 1989 Justice Department, and on 10 April 1988 they were informed that the charges against him had been dropped under verdict No.31 - Mr. Gulvirdi Qandiyan, 7 Sept. 1989, 35/67. Quruq/Gurgan, Killed Gulvirdi Qandiyan was born in Sangsar in Mr. Bihnam Pasha'i, Autumn 1988, 1912, the son of Al:imad and Mahbanu. He 'fihran, Executed was educated in the old system and was a Bihnam Pasha ' i was born in Tihran in 1940, dairy farmer all of hi s life. He married the son of Mokhtar from Ardibil, one of .Qiya ' iyyih fqani yan and they had eight the Adhirbayjan Revolutionaries who later ch ildren. became a devoted Baha' i. When he gradu- Mr. Qandiyan accepted the Baha ' i Faith ated from high school, Bihnam worked for when he was 23 years old, for which he was the government in the Ministry of Health. constantly reproached by his brothers and INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVIT IES 389 other family members. In addition to this between 1945 and 1954. He graduated from persecution from his family, Mr. Qandiyan college and completed the first two years of became subject to public persecution from university in the United States of America. 1958 when, in response to the Ten Year Plan, In 1969 he obtained a degree in economics he pioneered to Quruq, near Gurgan, and and management from the American College helped to establish the first Local Spiritual in Ankara, Turkey. Assembly of that village. He was always con- He spent most of his professio nal life fronted with problems regarding his work (from 1962 to 1965 and from 1969 to 1977) and the education of his children, but he with the Samandari Travel Agency in Tihran. never complained and persevered at his post. In 1991 , he was engaged as the accountant of After the Islamic Revolution in Iran, a modest elementary health centre in Tihran. when all the Baha'is were faced with diffi- Later he joined the trading department of a culties , Mr. Qandiyan's daughters begged textile company in the same city. him to leave his pioneering post, but he On 21 October 1987, Mr. Samandari and objected, stating that the worst that could four other Baha'is were arrested for meeting happen would be for him to be killed, which in his home. At that time the charges leveled he would accept gladly. against him stemmed from his membership During the evening of7 September 1989, in the Baha'i community. He and his fellow a group of strangers came into his home, tied prisoners were released on 18 December up his wife with a piece of rope, then 1987, after the title to Mr. Samandari's strangled Mr. Qandiyan while he was asleep home had been turned over to the authorities in his own bed. along with a large sum of money as bail. On 17 March 1992, Mr. Samandari was 1992 summoned by the authorities, ostensibly to receive a document from them. When he did Mr. Bahman Samandari, 18 March 1992, not return home his wife went to look for Tihran, Executed him. Two weeks later the authorities finally Bahman Samandari was born on 8 No- handed her his last will and testament, vember 1939 in Karaj, near Tihran. He was a dated 18 March 1992. He is survived by his descendant of two distinguished Baha'i fa m- wife, Roza, their son ' Azizu ' llah, and their ilies who had been closely associated with daughter, Nida. No reason for his execution the history of the Faith from its earliest days. has been given by the judicial or prison Mr. Samandari received his primary and authorities, nor have they disclosed the locamost of his secondary education in Tihran tion of his grave.

BAHA'fs KILLED IN IRAN (1978-20 APRIL 1992)

ALL praise be to God Who, from every drop of blood shed by His chosen ones, hath brought forth a vast creation whose number none but Himself can reckon. He hath raised them to be the embodiments of His love and the manifestations of His tender affection. It is they who are the hands of His Cause amongst men. It is they who have rendered aid unto God in every age and have arisen to promote that which He hath purposed in such wise that the majesty of the kings and their dreadful might have failed to affright them, nor have they been hindered from following the path of tmth by the clash of aims and the furious clamour of battalions . They have raised their triumphal cry amidst all that dwell in the heavens and on the earth, summoning everyone unto the Lord of all mankind, He Who is the Ruler of this world and of the next, the God of the throne on high and of the earth below.

He is God - Blessed and Exalted is He

ALL praise unto the Almighty the Sanctified-glorified be His power-Who hath ordained that the tyranny of the unjust and the violence of the oppressors should become the means whereby the tme lovers draw nigh unto the glorious habitation of the Best Beloved and the sincere among His servants attain the Paradise of communion with Him Who is the Desire of all men, and that sufferings and háibulations should serve as the inshument whereby His Word of conunand is spread abroad and the standards of His praise are unfurled in all regions .

How great is His transcendent power, how inunensely exalted His allembracing Will, inasmuch as He produceth light from fire and joy from smrnw.

They that are sunk in heedlessness fondly imagine that massacre and cmcifixion cause the fire of the Word of God to be extinguished, and regard martyrdom as a devastating injury. They are utterly oblivious of the háuth that through such afflictions the Cause of God is exalted, its fame is blazoned far and wide, and the martyrs themselves are enabled to attain the boundless retreats of nearness unto God. Immeasurably exalted is the Lord of Wisdom who doeth that which He willeth and ordaineth whatsoever He pleaseth.

Blessed is he who hath laid down his life in My path and hath borne manifold hardships for the sake of My Name. -Baha'u'llah

Note: This list, based on information received at the Baha'i World Centre subsequent to the publication of The Baha'i World, vol. XVIII (1979-1983) and The Baha'i World, vol. XIX (1983-1986), corrects and supersedes that which appeared on pages 291-293 of the first volume, and 229- 234 of the second. The gathering of biographical and other information about the martyrs, and their photographs, is an ongoing process of vital interest to the Baha' i World Centre. Although many of the martyrs served at various times as members of Baha'i institutions, an effort has been made to identify the kind of services they were performing at the time of arrest and execution, as indicated by the following key:

denotes member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, an appointed leadership position which oversees the Auxiliary Board members. denotes member of the Auxiliary Board, an appointed leadership position within the Baha'i administrative framework. ** denotes member of the National Spiritual Assembly, an elected leadership position at the national level. * denotes member of the Local Spiritual Assembly, an elected leadership position at the local level.

No. Name/Role Date Place where martyrdom occurred

1978 1. Mr. Ahmad Isma'fli 1978 Ahram, Bushihr 2. Mr. Qiya'u'llah I:J:aqiqat 13 Aug.1978 Jahrum, Fars 3. Mrs. 'A vac;I -Gul Fahandizh 14 Dec.1978 Shiraz, Fars 4. Mr. $ifatu'llah Fahandizh 14 Dec.1978 Shiraz, Fars

1979 5. Mr. Khusraw Afnani I Jan.1979 Miyan-Duab, A<lhirbayjan 6. Mr. Parviz Afnani I Jan.1979 Miyan-Duab, Adhirbayjan 7. Mr. Ibrahim Ma'navi early 1979 l:Ii~ar, Khurasan 8. Mr. I:Iaji-Mui:Janmiad 'Aziz[ 9 Jan. 1979 Khurmuj , Bushihr 9. Mr. ' Ali-Akbar Khursandi * 12 Apr.1979 Tihran, Tihran 10. Mr. Shir-Mulfamrnad Dast Pish 9 May 1979 Buyr-Alfmad, I~fahan I I. Mr. Bahar Vujdanf 27 Sep.1979 Mahabad, Adhirbayjan 12. Mr. ' Ali Sattarzadih 24 Oct.1979 Bukan, Adhirbayjan

Blessed is he who hath laid down his life in My path and hath borne manifold hardships for the sake of My Name. -BaM'u'llah

No . Name/Role Date Place where martyrdom occurred

13. Mr. I:Iusayn Shakurf 5 Nov.1979 Ushnaviyyih, Adhirbayjan 14. Mr. 'A?amatu ' llah Fahandizh 27 Nov. 1979 Shiraz, Fars

1980 15. Mr. I:Iabibu ' llah Panahi 4 Feb.1980 Urumiyyih, Adhirbayjan 16. Mr. Ghulam - I~usay n A '?ami 6 May 1980 Tihran, Tihran 17. Mr. 'Ali-Akbar Mu ' ini 6 May 1980 Tihran, Tihran 18. Mr. Badi'u ' llah Yazdani 6 May 1980 Tihran, Tihran 19. Mr. Parviz Bayani 11May1980 Piranshahr 20. Mr. Mir-Asadu ' llah Mukhtarf 18 May 1980 Andrun, Khurasan 21. Mr. I:Iasan Isma' il zadih Jun.1980 Sanandaj, Kurdistan 22. Mr. Yusuf SubDani 10 Jun.1980 Tihran, Tihran 23. Mr. Yadu'llah Astani * 14Jul.1980 Tabriz, Adhirbayjan 24. Dr. Faramarz Samandari * 14Jul.1980 Tabriz, Adhirbayjan 25. Mr. MuDammad Akbari 16Jul.1980 Rasht, Mazindaran 26. Mr. Yadu'llah Mahbubiyan 30 Jul.1980 Tihran, Tihran 27. Mr. DhabiDu ' llah Mu ' mini 15Aug. 1980 Tihran, Tihran 28. Mr. Nuru'llah Akhtar-Khavari • 8 Sep.1980 Yazd, Yazd 29. Mr. ' Azizu ' llah DhabiDiyan • 8 Sep.1980 Yazd, Yazd 30. Mr. Firaydun Faridani • 8 Sep.1980 Yazd, Yazd 31. Mr. Mahmud l:lasanzadih 8 Sep.1980 Yazd, Yazd 32. Mr. 'Abd u' l-Vahh ab Ka?imi-Manshadi 8 Sep.1980 Yazd, Yazd 33. Mr. Jalal Mustaqim * 8 Sep.1980 Yazd, Yazd 34. Mr. 'Ali Mu\ahhari * 8 Sep.1980 Yazd, Yazd 35 . Mr. Rii;!a Firuz i 9 Nov. 1980 Tabriz, Adhirbayjan 36. Mr. MuDammad-I:Iusayn Ma'~umi 23 Nov.1980 Nuk, Bitjand 37. Mrs. Shikkar-Nisa' Ma'~umi 23 Nov.1980 Nuk, Birjand 38. Mr. Bihruz Sana'i 17 Dec.1980 Tihran, Tihran

1981 39. Dr. Man(1chihr I:Iakim ** 12 Jan.1981 Tihran, Tihran 40. Mr. Mihdi Anvari 17 Mar.1981 Shiraz, Fars 41. Mr. Hidayatu'llah Dihqani 17Mar. 198 l Shiraz, Fars 42. Mrs. Nuraniyyih Yarsha\ir Apr. 198 1 Tihran, Tihran 43. Mr. Sattar Khushkhu 30 Apr.1981 Shiraz, Fars - --

Blessed is he who hath laid down his life in My path and hath borne manifold hardships for the sake of My Name. -Baha'u'llah

No. Name/Role Date Place where martyrdom occurred

44. Mr. ll:isanu' llah Mihdi-Zadih 30 Apr.198 1 Shiraz, Fars 45. Mr. Yadu ' llah VaJ:idat • 30 Apr.1981 Shiraz, Fars 46. Mr. MuJ:iammad (S uh rab) l;labibi * 14 Jun.1 981 Hamadan, Hamadan 47. Mr. MuJ:iammad-Baqir (Suhayl) Habibi * 14Jun.1 981 Hamadan, Hamadan 48. Mr. l;lusayn Khand il * 14 Jun.1981 Hamadan, Hamadan 49. Mr. Tarazu' ll ah Khuzayn * 14 Jun.1 98 1 Hamadan, Hamadan 50. Mr. I:Iusayn Mutlaq * 14 Jun.1 981 Hamadan, Hamadan 5 I. Dr. Firuz Na' imi * 14Jun.198 1 Hamadan, Hamadan 52. Dr. Na~ ir Vafa' f * 14Jun .198 1 Hamadan, Hamadan 53. Mr. Buzurg ' A laviyan * 23Jun.1 98 1 Tihran, Tihran 54. Mr. Hashim - Farnush - •* 23 Jun.1 98 I Tihran, Tihran 55. Mr. Farhang Mavaddat * 23Jun.1981 Tihran, Tihran 56. Dr. MasiJ:i Farhangi .. 24 Jun.1981 Tihran, Tihran 57. Mr. Badi' u' llah Farid 24Jun.1981 Tihran, Tihran 58. Mr. Yad u' llah Pustchi 24Jun.1981 Tihran, Tihran 59. Mr. Varqa Tibyaniyan (Tibyani) 24Jun. 1981 Tihran, Ti hran GO. Mr. Kamalu'd-Din Bakhtavar 26 Jul.1 98 1 Mas hhad, Khurasan GI. Mr. Ni'matu ' llah Katibpur-Shahidi 26 Jul.1 98 1 Mash had, Khurasan 62. Mr. ' Abdu' l- 'Ali Asadyari * 29J ul.1 98 1 Tabriz, Adhi rbayjan 63. Mr. l~usayn Asadu ' llah-Zadih * 29Jul.1 98 1 Tabriz, Ad hirbayjan 64. Mr. Mi hdi Bahiri * 29 Jul.1981 Tabriz, Adhirbayjan 65. Dr. Masrur Dakhili * 29 Jul.1981 Tabriz, Adhirbayjan 66. Dr. Parviz Firuzi * 29Jul.1981 Tabriz, Adhirbayjan 67. Mr. Manuchihr Khadi'i * 29 Jul.1 981 Tabriz, Adh irbayjan 68. Mr. Allah-Virdi Mi!b_aqi 29 Jul.1 981 Tabriz, A.dh irbayjan 69. Mr. I:Iabibu' ll ah Tal;qiqi * 29 Jul.1 98 1 Tabriz, Adh irbayjan 70. Mr. Isma' il Zi htab * 29 Jul.1981 Tabriz, Adhirbayjan 71. Mr. Husayn Rastigar-Namdar 5 Aug. I 98 I Tihran, Tihran 72. Mr. ~Iabfbu ' ll ah ' Azizi * 29 Aug.198 1 Tihran, Tihran 73. Mr. Bahman 'A.tiff ll Sep.1981 Daryu n, I ~fa h an 74. Mr. ' lzzat ' A.tiff I I Sep.1 98 1 Daryun, I~fahan 75 . Mr. Al:imad Ri9vanf I l Sep.198 1 Daryt'.111, r ~fahan 76 . Mr. ' A\a ' u' llah Rawhanf l I Sep.198 I Daryun, I~fahan 77. Mr. Gushtasb Thabit-Rasikh JI Sep.198 1 Daryun, I ~fa h an 78. Mr. Yadu' llah Sipihr-Arfa' 230ct.1981 Tihran, Tihran

Blessed is he who hath laid down his life in My path and hath borne manifold hardships for the sake of My Name. -Baha'u'llah

No. Name/Role Date Place where martydom occurred

79 . Mr. Mihdi Amin Amin ** 27 Dec. 1981 Tihran, Tihran 80. Mr. Jalal 'Azizi ** 27 Dec.1981 Tihran , Tihran 81. Dr. ' Izzatu' llah Furuhi •** 27 Dec.1981 Tihran, Tihran 82. Mrs. Zhinus Ni' mat Mal:imudi •** 27 Dec. 1981 Tihran, Tihran 83. Dr. Mal:imC1d Majdhub ** 27 Dec.1981 Tihran, Tihran 84. Mr. Qudratu'll ah Rawbani ** 27 Dec.1981 Tihran , Tihran 85. Dr. Sirus Rawshani ** 27 Dec.1981 Tihran, Tihran 86. Mr. Kamran Samimi ** 27 Dec.1981 Tihran, Tihran

1982 87. Mrs. Shi va Mal)mudf Asadu' llah-Zad ih * 4 Jan.1982 Tihran , Tihran 88. Mr. Iskandar 'Azfzf * 4 Jan.1982 Tihran , Tihran 89. Mrs. Shidrukh Amir-Ki ya (Baqa) 4 Jan.1982 Tihran, Tihran 90. Mr. Fatl:iu ' ll ah Firdawsf * 4 Jan.1 982 Tihran, Tihran 9 l. Mr. Khusraw Muhandisi * 4Jan.1982 Tiluáan, Tihran 92. Mr. Kurush Tala'i * 4 Jan.19 82 Tihran, Tihran 93 . Mr. 'AW u' llah Yavari * 4 Jan.1982 Tihran , Tihran 94. Mr. Ibrahim Khayrkhah 22 Feb.19 82 Babul-Sar, Mazindaran 95. Mr. I~Iusayn Vahdat-i-~Iaqq 28 Feb.1982 Tihran, Tihran 96. Mr. 'Askar Muhammad! 2 Apr. 1982 Rahimkhan, A.dh irbayjan 97 . Mr. ll:isanu ' llah Khayyami 12 Apr.1982 UrC1miyyih, A.d hirbayjan 98 . Mr. 'Azfzu' llah Gu lshanf 29 Apr. 1982 Mashhad,Khurasan 99. Mrs. lshraqiyyi h Faruhar * 8 May 1982 Karadj, Tihran 100. Mr. Mal:imud Faruhar * 8 May 1982 Karadj , Tihran 101. Mr. Badi' u'l lah ~I aqpaykar * 8 May 1982 Karadj, Tihran 102. Mr. A.gah u' llah Tfzfahm IO May 1982 Urumfyyih, Adhirbayjan 103. Miss Jalalfyyih Mushta' il-Usku'i 10 May 1982 Uru mfyy ih, A.d hirbayjan 104. Mrs. fran Rahfmpur (Kh urma'f) 12May 1982 Di zfUI, Khuzistan 105. Mr. Na~ru' ll ah Ami ni * 16 May 1982 Kh anfabad, Tihran 106. Mr. Sa'du ' llah Babazadih * 16 May 1982 Kh anfabad, Tihran 107. Mr. ' AW u' ll ah I:Iaqqanf I Jun 1982 Tihran , Tihran 108. Mr. Mul:iammad 'Abbasi* 9 Jul.1 982 Qazvfn , Tihran 109. Mr. Jadidu ' llah Ashraf * 9 Jul.1982 Qazvfn , Tihran 110. Mr. Manuchihr Farzan ih-Mu ' ayyad * 9Jul.1 982 Qazvfn , Tihran I I l. Mr. Mul:iammad Man~urf * 9 Jul.1 982 Qazvf n, Tihran

Blessed is he who hath laid down his life in My path and hath borne manifold hardships for the sake of My Name. -Baha'u'llah

No. Name/Role Date Place where martyrdom occurred

112. Mr. Manuchihr Vafa'i 9Jul.1982 Tihran, Tihran 113. Mr. 'Abbas-'Alf $adiqipur 15 Ju l. 1982 Shiraz, Fars 114. Mr. 'Alf Na'imiyan 11 Aug.1982 Urumiyyih, Adhirbayjan 115. Mr. I:Iabibu ' llah Awji 16 Nov.1982 Shiraz, Fars 116. Dr. Dhiya' u'llah Al!rari * 21 Nov.1982 Shiraz, Fars 117. Mr. J:Iusayn Nayyiri - l~fahani 29 Nov. 1982 J~fahan, I~fahan 118. Mrs. Guldanih 'Alipur 24 Dec .1982 Sari, Mazindaran

1983 119. Mr. Hidayatu'llah Siyavushi * 1 Jan. 1983 Shiraz, Fars 120. Mr. Yadu'llah Mahmudnizhad * • 12 Mar.1983 Shiraz, Fars 121. Mr. Rahmatu'llah Vafa'i * 12Mar. 1983 Marvdasht, Fars 122. Mrs. Tuba Za' irpur 12 Mar.1983 Shiraz, Fars 123. Mr. 'Ac;ladu'llah ('Aziz) Zaydi I Apr.1983 Miyan-Duab, Adhirbayjan 124. Mr. Jalal J:Iakiman I May 1983 Tihran, Tihran 125. Mr. Suhayl $afa'i I May 1983 Tihran, Tihran 126. Dr. Bahram Afnan * 16 Jun .1983 Shiraz, Fars 127. Mr. 'Abdu ' l-J:Iusayn Azadi * 16Jun.1983 Akbarabad, Fars 128. Mr. Kurush J:Iaqqbin * 16Jun.1983 Marvdasht, Fars 129. Mr. ' Inayatu ' llah I~raqi 16 Jun.19 83 Shiraz, Fars 130 Mr. Jamshid Siyavushi * 16Jun.1983 Shiraz, Fars 131. Mr. Bahram Yalda'i 16 Jun.1983 Shiraz, Fars 132. Miss Shahin (Shirin) Dalvand 18Jun.1983 Shiraz, Fars 133 Mrs. ' lzzat Janami lshraqi 18Jun.1983 Shiraz, Fars 134. Miss Ru'ya Ishraqi 18 Jun.1983 Shiraz, Fars 135. Miss Muna Ma~mudni zhad 18 Jun.1983 Shiraz, Fars 136. Miss Zarrin Muqimi-Abyanih 18 Jun.19 83 Shiraz, Fars 137. Miss Mahshid Nirumand 18 Jun.1983 Shiraz, Fars 138. Miss Simin $abiri 18Jun . 1983 Shiraz, Fars 139. Mrs. Tahirih Arjumandi Siyavushi 18Jun .1983 Shiraz, Fars 140. Miss Akhtar Thabit 18Jun .1983 Shiraz, Fars 14 1. Mrs. Nusrat Ghufrani Yalda' i * 18Jun. 1983 Shiraz, Fars 142. Mr. A~mad - ' Alf Thabit-Sarvistani 30 Jun.1983 Shiraz, Fars 143 . Mr. Mul!ammad l ~raqi • 31 Aug. 1983 Tihran, Ti hran 144. Mr. Akba r I:Iaq iqi 2 1 Sep. 1983 K huy, A<l hirbayjan

Blessed is he who hath laid down his life in My path and hath borne manifold hardships for the sake of My Nam e. -Baha'u ' llah

No. Na me/Role Date Place where martyrdom occurred

145 . Mr. Suhayl Hushmand 29 Sept.1983 Shiraz, Fars 146. Mr. Bahman Dihqani 19Nov.1983 Muhammadfyyih, l ~fah an 147. Mr. 'Abdu' l-Majfd Mutahhar 15 Dec.1983 J~fah an , I~fahan

1984 148. Mr. Ral}matu ' ll ah I:{akfman 11 Jan.1984 Kirman, Kirman 149. Mr. N u ~ratu ' ll a h Qfya' f 3 Mar. 1984 Baft, Kinnan 150. Mr. Mul}sin Rac;!avi 4 Mar.1984 Ti hran, Tihran 151. Mr. Ghu lam-I:Iusayn ~Iasa n z ad ih- Shakfr i 10 Mar.1984 Tihran, Tihran 152. Mr. Kamran Lu\fi 9 Apr. 1984 Tihran , Tihran 153. Mr. Ral}im Ral}fmfyan 9 Apr. 1984 Tihran, Tihran 154. Mr. Yadu ' ll ah $abirfyan 9 Apr. 1984 Ti hran , Tihran 155. Mr. Asadu' ll ah Kami l-Muqaddam 2 May 1984 Tihran, Tihran 156. Mr. Maq~ud ' Alizad ih 5 May 1984 Tabriz, Ad hirbayjan 157. Mr. Jal al Payravi • 5Mayl984 Tabriz, Ad hirbayjan 15 8. Mr. Jahangir Hidayati ** 15 May 1984 Tihran, Tihran 159. Mr. 'A li-Mul}ammad Zamani 15 May 1984 Tihran, Tihran 160. Mr. Nu~ratu' ll ah Val}dat 17 Jun . 1984 Mashh ad, Khurasan 16 1. Mr. Il}sanu ' llah Kathfrf 27 Jun.1984 Tihran , Tihran 162. Dr. Manuchihr Rul}f 16Aug. 1984 Bujnurd, Khurasan 163. Mr. Arninu ' llah Qurbanpur 25 Aug. 1984 near Tihran 164. Mr. Rustam Varjavandi 15Sept.1984 Ti hran , Tihran 165. Mr. Shapur (Hus hang) Markazf 23 Sept.1984 Tihran, Tihran 166 . Mr. Ffruz Purdil 30 Oct.1984 Mashhad, Khurasan 167. Mr. Al}mad Bashiri ** I Nov. 1984 Tihran, Ti hran 168. Mr. Yu ni s Naw ru zi-lranzad * I Nov. 1984 Karadj , Tih ran 169. Mr. ' Alirida Niyakan 11 Nov. 1984 Tabriz, Ad hirbayjan 170. Mr. Qiya'u ' llah Mani' i-Usku ' i 13 Nov. 1984 Tabriz, Adhirbayjan 17 1. Dr. Farhad A~daqf ** 19 Nov. 1984 Tihran , Ti hran 172. Mr. Ffn'.1z Athari * 9 Dec.19 84 Karadj , Tihran 173. Mr. Ghul am-I:Iusayn Farhand * 9 Dec.1984 Karadj , Tihran 174. Mr. 'Inayatu ' ll ah I:Iaqfqf * 9 Dec.1984 Karadj, Ti hran 175 . Mr. Jamal Kashani * 9 Dec.1984 Karadj , Tihran 176. Mr. Jamshfd Pur-Ustadkar * 9 Dec. 1984 Karadj , Tihran 177. Dr. Rt'.tl)u ' llah Ta' lfm * 9 Dec.1984 Kirrnanshah

Blessed is he who hath laid down his life in My path and hath borne manifold hardships for the sake of My Name. -Baha'u'llah

No. Name/Role Date Place where martyrdom occurred

1985 178. Mr. Ruhu ' llah I:Ia~uri• * 21 Jan.1985 Yazd, Yazd 179. Mr. Ruhu'llah Bahrarnshahi * 25 Feb.1985 Yazd, Yazd 180. Mr. Nu~ratu ' llah Subhani 5 Mar.1985 Tihran, Tihran 18 1. Mr. 'Abbas idilkhani I Aug.1985 Tihran, Tihran 182. Mr. RaJ:imatu'llah Vujdani * 31 Aug.1985 Bandar- ' Abbas 183. Mr. Nuru'd-Din Ta' ifi 12 Oct.1985 Pahlavfdizh, Mazindaran 184. Mr. 'Azfzu'llah A~arf 19 Nov.1985 Tabriz, Adhirbayjan

1986 185. Mr. Payrnan SubJ:ianf 17 Apr.1986 Saravan 186. Mr. Sirru'llah VaJ:idat-Nizarnf 4 May 1986 Tihran, Tihran 187. Mr. Fidrus Shabrukh 9 May 1986 Zahidan 188. Mr. Farid Bihrnardi** IO Jun 1986 Tihran, Tihran 189 Mr. I:Iabibu'llah Muhtadi 27 Aug.1986 Tihran, Tihran 190. Mr. Babak Talibf 2 Sep.1986 Karadj, Ti hran 191. Mr. iraj Mihdfnizhad 4 Sep.1986 Bandar- ' Abbas 1987 192. Mr. AJ:imad Kavi h 26 Jan.1987 I~fahan , I~ fahan 193. Mr. Surush Jabbari 3 Mar.1987 Tihran, Tihran 194. Mr. Abu'l-Qasirn Shayiq 3 Mar.1987 Tihran, Tihran 195. Mr. Ardishfr Akhtari ** 28 Sept.1987 Tihran, Tihran 196. Mr. Arnfr-I:Iusayn Nad irf ** 28 Sept.1987 Ti hran, Tihran 197. Mr. fraj Afshin 26 Nov.1987 Tihran, Tihran

1988 198. Mr. Mihrdad Maq~udf 6 Feb.1988 Ururnfyyih, Adhirbayjan 199. Mr. Bihnam Pasha'f* Autumn 1988 Tihran, Tihran

1989 200. Mr. Gulvirdf Qandfyan 7 Sep.1989 Quruq, Mazindaran

1992 201. Mr. Bahrnan Sarnandarf 18 Mar.1992 Tihran , Tihran

Blessed is he who hath laid down his life in My path and hath borne manifold hardships for the sake of My Name. -Baha'u'llah

BAHA 'is WHO DISAPPEARED WITHOUT TRACE IN IRAN AND ARE PRESUMED DEAD (1979-20 APRlL 1992)

denotes member of the Aux iIiary Board ** denotes member of the National Spiritual Assembly

No. Na me Where Disappeared Date Disappeared

1979 I. Mr. Mu~ammad Muvahhid Tihran 24 May 1979 2. Dr. 'Alfmurad Davudi Tihran 11 November 1979

1980 3. Mr. Ruhi Rawshani Tihran 3 January 1980 4. Mr. 'Abdu'l-I:Iusayn Taslimi ** Tihran 21 August 1980 5. Mr. Hushang Mahmudi ** Tihran 21 August 1980 6. Mr. Ibrahim Ra~mani ** Tihran 21 August 1980 7. Dr. I:Iusayn Naji** Tihran 21 August 1980 8. Mr. Manuhir Qa' im Maqami ** Tihran 21 August 1980 9. Mr. 'Atfl' u' llah Muqarrabi ** Tihran 21 August 1980 IO. Mr. YusifQadimi ** Tihran 21 August 1980 1I. Mrs. Bahiyyih Nadiri ** Tihran 21 August 1980 12. Dr. Kambiz $adiqzadih ** Tihran 21 August 1980 13. Dr. Yusif 'Abbasiyan • Tihran 21 August 1980 14. Dr. I:Iishmatu ' llah Rawhani • Tihran 21 August 1980 Sirru '!Lah Va~dat-Niz;ami Farid Bihmardi Fidrus Shabrukh

Babak '[alibi fraj Mihdinizhtid A~madKavih

Abu 'l-Qasim Shayiq Surush Jabbtiri Ardishir Akhtar[ Amir-Husayn Nadiri Bihnam Pasha'£ Mihrdad Maq~udi

Gulvirdi Qandiyan Bahman Samandari INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIV ITI ES 401

E. RESPONSE OF THE UNITED NATIONS TO THE PERSECUTION OF THE BARA 'fs 1980- 20 APRIL 1992

Since 1980, human rights organs of the of Iran and to continue his efforts to ensure United Nations have been expressing con- the Baha'is full enjoyment of their human cern about the tragic situation of the Baha' i rights and fundamental freedoms. religious minority in Iran. This demonstra- Grave concern for the Baha'i minority tion of international concern has played a was expressed by members of the Human critical role in moderating the actions of the Rights Committee at its 16th session, when Iranian authorities and providing a measure the Committee discussed with representatives of security to the Baha'i community. of the Iranian Government the preliminary In 1985 the General Assembly had the report submitted by the Government of the issue on its agenda for the first time. It Islamic Republic of Iran in accordance with adopted a resolution which expressed deep its reporting obligations under the Internaconcern about the human rights situation in tional Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Iran and decided to continue its examination Resolution 1982/25 of the Sub-Commisof the situation, "including the situation of sion on Prevention of Discrimination and minority groups such as the Baha' is ... " . Protection of Minorities recalls its earlier A summary history of this issue at the resolutions on the plight of the Baha 'is and United Nations is outlined below: expresses its continuing concern at human rights violations in Iran. 1980 Resolution 10 (XXXIII) of the Sub-Commis- 1983 sion on Prevention of Discrimination and Resolution 1983/34 of the Commission on Protection of Minorities expresses profound Human Rights expresses its profound conconcern for the Baha'is both individually cern at the religious persecution of the and collectively, and invites the Government Baha' is and requests the Secretary-General of Iran to protect their fundamental human to continue his direct contacts with the rights and freedoms . Government of Iran on the human rights situation in that country, "including the 1981 situation of the Baha'is". Resolution 8 (:XXXIV) of the Sub-Commis- Resolution 1983/14 of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and sion on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities draws attention of Protection of Minorities expresses its grave the Commission on Human Rights to the per- concern at the continuing religious persecuilous situation facing the Baha'is and requests tion of the Baha' is and suggests that the the Secretary-General to report on their plight Commission on Human Rights appoint a to the next session of the Commission. Special Rapporteur to study the human rights situation in Iran. 1982 Resolution 1982/27 of the Commission on 1984 Human Rights notes the Secretary-General's Resolution 1984/54 of the Commission on report on the Baha ' is and requests him to Human Rights expresses its concern for the establish direct contacts with the Govenunent Baha ' i minority and requests its Chailn1an to 402 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

appoint a Special Representative to establish report, and expresses the hope that the initial contacts with the Government of iran and to contacts of the Government of Iran with the make a thorough study of the human rights Special Representative will develop into a ofiran. positive cooperation. Decision 1984/138 of the Economic and Resolution 40/ 141 of the General Assembly Social Council endorses the Commission's Expresses its deep concern over the spedecision to appoint a Spec ial Representative. cific and detailed allegations of violations Resolution 1984/ 14 of the Sub-Commisof human rights in the Islamic Republic sion on Prevention of Discrimination and of Iran to which the Special Representa- Protection of Minorities expresses alarm at tive refers in his interim report, and in the continuing gross violations of human particular, those related to the right to life, rights in Iran, including the religious persesuch as summary and arbitrary executions; cution of the Baha'is, and welcomes the the right to freedom from torture or cruel, Commi ssion 's deci sion to appoint a Special inhuman or degrading treatment or pun- Representative. ishment; the right to liberty and security of person and to freedom from arbitrary 1985 arrest or detention; the right to a fair trial ; Preliminary Report of the Spec ial Representhe right to freedom of thought, conscience tative to the Commission on Human Rights and religion and to freedom of expresexpresses great concern at the number and sion; and the right of religious minorities gravity of alleged violations of human rights to profess and practice their own religion in Iran, including denial of the right to free- (operative paragraph 2): dom of thought, conscience and religion. Resolution 1985/39 of the Commission on Decides to continue its examination of the Human Rights endorses the general observa- situation of human rights in the Islamic tions of its Special Representative, expresses Republic of Iran, including the situation its deep concern at the number and gravity of of minority groups such as the Baha' is, alleged violations of human rights to which during its forty-first session in order to his preliminary report bears witness, extends examine this situation anew in the light of his mandate, and requests him " ... to present additional elements provided by the an interim report to the General Assembly at Commission of Human Rights and the its fortieth session on the human rights situa- Economic and Social Council (operative tion in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including paragraph 8). the situation of minority groups such as the Baha'is ... ". 1986 Decision 1985/148 of the Economic and Resolution 1985/41 of the Commission on Socia l Council endorses the Comm ission's Human Rights "expresses its deep concern decision. over the specific and detailed allegations of Resolution 1985117 of the Sub-Commis- grave human rights vio lations in the Islamic sion on Prevention of Discrimination and Republic of Iran to which the Special Repre- Protection of Minorities welcomes the sentative refers in his report"; endorses Commission's decision, expresses its alarm his conclusion that "specific and detailed at the continuing reports of gross violations allegations concerning grave human rights of human rights and fundamental freedoms violations" in Iran cannot be dism issed; in Iran, "in particular at the evidence of per- decides to extend the mandate of the Comsecution of the Baha' i religious minority .. .", mission 's Special Representative and requests endorses the general observations of the him to present an interim report on the situa- Special Representative in his preliminary tion, "including the situation of minority INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 403 groups such as the Baha'is" to the General 1987 Assembly at its forty-first session and a final Resolution E/CN.4/RES/ 1987/55 (11.3.1987) report to the Commission at its forty-third of the Commission on Human Rights recallsession in 1987. ing its resolution 1986/41, extends the Decision 1986/ 137 of the Economic and mandate of the Special Representative for Social Council approves the Commission's one year; requests him to present an interim decision to extend the Special Representa- report on the human rights situation includtive's mandate and its request to the Special ing the situation of minority groups, such as Representative to submit reports to the forty- the Baha'is; regrets "that the Government first session of the General Assembly and of the Islamic Republic of iran has so far the forty-third session of the Commission. provided no comment or information to the It was announced on 14 July 1986 that, in Special Representative and has not allowed response to this request, the Chairman of the him to visit the country"; again expresses Commission had appointed Mr. Reynaldo "its deep concern over the numerous and Galindo Pohl to serve as the Special Repre- detailed allegations of grave and extensive sentative of the Commission. hun1an rights violations to which the Special Resolution 41 /159 of the General Assembly Representative refers in his report (E/CN.4/ 1987 /23) and in particular, those related to Expresses its deep concern over the spe- the right to life, the right to freedom from cific and detailed allegations of violations torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatof human rights in the Islamic Republic ment or punishment, the right to liberty and of Iran and in particular over those related security of person and to freedom from arbito the right to life, such as summary and trary arrest or detention, the right to a fair arbitrary executions, the right to freedom trial, the right to freedom of thought; confrom tmture or cruel, inhuman or degrad- science and religion and to freedom of ing treatment or punishment, the right expression, and the right of religious minorito liberty and security of person and to ties to profess and practice their own freedom from arbitrary arrest or deten- religion"; requests "the Special Representation, the right to a fair trial, the right tive to present an interim report to the to freedom of thought, conscience and General Assembly, at its forty-second sesreligion and to freedom of expression and sion on human rights in the Islamic Republic the right of religious minorities to profess of Iran, including the situation of minority and practice their own religion; groups such as the Baha'is ...". Requests the Commission on Human Decision 19871150 ofECOSOC approves Rights to study carefully the final report the Commission's decision to extend the of the Special Representative, as well as Special Representative's mandate. other information pertaining to the situa- Resolution E/CN.4/Sub.2/RES/ 1987112 tion of human rights in the Islamic ( 1.9 .1987) of the Sub-Commission on Pre- Republic of Iran, and to consider further vention of Discrimination and Protection of steps for securing effective respect for Minorities refers to "various resolutions and human rights and fundamental freedoms documents published by other international for all in that country; bodies and organizations including resolutions ratified by the European Parliament Decides to continue its examination of and Council of Europe ... all of which have the situation of human rights in the expressed great concern over the violations Islamic Republic of Iran including the sit- of human rights and violation of the most uation of minority groups such as the basic rights of the ethnic and religious minor- Baha 'is, during its forty-second session .... ities ... "; learns "with renewed concern that 404 THE BAHA'I WORLD

the number of those allegedly executed by their political and religious convictions"; the ruling Government, including Baha'is and expresses "its deep concern at allegations others, now exceeds 70,000 ... "; expresses that maltreatment and torture, both physical "strong concern over the grave violations of and psychological, are common practice in human rights and basic freedom such as ... the Iranian prisons during interrogation and "right to freedom of belief and religion .. ."; before and after the final verdict, and at the urges "determined protest by the Commission existence of extremely summary and inforto the Islamic Republic of Iran concerning mal proceedings, unawareness on the part of continuing disrespect for the Charter of the the prisoners of specific accusations, lack of United Nations in relation to human rights"; legal counsel and other irregularities with and "requests the Secretary-General to respect to fair trial" ; endorses "the concluinform the General Assembly, the Commis- sion of the Special Representative that acts sion on Human Rights and its Special continue to occur in the Islamic Republic of Representative of the information obtained Iran that are inconsistent with the provisions from the Sub-Commission on the grave vio- of international instruments..."; decides "to lation of human rights and the most basic keep under consideration the situation of freedoms in the Islamic Republic of Iran". human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Resolution 42/136 (7.12.1987) of the including the situation of minority groups General Assembly takes note of the Com- such as the Baha'is, during its forty-third mission's resolution 1987/55 requesting the session ... ". Special Representative "to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its forty- 1988 second session on the situation of human Resolution E/CN.4/RES/1988/69 (10.3.1988) rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, includ- of the Commission on Human Rights recalls ing the situation of minority groups such as its decision to request the Special Representhe Baha'is ... "; again expresses "its deep tative to present an interim report to the concern about the numerous and detailed General Assembly on the human rights allegations of grave human rights violations situation including the situation of minority in the Islamic Republic of Iran to which the groups, such as the Baha'is; expresses Special Representative had referred in his "again its deep concern about the numerous report, namely, those related to the right to detailed allegations of grave human rights life, the right to freedom from torture or violations ... in particular those related to the cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or right to life ...the right to freedom of thought, punishment, the right to liberty and security conscience and religion and to freedom of of person, and to freedom from arbitrary expression .. ."; requests "the Special Reprearrest or detention, the right to a fair trial, the sentative to present an interin1 report to the right to freedom of thought, conscience and General Assembly at its forty-third session religion and to freedom of expression, and on the human rights situation, including the the right of religious minorities to profess situation of minority groups, such as the and practice their own religion"; expresses Baha' is, and a final report to the Con1illis- " its grave concern, in particular, that sion at its forty-fifth session". although the Special Representative indicates Decision 1988/137 ofECOSOC approves that the number of alleged violations of the the Commission's decision to extend the right to life has diminished over the past two Special Representative's mandate. This deciyears, according to information made avail- sion refers also to Commission resolution able to him, some one hundred persons were 1984/54. alleged to have been executed in the period Resolution 43/137 (8.12.1988) of the General October 1986- September 1987 because of Assembly takes note of the Commission's INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 405 resolution 1988/69 requesting the Special 1989 Representative "to submit an interim report Resolution E/CN.4/RES/1989/66 (7.3.1989) to the General Assembly at its forty-third of the Commission on Human Rights recallsession on the situation of human rights in ing " ... the situation of minority groups, such the Islamic Republic of iran, including the as the Baha'is ... "; notes "that the situation of situation of minority groups such as the the Baha'is in the Islamic Republic of Iran Baha'is ... "; no,tes "the recent contacts continues to be uncertain"; expresses once between the Special Representative and the more "its deep concern over the numerous Government of the Islamic Republic of iran, and detailed allegations of grave and extenwhich it is hoped will lead to a state of full sive human rights violations to which the co-operation between the Special Represen- Special Representative has referred in his tative and that Government, including a visit reports, namely, those related to the right to to the Islamic Republic ofiran, so that he can life, the right to freedom from torture or fulfil his mandate"; notes "that the Baha'is in cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or the Islamic Republic of Iran continue to be punishment, the right to liberty and security subjected to various forn1S of harassment and of person, the right to a fair trial and to freediscrimination, although there are indications dom of thought, conscience, religion and that the intensity of the campaign of perse- expression"; requests "the Special Reprecution against the Balla 'is has diminished sentative to present an interim report to the somewhat in recent months, and that a num- General Assembly at its forty-fourth session ber of them have been released from prison"; on human rights situation in Iran, including expresses once more "its deep concern about the situation of minority groups, such as the the numerous and detailed allegations of Baha'is and a final report to the forty-sixth grave human rights violations in the Islamic session of the Conunission". Republic of Iran to which the Special Repre- Resolution E/CN.4/Sub.2/RES/1989/10 sentative had referred in his report, namely, (31.8.1989) of the Sub-Commission on Prethose related to the right to life, the right to vention of Discrimination and Protection of freedom from torture or cmel, inhuman or Minorities takes note "of numerous reports degrading treatment or punishment, the right by United Nations special rapporteurs and to liberty and security of person, the right to a by NGOs, ... "; concerned "also at reports fair trial and the right to freedom of thought, of denial of rights of minorities to enjoy conscience and religion"; expresses "its deep their own culture, to profess and practice concern also at the existence of extremely their own beliefs"; is "further concerned at summary, informal and irregular proceed- reports about persecution and detention of ings, failure to inform defendants of specific members of the Baha'i community in the accusations against them, lack of legal coun- Islamic Republic of Iran". cil, absence of an appropriate instance for Resolution 44/163 (15.12.1989) of the appeal and other inegularities that contra- General Assembly takes note "with apprevene international standards on fair trial"; ciation of the interim report of the Special endorses "the conclusion of the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Representative that acts continue to occur in Rights"; takes note "of the view of the Spethe Islamic Republic of Iran that are incon- cial Representative that, in order to achieve sistent with the provisions of international full co-operation between the Government instruments ... "; decides "to keep under of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Speconsideration the situation of human rights cial Representative, there is a need to in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the proceed to another stage in the discharge of situation of minority groups such as the his mandate"; welcomes "the invitation by Baha' is, during its forty-fourth session .. .". the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Special 406 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Representative for him to visit that country"; the Special Representative on the situation decides "to continue its examination .... during of the BaM'is in the Islamic Republic of its forty-fifth session". Iran"; calls upon "the Islamic Republic of Iran to intensify its efforts to investigate and 1990 rectify the human rights issues raised by the Resolution E/CN.4/RES/1990/79 (7.3.1990) Special Representative, in particular as of the Commission on Human Rights notes regards the administration of justice and due "the findings of the Special Representative process oflaw in order to comply with interon the situation of the Baha'is in the Islamic national instruments on human rights, Republic of Iran"; expresses "its concern that including the International Covenant on testimony gathered by the Special Represen- Civil and Political Rights to which the tative reiterated complaints about unlawful Islamic Republic of Iran is a party, and to executions, torture, substitute prisoners, ensure that all individuals within its territory imprisonment beyond the period specified in and subject to its jurisdiction, including the sentence, spontaneous decisions by low- religious groups, enjoy the rights recognized ranking officials and the absence of council in these instruments"; notes "that the cofor defence as well as restrictions on the operation of the Islamic Republic of Iran right to assemble ... "; requests "the Special with the Special Representative has Representative to submit an interim report improved and has included replies by the to the General Assembly at its forty-fifth Government to allegations that have been session on the human rights situation in the transmitted to it, and urges the Government Islamic Republic ofiran, including the situa- to reply in detail to all allegations referred tion of minority groups, such as the Baha' is, to by the Special Representative in his and a final report to the Commission at its reports". fo1iy-seventh session". Decision 1990/243 ofECOSOC approves 1991 the Commission's decision to extend the Resolution E/CN.4/RES/1991/82 (7.3.1991) Special Representative 's mandate. of the Commission on Human Rights noting Resolution E/CN.4/Sub.2/RES/1990/9 (30. further "the findings of the Special Repre- 8.1990) of the Sub-Commission on Preven- sentative on the situation of the Baha'is in tion of Discrimination and Protection of the Islamic Republic of Iran"; welcomes Mino1ities notes "that the situation of the "the full cooperation extended by the Gov- Baha'is in the Islamic Republic of Iran ernment of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to be uncertain"; expresses "its to the Special Representative, which has deep concern about the grave vio lations of reached its highest level, as well as the human rights namely those related to the intention of the Government to continue its right to life, the right to freedom from tor- full cooperation with the Special Representure and from cruel, inhuman and degrading tative"; requests "the Special Representative treatment or punishment, the right to liberty to maintain his contact and cooperation with and security of person, the right to a fair the Government...and to report on further trial, and the right to freedom of thought, progress with regard to the recommendations conscience, religion and expression .. ."; contained in his report, on the basis of his decides "to consider the situation of human mandate pursuant to Commission on Human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Rights resolution 1984/54 of 14 March including the situation of minority groups 1984"; also requests the Special Representasuch as the Baha'i, at its forty-third session". tive "to submit a report to be considered by Resolution 45/173 (18.12.1990) of the the Commission which will consider the General Assembly noting "the findings of report with the view to its discontinuing the INT ERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITI ES 407 mandate if there is further progress achieved (E/CN.411992/34) and the observations conregarding his recommendations". tained therein"; expresses "its deep concern Decision 1991/261 ofECOSOC approves at the continuing reports of violations of the Commission's request to the Special human rights in the Islamic Republic of Representative to maintain his contacts and Iran"; expresses "its concern more specificooperation with the Government of the cally at the main weaknesses, according to Islamic Republic of Iran and to report on the Special Representative, of the human further progress. rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Resolution E/CN .4/Sub.2/RES/1991 /9 Iran, namely, the lack of guarantees of due (23 .8 .1991) of the Sub-Commission on Pre- process of law, discriminatory treatment of vention of Discrimination and Protection of certain groups of citizens for reason of their Minorities notes "that the situation of the religious beliefs, notably the Baha'is ... "; Baha 'i community in the Islamic Republic welcomes "the fact that the Government of of Iran continues to be a matter of great the Islamic Republic ofiran has permitted the concern"; expresses "its deep concern at the Special Representative to visit the counhy escalating grave violations of human rights and has continued to reply to allegations of in the Islamic Republic of Iran, in particular human rights violations transmitted to it by of the right to life, the right to freedom the Special Representative"; calls upon the from torture and from cruel, inhuman and Government "to ensure that all individuals degrading treatment or punishment, the right within its tenitory and subject to its jurisdicto liberty and security of person, the right to tion, including religious groups, enjoy the a fair trial and the right to freedom of rights recognized in the international inshuthought, conscience, religion and expression, ments"; decides "to extend the mandate of and calls upon the Commission on Human the Special Representative requesting him to Rights at its forty-eighth session, to extend submit an interim report to the General the mandate of the Special Representative Assembly at its forty-seventh session"; and the monitoring of the situation of human decides "to continue its consideration of the rights" ; decides "to consider the situation of situation of human rights and fundamental human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, freedoms in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as including the situation of minority groups a matter of priority, at its forty-ninth session". such as the Baha'i community, at its forty- Decision 1992/239 ofECOSOC approves fourth session". the Commission's decision to extend the Special Representative's mandate and its 1992 request to the Special Representative to sub- Resolution E/CN.4/RES/1992/67 (4.3.1992) mit an interim report to the forty-seventh of the Commission on Human Rights takes session of the General Assembly and a final note "with appreciation of the report of the report to the forty-ninth session of the Special Representative of the Commission Commission. 408 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Participants in a Wom en's Institute held at the Regional Bah!i 'i Centre of LatriKunda, Gambia, in 1987.

International Council of Women delegates ji-om Korea and India listen to a speaker during a reception held to honour Laura Dreyfus-Barney, a Baha 'i and a member of the !CW. The event took place on 6 July I 988 at the UNICEF House in Washington, D. C. , as part of the celebrations of the one hundredth anniversmy of the International Council of Women. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES

4. WOMEN'S ACTIVITIES

Jn every age and cycle He hath, through the splendorous light shed by the Manifestations of His wondrous Essence, recreated all things ... 1

THE Revelation of Baha'u'Jlah has given outcomes have never attained a state of us a new vision of what it means to be completion and perfection. "4 human; a whole new set of standards with The key to raising the status of womenwhich to view ourselves as men and women, indeed the key to raising all people up to and new ways of seeing the relationships "the greatness which might be theirs "5-is between what 'Abdu'l-Baha called the "two education. "Woman's lack of progress and wings of one bird"2 of humanity. "Jn this proficiency has been due to her need of Day," Baha'u ' llah Wrote, "the Hand of equal education and opportunity. Had she divine grace hath removed all distinctions. been allowed this equality, there is no doubt The servants of God and His handmaidens she would be the counterpart of man in abilare regarded on the same plane. " 3 ity and capacity. The happiness of mankind This is the first time in religious history will be realized when women and men cothat a Manifestation of God has enunciated ordinate and advance equally, for each is this principle, and from the Writings it is clear the complement and helpmeet of the other. "6 that before a Baha'i World Commonwealth During the Six Year Plan, Baha'i commucan be brought into being a fundamental nities sponsored or supported a wide range of change in the status of women needs to take educational activities as a way of promoting place. 'Abdu' l-Baha stated: " ... it is well the equality of men and women, and helping established in histo1y that where woman to bring about the needed "organic change in has not participated in human affairs, the the structure of present-day society .... " 7

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

The most basic laws and ordinances of the engage in some occupation-some art, trade Baha'i Faith underscore the need people or the like, which requires job training. have for an education. For example: Baha'is These laws and ordinances apply to all are asked to read from the Sacred Scriptures Baha'is, male and female . each day, which requires literacy skills; are In many parts of the world, for a variety enjoined to seek truth independently, which of reasons, people have not received the requires thought processes free from super- education that would make it possible for stition and imitation; and are instructed to them to comply w ith these laws. To help,

1 4 Baha ' u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of 'Abdu ' l-B aha, Th e Promulgation of Universal Peace Balza 'u 'I/ah (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, (Wi lmette: Baha'i Publish ing Trust, 1982), p. 134. 1976), p. 62. 5 Paris Talks: Addresses given by 'Abdu '/-Bahri in 'Abd u' I-Baha. Selections from the Writings of Paris in /9//-1912 (London : Baha'i Publishing 'Abdu '/-Balza (Haifa: Baha'i World Centre, 1978), Tru st, 1979), p. 133 . p. 302. 6 Promulgation , p. 182. Bah a 'u '!!ah, extract from a previously untran slated 7 Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahri 'u 'I/ah Tablet; cited in Women , compiled by the Research (Wilmette: Baha ' i Publishing Trust, 1974), p. 43. Department of the Universal House of Justice, January 1986. p. 2. 410 TH E BA HA ' i WORLD

In Sarh, Chad, the "Roses Noires " women 's group met regularly to learn prayers, discuss family problems, receive lessons in hygiene, and learn sewing and embroidery skills. • Photo taken on 8 June 1988.

Baha' is have worked to found tutorial and anyone. The National Spiritual Assembly of other schools, launch rural development India established more than two hundred programmes, organize job training faciliti es, tutorial schools during the Plan, many of establish educational radio stations, operate which were attended by girls and women. agricultural and medical proj ects, and other The New Era Development Institute, development projects. Most of these endeav- based in Maharashtra, implemented the ours have been designed for the whole Government of India 's Ministry of Human community. However, because women have Resources adult education programme. The been oppressed in so many societies for so effort introduced centres in sixty-one local long, some projects have been specifically communities and ran a series of evening designed to help women gain confidence in classes that were largely attended by their abilities and develop skills. women . The subjects discussed included In Zambia, where only twenty per cent adult literacy and children's education, of girls receive basic education, a Baha'i health care, hygiene, animal husbandry and residential secondary school for girls named tree planting. Instructors were from the comafter the Hand of the Cause of God Musa munities themselves. Banani began development under the aus- The Rabbani School Rural Development pices of the William Mmutle Masehla Project, located near Gwalior in Madhya Institute. This school was planned to offer a Pradesh, centres on the Rabbani School and curriculum that would combine agricultural more than twenty villages in the immediate training with the University of Cambridge vicinity. Development of the school included Exams Syndicate curriculum which would programmes for formal and non-formal provide students with the International Gen- education, agriculture, animal husbandry eral Certificate of Secondary Education and health. Development of villages includes (I GCSE) at the end of grade twelve. the formation of women's groups, and coop- Promoting literacy among women was eration in such ventures as land reclamation, the focus of Baha'i activities in Cameroon, nursery development, poultry farming, Cote d'Ivoire, France, Gabon, Guinea- agriculture and veterinary services. Many Bissau, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, all women also attend sewing classes, which of which reported either special literacy include a component of functional literacy. classes being held for women, or noted that The combination of literacy classes and women were making up a significant per- training in income-producing skills is the centage of those attending classes open for cornerstone of the programmes run by the INT ERNA TIO NAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 411 Baha'i Vocational Institute for Rural Baha'i Institute. In Nigeria, Baha' i women Women. Started in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, promoted the use of soya bean products to in 1983, the project soon included two sub- provide protein for families that could not centres, one in Manipur and one in Jhabua. afford to include animal milk, eggs or meat In November 1986, a third course was in their daily diets. started in Kalyanpura. In addition to adult In Haiti , more than four hundred and fifty literacy, vocational skills including weaving, mothers were trained in the areas of family sewing, knitting and embroidery have been welfare, education and health care. Materials taught. The initiative won national recogni- used in this programme included those detion for the level of excellence it has veloped by the Ruhi Institute of Colombia, sustained in its work. and the National Spiritual Assembly of Sixty women attended courses in sewing, Kenya. cooking, child care and English held in In Tuvalu, the Baha'i women's Nutrition Franceville, Gabon, during the Six Year and Home Gardening Programme operated Plan. In Ciskei, the Baha' is of Ngqumeya continually during the Six Year Plan to help began a candle-making operation as an families improve their health and standard of income-generating project for women. This living. It consisted of a vegetable garden effort was run as a cooperative enterprise, competition among Baha'i households in with part of the proceeds from each sale Funafuti in which each family grew nine being returned to the group to purchase more vegetables. In Tonga, women started a vegewax. Following the early success of the table, fowl and pig farm on Tongatapu in initiative the women were invited by a gov- 1989, and in Malaysia women were the ernment official to demonstrate their skills prime workers in the small vegetable plots to other villages. In Sarh, Chad, the "Roses operated by the Baha'i community of Noires" women's group met regularly to Pengkalan Hulu, Perak. learn prayers, discuss family problems, In 1989, a Health Awareness Project was receive lessons in hygiene, and to learn sew- undertaken by the National Women's ing and embroidery. The group functioned Committee of Malaysia. The objective was under the direction of the Local Spiritual to provide health and child development Assembly of Sarh. education for the mothers and families in the Women often took part in-and benefited selected low income areas, and to expose the from- Baha' i development efforts focused mothers to the benefits of health and child on health and nutrition. For example, in development practices. The first phase of the Burkina Faso women made up about fifty Project was to reduce the incidence of per cent of the volunteers trained to serve scabies, lice and worm infection among the their village communities as part of the families, to attract women to the centres, and Hygiene and Nutrition Education Project. to establish good and lasting relationships. Started in 1984, the Project continued The undertaking not only achieved all its throughout the Six Year Plan to give basic objectives, but led to further development training in nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, initiatives including dental care and literacy as well first- aid training and access to a classes. "pharmacy box" containing a number of The very innovative project entitled basic medications in each village. "Traditional Media as a Change Agent", In Zambia, Primary Health Care training which worked at the vi llage level , has been programmes for women were initiated in described in the article on Baha'i social and 1988: one-week courses were conducted in economic projects (seep. 179). The National communities, while two-week courses were Spiritual Assemblies of Bolivia, Cameroon, carried out at the William Mmutle Masehla and Malaysia cooperated in this activity which 412 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Richard and Mona Grieser, standing in the back row centre, with participants in the "Traditional Media as a Change Agent" project co-sponsored by the Baha'i International Community and the United Nations Development Fund for Women. Sarawak, ;'*i Malaysia; 1992. --~- ........... was funded through the Baha'i International with all part1c1pating villages responding Community by the United Nations Develop- positively to the challenge. ment Fund for Women (UNIFEM). The two- A women's conference on radio programyear enterprise commenced in October 1991. ming was held at the Guaymi Cultural Baha'i communities in Brazil and Nigeria Centre in Panama from 31 August to 2 Sepalso joined the project. tember 1990, with the goal of consulting The initiative sought to improve the about broadcasting on Radio Baha'i Panama status of rural women by using traditional in relation to topics of special interest to media of music, dance and drama to stimu- women, such as the equality of men and late village-wide discussion of women's women and the education of children. About roles. Men were included in the consultation, 150 people attended, with men working in and were asked to help identify factors the kitchen and taking care of the young which inhibited women from taking part in children so that the women could attend the decision-making and other activities which sessions. The status of women was the would allow them to contribute positively to subject of discussions aired on other Baha'i the growth of their families and their commu- radio stations as well, in Peru, Bolivia, nities. Early results were very encouraging, Ecuador, Chile, the United States, and Liberia.

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS AND PUBLICATIONS The Baha'i Writings discuss three types of they help deepen our understanding of the education : "material education", which Baha'i dispensation. teaches people how to improve their physi- Throughout the Six Year Plan, Baha'i cal well-being; "human education", which conferences, seminars and workshops for is concerned with knowledge of commerce, women took place worldwide. Whether held the sciences and arts; and "spiritual or under the open skies of a village or in a moral education", which addresses values. 1 metropolitan auditorium, women discussed If social and economic development pro- issues pertinent to their roles as mothers, as jects are among the types of "material" and peacemakers, and as vital members of society. "human" education, conferences could be In 1988, international Baha'i women's included as types of "spiritual" education as conferences were organized in North and South America, and in the Caribbean. The 'Abdu'l-Bah a, Some Answered Questions (Wilmette: event which took place in Dallas, Texas, Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1981 , p. 8. from 8 to 12 August was attended by more INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACT IVITrES 413 Left: In Luxembourg, the Baha'i Women's Union organized a conference with concert held on 7 October 1988 and attended by about 130 people.

Below: In Mexico, Rosalinda Espinoza de Frazelle is talking about "Women and Peace" during a Baha'i women 's conference held in 1987.

Above: In Bangladesh, Mrs. Shirin Boman addresses a Bahri 'i women 's conference held in Dhaka in 1986.

Right: In Kenya, one of the friends makes a point during the National Baha'i Wom en's Conference held in the Nakuru Baha'i Centre in February 1989. 414 THE BAHA'I WORLD

than one thousand women from sixty-five 11 September 1988, was that fifty percent of countries and all fifty states of the United the participants were not Baha'is. The States of America. Called "Global Peace, sessions attracted representatives from from Vision to Reality'', the gathering was twelve countries and were given extensive sponsored by the National Spiritual Assem- news coverage. bly of the Baha'is of the United States. The The following year, Uruguay hosted an professionally organized programme includ- International Women's Conference that was ed a daily schedule of workshops, talks, and described as "charged with enthusiasm". working sessions on ways women could en- Conducted from 6 to 8 October 1989 in hance their role in the global peace-making Montevideo, the occasion was co-sponsored process. The meeting was widely publicized by the National Spiritual Assembly and the as reporters responded to its unusually Ministry of Education and Culture. Approxidiverse multiracial, multireligious quality mately three hundred people from twelve which tangibly demonstrated the possibility countries took part, and messages of support of a peaceful global community. were received from various Government One hundred and thirty women from seven authorities, Baha'i institutions, and women's nations of the Americas were welcomed to associations from other countries. The gaththe International Women's Conference in ering was reported widely by the mass Paraguay which opened on 15 July 1988. communications media. The gathering received full coverage for The first initiative to form a European several days on both of the country's tele- Baha'i Women's Movement took place at De vision channels and in all three national Poort Conference Centre in the Netherlands newspapers. Representatives of the United from 6 to 8 May 1988. Ten countries were Nations helped to organize the programme, represented by twenty-eight individuals, and the Minister of Education and Religion many of whom were members of National sent a message of welcome. Mrs. Isabel Baha'i Women's Committees. Consultations Pavon de Calderon, a member of the Conti- were on ways the European Baha'i communental Board of Counsellors, commented nities could better understand the role of that the conference was "writing the history women . of women in Latin America". As one result of these efforts, the Conti- A strong feature of the Caribbean nental Board of Counsellors in Europe Women's Conference, held on the island of sponsored seven international women's con- Antigua, in the Leeward Islands, from 9 to ferences in 1990. The first took place in

-- - n poeferevcia ID(efi]aciopaf Ba/ji'i cfe fa}/(lje1 á i Y EL MOMENTO f!A LLEGADO lgualdad.Desarrol!oyP,,, &Iul.~, I

Uruguay hosted an International Baha'i Women's Conference co-sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly and the , Ministry of Education and Culture and held in Montevideo from 6 to 8 October 1989. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 415

A Pacific Bah<i 'i Women's Conference was held in Hilo, Hawaii.from 30 May to 7 June 1991, with seventy-six women from seventeen islands and countries bordering the Pacific basin taking part.

Iskenderun, Turkey, from 18 to 20 May, and Germany, on 6 and 7 October 1990, and the its theme was "The Role of Women in the one for French-speaking women was held at Faith". Participants came from many parts of the Baha' i Centre in Luxembourg from 26 to Turkey and from other European countries, 28 October. Their theme was "The Role of and the spirit reportedly was outstanding. Women in the Transformation of Society". The second European women's confer- Approximately one hundred Baha' is from ence was held in Fuscaldo Marina, Italy, seven countries assembled for the meeting. from 8 to 10 June. The programme was The last in the series of European womexcellent, the National Spiritual Assembly en 's conferences was conducted in Dublin, reported, and gave rise to participation in Ireland, from 2 to 4 November 1990. It two ongoing teaching projects. One group of was called "She Will Shine Resplendently", women went to Portici, Italy, to take part in and was attended by three hundred and fifty intensive teaching activities there, while the Baha'is. "Heartened by the response from other group travelled to Spain to join the men, whose huge presence contributed teaching work among the Gypsies. "Both greatly to the spirit of unity, to the practical projects were carried out with great enthusi- outcome of the conference, and to encourasm'', the National Spiritual Assembly stated. agement of the women participants, a true Furthermore, the conference "incited the feeling of 'new beginnings' was created for desire in the Baha' i families to participate in many. " teaching activities not only as individuals A Pacific Women's Conference was held but as Baha' i fami lies". on the campus of the University of Hawaii at The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu'l- Hilo. It took place from 30 May to 6 June Baha Rul:iiyyih Khanum attended the Euro- 1991 with seventy-six Baha' i women from pean Baha' i women's conferences held in seventeen islands and countries bordering Madrid, Spain, from 30 August to 3 Septem- the Pacific basin taking part. The theme was ber, with more than four hundred Baha' is "Empowering Women to Achieve", and the from twenty countries attending, and in programme focused on: education for peace; Bastia, Corsica, from 7 to 9 September, with permaculture; social and economic developabout five hundred participants from fifteen ment programmes; health and nutrition; and, countries. Publicity for the Faith was use of the media to support teaching unprecedented in both countries. projects. The European conference for German- In Africa, forty-four ethnic groups were speaking women took place at Langenhain, represented among the two hundred people 416 THE BAHA'i WORLD

who assembled for the International Baha'i Role of Women in an Advancing Civilization". Women's Conference held from 31 October This consisted of presentations of invited to 4 November 1991 in Nigeria. Five mem- papers by Baha' i and non-Baha ' i experts bers of the Continental Board of Counsellors focusing on such areas of concern as women and six members of the Auxiliary Board were and power, women in the legal profession, among the guests. At the end of the meeting and women, development and peace. the participants resolved "to arise and meet The first Association for Baha'i Studies the unique opportunities open to them; to conference in Papua New Guinea, conducted take responsibility for the development of in September 1988 at the University Baha'i themselves, their families and the world". Club in Port Moresby, included a paper by The President of the Republic of the a Papua New Guinean on "Equality of Men Seychelles Islands, Mr. Albert Rene, and Women: Traditional and Modern Con- "extended the warmest possible welcome" cepts". The Association's second conference, to representatives of the Baha'is who had held at the University of Papua New Guinea travelled to his country to attend the Region- in May 1989, heard presentations on "The al Baha'i Conference for Women on the Effect of the Baba' i Faith on the Position of college campus of Port Lanau in Mahe from Women in the Mountain Brown Area of 31 December 1991 to 5 January 1992. More Papua New Guinea'', and "Women and than one-hundred and thirty believers from Peace: An Anthropological Perspective". Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, and the Extracts from the Baha'i Sacred Writings Seychelles listened to talks and participated on the subject of women, compiled by the in workshops on themes including the role Research Department of the Universal House of women in the family, women and the edu- of Justice and released in English in January cation of children, the role of women in the 1986, provided much of the basis for study of Baha' i community, and women and peace. the issue during the Six Year Plan. Editions Conferences featuring the principle of of the compilation received at the Baha'i equality of men and women were sponsored World Centre Library during the period had by two chapters of the Association for Baha'i been translated into Chinese, Dutch, Finnish, Studies during the Six Year Plan. In the French, Gern1an, Italian, Japanese, Norwe- United States, the North American chapter gian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. hosted nearly eight hundred people during its Newsletters by and for Baha' i women meeting held from 15 to 17 September 1989 were another source of inspiration. A sample in Irvine, California. The theme of the gath- of the newsletters produced include Euro ering was "Full Partnership: An International Bulletin (in English) from the National Com- Conference on the Equality of Women and mittee for Fostering the Equality of the Sexes, Men". Seminars covered a range of interests Republic of Ireland; From the Hearts of the including consultation and conflict resolu- Handmaidens (in English) from the Women 's tion, the arts, health, agriculture, science and Consultative Group, Lynnwood, Washington, technology, and intercultural issues. There U.S.A.; Bahai Josei Janaru (in Japanese) was an even attendance of men and women from the National Women's Committee of at the Conference, with the sentiment being Japan; Baha 'i Women (in Hindi) from the widely held that equality is not a women's Baha' i Women's Committee of Lucknow, issue, but a human issue. Uttar Pradesh, India; Mujeres de la Nueva In Australia, the Association for Baha'i Era (in Spanish) from the National Baha' i Studies' eighth conference took place in Women's Committee of Bolivia; and, Sauti Adelaide from 24 to 27 March 1989. A ya Mama (in Swahili) from the Baha'i special one-day symposium featured "The Women's Committee for Upper Zaire. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 417

Jn the United States, Louise Profeit-Leblanc giving a presentation during the 14th Annual Conferenceforthe Association for Baha'i Studies held in Irvine California, 15 to 17 September, 1989.

EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EQUALITY IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY The Teachings of Baha'u'llah are for all of Women's Day celebrations for the Kaduna humanity, and His principles have become State Ministry of Health in 1988, "Educate part of the spirit of the age. In isolation, Women, Build a Nation", would be published however, any one of His Teachings can as a booklet and distributed through the local become distorted and so the Faith 's clear governments in Kaduna State. perspective on the roles of women was often Baha'is participated in activities marking welcomed at public forums, and Baha'is' National and International Women 's Days in experience in advocating equality was of- Cameroon, Uganda, Guyana, and Ireland. In fered as an example to many governmental Thailand, the Baha' is of Bangkok celebrated bodies. The Baha'i International Community International Women's Day 1989 with a participated fully in the work of the United two-hour programme in a popular shopping Nations to promote the advancement of mall. Hundreds of people heard readings women (See also article on p. 522.) In addi- from the Baha'i Writings concerning women, tion to working directly with United Nations' and many pamphlets on peace and women agencies, Baha'i communities worldwide were distributed. supported UN initiatives. In 1989, in the town of Rabaul, Papua The United Nations ' International Wom- New Guinea, National Women ' s Day was en's Day was celebrated in Australia with celebrated with a music festival during which a special service at the Baha'i House of a Baha' i band, the Dawnbreakers, performed Worship in Sydney in March 1989. Eminent songs about peace, women, and a safe and community leaders were among the readers happy home . Baha' is also set up a bookshop at the service, including the President and for the event and handed out flyers with Vice President of the Women' s International songs, prayers, and Baha' i Writings. In Port League for Peace and Freedom. In Nigeria, Moresby, two Baha' is were invited to particthe E'.'ecutive Secretary of the Baha'i ipate in planning the Women 's Day events, Women's Development Board was told that and one of them was chosen to be Mistress of the paper she presented at the International Ceremonies. The Baha'is took part in all the 418 THE BAHA'I WORLD

In the Solomon Islands Baha'i women and children present their custom dancing during the Women's Week celebrations held in September 1988.

activities-reading Baha' i prayers, serving the House of Representatives Standing Comas judges for several events, presenting a mittee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, short drama, performing traditional dancing, Office of the Status of Women and the Deand singing in a choir. partment of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Baha'i women of the Solomon Islands The State Minister for Religious Affairs contributed to Women's Week in 1988 by of Bangladesh was among the dignitaries marching in a parade sponsored by the welcomed to the conference "Equality of Honiara Council of Women. A Baha'i Men and Women-a Prerequisite for World prayer was chosen as the first prayer for the Peace" in Dhaka in September 1991. The official opening following the march, and president and general secretary of the Bangthe President of the Honiara Council-a ladesh Women Writers' Association and Baha'i and the only female lawyer in the journalists from several national newspapers Solomon Islands-was chosen to deliver an were present as well. In Bermuda, during address. For National Women's Day in a public forum on "Women and Peace" Samoa in 1990, the Baha' is created a float in which took place in February 1987, a Baha'i the shape of a bird completely covered with chaired a panel composed of the nation's fresh flowers and a sign that read "Equality most prominent women including the of Men and Women". The Baha'i women Minister for Health and Social Services. walking in the parade with the float sang, A Women's International Luncheon was "With two wings, we will fly ... ". held on 9 November 1991 at the National Baha'is were among those who helped Baha'i Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. This was organize the first International Indigenous followed by a panel of speakers who ex- Women's Conference, called "Finding Com- plored the topic "Gender and Development". mon Ground". Held in Australia in July 1989, Twenty-three prominent non-Baha'i women and funded by UNESCO, the gathering was plus twenty-five Baha'i women attended the attended by more than one thousand women. events, which received extensive medi a The event began with a two-day celebration coverage. The Baha'i Women's Committee of the arts of indigenous peoples. Topics of Fiji was represented at a national "Women discussed during the conference included in Development" conference in July 1986; a women and racism, education, and domestic Baha'i stall displayed pamphlets and handiviolence. The Baha'is of Australia were also crafts. In Cote d'Ivoire, Baha'is participated represented at the "Recognition for Women in a discussion of "The Rights of Women in Australia" seminar hosted in July 1991 by and Social Progress" conducted in December INTERNATIONAL SU RVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 419 1989 under the patronage of the Minister of one of the goals of the country's Six Year Primary Education and the President of the Plan. The Baha'i Women's Committee of Federation of African Jurists. New Zealand was invited to become affili- A representative of Zaire 's Ministry for ated with the National Council of Women in Women visited the National Baha'i Centre September 1986, and in the same year, in December 1988 to learn more about the Baha'is were asked by the National Wom- National Baha'i Women's Committee. The en's Council of Vanuatu to help set up delegate said she was touched by the talk non-political, non-denominational women's given by a spokeswoman for the National committee for the Port Vila municipal area. Committee and impressed by the organiza- This was achieved in Port Vila and two tion and extent of Baha'i women's activities. Baha'i women were elected President and In Uganda, a written statement on the Baha'i Vice-President of a committee of twelve. perspective on women was presented to The Malaysian Baha'i Women's Comreligious leaders during a national seminar mittee was an affiliate and active supporter organized by the government in July 1989. of the National Council of Women's Organi- The President of Papua New Guinea's zations, so when the NCWO celebrated its National Council of Women, the President Silver Jubilee on 25 August 1988, Baha'is of the Morobe Women's Association, the played an important role. The event was Regional Member for Morobe Province in attended by more than one thousand guests, the National Parliament, and the wife of the including Her Majesty, the Queen of Malaysia, Prime Minister were among the leaders of and other prominent women. Baha'is helped thought who participated in the national to organize the celebration and produced conference co-sponsored by the Baha ' i souvenir progranunes for each function. A community and the Morobe Women's Asso- Baha'i was one of three women selected to ciation in July 1989. The event received represent the women of Malaysia in a significant media coverage. pledge-taking ceremony. The National Baha'i Women's Committee The Baha'i Women's Committee of in the Republic of Ireland gained affiliation Singapore collaborated with the Singapore with the Council for the Status of Women in Council of Women's Organizations, the 1988: the Council is a recognized body of the Nigerian Baha' i Women's Development national Government. In 1989, the Baha'is of Board registered with the National Council Papua New Guinea achieved representation of Women Societies, and Baha 'is in Hawaii on the National Council of Women, fulfilling were asked to serve on the Governor's

In Pakistan, a public meeting held in memory of'[ahirih was organized by the Local Ladies Committee of Karachi. Shown is the guest speaker, Mrs. Zahida Hina, a renowned journalist and poet. 25 August 1989. 420 THE BAHA'I WORLD

In the Philippines, President Corazon Aquino (seated centre) and the Vice President of the All Nations Women's Group, Martha Taylor-a Baha 'i-(seated right) during the induction ceremony for the Group's new officers on 9 May 1990.

Conmussion on the Status of Women. Through in Fiji. The Baha'i National Women's Comthe National Committee on Women in the mittee organized a devotional programme, United States, the Baha'i Faith is affiliated and the believers participated in a peace with government and non-governmental or- march, carrying a banner which displayed a ganizations which are active in the field of quotation from the Writings of Baha'u' llah. women's issues. An aiiicle submitted by the Baha ' i N ational In November 1988 , Baha'is made major Council of Women was published in the Fiji contributions held to mark the twentieth an- Times, and Baha'i youth performed a musical niversary of the National Council of Women drama before nine hundred people.

CONCLUSION

Through the movement of Our Pen of glory We have, at the bidding of the omnipotent Ordainer, breathed a new life into every human frame, and instilled into every word a fresh potency. All created things proclaim the evidences of this world-wide regeneration. 1 Baha' u ' llah has brought a new standard for During the Six Year Plan, Baha'is forged what it means to be human, and has told us ahead by organizing activities to promote the that education is the key to attain that station. equality of men and women including devel- This training is a process which will lead to oping projects focussing on the special needs " ... the last and highest stage in the stupen- of women, sponsoring conferences on the dous evolution of man 's collective life on this subject, publishing literature and forming planet." 2 "So marvellous a conception finds Baha ' i women's groups wluch associated with its earliest manifestations in the efforts con- other organizations pursuing sin1ilar aims. sciously exerted and the modest beginnings Hence the new age will be an age less already achieved by the declared adherents masculine and more permeated with the of the Faith of Baha'u'llah who, conscious feminine ideals, or, to speak more exactly, of the sublimity of their calling and initiated will be an age in which the masculine into the e1mobling principles of His Admin- and feminine elements of civilization áwill istration, are forging ahead .... " 3 be more evenly balanced. 4

1 Glea nings, pp. 92-93. 4 'Abdu'l-Baha, quoted in J.E. Ess lemont, 2 Bahn '11 'l/irh and the New Era (Wilmette: Baha'i Shoghi Effendi , World Order, p. 163. 3 ibid., pp. 43-44. Publishing Trust, 1976), p. 156. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES

5. YOUTH ACTIVITIES

A. YOUTH YEAR OF SERVICE "Why would we volunteer to scrub and requirements, interests, and talents. Other clean things for a year? Because we love countries which developed special Youth Baha'u'llah!" explained a radiant Baha'i Year of Service programs included Brazil, who was mid-way through her Youth Year Colombia, Canada, Costa Rica, and Zambia. of Service. This expression of love through During the Six Year Plan, the Youth Year action was reflected around the world during of Service concept was spread and develthe Six Year Plan as followers of the Blessed oped throughout Baha' i communities world- Beauty as yet unburdened by career and wide. In Europe, for example, one of the family combined their abounding energy and first activities of the newly-formed Europecuriosity with a commitment to serve the an Baha'i Youth Council was to set up a Faith. database of service positions available on Youth have always played a shining role the continent and issue a Youth Year of in God's Plan for this Day. The Bab Himself Service Information Pack to all National was but twenty-five years old when He de- Spiritual Assemblies and National Youth clared His stupendous Mission, and Shoghi Committees in the region. The Cote d'Ivoire Effendi was a student at Oxford when called held a six-week Development Institute to to rise to the Guardianship. What is new is prepare youth for a year of service, and the relatively systematized approach to ser- Ecuador reported a training seminar as part vice. This grew out of a concept proposed in of its YYS program. a letter from the Universal House of Justice Information about the Youth Year of to the Baha'i Youth of the World sent on Service was a prime topic during some youth January 3, 1984: " ... give attention to the idea conferences, including one held in the Nethof volunteering a set period, say, one or two erlands in July 1989, and one in Zimbabwe years, to some Baha'i service, on the home in August 1991. Articles about it were front or abroad, in the teaching or develop- published in newsletters distributed to young ment field .... " Baha'is, such as the Australian Network, By April 1984, only three months after and Malawi's Baha'i Youth Newsletter. this clear guidance was received, the Nation- Discussions were held at Baha'i Clubs in al Baha'i Youth Committee of the United universities from Alaska to Guam, and States began to recruit and place Youth Year details were distributed through the Contiof Service volunteers. Working with the nental Boards of Counsellors, the Auxiliary International Pioneering Committee and Boards, and the various assistants. others, the Youth Committee gathered facts Most of the youth served in their home about Baha'i projects which youth could countries. In India, for example, many of the join for one year, and information about nearly 200 tutorial school programs were run young people who were willing to serve. by local volunteers. Young friends worked in Over time this processing became quite administrative capacities, guided at Baha' i sophisticated, including details about "host Temples, drove mobile institutes, helped at projects" such as the location, skills re- Baha' i radio stations, assisted with Baha'i quired, housing available and expenses to be medical projects, and provided vital consolicovered, and data about the volunteers such dation teams. In-country service programs as special needs for medical care, dietary were reported in Alaska, Argentina, Australia, 422 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Participants in the Ruhi Institute International Training Course for Tutorial School Teachers and for the Preparation of the Youth Year of Service. Colombia, November 1986.

Belgium, Bolivia, Cameroon, Canada, the Honduras, Hungary, India, Ireland, Kiribati, Canary Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, the Cote d'Ivoire, the Dominican Republic, Russia, Swaziland, and the Ukraine. One Ecuador, France, Guyana, Honduras, Ireland, frequent recipient of these youth volunteers Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Panama, was the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Thailand, the Israel, where individuals served the Univer- United Kingdom, the United States, and sal House of Justice as plumbers and legal Zaire. aides, as engineers and cooks, as desktop Some young people spent their year of publishers and irrigation specialists, and in service as full-time teachers of the Faith. many other areas of need. Youth dominated the teaching work in East- An informal survey of young Baha'is ern Europe, while the United States reported who gave a year of service during the Six that youth participated in almost all ongoing Year Plan was carried out through the Contiprojects and comprised most of the full-time nental Boards of Counsellors. Several dozen teaching teams. In its Ric:lvan message for people responded, including friends who 1992 the Universal House of Justice wrote: had traveled from Canada to serve in "Youth activities took on a special character Romania, from Malaysia to Mongolia, from shaped by the idea of a youth year of Australia to Japan, from Zimbabwe to service. The involvement of the youth in the Zambia, from New Zealand to India, from Six Year Plan as short-term pioneers, travel- Papua New Guinea to the Holy Land, and ling teachers and projecteers had a profound from the United Kingdom to Botswana to effect on the teaching work overall..." serve the Cause. Quotations from some of Young Baha'is who were willing and their statements show how the Youth Year able traveled to serve the Faith abroad. of Service enriched their lives and strength- Many of these friends were from Australia, ened their Faith, as well as providing Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, and the assistance to the communities which re- United States, and were assigned to projects ceived them. in Albania, the Baltic States, Belize, Bolivia, The survey asked for the youth's name, Botswana, the Canary Islands, Colombia, the address, date of birth, period of service, and Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, in what capacity he or she served. Then the Ecuador, the Gambia, Guatemala, Guyana, friend was asked: INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 423 Could you please describe one of the mem- A young man who had gone from Great orable moments ofyour service? Britain to Africa responded: One young Ecuadoran woman who served In Botswana we had heard that there as a member of a teaching team in her home would be a teaching project in South country wrote: Africa-in Botsobella, a township. It was The most memorable moment I experi- my first teaching project in South Africa. enced was the first night I spent in an Three of us went into a school to make a indigenous village in Imbabura, where the presentation of the Faith. One of the more team shared the life of the indigenous experienced teachers told me, "Don't people-their food and their homes. look back. Go straight in and with confi- Being a city person myself, I had never dence insist on an audience, you will not experienced the life of these people be refused". This we did, and within before. For the first time, I felt a true thirty seconds of entering the school we unity, as Baha'u'llah taught us. were led to the staff room where the An Ausháalian who had travelled to Fiji to teachers were enjoying their lunch. I proserve reported: ceeded to make my presentation, my first I had typed a letter that began: "I proclamation of the faith in front of the would like to offer a twenty-minute public. Four of the teachers declared their presentation on the theme of world peace belief in Baha'u'llah and many expressed at your school". I had personally taken interest. This demonstrated to me that if copies of this letter to seventeen schools we forget our frailties and rely on when I was suddenly taken ill. I managed Baha'u' llah the doors will open. to present the peace message and One young woman from Australia who proclaim the Faith in ten or eleven served for some time at the Baha'i House of schools, however I could not carry on and Worship in New Delhi, India, described this spent three days in Labasa Hospital. As I experience: lay on my bed during that time I did not It was in July during the middle of the know whether I would live, and hated the day when the temperature soared to 48 C. fact that the proclamation work had not The dry heat was debilitating, yet been completed. You can imagine my hundreds of people were atháacted to, and elation when, on being discharged, I mesmerised by the House of Worship. I heard the news that one of the members always felt it such a bounty to meet and of the National Spiritual Assembly had welcome people from all over the world, completed the proclamation work. drawn to the House of Worship by

Young volunteers in "The Temple Brigade" doing cleaning and maintenance work in and around the House of Worship in New Delhi, India, in 1988. 424 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Some of the youth serving at the Baha 'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, in March 1990. The diversity of these volunteer workers is a demonstration of the unity of mankind in action.

inquisitive minds, searching souls. Dur- the city and I was given the list of all the ing this particular day I was welcoming new Baha'is and told that I was now guests on the front steps of the House of responsible for them. That was my first Worship and offering information about weekend in Ploesti! What a welcoming the House of Worship in the fom1 of pam- and what a responsibility! phlets. A gentleman took a pamphlet from me and proceeded to climb a few steps, The second question was: ilien he stopped, turned, and walked back In what way did your participation in the to me. He asked me "What exactly, is this Youth Year of Service programme change all about?" I began to answer his question your life? and very soon I began to realise that the A young Australian who went to Japan to answer was not in my words. I felt free, I serve for one year explained: became the vehicle through which his It was an experience which greatly question could be answered. enhanced my life as an individual and as A Canadian youth who had travelled to a member of the wonderful international serve in Romania answered: Baha'i community. The Baha'is of I had just moved into the city (Ploesti) Utsunomiya were truly exceptional. I had and was at a weekend teaching project. never encountered so much love, respect The evening ' s fireside was attended by and diversity among such a small group. about fifty seekers and the atmosphere Their focus was always "teaching'', either was very exciting despite the cool through weekly firesides, weekly teach- October temperature. I was talking to a ing trips to smaller country areas, visiting travelling teacher during the fireside and and deepening new Baha'is, meeting with asked him what he would do if everyone dignitaries ... They exemplified for me the stood up and enrolled in the Fa ith. Before way a Baha'i community should be and I he could think of an answer, the fireside am so grateful for having been able to ended wiili an announcement that iliose share a year of my life with them. people wishing to join the Baha ' i com- A youili from the mainland of the United munity should come to the front of the States worked in the National Baha'i Office room. And in unison, ilie whole room of Hawaii, in Honolulu: jumped up and ran to the front! We were Participating in a Youth Year of Serboth shocked beyond words. About two vice strengthened my Faith in Baha'u'llah hours later all the travelling teachers left immensely. I was tested to truly claim the INTERNATIO NAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 425 Baha'i Faith as my own. My perspective Beauty says, regarding sacrifices made in on Baha' i administration opened up His path: To tinge thy hair with thy blood because I worked so intimately with the is greater in My sight than the creation of National Baha'i Center activities. the universe and the light of both worlds. A woman from Papua New Guinea who travelled to Haifa to serve at the Baba ' i The third question asked: World Centre responded with these words of In what way did your service change the wisdom: lives of those in the communities that you One [important aspect] of my service served? was the feeling that the Baha'i World A young Malaysian who served the Faith in Centre was also mine. Serving as a janitor Mongolia wrote: gave me a lot of joy, and confirmed Mongolia was a new ly opened country our teachings that any job done well when I arrived in August 1991-there is service to Baha'u'Ilah, and if done were only eight adult Baha'is. We taught with a sp irit of service gives tremendous with our limi ted knowledge of Mongoli an happiness. and with lots of confirmation from An Ecuadorian woman, the sister of the Baha' u ' llah, and the number increased woman quoted above, also served in her to fourte en. The first Local Spiritual own country and then later served for a year Assembly in Mongoli a, the Assembly of and a half in Romania: Ulaan-Baatar, was formed. I think I have changed in the manner in At that point in the development of which I consider the Faith in my life and the community, the Baha'is in Mongolia especially in service to the beloved lacked confidence and were even afraid Cause. It is like a thirst that can't be to have a vision of the glorio us future quenched. It is to have fo und what I was promised by Baha'u 'llah, lest it would not searching for all my life. These moments come true. I very much wanted to organize of diffic ulty when we felt at one with the a project that would unite the community Beloved were unique, and I wouldn ' t through a common vis ion, and that would have mi ssed them for anything. We feel be successfu l to give the community much closer to Him when we are servi ng confidence and courage ... By the grace of the Faith. Now it is impossible to stop Baha'u' llah, the celebration of His Birththinking about how to serve more and day helped us to achieve it. more and take advantage of every second The Baha'is became excited by the of our lives to teach the Faith. idea of a celebration, and created a vision An Australian who went to help with the of how it should be. Undaunted by their teaching work in Romania wrote: limitations, each of the members began to My Year of Service served to re-orient draw on all of their talents and resources my life towards Baha 'u' llah. I partici- as well as those of their friends . We pated in the Year of Service for beseeched Baha' u ' llah to assist us, and Baha' u ' llah and every moment away I were guided- almost taken by our was reminded of this, whether it was hands-to meet authoriti es, strangers and waking up in a fo reign city or trying to friends, who willingly helped and communicate in a foreign language. It is supported our project. all too easy to lose spiritual foc us in the The result was a Mongolian celebraroutine of everyday life at home, and hav- tion in every sense of the word. It was ing this "year out" has helped me in held in a public hall complete with stage becoming completely oriented towards and backdrop, an appropriate devotional service to th e Cause.. .. The Blessed programme and stage performance of 426 THE BAHA'I WORLD

A Bahd 'i youth from Vanuatu (standing in back, second from right) with students of the literacy class he teaches as part of his Year of Service. They are by the Bahiz 'i Centre in Lownahurur, Middle Bush, Tanna, """"'-"""'-li!!!. in February 1992.

songs, traditional dances and instrumental More than anyone else, the Mongolian folk music. friends-who had been extremely con- The celebration of the Birth of scious of our lack of strengths in many Baha'u'llah was held on the evening of areas-agreed that it was our unity of 11November1991 with about eighty peo- v1s1on and singleminded determined ple attending. Considering that the Local efforts to advance the affairs of the Cause Spiritual Assembly of Ulaan-Baatar had that made our project so enjoyable and been formed less than a month previously, fulfilling to work on. Although the Local this was remarkable. Another aspect that Spiritual Assembly of Ulaan-Baatar had made this event amazing was the demon- not even managed to meet officially to stration of the incredible potency of His elect their officers, yet the members came Covenant as a handful ofBaha'is, placing together to work on this project. They their full reliance and trust in 'Abdu 'l- were united in their love ofBaha'u'llah. Baha's promise that "as ye have faith, so One of the young friends who served in shall your powers and blessings be" Ecuador relates: managed to bring about this event. As to how the community was Writing this in retrospect, I will not go affected-truly it was not because of our into who did what and how. What stands efforts, but because of the mercy of God out in my memory is the absolutely that the community was able to progress wonderful happiness I felt while riding both spiritually and then materially the bus to the celebration. It was a cold through governmental institutions. About snowy evening, but the freezing tempera- two weeks after more than one hundred ture could not dampen my joy. I had to people embraced the Faith, the village look out of the window because I didn't obtained electricity and piped water. want to appear crazy to my fellow They also changed spiritually, as people passengers-I could see this smiling face who had been enemies for years became reflected in the glass. At the same time, I part of one common Faith. They carried was close to tears but I couldn ' t stop grin- out many activities together, and the most ning! Any time since then if I'm down, I thrilling part was to hear them praying focus on that mirrored happy radiant feel- and to see the love of the Blessed Beauty ing. It never fails to warm my heart and reflected in their faces. lift my spirit. ... having had a taste of pure Another youth describes how just by happiness, I know His Covenant is real. moving into a particular area she was an INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 427

Youth Year of Service volunteers went into - the Kalahari Desert in Botswana to hold deepenings for the .. Baha 'is who live there; October J987.

example and inspiration to many and set a three nights and went teaching every standard of Baha'i values: morning and only ate at night. The youth My presence as a young woman also learned to be detached from their "alone" in Asian countries was in itself an families because later four of the youth inspiration for other young women and an left to do their own year of service. education for many who still held old And one more story from Romania: world order values of women. Of course I By serving as a short term pioneer, I had to struggle to achieve a balance so as was privileged to see the transforming to set an example without shocking. In power of the Faith in changing the lives, India quite a few men learned that not all individually and collectively, of the Wes tern women are "loose" and that not Baha'is of Satu Mare (Romania). Initially all white people are rich. More than any- I went to the town with a travel teaching thing I hope that my main influence was team, and was thus able to see several to make people happy and feel hopeful Romanian friends progress from "seekabout the oneness of humanity. ers" investigating the Faith to deepened A young believer from Zimbabwe relates Baha'is, actively involved in the affairs of that by not being corruptible he made people the Faith. In one case, the school teacher curious about the Faith: of one Romanian youth remarked that Mostly in Zambia, non-Baha'is called something about her had changed, as she me a priest. During those days I coordi- seemed much happier than before. nated the relief food programme ... under Blessed is he who in the prime of his the Ministry of Health. I was in charge of youth and the heyday of his life will arise to more than six thousand villagers from serve the Cause of the Lord of the beginning fifteen villages. How I prevented any and of the end, and adorn his heart with His chance of corruption only God knows, Love, Baha'u ' llah wrote. 1 The several thoubut it brought all kinds of people to ask sand young Baha'is who participated in the [about the Baba 'i Faith]. One elderly Youth Year of Service programme during person later became a Baha'i, after I the Six Year Plan were among those who talked to him about the principles that I were truly blessed. live by. I think the friends also learned how to sacrifice, mostly in teaching and 1 Compilation of Compilations, vol. 2 (Mona Vale, service ... One time we slept outside for NSW: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 199 1), p. 415. 428 THE BAHA'i WORLD

In Hawaii, American Baha'i youth cooking during a two-weeklong summer camp held on Maui for Russian youth in 1988.

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, a "Sparks for Peace" team ofBaha'i youth reinstalling a fallen fence as a service project in St. Johns National Park; 1989.

In the Dominican Republic, a young graduate of the Olinga Institute courses in service to the Cause is now teaching children's classes; 1991. INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 429

In Luxembourg, Baha'i youth volunteers working to clean and maintain the Garden of Wiltz; J990.

In Uganda, part of the youth programme during the summer school in Mbale was to help clean up the local hospital; 199 J.

In Tonga, a Baha'i youth group cleans downtown Nukualofa in support of World Health Day; 1990. 430 THE BAHA'I WORLD

In Scotland, youth ' participants in Operation Mona, after cleaning up a section of the River Clyde in July I 986.

In Singapore, young Bahci 'is after helping to clean up a beach as a community service project in I990.

In St. Vincent, children and youth participating in a Bahci '£-sponsored activity to clean up Villa Beach; April I992. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 431

In Panama, Bahti 'i youth performing cultural dances as part of the International Day of Peace activities in Boca de! Monte; 1989.

In Nigeria, members of the Baha'i youth's football club, called The Peace Makers, during the semi-final match in a local government soccer competition in Oghara in 1987.

In Taiwan, six youth who enrolled in the Faith during the Muhajir Teaching Project in 1987 are members of three ethnic minorities-the Paiwan, the Ame, and the Paynan tribes. 432 THE BAHA'f WORLD

B. EUROPEAN BAHA'I YOUTH COUNCIL

The strengthening of European Baha'i youth This generation of Baha'i youth enjoys identity and the remarkable progress made a unique distinction. You will live your in European Baha'i youth collaboration lives in a period in which the forces of ranked among the notable developments of history are moving to a climax when the Six Year Plan. Whether expressed mankind will see the establishment of the through increasing numbers of regional and Lesser Peace, and during which the Cause continental youth conferences and schools, of God will play an increasingly promiprojects involving European youth in teach- nent role in the reconstruction of human ing and service on the continent and even as society. It is you who will be called upon far afield as Southern Africa, the intensifica- in the years to come to stand at the helm tion of communication between National of the Cause in face of conditions and Youth Committees and their representatives, developments which can, as yet, be or simply through the growing sense of unity scarcely imagined.... European Baha'i and purpose among youth from different youth in particular face tremendous and lands, there was certainly a very different challenging tasks in the immediate sense of mission about the Baha'i youth in future .... A vibrant band of Baha'i youth the opening years of the Plan. Furthermore, on the European continent, committed to the atmosphere was charged by constant the promotion of the Cause of awareness of the inspirational and exem- Baha'u'llah and the upholding of His plary steadfastness of the Baha'i youth in laws and principles, determined to work Iran whose extraordinary sacrifices the in harmony and unity with their fellow Baha' i youth in every land had been encour- believers of all ages and classes, can aged to emulate. The activities of the Baha'i revolutionise the progress of the Cause. youth of Europe were to be further galva- It is perhaps only at the remove of some nised through the creation by the Universal years that the full potency and significance House of Justice in August 1989 of the of these words can be appreciated as one European Baha'i Youth Council. This was relates these sublime thoughts to the a historic step, an entirely new and unpreprogress of the Cause of God in Europe cedented development in the Baha'i adminsince 1986. istrative system, which inaugurated a new In the years leading up to the appointment stage in the evolution of the Baha' i youth of the European Baha'i Youth Council, there work in Europe, placing in the hands of the had been considerable discussion amongst young European Baha ' is a body charged the National Youth Committees of Europe with the duty of stimulating, coordinating about a Europe-wide body to coordinate and and assisting their activities throughout the stimulate youth activities across the conticontinent. nent. Such thoughts, for example, had been The Universal House of Justice had articulated at meetings of National Youth indeed anticipated such developments some Committee representatives at the major time before, and in its message of 4 July youth conferences of the Seven Year Plan, 1983 addressed to the participants of the namely Fies ch (1980), Chigwell ( 1981 ), European Youth Conference in Innsbruck Innsbruck (1983) and Antwerp (1985), but captured this vision in these profound the consensus of opinion was that such a words: step would be not only premature, but INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 433 administratively problematic. Until this point share the fruits of these discussions with any European collaboration had been con- their respective National Youth Committees fined to initiatives involving youth from and to seek approval for the appointment of neighbouring countries. three youth to develop the "Movement" At the youth school held at the Landegg within their respective national communities Academy, 18- 24 July 1986, and energised and to liaise with the Information Centre. by the participation of the Hand of the Cause The Universal House of Justice hailed of God, 'Ali-Akbar Funitan and two European these developments. In a telex dated 29 July Counsellors, participants spontaneously began 1986 it wrote: consulting on the emergence of a new vision REJOICE GREATLY SUCCESSFUL H!GHL Y of Baha' i youth activity, particularly the role SIGN!FICANT YOUTH SC HOOL LANDEGG which a "European Baha'i Youth Move- PRESENCE HAND CAUSE ALI-AKBAR FURUTAN , ment" could play. These informal gatherings LA UNC HIN G EU ROP EAN BAH A'I YO UTH were attended by members of a number of MOVEMENT. WELCOME PRACTICAL STEPS National Youth Committees and other TAKEN COORDI NATE SERVICES YO UTH young and enthusiastic Baha' is, prominent THROUGHOUT EUROPE.. URGE PARTI CI- amongst whom were participants in the PANTS PERSEVERE PRAISEWORTHY AIMS BE Varqa Project. 1 Inspired by the potential for ASS URED ASS ISTANC E BLESSED BEA UTY a "vibrant band of Baha'i youth" to revolu- OPEN DOORS WIN HEARTS. tionise the progress of the Cause of God, and mindful of the tremendous challenges The results of the Landegg gathering confronting them in taking the Faith to the quickly became manifest. The efforts of the spiritually starved Eastern half of their con- youth found expression in personal and tinent, the youth resolved to take a number group teaching successes, increased use and of steps both in the immediate future and in distribution of The Promise of World Peace the longer term. These included a more and the joy of association and collaborative systematic and cooperative approach to acts activity among the youth from different of spiritual devotion, enhancing of the countries. News about this Movement rapquality of the personal Baha'i life, travel idly spread among the youth as they teaching initiatives, and the distribution of communicated their feelings and vision with Th e Promise of World Peace. enthusiasm and vigour. To keep participants infonned of develop- The future development of the "European ments, a "European Baha'i Youth Movement Baha' i Youth Movement" was subsequently Information Centre" was established in the incorporated into the agenda of a special Netherlands. Its first newsletter appeared in meeting of European National Youth Com- August 1986. Each participant in the consul- mittee representatives in Strasbourg, France, tative process at Landegg was encouraged to 10- 12 October 1986. Jointly conceived in March 1986 by the British and French The Varqa Proj ect was a Europe-wid e initi ati ve National Youth Committees, this gathering in volvin g Ba ha 'i youth in a campa ign of prayer and paid special attention to what practical steps personal teaching dedicated to the memory of a youn g west European youth pi oneerin g in Romania. could be taken to unite the Baha ' i youth of Participants kept each other regularly informed of Europe and recognised in the call for a Eurotheir news and successes, and the Landegg Youth pean Baha'i Youth Movement a natural School was the joyous occas ion of their first reun ion response to the growing feeling of European since the European Youth Conference in Antwerp in Baha' i youth solidarity that was emerging Jul y 1985. The experi ences and spirit of these youth thus prepared the background for discuss ions around throughout the continent. Furthermore, the the question of a "European Baha ' i Youth Move- twenty-eight youth representing eleven ment" to natura ll y take place. countries endorsed the recently-established 434 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Information Centre as a channel for fluent venture of its kind. It was to be followed by and regular communication between coun- similar efforts, the "Star" projects of 1988, tries and, in recognition of the dramatic new 1989 and 1990. In total, these projects drew opportunities and challenges facing the some fifty young European Baha'is from Baha'i youth of Europe, requested the more than half a dozen countries to the Continental Board of Counsellors to con- Southern African region for four successive sider the creation of a body that would summers of teaching and service. provide direction and co-ordination to youth Born out of intense collaboration between activities on a European level. a handful of youth in Europe and the Plans also were formulated to regularly Spiritual Assembly of Botswana, "Botswana send European Baha'i youth to serve in the 1987" was a significant success. Through it teaching and development field in the Third a channel for service in the Third World had World. The National Youth Committee of the been opened for the Baha' i youth of Europe, United Kingdom was asked to co-ordinate and a humble and initial step taken by the this project on behalf of the National Youth European youth to make Europe "a fountain- Committees of Europe. head of pioneers, travelling teachers and The Europe-wide discourse, initiated with financial assistance to the Baha'i communisuch vigour at Landegg and developed sub- ties of the Third World".2 The Botswana sequently at the Strasbourg gathering, was Project exemplified what the Universal further enhanced at the First European House of Justice later referred to as "the Youth Seminar, held at Landegg Academy, increasing collaboration and growing unity 22- 24 May 1987. The meeting was called at among all the Baha'i youth on the continent the request of the Continental Board of of Europe". 3 A special fund, the "Eurobots Counsellors, who in carefully organizing the Fund", administered initially by the National programme of this important gathering and Youth Committee of Norway, was also set watching over its proceedings ensured that up to meet the needs of equipping the Baha'i the historic process which had begun some community of Botswana with a new months earlier continued on its course. motorised vehicle suitable for use in teach- Consultations between representatives of ing and consolidation in the desert, and nineteen National Youth Committees, three which would also be placed at the disposal Counsellors, Auxiliary Board members and of future European youth projecteers. All representatives of National Assemblies, National Youth Committees in Europe were focused on important aspects of youth col- invited to participate in this campaign. laboration, including the devising of specific For those who participated in this landplans and projects to channel the services of mark enterprise, it was an unforgettable the European youth. Particular emphasis was experience, one which was to have a lasting placed on encouraging youth involvement in and galvanic effect. In commending the the arts. Prayer, audacity, and movement youth participants in this project, the Spiriwere identified as key elements in translating tual Assembly of Botswana later wrote: "We the vision of a "vibrant band" into tangible invite you all to come back to Botswana, reality. Unanimous support was voiced for to experience again the supreme joy of the continuation of the important work of the European Baha' i Youth Movement Infmma- From the Uni versal House of .Justice to the tion Centre and for its transfer to Norway. participants of the European Youth Conference in Innsbruck, 4 July 1983. The First Joint European Baha ' i Youth 3 From a letter written on behalf of the Universal Third World Teaching Project, the "Botswana House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assemb ly 1987" project, was arguably the first formal of the Baha' is of the United Kingdom, joint European Baha'i youth teaching 29 October 1987. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CUR RENT BAHA'i ACTIVIT IES 435 demonstrating the oneness of the family of a vision for the Baha'i youth of Europe. As a man from Iceland to the Kalahari, while ful- result, "Peace Moves", a decade-long camfilling your divine purpose to unite souls paign of galvanising the youth of Europe, with their God." Baha'is and others alike, around the themes The experience of the Youth Conference enunciated in The Promise of World Peace, in Manchester, United Kingdom, 5-9 August came into being. Its principal aim is to 1987, spuned the Continental Board of empower Baha'i youth to initiate and refine Counsellors on with their effort to organize their interaction with their peers around the an international youth conference in Spain in spirit and content of Baha'u'llah's peace the summer of 1989, an event that could programme, destined to usher in, before the capture the vision of Baha'u'llah for peace close of the century, the Lesser Peace. and unity and share it with a large and The significant increase in the scope of diverse group of non-Baha'i youth, including responsibilities of the Committee necessirepresentatives of youth organisations and tated its evolution into a body charged with groups from all over Europe. Planning began the work of coordinating much of the contiwell in advance, and by June 1988 separate nental youth activities. This was particularly programme and logistics committees were so during the period from June 1988 until operating out of the United Kingdom and the first meeting of the European Baha'i Spain respectively. Youth Council in November 1989. In this The original plan eventually had to be sense the Peace Moves Committee was the cancelled owing to logistical consider- precursor of the Council itself. ations, but while various alternatives were Representatives of National Youth Combeing considered, the need for forming a mittees present at the European Youth "European Association of Baha'i National School, De Poort, the Netherlands, 23- 29 July Youth Committees" was increasingly recog- 1988, focused much of their informal connised. The "Association" was essentially a sultations on the question of European Baha'i generic title which the youth could use in youth collaboration, particularly among the their approaches to non-Baha'i organisations National Youth Committees. A number of to lend more credibility to their stature as the options for the emergence of a Europe-wide representatives of the Baha'i youth of coordinating body were considered and pre- Europe. sented to the Universal House of Justice. In Central to these important developments a letter dated 11 August 1988 the Supreme were the contributions of the Board of Coun- Body stated its full agreement as to the ripesellors and the "Peace Moves" Committee, ness of the time "for the strengthening of the body originally requested to plan the continent-wide ties among the Baha 'i youth programme of the international youth of Europe". It stated that the International conference for the summer of 1989. This Teaching Centre had been requested to Committee was appointed by the National ask the Continental Board of Counsellors to Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom consider the matter and to recommend a on the recommendation of the Counsellors . working structure which would "provide Appointed to membership of the Peace effective links and enable the youth to serve Moves Committee were Dona Adamson, the Cause together unitedly with a continen- Sean Hinton, Kishan Manocha, Ric:Ivan tal vision of the work." Moqbel, Vafa Ram, Adam Robarts, Kitt However, the vision of the House of Sandvik and Robe1i Weinberg. Officially a Justice went beyond the confines of Europe. conunittee of the National Assembly, it served The letter stated: "Europe, with its many in an advisory capacity to the Counsellors, national Baha'i communities contained consulting extensively on the development of within a reasonably small area, can in this 436 THE BAHA'I WORLD

CONFER~ - EUROP: . BAHA'I DE JU' The tlurd Peace MADRID 20-2: Moves '89 Regional European Youth Conference, held in Madrid, Spain, from 20-23 July 1989. More than seven hundred Bahci 'is from twenty-six countries attended.

way pioneer a very challenging development BAHA'I YOUTH FOR ADVANCEMENT CAUSE in international Baha'i collaboration." This BAHA'U'LLAH THAT CONTINENT. YOUTH set in motion the process of defining the GATHERED IN SHEFFIELD, INCLUDING H!GHL Y nature of the emerging institution that would SIGNIF ICANT REPRESENT AT!VES EASTERN fulfil this role. In December 1988 the Peace EUROPE AND CHINA, HAVE DEMONSTRATED .. Moves Committee tabled detailed proposals HOW GREAT WILL BE TH EIR INFLUENCE ON outlining the structure and function of such a THE ENTIRE BAI-IA' ! COMMUNITY AS THEY body, which were later submitted by the SPREAD OUT TO THEIR HOMES AND PIONEER Counsellors through the International Teach- POSTS. ing Centre to the Universal House of Justice To aid National Youth Committees to for consideration. develop a common vision of the future of Although the vision of "Peace Moves" Baha'i youth activities in Europe in the was only gradually introduced to the youth, context of the newly appointed Peace Moves for example at a meeting of representatives Committee and to prepare for the launch of of selected National Youth Committees in the "Peace Moves" initiative, a meeting of Lyon, France, 1- 2 October 1988, the decade National Youth Committee representatives was to be officially opened in the summer of was convened in Luxembourg, 24- 26 Feb- 1989 when Baha' i youth and their peers ruary 1989. The consultations were shaped wou ld gather at a series of five regional and guided by a momentous message from conferences to celebrate its launch. Nearly the Universal House of Justice conveyed 2,000 youth participated in these conferthrough the International Teaching Centre, ences held at De Poort (Netherlands), San in which the Supreme Body expressed its Marino, Madrid (Spain), Torshavn (the preference for the establishment of a Euro- Faroe Islands) and Sheffield (United Kingpean Baha'i Youth Council, which would be dom) during the period July- August 1989.4 The conferences ended on a high note of 4 The Sheffield conference was addressed by expectation, releasing and channelling tre- M. Andre-Jacques Dodin, Director of the European mendous energies. Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe, The House of Justice commented: Strasbourg, France. Representatives of the Peace Moves Co mmittee had met with M. Dodin in THRJLUNG MESSAGES FROM SERIES OF December 1988 to bri ef him about plans to hold an CON FERENCES THRO UGHOUT EUROPE EVOKE international youth conference in Spa in and to HIGHEST HOPES EXTRAORDINARY POTENCY appri se him of the "Peace Moves" effort. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 437

The members of the first European Bahri 'i Youth Council after their first meeting in London, England, in November 1989.

appointed by and be responsible to the new body: co-ordination of the activities House of Justice. Significantly, the House of of European Baha'i youth which bridge Justice stressed the need "for the vision of national boundaries, and therefore also of the the Council to embrace the whole of Europe international involvement of the National (emphasis added), from the Atlantic to the Baha'i Youth Conunittees of Europe; repre- Urals, and not just the countries of the Euro- sentation, on a continental basis, of the pean Community." It was only when the European Baha 'i youth with non-B aha 'i Iron Curtain was breached a few months youth groups and other agencies; collaboralater that the full significance of the words of tion in youth matters with the Continental the House of Justice became apparent. Board of Counsellors and the National Spiri- On 20 October 1989, the Universal House tual Assemblies in Europe. of Justice announced to all National Spiritual The first full meeting of the European Assemblies in Europe its historic decision to Baha'i Youth Council took place during the bring into being a new institution, unique in weekend of 4-6 November 1989 in London, the history of the Administrative Order: during which time the newly-appointed ANNOUNCE APPOINTMENT FIRST EUROPEAN members took the opportunity to visit the BAHA ' I YOUTH COUNCIL WITH FOLLOWING Resting Place of Shoghi Effendi. At that MEMBERS: ONN O FRANK VAN BEKKUM, same meeting, the Council met with the MORTEN BERGSMO, NADI HOFMANN, Peace Moves Committee and there was a ALESSANDRA LANFRANCONI, JOHN MCGILL, smooth handover of responsibilities and BAI-IIYYIH TAHZIB, ROBERT WEINBERG .... transfer of the work in progress, after which HAIL THIS NEW DEVELOPM ENT BAHA'I the Committee, having fulfilled its functions , YOUTH WORK, EAGERLY ANTI CIPATE GREAT officially ceased to exist. EN HANCEM ENT POT ENTIAL FOR PROMOTION The creation of the European Baha' i FAITH THROUG HO UT CONT!NENT.5 Youth Council coincided with dramatic social and political changes sweeping In its 28 August 1989 letter of appoint- through Central and Eastern Europe. These ment of the Council the House of Justice changes brought about the collapse of politioutlined the three major functions of this cal systems that had for so long prevented Members of the Council were drawn from six millions of people from receiving the light countries, and included one of the members of the of Baha ' u' llah. Fresh opportunities for Peace Moves Committee. serving the Faith abounded. The events of 438 THE BAl-IA!i WORLD

the day had further broadened the horizons close of the project strong foundations were of the youth of Europe who could now see laid for the establishment of the first Spiri- Europe as an undivided whole, a continent tual Assemblies in the project cities of burgeoning with the promise of unprece- Bratislava and Brno, which came into being dented teaching victories. in January 1991. Against this background of profound In addition to these summer projects, the change this new agency of the Faith began to highly successful George Adam Benke take up its duties of stimulating and co- project, named after the first European ordinating the activities of the Baha'i youth Baha'i martyr, took place in Bulgaria of a new Europe. The most outstanding between October 1990 and January 1991. feature of the period 1989-1990 was the way Among the fruits of the project were the in which the youth rose to the challenge of establishment of the Spiritual Assembly of taking the Faith to the countries of the Plovdiv, the first Local Spiritual Assembly former Eastern Bloc. During the summer of formed in Bulgaria since World War II, the 1990 the European Baha'i Youth Council opening of over half a dozen localities to organized teaching projects in five Central the Faith, and national television coverage. and Eastern European countries which were Project participants also made a pilgrimage all dedicated to outstanding women from the to Edirne, Turkey, where they had the opporearly years of Baha' i history, and each asso- tunity to visit the House ofBaha'u ' llah. ciated with a specific theme. These projects Capitalising on the success of these set a number of highly significant, historic projects, the European Baha'i Youth Council precedents . They served as the first formal set in motion a long-term strategy for these Baha'i youth teaching enterprise in the newly-opened countries to ensure that adeformer communist countries of Europe; the quate and regular follow-up and assistance first continental youth activity to be sponsored was given to these new, thriving centres of by the newly-established Youth Council; Baha'i activity. and the first time that the Baha'i youth of The mobilisation of youth throughout the Europe had arisen in such large numbers and continent continued through 1991 in prepawith such resolution and vigour to serve ration for the Holy Year with a clear focus together in a challenging joint endeavour in on teaching. In response to the Council's Europe. Indeed, as a result of the participation call, significant victories were won, many of so many young European Baha ' is in these Baha'i communities were invigorated by the projects, continent-wide youth collaboration visits of the youth, contacts were established had scaled new heights. with prominent people and organisations, Teaching projects were held in Czecho- and many souls brought into the Faith. slovakia (the Martha Root Project), Hungary Among the activities were the four regional (the Renee Szanto Project), Poland (the youth conferences held during the summer Lydia Zamenhof Project), Romania (the of 1991 with the theme "Baha'u'llah-The Tahirih Project), and Yugoslavia (tlie Louisa King of Glory," in Kabli (Estonia), Strasbourg Mathew Project). Particularly noteworthy (France), Berlin (Germany) and Neptune was the project in Czechoslovakia, sub- (Romania). The 150 participants from seven titled, "Peace through Participation", in Republics of the former Soviet Union and which over 160 Baha'is from twenty-seven nine other countries attending the conferdifferent countries took part. The Faith ence in Kabli, Estonia, commented in their enjoyed extensive media coverage and was message to the Universal House of Justice particularly well received by public officials, that "this gathering has played a unique role academics, and representatives of non-gov- in the forging of strong bonds of friendship ernmental and political organisations. At the and understanding between the youth from INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 439

Bahri 'is gathered in Neptune, Romania, in July I 991, for one of the four regional youth conferences held that summer by the European Bahri 'i Youth Council.

East and West." The Estonia conference was stimulate and motivate the teaching work of also significant in that it was only the second the youth. The Council identified Peace Baha'i youth conference to be held in the Moves as one of its four major focuses of then-Soviet Union. Particularly noteworthy activity for the summer of 1990. In the also was the conference in Neptune which autumn of 1990 it issued a comprehensive attracted 250 participants from twenty coun- statement outlining the features of Peace tries around the world. Over 600 souls Moves. It read, in part, as follows: "Peace embraced the Cause during the course of this Moves is a Baha'i contribution to the estabconference and during teaching activities lishment of a lasting world peace. Peace before and after it. Moves is a means of enabling the Baha'i The European Baha'i Youth Council, in youth to initiate and improve interaction collaboration with national institutions and with their peers in Europe. Peace Moves is committees, also organized a number of the generation of activities inspired by, and other teaching projects in different parts of realising, the contents of the Peace Statethe continent during the course of 1991, ment of the Universal House of Justice." including Bulgaria (George Adam Benke The statement helped to clarify for the Projects II and III), Cyprus (Winds of Hope Baha'i youth of Europe the relationship of Project), Greece (Anis Project), Hungary, Peace Moves to the teaching work. Since its Italy, Poland (Lydia Zamenhof Projects II launch several European youth communities and III), Spain and Turkey. enthusiastically had taken up the concept of One of the first tasks given to the Euro- Peace Moves as a focus for their teaching pean Baha 'i Youth Council by the Universal work. Indeed, much of the outstanding House of Justice was a smooth transfer energy and enthusiasm generated by the of functions between the Peace Moves 1989 Peace Moves events were channelled Committee and the Council. The Supreme into the vital teaching work carried out in the Body had described the five regional Peace newly-opened countries of Central and East- Moves conferences held during the summer ern Europe. An international Peace Moves of 1989 as "outstandingly successful". Early project, "Winds of Hope'', which included a on in its first year the Council carefully three-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land, was considered the development of the Peace held during August 1991 in Cyprus. The Moves campaign and recognised its poten- Peace Moves campaign continued to be tial as one of many possible means to developed throughout the remaining years of 440 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Participants in the George Adam Benke Project in Bulgaria attending the National Teaching Conference held in Plovdiv from 25 to 27 October 1991.

the Six Year Plan in those countries in which raising of one hundred thousand dollars for it was felt to be relevant to their needs and the Dr. Ugo Giachery Arc Fund Project is a interests. remarkable achievement and a fine example One of the outstanding developments of to the entire Baha'i community." the Peace Moves events of the sununer of One of the most important duties facing 1989 was the launch of the Dr. Ugo Giachery the newly-appointed Youth Council was the Arc Fund Project established in memory of establislunent of effective relationships with the valiant Hand of the Cause of God who the European National Baha'i Youth Compassed away that summer during a visit to mittees. In order to facilitate communication Samoa. The aim was to encourage the Baha'i with National Youth Committees and youth of Europe to make a substantial contri- communities in Europe and to share with bution towards the building of the Arc on them its vision for the development of youth Mount Ca1mel, a venture which the Univer- work throughout the continent, the European sal House of Justice had announced to the Baha'i Youth Council called annual meet- Baha'i world in August 1987. The manage- ings of Youth Conunittee representatives. At ment of this project was taken on by the the first of these Amrnal Conferences at De European Baha'i Youth Council upon its Poort, the Netherlands, from 26-28 January appointment, and at the First Annual Confer- 1990, representatives from 22 National ence ofNational Youth Committees in 1990, Youth Committees in Europe consulted with the representatives present unanimously the Council and representatives of the Eurorequested that a target of one million dollars pean Board of Counsellors on a common be set. strategy for the continent for the 1990s. At The project officially ended at Ri<;lvan the Second Annual Conference, 15-17 Feb- 1992. At the time of the Third Annual Con- ruary 1991 , 26 representatives from both ference of Youth Committee representatives Western and Eastern Europe met and in February 1992 a total of US $187,000 had consulted under the inspiring guidance of a been raised. In commenting on the signifi- representative of the Board of Counsellors. cance of this collaborative venture by the The presence of Eastern European represen- Baha' i youth of Europe shortly after the tatives was highly appreciated by the other Second Annual Conference of youth repre- participants, and a sháong, unified bond was sentatives in 1991 , the Universal House of created between East and West. The Third Justice stated through its Secretariat: "The Annual Conference was held in Wiesbaden, INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVIT IES 441

Germany, 1-2 February 1992, when twenty- secretariat would be "a great reinforcement two representatives from all over Europe- to the services which the Council is already gathered to consult primarily on the chal- rendering with such distinction". As of lenges and the opportunities presented by the 1 February 1991 a full-time Secretariat, fully Holy Year. equipped with modem telecommunications At its third meeting held 16-19 February facilities, was established in Sweden with 1990 in Berlin, the European Baha ' i Youth one member of the Council employed in a Council felt it timely and important to visit salaried position. The European Baha'i Youth the European countries in order to further Newsletter, based on news and information strengthen collaboration between the Council gathered at the Secretariat, was first issued and the respective National Youth Commit- on 6 April 1990. National Youth Committees. This objective was to serve a number of tees either reproduced the entire newsletter purposes: to deepen the Council's relation- and sent it promptly to their youth, or chose ship with the National Youth Committees to include items of information in their own and their National Spiritual Assemblies; to youth bulletins and magazines or national establish personal contact with the Baha'i Baha'ijoumals. youth in the community and thereby to One of the three main functions assigned obtain a more accurate picture of the situa- to the European Baha'i Youth Council by tion in each country; to encourage co- the Universal House of Justice is that of operation between the National Youth Com- representation, on a continental basis, of mittees on a regional level; to share news, the European Baha'i youth with non-Baha'i ideas, plans and needs with the National youth groups and other agencies. The first Youth Committees and the youth of Europe; tentative steps in this arena of work had been to assist the National Youth Committees, taken by the Peace Moves Committee with especially the newly-appointed ones, in their its representation to the Council of Europe ' s functioning where necessary and to encour- European Youth Foundation in Strasbourg, age all youth to raise their standard of the France, in December 1988. Soon after English language in order to better study and its formation the European Baha'i Youth understand the writings of Shoghi Effendi. Council participated in the Second Annual Since its formation, members of the Euro- Conference on Intolerance held in Strasbourg, pean Baha'i Youth Council have been able France, 10- 15 December 1989, a conference to visit all National Youth Committees on at organized under the auspices of the Euroleast one occasion and to consult with most pean Youth Centre of the Council of Europe, National Spiritual Assemblies. Further, the at which a number of important contacts Council intensified its working relationship were made. with the Continental Board of Counsellors In November and December 1991, reprethrough regular consultations. sentatives of the Youth Council met with The work of the European Baha 'i Youth two representatives of the United Nations Council during its fast full year was success- offices of the Baha'i International Commufully carried out from a temporary Secretariat nity in Geneva and other individual Baha'is based initially at the United Nations Office in Europe to discuss the legal status of the of the Baha'i International Community in Council. Subsequently the European Baha' i Geneva, Switzerland, and subsequently in Youth Council appointed a Representation the Netherlands. The Universal House of Committee and a Legal Task Force. The Justice had originally indicated that the former was given the responsibility of European Baha 'i Youth Council would need further developing relations with European a full-tin1e Secretariat and on 6 January 1991 youth organisations and other agencies on wrote that the establishment of a permanent behalf of the Council and the organisation of 442 THE BAHA'I WORLD

a high-level representation conference with in universities, patiicularly the development the theme "Overcoming Racism in Europe" of Baha' i student societies in universities scheduled for April 1993 . The Legal Task where such possibilities exist. To this end, Force, a group of three European Baha'i an Ad-hoc Committee on Student Societies lawyers, began its work of drafting the legal was appointed in 1991 to undertake the status of the European Baha'i Council and necessary research into European Baha'i seeking its official recognition by such bod- student activity on its behalf. As a result an ies as the Council of Europe, the European information pack containing valuable mate- Coordination Bureau of International Youth rial on the imp01iance of Baha'i university Organisations, and the Youth Forum of the societies, practical suggestions on setting up European Communities. In March 1992 the such societies, sample constitutions, discus- European Baha'i Youth Council submitted sion papers, ideas for activities, etc. was an application for financial assistance to the produced and sent to all National Spiritual European Youth Foundation, a most signifi- Assemblies and Youth Committees in Europe. cant step, taken after formal contacts had The Committee also organized a conference been established as a result of meetings of on Baha' i activities at universities in Europe some Council representatives with officials held in Brno, Czechoslovakia, from 2 to in Strasbourg. 5 January 1992. Twenty-four delegates rep- Other matters given special consideration resenting eleven countries consulted on the by the European Baha' i Youth Council were development of Baha'i activities at universithose of the Youth Year of Service and Jun- ties, the need for increasing collaboration ior Youth. The Council made the promotion between Baha'i students throughout Europe. of the concept of the Youth Year of Service The Council began its planning for the one of its highest priorities, encouraging all Holy Year, 1992-1993, well in advance. Its National Spiritual Assemblies and National strategy for the Year was sent to all National Baha'i Youth Committees in Europe to Spiritual Assemblies and National Baha'i emphasise this important area of service Youth Committees of Europe in December among the youth in their communities. To 1991. In the preface to this document the assist with this process the Council set up a Council stated: database of available service positions in Every step we take in this Holy Year Europe and issued a Youth Year of Service should be a step towards service. It is a Information Pack to all National Spiritual time when the Baha'i youth of Europe Assemblies and Youth Committees. The must make extraordinary sacrifices and Youth Counci l also devoted special attention rise to the call of the Universal House of in its own consultations and in those with Justice. This strategy is offered to the National Spiritual Assemblies and Youth Baha'i youth of Europe by the European Committees, to the needs of Junior Youth, Baha'i Youth Council as a means to especially their full integration into all channel our energies, realise our potential aspects of Baha ' i conununity life, particu- and raise us to new heights of service. It larly youth activities. Countries with a is a strategy calling for great sacrifice, significant percentage of Junior Youth were spiritual discipline and personal transforasked to organize specific projects for this mation. It is a strategy which calls for age group . Both the concept of the Youth vis ion, courage and ce1iitude. It is a strat- Year of Service and Junior Youth figured egy made up of plans and activities which prominently in the Council's strategy for the the Baha ' i youth of Europe can humbly Holy Year. offer to BaM'u'llah in this, His Holy The European Baha ' i Youth Council also Year, as a sign of our love, our devotion placed special emphasis on Baha ' i activities and our desire to serve Him. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURREN T BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 443

El Viento Canta, form ed at the Baha 'i World Centre by youth who served there ji-om Mexico, Peru, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This photograph was taken in 1988, before the group began its European tour.

The plans of the Youth Council for the time ranging from three months to one year. Holy Year included specific year of service By the opening of the Holy Year at Ri<;lvan projects; history tours to visit the House 1992 this unique project had caught the ofBaha'u'llah in Turkey; a European prayer imagination of the friends far and wide. The campaign; a "silent" conference to provide a strategy was later to win the admiration of unique opportunity for meditation and reflec- the International Teaching Centre, which tion; a high-level representation conference in a letter dated 19 April 1992 to the Contiwith other youth organisations; and specific nental Board of Counsellors for Europe junior youth activities. The Council's plans wrote: "The breadth, directness and intended for national youth committees included ways intensity of the effort envisioned by the Holy of orienting the youth towards a greater Year Board is such that we can but admire understanding of Baha'u'llah and His Mis- this new generation of Baha'i planners." sion; conducting proclamation events with By the end of the Six Year Plan, the the use of mass media; holding national con- pattern and nature of European Baha'i youth ferences , projects and deepening weekends; activity had undergone a significant qualitadissemination of the statement on Baha'u'llah, tive change, holding out hope and promise and organising events aimed at fostering for the future. The degree of collaborative greater conelation of the Teachings with work among the youth made the wholeness cmTent issues. of Europe a living reality. They responded To execute its Holy Year strategy most magnificently to the challenges resulting effectively, the European Baha'i Youth from the collapse of social and political Council appointed a Holy Year Board, a systems in the Eastern half of the continent, committee of seven European youth, to co- valiantly arising as resourceful pioneers, ordinate and monitor the Council' s interna- energetic travelling teachers and dynamic tional activities for the Holy Year. It held its administrators in the establishment of the first meeting in November 1991. Foremost Faith of Baha'u ' llah in virgin lands. In this, among the international activities for the their lofty endeavour, they were inspired and Holy Year was the Year of Service Project, guided by the nascent European Baha'i comprising fourteen specially designated Youth Council, a unique instrument created teaching routes throughout Europe to which by the Universal House of Justice for this young believers could devote periods of very purpose. 444 THE BAHA'I WORLD

C. SPECIAL YOUTH PROJECTS

A significant feature of the Six Year Plan was the use of the arts to share the Message of Baha 'u 'llah. Many projects involving the arts were carried out by youth, who combined drama, music and dance to teach the Faith. Three special projects have been featured here because of the international scope of their services.

El Viento Canta share their Faith with people in Western On 21 March 1987, the music group now Europe, writing to National Assemblies in known as El Viento Canta first performed Europe and receiving positive responses for during a talent show at the Baha'i World sponsorship from thirteen. New members Centre. The ensemble was composed of were added to the group: Miguel Cortes from youth who had volunteered to serve at the Peru (Rolando and Cesar's brother), and Centre and had a love of Latin American Lisa Smith-Cortes from the United States music . The members were: Cesar Cortes (Cesar's wife). (Peru), Claudia Cortes (Mexico), Rolando In June 1988, El Viento Canta began its Cortes (Peru), David Hadden (United States), tour in Cyprus, then proceeded on to Greece, Roxana Hadden (Peru), and Conrad Lambert Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Belgium, (England). The audience 's response to the France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Scotland, music was so positive that the friends con- Wales, and England. Each concert 's format tinued to perform for various gatherings in varied slightly to accommodate the location, Haifa. The group formalized its name for a but generally the performance lasted between presentation at the Jacob 's Ladder Folk Fes- one and one-and-a-half hours and consisted tival in northern Israel in September 1987. of songs from Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Spain, As a result of the performance at the Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico and Ecuador. Jacob's Ladder Folk Festival, the musicians The songs were sung in Spanish and Quewere asked to give a full-length concert at chua, the native language of the Indians in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. This con- the Andes. In between the songs , members cert was also successful, and the friends introduced themselves as Baha'is and talked began to realize the teaching potential of about Baha'u' llah and the principles He their music. They began planning a trip to brought. Invariably, a few people would stay

Members of El Viento Canta with children on the grounds of the Bahri 'i House of Worship in Kampala, Uganda, during their tour of Afiáica in 1989. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 445 after the concert and participate in the were held to encourage local believers to impromptu firesides held in hotel rooms or perform their own native songs and dances, onstage. At one concert in Spain, hundreds and El Viento Canta was to be an illustration of copies of the Peace Statement were dis- of how this might be possible. All of the festributed to an audience of 3,000! The group tivals were inspiring and beautiful, and the performed approximately forty-eight con- friends had an opportunity to visit the House certs in three months. of Worship in Kampala, Uganda, for a spiri- During the 1988 International Convention tual renewal. One of the most beautiful in Haifa, several Continental Counsellors stories of the group's experience in Africa from Africa had heard the group perform occurred in Uganda. On the last evening of and asked if it would consider travelling to the band's stay, they were to play at a spethat continent for three music festivals to be cial camp for handicapped children. They held in 1989. After El Viento Canta's final played in a room filled with about 200 chilconceit in England in August of 1988 dren and lit only by a single dim lightbulb. (which happened to be held at the Africa At one point, a performer was to dance with Centre in London), the members dispersed a member of the audience. When she invited to several countries to work and study until one happy-looking child, she didn't realize their trip to Africa. that the boy had no legs. The child pro- As the friends waited, sweeping changes ceeded to dance with great agility on his were taking place in Eastern Europe and hands! Later, a deaf little girl told the group many opportunities for teaching the Faith how much she enjoyed the music, and a opened up there. The International Teaching young blind man asked very earnest ques- Centre asked El Viento Canta if it could tions about Bahci' u'llah. extend its African trip to include Eastern El Viento Canta returned to Europe at Europe, the Soviet Union, Mongolia, and the end of December and travelled through China! Of course the members agreed and Croatia and Slovenia in Yugoslavia, Hungary, set out with anticipation to meet in Liechten- Poland, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine, Siberia, stein (the home of Miguel's new wife, Mongolia, China, Macau, and Hong Kong. Bernadette) in November 1989. Travelling in the dead of winter with sixteen During December 1989, the group trav- people, instruments and luggage and a comelled through Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, and plete sound system, one could surmise that Liberia. The music festivals planned there the group 's purpose was not tourism. In fact,

M embers of El Viento Canta in Ulaan- Baatar, Mongolia, with Knight of Baha 'u '!Lah Sean Hinton (back left) and some of the first Mongolian Bahci 'is; 1990. 446 TH E BAHA ' i WORLD

the members wandered through these coun- They took the train from Ulan-Ude to tries to spread the divine fragrances of the Irkutsk, on Lake Baikal, where they would Cause of God. They knew that wherever catch a plane to the capital of Mongolia, they went people would be attracted to the Ulaan-Baatar. They got to Irkutsk early in joyful, upbeat music, and would stay after the morning and took taxis to the airport. the concerts to hear more of the Message that When they arrived, Cesar suddenly shouted, was presented on stage. They didn't know "Ya Bah:i'u'l-Abh:i!" in a panic-stricken how many sacrifices, delights, tears, and voice. Everyone turned to him and asked adventures they would share along the way. what had happened, and he said, "I left my One of their biggest adventures took bag on the train!" This travel pouch conplace on the train between Poland and their tained his passport and visas and US$2,300 first stop in the Soviet Union, Estonia. The of the group's money. He had put it under group missed one train and had to catch his pillow on the train so that it would be safe. tluáee to make up for lost time. The band Immediately the group ' s Russian translahad experienced several robberies in Poland, tor took him to a taxi so that they could try and the train was no exception. The weary to catch the train. Meanwhile, two hours travellers probably could have given up right remained before boarding time. The Amerithen and there, but Lynda Godwin, the coor- can guide, Bill Mahoney, told the friends dinator for the Soviet trip, suddenly pulled to get some breakfast and see what would out a letter from the House of Justice and happen. Claudia and Lisa decided to stay began to read from it. It was the letter with the luggage. As they were waiting, informing the Baha'i world of the vast rather dejectedly, for their chance to eat, changes in Eastern Europe, the Soviet they suddenly heard a very British voice say, Union, and Mongolia which called for a new "My, you have a lot of luggage, don't you?" Two Year Teaching Plan for those countries. Shocked to hear English, they looked up The performers immediately felt exhila- and saw a young man with bright blue eyes. rated and inspired by those words. They "Who are you?" Lisa asked. "Sean," he said. forgot about their hardship, became cheerful "Sean Hinton? Allah'u 'Abh:i! We ' re El and loving once again, and felt so happy that Viento Canta!" He, just as shocked, said, they were a part of these changes and could "What are you doing here?" They told him teach in these countries. Even though they that they were about to fly into Mongolia, encountered more difficulty before they got and he told them he was on the same flight. to Estonia (Conrad had left his passport in They immediately took him up to the other Warsaw and had to go back for it), they had members, who were also stunned to see him. been given new strength and energy to He apparently had decided to come back to continue their efforts for the Faith. Mongolia for further studies for one month. After El Viento Canta finished its Soviet He knew El Viento Canta was scheduled to tour in Siberia, it was time to travel to be there, in Mongolia, but he had no idea Mongolia. However, the group had no plans how or when it was to arrive. for Mongolia. No concerts had been set up, Finally everyone was to board the plane and no contacts had been made. The Interna- and Cesar still hadn ' t come back. Bill told tional Teaching Centre had asked the friends the friends he would wait for Cesar and do to go there and do what they could. Every- what they could to get him to Mongolia. But one wished that Sean Hinton, a pioneer to no one really believed that he could find the Mongolia, would be able to meet them there group in Ulaan-Baatar. but they knew he was back in England. They The band arrived in Ulaan-Baatar and just decided to make the best of it, and if half of the members got taxis to one of nothing happened, to go on to Beijing. the two hotels; the other half stayed at the INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 447 airport until another taxi was available. El Viento Canta could not have travelled When the second group arrived at the hotel, to any of these remarkable places without who should they bring with them but Cesar! the love, kindness, diligence and support of Cesar and the Russian translator had countless Baha'is and their wonderful comrushed to the train station to find that the munities. In every city or town, the Baha'is train had already left for the next town. They could always be picked out of the crowds called ahead to the next town, described the by their cheerful smiles and open faces. It bag to the train police, and got back in the is a testament to the power of Baha ' u 'llah' s taxi. When they arrived at the next station Covenant that the Baha'i communities in all after a harrowing taxi ride, they found the these lands exhibited such excellent hospibag and all of its contents perfectly safe in tality and were able to arrange concerts and the police station. After verifying that every- venues so well. thing was in order, they raced back to Irkutsk to find that the airplane had left fifteen The Wildfire Theatre Group minutes earlier. The next passenger plane In January 1988, a group of twenty-eight was not scheduled to leave for another week. Baha'i youth toured Australia to share the Bill asked Cesar if he minded riding in Teachings of Baha'u'llah through a proa cargo plane. Cesar said, "I'll take it!" and gramme of music, dance, and comedy entitled flew to the Ulaan-Baatar airport, where half "It's Not the End of the World". Calling the group was still going through customs! themselves the Wildfire Project, the youth Sean Hinton already had contacts in Ulaan- met with an extraordinary response among Baatar and went on to arrange four concerts the approximately three thousand people who and a visit to the Mongolian steppes. Such saw the show. During the rest of the Six wonders served to greatly confirm the dedi- Year Plan, Wildfire embarked on a number cation of the young performers. of similar performing tours. The member- China was a very different experience for ship of the group and the content of the the group. The members could not teach shows changed, but Wildfire remained dedithe Faith openly there, and many of their cated to spreading Baha'u'llah ' s message of concerts had been cancelled. However, in peace through the arts. one area, Guiyang, they were able to give In November 1989, the Wildfire Theatre small concerts and visit a lovely area in the Group completed its first international teachmountains where the Miao minority live. ing tour. Composed of five youth, the troupe The friends visited on April 21 and were travelled to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, able to explain to their hosts that that was and Thailand. Monty Engs (New Zealand), a very special day, the "King of Festivals" Simon Hinton (Australia), Glen Martin for Baha' is. The Miao shared their dances , (Australia), Mary Sinclair (United States), food, and beautiful costumes with El Viento and Kirsten Zemke (New Zealand) spent Canta, which was astonished at the similar- ten months performing in schools, universiity between the Miao people and the native ties, shopping centres, refugee camps, public people of South America. parks and other venues. During this tour, The group returned to the western style Wildfire shared the Baha'i Faith with approxof living when it flew to Macau and then imately 120,000 people. later visited Hong Kong. After having been The Baha'i community of Hong Kong among lovely, spiritual-minded people in reported being deeply touched by the dedi- China, Mongolia, the Soviet Union, Eastern cation and enthusiasm of the members of Europe, and Africa, the group was pleas- Wildfire, whose performances in nine Vietantly surprised to find the same kind of pure namese Refugee Camps and Detention hearts in such modern surroundings. Centres brought the joyous news of the 448 THE BAl-IA'i WORLD

Revelation of Baha'u'llah to hundreds of resulting in the enrollment as Baha'is of two people. As the first entertainment group ever daughters of the chief of the Beinan tribe, to enter some of the camps in Hong Kong, and a six-day tour of the South of Thailand, Wildfire was credited with helping ease with perforn1ances in schools and colleges mounting tension among the inhabitants, which resulted in the enrollment of eight thereby winning for the Faith the admiration hundred and fifteen new believers. and praise of the United Nations High Com- The group was particularly blessed to mission for Refugees and local social service spend tin1e in the presence of the Hand of agencies with whom they cooperated. the Cause of God Amatu'l-Baha Rul.iiyyih Wildfire's performances in Hong Kong Khanun1, who was ttáavelling through Asia generated unprecedented media coverage for at the time and attended several of Wildfire's the Faith in both Chinese and English news- performances. Her loving spirit and kindness papers, on television and on radio. greatly inspired the youth in their efforts. An audience of several hundred gathered Wildfire's tour of Asia not only led many to watch the group's first official perfor- souls to embrace the Faith but motivated mance in Macau, which formed part of the the Baha ' i youth of that region. The youth community's celebration of Naw-R11z. Hun- of Melaka, Malaysia, who assisted with dreds more watched and listened from the preparations for Wildfire's performances in towering apartment blocks around the park. Sonbgkhla, Thailand, were so energized by The friends' second perfonnance in Macau the group's example that they formed their took place in the Leal Senado Square, in the own musical group called Wildfire II. centre of the city, before an audience of In 1991, Wildfire re-formed with a new 2,000. Spectators gathered long before the group of perfoimers to tour South Queensland, begim1ing of the show, having heard about Australia. "The Do-it-Yourself Peace Show" it in one of the six newspaper articles pub- was seen by approximately 2, 100 people in lished about the group. The one-hour show, nine cities, and an additional 2,500 s~w the which was repeated twice, included song friends perform promotional segments. The introductions in Cantonese and short talks show's premise is that at the first rehearsal throughout about the principles of the Faith. for a new peace show, the director doesn't A Baha'i information table was visited by anive and the members must overcome their more than four hundred people who accepted feelings of inadequacy to discuss the issues literature on the Faith, and at the end of the involved with peace and suggest songs and evening eight people asked to enrol in the dances to illusttáate those points. Eventually community. they reach a unified approach and create a As a result of its performances in Macau, show outlining the major baniers to peace the group was invited by the University and ways to overcome them. Each perforof East Asia's music society to be guest mance ended with a brief explanation that performers at its annual singing competition. the principles ofBaha'u'llah had formed the Wildfire performed at the beginning of the basis for the presentation. The1n the floor programme to a very appreciative audience was opened for questions. of seven hundred in the cultural centre of Venues for the show ranged from the the university. Later in the programme, National Baha ' i Conference in Toowoomba Wildfire 's artistic director, Simon Hinton, where one thousand people crowded the accepted on behalf of the friends an engraved hall, to a small Aboriginal settlement full of silver plate presented by the society. children who shared their own dance moves Other highlights of the Asia trip were a after the performance, to a prison in seventeen-city tour of Taiwan, which included Brisbane where enthusiastic shouts of agreea performance for a group of tribal aborigines ment followed a song about racial prejudice. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIV ITI ES 449

Members of the Wildfire Youth Th eatre Group during one of their pe1formances in New South Wales, Australia, in Februmy 1989.

A five-city tour of Western Australia fol- The group gave a concert in Po1tici which lowed in early 1992, involving fifteen youth was attended by about one hundred people. who performed, conducted workshops with Afterwards , many in the audience went to their peers, and gave radio and newspaper the Baha'i Centre and later emolled in the interviews. Faith. This was the beginning of " mass As the Six Year Plan ended, plans were entry" into the Faith in Portici, with two to being made to continue Wildfire 's teaching three people joining the Faith every day at activifies into the future. firs t, and then up to ten people a day. The musicians stayed after the concert to help Light in the Darkness with deepenings , firesides , public meetings, This group was made up of about twelve and then performed at the sunm1er school. musicians, most of whom were students Fifteen days later they performed in Paola, living in Italy. They represented various giving several concerts and helping with the nationalities, and came together after fi nding teaching work. themselves infomrnlly singing and perform- In December 1989, Light in the Darkness ing together at several Baha ' i conferences . It performed at the Italian Baha ' i Winter was suggested that they form a more School, and in April 1990 they met to plan organized ensembl e for the purpose of a sunm1er tour under the guidance of the teaching the Baha ' i Faith. An initial meeting National Teaching Conm1ittee. During June, was held in December 1988 in centra l Italy, July and August 1990 the friends háavelled and Olinga Mazlum acted as a director to to Campobasso, Italy, and Ljubljana and help organize regular practices. Zagreb in Yugoslavia where many activities The first performance by Light in the involving their performances had been orga- Darkness was during the Easter 1989 Italian nized by the European Baha' i Youth Council. Youth Conference, then in July 1989 they Next, the group went to Portici, Sicily and sang two so n~ during the "Peace Moves" Sardinia in Italy, and performed at the Medi- European Youth Conference held in San tenanean Baha'i Conference held in Corsica. Marino. These efforts were enthusiastically During the winter of 1990/91, the Euroreceived, and encouraged the friends to pean Baha' i Youth Council and the National travel together to Portici, near Napl es, to Teaching Conm1ittee of Ausháia organized j oin in the spec ial teaching project taking two concerts each in Ljubljana and Zagreb , place there under the auspices of the Conti- Yugoslavia. Light in the Darkness pernental Board of Coun sellors. formed in each of these, and then in April 450 THE BAHA'I WORLD

1991 they performed during the Italian In August 1991 the friends went back to National Youth Conference. Portici, Italy, to give a concert in support of In the summer of 1991 , the group went on the teaching project there. After the perfora tour of Poland, performing in Warsaw, mance some members stayed in Italy to help Gdansk, Wroclaw and Krakow. From Poland with the teaching work, and some returned they travelled to Romania, where they par- to Romania to participate in the extraorditicipated in the historic first European nary activities taking place in Eastern Europe. Baha' i Youth Conference held in Neptune Towards the end of the Six Year Plan, the (near Constanza) . After the Conference they group concentrated on expanding its reperperformed in other localities in the area, toire by writing original music inspired by with very positive response . Between songs Baha'i themes. Its goal was to produce a they would invite people to find out more cassette tape to raise the funds needed to about the Baha'i Faith, and during one of undertake an extended tour to proclaim the their concerts some eighty people enrolled. Faith during the Holy Year in 1992.

Light in the Darkness p e1forming during the European Baha'i Youth Conference held in Neptune, Romania, in July 1991. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 451

Musical entertainment being presented during a youth conference held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; November/ December 1991.

Participants in Austria's National Youth Conference held in Spital am Pyhrn in 1992.

Th e Prime Minister - of Guyana, His Excellency Hamilton Greene, addressing the Caribbean Baha'i Youth Conference held in Georgetown from 11to14August1989. 452 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Friends attending a youth institute in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on 3 and 4 December 1988.

Participants in a quiz held during the National Youth Conference in Lahore, Pakistan,fi'om 15to17 September 1988.

A gro up photograph taken during the international Youth Conference held near Harare, Zimbabwe, from 15 to 22 August 1990. IN TERN ATIO NA L SURVEY OF CURRE NT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 453

6. BAHA'i SCHOLARSHIP

A. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BAHA'i CHAIRS AT UNIVERSITIES

The Baha'i Chair for World Peace, race, we are happy to offer it as a model University of Maryland, United States for study." On 12 February 1990, the Universal House Fully cognizant ofBaha ' u'llah's praise of Justice wrote to the Baha' is of the world: of knowledge as ' wings to man's life ' and of the importance which He assigns to With feelings of thankfulness and joy we its acquisition; of 'Abdu ' l-Baha's advice announce an achievement of immense that we should ' seek to impart the Mesimportance to the accelerating progress of sage to influential persons and become a the Cause of Baha'u'llah. The University cause of guidance to the learned and of Maryland and the National Spiritual distinguished '; and of Shoghi Effendi's Assemb ly of the Baha'is of the United call for a 'resolute attempt' to reinforce States recently signed a memorandum of measures 'for the establishment of closer understanding, establishing ' The Baha'i contact with the leaders of public thought, Chair for World Peace' at that University's with colleges and universities', we hail Center for International Development and this seminal development both as a mark Conflict Management. The stated purpose of the Faith ' s emergence from obscurity of the Chair is ' to conduct and publish reand as the harbinger of that day when search, design courses and conduct semihosts of scholars will devote their energies nars in the field of Baha' i studies and to the exploration, exposition and defence world peace within an interdisciplinary of the dynamic principles animating the context; to initiate public forums for dis- " World Order of Baha'u' llah, thereby fulcussing the issues proposed in the Statefilling the need identified by the beloved ment of the Universal House of Justice Guardian for ' well-read and well-educated entitled 'The Promise of World Peace'; people, capab le of correlating our teachand to establish academic linkages with ings to the current thoughts of the leaders and provide technical assistance to Baha'i of society ' . On that day, we shall witness institutions in the fields of peace educaan expansion and consolidation of the comtion and international development. munity as has not yet been experienced. This first initiative by a well-founded, significant institution of higher learning The official signing of the memorandum to formulate such a serious program of took place on 26 January 1990 in the pres- Baha' i stud ies is a direct response to the ence of Dean Murray Polakoff of the Peace Statement, as is borne out by a let- University of Maryland, School of Social ter addressed to us by the Director of the and Behavioral Sciences, Dr. Abdel R. Center for International Development and Omran, Acting Director of the Center for Conflict Management in which he said: International Development and Conflict ' With this letter I am answering on behalf Management (CIDCM), Dr. Suheil Bushrui, of CIDCM and the University of Mary- Director of the Baha' i Chair for World land your call: "If the Baha'i experience Peace, and eight members of the National can contribute in whatever measure to re- Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the inforcing hope in the unity of the human United States. 454 THE BAHA'I WORLD

At a luncheon hosted by the National Spiritual Assembly oflndia, Ramnik Shah. Assembly and the Center for International Upon being notified of the signing, the Development and Conflict Management, House of Justice sent the following cable to attended by some one hundred Baha' is and the National Assembly oflndia: their guests, Dean Polakoff explained the CONG RA TULA TIONS ESTABLISHMENT CHAIR vital need for the spiritual perspective that FOR BAHA'I STUDIES AT UNIVERSITY INDORE. the Baha'i Chair will provide in the study of THUS A NEW STEP IS TAKEN AIM ED AT world peace and conflict resolution. ENHANCING PRESTIG E FAITH AND RAIS ING Dr. William F. Gibson, Chairman of the CALL GOD IN ACADEM IC CIRCLES. EXTEND Board of Directors for the National Associa- OUR APPRECIATION TO THOSE WI-IO LABOURED tion for the Advancement of Colored People IN INDORE AND ELSEWHERE FOR SUCCESS (NAACP), gave a stirring keynote address THIS OUTSTANDING PROJECT. relating racism and ethnic conflicts to the themes outlined in the Peace Statement. In pursuance of the agreement, permis- Dr. Firuz Kazernzadeh followed with a sion had been sought by the University from thought-provoking address on behalf of the the Higher Education Department of the National Spiritual Assembly concerning the Government of Madhya Pradesh for the purpose of the Chair. Professor Bushrui establishment of the Chair. This permission closed the proceedings with a tribute to Pro- was obtained on 22 January 1991. fessor Edward Azar, Director of CIDCM, The Chair was established to promote who first proposed the idea of the Chair. research and scholarship in Baha'i studies; At the time of the reception, nine roses to design and conduct courses, seminars and were delivered to an ailing Dr. Azar, who studies in the field of Baha'i studies and was deeply grateful for them as a symbol for related subjects within an interdisciplinary the establishment of the Baha'i Chair. context and publish results and reports of such activities; and to promote inter-univer- The Chair for Baha'i Studies, University sity linkage through seminars, exchange, of Indore, India lectures, and so forth, with a view to promot- In its Ric;Jvan message of 1990, the Universal ing inter-faith harn1ony, national as well as House of Justice wrote: international integration and world peace . The University advertised all over India Just as the community has extended its for candidates to fill the post of Professor of ramifications internally, it has also ex- Baha'i Studies. The selection committee met panded its relations, influence and appeal on 12 April 1991 and unanimously selected externally in a variety of ways, some as- Dr. Vishnudatta Nagar, then Professor tonishing in their breadth and potential. A Emeritus at Baba Saheb Ambedkar National few examples will suffice: ... the National Institute of Social Sciences, for the new Spiritual Assembly of India announced post. This recommendation was ratified by that an agreement had been reached to the Executive Council, and Dr. Nagar joined establish a Chair for Baha'i Studies at the the University of Indore as Professor of University oflndore. Baha'i Studies on 16 May 1991. The memorandum of understanding for He pursued the goals of the Chair in tluáee the establishment of the Chair for Baha'i main ways: by starting formal courses and Studies at the University of Indore (later academic activities; undertaking research studrenamed Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya) had ies and registering candidates for research been signed on 9 April 1990 by the Vice- work leading to the degree of Ph.D. in Baha'i Chancellor of the University, Professor M.S. Studies; and arranging group discussions and Sodha, and the secretaiy of the National lectures among teachers on campus. INTERNATION AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA 'I ACTIVITIES 455

In January 1992, two lectures were arranged by the Chair for Bahci 'i Studies at the University of Indore, India. Shown fi'om left, Dr. Vishnudatta Nagar, Dr. Falairiva Taafaki, Mr. Ramnik Shah, Mr. Sherif Rushdy, Dr. T.K. Vajdi, and Dr. Shirin Mahalati.

In July 1991, Dr. Nagar attended and topics of the proposed dissertations were: participated in the World Order Studies "The Contribution of Religion in the Course at Landegg Academy in Switzerland, Evolution of a Just Society", "The Role of where he delivered three lectures. Through Religion in the Economic Transformation of his efforis, the University of Indore agreed Society", "Nature of the Human Soul-A to start a compulsory course in World Order Thematic Study of the Sacred Scriptures of Studies and an optional course in Religion Hindu and Baha' i Religions", and "Religion and Society at the Master of Philosophy and the Environment". level. Students seeking the Master of Philos- Apart from individual and group discusophy degree would immediately be enrolled sions held with teachers, two lectures were into the course upon pass ing their post- ananged by the Chair on 27 January 1992. graduate examination. Dr. Falairiva Taafaki, a development con- At the end of the Six Year Plan, the sultant from the United States, spoke on courses were being finalised in consultation "The Way Out of the Dead End: Ecologiwith Dr. Iraj Ayman of Landegg Academy cally Sustainable Development", and Mr. in preparation for being approved by the Sherif Rushdy spoke on "The Role of Scivarious academic bodies of the University. ence and Technology in the Transformation A Statement of Intent was signed in October of Global Society". These two speakers also 1991 establishing "cooperative relations" be- delivered lectures at the University's School tween Landegg Academy and the University of Advanced Liberal Studies and spoke on of Indore. "The Role of Teachers and Youth in the In November 1991 , two research assis- Transformation of Society". The lectures at tants joined the Chair, their appointment both locations were well-attended and reprovided for in the agreement with the ceived wide coverage in the local newspapers. University. Before the end of the Six Year The Chair's library was staried as the Plan, two research candidates had been reg- National Spiritual Assembly of India sent istered for the degree of Ph.D. and two other about seven hundred Baha'i books, in applicants were being processed. The main various installments . Some of these were purpose of the research work was to identify contributed by Baha ' i communities outside the most challenging problems facing the India. The books were registered and cataworld and to explain how specific Baha'i logued according to the accepted principles principles address these problems. The of library science.

/ 456 THE BAHA'i WORLD

B. B AHA' f COURSES IN UNIVERSITIES During the Six Year Plan, a number of and topics covered included Moral Foundacourses on the Baha' i Faith were approved tions of a New World Order, Environment: for university credit, while other university Global Directions in Education, and Racial courses on comparative religion included Dimensions of a New Social Order. The sections on the Teachings of Baha ' u ' llah. description in the course catalogue read: These developments signalled the growing The phrase a "new world order", coined recognition in the academic community of by the Baha' i Faith in the 1800s, articuthe importance of Baha'i studies to scholars lates a vis ion of a new, unified world of all backgrounds. order, and its premises serve as a point of In 1988, the curriculum for third-year departure for this series of inforn1al lecsh1dents at the University of Swaziland hires and discuss ions on the world as it began to include the history, teachings, and might be. administrative order of the Baha ' i Faith. In 1991 , university officials asked Baha' is to Courses to study the Faith were also write a new curriculum on specific Baha ' i established in Brazil at the Federal Universubjects in relation to African customs and sity of Santa Catarina and in Sierra Leone at traditional religions. Makeni Teachers ' College. A tluáee-credit course on the history of the The Faith was included in quite a number Baha ' i Faith began in the fall of 1988 at the of existing university courses, usually in the University of Hawaii, Hilo campus . Its two field of comparative religion, but also in main texts were The Baha 'i Faith: the departments of education and economics. Emerging Global Religion and Th e Babi and The head of Cluáistian Religious Educa- Baha 'i Religions, 1844- 1944: Some West- tion at Shanzu Teacher Training College ern Accounts. in Mombasa, Kenya, invited speakers from Two courses on the Baha' i Faith and peace the Baha ' i conununity to address more than were conducted by one of the Baha' is of 400 first-year students in Febrnary 1987. Burkina Faso at Ouagadougou University' s The Baha'i Faith was added to the syllabus Higher School of Law. In 1989 the univer- of the College ' s religious education section sity granted permission for the National as a new topic of sh1dy. Assembly to give courses on the theme "The In 1989, the Department of Religious Progranune ofBaha'u'llah for Peace". Studies of Makerere University in Kampala, Full credit was earned by students at Uganda, implemented two new courses: Brown University in Rhode Island, U.S .A. , Religion, Peace, and Justice, and Religion who formed a Group Independent Study and Contemporary Social and Economic Project on the Baha'i Faith in the spring of Development. The first included extensive 1987. A detailed syllabus fo r the semester- study of the Baha'i writings related to peace long course-which covered the history, and justice, and the second looked at apprinciples , and administration of the Faith- proaches to development taken by Christianity, was approved by university officials. Islam, and the Baha'i Faith. In 1991 , a new The Faculty of Part-time and Continuing faculty member joined the same university Education at the University of Western and incorporated Baha ' i content into his Ontario in Canada offered a course in the courses on Religion and Social and Ecospring of 1992 exploring the " new world nomic Development, and Research Methods. order" . The subject was suggested by the In Ma lawi , the head of the Department of Association for Baha 'i Studies Campus Club Religious Studies at the U niversity of Zomba INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' i ACTIVITIES 457 requested information about the Baba 'i Students at Gweru Teacher Training Col- Faith. When it was delivered, the Baha'is lege in Zimbabwe and at the Ecumenical found that the Department Head was already Institute of Theological Sciences in Brazil using Baha 'u 'llah and the New Era in his (which offers undergraduate studies in theolclasses. ogy for high school teachers of religion) Lectures on the Baha'i Faith were given learned about the Baha'i Faith in their as part of comparative religion courses at courses. Baha'is in New Caledonia were Bermuda College, University of the South invited to present the Baha' i point of view Pacific in Fiji, Chancellor University in on economics to students of that subject at Malawi, and the University of Zimbabwe. the University in Noumea.

C. LANDEGG ACADEMY AND INSTITUTE OF lNTERNA TIONAL EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT The Landegg Conference Centre, located in foster those moral and spiritual qualities Wienacht, Switzerland, and established in and related practical skills that are need- 1983 , continued to host youth conferences, ed at this critical transitional phase in the seminars, and schools, as well as courses for collective life of mankind. both Baha'is and non-Baha ' is, during the The Academy's specific objectives are: Six Year Plan. to implement an holistic approach to educa- In 1989, a new Baha'i international learntion, integrating the spiritual, intellectual ing institution, known as Landegg Academy, and physical development of individuals; to was born. It was established by the Landegg demonstrate and propagate the oneness of International Baha'i Foundation of the National mankind; to nurture bonds of friendship Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland as a twin among participants from diverse ethnic and institution of the Landegg Conference Cencultural backgrounds; to cultivate respect tre . The Institute of International Education for all peoples and all cultures; to promote and Development was also established as the harmony of science and religion; to an affiliate with the Academy to provide instil through community activity the ideal services to institutions, agencies, and comof service to mankind; and to develop, offer, munities worldwide, both Baha' i and nonand promote academic programmes for the Baha ' i. study of the Baha' i Faith. The mission statement adopted to guide One of the outstanding courses offered the activities of the Academy reads: by the Academy is the three-year Certificate Landegg Academy is an international Programme in World Order Studies. The learning centre dedicated to providing Programme is designed to foster systematic a stimulating environment in which Baha'i scholarship, as called for by Shoghi students of all ages, and from all ethnic Effendi in a letter written on his behalf to an and national backgrounds, can explore individual believer, dated 21October1943: the nature of the human being, the The Cause needs more Baha' i scholars, dynamics of community life, and the people who not only are devoted to it and myriad challenges facing today 's global believe in it and are anxious to tell others society. Through a variety of on- and off- about it, but also who have a deep grasp campus activities and in collaboration of the Teachings and their significance, with individuals and institutions with and who can correlate its beliefs with the similar goals, Landegg Academy is com- current thoughts and problems of the mitted to developing programmes that people of the world. 458 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Participants in the Certificate Programme Studies. In the Ukraine, assistance was given meet at Landegg each year during the entire to establish the Ukrainian Institute of Spirimonth of August for the purposes of orienta- tual Foundations of World Civilization. In tion, preparation of study schedules, and Russia, projects were developed in cooperaexaminations. Independent study is carried tion with the International Foundation for out during the intervening months. The first the Survival and Development of Humanity group, which convened in August 1990, con- and the Foundation for Social Innovation. sisted of 28 students from eleven countries. Landegg contributed to the availability of In addition to the World Order Studies scholarly materials by publishing the pro- Programme, a curriculum for junior youth was ceedings of various conferences, as well as established. Called Education for Peace, it guidebooks and manuals for educational serinvolved sixteen months of independent study. vices. A total of twelve titles were produced One-week-long residential study courses during the Plan. Recordings of lectures and were also offered in various languages dur- other proceedings of Landegg programmes ing the Six Year Plan. Some were held at were made available for sale through a Landegg and some in other parts of the department of Audio-Visual Services, and world, organized in cooperation with host an inventory of more than 1,500 titles of institutions. Examples of courses offered in- Baha' i literature and audio-visual producclude: the Revelation ofBaha'u'llah, the New tions in various languages was maintained. World Order of Baha'u ' llah, the Covenant, In addition to the Institute for Inter- Baha' i Education, the Spiritual Dimensions national Education and Development, a of Health, Assembly Management, Fund number of other bodies were established as Development and Management, Media Arts, affiliates or deparhnents ofLandegg. and Assemblies Facing Family Problems. The Youth Centre was charged with plan- International conferences held at Landegg ning projects related to youth and maintaining were often co-sponsored by other interna- contact with the European Baha'i Youth tional organizations. Some were planned as Council. The Centre conducted such annual periodically recurring events, such as the events as Landegg Youth Symposia (provid- International Dialogues on Transition to a ing opportunities for youth to explore issues Global Society, which were held under the such as the environment and conflict resoluauspices of the Director-General of UNESCO tion, in consultation with adults), Forums for and the Secretary-General of the Council Young Professionals, and youth conferences. of Europe. The first such gathering, held The Department of Education and Family in September 1990, brought together eighty Life and its adjunct Documentation Cenháe leaders of thought from around the world to were in charge of activities related to Baha' i present papers and contribute to a discussion education, teacher training, and Baha ' i famabout the changing world order. ily life. The Department conducted mobile During its first four years of operation, courses in various host countries, and the Landegg Academy and the Institute ofinter- Documentation Centre acted as a clearing national Education and Development were house for material on Baha'i education . invited by governn1ental and public agencies The Persian Arts and Letters Society proto conduct education-related projects in sev- moted the Persian language, literature, and eral countries. In Albania, several national arts, with focus on the contributions of the symposia on moral education were held, Baha'i Faith and community to this fie ld. textbooks on the subject were revised, and a The International Society for Agriculture magazine fo r children was produced, a joint and Rural Development functioned as an undertaking with the Albanian Minisháy of affiliate body dedicated to services related to Education and the Institute of Pedagogical development at the grassroots level. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF C URRENT BAHA ' i ACTIVITIES 459

D. GENERAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH CONFERENCE, BUDAPEST 1987 A Baha' i delegation headed by Amatu'l- G.I. Marchuk, President of the Academy Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khanum participated in a of Sciences of the Union of Soviet Socialist scientific conference organized by the Inter- Republics. national Society for General Systems The purpose of the conference was to Research (later renamed the International apply "systems thinking" to the problems of Society for the Systems Sciences) and held constancy and change confronting an increasin Budapest, Hungary, from 1 to 5 June ingly complex world. "Systems thinking" is 1987 . Other members of the delegation were a way of looking at the world in terms of Mrs. Violette Na~avani and Dr. Janet Khan relationships and integration. It is used to from the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, and explain processes and events in the physical, Dr. Ingeborg Franken and Dr. Udo Schaefer social, and cultural worlds. For example, a from Germany. human body is a system in which all parts Baha'i participation in the Budapest are related and interdependent and where the meeting was encouraged and facilitated by health of the part depends on the whole and Dr. Ervin Laszlo, a well-known scientist and vice versa. Just as an individual is faced with member of the Club of Rome. Dr. Laszlo the need to continue to evolve and develop invited the Baha'is to present a paper on while, at the same time, retaining a sense of the Baha'i Faith in the conference session identity, so too, the world of today is characananged by his General Evolution Research terized and challenged by the operation of Group, thereby providing a valuable opportu- the forces for constancy and change. nity to discuss aspects of the Baha'i teachings Dr. Janet Khan delivered a paper entitled at an international scientific gathering. "The Baha 'i Community as a Model for The conference, held in a city visited by Social Change''. The presentation examined 'Abdu'l-Baha and much admired by Him, the experience of the Baha'i conununity as took place at a time when the embryonic an evolving global society. Its organic nature Hungarian Baha'i community, consisting of and unique system of organization were a mere handful of devoted followers, was described with special reference to the required to operate with extreme caution and dynamic intenelations between the processes wisdom. Against such a background, it of change and constancy operating in its is interesting that the Universal House of evolution. These processes were illustrated Justice, in one of its communications, stated by reference to the relationship between the that "the presence of a Baha'i delega- individual and the community, the flexibility tion ... constituted an historic step forward in and elasticity of Baha'i administrative functhe relationship of the Baha'i community tioning, the response it has made worldwide with the academic world and also in its to external threat in the form of the cunent standing in the communist countries". 1 wave of persecution directed against its The gathering in Budapest attracted some members in Iran, and the nature of the comof the foremost systems scientists from East- munity's expansion. The paper was well ern Europe and the West. They were drawn received and elicited many questions about from such disciplines as mathematics, phys- the Faith, its teachings, its relationship to ics, engineering, economics, management, science and its manner of functioning in the and the biological and social sciences. One world. This presentation marked the first of the featured speakers was Professor occasion, in several decades, in which the Baha'i teachings had been presented before Memorandum dated 29 June 1987 to Dr. .Jan et Khan. an audience in a country such as Hungary. 460 THE BAHA'I WORLD

The Hand ofthe Cause of God Arna tu 'l-Baha Ru~iyyih Khcinum and Dr. Ervin Laszlo during a television interview following the International Society for General Systems Research Conference held in Budapest, Hungary, in June 1987.

Dr. Ingeborg Franken, a physicist, and of mutual interest. One outcome of this Dr. Udo Schaefer, a public prosecutor, meeting was that, in response to Dr. Laszlo 's participated in a workshop on peace. During request, materials on aspects of the Baha'i the discussion periods, they had the opportu- Faith were forwarded to all members of his nity to describe the elements of the Baha'i Group. peace programme and the activities of the The members of the Baha'i delegation world-wide Baha'i community in sensitizing were impressed that a significant number of humankind to the need for and the inevita- the scientists and academics present at the bility of peace. Dr. Ingeborg Franken was conference already had some knowledge of subsequently invited to write a brief article the Faith, often as a result of the disseminaon the role of consultation in promoting tion of the Peace Statement. And, through peace, for publication in the newsletter of their participation in this meeting the memthe Society's Peace Group. bers reported having many opportunities to At the conclusion of the conference, the enhance the understanding of their fellow Baha'i delegation met informally with conferees concerning the uniqueness of the several members of Dr. Laszlo's General Baha'i approach to the social organization of Evolution Research Group to discuss subjects humankind. INTERN ATI ONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITI ES 461

E. THE ASSOCIATIONS FOR BAHA 'f STUDIES The Association for Baha' i Studies was Ottawa, Canada, which acts as the internafounded as the Canadian Association for tional coordinating centráe Studies on the Baha'i Faith in 1975 by the During the Six Year Plan, the primary National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is purpose of the Association for Baha' i of Canada. It was the result of a diverse Studies was to stimulate, coordinate, and group of individuals attempting to fulfil a present original research on the Baha'i Five Year Plan goal "to cultivate opportuni- Faith. It was also engaged in developing ties for formal presentations, courses and curricula suitable for use at universities that lectureships on the Baha' i Faith in Canadian recognized the Baha'i Faith as an important universities and other institutions of higher subject for research and instruction. The learning". The Association provided a means Association achieved these goals by holding for approaching intellectuals, making them annual meetings, international conferences, aware of the Baha'i Faith and acquainting and regional symposia. The Center for them with the academic resources available Baha'i Studies also produced a quarterly to facilitate a formal study of it. newsletter, the Bulletin , which kept mem- The Association increasingly assumed a bers advised of the international activities of significant role in the intellectual and social the Association. life of the Baha' i community worldwide. In 1981 , its name was changed to the Associa- Association for Baha'i Studies-Australia tion for Baha'i Studies- recommended by The Association for Baha'i Studies in the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada Australia was first established in June 1984, and approved by the Universal House of with its operating secretariat located in Perth, Justice- to reflect the evolving nature of the Western Austráalia. During the Six Year Association's membership and activities . Plan, the Association co-ordinated and stim- With guidelines set forth by the House of ulated the activities of Baha'i Societies in Justice, affiliates were established in more universities and other institutions of higher than twenty countries under the auspices of learning by holding national and regional conthe Center for Baha ' i Studies, located in ferences, and distributing a quarterly newsletter.

Th e 1989 Australian National Baha 'i Studies Conference was held in Adelaide from March 24 to 27. Highlights of the Conference included a one-day symposium on the Role of Wom en in an Advancing Civilization. 462 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

With a membership of more than two Association for Baha'i Studies-Brazil hundred people, this Association increased One of the significant activities of the Assothe scope of its studies by forming new ciation for Baha'i Studies in Brazil during interest groups in such areas as women's the Six Year Plan was the first National studies, health, agriculture, and science and Peace Symposium in the Nuclear Era, held technology. These interest groups gave a from 19 to 21 September 1986 in Goiania, greater structure and focus to Baha'i studies. Goias. This gathering was supported by hun- The Association's eighth conference was dreds of citizens, industrialists, artists, and held in Adelaide from 24 to 27 March 1989. top scientists from throughout the country. For the first time, committees of the National The Symposium was officially inaugu- Spiritual Assembly-the Social and Economic rated by the wife of the State Governor in Development Committee and the National the presence of Mr. Hushmand Fatheazam, a Children's Education Task Force- were member of the Universal House of Justice; invited to present research papers on their representatives from the Ministry of Culture areas of interest. The programme also and Education; and municipal authorities. included a section for the presentation of The Secretary-General of the United Nations; general papers, meetings for a number of the President of Brazil, Jose Sarney; and special interest groups, and a one-day various Ministers of the Government sent symposium entitled 'The Role of Women in messages in honour of the occasion. an Advancing Civilization". This symposium Approximately 500 people, eighty per consisted of presentations of invited papers cent of whom were not Baha'is, attended by Baha'i and non-Baha'i experts focusing three main panel discussions on peace, led on such topics as Women and Power, by eminent scientists and leaders of thought. Women in the Legal Profession, and Women, The topics presented were Science for Peace; Development and Peace. Education for Peace; and Economy and From 13 to 16 April 1990, the ninth meet- Political Science for Peace. The participants ing of the national Association for Baha'i also took part in nine workshops, the out- Studies was held in Perth. More than three come of which was a document entitled hundred people registered for the confer- Letter of Goiania that conveyed to the United ence, including several members of the Nations the results of the Symposium with public who had heard one of the many radio recommendations toward the establishment announcements broadcast prior to the event. of peace. Among the highlights of this gathering was On the last day of the Symposium, the a day-long symposium on "The Environ- cornerstone for a Monument for peace was ment Humanity 's Common Heritage", which placed. This monument was designed by included contributions from several Baha'i Siron Franco, a well-known Brazilian artist, environmental experts. Papers were submit- and bears the quotation from Baha 'u'llah ted on The Environment-Past, Present and that states "The earth is but one country Future, Environmental Damage: Reshaping and mankind its citizens". The cornerstone, International Relations, and Agriculture and consisting of a beautiful glass plate, was the Environment. Several of the speakers dedicated by Professor Venerando de Freitas were interviewed on various radio and televi- Borges, the first mayor of Goiania. The sion programmes prior to the conference, monument will be a glass tower seven and a number of media representatives were meters high, filled with artistica'lly displayed present at the symposium. A new feature coloured earth to be received from many was a half-day forum held in Persian. countries of the world. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'f ACTIVITIES 463

The first conference of the Association for Bahil 'i Studies in East, Central and South Afi'ica held in Nairobi, Kenya, fi'om 28 to 30 September 1990.

Association for Baha'i Studies-Central, From 15 to 16 August 1986, the first South, and East Africa annual Association for Baha'i Studies Con- The activities of the Association for Baha 'i ference was held. The conference focused Studies for Central, South, and East Africa on "Peace and the New World Order", with included its first annual conference, held at the keynote speakers being Dr. Augusto the National Baha 'i Center in Nairobi, Lopez Claros of the International Monetary Kenya, from 28 to 30 September 1990. A Fund and Dr. Mansour Sedaghat of the total of thirty-five members attended, among University of Concepcion. whom were four Auxiliary Board members. The theme of the second annual confer- During the gathering, seven speakers ence, held from 26 to 27 September 1987, presented papers on the following topics: was "New Perspectives in Education'', and Baha'i Scholarship-the Master 's Style; it featured Counsellor Farzam Arbab and a What is a Baha'i Scholar?; Applying the forum of Baha'i educators. More than eighty Teachings to Solve Current Problems; Relat- Baha'is and non-Baha'is from five countries ing Christianity, Islam, and the Baha'i Faith; attended. During the same year, the Associa- How to Research the Baha'i Faith; Fostering tion sponsored a series of six regional Bah.a' i Creative Development; and Understanding: Studies Institutes, wherein members conthe Greatest Gift. ducted classes, workshops, and lectures on various themes related to the Baha'i Faith. Association for Baha'i Studies-Chile In 1989, this Association received com- The Association for Baha'i Studies in Chile mendations from the Universal House of was established on 19 October 1985 with Justice for its fourth annual conference and an initial membership of 39 individuals and for the participation of non-Bah.a 'i leaders in two Local Spiritual Assemblies. By the end its forum. This conference, held in Santiago of the Six Year Plan, its membership had from 30 September to 1 October, addressed grown to more than sixty individuals and "Human Development and Society". Apeight institutions. During this time, the proximately eighty people from Chile, Association organized national and regional Colombia, Hong Kong, and Peru attended, conferences, and an annual "Essay, Music, including non-Baha'i experts in the field of and Art Contest"; printed Baha 'i publica- development. tions; established a library for Baha'i studies; "Human Rights and Social Justice" was and formed special interest groups. the theme of the fifth annual conference, 464 THE BAHA'I WORLD

which commenced on 25 August 1990 in Association for Baha'i Studies- English- Santiago. More than fifty people listened to Speaking Europe presentations on such topics as The Baha'i During the Six Year Plan, the Association Declaration of Human Rights; The Search for Baha'i Studies in English-Speaking for a Just Society; and Social Justice and Europe continued to encourage a scholarly Development. As well, three simultaneous approach to the study of the Baha'i Faith. workshops were held to discuss The Rights It also promoted and encouraged research of Children; Social Justice and Community; on the Faith by Baha' is and non-Baha'is in and Youth and Justice. universities and other institutions of higher Beginning in 1986, the Association spon- learning. sored a contest which evolved into an annual This Association was established in "Essay, Music and Art Contest" to give Ireland in 1984, then was transfered to the individuals the opportunity to express their United Kingdom in 1989 after consultation artistic talents within the context of the between the two National Spiritual Assem- Baha'i Faith. This competition included blies. An Executive Committee was forrried categories for youth, university students, and to help the Association develop and build adults. A magazine containing some of the upon the work already done in Ireland. essays submitted for this contest was Within this period, the Association held published by the Executive Committee. regional and national conferences; it pro- The Association also established a Library duced audio-visual materials; and published for Baha'i Studies in 1986. Located at the an annual journal entitled The Bahri 'i Studies National Baha'i Center, it was set up to pro- Review. The Association was successful in vide students and researchers of the Faith encouraging the creation of campus associawith a center of information. Its collection tions at colleges and universities, and had consisted of more than 300 books and 600 a membership of more than two hundred periodicals in English, Persian, and Spanish. people in 1991. The Library's reading room was open to The first annual conference was held in members and non-members. Birmingham, England, in April 1990 on the Special interest groups were fanned to theme "Community and Diversity". study the relationship of the Faith with From 13 to 15 September 1991, a total of specific fields and to develop a Baha 'i dis- fifty Baha'is met for the second annual concourse that could deal with relevant issues in ference also held in Bim1ingham, England, society. Groups studied such areas as the which focused on "New Human Values for environment, commw1ications, human rights a New World Order". A variety of presentaand social justice, health, peace, economic tions were made on subjects such as The and social development, education and culture, Path to Peace-an Introduction to the Proband women's studies. Throughout the Six lems of Prejudice; Encouraging Sustained Year Plan, the Association's representatives Participation; and The Writings of Shoghi took part in forums organized by Baha' i and Effendi. Workshops gave the participants an non-Baha'i groups. opportunity to further explore these themes. In 1990, the Association began offering Following Ri~van 1990, a series of a formal programme of study on the Faith. regional conferences were held throughout Covering various aspects of the teachings, England, Ireland, and Scotland to permit for the programme began with courses on a wide range of topics to be examined in Cluáistianity and the Baha 'i Faith; and Islam infom1al settings. They also allowed for and the Baha' i Faith. more believers to become involved with the INTERNATIONAL SURV EY OF CURR ENT BAHA'i ACTIVITI ES 465 Association and its activities, and resulted in The 1986 annual conference, held in the local media publicity for the Faith. Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on 22 and The Association's first conference held in 23 November, focused on "The Place and Northern Ireland took place on 12 January Contribution of Minorities in Society". 1991 in Londondeny. Talks were given on Approxin1ately one hundred participants from such topics as The Environment-More than Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, and Just a Bandwagon; Science and Religion; Switzerland attended, among whom were and Baha' is and the A1is. two Governn1ent Ministers, one Member of "The Baha ' i Faith and Other Religions" Parliament, and a President of the Tribunal was the theme of the Association's first con- which represents the Grand Duchy to the ference in Scotland, held from 3 to 5 May European Commission on Human Rights. 1991 in Edinburgh. Talks were presented on Also present were Dr. Agnes Ghaznavi and Judaism and the Baha ' i Faith; Mul.iammad Mr. Louis Henuzet, members of the Contiand the Qur'an: An Overview; Christian and nental Board of Counsellors. Islamic Objections to the Baha' i Faith; The Association's fourth annual conferand The Christian- Baha'i Dialogue during ence centered on the theme "Religious ' Abdu' l-Baha's visit to Edinburgh. Values and Lay Values: Searching for a Uni- The Association held a conference in versal Ethic". This conference, which took Bath, England, on 3 July 1991. The first of place on 31 October and 1November1987, two papers presented was on The Maid of was organized in collaboration with the Heaven, the Image of Sophia, and the Logos. Open Faculty of Religions and Lay Affairs The second paper focused on the topic at the University of Charleroi in Belgium. Thoughts on the Development of Spirituality, On 29 and 30 October 1988, the annual which looked at several ways to spirituality Baha'i Studies conference took place at the such as creation, suffering, education, prayer, University of Lausanne in Switzerland. Parand meditation. ticipants delved into the issue of "Economy and Society: What are the Perspectives Association for Baha'i Studies-French- Beyond Today's Crises?". A presentation Speaking Europe by a non-Baha'i university student on the Since 1984, the Association for Baha 'i Stud- system of communication in the Baha'i Faith ies in French-spe~king Europe has organized was a noteworthy feature of the gathering. ammal conferences on a variety of themes In 1989, more than one hundred and and cunent issues. eighty people took part in the Association's

Th e Association for Saha 'i Studies, French-Speaking Europe, held its annual conference in Luxembourg in November 1986. Two Government Ministers, one Member of Parliament, and the President of the Tribunal were among the participants. 466 THE BAHA'I WORLD

The Association for Baha 'i Studies, German-Speaking Europe, held its fifth annual conference in Hof Austria,from 29 September to 1 October 1989.

sixth annual conference held at the Palais four countries examined the theme of peace des Congres in Paris, France, on 18 and through three papers, several seminars, and 19 November. Speeches emphasized the art sessions. Plans to consolidate and enlarge theme "Freedom in History and Society" . the Association were also discussed. The seventh annual conference was held A total of 54 people took part in the Assoin Luxembourg under the auspices of the ciation's fifth annual conference, held from Ministry of Culture and was inaugurated by 29 September to 1 October 1989 in Hof, Mr. Jacques Santer, the Prime Minister of Austria. Speakers from Austria, Germany, the Grand Duchy. Held on 10 and 11 No- Hungary, and Switzerland focused on the vember 1990, the theme "The Dawning of central theme of the conference-"Economy: European Unity" offered an opportunity to Old Dogmas, New Thinking"-with preseninvite, for the first time, a sociologist from tations on the paradigm shift in economics, the former Soviet Union. On the whole, an approach to a new theory of economics favourable echoes of the conference rever- under the influence of the Baha'i Revelation, berated in the press. and the modem work environment. "Environment: a heritage for humanity" Prominent non-Baha'i scholars addressed was the theme examined at the Association's the Association's sixth annual conference, annual conference held in Liege, Belgium, held from 12 to 14 October 1990 in Mils, in 1991. Austria. The gathering's theme-"On the After each of the conferences, the Associ- Oneness of Reality: the New Convergence ation for Baha'i Studies in French-speaking of Religion and Science"-resulted in the Europe published the proceedings of the submission of papers on such topics as relipresentations. The Association also sought gion as the fountainhead of great cultures, to expand its publishing activities to include the epistemological investigations of belief translations into French of previously and science, and the mystical dimension of unpublished articles by Dr. Udo Schaefer. human reality as contained in the Writings ofBaha'u'llah. Association for Baha'i Studies-German- Speaking Europe Association for Baha'i Studies- India The Association for Baha'i Studies in German- The Association for Baha' i Studies in India speaking Europe held its second annual was formed in 1983, fol lowing consultation conference in May 1986 at the Landegg between the National Spiritual Assemblies of Academy in Switzerland. Representatives of India and Canada. As a result, a Management INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I A CTIVITIES 467 Committee was appointed in New Delhi, Association for Baha'i Studies-Malaysia whose function was to coordinate study- The Baha'i community of Malaysia estabrelated activities, particularly in initiating lished its nation's Association for Baha'i and fostering an active pursuit of Baha'i Studies in 1988, thereby fulfilling one of the scholarship. goals of the country's Six Year Plan. The One of the first activities of the Associa- Association cultivated opportunities for fortion was to acquire diaries of early believers mal presentation of the Baha'i Faith at in India to stimulate a study of events and universities and other institutions of higher individuals connected with the early years of learning. It promoted a greater study of the the Baha'i Faith in the Indian sub-continent. Faith and its application to the needs of During the Six Year Plan, three non- humanity by hosting conferences, printing Baha 'i scholars, on their own initiative, publications, and forming regional associaapproached the Baha'i community for study tions. The first Bulletin for the Association materials on the Faith for their Ph.D. disser- for Bahti 'i Studies of Malaysia was pubtations. This serves as an example of the lished in April 1989. growing interest in Baha'i studies stimulated by the Association. Association for Baha'i Studies-North America Association for Baha'i Studies-Japan The Association for Baha'i Studies in North The first annual conference of the Associa- America continued to function as a cooperation for Baha'i Studies in Japan took place tive effort between the National Assemblies at the Tokyo Baha'i Center on 21 and 22 De- of Alaska, Canada, and the United States. cember 1991, with more than fifty believers The Center for Baha'i Studies, located in attending. Presentations were given on Ottawa, Canada, acted as the coordinating Learning and the Acquisition of Knowledge centre for the activities of the Association in by Counsellor Kimiko Schwerin, and A North America and its affiliates worldwide. Vision of Baha'i Scholarship by Dr. Hossain Adjacent to the University of Ottawa, the Danesh. The conference was described as "a Center enjoyed access to the university success in motivating the friends to delve resources, which, combined with the Cendeeper into the Writings to discover the ter's own library, offered the facilities trnths that will assist in advancing the Cause needed for research on the Baha'i Faith. in Japan''. During the Six Year Plan, the Association organized international conferences, annual

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The Association for Bahti 'i Studies in Japan held its first annual conference in Tokyo from 2 l to 22December1991. 468 THE BAHA'I WORLD

The Association for Baha 'i Studies, North America, held its thirteenth meeting in Ottawa, Ontario, . l ssoc ic11 ion fo r Baba ár St11cties Canada, from 7 to Assorial ion d'ct 11Cles baiJii'ie-;-- 10 October 1988.

meetings, and special seminars. It also spon- Baha' i International Health Agency and the sored regional conferences throughout North Balla' i Education Institute. America which provided opportunities for From 22 to 25 October 1987, the Associascholars to exchange ideas and present tion held its twelfth annual conference at papers. Selected material from these pro- Princeton University in Princeton, New ceedings was published in The Journal of Jersey, United States of America, on Baha'i Studies, a quarterly journal, and "Converging Realities: An International Baha'i Studies, a serial monograph. As stated Conference on Science, the Humanities, and earlier, the Center for Baha'i Studies pro- Religion." Among those addressing the duced a quaiierly international newsletter, the event were eminent Baha'i and non-Baha ' i Bulletin, which kept members advised of the scholars , scientists, and systems theorists. activities of the Association internationally. Talks were delivered on such topics as The The eleventh a1mual conference of the Redemption of Science, Poverty and Racism Association for Baha'i Studies was held in Urban America, Convergence of Body from 20 to 24 August 1986 in London, and Soul, and A1i and Spiritual Education. Ontario, Canada. This was the largest con- The Association for Baha'i Studies ference to date, with approximately two welcomed approximately 800 people to its thousand adults participating. Focusing on fourteenth annual conference held from 15 to the theme "Beyond the Quest for Peace: 17 September 1989 in Irvine, California, Creating a New World Order", this confer- U.S.A. The theme of this gathering was "Full ence was planned in response to a request Partnership: An International Conference on by the Universal House of Justice that the Equality of Women and Men". Talks each national Baha ' i community sponsor were presented on the roles of women and one major event to mark the United Nations men in bringing about full partnership and International Year of Peace. Among those on the implications of the equality principle addressing the gathering were the Hands of on women. Seminars during the conference the Cause of God Amatu'l-Baha Rul:iiyyih covered a wide range of topics including Khanum and Dr. 'Ali Mul:iammad Varqa, as consultation and conflict resolution, the arts, well as Mr. 'Ali Na~avani , a member of health, agriculture, and intercultural issues. the Universal House of Justice. For two days "Models of Racial Unity" was the theme preceding the main conference, eight other of the fifteenth annual Baha'i Studies agencies and affiliates of the Association conference, held from 9 to 11 November held their sessions. Among them were the 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. Plenary INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 469 sessions, professional interest seminars, and campus clubs held activities that compleworkshops presented nearly a century of mented the aims of their institutions. These North American Baha' i experience in the groups received the Campus Association field of racial unity. Newsletter. In preparation for the Holy Year, approxi- One of the most exciting developments of mately six hundred people spent four days in the Association during the Plan was that on August 1991 at the University of Victoria in 27 July 1986, the National Spiritual Assembly Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, attend- of Canada cabled: ing workshops, plenary sessions, and special Joyfully announce federal incorporation presentations. The themes pursued at this of Association for Baha'i Studies granted gathering were the Mission of Baha'u'llah, July 22 .... His Covenant, the World Order, and the Baha'i community. Sessions were also held Association for Baha'i Studies- Papua on the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the Tablets of the New Guinea Divine Springtim es, and the Long Obliga- The first Association for Baha' i Studies contory Prayer. David Hofman, former member ference in Papua New Guinea was held in of the Universal House of Justice, delivered September 1988 at the University Baha'i the annual Hasan Balyuzi Memorial Lecture Club in Port Moresby and was attended by on Baha'i History. His address , entitled fifteen people. Among the papers presented "Baha 'u ' llah: King of Glory", reminded the were Traditional Education in New Hanover, audience of the vast scope of Baha'u ' llah's The Effect of the Baha' i Faith on Medina Mission. One of the significant events at this Village, and Equality of Men and Women: gathering was a memorial service for the late Traditional and Modem Concepts. All speak- Hand of the Cause of God John Roba11s . ers were Papua New Guineans. Prepared with the assistance of the National In May 1989, the second annual Associa- Spiritual Assembly of Canada, the pro- tion for Baha'i Studies conference was held gramme featured readings and musical at the University of Papua New Guinea. tributes, as well as a touching recollection of Among the twenty-five Baha'is and the late Hand by Mrs. Audrey Robarts . non-Baha ' is present was Peter Vuyiya, a The Association continued to be affiliated Counsellor member of the International with campus organizations, which provided Teaching Centre. The three papers presented a valuable source of ideas and research. The at this gathering were on the topics of The

A Seminar on Intercultural Issues preceded the Conference of the Association f or Bahri 'i Studies held in Irvine, California, from 15 to 17 September 1989. 470 THE BAHA'I WORLD

The Association for Baha'i Studies, Papua New Guinea, held its second conference at the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby, in May 1989.

Effect of the Baha' i Faith on the Position of a great number of these posters were placed Women in the Mountain Brown Area of at the Inter-American University, in the Papua New Guinea, The Corning of the nearby town of San German. Baha ' i Faith to Some of the Islands of Fiji, In addition to the weekly meetings for and Women and Peace: An Anthropological Baha'is and their friends, other gatherings Perspective. were organized and publicized throughout the campus. The Association found that Association for Baha'i Studies-Puerto Rico inviting professors to talk on a particular The Association for Baha'i Studies in Puerto subject at meetings organized by the Associ- Rico was established at the Mayaguez ation was very frnitful, for the professors Campus of the University of Puerto Rico in would thus become acquainted with the 1987, thus helping to fulfil one of the goals tenets of the Faith. of the nation's Six Year Plan. Throughout Sequences of talks with common themes this period, the Association held regular were organized by the Association, includweekly meetings and carried out various ing a series on Peace-Economy and Peace, activities. Technology and Peace, World Politics and The first endeavour undertaken by the Peace. These gatherings were well publi- Association was proclaiming the Baha'i cized and well attended. The Association Faith campus-wide. Posters, pamphlets, and held two series, four years apart, on world specially prepared lessons on the Faith were religions, at which professors were invited placed in different locations around the to talk about their religions. Mayaguez campus. Thousands of one-sheet One of the significant activities of the lessons on the Faith were taken by the Association in Puerto Rico was the distribustudents. This occurred during a period of tion of the Peace Message to nearly all the several years. As a consequence of these faculty members of the University in 1987. activities, five students accepted the Baha'i The Chancellor was very appreciative and Faith directly through the lessons, and two shortly thereafter invited the Baha'is to professors and three students enrolled in the make a presentation at an ecumenical meet- Faith thrnugh personal contacts. In addition, ing that she organized. 7. BAHA'i PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

IN 1980, during the first Baha'i International with the healing Words of Baha'u' llah, but Conference on Health and Healing, held in also to apply the Baha' i teachings to their Ottawa, Canada, under the sponsorship of own daily lives more effectively. the Association for Baha'i Studies, a recom- These interactions resulted in the formendation was made that an association of mation of a number of Baha'i professional Baha' i health professionals be established. associations . Offering an exciting arena for This recommendation was accepted by the intellectual reciprocity and the examination executive committee of the Association for of spiritual concepts, these were a means of Baha' i Studies, approved in principle by the encouragement and support to fellow associ- National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, and ates, as well as coordinating and stimulating encouraged by the Universal House of Justice. research and education in their respective In 1982, the Universal House of Justice fields. In addition, owing to the prestige that expanded the concept of Baha' i professional is confened upon groups of career-minded associations in a letter addressed to all individuals, these became a tool bringing National Spiritual Assemblies : the Teachings of Baha 'u ' llah to people of prominence in those professions. Hence, the Consider convening gatherings, wherever Faith was taught more systematically and possible, of Baha ' i professionals to diswith greater efficacy. cuss the means by which they, as The trend towards the formation and conindividuals, can reach, and aid the Baha' i cretion of professional associations prevalent Community in fostering good relations during the Six Year Plan exemplifies the with, persons of prominence in their redevelopment of the Baha'i community. One spective professions. hundred years after the Ascension of the In response to this letter, Baha' i pro- Blessed Beauty, real progress was being essionals throughout the world convened made from cognition to volition; in uniting conferences and seminars to discuss not only "religion" and "daily life" in a world which the means to reach people of prominence advocates their separation.

A. THE BAHA'f INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AGENCY 0 thou loyal servant of God and thou spiritual healer of man! Whensoever thou dost attend a patient, turn thy face toward the Lord of the heavenly Kingdom, ask the Holy Spirit to come to thine aid, then heal thou the sickness. (' Abdu ' l-Baha, Selections fro m the Writings of 'Abd11 'I- Bah a [Haifa : Baha 'i World Centre, 1978], p. 18 1).

The Baha 'i International Health Agency is The Association was created in response an affiliate of the Baha' i International Com- to a recommendation made at the first Baha ' i munity and the Association for Baha' i International Conference on Health and Studies, and functions under the aegis of the Healing, as stated above. Its first formal National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is meeting, held on 10 and 11 April 1982 in of Canada. Ottawa, Canada, was attended by more than 472 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Mrs. Mona Grieser (fi-ont), a Bahri 'i health professional, visiting the home of a Bahri 'i Health Education Agent in Sarh, Chad. Jun e 1988.

fifty Baha'is who were health professionals University of Western Ontario in Canada, working in Canada, the United States, and was health and peace. The objective was to Chile. explore the role of health in the service of This agency was established to co-ordi- humanity, and to study the Baha'i approach nate and encourage research and education to health services . More than one hundred among the Baha'is who are health profes- and fifty people participated in workshops sionals, and others who have knowledge in and presentations on the topics of medical this area. Its functions consist of: making ethics, food and nutrition, and the link articles and reviews on health and related between international health and peace. Partopics available for circulation to members, ticipants concluded that health-care workers interested individuals and institutions; en- must help change attitudes; and that the most couraging individuals to initiate the formation difficult task is the changing of the hearts of of local chapters dedicated to promoting men. They detennined that the world needs health-care projects; collaborating with the the Baha ' i principles as the tool for change; National Pioneering Committee regarding that there is a great need for cultural underoverseas posts for health-care workers ; plan- standing, for a universal language, and a ning annual conferences; discussing and deep empathy for other people 's sufferings. acting upon conespondence from the Univer- The seventh annual conference, held in sal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Evanston, Illinois, United States of America, Assembly of Canada, and Agency members; from 26 to 28 August 1988, focused on and publishing a bulletin at least twice a year. primary health care and the integration of The proceedings of the annual confer- alternative methods of healing. Approxiences on health and healing fulfil, in part, mately sixty friends attended. The issue requirements set by the National Spiritual addressed at this event was the challenge of Assembly, " ... to encourage and facilitate ensuring that the needs of the recipients are ... education .. .in the field of health based on met in any project. It was agreed that this the teachings of the Baha'i Faith." These problem can be overcome with the utilizagatherings focus upon the current moral and tion of Baha'i principles, with the key being scientific discussions of the medical com- true consultation. A firm belief in the spirimunity within the context of the Baha'i tual equality of all peoples helps to focus on teachings. the development of individuals. The role of The theme of the fifth annual conference, women in the promotion of primary health held from 20 to 21 August 1986, at the care and the larger implications for world INTERNATION AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 473

peace were also discussed. Women as first Illness'', challenged the audience to consider educators have enormous influence on the the effect of the diversity of cultures and community and will pass their skills and behaviors on shaping different world information to their children. views on health and its maintenance. The In 1989, more than seventy people partic- successful development of a universal ipated in the eighth annual health conference framework for the conceptualization of in Irvine, California, United States. This health and illness will occur in an atmoconference's theme dealt with women's sphere of respect for the validity of the issues in health. The concept of the em- contributions of persons from all races and powerment of women in the delivery of ethnicities, it concluded. health was discussed, with the suggestion In addition to annual gatherings, the that empowerment must be based on Association sponsored two conferences Baha'u'llah's first Hidden Word in which aimed at increasing the Baha' i community's the qualities of kindness, radiance, and awareness of the AIDS epidemic, and a third purity are linked to sovereignty. Women conference focusing on the topic of homowere invited to realize the importance of sexuality. The two conferences highlighting bringing their specific positive strengths into AIDS were held in Montreal, Canada, in their new fields of responsibility and action, 1989 and at the Green Acre Baha'i School in and to eliminate the old stereotypes that link Maine, United States, in 1991; and the femininity with passivity, compliance, and conference on homosexuality was held in weakness. Other issues presented at the con- 1992 at Green Acre. Participation in these ference were strategies to attain health for all conferences was by friends from Canada and by the year 2000, and the ethical challenges the United States with a personal or profesfaced by Baha'i health professionals. sional interest in the subject. The goals of More than thirty-five participants took these events were to study and consult on the part in the ninth annual conference on health Baha'i Writings which relate to these issues; and healing, held in November 1990 in to create a network of Baha'is who will Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The focus share information and encourage one of this conference was discrimination in another; and to consult on future activities. health care. Studies on the effects of active Members of the Baha'i International patient involvement in their own health care, Health Agency participated in various interand its impact on improved health care out- national health conferences and seminars. As comes, were reviewed. It was noted that a result, members of the Agency presented these data complement the Baha'i teachings the principles of the Baha'i Faith to those of that encourage the individual to seek the highest calibre in the medical field. medical attention when necessary, but for In May 1986, the World Health Organithe individual to determine for himself what zation invited members of the Baha'i is competent medical advice. The topic of International Community to its thirty-ninth "Discrimination and the International Human Health Assembly. Dr. Ethel Martens, a Immunodeficiencey Virus Epidemic" was Public Health Educator and the Executive addressed. Statistics were given which out- Secretary of the Baha'i International Health lined the disproportionate number of urban Agency, was one of the Baha'i delegates poor, blacks, and hispanics with Acquired who attended this gathering. More than five Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in hundred people participated, among whom North America-numbers representative of were a large number of Ministers of Health. the discrimination already faced by these Dr. Abdul Missagh Ghadirian ['Abdu 'lsocial groups. A third presentation, entitled Mithaq Qadiriyan] an executive member "Towards a Concrete Understanding of of the Baha'i International Health Agency 474 THE BAHA'I WORLD

and a psychiatrist, represented the Baha'i Belisle, a physician from Montreal, Canada, International Community at the United and an executive member of the Baha' i Nations Interregional Conference of Non- International Health Agency, and Mr. Gio- Govemmental Organizations for Prevention vanni Ballerio from the Baha'i International of Drug Abuse, held in Stockholm, Sweden, Community Office in Geneva. The primary from 15 to 19 September 1986. One hundred Baha'i contribution to this consultation was copies of an article by Dr. Ghadirian, entitled on the theme of the equality of women and "Prevention of Drug Abuse: A Baha'i Per- men, specifically the importance of empowspective" were distributed among delegates. ering women who are at a high-risk of In addition, seventy copies of his book In developing HIV-AIDS because of a lack of Search of Nirvana were given to dignitaries information, a lack of access to information, and delegates of national and international or because of non-assertive behavior due to, reputation who participated in the Confer- among other things, a low socio-economic ence. status. A second contribution by the Baha'i Due to the Baha' i International Commu- delegation emphasized the need for spiritual nity's signing of the "working relations" transforn1ation, not only at the individual but agreiement with the World Health Organiza- also at the institutional level, and referred tion in March 1989, the Baha ' i International to the Baha'i concept of unity as a basic Community was officially invited to partici- prerequisite for the solution of most social pate at the World Health Organization's con- problems. This meeting was successful from sultation with various international women's the perspective of the Baha' i International non-governmental agencies on the issues of Health Agency because it facilitated the AIDS prevention, control, and care, held establishment of personal and professional from 21 to 22 December, 1989, in Geneva, contacts between the Baha'i participants Switzerland. The Baha' i International Com- and representatives of diverse women's nonmunity was represented by Dr. Denise governmental organizations.

B. THE ASSOCIATION MEDICALE BAHA'iE

The Association Medicale Baha'ie, under patient-doctor relationships, stress, health the auspices of the National Assembly of and nutrition, life and death, mother and France, was registered in 1985 in confor- child relations, environment, and communimity with the requirements of French law cation. Renowned non-Baha'i lecturers and of the French Medical Council. Mem- participated in many of the sessions and bership is essentially open to all Baba' i greatly enhanced the professional quality of medical practitioners and students in legaUy the meetings. In addition, these gatherings licensed professions concerned with health generated a greater appreciation of the Faith care. amongst professionals in the medical field. During the Six Year Plan, the Associa- The Association's members also took tion 's activities included the study of Baha'i part in commissions for preserving family principles relevant to health and their diffu- unity, taught dental and general hygiene to sion to non-Baha'i professionals and to the children at summer schools, and partici- Baha'i community at large. Study sessions pated in several humanitarian projects m open to all included topics such as ethics, Chad, Niger, Yugoslavia, and Albania. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'f ACTIVITIES 475

C. THE BAHA'I BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION Your criterion should be to pursue your commercial activities with such fairness and equity as to be a cause ofguidance to others. The friends of God should, through the instrumentality of their business, lead the people to God's path, and make them so astonished as to exclaim: "How great is their truthfulness, how high their trustworthiness, and how true is their good will!" (Abdu'l-Baha, quoted in Compilation of Compilations, vol. 2 [Mona Yale, NSW: Baha' i Publishing Trust, 1991], p. 341).

The Baha'i Business and Economics Associ- of individuals and organizations concerned ation was formed in 1991 as an affiliate of with the practical aspects of the application the Association for Baha'i Studies in Canada. of spiritual principles to the business com- Its members are business people and econo- munity. This directory could be used to mists who want to bring the spiritual support world-wide networking effortsguidance of Baha'u'llah to the worldwide putting individuals with similar concerns in business community. In particular, they hope touch with one another, enabling people to demonstrate the positive impact of the travelling to share the results of their experiapplication of spiritual principles in the work- ence with others, and making interested place and on the lives of those involved in parties aware of opportunities and needs that business. the business community may be able to One Association goal is to have a direct address. and constructive influence on the business The Association has also provided its community by supporting grassroots initia- members and associates with a resource tives of Baha' i business people. Another goal directory of material on socio-economic is to be instrumental in promoting network- developments that reflect the principles of ing and advocating the increase of wealth the Baha'i Faith in practice. within a spiritual framework. The Associa- The development of local Baha'i business tion strives to increase cooperation and forums throughout the world has been encollaboration as tools for resolving conflicts couraged and supported by this Association, and disputes within the business community, with the vision that once sufficient numbers and tries to serve as a forum for reaching of these local forums are functioning within people of capacity in the field of commerce. a particular country or region, the Associa- The primary purpose of this Association tion will actively support the formation and is to provide its members with information. development ofNational and Regional Baha'i An international directory has been compiled Business and Economic Associations.

D. THE BAHA'I BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION The Baha'i Business and Professional Asso- The Association was formed when interciation in Australia is a non-profit grassroots ested Baha' is gathered in Sydney in March organization concerned with the promotion 1984 to discuss the business and profesof social and economic development in the sional needs of the community. Two months community by fostering the fulfillment of later a committee of nine was elected to human potential in the work environment. It conduct the affairs of the group, and this has no direct connection with the National committee was re-elected annually at general Spiritual Assembly and is completely self- meetings. In 1988, a similar organization funding. developed in Melbourne and the National 476 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Assembly requested that the two groups seminar on ethics, which was recorded. form a national association with an appro- Tapes of the proceedings were sold through priate constitution. The first National Board the Baha'i Distribution Service. of Directors was elected in 1989 and the Public promotion of Baha'i standards was concept of local chapters of the Association achieved through the participation of nonwas instituted. Baha 'is in seminars hosted by the Associa- The objectives of the Association were tion. In addition, the Association and the defined to include: establishing forums for Australian National Spiritual Assembly communication between members; stimulat- co-sponsored a service at the Baha'i House ing and improving the dissemination of the of Worship in 1990 entitled "Transformation Baha'i standards of behavior and ethics to to Globalization." It was designed to attract career-minded and professional people; members of the business and professional and advancing the interests of the Baha'i communities and to mark the commence- Faith by assisting the Universal House of ment of the last decade of this century. More Justice and National Spiritual Assemblies to than three hundred people attended the achieve their goals. service, including all nine members of the During the Six Year Plan, communication National Spiritual Assembly. Official guests among members was achieved tluáough a included a representative of the Ethnic quarterly newsletter initiated in 1987, and by Affairs Connnission of New South Wa les. the hosting of seminars and lunch meetings. The final objective of the Association, These seminars usually examined the Baha'i advancing the interests of the Baha'i Faith outlook on pertinent social issues. by assisting wherever possible the Universal The organization used several approaches House of Justice and National Assemblies in to promote Baha'i standards of behavior and achieving their goals, was primarily achieved ethical conduct in the business and profes- by providing the National Assembly of sional environment. First it ventured to Australia with expert opinions about aspects educate the Baha' i community on the subject of the Assembly's business dealings, such of Baha'i ethics. In 1989, at the request of as property purchases, credit unions, and the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia, comments on National Convention recomthe Association prepared and presented a mendations. The Association was also of draft paper on "Baha'i Business Ethics", assistance to the National Assemblies of the which was subsequently printed in the Aus- Pacific region, and continually responded to tralian Baha'i Bulletin. In conjunction with queries from Baha' i institutions and individuthis paper, the Association organized a public als in relation to economic and social matters .

E . THE EUROPEAN BAHA 'f BUSINESS FORUM

The European Baha'i Business Forum, a the group would evolve into a formal assonetwork of Baha ' is interested in the applica- ciation. This decision was conveyed to the tion of the Faith's principles to business and Universal House of Justice, which directed industry, and in reaching people of capacity its Department of the Secretariat to reply: in the field of commerce, was initiated at The Universal House of Justice was most a conference held in September 1990 in interested to receive your letter of 1 Oc- Chamonix, France. The twenty-four Baha'i tober 1990 and to learn of the aims of the participants from throughout Europe, the proposed European Baha'i Business Forum. United States and Canada decided to create There are undoubtedly many ways in an informal association ofBaha'is involved which such an association can be of value in business and industry, with the hope that to the Cause of God. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 477

The European Baha 'i Business Forum held its second annual conference in Paris, France Ji-om 30 August to 1September1991 .

This association, registered in France as also emphasized the role which Baha' is with a non-profit organization, provides an arena professional and business experience could for its members and for business people in play in teaching and proclamation work in general to explore ways of applying Baha'i Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. ethical and social teachings to their business In response, the Business Forum offered the activities. This is accomplished through annual abilities and expertise of its members to all conferences and by calling upon experi- the National Spiritual Assemblies working enced individuals to make presentations on with the Eastern European Countries. various topics of interest to the business Toward A New Paradigm of Managecommunity. ment, a paper exploring the shift both in the In heeding the call issued by the Universal values of business leaders and the practices House of Justice in its 1990 Ric;!van message, of management towards a standard reflectthat the time had become ripe "to embrace ing the spiritual principles and teachings of increasing numbers of people of capacity, Baha'u'llah, was presented at the annual including persons of accomplishment and conference held in 1991. Subsequently, this prominence in the various fields of human article was translated into French and disendeavour", the Forum sought ways ofreach- tributed to non-Forum members. ing outstanding managers, leaders of business During the same time, the association and industry, and economists of Europe. published, in English and French, Group During its annual conferences, Forum Decision Making and Bahti 'i Consultation, members examined the kind of support they an article concerned with assisting business could lend the European Baha' i community organizations to fulfil their goals through the in proclamation and teaching activities. medium of consultation . . They also considered how they could assist Tluáough the distribution of a regular Baha'is operating in the economic field to newsletter and a directory of its members, better understand, respect, and comply with the FoJ;Um provided a network for the the principles of the Faith in their own work. exchange of information among the Euro- At the second annual conference, held from pean Baha' i business community. 30 August to 1 September 1991 in Paris, The Forum was also successful in coun- Counsellor Patrick O'Mara encouraged the selling and informing young people about thirty friends present to develop the Forum, career opportunities in relevant fields of and to go back to their communities and link endeavor, as well as encouraging educaup with other Baha'i business people. He tional and training activities. 478 THE BAHA'I WORLD

F. THE BAHA'i JUSTICE SOCIETY 0 Son of Spirit! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes. (Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words, Arabic no. 2 [Wilmette, Baha' i Publishing Trust, 1982], p.3.)

The Baha'i Justice Society is dedicated to professional ethics and world peace through the promotion of justice in a manner consis- international law. One of the significant outtent with the principles of the Baha'i Faith. comes of this event was the completion of Formed in 1986, the Society has members the Society's charter and by-laws. throughout the United States, and affiliates Also, a scholarship was established by the in Cameroon, Canada, England, Germany, Board to encourage participation by the eco- India, Mozambique, New Guinea, New nomically disadvantaged. Initial expenditure Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, and the from the fund provided financial assistance Virgin Islands. The members of the Justice for individuals desiring, but financially unable, Society represent a diverse range of occupa- to attend Baha'i Justice Society functions. tions including judges, lawyers, teachers, The third annual meeting, at the Bosch musicians, administrators, and students. In Baha'i School in California, included such 1992, the Society's membership included speakers as Dr. Wilma Ellis, a member of one hundred and forty people. the Continental Board of Counsellors and the This agency functions under the guidance Administrator-General of the Baha'i Interof the National Assembly of the Baha'is of national Community, and members of the the United States. Its objectives are: to con- National Spiritual Assembly. Also addressing tribute to the improvement of jurisprudence, the more than one hundred participants were the world's legal systems, and the practice of former California Supreme Court Justice law; to discover, train, and encourage legal Frank Newman, professor of law at the and related talents to promote the principles University of California at Berkeley, and of justice and their application to all aspects Juana Conrad, President of Women for of human society; to promote an understand- International Peace and Arbitration. ing of the relationship between the Baba' i More than eighty participants attended Faith, jurisprudence, the administration of the fourth annual conference of the Baha'i justice, and the practice of law; to promote Justice Society, held in Atlanta, Georgia, the communication of the principles of the United States, from 9 to 11 June 1989. The Faith to justice-related institutions; to advance conference theme was "Economic Justicethe honor and dignity of the profession of Bridging the Gap between Rich and Poor". law; to promote the highest ethical and moral Topics addressed at this event were the role standards within the profession of law; and of education in economic justice; justice to promote the rule of law in the world. only through oneness; interdependence, law, The second annual meeting of the Baha'i and the international economy; and the Justice Society was held from 27 to 29 March future role of the Baha'i Justice Society. In 1987, in the shadow of the House of conjunction with the conference, a delega- Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, United States. tion of five Baha'is, headed by Judge James The conference discussion topics included Nelson, presented a copy of The Promise of INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 479 World Peace to six State and Superior Court In October 1990, five members of the Judges in the area. Society travelled to Leningrad and Kiev, Seventeen American states, as well as Russia, to participate in the first Russian Canada, Israel, Liberia, and the Virgin Baha'i Women's Forums. During this trip Islands, were represented at the fifth annual approximately twenty-five Russian friends conference of the Justice Society held in expressed interest in joining the Society. June 1990 in Illinois, United States. The pre- Presentations were made on the Baha'i sentations at this conference focused on Justice Society and the use of mediation in the theme "Advancing Toward a Just World: conflict resolution. Our Challenge for the 1990s''. Among those "Developing Baha'i Models of Dispute present at this event was Mr. Hugh Chance, Resolution" was the theme of the annual a member of the Universal House of Justice. conference and meeting held at the Mr. Chance, who practiced law prior to Los Angeles Baha'i Center in 1991. This being elected to the House of Justice, gathering featured a talk on "Preventative addressed the conference on the challenges Law" by former University of Southern facing Baha'i lawyers into the twenty-first California law professor Louis Brown. The century. Judge Dorothy Nelson, member of conference was enhanced by the presence of the United States Court of Appeals and the Mrs. Jacqueline Delahunt, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, spoke on "Jus- Continental Board of Counsellors and a tice, Peace and Professional Responsibility". native Lakota Sioux, who gave an insight on The Society presented two workshop ses- dispute resolution in other cultures. sions focusing on mediation as a technique Also in 1991, the Justice Society cofor resolving disputes at the Association for sponsored the National Conference on Baha'i Studies Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution in United States, from 9 to 11November1990. Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. The workshops, entitled "The Baha'i Justice The title of the conference was "Community Society: A Catalyst for Racial Unity", in Conflict", and its mission was "to proaddressed the efforts of the Society with mote the use and acceptance of non-violent regard to racial unity and justice. Approxi- approaches to the resolution of conflict and mately sixty people took part in each of the to improve conflict resolution theory and two ninety-minute sessions, which featured practice''. The conference attracted one a demonstration of mediation in a mock thousand attendees. A full-day workshop on community dispute. Baha'i consultation was presented.

G. THE BAHA'i ASSOCIATION FOR ARTS The day will come when the Cause will spread like wildfire when its spirit and teachings will be presented on the stage or in art and literature as a whole. Art can better awaken such noble sentiments than cold rationalizing. ... (Shoghi Effendi , quoted in Compilation of Compilations, vol. I [Mona Vale, NSW: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1991], p. 7.)

The Baha'i Association for Arts (BAFA) of this event was set aside to form the was forn1ed in August 1986 during a Peace Association. Festival held at the Landegg Academy in The goal of this Association is to gain a Switzerland. Friends from eight European greater understanding of the Baha'i view on countries gathered for workshops and talks the arts, and to provide a means for its memthat centered around the aris . An afternoon bers to encourage and support their fellow 480 THE BAHA'I WORLD

connection to the media of artists' expression, the use of time, and service to the Cause. The keynote address of this event centered on the history of the relationship between the arts and religion, and outlined the task set by Baha'u'llah for artists in this most great Day. Transformation through the love of Baha'u'llah and meditation on His Writings was the theme of Art Fornm 1991. Painters, singers, an architect, a sculptor, a poet, a film-maker, an Indian classical dancer, and a story-teller were among those who demonstrated their talents at this event. They shared stories about their personal transformation, their techniques, and the influences of the Baha'i Writings on their work. The questions of what is art and how the believ- Art Forum East, held in Bratislava, ers can use their talents to serve Baha'u'llah Czechoslovakia, in July 1991. were addressed, along with issues of personal development and service to the artists. Members receive the BAFA's news- evolving administrative order. letter four times a year, which includes news In conjunction with Art Forum 1991 , Art from the Association's board and members. Fornm East was held in Bratislava, Czecho- The most significant of the activities initi- slovakia from 23 to 28 July. More than sixty ated by the Association were the conferences people from fifteen counháies participated. on the arts. Art Fornm 1988, held in De The theme of this gathering was "Crossing Poort, Netherlands, was the first conference Borders'', and workshops were held on such of its kind which focused entirely on Baha'i topics as ethics, the ego, inspiration, and artists and their views. Participants from excellence. A great variety of artistic pre- Britain, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Iran, sentations was displayed and demonstrated Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, at the conference, including musical perforand the United States took turns showing mances, dance and drama workshops, and their work, sharing how they came upon mural exhibits. Six visual a1tists displayed their ideas, and answering questions about their work in a gallery in the center of the their presentation. In regard to this confer- city. Interviews and news about this event ence, the Universal House of Justice stated, were carried by two radio stations and two "Delighted news success first festival BAF A newspapers. As a result of this gathering, held De Poort. Gratified plans to serve goals a network for the Association for the Arts plan throughout Europe." was established in the Soviet Union, and The next Art Fornm, held in De Poort networks in France and Ge1many were in July 1990, focused on the choices Baha'i strengthened. The Association repmted that artists face. More than thirty participants, the participants left the Art Fornm East with representing five countries, attended work- a better sense of the high station that is given shops which addressed artistic choices in to the arts in the Baha'i Writings. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES

8. USE OF COMPUTERS BY THE BAHA'f COMMUNITY DURING THE SIX YEAR PLAN

adapted from an article by BRYN DEA MER AN D STEVEN KOLIN

Introduction the entire human race is able to benefit equi- When a new Dispensation begins, God tably from the advances now made possible. endows humanity with the means through As one consequence of this point of view, which civilization can give effect to the the Baha'i community, from its inception, teachings of the Revelation, by the Divine has tended to embrace technological devel- Messenger of God. opments as gifts of God and as entirely consonant with the spiritual mission of the Every word that proceedeth out of the Founder of their Faith. With respect to elecmouth of God is endowed with such tronic information technology, Shoghi Effendi potency as can instill new life into every envisioned the day when: human frame, if ye be of them that comprehend this truth. All the wondrous A mechanism of world inter-connection works ye behold in this world have been will be devised, embracing the whole manifested through the operation of His planet, freed from national hindrances and supreme and most exalted Will, His won- restrictions, and functioning with marveldrous and inflexible Purpose ... No sooner lous swiftness and perfect regularity. 2 is this resplendent word uttered, than its Initially, computer technology was animating energies, stirring within all available only to very large organizations created things, give birth to the means who could afford and could make use of the and instruments whereby such arts can be massive "main-frame" installations which produced and perfected. All the wondrous began to appear in the 1950s. By the 1970s, achievements ye now witness are the the situation had changed dramatically, so direct consequences of the Revelation of that older Baha' i communities such as those this Name. In the days to come, ye will, in the United States and Canada could begin veri ly, behold things of which ye have to employ computers to maintain membernever heard before. 1 ship records and financial information. As Baha'is see the revolutionary changes in advances in technology throughout the the fields of science and technology, during 1980s produced ever smaller and more powthe past century, as expressions of the cre- erful computers and led to dramatic price ative impulses released by the advent of two reductions, Baha'i communities throughout successive Manifestations of God, the Bab the world increasingly embraced "personal" and Baha'u'llah. The full impact of these computers as a means of meeting the needs immense new resources will be felt only as of their ever-expanding operations. society responds to the social and spiritual In a meeting in Langenhain, Germany in principles which lie at the heart of the new 1987, the assembled representatives of the Revelation and reorganizes its affairs so that European National Spiritual Assemblies were

1 2 Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahri 'u 'I/ah: Bahri 'u 'I/ah (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, Selected letters (1929-1936) (Wi lmette: Baha'i 1976), pp. 141-142. Publish ing Trust, 1974), p. 203. 482 THE BAHA'f WORLD

warmly encouraged by representatives of the he ttáaced the historic growth of telecommu- Baha'i International Community's offices to nications and compared it to the growth of give a high priority to equipping themselves the Faith, finding an almost perfect correlawith advanced information and communica- tion in numeric terms. tions technology. These efforts were given farther impetus 1988 saw the appearance of V. Mitra at an historic Baha'i telecommunications Gopaul's book Personal Computers and conference held 17 to 19 December 1983 the Baha'i Community 1 which was widely in San Fernando, California. Forty Baha'is disseminated among the growing band of from the United States and Canada attended Baha'is interested in information technol- the meeting and "fo1mulated plans designed ogy. This practical book demonstrated how to help establish the new Baha'i radio station computers could be used for a wide range in South Carolina [WLGI] and to research of activities vital to the goals of local and possible applications of existing computer national Baha'i communities: record keeping, technology to serve the Faith".4 letter production, financial tracking, statisti- Among the fruits of this conference was cal analysis, publications, and the like. the proposal to establish "a Baha' i Computer At about this same time, another major and Telecommunications Association to development began quietly in the computer monitor developments ... and to serve as a world-computers began to be programed "clearing-house" for evaluating the potential to communicate with each other without for application of new technology in service human intervention. This advancement in to the Cause of Baha'u' llah. One such aptechnology, including the ability to send plication might be setting up a computer computer messages through telephone lines, network to link Baha' is across the country in was the birth of electtáonic mail (email) an interactive conferencing system involving which has begun to have a far-reaching hundreds or even thousands of Baha'is". 5 impact on mankind . The ability of an aver- Shortly after the conference, a Core Commitage person to send a document or message tee was appointed by the National Spiritual instantly from one computer to another Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States computer anywhere in the world has opened to guide the operation of the Association. 6 entire new fields of human communication. In 1985, a statement in the Baha'i Com- Email ttáuly fits Shoghi Effendi's vision of puter and Telecommunications Committee "world inter-communication .. . freed from Newsletter read: "One of the primary goals national hindrances and restrictions .... " for the coming year ... is already becoming a reality. Very shortly all of the Baha'i admin- Use of Computer-Mediated Communica- istrative offices [in the United States] which tions by Baha'is have a computer and a telephone will have In May 1982, Sheryl and Roger Coe formed the capability to link-up to a nationwide an info1mal organization known as the Baha'i computer network which is being set Baha'i Computer Users' Association. 2 Then, up on Dialcom." 7 during the seventh Annual Conference for 3 Cassette No. RT-81, Association for Baha'i Studies the Association for Baha' i Studies held at Annual Conference, 1982, linages International, 1982. Ottawa, Canada, in September 1982, Steven 4 " San Fernando Host to Hi storic Telecommunications

Caswell gave a presentation on "Telecom- Conference," The American Balza 'i, February 1983, munications and the Baha'i Faith." 3 In this p. 1. 5 ibid. 1 6 Baha 'i Computer and Telecommunications Associa- Gopaul, V. Mitra. Personal Computers and the Balza 'i Commun ity (Los Angeles: Kalimat Press , 1988). tion Newsletter, No . 4, October 1983. 2 Baha'i Computer User's Association Newsletter, 7 Balza 'i Computer and Telecommunications Associa-

[No. I) II May 1982. tion Newsletter, No. 5, July 1985. INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 483

Students at the Tadong Baha'i School in Sikkim, India, learning to use computers as part of their regular curriculum; 1991.

By the mid-1980s the term "Baha'i-net'', WORKSHOP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR which Steven Caswell had used in his talk in HIGHER NATURE. YOU HAVE JUST CONNECTED Ottawa in 1982, was being commonly used WITH ... to describe Baha'i use of computers in vari- ***Tl-IE BAHA ' I BULLETIN BOARD ***" 1 ous forms to communicate with each other. More formally, Jennifer Tidwell started Mr. Coe's dream of being "able to associthe Bahai-Net mailing list on a computer at ate with a world-wide network of Baha' is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Baha'i institutions via computer-exsometime during 1987 or 1988. When the changing information, working on problems, World Centre acquired Internet email access and shrinking the world into a loving neighvia UUCP to the first cornn1ercial Internet borhood"2 was coming a step closer. service provider (UUnet) in 1989 (register- Mr. Coe went on to describe three other ing the domain "bwc.org") there already dreams: were more than one hundred members on • Having the entire body of the Writings the Bahai-Net mailing list and the number of the Baha'i Faith in computer-readwas steadily growing. able format. • A computer-to-satellite-to-computer net- Baha'i Discussion Groups and Bulletin work that would link us all together so Boards we could share information, libraries, The first computer bulletin board system programs, database management syscreated by a Baha'i was set up by Frank tems, etc., no matter how remote we Haendel of Colorado, USA. In the Baha'i might be from each other in physical Computer and Telecommunications Associterms. ation Newsletter, Roger Coe wrote: "The • A possibility of"on-line" consultation for other night I hooked my modem to the telescholarly and other practical research phone, dialed a number, ... watched my and investigations-including consultacomputer screen and here is what I saw ..... . tion on the repair of our computers! 3 WELCOME TO A UN IQUE BULLETIN BOARD I ibid. FOR THINKERS, SEEKERS AND EVERYONE 2 Bahfr 'i Computer Users' Association Newsletter, ELSE WHO CAN REALIZE THAT WE EXIST No. I, I I May 1982. WITHIN THE MIDST OF AN INCREDIBLE ibid. 484 THE BAHA'I WORLD

By Ri<;ivan 1992, a large body of Writings Conclusion had been typed into computers at the World By Ri<;lvan 1992-one hundred years after Centre and elsewhere, but total public access the Ascension of Baha'u'llah-the Baha'i to many of these was not yet possible. Like- community everywhere had discovered the wise Mr. Coe's visions of shared libraries, value of the rapid developments in the field databases, and the possibility of "on-line" of computer-mediated communications and consultation were not possible during the information-provision that had seemingly Six Year Plan. burst upon the world. Personal computers had become a regular feature of Baha'i life: Computers at the Baha'i World Centre their use was helping communities and The first computer at the Baha'i World Assemblies raise their level of operations Centre arrived as a kit brought to the Holy to a higher, more "professional" plane, and Land by Robert Gregory in 1977. The first produce newsletters, statistical and financial "official" World Centre computer began reports that were both more comprehensive operation in 1981. This was a DEC (Digital and easier to understand. Electronic mail Equipment Corporation) PDP 11 /34 acquired was being rapidly developed and pursued, to run the first computerized financial and networks of Baha'i discussion groups accounting system for the Baha'i Interna- were highly active and moving into areas of tional Fund. At the same time a word specialization. processing system called Lex was purchased. This use of new technologies expanded When the Seat of the Universal House of the capacity of Baha 'is, as individuals and Justice was constructed, it was wired with as communities, to acquire, access, and computers in mind. When the building was organize knowledge- a capacity fundamenoccupied in 1983, virtually all staff had tally necessary for a society such as that terminals at their desks linked to a central described in the Baha'i Writings, based on computer system. Electronic mail first universal participation both in decisionbecame possible at the World Centre in 1984 making and in contributing to the advancewith the purchase of a Vax computer. It was ment of civilization. known as "Vaxmail" and quickly gained Unification of the whole of mankind is acceptance as a way of sending and requestthe hall-mark of the stage which human ing information without the interruptions society is now approaching. Unity of caused by telephone calls. family, of tribe, of city-state, and nation In 1985, a company called Goldnet began have been successively attempted and operation in Israel, testing with selected fully established. World unity is the goal clients for one year before offering its sertowards which a harassed humanity is vice to the public. The Baha'i World Centre striving. Nation-building has come to an asked to join the program. Mailboxes were end. The anarchy inherent in state soveracquired for the Baha' i International Comeignty is moving towards a climax. A munity offices in New York and Geneva, world, growing to maturity, must abanand software developed at the World Centre don this fetish, recognize the oneness and was installed to utilize the Dialcom service in wholeness of human relationships, and a very cost-effective manner. Email was first establish once for all the machinery that used to coordinate the activities of the Baha' i can best incarnate this fundamental prin- International Community representatives to ciple of its !ife. 1 gain passage of a resolution in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights condemning the persecution ofBaha'is in Iran. 1 Shoghi Effendi. World Order, p. 202. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES

9. RELATIONS BETWEEN NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES AND GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND WITH THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL

FOR Baha'u'llah .. . has not only imbued this Divine Pattern as their point of reference mankind with a new and regenerating in submitting written statements directly Spirit. He has not merely enunciated cer- explaining the relationship between Baha'utain universal principles, or propounded ' llah 's Teachings and the challenges facing a particular philosophy, however potent, modem society. A number of national Baha' i sound and universal these may be. In communities contributed recommendations addition to these He [has]. .. clearly and to constitutional drafting committees and specifically laid down a set of Laws, es- other governmental organizations determintablished definite institutions, and provided ing policies for the future . The enthusiastic for the essentials of a Divine Economy. response shown to these suggestions was These are destined to be a pattern for future notable. Among the various activities of this society, a supreme instrument for the es- kind which took place, four examplestablishment of the Most Great Peace, and from Brazil, South Africa, Singapore, and the one agency for the unification of the the United States-are highlighted in this world, and the proclamation of the reign of section and their documents are reproduced. righteousness and justice upon the earth. 1 In the opening years of the fourth epoch of 1 Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahci áu '!!ah the Formative Age of the Faith, Baha'is used (Wilmette: Baha' i Publishing Trust, 1982), p. 19.

A. BRAZIL CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

IN April 1987, a delegation of eight the suggestions. Several of the recipients Baha'is from different parts of Brazil spent sent to the Baha'is the texts of proposed four days presenting material on the Baha'i amendments which would be of special perspective on government to the 559 con- interest to them, such as those relating to gressmen and senators in charge of writing religious liberty and promotion of the cona new constitution. Each legislator received cept of world citizenship. a folder including The Promise of World Media coverage of the Baha'i contribu- Peace, general information on the Faith, and tion was unprecedented. At least 19 daily a document called "The Baha'is and the newspapers from 17 Brazilian states printed Constitutional Assembly" which included articles; reports on 10 television programmes 20 proposals to be considered for inclusion equalled 2 hours of live broadcasts; and in the nation's new charter. The proposals 1 hour and 20 minutes of radio time on 7 difrelated to such topics as education, the rights ferent programmes was devoted to the of indigenous peoples, the rights of women, Baha'is. and international relations. More than 90 per cent of the articles pro- More than 100 cables, letters, and tele- posed by the Baha' is were included in the phone calls were received by the National final draft of the Constitution which was Spiritual Assembly expressing gratitude for voted on by the legislators. 486 THE BAHA'I WORLD

THE BAHA 'fs AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBL y •

A CONTRJBUTION TOWARD A NEW SOCIETY

I. Introduction In full awareness of the fact that the drawing up of a Constitution represents an instrument for the promulgation of a new social pact in which all the shades cif opinion within the country are represented, the Baha'i community of Brazil presents, in this document, the viewpoint of the Baha 'is as a sincere effort to contribute to the noble endeavor currently being undertaken by the National Constitutional Assembly. The Constitution, as the lex maximus of the country, is the Magna Carta where general legal principles are enshrined. It is the foundation for the nation's entire judicial system. It must reflect the emerging concern for inspiring life in society; it must mirror the sovereignty of a state of law whose most valued asset is justice, a justice which, above all else, seeks the fulfilment of the human being within the social context. Far from being a magic wand capable of extirpating all the problems of the nation, the Magna Carta should contain those cardinal principles which, while not demeaning the historical and cultural traditions of the nation, address the legitimate aspirations of the people, fu1iher economic and social development, favour a just distribution of wealth and, above all, institute mechanisms to assure the full attainment and exercise of the fundamental rights inherent to the human being. It is within this context that, with the convocation of the National Constitutional Assembly recently elected by the people to discuss and vote on the new Constitution, we are witnessing a unique moment in history replete with challenges generated by the discovery of the growing interdependence among the nations which was expressed more than a century ago in the words of the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, 1 Baha'u ' llah, that "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." 2 This thought reflects in its entirety the new stage of social organization toward which mankind is definitively headed. Within this framework, we fee l that the vision of the Constitutional Assembly must, while seeking to reflect solutions for the current needs of our people at this historical and social moment, also be a bridge to the future, envisioning the full economic, social and spiritual development of the nation, casting its light, like that of the sun, along the paths that lead us to a truly glorious future. -The Baha'i Community of Brazil * Eng li sh translation of the statement submi tted. The Baha' i Faith was founde d in Persia (now Iran), by Mirza l:Iusayn-'Ali (1 8 17- 1892), known as Baha'u ' llah (which means "the G lory of God"), W ho, in 1863, publi cly revealed Hi s d ivin e miss ion as in augurator of a new era of human civi li zation , the basic principl es and genera l teac hin gs of whi ch He outlined in more than one hundred volumes, written during the 40 years of Hi s minist1y Because of His reli gio us convictions, He was ex il ed from Iran- initially to Turkey, and subsequently to Palestine, the Ho ly Land, where He passed away, in the city of' Akka, in 1892. The Baha'i Faith is today an independent world rel igion , whi ch has fo llowers of all nationa li ties, colors, races, social classes and professions, in more than 11 6,000 loca liti es and in 340 countries and teITitori es , of which 116 are independent nati ons. Its fundamenta l prin cipl es are the oneness of God, the oneness of reli gion and the oneness of humani ty. Baha' i literature has been translated into 739 languages and dialects. Through the Baha 'i Intern ational Communi ty, one of the non -governmenta l organ izations accred ited w ith the Un ited Nations, the Baha'i Faith parti cipates, w ith consul tative status, in ECOSOC (the Economic and Soc ial Council) and UN ICEF (the Chi ldren's Fund), and officia ll y partici pates in the Environmental Program. It also coll aborates w ith the Publi c Information Office. A ll these are organs of the United Nations . Baha'u 'Jl ah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha 'u 'I/ah (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1976), p. 250. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 487 II. Some considerations on cooperation, the consultative process, justice, education, and civil authority Below, we have enumerated certain principles which we believe will be especially valuable at this unique moment in the life of the nation, in which the new Magna Carta of the country is being drawn up.

COOPERATION One of the inevitable results of the process of disintegration of the current system of world interrelationships has been the growing emphasis on competition and self-preservation. Significant sectors of public opinion, both in Brazil and abroad, are facing a crisis of confidence in the spirit of cooperation with which contemporary societies emerged from the Second World War. In today's world, the spirit of competition is assuming grave proportions; and, should it become the predominant characteristic of social behavior, it may completely undermine the entire collective effo1i toward cooperation and human relationships which represent legitimate wishes of the people for social peace, justice, and progress. We understand that the most urgent areas for the exercise of cooperation are the vital topics related to capital and labor, government and private initiative, etc.

THE PROCESS OF CONSULTATION In the current legislative system, we observe an anachronism which is incapable of responding to the challenges of the future-the political party. The system has undeniable merits, but the institutions were conceived to meet the needs of a different age. Considering the existence of political parties as one of the greatest challenges facing the system in its attempt to direct its efforts toward unity and harmony, with a view to achieving the common welfare and meeting the needs of social development-a reality which is unlikely to be changedwe believe that the most advisable thing to do would be to direct the energies of the nation toward the expansion and systematization of what we call the consultative process, or consultation. We mention the principle of consultation, particularly, because it is intrinsically linked to the functioning of our own Faith. Baha'u'llah declared that consultation and compassion together form the foundation for the stage of the maturity of humanity. Our experience with His guidance on consultation in the administration of an extraordinarily varied international community has proven so fruitful that we are compelled to summarize a few of its guiding principles: 1. All of the parties involved in a decision must have the freedom and opportunity to participate in the consultative process. 2. There must be a clear distinction between general consultation and the deliberations of the democratically-elected body which will be responsible for making a decision. 3.Every individual engaged in the consultative process must be encouraged to freely express the dictates of his own conscience. 4.Any form of partiality is prohibited. 5.All of the participants in the consultative process have a responsibility to exercise courtesy and moderation. 6. Each individual participant in the consultative process has the moral obligation to detach himself from his own contribution, which, once made, becomes the conunon property of the group. 7. Once a decision has been taken, it is a requirement that everyone- those in favor and those originally opposed- unite whole-heartedly to carry out that decision. 488 THE BAHA'i WORLD

8. Decision-making bodies have an obligation to constantly evaluate their work and, whenever necessary, to revise it.

JUSTI CE Justice, Baha 'u 'llah declared in the past century, is "the best beloved of all things" 1 in the sight of God, and represents a gift granted to man in this age, the era of his maturity.

This being a complex topic, we believe that new moral and spiritual standards are needed today to solve the intertwined economic and social problems of our planet; and these rest on one single foundation: the consciousness, on the part of each individual, of the organic oneness of mankind. We are not just citizens of our own country; we are also citizens of the whole world. We are a part of an ecosystem; but this ecosystem is derived from our inner world, which encompasses values and attitudes, which give us the capacity for understanding, will and the power to uplift the quality of physical and spiritual life of all the peoples. This conviction on the part of the individual and society of the essential oneness of the human race is now the only viable standard for economic and social justice. On it will depend the successful resolution of the problems of environment, property, population, food, health, employment, etc. In summary, this means considering the welfare of the community as one's own welfare, thinking of mankind as an individual and the individual as a member of its bodily form, and being convinced that if pain or illness aflicts any member of its body, this will inevitably bring suffering to the remainder. 2

We believe that a basic economic concern of the government should be to encourage a greater level of confidence and cooperation between capital and labor, the twin pillars on which rest the foundations of the material well being of the counhy

EDUCATION "Regard man," Baha'u'llah declared, "as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom. "3 We may also say that education is the only possession that cannot be taken away from a person. The potentialities latent in every human being need, therefore, the polishing stone of education in order to become manifest. This being the case, we wish to emphasize a few guiding principles for a new approach to education in this day: 1. The schools should stress the concept of the oneness of the human race and emphasize the importance of translating into reality the mutual interdependence of its members, leading to the unification of mankind and the establishment of world peace and stability. 2. The students should be imbued with a sense of world consciousness and of loyalty to the human race, a háanscendent loyalty that does not belittle lesser loyalties, such as those due to any particular race, creed, nation or ideology. This is a particularly urgent challenge in our increasingly multi-racial and multi-religious society. 3. The educators, in turn, should instill in their pupils from earliest childhood an awakening of love for mankind, a love capable, in the end, of abolishing all forms of racial, religious, political, social and intellectual prejudice.

Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words of Baha'u' ll ah (Wi lmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1975), p. 3. From a declaration by the Baha'i International Community entitled "One World . .. One People." Baha' u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahri 'u 'llrih, p. 259. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 489 Within this framework, centered around the concept of world citizenship, the Baha'i teachings state, "Every child must be instructed in sciences as much as is necessmy. If the parents are able to provide the expenses of this education, it is all right; othen,vise the community must provide the means for the teaching of that child. " 1

CIVIL AUTHORITY No one can fail to note the anxiety that the problems created by a disintegrating social order are causing for a steadily growing number of human beings who feel unable to protect themselves and their families. All citizens have responsibilities, too. The most important responsibility in a democratic society is submission to the will of the majority, expressed through the constitutional provisions that society has created and polished. Governments have the right to expect civil obedience. No good, but only harm, can result from the deliberate violation of civil law, or deliberate disobedience to the institutions duly constituted by the civil authority. From the Baha'i scriptures, we have selected the following texts, which, we believe, well exemplify the Baha'i thinking on this matter: "The Law must reign, and not the individual; thus will the world become a place of beauty and tJ.ue brotherhood will be realized." 2

What mankind needeth in this day is obedience unto them that are in authority, and a faithful adherence to the cord of wisdom. The instruments which are essential to the immediate protection, the security and assurance of the human race have been entrusted to the hands, and lie in the grasp, of the governors of human society. This is the wish of God and His decree .... 3

The Baha'is reaffirm their total loyalty and obedience to the new Constitution that will soon be promulgated.

III. The Baha'i Proposal We present below the text of proposed articles to be considered in the new Constitution of the country, dealing with the following important átopics: 1. Sovereignty of the law 2. Equality of all before the law 3. Abuse of power 4. Defense of human rights 5. Uplifting socially discriminated groups 6, The right of the individual to self-expression and manifestation of conscience 7. Freedom ofreligion 8. Freedom of marriage 9. Equality of rights and opportunities for men and women 10. Elimination of the extJ.áemes of wealth and poverty 11. Participation of the workers in the profits of the companies 12. Setting of a minimum wage compatible with human dignity 13. Obligatory and free education, directed toward human peace and fraternity 'Abdu'I-Baha, Foundations of World Unity (W ilmette: Baha'i Publi shing Trust, 1979), p. 3 I. 'Abdu 'l-Ba ha, Paris Talks (London : Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1972), p. 132. Baha'u'llah, exce rpt from a Tablet directed to the Kings of the Earth, in 1863 , cited in The Proclamation of Bahit'u'llith (Haifa: Baha'i World Centre, 1967), pp. 13- 14. 490 THE BAHA'I WORLD

14. Ethnic, cultural and geographical integrity of the indigenous population 15. International relations in harmony with the concept of world citizenship 16. Peaceful resolution of international conflicts 17. Abstention from participation in the arms race or support of it 18. Obligatory service to the fatherland, of a military or civilian nature 19. Obligatory rendering to the needy populations of services in the area of economic and social development 20. Asylum for foreigners persecuted with violation of human rights 21. Means of mass conmmnication

BAHA'I PROPOSALS ART ICLE: The law is sovereign and all submit to it. ARTICLE: All power emanates from the people, and must be exercised for the benefit of the people. Paragraph: It is the responsibility of the state, through the organization of the branches of government, to assure to all citizens ample conditions for the development of their phys ical, intellectual and spiritual potentialities, in a peaceful way and in a spirit of unity. ARTI CLE: The abuse of power on the part of any authority shall be punished in accordance with the law. ARTI CLE: Everyone is equal before the law without distinction of any kind, whether of sex, race, profession, social class, religion, creed, nationality, culture or political convictions. Paragraph: The state is to create instruments to guarantee the upliftment of any groups which have been discriminated against socially. Paragraph: Any discriminatory action shall be punished as a serious crime for which no bail is acceptable. ARTI CLE: The inalienable right of the individual to self-expression and manifestation of conscience is assured. ARTI CLE: Freedom of religious worship includes the right of assembly, expression, or association for religious purposes. Paragraph: In accordance with the Jaw, religious ministering shall be given to the arn1ed forces and their auxiliaries , and, in establishments of collective internment, to interested parties who solicit it directly or through their legal representatives, respecting the creed of each. Paragraph: Cemeteries shall have a secular character and shall be administered by the municipal authority; all religious faiths shall be pern1itted to practice their rituals in them. Paragraph : In accordance with the law, religious organizations may maintain private cemeteries. ARTI CLE: Freedom of marriage is assured, without any restriction as to the race, nationality or religion of the spouses. The law establishes the equality of rights and duties between the couple during the marriage and after its dissolution, should such occur. Paragraph: Weddings shall be civil, and their celebration free of charge. Religious weddings, of any denomination, are equivalent to civil ceremonies provided that the act is inscribed in the Public Register upon request of the celebrant or of any interested party, and that the requirements and prohibitions of the Jaw are observed. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 491 Paragraph: The religious wedding celebrated without the formalities of the preceding paragraph shall have civil standing ifthe couple's application is inscribed in the Public Register through prior arrangement before the proper authority. ARTICLE: Equality of rights and opportunities between men and women is assured in all human relationships and in all elective, adminisháative, and decision-making processes of society. ARTI CLE: It is the duty of the state to promote the elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty, through mechanisms of taxation and distribution of wealth, in accordance with the law. Paragraph: The participation of the workers in the profits of the companies is assured. Paragraph: A minimum wage capable of providing the worker and his family with dignity in meeting their basic needs for food, shelter, health, education, transportation, clothing and leisure is assured. ARTI CLE: Education shall be inspired and conducted under the aegis of the following principles: a) The basic objective of education is to release the potentialities existing in each individual, and at the same time to eradicate prejudices of race, creed, class, nationality, and sex. b) Education is obligatory and is the right of everyone. c) The state must provide free schooling for everyone between 6 and 14 years of age. d) Public education shall always be free of charge, and private schooling shall be treated as a concession by the state to private initiative, in accordance with the law. e) Religious instruction shall be optional; and, when offered, the inclusion of a complementary vision of universal religious expression shall be obligatory. f) Instruction shall promote an education directed toward the ideals of peace and human fraternity . ARTI CLE: The ethnic, cultural and geographical integrity of the indigenous population within the national territory is assured and protected by law. Paragraph: It is the duty of the state to assure indigenous peoples access to education as a means of appreciation and preservation of indigenous culture, customs and háaditions making possible the unfolding of their potentialities. Paragraph: The education of the indigenous peoples is also to be offered in their native language. ART ICLE: In its international relations, the executive branch shall, ad referendum by the National Congress, a) Promote, among all the countries of the international community, the concept of world citizenship, laying the foundations of a new world order in the economic, social and political fields. b) Promote and support the unconditional defense of the fundamental rights inherent to the human person. c) Defend peace; the employment of force is permitted only in case of external aggression. d) Promote the interchange of the technological discoveries of the scientific and cultural heritage of humanity. 492 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

e) Resolve international conflicts through direct negotiation, arbitration and other peaceful means, with the mediation of international organizations recognized by the international community. ARTICLE: The maintenance of diplomatic, commercial and cultural relations with countries which, as acknowledged by international organizations, violate the fundamental rights of the human person, principally by virtue of discrimination by sex, race or religious creed, and utilize tenorism or torture, is prohibited. ARTICLE: In the event of war between countries with which Brazil maintains diplomatic relations, it is up to the Brazilian State to take the initiative to propose a peaceful solution to the conflict. Should the conflict persist, Brazil shall participate in the international forces of intervention to assure the re-establishment of peace. ARTICLE: Brazil shall not involve itself in an arms race of any kind or nature. Paragraph: It is the responsibility of the federa l government to authorize and monitor the production and sale of war materiel, for the exclusive use of the armed forces, in their function of defense of the fatherland, within the national tenitory. ARTICLE: All Brazilians are obliged to render service to the fatherland; this service may be civil or military, in accordance with the law. ARTICLE: The rendering of services with a view to the economic and social development of needy populations, by citizens who have recently graduated from programs of higher education, is obligatory, within the conditions established by the law. ARTICLE: Brazil shall grant asylum to any foreigner whose fundamental liberties, as defined in the Constitution, were violated, especially if by reason of his political, religious or philosophical activities and/or convictions. ARTICLE: The representatives of the mass media have a fundamental commitment to truth, and are to express themselves in a free and impartial manner; all manipulation by public or private interests is forbidden. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 493

B. SOUTH AFRICA: VIEWS SUBMITTED ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

ON 21 January 199 1, a delegation com- History of the Bahti 'i Faith in South Africa, posed of three members of the National 1911-1989 were presented. Spiritual Assembly of South Africa and a Judge Olivier was deeply impressed, indimember of the Local Spiritual Assembly of cating that the Baha'is were the one organi- Pretoria met with Judge P.M. Olivier at the zation that had so far spoken of moral and South African Law Commission in Pretoria spiritual foundations for the constitution. He to present materials explaining the Baha'i requested more Baha'i Writings so that he perspective on a new constitution for the could add another chapter to his proposal to country. A covering letter, a statement of the government regarding this aspect of the principles, a compilation of extracts from the constitution. Baha'i Writings bearing on the issues facing The following is the complete text of the South Africa, and the book A Pictorial submission:

To the Constitutional Commission, South Africa

Dear Sirs,

The Baha'i conununity of South Africa is grateful for the opportunity to offer its views in the drafting of a new Constitution for our country. We hope that the attached document, "Some thoughts for the drafting of a Constitution for South Africa", based on principles set out in the scriptures of our Faith, will prove a useful contribution to this urgent national endeavour. These same principles have animated the development of the Baba 'i conmmnity of South Africa ever since its inception eighty years ago. A good deal of the optimism we feel about the ability of the people of South Africa eventually to build in this favoured land a just and unified society arises from the confirmations which have met our efforts to realize these spiritual and social ideals in the life of our own community. If our experience can serve to reinforce a sense of confidence in the eventual outcome of the long struggle in which our nation is engaged, we would be honoured to share it, too, with those whose task it is to create the constitutional framework for the process. In no sense does South Africa stand alone. The forces that are welding humanity into one family and our globe into a common homeland challenge all peoples and all of the cultural and political assumptions of the past. In such a world, the solutions we achieve here in South Africa can have influence far beyond our borders. Please be assured of the ardent prayers of South Africa's Baha'is for the success of the historic task you have undertaken.

Sincerely,

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of South Africa 494 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Some Thoughts for the Drafting of a Constitution for South Africa Human beings have been endowed by Divine Providence with immeasurable qualities of spirit and mind without discrimination as to sex, race or nationality. The progressive unfoldment of the potentialities inherent in these qualities enables the human race to fulfil its purpose in carrying forward an ever advancing civilization. This is confirmed by the record of continuous development of human society as it has traversed the successive stages of its evolution from the emergence of the family as society's basic corporate entity to the unity of tribe, of city-state and of nation. Now, the world with its myriad peoples and cultures, and through the rapid advances in scientific discovery, has suddenly contracted into a neighbourhood, affirming that the path of its social evolution leads ultimately to global unity, implying the essential oneness and wholeness of human relationships, and thus requiring, at this stage of social maturity, that every unit of society, whether at the local, regional or national level, of which this neighbourhood is composed, adopt a world-embracing vision. To ensure the orderly continuity of social life on the planet and to encourage the collective realization of humanity' s latent endowments, governments are formed, maintaining their authority and capacity to canalize the flow of civilization by upholding the principles of justice. Fundamental to all progress in human affairs is man's right to a just government. Sensible of this broad context in which its destiny must be shaped, fully conscious of the remarkable opportunity which Providence has bestowed upon it at this ripe time in human history, and confident of the positive influence which a fitting response to the challenges facing it can exert at home and abroad, South Africa must attend to these requisites in its consideration of the provisions of a new constitution. • Ensure the peace, freedom, well-being, tranquillity and advancement of all persons under its jurisdiction, regardless of race, class, creed or economic condition. • Safeguard the personal rights, freedom and initiative of individuals. • Include among the specific rights guaranteed to all citizens: the right to a basic education, the right to work and free choice of employment, the right to freedom of movement and residence, the right to assemble peacefully, the right to freedom of association with people of all backgrounds. • Devise a system of government which will maintain a balance between centralized national or federal authority, on the one hand, and decentralized regional or local authority, on the other; which allows a wide latitude for autonomous action at the local level; which adheres to the practice of consultation as the basis of decision-making; which provides mechanisms for acquainting the government with the condition of the people in all areas-mechanisms that will encourage the freedom of the people to express their opinions for the good of the country and to air their grievances with impunity. • Safeguard the stability of society at its primary source by promoting the well-being and solidarity of the family. • Strengthen the fabric of society by promoting recognition of the equal rights of men and women. • Guarantee education for all, and attend to the necessity of educating girls and women, who are the first educators of children, giving primacy to this if for some compelling reason a choice has to be made between the sexes in providing education. • Foster development of the sciences and the arts, and provide for the stimulation of interest in these essential pursuits of civilized life at all levels of society. • Regulate the economic life of the country in such a way as to prevent destitution, on the one hand, and gross accumulation of ownership, on the other; and while promoting INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 495 advancement in industrial development, maintain the primacy of agriculture, which is vital to the well-being of society. • Protect the natural resources from misuse, thereby aiming to preserve the fitness of the environment, while at the same time permitting the sources of raw material to be tapped for the economic benefit of the country. • Guarantee free choice in religious faith and practice, for the fear of God is conducive to the up building of the moral character of a people, a prerequisite of social stability, which cannot be guaranteed only by the enactment of civil laws. • Adopt a language to serve as the common vehicle of communications among the entire people; teach it in the schools along with the mother tongue in each region. • Collaborate with international efforts to secure the peaceful progress of the entire human race.

Excerpts from the Baha'i Writings that Bear on Constitutional Issues Facing South Africa

GOVERNMENT 1. The world of politics is like the world of man; he is seed at first, and then passes by degrees to the condition of embryo and foetus, acquiring a bone structure, being clothed with flesh, taking on his own special form, until at last he reaches the plane where he can befittingly fulfil the words: "the most excellent of Makers." Just as this is a requirement of creation and is based on the universal Wisdom, the political world in the same way cannot instantaneously evolve from the nadir- of defectiveness to the zenith of rightness and perfection. Rather, qualified individuals must strive by day and by night, using all those means which will conduce to progress, until the government and the people develop along every line from day to day and even from moment to moment. 1 2. While the setting up of parliaments, the organizing of assemblies of consultation, constitutes the very foundation and bedrock of government, there are several essential requirements which these institutions must fulfil. First, the elected members must be righteous, God-fearing, high-minded, incorruptible. Second, they must be fully cognizant, in every particular, of the laws of God, informed as to the highest principles of law, versed in the rules which govern the management of internal affairs and the conduct of foreign relations, skilled in the useful arts of civilization, and content with their lawful emoluments. 2 3. It is obvious that not until the people are educated, not until public opinion is rightly focussed, not until government officials, even minor ones, are free from even the least remnant of conuption, can the country be properly administered. Not until discipline, order and good government reach the degree where an individual, even if he should put forth his utmost efforts to do so, would still find himself unable to deviate by so much as a hair 's breadth from righteousness, can the desired reforms be regarded as fully established. 3 4. There must be special laws made, dealing with these extremes of riches and of want. The members of the Government should consider the laws of God when they are framing plans for the ruling of the people. The general rights of mankind must be guarded and preserved.

'Abdu ' I-Baha , Th e Secret of Divine Civilization (Wi lmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1983), p.107. ibid. , p. 17. ibid., p. 16. 496 THE BAHA'i WORLD

The government of the countries should conform to the Divine Law which gives equal justice to all. This is the only way in which the deplorable superfluity of great wealth and miserable, demoralizing, degrading poverty can be abolished. Not until this is done will the Law of God be obeyed. 1

ONENESS OF HUMANKIND 5. That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens. 2 6. The Great Being saith: 0 ye children of men! The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity. This is the straight Path, the fixed and immovable foundation. Whatsoever is raised on this foundation, the changes and chances of the world can never impair its strength, nor will the revolution of countless centuries undermine its structure .... 3

PEACE 7. True civilization will unfurl its banner in the midmost heart of the world whenever acertain number of its distinguished and high-minded sovereigns- the shining exemplars of devotion and determination-shall, for the good and happiness of all mankind, arise, with firm resolve and clear vision, to establish the Cause of Universal Peace. They must make the Cause of Peace the object of general consultation, and seek by every means in their power to establish a Union of the nations of the world. They must conclude a binding treaty and establish a covenant, the provisions of which shall be sound, inviolable and definite. They must proclaim it to all the world and obtain for it the sanction of all the human race. This supreme and noble undertaking-the real source of the peace and well-being of all the world-should be regarded as sacred by all that dwell on earth. All the forces of humanity must be mobilized to ensure the stability and permanence of this Most Great Covenant. In this all-embracing Pact the limits and frontiers of each and every nation should be clearly fixed, the principles underlying the relations of governments towards one another definitely laid down, and all international agreements and obligations ascertained. In like manner, the size of the armaments of every government should be strictly limited, for if the preparations for war and the military forces of any nation should be allowed to increase, they will arouse the suspicion of others. The fundamental principle underlying this solemn Pact should be so fixed that if any government later violate any one of its provisions, all the governments on earth should arise to reduce it to utter submission, nay the human race as a whole should resolve, with every power at its disposal, to destroy that government. Should this greatest of all remedies be applied to the sick body of the world, it will assuredly recover from its ills and will remain eternally safe and secure. 4

'Abdu'l-Bah:i, Paris Talks: Addresses given by 'Abdu '/-Bahn in Paris in 1911- 1912 (London: Baha'i Publishin g Trust, 1979), p. 153 . Tablets of Bahtl 'u 'I/ah Revealed afler the Kitab-i-Aqdas (Haifa: Baha'i World Centre, 1982), p. 167. Gleanings from th e Writings of Bah a '11 '//ah (Wilmette: Baha' i Publishing Trust, 1984), p. 2 15. The Secret of Divine Civilization, pp. 64-65. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' i ACT IVITIES 497 EDUCATION 8. [A] requirement of perfection is to arise with complete sincerity and purity of purpose to educate the masses: to exert the utmost effort to instruct them in the various branches of learning and useful sciences, to encourage the development of modem progress, to widen the scope of commerce, industry and the arts, to further such measures as will increase the people' s wealth. For the mass of the population is uninfo1TI1ed as to these vital agencies which would constitute an immediate remedy for society's chronic ills. I 9. ... Arts, crafts and sciences uplift the world of being, and are conducive to its exaltation. Knowledge is as wings to man's life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone. The knowledge of such sciences, however, should be acquired as can profit the peoples of the earth, and not those which begin with words and end with words .... In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for man, and a source of glory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and gladness unto hin1. Happy the man that cleaveth unto it, and woe betide the heedless. 2 10. The education and tráaining of children is among the most meritorious acts of humankind and draweth down the grace and favour of the All-Merciful, for education is the indispensable foundation of all human excellence and alloweth man to work his way to the heights of abiding glory. If a child be trained from his infancy, he will, through the loving care of the Holy Gardener, drink in the crystal waters of the spirit and of knowledge, like a young tree amid the rilling brooks. And certainly he will gather to himself the bright rays of the Sun of Truth, and through its light and heat will grow ever fresh and fair in the garden of life .... Every child is potentially the light of the world-and at the same time its darkness ; wherefore must the question of education be accounted as of primary importance. From his infancy, the child must be nursed at the breast of God's love, and nurtured in the embrace of His knowledge, that he may radiate light, grow in spirituality, be filled with wisdom and learning, and take on the characteristics of the angelic host. 3

CONSULTATION 11. Consultation bestoweth greater awareness and transmuteth conjecture into certitude. It is a shining light which, in a dark world, leadeth the way and guideth. For everything there is and will continue to be a station of perfection and maturity. The maturity of the gift of understanding is made manifest through consultation. 4 12. In all things it is necessary to consult. This matter should be forcibly stráessed by thee, so that consultation may be observed by all. The intent of what hath been revealed from the Pen of the Most High is that consultation may be fully canied out among the friends , inasmuch as it is and will always be a cause of awareness and of awakening and a source of good and well-being. 5 13 ... .The first condition is absolute love and harmony amongst the members of the assembly. They must be wholly freed from estrangement and must manifest in themselves the Unity of God, for they are the waves of one sea, the drops of one river, the stars of one heaven, the rays of one sun, the trees of one orchard, the flowers of one garden. Should

Th e Secret ofDivine Civilization, p. 39. Baha'u' ll ah, Epistle to the So n of the Wolf (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishin g Trust, 1979), pp . 26-27. ' Abdu' l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu '1-Bahiz (Haifa: Baha' i World Centre, 1982), pp. 129- 131. Baha' u' ll ah , quoted in Consultation: A Compilation, prepared by the Research Department at the Baha'i World Centre, p. 1. ibid. , p. 1. 498 THE BAHA'I WORLD

harmony of thought and absolute unity be non-existent, that gathering shall be dispersed and that assembly be brought to naught. The second condition: they must when coming together tum their faces to the Kingdom on High and ask aid from the Realm of Glory. They must then proceed with the utmost devotion, courtesy, dignity, care and moderation to express their views. They must in every matter search out the truth and not insist upon their own opinion, for stubbornness and persistence in one 's views will lead ultimately to discord and wrangling and the ttuth will remain hidden. The honoured members must with all freedom express their own thoughts, and it is in no wise permissible for one to belittle the thought of another, nay, he must with moderation set forth the truth, and should differences of opinion arise a majority of voices must prevail, and all must obey and submit to the majority. It is again not permitted that any one of the honoured members object to or censure, whether in or out of the meeting, any decision arrived at previously though that decision be not right, for such criticism would prevent any decision from being enforced. In short, whatsoever thing is arranged in harmony and with love and purity of motive, its result is light, and should the least trace of estrangement prevail the result shall be darkness upon darkness .... If this be so regarded, that assembly shall be of God, but otherwise it shall lead to coolness and alienation that proceed from the Evil One .... Should they endeavour to fulfil these conditions the Grace of the Holy Spirit shall be vouchsafed unto them, and that assembly shall become the centre of the Divine blessings, the hosts of Divine confirmation shall come to their aid, and they shall day by day receive a new effusion of Spirit. 1

TH E RO LE OF RELIGION 14. 0 contending peoples and kindreds of the earth! Set your faces towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you. Gather ye together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out whatever is the source of contention amongst you ... . There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed. All of them, except a few which are the outcome of human perversity, were ordained of God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose. Arise and, armed with the power of faith, shatter to pieces the gods of your vain imaginings, the sowers of dissension amongst you. Cleave unto that which d.raweth you together and uniteth you .... 2 15. Universal benefits derive from the grace of the Divine religions, for they lead their ttáue followers to sincerity of intent, to high purpose, to purity and spotless honor, to surpassing kindness and compassion, to the keeping of their covenants when they have covenanted, to concern for the rights of others, to liberality, to justice in every aspect of life, to humanity and philanthropy, to valor and to unflagging efforts in the service of mankind . It is religion, to sum up, which produces all human virtues, and it is these virtues which are the bright candles of civilization .... 3

'A bdu ' l-Baha, c ited in a letter dated 5 March 1922 written by Shoghi Effendi to the Baha ' is of the United States and Canad a, pub li shed in Bahn 'i Administration: Selected Messages 1922- 1932 , pp. 22- 23. Baha ' u' ll ah, Gleanings from the Writings of Ba/iii 'u '//ah , p. 217. Th e Secret of Divine Civilization , p. 98. INT ERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' i ACTIVITIES 499 WOM EN 16. Woman's lack of progress and proficiency has been due to her need of equal education and opportunity. Had she been allowed this equality, there is no doubt she would be the counterpart of man in ability and capacity. The happiness of mankind will be realized when women and men coordinate and advance equally, for each is the complement and helpmeet of the other. 1 17. Divine Justice demands that the rights of both sexes should be equally respected since neither is superior to the other in the eyes of Heaven. Dignity before God depends, not on sex, but on purity and luminosity of heart. Human virtues belong equally to all! 2 18. The world in the past has been ruled by force, and man has dominated over woman by reason of his more forceful and aggressive qualities both of body and mind. But the balance is already shifting; force is losing its dominance, and mental alertness, intuition, and the spiritual qualities of love and service, in which woman is strong, are gaining ascendancy. Hence the new age will be an age less masculine and more pem1eated with the feminine ideals, or, to speak more exactly, will be an age in which the masculine and feminine elements of civilization will be more evenly balanced. 3

F A MILY LIFE 19. According to the teachings of Baha'u'llah the family, being a human unit, must be educated according to the rules of sanctity. All the virtues must be taught the family. The integrity of the family bond must be constantly considered, and the rights of the individual members must not be transgressed. The rights of the son, the father, the mother-none of them must be transgressed, none of them must be arbitrary. Just as the son has certain obligations to his father, the father, likewise, has certain obligations to his son. The mother, the sister and other members of the household have their certain prerogatives. All these rights and prerogatives must be conserved, yet the unity of the family must be sustained. The injury of one shall be considered the injury of all; the comfort of each, the comfort of all; the honor of one, the honor of all. 4

'Abdu' l-Baha, The Promulgation of Uni versal Peace, Talks Delivered by 'A bdu ' l-Baha during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912 (Wi lmette: Baha' i Publishing Trust, 1982), p. 182. Paris Talks: Addresses given by 'Abdu'/-Balui in Paris in 1911- 1912, p. 162. 'Abdu ' l-Baha, c ited in J . E. Ess lemont, Bahit 'u '//Ith and the Ne w Era (Wi lmette: Baha' i Publishing Trust, I 987), p. I 49. The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 168 . 500 THE BAHA'I WORLD

C. SINGAPORE: STATEMENT ON THE NATIONAL IDEOLOGY

WHEN the Government of Singapore approval from the Universal House of Jusinvited individuals and groups to submit tice, the Spiritual Assembly submitted the ideas that would help them form a set of Statement to the Office of the First Deputy "core values" to take the nation along the Prime Minister, which was responsible for path of progress into the twenty-first cen- this issue, and to all 82 members of the tury, the Spiritual Assembly of the Baba'is Parliament of Singapore. of Singapore prepared a "Statement on the National Ideology". In 1990, after receiving The following is the text of the statement.

Statement on the National Ideology

PREAMBLE Singapore is a nation of many remarkable achievements. Despite its brief history, a dramatic economic expansion has resulted from the collaboration between a vigilant and responsible government and an enterp1ising population. Progress in such areas as housing, education, transportation, and communication can be traced to this same fortunate combination. Singapore society, with citizens who come from diverse racial, cultural and religious backgrounds, is in many respects, a microcosm of the world. Despite their differences Singaporese live together in prosperity and harmony, reflective of the essential oneness of humankind. We now stand together on the threshold of the last decade of this century, facing not only dazzling prospects, but also great challenges. The winds of change blow here as everywhere. There are trends in the world and our country which, if not effectively countered, have the potential to unde1mine the achievements that have been so painstakingly gained. Such trends include deepening materialism, the disintegration of the family, and religious and racial intolerance. Such trends are profoundly divisive to the unity on which our prosperity rests. Consequently, the Baha'i community of Singapore welcomes the decision of the Government of our country to consult the various segments of society on the principles that should govern our collective life. Singapore has a wealth of scholarly and professional expertise upon which such a study can draw. We will content ourselves with offering certain spiritual and moral principles that derive from the Teachings of our Faith and that have been central to the unity and progress ofBaba ' is everywhere.

CORE ELEMEN TS We humbly put forward these values: a. Balance-embracing moderation, understanding and fairness. b. Preservation of family unit. c. Fostering the spirit of co-operation. d. Consultation-applied to all facets of decision-making. e. Social and economic justice. f. Unity in diversity . a. Balance: Balance is an important and fundamental concept that every individual shall strive to embrace. Inherent in this concept are the virtues of moderation, understanding, and fairness which should be inculcated at a very early stage of an individual ' s education. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' f ACTIVITIES 501 This comes from the belief that "whatsoever passeth beyond the limits of moderation will cease to exert a beneficial influence". b. Preservation of family unit: The foundation stone of every human society is the family unit. The family home, as a fortress for well-being, is the nucleus for the education and inculcation of values and virtues. Filial piety is one of these virtues which is slowly being eroded in the name of progress and in the face of materialistic influences . According to the Baha'i Writings: "The family being a human unit must be educated according to the rules of sanctity. All the virtues must be taught in the family. The integrity of the family bond must be constantly considered and the rights of the individual members must not be transgressed." c. Fostering the spirit of co-operation: The hallmark of the maturity of the individual is the extent to which he is able to go beyond self and extend the spirit of co-operation to society at large. "All progress is the result of association and co-operation." Without co-operation, development and progress of society will be impossible. To the extent that we can imbue each and every individual with this quality will depend the advancement and growth of our society. d. Consultation-applied to all facets of life: The art of consultation is the method that enables thoughts to combine and to evolve beyond the limitations of individuals. "Take ye counsel together in all matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding." Only when this principle is applied to all aspects of our lives will society be able to soar higher than ever imagined before. Consultation is the art of seeking truth through frank and thorough presentation of dissenting ideas. "The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions." The very attempt to achieve harmony through consultative action can release such a salutary spirit among the peoples of the nation that no power could resist the final triumphal outcome. e. Social and Economic Justice: Justice, as declared in the Baha'i Writings, is "the best beloved of all things" in the sight of God and represents God's freely given gift to man in this, the age of his maturity. In the decades since this was written, justice has become the touchstone with which every proposal for social and economic change is tested. Those societies which are best organized to serve as vehicles of this divine gift are the ones who will ultimately succeed. The importance of adopting social and economic justice as a core value becomes apparent when the topics of emancipation of women, care for the elderly, education for all and equal opportunities for everyone are considered. f Unity in diversity: This is the crowning value of the proposed group because it brings all the other values to fruition. Tluáough balance, individuals are transformed. The upholding of the structure of the family provides a solid foundation for the individual to step into the society. Consultation consolidates myriad ideas within the society into one relative tluth. Social and economic justice provides the means for the society to prosper. And finally, unity in diversity is the cohesive force behind a unified nation. In the eyes of the Almighty we are "the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch". Once the weighty load of prejudice is shed from the shoulders of a nation, the spectacular rewards of co-operation in the light of unity become obvious. 502 THE BAHA'I WORLD

CONCLUSION With the adoption of an appropriate set of core values, we are confident that this nation will become a beacon of light within this region and beyond. In addition, we put forward the following for consideration: ultimately the national ideology cannot be limited to the national boundaries. Nations are now bound and interlinked to other nations. The national ideology must foster peace and growth not just within the nation but also to the rest of the world itself. We, as representatives of the Baha'i community in Singapore, would like to thank the Government for the opportunity to express our views on such an important exercise and we stand ready to present them in person, if so required.

D . UNITED STATES: STATEMENT ON RACE UNITY

IN June 1991, the National Spiritual Assem- the public on Baha' i approaches to the subbly of the United States published a statement ject. Nearly 200,000 copies were sold before to define and present Baha'i solutions to the the end of the Six Year Plan and presentaproblems borne of the racism plaguing the tions were made to members of vi1tually nation. The Vision of Race Unity-Amer- every segment of American society. ica 's Most Challenging Issue became the centerpiece of a special campaign to educate The following is the text of the statement.

The Vision of Race Unity-America's Most Challenging Issue Racism is the most challenging issue confronting America. A nation whose ancestiy includes every people on earth, whose motto is e pluribus unum, whose ideals of freedom under law have inspired mill ions throughout the world, cannot continue to harbor prejudice against any racial or etlmic group without betraying itself. Racism is an affront to human dignity, a cause of hatred and division, a disease that devastates society. Notwithstanding the efforts already expended for its elin1ination, racism continues to work its evil upon this nation. Progress toward tolerance, mutual respect, and unity has been painfully slow and marked with repeated setbacks. The recent resurgence of divisive racial attitudes, the increased number of racial incidents, and the deepening despair of minorities and the poor make the need for solutions ever more pressing and urgent. To ignore the problem is to expose the country to physical, moral and spiritual danger. Aware of the magnitude and the urgency of the issue, we, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, speaking for the entire U.S. Baha'i community, appeal to all people of goodwill to arise without further delay to resolve the fundamental social problem of this country. We do so because of our feeling of shared responsibility, because of the global experience of the Baha'i community in affecting racial harmony within itself, and because of the vision that the sacred scriptures of our Faith convey of the destiny of America.

The oneness of humanity is the pivot round which revolve all the teachings of the Baha' i Faith. It is at once a statement of principle and an assertion of the ultimate goal of human experience on the planet. More than a century ago, Baha 'u 'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 503 Baha'i Faith, wrote: "The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established." It is a principle that issues naturally from the genesis and purpose of human existence. The Word of God as presented in the Baha'i writings offers compelling insights as in the following examples :

Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity ofMy essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.

Know ye not why We created you all Ji-om the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, 0 concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory.

All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. The Almighty beareth Me witness: To act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man. Those virtues that befit his dignity are forbearance, mercy, compassion and loving-kindness towards all the peoples and kindreds of the earth.

Having gone through the stages of infancy and turbulent adolescence, humanity is now approaching maturity, a stage that will witness "the reconstruction and demilitarization of the whole civilized world-a world organically unified in all the essential aspects of its life." In no other country is the promise of organic unity more immediately demonstrable than in the United States because this country is a microcosm of the diverse populations of the earth. Yet this promise remains largely unrealized even here because of the endemic racism that, like a cancer, is conoding the vitals of the nation. For too much of its history and in so many places the human race has squandered its energy and resources in futile efforts to prove the unprovable: that one portion of itself, because of separation by geography, a difference in skin color, or the diversity of cultural expression, is intrinsically distinct from another portion. The ignorance and prejudice on which such efforts are founded have led to endless conflicts in the name of the sanctity of tribe, race, class, nation, and religion. Paradoxical as it may seem, in the consistency of these negative efforts across the spectrum of the race, humanity has proved the exact opposite: it has affirmed its oneness. The proof is in the fact that, given the same circumstances, all people, regardless of ethnic or cultural variety, behave essentially the same way. In the futility of its efforts to classify and separate its diverse elements, humanity has become disoriented and confused. Unaided by the divine influence of religion, people are incapable of achieving a proper orientation to their innermost reality and purpose and are thus unable to achieve a coherent vision of their destiny. It is in this respect that the Baha ' is find relevancy, direction, and fulfillment in the teachings ofBaha'u'llah, the Founder of their Faith. The oneness of humanity is a spiritual truth abundantly confirmed by science. Recognition of this truth compels the abandonment of all prejudices of race, color, creed, nation, and class-of "everything which enables people to consider themselves superior to others." The principle of the oneness of humankind" is no mere outburst of ignorant emotionalism or an 504 THE BAHA'i WORLD

expression of vague and pious hope .... It does not constitute merely the enunciation of an ideal.... It implies an organic change in the structure of present-day society, a change such as the world has not yet experienced."

II The application of the spiritual principle of the oneness of humanity to the life of the nation would necessitate and make possible vast changes in the economic status of the non-white segments of the population. Although poverty afflicts members of all races its victims tend to be largely people of color. Prejudice and discrimination have created a disparity in the standards of living, providing some with excessive economic advantage while denying others the bare necessities for leading healthy and dignified lives. Poor housing, deficient diet, inadequate health care, insufficient education are consequences of poverty that afflict African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanic Americans more than they afflict the rest of the population. The cost to society at large is heavy. Evidence of the negative effect of racial and ethnic conflict on the economy has prompted a number of businesses and corporations to institute educational programs that teach conflict resolution and are designed to eliminate racial and ethnic tensions from the workplace. These are important steps and should be encouraged. If, however, they are intended primarily to save the economy, no enduring solution will be found to the disastrous consequences of racism. For it cannot suffice to offer academic education and jobs to people while at the same time shutting them out because of racial prejudice from normal social intercourse based on brotherly love and mutual respect. The fundamental solution- the one that will reduce violence, regenerate and focus the intellectual and moral energy of minorities, and make them partners in the construction of a progressive society- rests ultimately on the common recognition of the oneness of humankind. It is entirely human to fail ifthat which is the most important to people 's self-perception is denied them- namely, the dignity they derive from a genuine regard by others for their stature as human beings. No educational, economic, or political plan can take the place of this essential human need; it is not a need that businesses and schools, or even governments, can provide in isolation from the supportive attitude of society as a whole. Such an attitude needs to be grounded in a spiritual and moral truth that all acknowledge and accept as their own and that, like the oxygen that serves all equally, breathes life into their common effort to live in unity and peace. Absence of the genuine regard for others fostered by such truth causes hopelessness in those discriminated against; and in a state of hopelessness , people lose the coherent moral powers to realize their potential. This vitalizing truth, we are convinced, is summarized in the phrase: the oneness of humankind. So essential is the principle of the oneness of humanity to the efficacy of educational programs that it cannot be overemphasized. Without its broad influence such programs will not contribute significantly to the development of society. The very fact that businesses are themselves implementing educational programs is indicative of the glaring deficiency of the entire educational system. As we have already said, beyond the mechanisms of education lies the essential prerequisite of a proper attitude on the part of those dispensing curricula and, even more important, on the part of society as a whole. On this basis, education is not only the shortest route out of poverty; it is the shortest route out of prejudice as well. A national program of education, emphasizing the values of tolerance, brotherhood, appreciation for cultures other than one 's own, and respect for differences would be a most in1portant step toward the elimination of racism and, as a consequence, the bolstering of the economy. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 505

III The persistent neglect by the governing bodies and the masses of the American people of the ravages of racism jeopardizes both the internal order and the national security of the country. From the day it was born the United States embraced a set of contradictory values. The founding fathers proclaimed their devotion to the highest principles of equality and justice yet enshrined slavery in the Constitution. Slavery poisoned the mind and heart of the nation and would not be abolished without a bloody civil war that nearly destroyed the young republic. The evil consequences of slavery are still visible in this land. They continue to affect the behavior of both Black and White Americans and prevent the healing of old wounds. Healing the wounds and building a society in which people of diverse backgrounds live as members of one family are the most pressing issues confronting America today. Her peace, her prosperity, and even her standing in the international community depend to a great extent on the resolution of this issue. That the virulence of the race issue in America attracts the attention of the entire world should spur this country to an unprecedented effort to eliminate every vestige of prejudice and discrimination from her midst. America's example could not fail to have a profound influence on world society nor could it fail to assist the establishment of universal peace. "For the accomplishment of unity between the colored and white," the Baha 'i writings proclaim, "will be a cause of the world's peace." The responsibility for the achievement of racial peace and unity in the United States rests upon both Black and White Americans. To build a society in which the rights of all its members are respected and guaranteed, both races must be animated with the spirit of optimism and faith in the eventual realization of their highest aspirations. Neither Black nor White Americans should assume that the responsibility for the elimination of prejudice and of its effects belongs exclusively to the other. Both must recognize that unity is essential for their common survival. Both must recognize that there is only one human species. Both must recognize that a harmoniously functioning society that permits the full expression of the potential of all persons can resolve the social and economic problems now confounding a society wracked with disunity. It is evident that both Black and White Americans in large numbers are feeling deeply disappointed and frustráated by what each group perceives to be a failure of the efforts in recent decades at affecting progress in the relations between the races. To rationalize this failure, both have been reacting by retreating to the more familiar ground of racial separation. As the problems with crime and drug addiction mount, the tendency is to use the seeming intractability of these problems as a measure of the failure of years of struggle on the part of both to overcome the barriers of centuries. Formidable as is the challenge yet to be met, can it fairly be said that no significant progress has taken place since the days of the sit-ins at lunch counters across the South? Similarly, the victims of a protracted and entrenched racial discrimination seek relief in the notion that Black Americans, White Americans, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans are so distinctly different from one another that all of them must stake out their own cultural and social territories and stay within them. Would this be sensible? Would it not be a retreat from the reality of our common humanity? Would it not be a formula for the total breakdown of civilization? Those who raise the call for separation preach a grim doctrine indeed. If the nation is seriously to submit to such a view, where exactly will either the Black or the White Americans divide their cultural heritage, one from the other? 506 Tl-IE BAHA'I WORLD

Racism runs deep. It infects the hearts of both White and Black Americans . Since without conscious, deliberate, and sustained effort, no one can remain unaffected by its conosive influence, both groups must realize that such a problem can neither easily nor immediately be resolved. "Let neither think that anything short of genuine love, extreme patience, true humility, consummate tact, sound initiative, mature wisdom, and deliberate, persistent, and prayerful effort can succeed in blotting out the stain which this patent evil has left on the fair name of their common country." Both groups must understand that no real change will come about without close association, fellowship, and friendship among diverse people. Diversity of color, nationality, and culture enhances the human experience and should never be made a banier to harmonious relationships , to friendship , or to maniage. "O well-beloved ones!" Bahi' u'llah wrote, "The tabernacle of unity has been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one háee and the leaves of one branch."

IV Our appeal is addressed primarily to the individual American, because the transfomrntion of a whole nation ultimately depends on the initiative and change of character of the individuals who compose it. No great idea or plan of action by the government or other interested organizations can hope to succeed if the individual neglects to respond in his or her own way as personal circumstances and opportunities pem1it. And so we respectfully and urgently call upon our fellow Americans of whatever background to look at the racial situation with new eyes and with a new determination to lend effective support to the resolution of a problem that hinders the advance of this great republic toward the full realization of its glorious destiny. We mention the experience of the Baha' i community not from any feeling of pride and ultimate victory, because that which we have accomplished still falls short of that to which we aspire; nonetheless, the results to date are most encouraging, and it is as a means of encouragement that we call attention to them. From its inception in 1863 the Baha' i community was dedicated to the principle of the unity of humankind. Baha' is rely upon faith in God, daily prayer, meditation, and study of sacred texts to effect the háansfo1mation of character necessary for personal growth and maturity; however, their aim is to create a world civilization that will in turn react upon the character of the individual. Thus the concept of personal salvation is linked to the salvation, security, and happiness of all the inhabitants of the earth and stems from the Bahi ' i belief that "the world of humanity is a composite body" and that "when one part of the organism suffers all the rest of the body will feel its consequence." Guided and inspired by such principles, the Baha'i community has accumulated more than a century of experience in creating models of unity that háanscend race, culhire, nationality, class, and the differences of sex and religion, providing empirical evidence that humanity in all its diversity can live as a unified global society. Bahi'is see unity as the law of life; consequently, all prejudices are perceived as diseases that threaten life. Rather than considering that the unity of humankind can be established only after other problems afflicting it have been solved, BaM' is believe that both spirih1al and material development are dependent upon love and unity. Therefore, the Bahi'is offer the teachings of their Fa ith and the example of their community for examination, convinced that these can make a contribution toward the eradication of racism endemic in American society. We do so with firm faith in the assistance of our Creator, Who, out of His infinite love, brought forth all humanity from the same stock and intended that all belong to the same household. We INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 507 believe, moreover, that the day of the unification of the entire human race has come and that "the potentialities inherent in the station of man, the innate excellence of his reality, must all be manifested in this promised Day of God."

ADDEN DUM The Nation al Spiritua l Assembly of the Baha ' is of the United States is the natio nal administrative body for the Baha'is of the United States. The Assemb ly has nine members and is elected annually by delegates from the fortyeight contiguous states. It directs, coordinates, and stimu lates the activities of local Baha'i admini strative bodies and of th e 11 0,000 Baha'is in the United States. The Baha'i Faith is an independent world reli gion with adherents in virtuall y every country. The worldwide Baha ' i commun ity, numbering more than five million , inc ludes almost all nationalities and classes. More than 2, 100 ethnic groups and tri bes are represented. There are 155 Nationa l Sp iritua l Assemb li es. 1 Baha'u'llah was the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith. The central principles of His religion are the oneness of God, the o neness of re ligion, and the oneness of humanity. His reli gion "proc la ims the necessity and the in evitability of th e unification of mankind .... It, moreover, enjoins upon its followers the primary duty of an unfettered search a ~e r truth , condemn s a ll manner of prejudice and superstition, dec lares the purpose of religion to be the promotion of amity and concord, proclaims its essential hannony with sc ience, and recogn izes it as the foremost agency for the pacification and the orderly progress of human society. It uneq ui voca lly maintains the principle of eq ual rights, opportunities and privileges for men and women , insists on compulsory education , elim inates extrem es of poverty and wealth, abolishes the in stituti on of priesthood, prohibits slavery, ascetici sm, mendi cancy and monasticism, prescribes monogamy, di scourages di vo rce, emphasizes the necessity of strict obedience to one's government, exal ts any work perfonned in the sp irit of serv ice to the level of worship, urges either the creati on or the adoption of an aux il iary international language, and delineates the outlines of those insti tutions that mu st establi sh and perpetuate the genera l peace of mankind. "

By the end of the Six Year Plan (Ri<;fvan 1992) there were 165 Nationa l Spiritual Assemb lies. THE BAHA'i WORLD

10. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS IN THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH

ON 29 December 1988, the Universal House 'Abdu'l-Baha, the Centre of the Covenant, of Justice wrote a letter to the Baha'is of projected a compelling vision of the worldthe United States clarifying the Baha'i per- embracing prospects of that richly endowed spective on individual rights and freedom of country. "The American nation", He expression. In 1989, this letter was published averred, "is equipped and empowered to in booklet form by the Baha ' i Publishing accomplish that which will adorn the pages Trust of the United States. of history, to become the envy of the world, The following is the text of the letter. and be blest in both the East and the West for the triumph of its people." In another assertion addressed to the Baha'i community To the Followers ofBaha'u'llah in the United itself, He uttered words of transcendent States of America importance: " ... your mission", He affirmed, Dear Baha'i Friends, "is unspeakably glorious. Should success We have noticed with concern evidences of crown your enterprise, America will assura confusion of attitudes among some of the edly evolve into a centre from which waves friends when they encounter difficulties in of spiritual power will emanate, and the applying Baha'i principles to questions of throne of the Kingdom of God will, in the the day. On the one hand, they acknowledge plenitude of its majesty and glory, be firmly their belief in Baha'u'Ilah and His teachings; established." on the other, they invoke Western liberal Shoghi Effendi, in various statements, democratic practices when actions of Baba' i celebrated the remarkable achievements and institutions or of some of their fellow Baha'is potential glories of that specially blessed do not accord with their expectations. At the community, but was moved to issue, in heart of this confusion are misconceptions of "The Advent of Divine Justice'', a profound such fundamental issues as individual rights warning which is essential to a proper underand freedom of expression in the Baha' i standing of the relation of that Baha' i community. The source of the potential dif- community to the nation from which it has ficulties of the situation appears to us to be sprung. "The glowing tributes," he solemnly an inadequacy of Baha' i perspective on the wrote, "so repeatedly and deservedly paid to part of both individual believers and their the capacity, the spirit, the conduct, and the institutions. high rank, of the American believers, both Recognizing the immense challenge you individually and as an organic community, face to resolve such confusion, we pause to must, under no circumstances, be conreflect with you on these issues in search of founded with the characteristics and nature a context in which relevant fundamental of the people from which God has raised questions may be discussed and understood them up. A sharp distinction between that in the community. community and that people must be made, The extraordinary capacities of the and resolutely and fearlessly upheld, if we American nation, as well as the superb stew- wish to give due recognition to the transmutardship of the Baha'i community within it, ing power of the Faith of Baha'u'llah, in its have repeatedly been extolled in the writings impact on the lives and standards of those of our Faith. In His Tablets and utterances, who have chosen to enlist under His banner. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 509 Otherwise, the supreme and distinguishing established, inasmuch as Baha'u'llah has function of His Revelation, which is none Himself revealed its principles, established other than the calling into being of a new its institutions, appointed the person to interrace of men, will remain wholly unrecog- pret His Word and conferred the necessary nized and completely obscured." It is the authority on the body designed to supplefar-reaching, transformative implications of ment and apply His legislative ordinances". this distinction which we especially invite In another statement, he maintains that "It you to contemplate. would be utterly misleading to attempt a The vantage point that gives us perspec- comparison between this unique, divinely tive and is the foundation of our belief and conceived Order and any of the diverse actions rests on our recognition of the sover- systems which the minds of men, at various eignty of God and our submission to His will pe1iods of their history, have contrived for as revealed by Baha'u'llah, His supreme the government of human institutions." Manifestation for this promised Day. To "Such an attempt", he felt, "would in itself accept the Prophet of God in His time and to betray a lack of complete appreciation of the abide by His bidding are the two essential, excellence of the handiwork of its great inseparable duties which each soul was Author." created to fulfil. One exercises these twin The lack of such appreciation will detract duties by one 's own choice, an act constitut- from the perspective of anyone who ing the highest expression of the free will measures Baha 'i administrative processes with which every human being has been against practices prevalent in today 's sociendowed by an all-loving Creator. ety. For notwithstanding its inclination to The vehicle in this resplendent Age for democratic methods in the administration of the practical fulfilment of these duties is the its affairs, and regardless of the resemblance Covenant of Baha'u'llah; it is, indeed, the of some of its features to those of other potent instrun1ent by which individual belief systems, the Administrative Order is not to in Him is translated into constructive deeds. be viewed merely as an improvement on The Covenant comprises divinely conceived past and existing systems; it represents a arrangements necessary to preserve the departure both in origin and in concept. organic unity of the Cause. It therefore "This new born Administrative Order", as engenders a motivating power which, as the Shoghi Effendi has explained, "incorporates beloved Master tells us, "like unto the artery, within its structure certain elements which beats and pulsates in the body of the world". are to be found in each of the three recog- "It is indubitably clear", He asserts, "that nized fom1s of secular government, without the pivot of the oneness of mankind is noth- being in any sense a mere replica of any one ing else but the power of the Covenant." of them, and without introducing within its Through it the meaning of the Word, both machinery any of the objectionable features in theory and practice, is made evident in which they inherently possess. It blends and the life and work of 'Abdu'l-Baha, the harmonizes, as no government fashioned by appointed Interpreter, the perfect Exemplar, mortal hands has as yet accomplished, the the Centre of the Covenant. Through it the salutary truths which each of these systems processes of the Administrative Order- undoubtedly contains without vitiating the "this unique, this wondrous System"- are integrity of those God-given verities on made to operate. which it is ultimately founded." In emphasizing its distinctiveness, Shoghi You are, no doubt, conversant with the Effendi has pointed out that "this Adminis- Guardian ' s expatiations on this theme. Why, trative Order is fundamentally different from then, this insistent emphasis? Why this anything that any Prophet has previously repeated review of fundamentals ? This 510 THE BAI-IA'i WORLD

emphasis, this review, is to sound an appeal Freedom of thought, freedom of exfor solid thinking, for the attainment of cor- pression, freedom of action are among the rect perspectives, for the adoption of proper freedoms which have received the ardent attitudes. And these are impossible without a attention of social thinkers across the centudeep appreciation of Baha'i fundamentals. ries. The resulting outflow of such profound The great emphasis on the distinctiveness thought has exerted a tremendous liberating of the Order of Baha'u'llah is not meant influence in the shaping of modern society. to belittle existing systems of government. Generations of the oppressed have fought Indeed, they are to be recognized as the and died in the name of freedom. Certainly fruit of a vast period of social evolution, the want of freedom from oppression has representing an advanced stage in the devel- been a dominant factor in the turmoil of the opment of social organization. What times: witness the plethora of movements motivates us is the knowledge that the which have resulted in the rapid emergence supreme mission of the Revelation of of new nations in the latter part of the Baha'u'llah, the Bearer of that Order, is, as twentieth century. A true reading of the Shoghi Effendi pointed out, "none other but teachings ofBaha'u'llah leaves no doubt as the achievement of this organic and spiritual to the high importance of these freedoms to unity of the whole body of nations'', indicat- constructive social processes. Consider, for ing the "coming of age of the entire human instance, Baha'u'llah's proclamation to the race" . The astounding implication of this is kings and rulers. Can it not be deduced from the near prospect of attaining an age-old this alone that attainment of freedom is a hope, now made possible at long last by the significant purpose of His Revelation? His coming of Baha'u'llah. In practical terms , denunciations of tyranny and His urgent His mission signals the advent of "an appeals on behalf of the oppressed provide organic change in the structure of present- unmistakable proof. But does not the day society, a change such as the world has freedom foreshadowed by His Revelation not yet experienced". It is a fresh manifesta- imply nobler, ampler manifestations of tion of the direct involvement of God in human achievement? Does it not indicate an history, a reassurance that His children have organic relationship between the internal not been left to drift, a sign of the outpouring and external realities of man such as has not of a heavenly grace that will enable all yet been attained? humanity to be free at last from conflict and In his summary of significant Baha'i contention to ascend the heights of world teachings, Shoghi Effendi wrote thatBaha'u'llah peace and divine civilization. Beyond all "inculcates the principle of 'moderation in else, it is a demonstration of that love for His all things ' ; declares that whatsoever, be it children, which He knew in the depth of His 'liberty, civilization and the like ', ' passeth "immemorial being" and in the "ancient beyond the limits of moderation' must eternity" of His Essence, and which caused 'exercise a pernicious influence upon men'; Him to create us all. In the noblest sense, observes that western civilization has then, attention to the requirements of His gravely perturbed and alarmed the peoples World Order is a reciprocation of that love. of the world; and predicts that the day is It is this perspective that helps us to approaching when the 'flame ' of a civilizaunderstand the question of freedom and its tion 'carried to excess' 'will devour the place in Baha'i thought and action. The idea cities'." and the fact of freedom pervade all human Expounding the theme of liberty, concerns in an infinitude of notions and Baha'u'llah asserted that "the embodiment modes. Freedom is indeed essential to all of liberty and its symbol is the animal"; that expressions of human life. "liberty causeth man to overstep the bounds INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 511 of propriety, and to infringe on the dignity necessary to the maintenance of that moderof his station"; that "true liberty consisteth ation which will ensure the "true liberty" of in man's submission unto My command- humankind. All things considered, does the ments". "We approve of liberty in certain Administrative Order not appear to be the circumstances," He declared, "and refuse to structure of freedom for our Age? 'Abdu'lsanction it in others." But He gave the assur- Baha offers us comfort in this thought, for ance that, "Were men to observe that which He has said that "the moderate freedom We have sent down unto them from the which guarantees the welfare of the world of Heaven of Revelation, they would, of a mankind and maintains and preserves the certainty, attain unto perfect liberty." And universal relationships is found in its fullest again, He said, "Mankind in its entirety must power and extension in the teachings of firmly adhere to whatsoever hath been Baha'u'llah". revealed and vouchsafed unto it. Then and Within this framework of freedom a patonly then will it attain unto true liberty." tern is set for institutional and individual Baha'u'llah's assertions clearly call for behaviour which depends for its efficacy an examination of current assumptions. not so much on the force of law, which Should liberty be as free as is supposed in admittedly must be respected, as on the contemporary Wes tern thought? Where does recognition of a mutuality of benefits, and freedom limit our possibilities for progress, on the spirit of cooperation maintained by and where do limits free us to thrive? What the willingness, the courage, the sense of are the limits to the expansion of freedom? responsibility, and the initiative of individuals For so fluid and elastic are its qualities of -these being expressions of their devotion application and expression that the concept and submission to the will of God. Thus of freedom in any given situation is likely to there is a balance of freedom between the assume a different latitude from one mind to institution, whether national or local, and the another; these qualities are, alas, susceptible individuals who sustain its existence. to the employment alike of good and evil. Is Consider, for example, the Local Spirit any wonder, then, that Baha'u'llah exhorts itual Assembly, the methods of its formation us to submission to the will of God? and the role of individuals in electing it. The Since any constructive view of freedom voter elects with the understanding that he implies limits, further questions are inevita- is free to choose without any interference ble: What are the latitudes of freedom in whomever his conscience prompts him to the Baha'i community? How are these to select, and he freely accepts the authority of be determined? Because human beings the outcome. In the act of voting, the indihave been created to "carry forward an vidual subscribes to a covenant by which the ever-advancing civilization", the exercise of orderliness of society is upheld. The Assemfreedom, it may be deduced, is intended bly has the responsibility to guide, direct and to enable all to fulfil this purpose in their decide on community affairs and the right individual lives and in their collective func- to be obeyed and supported by members tioning as a society. Hence whatever in of the community. The individual has the principle is required to realize this purpose responsibility to establish and maintain the gauges the latitudes or limits of freedom. Assembly through election, the offering of Contemplating Baha 'u'llah 's warning advice, moral support and material assisthat "whatsoever passeth beyond the limits tance; and he has the right to be heard by it, of moderation will cease to exert a beneficial to receive its guidance and assistance, and to influence", we come to appreciate that the appeal from any Assembly decision which Administrative Order He has conceived he conscientiously feels is unjust or detriembodies the operating principles which are mental to the interests of the community. 512 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

But occupation with the mechanics of protest against the oppressive conditions Baha'i Administration, divorced from the which revolutions were intended to remedy . animating spirit of the Cause, leads to a dis- These characteristics are conspicuous, for tortion, to an arid secularization foreign to example, in the inordinate scepticism rethe nature of the Administration. Equally sig- garding authority, and consequently, in the nificant to the procedures for election- to grndging respect which the citizens of varifurther extend the example- is the evoca- ous nations show toward their governments; tion of that rarefied atmosphere of prayer they have become pronounced in the incesand reflection, that quiet dignity of the sant promotion of individualism, often to the process, devoid of nominations and cam- detriment of the wider interests of society. paigning, in which the individual's freedom How aptly, even after the lapse of half a cento choose is limited only by his own con- tury, Shoghi Effendi's views, as conveyed science, exercised in private in an attitude by his secretary, fit the contemporary scene: that invites communion with the Holy Spirit. "Our present generation, mainly due to the In this sphere, the elector regards the out- corruptions that have been identified with come as an expression of the will of God, organizations, seem to stand against any and those elected as being prin1arily respon- institution. Religion as an institution is desible to that will, not to the constituency nounced. Government as an institution is which elected them. An election thus con- denounced. Even marriage as an institution ducted portrays an aspect of that organic is denounced. We Baha'is should not be unity of the inner and outer realities of blinded by such prevalent notions. If such human life which is necessary to the con- were the case, all the divine Manifestations struction of a mature society in this new would not have invariably appointed Age. In no other system do individuals exer- someone to succeed Them. Undoubtedly, cise such a breadth of freedom in the corrnptions did enter those institutions, but electoral process. these corruptions were not due to the very The equilibrium of responsibilities rm- nature of the institutions but to the lack of plied by all this presupposes maturity on the proper directions as to their powers and part of all concerned. This maturity has an nature of their perpetuation. What Baha 'u 'llah apt analogy in adulthood in human beings. has done is not to eliminate all institutions in How significant is the difference between the Cause but to provide the necessary safeinfancy and childhood, adolescence and guards that would eliminate corruptions that adulthood! In a period of history dominated caused the fall of previous institutions. What by the surging energy, the rebellious spirit those safeguards are is most interesting to and frenetic activity of adolescence, it is dif- study and find out and also most essential to ficult to grasp the distinguishing elements of know." the mature society to which Baha' u'llah We make these observations not to beckons all humanity. The models of the old indulge in criticism of any system, but rather world order blur vision of that which must to open up lines of thought, to encourage be perceived; for these models were, in a re-examination of the bases of modem many instances, conceived in rebellion and society, and to engender a perspective for retain the characteristics of the revolutions consideration of the distinctive features of peculiar to an adolescent, albeit necessary, the Order of Baha 'u'llah. What, it could be period in the evolution of human society. asked, was the nature of society that gave The very philosophies which have provided rise to such characteristics and such philosothe intellectual content of such revolu- phies? Where have these taken mankind? tions- Hobbes, Locke, Jefferson, Mill, Has their employment satisfied the needs come readily to mind- were inspired by and expectations of the human spirit? The INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITI ES 513 answers to such questions could lay the reinforces this understanding by drawing ground for a contrasting observation of the attention to the maxim that "Not everything origin and nature of the characteristics and that a man knoweth can be disclosed, nor philosophy underlying that Order. can everything that he can disclose be As to freedom of expression, a fundamen- regarded as timely, nor can every timely tal principle of the Cause, the Administrative utterance be considered as suited to the Order provides unique methods and channels capacity of those who hear it." for its exercise and maintenance; these have Speech is a powerful phenomenon. Its been amply described in the writings of the freedom is both to be extolled and feared . It Faith, but they are not yet clearly understood calls for an acute exercise of judgement, by the friends . For Baha 'u'llah has extended since both the limitation of speech and the the scope and deepened the meaning of self- excess of it can lead to dire consequences. expression. In His elevation of art and of Thus there exist in the system ofBaha'u' llah work performed in the service of humanity checks and balances necessary to the benefito acts of worship can be discerned enor- cial uses of this freedom in the onward mous prospects for a new birth of expression development of society. A careful examinain the civilization anticipated by His World tion of the principles of Baha'i consultation Order. The significance of this principle, and the formal and informal arrangements now so greatly amplified by the Lord of the for employing them offer new insights into Age, cannot be doubted; but it is in its rami- the dynamics of freedom of expression. fications in speech that keen understanding As it is beyond the scope of this letter to is urgently needed. From a Baha'i point of expatiate upon these principles, let it suffice view, the exercise of freedom of speech must to recall briefly certain of the requisites of necessarily be disciplined by a profound consultation, particularly for those who appreciation of both the positive and nega- serve on Spiritual Assemblies. Love and tive dimensions of freedom, on the one hand, harmony, purity of motive, humility and and of speech, on the other. lowliness amongst the friends, patience and Baha' u' llah warns us that "the tongue is a long-suffering in difficulties-these inform smouldering fire, and excess of speech a the attitude with which they proceed "with deadly poison". "Material fire consumeth the utmost devotion, courtesy, dignity, care the body," He says in elaborating the point, and moderation to express their views'', each "whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth using "perfect liberty" both in so doing and both heart and soul. The force of the former in "unveiling the proof of his demonstralasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of tion". "If another contradicts him, he must the latter endureth a century." In tracing the not become excited because if there be no framework of free speech, He again advises investigation or verification of questions and "moderation". "Human utterance is an matters, the agreeable view will not be disessence which aspireth to exert its influence covered neither understood." "The shining and needeth moderation'', He states, adding, spark of huth cometh forth only after the "As to its influence, this is conditional upon clash of differing opinions." If unanimity is refinement which in turn is dependent upon not subsequently achieved, decisions are hearts which are detached and pure. As to its arrived at by majority vote. moderation, this hath to be combined with Once a decision has been reached, all tact and wisdom as prescribed in the Holy members of the consultative body, having Scriptures and Tablets." had the opportunity fully to state their views, Also relevant to what is said, and how, is agree wholeheartedly to support the outwhen it is said. For speech, as for so many come. What if the minority view is right? "If other things, there is a season. Baha'u'llah they agree upon a subject," 'Abdu' l-Baha 514 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

has explained, "even though it be wrong, it acknowledging, as a matter of principle, is better than to disagree and be in the right, that "it is not only the right, but the vital for this difference will produce the demoli- responsibility of every loyal and intelligent tion of the divine foundation. Though one of member of the community to offer fully and the parties may be in the right and they frankly, but with due respect and considerdisagree, that will be the cause of a thousand ation to the authority of the Assembly, any wrongs, but if they agree and both parties suggestion, recommendation or criticism he are in the wrong, as it is in unity, the truth conscientiously feels he should in order to will be revealed and the wrong made right." improve and remedy certain existing condi- Implicit in this approach to the social utility tions or trends in his local community". of thought is the profundity of the change in Correspondingly, the Assembly has the duty the standard of public discussion intended "to give careful consideration to any such by Baha'u' Jlah for a mature society. views submitted to them". The qualities by which the individual can Apart from the direct access which one achieve the personal discipline necessary to has to an Assembly, local or national, or to a successful consultation find their full Counsellor or Auxiliary Board member, expression in what Shoghi Effendi regarded there are specific occasions for the airing of as the "spirit of a hue Baha'i". Ponder, for one ' s views in the community. The most instance, the appealing remark addressed to frequent of these occasions for any Baha'i is your own community in one of his earliest the Nineteen Day Feast which, "besides its letters: "Nothing short of the spirit of a hue social and spiritual aspects, fulfils various Baha'i can hope to reconcile the principles administrative needs and requirements of the of mercy and justice, of freedom and sub- community, chief among them being the mission, of the sanctity of the right of the need for open and constructive criticism and individual and of self-surrender, of vigi- deliberation regarding the state of affairs lance, discretion and prudence on the one within the local Baha'i community". At the hand, and fellowship, candour, and courage same time, Shoghi Effendi's advice, as on the other." This was an appeal to the conveyed by his secretary, goes on to stress maturity and the distinction towards which the point that "all criticisms and discussions he repeatedly directed their thoughts . of a negative character which may result in Because the Most Great Peace is the undermining the authority of the Assembly object of our longing, a primary effmi of the as a body should be strictly avoided. For Baha'i community is to reduce the incidence otherwise the order of the Cause itself will of conflict and contention, which are categor- be endangered, and confusion and discord ically forbidden in the Most Holy Book. Does will reign in the community." this mean that one may not express critical Clearly, then, there is more to be considthought? Absolutely not. How can there be ered than the critic 's right to self-expression; the candour called for in consultation if there the unifying spirit of the Cause of God must is no critical thought? How is the individual also be preserved, the authority of its Jaws to exercise his responsibilities to the Cause, if and ordinances safeguarded, authority being he is not allowed the freedom to express his an indispensable aspect of freedom. Motive, views? Has Shoghi Effendi not stated that "at manner, mode, become relevant; but there is the very root of the Cause lies the principle of also the matter of love: Jove for one 's felthe undoubted right of the individual to lows, love for one ' s community, Jove for self-expression, his freedom to declare his one' s institutions. conscience and set fo1ih his views"? The responsibility resting on the individ- The Administrative Order provides ual to conduct himself in such a way as to channels for expression of criticism, ensure the stability of society takes on INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 515 elemental importance in this context. For objective animating the Baha'i community, vital as it is to the progress of society, criti- namely, the establishment of the unity of cism is a two-edged sword: it is all too often mankind. the harbinger of conflict and contention. The We return to the phenomenal characterisbalanced processes of the Administrative tics of speech. Content, volume, style, tact, Order are meant to prevent this essential wisdom, timeliness are among the critical activity from degenerating to any form of factors in determining the effects of speech dissent that breeds opposition and its dreadful for good or evil. Consequently, the friends schismatic consequences. How incalculable need ever to be conscious of the significance have been the negative results of ill-directed of this activity which so distinguishes human criticism: in the catastrophic divergences it beings from other forms of life, and they has created in religion, in the equally con- must exercise it judiciously. Their efforts at tentious factions it has spawned in political such discipline will give birth to an etiquette systems, which have dignified conflict by of expression worthy of the approaching institutionalizing such concepts as the "loyal maturity of the human race. Just as this disciopposition" which attach to one or another pline applies to the spoken word, it applies of the various categories of political opinion equally to the written word; and it pro- -conservative, liberal, progressive, reac- foundly affects the operation of the press. tionary, and so fo1th. The significance and role of the press in a If Baha'i individuals deliberately ignore new world system are conspicuous in the the principles imbedded in the Order which emphasis which the Order of Baha'u'llah Baha'u'llah Himself has established to rem- places on accessibility to information at all edy divisiveness in the human family, the levels of society. Shoghi Effendi tells us that Cause for which so much has been sacrificed Baha'u' llah makes "specific reference to 'the will surely be set back in its mission to swiftly appearing newspapers', describes rescue world society from complete disinte- them as 'the mirror of the world' and as 'an gration. May not the existence of the amazing and potent phenomenon', and Covenant be invoked again and again, so prescribes to all who are responsible for their that such repetition may preserve the needed production the duty to be sanctified from perspective? For, in this age, the Cause of malice, passion and prejudice, to be just and Baha'u' llah has been protected against the fair-minded, to be painstaking in their inquirbaneful effects of the misuse of the process ies, and ascertain all the facts in every of criticism; this has been done by the insti- situation". tution of the Covenant and by the provision In His social treatise, "The Secret of of a universal administrative system which Divine Civilization", 'Abdu'l-Baha offers incorporates within itself the mechanisms insight as to the indispensability of the press for drawing out the constrnctive ideas of in future society. He says it is "urgent that individuals and using them for the benefit of beneficial articles and books be written, the entire system. Admonishing the people clearly and definitely establishing what the to uphold the unifying purpose of the Cause, present-day requirements of the people are, Baha'u'llah, in the Book of His Covenant, and what will conduce to the happiness and addresses these poignant words to them: advancement of society". Further, He writes "Let not the means of order be made the of the "publication of high thoughts" as the cause of confusion and the instrument of "dynamic power in the arteries of life'', "the union an occasion for discord." Such asser- very soul of the world". Moreover, He states tions emphasize a crncial point; it is this: In that "Public opinion must be directed toward terms of the Covenant, dissidence is a moral whatever is worthy of this day, and this and intellectual contradiction of the main is impossible except through the use of 516 THE BAHA'I WORLD

adequate arguments and the adducing of towards the Faith's golden destiny? Has he clear, comprehensive and conclusive proofs." not advised us all that the subsequent stage As to manner and style, Baha'u'llah has of oppression must precede the stages of its exhorted "authors among the friends" to emancipation and its recognition as a world "write in such a way as would be acceptable religion? Can the friends forget the oftto fair-minded souls, and not lead to cavilling quoted warning of 'Abdu'l-Baha concerning by the people". And He issues a reminder: the bitter opposition that will confront the "We have said in the past that one word hath Cause in various lands on all continents? the influence of spring and causeth hearts to In the case of the American believers, has become fresh and verdant, while another is Shoghi Effendi not alluded to this coming like unto blight which causeth the blossoms fury in his description of them as "the invinand flowers to wither." cible Army ofBaha'u ' llah, who in the West, In the light of all this, the code of conduct and at one of its potential storm centres is to of the press must embrace the principles and fight, in His name and for His sake, one of objectives of consultation as revealed by its fiercest and most glorious battles"? Baha'u'llah. Only in this way will the press Those who are anxious to relax all be able to make its full contribution to the restraint, who invoke freedom of speech as preservation of the rights of the people and the rationale for publishing every and any become a powerful instrument in the consul- thing concerning the Baha'i community, who tative processes of society, and hence for the call for the immediate termination of the unity of the human race. practice of review now that the Faith has Some of the friends have suggested that emerged from obscurity-are they not aware the emergence of the Faith from obscurity of these sobering prospects? Widespread as indicates the timeliness of ceasing obser- has been the public revulsion to the current vance in the Baha'i community of certain persecutions in Iran, let there be no mistake restraints; particularly are they concerned about the certainty of the opposition which about the temporary necessity of review must yet be confronted in many countries, before publishing. including that which is the Cradle of the Tirnt the Faith has emerged from obscurity Administrative Order itself. on a global scale is certain. This definitely The Faith is as yet in its infancy. Despite marks a triumphant stage in the efforts of the its emergence from obscurity, even now the community to register its existence on the vast majority of the human race remains minds of those who influence world events. ignorant of its existence; moreover, the vast Consider how, because of the sufferings and majority of its adherents are relatively new sacrifices of the friends in Iran, the concerns Baha'is. The change implied by this new of the community in these respects have stage in its evolution is that whereas heretobecome a matter of discussion in the most fore this tender plant was protected in its influential parliaments and the most impor- obscurity from the attention of external tant international forums on earth. That elements, it has now become exposed. This this emergence frees the Cause to pursue exposure invites close observation, and that objectives hitherto umeachable is also unde- observation will eventually lead to opposiniable; but that it marks the attainment of the tion in various quarters. So, far from cornn1llnity's anticipated maturity is entirely adopting a carefree attitude, the community doubtful. must be conscious of the necessity to present How could it have attained maturity, a correct view of itself and an accurate when we know from the clear guidance of understanding of its purpose to a largely the beloved Guardian that obscurity is but sceptical public. A greater effori, a greater one of the many stages in the long evolution care must now be exercised to ensure its INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 517 protection against the malice of the ignorant making him an anti-social creature, a menand the unwisdom of its friends. ace to society. As in everything, it follows Let us all remember that the struggle of the 'golden mean' ." the infant Faith of God to thrive is beset with This relationship, so fundamental to the the turmoil of the present age. Like a tender maintenance of civilized life, calls for the shoot just barely discernible above ground, utmost degree of understanding and cooperit must be nurtured to strength and maturity ation between society and the individual; and buttressed as necessary against the blight and because of the need to foster a climate in of strong winds and deadly entanglements which the untold potentialities of the indiwith weeds and thistles. If we to whose care vidual members of society can develop, this this plant has been entrusted are insensitive relationship must allow "free scope" for to its tenderness, the great tree which is its "individuality to assert itself' through modes ce1iain potential will be hindered in its of spontaneity, initiative and diversity that growth towards the spreading of its shelter- ensure the viability of society. Among the ing branches over all humankind. From this responsibilities assigned to Baha'i instituperspective we must all consider the latent tions which have a direct bearing on these danger to the Cause of ill-advised actions aspects of individual freedom and developand exaggerated expectations; and particu- ment is one which is thus described in the larly must we all be concerned about the Constitution of the Universal House of effects of words, especially those put in Justice: "to safeguard the personal rights, print. It is here that Baha'i authors and freedom and initiative of individuals". A publishers need to be attentive and exert corollary is: "to give attention to the preserrigorous discipline upon themselves, as well vation of human honour". as abide by the requirements of review at this How noteworthy that in the Order of early stage in the development of the Faith. Baha'u'llah, while the individual will is sub- The right of the individual to self-expres- ordinated to that of society, the individual is sion has pe1meated the foregoing comments not lost in the mass but becomes the focus of on the various freedoms, but, even so, a primary development, so that he may find word more might be said about individual his own place in the flow of progress, and freedom. The fundamental attitude of the society as a whole may benefit from the Faith in this respect is best demonstrated by accumulated talents and abilities of the indistatements of 'Abdu' l-Baha concerning the viduals composing it. Such an individual family. "The integrity of the family bond", finds fulfilment of his potential not merely He says, "must be constantly considered, in satisfying his own wants but in realizing and the rights of the individual members his completeness in being at one with must not be transgressed ... . All these rights humanity and with the divinely ordained and prerogatives must be conserved, yet the purpose of creation. unity of the family must be sustained. The The quality of freedom and of its expresinjury of one shall be considered the injury sion-indeed, the very capacity to maintain of all; the comfort of each, the comfort of freedom in a society-undoubtedly depends all; the honour of one, the honour of all." on the knowledge and training of individu- The individual's relation to society is als and on their ability to cope with the explained by Shoghi Effendi in the state- challenges of life with equanimity. As the ment that "The Baha 'i conception of social beloved Master has written: "And the life is essentially based on the principle of honour and distinction of the individual conthe subordination of the individual will to sist in this, that he among all the world's that of society. It neither suppresses the indi- multitudes should become a source of social vidual nor does it exalt him to the point of good. Is any larger bounty conceivable than 518 THE BAI-L< ' i WORLD

this, that an individual, looking within him- the human race? Consider what Baha' u'llah self, should find that by the confirming has done: He revealed laws and principles grace of God he has become the cause to guide the free; He established an Order of peace and well-being, of happiness and to channel the actions of the free ; He proadvantage to his fellowmen? No, by the one claimed a Covenant to guarantee the unity true God, there is no greater bliss, no more of the free . complete delight." Thus, we hold to this ultimate perspec- The spirit of liberty which in recent tive: Baha'u'llah came to set humanity free . decades has swept over the planet with such His Revelation is, indeed, an invitation to tempestuous force is a manifestation of the freedom- freedom from want, fre edom vibrancy of the Revelation brought by from war, freedom to unite, freedom to Baha' u'llah. His own words confirm it. "The progress, freedom in peace and joy. Ancient Beauty", He wrote in a soul-stirring You who live in a land where freedom is commentary on His sufferings, "hath con- so highly prized have not, then, to dispense sented to be bound with chains that mankind with its fruits, but you are challenged and do may be released from its bondage, and hath have the obligation to uphold and vindicate accepted to be made a prisoner within this the distinction between the licence that limmost mighty Stronghold that the whole its your possibilities for genuine progress world may attain unto true liberty." and the moderation that ensures the enjoy- Might it not be reasonably concluded, ment of true liberty. then, that "true liberty" is His gift of love to IV BAHA'f INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION

1. THE BAHA'i FAITH AND THE UNITED NATIONS: SUMMARY OF THE YEARS 194 7-1986

THE relationship of the world Baha'i For detailed information on Baha'i Intercommunity to the United Nations began in national Community activities with the U.N. 1948, when the eight National Spiritual during this period, see earlier volumes of Assemblies then existing were recognized The Baha'i World. collectively by the United Nations Office of Public Information (OPI) as an international The First Period: 1947- 1970 non-governmental organization under the Although limited to activities educating the name Baha'i International Community. An public about the aims and programs of the official Baha'i-United Nations relationship United Nations, the first stage of Baha'ihad actually started a year before-in the United Nations cooperation allowed many spring of 1947-when OPI accredited the opportunities for sharing the Baha' i perspec- National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is tive, both through participation in numerous of the United States and Canada as a national non-governmental conferences, and through non-governmental organization, qualified to the presentation to the United Nations of be represented through an observer. several important statements. The next step in Baha' i-United Nations One of the most important contributions cooperation-and a major one-took place took place in 1947, when the United Nations in 1970, when the Baha'i International Special Palestine Committee addressed a Community was granted consultative status, letter to Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, Guardian category II, with the United Nations of the Baha' i Faith, resident at the Baha'i Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). World Centre in Haifa, requesting an A few years later, in 1974, as an extension of expression of the Baha' i attitude to the this relationship in the economic and social future of Palestine. Explaining that "Our aim fields, the Baha'i International Community is the establishment of universal peace in the established an association with the United world and our desire to see justice prevail in Nations Environment Program (UNEP). every domain of human society, including Then, in 1976- another important develop- the domain of politics," Shoghi Effendi ment-it was welcomed into consultative enclosed with his reply a summary of the status with the United Nations Children's history and teachings of the Baha'i Faith. Fund (UNICEF). In 1985, it formali zed its Other presentations of note were: A representation with the United Nations "Baha'i Declaration on Human Obligations Center for Human Settlements (UNCHS). and Rights" (1947); a study entitled 520 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

"Proposals for Charter Revision," circulated economic programs. Not only was it repreat a United Nations Conference for Revision sented at sessions of United Nations bodies of the United Nations Charter (1955); a concerned with issues of aging, children, statement endorsing the Genocide Conven- crime prevention, disabled persons, disarmation, presented to the President of the ment, energy-new and renewable sources, Commission on Human Rights (1959); and a environment, exploration and peaceful uses comprehensive statement to a meeting of the of outer space, the family, human rights, United Nations Office of Public Information human settlements, law of the sea, narcotic to discuss problems of cooperation "with the drugs, population, science and technology, United Nations family insofar as its program social development, status of women, the affects the new nations'', noting the "vigor- United Nations University, world food, and ous assistance of Baha' i communities" tluáough youth, but it also furnished information, subthe implementation of Baha' i teachings and mitted statements and published brochures principles, to help the less developed peo- on most of these subjects. In addition , ples become integrated into the more the Baha' i International Community particideveloped society surrounding them (1960). pated in United Nations Years, in world The Baha' i International Community was conferences and congresses, in regional also able, even in the early years of its rela- conferences and in seminars concerned with tionship with the United Nations, to assist in the socio-economic problems of our planet, the protection and recognition of the Baha'i as well as in preparation and follow-up world community. For example, appeals meetings and activities. were lodged with the United Nations in 1955 When the Committee on Non-Governand 1962 on behalf of Baha' is being perse- mental Organizations, the functional cuted in Iran and Morocco, respectively, and committee of ECOSOC in charge of fosterin 1967 a special edition of The Proclama- ing the United Nations relationship with tion of Baha 'u 'llah was presented on behalf NGO's in the social and economic field, of the Universal House of Justice to fifty-six reviewed the work of non-governmental Heads of State, through their Permanent organizations in consultative status with Representatives to the United Nations. ECO SOC during the years 1973-77, 1978- 81, the Baha' i International Community The Second Period: 1970- 1986 reports, showing an impressive number of These years witnessed a noticeable increase activities recording warm cooperation with in the range and depth of Baha'i-United the United Nations, were approved without Nations cooperation, as the Baha'i Interna- questions. tional Community began the steady growth Most gratifying during this period was of its consultative relationship with ECOSOC the increased participation of national and with UNICEF , and its associations with Baha'i communities, through their National the United Nations Environment Program Spiritual Assemblies, United Nations repre- (UNEP) and the United Nations Center for sentatives and committees, in fostering the Human Settlements (UNCHS) while con- ties of the Baha'i world with the United tinuing its close cooperation with the United Nations. They not only organized national Nations Office-later Department-of Public and local Baha'i-United Nations activities, Information. but also represented the Baha'i International As it worked closely with ECOSOC, its Community at Conferences, and offered the functional commissions, committees and grow ing experience of Baha'i social and associated bodies, the Baha' i International economic development projects as applica- Community gradually explored new aven ues tions of Baha'i teachings to the solution of participation in United Nations soc ial and of specific world problems. In addition, INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I A CTIVITI ES 521 National Spiritual Assemblies in countries non-partisan political nature, as well as where United Nations conferences or its constructive contributions to the work of meetings took place made a valuable contri- the United Nations resulting from its consulbution to successful Baha' i participation, tative status, made access to key United furnishing clear evidence that each Baha'i Nations officials easier when a clear presencommunity did, in fact, share in the con- tation of the Baha'i position was needed. sultative relationship of the Baha'i Interna- This became especially important from 1981 tional Community with ECOSOC and on, since access to the United Nations UNICEF. human rights organs-the Commission on The Baha'i International Community Human Rights and the Subcommission on worked closely, through its United Nations the Prevention of Discrimination and Protecrepresentative, with United Nations offices tion of Minorities-became crucial in and officials at United Nations headquarters bringing the persecution of the Baha' i in New York, as well as in Geneva, Vienna, community of Iran to the attention of the and Nairobi; and-through representatives governments of the world, and curbing, to from its member Baha'i communities with some extent, this flagrant case of religious United Nations field offices around the discrimination. world. It became clear during these years that, as In addition, under the direction and government delegates and United Nations guidance of the Universal House of Justice, personnel increasingly witnessed the Baha'i contacts were made on many occasions presence, through extensive Baha' i repreduring this period with Missions to the sentation and a variety of written and oral United Nations and the United Nations statements-many of the written ones circu- Secretariat, to assist in the recognition of the lated as United Nations documents-they Faith and the protection of Baha'i communi- were becoming aware ofa worldwide Baha' i ties. Here again, a growing understanding of community committed to the spiritual and the Baha'i International Community, its moral vision of the unity of mankind.

2. THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF THE BAHA'f INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 1986-1992

Overview in such areas as fostering popular participa- For more than twenty years, the United tion in development, enhancing the role of Nations Office of the Baha' i International women, eliminating racial prejudice, and Community has sought, through its consul- preventing drug abuse- all areas of intense tative and working relations with the United interest to governments. Nations ' specialized agencies, to support the The Baha' i International Community work of the United Nations by sharing actively participated in the activities of non- Baha ' i perspectives and experience. During governmental organizations (NGOs) at the the Six Year Plan, Baha 'i International United Nations, prin1arily in Geneva, New Community representatives attended more York and Vienna, participating in numerous than one hundred UN consultative sessions NGO conferences and consultations. It and international conferences . Many of the served as vice president (1986- 1988) and as more than ninety statements and reports pre- secretary (1988- 1991) of the Board of the sented between 1986 and 1992 were based Conference of Non-Governmental Organion the experience of Baha' i communities zations (CONGO) in Consultative Status 522 THE BAI-IA'i WORLD

with the United Nations Economic and national Community strengthened its Social Council (ECOSOC). In Geneva, New presence at the UN Commission on the York and Vienna, its representatives also Status of Women. Represented each year by served as officers on NGO committees on an international delegation of women and human rights, the family, women, human men, the Baha 'i International Community settlements, development, youth, the Depart- presented more than fifteen statements, ment of Public Information, and the United focusing on such topics as social and Nations' Children's Fund (UNICEF). economic development, education, and the Baha'is around the world assisted the status of the girl child. Baha'is with profes- Baha'i International Community to carry out sional expertise became more involved in its work. Volunteers in Nairobi, Rome and the United Nations work related to women Vienna were appointed by the Baha'i Inter- over these six years, representing the Baha'i national Conununity to help strengthen ties International Community at conferences, with the UN Center for Social Development workshops, and symposia held at global and and Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations regional levels. Environment Program (UNEP), and the One direct result of Baha' i International Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Community involvement with the Commis- In addition, volunteers were appointed to rep- sion was a project financed by the United represent the Baha'i International Community Nations Development Fund for Women to the United Nations Regional Economic (UNIFEM) entitled Traditional Media as Commissions for Africa in Addis Ababa, Change Agent. A Baha'i International Ethiopia; for Latin America in Santiago, Conununity statement to the Commission in Chile; and for Asia and the Pacific in 1988 suggested that permanent change in Bangkok, Thailand. Organizing the work by the status of women requires the support of sectors allowed the Baha' i International the whole community. The Director of Conmrnnity United Nations Office to cover UNIFEM suggested that Baha 'is develop efficiently an immense range of overlapping a project for funding by UNIFEM to foster issues. These sectors included advancement that community support. In cooperation over of women, education and social development, the next three years with the Baha'i Office health, peace, human rights, and refugees. of Social and Economic Development, selected National Spiritual Assemblies, Promoting the Advancement of Women Baha'i consultants, and UNIFEM, the The Baha'i International Community gave Baha'i International Conununity developed high priority to the advancement of women, a project using traditional media, such as participating fully in the work of the United music and dance, to stimulate village-wide Nations in this area, particularly the Com- discussions about women's roles. The mission on the Status of Women. The Baha' i two-year project, which began to be imple- International Connnunity was represented mented in Bolivia, Cameroon, and Malaysia, by both women and men at meetings called engaged entire communities in improving by the Commission, including global and the status of women. Baha'i communities in regional conferences, seminars, and work- Brazil and Nigeria also joined the project. shops, and worked closely with the The joint Baha'i International Community/ conmrnnity of NGOs at the United Nations UNIFEM project marked a new level of in Geneva, New York, and Vienna. cooperation between the Baha'i Interna- During the Six Year Plan, the work in this tional Conununity and the United Nations ' area expanded and diversified, as seeds agencies. sown during the Decade of Women (1976- The Baha'i International Conununity 1985) began to bear fruit. The Baha'i Inter- Office of Public Information and the United INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I A CTIVITIES 523 Nations Office jointly sponsored a presti- between women and men, stood in the foregious luncheon in Washington, D.C., in front of the movement toward equality in the 1988 for the Executive Board of the Interna- international sphere. tional Council of Women (ICW): The event, held to commemorate the centennial of the Education and Social Sector ICW, honoured Madame Laura Dreyfus Education, always a primary concern for Barney, known to Baha'is as the compiler Baha'is, continued to be a priority for the of Some Answered Questions, and a distin- Baha'i International Community United guished member of the ICW. A reception to Nations Office. Preparation for and particicommemorate the life of Madame Barney pation in International Literacy Year (1990) was also held in New York, co-sponsored by and the W arid Conference on Education for the Baha'i International Community and All (1990), both sponsored by the United UNICEF. Nations system, provided the focus for a Awakening policy-makers to the important variety of educational activities. The UN role of women in achieving food security for Office promoted the International Literacy Africa was also a major Baha'i International Year by providing National Spiritual Community focus. In 1988, the Baha'i Assemblies with information about the year, International Community began serving as by serving on the International Task Force convenor of Advocates for African Food on Literacy, and by attending five interna- Security: Lessening the Burden of Women, tional meetings in Europe, Asia, and Africa. a unique coalition of international and The Baha'i International Community also national NGOs, United Nations agencies, promoted "The Book Voyage", a global and intergovernmental organizations. Con- project which collected the writings of vinced that women are the key to food newly literate men and women and compiled security in Africa, where eighty to ninety them into a ceremonial book. A special percent of the food for domestic consump- edition of this book was presented to the UN tion is produced by women, the Advocates Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de strove to raise the awareness of policy- Cuellar, by a Baha'i International Commumakers to this fact, and the importance of nity representative and a literacy learner involving women in all levels of decision- from Kenya at UN Headquarters during a making to end the food crisis. Annual ceremony coordinated by the Baha'i Internasymposia at the United Nations in New York tional Community. were held; wide circulation was given to a The Baha'i contribution to the 1990 survey on the status of food security in World Conference on Education for All, Africa, conducted by the Advocates in 1990 held in Jomtien, Thailand, and sponsored by and compiled by a Baha'i consultant; UNICEF, the United Nations Development brochures and symposium reports were Program (UNDP), the United Nations Edudistributed, as well as a video entitled A Day cation, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the Life of an African Woman Farmer. In (UNESCO), and the World Bank, was nota- April 1992, a member of the Continental ble. The Baha'i International Community Board of Counsellors in Africa participated in published and distributed Survey of Baha 'i the first Advocates symposium held in Africa. Education Programmes and contributed Gradually, the idea that the advancement four papers to the round-table discussions . of women is a prerequisite for peace and In addition, the Baha'i International development became more widely accepted. Community representative was asked to rep- The Baha'i International Community, with resent NGOs on the steering group for the its sustained involvement in this area and conference. The New York Baha 'i Internaits uncommon emphasis on partnership tional Community United Nations Office was 524 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

The Baha 'i International Community was represented at the World Health Assembly, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 2 to 14 May 1988. Shown at right, Dr. Ethel Martens.

instrumental in developing an Education For the World Summit on Children, held for All Network. For the last two years of the Heads of State at United Nations headquar- Plan, this network encouraged NGOs to ters in 1991 , was attended by a Baha'i contribute to the achievement of the ambi- International Community observer. tious education goals adopted at the conference. The Baha ' i International Community Health representative attended regional meetings on In suppori of the World Health Organizaeducation sponsored by the Network in tion' s (WHO) goal of Health for All by the Bangladesh and Chile. Year 2000 through Prirnaty Health Care, Increased international attention to educa- Baha'i communities around the world tion issues and the visible contribution of the initiated health projects, most emphasizing Baha'i International Community strength- education for health. This increased activity ened its relations with UNICEF and made it encouraged the Baha' i International Combetter known to UNESCO. As a consultative munity United Nations Office to intensify its NGO since 1976, the Baha'i International own involvement with health issues. Community addressed the 1991 meeting of In Geneva, WHO headquarters, the the UNICEF Executive Board, supporting Baha'i International Community became an its emphasis on educating girls. The Baha' i active member of the NGO Prima1y Health International Community also assisted with Care Group in 1986. Baha' i International three major UNICEF conferences: one in Community representatives attended the Zimbabwe on Child Development in Africa annual sessions of both the WHO Executive and two in New York on Education of the Board and the World Health Assembly, and Girl Child. Through these and other activities, participated actively in Assembly Technical local Baha ' i programs in education and the Discussions. The same year, the Baha ' i Baha' i commitment to universal education International Community established workbecame better known throughout the world. ing relations with WHO and subsequently The Baha'i International Community's continued to sháengthen cooperation with the dedication to children was not limited to organization. Primary health care activities education. As participants in both United at the grass roots level, many in cooperation Nations and NGO human rights working with WHO, included the involvement groups , Baha' i International Community of Baha' i conmmnities in Burkina Faso, representatives helped draft the Convention Cameroon, India, Laos , Kenya, Malawi, on the Rights of the Child, contributing Malaysia, Swaziland, Tanz ania, Thailand, notably to the text of Atiicle 17. In addition, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 525 The Baha'i International Community sup- on peace and disarmament, including the ported education for health by distributing United Nations Conference for Promotion of sample copies of Facts for Life, a publica- International Cooperation in the Peaceful tion sponsored by UNICEF, WHO, and Uses of Nuclear Energy, the UN Confer- UNESCO, to forty-one National Assemblies ences on Disarmament and Development, and providing over five thousand copies and the Third Special Session of the United in four languages free of charge to thirty Nations General Assembly Devoted to national Baha' i communities. The Baha'i Disarmament. International Community also supported the development by Baha' is of a model commu- Protection and Promotion of Human nity health workers' training program, based Rights on the elements of primary health care, and Beginning in 1980, the Baha' i International adaptable to the needs of each community. Community vigorously sought protection through the United Nations human rights Peace system for the beleaguered Baha' i commu- The International Year of Peace (1986), pro- nity in iran. It also actively promoted the claimed by the United Nations, was well human rights of all people. underway when the Six Year Plan began, The United Nations first intervened on and the Universal House of Justice had behalf of the Baha'i community in Iran in already addressed The Promise of World 1955. When persecutions began again in Peace to the peoples of the world. The pro- 1979, the Baha' i community in iran, having cess of distributing that message to Heads no recourse at the national level, once of State, UN ambassadors, and officials, again appealed for protection to the United however, was just beginning. As a result of Nations human rights system. The 1980 concerted efforts by the Baha'i International Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Community and national Baha'i communi- Discrinllnation and Protection of Minorities, ties around the world, by January 1989 The in response to a Baha' i International Com- Promise of World Peace had been translated munity request, issued the first of several into seventy-six languages and distributed resolutions asking the Iranian authorities to to more than two hundred Heads of State, respect the rights of Baha ' is. Subsequently, many through their Ambassadors at the concern for the welfare of the Baha'i United Nations, and to over two million community in Iran was expressed repeatedly individuals. A wide range of peace activi- in the United Nations Commission on ties, centered around this message of hope, Human Rights and in the General Assembly. led the United Nations Secretary-General to At first, the resolutions by the Commisdesignate the Baha'i International Commu- sion and Sub-Commission, the expressions nity and five of its affiliates-the National of concern by the General Assembly, and Assemblies of Australia, Belgium, Brazil, the public outrage, pa11icularly over the exe- Kenya, and Lesotho-as "Peace Messen- cutions, seemed to have little effect. In 1986, gers," an honor bestowed on only three however, the Commission on Human Rights hundred organizations in the world. appointed Reynaldo Galindo Pohl Special The Baha'i International Community Representative of the Commission and supported the many activities of the Interna- called on the Iranian government to coopertional Year of Peace Secretariat (later the ate by inviting him to visit Iran. For two Peace Studies Unit) and the UN Department years the Iranian government refused, but ofDisam1ament Affairs. In addition, Baha'i in 1988 it agreed to accept Mr. Galindo International Community representatives par- Pohl 's visit and to cooperate with his ticipated in major United Nations meetings investigations. 526 THE BAHA'I WORLD

A representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha 'is of Brazil receiving the United Nations' "Peace Messengers" award from Merida Morales 0 'Donnel, chief of the UN High Commission for Refugees, in Brazil on 15 September J 987.

A year prior to Mr. Galindo Pohl's visit, Violations of the rights of Baha'is in the government began systematically to other countries were also reported to the UN release Baha'is from the prisons and jails. human rights system. In addition, the Baha' i Baha'i children were re-admitted to elemen- International Community devoted considertary and secondary schools, and executions able attention to promoting the human rights came to a halt in 1988. Although the worst of children and minorities, supporting human abuses were coming to an end, discrimina- rights education, cooperating with other tion continued and the Baha'i Faith remained NGOs and participating in the preparat01y a proscribed religion. process for the World Conference on Human Unable to meet with Mr. Galindo Pohl on Rights to be held in 1993. The Baha'i Interhis first visit to Iran, Baha'is succeeded in national Community presented approxin1ately meeting with him on Iranian soil in 1990. He forty oral and written statements to the subsequently made two more visits to Iran, Commission and to the Sub-Commission and his reports, verifying and deploring the on such issues as the need for religious tolerdiscrimination against Baha'is, became pro- ance and respect for the rights of minorities gressively more critical. and the disabled, the right to development, Besides sensitizing the United Nations the need to eliminate torture and racism, the system, government missions in Geneva, World Public Information Campaign on and NGOs, the Baha'i International Com- Human Rights, and the need for a more just munity United Nations Office worked international economic order. The Baha' i closely with National Spiritual Assemblies , International Community contributed to a providing periodic updates, and requesting UN study on minorities and to the draft dectheir assistance. By bringing to the attention laration on the rights of minorities. of their governments the plight of the The Baha'i International Community's Baha ' is in Iran, National Assemblies played participation in the drafting of the Convena critical role in mobilizing the international tion on the Rights of the Child was, perhaps, community and strengthened relations with its most significant contribution. Baha ' i their governments. In consultation with the International Community representatives Baha ' i World Centre, the Baha'i Interna- proposed much of the wording for what tional Community office in Geneva also became Article 17 of the Convention ensurselected and translated relevant documents ing the access of children to appropriate for submission to those in the UN system info1TI1ation. Article 17 addresses the role monitoring discrin1ination. of the media in disseminating to children INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAl-L.\'i ACTIVITIES 527 information that promotes social, spiritual, transfer facilitated closer interaction with and moral well-being and physical and the United Nations High Commissioner for mental health. The Baha'i International Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva and with Community attended the two meetings of other organizations concerned with refugee the Preparatory Committee for the World matters. During the last year of the Six Year Conference on Human Rights, contributing Plan, the number of refugees leaving Iran statements to both meetings. decreased substantially. The Refugee Office continued to monitor the resettlement of Refugee Office refugees and to assist the National Assem- In 1990, the Baha'i International Refugee bly of Pakistan, the UNHCR and other Office, which had been established in relevant agencies in Pakistan, where most Canada by the Universal House of Justice of the refugees had initially arrived, in proin 1986, was transferred to Geneva. This cessing Baha'i refugee cases.

ANNEX I

Special United Nations Conferences, Congresses and Seminars in which the Baha'i International Community Participated 1986--1992

I. Un ited Nations Seminar on Internati onal Assistance on the Rights of the Child; Geneva, Switzerland; and Support to Peoples and Movements Struggling 20- 22 January 1988. Rep: Mrs. Machid Fatio. Against Co lonialism, Racism, Racial Discrimina- 8. World Health Assembly (WI-IA) Technical Discustion and Apartheid; Yaounde, Cameroon; 28 April- sions on "Leadership Development for Health for 9 May April 1986. Rep: Mr. E.O. Asare. All "; Geneva, Switzerland; 7- 9 May 1988. Reps: 2. United Nations General Assemb ly Special Session Mr. Giovanni Ballerio, Dr. Ethel Martens. on the Critical Economic Situation in Africa; New 9. African Seminar on the Universal Declaration of York, U.S.A; 27-3 1 May I 986. Reps: Mrs. Mary Human Rights; Lome, Togo; 5-7 April 1988. Rep: Sawicki Power, Mr. Victor de Araujo . Dr. Akouete Akakpo-Vidah. 3. United Nations Conference for Promotion of Inter- IO. Third Special Session of the Un ited Nations General national Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Assembly Devoted to Disarmament; New York, Nuc lear Energy (UNCPICPUNE); Geneva, Switzer- U.S.A.; 8- 16 May 1988. Reps: Mr. Robert Wh ite, land; 23 March-I 0 April 1987. Reps: Mr. Giovanni Mr. Victor de Araujo. Ballerio, Mrs. Machid Fatio, Mr. Gerald Knight . 11. European Workshop on the Un iversal Declaration 4. United Nations International Conference on Drug of Human Rights: Past, Present and Future; Milan, Abuse and Il licit Trafficking (I CDA IT) ; Vienna, Ita ly; 7-9 September 1988. Rep: Mr. Morten Austria; 17- 26 June 1987. Reps: Mr. Giovanni Bal- Bergs mo. Jerio, Mr. Khashayar Forghani, Mrs. Neda Forghani, 12. Fourth Regiona l Conference on the Integration of Dr. 'Abdu' I Missagh Ghadirian, Mrs. Helene l-lolzl, Women into the Economic and Social Development Mrs. Naghmih Mavaddat, Dr. Roland Philipp. of Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); 5. Intern ational Conference on the Relationship Guatemala City, G uatema la ; 27- 30 September Between Disarmament and Development; New 1988. Rep: Mrs. Helen Mirkovitch de Sanchez. York, U.S.A.; 24 August- I I September 1987 . Reps: 13. United Nations Global Consultation on Racial Mr. Victor de Araujo, Mr. Paul Ojermark. Discrimination; Geneva, Switzerland; 3- 7 October 6. Interregiona l Consultation on Developmental Social 1988. Rep: Mr. Wytze Bos. Welfare Policies and Programmes; Vienna, Austria; 14. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) In for- 7- 15 September 1987. Reps: Mr. G iovanni Bal lerio, ma l Consultation on the Drafting of the Convention Mr. Paul Ojermark, Mrs. Neda Forghani, on the Rights of the Chi ld; Geneva, Switzerland; Mrs. Helene Holz!. November 1988. Reps: Mr. Wytze Bos. 7. Un ited Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) In for- 15. UN Seminar on the Teaching of Human Rights; mal Consultation on the Drafting of the Convention Geneva; 5- 9 December 1988. Rep: Mr. Wytze Bos. 528 THE BAHA'I WORLD

16. United Nations Commemoration of the Fortieth Development (UNCED); Nairobi, Kenya; 6--31 Aug- Anniversary of the Universal Declarati on of Human ust 1990. Reps: Mrs. Joy M 'boya, Mrs. Rose Akech , Rights; Geneva, Switzerland; 12 December 1988. Mr. Greg Du ly. Reps: Mr. Wytze Bos, Mrs. Machid Fatio. 30. lnternational Bureau of Education of the United 17. United Nations Commemoration of the Fortieth Nations Educational, Scientific and Cu ltural Orga- Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human ni zation (UNESCO-IBE) In ternational Conference Rights sponsored by UNESCO; Paris, France; on Education, 42nd Session, Geneva, Switzerland; 8- 10 Dece mber 1988. Reps: Mr. Wytze Bos, 3- 8 September 1990. Reps: Mr. Giovanni Ballerio, Mrs. C hristine Samandari-Hakim. Mr. Daniel Wegener. 18. International Bureau of Education of the United 31 . Second United Nations Conference on Trade and Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Orga- Development in the Least Developed Countries ni zation (UNESCO-IB E) International Conference (UNCTAD); Pari s, France; 3- 14 September 1990. on Educati on, 41 st Session; Geneva, Switzerland; Reps: Mrs. Li esbeth Bos de Jong, Mr. Wytze Bos. 9- 17 January 1989. Rep: Mr. Giovanni Ballerio. 32. UN World Summit on Chi ldren; New York, U.S.A .; 19. United Nations Seminar on the Effects of Racism 30 September 1990. Rep: Dr. Wilma Elli s. and Racia l Discrimination on the Social and 33. Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Economic Relations between Ind igenous Peoples Pacific (ESCAP)/Non-governmental organization and States; Geneva, Switzerland; 16- 20 January (NGO) Media Sympos ium on Communication for 1989. Reps: Mr. Wytze Bos, Mrs. Machid Fatio. Environment; Bangkok, Thailand; 6--10 October 20 .World Health Assembly (W I-IA) Techn ical Discus- 1990. Reps: Mrs. Samireh Smith, Mr. Husayn s ions on "Health of Youth"; Geneva, Switzerland; Anwar. 11 - 13 May 1989. Reps: Mr. Giovanni Ballerio, 34. Second Mini sterial session of the World Climate Dr. Ethel Martens. Conference sponsored by World Meteorological 21. International Conference on the Protection and Organi zation (WMO), United Nations Environment Promotion of Child Rights; Beijing, China; Program (UNEP), United Nations Educational 20-23 November 1989. Rep: Mrs . Nahid Mohajeri Scientific and Cu ltural Organ ization (UNESCO), Eng. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the 22. Fourth Regional Conference on the Integration of International Counci l of Scientific Unions (!CSU) ; Women in Developmen t and on the Implementation Geneva, Switzerland; 6- 7 November 1990. Rep: of the Arusha Strategies for the Advance of Women Mr. Lawrence Arturo. in Africa (ECA); Abuja, Nigeria; 6--10 November 35. UN In ternationa l Seminar on Political, Historical , 1989. Rep: Mrs. Alasebu Gebre Selassie. Economic, Social and Cu ltural Factors ContTibuting 23. Worl d Health Organization Consultati on with Inter- to Racism, Racial Discrimination and Apartheid; national Women's NGOs on AIDS Prevention , Geneva, Switze rland ; 10-14 December 1990. Reps: Con trnl and Care; Geneva, Switzerland; 21 - 22 Dec- Mr. Wytze Bos, Mrs. Machid Fatio. ember 1989. Reps: Mr. Giovanni Ballerio, Dr. Denise 36. First session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Be li sle Committee for a Framework Convention on C limate 24. UN General Assembly Special Session on Drug Change; Washington , D.C.; 4- 14 February 1991. Abuse; New York City, U.S.A.; 20- 23 February Reps: Mrs. Mona Grieser, Mr. Richard Grieser. 1990. Rep: Dr. A.M. Ghadirian. 37. The Latin American and Caribbean Regional Prepa- 25. World Conference on Education for All by the Year ratory Meeting for the United Nations Conference 2000 , sponsored by United Nations Educational on Environment and Development (UNCED); Scientific and C ultural Organ ization (UNESCO), Mexico C ity, Mexico; 4-7 March 199 1. Rep: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Mr. Lawrence Arturo. World Bank; Jomtien, Thailand, 5- 9 March 1990. 38. Second Preparatory Committee (Prepcom) session Rep: Mr. Dani el Wegener. for the UN Conference on Environment and Deve l- 26. Globa l Consultation on the Rea li zation of the Right opment (UNCED); Geneva, Switzerland ; 18 Marchto Development as a Human Right; Geneva, 5 April 199 I. Rep: Mrs . Han-Ju Kim-Farley. 8- 12 Jan uary 1990. Rep: Mrs. Machid Fatio. 39. United Nations Consu ltation on the implementation 27 . Regional preparatory meeting fo r the United of the Convention on the Rights of the Child ; Nations Conference on Environment and Develop- Geneva, Switzerland; 8 May 1991. Rep: Mr. ment (UNCED); Bergen, Norway; 8- 16 May 1990. Giovanni Ballerio. Rep: Mr. Robert White. 40. United Nations Meeting of Peace Messenger 28. Un ited Nations Asian/ Pacific Workshop on Interna- Organizations; Dagomys, U.S.S.R., 10- 14 June tional Human Rights Issues; Manila , Philippines; 1991. Rep: Mrs. Machid Fatio. 7- 11 May 1990. Rep: Dr. Martha Taylor. 41. Third Preparatory Co mmittee (Prepcom) session for 29. First Preparatory Committee (Prepcom) session for the Un ited Nations Conference on Environment and the United Nations Conference on Environment and Deve lopment (UNCED); Geneva, Switzerland ; INT ERNA TIONAL SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 529 12 August-4 September 199 1. Reps : Mrs. Rebequa Ed ucation for All by the Year 2000; Paris, France; Getahoun Murphy, Mrs . Han -J u Kim-Farley. December 1991. Rep : Mr. Daniel Wegener. 42. First Preparatory Committee session for the Un ited 47. World Health Organi zation International Forum on Nations World Conference on Human Rights; "Health: a Cond itionality for Economic Devel op- Geneva, Switzerland; 9- 16 September 199 1. Reps: ment, Breakin g the Cyc le of Poverty and Inequity"; Mr. Wytze Bos, Mrs. Machid Fatio. Accra, Ghana; 4-6 December 199 1. Rep : Mrs. 43. United Nations Educational Scientifi c and Cultural Beatrice Asare. Organization Sub -Regional Meeting on Literacy in 48. Regional Consultation on Ed ucati on for All for Francophone Africa; Porto Novo, Benin; October South Asia; Dhaka, Bangladesh; 24- 26 February 1991. Reps: Mr. Daniel Wegener, Mrs. Parvin 1992. Rep: Mr. Daniel Wegener. Djoneidi. 49. Fourth Preparatory Committee (Prepcom) sess ion 44. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and for the United Nations Conference on Environment the Pac ific (ESCAP) South As ian and Pacific Mini s- and Development (UNCED); New York, U.S.A.; teri al Confe rence on Soc ial Welfare and Social 2 March- 3 April 1992. Reps : Mr. Lawrence Arturo, Development; Manila, Philippines; 7- 11 October Mrs. Han-Ju Kim-Farley. 199 1. Reps: Mr. Husayn Anwar, Mrs . Tinai Hancock. 50. Second Preparatory Committee session for the 45 . United Nations Regional Symposi um on Co-opera- Uni ted Nations World Conference on Human tion between the Economic and Social Commiss ion Rights; Geneva, Switzerl and ; 30 March- I 0 April for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and Non-govern- 1992. Reps: Mr. Wytze Bos, Mrs. Machid Fatio. mental Organi zations (NGOs) for Rura l Poverty 5 1. Uni ted Nations Educational Sc ientific and Cultural Alleviation; Bangkok, Thai land; 16-- 19 December Organ ization (UNESCO) Regional Seminar on 199 1. Reps: Mrs. Tinai Hancock. Strategies to Satisfy Bas ic Learning Needs; Santi- 46. Un ited Nations Educati onal Scientific and Cultural ago, Chil e; 20- 22 Apri l 1992. Reps: Mr. Dani el Organization International Consultative Forum on Wegener, Mrs. Helen Mirkovitch de Sanchez.

ANNEX II

Statements, Reports and other Publications Presented by the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations Ri<;Ivan 1986-Ri<;lvan 1992

I . Statemen t to the 42nd Session of the Economi c and 6. A Report to the United Nations Chil dren' s Fund Social Commi ss ion for Asia and th e Pacific (UNICEF) on Baha'i In ternational Commun ity (ESCAP); Bangkok, Thailand, 22 April- 2 May activities in support of International Youth Year, 1986. submitted 3 Jun e 1986. 2. Statemen t to the N inth Session of the United 7. Report to the UN Economic and Soc ial Council Nations Commission on Human Settlements; (ECOSOC) on Baha'i In ternational Community Istanbul , T urkey, 5--6 May 1986. consultative activities during the period January 3. " Food Security: The African Woman Farmer," 1982/December 1985; submitted 20 Jun e 1986. a statement by Semin ar Resource Person Paul 8. "Education for Peace and Unity"; a statement Oj ermark of the Baha'i Intern ational Community at submitted to the International Sympos ium "Educaa symposi um sponsored by the Advocates for tion fo r International Understanding and Peace"; African Food Security at UN Headqu arters, New Barce lona, Spain , 7- 12 Jul y 1986. York, U.S.A., 15 May 1986. 9. " Persecution of the Baha' is in Iran 1979- 1986. A 7- 4. " Help African Women"; a statement presented Year Campaign to Elimin ate a Religious Minority," jointly by the members of the Advocates for African Second Ed ition. A booklet published by the Baha'i Food Security to the UN General Assembly Spec ial Intern ational Community United Nations Office. Session on the Critica l Economic Situati on in I 0. Statement to the Genera l Congress of the Interna- Africa; New York, U.S.A ., 27-31 May 1986. tional Catholi c Child Bureau; Rome, Italy, 5. "Conflict-Free Confli ct Resolution: Concepts and 1-3 December 1986. Methods" a paper by Hossain Danesh presented by 11 "Prevention of Drug Abuse: A Baha'i Perspective", the Baha'i In ternational Community to the World a paper by A.M. Ghadirian , M .D., presented at the Congress Devoted to the International Year of Peace InteJTegional Conference on the Involvement of sponsored by the World Association of World NGOs in Prevention and Reduction of the Demand for Federalists; Copenhagen, Denmark, October 1986. Drugs; Stockholm, Sweden, 15- 19 Dece mber 1986. 530 Tl-IE BAHA ' I WORLD

12. "The Fami ly: A Baha'i Perspective," a statement 22. Oral statement to the 43rd session of the Un ited to the consul tation "The Family as the First Nations Commi ss ion on Human Rights on torture Community," sponsored by the New York Non- and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or Governmenta Organ ization Worki ng Group on the punish111ent; Geneva, January/March 1987. Family; New York, U.S.A. , 7 January 1987. 23. Oral statement to the 43rd session of the Com111is- 13. Statemen t submitted jointly by several non-govern- sion on Human Rights on the role of youth in the menta l organizations to the United Nations promotion and protection of human rights; Geneva, Co mmission on the Status of Women on the consul- January/March 1987. tative role of NGOs in the implementation of the 24. Oral statement to the 43rd session of the United Commission' s future work and in the Commiss ion's Nati ons Commi ssion on Human Rights in rebuttal efforts to integrate the Na irobi Forward- Looking of the charges made by the representative of the Strategies in to the Med ium-Term Plan and in to lsla111ic Republic of Iran in hi s statement to the development programs; Vienna, Austria, 15 January Commiss ion on 5 March 1987; and in hi s reply on 1987. 9 and 10 March 1987. Geneva, March 1987. 14. Ora l statement to the 30th sess ion of the United 25. Oral statement to the United Nations Conference for Nations Comm ission for Social Develop ment on the Promotion of Internati onal Cooperation in the !Tends and strategies for socia l integrati on through Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (UNCP IC PUNE); popu lar participation and poli cies for the advance- Geneva, Switzerland, 23 March- 0 April 1987. ment of speci fie soc ial groups; V ienna, Austria , 26. Oral sta tement to the Tenth Sess ion of the UN Com- 23 February-4 March 1987 . mi ss ion on Human Settlements; Nairob i, Kenya, 15. Oral statement to the 43rd sess ion of the UN 6- 16 April 1987. Commi ssion on Human Rights on the human 27. Wri tten statement to the 27th session of the Un ited ri g hts si tuation of the Baha'is in Iran ; Geneva, Nations Committee for Programme and Co-ord ina- Switzerland , 21 Janu ary 1987. ti on on Recurrent Publications of the United Nations, 16. Ora l statement to the 43rd sess ion of the United circulated as UN documen t E/AC.5 111 987/12; Nations Commi ss ion on Human Rights on the status 28 Apri\- 23 May 1987. of the in ternationa l covenant on economic, soc ial 28. Oral statement to the Un ited Nations International and cultural rights. Geneva, Switzerland, Janu ary/ Conference on Drug Abuse and Illi cit Traffi cking; March 1987. Vienna, Austria, 17- 26 June 1987. 17. Oral statement to the 43rd sess ion of the United 29. Statement on the Rights of Ind igenous Popu lations Nations Commiss ion on Human Rights on the Ques- presented to the 5th session of the Workin g Gro up tion of the Violation of Human Rights and on In dige nous Popul ations of the Sub-Commiss ion Fundamental Freedoms in any Part of the World; on the Prevention of Discrim inat io n and Protection Geneva, Sw itze rl and, January/ March 1987. of Min orities; Geneva , Switze rl and, 30 Ju ly 1987. 18. Written statement to the 43rd session of th e 30. Written statement to the Internationa l Conference Commi ssion on Human Rights on the Ques ti on of on the Re lationship between Disarmame nt and the Violation of Human Rights and Fundamental Develop111ent, circ ul ated as UN doc ument A/ Freedo ms in any Part of the World, with Particular Conf. 130/NG0/34; New York City, U.S.A. , Reference to Co lonial and Other Dependent Coun- 24 A ugust- I I September 1987. tries and Territories, circu lated as UN document E/ 3 1. Written statement to the United Nations Interre- CN.411987/23; Geneva, Switzerland, 28 Jan uary gional Consultation on Deve lopment Social We lfare 1987. Po li cies and Programmes, circu lated as UN docu- 19. Ora l statement to the 43rd sess ion of the United ment E/CONF.80/NG0 .7; V ienna, Austria, Nation s Co mmi ss ion on Human Rights on the 7-15 September 1987. Implementati on of the Programme of Action for the 32. Oral state ment to the UN Interregional Consultati on Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racia l on Deve lopmenta l Soc ial We lfare Policies and Pro- Discrimination; Geneva, January/March 1987. grammes; Vienna, AustTia, I 0 September 1987. 20. State ment to the 43rd sess ion of the United Nations 33. The Baha'i State ment on Nature, presented to HRH Com111iss ion on Hu111an Rights on the !111pl ementa- the Duke of Edi nburgh when the Baha ' i Fa ith tion of the Declaration on the Eli111ination of A ll became the sixth major religion to joi n the Worl d For111s of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Network on Conseron Rel igion or Be lief; Geneva, January/ March 1987. vation and Re li gion on 5 October 1988. 2 1. O ral state ment to the 43rd sess ion of the UN Co111- 34. Oral statement on the situation of human ri ghts in mi ssion on Hu111an Rights on the Question of the the Islamic Republic of Iran presented to the Th ird rea lization in all co untries of the rights contained in Committee of the Un ited Nations General Assembly the Universa l Dec laration of Human Rights and in at its 42nd session during consideration of the the In ternationa l Covenant on Economic, Socia l and Report of the Economic and Soc ial Co uncil ; New C ultural Rights; Geneva, .J anuary/March 1987. York C ity, U.S.A., 12 October 1987. INTER NAT IO NAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIV ITI ES 531 35 . Written statement to the I 0th special session of the 47. Written statement on measures to combat racism Uni ted Nations Economic and Social Counci l Com- and racial discrimination and the ro le of the Submission on Narcotic Drugs, circulated as UN Com mission circulated as UN document E/CN.4/ document E/CN.7/1988/NG0. 1; Vienna, Austria, Sub.211988/NG0/5 al the 40th session of the UN 8- 19 February 1988. Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination 36. Oral statement on the implementation of the pro- and Protection of Minorities; Geneva, Switzerland , gram me of action for the Second Decade to Combat 8 A ugust l 988. Racism and Racia l Discrimination presented to the 48. Oral statement on th e human ri ghts situation of the 44th sess ion of the UN Comm iss ion on Human Baha'is in iran presented to th e 40th session of the Rights ; Geneva, Switzerland, l 0 February 1988. United Nations Sub-commission on Prevention of 3 7. Oral statement on the right to development pre- Discrimination and Protection of Minori ties; sented to the 44th session of the UN Commission on Geneva, Switzerland, August 1988. Human Rights; Geneva, Switzerland, l 6 February 49. Oral statement on human ri ghts and disability pre- 1988. sented to the 40th session of the UN Sub- 38. Oral statement on the elimination of re ligiou s Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and discrimination presented to the 44th session of the Protection of Minorities; Geneva, Switzerland, UN Commission on Human Rights; Geneva, August 1988. Switzerland, 17 February 1988. 50. Written statement on human rights and disabi li ty, 39. Oral statement on the elimination of torture pre- circul ated as UN document E/C N.4/Sub.211988/ sented to th e 44th session of the UN Co mmi ssion on NG0/4 at the 40th sess ion of the UN Sub-Commis- Human Rights; Geneva, Switzerl and, 19 February sion on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection 1988. of Minorities; Geneva, Switzerland , August 1988. 40. Oral statement on the human rights situati on of 5 1. Oral statement lo the Fourth Regional Conference the Baha ' is in Iran, presented to the 44th session of on the Integration of Women into the Economi c the UN Commission on Human Rights; Geneva, and Soc ial Development of Latin America and the Switzerland, I March 1988 . Caribbean; Guatemala City, Guatemala, 27-30 Sep- 4 1. Written statement on equality presented to the 32nd tember 1988. session of the UN Commission on the Status of 52. "Spiri tua l Foundations for an Eco logica lly Sustain- Women, circu lated as UN document E/CN.6/ 1988/ able Society," an essay by Robert White, origina lly NGO/ I; Vienna, Austria, 14-23 March 1988. pub li shed in Th e Joum a/ of Balui 'i Studies (vo l. 2, 42. Written statement on the problems of rural women, no. I), issued as a monograph by the Office for the includ ing food, water resources, agricultural tech- Environme nt as a contributi on lo the preparatory nology, rural empl oyment, transportation and process for the Un ited Nations Co nference on Envienvironment, circu lated as UN document E/CN.6/ ronment and Development. 1988/NGO/l 3 at the UN Comm ission on the Status 53.0NE COUNTRY, Winter 1989, Vol. I, Issue I, the of Women; Austria, 14- 23 March 1988. news letter of the Baha'i International Community. 43. Oral statement to the 44th session of the Economic Headline: "New Conservation Project Reaches oul and Social Commission for Asia and the Pac ifi c lo Artistic Worl d," distributed 10 ambassadors, (ESCAP); Jakarta, Indonesia, 11-20 Apri l 1988. diplomats and other leaders of thought. 44. Comments and views on a UN-commissioned study 54. Oral statement on implem entation of the Proo n the Ach ievements made and Obstacles Encoun- gram me of Action for the Second Decade to Combat tered during the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racia l Discri mination presented to the Racism and Racial Discrimination, subm itted to the 45th UN Commission on Human Rights; Geneva, UN Centre for Human Rights; Ge neva, Sw itzerland, Switzerland, 8 February 1989. 23 June 1988. 55. Ora l statement on the prob lems whi ch th e develop- 45. Ora l statement on the evo lution of standards con- ing countries face in their effo rts lo achi eve cerni ng the rights of indigenous popu lations, economic, soc ia l and cu ltural rights, presented to the presented to the 6th session of the Working Group 45th United Nations Comm ission on Human Rights; on Indigenous Popu lations of the 40th session of the Geneva, Switzerland, 9 February 1989. United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of 56. Oral statement on a World Campa ign for Human Discrimination and Protection of Minorities; Rights presented to the 45th United Nations Com - Geneva, Switzerland, 1- 5 August 1988. mission on Human Rights; Geneva, Swi tzerland, 46. Oral statement on measures to combat racism and 15 February 1989. racial discrimin ation and the ro le of the Sub-Com- 57. Oral statement on the human ri ghts situation of the missio n lo the 40th session of the UN Sub- Baha'is in Iran presented lo the 45th Commission on commi ss ion on Preventio n of Disc ri mination and Human Rights; Geneva, Switze rland, I March 1989. Protection of Minoriti es; Geneva , Switzerland, 58. Oral statement on implementation of the Dec lara- A ug ust 1988. ti on on the Elim ination of Al l Form s of Intolerance 532 THE BAHA'f WORLD

and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, Community for distribution at the World Conferpresented to the 45th Comm ission on Human ence on Education for A ll , Jomtien, Thailand, Rights; Geneva, Switzerland, I March 1989. 5-9 March 1990. 59. Oral statement on a Baha' i development project for 71.0NE COUNTRY, Jan uary-March 1990, Vol. 2, women in India, presented to the 33rd session of the Issue I, newsletter of the Baha ' i International United Nations Comm ission on the Status of Commun ity. Headline: "A Visit to the Soviet Union, Women; Vienna, Austria, 29 March- 7 April 1989. carry ing a message of peace, evokes a warm 60. ONE COUNTRY Spring 1989, Vo l. 1, Issue 2, response ." newsletter of the Baha'i In ternational Community. 72. Written statement on the el im ination of all forms of "Decade-long Effort to Promote Literacy Launched." intolerance and of discrimination based on religion 6 1. Report to the United Nations Di vision on the or belief, circulated as UN document E/CN.4/1990/ Advancement of Women, on Baha ' i International NG0/5 at the 46th session of the UN Co mmission Community Implementation of the Nairobi on Human Rights; Geneva, Switzerland, 25 January Forward-Looking Strategies; June 1989. 1990. 62.0ral statement on Baha ' i In ternational Community 73. Written statement on the impl ementation of the Pro- Training Acti vities for Women in the Pacific, pre- gramme of Action for th e Second Decade to Combat sented to th e South Pacific Commi ssion lnteragency Rac ism and Racial Di scrimination, circul ated as UN Meeting; Suva, Fiji, 31 July-4 August 1989. docum ent E/CN .4/1990/NG0/7 at the 46th session 63. ONE COUNTRY, June-A ugust 1989, Vol. 1, Issue 3, of the UN Commission on Human Rights; Geneva, newsletter of the Baha ' i International Community. Switzerland, 25 January 1990. Headline: "S imple methods, simple training are 74. Written statement on the Report of the Sub-Comkeys to primary health care in vill ages." mi ssion on Prevention of Discrimination and 64. Oral statement on the evo lution of standards con- Protection of Minorities at its 41 st session , circucerning the rights of indigenous popu lations, lated as UN document E/CN .4/1990/NG 0/6 at the presented to th e 7th session of the Working Group 46th session of the UN Commission on Human on Indi genous Population s of the UN Sub-Comm is- Rights; Geneva, Switzerland, 26 January 1990. sion on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection 75. Ora l statement on the right to development, preof Minorities; Geneva, 3 August 1989. sen ted to the 46th session of the UN Commi ssion on 65. Oral statement on the human rights situation of the Human Rights; Geneva, Switzerland, 9 February Baha' is in Iran, presented to the 41st session of the 1990. United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of 76. Oral statement on the elimination of all forn1s of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities; intolerance and di scrimination based on religion or Geneva, 16 August 1989. be lief, presented to the 46th session of the UN Com- 66. Oral statement on measures to combat rac ism and mi ss ion on Human Rights; Geneva, Swi tzerland, rac ial discrimination presented to the 41 st sess ion of 12 February 1990. the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention 77. Oral statement on the situation of the Baha'is in iran of Di scrimination and Protection of Minorities; to the 46th session of the UN Comm ission on Geneva, 21 August 1989. Human Rights; Geneva, Switzerland, February 67. Oral statement on the individua l and contemporary 1990. International Law, presented in French to th e 4 1st 78. Statement submitted by the Advocates fo r Africa n session of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Food Security and s igned by several non-govern- Prevention of Discrimin ation and Protection of menta l organizations to the 34th sess ion of the UN Minorities; Geneva, 30 August 1989. Commi ssion on the Status of Women , on the nega- 68. ONE COUNTRY, October- December 1989, Vol. I, ti ve effects of the international economic situation Issue 4, newsletter of the Baha' i International Co m- on the improvement of the status of wome n; Vienna, munity. Headline: "An is Zu nuzi Schoo l in Ha iti Austria, 26 February-9 March 1990. emphasizes moral training and cooperation ski ll s." 79. Oral statement to the 34th session of the UN Com- 69. Oral statement on the implementation of the Arusha mi ssion on the Status of Women, on equali ty in Strategies for the Advancement of Women in Africa po litical participation and dec ision-making; Vienna, beyond the end of the Un ited Nations Decade for Austria, 26 February- 9 March 1990. Women, presented to the 4th Regional Conference 80. Statement on NGOs and Literacy: Meeting Basic on the Integration of Women in Development and Learning Needs-The Experience of Baha' i on the Im plementation of the Arusha Strategies for Communities, presented to a round-tab le discussion the Advance of Women in Africa, organized by the at th e World Conference on Education for A ll ; Economi c Comm ission for Africa; Abuja, Nigeria, Jomtien , Thailand, 5-9 March 1990. 6-10 November 1989. 8 1. Statement on The Teacher's Situation: The Deter- 70. "Survey of Baha'i Education Programmes," January mining Factor of a Quality Education for All , 1990, booklet published by the Baha'i International presented to a round-tabl e discussion at the World INT ERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'f ACTIV ITI ES 533 Conference on Education for All; Jomtien, Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Thailand , 5-9 March 1990. Protection of Minorities; Geneva, 15 August 1990. 82. Statement on The Education of Girls: Co nstraints 94. Oral statement to the 42nd session of the United and Policy Measures, presented to a round-table Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Disdiscussion at the World Conference on Education crimination and Protection of Minorities on the for All ; Jomtien, Thailand, 5-9 March 1990. human rights si tuation of the Baha'is in Iran; 83. Statement on New Delivery Systems for Basic Geneva, August 1990. Education, presented to a round-table discussion at 95 . Oral statement to the 42nd session of the UN the World Conference on Education for all ; Jomtien, Sub-Commission on Prevention of Di scrimination Thailand, 5-9 March 1990. and Protection of Mi nori ties on measures to com- 84. ONE COUNTRY, April-June 1990, Vol. 2, Issue 2, bat racism and racial discri mination and the ro le of the newsletter of the Baha'i Intern ational Commu- the Sub-Commission; Geneva, August 1990. nity. Headline: "A mong the Daga peop le in Papua 96. "The Common Goa l of Uni versal Peace in New Guinea a newfound sense of cooperation Buddhism and the Baha ' i Faith," a paper delivered emerges." to the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace; 85. Pamphlet describing the work of the Baha' i Interna- Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia, 16-25 September 1990. tional Community Office of the Environment. 97. ONE COUNTR Y, October-December 1990, vo l. 2, 86. Quadrennial Report to the Econom ic and Soc ial issue 4, the newsletter of the Baha'i lnternational Counci l (ECOSOC) for the period January 1986 Community. Headline: "Vocational training for rural through December 1989, describing the work of the women in India brings unexpected dividends." Baha'i International Com munity as a non-govern- 98. Statement on the Proposed World Conservation mental organization in consultative status. Strategy for the I 990 ' s, delivered to the General Appendix I li sts United Nations meetings attended; Assembly of the World Conservation Union Appendix II lists statements presented to United (IUCN) ; Perth , Austra lia, 26 November 1990. Nati ons bodies. 99. "Baha'i Faith," an essay published in The New 87. "Women 2000 Report" submitted in response to a Road, Issue No. 16, Oct-Dec 90, published by questionnaire from the UN Division for the the World Wide Fund for Nature. This essay was Advancement of Women in Vienna, Austria, for submitted in response to "editorial requests to publication in the magazine, Women 2000. Also schol ars w ithin al l major faiths for their stand on used in the preparation of a background document the popu lation issue. " on Machinery for the Integration of Women in 100. ONE COUNTRY, January-March 1991, Vol. 3, Development for th e 199 1 session of the UN Com- Issue I, the newsletter of the Baha' i Internati onal mission on the Status of Women. Communi ty . Headline: "Bolivian Environmental 88. ONE COUNTRY, Ju ly-Septem ber 1990, Vol. 2, Research Center Focuses on Problems of the Issue 3, the news letter of the Baha'i lnternational Altipl ano." Community. Head line: "Nur Un iversity: An educa- IOI. "A Baha ' i perspective on drug abuse prevention" tional Upstart Exceeds Expectati ons in Bolivia." an article by A.M . Ghad irian in Bulletin on Nar- 89. Ora l statement to the 8th session of the Working cotics Vol. XLIII, No . I, 1991 , published by the Group on Indigenous Popu lations, addressing the United Nations International Drug Control Program. evolution of standards concerning the rights of 102. Report on Baha'i International Community activiindigenous popu lations. Geneva, 23 Jul y-3 August ties in suppo rt of International Literacy Year, 1990. 1990, presented to th e International Task Force on 90. Oral statement to the 8th sess ion of the Working Literacy, 4-8 February, 1991 , Bonn, Germany. Group on Indigenous Populations, on the promotion 103. "The Book Voyage," a proj ect of the International and protection of human rights and fundamenta l Task Force on Literacy in support of Internati onal freedoms of indigenous popu lations. Literacy Year 1990, which culminated in ceremo- 9 1. Statement by the Baha'i Intern ational Community to nies at the UN in New York on 10- 11 Decem ber the Baltic Sea Ra lly on Minorities and Human 1990. Report presented to the International Task Rights, Bornholm 27 Jul y 1990. Force on Literacy, Bonn, Germany; 4-8 February, 92. Statement on the importance of invol ving non- 1991. gove rnmental organ iza tions (NGOs) in the process 104. Statement on the lnternational Year of the Family of preparing for the United Nat ions Conference on submitted jointly by several NGOs to the 32nd Environment and Development (UNCED), pre- sess ion of the Commission on Social Deve lopsented to the first substanti ve session of the ment; Vienna, 11 -20 February 199 1. Preparatory Committee for UNCED; Nairobi, 105 . Written statement on the Rights of persons belong Kenya, 6-31 August 1990. ing to national, ethn ic, religi ous and linguistic 93 . Oral statement on Protection of Minorities, pre- minorities, circulated as UN document E/CN.4/ sented to the 42nd session of the UN Sub- 1991 /NG0/9 at the 47th Session of the UN 534 THE BAHA' f WORLD

Commission on Human Rights; Geneva, Switzer- 11 7. Oral statement presented jointly by the Baha 'i land, February 199 1. Intern ati onal Communi ty and the NSAs of Brazil I 06. Statement submitted jointly by several non- and Belgium to the Meeting of Peace Messenger governmental organizations to the 4 7th Session Organizations; U.S.S .R., June 1991. of the UN Co mmission o n Human Rights on the 118. Proposal for the Improvement of the working status of the Convention on the Rights of the methods of the Sub-Commission on the Preven- Child; Geneva, February 199 1. tion of Discrimination and Protection of 107. Oral statement to the 47th Session of the UN Minorities with regard to the role ofNGOs. Commi ssion o n Human Rights on the human 119. ONE COUNTRY, July-September 199 1, Vol. 3, rights situation of the Baha ' is in Iran; Geneva, Issue 3, newsletter of the Baha' i International February 199 1. Com munity. Headl ine: "New Survey of NGOs 108. Ora l statement to the 47th Session of the UN Com- suggests root causes of African food problems." mi ssion on Human Rights on Impl ementation of 120. Oral statement on the human rights situation of the the Declaration on the Elimi nation of All Forn1s of Baha ' is in Iran, presented to the 43rd sess ion of the Intolerance and of Di scrimination Based on Reli - UN Sub-Commi ssion on the Preventi on of Di scrimgion or Belief; Geneva, Switzerland, February 199 1. ination and Protection of Minorities; August 199 1. 109. Statement submitted joi ntl y by several NGOs to 12 1. "Intern ational Legislation for Environment and th e 35 th session of the UN Comm ission on the Development," a statement presented to the Inter- Status of Women, add ressing the priority theme , national Environmental Law Conference; The Peace: Refugee and di splaced women and chil- Hague, 12- 16 August 199 1. Also presented in a dren; Vienna, Austria, March 1991. sli ghtly modified forrn to Working Group III of 110. Statement submitted by the Ad vocates for African the 3rd session of the Preparatory Committee for Food Security: lessening th e burden fo r women on The UN Conference on Environment and Deve lbehalf of severa l NGOs to the 35th session of th e opment (UNCED); Geneva, August 199 1. UN Commission on the Status of Women, on th e 122. Oral intervention at the ! st session of the Preparaimplementati on of the Nairobi Forward-looking tory Co mmittee for the World co nfere nce on Strategies for the Adva ncement of Women; Human Rights; Geneva, I I September 1991. Vienna, Austria, 27 February to 5 March . 123. ONE COUNTRY, October- December 1991 , Vol. 3, 111. Statement submitted j ointl y by several NGOs to Issue 4, newsletter of the Baha' i International the 2nd session of the Preparatory Committee (Prep- Co mmunity. Headline : "On the Road to Rio: com) for the UN Conference on th e Environment women ' s voices are raised in Miami ." and Development (UNCED) on the interrelation- 124. " Women and Men: Partn ership for a Healthy ship between popul atio n and environment and Planet," a statement presented to the World development and the essential ro le of women in Women's Congress for a Healthy Pl anet; Miami , these processes; Geneva, 18 March- 5 April 199 1. Florida, August 8- 14, 1991. 11 2. Comments on the Questionnaire annexed to the 125 . Contribution to wording of the Report on Institu- Special Rapporteur' s progress report on "Poss ibl e tional Proposals by the Secretary General of the ways and means of facilitating the peaceful and Conference, Paragraph 89, drafted 13 December constructive solutions of situations invol ving 1991 ; presented to Working Group Ill of the 4th minoriti es"; Geneva, March 1991. Preparatory Comm ittee fo r UNCE D; New York, 113. ONE COUNTRY, Apri l- June 199 1, Vo l. 3 issue 2, 2 March-3 April 1992. Baha ' i International Community news letter. Head- 126. Report submitted to the UN Regiona l Symposium lin e: "Earth Summit" in 1992 stimu lates NGO on Cooperation between the Economi c and Social activ iti es worldwide." Commi ssion for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) 114. "Elements for Inclusion in the Proposed "Earth and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) fo r Charter," suggestions offered to the 2nd Preparatory Rura l Poverty Alleviation; Bangkok, Thailand, Committee of The UN Conference on Environment 16 December 1991. and Development (UNCED); Geneva, 5 April 199 1. 127. ONE COUNTRY, October-December 199 1, Vol. 4, 115. Statement on the girl child, presented to the United Issue I, newsletter of the Baha'i International Natio ns Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Community. Headline: "Befo re it begins the Earth Board, under agenda item Women in development; Summit chalks up successes." New York, 22 Apri l 199 1. 128. Statement on the Impl ementation of th e Pro- 11 6. "Culture and Development: A Survey of the gramme of Acti on for the Second Decade to Baha' i Experience," a talk given at a seminar on Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, subthe UN World Decade for Cultura l Development, mitted to the 48th session of th e UN Commission sponsored by the NGO Committee fo r Sustain ab le on Human Ri gh ts; Geneva, February 1992. Development and UNESCO at UN Headquarters; 129. Oral statement on the ri ghts of persons belonging to New York City, May 29, 199 1. national, ethnic, religious and linguisti c minoriti es, INTER NAT IONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA 'I ACTIVIT IES 535 presented to the 48th session of the UN Commis- 135. Oral statement urging the inclusion of the princision on Human Rights; Geneva, February 1992. ple of the oneness of humani ty in the preamble to 130. Oral statement on Implementation of the Declara- the Earth Charter, presented to Working Group III ti on on the Elimination of All Forms of of PrepCom 4 for the United Nations Conference Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Reli- on Environment and Development (UNCED); gion or Belief, presented under agenda item 22 to New York, 4 March 1992. Also circulated as a the 48th session of the Commission on Human longer written statement. Rights; Geneva, February 1992. 136. ONE COUNTRY, Vo l. 4 issue 2, April-June 1992, 131 . Oral statement on the human rights situation of the Baha' i International Community. Headline: "The Baha'is in Iran, presented to the 48th sess ion of Legacy of Rio : A New Global Vision." the Commission on Human Rights ; Geneva, 137. Statement on the human rights of women pre- Switzerland, 19 February 1992. sented by the Baha'i Internationa l Community on 132. Written statement presented jointly by several behalf of several non-governmental organizations non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and cir- to the 2nd session of the Preparatory Committee culated as UN document E/CN .6/ 1992/ 1. at the for the World Conference on Human Rights; 36th session of the UN Commission on the Status Geneva, 6 April 1992. of Women on priority themes: Equa lity (Elimina- 138. Statement encouraging involvement of nontion of de Jure and de facto discrimination against governmental organizations (NGOs) in regional women) and Deve lopment (Integration of women meetings, submitted jointly by several NGOs to in the process of development); Vienna, Austria, the 2nd session of the Preparatory Comm ittee for 20 February 1992. the World Conference on Human Rights; Geneva, 133. Statement on partnership between women and March 30-April 10, 1992 . men for sustainable development, submitted to the 139. Description of the Baha'i International Community 36th session of the Commission on the Status of submitted for a Round Table on "U nderstanding Women; Vienna, Austria, March 1992. the role of international non-governmental organi- 134. Oral statement about the effects of gender discrim- zations: challenges and opportun ities for the United ination on girl children presented under the Nations and Non-Governmental Organizations," priority theme equality to the 36th session of the hosted by the Co mmittee on Non-Governmental UN Commi ssion on the Status of Women; Vienna, Organ izations of the Economic and Social Council Austria, 17 March 1992. (ECOSOC); New York, 9 Apri l 1992.

The Baha'i International Community was represented at the fourth Regional South Pacific Committee Conference of Pacific Women, held in Suva, Fiji, from 17-23 September 1988. On the left: Mrs. Mary Sawicki Power; on the right: Mrs. Tinai Hancock. 536 THE BAHA' I WORLD

ANNEX III

Relationship of the Baha 'i International Community with the South Pacific Commission (Con fe rences Attended)

1. The 5th meeting of the Committee of Representa- 7. The I 0th meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Admini strations (CRGA) tives of Governments and Admini strations (CRGA) of the South Pacific Commi ssion; Noumea, New of the South Pacific Commiss ion; Noumea, New Caledonia; 26-3 0 May 1986. Rep : Mrs. Ti nai Caledonia; 22 -26 May 1989. Rep: Mrs . Ti nai Hancock. Hancock. 2. The 26th Con ference of the South Pacific Commis- 8. South Pacific Commission lnteragency Meeting; sion; Papeete, French Polynesia; 3-5 November Suva, Fiji ; 3 1 July-4 August 1989. Rep: Mrs. T inai 1986. Rep: Mrs . Tinai Hancock. Hancock. 3. The 7th meeting of the Committee of Representa- 9. The 29th Conference of the South Pacifi c Commis - tives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA) sion; Agana, Guam; 9-11 October 1989. Rep: of the South Pacific Commission; Nou mea, New Mrs. Tinai Hancock. Caledoni a and the Loyalty Islands; 18-22 May IO. The 30th Conference of the South Pacific Commis- 1987. Reps: Mrs. Tinai Hancock, Mr. Timoci sion ; Noumea, New Caledon ia; 29-3 1 October 1990. Serevi. Rep: Mrs. Tinai Hancock. 4 . The 27th Conference of the South Pacific Commis- 11 . So uth Pacific Commi ssion lnteragency Meeting; sion; Noumea, New Ca ledonia; I 0-14 October 1987. Suva, Fij i; 18-20 February 199 1. Rep: Mrs. Audrey Rep: Mrs. Tinai Hancock. Hancock-Aumua. 5. The 4th Regional Sou th Pacific Commi ss ion 12. The 12th meeting of the Committee of Representa- Conference of Pacific Women ; Suva, Fij i; ti ves of Govern ments and Admini strations (CRGA) 17-23 September 1988. Reps: Mrs. Tinai Hancock, of the South Pac ific Commiss ion (SPC); Noumea, Ms. Mary Sawicki Power. New Caledonia ; 27-31 May 199 1. Rep: Mrs. Audrey 6. The 28th Conference of the Sou th Pacific Commis- 1-lancock-Aumua. sion ; Rarotonga, Cook Islands; I 0-1 2 October 1988. 13. The 3 1st Conference of the South Pacific Commis- Rep: Mrs. Tinai Hancock, Ms. Mary Sawicki sion; Tonga; 28-30 October 199 1. Rep: Mrs. T inai Power. Hancock.

Statements Presented to the South Pacific Commission and at Conferences in the Region I. Statement to the Fifth Session of the South Pacific 5. Statement to the I 0th Meeting of the South Pacific Commission. Committee of Representatives of Gov- Commiss ion 's Commi ttee of Representatives of ernments and Admini strations (CRGA); Noumea, Governments and Admini strations (CRGA); Noumea, New Caledonia, 26-30 May 1986. New Ca ledonia, 22-26 May 1989. 2. Statement to the 26th South Pacific Conference; 6. Statement on Baha' i International Communi ty Train- Papee te, French Polynesia, 3- 5 November 1986. ing Activities for Women in the Pacific, presented to 3. Statement on health, ed ucation and the role of the South Pacifi c Commiss ion In teragency Meeting; women presented to the 9th Meeting of the South Suva, Fiji , 3 1 July-4 August 1989. Pac ifi c Commiss ion's Committee of Representa- 7. Statement to the 29th South Pacific Commission tives, Governments and Administrations (CARGA); [SPC] Conference; Agan a, Guam; 9-11 October 1989. Noumea, New Cal edonia , 23- 27 May 1988. 8. Statement on Health and Nutriti on presented to 4. Statement submitted to the 28th South Pacific the Committee of Representati ves of Governments Conference (SPC); Rarotonga, Cook Islands , and Administrations (C RGA) of the South Pacific I 0-12 October 1988. Commiss ion (SPC); Noumea, New Caledon ia, 27-3 I May 1991. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES

3. THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC lNFORMA TION

THE Baha'i International Community's Development of Supplemental Resource Office of Public Information was one year Materials old when the Six Year Plan opened at The task of creating resource materials to Ric;lvan 1986. Established for the purpose of supplement those produced by National promoting a favorable and accurate image Assemblies was undertaken principally by of the Baha'i Faith internationally, the the Haifa Office. Economies offered by the Office disseminated information, produced opportunity to design and produce materials resource materials, corrected inaccuracies centrally were especially attractive in the and misperceptions, developed collaborative area of pamphlet literature. In 1987, a prorelationships with like minded groups, and gram entitled the Perspective Series was provided assistance and advice to National undertaken to make available to National Spiritual Assemblies and their information Assemblies high quality literature on major agencies. subjects of public concern. Multi-language editions meant that such brochures could be Development of Branch Offices sold at prices below what could be achieved The Office was created with its headquarters if such items were produced by individual at the World Centre and a branch office in National Assemblies. New York City. Late in 1988, a third office An agreement was made with the United was established in Paris to give greater Kingdom Publishing Trust to handle proattention to supporting the work of the duction, marketing, and distribution, with Baba' i's United Nations Office in Geneva, the Office of Public Information taking and to take advantage of the opportunities responsibility for the production of the offered by collaboration with European copy, artwork, and design. The collabora- National Assemblies and francophone tion resulted in three separate titles being National Assemblies elsewhere. The follow- produced: The Bahri 'i Faith, Social and ing year, March 1989, a fourth office was Economic Development, and Education: A opened in Hong Kong. Its mandate was Bahri 'i Perspective. By the end of the Plan, directed principally to assisting the public the series had appeared in twenty-one information work of National Assemblies different language editions, and had sold in countries with large Chinese-speaking nearly 800,000 copies. populations. The Office also promoted the production During this period, a Public Information of audio-visual presentations. In 1988, it Officer was also appointed to coordinate sponsored the production by a private firm activities in London. In due course, the Public of a documentary film on the Baha'i Temple Information Officers in Paris, Hong Kong, in India, The Heart of the Lotus. A few and London were each asked by their months later it produced a retrospective on respective National Assemblies to serve also the development of the Cause between 1983 in a similar national capacity, thus ensuring and 1988, The Fourth Epoch Opens. In colmaximum collaboration between the Faith's laboration with the World Centre's Audionational and international interests. The Visual Department, it supplied materials and three National Assemblies also made office advice, and provided liaison assistance for a and other facilities available. number of other productions. Just before the 538 THE BAl-IA ' i WORLD

conclusion of the Plan, the Office began Centre. Among the contacts that led to artiworking with two private Baha'i-owned firms cles or programs were visits by the British on the production of a film documentary on Broadcasting Corporation ' s World Service, the Mission ofBaha'u'llah. France ' s TFl and FR3, Germany's ZDF, Another major concern of the Office was Bulgarian Television, World Television the production of statements on subjects News, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporasuch as capital punishment and the role of tion, and a number of newspapers and women in the Baha' i community for the television stations in the United States. assistance of national public inforn1ation The New York office undertook a camoffices. paign to secure maximum coverage of the In December 1990, at the request of the award-winning New Delhi House of W or- Universal House of Justice, the Office of ship prior to and during its dedication in Public Inf01mation wrote and produced an December 1986. Inf01mation kits were introduction to Baha'u'llah's life and mission. prepared and distributed to architectural mag- This statement, entitled simply Baha 'u 'llah, azines throughout the world, resulting in was translated into a large number of several hundred a1iicles, many of them with languages.á full color reproductions and design drawings, a number of them featuring the Temple Media Activities on the magazine ' s cover. During the Six Year Plan fourteen major For the 1988 International Convention press releases were issued to the interna- in Haifa, a video cassette of brief news clips tional media by the New York office, which of the event was produced, duplicated in established the position of Information all three of the major international formats Officer in April 1987. This office also pre- (PAL, NTSC, SECAM), and supplied to pared a number of other press releases for each national delegation at the end of the use by national Baha' i information offices Convention for broadcasting immediately around the world. Membership in the New upon the delegation's return home. The York Foreign Press Association and the appearance of the clip on South Africa's Religious Public Relations Council also national television within 48 hours of the sháengthened relations with international end of the convention was pa1iicularly news media. gratifying. Paris was also extremely active in this In London, the eff01is of the representaarea, developing contacts with both print tive of the Office of Public Information were and television media that led to coverage of rewarded by an invitation for her to join the Faith in such programs as the prime-time the Fore ign Press Association, giving her Le Sphinx. The Hong Kong office energeti- unusual access to publicity oppmiunities. In cally pursued the development of relations New York, the Public Information Officer with the media on the Chinese mainland. secured membership in the Foreign Press Programs covering educational and cultural Association as a journalist, and also won the exchanges were extremely well-received distinction of being appointed Press Officer and proved very useful in highlighting the of the U.S. Public Relations Council. international image of the Faith. Throughout the Six Year Plan, largely Building Relationships because of the energetic efforts of Nationa l A good deal of energy was devoted tluáough- Assemblies around the world, as well as out the Six Year Plan to the development the branch offices of the Office of Public of contacts with leaders of t11ought and Information, a growing nw11ber of media collaborative relationships with like-minded representatives began visiting the World organizations. Formal association was INTER NATIO NAL SU RVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 539

inaugurated with the World Wide Fund for Baha'is, which was entitled "The Common Nature and the World Conference for Reli- Goal of Universal Peace in Buddhism and gion and Peace, and practical assistance the Baha'i Faith." The statement had been was given to the Baha'i International Com- translated into Mongolian, and approximunity's United Nations Office and to a mately two hundred Mongolian and two number of National Spiritual Assemblies in hundred English copies were distributed. the promotion of cooperative activities with (See also p. 209) various other agencies. Paris proved to be a particularly impor- One Country tant centre for this area of the Office's work, From its inception, a goal of the Office of with some thirty private receptions being Public Information was the publication of a held for prominent personalities, over fifty newsletter addressed to influential nonofficial meetings, and participation in some Baha 'i circles. By the beginning of 1989 eighty international events. The Paris office preparations were complete, and the first also took the lead in coordinating the partici- issue of the English language edition of One pation of the National Spiritual Assemblies Country was published that February. In of France, the United Kingdom, and all, sixteen issues were produced during Germany in the World Centre for Peace and the remaining years of the Six Year Plan; Human Rights at Verdun, which included a the last issue during the Plan was mailed Baha'i exhibition. to nearly 12,000 prominent individuals , non- In Haifa, the growing recognition of the governmental organizations, government Faith around the world produced a steady agencies, academic institutions and media in increase in the number of distinguished over 180 countries and territories. The New visitors to the World Centre: diplomats , York Office received a total of six hundred academics, parliamentarians, and officers of responses from recipients, almost all of various international organizations. An esti- which were very positive. mated 450 receptions for distinguished The French language edition was visitors were organized during the course of launched in October of 1989 by the Paris the Plan. (See also section III. I) Office. Ten issues had appeared by the con- Significant events included the co-spon- clusion of the Plan, the final going out to soring in October 1988 of "The Aris for nearly 2,000 people in over 50 countries. As Nature" program in support of conservation, with the English language edition, there an initiative launched at Sion House in Lon- were seventy-four letters of appreciation, the don, with Amatu'l-Baha Rul_iiyyih Khanum majority of them requesting additional inforand His Royal Highness Prince Philip as mation about the Faith and its activities. A guest speakers. The following year the Chinese language edition followed in June World Forestry Charter Gatherings, an of 1990, eight issues appearing during the institution established by Richard St. Barbe Plan. The mailing list included nearly 2,000 Baker in 1945 , was revived in London, addressees in over 30 countries, and the in collaboration with the United Nations Hong Kong Office reported a similarly Environmental Program. (See also sub- appreciative response from the recipients. section 4, starting on p. 541) During the Plan, the English edition In 1991, Baha' is were invited to attend received two significant awards for quality: the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace an "Award of Merit" for excellence from the (ABCP) held in Ulaan Baator, Mongolia, from U.S.-based Religious Public Relations 18 to 23 September. Han-ju Kim-Farley, the Council (April 1991); and the "Grand only woman speaker during the Conference, Award" in the APEX 1991 awards for publipresented the principle statement of the cations' excellence. The French edition had 540 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

the distinction of special mention in Le plans for the Holy Year. At the World Monde Diplomatique's July issue, among Centtáe, a campaign was organized to include international reviews that were recom- international media at the Commemoration mended to the readership. Stories from both of the Centenary of the Ascension of the English and French editions have been Baha'u'llah. The Haifa Office also was reprinted in a number of other publications . involved in the planning and preparation of As the Plan ended, the first issue of the the program for the World Congress . After new Russian-language edition, launched assisting in the development of the central through the intennediary of the Paris Office, theme, the Office prepared a "treatment" for had just come off the press in Moscow. each of the four days of the main event at Javits Center, for the consideration of the Consultation with National Spiritual World Congress Program Committee. Once Assemblies the program had been finalized, the Office One of the most important tasks of the undertook to produce one of the four major Office of Public Information was its ongoing audio-visual segments and to serve as conservice as a consultant and source of infor- sultant for the production of the other three. mation to National Spiritual Assemblies and Starting in April 1991, the New York their public information agencies. By the Office was appointed as the executive arm end of the Plan the Haifa Office's corre- of the Congress ' Media Task Force, spondence alone had reached nearly one devoting approximately ninety percent of its thousand items a year, and the branch time and resources to Congress publicity. Offices conttáibuted significantly in pro- Conferences were organized for media providing information and advice by mail. The fessionals, an international media campaign director of the Office ttáavelled extensively was developed, a promotional video profor the same purpose, and a number of duced, and regional meetings organized in significant projects resulted from these several parts of the world. consultations with National Spiritual More than one hundred and seventy Assemblies. A public information manual Baha'is from twenty-two counttáies, most of was prepared by the Haifa Office and them employed in journalism, broadcasting, distributed to the International Network. The film-making, advertising, and public rela- New York Office developed a media tions attended two-day conferences held training workshop for national public infor- in Los Angeles and New York during the mation officers, and assisted in organizing spring of 1991. The purpose of the conferttáaining sessions in Switzerland (1988) , India ences was to develop ideas for reaching the (1990) and South Africa (1991). media with the story of the Second Baha' i Late in 1991 the Universal House of Jus- World Congress . tice created the International Advisory After many months of consultation, the Group with the Office of Public Inforn1ation Task Force produced a Global Media Camas its executive agency. The Group 's man- paign which was approved by the Universal date was to help coordinate Baha' i advice House of Justice and disseminated to the and assistance to governments and non-gov- Baha' is worldwide. ernmental organizations, particularly those One result was the development and functioning in countries of the former Soviet expansion of the International Public Infor- Union and the neighboring republics . mation Network, originally set up by the Haifa Office and devoted totally to the Preparation for the Holy Year publicity needs of the Congress beginning The Office of Public Inforn1ation became in November 1991. Regional meetings to extensively involved in various aspects of bring together National Public Information INT ERNA TION AL SURVEY OF CURREN T BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 541

Officers, Task Force representatives, Canada, Fiji, Germany, Hawaii, Hong Kong, National Assembly representatives and Con- India, Kenya, Panama, Puerto Rico, Russia, tinental Counsellors were held in Brazil, Spain, Turkmenistan, and Zimbabwe.

Amatu 'l-Baha RufJ,iyyih Khiznum presenting the Bahiz 'i Statement on Nature to HR.H. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, on the occasion ofthe Baha'i Faith joining the Network on Conservation and Religion of the World Wide Fund for Nature. 3 October 1987.

4. THE BAHA'f OFFICE OF THE ENVIRONMENT Relations with United Nations Agencies Baha'i International Community repreand Non-Governmental Organizations sentatives met several times with top The Baha'i International Community has officials from the World Wide Fund for been associated with the United Nations Nature to discuss potential areas of Environment 'Program (UNEP) since 1974. collaboration, and the Baha'i International Ties with UNEP were strengthened during Conununity provided articles for The New the Six Year Plan through visits by Baha'i Road on Baha'i perspectives and conservarepresentatives to senior UNEP officials, tion projects. National Spiritual Assemblies and through Baha'i attendance at three ses- were also encouraged to explore cooperation sions of the UNEP Governing Council. The with the World Wide Fund in their respec- Baha 'i International Community also estab- tive countries. lished relations in the early 1980s with the In October 1988, the Baha'i International Environment Liaison Centre International. Community and the World Wide Fund Connections with other environmental co-sponsored a fund-raising banquet and NGOs reached a new stage when the Baha 'i reception in London to launch "Arts for International Conununity became a Working Nature". The program was conceived by His Partner of the Centre For Our Cornn1on Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Future and a member of the Network on Edinburgh, as a means of drawing on visual Conservation and Religion of the World and perforn1ing arts to enlist public support Wide Fund for Nature. A ceremony marking for critical environmental needs around the the Baha'i Community's forn1al affiliation world. The Hand of the Cause of God with the Network took place in Winchester, Amatu'l-Baha Ru~iyyih Khanum, represent- England, on 3 October 1987, after which a ing the Baha' i International Community, front page story on the event was printed in addressed the two hundred guests, among the World Wide Fund for Nature publica- whom were influential figures in British tion, Th e New Road. public life and leading European artists. 542 THE BAHA'I WORLD

On 11 September 1989, the Baha'i Inter- encourage sustainable development activinational Community hosted a one-day sym- ties within the Baha'i community, taking posium entitled "Africa-Environment and over responsibility for enviromnent-related Development: NGO Perspectives for the activities from the Baha 'i International 1990s." Held at the Baha'i International Community' s United Nations Office and Community Office in New York in collab- Office of Public Information. oration with the United Nations Non- Participation in the Earth Summit governmental Liaison Service and the Club Process of Rome, the event was plam1ed to present Three months after the creation of the Office an African perspective on environment and of the Environn1ent, the United Nations Gendevelopment issues to representatives of eral Assembly mandated the United Nations Wes tern donor countries, donor agencies, Conference on Enviromnent and DevelopandNGOs. ment, better known as the Earth Sunm1it, to The Baha'i International Community also be held in early June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, collaborated with a number of environmental Brazil. The hope for this conference was that organizations to reinstitute the annual World heads of state would be able to set aside their Forestry Charter Gatherings. These Gather- differences for the sake of future generations ings had been founded in 1945 by Richard and establish a new international framework St. Barbe Baker, a well-known Baha'i who for sustainable development. had founded Men of the Trees. For more The process of planning and preparing than two decades he had sponsored an for the Earth Sunm1it, which took place on annual luncheon at which representatives of all continents, provided excellent opportuninational governments and other influential ties for Baha ' i International Community persons were apprised of the cunent situa- involvement both within and outside of the tion of the world 's forests. The tradition was United Nations system. Representatives of revived on 15 December 1989 in London, the Community- many of whom were volwith a gathering attended by ambassadors or unteer consultants in the field- attended their representatives from fifteen countries. forty-three conferences and gatherings, The event was co-sponsored by the UNEP , scores of receptions , and over fifty meetings the United Nations Development Program, of other non-govenm1ental organizations. In Men of the Trees, the World Wide Fund for addition, the Office of the Enviromnent was Nature, Living Earth, and SOS Sahel. a member of five Earth Summit-related NGO working groups/networks, and signed Creation of the Baha'i Office of the two joint NGO statements. Environment Baha'i principles relating to the environ- To support this ever-increasing Baha'i work ment and development were shared with on behalf of the enviromnent, and immedi- many United Nations officials, members ately following the October 1989 release of government, NGO representatives, acaby the Universal House of Justice of a demics, and individuals. Five different new compi lation entitled "Conservation of displays were created by the Office of the the Earth's Resources" prepared by the Enviromnent for use at conferences, and five Research Department of the Baha'i World oral and eight written statements were pre- Centre, the Baha'i Office of the Environ- sented on various aspects of the environn1ent ment was created with its headquarters in and development, each of which focussed New York City. It was to represent the on an essential Baha'i principle such as the environn1ental interests of the Baha' i Inter- oneness of humanity and the equality of men national Conmmnity externally and to and women. INTERNATIO NA L SURVE Y OF CURRENT BAH A' I ACTIVITIES 543 The response to the Baha ' i perspective least fourteen National Spiritual Assemblies was very positive, with Baha'i principles established National Desks or Offices of the being discussed extensively as part of the Environment, and many local communities Ea1ih Summit process. Many United Nations' established such Desks or Offices. governmental, and NGO documents carried The Office supported these national and direct quotations or paraphrases of Baha' i local activities with information and materiprinciples as they appeared in Baha' i Inter- als, some developed in collaboration with national Community statements. the Baha'i Office of Social and Economic Development. Thousands of letters and Participation of National Spiritual phone calls requesting information and Assemblies in the Earth Summit Process advice not only from Baha'i instih1tions but The Office of the Environment worked with from NGOs, government officials, universi- National Spiritual Assemblies in their re- ties, and institutions were answered . In spective national preparatory processes for addition, the Office hosted more than three the Earth Summit, providing them with hundred and fifty visitors from various information and advice on environmental organizations. and developmental issues. Four National Spir- CotTespondence, reports, and interaction itual Assemblies-Brazil, Iceland, Singapore, with Baha' is indicate that many communities and the United States- became officially have undertaken small-scale environmental accredited to the Earth Summit. In addition , service projects, and that Baha' i communithe Office of the Environment worked very ties are sh1dying the environmental and closely with the National Spiritual Assembly developmental issues and the principles of of Brazil to plan activities to take place dur- the Faith that most directly relate to them. ing the Global Forum- the NGO conference held concurrent with the Earth Summit. Publications Among these activities were eleven different cultural events and the presentation, as a Written materials offering the Baha'i permanent gift to the people of Rio de perspective on the environment and devel- Janeiro, of a Peace Monument inscribed opment were both created and encouraged with the following words: "The earth is but by the Office of the Environment during one country, and mankind its citizens. - the last half of the Six Year Plan. Three Baha 'u 'llah" . Baha' i statements on the requirements for sustainable development were published as Supporting National Baha'i Conservation brochures and translated into French, Spanish, Activities and Portuguese. The Baha'i International Twenty-five circular letters were sent during Community newsletter, One Country , carthe first two and a half years of the existence ried conservation-related articles in each of the Office of the Environment encourag- edition, and an article which appeared in the ing national commun1t1es to consider Journal of the Association f or Bahli 'i initiating conservation projects and activi- Studies, entitled "Spiritual Foundations of ties, and providing them with copies of an Ecologically Sustainable Society," was the eight Baha ' i International Community reprinted jointly by the Association for statements on the environment. As a result, Baha'i Studies and the Office of the Enviscores of Baha'i communities took part in ronment and translated into Portuguese for commemorating Earth Day International, at distribution at the Earth Summit in Brazil. v RECOGNITION OF THE BAHA'I FAITH

1. INCORPORATION OF NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES Ric;lvan 1986 to Ric;!van 1992

Jn previous volumes, many certificates of incorporation or other documents attesting recognition of various Nationa l Spiritual Assemblies have been reproduced. The following are representative of the forms of recognition obtained by National Spiritual Assemblies during the p eriod covered by this volume.

1. Certificate of Incorporation of the National Spi1itual Assembly of the Baha 'is of the Cook Islands ; 2 February 1989.

2. Recognition of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Guinea-Bissau in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution; 7 July 1988.

3. Receipt of the Declaration of Trust for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Guinea; 29 May 1986 (first page).

4. Certificate of change of name from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of South and West Africa to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of South Africa; 27 March 1987.

5. Certificate of Incorporation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the West Leeward Islands; 23 October 1991. '--..

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""'~ ;:;;.. .... Under the Incorporat ed Societies Act 1908 c -... ;:,,. >:l (1) ~ ;,, < CTI -< ~ >:l .....c;á • t..,_, Jl rcriif~ that THE NATIONAL SPiilITUAL A.oSE~ I ULY 01e THE Jl/dl át I rs OF THI:: 0 'Tl

~~ CUOK ISLANDS INC. n c ;;o ~-t1 .. is incorporated under the Incorporated ;;o ~ :::;á CTI ~ s-á z Societies Act 1908. -l '--.. ~

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~ '\.,__.../ ~ (1) Lil .j:>. Vl 546 THE BAHA'I WORLD

(~J ,_.~'l;l'\ REPOBLJCA DA GUINE-BIS.SAU

MIHISTERIO DA EOUCACAO, CULTURA EDESPORTOS GABINETE DO MINISTRO

DESPACHO NORMATIVO NQ j IR~

Considerando o pedido f ormulado pela Assembleia Espiritual Nacional dos Bah'is da Guine-Bissau para o seu l ega l reconhecimento ;

Tendo em atencao que, o Ministerio da Educacao, Cultura e Desportos de conform idade com a decisao do Conse lho de Ministros, tenha estudado o respectivo dossier que para o efeito lhe fora oportunamente r eme tido ;

Atendendo ao facto de aue a Assembleia Espiritual Nacional dos Bah'is da Guine-Bissau para a lem do Culto, prossegue fins identicos aos objectivos a lmejados pelo Estado,

o Ministerio da Educacao, Cultura e Desportos, no uso das atribuicoes e competencias que lhe foram delegadas pelo Conselho de Ministros em 11 de Julho de 1985 decide :

ARTIGO 1

~ reconhecida a Assemb l e i a Espiritual Nacional dos Bah' is da Guine-Bissau, conformemente ao estatuido no ArtQ 44 da Constituicao.

ARTIGO 2

Sao aprovados os respectivos estatu tos que vao em anexo , publicados com este Decreto.

2. Recognition of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha 'is of Guinea-Bissau in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution; 7 July 1988. INTERNA TI ONAL SU RVEY OF CU RR EN T BAH A'i AC TI V ITI ES 547

PRESIDENECE DE LA REPUB LIOUE REPUBLIQUE DE GUINEE TRAVAJ L-J U S TICE -SOLIOARITE

MINISTERE DE L' INTERIEUR ET DE LA DECENTRALISATION

. 7..L~.J./_ _ 19 8,b_ Conak ry. le _ __ _ _,,Z.<....J.'I.J.l...c. 17-0 / MID / CAB /86

LE MIN!STRE

A MONSIEUR LE REFRESENTANT DE L1 ASSEMBLEE

SPIRITOELLE NATIONALE DES BAHA'IS DE GUD!EE.

RECIPISSE DE DECLARATI ON D' ASSOCIAT I ON

Le Ministre d e l' Ixteri eu r et de la Dece n - tra l isation donne aux personnes c i -a pres de si gxees , r ecipisse de declaration pour l'ass oc iation r egie pa r l'OrdonnaMce n" 072 portant cr eat ion des O. N. G, en Repitbl ique de Gt-timle et definie co1t11ne suit r.) - TITRE Assemblee spiritue7.le Na tionale des BAHA'is de cui ne e. Siege social : quart i e r de Taou yah a Col'!arny I I.

2) - OB/ET : Gerer l es af faires et b i el'l s col'!cer nal'l t la co1ro1tul'la t-1te Bahaie cle Guil'lee, en res - pectal'lt l es pril'lcipes du s ysteme ad in il'li s t rat if etabl is par BAHA ' ii ' Ilah. - Eff ectuer t ou te transact i ol'I inobiliere et irn - mob ili e r e , acqi1erir ou col'lstruire des b i blio th eqt-teS, des clispeMsai res des ecol es r ea l is 1 1

../ ..

3. Receipt of the Declaration of Trust for the Nationa l Spiritual Assembly of the Saha 'is of Guinea; 29 May 1986 (first page). 548 TH E BAHA' I WORLD

Ropub li c of South Africa HBpUDllBM. van ~UIU - M.1111\tl Co mpanlu A ct, 1973, Secti on 44(1 ltb) Mastskappywat, 1973, Anik el 44(1 )lb)

76/00020/08 Registration No. or company/ Reglstraslenommer van maatska ppy

Certificate of change of name of company Sertifikaat van verandering van naam van maatskappy This is to certify that/Hierby word gesertifiseer dat The Nationai Spiritual Assembly of the Bah~ 1 {s of South and West Africa (Incorporated Association not for Gain) has changed its name by SPECIAL RESOLUTION and Is now called sy naam verander het by SPESIALE BESLUIT en nou genoem word The Nationa1 Spiritual Assembly of the Bah&l{s of South Africa (Incorporated Association not for Gain) nnd that the new name has this day been entered In the Register of Companies. en dat die nu we naam op hlerdie dag In die Register van Maatskappye aangeteken Is.

Signed and sealed 01 Prclorle, lhls/Geteken en geseel te Prelorle op hede dle,_---=;2--'7-~-"------

Reg istrar of Com pa

Sea l of Cottipa nies Rc9lstr•1lon Office Seel va n Reg/sfrareur vanMutshppye

4. Certificate of change of name ji-om the National Spiritual Assembly of the Saha 'is of South and West Afi~ ica to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Saha 'is of South Aji-ica; 27 March 1987. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 549

5. Certificate of Incorporation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha 'is of the West Leeward Islands; 23October1991. THE BAHA'i WORLD

2. INCORPORATION OF LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES Ric;!van 1986 to Ric;!van 1992

1. Decree by the Government of Quebec, Canada, regarding the Civil Registry of Baha'i Loca l Spiritual Assemblies in Hull , Quebec, Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Longueui l, and Montreal; 1990 (first page).

2. Registration of the Baha ' is of Ashkhabad of the Turk.men Soviet Socialist Republic by the Council of Religious Affairs at the Council of Ministers of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ; 25 January 1990.

3. Recognition of the Baha'is of Dushanbe of the Tadzhik Soviet Socialist Republic by the Counci l of Ministers ofTadzhikistan; 14 November 1990. IN T ERNA TI ONA L SURVEY O F CU RREN T BAH A ' i A CTI V ITI ES 551

MAY 0 7 1390

DECRET GOUVERNEMENT DU QUEBEC

'" •' t1 51 -90 CONCERNANI' les re<;1istres de l'etat 4 AVR. 1990 civil de certaines corporations religieuses designees sous le nan de "Assefl'l:>lees spirituelles des Ba.ha is" I

--oooOooo---

ATl'ENDU COE le 28 fevrier 1973, des lettres patentes ant ete accordees a la corporation religieuse designee sou~ le nom de L'll.Ssemblee spirituelle des Baha' is de Lucerne q'Jl, le 28 avril 1984, est devenue L'Assemblee spirituelle des Bar.a' is d 'Aylmer, en vertu de la Loi sur les corporations r el i gieuses (L.R.Q. c. C-71);

ATl~NDU COE le 28 fevrier 1973, des lettres patentes ant ete accordees a la corporation religieuse designee sous le nom de L'Assemblee sp.i.rituelle des Saha' is de Hull, en ve rtu de ~tte loi;

ATI'ENDU Ql.18 le 28 fevrier 1973, des lettres ;:>ater.tes ant ete ac..:ordees a la corporation religieuse designee sous le nom de L'Assemolee s~irituelle des Baha'is de la ville de Quebec, en vertu de cette loi;

ATI'ENDll COE le 20 avril 1979, des lettres patentes ant ete accordees a la corporation religieuse designee sous le nOf'I de L'Assemblee spirituelle des Baha'is des " 1=sááácl ..,,_la-l'.<deleine, en vertu de cette loi;

AI'"1'ENDU COE le 23 mars 1979, des lettres patentes c...-.• etc> accordecs a la corporation religieuse designee sous le rá ..ir;; . ~e L'As5efl\'.llee spirituelle des Saha' is de Longueuil, en vertu . .> -.ác- tc.l: l ei ;

ATI'F.NDU QUE le 2 mai 1989, des lettres patentes ant et ~ ac:o rd.§es a la coq:xxation religieuse designee sous le nan de L'Assernb li'- : spirituelle des Saha' is de Montreal, en vertu de ce :.~0 l v i;

A'I'TENDU QUE les assemblees spirituelles des Baha'ig p rec i t ees ne sent pas des corporations religieus es autorisees a ten1 ~ ou a faire tenir les registres de l'etat civil e n vertu ,)e l ' a ct \c l ~ 44 d u Cede civil;

1. Decree by the Government of Quebec, Canada, regarding the Civil Registry of Baha 'i Local Spiritual Assemblies in ff.ull, Quebec, lies-de-la-Madeleine, Longueuil, and Montreal; 1990 (first page). 552 THE BAHA'i WORLD

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Mcx.NQ I04 OT 3I.OI.90 r.

BmrncKa nO,rr;IlJilCaHa l!.JieHOM COBeTa r.A. Iv'lMxaitJIOBUM

2. Registration of the Baha 'is of Ashkhabad of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic by the Council of Religious Affairs at the Co uncil of Ministers of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; 25 January 1990. INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 553

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!.i . HKpaMOB

T;tr.. MHO, :o ;a:. li2S, n:p. 3ooi:v. 12.12 .U ...

3. Recognition of the Bahir 'is of Dushanbe of the Tadzhik Soviet Socialist Republic by the Council of Ministers of Tadzhikistan; 14 November 1990. THE BA HA ' i WORLD

3. A SELECTION OF OTHER DOCUMENTS RECORDING OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE BAHA'i FAITH Ric;!van 1986 to Ric;!van 1992

I. Appointment by the Attorney General of a Baha' i Marriage Officer in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, effective from I 0 March 1988.

2. Approval of a legal representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Burundi by the Minister of Justice; 12 October 1988.

3. Letter from Equatorial Guinea' s Ministry of Finance recog111z111g the right of the National Spiritual Assembly, as a religious organization, to be exempt from taxes; 29 Apri l 1986.

4. Certificate of recognition of the Lomaivuna Baha'i Kindergarten by the Ministry of Education of the Government of Fiji, dated 21August1987.

5. Circular Letter from the Minister for the Administration of the Territories of Gabon dated 6 May 1987, stating that the National Spiritual Assemb ly of the Baha'is of Gabon may carry out any activities (first page).

6. Certifi cate dated 8 September 1988, duly registering the offices of the National Spiritual Assemb ly of the Baba' is oflreland as a place for the solemnisation of marriage.

7. The Malawi Gazette Supplement, dated 7 November 1986, giving notice of the licensing of the Baha'i Centre in Limbe, and the Baha'i Teaching Institute in Amalika Village, for the celebration of marriages.

8. Rental agreement between the Baha'i Property Incorporate and three individuals fi led with the Clerk of Courts on the Island of Santo, Kwajalein Atoll , in the Marshall Islands on 14 November 1986, of a propetiy for a Baha'i Centre.

9. Letter dated 10 September 1987 from the Department of Education for the Commonwealth of the Notihern Mariana Islands recognizing Baha'i Holy Days as days when children may be excused from classes.

10. Notification by the Government of Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Affairs on 27 January 1988 of the appointment of a Baha' i on the Advisory Counci l for Minorities Affairs.

11 . Certificate of Registration of a Permitted School in Papua New Guinea dated 14 November 1986 for the Baha'i Study Centre to operate as a high school. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIV ITI ES 555 12. Marriage contract of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha ' is of the Philippines which was approved by the Government in 1987.

13. Certificate of Registration by the Republic of Zambia of the William Mmuthe Maseltha Baha'i Institute dated 5 October 1988.

14. First Day Cover of a commemorative stamp issued by the Government of Western Samoa for Christmas 1988. There are four stamps in this series, the $2.00 stamp having the picture of the House of Worship in Apia.

15. The Postal Department in India has depicted the House of Worship in New Delhi on a postage stamp to mark the Diamond Jubilee of that city. The Mashriqu' l-Adhkar is featured on one of two stamps which portray well-known buildings in India's capital. October 1991 . 556 THE BAHA'i WORLD

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFI CE P. 0. Box 532 Nassau, Bahamas

Mr. Michael Horton Ref: 15 U P. 0. Box N 3822 Nassau, Bahamas. ~20th May, 1988.

Dear Sir,

I have to i q,form you that the Attorney General has appointed you a Marriage Officer for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas with effect from 10th March 1988 .

I should be grateful if you would read the Marriage Act so as to familiarize you rs elf with your duties as a Marriage Officer.

The necessary forms and re gis ters can be obtained from this Office on application .

I add my congratulations and best wishes.

B. Bain for Actg. Registrar General.

l. Appointment by the Attorney General of a Bahit. 'i Marriage Officer in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, effective fiáom JO March 1988. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 557

R.EPUBLIQUE DU BURUNDI Bujumbura, l e - - - - - - -

Cabinet du Ministre

Rif. : OHDONi :11IICE N• áá~.A ,-.:\- - DU ;t ~ ()'..kJ-.); C 198!á POHTANT AGHJ;.O..;NT DU R.;;PRESENTANT LEG AL ET DU Ob/et : h LPliESBNTANT LEGAL SUPl'LEANT DE L' A ~; ~ ;ocr.~ 'l' HJ N , ; )':á ; 1,11•:• J.lfi:,, :.' 1.' J I•' DENOMllll>E "ASSE;,;IJ LEE SP!HITUELLE NATICN,,LE DE S BAHA 'IS' DU mnmrm I" . -

LJ;; rnINISTRE DE LA JU ST ICE,

Vu l e d tfore4-loi n ° 1/00 1 du 27 octobre 1987 port tmt or~a.nis a tion des pouvoirs l egiiilatif et regle mentaire ;

Vu s!'J ec i .1. ~ nt en ses articles 9 a 11, le decre t du 27 novembre 1959 r e] .ux assoc i a tions sans but lucratif ap ~ li c abl e a u Burundi en ,' ~ •• de l 'ordonnwice n° 111/6 6 du 4 roars 1960

Vu l' ordonnance n° 560/45 du 7 avril 197) por t an t octroi d e l ' a utorisa tion ;ircalnb l e de cons ti tut ion et de l a pe rsonnali t e civile en r.:,veur a., l' assoc i a tion s 3ns bu t lu cr a tif d~nol!!l:lee " ASS2M- BLBE SPIH ITUELLE N,>TI ONA LE DES BARA •rs, DU BURU!IDI" ;

Vu l a requl!te introdui te en date du 2 1 juille t 1988 :iar les inembres de cet t e a ssoci a tion e t d e siu>nant i:essieurs Ilde 9honse MIGISHA et C6ne NHiPAGAR IT SE r espective 1ue nt en ~ualite de Hepresentan : Le.;al e t de Re ; resentant Let:al su1,pl eant ;

Attendu que cette requl!te est c onforme aux dis; -ositi ons du decret susvi s e ;

0 R D 0 N N E

Arti c l e 1 Sant SGrees re s;,1ective r'1e nt en •iualit e de Ile ~'r esent nn t Le.::; ul e t de Re:rire se ntant Leg,-,1 Sup ) l eC!Xlt de l' asso ci a - tion s Lu1s but lucr a tif d~o r.rce e "ASS~;l!J LE-:;; SPII<ITUELLE N •iTIO!tALE DES BAHA 'IS' DU Beffi~:JIDI ", t!'.ess i eurs Ilde phonse 1.!I tHSJ!A et Cl!r:ie NH'[['AGA.'UTSB. -

Article 2 ,kt cir r:á s e nte ordonnance entre en Vi6uern' l e jour Je s::i s i ...;na'tur8. -

l"a i t a Bujui::bur a , 1e ,11 z I ;t-0 f 1911e

2. Approval of a legal representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha 'is of Burundi by the Minister of Justice, dated 12 October 1988. 558 THE BAHA'i WORLD

-~ r.,;i~_, G."áal • . Ooord . Emma.-

Vi sta l a pe t i ci6n d ocun:e nta~ a promovida p or Vd. en n ombre y re presentac i 6n de la Asambl e a Lspiritual de los Baha'is de I Guinea Ecuatorial, de fe~ha 21 de Enero Ultimo , s olicitando l a E.'illnION del pag o de l a Contribuci6n Urbana de sus pr opiedade s ; vi s to , asimiSl'lo, el f avorable informe emitido al r especto ~ or/ l a Direr:ci6n. '.>eneral de I mpuestos y Tesoro en su. escrito numero 408 , fec.h ado el 23 de l os corrientes; Este Minist eri o c.J.e Finanzas en e-jercicio de l as pr errogat i vas qu e l e est aná r ec onoc idas yen ba~ e a lo previ sto en el I art i cul o 43 , inc i so b ), de l Decreto-Ley nfunero 1/1. 986 de 10 I de Febrero, por el que se aprueba el Sistema Tributario de l a Republica de Gui nea Ecuatorial, por resoluci6n de est a fecha I ha venido a bi en en acc eder a su petici6n y en su cons ec uencia concederle l a EXENCI ON DEL PAGO DE LA CONTRIBUCI ON URBANA que soli cita, toda ve z que l as fincas pertenecientes a Instituciones o ConGregac iones Re l igi osas, áen á tanto que no áproduzc an r e_!l tas y se ded i quen di r cct omcnte al cult o u obras bene fi cas es- - tan exent o: á de l pago de l lnpuesto que nos ocup a . (' Mal abo, 2')~0.~Abril de 1 . 986 I """' P OH li11{' _GllJHEA !-lEJOR, ~ P•• ~ ""-.,~ >: - ~--r--::::: _~\f3TRO, / ,,:..._ áááá~Willi_ __ _ _

t,. ~r+'Jj~2;-~ #- ••

- tr=:;/~~ ----- -1.. ~ á7 ..._.;J..o<'r W __ --<. ác ./. ,,..,, t s.........- ...:~ * :~/ --# / .1 -- . . .-I

~r~ or 1?1... fk~ IJJ tE.'.~IDAN I, á á ~ pr i..:se nt ante ~i t~ la .: .. .Jarnbl ca Esp iri tuaL de los :.'i:.;1 -:. Gu j_nt::~ 'Zc uat;o :['ial., C I U D ii. D0 -

3. Letter dated 29 April J986, fl-om the Ministry of Finance of Equatorial Guinea recognizing the right of the National Spiritual Assembly, as a religious organization, to be exempt from taxes. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' i ACTIV IT IES 559

GOVERNMENT OF FIJI

E:ertiJicate oJ C/:2eco~11itio11 oJ a School

School under....' á .:.:LP.~.Ab . SJ'.JRI.T.µf.l.~ .. f.l.S..S..E..1-1.B..~.~... Qf. ...I.H..~....B..AH..A~.?. ... 9.F.....~Cl~~.YUNA

as Controlling Authorit y has been recognised as a ...... Kl.~.Q~~~!.~~ .

School under th e provisions of the Education Act, to conduct

~áL ... ááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá Permanent S ecretary for Education

Recognition No. 9.~.?.~......

4. Certificate of recognition of the Lomaivuna Baha 'i Kindergarten by the Minist1y of Education of the Government of Fiji, dated 2 J August 1987. 560 THE BAHA'I WORLD

MIN ISTERE DE L' ADMIN I STR ATION REPUBLIQUE GABONAI SE DU TERR I TOI RE , DES COLLECTIVITES Un i on -~- Jus tic e LOCALES ET DE L ' I MM I GRATI ON

DIRECTI ON GENERALE DE L 1 ADMI NI STRAT I ON DU TERR I TO I RE

/MATCLI/DGA7

Ill IL_ ETTRE (=- IRCULAIRE -:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

LE MIN ISTRE D'ETAT, MIN ISTRE DE L.1ADMINISTRATION DU TERRITOIRE, DES COLLECTIVITES LOCALES ET DE L'IMMIGRATION

A MESSIEURS LES GOUVERNEURS

Pa r d6 cr cts n°s 007 09/PR/M ID du 30 Ma i I 9 ~0 il est port c di ssoluti on de s Ass ocia ti ons dit es "T emoins de J ehovah " et " Armee du Salut " et 00888/PR/MACTL/DGAT du 23 Ma i I985, cell e des Associati on s r 6li g i euses c i-apr 8s ctes i g nees :

- Assoc i a ti on ECKANKAR Boit e Po s t a l e 3 . 767 Li br evi l l e. - MIHIK.\RI , Filial e Gnbonni se , Boit e Post nlc 448 Li br evill e. - Eglise du Chri s t i a ni sme Cel .c s t e du Gabon , Boit e Posta l e 14.1 90 Libr evi ll e. - L ' Eglise Epi scopal e des Ch&rubins e t des Ser aph i ns du Ni ge ria Qua rti er Gr a nd e Poub el l e Libr evill e. - L'A ssoc iati on de l ' Ordr e Souve r a in et Milit a ir e du Templ e de J er usal em Libr e vill e .

Or, il me r e vi en t que cer t a ines nu t or i t &s adm i n i s trntives e t mi litnir es nur ni e nt i nte r dit l ' e x ertric e de t out e .::i.ctivit 6 a l ' Assembl ee Spirituell e Nati onal e Des BAH.A ' IS du GABON ct ce , ce rtninement pnr confu s i on au muuva i se i nt e r pr 6t a ti on des t c xt cs susvis6s .

. .. / ...

5. Circular Letter from the Minister for the Administration of the Territories of Gabon dated 6 May 1987, stating that the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha 'is of Gabon may carry out any activities (first page). INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITI ES 561

CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF A SEPARATE BUI.LDING, BEING A PLACE

OF PUBLIC RE LI GIOUS WORSHIP, UNDER S. 27 OF THE MARRIAGES

(IRELAND) ACT, 1 844

I, GORDON W. KERR JOHNSTON, Deputy, Registrar of the Distric t of

Dublin , do hereby c ertify that on the 9th day of May, 19 88 , th e

National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha ' is of Ir e l and , 24

Burlington Road., Dublin 4, was duly registered for the

solemnisation of marriages therein, in the prese nce of t he

Registrar , by P. J. Kehoe, An t Ard -C hla rait heo ir-Cu nta , who

signed the requisite Certific ate for that purpose .

l"litness my hand this-=Bt=h=----- day of September ' 1 938

Dep uty !1egistrar .

6. Certificate dated 8 September 1988, duly registering the offices of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bah6 'is of Ireland as a place for the solemnisation of marriage. 562 THE BAHA'i WORLD

The Malawi Gazette Supplement, Re~ulations, Rules, etc. (No. 35A)

GáoVERN~1EN T NoncE No. 97

Given under my h and this 29th day of October, 1986. H. K AMUZU BANDA (FILE NO . srn. D. 25 :01) Life President Gov EnN~lEN T NOTICE N o. 98 MARRIAGE ACT (CAP. 25 :01 ) NOTICE Ix E XERCI SE of t he powers conferred by section 6 of the Marriage Act , I, NGWAZI Dn. I-I. K A ~I U W BAXDA, Life P-resident of Malawi, do hereby license the underm entioned place of public worship for the celebration of marriages. Rtl1a 'i Centre P lot No. CC 711 Lim be Given under my hand this 29th day of October, 1986. H. KAMUZU BANDA (FI LE :w . S\;ll . D. 25:0 1) Life President GovERN:li EXT NoncE No. 99 PUBLIC HOLJDAYS ACT (CAP. 18:05) Pt;BLIC HOLIDAYS (AMENDMENT OF SCHEDULE) ORDER, 1986 I N E XERC ISE of the powers conferred by section 3 (1) of the Public Holidays Aet, 1, NdWt.it Dtt, H. KAMU~u BANt>/\, Lile Prc»idcnt of Mo.laWi, m11ke the following Ordcr- 1. This Order may be cited as the Public Holidays (Amendment Citatiou of Schedule) Order, 1986. 2. T he Schedule to the Public Holidays Act is amended by deleting Amendment the words "The first Monday in Augu st" a nd substituting the words ~~hcdule to "N a tional Tree Pl anting D a y (21st D ecember)" . cap. 18 :05 Ma<lc this 27th d ay of October, 1986. H. KAM UZU BANDA (FILE N O . l J/02/6) Life President

Prin ted and pulJlished by THE GOVER N MENT PRINTER, Zomba, MalaWi-90095

7. Th e Malawi Gazette Supplement, dated 7 November 1986, giving notice of the licensing of the Balui 'i Centre in Limbe, and the Baha 'i Teaching Institute in Amalika Village, for the celebration of marriages. INTERNATIONAL SU RV EY OF CU RR EN T BAHA'i ACT IV ITI ES 563

JLO!l A(;il&!h 1'JIT ll011 IWC:lLlAL _; \JlJll illiJ:H. I 'fUiDK Ill I I.Oil J Al' Ail ;;Xi ILO 3,\l 11'0 I SL,\llll, ID I, K/,\Jl\l, lilil ATOLL, l.A .Gl .\l,L IJJ..l .

Agreanent in ear rnoj kowappen e im kanonmon e ikotan party ko cn10,n : Iroij , Alap , Dri- jerllal Tu Jaha 1 i Property Incorpo ra~e .;c . J .illd.n co na j kajerbalo oj lk?d r ilo woto eo iro k in iJ,, jiI'"'" 111 "" k.;;' rl-.J aµpr; !I'o, ii 1 bedr ion cne in J~mtA> island , J: 11ajali~in .:.il..oll , il u Hard1all Islands Diotrict .

I>j komo n A(:reement in ilo ".!!we in in kali)rnre i j in. ilal: -

a) Btve 3aha ' i Proµerty I ncorro r at.e enaj á.<1or an 1;1aroii in kajerlJal8 j i ki..11 in kal il~aro ileii, i.J,1 ej k:.H:.loL an konan 11aj bar kaju tak juon im eo ena j Baha'i Cantre, ak jikin hrolok eo an Hahu ' i l'O ilo Santo i sland.

b) Juon drettan rental eo kin kajerbale jild...11 in, enaj jfirbal ekl.01á fion :.); 12.00 do llar ilo juon year. ,Ja1La 1 i Prop~rt;y Incorpor.:;.te ~j kali.Jnur bwc enaj kulla drettan in ium Alap eo an jild u in ilo jinoin October in yeaI: ot~r.:joj . I1a iMe d rott an eo an rnwin , cn.Jj /f-2,, square feet.

c) i3we J3aha 1 1 Property eo ejjam in naj ko l laik drettan i n ilo .iar.'. '. i9 B.etok l o k jen,ak rumij lok jcn ran in rnoJ kaj ejJe te iJl.11 i l.::in.i/ ..3 Baha 1 i i Property Imc prporate ej,jar1i.J1 naj konone i joko konan i.i.i naj r tua ij i n kolla i loan jilu( 3) alliii. ko , irwm riamnak ro iiaj uor air maroii i n naj kaj eblak j ikin in na i bbci r lI•i kajemlok l o.:in agr::ica.,8n t. in.

d) };en in i kotan Iroij , Alap i.lll Dri - jerbal ro ilo wcto in rMi n cj b•3rl r i c ; im 13aha 1i Pr operty I n!orporatc eo , e n naj kin r0n0ul - la l.fo,( ?.~; ) y ear kin naj juon ka r ok ea nae nuj bar kakkal iJn komnnmon lo ~ muin <J k bar karok ko jet ikotan p:irty kein fion- dron, i.m naj kaje riJ.:il ! ,:Jnlok i loan bar 25 year manl ok .

e) Im ilo an Party ko naj loc bue 11a:w iI1 koin ijin rejjw:1in na j l~LáJ l wot e inwot karok kcin , inem renaj bar riaroii in kor,on jc t kJ.ruk 1-:o naj einjuon l ok j e n 1rn1á1 ein kcin ilo aereement in , im roj kill-! b•:lf: J?emon lok.

Baha 1 i Property I ncorporate eo e likin an naj koM011mon lok jil:in in .i:á1 kajutak Centre eo ie , inl3i1 naj ktiJ11eli..m an jabre1á10t dtol ul ko an j <'!b r 81vcJt, kajjojo naj kajerbale jikin in iki ji,.Jn kowonr.. anlok bedr ko air, ijellnJ.:in ko r ej ikijien bar kabuil ko jet .

AOGnEl!ltl!:NT in ear :mOj an wappen im kornonmon e ien in kalikare ijin iber. rAin re j uwan party kO i1:1 drodr air jain ijin i.lal lok.

tiadreloiiii rainin: _ __ _ __ __ 19_ _

., / á,

~ ID u 4 1986 ..... ... ... ..................... AGIJI'. CLERK OF COURTS

8. Rental agreement between the Baha'i Property Incorporate and three individuals filed with the Clerk of Courts on the Island of Santo, Kwajalein Atoll, in the Marsh all Islands on 14 November 1986, of a property for a Bahiz 'i Centre. 564 TH E BAHA'I WORLD

/) q <II:ommonmealtl) ot t1)e Jllortl)ern jflariana ]slanbs 0FF!CE 0F [HE SUPER!NtENDENC DEPARtffiENt ~F £DUCA[!0N SA!PAN, cm 96950 Phone : 98 12 /9S2'J/98 27/931 1 Cable J\O t'l ress: Gov . Nill! Saipan .

0 Pat rici.3 DJniei:. ::.;:c:-- et.:irá:,.: <J N.:t:oil.JI ~. pirit :1 .: l ?.:.:t mbiá1 •Jf the b,~há~ is of th-: tiar J.jn.:r: \I~ ' c:?

fn re : p.:.:~ ~ e táJ :/!)Uf \e.t.cr :i.ted : .,..: 013 7 acvut 2xcusi nc :.tude-nts of tJv: Ban.:f i' rel ialcus f.Jith on cert2in f. j~cái' Hoi'/ D.;•;s, ol;:.;:e be caá;Já:ec tt:.;t the -Bocr d or Education ha:. .:ccpted a schCTál Cá::? f en 1~a r t/'1.1i. eni.:-cm pQ:~-:s 1.:0 d.::iv~ i)f in:.i. r1 .:ct1cn without reg.3r1J to r~i i 9i0u:, holidJr:á, excep t Chr i s~ m a-:. .:nG Gocd f r ;C::\:

W ~á ~rev e.r a 3tuden t iTi i:se:. a sch00I day ior a justifiabl e and '3 xcusab1e. r sa:..:.n , tt"1e parent iS r :- ~::Grr:. ; b ! :: for pr ov: d1;:g tt'";E: ~e~c !": er with a wr itten note exo J.3m1ng the ab~ence. Stu•jents ar e recu ired ~c ;r;.;f:e up ~II wor k for excused ~b::ences.

Cctober 20 Apr il::'.? No'1t:moer 1: May: •.pr ii 21 May 23

While te:cners m.;y consider ttá,ese de-; ; as excused absences for cer tain students oi the Bah., .i' f3 ;tt•. ! 'Nc:..i! c 11ke you .3r:.J .j iJ )::.Jrer;~ .:. t::1note th.3t seven "ho li d3'_1s" consti tute .3 signi fk.mt num t.er and \vcu lGr'?pr:::e.nt 3 ni~r, ab:entte r,Jt::

e-v 2á c ~ :-=j cf Eájucatwn poi1 cy , -st .:Cen t'5 wno ::ccurnuiate ~ S o r mc•re cb~er.c'=s in a school 'fi:Jr rn ~á not po:: s.: ~u tr.e next gre:ce ! ~'1 ;; !

! arr: p!-0,_,;;j ;r1Q =ce:pv ;:,f ~.~. ;: le-t\-:.r to all .:.che:ol pr incipalá3 :o tt-:at thE\' rnoy pc33 tt-,;5 infor iiiC:t1l:!i .3b1Ju t ~ .:i n a ' i' ~cii á 1' C•ayá:. 1 ; n to l. lit-~ r tecct1crs.

/.f)~

r,c: : r:hr,oi Pr inc : p .~ i s

9. Letter dated J0 September J98 7 from the Department of Education f or the Commonwealth of the North ern Mariana Islands recognizing Baha 'i Holy Days as days when children may be excused from classes. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITI ES 565

.i\J L> L r ..;sJd) Id 'i ' iLE ;E:xá.r G/I ZE'l''l';,; 01" l'/\K I ~ 'i' AN("i'/,fl'l' .III).

Ho. P. 1 ( 64 )MA/ .POL/86-He cons) GJVERi'fi'llliNT UF P/\KI ~iTAN ;á;t.1HISTRY 0.1'' .H.£11GIUJ;:) APFA l !IB Aim r1U Nu HITIES AJ:<' FAIRS

** * **

I s l8:ne bad, the 27th Jsn u8ry, 1988 .

s \J j e ct:- WvISCiHY CUJli CIL Pv lt .V! Hlu H. l1'IIBS /IFFAIRS.

In continuation of this b1inistry' s notification

o f e ven n 1rnb er dat e d 2 6th October, 1987, ~lr. Israr Hus sain S i ddiqui, Bhai -\;>.,, ~ Kflrechi, is appointed as non-official

;ue :nber of the Advisor y Co W1oil for Minorities Affairs

aga ins t the seat fallen vacant due to death of ~~ . Uttem

Clvrnd of Qllette. _, r!~ _) . áát. -á - ( Rao }'szel KhRn Akhtar Joint Secretary(M)

The :;inna v, er, ~1áint~ng á á Corporation of P;:ikintan Press, !'.!g!'P.0 !'.. i :

Copy is forwarded to:-

1) Mr. Isrsr Hussain Siddiqlli, President National Spirtual of As sembly of Bhai's of Pa k i s tan, Bhn i's Hall, Karachi - 5 .

\J~lr. M.P. Bhandara, MNA, No. 1 , National Pa rk Roa d, Rawalpindi.

J) P.S to Minis t er for ReligiollS Affairs and Minor ities Af fairs, Islamabad. I J .~ !... /1V ( Rao Fazal Kh an Akhtar

10. Notification by the Government of Pakistan 's Minist1y of Religious Affairs and Minority Affairs on 27 January 1988 of the appointment of a Baha 'i on the Advisory Council for Minorities Affairs. 566 THE BAHA'I WORLD

INDEPENDENT STATE - - - OF PAPUA NF.W GUINEA -.-G_.._. EDUCATION ACT l~M

CERTIFICA.TE OF REGISTRATION OF PERMITTED SCHOOL THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT .. ~AHA,' .1. ~'.~~~ .c.E~!~~ .......... SC'fi00!.. HAS BEEN REGISTERED AS A J?ERMITTED SCHOOL UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 100 OF THE EDUCATION ACT 1983 CONDITION . ...... Hrca . SCHOOL.

REGISTRATION NO .. Ps.:335/83 . ..... .

L DATED ! 4. tio.ve.111q~i: .... . 13 .~ 9 ... , . . DEPARTMENT HEAD

h~=-.-==:::::=..::=.===.~~-~.:=:;====:=á=.. =====á=á=á=..~áá=..=á=..=-=.. ~..=-':=J.U 11 . Certificate of Registration of a Permitted School in Papua New Guinea dated 14 November 1986 for the Baha 'i Study Centre to operate as a high school. INT ERNATIONA L SURVEY OF CU RRENT BAHA 'I ACT IVITI ES 567

: AT IO: ..\L Sl' IHI T l l AL ASSEMBLY o f th e BAHA'lS o f the l'HILll'l'I N ES , ! NC.

R EG l ~T t:R No..

MARRIAGE CONTRACT Cit y or Mun icipality ol . .. . . . , Prov ince of.

HUSBAND WIF E

Cont ra cting Part i1ás - - - - - -- l l - - - - -- -- - - - -- J J - - - - - - - - - - - - - faJ A l ! P - - - -- - - -- 1 1 - - - - - - -- - - -- - + - - -- - - - -- - - - tb) '.'iationali ty _ _ __ _ _ 4 _ _ _ _ __ __ __ _ _- j f - - -- -- - -- ----

(c) Rl>sidt•nce _ _ _ _ __ ___,11----- -- - -- - - - J J - - - - - - - -- - - - - Si ngle, wido wed o r divorced _ _ _ _- j f - - - - -- -- - -- - - ! 1 -- - - - - -- - -- - - Fath l' r _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _- J J - - - - - - - - - -- ---JJ------------- Nationali ty _ __ _ _ _ _ _- 1 1 - - - - - - - -- -- - - 1 c - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mothcr _ __ __ __ _ _ _...,.__ __ __ _ _ _ __ _ _I f - - - - - - -- - -- - -

NationalitY-- - - - - -- r - -- - - -- - -- -- ! l - -- - -- - - -- - -- Wirnesses _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _---lf--- - - - - -- - ---11---- - - - - - - - -- Rt-sidenct> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _- l l - - - - - - - - - - - -- r- - - -- -- -- - - - Persons who gave consent or advice _ _-jf-- - - - -- - -- -- - t r -- -- - - - -- -- - - (a) Rcsidence _ __ _ _ _ _ , 1 1 - - - - - -- - - - - - - J J - - - - -- - - - - -- - (b) Helati on t o contracting parcy _+-- - -- - -- - - -- - 1c - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

&lui'1"Cem erof ) Pla ce o f marriage House of [ &rrio or barangay of Date of marriage . . Officia ted by Lega liz ing Officer for Baha'i marriages in th e Philippines with residence at

THIS IS TO CERTIFY : That I, and I, on th e date and at the place above given, of our ow11 free w ill and accord, and in th e presence of th e p erson app oin ted by the NATIONAL SP/RI- TUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA 'TS OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.á with license to officiate th is marriage and of the two wit11esses named below, both of age, tak e each other as httsband and wife after utt ering th e sacred verse: " WE WILL ALL, VERILY, ABIDE BY THE WILL OF GOD. " A~L .......... . ........ .. . . . . . , Baha'(Marriage Officer, CERTIF Y: That on the date and at the place aboue writt en the aforesaid . .............. . and. ........... . were with their mutual consent joined togeth er in marriage in accordance with the Laws of BARA 'I FAITH in th e presen ce of said witnesses, both of age; and l further certify that th e Ma rr iage License No. issued at O tl. ..... 19. . . .. in favor of said parties was exhibited to me ; and tha t co nsent or adv ice to su ch marriage was duly given as re quired by Ba lui'i'law, by th e living pare nt s aboue mentioned. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, w e signed, (or marhed with our fingerprint) this certificat e in quad ruplica r<' this. day of . . 19..

IC Hnll.ll \ll\~ 1',111} I cl 'o n1r:i,á1in)! l'.1r1 y 1

...... . . . ..... . . . t lhh;i' l 1'. 1:i 111:i!!t Offinár 1

License No: Date Issue d: Exp. Da te:

W I TNESSES

l 2. Marriage contract of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha 'is of the Philippines which was approved by the Government in I 987. 568 THE BAHA'I WORLD

. .,..,., .tJ, ~(/ /,<g , ..., .. ;

Form 801 8&oobd bJ IW&. Bool.11. . . (R.U 6 )

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

THE SOCIETIES RULES

CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION

l H&Blt.BY ORRTU"Y •hat BA.II.A '.1. !:P.:1 '1'!!.... \.~~~l. . . l/ILLIAM MlfllTHE !USELTHA BAHA'I INSTITUTE - KA.BllE RURAL ááááááánrsTRICT; ááá ...... ................................... . has this day been registered under section 7 (I) of the Societies Act..

Trl<phon< J.'o. : LUSA.KA 52198 fux REF. ORS/1c2/65/5..-2 THE Rr.etSTFlAR ov S'octE'riE.S Sir/Mad am, P.O. Box 1862, L usAJU THE SOCIETIES ACT I forward herewith n. Ccrtifica.te of Registration for your society. 2. I t.ako this opportunity ofdro.,-ing your attention to tho .alient requirements of the Act nnd the Rules; these are: (I) To koop ono or more books of account •howing c:lot::.ils of all money; received and pay monts made by the society (rule 3). (2) To keep a rr.gistr.r of mf!mbt>r.:: ~howing tho full nnmc and addms~ of ca.ch momber, tho date on which each member wni::. ndmitt-ed to membershin n.nd tho date on which each mcmhor ter minated such member.hip (rule 4). á (3) To submit t.o tho Registrar of you r di!•trict, th a.t is your District Socret:uy, an annna1 return in duplicate on Form S09 not later thnn th e 31st Mnrch of e>ch ycsr (rule 16). (4) To give noti ro to th e Registrar of your district, that is your District Secretary, in dupli cate on Form SOS within fourteen day~. of any change of office boarcr (rule 15). (5) To notify tho Registrar of your dic;trict, t ha.t i ~ your Di~ trict Sccret!l.ry, in duplicate on Form 807 within a month, of any change in one !'lociety's name or of a.ny of tho provisions of it!; constitution or rules or of any a ddition or dec rease on its objects, or if it becomes a branch of or affiliated to or con. ncrted with any organisation or group of a politicn.1nature established outside the country (section 15). (G) To notify the R <'g i!'trar of your d istrict, that is you r Distri ct Secretary, in duplicate on Form S07 of any ch1mgc of a society's post.a l address of or tho situation of its registered office (section 32). (i ) To ~ upply nny of t.hc informat ion the R cgi:-: trar nmy requi re under sec tion 17 or 18 or rulo IV. Forms 807, 8 and 9 cnn h(I obtnin(-<l from th o District Socrctnry of th e di:;trict in which a society's offices are tiituntcrl. . am, Sir{1\.fodam, TiiE CHAl !<MAN. Your obodiont ~rva~t, ..... iiA.HA:;i Fi..1Tii (ZAi.i!ii ;.. ; . ~~~~ . .q.. K, .. C'r:J~~V; / lllLLl AM MM\JTI!:S BAlfA ' 1 lli 5 'fl Tl/fE , i.Jtrar of Socidfu

.P •. o.•. . B~ X. 5q4.6} , .. J...U SA)(.0, . 10.. AAIO 2Jlt)

13. Certificate of Registration by the Republic of Zambia of the William Mmuth e Maseltha Baha'i Institute, dated 5 October 1988. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIV ITIES 569

14. First Day Cover of a commemorative stamp issued by the Government of Western Samoa for Christmas J988. There are four stamps in this series, the $2.00 stamp having the picture of the House of Worship in Apia. 570 THE BAHA' I WORLD

~ ~Tá ~en Jf~-TtT NE láDI 0 D 1991

15. The Postal Department in India has depicted the House of Worship in New Delhi on a postage stamp to mark the Diamond Jubilee of that city. The Mashriqu 'l-Adhklir is featured on one of two stamps which portray well-known buildings in India 's capital; October 1991. INT ERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES

4. THE GERMAN COURT'S LEGAL RECOGNITION OF ASSEMBLY STATUS

Department of the Secretariat 27 May 1991

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Baha'i Friends,

Decision of the German Federal Constitutional Court

In the Ric:ivan message of the Universal House of Justice, reference was made to an extremely significant decision of the Federal Constitutional Court in Germany. Since this decision may be of assistance to National Spiritual Assemblies in other counháies where difficulties are experienced in obtaining recognition for the Faith, or where the Spiritual Assemblies meet with complications in acquiring legal incorporation, the House of Justice has instructed us to send you the enclosed three documents:

1. The decision of the Federal Constitutional Court, in Geiman

2. A tráanslation of this decision into English

3. An elucidation of the abbreviations used in the above

4. A brief outline of the background to the decision and indications of its importance, drawing on an article by Dr. Udo Schaefer published in "Baha' i Nachrichten" (the newsletter of the German Baha'i community).

We should mention that it proved very difficult indeed to tráanslate the decision into English, since the forms and concepts of Geiman Law differ radically from those of English Law. There is often, therefore, no exact equivalence of terminology. Nevertheless, the English translation is sufficiently faithful as to convey a clear impression of the original.

With loving Baha'i greetings,

For Department of the Secretariat

cc: International Teaching Centre Boards of Counsellors 572 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Leitsiitze

zum Beschluf3 des Zweiten Senats vom 5. Februar 1991 - 2 BvR 263/86 -

1. Allein die Behauptung und das Selbstverstiindnis, eine Gemeinschaft bekenne sich zu einer Religion und sei eine Religionsgemeinschaft, konnen flir diese und ihre Mitglieder die Berufung auf die Freiheitsgewiihrleistung des Art. 4 Abs. 1 und 2 GG nicht rechtfertigen; vielmehr muf3 es sich auch tatsiichlich, nach geistigem Gehalt und iiuf3erem Erscheinungsbild, um eine Religion und Religionsgemeinschaft handeln. Dies in1 Streitfall zu priifen und zu entscheiden, obliegt-als Anwendung einer Regelung der staatlichen Rechtsordnung-den staatlichen Organen, letztlich den Gerichten.

2. a) Zur Religionsfreiheit im Sinne des Art. 4 Abs. 1 und 2 GG gehOrt auch die religiose Yereinigungsfreiheit, wie sie sich aus dieser Bestimmung in Yerbindung mit den einschliigigen, <lurch Art. 140 GG einbezogenen Weimarer Kirchenartikeln ergibt.

b) Der Gewiihrleistungsinhalt der religiosen Yereinigungsfreiheit umfaf3t die Freiheit, aus gemeinsamem Glauben sich zu einer Religionsgesellschaft zusammenzuschlief3en und zu organisieren. Damit ist kein Anspruch auf eine bestimmte Rechtsform gemeint, etwa die des rechtsfahigen Yereins oder einer sonstigen Form der juristischen Person; gewiihrleistet ist die Moglichkeit einer irgendwie gearteten rechtlichen Existenz einschlief3lich der Teilnahme am allgemeinen Rechtsverkehr. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 573 BUND ESVERF ASSUNGSGERICHT

- 2 BvR 263/86 -

IM NAMEN DES VOLKES In dem V erfahren tiber die Verfassungsbeschwerden

1. des "Geistigen Rat der Baha' i in Ttibingen mit Sitz in Ttibingen'', vertr. <lurch den Vorsitzenden, Hem1 S... , 2. des Herrn S .. ., 3. der Frau S ... , 4. der Frau S .. .

- Bevollmachtigte: Rechtsanwalte Dr. Michael Uechtritz, Dr. Hans Schlarmann, Birkenwaldstral3e 149, Stuttgart 1 -

gegen a) den Beschlu13 des Oberlandesgerichts Stuttgart vom 27. Januar 1986 - 8 W 252/85 -, b) den Beschlul3 des Landgerichts Tubingen vom 8. Mai 1985 - 5 T 34/84 (FGG) - , c) die Beschliisse des Amtsgerichts Ttibingen vom 8. Dezember 1983 und vom 2. Januar 1984- GReg. II 922/83 -

hat <las Bundesverfassungsgericht - Zweiter Senat- unter Mitwirkung der Richter Vizeprasident Mahrenholz, Bockenforde, Klein, Gral3hof, Kruis, Franl3en, Kirchhof, Winter

am 5. Februar 1991 beschlossen:

Die Beschlilsse des Oberlandesgerichts Stuttgart vom 27. Januar 1986 - 8 W 252/85 -, des Landgerichts Ttibingen vom 8. Mai 1985 - 5 T 34/84 (FGG) - und des Amtsgerichts Ttibingen vom 8. Dezember 1983 w1d vom 2. Januar 1984 - GReg. II 922/83 - verletzen die Beschwerdefilhrer in ihrem Grundrecht aus Artikel 4 Absatz 1 und 2 des Grundgesetzes. Sie werden aufgehoben . Die Sache wird an <las Amtsgericht zurtickverwiesen.

Das Land Baden-Wtirttemberg hat den Beschwerdefilhrem die notwendigen Auslagen zu erstatten. 574 TH E BAHA'I WORLD

Griin de:

Gegenstand der Verfassungsbeschwerden ist die Frage, wieweit es Art. 4 Abs. 1 und 2 GG gebietet, bei der Auslegung und Anwendung vereinsrechtlicher Vorsch1iften des Bi.irger!ichen Gesetzbuchs die Eigenart eines religiosen Vereins zu beri.icksichtigen, der sich als Teilgliederung einer Religionsgemeinschaft versteht und organisiert.

Die Religionsgemeinschaft der Baha' i, einer aus dem schiitischen Islam entstandenen Glaubensrichtung, ist in einer Vielzahl von Landern vertreten. Sie ist hierarchisch gegliedert und wird derzeit durch das aus neun gewahlten Mitgliedern bestehende "Universale Haus der Gerechtigkeit" mit Sitz in Ha ifa (Israel) geleitet. In Landern mit einer groJ3eren Anzahl von 01tsgemeinden wird jahrlich von der Gesamtheit der Mitglieder ein neunkopfiger Nationaler Geistiger Rat in indirekter Wahl gewahlt. Dieser ist in der Bundesrepublik Deutsch- Jand als eingetragener Verein errichtet; in anderen Staaten bedient er sich entsprechend den dort geltenden Gesetzen anderer vereins- oder gesellschaftsrechtlicher Rechtsformen. Als Leitungsorgane auf ortlicher Ebene werden von den Glaubigen der ortlichen Gemeinde ebenfalls aus neun Mitgliedern bestehende ortliche Geistige Rate gewahlt, die fiir die Regelung der i:irtlichen Belange zustandig sind.

II.

1. Der Beschwerdefiihrer zu 2) ist Vorsitzender, die Beschwerdefilhrer zu 3) tmd 4) waren weitere Vorstandsmitglieder des Beschwerdefiilrrers zu 1). Am 14. Februar 1983 meldete der Beschwerdefiihrer zu 2) als Vorsitzender des Vorstandes beim Amtsgericht Tiibingen den Beschwerdefiiluáer zu 1) zur Eintragung in das Vereinsregister an. Die dem Antrag zugrnndeliegende Satzung enthalt fo lgende, bier bedeutsame Vorsclrriften:

Artikel 2 Zweck des Vereins I Der Zweck des Geistiges Rates der Baha' i in Ti.ibingen ist die Verwaltung aller Angelegenheiten der Ba ha' i-Gemeinde in Ti.ibingen nach den Lehren und Verwaltungsgnmdsatzen der Baha'i-Religion, wie sie sich aus dem der Satzung anschlieJ3enden Anhang ergeben .... II Der Geistige Rat verfolgt danach ausschlieJ31ich und unmittelbar gemeinni.itzige, mildtatige und religiose Zwecke im Sinne des Abschnitts " Steuerbegi.instigte Zwecke" der Abgabenordnung. III Der Geistige Rat ist selbstlos tatig und verfolgt keine eigenwi1tschaftlichen Zwecke.

Artike l 3 Entstehung der Mitgliedschaft I II Die M itglieder des Geistigen Rates werden von den wahlberechtigten Mitgliedern der Baha'i-Gemeinde aus deren Mitte in geheimer Wahl mit einfacher Stin1Illenmehrheit fur die Dauer ei nes Jaluáes , langstens bis zur Wahl ilrrer Nachfolger, INTERNAT IONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 575 berufen. Diese Wahl findet am 21. April eines jeden Jahres auf der Jahrestagung der Baha' i-Gemeinde statt. Das Nahere regelt Artikel 10. III

Artikel 4 Beendigung der Mitgliedschaft I Die Mitgliedschaft wird beendet durch Zeitablaufund Neuwahl des Geistigen Rates, durch Austritt, durch AusschluJ3, durch Ausscheiden aus der Baha'i-Gemeinde Tilbingen. II Der AusschluJ3 eines Mitgliedes des Geistigen Rates fa.lit in die Zustandigkeit des Nationalen Geistigen Rates der Baha'i in Deutschland e.V. Artikel 5 Nachwahl I Ausfallende Mitglieder des Geistigen Rates werden auf einer zu diesem Zwecke durch den Geistigen Rat ordnungsgemaJ3 einberufenen, besonderen Versammlung der Baha' i-Gemeinde durch Wahl erganzt. Solange die Zahl der Mitglieder des Geistigen Rates nicht unter 5 herabsinkt, bleibt seine BeschluJ3fahigkeit erhalten. II Falls die Zahl der ausfallenden Mitglieder hi:iher als vier ist, so daJ3 der Geistige Rat nicht mehr beschluJ3fahig ist, wird die Wah! unter der Aufsicht des N ationalen Geistigen Rates vorgenommen.

Artikel 9 Mitgliederversammlung I II Alie folgenden Sitzungen werden durch den Sekretar des Geistigen Rates auf Antrag des Vorsitzenden oder bei dessen Verhinderung des stellvertretenden Vorsitzenden oder auf Antrag dreier Mitglieder des Rates formlos (schriftlich, telefonisch oder mi.indlich) einberufen oder durch BeschluJ3 des Rates im voraus festgelegt. ... III IV

Artikel 11 Der Nationale Geistige Rat I Die alien Geistigen Raten in der Bundesrepublik vorgeordnete Institution ist der Nationa le Geistige Rat der Baha' i in Deutschland e.V. Er entscheidet a) und b) .. . ; c) i.iber die Zustandigkeit eines ortlichen Geistigen Rates; d) bis f) ... Artikel 13 Satzungsanderungen I II Satzungsanderungen bedi.irfen der Genehrnigung des Nationalen Geistigen Rates der Baha'i in Deutschland e.V. Sie werden wirksam mit der Eintragung in das Vereinsregister. 576 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

Artikel 14 Auflosung I Die Auflosung des Geistigen Rates kann erfolgen a) aufgrund eines mit absoluter Stimmenmehrheit gefal3ten Beschlusses der Ratsmitglieder in einer ausschlie131ich zu diesem Zweck einberufenen Mitgliederversammlung, b) durch einen mit absoluter Stimmenmehrheit getroffenen Beschlul3 des Nationalen Geistigen Rates. II Bei Auflosung des Geistigen Rates wird dessen Ve1m6gen dem Nationalen Geistigen Rat der Baha'i in Deutschland e.V. ilbereignet, deres unmittelbar und ausschlie13lich fur gemeinniltzige, mildtatige und religiose Zwecke zu verwenden hat.

2. Das Amtsgericht wies im Eintragungsverfahren auf rechtliche Bedenken formeller und materieller Art hin und forderte zur Abhilfe auf. Dem Beschwerdefuhrer zu 1) ermangle es insbesondere an der erforderlichen rechtlichen Selbstandigkeit, weil er in seinem Bestand einerseits von der 6rtlichen Gemeinde, andererseits vom Nationalen Geistigen Rat abhangig sei. Die Beschwerdefuhrer machten demgegenilber geltend, der institutionelle Aufbau der weltweiten Baha'i-Gemeinschaft beruhe auf einem gottlichen Stiftungsakt und konne von ihnen nicht geandert werden. Da nach dem Verfassungsrecht der Baha'i alle Jurisdiktionsgewalt bei den gewahlten Korperschaften liege, mil13ten diese Rechtsfahigkeit erlangen, um im Rechtsverkehr tatig werden zu konnen. Den Einttáagungsantrag wies das Amtsgericht nut Beschlul3 vom 8. Dezember 1983, eine weitere Anmeldung vom 22.12.1983 mit Beschlu13 vom 2. Januar 1984 zmiick. 3. Die sofortige Beschwerde der Beschwerdefuhrer zu 2) bis 4) gegen die Beschliisse des Amtsgerichts vom 8. Dezember 1983 und 2. Januar 1984 wies das Landgericht am 8. Mai 1985 als unbegriindet zmiick. Die vorgelegte Vereinssatzung verstol3e gegen § 37 Abs. 1 BGB sowie gegen den Grundsatz der Vereinsautonomie. Art. 9 Abs . 2 der Satzung, der die Voraussetzungen fur die Einberufung einer Mitgliederversammlung regle, werde dem durch § 37 Abs. 1 BGB geforderten Schutz der Minderheit nicht gerecht. Die Gesetzesvorschrift verlange, die Zahl der Mitglieder, auf deren Antrag eine Mitgliederversammlung einzuberufen sei, anteilsmal3ig festzusetzen, damit auch kilnftigen Andemngen der Starke des Vereins Rechnung getragen werde. Die Mitgliederzahl des Vereins k61me bis auf funf herabsinken, olme dal3 Beschlu13unfahigkeit eintrete. In diesem Fall reprasentiere die in Art. 9 Abs. 2 vorgesehene Zahl von drei Mitgliedem keine Minderheit mehr. Vor allem aber enthalte die Satzung Regelungen, die eine organisationsrechtliche Abhangigkeit des Vereins von Dritten herbeifuhrten und deshalb mit dem Grundsatz der Selbstandigkeit und Selbstverwaltung von Vereinen unvereinbar seien. Durch Art. 4 Abs. 2, 11 Abs. 1, 13 Abs. 2, 14 Abs. 1 Buchst. b w1d durch weitere Bestimmungen solle einerseits dem Nationalen Geistigen Rat als Nichtvereinsmitglied das Entscheidw1gsrecht iiber den Ausschlu13 von Mitgliedem, Satzungsandemngen, Vereinsauf16sung und andere Vereinsbelange ilbertragen werden; andererseits solle nach Art. 3 Abs. 2 und 4 Abs. 1 die Baha' i- Gemeinde durch Wahlen iiber den Erwerb und die Dauer der Mitgliedschaft bestinm1en. Ein derart umfassender Fremdeinflul3 auf die Organisation eines Vereins sei unzulassig. 4. Das Oberlandesgericht Stuttgart wies die sofortige weitere Beschwerde der Beschwerdefuhrer zu 2) bis 4) mit Beschlul3 vom 27. Januar 1986 (OLGZ 1986, S. 257) als unbegriindet zurilck. Art. 9 Abs . 2 der Satzung verletze § 37 Abs. 1 BGB, weil fur eine mogliche Anderung der Mitgliederzahl ilicht sichergestellt sei, dal3 die Einbemfung der Mitgliederversanunlung auf Verlangen einer Minderheit zu erfolgen habe. Die Satzung sei INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 577 tiberdies mit dem Grundsatz der Selbstandigkeit und Selbstverwaltung des Vere ins (V ereinsautonomie) nicht vereinbar. Ari. 14 Abs. 1 Buchst. b, wonach der Nationale Geistige Rat den Verein auflosen konne, verstoJ3e gegen § 41 BGB. Es sei nicht zulassig, einem auJ3enstehenden Dritten das Recht zu tibertragen, den Verein gegen den Willen seiner Mitglieder aufzulosen. Soweit die Rechtsprechung solche Bestimmungen vereinzelt als statthaft angesehen habe (KG, DJ 1936, S. 1948; OLG Karlsruhe, JW 1936, S. 3266; OLG Stuttgart, Das Recht 1936, Sp. 151), seien die Entscheidungen in nationalsozialistischer Zeit ergangen und tiberzeugten in der Begrtindung nicht. Die in Art. 3 Abs. 2 und Art. 4 Satz 1 der Satzung vorgesehene Wahl der Mitglieder durch die Baha'i-Gemeinde verstoJ3e gegen die §§ 38 und 58 Nr. 1 BGB. Zwar konne die Form des Beitritts eines neuen Mitglieds und die Aufnahmeerklarung in der Satzung beliebig geregelt und die Mitgliedschaft an bestimmte Voraussetzungen gekntipft werden. Es mtisse jedoch grundsatzlich dem Verein freistehen, ob er jemanden als Mitglied aufnehmen wolle, sofem er nicht ausnahmsweise als existenzwichtiger Verein mit Monopolstellung zur Aufnahme von Mitgliedem verpflichtet sei. Abgesehen von diesen Einzelbestimmungen ergebe das Gesamtbild der Satzung einen so starkeh FremdeinfluJ3, daJ3 von einem eigenverantwortlichen Handeln des Vereins nicht mehr die Rede sein konne. Hierbei seien die Einwirkungsrechte des Nationalen Geistigen Rates nach Art. 4 Abs. 2 (AusschluJ3 eines Mitglieds), Art. 11 Abs. 1 Buchst. c (Entscheidungsbefugnis tiber die Zustandigkeit), Art. 13 Abs . 2 (Genehmigungsvorbehalt for Satzungsanderungen) und Art. 14 Abs. 2 (Ubergang des Vermogens bei Vereinsauflosung auf den Nationalen Geistigen Rat) von Bedeutung. Die Satzung enthalte einen Verzicht auf die Vereinsautonornie, der rnit dem geltenden Vereinsrecht nicht vereinbar sei.

III.

Die Verfassungsbeschwerden richten sich gegen die Beschltisse des Oberlandesgerichts und des Landgerichts sowie- bei sachgerechter Auslegung der Verfassungsbeschwerde- Schrift-gegen beide Beschltisse des Amtsgerichts. Die Beschwerdeftihrer haben hierzu ein Gutachten von Prof. Dr. Friedrich Muller vorgelegt und rnachen in1 wesentlichen geltend: 1. Die Verfassungsbeschwerden seien zulassig. Das erforderliche Rechtsschutzinteresse sei gegeben. Dem stehe nicht entgegen, da/3 die Zurtickweisung des Eintragungsantrags auch auf eine Beanstandung des Art. 9 Abs. 2 der Satzung, zu dessen Anderung die Beschwerdeftihrer bereit seien, gesttitzt worden sei. Wtirde der Antrag nach der Anderung dieser Satzungsbestimmung emeut gestellt, so wtirde er wegen der anderen vom Oberlandesgericht beanstandeten Satzungsbestinmmngen wieder abgelehnt werden, wobei voraussichtlich keine neue Sachprtifung stattfande. 2. Das Oberlandesgericht habe das Vereinsrecht des Btirgerlichen Gesetzbuchs wuáichtig ausgelegt und hierbei insbesondere Inhalt und Tragweite der Art. 4 Abs. 1 und 2, Art. 140 GG in Verbindung mit Ari. 137 Abs. 3, 4 WRV verkannt. _ a) Entgegen der Auffassung des Oberlandesgerichts hindere § 41 Abs. 1 BGB nicht daran, das Recht, den Verein aufzulOsen, auf einen Dritten zu tibertragen. Dies gelte jedenfalls dann, wenn auch die Mitgliederversammlung diese Befugnis habe . Die Satzungsbestimmungen tiber die Wahl der Vereinsmitglieder durch die Baha'i-Gemeinde und deren Ausscheiden infolge Neuwahl seien mit §§ 38 und 58 BGB vereinbar. Wie sich aus den §§ 25 und 40 BGB ergebe, stelle es das staatlicQ.e Recht in das Belieben des Vereins, derariige Regelungen zu treffen. Aus dem Btirgerlichen Gesetzbuch konnten auch keine Bedenken hergeleitet werden gegen die Kompetenz des Nationalen Geistigen Rates zum Ausschlu/3 eines Mitglieds des ortlichen Geistigen Rates (Art 4 Abs. 2 der Satzung) und zur 578 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Bestimmung von <lessen Zustandigkeit (Art. 11 Abs. 1 Buchst. c) sowie gegen die in Art. 13 Abs. 2 vorgesehene Genehmigungspflicht fur Satzungsanderungen und die Obertragung des Vermogens des Geistigen Rates bei <lessen Auflosung auf den Nationalen Geistigen Rat (Art. 14 Abs. 2). Insgesamt lief3en die vom Oberlandesgericht beanstandeten Satzungsbestimmungen keinen unzuliissigen Fremdeinfluf3 auJ3enstehender Dritter auf den Beschwerdefuhrer zu 1) zu. Dessen Einbindung in den hierarchischen Aufbau der Religionsgemeinschaft der Baha' i sei zwingend <lurch deren Grundsatze und Prinzipien vorgegeben , die auf gottlicher Offenbarung beruhten. b) Die Versagung der Rechtsfahigkeit verletze den Beschwerdefuhrer zu I) in seinen Grundrechten aus A1i. 4 Abs. 1 und 2 GG und verstoJ3e gegen Art. 140 GG in Verbindung mit Art. 137 Abs. 3 und 4 WRY. Von diesen Verfassungsbestimmungen sei auch der organisatorische Aufbau der Religionsgesellschaft erfaf3t einschlief3lich des Rechts, fur ein gemeindliches Leitungsorgan die Rechtsfahigkeit anzustreben. Fi.ir das hier maf3gebliche Selbstverstandnis der Baha ' i sei es unabdingbar, daf3 die Leitungsorgane der 6rtlichen Gemeinden, nicht aber die Gemeinden selbst, Rechtsfahigkeit erlangen. Das Grundgesetz raume in Art. 140 GG in Verbindung mit Art. 137 Abs. 2 bis 5 WRY den Religionsgemeinschaften ein grundsatzliches Wahlrecht in bezug auf die Rechtsform ein. Nachdem den Baha ' i der angestrebte Status einer Korperschaft des offentlichen Rechts versagt werde, mi.isse dem Beschwerdefuhrer zu 1) die Rechtsfahigkeit nach bi.irgerlichem Recht zuerkannt werden. Selbst wenn die vom Oberlandesgericht gefundene Auslegung des Vereinsrechts fur nichtreligiose Vereine zutreffen sollte, wirke sie sich auf den Beschwerdefuhrer zu 1) aufgrund seiner religiosen Zielsetzung und der daraus zwingend folgenden Einbindung in die nationale und internationale Ordnung der Baba' i barter aus als auf jene und konne daher fur ihn nicht gelten. Die Beschwerdefuhrer zu 2) bis 4) seien als Vorstandsmitglieder des Beschwerdefuhrers zu 1) in ihrem <lurch Art. 4 Abs. 2 GG geschi.itzten Recht auf Wahrnehmung religionsgesellschaftlicher (Leitungs-)Aktivitaten verletzt. IV. Zu der Verfassungsbeschwerde haben sich der Bundesminister der Justiz und das Ministerium fi.ir Justiz, Bundes- und Europaangelegenheiten Baden-Wi.irttemberg geauf3ert. Beide halten die Verfassungsbeschwerde fi.ir unbegri.indet. 1. Der Bundesminister der Justiz tragt vor, aus Art. 4 Abs. 2 und Art. 140 GG in Verbindung mit Art. 137 Abs. 3 WRY konne nicht unmittelbar unter Berufung auf die Glaubensinhalte der Baha'i-Religion ein Anspruch auf Erlangung der Rechtsfahigkeit fur den Beschwerdefuhrer zu I) hergeleitet werden. Art. 4 Abs. 2 GG verpflichte den Staat zur Respektierung des Glaubens und zum Schutz der Religionsausi.ibung, nicht aber zur Schaffung rechtlicher Regelungen, die den jeweiligen Glaubensinhalten einzelner Religionsgesellschaften entsprachen . Fraglich sei bereits, ob Art. 137 Abs. 3 WRY den Erwerb der Rechtsfahigkeit <lurch den Beschwerdefi.ihrer zu 1) i.iberhaupt erfasse; Art. 13 7 Abs. 4 WRY, der auf den Beschwerdefi.ihrer zu I) als blof3er Untergliederung einer Religionsgemeinschaft allerdings nicht unmittelbar anwendbar sei, treffe namlich gerade fur diesen Bereich eine ausdri.ickliche Regelung. Jedenfalls konne der Geistige fat die Rechtsfahigkeit nur nach den allgemeinen Vorschriften des bi.irgerlichen Rechtes erlangen; geringere Anforderungen, als sie Art. 137 Abs. 4 WRY fur die Eintragung einer Religionsgesellschaft als Verein stelle, konnten insoweit nicht gelten . Die Gerichte batten bei ihrer Entscheidung i.iber die Eintragung des Beschwerdefi.ihrers zu I) Bedeutung und Tragweite des Art. 140 GG in Verbindung mit Art. 137 Abs. 3 und 4 WRY nicht verkannt. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'f ACTIVITIES 579 2. Nach Auffassung des Ministers fur Justiz, Bundes- und Europaangelegenheiten Baden- Wilrttemberg verst6/3t die Satzung nicht nur gegen einzelne Vorschriften des zwingenden Rechts. Sie weiche auch in ihrer Gesamtheit so erheblich von dem im Bilrgerlichen Gesetzbuch geregelten Typus des autonomen Vereins ab und setze den Beschwerdefuhrer zu 1) so dominierenden Fremdeinflilssen aus, da/3 die Entscheidung des Oberlandesgerichts, gemessen an den vereinsrechtlichen Vorschriften des Bilrgerlichen Gesetzbuchs, nicht beanstandet werden konne. Auch bei der gebotenen Berilcksichtigung des einschlagigen Verfassungsrechts ergebe sich nichts anderes. Die Beschwerdefuhrer hatten auch bisher nicht schlilssig dargelegt, da/3 der Glaube der Baha'i im einzelnen die Organisationsregeln fordere, die vom Oberlandesgericht als unvereinbar mit den Vorschriften des Bilrgerlichen Gesetzbuchs erachtet wurden. Es liege vielmehr nahe, da/3 die Glaubenslehre eine gewisse Flexibilitat in der Ausgestaltung der Organisationsstruktur einraume.

Die Verfassungsbeschwerden sind zulassig.

1. Der Beschwerdefuhrer zu 1) ist zur Erhebung der Verfassungsbeschwerde befugt. Als Vereinigung von Personen kann er, unabhangig von gegebener Rechtsfahigkeit, die mogliche Verletzung eines Grundrechts geltend machen (vgl. BVerfGE 3, 383 <391 >). Die Verfassungsbeschwerde betrifft gerade die Frage, ob dem Beschwerdefuhrer zu 1) die Eintragung als Verein und damit die Erlangung der Rechtsfahigkeit ohne Verletzung seines Grundrechts aus Art. 4 Abs. l und 2 GG verweigert werden darf. Der Beschwerdefuhrer zu 1) behauptet, er werde in seiner Freiheit der Religionsausilbung dadurch verletzt, da/3 ihm mit der Verweigerung seiner Eintragung in das Vereinsregister unmoglich gemacht werde, sich so zu organisieren, wie es seiner im wesentlichen <lurch den Glaubensinhalt der Baha'i zwingend vorgegebenen inneren Verfassung entspreche. Damit ist der Schutzbereich des Grundrechts der Religionsfreiheit berilhrt. Das Vorbringen des Beschwerdefuhrers zu 1) ist auch hinreichend substantiiert; nach seinem Vortrag ist der Sach- und Lebensbereich der Religionsfreiheit betroffen und erscheint eine Verletzung des Gewahrleistungsinhalts des Grundrechts moglich. 2. Die Beschwerdefuhrer zu 2) bis 4) bringen vor, die Ablehnung der Eintragung des Beschwerdefuhrers zu 1) mache es ihnen unmoglich, sich im Rahmen ihrer Glaubensgemeinschaft entsprechend den fur die bindenden Vorgaben der ihr zuteil gewordenen Offenbarung zu organisieren und so ihre Religion auszuilben. Mit diesem Vortrag haben sie die Moglichkeit einer Verletzung ihres Grundrechts aus Art. 4 Abs . 1 und 2 GG , das gerade auch ein Individualgrundrecht ist, hinreichend dargetan. Daf3 die Beschwerdefuhrer zu 3) und 4) inzwischen nicht mehr dem ortlichen Geistigen Rat angehoren , hat das ursprilnglich bestehende Interesse an einer Sachentscheidung nicht entfallen !assen. Wie sich eine Anderung der Sachlage auf eine anhangige Verfassungsbeschwerde auswirkt, ist fur den jeweiligen Einzelfall unter Berilcksichtigung der Art des angegriffenen Hoheitsakts, der Bedeutung der geltend gemachten verfassungsrechtlichen Gewahrleistung und der Zwecke des Verfassungsbeschwerde-Verfahrens zu entscheiden (BVerfGE 76, 1 <38>). Im vorliegenden Fall ist die grundsatzliche Bedeutung der aufgeworfenen verfassungsrechtlichen Frage und weiter zu berilcksichtigen, da/3 die Beschwerdefuhrer zu 3) und 4) bei Wahlen emeut Mitglieder des ortlichen Geistigen Rates der Baha'i werden konnen und weitere gerichtliche Verfahren bei erneuten Antragen auf Eintragung in das Vereinsregister moglich sind (vgl. auch BVerfGE 2 1, 139 < 143>). 580 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

3. Das Rechtsschutzbedii rfnis fur die Verfassungsbeschwerde fehlt nicht deshalb, weil das Oberlandesgericht seine Entscheidung auch auf die von den Beschwerdefuhrern nicht beanstandete Erwagung gestiitzt hat, Art. 9 Abs. 2 der Satzung gewahrleiste hinsichtlich der Einberufung der Mitgliederversammlung nicht den von § 37 Abs. I BGB geforderten Minderheitenschutz. Insoweit handelt es sich ersichtlich um ei ne Frage, die im fachgerichtlichen Verfahren nur eine untergeordnete Rolle spielte. Die Beschwerdefuhrer sind zu einer Anderung der Satzung in diesem Punkt bereit. Es ist ihnen nicht zuzumuten , nach einer solchen Anderung erneut ei n offensichtlich aussichtsloses Verfahren zu durchlaufen.

Die Verfassungsbeschwerden sind begriindet.

Die Entscheidungen der Gerichte werden der Bedeutung des in Art. 4 Abs. 1 und 2 GG in Verbindung mit Art. 140 GG/137 Abs. 2 und 4 WRY gewahrleisteten Grundrechts der religiosen Vereinigungsfreiheit fur die Auslegung (und Handhabung) des Vereinsrechts des Biirgerlichen Gesetzbuchs nicht gerecht und verletzen dad urch die Beschwerdefuhrer in ihren Grundrechten.

Dem ortlichen Geistigen Rat der Baha'i Tiibingen und den Glaubigen der Baha' i- Gemeinschaft steht das Grundrecht aus Art. 4 Abs. 1 und 2 GG zu. Zwar konnen nicht allein die Behauptung und das Selbstverstiindnis, eine Gemeinschaft bekenne sich zu einer Religion und sei eine Religionsgemeinschaft, fur diese und ihre Mitglieder die Berufung auf die Fre iheitsgewahrleistung des Art. 4 Abs. 1 und 2 GG rechtfertigen; vielmehr mu/3 es sich auch tatsachlich, nach geistigem Gehalt und auf3erem Erscheinungsbild, um eine Religion und Religionsgemeinschaft handeln . Dies im Streitfall zu priifen und zu entscheiden, obliegt -als Anwendung ei ner Regelung der staatli chen Rechtsordnung- den staatlichen Organen, letztlich den Gerichten, die dabei freilich keine fre ie Bestimmungsmacht ausiiben, sondern den vo n der Verfassung gernei nten oder vorausgesetzten , dem Sinn und Zweck der grundrechtlichen Verbiirgung entsprechenden Begriff der Religion zugrundezulegen haben. Im vorliegenden Fall braucht hierauf j edoch nicht naher eingetreten zu werden, da der Charakter des Baha' i-G laubens als Religion und der Baha ' i-Gemeinschaft als Religionsgemeinschaft nach aktueller Lebenswirklichkeit, Kulturtradition und allgemeinem wie auch religionswissenschaftlichem Verstiindnis offenkundig ist.

II.

D ie Religionsfreiheit im Sinne des Art. 4 Abs . 1 und 2 GG umfaf3t auch die religiose Vereinigungsfreiheit, wie sie sich aus dieser Bestimmung in Verbindung mit den einscblagigen, <lurch Art. 140 GG einbezogenen We imarer Kirchenartikeln ergibt. I. Die religiose Vereinigungsfreiheit ist in Art. 4 Abs . 1 und 2 GG nicht ausdriickli ch benannt; eigens gewahrleistet werden die Freiheit des Glaubens, des Gewissens, des reli giosen und weltanschaulichen Bekenntnisses sowie die Freiheit der Religionsausiibung. Nach der Rechtsprechung des Bundesverfassungsgerichts ist die in Art. 4 GG verbiirgte Religionsfreiheit jedoch umfassend zu verstehen (vgl. BVerfGE 24, 236 <244 ff.>). Die Intention des Verfassungsgebers war nach der Erfahrnng der Religionsverfo lgung <lurch das INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 581 NS-Regime darauf gerichtet, Religionsfreiheit nicht nur in bestimmten Teilfreiheiten, sondem voll zu gewahrleisten. Jedenfalls sollte keines der religiosen Freiheitsrechte, die als Ergebnis jahrhundertelanger geschichtlicher Entwicklung in der Weimarer Yerfassung Anerkennung gefunden hatten, nunmehr ausgeschlossen sein. Zu diesen religiosen Freiheitsrechten gehorten die Glaubens- und Gewissensfreiheit einschlief31ich der Bekenntnisfreiheit, die Freiheit der privaten und offentlichen Religionsaustibung (Kultusfreiheit) und die religiose Yereinigungsfreiheit (vgl. Art. 135, 136, 137 Abs. 2 WRY und G. Anschutz, Die Religionsfreiheit, in: Anschiitz/Thoma (Hrsg.), HDStR, Bd. 2, 1932, § 106, S. 681 ff.). Dies wird <lurch die Entstehungsgeschichte bestatigt. In den Beratungen des Parlamentarischen Rates enthielt der spatere Art. 4 seit der Yorlage des Grundsatzausschusses und der ersten Lesung im HauptausschuJ3 als Satz 2 des Abs. 1 ausdrticklich die Gewahrleistung der religiosen Yereinigungsfreiheit ("Das Recht zur Yereinigung zu Religions- und Weltanschauungsgesellschaften wird anerkannt"). Erst in der vierten Lesung im Hauptausschuf3 am 4. Mai 1949-nach der Dbernahme des Weimarer Kirchenkompromisses in das Grundgesetz-wurde dieser Satz mit der Begrtindung gestrichen, er sei nunmehr entbehrlich, weil Art. 137 Abs. 2 WRY Bestandteil des Grundgesetzes geworden sei (v.Doemming/ FUJ3lein/Matz, Entstehungsgeschichte der Artikel des Grundgesetzes: JOR, N.F., Bd. 1, S. 73 ff.; Pad.Rat, HA-Prot., 57. Sitzung am 4.5.1949, S. 745). Daraus ergibt sich, daf3 nach dem Willen des Parlamentarischen Rats die religiose Yereinigungsfreiheit verfassungsrechtlich gewahrleistet sein und bleiben so llte. Es ware diesem Befund und dem Willen des Yerfassungsgebers gerade entgegengesetzt, ihr wegen der Herausnahme aus Art. 4, die nur erfolgte, um eine Doppelgewahrleistung zu vermeiden, nunmehr die Zugehorigkeit zur grundrechtlich garantierten Religionsfreiheit abzusprechen. Yielmehr ist davon auszugehen, daf3 Art. 4 Abs. 1 und 2 GG sich fur die Gewahrleistung der religiosen Yereinigungsfreiheit auf Art. 140 GG/137 Abs. 2 WRY bezieht und sie in <lessen normativem Gehalt mitumfaf3t. 2. Der Gewahrleistungsinhalt der religiosen Yereinigungsfreiheit umfaf3t die Freiheit, aus gemeinsamem Glauben sich zu einer Religionsgesellschaft zusammenzuschlief3en und zu organisieren. Schon der Begriff der Religionsgesellschaft weist darauf hin, daf3 ein Zusammenschluf3 auf dem Boden der staatlichen Rechtsordnung gemeint ist und nicht etwa nur eine rein geistliche Kultgemeinschaft. Die Moglichkeit der Bildung einer Religionsgesellschaft soil den Weg eroffnen, sich als Yereinigung von Menschen zur Yerwirklichung des gemeinsamen religiosen Zwecks zu organisieren, eine rechtliche Gestalt zu geben und am allgemeinen Rechtsverkehr teilzunehmen. Damit ist kein Anspruch auf eine bestimmte Rechtsform gemeint, etwa die des rechtsfahigen Yereins oder einer sonstigen Form der juristischen Person; gewahrleistet ist die Mog lichkeit einer irgendwie gearteten rechtlichen Existenz einschlief31ich der Teilnahme am all gemeinen Rechtsverkehr. Dem entspricht es, daf3 Art. 140 GG in Yerbindung mit Art. 137 Abs. 4 WRY den Religionsgesellschaften die Moglichkeit eroffnet und gewahrleistet, die Rechtsfahigkeit nach den allgemeinen Yorschriften des btirgerlichen Rechts zu erwerben. Diese Yorschriften haben wie jedermann so auch die Religionsgesellschaften grundsatzlich zu beachten. Es verschlagt daher nichts, wenn eine Religionsgesellschaft oder eine ihrer Gliederungen wegen einer glaubensbegriindeten besonderen Organisation eine bestimmte Rechtsform, die sie erstrebt, nicht erlangen kann. Die religiose Yereinigungsfreiheit gebietet allerdings, <las Eigenverstandnis der Religionsgesellschaft, sowei t es in den Bereich der <lurch Art. 4 Abs. 1 GG als unverletzlich gewahrleisteten Glaubens- und Bekenntnisfreiheit wurzelt und sich in der <lurch Art. 4 Abs . 2 GG geschtitzten Religionsausiibung verwirklicht, bei der Auslegung und Handhab ung des einschlagigen Rechts, hier des Yereinsrechts des Biirgerlichen 582 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Gesetzbuchs, besonders zu beriicksichtigen (vgl. BYerfGE 53 , 366 <401 > m.w.N.). Das bedeutet nicht nur, dal3 die Religionsgesellschaft Gestaltungsspielraume, die das dispositive Recht eroffnet, voll ausschopfen darf. Auch bei der Handhabung zwingender Yorschriften sind Auslegungsspielraume, soweit erforderlich, zugunsten der Religionsgesellschaft zu nutzen; dies darf allerdings nicht dazu fuhren, unabweisbare Riicksichten auf die Sicherheit des Rechtsverkehrs und auf die Rechte anderer zu vemachli:issigen. Unvereinbar mit der religiosen Yereinigungsfreiheit ware ein Ergebnis, das eine Religionsgesellschaft im Blick auf ihre innere Organisation von der Teilnahme am allgemeinen Rechtsverkehr ganzlich ausschlosse oder diese nur unter Erschwerungen ermoglichte, die unzumutbar sind.

III.

Dem dargelegten nonnativen Gehalt der religiosen Yereinigungsfreiheit werden die angegriffenen Entscheidungen nicht gerecht. Das Yereinsrecht des Biirgerlichen Gesetzbuchs lal3t es zu, besonderen Anforderungen an die innere Organisation Rechnung zu tragen, die sich aus der Eigenart von religiosen Yereinen ergeben, die Teilgliederungen einer Religionsgesellschaft sind oder mit ihr in besonderer Yerbindung stehen. Dies ist, da den Baha'i die Rechtsform der Korperschaft des offentlichen Rechts nicht zur Yerfugung steht (nachfolgend 1), im Blick auf den ortlichen Geistigen Rat aus Art. 4 Abs. 1 und 2 GG auch verfassungsrechtlich geboten (nachfolgend 2). 1. Die Baha' i-Gemeinschaft kann die Eigenschaft als Korperschaft des offentlichen Rechts gemal3 Art. 140 GG/Art. 137 Abs. 5 WRY nicht erlangen. Mit dieser Organisationsform wiirden zwar die bestehenden Probleme gelost, denn im Rahmen der "Korperschaft des offentlichen Rechts", die im Regelungszusammenhang des Art. 137 Abs. 5 WRY nur als Mantelbegriff fungiert, liel3e sich die Einfugung in eine hierarchische Struktur, wie sie fur die Baha'i von ihrer Glaubenslehre vorgegeben erscheint, organisatorisch voll verwirklichen. Das ze igt etwa das Beispiel der Romisch-Katholischen Kirche, for die insoweit eine hierarchische Organisationsstruktur bestimmend ist, die ohne Abstriche for das staatliche Recht Geltung gewinnt. So werden Pfarreien nach Anhorung des diozesanen Priesterrats allein durch den Ortsbischof errichtet und aufgelOst, ohne dal3 dafiir der Rat oder die Zustimmung des Pfarrers, der Pfarrangehorigen oder eines von den Pfarrangehorigen gewahlten Gremiums erforderlich ware (Can. 515, § 2 i.Y.m. Can. 127, §§ I und 2 CIC). Die Beschwerdefohrer haben indes dargelegt, dal3 fur die Baha' i-Gemeinschaft nach den einschlagigen Empfehlungen der Kultusministerkonferenz und nach dem Ergebnis einer Anfrage beim Hessischen Kultusministerium die Anerkennung als Korperschaft des offentlichen Rechts for sie nicht in Frage komme; sie habe im Jahre 1986 in der Bundesrepublik nur etwa 4.000 bis 5.000 Mitglieder, die sich zudem auf etwa 50 ortliche Baha'i-Gemeinden verteilten. Es li:i.13t sich nicht sagen, dal3 die Yerweigerung der Anerkennung als Korperschaft des offentlichen Rechts angesichts dieser Umstande im Blick auf die Kriterien des Art. 137 Abs. 5 WRY rechtsfehlerhaft oder gar mil3brauchlich ware . Daher kann dahinstehen, ob die Baha' i-Gemeinschaft, ware die Erlangung der Eigenschaft einer Korperschaft des offentlichen Rechts fiir sie moglich, ohne Einbul3e in dem Freiheitsanspruch aus Art. 4 Abs. 1 und 2 GG darauf auch verwiesen werden konnte, oder ob ihr insoweit die Wahl der Rechtsform offenstiinde. 2. Es ist im Rahmen des Yereinsrechts des Biirgerlichen Gesetzbuchs moglich und verfassungsrechtlich geboten, die glaubensbedingten Anforderungen an die innere Organisation des ortlichen Geistigen Rates der Baha 'i als religioser Yerein und Teilgliederung einer Religionsgesellschaft besonders zu beriicksichtigen. INTERNATIONA L SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 583 a) Die von den Gerichten mit dem Grundsatz der Selbstandigkeit und Selbstverwaltung (Vereinsautonomie) fur unvereinbar angesehenen Bestimmungen der vorgelegten Satzung i.iber das Zustandekommen der Mitgliedschaft (Art. 3 Abs. 2), den AusschluJ3 von der Mitgliedschaft (Art. 4 Abs. 2) und die Auflosung des Vereins (Art. 14 Abs. I Buchst. b), die Erfordemisse ei11er Satzungsanderung (Art. 13 Abs. 2) und die Abgrenzung der Aufgaben des Vereins (Art. 11 Abs. 1 Buchst. c) betreffen nicht diejenigen Bestimmungen des Vereinsrechts, die im Interesse der Sicherheit und Klarheit des Rechtsverkehrs die nach auJ3en wirkenden Angelegenheiten und Rechtsverhaltnisse regeln (Bestellung und Abberufung des Vorstands, <lessen Vertretungsmacht, Haftung des Vereinsvermogens, Liquidation bei Auflosung des Vereins u.a.m.) . Sie beziehen sich allein auf die innere Organisation des Vereins. b) Die beanstandeten Regelungen stehen nicht in Widerspruch zum Wortlaut vereinsrechtlicher Vorschriften iiber die innere Organisation des Vereins. Die in § 41 BGB geregelte Auflosung des Vereins <lurch BeschluJ3 der Mitgliederversammlung wird nicht ausgeschlossen, sondem <lurch das Auflosungsrecht des Nationalen Geistigen Rates der Baha'i erganzt; i.iber die Art und Weise des Zustandekommens der Mitgliedschaft enthalt § 58 BGB ebensowenig eine Regelung wie i.iber AusschluJ3moglichkeiten; die Bestimmung des § 33 BGB i.iber Satzungsanderungen ist dispositiv (§ 40 BGB); i.iber die Abgrenzung von Vereinsaufgaben besteht keine gesetzliche Regelung. c) Die Gerichte begriinden die Unzu!assigkeit der genannten Satzungsbestimmungen denn auch allein aus der Unvereinbarkeit mit dem das Vereinsrecht pragenden Grundsatz der Vereinsautonomie. Dieser Grundsatz der Vereinsautonomie ist im Vereinsrecht des BGB nicht ausdriicklich festgelegt; er wird vielmehr <lurch Rechtsprechung und Lehre der Gesamtheit der Vorschriften entnommen, die die Konstituierung und Organisation des Vereins sowie die Wahrnehmung der Vereinsangelegenheiten auf den Willen der Vereinsmitglieder zuri.ickfuhren, und als darin vorausgesetzt angesehen. Sein Ziel ist, der Privatautonomie vergleichbar, den Charakter des Vereins als eines vomehmlich von der Willensbestimmung und -betatigung seiner Mitglieder getragenen Personenverbandes zu wahren (KG, OLGZ 1974, S. 385 <387>; RGRK-Steffen, 12. Aufl., Rdnm. 31 f. vor § 21, § 25 Rdnr. I; Staudinger- Coing, 12. Aufl., Vorbem. zu §§ 21-54, Rdnr. 38 ; AK-Ott, § 25 Rdnrn. 15 f.; vgl. auch Flume, Allgemeiner Tei! des Bi.irgerlichen Rechts 1/2, 1983, S. 189 f.). Es gehort zu dieser Autonomie, den mit ihr ausgestatteten Einrichtungen das Recht einzuraumen, sich die ihren Zwecken entsprechende Organisation selbst zu geben und diese frei zu bestimmen, soweit dem nicht zwingende Vorschriften oder dem Wesen der entsprechenden Institution zu entnehmende Grundsatze entgegenstehen. In der Rechtsprechung wird hervorgehoben, dal3 diese Autonomie auch in der Weise ausgeilbt werden kann, dal3 das Selbstverwaltungsrecht des Vereins satzungsmaJ3ig beschrankt wird; auch eine solche Beschrankung stellt die Ausiibung von Autonomie dar; es bedeutete daher eine Beschneidung von Autonomie, wenn solche Regelungen fur unzulassig erk!art wi.irden (vgl. KG, OLGZ 1974, S. 385 <387>; Diltz, 2. FS fur Herschel, 1982, S. 55 <73 ff.>; a.A. Flume, a.a.O., S. 194 ff.). Der Grundsatz der Vereinsautonomie, wie er in Rechtsprechung und Schrifttum verstanden wird, wird somit von zwei nicht notwendig parallel laufenden inhaltlichen Tendenzen gepragt: Einerseits schi.itzt er die Autonomie in der Bildung und organisatorischen Gestaltung des Vereins nach der freien Selbstentscheidung der Mitglieder, wozu auch die Einfugung in eine hierarchisch organisierte Gemeinschaft gehoren kann, andererseits bewahrt er die Selbstbestimmung des Vereins und seiner Mitglieder vor einer EntauJ3erung, die die eigene Willensbestimmung nahezu vollstandig zum Erliegen bringt. Er schliel3t es nicht aus, ist vielmehr dafur offen , bei seiner Auslegung und Anwendung beide 584 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

Tendenzen unter Berticksichtigung des konkreten Falles, d.h. auch bezogen auf Zweckausrichtung und Eigenart des in Frage stehenden Vereins, zum Ausgleich zu bringen. So wird es mit der Vereinsautonomie for vereinbar gehalten, gestufte Verbande zu schaffen, innerhalb deren die Unterverbande-sei es als rechtsfahige, sei es als nichtrechtsfahige Vereine-zu Oberverbanden in Abhangigkeit stehen, ihren Vereinscharakter dadurch aber nicht verlieren, sofem sie auch eigenstandig Aufgaben wahrnehmen (Reichert/ Dannecker/Kuhr, Handbuch des Vereins- und Verbandsrechts, 4. Aufl. 1987, Rdnrn. 2098 ff.; Soergel-Hadding, Rdnm. 53 vor § 21; BGHZ 90, S. 331). d) Wird dabei die Eigenart religioser Vereine, die sich als Teil einer Religionsgemeinschaft organisieren, bedacht, so liegt es im Blick auf die vielfach zu beobachtende glaubensgebundene hierarchische innere Organisation von Religionsgesellschaften nahe, dal3 Vereine, die Teilgliederungen von Religionsgesellschaften sind oder mit ihnen in besonderer Verbindung stehen, sich in die Hierarchie ihrer Religionsgemeinschaft einfogen wollen. Darin kann nicht ohne weiteres die Unterwerfung unter eine Fremdbestimmung von aul3en gesehen werden, die die Selbstandigkeit und Selbstverwaltung des Vereins in ihrem Kern trifft. aa) Die Autonomie in der Bildung und Organisation eines religiosen Vereins kann dahin betatigt werden, dal3 als Zweck des Vereins gewollt wird, eine Teilgliederung einer Religionsgemeinschaft zu sein und sich in deren religionsrechtlich bestimmte Struktur einzufiigen. Solche selbstgesetzten Einordnungszwecke, die sich bei einem religiosen Verein gerade als Ausdruck der religiosen Selbstbestimmung der Mitglieder in ihrem gemeinsamen Glauben darstellen, mlissen nicht schlechthin als Preisgabe der Selbstbestimmung des Vereins beurteilt werden. Die Grenze ist erst dort erreicht, wo Selbstbestimmung und Selbstverwaltung des Vereins nicht nur in bestimmten Hinsichten, wie sie sich aus der religionsrechtlich vorausgesetzten hierarchischen Einordnung ergeben, sondem dartiber hinaus in weitem Umfang ausgeschlossen werden; der Verein wtirde dann nicht mehr vornehmlich vom Willen der Mitglieder getragen, sondern zur blol3en Verwaltungsstelle oder einem blol3en Sondervermogen eines anderen (vgl. KG, OLGZ 1974, S. 385 <390>; Bay- ObLGZ 1979, S. 303 <308 ff. >). Hiernach lal3t es das Vereinsrecht zu, bei einem religiosen Verein, der sich als Teilgliederung einer Religionsgesellschaft konstituiert, Einschrankungen der autonomen Auflosungs-, Ausschliel3ungs- oder Betatigungsbefugnis nicht als mit der Vereinsautonomie unvereinbare Fremdbestimmung von aul3en anzusehen, sofem sie der Sicherung der Einordnung in die gro13ere Religionsgemeinschaft im Rahmen der bestehenden religionsrechtlichen Verkntipfung-etwa der Wahrung der Identitat der Glaubenslehre und grundlegender glaubensbedingter Lebensfohrungspflichten-dienen und sich darauf begrenzen. Bei solcher Begrenzung der Eingriffsbefugnisse einer hierarchisch tibergeordneten Instanz, die for sich nur eine Art Lehramt und entsprechende Jurisdiktionsbefugnisse beansprucht, bleibt noch ein hinreichender Bestand an Selbstbestimmung und Selbsttatigkeit des Vereins gewahrt. bb) Indem die Gerichte den in der Satzung normierten Ei nflul3 des Nationalen Geistigen Rates aufBestand, Mitgliedschaft und Betatigung des ortlichen Geistigen Rates generell als unzulassige Fremdbestimmung des Vereins von aul3en ansehen, haben sie die Eigenart religioser Vereine, die sich als Teilgliederung einer Religionsgesellschaft glaubensgebunden hierarchisch organisieren, und damit die Bedeutung des Grundrechts der religiosen Vereinigungsfreiheit for die Auslegung und Anwendung des Grundsatzes der Vereinsautonomie verkannt. Sie haben den Nationalen Geistigen Rat wie eine fremde, von anderen Zielen und Interessen bestimmte Organisation angesehen, die beherrschenden Einflul3 austibt, ohne die INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 585 <lurch die religionsrechtliche Verkntipfung gegebene Einheit und Gemeinsamkeit zu beachten. Nichts anderes gilt im Ergebnis hinsichtlich der Wahl der Mitglieder des ortlichen Geistigen Rates <lurch die Glaubigen der ortlichen Baha'i-Gemeinde. Diese sind kraft der religionsrechtlichen Yerkntipfung ebenfalls nicht Fremde, die den Verein einer andersgerichteten Bestimrnung von auf3en unterwerfen und dadurch seine Selbstbestimmung aufheben; vielmehr steht diese Art der Begri.indung der Mitgliedschaft mit dem Zweck des Vereins, als hierarchische Leitungsinstanz die Angelegenheiten der ortlichen Baha'i-Gemeinde zu verwalten (Art. 2 Abs. 1 der Satzung und die Praambel), in Einklang und dient gerade seiner Verwirklichung. e) Ein unzulassiger Fremdeinfluf3 kann sich auch nicht daraus ergeben, daf3 bei Auflosung des Yereins <lurch den Nationalen Geistigen Rat das Yereinsvermogen diesem zufallt (Art. 14 Abs. I und 2 der Satzung). Zielrichtung dieser Satzungsbestimrnung ist nicht, dem Nationalen Geistigen Rat unter Ausnutzung seiner Auflosungsbefugnis den Zugriff auf fremdes Yerrnogen zum Zweck eigener Yermogensmehrung zu eroffnen. Hiergegen spricht bereits, daB nach der Satzung keine Beitrage erhoben werden, die den Zweck einer Vermogensansammlung verfolgen; die Finanzierung des Vereins erfolgt allein durch freiwillige Spenden; zudem hat sich der Yerein ausdrticklich den rechtlichen Bindungen der Gemeinni.itzigkeit unterstellt (Art. 2 Abs. 2 und 3 der Satzung).

IV.

Die genannten Entscheidungen verletzen danach die Beschwerdefiihrer in ihrem Grundrecht aus Art. 4 Abs. 1 und 2 GG in Verbindung mit Art. 140 GG/ 137 Abs. 2 und 4 WRY, indem sie die Eigenart des ortlichen Geistigen Rates als religioser Yerein und Teilgliederung einer Religionsgesellschaft bei der Auslegung und Anwendung des Begriffs der Yereinsautonomie nicht hinreichend berticksichtigen. Sie sind daher aufzuheben. Die Sache ist an das Amtsgericht zur erneuten Entscheidung zuri.ickzuverweisen. Es wird dabei u.a. zu pri.ifen haben, ob das in der Satzung unbegrenzt formulierte Auflosungs- und AusschlieBungsrecht <lurch den Nationalen Geistigen Rat schon <lurch den Zweck des Yereins und die Praambel der Satzung hinreichend eingeschrankt im Sinne der Darlegungen unter III 2 d) aa) erscheint oder ob es insoweit einer ausdrticklichen Festlegung in der Satzung bedarf.

Die Entscheidung i.iber die Kosten folgt aus § 34a Abs. 2 BVerfGG.

Mahrenholz Bockenforde Klein Graf3hof Kruis Franf3en Kirchhof Winter 586 THE BAHA'I WORLD

[TRANSLATION - FROM GERMAN]

Guiding Principles

for the decision of the Second Senate of 5th February 1991 - 2 BvR 263/86 -

I. A community's mere assertion and self-understanding of professing a religion and of being a religious community cannot justify reference for it and its members to the guarantee of religious freedom of Art. 4, par. 1 and 2 GG; rather it must be a religion and a religious community in fact, according to spiritual content and outward appearance. To examine and determine this in case of dispute is the duty of the organs ofthe State, ofthe courts in the final ana lysis, - in application of the ruling of the State's legal system.

2. a) To the freedom of religion in the meaning of Art. 4, par. I and 2 GG belongs also the freedom of religious association, arising from this regulation in connection with the relevant Weimar Church Articles included by Art. 140 GG.

b) The guarantee of freedom of religious association contains also the freedom to form a religious association and organize according to one 's common faith. This does not mean the right to a particular legal form, such as that of an incorporated association or some other form of corporation; what is guaranteed is the possibility of legal existence in some form or other, includi ng participation in general legal proceedings. INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 587

(TRANSLATION - FROM GERMAN]

FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL COURT - 2 BvR 263/86 -

IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE In the Proceedings on the Constitutional Appeal

l. of the "Spiritual Assembly of the Baha' is ofTubingen, with its seat in Tubingen", represented by the Chairman, Mr. S .... 2. of Mr. S .... 3. of Mrs. S ... . 4. of Mrs. S .. .

- Represented by: Attorneys Dr. Michael Uechtritz, Dr. Hans Schlarmann, BirkenwaldstraBe 149, Stuttgart 1 -

against a) the decision of the High State Court Stuttgart of 27 January 1986 - 8 W 252/85 -, b) the decision of the State Court Tubing en of 8 May 1985 - 5 T 34/84 (FGG) -, c) the decision of the District Court Tiibingen of 8 December 1983 and of 2 January 1984 - GReg. II 922/83 -

the Federal Constitutional Court - Second Senate - with the participation of Judges Vice-chairman Mahrenholz, Bockenforde, Klein, GraBhof, Kruis, FranBen, Kirchhof, Winter

decided on 5 February 1991: The Decisions of the High State Court Stuttgart of 27 January 1986 - 8 W 252/85 -, of the State Court Tubingen of 8 May 1985 - 5 T 34/84 (FGG) - and of the District Court Tubingen of 8 December 1983 and of 2 January 1984 - GReg . II 922/83 - violate the basic rights of the appellants accorded by Article 4, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Constitution. They are repealed. The case is referred back to the District Court. The State of Baden-Wiirttemberg has to reimburse the appellants for the necessary expenses. 588 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Reasons

Subject of the Constitutional Appeal is the question to what extent Art. 4, par. 1 and 2 GG requires that the individuality of a religious association, considering and organizing itself as part of a religious community, must be taken into account in the interpretation and application of regulations of corporate law of the Code of Civil Law.

The Religious Community of the Baha'is, constituting a religious movement arisen out of Shi ' ih Islam, is represented in a multiplicity of countries. It is hierarchically organized and is currently governed by the "Universal House of Justice", consisting of nine elected members, with its seat in Haifa (Israel) . In countries with a considerable number of local communities, a nine-member National Spiritual Assembly is elected annually in an indirect election by the totality of its members. In the Federal Republic of Germany this is established as a registered association; in other countries it makes use of other legal forms of association or incorporation according to the laws valid there. As governing bodies on a local level, Local Spiritual Assemblies also consisting of nine members are elected by the believers of the local community, and are responsible fo r regulating local affairs.

II.

1. The appellant under 2) is chai1man, the appellants under 3) and 4) were further elected officers of the appellant under 1). On 14 February 1983 the appellant under 2) as chairman of the governing body applied to the District Court Tubingen for registration of the appellant under 1) in the Court's Register of Associations. The By-Laws on which this application is based contain the following regulations, which are significant here:

Article 2 Pmpose of the Association I The purpose of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha' is of Ttibingen is the administration of all the affairs of the Baha'i Community in Tiibingen according to the teachings and administrative principles of the Baha' i Religion, as they appear in the Appendix following the By-Laws .... II Accordingly the Spiritual Assembly exclusively and directly pursues charitable and religious purposes and purposes of public benefit in the sense of the paragraph on "Tax-favoured purposes" in Tax Law. III The Spiritual Assembly acts in a disinterested capacity and does not pursue purposes for its own economic benefit.

Article 3 Establishment of Membership I II The members of the Spiritual Assembly are elected by the voting members of the Baha'i Community from amongst their midst by secret ballot with sin1ple plurality vote, for the duration of one year, or until the election of their successors. This INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 589 election takes place on 21 April of each year at the Annual Convention of the Baha'i Conununity. Details are regulated by Article 10. III Article 4 Termination of membership I Membership is terminated by the expiration of time and new election of the Spiritual Assembly, by resignation, by removal, by leaving the Baha'i Conununity ofTtibingen. II The removal of a member of the Spiritual Assembly falls within the competence of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany. Article 5 By-Election I Vacancies in the membership of the Spiritual Assembly are replaced by election at a special meeting of the Baha'i Community duly called by the Spiritual Assembly for this purpose. As long as the number of members of the Spiritual Assembly does not fall below 5, its decision-making competence is maintained. II If the number of vacancies is higher than four, so that the Spiritual Assembly is no longer competent to make decisions, the election is carried out under the supervision of the National Spiritual Assembly. Article 9 Meeting of the members I II All subsequent meetings are called informally (in writing, by telephone or orally) by the Secretary of the Spiritual Assembly at the request of the Chairman or, if he is prevented, by the Vice-chairman, or at the request of three members of the Assembly or by decision of the Assembly in advance .... III IV

Article 11 The National Spiritual Assembly I The institution superior to all the Spiritual Assemblies in the Federal Republic is the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany e.V. It decides a) and b) ... ; c) about the area of jurisdiction of the Local Spiritual Assembly; d) to f) ...

Article 13 Amendment of the By-Laws I II Amendments to the By-Laws require the approval of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany. They become effective on registration in the Court's Register of Associations. 590 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Article 14 Dissolution I The dissolution of the Spiritual Assembly can result a) from an absolute majority decision taken by the members of the Assembly in a meeting of the members called exclusively for this purpose, b) from an absolute majority decision of the National Spiritual Assembly. II In case of the dissolution of the Spiritual Assembly its assets are transferred to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany, which must use them directly and exclusively for charitable and religious purposes and purposes of public benefit.

2. The District Court indicated questionable legal points of a formal and material kind in the registration procedure and demanded rectification. The appellant under 1) was stated to lack particularly the necessary legal independence, because its existence is dependent on the one hand on the local community, and on the other on the National Spiritual Assembly. The appellants counter-claimed that the institutional structure of the world-wide Baha'i Community rests on a divine foundation and cannot be changed by them. As, according to the Constitutional Law of the Baha'is, all power of jurisdiction lies with the elected bodies, these should be given legal capacity in order to be able to participate in legal proceedings. The District Court rejected the application for registration with the decision of 8 December 1983, and another application of22.12.1983 with the decision of2 January 1984. 3. The immediate appeal of the appellants under 2) to 4) against the decisions of the District Court of 8 December 1983 and 2 January 1984 was rejected as unjustified by the State Court on 8 May 1985. The Association's By-Laws presented were stated to violate§ 37 par. 1 BGB, as well as the principle of corporate autonomy. Art 9 par. 2 of the By-Laws, which gives the provisions for calling a meeting of the members, was stated not to do justice to the protection of the minority called for in§ 37 par. 1 BGB. The legal provision demands that the number of members at whose request a meeting of the members is to be called be fixed proportionately, so that allowance will be made for future changes in the sháength of the Association. The membership of the Association could drop to five without resulting in legal incapacity to make decisions. In this case the number of three members fixed in Art. 9 par. 2 no longer represents a minority. Above all it was pointed out that the By-Laws contain regulations leading to a legal and organizational dependence of the Association on a third party and are thus incompatible with the principle of independence and self-administration of associations. On the one hand through Art. 4 par. 2, 11 par. 1, 13 par. 2, 14 par. 1 letter b, and through further regulations, the National Spiritual Assembly as a non-member of the Association is to be given the right of decision-making in the removal of members, amendment of the By-Laws, dissolution of the Association and other matters concerning the Association; on the other hand the Baha 'i Community is to decide through elections on the establishment and the duration of the membership, according to Art. 3 par. 2 and 4 par. 1. Such wide-ranging influence by a third party in the organization of an association is inadmissible. 4. The High State Court Stuttgart rejected as unjustified the further appeal of the appellants under 2) to 4) with decision of27 January 1986 (OLGZ 1986, p. 257). It noted that Art. 9 par. 2 of the By-Laws violates§ 37 par. 1 BGB, because it does not ensure, with a possible change in the number of members, that the call for a meeting of the members has to follow the request of a minority. The By-Laws are furthermore not reconcilable with the principle of independence and self-administration of the Association (corporate autonomy). Art. 14 INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 591 par. 2 letter b, according to which the National Spiritual Assembly can dissolve the Association, violates § 41 BGB. It is inadmissible to give the right to an external third party to dissolve the Association against the wish of its members. Insofar as jurisprudence had judged such regulations in individual cases to be admissible (KG, DJ 1936, p. 1948; OLG Karlsruhe, JW 1936, p. 3266; OLG Stuttgart, Das Recht [The Law] 1936, col. 151 ), these decisions had been made in the time of National Socialism and their reasoning was not convincing. The election of the members by the Baha'i Community, as envisaged in Art. 3 par. 2 and Art. 4 par. 1 of the By-Laws, violates§§ 38 and 58 No. 1 BGB. The form by which a new member joins and the declaration of acceptance could indeed be regulated in the By- Laws in any way that is desired, and membership can be tied to certain pre-conditions. But in principle the Association is to be free to decide whether to accept someone as a member, as long as it is not, as a vitally important Association with monopoly status, exceptionally obliged to accept members. Apart from these individual regulations, the overall picture of the By-Laws shows such a strong third-party influence that there can no longer be a question of autonomous action on the part of the Association. Significant hereby are the National Spiritual Assembly 's rights of intervention, according to Art. 4 par. 2 (removal of a member), Art. 11 par. 1 letter c (right of decision-making on the area of jurisdiction), Art. 13 par. 2 (reserving approval for amendment of the By-Laws), Art. 14 par. 2 (transfer of the assets to the National Spiritual Assembly in case of the dissolution of the Association). The By- Laws contain a renunciation of the autonomy of the Association not in accordance with corporate law.

III .

The Constitutional Appeals are addressed against the decisions of the High State Court and of the State Court as well as-in the relevant interpretation of the brief of the Constitutional Appeal-against both decisions of the District Court. The appellants presented an expert opinion by Prof. Dr. Friedrich Muller on this and claim essentially: 1. The Constitutional Appeals are admissible . The required interest for legal protection is established. This is not contravened by the fact that the rejection of the application to register was based also on an objection to Art. 9 par. 2 of the By-Laws, which the appellants had agreed to change. Should an application again be made after amendment of this provision of the By-Laws, it would again be rejected because of the other provisions of the By-Laws which were questioned by the High State Court, in which case there would probably be no re-examination of the case. 2. The High State Court has interpreted the corporate law of the Code of Civil Law incorrectly, and has especially misunderstood the content and significance of Art. 4 par. 1 and 2, Art. 140 GG in connection with Art. 137 par. 3, 4 WRV. a) Contrary to the interpretation of the High State Court § 41 par. 1 BGB does not prevent the transfer to a third party of the right to dissolve the Association. This is certainly true when the assembly of the members has this right as well. The provisions of the By-Laws for the election of the members of the Association by the Baha'i Community and the termination of their membership due to new elections are in accordance with§§ 38 and 58 BGB. As is shown from §§ 25 and 40 BGB, State Law leaves it to the Association to make such provisions. No objections can be derived from the Code of Civil Law either against the competence of the National Spiritual Assembly to remove a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly (Art. 4 par. 2 of the By-Laws), or to the definition of its area of jurisdiction (Art. 11 par. 1 letter c), or to the duty of approval for amendment of the By-Laws provided for in 592 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Art. 13 par. 2, or to the transfer of assets of the Spiritual Assembly in case of its dissolution to the National Spiritual Assembly (Art. 14 par. 2). Altogether the provisions of the By- Laws contested by the High State Court did not grant an inadmissible outside influence of a third party on the appellant under 1). Its integration in the hierarchical shucture of the Religious Community of the Baha'is is of necessity given by its rules and principles, which are based on divine Revelation. b) The denial of legal capacity violates the constitutional rights of the appellant under 1) as derived from Art. 4 par. 1 and 2 GG and violates Art. 140 GG in connection with Art. 137 par. 3 and 4 WRY. These provisions of the Constitution comprehend an organizational shucture for a religious community, including the right to seek legal capacity for an administiáative institution of the community. In the understanding of the Baha'is, which is relevant here, it is an unyieldable principle that the administiáative institutions of the local communities , but not the communities themselves, should attain legal capacity. The Constitution in Art. 140 GG in connection with Art. 137 par. 2 to 5 WRY gives religious communities the basic right of choice as regards their legal form. Since the Baha'is were denied the status of ' Korperschaft des offentlichen Rechts' [Corporate Body under Public Law] which they sought, the appellant under 1) must be granted legal capacity under Civil Law. Even if the High State Court's interpretation of corporate law for non-religious associations should be correct, its effect on the appellant under 1) is more serious because of his religious aims and the necessity of integration in the national and international order of the Baha'is which they require, and thus it cannot be applied to him. The appellants under 2) to 4) as officers of appellant under 1) suffer violation of their right, protected by Ari. 4 par. 2 GG, to carry out administiáative activities for the religious community.

IV.

On the Constitutional Appeal the Federal Minister of Justice and the Ministiáy for Justice, Federal and European Affairs of Baden-Wi.irttemberg have given their opinion. Both consider the Constitutional Appeal unjustified . 1. The Federal Minister of Justice explains that the right to be granted legal capacity for the appellant under 1) cannot directly be derived from Art. 4 par. 2 and Ari. 140 GG in connection with Art. 13 7 par. 3 WRY by referring to the contents of belief of the Baha'i Religion. Ari. 4 par. 2 GG obliges the State to respect belief and to protect the practice of religion, but not to create legal regulations which correspond to the pariicular contents of belief of individual religious cornnmnities. It is questionable whether Art. 137 par. 3 WRY covers the attainment of legal capacity by the appellant under 1); Art. 137 par. 4 WRY, which is not directly applicable to the appellant under 1) as a mere sub-organization of a religious community, gives an explicit regulation just for this area. In any case, the Spiritual Assembly can attain legal capacity only according to the general prescriptions of Civil Law; lesser requirements than those demanded in Art. 137 par. 4 WRY for the registration of a religious community as an association, could not apply in this case. The Courts, in their decision on the registration of the appellant under 1), have not misunderstood the meaning and significance of Art. 140 GG in connection with Ari. 137 par. 3 and 4 WRY. 2. According to the view of the Minister of Justice, Federal and Emopean Affairs of Baden-Wi.irttemberg, the By-Laws violate not only individual regulations of the compulsory law. They also depart significantly in their totality fro m the type of autonomous association regulated in the Code of Civil Law, and so expose the appellant under 1) to dominating INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'i ACTIVITIES 593 third-party influences, that the decision of the High State Court cannot be contested in the light of the regulations of corporate law of the Code of Civil Law. Even when taking the relevant Constitutional Law into necessary consideration, no other result can obtain. The appellants have not so far proven conclusively that the belief of the Bah:i'is demands in particular the organizational rules considered iITeconcilable with the regulations of the Code of Civil Law. It is suggested rather that the teachings of the Faith grant a certain flexibility in the aITangement of details of the organizational strncture.

The Constitutional Appeals are admissible.

1. The appellant under 1) is entitled to make the Constitutional Appeal. As a union of persons he can, independent of given legal capacity, claim the possible violation of a constitutional right (cf. BVerfGE 3, 383 <391 >). The Constitutional Appeal specifically concerns the question whether the appellant under 1) can be denied registration as an association and thus the attainment of legal capacity, without violation of his constitutional right from Art. 4 par. 2 and 2 GG. The appellant under 1) asserts that his freedom of religious practice is violated by the fact that with the denial of his registration in the Court's Register of Associations it has been made impossible for him to organize in accordance with the internal constitution prescribed essentially and imperatively by the belief of the Bah:i 'is . Thus the protection of the Constitutional Law of religious freedom is infringed. The claim of the appellant under 1) is adequately substantiated; according to his presentation the material and vital areas of religious freedom are concerned and there appears a possible violation of the guarantee of the Constitutional Law. 2. The appellants under 2) to 4) claim that the denial ofregistration to the appellant under 1) makes it impossible for them to organize themselves in the framework of their religious community according to the binding prescriptions of the Revelation underlying it, and thus to practise their religion. With this presentation they have sufficiently proven the possibility of a violation of their constitutional right from Art. 4 par. 1 and 2 GG, which is also an individual constitutional right. That the appellants under 3) and 4) no longer belong to the Local Spiritual Assembly, has not lessened their original interest in a decision of the case. How a change in the situation affects a Constitutional Appeal already made, is to be decided in each individual case, taking into consideration the contested act of sovereignty underlying the appeal, the significance of the constitutional guarantee appealed to and the purposes of the Constitutional Appeal (BVerfGE 76, 1 <38>). In the present case the basic significance of the Constitutional Question brought up is to be considered, and further, that the appellants under 3) and 4) can again become members of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bah:i'is in elections, and further court proceedings in case of renewed applications for registration in the Court's Register of Associations are possible (cf. also BVerfGE 21 , 139 < 143>). 3. The legitimate interest to take legal action as basis for the Constitutional Appeal is not vitiated through the High State Court' s having based its decision also on the consideration not contested by the appellants, namely that Art. 9 par. 2 of the By-Laws does not guarantee, as regards calling a meeting of the members, the protection of minorities required in § 37 par. 1 BGB. Thus, this is obviously a question which plays only a subordinate role in the court proceedings. The appellants are ready to amend the By-Laws on this point. They cannot be expected to again go through a hopeless application after such an amendment. 594 THE BAHA ' i WORLD c. The Constitutional Appeals are justified.

The decisions of the Courts do not do justice to the significance of the constitutional right of freedom of religious association, guaranteed in Art. 4 par. 2 and 2 GG in connection with Art. 140 GG/137 par. 2 and 4 WRY, for the interpretation (and application) of the corporate law of the Code of Civil Law, and they thereby violate the constitutional rights of the appellants.

The Local Assembly of the Baha'is ofTubingen and the believers of the Baha'i Community are entitled to the constitutional right from Art. 4 par. 1 and 2 GG. A community's mere assertion and self-understanding of professing a religion and of being a religious community cannot justify reference for it and its members to the guarantee of religious freedom of Art. 4, par. I and 2 GG; rather it must be a religion and a religious community in fact, according to spiritual content and outward appearance. To examine and determine this in case of dispute is the duty of the organs of the State, of the courts in the final analysis,-in application of the ruling of the State's legal system. These cannot decide freely in such a case, but must base their decision on the concept of religion to which the meaning and purpose of the fundamental guarantee refers, as intended or set forth in the Constitution. In the present case it is not necessary to go more deeply into this, as the character of the Baha' i Faith as a religion and of the Baha ' i Community as a religious community is evident, in actual everyday life, in cultural tradition, and in the understanding of the general public as well as of the science of comparative religion.

II.

Religious freedom in the meaning of Art. 4 par. I and 2 GG also includes freedom ofreligious association as it follows from this regulation in connection with the relevant Weimar Church Articles which are included by Art. 140 GG. I. Freedom of religious association is not expressly mentioned in Art. 4 par. 1 and 2 GG; specifically guaranteed are freedom of religion, conscience, religious and ideological belief, as well as the freedom of religious practice. According to the judgements of the Federal Constitutional Court the freedom ofreligion guaranteed in Art. 4 GG has to be understood in a comprehensive manner (cfBYerfGE 24, 236 <244 ff.>). The intention of the framer of the Constitution, after the experience of religious persecution by the National Socialist regime, was aimed at guaranteeing freedom of religion not just as particular partial freedoms , but fully. In any case none of the rights to religious freedom, which had been recognized in the Weimar Constitution as the result of hundreds of years of historical development, should now be excluded. A part of these rights to religious freedom was freedom of religion and conscience, including freedom of belief, freedom of private and public religious practice (freedom of worship) and freedom of religious association (cf. Art. 135, 136, 137 par. 2 WRY and G. Anschutz, Die Religionsfreiheit [The Freedom of Religion] , in: Anschutz/ Thoma (Pub!.) HDStR, vol. 2, 1932, § I 06, p. 681 ff.). This is confirmed by the history of its development. In the consultations of the Parliamentary Council, what was later to be Art. 4 expressly contained the guarantee of the freedom of INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 595 religious association ("The right of association for religious and ideological societies is recognized"), from its presentation by the Committee of Principles and the first reading in the Main Committee as sentence 2 of par. 1. Only in the fourth reading in the Main Committee on 4 May 1949-after inclusion of the Weimar Church Compromise into the Constitutionthis sentence was deleted with the reasoning that it is now unnecessary, because Art. 137 par. 2 WRY is now part of the Constitution (v.Doemming/ Filsslein/Matz, Entstehungsgeschichte der Artikel des Grundgesetzes [History of the Development of the Articles of the Constitution]: JOR, N.F., vol. 1, p. 73 foll.; Pad.Council, HA-Prot., 57th meeting on 4.5.1949, p. 745). From this it follows, according to the intention of the Parliamentary Council, that freedom of religious association is, and is to continue to be, guaranteed in Constitutional Law. It would be totally opposed to this ruling and to the intention of the framer of the Constitution, if it [freedom of religious association] were to be denied merely because of its deletion from Art. 4 which was only made in order to avoid a double guarantee, since it is part of the freedom ofreligion guaranteed in Constitutional Law. It is rather to be deduced that Art. 4 par. 1 and 2 GG refers for its guarantee of the freedom of religious association to Art. 140 GG/137 par. 2 WRY and includes its normative content. 2. The guarantee of freedom of religious association includes the freedom to form and organize as a religious association based on a common Faith. Even the concept of religious association points to the fact that a union on the basis of State Law is intended, and not just a mere spiritual community of worship. The possibility of forming a religious association is to open the way to organizing as a union of people for the realization of a common religious purpose, to give some legal form, and to participate in general legal proceedings . This is not meant as a right to a particular legal form, such as that of an incorporated association or some other form of legal person; guaranteed is, however, the possibility of a legal existence in some form or other, including participation in general legal proceedings. It is in conformity with this that Art. 140 GG in connection with Art. 137 par. 4 WRY opens and guarantees to religious communities the possibility of acquiring legal capacity according to the general conditions of Civil Law. These conditions have to be observed by everyone on principle, including religious communities. Nothing is therefore lost, if a religious community or one of its parts cannot acquire a particular legal form it is aspiring to, because of a special organization rooted in its belief. Freedom of religious association demands, however, that the self-understanding of the religious community, insofar as it is rooted in the freedom of religious belief and confession guaranteed in Art. 4 par. 1 GG and is realized in the practice of the religion protected by Art. 4 par. 2 GG, is to be especially considered in the interpretation and application of the relevant law, here of corporate law of the Code of Civil Law (cf. BverfGE 53, 366 <401> m.w.N.). This means not only that the religious community is allowed to make full use of the leeway in organization opened to it by Dispositive Law [i.e. Law that is amenable to negotiation]. Even in the application of compulsory regulations leeways of interpretation are to be used in favour of the religious community if necessary; this must not, however, lead to neglect of imperative consideration of the security of legal proceedings or of the rights of others. It would be incompatible with the freedom of religious association, if a religious community, in view of its internal organization, were to be denied participation in general legal proceedings entirely, or this were made possible only under unacceptable conditions 596 THE BAHA'I WORLD

III.

The contested decisions do not satisfy the normative content of the freedom of religious association described . The corporate law of the Code of Civil Law admits of taking into account special requirements of internal organization resulting from the individuality of religious associations which are a pa1i of a religious community or in some special relationship to it. Since the legal form of a 'Ktirperschaft des tiffentlichen Rechts' [Corporate Body under Public Law] is not available to tlie Bahi'is (1 following) , this is applicable to the Local Spiritual Assembly, from Art. 4 par. 1 and 2 GG (2 following). 1. The Baha'i Community cannot acquire the character of a Corporate Body under Public Law according to Art. 140 GG/Art. 137 par. 5 WRY. With this fo1rn of organization the existing problems would be solved, because in the framework of a "Corporate Body under Public Law" which in connection with the regulations of Art. 137 par. 5 WRY functions only as a blanket concept, the inclusion into a hierarchical strnctme, as it appears to be given for the Balli ' is in their belief, could be fully realized organizationally. This is shown, for example, in the case of the Roman Catholic Church, for which a hierarchical organizational shucture is determined which acquires validity in State Law without diminution . Thus, church parishes are established or dissolved by the local bishop alone, after a hearing in the Diocesan Council of Priests, without the advice or the agreement of the priest or the congregation of the church or of a body selected by the congregation being necessary (Can. 515, § 2 i.Y.m. Can. 127, §§ 1 and 2 CIC). The appellants have, however, shown that recognition as a Corporate Body under Public Law is out of the question for the Baha'i Community, according to the relevant recommendations of the Conference of the Ministers of Religion and as the result of an enquiry to the Minisháy of Religion ofHessen; it had only about 4,000 to 5,000 members in the Federal Republic in the year 1986, who moreover were divided among approximately 50 local Baha'i communities. It cannot be said that the denial ofrecognition as a Corporate Body under Public Law is legally inconect or even wrong in view of these circumstances and of the criteria of Art. 137 par. 5 WRY. Therefore it is uncertain whether the Baha'i Community, were the acquisition of the character of a Corporate Body under Public Law possible for it, could be referred to it without losing its right to freedom granted in Art. 4 par. 1 and 2 GG, or would have a choice of legal form. 2. It is possible in the framework of the corporate law of the Code of Civil Law, and it is demanded by Constitutional Law, that the religious requirements for the internal organization of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is as a religious association and as part of a religious community be especially considered. a) The regulations of the By-Laws presented, which were considered by the Courts to be incompatible with the principle of independence and self-adminisháation (autonomy of the Association), on the establishment of membership (Art. 3 par. 2), removal from membership (Art. 4 par. 2) and the dissolution of the Association (Art. 14 par. 1 letter b), the requirements for amendment of the By-Laws (Art. 13 par. 2) and the definition of the tasks of the Association (Art. 11 par. 1 letter c), do not concern those regulations of corporate law which, in the interest of the security and clarity of legal proceedings, regulate the affairs and legal relations with external effects (appointment or removal of the officers, their power of representation, liability of the assets of the Association, liquidation in case of dissolution of the Association etc). They refer solely to the internal organization of the Association. b) The regulations contested are not in contradiction to the wording of the regulations of corporate law on the internal organization of the Association. The dissolution of the Association regulated in § 41 BGB by decision of the general meeting of members is not excluded INTERN A TI ON AL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACT IVITI ES 597 but supplemented by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is' right of dissolution; on neither the manner of the establishment of membership, nor on the possibilities for removal, does § 58 BGB contain any regulation; the regulation of§ 33 BGB on amendment of the By-Laws is dispositive [not obligatory] (§ 40 BGB); on the definition of the tasks of the Association there is no legal regulation. c) The courts justify the inadmissibility of the mentioned By-Laws merely on the basis of their incompatibility with the principle of corporate autonomy characterizing corporate law. This principle of corporate autonomy is not expressly laid down in the corporate laws of the BGB ; rather it is deduced from jurisprudence and from the doctrine of the totality of regulations, which trace back the bringing into being and organization of an association, as well as the conduct of its affairs, to the will of the members of the association. Its aim, similar to that of private autonomy, is to preserve the character of the association as a union of persons carried on mainly by the will and action of its members (KG, OLGZ 1974, p. 385 <387>; RGRK-Steffen, 12th ed., marginal No. 31 f. before§ 21 , § 25 marginal No. 1; Staudinger- Co ing, 12th ed., introd. remark to§§ 21- 54, marginal No. 38; AK-Ott, § 25 marginal No. 15 f. ; cf. also Flume, Allgemeiner Tei! des Burgerlichen Rechts [General Part of Civil Law] I/2, 1983, p. 189 f.). Part of this autonomy is to give institutions which are provided with it the right to give themselves the organization suitable to their aims, and to freely determine it, as long as there are no binding provisions or principles derived from the character of the particular institution which are contrary to it. It is emphasized in jurisdiction that this autonomy can also be practised in such a way, that the right of self-administration of the association is limited by its Constitution; such a limitation also represents a practice of autonomy; it is therefore a curtailment of autonomy when such regulations are declared inadmissible (cf. KG, OLGZ 1974, p. 385 <387>; Diitz, 2. FS for Herschel, 1982, p. 55 <73 ff.>; a.A. Flume, a.a .O., p. 194 ff.). The principle of corporate autonomy, as it is understood in legal judgements and literature, is thus marked by two tendencies in regard to its content, which do not necessarily run parallel: on the one hand it protects autonomy in the fom1ation of the organizational structure of the association according to the free self-dete1mination of the members, to which can also belong integration in a hierarchically organized community; on the other hand it protects the self-determination of the association and its members from a renunciation which almost totally defeats their own self-determination. It does not exclude the possibility, rather it opens up the way, to an equalization in the interpretation and application of both tendencies, by taking into consideration the concrete case, i.e. in relation to the aims and individuality of the Association in question. Thus it is considered consistent with corporate autonomy, to create associations at different levels, inside which the lower-level associations-be they of legal capacity or not-are in a relation of dependency to the superior associations, but do not thereby lose their character as associations, as long as they also pursue tasks independently (Reichert/ Dam1ecker/Kiihr, Handbuch des Vereins- und Verbandsrechts [Handbook of the Law governing Associations and Unions], 4th ed. 1987, marginal No. 2098 ff. ; Soergel-Hadding, marginal No. 53 before§ 21; BGHZ 90, p. 331). d) If, in this connection, one considers the individuality of religious associations which are organized as parts of a religious community, it is obvious, in view of the frequently observable hierarchical internal organization rooted in the belief of religious communities, that associations which are part of religious communities, or in a particular relationship to them, wish to be integrated into the hierarchy of their religious community. This cannot automatically be considered as submission to outside third-party influence which threatens the essential independence and self-adminisháation of the association. 598 THE BAHA'i WORLD

aa) Autonomy in the formation and organization of a religious association can be practised in such a way, that one of the aims of the association is to be part of a religious community and to integrate into the structure determined by its religious laws. Such selfdetermined aims of integration which, in the case of a religious association, may well represent an expression of the religious self-determination of the members in their common Faith, must not be judged simply as surrender of the self-determination of the association. A limit is reached only when the self-determination and self-administration of the association is ruled out, not only in certain respects as a consequence of the hierarchical integration arising from the religious law, but greatly beyond that; the association would then no longer be carried on mainly by the will of its members, but would become a mere administrative centre or would be run for the separate estate of another party (cf. KG, OLGZ 1974, p. 385 <390>; BayObLGZ 1979, p. 303 <308 ff.>). According to the above, corporate law permits, in the case of a religious association constituted as part of a religious community, that limitations in the autonomous rights of dissolution, removal or activity shall not be considered as inadmissible external third-party influence incompatible with corporate autonomy, as long as they serve, and are limited to, safeguarding integration into the greater religious community in the framework of existing ties of religious law-such as the preservation and identity of belief and basic duties of daily living. With such a limitation to the powers of intervention of a hierarchically superior institution, which only claims for itself some kind of authmity over the teachings and conesponding rights of jurisdiction, a sufficient share of self-determination and self-administration of the association is preserved. bb) By considering the influence of the National Spiritual Assembly specified in the By- Laws in regard to the continuance, membership and activities of the Local Spiritual Assembly as constituting in general an inadmissible third-party influence over the Association, the comis have misunderstood the character of religious associations which, as part of their belief, organize themselves hierarchically as part of a religious community, and thus have misconstrued the significance of the Constitutional Law of freedom of religious association for the interpretation and application of the principle of corporate autonomy. They have considered the National Spiritual Assembly to be an extraneous organization, characterized by different aims and interests, exercising a dominating influence, without considering the unity and mutuality linked to religious law. It is no different with the conclusion concerning the election of the members of the Local Spiritual Assembly by the believers of the local Baha'i community. These, by virtue of the ties ofreligious law, are not third parties subjecting the Association to an alien influence from outside and thereby annulling its selfdetermination; rather, this manner of establishing membership is in accordance with the purpose of the Association to administer the affairs of the local Baha'i Community as a hierarchical governing body (Art. 2 par. 1 of the By-Laws and Preamble), and it precisely serves its realization. e) Nor can an inadmissible third-party influence be deduced from the fact that, in case of dissolution of the Association by the National Spiritual Assembly, the assets will fall to it (Art. 14 par. 1 and 2 of the By-Laws). The purpose of this provision of the By-Laws is not that of enabling the National Spiritual Assembly, by making use of its right of dissolution, to seize another's assets for the purpose of increasing its own assets. This is contradicted by the fact that according to the By-Laws no contributions are levied with the purpose of accumulating assets; the financing of the Association is solely through voluntary donations; moreover, the Association has expressly subordinated itself to the legal conditions of charitable pmpose (Art. 2 par. 2 and 3 of the By-Laws). INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAH A ' i ACTIVITIES 599 IV.

The cited decisions therefore violate the appellants' constitutional right from Art. 4 par. 1 and 2 GG in connection with Art. 140 GG/137 par. 2 and 4 WRY, in that they do not sufficiently consider, in the interpretation and application of the meaning of corporate autonomy, the character of the Local Spiritual Assembly as a religious Association and as part of a religious community. They are therefore to be revoked. The case is to be referred back to the District Court for renewed consideration. It will have to examine, among other things, whether the right of dissolution and removal accorded the National Spiritual Assembly, expressed without limits in the By-Laws, is sufficiently limited by the purpose of the Association and the Preamble to the Constitution, in the sense of the explanations under III 2 d) aa), or if an express definition in the By-Laws is needed.

The decision on the costs follows from§ 34a par. 2 BVerGG.

Mahrenholz Bockenforde Klein Gra/3hof Kruis Fran/3en Kirchhof Winter 600 THE BAHA'i WORLD

(DECISION OF Tl-IE GERMAN FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL CO URT)

ELUCIDATION OF ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviation Elucidation in German Elucidation in English

a.A. andere Ansicht Other opinion or view

a.a.O. am angegeben Ort (bereits idem. (from the source already vorher zitierte Quelle) cited)

AK-Ott Kommentar zum Commentary on the Code of Biirgerlichen Gesetzbuch Civil Law (series of (Reihe Altemativkommentare), alternative commentaries), 1. Auflage1979ff. 1st edition 1979ff. Ott = Bearbeiter Ott = name of author

BayObLGZ Bayerisches Oberstes Landes- Bavarian Supreme State Court, gericht, Enscheidungssammlung Collection of decisions in in Zivilsachen civil matters.

BGB Biirgerliches Gesetzbuch Book of the code of civil law

BGHZ Bundesgerichtshof, Federal Court, decisions Entscheidungen in Zivilsachen in civil matters

BverfGE Bundesverfassungsgericht, Federal Constitutional Court, Entscheidungen Decisions

BverfGG Gesetz iiber das Bundesver- Law on the Federal Constitufassungsgericht in der Fassung tional Court in the draft of vom 3.2.1971 3 February 1971

BvR Registerzeichen des Registration symbol of the Bundesverfassungsgerichts fi.ir Federal Constitutional Court Yerfassungsbeschwerden for constitutional appeals

Can. Canon Canon (i.e. in relation to the Canon Law of the Church)

CIC Codex Iuris Canonici Codex of Canon Law

FGG Reichsgesetz iiber die Imperial Law on voluntary freiwillige Gerichtsbarkeit jurisdiction of 17 May 1898 vom 17.5.1898 INTERNATIONAL SURV EY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITI ES 601 (continued) Abbreviation Elucidation in German Elucidation in English

FS fiir Herschel Festschrift fur Herschel Publication in honour of Herschel

GG Grundgesetz fur die Basic Law (Constitution) of Bundesrepublik Deutschland the Federal Republic of vom 23.5.1949 Germany of23 May 1949

GReg Gerichtsregister Court Register

HA-Prot Protokolle des Minutes of the Main Committee Hauptausschusses des of the Parliamentary Council Parlamentarischen Rates

HDStR Handbuch des deutschen Handbook of German State Staatskirchemechts Church Law

i.V.m. in Verbindung mit In connection with

m.w.N. mit weiteren Nachweisen With further indications

OLGZ Entscheidungen der Decisions of the High State Oberlandesgerichte in Courts in civil matters Zivilsachen

RGRK-Steffen Das Bilrgerliche Gesetzbuch mit The Code of Civil Law with besonderer Berilcksichtigung special reference to legal der Rechtsprechung, des pronouncements, to the Reichsgerichts und des Imperial Court and to the Bundesgerichtshofes, Federal Court, Commentary, Kommentar, 12. Auflage 12th edition 1974ff. 1974ff. Steffen = Name of author Steffen = Bearbeiter

WRV W eimarer V erfassung vom Weimar Constitution of 11.8.1919 11August1919 602 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

DECISION OF THE GERMAN FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE

In a decision handed down on 5 February 1991 the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany upheld a constitutional appeal made by the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha 'is of Tiibingen. This decision is of such fa r-reaching importance that the Universal House of Justice has asked that the following summary of its background and effects be sent to all National Spiritual Assemblies. This summary is freely based on an article prepared by Dr. Udo Schaefer at the request of the National Spiritual Assembly ofthe Baha 'is of Germany for publication in "Baha 'i Nachrichten ", the newsletter of the German Baha 'i community.

I. that eventually came before the Federal The Baha'i Administrative Order has so many Constitutional Court, namely, whether the unique features, and is so different from the Local Spiritual Assemblies could be incororganizational structure of most other reli- porated under German Law using the Bygions, that not infrequently difficulties are Laws that are the universal Baha' i standard. experienced in conveying to the authorities When different legal systems collide there in some countries a clear understanding of are always problems, and this was the case the nature of our institutions, and thus of here, where Baha'i constitutional law seemed obtaining a status that is accorded to other to be incompatible with German civil law. similar bodies under civil law. In order to make these problems intelligible In Germany, for example, 95% of all and to explain the decision of the Federal associations are recognized as being "of Constitutional Court, it is necessary to conpublic benefit". This is similar to what is sider the historical background. known as "charitable status" in other countries, and is the basis for the granting of II. various tax exemptions. Over the years the Firstly, it is necessary to understand that the Spiritual Assemblies in Germany repeatedly Baha' i Community is not only a religious experienced difficulty with the Inland Reve- community but also a community of law. nue offices until the National Spiritual The believers are linked together not only by Assembly turned to the Federal Minister of the tie of belief and love, but also by the Finance, who issued a decree on 6 August legal norms with which the Founder of our 1990 clarifying that the Spiritual Assemblies Faith has endowed His community, legal of the Baha'is "serve the promotion of norms which govern the structure of the religious purposes" and thus have public- community, its administrative organs and its benefit status. Even after this, one of the functions. The main sources of these legal Revenue Offices continued to insist that the norms, which are to be found throughout the By-Laws of a Spiritual Assembly needed to Writings of Baha'u ' llah and ' Abdu'l-Baha, be amended . are the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the Kitab-i-'Ahd and A second problem was that of the form 'Abdu ' l-Baha ' s Will and Testament, as well under which Baha'i Spiritual Assemblies as the works of Shoghi Effendi who, as could be incorporated. This was the problem the Authorized Interpreter, expounded and INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 603 elaborated these nonns in his letters (especially the Local Assemblies attained legal capacity, in those published in Baha 'i Administration they were incorporated with these By-Laws. and The World Order of Baha 'u '!!ah). As the establishment of the judicial system The revelation of the laws of the Faith, of the Gennan Federal Republic progressed, and their application in practice has been the scrutiny of articles of incorporation a very gradual process. Baha'u' llah had became increasingly strict, and Local Spiriappointed four Hands of the Cause of God tual Assemblies which wished to incorporate during His own lifetime, and 'Abdu'l-Baha met with more and more difficulties. The had brought into being embryonic Local standard By-Laws corresponded to American Spiritual Assemblies, but the raising up of legal concepts and were expressed in Amerithe institutions of the Administrative Order can legal language. These were radically at really started with the ministry of Shoghi variance with the concepts of German law Effendi. and thus, in many instances barely compre- In the establishment of the Administra- hensible to German lawyers. tive Order the American Baha'i Community Under the pressure of this experience the played a leading role. In the twenties, under Gennan Baha'i institutions acquired the the unerring guidance of the Guardian, the understanding that, while the fundamental National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is structures and principles of our law as of the United States and Canada formulated "Divine Law" are unalterable, they have a constitution for itself, consisting of a Dec- to be expressed in different terminology laration of Trust and By-Laws, and one for according to the legal systems of particular Local Spiritual Assemblies, comprising a set countries. This experience was shared by of By-Laws, all based on the laws and princi- other Baha' i communities around the world. ples of the Faith, and in a fonn through which Thus, in the seventies, with the agreement these institutions could incorporate (obtain of the Universal House of Justice, new legal capacity) under American law. In doing By-Laws, which are faithful to the Baha'i this, the difficulty was to mould the non-cod- standard constitution and are also in accorified Baha'i laws and principles into forms dance with German Law, were drafted and made available by civil law for the attainment introduced as a pattern for all Local Spiritual of legal capacity. With the expert help of Assemblies in Gennany. All Spiritual Assem- American jurists, constitutions were worked blies in the Federal Republic are today out for the National Assembly and the Local incorporated according to these sample By- Assemblies which were endorsed by Shoghi Laws. The National Spiritual Assembly also Effendi and prescribed by him as the pattern prepared a new constitution for itself, but for the establishment of the Baha'i Adminis- this has not yet been registered, because tration in other parts of the world. the Court of Registration concerned was awaiting the decision of the Federal Consti- III. tutional Court. When, after the Second World War, the Although this development placed the Spiritual Assemblies that had been dissolved Gennan Spiritual Assemblies in an incompaunder the Nazi regime were re-established rably better position in relation to the Courts in Germany, the National Spiritual Assembly of Registration, it soon became clear that the adopted the Declaration of Trust and legal construction of the By-Laws was still By-Laws which formed the national Baha' i not easily conveyed to the courts concerned. constitution, and the By-Laws of a Local It is not the community (with the Assembly Spiritual Assembly which were the standard as its managing body) which is the associalocal Baha' i constitution, simply translating tion, but the Assembly itself, which is elected them from English into German. Wherever by the members of the community; this is an 604 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

unusual construction in Germany. Normally, their superior institutions, the National membership in an association is attained Assembly and the Universal House of Jusby joining it, but membership in a Spirihial tice, have a series of rights of intervention Assembly is through election by a "third according to the By-Laws, is seen to violate party", the community. Normally in Ger- this principle of corporate autonomy. many, an Association has a minimum size Thus a critical situation had arisen for the (7 members) and has no upper limit. As German Baha'i Community. There was a against that the membership of the Assem- great danger that all incorporated Spiritual bly is limited in number: it has nine Assemblies, including the National Spirmembers, no fewer and no more. In spite of itual Assembly, would be deprived of their these difficulties it was usually possible to legal capacity. overcome the Registrar 's objections and The German Constitution provides a posobtain legal incorporation. Sometimes this sibility for recognized religious communities required proceedings in the Jaw courts. to incorporate, in certain circumstances, under "public law" rather than as associa- IV. tions under civil law. But this presupposes a The legal administrator of the District Court minimum number of members which the of Tilbingen was especially obstinate. He German Baha'i community is still far from objected to no less than eight points in the having reached. By-Laws and finally, on 8 December 1983 , The Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is refused incorporation. The legal measures must therefore have recourse to the corpotaken against this decision were unsuccess- rate law of the German Code of Civil Law to ful. The State Court ofTubingen rejected the achieve legal capacity. But, to obtain such furiher appeal of 5 May 1985. The High registration the Spiritual Assemblies would State Court in Stuttgart, to which the case have had to change the basic structures of was subsequently appealed, rejected it on their By-Laws. Such changes the Baha'is 27 January 1986. cannot and will not accept, because the With that the legal measures were essential structures of the constitutional law exhausted, and this would have meant that of our community are the Law of God and the Spiritual Assembly of Tilbingen would are therefore not open to compromise. These never be able to incorporate with the essential structures include the vertical form By-Laws of the standard local Baha'i consti- of institutional organization. tution. Beyond this, when the decision of the With all other legal means exhausted, the High State Court in Stuttgart was published Federal Constitutional Court presented the in the legal literature, a number of other last resort for the German Baha'i community, courts, alerted by this decision, demanded but this presupposed that the decisions prethat incorporated Local Assemblies amend viously passed by the courts had violated the their By-Laws or else face cancellation of constitutional rights of the Spiritual Assembly their existing incorporation. ofTUbingen. The National Spirih1al Assembly The decision of the High State Court in was convinced that this was unmistakably Stuttgart was founded on the principle of the case. Article 4 of the German Constitucorporate autonomy which applies to associ- tion guarantees not just freedom of religious ations under German civil incorporation practice, which includes freedom of belief law. According to this, an association is an and worship, but also freedom of organizaautonomous body free from third-party tion. The decisions passed by the couris, and influence and is subject only to the law of the interpretation of civil law underlying the land. The fact that Local Spiritual them, had led to the result that hierarchical Assemblies are linked in a hierarchy and that integration within the framework of the INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA ' I ACTIVITIES 605 Baha'i Administration was made impossible V. for the Baha' is. Were these decisions to The decision which the Federal Constitution be enforced, each local Baha'i community Court reached, wholly in our favour, on would be isolated from the rest of the 5 February 1991, is a relatively rare decision Administrative Order. The community as a in the field of State Church Law in Germany, whole would no longer exist, it would be and for this alone it constitutes a highly sigonly an amorphous collection of autono- nificant precedent in the formulation and mous bodies with no links to one another. development of German Law. The Baha' i Community as the "People of For the German Baha'i Community this God" embodied in a legal structure, would decision, as shown by the above explanano longer exist. In this the National Assem- tions, is of far-reaching significance and bly saw a violation of Article 4 of the cannot be overestimated: It ensures the legal Federal Constitution and concluded that the status of the community and brings to an submission of a Constitutional Appeal was end all attempts by the courts to require advisable. the amendment of the basic structures of Although, from the outset, this constitu- our By-Laws. It confirms once and for all tional question had been referred to in the right of the Baha'is to be organized as a writing, the courts concerned with the hierarchically structured legal community successive appeals on the case had not con- according to the revealed Law of God. sidered them at all. The decision first of all sets a limit to After receiving the Constitutional Appeal, its application, in a statement that is of the which was submitted in March 1986, the greatest importance as a testimony to the Federal Constitutional Court considered this widespread recognition of the Baha'i Faith extremely unusual matter very intensively. It as an independent religious community. It even requested original literature from the explains that the mere assertion of a com- German Baha'i Publishing Trust, asked for munity that it is a religious community is not and examined numerous By-Laws of other sufficient for it to submit such a constituassociations, Christian and Islamic, and tional appeal. The authorities and courts have solicited views from the Federal Minister of to examine in each specific case whether it is Justice and from the Ministry of Justice of really a religion and a religious community, Baden-Wiirttemberg, the Evangelical Church according to spiritual content and external in Germany and the Institute for State appearances. Here the Court states: "In the Church Law of the Dioceses of Germany (on present case it is not necessary to go more the question of corporate autonomy in the deeply into this, as the character of the case of church associations) . The two Minis- Baha'i Faith as a religion and the Baha'i tries of Justice expressed an opinion very Community as a religious community is unfavourable to the Baha'is, concluding that evident, in actual everyday life, cultural tradithe contested decisions had been passed cor- tion, and in the understanding of the general rectly and so the Constitutional Appeal was public as well as of the science of comparaunfounded. tive religion ." The Federal Constitutional Court took a In its decision, the Federal Constitutional long time to reach its decision. It had to con- Court reviewed in detail the constitutional sider the far-reaching consequences which right of freedom of religious organization a decision in our favour could have. Would and came to the conclusion that the lower it not open wide the floodgates for orga- courts, in arriving at their decisions, had not nizations unjustifiably calling themselves done justice to this constitutional right; that "religions" to make use of this decision in it is possible, within the framework of the future? German civil Jaw governing incorporations, 606 THE BAHA'i WORLD

to give special consideration to the religious judgement represents in the efforts to prerequirements governing the internal organi- serve and ensure the legal status of the zation of the Local Spiritual Assembly as Spiritual Assemblies in Germany can be a religious association and as part of a judged from the fact that only 1.5% of all religious community; and, moreover, that Constitutional Appeals meet with success. Constitutional Law demands that such special The National Spiritual Assembly had the consideration be given. wisdom to shrink from no effort or cost in The Court pointed out that, because order to ensure the best presentation of the associations which are part of religious case. It engaged a renowned Stuttgart firm communities wish to be integrated into the of attorneys for its legal protection. The hierarchy of their religious community, the presentation of the case was in the hands of granting of the right of intervention to an expert in the fields of Constitutional Law, superior institutions cannot be considered as Administrative Law and State Church Law. submission to an external influence which Beyond that the National Spiritual Assembly would threaten the essential independence of solicited an opinion from a highly regarded the association or its right to administer expert in State Church Law at the University itself. The Federal Constitutional Court con- of Heidelberg (Professor Friedrich Millier). cluded that the courts acting in this case This profound opinion, comprising 115 pages, had misunderstood the constitutional right of which clearly and convincingly sets forth the freedom of religious organization in the legal position of the Baha'is, was a great interpretation and application of the principle support for this Appeal and surely had an of corporate autonomy, in that they had con- effect in helping to bring it to a successful sidered the National Spiritual Assembly "to conclusion. A gratifying side-effect of the be an extraneous organization, characterized work and funds devoted to this Appeal is to by different aims and interests, exercising a be found in the number of highly-placed dominating influence, without considering the ministerial officials, professors and scienunity and mutuality linked to religious law". tific collaborators, who had to concern The same was true, the Court explained, for themselves intensively with the Faith, not to the election of the members of the Local mention the judges of Germany's highest Spirihial Assembly by the believers in the Court. The decision will be included in the local community, who are not "third-parties". collection of official records and will be From the reasons given for the decision it published in all the legal journals. can be inferred that a positive decision was Undoubtedly further fruits will be gathpossible only because the Baha' i Law, ered in the years ahead when this landmark which underlies our constitutions as revealed decision assists judicial authorities in other Law, is an indispensable part of our Faith. lands to appreciate the stature of the Baha' i Faith and the fundamental importance of the VI. Jaws and principles embedded in its Sacred The magnitude of the achievement this Scriptures. PART FOUR

THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'u'LLAH 608 THE BAHA'I WORLD

:- :: ._ ~ á : ~á ~' :' á-~o:!f á~- ~á ' ~ ~' "=" á# ::- _,_I: ~.--. ::- ~ ~; • ,"-=' : y~

"':--~-----~- --- ---~---á ---------á-~-----------áá--- á- -á - -- --~- .. --------------,----:.-::=-~=.,:.

Partial view of the Seat of the Un iversal Hous e of Justice from the south. I THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

1. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE DECLARATION OF TRUST

IN THE NAME OF Goo, THE ONE , THE INCOMPARABLE, THE ALL-POWERFUL, THE ALL-KNOWING, THE ALL-WI SE.

The light that is shed from the heaven of bounty, and the benediction that shinethfrom the dawningplace of the will of God, the Lord of the Kingdom of Names, rest upon Him Who is the Supreme Mediator, the Most Exalted Pen, Him Whom God hath made the dawning-place of His most excellent names and the dayspring of His most exalted attributes. Through Him the light of unity hath shone fort h above the horizon of the world, and the law of oneness hath been revealed amidst the nations, who, with radiant faces, have turned towards the Supreme Horizon, and acknowledged that which the Tongue of Utterance hath spoken in the Kingdom of His knowledge: .'Earth and heaven, glory and dominion, are God's, the Omnipotent, the Almighty, the Lord ofgrace abounding!'

WITH joyous and thankful hea1is we testify unity of its followers, and to maintain the to the abundance of God's Mercy, to the per- integrity and flexibility of its teachings. fection of His Justice and to the fulfilment of The fundamental purpose animating the His Ancient Promise. Faith of God and His Religion, declares Bahi'u'llah, the Revealer of God's Word in Baha'u'llah, is to safeguard the interests and this Day, the Source of Authority, the Foun- promote the unity of the human race, and to tainhead of Justice, the Creator of a new World foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst Order, the Establisher of the Most Great Peace, men. Suffer it not to become a source ofdissenthe Inspirer and Founder of a world civiliza- sion and discord, ofhate and enmity. This is the tion, the Judge, the Lawgiver, the Unifier and straight Path, the fixed and immovable founda- Redeemer of all mankind, has proclaimed the tion. Whatsoever is raised on this foundation, advent of God's Kingdom on eaiih, has for- the changes and chances ofthe world can never mulated its laws and ordinances, enunciated impair its strength, nor will the revolution of its principles, and ordained its institutions. To countless centuries undermine its structure. direct and canalize the forces released by His Unto the Most Holy Book, 'Abdu 'l-Baha Revelation, He instituted His Covenant, whose declares in His Will and Testament, every power has preserved the integrity of His Faith, one must turn, and all that is not expressly maintained its unity and stimulated its world- recorded therein must be referred to the wide expansion throughout the successive Universal House ofJustice. ministries of 'Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi. The provenance, the authority, the duties, It continues to fulfil its life-giving purpose the sphere of action of the Universal House through the agency of the Universal House of Justice all derive from the revealed Word of Justice whose fundamental object, as one of Bahi'u'llah which, together with the of the twin successors of Baha 'u'llah and interpretations and expositions of the Centre 'Abdu 'l-Baha, is to ensure the continuity of of the Covenant and of the Guardian of the that divinely appointed authority which flows Cause-who, after 'Abdu'l-Baha, is the sole from the Source of the Faith, to safeguard the authority in the interpretation of Baha' i 610 Tl-IE BAHA'I WORLD

Scripture-constitute the binding tem1s of requirements of the time, its own enactments; reference of the Universal House of Justice to deliberate and decide upon all problems and are its bedrock foundation. The author- which have caused difference; to elucidate ity of these Texts is absolute and immutable questions that are obscure; to safeguard the until such time as Almighty God shall reveal personal rights, freedom and initiative of His new Manifestation to Whom will belong individuals; and to give attention to the all authority and power. preservation of human honour, to the devel- There being no successor to Shoghi Effendi opment of countries and the stability of states; as Guardian of the Cause of God, the Universal To promulgate and apply the laws and House of Justice is the Head of the Faith and principles of the Faith; to safeguard and its supreme institution, to which all must tum, enforce that rectitude of conduct which the and on it rests the ultimate responsibility for Law of God enjoins; to preserve and develop ensuring the unity and progress of the Cause of the Spiritual and Administrative Centre of God. Further, there devolve upon it the duties the Baha' i Faith, permanently fixed in the of directing and coordinating the work of the twin cities of 'Akka and Haifa; to admin- Hands of the Cause, of ensuring the continuing ister the affairs of the Baha'i community discharge of the functions of protection and throughout the world; to guide, organize, propagation vested in that institution, and of coordinate and unify its activities; to found providing for the receipt and disbursement institutions; to be responsible for ensuring of the I:fuququ' llah. that no body or institution within the Cause Among the powers and duties with which abuse its privileges or decline in the the Universal House of Justice has been exercise of its tights and prerogatives; and invested are: to provide for the receipt, disposition, administration and safeguarding of the To ensure the preservation of the Sacred funds, endowments and other properties Texts and to safeguard their inviolability; that are entrusted to its care; to analyse, classify, and coordinate the Writ- To adjudicate disputes falling within i.ngs; and to defend and protect the Cause of its purview; to give judgement in cases of God and emancipate it from the fetters of violation of the laws of the Faith and to repression and persecution; pronounce sanctions for such violations; To advance the interests of the Faith of to provide for the enforcement of its deci- .God; to proclaim, propagate and teach its sions; to provide for the arbitration and Message; to expand and consolidate the in- settlement of disputes arising between stitutions of its Administrative Order; to peoples; and to be the exponent and usher in the World Order of Baha'u'llah; guardian of that Divine Justice which can to promote the attainment of those spiritual alone ensure the security of, and establish qualities which should characterize Baha'i the reign of law and order in, the world. life individually and collectively; to do its utmost for the realization of greater The members of the Universal House of cordiality and comity amongst the nations Justice, des ignated by Baha'u'llah ' the Men and for the attainment of universal peace; of Justice ', ' the people of Baha who have and to foster that which is conducive to the been mentioned in the Book of Names', enlightenment and illumination of the souls 'The Tmstees of God amongst His servants of men and the advancement and better- and the daysprings of authority in His counment of the world; tries', shall in the discharge of their To enact laws and ordinances not ex- responsibilities ever bear in mind the folpressly recorded in the Sacred Texts; to abro- lowing standards set forth by Shoghi gate, according to the changes and Effendi, the Guardian of the Cause of God: THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U 'LLA H 611 In the conduct of the administrative guidance which is at once the life-blood affairs of the Faith, in the enactment of the and ultin1ate safeguard of this Revelation. legislation necessary to supplement the laws of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the members of The Universal House of Justice was first the Universal House of Justice, it should be elected on the first day of the Festival of borne in mind, are not, as Baha'u'llah's Ri<;lvan in the one hlll1dred and twentieth year utterances clearly imply, responsible to those of the Balla' i Era 1, when the members of the whom they represent, nor are they allowed to National Spiritual Assemblies, in accordance be governed by the feelings, the general with the provisions of the Will and Testament opinion, and even the convictions of the of 'Abdu'l-Baha, and in response to the summass of the faithful, or of those who directly mons of the Hands of the Cause of God, the elect them. They are to follow, in a prayerful Chief Stewards of Balla'u'llah's embryonic attitude, the dictates and promptings of their World Commonwealth, brought into being conscience. They may, indeed they must, this "crowning glory" of the administrative acquaint themselves with the conditions pre- institutions of Baha 'u' llah, the very "nucleus vailing among the community, must weigh and forernnner" of His World Order. Now, dispassionately in their minds the merits of therefore, in obedience to the Command of any case presented for their consideration, God and with entire reliance upon Hirn, we, but must reserve for themselves the right the members of the Universal House of Justice, of an unfettered decision. God will verily set our hands and its seal to this Declaration inspire them with whatsoever He willeth, is of Tmst which, together with the By-Laws Balla 'u' llah' s incontrovertible assurance. hereto appended, fo1m the Constitution of the 111ey, and not the body of those who either Universal House of Justice. directly or indirectly elect them, have thus been made the recipients of the divine 1 21 April 1963 A.O.

Hugh E. Chance

Hushmand Fatheazam

Amoz E. Gibson

Dav id Hofman

H. Borrah Kavelin

A li Nakhjavani

David S. Rube

Ian C. Semple

Charles Wolcott

Signed in the City of Haifa on the fourth day of the month of Qawl in the one hundred and twenty-ninth year of the Baha'i Era, co1Tesponding to the twenty-sixth day of the month of November in the year 1972 according to the Gregori an ca lendar.

Facsimile of signatures on the Constitution of the Universal House ofJustice: 26 November 1972. 612 THE BAHA'I WORLD

BY-LAWS

PREAMBLE The Universal House of Justice is the II. LOCAL SPIRJTUAL ASSEMBLIES supreme institution of an Administrative Order whose sa lient features, whose authority \Vhenever in any locality the number of and whose principles of operation are clearl y Baha'is resident therein who have attained the enunciated in the Sacred Writings of the age of twenty-one exceeds nine, these shall on Baha'i Fa ith and their authori zed interpreta- the First Day of Ri9van convene and elect a tions. This Adm inistrati ve Order consists, on local adm ini strative body of nine members the one hand, of a series of e lected councils, to be known as the Spiritual Assembly of the universal, secondary and loca l, in whi ch are Baha'is of that locality. Every such Assembly vested legislative, executive and judicial shall be elected annually thereafter upon each powers over the Baha' i co mmunity and , on successive First Day of Ri9van . The members the other, of eminent and devoted beli evers shall hold office for the term of one year or appo inted for the specific purposes of protect- until their successors are elected. When, howing and propagati ng the Faith of Baha'u'llah ever, the number ofBaha'is as aforesaid in any under the guidance of the Head of that Fa ith. locality is exactly nine, these shall on the F irst This Administrative Order is the nucleus Day ofRi9vlli1 constitute themselves the Local and pattern of the World Order adumbrated Spiritual Assembly by joint declaration. by Baha ' u' llah. In the course of its divinely propelled organic growth its in stituti ons w ill I . The genera l powers and duties of a Local expand , putting forth aux iliary branches and Spiritual Assembly are as set forth in the developing subordinate age ncies , multiply- Writings ofBaha'u' llah, 'Abdu' l-Baha and ing the ir ac tivities and diversifying their Shoghi Effendi and as laid down by the functions , in consonance w ith the principles Universal House of Justice. and purposes revealed by Baha'u'llah for the 2. A Local Spiritual Assembly shall exercise progress of the human race. full jurisdiction over all Baha' i activities and affairs within its locality, subject to the pro- I. MEMBERSH IP IN THE BAHA ' I COMM UN ITY visions of the Local Baha' i Constitution. 2 3. The area of jurisdiction ofa Local Spiritual The Baha ' i Community shall consist of all Assembly shall be decided by the National persons recognized by the Universal House Spiritual Assembly in accordance with the of Justi ce as possessing the qualifi cations of principle laid down fo r each country by Baha ' i fa ith and practi ce. the Universal House of Justice.

I . In order to be eligible to vote and hold III. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES electi ve office, a Baha ' i must have atta ined the age of twenty-one yea rs. Whenever it is decided by the Un iversa l 2. The rights, privileges and duties of indi- House of Justice to fo rm in any country or v idual Baha ' is are as set fo rth in the region a National Spiri tual Assembly, the vot- Writings of Baha'u ' llah , 'Abdu ' l-Baha ing members of the Baha ' i communi ty of that and Shoghi Effendi and as laid down by country or region shall , in a manner and at a the Universal House of Justice. time to be decided by the Uni ve rsal House of

2 By-Laws of a Local Sp iritua l Assem bly THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA ' U' LLAH 613 Justice, elect their delegates to their National (b) Vacancies in the membership of the Convention. These delegates shall, in turn, elect National Spiritual Assembly shall be in the manner provided in the National Baha'i filled by a vote of the delegates com- Constitution 3 a body of nine members to be posing the Convention which elected known as the National Spiritual Assembly of the Assembly, the ballot to be taken by the Baha'is of that country or region. The correspondence or in any other manner members shall continue in office for a period decided by the National Spiritual of one year or until their successors shall be Assembly. elected. IV. OBLIGATIO NS OF MEMBERS OF 1. The general powers and duties of a SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES National Spiritual Assembly are as set forth in the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha Among the most outstanding and sacred and Shoghi Effendi and as laid down by duties incumbent upon those who have been the Universal House of Justice. called upon to initiate, direct and co-ordinate 2. The National Spiritual Assembly shall the affairs of the Cause of God as members of have exclusive jurisdiction and authority its Spiritual Assemblies are: to win by every over all the activities and affairs of the means in their power the confidence and affec- Baha ' i Faith throughout its area. It shall tion of those whom it is their privilege to serve; endeavour to stimulate, unify and coordi- to investigate and acquaint themselves with the nate the manifold activities of the Local considered views, the prevailing sentinlents and Spiritual Assemblies and of individual the personal convictions of those whose welfare Baha'is in its area and by all possible it is their solemn obligation to promote; to purge means assist them to promote the oneness their deliberations and the general conduct of of mankind. It shall furthem1ore represent their affairs of self-contained aloofness, the its national Baha ' i community in relation suspicion of secrecy, the stifling atmosphere to other national Baha'i communities and of dictatorial assertiveness and of every word to the Universal House of Justice. and deed that may savour of partiality, self- 3. The area of jurisdiction ofa National Spir- centredness and prejudice; and while retaining itual Assembly shall be as defined by the the sacred right of final decision in their hands, Universal House of Justice. to invite discussion, ventilate grievances, 4. The principal business of the National welcome advice and foster the sense of inter- Convention shall be consultation on Baha'i dependence and co-partnership, of w1derstandactivities, plans and policies and the ing and mutual confidence between themselves election of the members of the National and all other Baha'is. Spiritual Assembly, as set forth in the National Baha'i Constitution . V . THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE (a) If in any year the National Spiritual Assembly shall consider that it is The Universal House of Justice shall consist impracticable or unwise to hold the of nine men who have been elected from the National Convention, the said Assem- Baha'i community in the manner hereinafter bly shall provide ways and means by provided. which the annual election and the other essential business of the Con- l. Election vention may be conducted. The members of the Universal House of 3 Justice shall be elected by secret ballot Decl aration of Tru st and By-Laws of a National Spiritual Assembly by the members of all National Spiritual 614 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Assemblies at a meeting to be known as (h) If a member of a National Spiritual the International Baha'i Convention. Assembly who has voted by mail (a) An election of the Universal House of ceases to be a member of that National Justice shall be held once every five Spiritual Assembly between the time years unless otherwise decided by the of casting his ballot and the date of the Universal House of Justice, and those counting of the ballots, his ballot shall elected shall continue in office until nevertheless remain valid unless in the such time as their successors shall be interval his successor shall have been elected and the first meeting of these elected and the ballot of such successor successors is duly held. shall have been received by the tellers. (b) Upon receiving the call to Convention (i) In case by reason of a tie vote or votes each National Spiritual Assembly shall the full membership of the Universal submit to the Universal House of Jus- House of Justice is not determined on tice a list of the names of its members. the first ballot, then one or more addi- The recognition and seating of the dele- tional ballots shall be held on the gates to the International Convention persons tied until all members are shall be vested in the Universal House elected. The electors in the case of of Justice. additional ballots shall be the mem- (c) The principal business of the Interna- bers of National Spiritual Assemblies tional Convention shall be to elect the in office at the time each subsequent members of the Universal House of vote is taken. Justice, to deliberate on the affairs of the Baha'i Cause throughout the world, 2. Vacancies in Membership and to make recommendations and suggestions for the consideration of the A vacancy in the membership of the Universal House of Justice. Universal House of Justice will occur (d) The sessions of the International Con- upon the death of a member or in the vention shall be conducted in such following cases: manner as the Universal House of Justice shall from time to time decide. (a) Should any member of the Universal (e) The Universal House of Justice shall House of Justice commit a sin injuriprovide a procedure whereby those ous to the common weal, he may be delegates who are unable to be dismissed from membership by the present in person at the International Universal House of Justice. Convention shall cast their ballots for (b) The Universal House of Justice may the election of the members of the at its discretion declare a vacancy Universal House of Justice. with respect to any member who in (f) If at the time of an election the Universal its judgement is unable to fulfil the House ofJustice shall consider that it is functions of membership. impracticable or unwise to hold the (c) A member may relinquish his mem- International Convention it shall deter- bership on the Universal House of mine how the election shall take place. Justice only with the approval of the (g) On the day of the election the ballots Universal House of Justice. of all voters shall be scrutinized and counted and the result certified by 3. By-Election tellers appointed in accordance with the instructions of the Universal House of If a vacancy in the membership of the Justice. Universal House of Justice occurs, the THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA ' U'LLAH 615

Universal House of Justice shall caJJ a by- Universal House of Justice, to which election at the earliest possible date unless shall be affixed in each case the Seal of such date, in the judgement of the Univer- the Univbrsal House of Justice. sal House of Justice, falls too close to the date of a regular election of the entire 6. Records [ membership, in which case the Universal House of Justice may, at its discretion, The Universal House of Justice shall defer the filling of the vacancy to the time provide for the recording and verificaof the regular election. If a by-election tion of its decisions in such manner as it is held, the voters shaJJ be the members shall, from time to time, judge necessary. of the National Spiritual Assemblies 111 office at the time of the by-election. VI. BAHA'f ELECTIONS

4. Meetings In order to preserve the spiritual character and purpose of Baha'i elections the practices (a) After the election of the Universal of nomination or electioneering, or any other House of Justice the first meeting shall procedure or activity detrimental to that be caJJed by the member elected by character and purpose shall be eschewed. A the highest number of votes or, in his silent and prayerful atmosphere shall prevail absence or other incapacity, by the during the election so that each elector may member elected by the next highest vote for none but those whom prayer and number of votes or, in case two or reflection inspire him to uphold. more members have received the same highest number of votes, then by the 1. All Baha'i elections, except elections of member selected by lot from among officers of Local and National Spiritual those members. Subsequent meetings Assemblies and committees, shall be by shaJJ be called in the manner decided plurality vote taken by secret baJJot. by the Universal House of Justice. 2. Election of the officers ofa Spiritual Assem- (b) The Universal House of Justice has bly or committee shaJJ be by majority vote no officers. It shall provide for the of the Assembly or committee taken by conduct of its meetings and shaJJ secret ballot. organize its activities in such manner 3. In case by reason of a tie vote or votes the as it shaJJ from time to time decide. full membership of an elected body is not (c) The business of the Universal House detem1ined on the first baJJot, then one or of Justice shall be conducted by the full more additional ballots shall be taken on the membership in consultation, except persons tied until all members are elected. that the Universal House of Justice may 4. The duties and rights of a Baha' i elector from time to time provide for quorums may not be assigned nor may they be of less than the fuJJ membership for exercised by proxy. specified classes of business. VII. THE RIGHT OF REVIEW 5. Signature The Universal House of Justice has the The signature of the Universal House of right to review any decision or action of Justice shall be the words "The Universal any Spiritual Assembly, National or Local, House of Justice" or in Persian "Baytu' l- and to approve, modify or reverse such 'Adl -i- A'~am" written by hand by any decision or action. The Universal House of one of its members upon authority of the Justice also has the right to intervene in any 616 THE BAH A' i WORLD

matter in which a Spiritual Assembly is seeking to compose its difference of failing to take action or to reach a decision opinion with the National Spiritual and, at its discretion, to require that action Assembly, have the right to appeal to be taken, or itself to take action directly in the Universal House of Justice, which the matter. shall determine whether it shall take jurisdiction of the matter or leave it VIII. APPEALS within the final jurisdiction of the National Spiritual Assembly. The right of appeal exists in the circumstances, and shall be exercised according to 2. An appellant, whether institution or indithe procedures, outlined below: vidual, shall in the first instance make appeal to the Assembly whose decision I. (a) Any member of a local Baha ' i com- is questioned, either for reconsideration munity may appeal from a decision of the case by that Assembly or for subof his Local Spiritual Assembly to mission to a higher body. In the latter the National Spiritual Assembly case the Assembly is in duty bound to which shall determine whether it submit the appeal together with full parshall take jurisdiction of the matter or ticulars of the matter. If an Assembly refer it back to the Local Spiritual refuses to submit the appeal, or fails to Assembly for reconsideration . If such do so within a reasonable time, the an appeal concerns the membership appellant may take the case directly to ofa person in the Baha'i community, the higher authority. the National Spiritual Assembly is obl iged to take jurisdiction of and IX. THE BOARDS OF COUNSELLORS decide the case. (b) Any Baha'i may appeal from a de- The institution of the Boards of Counse llors cision of bis National Spiritual was brought into being by the Universal Assembly to the Universal House of House of Justice to extend into the future the Justice which shall determine whether specific functions of protection and propagait shall take jurisdiction of the matter tion conferred upon the Hands of the Cause or leave it within the fina l jurisdiction of God. The members of these boards are of the National Spiritual Assembly. appointed by the Universal House of Justice. (c) If any differences arise between two or more Local Spiritual Assemblies 1. The term of office of a Counsellor, the numand if these Assemblies are unable to ber of Counsellors on each Board, and the resolve them, any one such Assembly boundaries of the zone in which each Board may bring the matter to the National of Counsellors shall operate, shall be Spiritual Assembly which shall there- decided by the Universal House of Justice. upon take jurisdiction of the case. If 2. A Counsellor functions as such only the decision of the National Spiritual within his zone and should he move his Assembly thereon is unsatisfactory to residence out of the zone for which he is any of the Assemblies concerned, or appointed he automatically relinquishes if a Local Spiritual Assembly at any his appointment. time has reason to believe that actions 3. The rank and specific duties of a Counof its National Spiritual Assembly are sellor render him ineligible for service on affecting adversely the welfare and local or national administrative bodies. If unity of that Local Assembly ' s com- elected to the Universal House of Justice munity, it shall, in either case, after he ceases to be a Counsellor. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U ' LLAH 617 X. THE AUXILIARY BOARDS Counsellors, shall not function as a member of the Auxiliary Board outside In each zone there shall be two Auxiliary that area. Boards, one for the protection and one for 3. An Auxiliary Board member is eligible the propagation of the Faith, the numbers of for any elective office but if elected to whose members shall be set by the Universal an administrative post on a national or House of Justice. The members of these Aux- local level must decide whether to retain iliary Boards shall serve under the direction membership on the Board or accept the of the Continental Boards of Counsellors administrative post, since he may not and shall act as their deputies, assistants and serve in both capacities at the same time. advisers. If elected to the Universal House of Justice he ceases to be a member of the 1. The members of the Auxiliary Boards Auxiliary Board. shall be appointed from among the believers of that zone by the Continental XI. AMENDMENT Board of Counsellors. 2. Each Auxiliary Board member shall be This Constitution may be amended by deciallotted a specific area in which to serve sion of the Universal House of Justice when and, unless specifically deputized by the the full membership is present. THE BAHA'I WORLD

2. THE SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE ELECTION OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

RipvAN 1988 The sixth International Baha' i Convention The results of the voting were announced was held from 29 April to 2 May 1988 to to the assembled delegates at noon on Saturelect the members of the Universal House of day, 30 April. Of the 1,296 ballots cast, only Justice. one was invalid. The members were elected As prescribed in the Will and Testament by a total of 7,880 of the 11,655 individual of'Abdu'l-Baha, the people charged with this votes cast. The uniformly high percentage of sacred duty were the members of the world's votes received from delegates unable to National Spiritual Assemblies and the selec- attend was pointed out by Amatu' 1-Baha as a tion was by plurality vote taken by secret reflection of the maturity of the Baha'i ballot. As there were 148 National Spiritual world. Assemblies in 1988, each with nine members, The members elected were: Mr. 'Alf N~a the number of possibl e electors was 1,332. vani, Mr. G lenford Mitchell, Mr. Hushmand Representatives unable to attend, including Fatheazam, Mr. Ian Semple, Dr. Peter Khan, the full memberships of sixteen National Spir- Dr. David Ruhe, Mr. Hugh Chance, Mr. Hooper itual Assemblies, cast their ballots by mail. Dunbar, and Mr. Adib Taherzadeh. The nine The election was the first item on the members were called to the stage and were agenda when the meeting was opened by the greeted with wave after wave of sustained Hand of the Cause of God Amatu'l-Baha applause. Rul~iyyih Khanum. After a few words of Fu1iher applause swept the auditorium as greeting, prayers were read in four the two members of the Universal House of languages. Then the 663 delegates present in Justice who had been permitted to resign by the Haifa Auditorium continued to pray and reason of their advanced years, Mr. David meditate silently as they considered the peo- Hofman and Mr. H. Borrah Kavelin, were ple who wou ld be best suited to serve for the called to the stage and saluted for their long next five years. All waited with reverence and dedicated service. until each delegate had finished voting. Loving tribute was also paid to the three When all ballots were ready, the dele- forn1er members of the Universal House gates began to walk across the stage one by of Justice who have ascended to the next one, in alphabetical order by country, to world: Dr. Lutfu'llah I:Iakim, Mr. Amoz deposit their ballot papers as their names Gibson, and Mr. Charles Wolcott. Mr. Gibwere read by the Head Chief Teller, son's daughter and Dr. I:Iakim's grand- Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh. Men and women, daughter were present as delegates to the yo ung and old, people of all racial and eth- Convention. nic origins, all came silently to the stage-a Sadness, coupled with a feeling of pride, potent testimony to the power ofBaha'u'llah pervaded the hall as the friends in Iran were to unite humanity in a new World Order. remembered. 'We wil l miss with all our A highlight of the balloting was the pres- hearts the oldest Baha'i community ... the ence of two delegates from Cuba, a country friends in Persia', Amatu'l-Baha said. She never before represented at an International paid tribute to the sacrifices and continued Baha'i Convention. They were enthusiasti- suffering of 'o ur brothers and sisters in cally applauded by the other delegates as Iran', and announced that a closing prayer they crossed the stage to cast their ballots. wo uld be offered on their behalf. Then she THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LL!\H 619

Five Hands of the Cause of God leading the delegates to the sixth International Baha'i Convention toward the Shrine of the Bab during the celebration of the Ninth Day of Ridvan, 29 April 1988.

The first item on the agenda of the International Convention was the election of the members of the Universal House of Justice. One of the delegates depositing her votes. Haifa, Israel. 29 April 1988. 620 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Five consultative sessions were held during the sixth International Convention. Delegates exchanged thoughts about the Riefvan message, issues of special concern to their countries, and on subjects suggested in advance by the Universal House ofJustice.

Five special sessions for members of each of the Co ntinental Boards of Counsellors and delegatesfi'om the National Spiritual Assemblies in those areas were held during the International Convention. The session on Australasia was held in the Haifa Pilgrim House. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LL!\H 621

called for an enormous bowl of 120 red In addition to the Ri<;lvan message and roses, a gift from the Baha'is in Iran, to be issues of special concern to them, the delebrought to the centre of the stage. gates consulted on the following subjects Five Hands of the Cause of God were suggested in advance by the Universal present for the opening session, lending a House of Justice: special dignity and spiritual force to the 1) the development of the Baha'i commuoccasion: Amatu'l-Baha Ru0iyyih Khanum, nity as a model , strengthening of unity, and 'Ali-Akbar Furutan, 'Alf-Mu0ammad Varqa, the Covenant in all its aspects; William Sears, and H. Collis Featherstone. 2) what the Baha'i community needed to Each participated in a unique and significant do to further promote peace, the developway during the Convention. Mr. Sears also ment of external affairs agencies, the promobrought special greetings from those Hands tion of social and economic development, of the Cause who could not be not present, and the concept of a Year of Service; Dr. Ugo Giachery, Mr. Jalal Khazeh, and 3) relating the Teachings of the Faith to Mr. John Robarts. the needs and concerns of the world at large Amatu'l-Baha read the Ri<;lvan message through the development of Baha'i expertise of the Universal House of Justice at the and scholarship; beginning of the Convention's first consulta- 4) winning increasing numbers of new tive session, on 30 April: adherents to the Faith and consolidating the A silver lining to the dark picture gains; and, which has overshadowed most of this 5) the development of the funds of the century now brightens the horizon. It is Faith, and the Arc Projects Fund. discernible in the new tendencies impel- Under the gilt emblem of the Greatest ling the social processes at work Name, and occupying the entire centre stage, throughout the world, in the evidences of a magnificent full-colour aerial photograph an accelerated trend towards peace. In featuring the Shrine of the Bab-set against the Faith of God, it is the growing a skilfully overlaid architect's rendering of strength of the Order of Baha'u'llah as the future terraces with their myriad young its banner rises to more stately heights. It cypresses, paths, fountains, and shrubs, and is a strength that attracts. the Arc with its five edifices completed- " ... a new paradigm of opportunity has constantly reminded the delegates of the emerged," the message continued. "New compelling needs of the Arc Project. prospects for teaching the Cause at all levels The architect of the buildings, Mr. J:Iusayn of society have unfolded. ... The present Amanat, and the architect of the terraces and challenge calls for teaching on a scale and of project manager, Mr. Fariburz ~ahba, drew a quality, a variety, and intensity outstrip- further attention to the detail, grandeur, and ping all current efforts." These themes were financial needs of the project in their slide often repeated in the consultations of the presentations. delegates. Two other slide presentations were shown Five consultative sessions were held from to the delegates. One was a retrospective of 30 April to 2 May. All of these general the development of the Faith during the premeetings were chaired by Counsellors: vious five years, and the other looked ahead Dr. Magdalene Carney of the International to the upcoming Baha' i World Congress to Teaching Centre; Mrs. Zena Sorabjee from be held in New York City in 1992. Asia; Dr. Wilma Brady from the Americas; A historic talk on the subject of Mrs. Joy Stevenson from Australasia; J:Iuququ 'llah was given by the Trustee of Mrs. Lucretia Mancho Warren from Africa; J:Iuququ'llah, the Hand of the Cause of God and Mrs. Polin Rafat from Europe. Dr. Varqa, who pointed out that this law 622 THE BAH A' i WORLD

The presence of Amatu 'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum and the other Hands of the Cause of God added a special dignity and spiritual forc e to the sixth International Convention.

Th e Hand of the Cause of God Dr. 'Ali-Muhammad Varqa talking to the delegates about the law of Huququ 'llah during the International Convention.

Th e Hand of th e Cause of God William Sears brought sp ecial greetings to the International Convention from those Hands of the Caus e not present, Dr. Ugo Giachery, Mr. Jalcil Khazeh, and Mr. John Robarts. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 623

Mr. 'Ali Nal!:f!javani, at the podium, with the other members of the Universal House of Justice elected at Rief.van 1988. Left to right: Mr. Glenford Mitch ell, Mr. Hushmand Fatheazam, Mr. Jan Semple, Dr. Peter Khan, Dr. David Ruhe, Mr. Hugh Chance, Mr. Hooper Dunbar, Mr. Adib Taherzadeh.

shou ld be viewed as a spiritual obligation Haifa and 'Akka. These included time spent based on the believer' s love for God; that in the Shrines of Baha'u'llah and the Bab, it is a tangible aspect of the Covenant of the Mansion of Baha'u'llah at Bahji, the God; and that it strengthens the relationship Cell of Baha'u'llah, the House of 'Abbud, between God and man. and the House of 'Abdu'llah Pasha in 'Akka, Two Holy Days were celebrated during and the International Archives Building, the the Convention period. The ninth Day of House of the Master, and the Seat of the Ri9van was commemorated in the forecomi Universal House of Justice in Haifa. and gardens of the Haifa Pilgrim House Many members ofNational Spiritual Assemadjacent to the Shrine of the Bab, with the blies took the opportunity provided by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears Convention to meet with members of other presiding. Readings in five languages-Ara- National Assemblies to discuss a wide range bic, English, Spanish, French, and Persian- of subjects of mutual interest. Scores of were fo llowed by the recitation of the Tablet these meetings took place before the Conof Visitation. Then the friends reverently vention opened and in the evenings after the circumambulated the Shrine of the Bab. general sessions. Following the close of the last Conven- Counsellors from all five Continental Boards tion session on the Twelfth Day of Ri9van, attended the Convention (16 from Africa, all the distinguished participants gathered 16 from the Americas, 12 from Asia, 8 from in the I:Iaram-i-Aqdas at Bahji where the Australasia, 9 from Europe), 61 in all. gardens were in their full spring splendour. The visiting Counsellors took part in vari- The celebration was opened with forceful ous special meetings and events including comments by the Hand of the Cause Collis five 'continental' sessions held for members Featherstone about the significance of the of each of the Continental Boards and the occasion. Readings in five languages were delegates from the National Spiritual Assemfollowed by the silent and joyous circumam- blies of their areas. bulation of the Shrine of Baha'u' llah by Following the Convention, from 3 to 8 May, more than 1,000 of His followers. the Hands of the Cause and the Counsellors For four days prior to the Convention, the stayed on in Haifa to participate in a Coundelegates enjoyed a series of visits arranged sellors ' conference held under the auspices for them to the Holy Places of the Faith in of the International Teaching Centre. II THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD

1. THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD AND THE EXTENSION OF THEIR FUNCTIONS INTO THE FUTURE

A. THE R ULERS AND THE LEARNED

In every society and community of human Local, National and International Houses beings there are those who are revered for of Justice. The duties of each of these their learning and wisdom, and there are souls will be determined in the future. those who are invested with authority to (Translated from the Persian.) govern. In religious communities it has been Since those words were written the Baha ' i usual for the legislative and governing Administrative Order has developed rapidly authority to be held by the learned who have and is now functioning throughout the thus, as priests or as doctors of religious law, world. Under the supreme authority of the combined both capacities in the same revealed Law of God the Baba ' i community persons. Other communities have, only too is governed by its elected institutions: Local often, been riven by the conflict between and National Spiritual Assemblies and the church and state, between priests and kings , Universal House of Justice, while the instior, in more modern te1rns, between intellectutions of the ' learned', which exercise no tuals and the establishment. In the World governing authority over the believers, are Order of Baha' u' llah these two extremes, of accorded an exalted rank which enables the over-concentration of authority on the one them to exert their beneficent influence over hand and of division and conflict on the other, all parts of the community. Commenting on are eliminated. The way this is achieved is this feature of the Baha' i Administrative one of the unique features of that Order and Order, the Universal House of Justice wrote confers unin1agined benefits upon the Baha'i in its message of24 April 1972: community. In the Kitab-i-'Ahd (The Book of the The existence of institutions of such exa lted Covenant) Baha'u'llah wrote, "Blessed are rank, comprising individuals who play such the rulers and the learned in Baha. " The a vital role, who yet have no legislative, Guardian, interpreting this passage, stated adminisháative or judicial authority, and on 4 November 193 1: are entirely devoid of priestly fi.mctions or the right to make authoritative interpreta- In this holy cycle the ' learned' are, on the tions, is a feature of Baha'i administration one hand the Hands of the Cause of God, unparalleled in the religions of the past. ... and, on the other, the teachers and diffusers of His teachings who do not rank as Developing this theme, the Universal Hands, but who have attained an eminent House of Justice referred in that same mesposition in the teaching world. As to the sage to a letter written on behalf of the ' mlers ' they refer to the members of the Guardian on 14 March 1927, to the Spiritual Tl-IE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 625 Assembly of Istanbul, in which he expound- The difficulty of establishing a clear undered the Baha'i principle of action by majority standing of this administrative concept, new vote. In this letter Shoghi Effendi points out in the history of religoin, is reflected in the how, in the past, it was certain individuals concluding passage of the message of the who 'accounted themselves as superior in Universal House of Justice, of24 April 1972, knowledge and elevated in position' who quoted above: caused division, and that it was those 'who .. .The newness and uniqueness of this pretended to be the most distinguished of concept make it difficult to grasp; only as all' who 'always proved themselves to be the Baha'i community grows and the bethe source of contention'. He praises God lievers are increasingly able to contemplate that Baha'u'llah had withdrawn authority its administrative stlucture urlinfluenced by from 'the unyielding and dictatorial views of concepts from past ages, will the vital interthe learned and the wise', rejected the asserdependence of the ' rnlers' and ' learned' tions of individuals, even though recognized in the Faith be properly understood, and as the most accomplished and learned among the inestimable value of their interaction men, as authoritative criteria, and 'ordained be fully recognized. that all matters be referred to authorized centres and assemblies'. Thus the institutions of Only now, as these two arms of the worldthe learned in the Baha'i Faith, while invest- embracing system of Baha'u'llah begin to ed with high rank and exercising invaluable function in their separate but complementary moral authority and influence, have no exec- roles towards a common achievement, are utive power other than in the direction of intimations caught of the divine beneficence their own institutions. of that system.

B. THE HANDS OF THE CA USE OF GOD

Baha 'u' llah Himself created the institution dominion and to aid them through His of the Hands of the Cause and appointed a indomitable strength which prevaileth few of His fo llowers to serve Him as Hands over all created things. Sovereignty is in His own lifetime. In the Tablet of the God's, the Creator of the heavens and World He refers to the Hands of the Cause the Lord of the Kingdom of Names. in words descriptive of the station of service The Will and Testament of 'Abdu ' l-Baha to which they are called: contains many references to the Hands of the Cause, including explicit definitions of Light and glory, greeting and praise be their station and functions, as well as variupon the Hands of His Cause, through ous admonitions addressed to them: whom the light of fortitude hath shone forth and the truth hath been established Salutation and praise, blessing and gl01y that the authority to choose rests with rest... upon the Hands of the Cause of God, the Powerfid, the Mighty, the God that have difji1sed widely the Divine Unconstrained, through whom the ocean Fragrances, declared His Proofs, proof bounty hath surged and the fi"agrance claimed His Faith, published abroad His of the gracious favours of God, the Lord Law, detached themselves/ram all things of mankind, hath been difji1sed. We but Him, stood for righteousness in this beseech Him-Exalted is He-to shield world, and kindled the Fire of the Love of them through the power of His hosts, to God in the ve1y hearts and souls of His protect them through the potency of His servants; ... the Hands of the Cause of God 626 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

must be ever watchful and so soon as they contention and conflict amidst peoples, find anyone beginning to oppose and pro- kindreds, nations and governments may test against the Guardian of the Cause of disappear, that all the dwellers on earth God, cast him out from the congregation may become one people and one race, of the people of Bahti and in no wise that the world may become even as one accept any excuse from him .. home. ... Th e Hands of the Cause of God must 'Abdu 'l-Baha did not Himself appoint elect from their own number nine persons any additional Hands of the Cause. He did, that shall at all times be occupied in however, refer to certain outstanding teachthe important services in the work of ers of the Faith as Hands. the Guardian of the Cause of God. The During the first three decades of his minelection of these nine must be carried istry as Guardian of the Faith, Shoghi either unanimously or by majority from Effendi designated certain outstanding the company of the Hands of the Cause of Baha'is as Hands posthumously. Then, in God and these, whether unanimously or December 1951 , he raised twelve living by a majority vote, must give their assent believers to this exalted rank, a development to the choice of the one whom the Guardof the Administrative Order which thrilled ian of the Cause of God hath chosen as the entire Baha 'i world. In February 1952 he his successor... appointed a further seven, and in 1957 eight O fi'iends! The Hands of the Cause of more, bringing the total number to twenty- God must be nominated and appointed by seven. 1 In these brief six years the Guardian the Guardian of the Ca use of God. All not only established this institution on a fitm must be under his shadow and obey his foundation throughout the world, with a command. .. body of four Hands of the Cause residing in Th e obligations of the Hands of the the Holy Land to act as the liaison between Cause of God are to diffuse the Divine himself and the Hands in each continent, but Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to he brought into being in each continent two promote learning, to improve the charac- Auxiliary Boards, one for the protection and ter of all men and to be, at all times and one for the propagation of the Faith, to act as under all conditions, sanctified and the 'assistants, deputies and advisers' of the detached fi'om earthly things. Th ey must Hands of that continent. manifest the fear of God by their conduct, The epic story of how in November 1957, their manners, their deeds and their the Hands of the Cause of God, called by words. This body of the Hands of the the Guardian the 'Chief Stewards of Cause of God is under the direction of the Baha'u' llah 's embryonic World Common- Guardian of the Cause of God. He must wealth', ra llied the grief-stricken and continually urge them to strive and stunned Baha ' is of the world, guided them endeavor to the utmost of their ability to to the victorious accomplishment of the Ten diffi1s e the sweet savors of God, and to Year Crusade which he had launched, and guide all the peoples of the world, for it is convened the members of the National Spirithe light of Divine Guidance that causeth tual Assemblies for the first election of the all the universe to be illumined. To dis- Universa l House of Justice in April 1963, regard, though it be for a moment, this has been told in befitting detail in Volume absolute command which is binding upon XIII of this publication. everyone, is in no wise permitted, that the existent world may become even as the Abha Paradise, that the swface of I See 'The Institution of the Hands of the Cause of the earth rnay become heavenly, that God ', The Bnhit 'i World, vo l. XIII , p. 334. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA' U 'L LAH 627

C. THE CONTINENTAL BOARDS OF COUNSELLORS

The establishment of the Universal House of The exalted rank and specific functions of Justice in 1963 ushered in a new phase in the the Hands of the Cause of God make it evolution of the institution of the Hands of inappropriate for them to be elected or apthe Cause. In October 1963 the House of appointed to administrative institutions, or Justice decided 'that there is no way to to be elected as delegates to national conappoint or legislate to make it possible to ventions. Furthem1ore, it is their desire appoint a second Guardian to succeed and the desire of the House of Justice that Shoghi Effendi'. Therefore, among the first they be free to devote their entire energies questions which it was necessary for it then to the vitally important duties conferred to consider were the manner in which the upon them in the Holy Writings. institution of the Hands of the Cause was to At the same time the House of Justice continue to perform its appointed functions, confirmed the request of the Hands of the the relationship which should exist between Cause that, henceforth, members of the the House of Justice and the Hands of the Auxiliary Boards should be freed from ad- Cause, and how the indispensable functions ministrative responsibilities, including service of the Hands of the Cause could be extended on committees and as delegates to conventions. into the future , since, according to the text of On 21 June 1968 the House of Justice the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha, announced by cable to the Baha' i world the The Hands of the Cause of God must be decision to establish eleven Continental nominated and appointed by the Guardian Boards of Counsellors for the protection and of the Cause of God. propagation of the Faith and, in a written Following consultation with a conclave message issued on 24 June, outlined in detail of the Hands in October- November 1964, the nature and scope of this action. Because the Universal House of Justice annow1ced to of its great significance to the evolution of the believers in its message of November the Administrative Order, the entire text of 1964 the following decision: this message is quoted: There is no way to appoint, or to legislate The majestic unfoldment ofBaha 'u ' llah's to make it possible to appoint, Hands of world-redeeming administrative system the Cause of God. has been marked by the successive estab- Responsibility for decisions on matters of lishment of the various institutions and general policy affecting the institution of agencies which constitute the framework the Hands of the Cause, which was forof that divinely-created Order. Thus, merly exercised by the beloved Guardian, more than a quarter-of-a-centu1y after the now devolves upon the Universal House of emergence of the first National Spiritual Justice as the supreme and central institu- Assemblies of the Baha'i world the tion of the Faith to which all must tum. institution of the Hands of the Cause was That same message announced increases fo1mally established, with the appointment in the number of the members of the Auxil- by the beloved Guardian, in conformity iary Boards for propagation in every with the provisions of 'Abdu'l-Baha's continent, and the Hands were requested to Will and Testament, of the first continappoint one or more members of each Auxil- gent of these high-ranking officers of the ia1y Board to act in an executive capacity on Faith. Following the passing of the Guardtheir behalf and in the name of each Hand, ian of the Cause of God, it fell to the for the direction of the work of the Boards . House of Justice to devise a way, within The message continued: the Administrative Order, of developing 628 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

'the institution of the Hands of the Cause National Spiritual Assemblies, and keepwith a view to extension into the future of ing the Hands of the Cause and the its appointed functions of protection and Universal House of Justice informed conpropagation', and this was made a goal of cerning the conditions of the Cause in the Nine Year Plan. Much thought and their areas . study has been given to the question over Initially eleven Boards of Counsellors the past four years, and the texts have have been appointed, one for each of the been collected and reviewed. During the following areas : Northwestern Africa, last two months, this goal, as announced Central and East Africa, Southern Africa, in our cable to the National Conventions, Nmih America, Central America, South has been the object of prolonged and America, Western Asia, Southeastern Asia, prayerful consultation between the Uni- Noriheastem Asia, Australasia and Europe. versal House of Justice and the Hands of The members of these Boards of the Cause of God. All this made evident Counsellors will serve for a tern1, or the framework within which this goal was terms, the length of which will be deterto be achieved, namely: mined and announced at a later date, and The Universal House of Justice sees no while serving in this capacity, will not be way in which additional Hands of the eligible for membership on national or Cause of God can be appointed. local administrative bodies. One member The absence of the Guardian of the of each Continental Board of Counsellors Faith brought about an entirely new rela- has been designated as Trustee of the tionship between the Universal House of Continental Fund for its area. Justice and the Hands of the Cause and The Auxiliary Boards for protection called for the progressive unfoldment by and propagation will henceforth report to the Universal House of Justice of the the Continental Boards of Counsellors manner in which the Hands of the Cause who will appoint or replace members of would carry out their divinely-conferred the Auxiliary Boards as circumstances functions of protection and propagation. may require. Such appointments and Whatever new development or institu- replacements as may be necessary in the tion is initiated should come into operation initial stages will take place after consulas soon as possible in order to reinforce tation with the Hand or Hands previously and supplement the work of the Hands of assigned to the continent or zone. the Cause while at the same time taking The Hands of the Cause of God have full advantage of the opportunity of having the prerogative and obligation to consult the Hands themselves assist in launching with the Continental Boards of Counsellors and guiding the new procedures. and National Spiritual Assemblies on any Any such institution must grow and subject which, in their view, affects the operate in harmony with the principles interests of the Cause. The Hands residgoverning the functioning of the institu- ing in the Holy Land will act as liaison tion of the Hands of the Cause of God. between the Universal House of Justice In the light of these considerations the and the Continental Boards of Cow1sellors, Universal House of Justice decided, as and will also assist the Universal House announced in its recent cable, to establish of Justice in setting up, at a propitious Continental Boards of Counsellors for the time, an international teaching centre in protection and propagation of the Faith. the Holy Land, as anticipated in the Their duties will include directing the Guardian's writings. Auxiliary Boards in their respective The Hands of the Cause of God are one areas, consulting and collaborating with of the most precious assets the Baha'i THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA°U'LLAH 629 world possesses. Released from adminis- Counsellor is a high officer of the Faith tration of the Auxiliary Boards, they will entitled to the respect, honour and courbe able to concentrate their energies on the tesy due to his rank. Each country which more primary responsibilities of general is privileged to have a resident Counselprotection and propagation, 'preservation lor should prize that privilege. Each of the spiritual health of the Baha' i com- National Assembly which has a Counselmunities' and 'the vitality of the faith' of lor at hand for frequent consultations the Baha'is throughout the world. The should, without relinquishing any portion House of Justice will call upon them to of its divinely assigned authority, call unde1take special missions on its behalf, upon him often for his views and accord to represent it on both Baha'i and other great weight to his advice. occasions and to keep it informed of the welfare of the Cause. While the Hands On 8 June 1973 a fmther directive was of the Cause will, naturally, have special sent to the Continental Boards of Counselconcern for the affairs of the Cause in the lors which answered the need discussed by areas in which they reside, they will oper- the Counsellors during their sessions in the ate increasingly on an intercontinental Holy Land, at the time of the International level, a factor which will lend tremendous Convention of that year, for some method to impetus to the diffusion throughout the enable their institution to reach more deeply Baha'i world of the spiritual inspiration into the fabric of the Baha ' i world conunuchannelled tluáough them-the Chief Stew- nity. The House of Justice authorized each ards of Baha'u' llah's embryonic World Board of Counsellors, at its discretion, to Commonwealth. petmit Auxiliary Board members to appoint With joyful hearts we proclaim this assistants, whose duties would be to activate further unfoldment of the Administrative and encourage Local Spiritual Assemblies, Order ofBaha'u'llah and join our prayers to call the attention of Local Spiritual to those of the friends throughout the East Assembly members to the importance of and the West that Baha'u'llah may con- regular meetings, to encourage local comtinue to shower his confirmations upon munities to gather for Nineteen Day Feasts the efforts of His servants in the safe- and Holy Days, to help deepen their fellowguarding and promotion of His Faith. believers' understanding of the teachings, and generally to assist the Auxiliary Board A clarification of the status of Counsellors members in the discharge of their duties. and their relationship to National Spiritual The advice, at that time, was to proceed Assemblies was made by the House of Justice gradually with this new step so that experiin a letter to a National Spirihial Assembly ence could indicate the most effective in May 1975: manner of its operation. Since then, as a ... (it) must be one of wann and active resu lt of the proven value of this expanded collaboration, a full sharing in the excite- service, appointments of assistants in each ment and the challenge of the teaching zone have been steadily and rapidly augwork and the establishment of living and mented. The letter of 8 June 1973 stated that growing Baha ' i communities ... While the 'believers can serve at the same time both as role of the Counsellors is no1mally to assistants to Auxiliary Board members and advise, encourage and reinforce, and they on administrative institutions' . have no legislative or administrative Adjustments to the number of Continenauthority, they nevertheless occupy a rank tal Boards of Counsellors are made as the superior to that of the National Assembly Universal House of Justice deems necessary, or its members and each individual entailing adjustments to zones assigned to 630 THE BAHA'i WORLD

the Boards, to the number of ColUlsellors encouraging and uplifting influence upon and to the number of Auxiliary Boards and the lives of individuals and the deliberations Auxiliary Board members.* Thus the insti- of institutions, constantly watching over the tution operates at all levels throughout the security of the Faith, pointing the way to the world, reaching into the basic structure of promotion of its best interests, and to the ever local community life and exerting its wider dissemination of its healing message.

D. THE INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CENTRE Assurance of the extension into the future The foremost topic would be the establishof the appointed functions of protection and ment of the international teaching centre propagation conferred upon the Hands of the about which the Hands had previously been Cause was accomplished by tl1e establishment requested to submit their written views. The of the Continental Boards of Counsellors. Universal House of Justice, in its letter to the However, that vital goal having been accom- Hands of the Cause in October 1971 , cited, plished, the problem remained of ordering amongst others, the following three quotathe work of the new institution so that it tions from the Guardian which anticipated would grow organically with the Faith itself. the evolution of the World Administrative In a letter addressed to all National Spiritual Centre of the Faith on Mount Ca1mel and Assemblies on 24 June 1968 the Universal the establishment there of an international House of Justice confirmed that ' the relation- teaching centre as the seat of the Hands of ship of Continental Boards of Counsellors the Cause of God: to National Spiritual Assemblies will follow ... it must be clearly lUlderstood, nor can the pattern of the relationship between the it be sufficiently emphasized, that the Hands of the Cause and National Spiritual conjw1ction of the resting-place of the Assemblies, outlined by the beloved Guard- Greatest Holy Leaf with those of her ian in various communications '. brother and mother incalculably rein- The cablegram addressed by the Univerforces the spiritual potencies of that sal House of Justice to all National Spiritual consecrated Spot which, under the wings Assemblies on 21 June 1968 announcing the of the Bab ' s overshadowing Sepulchre, establishment of Continental Boards of and in the vicinity of the future Mashtiqu'l- Counsellors had contained a reference to the Adhkar, which will be reared on its flank, ' future establishment international teaching is destined to evolve into tl1e focal centráe centráe Holy Land foreshadowed writings of those world-shaking, world-embracing, beloved Guardian.' world-directing administrative institutions, In October 1971 the Hands of the Cause ordained by Baha'u'llah and anticipated were notified that after the International by 'Abdu'l-Baha, and which are to func- Convention for the election of the Universal tion in consonance with the principles House of Justice during Ric:I van 1973, their that govern the twin institutions of the presence in the Holy Land for a period of Guardianship and the Universal House of time in order to consult on a number of Justice. Then, and then only, will this important subjects would be most welcome. momentous prophecy which illuminates the concluding passages of the Tablet of *In November 1980 the thirteen Boards of Counsell ors Carmel be fulfilled: Ere long will God were conso lidated into fi ve, each continental Board hav ing two Au xili ary Board s, one for protecti on and sail His ark upon thee (Carn1el) and will one for propagati on; and each A uxiliary Board mem- manifest the people of Baha who have ber having ass istants as needed and autho ri zed. been mentioned in the Book of Nam es. 1 THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 631 In this great Tablet which unveils security, the preservation and protection divine mysteries and heralds the estab- of the Cause, the safeguarding of the lishment of two mighty, majestic and unity of the community, the promotion of momentous undertakings-one of which God's religion and the spread of His is spiritual and the other administrative, Word. These majestic and mighty ediboth at the World Centre of the Faith- fices, which will be constructed gradually Baha 'u 'llah refers to an 'Ark', whose in accordance with a beautiful and unique dwellers are the men of the Supreme style of architecture around the sacred House of Justice, which, in conformity Monuments, are all considered as branches with the exact provisions of the Will and of this highly-exalted, firmly-grounded Testament of the Centre of the Mighty and broadly-based World Administrative Covenant is the body which should lay Centre of the followers of the Cause of down laws not explicitly revealed in the Him Who is the Lord of this Age and the Text. In this Dispensation, these laws are Ruler of Creation. 1 destined to flow from this holy mountain, The raising of this edifice (Internaeven as in the Mosaic Dispensation the tional Baha'i Archives) will in turn herald law of God was promulgated from Zion. the construction, in the course of succes- The 'sailing of the Ark' of His laws is a sive epochs of the Formative Age of the reference to the establishment of the Faith, of several other sh-uctures, which Universal House of Justice, which is will serve as the administrative seats of indeed the Seat of Legislation, one of the such divinely appointed institutions as the branches of the World Administrative Guardianship, the Hands of the Cause, Centtáe of the Baha'is on this holy moun- and the Universal House of Justice. These tain. It will be housed in a separate edifices will, in the shape of a far-flung building near the International Archives arc, and following a harmonizing style of building, now under construction, on a architecture, surround the resting places site in the neighbourhood of the Shrine of of tl1e Greatest Holy Leaf, ranking as the Bab, and overlooking the sacred and foremost among the members of her sex illumined Monuments. In the neighbour- in the Baha'i Dispensation, of her brother, hood of these two stately edifices and two offered up as a ransom by Baha'u ' llah for mighty Institutions (i.e. the Archives the quickening of the world and its unifi- Building and the edifice for the House of cation, and of their mother, proclaimed by Justice), another edifice will gradually be Him to be His chosen 'consort in all the erected which will be the Seat of the worlds of God' . The ultimate completion Guardianship, the Centre which will of this stupendous undertaking will mark interpret, expound and prepare commen- the culmination of the development of a taries on explicitly revealed laws, and will world-wide divinely-appointed Adminisreinforce and supplement the legislative trative Order whose beginnings may be body. Yet another edifice to supplement traced as far back as the concluding years these three edifices will be the Centre for of the Heroic Age of the Faith. 2 the propagation and teaching of the Faith, On S June 1973, following the Internathe Seat for the Hands of the Cause, who, tional Convention and the consultations with in accordance with the explicit text of the Will and Testament are charged with the 1 Shoghi Effendi, letter in Persian to the Baha' is of the East, Naw-R(1z 111 (1954). 1 2 Shoghi Effendi, letter to the National Spiritual Shoghi Effendi, letter to the Baha' is of the world , Assembl y of the United States, 21 December 1939; 27 November 1954; see Messages to the Bahn 'i see Messages lo America, pp. 32- 33. World, p. 74. 632 THE BAHA ' i WORLD

the Hands of the Cause, and less than a rapidly growing responsibility of the Unimonth after the Counsellors had left the Holy versal House of Justice. Land to resume their services within their This International Teaching Centre now zones, the following announcement was established, will, in due course, operate cabled by the Uni versal House of Justice to from that building designated by the all National Spiritual Assemblies: Guardian as the Seat for the Hands of the ANNOUNCE ESTAB LI SHMENT HOLY LAND LONG Cause, which must be raised on the arc on ANTICIPATED INTERNATIONAL TEA CHI NG Mount Carmel in close proximity to the CENTRE DESTINED EVOLVE INTO ONE THOSE Seat of the Universal House of Justice. WORLD SHAKING WORLD EMBRACING WORLD The duties now assigned to this nascent DIRECTING ADM INISTRAT IVE INSTITUTIONS institution are: ORDA INED BY BAHA'U ' LLAl-1 ANTI Cl PATED BY • To co-ordinate, stimulate and direct the 'AB DU 'L-BA HA ELUCIDATED BY Sl-IOGHI activities of the Continental Boards of EFFENDI STOP MEMBERSHIP THIS NASCENT Counsellors and to act as liaison between INSTITUTION COMPRJSES ALL HANDS CAUSE them and the Universal House of Justice. GOD ANO INITIALLY THREE COUNSELLORS • To be fully informed of the situation of the WHO WITH HANDS PRESENT 1-IOL Y LAND WILL Cause in all parts of the world and to be CONSTITUTE NUCLEUS ITS VITAL OPERA- able, from the background of this know- TIONS STOP CALLI NG UPON HOOPER DUNBAR ledge, to make reports and recommenda- FLORENCE MAYBERRY AZIZ YAZD I PROCEED tions to the Universal House of Justice and HOLY LAND ASSUME THIS HIGHLY MER ITORI- give advice to the Continental Boards of OUS SERVICE STOP OFFERING PRAYERS Counsellors. HEARTFELT GRATITUDE SACRED THRESHOLD • To be alert to possibilities, both within and THIS FURTHER EV IDENCE ORGANIC EVOLU- without the Baha' i community, for the TION AOM INISTRA TIVE ORDER BA HA'U ' LLAI-1. extension of the teaching work into receptive or needy areas, and to draw the attention of the Universal House of Justice It was followed three days later by thi s and the Continental Boards of Counsellors expanded announcement to the Baha'is of to such possibilities, making recommenthe world: dations for action. The centennial year of the revelation of • To determine and anticipate needs for litthe Kitab-i-Aqdas has already witnessed erature, pioneers and travelling teachers events of such capital significance in the and to work out teaching plans, both annals of the Baha ' i Di spensation as to regional and global, for the approval of the cause us to contemplate with awe the Universal House of Justice. rapidity with which Divine Providence is • All the Hands of the Cause of God wi 11 be advancing the Cause of the Most Great members of the International Teaching Name. The time is indeed propitious Centre. Each Hand will be kept regularl y for the establishment of the International informed of the activities of the Centre Teaching Centre, a development which , through reports or copies of its minutes , at one and the same time, brings to frui- and will be able, wherever he may be tion the work of the Hands of the Cause residing or travelling, to convey suggesresiding in the Holy Land and provides tions, recommendations and information for its extension into the future, links the to the Centre and, whenever he is in the institutions of the Boards of Counsellors Holy Land, to take part in the consultaeven more intimately with that of the tions and other activities of the Centre. Hands of the Cause of God, and power- • In addition, we now appoint Mr. Hooper fully reinforces the discharge of the Dunbar, Mrs. Florence Mayberry and THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U ' LLAH 633 Mr. 'Aziz Yazdi to membership of the In- community provided an opportunity for the ternational Teaching Centre, with the rank Teaching Centre to become thoroughly of Counsellor. These believers, who have acquainted with the conditions, needs and been serving with distinction on the Conti- potentialities of the one hundred and thirteen nental Boards of Counsellors in South national Baha' i communities which made up America, North America and Central and the Baha'i international community at Ricjvan East Africa respectively, will henceforth 1973. A greatly increased flow of vital inforreside in Haifa and will, together with the mation from the Continental Boards of Hands present in the Holy Land, constitute Counsellors was called for by the Internathe nucleus of the operations of the Centre. tional Teaching Centre, which promised, in Authority for the expulsion and reinstate- turn, the deve lopment of an increasingly ment of Covenant-breakers remains with close relationship between itself and the the Hands of the Cause of God. All such Boards through a similarly increased flow of matters will be investigated locally by the materials from the Teaching Centre. At the relative Continental Board of Counsellors request of the House of Justice the Teaching in consultation with any Hand or Hands Centre also evolved a plan for international who may be in the area. The Continental collaboration on travelling teaching projects. Board of Counsellors and the Hands con- The divinely ordained institution of the cerned will then make their reports to the Hands of the Cause of God, having been International Teaching Centre where they brought into active reality by the Guardian will be considered. The decision whether of the Faith according to the directives of or not to expel or reinstate will be made by ' Abdu ' l-Baha' s Will and Testament, was the Hands of the Cause residing in the confronted in its infancy with an appalling Holy Land who will, as at present, submit crisis in the life of that Faith whose protectheir decision to the Universal House of tion was its prime duty. During the Justice for approval.... interregnum between the passing of the The decisions now announced are the Guardian and the election of the Universal outcome of deliberation extending over a House of Justice, the Hands of the Cause as number of years, reinforced by consulta- its Chief Stewards, maintained the integrity tions with the Hands of the Cause of God, and unity of the Faith. The functions of and especially with the Hands residing in protection and propagation appointed to this the Holy Land who were requested in great institution have now been extended 1968 to assist the Universal House of into the future in a manner consonant with Justice in the establishment of the Inter- the principles of the Faith. The Continental national Teaching Centre, a task that now Boards of Counsellors with their attendant increases in magnitude as that Centre Auxiliary Boards for protection and begins its work propagation, the assistants to the Auxiliary Board members, all co-ordinated and kept in One of the first tasks assigned by the Uni- relationship to the Universal House of versal House of Justice to the International Justice by the International Teaching Centre, Teaching Centre was to devise the broad form the fabric of the appointive arm of the outlines of the global teaching plan to begin Administrative Order of the Faith, which at Ricjvan 1974 and conclude five years later will in increasing measure exert its spiritualat Ricjvan 1979. This comprehensive and izing influence upon the development of the detailed survey of the entire Baha'i world Baha'i community and of all mankind. THE BAHA'I WORLD

2. THE WORK AND TRAVELS OF THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE

THE Hands of the Cause of God, freed correspondence, their writings and addresses, in 1968 of continental administrative duties, their association with Baha'i pilgrims and were able increasingly to devote their efforts their interaction with Baha'is in the field, to serving as standard-bearers for the Baha'is often in farflung and remote areas, they of the world in support of the teaching have ... diffused widely the Divine Fraactivities launched by National Spiritual grances, declared His proofs, proclaimed Assemblies and other institutions of the His Faith, published abroad His Law, Baha'i Faith. detached themselves ji-om all things but During the course of the Six Year Plan, Him, stood for righteousness in this world, no less than in the teaching plans that and kindled the Fire of the Love of God in preceded it, these remarkable individuals the very hearts and souls of His servants .... were fonts of inspiration, encouragement In the period covered by this volume of and reinforcement. Their contribution to the The Baha'i World, the years 143- 148 of the achievement of the goals and the influence Baha'i Era (21April1986 to 20 April 1992), of their example upon the Baha'i friends the Baha'i community mourned the tragic took effect on numerous levels, both mani- loss of six of these precious souls . The folfest and intangible. Their universal service lowing is a record, in chronological order, of in protecting the Cause of God; in proclaim- the beloved Hands of the Cause who passed ing its trnths; in deepening the knowledge of away during this period: Dhikru ' llah Khaits adherents; in galvanizing the rank and file dem (November 1986), Dr. Ugo Giachery to greater heights of accomplishment; in (July 1989), Jalal Khazeh (Febrnary 1990), awakening to an appreciation of the Baha' i H. Collis Featherstone (September 1990), Cause a large segment of the public, often John Robarts (June 1991), and William uninformed of its true nature and its Sears (March 1992). relevance to the spiritual and social perils Although these pages lack scope to confronting society; and in presenting chronicle the full range of the services of Baha'i literature to Heads of State and others the Hands-some frail or in ill health but in authority, continued unabated. of undiminished spiritual power- let the Not alone through their travels, but also following exce1pts culled from Baha 'i Interthrough their consultation, their presence at national News Service bulletins, and other gatherings large and small, including inau- sources, suggest in brief outline some of gural Conventions of new National Spiritual their major travels as well as a few of their Assemblies and the annual Conventions of other activities which are less amenable to established national communities, their documentation.

1986 April Year Plan has just ended in the midst of MONACO: In a letter addressed to Baha'is celestial strains and the plaudits of the in every land in April 1986, the Hand of the Divine Concourse, ushering in with grace Cause Dr. Ugo Giachery said, "The Seven and joy another plan, the Six Year Plan THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 635 (1986-1992) which will pass into history least 12 other countries. ' (From report of bearing the name of 'Accomplishment and Summer School Committee 10 August) Triumph.' .. .I have served the Faith of God CANADA: On 30 July, repo1iing to the for many decades, and I am going to hand Universal House of Justice, the Hand of down the secrets of my blessed wife and the Cause Amatu'l-Bah:i RuJ:iiyyih Khanum myself to all of you . Devote your life to the described a month of intense and productive service of the Cause of God. The highest sta- activity in the Canadian north. A Montreal tion man can aspire to is that of service ... visit held two outstanding events, first a very ' Abdu ' l-Baha, in a Tablet addressed to the cordial meeting for almost two hours on the North American believers in 1898, said that Kahnawake Mohawk Reserve with Grand ambition that is not applied to the service of Chief Joseph Norton and Chief Eugene mankind is an abomination ... " (From The Montour. On 3 July a large gathering of American Baha'i, August 1986) Montreal Bah:i'is was held in the new Local I:Ia~iratu ' l - Qud s, located at the east end of June Pine Avenue. (The historic Maxwell House, UNITED STATES: The Hand of the Cause the Baha' i Shrine, is at the extreme west end John Robarts was the honoured guest at of the same street.) In Quebec City Amatu 'lthe Southeastern Regional Baha 'i Youth Baha gave two talks in French, one for the Conference held 18- 22 June 1986 near public and one for the Bah:i' is. She was Huntsville, Alabama. This first American interviewed on radio in English and for a Regional Youth Conference of the Six Year Quebec newspaper in French. She travelled Plan was attended by approximately 150 in the private plane of a Canadian Baha'i Baha'is from various Southern States. Held with the same crew of friends as in a 1982 at Alabama A and M University, a school visit to the north. Her own enthusiastic dedicated to the advancement of the minori- account is given in the following excerpts ties, the conference dedicated much of one from her message. day to the issue of racial harmony. Bernice "July 7th Violette [Mrs. Na~av:ini] and King, the daughter of slain civil rights leader I left Quebec City... and flew to Frobisher Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who spoke on Bay where we attended part of Spirit North ' Civil Rights Today ', was visibly moved as Council before continuing our journey. she accepted a copy of The Promise of I consider entire Frobisher Bay events could World Peace, Gayle Morrison 's biography not possibly have been better.. . Over of the Hand of the Cause Louis Gregory, and 100 believers and guests attended, approxia silver commemorative plate engraved with mately 60 percent native Eskimos and the admonition fow1d in the Baha'i Writ- Indians .... ings, close your eyes to racial differences "Moving commemoration Martyrdom and welcome all with the light of oneness. beloved Bab held outside on hill overlook- (From The American Baha 'i, August 1986) ing unbelievably beautiful Frobisher Bay full of scintillating pack ice, touched all July hearts, and I was able share petals from SW EDEN: Baha' is attending the Swedish Threshold Bah:i 'u 'llah's Shrine in Bahji Summer School in Solbacka in July wrote, with friends .. .. "The friends were richly blessed by the pen- "Radio and newspaper coverage was etrating wisdom and delightful humour of complete, English but also in Eskimo, some our beloved Hand of the Cause Dr. Ugo broadcasts nationwide, others Northern Giachery in whose honour a 90th birthday region only, and aroused local and throughparty was held. There were approximately out North strong opposition clergy various 120 participants including friends from at denominations .... 636 Tl-IE BAHA'I WORLD

"On 11th July ... flying on to Baker Lake Indian area, attending large powwow first for one night and having very happy meeting night, and followmg day impressive auspigroup devoted pioneers there and also some cious opening ceremony presided over by important Eskimo elders. TI1Iee-day visit Chief Crowshoe who is the only surviving Yellowknife, present administrative centre chief of those five chiefs who gave me the Northwest Territories, highly successful, name Natuocist in 1960 on the Peigan large unity Feast included friends from as far Reserve. Over 300 were present from all as British Columbia and Albe1ta; following patts Canada, including members Canadian night... dinner reception attended by out- National Spiláitual Assembly .... Afternoon standing leader, Stephan Kakfwi, president of 20th, official dedication new centre took Dene Nation who ... became very friendly; on place, a deeply religious Indian pipe cerethis occasion a nun1ber of prominent politi- mony presided over by Chief Crowshoe, cians and other leaders including members of lasting over one hour, created remarkable the legislature were present, radio interview feeling spiritual oneness. I was permitted and newspaper publicity also excellent.... smoke sacred pipe with small group tribal "Had wonderful visit with Whitehorse leaders, unique honour rarely conferred on a and other friends at large, well-attended woman. Feel very strongly world-wide meetings, one huge potlatch dim1er over 250 community Baha' is especially pioneers, present, many non-Baha 'i leaders, another teachers, must learn show proper respect equally large public meeting in Whitehorse. profound customs and spiritual associations We stayed three nights in beautiful new indigenous peoples if we desire share bounwell-built, well-designed Yukon Institute, ties Baha'u'llah's message with them. All pride of the North and used not only by too often, alas, we neglect follow beloved Baha'is but on befitting occasions facilities Master's footsteps who showered deep rented to suitable organizations creating love and understanding, sincere praise and excellent impression Faith. At special lunch respect on those of different backgrounds. the Commissioner for Yukon Territory, the Such loving respect other people's way and Mayor of Whitehorse, the Minister of Health deep feeling essential if we intend pass and Human Resources, the leader of the healing cup this Revelation to other lips .... opposition, a member of the legislature, and "Arriving 21st [Regina, Saskatchewan]. .. three ranking representatives of the Council for three-day visit first night addressed over of Yukon Indians, as well as the captain of 150 Baha'is ... next day after early television Salvation Army in the Yukon, were among interview was received officially by delegadistinguished guests. Radio and newspaper tion representing Legislative Assembly of coverage was likewise excellent. Saskatchewan at the Legislative Building "We intetmpted Whitehorse stay to fly built by my father and uncle 1908- 10 .... It above the Arctic Circle to Inuvik ... spending was a happy, gracious, cordial occasion folone night there with devoted group pioneers lowed by some of these officials attending and local friends, returning next day to formal luncheon ... Mayor Larry Sclmeider Whitehorse via Old Crow, small, charming who had proclaimed that week official Peace entirely native Indian village mostly hunters Week in Regina in honour of the Baha'i and fishermen umeachable by road and on no Peace Message from the Universal House of regular airline, a great relief to have pleasant Justice. A personal representative of the sociable evening with many of their leaders absent Premier. .. prominent Indian Heads of at potlatch dilmer in their meetil1g hall... . various bands in the Province as well as "We flew July 19 to Pincher Creek, other dignitaries were present." Alberta, for happy event official opening There followed an interview on CBC new Peigan Baha' i Centre in heart Blackfoot radio, a newspaper interview, a public talk THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 637 for 200 persons, and a final day spent at Fort from groups in many parts of Europe. The Qu' Appelle and a lunch with prominent second issue of the publication gives an Indian leaders, especially women. In the account of the original conference at which afternoon Baha'is and friends gathered on a the movement was born and tells of the beautiful 70-acre property where an Institute inspiration the participants received from the will be built for native and other Baha'is and presence of the Hand of the Cause 'Alitheir friends to meet, study, and conduct Akbar Furutan who was accompanied by activities related to the progress of the Faith Mrs. Furutan and whose presence was 'a in Canada. One stop was made in the United source of joy and enthusiasm that prevailed States at the prior request of the National in that school. ' (Based on Baha 'i Youth Spiritual Assembly. Rul:iiyyih Khanum com- Newsletter) plied with the wish that she meet the believers on the Pine Ridge Reservation in August South Dakota, the location of a massive NORTHERN IRELAND: The second Northteaching plan carried out for the previous ern Ireland Baha'i Summer School at two years by U.S. Baha'is. "We slept at the Inniskillen was an inspiring occasion. One Oglalla Community College'', she wrote, hundred and thirty participants attended. "and held a large potlatch and powwow in The guest of honour, the Hand of the Cause this important centre in the hea1t of Sioux John Robarts, brought great warmth to the Indian territory. Sioux believers and others sessions. The theme of the school "And from as far away as Navajo Reservation I Saw A New Earth" paid tribute to the [Arizona] ensured a most happy and memo- memory of the Hand of the Cause George rable evening for us all. This important Townshend. A sculptured portrait of reservation now has 19 Local Assemblies, Mr. Townshend was sent to his son, Brian, one of the all-Indian ones showering me in recognition of his historic donation of the with special gifts. .. . Having left for the Townshend library to the Faith. (Message North from Quebec City July 7th, we arrived from the participants received 15 August) in Toronto on July 25th tired but blissful, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: What a wonderful our cup rnnning over with love from all our two weeks the Irish Baba' i community has dear ones." (Based on report received from just experienced with the visit of the Hand of the Hand of the Cause 30 July) the Cause of God John Robarts. His tour of AUSTRIA: On 1 August a telex reached Ireland has touched the hearts of all those the World Centre from "the beautiful moun- who met him. His stories about prayer have tainous area of Spital" where 160 Baha'is fired us with a deeper faith in the power of and their guests from 8 countries enjoyed the prayer and a greater confidence in the key Austrian Baha'i Summer School for 7 days : role which it will play in our teaching UNIQUE SPIRIT HONOURED AND ENRICHED endeavours .... Mr. Robarts was present for THROUGH PRESENCE HAND OF CAUSE OF GOD two programmes of teaching conducted in MR. FURUTAN AND HIS BELOVED WIFE .. .' the Limerick/Clare region on weekends. SWITZERLAND: The Baha'i Youth Move- One of these, a Peace Concert organized by ment in Europe made a beginning in July the Baha ' is, drew an attendance of approxiwhen youth from 15 countries gathered at mately 200 non-Baba ' is. (From Feast Landegg Centre, Switzerland, for a confer- Newsletter 8 September) ence organized by the Austrian National CANADA: The Eleventh Annual Confer- Youth Committee.... The movement now ence of the Association for Baha'i Studies boasts a newsletter (in English) emanating was held from 20-24 August on the campus from Doetinchem, the Netherlands, head of the University of Western Ontario, office of the movement, and fed by reports London, Ontario, with approximately 2,000 638 THE BAHA'i WORLD

The Hand of the Cause of God John Robarts (right) and his wife, Audrey, (second from left) planting a tree during their visit to Northern Ireland in August I 986.

participating. The largest annual conference to 7 September 1986. Amatu'l-Baha, accomto date had as its theme 'Beyond the Quest panied by members of the National Spiritual for Peace: Creating a New World Order' and Assembly of Italy, presented The Promise of was planned to mark the United Nations World Peace to the President of the Region International Year of Peace. The keynote of Sicily in a dignified official ceremony. speech opening the sessions was given by The attendance of 1,000 Baha'is from Amatu'l-Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khanum. A guest 25 counháies created a great proclamation of the conference was Dr. Ervin Laszlo of opportunity on local and national television, the Club of Rome who, with Amatu'l-Baha the broadcasts giving rise to new requests and other dignitaries, took part in a Native for information about the Faith. (From Indian peace pipe ceremony which is seldom report received 9 September) performed outside Native communities and rarely with non-Native participants.. .. An October auxiliary conference for young people was AUSTRALIA: A special service in the addressed by the Hand of the Cause Australian House of Worship in celebration Dr. 'Ali-Mul:iammad Varqa, who "showered of the International Year of Peace was held his young audience with universal love and on 19 October 1986 with the participation of visibly increased their love of learning about the Governor General of Australia, Sir the Faith and the solution it offers for the ills Ninian Stephen, who read from Isaiah 2: 1- 5. of humanity." (From message received Lady Stephen was also present at the service. 7 September) Approximately 850 people attended and, ITALY: The participation of the Hand of sinrnltaneously, a programme for 200 chilthe Cause Amatu'l-Baha Rul:iiyyih K.hanum dren took place in a marquee on the Temple and Counsellors Leo Niederreiter and grounds. The National Spiritual Assembly Sohrab Youssefian inspired the 25th Italian cabled that it was overjoyed that the beloved Summer School in Sicily, held from 31 August Hand of the Cause Collis Featherstone was THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 639 well and able to participate by escorting the Roba1is, were honoured participants in an distinguished guests into the House of historic meeting in Quebec City, on 23 Nov- Worship. (From report received 24 October) ember, sponsored by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Quebec City November for all the believers in the Province. The WORLD CENTRE: WITH SORROWFUL Covenant was the subject of the successful HEARTS ANNOUNCE PASSJNG lNDEFATIGABLE gathering. (Message from the Local Spiri- FEARLESS DEFENDER FAITH, DEEPLY LOVED tual Assembly of the Baha'is of Quebec HAND CAUSE ZIKRULLAH KHADEM. HIS City received 26 November) STERLJNG SERVICES TO THE CAUSE, HIS TOT AL CONSECRATION TO TASKS ASSIGNED TO HIM December BY BELOVED GUARDIAN, HIS OUTSTANDING INDIA: THE PLACING OF SACRED DUST HOLY EFFORTS AS MEMBER NATIONAL SPIRITUAL SHRINES BY AMA TULBAHA RUHIYYIH KHANUM ASSEMBLY CRADLE FAITH, HIS VALUABLE, SOUL- THIS AUSPICIOUS DAY HAS SANCTIFIED OUR UPLIFTJNG STIMULATION fMPARTED BODY MASHRJQULADHKAR HAS BROUGHT TO IND IA BELIEVERS NORTH AMERICA, PARTfCULARL Y PRICELESS BOUNTY AND DEEPLY STIRRED PRO- UNITED STATES BAHA'i COMMUNITY, HIS UNTIR- JECT TEAMNOW DISBANDING TO YIELD Tl-IANKS ING ENDEAVOURS THROUGH HTS TALKS AND SACRED THRESHOLD UN IQUE PRJVILEGE RAISE WRITINGS IN SAFEGUARDING COVENANT AND IN MASHRJQULADHKAR AND TO EXPRESS HEART- INSTILLING APPRECIATION LOVE FOR SHOGHI FELT GRATITUDE ENCOURAGEMENT INSPIRATION EFFENDI, SHED UNDYING LUSTRE OVER PERIOD BELOVED UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE THROUGH- HIS ADMIRABLE STEWARDSHIP CAUSE GOD. OUT CONSTRUCTION PERIOD. DEEPEST LOVE OFFERING PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS JOYOUS MOMENTOUS DEDICATION. (Cable dated HIS RADIANT SOUL ABHA KJNGDOM. URGE HOLD 24 December 1986 from Indian Temple BEFITTING MEMORIAL GATHERINGS HIS NAME AT Project) ALL HOUSES OF WORSHIP AS WELL AS JN ALL On the morning of 24 December 1986, LOCAL BAHA'i COMMUNITIES. (Message from Amatu'l-Baha Ru~iyyih Khanum, on behalf the Universal House of Justice to all National of the Universal House of Justice, dedicated Spiritual Assemblies 13 November) the first Baha'i House of Worship of the UNITED STATES: The Hand of the Cause Indian Subcontinent, in the presence of 400 of God Dhikru'llah Khadem was laid to rest, illustrious guests including the Hands of the Skokie, Illinois, following a 10:00 a.m. Cause William Sears and Collis Featherstone. service attended by the Hand of the Cause of Eight thousand Baha'is from 114 nations , God William Sears; members of the Conti- with Indian believers from every State and nental Board of Counsellors, Dr. Wilma Tenitory, were present for three consecutive Brady, Mr. Robert Hanis, Mrs. Lauretta services of dedication held that day, ending King, Mr. Donald 0. Rogers , Mr. Fred at six in the evening. On the afternoon of Schechter, and Mr. Aituro Senano; the 23 December, thousands had gathered at members of the National Spiritual Assem- Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi for a blies of the United States and of Canada; and unity feast at which Amatu'l-Baha read a members of the Auxiliary Board and of the message from the Universal House of Justice. committees of the National Assembly. Five At a press conference held on 22 December, hundred sorrowing friends joined in paying Rul:iiyyih Khanum captured the hearts and tribute to the departed Hand of the Cause. minds oflndia's press and media representa- (From Baha'i International News Service, tives with her dynamic style and incisive No. 160, November 1986) responses to questions. On the morning of CANADA: Two Hands of the Cause, 27 December, dawn prayers were held at the Dr. 'Ali Mul:iammad Varqa and Mr. John House of Worship. Services of worship open 640 THE BAHA'i WORLD to the public were held for the first time on Committees. A proclamation meeting was 1January1987. ananged at the Pure Life Society on 9 Janu- MALAYSIA: After pa1iicipating in the ary at which 80- 100 teachers and pupils dedication of the Temple at New Delhi were shown the videotape the Featherstones in December, the Hand of the Cause Collis had brought of the special 19 October peace Featherstone, accompanied by his wife, trav- service in the Sydney Temple, and heard elled to Malaysia on 30 December, where he a talk on the Faith. Another gathering spent an active ten days. He spoke to several addressed by Mr. Featherstone was the communities in the Kuala Lumpur area, in Interfaith Fellowship which met in a Baha 'i Selangor, and in Negri Sembilan-gather- home. A stop in Singapore for one night was ings of up to 100 persons. Mrs. Featherstone the occasion for a talk to a roomful of also addressed some community groups. In believers who gathered to greet the Hand of the capital, Mr. Featherstone and Counsellor the Cause. From there the Featherstones Chellie Sundram held consultation with five went to Adelaide and Melbourne, where members of the National Spiritual Assem- Mr. Featherstone addressed the Australian bly. On another occasion, Mr. Featherstone National Youth Conference. (From report met with 70 members of the Auxiliary received 15 February from the Hand of the Boards and of National and State Teaching Cause)

1987

January At the National I:Ia?iratu'l-Quds she engaged THAILAND: The Hand of the Cause of God in consultation with the Spiritual Assembly Amatu'l-Baha RU.J:iiyyih Khanum returned on three occasions. Near the Eastern Border, to the World Centre on 2nd Febrnary 1987 during what she called "the highlight" of her after the dedication of the India Temple, and trip, Amatu'l-Baha visited the refugee camps then left again to visit Thailand. In less of Khao-I-Dang and Site 2 South, where than a month Amatu'l-Baha, accompanied by there were large communities of Baha'is, Mrs. Violette Nakhjavani, criss-crossed Thai- numbered in the thousands, who had emolled land from south to north and east to west, there since mid-1984, having fled war-torn fulfilling an active schedule prepared for her. areas of other southeast Asian countries. She spoke to seven major gatherings of Though able to meet with relatively few of Baha'is and the public; held personal inter- the many Baha'is in the immense camps, she views with at least eight officials and was impressed with the sincerity and devodignitaries ; addressed the media in two tion to the Cause of those who were able to cities; held consultations with the Spiritual come to the gatherings. In Yasothon, in the Assembly; and met with the rank and file of northeastern region of Thailand, Amatu'lthe believers in city and village. In Bangkok Baha visited the Yasothon Baha'i School and Amatu' l-Baha was cordially received by the had "three happy village meetings" in the Minister of Education, who also held the area. She also met with the Governor of the portfolio of Religious Affairs, and discussed Province in his home. In Songkhla Province, with him the interests of the Faith in Thai- in the far south, she spoke to a conference for land. She met with the Governor of Bangkok, believers of the southern region attended by addressed a small gathering of notables at a two members of the Continental Board of World Religion Day meeting and reception, Counsellors in Asia, Dr. Chellie Sundram and gave interviews to press and television. and Dr. Iraj Ayman. Five hundred believers THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U ' LLAH 641 came from Malaysia and thirteen from His teaching methods as we celebrate the Singapore, travelling many hours by bus. In 75th anniversary of the Master's historic Songkhla, Amatu'l-Baha met with the visit to North America .. .. Mr. Sears, who Deputy Governor who, "like all Thai offi- attended most of the Convention sessions cials", she wrote, "was courteous, cordial and who is to be present 27 June at the and interested''. The Hand of the Cause Souvenir Picnic in Teaneck, New Jersey, addressed an audience of more than 700 at urged his audience to appreciate the glorious the Sirnakron Wirot University at a peace privilege of living in this day, and to seize conference sponsored jointly by the Univer- the opportunity now to follow the example sity and the Baha'i community, sharing the of 'Abdu'l-Baha and carry the Message of platf01w with a professor of sociology. For Baha'u'llah to every corner of this country joint consultations with the three Spiritual and around the world. (From The American Assemblies Amatu'l-Baha was joined by the Baha'i, June) t\vo Counsellors. The meetings included Auxiliary Board members and their assis- May tants, and members of national teaching CANADA: Dr. Varqa attended a Unity conm'littees. She was able also to make a trip Conference held in Kingston, Ontario, in to an active Baha'i community on Tua Wa May, "contributing greatly to the love and Island before leaving the southern region. inspiration" felt by the 200 who gathered for Cl1iengmai, in the far north near Bmwa and the meeting. (From report in Bahiz 'i Canada, Laos, is an important city with an active August 1987) Baha' i community. There Amatu'l-Baha met with the Vice-Governor, was cordially May/June received by the president of a teacher AFRICA: In the months of May and June, training college, and was invited to address the Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featl1erstone, students of a comparative religions class. She accompanied by Mrs. Featherstone, travelled also met local Baha'is and friends at a large to eight countries of Africa, visiting Baha'i gathering, and addressed local dignitaries at a communities and inspiring the friends "in his luncheon. On leaving Thailand, Amatu'l- usual lively and informative way", in the Baha noted that in this "immensely promis- words of an Auxilia1y Board member, ing area", pioneers can make an effective recording the visit. Going first to Mauritius contribution. (Based on a telex from the for the National Convention on 1 May, Hand of the Cause received 26 January) Mr. Featherstone was able also to make a three-minute TV news recording while there, April and to visit the communities of Flacq, Camp UNITED STATES: The 78th Baha'i de Masque (where they celebrated his National Convention, held 23-26 April 1987 74th birthday), Mare d' Albert, and Plaint within the sacred precincts of the Mother Magnien. He also gave a press conference. Temple of the West in Wilmette, Illinois, On 8 May the Featherstones went to was imbued with a maturity of deliberation Zimbabwe, where meetings were held in and a sense of purpose perhaps unprece- Harare and Bulawayo. In Bulawayo they dented in the 11.istory of the American Baha'i called on the Deputy Mayor and presented a conmmnity .... This year's Convention was copy of Th e Promise of World Peace; and blessed by the presence of the Hand of the in the evening at the Baha'i Centre, whose Cause of God William Sears, who delivered rooms were filled to capacity, about the closing address Sunday morning, exhort- 80 Baha'is attentively and gratefully listened ing the friends to follow in the hallowed to Mr. Featherstone's discourse on the greatfootsteps of ' Abdu 'l-Baha and to emulate ness of the Cause and the blessings of 642 THE BAHA'i WORLD

The Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featherstone, and Mrs. Madge Featherston e, with friends gathered for the National Convention in Mauritius; I May 1987.

servmg it. Malawi believers gave heartfelt areas, and some had walked as far as 80 kilothanks for the gift of Mr. Featherstone's metres to see the Hand of the Cause. As the four-day visit, beginning on 15 May. Meet- Featherstones stepped from the plane, the ings at the centre brought eager believers joyful crowd rushed toward them and from the north and centre of the counhy to flanked them, touched them, shook hands hear his talks on the institutions and on pro- with them and showed them their heartfelt gressive revelation, both illustrated by chaiis. love and appreciation." In Lusaka, Zambia, A talk on Bible prophecy had the believers Mr. Featherstone talked to Rotarians, and busy taking notes. Mrs. Featherstone gave an was interviewed on radio and television. The inspired talk on the role of women in the five-minute programme in which he talked world today. Choirs from several communi- of world peace, removal of prejudice, and ties entertained at the meetings, to the progressive revelation was shown after his Featherstones' great delight. To Mwinilunga, departure from Zambia. After eight days of a Zambia, a remote but fertile and receptive tight schedule which took them to four provarea in the heart of Africa, the Featherstones inces, the Featherstones left Zambia, " their were taken in an aircraft cha1iered by the exemplary, dedicated and tireless service to National Assembly. "As the plane canying the Faith ofBaha'u ' llah an inspiration to the the Hand of the Cause approached the air friends in Zambia'', as reported in Afi'ican sháip'', Afi'ican Highlights for June relates, Highlights. On 27 May in Tanzania, the "the huge crowd of Baha'is colourfully Hand of the Cause met with the National dressed, started to dance. It was an unforget- Spiritual Assembly, the Auxiliary Board memtable view. They were welcomed by almost bers and assistants. At a public meeting on 400 adults and over 100 children who had peace held on 30 May, Mr. Featherstone dressed most colourfully and were happy and addressed a full hall and answered many excited to see their distinguished guests. questions. He shared the platform with a These Baha'is had come from 19 Assembly speaker from the United Nations Development THE WORLD ORDER OF BAI-IA'U'LL;\H 643 Programme. In Kenya, on 31 May, he was bounty of meeting in the Shrine hallowed by met by all members of the National Spiritual the presence and the prayers of 'Abdu ' l- Assembly. He visited the towns of Kusumu, Bahi The Francophone group noted the Chango (meeting with 451 Baha'is), and presence "in spirit" of the Hand of the Cause Kakamega. In Uganda on 5 June, the Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, who, in a Featherstones were met at the border by cable, appealed to the Quebec believers to Mrs. Vi Gilbert, a member of the Auxiliary arise and vindicate the unique position of the Board, and taken to Tororo where she first place where the Faith was established in teaches at a school for girls. The next day Canada in 1902. She recalled her mother's they went to Kampala where they stayed in great love for the French-speaking people the former home of the Hand of the Cause and her wish to see the French-Canadians Musa Banani which later became the home embrace and serve the Cause ofBaha'u'llah. of the Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga. On (From Baha'i International News Service, 7 June they visited the House of Worship for No . 169, August- September 1987) morning service and met with the believers HUNGARY: A number of Baha'is particiin the I:Ia'.?iratu'l-Quds in the afternoon. pated in a scientific conference organized by On 10 June the F eatherstones arrived in the International Society for General Ethiopia where Mr. Featherstone met many Systems Research in Budapest, Hungary, believers in the course of several days . from 1- 5 June 1987. At the request of the Mrs . Featherstone spoke to the women on Universal House of Justice, Amatu'l-Baha many occasions and also addressed general Rul;iyyih Khanum headed the Baha'i gatherings of the friends. (Compiled from delegation which included Mrs. Violette various reports received through July) Na~avani and Dr. Janet Khan from Haifa, and Dr. Ingeborg Franken and Dr. Udo June Schaefer from Germany. The conference, CANADA: Two Hands of the Cause, held in a city visited by ' Abdu'l-Baha and Dr. ' Ali Mu~ammad Varqa and Mr. John much admired by Him, attracted some of the Robarts, were present in Montreal for three foremost systems scientists from Eastern days in June when 60 Baha ' is from all parts Europe and the West. They were drawn of French Canada met in a Francophone from such disciplines as mathematics, phys- Policy Conference to consult on two themes ics, engineering, economics, management, put forward by the National Assembly: and the biological and social sciences. A teaching the Faith and building the Baha ' i featured speaker was the President of the conummity in the Province of Quebec. They Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R. At spoke with the friends assembled at the the conclusion of the conference, the Baha'i Baha'i Sluáine (the Maxwell Home) during delegation met info1mally with some of the the two evenings of the Conference. members of Dr. Lazlo's Research Group to Dr. Varqa told of the period of the Ten Year discuss subjects of mutual interest. As a Crusade after the passing of the Guardian result of this meeting, Dr. Laszlo requested when the Hands of the Cause executed that materials on aspects of the Baha'i Faith his Plan. He encouraged the study of the be sent to all members of his Group. (From Tablets of the Divine Plan, written by report received 11 June from Dr. Janet Khan) 'Abdu ' l-Baha after His visit to North Ame1ica. UNITED STATES: More than 1,000 Baha'is Mr. Robarts spent precious moments recall- and their guests gathered on 27 June 1987 at ing happy memories of 1948 when he the Wilhelm properties in Teaneck, New was elected to the first National Spiritual Jersey, to conm1emorate the 75th anniver- Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada. He sary of the Unity Picnic hosted there by reminded the assembled friends of the 'Abdu' l-Baha during His historic visit to 644 THE BAHA'I WORLD

North America in 1912. The day-long event Bahiz 'i International News Service, No . 169, was but one of about 1,500 such picnics held August- September 1987) across the country at the request of the Hand of the Cause William Sears, whose presence August: greatly blessed this one. The keynote UNITED KINGDOM: Dr. Giachery attended address was presented by Mr. Sears, who the landmark Youth Conference held at presented a plaque to Mayor Bernard E. Manchester University 111 the United Brooks of Teaneck for his work in promot- Kingdom in August, with 1,300 participants ing unity among all the people in that city. from 42 countries. 'The Conference has (From Balui 'i News , August) been greatly blessed by the presence of our UNITED STATES: As part of its commem- beloved Hand of the Cause Dr. Ugo oration of the 75th anniversary of the first Giachery. His sacrificial participation in Souvenir Picnic in Teaneck, the Baha' i view of ill health has been a tremendous Public Information Office of Northern New source of inspiration." (From report from the Jersey produced a video recording including participants received 15 September) live narration and original still photographs ITALY: Reports from events emiched by of the first picnic which was hosted by the attendance of Hands of the Cause 'Abdu'l-Baha. The Hand of the Cause include the 26th annual Summer School of William Sears agreed to narrate the video. Its Northern Italy, attended by Mr. Fun'.Jtan who premiere showing took place during the Dia- gave the 440 friends present a "new vision mond Jubilee picnic in Teaneck on 27 June. of the great horizons of the historic fourth (From The American Baha 'i, August) epoch of the Faith". (From telex received 30 August from the participants) July GERMANY: Participants in the German FINLAND: Summer School 1987 held in Summer School at Kastel! Windsor held Salo on 10-18 July was honored by the visit from 2-9 August telexed their loving of Mr. Featherstone, one of the principal appreciation of the participation of Mr. and speakers who inspired the school sessions . Mrs. Furutan. During the school, hand- Attendance came to 224 adults, youth, and crafted items made by the children were sold children. Public outreach was a main feature to provide three scholarships for the Anis of this school: a public meeting advertised in Zunuzi School in Haiti. (From telex received the newspaper, Baha' i participation in a con- 12 August from the participants) cert of international songs and a second CANADA: The Hand of the Cause William public meeting held at the school. (From Sears visited all ten provinces of Canada and report received 18 August from the National two territories in just eleven days, from Spiritual Assembly of Finland) 30 August to 9 September- the period SWEDEN: Three Hands of the Cause of corresponding to Abdu ' l-Baha 's sojourn in God were present at the Scandinavian Baha' i Canada seventy-five years ago. The ttáip was Summer School which opened in Sweden on a "matchless tour de force of love, inspira- 19 July and marked the 25th anniversary of tion and encouragement", as reported in the establishment of the separate National Baha'i Canada for November. In spite of Spiritual Assemblies of the Scandinavian poor health, Mr. Sears journeyed from coast countries and Finland. The Hands of the to coast and through the n01ihern territories, Cause Dr. Ugo Giachery, ' Ali Akbar "a living demonstration of the capacity of Fun'.1tan, and H. Collis Featherstone partici- the spirit to triumph over physical limitapated in the gala event with 500 believers tions." Some highlights of the 11 days were: from Scandinavia and many other counttáies firesides in Montreal, in French and English, of Europe, the Americas and Africa. (From where Mr. Sears shook the hand of each THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA ' U' LLAH 645 child present and gave each one a souvenir; on Oahu, visited Maui on 14 September, the nightly firesides in Halifax and throughout Big Island of Hawaii on the 15th, and Nova Scotia; Baha'is from the entire province returned to Oahu on the 16th to meet over of Winnipeg gathered at the new Baha ' i dinner with the Chinese Teaching Commit- Centre; over 1,000 attending the Calgary tee and to give an interview to the religion event; a moving meeting in Vancouver in editor of the Star-Bulletin. This resulted in a which the friends were urged to become more ten-inch a1iicle in the Saturday edition. (From heroic, more saintly, and appreciate their Hawaii Baha 'i News for October-November) station as Baha'is; a presentation to the Hand of the Cause by children of Whitehorse in October which they gave their in1pressions of 'Abdu'l- CANADA: In late October and early Baha in prose and poeh-y; and a two-day November, Amatu ' l-Baha Ru~iyyih Khanum conference for the Northwest Tenitories; visited Canada, speaking to the friends in two new believers embracing the Faith in Montreal and Toronto while she was there. Toronto during the visit of the Hand of the On 1 November, the Hands of the Cause of Cause. (From Bahti 'i Canada for November) God John Roba1is and Dr. 'Ali-Mu~ammad Varqa joined more than 250 Baha' is from the September Montreal area, Quebec City and Ottawa at CANADA: "Kaa-Taan" or "Strong Man" the Montreal Centre to greet Rlil)iyyih was the tribal name given to the Hand of the Khanum, who spoke to the friends in English Cause William Sears by a small band of and French about the need for teaching the Tlingit Indians during his visit to Lake La Faith, and the education of Baha'i children. Berge near Whitehorse, on 6 September In Toronto, she spoke on the same subjects 1987. Hazel Lovelace, who served as on 5 November... . (From Bahti 'i Canada , spokesman for the Eagle and Raven Tribes, Vol. 9, No. 11, January) expressed her feelings about the consultation UNITED STATES: "Let's All Get Involved" that proceeded the presentation. "We wanted was the theme, and the Hand of the Cause of to shower our love on Mr. Sears ... but we God William Sears the featured speaker, at a didn ' t have anything to offer him. Nothing regional mini-youth conference held from but our love. So we decided to adopt him 30 October to 1 November 1987 in Tucson and give him a Tlingit name." As tradition and sponsored by the District Youth Comdictated, Laurie Hill of the Raven Tribe was mittee of Southern Arizona. Mr. Sears met chosen to am1ounce the name tluáee times, each of the 50 young people from Arizona, with the audience repeating the name, Colorado, New Mexico and California, all of thereby acknowledging their affirmation and whom agreed that the event was helpful in acceptance. Mr. Sears was also presented deepening their understanding of the Faith with an Eagle vest and wool lap blanket by through talks and workshops. (Based on his new tribal family. Jens Lyberth chanted report in The American Bahti 'i, April) and played a traditional Eskimo drum as pati of the ceremony. (Based on repmi in Alaska November Baha 'i News, January 1988) FRANCE: The Hand of the Cause HAWAIIAN ISLAN DS: The Hand of the Amatu ' l-Baha Rul~iyyih Khanum's visit to Cause of God H. Collis Featherstone and France was primarily undertaken in memory Mrs. Featherstone, continuing a journey that of her mother, May Maxwell, who estabbegan in April and took in 18 countries, lished the Faith there and was the first arrived in Honolulu on 12 September. In a Baha ' i in Europe. Arriving on 11 November five-day stay, Mr. Featherstone addressed a 1987, during her 33-day tour she visited capacity crowd at the National Baha' i Centre 17 communities, attending a two-day National 646 THE BAH1\'i WORLD

Teaching Conference held in Paris; seven Minister of France. Madame Delagard was regional gatherings throughout the country; in charge of Religious Affairs. She was ve1y and a National Youth Conference in Lyon. intelligent, very agreeable, and evidently She gave all of her talks in French. Tluáough- had little knowledge of the Faith, but was out France the Baha'is took full advantage very interested in the material Amatu'l-Baha of Amatu'l-Baha's visit to invite friends and was able to show her, and particularly to relatives who were not Baha'is to attend note that the Baha' i International Commuspecial meetings and receptions; as a result a nity had recently joined the Conservation number of those already interested accepted and Religion Network of the World Wide the Faith. On her arrival in Paris, accompa- Fund for Nature. Another in1portant engagenied by Mrs. Violette Na!s!!javani, all nine ment in Paris was with Madame Simone members of the National Spiritual Assembly Veil, representative of the Republic of France met Amatu' l-Baha at the airport, where she in the European Parliament and forn1erly its had a three-hour stopover en route to Nice, President. On that body she had raised her the first place she visited. On successive voice publicly in defense of the persecuted weekends, Regional Teaching Conferences Baha'is of Persia and was keenly interested were held in Nice and Marseille, with more in events affecting the Faith in that country. than 140 attending from 21 localities in She was ve1y interested to hear from Nice, and 80 friends from 11 places in RuJ:iiyyih Khanum the history of the rela- Marseille. Coverage by the media in France tionship of the Faith with the State oflsrael. is difficult to obtain; however, in Marseille, A National Teaching Conference took place Amatu' l-Baha had a press interview with a in Paris 28 and 29 November, the largest of well-known columnist published in one of its kind ever held. Between 450 and 500 peothe big papers of southern France. This was ple attended from all parts of France and followed by a number of other artic les other cow1tries, including the Counsellor, published in different cities . The third Dr. Agnes Ghaznavi, and a number of Board Regional Conference was in Annecy on the members. In addition to talks given by Swiss border; over 200 friends participated, Amah1 ' l-Baha, the gathering was addressed mostly from Switzerland. A social evening by Counsellor Ghaznavi and by members of and concert concluded the events, attended the French National Spiritual Assembly, all by the Deputy Mayor of Annecy and his of whom underlined the needs of the Six wife. His remarks to the gathering were Year Plan. There was a remarkable sense of cordial and full of pra ise for the teachings oneness and enthusiasm, to which, undoubtand objectives of the Baha'is. A meeting fo r edly, the spirit of the many Baha'i youth the friends in the Chambery district took present contributed. The Paris Local Spiriplace in the home of a believer in Chapareil- tual Assembly, after ente1iaining Rul:iiyyih lan. From Annecy, Rul:iiyyih Khanum went Khanum at lunch, touchingly commemoto Lyon to address a National Youth Confer- rated her visit by going to the Eiffel Tower ence attended by more than 100 people from for a photograph in the same place where, all parts of France, Switzerland, and Belgium; 75 years ago, the beloved Master had been many excellent questions were asked. A photographed. Also in Paris, Amatu ' l-Baha meeting and dinner also took place with and Mrs. Na!s!!javani were able to attend the 45 Baha' is from Lyon and neighbouring meeting in the J::la ~ iratu ' l-Qud s commemocommunities. The National Assembly had rating the Ascension of 'Abdu ' l-Baha. arranged fo r the Hand of the Cause to have a About 200 of the friends were present at the number of interviews with officials in Paris. beautifully conducted meeting. The National Madame Albanel Delagard met with Spirihial Assembly rented a hall in Paris for Rtil:iiyyih Khanum on behalf of the Prime a general meeting which about 100 p eople THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA°U'LLAH 647 attended. After Amatu'l-Baha's talk many the local government of the Department of questions were asked. On another occasion, Alsace. She spent a long time with Rul.iiyyih about 80 Baha'i youth had an evening meeting Khanum, showing a lively interest in the with Amatu ' l-Baha following a dinner with Faith. The other interview was with her at the National Centre. In addition to all Mr. Hoeffel, a Senator, who is also the the Paris activities, RuJ:iiyyih Khanum was President of the Conseil General of the Basable to have two meetings with communities Rhin District. After introductions, he said to near Paris . In Rouen, a very active and RuJ:iiyyih Khanum, "What can I do for devoted group of friends, many of them you?" "Do for me?", she asked. "I didn't refugees from Iran, entertained her and all come here to have anything done for me ; I the friends at lunch. In La Celle-Saint- don't want anything." He looked absolutely Cloud, some 50 people gathered in the home astonished; he had evidently thought he had of one of the believers to greet the Hand of an appointment with somebody who had the Cause. After the eventful days in Paris, some kind of a demand, or a petition, or a Amatu'l-Baha Rul.iiyyih Khanum left for complaint. Rul.iiyyih K.hanum went on: "I Bordeaux where the small but active have come here to pay my respects to you as community had arranged an interview with a member of the Government; I haven' t the Mayor, Jacques Chabon Delmas, who come to ask for anything; I don' t want anyhad previously been Prime Minister of thing at all." He was really taken aback and France, and who then was Speaker of the said, "Well, won't you sit down?" They had House of Representatives. They met in his a worthwhile and pleasant chat about the private office at City Hall, where Amatu'l- Faith and mention was made of the persecu- Baha was able to introduce Mr. Delmas to tion of the Baha'is in Iran. Amatu'l-Baha the Faith. He had, however, heard of the spent two nights in Sháasbourg, where the persecutions in Iran, which he strongly local Baha'is held a dinner in her honour in deplored. He was also interested to learn their Baha' i Centre on the first evening, that the Baha'i International Community had followed by an informal and happy meeting just been accepted, on an equal basis with with all the friends. On the second night, other world religions, into the WWF Network over 200 friends from France, Germany, on Conservation and Religion. It was an Luxembourg, Belgium, and Switzerland, extremely cordial interview. After Bordeaux, gathered.... Returning to Paris, Amatu'l- RuJ:iiyyih Khanum went to Nantes to partici- Baha had a long meeting with the National pate in the fifth Regional Conference, which Spiritual Assembly during which she not had about 100 friends attending from I I local- only commented on her trip and experiences ities. In Nantes, she was deeply touched to in France, but expressed her deep conviction meet a member of the Auxiliary Board from that it was the time to push forward as never Niger, whom she and Mrs. Na~avani had before with teaching the Faith, as there was met on their African safari, and who had new receptivity stirring in the land. The next come all the way from Niger just to see her day, the entire National Spiritual Assembly again. From Nantes RuJ:iiyyih Khanum went saw her off most lovingly at the airpori, just to Rennes , the capital of Brittany. Then, as they had greeted her so lovingly on her crossing the country once again, she went to arrival. (Based on repori from the Hand of Sháasbourg, the seat of the European Parlia- the Cause received 2 February 1988) ment, which was the last of her engagements UNITED STATES: A crowd of 1,000 or in France. Two interviews with officials had more Baha'is gathered on 29 November been arranged for her in Strasbourg. The 1987 in the auditorium of the Los Angeles first was with Madame Knorr, who was in Center to greet the Hand of the Cause charge of religious affairs and education in William Sears, who had promised that he 648 THE BAHA'I WORLD

would be present to celebrate the triumphant the room with his humor and inspired his march of the Los Angeles teaching cam- hearers to a new and deeper resolve to paign "even if he had to be carried in on a conquer the hearts of the populace of the stretcher." Mr. Sears had come from his City of the Angels. (From The Los Angeles sick-bed, but despite his discomfort he lit up Baha'i Journal, January)

1988

January promises of victory. A giant fireside teach- AUSTRALIA: From every State in Australia, ing event hosted by the National Teaching 360 youth went to Perth in January to attend Committee was held in the National Center a national youth conference, a highlight of on the evening of30 January and the Baha'is which was the participation of the Hand were invited to bring interested seekers to of the Cause Collis Featherstone. Proclama- hear this beloved guest-speaker. Major tion activities and favourable media coverage newspapers of both Kauai and Oahu interwere specially noted in the report, the Youth viewed the Hand of the Cause. (From telex Year of Service was said to be gaining reports received from the National Spiritual momentum, and a teaching team set out Assembly of Hawaii through 6 March) from the conference to visit most parts of W estem Austráalia. (From Bahti 'i Interna- February tional News Service, No. 174, February) UNITED STATES: Mr. Sears addressed the HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: A capacity audience 25th Anniversary Council Fire in Tucson, that included virhially every active Baha'i Arizona, on 26-28 February. Six hundred on the island of Kauai joyously greeted the were in attendance for the meeting to Hand of the Cause of God William Sears commemorate the Great Council Fire held in and Marguerite Sears... on the evening of southern Arizona in 1963. Mr. Sears' talk 15 January. Mr. Sears' stay in the Islands emphasized the references to American produced wonderful results in the Hawaiian Indians in the Writings of 'Abdu ' l-Baha and Balla' i community and inspired the Shoghi Effendi and spoke of Baha'u'llah's deliberations of the Continental Board of promises of victory for all Baha'i teachers. Counsellors for Austráalasia and the National (From telex received 6 March report from Spiritual Assembly of Hawaii, both bodies the National Spiritual Assembly of the receiving the benefit of his vision of the United States) grandeur of the Cause of God and the maj- AUSTRALIA: The Hand of the Cause H. esty of its institutions. Mr. Sears' separate Collis Featherstone and Mrs. Featherstone meetings with each were followed by a joint visited the Erriba Community development meeting of the Counsellors and the National experiment in Tasmania, Australia, in Feb- Spirihial Assembly, which exemplified the ruary to officially open the Albert Benson growing collaboration between institutions Memorial Cottage, a hospitality centráe characteristic of the. Fomih Epoch. The named after one of the founding members of National Assembly praised the behind-the- the N.W. Tasmania Baha'i community. The scenes Baha'i workers in Kauai who helped presence of the Hand of the Cause and the to make the weekend with the Hand of the stráength and assurance in his addresses Cause "dynamic, inspiring, joyous, and kept his audiences inspired and spellbound. radiant with overpowering spirit" In Oahu, Approximately 80- 100 people attended the on 23 January, in an informal meeting, ceremony.... (From Baha 'i International Mr. Sears inspired the Baha'is with News Service, No. 175, March 1986) THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LL.\H 649 April ingly encouraged the Austrian community to GERMANY: About 1,200 believers gath- teach with greater effort and awareness, and ered in Stuttgart on 9 April at a special to live the Baha' i life. conference honouring the presence of the On 9, 10 and 17 April, a most festive Hand of the Cause of God Amatu' l-Bahci commemoration to mark the 75th anniver- Rul.iiyyih Khanum. Also present were sary of 'Abdu' l-Baha 's visit to Budapest member of the International Teaching Centre, was held in that city with Amatu ' l-Baha Counsellor Anneliese Bopp, Continental attending. (From telex received 18 April Counsellor Ursula Muhlschlegel, and from the National Spiritual Assembly of members of the National Spiritual Assembly. Austria) The conference, the largest national Baha'i PAKISTAN: The Hand of the Cause of God conference ever held in Germany, took place H. Collis Featherstone and Mrs. Featherstone during the festivities related to the 75th anni- were present for the joyful inauguration of a versary of the Master's visit to that country. National Teaching Conference in Hyderabad, The participation of the Hand of the Cause, Sind, Pakistan, on 15 April. Counsellor $abir in particular her address to the Baha' is in AJaqi, members of the National Spiritual the German language, stirred the entire Assembly, and three members of the Auxilcommunity. The candid, challenging eluci- iary Board also gathered with Baha' is from dations relating to "how to present the 36 different centres in Pakistan. The confer- Teachings of Baha'u'llah to the public"; ence participants reviewed the achievements "our Baha'i life"; and "our dedication to the of the first phase of the Six Year Plan and Cause", inspired the audience with new consulted on second-phase goals to be insights and the awareness that "enhy by announced at the forthcoming National Controops" needs to incorporate changes in the vention. (Telex received 18 April from current approach to presenting the Faith. conference participants) Nearly 900 friends and guests gathered on 10 April at the historic Kurhaus in Bad July Cannstatt, Stuttgart, for the gala event Cl-ONA: On 19 July, Amatu' l-Baha Rul)iyyih commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Khanum, accompanied by Mrs. Violette visit of 'Abdu'l-Baha to Germany .... In her Na~avani , left the Holy Land for a longceremonial address Amatu'l-Baha Rul)iyyih anticipated, private visit to China. Beginning Khanum lovingly recalled the time she spent in Canton, they travelled to Urumqi, Beijing, in Gern1any in 1936- 37 and the early Shanghai, Suzhou, Guilin, and finally refollowers of Baha'u ' llah in that land. Coun- turned to Canton. (From report received sellor Anneliese Bopp, Dr. Massoud Berdjis, October from the Hand of the Cause) and Werner Gollmer spoke of the life, teachings and travels of 'Abdu'l-Baha. Press August conferences were attended by major news- HONG KONG: Following her trip to China, papers and broadcast services. (From telex Amatu'l-Baha travelled to Hong Kong for received 12 April from the National five days where she held a press conference; Spirihrnl Assembly of Germany) a private interview with a Baha'i reporter AUSTRIA: On 16 April the Austrian from the South China Post newspaper; an community celebrated the 75th anniversary interview with a columnist for the Hong of 'Abdu'l-Baha 's visit to Vienna in the Kong Tattler; and a large meeting at which presence of Amatu ' l-Baha Rw:Uyyih Khanum, she addressed the Baha'is of both Hong Counsellors Ursula Miihlschlegel and Leo Kong and the adjacent New Territories, Niederreiter, and friends from many parts of stTessing the supreme importance of Austria and Europe. Rul.iiyyih Khanum lov- teaching the Faith. She also met with the 650 THE BAHA'I WORLD

devoted travelling teachers from Malaysia, visit was the official opening of the Baha'i of Chinese background, who were very school called School of the Nations, which actively engaged in the teaching work. At a occupies the entire second floor of a large luncheon given by the National Spiritual modern building. Although it had been in Assembly, at which Counsellor Bijan Farid, operation for the past few months , the and some Auxiliary Board members were friends took the opportunity of her visit to present, Amatu'l-Baha again spoke of the hold a reception in the School and officially urgency of teaching. and ceremoniously inaugurate the institu- The highlight of Amatu'l-Baha's visit to tion. Many prominent and influential Hong Kong was a large, formal banquet members of the public were among the the Spiritual Assembly gave in honour of invited guests. In her speech, Amatu'l-Baha the passage by the Hong Kong Legislative spoke of the important role of the teacher in Council of "the Baha'i Ordinance" to society, as stressed by the Baha' i teachings, incorporate the Faith by act of Parliament. and the great importance of moral and The guests of honour- in addition to spiritual education for children. She stressed Amatu'l-Baha Rul~iyyih Khanum- were the point that while the School is rnn by Mr. Desmond Lee Xu Tai, a member of the Baha' is, and spiritual and moral concepts Legislative Council who proposed the vote will be taught, the Baha'is will never force in favour of the Baha'is, other Hong Kong their beliefs on the children or try to change notables , and a number ofBaha' is, including the children' s religious convictions. In a member of the National Spiritual Assem- addition to the above events, there was a bly of Japan. The occasion opened with a well-attended press conference. (Based on a traditional Chinese ceremony, followed by report from Mrs. Na!shjavani) speeches by Amatu'l-Baha and two Council TAIWAN: Ever since the exciting news of members, music, and a memorable Chinese "entry by troops" in Taiwan, Amatu' l-Baha dinner. Amatu'l-Baha was presented with a had longed to see for herself what was beautiful painted porcelain plate, designed happening there. She therefore arranged a by a very well-known Chinese artist. After five-day visit to some of the new teaching dinner a videotape of the San Francisco areas. The Counsellors in Asia took advan- Peace Conference was shown on well- tage of her visit and called a three-day placed television sets throughout the dining conference for their Auxiliary Board memhall; it attracted much praise and admiration bers and assistants. Tluáee of the Counsellors from everyone, particularly the guests . particularly concerned with this area were (From report received October from the able to attend: Mr. Ruhu'llah Mumtazi, Hand of the Cause) Mr. Bijan Farid, and Mrs. Shantha Sundram. MACAU: During a three-day visit to At this conference Amatu'l-Baha strongly Macau, Amatu '1-Baha officially opened a emphasized that nothing must be allowed to newly acquired Baha'i Centre in one of slow down the dynamic spiritual impetus of the most densely populated areas. This joy- mass teaching. In Taipei, Amatu ' l-Baha was ous event was preceded in the traditional received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chinese way, by a lion dance, with its amus- Mr. Lien Chan. She presented him with an ing antics accompanied by a terrifying exquisite copy of the Hidden Words in explosion of firecrackers in the public street. Chinese and English, in a special box of silk Amatu ' l-Baha also met with all the Baha ' is brocade. He was very impressed by it and in a large meeting and spoke to them about astonished to hear that the book was prothe imp01iance of teaching in Macau and duced in Taiwan by the Baha'i Publishing the influence this would have on the Trust! She also presented him with a special neighbouring areas. The highlight of her copy of the Peace Statement, in Chinese. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 651 During the very cordial interview she to the Yasothon Hotel. After an evemng stressed that Baha'is are non-political and with the local Baha'is, Mr. Featherstone preobedient to their governments. When sented the Peace Statement to the Governor Amatu'l-Baha thanked hin1 for the generous with an information folder on the Baha'i time he had given her, he said, "It is I who Faith, both in the Thai language. During the must thank you to have honoured me with same day two talks were given; one at a this audience." Amatu'l-Baha had a long school and one to a gathering of Baha ' is. interview on a feature programme on the The following day, before returning to national radio, and two press conferences- Bangkok to take the flight to Vientiane, one in Taipei and one in a new teaching area Laos, they visited Kunu1gen Village and in the south, Taitung. She also had a long, were shown the skillful weaving of the local dynamic and enlightening meeting with the craftspeople and were showered with the National Spiritual Assembly. It had been loving hospitality of the community. (Based nine years since her previous visit to on report from the Hand of the Cause Taiwan; it rejoiced her heart to see so many received 2 October) old friends, particularly in the large meeting with the Taipei Baha'is. Among the happiest September events of this short visit were her meetings LAOS: Two Auxiliary Board members, with the friends-most of them new eight members of the Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is-in the communities of Keelung, Laos, members of the Local Spiritual Chiayi, and Taitung. These are all areas of Assembly of Vientiane, and other members mass teaching. In Keelung, prior to the of the Laos Baha ' i community made up the warm official greeting by the Mayor of the enthusiastic group which welcomed Hand of city, amid music and firecrackers, she was the Cause of God H. Collis Featherstone and received by the local Baha' is in their Centre Mrs. Featherstone with bouquets of red and given a delicious dinner provided by roses at the Vientiane airport on 1 Septemall the friends. In Taitung, the Magistrate of ber. After the first evening meeting with the county, who is also the Mayor, officially members of the Auxiliary Board and the welcomed her and highly praised the Spiritual Assembly, Mr. Featherstone began Baha'is in his county. The joy, the excite- a series of deepenings on many different ment, and the encouragement Amatu'l- topics to capacity audiences in the National Baha poured into these meetings created Cenháe, and Mrs. Featherstone spoke on the great hope and promise for the inlmediate vital role of women to the progress of the future of the Faith in Taiwan. (Based on Cause. Humorous stories from the widelyreport from the Hand of the Cause received tráavelled visitors punctuated each session October) and Mr. Featherstone often supplemented THAILAND: The Hand of the Cause H. his talks with illustrated charts, photographs, Collis Featherstone and Mrs. Featherstone brochures, photocopies of newspaper cutundertook a two-and-a-half-month-long trip tings, and underlined passages from Baha'i through Asia starting in August. They spent books. Four senior government officials of the first three weeks visiting schools, local Sikhottabhong Disháict expressed their open dignitaries, and Baha'is in refugee camps appreciation for the deepening session they and commtmities throughout Thai land. After attended, 111 which Mr. Featherstone their arrival in the country on 26 August, explained the Baha'i teachings on loyalty two days were spent meeting with the to government and the Faith's involvement Baha'is of Bangkok. From there they flew to in United Nations Non-Governmental Orga- Ubon Ratchathani , in southeast Thailand, nization activities through the Baha'i before travelling 100 kilometres by bus International Conummity. On 5 September 652 THE BA HA'I WORLD the Baha'is of Ban Nonsavanh (formerly and article about the Faith were published. Ban Hongsouphaph), a village eight kilome- During the same day a meeting was arTanged tráes east of Vientiane, stood to greet their with the Deputy-Governor of Chiang Mai special guests as they entered the local Province. He responded very favourab ly to Baha ' i Centre. Mr. Featherstone spoke about the presentation of an information folder on the principles of the Faith and the paramount the Faith and the Peace Statement, both in importance of teaching the Cause in order the Thai language, and remembered warmly to see these principles realized. He also his meeting with Amatu ' l-B aha Rul)iyyih emphasized the value of presenting the Khanum in the past. (From report received Peace Statement to government officials and 2 October from the Hand of the Cause) leaders of thought. Local officers attended this meeting and Mr. Featherstone again November explained the Baha ' i teachings on loyalty to CANADA: One hundred and thirty Baha ' is government and the Faith's involvement fro m all parts of the French-speaking provwith United Nations NGO activities. The ince of Quebec gathered at a conference for permission given for the Hand of the Cause unity, protection, and teaching. The conferand Mrs. Featherstone's visit to Ban Nonsa- ence was inspired by the Hand of the Cause vanh was of great significance as this area of God 'Ali-Mul)ammad Varqa .. . (From is usually firmly barred to foreigners. The Bahri 'i International News Service, No. 189, report concludes, "The incomparable husband December 1988) and wife teaching parhiers left Vientiane on JAPAN/KO REA/TAIWAN/MALAYSIA: The 8 September, garlanded by a group of Hand of the Cause Collis Featherstone and fri ends". (From report received on 23 Nov- Mrs. Featherstone returned to Austráaiia on ember from the Spiritual Assembly) 9 November after spending the last month of THA ILAND: Returning to Thailand on their visit to the Asian Baha'i communities, 10 September, the Featherstones were taken in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, to a refugee camp, the population of which and Malaysia. Throughout their busy was approximately 180,000 people, mainly sojourn in Korea, Mr. and Mrs. Featherstone Cambodians. They met with the Local presented talks at the National Teaching Sp iritua l Assembly and the Baha' i commu- Conference, were interviewed by the press, nity in this camp. At another meeting a short and presented the Peace Statement to the distance away, a translator fac ilitated for the Chancellor of Kyung Hee Univers ity. Khmer, Vietnamese, and Chinese speaking Mr. Featherstone met with Counsellor Kim audience. At a meeting on the fo llowing day, Myung Jung and members of the Auxi liary in a different camp, which had just fo1111ed Board, and when speaking at the many gathits Loca l Spiritual Assembly, 100 people erings with the Baha ' is, always stressed the gathered to listen to the visitors. At the importance of teaching. In Taiwan Mr. and opening of the I:Ia'.?iratu ' l-Quds in the after- Mrs. Featherstone spoke at firesides, particinoon the Hand of the Cause read a message pated in a conference at the university in from the Universal House of Justice. After Taichung, and uplifted the friends at many visiting the refugee camps the Featherstones gatherings before making a short visit to travelled to Chiang Mai in the north of Malaysia en route to their home in Australia. Thailand. As a result of a meeting with the (From report received 29 December from owner of a newspaper, a large photograph the Hand of the Cause) THE WORLD ORDER OF BAl-IA ' U' LLAH 653

Amatu 'l-Bahti Ruf;iyyih Khanum presents a copy of the Peace Statement to the Governor of Macau during her visit to that territory in April 1989.

The Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Ugo Giache1y with Mrs. Lilian Alai (left) and Tosi Maliatoa (right) during the National Convention held in Apia, Western Samoa, in April 1989. 654 THE BAHA'I WORLD

1989 February "Honoured by the presence of our much UNITED STATES: The Hand of the Cause loved and cherished Amatu'l-Baha RUJ:iiyyih of God William Sears lent brilliant support to Khanum, ... eight of the nine delegates and the "Vision to Victory" conferences spon- 131 believers participated, among them Harry sored by the National Spiritual Assembly. He Yim, the first Chinese believer of Macau; was among the distinguished speakers who Counsellor Bijan Farid; some early pioneers addressed the gathering held at Pasadena and guests from other countries. City College which attracted an audience of "The Convention was preceded by two approximately 2,000. (From The American highly significant events. One, the presenta- Bahti 'i, March) tion by Amatu'l-Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khanum of the Peace Statement to the Governor of April Macau. The other, a formal dinner.. .honouring SAMOA: The Hand of the Cause Dr. Ugo Amatu'l-Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khanum and the Giachery arrived in Western Samoa on inaugural election of the Spiritual Assembly 16 April to a moving, formal welcome by of Macau, attended by the Chief of the the Head of State, His Highness Malietoa Cabinet of the Governor of Macau, who was Tanumafili II. "His Highness walked a long the Governor's representative; officials of the distance to the plane while a very large Xinhua News Agency ... and other Governcrowd of arriving and departing passengers ment officials and community leaders. The and their friends watched ... . Accompanying Chief of the Cabinet expressed high regard His Highness was the acting Prime Minister, for the Faith and support for our ideals and the Minister of Justice, who also extended a work. wa1m welcome to Dr. Giachery and placed a "We are confident that the fo1mation of garland of flowers upon him. the first ... Assembly of the Baha'is of Macau "Dr. Giachery was immediately ushered has infused a new spirit into the entire to the royal limousine which was awaiting community and lent greater impetus to the him. Scores of Balla' is lined the road of exit new challenges and opportunities that face from the VIP area waving ... as the limousine us at the present time, particularly in the passed slowly by." The Malietoa expressed field of teaching." (Report received from the deep gratitude for the honour bestowed on Convention 1 May) him and the people of Samoa by the visit of UNITED STATES: The Hand of the Cause Dr. Giachery, and the acting Prime Minister of God William Sears participated in the referred to the occasion as touching and 80th annual Convention of the National unforgettable. (From report received through Spiritual Assembly of the United States, Continental Board of Counsellors 18 April) sharing with his "unfailing spirit" remem- MACAU: Amatu '1-Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khamun brances of the exemplary lives of service of represented the Universal House of Justice on former member of the Universal House of the occasion of the formation of the first Justice Mr. H. Borrah Kavelin, and the late Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Macau. Mrs. Edna M. True. (From report received Three representatives of the "mother" 30 April from the National Assembly) Assembly of Hong Kong, Steven Townsend, GERMANY: This year's National Conven- Meena Datwani Tsui, and Choy Choong tion was emiched by the participation of the Yew also participated, as did a representa- Hand of the Cause 'Ali Akbar Furutan, who tive of the National Assembly of Australia, spoke one evening about the needs of the Phillip Hinton; of Japan, Abbas Katirai; and Fund. (From rep01i received 2 May from the of Malaysia, Lilly Ong. National Spiritual Assembly) THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 655 CANADA: The atmosphere of the Kong and back to Macau. During this sec- Canadian National Convention was lifted by ond visit to Macau, Amatu'l-Baha Rul:iiyyih the presence and participation of the Hands Khanum was very active, meeting with the of the Cause Dr. 'Ali Mul:iammad Varqa, new Spiritual Assembly and with other William Sears, and John A. Robarts. (From believers . While in Macau she also had the report received 4 May from the Convention) opportunity to "modestly participate a few times in the mass teaching activities which May/June have been so successful in Macau. This suc- CHINA/MONGOLIA/HONG KoNGIMACAU : cess is largely due to the hard-working task Following the Convention m Macau, force teams' effo1is." The Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khanum made an also met twice with the Spiritual Assembly historic trip to mainland China, where she of Hong Kong to discuss plans for their was met with great comiesy. In Beijing, teaching work. (From reports from the Hand Amatu' l-Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khanum showed of the Cause of God received 15 June and slides from her "Green Light Expedition" to 4 July) 27 prominent Chinese guests. One of these UN ITED STATES: The following are distinguished persons invited her to his home excerpts from a book review of Run to Glory! for lunch, and showed sincere friendliness by the Hand of the Cause of God William towards her. Beginning 15 May, she spent Sears, recently published by Naturegraph: one week in Ulaan Baatar, capital of the "The newest book from the gifted pen of the People 's Republic of Mongolia. She had Hand of tl1e Cause... is a heartwam1ing and been invited to give lectures about her travels hilarious adventure tale filled with drama, and about world peace to students of English suspense, and excitement. While it is not a at a university. "Mongolians are a singularly book that makes specific reference to the fine, very in1pressive, talented and upright, Baha'i Faith, it is filled with the spirit of the distinguished people'', she said. On 22 May, revelation." The book draws upon some of Amatu'l-Baha Rul:iiyyih Khanum travelled to Mr. Sears ' own background and childhood Shanghai where she stayed for five nights. experiences. "This is a book to be read aloud There, she dined in the home of the Dean of and enjoyed by the whole family ... ". the Department of Foreign Languages of a AUSTRALIA: The Hand of the Cause of prominent university. While in Shanghai she God Collis Featherstone and Mrs. Madge also attended a concert where one of China's Featherstone attended the first intensive best-known artists perfo1med. After the teaching institute ever held for Aboriginal concert the Hand of the Cause met the singer, and Islander people in Ausháalia. There were whom she was happy to meet again during regularly scheduled talks and activities , with another part of her journey. From Shanghai, the indigenous friends taking an active part Amatu'l-Baha Rul;iyyih Khanum visited as a and asking many questions. Altogether tourist the beautiful lake city of Hangzhou 55 people attended the institute, of whom for three nights, then spent four nights in 25 were of Aboriginal and Islander descent, Xi'an. On 3 June she returned to Beijing, and while the remainder included Indians , on 4 June serious troubles began in that city. Persians, and Maoris, as well as other However, Amatu'l-Baha Rul:iiyyih Khanum Australians. "The friends left with the desire did not experience any difficulties. On 6 June for more such gatherings." (From report the Hand of the Cause flew to Dalian, where from the National Spiritual Assembly) she again showed the slides of her "Green Light Expedition" and met with a number of July prominent people of the area. She stayed in WORLD CENTRE: Deeply grieved loss val- Dalian until 14 June, then flew to Hong iant, indefatigable, dearly loved distinguished 656 THE BAHA ' I WORLD Hand Cause Dr. Ugo Giachery. His passing recognition his unique position, splendid serin course historic visit Samoa adds fresh vices. (Message from the Universal House of laurels to crown already won during Justice to all National Assemblies 7 July) ministry beloved Guardian, and reinforces WESTERN SAMOA: The Hand of the spiritual distinction vast Pacific region, Cause of God Dr. Ugo Giachery was laid to already blessed by inte1ment four other rest at noon on Wednesday 5 July in Tiapap- Hands. His magnificent accomplishments as ata, Apia, Western Samoa, at a beautiful Member at Large of International Baha'i spot overlooking the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar and Council in connection raising superstructure the blue Pacific Ocean. His interment Shrine of the Bab, which prompted Guardian followed a deeply moving service at the to name one of the doors of that noble edifice Ancillary Building near the House of after him, his painstaking efforts in promoting Worship . The Head of State of Samoa, His on the local, national and international levels, Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, attended paramount interests of the Faith, his notable the funeral services, as did the Prime Minisachievement in establishment Italo-Swiss ter, four Ministers of Cabinet, and many National Spiritual Assembly on eve launch- other non-Baha'i dignitaries. Also present ing Ten Year Crusade, his outstanding were four Counsellors, five Auxiliary Board qualities of zeal, fidelity, dete1mination and members, representatives of six national perseverance, which characterized imperish- communities of the Pacific, and more than able record his arduous labours-all combine 200 believers from many parts of Samoa. to richly adorn annals Faith over periods his The Samoan Baha'i community exerted superb, assiduous exertions , and undoubtedly every effort to ensure that the beauty, digassure him bountiful reward in Kingdom on nity and high quality of the service were High. Advise all National Spiritual Assem- befitting of the exalted rank of the dearly blies hold befitting memorials gatherings his loved Hand of the Cause of God. Counsellor name, particularly in Mashriqu'l-Adhkars in Suhayl Ala'i, in an eloquent and loving

Th e Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featherstone and Mrs. Madge Featherstone with friends at the Aboriginal Baha 'i Institute in Forsayth, Australia. June 1989. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U ' LLAH 657 eulogy, spoke of Dr. Giachery's unique believers. During the conference a banquet relationship with the growth of the Faith in was offered to local notables, which was Samoa. Prayers were read in Italian, Persian, attended by the Vice-Governor, the Mayor, English, Maori, Tongan, Fijian, and Samoan, and others. On another occasion the Goverand the Temple choir provided inspiring nor visited RuJ:iiyyih Khanum, welcoming music. (From report received July from the her wa1mly and praising the Baha'is . The National Spiritual Assembly of Samoa) visit to a Baha' i conference in Cagayan de UNITED STATES: The Hand of the Cause Oro, Mindanao, was equally successful. of God William Sears and Mrs. Marguerite Both the Governor of the State and the Sears have recorded a story about the pets Mayor of the City received the Hand of the in their lives, along with many humorous Cause very kindly, and a large press conferaccounts of their experiences serving the ence was held with 27 journalists and Faith. Read by Mr. and Mrs. Sears, this set publishers attending. This meeting lasted of four cassette tapes is a "tribute to all of tluáee hours and included an exceptionally the four-legged, feathered, and finned friendly discussion of the Faith. RuJ:iiyyih friends of the Baha' i world-those 'servants Khanum visited Kisolon village 111 of the servants ' who have brought love, Mindanao, whose Baha'i Vice-Mayor warn1th, and enthusiasm into the lives of received her officially in the Municipal pioneers and Baha 'is eve1y where." The set Offices. This reception was followed by a of four tapes, called "Tokoloshe! '', is being meeting, entertainment and lunch in the distributed by the Hawaiian Baha'i National small, beautiful local Baha'i Centre in Library. (From Saha 'i International News Kisolon. Following these three days in Service, No. 204, 31 July 1989) Mindanao, Rul:iiyyih Khanum visited Cebu PHILIPPIN ES: Hand of the Cause Amatu'l- City for three days, where the third Baha'i Baha Ru l:iiyyih Khanum made a 33-day visit conference was held. In Cebu City she was to the Philippines as part of her extended trip cordially received by the Governor of the to the Far East. The tour, which began on State, as well as by the young Mayor of 8 July, was organized by the National Cebu City who accepted the courtesy call in Spiritual Assembly, in consultation with spite of his obvious preoccupation and Counsellor Vicente Samaniego. The itiner- exhaustion. The Baha'is felt sony for the ary "reached saturation point in exploiting Mayor and prayed for him during their every single possibility, whether media, conference. The Hand of the Cause inadve1tmeetings with highest officials, lectures at ently mentioned this in her press conference universities, or the five Baha' i Regional and it was reported in the newspapers, along Conferences". Of these five conferences, with other favourable articles on the Faith. attended by over 1,000 believers from The fourth Baha'i conference was held in almost 100 localities, the first, in San Jose, Baguio, in the mountains of the Philippines . Mindoro, was the most dramatic. There, In spite of the monsoon season, and a hmripolice and military personnel on motorcy- cane that had preceded her anival, the visit cles escorted the Hand of the Cause from the by Ru!Jiyyih Khanum to this area was happy airpmt, where she had been met by about and eventful. Again she met the Governor, 100 Baha'is , directly to the office of the the Mayor, the Vice-Mayor, and other offi- Mayor of San Jose. RuJ:iiyyih Khanum was cials. A small but friendly press conference introduced to the Mayor who along with the produced good publicity for the Faith ... . Vice-Mayor, and a crowd of believers and As Manila is the pivotal airport city in the bystanders received her most cordially. Philippines, Rul_iiyyih Khanum spent about Some hill tribesmen attended the Regional two weeks in the capital. On 9 July, the day Conference in Mindoro, as did many local after her anival in the country, she was one 658 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Visit by the Hand of the Cause of God H. Collis Feath erstone and his wife to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in August 1989.

of the key speakers at the Philippine World the Featherstones paid a courtesy call on Peace Congress . Her talk on "Peace and Chow Pramoolpol, President of the Private Ecology" was well received. In both Manila School Teachers' Association of Thailand and Baguio, the Hand of the Cause gave a and member of the International Task Force number of talks at various promine.nt on Literacy. This visit initiated efforts by women's societies and many universities. Baha'is to co-operate with other non-govern- Although her subject was usually "Peace'', mental organizations in Thailand to fulfil inevitably it was possible to give highlights goals set for the United Nations' Internaof the Baha ' i Faith and its teachings. In tional Year of Literacy. Mr. Featherstone Manila, a very important meeting was held also addressed the Baha'i friends who had with the Chief Justice of the Philippines, gathered for a special meeting at the Baha ' i Marcello Fernan, who received Rul~iyyih Centre. "We are very grateful and long to Khanum in his chambers. Another important welcome them once again." (From report visit was with the Speaker of the Senate, received 17 August from the Spiritual Jovito Salonga, who received the Hand of Assembly of Thailand) the Cause in his office in the Senate building. VIETNAM: On 17 August, the Hand of the (From reports received 16 and 21 August from Cause of God H. Collis Featherstone and the Hand of the Cause and received 14 August Mrs. Featherstone flew to Ho Chi Minh City from the Spiritual Assembly of Macau) for a historic series of meetings with the Baha'is there. No Baha'is from the West August have been able to visit Vietnam for many THAILAND: The Hand of the Cause of God years , and the friends of that country were H. Collis Featherstone, and Mrs. Madge filled with joy by the contact. About Featherstone, visited the Baha'i community 50 Baha'is from Ho Chi Minh City and other of Thai land 15- 16 August. With Thailand's provinces gathered enthusiastically each day Spiritual Assembly member Siriporn Pillay, to hear the inspiring talks by the Hand of the THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA ' U'LLAH 659

Cause. Mr. Featherstone shared news of dedication to the Cause of the Blessed progress of the Faith around the world, and Beauty, and especially to his beloved Shoghi presented the Baha'is of Vietnam with Effendi. (From report received 18 Septemcopies of letters from United Nations' ber from the National Spiritual Assembly) offices officially addressed to the Baha'i TAIWAN: The Hand of the Cause of God International Community. He showed them Amatu ' l-Baha RuJ:iiyyih Khanum made a photographs of the plans for the Arc on five-week-long tour of Taiwan, after her Mount Ca1mel, and extended to them the love arrival there on 9 August from the of the Universal House of Justice. Some of Philippines. During her stay she travelled the Baha'is in Vietnam are school teachers, about 2,000 kilometres, driving around the and Mr. Featherstone talked with them about entire island to visit key centres of intensive the help they could give with plans for the Baha' i teaching activity. The Hand of the United Nations International Year of Liter- Cause spent an average of three nights in acy in 1990. The Hand of the Cause also each of six cities on Taiwan: Taichung, read parts of the Baha' i pamphlet entitled Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taitung, Chiai, and "Disarmament and Peace", and spoke about Hualien. Meetings were also held in Tsaotun the Lesser Peace to come in the future . The and Keelung; and in local Baha' i Cenháes in Baha' is of Vietnam were deeply grateful for these cities she met many new Baha ' is , the guidance and encouragement given them some of whom had only been Baha ' is for a by the Hand of the Cause. The Featherstones few weeks, or a few days, or even a few stayed in Ho Chi Mihn City for one week, hours! In each of the six cities she visited, leaving on 25 August. (From report received as well as in the capital city of Taipei , 5 September from the Hand of the Cause) Rul)iyyih Khanum was cordially received UNITED KINGDOM: The Hand of the by the Mayors in their offices. She also Cause of God 'Ali-Akbar Funitan visited the called upon a number of high Government Baha'i community of the United Kingdom officials, each of whom she presented with a during the month of August. He spoke first beautiful Chinese-English edition of the at the "Peace Moves ' 89" youth conference, Hidden Words and a Chinese edition of the held in Sheffield from 4- 8 August, then met Peace Statement. Of her meetings, perhaps with Baha ' is across the country. Mr. Funitan the most important were the interviews the talked with hundreds of the friends during Hand of the Cause had with the Minister of separate meetings in London, Liverpool, and the Interior for Taiwan, and with the Secretary- Edinburgh. He addressed two vital subjects: General of the National House of Representa- I:Iuququ'llah, and the privilege and obliga- tives . Rul:iiyyih Khanum also held six press tion of every Baha ' i to teach the Faith. "TI1is conferences during her stay, which resulted he did with so much love, encouragement, in fa vourable publicity for the Faith. Upon and his unique brand of humour.... His words her arrival in Taipei, a special meeting was penetrated our hearts and moved us to begin held for the Hand of the Cause with about the process of personal transfo1mation in 400 Baha'is, including 35 háavelling teachers order that we may fulfil the vision of the from abroad who were very enthusiastic Universal House of Justice of us as the spiri- about their teaching experiences in Taiwan. tual conquerors of this blessed continent." At the end of her visit a similar meeting took Mr. Funitan also attended the national memo- place, as well as a gathering attended by rial service for the late Hand of the Cause, most of Taiwan 's pioneers. Taiwan has a Dr. Ugo Giachery, held in Manchester on large native háibal population on the east 20 August. He shared some of his personal coast of the count1y near Taitung. Baha' i memories of Dr. Giachery, illustrating pioneers live in the village of the Beinan Dr. Giache1y 's spirit of devotion and total háibe, and Amatu'l-Baha Rul:iiyyih Khanum 660 TH E BAHA'f WORLD spoke with these people in their community Green Lake Baha'i Conference, held in hall. She told them of the great importance Green Lake, Wisconsin, from 15-17 Septhe Baha ' i Faith places on the preservation tember 1989. On a stage set to look like a of cultural identity for minority peoples, and living room to which all had been invited, of how a list of all tribes represented in Mr. Sears shared stories about teaching and the Faith is carefully kept at the Baha'i about early believers. The theme of the World Centre. On another occasion, Rul~iyyih conference was "Coming of Age: Rights of Khanum met three deaf Baha'is during an Passage". On the final day of the gathering, outdoor meeting. She invited them, with an Mr. Sears gave an address citing the prominterpreter in sign language, to come to the ises of victory given by the Central Figures hotel in which she was staying and they all of the Baha'i Faith. (From Bahri 'i fnternaspent a happy evening together. In Tainan, tional News Service, 30 September) the Hand of the Cause visited and prayed at the graves of Mr. and Mrs . Suleimani, long- October standing and devoted pioneers to Taiwan. CH INA : On 16 October, the Hand of the Each evening, meetings were held in their Cause of God Amatu'l-Baha Ru~iyyih home which is now a Baha'i Centre. Toward Kllanum ended a 17-day visit to China-her the end of her visit, Rul:llyyih Khanum fourth journey to this country. During this attended the two-day Baha' i Summer School tour, she travelled with Native American in Taiwan. Counsellor Bijan Farid was Baha 'i Kevin Locke and his daughter who present, as were about 140 participants of were in China to present a series of perforwhom about 53 were new Baha'is. In all, mances of traditional Native American hoop Amatu'l-Baha Ru~iyyih Khanurn met about dances. Ru l~iyyih Khanum flew first to 1,700 Baha'is during her tour of Taiwan, Chongqing, where the Lockes were schedwith almost 100 new believers being en- uled to dance for five consecutive nights. rolled on the joyous occasions of her meetings. The Hand of the Cause was received by the (From reports rece ived 21 and 29 September Vice-Mayor, who welcomed her to the city from the Hand of the Cause) on behalf of its 14,000,000 inhabitants. From Chongqing, Ru~iyy ih Khanum September travelled to Chengdu, then flew to Guiyang, HONG KONG : Following her visit to in Guizhou Province, where she spent seven Taiwan, Amatu ' l-Baha Ru~iyyih Khanum nights. Upon her arrival at the airport for went to Hong Kong, where she spent two Guiyang, situated 30 kilometres from the weeks . During her visit there she met with city, she was met by two officials of the the Spiritual Assembly of Hong Kong and city's Cultural Bureau. Guizhou Province is was the guest of honour at a large and happy largely a tribal area, and the Hand of the meeting with the local believers . She visited Cause was taken by officials of the Cultural a number of centres in the New Territories, Bureau to visit an ethnic museum, a batik meeting Local Assembly members and many factory, a dance studio, and an art institute. new believers. In Hong Kong, She had two She was also taken on an all-day excursion radio interviews, and shared the platform to a town where Buyi and Miao tribal people with the Head of the Office of the United live. The Lockes perfo1med their hoop Nations High Commissioner for Refugees dances for the tribal people, who, in turn, during a celebration of International Day performed their traditional dances for the of Peace. (From reports received 21 and visitors. A highlight of R1i~iyyi h Khanum ' s 29 September from the Hand of the Cause) visit to Guiyang was a gathering of about UN ITED STATES: The Hand of the Cause 25 prominent people who went to meet her William Sears was the special guest at the at her hotel. Among those present were the THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA°U 'LLA l-I 661 Chief of the Art Section of Guiyang's Cul- of the Union of Philosophy and Social tural Bureau; the Manager of the Society of Science of Guizhou Province; the Director Calligraphers and Chinese Traditional Paint- of Guizhou ' s Cultural Bureau and Chairman ers of Guizhou; the Chief of the Academy of of the Board for Arts Planning in Guizhou; Traditional Chinese Paintings and Research and a member of the Council of the Chinese of Old Calligraphy; the Deputy Director of Traditional Opera Society. The meeting was the Society of Education, Department of the ve1y cordial. On leaving China, the Hand of Guizhou Provincial Museum; a member of the Cause returned to Macau before continuthe Council of the Artists' Association of ing on to Hong Kong on her return journey China ; the Director of the Guiyang Foreign to the Holy Land. (From repo1t received Affairs Office; the Executive Vice-Chairman 22 October from the Hand of the Cause)

1990 January the road as they came toward her car. Soon NEW ZEALAND: The Hand of the Cause she and her company were engulfed by the H . Collis Featherstone and Mrs. Madge friends. Singing, dancing and embracing Featherstone attended the Pacific Baha'i her, they had gathered from many distant You th Conference in Auckland. Addressing communities on the third day of a special the Conference, Mr. Featherstone sháessed "campaign" to welcome Rt'.11:Jiyyih Khanum, the importance of teaching. Twenty-three named by them, "Chi-I-Shi" (the Morning youth arose to volunteer a year of service to Star). In the mornings, the Hand of the the Faith and more than 60 offered to háavel Cause joined the Toba friends under the and teach. (From report dated 4 January shade of the trees to study the prayers from a from the Hand of the Cause) newly published translation into the Toba TONGA/FIJI: After the Pacific Baha ' i language of the "Words of God", which they Youth Conference in New Zealand, Mr. and learned by heart. At these meetings with Mrs. Featherstone flew to Tonga and Fiji Baha'is and their friends, eight souls where they both addressed the believers, tell- embraced the Cause of Baha'u ' llah. In the ing them of the greatness of Baha'u ' llah 's evening the meetings were large gatherings Revelation and the importance of this of 150- 200 people and lasted well beyond present time . They told of the urgency of the midnight. Amatu'l-B aha spoke to them on teaching work and shared with the friends many subj ects , including their place in the the exciting news of the large-scale emol- Faith, future civilization, women, children ment now taking place in a number of and youth, Baha'i Centres, and sociolocations around the world. (From report economic development. An exchange of dated 4 January from the Hand of the Cause) gifts expressed the love to and from the Toba people. Praying, singing and tribal Febr uary dancing linked together the hearts of the ARGENTINA: As a prelude to her partici- Toba Baha ' is, their friends and Amatu ' lpation in the conference commemorating Baha Rul~i yyih Khanum. (From report the 50th anniversary of the passing of her through the International Teaching Cenháe martyr-mother, May Bolles Maxwell, received 27 February) Amatu ' l-Baha Rul_iiyyih Khanum visited the WORLD CENTRE: DEEPLY GRIEVED Toba communities in Chaco, Argentina, ANNOUNCE PASSING STAUNCH TIRELESS PRO- from 17- 20 February. Upon her arrival in MOTER FAITH HAND CAUSE GOD JALAL KHAZEH. Camp Medina, Toba Indian Baha' is choked HIS STRENUOUS ENDEAVOU RS CRA DLE FAITH 662 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Amatu 'l-Bahil Ruhiyyih Khanum meeting Argentina's President, Dr. Carlos Menem, during the 'Uniting the Americas' conference. 26 February 1990. HOLY LAND LATIN AMERICA AND WORLDWfDE Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly TRAVELS AFTER PASSING BELOVED GUARDIAN of Canada, offered remarks at the service, SET SHINING EXAMPLE OF UNSHAKEABLE which was attended by approximately 200 to DEDICATION AND COURAGE, OF UNDEVIATING 250 people. Following the grave-side LOY AL TY AND PERSEVERANCE. IMPERISHABLE service many friends remained to greet RECORD HIS STERLING SERVICES AS GIFTED Mr. K.Mzeh's daughter, Nura, and other TEACHER DEFENDER CAUSE NEVER TO BE members of the family. On the same evening FORGOTI'EN. HIS NOBLE SPIRIT NOW ABHA at 8:00 P.M. a memorial service for KINDGOM WILL UNDOUBTEDLY INTERCEDE Mr. Khazeh was held in a large auditorium BEHALF PERSIAN BAHA'I COMMUN ITY WHOSE at the Ontario Science Centre attended by VITAL INTERESTS HE SERVED WITH SUCH HIGH some 500 people. Music, both performed DISTINCTION OVER SEVERAL DECADES. FER- and recorded, was played throughout the VENTLY PRAYING HOLY SHRINES FOR PROGRESS memorial service. Also heard were taped HIS ILLUMINED SOUL IN REALMS ON HIGH. excerpts from two speeches given by the ADVISE FRJ.ENDS EVERYWHERE HOLD BEFITTING Hand of the Cause which accompanied a MEMORJAL GATHERINGS HIS HONOUR PARTICU- series of slides showing Mr. Khazeh at LARLY ALL HOUSES OF WORSH IP. (Cable from different times during his later life. (From the Universal House of Justice to all National report received 11 March from the National Spiritual Assemblies 25 February 1990) Spiritual Assembly) CANADA: The Hand of the Cause of God Jalal Khazeh passed away in Toronto, March Ontario, on 21 February. His funeral and AUSTRIA: The Hand of the Cause of God subsequent interment were held at 1:00 P.M. 'Ali-Akbar Furutan travelled to Austria from on 27 February in Toronto. Prayers were 7-16 March to attend a joint meeting of recited in both French and English and the National Spiritual Assembly and its chanted in Persian. Dr. Hossain Danesh, Teaching Committees for Eastern Europe. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U ' LLAH 663 Detailed consultation was held on teaching, Russia.'" Mr. Fm-Utan and his group visited and everyone was very enthusiastic. Eleven Ashqabad, Tashkent, Dushanbe, Samarkand, youth who had recently accepted the Faith Mary, Moscow, Leningrad, and Murmansk. in Eastern Europe made a special trip to A total of 15 days were spent in Ashqabad, Vienna to be with Mr. Funitan. The Hand of where 25 meetings were held with the the Cause of God met with them twice, and a friends, including three especially for youth. young lady who had accompanied them The Minister of Religious Affairs attended from Hungary accepted the Faith. On one meeting. Mr. Furutan also visited the 10 March, Mr. Funitan spoke to 250 friends site of the Mashriqu 'l-Adhkar several times, gathered from all over Austria about the and said prayers at the resting place of the importance of teaching, especially at this first martyrs of Ashqabad, Nabil-i-Akbar, crucial time. (From report received 30 April Aqa Shaykh MulJanunad-' Ali, Jinab-ifrom the Hand of the Cause) Gulpaygani and others. In Tashkent, the Hand of the Cause visited two elderly Baha'i March/April women and their non-Baha'i families. SOVIET UNION: On 16 March the Hand Family members accepted literature about of the Cause 'Ali-Akbar Funitan left Austria the Faith from him, promising to study it. In to visit the Baha'is in the Soviet Union. Dushanbe from 27- 30 March, Mr. Furutan Before his departure, Mr. Funitan said, "My met with about 25 Baha 'is and gave a lecture heartfelt wish for many years has been that in Persian on psychology at the University once again my eyes might behold the vast of Dushanbe. About 400 people heard rich land of Russia, especially because in him explain the principles of the Faith. On 1930 I received a letter from the beloved 30 March the Hand of the Cause went to Guardian which he penned himself, stating Samarkand, where he remained until the the following: 'It is my hope that you will, in first day of April. The friends in this historic the future, be able to render great services in city, who are mostly from very old Baha'i

Th e Hand of th e Caus e Mr. 'Ali-Akbar Funitan is shown in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Soviet Union, visiting with members of the Mamedoff amily in March 1990. 664 TH E BAHA'I WORLD families, are very spiritual and dedicated 25th, ten teachers were invited to hear about to Baha'u' llah. There are about 25 of them. the Baha' i teachings on education. In Two youth from Baku went to visit Murmansk on the 26th, an announcement on Mr. Funitan. He was able to spend a long television news welcomed "a great personaltime with them and explain the teachings in ity of the Baha' i Faith, 'Ali-Akbar Furutan", detail. In Moscow on 19 April, Mr. Funitan and suggested the viewers watch for an was interviewed by an official of Soviet interview at a later date. The next day, Television for a half-hour programme about Murmansk television and Radio sent reportthe Baha' i Faith. Also in Moscow, the ers to interview the Hand of the Cause, and directors of the Progress Publishing House all discussion was about the Faith. offered to translate and publish Mr. Furutan's Mr. Furutan was invited to address the book Moth ers, Fathers and Children into Murmansk Institute of Pedagogy, the school Russian and Asiatic languages. Mr. Furutan of Marxist-Leninist studies on 28 April. wanted to visit Moscow University, where Faculty members and trainee teachers were he had studied in his youth . The student who enabled to hear about Baha'i education for acted as his host and guide liked him so more than one and a half hours. On the much he suggested that he attend a seminar Ninth Day of Ric;lvan, he attended a happy to be held at the Institute of Psychology and gathering held in Moscow which included a Pedagogy. Mr. Funitan was prepared to see performance by a prize-winning cellist. about 30 people but found over 300 students Mr. Funitan and his patty arrived in Vienna gathered. He addressed the group on the on 30 April, and on 1 May about 200 friends relationship of psychology to religion from a from all over Austria met for a happy scientific point of view. In addition he was reunion with him before his return to the able to speak for some 20 minutes directly Holy Land. (From reports received on the Faith. A woman in the audience 30 April and 7 May from the Hand of the whose particular interest was the connection Cause) of science and religion asked to interview him later in order to write an article for a May journal. The highlight of his visit was the CANADA / UNITED STATES / AUSTRALIA: election of the Local Spiritual Assembly of The Hands of the Cause of God Dr. 'Ali- Moscow in the presence of 30 friends. The Mu~ammad Varqa, William Sears and H. following message was telephoned to the Collis Featherstone attended the National National Spiritual Assembly of Germany on Conventions of Canada, the United States 24 April and relayed to the Universal House and Australia, respectively. of Justice by electronic mail: "After 60 years, the Local Spiritual Assembly of August/September Moscow has been reformed in the presence SPAIN: The Hand of the Cause of God of the Hand of the Cause of God ' Ali-Akbar Amatu' l-Baha Rul:iiyyih Khanum left the FurUtan .. ..the Local Spiritual Assembly was Holy Land at the end of August for a trip honoured to meet with the Hand of the which included attendance at two confer- Cause and Counsellor Polin Rafat. Heavy ences. The first was a women' s conference agenda and great responsibilities await us. held in Madrid, Spain, from 30 August to Yours in His service, the Local Spiritual 3 September. Counsellor Agnes Ghaznavi Assembly of the Baha ' is of Moscow." On attended as did over 400 Baha' is from 24 April in Leningrad, Mr. Funitan spoke to 20 countries. By the end of the conference, 36 members of the Society for the Advance- five people had declared their belief in ment of Peace. The audience seemed most Baha' u' llah. The second conference took interested and asked many questions . On the place from 7- 9 September in Bastia, THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA' U'L LAH 665

Corsica, and welcomed about 500 attendants Saturday morning, 29 September 1990, in from 15 countries. Counsellors Agnes Ghaznavi Kathmandu, Nepal. At the time of his passand Louis Henuzet were present. In Bastia ing, Mr. Featherstone was on an extensive the large and handsome Municipal Theatre trip he had undertaken on behalf of the was placed at the disposal of the Baha' is. Faith. He had left his home in Australia During the three evenings of the conference, on 14 September, accompanied by his wife, cultural entertainment was well attended by Mrs. Madge Featherstone. They were to many visitors. During the conference three attend a youth conference in Lahore, people embraced the Faith. Publicity for the Pakistan, spending a few days in New Delhi, Faith was unprecedented in both countries. Rawalpindi and Karachi en route. Their plan In Spain, Amatu' l-Baha Rul:iiyyih Khanum had been to visit Baha'i communities in was received by the Deputy Governor of the Bangladesh and Malaysia on their way back Province of Madrid, Signore Vincente Tudor, to Australia, where they were due to arrive for a most cordial interview. In Corsica, the in mid-November. Mr. Featherstone was Mayor of Bastia, who is also the Corsican buried in a peaceful spot overlooking rice member of the French Parliament, gave a fields and surrounded by mountains in reception at the municipality for the Baha'i northeast Kathmandu. Mrs. Featherstone, delegation to the conference. (From reports their son, three daughters and two sons-inreceived 10 September from the National Wo- law were able to attend the funeral, as were men's Committee of Spain and an individual) representatives of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Australia, India, Nepal, and September Thailand, and more than 50 Nepalese Baha'is. WORLD CENTRE: DEEPLY GRIEVED AN- For the first time media- both English and NOUNCE PASSING VALIANT HAND CAUSE GOD Nepalese newspapers- published a1ticles on COLLIS FEATHERSTONE WH ILE VISITING KATH- the Faith in relation to the passing and MAN DU, NEPAL COURSE EXTENSIVE JOURNEY funeral of the Hand of the Cause of God. AS IA. HIS NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS (From Baha 'i International New Service, STAUNCH, FEARLESS DEFENDER COVENANT, No. 232, 31 September 1990) HIS UNCEASING COM MITMENT PROPAGATION ASIA: During the last week of September, CAUSE ALL PARTS WORLD, ESPECIALLY PACIFIC the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu 'l-Baha REG ION, HI S UNREM ITTING PERSEVERANCE RuJ:iiyyih Khanum visited Sakhalin Island in FOSTERING ESTABLISHMENT LOCAL, NATIONAL the Soviet Union as part of an extensive INSTITUTIO S ADMINISTRA T!VE ORDER, HIS journey through Asia. During the first week EXEMPLARY DEVOTION TO WRITINGS FAITH, of October she visited Tibet. From Tibet, HIS OUTSTANDING PERSONAL QUALITIES UN- Amatu 'l-Baha travelled to Beijing, China, SWERV ING LOY AL TY, ENTHUSIASM, ZEAL AND then went on to Dalian, in the northeastern DEDICATION, DISTINGU ISH HIS MAN IFOLD SER- region, to visit the Baha'is there. Next she VICES THROUGHOUT MANY DECADES. OFFERING went to Tianjin and gave a lecture at Nankai PRAYERS HOLY SHR INES BOUNTIFUL REWARD University, where both Martha Root and HIS RAD IANT SOUL ABHA KING DOM. ADVISE Agnes Alexander had spoken. After these FRIENDS EVERYWH ERE HOLD BEFITTING MEMO- visits, RuJ:iiyyih Khanum spent four days in RIAL GATl-IERINGS, PARTICULARLY IN MASHRJQU'L- Hainan, the southernmost province of China. ADH KAR, RECOGN ITION HIS MAGNIFICENT She went to both ends of Hainan Island and, ACH IEVEMENTS. (Message from the Universal as the Governor himself was away at the House of Justice to all National Spiritual time, she established cordial relations with Assemblies) the Deputy Governor, who gave a dinner in N EPAL: The Hand of the Cause of God her honour. Travelling n01th again, she spent H. Collis Featherstone passed away on three days in Guangzhou (Canton) where 666 THE BAHA'I WORLD

she held continuous meetings for two nights buildings of the Arc will play in the process with the believers who, she found, are of the maturation of institutions, the intene- "famly rooted in the Faith and eager and latedness of the various agencies at the devoted". Leaving mainland China, Amatu'l- Baha'i World Centre, and the urgency of Baha held meetings with the Spiritual increasing the number of adherents of the Assemblies of both Macau and Hong Kong, Faith. Counsellor Fred Schechter travelled to as well as with various local Baha'i comnm- several of the conununities to help welcome nities. She had radio and press interviews, and introduce the Hand of the Cause of God. and attended a large banquet in Hong Kong (From report received 17 December from the which was held to celebrate the Birthday of National Spiritual Assembly) Baha' u'llah on 12 November. (From report On 22 November, Dr. Varqa went from received 14 November from the Hand of the southern California to Tucson, Arizona, Cause) where he joined the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears at the third annual Desert November Rose Baha'i School. The School was UN ITED STATES: The Hand of the Cause sponsored by the Local Spiritual Assembly of God Dr. 'Ali-Mul~ammad Varqa visited of North Pima County, and was attended by several Baha'i communities in southern 738 Baha'is from 20 states, as well as from California in November at the invitation of Canada, England, Guatemala, Jamaica, and the National Spiritual Assembly. In his talks Mexico. The School this year was dedicated Dr. Varqa explained the significance of the to the Hand of the Cause of God H. Collis times and the importance of achieving the Featherstone, and the devotional opening goals of the Six Year Plan. Dr. Varqa also was dedicated to Counsellor Hidayatu ' llah spoke to Baha'is in Los Angeles, San Diego, Al~adiyyih. Each of the Hands in atten- Irvine, and Oceanside about the role the dance addressed the friends on several

Th e Hands of the Cause of God Dr. 'Ali-Muhammad Varqci and William Sears surrounded by many of the children and youth who attended the Desert Rose Baha 'i School held in Tucson, Arizona, in November 1990. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 667 occasions, and two public meetings were report received 13 December from the held in conjunction with the School. (From Desert Rose Baha' i School)

1991 April gave to the Convention in the Russian ROMANIA: Amatu'l-Baha RW:liyyih Khanum language, he related some of his early experepresented the Universal House of Justice riences in Moscow; spoke about the spiritual at the Convention in Romania .. .. Arrange- importance of the election of a National ments for a 40-minute-long national television Spiritual Assembly for the largest country of programme covering the Convention activi- the world; reflected the high expectations of ties included an interview with the Hand of the beloved Guardian concernmg the the Cause. A dynamic press conference was progress of the Faith in the Soviet Union; held with 24 journalists and media represen- and prepared the delegates for their heavy tatives. There were also interviews with responsibility. "Mr. Furutan also read, in two impmiant journalists. Accompanied by Russian, the message from the Universal Mr. Soluáab Youssefian and Mrs. Violette House of Justice to the Baha'is of the USSR Na!sbjavani, Amatu'l-Baha was received by for Ri<;lvan 1991. "On the eve of the Ninth both the Minister for Religious Affairs and Day of Ri<;lvan ... Mr. Furutan gave a special Director General, responsible for Baha'i affairs address, followed by a banquet given by who was very cordial. Rlil)iyyih Khanum the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany was also received by the Mayor of Bucharest to which close friends of the Faith and and had a pleasant and informative interview journalists were invited. (Excerpts from a with him. A sumptuous banquet offered by report by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is was attended by about 60 peo- Germany) ple, including the Ambassador to Romania CZECHOSLOVAKJA: "In one chorus of from Venezuela, and many government offi- universal jubilation the 110 participants cials, prominent professors, intellectuals, and drawn from 13 countries and from the length writers . It was a great success. Following and breadth of Czechoslovakia, gathered in the Convention, Amatu ' l-Baha Rlil)iyyih Prague ... for the frrst annual National Con- Khan um visited the grave of Queen Marie of vention of the Baha' is of Czechoslovakia, Romania with the Counsellor and National extend to you on this auspicious occasion Spiritual Assembly members. (From repori their profound love and deepest appreciation received 2 May from the Hand of the Cause for your unfailing guidance. of God) "Blessed beyond measure by the inestima- SOVIET UNION: "The Convention was ble presence of 'our beloved, precious Hand greatly blessed and emiched by the presence of the Cause of God, Dr. ' Ali-Mul)ammad of the Hand of the Cause of God 'Ali-Akbar Varqi..we have witnessed, here in the soul Furutan as the official representative of the of Central Europe, with overwhelming feel- Universal House of Justice who, more than ings of joy and thanksgiving to the Blessed 60 years after his exile from Moscow, wit- Beauty for the continued outpourings of His nessed with his own eyes the historic abundant grace, the birih of the child of this election and formation of the fust 'Spiritual Convention- the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha' is of the Soviet Assembly of Czechoslovakia." (From repmi Union ' . "In the three major addresses he received 30 April from the participants) 668 TH E BAHA ' i WOR LD

/ I /'"J I ,,,,

Th e Hand of the Cause of God William Sears meeting with the ji-iends in Worcester, Massachusetts, in October 1991 , to encourage them to fill their goals for the Six Year Plan. Mr. Manny Reimer is seated left. June CANA DA : The Hand of the Cause of God WORLD CENTRE : WITH SADDENED HEARTS John Robarts passed away on Tuesday ANNOUNCE PASSING MUCH-LOVED STAUNCH afternoon, 18 Jw1e 1991, in Quebec, Canada. PROMOTER FAITH, KN IGHT OF BAI-li\'U'LLAl-1, Mr. Robarts was buried oi1 22 June in HAND CAUSE JOHN ROBAR TS. HIS DISTINGUI SHED Rawdon-a small French Canadian town ADMIN ISTRATIVE TEAC HING, PIONEERING n01ih ofMonuáea l. Between 250 and 300 p eo- ACTIV ITIES IN HIS NATIVE CANADA, IN AFRICA ple were pre sent at the grave-side" as well as AN D EUROPE, DURING MIN ISTRY BELOVED at the g athering l ater in a local hall. (From GUARD IAN AND SUBSEQUENTLY ON WORLD Baha'i International News Service, No. 250, SCALE THROUGH HIS INTERNATIONAL TRAVELS 30 June 1991) WERE SOURCE ABUNDANT INSPIRATION COUNT- LESS FRIENDS MANY LANDS. HIS RELIANCE AND November EMPHASIS ON PRAYER IN ALL EFFORTS PROMO- UNITED STATES: In mid-November, the TION CAUSE AND HIS SUSTAINED SERVI CES PATH Hand of the Cause of God William Sears LOVE FOR BLESSED BEAUTY WERE CHARACTER- concluded a historic tour of five areas IZED BY SPIRIT CERTITUDE, SELF-EFFACEMENT chosen b y the National Spiritual Assembly AND VIGOUR WHICH SET A STANDARD OF as among the most prominent cenuáes of STEWARDSHIP THAT HAS ENRI CHED ANNALS teaching activity in the counh-y: Boca Raton, FAITH. HE HAS ASSUREDLY EARNED BOUNTIFUL Florida; Worcester, Massachusetts; Tolle- REWARD ABHA KINGDOM. PRAY ING HOLY son , Arizona; San Francisco, California; and SHRINES PROGRESS HIS RADIANT SOUL. ADV ISE Portland, Oregon . The unifying theme of his HOLD BEF ITTING MEMORIA L GATHERING S IN HIS tour was the spiritual as sistance available to HONOUR THROUG HOUT WORLD INCLUDING ALL all those who arise to teach the Cause of HOUSES WORSHIP. (Message from the House God. Surveying the century-and-a-half of of Justice to all National Assemblies 19 Jw1e) almost uninterrupted divine guidance enjoyed THE WORLD ORDER OF BAI-IA'U'LLAH 669 by the Faith since its inception, Mr. Sears the Exhibition, alongside original paintings, recalled the promises of victory given by the drawings and models of buildings, was a Bab and Baha'u'llah, by 'Abdu'l-Baha and professionally made, finely detailed model Shoghi Effendi, and by the Universal House of the Shrine of the Bab. of Justice. "With all this guidance at our Following the exhibition opening disposal, and with the sure promises of Amatu'l-Baha cabled: OPENING LAST NIGHT assistance from our Lord, we should be able AT MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS OF THE to work miracles in the teaching field," he EX HIBITION OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF EDWARD said. (Report from The American Bahri 'i for AND W.S. MAXWELL BY GOVERNOR I-INA TYSHYN January 1992) AND ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 600- 700 INVITED GUESTS WAS FOLLOWED BY MUSEUM December BANQUET FOR ABOUT 70 SPECIAL GUESTS, ALL CANADA: On 10 December, Amatu ' l- GREAT SUCCESS. Baha Ru~iyyih Khanum was an honored (From report received 11 December from guest at a banquet which accompanied the the Hand of the Cause) private opening of the Exhibition of the BERMUDA: The Hand of the Cause of Architecture of Edward and W. S. Maxwell, God Amatu'l-Baha Ru~iyyih Khanum spent in the presence of His Excellency, The Right 12 days in Be1muda, from 21 December to Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn, Gover- 1 January. Her visit included a " ... happy nor General of Canada. Sponsored by the reunion at the National Centre with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, it was island community ... and a meeting with its opened to the public on 13 December. It mature and harmonious National Spiritual remained in Montreal for three months, and Assembly was rewarding in every way." then travelled to several other locations (From report received 13 January from the across Canada. Among the items included in Hand of the Cause)

1992 January . I felt a strong determination to win Canada's CANADA: From Be1muda, Amatu'l-Baha goals and raise the standard of victory. This flew to Canada on 2 January. There she had now highly multiracial and ethnic Canada two meetings with the friends in Toronto- must surely hold unique possibilities for o.ne meeting on 2 January and the other on becoming a showpiece for the pattern for 3 January-which she described as " ... out- futurn -society designed by Baha'u'llah, and standing in warmth and enthusiasm. I feel I hope she will fulfil the destiny ' Abdu'lthe Canadian Baha'i community is united, Baha foresaw for her in The Tablets of the consecrated, and alert to winning its goals Divine Plan .... " (From report received with a dynamic spirit that cheers my heart. 13 January from the Hand of the Cause) The promises and hopes of'Abdu'l-Baha for my native and much-loved land are begin- March ning to bear fruit and this harvest will WORLD CENTRE: OUR HEARTS DEEPLY undoubtedly enrich the entire Baha'i world. SADDENED, BAHA'i WORLD GREATLY DEPRIVED, The first meeting [in Toronto], ostensibly BY PASSING HAND CAUSE GOD WILLIAM SEARS, á for the Persian speaking friends, was VIBRANT, CONSECRATED, STOUT-HEARTED attended by over 1,000 and the following STANDARD-BEARER FAITH BAI-IA'U'LLAl-l. HIS night 2,000 came. There was an unusually MORE THAN HALF-CENTURY UNBROKEN joyous warm feeling on both occasions and SERVICE MARK.ED BY UNFLINCHING DEVOTION 670 TH E BAHA'I WORLD TO BELOVED GUARDIAN, INFECTIOUS ENTH USI- guests from an estimated 34 countries. "At ASM FOR TEACHING, GALVA NIZING SENSE the Convention, we had the honour of the DRAMA, DISARM ING HUMOUR, SPECIAL LOV E presence of the representative of the Univer- FOR CHILDREN, UN FLAGGING DETERMINATION sal House of Justice, the Hand of the Cause IN FACE DIFFICU LTI ES. HE WILL EVER BE of God Amatu ' l-Baha Rul)iyyih Khanun1, REMEMBERED FOR DEDICATING FULL RANGE HI S who, through her talks and advice, attracted CREATIVE AND ENERGETIC CAPACITIES AS our attention to what is essential for the WRlTER, EDITOR, LECTURER, RADIO AND development of our young Baha'i commu- TELEVISION PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, TO HIS nity in Poland." (From Convention reports) VARIED SERVICES AS TRAV ELLING TEACHER TO BALTIC STATES: One hundred Baha'is NUMEROUS COUNTRIES PARTICULARLY IN THE from the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, AMERICAS, AND AS PIONEER TO AFRICA WHERE Lithuania, and 10 other countries attending HE WAS MEMB ER OF AUXILIARY BOARD AND the historic first Convention (25- 26 April) ... TH E NATIONA L SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY SOUTH announce with uplifted hearts and gratitude, AND WEST AFRICA WHEN IN 1957 HE WAS the formation of the first Regional Spiritual ELEVATED RANK HAND CAUSE. I-IE LATER Assembly of the Bahit'is of the Baltic States. SERVED AS MEMBER, BODY !-!ANDS HOLY LAND. The Convention was blessed with the partic- HIS LOSS ACUTELY FELT JN NORTH AM ERICA ipation of the Hand of the Cause of God 'Ali WHERE HE EXPEN DED LAST MEASURE HIS Akbar Furutan whose message of love and EBBING STRENGTH PROMOTIO 1 TEACHING encouragement from the Universal House of ACTIVITIES. DYNAMIC EFFECTS HIS WORK Justice emphasized the spiritual significance ENDURE THROUGH HIS MANY BOOKS AND of the formation of this pillar of the adminis- RECORDINGS. GEN ERATIONS TO COME WILL háative order of Baha' u' llah on the tlU"eshold REJOICE IN RICH LEGACY LEFT TH EM THROUG H of the Holy Year. Mr. Fun'.1tan spoke in the HI S HISTORIC ACCOMPLI SHM ENTS. FERVENTLY Russian language when conveying the love PRAY ING HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS and greetings of the Supreme Body to the ILLUSTRIOUS SOUL ABHA KINGDOM. ADVISE friends. The Convention was held in Tallinn, FRIENDS THROUGHOUT WORLD COMM EMO RATE Estonia, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. The HIS PASSING. REQUEST BEFITTING MEMORIAL beautifully decorated hall with the Greatest SERVICES IN HIS HONOUR ALL HOUSES WORSHIP. Name and a portrait of 'Abdu'l-Bahit grac- (Message from the Universal House of ing the walls was filled to capacity despite Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies) the freezing cold and snow. (From Baha 'i UN ITED STATES : The Hand of the Cause International News Service, No. 270, 15 May of God William Sears passed away on 1992) Wednesday, 25 March 1992, in Tucson, GREENLAND: The Hand of the Cause of Arizona, and was buried on 28 March in God Dr. 'Ali-Mul_m1U11ad Varga attended Tucson. The funeral procession was over the first National Convention of Greenland one mile long, with about 330 Baba ' is and on 25 April. Seventy-six years after the other friends joining his family at the grave- revelation of The Tablets of the Divine Plan, side. (From Baha 'i International News the desire of the Beloved Master concerning Service, No. 267, 31March1992) the rise of the call of God in the "icy regions of far North", was fulfilled by the establish- April ment of that National Spiritual Assembly. POLAND: Poland's first National Conven- (From Baha 'i International News Service, tion was an "immense success" . Held in No. 270, 15 May 1992) Warsaw from 24 to 26 April, it was attended BULGARIA: Amatu'l-Baha Rw:Uyyih Khanum by more than 150 friends including almost represented the Universal House of Justice the whole Polish Baha'i conmmnity and at the first National Convention of Bulgaria, THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLA.H 671

The Hand of the Cause Dr. 'Ali-Mu~iammad Varqa with Bahd 'i children in Nuuk, Greenland, in April 1992.

held in Sofia from 1 to 3 May .. .. During Convention was held on 1 and 2 May, with the Convention's last evening, Rul:iiyyih about 150 to 170 friends attending including Khanum spoke with the friends about some 70 Hungarians and Baha'i friends Shoghi Effendi. The meeting opened with from 19 countries all over the world. "The music and ended with music, highlighted by Hand of the Cause of God A. A. Furutan violin and accordion beautifully played by inspired the Convention with his unique new Gypsy Baha 'is .... "We are extremely talks, and the love and guidance of the grateful for the inspiration and encourage- Universal House of Justice was always felt." ment so generously shared by your much (From Bahd 'i fnternational News Service, loved representative, Amatu 'l-Baha Rw:iiyyih No. 270, 15 May 1992) Khanum. She enabled us to visualize the UKRAI NE: The first Convention of the brilliant future of the Faith in this country, Baha'is of the Ukraine, Belarus and which is already so richly blessed by the sac- Moldova, which took place in Kiev on rifices made by Georg Adam Benke and 1 May, was held in an atmosphere of devo- Marion Jack." (From Bahd 'i fnternational tion and dedication.... "The momentous News Service, No. 270, 15 May 1992) message of the Supreme Body uplifted the HUNGARY: "With our hearts full of joy hearts and inspired the friends with greater we send you our deepest love and admira- awareness of their responsibilities for the tion from our first National Convention in tasks that lay ahead." The message was Budapest, blessed by the presence of the followed by comments from the Hand of the Hand of the Cause of God 'Ali Akbar Cause of God Dr. 'Ali-Mul:iammad Varqa, Furutan, Counsellor Louis Henuzet, and who represented the Universal House of representatives of the National Spiritual Justice. (From Bahd 'i International News Assembly of the Baha'is of Austria." The Service, No. 270, 15 May 1992) THE BAHki WORLD

3. HANDS OF THE CAUSE WHO REPRESENTED THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE AT CONVENTIONS FOR THE ELECTION OF NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES

Listed below are the Hands of the Cause who represented the Universal House of Justice at inaugural Conventions held in the period 1986- 1992, the name of the new National Spiritual Assembly, its seat, the parent or sponsoring National Assembly, and the dates of the Conventions.

RrpvAN 1989

Amatu'l-Bahi Ru~iyyih Khinum Macau- Macau (Hong Kong) April 29- 30

RrpvAN 1991

Amatu'I-Baha Ru~iyyih Khanum Romania- Bucharest (Germany) April 26- 29

'Ali-Akbar Furutan USSR-Moscow (Ge1many) Apri l 26- 29

'Ali-Mu~ammad Varqa Czechoslovakia- Prague (Austria) April 27- 28

R1pvAN 1992

Amatu'l-Baha RU.~iyyih Khinum Poland-Warsaw (Ge1many) April 24- 26 Bulgaria- Sofia (Germany) May 1- 3

'Ali-Akbar Furutan Baltic States-Tallinn, Estonia (Commonwealth oflndependent States, Baltic States, and Georgia) April 25- 26 Hungary-Budapest (Austria) May 1- 2

'Ali-Mu~ammad Varqa Greenland-Nuuk (Denmark) April 25- 26 Ukraine, Belams and Moldova- Kiev (Commonwealth oflndependent States, Baltic States, and Georgia) May 1- 2 THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH

4. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CENTRE AND THE CONTINENTAL BOARDS OF COUNSELLORS

21JUN E 1968 (Trustee, Continental Fund), Chellie REJOI CE ANN OUNCE MOMENTOUS DECISION Sundram. ESTABLISH ELEVEN CONTINENTAL BOARDS Northeast Asia COUNSELLORS PROTECTION PROPAGATION FAITH Rulm'llah Mumtazi (Trustee, Continental THREE EACH FOR AFRI CA AMERICAS ASIA ONE Fund), Vicente Samaniego. EACH FOR AUSTRALAS IA EUROP E.. Australasia The Universal House of Justice Suhayl 'Ala'i, Howard Harwood, Thelma Perks (Trustee, Continental Fund). 24 JUNE 1968 Europe ... those who have been appointed to the Erik Blun1enthal, Dorothy Ferraby (Trustee, first Continental Boards of Counsellors for Continental Fund), Louis Henuzet. ~le Protection and Propagation of the Faith: The Universal House of Justice Northwestern Afi'ica I:Iusayn Ardikani (Trustee, Continental 24 JUNE 1968 Fund), Mul:i.ammad Kebdani, William ... The number of Auxiliary Board mem- Maxwell. bers to be assigned to each continental zone Central and East Africa is as follows: Oloro Epyeru, Kolonario Oule, Isobel Protection Propagation Sabri, Mihdi Samandari, 'Aziz Yazdi AFRICA (Trustee, Continental Fund). Northwestern 3 6 Central and East 4 7 Southern Africa Southern 2 5 Seewoosumbur-Jeehoba Appa, Shidan 9 I8 Fatl:i-i-A'~am (Trustee, Continental Fund), AMERICA Bahiyyih Ford. North 4 9 North America Central 2 8 South 3 IO Lloyd Gardner, Florence Mayberry, Edna 9 27 True (Trustee, Continental Fund). ASI A Central America Western 4 IS Carmen de Burafato, Artemus Lamb, Southeastern 2 7 Northeastern 7 Alfred Osborne (Trustee Continental Fund). 7 29 South America Athos Costas, Hooper Dunbar (Trustee, AUSTRALAS IA 2 7 Continental Fund), Donald Witzel. EUROPE 9 I8 Western Asia Masil:i Farhangi, Mas'ud Khamsi, I:Iadi The Universal House of Justice RaJ:imani (Trnstee, Continental Fund), Mamichihr Salmanpur, Sankaran-Nair Vasudevan. 10 JULY 1969 South east Asia With great joy we announce that we have Yan Kee Leong, Khudaral:un Payman decided to increase the total number of 674 THE BAHA'I WORLD

members of the Continental Boards of 8 JUNE 1973 Counsellors for the Protection and Propaga- The number of zones has been raised to tion of the Faith to thirty-eight by adding twelve by . .. the new zone of South Central John McHenry III to the Continental Board Asia ... ' The number of Counsellors is now of Counsellors in No1ih East Asia and raised to fifty-seven by the appointment Mas'ud Khamsi to the Continental Board of of Mr. Friday Ekpe and Mr. Dhikru ' llah Counsellors in South America ... Ka?'.imi in Northwestern Africa, Mr. Hu- We also rejoice to announce the appoint- shang 'Ahdiyyih and Mr. Peter Vuyiya in ment of Mrs. Shirin Boman to the Central and East Africa, Dr. Sarah Pereira Continental Board of Counsellors of West- and Mrs. Velma Sherrill in North America, ern Asia to fill a vacancy on that Board ... Mr. Rowland Estall and Mr. Paul Lucas in The Universal House of Justice Central America, Mrs. Leonora Armstrong, Mr. Peter McLaren and Mr. Raul Pavon R IQVAN 1970 in South America, Mr. Dipchand Khianra ... IN VIEW EFFECTNE REINFORCEMENT THIS and Mrs. Zena Sorabjee in South Central NOBLE WORK BY ABLE DEDICATED CONTINEN- Asia, Mr. Firaydtin Mi!Qaqiyan in South- TAL BOARDS COUNSE LLORS THEIR AUXILIARY eastern Asia, Mr. Richard Benson and Miss BOARDS TOGETH ER WITH GROWING NEED AND Elena Marsella in North-eastern Asia and EXPANSION WORLD COMMUNITY ANNOUNCE Miss Violet Hoehnke m Australasia. AUGMENTATION VITAL INST ITUTION THROUGH Dr. William Maxwell who has been render- APPOINTMENT THREE ADDITIONAL COUNSEL- ing distinguished service as a member of the LORS !RAJ AYMAN WESTERN ASIA ANNELIESE Continental Board of Counsellors in North- BOPP BETTY REED EUROPE AND AUTl-IORJZATION western Africa has been obliged to return to APPOINTMENT FORTY FNE ADDITIONAL AUXIL- the United States ... IARY BOARD MEMBERS NINE AFRICA SIXTEEN The Universal House of Justice ASIA TWO AUSTRALASIA EIGHTEEN WESTERN HEMISPHERE .. 7 OCTOBER 1973 The Universal House of Justice . .. the number of Auxiliary Board members throughout the world is to be raised to 5 JUN E 1973 two hundred and seventy, of whom eighty- ANNOUNCE ESTAB LI SHMENT HOLY LAND one will serve on the Auxiliary Boards for LONG ANTICIPATED INTERNAT IONAL TEACH ING the Protection of the Faith and one h1mdred CENTRE DESTINED EVOLVE INTO ONE THOSE and eighty-nine will serve on the Auxiliary WORLD SHAKING WORLD EMBRACING WORLD Boards for the Propagation of the Faith. DIRECTING ADMIN ISTRATI VE INSTIT UTIONS In all there will be fifty-four Auxiliary ORDAINED BY BAHAULLAH ANTI CIPATED BY Board members in Africa, eighty-one in the ABDULBA I-IA ELUCIDATED BY SHOGHI EFFENDI. Wes tern Hemisphere, eighty-one in Asia, MEMBERSHIP THIS NASCENT INSTITUTION COM - eighteen m Australasia and thirty-six in PRJSES ALL HANDS CAUSE GOD AND INITIALLY Europe. THREE COUNSE LLORS WHO WITH HANDS PRE- The Universal House of Justice SENT 1-IOL Y LAND WILL CONSTITUTE NUCLEUS ITS VITAL OPERATIONS. CALLING UPON HOOPER 30 SEPTEMBER 1974 DUNBA R FLORENCE MAYBERRY AZIZ YAZDI ... Mrs. Salisa Kermani was appointed by PROCEED 1-IOL Y LAND ASSUME THIS HIGJ-IL Y the House of Justice to the Board of Coun- MERITOR IOUS SERVICE ... sellors for South Cenháal Asia in place or The Universal House of Justice Mr. Vasudevan who is presently furthering his education in the United States. Mr. John McHenry . .. has returned to the United States THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 675 ... He has tendered his resignation as a throughout the world has been raised from Counsellor... 288 to a new total of 378, 117 of which are International Teaching Centre for protection and 261 for propagation ... International Teaching Centre 6 JANUARY 1975 ... The decision has been taken, therefore, 24 MARCH 1976 after consultation with the International ... the Universal House of Justice has Teaching Centre, to break the present zone authorized the appointment of ninety more of North-western Africa into two separate Auxiliary Board members ... zones of Northern and Western Africa, to On behalf of the Universal House of Justice each of which will be tráansfeITed paiis of the Central and East African zone ... 31OCTOBER1976 Because of the creation of a new Board 1 The Universal House of Justice announces for No1ihern Africa, the Counsellors in this with pleasure that it has appointed three new and the one for Wes tern Africa must be Counsellors as follows: Dr. Peter Khan-to regrouped, new appointments made to the the Continental Board of Counsellors in Northern Board, and the number of Auxil- Ausháalasia Dr. Hidayatu 'll::ih Abmadiyyih iary Board members increased. We decided, -to the Continental Board of Counsellors in therefore, that the Board for Northern Central America Mr. Angus Cowan-to the Africa will consist of Mr. Mul:iammad Continental Board of Counsellors in North Kebdani, already serving as a Counsellor, America. Mr. Mul:iammad Mu:;;~afa , and Mr. 'Imad On behalf of the Universal House of Justice S::ibiran. The Board for Western Africa will consist or Mr. I:Iusayn Ardik::ini (Trustee), 24 MARCH 1977 Mr. Friday Ekpe, Mr. Dhikrn 'll::ih K::i~imi, ANNOUNCE AUTHORJZATION INCREASE MEM- and Dr. Mihdi Samandari (háansfeITed from BERSHrP BOARDS BY 297 RAISING TOT AL TO 675 the Central and East African Board). OF WHICH 279 ARE AUXILIARY BOARD MEMBERS We are also increasing the number of FOR PROTECTION AND 396 FOR PROPAGATION OF Auxiliary Board members in Africa, adding FAITH .. 9 members to the Board for Protection, and On behalf of the Universal House of Justice 9 to that for Propagation, bringing the totals for that continent to 27 and 45 respective- 29 AUGUST 1977 ly ... KINDLY CABLE MR IMBUM CHINN IAH ... The Universal House of Justice QUOTE INFOR.Ivl YOU WITH PLEASURE YOUR APPOINTMENT CONTINENTAL BOARD COUNSEL- 17 MARCH 1976 LORS SOUTH-EASTERN AS IA.. The membership of six of the Boards of The Universal House of Justice Counsellors has been increased by the appointrnent of one additional Counsellor 29 JUNE 1979 in each case, as follows: Western Africa, ... MOMENT PROPITIOUS ANNOUNCE DURATION Mrs. Thelma Khelghati; Southern Africa, TERMS SERVICE MEMBERS CONTINENTAL BOARDS Mr. William Masehla; South Cenháal Asia, COUNSELLORS AS ANTICIPATED IN ANNOUNCE- Mr. Burh::ini'din Afshin; North-eastern Asia, MENT ESTABLISHM ENT THAT INSTITUTION AND Mr. Hideya Suzuki; Ausháalasia, Mr. Owen IN CONSTITUTION UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUS- Battrick; Europe, Mr. Adib Taherzadeh. TICE, DECISION NOW TAKEN THAT TERMS WILL 'The number of Auxiliary Board members BE OF FIVE YEARS STARTING DAY COVENANT 26 NOVEMBER 1980 .. . Ra isin g the total to thirteen. The Universal House of Justice 676 THE BAHA ' I WORL D

4 J ULY 1979 Epyeru, Mr. Shidan Fat'he-Aazam, JOYFULLY ANNOUNCE APPOINTMENT COUN- Mr. Zekrollah Kazemi, Mr. MuQammad SELLOR ANNELIESE BOPP TO MEMBERSHIP Kebdani, Mrs. Thelma Khelghati, INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CENTRE Mr. William Masehla, Mr. MuQammad The Universal House of Justice Mu~tafa, Mr. Kolonario Oule, Mrs. Isobel Sabri, Dr. Mihdi Samandari, Mr. Peter 7 FEBRUARY 1980 Vuyiya, Mrs. Bahiyyih Winckler. ... DEEPLY GRIEVED UNTIM ELY PASSING The Americas: Dr. Hidayatu ' llah AJ:ima- DEVOTED COWORKER INPERAJU CHINN IAH .. diyyih, Dr. Farzam Arbab, Mrs. Carmen The Universal House of Justice de Burafato, Mr. Athos Costas, Mr. Angus Cowan , Mr. Lloyd Gardner (Trustee of the 20 OCTOBER 1980 Continental Fund), Mr. Mas'ud Khamsi, HEARTS SADDENED PASSING DISTINGUISHED Mrs. Lauretta King, Mr. Artemus Lamb, COUNSELLOR LEONORA STIRLING ARMSTRONG .. . Mr. Peter McLaren, Mr. Raul Pavon, The Universal House of Justice Dr. Sarah Pereira, Mrs. Ruth Pringle, Mr. Fred Schechter, Mrs. Ve lma Sherrill, 3 NOVEMBER 1980 Mr. Donald Witze l. ... we have decided that the time is ripe Asia: Mr. Burhani 'd-Din Afshin, Mrs. Shirin for a further step in the development of the Boman, Dr. MasiQ Farhangi, Dr. John institution itself that will , at one and the Fozdar, Mr. ZabiQu' llah GulmuQamrnadi, same time, accord greater discretion and Mr. Aydin Gi.iney, Mr. Dipchand Khianra, freedom of action to the Continental Boards Mr. RuQu'llah Murntazi, Mr. S. Nagaratof Counsellors in the can-ying out of their narn , Mr. Khudaral:irn Payman (Trustee of duties, and widen the scope of each Board to the Continental Fund), Mr. Manuchihr embrace an entire continent. In accordance Salmanpur, Mr. Vicente Samaniego, with this deci sion, the zo nes of the Conti- Mrs. Zena Sorabjee, Dr. Chellie Sundrarn, ne ntal Boards of Counsellors wil l, from the Mr. Hideya Suz uki , Mr. Yan Kee Leong. Day of the Covenant of the year 137 Australasia: Mr. Suhayl 'A la'i, Mr. Ben [26 November 1980] be as follows: Ayala, Mr. Owen Battrick (Trustee of the 1. Africa, comprising the areas of the four Continental Fund), Mr. Richard Benson, present zo nes on that continent. Mrs . Tinai Hancock, Dr. Peter Khan, 2. The Americas, comprising the present Mr. Lisiata Maka. zones ofN01ih, Central and South America. Europe: Mr. Erik Blumenthal, Mrs. Dorothy 3. Asia, comprising the present zo nes of Ferraby, Dr. Agnes Ghaznavi, Mr. Hart- Western, South Central and Southeastern mut Grossmann, Mr. Louis Henuzet Asia, together with the present zone of (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Mrs. North-eastern Asia without the Hawaiian Ursula Mi.ihlschlegel, Dr. Leo Niederreiter, Is lands and Micronesia. Mrs. Betty Reed, Mr. Adib Taherzadeh. 4. Australasia, comprising the present zo ne A number of friends who have rendered of Australasia plus the Hawaiian Is lands highly valued services as Counsellors are and Micronesia. not being reappointed for the coming term, 5. Europe. and we wish to express here our profound Those who are now appointed as Coun- gratitude for the devoted labours they have sellors to serve on these Continenta l Boards rendered and are rendering in the path of for the ne xt five years are: the Cause. These dearly-loved believers are: Africa: Dr. Hushang Ahdieh (Trustee Mr. Seewoosurnbur-Jeehoba Appa, Dr. Iraj of the Continental Fund), Mr. I:Jusayn Ayman, Mr. Rowland Esta ll , Mr. Howard Ardekani, Mr. Friday Ekpe, Mr. Oloro Harwood, Miss Violet Hoehnke, Mrs. Salisa THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U ' LLAH 677

Kermani, Mr. Paul Lucas, Miss Elena Mar- Afaqi to the Continental Board of Counselsella, Mr. Alfred Osborne, Miss Thelma Perks, lors in Asia to replace Dr. Masil:i Farhangi, Mr. Hadi RaJ:unani, Mr. 'Imad Sabiran, Miss who was martyred last year. Edna True ... On behalf of the Universal House of Justice The Universal House of Justice 19MAY1983 For ten years the International Teaching 14 NOVEMBER 1980 Centre has rendered invaluable services at The Universal House of Justice has the World Centre of the Faith, and it is with requested that we infmm the Boards that the great joy that we now announce a number of number of Auxiliary Board members allot- major steps in the evolution of this vital ted to each continent is as follows: institution of the Administrative Order of Protection Propagation Baha'u'llah. Africa8 1 99 Since the tragic death of Mr. Paul Haney Americas54 117 there have been only two Hands of the Asia99 117 Australasia! 8 27 Cause residing in the Holy Land. We have EuropeI!_ 36 therefore decided to call upon Dr. 'Ali Totals279 396 Mul:iammad Varqa and Mr. Collis Feather- International Teaching Centre stone to participate in the discharge of the special duties of the Hands of the Cause 27 NOVEMBER 1980 residing in the Holy Land when the occasion In consideration of the extension of the requires, as for example, in dealing with area of the Continental Board of Counsellors matters of Covenant-breaking. They will be for Australasia we have decided to increase able to perform these functions either by the number of Auxiliary Board members correspondence or by periodic sojourns at allocated to that continent by nine on each the World Centre. Board, raising the totals to twenty-seven We have decided to raise the number Protection Board members and thirty-six of resident members of the International Propagation Board members . .. ' Teaching Centre to nine. For reasons of The Universal House of Justice health Mrs . Florence Mayberry is leaving the World Centre, bringing to an end her 24 JUNE 1981 highly valued services on this institution. ... ANOTHER FO UR DISTINGUISHED BELIEV ERS Four new Counsellor members have there- NOW GATH ERED ABHA KINGDOM ON BE!NG fore been appointed: Dr. Magdalene Camey, MARTYRED ... DR. MASII-1 FARHANG I MEMB ER Mr. Mas'ud Khamsi, Dr. Peter Khan and BOARD COUNSELLORS ASLA ... Mrs. Isobel Sabri, whom we now call upon On behalf of the Universal House of Justice to transfer their residences to the Holy Land, where they will join the Hands of the Cause 17 A UGUST 1981 of God, Amatu ' l-Baha R11l:iiyyih Khanum ... DEE PLY GRJ EV ED PASSING EMINENT DIST!N- and 'Ali-Akbar Furutan and Counsellors GUISHED SERVANT BLESSED BEAUTY MEMBER Anneliese Bopp, Hooper Dunbar and 'Aziz BOARD COUNS ELLORS AFRlCA MU HAMMA D Yazdi. MUSTAFA .. We have further decided, as foreshad- The Universal House of Justice owed in previous announcements, to institute a five-year term for the Counsellor members 13 M AY 1982 of the International Teaching Centre. Each The Universal House of Justice announces te1m will sta1i on 23 May immediately folwith pleasure the appointment of Dr. $abir lowing the International Baha' i Convention, 678 THE BAHA'I WORLD

and the current term will end on 23 May regional and global, for the approval of the 1988. Should circumstances prevent the Uni- Universal House of Justice. versal House of Justice from making new • To direct the work of the Continental appointments at the end of any five-year Pioneer Committees. term, the Counsellors will remain in office • To administer the expenditure of the until such time as new appointments can be International Deputization Fund. made. • To administer an annual budget that With the rapid growth of the Faith, its will be provided from the Baha' i Internaemergence from obscurity, and the diversifi- tional Fund, allocating therefrom to the cation of the activities that the believers Continental Boards of Counsellors monies in many lands must undertake in such fields for special teaching projects and literature as education, rural development, radio subvention, and, when necessary, contriand public relations- matters which must butions to the Continental Funds ... increasingly occupy the attention of the Uni- In the near future the International Teachversal House of Justice- we have decided ing Centre will be moving into its new that the time is ripe to devolve increased offices near the House of the Master, in the responsibility upon the International Teach- building which served for several decades as ing Centre, in the fields of protection and the Western Pilgrim House, later as the seat propagation of the Faith. The duties of the of the International Baha'i Council and, for International Teaching Centre, including the past twenty years, as that of the Univerthose announced previously and those now sal House of Justice. Now, most befittingly, being assigned to it, are as follows: it will serve as the office of the International Teaching Centre until the pe1manent build- • To assume full responsibility for coor- ing for that mighty institution can be raised dinating, stimulating and directing the on Mount Carmel in close proximity to the Continental Boards of Counsellors, acting Universal House of Justice. also as liaison between them and the The Universal House of Justice Universal House of Justice. • To be fully inforn1ed of the situation of the Cause in all parts of the world and, 27 J UNE 1983 from this knowledge, to make reports and The Universal House of Justice announrecommendations to the Universal House ces with pleasure the appointment of the of Justice and give advice to the Continen- following Continental Counsellors: tal Boards of Counsellors. Jn Aji-ica: Mr. Gila Michael Bahta • To watch over the security and ensure Mr. Kassimi Fofana the protection of the Faith of God. Jn th e Americas:Mr. Shapoor Monadjem • To be alert to possibilities for the Jn Aus tralasia: Mrs. Joy Stevenson extension of the teaching work and the The Universal House of Justice development of economic and social life both within and without the Baha'i 4 AU G UST 1983 community, and to draw the attention of DEEPLY MOURN LOSS OUTSTAN DING PRO- the Universal House of Justice and the MOTER FAITH WILLI AM MASEHLA. Continental Boards of Counsellors to such The Universal House of Justice possibilities, making recommendations for action. 24 O CTOBER 1983 • To determine and anticipate needs for DEEPLY DEPLORE LOSS ZEA LOUS SERVANT literature, pioneers and travelling teachers CAUSE BA HA 'U' LLAH RAUL PAVON DI ST IN - and to work out teaching plans, both GU IS HED PROMOTER FAITH AND IN DEFATI GABLE THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 679 WORKER IN TEACHING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES The membership of the Continental LATIN AMERICA. Boards of Counsellors as now appointed is: The Universal House of Justice Africa ( 18 Counsellors): Mr. Hushang Ahdieh (Trnstee of the 6 DECEMBER 1983 Continental Fund), Mr. I:Iusayn Ardekani, .. .announces with pleasure the appoint- Mrs. Beatrice 0. Asare, Mr. Gila Michael ment of the following Continental Coun- Bahta, Mr. Friday Ekpe, Mr. Oloro sellors: Epyern, Mr. Shidan Fat'he-Aazam, Jn Africa:Mr. Mabuku Wingi Mr. Kassirni Fofana, Mr. Zekrollah Kazemi, Jn the Americas: Mrs. Isabel P. de Calderon. Mr. MuJ:tammad Kebdani, Mrs . Thelma The Universal House of Justice Khelghati, Mr. Roddy Dharma Lutchmaya, Mr. Daniel Ramoroesi, Dr. Mihdi Ru;ivAN 1984 Samandari, Mrs. Edith Senoga, Mr. Peter .. .The International Teaching Centre, Vuyiya, Mrs. Lucretia Mancho Warren, operating from its world seat, has provided Mr. Mabuku Wingi. loving and wise leadership and direction The Americas (17 Counsellors): to the Boards of Counsellors. Its sphere of Dr. Hidayatu' llah AJ:tmadiyyih, Mr. Eloy service has been immensely extended by the Anello, Dr. Farzam Arbab (Trnstee of the assignment of new responsibilities and Continental Fund), Dr. Wilma Brady, by raising the number of its Counsellor Mrs. Isabel P. de Calderon, Mr. Rolf von members to seven. The dedicated services of Czekus, Mr. Robert Harris, Mrs. Lauretta the Counsellors in all the continents, ably King, Dr. Peter McLaren, Mr. Shapoor supported by the Auxiliary Board members , Monadjem, Mrs. Ruth Pringle, Mr. Donald have been invaluable in fostering the 0 . Rogers, Mr. Fred Schechter, Dr. Arturo spiritual health and integrity of the world- Serrano, Mr. Alan Smith, Dr. David R. wide community. To develop further this Smith, Mr. Rodrigo Tomas . vital organ of the Administrative Order, it Asia ( 19 Counsellors): has been decided to establish a te1m of five Dr. $abir A.faqi, Mr. Burhani'd-Din Afshin, years ' service for those appointed to the Dr. Iraj Ayman, Mr. Bijan Fareed, Dr. John Auxiliary Boards, commencing November Fozdar, Mr. Zabil:iu'llah GulmuJ:tammadi, 26, 1986 ... Mr. Bharat Koirala, Mr. RuJ:tu'llah Mum- The Universal House of Justice tazi, Mr. S. Nagaratnam, Dr. Perin Olyai, Mrs. Rose Ong,. Mr. KhudaraJ:tm Payman 7 MARCH 1985 (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Mr. Masih DEEPLY GRIEVED UNTIMELY PASSING Rawl:iani, Mr. Vicente Samaniego, U Soe -ESTEEMED LLOYD GARDNER STALWART DE- Tin, Dr.Illian Sezgin, Mrs. Zena Sorabjee, FENDER INTERESTS FAITH AMERICAS. Dr. Chellie J. Sundram, Mr. Michitoshi The Universal House of Justice Zenirnoto. Australasia (9 Counsellors): 24 OCTOBER 1985 Mr. Suhayl 'Ala'i, Mr. Ben Ayala, Justice It gives us great happiness to announce the Richard Benson, Dr. Kanrran Eslrraghian, membership of the Continental Boards of Mrs. Tinai Hancock, Mr. Lisiate Maka, Cow1sellors as from the Day of the Covenant, Mrs. Gayle MoITison, Dr. Sims Naraqi, 26 November 1985. The number of Counsel- Mrs. Joy Stevenson (Trnstee of the Contilors has been increased from 63 to 72 and nental Fund). adjustments have been made in their geo- Europe (9 Counsellors): graphical distribution in consonance with the Dr. Agnes Ghaznavi, Mr. Hartmut Grossdevelopment of the Faith around the world. mann, Mr. Louis Henuzet (Tmstee of the 680 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Continental Fund), Mrs. Ursula Miihlschle- 1 JANUARY 1986 gel, Dr. Leo Niederreiter, Mrs. Polin Rafat, The presentation of the condition of the Mr. Adib Taherzadeh, Mr. Adam Thome, Baha'i International Fund at the Counsel- Mr. Sohrab Youseffian. lors' Conference has precipitated many The following nineteen devoted believers requests for information ... who are now being relieved of the onerous It is essential that the friends throughout duties of membership on the Boards of the world be educated in the importance of Counsellors, wi ll , as distinguished servants the funds: loca l, national, continental and of the Cause, continue through their out- international... Such education can be standing capacities and experience to be greatly assisted by the Counsellors and their sources of stimulation and encouragement to Auxil iary Boards, and should be adapted to the friends. the conditions of every Baha'i community ... Mr. A. Owen Battrick, Mr. Erik Blumenthal, The Universal House of Justice Mrs. Shirin Boman, Mrs. Carmen de Burafato, Mr. Athos Costas, Mr. Angus 2 JANUARY 1986 Cowan, Mrs. Dorothy Ferraby, Mr. Aydin The eager expectation with which we Gi.iney, Dr. Dipchand Khiama, Mr. Artemus welcomed to the World Centre, on Lamb, Mr. Kolonario Oule, Dr. Sarah 27 December, sixty-four Counsellors from Pereira, Mrs. Betty R. Reed, Dr. Manu- the five continents to discuss, with the Interchi hr Salmanpur, Mrs . Velma Sherrill, national Teaching Centre, the challenges Mr. Hedeya Suzuki, Mrs. Bahiyyih Win- and opportunities facing the Baha'i world ckler, Mr. Donald Witzel, Mr. Yan Kee community, has, at the conclusion of their Leong. historic conference, been transmuted into We express to each and every one of fee lings of deepest joy, gratitude and love. these dear friends our heartfelt gratitude and 'Graced by the presence of the Hands of assure them of our prayers in the Holy the Cause Amatu ' l-Baha RuDiyyih Khanum , Shrines for the confirmation of their highly Ugo G iachery, 'Ali-Akbar Furutan, 'Alimeritorious and self-sacrificing services to M uDammad Yarqa and Collis Featherstone, the Cause of Baha ' u ' llah. the Conference was organized and managed The Universal House of Justice with admirable foresight and efficiency by the International Teaching Centre ... 24 OCTOBER 1985 The beloved Counsellors, strengthened At this time when the Baha ' i world is and enriched by their experience in the Holy facing the challenge of the International Land, will, as early as possible, consult Year of Peace, on the point of completing with all National Spiritual Assemblies on the Seven Year Plan and standing on the measures to conclude triumphantly the thresho ld of a new Six Year Plan, we have current Plan, and on preparations to launch fe lt it impo1iant to call upon the Counse llors the Six Year Plan. In anticipation of those from a ll the continents to gather at the World consu ltations, National Spiritual Assem- Centre for a conference to deliberate on the blies wi ll receive the full announcement of tasks and opportunities of the years immedi- the aims and characteristics of that Plan, so ately ahead. This conference will take place that together with the Counsellors they may from 27 December 1985 through 2 January formulate the national plans which will, for 1986 and is yet one more sign of the rapid each community, establish its pursuit of the advance and consolidation of the institutions overall objectives. of the Cause of God. This new process, whereby the national The Universal House of Justice goals of the next Plan are to be largely formulated by National Spiritual Assemblies THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LL<\H 681

and Boards of Counsellors, signalizes the ASIA Protection 99 0 99 inauguration of a new stage in the unfold- Propagation 117 9 126 ment of the Administrative Order. Our AUSTRALASIA beloved Guardian anticipated a succession Protection 27 9 36 of epochs during the Formative Age of the Propagation 36 9 45 Faith; we have no hesitation in recognizing EUROPE Protection 36 0 36 that this new development in the maturation Propagation 36 0 36 of Baba 'i institutions marks the inception of the fourth epoch of that Age. TOTAL 702 54 756 The Universal House of Justice Protection 297 27 324 Propagation 405 27 432 MARCH 1986 HEARTS GIUEFSTRICKEN PASSING OUTSTAND- This further expansion of the institution ING PROMOTER CAUSE ANGUS COW AN. of the Auxiliary Boards reflects the recent The Universal House of Justice increase of the number of Continental Counsellors from 63 to 72 and is required by the 25 MAY 1986 marked growth in the size of Baha'i commu- ... On the Day of the Covenant, nities, a growth which it is confidently 26 November 1986, a new term of five years expected will accelerate during the Six Year will begin for those appointed to the Auxil- Plan as the impact of the Faith's emergence iary Boards. In preparation for that event, we from obscurity begins to make itself evident find it propitious to announce the following in a growing interest in its teachings by decisions. people in all walks of life. As from last Ric:lvan, Turkey has been The Universal House of Justice transferred from the area of responsibility of the Continental Board of Counsellors in 18 MAY 1988 REJOICE ANNOUNCE APPOINTMENT COUN- Asia to that of the Continental Board of SELLOR MEMBERS INTERNATIONAL TEACHING Counsellors in Europe. Counsellor Ilhan CENTRE FOR FIVE-YEAR TERM BEGINNING 23 MAY Sezgin is, therefore, a member of the Euro- 1988: DR. FARZAM ARBAB, DR. MAGDALENE CAR- pean Board of Counsellors. It has also been NEY, MR. HARTMUT GROSSMANN, MR. MAS ' UD decided to increase the size of the European Kl-IAMS!, MRS. LAURETTA KING , MR. DONALD Auxiliary Board for the Protection of the ROGERS, MRS ISOBEL SABRI, MRS. JOY STEVEN- Faith to 36 members, which is the same as SON, MR. PETER VUYIY A. VIEW SUPREME IMPOR- the number currently authorized for the TANCE ACCELERATION TEACHING WORK THIS Propagation Board in the continent. STAGE FORMATIVE AGE NUMBER COUNSELLOR In view of the growth of the Baha'i com- MEMBERS NOW RAISED TO NINE. EXPRESS munity and its emergence from obscurity, PROFOUND GRATITUDE MR. 'AZIZ YAZDI AND we have decided to make the following fur- MISS ANNELIESE BOPP FOR THEIR ASSIDUOUS ther changes in the number of members of the Auxiliary Boards, to be effective from DEVOTED SELF-SACRIFICING SERVICES TEACHING CENTRE OYER SO MANY YEARS. 26 November 1986: Present Added New The Universal House of Justice Number N umber N umber AFIUCA 30 MAY 1988 Protection 81 9 90 The burgeoning potential for immediate Propagation 99 9 108 AMERICAS progress in the field of teaching, affim1ed by Protection 54 9 63 the expectant and resolute spirit displayed at Propagation 117 0 117 the Sixth International Convention, and the 682 THE BAHA'I WORLD

The members of the Universal House ofJustice, five Hands of the Cause of God, and Counsellor members of the International Teaching Centre join members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors after the International Convention in Haifa, Israel, in May 1988.

Counsellor Beatrice Asare being welcomed by member of the Universal of Justice Peter Khan to a special reception held for Counsellors at the Seat of the International Teaching Centre during the sixth International Convention! in Haifa, Israel, 1988. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA°U'LLA.H 683

From left to right: the Hands of the Cause of God Dr. 'A li-Muhammad Varqa, William Sears, Amatu 'l-Baha Rilhiyy ih Khanum, 'A li-Akbar Furutan and H. Collis Featherstone visit the Mansion in Mazra 'ih as part of the Counsellors Conference in May 1988.

Counsellors Robert Harris and Arturo Serrano consult with Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre Magdalene Carn ey during the Post Convention Counsellors Conference. Haifa, Israel, May 1988. 684 THE BAHA'I WORLD

awakening of a new consciousness among In the matter of protection, the cunent the believers as to the unusual possibilities procedure should be maintained by which and urgency of the times compel a further the Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy thrust in the development of the capacity of Land, together with the two non-resident the International Teaching Centre to can)' Hands designated to participate in their out its indispensable, sacred functions. Thus, work, have the responsibility of deciding on with the benefit of recent consultations with questions of Covenant-breaking, or of the the Hands of the Cause of God residing in reinstatement of Covenant-breakers, for the the Holy Land, we have reached the deci- ultimate approval of the Universal House of sion, as announced in our message of Justice. 18 May 1988 to the Bah a 'is of the world, to These important adjustments in the operraise the number of Counsellor members of ation of the International Teaching Centre, the Teaching Centre to nine. This is one of a while affording the Hands of the Cause number of related steps responding to the greater freedom from administrative duties, necessity for new modes of action on the preserve their prerogatives in influencing the part of the Universal House of Justice and of development of the institution, and also the Hands of the Cause in relation to the make for a deeper exploration and wider work of the Teaching Centre, at this time of manifestation of its functions, as amplified new opportunities and new challenges for in our letter of 19 May 1983 addressed to the the Cause of God occasioned by the growing followers of Baha'u'llah throughout the maturation of the Administrative Order and world. rapidly accelerating change in the conditions The Universal House of Justice of mankind. The regular work of the Teaching Centre 16 JUN E 1988 will be decided upon through consultative Recent events have given rise to eleven action of the Counsellors; and since corpo- vacancies in the membership of the Contirate action is fundamental to the direction of nental Boards of Counsellors. Mr. Adib the Teaching Centre, it will be necessary for Taherzadeh has been elected to the Univera quorum of five Counsellors to be present at sal House of Justice; Dr. Farzam Arbab, the World Centre at all times ... Mr. Harmut Grossmann, Mrs. Lauretta Released from the confining, day-to-day King, Mr. Donald Rogers, Mrs. Joy Steveninvolvement in the administration of the son and Mr. Peter Vuyiya have been work of the International Teaching Centre, appointed as Counsellor members of the the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land can International Teaching Centre. concenháate to a greater degree on the unique In addition, ill health has sadly made it services that they alone can render and, from impossible for Dr. Chellie Sundram to conthe knowledge and perspective which over tinue his services as a Counsellor for Asia, 30 years of unintenupted service at the Dr. Iraj Ayman and Mrs. Thelma Khelghati World Centre have given them, be able to have been compelled by circumstances advise the International Teaching Centre and beyond their control to leave, respectively, the Universal House of Justice on those the continents of Asia and Africa in which matters in which they feel that the work of they were serving, and Mr. Adam Thorne the Teaching Cenháe and the Counsellors has had to resign, for personal reasons, from throughout the world needs direction and the Continental Board of Counsellors for development. In this regard, the Hands of Europe. We wish first to express our prothe Cause may request reconsideration by found appreciation of the contributions these the International Teaching Centre of a dear friends have made to the advancement decision it has made. of the Cause of God during their years of THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA 'U' LLAH 685

The members of the International Teaching Centre in front of the Seat of the Universal House ofJustice in June 1988. Left to right: Mrs. Joy Stevenson, Mr. Hartmut Grossmann, Mrs. Lauretta King, Mr. Mas 'ud Khamsi, the Hand of the Cause of God 'Ali-Akbar Furutan, Dr. Magdalene Carney, the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu 'l-Baha Riihiyyih Khcinum, Mr. Donald Rogers, Mr. Peter Vuyiya, Dr. Farzam Arbcib, Mrs. Isobel Sabri.

service as Counsellors, and we pray that the Continental Fund in the Americas, and blessings of Baha'u'llah will surround them Counsellor Ben Ayala to be Trustee in in all they undertake in the future. Australasia. We now have great happiness in The Universal House of Justice announcing the appointment of the following believers as Continental Counsellors: 16 JUNE 1988 Africa: Mr. George Allen and WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS CONVEY TO THE

Mr. Hizzaya Hissani FOLLOWERS OF BAHA ' U' LLAH THROUGHOUT The Americas: Mr. Gustavo Correa, WORLD JOYFUL NEWS FIRST MEETING NEWLY

Mrs. Jacqueline Delahunt APPOINTED INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CENTRE.

and Dr. William Roberts. ON MORNING OF FRIDAY THIRD JUNE THE Asia: Dr. Kim Myung-Jung and HA N DS OF THE CAUSE AMATUL-BAHA RUH IYYIH Mrs. Shantha Sundram KHANUM AND ALI AKBAR FURUTAN , THE MEM- Australasia: Mrs. Violette Haake BERS OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE AND Europe: Mr. Patrick O'Mara, THE NINE COUNSELLOR MEMBERS OF THE INTER-

Mrs. Elisabeth Milhlschlegel NATIO NAL TEACHING CENTRE GATHERED IN and Dr. Shapoor Rassekh. BAHJI AND ENTERED THE MOST HOLY SHRINE Furthermore, as two of the Counsellors FOR PRAYERS BEFORE PROCEED ING TO THE

now appointed to the International Teaching MANS ION OF BAHA'U ' LLAH WHERE THE IR FIRST Centre had been Trustees of their respective JOI NT MEETTNG WAS HELD IN ROOM ASSOCIATED Continental Funds, we now appoint Coun- W ITH SHOGI-11 EFFENDI. ALL WERE ACUTELY sellor Peter McLaren to be Trustee of the CONSC IOUS OF THE INESTIMABLE BLESSING OF 686 THE BAHA'i WORLD

INITIATING THEIR CONSULTATIONS IN THESE Mr. Zekrollah Kazemi, Mr. Mu!;iammad SACRED PRECINCTS. IN THJS AND SUBSEQUENT Kebdani, Mr. Daniel Ramoroesi, Mr. Gilbert CONSULTATIONS DURING THE DAYS WHICH FOL- Robert, Mrs. Edith Senoga, Mrs . Lucretia LOWED, TI-IE TASKS OF TI-IE INTERNATIONAL M. Warren, Mr. Mabuku Wingi. TEACHING CENTRE IN FACE OF TI-IE TREMEN- The Americas (17 Counsellors): DOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHING NOW Mr. Eloy Anello, Mr. Gustavo Correa, BEFORE TI-IE BAI-IA'! WORLD WERE REVIEWED, Mr. Rolf von Czekus, Mrs. Jacqueline AND NEW PATTERNS OF OPERATION WERE Delahunt, Dr. Wilma M. Ellis, Dr. Peter FORMULATED. REJOICE NEW VISTAS OPENIN G McLaren (Trustee of the Continental Fund), FOR YI CTORJOUS PROMOTION CAUS E GOD. Mr. Shapoor Monadjem, Mrs. Linda Neu- The Universal House of Justice feld, Mrs. Ruth Pringle, Dr. William Robe1ts, Mrs. Isabel de Sanchez, Mr. Fred 30 OCTOBER 1989 Schechter, Mr. Errol Sealy, Dr. Arturo The untimely passing of Mr. Roddy Serrano, Mr. Alan Smith, Dr. David R. Lutchmaya on 25 September 1989 left a Smith, Mr. Rodrigo Tomas. vacancy on the Continental Board of Coun- Asia ( 17 Counsellors): sellors in Africa. By the appointment of Mr. Dr. Sabir Afaqi, Mr. Burharn'd-Din Afshin, Gilbert Robert of Reunion to membership of Mr. Fai;lil Ardikani, Mr. Jabbar Eidelthat Board we have now filled this vacancy.' khani, Mr. Bijan Farid, Dr. John Fozdar, The Universal House of Justice Mr. David Huang, Mr. 'Abbas Katirai, Dr. Kirn Myung Jung, Mrs. Lee Lee Lud- 29 AUGUST 1990 her, Mr. S. Nagaratnam, Dr. Perin Olyai, PROFOUNDLY DEPLORE TRAGIC C IRCUM- Mrs. Rose Ong, Mr. Vicente Samaniego, STANCES SUDDEN PASSING DEARLY LOYED, Mrs. Kimiko Schwerin, Mrs. Zena Sorab- WI-IOLL Y DEVOTED , INDEFATIGABLE SERVANT jee, Mrs. Shantha Sundram (Trustee of the BAI-IA'U'LLAI-1 I-IEDAYATOULLAH AI-IMAD- Continental Fund). IYEI-1 . .. . Australasia (10 Counsellors): The Universal House of Justice Mr. Ben Ayala, Mrs. Beatrice Benson, Mr. Afemata Moli Chang, Dr. Kamran 25 OCTOBER 1990 Eshraghian (Trustee of the Continental It gives us great pleasure to announce the Fund), Mrs. Violette Haake, Mrs. Tinai membership of the Continental Boards of Hancock, Mrs. Betra Majmeto, Mrs. Gayle Counsellors as from the Day of the Cove- Morrison, Dr. Sin.ls Naraqi, Mr. Bruce nant, 26 November 1990. The number of Saunders. continental Counsellors remains at 72, but Europe (10 Counsellors): adjustments have been made in their geo- Mr. Louis Henuzet, Mr. Foad Kazemzadeh, graphical distribution in consonance with the Mrs . Elisabeth Miihlschlegel, Mr. Patrick development of the Faith around the world. O'Mara (Trustee of the Continental Fund), The membership of the Continental Boards Mr. Nabil Perdu, Mrs. Polin Rafat, of Counsellors as now appointed is: Dr. Shapour Rassekh, Mr. Paul Semenoff, Africa (18 Counsellors): Dr. Ilhan Sezgin, Mr. Sohrab Y oussefian. Dr. Hushang Ahdieh (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Mr. George Allen, The following eighteen devoted believers Mrs. Beatrice 0. Asare, Mr. Gila Michael who are now being relieved of the onerous Bahta, Mr. Kiser Barnes, Mrs . Parvin duties of membership on the Boards of Djoneidi, Mr. Mehraz Ehsani, Mr. Friday Counsellors will, as distinguished servants Ekpe, Mr. Shidan Fat'he-Aazam, Mr. Kas- of the Cause, continue through their outsimi Fofana, Mr. Hizzaya Hissani, standing capacities and experience to be THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 687 sources of stimulation and encouragement to We are calling upon the Counsellors from the friends . all continents to gather at the World Centre Mr. Suhayl Ala'i, Mr. Husayn Ardekani, from 28 December 1990 through 3 January Justice Richard Benson, Mrs. Isabel de 1991 for a conference to deliberate on the Calderon, Mr. Oloro Epyeru, Dr. Agnes tasks and opportunities of the years immedi- Ghaznavi, Mr. ZabiDu'llah GulmuDammadi, ately ahead, as we approach the end of the Mr. Robert Harris, Mr. Bharat Koirala, Six Year Plan and the observance of the Mr. Lisiate Maka, Mr. Rouhollah Momtazi, Holy Year marking the Centenary of the Mrs. Ursula Mi.ihlschlegel, Dr. Leo Ascension ofBaha'u'llah and of the inaugu- Niederreiter, Mr. KhudaraQm Payman, ration of His Covenant. Mr. MasiD Rawl~ani, Dr. Mihdi Samandari, It is our fervent hope that from this Con- U Soe Tin, Mr. Michitoshi Zenimoto. ference will flow a stream of guidance and We express to each and every one of inspiration to the followers ofBaha'u'llah in these dear friends our heartfelt gratitude and every land, reinforcing a hundredfold their assure them of our prayers in the Holy endeavours to achieve the triumph of the Shrines for the confirmation of their highly Cause of God. meritorious ~nd self-sacrificing services to The Universal House of Justice the Cause ofBaha ' u' llah. Throughout all the continents the RIQVA N 1991 influential and energetic services of the ... We are delighted and encouraged Counsellors have demonstrated the progres- beyond measure by the vigorous beginning sive development of their essential sphere of which the Boards of Counsellors have made operation. The effective manner in which as they entered the new term of their they inspire both the believers and institu- indispensable and highly appreciated tions with a greater sense of vision and services to the Baha' i world. The fresh direction; the extensive consultations they initiatives to which, with the whole-hearted carry out with National Spiritual Assemblies encouragement and splendid support of the in the prosecution of the objectives of the International Teaching Centre, they now Six Year Plan; the part they play in the bend their energies, augur well for a gratifyvanguard of believers addressing the needs ing completion of the Six Year Plan. May of the supplementary Two Year Plan in their exertions be greatly bolstered by the Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, Mongolia increase, as of the Day of the Covenant this and China; the widespread support they year, in the number of Auxiliary Board offer to the consolidation efforts at the grass members to 846-90 more than exist at roots of the communities through the dedi- present. The world-wide community will cated untiring effotis of their Auxiliary Board certainly welcome the strength which this members and their assistants; the steady action will bring to the scope and quality of encouragement they lend to both the enro l- the spiritual duties assigned to the Auxiliary ment and deepening of youth and children; Board members and their assistants, whose the generous assistance they extend to the operation at the grass roots is a guarantee of teaching work through the allocation of the continued expansion and consolidation subvention funds to special projects and the of our glorious Faith. publication and dissemination of Baha' i litera- The Universal House of Justice ture and aud io-visual materials-in all these activities we witness the manifold evidences 14 MAY 1991 of the vital ro le exercised by these high- Wel l nigh four decades have elapsed ranking officers of the Faith in the protection since the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, and propagation of the Cause of God. asked the Hands of the Cause of God 688 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa in 1991. Seated, left to right: Parvin Djoneidi, Friday Ekpe, Lucretia Warren, Edith Senoga, Muhammad Kebdani, Beatrice Asare, Gilbert Robert. Standing, left to right: Shidan Fat 'he-Aazam, Kassimi Fofana, Mehraz Ehsani, Mabuku Wingi, Kiser Barnes, George Allen, Daniel Ramoroesi, Zekrollah Kazemi, Gila Michael Bahta, Hushang Ahdieh.

I I

Members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Americas in 1991. Front row, left to right: Jacqueline Delahunt, Isabel de Sanchez, A Ian Smith, Eloy Anello, Wilma Ellis, Ruth Pringle, Rodrigo Tomas. Middle row: Linda Neufeld, David Smith, Errol Sealy, William Roberts, Arturo Serrano. Back row: Fred Schechter, Peter McLaren, Rolf von Czekus, Shapoor Monadjem, Gustavo Correa. (Top left is Mr. Robert Henderson.) THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 689

residing outside the Holy Land to appoint, in 7 OCTOBER 1991 each continent, resident Baha'is who would We are happy to a1111ounce the appointserve as members of an Auxiliary Board, ment of Dr. Payman Mohajer as a new referred to by him as a "vital and indispens- member of the Continental Board of Counable organ of the embryonic and steadily sellors in Asia. unfolding Baha' i Administrative Order" .... He is replacing Mr. S. Nagaratnam who, In addition to the qualities usually sought due to ill health and personal circumstances, in members of the Auxiliary Board, a pri- found it necessary to resign from the Board mary characteristic called for at this time is a of Counsellors. His resignation was regretwillingness to approach their work in a style fully accepted and his many years of and manner that will truly arouse and release dedicated service in his capacity as a the power that resides in the believers, thus Counsellor are warmly remembered. enabling them to arise and serve the Cause The Universal House of Justice with fervour and devotion reminiscent of the dawn-breakers of the Heroic Age .... 10 O CTOBER 1991 It is awe-inspiring to contemplate the DEEPLY GRIEVED SUDDEN PASSING STAL- invigorating actions that will devolve upon WART MAIDS ERVANT BAHA'U'LLAH MEMBER our arm of the Administrative Order in INTERNATIONAL TEACHfNG CENTRE MAGDALENE connection with the forthcoming festivities, M. CARNEY. HER WELL NIGH THREE DECADES UNBROKEN SERVICE CAUSE GOD EXERTED commemorations, and celebrations of the IMMENSE INFLUENCE TEACHING WORK SOUTHERN Holy Year; also to realise that soon after the REGION UNITED STATES, INVOLVED THIRTEEN conclusion of these momentous events, the YEARS MEMBERSHIP NATIONAL SPIRITUAL International Baha'i Convention will take ASSEMBLY THAT COUNTRY UNTIL HER APPO INT- place during Ric;!van 1993 and a new chapter MENT IN 1983 TO INTERNATIONAL TEACHING in the prosecution of the Tablets of the CENTRE. INDOM ITABLE FAITH, UNSWERV ING Divine Plan will be opened. Considering the DEVOTION COVENANT, SELFLESS SP IRIT, OPEN implications of these events for our institu- CANDOUR, WHOLEHEARTED COMMITM ENT tion, we have decided to request you to call, EDUCATION CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE AMONG on our behalf, special conferences in regions QUALITIES THAT WILL EVER BE ASSOCIATED of your continent for the members of the WITH GOLDEN MEMORIES HER HIGHLY ACTIV E Auxiliary Boards sometime during Janua1y LIFE. ARDENTLY PRAY ING HOLY THRESHOLD and February 1992. A member of the Inter- PROGRESS HER STERLING SOUL THROUGHOUT national Teaching Centre will join you and DIVfNE WORLDS. ADVISE HOLD MEMORIAL SER- participate in these gatherings, which we VI CES HER HONOUR ALL HOUSES WORS HIP AND envision may take up to five days . .. fN BAHA'I COMMUNITLES THROUGHOUT WORLD. As we contemplate the transition from the The Universal House of Justice days in 1954 when thirty-six Auxiliary Board members were assigned for the entire Baha'i 16 APRJL 1992 world, to today when eight hundred and The members of the International Teachforty-six have been allocated and thousands ing Centre returned from the Auxiliary Board of assistants appointed, we bow our heads conferences filled with admiration for the in wonder at the developments in the Cause magnificent services that Auxiliary Board that have generated this tremendous increase. members and their assistants are rendering This fact bolsters our eagerness to reflect and to the Cause everywhere .... consult with you on ways to make ever more In each conference the greater part of the effective and efficient the operation of this consultation revolved around the imperative vital agency of the Administrative Order. to translate high ideals and ardent love into International Teaching Centre action. We have no doubt that the Auxiliary 690 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Asia in 1991. Seated, left to right: $izbir Afaqi, Lee Lee Ludher, 'Abbas Katirai, Kimiko Schwerin, Fa<f,il Ardikani, Jabbar Eidelkhani. Standing: S. Nagaratnam, Shantha Sundram, Kim Myung Jung, Perin Olyai, David Huang, Rose Ong, Bijan Farid, Zena Sorabjee, John Fozdar, Burhizni 'd-Din Afshin.

Members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia in 1991. Seated, left to right: Ben Ayala, Violette Haake, Sinls Naraqi, Tinai Hancock, Kamran Eshraghian. Standing, left to right: Beatrice Benson, Gayle Morrison, Bruce Saunders, Afemata Moli Chang, Betra Majmeto. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U ' LLAH 691

Members of the Continental Board of Couns ellors for Europe in 1991 . From left to right: Polin Rafat, Sohrab Youssefi.an, Shapour Rassekh, Nabil Perdu, Paul Semenoff, Louis Henuzet, Ilhan Sezgin, Foad Kazemzadeh, Patrick 0 'Mara, Elisabeth Miihlschlegel.

Board members and their assistants will and their auxiliaries, backed by a reinforced be instrumental during the Holy Year in cre- and vigorous International Teaching Centre, ating an atmosphere that will generate assured to the Spiritual Assemblies, whom manifold activities to emblazon the Name of they are charged to stimulate and advise, a Baha'u 'llah throughout every region. We buttressing indispensable to the welfare of ardently hope that the momentum gained the entire system; while the extension of the during the Holy Year will usher the Baha 'i span of activities of the National and Local conununity into a period of unprecedented Spiritual Assemblies, themselves charged victories during the Three-Year Plan . ... with guiding the destinies of their communi- International Teaching Centre ties, significantly broadened the base of that system. Collaterally, the work of these RIDVAN 1992 institutions has facilitated and boosted the ... The advances in the consolidation of evolution of the Administrative Order. Even the Baha'i administrative system are evident more: they have demonstrated a creative from the marked improvement in the inter- energy that bodes well for their continued nal development and collaborative efforts of maturation. its two arms .... The growth in confidence The Universal House of Justice and strength of the Boards of Counsellors 692 THE BAHA'I WORLD

In Suriname, Counsellor Jacqueline Delahunt (left) consults with Mrs. Terry Madison during the National Convention held in Paramaribo in April 1990.

In Czechoslovakia, ' Counsellor Riihu 'llah Mumtazi (standing right) visits friends in Prague in December I 986.

In Ha waii, Counsellor Gayle Morrison (standing fifth fi'om right) attending a joint meeting between the National Spiritual Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands and the Local Assembly of Honolulu held in February 1987. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 693

In Korea, Counsellor Kim Myung Jung (standing third Ji-om right) joins in celebrating the Seventieth Anniversary of the Introduction of the Faith in Korea during an event held in Seoul on 18Feburary 1992.

Jn Guatemala, members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Americas and some Auxilimy Board members meeting with members of the National Spiritual Assemblies in Central America; 1990.

Jn Bophuthatswana, Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre Dr. Magdalene Carney (front left) meets joyful co-workers Counsellor Daniel Ramoroesi and Lally Warren (front) and A uxilimy Board members Enos Makhele (back left) and Sohail Rowhani; l 989. III THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

1. INTRODUCTION

f N this Day a great festival is taking place in the Realm above.for whatsoever was promised in the sacred Scriptures hath been fulfilled. This is the Day ofgreat rejoicing. 1

The primary mission of the Baha ' i Faith is National Spiritual Assemblies are among the establishment of a Divine Civilization-the the pillars of the evolving edifice of the Kingdom of God on earth. "For Baha'u'llah," Baha'i World Order and were first elected Shoghi Effendi wrote, in response to a letter written by Shoghi Effendi on 12 March 1923 to the followers ... has not only imbued mankind with a of Baha'u'llah throughout America, Great new and regenerating Spirit. He has not Britain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, merely enunciated certain universal princi- Japan and Australasia: ples, or propounded a particular philosophy, however potent, sound and universal ... it is of vital importance that in every these may be. In addition to these He, country, where the conditions are favoras well as 'Abdu'l-Baha after Him, has, able and the number of the friends has unlike the Dispensations of the past, grown and reached a considerable size, clearly and specifically laid down a set such as America, Great Britain and of Laws, established definite institutions, Germany, that a "National Spiritual and provided for the essentials of a Assembly" be immediately established, Divine Economy. These are destined to representative of the friends throughout be a pattern for future society, a supreme that country. Its immediate purpose is instrument for the establishment of the to stimulate, unify and coordinate by Most Great Peace, and the one agency for frequent personal consultations, the manithe unification of the world, and the proc- fold activities of the friends as well as the lamation of the reign of righteousness and local Assemblies; and by keeping in close justice upon the earth. 2 and constant touch with the Holy Land, initiate measures, and direct in general the affairs of the Cause in that country. It serves also another purpose, no less Baha' u' llah, Tablets of Baha 'u '//ah Revealed essential than the first, as in the course of After the Kitab-i-Aqdas (Haifa: Baha 'i World time it shall evolve into the National Centre, 1978), p. 78. House of Justice (referred to in ' Abdu'l- Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Ba ha 'u 'I/ah, Baha's Will as the "secondary House of Selected l etters (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Justice"), which according to the explicit Trust, 1982), p. 19. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 695 text of the Testament will have, in incorporated. It is this model document which conjunction with the other National is printed below. Assemblies throughout the Baha'i world, Baha'i administration is an evolving to elect directly the members of the structure, however, as Shoghi Effendi coun- International House of Justice, that Sup- selled the friends in a letter written on reme Council that will guide, organize 21March1930: and unify the affairs of the Movement throughout the world. 2 It should also be borne in mind that the machinery of the Cause has been so fash- The response to the Guardian's direction ioned, that whatever is deemed necessary was immediate. The National Spiritual to incorporate into it in order to keep it in Assemblies of the British Isles, Germany the forefront of all progressive moveand Austria, and India and Burma were rec- ments, can, according to the provisions ognized by him in 1923 as having fulfilled made by Baha'u'llah, be safely embodied the electoral requirements for formation. therein. 3 The first National Assembly of Egypt and Sudan was formed in 1924, and the National That the Spiritual Assemblies of today Assemblies of the Caucasus, Turkistan, and will be replaced in time by the Houses the United States and Canada were estab- of Justice, and are to all intents and purlished in 1925. poses identical and not separate bodies, is In 1927, the members of the National abundantly confirmed by 'Abdu'l-Baha Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Himself.. .. For reasons which are not United States and Canada adopted a Decla- difficult to discover, it has been found ration of Trust, with its attendant by-laws, advisable to bestow upon the elected which was recognized under common law representatives of Baha'i communities to give substance and character to the throughout the world the temporary appelinstitution and the administrative processes lation of Spiritual Assemblies, a term embodied in the Baha'i teachings. This which, as the position and aims of the Declaration of Trust became the model to be Baha'i Faith are better understood and followed, with adaptions as local laws and more fully recognized, will gradually be circumstances required, by other National superseded by the permanent and more Spiritual Assemblies. appropriate designation of House of The years following the election of the Justice. Not only will the present-day Universal House of Justice witnessed a great Spiritual Assemblies be styled differently increase in the number of National Spiritual in future, but they will be enabled also Assemblies (from 56 in 1963 to 165 by to add to their present functions those Ric;lvan 1992) and the House of Justice itself powers, duties, and prerogatives necessiprovided a model document, largely based tated by the recognition of the Faith of on the one devised by the National Spiritual Baha'u'llah, not merely as one of the Assembly of the United States, to be recognized religious systems of the world, followed as closely as possible by all new but as the State Religion of an indepen- National Spiritual Assemblies as they become dent and Sovereign Power. 4

2 3 Shoghi Effendi , Bahn 'i Administration (Wilmette: The World Order of Bahn 'u 'llah, pp. 22- 23. Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1960), p. 39. 4 ibid., pp. 6- 7. THE BAHA'I WORLD

2. A MODEL DECLARATION OF TRUST AND BY-LAWS FOR A NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

FOREWORD

THE 1926-27 National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada completed a task which, while pertaining to the outer and more material aspects of the Cause, nevertheless has a special significance for its spirit and inward sacred purpose. This task consisted in creating a legal form which gives proper substance and substantial character to the National Spiritual Assemblies and the administrative processes embodied in the Baha' i teachings by a fom1 of incorporation recognized under common law. This Declaration of Trust, with its attendant By-Laws, became the model to be followed, with adaptations as local laws and circumstances required, by other National Spiritual Assemblies. The years following the election of the Universal House of Justice witnessed a great increase in the number of National Spiritual Assemblies (from 57 in 1963 to 135 by Ric;lvan 1983) and the House of Justice itself provided a model document, largely based on the one devised by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, to be followed as closely as possible by all new National Spiritual Assemblies as they became incorporated, which they were required to do under the Nine Year Plan. Careful examination of the Declaration and its By-Laws will reveal the fact that this document contains no arbitrary elements nor features new to the Baha'i Cause. On the contrnry, it represents a most conscientious effort to reflect those very administrative principles and elements already set forth in the letters of the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, and already determining the methods and relationships of Baha'i collective association. The provision both in the Declaration and in the By-Laws for amendments in the future will permit the National Spiritual Assemblies to adapt this document to such new administrative elements or principles as may at any time be given forth. The Declaration, in fact, is nothing more nor less than a legal parallel of those moral and spiritual laws of unity inherent in the fullness of the Balla ' i Revelation and making it the fulfilment of the ideal of religion in the social as well as spiritual realm. Because, in the Balla 'i Faith, this perfect correspondence exists between spiritual and social laws, the Baha ' is believe that administrative success is identical with moral success, and that nothing less than the hue Baha'i spirit of devotion and sacrifice can inspire with effective power the world-wide body of unity revealed by Baha'u' llah.

DECLARATION OF TRUST By the NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA ' iS OF ..

WE, duly chosen by the representatives of the Baha' is of ... at the Annual Meeting held at ... , on ... , to be the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha' is of ... , with full power to establish a Trust as hereinafter set forth, hereby declare that from this date the powers, responsibilities, THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U ' LLAH 697 rights, privileges and obligations reposed in said National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of .. . by Baha'u'llah, Founder of the Baha' i Faith, by 'Abdu 'l-Baha, its Interpreter and Exemplar, by Shoghi Effendi, its Guardian, and by the Universal House of Justice, ordained by Baha 'u 'llah in His sacred Writings as the supreme body of the Baha'i religion, shall be exercised, administered and carried on by the above-named National Spiritual Assembly and their duly qualified successors under this Declaration of Trust. The National Spiritual Assembly in adopting this form of association, union and fellowship, and in selecting for itself the designation of Trustees of the Baha'is of ... , does so as the administrative body of a religious community which has had continuous existence and responsibility for ... In consequence of these activities the National Spiritual Assembly is called upon to administer such ever-increasing diversity and volume of affairs and properties for the Baha'is of ... , that we, its members, now feel it both desirable and necessary to give our collective functions more definite legal fo1m. This action is taken in complete unanimity and with full recognition of the sacred relationship thereby created. We acknowledge in behalf of ourselves and our successors in this Trust the exalted religious standard established by Baha'u'llah for Baha'i administrative bodies in the utterance: Be ye Trustees of the Merciful One among men; and seek the help of God and His guidance in order to fulfil that exhortation. (Signatures of the nine members) Date

ARTI CLE I The name of said Trust shall be ' the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of ... '

ARTICLE II Sharing the ideals and assisting the efforts of our fellow Baha' is to establish, uphold and promote the spiritual, educational and humanitarian teachings of human brotherhood, radiant faith, exalted character and selfless love revealed in the lives and utterances of all the Prophets and Messengers of God, Founders of the world's revealed religions-and given renewed creative energy and universal application to the conditions of this age in the life and utterances ofBaha 'u'llah-we declare the purposes and objects of this Trust to be to administer the affairs of the Cause ofBaha' u'llah for the benefit of the Baha'is of ... according to the principles of Baha 'i affiliation and administration created and established by Baha'u 'llah, defined and explained by 'Abdu ' l-Baha, interpreted and amplified by Shoghi Effendi, and supplemented and applied by the Universal House of Justice. These purposes are to be realized by means of devotional meetings; by public meetings and conferences of an educational, humanitarian and spiritual character; by the publication of books, magazines and newspapers; by the construction of temples of universal worship and of other institutions and edifices for humanitarian service; by supervising, unifying, promoting and generally administering the activities of the Baha'is of ... in the fulfilment of their religious offices, duties and ideals; and by any other means appropriate to these ends, or any of them. Other purposes and objects of this Trust are: a. The right to enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of every sort and kind for the furth erance of the objects of this Trust with any person, firm, association, corporation, private, public or municipal or body politic, or any state, territory or colony thereof, or any foreign government; and in this connection, and in all transactions 698 TH E BAHA' I WORLD

under the terms of this Trust, to do any and all things which a copartnership or natural person could do or exercise, and which now or hereafter may be authorized by law. b. To hold and be named as beneficiary under any trust established by law or otherwise or under any will or other testamentary instrument in connection with any gift, devise, or bequest in which a trust or trusts is or are established in any part of the world as well as in .. .; to receive gifts, devises or bequests of money or other property. c. All and whatsoever the several purposes and objects set forth in the written utterances of Baha'u'llah, 'Abdu ' l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi, and enactments of the Universal House of Justice, under which certain jurisdiction, powers and rights are granted to National Spiritual Assemblies. d. Generally to do all things and acts which in the judgement of said Trustees, i.e. , the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of ... , are necessary, proper and advantageous to promote the complete and successful administration of this Trust.

ARTICLE III SECTION I . All persons, firms, corporations and associations extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trustees, i.e., the National Spiritual Assembly, and the members thereof, of any character whatsoever whether legal or equitable and whether arising out of contract or tort, shall look solely to the funds of the Trust and to the property of the Trust estate for payment or indemnity, or for payment of any debt, damage, judgement or decree or any money that may otherwise become due or payable from the Trustees, so that neither the Trustees nor any of them, nor any of their officers or agents appointed by them hereunder, nor any beneficiary or beneficiaries herein named shall be personally liable therefor. SECTI ON 2. Every note, bond, proposal, obligation or contract in writing or other agreement

or instrument made or given under this Trust shall be explicitly executed by the National Spiritual Assembly, as Trustees, by their duly authorized officers or agents.

ARTICLE IV The Trustees, i.e., the National Spiritual Assembly, shall adopt for the conduct of the affairs entrusted to them under this Declaration of Trust, such by-laws , rules of procedure or regulations as are required to define and cany on its own administrative functions and those of the several local and other elements composing the body of the Baha' is of .. ., not inconsistent with the terms of this instrument and all in accordance with the instructions and enactments of the Universal House of Justice.

ARTICLE V The central office of this Trust shall be located in ....

ARTI CLE VI The seal of this Trust shall be circular in fom1, bearing the following inscription: National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha' is of ....

ARTICLE VII This Declaration of Trust may be amended by majority vote of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha' is of .. . at any special meeting duly called for that purpose, provided that at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for said meeting a copy of the proposed amendment or amendments is mailed to each member of the Assembly by the Secretary. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 699 BY-LAWS OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

ARTICLE I THE National Spiritual Assembly, in the fulfilment of its sacred duties under this Trust, shall have exclusive jurisdiction and authority over all the activities and affairs of the Baha'i Cause throughout .. ., including paramount authority in the administration of this Trust. It shall endeavour to stimulate, unify and coordinate the manifold activities of the Local Spiritual Assemblies (hereinafter defined) and of individual Baha' is in .. . and by all possible means assist them to promote the oneness of mankind. It shall be charged with the recognition of such Local Assemblies, the scrutiny of all membership rolls, the calling of the Annual Meeting or special meetings and the seating of delegates to the Annual Meeting and their apportionn1ent among the various electoral districts. It shall appoint all national Baha'i committees and shall supervise the publication and distribution of Baha'i literature, the reviewing of all writings pertaining to the Baha' i Cause, the construction and administration of the Mashriqu ' l-Adhkar and its accessory activities, and the collection and disbursement of all funds for the carrying on of this Trust. It shall decide whether any matter lies within its own jurisdiction or within the jurisdiction of any Local Spiritual Assembly. It shall, in such cases as it considers suitable and necessary, entertain appeals from the decisions of Local Spiritual Assemblies and shall have the right of final decision in all cases where the qualification of an individual or group for continued voting rights and membership in the Baha'i body is in question. It shall furthermore represent the Baha' is of ... in all their co-operative and spiritual activities with the Baha 'is of other lands, and shall constitute the sole electoral body of ... in the election of the Universal House of Justice provided for in the sacred Writings of the Baha'i Cause. Above all, the National Spiritual Assembly shall ever seek to attain that station of unity in devotion to the Revelation ofBaha'u'llah which will attract the confirmations of the Holy Spirit and enable the Assembly to serve the founding of the Most Great Peace. In all its deliberation and action the National Assembly shall have constantly before it as Divine guide and standard the utterance ofBaha'u' llah: It behooveth them (i.e., members of Spiritual Assemblies) to be the trusted ones of the Mercifitl among men and to regard themselves as the guardians appointed of God for all that dwell on earth. It is incumbent upon them to take counsel together and to have regard . for the interests of the servants of God, for His sake, even as they regard their own interests, and to choose that which is meet and seemly.

ARTI CLE II The Baha 'is of ... for whose benefit this Trust is established shall consist of all persons of the age of 15 years or over resident in ... who are accepted by the National Spiritual Assembly as possessing the qualifications of Baha'i faith and practice required under the following standard set forth by the Guardian of the Faith:

Full recognition of the station of the Bab, the Forerunner; of Baha ' u' llah, the Author; and of' Abdu'I-Baha, the True Exemplar of the Baha'i religion ; unreserved acceptance of, and submi ssion to, whatsoeve r has been revealed by their Pen; loyal and steadfast adherence to every clause of 'Abd u' l-Baha's sacred Will ; and close associati on with the spirit as well as the form of Baha'i Administration throughout the world.

Those residing in the area of jurisdiction of any Local Spiritual Assembly recognized by the National Assembly may declare their faith to, and be emolled by, the Local Spiritual Assembly; those living outside any such area oflocal Baha'ijurisdiction shall be emolled in such manner as shall be prescribed by the National Assembly. 700 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Upon attaining the age of21 years, a Baha'i is eligible to vote and to hold elective office.

ARTICLE III The National Assembly shall consist of nine members chosen from among the Baha ' is of ... , who shall be elected by the said Baha'is in manner hereinafter provided, and who shall continue for the period of one year, or until their successors shall be elected.

ARTICLE IV The officers of the National Spiritual Assembly shall consist of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and such other officers as may be found necessary for the proper conduct of its affairs. The officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the entire membership of the Assembly taken by secret ballot.

ARTICLE V The first meeting of a newly-elected National Assembly shall be called by the member elected to membership by the highest number of votes or, in case two or more members have received the same said highest number of votes, then by the member selected by lot from among those members; and this member shall preside until the permanent Chairman sha ll be chosen. All subsequent meetings shall be called by the Secretary of the Assembly at the request of the Chaim1an or, in his absence or incapacity, of the Vice-Chairman, or of any three members of the Assembly; provided, however, that the Annual Meeting of the Assembly shall be held at a time and place to be fixed by a majority vote of the Assembly, as hereinafter provided.

ARTICLE VI Five members of the National Assembly present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum, and a majority vote of those present and constituting a quorum shall be sufficient for the conduct of business , except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws, and with due regard to the principle of unity and cordial fellowship involved in the institution of a Spiritual Assembly. The transactions and decisions of the National Assembly shall be recorded at each meeting by the Secretary, who shall supply copies of the minutes to the Assembly members after each meeting, and preserve the minutes in the official records of the Assembly.

ARTICLE VII Whenever in any locality of ... , the number ofBaha'is resident therein recognized by the National Spiritual Assembly exceeds nine, these shall on April 21st of any year convene and elect by plmality vote a local administrntive body of nine members, to be known as the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of that community. Every such Spiritual Assembly shall be elected amrnally thereafter upon each successive 21st day of April. The members shall hold office for the term of one year or until their successors are elected and qualified. When, however, the number ofBaha'is in any authorized civil area is exactly nine, these shall on April 21st of any year, or in successive years, constitute themselves the Local Spiritual Assembly by joint declaration. Upon the recording of such declaration by the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, said body of nine shall become established with the rights, privileges and duties of a Local Spiritual Assembly as set forth in this instrument.

SECTION I. Each newly-elected Local Spiritual Assembly shall at once proceed in the manner indicated in Articles IV and V of these By-Laws to the election of its officers, who THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 701 shall consist of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and such other officers as the Assembly finds necessary for the conduct of its business and the fulfilment of its spiritual duties . Immediately thereafter the Secretary chosen shall transmit to the Secretary of the National Assembly the names of the members of the newly-elected Assembly and a list of its officers. SECTION 2. The general powers and duties of a Local Spiritual Assembly shall be as set forth in the writings ofBaha'u'llah, 'Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi, and as laid down by the Universal House of Justice. SECTION 3. Among its more specific duties, a Local Spiritual Assembly shall have full jurisdiction of all Baha'i activities and affairs within the local community, subject, however, to the exclusive and paramount authority of the National Spiritual Assembly as defined herein. SECTION 4. Vacancies in the membership of a Local Spiritual Assembly shall be filled by election at a special meeting of the local Baha'i community duly called for that purpose by the Assembly. In the event that the number of vacancies exceeds four, making a quorum of the Local Assembly impossible, the election shall be held under the supervision of the National Spiritual Assembly. SECTION 5. The business of the Local Assembly shall be conducted in like manner as provided for the deliberations of the National Assembly in Article VI above . SECTION 6. The Local Assembly shall pass upon and approve the qualifications of each member of the Baha' i community before such members shall be admitted to voting membership; but where an individual is dissatisfied with the ruling of the Local Spiritual Assembly upon his Baha'i qualifications, such individual may appeal from the ruling to the National Assembly, which shall thereupon take jurisdiction of and finall y decide the case. SECTION 7. On or before the 1st day of November of each year the Secretary of each Local Assembly shall send to the Secretary of the National Assembly a duly certified list of the voting members of the local Baha'i community for the information and approval of the National Assembly. SECTION 8. All matters arising within a local Baha'i community which are of purely local interest and do not affect the national interests of the Cause shall be under the prima1y jurisdiction of the Spiritual Assembly of that locality; but decision whether a particular matter involves the interest and welfare of the national Baha'i body shall rest with the National Spiritual Assembly. SECTION 9. Any member of a local Baha'i community may appeal from a decision of his Spiritual Assembly to the National Assembly, which shall dete1mine whether it shall take jurisdiction of the matter or leave it to the Local Spiritual Assembly for reconsideration. In the event that the National Assembly assumes jurisdiction of the matter, its findings shall be final. SECTION 10. Where any dissension exists within a local Baha'i community of such character that it cannot be remedied by the efforts of the Local Spiritual Assembly, this condition shall be referred by the Spiritual Assembly for consideration to the National Spiritual Assembly, whose action in the matter shall be final. SECTION 11 . All questions arising between two or more Local Spiritual Assemblies, or between members of different Baha'i communities, shall be submitted in the first instance to the National Assembly, which shall have original and final jurisdiction in all such matters. SECTION 12. The sphere of jurisdiction of a Local Spiritual Assembly, with respect to residential qualification of membership, and voting rights of a believer in any Baha' i community, shall be the locality included within the recognized civil limits. All differences of opinion concerning the sphere of jurisdiction of any Local Spiritual 702 THE BAHA ' I WORLD

Assembly or concerning the affiliation of any Baha'i or group of Baha'is in ... shall be referred to the National Spiritual Assembly, whose decision in the matter shall be final.

ARTICLE VIII The members of the National Spiritual Assembly shall be elected at an annual meeting to be known as the National Convention of the Baha'is of ... This Convention shall be held at a time and place to be fixed by the National Assembly. The National Convention shall be composed jointly of representatives chosen by the Baha'is of each ... under the principle of proportionate representation, and the members of the National Spiritual Assembly. Notice of the annual meeting shall be given by the National Assembly sixty days in advance in the Convention Call which sets forth the number of delegates assigned to the various electoral units in proportion to the number ofBaha'is resident in each such unit, to a total of ... delegates for the Baha'is of ....

SECTION I. All delegates to the Convention shall.be elected by plurality vote. Baha'is who for illness or other unavoidable reasons are unable to be present at the election in person shall have the right to transmit their ballots to the meeting by mail. The meeting held in each ... for the election of delegates shall be called by the National Spiritual Assembly and conducted by the Baha' is present under whatever procedure may be uniformly laid down by said body. Immediately after the meeting a certified report of the election containing the name and address of each delegate shall be transmitted to the National Spiritual Assembly. SECTION 2. All delegates to be seated at the Convention must be recognized Baha'is and residents of the ... represented by them. SECTION 3. The rights and privileges of a delegate may not be assigned nor may they be exercised by proxy. SECTION 4. The recognition and seating of delegates to the National Convention shall be vested in the National Spiritual Assembly. SECTION 5. Delegates unable to be present in person at the Convention shall have the right to transmit their ballots for election of the members of the National Assembly under whatever procedure is adopted by the National Assembly. SECTION 6. If in any year the National Spiritual Assembly shall consider that it is impracticable or unwise to assemble together the delegates to the National Convention, the said Assembly shall provide ways and means by which the annual election and the other essential business of the Convention may be conducted by mail. SECTION 7. The presiding officer of the National Spiritual Assembly present at the Convention shall call together the delegates, who after roll call shall proceed to the permanent organization of the meeting, electing by ballot a Chairman, a Secretary and such other officers as are necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Convention. SECTION 8. The principal business of the annual meeting shall be consultation on Baha'i activities, plans and policies, and the election of the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly. Members of the National Assembly, whether or not elected delegates, may take a full part in the consultation and discussion but only delegates may pa11icipate in the election of Convention officers or in the annual election of the members of the National Assembly. All action by the delegates, other than the organization of the Convention, the transmission of messages to the World Centre of the Baha'i Faith, and the election of the National Assembly, shall constitute advice and recommendation for consideration by the said Assembly, final decision in all matters concerning the affairs of the Baha'i Faith in ... being vested solely in that body. TH E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U 'L LAH 703 SECTION 9. The general order of business to be taken up at the Annual Convention shall be prepared by the National Spiritual Assembly in the form of an agenda, but any matter pertaining to the Baha'i Faith introduced by any of the delegates may upon motion and vote be taken up as part of the Convention deliberations. SECTION Jo. The election of the members of the National Spiritual Assembly shall be by plurality vote of the delegates recognized by the outgoing National Spiritual Assembly, i.e., the members elected shall be the nine persons receiving the greatest number of votes on the first ballot cast by delegates present at the Convention and delegates whose ballot has been transmitted to the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly by mail. In case, by reason of a tie vote or votes, the full membership is not detem1ined on the first ballot, then one or more additional ballots shall be taken on the persons tied until all nine members are elected. SECTION J J. All official business transacted at the National Convention shall be recorded and preserved in the records of the National Assembly. SECTION 12. Vacancies in the membership of the National Spiritual Assembly shall be filled by a plurality vote of the delegates composing the Convention which elected the Assembly, the ballot to be taken by correspondence or in any other manner decided upon by the National Assembly.

ARTICLE IX Where the National Spiritual Assembly has been given in these By-Laws exclusive and final jurisdiction, and paramount executive authority, in all matters pertaining to the activities and affairs of the Baha'i Cause in ... , it is understood that any decision made or action taken upon such matters shall be subject in every instance to ultimate review and approval by the Universal House of Justice.

ARTICLE X Whatever functions and powers are not specifically attributable to Local Spiritual Assemblies in these By-Laws shall be considered vested in the National Spiritual Assembly, which body is authorized to delegate such discretionary functions and powers as it deems necessary and advisable to the Local Spiritual Assemblies within its jurisdiction.

ARTICLE XI In order to preserve the spiritual character and purpose of Baha ' i elections, the practice of nominations or any other electoral method detrimental to a silent and prayerful election shall not prevail, so that each elector may vote for none but those whom prayer and reflection have inspired him to uphold . Among the most outstanding and sacred duties incumbent upon those who have been called upon to initiate, direct and co-ordinate the affairs of the Cause as members of Local or National Assemblies are: To win by every means in their power the confidence and affection of those whom it is their privilege to serve, to investigate and acquaint themselves with the considered views, the prevailing sentiments and the personal convictions of those whose welfare it is their solemn obligation to promote, to purge their deliberations and the general conduct of their affairs of self-contained aloofness, the suspicion of secrecy, the stifling atmosphere of dictatorial assertiveness and of every word and deed that may savour of partiality, 704 THE BAHA'l WORLD

self-centredness and prejudice; and while retaining the sacred right of final decision in their hands , to invite discussion, ventilate grievances, welcome advice and foster the sense of inter-dependence and co-partnership, of understanding and mutual confidence between themselves and all other Baha'is.

ARTICLE XII These By-Laws may be amended by majority vote of the National Spiritual Assembly at any of its regular or special meetings, provided that at least fourteen days prior to the date fixed for the said meeting a copy of the proposed amendment or amendments is mailed to each member of the Assembly by the Secretary. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA ' U'LLA!-1

3. A PROCEDURE FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE ANNUAL BAHA'i CONVENTION

ARTICLE VIII of the Model Declaration • Election of the Chaim1an and Secretary of Trust and By-Laws of a National Spiritual of the Convention, and such other officers as Assembly (see pp.702-703) presents the may be required, by plurality vote in a secret essential elements which govern the elec- ballot of the assembled delegates from among tion, functions and authority of a National their own number. Baha 'i Convention, the body which consti- • Adoption of the Agenda of Convention tutes the electoral college for the National (see below). Spiritual Assembly of its country. •Reading of any message from the Uni- The purpose of consultation at the Annual versal House of Justice. Convention is threefold: to arrive at full and complete knowledge of the current condi- The remaining business of the Convention tions, problems and possibilities of the Faith follows the order of the Agenda which is in the country; to give the incoming National adopted, and includes the following elements, Assembly the benefit of the collective wis- some of which are distributed throughout the dom, guidance and constructive suggestions period of the Convention. of the assembled delegates; and to contribute •Presentation of the Annual Report of the to the unity, in spirit and in action, of the National Spiritual Assembly, including its entire Baha' i community. financial report, supplemented by the annual Over the years, national Baha 'i communi- reports of its Committees. It is desirable for ties have evolved procedures which are these reports to be supplied to the delegates followed at their National Conventions, and in writing in advance so that only supplewhich vary according to the size of the Con- mentary reports need to be given orally at vention and the conditions of the country in the time of the Convention. Among these which it is held. The following is an outline reports, presentations may be made on speof the elements of a typical procedure. cial subjects by well-qualified members or representatives of the National Assembly or ORDER OF BUSINESS its Committees or by non-Baha 'i experts The initial business of the Convention whose exposition is necessary or desirable follows an order dictated by the priorities of for the information of the delegates. the business: •Election of the members of the National • Call to order by the Presiding Officer of Spiritual Assembly. This, in accordance the outgoing National Spiritual Assembly with the express desire of the Guardian of (this is usually the Chairman, but could be the Faith, should take place approximately any member of the Assembly designated by midway during the Convention sessions so it for the purpose). that the delegates will have the opportunity • Prayer and devotional readings provided to consult with both the outgoing and incomby the outgoing National Spiritual Assembly. ing Assemblies. • Opening of the Convention by the Pre- • Approval of any messages from the Considing Officer of the National Spiritual vention to the Universal House of Justice and Assembly. other institutions, agencies or persons. • Roll call of the delegates by the Secre- • Consultation on the affairs of the Baha'i tary of the National Spiritual Assembly. Faith both national and international. Referring 706 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Counsellor Ursula Miihlschlegel was among the participants in the National Convention held in Athens, Greece, on 25 and 26 April 1987.

to the role of the members of the National delegates. However, the Convention may, by Spiritual Assembly in this consultation, majority vote, omit or add items, change the Shoghi Effendi has written: order, or even adopt an entirely new agenda. Banishing every vestige of secrecy, of undue reticence, of dictatorial aloofness, CONDUCT OF BUSINESS from their midst, they should radiantly Every deliberative body, to fulfil its funcand abundantly unfold to the eyes of the tions , must conduct its deliberations in delegates, by whom they are elected, their accordance with some established rules of plans, their hopes, and their cares. They order. The procedure here set forth for the should familiarize the delegates with the National Convention is based upon the provarious matters that will have to be con- cedure aheady adopted for meetings of Local sidered in the current year, and calmly and Assemblies and communities. It accordingly conscientiously study and weigh the opin- extends to sessions of the Annual Convenions and judgements of the delegates .... tion the same procedure under which the delegates, in their other Baha'i activities, are AGENDA FOR CONSULTATION accustomed to conduct discussions and con- An agenda for the sessions of the Con- sultation. vention is usually prepared beforehand by The freedom of each and every delegate the outgoing National Spiritual Assembly, to take part in discussion and to initiate including the various matters of national motions is untrammelled save as the undue Baha'i importance which it feels demand the activity of one delegate might hamper the attention of the delegates. This agenda will rights of the others. Any necessary limitainclude the items mentioned above and below tion to be placed upon individual discussion at appropriate times during the Convention. shall be determined by the Chaiiman in the The Reports of National Committees are absence of any specific motion duly carried often presented at the times during the con- by majority vote of the delegates themsultation when related subjects are to be selves. It is the duty of the Chaiiman to discussed. encourage general consultation and make TI1is agenda should be presented to the possible the active pa1ticipation of the Convention immediately after the election greatest possible number of delegates. of the Convention Officers and is usually The Chaiiman has the same power and adopted by majority vote of the assembled responsibility for discussion and voting upon THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 707 motions as do other delegates. Members of their ballot-papers, the Chairman calls the outgoing and incoming National Spir- upon the Secretary to collect the ballots. itual Assembly who are not delegates may 2. The Convention Secretary calls the roll of participate in the consultation but not vote, delegates , whereupon each delegate in as is also the case with any representative of turn places his or her ballot in the ballotthe Continental Board of Counsellors who box; and as names are called, those may have been deputed to attend on behalf ballots received by mail are also placed in of the Board. the ballot-box by the Secretary of the Any other person may be given the right National Spiritual Assembly. to address the Convention, by majority vote 3. When all ballots are cast, the ballot-box is of the delegates present. But care must be handed to the tellers, who retire from the taken that such pe1mission is not abused, Convention hall to count the votes and since the delegates have limited time at their determine the result of the election. disposal to engage in their vital deliberations. 4. The result of the balloting is reported by The Chairman shall call for votes by a the tellers to the Convention, and the tellshow of hands or similar means . ers' report is accepted by vote of the The transactions of the Convention shall Convention. be recorded by the Secretary, and when 5. A tie vote for the ninth place may be certified by the Convention officers, shall be broken by a revote between the persons given to the National Spiritual Assembly. tied, canied out by secret ballot of the delegates present at the Convention. ANNUAL ELECTION 6. If a member duly elected to the National The outgoing National Spiritual Assem- Spiritual Assembly submits his resignably provides the Convention officers with a tion to the National Assembly and his roll of elected delegates, ballot-papers, a resignation is accepted, his place must be ballot-box and tellers' report fom1s . filled by a ballot of all the delegates, not The election is conducted by the Conven- merely those present in the Convention tion, but delegates unable to attend have the hall. If all delegates are present, then right to vote by mail. such a by-election can be held while the The policy governing the appointment Convention is still in session. of tellers, like other details of Convention 7. The ballots, together with the tellers' procedure which are not defined in the Con- report, certified by all the tellers, are stitution of the National Spiritual Assembly, given to the National Spiritual Assembly. is within the discretion of the National Assembly to decide. The usual practice is TH E CONVENTION RECORD for the National Assembly either to ask the The permanent record of each successive Convention Chairman to appoint the tellers, National Baha' i Convention consists of the or to appoint them itself. Tellers may be following: appointed from among the assembled dele- 1. Convention Call as issued by the National gates or from among Balla ' is who are Spiritual Assembly. present but are not delegates. 2. List of accredited delegates. Th e electoral method is as follows: 3. Annual Reports of the National Spiritual Assembly and of its Conm1ittees. 1. After a period of prayer, the Convention 4. Messages sent to and received from the Chairman calls upon the delegates to Baha ' i World Centre and other institurecord their votes, during which time tions , agencies and persons. silence is observed. When all delegates 5. Resolutions and other transactions of the have had reasonable time to complete assembled delegates. 708 THE BAHA'I WORLD

6. The result of the election of the National the conditions of the Cause in his region and Spiritual Assembly. with the views of the Baha ' is whom he is elected to represent. DUTIES OF D ELEGATES OUTS ID E THE After the Convention each delegate should, CONVENTION SESSIONS as far as possible, share his experiences and The National Convention is not a continu- impressions of the Convention with the ously functioning institution, but the delegates Baha'is in his area. do have tluáee duties to perfom1 before and During the year, if there is a need for a after the Convention sessions. by-election to the National Spiritual Assem- Before the Convention each delegate bly, the delegates will be called upon to vote should do his best to familiarize hin1selfwith to fill the vacancy.

4. NEW NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES

1989

The National Spiritual Assembly of Guinea-Bissau. Counsellor Husayn Ardekani is seen standing on the far left; Counsellor Rolf von Czekus is standing on the far right. THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U ' LLAH 709