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inglese — The Baha'i World- Volume 12 (1950-1954).txt

Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, The Baha'i World: Volume 12 (1950-1954), Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1956, bahai-library.com.
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107, 108, 109 AND 110 OF THE BAHA'I ERA

1950-1954 A.D.
THE BAHA'I WORLD
A BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL RECORD

Prepared under the supervision of the National Spiritual Assembly
of the BahB'is of the United States
with the approval of Shoghi Effendi

V O L U M E XI1
107, log, 109 AND 110 OF THE BAHA'I ERA
APRIL 1950-1954 A.D.

BAHA'I P U B L I S H I N G T R U S T
Wilmette, Illinois
O Copyright 1956, by National Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is
of the United States.

Reprinted 1981

N 0 T E : The spelling of the Oriental words and proper
names used in this issue of THEBAHL'~ WORLDis according
to the system of transliteration established at one of the
International Oriental Congresses.

Library of Congress Catalogue Card No. 27-5882

Printed in t h e United States of America
To
SHOGHI EFFENDI
Guardian of the BahB'i Faith
this work is dedicated
in the hope that it will assist
his efforts to promote
that spiritual unity
underlying and anticipating the
"Most Great Peace"
of
BAHA'U'LLAH
CONTENTS
PART ONE
PAGE
I . Aims and Purposes of the BahVi Faith .............................. 1
I1. International Survey of Current Bahb'i Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
I11. Excerpts from the Bahb'i Sacred Writings:
1. Words of Bahb'u'llih . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
2 . Words of the Bib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
3. Words of 'Abdu'l-Bahi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
IV . The Centenary Celebrations of the Birth of the Mission of BahVu'llih, 1953 115
1. The Guardian's Announcement and Messages ................... 115
2 . The African Intercontinental Teaching Conference held in Kampala.
Uganda. February. 1953 .................................. 121
3. The All-America Intercontinental Teaching Conference held in Chi-
cago.U.S.A..April-May. 1953 ............................. 133
4 . The European Intercontinental Teaching Conference held in Stock-
holm.Sweden.July. 1953 ................................. 167
5. The Asian Intercontinental Teaching Conference held in New Delhi.
India. October. 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
V . The Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Bib 1850-1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
1. BahVu'llih's Tribute to the Bib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
2 . 'Abdu'l-Bahb's Tribute to the Bib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
3. The Guardian's Message for the Centenary of the Martyrdom of the
Bib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
4 . The Station of the Bib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
5. The Execution of the Bib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
6 . International Observance of the Centenary of the Martyrdom of the
Bib ................................................... 205
7 . The Martyr Prophet of a World Faith. by William B. Sears ........ 208
8. Pilgrimage to the Scenes of the Bib's Captivity and Martyrdom. by
D_hikru711ihKhidem ........................................ 217
9 . A Century of World Crisis 1850.1950. by Dr . G . A . Borgese ...... 226
10. Der 100. Jahrestag des Opfertodes des Bib. by Dr Eugen Schmidt 230 .
VI . The Completion of the Construction of the Sepulcher of the Bib in the Holy
Land. 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
1. Entombment of the Bib's Remains on Mt . Carmel ............... 235
2 . Announcements by the Guardian ............................. 238
3. An Account of the Preparatory Work in Italy. by Dr . Ugo R . Giachery 240
4. Reports on the Construction of the Arcade. by Ben D . Weeden .... 246
VII . The Inauguration of the World BahL'i Crusade 1953-1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
1. Announcement by the Guardian .............................. 253
2 . Ten-Year International Bahb'i Teaching and Consolidation Plan 1953-
1963 .................................................. 256
3. Maps of the Ten-Year Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover
4. Chart of the Ten-Year Plan .................... Inside Front Cover
5. Chart showing the Expansion of the Faith ...................... 275

P A R T TWO
I. The World Order of BahP'uYU& .................................. 279
1. Present Day Administration of the Bahgi Faith .................. 279
vii
viii CONTENTS

The Formation of an Organic Religious Community. by Horace
Holley ...............................................
A Procedure for the Conduct of a Local Spiritual Assembly ......
The Institution of the National Spiritual Assembly. by Horace
Holley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Procedure for the Conduct of the Annual BahL'i Convention
The Non-Political Character of the Bahi'i Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Concerning Membership in Non-BahL'i Religious Organizations . .
BahL'is and Military Service ...............................
Interpretation of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-BahB . . . . . . . .
Excerpts from the Writings of Shoghi Effendi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Important Messages from Shoghi Effendi 1950-1954 . . . . . . . . . .
The Process of International Consolidation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appointment of the Hands of the Cause of God . . . . . . . . . . . .
Formation of the International BahL'i Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 . Documentation of the BahL'i Administrative Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Declaration of Trust of the National Spiritual As-
sembly of the BahL'is of the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the National Spiritual As-
sembly of the BahL'is of the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the National Spiritual As-
sembly of the BahL'is of Persia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Declaration and By-Laws of the National Spiritual Assembly of
the Bah6'is of Germany and Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the National Spiritual As-
sembly of the Bahb'is of 'IrBq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Constitution of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bah2is of
South America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Registration of the National Spiritual Assembly of the
BahB'is of South America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Registration of the National Spiritual Assembly of the
BahL'is of Central America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
By-Laws of a Local Spiritual Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Registration of the National Spiritual Assembly of the
BahL'is of India. PBkistBn and Burma. Delhi. India . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Registration of the National Spiritual Assembly of the
BahL'is of India. PBkistBn and Burma. Rangoon. Burma . . . . . . .
Certificate of Registration of the National Spiritual Assembly of the
BahL'is of India. PfikistBn and Burma. Lahore. PBkistiLn ......
Certificate of Incorporation of the National Spiritual Assembly of
the BahL'is of Australia and New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is
of Maywood. Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is
of Houston. Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is
of Eliot. Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is
of Fresno. California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is
of San Diego. California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is
of Sacramento. California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is
of Glendale. California .................................
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is
of Fort Wayne. Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CONTENTS

PAGE
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahl'is
of Tucson, Arizona ....................................
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is
of Oak Park, Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is
of Nashville, Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is
of Greenwich, Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahl'is
of Reno, Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is
of Grand Rapids, Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahfis
of Surat, India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is
of Jalna, Hyderabad (Deccan), India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is
of Kamarhati, India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahl'is
of Mysore, India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is
of Singapore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is
of Montevideo, Uruguay ................................
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is
of Quito, Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'i Marriage Certificate Adopted by the National Spiritual As-
sembly of the Bahi'is of the United States ..................
Marriage Certificate issued by the State of Idaho ..............
Marriage Certificate issued by the State of Michigan ............
Marriage Certificate issued by the State of New York ..........
Marriage Certificate issued by the Territory of Hawaii . . . . . . . . . .
Marriage Certificate issued by the Territory of Alaska ..........
Marriage Certificate issued by the State of New Mexico .........
Letter from the Board of Education of Prince George's County,
Maryland, excusing Bahi'i Children from School Attendance on
Bahi'i Holy Days ......................................
Letter from Superintendent of Schools, Wilmington, Delaware, ex-
cusing Bahi'i Children from School Attendance on Bahi'i Holy
Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Communications between the Government of Liberia and the Bahi'i
Pioneers, authorizing the Teaching of the Faith in the Republic
of Liberia, and exempting Goods consigned to the Local Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahi'is of Monrovia from Customs Fees . . . . .
Certificate of Exemption from Registration granted to the Bah6'i
Community of Kenya in connection with Emergency Laws re-
garding Public Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deed of Transfer of the Bolton Property at Yerrinbool, N.S.W.,
Australia, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of
Australia and New Zealand, for a Summer School ...........
Certificate of Transfer of Title of the Hyde Dunn Bahi'i School
Property in A~~ckland, New Zealand, to the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahi'is of Australia and New Zealand . . . . . . . .
Certificate of Incorporation of the Bahi'i School in Green Acre,
Eliot, Maine, under the name "Green Acre Bahl'i Institute," en-
titled to hold property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CONTENTS

PAGE
3. The Institution of the Mas_hriquYl-Adhkhr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515
The Spiritual Significance of the Mas_hriquYl-Adhkfir. . . . . . . . . . . . 517
Passages Regarding the Temple in America. taken from God Passes
By . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 521
The Bahi'i House of Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 524
Architecture of the Temple Interior. by Robert W . McLaughlin . . . 528
Structural Features of the Interior of the Bahi'i House of Worship.
by Edwin H . Eardley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 529
Completing the Interior Ornamentation of the Bahi'i House of
Worship. by Alfred P . Shaw. Architect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 532
Interior Ornamentation of the BahB'i House of Worship. by Allen B.
McDaniel and Paul E . Haney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533
Landscape Plan of the Bahi'i House of Worship by Hilbert Dahl 540
Bahb'i . . . Temple of Light. by Harold Leiendecker . . . . . . . . . . 542
Unveiling the Model of the Temple to be constructed on Mount
Carmel. Address by Charles Mason Remey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 547
4 . BahB'i Calendar. Festivals and Dates of Historic Significance . . . . . . . 551
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 551
BahB'i Feasts. Anniversaries and Days of Fasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 551
Bahi'i Holy Days on Which Work Should be Suspended . . . . . . . . 552
Additional Material Gleaned from Nabil's Narrative (Vol. 11) Re-
garding the BahB'i Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 552
Historical Data Gleaned from Nabil's Narrative (Vol. 11) Regarding
Bahi'u'llfih . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 556
Dates of Historic Significance During the First One Hundred and
Ten Years of the Bahi'i Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 559
5 . Youth Activities Throughout the Bahi'i World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 562
Around the World with Bahi'i Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 562
Report of International Bahi'i Youth Activity for the Year 1952-
1953. compiled by Dwight Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 586
6 . The Bah2i Faith and the United Nations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 597
Bahi'i Relationship with United Nations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 597
United Nations Informed of the B a h s Concept of Worship . . . . . . 598
Prayer Card Issued with Compliments of United Nations Committee
of the Bah6'i I.nternationa1 Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 599
Report of Bahi'i Activities in relation to the United Nations 1947-
1954. by Mildred Mottahedeh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 601
II . Appreciations of the Bah6'i Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 617
1. Dowager Queen Marie of Rumania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 618
2 . Prof . E . G . Bro-wne. M.A.. M.B.. Cambridge University . . . . . . . . . . 620
3. Dr . J . Estlin Carpenter. D.Litt.. Manchester College. Oxford . . . . . . 622
4 . Rev . T . K . Cheyne. D.Litt.. D.D.. Oxford University . . . . . . . . . . . . 623
5 . Prof . Arminius Vambkry. Hungarian Academy of Pesth . . . . . . . . . . 623
6. Sir Valentine Chirol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 624
7 . Harry Charles Lukach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 625
8. Prof . Jowett. Oxford University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 625
9. Alfred W . Martin. Society for Ethical Culture. New York . . . . . . . . . 625
10. Prof . James Darmesteter. Ecole des Hautes Etudes. Paris . . . . . . . . . . 626
11. Charles Baudouin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 626
12. D r . Henry H. Jessup. D.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 628
13. Right Hon . The Earl Curzon of Kedleston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 629
14. Sir Francis Younghusband. K.C.S.I.. K.C.I.E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 630
15. The Christian Commonwealth. Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 631
16. Rev. J . Tyssul Davis. B.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 631
CONTENTS

17. Herbert Putnam. Congressional Library. Washington. D.C. . . . . . . . .
18. Leo Tolstoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19. Dr . Edmund Privat. University of Geneva . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20 . Dr . Auguste Forel. University of Ziirich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21 . General Renato Piola Caselli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22. Rev. Frederick W. Oakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23 . Renwick J . G . Millar. Editor of John O'Groat Journal. Scotland . . . .
24 . Charles H . Prisk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25. Prof . Hari Prasad Shastri. D.Litt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26. Shri Purohit Swami . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27 . Prof . Herbert A . Miller. Bryn Mawr College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28 . Viscount Herbert Samuel. G.C.B.. M.P. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29. Rev.K.T.Chung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30. Prof . Dimitry Kazarov. University of Sofia. Bulgaria . . . . . . . . . . . . .
31. Rev. Griffith J . Sparham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32. Ernest Renan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33. The Hon . Lilian Helen Montague. J.P.. D.H.L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
34. Prof . Norman Bentwich. Hebrew University. Jerusalem . . . . . . . . . . . .
35. Bmile Schreiber. Publicist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
36 . HelenKeller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37 . Dr . Rokuichiro Masujima. Doyen of Jurisprudence of Japan . . . . . . . .
38. Sir Flinders Petrie. Archaeologist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39. Former President Masaryk of Czechoslovakia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
40. Archduchess Anton of Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41. Dr . Herbert Adams Gibbons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42 . H.R.H. Princess Olga of Yugoslavia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
43. Eugen Relgis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44. Arthur Henderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .
45. Prof Dr. V Lesny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46 . Princess Marie Antoinette de Broglie Aussenac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
47 . David Starr Jordan. Late President. Leland Stanford University . . . .
48. Prof . Bogdan Popovitch. University of Belgrade. Yugoslavia . . . . . . .
49 . Ex-Governor William Sulzer of New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
50. Luther Burbank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
51. Prof . Yone Noguchi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52. Prof . Raymond Frank Piper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
53 AngelaMorgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
54. Arthur Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
55. Prof . Dr . Jan Rypka. Charles University. Praha. Czechoslovakia . . . .
56. A . L. M . Nicolas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
57. President Eduard BeneG of Czechoslovakia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
58. Sir Ronald Storrs. K.C.M.G.. C.B.E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
59. Col. Raja Jai Prithvi Bahadur Singh. Raja of Bajang (Nepal) . . . . . .
60. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland . . . .
61. Right Hon . M . R. Jayakar. Privy Councillor. London . . . . . . . . . . . .
62. Prof . Benoy Kumar Sarkar. M.A.. Ph.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
63. Sarojinu Naidu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
64. Jules Bois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
65. The late Sir John Martin Harvey. D.Litt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66. Dr . Hewlett Johnson. Dean of Canterbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67. Arnold J . Toynbee. Hon . D.Litt. Oxon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
68. Sir A . Ramaswami Mudaliar. K.C.S.I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
69. Dr . Bhagavan Das . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70. S. Eitrem. University of Oslo. Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
71. Dr . G . W. Carver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
72. George N . Mayhew. Dean. School of Religion. Vanderbilt University
73. Kenneth Walker. F.R.C.S.. F.I.C.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xii CONTENTS
PAGE
74. Prof . Joseph Klausner. Jerusalem. Israel ....................... 655
75. Prof . Francesco Gabrieli. University of Rome .................. 655
.
76 Dr . G . A . Borgese. Professor of Italian Literature. University of Chi-
cago .................................................. 655
77 . Prof . Raffaele Pettazzoni. Professor of the History of Religion. Uni-
versity of Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 656
78 . Dr . Marshall Wingfield. D.D.. Litt.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 656
79 . Sir Alfred Zimmern. Switzerland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 656
111. In Memoriam
William Sutherland Maxwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 657
Roy C. Wilhelm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 662
Siegfriedschopflocher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 664
Louis Gregory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 666
DorothyBaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 670
Marion Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 674
Edward B . Kinney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 677
Dr . Youness Afrukhtih . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 679
Ella Goodall Cooper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 681
Dr . SulaymLn Berjis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 684
Ella Bailey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 685
Maria B. Ioas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 688
Nuri'd-Din Fath 'Azam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 690
HLji Muhammad TLhir Malmiri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 692
Johanna Schubarth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 694
Florence George . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 697
Philip Goddard Sprague . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 698
Nellie Stevison French . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 699
DagmarDole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 701
Florence Breed Khan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703
B&ram RawhLni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 705
LouiseBosch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 705
FlorenceMorton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 708
R a b L n Kulayni MamaqLni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 710
'Abdu'l Hussein Yazdi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 711
Charles Kennedy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 711
L. W. Eggleston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 712

PART THREE
I . Bahi'i Directory 1953-1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 717
1. International Bahi'i Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 717
2. Bahb'i National Spiritual Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 717
3 . Countries opened to the Bahb'i Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Abyssinia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Aden Protectorate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Ad_hirbLyjLn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
AfghLnistLn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
................................................. 719
Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Aleutian Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Algeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
AndamanIs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Andorra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
CONTENTS xiii

PAGE
Armenia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Ashanti Protectorate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Australian New Guinea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Azores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Bahama Is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Balp-aynIs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Balearic Is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Bahic_hist&n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Baranof I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Basutoland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Bechuanaland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Belgian Congo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Bermuda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Bismarck Archipelago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Borneo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
British Cameroons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
British Guiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
British Honduras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
British Somaliland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
British Togoland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Brunei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Bulgaria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Burma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Canary Is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Cape Breton I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Cape Verde Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Caroline Is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Ceylon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Channel Is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Chile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Chi106 I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Cook Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Corsica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Costa Rica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Crete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Cuba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Cyprus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Czechoslovakia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Daman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Denmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
DiuI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Dominican Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Dutch Guiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Dutch New Guinea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Dutch West Indies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Egypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Eire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
El Salvador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 19
xiv CONTENTS

Eritrea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FalklandIs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Faroe Is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FijiIs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Finland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Formosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Franklin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
French Cameroons ........................................
French Equatorial Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
French Guiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
French Morocco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
French Somaliland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
French Togoland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
French West Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Frisian Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Galapagos Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gambia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Georgia
. ................................................
Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gilbert and Ellice Is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gold Coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grand Manan I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Great Britain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Greece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Greenland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Guatemala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hadhramaut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Haiti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hawaiian Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hebrides Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
HijCz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Holland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Honduras ..............................................
Hong Kong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hungary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Iceland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Indo-China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
'IrCq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Italian Somaliland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Italv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
JuanFernandezIs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Karikal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Keewatin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kenya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
KeyWest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kodiak I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Koweit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kuria-Muria Is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CONTENTS

PAGE
Labrador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Lebanon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
LeewardIs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Liberia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Libya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Liechtenstein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Lofoten Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Luxembourg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Macao I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Mackenzie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Madagascar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Madeirals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Magdalenls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Mahb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Malaya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Malta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Manchuria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Margarita I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Marianals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Marquesas Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Martinique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Mauritius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Mentawai Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Miquelon I . and St. Pierre I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Monaco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Morocco (Int . Zone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Mozambique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Nepal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
New Caledonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Newfoundland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
New Hebrides Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Nicaragua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Nigeria ................................................ 720
Northern Territories Protectorate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
North Rhodesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Nyasaland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Orkney Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
PBkistiin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Panama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Paraguay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Persia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Peru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Philippine Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Pondicherry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Portugal ............................................... 720
Portuguese Guinea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Qatar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Queen Charlotte Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
RCunionl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Rhodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Rio de Oro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Ruanda-Urundi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
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PAGE
Russian S.F.S.R. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Samoa Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
SanMarino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Sarawak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Sardinia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
SaudiArabia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Seychelles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
ShetlandIs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Siam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Sicly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
SierraLeone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Sikkim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Society Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Solomon Is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
SouthAfrica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
SouthRhodesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
South West Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Spanish Morocco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
SpanishSahara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Siidin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Swaziland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Sweden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Switzerland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Syria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Tanganyika . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Tasmania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Tonga Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Trucial Sheiks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Tuamotu Archipelago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Tunisia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
Turkmenistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
Uganda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
'Ummin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
United States of America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
Uruguay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
Windward Is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
Yemen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
Yugoslavia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
Yukon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
Zanzibar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
Zululand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721
4 . Local BahB'i Spiritual Assemblies, Groups, and Localities where Iso-
lated BahB'is Reside in the United States of America 1953-1954 . . 721
5. Directory of Assemblies, Groups, and Isolated Bahgis in Administrative
Divisions in Persia 1953-1954 ............................. 744
6. Directory of Localities where BahB'is Reside under the jurisdiction of
the National Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of India, PiikistLn
andBurma 1953-1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753
7. Directory of Localities where BahB'is Reside under the jurisdiction of
the National Spiritual Assemblies of the BahB'is of Central and
South America 1953-1954 ................................. 757
8. Directory of Localities in Australia and New Zealand where BahL'is
Reside 1953-1954 ....................................... 763
CONTENTS xvii

PAGE
9. Directory of Localities in the Dominion of Canada where Bahi'is
Reside 1953-1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10. Directory of Localities in the British Isles where BahL'is Reside
1953-1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11. Directory of Localities in Germany and Austria where Bahi'is Reside
1953-1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12. Directory of Localities in Egypt and the Sfidfin where Bahi'is Reside
1953-1954 .............................................
13. Directory of Localities where Bahi'is Reside under the jurisdiction of
the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of 'IrCq 1953-1954
14. Directory of Localities in Italy and Switzerland where Bahi'is Reside
1953-1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I1. BahS'i Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Bahi'u'lljih's Best-Known Writings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. The Bfib's Best-Known Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Bahi'i Publications of the United States of America in print . . . . . . .
a . Writings of Bahi'u'llih . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
b . Writings of the BLb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
c . Writings of 'Abdu'l-BahL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
d. Works Compiled from Writings of Bahi'u1ll&hand 'Abdu'l-BahL
e . Works Compiled from Writings of Bahi'u'llfih, the BLb and
'Abdu'l-Bahi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
f . Works Compiled from Writings of Bahi'u'llLh, 'Abdu'l-BahL
andshoghi Effendi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
g. Writings of Shoghi Effendi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
h . Writings on the Bahi'i Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
i. Bahi'i Reprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
j . Pamphlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
k . Phonograph Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Outlines and Guides for BahB'i Study Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
m . Children's Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
n . Bahi'i Literature in Foreign Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
o. The Bah2i World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p . Periodicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3A . Bahi'i Publications of the United States of America that are out of
print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 . Bahi'i Publications of Great Britain in print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a. Writings of Bahi'u'llih . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
b. Writings of 'Abdu'l-BahL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
c. Works Compiled from the Writings of Bahi'u'llih. the BLb and
'Abdu'l-BahL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
d. Writings of Shoghi Effendi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
e. Compilations from the Writings of Shoghi Effendi . . . . . . . . . .
f . Writings on the BahL'i Faith ............................
g. Bahi'i Literature in Pamphlet Form ......................
h . Outlines and Guides for Bahi'i Study Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
i . Bahi'i Literature in Foreign Languages ....................
4A . Bahi'i Publications of Great Britain that are out of print .........
5. Bahi'i Publications of Burma, India, PLkistfin and Princely States in
English (Publications in other languages spoken in India, Burma,
Ceylon and Pfikistin listed elsewhere under name of language) ...
6. Bahi'i Publications in Albanian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7. BahL'i Publications in Bulgarian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8. Bahfi'i Publications in Croatian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9. BahL'i Publications in Czech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10. BahL'i Pub1icatio.n~in Danish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xviii CONTENTS

PAGE
11. BahCi Publications in Dutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 802
12. Bahi'i Publications in Esperanto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 803
13. BahL'i Publications in Finnish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 805
14. BahL'i Publications in French . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 805
15. BahL'i Publications in German in print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 807
15A. Bahi'i Publications in German that are out of print . . . . . . . . . . . . . 808
16. BahL'i Publications in Greek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 812
17. Bahi'i Publications in Hungarian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 812
18. BahL'i Publications in Icelandic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 812
19. BahCi Publications in Italian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 812
20 . Bahi'i Publications in Maori . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 813
21 . Bahi'i Publications in Norwegian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 813
22 . Bahi'i Publications in Polish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 814
23 . Bahi'i Publications in Portuguese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 814
24 . BahL'i Publications in Rumanian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 815
25. Bahi'i Publications in Russian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 815
26 . BahL'i Publications in Serbian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 816
27 . Bahi'i Publications in Slovak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 816
28 . Bahi'i Publications in Spanish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81.6
29 . Bahi'i Publications in Swedish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 818
30. Bahi'i Publications in Welsh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 818
3 1. BahL'i Publications in Oriental Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 818
Abyssinian (Amharic) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 818
Arabic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 818
Armenian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 819
Assamese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 819
Bengali . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 819
Burmese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 819
Chin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821
Chinese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821
Gujarati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821
Gurmukhi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821
Hebrew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821
Hindi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821
Japanese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821
Kanarese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821
Kashmiri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821
Kurdish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821
Malayalam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821
Marathi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821
Nepalese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 822
Oriya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 822
Panjabi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 822
Pashto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 822
Persian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 822
Rajasthani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 825
Sindhi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 825
Singhalese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 825
Tamil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 825
Tartar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 825
Telugu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 826
Turkish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 826
Urdu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 826
32. Bahi'i Publications in African Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
Acholi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
Adanwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
Ateso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
CONTENTS xix

PAGE
ChiNyanja . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
Ewe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
Hausa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
Igbo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
KiKikuyu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
KiSwahili . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
Luganda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
Mende . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
Twi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
Yoruba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827
33. Languages into which Bahi'i Literature is being translated . . . . . . . . . 827
34. BahB'i Literature for the Blind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 828
35. Bahi'i Periodicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 830
36. References to the Bahb'i Faith in Books and Pamphlets published
under non-BahL'i Auspices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37 . References to the Bahi'i Faith in Magazines by non-Bahi'i Authors
38. References to the Bahb'i Faith by Bahi'is in non-Bahi'i Publications
39. References to the BahL'i Faith in Encyclopedias and Reference Books
111. Transliteration of Oriental Words frequently used in Bahi'i Literature . . . .
Guide to Transliteration and Pronunciation of the Persian Alphabet . . . .
Notes on the Pronunciation of Persian Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
IV Definitions of Oriental Terms used in BahB'i Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART FOUR
I. Articles and Reviews:
1. The Sufferings of Bahi'u'llbh and Their Significance. by George
Townshend. M.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 865
2 . The God Who Walks with Men. by Horace Holley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 868
3. Educating for Progress. by Stanwood Cobb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 872
4 . The Prison City of 'AkkA. by William Sears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877
5 . A Century of Spiritual Revival. by Dr . W . Kenneth Christian . . . . . . 883
.
6 The Kingdom of God on Earth. by Marion Hofman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 886
.
7 The Call of the Martyrs. by George Townshend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 892
8. The Path to God. by Dorothy Baker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 894
9 . An Italian Scientist Extols the Bbb. by Ugo Giachery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900
10. The BahCi Faith and World Government. by David Earl . . . . . . . . . . 904
11. The Birth of World Religion. by Reginald King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 910
12. Teaching Among the American Indians. by Rex King . . . . . . . . . . . . 914
13. In the Presence of 'Abdull.Bahb. by Ella Quant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 917
14. The BahL'i Faith in Backward Africa. by Dunduzu Chisiza . . . . . . . . 921
15. Black Sunlight. by William and Marguerite Sears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 925
16. The Bahi'i Faith. reprinted from India & Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 932
11. Verse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 935
I11. Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 947
IV . Maps and Charts of BahL'f Communities Around the World. 1950-1954:
Australia and New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989
The British Isles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 990
Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 991
Central America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 992
Germany and Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 993
India. PBkistbn and Burma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 994
South America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 995
Map of Greenland Showing Localities where BahL'i Literature has been
sent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 996
CONTENTS

PAGE
The United States of America ........................ Inside Back Cover
The Bahi'i World:
Localities Where Bahi'is Reside .................... Inside Back Cover
Map of the Bahi'i World Showing Countries
where Bahi'is Reside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover

Note: Maps and Chart of the Ten-Year Plan
(Part I, Section VII) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE

The Sepulcher of the BAb on Mt . Carmel. Haifa. Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frontispiece
Corner room of the Shrine of Bahi'u'llLh beneath the floor of which His remains
are buried . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Entrance to the Holy Tomb of Bahi'u'llLh at Bahji. Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Views of the garden surrounding the Shrine of BahL'uYllLh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Monumental path leading to the Shrine of BahB'u'llLh. Bahji. Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
View of the Shrine of Bahi'u'llih from the air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Aerial view of the Haram-i-Aqdas ...................................... 7
Panoramic view of newly developed garden of the Shrine of Bahi'u'llih at Bahji.
Israel ......................................................... 8-9
View of the curved path in the Shrine Gardens at Bahji . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
View of the monumental path leading to the Shrine of BahL'~'l1ih~ showing the
main entrance gate at the end . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
View of the Shrine of Bahi'u'llih. seen through the Collins gate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Main gate leading to the Shrine of Bahi'u'llkh at Bahji. Israel. gift of Hand of the
Cause. Mrs . Amelia Collins. and named after her . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
The new garden in front of the Mansion at Bahji .......................... 17
Shrine of the BLb. Haifa. Israel . Twelve thousand gilded tiles cover the Dome in a
fish scale pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Shrine of the BLb on Mt . Carmel . Beyond the Shrine can be seen the city of Haifa.
the harbor. the bay of 'AkkL. the hills of the Lebanon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Shrine of the BLb. as seen from the slopes of Mt . Carmel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Shrine of the Martyr Prophet of the Bahi'i Faith. completed October. 1953 . . . . 27
Aerial view of the Shrine of the Bkb. Mt . Carmel. Haifa. Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
'Night view of the Sepulcher of the Bkb on Mt . Carmel. showing terraces and
gardens ........................................................ 34
Circular cluster of cypress trees. visited by Bahi'u'Ukh. from which He indicated
the present site of the Shrine of the BLb and stated that His remains must be
brought from Persia and placed there . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Manesmann pipes placed. prior to erection. within recently cast reinforced con-
crete work which constitutes support for the superstructure of the Bgb's Shrine 39
Erection of the cement ceiling of the octagon of the Shrine .................. 39
One of the completed pinnacles of the octagon. March. 1952 ................ 39
A corner of the Bkb's Shrine with two pinnacles of the octagon completed and the
wrought-iron gilded railing in position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Finishing the molds for beams of the great '"star" foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
The great star-shaped reinforced concrete foundation of the octagon . . . . . . . . . . 47
Octagon of the Shrine seen from the mountainside and showing one iron railing
in place. March. 1952 ............................................. 73
Scaffolding around the drum and dome of the Bkb's Shrine. June. 1953 ........ 73
First golden tiles laid on the dome of the BLb's Shrine. Beneath the tile on the right
a piece of plaster from the prison room occupied by the BLb in MLh-KL? was
imbedded by the Guardian on the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of
Bahi'uYllLh'sMission ............................................. 77
Raising the bell of the lantern of the dome of the BLb's Shrine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
The crown of the dome ............................................... 81
The completed lantern on the dome of the Shrine of the BLb ................ 84
x85.
xxii ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

The B6b was imprisoned while in Tabriz 1848 in this now crumbling prison room
of the old brick Ark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The B6b9sremains lie in state in His Holy Sepulcher on Mt. Carmel, 1953 . . . . . .
View of the Shrine of the Bib, in the heart of Carmel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BahL'i properties on Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
View of one of the paths in the gardens surrounding the resting place of the Great-
est Holy Leaf, Haifa, Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hands of the Cause of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108.
BahVis attending First Intercontinental BahVi Teaching Conference, in Kampala,
Uganda, Africa, February, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . facing
Hands of the Cause attending First Intercontinental Bahi'i Conference in Kam-
pala, Uganda, Africa, February 12-18, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Group of pioneers to Africa attending First Intercontinental Teaching Conference
at Kampala, Uganda, February, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
African choir at Kampala Conference public meeting, singing "Lord, I want to be
a BahL'i with all my heart" . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Leroy Ioas greeting African Bahi'is on behalf of the Guardian, Kampala, Uganda,
Africa, February, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BahL'i All-America Intercontinental Teaching Conference, Chicago, Illinois, May
3-6,1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . facing
RGhiyyih Khbnum presenting the Guardian's Message of Dedication of the BahL'i
House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois, May 2, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BahL'is gathered in the House of Worship, Wilmette, at Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amatu'l-Bahb Riihiyyih K_hdn~~m receiving the BahL'is at reception given in her
honor at the All-America Intercontinental Teaching Conference, Chicago,
Illinois,May 4, 1953 .............................................
Bahi'is attending the All-America Intercontinental Teaching Conference who had
met'Abdu'l-Bahb ................................................
American Indian BahL'is at the All-America Intercontinental Conference, Chi-
cago, Illinois, May, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BahL'is from thirty countries attending the Third BahL'i Intercontinental Teach-
ing Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, July 21-26, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . following
Unity Banquet commemorating the Jubilee Year, held during the Third Intercon-
tinental Conference in the Golden Room of the Town Hall, Stockholm,
Sweden, July 25, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . preceding
Hands of the Cause of God present at the Third Intercontinental Teaching Con-
ference, Stockholm, Sweden, July 21-26, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Volunteer pioneers for the Ten-Year Global Crusade, Third BahL'i Intercontinen-
tal Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, July, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Participants at the Fourth Bahi'i Intercontinental Teaching Conference, New
Delhi, India, October 6-15, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . facing
The President of the Union of India, Dr. Shri Rajendra Prasad, with members of
Bahi'i delegation received in his official residence during Asian Intercontinen-
.
tal Conference, New Delhi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Vice-President of India, with members of BahL'i delegation,
New Delhi, October 5, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....
Public reception held during Fourth Bahi'i Intercontinental Teaching Conference,
.
New Delhi, India, October, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sketch of the eight-pointed star foundation for the octagon of the Shrine of the
.. . ..
Bhb, Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of the United States of America, elected
April, 1953 ....................................................
National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Persia, elected April, 1951 . . . . . . . .
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bah2is of the British Isles, 1953 . . . . . . . . . .
National Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of Germany and Austria for the Year
110 (1953-1954) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ILLUSTRATIONS xxiii

PAGE

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Canada. 1953-1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Australia and New Zealand. Year
110 (1953-1954) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of India. Pikistin and Burma. 1952-
1953 and 1953-1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Egypt and Sfidin. 1950-1951 . . . . .
National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of 'Iriq. 1953-1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Central America. Mexico and
the Antilles. elected April. 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of South America. elected April.
1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First Italo-Swiss BahL'i National Spiritual Assembly, 1953-1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Forty-Third Annual Convention of the Bahi'is of the United States, Wilmette,
Illinois. April 28-May 1, 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . facing
Delegates to the Eighteenth Annual Convention of the Bahgis of Persia. at the
Haziratu'l-Quds, Tihrin. April 27-May 3. 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'is of the British Isles. Convention, Year 110. London . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'is attending National Convention of BahL'is of Germany and Austria, held in
newly erected Haziratu'l-Quds, April, 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Australian and New Zealand Bahb'is gathered at the Haziratu'l-Quds. Sydney. for
Jubilee Year Convention and First Pacific School, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Canadian National Bahi'i Convention, Toronto, April 29-30, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . 338
Delegates and friends at Twenty-Fourth Annual Bahi'i Convention and Jubilee
week celebration, New Delhi, April 26-May 2, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Delegates to National Convention of BahB'is of Egypt and S6din. 1950. attended
for first time by a delegate from the SitdLn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'is attending First National Bahi'i Convention of South America, Lima, Peru.
April. 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reception, South American National Bahi'i Convention, Lima, Peru, 1953 . . . . . .
BahL'i delegates and visiting Bahi'is attending First Bahi'i Convention of Central
America. Mexico and the Antilles, Panama City, April 22-24, 1951 . . . . . . . .
Bahi'is attending First Italo-Swiss BahB'i Convention. Florence, Italy, April 23-27,
1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'i Temple . A Temple for man's worship of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
View of the Bahi'i House of Worship, Wilmette. Illinois, February, 1953 . . . . . .
Interior of dome of the BahL'i House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois . . . . . . . . . .
Interior view of the BahS'i House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interior ornamentation of BahL'i House of Worship, Wilmette. Illinois, as seen
from second gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Model of landscaping surrounding Bahi'i House of Worship, Wilmette . . . . . . . . .
Design for landscaping surrounding BahL'i House of Worship, Wilmette. Illinois,
as made by Hilbert E. Dahl and approved by the Guardian . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Assembly rig for checking large bay tracery models at Earley Studios . . . . . . . . . .
Progress view, December 29, 1950. illustrates finished walls of a bay alcove and
ornamentation of column arches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temple Interior construction-progress to April 17, 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interior ornamentation of the dome being put in place, March 28, 1951 . . . . . . . .
Model of Ma&iqu'l-Adhkir designed for construction on Mt . Carmel, Israel,
Charles Mason Remey. architect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
National Haziratu'l-Quds. Tihrkn, Persia. RidvLn, 1951 (view from the air) ....
Ha~iratu'l-Quds of Bahi'is of Germany and Austria, Frankfurt-am-Main, Ger-
many, newly erected, April. 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Haziratu'l-Quds of BahL'is of Kampala, Uganda. British East Africa, April, 1952 .
Haziratu'l-Quds of Bahi'is of Paris. France. 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Maywood, Illinois. incorporated June 11,
1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xxiv ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Fresno, California, incorporated Febru-
ary 20, 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of San Diego, California, incorporated April 29,
1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of Sacramento, California, incorporated April 9,
1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Glendale, California, incorporated April 29,
1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahPis of Tucson, Arizona, incorporated January 21,
1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Oak Park, Illinois, incorporated February 16,
1954 ..........................................................
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Nashville, Tennessee, incorporated April 13,
1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Greenwich, Connecticut, incorporated April
23, 1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Reno, Nevada, incorporated April 20, 1954 .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Surat, India, incorporated March 24, 1951 . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of Jalna, Hyderabad (Deccan), India, incorpo-
rated 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Kamarhati, India, incorporated September 7,
1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahVis of Mysore, India, incorporated September 25,
1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Singapore, incorporated July 28, 1952 . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Montevideo, Uruguay, incorporated 1952 . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Tripoli, Libya, formed April 21, 1954 . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Goteberg, Sweden, formed April 21,
1953 ..........................................................
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahCis of Porto, Portugal, formed April, 1952 . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is of The Hague, Netherlands, 1952-1953 . .
British Borneo's first BahL'i Spiritual Assembly, in Kuching, Sarawak . . . . . . . . . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa . . . . . . . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Trivandrum, India, 1950-1951 . . . . . . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Anchorage Recording District, Alaska,
organized April 21, 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Ziirich, Switzerland, elected April 21,
1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Basra, South 'Iriq, inaugurating the land of-
fered by one of them for the future local Haziratu'l-Quds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Sheffield, England, 1950-1951 . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is of Daidanaw, Burma, 1950-1951 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahPis of Rosario-Santiago, Isabela, Republic of the
Philippines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Port Said, Egypt, with a woman as member
for first time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Alexandria, Egypt, with women elected mem-
bers for first time, April 21, 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Cairo, Egypt, with women elected members
for first time, April 21, 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahg'is of Berlin re-established after World War 11,
April21, 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Cienfuegos, Cuba, elected April 21,
1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is of Callgo, Peru, elected April 21, 1951 . . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Agra, India, 1950-1951 . . . . . . . . . . . .
ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Ichalkaranji, India, 1950-1951 . . . . . . . 591
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Kanpur, India, April 21, 1952 . . . . . . . . 59 1
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Florence, Italy, elected April 21, 1951 . 592
Eight members of the first Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Tokyo, Japan,
1950-1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Naples, Italy, elected April 21, 1951 . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Jakarta, Indonesia, elected April 21,
1954 ..........................................................
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahVis of Kampala, Uganda, British East Africa,
formed April21, 1952 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Wolfhalden, Switzerland, elected April
21, 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Regional Conference of United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations, Yildiz
Palace, Istanbul, April 9-13, 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BahL'i delegates to United Nations International Conference of Non-Governmen-
tal Organizations, Lake Success, New York, April, 1949 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BahL'i representatives and observers at United Nations Non-Governmental Organ-
izations Regional Conference for the Middle East, Istanbul, Turkey, April
9-13, 1951 .....................................................
Representatives of BahL'i International Community at Regional Conference of
Non-Governmental Organizations of United Nations held in Managua, Nica-
ragua, August 4-1 1, 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BahL'i delegates at Fourth United Nations International Non-Governmental Or-
ganizations Conference, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, June 26-28,
1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'i delegation at Fifth Conference of International Non-Governmental Organ-
izations on United Nations Information, New York City, October 6-10, 1952
Fourth World Congress for World Federal Government, Rome, Italy, April 2-9,
1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dr. David Earl, headquarters delegate of BahB'i International Community, being
presented to President Quirino of the Republic of the Philippines at reception,
United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations Conference, Manila, Octo-
ber 24, 1952 ...................................................
Non-Governmental Organizations Conference on Technical Assistance, United
Nations Headquarters, New York, March 29, 1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Second Regional Conference of Bahi'is of France, Lyon, April 18-19, 1954 . . . .
First Benelux Bahi'i Conference, Brussels, Belgium, April 12-14, 1952 . . . . . . . .
Teaching Conference of Bahi'is of British Isles, Sheffield, England, January, 1953
Delegates in session at Fifth BahL'i Congress, San Salvador, Central America,
April 25-28, 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First Regional Swiss-Italian BahL'i Conference, Rome, March 20-23, 1952 . . . . . .
Second All-Swiss BahCi Conference, at Ziirich, November 18-19, 1950 . . . . . . . .
Friends attending Third All-Swiss Bahb'i Conference, Bern, February 23-24, 1952
Delegates and friends attending banquet of Fourth South American Bahi'i Con-
gress, Lima, Peru, May 1, 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First BahL'i Teaching Conference of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, held in
BogotB, October 12-15, 1949 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Group of Bahb'is attending Fourth European Bahi'i Teaching Conference and
Summer School, Scheveningen, Holland, August 31-September 10, 1951 . . .
Bah&'i Summer Conference in Banff, Alberta, Canada, 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Group of BahL'is on steps of "Peace Palace," The Hague, after visiting Bahi'i
Book Display in Peace Palace Library, during Fourth European Teaching
Conference, 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Delegates and friends attending Third European Bahi'i Teaching Conference and
Summer School, Elsinore, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xxvi ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Conference in session. Third European Teaching Conference. Elsinore. Copen-
hagen. Denmark. July 24.27. 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'is attending Fifth European Teaching Conference and Summer School. Lux-
embourg. September. 1952 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fourth Swiss Bahi'i Teaching Conference. Basel. Switzerland. November 22.23.
1952 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Attendants at First French Teaching Conference. held in Lyon. France. May 23
and 24. 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International Bahi'i School. Loncoche. Chile. February. 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahf i Summer Conference. Ontario. Canada. 1952 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'i Summer School. Esslingen. Germany. August 9-15. 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Twelfth Bahfi Summer School held in Panchgani (India). October. 1951 . . . . . .
View of the service dedicated to the Ezeiza International Bahi'i School. Argentina.
at opening of Convention School Session. 1952 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahb'i Summer School held August 18-September 1. 1951. at Thwaite Hall. Cot-
tingham. Yorkshire. England . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'i Summer School at Hyderabad-Sind (Pikisth). 1952-1953 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'i Group of Aden. Aden Protectorate. November 22. 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'i Group in Hyogo.ken. Osaka. Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
View of Bahi'i Guest House. pa~iratu'l.Quds. Baghdbd. 'Iriq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mr . Noel Wuttunee of Calgary. Alberta. first ~ G a d i a nIndian BahL'i. with his
wife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
His Worship the Mayor of Haifa. Mr . Aba Khoushy. being welcomed by mem-
bers of the National Spiritual Assembly when he visited the BahL'i Temple
in Wilmette. Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The first Bahi'is in the British Cameroons. 1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Title page of Bahi'i pamphlet in ChiNyanja published by British Africa Commit-
tee. "Do You Know in What Day You are Living?" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'is of Helsinki. Finland. at Third Intercontinental Teaching Conference in
Stockholm. Sweden. July. 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dr . Sushila Nayyar. Health Minister. Delhi State. on her way to preside at Cente-
nary Commemoration of Tihirih's martyrdom ........................
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahVis of Kalutara (Ceylon). 1953-1954 . . . . . .
Some members of National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of 'Iriq carrylug
wreath to the royal cemetery to place it on the tomb of the Queen. who died
December 27. 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"New Era" Bahi'i School. Panchgani. Bombay State (India). 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'i Group of Suva. Fiji Islands. 1950. with visiting member of National Spir-
itual Assembly. Australia and New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fourth Bahfi Women's Progressive Convention. held at Ha~iratuYl.Quds.Tihrin.
April 13.16. 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
All Faiths Convention held April 30. 1953. in New Delhi. as part of Bahi'i Jubilee
Week Celebrations (April 26-May 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Bahi'i group in Addis Ababa on the occasio.n of visit of Mason Remey. Presi-
dent of International BahPi Council. Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh and R . Yazdi.
following their attendance at the Intercontinental Bahi'i Conference. Kam-
pala. Uganda. Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First four native African BahB'is of Kampala. Uganda. representing the Buganda.
Batero and Teso tribes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fifth National Bahi'i Youth Convention. Tihrin (BahL'i Year 107) . . . . . . . . . .
German. British and Persian Friends attending Bahi'i Youth Summer Week. Dils-
berg. Germany. August 18.25. 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'i Youth of Germany at BahL'i Youth Summer Week. Breuberg Castle. Neu-
stadt.i.Odenwald. July 30-August 5. 1950. with Bahi'i visitors from England.
France. Norway. Persia a.nd the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BahL'i Youth Group of Colombo. Ceylon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ILLUSTRATIONS xxvii

PAGE

BahL'i Youth Symposium. Poona. India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 820
BahL'i Youth Symposium. Rangoon. February 25. 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 823
The Bahi'i Youth of Daidanaw. Burma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 824
Float representing "This Earth One Country" entered in annual parade. July 4.
1950. at Anchorage. Alaska. by Bahi'i Children's Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bahi'i group at Annual Convention of Bahi'is of British Isles. April 29-May 1.
1950. Bonnington Hotel. London . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Among youth attending Green Acre Youth Camp. June. 1951. was a young man
from Kenya. British East Africa. now student in an American University . . .
BahL'i delegates to United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations Regional
Conference. held in Den Passar. Indonesia. July 29-August 3. 1951 (photo-
graph taken on board S.S. Plancius) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Braille Exhibit including Bahi'i books transcribed in Braille. arranged by Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahi'is of Butte. Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Display of Bahi'i photographs and texts. Punta Arenas. Magallanes. Chile. 1952 .
Festival of Britain-Bahi'i Exhibition. arranged by Spiritual Assembly of Bahi'is
of Manchester. September 9.15. 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First exhibition of Bahi'i books in Paris. end of 1949 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
View of section of BahL'i Jubilee Exhibition at Park Lane House. London . . . . . .
Bahi'i Exhibit. Elmhurst. Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Professor Michele Lessona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Title Page of Lessona's History of the B6bi Movement. written in 1862 and pub-
lished in 1881 in Turin. Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Map of Persia. made in 1845 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Haifa and Haifa Bay at night. 1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
INTRODUCTION
DURING the past twenty-eight years the Bahl'i community of East and West has
learned to anticipate each successive volume of THE BA&i WORLD(the first number
was entitled "Bahl'i Year Book") as the best means by which the individual believer
may keep abreast of the steady development of the Faith throughout the world. This
work, in its illustrations as well as in its text, has recorded as completely as possible the
progress of current Bahit'i events and activities over an area now embracing more than
two hundred and twenty countries. In addition, each volume has presented those "his-
torical facts and fundamental principles that constitute the distinguishing features of the
Message of Bahl'u'llih to this age."
The existence of so many evidences of a newly revealed Faith and Gospel for a
humanity arrived at a turning point in its spiritual and social evolution has likewise a
profound significance for the non-Bahb'i student and scholar who desires to investigate
the world religion founded by the Bib and Bahi'u'llih. For in these pages the reader
encounters both the revealed Word in its spiritual powers, and the response which that
utterance has evoked during the first one hundred and ten years of the Bahi'i era. He
will find what is unparalleled in religious history-the unbroken continuity of a divine
Faith from the Manifestation onward through four generations of lzuman experience,
and will be able to apprehend what impregnable foundations the Bahit'i World Order
rests upon in the life and teachings of the Bib and Bah2u'llih, the life and interpreta-
tion of 'Abdu'l-BahA, and (since the year 1921) in the development of an administrative
order under the direction of the Guardian of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.
It is the avowed faith of Bahl'is that this Revelation has established upon earth the
spiritual impulse and the definite principles necessary for social regeneration and the
attainment of one true religion and social order throughout the world. In THE B A ~ I
WORLD,therefore, those who seek a higher will and wisdom than man possesses may
learn how, amid the trials and tribulations of a decadent society, a new age has begun
to emerge from the world of the spirit to the realm of human action and belief.
S T A F F OF E D I T O R S
1950-1952

UNITEDSTATES-appointed by the National Miss Farrukh loas, Wilmette, Illinois.
Spiritual Assembly: Miss Evelyn Larson, Chicago, Illinois.
Mrs. Beatrice 0. Ashton, chairman, BRITISHISLES-Representative for the Na-
Evanston, Illinois. tional Spiritual Assembly:
Mr. Victor de Araujo, Chicago, Illinois. Hugh McKinley, London, England.
Miss Ruth E. Dasher, Evanston, Illinois. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND-The Bah2i
Mr. Gordon A. Fraser, East Lansing, World Committee of the National Spir-
Michigan. itual Assembly:
Dr. Ugo R. Giachery, Rome, Italy. Miss Gretta S. Lamprill, secretary, Syd-
Mrs. Bahia Faraju'llkh Gulick, Berkeley, ney, N.S.W.
California. Mrs. Dulcie Burns-Dive, Rozelle, N.S.W.
Mrs. Gertrude K. Henning, Winnetka, 11- INTERNATIONAL B A HBUREAU:
~ ~
linois. Mrs. Anne Lynch, 37 Quai Wilson, Ge-
Mr. Horace Holley, Wilmette, Illinois. neva, Switzerland.

UNITEDSTATES-appointed by the National Mr. Rafi Y. Mottahedeh, New York, New
Spiritual Assembly: York.
Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, chairman, New Miss Vera Olsen, New York, New York.
York, New York. Mrs. Florence Steinhauer, Hastings-on-
Mrs. 0.H. Blackwell, secretary, Forest Hudson, New York.
Hills, New York. Mrs. Rouhieh McComb, Glen Cove, Long
Mrs. Mary Burnet, New Rochelle, New Island, New York.
York.
PART ONE
THE BAHA'I WORLD

AIMS A N D PURPOSES O F THE
BAHA'I FAITH

U P O N the spiritual foundation estab- tions evolved throughout the centuries to
lished by Bahi'u'llih during the forty year justify the separations and antagonisms of
period of His Mission (1853-1892), there human society. In America, this association
stands today an independent religion rep- means that white believers accept the
resented by over two thousand local com- spiritual equality of their Negro fellows. In
munities of believers. These communities Europe, it means the reconciliation of Prot-
geographically are spread throughout all estant and Catholio upon the basis of a new
five continents. In point of race, class, na- and larger faith. In the Orient, Christian,
tionality and religious origin, the followers Jewish and Muhammadan believers must
of BahVu'llih exemplify well-nigh the whole stand apart from the rigid exclusiveness into
diversity of the modern world. They may which each was born.
be characterized as a true cross section of The central fact to be noted concerning
humanity, a microcosm which, for all its the nature of the Bahi'i Faith is that it con-
relative littleness, carries within it individ- tains a power, fulfilled in the realm of con-
ual men and women typifying the macro- science, which can reverse the principle
cosm of mankind. momentum of modern civilization-the
None of the historic causes of association drive toward division and strife-and initi-
served to create this world-wide spiritual ate its own momentum moving steadily in
community. Neither a common language, a the direction of unity and accord. It is in
common blood, a common civil govern- this power, and not in any criterion upheld
ment, a common tradition nor a mutual by the world, that the Faith of BahVuy1lih
grievance acted upon BahB'is to supply a has special significance.
fixed center of interest or a goal of material The forms of traditional opposition vested
advantage. On the contrary, membership in in nationality, race, class and creed are not
the Bahh5 community in the land of its the only social chasms which the Faith has
birth even to this day has been a severe bridged. There are even more implacable, if
disability, and outside of Persia the motive less visible differences between types and
animating believers has been in direct op- temperaments, such as flow inevitably
position to the most inveterate prejudices of from the contact of rational and emotional
their environment. The Cause of BahVu'llih individuals, of active and passive disposi-
has moved forward without the re-enforce- tions, undermining capacity for co-operation
ment of wealth, social prestige or other in every organized society, which attain
means of public influence. mutual understanding and harmony in the
Every local Bahb'i community exists by Bahi'i community. For personal congenial-
the voluntary association of individuals who ity, the selective principle elsewhere con-
consciously overcome the fundamental sanc- tinually operative within the field of volun-
2 THE B A H A ' I WORLD

tary action, is an instinct which Bahi'is must members of the Bahi'i community realize
sacrilice to serve the principle of the one- their tensions and oppositions as ethical or
ness of mankind. A BahB'i community, spiritual problems, to be faced and over-
therefore, is a constant and active spiritual come in mutual consultation. Their faith
victory, an overcoming of tensions which has convinced them that the "truth" or
elsewhere come to the point of strife. No "right" of any possible situation is not de-
mere passive creed nor philosophic gospel rived from partisan victory but from the
which need never be put to the test in needs of the community as an organic
daily life has produced this world fellow- whole.
ship devoted to the teachings of Bahi'u'llBh. A BahP'i community endures without dis-
The basis of self-sacrifice on which the ruption because only spiritual problems can
Bahi'i community stands has created a re- be solved. When human relations are held
ligious society in which all human relations to be political or social problems they are
are transformed from social to spiritual removed from the realm in which rational
problems. This fact is the door through will has responsibility and influence. The
which one must pass to arrive at insight of ultimate result of this degradation of hu-
what the Faith of BahCu'llBh means to this man relationships is the frenzy of desperate
age. strife-the outbreak of inhuman war.
The social problems of the age are pre-
dominantly political and economic. They
are problems because human society is di-
vided into nations each of which claims to "Th,erefore the Lord of Mankind has
be an end and a law unto itself and into caused His holy, divine Manifestations to
classes each of which has raised an eco- come into the world. He has revealed His
nomic theory to the level of a sovereign and heavenly books in order t o establish spiritual
exclusive principle. Nationality has become brotherhood, and t h r o ~ ~ gthe h power of the
a condition which overrides the fundamental Holy Spirit has made it possible for perfect
humanity of all the peoples concerned, as- fraternity to be realized among mankind."
serting the superiority of political consid- -'ABDu'L-BAH~
erations over ethical and moral needs. Simi-
larly, economic groups uphold and promote In stating that the Cause of BahB'u'llBh is
social systems without regard to the quality an independent religion, two essential facts
of human relationships experienced in terms are implied.
of religion. Tensions and oppositions be- The first fact is that the Bahi'i Cause his-
tween the different groups are organized for torically was not an offshoot of any prior
dominance and not for reconciliation. Each social principle or community. The teach-
step toward more complete partisan organi- ings of BahL'uYll&h are no artificial synthesis
zation increases the original tension and assembled from the modern library of inter-
augments the separation of human beings; national truth, which might be duplicated
as the separation widens, the element of from the same sources. Bahi'u'llfth created
sympathy and fellowship on the human a reality in the world of the soul which
level is eventually denied. never before existed and could not exist
In the BahL'i community the same ten- apart from Him.
sions and instinctive antagonisms exist, but The second fact is that the Faith of
the human separation has been made im- Bahi'u'llfth is a religion, standing in the line
possible. The same capacity for exclusive of true religions: Christianity, Muhammad-
doctrines i s present, but no doctrine repre- anism, Judaism, and other prophetic Faiths.
senting one personality or one group can Its existence, like that of early Christianity,
secure a hearing. All believers alike are marks the return of faith as a direct and
subject to one spiritually supreme sover- personal experience of the will of God. Be-
eignty in the teachings of BahL'u'llfth. Dis- cause the divine will itself has been revealed
affected individuals may withdraw. The in terms of human reality, the followers of
community remains. For the BahL'i teach- BahL'u'll&hare confident that their personal
ings are in themselves principles of life and limitations can be transformed by an inflow
they assert the supreme value of humanity of spiritual re-enforcement from the higher
without doctrines which correspond to any world. It is for the privilege of access to the
particular environment or condition. Thus source of reality that they forego reliance
AIMS AND PURPOSES O F THE BAHA'I FAITH 3

The corner room of the Shrine of Bahi'u'lliih
beneath the floor of which His remains are buried.

Entrance to the Holy Tomb of Bahi'u'llhh at Bahji, Israel.
Views of the garden surrounding the Shrine of BahL'u'lliih, at Bahji, Israel.
AIMS A N D PURPOSES O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH

The Monumental Path leading to the Shrine of BahL'u'llLh, Bahji, Israel.

upon the darkened self within and the un- sisting of external practices (such as diet,
believing society without. marriage and similar ordinances) conform-
The religious education of BahL'is revo- ing to the requirements of one time and
lutionizes their inherited attitude toward place.
their own as well as other traditional reli- This BahL'i teaching leads to a pro-
gions. founder analysis of the process of history.
To BahL'is, religion is the life and teach- The followers of BahL'u'llLh derive mental
ings of the prophet. By identifying religion integrity from the realization made so clear
with its founder, they exclude from its spir- and vivid by 'Abdu'l-BahL that true insight
itual reality all those accretions of human into history discloses the uninterrupted and
definition, ceremony and ritualistic practice irresistible working of a Providence not
emanating from followers required from denied nor made vain by any measure of
time to time to make compromise with an human ignorance and unfaith.
unbelieving world. Furthermore, in limiting According to this insight, a cycle begins
religion to the prophet they are able to per- with the appearance of a prophet or mani-
ceive the oneness of God in the spiritual festation of God, through whom the spirits
oneness of all the prophets. The Bahi'i born of men are revivified and reborn. The rise of
into Christianity can wholeheartedly enter faith in God produces a religious commu-
into fellowship with the BahL'i born into nity, whose power of enthusiasm and devo-
Muhammadanism because both have come tion releases the creative elements of a new
to understand that Christ and Mubarnmad and higher civilization. This civilization
reflected the light of the one God into the comes to its fruitful autumn in culture and
darkness of the world. If certain teachings mental achievement, to give way eventually
of Christ differ from certain teachings of to a barren winter of atheism, when strife
Moses or Muhammad, the Bah6'is know and discord bring the civilization to an end.
that all prophetic teachings are divided into Under the burden of immorality, dishonor
two parts: one, consisting of the essential and cruelty marking this phase of the cycle,
and unalterable principles of love, peace, humanity lies helpless until the spiritual
unity and cooperation, renewed as divine leader, the prophet, once more returns in
commands in every cycle; the other, con- the power of the Holy Spirit.
--- ~ ~~ ~

AIMS A N D PURPOSES O F THE BAHA'I FAITH 7
8 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Panoramic view of newly developed garden

Such is the BahPi reading of the book of endure. The faith of the early Christians
the past. Its reading of the present interprets was complete, but its degree of inner con-
these world troubles, this general chaos and viction when projected outward upon the
confusion, as the hour when the renewal of field of action soon disclosed a fatal lack of
religion is no longer a racial experience, a social principle. Whether the outer expres-
rebirth of one limited area of human soci- sion of love implied a democratic or an
ety, but the destined unification of human- aristocratic order, a communal or individu-
ity itself in one faith and one order. It is by alistic society, raised fundamental questions
the parable of the vineyard that B a h 3 s of after the crucifixion of the prophet which
the Christian West behold their tradition none had authority to solve.
and their present spiritual reality at last The BahPi teaching has this vital distinc-
inseparably joined, their faith and their so- tion, that it extends from the realm of con-
cial outlook identified, their reverence for science and faith to the realm of social ac-
the power of God merged with intelligible tion. It confirms the substance of faith not
grasp of their material environment. A merely as a source of individual develop-
human society which has substituted creeds ment but as a definitely ordered relationship
for religion and armies for truth, even as all to the community. hose who inspect the
ancient prophets foretold, must needs come BahPi Cause superficially may deny its
to abandon its instruments of violence and claim to be a religion for the reason that it
undergo purification until conscious, hum- lacks most of the visible marks by which
ble faith can be reborn. religions are recognized. But in place of
ritual or other formal worship it contains a
social principle linking people to a com-
munity, the loyal observance of which
"The best beloved o f all things in My sight makes spiritual faith co-terminous with life
is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou itself. The Bahb'is, having no professional
desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may clergy, forbidden ever to have a clergy,
confide in thee." - B A H ~ U ' L L ~ Hunderstand that religion, in this age, consists
in an "attitude toward God reflected in life."
Faith alone, no matter how wholehearted They are therefore conscious of no division
and sincere, affords no basis on which the between religious and secular actions.
organic unity of a religious fellowship can The inherent nature of the community
AIMS A N D PURPOSES O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH 9

of the Shrine of Bah5 u'llhh at Bahji, Israel.

created by BahL'u'llBh has great significance year elects by universal adult suffrage an
at this time, when the relative values of administrative body of nine members called
democracy, of constitutional monarchy, of the Spiritual Assembly. This body, with
aristocracy and of communism are every- reference to all Bahfi matters, has sole
where in dispute. power of decision. It represents the collec-
Of the BahL'i community it may be de- tive conscience of the community with re-
clared definitely that its character does not spect to Bahfi activities. Its capacity and
reflect the communist theory. The rights of power are supreme within certain definite
the individual are fully safeguarded and the limitations.
fundamental distinctions of personal endow- The various states and provinces unite,
ment natural among all people are fully pre- through delegates elected annually accord-
served. Individual rights, however, are inter- ing to the principle of proportionate repre-
preted in the light of the supreme law of sentation, in the formation of a National
brotherhood and not made a sanction for Spiritual Assembly for their country or
selfishness, oppression and indifference. natural geographical area. This National
On the other hand, the BahL'i order is not Spiritual Assembly, likewise composed of
a democracy in the sense that it proceeds nine members, administers all national
from the complete sovereignty of the people, Bahfi affairs and may assume jurisdiction
whose representatives are limited to carrying of any local matter feit to be of-more than
out the popular will. Sovereignty, in the local importance. Spiritual Assemblies, local
BahCi community, is attributed to the Di- and national, combine an executive, a legis-
vine prophet, and the elected representatives lative and a judicial function, all within the
of the believers in their administrative func- limits set by the BahL'i teachings. They have
tion look to the teachings of Bahh'u'llLh for no resemblance to religious bodies which
their guidance, having faith that the applica- can adopt articles of faith and regulate the
tion of His universal principles is the source processes of belief and worship. They are
of order throughout the community. Every primarily responsible for the maintenance of
Bahfi administrative body feels itself a unity within the BahL'i community and for
trustee, and in this capacity stands above the release of its collective power in service
the plane of dissension and is free of that to the Cause. Membership in the BahL'i
pressure exerted by factional groups. community is granted, on personal declara-
The local community on April 21 of each tion of faith, to adults.
THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

Twelve National Spiritual Assemblies have sunk to the lowest depths and degrees
have come into existence since the passing o f barbarism, dimly groping in a world of
of 'Abdu'l-BahB in 1921. Each National mental and moral obscurity. . . . God has
Spiritual Assembly will, in future, constitute purposed that the darkness o f the world o f
an electoral body in the formation of an nature shall be dispelled and the imperfect
International Spiritual Assembly, a consum- attributes o f the natal self be efJnced in the
mation which will perfect the administrative effulgent reflection of the Sun of Truth."
order of the Faith and create, for the first -'ABDu'L-BAHA
time in history, an iilternational tribunal
representing a world-wide community united The complete text of the BahL'i sacred
in a single Faith. writings has not yet been translated into
BahC'is maintain their contact with the English, but the present generation of be-
source of inspiration and knowledge in the lievers has the supreme privilege of possess-
sacred writings of the Faith by continuous ing the fundamental teachings of Bahg-
prayer, study and discussion. No believer u'llkh, together with the interpretation and
can ever have a finished, static faith any lucid commentary of 'Abdu'l-BahB, and
more than he can arrive at the end of his more recently the exposition made by
capacity for being. The community has but Shoghi Effendi of the teachings concerning
one meeting ordained in the teachings-the the world order which BahL'u'llgh came to
general meeting held every nineteen days establish. Of special significance to BahL'is
given in the new calendar established by the of Europe and America is the fact that,
BBb. unlike Christianity, the Cause of BahB'u'llfih
This Nineteen Day Feast is conducted rests upon the Prophet's own words and not
simply and informally under a program di- upon a necessarily incomplete rendering of
vided into three parts. The first part consists oral tradition. Furthermore, the commentary
in reading of passages from writings of and explanation of the BahB'i gospel made
BahL'u'llLh, the BBb and 'Abdu'l-Bahfi-a by 'Abdu'l-BahB preserves the spiritual in-
devotional meeting. Next follows general tegrity and essential aim of the revealed text,
discussion of BahL'i activities-the business without the inevitable alloy of human per-
meeting of the local community. After the sonality which historically served to corrupt
consultation, the community breaks bread the gospel of Jesus and Muhammad. The
together and enjoys fellowship. BahL'i, moreover, has this distinctive advan-
The experience which BahL'is receive tage, that his approach to the teachings is
through participation in their spiritual world personal and direct, without the veils inter-
order is unique and cannot be paralleled in posed by any human intermediary.
any other society. Their status of perfect The works which supply the BahL'i teach-
equality as voting members of a constitu- ings to English-reading believers are The
tional body called upon to deal with matters Kitdb-i-fqdn (Book of Certitude), in which
which reflect, even though in miniature, the Bah2u'llfih revealed the oneness of the
whole gamut of human problems and activi- Prophets and the identical foundation of all
ties; their intense realization of kinship with true religions, the law of cycles according to
believers representing so wide a diversity of which the Prophet returns at intervals of
races, classes and creeds; their assurance approximately one thousand years, and the
that this unity is based upon the highest nature of faith; Hidden Words, the essence
spiritual sanction and contributes a neces- of truths revealed by Prophets in the past;
sary ethical quality to the world in this age prayers to quicken the soul's life and draw
-all these opportunities for deeper and individuals and groups nearer to God; Tab-
broader experience confer a privilege that lets of Bahd'u'lldh (TarfizBt, Tablet of the
is felt to be the fulfillment of life. World, Kalimfit, Tajalliyfit, Bis_hBrBt, I&-
rfiqfit), which establish social and spiritual
principles for the new era; Three Tablets of
Bahd'u'lldh (Tablet of the Branch, Kitfib-i-
"If man is left in his natural state, he will 'Ahd, ~ a w h i i - ~ ~ d athe
s ) , appointment of
become lower than the animal and continue 'Abdu'l-Bahfi as the Interpreter of Bah2-
to grow more ignorant and imperfect. The u'llfih's teachings, the Testament of Bah6'-
savage tribes o f Central Africa are evidence u'llfih, and His message to the Christians;
o f this. L e f t in their natural condition, they Epistle to the Son o f the W o l f , addressed to
AIMS AND PURPOSES O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH 11

A view of the curved path in the Shrine Gardens at Bahji.
Beneath the big pine trees on the left, BahL'u'llih often sat.

the son of a prominent Persian who had philosophic subjects; Mysterious Forces o f
been a most ruthless oppressor of the be- Civilization, a work addressed to the people
lievers, a Tablet which recapitulates many of Persia about fifty years ago to show them
teachings BahB'u'llih had revealed in earlier the way to sound progress and true civiliza-
works. The significant Tablets addressed to tion; Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Balza', three volumes
rulers of Europe and the Orient, as well as of excerpts from letters written to individual
to the heads of American Republics, about believers and Bahi'i communities, which
the year 1870, summoning them to under- illumine a vast range of subjects; Promulga-
take measures for the establishment of Uni- tion of Universal Peace, from stenographic
versal Peace have been, in selected excerpts, records of the public addresses delivered by
incorporated by Shoghi Effendi in his book, 'Abdu'l-Bahi to audiences in Canada and
The Promised Day Is Come. the United States during the year 1912; The
The largest and most authentic body of Wisdom of 'Abdu'l-Baha', a similar record
Bahi'u'llih's Writings in the English lan- of His addresses in Paris; 'Abdu'l-Baha' in
guage consists of the excerpts chosen and London; and reprints of a number of indi-
translated by Shoghi Effendi, and published vidual Tablets, especially that sent to the
under the title of Gleanings from the Writ- Committee for a Durable Peace, The Hague,
ings o f Bah8u'lla'h. Holland, in 1919, and the Tablet addressed
In Prayers and Meditations by Bah2- to the late Dr. Fore1 of Switzerland. The
u'lla'h, Shoghi Effendi has similarly given Will and Testament left by 'Abdu'l-BahB has
to the Bahi'i Community in recent years a special significance, in that it provided for
wider selection and a superb rendering of the future development of BahL'i adminis-
devotional passages revealed by BahB'u'llih. trative institutions and the Guardianship.
The published writings of 'Abdu'l-BahL The most comprehensive selection of the
are: Solne Answered Questions, dealing Writings of BahL'u'llih and 'Abdu'l-Bahi
with the lives of the Prophets, the interpreta- now available in the English language is
tion of Bible prophecies, the nature of man, Baha"i World Faith.
the true principle of evolution and other To these writings has now been added the
12 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

View of the Monumental Path leading to the Shrine of Bahb'u'llLh,
showing the main entrance gate at the end.

book entitled Bahsi'i Administration, consist- teaching plan for North America against a
ing of the general letters written by Shoghi background of ethical and social regenera-
Effendi as Guardian of the Faith since the tion required for Bahb'i service today. The
Master's death in 1921, which explain the Promised Day Is Come examines the history
details of the administrative order of the of the Faith in its early days when the world
Faith, and his letters on World Order, which repudiated the BLb and BahB'u'llbh and in-
make clear the social principles imbedded in flicted supreme suffering upon them and
Bahi'u'llih's Revelation. their followers, and develops the thesis that
These latter letters were in 1938 pub- war and revolution come as penalty for re-
lished in a volume entitled The World Order jection of the Manifestation of God.
of Bahd'u'll6h. Here the Guardian defines In 1944, the centenary year of the Faith,
the relation of the Faith to the current social the Guardian produced in God Passes By
crisis, and sums up the fundamental tenets the authentic historical survey of the evolu-
of the BahL'i Faith. It is a work which gives tion of the Faith from its origin.
to each believer access to a clear insight on The literature has also been enriched by
the significance of the present era, and the Shoghi Effendi's translation of The Dawn-
outcome of its international perturbations, Breakers, Nabil's Narrative of the Early
incomparably more revealing and at the Days of the Bahb'i Revelation, a vivid eye-
same time more assuring than the works of witness account of the episodes which re-
students and statesmen in our times. sulted from the announcement of the Bib
After laying the basis of the administra- on May 23, 1844.
tive order, and explaining the relations be- When it is borne in mind that the term
tween the Faith of Bahb'u'llih and the cur- "religious literature" has come to represent
rent movement and events which transform a wide diversity of subject matter, ranging
the world, the Guardian has written books from cosmic philosophy to the psychology
of more general BahQi import. In The Ad- of personal experience, from efforts to un-
vent o f Divine Justice, Shoghi Effendi ex- derstand the universe plumbed by telescope
pounded the significance of 'Abdu'l-BahQs and microscope to efforts to discipline the
AIMS A N D PURPOSES OF T H E BAHA'I FAITH 13

A view of the Shrine of BahL'u7116h,Bahji, Israel, seen through the Collins gate.

passions and desires of disordered human ing generations lacking a true spiritual cul-
hearts, it is clear that any attempt to sum- ture.
marize the Bah2i teachings would indicate What the believer learns reverently to be
the limitations of the person making the grateful for is a source of wisdom to which
summary rather than offer possession-of a he may turn for continuous mental and
body of sacred literature touching the needs moral development-a source of truth re-
of man and society at every point. The study vealing a universe in which man's life has
of BahL'i writing does not lead to any sim- valid purpose and assured realization. Hu-
plified program either for the solution of man history begins to reflect the working of
social problems or for the development of a beneficent Providence; the sharp outlines
human personality. Rather should it be of material sciences gradually fade out in
likened to a clear light which illumines the light of one fundamental science of life;
whatever is brought under its rays, or to a profounder sociology, connected with the
spiritual nourishment which gives life to the inner life, little by little displaces the super-
spirit. The believer at first chiefly notes the ficial economic and political beliefs which
passages which seem to confirm his own per- like waves dash high an instant only to sub-
sonal beliefs or treat of subjects close to his side into the n~ovelessvolun~eof the sea.
own previous training. This natural but "The divine reality," 'Abdu'l-Bah6 has
nevertheless unjustifiable over-simplification said, "is unthinkable, limitless, eternal, im-
of the nature of the Faith must gradually mortal and invisible. The world of creation
subside and give way to a deeper realization is bound by natural law, finite and mortal.
that the teachings of BahL'u'll6h are as an The infinite reality cannot be said to ascend
ocean, and all personal capacity is but the or descend. It is beyond the understanding
vessel that must be refilled again and again. of man, and cannot be described in terms
The sum and substance of the Faith of which apply to the phenomenal sphere of
Bahii'is is not a doctrine, not an organiza- the created world. Man, then, is in extreme
tion, but their acceptance of Bah6'u'llBh as need of the only power by which he is able
Manifestation of God. In this acceptance to receive help from the divine reality, that
lies the mystery of a unity that is general, power alone bringing him into contact with
not particular, inclusive, not exclusive, and the source of all life.
limited in its gradual extension by no bound- "An intermediary is needed to bring two
aries drawn in the social world nor arbitrary extremes into relation with each other.
limitations accepted by habits formed dur- Riches and poverty, plenty and need: with-
14 T H E BAHA'f WORLD

out an intermediary there could be no rela- well as periodic. Christianity in its original
tion between these pairs of opposites. So we essence not only relighted the candle of faith
can say that there must be a Mediator be- which, in the years since Moses, had become
tween God and man, and this is none other extinguished-it amplified the teachings of
than the Holy Spirit, which brings the cre- Moses with a new dimension which history
ated earth into relation with the 'Unthink- has seen exemplified in spread of faith from
able One,' the divine reality. The divine tribe to nations and peoples. Bah&u'llbh has
reality may be likened to the sun and the given religion its world dimension, fulfilling
Holy Spirit to the rays of the sun. As the the fundamental purpose of every previous
rays of the sun bring the light and warmth Revelation. His Faith stands as the reality
of the sun to the earth, giving life to all cre- within Christianity, within Muhammadan-
ated things, so do the Manifestations bring ism, within the religion of Moses, the spirit
the power of the Holy Spirit from the divine of each, but expressed in teachings which
Sun of Reality to give light and life to the relate to all mankind.
souls of men." The Bahi'i Faith, viewed from within, is
In expounding the teachings of Bah2- religion extended from the individual to em-
u'llbh to public audiences in the West, brace humanity. It is religion universalized;
'Abdu'l-Bahb frequently encountered the at- its teaching for the individual, spiritually
titude that, while the liberal religionist might identical with the teaching of Christ, sup-
well welcome and endorse such tenets, the plies the individual with an ethics, a sociol-
Bahh'i teachings after all bring nothing new, ogy, an ideal of social order, for which hu-
since the principles of Christianity contain manity in its earlier stages of development
all the essentials of spiritual truth. The be- was not prepared. Individual fulfillment has
liever whose heart has been touched by the been given an objective social standard of
Faith so perfectly exemplified by 'Abdu'l- reality, balancing the subjective ideal de-
Bahb feels no desire for controversy, but rived from religion in the past. BahB'uYllih
must needs point out the vital difference be- has removed the false distinctions between
tween a living faith and a passive formula or the "spiritual" and "material" aspects of life,
doctrine. What religion in its renewal brings due to which religion has become separate
is first of all an energy to translate belief from science, and morality has been di-
into life. This impulse, received into the pro- vorced from all social activities. The whole
foundest depths of consciousness, requires arena of human affairs has been brought
no startling "newness" of concept or theory within the realm of spiritual truth, in the
to be appreciated as a gift from the divine light of the teaching that materialism is not
world. It carries its own assurance as a re- a thing but a motive within the human heart.
newal of life itself; it is as a candle that has The Bahi'i learns to perceive the universe
been lighted, and in comparison with the as a divine creation in which man has his
miracle of light the discussion of religion as destiny to fulfill under a beneficent Provi-
a form of belief becomes secondary in im- dence whose aims for humanity are made
portance. Were the BahL'i Faith no more known through Prophets who stand between
than a true revitalization of the revealed man and the Creator. He learns his true re-
truths of former religions, it would by that lation to the degrees and orders of the visi-
quickening quality of inner life, that return- ble universe; his true relation to God, to
ing to God, still assert itself as the supreme himself, to his fellow man, to mankind. The
fact of human experience in this age. more he studies the Bahi'i teachings, the
For religion returns to earth in order to more he becomes imbued with the spirit of
re-establish a standard of spiritual reality. It unity, the more vividly he perceives the law
restores the quality of human existence, its of unity working in the world today, in-
active powers, when that reality has become directly manifest in the failure which has
overlaid with sterile rites and dogmas which overtaken all efforts to organize the prin-
substitute empty shadow for substance. In ciple of separation and competition, directly
the person of the Manifestation it destroys manifest in the power which has brought
all those imitations of religion gradually de- together the followers of Bahi'u'llih in
veloped through the centuries and summons East and West. He has the assurance that
humanity to the path of sacrifice and devo- the world's turmoil conceals from worldly
tion. minds the blessings long foretold, now for-
Revelation, moreover, is progressive as gotten, in the sayings which prophesied the
The main gate leading to the Shrine of BahCu'llah at Bahji, Israel,
gift of Hand of the Cause, Mrs. Amelia Collins, and named after her.

coming of the Kingdom of God on earth. teachings of BahCu'llhh are "new," the
The Sacred Literature of the BahCi Faith world's present plight is unprecedented,
conveys enlightenment. It inspires life. It came without warning save in the utterances
frees the mind. It disciplines the heart. For of BahS'u'llQh and 'Abdu'l-BahQ, and day by
believers, the Word is not a philosophy to day discloses dangers which strike terror to
be learned, but the sustenance of being the responsible student of current affairs.
throughout the span of mortal existence. Humanity itself now seems to share the
"The BahB'i Faith," Shoghi Effendi stated prison and exile which an unbelieving gen-
in a recent letter addressed to a public of- eration inflicted upon the Glory of God
ficial, "recognizes the unity of God and of seventy years ago.
His Prophets, upholds the principle of an
unfettered search after truth, condemns all
forms of superstition and prejudice, teaches
that the fundamental purpose of religion is "0 M y beloved friends! Y o u are the
to promote concord and harmony, that it bearers of the name of God in this Day.
must go hand-in-hand with science, and Y o u have been chosen as the repositories o f
that it constitutes the sole and ultimate basis His mystery. I t behooves each one o f you
of a peaceful, an ordered and progressive so- to manifest the attributes of God, and to
ciety. It inculcates the principle of equal op- exemplify by your deeds and words the
portunity, rights and privileges for both signs of His righteousness, His power and
sexes, advocates compulsory education, glory. . . . Ponder the words of Jesus ad-
abolishes extremes of poverty and wealth, dressed to His disciples, as H e sent them
recommends the adoption of an auxiliary in- forth to propagate the Cause of God."
ternational language, and provides the nec- -THE B ~ B .
essary agencies for the establishment and
safeguarding of a permanent and universal The words of Bah2uYllhh differ in the
peace." minds of believers from the words of phi-
Those who, even courteously, would dis- losophers because they have been given sub-
miss a Faith so firmly based, will have to stance in the experience of life itself. The
admit that, whether or not by their test the history of the Faith stands ever as a guide
16 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

and commentary upon the meaning and in- stantinople under the jurisdiction of the
fldence of the written text. Sulthn, exiled by the Turkish government
This history, unfolded contemporaneously to Adrianople, and at length imprisoned in
with the rise of science and technology in the desolate barracks at 'Akki.
the West, reasserts the providential element In 1863, while delayed outside of Bagh-
of human existence as it was reasserted by dhd for the preparation of the caravan toTe
the spiritual consecration and personal suf- dispatched to Constantinople, Husayn-'Ali
fering of the prophets and disciples of established His Cause among the Bibis who
former times. insisted upon sharing His exile. His declara-
The world of Islim one hundred years tion was the origin of the BahL'i Faith in
ago lay in a darkness corresponding to the which the Bib's Cause was fulfilled. The
most degraded epoch of Europe's feudal Bibis who accepted Husayn-'Ali as Bah2u'-
age. Between the upper and nether mill- ll6h (the Glory of God) were fully con-
stones of an absolutist state and a material- scious that His mission was not a develop-
istic church, the people of Persia were ment of the Bibi movement but a new
ground to a condition of extreme poverty Cause for which the Bib had sacrificed His
and ignorance. The pomp of the civil and life as the first of those who recognized the
religious courts glittered above the general Manifestation or Prophet of the new age.
ruin like firedamp on a rotten log. During forty years of exile and imprison-
In that world, however, a few devoted ment, BahB'u'llih expounded a gospel which
souls stood firm in their conviction that the interpreted the spiritual meaning of ancient
religion of Muhammad was to be purified scriptures, renewed the reality of faith in
by the rise of a spiritual hero whose coming God and established as the foundation of
was assured in their interpretation of His human society the principle of the oneness
gospel. of mankind. This gospel came into being in
This remnant of the faithful one by one the form of letters addressed to individual
became conscious that in 'Ali-Muhammad, believers and to groups in response to ques-
since known to history as the Bhb (the tions, in books of religious laws and prin-
"Gate"), their hopes had been realized, and ciples, and in communications transmitted
under the Bhb's inspiration scattered them- to the kings and rulers calling upon them to
selves as His apostfes to arouse the people establish universal peace.
and prepare them for the restoration of This sacred literature has an authoritative
Isl6m to its original integrity. Against the commentary and interpretation in the text
Bib and His followers the whole force of of 'Abdu'l-Bahi's writings during the years
church and state combined to extinguish a between BahL'u'llih's ascension in 1892 and
fiery zeal which soon threatened to bring 'Abdu'l-BahL's departure in 1921, Bah6'u'-
their structure of power to the ground. ll6h having left a testament naming 'Abdu'l-
The ministry of the Bib covered only the Bahh (His eldest son) as the Interpreter of
six years between 1844 and His martyrdom His Book and Center of His Covenant.
by a military firing squad in the public The imprisonment of the BahL'i com-
square at Tabriz on July 9, 1850. munity at 'Akki ended at last in 1908, when
In the Bib's own written message He in- the Young Turks party overthrew the exist-
terpreted His mission to be the fulfillment ing political rkgime.
of past religions and the heralding of a For three years prior to the first World
world educator and unifier, one who was to War, 'Abdu'l-Bahi, then nearly seventy
come to establish a new cycle. Most of the years of age, journeyed throughout Europe
Bhb's chosen disciples, and many thousands and America, and broadcast in public ad-
of followers, were publicly martyred in dresses and innumerable intimate gatherings
towns and villages throughout the country the new spirit of brotherhood and world
in those years. The seed, however, had been unity penetrating His very being as the con-
buried too deep in hearts to be extirpated secrated Servant of Bahi. The signiiicance
by any physical instrument of oppression. of 'Abdu'l-BahL's commentary and explana-
After the Bib's martyrdom, the weight of tion is that it makes mental and moral con-
official wrath fell upon Husayn-'Ali, around nection with the thoughts and social condi-
whom the Bibis centered their hopes. Hu- tions of both East and West. Dealing with
sayn-'Ali was imprisoned in Tihrhn, exiled matters of religious, philosophical, ethical
to Baghdid,
- from Baghdid
- sent to Con- and sociological nature, 'Abdu'l-BahB ex-
AIMS AND PURPOSES OF THE BAHA'I FAITH 17

The new garden in front of the Mansion at Bahji.

pounded all questions in the light of His consolidation and administrative order and
conviction of the oneness of God and the has become conscious of its collective re-
providential character of human life in this sponsibility for the promotion of the gospel
age. of Bahi'u'lliih. In addition to the task of
The international Bahi'i community, establishing the structure of local and na-
grief-stricken and appalled by its loss of the tional Spiritual Assemblies, the believers
wise and loving "Master" in 1921, learned have translated Bahi'i literature into many
with profound gratitude that 'Abdu'l-Bahl languages, have sent teachers to all parts of
in a will and testament had provided for the world, and have completed the Bahi'i
the continuance and future development of House of Worship on Lake Michigan, Wil-
the Faith. This testament made clear the mette.
nature of the Spiritual Assemblies estab- In the general letters issued to the Bahi'i
lished in the text of BahL'u'lllh and inau-
community by Shoghi Effendi in order to
gurated a new center for the widespread
community of believers in the appointment execute the provisions of 'Abdu'l-BahL's
of His grandson, Shoghi Effendi, as Guard- testament, believers have been given what
ian of the BahL'i Faith. they are confident is the most profound and
During the years of general confusion accurate analysis of the prevailing social dis-
since 1921, the BahL'i community has car- order and its true remedy in the World Or-
ried forward the increasing work of internal der of Bahi'u'lllh.
The Shrine of the Bkb, Haifa, Israel.
Twelve thousand gilded tiles cover the Dome in a fish scale pattern.
I N T E R N A T I O N A L SURVEY O F
C U R R E N T B A H A ' I ACTIVITIES

T H E four-year period covered in this sur- members in the Holy Land, in Irbn, in
vey was marked by events and activities of Africa, in Australia, in Europe and in North
surpassing importance to the followers of America. The number of National Spiritual
Bahi'u'llbh. Not since the Ascension of Assemblies was increased to twelve by the
'Abdu'l-Bahb which terminated the Heroic formation of the National Assemblies of the
Age of the Faith in 1921 and the publication Bahi'is of Central America, South America,
of His Testament which inaugurated the and of Italy and Switzerland.
Formative Age have Bahi'is been conscious The impetus in the growth of the BahB'i
of such profound alteration and redirection Faith internationally was witnessed not only
of the affairs of their community or been outwardly but also within the spiritual
drawn so deeply into its sustaining spirit. awareness of the Bahi'is themselves. The
Two Centennials were celebrated: the years preceding the Centenary Anniversary
Martyrdom of the Bbb, July 9, 1950, and the of the Martyrdom of the Bbb (July, 1950)
Birth of the Mission of Bahi'u'llbh during had been largely those of laying ground-
Holy Year, 1952-1953, consecrating the Ba- work, building local and national communi-
hi'is of East and West to the exalted char- ties. The ultimate objective was known-the
acter of their Faith and purifying their souls erection of a world community living ac-
by realization of the tragic persecutions suf- cording to the spiritual Laws and Ordinances
fered by the Founders and Their following of Bahi'u'llbh-but this was something for
in Persia. the far distant future. Suddenly, with the
These spiritual experiences were given ex- erection of the Shrine of the Biib on Mt.
pression in worthy action. The world-wide Carmel and the opening of the doors of
~ a h i ' icommunitf entered upon the prose- contribution to this "transcending enter-
cution of a ten-year intercontinental teach- prise" to the Bah&'isof the world, the spirit-
ing plan, a crusade aimed at a tremendous ual impulse was released for an international
expansion in the number of countries and consciousness in fact, a matter of action not
political dependencies having Bahi'i centers of thinking only. The succession of occur-
and a vast increase in the number of Bahi'i rences which followed quickly, inaugurated
institutions. This crusade was initiated by by the Guardian of the Bahb'i Faith and
four Intercontinental Teaching Conferences emanating from the International Center of
held successively in Kampala, Uganda, in the Faith in the Holy Land, united the Ba-
Chicago and Wilmette, Illinois, in Stock- hi'is of the world in action as never before
holm, Sweden, and in New Delhi, India, in the history of the Faith had been possi'ole.
during 1953, involving the participation and In his Announcement of the Centenary
cooperation of all National Spiritual As- Commemoration of the birth of Bah2u'-
semblies for the first tune in Bahi'i history. ll&h's Mission, inaugurating the interconti-
The completion of the Shrine of the Bbb on nental teaching work, the Guardian called
Mt. Carmel, Haifa, and of the Bahi'i House upon the Bahi'is of the world to prepare
of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, that same themselves "for demonstration of Bahi'i sol-
year gave public evidence of the vitality of idarity of unprecedented scope and inten-
the Faith. Two new international BahL'i in- sity during the entire course of Bahi'i his-
stitutions were established: the International tory."
Bahi'i Council at the Bahi'i World Center Thus, during the years 1950-1954 (years
in Israel, and the Hands of the Cause with 107-110 of the Bahi'i Era) the Bahi'is of
20 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

East and West were swept into an unprece- ominous threat that civilization as we know
dented and spiritually vitalizing stage of the it is doomed to destruction.
development of the World Order of Bahi'- As the world lay helpless under this dark-
u'llih, destined to emerge "in the fullness of ness, the new creation of Bahb'u'llih, His
time" in a world-recognized, spiritually uni- community of followers, gathered their
fied and administered world commonwealth, forces to establish the foundation of unity
the Kingdom of God on earth. throughout the world. Nothing short of the
Nor will the student of current affairs fail Divine Power invested in the Mission of the
to note the fact that this dynamic spiritual Prophet can reverse the fatal direction of
world plan was inaugurated at a time when human affairs and re-deploy men's faculties
the menace of devastating atomic warfare in the constructive task of unifying the peo-
oppressed the peoples of all nations with the ples in one Faith and one Order.

CENTENARY COMMEMORATIONS O F
THE MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAR

THF. Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Spiritual Assembly reported the publication
B i b was reverently anticipated by the Ba- of a memorial pamphlet, copies of which
hi'is of East and West. References to His were distributed freely, a devotional pro-
mission and martyrdom in Bahi'i Sacred gram in the Haziratu'l-Quds of Cairo and in
Writings were searched out and pondered. local centers, consisting of passages from Sa-
Chapters in Dawn-Breakers and God Passes cred Writings, and a public meeting to
By vividly depicting the event were read which eminent non-Bahi'is were invited. In
again and again. view of the religious background of their
The Centenary actually began for B a h z s nation, the Egyptian Bahi'is produced a se-
when they received the Guardian's cable- lection of passages from the Old and New
gram dated July 4, 1950. Moved by the Testament and the Q u r ' h which lent sup-
glimpse of high significance revealed by port to the Mission of the Bahb'i Faith. Invi-
these words, the BahL'is contemplated the iations were sent personally to about eighty
mysterious scene which took place at Tabriz eminent men of letters, law, the arts, educa-
on July 9, 1850, when the radiant Youth tors, parliamentarians and representatives of
chosen by God to enact so tremendous a the press known to be liberals or independ-
drama expired, pierced by the bullets fired ent seekers after truth.
by a regiment acting under official com- This public meeting concluded with re-
mand. For, as was emphasized in a previous freshments during which a moving picture
volume dealing with the Declaration of the of the Bahi'i House of Worship was ex-
Bib in 1844, the B i b terminated the Pro- hibited.
phetic Era and reflected the Dawn of the The effect was to strengthen the prestige
Sun of Truth risen to signalize the Promised of the Faith among intellectual circles and
Day of the maturity of the human race. persons of good will. This result was re-
A twofold Centenary program was carried flected in the favorable comment published
out in the various Bahgi national communi- in the daily press.
ties in accordance with the conditions in The Assembly's report included mention
each, including national and local gatherings of the successful commemoration held in
of believers for spiritual observance of the Addis-Abba, Ethiopia.
event, and public activities conveying the In Persia the National Spiritual Assembly
challenge of the Bib's Mission to mankind. published a translation of Shoghi Effendi's
Thus, in Egypt and Slidfin the National World Survey pamphlet and prepared a

The Shrine of the Bib on Mt. Carmel.
Beyond the Shrine can be seen the city of Haifa, the harbor, the bay of 'Akkk
and the hills of the Lebanon.
22 T H E B A H A. ' f W O R L D

Centenary program which was carried out message was broadcast in four languages-
by the local communities. English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi-over
Throughout Canada, likewise, a great Radio GOA. The National Assembly like-
number of devotional and public meetings wise conducted a public meeting at the Con-
were carried out in accordance with a plan stitution Club, New Delhi, the program in-
launched by the National Spiritual Assem- cluding addresses by Prof. Abdul-Majid
bly. Khan, Shri S. N. Chaturvedi, and Shrimati
The tribute paid to the Bib by Bahb'is of Shirin Boman.
Australia and New Zealand in devotional A scholarly article on the Martyrdom of
and public meetings was enlarged through the Bib, based on Nabil's Narrative, by
their publication of a pamphlet Martyrdom Prof. Alessandro Bausani, was published in
o f the Ba'b. This memorial brochure con- the Italian language magazine Oriente Mo-
tained a photograph of the design of the d e r n ~ volume
, 30, 1950.
Shrine of the BBb on Mt. Carmel and a A Portrait of the Bib, presented to the
photograph of the Bahb'i House of Worship American Bahb'is by the Guardian in 1944,
in Wilmette, with a selection of passages re- was reverently shown to believers gathered
porting the BBb's own words to His disci- in Foundation Hall, Bahb'i House of Wor-
ples, Bahb'u'llih's Tribute to Him, utter- ship, at the hour of noon on the Centenary
ances of the BBb, and a thoughtful summary date. After this rare and solemn privilege
of the Bahb'i Faith. the throng reassembled in the auditorium
An excellent press report published in where a program of readings was carried
Auckland, based upon a conference with a out under the great dome of the Temple. It
Persian Bahb'i student, gave a very favorable was in this hallowed setting, on so holy an
impression of the public meeting conducted occasion, that the cabled message from the
in that city. The speakers were Suhayl Alb'i Guardian was read, stating in part: "Moved
and Gertrude Blum. share (with) assembled representatives (of)
In Paris a public meeting was held at the American Bahgi Community gathered be-
Music Social, notices of which were circu- neath (the) dome (of the) Most Holy
lated in artistic circles, University City, and House (of) Worship (in the) Bahb'i world,
magazine and newspaper editors, attracting feelings (of) profound emotion evoked (by
a gathering of some one hundred and fifty this) historic occasion the world-wide com-
guests. Addresses were delivered by M. De- memoration (of the) first Centenary (of
lacroix, Mrs. Marion Little and Mlle. L. the) Martyrdom (of the) Blessed BBb,
Migette. Prophet (and) Herald (of the) Faith (of)
George Townshend, a leading Bahb'i Bahl'u'llih, Founder (of the) Dispensation
scholar and author, contributed a brief arti- marking (the) culmination (of the) six
cle on "The Call of the Martyrs," attesting thousand year old Adamic Cycle, Inaugura-
the complete devotion of those who yielded tor (of the) five thousand century Bahgi
up their lives through "all-absorbing, all- Cycle."
forgetting devotion for one in Whom they Still later the gathering met again in
saw God Manifest." In this treatise the Ba- Foundation Hall for a national public meet-
hb'is were poignantly reminded of the Bib's ing attended by about nine hundred persons.
significant words: "0 My beloved friends! Miss Elsie Austin presided, and addresses
You are the bearers of the name of God in were delivered by Dr. G. A. Borgese, Uni-
this Day. You have been chosen as the re- versity of Chicago, Mrs. Dorothy Beecher
positories of His mystery. It behoves each Baker and Mr. William Kenneth Christian.
one of you to manifest the attributes of God, After this program a moving picture film of
and to exemplify by your deeds and words the Shrines and Gardens at the World Cen-
the signs of His righteousness, His power ter, sent by the Guardian, was shown to the
and glory . . . For verily I say, this is the Bahl'is.
Day spoken of by God in His Book." Meanwhile local meetings were held to
Local centers in India, PikistBn and commemorate the Centenary throughout the
Burma observed the Centenary not only United States, and many radio stations
with meetings but also by providing food to broadcast the story of the Martyrdom of the
the indigent through municipal agencies. A BBb.
radio program was also made available to The national program included the publi-
local stations. Nationally, the Centenary cation of two Centenary pamphlets: The
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 23

The Shrine of the BQb, Haifa, Israel, as seen from the slopes of Mt. Carmel.

Bah& Faith-1 844-1950, a World Survey, regions. He is also the Harbinger of the
compiled by Shoghi Effendi, and The Mar- Most Great Light, the AbhQ Luminary. The
tyr-Prophet o f a World Faith, by William B. Blessed Beauty [BahS'u'llih] is the One
Sears, dramatically presenting the Bib's mis- promised by the sacred books of the past,
sion and martyrdom for a western public. the revelation of the Source of light that
"The Bib, the Exalted One, is the Morn shone upon Mount Sinai, whose fire glowed
of Truth, the splendor of Whose light," in the midst of the Burning Bush. We are,
'Abdu'l-Bah6 wrote, "shineth throughout all one and all, servants of their threshold, and
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

stand each as a lowly keeper at their door. addresses eulogizing the Bgb and explaining
. . . Every proof and prophecy, every man- His mission.
ner of evidence, whether based on reason Throughout the British Isles the Cente-
or on the text of the scriptures and tradi- nary coincided with the successful conclu-
tions, are to be regarded as centered in the sion of the first national, coordinated teach-
persons of Bahi'u'llbh and the Bgb. In Them ing campaign to be conducted by the British
is to be found their complete fulfillment." BahGis. Meetings of commemoration were
Reports from the Bahi'is of Germany held in London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Bir-
mention public memorial services conducted mingham, Bradford, Bristol and Manchester
in the larger communities-Esslingen, Gop- on a regional scale and locally in Bourne-
pingen, Frankfurt-am-Main, Heidelberg, mouth, Newcastle and Torquay.
Karlsruhe and Stuttgart. Musical selections After a devotional period these programs
from the works of Bach, Hayden and Bee- presented a dramatic script on the Martyr-
thoven, and readings from the Sacred Writ- dom of the Bbb and a review of the activities
ings created an impressive background for of the Bahi'i world community.

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS O F THE
B I R T H O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION

A MOMENTOUS message was cabled by as counterpart (to) consolidation (of) Faith
Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Faith, from at its World Center through recent forma-
the BahL'i World Center on November 30, tion (of) International BahS'i Council (in
1951, which is cited in part as follows: the) Holy Land.
"Approaching Great Jubilee commemo- "Centennial festivities (of) Year Nine
rating (the) Centenary (of the) termination continuing throughout Holy Year commenc-
(of the) Bkbi Dispensation (and) birth (of) ing October 1952 must include, apart from
Bahi'u'llbh's Revelation (in) SiyAh-C_hbl, consummation (of) plans initiated (by)
TihrLn, as well as imperative necessity adopt various National Assemblies in both hemi-
effectual measures insure befitting inaugura- spheres, (the) formal dedication (for) pub-
tion (of) third concluding phase of initial lic worship (of the) Mother Temple (of
epoch (in) execution (of) 'Abdu'l-Bahi's the) West (in the) heart (of) North Ameri-
Divine Plan destined (to) culminate (in) can Continent, (and) possible termination
hundredth anniversary (of) Declaration of (of) superstructure (of the) Bbb's Sepd-
Founder (of) Faith (in) Baghdbd, impel me cher (in) Holy Land, (the) convocation
(to) summon entire B a h i ' i o r l d , through (of) four intercontinental Bah6'i Teaching
(the) eleven National Assemblies already Conferences to be held successively (in the)
functioning (in) East (and) West, (to) be- course (of) historic year (on) Continents
stir itself, arise during sixteen months ahead (of) Africa, America, Europe, Asia."
through supreme, concerted, sustained ef- The message continued with the directions
fort, (and) prepare for demonstration (of) that the first conference was to be convened
Bah6'i solidarity (of) unprecedented scope by the British National Spiritual Assembly
(and) intensity (during) entire course (of) in Kampala, Uganda, in the early spring of
Bahi'i history. 1953, representing the National Assemblies
"Forthcoming celebrations must be signal- of the British Isles, United States, Persia,
ized through inauguration (of) long-antici- Egypt and Shdbn, India, Pkkistin and
pated intercontinental stage in administrative Burma. Invitations to attend were to be is-
evolution (of) Faith marking its gradual de- sued to Bahi'is residing in America, Persia,
velopment through successive phases (of) the subcontinent of India, the British Isles
local, regional, national (and) international and every territory on the continent of Af-
Bahi'i activity. Initiation (of) this highly rica. The aim of the conference was to plant
significant measure further cementing Bahi'i the banner of the Faith in remaining tem-
National Assemblies (in) five continents tories of Africa and the neighboring islands
(of) globe will be acclaimed (by) posterity to the east, south and west.
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 25

The second conference, Shoghi Effendi procedure, provide (for) smooth working,
directed, was to be convened by the National accord wide publicity, insure resounding
Spiritual Assembly of the United States in success, of epoch-making Conferences im-
Wilmette, Illinois, during the Ridvin period, mortalizing Centenary (of) memorable
representing the Bahb'is of the United States Year anticipated (by) St. John (the) Di-
as chief trustees of 'Abdu'l-BahL's Divine vine, foreshadowed by S_hayk_h Ahmad, eu-
Plan, and their ally and associates, the Na- logized (by the) Bib, extolled (by) both Ba-
tional Assemblies of Canada and Latin hi'u'llih (and) 'Abdu'l-Bahi, and constitut-
America. Invitations to attend were to be ing prelude (to) Most Great Jubilee which
extended to BahB'is in every State of the will alike commemorate (the) Centenary
United States, every Province of Canada and (of) formal assumption (by the) Author
every Republic of Latin America. The pur- (of the) BahB'i Revelation (of) His Pro-
pose of this conference was to prepare for phetic Office, (and) mark, God willing, the
the establishment of the Faith in the re- world-wide establishment (of the) Faith
maining territories of the Americas and the forecast (by the) Center (of the) Covenant
nearby islands of the Atlantic and Pacific [i.e., 'Abdu'l-Bahg] in His Tablets, prophe-
Oceans. sied (by) Daniel (in) his book, thus paving
The third in this series of Intercontinental (the) way (for the) advent (of the) Golden
Conferences was to be convened in Stock- Age destined (to) witness (the) world rec-
holm, Sweden, during the summer of 1953 ognition, universal proclamation (and the)
by the European Teaching Committee of ultimate triumph (of the) Cause of Bahf-
the United States Assembly, and was to be u'llih."
representative of the American, British and By this portentous message the Bah4is
German National Assemblies. Invitations to were ushered into a new era of action and
attend were to be extended to BahL'is from understanding, symbolized by the Centenary
the ten countries of Western Europe, Eng- of the Birth of the Mission of Bah2u'llih
land, Scotland, Wales, Eire, France, Ger- and given substance in this series of four
many, Austria, and Finland. The purpose of intercontinental teaching conferences which
this gathering was to provide for the gradual inaugurated a new World Crusade to cul-
introduction of the Faith into the remaining minate in the year 1963, the one hundredth
Sovereign States of the European Continent anniversary of Bah6'u'll&h's public assump-
and its neighboring islands in the Mediterra- tion of His Mission.
nean, the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. The Centenary of the Birth of the Mis-
The fourth and concluding Jubilee Teach- sion of Bahb'u'llih was observed through-
ing Conference was to be convened in New out the Bahg'i world during the year be-
Delhi, India, in the autumn of 1953 by the ginning the middle of October, 1952, and
National Spiritual Assembly of India, P&k- ending the middle of October, 1953. This
istin and Burma, representative of the Na- period marked the centenary of the year
tional Assemblies of Persia, the Indian sub- 1269 A.H., known among BahPis as the
continent, 'Iriq, Australasia, the United "Year Nine." It possesses great significance
States, Canada, Central America and South since in His Writings the Bib used it to
America. Invitations to attend were to be foretell the Birth of the Revelation of BahL'-
extended to the Bahi'is of every Sovereign u'llih and therefore the end of His own
State and dependency of Asia, North Amer- Dispensation.
ica, Central America and South America, The intimation of His Mission as the
Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. This Promised One of all nations was quickened
Conference was to consult on steps aimed spiritually in BahL'u'llih as He lay in chains,
at opening the Faith in the remaining Asiatic a prisoner, in the dungeon of Siyih-C_h&l,
States and dependencies, particularly in Tihrin. It was in so foul a place, to One so
South East Asia and the islands of the South cruelly oppressed, that the Holy Spirit de-
Pacific and Indian Oceans. scended to the person of Husayn 'Ali and
The Guardian ended his message with created BahL'u'llih, the Manifestation of
this plea: "Address plea particularly (to) God and the Law-Giver for a new World
convenors (of) above-mentioned confer- Era.
ences (to) arise .. . prayerfully consider, The Guardian has thus described this tre-
carefully plan, energetically prosecute, (the) mendous event: "It was in such dramatic
respective sacred delegated tasks . . . fix circumstances, recalling the experience of
26 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Moses when face to face with the Burning religious history of mankind, was inaugu-
Bush in the wilderness of Sinai, the succes- rated."
sive visions of Zoroaster, the opening of the Gratitude to God for this supreme mercy,
heavens and the descent of the Dove upon assuring the ultimate regeneration of hu-
Christ in the Jordan, the cry of Gabriel manity and the establishment of Christ's
heard by Muhammad in the Cave of Hira, Kingdom on earth, inspired the Bahb'is as
and the dream of the Bib, in which the they carried out their plans for the celebra-
blood of the Imim Husayn touched and tion of this great Jubilee.
sanctified His lips, that Bahb'u'lltih, He While each National Spiritual Assembly
'around Whom the Point of the Bayin hath prepared and carried out appropriate devo-
revolved,' and the Vehicle of the greatest tional and public meetings throughout Holy
Revelation the world has yet seen, received Year in celebration of the Mission of Bah2-
the first intimation of His sublime Mission, u'lltih, the several Intercontinental Confer-
and that a ministry, which, alike in its dura- ences themselves represented the fulfillment
tion and fecundity, is unsurpassed in the of this sacred experience.

INAUGURATION O F T H E WORLD CRUSADE

T H E publication of a pamphlet, compiled aim of which was to emphasize the impor-
by the Guardian setting forth a statistical tance of those elements in the Ten-Year
survey of the Ten-Year International Ba- Plan which related to Africa. A sacred relic
hb'i Teaching Plan constituting the World entrusted by the Guardian to his represen-
Crusade, underlay the thinking and action tative, in this case a portrait of the Bib, was
of Bahb'is in celebrating the Mission of so placed that each attendant in turn could
BahVu'llih. The Plan as set forth, accom- gaze upon the Countenance of the Martyr
panied by a map, included in the present Prophet. The third element in the pattern
volume, specifies twenty-seven objectives, consisted of the active participation of all
some to be realized at the World Center and National Spiritual Assemblies having teach-
others won by the twelve participating Na- ing missions in that continent. The fourth
tional Spiritual Assemblies by 1963-the was the impressive response made by volun-
most challenging task ever set for the follow- teers to arise and go forth into the pioneer
ers of a Prophet to achieve. Among these field. Another element was the conduct of
objectives might be noted: establishing the Bah2i public meetings.
Faith in one h ~ ~ n d r ethirty-one
d new coun- At Kampala Bahb'i members from all the
tries and territorial divisions; translation and different continents gathered together for
publication of Bahb'i texts in ninety-one new the first time for discussion of a common
languages; construction of two new Bahb'i theme. About two hundred thirty-two per-
Houses of Worship and purchase of land for sons attended the Kampala Conference, rep-
eleven future Temples; establishing forty- resenting nineteen countries, one hundred
eight additional National Spiritual Assem- twenty-three of whom were native African
blies; and purchasing properties to be used believers. Some thirty tribes and races were
as National Administrative Centers in forty- represented. By some mysterious process of
nine cities of the Americas, Europe, Asia, spiritual alchemy the outer differences and
Africa and New Zealand. distinctions so important to the worldly were
The first Intercontinental Teaching Con- dissolved away, and what one felt in his
ference in Holy Year was conducted by the fellow-participant was a joyous light ignited
National Spiritual Assembly of the British by the fire of the Mission of Bahi'u'll&h.
Isles at Kampala, Uganda, February 12 to The oneness of mankind found impressive
18, 1953. exemplification. The variety itself was evi-
All four Conferences disclosed a basic dence of true unity since unity is of the spirit
pattern. A message from the Guardian was and not a uniformity of type or personality.
delivered by his special representative, a The agenda, entitled "Light Over Africa,"
Hand of the Cause. At Kampala Mr. Leroy devoted two sessions to commemoratioil of
Toas presented the Guardian's message, the the Centenary. The rapid progress of pio-
The Shrine of the Martyr Prophet of the BahB'i Faith, completed in October, 1953.
28 T H E B A H A 'f W O R L D

neering and teaching work in Africa since Canada, Central America and South Amer-
1950 was summarized. Its prime purpose ica. Its essential purposes were, first, to em-
was to bring the Bahi'i teachings to the na- phasize the vital importance of the World
tives and after securing their confidence Crusade in all continents, and second, to
confirmations were recorded far beyond ex- consult and plan on how to meet the goals
pectation. set forth by the Ten-Year Plan for the West-
The spiritual capacity of the native Afri-ern Hemisphere and surrounding islands.
can for independent investigation of truth Mr. Paul E. Haney, Chairman of the United
and responsible membership in the Bahi'i States Assembly, presided at the sessions.
community has been fully demonstrated. Ruhiyyih KhBnum delivered the principal
It was at the Kampala Conference that address on the "Character and Purpose of
the statement was made that this Ten-Year the World Crusade," and in a later session
Crusade will result in the fulfillment of thearoused the spirit of pioneering with her
prophecies of Daniel relative to the 1335 stirring talk programmed as "Mount Your
days, when the Glory of the Lord will cover Steeds!" One evening session was devoted
the earth. to the Guardian's representative which was
Mr. Hasan Balyuzi, Chairman of the Brit- followed by a reception in which all Bahi'is
ish National Spiritual Assembly, presided at had the privilege of presentation to this dis-
the Conference sessions. The participating tinguished Hand of the Cause and member
National Assemblies were, besides the Brit- of the Guardian's family.
ish, the Egyptian, the United States, Persian, During the course of the Conference sev-
the 'Iriq and Indian Assemblies, among eral groups of BahL'is were assembled on
which the goal areas of Africa and adjacent the speakers' platform for special attention:
islands have been divided. These Assemblies, those who had been present when 'Abdu'l-
through their representatives, held two con- BahL dedicated the Temple grounds in 1912;
ferences to arrange for cooperation in the twelve Hands of the Cause; Bahi'is from
African teaching campaign. Persia; a group of Latin American Bahi'is;
The Guardian's plans and hopes for Af- of BahL'i Youth; of American Indians; and
rica were eloquently expounded by Mr. Ioas. a large company of those who, during the
All present realized what a privilege had Conference, had arisen to volunteer their
been granted them in Mr. TarBzu'llBh Sa- services as pioneers to the number of one
mandari's moving presentation of his per- hundred and fifty.
sonal recollections of Bahh'u'llih. During the afternoon of Sunday, May 3,
Two public meetings were held, one in the Conference assembled in the auditorium
the Conference meeting place, the other in of the House of Worship for the unveiling
the assembly auditorium of the local college.of the portrait of Bahh'u'llih which Riihiy-
yih K_h&numhad brought as the Guardian's
Though second in time, the Intercontinen- supreme blessing to this Conference. The
tal Teaching Conference held in Chicago Bahh'is entered the auditorium one by one
and Wilrnette, Illinois, had the distinction and Ruhiyyih Khknum touched the hand of
of inaugurating the Ten-Year Crusade. each with a drop of the fragrant attar of rose
From thirty countries came a throng of over sent by the Guardian for this occasion. The
twenty-three hundred Bahi'is. The great portrait of Bahh'u'llih and a portrait of the
auditorium of Medinah Temple, Chicago, BBb were placed on a table at the front of
presented an impressive spectacle during the the auditorium. Quietly, reverently, one by
Conference sessions. one, the seated Bahh'is arose and paused
As his special representative the Guard- before these Remembrances of the Twin
ian appointed 'Amatu'l-BahB Rhhiyyih K_h& Manifestations of God in this great Day.
num, Hand of the Cause, whose gracious Words cannot describe this unique privi-
presence and rare charm as speaker seemed lege. It was an inner dedication of spirit to
to crown the success of the important occa- the new World Faith. Perhaps outside the
sion. Bahh'i World Center at Haifa the celebra-
This Conference was termed an All- tion of the Jubilee, the Mission of Bah2-
America Conference, and it was conducted u'llih, around the world, witnessed no more
by the National Spiritual Assembly of the significant event.
Bahi'is of the United States in association The Conference devoted an evening ses-
with the National Spiritual Assemblies of sion to the unveiling of the model of the
C U R R E N T B A H A'f A C T I V I T I E S 29

BahL'i House of Worship, designed by C. Allen B. McDaniel, supervising engineer
Mason Remey, which is to be constructed on of Temple construction for many years, out-
Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land. Mr. Remey, lined the history of the project from its first
Hand of the Cause and President of the In- beginnings some fifty years before, through
ternational Bahi'i Council, spoke of the the purchase of land, the selection of Louis
temples of worship which each religion has ~ o u i ~ e o as
i s architect, and the completion
developed to express its particular style of of the structure under successive contracts.
architecture. "The place of worship has been Robert McLaughlin, Director of the School
the cultural center." He then referred to of Architecture of Princeton University, ex-
the teachings of Bahi'u'llgh which exhort plained the features of the architectural de-
His followers to build temples for worship, sign. Horace Holley dealt with the Temple
with a general plan for their design and in terms of the meaning of worship. Edwin
function. The speaker had visited the city of Eardley, member of the Temple Technical
'Ishqibhd many years ago where the first Committee, and Hilbert Dahl, landscape
Bahi'i Temple had been constructed, re- architect, whose design was selected for
cently, alas, confiscated by the civil authori- landscaping the Temple grounds, were pre-
ties and diverted to other use. sented to the audience. Mr. Alexander, in
The Bahi'is were deeply impressed by the name of the Village of Wilmette, of-
Mr. Remey's design which has had the dis- fered congratulations oil the completion of
tinction of being chosen for the future Tem- Temple construction. The local residents, he
ple in the Holy Land, associated with the said, feel privileged to have this world fa-
Bahi'i Shrines and the World Center which mous structure in their community.
is arising step by step in the Holy Land, The public program returned to the Me-
heart of the world. dinah Temple in Chicago. The theme "One
Among the key addresses which im- God and One People" was presented Sun-
pressed the gathering we note the remarks day evening May 3 by Dr. Charles H. Wes-
on teaching work in Africa by Musk Banhi; ley, president of Central State College, Ohio,
the exposition of the significance of the Year followed by Ruhiyyih Kbiinum, Ali Yazdi
Nine, by S_hu'L'u7llih'AlL'i; Mr. Samandari's presiding. The account written after this
reminiscences of Bahi'u'lliih; Mr. 'Ali-Ak- meeting stated concerning Ruhiyyih K_hhi-
bar Furfitan's talk on the BahL'i Administra- num: "Every one was touched by the spirit
tive Order; Mr. Valiyu'llkh Varqi's presen- which flowed .through her, by her dignity,
tation of the subject "Heroes of the Lord of simplicity and candor, and even more by
Hosts"; and Mr. mikru'llih Khidem's story those indefinable qualities of a selfless Ba-
of Tihrin-the standard of sacrifice. All hP'i, and each knew he had spent a moment
these speakers were Hands of the Cause. with a rare soul."
Jubilee public meetings were notable oc- The fourth public meeting was devoted to
casions. On Wednesday evening, April 29, the theme "The Human Goal," with H. B.
Dr. Paul Hutchinson of The Christian Cen- Kavelin presiding. The speakers were Nor-
tury, and Mrs. Dorothy Baker of the Na- man Cousins, editor, Saturday Review o f
tional Bahi'i Assembly spoke on "Religion Literature, and Dr. W. Kenneth Christian,
for Humanity." Matthew Bullock, member member of the National Spiritual Assembly.
of the National Assembly, presided. On Fri- Extraordinary was the publicity which ac-
day, May 1, the public meeting was held in claimed the Jubilee and the dedication of
New Trier High School, Winnetka, in the the House of Worship, carried by Associated
vicinity of the Temple in Wilmette. This Press, United Press and Universal Press.
meeting formally presented to the friends Feature stories appeared in Newsweek, Cap-
and neighbors the story of the BahL'i Tem- pers Weekly, The Chicago Sunday Tribune,
ple to be publicly dedicated the following Chicago Daily News ( a n editorial), and the
day. Paul Haney, presiding, read messages
Bahb'i press committee received clippings
of greeting and good wishes from distin-
guished personages, including Justice Wil- from t 6 e e hundred and ninety-seven-cities.
liam Douglas of the United States Supreme Thirteen international radio broadcasts
Court, Mrs. Ruth Bryan Rhode, Dr. Marcus were beamed over Station WRUL to Eu-
Bach and the Israeli Ambassador. William rope, the Near East and Latin America.
Alexander, President of Wilmette Village, Fifty television stations showed a film-short
shared the platform as guest of the BahCis. on the Temple dedication, while Universal
30 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

Newsreel pictures were shown in many the- struction of Human Society." Hans Odemyr
aters. of Stockholm presided.
This Conference, like that held in Kam- The Bahb'is attending the Stockholm Con-
pala, produced a new spirit of intimate ference were profoundly conscious of the
fellowship among Bahb'is who had, while vital importance of carrying out a spiritual
loyal to the same Faith, been long accus- mission in Europe, the ancient theater of
tomed to regard themselves as members of war and conquest, of upholding the Message
one particular national community. Boun- of reconciliation, peace and unity in a uni-
daries were swept away. versal Faith.
The European goals set forth in the World
The Third Intercontinental Teaching Con- Crusade call for pioneer settlement of thirty
ference was held in Stockholm, Sweden, new territories on the continent and adja-
from July 21 to July 26, 1953, in the attrac- cent islands, and the formation of more lo-
tive auditorium of the Medborgarhus. This cal Spiritual Assemblies in fifteen lands. The
Conference was planned and conducted by success of the Conference was signalized by
the European Teaching Committee. Edna the rise of sixty-three volunteers prepared to
M. True, Committee chairman, presided, enter the teaching field. Before the end of
with Mrs. Marion Hofman of England the final session, pioneers were assigned to
serving as co-chairman. The participating all the new territories to be opened in Eu-
BahB'i bodies were the National Spiritual rope, except lands where religious missions
Assemblies of the British Isles, Germany are at present not permitted.
and Austria, Italy and Switzerland, the An unforgettable occasion was the Unity
United States. Three hundred seventy-seven Banquet held in the magnificent Golden
persons attended, representing Bahb'is in Room of Stockholm Town Hall, commemo-
thirty different countries. Ugo Giachery, rating the Jubilee of the Year Nine. In this
Hand of the Cause, represented the Guard- setting the chanting of Bahb'u'llfih's words
ian of the Faith and read the Guardian's in the original Persian seemed to carry a
message addressed to the Conference. This special penetrating force. The Banquet pro-
message outlined thirteen European goals to gram was simple and effective. Other than
be achieved during the Ten-Year Plan. the prayers and invocations, only simple and
The experience acquired in the conduct heart-warming greetings in many languages
of the two previous Intercontinental Con- were delivered, each speaker testifying to
ferences, at Kampala and Chicago, made his faith and his resolve to serve the Cause
the Stockholm Conference an efficient and of Bahb'u'llfih.
smoothly running organized meeting. The Stockholm Conference rested on a
Among the agenda topics presented by strong basis in the establishment of Bahb'i
Hands of the Cause and other Bawis we ~ssembliesin the ten western countries of
note: Launching the World-Embracing Spir- Europe since 1946, and the activities of the
itual Crusade, by Ugo Giachery; Europe's National Spiritual Assemblies of the British
Part in the Ten-Year Global Crusade, by Isles and of Germany and Austria over the
Hermann Grossmann; the Kampala Con- years. The International Bahb'i Bureau, long
ference, by M6sC BanCni; the All-American maintained in Geneva, Switzerland, has also
Conference, by Beatrice Ashton and Mildred contributed to the teaching work in Europe.
Mottahedeh; Temple Dedication, by Horace
Holley; Sufferings of Bahb'G'llfih and Their The fourth and final Intercontinental
Significance, by George Townshend and Teaching Conference, convened at New
D_hikru'llfih Lhfidem. Delhi, India, was electrified by a cabled
The first afternoon was devoted to the message received from the Guardian of the
unveiling of the portrait of the BCb by the Faith in Haifa announcing the completion of
Guardian's representative and the commem- construction of the superstructure of the
oration of the Mission of BahB'u'llBh. Shrine of the Bfib after five years of work,
A public meeting was held in the Con- at a cost of about seven hundred and fifty
certhus which assembled an audience of thousand dollars. This achievement at the-
about seven hundred. Mrs. Gerd Strand of World Center seemed to be the climax of the
Oslo spoke on "The Spiritual Regeneration Holy Year.
of the Individual Man," and Professor Zeine The New Delhi Conference was con-
N. Zeine of Beirut spoke on "The Recon- ducted by the National Spiritual Assembly
C U R R E N T B A H A'f A C T I V I T I E S

of India, Pikistin and Burma, A. A. Butt rection of eight National Spiritual Assem-
presiding at the first session. Other sessions blies, and through the operation of eight
had as chairman a representative of the systematic Teaching Plans, and the con-
participating National BahCi Assemblies- certed efforts of BahCi communities in both
those of the United States, Canada, Central the East and the West, provide, as it un-
and South America, Persia, the host Assem- folds, an effective antidote to the baneful
bly of India, Pkkistkn and Burma, 'Iriq, forces of atheism, nationalism, secularism
and Australia and New Zealand. and materialism that are tearing at the vitals
C. Mason Remey, Hand of the Cause of this turbulent continent, and may it re-
from Haifa, as the Guardian's representa- enact those scenes of spiritual heroism
tive, delivered Shoghi Effendi's formal mes- which, more than any of the secular revolu-
sage to New Delhi. In it were enumerated tions which have agitated its face, have left
forty-one virgin territories and islands con- their everlasting imprint on the fortunes
stituting the Asia Teaching Mission en- of the peoples and nations dwelling within
trusted to the eight participating Assemblies. its borders."
"The Asiatic Continent," the Guardian This note of spiritual statesmanship gave
wrote, "the cradle of the principal religions the BahCis at New Delhi a deeper under-
of mankind; the home of so many of the standing of the meaning of their teaching
oldest and mightiest civilizations which have mission in relation to past historical events.
flourished on this planet; the crossways of so For the Conference there had been ar-
many kindreds and races; the battleground ranged a colorful canopy on the grounds of
of so many peoples and nations; above the Constitution Club. The BahCi from the
whose horizons, in modern times, the suns West arriving at the meeting was struck by
of two independent Revelations-the prom- the pageantry of human types and costumes
ise and consummation of a six thousand represented by his comrades from the East.
year old religious Cycle-have successively Thirty nations were represented among the
arisen; where the Authors of both these four hundred and fifty Bahi'is who regis-
Revelations suffered banishment and died; tered. The opening period of devotions was
within whose confines the Center of a di- conducted in English, Persian, Hindustani
vinely-appointed Covenant was born, en- and Burmese.
dured a forty-year incarceration and passed The portrait of the Martyr Prophet, the
away; on whose Western extremity the Bib, was unveiled by Mr. Remey and before
Qiblih of the Bahi'i world has been defi- it, in awe and reverence, the BahCis present
nitely established; in whose heart the city knelt and besought the purity essential to
proclaimed by BahCu'llih as the 'Mother of service in the Kingdom.
the World' is enshrined; within whose bor- The public events included in the Confer-
ders another city regarded as the 'Cynosure ence agenda provided two public meetings-
of an adoring world' and the scene of the one held under the marquee, the other in
greatest and most glorious Revelation the New Delhi Town Hall. The speakers on the
world has witnessed is embosomed; on platform at the first meeting were Horace
whose soil so many saints, heroes and mar- Holley, Stanley Bolton, Sr., Dorothy Baker
tyrs, associated with both of these Revela- and Ugo Giachery, with C. Mason Remey
tions, have lived, struggled and died-such presiding. At the Town Hall the theme
a continent, so privileged among its sister "Towards a World Federation," was eluci-
continents and yet so long and so sadly dated by H. C. Featherstone, John Robarts,
tormented, now stands at the hour of the Mildred Mottahedeh and A. Q. Faizi.
launching of a world-encompassing Crusade, New Delhi surpassed the three previous
on the threshold of an era that may recall, Conferences in its program of public rela-
in its glory and ultimate repercussions, the tions. A public reception and tea held in the
great periods of spiritual revival which, garden of Imperial Hotel was attended by
from the dawn of recorded history have, at nearly one thousand persons, including high
various stages in the revelation of God's officials of the India government and repre-
purpose for mankind, illuminated the path sentatives from Embassies and Consulates
of the human race. and men from the press. Formal acceptance
"May this Crusade, launched simultane- had been received from men in high official
ously on the Asiatic mainland, its neighbor- positions. The setting for this occasion was
ing islands and the Antipodes, under the di- charming and effective.
32 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

For press and other public distribution the Maxwell, designer of the Shrine of the Btib,
Indian Assembly had published a brochure with eulogies by John Robarts, Ugo Gia-
quoting appreciations of the Faith written by chery and C. Mason Remey. Prayers were
eminent Indians, and reproducing many offered for the departed Hand of the Cause,
press notices of the Bahi'i Jubilee. Siegfried Schopflocher, of Montreal.
Moreover, the host Assembly found it Many of the Bahi'is visited the site se-
possible to present delegations of Bahi'is to lected for the future Temple outside New
three government leaders-the President of Delhi on a slope overlooking the city.
India, the Vice-President, and Prime Minis- This Conference terminated with the ob-
ter Nehru. servance of the mid-October Bahi'i Nine-
Much of the time during the sessions was teen Day Feast during the early evening of
devoted to filling the forty-one pioneer posts October 15, the date of the termination also
by volunteers and to contributing funds for of Holy Year.
the future construction of three Houses of After the New Delhi Conference Hands
Worship. In both realms the result was ex- of the Cause visited local Bahb'i communi-
cellent. It was announced that, aside from ties in India, Phkistbn, Burma, Ceylon and
delays in arranging visas, it appeared that all other countries of the Orient, by direction of
Asiatic virgin territories would soon be defi- the Guardian. Similar directions had been
nitely filled. Seventy-four Bahi'is offered received at the three previous Conferences,
their services as pioneers. A generous with the result that Hands of the Cause met
amount was raised or contributed toward the and addressed local Bahb'i communities in
cost of purchasing three Temple sites. The Africa, United States, Central and South
sessions brought out from a number of Ba- America, Canada and countries in Western
h9'is the personal story of their teaching work Europe. This action brought the new institu-
in the early days or, more recently, under con- tion closer to the body of BahB'is.
ditions of determined opposition. The very It was on her return home from India,
history of the Faith seemed to be repeated after weeks of travel and public teaching,
in the experience of these spiritual heroes. that Dorothy Baker met death when the air-
The Conference held a memorial meeting plane in which she was traveling exploded
in honor of the late William Sutherland and plunged into the Mediterranean Sea.

EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE HOLY
LAND AND THE GROWTH O F T H E
INTERNATIONAL CENTER

EMERGENCE of the Bahi'i world com- hundred year old Faith," not only inspired
munity in the years 1950-1954 into a con- the Bahi'is of the world but also gave con-
sciously functioning international organism fidence and hope to the new State, which, in
was given its impetus by developments ini- turn, showed its appreciation in many ways,
tiated by the Guardian of the Faith at its In- notably in the recognition of the historic
ternational Center in the Holy Land, in sites of the Faith as Bahi'i Holy Places, in
Haifa and 'Akk6 in Israel, "under the assistance with acquisition of new properties
shadow of the Mountain of God, Mt. Car- needed, and in increasing recognition of the
mel." status of the Faith and of its appointed
These developments at the International Head, Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the
Center were inevitably associated, during BahB'i World Faith.
these years, with the development of the
rapidly emerging new State of Israel. The
spirit released by the erection of the Shrine
of the Bhb on Mt. Carmel, which the Guard-
ian termed an "enterprise transcending in Erection of the superstructure of the
sacredness any collective undertaking Sepulcher of the Bbb, the "shell designed to
launched in the course of the history of the preserve and adorn the original structure
Aerial view of the Shrine of the BCb, Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel.
The building was completed in October, 1953.

raised by 'Abdu'l-BahC as the Tomb of the of Bahi'is over all the world to contribute
Martyr Herald of our Faith," proceeded un- sacrificially toward the cost of this first of
interruptedly. Begun in 1948, the work on the Institutions at the International Center
the superstructure progressed from stage to of the Faith.
stage as successive contracts were signed by The new Government of Israel, struggling
the Guardian, or his representative in Italy, in its birth pangs, gave spontaneous expres-
Ugo Giachery, for the plans, the cutting and sion of its appreciation of the developments
carving of the marble in Italy and its ship- in the heart of the Holy Mountain, by per-
ment to Haifa, together with cement, steel, mitting the various kinds of material im-
wrought-iron railings, window-frames, until ported for the construction of the Shrine, to
the Shrine was finally completed five years enter tax free. The new Government even
later, in October, 1953, at a total cost of donated some cement at a crucial stage,
three-quarters of a million dollars. when it was itself feverishly erecting build-
By the Centenary Anniversary of the ings and housing for its new citizens. The In-
Martyrdom of the Bhb, in July, 1950, the ternational Bahi'i Council wrote of this gift:
"initial stage" of this "irresistibly advancing "One would have to be a resident of this
enterprise" was completed, and the Arcade country to realize just what that means."
with its Rose Baveno granite columns, its By Ridvhn of 1952 what the Guardian
curved and exquisitely carved corner panels called the "second crown," with its eight
of gleaming Chiampo stone, and the green majestic, minaret-like pinnacles gracing the
marble mosaic panel of the Greatest Name Octagon, was completed. As the next stage
in the north f a ~ a d e ,"the fairest gem set in of construction proceeded and the circular
the crown of the Arcade," gave breath-tak- Drum with its eighteen stained-glass win-
ing promise of what was yet to come. dows was erected, the third "crown"-the
It was the inspiring and unifying privilege brim of the Dome-was set in place by
Night view of the Sepulcher of the BBb on Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel, showing terraces and g
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 35

Naw-Ruz of 1953, to be followed by erec- the "avenue of the kings and monarchs of
tion of the Dome and the laying, during the earth."
Ridvin of 1953, of the first golden tiles
covering the two hundred and fifty square EXTENSIONOF INTERNATIONAL
ENDOW-
meter area of the Dome. On the ninth day MENTS
of the ninetieth Anniversary of the Ridvin
Festival the Guardian, with his own hands, BahL'i International Endowments have
reverently placed a fragment from the plas- been rapidly extended at the World Center
ter ceiling of the Biib's prison cell in the of the Faith through the purchase of proper-
castle of Mih-Kii beneath one of the gilded ties on the slopes of Mt. Carmel, until as of
tiles of the Dome of this beautiful Shrine. April, 1954, they cover a total area of over
Erection of the final unit, the stone lan- three hundred and fifty thousand square
tern, coincided with the closing of the Holy meters, valued at approximately four million
Year (October, 1953), associated with the dollars.
Centenary of the birth of the Mission of The Guardian pointed out in a cable dated
Bahb'u'llih. (For further details on the erec- April 3, 1952, that the "historic process" of
tion of the Shrine of the Bib, see Section establishment of international BahL'i en-
VI.) dowments on Mt. Carmel, "inevitably de-
The Guardian cabled to the Fourth Inter- layed" during the first fifty years of the
continental Teaching Conference in New Faith, was "initiated on the morrow of
Delhi in October, 1953: "(A) steadily BahB'u'llih's ascension" through the pur-
swelling throng (of) visitors (from) far chase of a limited number of plots during
(and) near, (on) many days exceeding (a) the lifetime of 'Abdu'l-Bahi in the immedi-
thousand, (is) flocking (the) gates leading ate area of the then newly erected Tomb of
(to the) Inner Sanctuary (of this) majestic the Bib. The process was "greatly accel-
mausoleum; paying homage (to the) erated" through the purchase of extensive
Queen of Carmel enthroned (on) God's properties after 'Abdu'l-Bahi's passing and
Mountain, crowned (in) glowing gold, is "now further reinforced."
robed (in) shimmering white, girdled (in) A twenty thousand square meter area,
emerald green, enchanting every eye from consisting of eighteen plots, was added in
air, sea, plain (and) hill." 1952 at a cost of one hundred eighteen thou-
During the erection of the Sepulcher of sand dollars, overlooking the resting-place
the Bib the Guardian had had the broad of the revered sister of 'Abdu'l-Bahi and the
terrace on which it rests extended toward eastern approaches to the Shrine of the Bib.
the east, adding three hundred and fifty Land extending from the heart of the Moun-
square meters in area, thus enhancing the tain to its ridge was also added, to safe-
"beauty and stateliness of the immediate guard the immediate precincts of the Shrine
surroundings" of the Shrine. and to provide for extension of the terraces
to the top of the Mountain above the Shrine,
as envisaged by 'Abdu'l-Bahi.
In March, 1953, the Guardian announced
the acquisition, "after thirty years of effort,
In April, 1951, the Guardian added the of a wooded area of over twenty-three thou-
two lower terraces to the impressive road- sand square meters," made possible through
way leading, terrace by gardened terrace, the estate bequeathed to the Faith by Roy C.
from the city directly to the Shrine. With the Wilhelm. Acquisition of this property in-
addition of the two lower terraces and their creased "the total area within the precincts
beautification, the Guardian completed the permanently dedicated to the Bib's Sepul-
series of nine terraces "linking Haifa's oldest cher to almost a quarter million square me-
and most imposing avenue with the Bib's ters." Over one hundred thousand square
resting place majestically rising in the bosom meters of the land permanently dedicated to
of Carmel." Thus was fulfilled 'Abdu'l- the Shrine of the Bib are registered in the
BahB's "cherished desire" to connect the name of the Israel Branch of the National
Shrine with the German Templar colony at Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of the
the foot of Mt. Carmel. The Guardian wrote United States of America.
the BahB'is of Persia and the Middle East A strip of land previously owned by Mrs.
that this roadway would become known as Farah Sprague, who had asked a fantastic
price for this property, when the Guardian many drawings of designs for a BahL'i
repeatedly tried to acquire it, and had finally House of Worship. In 1948 at the iilvitation
arbitrarily refused to sell it at all to the Ba- of the Guardian he went to Haifa to live and
hb'is, was expropriated on the recommenda- there, under the direction of the Guardian,
tion of the Mayor of Haifa. Arrangements has been working on the plans for the Tem-
were made with the Finance Minister of the ple to be built on Mt. Carmel. The com-
State of Israel through the Guardian's repre- pleted design, approved by the Guardian,
sentatives for purchase of the property for a and a model of this first BahL'i Temple for
small amount. It is now a part of the land the Holy Land, were exhibited at the Sec-
being prepared for the International Ar- ond Intercontinental Bahi'i Teaching Con-
chives building. ference in Chicago, Illinois, in May, 1953.
In the city of Haifa a piece of property The design provides a circular building, em-
facing both the House of 'Abdu'l-BahA and bellished with beautiful minaret-like spires,
the Western Pilgrim House was also ac- and has nine approaches through gardens.
quired, to be kept as a private open space.
The Guardian has had it planted with gar-
dens.

In the development of the Bahb'i Inter-
national Center the first edifice "destined to
usher in the establishment of the World Ad-
When the Guardian announced, in OC- ministrative Center of the Faith" is the In-
tober, 1952, the tasks to be accomplished ternational BahB'i Archives. One of the
during the Ten-Year World Spiritual Cru- fundamental provisions of the Faith of
sade, one of the objectives at the World BahL'u'llAh is that there shall be not only
Center of the Faith was the acquisition of the aspect of worship and glorification of
land for the future Mas_hriqu'l-Ad_hkLr on God but also the channel through which that
Mt. Carmel. A year later he announced that spirit thus engendered can flow out to the
a site had been selected and preliminary world through Bahi'i activities. The Admin-
steps taken toward the purchase of an area istrative Center provides that channel.
at the head of the Mountain of God. This The design for the International BahL'i
area, comprising approximately thirty-six Archives has been made by Charles Mason
thousand square meters is located "in close Rerney, carrying out suggestions of the
proximity to the Spot hallowed by the foot- Guardian of the Faith. It was first exhibited
steps of BahL'u'llAh, near the time-honored at the Fourth Intercontinental Conference
Cave of Elijah, and associated with the reve- at New Delhi, October, 1953. It calls for a
lation of the Tablet of Carmel, the Charter stately marble edifice, of pure classic Greek
of the World Spiritual and Administrative form, similar to the Parthenon in Athens,
Centers of the Faith on that mountain." having Ionic columns on each side. The
Funds amounting to over one hundred thou- building is to be erected on the slope of Mt.
sand dollars have been generously contrib- Carmel, at the west end of an arc which
uted by one of the Hands of the Cause re- circles from the main boulevard above the
siding in the Holy Land. resting places of the sister of 'Abdu'l-BahB
Forty years earlier 'Abdu'l-BahA had and His mother and brother. Again the mar-
written to Charles Mason Remey, well- ble work is being done in Italy, and shipped
known architect then living in Washington,
to Haifa, as for the Shrine of the BBb.
D.C., that his mission would be to design
the BahL'i House of Worship to be built on The World Administrative Center of the
Mt. Carmel. Mr. Remey had been studying BahL'i Faith, of which the International Ar-
architecture in Paris as a young man when chives is the first building, is, as the Guard-
he first heard of the Faith and since then ian points out, "the Ark referred to by
had made and exhibited internationally Bahb'u'llAh in the closing passages of His

The circular cluster of cypress trees (foreground) is the spot visited by BahL'u'llAh,
from which He indicated the present site of the Shrine of the BAb and stated
that His Remains must be brought from Persia and placed there.
38 T H E BAHA'I. W O R L D

Tablet of Carmel." Addressing Mt. Carmel deemed the "hour now ripe to take long in-
Bahi'u'llih writes: "Ere long will God sail evitably deferred step." Appointment of the
His Ark upon thee, and will manifest the first contingent of the Hands of the Cause
people of BahL who have been mentioned in of God was made known in a cablegram
the Book of Names." from the Guardian dated December 24,
1951, in which twelve were named, "equally
allocated Holy Land, Asiatic, American,
European continents." Those nominated
In order that Bahi'i properties on Mt. were :
Carmel may be safeguarded by being held in Holy Land: Sutherland Maxwell, Mason
the names of various National Spiritual As- Remey, Mrs. Amelia Collins.
semblies, Israel Branches of seven National Cradle of the Faith (Persia) : Valiyu'llih
Spiritual Assemblies are to be established, in VarqL, TarLzu'llLh Samandari, 'Ali-Akbar
addition to that of the National Spiritual As- Furbtan.
sembly of the BahL'is of the United States of American Continent: Horace Holley,
America, which has been in effect for many Dorothy Baker, Leroy Ioas.
years. As of April, 1954, four new Israel European Continent: George Townshend,
Branches had been legally established, Hermann Grossmann, Ugo Giachery.
formally recognized as Religious Societies by The number of the Hands of the Cause
the Israeli Civil Authority and empowered was raised to nineteen with the nomination
to hold unrestricted title to immovable prop- of seven additional, in the Guardian's cable-
erty in any part of the State of Israel, on be- gram of February 29, 1952:
half of their parent Assembly. Dominion of Canada: Fred Schopflocher.
The four new Israel Branches are those of United States of America: Mrs. Corinne
the National Spiritual Assemblies of the True.
BahB'is of the British Isles, of Persia, of Persia: Dhikru'lltih &hidem, S_hu'P'u'-
Canada, and of Australia. Through these 11Ph 'AlP'i.
bodies the National Spiritual Assembly con- Germany: Adelbert Miihlschlegel.
cerned has an interest in the property regis- Africa: M6sL BanPni.
tered in its name and could challenge, Australia: Mrs. Clara Dunn.
through its Government, any claims that In this cablegram the Guardian stated:
might be made by enemies of the Faith. "Members august body invested (in) con-
formity (with) 'Abdu'l-BahP's Testament,
twofold sacred function, (the) propagation
(and) preservation (of the) unity (of the)
Faith (of) BahP'u'llLh, (and) destined (to)
In December, 1951, the entire BahP'i assume individually (in the) course (of)
world was profoundly stirred and humbly time (the) direction (of) institutions paral-
grateful that the Guardian of the BahL'i leling those revolving around (the) Uni-
Faith felt the time had come in the unfold- versal House (of) Justice, (the) supreme
ment of the Faith to proclaim publicly the legislative body (of the) Bahl'i World, (are)
appointment of the first Hands of the Cause now recruited (from) all five Continents
to be named during their lifetime. Provi- (of) the globe (and) representative (of
sion for this Institution had been made by the) three principal world religions (of)
'Abdu'l-BahP in His Testament, and Bahi'uY- mankind."
llPh had named a few devoted and dedicated On the death of Mr. Maxwell in March,
believers as Hands of the Cause, but hith- 1952, the Guardian cabled that the mantle
erto the designation by the Guardian of an of Hand of the Cause "now falls (upon the)
outstanding servant of the Faith as Hand of shoulders (of) his distinguished daughter,
the Cause had been made publicly only after Amatu'l-BahL Rbhiyyih, who (has) already
that person's death. rendered (and is) still rendering manifold
The Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahi states that no less meritorious self-sacrificing services"
"the Hands of the Cause of God must be at the World Center of the Faith.
nominated and appointed by the Guardian A sixth Hand of the Cause for Persia was
of the Cause of God. All must be under his named by the Guardian on December 7,
shadow and obey his command." 1953, with the appointment of JalLl K-hizeh.
The first Guardian of the Cause of God And Paul Haney of the United States was
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 39

Manesmann pipes placed
prior to erection, within
the recently cast re-
inforced concrete work
which constitutes the sup-
port for the superstruc-
ture of the Bgb's Shrine.

Erection of the cement
ceiling of the octagon of
the Shrine, January-
February, 1952.

One of the completed
pinnacles of the octagon,
March, 1952.
40 T H E BAHA'I. W O R L D

nominated Hand of the Cause in the Guard- cution" of the twelve projected National
ian's cable of March 19, 1954. Mr. Schop- teaching plans.
flocher of Canada passed away in July, The five auxiliary Boards appointed by the
1953, and Mrs. Dorothy Baker of the fifteen Hands of the Cause were announced
United States had been killed in an airplane as follows:
accident in January, 1954. African:
Four of the Hands of the Cause serve in
Haifa at the World Center-Amatu'l-Bahi John Allen
RGhiyyih Khanum, Mason Remey, Mrs. Miss Elsie Austin
Amelia Collins, and Leroy Ioas. 'Ali Nakbjavini
In the Guardian's cablegram to the Hands Jal61 Nak_hjavini
of the Cause and the National Spiritual As- John Robarts
semblies, dated April 6, 1954, he acknowl- William Sears
Muhammad Mustafa Soleirnan
edged the services of the Hands of the Cause
in the Holy Land in the erection of the Bib's Valerie Wilson
Sepulcher on Mt. Camel, in the reinforce- 'Aziz Yazdi
ment of ties with the newly emerged State American:
of Israel, in extension of BahL'i International Canada: Rowland Estall
Endowments in the Holy Land, in the initia- Central America: Esteban Canales
tion of preliminary measures, for the estab- South America: Mrs. Gayle Woolson,
lishment of the BahL'i International Admin- Mrs. Margot Worley
istrative Center, and in the participation of United States and inter-America:
these Hands of the Cause in the four succes- William de Forge
sive Intercontinental BahL'i Teaching Con- Mrs. Margery McCormick
ferences and their subsequent travels in the Mrs. Katherine McLaughlin
five continents. Mrs. Florence Mayberry
Dr. Sarah Pereira
Asiatic:
In the unfoldment of the Institution of the Miss Agnes Alexander
Hands of the Cause the Guardian instructed Mrs. Elena Marsella Fernie
the fifteen Hands of the Cause outside the Abul Qasim Faizi
Holy Land to appoint, during Ridvin 1954, Abbas Ali Butt
"by virtue of their supreme function as Carl A. Scherer
chosen instruments for the propagation of Daoud Toeg
the Faith," five auxiliary Boards, one for Kazem Kazemzadeh
each of the five continents. This body of the Australian:
Hands of the Cause was, in the Guardian's H. C. Featherstone
words, "now entering (the) second phase Miss Thelma Perks
(of) its evolution signalized (by) forging
(of) ties (with the) National Spiritual As- European:
semblies (of the) Bahi'i world (for the) Mrs. Marion Hofman
purpose (of) lending them assistance (in) Mrs. Dorothy Ferraby
attaining (the) objectives (of the) Ten Year Eugen Schmidt
Plan." Mrs. Anna Grossmann
The task of the auxiliary Boards was to Louis Henuzet
"increasingly lend (their) assistance (for Joel Marengella
the) promotion (of the) interests (of the) Miss Elsa Steinmetz
Ten-Year Crusade." Their function was to Mrs. Angeline Giachery
act "as deputies, assistants and advisers of Mrs. Tove Deleuran
the Hands," "working in conjunction" with
the National Spiritual Assemblies on each
continent. Their duties had been defined by
the Guardian in his cablegram of October 8,
1952, launching the World Crusade: to "as- In January, 1951, the Guardian made
sist, through periodic systematic visits (to) known to the National Spiritual Assem.blies
BahL'i centers (in the) efficient, prompt exe- of East and West his "weighty epoch-making
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 41

decision" to form the first International the Faith has been the acquisition and em-
Bahfi Council, as a forerunner of the Uni- bellishment of the land surrounding the
versal House of Justice "destined to emerge Shrine of Bahi'u'llbh at Bahji, on the plain
in the fullness of time" at the International outside of 'Akkb. After two-year-long nego-
Center of the Faith, "the midmost heart of tiations the Guardian announced on Novem-
the entire planet." He referred to the Inter- ber 12, 1952, that a contract had been
national Council as an "embryonic Interna- signed whereby about one hundred sixty
tional Institution," stating that it will evolve thousand square meters of land (forty acres)
into an officially recognized Bahfi Court, in the immediate area of the Shrine were to
be transformed into a "duly elected body" be transferred by the Israeli Government to
and reach its efflorescence finally as the Uni- BahL'i ownership. Thus the Guardian was
versal House of Justice. He outlined its able to begin carrying out his longing to
threefold function: (1) to forge a link with beautify the entire surroundings of the
authorities of the newly emerged State of Tomb of the Founder of the Bahf i Faith.
Israel, (2) to assist the Guardian in the erec- This property, equal in extent almost to
tion of the Shrine of the Bbb, and ( 3 ) to "the entire Bahi'i international endowments
conduct negotiations related to matters pav- purchased in the course of sixty years in the
ing the way for the formation of the BahL'i vicinity of the Bbb's Sepulcher," had come
Court. into the hands of the Israeli Government be-
The Guardian appointed the following cause of the precipitate flight of the former
members of the International Bahi'i Coun- Arab owners. The Government of Israel was
cil : willing to arrange for its exchange for prop-
Amatu'l-Bahb RGhiyyih Khbnum, as liai- erty which was Iocated in a strategic area,
son between himself and the Council owned by BahL'is who offered to donate
Charles Mason Remey, president their property for the purpose of the ex-
Mrs. Amelia Collins, vice-president change. The dramatic event was heightened
Ugo Giachery, member-at-large by the fact that the property in the Bahji
Leroy Ioas, secretary-general area now being acquired by the Bahfis had
Jessie Revell, treasurer formerly been owned by Arab supporters of
Ethel Revell, Western assistant secretary old Covenant-breakers and descendents of
Lotfullah Hakim, Eastern assistant secre- the notorious enemy of 'Abdu'l-Bahb who
tary. had placed his residence at the disposal of
Two comprehensive letters have been re- the Turkish Committee of Investigation sent
ceived from the International BahL'i Coun- to interrogate 'Abdu'l-Bahb just prior to
cil by the National Spiritual Assembly of the overthrow of the Caliphate in 1908. The
BahL'is of the United States, which are in- area donated for exchange, on the other
cluded in Part Two, Section I, of this vol- hand, was property belonging to the grand-
ume. These letters serve to keep the Bahf is children of Mirzb Muhammad-Quli, Bah2-
informed of interesting events connected u'llbh's faithful half-brother and companion
with the progressive developments at the In- in exile.
ternational Center of the Faith, which have The Guardian's cable announced that the
been announced by the Guardian. contract was signed on the one hundred
Assistance of the members of this Coun- thirty-fifth anniversary of the birth of BahP-
cil has been repeatedly acknowledged by the u'llkh. Transfer of the Bahji property was
Guardian in the work at the International arranged by the Development Authority of
BahL'i Center, in the erection of the Shrine Israel to be registered under the name of the
of the Bbb, in contacts which members of Israel Branch of the National Spiritual As-
the Council have made with Government sembly of the BahB'is of the United States of
and religious authorities of the State of Is- America.
rael, in widening the understanding of the The International Council wrote: "The
Faith and its spiritual influence in the world. magnitude of this historic event is difficult
to understand at this time."
Immediately the Guardian began laying
out gardens to beautify the area around the
Sepulcher of BahL'u'llbh, "the Qiblih of the
One of the most astounding and miracu- ~ a h d ' iworld." Laid out in the form of a
lous developments at the World Center of semi-circle around the Shrine, with a radius
42 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

of 110 meters, the gardens, "sprung from Ilkh's House in 'AkkL, exempt from taxa-
the dust," are decorated with white Carrara tion. Thus the status of the Mansion of Bahji
marble vases and ornaments, with decorative changed from a personal residence to a
lamp posts and beautiful wrought-iron gates beautiful Museum and Pilgrim House for
flecked with gold, on graceful pebbled paths the Bahh'is.
leading to the Shrine. The International By 1951 there remained still a small one-
Council wrote of these developments: story building adjacent to the Tomb of
"Lo! like a dream they [the gardens] BahB'u'llLh whose roof had caved in and
spread before the eyes of the BahL'is. In- whose walls were crumbling. As Custodian
deed the Arab laborers would quote to each of the Bahi'i Holy Places the Guardian con-
other an old saying: 'The ring of Solomon sidered its presence detrimental to the dig-
has been found!'-which stems from a tradi- nity of the approach to the Shrine of Bahi'-
tion that the king lost his ring, and that who- u7116h, and in December, 1951, he ordered
ever found it and turned it on his finger- it demolished. Before his order could be car-
whatever he wished for would materialize ried out, however, an order was issued from
instantly." the Haifa court to prevent this action, at the
In order to embellish the area immediately instigation of the Covenant-breakers, urged
adjacent to the Tomb of Bahb'u'llLh, the on by Majdi'd-Din, who was nearly one hun-
Guardian had, in years past, removed some dred years old, miserably paralyzed and still
piles of ruined buildings and had completely living in an adjacent building. After a legal
renovated the Mansion of Bahji, where suit, described in a subsequent section of this
BahB'uYll&hwas living when He ascended in Survey, the case was settled as a complete
1892, and where Muhammad-'Ali, "Arch victory for the Bahi'is, upholding the au-
Covenant-breaker of Bahh'u'llbh's Testa- thority of the Guardian of the Bahh'i World
ment," had been permitted to live with his Faith.
family, while 'Abdu'l-Bahg and His family Within forty-eight hours after settlement
were still living in 'Akki. By 1932 the roof of this case, in which title to the house OC-
of the Bahji Mansion was caving in through cupied by Muhammad-'Ali was also cleared
neglect of the property by the then inhabit- and included in the settlement, the ruins
ant, Muhammad-'Ali, who claimed to have were removed "in a blast of joy" and within
no funds to repair the damage. The Guard- one week gardens had appeared as if by
ian, who felt that such a condition was not magic, with pebbled paths, marble orna-
only a disgrace to the memory of Bahh'u'- ments, peacocks, eagles, cypress trees, and
Ilgh but was a responsibility of the BahB'is beautiful wrought-iron gates.
to repair, prevailed upon Muhammad-'Ali
to move with his familv to an adiacent
building. The Guardian ;hen rest&& the
Mansion, with great care, to its original Within these gardens, immediately adja-
beauty, for it was an exquisite oriental pal- cent to the Tomb of Bahi'u'llbh, the Guard-
ace built by a wealthy resident of 'AkkL ian has created an "outer sanctua~y"which
during the time of BahCu'llih's incarcera- he has termed the Haram-i-Aqdas, or Most
tion in the prison city and deserted when a Holy Court. H e has stated that in the future
pestilence struck the area. After the Guard- a "magnificent Mausoleum" will be erected
ian had renovated the entire building, re- in its heart. He cabled, February 9, 1953:
storing even the original delicate mural dec- "(The) striking enhancement (of the)
orations on the walls, he lined the rooms beauty (and) stateliness (of the) most holy
with cases containing original Writings of spot (in the) BahB'i world constitutes (a)
BahC'u'llBh, books and pictures of priceless befitting tribute (to the) memory (of the)
historical value, and placed in Bahh'u'llWs Founder (of the) Faith, within (the) hal-
own room original relics associated with His lowed area adjacent (to) His resting-place,
stay there. The Guardian then invited the (on the) occasion (of the) Centenary Cele-
British District Commissioner to inspect the brations (of the) birth (of) His glorious
Mansion with him. The Commissioner was Mission."
so impressed that he agreed to ask the High
Commissioner to include it as a BahL'i Holy
Place, making it, as were the Shrines of On December 25, 1951, a cablegram from
BahL'u'llhh and of the Bkb, and BahL'uY- the Guardian was received by all National
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES

A corner of the Bbb's Shrine with two pinnacles of the octagon
completed and the wrought-iron gilded railing in position.

Spiritual Assemblies which brought untold sion of Bahb'u'llbh at Bahji, His cell in the
joy to thousands of Bahb'is the world over. prison of 'Akkb is visited, as well as
It announced "restrictions on pilgrimage be- the House in 'Akkb where He revealed the
ing gradually removed." Not since the war, Kitdb-i-Aqdas and the House where lived
ten years before, had it been possible for 'Abdu'l-BahL and Bahiyyih Khinum, His
BahB'is to fulfill the longing of their hearts revered sister; also visited are the peaceful
to visit the Holy Shrines and be privileged Garden of RidvLn and the Garden of Fir-
to meet the Guardian of the Faith in person. daws, where Bah&'u'llbh often went, and the
Within four months one hundred Bahb'is International Archives, where priceless relics
from.East and West had been permitted this and treasures are viewed.
privilege. Their visits were necessarily re- The Guardian has pointed out that the pil-
stricted to nine days, owing to limited ac- grims constitute the stream of life blood
commodations in the two Pilgrim Houses, so flowing in and out of the great heart of the
that as many as possible could be received as Faith. As direct result of the inspiration re-
the Guardian's guests. During this pilgrim- ceived, many Bahb'is have pioneered to dis-
age the Shrine of Bahb'u'llbh at Bahji and tant countries and islands of the world,
the Shrine of the Bbb on Mt. Carmel are carrying the Teachings of Bah6'u711Lhto im-
visited, a night at least is spent in the Man- portant goals of the Ten-Year Crusade.
44 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

possible for all BahB'i pilgrims to visit this
scene of His great suffering and to pray
The Mansion of Mazra'ih, in the country there.
a few miles north of 'AkkL, where Bahi'u'- Presentation of this room to the Bahi'is
llLh first lived after leaving the prison city, came about without any request having been
has become a BahL'i Holy Place to be visited made on their part, according to a letter
by Bah6'i pilgrims., because of the gracious from the International Council. The mem-
intervention of the Prime Minister of Israel, bers of the Council were simply informed
Mr. Ben-Gurion. Mazra'ih was formerly the one day in 1951 by the Government Physi-
residence of a wealthy Arab PLs_hL, which cian in charge of the hospital into which this
'Abdu'l-BahL had rented and prepared for fortress prison has now been converted, that
BahL'u'llLh so that He might be surrounded he wished to deliver the keys of BahB'u'ULWs
by the verdure He loved after His nine years room, as it had been set aside for the Ba-
of confinement within the prison and the hi'is. The room has been marked with a dig-
prison city. The Mansion had since become nified plaque over the entrance. It is a large
a Muslim religious endowment but by ar- corner room, on the top floor of the fortress
rangements made, at the Prime Minister's prison, with high, small, deeply recessed
suggestion, through the Minister of Religions windows and bare stone floor.
it is now rtnted to the BahL'is. The Guard- Bahi'u'llLh wrote, as cited by the Guard-
ian had it attractively and simply furnished ian: "Blessed the man that hath visited
in December, 1950, "in anticipation" of 'AkkL, and blessed he that hath visited the
opening the door of pilgrimage. visitor of 'Akki." "He that raiseth therein
the call to prayer, his voice will be lifted up
unto Paradise."

large House ;here ~ahku'llLhlived after
His confinement in the prison itself, and The Guardian has frequently referred, in
where He revealed the Kitdb-i-Aqdas in his messages to the National Assemblies, to
which are "preserved for posterity the basic the cordial relations existing between the
laws and ordinances on which the fabric of State of Israel and the International Center
His future World Order must rest." Later of the Faith. He has expressed his deep ap-
Bahi'u'llLh moved to Mazra'ih and 'Abdu'l- preciation of the assistance given by the
BahL and His family remained for a time in Prime Minister, Mr. Ben-Gurion, and the
the House in 'AkkL. Ministries of the Government in various
The House of Bahi'u'llLh in 'AkkL, now ways. Some of these have already been al-
a Bahi'i Holy Place, was completely reno- luded to, in connection with the construc-
vated and furnished by the Guardian, except tion of the Shrine of the BLb and the desig-
that the room of 'Abdu'l-BahL, where the nation of historical sites of the Faith as
Aqdas was revealed, has been left exactly as Bahi'i Holy Places.
it was. This House is now visited by a Of vital importance has been the increas-
"steadily swelling number of visitors, both ing evidence of greater and deeper under-
local and foreign." standing of what the BahL'i Faith is and
It is of interest to recall that the Guardian, what it stands for. Contacts by members of
in his God Passes By, terms the Kitdb-i- the International Bahi'i Council with the de-
Aqdas "the Charter of the future world civil- partments of the Government, both State
ization," and points out that David referred and local, and with many Cabinet officials,
to 'AkkL as the "strong city" and Hosea have done much to help in establishing and
called it "a door of hope." maintaining these cordial relations.
A reception given by the International
Council at the Mansion of Bah2u7ll5h at
Bahji was one of the first steps taken to es-
tablish friendly understanding. It was at-
The placing of the room occupied by tended by Government officials, Consuls,
Bahl'u'llLh in the fortress prison of 'Akkb representatives from the Ministry of Reli-
under the control of the BahVis is another gions in Jerusalem and by many friends and
dramatic occurrence, one which has made it acquaintances. Greetings have been ex-
C U R R E N T B A HA'f A C T I V I T I E S 45

tended to the Bahi'is, in turn, by means of wrought silver-bound volume with colored
Israeli radio broadcasts on special BahL'i views of the BahL'i Holy Places in Israel,
Feast Days, such as Naw-Rilz and Ridvin. both at Bahji and on Mt. Carmel, was pre-
Bahb'i books have been placed in the library sented to the President as a memento of the
of the Ministry of Religions and presented to occasion.
the Minister himself, who is a profound stu- "The party then left for the gardens and
dent of religions, at his request. Shrines. The Guardian took his honored
The importance of the fact that the Inter- guests through the gardens fragrant with the
national Center of the Bahb'i World Faith is perfume of roses, lilies and the many flowers
in Israel is being more and more realized by in bloom, showing them the view over Haifa
authorities of both the State Government with 'Akkb in the distance to the north.
and the cities of Haifa and 'Akki. Many Then he escorted them to the Holy Shrines.
Cabinet officials have visited the Shrine of "The President and Mrs. Ben-Zvi were
Bahb'u'llih, the Shrine of the Bib, the Man- greatly impressed with the atmosphere of the
sion of Bahji, and the Bahb'i Gardens in sacred precincts, commented at length on
'Akki and on Mt. Carmel. the glory of the Shrine of the Bib and the
gardens, which they recognized as the most
VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT
OF ISRAEL beautiful in Israel.
"On leaving, the President expressed his
On April 26, 1954, the extent of these appreciation of the hospitality shown by the
growing cordial relations between the State Guardian and of the work which the Bahb'is
of Israel and the International Center of the are doing in Israel. He extended his best
Faith was evidenced when His Excellency wishes for the success of the BahB'i com-
the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Iz- munity, not only in Israel, but throughout
hak Ben-Zvi, and Mrs. Ben-Zvi, officially the world.
visited the Shrine of the Bib and of 'Abdu'l- "The preliminary steps leading to this his-
Bahi on Mt. Carmel, and called upon the toric visit may be of interest. In January the
Guardian of the Bahb'i Faith, in response to President, Vice-President and Secretary-
an invitation tendered earlier by the Guard- General of the International Bahb'i Council
ian. This was the first time in BahCi history asked permission to call on the President of
that the Head of a sovereign independent the State of Israel to greet him officially. The
State had officially visited the Shrine and latter received them on February first. It was
called on the Head of the Bahb'i World during that visit that the President expressed
Faith. The Secretary-General of the Interna- the wish to visit His Eminence, the Guard-
tional Bahb'i Council describes this event, as ian of the Faith and the Shrine and gardens
follows : on Mt. Carmel. Subsequently, the Guardian
"On that historic day the President and extended a cordial invitation to the Presi-
the Secretary-General of the International dent, which was accepted for April 26."
Bahb'i Council were received by the Presi-
dent of the State of Israel and Mrs. Ben-Zvi
in their suite at the Megiddo Hotel in Haifa
at nine in the morning. After visiting a few
minutes, the party left by auto for the home Evidence of the official recognition of the
of Shoghi Effendi. Bahii'i Faith as an independent world re-
"The Guardian and R6hiyyih Khinum ligion by the Jewish authorities has been
warmly received the President and Mrs. witnessed by exemption of BahB'i properties
Ben-Zvi, surrounding them with gracious from all taxation, both State and local. This
hospitality. During the friendly and informal exemption is especially noteworthy in a
discussion which followed, Shoghi Effendi growing new State, stniggling to maintain
outlined the aims and purposes of the Faith, and further its own development. The ex-
the love and friendliness of the Bahb'is for emption includes the properties of the
Israel, and their hope and prayer for the Shrines of Bahii'u'llih and of the Bib, the
success of the State. The President recalled International Archives (at present in two
a visit with 'Abdu'l-Bahi some years ago in separate locations), the two Mansions of
Bahji, when he and Mrs. Ben-Zvi were mak- Bahi'u'llih (Bahji and Mazra'ih) , the
ing a tour of the country. Persian tea and House in 'AkkL where BahB'u'llih lived
sweets were served. A beautiful hand- when He revealed the Aqdas and the House
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Finishing the molds for beams of the great "star" foundation.
Note that the molds for the beams interlock; beams when
poured are six feet deep. (See drawing, page 245.)

in Haifa where 'Abdu'l-Bah&lived when He places of the Greatest Holy Leaf and her
passed away. Objects received for these kinsmen. As the Guardian wrote in his let-
properties are also exempted from taxation. ter of March 29, 1951: "All these establish,
Other evidence of official recognition of beyond the shadow of doubt, the high status
the Bahi'i Faith has been given in various enjoyed by the international institutions of
ways : a World Faith, in the eyes of a new-born
A BahL'i marriage certificate has been ac- State."
cepted and registered by the District Com- Furthermore, a circular issued to all
missioner of Haifa. schools by the Ministry of Education and
A Bahi'i Department has been established Culture provides for the excusing of Bahi'i
under the Ministry of Religious Affairs. children from school attendance on Bahi'i
Goods consigned to the Bahi'i Commu- Holy Days. This action was unsolicited by
nity have been exempted from all customs the BahB'is and provides yet further evidence
duties. This important evidence of official of the official recognition of the Bahl'i
recognition has come about through the Faith.
good offices of the Minister of Finance, and
has included all material imported for the LEGALCASEWONBY THE B A H ~ ' ~ s
construction of the Shrine of the Bkb. The
exemption also includes material imported The legal case brought by the Covenant-
for beautification of the Gardens and all breakers in December, 1951, in connection
furniture for the Bahi'i Holy Places. It has with the ruined house adjacent to the Tomb
been extended to include material for all in- of Bahi'u'llkh, referred to under "Acquisi-
ternational endowments surrounding the tion and Embellishment of Land Surround-
Shrine on Mt. Carmel from the ridge of the ing the Shrine of Bahi'u'llih," was started
Mountain to the Templar Colony at its foot, in the civil court of Haifa as a suit against
and for the immediate vicinity of the resting- the Guardian of the Faith, to restrain him
The great star-shaped reinforced concrete foundation of the
octagon of the Bib's Shrine.
T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

from removing some unsightly ruins. As dropped or settled out of court, but it con-
Custodian of Bahi'i Holy Places and as un- tinued, as if providentially, until it reached
disputed possessor of the building concerned the Office of the Prime minister himself,
for over thirty years, the Guardian con- through whose intervention it was settled.
sidered he was free to order their removal. Meanwhile, as the International Council
The Covenant-breakers, however, led by points out, the high-ranking officials of the
Mrs. Musa Bahi'i, daughter of a brother of Foreign Office, of the Ministry of Religions,
Maammad-'Ali, refused every reasonable of the Attorney-General's Office and of the
solution offered by the lawyers and repre- Prime Minister's Office have become well
sentatives of the Guardian, so that it became aware that "the BahL'i Faith is united under
obvious that those who had brought the suit the leadership of its legitimate Guardian and
wished no settlement but only to prolong the that he is the true Custodian of the Bahi'i
existing situation. When the Covenant- Holy Places."
breakers had the audacity to summon the
Head of the Faith to court as witness, the
Guardian appealed to the Government to lift
the matter entirely out of the jurisdiction of
the civil court. The Attorney-General then, The termination of the legal action
instructed by the Minister of Religions, in- brought against the Guardian of the Bahi'i
formed the head of the Haifa court that ac- Faith was but another indication of the de-
cording to a Statute in existence since 1924 clining fortunes of the Covenant-breakers.
the case was not one to be tried in a civil The Guardian cabled on June 11, 1952, a
court but was a religious matter. "double announcement" to the BahL'i world:
To the astonishment of all, however, the "(The) rapid progress (of the) enterprise
lawyer for the Covenant-breakers challenged majestically unfolding (in the) heart (of)
the order of the Attorney-General and ap- God's Holy Mountain, (and the) steady de-
pealed the case to the Supreme Court. Inter- cline (in the) fortunes (of the) remnant
views were being constantly held with the (of) old Covenant-breakers still defiantly
higher authorities in Jerusalem by the challenging (the) combined strength (of
Guardian's representatives, three Hands of the) BahB'i world community." As a result
the Cause, as well as through lawyers of the of this "short-sighted action" on the part of
respective parties to the suit, without any a handful of enemies of the Faith, long-
progress being made. standing privileges which had been extended
At this point the Guardian transmitted an to the Covenant-breakers for sixty years
appeal to the Prime Minister. This brought were "irretrievably" curtailed.
immediate solution, as the representative of Other attempts of the enemies of the
the Prime Minister informed the Covenant- Faith to indefinitely delay the completion of
breakers that any further litigation they the nine terraces leading to the Shrine of the
wished to carry on would be against the Bkb from the city of Haifa had been frus-
Government. If they wished to do that, they trated early in 1951.
could. The case and the appeal were dropped "God's avenging wrath" had removed,
at once. early in April, 1952, the son of Siyyid 'Ali,
For six months, the Covenant-breakers Nayer Afnin, who was to have been a star
had apparently tried to restrain the Guard- witness for the Covenant-breakers in the
ian from embellishing the precincts of the lawsuit brought to challenge the authority
Tomb of Bahii'u'llkh. During that interval, conferred upon the Guardian in 'Abdu'l-
however, they had revealed, to higher and Bahii's Testament, by virtue of which he is
higher departments of the Government, that Custodian of Bahi'i Holy Places.
their real objective was not concerned with A few months later, in December, 1953,
the ruins in question but with an insidious the Guardian cabled that three others of the
plan to obtain possession of a key to the few remaining who had shown faithlessness
Holy Shrine, so that they could represent to 'Abdu'l-BahB had been struck down-
themselves as "joint custodian" with the Avarih in Persia, Fareed in the United
Guardian, and to secure rooms in the Man- States, and Falah in Turkey. The Guardian
sion of Bahji itself. During this period of stated: "All three, however blinded (by)
litigation it often seemed, the International perversity, could not have failed (to) per-
Council has stated, that the case would be ceive, as (their) infamous careers ap-
proached (their) end, (the) futility (of tivities (of the) recently concluded Holy
their) opposition, (the) measure (of their) Year."
own loss (and the) degree (of) progress As 'Abdu'l-Bahb has written: "Firmness
(and) consolidation (of the) triumphant in the Covenant will preserve the unity of
Administrative order (so) magnificently the religion of God and the foundation of
celebrated (in the) course (of the) fes- the religion of God will not be shaken."

REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TEACHING
CONFERENCES

T H E year 1946 marked the beginning of a years ago, supplicating (that) holy souls be
new stage in the expansion of the BahL'i raised up (to) promulgate the Faith (in)
Faith through the launching of a Seven- northern lands."
Year Plan during which the American At the Conference was first inaugurated
Bahb'is were to establish BahL'i communities the type of BahL'i summer school which
in ten countries of Western Europe. henceforth would follow each summer con-
During the first two years of that period, ference. Besides prolonging the sessions of
the activities consisted chiefly of placing the Conference, the program of the school
BahL'i settlers under the direction of the was designed to stimulate the spirit of Bahi'i
European Teaching Committee in at least fellowship, to deepen the understanding on
one key city in each country. This under- the part of the Bahi'is in the fundamental
taking, Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the spiritual and administrative principles of
BahL'i Faith, referred to as "the opening the Faith and to fix the pattern of future
phase of the spiritual conquest of the old independent national summer schools in the
world under the divinely conceived plan" ten goal countries.
entrusted to the American BahL'i Commnu-
nity by 'Abdu'l-Bahb thirty years before.
So rapidly did the teaching work of the
pioneers proceed that in May, 1948, it was Ziirich, Switzerland, was the scene of the
possible to assemble ninety-two believers in second All-Swiss Conference, November 18
Geneva, Switzerland, from all ten goal corn- and 19, 1950, with an attendance of eighty,
tries for the first BahL'i European Teaching including five BahPis from Germany and
Conference. The results of this first confer- two United States pioneers from Luxem-
ence were so successf~~l in terms of inspira- bourg. The primary purpose of this meeting
tion, planning and developing appropriate was to consolidate and expand the teaching
teaching techniques, that similar conferences plans within Switzerland itself and to relate
were held annually to 1952, each one of them to the prosecution of the seven points
which was acclaimed by the Guardian as of endeavor listed by Shoghi Effendi in his
"leaving an indelible imprint on the annals cablegram to the Copenhagen Conference.
of the second stage of the evolution of 'Ab- These were: rapid increase in membership,
du'l-BahL's Divine Plan." effective promotion of extension teaching
work, consolidation of all administrative
agencies, energetic dissemination of BahL'i
literature, closer collaboration with sister
The first such conference in the period communities in the European continent,
covered by this volume ( 1950-1954) took greater awareness of the inescapable respon-
place in Elsinore, near Copenhagen, Den- sibilities and deeper understanding of the
mark, July 24-30, 1950, with an attendance verities of BahL'u'llhh's Revelation, of His
of one hundred seventy-seven BahCis repre- Covenant and World Order, and above all,
senting twenty-two countries. The greeting "constant daily effort aiming at the enrich-
from Shoghi Effendi to the gathering hailed ment of the spiritual life of the individual,"
it as the "first evidence (of the) answer (to the sole foundation whereupon the stability
the) prayer (of the) Center (of the) Cove- of the structure of every BahL'i administra-
nant voiced (in) His Tablet over thirty tive edifice must depend.
50 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

In his cablegram of April 25, 1951, enu- ing sovereign states (of) Europe and, God
merating to the American National Bahi'i willing, reaching beyond its borders as far
Convention the accomplishments of the fifth as (the) heart (of the) Asiatic continent."
year of the Second Seven-Year Plan, Shoghi Thus opened still another stage in the
Effendi mentioned this second All-Swiss evolution of the Bahi'i World Community
Conference as "foreshadowing (the) closer --one of "regional cooperation," through
integration (of the) ten goal countries (of the five groupings of Bahi'i communities
the) European continent through (the) already forming, namely, in the Scandina-
eventual formation (of) regional National vian countries where the plan was already in
Assemblies (in) Scandinavia, (the) Benelux operation, in the Benelux countries, the
countries, Switzerland (and) Italian and Iberian peninsula, and in Italy and Switzer-
Iberian peninsulas." land.
Confident of divine assistance, the dele-
gates at this conference enthusiastically as-
sumed another goal which was to become
The fourth European Teaching Confer- the culminating achievement of the Seven-
ence took place in Scheviningen in Holland, Year Plan-the formation of at least one
on the outskirts of The Hague, August 31 regional National Spiritual Assembly by
to September 4, 1951, attended by one hun- 1953. Furthermore, plans were made for
dred forty representatives from twenty-two participation in the forthcoming Intercon-
countries. This city was to produce the sec- tinental Teaching Conference in Stockholm
ond local Spiritual Assembly in that country which was soon to open the way for the
eight months later, harvest from the initial gradual introduction of the Faith in the re-
seed sown there by the Hand of 'Abdu'l- maining sovereign states in the European
Bah6 when He addressed a Tablet to the continent, and in the neighboring islands
Central Organization for Durable Peace of the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the
which met in The Hague in 1919, calling North Sea.
the attention of the representatives of the
nations gathered there to Bahg'u'll6h's plan
for universal peace.
The Guardian's message to the Schevinin- In order to launch the plan of regional co-
gen Conference referred to the range and operation immediately, Miss Edna True,
quality of the work already accomplished, chairman of the European Teaching Com-
the spirit demonstrated by the pioneers and mittee, and the American pioneers who had
the new Bahi'is, and the degree of maturity attended the Conference in Holland, pro-
attained in the greatly diversified, budding ceeded directly to Madrid, Spain, where
and virile communities of Europe "rightly they were joined by nine Spanish and Portu-
regarded (as the) first fruits (of the) op- guese Bahi'is, for the first Iberian Teaching
eration (of) 'Abdu'l-Bahi's Divine Plan (on Conference, September 14 to 16, 1951.
the) European continent." Though small and insignificant in num-
The message further enlarged the horizon ber, but armed with the promises of 'Abd-
of the believers and gave them a glimpse of u'l-Bah6, this little band resolved to demon-
the tasks that would follow upon the termi- strate to their fellow-countrymen how to dis-
nation of the remaining two years of the solve the barriers of prejudice that had
Second Seven-Year Plan. These, the Guard- existed traditionally between Spain and Por-
ian said, would include "(the) gradual for- tugal for generations.
mation (of) regional National Assemblies Before the three short days had ended,
(as) prelude (to the) emergence (of a ) they had initiated plans for the exchange of
separate National Assembly (in) each goal community bulletins and qualified teachers,
country as well as (the) launching (of) formed an Iberian Teaching Committee,
organized campaigns, in collaboration (with mapped out an extension teaching program
the) parent community (of the) great re- aimed at forming six new local Spiritual As-
public of the West (in) conjunction (with semblies, and established a fund for the work
the) long-standing, preeminent national at the World Center.
community [Germany] laboring (in the) The acceleration of the teaching work in
heart (of the) European continent, aiming all ten countries resulting from the various
(at the) spiritual conquest (of the) remain- conferences and summe; schools, and the
C U R R E N T B A H A'f A C T I V I T I E S 51

growing number of local Spiritual Assem- to elect nine members for "the twelfth pillar
blies and Bahi'i Groups in all Western Eu- of the Universal House of Justice."
rope, clearly indicated the necessity and Henceforth the European Teaching Com-
wisdom of developing the work along re- mittee concentrated its attention upon the
gional lines as called for by the Guardian. strengthening of the remaining eight coun-
With less than one year remaining in the tries that were to comprise the next National
Seven-Year Plan, the Geneva office of the Assemblies, plus the two (Finland and
European Teaching Committee became France) which the Guardian now also
the scene of intense activity, for from here placed under its jurisdiction.
the Committee directed preparations for no
less than six conferences in 1952 with the
respective regional teaching committees re-
sponsible for local arrangements. The first Benelux Regional Conference
was held in Brussels, Belgium, April 12 to
14, 1952, with forty-seven representatives
from Holland, Luxembourg and Belgium.
The first of the series was the third All- Mr. J&Pdem, Hand of the Cause of God,
Swiss Conference in Bern, February 23 and brought news of the developments at the
24, 1952, during which a Swiss National World Center of the Faith and of the ac-
Teaching Committee was formed, to which tivities in Persia and the various centers
the European Teaching Committee trans- he had already visited in Europe. The main
ferred major responsibility for the develop- theme of the Conference was: "Goals
ment and consolidation of new BahB'i com- Ahead," and special plans were made for the
munities within Switzerland. Fifth European Teaching Conference sched-
uled to take place in Luxembourg August
30 to September 7 of that year.

A month later, the first BahVi conference
ever to take place in Italy opened in Rome
on Naw-RGz Day (March 21), 1952. The The Conference in Luxembourg, the Eu-
presence of Mr. D_hikru'llPh KhLdem, Hand ropean Teaching Committee announced, was
of the Cause of God, from Persia, who had to be the last of the series of the European
been given a special mission by the Guard- Teaching Conferences. Each had indeed left
ian to visit all Bahi'i centers in Europe, to- "an indelible imprint" on the "evolution of
gether with Dr. Ugo Giachery, a Hand of 'Abdu'l-Bahi's Divine Plan" in western Eu-
the Cause of God in Europe residing in rope. Here in this smallest of the ten goal
Rome, lent unusual historic significance to countries, the crossroads of culture and
this gathering. conquest for centuries, three Hands of the
Mr. KJhPdem told the seventy assembled Cause of God were present as the personal
friends about the map of the world on which representatives of the Guardian-Mr. KhL-
the Guardian had marked with large circles dem from Persia, Dr. Giachery from Italy
the areas of the earth's surface that would and Dr. Adelbert Miihlschlegel from Ger-
within the next decade form forty-eight new many.
National Spiritual Assemblies. The first of Reviewing the achievements of the Seven-
these new ones, which would be the twelfth, Year Plan which would draw to a close six
was to embrace Italy and Switzerland, months hence, the European Teaching Com-
chosen for this bounty and honor because mittee pointed out that at the beginning of
of the swift progress that had been made in the European campaign there was only a
the establishment of the Faith in that region. small handful of believers, but at this Con-
The area being thus defined for what was ference one hundred thirty-two Bahi'is from
to become the Italo-Swiss National Spiritual twenty-one countries had responded to the
Assembly in April, 1953, the Italian and roll call and had joined their hearts in prayer
Swiss BahB'is present at the Conference im- in twelve languages.
mediately mapped out plans for the election The Luxembourg meeting was followed
of nineteen delegates from centers in Italy by four more Regional Conferences, each
and Switzerland who would convene in convened in a city where intensive teaching
Florence during the following RidvPn period work had been started by the regional teach-
52 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

ing committee for that particular grouping and its Regional Conferences of Non-Gov-
of countries. ernmental Organizations.
Between 1950 and 1954 accredited dele-
REGIONAL CONFERENCES gates and observers not only attended all the
conferences, but won recdpition for their
The first, the Iberian Conference, was
participation in the discussions, their serv-
held in Lisbon, Portugal, September 12 to
ices on working committees, and for the
14, 1952, to carry forward the plans that
had been initiated for Spain and Portugal breadth of vision expressed in the several
the previous year. The next two were held resolutions which they offered. Accredited
representatives of the International Bahi'i
simultaneously, November 1 and 2, in Oslo
for the Scandinavian region of Norway, Community and delegates and observers
from the United Stares, joined by represen-
Sweden and Denmark, and in Antwerp for
the Benelux region of Belgium, Holland and tatives from other national BahB'i commu-
nities, met in Regional Conferences of Non-
Luxembourg. And finally, November 22
and 23, another, the fourth All-Swiss Con- Governmental Organizations in Geneva,
Switzerland; Istanbul, Turkey; Managua,
ference, took place in Basel, Switzerland.
Nicaragua; Santiago, Chile; Den Passar, In-
In Base1 much planning was done for the
donesia; Paris, France; La Paz, Bolivia; Ma-
Bahi'i Convention to be held in Florence
nila, Philippine Islands; and Montevideo,
the following April for the formation of the
Italo-Swiss National Spiritual Assembly, "a Uruguay, as well as annually in Lawrence,
Kansas, and in the International Non-Gov-
stepping-stone in the formation in the course
ernmental Conferences in New York, the
of the next decade of two independent Na-
home of the United Nations, and in Geneva,
tional Spiritual Assemblies."
Switzerland.
Although this was the concluding phase
Through personal association with dele-
of the Second Seven-Year Plan, the expan-
gates from other organizations, press inter-
sion of the Faith in Europe was to go for-
views, and invitations to speak about the
ward with even greater impetus as part of
Faith on the floor of the conferences, at
the World Crusade whose aim is the "spirit-
luncheons and other meetings, these repre-
ual conquest" of the entire planet.
sentatives have brought the Teachings of
~ ~ pAR~lclpAT1oN
~ 2 i uNITED
IN NATIONS BahL'u'116h concerniG World Order & the
CONFERENCES attention of the leaders in the cause of
peace in many countries and established the
While concentrating primary attention on recognition of the Bahi'i International Com-
Bahi'i conferences, the Bahi'i community munity as "an agency working for and firmly
continued to give encouragement and co- believing in the unification of the human
operation to meetings of the United Nations family and permanent peace."

DEVELOPMENT OF T H E FAITH IN AFRICA
T H E ) hour (is) propitious (for the) defined the "preliminary steps" as "the for-
galvanized, firmly knit body (of) believers mation (of) nuclei (in) three of the depend-
(to) brace itself (to) embark . . . (on) yet encies (of the) British Crown, either (in)
another historic undertaking . . . designed East (or) West Africa" and the "translation,
(to) carry (the) torch (of the) Faith (to) publication (and) dissemination of BahCi
territories (of the) Dark Continent." literature . . . (in) three African languages
The cablegram from the Guardian to the (in) addition (to the) three already under-
National BahL'i Convention of the British taken."
Isles in April, 1950, from which these words On July 5 of the same year, the Guardian
are quoted, set the stage for an intensive called upon the American BahL'i commu-
teaching campaign in a vast continent where nity to "lend valued assistance (to the)
only the northern shores and southern tip meritorious enterprise" and he appealed
had previously been touched by the Light "particularly (to) its dearly-beloved mem-
of the Teachings of Bahi'u'llih. bers belonging (to the) Negro race (to)
Another passage from this same message participate (in the) contemplated project
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 53

marking (a) significant milestone (in the) Another was Enoch Olinga of Kampala
world-unfoldment (of the) Faith, supple- who spent his two weeks of vacation teach-
menting (the) work initiated fifty years ago ing in the Teso and Mbale areas of Eastern
(on the) North American continent . . . Uganda where seventy-two Africans im-
(and) providing (the) prelude (to the) full- mediately accepted the Faith.
scale operations destined (to) be launched As the teaching work progressed, the need
(at a) later period (of the) unfoldment (of for literature increased, but by early fall,
the) Divine Plan aiming (at the) conver- 1952, in addition to translations done in
sion (of the) backward, oppressed masses KiSwahili, Hausa and ChiNyanja before the
(of the) swift-awakening continent." opening of the campaign, pamphlets had
Within the year, participation in this been published in Twi, Igbo and Yoruba,
"epoch-making enterprise" was further ex- and six others were being completed for
panded to include the National Spiritual As- printing-Acholi, Luganda, Adanwe, Ewe,
semblies of Persia, Egypt and India; the first Mende and KiKikuyu.
pioneers had arrived, and others were on With the launching of the Ten-Year Plan
the way, including the first two American on May 1, 1953, the remaining states and
Negro pioneers, Mrs. Ethel Stephens, who dependencies, as well as the bordering is-
had chosen to settle in the Gold Coast, and lands of Africa were added to the campaign,
Mr. William Foster, who chose Liberia as thus incorporating all of Africa in the total
his post. World Crusade. The renewed appeal for
The first fruits of this historic campaign pioneers included in the Guardian's message
were the acceptance of the Faith in Dar es to the Intercontinental Conference held in
Salaam by Mr. P. K. Gopalskrishan Nayer, Chicago, resulted in a rapid influx of settlers
of Indian nationality, and by Mr. Denis both for the virgin areas and for reinforce-
Dudley-Smith of Nyasaland, followed very ment of the centers already established,
shortly by the enrollment in Kampala of whose teaching efforts, added to those of the
the first two Africans, Crispian Kajubi and African BahL'is, made it possible for the
Frederick Biqabwa, members of the Bu- Guardian in his message to the twelve Na-
ganda and Mtoro tribes, respectively. The tional Bahi'i Conventions one year later, to
first public presentation of the Faith in Kam- assess the accomplishments in Africa in four
pala was made by an African contact before short years as follows:
a gathering of three hundred Africans from "The African Campaign, outshining the
several tribes. brilliant success of the enterprise launched
By April, 1952, two years after the in Latin America, throwing into shade the
launching of the campaign, the number of splendor of the victories won in recent years
states and dependencies to be opened in on the European continent, eclipsing all pre-
Africa had been increased to twenty-five, vious collective pioneer undertakings em-
pioneers had arrived in nine of them, mem- barked upon in the Asiatic and Australian
bers of four African tribes had enrolled as continents, has almost doubled, in the course
members, and local Spiritual Assemblies had of a single year, the number of territories
been formed in Kampala, Uganda, and Dar opened since the introduction of the Faith
es Salaam, Tanganyika. Six months later
(October, 1952) there were one hundred
& that continent over eighty years ago. The
believers in Uganda alone. total number of converts to the Faith be-
No sooner had the Africans enrolled than longing to the African race has passed the
they began to go out as Bahi'i teachers and six hundred mark. The total number of Af-
pioneers to carry the Faith to their own peo- rican BahVi centers has now been raised to
ple. The first to undertake such a mission over one hundred and ninety. The total num-
was Denis Dudley-Smith, who returned to ber of tribes indigenous to the soil of that
his native village in Nyasaland, thus becom- continent represented in the Faith is now
ing the first BahVi to settle in that country. over sixty."
54 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

RAPID WORLD-WIDE EXTENSION O F
THE FAITH

A M O N G the twenty-seven objectives of Circle as far as Arctic Bay, Franklin, 73 de-
the World Crusade announced by the grees latitude" and "its southern limits have
Guardian to the Bahi'i Community on Oc- now reached the Falkland Islands in the
tober 8, 1952, was that of "doubling (the) neighborhood of Magallanes, the world's
number (of) countries within (the) pale (of southernmost city."
the) Faith through planting its banner (in
the) remaining Sovereign States (of the)
planet as well as (the) remaining virgin ter-
ritories mentioned (in) 'Abdu'l-Bahi's Tab- The expansion of the Faith into many
lets (of the) Divine Plan, involving (the) new areas of the earth resulted in embrac-
opening (of) forty-one countries (on the) ing within its membership many races and
Asiatic, thirty-three (on the) African, thirty tribes hitherto deprived of the Teachings of
(on the) European, twenty-seven (on the) Bahi'u'llLh. Among the goals of the World
American continents." Crusade were two designed to accomplish
T o each of the eleven existing National this objective among specified races, namely,
Spiritual Assemblies the Guardian assigned the conversion to the Faith of members of
the specific territories for which it was to be the leading Indian tribes, and representatives
responsible. To the Forty-Fifth Annual Con- of the Basque and Gypsy races.
vention of the Bahi'is of the United States By April, 1954, the Guardian announced
of America in Chicago, April 29, 1953, he that contact had been established with
called upon the "stalwart American Bahi'i twenty-two American Indian tribes, raising
community" to "arise and r e a r m . . . its to thirty-four the total number of tribes con-
primacy . . . and capture loftier heights tacted throughout the Western Hemisphere.
. . . for the exaltation of God's Cause." Also, the first Greenlandic, the first Pygmy,
And in a second letter entitled "A Turning the first Berber, and the first Fijian Bahi'is
Point in American Bahi'i History," dated had been enrolled, swelling the total number
July 18, 1953, the Guardian appealed to of races represented in the Bahi'i World
"the envied custodians of a Divine Plan" to ~ o m m u n i t ~ ^thirty-five.
to
"vindicate their right to the leadership of this
World Crusade" and to "scatter far and
wide" in fulfillment of "the hope voiced by
'Abdu'l-BahB that from their homeland The translation of Baha'i literature into
'heavenly illumination' may 'stream to all ninety-one additional languages was another
the peoples of the world.' " goal of the Ten-Year Plan, representing a
Such was the response that by April, twofold increase in the number of languages
1954, the Guardian announced to all twelve into which translations had been printed or
Bahi'i Conventions that through "the superb were in the process of translation.
feats of the heroic company of the Knights By the end of the first year, introductory
of the Lord of Hosts in pursuance of their literature had been translated or was being
sublime mission7' the banner of the Faith of translated into forty-two languages-Euro-
Bahi'u'llih had been hoisted "in no less than pean, African, Asiatic, American Indian, in-
a hundred virgin territories of the globe," cluding seven supplementary languages,
thus "swelling the number of sovereign thereby raising the total number of transla-
states and dependences enlisted under the tions undertaken since the inception of the
standard of the Cause of God to two hun- Faith to one hundred and thirty. By this
dred and twenty-eight." time, also, BahL'i literature had been dis-
In consequence of the phenomenal success patched as far as the northernmost outpost
achieved by the vanguard of "BahL'u'llBh's of the globe-the radio station in Brond-
crusaders," he further stated that "the north- lundsfjord, Pearyland, 82 degrees north lati-
ern frontiers of a divinely guided, rapidly tude.
marching, majestically expanding Faith The needs of the blind, too, for the Light
have been pushed . . . beyond the Arctic of BahB'u'llLh, had not been overlooked. A
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 55

steady increase in the number of Braille establishment (of the) long overdue Hazi-
transcriptions, not only in English but also ratu'l-Quds (in the) French capital through
in Esperanto, Japanese and German, (the) conclusion (of an) agreement (to)
brought the number of Braille publications purchase (a) nine thousand pound property
to one hundred and ten by' April, 1954. situated (in the) best residential quarter (of
the) city."
The acquisition of this property was made
possible by the spontaneous and generous
On February 29, 1952, Shoghi Effendi an- contribution of a single believer, Mr. Hus-
nounced by cable to the Bahi'i world, his in- sayn Quli Kiyani, recently come to Paris
structions to the Hand of the Cause of God from Persia.
in Africa, Mr. M 6 s i Banini, to acquire The formal dedication of the Paris Hazi-
property in Kampala, Uganda, for a local ratu'l-Quds took place on July 4, 1953, with
Haziratu'l-Quds, to be regarded as the nu- Dr. Ugo Giachery, Hand of the Cause of
cleus of a future national administrative God, coming from Rome to assist in the
headquarters. ceremonies.
This news was followed two weeks later
by the Guardian's announcement to the five FUNDS
INAUGURATED
FOR PURCHASE
OF
National Assemblies engaged in the teaching ELEVENTEMPLESITES
campaign in Africa that he himself had con-
tributed six thousand dollars toward this his- The purchase of land for eleven future
toric enterprise, and he appealed to the As- Bah6'i Houses of Worship, three on the
semblies to participate through contributions American, three on the African, two on the
toward the completion of the total purchase Asiatic, two on the European and one on
price of fifty-five hundred pounds sterling, or the Australian continents, was another of
seventeen thousand dollars. the objectives of the World Crusade ending
In commenting on the swift movement of in 1963 as announced by the Guardian on
events represented by this development, the October 8, 1952. The purchase of sites for
National Spiritual Assembly of the United four was assigned specifically to the Ameri-
States pointed out to the American BahB'is can Bahi'i community-Stockholm, Swe-
that their national headquarters, the first, den; Rome, Italy; Panama City, Panama,
was acquired thirty years after the first Na- and Johannesburg, Union of South Africa.
tional Bahi'i Convention in North America, On June 25, 1953, the Guardian cabled
whereas, in Central Africa, even before the all National Assemblies "East (and) West
establishment of the first local Assembly (to) participate through contributions and
"the far-seeing Guardian prepares an Ha& (in the) meritorious endeavors exerted
ratu'l-Quds, creating for the Bahi'i work a (toward the) eventual establishment (of a )
substantial edifice" assuring prestige and re- Bahi'i House (of) Worship (in the) City
spect for the activities of the Uganda be- (of) Panama, specifically mentioned (by)
lievers. 'Abdu'l-Bahi, situated (in the) heart (of
On June 3, 1952, the Kampala local Spir- the) Western Hemisphere," and for his own
itual Assembly, formed the preceding April participation in the "furtherance (of this)
21st, officially took possession of the prop- notable objective" he contributed five hun-
erty and immediately began preparation for dred pounds.
a public dedication on July 5. Over sixty Meanwhile, contributions for eight of the
people attended the formal opening, includ- sites had aggregated, by December 7, 1953,
ing representatives of more than twelve Af- approximately two hundred thousand dol-
rican tribes. lars. These were for the Temple sites on Mt.
The second Hqiratu'l-Quds to be ac- Carmel, in Canada, Panama, Italy, Sweden,
quired during this period was one in Paris, 'IrBq, Australia and India. On that date the
destined to become the national administra- Guardian cabled all National Assemblies:
tive headquarters of the French Bahi'i com- "(The) hour (is) propitious (for) all Na-
munity. This achievenlent was announced in tional Assemblies, particularly (the) United
the Guardian's cablegram to the Forty-Fifth States, (the) British (and the) Egyptian,
Annual BahL'i Convention of the United (to) participate befittingly (in the) opening
States Bahb'is on April 30, 1953, as follows: (of the) three remaining Funds ere (the)
"Heart-warming news (of the) impending first year (of the) Ten-Year Plan draws (to
56 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

a) close, insuring thereby (the) early pur- Spiritual Assemblies and twenty-six local
chase (of) sites (for the) future Ma&iquYl- Assemblies. Within the next year, by April
Ad_hkArs (in) Cairo, Kampala (and) Jo- 21, 1951, the number of incorporated Na-
hannesburg." He further appealed to the tional and local Assemblies had reached one
individual believers to reinforce the contri- hundred and ten, and in April, 1954, the
butions being made by the three national number of National and local incorporated
bodies primarily invested with the responsi- Assemblies in the United States and the en-
bility of erecting the Temples in these cities, tire world totaled sixty-six and one hundred
and himself contributed an initial gift of twenty, respectively.
three thousand pounds for this purpose, thus
clearly emphasizing the supreme importance
of this aspect of the World Crusade and the
necessity of its early completion. Another evidence of the growing recogni-
On April 21, 1954, the first of the sites tion accorded the Faith by legal bodies is
was purchased at a price of eighteen thou- the increasing number of States granting
sand dollars-five acres of land on a hill local Spiritual Assemblies authority to con-
seven miles from the heart of the city of duct legal BahB'i marriages. At the close of
Panama, with a beautiful view of the city the period covered by this volume Bahb'i
and bay. communities in twenty-one States of the
A few days later in his message to the United States enjoy this authority.
twelve National Assemblies, the Guardian
announced the purchase of a four-acre site
in Australia, commanding an extensive view
of the Paci6c Ocean and the greater portion The number of school authorities grant-
of Greater Sydney. Later the municipal au- ing exemption from school attendance by
thorities repossessed the property for town Bahb'i children on their Holy Days is still
planning purposes. His supplementary mes- another evidence of the increasing recogni-
sage dated May 4, 1954, further announced tion of the independent character of the
the purchase of a six-acre site in Kampala. Faith. By 1954 this privilege had been
granted by local school boards in seven
States in the United States, and in Anchor-
age, Alaska, the British Isles, the State of
During the four years preceding 1950 the Victoria in Australia, and by the Minister of
consolidation of the Faith was reflected Education and Culture in Israel for Bahb'i
through the incorporation of seven National schoolchildren there.

REVIEW O F VARIOUS NATIONAL EVENTS
while the administrative institutions de-
scribed in 'Abdu'l-Bahb's Testament were
End of Second Seven-Year Plan acquiring strength and experience under the
Guardian's direction. In 1937, as reported
D U R I N G the period of the first World in a previous volume, Shoghi Effendi called
War, ' ~ b d u ' l - ~ a 6revealed
& the series of upon the Bahb'is of the United States and
Tablets addressed to Bahi'is of the United Canada to carry out the objectives enumer-
States and Bahb'is of Canada which, when ated in the first Seven-Year Plan terminat-
received after the end of hostilities, com- ing in 1944, date of the Centenary of the
munication from Palestine being interrupted Announcement of the BAb. By 1944 the ex-
by the occupying forces, were published un- terior ornamentation had been applied to
der the title The Divine Plan. These Tablets the House of Worship, local Assemblies es-
charged the Bahb'is of North America with tablished in all States and Provinces, and
the mission of establishing the Faith of local Assemblies formed in fourteen repub-
Bahb'u'llAh in countries where the spiritual lics of Latin America.
banner had not yet been raised. In 1946, the Guardian announced in a
A number of years had to pass without message addressed to the North American
concerted action on this international task Annual Convention, a second Plan. "The
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 57

time is ripe, events are pressing, Hosts on in capital cities of Europe prepared the way
high are sounding the signal for inaugura- for additional national administrative bodies
tion of a second Seven-Year Plan designed in the future. In the darkness of a war-rent
to culminate [in] first Centennial of the Year world the light of the Sun of Truth shone
Nine marking the mystic birth of BahP'u'- with increased intensity. While the Plan
1lAh's prophetic mission in SiyBh-GhBl at originally called for the formation of Na-
Tihrgn." tional Spiritual Assemblies in Canada,
This Plan embraced four objectives: Central America and South America, the
multiplication of BahL'i centers throughout progress of the teaching work in Europe
the Americas and bolder proclamation of proceeded so successfully that the National
the Faith to the masses; completion of the Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Italy
interior ornamentation of the House of and Switzerland was also achieved before
Worship; formation of three National As- the end of this second Seven-Year Plan.
semblies, one in Canada, one in Central
America and one in South America; the in- Completion of Bnhd'i Temple
itiation of "systematic teaching activity in
war-torn, spiritually famished European To complete the BahP'i House of Wor-
Continent," aiming at the establishment of ship in Wilmette, Illinois, contracts for the
local Assemblies in the countries of West- ornamentation, utilities and furnishings of
ern Europe. the interior, and for the landscaping of the
"The opening decade of the second Ba- grounds had to be executed. The interior
hL'i century coincides," the Guardian wrote was completed by the spring of 1951, and
to North America on June 15, 1946, "with the landscape plan brought to its final stage
the launching of the second Seven-Year for the public dedication held May 2, 1953.
Plan, destined alike to consolidate the ex- The interior ornamentation designs made
ploits that have shed such luster on the last by Louis J. Bourgeois, Temple architect,
years of the preceding century, and to provided for the treatment of the nine bays
carry the Plan a stage further across the or alcoves on the main floor as separate
ocean to the.shores of the Old World, and rooms. This early concept reflected a mis-
to communicate, through the operation of understanding of the function of the Tem-
its regenerative power, its healing influence. ple in expressing the basic unity of religion.
to the peoples of the most afflicted, im- The concept later given by the Guardian of
poverished and agitated continent of the the Faith made these bays an integral part
globe." of the Temple auditorium. To increase the
As reported elsewhere in this review, the seating capacity a stairway leading from
four objectives of the second Seven-Year Temple foundation level to the main floor
Plan were achieved. and thence to the first gallery was removed
The significance of this Plan emerges as and a new spiral stairway constructed from
one contemplates the international events foundation to gallery which fits between two
and conditions which resulted from the sec- adjoining alcoves on the main floor level.
ond World War, challenging the religious To carry out this concept, and to main-
conscience of mankind. The elements of tain harmony of design between exterior
unity which inspire the BahVi Message were and interior ornamentation, two independ-
implanted in new lands, creating a far ent studies were carried O L I ~over a period of
broader basis and a stronger foundation for nine months after the decision to proceed
subsequent teaching plans aimed at carrying with interior ornamentatiol~had been made
the Faith to the ends of the earth. in the spring of 1946. The essential features
The completion of the ornamentation of sought were to carry the spirit of the ex-
the Temple interior prepared this House of terior design and its architectural motifs into
Worship for its destined spiritual f~~nction;the interior, the creation of a single great
the formation of three more National Spir- auditorium, provision for satisfactory acous-
itual Assemblies, bringing the number to tics, the use of color, and seating arrange-
eleven, manifested the vitality of the Faith ment. Allen B. McDaniel's treatment was
in creating new national communities ex- approved.
pressive of the variety of peoples and A Temple Construction Committee was
tongues responding to the call of Bah4u'- appointed consisting of Paul E. Haney,
IlAh, and the formation of local Assemblies chairman, Amelia E. Collins, Edna M. True,
58 THE BAHA'I WORLD

and Philip G. Sprague. Leroy Ioas was later perspective, from floor to dome, from floor
added. A technical advisory board was also to first and second gallery, central hall to
set up, the members being Allen B. Mc- alcove, and from alcove across the wide hall
Daniel, Robert W. McLaughlin and Edwin to opposite entrance portal. Innumerable de-
H. Eardley. After investigation Alfred P. tails invite notice-the great columns sup-
Shaw, architect, was chosen to prepare the porting the dome, treatment of piers and
detailed plans and specifications. It is Mr. gallery columns, details of ornamentation,
Shaw's recreation of the spirit of the Bour- the Bahb'i texts set forth in gold lettering in
geois design which has been carried out in each of the nine bays, the dome itself, where
the ornamentation of the Temple interior. the lines of the columns, prolonged in the
The firm of Shaw, Metz and Dolio designed ornamental scheme, converge at the center
and engineered the utilities. where the Arabic symbol, "God Most Glo-
Final plans and cost estimates were ap- rious," associates the House of Worship
proved in January, 1949, the estimated cost with the BahB'i World Faith.
being $780,000. The final cost of the interior ornamenta-
The John J. Earley Studio was awarded tion as recorded in January, 1954, was
the contract for making the sectional units $933,481.99. This sum included certain es-
of architectural concrete to be affixed to the sential maintenance items and also the cost
walls and columns, and the contract fog of capping the nine pylons, actually an ele-
work on the project at the Temple was ment of the exterior ornamentation.
placed with the George A. Fuller Company.
Dedication of Temple to Public Worship
Between July, 1949, and April, 1951, one
thousand concrete sections were cast at the The Bahb'i Temple in Wilmette was pub-
Earley Studio, shipped to the Temple and licly dedicated on Saturday afternoon, May
set in place. Actual operation began on July 2, 1953, a unique event in the series of Jubi-
11, 1949. Before the ornamental surface lee celebrations held throughout the world.
could be applied, the interior columns and For the American Bahb'is, especially, the
piers were set in place, and the utilities and dedication represented the actual achieve-
fixtures installed. The cast concrete sections ment of the goal toward which they had
were made of a mixture of ground white been striving since 'Abdu'l-BahQ, in 1903,
and crystalline quartz with cement, while granted their petition for the privilege of
for the ornamentation up to the dome level constructing a Temple in America. More-
the cast units were fabricated with a back- over, during His visit to America in 1912
ground of rose quartz. The floor of audi- their revered Master had visited the Temple
torium and surrounding alcoves were laid in site and consecrated the future edifice. Here,
terrazzo, another use of color. Color also then, stood the holiest House of Worship
appears in the upholstered seats and the ever to arise in the Bahb'i world, for none
window draperies. The temporary wooden other could receive His blessing. Deep in
doors installed when the superstructure was their hearts they cherished His assurance
built were replaced with bronze panels and that when this Temple was completed it
doors with plate glass. would release spiritual powers.
Seats in the nine bays face the center of As the doors were opened a great throng
the auditorium; in the central hall itself the stood waiting, filling the Temple steps, the
seats face a single portable reading desk, entrance way and extending along the street
pointing the attendants in the direction of Outside the grounds. Three times was the
'AkkB. auditorium filled that afternoon, and at the
Just as the completion of the exterior end hundreds reluctantly departed without
ornamentation endowed the structure with having been able to enter the auditorium.
a new and deeper meaning, while notably The Message of Dedication prepared by
enhancing its physical beauty, so the com- the Guardian of the Faith was read on his
pletion of the interior created an effect behalf by his chosen representative, RGhiy-
greatly exceeding the anticipation of its yih Khinum, presented to the gathering by
friends and workers. What has become ap- Paul E. Haney, chairman of the National
parent and real, to the inner eye as well as Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is of the
to physical vision, is the majesty befitting United States. Her clear voice filled the
worship offered the one true God. auditorium, focusing attention on the high
The great interior provides interesting significance of the Message. ". . . This
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 59

House of Worship, now opening wide its neighboring village of Winnetka weekly
doors to peoples of all creds, of all races, papers devoted almost a n entire issue to the
of all nations and of all classes, is dedicated story of the Temple. Universal Newsreel
to the three fundamental verities animating pictures included exterior and interior views
and underlying the Bahi'i Faith-the Unity of the Temple. Fifty television stations
of God, the Unity of His Prophets, the made use of a BahB'i Temple dedication
Unity of Mankind. film short. Public interest and commenda-
"I greet and welcome you on behalf of tion was aroused to an extraordinary de-
the Guardian of our Faith within these gree.
walls, and invite you to share with us the
words recorded in the Sacred Scriptures Landscaping the Tenzple Grounds
which we believe to be repositories of the
eternal and fundamental t&ths revealed by In July, 1951, the design submitted by
God in various ages, for the guidance and Hilbert Dahl was adopted for landscaping
salvation of all mankind." the Temple grounds. Letters written by 'Ab-
All arose as Ruhiyyih Khinum read a du'l-Bahi laid down certain elements to be
prayer revealed by Bahi'u'llih. incorporated in the landscape plan: a cir-
Readers from the Persian, Latin Amer- cular area, with nine gardens, nine ap-
ican and North American BahL'is then in proaching paths, nine fountains and nine
turn stood at the reading desk and presented pools. To these elements Mr. Dahl had
passages from the Old Testament, the New given most careful consideration and his de-
Testament, the Qur'in and the Bah2i Sa- sign carried out the basic concept. Work
cred Writings. The Northwestern University was started on the contract in April, 1952.
A Cappella Choir sang choral selections, at The landscaping went forward under two'
the opening of the dedication service, dur- successive contracts. The first, at an esti-
ing the readings and after the final prayer. mated cost of $200,000, was intended to
A note of triumphant ecstasy prevailed provide far the essentials of the plan. The
throughout the afternoon. details not completed by 1953 were included
The passages from the four Sacred Scrip- in a supplementary contract to be carried
tures were, to the BahL'is at least, the com- out over a period of two or more years at
plete evidence of the unity of the Prophets an estimated cost of from $180,000 to
in revealing, at different stages of human $200,000.
evolution, the divine will and guidance for The landscaping plan, accordingly, was
mankind. Among the visitors many re- not entirely completed during the period
marked afterward that they had not realized covered by the present survey.
that the various Prophets had brought the Mr. Dahl's design provided for a circular
same basic truths. concrete platform extending out from the
Immediately after the public dedication, bottom of the Temple steps, its outer cir-
plans were put into operation for the con- cumference a series of concave arcs after
duct of a weekly program of public wor- the fashion of the entrance bays of the
ship. These programs also present selections Temple itself; steps descend from the plat-
from the various Sacred Scriptures, with form to the garden level where nine sunken
vocal music provided by an A Cappella gardens were to be developed; nine path-
Choir directed by Mr. Lloyd Cousins. The ways lead between the gardens to an outer
Temple is thus fulfilling its mission as the circular walk to be constructed on the larg-
herald in the Western world of the universal est diameter permitted by the area of the
spiritual concept: the Unity of God, the grounds.
Unity of His Prophets, the Unity of Man- The principal entrance to the Temple
kind. Participants in these programs are steps extends from Linden Avenue, to the
chosen without consideration of race or south, where a wide flight of concrete steps
class. rises to the garden level. The longest ap-
The event attained national significance proach runs from the corner of Linden Ave-
through messages of greeting received from nue and Sheridan Road.
distinguished personages, from radio an- As the work progressed, the nine gardens
nouncements and from illustrated feature were seen to be designed in different pat-
articles carried, among others, by The terns of flowers and shrubs, affording a
Chicago Sunday Tribune. The Wilmette and pleasing variety. Rows of cypresses were
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

planted along the paths leading to the gar- based on the fact that the landscaped area
dens. Plantings of small flowering trees en- is not large enough for pools and the size
hanced the beauty of the landscaped area. of the gardens does not warrant the rather
Extensive lawn areas were laid out. De- intricate treatment which the landscape ar-
scribing the design Mr. Dahl wrote: "It in- chitect originally proposed.
volves an approach leading to each of nine ' b i t h each succeeding season of intensive
entrance bays with gardens between. Cir- gardening the landscape develops new
cular fountains with jets of water keeping beauty.
them ever fresh and clear are found in the Complete final cost of the project will
gardens . . . The whole is enclosed within not be available until the next volume of
an outer circular walk, and an inner walk, The Bahci'i World.
at the base of the Temple steps, provides a
vantage point at a higher elevation from
which the garden scene can be viewed.
"The gardens are arranged and planted
with simple dignity, restrained in treatment
but with a touch of color and softness of Included in the objectives of the Second
texture which will give them a gardenesque Seven-Year Plan given by the Guardian to
feeling of peaceful and quiet loveliness . . . North America in 1946 was the establish-
In area there are involved almost five acres ment of National Spiritual Assemblies in
of intensive development." Central America and South America before
The concrete work was carried out by 1953. Since the delegates who would elect
the George A. Fuller Company under ex- the members of these Assemblies would be
tension of the contract executed for the in- representative of the local BahL'i Assemblies
terior ornamentation. A contract was en- in existence at the time, an energetic teach-
tered into with the landscape architect on ing plan was inaugurated by the National
July 9, 1951. To represent the Temple trus- Spiritual Assembly of the United States to
tees in the execution of these contracts a develop at least one Assembly in each coun-
Temple Landscape Committee was ap- try. The activities of the Teaching Commit-
pointed consisting of Robert W. McLaugh- tee appointed to carry out the plan included
li.n, Leroy Ioas, H. B. Kavelin and Clarence. the appointment of regional teaching com-
Ullrich. mittees, and the holding of annual confer-
The gardens and general landscape plan ences and Bah4i schools, each designed to
were sufficiently advanced by May, 1953, prepare the Latin American BahL'is for the
to delight those who attended the public responsibilities they would ultimately as-
dedication. The temporary floodlighting sume as independent Bahi'i communities.
equipment as employed during the Jubilee The first of the twin historic Conventions
period brilliantly depicted the imposing ar- called to elect these new National Spiritual
chitectural features of the House of Wor- Assemblies was held in Lima, Peru, April
ship. 22 to 24, 1951, with eighteen of the twenty-
A restudy of the design in its relation to seven official delegates present in person and
the particular area involved was carried out seven voting by mail. Representing the Ba-
by the Temple Landscape Committee. Their hVis of the United States were Paul E.
recommendation eliminated the reflecting Haney, chairman of the National Spiritual
pools and the sunken gardens with low Assembly, and Miss Edna M. True, former
walk, substituting lawn areas for the reflect- secretary of the Inter-America Committee.
ing pools. A tunnel structure was recom- The Convention for Central America,
mended over the service entrance to the Mexico and the Antilles, opened the same
Temple foundation, with two utility rooms. day in Panama City with twenty-five official
Other recommendations were that the delegates representing all of the seventeen
outer circular walk should be constructed local Spiritual Assemblies in the twelve
with concrete edged with flagstone; and countries of this region. Here the National
some of the paths leading from the outer Spiritual Assembly of the United States was
walk through the gardens developed with represented by its vice-chairman, Mrs. Dor-
lawns. othy Baker, who was also chairman of the
The decision to eliminate the reflecting Inter--America Committee, and by Horace
pools and the walled sunken gardens was Holley, secretary of the National Assembly.
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES

Congratulating the believers at both Con- them in the Guardian's message, to the end
ventions for the "magnificent triumph mark- that they would be prepared and ready by
ing (the) culmination (of the) fourteen- Ridvkn 1953 to assume their full and inde-
year old process linking (the) concluding pendent roles as "pillars of the Universal
years (of the) first with (the) opening dec- House of Justice" and participants in the
ade (of the) second Bahi'i century," the global crusade.
Guardian's cabled message appealed to the
two new National Assemblies to "arise (in)
complete unity, exemplary fidelity, greatest
wisdom, utmost dedication, unswerving re- Although not originally designated as an
solve, heroic self-sacrifice (to) befittingly objective of the Second Seven-Year Plan
discharge (their) threefold, sacred, inescap- and its teaching campaign in Europe, the
able responsibilities: k s t , (to) consolidate Guardian cabled the National Spiritual As-
(the) two newly-elected pillars (of the) sembly of the United States on March 8,
world administrative order (of the) Faith; 1952, that immediate steps were to be taken
second, (to) stimulate (the) propagation for the formation of the first National Spir-
(of) its teachings; third, (to) enrich (the) itual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Italy and
spiritual life (and) deepen (the) under- Switzerland in Ridvkn 1953. The election of
standing (of) its avowed supporters. . . ." nineteen delegates by all established local
As a token of his love and as the first Spiritual Assemblies in the two countries
precious relic for its national archives, the was set for Naw-R6z 1953, and the city of
Guardian also presented to each Assembly Florence, Italy, was designated as the place
through Mrs. Amelia Collins, Hand of the where they would elect this new "pillar (of
Cause of God, a lock of the blessed hair of the) Universal House of Justice, (the) third
BahL'u'llih. in Europe (and) twelfth (in the) BahB'i
Messages were read from each of the World."
other nine National Spiritual Assemblies This Assembly, the Guardian stated, was
and each delegate was presented with a pic- to be regarded as "a stepping stone (in the)
ture of 'Abdu'l-Bahi in a special souvenir formation (in the) course (of the) impend-
folder bearing a greeting from their "broth- ing decade-long crusade (of) two independ-
ers and sisters in Europe, under the Divine ent National Spiritual Assemblies, destined
Plan." (to) each lend (an) impetus (to the) un-
Part of the agenda at both conventions foldment (and) consolidation (of) Bahi'-
was devoted to the discussion of the three n'll5h's embryonic World Order."
Seven-Year Plans given by the Guardian to Indicative of the importance of this step,
North America, as part of 'Abdu'l-Bahi's the cablegram also announced that the
Divine Plan to spread the Teachings of Guardian would entrust to this youngest of
BahB'uYll5hthroughout the world, and how, Assemblies a specific plan by which it
under the aegis of the Bah2is of the United would collaborate with its sister National
States, the believers in Latin America and Assemblies in the achievement of all the
Europe had been aided to attain this stage goals of the World Crusade.
of international administrative cooperation, The Convention took place April 23 to
"thereby paving the way to the ultimate or- 26, 1953, with eighteen of the nineteen
ganic union" of all National Spiritual As- elected delegates and thirty visitors present
semblies in the International House of Jus- from Italy and Switzerland. Mr. Paul E.
tice, destined, as declared by the Guardian Haney, chairman of the National Spiritual
"to launch enterprises embracing the whole Assembly of the United States, brought
Bahi'i world." greetings from the American Bahi'is and
Thus began a new stage in the evolution stressed the unique distinction of the erec-
of the Administrative Order in Latin Amer- tion of this twelfth pillar of the Universal
ica. During the next two years, the believers House of Justice during the Holy Year.
in Central and South America, under their Miss Edna True, chairman of the Euro-
respective National Spiritual Assemblies and pean Teaching Committee, and member of
with the counsel and guidance of the Na- the National Spiritual Assembly of the
tional Spiritual Assembly of the United United States, expressed the great pride of
States, were to devote their energies to both the American and European Bahgis
carrying out the three objectives assigned to in the remarkable progress of the Faith in
62 THE BAHA'I WORLD

these two countries in the seven short years inventory and realize what his share in ef-
since the inauguration of the Second Seven- fort, dedication and sacrifice must be!"
Year Plan.
The Guardian's message to the Conven-
tion, awaited with eager anticipation, ex-
pressed his feelings of "joy, pride and grati-
tude" to the "steadily unfolding, highly The extensive properties of the Bahi'is of
promising Italian-Swiss BahB'i communi- the United States of America, valued at
ties" and assured this youngest National more than $3,200,000, are indicative of the
Spiritual Assembly of his prayers that it rapid expansion and stability of the Faith
would be enabled to befittingly discharge its in this country. Most widely known is the
responsibilities and tasks through which it BahL'i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illi-
would "contribute (a) distinct share (in nois, which was formally dedicated and
the) world-wide festivities which will com- opened to the public on May 2, 1953.
memorate (the) hundredth anniversary (of Erected on land purchased between 1908
the) Declaration (of) Bahi'u'llbh's Mission and 1914, the cost of construction, includ-
(in the) city of Baghdid." ing landscaping up to April, 1954, was
To this "infant institution" the Guardian $2,763,617.88.
assigned two vital functions: "(to) stimu- The Haziratu'l-Quds, also in Wilmette,
late (the) propagation (of the) Faith (and consisting of the national administrative
to) consolidate (its) institutions (over the) headquarters of the National Spiritual As-
length (and) breadth (of) Switzerland (and sembly, a supplementary administrative of-
the) Italian Peninsula." fice, the office of the Bahi'i Publishing
The ten specific tasks which these func- Trust, the Collins House, and certain land,
tions involve are 'listed elsewhere in this is valued at $83,026. The Wilson House in
volume as those responsibilities assigned by Malden, Massachusetts, where 'Abdu'l-Bahb
the Guardian to Italy and Switzerland un- rested on the occasion of His visit to the
der the Ten-Year Crusade. United States in 1912, is valued at $7,000.
Among the many gifts presented to the In addition there are four BahPi schooIs,
new Assembly was one of rare historical sig- located respectively in Maine, Michigan,
nificance from the Guardian-two Tablets Colorado, and California, each consisting of
written by 'Abdu'l-Bahb shortly before His certain lands and a number of buildings,
passing, to Mrs. J. A. Burr of Florence, the having a total value of $375,418.
first Bahi'i in that city and the first to kindle Two pieces of property i.n Wilmette, one
the light of the Cause in Italy. Others of adjoining the administrative headquarters
particular note were letters .of acclaim from on the shore of Lake Michigan, and a lot
the eleven sister National Assemblies, bound across the street from the BahPi House of
in leather for "permanent inspiration," the Worship, are being held for future additions
Assembly's official seal, engraved in three to the M a m q u ' l - A m 6 .
languages-Italian, French and German-a
gift of the European Teaching Committee,
and a gift of fifteen hu.ndred dollars from
the National Spiritual Assembly of the In his message to the Forty-Fifth Annual
United States on behalf of the believers of Convention of the Bahi'is of the United
that country to inaugurate the new Assem- States, April 29 to May 1, 1953, the Guard-
bly's National Bahi'i Fund. ian included among the World Crusade ob-
Taking a prominent part in the Conven- jectives for the believers of the United
tion was Dr. Ugo Giachery, Hand of the States "the erection of the first Dependency
Cause of God, present as the Guardian's of the first Mahriqu'l-AWir of the West-
representative, who in his closing remarks ern World," the first of five accessory insti-
as chairman of the Convention and of the tutions named by 'Abdu'l-Bahb which will
newly elected National Spiritual Assembly, ultimately surround the BahQi House of
remarked: "Six years ago who would have Worship.
dreamed that we should meet in Florence The nature of the dependency was clari-
today; that our two countries would be fied in August, 1953, when the Guardian
joined in an undertaking whose vastness recommended that it be a home for the
leaves us aghast? Let each one of us take aged, to be started on a modest scale, to
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 63

demonstrate to the people of the world the of Bahi'is in the United States who ex-
expression of the Bahi'i Faith in terms of pressed to the Prime Minister their gratitude
practical service to humanity. for the Government of Israel's exemplary
Up to the time of this survey the only treatment of their World Headquarters and
step that has been taken toward this ob- their World Leader Shoghi Effendi Rabbani.
jective is the appointment of a special com- "The representatives were Mrs. Amelia
mittee to compile information regarding Collins, Vice-Chairman Bahi'i International
state and county laws governing the con- Council who lives in Haifa; Miss Edna M.
struction and operation of such an institu- True, Recording Secretary; Mr. Horace
tion, the suitability of the lake shore prop- Holley, Secretary; and Mr. Leroy C. Ioas,
erty for the purpose, and the estimated Treasurer.
building and operating costs of a home "For almost an hour the Prime Minister
housing twenty guests and staff. and his guests discussed the spiritual content
of the Bahi'i Faith and its spread through-
out the world. The Prime Minister was par-
ticularly interested in the manner in which
the Bahi'i faith was introduced into the
United States. He expressed surprise when
On May 19, 1951, His Excellency the he was informed that there are Bahi'i cen-
Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. David Ben- ters in over one hundred seventy-five cities
Gurion, during a short visit in Chicago, re- i.n the United States and that there are
ceived three members of the National Spir- twenty-five hundred such centers through-
itual Assembly of the Bahi'is of the United out the world. He was told that the Bah6'i
States, accompanied by the Vice-President faith has been accredited to the United Na-
of the International Bahi'i Council, Mrs. tions within the International Non-Govern-
Amelia E. Collins. The interview was held mental Organizations of the United Nations.
in the Prime Minister's suite in the Ambas- "Prior to their departure the BahL'i repre-
sador East Hotel. The Guardian had wished sentatives presented to the Prime Minister a
the National Spiritual Assembly to express photograph of the Bahi'i Temple in Wil-
to the Prime Minister the great interest the mette which is the national shrine for the
Bahi'is of the United States of America BahL'i faith in the United States. He was
have in the progress of Israel. also given a letter expressing the Bahi'i ap-
The interview was very friendly and cor- preciation for the Government of Israel's
dial. His Excellency was particularly inter- understanding of their problems and the
ested in Mrs. Collins' association with the good wishes of the Bahi'i faith for the de-
Bahi'i World Center in Israel, and invited velopment of Israel."
her to call on himself and Mrs. Ben-Gurion Owing to his many appointments it was
when she returned to Haifa. His Excellency not possible for the Prime Minister to ac-
was interested to know how the Bahi'i Faith cept the National Assembly's invitation to
had been introduced to America, what had visit the Bahi'i House of Worship.
been the effects following 'Abdu'l-Bahh's
visit to the United States in 1912, and to
what extent the Faith had spread to other
lands. A year later the National Spiritual As-
A selection of Bahi'i literature was pre- sembly was able to extend an invitation to
sented to the Prime Minister, together with the Mayor of Haifa, Mr. Aba Khoushy, to
the color print of the design of the Shrine visit the Bahi'i Temple, and on May 14,
of the Bhb on Mt. Carmel and a framed 1952, members of the National Assembly
photograph of the Bahi'i House of Worship and a group of about thirty Bahi'is cordially
in Wilmette, Illinois. On the same day the welcomed the Mayor of Haifa at the Bahi'i
Prime Minister's press representative re- House of Worship. In response to a request
leased the following statement concerning to speak to the group, the Mayor expressed
the interview to newspapers and radio sta- his admiration for the Shrine and the Shrine
tions : Gardens on Mt. Carmel and voiced his re-
"The Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. David spect and regard for the Bahi'is and the de-
Ben-Gurion, this morning received four sire of the Haifa civil authorities to give
members of the National Spiritual Assembly their cooperation in the projects being un-
64 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

dertaken at the World Center of the Faith. tistic and lovely way in which the Bah$.'i
In turn, Mayor Khoushy and his party were books were presented. For almost one and
assured of the grateful appreciation of the a half hours they inquired about the Faith
American BahPis and of their interest in and looked through the books, which they
the development of the BahL'i World Cen- promised to present to the Queen on her re-
ter. After the prayer for all nations was turn to the Palace. A few days later the fol-
read, Mayor Khoushy and his party were lowing gracious letter was received, signed
conducted through the Temple and it was by one of the private secretaries of Her
obvious that they were deeply impressed. Majesty the Queen:
"Her Majesty the Queen has asked me to
convey to you her sincere thanks for the of-
fering of the 'Bloemlezing uit de Geschrif-
ten van BahL'uYll6h'and some English books
In c o ~ e c t i o nwith the Fourth European about the BahPi World Faith. which Her
BahL'i Teaching Conference held in Hol- Majesty has accepted with special grati-
land in 1951 the Dutch Bahi'i Community tude."
was able to fuEU one of its long-cherished
hopes, to acquaint Queen Juliana in a dig-
nified way with the BahL'i teachings and the
work being done in the Netherlands. Purchase o f the Siylih-C_ha'l
The Dutch BahL'is had had a copy of
their new Dutch translation of the Selected In the third year following the Martyr-
Writings o f Bahd'u'lla'h specially bound in dom of the B6b, Husayn-'Ali, pre-eminent
green morocco with the title in gold, in among the B5b's followers, was seized by
readiness for presentation to Her Majesty order of the gh6h and confined for four
the Queen. In addition, they had had made, months in the subterranean dungeon of Tih-
by a Dutch artist well known for her beauti- r5n known as the S i y i h - a i l , an abandoned
ful handmade leatherwork, a simple pigskin reservoir which had served one of the pub-
case, in which the Dutch translation and a lic baths of the city. His place of confine-
few books on the Faith in English could be ment was reached along a completely dark-
placed together, for the presentation. The ened corridor, down three steep flights of
artist, not knowing for whom the case was stairs. There, in thick darkness, his fellow
intended, had remarked that pigskin was prisoners numbered about one hundred and
especially loved by the Queen Mother, for fifty, among whom were thieves, assassins
whom she had made several things. and highwaymen. The dungeon was used
A letter was sent to Her Majesty the for the imprisonment of desperate criminals.
Queen, after long plan.ning, by the Spiritual His feet were placed in stocks and a
Assembly of the Bahl'is of Amsterdam, ex- heavy chain was fastened around his neck.
pressing their wish to present the Bloemle- The place has been described as "chill and
zing uit de Geschriften van Bahd'u'lla'h to damp, filthy, fever-stricken, infested with
the Queen, giving a brief statement of the vermin, and filled with a noisome stench."
aims and purposes of the Bahb'i Faith, and It was under these conditions, reflecting
commenting appreciatively on the Queen's the bitterest tyranny and fanaticism of the
public expressions of strong humanitarian age, that the intimation of a supreme pro-
principles and trust in God's guidance. phetic mission entered the heart of Husayn-
Presentation of the case with the Bahi'i 'Ali, transforming him into BahL'u'llAh, The
books was made on August 31, 1951, the Glory of God.
day when Bah6'is from nineteen countries 1.n His Epistle to N5~iri'd-Din ghhih, re-
were gathering for the Fourth European vealed at a later time, BahL'u'llih thus de-
Teaching Conference which was to start the scribed the Divine origin of His mission:
next morning. The BahL'i messenger pre- "0king! I was but a man like others, asleep
sented himself at the gate of the Soestdijk upon My couch, when lo, the breezes of the
Palace and was conducted to the secretariat All-Glorious were wafted over Me, and
s f the Queen, where two of the Queen's taught Me the knowledge of all that hath
private secretaries cordially received him. been. This thing is not from Me, but from
When the case was unwrapped both secre- One Who is Almighty and All-Knowing
taries expressed their admiration for the ar-, ... His all-compelling summons hath
C U R R E N T B A H A'f A C T I V I T I E S

reached Me, and caused Me to speak His and by active participation in BahB'i com-
praise amidst all people." munity affairs the BahB'i women of Persia
The birth of the mission of Bahi'u1116h have fully demonstrated their capacity to as-
has been described by the Guardian of the sume responsibilities which had been re-
Faith in these words: "Wrapped in its served for men. Indeed, in the arena of
stygian gloom, breathing its fetid air, spiritual heroism from the earliest days of
numbed by its humid and icy atmosphere, the Faith, Persian Bahi'i women have risen
His feet in stocks, His neck weighed down to sublime heights of fortitude and sacrifice.
by a mighty chain, surrounded by criminals The name of Tghirih stands beside those of
and miscre-ants of the worst order . . . at the most exalted women in history.
so critical an hour and under such appalling The Four-Year Plan provided facilities
circumstances the 'Most Great Spirit,' as for the education of girls and special classes
designated by Himself, and symbolized in for adult women. A National Women's Pro-
the Zoroastrian, the Mosaic, the Christian, gressive Committee was appointed, with
and Muhammadan Dispensations by the Sa- regional committees acting under its super-
cred Fire, the Burning Bush, the Dove and vision. A national convention for Bahi'i
the Angel Gabriel, respectively, descended women was held annually, with the partici-
upon, and revealed itself, personified by a pation of the members of the National
'Maiden,' to the agonized soul of Bahi'- Women's Progressive Committee and
u'll6h." twenty-two representatives of the regional
The history of religion can offer no committees. At these gatherings the women
sharper contrast between the power of the demonstrated their ability and aptitude for
Holy Spirit and the circumstances under serving their Faith on an equality with the
which that power manifested itself in its men. In addition, district conventions were
chosen human vehicle. That from such a held semi-annually, to consult on ways to
beginning the mission of Bahi'u'llBh could carry education even to women in the vil-
arise and reveal salvation to the peoples and lages. The program of education included
nations is an evidence of divine power none oral instruction for the illiterate and those
can deny. who had little schooling; an advanced class
To Bahi'is, the place so consecrated by for graduates of secondary schools, and a
supreme sacrifice has been venerated as a higher class of more advanced education for
holy place of their Faith. In the spring of women living in the larger centers. Finally, a
1954 the site of Siy&h-C_hiilin Tihr6n was periodical was circulated with contents cov-
purchased for the Faith by Habib Sabet for ering topics of general history, Bahi'i his-
$400,000. tory, science, literature, health, hygiene,
housekeeping and care of children.
End of Four-Year Plan for Persian Women From Shoghi Effendi a message was re-
ceived which stated: "The great barrier has
The International Survey published for now been completely removed and absolute
the years 1946-1950 included reference to equality is attained as the result of recent de-
the effort made by the Persian Bahi'is to velopments, as well as the glorious and con-
create opportunities for Bahi'i women to at- tinuing efforts rendered by the beloved
tain education, and their aim to bring about Bahi'i sisters in that country and abroad."
equality with men in relation to elective and
appointive offices in the community.
This aim was pursued under a four-year
plan the result of which has been to find The Five-Year Plan of the Bahi'is of
women elected to membership on Assem- Egypt and the Sfidgn began in May, 1948,
blies for the first time, thus overcoming a in response to a cablegram from the Guard-
long historic disability. The service of men ian to the National Spiritual Assembly of
and women in these elective bodies repre- the BahVis of Egypt and Sfidtin. At the end
sents the operation of the principle of equal- of this Plan the goals achieved in Egypt in-
ity of opportunity and status for men and cluded the establishment of three new local
women which the BahVi Faith has estab- Spiritual Assemblies, in Sohag (1950), Me-
lished in the new social pattern now unfold- halla el Kobra (1951) and Mansoura
ing throughout the world. (1952), thus raising to nine the number of
Through special classes and discussions local Spiritual Assemblies. Six virgin prov-
66 T H E BAHA

inces were opened, of nine set up as goals. BahL'u'lltih addressed to SultAn 'Abdu'l-
A plot for a permanent summer school was 'Aziz the first of His communications to the
found but legal transfer of the land was not rulers and ecclesiastical leaders of the world,
yet completed. In the Sudhn the goals were proclaiming the Divine Summons and warn-
achieved in the opening of three new cen- ing all those who refused to heed His Call.
ters, at Port Siidhn, Wau and Wad Medani. On the eve of His banishment from that
A Bahi'i center was established at Asmara city by the Sulthn's edict, Bahi'u'llhh re-
in Eritrea. In Africa, Algeria was opened to vealed: "Were all the governments of earth
the Faith and in Libya BahA'i centers were to unite to take My life and the lives of all
established in Benghazi and Tripoli. A Spir- who bear this Name, this Divine Fire would
itual Assembly was established in Tunis in never be quenched. . . . Whatever may yet
April, 1953. befall Us, great shall be Our gain, and mani-
fest the loss wherewith they shall be af-
Women Included in Assembly Membership flicted." The Guardian points out that Sul-
for First Time t i n 'Abdu'l-'Aziz was also "first among
Oriental monarchs to sustain the impact of
Elections for members of local Spiritual God's retributive justice."
Assemblies in Egypt on April 21, 1951, for The months which Bahi'u'llhh and His
the first time permitted inclusion of women. family spent in this house have been as-
Accordingly, one or two women members sociated by the Guardian with the begin-
were elected as members of the Spiritual As- ning of a period in which "untold privations
semblies of Alexandria, Cairo, and Port and unprecedented trials were mingled with
Said. The Guardian referred to this change the noblest spiritual triumphs," and one in
in his message to the 1951 National Con- which "the day-star of Bahi'u'llhh's ministry
vention of the Bahi'is in the United States, was about to reach its zenith."
as follows: "(A) notable step (in the) prog-
ress (of) Bahi'i women (of the) Middle
East (is) taken through (the) extension (of
the) right (of) membership (in) local As- On April 21, 1953, the Canadian Bahh'i
semblies (to) women believers (in) Egypt." Community rejoiced in the news that their
Five-Year Plan was completely and success-
fully fulfilled. The plan had been initiated
when the National Spiritual Assembly of
Among the many significant events that the Bahi'is of Canada was first established
transpired during the period covered by this in 1948. Completion of the plan climaxed
volume was one announced in the Guard- five years of intensive teaching work and its
ian's message to the National Convention organization throughout Canada, from Vic-
of Bahi'is in the United States on April 23, toria to Newfoundland. It meant that a
1952, in this statement: "Historic site (of) total of thirty Spiritual Assemblies had been
House occupied (by) BahL'u'llhh (in) Istan- established in Canada, and that Bahh'is
bul (has been) partly purchased." On Oc- were resident in one hundred different lo-
tober 1, 1954, the Guardian further an- calities throughout the Provinces. A Na-
nounced to all believers of the East and tional Haziratu'l-Quds had been purchased
West that funds to complete the acquisition in the heart of Toronto.
of this historical edifice had been provided
as a result of "successive contributions Purchase of Hqiratu'l-Quds
made by the Hand of the Cause, Amelia
Collins, outstanding benefactress of the A building was purchased in October,
Faith, for the furtherance of some of the 1952, on St. George Street, Toronto, to
most vital objectives of the Ten-Year Plan." serve as the Canadian Haziratu'l-Quds, in
Thus there has been preserved for future response to the Guardian's writing the Ca-
generations another historic place associated nadian National Bahi'i Assembly that "ef-
with the exile and banishment of Bahi'uY- fort must . . . be exerted for the establish-
llhh from the land of His birth and His in- ment of an institution which, though not an
carceration in the prison city of 'Akkh. integral part of the [five-year] Plan, formu-
It was while residing in this house for lated for that Community, is none the less
four months from August 16, 1953, that regarded as indispensable owing to its emer-
CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 67

gence into an independent existence." Later tional Body who have gone forth as pio-
it was found necessary to sell the building neers to virgin territories . . . the purchase
acquired, because it proved to be unsuitable of the Temple site in Sydney-all attest the
on account of fire regulations. vitality of the faith of the believers in the
Antipodes." The Temple site chosen was
unfortunately, however, shortly after its
purchase, repossessed by the city, and the
National Spiritual Assembly, though hav-
The home of Mr. and Mrs. William Suth- ing to relinquish this site, was paid a sum
erland Maxwell on Pine Avenue in Mont- for it which brought a considerable profit.
real, Canada, for many years the gathering
place of Bahi'is and their friends, was given
over to the ownership of the National Spirit-
ual Assembly of the Bahb'is of Canada, to The Five-Year Plan of the National
be maintained as a Shrine in remembrance Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Ger-
of 'Abdu'l-Bahb's stay in this home in 1912. many and Austria was inaugurated in May,
This gracious gift was that of RGhiyyih 1948, in response to a suggestion made by
Lhbnum, daughter of May and Sutherland Shoghi Effendi, who left the extent of the
Maxwell, and now the wife of the Guardian plan to the decision of the National Assem-
of the Bahi'i Faith. Transfer of the prop- bly. The following objectives were set up:
erty was completed in March, 1954. It was (1) Consolidation and strengthening the
the first Bahi'i home in Canada, established understanding of the Bahi'is for the Ad-
in 1907. ministrative Order; (2) increasing the num-
Uncountable numbers of persons had ber of Bahi'i centers from fourteen to
been received in this^ home and had there twenty-eight and at the same time further-
heard of the Bahi'i Faith and been sur- ing Community growth; ( 3 ) deepening in
rounded with spiritual guidance and love. the Teachings, through addition to the
The Canadian National Spiritual Assembly Bahi'i literature in German, in order to re-
wrote of the gift of this home by RGhiyyih place the Bahi'i literature confiscated and
LhLnum: "Many who enter its lovely white destroyed by the National Socialist govern-
doors have the inner realization that they ment; (4) erection of a National Ha~iratu'l-
stand within the same walls where 'Abdu'l- Quds in Frankfurt-am-Main. During the
BahL had stood." course of the Plan three communities of ac-
tive Bahi'is were cut off from the main
body of German Bahi'is, as activities of
the Faith were prohibited in the Eastern
The Six-Year Plan of the National Spirit- Zone of Germany.
ual Assembly of the Bahb'is of Australia During the first four years of the Plan
and New Zealand was fulfilled in April, six Bahi'i groups were brought to commu-
1953, and all the goals exceeded. The Plan nity status, one of which relapsed to group
called for establishment of two new Spirit- status. During the last year of the Plan,
ual Assemblies in Australia and nineteen through the sacrificial efforts of the Bahb'is
groups in Australasia. Five additional As- of Germany, aided by Bahi'is from Persia
semblies were established, bringing the total who had come to study in Germany, con-
number in Australia and New Zealand to centration on nine goal cities resulted in
seventeen. Twenty-one groups beyond the establishment of nine additional Assemblies
goals of the plan brought the total number by the end of the five years, thus fulfilling
of groups to forty. the objective of fourteen additional Bahi'i
Communities. The nine new Assemblies es-
Purchase of Temple Site in Sydney tablished in one year were Bad Cannstatt,
Bonn, Ebingen, Freiburg-i-Breisgau, Gies-
In acknowledging the news of purchase sen, Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg, Tiibingen and
of the site for a BahB'i House of Worship Ulm.
in Sydney to the National Spiritual Assem- On the site of the ruin purchased at West-
bly of the Bahi'is of Australia and New endstrasse 24, in Frankfurt-am-Main, for
Zealand, the Guardian wrote, on June 16, the Haqiratu'l-Quds shortly before the be-
1954: "The number of pioneers of the Na- ginning of the Five-Year Plan, a stately
68 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

five-story building was erected and com- help h a n c e payment of the mortgages.
pleted by the end of the Plan. Seemingly Addition to the BahB'i literature in Ger-
insurmountable obstacles arose in all phases man has included new translations and
of the erection of the building-financing, editions of the Hidden Words, a selection
materials, permits-but each was overcome of prayers, translation and publication
in turn. A few paragraphs from the account of Shoghi Effendi's "The Dispensation of
of the architect of the building, Bruno BahC'u'llAh" from The World Order of
Bauer, give modest insight into what some Bahci'u'lldh, of Paris Talks of 'Abdu'l-Baha',
of these difficulties were: of Some Answered Questions, and, in press,
"Thanks to the great-hearted and gener- of Shoghi Effendi's God Passes By. A be-
ous gifts of our beloved Guardian and with ginning was thus made in the Five-Year
the help of additional gifts and loans of the Plan to re-establish an authentic BahC'i lit-
BahC'is it was possible to work out financ- erature in German.
ing arrangements through building loans
(mortgages). With a part of the building
fund, construction above the first floor was
begun in the summer of 1950. All the be-
lievers were delighted and breathed more At the Annual Convention of the BahC'is
easily, with relief and gratitude. Then . . . of Central America held in San Josh, Costa
a rift occurred in the favorable relations Rica, in 1952, the idea of a Plan was devel-
between East and West and in its wake oped and later approved by the National
came new vexations, disputes and economic Spiritual Assembly of the BahPis of Central
difficulties. All prices mounted, the workers America and the Antilles, then beginning its
struck, materials were again hoarded and second year of existence. The Guardian had
thus became scarce and in part illegal. New written the Assembly urging it "to devote
evidences of lack of confidence pervaded its energy primarily to laying a sound and
the world. Our work was threatened with abiding foundation for the future." The
coming to an end. A whole series of old Plan encompassed four points formulated
encumbrances burdened the property and by the Guardian: (1) to establish harmony,
had to be set aside. Old claims had to give love and understanding among the BahL'is,
way to new. Endless, galling dealings with (2) to promote the teaching work, ( 3 ) to
the former owners, with the mortgage of- win support for the National BahPi Fund,
fice, with the notary and with a number of and (4) to assure publication of BahL'i lit-
hancial institutions were necessary in or- erature in well-translated Spanish editions,
der to clear the way for continuing the con- in cooperation with the National Spiritual
struction. The believers had to be appealed Assembly of South America.
to for new sacriftces. Next to the evident To fulfill the first objective the Central
divine blessing we must be thankful for this American National Spiritual Assembly sent
courage in sacrifice, this insight and this a member to each principal community of
unbending will and faith in success, but each country under its jurisdiction, to estab-
especially to the great help of our Guardian, lish a bond of love and service through
so that we could go forward with the con- these visits; and in reply to letters it took
struction and meet the contracts." particular care to quote from the Writings
In July, 1950, the commemoration of the on each speciftc question or problem raised.
Martyrdom of the BAb in Frankfurt was For the second objective two National
held in the large first floor room of the Teaching Committees were formed, one for
Hazira, while construction with the upper work among Spanish speaking friends and
floors was in progress. In 1952 all interior the other among English and French. These
construction work was completed, and a Committees in turn encouraged the Re-
lovely garden and planting had been in- gional Teaching Committees which carried
stalled in the spacious area back of the out specific projects in the field. An Indian
building. The finished H q i r a contains, on Committee carried the Teachings to the ab-
the third floor, a meeting hall seating one origines and established a BahB'i Cultural
hundred thirty persons, with balcony over- Institute in the heart of the Indian country
looking the garden, and an adjoining in Chichicastenango, Guatemala. The first
kitchen; a secretariat on the second floor; BahPi School in Central America was held
and several apartments at present leased to at "Karbila" outside of Tegucigalpa, Hon-
C U R R E N T BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 69

duras. At the end of the Plan all Assemblies The fifth objective, expansion of the Ba-
had been maintained and teaching work h 2 i New Era School in Panchgani, to bring
was being actively carried on in many fields. it to the status of government recognition,
Support for the National Bahi'i Fund was not attained although progress was
was aided by appeals in the Assembly's of- made toward this goal. The eighth anniver-
ficial news organ Noticias, published in sary of the school was celebrated in De-
Spanish, French and English and mailed to cember, 1952. More suitable, larger prop-
every Bah2i. erty was purchased and the school was
In the interests of well-translated Bahi'i moved to the new premises in February,
literature in Spanish, steps were taken to 1953. Improvements were being made in
consolidate all translating efforts and to se- this twenty-eight acre property, on which
cure well-qualified translators. were located five bungalows in good condi-
tion, the number of classrooms was being
increased, playgrounds were being devel-
The Nineteen-Month Plan of the Na- oped, and a qualified teaching staff was be-
tional Spiritual Assembly of the Bah6'is of ing arranged for.
India, Pikistin and Burma, extending from During the Nineteen-Month Plan wide
September, 1951, to April, 1953, was the publicity was received in the press which
third successive Bahi'i Teaching Plan would prove of valuable assistance in the
undertaken in the sub-continent of India work of the future.
and Burma. Five main objectives were out-
lined and although all were not fully at-
tained, the end of the Plan saw great prog-
ress as a result of the intense efforts of the
Bahi'is of this area. Projected in 1950, in the Guardian's ca-
The first objective was to offer Rs 2,50,- blegram to the British Bahii'i Convention of
000 to the Shrine of the Bib Fund; a little that year, the Two-Year Plan of the British
over three-fourths of this sum was contrib- Bahi'is was to be a prelude to the "initiation
uted. (of the) systematic campaign designed (to)
Esslemont's Bah8u'llah and the New Era carry (the) torch (of the) Faith (to) terri-
was translated and printed in three lan- tories (of the) Dark Continent whose
guages, Indonesian, Siamese, Karen; a re- northern (and) southern fringes were suc-
vised translation was made in Burmese; and cessively illuminated (in the) course (of
a smaller booklet, "Bahi'u'llih and His the) ministries (of) Bahi'u'llih (and)
Message," was translated and printed in 'Abdu'l-Bahi."
Kachin. The three objectives of the Plan were
The third objective, pioneering into (1) to strengthen the nineteen Spiritual As-
neighboring countries, succeeded in open- semblies already established in the British
ing seven of eight "goal" countries, with Isles, (2) to form nuclei in three depend-
formation of an Assembly in two and prom- encies of the British Crown in East or West
ise of one in a third. The areas opened Africa, and ( 3 ) to translate, publish and
were Siam (Thailand) ; Malaya, with an As- disseminate Bahi'i literature through the
sembly in Singapore; Indonesia; Sarawak, British Publishing Trust in three African
with an Assembly established in Kuching; languages in addition to the three already
Zanzibar; Madagascar; and Nepal. Indo- undertaken in the Six-Year Plan success-
China remained unsettled. fully completed less than a year previously
On the home front of the Indian sub- by the British Bahi'is.
continent, eight of ten Spiritual Assemblies At the midpoint of the Plan, in April,
hoped for were established in India, three 1952, the Guardian was able to announce
of five in Pikistin, and one of two in Cey- that pioneers had been dispatched to the
lon. It was not possible to fulfill the objec- three virgin territories of Tanganyika,
tives in Burma owing to disturbed condi- Uganda and the Gold Coast; that a seven-
tions in that country. Of thirteen Assemblies teen thousand dollar Haziratu'l-Quds had
to be consolidated in India, twelve main- been purchased in Kampala, Uganda; that
tained their status, and all Assemblies to be native Africans of the Teso, Yao, Buganda
consolidated in Pikistin (three) and Burma and Mutoco tribes had been enrolled in the
(four) maintained status. Faith; and that Spiritual Assemblies had
70 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

been formed in Kampala and in Dar es On the home front in the British Isles,
Salaam. all Assemblies were maintained on a firm
When the Plan came to its brilliant con- basis. In addition to the three pamphlets
clusion in April, 1953, the Guardian an- previously printed in African languages
nounced that the number of believers in (ChiNyanja, KiSwahili and Hausa) , trans-
Uganda alone was over two hundred and lations into Luganda, Twi and Ateso were
ninety, residing in twenty-five localities and published a.nd in use, and translations into
representing twenty tribes. In Africa all at least eight additional African languages
goals were exceeded. Twelve new local Spir- were in progress. The pamphlets were
itual Assemblies had been established in printed by the British Publishing Trust and
Uganda, and besides the Assembly in Tan-
distributed by them.
ganyika one was assured in Kenya. In his
The objectives thus brilliantly achieved
message to the First Intercontinental Bahgi
Teaching Conference held in Kampala, in in the British Two-Year Plan laid the
February, 1953, the Guardian wrote: "I groundwork for and greatly furthered the
welcome with open arms the unexpectedly tremendous successes of the African teach-
large number of the representatives of the ing work in which six National Spiritual As-
pure-hearted and the spiritually receptive semblies were to cooperate during the Ten-
Negro race." Year Crusade.
EXCERPTS F R O M T H E
B A H A ' I SACRED W R I T I N G S

From PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS BY BAHA'U'LLAH

A L L praise, 0 my God, be to Thee Who inspiration and Thy Revelation, and to
art the Source of all glory and majesty, of manifest Thy names and Thine attributes.
greatness and honor, of sovereignty and Through Him Thou didst adorn the pre-
dominion, of loftiness and grace, of awe and amble of the book of Thy creation, 0 Thou
power. Whomsoever Thou willest Thou Who art the Ruler of the universe Thou hast
causest to draw nigh unto the Most Great fashioned!
Ocean, and on whomsoever Thou desirest I bear witness that in His person solidity
Thou conferrest the honor of recognizing and fluidity have been joined and combined.
Thy Most Ancient Name. Of all who are in Through His immovable constancy in Thy
heaven and on earth, none can withstand Cause, and His unwavering adherence to
the operation of Thy sovereign Will. From whatsoever Thou, in the plenitude of the
all eternity Thou didst rule the entire crea- light of Thy glory, didst unveil to His eyes,
tion, and Thou wilt continue for evermore throughout the domains of Thy Revelation
to exercise Thy dominion over all created and creation, the souls of Thy servants were
things. There is none other God but Thee, stirred up in their longing for Thy Kingdom,
the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All- and the dwellers of Thy realms rushed forth
Powerful, the All-Wise. to enter into Thy heavenly dominion.
Illumine, 0 Lord, the faces of Thy serv- Through the restlessness He evinced in Thy
ants, that they may behold Thee; and path, the feet of all them that are devoted to
cleanse their hearts that they may turn unto Thee were steeled and confirmed to mani-
the court of Thy heavenly favors, and rec- fest Thy Cause amidst Thy creatures, and
ognize Him Who is the Manifestation of to demonstrate Thy sovereignty throughout
Thy Self and the Day-Spring of Thine Es- Thy realm.
sence. Verily, Thou art the Lord of all How great, 0 my God, is this Thy most
worlds. There is no God but Thee, the Un- excellent handiwork, and how consummate
constrained, the All-Subduing. ( p . 94) Thy creation, which hath caused every un-
derstanding heart and mind to marvel! And
Lauded be Thy name, 0 Lord my God! I when the set time was fulfilled, and what
testify that Thou wast a hidden Treasure had been preordained came to pass, Thou
wrapped within Thine immemorial Being didst unloose His tongue to praise Thee, and
and an impenetrable Mystery enshrined in to lay bare Thy mysteries before all Thy
Thine own Essence. Wishing to reveal Thy- creation, 0 Thou Who art the Possessor
self, Thou didst call into being the Greater of all names, and the Fashioner of earth and
and the Lesser Worlds, and didst choose heaven! Through Him all created things
Man above all Thy creatures, and didst were made to glorify Thee, and to celebrate
make Him a sign of both of these worlds, 0 Thy praise, and every soul was directed to-
Thou Who art our Lord, the Most Com- wards the kingdom of Thy revelation and
passionate! Thy sovereignty.
Thou didst raise Him up to occupy Thy At one time, Thou didst raise Him up, 0
throne before all the people of Thy creation. my God, and didst attire Him with the orna-
Thou didst enable Him to unravel Thy mys- ment of the name of Him Who conversed
teries, and to shine with the lights of Thine with Thee (Moses), and didst through Him
72 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

uncover all that Thy will had decreed and vors and Thy gifts, and to rid them of all
Thine irrevocable purpose ordained. At an- attachment to aught else except Thee. At
other time, Thou didst adorn Him with the another time He revealeth Himself as the
name of Him Who was Thy Spirit (Jesus), Fire which Thou didst kindle in the tree of
and didst send Him down out of the heaven Thy unity, whose heat melted the hearts of
of Thy will, for the edification of Thy peo- Thine ardent lovers when He Who is the
ple, infusing thereby the spirit of life into Day-Star of the world shone forth above the
the hearts of the sincere among Thy serv- horizon of 'Iriq. I testify, 0 my God, that
ants and the faithful among Thy creatures. through Him the veils of human fancy were
Again, Thou didst reveal Him, decked forth burnt up, and the hearts of men were set to-
by the name of Him Who was Thy Friend wards the scene of Thy most resplendent
(Muhammad), and caused Him to shine glory.
brightly above the horizon of Hijiz, as a I implore Thee, 0 Thou Who art the
token of Thy power and an evidence of Thy Supreme Ordainer, not to suffer me to be
might. Through Him Thou didst send unto deprived of the breezes which are wafted in
Thy servants what enabled them to scale Thy days, the days whereon the sweet smell
the heights of Thy unity, and to yearn over of the raiment of Thy mercy hath been shed
the wonders of Thy manifold knowledge abroad. Neither do Thou keep me back
and wisdom. from Thy most great Ocean, every drop of
I testify, 0 Thou Who art the Lord of the which crieth out and saith: 'Great is the
whole creation, and the Desire of whosoever blessedness that awaiteth him who hath been
hath sought Thee, that, amidst Thy crea- awakened from his sleep by the breath of
tures, they resemble the sun which no mat- God which, from the source of His mercy,
ter how often it riseth and setteth is still the hath blown over all such of His creatures
one and the same sun. Whoso maketh any as have set themselves towards Him!'
distinction between any of them hath truly Thou seest, 0 my Lord, how Thy servants
failed to attain the ultimate purpose, and to are held captive by their own selves and
reach the highest goal, and hath been de- desires. Redeem them from their bondage,
prived of the mysteries of unity and of the 0 my God, by the power of Thy sovereignty
lights of sanctity and oneness. I testify, and might, that they may turn towards Thee
moreover, that Thou hast decreed that none when He Who is the Revealer of Thy names
on the face of the earth should equal them, and attributes is manifested unto men.
and none of Thy creatures be able to be Cast upon this poor and desolate crea-
compared with any of them, in order that ture, 0 my Lord, the glance of Thy wealth,
Thine own singleness and peerlessness might and flood his heart with the beams of Thy
be recognized and established. knowledge, that he may apprehend the
Glorified, immeasurably glorified be Thy verities of the unseen world, and discover
name, 0 my God! How can I ever befit- the mysteries of Thy heavenly realm, and
tingly mention Thee or sufficiently praise perceive the signs and tokens of Thy king-
Thee, that Thou hast manifested Him by dom, and behold the manifold revelations of
the power of Thy might, and caused Him this earthly life all set forth before the face
to shine above the horizon of Thy will, and of Him Who is the Revealer of Thine own
made Him the Day-Spring of Thy signs, and Self. Direct, then, his eyes, 0 my God, to-
the Dawning-Place of the revelation of Thy wards the horizon of Thy loving-kindness,
names and Thine attributes? How bewilder- and make steadfast his heart in its attach-
ingly mysterious, moreover, 0 my God, is ment to Thee, and unloose his tongue to
His nature and all that Thou hast infused praise Thee, and make him able to hold fast:
into Him, through Thy strength and by the the cord of Thy love, and to cling to the
power of Thy might! At one time He ap- hem of Thy bounteousness, and to proclaim
peareth as the water which is Life indeed, Thy name amidst Thy creatures, and to re-
sent down out of the heaven of Thy grace, count Thy virtues throughout Thy realm, in
and poured forth from the clouds of Thy such wise that no obstacle will deter him
mercy, that Thy creatures may be endued from turning to Thy name, the All-Bounti-
with new life, and live as long as Thine own ful, and no veil shut him out from Thee, in
Kingdom endureth. Every drop of that Whose hand is the dominion of utterance
water would suffice to quicken the dead, and and the kingdom of all names and attri-
to set their faces in the direction of Thy fa- butes!
BAHA'I SACRED W R I T I N G S

Octagon of the Shrine seen from the mountainside and
showing one iron railing in place. March, 1952.

Scaffolding around the drum and dome of the Bib's Shrine;
the ribs, tiles and lantern of the dome are still to be added.
June, 1953.
74 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Hold Thou the hand of this seeker who Thine utterances in Thy days. Blessed,
hath set his face towards Thee, 0 my Lord, moreover, be the man that hath turned unto
and draw him out of the depths of his vain Thee, and woe betide him that hath turned
imaginations, that the light of certainty may his back upon Thee.
shine brightly above the horizon of his Praised be Thou, the Lord of the worlds!
heart in the -days whereon the sun of the ( p . 48)
knowledge of Thy creatures hath been dark-
ened through the shining of the Day-Star of Praise be to Thee, 0 Lord my God! Thou
Thy glory; the days whereon the moon of seest and knowest that I have called upon
the world's wisdom hath been eclipsed Thy servants to turn nowhere except in the
through the appearance of Thy hidden direction of Thy bestowals, and have bidden
knowledge, and the manifestation of Thy them observe naught save the things Thou
well-guarded secret, and the revelation of didst prescribe in Thy Perspicuous Book, the
Thine enshrined mystery; the days whereon Book which hath been sent down according
the stars of men's doings have fallen through to Thine inscrutable decree and irrevocable
the rising of the orb of Thy unity and the purpose.
shedding of the radiance of Thy transcend- I can utter no word, 0 my God, unless I
ent oneness. be permitted by Thee, and can move in no
I beg of Thee, 0 my God, by Thy most direction until I obtain Thy sanction. It is
exalted Word which Thou hast ordained as Thou, 0 my God, Who hast called me into
the Divine Elixir unto all who are in Thy being through the power of Thy might, and
realm, the Elixir through whose potency the hast endued me with Thy grace to manifest
crude metal of human life hath been trans- Thy Cause. Wherefore I have been sub-
muted into purest gold, 0 Thou in Whose jected to such adversities that my tongue
hands are both the visible and invisible hath been hindered from extolling Thee and
kingdoms, to ordain that my choice be con- from magnifying Thy glory.
formed to Thy choice and my wish to Thy All praise be to Thee, 0 my God, for the
wish, that I may be entirely content with things Thou didst ordain for me through
that which Thou didst desire, and be wholly Thy decree and by the power of Thy sover-
satisfied with what Thou didst destine for me eignty. I beseech Thee that Thou wilt fortify
by Thy bounteousness and favor. Potent art both myself and them that love me in our
Thou to do as Thou willest. Thou, in very love for Thee, and wilt keep us firm in Thy
truth, art the All-Glorious, the All-Wise. Cause. I swear by Thy might! 0 my God!
Happy is the man who hath recognized Thy servant's shake is to be shut out as by
Thee, and discovered the sweetness of Thy a veil from Thee, and his glory is to know
fragrance, and set himself towards ~ h y Thee. Armed with the power of Thy name
kingdom, and tasted of the things that have nothing can ever hurt me, and with Thy love
been perfected therein by Thy grace and in my heart all the world's afflictions can in
favor. Great is the blessedness of him who
no wise alarm me.
hath acknowledged Thy most excellent
majesty, and whom the veils that have shut Send down, therefore, 0 my Lord, upon
out the nations from Thee have not hin- me and upon my loved ones that which will
dered from directing his eyes towards Thee, protect us from the mischief of those that
0 Thou Who art the King of eternity and have repudiated Thy truth and disbelieved
the Quickener of every moldering bone! in Thy signs.
Blessed, also, is he that hath inhaled Thy Thou art, verily, the All-Glorious, the
sweet savors, and been carried away by Most Bountiful. ( p . 207)

From G L E A N I N G S F R O M T H E W R I T I N G S OF B A H A ' U ' L L A H
THEDAYOF FULFILLMENT Scriptures, have all been fulfilled. Out of
Zion hath gone forth the Law of God, and
The time fore-ordained unto the peoples Jerusalem, and the hills and land thereof,
and kindreds of the earth is now come. The are filled with the glory of His Revelation.
promises of God, as recorded in the holy Happy is the man that pondereth in his
heart that which hath been revealed in the whom the Almighty was pleased to guide,
Books of God, the Help in Peril, the Self- were found dumbfounded and heedless.
Subsisting. Meditate upon this, 0 ye be- 0 thou that hast remembered Me! The
loved of God, and let your ears be atten- most grievous veil hath shut out the peoples
tive unto His Word, so that ye may, by His of the earth from His glory, and hindered
grace and mercy, drink your fill from the them from hearkening to His call. God
crystal waters of constancy, and become grant that the light of unity may envelop the
as steadfast and immovable as the mountain whole earth, and that the seal, "the King-
in His Cause. dom is God's," may be stamped upon the
In the Book of Isaiah it is written: "Enter brow of all its peoples. (p. 10)
into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for
fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His By the righteousness of God! These are
majesty." No man that meditateth upon this the days in which God hath proved the
verse can fail to recognize the greatness of hearts of the entire company of His Mes-
this Cause, or doubt the exalted character sengers and Prophets, and beyond them
of this Day-the Day of God himself. This those that stand guard over His sacred
same verse is followed by these words: "And and inviolable Sanctuary, the inmates of the
the Lord alone shall be exalted in that Day." celestial Pavilion and dwellers of the Tab-
This is the Day which the Pen of the Most ernacle of Glory. How severe, therefore, the
High hath glorified in all the holy Scrip- test to which they who join partners with
tures. There is no verse in them that doth
God must needs be subjected! (p. 11)
not declare the glory of His holy Name, and
no Book that doth not testify unto the lofti-
ness of this most exalted theme. Were We Beware, 0 believers in the Unity of God,
to make mention of all that hath been re- lest ye be tempted to make any distinction
vealed in these heavenly Books and holy between any of the Manifestations of His
Scriptures concerning this Revelation, this Cause, or to discriminate against the signs
Tablet would assume impossible dimensions. that have accompanied and proclaimed their
It is incumbent, in this Day, upon every man Revelation. This indeed is the true meaning
to place his whole trust in the manifold of Divine Unity, if ye be of them that ap-
bounties of God, and arise to disseminate, prehend and believe this truth. Be ye as-
with the utmost wisdom, the verities of His sured, moreover, that the works and acts of
Cause. Then, and only then, will the whole each and every one of these Manifestations
earth be enveloped with the morning light of God, nay whatever pertaineth unto them,
of His Revelation. ( p 12) and whatsoever they may manifest in the
future, are all ordained by God, and are
Verily I say, this is the Day in which a reflection of His Will and Purpose. Whoso
mankind can behold the Face, and hear the maketh the slightest possible difference be-
Voice, of the Promised One. The Call of tween their persons, their words, their mes-
God hath been raised, and the light of His sages, their acts and manners, hath indeed
countenance hath been lifted up upon men. disbelieved in God, hath repudiated His
It behoveth every man to blot out the trace signs, and betrayed the Cause of His Mes-
of every idle word from the tablet of his sengers. ( p . 59)
heart, and to gaze, with an open and un-
biased mind, on the signs of His Revela- It is evident that every age in which a
tion, the proofs of His Mission, and the Manifestation of God hath lived is divinely
tokens of His glory. ordained, and may, in a sense, be character-
Great indeed is this Day! The allusions ized as God's appointed Day. This Day,
made to it in all the sacred Scriptures as however, is unique, and is to be distin-
the Day of God attest its greatness. The guished from those that have preceded it.
soul of every Prophet of God, of every The designation "Seal of the Prophets" fully
Divine Messenger, hath thirsted for this revealeth its high station. The Prophetic
wondrous Day. All the divers kindreds of Cycle hath, verily, ended. The Eternal Truth
the earth have, likewise, yearned to attain is now come. He hath lifted up the Ensign
it. No sooner, however, had the Day Star of of Power, and is now shedding upon the
His Revelation manifested itself in the world the unclouded splendor of His Reve-
heaven of God's Will, than all, except those lation. (p. 6 0 )
76 T H E BAHA 'f W O R L D

Contemplate with thine inward eye the countenance. And yet, behold how far its
chain of successive Revelations that hath peoples have strayed from His path! None
linked the Manifestation of Adam with that have believed in Him except them who,
of the BBb. I testify before God that each through the power of the Lord of Names,
one of these Manifestations hath been sent have shattered the idols of their vain imagin-
down through the operation of the Divine i n g ~and corrupt desires and entered the
Will and Purpose, that each hath been the city of certitude. The seal of the choice
bearer of a specific Message, that each hath Wine of His Revelation hath, in this Day
been entrusted with a divinely-revealed and in His Name, the Self-Sufficing, been
Book and been commissioned to unravel broken. Its grace is being poured out upon
the mysteries of a mighty Tablet. The meas- men. Fill thy cup, and drink it in His Name,
ure of the Revelation with which every one the Most Holy, the All-Praised. (p. 12)
of them hath been identified had been defi-
nitely fore-ordained. This, verily, is a token Say: 0 ye that have strayed and lost your
of Our favor unto them, if ye be of those way! The Divine Messenger, Who speaketh
that comprehend this truth. . . . And when naught but the truth, hath announced unto
this process of progressive Revelation cul- you the coming of the Best-Beloved. Behold,
minated in the stage at which His peerless, He is now come. Wherefore are ye downcast
His most sacred, and exalted Countenance and dejected? Why remain despondent
was to be unveiled to men's eyes, He chose when the Pure and Hidden One hath ap-
to hide His own Self behind a thousand peared unveiled amongst you? He Who ;s
veils, lest profane and mortal eyes discover both the Beginning and the End, He Who is
His glory. This He did at a time when the both Stillness and Motion, is now manifest
signs and tokens of a divinely-appointed before your eyes. Behold how, in this Day,
Revelation were being showered upon Him the Beginning is reflected in the End, how
-signs and tokens which none can reckon out of Stillness Motion hath been engen-
except the Lord, your God, the Lord of all dered. This motion hath been generated by
worlds. And when the set time of conceal- the potent e9ergies which the words of the
ment was fulfilled, We sent forth, whilst Almighty have released throughout the en-
still wrapt within a myriad veils, an infini- tire creation. Whoso hath been quickened
tesimal glimmer of the effulgent Glory en- by its vitalizing power, will find himself im-
veloping the Face of the Youth, and lo, the pelled to attain the court of the Beloved; and
entire company of the dwellers of the whoso hath deprived himself therefrom, will
Realms above were seized with violent com- sink into irretrievable despondency. He is
motion and the favored of God fell down truly wise whom the world and all that is
in adoration before Him. He hath, verily, therein have not deterred from recognizing
manifested a glory such as none in the the light of this Day, who will not allow
whole creation hath witnessed, inasmuch as men's idle talk to cause him to swerve from
He hath arisen to proclaim in person His the way of righteousness. He is indeed as
Cause unto all who are in the heavens and one dead who, at the wondrous dawn of this
all who are on the earth. ( p 74) Revelation, hath failed to be quickened by
its soul-stirring breeze. He is indeed a cap-
0 Husayn! Consider the eagerness with tive who hath not recognized the Supreme
which certain peoples and nations have Redeemer, but hath suffered his soul to be
anticipated the return of Imgm-Husayn, bound, distressed and helpless, in the fetters
whose coming, after the appearance of the of his desires.
QB'im, hath been prophesied, in days past, 0 My servants! Whoso hath tasted of
by the chosen ones of God, exalted be His this Fountain hath attained unto everlasting
glory. These holy ones have, moreover, an- Life, and whoso hath refused to drink there-
nounced that when He Who is the Day from is even as the dead. Say: 0 ye workers
Spring of the manifold grace of God mani- of iniquity! Covetousness hath hindered you
festeth Himself, all the Prophets and Mes- from giving a hearing ear unto the sweet
sengers, including the QB'im, will gather voice of Him Who is the All-Sufficing. Wash
together beneath the shadow of the sacred it away from your hearts, that His Divine
Standard which the Promised One will raise. secret may be made known unto you. Be-
That hour is now come. The world is il- hold Him manifest and resplendent as the
lumined with the effulgent glory of His sun in all its glory.
BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS

i-trst golden tiles laid on the dome of the Bib's Shrine.
Beneath the tile on the right a piece of plaster from the
prison room occupied by the Bib in Mih-Kii was imbedded
by the Guardian on the one hundredth anniversary of the
birth of the Mission of BahL'ulllih.

Say: 0 ye that are bereft of understand- Seized with transports of joy, and raising
ing! A severe trial pursueth you, and will high her voice, she thus exclaimed: "May
suddenly overtake you. Bestir yourselves, my life be a sacrifice to Thee, inasmuch as
that haply it may pass and inflict no harm Thou hast fixed Thy gaze upon me, hast be-
upon you. Acknowledge the exalted char- stowed upon me Thy bounty, and hast di-
acter of the name of the Lord, your God, rected towards me Thy steps. Separation
Who hath come unto you in the greatness of from Thee, 0 Thou Source of everlasting
His glory. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, life, hath well nigh consumed me, and my
the All-Possessing, the Supreme Protector. remoteness from Thy presence hath burned
( P 168) away my soul. All praise be to Thee for hav-
ing enabled me to hearken to Thy call, for
Ta!bletto Carmel having honored me with Thy footsteps, and
for having quickened my soul through the
All glory be to this Day, the Day in which vitalizing fragrance of Thy Day and the
the fragrances of mercy have been wafted thrilling voice of Thy Pen,' a voice Thou
over all created things, a Day so blest that didst ordain as Thy trumpet-call amidst Thy
past ages and centuFies can never hope to people. And when the hour at which Thy
rival it, a Day in which the countenance of resistless Faith was to be made manifest did
the Ancient of Days hath turned towards strike, Thou didst breathe a breath of Thy
His holy seat. Thereupon the voices of all spirit into Thy Pen, and lo, the entire crea-
created things, and beyond them those of tion shook to its very foundations, unveiling
the Concourse on high, were heard calling to mankind such mysteries as lay hidden
aloud: "Haste thee, 0 Carmel, for lo, the within the treasuries of Him Who is the
light of the countenance of God, the Ruler Possessor of all created things."
of the Kingdom of Names and Fashioner of No sooner had her voice reached that
the heavens, hath been lifted upon thee." most exalted Spot than We made reply:
78 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

"Render thanks unto Thy Lord, 0 Carmel. to disclose that which had been wrapt in
The fire of thy separation from Me was fast His knowledge and lay concealed within the
consuming thee, when the ocean of My pres- treasury of His might. He, verily, through
ence surged before thy face, cheering thine the potency of His name, the Mighty, the
eyes and those of all creation, and filling All-Powerful, the Most High, is the ruler
with delight all things visible and invisible. of all that is in the heavens and all that is
Rejoice, for God hath in this Day estab- on earth. (p. 14)
lished upon thee His throne, hath made thee
the dawning-place of His signs and the day Bestir yourselves, 0 people, in anticipa-
spring of the evidences of His Revelation. tion of the days of Divine justice, for the
Well is it with him that circleth around thee, promised hour is now come. Beware lest ye
that proclaimeth the revelation of thy glory, fail to apprehend its import and be ac-
and recounteth that which the bounty of counted among the erring. ( p . 17)
the Lord thy God hath showered upon thee.
Seize thou the Chalice of Immortality in the
name of thy Lord, the All-Glorious, and
give thanks unto Him, inasmuch as He, in All-praise to the unity of God, and all-
token of His mercy unto thee, hath turned honor to Him, the sovereign Lord, the in-
thy sorrow into gladness, and transmuted comparable and all-glorious Ruler of the
thy grief into blissful joy. He, verily, loveth universe, Who, out of utter nothingness,
the spot which hath been made the seat of hath created the reality of all things, Who,
His throne, which His footsteps have trod- from naught, hath brought into being the
den, which hath been honored by His pres- most refined and subtle elements of His
ence, from which He raised His call, and creation, and Who, rescuing His creatures
upon which He shed His tears. from the abasement of remoteness and the
"Call out to Zion, 0 Carmel, and perils of ultimate extinction, hath received
announce the joyful tidings: He that was them into His kingdom of incorruptible
hidden from mortal eyes is come! His all- glory. Nothing short of His all-encom-
conquering sovereignty is manifest; His all- passing grace, His all-pervading mercy,
encompassing splendor is revealed. Beware could have possibly achieved it. How could
lest thou hesitate or halt. Hasten forth and it, otherwise, have been possible for sheer
circumambulate the City of God that hath nothingness to have acquired by itself the
descended from heaven, the celestial Kaaba worthiness and capacity to emerge from
round which have circled in adoration the its state of non-existence into the realm of
favored of God, the pure in heart, and the being?
company of the most exalted angels. Oh, Having created the world and all that
how I long to announce unto every spot on liveth and moveth therein, He, through the
the surface of the earth, and to carry to each direct operation of His unconstrained and
one of its cities, the glad-tidings of this sovereign Will, chose to confer upon man
Revelation-a Revelation to which the heart the unique distinction and capacity to know
of Sinai hath been attracted, and in whose Him and to love Him-a capacity that must
name the Burning Bush is calling: 'Unto needs be regarded as the generating impulse
God, the Lord of Lords, belong the king- and the primary purpose underlying the
doms of earth and heaven.' Verily this is whole of creation. . . . Upon the inmost
the Day in which both land and sea rejoice reality of each and every created thing He
at this announcement, the Day for which hath shed the light of one of His names, and
have been laid up those things which God, made it a recipient of the glory of one of
through a bounty beyond the ken of mortal His attributes. Upon the reality of man,
mind or heart, hath destined for revelation. however, He hath focused the radiance of
Ere long will God sail His Ark upon thee, all of His names and attributes, and made
and will manifest the people of Bahh who it a mirror of His own Self. Alone of all
have been mentioned in the Book of created things man hath been singled out
Names." for so great a favor, so enduring a bounty.
Sanctified be the Lord of all mankind, at These energies with which the Day Star
the mention of Whose name all the atoms of Divine bounty and Source of heavenly
of the earth have been made to vibrate, and guidance hath endowed the reality of man
the Tongue of Grandeur hath been moved lie, however, latent within him, even as the
BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS 79

flame is hidden within the candle and the only then, will the Trust of God, latent in
rays of light are potentially present in the the reality of man, emerge, as resplendent
lamp. The radiance of these energies may be as the rising Orb of Divine Revelation, from
obscured by worldly desires even as the light behind the veil of concealment, and implant
of the sun can be concealed beneath the the ensign of its revealed glory upon the
dust and dross which cover the mirror. summits of men's hearts.
Neither the candle nor the lamp can be From the foregoing passages and allu-
lighted through their own unaided efforts, sions it hath been made indubitably clear
nor can it ever be possible for the mirror to that in the kingdoms of earth and heaven
free itself from its dross. It is clear and evi- there must needs be manifested a Being, an
dent that until a fire is kindled the lamp will Essence Who shall act as a Manifestation
never be ignited, and unless the dross is and Vehicle for the transmission of the
blotted out from the face of the mirror it grace of the Divinity Itself, the Sovereign
can never represent the image of the sun Lord of all. Through the Teachings of this
nor reflect its light and glory. Day Star of Truth every man will advance
And since there can be no tie of direct and develop until he attaineth the station
intercourse to bind the one true God with at which he can manifest all the potential
His creation, and no resemblance whatever forces with which his inmost true self hath
can exist between the transient and the been endowed. It is for this very purpose
Eternal, the contingent and the Absolute, that in every age and dispensation the
He hath ordained that in every age and Prophets of God and His chosen Ones have
dispensation a pure and stainless Soul be appeared amongst men, and have evinced
made manifest in the kingdoms of earth such power as is born of God and such
and heaven. Unto this subtle, this mysterious might as only the Eternal can reveal.
and ethereal Being He hath assigned a two- Can one of sane mind ever seriously im-
fold nature; the physical, pertaining to the agine that, in view of certain word; the
world of matter, and the spiritual, which is meaning of which he cannot comprehend,
born of the substance of God Himself. He the portal of God's infinite guidance can
hath, moreover, conferred upon Him a dou- ever be closed in the face of men? Can he
ble station. The first station, which is re- ever conceive for these Divine Luminaries,
lated to His innermost reality, representeth these resplendent Lights either a beginning
Him as One Whose voice is the voice of or an end? What outpouring flood can com-
God Himself. To this testifieth the tradition: pare with the stream of His all-embracing
"Manifold and mysterious is My relation- grace, and what blessing can excel the evi-
ship with God. I am He, Himself, and He dences of so great and pervasive a mercy?
is I, Myself, except that I am that I am, There can be no doubt whatever that if for
and He is that He is." And in like manner, one moment the tide of His mercy and grace
the words: "Arise, 0 Muhammad, for lo, were to be withheld from the world, it
the Lover and the Beloved are joined to- would completely perish. For this reason,
gether and made one in Thee." He similarly from the beginning that hath no beginning
saith: "There is no distinction whatsoever the portals of Divine mercy have been flung
between Thee and Them, except that They open to the face of all created things, and
are Thy Servants." The second station is the clouds of Truth will continue to the end
the human station, exemplified by the fol- that hath no end to rain on the soil of hu-
lowing verses: "I am but a man like you." man capacity, reality and personality their
"Say, praise be to my Lord! Am I more favors and bounties. Such hath been God's
than a man, an apostle?" These Essences of method continued from everlasting to ever-
Detachment, these resplendent Realities are lasting. (P. 64)
the channels of God's all-pervasive grace.
Led by the light of unfailing guidance, and The purpose of God in creating man hath
invested with supreme sovereignty, they are been, and will ever be, to enable him to
commissioned to use the inspiration of their know his Creator and to attain His Pres-
words, the effusions of their infallible grace ence. To this most excellent aim, this su-
and the sanctifying breeze of their Revela- preme objective, all the heavenly Books
tion for the cleansing of every longing heart and the divinely-revealed and weighty Scrip-
and receptive spirit from the dross and dust tures unequivocally bear witness. Whoso
of earthly cares and limitations. Then, and hath recognized the Day Spring of Divine
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Raising the bell of the lantern of the dome of the BAb's Shrine.

guidance and entered His holy court hath hath it been ordained by the all-glorious and
drawn nigh unto God and attained His resplendent Pen. . . .
Presence, a Presence which is the real Para- That the Manifestations of Divine justice,
dise, and of which the loftiest mansions of the Day Springs of heavenly grace, have
heaven are but a symbol. Such a man hath when they appeared amongst men always
attained the knowledge of the station of been destitute of all earthly dominion and
Him Who is "at the distance of two bows," shorn of the means of worldly ascendancy,
Who standeth beyond the Sadratu'l- should be attributed to this same principle
Muntahd Whoso hath failed to recognize of separation and distinction which ani-
Him will have condemned himself to the mateth the Divine Purpose. Were the Eter-
misery of remoteness, a remoteness which is nal Essence to manifest all that is latent
naught but utter nothingness and the es- within Him, were He to shine in the pleni-
sence of the nethermost fire. Such will be tude of His glory, none would be found to
his fate, though to outward seeming he question His power or repudiate His truth.
may occupy the earth's loftiest seats and be Nay, all created things would be so dazzled
established upon its most exalted throne. and thunderstruck by the evidences of His
He Who is the Day Spring of Truth is, no light as to be reduced to utter nothingness.
doubt, fully capable of rescuing from such How, then, can the godly be d3erentiated
remoteness wayward souls and of causing under such circumstances from the froward?
them to draw nigh unto His court and at- This principle hath operated in each of
tain His Presence. "If God had pleased He the previous Dispensations and been abun-
had surely made all men one people." His dantly demonstrated. . . . It is for this rea-
purpose, however, is to enable the pure in son that, in every age, when a new Manifes-
spirit and the detached in heart to ascend, tation hath appeared and a fresh revelation
by virtue of their own innate powers, unto of God's transcendent power was vouch-
the shores of the Most Great Ocean, that safed unto men, they that misbelieved in
thereby they who seek the Beauty of the All- Him, deluded by the appearance of the peer-
Glorious may be distinguished and sepa- less and everlasting Beauty in the garb of
rated from the wayward and perverse. Thus mortal men, have failed to recognize Him.
BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS

The crown of the dome.

They have erred from His path and es- ing over all created things and the signs of
chewed His company-the company of Him His sovereignty encompassing all creation.
Who is the Symbol of nearness to God. On that day ye will discover bow all else
They have even arisen to decimate the besides Him will have been forgotten and
ranks of the faithful and to exterminate such come to be regarded as utter nothingness.
as believed in Him. It should, however, be borne in mind that
Behold how in this Dispensation the God and His Manifestation can, under no
worthless and foolish have fondly imagined circumstances, be dissociated from the
that by such instruments as massacre, plun- loftiness and sublimity which They inher-
der and banishment they can extinguish the ently possess. Nay, loftiness and sublimity
Lamp which the Hand of Divine power hath are themselves the creations of His Word, if
lit, or eclipse the Day Star of everlasting ye choose to see with My sight not with
splendor. How utterly unaware they seem yours. (P. 70)
to be of the truth that such adversity is the
oil that feedeth the flame of this Lamp! Such . . . God's purpose in sending His
is God's transforming power. He changeth Prophets unto men is twofold. The first is to
whatsoever He willeth; He verily hath liberate the children of men from the dark-
power over all things. . . . ness of ignorance, and guide them to the
Consider at all times the sovereignty ex- light of true understanding. The second is
ercised by the Ideal King, and behold the to ensure the peace and tranquillity of man-
evidences of His power and paramount in- kind, and provide all the means by which
fluence. Sanctify your ears from the idle they can be established.
talk of them that are the symbols of denial The Prophets of God should be regarded
and the exponents of violence and anger. as physicians whose task is to foster the
The hour is approaching when ye will wit- well-being of the world and its peoples, that,
ness the power of the one true God triumph- through the spirit of oneness, they may heal
82 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

the sickness of a divided humanity. T o none same substance, and hath exalted their
is given the right to question their words or reality above the rest of His creatures. Suc-
disparage their conduct, for they are the cess or failure, gain or loss, must, therefore,
only ones who can claim to have understood depend upon man's own exertions. The
the patient and to have correctly diagnosed more he striveth, the greater will be his
its ailments. No man, however acute his progress. We fain would hope that the ver-
perception, can ever hope to reach the nal showers of the bounty of God may cause
heights which the wisdom and understand- the flowers of true understanding to spring
ing of the Divine Physician have attained. from the soil of men's hearts, and may wash
Little wonder, then, if the treatment pre- them from all earthly defilements. (p. 77)
scribed by the physician in this day should
not be found to be identical with that which
he prescribed before. How could it be other-
wise when the ills affecting the sufferer ne- The fundamental purpose animating the
cessitate at every stage of his sickness a Faith of God and His Religion is to safe-
special remedy? In like manner, every time guard the interests and promote the unity of
the Prophets of God have illumined the the human race, and to foster the spirit of
world with the resplendent radiance of the love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it
Day Star of Divine knowledge, they have not to become a source of dissension and
invariably summoned its peoples to embrace discord, of hate and enmity. This is the
the light of God through such means as best straight Path, the fixed and immovable foun-
befitted the exigencies of the age in which dation. Whatsoever is raised on this founda-
they appeared. They were thus able to scat- tion, the changes and chances of the world
ter the darkness of ignorance, and to shed can never impair its strength, nor will the
upon the world the glory of their own revolution of countless centuries undermine
knowledge. It is towards the inmost essence its structure. Our hope is that the world's
of these Prophets, therefore, that the eye of religious leaders and the rulers thereof will
every man of discernment must be directed, unitedly arise for the reformation of this age
inasmuch as their one and only purpose and the rehabilitation of its fortunes. Let
hath always been to guide the erring, and them, after meditating on its needs, take
give peace to the afflicted. These are not counsel together and, through anxious and
days of prosperity and triumph. The whole full deliberation, administer to a diseased
of mankind is in the grip of manifold ills. and sorely-afflicted world the remedy it re-
Strive, therefore, to save its life through the quires. . . . It is incumbent upon them
wholesome medicine which the almighty who are in authority to exercise moderation
hand of the unerring Physician hath pre- in all things. Whatsoever passeth beyond the
pared. limits of moderation will cease to exert a
And now concerning thy question regard- beneficial influence. Consider for instance
ing the nature of religion. Know thou that such things as liberty, civilization and the
they who are truly wise have likened the like. However much men of understanding
world unto the human temple. As the body may favorably regard them, they will, if
of man needeth a to clothe it, so carried to excess, exercise a pernicious in-
the body of mankind must needs be adorned fluence upon men. . . . Please God, the
with the mantle of justice and wisdom. Its peoples of the world may be led, as the
robe is the Revelation vouchsafed unto it by result of the high endeavors exerted by their
God. Whenever this robe hath fulfilled its rulers and the wise and learned amongst
purpose, the Almighty will assuredly renew men, to recognize their best interests. How
it. For every age requireth a fresh measure long will humanity persist in its wayward-
of the light of God. Every Divine Revela- ness? How long will injustice continue? How
tion hath been sent down in a manner that long is chaos and confusion to reign amongst
befitted the circumstances of the age in men? How long will discord agitate the face
which it hath appeared. of society? The winds of despair are, alas,
As to thy question regarding the sayings blowing from every direction, and the strife
of the leaders of past religions. Every wise that divideth and afflicteth the human race is
and praiseworthy man will no doubt eschew daily increasing. The signs of impending
such vain and profitless talk. The incompa- convulsions and chaos can now be dis-
rable Creator hath created all men from one cerned, inasmuch as the prevailing order ap-
BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS 83

peareth to be lamentably defective. I be- except this wish. There can be no doubt
seech God, exalted be His glory, that He whatever that the peoples of the world, of
may graciously awaken the peoples of the whatever race or religion, derive their in-
earth, may grant that the end of their con- spiration from one heavenly Source, and are
duct may be profitable unto them, and aid the subjects of one God. The difference be-
them to accomplish that which beseemeth tween the ordinances under which they abide
their station. ( p . 215) should be attributed to the varying require-
ments and exigencies of the age in which
0 contending peoples and kindreds of the they were revealed. All of them, except a
earth! Set your faces towards unity, and let few which are the outcome of human per-
the radiance of its light shine upon you. versity, were ordained of God, and are a
Gather ye together, and for the sake of God reflection of His Will and Purpose. Arise
resolve to root out whatever is the source of and, armed with the power of faith, shatter
contention amongst you. Then will the ef- to, pieces the gods of your vain imaginings,
fulgence of the world's great Luminary en- the sowers of dissension amongst you.
velop the whole earth, and its inhabitants Cleave unto that which draweth you to-
become the citizens of one city, and the oc- gether and uniteth you. This, verily, is the
cupants of one and the same throne. This most exalted Word which the Mother Book
wronged One hath, ever since the early days hath sent down and revealed unto you. To
of His life, cherished none other desire but this beareth witness the Tongue of Grandeur
this, and will continue to entertain no wish from His habitation of glory. (p. 217)
The completed lantern on the dome of the Shrine of the B&b.
2. WORDS O F THE BAB
ASHTON
Compiled by BEATRICE

SHOGHI EFFENDI, the Guardian of the Himself affirms, while confined in Mih-Kil,
BahL'i Faith, has mentioned in God Passes that up to that time His writings, embracing
By, his history of the first hundred years of highly diversified subjects, had amounted to
the Faith, certain Writings of the Bib, in more than five hundred thousand verses.
particular, which came to be well known 'The verses which have rained from this
and had a profound effect on the scholars Cloud of Divine mercy,' is BahL'u'llBh's
and officials of Persia, not only during the testimony in the Kita'b-i-lqa'n, 'have been so
six years of the Bib's ministry ( 1844-1850) abundant that none hath yet been able to
but in succeeding years as well. estimate their number. A score of volumes
In order that "the people of the West" are now available. How many still remain
may become better acquainted with some of beyond our reach! How many have been
these Writings of the Bib, excerpts f r o m , plundered and have fallen into the lzands of
them are presented here, chronologically, as the enemy, the fate of which none knoweth!'
they have been identified and made available No less arresting is the variety of themes
in translations by Shoghi Effendi, together presented by these voluminous writings,
with historical information concerning them such as prayers, homilies, orations, Tablets
given by the Guardian in his books and by of visitation, scientific treatises, doctrinal
Nabil in his narrative, The Dawn-Breakers. dissertations, exhortations, commentaries on
Concerning the Writings of the BBb the Qur'in and on various traditions, epistles
Shoghi Effendi states: to the highest religious and ecclesiastical dig-
"Alike in the magnitude of the writings nitaries of the realm, and laws and ordi-
emanating from His pen, and in the diver- nances for the consolidation of His Faith
sity of the subjects treated in those writings, and the direction of its activities."'
His Revelation stands wholly unparalleled
in the annals of any previous religion. He 1 God Passes By, pp. 22-23.

THE QAYYOMU'L-ASMA'
The Qayyhmu'l-Asma" (Commentary on warnings addressed to the 'concourse of
the Qur'in S6rih of Joseph) was revealed kings and of the sons o f kings;' forecasts the
in Arabic, in Zhiriz. The first chapter was doom of Muhammad S_hih; commands his
revealed "in its entirety" in the presence of Grand Vizir, Hiji Mirzi Aqisi, to abdicate
Mull5 Husayn on "that memorable night" his authority; admonishes the entire Muslim
when the Bib declared His Mission, May 23, ecclesiastical order; cautions more specifi-
1844. It was characterized by BahL'u'llih in cally the members of the S_hhi'ah community;
His Kitdb-i-fqa'n as "the first, the greatest extols the virtues, and anticipates the com-
and mightiest o f all books" in the BBbi ing, of Bahi'u'llBh, the 'Remnant of God,'
Dispen~ation.~ the 'Most Great Master;' and proclaims, in
Its "fundamental purpose was to forecast unequivocal language, the independence and
what the true Joseph (Bahi'u'lliih) would, universality of the Bibi Revelation, unveils
in a succeeding Dispensation, endure at the its import, and affirms the inevitable tri-
hands of one who was at once His arch- umph of its Author. It, moreover, directs
enemy and blood brother. This work, com- the 'people of the West' to 'issue forth from
prising above nine thousand three hundred your cities and aid the Cause o f God;' warns
verses, and divided into one hundred and the peoples of the earth of the 'terrible, the
eleven chapters, each chapter a commentary most grievous vengeance o f God;' threatens
on one verse of the above-mentioned silrih, the whole Islamic world with 'the Most
opens with the Bib's clarion-call and dire Great Fire' were they to turn aside from the
newly-revealed Law; foreshadows the Au-
2 Ibid., p. 23. thor's martyrdom; eulogizes the high station
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

ordained for the people of Bahi, the 'Com- of glory and through the power of truth,
panions o f the crimson-colored ruby Ark;' are the "Remembrance of God" and His
prophesies the fading out and utter oblitera- Day before the eyes of the angels that cir-
tion of some of the greatest luminaries in cle His mercy-seat.' 'Should it be Our wish,'
the firmament of the Bibi Dispensation; and He again affirms, 'it is in Our power t o com-
even predicts 'afflictivetorment,' in both the pel, through the agency o f but one letter o f
'Day o f Our Return' and in 'the world which Our Revelation, the world and all that is
is to come,' for the usurpers of the Imamate, therein to recognize, in less than the twin-
who 'waged war against Husayn (Imim kling o f an eye, the truth of Our C a ~ s e . ' " ~
Husayn) in the Land of the Euphrates.' In this commentary on the Sfirih of
"It was this Book which the Bibis univer- Joseph "we read the following references to
sally regarded, during almost the entire min- BahL'u'llih: 'Out of utter nothingness, 0
istry of the Bib, as the Qur'in of the people great and omnipotent Master, Thou hast,
of the Baygn; whose first and most chal- through the celestial potency o f Thy might,
lenging chapter was revealed in the presence brought me forth and raised m e up to pro-
of Mull& Husayn, on the night of its Au- claim this Revelation. I have made none
thor's Declaration; some of whose pages other but Thee my trust; I have clung to no
were borne, by that same disciple, to Bah2- will but Thy will . . . 0 Thou Remnant of
u'llih, as the first fruits of a Revelation God! I have sacrificed myself wholly for
which instantly won His enthusiastic al- Thee; I have accepted curses for Thy sake,
legiance; whose entire text was translated and have yearned for naught but martyrdom
into Persian by the brilliant and gifted in the path of Thy love. Suficient witness
Tihirih; whose passages inflamed the hostil- unto me is God, the Exalted, the Protector,
ity of Husayn m i n [the governor of the the Ancient of Days.' 'And when the ap-
province of Firs] and precipitated the initial pointed hour hath struck,' He again ad-
outbreak of persecution in S_hiriz; a single dresses BahL'u'llih in that same commen-
page of which had captured the imagination tary, 'do Thou, by the leave o f God, the All-
and entranced the soul of Hujjat; and whose Wise, reveal from the heights of the Most
contents had set afire the intrepid defenders Lofty and Mystic Mount a faint, an infini-
of the Fort of S_hayk_h Tabarsi and the tesimal glimmer of Thy impenetrable Mys-
heroes of Nayriz and Z a n j h W 3In this book, tery, that they who have recognized the radi-
moreover, the Bib refers to His wife and to ance o f the Sinaic Splendor may faint away
His little son.4 and die as they catch a lightening glimpse o f
" 'I am the Mystic Fane,' the Bib thus the fierce and crimon Light that envelops
proclaims His station in the Qayylimu'l- Thy Revelation.' "6
Asma", 'which the Hand of Omnipotence " ' A s to those who deny Him W h o is the

hath reared. I am the Lamp which the Fin- Sublime Gate of God,' the Bib, for His part,
ger o f God hath lit within its niche and has affirmed in the Qayylimu'l-Asma", 'for
caused to shine with deathless splendor. I them W e have prepared, as justly decreed by
a m the Flame of that supernal Light that God, a sore torment. And He, God, is the
glowed upon Sinai in the gladsome Spot, Mighty, the Wise.' And further, '0 peoples
and lay concealed in the midst o f the Burn- of the earth! I swear by your Lord! Y e shall
ing Bush.' act as former generatiins have acted. Warn
" '0 Qurratu'l-'Ayn!' He, addressing Him- ye, then, yourselves of the terrible, the most
self in that same commentary, exclaims, 'I grievous vengeance of God. For God is,
recognize in Thee none other except the verily, potent over all things.' And again:
"Great Announcementw-the Announce- 'By M y glory! I will make the infidels to
ment voiced by the Concourse on high. By taste, with the hands of My power, retribu-
this name, I bear witness, they that circle the tions unknown of any one except Me, and
Throne of Glory have ever known Thee.' will waft over the ,faithful . those musk-
" 'With each and every Prophet, W h o m scented breaths which I have nursed in the
W e have sent down in the past,' He further midmost heart of M y throne.' "'
adds, 'We have established a separate Cove-
nant concerning the "Remembrance of 5 World Order of BahdJu'Ndh, b y Shoghi Effendi, p.
God" and His Day. Manifest, in the realm 126.
6 Ibid., p. 101.
3 Ibid., pp. 23-24. 7 The Promised Day Is Conze, b y Shoghi Effendi,
4 Dawn-Breakers, p. 76, notes 3 and 4; p. 81, note 2. p. 2.
BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS 87

The B5b was imprisoned while in Tabriz 1848 in this now crumbling
prison room of the old brick Ark.

The B5b's remains lie in state in His Holy Sepulcher on Mt. Carmel, 1953.
88 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

In this same commentary the Bib "has hast been mercifully invested with sover-
issued this stirring call to the kings and eignty, and will, in the next, dwell, nigh
princes of the earth: unto the Seat of Holiness, with the inmates
" '0 concourse o f kings and of the sons of the Paradise of His good-pleasure. Let
of kings! Lay aside, one and all, your do- not thy sovereignty deceive thee, 0 S_hdh,
minion which belongeth unto God . . . for 'every soul shall taste of death,' and
Vain indeed is your dominion, for God hath this, in very truth, hath been written down
set aside earthly possessions for such as have as a decree of
denied Him . . . 0 concourse of kings! To the s_hi'ih clericals "who, as BahL'-
Deliver with truth and in all haste the verses u'llih declared, had they not intervened,
sent down by Us to the peoples of Turkey Persia would have been subdued by the
and of India, and beyond them, with power power of God in hardly more than two
and with truth, to lands in both the East and years" the Bib addressed the following
the West . . . By God! If ye do well, to words: "0 concourse of divines! Fear God
your own behoof will ye do well; and if ye from this day onwards in the views ye ad-
deny God and His signs, W e , in very truth, vance, for He W h o is Our Remembrance
having God, can well dispense with all crea- in your midst, and W h o cometh from Us,
tures and all earthly dominion.' is, in very truth, the Judge and Witness.
"And again: 'Fear ye God, 0 concourse Turn away from that which ye lay hold o f ,
of kings, lest ye remain afar from Him W h o and which the Book of God, the True One,
is His Remembrance (the Bgb), after the hath not sanctioned, for on the Day o f Res-
Truth hath come unto you with a Book and urrection ye shall, upon the Bridge, be, in
signs from God, as spoken through the won- very truth, held answerable for the position
drous tongue of Him W h o is His Remem- ye occupied."1°
brance. Seek ye grace from God, for God "0 concourse o f &i3ihs! Fear ye God,
hath ordained for you, after ye have be- and Our Cause, which concerneth Him W h o
lieved in Him, a Garden the vastness o f is the Most Great Remembrance of God.
which is as the vastness of the whole o f For great is its fire, as decreed in the
Paradise.' "' Mother-Book." "0 people of the Qur'dn!
Addressing Muhammad S_hhh: "0 King Y e are as nothing unless ye submit unto the
of Is!dm! Aid thou, with the truth, after Remembrance of God and unto this Book.
having aided the Book, Him W h o is Our If ye follow the Cause o f God, W e will for-
Most Great Remembrance, for God hath, in give you your sins, and if ye turn aside from
very truth, destined for thee, and for such Our command, W e will, in truth, condemn
as circle round thee, on the Day o f Judg- your souls in Our Book, unto the Most
ment, a responsible position in His Path. I Great Fire. We, verily, do not deal unjustly
swear by God, 0 Xhdh! If thou showest with men, even to the extent of a speck on
enmity unto Him W h o is His Remembrance, a date-stone."1°
God will, on the Day of Resurrection, con- "And finally, in that same Commentary,
demn thee, before the kings, unto hell-fire, this startling prophecy is recorded: 'Ere-
and thou shalt not, in very truth, find on long W e will, in very truth, torment such
that Day any helper except God, the EX- as waged war against Husayn (Imim
alted. Purge thou, 0 Khdh, the Sacred Land Husayn), in the Land of the Euphrates,
(Tihrin) from such as have repudiated the with the most aflictive torment, and the
Book, ere the day whereon the Remem- most dire and exemplary punishment.' 'Ere-
brance o f God cometh, terribly and of a long,' He also, referring to that same people,
sudden, with His potent Cause, by the leave in that same Book, has written, 'will God
o f God, the Most High. God, verily, hath wreak His vengeance upon them, at the time
prescribed to thee to submit unto Him W h o of Our Return, and He hath, in very truth,
is His Remembrance, and unto His Cause, prepared for them, in the world t o come, a
and to subdue, with the truth and by His severe torment.' "11
leave, the countries, for in this world thou
9 Ibid., p. 43.
10 Ibid., p. 88.
8 Ibid., p. 27. 11 Ibid., p. 89.
BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS 89

The "Epistle between the Two Shrines" Kirmini, one of the most outstanding ex-
was "revealed between Mecca and Medina, ponents of the S_hayk_hischool, who at times
in answer to questions posed by Mirzi went so far as to assert his independence of
Muhit-i-KirmLni," a S_hayk_hi leader, who the leadership of that school assumed after
had presented many questions to the Bib the death of Siyyid Kizim by Hiji Muham-
while in Mecca. This Epistle was revealed mad Karim KhLn, a redoubtable enemy of
in January, 1845.12 the Bibi Faith. The second was the invita-
Shoghi Effendi states that the visit of the tion, in the form of an Epistle, conveyed by
Bib to Hijiz "was marked by two episodes Quddfis, to the Sherif of Mecca, in which
of particular importance. The first was the the custodian of the House of God was
declaration of His mission and His open called upon to embrace the truth of the new
challenge to the haughty Mirzs Muhit-i- Revelation."13
1 2 God Passes By, p. 24; Dawn-Breakers, pp. 136-
137, 140. 13 God Passes By, p. 9.

EPISTLE T O THE SHERIF OF MECCA
"No sooner had the Bib performed the which had been addressed to him by the
last of the observances in connection with Bsb, failed to respond to the call of the Di-
His pilgrimage to Mecca than He addressed vine Message."14 "Seven years later, when
an epistle to the Sherif of that holy city, in the course of a conversation with a cer-
wherein He set forth, in clear and unmistak- tain Hiji Niyiz-i-Baghdidi, this same Sherif
able terms, the distinguishing features of was informed of th~circumstancesattend-
His mission, and called upon him to arise ing the mission and martyrdom of the
and embrace His Cause. This epistle, to- Prophet of S_hhir&z,he listened attentively to
gether with selections from His other writ- the description of those events and ex-
ings, He delivered to Quddfis, and instructed pressed his indignation at the tragic fate that
him to present them to the Sherif. The lat- had overtaken Him."15
ter, however, too absorbed in his own ma- 14-Dawn-Breakers, p. 138.
terial pursuits to incline his ear to the words 15 God Passes By, p. 9.

This work of the BLb, "comprising seven period before His banishment to the fortress
hundred s6rihs,"16 was also revealed in the prison of MLh-Kfi.
16 God Passes By, p. 24.

The K-hhasd'il-i-Sab'ih (meaning literally necessity of putting into effect immediately
"The Seven Qualifications") "enjoined the all its provisions." Mull&Sidiq, "among the
alteration of the formula of the adhfin'' (the first believers who identified themselves with
Muslim call to prayer). This was a treatise the Message proclaimed by the Bgb," "im-
in which the BLb had "set forth the essen- pelled by the injunction of the Bgb in the
tial requirements for those who had attained Khasri'il-i-Sab'ihto alter the sacrosanct for-
to the knowledge of the new Revelation and mula of the adhin, sounded it in its
had recognized its claim." A copy was en- amended form before a scandalized congre-
trusted by the Bgb to Quddfis when he de- gation in S_hirAz, and was instantly arrested,
parted from BG&ihr to S_hiriz. Quddfis, reviled, stripped of his garments, and
soon after arriving in &iriz, gave it to scourged with a thousand lashes."17
MullL SBdiq-i-KhurgsLni, and "stressed the 1 7 Ibid., pp. 24, 10-11; Dawn-Breakers, pp. 143-144.
90 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

RISALIY-I-F UR0'-I-'ADLfY YIH
Written originally in Arabic, this work of the Bkb was staying at the residence of the
the Bkb was "rendered into Persian by Imkm-Jum'ih in I$fkh8n.18
Mu116 Muhammad-Taqiy-i-Harkti" while 18 GO^ Passes BY, p. 24; Dawn-~reakers,p. 208.

COMMENTARY ON THE SORIH OF KAWTJHAR
The Commentary on the Stirih of Kaw- the Shkh that he, contenting himself with a
a a r (Qur'kn, 108) was revealed by the Bkb mere written report to the Court Chamber-
during the third interview held with Him by lain, arose forthwith to dedicate his entire
Siyyid Yahyky-i-DkrLbi, surnamed Vahid, life and resources to the service of a Faith
sent by Muhammad Shkh "to investigate and that was to requite him with the crown of
report to him the true situation" concerning martyrdom during the Nayriz upheaval."
the Bkb's claims. Vahid was "one of the The one in whose soul this commentary of
most erudite, eloquent and influential" of the Bkb's "effected such a transformation"
the subjects of the S_hLh. "Broad-minded, was designated by Bahb'u'llkh in His Kita'b-
highly imaginative, zealous by nature, inti- i-Iya'n "that unique asnd peerless figure of
mately associated with the court, he, in the his age." He was "a man of immense erudi-
course of three interviews, was completely tion and the most pre-eminent figure to en-
won over by the arguments and personality list under the banner of the new Faith." To
of the Bkb. . . . During the third interview his "talents and saintliness" and "high attain-
the circumstances attending the revelation ments in the realm of science and philoso-
of the BAb's commentary on the stirih of phy" the Bib testified in His Dald'il-i-Sab'ih
Kawaar, comprising no less than two thou- ("Seven Proofs") .I9
sand verses, so overpowered the delegate of 19 God Passes By, pp. 11-12, 24, 50.

COMMENTARY ON THE SORIH OF VA'L-'ASR
The Commentary on the SGrih of Va'l- quest of the Imkm-Jum'ih. The Bkb, "writ-
'Asr (Qur'kn, 103) was revealed by the Bkb ing with astonishing rapidity . . . in a few
during the first forty days of His sojourn in hours, had devoted to the exposition of the
I~fkhknwhen he was "the guest of MirzL signiiicance of only the first letter of that
Siyyid Muhammad, the Sultanu'l-UlamL, s6rih-a letter which SJhay& Alpnad-i-
the Imkm-Jum'ih, one of the principal ec- AbsPi had stressed, and which Bahb'u'llkh
clesiastical dignitaries of the realm, in ac- refers to in the Kita'b-i-Aqdas-verses that
cordance with the instructions of the gov- equalled in number a third of the Qur'kn, a
ernor of the city, Manliaihr U k n , the feat that called forth such an outburst of
Mu'tarnidu'd-Dawlih, who had received reverent astonishment from those who wit-
from the Bkb a letter requesting him to ap- nessed it that they arose and kissed the hem
point the place where He should dwell." of His robe."20
This well-known commentary was re-
vealed "one night, after supper" at the re- zQIbid., pp. 14, 24; Dawn-Breakers, p. 201.

DISSERTATION ON THE SPECIFIC MISSION
OF MUHAMMAD
Written at the request of Manti&ihr and demonstrate the truth of Muhammad's
G L n , the governor of I~fLhin,"a Georgian specific mission. To this request, which
by origin and a Christian by birth," the Dis- those present had felt compelled to decline,
sertation on the Specific Mission of Muham- the Bkb readily responded. In less than two
mad was revealed also in the house of the hours, and in the space of fifty pages, He
ImLm-Jum'ih. "Before a brilliant assembly had not only revealed a minute, a vigorous
of the most accomplished divines" the and original dissertation on this noble
Mu'tamid "requested the Bkb to expound theme, but had also linked it with both the
BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS 91

coming of the Qi'im and the return of the dressed to the divines of every city in Persia,
I m h Husayn-an exposition that prompted as well as to those residing in Najaf and
Manh&ihr KhBn to declare before that KarbilB, wherein He set forth in detail the
gathering his faith in the Prophet of IslBm, errors committed by each one of them. It
as well as his recognition of the supernatural was during His incarceration in the fortress
gifts with which the Author of so convincing of Mih-Ku that He, according to the testi-
a treatise was endowed."'l mony of ShaykJh Hasan-i-Zuniizi, who tran-
scribed during those nine months the verses
As Shoghi Effendi points out, "The great dictated by the Bib to His amanuensis, re-
bulk of the writings emanating from the vealed no less than nine commentaries on
Bib's prolific mind was, however, reserved the whole of the Qur'Bn-commentaries
for the period of His confinement in whose fate, alas, is unknown, and one of
Ma-KG and Ghihriq. To this period must which, at least the Author Himself has af-
probably belong the unnumbered Epistles firmed, surpassed in some respects a book
which, as attested by no less an authority as deservedly famous as the Qayyhmu'l-
than Bahi'u'llih, the Bib specifically ad- A~mi'."~~
2 1 God Passes By, pp. 14-15; Dawn-Breakers, pp.
202-204. 22 God Passes By, p. 24.

THE PERSl 'AN BAYAN
"Within the walls of that same fortress interpreted in a masterly fashion the mean-
[MBh-Ku] the Bayin (exposition)-that ing of certain terms frequently occurring in
monumental repository of the laws and pre- the sacred Books of previous Dispensations,
cepts of the new Dispensation and the treas- such as Paradise, Hell, Death, Resurrection,
ury enshrining most of the Bib's references the Return, the Balance, the Hour, the Last
and tributes to, as well as His warning re- Judgment, and the like. Designedly severe in
garding, 'Him Whom God will make mani- the ruIes and regulations it imposed, revolu-
fest'wwas revealed. tionizing in the principles it instilled, calcu-
"Peerless among the doctrinal works of Iated to awaken from their age-long torpor
the Founder of the Bibi Dispensation; con- the cIergy and the people, and to administer
sisting of nine Vihids (Unities) of nineteen a sudden and fatal blow to obsolete and cor-
chapters each, except the last Vihid, com- rupt institutions, it proclaimed, through its
prising only ten chapters; not to be con- drastic provisions, the advent of the antici-
founded with the smaller and less weighty pated Day, the Day when 'the Summoner
Arabic Bayh, revealed during the same shall summon to a stern business,' when
period; fulfilling the Muhammadan proph- He will 'demolish whatever hath been be-
ecy that 'a Youth from Bani-His_him . . . fore Him, even as the Apostle of God de-
will reveal a new Book and promulgate a molished the ways of those that preceded
new Law;' wholly safeguarded from the Him.'
interpolation and corruption which has been ". . . Unlike the Prophets gone before
the fate of so many of the Bib's lesser Him, Whose Covenants were shrouded in
works, this Book, of about eight thousand mystery, unlike Bahi'u'llBh, Whose clearly
verses, occupying a pivotal position in Bibi defined Covenant was incorporated in a
literature, should be regarded primarily as specially written Testament, and designated
a eulogy of the Promised One rather than by Him as 'the Book of My Covenant,' the
a code of laws and ordinances designed to Bib chose to intersperse His Book of Laws,
be a permanent guide to future generations. the Persian Bayin, with unnumbered pas-
This Book at once abrogated the laws and sages, some designedly obscure, mostly in-
ceremonials enjoined by the Qur'in regard- dubitably clear and conclusive, in which He
ing prayer, fasting, marriage, divorce and fixes the date of the promised Revelation,
inheritance, and upheld, in its integrity, the extols its virtues, asserts its pre-eminent
belief in the prophetic mission of Muham- character, assigns to it unlimited powers and
mad, even as the Prophet of Islim before prerogatives, and tears down every barrier
Him had annulled the ordinances of the that might be an obstacle to its recognition.
Gospel and yet recognized the Divine origin 'He, verily,' BahB'u'llih, referring to the
of the Faith of Jesus Christ. It moreover BAb in His Kitcib-i-Bad', has stated, 'hath
92 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

not fallen short of His duty to exhort the all preceding Dispensations hath been to
people o f the Baydn and to deliver unto pave the way for the advent o f Muhammad,
them His Message. In no age or dispensa- the Apostle of God. These, including the
tion hath any Manifestation made mention, Muhammadan Dispensation, have had, in
in such detail and in such explicit language, their turn, as their objective the Revelation
of the Manifestation destined to succeed proclaimed by the QBim. The purpose un-
Him.' "23 derlying this Revelation, as well as those
". . . in the third Vghid of this Book that preceded it, has, in like manner, been
there occurs a passage which, alike in its to announce the advent of the Faith of Him
explicit reference to the name of the Prom- W h o m Gad will make manifest. And this
ised One, and in its anticipation of the Order Faith-the Faith o f Him Whom God will
which, in a later age, was to be identified make manifest-in its turn, together with
with His Revelation, deserves to rank as one all the Revelations gone before it, have as
of the most significant statements recorded their object the Manifestation destined to
in any of the Bib's writings. 'Well is it with succeed it. And the latter, no less than all
him,' is His prophetic announcement, 'who the Revelations preceding it, prepare the
fixeth his gaze upon the Order o f BahBu'lldh, way for the Revelation which is yet to fol-
and rendereth thanks unto his Lord. For He low. The process of the rise and setting of
will assuredly be made manifest. God hath the Sun o f Truth will thus indefinitely con-
indeed irrevocably ordained it in the tinue-~ process that hath had no beginning
Baydn.' "24 and will have no end."'?
"The germ that holds within itself the "'The Baydn,' the BAb in that book, re-
potentialities of the Revelation that is to ferring to the Promised One, affirms, 'is,
come is endowed with a potency superior to from beginning to end, the repository of all
the combined forces of all those who follow o f His attributes, and the treasury of both
me." "Of all the tributes I have paid to Him His fire and His light.' ' I f thou attainest unto
W h o is to come after Me, the greatest is this, His Revelation,' He, in another connection
My written confession, that no words o f declares, 'and obeyest Him, thou wilt have
Mine can adequately describe Him, nor can revealed the fruit o f the Bayhn; if not, thou
any reference to Him in M y Book, the art unworthy o f mention before God.'
Baya'n, do justice to His Cause."25 "The " '0 people of the Baydn!' He, in that
Baydn and whosoever is therein revolve same Book, thus warns the entire company
round the saying of 'Him W h o m God shall of His followers, 'act not as the people of
make manifest,' even as the Alif (the Gos- the Qur'a'n have acted, for if ye do so, the
pel) and whosoever was therein revolved fruits of your night will come to nazight.'
round the saying o f Muhammad, the Apos- 'Suffer not the Baya'n,' is His emphatic in-
tle of God." " A thousand perusals of the junction, 'and all that hath been revealed
Baydn cannot equal the perusal of a single therein to withhold you from that Essence
verse to be revealed by 'Him W h o m God o f Being and Lord of the visible and in-
shall make manifest.'. . . Today the Baydn visible.' "28
is in the stage o f seed; at the beginning of the "And finally is this, His moving invoca-
manifestation of 'Him W h o m God shall tion to God: 'Bear Thou witness that,
make manifest' its ultimate perfection will through this Book, I have covenanted with
become apparent . . . The Baya'n and such all created things concerning the mission
as are believers therein yearn more ardently o f Him W h o m Thou shalt make manifest,
after Him than the yearning of any lover ere the covenant concerning M y own mis-
after his beloved . . . The Baydn deriveth sion had been established. Suficient witness
all its glory from 'Him W h o m God shall art Thou and they that have believed in Thy
make manifest.' All blessing be upon him signs.' "29
who believeth in Him and woe betide him " 'How veiled are ye, 0 My creatures,'

that rejecteth His He, speaking with the voice of God, has re-
"It is clear and evident that the object of vealed in the BayAn, '. . . who, without
any right, have consigned Him unto a moun-
23 Ibid., pp. 24-25, 28. tain (Mikii), not one of whose inhabitants
24 Ibid., p. 25.
25 World Order of Bahri'u'lla'h, by Shoghi Effendi, p. 27 Zbid., p. 117.
~nn 28 God Passes By, p. 29.
26 Ibid., pp. 100-101. 29 Ibid., p. 30.
BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS 93

is worthy o f mention. . . . With Him, numbered lamps are shining! All that is on
which is with Me, there is n o one except him earth hath been created for Him, and all
who is one o f the Letters o f the Living o f partake with delight o f His benefits, and yet
M y Book. In His presence, which is M y they are so veiled from Him as t o refuse
Presence, there is not at night even a lighted H i m even a lamp!"'30
lamp! And yet, in places (of worship) which -
in varying degrees reach out unto Him, un- 30 The Promised Day I S Come, p. 7 .

THE ARABIC BAYAN
The "smaller and less weighty Arabic confinement in Mih-KG.31
Bayin" was also revealed during the Bib's -passes BY, p. 2s.

TABLETS TO MUHAMMAD SHAH
The first Tablet of the Bib to Muhammad been generated all created things. I am the
Shih was written following the Commentary Countenance o f God Whose splendor can
on the Shrih of Joseph, and the second never be obscured, the Light o f God Whose
Tablet some two years later, after the Bib's radiance can never fade . . . All the keys
Dissertation on the Specific Mission of o f heaven God Izath chosen to place on M y
Muhammad, revealed in IsfLhin. In the sec- right hand, and all the keys o f hell on M y
ond Tablet to Muhammad Shih the Bib left . . . I arn one of the sustaining pillars
wrote "craving an audience in which to set o f the Primal Word o f God. Whosoever hath
forth the truths of the new Revelation, and recognized Me, Izath known all that is true
dissipate his and right, and hath attained all that is good
"The Bib was still in Mih-KG when He and seemly . . . The substance wherewith
wrote the most detailed and illuminating of God hath created M e is not the clay out o f
His Tablets to Muhammad SJhih. Prefaced which others have been formed. He hath
by a laudatory reference to the unity of conferred upon M e that which the worldly-
God, to His Apostles and to the twelve wise can never comprehend, nor the faith-
Imims; unequivocal in its assertion of the ful discover . . .
divinity of its Author and of the supernatu- "By M y life! But for the obligation to
ral powers with which His Revelation had acknowledge the Cause o f Him W h o is the
been invested; precise in the verses and Testimony o f God . . . I would not have
traditions it cites in confirmation of so announced this unto thee . . . In that same
audacious a claim; severe in its condemna- year (year 6 0 ) I despatched a messenger
tion of some of the officials and representa- and a book unto thee, that thou mightest act
tives of the Khih's administration, particu- towards the Cause of Him W h o is the Testi-
larly of the 'wicked and accursed' Husayn mony o f God as befitteth the station o f tlzy
K_h&n; moving in its description of the sovereignty . . .
humiliation and hardships to which its "I swear by the truth o f God! Were he
writer had been subjected, this historic docu- who hatlz been willing to treat M e in such
ment resembles, in many of its features, the a manner to know who it is whom he hath
Lawh-i-Sulta'n, the Tablet addressed, under so treated, he, verily, would never in his life
similar circumstances, from the prison for- be happy. Nay-I, verily, acquaint thee
tress of 'Akk6 by BahL'u'llih to Nisiri'd- with the truth o f the matter-it is as if he
Din SJhih, and constituting His lengthiest hath imprisoned all the Prophets, and all the
epistle to any single sovereign."33 men o f truth, and all the chosen ones . . .
The B i b was confined in the fortress of W o e betide him from whose hands jloweth
Mih-Kc for nine months, about July, 1847, evil, and blessed the man from whose hands
to April, 1848.34 From this mountain for- jloweth good . . .
tress He thus addressed Muhammad &ih: "I swear by God! I seek no earthly goods
"I am the Primal Point from which have from thee, be it as much as a mustard seed
. . . I swear by the truth o f God! Wert thou
32 Zbid., p. 24.
33 Ibid., p. 26.
to know that which I know, thou wouldst
34 Zbid., pp. 17-19. forego the sovereignty o f the world and o f
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6. PILGRIM HOUSES
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Bahh'i properties on Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel.
96 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

the next, that thou mightest attain My good- swear by the Most Great Lord! Wert thou
pleasure, through thine obedience unto the to be told in what place Z dwell, the first per-
True One . . . Wert thou to refuse, the son t o have mercy on Me would be thyself.
Lord of the world would raise up one who In the heart o f a mountain is a fortress
will exalt His Cause, and the Command o f ( M i h - K ~ ). . . the inmates of which are
God will, verily, be carried into e f J e ~ t . " ~ confined
~ to two guards and four dogs. Pic-
"I swear by God! Shouldst thou know the ture, then, M y plight . . . In this mountain
things which in the space of these four years I have remained alone, and have come to
have befallen M e at the hands of thy people such a pass that none of those gone before
and thine army, thou wouldst hold thy M e have suffered what I have suffered, nor
breath from fear of God . . . Alas, alas, any transgressor endured what I have en-
for the things which have touched Me! I d~red!"~'
35 The Promised Day Is Come, pp. 43-44. 36 Ibid., pp. 6-7.

DALA'ZL-I-SAB'IH (SEVEN PROOFS)37
"The most important of the polemical This is what happened to the monarchs that
works of the Bib," the Dald'il-i-Sab'ih was held fast unto the Gospel. They awaited the
also revealed during the Bib's confinement conzing o f the Prophet of God (Muham-
in Mih-KG. "Remarkably lucid, admirable mad), and when He did appear, they failed
in its precision, original in conception, un- to recognize Him. Behold how great are
answerable in its argument, this work, apart the sums which these sovereigns expend
from the many and divers proofs of His without even the slightest thought of ap-
mission which it adduces, is noteworthy for pointing an oficial charged with the task
the blame it assigns to the 'seven powerful o f acquainting them in their own realms
sovereigns ruling the world' in His day, as with the Manifestation o f God! They would
well as for the manner in which it stresses thereby have fulfilled the purpose for which
the responsibilities, and censures the conduct, they have been created. All their desires
of the Christian divines of a former age have been and are still fixed upon leaving
who, had they recognized the truth of behind them traces of their names.'
Muhammad's mission, He contends, would "The Bib, moreover, in that same treatise,
have been followed by the mass of their censuring the failure of the Christian di-
co- religionist^."^^ vines to acknowledge the truth of Muham-
" 'Gracious God!' writes the Bib with mad's mission, makes this illuminating state-
reference to the 'seven powerful sovereigns ment: 'The blame falleth upon their doctors,
ruling the world' in His day, 'None of them for if these had believed, they would have
hath been informed of His (the Bib's) been followed by the mass of their country-
Manifestation, and i f informed, none hath men. Behold, then, that which hath come to
believed in Him. W h o knoweth they may pass! The learned men o f Christendom are
leave this world below full of desire, and held to be learned by virtue of their safe-
without having realized that the thing for guarding the teaching of Christ, and yet con-
which they were waiting had come t o pass. sider how they themselves have been the
37 For the translation into the French, by A. L. M.
cause of men's failure to accept the Faith
Nicolas, of excerpts from this Tablet, see The Bahri'i and attain unto salvation!' " 3 g
World, Vol. VIII, p. 205.
38 G o d Passes By, p. 26. 39 The Promised Day Is Come, p. 17.

"During the Bib's confinement in the as an exposition of the science of divination,
fortress of Chihriq, where He spent almost was later recognized to have unraveled, on
the whole of the two remaining years of His the One hand, the mystery of the Mustaghi@,
and to have abstrusely alluded, on the other,
life, the Lawh-i-Huru'fa't (Tablet of the Let- to the nineteen years which must needs
ters) was revealed, in honor of Day~6n-a elapse between the Declaration of the Bib
Tablet which, however misconstrued at first and that of BahL'u'llih . . .
BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS 97

"To this period of incarceration in the BahB'u'llBh, in His Epistle to the Son o f
fortresses of MBh-K6 and Ghihriq-a pe- the W o l f , cites a passage from the Tablet of
riod of unsurpassed fecundity, yet bitter in the BBb to DayyBn, prefacing it with these
its humiliations and ever-deepening sorrows words:
-belong almost all the written references, "Dayya'n, who, according to the words o f
whether in the form of warnings, appeals or H i m W h o is the Point . . . is the repository
exhortations, which the BBb, in anticipation o f the trust o f the one true God . . . and
of the approaching hour of His supreme the treasury of the pearls of His Ic~zowledge,
affliction, felt it necessary to make to the was made by them to sufJer so cruel a
Author of a Revelation that was soon to martyrdom that the Concourse on high wept
supersede His and lamented. He it is whom He (the Bib)
This Tablet was revealed for "a promi- had taught the hidden and preserved I c n o ~ ~ l -
nent official of high literary ability . . . edge and entrusted him therewith, through
later surnamed DayyBn by the BBb,"41 on His words:
whom "He conferred the title of 'the third " '0 thou who art named Dayya'n! This

Letter to believe in H i m W h o m God shall is a hidden and preserved Knowledge. W e
make manifest.' "42 have entrusted it-unto thee, and brought it
According to Nabil, "The mystery of the to thee, as a mark of honor from God, inas-
MustaghLtk [literally, "He Who is invoked"] much as the eye of thine heart is pure. Thou
had long baffled the most searching minds wilt appreciate its value, and wilt cherish its
among the people of the BayLn and had excellence. God, verily, hath deigned to be-
proved an insurmountable obstacle to their stow upon the Point of the Bnya'n a hidden
recognition of the promised One. The Bib and preserved Knowledge, the like of which
had Himself in that Tablet unraveled that God hatlz not sent down prior to this Reve-
mystery; no one, however, was able to un- lation. More precious is it than any other
derstand the explanation which He had lcnowledge in the estimation of God-glori-
given. It was left to BahB'u'llLh to unveil it fied be He! He, verily, hath made it His
to the eyes of all rnen."l3 testimony, even as He hath made the verses
40 G o d Passes By, p. 27.
to be His testimony .' 'j4"

41 The Dawn-Breakers, p. 303.
4 2 God Passes By, p. 28.
43 The Dawn-Breakers, pp. 304-305. 44 O y . cit., p. 175.

DENUNCIATORY TABLET T O HkJf M f R Z k k Q k S i
"It was during these years-years dark- nation, this epistle was forwarded to the
ened throughout by the rigors of the BBb's intrepid Hujjat who, as corroborated by
captivity, by the severe indignities inflicted BahB'u'llBh, delivered it to that wicked min-
upon Him, and by the news of the disasters ister"" [Grand Vizir of Muhammad S_hBh].
that overtook the heroes of MBzindarLn and This Tablet was given the name of the
Nayriz-that He revealed, soon after His Lhutbiy-i-Qahriyyih (literally, "Sermon of
return from Tabriz, His denunciatory Tablet W r a t h ) .4G
to HLji MirzL AqLsi. Couched in bold and B y , p, 27,
moving language, unsparing in its condem- p.
46 Tlze ~ a w l z - ~ ~ e a k e323.
~~,

"In the Kita'b-i-Panj-Lha'n, one of His summate His own Revelation . . . 'Wait
last works, He had alluded to the fact that thou,' is His statement to 'Azim, 'until nine
the sixth Naw-R6z after the declaration will have elapsed from the time of the
of His mission would be the last He was Baya'n. Then exclaim: "Blessed, therefore,
destined to celebrate on earth."47 ". . . to be God, the most excellent of Makers!" "'48
'Azim He divulged, in the Kitib-i-Panj-
S_haCn,the name, and announced the ap- 48 Ibid., pp. 27, 28. Mulli Shaykh 'Ali, surnamed
proaching advent, of Him Who was to con- 'Azim (literally, "great") by the Bib, was one of the
"outstanding figures among the ecclesiastical leaders
47 God Passes By, p. 51. of K_hurLsin" (Dawn-Breakers, p. 125).
3. WORDS O F 'ABDU'L-BAHA
From SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS*

festations, who will come, one following on
the other. It has been prophesied that in the
time of these two ~anifestationsthe earth
will be transformed, the world of existence
T H E state in which one should be seri- will be renewed, and beings will be clothed
ously to search for the truth is the condition in new garments. Justice and charity will
of the thirsty burning soul desiring the water encompass the world, enmity and hatred will
of life, of the fish struggling to reach the disappear, all causes of division among peo-
sea, of the sufferer seeking for the true doc- ples, races, and nations will vanish, and the
tor to obtain the divine cure, of the lost cause of union, harmony, and concord will
caravan endeavoring to find the right road, appear. The negligent will awake, the blind
of the lost and wandering ship striving to will see, the deaf will hear, the dumb will
reach the shore of salvation. speak, the sick will be cured, the dead will
Also, the seeker must be endowed with arise. War will give place to peace, enmity
certain qualities. First of all he must be will be conquered by love, the causes of
just, and severed from all else save God; his dispute and wrangling will be entirely re-
heart must be entirely turned to the supreme moved, and true felicity will be attained.
horizon; he must be free from the bondage The world will become the mirror of the
of vices and passions, for all these are ob- Heavenly Kingdom, humanity will be the
stacles; furthermore, he must be able to en- Throne of Divinity. All nations will become
dure all hardships; he must be absolutely one, all religions will be unified, all indi-
pure and sanctified, and free from the love vidual men will become of one family and
or the hatred of the inhabitants of the world. of one kindred. All the regions of the earth
Why? because the fact of his love for any will become one, the superstitions caused
person or thing might prevent him from by races, countries, individuals, languages,
recognizing the truth in another, and in the and politics will disappear; and all men will
same way, hatred for anything might be a attain to life eternal, under the shadow of
hindrance in discerning truth. This is the the Lord of Hosts.
condition of seeking; and the seeker must Now we must prove from the Holy Books
have these qualities and attributes. Until he that these two Manifestations have come,
reaches this condition, it is not possible for and we must divine the meaning of the
him to attain to the Sun of Reality. words of the Prophets; for we wish for
Let us now return to our subject. proofs drawn from the Holy Books. . . .
All the peoples of the world are awaiting To conclude: in the Book of Daniel,'
two Manifestations, who must be con- from the rebuilding of Jerusalem to the
temporaneous; all wait for the fulfillment of martyrdom of Christ, seventy weeks are
this promise. In the Bible the Jews have the appointed; for by the martyrdom of Christ
promise of the Lord of Hosts and the Mes- the sacrifice is accomplished and the altar
siah; in the Gospel the return of Christ and destroyed. This is a prophecy of the mani-
Elijah is promised. festation of Christ. These seventy weeks
In the religion of Muhammad there is the begin with the restoration and the rebuilding
promise of the Mihdi and the Messiah, and of Jerusalem, concerning which four edicts
it is the same with the Zoroastrian and the were issued by three kings.
other religions, but if we relate these matters The first was issued by Cyrus in the year
in detail it would take too long. The essen- 536 B.c.; this is recorded in the first chapter
tial fact is that all are promised two Mani- of the Book of Ezra. The second edict, with

* Chapters X, XI1 through XIV. Some Answered
Questions was first published in 1908. 1 Daniel 9:24.
View of one of the paths in the gardens surrounding the Resting Place
of the Greatest Holy Leaf. Haifa, Israel.
100 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

reference to the rebuilding of Jerusalem, is Now that the manifestation of Christ has
that of Darius of Persia in the year 519 n.c.; been proved by the prophecies of Daniel, let
this is recorded in the sixth chapter of Ezra. us prove the manifestations of Bahi'u'llih
The third is that of Artaxerxes in the seventh and of the Bhb. Up to the present we have
year of his reign, that is in 457 B.c.; this is only mentioned logical proofs; now we shall
recorded in the seventh chapter of Ezra. speak of traditional proofs.
The fourth is that of Artaxerxes in the year In the eighth chapter of the Book of Dan-
444 B.c.; this is recorded in the second chap- iel, verse thirteen, it is said: "Then I heard
ter of Nehemiah. one saint speaking, and another saint said
But Daniel refers especially to the third unto that certain saint which spake, How
edict which was issued in the year 457 B.C. long shall be the vision concerning the daily
Seventy weeks make four hundred and sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation,
ninety days. Each day, according to the text to give both the sanctuary and the host to be
of the Holy Book, is a year. For in the Bible trodden under foot?" Then he answered
it is said: "The day of the Lord is one (v. 14): "Unto two thousand and three
year."z Therefore four hundred and ninety hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be
days are four hundred and ninety years. cleansed"; (v. 17) "But he said unto me
The third edict of Artaxerxes was issued . . . at the time of the end shall be the
four hundred and fifty-seven years before vision." That is to say, how long will this
the birth of Christ, and Christ when he was misfortune, this ruin, this abasement and
martyred and ascended was thirty-three degradation last? meaning, when will be
years of age. When you add thirty-three to the dawn of the Manifestation? Then he
four hundred and fifty-seven, the result is answered, "Two thousand and three hun-
four hundred and ninety, which is the time dred days; then shall the sanctuary be
announced by Daniel for the manifestation cleansed." Briefly, the purport of this pas-
of Christ. sage is that he appoints two thousand three
But in the twenty-fifth verse of the ninth hundred years, for in the text of the Bible
chapter of the Book of Daniel this is ex- each day is a year. Then from the date of
pressed in another manner, as seven weeks the issuing of the edict of Artaxerxes to re-
and sixty-two weeks; and apparently this bclild Jerusalem until the day of the birth of
differs from the first saying. Many have re- Christ there are 456 years, and from the
mained perplexed at these differences, trying birth of Christ until the day of the mani-
to reconcile these two statements. How can festation of the BAb there are 1844 years.
seventy weeks be right in one place, and When you add 456 years to this number it
sixty-two weeks and seven weeks in another? makes 2300 years. That is to say, the ful-
These two sayings do not accord. fillment of the vision of Daniel took place
But Daniel mentions two dates. One of in the year 1844 A.D., and this is the year of
these dates begins with the command of the Bib's manifestation according to the
Artaxerxes to Ezra to rebuild Jerusalem; actual text of the Book of Daniel. Consider
this is the seventy weeks which came to an how clearly he determines the year of mani-
end with the ascension of Christ, when by festation; there could be no clearer prophecy
his martyrdom the sacrifice and oblation for a manifestation than this.
ceased. In Matthew, chapter 24 verse 3, Christ
The second period, which is found in the clearly says that what Daniel meant by this
twenty-sixth verse, means that after the prophecy was the date of the manifestation,
termination of the rebuilding of Jerusalem and this is the verse: "As he sat upon the
until the ascension of Christ, there will be Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto
sixty-two weeks; the seven weeks are the him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall
duration of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, these things be? and what shall be the sign
which took forty-nine years: when you add of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"
these seven weeks to the sixty-two weeks, One of the explanations He gave them in
it makes sixty-nine weeks, and in the last reply was this (v. 15) : "When ye therefore
week (69-70) the ascension of Christ took shall see the abomination of desolation,
place. These seventy weeks are thus com- spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in
pleted, and there is no contradiction. the holy place (whoso readeth let him un-
derstand) ." I n this answer He referred them
Cf. Numbers 14:34. to the eighth chapter of the Book of Daniel,
B A H A ' I S A C RE D W R I T I N G S 101

saying that every one who reads it will un- proclamation of the mission of Muhammad
derstand that it is this time that is spoken of. caused his manifestation to be known.4
Consider how clearly the manifestation of
the Bbb is spoken of in the Old Testament
and in the Gospel.
To conclude, let us now explain the date
of the manifestation of BahL'u'llbh from the In Isaiah, chapter 11 verses 1 to 10, it is
Bible. The date of BahL'u'llih is calculated said:-"And there shall come forth a rod
according to lunar years from the mission out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall
and the Hijirah of Muhammad; for in the grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the
religion of Muhammad the lunar year is in Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wis-
use, as also it is the lunar year which is em- dom and understanding, the spirit of counsel
ployed concerning all commands of worship. and might, the spirit of knowledge and of
In Daniel, chapter 12 verse 6, it is said: the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of
"And one said to the man clothed in linen, quick understanding in the fear of the Lord:
which was upon the waters of the river, and he shall not judge after the sight of his
How long shall it be to the end of these eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his
wonders? And I heard the man clothed in ears: But with righteousness shall he judge
linen, which was upon the waters of the the poor, and reprove with equity for the
river, when he held up his right hand and meek of the earth: and he shall smite the
his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him earth with the rod of his mouth, and with
that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, the breath of his lips shall he slay the
times and a half; and that when he shall wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle
have accomplished to scatter the power of of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his
the holy people, all these things shall be reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the
finished." lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with
As I have already explained the significa- the kid; and the calf and the young lion and
tion of one day, it is not necessary to explain the fatling together; and a little child shall
it further; but we will say briefly that each lead them. And the cow and the bear shall
day of the Father counts as a year, and in feed; their young ones shall lie down to-
each year there are twelve months. Thus gether: and the lion shall eat straw like the
three years and a half make forty-two ox. And the sucking child shall play on the
months, and forty-two months are twelve hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall
hundred and sixty days. The Bib, the pre- put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They
cursor of BahL'u'llbh, appeared in the year shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy
1260 from the Hijirah of Muhammad, by mountain: for the earth shall be full of the
the reckoning of Islim. knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover
Afterwards, in verse 11, it is said: "And the sea."
from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be This rod out of the stem of Jesse might be
taken away, and the abomination that correctly applied to Christ, for Joseph was
maketh desolation be set up, there shall be a of the descendents of Jesse the father of
thousand two hundred and ninety days. David; but as Christ found existence
Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the through the Spirit of God, he called himself
thousand three hundred and five-and-thirty the Son of God. If he had not done so, this
days!" description would refer to him. Besides this,
The beginning of this lunar reckoning is the events which he indicated as coming to
from the day of the proclamation of the pass in the days of that rod, if interpreted
prophethood-of ~ u h a m m a din the country symbolically, were in part fulfilled in the
of Hijbz; and that was three years after his
mission; because in the beginning the proph- 4 The year 1290 from the proclamation of the mis-
ethood of Muhammad was kept secret, and sion of Muhammad, was the year 1280 of the Hijirah,
or 1863-1864 of our era. It was at this epoch (April
no one knew it save KJhadijih and Ibn Nau- 1864) that BahL'u'lllh on leaving BaghdLd for Constan-
faL3 After three years it was announced. tinople, declared to those who surrouiided Him that He
was the Manifestation announced by the Bib.
And BahL'u'llih in the year 1290 from the I t is this declaration which the BahB'is celebrate by
the Feast of Ridvh, this name being that of the garden
a t the entrance of the city of Baghdld, where
Bahl'ulla stayed during twelve days, a3d where He
3 Waraqat-Ibn-Naufal. KAadijih's cousin. made the declaration.
102 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

day of Christ, but not all; and if not inter- like one family and kindred. The light of
preted, then decidedly none of these signs heavenly love will shine, and the darkness of
happened. For example, the leopard and the enmity and hatred will be dispelled from the
lamb, the lion and the calf, the child and the world. Universal peace will raise its tent in
asp, are metaphors and symbols for various the center of the earth, and the Blessed Tree
nations, peoples, antagonistic sects, and hos- of Life will grow and spread to such an ex-
tile races, who are as opposite and inimical tent that it will overshadow the East and the
as the wolf and lamb. We say that by the West. Strong and weak, rich and poor, an-
breath of the spirit of Christ they found con- tagonistic sects and hostile nations-which
cord and harmony, they were vivified, and are like the wolf and the lamb, the leopard
they associated together. and kid, the lion and the calf-will act to-
But "they shall not hurt nor destroy in all wards each other with the most complete
My holy mountain: for the earth shall be love, friendship, justice, and equity. The
full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the world will be filled with science, with the
waters cover the sea." These conditions did knowledge of the reality of the mysteries
not prevail in the time of the manifestation of beings, and with the knowledge of God.
of Christ; for until today various and antag- Now consider, in this great century which
onistic nations exist in the world, very few is the cycle of BahVu'llAh, what progress
acknowledge the God of Israel, and the science and knowledge have made, how
greater number are without the knowledge many secrets of existence have been discov-
of God. In the same way, universal peace ered, how many great inventions have been
did not come into existence in the time of brought to light, and are day by day mul-
Christ; that is to say, between the antago- tiplying in number. Before long, material
nistic and hostile nations there was neither science and learning, as well as the knowl-
peace nor concord, disputes and disagree- edge of God, will make such progress, and
ments did not cease, and reconciliation and will show forth such wonders, that the be-
sincerity did not appear. So, even at this holders will be amazed. Then the mystery of
day, amongst the Christian sects and nations this verse in Isaiah. "For the earth shall be
themselves, enmity, hatred, and the most full of the knowledge of the Lord," will be
violent hostility are met with. completely evident.
But these verses apply word for word to Reflect also that in the short time since
BahVu'llgh: likewise in this marvellous Bah6'u'llgh has appeared, people from all
cycle the earth will be transformed, and the countries, nations, and races have entered
world of humanity arrayed in tranquillity under the shadow of this Cause. Christians,
and beauty. Disputes, quarrels, and murders Jews, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Hindus, and
will be replaced by peace, truth, and con- Persians all associate together with the
cord; among the nations, peoples, races, and greatest friendship and love, as if indeed
countries, love and amity will appear. Co- these people had been related and connected
operation and union will be established, and together, they and theirs, for a thousand
finally war will be entirely suppressed. When years; for they are like father and child,
the laws of the Most Holy Book are en- mother and daughter, sister and brother.
forced, contentions and disputes will find a This is one of the meanings of the compan-
final sentence of absolute justice before a ionship of the wolf and the lamb, the leop-
general tribunal5 of the nations and king- ard and the kid, and the lion and the calf.
doms, and the difficulties that appear will be One of the great events which is to occur
solved. The five continents of the world will in the day of the manifestation of that in-
form but one, the numerous nations will be- comparable Branch, is the hoisting of the
come one, the surface of the earth will be- Standard of God among all nations; mean-
come one land, and mankind will be a single ing that all the nations and tribes will come
community. The relations between the coun- under the shadow of this Divine Banner,
tries, the mingling, union, and friendship of which is no other than the Lordly Branch
the peoples and communities, will reach to itself, and will become a single nation. The
such a degree that the human race will be antagonism of faiths and religions, the hos-
tility of races and peoples, and the national
differences, will be eradicated from amongst
5 The universal Baytu'l-'Adl, a sort of tribunal of
international arbitration, instituted by BahL'u'llLh in them. All will become one religion, one
the Kitdb-i-Aqdas, the Most Holy Book. faith, one race, and one single people, and
BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS 103

will dwell in one native land, which is the of judgment, and on this earth of judgment
terrestrial globe. Universal peace and con- there is no sea; meaning that the teachings
cord will be realized between all the nations, and the Law of God will entirely spread
and that incomparable Branch will gather over the earth, and all men will enter the
together all Israel: signifying that in this Cause of God, and the earth will be com-
cycle Israel will be gathered in the Holy pletely inhabited by believers; therefore
Land, and that the Jewish people who are there will be no more sea, for the dwelling-
scattered to the East and West, South and place and abode of man is the dry land. In
North, will be assembled together. other words, at that epoch the field of that
Now see: these events did not take place Law will become the pleasure-ground of
in the Christian cycle, for the nations did man. Such earth is solid, the feet do not slip
not come under the One Standard which is upon it.
the Divine Branch. But in this cycle of the The Law of God is also described as the
Lord of Hosts all the nations and peoples Holy City, the New Jerusalem. It is evident
will enter under the shadow of this Flag. In that the New Jerusalem which descends
the same way, Israel, scattered all over the from heaven is not a city of stone, mortar,
world, was not reassembled in the Holy bricks, earth, and wood. It is the Law of
Land in the Christian cycle; but in the be- God which descends from heaven and is
ginning of the cycle of Bah6'u'llLh this di- called new; for it is clear that the Jerusalem
vine promise, as is clearly stated in all the which is of stone and earth does not descend
Books of the Prophets, has begun to be from heaven, and that it is not renewed; but
manifest. You can see that from all the parts that which is renewed is the Law of God.
of the world tribes of Jews are coming to The Law of God is also compared to an
the Holy Land; they live in villages and adorned bride who appears with most beau-
lands which they make their own, and day tiful ornaments, as it has been said in chap-
by day they are increasing to such an extent, ter 21 of the Revelation of St. John: "And I
that all Palestine will become their home. John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, com-
ing down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband." And
in chapter 12 verse 1 it is said: "And there
appeared a great wonder in heaven; a
woman clothed with the sun, and the moon
We have before explained that what is under her feet, and upon her head a crown
most frequently meant by the Holy City, the of twelve stars": this woman is that bride,
Jerusalem of God, which is mentioned in the Law of God that descended upon Mu-
the Holy Book, is the Law of God. It is hammad. The sun with which she was
compared sometimes to a bride, dnd some- clothed, and the moon which was under her
times to Jerusalem, and again t o the new feet, are the two nations which are under
heaven and earth. So in chapter 21, verses the shadow of that Law, the Persian and
1, 2, and 3 of the Revelation of St. John, it Turkish kingdoms; for the emblem of Persia
is said: "And I saw a new heaven and a new is the sun, and that of Turkey is the crescent
earth: for the first heaven and the first earth moon: thus the sun and moon are the em-
were passed away, and there was no more blems of two kingdoms which are under the
sea. And I John saw the holy city, new power of the Law of God. Afterwards it is
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of said: "upon her head is a crown of twelve
heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her starsv-these twelve stars are the twelve
husband. And I heard a great voice out of Imims who were the promoters of the Law
heaven saying, Behold, the tabeknacle of of Muhammad, and the educators of the
God is with men, and He will dwell with people, shining like stars in the heaven of
them, and they shall be His peopled and God guidance.
Himself shall be with them and be their Then it is said in the second verse: "and
God." she being with child cried," meaning that
Notice how clear and evident it is that this Law fell into the greatest difficulties,
the first heaven and earth signify the former and endured great troubles and afflictions
Law. For it is said that the first heaven and until a perfect offspring was produced, that
earth have passed away and there is no more is, the coming Manifestation, the Promised
sea: that is to say, that the earth is the place One, who is the perfect offspring, and who
104 THE BAHA

was reared in the bosom of this Law which hammad. The Bani-Umayyih were always
is as its mother. Th'e child who is referred waiting to get possession of the Promised
to is the BBb, the First Point, who was in One who was to come from the line of Mu-
truth born from the Law of Muhammad. hammad, to destroy and annihilate him; for
That is to say, the Holy Reality, who is the they much feared the appearance of the
child and outcome of the Law of God, his promised Manifestation, and they sought to
mother, and who is promised by that reli- kill any of Muhammad's descendents who
gion, finds a reality in the kingdom of that might be highly esteemed.
Law; but because of the despotism of the Verse 5. "And she brought forth a inan
dragon the child was carried up to God. child, who was to rule all nations with a rod
After twelve hundred and sixty days the of iron." This great son is the promised
dragon was destroyed, and the child of the Manifestation who was born of the Law of
Law of God, the Promised One, became God and reared in the bosom of the divine
manifest. teachings. The iron rod is a symbol of power
Verses 3 and 4. "And there appeared an- and might-it is not a sword-and means
other wonder in heaven, and behold a great that with divine power and might he will
red dragon, having seven heads and ten shepherd all the nations of the earth. This
horns and seven crowns upon his heads. son is the BBb.
And his tail drew the third part of the stars Verse 5. "And her child was caught up
of heaven, and did cast them to the earth." unto God, and to His throne." This is a
These signs are an allusion to the dynasty of prophecy of the BLb, who ascended to the
the Umayyads who dominated the Muham- heavenly realm, to the Throne of God, and
madan religion. Seven heads and seven to the center of His Kingdom. Consider how
crowns mean seven countries and dominions all this corresponds to what happened.
over which the Bani-Umayyih had power: Verse 6. "And the woman fled into the
they were the Roman dominion around wilderness," that is to say, the Law of God
Damascus, and the Persian, Arabian, and fled to the wilderness, meaning the vast des-
Egyptian dominions, together with the do- ert of HijLz, and the Arabian Peninsula.
minion of Africa, that is to say Tunis, Mo- Verse 6. "Where she had a place prepared
rocco, and Algeria, the dominion of Anda- of God." The Arabian Peninsula became the
lusia which is now Spain, and the dominion abode and dwelling-place, and the center of
of Turkestan and Transoxania. The Bani- the Law of God.
Umayyih had power over these countries. Verse 6. "That they should feed her there
The ten horns mean the names of the Umay- a thousand two hundred and threescore
yad rulers: that is, without repetition, there days." In the terminology of the Holy Book
were ten names of rulers, meaning ten these twelve--hundred and sixty days mean
names of commanders and chiefs-the first the twelve hundred and sixty years that the
is Ab6 Sufian and the last Marwan-but Law of God was set up in the wilderness of
several of them bear the same name. So Arabia, the great desert: from it the Prom-
there are two Mu'awia, three Yazid, two ised One has come. After twelve hundred
Walid, and two Marwan; but if the names and sixty years that Law will have no more
were counted without repetition there would influence, for the fruit of that tree will have
be ten. The Bani-Umayyih, of whom the appeared, and the result will have been pro-
first was Ab6 Sufian, Amir of Mecca and duced.
chief of the dynasty of the Umayyads, and Consider how the prophecies correspond
the last was Marwan, destroyed the third to one another. In the Apocalypse, the ap-
part of the holy and saintly people of the pearance of the Promised One is appointed
lineage of Muhammad who were like the after forty-two months, and Daniel ex-
stars of heaven. presses it as three times and a half, which is
Verse 4. "And the dragon stood before also forty-two months; which are twelve
the woman which was ready to be delivered, hundred and sixty days. In another passage
for to devour the child as soon as it was of John's Revelation it is clearly spoken of
born." As we have before explained, this as twelve hundred and sixty days, and in the
woman is the Law of God. The dragon was Holy Book it is said that each day signifies
standing near the woman to devour her one year. Nothing could be more clear than
child, and this child was the promised Mani- this agreement of the prophecies with one
festation, the offspring of the Law of Mu- another. The BBb appeared in the year 1260
BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS 105

of the Hijirah of Muhammad, which is the world, and it attains to a life-giving spirit.
beginning of the universal era-reckoning of The earth was a lifeless body; it finds a new
all Islbm. There are no clearer proofs than spirit, and produces endless beauty, grace,
this in the Holy Books for any Manifesta- and freshness. Thus the spring is the cause
tion. For him who is just, the agreement of of new life, and infuses a new spirit.
the times indicated by the tongues of the Afterwards comes the summer, when the
Great Ones is the most conclusive proof. heat increases, and growth and development
There is no other possible explanation of attain their greatest power. The energy of
these prophecies. Blessed are the just souls life in the vegetable kingdom reaches to the
who seek the truth. But failing justice, the degree of perfection, the fruit appears, and
people attack, dispute, and openly deny the the time of harvest ripens; a seed has be-
evidence; like the Pharisees who, at the come a sheaf, and the food is stored for
manifestation of Christ, denied with the winter. Afterwards comes tumultuous au-
greatest obstinacy the explanations of Christ tumn when unwholesome and sterile winds
and of his disciples. They obscured Christ's blow, it is the season of sickness, when all
Cause before the ignorant people, saying, things are withered, and the balmy air is
"These prophecies are not of Jesus, but of vitiated. The breezes of spring are changed
the Promised One who shall come later, ac- to autumn winds, the fertile green trees have
cording to the conditions mentioned in the become withered and bare, flowers and fra-
Bible." Some of these conditioils were that grant herbs fade away, the beautiful garden
he must have a kingdom, be seated on the becomes a dust-heap. Following this comes
throne of David, enforce the Law of the the seasoil of winter, with cold and tempests.
Bible, and manifest such justice that the It snows, rains, hails, storms, thunders and
wolf and the lamb shall gather at the same lightens, freezes and congeals; all plants die,
spring. and animals languish and are wretched.
And thus they prevented the people from When this state is reached, again a new
knowing Christ. life-giving spring returns, and the cycle is
renewed. The season of sI ~' r 3i with
n ~ its hosts
Note.-In these last conversations 'Ahdu'l-Bahi of freshness and beauty, spreads its tent on
wishes to reconcile in a new interpretation the the plains and mountains with great pomp
apocalyptic prophecies of the Jews, the Chrislians, and
the Muslims, rather than to show their supernatural and magnificence. A second time the form
character. of the creatures is renewed, and the creation
of beings begins afresh; bodies grow and de-
velop, the plains and wilderilesses become
green and fertile, trees bring forth blossoms,
In this material world time has cycles; and the spring of last year returns in the
places change through alternating seasons, utmost fullness and glory. Such is, and such
and for souls there are progress, retrogres- ought to be, the cycle and succession of ex-
sion, and education. istence: such is the cycle and revolution of
Sometime it is the season of spring, at an- the material world.
other time it is the season of autumn, and It is the same with the spiritual cycles of
again it is the season of summer or the sea- the Prophets. That is to say, the day of the
son of winter. appearance of the Holy Manifestations is
In the spring there are the clouds which the spiritual springtime, it is the divine
send down the precious rain, the musk- splendor, it is the heavenly bounty, the
scented breezes and life-giving zephyrs; the breeze of life, the rising of the Sun of Real-
air is perfectly temperate, the rain falls, the ity. Spirits are quickened, hearts are re-
sun shines, the fecundating wind wafts the freshed and invigorated, souls become good,
clouds, the world is renewed, and the breath existence is set in motion, human realities
of life appears in plants, in animals, and in are gladdened, and grow and develop in
men. Earthly beings pass from one condition good aualities
'3 1
and ~erfections.
I
Universal
to another. All things are clothed in new progress takes place, and there are resur-
garments, and the black earth is covered rection and lamentation; for it is the day of
with herbage; mountains and plains are judgment, the time of turmoil and distress,
adorned with verdure, trees bear leaves and at the same time that it is the season of joy,
blossoms, gardens bring forth flowers and of happiness, and of absolute attraction.
fragrant herbs. The world becomes another Afterwards the life-giving spring ends in
106 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

fruitful summer. The word of God is ex- has numerous rising and dawning places:
alted, the Law of God is promulgated; all one day it rises from the zodiacal sign of
things reach perfection. The heavenly table Cancer, another day from the sign of Libra
is spread, the holy breezes perfume the East or Aquarius, another time it is from the sign
and the West, the teachings of God conquer of Aries that it diffuses its rays. But the sun
the world, men become educated, praise- is one sun and one reality; the people of
worthy results are produced, universal prog- knowledge are lovers of the sun, and are not
ress appears in the world of humanity, and fascinated by the places of its rising and
the divine bounties surround all things. The dawning. The people of perception are the
Sun of Reality rises from the horizon of the seekers of the Truth, and not of the places
Kingdom with the greatest power and heat. of its appearance, nor of its dawning points;
When it reaches the meridian it will begin therefore they will adore the Sun from what-
to decline and descend, and the spiritual ever point in the zodiac it may appear, and
summer will be followed by autumn, when they will seek the Reality in every Sanctified
growth and development are arrested. Soul who manifests it. Such people always
Breezes change into blighting winds, and the attain to the truth, and are not veiled from
unwholesome season dissipates the beauty the Sun of the Divine World. So, the lover
and freshness of the gardens, plains, and of the sun and the seeker of the light will
bowers. That is to say, attraction and good- always turn towards the sun, whether it
will do not remain, divine qualities are shines from the sign of Aries or gives its
changed, the radiance of hearts is dimmed, bounty from the sign of Cancer, or radiates
the spirituality of souls is altered, virtues are from Gemini; but the ignorant and unin-
replaced by vices, and holiness and purity structed are lovers of the signs of the zodiac,
disappear. Only the name of the Religion of and enanlored and fascinated by the rising-
God remains, and the exoteric forms of the places, and not by the sun. When it was in
divine teachings. The foundations of the Re- ihe sign of cancer they turned towards it,
ligion of God are destroyed and annihilated, though afterwards the sun changed to the
and nothing but forms and customs exist. sign of Libra; as they were lovers of the
Divisions appear, firmness is changed into sign, they turned towards it and attached
instability, and spirits become dead; hearts themselves to it, and were deprived of the
languish, souls become inert, and winter ar- influences of the sun merely because it had
rives; that is to say, the coldness of igno- changed its place. For example, once the
rance envelops the world and the darkness Sun of Reality poured forth its rays from the
of human error prevails. After this come in- sign of Abraham, and then it dawned from
difference, disobedience, inconsiderateness, the sign of Moses and illuminated the hori-
indolence, baseness, animal instincts, and zon; afterwards it rose with the greatest
the coldness and insensibility of stones. It is power and brilliancy from the sign of
like the season of winter when the terrestrial Christ: those who were the seekers of Real-
globe, deprived of the effect of the heat of ity, worshiped that Reality wherever they
the sun, becomes desolate and dreary. When saw it, but those who were attached to Abra-
the world of intelligence and thought has ham were deprived of its influences, when it
reached to this state, there remain only con- shone upon Sinai and illuminated the reality
tinual death and perpetual nonexistence. of Moses. Those who held fast to Moses
When the season of winter has had its when the Sun of Reality shone from Christ
effect, again the spiritual springtime returns with the utmost radiance and lordly splen-
and a new cycle appears. Spiritual breezes dor, were also veiled; and so forth.
blow, the luminous dawn gleams, the divine Therefore man must be the seeker after
clouds give rain, the rays of the Sun of Real- the Reality; and he will find that Reality in
ity shine forth, the contingent world attains each of the Sanctified Souls. He must be
unto a new life, and is clad in a wonderful fascinated and enraptured, and attracted to
garment. All the signs and the gifts of the the divine bounty; he must be like the but-
past springtime reappear, with perhaps even terfly who is the lover of the light from
greater splendor in this new season. whatever lamp it may shine, and like the
The spiritual cycles of the Sun of Reality nightingale who is the lover of the rose in
are like the cycles of the material sun; they whatever garden it may grow.
are always revolving and being renewed. If the sun were to rise in the West, it
The Sun of Reality, like the material sun, would still be the sun; one must not with-
BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS 107

draw from it on account of its rising-place, regarded the Sun of Reality, without any
nor consider the West to be always the place doubt they would have recognized the Sun
of sunset. In the same way, one must look in the dawning-place of the reality of Christ,
for the heavenly bounties, and seek for the in the greatest divine splendor. But, alas! a
Divine Aurora. In every place where it ap- thousand times alas! attaching themselves to
pears, one must become its distracted lover. the outward words of Moses, they were de-
Consider that if the Jews had not kept turn- prived of the divine bounties and the lordly
ing to the horizon of Moses, and had only splendors !
HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD

Amatu'l-BahB R6hiyyih Q L n u m appointed by Shoghi Effendi
a Hand of the Cause of God, March 26, 1952.
William Sutherland Maxwell, appointed Charles Mason Remey, appointed
by Shoghi Effendi a Hand of the Cause of by Shoghi Effendi a Hand of the Cause of
God from the Holy Land, December 24, 1951. God from the Holy Land, December 24, 1951.

Mrs. Amelia E. Collins, appointed Leroy C. Ioas, appointed by Shoghi Effendi
by Shoghi Effendi a Hand of the Cause of a Hand of the Cause of God from
God from the Holy Land, December 24, 1951. the United States, December 24, 1951.
Valiyu'llBh VarqB, appointed Ugo R. Giachery, appointed by Shoghi Effendi
by Shoghi Effendi a Hand of the Cause a Hand of the Cause of God from the
of God from the Cradle of the Faith (Persia), European Continent, December 24, 1951.
December 24, 1951.

George Townshend, appointed by Shoghi Horace Holley, appointed by Shoghi Effendi
Effendi a Hand of the Cause of God from the a Hand of the Cause of God from the
European Continent, December 24, 1951. United States, December 24, 1951.
Tarfizu'llah Samandari, appointed MGsB Banhi, appointed by Shoghi Effendi
by Shoghi Effendi a Hand of the Cause of God a Hand of the Cause of God
from the Cradle of the Faith (Persia), from Africa, February 29, 1952.
December 24, 1951.

'Ali-Akbar Furtitan, appointed by Shoghi Siegfried Schopflocher, appointed by Shoghi
Effendi a Hand of the Cause of God from the Effendi a Hand of the Cause of God from the
Cradle of the Faith, December 24, 1951. Dominion of Canada. February 29, 1952.
Upper left:
Hermann Grossmann,
appointed by Shoghi Effendi
a Hand of the Cause of God
from the European Continent,
December 24, 1951.

Upper right:
Mrs. Dorothy Baker,
appointed by Shoghi Effendi
a Hand of the Cause of God
from the United States,
December 24, 1951.

Left:
Mrs. Clara Dunn,
appointed by Shoghi Effendi
a Hand of the Cause of God
from Australia, February 29,
Upper left:
Mrs. Corinne True,
appointed by Shoghi Effendi
a Hand of the Cause of God
from the United States,
February 29, 1952.

Upper right:
Dbikru'llBh KhLdem,
appointed by Shoghi Effendi
a Hand of the Cause of God
from the Cradle of the Faith (Persia),
February 29, 1952.

Paul E. Haney,
appointed by Shoghi Effendi
a Hand of the Cause of God
from the United States,
March 19, 1954.
Upper left:
Adelbert Miihlschlegel,
appointed by Shoghi Effendi
a Hand of the Cause of God
from Germany, February 29,

Upper right:
Shu'2u'llih 'Algi,
-
appointed by Shoghi Effendi
a Hand of the Cause of God
from the. Cradle of the Faith (Persia),
February 29, 1952.

Left:
Jalil Khgzeh,
appointed by Shoghi Effendi
a Hand of the Cause of God
from Persia, December 7, 195
THE CENTENARY C E L E B R A -
T I O N S OF T H E BIRTH OF THE
M I S S I O N OF B A H A ' U ' L L A H , 1953
1. MOMENTOUS ANNOUNCEMENT O F
THE JUBILEE CENTEN'ARY
C O N V E Y all National Assemblies Bahi'i summation plans initiated (by) various Na-
World (the) following momentous an- tional Assemblies both hemispheres, (the)
nouncement. formal dedication (for) public worship (of)
Approaching Great Jubilee commemorat- Mother Temple (of) West (in) heart North
ing Centenary termination Bfibi Dispensa- American continent, and possible termina-
tion, birth Bahi'u'llfih's Revelation (in) tion superstructure (of) Bfib's Sepulcher
Siyih C_hLl, Tihrfin, as well as imperative (in) Holy Land, (the) convocation (of)
necessity adopt effectual measures insure be- four intercontinental Bahi'i Teaching Con-
fitting inauguration third concluding phase ferences to be held successively (in) course
of initial epoch (in the) execution 'Abdu'l- historic Year (on) continents (of) Africa,
Bahi's Divine Plan destined culminate hun- America, Europe, Asia.
dredth anniversary (of) Declaration (of) First conference (will be) convened by
Founder (of) Faith (in) Baghdfid, impel me British National Spiritual Assembly (in)
summon entire BahL'i w o r l d ~ t h r o ~eleven
~~h Kampala, Uganda (in) early spring, repre-
National Assemblies already functioning sentative of British, American, Persian,
(in) East (and) West, bestir itself, arise Egyptian, Indian National Spiritual Assem-
during sixteen months ahead through su- blies, to which Bahi'is residing (in) Amer-
preme concerted sustained effort, prepare ica, Persia, Indian subcontinent, British
for demonstration (of) BahL'i solidarity Isles, every territory African continent (will
(of) unprecedented scope (and) intensity be) invited attend, aiming planting banner
(during) entire course Bahi'i history. (of) Faith (in) remaining territories (and)
Forthcoming celebrations must be signal- neighboring islands east, south, west African
ized through inauguration long anticipated continent.
intercontinental stage in administrative evo- Second conference (will be) convened by
lution (of) Faith marking its gradual de- United States National Spiritual Assembly
velopment through successive phases (of) (in) Wilmette, (in) RidvLn period, repre-
local, regional, national, international Bahfi'i sentative (of) chief trustees 'Abdu'l-Bahi's
activity. Initiation this highly significant Plan, their ally and associates United States,
measure further cementing BahL'i National Canadian, Latin American National As-
Assemblies (in) five continents (of) globe semblies, to which BahL'is every state Amer-
will be acclaimed (by) posterity as counter- ican Union, every Province Canada, every
part (to) consolidhtion Faith at its World Republic Latin America (will be) invited at-
Center through recent formation Interna- tend, designed pave way establishment Faith
tional Bahi'i Council (in) Holy Land. (in) remaining territories (of the) Americas
Centennial festivities (of) Year Nine con- (and) neighboring islands (in) both Atlan-
tinuing throughout Holy Year commencing tic (and) Pacific oceans.
October 1952 must include, apart from con- Third conference (will be) convened by
116 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

American European Teaching Committee
(in) Stockholm, Sweden, during summer,
representative (of) American, British, Ger- The Year Nine
mail National Assemblies, to which Bah2is
(of) each ten goal countries Europe (and) I.
England, Scotland, Wales, Eire, France, The following statement is an excerpt from
Germany, Austria, Finland, (will be) in- the portion of the Guardian's letter of NO-
vited attend, for purpose gradual introduc- vember 23, 1951, written through his Sec-
tion (of) Faith (into) remaining sovereign retary.
states European continent (and) neighbor- Regarding your question about the Cen-
ing islands Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, tenary, the Guardian wishes you to share the
North Sea. following information with the Persian and
Fourth conference (will be) convened by other National Assemblies; the "Year Nine"
National Spiritual Assembly subcontinent is an abbreviation of 1269 A.H. This term
India (in) New Delhi, autumn, representa- has been used by the BLb in His Writings,
tive (of) National Assemblies (of) Persia, foreshadowing the Birth of the Revelation of
Indian subcontinent, 'IrLq, Australasia, Bahi'u'llLh. The friends should refer, in
United States, Canada, Central and South God Passes B y , to the passages mentioning
America, to which BahL'is residing (in) the year Nine in order to appreciate its sig-
every sovereigil state (and) dependency nificance as well as the great importance at-
(in) Asia, North, Central, South America, tached to it by the BLb. In that same book
Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania (will be) the Guardian has explained that the Revela-
invited attend, in order deliberate measures tion of Bahi'u'llih was progressive: It com-
calculated open Faith remaining Asiatic menced with the first intimation He re-
states (and) dependencies, particularly ceived, of His Prophetic Mission while in
South East Asia and islands (of) South Pa- the SiyLh-GhLl of Tihr6n. The beginning of
cific (and) Indian Oceans. the year Nine occurred about two months
Address plea particularly (to) convenors after His imprisonment in that dungeon. We
above-mentioned conferences (to) arise do not know the exact time He received this
within short time (at their) disposal, prayer- first intimation, nor have either the BLb, or
fully consider, carefully plan, energetically Bahi'u'llLh, made mention of any specific
prosecute, respective sacred delegated tasks, date in this connection. We therefore regard
take immediate preliminary steps issue in- the entire year Nine as a Holy Year, and the
vitations, fix procedure, provide smooth emphasis should be placed, in accordance
working, accord wide publicity, insure re- with the BLb's Writings, on the entire Year
sounding success, epoch-making conferences which started in October, 1852. This means
immortalizing Centenary (of) memorable our Centenary Year of Celebration will be
Year, anticipated (by) St. John (the) Di- from October, 1952, to October, 1953. All
vine, foreshadowed (by) S_hayk_h Ahmad, celebrations must be held within these two
eulogized (by the) Bib, extolled (by) both dates. As the RidvLn period is associated
BahL'u'llLh (and) 'Abdu'l-BahL, and con- with Bahb'u'll6h's Revelation it should be
stituting prelude (to) Most Great Jubilee, regarded as the most important time of that
which will alike commemorate Centenary year and therefore the most suitable period
formal assumption (by) Author (of) Bahi'i for the celebrations.
Revelation (of) His Prophetic Office, (and) The second stage in that progressive Reve-
mark, God willing, world-wide establish- lation was when Bahi'u'llkh declared His
ment Faith forecast (by) Center (of) Cove- Mission to His companions in BaghdLd; this
nant (in) His Tablets, prophesied (by) is considered the most momentous stage in
Daniel (in) his book, thus paving way (for) His Revelation, hence it is called the "Most
advent (of) Golden Age destined witness Great Festival," the One Hundredth An-
world recognition, universal proclamation, niversary of which will be celebrated in
ultimate triumph (of the) Cause of Bah2u'- RidvLn 1963 and will constitute the Most
116h. Great Jubilee, the third of its kind, the first
(Signed) SHOGHI Jubilee having been the Centenary of the
BLb's Declaration; and the second the one
Cablegram received November 30, 1951 at we will be celebrating all over the world in
Wilmette, Illinois. 1952-1953.
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 117

The third and last stkge in BahL'u'llih's sage "divulged." It was in that same year
Revelation was when He proclaimed His that, according to BahL'u'llih, Himself, "the
Mission to the rulers and relLgious leaders of requisite num6er of pure, of wholly conse-
the world in Adrianople. The first was an crated, and sanctified souls" had been "most
intimation, the second a declaration and the secretlv consummated."
J

third a proclamation-the intimation was It was in such dramatic circumstances, re-
from God to Him, which He kept a secret calling the experience of Moses when face
within His own spirit, the declaration was to to face with the Burning Bush in the wilder-
His faithful companions, and the proclama- ness of Sinai, the successive visions of
tion was to the entire body of the religious Zoroaster, the opening of the heavens and
and political leaders of mankind. the descent of the Dove upon Christ in the
Jordan, the cry of Gabriel heard by Muham-
11. mad in the Cave of Hira, and the dream of
This statement is an excerpt from the the Bib, in which the blood of the Imim
Guardian's letter of June 15, 1946, pub- Husayn touched and sanctified His lips, that
lished as " A God-Given Mandate" in "Mes- Bahi'u'llih, He "around Whom the Point
sages to America," pages 99-101. of the Bayin hath revolved," and the Ve-
What greater reward can crown the labors hicle of the greatest Revelation the world
of that community, now launched on the has yet seen, received the first intimation of
second stage of its world mission, than that His sublime Mission, and that a ministry,
the consummation of the second Seven Year which, alike in its duration and fecundity, is
Plan should coincide with the celebrations unsurpassed in the religious history of man-
commemorating the centenary of the "Year kind, was inaugurated. It was on that occa-
Nine," the year which alike marked the sion that the "Most Great Spirit," as desig-
termination of the Bibi Dispensation, and nated by Bahi'u'llih Himself, revealed itself
signalized the birth of BahL'u'llih's pro- to Him, in the form of a "Maiden," and
phetic Mission? It was at a time when the bade Him "lift up" His "voice between earth
Faith for which the Bib had suffered and and heavenn-that same Spirit which, in the
died was hovering on the brink of extinc- Zoroastrian, the Mosaic, the Christian and
tion, when BahL'u'llih lay wrapped in the Muhammadan Dispensations, had been re-
gloom of the Siybh-chi1 of Tihrin, His feet spectively symbolized by the "Sacred Fire,"
in stocks, His neck freighted with chains, the "Burning Bush," the "Dove," and the
and surrounded by vile and wretched crimi- "Angel Gabriel."
nals, that the auspicious year 1269 A.H., ac- "One night in a dream," Bahb'u'llhh Him-
claimed by the B i b as the "Year Nine," self, recounting His soul-,shaking experience
dawned upon the world, ushering in the of the first stirrings of His prophetic Mis-
most glorious and momentous stage in the sion, in the Year Nine, in that abomiilable
Heroic Age of the greatest religious dispen- pit, has written, "these exalted words were
sation in the spiritual history of mankind. heard on every side: 'Verily, We shall ren-
T o that year He had referred as the year in der Thee victorious by Thyself and by Thy
which "the realities of the created things" Pen. Grieve Thou not for that which hath
will "be made manifest," the year in which befallen Thee, neither be Thou afraid, for
mankind "will attain unto all good," in Thou art in safety. Ere long will God raise
which the "Bayin," as yet "in the stage of up the treasures of the earth-men who will
seed," will manifest "its ultimate perfec- aid Thee through Thyself and through Thy
tion," in which the "embryo of the Faith will Name, wherewith God hath revived the
attain the station of 'the most comely of hearts of such as have recognized Him.' "
forms,' " and in which "a new creation" will And again, "During the days I lay in the
be beheld. It was in that same year that the prison of Tihrhn, though the galling weight
"third woe," as anticipated by St. John the of the chains and the stench-filled air al-
Divine, quickly succeeded the second. To lowed Me but little sleep, still in those in-
that same year S_hayk_h-Ahmad-i-AhsL'i,who frequent moments of slumber I felt as if
had heralded the Faith of the Bib, had al- something flowed from the crown of My
luded as the year "after Hin" (68), when, head over My breast, even as a mighty tor-
according to His written testimony, the rent that precipitateth itself upon the earth
"mystery" of the Cause of God would be from the summit of a lofty mountain. Every
"manifested," and the "secret" of His Mes- limb of My body would, as a result, be set
T H E B A H A. ' I W O R L D

afire. At such moments My tongue recited its birth; which had lost its greatest expo-
what no man could bear to hear." nents through the tragic martyrdom of most
What still greater reward could await of the Letters of the Living, and particularly
those who, inspired by the success achieved of the valiant Mull5 Husayn and of the
by the prosecu~orsof the second Seven Year erudite Vahid and which had been afflicted
Plan, will have arisen to carry forward to with the supreme calamity of losing its Di-
a triumphant conclusion the third phase of vine Founder; was being subjected to still
the Mission entrusted to them by 'Abdu'l- more painful ordeals-ordeals which robbed
BahL, than that their prodigious labors, hav- it of both the heroic Hujjat and of the far-
ing embraced territories far beyond the famed TLhirih; which caused it to pass
confines of the continents of Europe and through a reign of terror, and to experience
of America, should climax in, and be wor- a blood-bath of unprecedented severity,
thily commemorated through, the world- which inflicted on it one of the greatest
wide celebrations of the "Most Great Festi- humiliations it has ever suffered through the
val," the "King of Festivals," the "Festival attempted assassination of the Sovereign
of God" Himself-the Festival associated himself, and which unloosed a veritable
with the accession of Him Who is the Lord deluge of barbarous atrocities in TihrLn,
of the Kingdom to the throne of everlasting MLzindarLn, Nayriz and Khhiriiz before which
glory, and with the formal assumption by paled the horrors of the seige of ZanjSn, and
Him of His prophetic office? What gseater which swept no less a figure than BahB'u'llLh
reward than that the consummation of the Himself-the last remaining Pillar of a
third Seven Year Plan, marking the close Faith that had been so rudely shaken, so
of the first, and signalizing the opening of ruthlessly denuded of its chief buttresses-
the second, epoch in the evolution of the into the subterranean dungeon of TihrLn,
Divine Plan, should synchronize with that an imprisonment that was soon followed by
greatest of all Jubilees, related to the year His cruel banishment, in the depths of an
1335, mentioned by Daniel in the last Chap- exceptionally severe winter, from-HIS native
ter of His Book, and associated by 'Abdu'l- land to 'IrLq. To these tribulations He Him-
BahL with the world triumph of His Father's self has referred as "afflictions" that
Faith? What greater glory than that those "rained" upon Him, whilst the blood shed
who have brought this initial epoch in the by His companions and lovers He character-
resistless march of a world-embracing Plan ized as the blood which "impregnated" the
to a triumphant termination should be made earth with the "wondrous revelation" of
to feel that they, and those gone before God's "might."
them, have, through their collective, their Nor should the momentous character of
sustained, and heroic endeavors, organized the unique event, that may be regarded as
through three successive stages, and cover- the climax and consummation of this tragic
ing a span of almost a quarter of a century, period, be overlooked or underestimated, in-
been vouchsafed by the Almighty the privi- asmuch as its centenary synchronizes with
lege of contributing, more than any other the termination of the sixteen month interval
community consciously laboring in the serv- separating the American B a h u Community
ice of the Faith of BahB'u'llLh, to this bliss- from the conclusion of its present Plan. This
ful consummation, and to have played a unique event, the centenary of which is to
preponderating role in the world triumph be befittingly celebrated, not only in the
of its institutions? American continent but throughout the
BahB'i World, and is destined to be regarded
as the culmination of the Second Seven
From the Guardian's letter of November Year Plan, is none other than the "Year
23, 1951. Nine," anticipated 2,000 years ago as the
The historic significance of this period "third woe" by St. John the Divine, alluded
cannot indeed be overestimated. For it was to by both S_hayk_hA b a d and Siyyid KBzim
a hundred years ago that a Faith, which -the twin luminaries that heralded the ad-
had already been oppressed by a staggering vent of the Faith of the BLb-specifically
weight of untold tribulations; which had mentioned and extolled by the Herald of
sustained shattering blows in MLzindarLn, the Bahi'i Dispensation in His Writings, and
Nayriz, TihrLn and Zanjb, and indeed eulogized by both the Founder of our Faith
throughout every province in the land of and the Center of His Covenant. In that
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 119

year, the year "after Hin" (68), mentioned There, as He Himself has recorded, under
by S_hayk_h Ahmad, the year that witnessed the impact of this dream, He experienced
the birth of the Mission of the promised the onrushing force of His newly revealed
"Qayytim," specifically referred to by Siyyid Mission, that "flowed" even as "a mighty
Kgzim, the "requisite number" in the words torrent" from His "Head to His "breast,"
of Bahi'u'llih, "of pure, of wholly conse- whereupon "every limb" of His body "would
crated and sanctified souls7' had been "most be set afire." There, in a vision, the "Most
secretly consummated." In that year, as tes- Great Spirit," as He Himself has again testi-
tified by the Pen of the Bgb, the "realities of fied, appeared to Him, in the guise of a
the created things" were "made manifest," "Maiden" "calling" with "a most wondrous,
"a new creation was born" and the seed of a most sweet Voice" above His Head, whilst
His Faith revealed its "ultimate perfection." "suspended in the air" before Him, and,
In that year, as borne witness by 'Abdu'l- "pointing with Her finger" unto His Head,
Bah6, a hitherto "embryonic Faith" was imparted "tidings which rejoiced" His
born. In that year, while the Blessed Beauty "soul." There appeared above the horizon
lay in chains and fetters, in that dark and of that dungeon in the city of Tihrin, the
pestilential Pit, "the breezes of the All-
rim of the Orb of His Faith, whose dawning
Glorious," as He Himself described it, "were
wafted" over Him. There, whilst His neck light had, nine years previously, broken
was weighted down by the Qara-Guhar, His upon the city of S_hhir&z,-an Orb which,
feet in stocks, breathing the fetid air of the after suffering an eclipse of ten years, was
Siyih-Chil, He dreamed His dream and destined to burst forth, with its resplendent
heard, "on every side," "exalted words," rays, upon the city of Baghdid, to mount its
and His "tongue recited" words that "no zenith in Adrianople, a n d to set eventually
man could bear to hear." in the prison-fortress of 'AkkB.
Hands of the Cause attending the First Intercontinental Bahi'i Conference in Kampala, Uganda, Africa
Left to right: Mu& Bangni, Valiyu'llih Varqi, SJhu'B'u'llih 'AlB'i, Mason Remey, Horace Holley, T
D-hikru'llgh K_hh6dem, Leroy Ioas, Dorothy Baker, 'Ali-Akbar Funitan.
The Kampala Haziratu'l-Quds is in the background.
2. THE AFRICAN INTERCONTINENTAL
TEACHING CONFERENCE HELD IN
KAMPALA, UGANDA, FEBRUARY, 1953
(1)
THE GUARDIAN'S MESSAGE TO THE CONFERENCE
Presented by LEROY
IOAS

T O T H E Hands of the Cause, the Mem- ponderance of the members of this same
bers of the National Spiritual Assemblies, race at so significant a Conference, a phe-
the pioneers, the resident believers and visi- nomenon unprecedented in the annals of
tors attending the African Intercontinental Bahi'i Conferences held during over a cen-
Teaching Conference in Kampala, Uganda. tury, and auguring well for a ;orresponding
multiplication in the number of the repre-
Well-beloved Friends: sentatives of the yellow, the red and brown
I hail with a joyous heart the convocation races of mankind dwelling respectively in
in the heart of the African continent of the the Far East, in the Far West and in the
first of the four Intercontinental Teaching islands of the South Pacific Ocean, a multi-
Conferences constituting the highlights of plication designed ultimately to bring to a
the world wide celebrations of the Holy proper equipoise the divers ethnic elements
Year which commemorates the hundredth comprised within the highly diversified
anniversary of the birth of the Mission of world-embracing BahB'i Fellowship.
the Founder of our Faith. I welcome with I feel moved, on this auspicious occasion,
open arms the unexpectedly large number to pay a warm tribute to the elected repre-
of the representatives of the pure-hearted sentatives, as well as the members, of the
and the spiritually receptive Negro race, so British, the Persian, the American, the
dearly loved by 'Abdu'l-Bahi, for whose Egyptian and the Indian BahB'i Communi-
conversion to His Father's Faith He so ties which have participated, in pursuance of
deeply yearned and whose interests He so their respective Plans, in the opening stage
ardently championed in the course of His of a colossal teaching campaign, consti-
memorable visit to the North American tuting a vital phase of the impending dec-
continent. I am reminded, on this historic ade-long World Crusade, and aiming at the
occasion, of the significant words uttered by spiritual conquest of the entire African con-
Bah&'ulll&hHimself, Who as attested by the tinent. I desire in particular to express to all
Center of the Covenant, in His Writings, those gathered at this Conference my feel-
"compared the colored people to the black ings of abiding appreciation of the magnifi-
pupil of the eye," through which "the light cent role played and of the remarkable
of the spirit shineth forth." I feel particu-
larly gratified by the substantial participa-
tion in this epoch-making Conference of
-
prizes won, by the small band of Persian,
British and American pioneers, in th- course
of the initial stage of this divinely propelled
the members of a race dwelling in a conti- and mysteriously unfolding collective en-
nent which for the most part has retained terprise, which has overshadowed both the
its primitive simplicity and remained uncon- Latin American and European teaching
taminated by the evils of a gross, a rampant campaigns launched in recent years, which
and cancerous materialism undermining the is destined to exert an incalculable influence
fabric of human society alike in the East and on the fortunes of the Faith throughout the
in the West, eating into the vitals of the con- world, and which may well have far-reach-
flicting peoples and races inhabiting the ing repercussions among the two chief races
American, the European and the Asiatic dwelling in the North American continent.
continents, and alas threatening to engulf T o the American BahL'i Community, the
in one common catastrophic convulsion the chief executor of 'Abdu'l-Bah&'s Divine
generality of mankind. I acclaim the pre- Plan; to the British BahB'i Community, des-
I2I1
122 THE BAHA'I WORLD

tined to play in future decades a predomi- namely: The National Spiritual Assembly of
nating role in opening to the Faith of Bahb'- the BahL'is of Central and East Africa, to be
u'llih not only the British Territories formed under the aegis of the National
throughout the African continent, but the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is of the
divers Dependencies of the British Crown British Isles, with its seat in Kampala; the
scattered on the surface of the globe; to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is
Persian Bahb'i Community, at once the most of South and West Africa, to be formed un-
venerable and most consistently persecuted der the aegis of the National spiritual As-
among its sister communities in both the sembly of the Bahb'is of the United States
East and the West; to the Egyptian Bahi'i of America, with its seat in Johannesburg;
Community that may well boast of having the National Spiritual Assembly of the
erected in that continent the first pillar of Bahb'is of North West Africa, to be formed
the Universal House of Justice; to the In- under the aegis of the National Spiritual As-
dian Bahb'i Community, fated to contribute, sembly of the Bahb'is of Egypt and Siidin,
to a marked degree, to the spiritual quicken- with its seat in Tunis.
ing of the Indians constituting a noble ele- Second, the initial purchase of land for
ment of the population of Africa-to these the future construction of three Mdriqu'l-
Communities I feel I must acknowledge my A w i r s , one in Cairo, one in Kampala and
deep sense of thankfulness for the strenuous one in Johannesburg, situated respectively in
efforts exerted by their pioneers to raise aloft the north, the heart and the south of the
the standard of the Faith in the territories African continent.
allocated to them in Liberia, Uganda, Tan- Third, the opening of the following thirty-
ganyika, the Gold Coast, Kenya, Somali- three virgin territories and islands: Cape
land, Nyasaland, Northern Rhodesia, Libya, Verde Is., Canary Is., French Somaliland,
Algeria, Zanzibar and Madagascar. TO French Togoland, Mauritius, Northern Ter-
others who, though not following the fixed ritories Protectorate, Portuguese Guinea,
pattern of the Plan initiated for the present Reunion I., Spanish Guinea, St. Helena, and
African campaign, have arisen to introduce St. Thomas I., assigned to the National
the Faith in the Territories of Sierra Leone, Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of the
Angola, Mozambique and Southern Rhode- United States of America; Ashanti Protector-
sia I feel, moreover, a debt of gratitude is ate, Basutoland, Bechuanaland, Italian So-
due for their share in extending the range maliland, Southern Rhodesia and Swaziland
of Bahb'i pioneer activity in that continent. assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly
The hour is indeed propitious, as the cli- of the Bahb'is of Persia; French Equatorial
max of the world wide rejoicings signalizing Africa, French West Africa, Morocco (Int.
the Holy Year approaches, for the National Zone), Rio de Oro, Spanish Morocco and
Spiritual Assemblies of these same Com- Spanish Sahara assigned to the National
munities to gird up their loins, in collabora- Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Egypt
tion with the National Spiritual Assembly of and S6din; Comoro Is., French Cameroons,
the BahL'is of 'Iriq, in a supreme effort to Gambia, Ruanda-Urundi and Socotra I. as-
launch, on the morrow of this fateful Con- signed to the National Spiritual Assembly of
ference, that phase of the ten-year Crusade the Bahb'is of India, PikistAn and Burma;
which, God willing, will culminate in the the British Cameroons, British Togoland,
introduction of our glorious Faith in all the Madeira and South West Africa, assigned to
remaining territoriei of that vast continent the National Spiritual Assembly of the
as well as the chief neighboring islands lying BahL'is of the British Isles; and Seychelles
in the Indian and the Atlantic Oceans. The Is. assigned to the National Spiritual As-
decade on whose threshold they now stand sembly of the Bahb'is of 'Iriq.
must, circumstances permitting, witness: Fourth, the translation and publication of
First, the erection of three additional pil- BahL'i literature in the following thirty-one
lars within the confines of that continent and languages to be undertaken by the National
its neighboring islands, designed to support, Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is of the
together with no less than forty-five other British Isles: Accra, Afrikaans, Aladian,
National Spiritual Assemblies to be es- Ashanti, Banu, Bemba, Bua, Chuana, Gio,
tablished in other parts of the world, the Gu, Jieng, Jolof, Kuanyama, Krongo, Kroo,
final unit in the erection of the Administra- Luimbi, Malagasy, Nubian, Pedi, Popo,
tive Order of the Faith of BahL'u'llih, Ronga, Sena, Shilha, Shona, Sobo, Suto,
124 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Wongo, Xosa, Yalunka, Yao, and Zulu. of the Bahi'is of Egypt and SGdBn, author-
Fifth, the consolidation of the twenty-four ized to hold, on behalf of its parent institu-
following territories already opened to the tion, property dedicated to the Holy Shrines
Faith in the African continent: Angola, at the World Center of the Faith in the State
Belgian Congo, Gold Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, of Israel.
Sierra Leone, Tanganyika, Uganda and Twelfth, the appointment, during Ridvin
Zululand, allocated to the National Spiritual 1954, by the Hand of the Cause in Africa,
Assembly of the Bahi'is of the British Isles; of an auxiliary Board of nine members who
Abyssinia, Algeria, Eritrea, Libya, French will, in conjunction with the six National
Morocco, Somaliland, SGdin and Tunisia, Spiritual Assemblies participating in the
allocated to the National Spiritual Assembly African Campaign, assist, through periodic
of the Bahgis of Egypt and SGdin; Mada- and systematic visits to Bahi'i Centers, in
gascar, Mozambique and Zanzibar, allocated the efficient and prompt execution of the
to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Plans formulated for the prosecution of the
Bahi'is of India, PBkistin and Burma; teaching campaign in the African continent.
Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, allo- May the six aforementioned National
cated to the National Spiritual Assembly of Spiritual Assemblies, aided by the Hand of
the Bahb'is of Persia; Liberia and South the Cause appointed in that continent, and
Africa, allocated to the National Spiritual the auxiliary Board to be chosen by him,
Assembly of the Bahi'is of the United States and supported by the national committees
of America. and sub-committees to be formed in due
Sixth, the establishment, circumstances course, and reinforced by the constant and
permitting, of a National BahL'i Court in energetic efforts of an ever-swelling number
the capital city of Egypt, the recognized of pioneers, whether settlers or itinerant
center of both the Islamic and Arab worlds, teachers, and assisted by the whole-hearted
officially empowered to apply, in matters of collaboration of the indigenous believers in
personal status, the Laws and Ordinances all localities, be spiritually welded into a unit
revealed in the KitBb-i-Aqdas, the Mother- at once dynamic and coherent, and be suf-
Sook of the Bahb'i Revelation. fused with the creative, the directing and
Seventh, the incorporation of the three propelling forces proceeding from the
above-mentioned Regional National Spirit- Source of the Revelation Himself, and be
ual Assemblies. made, as the projected campaign unfolds,
Eighth, the establishment by those same the vehicle of His grace from on High, and
National Spiritual Assemblies of National prove themselves worthy and effective in-
BahL'i Endowments. struments for the execution and ultimate
Ninth, the establishment of a National coi~summationof one of the most thrilling
Ifaziratu'l-Quds in Johannesburg and one in and far-reaching enterprises undertaken in
Tunis and the conversion into a similar in- the Formative Age of the Faith and con-
stitution of the local Ha~iratu'l-Quds of stituting one of the noblest phases of the
Kampala. most glorious Crusade ever launched in the
Tenth, the formation of a National Bahi'i course of BahL'i history for the systematic
Publishing Trust in Cairo. propagation of the Cause of Bahi'u'llih over
Eleventh, the formation of an Israel the surface of the entire planet.
Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly

REPORT OF THE AFRICAN INTERCONTINENTAL
TEACHING CONFERENCE
I< AMPALA, Uganda, is one of the lovelier the four Bahb'i Intercontinental Conferences
and more temperate spots of Africa where was held.
the native African and the European are Meetings took place in a large and well-
not in bitter conflict. In this Protectorate made army Marquee erected on the spacious
from February 12 to 18, 1953, the first of attractive grounds of the Kampala Haziratu'l-
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 125

Quds. In that tent, which was literally and the past would result from our ability to
figuratively a tent of the Oneness of Man- strengthen the administrative order and
kind, two hundred and thirty-two BahCis, demonstrate the devotion and service which
representing thirty ethnic groups from nine- is the spirit of the Baha'i Faith.
teen countries of the continents of America, The Conference agenda was designed to
Asia, Europe and Africa, were assembled. draw upon the teaching and administrative
The Africans were well represented and con- experience of the Baha'is around the world.
stituted a majority of the Conference. They Talks of great wisdom, information and
came from eighteen tribes of Uganda and inspiration were given by the Hands of the
in addition, there were Baha'is from North, Cause, the Assembly representatives froin
South, East and West Africa. This mingling the United States, Great Britain, India and
of races and nationalities taking place on friin. The Africa pioneers who had done the
such a high and dignified level was produc- ground-breaking in Africa's widely differing
tive of much happiness and inspiration. areas contributed much in their down-to-
Thus the Kampala Conference demon- earth discussion of the pioneers' problems,
strated the ~ a h L ' i h a t t e r nfor harmony and and in their presentation of theAattitudes
unity among the children of men. Com- which they must be prepared to face and
pletely missing was the sense of alienation with which they must deal.
and tension characteristic of the meeting of Following are excerpts from some of the
races which have long practiced the embit- talks given:
tering separations established by old tradi- Horace Holley, American Hand of the
tions in Africa. The choice of the theme, Cause: 'Abdu'l-BahB said, "Blessed are those
"Light Over Africa," was amply justified. who work in groups." Small groups which
There was earnest consultation over the learn to solve their problems train them-
tasks and opportunities of the Great Teach- selves for larger problems. The small group
ing Crusade, the training of BahCi teachers, is but the flowerpot in which the seed is
the maturing of individual Baha'is to the planted. When the seed grows we transplant
spirit and principles of their Faith, and the it to a larger garden.
important work of developing and consoli- .
. . The BahCi local community with
dating BahCi groups and Assemblies the local assembly is civilization in minia-
throughout the African continent. ture. The individual begins to realize that
The earnest and beautiful prayers which the Faith establishes a social order. The uni-
opened the Conference gave it the momen- fied community is civilization. Human so-
tum and high spirit which prevailed. Fol- ciety is a series of human relationships. The
lowing this, powerful messages from the Be- Bahb'i Faith gives us the form of perfect
loved Guardian were read, giving a set of government for our own Baha'i affairs. Man
definite objectives and the magnificent scope is not wholly man until he learns the spirit
of the Crusade with its relationship to the of the Teachings.
development of the World Order of BahC- . . . The seed has all the potentialities of
u'116h. Along with these great messages, the the tree. The little group is the seed, and
Guardian sent a striking map of the world when it has attained a tiny sprout, com-
on which he had drawn the Crusade objec- munity development begins which will re-
tives, and, by means of colors and lines, sult in the maturity of the tree. God has no
charted the assignments and responsibilities time. He is timeless. Man conquers time
given to each cointry. when he is imbued with moral purpose. He
The messages and the maps were pre- knows that the power of God will bring His
sented by Leroy Ioas, Hand of the Cause, work to perfection.
who came as the Guardian's representative The Guardian wrote the American BahCis
to the Conference. He gave us the Beloved that the world is in dire need of the love of
Guardian's words and views, pointing out God. At every stage in the consolidation of
that through this Holy Crusade the BahCis the community, the friends must do their
would in ten years double the accomplish- utmost to convey the love that is born of
inents of the past one hundred and ten God.
years. "They will cover the earth with the 'AE Nal&java'ni, Persian pioneer to
glory of the Lord," thus fulfilling the ancient Africa: 'Abdu'l-BahB said that teaching is
prophecy of Daniel. He made us under- like the science of medicine. In each case
stand that the victories ahead like those of you find a different disease, and the treat-
African choir at Kampala Conference public meeting, singing "Lord, I want to be a Bah2i with a
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHAYU'LLiiH'S MISSION 127

ment changes accordingly. The Guardian ple working for certain ideas of civilization.
has given us the general principle for teach- In Africa, however, some of the groups have
ing in Africa, "One teaches the receptive not even evolved to the village stage, as we
souls one finds." Also in The Challenging know it in the West. The village for them
Requirements the Guardian emphasizes the is merely a boundary line for administration
fundamental prerequisites of Teaching and or collection of taxes. The African family
tells us teaching methods must be adapted often lives in two villages. There is little
to the various backgrounds, temperaments community life as we know it. As BahB'is
and susceptibilities of the races. the Africans have made the jump from a
The susceptibilities of the African people family or clan stage of society t o t h e sense
are (1) an abhorrence of any racial dis- of world community in only a few months.
crimination; (2) fear of plans and activities Only the power of BahB'u'llBh could have
originated by white people; ( 3 ) a dissatis- made this possible. It is only this power
faction with the methods used by mission- which can create a new society and environ-
aries; (4) a consciousness of the superiority ment for this progress.
of the outside world, coupled with a thirst The assuming of responsibility, as we un-
for knowledge and progress; (5) an under- derstand it in the West, will be new to the
standing and preference for simpler ideas; African. The African leaders never give
(6) a hesitation at the use of reason in the responsibility to the members of their flock.
study of religious methods; (7) an accept- They may dispense charity or similar ac-
ance of the teachings of the Church and the tions, but they never permit the development
Bible; (8) a sensitiveness and appreciation of responsibility. It must be noted, too, that
for true and sincere love, lack of prejudice the African has had very little experience in
and genuine hospitality; (9) a strong faith voting, in administrative responsibility and
in God and His Prophets. in the exercise of the mind over the dictates
. . . The first thing a pioneer must have of the heart; these are all new experiences
is devotion, understanding and love for the for him. The lack of equality between the
Guardian. He should study the writings con- sexes is another factor to be considered.
stantly and turn to the Guardian in his . . . The Bah2is must instill in the Afri-
heart. The second most important thing is can a crusading spirit for African advance-
prayer at all times, not in words, but in ment. They must demonstrate the Unity of
deeds. . . . Where there is more than one the Faith, and prove that they have come to
pioneer, there must be unity . . . real drive out disunity. To meet the need there
unity among the BahB'is. The spirit of love must be preparation, prayer, meditation,
and unity is absolutely necessary, or there study classes for deepening, and classes for
can be no success. Deeds not words must be educating the illiterate in every village. The
the attitude of the pioneer. Africans must be urged to help themselves
Philip Hainsworth, British pioneer to and to develop and share the Message of
Africa: An African once said to me . . . BahPu'llLh. . . .
"Our hearts are like mirrors, we reflect what
we see." Thus the African reflects the state The high spiritual note of the Conference
of mind of the person with whom he deals came when its participants were afforded the
or works. The white man's condemnation of privilege of viewing the photograph of the
the African is a condemnation of himself. portrait of the BBb which the Beloved
The success of the Persian pioneers is ex- Guardian had sent as a special gift. Prior
plained by the fact that they show such an to the actual viewing of the portrait, a short
abundance of love to the African who re- period was devoted to stories of the BBb re-
flects it back. lated by two Hands of the Cause, Mr.
Translation difficulties with the African Valiyu'll5h VarqL and Mr. Leroy Ioas. Mr.
language are not so much in words as in Varqi's story on the history of the portrait
ideas. The person of a narrow environment was as follows:
cannot understand the problems of the As part of a plot against the life of the
world. Then there are unique to Bgb, the Governor of Uriimiyyih invited
Africa. For thirteen hundred years the Him to the public bath when He arrived in
Islamic countries have been struggling to that city. A wild and dangerous horse,
develop ideas of nationalism. For two thou- notorious for its unruliness, was sent to the
sand years the Western world has had peo- BLb and the attendants accompanying the
horse had been instructed to run away as VarqS's father asked BahL'u'llBh if nine
soon as He had mounted. Under such cir- copies could be made for future Ma&riqu'l-
cumstances, the Governor was certain that Ad_hkBrs of the world but BahL'u'llBh said
the BBb would be killed. that only one or two copies could be made
On being told of the plot, the BBb merely of the countenance of that "Father of
replied, "I have left My Life in the Hands Beauty and Grandeur." The painter drew
of God." another and gave it to VarqB's father. When
According to plan, the dangerous horse He was martyred, this picture was taken to
was led to the Bib and as He mounted, the the House of the Bib and the original pencil
attendants ran away. At His first touch, sketch was taken to the House of the Mas-
however, the horse grew tame and gentle, ter.
carrying Him to the public bath calmly and Two water colors are in the World Center
comfortably. When the BBb dismounted, the Archives and another is at present in the
horse again became so unruly that seven or Royal Archives, but 'Abdu'l-BahB said the
eight men rushed to subdue it, but when the latter would come back to the BahS'is. The
BBb was ready to return home and the wild copy of the portrait sent to Kampala and
horse was once more led up to Him, the that sent to America are photographs of
same incidents occurred-the attendants the painting in the World Center Archives.
dashing away when the BBb mounted, and Mr. Leroy Ioas told the following story:
the dangerous horse becoming tame and When the BBb was martyred, His body
gentle. Thus, it carried the BBb back to His was thrown into a moat to be devoured by
home. dogs. This was done because there was a
Crowds of people who had heard of the verse in the Qur'in declaring that the dogs
vicious nature of the horse came to see the would not devour the body of the Promised
spectacle. They marveled at the behavior of One and they wished to make certain that
the animal, and to their simple minds the this prophecy would not apply to the BBb.
extraordinary demonstration appeared n6th- However, dogs did not molest the remains
ing short of a miracle. Therefore, when the and the body of the BBb was promptly res-
BBb left the bath, they hurried with recep- cued by the BBbis.
tacles and cloths to carry away every bit of Today the Guardian walks in the gardens
the water that had touched His Holy Person. on Mt. Carmel. He loves to point out that
After this episode, great numbers of peo- the most beautiful sepulcher in the world,
ple went to see the BAb and among them surrounded by lovely gardens, now houses
was a young painter who wanted to paint a those remains which were thrown into the
picture of the Holy Man. When he was per- moat, and that all over the world there are
mitted to visit Him and was ushered into friends who proclaim the Divinity and
His presence, the BAb gathered His 'ab6 Holiness of the Blessed BBb.
about Him, placed His hands on His knees The actual viewing of the portrait was an
and gazed intently at the painter, who stud- occasion of great reverence and spiritual
ied His face. On arriving home the painter dedication. Preceding the procession of the
tried to paint it from memory but could not, viewers, Mr. 'Ali-Akbar Furbtan, Hand of
so he went a second time to see the BBb. the Cause, chanted the Tablet of Visitation
Again the BAb pushed back His turban, in the original tongue. The portrait was set
drew His 'ab6 around Him, placed His upon a table covered with a fine silk cloth
hands on His knees and gazed intently at and adorned with roses. The believers
the painter. This whole incident was re- walked solemnly by so that they might gaze
peated once again and then the painter, hav- upon it. The Persians and Africans evi-
ing a perfect impression of the Countenance, denced great devotion, kneeling before the
drew the portrait with a pencil. When portrait and kissing the cloth beneath it.
Varq6s father was shown this portrait, he Tears streamed from many eyes, for every
asked the painter to do it in water color. heart was filled with love and respect for
This was executed and a copy sent to Bah2- the great suffering and service of the BAb
uYll6h, who upon receiving it, sent for a who was martyred for heralding the dawn of
great AfnAn, a cousin of the BBb, who hap- a World Faith.
pened to be in the Holy Land at that time, Along with the portrait the Guardian sent
to come and identify it. The AfnBn stated another very valuable and impressive gift to
that the portrait was a true likeness. the Conference. It was a beautifully lettered
CENTENARY O F BIRTH OF BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 129

Leroy Ioas greeting African BahB'is on behalf of the Guardian,
Kampala, Uganda, Africa, February, 1953.

scroll of portions of the BBb's Comme~ltary gave concentrated attention during the Con-
on the S h i h of Joseph. This magnificent ference. They followed the consultation
revelation of the BBb was the one He gave closely and frequently participated, express-
on the night of His announcement of His ing their views on matters discussed. Two
Station and Mission. The Guardian said that African women of the Teso tribe addressed
this Commentary was the Bible of the early the Conference, being particularly con-
BBbis and that the BBb sent portions of it to cerned with the emphasis the Faith places
BahB'u'llBh, Who when He read it, acknowl- upon education and freedom from preju-
edged the BBb. In this highly significant dice. Several of the speakers made an appeal
Commentary, the BBb addressed the rulers for BahL'i teachers and schools.
and leaders of the world, giving prophecies Conference languages were English, Per-
concerning the suffering which would come, sian, Teso and Swahili. The African and
and the extension of the Faith to Africa. In Persian interpreters did a masterful job of
it, also, He first called the people of the translating the talks and the ensuing dis-
West to issue forth from their cities in the cussions. They spoke with eloquence and
service of the Faith. ease, so that none of the listeners lost the
Despite their primitive background, the expression and fire of what was said.
African Bahl'is showed great interest and The Persian Bahi'is brought a unique
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

spirit to the Conference. There was a spon- attracted lively comment in the Kampala
taneous and natural friendliness about them press and from it came an opportunity to
and they showed the African believers great reply to an article which misstated the teach-
courtesy and whole-hearted dection. One ings of the Faith. In addition to the public
of them, Tadw'llih Samandari, the only meetings and the press publicity, mention
living Hand of the Cause who saw Bah2u'- should be made of the two fine window dis-
llhh, enchanted all with the stories and remi- plays in prominent shops on the main street
niscences of his visit with Him. of Kampala, which were arranged by the
The American BahB'is also won the inter- Collisons and the Elstons, American pio-
est of the Africans who seemed eager to neers. The displays were of books, posters
learn about America and asked many ques- and pamphlets on the Faith, pictures of the
tions about it. The spirit of America's Louis Temple in Wihnette, and a circle of dolls
Gregory, first Negro Hand of the Cause, was which represented the various races and na-
keenly felt at the Conference. The story of tionalities. These windows drew crowds of
his life, as published by the National Spirit- people.
ual Assembly of the United States, was The Conference released a special booklet
eagerly read and the Africans expressed for teaching use in Africa. It was The
keen interest and deep admiration for this BahBi Life, an unusually fine compilation of
distinguished servant of the Cause of Bahg- the teachings selected and arranged by Rex
u'llih who devoted his life to the promulga- and Mary Collison for the British Africa
tion of the Teachings. Several asked that Teaching Committee who published it.
a large picture of Louis Gregory be sent to The Conference closed on a high note of
the Ha~iratu'l-Qudsin Kampala. dedication. Every believer there understood
Two public meetings were held in con- the grave responsibilities the BahB'is face
nection with the Conference in Kampala. as they enter upon the greatest religious
The first was at Makere College, the leading Crusade in history and every one resolved
college in East Africa for African natives, to share in the great task of achieving the
and was well attended by Europeans, Afri- goals. All knew that the victories sought
cans and Asians. Horace Holley, American come only through deeds which express
Hand of the Cause, and H. M. Balyuzi of sincere devotion, wisdom, purity of heart,
Great Britain were the speakers. The second and courageous and tireless service in the
was held under the Conference Marquee promotion of that which will advance the
and the speakers were Dorothy Baker, unity of mankind. The spiritual influence
American Hand of the Cause, and Matthew and fellowship this Conference generated
Bullock of the United States. This meeting will be far-reaching in its effect upon Africa.

AFRICA'S NEW HORIZON

I N THE months preceding the Kampala Most of the African BahB'is had joined the
Conference the Guardian spoke to many Faith during the six months preceding the
of the pilgrims who came to Haifa of the Conference, and the majority of them came
African BahB'is and how pure-hearted they from the interior bush country where they
were. Some of the pilgrims wondered how had had little contact with governmental
these Africans, coming from so primitive a processes. To this Conference came Bahi'is
culture, could integrate themselves in the of nineteen countries outside of Africa, and
BahB'i world which was trying to emerge as Africans representing thirty tribes. Even
the highest type of civilization the world had those in charge of the program could
yet known. It seemed beyond comprehen- scarcely visualize the result of mingling such
sion that these primitive people could learn, diverse elements of race and culture.
in so short a time, to function according to From the very moment that the African
Bahi'i principles when it had taken BahB'is Bahi'is began to arrive in Kampala and to
from the more highly developed countries meet the BahCs of other countries, new and
decades to evolve working communities. dazzling facets of the unity of the human
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 131

race appeared to all the participants with a the Aggrey Memorial School, composed a
brilliant clarity. Racial and cultural differ- letter to the Conference in which they wrote
ences disappeared into a pattern of unity. that they were glad of the long history of
For all the world to see, here was the ex- martyrdoms in the BahC'i Faith because
ample of an emerging world commonwealth when they might perhaps suffer a similar
with all races joining hands in a united ef- fate in teaching their African brothers they
fort for the betterment of all. Racial and would have this noble example before them.
cultural differences properly became the They went on to say that should they be
variations which added richness and color burned for their Faith they would hope
to men's lives rather than becoming sources that their ashes would be blown over Africa
of contention. Imbued with the noble prin- to fertilize the soil for the planting of the
ciples of the Teachings of Bah$u'llBh, de- seeds of the BahB'i Faith.
signed to weld the races of man together, All the Africans who spoke showed by
there was no difficulty whatever in making their comments how well they had grasped
a bridge from one Bahi'i to another, re- the basic principles of the Faith. Though the
gardless of national or racial origin. Ani- position of women in Africa is not high, the
mated by the same great purposes, the force women spoke with ease and freedom and
of unity increased with each passing day of declared their intention to share in the task
the Conference. It soon became apparent of teaching Africa. Both men and women
that the so-called diierences that divide men found in their Faith a fresh objective view-
were wholly imaginary and that all peoples point on the problems of Africa itself. More
have the same capacity to take their proper than that, their horizon had been broadened
share, as brothers, in the advancement of to include not only their own continent but
civilization. all the world. There was a newly acquired
The African BahB'is, in accepting the sense of responsibility that cried out for
principles of the Faith, had bridged a gap action-not action to overcome their prob-
of six thousand years of civilization and had lems by force, but to foster their own de-
advanced to a viewpoint which has not as velopment and that of their continent by
yet been achieved by the peoples of highly teaching the principles of their Faith. All
evolved nations. In the many hours of con- pleaded for education so that they might
sultation during the nine days of the Con- truly take their places as citizens of the
ference they spoke with dignity and wisdom world.
as individuals and not as "blocks" of people. This Conference, the first of four Inter-
When they voted on any question by 6 &ow continental Bahb'i Conferences, was also the
of hands it was easy to see that all were vot- first time that large groups of Bahgt'is from
ing as individuals and not by national or different continents had gathered to work
racial blocks. Though the Africans had had together. The ease with which all national
no previous experience in such conferences, and cultural barriers were hurdled bccame
both men and women freely participated in apparent even the first day. Orientals, Af-
an orderly fashion in the discussion of vari- ricans and Occidentals found no dificulty
ous questions. in understanding each other's viewpoint.
The BahB'is coming from outside of Af- Midway in the Conference it would have
rica were deeply moved to see and hear the been difficult for an outside observer to
many evidences of the love that the African guess that the participants had, for the most
Bahii't'is bore for their new-found Faith. part, never met until the Conference opened.
Their faith was no passing emotional fancy There was an atmosphere of love, trust and
but a firmly rooted conviction that they had mutual respect which blended all into a
found the truth for this day. Some spoke of cooperative whole, moving forward together
the fact that they wished it to be understood toward the great goal destined to launch the
that they had not come for material gain whole earth into a new era of understanding.
but for spiritual enrichment. Many spoke of Touching, indeed, to Bahgis long in the
their desire to teach their fellow Africans. Faith, were the devotion and respect of these
They considered it their responsibility to new Bahi'is, their desire to know everything
awaken their fellow Africans to this light in the Bahi'i books, their expressions of sur-
which had newly illumined their lives. A prise and joy when they realized that the
group of young men coming from diierent National Headquarters building belonged to
parts of Africa who were then attending them! Every one of the thousands of martyrs
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

who died for their Faith in the early years light on all the civilized world. Like them,
of its history would surely have felt his the Africans at once realized the burning
death newly vindicated in the glowing faces truth of Bahb'u'llgh's Message. Like them,
of these new Bahb'is as they walked with they longed to hasten with the tidings to
devout feet before the Portrait of the Bgb. their fellow-men. From them flows a dy-
In Him they saw the Herald who had given namic force of belief that will hasten the
His life that men might find the Promised emergence of their great continent and will,
One. in turn, spread its influence to other parts
BahL'is present who had been in the of the world.
Faith for many years felt a sharp sting of This Conference forever laid to rest the
remorse when the Africans asked why the time-worn idea that primitive people are
Bahb'is had waited one hundred and nine child-like and cannot shoulder their share of
years before bringing them the joyful tidings responsibility for world development. They,
of a new day. Well might they reproach like all other peoples, can readily assume
themselves, having at last discovered that in their place when their hearts and minds are
the heart of Africa were millions of souls won over to a noble ideal, divinely inspired.
untainted by the materialism now eating into This is the alchemy that brings the true
the vitals of the Western world. Here, wait- brotherhood of man and true progress in
ing, were a people as pure in heart as those civilization.
who first believed in Jesus Christ. The Though it was the Africans who thanked
Guardian has said that many of the Africans the Bahb'i visitors for having demonstrated
had accepted the BahB'i Faith like the Chris- to them the unity of man, it was the visitors
tians in The Boolc of Acts. Indeed, many who learned the profound lesson that spirit-
had come through dreams and visions as ually, there are no primitive people-only
did the early Christians whose faith shed those waiting to be awakened.
3. T H E A L L - A M E R I C A I N T E R -
CONTINENTAL TEACHING CONFERENCE
HELD I N CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A.,
A P R I L 29-MAY 6, 1953
THE GUARDIAN'S MESSAGES TO THE CONFERENCE

KHANUM
Presented by R ~ H ~ Y Y IH

0 N THE occasion of the launching of an
epochal, global, spiritual, decade-long cru-
course of the nlinistry of the Center of the
Covenant in twenty additional sovereign
sade, constituting the high-water mark of states and dependencies in both hemi-
the festivities commemorating the Centenary spheres, this Faith has spread, since the as-
of the birth of the Mission of BahB'u'llBh, cension of 'Abdu'l-BahL, to ninety-four
coinciding with the ninetieth Anniversary of countries, raising the total number of the
the Declaration of that same Mission in the territories within its pale to one hundred
Garden of Ridvkn, and synchronizing with twenty-nine, no less than eighteen of which
both the convocation of the All-American were added in a single year, while fifty-one
Intercontinental Teaching Conference in were opened in the course of the nine year
Chicago, and the fiftieth Anniversary of the interval separating the first from the second
inception of the holiest Mahriqu'l-Ad_hkLr BahL'i Jubilee. The number of eastern and
of the BahL'i world and its dedication to western languages into which its literature
public worship-on such a solemn and his- has been translated and printed, or is in the
toric occasion I invite His followers, the process of translation, and which reached
world over, to contemplate with me the forty-one a decade ago, is now ninety-one,
glorious and manifold evidences of the on- including thirteen African and twenty-five
ward march of His Faith and of the steady Indian and Burmese languages. The number
unfoldment of its embryonic World Order of settlements in Greenland provided with
both in the Holy Land and in the five con- BahVi Scriptures in the Greenlandic tongue
tinents of the globe. has been raised to forty-eight, including
This infinitely precious Faith, despite Thule beyond the Arctic Circle and Etah
eleven decades of uninterrupted persecution, near the 80th latitude, whilst Bahgi litera-
on the part of governments and ecclesiastics, ture in that same language has been des-
involving the martyrdom of its Prophet- patched as far north as the radio station at
Herald, the four banishments and forty- Brondlunsfjord, Pearyland, 82nd latitude,
year-long exile suffered by its Founder, the the northernmost outpost of the world. Rep-
forty years of incarceration inflicted upon resentatives of thirty-one races and of
its Exemplar, and the sacrifice of no less twenty-four African tribes have been en-
than twenty thousand of its followers, has rolled in the Bahi'i World Community.
succeeded in firmly establishing itself in all Contact has been established with the fol-
the continents of the globe, and is irresistibly lowing seventeen minority groups and races:
forging ahead, with accelerating momentum the Eskimos of Alaska and Greenland, the
bidding fair to envelop, at the close of the Lapps of Scandinavia, the Maoris of New
coming decade, the whole planet with the Zealand, the Sea-Dayaks of Sarawak, the
radiance of its splendor. Polynesians of the Fiji Islands, the Cree In-
Confined within the lifetime of its Martyr dians of Prairie Provinces, Canada, the
Prophet to two countries, reaching during Cherokee Indians in North Carolina, the
the period of the ministry of its Author thir- Oneida Indians in Wisconsin, the Omaha In-
teen' other lands; planting its banner in the dians in Nebraska, the Seminole Indians in
I-33
134 T H E B A H A 'I W O R L D

Florida, the Mexican Indians in Mexico, the way for the formation of a BahL'i Inter-
Indians of the San Blas Islands, the Indians national Court and the eventual emergence
of Chichicastenango in Guatemala, the of the Universal House of Justice, the Su-
Mayans in Yucatan, the Patagonian Indians preme Legislative Body of the future Bahi'i
in Argentina, the Indians of La Paz in Commonwealth, has been established, en-
Bolivia and the Inca Indians in Peru. larged, and the functions of its members
The national Plans, formulated and vig- defined. The number of the pillars of the
orously and systematically prosecuted, in Universal House of Justice has been raised
the course of the concluding years of the to twelve through the successive formation
first, and the opening years of the second, of the Canadian, the Central American, the
epoch of the Formative Age of the Faith, by South American and the Italo-Swiss Na-
the Bahi'i Communities in the United tional Spiritual Assemblies. The stupendous
States, in Persia, in the British Isles, in Latin process of the rise and consolidation of the
America, in Canada, in India, Pbkistbn and World Administrative Center of the Faith
Burma, in 'Iriq, in Australia and New Zea- has been accelerated through the acquisi-
land, in Germany and Austria, in Egypt and tion, in the Plain of 'AkkL, of a one hundred
the SudLn, have raised the number of BahQi and sixty thousand square meter area, sur-
centers established in both hemispheres to rounding the Qiblih of the Bahi'i world,
two thousand five hundred maintained by permitting of the extension of the Outer
representatives of the white, the black, the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Tomb-to be
yellow, the red and the brown races of man- designated henceforth the Haram-i-Aqdas-
kind, comprising ten in the Arabian Penin- through the initiation, at the inception of
sula, over thirty in Egypt and the ShdBn, the Holy Year, of the landscaping and em-
over forty in the recently opened European bellishment of a tenth of the acquired area,
goal countries, over fifty in the British Isles, and through the adoption of measures for
over sixty in Australia, New Zealand and the extensive illumination of the entire Sanc-
Tasmania, over seventy in Germany and tuary and the erection of stately portals con-
Austria, over ninety in Canada, over ninety stituting a befitting tribute to the memory of
in India, Pbkistin and Burma, over one the Author of the Faith, within the Sacred
hundred in Central and South America, over Precincts of His Sepulcher, on the occasion
six hundred in Persia and over one thousand of the celebration of the Greatest Festival of
two hundred in the United States of Amer- the Year commemorating the Centenary of
ica. The Superstructure of the Sepulcher of the birth of His Mission. The fifty-year-old
the Martyr Herald of the Faith-a three- enterprise, involving the purchase of land
quarters of a million dollar enterprise-is for the construction, the exterior and inte-
nearing completion, on the slopes of the rior ornamentation, and the landscaping of
Mountain of God, within the heart of the the grounds of, the holiest House of Wor-
Holy Land, the nest of the Prophets, and ship ever to be reared to the glory of the
the divinely chosen Spiritual and Adminis- Most Great Name, the Mother Temple of
trative Center of the Bahi'i world. The the West, and involving the expenditure of
preliminary measures, heralding the unfold- over two and a half million dollars, has been
ment of the institution of Guardianship, the consummated, in time for its dedication to
pivot of 'Abdu'l-BahQs Will and Testament, public worship during the Ridvbn period of
have been adopted, through the appointment this Holy Year coinciding with both the
of the first two contingents of the Hands of fiftieth anniversary of the inception of this
the Cause, numbering nineteen, recruited enterprise and the one hundredth anniver-
from the five continents of the globe, repre- sary of the birth of Bahi'u'llbh's ministry.
sentative in their extraction of the three The design for the Ma&riqu'l-Adhkbr on
principal religions of mankind, and consti- Mt. Carmel, conceived by the architect ap-
tuting the nucleus of that august institution pointed by 'Abdu'l-BahL, has been com-
invested with such weighty and sacred func- pleted, and a model constructed, which is
tions by the Center of BahB'u'llBh's Cove- soon to be unveiled at the All-America
nant. The International Bahi'i Council, Intercontinental Teaching Conference, in
comprising eight members, charged with as- anticipation of the selection and the pur-
sisting in the manifold activities attendant chase of its future site, and of its ultimate
upon the rise of the World Administrative construction in the neighborhood of the
Center of the Faith, which must pave the Bib's Sepulcher. The total area of Bah2i
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 135

international endowments, surrounding and America. The Bahb'i Holy Days have been
permanently dedicated to the Tomb of the recognized by the Ministry of Education of
BLb has been raised, through recent succes- the State of Israel, in the British Isles, by the
sive purchases of extensive plots, overlook- state of Victoria in Australia, in Anchorage,
ing that hallowed Spot, to almost one- Alaska, in Washington, D.C. and in seven
quarter of a million square meters. The states of the American Union. National
estimated value of the Bahb'i international Bahb'i Conferences have been held in recent
endowments and holy Places at the World years in Bern, Ziirich, Basel, Rome; Na-
Center of the Faith, in the twin cities of tional Bahi'i Women's Conventions and
'Akki and Haifa, has passed the four mil- Youth Conferences have convened in Tih-
lion dollar mark. The Bahb'i national en- rin, whilst Regional Teaching Conferences
dowments in the United States of America have been organized in Buenos Aires, in
now exceed three million dollars. The area Panama City, in Scandinavia, in the Iberian
of land purchased on the slopes of the Peninsula, and in the Benelux countries.
Elburz Mountains, overlooking the city of European International Teaching Confer-
Tihrin, in anticipation of the construction ences have been convened successively in
of the first Ma&riquYl-A&kir of Persia, has Geneva, in Brussels, in Copenhagen, in
reached approximately four million square Scheveningen and in Luxembourg City, pav-
meters. The area of land dedicated to the ing the way for the convocation of four suc-
Shrine of Bahb'u'IlLh, in the vicinity of the cessive Intercontinental Teaching Confer-
confines of the Holy Land, exceeds two mil- ences, the first of which has recently been
lion three hundred thousand square meters. held in Kampala, in the heart of the African
The area of land dedicated to the Shrine of continent, the rest to be successively con-
the Bib and registered in the name of the vened in Wilmette, Illinois, in Stockholm
Israel Branch of the National Spiritual As- and in New Delhi-Conferences which,
sembly of the Bahb'is of the United States God willing, will be the forerunners of the
' of America, is more than one hundred thou- World Bahb'i Congress, to be convened in
sand square meters. Over one hundred and the City of Baghdid, on the occasion of the
fifty thousand square meters of land have centenary of The formal assumption by
been dedicated to the Faith in the Antipo- Bahb'u'llih of His prophetic Office. Recog-
des, eighty thousand square meters in the nition has been extended to the Faith by the
Territory of Alaska, whilst the lands con- United Nations as an international non-
tributed in Latin America for a similar pur- governmental organization enabling the
pose approximate one-half of a million Bahb'i International Community to appoint
square meters, ninety thousand of which accredited representatives, who have already
have been set aside near Santiago, Chile for attended, in their capacity as observers, the
the first Ma&riquYl-A&kkb of South Amer- Conference on Human Rights held in Ge-
ica. The estimated value of the National neva and the United Nations General As-
Bahi'i administrative headquarters estab- sembly held in Paris and participated in
lished in Tihrin, in Wilmette, Illinois, in United Nations regional non-governmental
BaghdLd, in Cairo, in New Delhi, in Sydney, conferences, held in localities as far apart
in Trankfurt and in Toronto, exceed one as New York, Santiago, Manila, Istanbul,
and three-quarters of a million dollars. The Den Passar, Paris, Managua, Geneva and
Bahb'i Spiritual Assemblies now incorpo- Montevideo.
rated number one hundred and fourteen, of So glorious a record of accomplishments
which nine are national and the rest local in the service of the Faith of Bahi'u'lltih,
Assemblies, fifty-six of which are in the whether local, national or international, in
United States of America, sixteen in India, both the teaching and administrative spheres
eleven in South America, six in Central of Bah6'i activity, can be regarded in no
America, three each in Pikistin, in Burma other light than as a prelude to a period of
and in Canada, two in Australia and one prodigious expansion and consolidation to
each in Germany, in BaluchistLn, in New be inaugurated by the launching of a global
Zealand, in the Philippine Islands and in spiritual crusade, on the threshold of which
Malaya. The Bah&'iMarriage Certificate has the Bah6'i world now stands. This crusade
been recognized by the Israel Civil Authori- extending through ten years will involve the
ties, as well as by twenty-one federal dis- simultaneous prosecution of twelve National
tricts and states of the United States of Plans, will necessitate the active and sus-
136 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

tained participation of each of the twelve ing the Bahi'i World Community with the
existing National Spiritual Assemblies rep- United Nations; the opening to the Faith,
resenting no less than thirty-six nations and circumstances permitting, of eleven Repub-
will demand the utmost exertion, consecra- lics comprised in the Soviet Union, as well
tion and heroism. It aims at the broadening as two Soviet-controlled European states-
and the reinforcement of the foundations of all, please God, culminating in the convoca-
the Faith in each of the twelve areas that tion of a World Bah6'i Congress, in the
are to serve as operational bases for the vicinity of the Garden of Ridvin, in the
prosecution of these twelve National Plans; third holiest city of the BahL'i world, on the
the opening of one hundred and thirty-one occasion of the world-wide celebrations
territories to the Faith, the consolidation of commemorating the centenary of the formal
one hundred and eighteen territories; the assumption by BahL'u'llLh of His prophetic
translation and printing of literature in Office.
ninety-one languages; the construction of Let there be no mistake. The avowed, the
two Ma&iqu'l-Ad&k6rs; the acquisition of primary aim of this Spiritual Crusade is
sites for the f ~ ~ t u rconstruction
e of eleven none other than the conquest of the citadels
Temples; the formation of forty-eight Na- of men's hearts. The theater of its operations
tional Spiritual Assemblies; the founding of is the entire planet. Its duration a whole dec-
forty-seven National Ijaziratu'l-Quds; the ade. Its commencement synchronizes with
incorporation of fifty National Spiritual As- the Centenary of the birth of BahL'u'llLh's
semblies; the framing of BahL'i national Mission. Its culmination will coincide with
constitutions and the establishment of BahL'i the Centenary of the Declaration of that
national endowments by each of these Na- same Mission. The agencies assisting in its
tional Assemblies; the adoption of prelimi- conduct are the nascent administrative insti-
nary measures for the construction of BahL'- tutions of a steadily evolving divinely ap-
u'llLh's Sepulcher; the erection of the first pointed Order. Its driving force is the ener-
Dependency of the first Maariqu'l-AdJhkir gizing influence generated by the Revelation
of the western world; the development of heralded by the BLb and proclaimed by
the institution of the Hands of the Cause; BahL'u'llLh. Its Marshal is none other than
the transformation of the International the Author of the Divine Plan. Its standard-
BahL'i Council into an international B a h a bearers are the Hands of the Cause of God
court; the codification of the Laws and appointed in every continent of the globe.
Ordinances of the KitLb-i-Aqdas; the estab- Its generals are the twelve National Spiritual
lishment of six National BahL'i Courts in the Assemblies participating in the execution of
chief cities of the Islamic East; the extension its design. Its vanguard is the chief executors
of international BahL'i endowments in the of 'Abdu'l-Bahi's Master Plan, their allies
Plain of 'Akki and on the slopes of Mt. Car- and associates. Its legions are the rank and
mel; the construction of the International file of believers standing behind these same
Bahi'i Archives in the neighborhood of the twelve National Assemblies and sharing in
BLb's Sepulcher; the construction of the the global task embracing the American, the
Tomb of the BLb's wife in SJhirfiz; the iden- European, the African, the Asiatic and
tification of the resting-places of Bahg- Australian fronts. The charter directing its
u'llfih's father, of the BLb's mother and of course is the immortal Tablets that have
His cousin and their reburial in the neigh- flowed from the Pen of the Center of the
borhood of the Most Great House; the ac- Covenant Himself. The armor with which
quisition of the Garden of Ridvin in Bagh- its onrushing hosts have been invested is the
did, and of the sites of the SiyLh-GhLl in glad tidings of God's own Message in this
Tihrkn, of the Bfib's martyrdom in Tabriz Day, the principles underlying the Order
and of His incarceration in Ghihriq; the es- proclaimed by His Messenger, and the laws
tablishment of six BahL'i National Publish- and ordinances governing His Dispensation.
ing Trusts; the formation of seven Israel The battlecry animating its heroes and
Branches of Bahi'i National Spiritual As- heroines is the cry of YL BahL'u'l-Abhi, Y i
semblies; the participation of women in the 'Aliyyu'l-A'li' .
membership of Bahl'i local and national So vast, so momentous and challenging a
Spiritual Assemblies in Persia; the establish- crusade that will, God willing, illuminate
ment of a Bahi'i National Printing-Press in the annals of the second epoch of the Form-
Tihr5n; the reinforcement of the ties bind- ative Age of the Faith of BahL'u'llLh, and
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 137

immortalize the second decade of the second Light, shining with added brilliancy in its
Bahi'i century, and the termination of crystal globe in Adrianople, aiid later on in
which will mark the closing of the first the fortress-town of 'Akks, to thirteen coun-
Epoch in the evolution of 'Abdu'l-BahB's tries in the Asiatic and African continents.
Divine Plan, will, in itself, pave the way for, The seventh was its projection, from the
and constitute the prelude to, the initiation Most Great Prison, in the course of the
of the laborious and tremendously long proc- ministry of the Center of the Covenant,
ess of establishing in the course of subse- across the seas and the shedding of its illu-
quent crusades in all the newly opened mination upon twenty sovereign states and
sovereign states, dependencies and islands of dependencies in the American, the Euro-
the planet, as well as in all the remaining pean, and Australian continents. The eighth
territories of the globe, the framework of part of that process was the diffusion of that
the Administrative Order of the Faith, with same Light in the course of the first, and the
all its attendant agencies, and of eventually opening years of the second, epoch of the
erecting in these territories still more pillars Formative Age of the Faith, over ninety-
to share in sustaining the weight, and in four sovereign states, dependencies and
broadening the foundation, of the Universal islands of the planet, as a result of the prose-
House of Justice. cution of a series of national Plans, initiated
Then, and only then, will the vast, the by eleven National Spiritual Assemblies
majestic process, set in m o t i ~ i iat the dawn throughout the Bahi'i world, utilizing the
of the Adamic cycle, attain its consumrna- agencies of a newly emerged, divinely ap-
tion-a process which commenced six thou- pointed Administrative Order, and which
sand years ago, with the planting, in the soil has now culnlinated in the One Hundredth
of the Divine Will, of the Tree of Divine Anniversary of the birth of Bahi'u'llih's
Revelation, and which has already passed Mission. The ninth part of this process-the
through certain stages and must needs pass stage we are now entering-is the further
through still others ere it attains its final diff~lsionof that same Light over one hun-
consummation. The first part of this process dred and thirty-one additional territories and
was the slow and steady growth of this Tree islands in both the Eastern and Western
of Divine Revelation, successively putting Hemispheres, through the operation of a
forth its branches, shoots and offshoots, and decade-long world spiritual crusade whose
revealing its leaves, buds and blossoms, as a termination will, God willing, coincide with
direct consequence of the light and warmth, the Most Great Jubilee commemorating the
imparted to it by a series of progressive centenary of the Declaration of Bahi'u'llBh
Dispensations associated with Moses, Zoro- in Baghdid. And finally the tenth part of
aster, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad and other this mGhtY process must be the penetration
Prophets, and of the vernal showers of blood of that Light, in the course of numerous
shed by countless martyrs in their path. The Crusades and of successive epochs of both
second part of this process was the fruition the Formative and Golden Ages of the
of this Tree, "that belongeth neither to the Faith, into all the remaining territories of
East nor to the West," when the BBb ap- the globe through the erection of the entire
peared as the Perfect Fruit and declared His machinery of Bahi'u'llih's Administrative
Mission in the Year Sixty in the City of Order in all territories, both East and West,
Khiriz. The third part was the grinding of the stage at which the Light of God's tri-
this sacred Seed, of infinite preciousness and umphant Faith shining in all its power and
potency, in the mill of adversity causing it glory will have suffused and enveloped the
to yield its oil, six years later, in the City of entire planet.
Tabriz. The fourth part was the ignition of This present Crusade, on the threshold of
this oil by the Hand of Providence in the which we now stand, will, moreover, by
depths and amidst the darkness of the Siyih- virtue of the dynamic forces it will release
Chi1 of Tihrin a hundred years ago. The aiid its wide repercussions over the entire
fifth, was the clothing of that flickering surface of the globe, contribute effectually
Light, which had scarcely penetrated the to the acceleration of yet another process of
adjoining territory of 'Iriq, in the lamp of tremendous significance which will carry the
Revelation, after an eclipse lasting no less steadily evolving Faith of BahB'u'llih
than ten years, in the City of Baghdid. The through its present stages of obscurity, of
sixth, was the spread of the radiance of that repression, of emancipation and of recogni-
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

tion-stages one or another of which BahL'i Christ-promised Kingdom of God on earth
national communities in various parts of the -the Kingdom of BahL'u'llhh-mirroring
world now find themselves in, to the stage of however faintly upon this humble handful
establishment, the stage at which the Faith of dust the glories of the AbhL Kingdom.
of BahL'u'llih will be recognized by the civil This final and crowning stage in the evo-
authorities as the State Religion, similar to lution of the Plan wrought by God Himself
that which Christianity entered in the years for humanity will, in turn, prove to be the
following the death of the Emperor Con- signal for the birth of a world civilization,
stantine, a stage which must later be fol- incomparable in its range, its character and
lowed by the emergence of the BahB'i state potency, in the history of mankind,-a civi-
itself, functioning, in all religious and civil lization which posterity will, with one voice,
matters, in strict accordance with the Laws acclaim as the fairest fruit of the Golden
and Ordinances of the KitQb-i-Aqdas, the Age of the Dispensation of BahL'u'llhh, and
Most Holy, the Mother-Book of the BahL'i whose rich harvest will be garnered during
Revelation, a stage which, in the fullness of future Dispensations destined to succeed one
time, will culminate in the establishment of another in the course of the five thousand
the World BahL'i Commonwealth, function- century BahL'i Cycle.
ing in the plenitude of its powers, and which -SHOGHI
will signalize the long-awaited advent of the May 4, 1953.

(2)
Presented by R ~ H ~ WKHANUM
IH

T O THE Hands of the Cause, the members summons issued by the Author of the Bahi'i
of the National Spiritual Assemblies, the Faith Himself, and enshrined for all time in
pioneers, the resident believers and visitors the Mother-Book of His Revelation and
attending the All-America Intercontinental Repository of His Laws, and addressed col-
Teaching Conference in Chicago, Illinois, lectively to the rulers of the entire Western
U.S.A. Hemisphere, conferring upon them an
honor such as has not been conferred by
Well-beloved Friends: Him on the rulers of any other continent of
With a heart overflowing with joy and the globe. With a throbbing heart I call to
thankfulness I acclaim, at this hour marking mind, at a distance of more than a century,
the climax of the world-wide festivities of since the Herald of the Faith bade in His
this Holy Year, the convocation, in the heart Qayyhmu'l-AsmB' the "peoples of the West"
of the North American continent and under to "issue forth" from their "cities" to aid His
the shadow of the newly consecrated Mother Cause, the long series of events which have
Temple of the West, of the second and, illuminated the annals of Bahsi history in
without doubt, the most distinguished of the the course of six memorable decades stretch-
four Intercontinental Teaching Conferences ing from the time when the name of BahL'-
commemorating the Centenary of the incep- u'llih was first publicly mentioned on the
tion of the Mission of Bahi'u'llih. On the American continent to the present hour
occasion of the opening of this epoch- when the first Mahriqu'l-AihkQr of the
making Conference, at which members of West has finally been dedicated to public
the United States, the Canadian, the Cen- worship on the occasion of the celebrations
tral American and South American National signalizing the termination of the first cen-
Spiritual Assemblies, as well as representa- tury since the birth of His Mission. I can
tives of the BahL'i Communities in the States but, at this juncture, touch upon certain out-
of the American Union, in the Provinces of standing episodes which, viewed in their
the Dominion of Canada, in Alaska, and in proper perspective, may well be regarded as
the Republics of Latin America, are as- landmarks in the rise and development of
sembled, I recall the unique, the historic, the the Faith of BahL'u'llQh throughout the
highly significant and profoundly moving Americas. I am particularly reminded of the
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 139

holding of the World Parliament of Reli- the incorporation of no less than four na-
gions of Chicago in September 1893; of the tional, and of more than fifty local, BahB'i
arrival of the first American Bahi'i pilgrims Spiritual Assemblies; in the recognition by
in the Holy Land in December 1898; of the eighteen States of the American Union of
inception of the Temple enterprise in June the Bahi'i Marriage Certificate; in the estab-
1903; of the opening of the first American lishment of two national administrative
BahB'i Convention in March 1909; of headquarters, one in the Dominion of Can-
'Abdu'l-BahB's arrival in America in April ada and the other in the heart of the North
1912; of the laying by Him of the corner- American continent; in the framing of na-
stone of the Mahriqu'l-Ad_hkh in May tional BahPi constitutions; in the inaugura-
1912; of the unveiling of the Tablets of the tion of summer schools; and in a notable
Divine Plan in April 1919; of the birth and progress in the translation, the printing and
rise of the Bahb'i Administrative Order on the dissemination of BahB'i literature.
the morrow of 'Abdu'l-BahB's ascension; The hour has now struck for the National
of the official inauguration of 'Abdu'l-BahA's Bahi'i Communities dwelling within the
Plan through the launching of the first confines of the Western Hemisphere-the
Seven-Year Teaching enterprise in April first region in the Western World to be
1937; of the completion of the exterior warmed and illuminated by the rays of
ornamentation of the Mas_hriqu'l-Ad_hkir, God's infant Faith shining from its World
on the eve of the Centenary Celebrations of Center in the Holy Land-to arise and, in
the Founding of the Faith, in May 1944; of thanksgiving for the manifold blessings con-
the inception of the second Seven-Year Plan tinually showered upon them from on high
in April 1946; of the formation of an inde- during the past six decades and for the in-
pendent National Spiritual Assembly in the estimable bounties of God's unfailing pro-
Dominion of Canada in April 1948; of the tection and sustaining grace vouchsafed His
establishment of the National Spiritual As- Cause ever since its inception more than a
semblies of Central and South America in century ago, and in anticipation of the Most
April 1951; and of the completion of the Great Jubilee which will commemorate the
interior ornamentation of the Temple in hundredth anniversary of BahB'u'll&h's for-
October 1952. mal assumption of His Prophetic Office,
So remarkable a development in the launch, determinedly and unitedly, the third
course of the past six decades, spanning the and last stage of an enterprise inaugurated
concluding phase of the Heroic, and the sixteen years ago, the termination of which
opening decade of the Formative, Age of will mark the closing of the initial epoch in
the Faith, and encompassing the length and the evolution of 'Abdu'l-BahL's Divine Plan.
breadth of a continent, so greatly blessed, so Standing on the threshold of a ten-year
richly endowed, has resulted in the extension long, world-embracing spiritual crusade
of the ramifications of a nascent Administra- these Communities are now called upon, by
tive Order to every State of the American virtue of the weighty pronouncement re-
Union, to every Province of the Dominion corded in the Most Holy Book, and in direct
of Canada, and to every Republic of Central consequence of the revelation of the Tablets
and South America; in the construction, the of the Divine Plan, to play a preponderating
ornamentation, and the dedication to public role in the systematic propagation of the
worship of the first Mas_hriqu'l-Ad_hkgr of Faith, in the course of the coming decade,
the Western World; in the erection of no less which will, God willing, culminate in the
than four pillars destined with others to sus- spiritual conquest of the entire planet.
tain the weight of the final and crowning It is incumbent upon the members of the
unit of the Administrative Structure of the American BahB'i Community, the chief ex-
Faith; in the establishment of over ninety ecutors of 'Abdu'l-BahPs Divine Plan, the
centers in the Dominion of Canada, of over members of the Canadian BahL'i Commu-
an hundred centers in Latin America, and of nity acting as their allies, and the members
over twelve hundred centers in the Great of the Latin American BahB'i Communities
Republic of the West, covering a range that in their capacity as associates in the execu-
stretches from the Arctic Circle in the North tion of this Plan, to brace themselves and
to the extremity of Chile in the South; in the initiate, in addition to the responsibilities
founding of local and national endowments they have assumed, and will assume, in
estimated at over three million dollars; in other continents of the globe, an intercon-
140 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

tinental campaign designed to carry a stage ica; of Bermuda, Costa Rica, Cuba, Domin-
further the glorious work already inaugu- ican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala,
rated throughout the Western Hemisphere. Haiti, Hond~~ras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mex-
The task, at once arduous, thrilling and ico, Nicaragua and Panama allocated to the
challenging, which now confronts these four National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahl'is
Bahl'i Communities involves: First, the for- of Central America; and of Argentina, Bo-
mation, under the aegis of the National livia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahl'is of the Paraguay, Perii, Uruguay and Venezuela,
United States, and in collaboration with the allocated to the National Spiritual Assembly
two existing National Assemblies in Latin of the Bahb'is of South America. Seventh,
America, of one National Spiritual Assem- the incorporation of the twenty-one above
bly in each of the twenty Latin American mentioned National Spiritual Assemblies.
Republics as well as the establishment of a Eighth, the establishment by these same Na-
National Spiritual Assembly in Alaska under tional Spiritual Assemblies of national
the aegis of the National Spiritual Assembly Bahb'i endowments. Ninth, the establish-
of the Bahl'is of the United States of Amer- ment of a National Hwiratu'l-Quds in the
ica. Second, the establishment of the first capital city of each of the afore-mentioned
Dependency of the Mahriqu'l-A&kkb in Republics, as well as one in Anchorage,
Wilmette. Third, the purchase of land for Alaska. Tenth, the formation of two Na-
the future construction of two Mahriqu'l- tional Bahl'i Publishing Trusts, one in Wil-
A a k i r s , one in Toronto, Ontario; one in mette, Illinois, and the other in Rio de Ja-
Panama City, Panama, situated respectively neiro, Brazil. Eleventh, the formation of an
in North and in Central America. Fourth, Israel Branch of the National Spiritual As-
the opening of the following twenty-seven sembly of the BahB'is of Canada, authorized
virgin territories and islands: Anticosti Is- to hold, on behalf of its parent institution,
land, Baranof Island, Cape Breton Island, property dedicated to the holy Shrines at the
Franklin, Grand Manan Island, Keewatin, World Center of the Faith in the State of
Labrador, Magdalen Islands, Miquelon Is- Israel. Twelfth, the appointment during Rid-
land and St. Pierre Island, Queen Charlotte vin 1954, by the Hands of the Cause in the
Islands and Yukon, assigned to the National United States and Canada, of an auxiliary
Spiritual Assembly of the Bah6'is of Can- Board of nine members who will, in con-
ada; Aleutian Islands, Falkland Islands, Key junction with the four National Spiritual As-
West and Kodiak Island assigned to the Na- semblies participating in the American cam-
tional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahl'is of paign, assist, through periodic and system-
the United States of America; Bahama Is- atic visits to Bahl'i centers, in the efficient
lands, British Honduras, Dutch West Indies and prompt execution of the Plans formu-
and Margarita Island, assigned to the Na- lated for the prosecution of the teaching
tional Spiritual Assembly of the Bah6'is of campaign in the American Continent.
Central America; British Guiana, Chi106 Mindful of the magnificent services ren-
Island, Dutch Guiana, French Guiana, Ga- dered during over half a century by the chief
lapagos Islands, Juan Feinandez Island, Lee- executors of 'Abdu'l-Bah6's Divine Plan,
ward Islands, and Windward Islands, as- within a territory that posterity will regard
signed to the National Spiritual Assembly of as the cradle of the embryonic World Order
the Bahl'is of South America. Fifth, the of BahB'u'llih and the stronghold of its nas-
translation and publication of Bahl'i litera- cent institutions, and confident that this vast
ture in the following ten languages, to be and historic assemblage, over which the na-
undertaken by the National Spiritual Assem- tional elected representatives of this privi-
bly of the Bahl'is of the United States of leged Community are presiding, will prove
America: Aguaruna, Arawak, Blackfoot, to be the harbinger of still greater victories,
Cherokee, Iroquois, Lengua, Mataco, Maya, I have been impelled to transmit, through
Mexican and Yahgan. Sixth, the consolida- my special representative, who will partici-
tion of Greenland, Mackenzie and New- pate on my behalf in the proceedings of this
foundland, allocated to the National Spirit- Conference and act as my deputy at the
ual Assembly of the BahB'is of Canada; of official dedication of the Maaiqu'l-Ad_hkir,
Alaska, the Hawaii Islands and Puerto Rico a reproduction of the Portrait of Bahb'u'llLh
allocated to the National Spiritual Assembly Himself, made in the prime of His life,
of the BahL'is of the United States of Amer- whilst an exile in Baghdbd,
- as a token of my
C E N T E N A R Y O F B I R T H O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 141

admiration for this Community's unflagging the most potent agency in paving the way
and herculean labors, and as a benediction for the launching of one of the most brilliant
and inspiration for those who, whether offi- phases of the grandest crusade ever under-
cially or unofficially, are participating in the taken by the followers of BahB'u'llBh since
proceedings of a Conference that will go the inception of His Faith more than a hun-
down in history as the most momentous dred years ago.
gathering held since the close of the Heroic -SHOGHI
Age of the Faith and will be regarded as Sunday, May 3, 1953.

THE GUARDIAN'S MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION OF
THE DEDICATION OF THE MOTHER-TEMPLE
OF THE WEST
Presented by R ~ H ~ Y YKHANUM
IH

O N BEHALF of the Guardian of the hath surged, and the dispensations of Thy
Faith of BahL'u'llLh, I have the great honor providence have been promulgated unto the
of dedicating this first Mas_hriquYl-AdhkLr of followers of all religions . . . Lauded and
the Western World to public worship. glorified art Thou, 0 Lord my God! Thou
"Initiated fifty years ago, its foundation art He Who from everlasting hath been
stone laid by 'Abdu'l-Bahl, the son of the clothed with majesty, with authority and
Founder of the Faith, raised by contribu- power, and will continue unto everlasting to
tions from its followers all over the world, be arrayed with honor, with strength and
reared in the vicinity of the first Bah6'i cen- glory. The learned, one and all, stand aghast
ter established in the West, this House of before the signs and tokens of Thy handi-
Worship, now opening wide its doors to work, while the wise find themselves, with-
peoples of all creeds, of all races, of all na- out exception, impotent to unravel the mys-
tions and of all classes, is dedicated to the tery of Them Who are the Manifestations of
three fundamental verities animating and un- Thy might and power. Every man of insight
derlying the Bah6'i Faith-the Unity of hath confessed his powerlessness to scale the
God, the Unity of His Prophets, the Unity heights of Thy knowledge, and every man
of Mankind. of learning hath aclcnowledged his failure to
"I greet and welcome you on behalf of the fathom the nature of Thine Essence.
Guardian of our Faith within these walls, " 'Having barred the way that leadeth

and invite you to share with us the words unto Thee, Thou hast, by virtue of Thine au-
recorded in the Sacred Scriptures which we thority and through the potency of Thy will,
believe to be repositories of the eternal and called into being Them Who are the Mani-
fundamental truths revealed by God in var- festations of Thy Self, and hast entrusted
ious ages, for the guidance and salvation of Them with Thy message unto Thy people,
all mankind. and caused Them to become the Day-
"May I now request you all to rise while Springs of Thine inspiration, the Exponents
I read on behalf of the Guardian of the
Faith these words of prayer written by the of Thy Revelation, the Treasuries of Thy
Author of the Bahki Revelation: knowledge and the Repositories of Thy
" '0 God, Who art the Author of all Man- Faith, that all men may, through Them,
ifestations, the Source of all Sources, the turn their faces towards Thee, and may draw
Fountain-Head of all Revelations, and the nigh unto the kingdom of Thy Revelation
Well-Spring of all Lights! I testify that by and the heaven of Thy grace.
Thy Name the heaven of understanding hath " 'I beseech Thee, therefore, by Thyself

been adorned, and the ocean of utterance and by Them, to send down, from the right
142 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

Ruhiyyih Khinum presenting the Guardian's Message of Dedication
of the BahC'i House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois, May 2, 1953.

hand of the throne of Thy grace, upon all Whose hand is the source of all gifts, that
that dwell on earth, that which shall wash they may all arise to serve Thy Cause, and
them from the stain of their trespasses may detach themselves entirely from all ex-
against Thee, and cause them to become cept Thee. Thou art the Almighty, the All-
wholly devoted to Thy Self, 0 Thou in Glorious, the Unrestrained.' "
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 143

REPORTS OF THE ALL-AMERICA
INTERCONTINENTAL TEACHING CONFERENCE

REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE

T H E second and, in the Guardian's words, the Conference itself was convened during
"without doubt, the most distinguished of Ridv6n period, the mid-point of the Holy
the four Intercontinental Teaching Confer- Year, was again due to the loving plans of
ences commemorating the Centenary of the our Guardian.
inception of the Mission of BahL'u7116h"was In all, twelve Hands of the Cause were
held in Chicago and Wilmette, Illinois, May present. Besides the three members of the
3 through 6, 1953. As the Guardian stated Bahb'i International Council and the five
in one of his messages to the Conference, Hands of the Cause from Persia, there were
this occasion marked the launching of the Mr. M h 6 Ban6ni of Africa, Mr. Fred
"epochal, global, spiritual decade-long cru- Schopflocher of Canada, and Mrs. Dorothy
sade." This crusade represents the "third and Baker and Mr. Horace Holley of the United
last stage of an enterprise inaugurated six- States.
teen years ago, the termination of which will The Conference was held in the Medinah
mark the closing of the initial epoch in the Temple in Chicago, a large building which
evolution of 'Abdu'l-BahL's Divine Plan." comfortably accommodated the sessions and
The Inter-America Conference, convened activities attended by two thousand three
by the National Spiritual Assembly of the hundred and forty-four registered Bahb'is
Bahb'is of the United States, embracing the from thirty-three different countries of the
United States, Canada, Central and South world, including two hundred and thirty-five
America, was endowed by our beloved who came from countries other than the
Guardian with great and special blessings. United States. A total of some twenty-five
The sacrifice of the Guardian, already over- hundred BahL'is had attended the BahL'i
burdened with work, in sending to the Con- Consecration Service held at the House of
ference as his personal representative 'Ama- Worship on May 1.
tu'l-Bah6 Rithiyyih Khhnurn, gave to the de- One of the important services rendered by
liberations of the Conference and to the next the Jubilee Committee was the provision of
ten years their basic clue. a duplicate set of attractive, leather-bound
Guest Books for the registration of BahL'is
The presence of all five Hands of the attending all or any of the Jubilee events
Cause from Persia, ever ready with inspiring conducted in Medinah Temple. One of these
stories of heroic deeds, brought a unique volumes has been sent to the Guardian, and
blessing to this Conference of the West. Sac- the other is preserved permanently in the
rifice-love-deeds, these must needs be our National Archives.
equipment for the coming ten years, already A second set of duplicate volumes was
begun. maintained at the Temple for registration of
The Conference was especially blessed believers unable to attend the sessions held
with two tremendously pregnant messages in Chicago.
from Shoghi Effendi, read by Rlihiyyih From the moment, on Sunday morning,
KhAnum, one at the opening session and the May 3, that the Inter-America Conference
other the following day. was opened with prayers read in English and
The unveiling by Charles Mason Remey, Spanish and chanted in Persian, and the
president of the BahB'i International Council chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly
and Hand of the Cause, of the model of his of the United States, Paul Haney, spoke its
design for the Mas_hriqu'l-ALhk6r on Mount cordial welcome to all present, saying, "This
Carmel was also an event of this Conference is a unique and historic event," one felt
by the special request of the Guardian. That caught up in a transcending spiritual current
T H E B A H A 'I W O R L D

which presaged indeed a new phase in the ing New Territories" during the afternoon
evolution of the Faith, the like of which had session, Mr. MGsA BanAni, Hand of the
never before been experienced in the world. Cause from Africa, gave an absorbing ac-
The roll call of visitors from the various count of how it is done in Africa.
countries included BahL'is from Persia, Tur- Mr. B a n h i first conveyed the greetings
Icey, Australia, Japan, Denmark, British East sent by the BahL'is from all centers of
Africa, Sweden, Finland, France, the prov- Africa. He stated that there were three rea-
inces of Canada, as well as the Northwest sons for the great success of the teaching
Territories, ten of the fourteen countries and work in Uganda: (1) The bounties and con-
islands of Central America opened to the firmations of BahL'u'llkh. (2) The complete
Faith, nine of the ten republics of South unity of the pioneers. ( 3 ) The exemplary
America, and forty-seven States of the way in which 'Ali NakhjavBni, one of the
United States, plus Alaska and Hawaii. pioneers, conducted himself, with absolute
Races represented included the Negro, freedom from prejudice. "He went and lived
North American Indian, Chinese, Japanese, with the Africans in the heart of the jungle,"
Mongolian and Caucasian, Persian and Mr. Bankni said, "and this was a new experi-
Turkish. ence for the Africans, because at no time
The high note of the opening session previously had any white man acted toward
came when the love of the Guardian was these Africans as he did. In the past the
brought to the Conference by 'Amatu'l-Bahk Africans had heard many prom&es and
Rithiyyih Khknum and she read his opening many beautiful words from white men, but
message [see page 1331. in actions they had always seen the opposite.
At the morning session of the second day, When they saw that words and deeds were
the Guardian's second message was read by one in the person of 'Ali NakJ~javLni they
Ruhiyyih KhAnum. In this message the immediately warmed up to the Faith and
Guardian gives a monumental survey of the have received the Message of the Faith
progress of the Faith to date, which, how- very eagerly and in exultation."
ever, must be regarded as a "prelude" to the Mr. Bankni also emphasized how impor-
period now inaugurated. The beloved tant it is for the BahL'i pioneers to make the
Guardian, in his love and mercy, as ever authorities in the country understand that
holds before us the promise of the glorious BahL'is have no connection with politics. He
future, while outlining to us the challenging told a story of how cooperation with the
tasks of the present. police on the part of the Bah2i pioneer, in
Then Rithiyyih Khknum spoke to the letting them know he was making a trip to
Conference on "The Character and Purpose a region of the jungle, vitiated the attempts
of the World Crusade." [See page 151.1 of a white person to make trouble. Now one
Following this stirring session four pio- of the tribal villages visited has a spiritual
neer tables-one for each of the four assembly. Many of that tribe and others
"allied" and "associated" National Spiritual came to the Kampala Conference, eighty
Assemblies-were set up. During the lunch- Africans in all, invited as guests of the
eon period these tables were crowded with Guardian. The fact that they returned "hale
BahL'is volunteering to pioneer, leaving and hearty and much happier" after contact
their names and addresses with the respec- with the BahL'is resulted in fifty more com-
tive National Spiritual Assembly representa- ing into the Faith after the Conference.
tive. At the opening of the afternoon session Consultation on opening new territories
the co-chairman of the Conference, Mrs. was continued on Tuesday morning. The
Dorothy Baker, called all those, and others National Spiritual Assembly representatives
who wished to pioneer, to the platform to from Canada, Central America, South
give their names over the microphone. Most America (the "allied" and "associated" As-
of them also spoke a few words and stated semblies) and the United States each spoke
where they would like to go. An eventual of the opportunities presented in their virgin
total of one hundred and fifty BahB'is of areas, and gave short descriptions of the
various countries signified their wish to pio- territories assigned to each by the Guardian.
neer. Included were two anonymous offers All those who had had experience in pio-
to serve in leper colonies. neering anywhere were then asked to give
To implement the consultation on pio- their suggestions for opening new territories.
neering under the topic "The Art of Open- The role of BahL'i Youth in pioneering
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 145

Bah6'is gathered in the House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois,
on the occasion of its Dedication.

in the World Crusade was presented in the fied, and a recommendation was made to
afternoon session. Following the opening de- the National Spiritual Assembly that teach-
votions, Mrs. Amelia Collins spoke briefly ing committees be asked to make a special
and read the following words spoken by the point of contacting foreign students in our
Guardian, as they offer the "key for all of universities.
us today": The magnetic power is the action Mr. 'Ali-Akbar Furlitan, Hand of the
of the believers. If they arise and show the Cause and secretary of the National Spirit-
right spirit it will act as a magnet and attract ual Assembly of Persia, who has written
this power which is accumulated ready to textbooks for BahL'i children in Persia and
aid every believer who will arise t o serve. for teachers training the Youth, spoke about
The chairman of the National BahL'i the pioneering preparation given to Bah6'i
Youth Committee, Dwight Allen, empha- Youth in Persia. First, he said, it was made
sized the role of Youth as part of the BahL'i sure that every Bahii'i, young or old, was
Community in the Ten-Year Crusade-in convinced that this particular phase of the
consultation and in pioneering. He then Divine Plan could be achieved. Then, they
opened the discussion to all "Youth." Practi- were assured of the promise of Divine help.
cal points were brought out concerning the Mr. Furfitan gave the Guardian's three
need for Youth to orient their education guarantees for the fulfillment of the Ten-
toward work useful in pioneering and to Year Crusade as recently written to the
plan their lives and marriage to that end; Bahi'is of Persia: (1) To arise with love,
and concerning opportunities for jobs in (2) to persevere after one has arisen, and
international organizations. The problem of (3) the occurrence of certain events in the
Bahi'i Youth in military service was clari- world which will in some way assist the ful-
146 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

fillment of this Crusade. Mr. FurfItan ex- She said: "There is nothing dBuse about
plained that the Youth are taught that pio- Shoghi Effendi. He is like the point of flame
neering has two aspects, the personal (that that comes out of a blowtorch. . . . Inten-
of prayer and study) and the administrative sity of concentration and action."
which involves cooperation with their As- Rtihiyyih Lhinum told of the way in
semblies and Committees. which the Guardian, in two and one-half
At this session there was also consultation months, had converted twelve thousand
concerning the work among the Indians and square meters (almost three acres) of land,
the Eskimos. Members of the Indian Teach- all sand, around Bahji and the Tomb of
ing Committees of Central and of South BahL'u'llih, into beautiful gardens. She said
America reported activities initiated to reach he concentrated sixteen hours a day on get-
the Indians. The efforts of Bahb'is in Green- ting this work done. "Otherwise it could
land and Alaska to reach the Eskimos were have taken two years. Everything he does, he
reported. Teaching in schools, nursing and does that way. And we must learn to work
study of anthropology were mentioned as the way Shoghi Effendi does, because only
valuable ways of making these contacts. Mr. in that way will we get the work accom-
Eli Powlas, a full-blooded Oneida Indian plished."
now a BahL'i, was one who spoke. He was She gave instances of the great integrity
asked by R~hiyyihLhinum to translate a of the Guardian. "Shoghi Effendi is like the
Bahi'i pamphlet into his language for .
law. . . He has the most tremendous
Shoghi Effendi. "This would make the courage where principle is concerned," And
Guardian happy," she said. Of course he she told of his returning thirty-four thou-
eagerly agreed to do it. sand pounds sterling donated at one time
during the Guardian's absence from Haifa
Riihfyyih Khhinum urged us to stud) the by a man "with whom Shoghi Effendi was
methods of the Guardian, to try to see things displeased. He considered that the man's
with far-seeing vision and make use, in our spirit was not right, that his motives were
teaching, of developments on the periphery not pure, and Shoghi Effendi could not ac-
of the Faith, as evidenced in his pamphlet cept money from him. He said, 'How can I
Information Statistical and Comparative, take his money and not reinstate him in my
1844-1952 and his Appreciations of the good graces? And he can't buy me.' " RfI-
Bahd'i Faith, which we should use to give wyyih Khinum added: "You see, it is these
people an idea of the extent of the Faith and things that set the standard of BahL'is in the
the quality of those who speak favorably world. When our integrity is as shining and
of it. as clear cut as Shoghi Effendi's, we will not
Monday evening was the time set aside have much' trouble bringing people into the
for the Guardian's representative, 'Amatu'l- Faith."
Bahi Riihiyyih Khhinum, to speak to the R a y y i h a i n u m spoke of the absolute
Bahi'is from her heart. She spoke to the necessity for us to learn to think in terms of
heart of every Bahb'i, about many things, all principle and not in terms of personality. "It
helpful. She spoke chiefly of that which seems to be a terrible disease that we all
"you want most to hear about-Shoghi have, of constantly thinking of everything in
Effendi." And she told how when she first terms of personality. We never seem to get
went to serve with the Guardian she had a to terms of principle. You see, the Guardian
mental image of the Cause of God as a ship, doesn't care anything about personality. It
the Captain of the ship was Shoghi Effendi doesn't exist as far as he is concerned. He
and the Bah2is were all on deck and she cares only for principle. There are no ex-
was one of them. After a time the image ceptions to his rule. It doesn't matter who
needed revising-the Guardian was the ship, you are or what you have done, how much
the sea was the Cause of God and the you have given, how prominent you are,
BahB'is were traveling on the ship. "Time anything to do with you that you might feel
went by and that image was no longer large entitles you to some special consideration.
enough. Finally I came to the conclusion .
. . It is only principle.
that the ocean was the Guardian and the "Now the Bahb'is should learn to look at
Cause of God was the ship and the Cause of things that way. They have simply got to
God often gets a rough ride and the ocean is stop thinking in terms of personality. They
tossed by the winds of God." have got to start thinking in terms of prin-
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 147

Amatu'l-Bahi Rithiy~ihKhAnum receiving the Bahi'is at reception
given in her honor at the All-America Intercontinental Teaching Conference,
Chicago, Illinois, May 4, 1953.

ciple. The principle is your Spiritual Assem- KJhLnum graciously answered about fifty
blies composed of nine people. They have questions written out by Bahi'is and sent to
been elected by you. They are supposed to the platform at her invitation.
fulfill certain functions specified in our The reception for Riihiyyih LhhLnum
teachings which are quite clear. Whether which followed gave the friends the oppor-
they do it very well or very poorly or you tunity to shake hands with her and speak
think Mrs. Jones is a person who actually a few words individually with her.
started the whole thing and you are sure it The evening of Tuesday, May 5 , was de-
is Mr. Smith who doesn't like you, or what- voted to the World Center, with the unveil-
ever the thing is that is going on in your ing by Charles Mason Remey of his model
mind, you have got to learn, always, that it for the Ma&riqu'l-Ad_hkLr to be erected on
is principle that is the thing to follow. . . . Mt. Carrnel, a talk by Mr. Funitan on the
We are never, never going to get this ad- institutions of the World Order of BahB'-
ministrative order swinging until we forget u'llih, and the viewing of color moving
all individuals, however much they get into pictures of the Shrines and gardens in Haifa
our hair, and devote ourselves to the appli- and Bahji, sent by the beloved Guardian to
cation of the principles involved. . . . You be shown at the Conference.
will be astonished what you can do if you As Mr. Rerney unveiled the model the
ever get over the question of personalities. friends saw the exquisitely beautiful design
.
. . Don't look at each other so much as for the Mas_hriqu'l-A&kLr of the Holy
an individual. Look at each other as all Land, with the landscaping of its surround-
BahB'is, all belonging to Bahi'u'llLh and all ing terrace. Five drawings were also dis-
belonging to Shoghi Effendi. . . And . played, of various elevations, cross section
when you see those things, think of that love and interior design. Acquisition of land for
ill your heart for Shoghi Effendi, and say, its erection is one of the objectives in the
'All right, I love you.' " development of the World Center during
Following her stirring talk, Rchiyyih this Crusade.
148 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Mr. Furtitan's talk on the World Order later, after he had also visited 'Abdu'l-BahL
was a very comprehensive review tracing the On this visit he had with him two of his
development of the Administration, the sons; one of them, RGhu'llBh, a very gifted
importance of the Will and Testament of child, was only eight years old. One day the
'Abdu'l-BahB, the functions of the two great Greatest Holy Leaf, 'Abdu'l-Bahi's sister,
"pillars" of interpretation and legislation asked the boy what he did in Persia. He

BahB'is attending the All-America Intercontinental Teaching Conference
who had met 'Abdu'l-BahL.

which support the Administrative Order, replied, "I was teaching." So the Greatest
and, finally, the steps outlined by the Guard- Holy Leaf asked him how he taught. He said
ian in his second communication to the Con- he spoke only to those who had "percep-
ference through which the development of tion." The Greatest Holy Leaf then asked
the Faith would progress. him to tell her whether two boys who were
At the last morning session of the Con- present (sons of Bahi'u'llkh) could under-
ference four of the Persian Hands of the stand what he had to say. R~hu'llkhwent to
Cause had been asked to speak on the the boys, looked attentively into their faces,
"Significance of the Year Ninem-General and returned to Bahiyyih Klhknum saying,
Shu'i'u'llBh 'Ali'i, Valiyu'llkh VarqB, TarL- "It is no use; they would not understand."
qu'llBh Samandari and D_hikru'llfih miidem. Both of these brothers of 'Abdu'l-BahB be-
General 'AlB'i read from passages in the came Covenant-breakers.
Writings of BahB'u'llBh and told that the Mr. VarqB himself had accompanied
exact site of the dungeon of the SiyBh-GhBl 'Abdu'l-Bahb on His visit to the United
is known but that large buildings have since States.
been built over this property. Mr. Samandari, the oldest Hand of the
Mr. VarqB had been asked to tell about Cause among the five Persians, is descended
his father and brother who attained to mar- from one of the pupils of S_hayk_h Ahmad,
tyrdom. He told the moving story of his first of the two forerunners of the Bkb. At
grandfather's making the trip to Bahji on the age of fifteen, Mr. Samandari attained
foot from Persia only to become ill and die the presence of Bahi'u7llBh. He recalled his
just before he reached his goal. He was impression of the great humility and the
buried by 'Abdu'l-BahB in a grave made grandeur and majesty of Bahi'u'llBh, and
with His own hands. Mr. VarqL's father at- told many reminiscences of that memorable
tained the presence of BahB'u'llbh several visit.
times and asked for martyrdom for himself Then, inevitably, came the closing session
and one of his sons. He was a physician and of the Conference, a Conference which the
traveled about Persia to promulgate the Guardian stated in his opening message
Faith. His wish was granted many years "will go down in history as the most mo-
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 149

mentous gathering held since the close of the all of this I feel is the result of our Guard-
Heroic Age of the Faith, and will be re- ian's sacrifice. Let us just cherish this
garded as the most potent agency in paving thought all through the next ten years, that
the way for the launching of one of the most our Guardian is sacrificing for us daily, and
brilliant phases of the grandest crusade ever with great joy. To see the Guardian smile
undertaken by the followers of BahP'u'llLh just once is enough to cause you to wish to
since the inception of His Faith more than lay down your life, really and truly it is.
one hundred years ago." But that is not it. We are to make our
At this session the Guardian's own chosen Guardian happy, and this it is really our
representative, R6l$yyih KJhhum, called privilege to do."
upon us to "Mount Your steed^!''^' Mrs. Collins then concluded the Con-
When R6hiyyih LhLnum finished, just be- ference with reading 'Abdu'l-BahP's Tablet
fore the reading of the closing prayer Mrs. of Visitation.
Amelia Collins spoke briefly: "Now I have
witnessed in this audience day after day
: T h e s e were the words of Quddds as he led the
your great joy, your inspiration, your long- BAbfs at the siege of Tabarsf. See The Dawn-Brealcers,
ing to serve, the pledges you have made, and page 365.

THE JUBILEE PUBLIC MEETINGS

T H E impressive p ~ ~ b l ievents
c of the All- satisfaction which will be achieved when all
American Jubilee celebrations, which in- are gathered as brothers in one common
cluded four public meetings and the dedica- household of faith under one God. In a
tion of the House of Worship, received forceful manner, Dr. Hutchinson then pre-
widespread notice in the press and attracted sented his analysis of the hopeful factors-
much public attention and interest. Each of points of light-in the general darkness of
the four meetings, with their distinguished the present age. He outlined five such points
guest participants and outstailding BahP'i of light which exist in the thinking of com-
speakers, drew large audiences, estimated to mon men everywhere, and which therefore
have varied from fifteen hundred to twenty- offer promise for the future. These are: the
five hundred. faith of common men in the reality of prog-
The first meeting was held Wednesday ress, the belief in the reality and authority
evening, April 29, the opening day of Jubi- of moral values, the belief in the reality of
lee week, at Medinah Temple in Chicago. human oneness, common man's inlcreasiilg
Mr. Matthew Bullock was chairman and the awareness of the necessity for world govern-
two speakers on the theme of "Religion for ment, and his deep belief in the spiritual
Humanity" were Dr. Paul Hutchinson and basis for all life.
Mrs. Dorothy Baker. Mrs. Baker spoke on the "Mission of the
Dr. Hutchinson is widely known and Prophets" with eloquence and persuasive-
respected as an outstanding analyst of pres- ness. She identified the Prophets as the
ent day problems and spokesman for the lay founders of civilization and described their
Protestant Church world. He is editor of two-fold mission as individual and social,
the Christian Century, generally coilsidered "to glorify the individual and to safeguard
to be the most influential Protestant period- and unify the race." Then she traced the
ical. Dr. Hutchinson's subject was "Points of development of this two-fold mission in the
Light in the Dark World." He began his stories of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad,
remarks by offering his congratulations on showing that religion has given repeated
the completion of the House of Worship, proofs that it is the source of human prog-
which he described as a symbol of man- ress and redemption. BahP'u'llLh was pro-
kind's oneness in this vital quest for spiritual claimed as the fountain-head of light and
150 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

salvation for this chaotic hour. Mrs. Baker Mr. Haney then introduced the third
concluded by outlining the movement of member of the Technical Committee, Mr.
the Faith toward the achievement of the Edwin Eardley, and the Landscape Archi-
eternal plan of God-the "Kingdom indi- tect, Mr. Hilbert Dahl. The chairman pre-
visible, whose watchword is the oneness of sented Mr. William Alexander, the President
the human race-all rivers flow to the of the Village of Wilmette, to whom he ex-
ocean; all missions are fulfilled in this mis- pressed the appreciation of the BahL'is for
sion." the friendly attitude and cooperation ex-
tended by the village authorities during the
On the eve of the dedication of the Tem- years of the Temple's building. Mr. Alex-
ple, Friday, May 1, a public meeting was ander, in the name of the Village of Wil-
held in the New Trier High School, Win- mette, offered greetings and congratulations
netka, a suburb north of Chicago in the and stated that the village feels privileged to
vicinity of the House of Worship. BahL'is have this world famous structure in its com-
came from their special service of consecra- munity and has sincere regard for the lofty
tion held at the Temple in the afternoon to ideals which it represents.
join with guests-for the most part residents Mr. Horace Holley then gave a penetrat-
of the northern suburbs who have watched ing and profound definition of the purpose
the Temple during the long years of its of the BahL'i House of Worship.
building as they have flowed past on the The meeting was closed with the reading
highway that borders the Temple grounds- of an editorial from the Chicago Daily News
in a happy prelude to the great event of the on the dedication of the Temple, praising
next day, the public dedication. On this the ideals for which it stands.
evening the story of their beloved House of
Worship was publicly unfolded. R6hiyyih Lhknum, the Guardian's rep-
Mr. Paul Haney, the chairman, pre- resentative to the All-American Interconti-
sented several messages of greeting and con- nental Conference, and Dr. Charles Wesley
gratulations on the dedication of the House were speakers on the theme "One God and
of Worship from well-known people. One People," Sunday, May 3, at Medinah
The history, architecture and purpose of Temple in Chicago. There was much excite-
the Temple were discussed by BahL'is whose ment over the participation of RGhiyyih
close association with the work has famil- Lhhbnum in a public program and the large
iarized them with its every detail. Mr. Alien audience rose as she came on the huge stage
McDaniel, a former member of the National with Dr. Wesley, guest speaker, and Mr.
Spiritual Assembly, for many years supervis- 'Ali Yazdi, Chairman.
ing engineer of the building and more re- Dr. Charles H. Wesley, president of Cen-
cently on the Technical Committee, gave tral State College at Wilberforce, Ohio, au-
the history of the project from its beginning, thor, historian and educator, chose as his
through the purchase of the land, the choice topic "The Significance of Oneness-Prin-
of a plan and the completion of the con ciple or Expediency?" He stated that the
struction. Mr. Robert McLaughlin, Director principle of oneness is recognized and ad-
of the School of Architecture of Princeton vocated by the great religions and by most
University and Fellow of the American In- world thinkers, but practice departs from
stitute of Architects, who has served for theory. In application to life in the modern
some years on the Technical Committee, world, the principle of oneness has faced
described the unusual architectural elements obstacles which Dr. Wesley listed as selfish
of the building, pointing to the unique fitness nationalism, self-serving industrialism, and
of the plan to the Bahit'i conception of unity self-contained racism. In the movement to-
and manner of worship. He stressed the ward world unity and the oneness of man-
timeless quality of the architectural design kind, he questioned whether it would be
for it has stood apart and aloof from the reached by principle or expediency, the
changing fashions of the last thirty years. latter being thus far the most influential
Regarding it as an example of early BahL'i argument. Permanent and enduring change
architecture, Mr. McLaughlin speculated on will come only through the translation of
the wonders of world architecture that will democratic and religious ideals into practical
develop as the world becomes spiritually activities. What is needed, he asserted, "is a
and physically united. consistent application of principle by people
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 151

of principle with a consistent and intelligent prepare men for the modern crisis. He re-
plan of action. Resistance may be great, but counted vividly his experiences and impres-
the cause is greater." sions at Los Alamos, viewing the electronic
Rithiyyih u i n u m had chosen to speak brain, visiting a horribly scarred victim of
on "A World Crusade." She spoke at first the atom bomb at Hiroshima, Japan; seeing
directly to the comments of Dr. Wesley, and the refugees in Korea; and being at a ceme-
stressed the essential importance of the tery for American soldiers in Korea. His
principle of oneness to the Faith of Bah6'- analyses of the fundamental ills of this age
u'llih. She then announced that the BahL'is sprang from his critical examination of the
are undertaking a specific program to diffuse deep meanings of these events in the total
the teachings of one God, one people, and question of human destiny. He asked, could
one religion to all parts of the planet. She the deformed figure of the atom bomb vic-
presented the broad outlines of the ten-year tim and the pitiful plight of the refugee be
Crusade to reach practically all peoples and the face of tonlorrow's man? Man needs
remote corners of the world, closing with faith and "a rule of law in a responsible
the invitation to all to join this vast spiritual world government." The question, he con-
crusade, or if not, to wish us well. Certainly tinued, is what kind of qualities, human and
Rithiyyih KJhAnum herself impressed the spiritual, will be brought to bear on the crea-
large gathering more than any words that tion of world order? Men have created war
were spoken. Everyone was touched by the and destruction, and they can now create a
spirit which flowed through her, by her moral and just peace.
dignity, simplicity and candor, and even Dr. W. Kenneth Christian spoke on "Reli-
more by those indefinable qualities of a gion for a World Society." He reviewed
selfless Bahi'i. Each knew that he had spent some of the basic tenets of the BahL'i Faith,
a moment with a rare soul. stressing the progressive revelations of
God's Will and the oneness of mankind.
The fourth public meeting on the theme "Disunity is the disease of our civilization,"
of "The Human Goal" was held the closing he asserted, and "we cannot have an endur-
evening of Jubilee week, Wednesday, May ing and peaceful world society without the
6, at Medinah Temple. Mr. Norman Cous- spiritual foundation of a world faith." "If a
ins and Dr. W. Kenneth Christian shared the world government were set up and ready to
platform and Mr. H. Borrah Kavelin was start tomorrow, what ethics would knit to-
chairman. gether the actions of the people?" he asked.
Mr. Norman Cousins, well-known writer "What would supply the world loyalty to
and lecturer, is editor of The Saturday Re- support a world government?" He declared
view, America's oldest literary magazine, that only a "world religion can meet the
and president of the United World Federal- basic needs to support and firmly knit to-
ists. His most recent book Who Speaks for gether the billions of people on this planet."
Man? was currently receiving widespread "The Bahi'i Faith provides a standard of
notice. Mr. Cousins' subject was "A New morality and human rights above conven-
Moral Order." His friendly manner and in- ience and political pressure. Bahi'u'llih
formal style immediately won his audience, stands as the conscience of humanity in this
when he said he was scared because he was age." He calls men to "Unity of faith as
"in the presence of people who live out the rightful equals in the Kingdom of God."
things I have been talking about." He re-
ferred to his inclusion of quotations from It is interesting to the BahL'i to note the
the Faith in his latest book because it unanimity of basic ideas among our three
stresses "integration as opposed to com- eminent guest speakers. Though differing
partmentalization of mankind," and it talks markedly in approach each stressed that the
of the "unity of the whole man: economical
man, political man and social man." He essence of the problem of this age and the
stated that the crisis of modern man is one urgent need for the world of tomorrow is
of human destiny, one of unity versus frag- the oneness of mankind and world govern-
mentation and disintegration. He spoke of ment, demonstrating so clearly that the
the compartmentalization of life as the dis- humanitarian and spiritual principles enun-
ease of our age, and of the limitations of ciated decades ago by BahL'u'llih are now
education, whether religious or academic, to viewed by a world conscious of their source
152 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

as fundamental verities of our time. Though means it could be achieved. The BahL'i
each man analyzed the crisis of society to- speakers, on the other hand, were able not
day, none could provide the answers as to only to describe the disease of society, but
the source of the power to realize these could and did deal quite fully with the
aims, nor could they define the character of healing remedy of the world religion, given
the goal of human destiny, or tell by what men in this era by BahC'u'llLh.

JUBILEE AT WILMETTE

O N FRIDAY afternoon, May 1, there down into the earth, that hollowed-,outhole;
was a simple consecration service at the this great mother-of-pearl bubble of a Tem-
Temple for Bahb'is alone; a private dedica- ple that can hardly stay on the ground and
tion and a commemoration of the Master's seems to float above it. If people want a
coming to this spot by the Lake in 1912 and miracle, this is it.
with His own hands placing the Temple cor- Elsie Austin of the National Spiritual As-
nerstone. This afternoon the BahL'is sembly was reading the words which the
swarmed all over the Temple walks and Master spoke as He laid the Temple corner-
steps, but upstairs in the vast auditorium stone in the fields here, forty-one years ago.
everything was quiet. Her delicate bronze profile shone out against
High up in the tip of the Dome against a the wing of flowers to her right.
white background the golden Greatest Name JinLb-i-VarqB, whose father and small
was written. The Hands of the Cause were brother both died for the Cause and who
seated directly before the reading stand. was present here in 1912, now chanted the
Microphones were placed in front of it, and Arabic Visitation Tablet (Pmyers and Medi-
behind at either side were huge bouquets of tations, p. 310) just as it is chanted in Bahji
yellow, pink and white flowers, stretched out and at the Shrine of the BQb. When the
like wings. The sun had come out but it was words came to: "Waft, then, unto me, 0 my
not too bright. In the second gallery above God and my Beloved, from the right hand
us there were great bug-like mechanisms, of Thy mercy and Thy loving kindness, the
startlingly black against the white; these holy breaths of Thy favors, that they may
were the "juniors," the lights which unseen draw me away from myself and from the
technicians working up in the air were fo- world unto the courts of Thy nearness and
cusing on the lectern. Thy presence'-I remembered being told
The people were absolutely silent. The that when the Master was here, He would
Dome, its white rays dropping away, poured sometimes chant or repeat these lines and
dcwn a lacy rain of grace. Light filtered then Lua Getsinger would weep, and she
through the closed Temple drapes. would say, "He is pleading so to go, to die
Madame Samihih BanBni, wife of the and then we shall be left alone."
Africa Hand of the Cause, now rose and
chanted a haunting Persian prayer. Then On Saturday afternoon, May 2, I had
Harlan Ober read the passage beginning hurried upstairs with the Press, to the first
"They apprehended Us" from the Epistle to gallery which looms high above the audi-
the Son of the W o l f . It tells of BahL'u'll&h7s ence level. A capacity crowd of eleven hun-
imprisonment in the slums of Tihrhn. The dred people waited below us. The silence
was absolute. Members of the Press were
contrast between the Black Pit and this Edi-
collecting wooden chairs on which to stand
fice and this Jubilee took sudden shape: that so they could peer over the high parapet into
darkness and stench, this light and fra- the crowd below; their comings and goings
grance; those murderers and thieves, these had to be utterly silent because of the acous-
massed disciples from around the world; tical properties of the Dome; any noise
those sweating walls, that slime, three flights would have dissipated the great spiritual
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 153

atmosphere that was accumulating from the Western world; he had sent on the exact
time and the place, the unseen presences and Persian and Arabic readings which were to
the actual presence of the Guardian's con- be chanted, together with translations where
sort, of the other Hands of the Cause-six these had been made; he had chosen Jin6b-i-
of whom were here from the far sids of the Furfitan and Jin6b-i-Khh6dem to chant the
earth-and of the multitudes of Bahi'is who selections, and had directed the Hands of
had come, in some cases with the greatest the Cause of God to choose who should
sacrifice, to witness this hour. Across dizzy chant the final commune, and they had cho-
space from us was the silent black-robed sen Jinib-i-Samandari. Just then someone
choir. The dedication was about to take parted the great off-white drapes, and I saw
place. below us a blinding flash of bright green
In a moment Paul Haney spoke: "On this tree tops over against the darker green of
historic occasion. . . . Shoghi Effendi Rab- the grass.
bani, Guardian of the Bah2i Faith, has sent he service was given, all except for
his wife, 'Amatu'l-Bahi Rdhiyyih Lhinum, 'Amatu'l-BahL's words of dedication, three
as his personal representative to present a times to accommodate the many more than
message of dedication from him as world capacity crowds which came. Horace Holley
leader of the Bahi'i Faith." And then we opened the second one, reading, as we all
heard Rdhiyyih K_h&nuin,in her grave and stood, the commune which Riihiyyih
youthful voice, giving full value to each of K_h&nurnhad read before. I sat in the first
the beautiful English words of the message row, off center, and watched the light com-
from our beloved Guardian dedicating this ing through the sixty red roses massed at
first Mas_hriqu'l-ALhkir of the Western either side of the reading stand, the Persian
World to public worship. rug glowing beneath it, and the shadow of
They say it was the first time in history the roses thrown by the lights against one of
that a woman figured so prominently in the the pillars. It was brighter than day from the
dedication of a Temple of an independent lights, except when they were dimmed as the
Faith. choir sang. Again I listened to words read
There was a pause. Then another voice or chanted in three languages, to the Hands
began, a man's voice, Borrah Kavelin's, of the Cause Furtitan, Lhidem and Saman-
reading from the nineteenth Psalm: "Their dari, to Albert Windust, Selma Solomon,
line is gone out through all the earth, and and David Bond. The end came when Ji-
their words to the end of the world." nib-i-Samandari, tiny under the looming
As Margot Worley, Chairman of the Na- white reaches of the Dome, with that austere
tional Assembly of South America, read dignity which is his special characteristic,
from the words of Jesus, I thought again finished his Persian chant, put on his glasses
how the references to Him in our teaching again, and took up the book which had been
are apt to be tender and full of pathos, like open but not referred to, on the reading
imminent spring not yet come on, or a re- stand before him.
curring song, mournful and delicate, as if
the world would never get over the Cruci- Like all other Bahi'i pilgrims, I had,
fixion, while time lasts. during successive visits to the Holy Land,
Matthew Bdlock read from the Qur'in, seen the Portraits of BahiYu'll&h.The one
as Louis Gregory had read from it under that remained in memory through the years
this same Dome, at the Centenary in 1944. was the photograph made in Adrianople,
After a delay of thirteen hundred years, where He was exiled from December 12,
Islim is being befittingly proclaimed in the 1863 to August 12, 1868. It has the direct,
West: "0 our Lord! Punish us not if we probing glance that all who saw Him de-
forget, or fall into sin. . . . 0 our Lord! scribe. It is not the face of youth, but of the
. . . lay not on us that for which we have Ancient of Days.
not strength; but blot out our sins and for- As RGhiyyih U i n u m described the sa-
give us, and have pity on us!" cred gift which the Guardian had sent us in
The Guardian had said to use the Psalms her care-the colored, photographically re-
('Abdu'l-Bahi loved the Psalms) and to use produced Portrait of Bah6'u'llih "in the
the words of Jesus, and to quote from the bloom of manhood"-a new and different
Qur'in passages on the unity of God and Being began to take shape; a youthful Per-
His Prophets which would appeal to the sonage, still in His thirties, perhaps, or early
154 THE BAHA'I WORLD

forties, since the Portrait was done in BagJh- herded together for comfort. Some main-
did; One Whom painters forever wanted to tained that they waited five hours; I waited
paint and poets to write about. The Master about three. Finally we worked our way
tells how even hostile poets had eulogized clear up the Temple steps and reached the
Him, one of them writing: "He charms great glass doors.
men, H e drugs them; He is a hypnotizer! Here, one by one, we passed through, to
Beware! Beware!" (Promulgation o f Uni- find R6hiyyih Lhinum on our left, anoint-
versal Peace, p. 431). We know too that ing each one with attar of rose. The use of
others maintained H e bewitched His guests this attar, enjoined by Bahi'u'llQh, was fa-
by dropping a magic philter in their tea miliar to the early American BahC'is be-
(Dawn-Breakers, p. 113). Not yet, in this cause of its use by the Master, but some of
Portrait, the Manifestation Whom the world the newer BahL'is had not heard of the cus-
had forsaken (Gleanings, p. 261), the fresh- tom until Mrs. Amelia Collins had anointed
ness of Whose countenance had faded us on the Guardian's behalf at the Conven-
(Promised Day Is Come, p. 7 ) , the One tion in 1952.
Who cried with such a bitter cry that every We sat in fragrant silence, about sixteen
mother in her bereavement was bewildered hundred of us at a given time, and since
at Him and forgot her own anguish every detail had been carefully plaimed, we
(Prayers and Meditations, p. 271). 'Ama- had only to follow the ushers' directions and
tu'l-BahQ spoke of the strong and youthful were soon passing q~~ietly,single file, toward
beauty He had once and of the redness of the tables where two Portraits were placed.
His lips. She told us this Portrait-which It was a white ethereal and muffled-scene;
has never before been out of the hands of a verse from the Qur'in described it: "And
the Master or the Guardian-was made by low shall be their voices before the God of
a Christian artist who had seen Him at the Mercy, nor shalt thou hear aught but the
public baths. light footfall" (Surih 20: 107). We drew
We went remembering what the BQb had near to the Portraits and there was hardly
said: "Look not upon Him with any eye ex-
a moment to look, first on the grave coun-
cept His own. For whosoever looketh upon
Him with His eye, will recognize Him; oth- tenance of the Bib, the One "Who had
erwise he will be veiled from Him" (Epistle never taken His eyes away from the face of
to the Son of the W o l f , p. 153). God" (Gleanings, p. 221)-and then on the
That Sunday afternoon, May 3, a great young and joyous Bahi'u'llih. He seemed
crowd of us massed for hours on the Tem- to be greeting each one of us.
ple steps. It was cold and windy and we It was really jubilee.

(7)
THE PUBLIC DEDICATION OF THE B A H N HOUSE
OF WORSHIP
By WILLIAMB. SEARS

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Be- values independent of words. To convey the
hold the man whose name is The Branch;* and exaltation that animated Bahgis on this
he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall never-to-be-repeated occasion is equally be-
build the temple of the Lord; Even he shall yond the power of expression. To each wor-
build the temple of the Lord; and he shall shiper, the moment was a personal one, as-
bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his
throne. . . . sociated with the heart and spirit. Therefore,
Zechariah 6:12, 13. these pages will try to share the joy and rap-
ture that filled one heart only. These pages
IT IS impossible to report upon a prayer
or a meditation. They exist in a realm of
will recall the wonderful river of memories
that flowed ceaselessly throughout the Dedi-
cation, the stream of thoughts that made
* "The Branch" is a title of 'Abdu'l-BahL. every barren period of the past become liv-
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 155

ing and fertile, that banished all sorrow, When gazing upon a model of this House
healed all suffering; and led the wayfarer at of Worship, a famous professor of architec-
last to the sea of understanding, to this har- ture had said, "This is a new creation which
bor of the love of God, to safety inside this will revolutionize architecture in the world,
Ark of His Covenant. and it is the most beautiful I have ever
Across the aisle could be seen the glowing seen."
and triumphant faces of those apostles of The model had now become reality. The
BahL'u'llih who had stood upon this same dream had become clothed in flesh. Here,
plot of ground with 'Abdu'l-Bahi on that on this day of dedication, were gathered to-
cold, windy May day forty-one years ago. gether people of all races, religions and na-
They had watched their beloved Master ded- tions. The words had been fulfilled: "And
icate this spot, then an empty, open field, to they that are afar off shall come and build
the welfare of all humanity. The real Tem- in the temple of the Lord, and ye shall know
ple, he had told them, was the Word of that the Lord of Hosts has sent me unto
God; for to it all humanity must turn. Then you," for "Mine house shall be called a
he looked up, smiled, and assured them that house of prayer for all people," and "all na-
"in the unseen world, the Temple is already tions shall flow unto it."
built."
On that day of Dedication you could look From a lofty gallery, the unseen choir
into the tranquil, confident eyes of those fol- filled the Temple with the music and words
lowers of BahL'u'llih who had helped to "Who can comprehend Thee?" Through the
draft the immortal cablegram to the Holy mind flowed the wonderful creative words
Land back in 1909, a message which had of Bahi'u'llgh:
brought solace to the heavy-laden heart of "Lauded and glorified art Thou, 0 Lord,
'Abdu'l-Bahi. In a Tablet written later to my God! How can I make mention of Thee,
His followers He told the story of its coming assured as I am that no tongue, however
and announced the triumphant event that deep its wisdom, can befittingly magnify
synchronized with it. Thy name, nor can the bird of the human
"The most joyful tidings is this, that the heart, however great its longing, ever hope
holy, the luminous body of the BBb . . . to ascend unto the heaven of Thy majesty
after having for sixty years been transferred and knowledge."
from place to place, . . . has, through the "Know thou of a certainty," BahL'u'llBh
mercy of the Abhi Beauty, been cere- proclaims further, "that the Unseen can in
moniously deposited, on the day of Naw- no wise incarnate His essence and reveal it
RGz, within the sacred casket in the exalted unto men. . . . He Who is everlastingly
Shrine on Mount Carmel. . . . By a hidden from the eyes of men can never be
strange coincidence, on that same day of known except through His Manifestation
Naw-RGz, a cablegram was received from [the Prophet], and His Manifestation can
Chicago, announcing that the believers in adduce no greater proof of the truth of His
each of the American centers had elected a Mission than the proof of His own person."
delegate and sent to that city . . . and defi- The music soared up to the dome of the
nitely decided on the site and construction Temple and departed. Then were heard the
of the Ma&riqu'l-A&kb" [House of Wor- first spoken words, delivered by RGhiyyih
ship]. Lhhinum, the representative of the Guardian
Every moment inside that dome of ex- of the BahL'i Faith.
quisite beauty and majesty, on the day of its "On behalf of the Guardian of the Faith
dedication, was enriched by memories of the of BahL'u'llih, I have the great honor of
love and sacrifice that had raised this jewel dedicating this first Mad~riqu'l-Ad_hkir of
of God. the Western World to public worship." [For
Its inception, the architect of the Temple the entire message of Dedication, see page
has himself testified, was not from man, for, 141.1
as musicians, artists, poets receive their in- A; the address of Dedication ended, a
spiration from another realm, so the Tem- quiet settled over the assembled throng.
ple's architect, through all his years of labor, Through the doorway to the East could be
was ever conscious that BahCu'llih was the seen the blue waters of Lake Michigan rush-
creator of this building to be erected to His ing toward the Temple in great white waves,
glory. bowing and prostrating themselves upon the
156 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

sand. Through the doors to the South were Christendom, Christ returned 'in the glory
visible the throngs of people streaming to- of the Father'; to W ' a h Islim, the return of
ward the Temple. The clouds, which had the Imim uusayn; to Sunni Islim, the de-
threatened to shut out the sun, parted and scent of the 'Spirit of God' [Jesus Christ]; to
down through the glass dome came the the Zoroastrians, the promised Zhih-
flooding sunlight as the first of the Holy Bahrim; to the Hindus, the reincarnation of
Books was opened. Krishna; to the Buddhists, the fifth Bud-
From the scriptures of all Faiths, the one dha."
religion of God was to be recognized as one This was the King of Glory, and this His
sheltering tree, of which Moses was the Temple, God's Temple, the House of Wor-
seed, Jesus the trunk, Muhammad the ship for all His prophets and people.
branches, the Bib the leaves, and BahL'u'-
llih the fruit. "The word is one, though the . . . The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord
speakers are many." mighty in battle.
From the Faith of Moses came the all en- Lift up your head, 0 ye gates; even lift them up,
compassing praise of one God: ye everlasting doors; and the King o f glory shall
come in.
The heavens declare the glory o f God; and the W h o is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts,
firmament showeth his handywork. He is the King o f Glory.
Psalm 24.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto
night showeth knowledge.
There is no speech nor la~zguage,where their What moments of satisfaction these words
. .
voice is not heard. .
stirred in the mind. Those delicious hours
The law of the Lord is perfect. . . .
The statutes of the Lord are right. . . . when the teachings of the BahS'i Faith were
heard for the first time. Those exciting hours
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation
of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, 0 Lord, of research and study, unveiling proof after
my strength, and my redeemer. proof of the vitality and the great need of
Psalm 19. Bah2u'llih's universal truth. Those equally
exciting mental expeditions deep into the
The statutes of the Lord are right! What holy scriptures of the past confirming the
untold blessings Moses has conferred upon conditions of the coming of the great Prom-
mankind. The ten commandments for which ised One to the mountain of God in Israel;
H e was the channel from God are the basis those prophecies which disclosed the en-
of the structure of law in the western world. forced journeys of BahL'u'llih, His exile to
The eternal fountain of the Faith of BaghdBd, His banishment to Constantinople,
Moses continued to pour out its words: ~ d z a n o p l e , and to the prison of 'Akki
across the bay from Mt. Carmel in Israel.
The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; BahL'u'llih, the shepherd of the one fold
the world, and they that dwell therein. of God, was to spend no less than a third of
For He hath founded it upon the seas, and His allotted span of life here in the "valley
.
established it upon the floods. . . of Achor" which in the book of Isaiah had
This is the generation of them that seek Him, been singled out as a "door of hope" for
.
that seek Thy face, . .
"my herds to lie down in." This was the land
Lift up your heads, 0 ye gates; and be ye lift
up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory promised by God to Abraham; sanctified by
shall come in. . . . the Revelation of Moses; honored by the
Psalm 24. lives and labors of the Hebrew patriarchs,
judges, kings, and prophets; revered as the
As the reading of the Psalm ended, the cradle of Christianity; and as the place
echo rang through the silence: "Who is this where Zoroaster, according to 'Abdu'l-
King of glory?' And the heart answered: Bahgs testimony, "held converse with some
"Who has brought together from all racial, of the prophets of Israel." This was the land
religious, and national backgrounds these associated by Islim with the apostles' night-
lovers of God? Bahk'u'lliih, whose very journey through the seven heavens to the
name means 'The Glory of God.' " throne of the Almighty.
"To Israel He was the incarnation of the "His enemies intended that His imprison-
'Everlasting Father,' T h e Lord of Hosts' ment should completely destroy and anni-
come down 'with ten thousands of saints'; to hilate the blessed Cause," says 'Abdu'l-Bahl,
CENTENARY OF BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 157

"but this prison . . . . became the means Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or
of its development. . . . From this prison the prophets: I am come not to destroy, but to
His light was shed abroad; His fame con- Matthew 5 : 8 , 9, 16, 17.
quered the world, and the proclamation of
His glory reached the East and the West.
. . . His light at first had been a star, now From the Mount of Olives, Jesus had
it became a mighty sun." poured out His teachings into those hearts
Then the second Holy Book was opened: that were athirst for the words of God. They
were not His teachings, not His words, but
And He opened His mouth, and tazlght them, the words and counsels of an infinite, un-
saying, knowable God. How plainly Christ had tried
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the to tell mankind this: "For I have not spoken
Kingdom o f heaven. . .. of myself; but the Father which sent me, He
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst gave me a commandment, what I should
after righteousness: for they shall be filled. say, and what I should speak."
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain These words of the Sermon on the Mount
mercy. were the "bread of life" which comes down
Matthew 5 : 2 , 3, 6, 7.
from Heaven in the time of each Prophet.
They are the food with which each Prophet
These were the words of Christ. Words nourishes mankind. This "bread of life" is in
alive with a new richness and power be- the Old Testament in the generous and lov-
cause of the fresh measure of love and de- ing "holiness code" of Leviticus, a model of
votion which Bahi'u'lliih had instilled in the charity, hospitality, kindness and unity. It
hearts of His followers for Jesus of Naza- came again in the Sermon on the Mount. It
reth. is once more in this day in the book of the
"Know thou," says BahB'u'lliih of His Hidden Words of Bahi'u'll6h.
Holiness Christ, "that when the Son of Man
yielded up His breath to God, the whole Judge not, that ye be not judged.
creation wept with a great weeping. By sac- For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be
rificing Himself, however, a fresh capacity judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall
was infused into all created things. Its evi- be measured to you again. . . .
dences, as witnessed in all the peoples of the Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye
earth, are now manifest before thee. The shall find; knock, and it slzatl be opened unto
deepest wisdom which the sages have ut- you. . . .
tered, the profoundest learning which any Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that
men should do to yoz~,do ye even so to them:
mind hath unfolded, the arts which the for this is the law and the prophets.
ablest hands have produced, the influence Matthew 7:1, 2, 7, 12.
exerted by the most potent of rulers, are but
manifestations of the quickening power re-
With the reading of the words of the
leased by His transcendent, His all-per-
"golden rule" from the New Testament,
vasive, and resplendent Spirit.
eyes met across the sunlighted interim of the
"We testify that when H e came into the
Temple. The teacher smiled, the student re-
world, He shed the splendor of His glory
sponded, and in that moment, memory re-
upon all created things. Through Him the
called the happy evening of the great dis-
leper recovered from the leprosy of per-
covery that the "golden rule" was to be
versity and ignorance. Through Him, the
found in all the Holy Books. It was like the
unchaste and wayward were healed.
theme of a symphony; it repeated, growing
Through His power, born of Almighty God,
ever stronger. The words were one because
the eyes of the blind were opened, and the
God is one, His prophets one, and His crea-
soul of the sinner sanctified."
tures inhabitants of one home, the earth.
The messages of the Books cry out that God
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see is not in competition with Himself. There is
God.
Blessed are the peacemalzers: for they shall be no exclusive salvation for the Jew, the Bud-
called the children o f God. . .. dhist, the Christian, the Muslim, the BahA'i.
Let your light so shine before men, that they Christ did not come to the Christians; He
may see your good works, and glorify your Fa- came to the world. BahL'u'll6h did not come
ther which is in heaven. to the BahA'is; He came to all humanity.
158 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

In the Old Testament man was his The Spirit of Truth has come! The light
brother's keeper; in the New Testament he of splendor has been shed upon the earth,
was his brother's brother; in this day of the but as in.the days of its previous appearance
great Covenant with all Faiths, it is written: in Jerusalem, only an eye that sees with the
"Blessed is he who prefers his brother be- sight of the true seeker can recognize Him.
fore himself, such a one is of the followers Raise thy voice in thanks within this House
of BahB'u'll6h." of God, that thou hast heard His voice for
What heart can fail to be stirred and "many are called, but few are chosen."
made richer by the belief in this oneness of "Call thou to remembrance Him who was
Almighty God, and this unity of His mes- the Spirit [Jesus]," Bahi'u'llih warns hu-
sengers, who are the lights stationed at in- manity, "Who, when He came, the most
tervals along one road of life-when the learned of His age pronounced judgment
light of one age and its prophet begins to against Him in His own country, whilst he
fade back into time and another appears to who was only a fisherman believed in Him.
banish darkness. They are the strata of earth Take heed, then, ye men of understanding
along the river bank that mark the history heart! Consider those who opposed the Son
of man. For a time, each was the topmost [Jesus], when He came unto them with sov-
layer from which grew the fruits, grains and ereignty and power. How many the Phari-
vegetables to nourish man. Each layer later sees who were waiting to behold Him, and
became the foundation for the next, the new were lamenting over their separation from
that was to grow upon it. Him! And yet, when the fragrance of His
In yet another way, the "word" of each coming was wafted over them, and His
Messenger is like unto the air which men beauty was unveiled, they t ~ ~ r n easide
d from
breathe in every part of the earth and in Him and disputed with Him. . . . None
every age. It never fails to give life to each save a very few, who were destitute of any
creature, in each age, in each part of the power among men, turned toward His
earth. It is the "word" that was with God face. . . ."
and "became flesh and dwelt amongst man" How our hearts had wept, when, as chil-
in the form of Moses, Krishna, Buddha, ZO- dren, we had heard how His own people had
roaster, Jesus, Muhammad, the B6b and refused to accept Jesus. They called him a
BahB'uYllBh. false prophet. "Nay, but He deceiveth the
Here, today, in this House of God, united people," they said.
as "leaves of one tree and the drops of one The Messiah, they insisted, was to come
ocean," the followers of BahB'u'llBh linked from an unknown place, to sit upon the
their hopes and energies with those of their throne of David, to rule with a sword, and
fellow-men and cried out together the joy to promulgate the law of Moses. "This
that is in their hearts: poverty-stricken upstart," they said of Jesus,
"This is the Day in which God's most ex- "fulfills none of these conditions. He is a
cellent favors have been poured out upon false prophet!"
men, the Day in which His most mighty Alas! Had they not blindly insisted on a
grace hath been infused into all created material fulfillment of these prophecies, they
things. It is incumbent upon all the peoples would have seen that although Jesus' body
of the world to reconcile their differences, came from the womb of His mother, Mary,
and, with perfect unity and peace, abide be- His spirit came from God, "the unknown
neath the shadow of the Tree of His care place," that the throne upon which He sat
and loving-kindness." was in the kingdom He established in the
The page of the Book of Jesus was hearts of the people. His sword was His
turned, and His words were read for all to tongue and teachings with which He con-
hear : quered the world. Today wherever the Bible
is read throughout the world, there we find
I have yet many things to say unto you, but the Old Testament of Moses linked with the
ye cannot bear them now. New Testament of Christ. Jesus brought the
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, Word and Book of Moses to people who
he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not would never have heard of Moses if Christ
speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, had not appeared.
that shall he speak: and he will shew you things
"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers
to come.
John 16:12. 13. . . . ." Jesus had cried out because of their
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 159

disbelief. "I send unto you prophets, and the Book of Christ in their hands-a Book
wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye laden with testimony of the coming of
shall kill or crucify; and some of them shall BahVu'llLh-they have repeated the sin of
ye scourge in your synagogues, and perse- the "generation of vipers." They have de-
cute them from city to city." nied the Messenger of God.
How accurately these words of Christ Every prophet seems false to the age in
were to be fulfilled not only in His own life, which He appears. He calls men from their
but again in the day of His return. The sensual desires and pleasures and they fight
herald of the BahL'i Faith had been against responding to His summons. They
"scourged in the synagogue" and "killed." ask for a great sign so they can be certain
He was lashed with the bastinado in the of His truth before they give up their physi-
prayer house in Tabriz. Later, in this same cal comfoi-ts and satisfactions. They wish to
city, He was suspended before a mocking be hypnotized into belief by miracles and
and disbelieving multitude as Christ had wonders so that they need not exert any
been suspended; finally, His breast was personal effort.
made a target for a volley of musket balls. BahVu'llLh recognized this insincerity
BahVu'llLh, the Founder of the Faith, and challenged it. While in exile in Bagh-
shared each step of persecution with His did, He was asked, as an evidence of She
Herald, the BLb. He was held captive in truth of His Mission, for a miracle that
TihrLn, Amul, and again "in the Black Pit" would satisfy completely all concerned.
of T i h r h . He was scourged in the prayer BahVu'llLh told them that the Cause of God
house of h u l . He was exiled from His was not a theatrical display to be presented
native city, TihrLn, to BaghdLd, 'IrLq, to be upon demand. "Although you have no right
persecuted "from city to ztY" as Jesus had to ask this," He said, "for God should test
foretold. He was banished from BaghdLd to His creatures, and they should not test God,
Constantinople, to Adrianople, and- finally still I allow and accept this request . . . .
to 'AkkL in Syria, across the bay from Mt. the 'ulam8s (clergy) must assemble, and
Carmel. with one accord, choose one miracle, and
"0Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest write that, after the performance of this
the prophets, and stonest them which are miracle, they will no longer entertain doubts
sent unto thee, how often would I have about Me, and that all will acknowledge and
gathered thy children together, even as a confess the Truth of My Cause. Let them
hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, seal this paper, and bring it to Me. This
and ye would not!" must be the accepted criterion: if the mira-
What a tragedy, that all through history cle is performed, no doubt will remain for
the liberals of one age become the orthodox them; and if not, We shall be convicted of
of the next. They accept the symbolical in- imposture."
terpretation of the prophecies that validate This clear, challenging, courageous reply,
their own prophet and call down shame unexampled in the annals of any religion
upon those who insist that the prophecies was addressed to the most illustrious of the
must be fulfilled to the letter. Then, having clergy in the heart of their stronghold. They
won their goal and captured the citadel, they did not accept the challenge. "What if He
turn the same well-directed cannon of or- should perform the miracle?'they asked
thodoxy upon those who come after them. themselves. The matter was dropped. .
No wonder His Holiness Christ censored Bahh'u'llih, the Spirit of Truth, has come
them saying, "Search the scriptures; for in to fulfill the prophecies of the past. He is
them ye think ye have eternal life: and the Father in the parable of the vineyard,
they are they which testify of me. . . . For who has seized the vineyard (this earth)
had ye believed Moses, ye would have be- from those who destroyed His servants (the
lieved me: for he wrote of me. But if ye prophets) and slew His son (Jesus). Bah6'-
believe not his writings, how shall ye believe u'llih (the Father) has come into the vine-
my words?" yard to give it out to those who will render
For years the Jews had searched the to Him the fruits of love and service. He
scriptures which testified to the coming of has come! The Spirit of Truth, the Father,
the Messiah, but still they denied Christ. the Lord of Hosts, the Glory of God! What
The followers of Jesus sighed sorrowfully tongue can voice its thanks?
at the perversity of the Jews, yet, holding "Address yourselves to the promotion of
160 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

American Indian BahA'is at the All-America Intercontinental
Conference, Chicago, Illinois, May, 1953.

the well-being and tranquillity of the chil- with joy and reverence. They were lifted to
dren of men," the Spirit of Truth has com- heaven with a devotion and respect long
manded. "Bend your minds and wills to the denied in the West to this glorious Mes-
education of the peoples and kindreds of the senger of the light of truth.
earth, that haply the dissensions that divide
it may, through the power of the Most Great Moreover, t o Moses gave we "the Book," and
Name, be blotted out from its face, and all we raised up apostles after him; and to Jesus,
mankind become the upholders of one Or- son o f Mary, gave we clear proofs o f his mis-
sion, and strengthened him by the Holy Spirit.
der, and the inhabitants of one City. Illu-
S o o f t then as an apostle cometh t o you with
mine and hallow your hearts; let them not that which your souls desire not, swell ye with
be profaned by the thorns of hate or the pride, and treat some as impostors, and slay
thistles of malice. Ye dwell in one world, others?
and have been created through the opera- Qur'dn 2:81.
tion of one Will. Blessed is he who mingleth
with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness There is a generation of vipers born to
and love." strike at the representative of God in what-
The tidings have been given, the song ever age He appears. God does not send a
sung, and the great bell tolled. But as in the Messenger to enforce His edicts. He sends
days of Jesus the ears are stopped up with the Laws and the Life. If we are athirst, we
the clay of desire. shall drink and be revived. If we are not, we
Then the third Holy Book was opened, will turn aside and wither away. The choice
and a voice spoke, calling us back to our is ours; the channel of God's grace, the
presence beneath the sheltering dome of this Prophet, offers us the cup. Perhaps none of
house of prayer. These words were the the Messengers of God have been more
words of the prophet of Islhm, words read maligned in the West than Muhammad, but
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 161

through the agency of BahL'u'llBh, who con- to Moses and to Jesus, and that which was given
nects and unifies all the links in God's chain to the prophets from their Lord. N o diflerence
of educators, Muhammad has come into His do we make between any of them: and to God
are we resigned.
rightful place in the hearts and minds of all
the people of the earth.
Here in the BahL'i Faith we had been The invisible choir, raising its voice to the
brought to a true understanding of IslBin. sunbathed dome, began the words "Have ye
Here is the only place in the Western world not heard?" The lips of the followers of
where the Prophet of Arabia has received BahL'u'llBh silently repeated the words,
an unprejudiced hearing as one of God's those words they had been crying out to all
Messengers. The truth and beauty of His mankind in every corner of the planet,
teachings have been acknowledged as God- "Have you not heard? He has come! The
given. His words, "Let there be no compul- new ~erusalemhas descended!"
sion in religion" witness to the tolerance of "All nations and kindreds . . . . will be-
Muhammad. come a single nation . . . . the hostility of
Love for His teachings and His life was races and peoples, and differences among
created in our hearts by the BahL'i World
Faith which spontaneously engenders a
nations, will be eliminated. All men . .. .
will have one common Faith, will be
depth of devotion for all the Messengers of blended into one race, and become a single
God-unmatched by the most zealous of people. All will dwell in one common fa-
those who support any one Faith exclu- therland, which is the planet itself."
sively. BahB'is have come to see Muhammad Then the Books of the Bahi'i World
through new eyes; Muhammad of stately Faith were opened, and the words of a
and commanding presence. He was de- prayer of the BBb, the Herald of the Faith,
scribed affectionately by one who knew him were chanted in the original tongue.
intimately as having "depth and feeling in
His dark black eyes and the winning expres- Is there any Remover of dificulties save God?
sion . . . . gained the confidence and love Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His
even of strangers." Another admirer de- servants, and all abide by His bidding.
clared, "He was the most generous of men.
It was as though the sunlight beamed in His The heart felt impelled to cry out in
countenance." triumph when it thought of the words spo-
The Prophet of Islam not only united the ken by this Holy Youth that night so long
warring tribes of Arabia in a common faith ago in ZhirBz, IrBn. It happened just two
in one God, but also by introducing the con- hours and eleven minutes after the sun had
cept of the nation as a unit in the organiza- set on the twenty-second of May in 1844.
tion of society, He made a major contribu- This was the hour of the birth of the BahL'i
tion to civilization. He recognized the rights Faith. "This night, this very hour," the BBb
of the individual, abolished privilege of had said, "will, in the days to come, be
birth, banished the concept of superiority of celebrated as one of the greatest and most
skin color, gave protection to the non- significant of all festivals."
believer, and advanced man's social con- The BBb, the Herald, had ushered in this
sciousness to a height so advanced that Eu- new Day of God. BahL'u'llBh, the Founder,
rope could not boast of accomplishing the had established it upon an enduring founda-
same until many centuries after His coming. tion. The words first spoken to but one soul
Human solidarity as well as spiritual one- on that historic night had echoed and re-
ness were basic principles in Isl6m. Small echoed down through the years until now
wonder that His words are recognized as its message had been planted and was bear-
God-inspired. ing fruit in almost every nation of the world.
Now in the western world, His words No Messenger was ever foretold with
were being voiced under the dome of the such accuracy and power, as the coming of
BahPi Temple: BahL'u'llBh was foretold by the BAb. Lest
the hour of BahL'u'llBh's appearance be mis-
W e believe in God, and that which hath been taken, the BBb wrote this clear prophecy,
sent to us, and that which hath been sent down "Ere nine will have elapsed from the incep-
to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob tion of this Cause, the realities of the cre-
and the tribes: and that which hath been given ated things will not be made manifest. All
162 THE BAHA'I WORLD

that thou hast as yet seen is but the stage those who were waiting to enter. Bahb'is
from the moist germ until We clothed it and their friends were still arriving on foot,
with flesh. Be patient, until thou beholdest a by bus, by car, from every direction. The
new creation." ceremony of Dedication would have to be
In the year Nine (1269 of the calendar of repeated until all had shared in this occa-
IslLm and 1853 of the Christian calendar) sion.
BahL'uYll6hwas imprisoned in the Black Pit 'Abdu'l-BahL had said that this Temple
in Tihr6n. He later described his experience would be one of the greatest of teachers.
there in these words: "I was but a man like "When that Divine Edifice is completed, a
others, asleep upon My couch, when lo, the most wonderful and thrilling motion will
breezes of the All-Glorious were wafted appear in the world of existence. . . .
over Me, and taught Me the knowledge of From that point of light the spirit of teach-
all that hath been. This thing is not from ing, spreading the Cause of God and pro-
Me, but from One Who is Almighty and moting the teachings of God, will permeate
All-Knowing. And He bade Me lift up My to all parts of the world." Out of this
voice between earth and heaven. . ." . Mother Temple of the West, thousands of
Then a song of oneness was heard as the Temples would be born, He had promised.
words of BahL'u'llLh, the unifier of man- "It marks," he furthermore had written,
kind, wafted upward in His holy house of "the inception of the Kingdom of God on
prayer. earth."
The world has long awaited such a house
That the divers communions of the earth, and of prayer. It is not dedicated to the East or
the manifold systems of religious belief, should the West, to the light or dark skin, to the
never be allowed to foster the feelings o f ani- rich or the poor, but to all humanity. It
mosity among men, is, in this Day, of the es- was established by BahL'u'llLh in His great
sence o f the Faith of God and His Religion.
These principles and laws, these firmly-estab- Book of Laws for this new age. This Temple
lished and mighty systems, have proceeded from is a symbol of the spirit of service which
one Source, and are rays of one Light. That gives life to the BahL'i World Community
they differone from another is to be attributed in its relation both to the Faith of God and
to the varying requirements o f the ages in to mankind in general. In the future, within
which they were promulgated. the walls of these Houses of Worship
throughout the world, the representatives of
The Books of all Faiths were closed, and Bahi'i local and national communities will
the moment sealed, forever, in the memory. gather daily at the hour of dawn to derive
The promises of all the Holy Books were the necessary inspiration enabling them to
fulfilled and the day of the "one fold and discharge their administrative responsibil-
one shepherd" had come at last. The choir ities as the elected and chosen trustees of
joyously sang out: the World Faith of BahC'u'll6h.
This House of Worship is the first fruit of
From the sweet-scented streams of Thine eter- a slowly maturing Administrative Order
nity give me to drink, 0 my God, and of the which will be guided by the words found
fruits o f the tree of Thy being enable me to above the Temple entrances: "The best be-
taste, 0 my Hope. . . . Within the meadows o f loved of all things in My sight is Justice;
Thy nearness, before Thy presence, make me
able to roam, 0 my Beloved. . . . T o the melo- turn not away therefrom if thou desirest
dies of the dove of Thy oneness suffer me to Me." "0 rich ones on earth! The poor in
hearken, 0 Resplendent One. . . . T o the your midst are My trust; guard ye My
heaven of Thy loving-kindness lift me up, 0 my trust." "The source of all learning is the
Quickener. . .. knowledge of God, exalted be His glory."
Only a future age will fully comprehend
The public dedication of the Bahi'i this great gift of Bahi'uyll&hto society. This
House of Worship was completed. As we House of Worship is the nucleus of a great
passed through one of the nine archways of social evolution which will establish the
the Temple, we could read the words of Kirigdom of God when the "Will" of God
BahL'u'llih, graven upon the stone above will be "done on earth as it is in Heaven."
our heads: "The earth is but one country; A temple will be the heart of a community
and mankind its citizens." center in each city. Around it will be built
The steps outside were thronged with a hospital, a hospice, an orphanage, a col-
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 163

lege and scientific laboratories. These edu- It is a gift from the BahL'is; a house of
cational, humanitarian, and scientific institu- prayer with doors thrown wide open to men
tions will complete the dedication of the in- and women of all races and religions. In-
dividual to God. To the BahB'i there is no side its doors there is no infidel or pagan;
rigid division between the spiritual and prac- all are children of one God. All may turn
tical parts of life. their hearts to Him and know that they are
Services in the Temple will not be elab- brothers.
orate. There will be no ritual or set forms.
BahB'is have no professional clergy to pre- "Blessed is the spot, and the house, and
side. Services are for prayer, meditation, the place, and the city, and the heart, and
and the reading of writings from the sacred the mountain, and the refuge, arzd the cave,
scriptures of the Bahii'i Faith and other and the valley, and the land, and the sea,
great Faiths of the world. and the island, and the meadow where men-
This House of Worship does not belong tion o f God hath been made, and His praise
to the BahL'is alone; it belongs to humanity. glorified."

UNVEILING THE MODEL OF TEMPLE TO
BE CONSTRUCTED ON MOUNT CARMEL
MASONREMEY
Address by CHARLES

MANY years ago our beloved Master,
'Abdu'l-BahQ, told us that certain material
ered from the top of the mountain. But it
was the center; that simple altar on the
objects, certain material constructions have mountain top, that place of worship, was
a spiritual mission in the world, have a spir- the center of the civilization of that day. In
itual effect in the world, and before the those days, the people lived pastoral lives in
BahL'i Temple, the Ma&riqu'l-Adhkir, was the valleys below, but on certain occasions
built here in Wilmette, he told us that when they went up onto the mountain top for
that Temple was built, it would have a great their spiritual worship, for their sacrifices.
spiritual effect in the world, that it would be Later on, centuries later, when Moses, the
a symbol manifesting forth to all of the Prophet of God, led the children of Israel
world the spiritual ideals and the services to out of Egypt, out of the land of bondage to
the world of humanity of the friends of the the land of promise, one of the first institu-
Bahi'i Faith. tions that He instituted was the Tabernacle.
As we study into the history of the re- The Tabernacle was a portable temple of
ligions of the past, we see that each religion worship. I suppose the Tabernacle described
has developed a civilization in the world and in the Old Testament was probably covered
has developed also a style of architecture with skins of animals, but it had certain ele-
which has found its full and perfect devel- ments of worship in it. There was the inner
opment in the t e m ~ l e sof the epoch. Way Holy of Holies, there was the court around
back in the very dawn of religious history, that, and finally the outer court, and during
when the Prophet Abraham came out from the long forty years that the children of Is-
his homeland and took his band of followers rael were in the wilderness, when they
to the Land of Promise, the Holy Land, one struck their camp, their first duty was to
of His first activities was building a temple set up this Tabernacle, so the Tabernacle
to the Lord, and that temple was a very sim- during those years was the center of their
ple place of worship, the altar which he built religious life in the wilderness.
on the mountain top for the sacrifices that Later on, when the Jewish civilization de-
He instituted as the ritual for the people of veloped in Jerusalem, the 'Temple of Solo-
His day. It was probably a very, very simple mon, the Temple in Jerusalem, was the cen-
affair, built, laid up, of rough stones gath- ter of their religious life and their cultural
164 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

life, and it was built very much on the plan, institutions that go to make up the activities
the rudimentary plan, of the tabernacle in of a great world civilization.
the wilderness. There was the inner Holy of The first one of these BahL'i temples was
Holies and then the inner court and the built many years ago over in that country
outer court. east of the Caspian Sea, sometimes spoken
At that time, people flowed from all na- of as Trans-Caspian. There, in the City of
tions to Jerusalem in order to partake of the 'I&qLbid, our friends of the Orient built
learning and the culture that developed the first BahVi Temple. It was my privilege
around the civilization there, the center of to visit it back some forty-five years ago. We
which was the Temple. have heard very little about our friends
Centuries later, when the Christian there in the last few years. The present Rus-
Church was established, little by little, these sian Government has confiscated our Tem-
churches, places of worship, were the cul- ple and the Bahl'i community there in 'I&-
tural centers of Christianity. First, the style q&bLdhas been scattered and dispersed, but
developed out of the Roman style in the now, only in the last few days, we have ded-
City of Rome. Later on it developed into icated and completed the Temple here in
the Romanesque style in the West, into the Wilmette with which you are all so familiar.
Byzantine style of the Eastern Church, and A number of years ago, when I was still
after some thirteen or fourteen centuries, we a student of architecture, I first heard of the
have the flowering out of the magnificent Bahl'i Faith, and one of my first recollec-
cathedrals and churches of Europe. tions was that when the time came for me to
This style of architecture, the Gothic create my thesis in architecture, I would like
style, developed in its greatest fragrance and very much, indeed, to take as my subject a
development and beauty around in the cen- typical Bahl'i Temple. That was way back
tral part of France; the Cathedrals of Lyon, a little over fifty years ago and, following
of Chartres, of Amiens, Rheims, and Notre that, I spent a good deal of time in making
Dame of Paris are the outstanding temples different studies for BahVi Temples, and
of the Christian epoch. some of you may recall that when the de-
When Muhammad gave His teaching off sign was chosen for the Temple here in Wil-
in the deserts of Arabia, one of the first de- mette, a number of us architects offered
velopments of architecture was the Mosques drawings. Some of my drawings were of-
that were built in and about the city of fered at that time. But shortly after that, the
Cairo, and this Islamic culture went west- Master, 'Abdu'l-BahL, revealed a Tablet to
ward into Northern Africa and up into me and told me that my mission in the
Spain. It went East into Persia and then future would be to design the Temple to be
down into India and the Mosques of these built on Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land.
countries were the spiritual centers of edu- As we all know, the Holy Land is the
cation and culture in that magnificent civili- Holy Land of all the religions of the world.
zation which Islim gave to the world. The Jewish religion, the Christian religion,
And so it was with the other religions in it is the Holy Land for Islim, and now in
the far East. The place of worship has been these days, it is the Holy Land for all the
the cultural center and the point for the de- world in the BahL'i Faith. Our spiritual
velopment of architecture and all of the al- background is there and also our Adminis-
lied arts. trative Center is there, and it was the plan
Now, in the Bahl'i Faith, which is the in the mind of the Master, 'Abdu'l-Bahi,
new religion of the present day and present that there should be a Bahii'i Temple built
age, in the writings of BahPu'llih, we have upon Mt. Carmel.
exhortations that we should build in this During these years, I have made a num-
epoch, temples for worship, and He has ber of studies and along about five years
given us a general plan for these temples. ago, our beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi,
There shall be a temple proper, a circular wrote to me and told me that it was time to
building, built on the plan of a nine-sided begin to think of the design, the completed
polygon, which is to be the sanctuary for design for that Temple.
worship and prayer and meditation, and this At that time, in the latter part of 1947
central temple is to be surrounded by vari- and the early days of 1948, I made a com-
ous institutions for the physical benefit of plete set of drawings for the Temple and
mankind, schools and hospitals and all the later on I took those drawings over to our
CENTENARY O F BIRTH OF BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 165

Guardian and he made a number of sugges- of this design and that it should be unveiled
tions that really created within my mind an here in this Conference, and 1 left Haifa a
entirely unique and different design from little over three months ago, and I went to
any of those studies that I had made before, Italy, and there in the City of Florence, I
a& that is the design that we are going to engaged a wood carver to make this model,
show you this evening. These designs were carved of wood. I had had some rather bad
made during the past two or three years that experience with some of the models that I
I have been spending in Haifa and they had made of plaster. It didn't hold up in
were made under the direction of our transportation, but this model of wood has
Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, and I must say transported very well and it is assembled
that the architecture, the architectural mo- and we are going to show it to you now.
tifs, are really his rather than mine. He gave This ensemble of models will give you an
me a great many criticisms, a great many idea of the architecture. It speaks for itself.
suggestions, and after a period of time, of It shows the Temple proper which will be
working and making drawings and submit- erected upon Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land,
ting them to him and restudying them, etc., surrounded by terraces and gardens, with
a design was made that he approved of, and fountains and avenues leading up to it. It
it was his idea that a model should be made speaks for itself.

MESSAGES OF GREETING RECEIVED FOR
TEMPLE DEDICATION

T H E Dedication of the Temple brought know. But perhaps not so many realize its
many messages of greeting from public lead- symbolic significance. It teaches the essential
ers. Following are excerpts from some of unity of mankind under one God, irrespec-
the greetings received. tive of the various sects and creeds that give
From the Ambassador of Israel in the expression to the various faiths. There is a
United States came the message: "On occa- basic wholeness among people the world
sion of dedication of Bahb'i House of Wor- around. There are spiritual ties that unite
ship I wish to convey to you sincere greet- them in the brotherhood of man. . . . The
ings and congratulations of State of Israel. important thing is recognition of the essen-
Israel people and government, harboring in tial unity of mankind under one God. That
their country the BahCi spiritual Center, is a force which cuts across politics, trade
have always cherished cordial, friendly re- routes, racial groupings the world around.
lations with Guardian of that Center and all It can be made a powerful moral force in
BahCis. Ideals of peace and brotherliness the practical affairs of the world if there is
underlying BahVi Faith are dear and sacred a dedication to the cause-the kind of dedi-
to Israel, ancient and revived alike. Wish cation that went into the long and difficult
you every success." (signed) Abba Evan, task of constructing the Bahgi House of
Ambassador, State of Israel. Worship at Wilmette."
From Charles Malik, Ambassador of Mrs. Ruth Bryan Rhode, former United
Lebanon in the United States, came: "The States Ambassador to Denmark sent this
devotion to the highest spiritual realities is message: "On the occasion of the dedication
the greatest thing in the world. I believe of the BahB'i House of Worship, I join in
without the judgment and guidance of God spirit with the Assembly whose aspiration
all is of no avail. May you therefore be is the unification of mankind. May the
quickened in your endeavors to search for, beauty of the edifice and its symbolism carry
know and worship Him." inspiration in wider and wider circles
Justice William 0. Douglas of the Su- around our troubled earth."
preme Court wrote: "The BahB'i House of Dr. Paul R. Anderson, President of the
Worship at Wilmette, Illinois, is a structure Pennsylvania College for Women, wrote: "I
of g e a i beauty, as millions who have seen it am delighted to learn of the dedication of
the Bah6'i House of Worship at Wilmette. wrote: "May I be permitted to send you my
In times like these it stands as a great monu- felicitations on this occasion and to express
ment of liberalism and internationalism. the hope that your newly-dedicated House
"I have never met more serious believers of Worship will be a source of inspiration
in the cause of humanity than BahB'is. Such and spiritual guidance to many people in
loyalty to the highest ideals is what we need our country."
to bring us closer to the goal of a peaceful, From Syracuse University, the Depart-
friendly world." ment of Philosophy, Dr. Raymond Frank
Dr. Marcus Bach, of the State University Piper, sent this message: "The BahB'i
of Iowa, sent the following tribute: "The House of Worship is a unique and magnifi-
Bah6'i emphasis on the unity of religions is cent achievement in the history of the
the richest adornment of our contemporary world's religions and cultures because it em-
faith. bodies, in incomparable, compelling, and
"While the dedication of your House of unforgettable beauty, the glorious ideal of
Worship symbolizes this fact in ceremonial, the enlightened and creative unity of reli-
it remains for true followers of the Glory of gions, and also because it is a sun-clear, en-
God to instill its principle in the hearts of during symbol which invites all religionists,
men. and others too, to work together in loving
"The words of BahB'u'llBh, which have sympathy for the sake of multiplying those
become a challenge and a working formula precious fruits of goodwill, wisdom, peace,
for our time, have long been my text, 'The and joy of which mankind now stands in
earth is but one country; and mankind its profound and painful need."
citizens.' A long letter came from Dr. Shao Chang
"These words, strengthened by my recent Lee, Head of the Department of Foreign
visit with the Guardian, are now further in- Studies at Michigan State College. With the
tensified by the rising influence demon- letter came a large Chinese card with the
strated in the Intercontinental Centenary twelve BahP'i principles beautifully lettered
Conferences. in Chinese by Dr. Lee. In his letter, Dr.
"It is my earnest hope that men of every Lee said in part: "I for one deeply appre-
belief and race may catch the spirit and ciate the efforts that you and other members
power inherent in the BahVi cause and that of the Assembly have made and are making
this day of dedication will hasten the dawn to achieve an integrated community of
of concord and direct the eyes of nations truth-loving and peace-loving peoples. At
toward the light of brotherhood and peace." this critical point in world history, you bring
Among the clergymen sending greetings to mankind the spiritual and practical values
was Dr. David Rhys Williams, of the First which Bahb'u'llkh has emphasized, and
Unitarian Church of Rochester, New York, which the world greatly needs."
who wired that the members of his congre- Dr. Kirtley F. Mather, Professor of Ge-
gation "extend fraternal greetings and best ology at Harvard University, wrote: "You
wishes for an inspiring centennial celebra- and your associates are greatly to be con-
ti0.n of the BahL'i Revelation and join you in gratulated upon the completion of this
affirming the oneness of all religions as you lovely edifice, but even more because of the
dedicate your beautiful Temple as a symbol effective work you are doing to unite the
of this oneness." people of many lands and creeds in a spir-
Dr. Karl M. Chworowsky, minister of the itual unity that cannot help but bear rich
First Unitarian Church of Fairfield County, fruits in coming years."
Conn., wrote: "The writer who for these From The Hoover Institute and Library,
past several years has enjoyed the high privi- Stanford University, the Chairman, Dr.
lege and profound inspiration of active fel- H. H. Fisher, wrote: "Please accept my sin-
lowship with the Bahi'is of New York, de- cere good wishes. I am sure that believers in
sires to join with your many friends and human brotherhood and workers for under-
well-wishers in congratulating the Bahb'is of standing among the peoples of the earth will
the United States on this occasion of the be happy to know, as I am, of the dedica-
dedication of your beautiful House of Wor- tion of this House of Worship to these great
ship. . . . The richest blessings of the Eter- causes."
nal One be and abide with you . . ." From the Sage School of Philosophy at
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, of Cleveland, Cornell University, Dr. E. A. Burtt wrote:
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 167

"All I can say is that this seems to me a attempting to put into practice one of the
notable occasion in the history and progress highest ideals of religious and democratic
of religion in the United States, and that teachings. Our organization is dedicated to
I hope the Temple will increasingly help to the same end although through use of dif-
bring about a spirit of union and of hope ferent tools. We are, therefore, fellow-
among adherents of all religious creeds." soldiers trying to build a society in which
From Dr. Harry A. Overstreet came the there will be no place for distinctions and
following: "Your effort to make a new feel- differences based upon race, color, class or
ing come alive in us-that of ongoing reve- religion."
lation-is to me most impressive. This is the Mr. Roy Wilkins, Administrator for the
feeling all of us, I think, must somehow NAACP, wrote: "I am happy to send greet-
manage to make intimately part of our- ing to the members of the Bahi'i faith and
selves. This must be our worship of the One their friends upon the occasion of the dedi-
God that liveth."
cation of you; Temple to the brotherhood
Mr. Thurgood Marshall, Director and
Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and of man. Our poor world is in great need of
Educational Fund, wired: "We are happy to the deep faith and sincere and unostentati-
extend greetings and best wishes on the oc- ous practices of the Bahi'is."
casion of the dedication of the BahL'i House ~ r e e t i n ~were
s also received from: Dr.
of Worship. You affirmatively offer full re- Dwight J. Bradley; Dr. Albert Guerard; Dr.
ligious fellowship to all without distinctions Channing H. Tobias, Director of the Phelps
based upon race and color and are thereby Stokes Fund; and Dr. Frank H. Hankins.

4. T H E EUROPEAN INTERCONTINENTAL
TEACHING CONFERENCE HELD I N
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, JULY 21-26, 1953

THE GUARDIAN'S MESSAGE
Presented by UGOGIACHERY

T O THE Hands of the Cause, the mem- I look back, with feelings of wonder,
bers of the National Spiritual Assemblies, thankfulness and joy, upon the chain of
the pioneers, the resident believers and vis- memorable circumstances which, a little
itors attending the European Intercontinen- over a century ago, accompanied the intro-
tal Teaching Conference in Stockholm, duction of the Faith into, and marked the
Sweden: inception of its nascent institutions within, a
continent which, in the course of the last
Well-beloved friends: two thousand years, has exercised on the
With a glad and grateful heart I welcome destiny of the human race a pervasive in-
the convocation, in the capital-city of fluence unequaled by that of any other con-
Sweden, of the third of a series of Inter- tinent of the globe.
continental Teaching Conferences associ- I feel impelled, on this historic occasion,
ated with the world-wide festivities com- when the members of the American, the
memorating the centenary of the Mission of British, the German and the newly formed
BahL'u'llAh and destined to exert a profound Italo-Swiss National Spiritual Assemblies, as
and lasting influence on the immediate for- well as representatives of the Bahi'is of the
tunes of His Faith in all continents of the United Kingdom, of Eire, of Germany, of
globe. Austria, of the Scandinavian and Benelux
168 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

countries, of the Iberian Peninsula, of Italy, munity-Plans which, within less than a
of Switzerland, of France, and of Finland decade, succeeded in laying the structural
are assembled, to pay a warm tribute to the basis of the Administrative Order of the
valiant labors of the early British and Faith in Wales, in Scotland, in Northern Ire-
French BahL'i pioneers, who at the very land and in Eire, in multiplying and con-
dawn of the Faith in Europe, strove with solidating BahL'i institutions throughout the
such diligence, consecration and resolution, British Isles, in broadening and strengthen-
to fan into flame that holy Fire which the ing the foundations of that same Order in
hand of the appointed Center of BahL'uY- Germany and Austria, in erecting the Na-
llgh's Covenant had kindled in the north- tional Administrative Headq~~arters of the
west extremity of that continent on the mor- Faith in the city of Frankfurt, in establish-
row of His Father's ascension. I recall the ing Spiritual Assemblies in the capital cities
slow eastward spread of that infant Light of no less than ten sovereign states in Eu-
which led to the gradual emergence of the rope, in reenforcing the administrative foun-
German and Austrian BahL'i Communities, dations of that Faith in those territories, in
during the darkest period of 'Abdu'l-BahL's providing the means for the convocation of
incarceration in the prison-fortress of five European, and a series of regional,
'Akkg. I am reminded of His subsequent Teaching Conferences, and above all, in the
epoch-making visit, soon after His provi- convocation of the historic Convention in
dential release from His forty-year confine- Florence culminating in the emergence of
ment in the Most Great Prison, to these the National Spiritual Assembly of the
newly-fledged struggling Communities, of Bahi'is of Italy and Switzerland, the third
His patient seed-sowing destined to yield at in a series of institutions destined to play
a later age its first fruits, and constituting a their part in the eventual establishment of
landmark of the utmost significance in the the Supreme Legislative Body of the Ad-
rise and establishment of the Faith of BahL'- ministrative Order of the Faith of Bahg-
u'llgh in that continent. u'llih.
I, moreover, call to mind, on this occa- The hour is now ripe for these Commun-
sion, the successive episodes which, on the ities whether new or old, local or national,
morrow of 'Abdu'l-Bahl's ascension, in the already functioning on the Northern, the
course of the initial Epoch of the Formative Western and the Southern fringes of that
Age of the BahL'i Dispensation, signalized continent, as well as those situated in its
the emergence of those administrative insti- very heart, to initiate befittingly and prose-
tutions, both local and national, which pro- cute energetically the European Campaign
claimed the germination of those potent of a global Crusade which will not only con-
seeds which had lain dormant for more than tribute, to an unprecedented degree, to the
a decade in these newly-opened European broadening and the consolidation of the
territories, and which culminated in the foundations of the Faith of BahL'u'll5h on
construction of the framework of the Ad- the continent of Europe, but will also diffuse
ministrative Order of the Faith of BahL'u'- its light over the neighboring islands, and
llih and the erection of the first two pillars will, God willing, carry its radiance to the
destined to sustain in that continent the Eastern territories of that continent, and be-
weight of the final unit of that Order. yond them as far as the heart of Asia.
Nor can I fail to acclaim, as a further The privileged prosecutors of so revolu-
milestone in the irresistible evolution of that tionizing, so gigantic, so sacred and benefi-
Faith, the launching, following the creation cent a campaign, are, on the morrow of its
of the administrative agencies designed to launching, and, at such a crucial hour in the
provide the effectual instruments for its destinies of the European continent, sum-
propagation, of the Six-Year Plan of the moned to undertake:
British BahL'i Community followed succes- First, the formation, under the aegis of
sively by the European Teaching Campaign, the National Spiritual Assembly of the
inaugurated in accordance with the provi- BahL'is of the United States, of one Na-
sions of the second Seven-Year Plan of the tional Spiritual Assembly in each one of the
American BahL'i Community, the Five-Year Scandinavian and Benelux Countries, and
Plan conceived by the German and Austrian those of the Iberian Peninsula, and one in
BahL'i Communities and the Two-Year Plan Finland, as well as the establishment, in col-
later initiated by the British Bahl'i Com- laboration with the Paris Spiritual Assem-
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 169

Hands of the Cause of God present at the Third Intercontinental Teaching Conference,
Stockholm, Sweden, July 21-26, 1953.

bly, of the National Spiritual Assembly of thirty virgin territories and islands: Albania,
the Bahi'is of France, the establishment, Crete, Estonia, Finno-Karelia, Frisian Is-
under the aegis of the National Spiritual As- lands, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia,
sembly of the Bahi'is of Germany and Aus- Rumania, White Russia, assigned to the Na-
tria, of the National Spiritual Assembly of tional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of
the Bahi'is of Austria, and the establish- Germany and Austria; Channel Islands,
ment, under the aegis of the National Spirit- Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Hebrides Islands,
ual Assembly of the BahB'is of the United Malta, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, as-
States, and in association with the National signed to the National Spiritual Assembly of
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Italy the BahVis of the British Isles; Andorra,
and Switzerland, of independent National Azores, Balearic Islands, Lofoten Islands,
Spiritual Assemblies in Italy and Switzer- Spitzbergen, Ukraine, assigned to the Na-
land. tional Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of
Second, the construction of the first the United States of America; Liechtenstein,
Ma&riquYl-Ad_hkCof Europe in the city of Monaco, Rhodes, San Marino, Sardinia,
Frankfurt, the heart of Germany, which oc- Sicily, assigned to the National Spiritual As-
cupies such a central position in the conti- sembly of the BahVis of Italy and Switzer-
nent of Europe. land.
Third, the purchase of land for the future Fifth, the translation and publication of
construction of two Mas_hriqu'l-ALhkBrs, BahC'i literature in the following ten lan-
one in the North in the city of Stockholm, guages to be undertaken by the National
and one in the South in the city of Rome, Spiritual Assembly of the BahVis of the
the seat and stronghold of the most power- United States of America, through its Eu-
ful church in Christendom. ropean Teaching Committee: Basque,
Fourth, the opening of the following Estonian, Flemish, Lapp, Maltese, Piedmon-
170 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

tese, Romani, Romansch, Yiddish, Ziryen. tribute; on whose southern shores Christen-
Sixth, the consolidation of Belgium, Den- dom first established its home; along whose
mark, Finland, France, Holland, Italy, Lux- eastern marches the mighty forces of the
embourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Cross and the Crescent so frequently
Switzerland, allocated to the National Spirit- clashed; on whose southwestern extremity a
ual Assembly of the BahP'is of the United fast evolving Islamic culture yielded its fair-
States of America; of Austria, Bulgaria, est fruit; in whose heart the light of the Ref-
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Russian ormation shone so brightly, shedding its
S.F.S., Yugoslavia, allocated to the National rays as far as the outlying regions of the
Spiritual Assembly of the BahP'is of Ger- globe; the well-spring of American culture;
many and Austria; of Eire allocated to the whose northern and western fringes were
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahfi'is first warmed and illuminated, less than a
of the British Isles; of Iceland allocated to century ago, by the dawning light of the
the National Spiritual Assembly of the Revelation of Bahfi'u'llih; in whose heart a
Bahfi'is of Canada; and of Corsica allocated Community, so rich in promise, was subse-
to the National Spiritual Assembly of the quently established; whose soil was later
Bahfi'is of Italy and Switzerland. sanctified by the twice-repeated visit of the
Seventh, the incorporation of the thirteen appointed Center of His Covenant; which
above-mentioned National Spiritual Assem- witnessed, in consequence of the rise and es-
blies. tablishment of the Administrative Order of
Eighth, the establishment by these same His Faith, the erection of two of the fore-
National Spiritual Assemblies of national most pillars of the future Universal House
Bahfi'i endowments. of ~ustice;which, in recent years, sustained
Ninth, the establishment of a national the dynamic impact of a series of national
Haziratu'l-Quds in the capital city of each Plans preparatory to the launching of a
of the countries where National Spiritual world spiritual crusade-such a continent
Assemblies are to be established, as well as has at last at this critical hour-this great
one in London and one in Paris. turning-point in its fortunes-entered upon
Tenth, the formation of a National ~?ihP'i what may well be regarded as the opening
Publishing Trust in Frankfurt, Germany. phase of a great spiritual revival that bids
Eleventh, the formation of Israel Branches fair to eclipse any period in its spiritual his-
of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the tory.
Bahfi'is of the British Isles and of Germany May the elected representatives of the
and Austria, authorized to hold, on behalf National BahP'i Communities entrusted with
of their parent institutions, property dedi- the conduct of this momentous undertaking
cated to the holy Shrines at the World Cen- launched on the soil of this continent, aided
ter of the Faith in the State of Israel. by the Hands of the Cause and their aux-
Twelfth, the conversion to the Faith of iliary Board, reinforced by the local com-
representatives of the Basque and Gypsy munities, the groups and isolated believers
races. Thirteenth, the appointment, during sharing in this massive and collective enter-
Ridvin 1954, by the Hands of the Cause in prise, and supported by the subsidiary agen-
Europe, of an auxiliary Board of nine mem- cies to be appointed for its efficient prosecu-
bers who will, in conjunction with the four tion, be graciously assisted by the Lord of
National Spiritual Assemblies participating Hosts to contribute, in the years immedi-
in the European campaign, assist, through ately ahead, through their concerted efforts
periodic and systematic visits to Bahb'i cen- and collective achievements, in both the
ters, in the efficient and prompt execution of teaching and administrative spheres of
the Plans formulated for the prosecution of Bahb'i activity, to the success of this glo-
the teaching campaign in the European con-
rious Crusade, and lend a tremendous im-
tinent.
A continent, occupying such a central and petus to the conversion, the reconciliation
strategic position on the entire planet; so and the ultimate unification of the divers
rich and eventful in its history, so diversified and conflicting peoples, races, and classes
in its culture; from whose soil sprang both dwelling within the borders of a travailing,
the Hellenic and Roman civilizations; the a sorely-agitated, and spiritually-famished
mainspring of a civilization to some of continent.
whose features Bahb'u'llih Himself paid May all the privileged participators, en-
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 171

listing under the banner of Bahi'u'llih for heroism as will rival, nay outshine, the feats
the promotion of so preeminent and meri- accomplished nineteen hundred years ago,
torious a Cause, be they from the Eastern or by that little band of God-intoxicated disci-
Western Hemisphere, of either sex, white or ples who, fearlessly preaching the Gospel of
colored, young or old, neophyte or veteran, a newly-arisen Messiah, contributed so de-
whether serving in their capacity as ex- cisively to the illumination, the regeneration
pounders of the teachings, or administrators, and the advancement of the entire European
of His Faith, as settlers or itinerant teachers, continent.
distinguish themselves by such deeds of SHOGHI

REPORT OF THE EUROPEAN INTERCONTINENTAL
TEACHING CONFERENCE

T H E Third Intercontinental Bahi'i Teach- Giachery. On this occasion Mrs. Baker re-
ing Conference, held in Stockholm, Sweden, marked, "I begin to understand why Europe
from July 21-26, 1953, can be described in has been considered the pulse of the world.
one word, Action! In this Jubilee celebration If we regenerate its pulse, the world may be
of Bahi'u'llih's Mission "the spirit of the conquered!"
Year Nine was revived" and the European Then, as the believers answered the roll
campaign was launched. call, three hundred and seventy-seven from
Visualize, for a moment, the large audi- thirty countries responded: One hundred
torium of the Medborgarhus [Citizens Hall], and ten from the ten goal countries,'
its stage decorated with pink gladiolas, yel- seventy-six from Germany, sixty-six from
low roses and carnations; Ugo Giachery, the frin, forty-two from England, and forty-
special representative of the Guardian at the eight from other lands!
speaker's table with Edna True, Chairman On the afternoon of this first day of the
of the European Teaching Committee, Mar- Conference, following the reading of the
ion Hofman, Co-Chairman for the Confer- prayer, "The Remover of Difficulties,"
ence, Honor Kempton and Anne Lynch, the story of the meeting of Mull5 Husayn
secretaries. with the Bib, and the chanting of the Tab-
The Conference was convened by Edna let of Ahmad by a descendent of the Bib,
True on Wednesday morning, July 22, and the sacred gift of our beloved Guardian-
the message of the Guardian was read by the blessed portrait of His Holiness the Bbb
Ugo Giachery, outlining the thirteen goals -was unveiled. Profound reverence touched
of "so revolutionizing, so gigantic, so sacred each heart as the friends gazed on the por-
and beneficent a campaign." Honor Kemp- trait of the Blessed Bgb, creating a sense of
ton read messages and greetings from the dedication and consecration which was to
International Bahi'i Council, many of the burst into a flame of action! It was a holy
National Spiritual Assemblies, the European moment, a moment in eternity.
Teaching Committee and countless local As- The public meeting, held that night in the
semblies and individuals. Concerthus, brought an audience of almost
The Chairman then presented each of the seven hundred to hear Mrs. Gerd Strand of
fourteen Hands of the Cause who were Oslo, Norway, and Professor Zeine N. Zeine
present: Amelia Collins, Vice-President of of Beirut, Lebanon. Hans Odemyr of Stock-
the International Bahi'i Council, Charles holm presented the speakers after giving a
Mason Remey, President of the Interna- brief rCsum6 of the principles of the Faith.
tional Bahi'i Council, Dorothy Baker, Her- Mrs. Strand, who spoke in Swedish on "The
mann Grossmann, Adelbert Miihlschlegel, Spiritual Regeneration of the Individual
Valiyu'llbh Varqi, SJhu'i'u'llih 'Ali'i, Tar%- Man." pictured the "winter darkness of
u'llih Samandari. 'Ali-Akbar Furtitan.
c l Georgea Townshen& r Mfisb B a n W S Horace , Norway, Denmark, &lgi Holland,
Holley, JXhikru'llbh Khbdem and Ugo Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, France, Finland.
172 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

doubt and restlessness" with the Bahl'i Rev- might be called a token contribution of
elation "coming as a sunrise from the east, $250. "Undoubtedly, the first payment," he
carrying the hope and promise of spring in added. This was followed by an offer of
its bosom." She reviewed the effects of edu- $5,000 each for Stockholm and Frankfurt,
cation and religion on the character of man another of $1,000 for each, and then came
and closed her talk with a quotation from offers in kroner, pesetas, marks, lire, francs,
BahA'u'llih giving the BahL'i standards of so that in a few moments a total of $8,567
conduct. Professor Zeine, speaking of "The each was reached. But this was not all, for
Reconstruction of Human Society," ex- the floodgates had opened and BahL'is,
plained that the reason "we are living in ti young and old, gave cameras, wedding
time of confusion, perplexity and insecurity rings, Bahl'i rings, diamonds, watches,
is that most people have lost their sense of necklaces, earrings. One young man offered
values and their sense of direction, admit- to sell his motorcycle and walk. Two broth-
ting no authority higher than their own, re- ers offered to w&-k for two months on the
jecting spiritual authority." He logically un- Mas_hriqull-AdJhkbr in Frankfurt. Many laid
folded his subject, showing that "only God on the altar of sacrifice the last piece of
can save humanity from itself" and ended jewelry belonging to the family, heirlooms,
with the thought that "human society can- precious and historic gifts associated with
not be reconstructed on any solid, lasting the Holy family and the early believers, ob-
foundation unless we turn to God again." jects which could never be replaced. Some
The session Thursday morning opened of the gifts were given in memory of de-
with the reading of the cable to be sent to parted mothers, sisters, brothers, pioneers
the Guardian: Dagmar Dole and Johanna Schubarth; in
"Three hundred and seventy-seven believ- memory of the chairman of the Persian Na-
ers (from) thirty countries humbly thank tional Assembly and of Louis Gregory, first
(the) beloved Guardian (for the) sacred, Negro Hand of the Cause of Bahl'u'll6h.
blessed bounty (of his) priceless gift (and) Numerous gifts were given for the Stock-
join (in) heartfelt loving greetings. (Our) holm Mas_hriquYl-Aak6r;photographs and
hearts (are) joyously, solemnly united paintings of 'Abdu'l-Bah6, Persian rugs car-
(and) uplifted (by) your message (sent) rying the symbol of the Greatest Name, em-
through (your) honored representative broidered cloths, a silver picture frame, a
(and by) greetings from fourteen revered, vase, precious soil from the home of the B6b
beloved Hands (of the) Cause. (The) vision in I~f6h6n and other offerings from the
(of) Europe's great destiny (and this) im- friends.
mense Crusade calls us (to) rededication In the afternoon a glimpse of the First
(and a) greater loyalty. (We are) entreating and Second International Conferences was
your prayers. Devoted love, Third Intercon- given as Miis6 Banhi, S_hu'l'uyll6h 'AI6'i,
tinental Conference." Horace Holley, Mildred Mottahedeh and
Introducing the subject, "Launching the Beatrice Ashton made their reports. Mr.
European Campaign of the World-Embrac- Ban6ni told many interesting incidents in
ing Crusade," Dr. Giachery summarized the connection with t h e preparations for the
Guardian's cable for us and made an impas- Kampala Conference and explained how
sioned appeal for us not to consider our lim- seemingly insurmountable obstacles had
itations and human frailties but to arise, one been miraculously overcome, many at the
and all, to shoulder our responsibilities. He very last moment. General 'All'i compared
listed the three immediate goals as follows: the gathering to an experimental farm,
1. T o get our pioneers to the virgin terri- wherein God was trying out new seeds
tories as soon as possible. which were destined to bring in a bumper
2. To start translations. crop. He confessed that, before the Confer-
3. T o purchase land for future Mas_hri- ence, he had had misgivings as to the firm-
qu'l-ALhk6rs in Rome and Stockholm ness of the African believers so recently
and the construction of the Ma&riqu'l- converted to the Faith. Much to his joy he
A&kir in Frankfurt. found that "each of these African believers
The response began immediately with is deep in the Faith . . . and that their
Horace Holley's announcement that the knowledge is superior to that of many of the
Bahl'is of America, through their National people who have been in the Faith for
Spiritual Assembly, were making what years."
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 173

The Temple Dedication was vividly de- Justice. "By 1963 we shall have a Universal
scribed by Horace Holley, who spoke of the House of Justice, no doubt, and in Baghdid
structural beauty of the edifice and of its in- witness to that great day of ~ a n i e cHe
terior ornamentation and read the statement could not live to see that day but he said,
made at the dedication in behalf of the 'Blessed are they who will see that day.' . . .
Guardian by Rtihiyyih Khinum. Then Mrs. Daniel, whose grave is in 'Iriq, will, in each
Mottahedeh covered the high points of the one of us, see his prophecy fulfilled. . . ."
Second Intercontinental Teaching Confer- Friday morning Ugo Giachery read the
ence held in Wilmette. The afternoon ses- paragraph of the Guardian's cable setting
sion closed with a showing of slides and forth Europe's part in the Global Crusade,
films taken by believers at the First and Sec- listing the territories in which we must have
ond Intercontinental Conferences and the pioneers before the end of the Jubilee year,
Temple Dedication. These were explained just a little over two months from now! He
by Beatrice Ashton. made a moving appeal saying, "We are
Two evenings of the Conference were de- young and strong and able to go; we all have
voted to the early history of the Faith, with our businesses, our family connections and
George Townshend and D_hikru'llih KhC things that are important to do, but when
dem speaking Thursday evening on "The we realize that we can do without them and
Sufferings of Bahi'u'llih and Their Signifi- that by pioneering we can accomplish some-
cance." Mr. Townshend explained that "the thing that will last for all eternity! . . .
pains, the griefs, the sorrows, the sufferings, "I am hoping that before the day is over
the rejections, the betrayals, the frustrations we shall be able to cable the Guardian that
which were the common lot of all the High every place is filled. The Guardian will in-
Prophets reached their culmination in Him" scribe i h e name of every pioneer on a spe-
and, he significantly added, "Not He Him- cial scroll, the Knights of Bahi'u'llih, and
self alone but the Cause of God was in this will remain forever in the inmost tomb
prison." Again, he said: "Wrongs done to of Bahi'u'llih in Bahji."
the founder of a religion have two inevitable Dr. Giachery then announced that an-
effects: one is that of retribution against the other message from the Guardian had been
wrong done-the severity of which we may received and read it to the assembled be-
judge from the two thousand year exile of lievers.
the Jewish people; the other is that of re- This cable from the beloved Guardian set
ward to the High Prophet through the re- ablaze the true spirit of sacrifice and de-
lease of fresh powers of life that otherwise voted souls responded to the call; singly., in
would have lain latent, enabling Him to families, in couples, offering to go wherever
pour forth Divine energies which in their needed. Sixty-three volunteered, in all:
boundlessness will utterly overwhelm the twenty-seven from the Persian ranks, eleven
forces of evil and empower Him to say, 'Be from England, four from Germany, fifteen
of good cheer, I have overcome the world.' " from the ten goal countries with five of-
Mr. Townshend closed with these words, fers from American pioneers now serving
"Love is a priceless thing, only to be won under the European Teaching Committee
at the cost of death . . . Those heroic souls and one from America.
who are rapt in the love of the Lord, they On Friday afternoon, the friends had the
are the true lovers." joy of seeing moving pictures of the Holy
Mr. Khidem traced the life of Bahi'u'llih places of the Faith in Israel. The beauty of
in His imprisonments and banishment. He the gardens, as well as the tremendous
told of His great sufferings and loneliness, achievements at the World Center, is just
pointing out that, "When we look back a one more miracle to add to the wondrous
hundred years ago, Bahi'u'llih was alone, testimonies to the power of Bahi'u'llih in
but now His lovers all around the world in our day!
twenty-five hundred localities in one hun- Friday evening, Horace Holley, in his
dred and twenty-nine countries speak of presentation of "The Birth and Develop-
Him in ninety different languages!" He then ment of the Institutions of the Faith," traced
enumerated many of the achievements of the power and authority of Bahi'u'llih per-
the Faith, ending with the establishment of petuated in Bahi'i institutions. "Now what
the Italo-Swiss National Spiritual Assembly, we have here is indeed a divine creation. It
another pillar of the Universal House of is humanity being raised toward God and
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 175

the divine grace of God descending to hu- believers to study the history of the Faith
manity . . . Therefore, in our daily lives and compare it with the early days of past
when we have troubles and difficulties of an religions. Mr. FurGtan showed that the dis-
administrative nature, let us not be too im- ciples of other religions had not fully recog-
patient or too easily discouraged because we nized the true and exalted station of their
are in the process of making possible the own prophets and gave examples of disobe-
formation of that spiritual body of the Uni- dience to the expressed wishes and com-
versal House of Justice. There is the basis of mands of Moses, Christ and Muhammad.
the world's peace. There is the order and As contrast, he cited the many examples of
security of the world. There is the nobility absolute obedience in the Bahh'i Faith. One,
and enlightenment of the human race . . . taken from the record of the last days of the
If by the purity of our motives, by the depths earthly life of the BBb, tells that when the
of our self-sacrifice, we could hasten by one Bib called for a volunteer to take His life
year or one month the establishment of that (not wishing, as He said, to die by the hand
body, the whole human race would bless us of an unbeliever) a youth sprang to his feet,
for that great gift." Mr. Holley concluded ready to obey His command and later ex-
with this thought: " 'Abdu'l-Bahi told us to plained that his obedience was to His Cause,
see God in every human face, and we not to His person; to His Word, not to His
should also see God in our institutions. personality.
When we do this, we can with more patience Mr. Furiitan closed his remarks by quot-
and insight join in this great new order of ing a saying of 'Abdu'l-Bahi: "A small
justice and peace." piece of cotton can prevent the ear from
Mr. Tarazu'llBh Samandari spoke of "The hearing sweet melodies. A very thin veil can
Stirring Episodes of the Early Days of the cover the eyes and make it impossible for
Faith." He said: "When there is a Divine them to see. A very small headache can
Beloved, He needs lovers . . . A farmer cause our mind to stop functioning . . . a
.
needs, first of all, soil in which to plant . . small drop of mortal poison can kill the per-
The Manifestations require the heart in son who takes it. The veils of selfishness are
which to plant their love . . . In the days like the piece of cotton, the thin veil, the
of Bahi'u'llih and 'Abdu'l-Bahi, there were small headache and the drop, but those
lovers who went through the fire of martyr- heroic souls, the Dawn-Breakers, did not let
dom." Mr. Samandari pointed out that to- any veils come in between them and their
day "Pioneering is the equivalent of martyr- true responsibility."
dom and suffering. They will reap the same At the opening of the session Saturday
fruits as the early believers for their sacri- morning a letter from King Gustav Adolph
fice." He told of 'Abdu'l-BahB's prophecy of Sweden was read in which he acknowl-
that kings would one day carry flowers to edged receipt of the Jubilee booklet.
the Shrine of BahB'u'llBh and visit the Holy Dr. Grossmann then called attention to
Places of the Bahh'i world. four maps of Europe on which were desig-
One time, in the presence of BahB'u'llBh nated the goals of each of the four National
as He chanted the Tablet to the Sulfin, Mr. Spiritual Assemblies and Local Spiritual As-
Samandari said: "He was seen in two states semblies in the European campaign and en-
at the same time; that of the majesty and deavored to orient, geographically, the
might of kingship, and one of modesty and needs of the Crusade. He brought out many
meekness; the two could be seen, side by interesting historical facts with regard to
side." In conclusion, he related a story of these countries and enumerated the lan-
the last days of the Blessed Perfection. He guages into which Bahgi literature is to be
had summoned all the believers to come to translated during the next ten years.
His bedside and chanted verses from the At this point a letter written by R6hiyyih
Book of Aqdas referring to His passing. See- KhBnum at the request of the Guardian was
ing the believers overcome with grief, He read by Dr. Giachery: 'The friends in
counseled them, "The most important attri- Stockholm must realize that the most im-
bute in the life of the believers should be portant institutions to support at this time
love and unity." are the London Haziratu'l-Quds and the
In beginning his presentation of "The funds for the Temple land in Stockholm and
Dawn-Breakers," Mr. 'Ali-Akbar FurGtan Frankfurt. The back of some of the hardest
said that the Guardian had instructed the work in the plan will then be broken. . . .
176 T H E B A H A.'P W O R L D

The Guardian wishes that the friends should 'Abdu'l-Bahi when He told them to build
do their utmost to fill the remaining virgin the Ma&riqu'l-ALhkBr. "Little by little the
territories and after returning home they friends began to contribute their funds to
should urge the Bahb'is generally to do the build the Temple. After a while we had suffi-
same. The Hands of the Cause in their cient funds to begin construction and by the
travels should do likewise. . . ." time the Temple was completed $2,600,000
John Ferraby, Secretary of the National had been spent! Because the BahB'is con-
Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, was centrated on carrying out the Master's wish,
asked to report on the efforts made thus far they produced a building that is the glory of
in England to secure a site for their Haqira- America. The Master told Mrs. Corinne
tu'l-Quds. "Nearly the whole of the center True who was the first and, for many years,
of London is owned by a few landowners," the financial secretary, that they must make
he said, "and the few properties available a beginning and then all things would come
command a very high price indeed. There is and, therefore, no matter how small or how
only one property offered which seems in weak your community is, realize that it is
any way suitable. If we cannot find a the seed from which will come the fruitful
cheaper place, the Guardian has told us we trees!"
may purchase it. . . . For a lease they are At the beginning of the afternoon session,
asking five thousand pounds sterling, but for Amelia Collins, at the request of our Guard-
the land thirteen thousand pounds sterling, ian, showed the latest photographs of de-
making a total of eighteen thousand pounds velopments in the work on the Shrine of the
in all. The Guardian has cabled two thou- Bib and explained how, on the day of the
sand pounds toward the cost." Feast of RidvAn, the Guardian had sealed a
Again the Conference was moved to ac- bit of the plaster from the ceiling of the
tion and excitement mounted as contribu- prison room of the Bib at M6h-K6 behind
tions were offered. Soon it was announced one of the golden tiles in the Dome of the
that the London Ha~iratu'l-Quds was as- Shrine.
sured a very substantial amount by this Discussing "Opening up New Territo-
Conference. ries," Edna True outlined some salient con-
Consultation on the Guardian's cable siderations and shared experiences of the
continued and many points were clarified, European Teaching Committee in the work
among them the meaning of "incorporation" in Europe. Dorothy Ferraby, of England,
and "national endowments," set forth by reviewed the work of the British Africa
Horace Holley. "The legal incorporation of Committee in its collaboration with other
a national or local assembly," he said, "is National Spiritual Assemblies in the devel-
very important from several points of view. opment of the first world project. Dorothy
In the first place, it produces recognition Baker followed with practical suggestions
and enhances the prestige of the Faith and for opening new territories and placing pio-
in the second place, it brings to the BahB'i neers, using Spitzbergen as a concrete exam-
community the advantage of legal protec- ple. Honor Kempton spoke on spiritual
tion in the case of lawsuits, litigation, etc. prerequisites and practical preparation for
Finally, it creates of the institution of the pioneers, suggesting The Advent of Divine
Spiritual Assembly a legal person, a cor- Justice and The Challenging Requirements
porate body which is free from the personal- of the Present Hour as excellent textbooks
ities of the nine members. This legal person for this study. Many pioneers in the Euro-
has perpetuity of existence." In considering pean field shared their experiences for the
endowments, he added, "In the future the remainder of the afternoon.
Local Spiritual Assembly and, of course, the The night of the Unity Banquet arrived.
National Spiritual Assembly will build A full moon watched its reflection in the
schools, libraries and other BahB'i institu- waters surrounding Stockholm's Town Hall.
tions. As these institutions come into exist- Inside, the magnificent Golden Room, daz-
ence they are held legally by the aggregate zling in its splendor, was filled with joyous
body and not by the nine members of the "God-intoxicated souls" gathered to com-
Spiritual Assembly. The nine members of memorate the great Jubilee of the Year
the Spiritual Assembly are the trustees of Nine. In this perfect setting all were en-
these properties." He drew attention to the chanted, as the Guardian's special repre-
lesson taught the American believers by sentative, the President and the Vice-Presi-
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 177

dent of the International Bahi'i Council, achieve settlement of the goal areas as
Hands of the Cause, seven members from quickly as possible. He read the following
National Spiritual Assemblies, delegates cable, sent to the Guardian by the Hands of
from each of the goal countries, and visitors the Cause and representatives of the Na-
from other lands were presented. Heart- tional Spiritual Assemblies:
warming greetings in many languages "Fourteen Hands (and) members (of the
heightened the spirit of love and unity in the following) National Spiritual Assemblies:
hearts until all were "as one soul in many United States, British Isles, Germany, Italo-
bodies." Each believer, leaving this golden Swiss, IrLn, 'Irgq, present (at) Stockholm,
scene, carried with him a precious little consulting (on the) rapid settlement (of)
packet of petals from the Shrine of Bahi'uY- pioneer territories, impressed (by the) spir-
llih, brought from the Holy Land for this itual fervor (and) capacity (of the) Third
occasion. As it had opened, the Unity Ban- Conference, pledge (and) humbly beseech
quet closed with chanting by Persian be- prayers. Devoted love."
lievers. The Jubilee had indeed been befit- Dorothy Baker reported that of the Euro-
tingly commemorated. pean goals assigned to the National Spiritual
Summarizing the Conference next morn- Assembly of the United States, the Azores,
ing, Marion Hofman declared, "These days Balearic Islands, Lofoten Islands, and Spitz-
have been days of faith, obedience, detach- bergen had been filled, leaving one virgin
ment, love, heroism, and sacrifice!" As ex- territory to be assigned-Andorra. As she
amples she pointed out that even before the spoke, a believer immediately offered to
Guardian's request that the friends establish pioneer in that country.
Funds to purchase Temple sites, $27,000 Dr. Eugen Schmidt announced that pio-
had been donated; that, in response to the neers under the National Spiritual Assembly
appeal of the Guardian for the participants of Germany and Austria had been assigned
to "swell the roll of honor through enlisting to Greece, Frisian Islands and Crete.
promptly under the unfurled banner of the Dr. Ugo Giachery announced for the
advancing Hosts of BahB'uqllhh," one out of Italo-Swiss National Spiritual Assembly that
seven arose and enlisted under that banner. assignments have been made for Monaco,
A third achievement she likened to the Sicily, Rhodes, and Sardinia. This left Liech-
Holiest Temple of the B a h s World. "As tenstein and San Marino but, again, be-
that building of steel and concrete rose in lievers immediately rose to volunteer for
Wilmette, a symbol of the transcendence of these posts.
the Cause . . . it brought joy to the believ- Mr. Ferraby, Secretary of the National
ers around the world . . . even so does the Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, an-
arising of the European BahB'i community nounced assignments to Cyprus, Malta, and
reinforce all of us." the Shetland Islands. Pioneers were avail-
At the close of the morning session, Edna able to fill other posts, he said, but funds
True expressed the appreciation of the Eu- were lacking. A Persian believer at once as-
ropean Teaching Committee for the assist- sured the necessary amount to send pioneers
ance given by all who contributed to the to the Channel, Hebrides and Orkney Is-
success of the Stockholm Conference. Ugo lands, while a BahB'i from Sweden offered
Giachery, the Guardian's special representa- to settle in the Faroe Islands.
tive to the Stockholm Conference, com- Thus, pioneers were assigned to all the
mented on the maturity which the European territories to be opened to the Faith in
community had reached, lauded the Euro- Europe! For those territories where, for the
pean Teaching Committee and the pioneers present, admittance to the countries cannot
for their work and addressed special thanks be secured, the pioneers are preparing them-
to the Persian friends who contributed so selves by thrift and study for the moment
generously to the achievement of the Euro- when they shall take their posts. The others
pean goals. either are en route or planning their im-
Closing the Conference Sunday after- minent departures to positions for the wag-
noon, Horace Holley announced that the ing of the World Crusade.
representatives of the National Spiritual As- With these miracles of action the Confer-
semblies had held several sessions during ence drew to its close. In his farewell re-
the Conference and had appointed a special marks, Mr. Khidem drew attention to other
committee to accept all pioneer offers and tangible miracles: the presence at the Con-
178 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

ference, as Bahi'is, of a descendent of backbone of the S_hayk_hisis broken."
Ni~iri'd-Din S_hih, a descendent of the The Third Intercontinental BahL'i Teach-
Imgm Jum'ih whose father's uncle was the ing Conference closed with the reading, in
Son of the Wolf, and the former head of English and in the original Persian, of
the S_hay&i School of Isfihin, at whose 'Abdu'l-BahB's prayer for the unity of East
declaration as a believer it was said, "the and West.

5. T H E ASIAN I N T E R C O N T I N E N T A L
T E A C H I N G C O N F E R E N C E H E L D I N NEW
DELHI, INDIA, OCTOBER 7-15, 1953

THE GUARDIAN'S MESSAGE TO THE CONFERENCE
Presented by CHARLES
MASONREMEY

T O THE Hands of the Cause, the mem- Faith in the entire Eastern Hemisphere-
bers of the National Spiritual Assemblies, my thoughts, on such an occasion, go back
the pioneers, the resident believers and to the early dawn of our Faith, to those
visitors attending the Asian Intercontinental unforgettabie scenes of matchless heroism,
Teaching Conference in New Delhi, India. of dark tragedy, of imperishable glory
which heralded its birth, and accompanied
Well-beloved friends : the spread, of its infant Light in the heart of
With high hopes and a joyful heart I ac- the Asiatic continent.
claim the convocation, in the leading city of I vividly recall the meteoric rise of the
the Indian sub-continent, of the fourth and Faith of the Bib in the provinces of Persia
last of the Intercontinental Teaching Con- and the stirring episodes associated with His
ferences of a memorable Holy Year com- cruel incarceration in the mountain-fast-
memorating the centenary of the birth of nesses of Ad&rb&yjin, with the revelation
the prophetic Mission of BahB'u'llih. of the laws of His Dispensation, with the
On this historic occasion, when the mem- proclamation of the independence of His
bers of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Faith, with the peerless heroism of His dis-
the Bahi'is of the United States of America, ciples, with the fiendish cruelty of His foes
of the Dominion of Canada, of Central and -the Chief Magistrate, the civil authorities,
South America, of Persia, of the Indian sub- the ecclesiastical dignitaries and the masses
continent and of Burma, of 'Iriq and of of the people, of His native land-with the
Australasia, as well as representatives of the humiliation, the spoliation, the dispersal, the
sovereign states and dependencies of the eventual massacre of a vast number of His
Asiatic continent, of the Republics of followers, and, above all, with His own ex-
North, Central and South America, and of ecution in the City of Tabriz.
Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania are With a throb of wonder I call to mind the
assembled, and are to deliberate on the early and sudden fruition of Ilis Dispensa-
needs and requirements of the recently tion in the capital city of that land, and the
launched triple Campaign embracing the
dramatic circumstances attending the birth
Asiatic mainland, the Australian continent
and the islands of the P a c s c Ocean-a of Bahi'u'llih's Revelation culminating in
campaign which may well be regarded as His precipitate banishment to 'Iriq.
the most extensive, the most arduous and I am reminded, moreover, of the initial
the most momentous of all the campaigns of spread of the light of this Revelation, in
a world-girdling Crusade, and which, in its consequence of the banishment of BahB'u'-
scope, is unparalleled in the history of the llih, to the adjoining territories of 'Irhq,
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 179

and, as far as the western fringes of that ism were performed, and in many of whose
continent, to Turkey and the neighboring territories such brilliant victories have been
territories of Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, won, to contribute, in association with its
and, at a later stage, to the Indian sub-con- sister continents, to the progress and ulti-
tinent and China, situated on the southern male triumph of this global Crusade, in a
and eastern extremities of that continent as manner befitting its unrivaled position in
well as to the Caucasus and Russian Turki- the entire BahQ'i world.
stin. The various BahB'i Communities dwelling
Nor can I fail to remember the series of within the borders of this continent and
alternating crises and victories each con- those situated to the south of its shores in
stituting a landmark in the evolution of the the Antipodes, which include the oldest and
Faith-which it has experienced in some of most venerable among all the communities
these territories, associated with the dis- of the Bahi'i world, and whose members in
tressful withdrawal of its Author to the their aggregate constitute the overwhelming
mountains of Suliminiyyih; with the glori- majority of the followers of Bahi'u'llih, are
ous Declaration of His Mission in Baghdid; called upon, in close association with four
with His second and third banishments to other Bahi'i communities in the Western
Constantinople and Adrianople; with the Hemisphere, to undertake in the course of
grievous rebellion of His half-brother; with the coming decade:
the proclamation of His own Mission; with First, the construction of the first Ma-
His fourth banishment to the desolate and driqu'l-Adhkir in Bahi'u'llih's native land,
far-off penal colony of 'Akki in Syria; with in the City of TihrAn, surnamed by Bahii'u'-
the revelation of the Kitib-i-Aqdas, His llih "Mother of the World."
Most Holy Book; with His ascension in the Second, the purchase of land for the
Holy Land; with the establishment of His future construction of three Mas_hriqu71-
Covenant and the inauguration of the Min- A a k i r s , one in the City of Baghdid, en-
A

istry of 'Abdu'l-Bahi, His son and the shrining the "Most Great House," the third
Exemplar and authorized Interpreter of His holiest city of the Bahi'i world, one in New
teachings. Delhi, the leading city of the Indian sub-
These opening stages in the evolution of continent, and the third in Sydney, the
His Faith in the Asiatic continent were fol- oldest and foremost Bahi'i Center in the
lowed, while the first and Apostolic Age of Antipodes.
His Dispensation was drawing to a close, by Third, the formation of no less than
the opening of the Islands situated in the eleven National Spiritual Assemblies, one
Pacific Ocean, Japan in the north, and the each in PikistBn, Burma and Ceylon, under
Australian continent in the South. To these the aegis of the National Spiritual Assembly
memorable chapters of Asian Bahi'i history of the Bahi'is of India, Pikistin and
another was soon added, on the morrow of Burma; one in Turkey and one in Afghini-
the ascension of the Center of Bahi'u'llih's stin, under the aegis of the National7Spir-
Covenant, and during the initial epoch of itual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Persia; one
the Formative Age of the Faith, distin- in Japan, under the aegis of the National
guished by the rise of the Administrative Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of the
Order and the erection of its pillars in the United States of America; one in New Zea-
cradle of that Faith, in 'Iriq, in India, land, under the aegis of the National Spir-
Pikistin and Burma and in the Antipodes. itual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Australia
This memorable episode in its development and New Zealand, as well as four regional
in that vast continent was succeeded by the National Spiritual Assemblies, one in the
initiation, during the second epoch of that Arabian Peninsula, under the aegis of the
same Age, of a series of Plans in those same National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is
territories in support of 'Abdu'l-BahL's Di-
vine Plan and as a prelude to the opening of of Persia; one in South-East Asia, under the
the recently launched world-embracing aegis of the National Spiritual Assembly of
Spiritual Crusade. the BahB'is of India, Pikistin and Burma;
The hour has now struck for this conti- a third in the South Pacific, under the aegis
nent, on whose soil, more than a century of the National Spiritual Assembly of the
ago, so much sacred blood was shed, in BahL'is of the United States of America;
whose very heart deeds of such tragic hero- and a fourth in the Near East, under the
THE B A H A ' I WORLD

aegis of the National Spiritual Assembly of Indonesia, Malaya, Nepal, PLkistSn, Sara-
the BahQis of 'Iriq. wak, Siam, allocated to the National Spirit-
Fourth, the opening of the following ual Assembly of the Bahb'is of India, Piki-
forty-one virgin territories and islands : s d n and Burma; of China, Formosa, Japan,
Andaman Islands, Bhutan, Daman, Diu, Korea, Manchuria, Philippine Islands, allo-
Goa, Karikal, MahB, Mariana Islands, Nico- cated to the National Spiritual Assembly of
bar Islands, Pondicherry, Sikkim, assigned the BahPis of the United States of America;
to the National Spiritual Assembly of the of Jordan, Koweit, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria,
Bahb'is of India, PLkistLn and Burma; Caro- Trucial Sheiks, 'UmmLn, allocated to the
line Islands, Dutch New Guinea, Hainan National Spiritual Assembly of the BahPis
Island, Kazakhstan, Macao Island, Sakhalin of 'Iriq; of Bismarck Archipelago, Fiji,
Island, Tibet, Tonga Islands, assigned to the New Caledonia, Australian New Guinea, al-
National Spiritual Assembly of the BahPis located to the National Spiritual Assembly
of the United States of America; Brunei, of the BahB'is of Australia and New Zea-
Chagos Archipelago, Kirgizia, Mongolia, land; of Hong Kong, allocated to the Na-
Solomon Islands, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan, tional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is of
assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly British Isles.
of the Bahb'is of Persia; Admiralty Islands, Seventh, the incorporation of the eleven
Cocos Island, Loyalty Islands, Mentawai above-mentioned National Spiritual Assem-
Islands, New Hebrides Islands, Portuguese blies, as well as those of Persia and 'Iriq.
Tirnor, Society Islands, assigned to the Na- Eighth, the establishment by these above-
tional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahd'is of mentioned eleven National Spiritual Assem-
Australia and New Zealand; Gilbert and blies of national Bahb'i endowments.
Ellice Islands, Marshall Islands, Tuamotu Ninth, the establishment of a national
Archipelago, assigned to the National Spir- Haziratu'l-Quds in the capital cities of each
itual Assembly of the BahPis of Central of the countries where National Spiritual
America; Hadhramaut, Kuria-Muria Islands, Assemblies are to be established, as well as
assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly one in Suva, one in Jakarta, one in Bahrayn
of the BahB'is of 'Iriq; Marquesas Islands, and one in Beirut.
Samoa Islands, assigned to the National Tenth, the establishment of a national
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahd'is of Can- Bahd'i Court in the capital cities of Persia,
ada; Cook Islands, assigned to the National of 'Irhq, of Pikistin and of Afghinistbn-
Spiritual Assembly of the BahPis of South the leading Muslim centers in The Asiatic,
America. continent.
Fifth, the translation and publication of Eleventh, the establishment of two- na-
BahB'i literature in the following forty tional BahB'i Publishing Trusts, one in
languages, to be undertaken by the National TihrLn and one in New Delhi.
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is of India, Twelfth, the formation of Israel branches
PikistLn and Burma, in association with the of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is Bahb'is of Persia, of 'IrLq, and of Australia,
of Australia and New Zealand: Abor Miri, authorized to hold on behalf of their parent
Aneityum, Annamese, Balochi, Bentuni, institutions property dedicated to the holy
Binandere, Cheremiss, Chungchia, Geor- Shrines at the World Center of the Faith in
gian, Houailou, Javanese, Kado, Kaili, the State of Israel.
Kopu, Kusaie, Lepcha, Lifu, Manchu, Thirteenth, the appointment, during Rid-
Manipuri, Manus Island, Marquesas, Men- vin 1954, by the Hands of the Cause in
tawai, Mongolian, Mordoff, Mwala, Na-Hsi, Asia and in Australia of an auxiliary Board
Nicobarese, Niue, Ossete, Ostiak, Pali, of nine members who will, in conjunction
Panjabi, Pashto, Perm, Petats, Samoan, with the eight National Spiritual Assemblies
Th6, Tibetan, Tongan, Vogul. participating in the Asiatic and Australian
Sixth, the consolidation of Aden Protec- campaigns, assist, through periodic and
torate, Ad_hirbiyjin, AfghinistLn, Ahsi, Ar- systematic visits to BahL'i centers, in the effi-
menia, Bahrayn Islanz Georgia, Hijgz, cient and prompt execution of the Plans
Saudi-Arabia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ye- formulated for the prosecution of the teach-
men, allocated to the National Spiritual As- ing campaigns in the continent of Asia and
sembly of the BahHs of Persia; of Balfichi- in the Antipodes.
stsn, Borneo, Burma, Ceylon, Indo-China, The Asiatic continent, the cradle of the
CENTENARY OF BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 181

principal religions of mankind; the home of the launching of a world-encompassing Cru-
so many of the oldest and mightiest civiliza- sade, on the threshold of an era that may
tions which have flourished on this planet; well recall in its glory and ultimate repercus-
the crossways of so many kindreds and sions, the great periods of spiritual revival
races; the battleground of so many peoples which, from the dawn of recorded history
and nations; above whose horizons, in mod- have, at various stages in the revelation of
ern times, the suns of two independent Rev- God's purpose for mankind, illuminated the
elations-the promise and consummation of path of the human race.
a six thousand year old religious Cycle- May this Crusade, launched simultane-
have successively arisen; where the Authors ously on the Asiatic mainland, its neighbor-
of both of these Revelations suffered banish- ing islands and the Antipodes, under the
ment and died; within whose confines the direction of eight National Spiritual Assem-
Center of a divinely-appointed Covenant blies, and through the operation of eight
was born, endured a forty-year incarcera- systematic Teaching Plans, and the con-
tion and passed away; on whose Western certed efforts of BahB'i communities in both
extremity the Qiblih of the BahC'i world has the East and the West, provide, as it unfolds,
been definitely established; in whose heart an effective antidote to the baneful forces
the city proclaimed by BahL'u'llBh as the of atheism, nationalism, secularism and
"Mother of the World" is enshrined; within materialism that are tearing at the vitals of
whose borders another City regarded as the this turbulent continent, and may it re-enact
"Cynosure of an adoring world" and the those scenes of spiritual heroism which,
scene of the greatest and most glorious Rev- more than any of-the secular revolutions
elation the world has witnessed is em- which have agitated its face, have left their
bosomed; on whose soil so many saints, everlasting imprint on the fortunes of the
heroes and martyrs, associated with both of peoples and nations dwelling within its
these Revelations, have lived, struggled and borders.
died-such a continent, so privileged among -SHOGHI
its sister continents and yet so long and so Haifa, Israel
sadly tormented, now stands at the hour of October, 1953.

REPORT OF THE ASIAN INTERCONTINENTAL
TEACHING CONFERENCE

T H E fourth Intercontinental Teaching sembled anywhere in the world. Here were
Conference held under the auspices of the seen the many races and peoples of India,
National Spiritual Assembly of India, PBki- Pikistin and Burma, Ceylon, Indonesia,
stQn and Burma convened the first interna- Australia and New Zealand, Persia, 'IrQq,
tional BahL'i gathering ever to be held in the Egypt, Africa, Turkey, Europe, Canada,
East. This great event took place in New United States, Central and South America,
Delhi, the picturesque metropolis of India, unified in spirit and purpose within the
from October 7-15, 1953. West had come Guardian's consummate application of the
East at the behest of the Guardian. The Divine Plan of 'Abdu'l-BahB for the re-
attendance registered four hundred and demption and unification of humanity at the
eighty-nine, coming from thirty-one coun- time of impending peril.
tries. The President of the Indian Republic, Surmounting the difficulties of language,
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, declared that it was the Conference exemplified that world unity
the first gathering of its kind in the East. which already exists among Bahi'is. Its ses-
The delegates assembled beneath the sions concentrated the forces of the BahL'i
colorful canopy erected on the grounds of world upon those goals of the Ten-Year
the Constitution Club-undoubtedly the Plan which are to establish firmly the Faith
most varied coilgregation of Bal12is yet as- of BahL'u'llih throughout the lands of the
182 THE B A H A ' I WORLD

Far East and the islands of the South Pacific race filled with tea tables under the soft light
Ocean. of late afternoon. There were about one
After devotions conducted in English, thousand guests, including high officials of
Persian, Hindustani and Burmese, the Con- the Indian government, representatives from
ference was opened by the Chairman of the embassies and consulates, and men from the
Indian National Spiritual Assembly, Mr. press.
'Abbls 'Ali Butt, with a gracious address of In addition, the National Spiritual As-
welcome : sembly arranged to present delegations of
"On behalf of the Bahl'is of India, Plki- Bahb'is to the three leaders of the Indian
st6n and Burma, I welcome the representa- government-Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Presi-
tive of the beloved Guardian, the Hands of dent; Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Vice-President;
the Cause, the representatives of the Na- and Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister
tional Spiritual Assemblies, and the friends -each on a separate occasion and in his
who have come to participate in this great own office or reception room.
Conference." The evening before the Conference, a
Chairman Butt concluded his address reception was held at the Hotel Imperial
with the following survey of the Faith in for the representatives of the local and
India, Burma and PSkistSn. "We have a foreign press. Reporters from over thirty
Publishing Committee and have published newspapers and news agencies had the op-
Bahi'i literature in all the languages of portunity to meet Mr. Remey, the Guard-
India and PlkistLn and the principal lan- ian's representative, a number of other
guages of Burma, Ceylon and Indonesia, Hands of the Cause, and delegates from
reaching a total of twenty-six languages. many countries. Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh,
"We hold trust properties valued at more International Observer for the Bahb'is at the
than one million rupees in the three coun- United Nations, served as chairman and
tries of India, PlkistQn and Burma. We have made a statement on the purpose of the
a school in Panchgani where we have re- New Delhi Conference. This was followed
cently purchased an extensive piece of land." by Mrs. Dorothy Baker's outline of the
All arrangements for the sessions, which history of the Cause and plans for expansion
were varied, dramatic and altogether ap- during the ten-year World Crusade.
pealing, were made by the Indian National One evening was devoted to a program of
Spiritual Assembly. They displayed remark- Indian dancing and music given by profes-
able initiative and resourcefulness in making sional entertainers. On another occasion, an
the Conference an occasion for outstanding organized sight-seeing tour, making use of a
public events and contacts. fleet of ten forty-seat buses, enabled the
As at the previous Intercontinental Con- delegates to visit historical and other famous
ferences, the agenda included public meet- spots. Looking upon the remnants of a
ings-one held on the grounds of the Con- glorious past, the visiting Bahi'is felt the
stitution Club and one in New Delhi Town inherent capacity of the Indian people to
Hall. The Guardian's representative, Charles build a new civilization, as part of the great
Mason Remey, Hand of the Cause and world civilization of the future.
President of the International Council, pre- To return to the Conference proper: fol-
sided at the first. The theme was "Universal lowing the address of welcome, the Guard-
Peace-A Need and Exigency of the Time," ian's message to the Conference was pre-
and the speakers were Horace Holley, Doro- sented by Mason Remey.
thy Baker and Dr. Ugo Giachery, Hands of Of the thirteen goals set forth by Shoghi
the Cause, and Stanley Bolton, Sr. Mrs. Effendi in this communication, the Con-
Baker presided at the Town Hall meeting ference made immediate effort to fulfill the
which was based on the theme "Towards fourth goal, "the opening of. . . . forty-
a World Federation," the speakers being one virgin territories and islands"; and the
H. C. Featherstone, John Robarts, Mildred second goal, "the purchase of land for the
Mottahedeh and Abu'l Qasim Faizi. future construction of three Ma&riquYl-
This Conference, however, surpassed the AakSrs, one in the city of BaghdSd, - en-
previous Conferences in that it provided a shrining the 'Most Great House,' the third
public reception and tea in the garden of the holiest city of the BahB'i world, one in New
Imperial Hotel. The scene was picturesque Delhi, the leading city of the Indian sub-
and charming-the spacious lawn and ter- continent, and the third in Sydney, the old-
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 183

est and foremost Bahfi'i center in the Antip- understanding engendered by the Guard-
odes." ian's Message was heightened by the privi-
The achievement of these goals was hand- lege of viewing the Portrait of the Bib, the
somely supported by the Conference: Forty- Martyr Prophet of the Faith. One by one,
five thousand dollars was contributed to- kneeling before it in awe and reverence, ris-
ward the purchase of the three tracts of ing to behold the likeness of the divine
land; seventy-four pioneers offered their Herald, anointed by the Guardian's repre-
services, were interviewed by a special com- sentative with attar of rose, the followers of
mittee and twenty-five of them were able to the Cause of God besought the purity es-
depart almost immediately to their posts; al- sential to service in His Kingdom.
most ten thousand dollars was contributed During the afternoon of the first day of
to a fund for pioneer budgets and all appli- the Conference, another message from the
cations from pioneers not assigned definite Guardian, a cablegram, was presented. It
posts at this time were referred to the Na- bore a triple announcement: the completion
tional Spiritual Assemblies concerned. of the Shrine of the Bib; the arrival of nine-
It was reported that the Indian National teen additional pioneers at their posts; and
Spiritual Assembly had chosen the site for preliminary steps taken toward the acquisi-
the future House of Worship, nine acres tion of an extensive area preparatory to pur-
overlooking New Delhi. chase of the site for the future House of
"Such a Continent," the Guardian wrote, Worship on Mt. Carmel, through the mu-
"so privileged among its sister continents nificent donation by Mrs. Amelia Collins,
and yet so long and so sadly tormented, now Hand of the Cause.
stands at the hour of the launching of a The Guardian urged that this triple
world-encompassing Crusade, on the thresh- bounty called for concerted exertion on the
old of an era that may well recall in its part of the assembled believers to carry out
glory and ultimate repercussions, the great a triple responsibility. First, redoubled con-
periods of spiritual revival which, from the secration to the task of sending pioneers,
dawn of recorded history have, at various particularly into the Pacific area; second, in-
stages in the revelation of God's purpose creased self-sacrifice in order to purchase
for mankind, illuminated the path of the land for future Temples in Asia; third, ear-
human race. nest consultation by representatives of the
"May this Crusade, launched simultane- Persian and 'Iriqi National Spiritual As-
ously on the Asiatic mainland, its neighbor- semblies and the assembled Hands of the
ing islands and the Antipodes, under the Cause on thorough investigation of ways
direction of eight National Spiritual As- and means to insure the purchase of Holy
semblies, and through the operation of eight Places, particularly the site of the Siyih-
systematic Teaching Plans and the con- Chil, as well as identification and transfer to
certed efforts of BahB'i communities in both Bahfi'i cemeteries of the bodies of relatives
the East and the West, provide, as it un- of the Bib and Bahfi'u'llih. The Guardian
folds, an effective antidote to the baneful also expressed his ardent hope that the New
forces of atheism, nationalism, secularism Delhi Conference would contribute in un-
and materialism that are tearing at the vitals precedented degree to the ultimate attain-
of this turbulent continent, and may it re- ment of the goals of the World Crusade.
enact those scenes of spiritual heroism The Conference agenda as prepared and
which, more than any of the secular revolu- printed by the Indian National Assembly
tions which have agitated its face, have left was set aside at this point because of the
their everlasting imprint on the fortunes of Guardian's cable and instead, the purchase
the peoples and nations dwelling within its of three Temple sites, the sending of pio-
borders." neers and the purchase of Holy Places in
The Guardian likewise described to the frin and 'Iriq took priority and became the
Conference the teaching campaign upon focus of attention.
which it was to deliberate, "a campaign Mr. Horace Holley emphasized the need
which may well be regarded as the most ex- for action and closed his talk by stating that
tensive, the most arduous and the most a world poised for suicide could never be
momentous of all the campaigns of a world- healed unless we spread the Faith of Bahi'-
girdling Crusade." u'llih. Dr. Ugo Giachery and other speakers
The spirit of consecration and deepened reiterated the call for action.
184 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

To give inspiration and help to delegates Japan is endowed with the most remarkable
already thinking of offering their services as capacity for the spread of the Cause of
pioneers, those who had taken this step in God. . . .' "
earlier years spoke of their experiences. Mr. Mfis6 Ban6ni from Kampala,
These talks were interspersed with a steady Uganda [British East Africa] was then asked
flow of volunteering pioneers who came to to speak:
the platform and were presented to the as- "I was in Tihrin when the call of the
semblage. A moving statement was made by Guardian came for pioneers for Africa, and
'Ali-Akbar Furhtan, Hand of the Cause, finally I decided to go with Mr. 'Ali Nakh-
quoting from 'Abdu'l-Bah6 on the spiritual jav6ni. Overcoming many difficulties, both
significance of pioneering, and likening of us got our visas. I settled in Kampala
events today to the early days of Christian- where 'Ali joined me and after some months
ity. we had two believers. We lived in a hotel
The first of the early pioneers to speak and the teaching work was done while walk-
was Mrs. Clara Dunn, Hand of the Cause, ing in the street; the morning prayers were
and spiritual mother of Australia and New held in the parks. Then the Guardian per-
Zealand, who said: mitted both Mrs. Banini and me to make
"Dear friends, this is the most wonderful the pilgrimage to Haifa. He gave us many
occasion of my life. My late husband, John instructions and on the last day, he ap-
Henry Hyde Dunn, and I responded to the pointed me Hand of the Cause for Africa.
Divine Plan. I want to tell those who have While we were away, 'Ali had been living
answered the call of the Guardian to stand and teaching in the villages and when we
and go. It will be the greatest joy and returned, little by little the number of be-
pleasure of your lives even if the tests come. lievers grew.
We need them to prove us. Bahi'u'll6h paid "We heard from the Guardian that the
the price, set the pace, and the Master majority of believers attending the Kampala
rAbdu'l-Bah61 gave us the path to follow. Conference would be Africans or native be-
We have nothing to fear. If we have faith lievers, but when the time came for the
we can conquer the whole world. The Su- Conference, they thought they would have
preme Concourse is waiting to help to stay at home to help with the harvest.
US. . . ." Moreover, their friends had told them that
Then Miss Agnes Alexander told the the white people would gather them in and
friends that she was in Geneva, Switzerland, sell them as slaves. 'Ali and another Bahii'i
when World War I broke out and found went to them and said, "Ali is not inviting
herself without luggage and unable to cash you; Banini is not inviting you; but you
her checks. On August 22, 1914, she re- will all be guests of the Guardian.' So many
ceived a letter from 'Abdu'l-Bahi telling her of them decided to come and thus, we had
to go to Japan. a majority of Africans at the Conference-
"Of course," she said, "I had no desire out of two hundred and thirty people, one
but to follow the Master's wish." She ex- hundred and forty were natives. They went
plained how miraculously she was enabled back to their villages extremely happy and
to do so. After 'Abdu'l-BahS's passing, their suspicious relatives were surprised to
Shoghi Effendi wrote a beautiful letter to see them."
the friends in Japan in which he stated: Mrs. Gloria Faizi spoke of the experi-
"As attendant and secretary of 'Abdu'l- ences of herself and her husband, Abu'l-
Bah6 for well nigh two years after the termi- Qasim Faizi:
nation of the Great War, I recall so vividly "The pioneers to Arabia are poor, very
the radiant joy that transfigured His face poor. The people belong to the Sunni sect
whenever I opened before Him your suppli- of Isl6m and whenever you openly speak
cations as well as those of Miss Agnes Alex- about the Faith, you are advised to keep
ander. What promises He gave us all regard- quiet if you wish to stay in Arabia. After
ing the future of the Cause in that land at the Guardian asked the Persians to volun-
the close of almost every supplication I read teer for Arabia many wanted to go, but only
to Him. Let me state straightaway, the most two families out of forty were able to get
emphatic, the most inspiring of them all. there.
These are His very words that still keep "We at Bahrayn are in a position to see
ringing in my ears: 'Japan will turn ablaze! all the pioneers who are on the way to
The President of the Union of India, Dr. Shri Rajendra Prasad, with some members of
the BahL'i delegation whom he received in his official residence during the
Asian Intercontinental Teaching Conference held in New Delhi, October, 1953.

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Vice-President of India, with some members of the
BahL'i delegation, New Delhi, October 5, 1953.
186 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

Arabia. We see young men who have fin- pioneering effort, he attended a moving pfc-
ished their studies in colleges and have ob- ture show and saw 'Abdu'l-Bahi's picture
tained their degrees, leaving their education and a view of the Temple in Wilmette. This
behind to take jobs as carpenters, tailors, gave him an opportunity to hand out litera-
barbers. After completing their studies, they ture to those leaving the theater and resulted
take a short course in some manual work so in his being questioned by the Police De-
that they can earn a livelihood. . . A . partment, but eventually they approved his
large family lives in only one room in the literature.
winter and during the summer months of Mrs. Shirin Fozdlr described the results
intense heat and moisture, they live on the of her pioneering in Singapore and the
roof of the house, which is merely a cover- prestige accorded her as a Bahl'i by civil
ing of palm branches and leaves. They have authorities there. Dr. H. M. Munji of India
no water in the house, nor electricity. Their dwelt on the difficulties a Bahi'i faces in
food consists of bread, rice, dates and tea, teaching the Cause to Hindus.
and in the winter a few vegetables. But do Other pioneers who shared their experi-
not think they are less happy than people in ences were Saeed Nahvi, Pondicherry, In-
other parts of the world. . . ." dia; Mr. 'Ilmi, PAkistln; Mr. Mawlavi,
Mr. Artemus Lamb of South America felt Aden; Mrs. Salisa Kirmani, Karikal, India;
that his experiences would be helpful to Oc- Mr. Alvin Blum, New Zealand, on tech-
cidentals: "Many believe that everything nique of pioneering; Dr. Lukmani, on teach-
will open up right away; often there comes a ing in India and Ceylon; and Mrs. Bahiyyih
rude awakening." He told how he left for Nldiri who presented greetings from a
South America with everything he thought Bahi'i pioneering in Zanzibar.
would be needed. Arriving in Mexico, he In the Guardian's first cablegram an-
went ashore sightseeing, leaving all belong- nouncing the completion of the shrine of
ings on board the ship. Returning later to the Blb, he requested that the Conference
continue the next stage of the voyage, he should hold a befitting memorial gathering
noticed people running toward the water- to pay tribute to Hand of the Cause Suther-
front and when he reached the wharf, there land Maxwell, the "immortal architect of
was his ship being towed out to sea in the arcade of the superstructure of the
flames. Thus he found himself in Mexico Shrine." He further suggested that acknowl-
without clothes, money, or any documents edgement should be made on the same occa-
for identification-indeed anything that sion to the "unflagging labors and vigilance
connected him with the past. At the mo- of Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery in ne-
ment, this seemed a sign of God and he felt gotiating contracts, inspecting and dispatch-
he should turn back. But later in a hotel ing all the materials required for the con-
room, he began to pray and then came the struction of the edifice," and also to the
realization that he must be detached from "assiduous and constant care of Hand of the
all else save God. So he prepared his mind Cause Leroy Ioas in supervising the con-
to go anywhere in Latin America. With the struction of both the drum and the dome."
help of the Consul, he was able to go to Two doors of the Shrine had recently been
Chile and in one-third of the time expected, given the names of Sutherland Maxwell and
arrived in the most southerly town of South Ugo Giachery. The cable announced that a
America. door of the octagon would be associated
Mr. J a m a i d Fozdlr, from Sarawak, henceforth with the name of Leroy Ioas.
Borneo, said that they had had their diffi- The memorial gathering held in accordance
culties in Sarawak-difficulties in finding with the Guardian's wishes was most im-
employment, housing and establishing them- pressive. Eulogies of Sutherland Maxwell
selves. Their activities came under suspicion, were given by John Robarts, Ugo Giachery
but they finally won the confidence of the and Mason Remey. Mrs. Mildred Mottahe-
authorities and were able to secure publicity deh paid tribute to Ugo Giachery and Mrs.
for the Faith. When he and Mrs. Fozdlr Dorothy Baker to Leroy Ioas.
left Sarawak, there was an assembly and Another undertaking urged by the Guard-
fourteen members in the community. Re- ian in his first cablegram was that the Hands
cently, he had heard of further enrollments. of the Cause, together with representatives
Mr. C. P. M. Anver Cadir of Thailand of frlnian and 'Irsqi National Spiritual As-
related that after twenty fruitless days of semblies, should consult on ways and means
CENTENARY O F BIRTH O F BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION 187

to acquire Holy Places of the Faith, par- which he felt were of the greatest concern
titularly the SiyBh-C_hBl, where, during His to the Guardian. First, the Guardian wanted
imprisonment in that foul dungeon, BahVu7- more cooperation and spiritual oneness
llPh received the first intimations of His mis- among the BahCis in India coming into the
sion. It was announced later that the con- Faith from different backgrounds, Hindu,
sultation had been held as the Guardian Muslim and Persian. BahVi love should be

Public reception held during the Fourth BahVi Intercontinental Teaching Conference,
New Delhi, India, October, 1953.

requested, and that Mr. Habib Sabet of New very strong among them. In America the
York City had offered to purchase the site white and colored should be united in the
of the SiyBh-C_hBl. This generous and cou- same way. Second, he hoped that the friends
rageous offer was received with great joy in India would give greater emphasis now
and word was promptly sent to the Guard- and in the future to teaching the Hindu peo-
ian. ple. In India where there is a preponderance
A second cablegram was received from of Hindus as compared with the Muslims,
the Guardian directed to the Hands of the the same proportion should be the goal:
Cause who were present at the Conference. twice as many Hindus as Muslims in the
It called upon them to disperse at the close BahVi community. Third, the Guardian was
of the Conference to teach for one or two now concentrating on the Pacific islands and
months in Asia, Africa and Australia, in the surrounding countries. Expansion of the
order to establish close contact with the re- Faith had been planned in stages and in the
spective National Assemblies, and assist following order: Latin America, the Ten
the local assemblies to attain the goals of the Goal countries of Europe, Central and
Ten-Year Plan. This message laid out the South America. Now the time had come to
itinerary of all the Hands, and the Guardian spread the Faith in the islands of the Pa-
contributed three thousand pounds for the cific and the countries nearby. With this new
expense of the undertaking. advance, the new emphasis on reaching
The evening of the third day of the Con- American Indians and Eskimos, together
ference was given over to the Guardian's with consolidating the gains already won,
representative, Mason Remey. It was de- the Bah&'iswould be busy indeed during the
signed to bring to the delegates a more vivid ten-year World Crusade.
realization of the Guardian as a person in When Mr. Remey was called upon to de-
lieu of his actual presence. liver a last word during the closing hours
Mr. Remey emphasized three matters of the Conference, he reiterated these same
188 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

three points. At that time, Mr. Butt, Chair- recently been martyred there-the first
man of the National Spiritual Assembly for BahS'i to be conf?rmed from the ancient
India, Pikistin and Burma asked Mr. Re- John the Baptist community. A eulogy of
mey to let the Guardian know that enroll- him was delivered by Kamil 'Abbis. One
ments were coming in from the Hindu peo- session was devoted to a memorial gather-
ple and that the National Assembly was ing in honor of Mr. Fath-i-A'zam, a Persian
taking action to carry out still further the martyr. Mr. Furiitan chanted a prayer for a
Guardian's desire for the Hindus. still more recent BahS'i martyr of Persia. At
During the evening with the Guardian's the very first session, Siegfried Schopflocher,
representative, Mrs. Dorothy Baker upon Hand of the Cause, who had recently passed
being asked to give her impressions of the on, was eulogized and a prayer was chanted
Guardian said: for him.
"The Guardian is a new creation. You At the request of the National Spiritual
can never fully understand his station nor Assembly of India, PLkistLn and Burma, the
describe your meeting- with him. In some office of Conference Chairman was assumed
strange way your existence becomes in daily rotation by representatives of the
changed. You can never let go that first look participating Assemblies. The final sessions,
when he greets you. Then the moment at however, devoted to the BahS'i community
table when he talks about the Faith and the of India, and the concluding hours of the
teachings. It is so clear, so simple. . .. I Conference were conducted by our hosts in
left Haifa with this impression of the the persons of Mr. 'Abbis 'Ali Butt, Chair-
Guardian-the courtier and the court; the man, and Mr. A. RahmLn, Secretary.
lover and the beloved; the king and the vas- The Vice-Chairman of the Indian Na-
sal of God." tional Spiritual Assembly spoke on the
It would be impossible to include in this BahS'i School at Panchgani, which the
account of the New Delhi Conference ev- Guardian has said will become a University.
erything that deserves description. Much At present there are eighty-three children
that added richness must be omitted and living there and attending classes in BahL'i
only brief reference can be accorded to and academic subjects. Seventy-five thou-
other weighty occurrences. sand rupees [about sixteen thousand dollars]
JinLb-i-Fidil, who made two visits to are needed now for a new school building,
America, sent once by 'Abdu'l-Bah6 and and additional sums for equipment, labora-
once by the Guardian, was called upon to tory and general repairs to the existing
address the Conference. He spoke chiefly of plant. Contributions were made for this pur-
the history of the Faith which the Guardian pose.
had asked him to write. It is to comprise Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh outlined BahS'i
nine volumes. Before coming to the Confer- activities in relation to the United Nations.
ence he had sent the completed eighth vol- Particularly enjoyed was her remark that the
ume in manuscript form to the Guardian. Non-Governmental Organization Confer-
The five Hands of the Cause from Trin, ence in Istanbul was conducted in the palace
Valiyu'llLh Varqi, Tarb~u'llih Samandari, of the Sultin who persecuted BahS'u'llLh.
'Ali-Akbar Furfitan, Shu'S'u'llih 'AlS'i and The commission for interviewing pioneers
DJhikru'llLh Khidem, all graced the Confer- headed by Alvin Blum did magnificent
ence with their presence and were often work; Habib Sabet very capably handled the
heard as they chanted prayers and contrib- appeal for funds; and Abu'l Qasim Faizi's
uted to the consultations. Mr. Samandari's translation work was essential to the success
stories of his youthful contacts with BahVu'- of the Conference.
llih were greatly appreciated. This historic gathering closed with a cele-
The Conference was grieved by informa- bration of the Nineteen Day Feast, which
tion from Basra ['Iriq] that a BahS'i had signalized likewise the end of Holy Year.
THE C E N T E N A R Y OF THE

T R I B U T E T O THE BAB
From the KZTAB-I-~QAN

T H O U G H young and tender of age, and path of Thy love. Sufficient Witness unto me
though the Cause He revealed was contrary is God, the Exalted, the Protector, the An-
to the desire of all the peoples of earth, both cient of Days!"
high and low, rich and poor, exalted and Likewise, in His interpretation of the let-
abased, king and subject, yet He arose and ter "HA," He craved martyrdom, saying:
steadfastly proclaimed it. All have known "Methinks I heard a Voice calling in my in-
and heard this. He was afraid of no one; most being: 'Do thou sacrifice- the ihing
He was regardless of consequences. Could which Thou lovest most in the path of God,
such a thing be made manifest except even as Husayn, peace be upon him, hath
through the power of a divine Revelation, offered up his life for My sake?' And were
and the potency of God's invincible Will? I not regardful of this inevitable mystery, by
By the righteousness of God! Were any one Him, Who hath my being between His
to entertain so great a Revelation in his hands even if all the kings of the earth were
heart, the thought of such a declaration to be leagued together they would be power-
would alone confound him! Were the hearts less to take from me a single letter, how
of all men to be crowded into his heart, he much less can these servants who are
would still hesitate to venture upon so awful worthy of no attention, and who verily are
an enterprise. He could achieve it only by of the outcast . . . That all may know the
the permission of God, only if the channel degree of My patience, My resignation, and
of his heart were to be linked with the self-sacrifice in the path of God."
Source of divine grace, and his soul be as- Could the Revealer of such utterance be
sured of the unfailing sustenance of the regarded as walking any way but the way
Almighty. To what, We Wonder, do they of God, and as having yearned for aught
ascribe so great a daring? Do they accuse else except His good-pleasure? In this very
Him of folly as they accused the Prophets verse there lieth concealed a breath of de-
of old? Or do they maintain that His motive tachment, which if it were to be breathed
was none other than leadership and the full upon the world, all beings would re-
acquisition of earthly riches? nounce their lives, and sacrifice their souls.
Gracious God! In His Book, which He Reflect upon the villainous behavior of this
hath entitled "Qayybmu'l-Asmb',"-the generation, and witness their astounding in-
first, the greatest and mightiest of all books gratitude. Observe how they have closed
-He prophesied His own martyrdom. In it their eyes to all this glory, &d are abjectly
is this passage: "0 thou Remnant of God! pursuing those foul carcasses from whose
I have sacrificed myself wholly for Thee; I bellies ascendeth the cry of the swallowed
have accepted curses for Thy sake; and have substance of the faithful. And yet, what un-
yearned for naught but martyrdom in the seemly calumnies they have hurled against
1.89
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

those Daysprings of Holiness? Thus do We of divink wisdom which encompassed all
recount unto thee that which the hands of beings! In every city, all the divines and dig-
the infidels have wrought, they who, in the nitaries rose to hinder and repress them, and
Day of Resurrection, have turned their face girded up the loins of malice, of envy, and
away from the divine Presence, whom God tyranny for their suppression. How great the
hath tormented with the fire of their own number of those holy souls, those essences
misbelief, and for whom He hath prepared of justice, who, accused of tyranny, were
in the world to come a chastisement which put to death! And how many embodiments
shall devour both their bodies and souls. of purity, who showed forth naught but true
For these have said: "God is powerless, and knowledge and stainless deeds, suffered an
His hand of mercy is fettered." agonizing death! Notwithstanding all this,
Steadfastness in the Faith is a sure testi- each of these holy beings, up to his last
mony, and a glorious evidence of the truth. moment, breathed the Name of God, and
Even as the "Seal of the Prophets" hath soared in the realm of submission and resig-
said: "Two verses have made Me old." Both nation. Such was the potency and transmut-
these verses are indicative of constancy in ing infl~~ence which He exercised over them,
the Cause of God. Even as He saith: "Be that they ceased to cherish any desire but
thou steadfast as thou hast been bidden." His will, and wedded their soul to His re-
And now consider how this Sadrih of the membrance.
Ridvkn of God hath, in the prime of youth, Reflect: Who in this world is able to
risen to proclaim the Cause of God. Behold manifest such transcendent power, such per-
what steadfastness that Beauty of God hath vading influence? All these stainless hearts
revealed. The whole world rose to hinder and sanctified souls have, with absolute res-
Him, yet it utterly failed. The more severe ignation, responded to the summons of His
the persecution they inflicted on that Sadrih decree. Instead of complaining, they ren-
of Blessedness, the more His fervor in- dered thanks unto God, and amidst the
creased, and the brighter burned the flame darkness of their anguish they revealed
of His love. All this is evident, and none dis- naught but radiant acquiescence to His will.
puteth its truth. Finally, He surrendered His It is evident how relentless was the hate, and
soul, and winged His flight unto the realms how bitter the malice and enmity enter-
above. tained by all the peoples of the earth to-
And among the evidences of the truth of wards these companions. The persecution
His manifestation were the ascendancy, the and pain they inflicted on these holy and
transcendent power, and supremacy which spiritual beings were regarded by them as
He, the Revealer of being and Manifesta- means unto salvation, prosperity, and ever-
tion of the Adored, hath, unaided and alone, lasting success. Hath the world, since the
revealed throughout the world. No sooner days bf Adam, witnessed such tumult, such
had that eternal Beauty revealed Himself in violent commotion? Notwithstanding all the
S_hirkz, in the year sixty, and rent asunder torture they suffered, and manifold the af-
the veil of concealment, than the signs of flictions they endured, they became the ob-
the ascendancy, the might, the sovereignty, ject of universal opprobrium and execration.
and power, emanating from that Essence of
Essences and Sea of Seas, were manifest in ~ e t h i n k spatiencebas
, revealed only by vir-
every land. So much so, that from every city tue of their fortitude, and faithfulness itself
there appeared the signs, the evidences, the was begotten only by their deeds.
tokens, the testimonies of that divine Lumi- Do thou ponder these momentous hap-
nary. How many were those pure and kindly penings in thy heart, so that thou mayest ap-
hearts which faithfully reflected the liqht of prehend the greatness of this Revelation,
that eternal Sun, and how manifold the and perceive its stupendous glory. . . .
emanations of knowledge from that Ocean ( p p . 230-236)
C E N T E N A R Y O F MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAB 191

2 . 'ABDU'L-BAHA'S TRIBUTE TO THE B A B
From SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS

A S FOR the BB,'-may my soul be His and annihilate him, He alone withstood
sacrifice!-at a youthful age, that is to say them, and moved the whole of Persia.
when He had reached the twenty-fifth year Many 'Ulamri and public men, as well as
of His blessed life, He stood forth to pro- other people, joyfully sacrificed their lives in
claim His Cause. It was universally admitted His Cause, and hastened to the plain of
by the Shiites that He had never studied in martyrdom.
any school, and had not acquired knowledge The government, the nation, the doctors
from any teacher; all the people of Shhiriz of divinity, and the great personages, de-
bear witness to this. Nevertheless, He sud- sired to extinguish His light, but they could
denly appeared before the people, endowed not do so. At last His moon arose, His star
with the most complete erudition. Although shone forth, His foundations became firmly
He was but a merchant, He confounded all established, and His dawning-place became
the 'Ulam2 of Persia. All alone, in a way brilliant. He imparted divine education to an
which is beyond imagination, He upheld the unenlightened multitude and produced mar-
Cause against the Persians, who are re- velous results on the thoughts, morals, cus-
nowned for their religious fanaticism. This toms, and conditions of the Persians. He an-
illustrious soul arose with such power that nounced the glad tidings of the manifesta-
He shook the supports of the religion, of the tion of the Sun of Bahi to His followers,
morals, the conditions, the habits, and the and prepared them to believe.
customs of Persia, and instituted new rules, The appearance of such wonderful signs
new laws, and a new religion. Though the and great results, the effects produced upon
great personages of the State, nearly all the the minds of the people, and upon the pre-
clergy, and the public men, arose to destroy vailing ideas; the establishment of the foun-
dations of progress, and the organization of
l T h e BLb is here designated by His title Bazrati the principles of success and prosperity by a
'AIL, His Supreme Highness; but for the convenience young merchant, constitute the greatest
of the reader we shall continue to designate Him by the proof that He was a perfect educator. A just
name under which He is known throughout Europe,
i.e., the Bkb. person will never hesitate to believe this.
2 Doctors of the religion of Islkm. (pp. 30-31)

3 . THE GUARDIAN'S MESSAGE FOR THE
CENTENARY OF THE MARTYRDOM
OF THE BAB

M o v m share (with) assembled repre- Cycle, Inaugurator (of the) five thousand
sentatives (of) American BahVi Commu- century Bah6i Cycle.
nity gathered beneath (the) dome (of the) Poignantly call (to) mind (the) circum-
Most Holy House (of) Worship (in the) stances attending (the) last act consummat-
BahA7 world, feelings (of) profound emo- ing (the) tragic ministry (of the) Master-
tion evoked (by this) historic occasion (of Hero (of the) most sublime drama (in the)
the) world-wide commemoration (of the) religious annals (of) mankind, signalizing
First Centenary (of the) Martyrdom (of the) (the) most dramatic event (of the) most
Blessed Bib, Prophet (and) Herald (of turbulent period (of the) Heroic Age (of
the) Faith (of) Bah$u'llih, Founder (of the) Bahi'i Dispensation, destined (to) be
the) Dispensation marking (the) culmina- recognized (by) posterity (as the) most
tion (of the) six thousand year old Adamic precious, momentous sacrifice (in the)
THE BAHA'I W O R L D

world's spiritual history. Recall (the) peer- ing army (of the) Faith (in the) Western
less tributes paid (to) His memory by (the) world.
Founder (of the) Faith, acclaiming Him (The) embryonic Faith, maturing three
Monarch (of) God's Messengers, (the) years after His martyrdom, traversing (the)
Primal Point round Whom (the) realities period (of) infancy (in the) course (of the)
(of) all (the) Prophets circle in adoration. Heroic Age (of the) Faith (is) now steadily
Profoundly stirred (by the) memory (of progressing towards maturity (in the) pres-
the) agonies He suffered, (the) glad-tidings ent Formative Age, destined (to) attain full
He announced, (the) warnings He uttered, stature (in the) Golden Age (of the) Bahgi
(the) forces He set (in) motion, (the) ad- Dispensation.
versaries He converted, (the) disciples He Lastly (the) Holy Seed (of) infinite pre-
raised up, (the) conflagrations He precipi- ciousness, holding within itself incalculable
tated, (the) legacy He left (of) faith (and) potentialities representing (the) culmination
courage, (the) love He inspired. Acknowl- (of the) centuries-old process (of the) evo-
edge with bowed head, joyous, thankful lution (of) humanity through (the) ener-
heart (the) successive, marvelous evidence gies released by (the) series (of) progres-
(of) His triumphant power (in the) course sive Revelations starting with Adam (and)
(of the) hundred years elapsed since (the) concluded (by the) Revelation (of the) Seal
last crowning act (of) His meteoric Min- (of the) Prophets, marked by (the) succes-
istry. sive appearance (of the) branches, leaves,
(The) creative energies released (at the) buds, blossoms (and) plucked, after six
hour (of the) birth (of) His Revelation, en- brief years (by the) hand (of) destiny,
dowing mankind (with the) potentialities ground (in the) mill (of) martyrdom (and)
(of the) attainment (of) maturity (are) de- oppression (but) yielding (the) oil whose
ranging, during (the) present transitional first flickering light cast (upon the) somber,
age, (the) equilibrium (of the) entire planet subterranean walls (of the) Siyah-Chal (of)
(as the) inevitable prelude (to the) con- Tihrin, whose fire gathered brilliance (in)
summation (in) world unity (of the) com- Baghdad (and) shone (in) full resplen-
ing (of) age (of the) human race. (The) dency (in) its crystal globe (in) Adrianople,
portentous (but) unheeded warnings ad- whose rays warmed (and) illuminated (the)
dressed (to) kings, princes, ecclesiastics fringes (of the) American, European, Aus-
(are) responsible (for the) successive over- tralian continents through (the) tender min-
throw (of) fourteen monarchies (of) East istering~(of the) Center (of the) Covenant,
(and) West, (the) collapse (of the) institu- whose radiance is now overspreading (the)
tion (of the) Caliphate, (the) virtual ex- surface (of the) globe during (the) present
tinction (of the) Pope's temporal sover- Formative Age, whose full splendor (is)
eignty, (the) progressive decline (in the) destined (in the) course (of) future mil-
fortunes (of the) ecclesiastical hierarchies leniums (to) suffuse (the) entire planet.
(of the) IslLmic, Christian, Jewish, Zo- Already the crushing (of) this God-
roastrian, (and) Hindu Faiths. imbued kernel upon (the) anvil (of) ad-
(The) Order eulogized (and) announced versity (has) ignited (the) first sparks (of
(in) His writings, whose laws BahQ'u'llkh the) Holy Fire latent within it through
subsequently revealed (in the) Most Holy (the) emergence (of the) firmly-knit world-
Book, whose features 'Abdu'l-BahS delin- encompassing community constituting no
eated (in His) Testament, (is) now passing less (than) twenty-five hundred centers es-
through (its) embryonic stage through tablished throughout a hundred countries
(the) emergence (of the) initial institutions representing over thirty races (and) extend-
(of the) world administrative order (in the) ing as far north as (the) Arctic Circle
five continents (of the) globe. (The) clarion (and) as far south (as the) Straits (of)
call sounded (in the) QayyGmu'l-AsmQ', Magallanes, equipped (with) literature
summoning (the) peoples (of the) West translated (into) sixty languages (and) pos-
(to) forsake (their) homes (and) proclaim sessing endowments nearing ten million dol-
His message, (was) nobly answered (by lars, enriched through (the) erection (of)
the) communities (of the) western hemi- two Houses (of) Worship (in the) heart (of
sphere headed (by the) valorous, stalwart the) Asiatic (and) North American conti-
American believers, (the) chosen vanguard nents. (the) stately mausoleum reared (in)
(of the) all-conquering, irresistibly-march- its World Center, consolidated through
C E N T E N A R Y O F M A R T Y R D O M O F THE BAB 193

(the) incorporation (of) over (a) hundred the) entire body (of the) American be-
(of) its national (and) local Assemblies lievers, (the) privileged occupants (and)
(and) reinforced through (the) proclama- stout-hearted defenders (of the) foremost
tion (of) its independence (in the) East, its citadel (of the) Faith, (to) re-dedicate
recognition (in the) West, eulogized by themselves (and) resolve, no matter how
royalty, buttressed (by) nine pillars sustain- great (the) perils confronting (their) sister
ing (the) future structure (of) its supreme communities (on the) European, Asiatic,
administrative council, energized through African (and) Australian continents, how-
(the) simultaneous prosecution (of) spe- ever somber (the) situation facing both
cific plans conducted (under the) aegis (of)
(the) cradle (of the) Faith (and) its world
its national councils designed (to) enlarge
center, however grievous (the) vicissitudes
(the) limits (and) extend (the) ramifica-
tions (and) consolidate (the) foundations they themselves may eventually suffer, (to)
(of) its divinely-appointed administrative hold aloft unflinchingly (the) torch (of the)
order (over the) surface (of the) entire Faith impregnated (with the) blood (of)
planet. innumerable martyrs (and) transmit it un-
(I) appeal (on) this solemn occasion, impaired so that it may add luster (to)
rendered doubly sacred through (the) ap- future generations destined (to) labor after
proaching hundredth anniversary (of the) them.
most devastating holocaust (in the) annals (signed) SHOGHI
(of the) Faith, (at) this anxious hour (in Haifa, Israel
the) fortunes (of this) travailing age, (to July 4, 1950.

4 . THE S T A T I O N OF THE B A B
From T H E W O R L D O R D E R O F BAHAU'LLAH

D E A R L Y - B E L o v E D friends! That the actuating me to undertake the task of edit-
Bib, the ina~iguratorof the Bibi Dispensa- ing and translating Nabil's immortal Narra-
tion, is fully entitled to rank as one of the tive has been to enable every follower of the
self-sufficient Manifestations of God, that Faith in the West to better understand and
He has been invested with sovereign power more readily grasp the tremendous implica-
and authority, and exercises all the rights tions of His exalted station and to more ar-
and prerogatives of independent Prophet- dently admire and love Him.
hood, is yet another fundamental verity There can be no doubt that the claim to
which the Message of Bah2u'lliih insistently the twofold station ordained for the Bgb by
proclaims and which its followers must un- the Almighty, a claim which He Himself has
compromisingly uphold. That He is not to so boldly advanced, which BahL'uYllihhas
be regarded merely as an inspired Precursor repeatedly affirmed, and to which the Will
of the Bahgi Revelation, that in His person, and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahi has finally
as He Himself bears witness in the Persian given the sanction of its testimony, consti-
Bayiin, the object of all the Prophets gone tutes the most distinctive feature of the
before Him has been fulfilled, is a truth Bah2i Dispensation. It is a further evidence
which I feel it my duty to demonstrate and of its uniqueness, a tremendous accession to
emphasize. We would assuredly be failing in the strength, to the mysterious power and
our duty to the Faith we profess and would authority with which this holy cycle has
be violating one of its basic and sacred prin- been invested. Indeed the greatness of the
ciples if in our words or by our c o n d ~ ~we
ct Bib consists primarily, not in His being the
hesitate to recognize the implications of this divinely-appointed Forerunner of so tran-
root principle of Bahgi belief, or r e f ~ ~ stoe scendent a Revelation, but rather in His
uphold unreservedly its integrity and dem- having been invested with the powers in-
onstrate its truth. Indeed the chief motive herent in the inaugurator of a separate re-
T H E B A H A 'f W O R L D

ligious Dispensation, and in His wielding, to through the power of a Divine Revelation
a degree unrivaled by the Messengers gone and the potency of God's invincible Will?
before Him, the scepter of independent By the righteousness of Cod! Were any one
Prophethood. to entertain so great a Revelation in his
The short duration of His Dispensation, heart the thought of such a declaration
the restricted range within which His laws would alone confound him! Were the hearts
and ordinances have been made to operate, of all men to be crowded into his heart, he
supply no criterion whatever wherewith to would still hesitate to venture upon so aw-
judge its Divine origin and to evaluate the ful an enterprise." " N o eye," He in another
potency of its message. "That so brief a passage affirms, "hath beheld so great an
span," BahL'u'llLh Himself explains, "should outpouring o f bounty, nor hath any ear
have separated this most mighty and won- heard of such a Revelation of lovirzg-kind-
drous Revelation from Mine own previous .
ness . . The Prophets 'endowed with con-
Manifestation, is a secret that no man can stancy,' whose loftiness and glory shine as
unravel and a mystery such as no mind can the sun, were each honored with a Book
fathom. Its duration had been foreordained, which all have seen, and the verses o f which
and no man shall ever discover its reason have been duly ascertained. Whereas the
unless and until he be informed of the con- verses which have rained from this Cloud o f
tents o f M y Hidden Book." "Behold," divine mercy have been so abundant that
BahB'u'llLh further explains in the Kithb-i- none hath yet been able to estimate their
Badi", one of His works refuting the argu- number . . . How can they belittle this
ments of the people of the BayLn, "behold, Revelation? Hath any age witnessed such
how immediately upon the completion o f momentous happenings?"
the ninth year o f this wondrous, this most Commenting on the character and influ-
holy and merciful Dispensation, the requi- ence of those heroes and martyrs whom the
site number o f pure, of wholly coizsecrated spirit of the BLb had so magically trans-
and sanctified souls had been most secretly formed BahB'u'llBh reveals the following:
consummated." "If these companions be not the true strivers
The marvelous happenings that have her- after God, who else could be called by this
alded the advent of the Founder of the Bhbi name? . . . If these conzpanions, with all
Dispensation, the dramatic circumstances of their marvelous testimonies and wondrous
His own eventful life, the miraculous trag- works, be false, who then is worthy to claim
edy of His martyrdom, the magic of His in- for himself the truth? . . . Has the world
fluence exerted on the most eminent and since the days o f Adam witnessed such tu-
powerful among His countrymen, to all of mult, such violent commotion? . . Me- .
which every chapter of Nabil's stirring nar- thinks' . patience was revealed only by virtue
rative testifies, should in themselves be re- o f their fortitude, and faithfulness itself was
garded as sufficient evidence of the validity begotten only by their deeds."
of His claim to so exalted a station among Wishing to stress the sublimity of the
the Prophets. BLb's exalted station as compared with that
However graphic the record which the of the Prophets of the past, BahB'u'llBh in
eminent chronicler of His life has trans- that same epistle asserts: " N o understand-
mitted to posterity, SJ luminous a narrative ing can grasp the nature o f His Revelation,
must pale before the glowing tribute paid to nor can any knowledge comprehend the full
the BLb by the pen of BahL'u'llLh. This measure of His Faith." He then quotes, in
tribute the BBb Himself has, by the clear as- confirmation of His argument, these pro-
sertion of His claim, abundantly supported, phetic words: "Knowledge is twenty and
while the written testimonies of 'Abdu'l- seven letters. All that the Prophets have re-
BahL have powerfully reinforced its char- vealed are two letters thereof. N o man thus
acter and elucidated its meaning. far hath known more than these two letters.
Where else if not in the Kitib-i-fqAn can But when the QZim shall arise, He will
the student of the BBbi Dispensation seek cause the remaining twenty and five letters
to find those affirmations that unmistakably to be made manifest." "Behold," He adds,
attest the power and spirit which no man, "how great and lofty is His station! His
except he be a Manifestation of God, can rank excelleth that of all the Prophets and
manifest? "Could such a thing," exclaims His Revelation transcendeth the comprehen-
BahL'u'llLh, "be made manifest except sion and understanding of all their chosen
CENTENARY O F MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAB 195

ones." "Of His Revelation," He further letter of Our Revelation, the world and all
adds, "the Prophets of God, His saints and that is therein to recognize, in less than the
chosen ones, have either not been informed, twinkling o f an eye, the truth of Our
or, in pursuance of God's inscrutable de- Cause."
cree, they have not disclosed." "I am the Primal Point," the Bib thus ad-
Of all the tributes which Bah2u'llih's un- dresses Muhammad $hLh from the prison-
erring pen has chosen to pay to the memory fortress of MLh-KG, "from which have been
of the Bib, His "Best-Beloved," the most generated all created things . . . I a m the
memorable and touching is this brief, yet Countenance of God Whose splendor can
eloquent passage which so greatly enhances never be obscured, the Iight o f God whose
the value of the concluding passages of that radiance can never fade . . . All the keys
same epistle. "Amidst them all," He writes, o f heaven God hath chosen to place on My
referring to the afflictive trials and dangers right hand, and all the keys o f hell on M y
besetting him in the city of BaghdLd, "We left . . . I am one of the sustaining pillars
stand life in hand wholly reesig5ed to His of the Primal Word of God. Whosoever
Will, that perchance through God's loving hath recognized Me, hath known all that is
kindness and grace, this revealed and mani- true and right, and hath attained all that is
fest Letter (Bah2u'llih) may lay down His good and seemly . . . The substance
life as a sacrifice in the path o f the Primal wherewith God hath created Me is not the
Point, the most exalted Word (the B i b ) . By clay out of which others have been formed.
Hinz, at Whose bidding the Spirit hath spo- He hath conferred upon Me that which the
ken, but for this yearning of Our soul, W e worldly-wise can never comprehend, nor the
would not, for one moment, have tarried faithful discover." "Should a tiny ant," the
any longer in this city." BLb, wishing to stress the limitless potential-
Dearly-beloved friends! So resounding a ities latent in His Dispensation, character-
praise, so bold an assertion issued by the istically affirms, "desire in this day t o be
pen of Bahi'u'llLh in so weighty a work, are possessed o f such power as to be able to un-
fully re-echoed in the language in which the ravel the abstrusest and most bewildering
Source of the Bibi Revelation has chosen to passages o f the Qur'a'n, its wish will no
clothe the claims He Himself has advanced. doubt be fulfilled, inasmuch as the mystery
"I am the Mystic Fane," the BLb thus pro- of eternal might vibrates within the inner-
claims His station in the Qayyilmu'l-Asm2, most being o f all created things." "If so
"which the Hand of Onznipotence hnth helpless a creature," is 'Abdu'I-BahL's com-
reared. I am the Lamp which the Finger o f ment on so startling an affirmation, "can be
God hath lit within its niche and caused to endowed with so subtle a capacity, how
shine with deathless splendor. I anz the much more eficacious must he the power
Flame of that supernal Light that glowed released through the liberal effusions of the
upon Sinai in the gladsome Spot, and lay grace
- of Bahn"u'lldh!"
concealed in the midst of the Burning T o these authoritative assertions and
Bush." "0 Qurratu'l-'Ayn!" He, addressing solemn declarations made by BahVu'llLh and
Himself in that same commentary, ex- the BLb must be added 'Abdu'l-BahL's own
claims, "I recognize in Thee none other ex- incontrovertible testimony. He, the ap-
cept the 'Great Announcement'-the An- pointed interpreter of the utterances of both
nouncement voiced by the Concourse on BahVu'llLh and the Bib, corroborates, not
high. By this name, I bear witness, they that by implication but in clear and categorical
circle the Throne of Glory have ever knowrz language, both in His Tablets and in His
Thee." "With each and every Prophet, Testament, the truth of the statements to
WIzorn W e have sent down in the past," He which I have already referred.
further adds, "We have established a sepa- In a Tablet addressed to a Bah2i in
rate Covenant concerning the erner ern- Mjzindargn, in which He unfolds the mean-
brance of G o d and His Day. Manifest, irz ing of a misinterpreted statement attributed
the realm o f glory and through the power to Him regarding the rise of the Suil of
o f truth, are the 'Rernembrance of God' and Truth in this century, He sets forth, briefly
His Day before the eyes of the angels that but conclusively, what should remain for
circle His n~ercy-seat." "Should it be Our a11 time our true conception of the relation-
wish," He again affirms, "it is in Our power ship between the two Manifestations as-
to compel, through the agency of but one sociated with the Bah2i Dispensation. "drz
196 THE B A H A ' I WORLD

making such a statement," He explains, "I keeper at their door." "Every proof and
had in mind no one else except the Ba'b and prophecy," is His still more emphatic warn-
Bahd'u'lldh, the character of whose Revela- ing, "every manner of evidence, whether
tiohs it had been m y purpose to elucidate. based on reason or on the text of the scrip-
The Revelation of the Ba'b may be likened tures and traditions, are to be regarded as
t o the sun, its station corresponding to the centered in the persons of Bnha"u'lld1z and
first sign of the Zodiac-the sign Aries-
the Ba'b. In them is to be found their com-
which the sun enters at the Vernal Equinox. plete fulfillment."
The station of Bahri'u'lla'h's Revelation, on
And finally, in His Will and Testament,
the other hand, is represented by the sign
the repository of His last wishes and parting
Leo, the sun's mid-summer and highest sta-
instructions, He in the following passage,
tion. By this is meant that this holy Dis-
pensation is illumined with the light of the specifically designed to set forth the guiding
principles of Bahl'i belief, sets the seal of
Sun o f Truth shining from its most exalted
station, and in the plenitude of its resplend- His testimony on the BQb's dual and exalted
station: "Tlae foundation o f the belief of the
ency, its heat and glory."
"The Bdb, the Exalted One," 'Abdu'l- people o f Bahd (may my life be offered up
BahL more specifically affirms in another for them) is this: His holiness the exalted
Tablet, "is the Morn o f Truth, the splendor One (the Bdb) is the Manifestation of the
o f Whose light shineth throughout all re- unity and oneness o f God and the Forerun-
gions. He is also the Harbinger o f the Most ner of the Ancient Beauty (BahPu'llQh).
Great Light, the Abha' Luminary. The His holiness, the Abhd Beazlty (BahL'u'llLh)
Blessed Beauty is the One promised by the (may my life be olflered up as a sacrifice for
sacred books of the past, the revelation of His steadfast friends) is the supreme Mani-
the Source of light that shone upon Mount festation of God and the Day-Spring o f His
Sinai, Whose fire glowed in the midst of the most divine Essence." "All others," He sig-
Burning Bush. W e are, one and all, servants nificantly adds, "are servants unto Him and
o f their threshold, and stand each as a lowly do His bidding." (pp. 223-128)

5. T H E EXECUTION'OF T H E B A B
From GOD PASSES BY:k

T H E waves of dire tribulation that vio- fused to meet any of His friends, and was
lently battered at the Faith, and eventually reluctant to touch the meat and drink that
engulfed, in rapid succession, the ablest, the was offered Him. Tears rained continually
dearest and most trusted disciples of the from His eyes, and profuse expressions of
BQb,plunged Him, as already observed, into anguish poured forth from His wounded
unutterable sorrow. For no less than six heart, as He languished, for no less than
months the Prisoner of Chihriq, His chroni- five months, solitary and disconsolate, in
cler has recorded, was unable to either write His prison.
or dictate. Crushed with grief by the evil The pillars of His infant Faith had, for
tidings that came so fast upon Him, of the the most part, been hurled down at the first
endless trials that beset His ablest lieuten- onset of the hurricane that had been loosed
ants, by the agonies suffered by the besieged upon it. Quddtis, immortalized by'Him as
and the shameless betrayal of the survivors, Ismu'llQhi'l-Ak_hir(the Last Name of God) ;
by the woeful afflictions endured by the cap- on whom BahVu'llLh's Tablet of Kullu't-
tives and the abominable butchery of men, TaCQmlater conferred the sublime appella-
women and children, as well as the foul in- tion of Nuqtiy-i-Uk_hhrL (the Last Point) ;
dignities heaped on their corpses, He, for whom He elevated, in another Tablet, to a
nine days, His amanuensis has affirmed, re- rank second to none except that of the Her-
ald of His Revelation; whom He identifies,
* Chapter IV. in still another Tablet, with one of the
CENTENARY OF MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAB 197

"Messengers charged with imposture" men- zeal, was being, swiftly and inevitably,
tioned in the Qur'in; whom the Persian drawn into the fiery furnace whose flames
Bayin extolled as that fellow-pilgrim round had already enveloped Zanjin and its
whom mirrors to the number of eight Vi- environs. The Bib's maternal uncle, the only
hids revolve; on whose "detachment and the father He had known since His childhood,
sincerity of whose devotion to God's will His shield and support and the trusted
God prideth Himself amidst the Concourse guardian of both His mother and His wife,
on high;" whom 'Abdu'l-Bahh designated as had, moreover, been sundered from Him by
the "Moon o f Guidance;" and whose ap- the axe of the executioner in Tihrin. No less
pearance the Revelation of St. John the Di- than half of His chosen disciples, the Let-
vine anticipated as one of the two "Wit- ters of the Living, had already preceded
nesses" into whom, ere the "second woe is Him in the field of martyrdom. Tihirih,
past," the "spirit of life from GO&' must though still alive, was courageously pursu-
enter-such a man had, in the full bloom of ing a course that was to lead her inevitably
his youth, suffered, in the Sabzih-Maydin of to her doom.
BBrfur6&, a death which even Jesus Christ, A fast ebbing life, so crowded with the
as attested by BahPu'llih, had not faced in accumulated anxieties, disappointments,
the hour of His greatest agony. Mull6 Hu- treacheries and sorrows of a tragic ministry,
sayn, the first Letter of the Living, sur- now moved swiftly towards its climax. The
named the Bibu'l-Bib (the Gate of the most turbulent period of the Heroic Age of
Gate); designated as the "Primal Mirror;" the new Dispensation was rapidly attaining
on whom eulogies, prayers and visiting Tab- its culmination. The cup of bitter woes
lets of a number equivalent to thrice the vol- which the Herald of that Dispensation had
ume of the Qur'in had been lavished by the tasted was now full to overflowing. Indeed,
pen of the Bib; referred to in these eulogies He Himself had already foreshadowed His
as "beloved of M y Heart;" the dust of own approaching death. In the Kitib-i-Panj-
whose grave, that same Pen had declared, Sha'n, one of His last works, He had alluded
was so potent as to cheer the sorrowful and to the fact that the sixth Naw-RGz after the
heal the sick; whom "the creatures, raised in declaration of His mission would be the last
the beginning and in the end" of the BBbi He was destined to celebrate on earth. In
Dispensation, envy, and will continue to His interpretation of the letter H i , He had
envy till the "Day of Judgment;" whom the voiced His craving for martyrdom, while in
Kitib-i-fqin acclaimed as the one but for the QayyGmu'l-Asml' He had actually
whom "God would not have been estab- prophesied the inevitability of such a con-
lished upon the seat o f His mercy, nor as- summation of His glorious career. Forty
cended the throne of eternal glory;" to days before His final departure from Chih-
whom Siyyid K&im had paid such tribute riq He had even collected all the docu-
that his disciples suspected that the recipient ments in His possession, and placed them,
of such praise might well be the promised together with His pen-case, His seals and
One Himself-such a one had likewise, in His rings, in the hands of Mulls Biqir, a
the prime of his manhood, died a martyr's Letter of the Living, whom He instructed to
death at Tabarsi. Vahid, pronounced in the entrust them to Mulli 'Abdu'l-Karim-i-
Kitib-i-fqin to be the "unique and peerless Qazvini, surnamed MirzB Ahmad, who was
figure o f his age," a man of immense erudi- to deliver them to BahL'u'llih in Tihrin.
tion and the most preeminent figure to en- While the convulsions of MBzindarin and
list under the banner of the new Faith, to Nayriz were pursuing their bloody course
whose "talents and saintliness," to whose the Grand Vizir of NBviri'd-Din S_hih, anx-
"high attainments in the realm of science iously pondering the significance of these
and philosophy" the Bib had testified in His dire happenings, and apprehensive of their
Dall'il-i-Sab'ih (Seven Proofs), had al- repercussions on his countrymen, his gov-
ready, under similar circumstances, been ernment and his sovereign, was feverishly
swept into the maelstrom of another up- revolving in his mind that fateful decision
heaval, and was soon to quaff in his turn the which was not only destined to leave its
cup drained by the heroic martyrs of indelible imprint on the fortunes of his
MBzindarBn. uujjat, another champion of country, butwas to be fraught with such in-
conspici~ousaudacity, of unsubduable will, calcdable consequences for the destinies of
of remarkable originality and vehement the whole of mankind. The repressive meas-
198 T H E B A H A. ' f W O R L D

ures taken against the followers of the BBb, dom. The fad&-bB&i had abruptly inter-
he was by now fully convinced, had but rupted the last conversation which the BBb
served to inflame their zeal, steel their reso- was confidentially having in one of the
lution and confirm their loyalty to their rooms of the barracks with His amanuensis
persecuted Faith. The BBb's isolation and Siyyid Husayn, and was drawing the latter
captivity had produced the opposite effect to aside, and severely rebuking him, when he
that which the Amir-NizBm had confidently was thus addressed by his Prisoner: "Not
anticipated. Gravely perturbed, he bitterly until I have said to him all those things that
condemned the disastrous leniency of his I wish to say can any earthly power silence
predecessor, HBji MirzB AqBsi, which had Me. Though all the world be armed against
brought matters to such a pass. A more Me, yet shall it be powerless to deter Me
drastic and still more exemplary punish- from fulfilling, to the last word, My inten-
ment, he felt, must now be administered to tion." To the Christian SBm K_hBn-the
what he regarded as an abomination of colonel of the Armenian regiment ordered
heresy which was polluting the civil and ec- to carry out the execution-who, seized
clesiastical institutions of the realm. Nothr with fear lest his act should provoke the
ing short, he believed, of the extinction of wrath of God, had begged to be released
the life of Him Who was the fountain-head from the duty imposed upon him, the BBb
of so odious a doctrine and the driving force gave the following assurance: "Follow your
behind so dynamic a movement could stem instructions, and if your intention be sin-
the tide that had wrought such havoc cere, the Almighty is surely able to relieve
throughout the land. you o f your perplexity."
The siege of ZanjBn was still in progress Sgm =in accordingly set out to dis-
when he, dispensing with an explicit order charge his duty. A spike was driven into
from his sovereign, and acting independ- a pillar which separated two rooms of the
ently of his counsellors and fellow-ministers, barracks facing the square. Two ropes were
dispatched his order to Prince uamzih fastened to it from which the Bhb and one
MirzB, the Hi~hatu'd-Dawlih,the gover- of his disciples, the youthful and devout
nor of Ad_hirbByjBn, instructing him to exe- MirzB Muhammad-'Mi-i-Zuniizi, surnamed
cute the BBb. Fearing lest the infliction of Anis, who had previously flung himself at
such condign punishment in the capital of the feet of his Master and implored that un-
the realm would set in motion forces he der no circumstances he be sent away from
might be powerless to control, he ordered Him, were separately suspended. The firing
that his Captive be taken to Tabriz, and squad ranged itself in three files, each of
there be done to death. Confronted with a two hundred and fifty men. Each file in turn
flat refusal by the indignant Prince to per- opened fire until the whole detachment had
form what he regarded as a flagitious crime, discharged its bullets. So dense was the
the Amir-Ni?Bm commissioned his own smoke from the seven hundred and fifty
brother, MirzB Hasan K_hBn, to execute his rifles that the sky was darkened. As soon as
orders. The usual formalities designed to se- the smoke had cleared away the astounded
cure the necessary authorization from the multitude of about ten thousand souls, who
leading mujtahids of Tabriz were hastily and had crowded onto the roof of the barracks,
easily completed. Neither Mull5 Muham- as well as the tops of the adjoining houses,
mad-i-MamgqBni, however, who had beheld a scene which their eyes could
penned the BBb's death-warrant on the very scarcely believe.
day of His examination in Tabriz, nor HBji The BBb had vanished from their sight!
MirzL BBqir, nor Mull& MurtadCQuli, to Only his companion remained, alive and
whose houses their Victim was ignomini- unscathed, standing beside the wall on
ously led by the farrB&-bBs_hi, by order of which they had been suspended. The ropes
the Grand Vizir, condescended to meet face by which they had been hung alone were
to face their dreaded Opponent. severed. "The Siyyid-i-BBb has gone from
Immediately before and soon after this our sight!" cried out the bewildered specta-
humiliating treatment meted out to the tors. A frenzied search immediately ensued.
BBb two highly significant incidents oc- He was found, unhurt and unruffled, in the
curred, incidents that cast an illuminating very room He had occupied the night be-
light on the mysterious circumstances sur- fore, engaged in completing His interrupted
rounding the opening phase of His martyr- conversation with His amanuensis. ''I Izavs
C E N T E N A R Y O F M A R T Y R D O M O F T H E BAB

finished M y conversation with Siyyid sure that none of them had survived, they
Husayn" were the words with which the were riddled with a second volley, after
Prisoner, so providentially preserved, which their bodies, pierced with spears and
greeted the appearance of the farrid? lances, were exposed to the gaze of the
bi&i, "Now you may proceed to fulfill people of Tabriz. The prime instigator of
your intention." Reballing the bold assertion the Bib's death, the implacable Amir-
his Prisoner had previously made, and N i z h , together with his brother, his chief
shaken by so stunning a revelation, the accomplice, met their death within two
farri&-b&&i quitted instantly the scene, years of that savage act.
and resigned his post. On the evening of the very day of the
Stim JQhin, likewise, remembering, with Bib's execution, which fell on the ninth of
feelings of awe and wonder, the reassuring July 1850 (28th of SJha'bin 1266 A.H.),
words addressed to him by the Bib, or- during the thirty-first year of His age and
dered his men to leave the barracks im- the seventh of His ministry, the mangled
mediately, and swore, as he left the court- bodies were transferred from the courtyard
yard, never again, even at the cost of his of the barracks to the edge of the moat out-
life, to repeat that act. Aq6 Jin-i-ghamsih, side the gate of the city. Four companies,
colonel of the body-guard, volunteered to each consisting of ten sentinels, were or-
replace him. On the same wall and in the dered to keep watch in turn over them. On
same manner the Bib and His companion the following morning the Russian Consul
were again suspended, while the new regi- in Tabriz visited the spot, and ordered the
ment formed in line and opened fire upon artist who had accompanied him to make a
them. This time, however, their breasts were drawing of the remains as they lay beside
riddled with bullets, and their bodies com- the moat. In the middle of the following
pletely dissected, with the exception of their night a follower of the BBb, Hiji Sulaymh
faces which were but little marred. "0 Lhin, succeeded, through the instrumental-
wayward generation!" were the last words ity of a certain Htiji Allih-Yir, in remov-
of the BBb to the gazing multitude, as the ing the bodies to the silk factory owned by
regiment prepared to fire its volley, "Had one of the believers of Milin, and laid them,
you believed in Me every one of you would the next day, in a specially made wooden
have followed the example o f this youth, casket, which he later transferred to a place
who stood in rank above most o f you, and of safety. Meanwhile the mullis were boast-
would have willingly sacrificed himself in fully proclaiming from the pulpits that,
My path. The day will come when you will whereas the holy body of the Immaculate
have recognized Me; that day I shall have Imim would be preserved from beasts of
ceased to be with you." prey and from all creeping things, this man's
Nor was this all. The very moment the body had been devoured by wild animals.
shots were fired a gale of exceptional vio- No sooner had the news of the transfer of
lence arose and swept over the city. From the remains of the Bib and of His fellow-
noon till night a whirlwind of dust obscured sufferer been communicated to Bahb'u'llih
the light of the sun, and blinded the eyes than He ordered that same Sulaymin g h i n
of the people. In S_hiriz an "earthquake," to bring them to Tihrin, where they were
foreshadowed in no less weighty a Book taken to the Imim-Zidih-Hasan, from
than the Revelation of St. John, occurred whence they were removed to different
in 1268 A.H. which threw the whole city places, until the time when, in pursuance of
into turmoil and wrought havoc amongst 'Abdu'l-Bahb's instructions, they were trans-
its people, a havoc that was greatly ag- ferred to the Holy Land, and were per-
gravated by the outbreak of cholera, by manently and ceremoniously laid to rest by
famine and other afflictions. In that same Him in a specially erected mausoleum on
year no less than two hundred and fifty of the slopes of Mt. Carmel.
the firing squad, that had replaced Sim Thus ended a life which posterity will
KJhin's regiment, met their death, together recognize as standing at the confluence of
with their officers, in a terrible earthquake, two universal prophetic cycles, the Adamic
while the remaining five hundred suffered, Cycle stretching back as far as the first
three years later, as a punishment for their dawnings of the world's recorded religious
mutiny, the same fate as that which their history and the Bahb'i Cycle destined to
hands had inflicted upon the Bib. To in- propel itself across the unborn reaches of
200 THE B A H A ' I WORLD

time for a period of no less than five thou- martyrdom, instructed the Russian Consul
sand centuries. The apotheosis in which in Tabriz to fully inquire into, and report
such a life attained its consummation marks, the circumstances of so startling a Move-
as already observed, the culmination of the ment, a commission that could not be carried
most heroic phase of the Heroic Age of the out in view of the Bib's execution. In coun-
Bahb'i Dispensation. It can, moreover, be tries as remote as those of Western Europe
regarded in no other light except as the most an interest no less profound was kindled,
dramatic, the most tragic event transpiring and spread with great rapidity to literay,
within the entire range of the first Bahb'i artistic, diplomatic and intellectual circles.
century. Indeed it can be rightly acclaimed "All Europe," attests the above-mentioned
as unparalled in the annals of the lives of French publicist, "was stirred to pity and
all the Founders of the world's existing indignation . . . Among the IittCrateurs of
religious systems. my generation, in the Paris of 1890, the
So momentous an event could hardly fail martyrdom of the Bib was still as fresh a
to arouse widespread and keen interest even topic as had been the first news of His
beyond the confines of the land in which it death. We wrote poems about Him. Sarah
had occurred. "C'est un des plus magnifi- Bernhardt entreated Catulle Mendhs for a
ques exemples de courage qu'il ait CtC donnC play on the theme of this historic tragedy."
B l'humanitC de contempler," is the testi- A Russian poetess, member of the Philo-
mony recorded by a Christian scholar and sophic, Oriental and Bibliological Societies
government official, who had lived in Persia of St. Petersburg, published in 1903 a drama
and had familiarized himself with the life entitled "The Bib," which a year later was
and teachings of the Bib, "et c'est aussi une played in one of the principal theatres of
admirable preuve de I'amour que notre hB- that city, was subsequently given publicity
ros portait g ses concitoyens. I1 s'est sacrifie in London, was translated into French in
pour l'humanit6: pour elle il a donn6 son Paris, and into German by the poet Fiedler,
corps et son iime, pour elle il a subi les was presented again, soon after the Russian
privations, les affronts, les injures, la torture Revolution, in the Folk Theatre in Len-
et le martyre. I1 a scell6 de son sang le pacte ingrad, and succeeded in arousing the genu-
de la fraternit6 universelle, et comme J6sus ine sympathy and interest of the renowned
il a pay6 de sa vie I'annonce du rhgne de la Tolstoy, whose eulogy of the poem was
concorde, de l'6quitB et de l'amour du pro- later published in the Russian press.
chain." "Un fait Btrange, unique dans les It would indeed be no exaggeration to say
annales de I'humanit6," is a further testi- that nowhere in the whole compass of the
mony from the pen of that same scholar world's religious literature, except in the
commenting on the circumstances attending Gospels, do we find any record relating to
the Bib's martyrdom. "A veritable miracle," the death of any of the religion-founders of
is the pronouncement made by a noted the past comparable to the martyrdom suf-
French Orientalist. "A true God-man," is fered by the Prophet of Shiriz. So strange,
the verdict of a famous British traveler and so inexplicable a phenomenon, attested by
writer. "The finest product of his country," eye-witnesses, corroborated by men of rec-
is the tribute paid Him by a noted French ognized standing, and acknowledged by gov-
publicist. "That Jesus of the age . . . a ernment as well as unofficial historians
prophet, and more than a prophet," is the among the people who had sworn undying
judgment passed by a distinguished English hostility to the BBbi Faith, may be truly re-
divine. "The most important religious move- garded as the most marvelous manifestation
ment since the foundation of Christianity," of the unique potentialities with which a
is the possibility that was envisaged for the Dispensation promised by all the Dispensa-
Faith the BBb had established by that far- tions of the past had been endowed. The
famed Oxford scholar, the late Master of passion of Jesus Christ, and indeed His
Balliol. whole public ministry, alone offer a parallel
"Many persons from all parts o f the to the Mission and death of the BBb, a par-
world," is 'Abdu'l-Bahi's written assertion, allel which no student of comparative re-
"set out for Persia and began to investigate ligion can fail to perceive or ignore. In the
wholeheartedly the matter." The Czar of yonthfulness and meekness of the Inaugura-
Russia, a contemporary chronicler has tor of the Bgbi Dispensation; in the extreme
written, had even, shortly before the B6b's brevity and turbulence of His public min-
istry; in the dramatic swiftness with which Cycle" and the inception of the "Cycle o f
that ministry moved towards its climax; in Fulfillment," had simultaneously through
the apostolic order which He instituted, and His Revelation banished the shades of night
the primacy which He conferred on one of that had descended upon His country, and
its members; in the boldness of His chal- proclaimed the impending rise of that In-
lenge to the time-honored conventions, rites comparable Orb Whose radiance was to
and laws which had been woven into the envelop the whole of mankind. He, as af-
fabric of the religion He Himself had been firmed by Himself, "the Primal Point from
born into; in the r6le which an officially which have been generated all created
recognized and firmly entrenched religious things," "one of the sustaining pillars of the
hierarchy played as chief instigator of the Primal Word of God," the "1Mystic Fane,"
outrages which He was made to suffer; in the "Great Annouizcement," the "Flame o f
the indignities heaped upon Him; in the that supernal Light that glowed upon Sinai,"
suddenness of His arrest; in the interroga- the "Remembrance o f God" concerning
tion to which He was subjected; in the deri- Whom "a separate Covenant hath been es-
sion poured, and the scourging inflicted, tablished with each and every Prophet" had,
upon Him; in the public affront He sus- through His advent, at once fulfilled the
tained; and, finally, in His ignominious sus- promise of all ages and ushered in the con-
pension before the gaze of a hostile multi- summation of all Revelations. He the
tude-in all these we cannot fail to discern "Qi'im" (He Who ariseth) promised to the
a remarkable similarity to the distinguishing Shhi'ahs, the "Mihdi" (One Who is guided)
features of the career of Jesus Christ. awaited by the Sunnis, the "Return of John
It should be remembered, however, that the Baptist" expected by the Christians, the
apart from the miracle associated with the "Oaidar-MBh" referred to in the Zoro-
Bib's execution, He, unlike the Founder of astrian scriptures, the "Return of Elijah"
the Christian religion, is not only to be re- anticipated by the Jews, Whose Revelation
garded as the independent Author of a was to show forth "the signs and tokens o f
divinely revealed Dispensation, but must all the Prophets," Who was to "manifest
also be recognized as the Herald of a new the perfection o f Moses, the radiance o f
Era and the Inaugurator of a great universal Jesus and the patience of Job" had ap-
prophetic cycle. Nor should the important peared, proclaimed His Cause, been merci-
fact be overlooked that, whereas the chief lessly persecuted and died gloriously. The
adversaries of Jesus Christ, in His lifetime, "Second Woe," spoken of in the Apocalypse
were the Jewish rabbis and their associates, of St. John the Divine, had, at long last, ap-
the forces arrayed against the Bib repre- peared, and the first of the two "Messen-
sented the combined civil and ecclesiastical gers," Whose appearance had been prophe-
powers of Persia, which, from the moment sied in the Qur'in, had been sent down. The
of His declaration to the hour of His death, first "Trumpet-Blast," destined to smite the
persisted, unitedly and by every means at earth with extermination, announced in the
their disposal, in conspiring against the up- latter Book, had finally been sounded. "The
holders and in vilifying the tenets of His Inevitable," "The Catastrophe," "The Resur-
Revelation. rection," "The Earthquake o f the Last
The Bib, acclaimed by BahVu'llLh as the Hour," foretold by that same Book, had all
"Essence o f Essences," the "Sea o f Seas," come to pass. The "clear tokens" had been
the "Point round Whom the realities of the "sent down," and the "Spirit" had
Prophets and Messengers revolve," "from "breathed," and the "souls" had "waked
W h o m God hath caused to proceed the up," and the "heaven" had been "cleft," and
knowledge o f all that was and shall be," the "angels" had "ranged in order," and the
Whose "rank excelleth that of all the Proph- "stars" had been "blotted out," and the
ets," and Whose "Revelatioiz transcendeth "earth" had "cast forth her bzlrden," and
the comprehension and understanding of all "Paradise" had been "brought near," and
their chosen ones," had delivered His Mes- "hell" had been "made to blaze," and the
sage and discharged His mission. He Who "Book" had been "set," and the "Bridge"
was, in the words of 'Abdu'l-Bah$ the had been "laid out," and the "Balance" had
"Morn o f Truth" and "Harbinger of the been "set up," and the "mountains scattered
Most Great Light," Whose advent at once in dust." The "cleansing of the Sanctuary,"
signalized the termination of the "Prophetic prophesied by Daniel and confirmed by
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Jesus Christ in His reference to "the abomi- had been clearly formulated and pro-
nation of desolation," had been accom- claimed. The Covenant which, despite the
plished. The "day whose length shall be a determined assaults launched against it,
thousand years," foretold by the Apostle of succeeded, unlike all previous Dispensa-
God in His Book, had terminated. The tions, in preserving the integrity of the
"forty and two months," during which the Faith of its Author, and in paving the way
"Holy City," as predicted by St. John the for the advent of the One Who was to be
Divine, would be trodden under foot, had its Center and Object, had been firmly and
elapsed. The "time of the e n d had been irrevocably established. The light which,
ushered in, and the first of the "two Wit- throughout successive periods, was to propa-
nesses" into Whom, "after three days and a gate itself gradually from its cradle as far as
half the Spirit of Life from GocE" would Vancouver in the West and the China Sea
enter, had arisen and had "ascended up to in the East, and to diffuse its radiance as
heaven in a cloud." The "remaining twenty far as Iceland in the North and the Tasman
and five letters to be made manifest," ac- Sea in the South, had broken. The forces
cording to Islamic tradition, out of the of darkness, at first coniined to the con-
"twenty and seven letters" of which Knowl- certed hostility of the civil and ecclesiastical
edge has been declared to consist, had been powers of ghhi'ah Persia, gathering momen-
revealed. The "Man Child," mentioned in tum, at a later stage, through the avowed
the Book of Revelation, destined to "rule all and persistent opposition of the Caliph of
nations with a rod of iron," had released, Islim and the Sunni hierarchy in Turkey,
through His coming, the creative energies and destined to culminate in the fierce
which, reinforced by the effusions of a antagonism of the sacerdotal orders as-
swiftly succeeding and infinitely mightier sociated with other and still more powerful
Revelation, were to instill into the entire religious systems, had launched their initial
human race the capacity to achieve its assault. The nucleus of the divinely or-
organic unification, attain maturity and dained, world-embracing Community-a
thereby reach the final stage in its age-long Community whose infant strength had al-
evolution. The clarion-call addressed to the ready plucked asunder the fetters of S_hhiCah
"concourse of kings and of the sons of orthodoxv.,, and which was. with everv ex-
kings," marking the inception of a process pansion in the range of its fellowship, to
which, accelerated by Bahi'u'llih's subse- seek and obtain a wider and still more sig-
quent warnings to the entire company of the nificant recognition of its claims to be the
monarchs of East and West, was to produce world religion of the future, had been
so widespread a revolution in the fortunes formed and was slowly crystallizing. And,
of royalty, had been raised in the Qay- lastly, the seed, endowed by the Hand of
yumh'l-Asmi'. The "Order," whose founda- Omnipotence with such vast potentialities,
tion the Promised One was to establish in though rudely trampled under foot and
the Kitiib-i-Aqdas, and the features of which seemingly perished from the face of the
the Center of the Covenant was to delineate earth, had, through this very process, been
in His Testament, and whose administrative vouchsafed the bpportunity To germinate
framework the entire body of His followers and remanifest itself, in the shape of a still
are now erecting, had been categorically more compelling Revelation-a Revelation
announced in the Persian Bayln. The laws
which were designed, on the one hand, to destined to blossom forth, in a later period
abolish at a stroke the privileges and cere- into the flourishing institutions of a world-
monials, the ordinances and institutions of a wide administrative System, and to ripen, in
superannuated Dispensation, and to bridge, the Golden Age as yet unborn, into mighty
on the other, the gap between an obsolete agencies functioning in consonance with the
system and the institutions of a world-en- principles of a world-unifying, world-re-
compassing Order destined to supersede it, deeming Order.
CENTENARY O F MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAB

From THE DAWN-BREAKERS
(Nabil's Narrative) *

D E P R I V E D of His turban and sash, the proaching victory. 'Tomorrow,' He said to
twin emblems of His noble lineage, the BBb, us, 'will be the day of My martyrdom.
together with Siyyid Husayn, His amanuen- Would that one of you might now arise and,
sis, was driven to yet another confinement with his own hands, end My life. I prefer to
which He well knew was but a step further be slain by the hand of a friend rather than
on the way leading Him to the goal He had by that of the enemy.' Tears rained from
set Himself to attain. That day witnessed a our eyes as we heard Him express that wish.
tremendous commotion in the city of We shrank, however, at the thought of tak-
Tabriz. The great convulsion associated in ing away with our own hands so hrecious a
the ideas of its inhabitants with the Day of life. We refused, and remained silent. Mirzi
Judgment seemed at last to have come upon Muhammad-'Ali suddenly sprang to his feet
them. Never had that city experienced a and announced himself ready to obey what-
turmoil so fierce and so mysterious as the ever the Bib might desire. 'This same youth
one which seized its inhabitants on the day who has risen to comply with My wish,' the
the BBb was led to that place which was to Bib declared, as soon as we had intervened
be the scene of His martyrdom. As He ap- and forced him to abandon the thought,
proached the courtyard of the barracks, a 'will, together with Me, suffer martyrdom.
youth suddenly leaped forward who, in his Him will I choose to share with Me its
eagerness to overtake Him, had forced his crown.' "
way through the crowd, utterly ignoring Early in the morning, Mirzi Hasan IQhBn
the risks and perils which such an attempt ordered his farrBs_h-bBs_hi[chief attendant]
might involve. His face was haggard, his to conduct the BBb into the presence of the
feet were bare, and his hair dishevelled. leading mujtahids of the city and to obtain
Breathless with excitement and exhausted from them the authorization required for
with fatigue, he flung himself at the feet of His execution. As the B6b was leaving the
the Bib and, seizing the hem of His gar- barracks, Siyyid Husayn asked Him what
ment, passionately implored Him: "Send he should do. "Confess not your faith,"
me not from Thee, 0 Master. Wherever He advised him. "Thereby you will be en-
Thou goest, suffer me to follow Thee." abled, when the hour comes, to convey to
"Muhammad 'Ali," answered the BBb, those who are destined to hear you, the
"arise, and rest assured that you will be with things of which you alone are aware." He
Me. To-morrow you shall witness what God was engaged in a confidential conversation
has decreed." Two other companions, un- with him when the farrBsh-bB&i suddenly
able to contain themselves, rushed forward interrupted and, holding Siyyid Husayn by
and assured Him of their unalterable loy- the hand, drew him aside and severely re-
alty. These, together with MirzB Muham- buked him. "Not until I have said to him
mad-'Aliy-i-Zuniizi, were seized and placed all those things that I wish to say," the BBb
in the same cell in which the BBb and Siyyid warned the farrBs_h-bB&i, "can any earthly
Husayn were confined. power silence Me. Though all the world be
I have heard Siyyid Husayn bear witness armed against Me, yet shall they be power-
to the following: "That night the face of the less to deter Me from fulfilling, to the last
BBb was aglow with joy, a joy such as had word, My intention." The farr6sh-bBs_hiwas
never shone from His countenance. Indif- amazed at such a bold assertion. He made,
ferent to the storm that raged about Him, however, n o reply, and bade Siyyid Husayn
He conversed with us with gaiety and cheer- arise and follow him.
fulness. The sorrows that had weighed so
heavily upon Him seemed to have com-
pletely vanished. Their weight appeared to The Bib was, in His turn brouqht before
have dissolved in the consciousness of ap- Mulli Mul?ammad-i-MimBqini. No sooner
had he recognized Him than he seized the
* Pages 507-517. death-warrant he himself had previously
204 THE BAHA' f WORLD

written and, handing it to his attendant, reposed on the breast of his Master. As soon
bade him deliver it to the farr6&-b6s_hi. "No as they were fastened, a regiment of soldiers
need," he cried, "to bring the Siyyid-i-Bib ranged itself in three files, each of two hun-
into my presence. This death-warrant I dred and fifty men, each of which was or-
penned the very day I met him at the gath- dered to open fire in its turn until the whole
ering presided over by the Vali-'Ahd. He detachment had discharged the volleys of its
surely is the same man whom I saw on that bullets. The smoke of the firing of the seven
occasion, and has not, in the meantime, sur- hundred and fifty rifles was such as to turn
rendered any of his claims." the light of the noonday sun into darkness.
From thence the Bib was conducted to There had crowded onto the roof of the
the house of Mirzb Bkqir, the son of Mirz6 barracks, as well as the tops of the adjoining
a m a d , to whom he had recently suc- houses, about ten thousand people, all of
ceeded. When they a~rived,they found his whom were witnesses to that sad and mov-
attendant standing at the gate holding in his ing scene.
hand the BLb's death-warrant. "No need to As soon as the cloud of smoke had cleared
enter," he told them. "My master is already away, an astounded multitude were looking
satisfied that his father was right in pro- upon a scene which their eyes could scarcely
nouncing the sentence of death. He can do believe. There, standing before them alive
no better than follow his example." and unhurt, was the companion of the BBb,
Mu116 MurtadCQuli, following in the whilst He Himself had vanished uninjured
footsteps of the other two mujtahids, had from their sight. Though the cords with
previously issued his own written testimony which they were suspended had been rent in
and refused to meet face to face his dreaded pieces by the bullets, yet their bodies had
opponent. No sooner had the farrQs_h-b6s_hi miraculously escaped the volleys. Even the
secured the necessary documents than he tunic which MirzL Muhammad-'Ali was
delivered his Captive into the hands of S6m wearing had, despite the thickness of the
IQhAn, assuring him that he could proceed smoke, remained unsullied. "The Siyyid-i-
with his task now that he had obtained the B6b has gone from our sight!" rang out the
sanction of the civil and ecclesiastical au- voices of the bewildered multitude. They
thorities of the realm. set out in a frenized search for Him, and
found Him, eventually, seated in the same
room which He had occupied the night be-
S6m IQhkn was, in the meantime, finding fore, engaged in completing His interrupted
himself increasingly affected by the be- conversation, with Siyyid Husayn. An ex-
havior of his Captive and the treatment pression of unruffled calm was upon His
that had been meted out to Him. He was face. His body had emerged unscathed from
seized with great fear lest his action should the shower of bullets which the regiment
bring upon him the wrath of God. "I pro- had directed against Him. "I have finished
fess the Christian Faith," he explained to My conversation with Siyyid Husayn," the
the B6b, "and entertain no ill will against B6b told the farr6s_h-b6&i. "Now you may
you. If your Cause be the Cause of Truth, proceed to fulfil your intention." The man
enable me to free myself from the obliga- was too much shaken to resume what he
tion to shed your blood." "Follow your in- had already attempted. Refusing to accom-
structions," the BLb replied, "and if your plish his duty, he, that same moment, left
intention be sincere, the Almighty is surely that scene and resigned his post. He related
able to relieve you from your perplexity." all that he had seen to his neighbor, MirzL
S6m Kh6n ordered his men to drive a nail Siyyid Muhsin, one of the notables of Ta-
into the pillar that lay between the door of briz, who, as soon as he heard the story, was
the room that Siyyid Husayn occupied and converted to the Faith.
the entrance to the adjoining one, and to
make fast two ropes to that nail, from
which the BLb and His companion were to S5m IQhkn was likewise stunned by the
be separately suspended. MirzL Muham- force of this tremendous revelation. He or-
mad-'Ali begged S6m KhLn to be placed in dered his men to leave the barracks imme-
such a manner that his own body would diately, and refused ever again to associate
shield that of the B6b. He was eventually himself and his regiment with any act that
suspended in such a position that his head involved the least injury to the B6b. He
CENTENARY O F MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAB 205

swore, as he left that courtyard, never again sun and blinded the eyes of the people. The
to resume that task even though his refusal entire city remained enveloped in that dark-
should entail the loss of his own life. ness from noon till night. Even so strange a
No sooner had SBm KhBn departed than phenomenon, following immediately in the
AkB JBn K_hBn-i-Khamsih, colonel of the wake of that still more astounding failure of
body-guard, known also by the names of SBm KhLn's regiment to injure the BBb, was
KJhamsih and NBsiri, volunteered to carry unable to move the hearts of the people of
out the order for execution. On the same Tabriz, and to induce them to pause and
wall and in the same manner, the BBb and reflect upon the significance of such mo-
His companion were again suspended, while mentous events. They witnessed the effect
the regiment formed in line to open fire which so marvelous an occurrence had
upon them. Contrariwise to the previous oc- produced upon SBm KJhBn; they beheld the
casion, when only the cord with which they consternation of the farrBs_h-bi&i and saw
were suspended had been shot to pieces, this him make his irrevocable decision; they
time their bodies were shattered and were could even examine that tunic which, de-
blended into one mass of mingled flesh and spite the discharge of so many bullets, had
bone. "Had you believed in Me, 0 wayward remained whole and stainless; they could
generation,"-were the last words of the BBb read in the face of the BBb, who had emerged
to the gazing multitude as the regiment was unhurt from that storm, the expression of
preparing to fire the final volley, "every one undisturbed serenity as He resumed His
of you would have followed the example of conversation with Syyid Husayn; and yet
this youth, who stood in rank above most of none of them troubled himself to inquire as
you, and willingly would have sacrificed to the significance of these unwonted signs
himself in My path. The day will come and wonders.
when you will have recognized Me; that day The martyrdom of the BBb took place at
I shall have ceased to be with you." noon on Sunday, the twenty-eighth of Sha-
The very moment the shots were fired, a 'bBn, in the year 1266 A.H. [July 9, 18501,
gale of exceptional severity arose and swept thirty-one lunar years, seven months, and
over the whole city. A whirlwind of dust of twenty-seven days from the day of His birth
incredible density obscured the light of the in ShirBz.

6. INTERNATIONAL OBSERVANCE
OF THE CENTENARY O F THE
M A R T Y R D O M O F T H E BAB

T H E world-wide character of the Bahs'i suggestions for the conduct of both meet-
Faith has been demonstrated once more by ings.
the action of various National Spiritual As-
semblies in preparing memorial and public EGYPTAND SUDAN
programs for their respective communities. The National Spiritual Assembly has pub-
This survey briefly outlines the informa- lished a Memorial pamphlet in the Arabic
tion received to date from the national re- language. On account of the conditions of
ports and does not attempt to cover all the dispute among the three religions recognized
local activities, interesting and important as in the Muslim world, the pamphlet supplied
they might be. "historical, logical and traditional proofs
from the Qur'Ln, the Old and New Testa-
ments," to support the BahL'i Revelation.
From the National Spiritual Assembly we Its epilogue presented the Bahs'i teachings
learn that on June 1 a general letter was and principles as set forth by the Guardian
issued giving plans for a special Memorial in the Faith of BahBu'lla'h, World Religion,
Meeting and also a Public Meeting on the followed by a selection from Hidden Words,
Centenary date, with list of readings and and ended with "How to Live a Bah2i Life
206 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

from Words of 'Abdu'l-BahB." The English Shrimati Shirin Boman-The Martyr-Prophet of
translation of the title of this pamphlet is a World Faith (In Hindustani)
"Page of Light." Shri S. N. Chaturvedi (Publicity Officer, U.S. of
Cards of invitation to the Public Meeting Rajasthan)-A Century of Spiritual Revival
(In English)
in Cairo were sent to more than eighty emi-
nent non-Bahi'is, of whom (including the All Are Cordially Invited
press) about forty attended. The motion
picture film of the Bahi'i Temple in Wil-
mette was shown. Press comments were very Two items have been received: a news-
favorable. paper clipping reporting a talk by Suhayl
The Centenary was also observed by the 'AlA'i at a gathering of Auckland and Dev-
BahL'is of Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. onport Bahi'i communities held to com-
memorate the Centenary; and a pamphlet
entitled "Martyrdom of the Bib, 1850-
The National Assembly prepared a spe- 1950" published by the National Spiritual
cial number of the Bahd'i News of Persia, Assembly. Its contents include: Foreword,
giving the Centenary program for use A Summary of the BahL'i Faith, The Mar-
throughout the local communities. The tyrdom of the BBb, Bahi'u'llih's Tribute to
world survey pamphlet prepared by the the Bgb, The Bib's Farewell Address to the
Guardian and published in the United States Letters of the Living, and Utterances of the
was translated into Persian and copies dis- BBb. It contains 24 pages with two full-page
tributed throughout the provinces. illustrations.

On May 10 the National Assembly ad-
dressed a general letter to all local Assem-
blies appointing three Regional Committees,
each serving for the BahA'is in one of the
three countries. Nine items of advice and The Bahi'i House of Worship provided an
direction were given for the Commemora- ideal setting for the program carried out on
tion and Public Meetings. 'The poor shall Sunday, July 9, 1950, in commemoration of
be fed as far as possible. This may be done the Centenary. The "Holiest House of Wor-
through the Municipality," was one sugges- ship in the BahL'i World" bestowed its own
tion. A very attractive Centenary pamphlet special blessing upon the great gathering of
was also published, of 64 pages and illustra- some five hundred BahL'is convened in
tions. Its contents were listed as follows: Foundation Hall at the hour of noon, to see
"Foreword, A Prayer By the Bgb, The the Portrait of the Bgb which the Guardian
World Religion, The Execution of the BBb, made a most precious gift and trust to
BahL'u'llih's Tribute to the Bib, The Bib North America in 1944.
and the Revelation of Bahi'u'llBh, The This meeting, drawn together spiritually
Bgb's Address to the Letters of the Living, by the sublime nature of the occasion, re-
A Pattern for Future Society, Appreciations alized anew its grandeur when the Guard-
of the Bah6'i Faith." ian's cablegram, shared with the "assembled
representatives (of) American Bahi'i Com-
Program munity gathered beneath (the) dome (of
In Commemoration of the Centenary the) most Holy House (of) Worship (in
of the Martyrdom of the Bgb, the) Bahi'i World" his "feelings (of) pro-
the Forerunner of Bah2i Faith, found emotion evoked (by this) historic
Public Lectures will Be Held occasion."l This reading followed a brief
under the Chairmanship of period of silence for individual use of the
the Honourable Shri Sri Prakasa Daily Prayer.
at the Constitution Club, Curzon Road Bahi'u'llih's Tablet of Visitation (Prayers
New Delhi and Meditations, pp. 3 10-313) intensified
on July 9, 1950 at 9-30 A.M. the emotions to the degree of awe and ex-
Prof. Abdul-Majid Khan, Guest Speaker (For- alted reverence.
merly Indian Consul, Jidda, Saudi Arabia)
-A Century of World Crisis (In English) 1 This cablegram is given in full on pages 191 to 193.
CENTENARY O F MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAB 207

Then, after the Portrait was placed on the welcomed the visitors in the name of the
rug-covered speakers' table, flanked by red BahL'is. She stated the purpose of the Cen-
roses, row by row the friends quietly filed tenary, the significance of the Martyrdom of
before the Portrait to behold the features the B6b, and referred to the Centenary
and likeness of the Martyr-Prophet whose meetings being carried out in all parts of the
mission inaugurated the world era in the life world.
of mankind. As Chairman Miss Austin then presented
When the BahL'is in the last row had re- the three speakers: Dr. G. A. Borgese, of
sumed their seats, the gathering departed the University of Chicago, member of the
from the Foundation Hall and entered by Committee to Frame a World Constitution,
the outside steps the auditorium of the ~ o u s e and director of the magazine Common
of Worship. Here, though the evidences of Cause; Mrs. Dorothy Beecher Baker, long-
construction were so apparent, the interior time member of the National Spiritual As-
ornamentation had b&h completed to a sembly, worker for unity, who has traveled
point where the beauty of the finished de- widely and lectured throughout North
sign impressed the hearts. Indeed, an archi- America, South America and Western Eu-
tectural sketch of the completed auditorium, rope; Mr. William Kenneth Christian, mem-
in color, had been placed outside the Foun- ber of the National Spiritual Assembly, on
dation Hall before noon, that the friends the faculty of Michigan State College,
might better visualize what the auditorium writer, former member of the editorial staff
will be when completed early in 1951. of World Order Magazine.
In this remarkable theater, signifying
both the majesty of the Faith and the sacri- The Shrine and Gardens
ficial efforts of the believers, the second part At 5:30 P.M., after the public meeting,
of the Centenary program unfolded: Read- the BahL'is gathered once more in Temple
ings from the Bahi'i Sacred Writings con- Foundation Hall.
cerning the Station and Martyrdom of the This meeting, concluding the Centenary
B6b. Seven readers presented these selec- program, had been arranged in order to
tions: Tablet of Alpnad; Prayers and Me&- project the moving picture film which the
tations by BahB'u'llkh, pp. 272-276; Some Guardian had sent from Haifa as one more
Answered Questions, pp. 30-31; Words of contribution to the Centenary celebration,
the B6b and of 'Abdu'l-Bahti from Dispen- which synchronized with the completion of
sation of Bahh'u'lla'h, pp. 35-36, p. 34; the Arcade surrounding the Shrine of the
Gleanings from the Writings of Baha"u'EEa'h, Bkb on Mt. Carmel.
pp. 291-293; pp. 74-75, 144-146; Prayer re- The showing of the films was preceded
vealed by the B6b, "IS There any Remover by the reading of a letter written by Mr.
of Difficulties"; Prayers and Meditations, Ben Weeden from Haifa describing the
pp. 84-86. The spirit of worship sustained progress of construction work on the Shrine
the gathering throughout these readings, of the B6b. (See Section VI, page 246.)
evoking power to realize the meaning of The film, a composite of numerous se-
these Holy Words and to reconsecrate one- lected views, created as a whole an intensely
self in service to so holy a Faith. interesting picture of the Shrines and gar-
The readings form a-gemlike compilation dens at the BahB'i World Center-the
which any one may from time to time Guardian's own project carried out at the
ponder for himself, renewing faith and spiritual heart of the Faith.
steadfastness whenever the world seems too It is not possible to reproduce these vivid
violent and chaotic to be overcome and photographic scenes in words. For the
transformed. BahL'is present it was no less an experience
than a psychic transportation to Haifa and
Public Meeting 'Akkti to see with their own eyes what has
At 3: 30 P.M. the BahL'is reconvened in been done since the days of 'Abdu'l-Bah6 to
Foundation Hall for the public meeting. glorify the remains of BahL'u'l16h7 the Bkb,
The estimated attendance of BahL'is and the Master and members of the Holy Fam-
non-BahL'is was about nine hundred. Sel- ily, and prepare the way for the building of
dom has Foundation Hall held a larger the international institutions of the Faith to
gathering. be centered in that holy region. The power
Miss Elsie Austin, presiding, graciously of the Guardianship, the vision, the super-
208 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

human toil of the guardian, were realized as (the) conclusion (of the) holiest enterprise
seldom before. since (the) dawn (of the) Revela-
The final note was also sounded by tion. . . .3 3 2
Shoghi Effendi in the reading of his cable- Thus this Centenary is not merely a re-
gram addressed to the Bahl'is through all calling, no matter how reverently, of a great
National Spiritual Assemblies, announcing Event which took place one hundred years
the termination of the initial step of the con- ago: it is an occasion on which the Bahi'is
struction of the "domed structure designed are challenged to carry forward the work of
(to) embellish (and) preserve (the) B6b's an ever-living and Divine Faith.
sepulcher on Mt. Carmel."
"(The) hour (is) ripe," the message con- Centenary Pamphlets
tinued, "(to) undertake (the) preliminaries Two pamphlets were published by the
(for the) erection (of the) octagonal first National Spiritual Assembly of the United
unit (of the) superstructure. . . . States as part of the Centenary commemora-
"(I) appeal (to) entire body (of) believ- tion.
ers (to) seize (this) priceless opportunity The first publication is the world survey
(to) stimulate (the) unfoldment (of) this compiled by the Guardian with data report-
process through generous, sustained contri- ing the spread of the Faith from 1844 to
butions (for the) furtherance (of an) enter- 1950, entitled The Bah& Faith-1844-
prise transcending any national institution 1950.
whether H ~ i r a or Ma&riqu'l-Adhkir, The second publication is The Martyr
reared (in the) past or (in) process (of) Prophet of a World Faith by William B.
construction. Sears, telling the story of the B6b for a
"The hour (is) propitious . . . (to) western public.
repay part (of the) infinite debt (of) grati- ZThis cable, dated Haifa, July 7, 1950, appears in
tude owed its martyrs, through hastening World Order Unfolds, page 12.

7 . THE MARTYR PROPHET OF
A WORLD F A I T H *

The blistering July sun glared from the The chain of events leading to this scene
barrels of seven hundred and fifty rifles, began in 1844.
awaiting the command to fire and to take It was in an age of religious fervor. Ev-
His life. erywhere men were preaching the return of
He seemed so young to die, barely thirty, Christ. They urged the world to prepare for
and He was handsome, gentle, confident. it. Wolff in Asia, Sir Edward Irving in Eng-
Could He pos~.iblybe guilty of the shocking land, Leonard H. Kelber in Germany, Ma-
crime o f which He was accused? son in Scotland, Davis in South Carolina,
Thousands of eager spectators lined the and William Miller in Pennsylvania all
Public Square. They crowded along the agreed that their studies of the Scriptures
roof-tops overlooking the scene of death. clearly showed that the hour for Christ's re-
They wanted one last sight of Him for He turn was at hand.
was either good or evil, and hey were not James Russell Lowell's poem "The Crisis"
sure which. was written in that very hour of Advent en-
It was high noon, July 9, 1850, in a thusiasm:
parched corner o f Persia, the barracks
square o f the sun-drenched city of Tabriz. "Once to every man and nation
comes the moment to decide.
* Pamphlet issued by the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahi'is of the United States, commemorating the
Some great cause, God's new Messiah . . ."
Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Bib, Tabrfz, Persia,
July 9, 1850. The years between 1843 and 1847 were
C E N T E N A R Y O F M A R TY R D O M O F T H E BAB 209

generally accepted as the time for the return "I sat enraptured by the magic of His
of Christ. Careful study of the prophecies voice and the sweeping force of His revela-
had simultaneously led Bible scholars and tion. At last I reluctantly arose from my
students in different parts of the world to seat and begged to depart. He smilingly bade
these fateful years. me be seated, and said: 'If you leave in such
Did the years between 1843 and 1847 a state, whoever sees you will assuredly say:
pass with no sign of the return of Christ? This poor youth has lost his mind.' "
Or were these years comparable to those At that moment the clock registered two
which followed the birth and enunciation of hours and eleven minutes after sunset on the
Christ's original message? Years which eve of May 23, 1844. The Biib declared to
passed with no visible sign to the people of Mulli Husayn as he prepared to leave, "This
Palestine that the Promised One had come. night, this very hour will, in the days to
The crucifixion of a trouble maker from come, be celebrated as one of the greatest
Nazareth they had dismissed from their and most significant festivals."
minds. Was the story to wait, as it had One hundred years later, May 23, 1944,
waited in the time of Jesus, for over one in over eight hundred Bahgi communities
hundred years before it began to reach the of the world this hour was commemorated
consciousness of the people? Was the story as the dawn of a new age, the beginning of
of Calvary to be retold at an execution post the era of "one fold and one shepherd."
in the public square of Tabriz? In one century from the evening of its
birth, this World Faith heralded by the Bib
And during 1844, in Persia, this story had had spread to all the major countries of the
its beginning. earth, embracing people from every walk of
It was the eve of May 23rd in S i r i z , the life, every religious conviction, every shade
"city of nightingales and blue tile foun- of skin-color.
tains." ShirAz, in what was once the ancient
province of Elam given by Daniel, the The fame of the Bgb soon spread beyond
Prophet, as the place of visioil in the latter the circle of His disciples. It reached the
days and mentioned in the book of Jere- authorities of both church and state. They
miah: "And I will set my throne in Elam." were alarmed by the enthusiasm with which
A young man declared that He was the the people accepted the B6b's message. The
one foretold in all the holy books of the same wave of opposition and hatred that
past. He said He had come to usher in a had surrounded ~esus,began to engulf the
new era, a new springtime in the hearts of Bgb. The clergy at once initiated a com-
men. He was called "The B6b" which means bined attack upon Him. They gathered their
the door or the gate. His teaching was to be wisest and most capable scholars and speak-
the gateway to a new age of unity: The ers to argue with and try to confuse the
world is one country and mankind its citi- B6b. They arranged great public debates in
zens; there is only one religion and all the Shhiriz and invited the governor, the clergy,
prophets have taught it. the military chiefs, as well as the people,
As Jesus had spoken to Peter, the fisher- hoping to -discredit the young prophet of
man, the B6b spoke to a Persian student, Shiriz.
Mu116 IJusayn. Mull6 Husayn's own words He spoke such searching truths that day
can best describe the depth of this experi- by day the crowds increased. His purity of
ence : conduct at an age when passions are intense
"I sat spellbound by His utterance, ob- impressed the people who met Him. He was
livious of time. . . . This Revelation, so possessed of extraordinary eloquence and
suddenly and impetuously thrust upon me, daring. Instead of benefiting the clergy, the
came as a thunderbolt which, for a time, debates they arranged elevated the B6b at
seemed to have benumbed my faculties their expense. He exposed, unsparingly,
. . . Excitement, joy, awe, and wonder their vices and corruption. He proved their
stirred the depths of my soul. Predominant infidelity to their own doctrine. He shamed
among these emotions was a sense of glad- - -
Bahl'i Revelation, translated from the original Persian
ness and strength which seemed to have and edited bv Shoghi Effendi, Bahl'i Publishing Com-
transfigured me."' mittee, New -~ork,-1932.The quotations are f&m the
-- following pages of The Dawn-Breakers: 62-65, 61, 173-
1The quotations cited are taken from The Dawn- 177, 239, 315-316, 321-322, 447, 450-452, 502, 507, 509,
Breakers, Nabfl's Narrative of the Early Days of the 512-517.
210 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

them in their lives. He defeated them with Tihrin. The SJhih had received a letter from
their own Holy Book in His hand. the BBb requesting such an audience. The
Soon all of Persia was talking about the BBb said that He was confident of the just-
BBb. The ShBh himself, moved to investi- ness of the King and so He wished to come
gate the truth of the reports concerning the to the capital and hold conferences with the
Bib, delegated Siyyid Yahyiy-i-Dhibi, sur- priests of the empire in the presence of the
named Vahid, to go at once to S_hiriz and ShBh, the civil authorities, and the people.
investigate the matter in person. V*id was The BBb offered to explain His Cause and
chosen because he was called the "most His purpose. He said He would accept be-
learned and most influential" of all the forehand the judgment of the KhBh and, in
SJhih's subjects. case of failure, was ready to sacrifice His
Vahid had three interviews with the BBb. head.
After the first, he said to a friend, "I have The Bib never reached Tihrin. The
in His presence expatiated unduly upon my Prime Minister, Hiji Mirzi Aqisi, feared
own learning. He was able in a few words the consequences of such an interview. He
to answer my questions . . ." feared the influence the BBb might exert on
Of these interviews, Vahid said later, "As both the sovereign and the capital city. He
soon as I was ushered into His presence, a succeeded in persuading the Shih to trans-
sense of fear, for which I could not account, fer so dreaded a subject to MBh-K6, a pris-
suddenly seized me . . . The BBb, behold- on castle in the AdJhirbByjBn mountains to
ing my plight, arose from His seat, ad- the north.
vanced towards me, and, taking hold of my En route to MBh-K6, the BBb approached
hand, seated me beside Him. the gate of Tabriz. The news of His arrival
" 'Seek from me,' He said, 'whatever is stirred the hearts of the people and they set
your heart's desire. I will readily reveal it to out to meet Him, eager to extend their wel-
you.' come to so beloved a Leader. The officials
"Like a babe that can neither understand of the government refused to allow them to
nor speak, I felt powerless to respond. The draw near and receive His blessing.
Bib smiled as He gazed at me and said: As the Bib walked along the streets of
'Were I to reveal for you [the answers to Tabriz, the cries of the multitude resounded
the questions you seek], would you acknowl- on every side. So loud was the clamor of
edge that My words are born of the spirit welcome that a crier was ordered to warn
of God? Would you recognize that My ut- the people of the danger to which they were
terance can in no way be associated with exposing themselves. The cry went forth:
sorcery or magic? . . . "Whosoever shall make any attempt to ap-
"How am I to describe this scene of in- proach the Siyyid-i-BBb, or seek to meet
expressible majesty? Verses streamed from him, all [that person's] possessions shall
His pen with a rapidity that was truly as- forthwith be seized and he himself con-
tounding. The incredible swiftness of His demned to perpetual imprisonment!"
writing, the soft and gentle murmur of His An undercurrent of excitement ran
voice, and the stupendous force of His style, through the city during the BBb's stay. With
amazed and bewildered me." saddened hearts and mixed feelings of help-
Vahid summed up his report on his in- lessness and confusion, the people watched
vestigation of the Bib by saying, "Such was the beloved Prophet leave Tabriz for the
the state of certitude to which I had at- castle of Mih-K6. They whispered among
tained that if all the powers of the earth themselves, as had the followers of Jesus
were to be leagued against me they would when they watched Him being delivered in
be powerless to shake my confidence in the turn to Caiaphas and Pilate: If this is the
greatness of His Cause." Promised One, why is He subjected to the
When word of this reached the SJhBh, he whims of the men of earth?
told his Prime Minister that he had been in- The Bib was given into the custody of
formed Vahid had become a follower of the 'Ali Khin, warden of the solid, four-towered
BBb. "If this be true, it behooves us to stone castle which sat on the summit of a
cease belittling the Cause of that Siyyid." mountain on the frontier of Russia, Turkey,
Still disturbed by Vahid's response to the and Persia.
Bzib's teachinq, the ShBh issued an order The Prime Minister was confident that
summoning the BBb to the capital city of few, if any, would venture to penetrate that
C E N T E N A R Y O F M A R T Y R D O M O F T H E BAB

wild region. The people of the area were al- warned to profit by the failure of 'Ali
ready hostile to the BBb, and it was the at MBh-Ku. Yet, in spite of the open threat
Prime Minister's hope that this enforced se- to his own safety, Yahyi L h i n found him-
clusion among enemies would stifle the self powerless to obey. He soon felt the fas-
Faith at its birth and lead to its extinction. cination of his prisoner and forgot the duty
He soon realized how gravely he had un- he was expected to perform, for the love of
derrated the force of the Bib's influence. the BBb had claimed his entire being.
The hostility of the natives was subdued by Even the Kurds who lived in Chihriq, and
the gentle manners of the BBb. Their hearts whose fanaticism and hatred exceeded that
were softened by His love for them. Their of the inhabitants of MBh-KG, fell under the
pride was humbled by His modesty. Their transforming influence of the Bib. The love
opposition to His teaching was nlellowed by which the Bib radiated was a living thing.
the wisdom of His words. Even the warden, As Saul of Tarsus had fallen victim to the
'Ali KJhin, began to relax the severity of enrapturing warmth of Jesus, in like manner
the Bkb's imprisonment, in spite of the whoever came in contact with the BBb was
Prime Minister's repeated warning against transported into a new world of joy and
falling under His spell. gladness. As the crowds had flocked to
Soon great numbers began to come from Jesus on the Mount of Olives, so came the
all quarters to visit the Bib at Mih-Kii. hungry, thirsty people of Persia to the
During this period, the Bib composed His Mountain of Chihriq.
Persian Baya'n, the most comprehensive of No sooner did this news reach the capital
all His writings. In it the Bib defined His than the infuriated Prime Minister de-
mission as two-fold: To call men to God, manded that the Bib be transferred at once
and to announce the coming of the Promise to Tabriz. He called an immediate confer-
of all ages and all religions-a great world ence of all the ecclesiastical dignitaries of
educator whose station was so exalted that Tabriz to seek the most effective means for
in the words of the Bib, "A thousand pe- bringing to an abrupt end the BBb's power
rusals of the Baya'n cannot equal the perusal over the people.
of a single verse to be revealed by 'Him The news of the impending arrival of the
Whom God shall make manifest.' "' Bib caused such popular enthusiasm that
The Prime Minister was informed of the the authorities decided to confine the BBb
affection which the once unfriendly people in a place outside the gate of the city.
of MBh-KG were showing toward the Bib. The crowds besieged the entrance to the
He was told of the flood of pilgrims to the meeting place the next day, impatiently
castle. Those who had been ordered to awaiting the time when they could catch a
watch developments reported to the Prime glimpse of His face. They pressed forward
Minister that the warden, 'Ali K_hBn, had in such large numbers that a passage had to
been enchanted by the Bib and treated Him be forced for the BBb.
as his host rather than as his prisoner. Both When the BBb entered the hall, a great
fear and rage impelled the Prime Minister stillness descended upon the people. At last
to issue an instant order for the transfer of the stillness was broken by the president of
the BBb to the castle of Chihriq, called the the gathering. "Who do you claim to be,"
"grievous mountain." he asked the BBb, "and what is the message
The BBb said farewell to the people of which you have brought?"
MBh-K6 who, in the course of His nine Pontius Pilate had asked Jesus, "Art thou
months' captivity among them, had recog- a king then?'And Jesus replied, "Thou say-
nized to a remarkable degree the power of est that I am a king. To this end was I born,
His personality and the greatness of His and for this cause came I into the world,
character. that I should bear witness unto the truth.
Everyone that is of the truth heareth my
The Bib was subjected to a closer and more voi~e."~
rigorous confinement at Chihriq. The Prime So did the Bib reply to the Assembly. "I
Minister left strict and explicit instructions am, I am, I am the Promised One! I am
to the keeper, Yahyi K_hBn, that no one was the One whose name you have for a thou-
to enter the presence of his prisoner. He was sand years invoked, at whose mention you

2 World Order of Bahd'u'lldh, page 100. 3 John 18:37.
212 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

have risen, whose advent you have longed Prime Minister Hiji Mirzd A q h i was top-
to witness, and the hour of whose Revela- pled from power. The successor to the
tion you have prayed God to hasten. Verily throne was seventeen year old Ndsiri'd-Din
I say, it is incumbent upon the peoples of Mirzi, and the active direction of the affairs
both the East and the West to obey My of the nation fell to a new Prime Minister,
word and pledge allegiance to My person." MirzQ Taqi Lhin. His rule was iron-hearted
Immediately after He had pronounced and his hatred for the Bib more implacable
these words, a quiet fell over the hall; a than that of Hiji Mirzb Aqisi. He un-
feeling of awe seized those who were pres- chained a combined assault of civil and ec-
ent; the pallor of their faces betrayed the clesiastical powers against the Bib and His
agitation of their hearts. Faith.
The examination of the Bib continued to
its pre-arranged end. Yet, once again the When word of the suffering of His followers
purpose of the authorities had been frus- reached the Bib, who had been returned to
trated. The meeting had served only to up- the castle of Chihriq, He was plunged in
lift Him in the eyes of the people. sorrow. There was yet an added blow to
come to Him. His beloved uncle, by whom
The Bib was at length delivered to the head He had been reared in childhood, was ar-
of the religious court of Tabriz to be rested in TihrBn to await execution.
whipped with the bastinado. As Jesus had It was this same uncle who had served the
fallen under the scourge for His claim to be BQb with such devotion throughout His life,
a Redeemer of men, the Bib also was sub- who became one of His first and most ar-
jected to the same indignity. Eleven times dent disciples. It had been less than a year
the head of the religious court applied the before his arrest in Tihrdn that the BBb's
rod to the Bib's feet. He was struck across uncle had visited Him in His prison cell in
the face with one of the strokes intended Chihriq. He had gone from there to Tihrin
for His feet. to teach the Faith of the Bib and had re-
Dr. McCormick, an English physician, mained there until his arrest as one of four-
treated Him and recalled their meeting in teen prisoners.
the following manner, "He was a very mild The fourteen captives in TihrBn were im-
and delicate-looking man, rather small in prisoned in the home of one of the city of-
stature and very fair for a Persian, with a ficials. Every kind of ill treatment was in-
melodious soft voice, which struck me much flicted upon them to induce them to reveal
.
. . In fact his whole look and deportment the names and addresses of other believers.
went far to dispose one in his favour." The Prime Minister issued a decree threat-
His persecutors had fondly hoped that by ening with execution whoever among the
summoning the Bib to Tabriz they would fourteen was unwilling to recant his faith.
be able through threats and intimidations to Seven were compelled to yield to the pres-
induce Him to abandon His mission. They sure and were released at once. The remain-
had failed. As Jesus had said, "My teaching ing seven became known as the "Seven Mar-
is not mine, but His that sent me," the Bib tyrs of TihrQn." The Bib's uncle, one of the
too made it clear that this message was leading merchants of S_hdz, was one of
something greater than Himself. these seven.
The gathering in Tabriz had enabled Him His friends urged him to deny his faith
at last to set forth emphatically, in the pres- and save his life. A number of the more af-
ence of the authorities, the distinguishing fluent merchants offered to pay a ransom for
features of His claim. It had also enabled him. The BQb's uncle rejected their offer.
Him to destroy, in brief and convincing lan- Finally he was brought before the Prime
guage, the arguments of His enemies. Minister.
The news of this meeting spread rapidly "A number have interceded in your be-
throughout Persia. It awakened new zeal in half," the Prime Minister told him. "Emi-
the hearts of His followers. They redoubled nent merchants of Shiriz and Tihrin are
their efforts to spread His teachings. It en- willing, nay eager, to pay your ransom . . .
kindled a corresponding reaction among His A word of recantation from you is sufficient
adversaries. Persecutions, unprecedented in to set you free and ensure your return, with
their violence, swept over the nation. honors, to your native city."
The a i h succumbed to illness, and his The Bib's uncle boldly replied to these
CENTENARY O F MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAB 213

words. "Your Excellency," he said, ". . . ship, better would it have been than to de-
my repudiation of the truths enshrined in clare your allegiance to one who is certainly
this Revelation would be tantamount to a inferior to you in knowledge."
rejection of all the Revelations that have "The knowledge which I have acquired,"
preceded it. T o refuse to acknowledge the Qurbin-'Ali answered, "has led me to bow
Mission of the . . . Bib would be to . . . down in allegiance before Him." Qurbin-
deny the Divine character of the Message 'Ali boldly continued: "Ever since I attained
which Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, and all the age of manhood, I have regarded justice
the Prophets of the past have revealed." and fairness as the ruling motives of my
The Prime Minister could not hide his life. I have judged the B i b fairly" with my
impatience as the Bib's uncle signed his own mind and with my heart. I "have reached
death-warrant with his lips. the conclusion that should this Youth, to
The Bib's uncle continued: "God knows whose transcendent power friend and foe
that whatever I have heard and read con- alike testify, be false, every Prophet of God,
cerning the sayings and doings of those Mes- from time immemorial down to the present
sengers, I have been privileged to witness day, should be denounced as the very em-
the same from this Youth, this beloved bodiment of falsehood!"
Kinsman of mine, from His earliest boy- Neither the sweetness of bribes, nor the
hood to this, the thirtieth year of His life threat of death had any effect.
. . . I only request that you allow me to be "I am assured of the unquestioning devo-
the first to lay down my life in [His] path." tion of over a thousand admirers," Qurbin-
The Prime Minister was stupefied by such 'Ali told the Prime Minister, "and yet I am
an answer. Without uttering a word, he powerless to change the heart of the least
motioned that the Bib's uncle be taken out among them. This Youth, however, has
and beheaded. proved Himself capable of transmuting
The second to fall beneath the heads- . . . the souls of the most degraded among
man's axe was Mirzi Qurbin-'Ali. He was His fellow men. Upon a thousand like me
a close friend of many nobles. The mother He has, unaided and alone, exerted such in-
of the Shih, because of her friendship for fluence that, without even attaining His
Qurbin-'Ali, said to the King, "He is no presence, they have flung aside their own
follower of the Bib, but has been falsely desires and have clung passionately to His
accused." will. Fully conscious of the inadequacy of
So they sent for him. "You are a scholar, the sacrifice they have made, these yearn to
a man of learning," they said. "You do not lay down their lives for His sake . . ."
belong to this misguided sect; a false charge The Prime Minister hesitated. "I am loth,
has been preferred against you." whether your words be of God or not, to
Qurbin-'Ali replied, "I reckon myself one pronounce the sentence of death against the
of the followers and servants of the Bib, possessor of so exalted a station."
though whether or no He hath accepted me "Why hesitate?" burst forth Qurbin-'Ali.
as such, I know not." "[For this was I born.] This is . . . the day
They tried to persuade, holding out hopes on which I shall seal with my life-blood my
of a salary and pension. faith in His cause." Seeing the Prime Min-
"This life and these drops of blood of ister's uncertainty, he added quickly, "Be
mine," he said, "are of but small account; not, therefore, reluctant, and rest assured
were the empire of the world mine, and had that I shall never blame you for your act.
I a thousand lives, I would freely cast them The sooner you strike off my head, the
all at the feet of His friends." greater will be my gratitude to you."
Qurbin-'Ali was taken to the Prime Min- The Prime Minister paled. "Take him
ister. away from this place!" he cried. "Take him
"Since last night I have been besieged by away! Another moment, and . . . [he] will
all classes of State officials," the Prime Min- have cast his spell over me!"
ister told him, "who have vigorously inter- Qurbin-'Ali smiled gently. "You are
ceded in your behalf. From what I learn of proof against that magic that can captivate
the position you occupy and the influence only the pure in heart."
your words exercise, you are not much in- Infuriated, the Prime Minister arose from
ferior to the Siyyid-i-Bib himself. Had you his seat. His face was mottled and his whole
claimed for yourself the position of leader- frame shaking with anger as he shouted:
'f WORLD

"Nothing but the edge of the sword can sured that you will be with Me. Tomorrow
silence the voice of this deluded people!" you shall witness what God has decreed."
He turned to the executioners. It is enough. That night the face of the BBb was aglow
"No need to bring any more members of with joy, a joy such as had never shone from
this hateful sect before me. Words are His countenance. Indifferent to the storm
powerless to overcome their unswerving ob- that raged about Him, He conversed with
stinacy. Whomever you are able to induce to His companions with gaiety and cheerful-
recant his faith, release him; as for the rest, ness. The sorrows that had weighed so heav-
strike off their heads. I will face no more ily upon Him seemed to have completely
of them!" vanished.

The news of the tragic fate which had be- The BBb saw the sun rise over the sands
fallen the seven martyrs of TihrBn brought of His native Persia for the last time. He
immeasurable sorrow to the heart of the was engaged in a confidential conversation
BBb. To His companions, the Bgb explained with one of His followers who served as His
that this event foreshadowed His own death secretary when He was interrupted by a gov-
soon to follow. ernment official. The chief attendant for the
The Prime Minister decided to strike at Prime Minister's brother had come to lead
the very head of the Faith. Remove the BBb, the BBb to the presence of the leading Doc-
he felt, and once more the old order could tors of Law in Tabriz to obtain from them
be restored. He called his counsellors to- the authorization for His execution.
gether and unfolded his plans. The BBb rebuked the attendant for his in-
"Nothing," he told them, "short of his terruption and held fast to His secretary's
[the BBb's] public execution can . . . en- hand.
able this distracted country to recover its "Not until I have said to him all those
tranquillity and peace." things that I wish to say," the Bgb warned
He dispatched an order commanding that the attendant, "can any earthly power si-
the BBb be brought to Tabriz a second time. lence Me. Though all the world be armed
Forty days before the arrival of this sum- against Me, yet shall they be powerless to
mons, the BBb collected all the documents deter Me from fulfilling, to the last word,
and writings in His possession. He placed My intention."
them in a box, along with His pen-case and The attendant was amazed at such bold-
ring, and made arrangements for their dis- ness and effrontery in a mere prisoner. He
posal. 'Abdu'l-Karim, to whom they were insisted that the BAb accompany him. The
eventually entrusted, informed his fellow- barracks doors were opened and the BBb
disciples that all he could reveal of the letter was brought into the courtyard, His conver-
which had been given him concerning the sation left unfinished.
contents of the box was that it was to be de- To the people of Tabriz, the B6b was no
livered into the hands of BahL'u'llBh, one of longer triumphant. The campaign of united
the Bgb's ablest defenders in TihrBn. opposition by church and state was having
At last the Bgb was escorted to the city of its effect. The BBb was now a humbled
Tabriz which was to be the scene of His prisoner. The crowd filled the streets and
martyrdom. Never had this city experienced people climbed on each other's shoulders
a turmoil so fierce. As the Bib was being led the better to see this man who was still so
through the courtyard to His cell in the city much talked about.
barracks, a youth leaped forward into His Just as Jesus had entered Jerusalem
path. This eighteen year old boy had forced hailed on all sides and with palms strewn in
his way through the crowd ignoring the peril His path only to be mocked and reviled in
to his own life which such an attempt in- that same Jerusalem within the week, in like
volved. His face was haggard, his feet were manner the glory that had attended the
bare, his hair dishevelled. He flung himself Bgb's first visit to Tabriz was forgotten
at the feet of the BBb and implored Him: now. This time the crowd, restless and ex-
"Send me not from Thee, 0 Master. Wher- citable, flung insulting words at the Bib.
ever Thou goest, suffer me to follow Thee." They pursued Him as He was led through
Reminiscent of the words of Jesus to the the streets. They broke through the guards
thief on the cross, the Bib answered him, and struck Him in the face. When some
saying, "Muhammad-'Ali, arise and rest as- missile hurled from the crowd would reach
its mark the guards and the crowd would The smoke from the firing of the seven
burst into laughter. hundred and fifty old-style rifles was such
As soon as the chief attendant secured the as to turn the light of the noonday sun into
death warrant, he delivered the Bib into the darkness. As soon as the cloud of smoke had
hands of Sim LhBn who was in charge of cleared away, the crowd looked upon a
the Armenian regiment which had been or- scene which reason could scarcely accept.
dered to execute Him. Standing before them, alive and unhurt, was
S i m L h i n had found himself increasingly the companion of the Bib, Muhammad-'Ali.
affected by the behavior of his captive. He The BBb Himself had vanished from their I

was seized with great fear lest his action sight. The cords with which they had been
should bring upon him the wrath of God. suspended were torn into pieces by the bul-
He approached the Bib and spoke to Him. lets, yet their bodies had escaped the volleys.
"I profess the Christian Faith," he ex- The soldiers tried to quiet the crowd. The
plained, "and entertain no ill will against chief attendant began a frantic search for
you. If your Cause be the Cause of Truth, the Bib. He found Him seated in the same
enable me to free myself from the obliga- room which He had occupied the night be-
tion to shed your blood." fore. The BBb was completing the conversa-
"Follow your instructions," the BBb re- tion which had been interrupted that morn-
plied, "and if your intention be sincere, the ing by the chief attendant.
Almighty is surely able to relieve you from "I have finished My conversation with
your perplexity." My secretary," the Bib told the attendant.
SBm K_hh ordered his men to drive a nail "Now you may proceed to fulfil your in-
into the pillar that lay between the doors of tention."
the barracks. To the nail they made fast the The attendant was too much shaken to
ropes from which the BBb and His com- resume. He remembered the words the BBb
panion, Muhammad-'Ali, were to be sepa- had spoken that morning: "Though all the
rately suspended. world be armed against Me, yet shall they
The Bib remained silent, His pale hand- be powerless to deter Me from fulfilling, to
some face framed by a black beard and the last word, My intention." The attendant
small moustache. His appearance and His refused to continue. He left the scene and
refined manners, His white and delicate resigned his post.
hands, His simple but neat garments, all Meanwhile, in the courtyard the soldiers,
seemed out of place in the midst of this in order to quell the excitement of the
scene of violence. crowd, showed the cords which had been
Muhammad-'Ali begged Sim a B n to severed by the bullets. The seven hundred
place him in such a manner that his body and fifty musket balls had shattered the
would shield that of the BBb. He was even- ropes into fragments and freed the two,
tually suspended so that his head rested nothing more.
upon the breast of his Master. A. L. M. Nicolas, a European scholar,
About ten thousand people had crowded wrote of this episode, "It was a thing unique
onto the roofs of the adjoining houses, all in the annals of the history of humanity.
eager to witness the spectacle, yet all willing The volley severed their bonds and delivered
to change at the least sign from the BBb. As them without a scratch." M. C. Huart, a
the crowd that had passed by on Golgotha, French writer, stated, "It was a real mira-
reviling Him, wagging their heads and say- cle . . ."
ing, "Save thyself. If thou be the Son of SBm Khdn was likewise stunned. He re-
God, come down from the cross," so, too, called the words the BBb had addressed to
did the people of Tabriz mock the BBb and him: "If your intention be sincere, the Al-
jeer at His impotence. mighty is surely able to relieve you from
As soon as the BBb and His companion your perplexity." He ordered his regiment
were fastened to the post, the regiment of to leave the barracks square immediately.
soldiers ranged itself in three files. Sim He told the authorities that he would refuse
Chin could delay the command no longer. ever again to associate himself and his regi-
He ordered his men to fire. In turn, each of ment with any act that would involve the
the files opened fire upon them until the least injury to the BBb, even though his re-
whole detachment had discharged its volley fusal should entail the loss of his own life.
of bullets. After the departure of S6m Khin, the
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

colonel of the bodyguard volunteered to enlist our sympathies on behalf of the young
carry out the order for the execution. A Prophet of S_hirBz."
second time the BBb and His companion
were lashed to the fatal post while the firing At last the clergy and the state prided them-
squad formed in line before them. As they selves on having crushed the life from the
prepared to fire the final volley, the BBb Cause they had battled so long. The BBb
spoke His last words to the gazing multi- was no more. His chief disciples had been
tude. destroyed, the mass of His followers
"Had you believed in Me, 0 wayward throughout the land were being gradually
generation," He said, "every one of you cowed and exhausted.
would have followed the example of this Within three years, the Cause for which
youth, who stood in rank above most of the Bib had given His life seemed on the
you, and willingly would have sacrificed verge of extinction. The life of the ill-fated
himself in My path. The day will come Youth of ZhhirBz appeared to be one of the
when you will have recognized Me; that day saddest and most fruitless.
I shall have ceased to be with you." Yet this abyss of darkness and despair
The regiment discharged the volley. The was the very hour for which the Bib had
Bgb and His companion gave up their lives long been preparing His followers. Repeat-
as the bullets shattered their bodies. As edly He had told them that He was but the
Jesus had expired on the cross so that men humble forerunner of a Messenger of in-
might be called back to God, the BBb comparable greatness yet to follow. In His
breathed his last against the barracks wall book the Bay& the Bib had written, "Of
in the city of Tabriz. all the tributes I have paid to Him Who is
The martyrdom of the BBb took place at to come after Me, the greatest is this, My
noon on Sunday, July 9, 1850, thirty years written confession that no words of Mine
from the time of his birth in S_hirBz. can adequately describe Him, nor can any
reference to Him in My book, the Baya'n, do
There is but one parallel in all recorded his- justice to His C a ~ s e . " ~
tory to the brief, turbulent ministry of the
Bkb. It is the passion of Jesus Christ. There Amid the shadows that were gathering
is a remarkable similarity in the distinguish- about the Faith of the BBb, the figure of
ing features of their careers: the youthful- Bah2u'llBh alone remained as the hope of
ness and meekness; the dramatic swiftness an unshepherded community; that same
with which their ministry moved toward its BahA'u'llBh, to whom the BBb had sent the
climax; the boldness with which they chal- box containing His personal possessions and
lenged the time-honored conventions, laws, His writings.
and rites of the religions into which they The marks of clear vision, of courage and
had been born; the r6le which the religious sagacity which BahB'u'llgh had shown on
hierarchy played as chief instigator of the more than one occasion ever since he rose
outrages they were made to suffer; the in- to champion the Cause of the Bab, ap-
dignities heaped upon them; the suddenness peared to qualify him to revive the fortunes
of their arrest; the interrogations to which of an expiring Faith.
they were subjected; the scourgings inflicted Yet even this hope seemed taken from the
upon them; the public affronts they sus- believers. Bah6'u'llBh was imprisoned in the
tained; and finally their ignominious suspen- "black pit" in Tihrin. He was stripped of
sion before the gaze of a hostile multitude. his possessions and was exiled to Baghdad
-
Sir Francis Younghusband in his book, in 'IrBq.
The Gleam, said, "His life must be one of The SJhBh and the Prime Minister re-
those events in the last hundred years which joiced. If they were to believe their coun-
is really worth study." sellors, they would never again hear of the
Edward Granville Browne, the famous BBb or His Faith. It was swiftly receding
Cambridge scholar, wrote, "Who can fail to into oblivion.
be attracted by the gentle spirit of the BBb? Once again they had underestimated the
His sorrowful and persecuted life; his purity character of this Faith and the source of its
of conduct, and youth; his courage and un- power. The BBb had promised His followers
complaining patience under misfortune . . . in His book, the BayLn, that the one
but most of all his tragic death, all serve to 4 World Order o f Bahd'u'lla'h, page 100.
CENTENARY O F MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAB 217

"Whom God will make manifest" would ap- The Cause for which the Bib had given
pear nineteen years from the date of His His life no longer seemed to border on the
own declaration. In 1863 outside the city of verge of obliteration. The dawn had now
Baghdid, nineteen years from that evening given way to daylight. The era promised to
in a i r i z when the Bib had spoken to Mull6 the earth since the beginning of time, the
Husayn, BahL'u'llLh declared to the world day of the "one fold and one shepherd" had
that He was the One foretold by the Bib. been ushered in by His sacrifice.

8. PILGRIMAGE T O T H E SCENES O F T H E
BAB'S CAPTIVITY AND MARTYRDOM
By DHIKRU'LLAH
&I~DEM

Translated by Marzieh Gail

A HUNDRED years have now gone by these words of it: "Inevitable for us is
since the meek and holy Bib, the Gate of Ad_hirbiyjBn. Nothing can equal it . . ."
God, was put to death at noon on July 9, They are traveling to see the place with
1850, and even to the present day the world their physical eyes, but also to weep over
and its peoples ("except for those into the anguish of that Lord of men in the
whose eyes God hath shed the radiance of Country of Sorrows itself, where earth and
His Face") are fast in a deathlike sleep, air, mountains and lakes, streams, trees, and
unconscious of a mighty Faith, a transcend- stones bear witness to the wrong that was
ent Dispensation, which made prophets and done Him. They will pour out for Him as
seers of past ages cry out and weep with a libation something of the sorrow of their
longing for it. hearts.
At this time the Bahi'is of the world, The bus goes fast. Again it slows. It ful-
from the northernmost point of the globe to fills the promise as to the Day of the Lord
the southernmost, and from Far East to Far and the coming of the Kingdom when,
West, following the example of Shoghi Ef- Scripture says, the earth will be rolled up.
fendi turned their hearts toward the Country All along our talk is of the passion of the
of Sorrows, to commemorate at the Guard- BBb. We pass through ZanjBn and remem-
ian's bidding the first Centenary of the BBb's ber how lightly Hujjat and his companions
martyrdom. In recognition of this event the tossed away their lives there. Wherever the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is new road replaces the old, we turn like
of Persia went on a nine days' pilgrimage compass needles to the abandoned thor-
into AdJ~irbByjin.This is an account of their oughfare, because it was there that the Bib
journey and what it meant to one of them. passed by. At Miyinaj we see Him again-
in that house with the upper room. One of
the friends calls our attention to the fact
that the BBb loved high places; that even
It is Thursday, the 6th of July, 1950. It when they were leading Him away to prison,
is the day of Istijlil, the day of Qudrat, the wherever they would stop, in whatever town
month of Rahmat, of the year Javkb, of the or village, and even if there were only one
sixth VBhid of the first Kull-i-$hay'. The upper room in the place, it was there He
group of travelers has set out as pilgrims, in chose to stay. His prisons, too, whether in
a spirit of humility and penitence and great Tabriz or MBh-KG or Chihriq, were always
love, going to the place of the Bib's last in high places. In His Tablet to Muhammad
agony. They are traveling to that spot whose SJhih, revealed at Mih-KG, He speaks, how-
very name, some thousand years ago, set fire ever, of His abode as being still higher than
to the heart of Muhammad's descendent the the prison, for He says, "It is as if I were
ImBm Muhammad-BBqir, so that he spoke dwelling in the loftiest Paradise, delighting
218 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Myself with the remembrance of God the of the earth be banded together they could
Most Great." not take from Me so much as a single letter
As we talk of all this, mountains and of a word."
deserts and pasture lands pass by us, and And again, in the Tablet to Muhammad
about midnight we come to Tabriz. Waiting S_h&h: "All the keys of heaven God hath
for us here are the believers. They welcome chosen to place on My right hand, and all
us, and carrying out the efficient arrange- the keys of hell on My left . . ." It was His
ments of the Tabriz Assembly, they guide own unconditioned will to cast down His
us away singly or by two's, to the different holy life in the pathway of the "Remnant of
houses where we are to stay. Here are peo- God"-He Whom the Splendor of God has
ple who have never laid eyes on us before, named "My previous Manifestation, the
approaching us with such pleasure. And Precursor of My Beauty." Of Whom, again,
afterward, when we went away, although we He has said, "I am He, He is I; I am His
had been with them only a few days, they Beloved; He is My Beloved."
wept and so did we. It is this that is stirring Could we sleep on a night like this? Day
all over the Bahi'i world today, because the finally breaks. The appointed time ap-
love of God has transfigured human nature. proaches. It is as if from all the streets and
It is two days before the Commemora- passageways of Tabriz souls are gathering
tion. Early on the day itself, all are to gather for Judgment. Yes, it is the Resurrection
at the Haziratu'l-Quds, where a general Day, the rise of the Q2im and the Qayy6m.
meeting will be held; communes will be The squares of Tabriz are black with
chanted, the Guardian's letter will be read, crowds. "Deliver us, most exalted Beloved
and then, one by one or two by two, the . . . forgive us then our sin and hide away
visitors, guided by local believers, are to from us our evil deeds." (Qur'kn 3 : 191.)
circle around the Barracks Square where the Some are hurrying, reverently, prayer-
B5b was offered up as a sacrifice, the holy fully, up to the "Ark," the Citadel where the
place of which it is written: "The souls of B5b was imprisoned, to that high place
the Prophets and Messengers do pace which even today dominates the whole city
about it." and which, once seen, is impressed on the
The meetings arranged throughout Tabriz heart forever. They go here, that they may,
are brilliant. Absent friends are remembered prior to commemorating the hour of the
and missed. We feel that the hearts of all Martyrdom, witness yet another stage in the
believers throughout East and West are fo- long passion of the B5b. Some wait till a
cused on this city, and this gives rise to emo- later hour to make this pilgrimage. These
tions that are best communicated not in stay in the vicinity of the BAbYsupper cham-
words but from heart to heart. ber, and bowing their foreheads to the earth
in that exalted place, are repeating excerpts
from His writings, such as the Commentary
Now it is the eve of the Martyrdom. The on the S6rih of Joseph. Not one has a
Bahfis are in their houses; they are gath- thought except for t h e ~ e l o v e d ;they are in
ered in small groups, or q ~ ~ i alone.
te They another world now, and they cannot easily
are communing with their Lord. I cannot return from it.
tell how it is. We recall the aspect of that At the base of the terrifying "Ark," at the
other night one hundred years ago: How entrance to the courtyard, the BQb has once
MirzL Muhammad-'Ali surnamed Anis and again demonstrated His power; for on a
Siyyid Husayn the amanuensis remained in structure they have raised here in memory
the presence of the Bib; the conversation of the dead, we find inscribed this verse
that took place that night between- disciple from the Qur'a'n: "Think not of those who
and Beloved; all this came to mind again. are slain in the path of God as dead; nay,
To emulate the kind of obedience that Anis alive with their Lord, are they richly sus-
offered his Lord that night-this is the ulti- tained." (S6rih 3: 163.) It stands as a secret
mate wish of every BahC'i. allusion to the BQb's agony and death. The
In a commentary the BAb had referred to pilgrims, reading this holy verse, seek leave
the circumstances of His approaching mar- to enter here, and thus they pass into the
tyrdom in this wise: "Had I not been gaz- prison with their hearts free from everything
ing upon this secret fact, I swear by Him in except God.
Whose hand is My soul, should all the kings The time has come to attend the meeting
C E N T E N A R Y O F M A R TYRDOM O F T H E BAB

in Tabriz. The program goes forward; it is lieved in Me, every one of you would have
well arranged and deeply moving. Although followed the example of this youth, who
the friends in other areas have been advised stood in rank above most of you, and would
not to attend in large numbers, nevertheless have willingly sacrificed himself in My path.
some are here from other parts of Adbir- The day will come when you will have rec-
biyjBn for this historic day, and the great ognized Me; that day I shall have ceased to
auditorium of the Haziratu'l-Quds is be with you."l
jammed; those who cannot find seats stand In the words of 'Abdu'l-BahB, "The
in the doorways and in the embrasures of groaning of the Supreme Concourse is lifted
the windows. Prayers are chanted. Then we up. . . . The people of Paradise wail and
listen to the BBb's Tablet to Muhammad cry out, their eyes shedding tears, their
SJhih. Today the holy blood of the Bib is hearts afire." At this moment we are con-
coursing through the world, it is flowering scious of the loving attention of the Guard-
everywhere, and where is Muhammad ian, the beloved Shoghi Effendi, who labors
S_h&h?We search, but find no trace of him. at all times to exalt the BBb, who spreads
That foolish Minister of his has also sunk His utterances abroad, who is now devoting
into his tomb, and that other Prime Minis- his nights and days to constructing the
ter, Taqi the Bloodshedder, the Brazen, who Shrine of the Martyr-Prophet on Mt. Car-
condemned the Lord of the world to death, mel.
has vanished in eternal night. The circumambulation is complete. A
In the Turkish language, the Assembly feast is ready. But it is as if our bodies had
secretary then speaks. He tells impressively sustained a death wound, and the pain does
of the spread of the Faith across the world, not lessen . . .
and of the building of the Bib's Shrine on During the remainder of our stay a great
Mt. Carmel. The account of the Martyrdom number of gatherings are held, each one
is read. A strange spiritual atmosphere pre- generating a vivid, never-to-be-forgotten
vails; you would say a glimmer from the quality of the spirit.
world beyond is hovering here. With com-
plete humility, the Visitation Tablet of the
BBb is chanted. The following day we leave for Saysin.
It is almost noon. The pilgrims, led by Some of the friends have come out along
some of the local friends, have come in ut- the way to welcome us while others have
ter lowliness, imploring the help of God, to repaired and leveled the road ahead. What
circumambulate that place which is wor- is this joy, this feeling of exhilaration? In
shiped by the people of Paradise. Unob- the s~acious
I
auditorium-I think it meas-
trusively they pass around the Barracks ures nine by nineteen meters-of the new
Square. They see the very spot where the Hazira a morning and an afternoon meeting
Martyrdom took place. They visualize the are held. The auditorium is packed, there is
Barracks as they were that day, and the no room even to walk through, many are
roof tops black with people. They see the crowding the embrasures of the windows
BBb there, bound to Anis, and suspended and the doorways, and others stand outside
from the ropes. They hear again the words the building. Prayers are being chanted. As
that passed between the B6b and the far&&- the Assembly welcomes us in the accents of
bi&i; between the Bib and SBm K_hin. Ad_hirbiyjin, we recall the well-known
Then Anis, making himself a living shield verse, "When they speak Persian, Turks are
for the BBb. Then the first volley, by the will life-bestowers." Two of us, Varqi and Fur6-
of the Bib, setting forth His proof to the tan, reply with addresses in Turkish, telling
stupefied people, taking no effect. Anis of victories already won by the Faith, and
stands there before them in his immaculate victories to come. Labib, famed Bahi'i
white robe; not even the smoke from the photographer, takes pictures. He has made
seven hundred and fifty rifles has settled on photographs of all these places that relate
it. The Bib concludes His interrupted con- to the Bib in Ad_hirbiyjBn,the way-stations
versation with His amanuensis. Other sol- on His journey, the historic sites ..
. Food
diers are drawn up. The Bib utters His last is prepared foi. us.
words, and His blessed voice still seems to The next day we visit the holy sites at
ring across the Barracks Square:
"0 wayward generation! Had you be- 1 Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, page 53.
THE BAHA'I W O R L D

Urhmiyyih. We are to meet the friends of like their spiritual brothers and sisters across
this area on our return. The lake of UrG- Persia, they have left their homes and it is
miyyih rises before us, and we recall the their great joy to have taken part in the ex-
B6b's arrival at the city here, RidL'iyyih. As tensive teaching campaign; to have earned
one of the friends has said, it is not sadden- the approval of the beloved Guardian who
ing to visit these holy places, because out- wrote of the Plan: "It is a vital undertaking
wardly at least the Bib suffered no afflic- of the followers of the All-Merciful, con-
tions here. He was the guest of Malik Q6sim ceived and established in the opening years
Mirzb, who received Him with ceremony of the second century of the BahL'i Dis-
and forbade that any disrespect be shown pensation, and without peer or precedent
Him. The room of the Bbb, in the upper throughout all the brilliant history of the
story of the prince's house, is like His up- first century of this wondrous Cause in that
per chamber in SJhfrQz;it lifts the spirit. holy land"; and to have assisted in the
The entrance door and wall of the public Plan's successful completion by the Cente-
bath attended by the Bbb have been pre- nary of the Martyrdom.
served; they are just as they were then. They are rendering enviable services and
Dumbly they address the pilgrim. The pool their faces are nothing but light. Unforget-
of the bath is empty now. The people had tably now, a woman believer chants; her
carried away, to, the last drop, the water voice rises, all lowliness and supplication, so
used by the B6b for His ablutions, to bless that our hearts are drawn toward God. And
themselves with it and keep it as medicine out of that place, Salmbs, which lies near
.
for their ills. . . Chihriq-and which the poet H6fifiz has
We know that even an animal had a care named "the abode of Salmb," greeting it six
for Him here. The prince's unmanageable hundred years ago and calling down bless-
horse became quiet under His hand, and let ings upon it, saying, "Hail, a thousand times
Him mount-a strange thing to witness, and hail, to thee, 0 abode of Salmb! How dear
the memory of it will endure forever.' At is the voice of thy camel-drivers, how sweet
the same time, a warning to mankind; for the jingling of thy bells!"-out of Salmbs,
how is it that man in his unawareness has which lies between the "Open Mountain"
sunk even below the animal and has shut (Mbh-KG) and the "Grievous Mountain"
himself away from grace? (Chihriq), our unspoken prayers ring out
We cannot forget the meeting with our from one mountain to the other. Surely they
friends of RidL'iyyih, in a house blessed by are heard as well in the holy worlds of the
the Bgb with His presence. Here too the in- Beloved.
visible hand of the Bbb has been at work- Suddenly we decide to follow the road
across from the Bath we read the inscrip- taken by Mu116 Husayn when, in Madhad,
tion: "God is the Light of the heavens and he vowed to walk the whole distance that
of the earth." (Qur'a'n 24:35.) This verse separated him from the Bbb, and come to
appears in delicate calligraphy on sky-blue Him on the mountain of Mbh-KG. We long
tile, and serves as a guide post to "the Coun- to visit the spot on the mountain where the
tenance of God Whose splendor can never Lord shone forth, as promised by God in
be obscured, the light of God whose radi- the Qur'bnic verse: "When God manifested
ance can never fadeH-words uttered by Himself to the mountain." (Shrih 7: 139.)
the Primal Point Himself concerning His It so happened that the Guardian's mes-
own Essence. sage, sent by telegraph in commemoration
of the Martyrdom and addressed to the
long-afflicted Bahi'is of Persia, was dated at
this very day and hour.
It is morning. Our bus leaves for Tabrfz. The words of the Imbm who said, "I have
The driver has agreed to stop all along the known God by His disposal of man's re-
way so that we can meet with local friends, solves," were now demonstrated. Everyone
and some of these have been alerted ahead felt a longing to go on pilgrimage to "the
of time. The first place where we stop is Open Mountain." The plan to turn back to
SJhbhphr (Salmgs), and a meeting is held. Tabriz was changed; we determined to re-
The pioneers here are solidly established; main in m u y and prepare for the pilgrim-
age to M6h-KG.
2 The Dawn-Breakers, pages 309-310. Some feel that although they are unable
to walk the entire distance that separated the mountain. For this reason I will not
Mull6 Husayn from the they will at ride."
least go on foot from Lhuy to M6h-Kh, fol- We strain our eyes, but we cannot see 'Ali
lowing in the footsteps of Mull& Husayn's EhQn now, and his honored visitors. But the
faithful attendant, Qambar-'Ali. Unfortu- memory of this event has, even till our day,
nately this cannot be done. It is now almost made the hearts of hundreds of thousands of
half past three in the afternoon, and the bus BahL'is all across the world beat faster; and
is leaving for MQh-Kh. Some of the friends God alone in His wisdom knows how many
of Khuy are with us. We find ourselves look- billions of other hearts, throughout the
ing up and down the road, searching for length of the Bah6'i Cycle which in the
Mull6 Husayn and Qambar-'Ali, and we words of 'Abdu'l-Bahk is to last "at least five
think of those two holy souls; we consider hundred thousand years," will turn their at-
their humility, their spiritual quality, their tention toward this place.
evanescence. Mountains and valleys pass by. We are still in the defile. We cannot see
The goal nears. M&h-KG. And then suddenly, around the
Over a wide area around M&h-KG the bend, there is "the Open Mountain" and the
plains are black; the world mourns at town of M&h-Kfion its slopes.
Mhh-Kh; for mile on mile the land is stud- You who may read this, believe me: I
ded with outcroppings of glistening black would swear by Him Who is the Lord of the
rock. Like ebony planets, these rocks rise mountain that in all the world there is no
out of the land; they flood it like waves of such terrifying sight as this. Those who have
an ebony sea. Posted haphazardly at the traveled to the ends of the earth will bear
mountain pass are other, monstrous shapes, me out: There is no other mountain like
terrifying rock formations that guard the this. It has no like, just as the anguish of
entry. All nature is a prison here, on guard the B6b had no like, so that the Blessed
over the Beloved of mankind, over that Beauty wrote in the Visitation Tablet: "I
Captive of Whom Bahk'u'llLh has written: bear witness that the eye of creation hath
"The purpose in creating the world and never gazed upon one wronged like Thee."
making it to flourish was His Manifesta- If, as scientists believe, our globe of dust
tion." detached itself one way or another from the
We come to a river that boils and clamors sun, and down through the endless ages
through the rocks; it has cut its way through came at last to be as we know it, it is certain
solid rock and is maybe fifteen feet deep. that wind and cloud, sun, moon, and sky
We remember how Nabil tells us that the worked from the beginning that had no be-
night before Mull&Husayn and his servitor ginning to bring about this mountain of
arrived-it was on the eve of the Feast of M6h-Kh, in just this wise, to serve as the
the New Year-'Ali KhQn, the frontier offi- prison of the BQb. It is not a place that writ-
cer in charge of the castle of MQh-Kfi,had a ers and painters can describe, this spot that
dream. He saw the Prophet Muhammad, was the destined setting against which the
followed by a companion, advancing to meet meekness of the B6b shone out. The reader
him from beside the bridge. In the dream, must see the mountain for himself, and the
Muhammad was on His way to visit the cas- prison house and the place where the Lord
tle, to greet the B&b on the occasion of the made Himself manifest, and he must then
New Year. 'Ali B Q n awoke with a sense observe what the sight has done to his own
of exhilaration. He performed his ablutions heart, and meditate on these things through
and prayed, dressed himself in his best gar- long, wakeful nights and at many a dawn,
ments, sprinkled rosewater on his hands, and and then, if he can, let him write of it.
went out on foot to receive the Visitor. He We are speaking of this when, after a
further instructed a servant to saddle and brief detour from the road in the frightening
bridle his three best horses and hold them in pass that leads through the mountain, we see
readiness at the bridge. But when he met on our right a view of "the Open Mountain"
Mull6 Husayn there, 'Ali Kh6n was told: "I and on its slopes the town of M6h-K6. At
have vowed to accomplish the whole of my this point the pass, lying between M6h-Kh
journey on foot, to visit an illustrious Per- and another high mountain that pushes into
sonage who is being held prisoner on top of the sky across from it, widens out. And
3 Maahad is in the northeast corner of Persia;
again we come face to face with the heights
Mih-Kti in the extreme northwest corner. of MAh-Kfi. Then the pass narrows again as
T H E B A H A. ' I W O R L D

if it were the mouth of the Fathomless Pit. The two towers which nature has planted
The mountain stretches like a bow, be- on the slopes of the mountain seem from
tween the entrance and exit of the pass. It here more vigilant than ever, holding their
rises, awesome, overpowering, into the sky. Captive in full view.
It rivals the moon's heights, and shuts the A deep cleft runs crookedly from the
moon away. At either end of the bow, na- summit all the way down the mountain and
ture has piled two massive towers, lifting out across from the prison, like a knotted black
of the mountain, up and up into the Milky cord hanging; thousands of feet it swings
Way. From a distance you would say these down, a symbol of the anger of God. Per-
two are jailers, adding to the cruelty of the haps it means that God desires to pull down
BBb's imprisonment. Or again, that they are the mountain, to crush out nature and man
minarets from which was raised the cry, as well. Yet again, we believe that MBh-KG,
"Hasten ye to salvation! Hasten ye to salva- the prison of His Holiness, should exist for-
tion! I bear witness that He Who is 'Ali be- ever, that, as the ages unroll, the peoples of
fore Nabi14 ('Ali-Muhammad, the Bkb) is the earth may come at last to understand
the Gate of the Remnant of God!" some hint of the BBb's agony. So it is that
The city of MBh-KG lies within the curve the pull of the earth has not been able to
of the bow, the opening of which is several draw down this curving roof-like peak,
hundred meters across; it clings to the steep raised up "without pillars that can be seen"
slopes, an almost perpendicular street rises (Qur'a'n 3 1:9) and that castle and mountain
jaggedly from house to house, leading finally stand in their place.
up to the mountain top. Panting and sweat- This is MBh-K6 . . .
ing we climb toward the summit. Not all of The pilgrims, with two of the BahL'is who
us, however. One or two of the band who are pioneers at MBh-KG, reach only the base
set out from Khuy to make this pilgrimage of the mountain at sunset. They must climb
cannot keep on; the road is too rough, too the mountain before night shuts down, for
steep. They cannot reach that last point of at the summit is their long-desired goal.
all, the prison of the BBb. They complete At this time we bring to mind what
their pilgrimage by the roadside, and who Lhayk_h Hasan-i-ZunGzi said to the historian
knows, perhaps they show a special rever- Nabil: That as the BBb dictated His Teach-
ence in this. ings at MBh-KG, the rhythmic flow of His
As the BQb writes in the Tablet to Mu- chant could be heard by those who lived at
hammad S_h&h,the castle lies in the center the foot of the mountain, and mountain and
of the mountain and there is no higher point. valley re-echoed His voice. What a melody
The slope ends abruptly at the castle and that must have been; how it must have
above it there is not a span of earth where shaken the spirit! Our ears strain now in the
anything could be built or find a foothold. effort to hear it again, or to catch the song
Not jutting straight up in fortress-like walls, of the Kingdom that reverberates from slope
but inverted here in a wide arc, the moun- to slope.
tain becomes a great parasol or cupola shel- After long twisting and turning up the
tering the prison place. Rain and snow can- mountain we draw near to the abode of the
not fall here; stars and moon cannot cast Well Beloved. Here is another " ~ r a t o r y "at~
down their light; only the cruel cold, the the base of the walls; from the heart of the
scorching heat can enter here. For all day mountain, gushing beneath the castle, a
long in the heat of summer, the fortress and stream of pity and anguish jets out with a
the mountain, like a concave mirror, gather noise like sighs and sobs and plunges down
in the heat, and all night long, while in other the mountain, scattering over the surface of
places people are restfully asleep, they ra- a massive rock. Here is clear delicate water,
diate it back. And wintertimes the cold is so well-suited to this holy place, fomr our ablu-
intense that the water which the BBb used tions. The friends are very careful not to
for His ablutions froze on His face. muddy it.
It is here that the Monarch of love was We come to the castle steps. Step after
beset by the legions of tyranny, and the step, our yearning mounts. Here then is the
Dove of holiness prisoned by owls. prison of the Lord of the Age. Here is the
4According to the abjad reckoning, "Nabfl" and 5 Mugall&, "The Oratory," a favorite resort of the
"Muhammad" are numerical equivalents, the letters of poet If&@ near Shhiriz, watered by the stream of
each word totaling 92. Rukn&bBd.
CENTENARY O F MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAB

place where they brought as a captive the rank and station to the spreading awareness
Sovereign and Possessor of the earth, of of this Order.
Whom it is written: "My Lord hath or- In the heart of this mountain the wrongs
dained that all which is and all which is not inflicted on Him Whom the world has
should belong to the Adored One that liveth wronged stand before us. But in the heart of
forever." another mountain, which seems now to rise
Now we can make out His cell and that face to face with this one and in sharp con-
of His guards. The sorrowing voice of the trast with this, the sovereignty, dominion
BBb, which could move a heart to its depths, and might of the Lord are made manifest.
seems to be ringing against the mountain- The Guardian of Bahb'u'llih's followers, the
side, and the sacred verses H e addressed to "primal branch" that hath grown out "from
Muhammad Shih from this very place speak the Twin Holy Trees," watches us here,
to our souls: "I swear by the Most Great watches the two mountains. Here is
Lord! Wert thou to be told in what place I Mih-KG; and there is the holy mountain
dwell, the first person to have mercy on Me where the Bib's body is laid to rest-named
would be thyself. In the heart of a mountain by Prophets thousands of years back in time
is a fortress . . . the inmates of which are the Mountain of God (Mt. Carmel). The
confined to two guards and four dogs. Pic- King of Glory has related that mountain to
ture, then, My plight . . ." His own Self. The Heavenly Father has
All of us, in complete humility, praying chosen that spot to hold the dust of the Bib,
and supplicating God, visit the cells and and has set it apart as the center of His new
rooms. We take up the dust of the holy place World Order.
for a blessing. We chant verses of the Bib:
"0 Thou the Consolation of Mine eyes!
Verily Thou art the Great Announcement!" Now that we speak of these things here
"0 Thou Remnant of God! I have sacrificed at Mih-KG in the Bib's prison, and Mt.
Myself wholly for Thee; I have accepted Carmel rises suddenly before us, it is not
curses for Thy sake, and have yearned for inappropriate to turn our thoughts toward
naught but martyrdom in the path of Thy His everlasting resting place, so that we may
love." We call to mind His Manifestation note how the long cruelties, the prison, and
and His longing to offer Himself up in at last the bullets-intended, in the words of
death. The Visitation Tablet is chanted. As the Almighty, to free mankind from the
we stand there in the dark of the night, we chains of self and passion-were changed
remember that the Holy Being spent His into abiding glory. How BahL'u'llLh, in the
nights on the mountain in total darkness; pathway of Whose love the BLb sought and
there was not even a candle for Him here. found death, fulfilled the promises voiced by
Our hearts are heavy; grief bows us down. the Prophets of God back through the end-
But suddenly we are comforted by the words less ages, when He named Mt. Carmel as the
of the Primal Point to His own Essence: Shrine of the Bib. How at His command the
"Be patient, 0 Consolation of Mine eyes, for blessed hands of 'Abdu'l-Bahi reared the
verily God hath vowed to establish Thy divine edifice; how redemption of the prom-
glory in every land, amongst all that dwell ises set down in the Tablet of Carme16 was
on earth." Our minds are now flooded with entrusted to the mighty arm of Shoghi Ef-
joy. It is as if from one end of the sky to the fendi, the wondrous, unique and priceless
other a blinding light shines down. We see Guardian.
that the BLb-Who in this place out of the What is the best way to go on pilgrimage
very depths of His captivity and His anguish to the City that has come down from
revealed unnumbered utterances-com- heaven, as the Shrine of the Bib is called in
pletely disregarded the prison, and con- the Tablet of Carmel; the Shrine which,
tinued to exercise that all-powerful, all- Bahb'u'llbh tells us, Mt. Zion circumambu-
pervasive Will, against which no worldly lates? Shall we take the path that leads from
might prevails. In His Book, the Persian the Pilgrims' House all the way to the Tomb
Baya'n, written on this mountain top, from -the house that after its builder is named
this dark and narrow cell, He alludes to His Ja'far-AbLd? 'Abdu'l-BahL said that Hifiz
own glory; and with His promise of World referred to this house when he wrote:
Order bestows new life on all mankind, and 6 In Gleanings from tlze Writings of Bahri'u'lldh,
relates the exaltation of His own eternal pages 14-17.
224 T H E B A H A. ' f W O R L D

Between Ja'far-Abid and Musalli u'llih, the Point of Adoration, Him Whom
Laden with ambergris the north wind God made manifest.
blows. 'Abdu'l-Bahi, Who had cast aside His
Or, as in the case of Mhh-Kii, when we turban and wept and sobbed aloud as, with
looked first at the mountain itself, shall we His own hands, He laid the Bib's body in
contemplate the Shrine from a distance and the heart of Carmel, Himself rests now be-
set these two mountains against each other side the Bib. The companion who died with
and compare them each to each? I think this the Bib has never been separated from Him.
last is best. . . . Near them are built the tombs of the Most
We follow the Guardian over the flower- Exalted Leaf, and of the brother, the
ing slopes of Haifa. They seem to glitter mother, and consort of 'Abdu'l-Bahi.
with colored gems and pearls, like a bride at From the foot of the mountain all the
her wedding, and we repeat to ourselves the way to the Shrine, the nine terraces rise in
lines, "From every branch within the blos- memory of nine Letters of the Living, and,
soming grove, a thousand petals are cast be- in accord with the Guardian's design, from
fore the king." We observe the Guardian's the Shrine to the summit of Mt. Carmel nine
gait, and we think that if men's eyes were more shall complete the number.
seeing eyes, this in itself would be proof The beloved Guardian, called by the Mas-
enough. ter "My Shoghi," was from his early child-
We have watched the sea in the sunset hood enamored of the Bib. He dreamed of
and now we are returning. We look upon the Bib, and he was named Rabbini in
Carmel, heart of the world, and at its center memory of the Bib's title Rabb-i-A'lL. It is
the Bib's Shrine, heart of Carmel. We see its he who, standing on the heights of the
terraces from far away, burning like lighted Shrine, drew the geometric designs of the
torches before the eyes of its builder. The terraces. He laid out the gardens, and estab-
Guardian smilingly contemplates all this. lished the International Bahi'i Endowments
His voice, strong and clear, rings down the about the Shrine. He has placed here the In-
mountain; he is saying, "Terraces of light; ternational Archives, of whose treasures
light upon light." Bah6'u111ih had promised, "Ere long souls
His words echo back from the slopes and will be raised up who will preserve every
the sea. We think of the contrast between holy relic in the most perfect manner." The
those long nights on Mih-Kii, when the Bhb portrait of the Bib, drawn in Uriimiyyih
was denied even a candle, and now, when and gazed upon by Bahi'u'llhh Himself, is
the terraces of His Shrine are light upon here. Here too are His outer garments and
light, the face of the building is a solid sheet His shirt, soaked in His blood. A copy of the
of light, the whole mountain is to blaze with portrait and locks of the Bhb's hair have
light. We remember two lines that were been sent as a historic gift to the Bahi'i
chanted by 'Abdu'l-Bahh: "Glad tidings, House of Worship in the United States,
glad tidings! Zion is dancing! Glad tidings, which has been completed under the Guard-
glad tidings! The Kingdom of God whirls in ianship of Shoghi Effendi; and the Guardian
delight !" has promised a copy to Persia, cradle of the
Instead of panting and struggling up the Faith, as soon as the first Persian Ma&riqu'l-
narrow twisted road at Mih-K6, stopping at AdJhkir is built.
times because we can climb no more, here The Guardian has added to the Shrine on
we can rest on every terrace in the midst of Mt. Carmel three rooms built according to
gardens and trees, in lovely settings of the same plan as those already constructed
mountainside and sea. Pools and fountains by the Master. He has extended the length,
are to be built here that will reflect the sky width and height of the Shrine, and is now
and heaven. Each terrace is dedicated to one protecting the Edifice like a pearl of great
of the Letters of the Living, and we are re- price within the shell of an arcade and
ceived as it were by him. We forget our sor- crowning it with a balustrade set with pan-
rows, as we take deep breaths of the delicate els, the central one to the north bearing a
air. great green and gold mosaic of the Greatest
No longer is the Bib a captive on Name.
Mih-K6. He rests in the divine gardens on It is the Guardian who has widely spread
the Mountain of God. He lies across the the works of the Bhb. In "The Dispensation
Bay of Haifa from His Well-Beloved, Bahi'- of Bahi'u'llih" he has set forth the exalted
C E N T E N A R Y O F M A R TY R D O M O F T H E BAB 225

station of the Bib. By translating the narra- and delicate gardens have no equal any-
tive of Nabil he has published the days of where else.
the Bib across the earth. He has seen to it When the famed Orientalist A. L. M.
that in every area the Centenaries of the Nicolas, who had longed to see the Bib's
Bib's Declaration and of His Martyrdom Shrine exalted, received as a gift from
were befittingly celebrated. Across over a Shoghi Effendi a copy of its design, together
hundred countries he has added thousands with a copy of The Dawn-Breakers of Na-
upon thousands of souls to the company of bil, he was so moved that he kissed the bear-
those who love the Bib, and he is looking er's hand. Strangers love this place, how
for yet more countries to come. much more do the friends.
At this time the Guardian is concen- Within the holy precincts we put on slip-
trating his labors on completion of the Edi- pers and anoint ourselves with rose water
fice, importing marbles and granite and poured out by the Guardian himself, this
other priceless rock materials that had lain wonderful personage who has arisen "with
in the earth down endless ages until at last the most perfect form, most great gift, most
they should serve for the building of just complete perfection." His handsome face is
such a Shrine-rock materials in jade and so phenomenally bright that the Master
rose, that are symbols of the Bib's lineage wrote, "His face shineth with a brightness
and the way He died. Following the archi- whereby the horizons are illumined."
tect's design (you can see it in color, in the Within the Shrine his voice, resonant,
pages of that mirror of Bahb'i activities haunting, lifts in the Visitation prayer: "The
around the globe, The Bahd'i World),7 the praise which hath dawned from Thy most
arcade and balustrade have been completed, august Self, and the glory which hath shone
and the Guardian is now working day and forth from Thy most effulgent Beauty, rest
night to direct completion of the superstruc- upon Thee . . ."
ture and rear the great golden dome. Then I wonder if I am awake or in a dream.
the light will pour out of this source of "Bless Thou, 0 Lord my God, the Divine
light and envelop all mankind, and the "peo- Lote-Tree and its leaves, and its boughs, and
ple of BahZ1" referred to in the Tablet of its branches . . . as long Thy most excel-
Carmel will be made manifest, and God will lent titles will endure and Thy most august
sail His ark upon His holy mountain, and attributes will last." If we observe the
the laws of God will be made known to all Guardian when he places flower petals on
men, and the Tabernacle of the Lord of the threshold of the Bib's sepulcher, we
Hosts will be pitched on the heights of Car- shall see as he strews the roses and violets
mel, and the divine World Order be un- there how intense are the stirrings of His
veiled; and there near the resting place of love.
the Most Exalted Leaf (the sister of 'Abdu'l- Today from the mountain of M i h - K I ~the
Bahi) and the other blessed ones, and in anguished cry of the Bib is raised no more:
the neighborhood of the Holy Shrine, the "In this mountain I have remained alone,
Universal House of Justice will be estab- and have come to such a pass that none of
lished, and the promise "Then shalt thou see those gone before Me have suffered what I
the Abhi paradise on earth" will be re- have suffered, nor any transgressor endured
deemed. what I have endured!" With these great vic-
Let us go into the gardens around the tories, these new and mighty institutions,
Shrine-Tomb. Let us walk there on the surely the sorrow of His heart is stilled at
Mountain of God, and "unravel the mys- last, and out of the verses of the Baya'n He
teries of love from its windflowers," for is calling: "Well is it with him who fixeth
"solaced are the eyes of them that enter and his gaze upon the Order of BahL'u'llih and
abide therein!" Let us see with our own eyes rendereth thanks unto His Lord!"
how "the rose-gardens that grow around His Today the Bib is not alone on the moun-
Holy Tomb have become the pleasure-spot tain any more: "The people of the Supreme
of all kinds and conditions of men," how the Horizon and the presences who dwell in the
flower beds and fruit-bearing trees cluster so eternal paradise circle around His Shrine."
thick around the Shrine. Visitors, not The love of the Bahb'is around the globe,
Bahi'is, will tell you these fresh and green from Anchorage to Magallanes, from far-
thest East to farthest West, gathered within
7 Frontispiece, Volume IX. the shelter of the Branch of the Sinaitic
226 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Tree, centers on this place and is offered up upon them, to spread this Faith. And when
continuously to Him; while the Guardian their labors are completed they will hasten
labors by day and by night to bring to pass to this sacred place, and in complete humil-
the prophecy of the Master when He said: ity, supplicating God, bowing down before
"I see the ships of all the kings of the world Him, in utter lowliness, they will circle
berthed at the docks of Haifa. I see the round the Holy Shrines, and lifting their
sovereigns disembark. Bareheaded and bare- voices will cry out to heaven, extolling and
footed, and carrying on their shoulders vases magnifying and glorifying the Lord, and
studded with jewels, they advance toward they will unveil and establish before all the
the Shrine." And to fulfill these written peoples of the earth the incalculable great-
words set down by the Pen of Glory: ness of this almighty Faith."
"After that which is inevitable shall have
come to pass, these very kings and presi- In this unfaithful world, this house of
dents will follow in the footsteps of the grief, where all things die except the Face of
champions of the C a ~ ~ of s e God. They will the Beloved, where in a little while there
enter the field of service. They will fling in will be no sign of us left, let us bequeath to
the dust the crowns of their perishable sov- those who will come after us an enduring
ereignty and place on their heads the proof of what we feel. So that they will re-
diadems of utter servitude, and in the front member us, who lived in the days of the first
ranks of the pioneers they will labor with all Guardian; so that they will tell one another,
their heart, with all their possessions, with for five thousand centuries to come, how we
all that God in His bounty hath bestowed loved the Primal Point.

9. A CENTURY O F WORLD CRISIS,
1850-1950*

Professor of Italian Literature, The University of Chicago; Founder and Secretary
General of the Committee to Frame a World Constitution; Director o f Common
Cause

T H E world crisis as it existed a few weeks distinguish the scientific factors of the crisis
ago was bland as compared with its present from those related to education and culture,
phase.l I shall, however, cling to the topic of as it is also very difficult or sheerly impossi-
my brief talk, while apologizing if it is in- ble to separate sharply all these from the
herently difficult or practically impossible to political and the social causes of the dis-
* From stenographic notes of an address delivered order.
at the Centenary Commemoration of the Martyrdom Obviously the main political factor in the
of the Bib held at the Bahb'i House of Worship, crisis of the last century has been the rise
Wilmette, Illinois, July 9, 1950.
In this talk Dr. Borgese outlines some of the ele- of the national states to absolute independ-
ments of the crisis of western civilization in the last ent sovereignties with no superior authority
century. He uses as an explanatory key the proposal
that the cause of the crisis has been the fragmentation acknowledged. Hence ultimately the bound-
of the humanistic and cosmopolitan culture of eight- less bellurn ornniurn contra ornnes-the war
eenth century Europe, a time in which educated people
were in surprising agreement as to their social and of everybody against everybody. There was
educational ideals and in their scientific and artistic still, at the beginning of the nineteenth cen-
interpretations of the world. Using this fragmentation as tury, a certain shadow if not reality of su-
a general theme, he traces its development in successive
areas of human endeavor-in political, social and eco- perior authority. There was striving for
nomic organization and in science, education and the something that could connect the various
arts. Finally, Dr. Borgese argues that the only way to
end the crisis is to bring about a reunification of social national, local efforts. Napoleon tried it in
and cultural ideals by a return to the true nature of a bad way in his wars of conquest-in a cer-
religion. (Editors.)
1 The invasion of Korea occurred on June 25, 1950,
tain other way, perhaps not quite so bad as
two weeks before this address was delivered. (Editors.) those we have seen since, he tried it. At the
CENTENARY O F MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAB 227

middle of the nineteenth century all his cos- level at that moment. In the future a strong
mopolitan schemes and other remainders of government would always hold a monopoly
all-embracing authority had collapsed. Na- of arms. The derogatory conception of the
tions and nation-states emerged in their self- popular revolutions, as they had been arising
sufficient power. at that time, had two faces, two aspects. On
Obviously, also, the main social factor has the one hand there was the Communist
been, as everybody knows, the maturation Manifesto of Marx and Engels of 1848, es-
of the industrial revolution. Here three con- tablishing or contending that nothing like
sequences can be distinguished. The first of bourgeois revolutions can lead anywhere,
these is the growth in the absolute power of that the reformation must be deeper and in-
management, a development which built the finitely more radical, and that this reforma-
basic pattern for any totalitarianism, fascist tion must also be against the assumption of
or other. Then there is the depersonalization the bourgeois revolution's ideas of liberty,
of capital, so that anybody can have shares justice and what-not. On the other hand, the
in a factory manufacturing fertilizers or other aspect of the crisis at that moment is
shares in an automotive industry, without seen in the dominating behavior of the gov-
knowing the least thing about either activity ernments, whether extant or in the making,
and without having any contact with plan- in so far as they conceived governance as
ning and production. power, or acquisition, of power, as a matter
And finally, a third factor as a conse- of power, exercised from on high, not as a
quence of the maturation of the industrial tumult from below.
revolution: the sharp demarcation between If you take the examples of the two most
the owner class and the working class, creat- recent national unities in Europe, that is,
ing a division of classes deeper than has Italy and Germany, you see the phenome-
been known in the Middle Ages or in the non happening in both countries. In Italy
early modern age. from the Mazzinian or great popular ideal-
Now when we speak of these factors, ism we step over to the wise calculation of
which are supposed to be well known to any the man on horseback, Cavour; and the free
cultivated and thoughtful mind, we must, bourgeois progressive Germany of Frank-
however, incur the danger of speaking furt disappears, vanishes, before the iron fist
moralistically, of sermonizing, as if the only policy and success of Bismarck. These are
perilous things that have happened were due some of the events that happened at the cul-
to the ill will of a few men or states, and as mination of the nineteenth century.
if we were holier than they and we could There is another crisis in the fields to
have avoided them if we had been at the which I have referred, that is, in science,
helm. No such boastful and ridiculous im- education and culture, which in a very sim-
plication is included in my presentation. ilar way belongs in the same trend. One of
Anything that has happened must be looked the epoch-making events immediately after
at with a certain kind of reverence toward the culmination of the nineteenth century
what was evidently inevitable or at least was was the publication in 1859 of the basic
not avoided. book of Darwin, On the Origin of Species
True, the subject suggested to me, "A by Means o f Natziral Selection, or (the title
Century of World Crisis, 1850-1950," is continues) the Preservation of Favoured
connected with the event of the martyrdom Races in the Struggle for Life.
of the Biib that Sunday-it was a Sunday, There have been a number of occasions
too, I have learned-July 9, 1850. How- on which I have indicated that the real reli-
ever, the connection is not merely arbitrary gion of our age is evolution, meaning by
or pious. As a matter of fact, things of an religion the complex of imaginations and
epoch-making nature did happen at the mid- beliefs, that is, the Weltanschauung, the cos-
dle and around the culmination of the nine- mic conception of the whole. But I am glad
teenth century. The Revolutions of 1848, to make it clear that evolution is neverthe-
that upsurge of idealistic popular will, were less a religion which falls into two churches:
suppressed. No occasion for resistance was There is evolutionism of the right and there
any more offered. The balance between the is evolutionism of the left. The evolutionisin
possible armaments of the armed people of of the right is a popular interpretation of
the barricades and the armaments in the Darwin which had its heyday in the latter
hands of the government reached a decisive part of the nineteenth century and which
228 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

finally received its most glamor-like accent judgments. But he is right when he speaks
in Nietzsche's philosophy. This church of against what we have called the aesthetics
the right is a church of discord, of struggle, of expressionism, saying that art or poetry
the survival of the fittest. One can say it is or fiction is not expression alone, it is com-
the religion of Eris, discord, whereas the munication. It is a communicated expression
church of the left, evolutionism of progress, which has power over the minds and hearts
achieved through cooperation, through mu- of our fellow men. "Art," he wrote, "is not a
tual aid, much rather than through conflict, pleasure, a solace or an amusement. Art is a
should be called the church of Eros, the great matter. Art is an organ of human life,
church of love. The evolutionary church of transmuting man's reasonable perception
the right had a prevalence during the latter into feeling. The task of art is enormous.
part of the nineteenth century and the be- It is through the influence of the real art
ginning of ours. that the peaceful cooperation of man which
In education the consequences both of the is now plagued by external means should be
prevalence of the natural sciences and of the obtained, by man's free and joyous activity.
mechanical sciences and of the industrial Art should- cause violence to be set aside,
revolution were necessarily specialization. and it is only art that can accomplish this."
The vocational skill was deepened and Now if we consider what is our present
sharpened in the one direction of labor and attitude toward these main factors of the
production, while the universality of hu- crisis through which we have lived and are
manism went to pieces. living, we see that the first factor consisted
In another field, that of culture, we have, of national policies and the industrial revo-
in 1857, the publication of Baudelaire's lution mastered by the will to power, both
Fleurs du Ma1 (the flowers of evil), a book of them to be considered together-military
of grandiose lyrical power which, however, political power in the state, production and
has the effect of making amends to the enlargement of production in industry. We
prophetic, the moral, the ethical kind of have also had regimentation, a second factor
poetry which was represented at that time, in the fragmentation of humanism, that is,
particularly by Victor Hugo in France, but specialized and vocational skill. The third
you may also remember as part of its imita- factor is deviation of the arts and of culture
tions Tennyson in England or Walt Whit- in general, which have become an assem-
man in the United States. Even at the risk blage of facts, a deviation from a feeling of
of exposing the moralistic poetry to ridicule, responsibility as communication to its fever-
of sapping the authority of the Good and ish exultation in pure expressionism.
establishing Beauty as the criterion, even as If we look at our attitudes toward these
the Flower ( L a Fleur) on the root and stem evils, the progress that has been achieved is
of evil, the former poetry no longer has the that we have become cautious, we have be-
approval of Baudelaire and those who fol- come aware of them, and we realize that the
low. Most of the poetry since Baudelaire higher and bloodier the crisis arises, the
has stressed Beauty in the form of expres- more tensely are we in quest of remedies,
sion over the Good. of rewards. There are remedies that have
However, I cannot help returning to a been proposed of the reactionary, of the
crude but extremely significant book by retrograde kind, that is, to dig out some
Tolstoy, written around, very shortly before, things from the past ancient medieval civili-
the end of the nineteenth century, the title zation or even from the monistic2 liberal
of which is What Is Art? It is crude because civilization of the eighteenth century, and to
the taste of Tolstoy was, shall I say, fanati- build them anew and give them a new
cally colored-a direction of judgment that chance for life; that is the fertilization of
was taken by him in that he did not have fossils. It cannot be successful. At least the
any remorse or any restraint. Having estab- second kind of remedy is more hopeful, and
lished that music can be corruptive, he that is the creation of something new from
breaks his lances not only against Wagner's the past with the clear vision that when we
Siegfried but also against Beethoven's Kreut- speak of politics and industrial revolution
zer Sonata, even against the Ninth Sym-
phony with which he should have felt him- 2 Monistic, that is, the humanized world as composed

self in complete agreement. And equally of interrelated cultures which was destroyed (broken
up into fragmentary concepts) in the nineteenth century.
savage is he in scores of other particular (Editors.)
C E N T E N A R Y O F MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAB 229

and science and technology and education that the Jew, the Christian and the Arabian
and culture and liberty and the arts, we are all, after all, believe the same thing.
simply naming and listing the boughs of one Then, in later times, it seemed as if the
tree, the tree being religion, provided that West had gone its own way; as if only the
the word religion is understood in its cosmic self-enclosed or impoverished elements of
sense. the IslBmic tradition were at work in the
It is very curious that even at the acme of Near and Middle East.
scientism, of positivism, it is Auguste Comte There is something dramatic and thrilling
who already at the beginning of the latter in the appearance of this solitary man, the
part of the nineteenth century tried to trans- BBb, who resumes the IslLmic tradition from
mute the belief in science into a mystical be- its sources and who brings it to the neces-
lief. He created, together with a sublime sary conclusion that there is one mankind,
woman friend of his, an unsuccessful and one world, and "mankind its citizens." And
yet significant religion of science. But then, that there is only one religion and all the
even more convincing, you see a personality Prophets have taught that one.
like Gandhi arise from the tail end of Hin- So there is another spur, and it is another
duism and extract from Hinduism what is of revelation of the concomitance of the good
universal and permanent value, leaving the efforts all around the world; the fact that the
metaphors and imaginations and the myths BBb and His successors have been able to
to the delight of the cultivated mind or to raise congregations in the United States is
the pleasure of the uncultivated, to the another evidence, if you are ready for the
pleasure and comfort of the popular mind, paradox, that the real Christianity or real
but hallowing and cleansing the substance of Judaism is not quite dead in this country, so
the Hindu teaching as the age wants it to be that an IslBmic prophecy could be accepted
understood. Nor is the experience of Tolstoy in so far as it found a terrain in traditions
different, who, after all, performed the same of the West which you did not want to dis-
operation in what concerned Christianity. honor or disown.
He did not even want to know, right or Now I have finished, with the desire only
wrong as he may have been, anything about of adding one more expression of my thank-
the resurrection of Jesus, or about redemp- fulness for having been singled out for this
tion through Christ's sacrificial death; all appearance. As a matter of fact the dis-
this was for him superstition or myth. What tance, physical, between Wilmette and the
he wanted was the Christian idea of the uni- South Side of Chicago where the University
versality of man, and of brotherly love, to is located, and a little house where are the
be extracted as the real, permanent, inex- offices of the Committee to Frame a World
tinguishable quintessence of the historical Constitution, in which is located the Com-
transformation of the Christian creed. mon Cause of which I am the director-the
But the importance-I should not say distance between Wilmette and the South
but, I should say and-the real meaning and Side of Chicago is small. The distance be-
importance of your religion of the Bah&'i tween what you are doing and worshiping
Faith is in this trend, that it is again a con- here and what we are doing and attempting
tribution through the very curvilinear ways, there is nothing. It has been said in 1936 by
one might say providential, of Islam which Shoghi Effendi, and similar words have ap-
had been separated for centuries from the peared in earlier Writings of the Bahi'i
culture of the human progressive family and Faith:
which enters it again through a twig arising "A world federal system, ruling the whole
from that branch of the Isliimic tree which earth and exercising unchallengeable au-
had already given the fruits that everybody thority over its unimaginably vast resources,
remembers in the late Middle Ages and in blending and embodying the ideals of both
the Sufi poetry of that Persia where Tabriz, the East and the West, liberated from the
the place of the martyrdom of the BBb, is curse of war and its miseries, and bent on
located. Nor could anybody forget that the exploitation of all the available sources
civilization owed to IslAm one of the most of energy on the surface of the planet, a
creative elements of progress in the late system in which Force is made the servant
Middle Ages and in the eve of the Renais- of Justice, whose life is sustained by its uni-
sance, that is, the principle of religious toler- versal recognition of one God and by its al-
ance, or even more than tolerance, the idea legiance to one common Revelation-such
230 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

is the goal towards which humanity, im- those who can, to join physically or spiritu-
pelled by the unifying forces of life, is ally in what ways would be the best to fur-
m~ving."~ ther the Fourth World Congress for World
And we wrote in the Preamble of our pre- Federal Union which we are calling to be
liminary draft of a World Constitution: assembled in Rome in 19514-a year of de-
"The people of the earth having agreed that cision. The spirit which leads us there is
the advancement of man in spiritual excel- yours as it is ours. Nowhere has it been said
lence and physical welfare is the common better what unites us to you and you to us,
goal of mankind, that universal peace is the as a symbolic meeting of what should be
prerequisite for the pursuit of that goal, that and shall be, the universal meeting of the
justice in turn is the prerequisite of peace, human mind, than in the first two and most
and peace and justice stand or fall together, basic of the nine selected utterances of
that iniquity and war inseparably spring Bahi'u'llgh carved on the exterior of this
from the competitive anarchy of the na- House of Worship. The first repeats: "The
tional states, that therefore the age of na- earth is but one country and mankind its
tions must end and the era of humanity be- citizen^."^ The second: "The best beloved of
gin." all things in My sight is Justice. Turn not
That is what we wrote and write, because away therefrom if thou desirest Me."6
our work proceeds. It counts on your help
and on your vicinity. This is a good occa- 4The Fourth World Congress for World Federal
Government was held in Rome, Italy, April 2-9, 1951.
sion for me to invite all of you, or at least The Prelimfizary Draft of a World Constitution has been
published by The University of Chicago Press, 1948.
3 From "Unfoldment of World Civilization," written 5 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahd'u'lldh, page
* c,,
in 1936, by Shoghi Effendi, published in World Order o f LJU.
Bahd'u'lldh, p. 204. 6 Hidden Words (Arabic), verse 2.

10. DER 100. JAHRESTAG DES
OPFERTODES DES BAB

E S SIND heute 100 Jahre, dass an jenem mehr als 100 L'indern auf allen Kontinenten,
wildbewegten Sommertag, am 9. Juli 1850 in Hunderten von Stadten und Dorfern,
in Tabris in Aserbeidschan (Persien) ein viele Hunderttausende aller Rassen und
junger Perser, erst 31 jahrig, auf Geheiss Stande zu einer Gedenkfeier zusammen, die
einer fanatischen, muhammadanischen dem Martyrertod des genannten Persers
Geistlichkeit und seiner Regierung von einem gewidmet ist, dem B&b,das soviel besagt wie
Regiment Soldaten unter ungewohnlichen das Tor oder die Pforte zu einem neuen
Urnstanden erschossen wurde. Mit roher Gottgesandten, einer gottlichen Manifesta-
irdischer Gewalt wurde das Leben eines tion.
grossen Menschen ausgeloscht, der sechs
DURCHOPFER ZUR WELTORDNUNG
Jahre lang das Evangelium einer neuen
religiosen Sendung verkiindete. In der Geschichte der Volker, im Auf-
Obwohl der Hingerichtete-Sein Name und Niedergang ihrer Kulturen sind es nicht
war 'Ali Muhammad-in seinem Lande viele menschliche Opfertaten, die die Ge-
eine machtige geistige Bewegung ausloste, schicke der Menschheit wesentlich bestimm-
wurde jenem Ereignis wenig Beachtung ten. Wohl kennen wir manche heldenmutige
geschenkt, in einer Zeit, die in den grosseren Taten von Menschen, die aus politischen
Bann neuer Erfindungen, nationaler Macht- oder sozialen Griinden den Einsatz ihres
entfaltung und materiellen Reichtums personlichen Lebens nicht scheuten. Es sind
gezogen war. uns auch menschliche Opfer um des Glau-
Heute, nach 100 Jahren seit jenem bens oder einer Idee willen bekannt. Die
denkwiirdigen Geschehen, finden sich in erhabensten und erschiitterndensten Zeug-
C E N T E N A R Y O F M A R T Y R D O M O F T H E BAB 23 1

nisse von Selbstiiberwindung und Opfer- den Menschheit an, eine neue Menschheit,
gang sind uns aber in der fortschreitenden die ein grosserer als Er, eine gottliche, Mani-
Entwicklung der Religion gegeben. festation, zu einer befriedeten, geistigen
Es sind die unvergesslichen Beispiele Einheit herauffiihren werde.
bedingungsloser Unterwerfung iiberragender Der BBb als das Tor zu einem neuen,
einzelner unter den Willen Gottes, die eine erleuchteten Zeitalter war mehr als ein Re-
erlosen.de Kraft und zukunftsweisendes formator oder Mystiker auf muharnmada-
Licht in das Dunkel der Menschheitsent- nisch-persischem Boden-Er war selbst ein
wicklung hineintrugen. Das Leben, Wirken Sprecher Gottes, ein Herold gottlicher Fiih-
und Leiden der wenigen Grossen, der rung, der in wenigen gefahrvollen Jahren in
gottlichen Boten, wiesen den Menschen bezwingender geistiger Macht die Rechte
immer wieder durch jener opfervolle Hin- der Menschheit iiber die der Rasse, Klasse
gabe den Weg zu deren hochsten Bestim- und Nation erhob und unter Hinweis auf
mung, zur liebenden Hingabe an den Schop- die grosse Offenbarung einen trennende
fer und die Mitmenschen. Bekenntnisse iibergreifenden, universalen
Wenn Abrahams Opferbereitschaft noch Glauben verkiindete. Er legte den Grund zu
darin gepriift wurde, dass er seinen iiber einer mit Seinem Blut geweihten Weltreli-
alles geliebten Sohn Gott auf dem Altar des gion und machte den Weg frei fur jenen,
Opfers darbringen sollte, so steht uns der ,,den Gott offenbaren wird," BahL'u'llBh-
Opfertod Christi als das bezwingendste die Herrlichkeit Gottes-Der, im Jahre
Zeugnis des bedingungslosen Gehorsams ge- 1863, Seine vom BBb vorausgesagte Sen-
geniiber Gott vor Augen. Das Geschehen dung offentlich verkiindigte.
von Golgotha, der Kreuzestod des Naza- Der denkwiirdige 9. Juli 1850, an dem der
reners, wurde fiir das Abendland zu einem BBb hingerichtet wurde, ist durch Augen-
geschichtsbildenden Ereignis von nicht zeugenberichte von Freunden nnd Feinden
geahnter Kraft und Bedeutung, hat aber seit fur die Nachwelt festgehalten worden.
der Reformation mehr und mehr an Ein- Unterdriickung, Verfolgung und Einker-
fluss auf das Volkerleben verloren. Die kerung des neuen Propheten konnten nicht
kulturschopferische Macht der Sendung verhindern, Seine AnhSnger starker und
Muhammads, die im Mittelalter bis nach mutiger anwachsen zu lassen, weshalb trotz
Spanien vordrang, verebbte in den letzten Fehlens einer Bestatigung durch ein Gericht
Jahrhunderten ebenfalls in wachsendem und ohne letzte Rechtfertigungsmoglichkeit
Masse und verfiel ebenso wie das Christen- des BBb das von der geistlichen Fiihrung
tum einer Verweltlichung und Verflachung. gefillte Todesurteil am 9. Juli 1850 in THb-
An die Stelle der aussohnenden, verbin- ris ausgefiihrt wurde. Dem Bruder des
denden Religion hat der aufgeklarte Mensch Grosswesirs, Mirzii SBm K h h , einem Chri-
der Neuzeit die Vernunft, Systeme von sten, wurde als Oberst eines armenischen
Lebensanschauungen, Philosophien und Regiments der Befehl zur Hinrichtung des
Ideologien gesetzt, die die inneren, sittlichen BBb gegeben. Dem Regimentskommandeur
Bindungen des einzelnen wie der Gemein- fie1 das edle Betragen seines Gefangenen so
schaft bedrohlich lockerten und aushohlten. sehr auf, dass er dem BBb erklarte, keine
Ein Autor unserer Zeit gab kennzeichnen- hose Absicht gegen Ihn zu hegen und dass
denveise seinem Buch iiber den Weg des er, erfiillt von Furcht, dass seine Tat den
19. Jahrhundertsl den Untertitel: ,,Am Ab- Zorn Gottes herbeifiihren wiirde, den Verur-
grund der Ersatzreligionenc'! teilten bat, ihn von der ihm auferlegten
Nun haben sich aber seit 1844 Dinge Pflicht zu entbinden, wenn Seine Sache die
ereignet, die wir bis jetzt auf Geschichts- Sache der Wahrheit sei. Der BBb gab dem
und Zeittafeln nicht verzeichnet finden, die Obersten darauf folgende Zusicherung:
jedoch den Beginn eines neuen Zeitalters ,,Folgen Sie ihren Anweisungen, und wenn
fiir die Menschheit bedeuten. Der BBb, von Ihre Absicht aufrichtig ist, so ist der All-
dem wir eingangs sprachen und Dessen machtige sicher imstande, Sie aus Ihrer
Opfertod am heutigen Tag wir und viele mit Verlegenheit zu befreien."
uns in tiefster Ehrfurcht und Liebe geden- Noch ein bedeutungsvolles Vorkommnis
ken, kiindigte Mitte des letzten Jahrhunderts ereignete sich vor der Hinrichtung des BBb.
eine geistige Wiedergeburt der straucheln- Der Farris_h-BBs_hi, der die Durchfiihrung
des Befehles des Grosswesirs iibernahm,
1 Hermann Ullmann (Chr. Kaiser Verlag, Miinchen). hatte schroff die letzte Unterhaltung unter-
232 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

brochen, die der Blb vertraulich in einem tet hatte, Sein unterbrochenes Gesprach
der Raume der Kaserne mit Seinem vertrau- mit Siyyid Husayn vollendend. Ein Ausdruck
ten Gehilfen Siyyid Husayn fuhrte, und zog ruhigsten Friedens war auf Seinem Antlitz.
den letzteren beiseite und schalt ihn heftig Sein Korper war dern Kugelhagel, den das
aus, als er von seinem Gefangenen also Regiment auf Ihn gerichtet hatte, unbeschE
angeredet wurde: digt entgangen.-,Ich habe meine Unter-
,,Nicht ehe Zch ihm alles gesagt habe, haltung mit Siyyid Husayn beendet', sagte
was Zch ihm sagen will, kann irgend eine der BAb zum Farr&s_h-B&s_hi. ,Nun mogen sie
irdische Macht Mich zum Schweigen ihre Absicht erfiillen.'
bringen. Moge auch die ganze Welt gegen ,,Der Mann war zu sehr erschiittert, um
Mich in Waffen stehen, so sol1 es ihr doch fortzufahren. Er weigerte sich, seiner Auf-
nicht gelingen, Mich a m Vollbringen gabe nachzukommen, verliess augenblicklich
Meiner Absicht bis zum letzten Wort zu den Schauplatz und legte seinen Posten nie-
hindern." .
der . . S6m Kh6n war genau so betaubt
ALISThe Dawn-Breakers,' entnehmen wir von der Wucht dieser gewaltigen Offenba-
auch : rung. Er befahl seinen Leuten, die Kaserne
,,S6m Khln befahl seinen Leuten, einen sofort zu verlassen und verweigerte fur sich
Nagel in den Pfeiler zwischen der Tiir zu und sein Regiment jede Handlung, die auch
dern von Siyyid Husayn bewohnten Zim- nur die kleinste Unbill fiir den BBb eintra-
mer und dern Eingang zum Nebenraum gen konnte. Er schwor beim Verlassen des
einzuschlagen und zwei Seile an ihn zu hef- Hofes, nie wieder die Aufgabe zu uberneh-
ten, von denen der B6b und Sein Gefihrte men, selbst wenn seine Weigerung ihm den
gesondert herabhangen sollten. Mirzl Mu- Tod einbringen sollte.
hammad-'Ali [der Gefahrte des B6b] bat ,,Kaum hatte Sgm Kh6n sich entfernt, als
S6m Khln, so angebunden zu werden, dass sich Aq6 J6n Khin-i-Khamsih, Oberst der
sein Korper an der Brust des B6b ruhte . . . Leibgarde, auch bekannt unter den Namen
Sobald sie angebunden waren, trat ein Re- Khamsih und Ngsiri, freiwillig erbot, den
giment Soldaten in drei Gliedern an, jedes Hinrichtungsbefehl zu vollstrecken. Der B6b
zu 250 Mann, mit der Weisung, wechsel- und Sein Gefahrte wurden an der gleichen
weise zu feuern, bis die ganze Abteilung Mauer und in der gleichen Weise wieder
ihre Salven verschossen hatte. Der Pulver- hochgehingt, und das Regiment trat in Li-
dampf der feuernden 750 Gewehre war nie an, um auf sie zu feuern. Anders als
geeignet, das Licht des Mittags in Dunkel vorher, da nur ihr Hingeseil in Stiicke ge-
zu wandeln. Auf dern Dach der Kaserne schossen war, wurden ihre Korper diesmal
sowohl als auch auf den angrenzenden Hau- verletzt und zu einer einzigen Masse von
sern hatten sich an zehntausend Menschen Fleisch und Knochen vermengt.
angesammelt, von denen jeder Zeuge dieses
traurigen und erregenden Schauspiels war.
,, ,Hattest du, o widerspenstiges Geschle-
cht, an Mich geglaubt', waren die letzten
,,Sobald der Rauch sich verzogen hatte,
Worte des Bdb an die gaffende Menge,
starrte eine verbluffte Menge auf ein Bild,
wiihrend sich das Regiment anschickte,
das ihre Augen kaum zu fassen vermochten:
die letzte Salve abzufeuern, ,so wiirde
Da stand der Gefiihrte des Bib vor ihnen,
jeder von euch dern Beispiel dieses Jiing-
lebend und unversehrt, wahrend Er Selbst
lings, der im Rang hoch iiber den meisten
ohne Schaden ihren Blicken entschwunden
von euch stand, gefolgt sein und sich gern
war. Obgleich die Kugeln ihre Hlngestricke
auf Meinem Pfad geopfert haben. Der
zerfetzt hatten, waren ihre Leiber wunder-
Tag wird kommen, da ihr Mich erkannt
barerweise den Salven entgangen. Selbst das
haben werdet, an jenem Tag werde ich
Gewand Mirzl Muhammad-'Ali's war, trotz
aufgehiirt haben, in eurer Mitte zu wei-
der Dichte des Rauches, ohne Flecken ge-
blieben. ,Der Siyyid-i-B6b ist unseren Blicken Zen.'
entschwunden!', so tonten die Stimmen der ,,Im Augenblick, als die Schiisse fielen,
bestiirzten Menge. Rasend fing sie an, Ihn erhob sich ein Sturm von ungewohnlicher
zu suchen und fand Ihn schliesslich in dern Stirke und fegte uber die ganze Stadt hin.
Zimmer sitzend, in dern Er zuvor iibernach- Ein unglaublich dichter Wirbel von Staub
verdunkelte die Sonne und blendete die Au-
2 "Nabil's Narrative" (New York, 1932), Kapitel gen der Leute. Die ganze Stadt blieb in das
XXIII. Dunkel gehiillt von Mittag bis Abend."
CENTENARY O F MARTYRDOM O F T H E BAB 23 3

EIN JAHRHUNDERT
IM ZEICHENDER chte, dem alle iibrigell untergeordnet sind,
NEUEN GOTTESOFFENBARUNG bleibt der Konflikt des Glaubens und Un-
glaubens"?
Heute, ein Jahrhundert, nachdem die Aus der Diagnose der tiefsten Ursachen
Stimme des B8b durch seine Hinrichtung der heutigen allgemeinen Unsicherheit, des
zum Schweigen gebracht wurde, miissen wir Misstrauens und des Zweifels, der Verant-
erkennen, dass die ganze Menschheit ihr wortungsmudigkeit und des Glaubens-
eigenes, selbstverschuldetes Martyrertum schwundes ergibt sich fur den tiefer Schauen-
erleidet, weil sie sich immer noch weigert, den fast zwangslaufig die Antwort, dass nur
dem gottlichen Ruf zu folgen und sich in eine neue sittlich-religiose Fundamentierung
einem umfassenden Glauben auszusohnen der einzelmenschlichen, gesellschaftlichen
und zu vereinigen. Gleichsam wie ein Me- und zwischenstaatlichen Beziehungen und
teor trat der BBb mit prophetischer Ver- Bindungen eine durchgreifende Wendung
heissung der unmittelbar bevorstehenden der bedrohlichen Lage der Menschheit her-
Heraufkunft eines Gottgesandten am Fir- beifiihren kann. Verstandigung oder Chaos,
mament auf und wurde durch seinen Opfer- Ordnung oder Untergang heisst die alterna-
tod zum Wegbereiter und Lichtstrahl der tive Lebensfrage der Menschheit.
erlosenden Wahrheit, die der von Ihm Ver- Wir sind der gleichen Auffassung wie
heissene, Bah$u'llgh, in der Niederlegung Toynbee, der sagt: ,,Was der modernen
einer gerechten Weltordnung im Zeichen Welt zutiefst not tut, ist eine Neugeburt des
der Einheit der Menschheit und der Reli- Glaubens an das Uebernatiirliche." Wahrer
gionen bald nach dem erschutternden Ereig- Glauben kann aber nur aus der Religion
nis in Tabris offenbarte. kommen und diese kann heute nur eine sol-
Der berufene Erklher der Sendungen des che sein, die die ganze Menschheit erneuert
Bkb und BahL'u'llih's, 'Abdul-Bah8, legt die und vereinigt.
Beziehungen zwischen den beiden mit der Die Sicherung des Weltfriedens und eines
BahB'i-Sendung verbundenen Manifestatio- sozialen Ausgleichs ist ohne die Errichtung
nen wie folgt dar : einer gerechten Weltordnung nicht denkbar
,,Die Oflenbarung des Bhb mag mit der und diese wiederulll kann nur dann von Be-
Sonne verglichen werden, deren Stand stand sein, wenn sie gottlichen Ursprungs
dem ersten Tierkreiszeichen entspricht, ist.
dern Zeichen des Widders, in welches die In religionsgeschichtlicher Einmaligkeit
Sonne mit der Tag- und Nachtgleiche hat nun BahL'u'll8h schon vor mehr als 80
des Friihlings eintritt. Die Stufe der O f - Jahren trotz Verfolgung, Verbannung, Ein-
fenbarung Bah6'u'lldhJs dagegen wird kerkerung und Lebensbedrohung ,,den Zir-
durch das Zeichen des Lowen dargestellt, kel der Einigkeit gefuhrt, Er hat einen Plan
wenn die Sonne die Sommermitte und niedergelegt fur die Vereinigung aller
ihren hochsten Stand erreicht hat. Das Volker, um sie alle unter dem schiitzenden
bedeutet, dass diese heilige Offenbarung Zelt der Einigkeit zu sammeln." ('Abdu'l-
erleuchtet ist vom Lichte der Sonne der BahA)
Wahrheit, die von ihrem erhabensten Es ist zum Ereignis geworden: Fur die
Punkte aus in der Fulle ihres Glanzes, Volker der Welt lie@ seit dem Erscheinen
ihrer Warme und ihrer Herrlichkeit he- BahL'u'll8h's eine gottlich geoffenbarte Welt-
rabscheint." Charta in authentischdokumentarischer
Die heutigen Probleme des Aufbaus einer Form bereit. Die Zukunft der Menschheit
friedlichen und gerechten Weltordnung wird durch deren allgemeine Annahme und
iibersteigen menschliches Konnen und Ver- Verwirklichung bestimmt werden.
mogen; sie erheischen wahrlich eine gottliche Die von BahL'u1118h niedergelegte Welt-
inspirierte Losung, die nur aus dem Bereich ordnung und deren autoritative Erlauterung
der Religion kommen kann. Alle grossen durch Seinen Bltesten Sohn 'Abdu'l-BahB
Kulturen hatten ihren Aufstieg einem re- verbiirgen in ihrem Aufbau soziale Gerech-
ligiasen Impuls zu verdanken und zerfielen tigkeit, treuhiinderische, beratende und
mit dem Niedergang ihrer gottlichen Bin- ubernationale Zusammenarbeit im Bewusst-
dungen. Hatte Goethe nicht recht, wenn er sein wahrer und weltoffener Bruderschaft.
sagte: ,,Das eigentlich einzige und tiefste Ausgehend von der tragenden Idee der gei-
Thema der Welt- und Menschheitsgeschi- stigen Einheit der Menschheit zielt die Welt-
3 Die Sendung Baha'u'llah's, S. 40. ordnung von BahL'u'llLh auf die schliess-
234 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

liche Bildung eines Weltgemeinwesens ab, schheit durch die vereinenden Lebenskrafte
da die nationalstaatliche Entwicklung ihren zustrebt."
Abschluss gefunden hat. Zu den wesentli- Gott geht voriiber betitelte Shoghi Effendi
chen Bestandteilen der iiberstaatlichen Vo1- sein Buch iiber das erste Bah2i-Jahrhun-
kergemeinschaft werden folgende Vorausset- dert. Wenn wir heute des freiwilligen Opfer-
zungen zahlen: Ueberwindung aller irnperia- todes des BBb gedenken, konnen wir uns der
listischen Macht- und Herrschaftsanspriiche, erlosenden und verpflichtenden Macht die-
Einfiihrung der obligatorischen interna- ses erschiitternden Ereignisses nicht entzie-
tionalen Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit und Bildung hen. Christi Wort: ,,Nehme dein Kreuz auf
eines Internationalen Schiedsgerichtshofes dich und folge mir nach" hat durch den
nebst einer Weltpolizei als Sicherheits- und Opfergang des BBb und die von Bah2uYllBh
Vollzugs-Weltorgan, allgemeine Abriistung, aus freiem Entschluss auf sich genommene
Kriegfiihrung nur bei unbestrittener Vertei- 40-jahrige Freiheitsberaubung in unbe-
digungszwangslage irn Sinne einer kollekti- schreiblicher, hartester und erniedrigender
ven Verteidigungs- und Schutzpflicht im Ag- Gefangnis- und Kerkerhaft eine unvergleich-
gressionsfalle, Abschaffung der allgemeinen liche Steigerung erfahren. Die neue Welt-
Wehrpflicht ohne unbedingte Kriegsdienst- ordnung muss von wiedergeborenen Men-
venveigerung, Losung der sozialen Fragen schen getragen werden, von opferbereiten,
auf der Grundlage der Wiirdigung jeglicher glaubensstarken Menschen, deren liebende
menschendienenden Arbeit und einer Be- Taten sie zur Stufe des wahren Menschen
grenzung von Armut und Reichtum nach erheben.
Grundsatzen der Leistung und gerechter Die tiefste Bedeutung, die erlosende Kraft
Teilhaberschaft am Arbeitsertrag, Einheit des Opfers erschliesst sich den Menschen in
von Religion und Wissenschaft als Basis der dem Geschehen der fortschreitenden Got-
Volkerverstandigung, Einfiihrung einer tesoffenbarung, in der unbedingten Hingabe
Welthilfssprache und Einheitsschrift, einer der Gottgesandten an Gott fiir die Men-
Weltverfassung unter Einbeziehung der un- schen, in ihrer Wahrheitsoffenbarung.
verletzlichen Menschenrechte und -Pflich- Dem Glauben an den Erloser muss aber
ten. die sittliche Tat der Selbstiibenvindung des
Shoghi Effendi schrieb d a r ~ b e r : ~ Menschen folgen.
,,Ein Weltbundsystem, das die ganze Erde Die folgenden Worte Bah2u'll&h's mogen
beherrscht und eine unanfechtbare Befugnis uns am heutigen Gedenktag zur 100. Wie-
iiber ihre unvorstellbar umfassenden Hilfs- derkehr des Martyrertodes des BBb die hohe
quellen ausiibt, die Ideale sowohl des Ostens Berufung des Menschen unserer Zeit verge-
als auch des Westens verschrnilzt und ver- genwartigen:
kijrpert, von dem Fluch des Krieges und ,,0 Sohn des Menschen!
seines Elends befreit ist und sich auf die Auf die Tafel des Geistes schreibe alles,
Ausniitzung aller verfiigbaren Kraftquellen was Wir dir verkiindet haben, mit der
auf der OberfEache des Planeten richtet, ein Tinte des Lichtes. Wenn du dies nicht
System, in dem die Starke zur Dienerin der vermagst, so mache zu deiner Tinte d m
Gerechtigkeit gemacht ist, dessen Dasein Wesen deines Herzens. Bist du auch dazu
durch seine allumfassende Anerkennung des nicht imstande, dann schreibe mit der
einen Gottes und durch seinen Gehorsam roten Tinte, die auf dem Pfade zu Mir
gegen eine gemeinsame Offenbarung getra- vergossen wurde. Wahrlich, dies ist Mir
gen wird-dies ist das Ziel, dem die Men- kostbarer als alles andere, denn solches
Licht wahret ewiglich."
4Aus World Order of Bahri'u'lldh, by Shoghi Ef-
fendi, S. 204. 5 Verborgene Worte (Arabische v. 7 1 ) .
THE COMPLETION OF THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE
SEPULCHER O F T H E B A B
IN T H E HOLY LAND, 1953
1 . E N T O M B M E N T O F T H E BAB'S R E M A I N S
ON M T . CARMEL
From GOD PASSES BY*

W I T H I N a few months of the historic following their execution, through the pious
decree which set Him free, in the very year intervention of Hbji Sulaymbn Kh6n, from
that witnessed the downfall of Sultan 'Ab- the edge of the moat where they had been
du'l-Hamid, that same power from on high cast to a silk factory owned by one of the
which had enabled 'Abdu'l-Bahb to preserve believers of Milgn, and were laid the next
inviolate the rights divinely conferred on day in a wooden casket, and thence carried
Him, to establish His Father's Faith in the to a place of safety. Subsequently, accord-
North American continent, and to triumph ing to Bahi'u'll6h's instructions, they were
over His royal oppressor, enabled Him to transported to Tihrbn and placed in the
achieve one of the most signal acts of His shrine of Im6m-Zbdih Hasan. They were
ministry: the removal of the B6b's remains later removed to the residence of HAji Su-
from their place of concealment in Tihrbn 1aymAn a 6 n himself in the Sar-C_has_hmih
to Mt. Carmel. He Himself testified, on quarter of the city, and from his house were
more than one occasion, that the safe trans- taken to the shrine of Im6m-Z6dih Ma'sGm,
fer of these remains, the construction of a where they remained concealed until the
befitting mausoleum to receive them, and year 1284 A.H. (1867-1868), when a Tab-
their final interment with His own hands in let, revealed by BahL'u'llbh in Adrianople,
their permanent resting-place constituted directed Mu116 'Ali-Akbar-i-SJhahmirz6di
one of the three principal objectives which, and Jam61-i-BurGjirdi to transfer them with-
ever since the inception of His mission, He out delay to some other spot, an instruction
had conceived it His paramount duty to which, in view of the subsequent reconstruc-
achieve. This act indeed deserves to rank as tion of that shrine, proved to have been
one of the outstanding events in the first providential.
BahL'i century. Unable to find a suitable place in the
As observed in a previous chapter the suburb of Sh6h 'Abdu'l-'A~im, Mullb 'Ali-
mangled bodies of the B6b and His fellow- Akbar and his companion continued their
martyr, Mirzb Muhammad-'Ali, were re- search until, on the road leading to C_has_h-
moved, in the middle of the second night mih-'Ali, they came upon the abandoned
and dilapidated Masjid-i-Ma&L'u'll6h,
* From Chapter XVIII. where they deposited, within one of its
23 6 T H E B A H A 'I W O R L D

walls, after dark, their precious burden, hav- few months later, was to commence. About
ing first re-wrapt the remains in a silken that same time, the marble sarcophagus, de-
shroud brought by them for that purpose. signed to receive the body of the Bib, an
Finding the next day to their consternation offering of love from the BahPis of Ran-
that the hiding-place had been discovered, goon, had, at 'Abdu'l-Bahi's suggestion,
they clandestinely carried the casket through been completed and shipped to Haifa.
the gate of the capital direct to the house of No need to dwell on the manifold prob-
Mirzi Hasan-i-Vazir, a believer and son-in- lems and preoccupations which, for almost
law of Hiji Mirzi Siyyid 'Aliy-i-Taf- a decade, continued to beset 'Abdu'l-BahP
ris_hi, the Majdu'l-A&rif, where it remained until the victorious hour when He was able
for no less than fourteen months. The long- to bring to a final consummation the his-
guarded secret of its whereabouts becoming toric task entrusted to Him by His Father.
known to the believers, they began to visit The risks and perils with which Bahi'u'llih
the house in such numbers that a communi- and later His Son had been confronted in
cation had to be addressed by Mulli 'Ali- their efforts to insure, during half a century,
Akbar to Bahi'u'llih, begging for guidance the protection of those remains were but a
in the matter. HBji ghih Muhammad-i- prelude to the grave dangers which, at a
Man&idi, surnamed Aminu'l-Bayin, was later period, the Center of the Covenant
accordingly commissioned to receive the Himself had to face in the course of the
Trust from him, and bidden to exercise the construction of the edifice designed to re-
utmost secrecy as to its disposal. ceive them, and indeed until the hour of His
Assisted by another believer, Hiji ghih final release from His incarceration.
Muhammad buried the casket beneath the The long-drawn out negotiations with the
floor of the inner sanctuary of the shrine of shrewd and calculating owner of the build-
Imim-Zidih Zayd, where it lay undetected ing-site of the holy Edifice, who, under the
until Mirzi Asadu'llih-i-I~fihini was in- influence of the Covenant-breakers, refused
formed of its exact location through a chart for a long time to sell; the exorbitant price
forwarded to him by Bahi'u'llih. Instructed at first demanded for the opening of a road
by Bah&'u'llih to conceal it elsewhere, he leading to that site and indispensable to the
first removed the remains to his own house work of construction; the interminable ob-
in Tihrin, after which they were deposited jections raised by officials, high and low,
in several other localities such as the house whose easily aroused suspicions had to be
of Husayn-'Aliy-i-IsfBhini and that of Mu- allayed by repeated explanations and assur-
hammad-Karim-i-'AttBr, where they re- ances given by 'Abdu'l-Bahi Himself; the
mained hidden until the year 1316 (1899) dangerous situation created by the mon-
A.H., when, in pursuance of directions is- strous accusations brought by Mirzi Mu-
sued by 'Abdu'l-Bahi, this same Mirz6 hammad-'Ali and his associates regarding
Asadu'llih, together with a number of other the character and purpose of that building;
believers, transported them by way of Isfi- the delays and complications caused by
hin, Kirmin&ih, Baghdid and Damascus, 'Abdu'l-Bahi's prolonged and enforced ab-
to Beirut and thenceby sea to 'Akki, ar- sence from Haifa, and His consequent in-
riving at their destination on the 19th of the ability to supervise in person the vast
month of Ramadin 1316 A.H. (January 3 1, undertaking He had initiated-all these
1899), fifty lunar years after the Bib's exe- were among the principal obstacles which
cution in Tabriz. He, at so critical a period in His ministry,
In the same year that this precious Trust had to face and surmount ere He could
reached the shores of the Holy Land and execute in its entirety the Plan, the outline
was delivered into the hands of 'Abdu'l- of which Bahfi'u'llih had communicated to
Bahl, He, accompanied by Dr. Ibrihim Him on the occasion of one of His visits to
K_hayru711&h,whom He had already honored Mt. Carmel.
with the titles of "BahiYs Peter," "The Sec- "Every stone of that building, every stone
ond Columbus" and "Conqueror of Amer- o f the road leading to it," He, many a time
ica," drove to the recently purchased site was heard to remark. "I have with infinite
which had been blessed and selected by tears and at tremendous cost, raised and
Bahi'u'llih on Mt. Carmel, and there laid, placed in position." "One night," He, ac-
with His own hands, the foundation-stone of cording to an eye-witness, once observed, "I
the edifice, the construction of which He, a was so hemmed in by My anxieties that I
C O M P L E T I O N O F S E P U L C H E R O F T H E BAB 237

had no other recourse than to recite and Shrine on Mt. Carmel . . . By a strange
repeat over and over again a prayer o f the coincidence, on that same day o f Naw-Rdz,
Ba'b which I had in My possession, the re- a cablegram was received from Chicago, an-
cital of which greatly calmed Me. The next nouncing that the believers in each o f the
morning the owner o f the plot himself came American centers had elected a delegate and
to Me, apologized and begged Me to pur- sent to that city . . . and definitely decided
chase his property ." on the site and construction of the Ma&-
Finally, in the very year His royal ad- riqu'l-AdJhka'r."
versary lost his throne, and at the time of With the transference of the remains of
the opening of the first American Bahi'i the BBb-Whose advent marks the return of
Convention, convened in Chicago for the the Prophet Elijah-to Mt. Carmel, and
purpose of creating a permanent national their interment in that holy mountain, not
organization for the construction of the far from the cave of that Prophet Himself,
Maariqu'l-AdJhkBr, 'Abdu'l-BahB brought the Plan so gloriously envisaged by Bahg-
His undertaking to a successful conclusion, u'llBh, in the evening of His life, had been at
in spite of the incessant machinations of last executed, and the arduous labors as-
enemies both within and without. On the sociated with the early and tumultuous years
28th of the month of Safar 1327 A.H., the of the ministry of the appointed Center of
day of the first Naw-Rfiz (1909) which He His Covenant crowned with immortal suc-
celebrated after His release from His con- cess. A focal center of Divine illurnillation
finement, 'Abdu'l-BahB had the marble sar- and power, the very dust of which 'Abdu'l-
cophagus transported with great labor to the Bahl averred had inspired Him, yielding in
vault prepared for it, and in the evening, sacredness to no other shrine throughout the
by the light of a single lamp, He laid within BahPi world except the Sepulcher of the
it, with His own hands-in the presence of Author of the BahL'i Revelation Himself,
believers from the East and from the West had been permanently established on that
and in circumstances at once solemn and mountain, regarded from time immemorial
moving-the wooden casket containing the as sacred. A structure, at once massive, sim-
sacred remains of the BBb and His com- ple and imposing; nestling in the heart of
panion. Carmel, the "Vineyard of God"; flanked by
When all was finished, and the earthly re- the Cave of Elijah on the west, and by the
mains of the Martyr-Prophet of ShhirBz were, hills of Galilee on the east; backed by the
at long last, safely deposited for their ever- plain of Sharon, and facing the silver-city
lasting rest in the bosom of God's holy of 'AkkB, and beyond it the Most Holy
mountain, 'Abdu'l-BahB, Who had cast aside Tomb, the Heart and Qiblih of the Bahi'i
His turban, removed His shoes and thrown world; overshadowing the colony of Ger-
off His cloak, bent low over the still open man Templars who, in anticipation of the
sarcophagus, His silver hair waving about "coming of the Lord," had forsaken their
His head and His face transfigured and lu- homes and foregathered at the foot of that
minous, rested His forehead on the border mountain, in the very year of Bahi'u'llBh's
of the wooden casket, and, sobbing aloud, Declaration in BaghdBd ( 1863), the mauso-
wept with such a weeping that all those who leum of the BBb had now, with heroic effort
were present wept with Him. That night He and in impregnable strength been estab-
could not sleep, so overwhelmed was He lished as "the Spot round which the Con-
with emotion. course on high circle in adoration." Events
"The most joyful tidings is this," He have already demonstrated through the ex-
wrote later in ~ a b l e tannouncing to His tension of the Edifice itself, through the em-
followers the news of this glorious victory, bellishment of its surroundings, through the
"that the holy, the luminous body of the acquisition of extensive endowments in its
Ba'b . . . after having for sixty years been neighborhood, and through its proximity to
transferred from place to place, by reason the resting-places of the wife, the son and
o f the ascendancy o j the enemy, and from daughter of Bahi'u'llBh Himself, that it was
fear o f the malevolent, and having known destined to acquire with the passing of the
neither rest nor tranquillity has, through the years a measure of fame and glory com-
mercy o f the Abha' Beauty, been ceremo- mensurate with the high purpose that had
niously deposited, on the day of Naw-RBz, prompted its founding. Nor will it, as the
within the sacred casket, in the exalted years go by, and the institutions revolving
23 8 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

around the World Administrative Center of Revelation. Well is it with him that circleth
the future BahL'i Commonwealth are grad- around thee, that proclaimeth the revelation
ually established, cease to manifest the la- o f thy glory, and recounteth that which the
tent potentialities with which that same im- bounty o f the Lord thy God hath showered
mutable purpose has endowed it. Resist- upon thee." "Call out to Zion, 0 Carmel!"
lessly will this Divine institution flourish and He, furthermore, has revealed in that same
expand, however fierce the animosity which Tablet, "and announce the joyful tidings:
its future enemies may evince, until the f ~ ~ l lHe that was hidden from mortal eyes is
measure of its splendor will have been dis- come! His all-conquering sovereignty is
closed before the eyes of all mankind.
"Haste thee, 0 Carmel!" BahQ'u'llQh,sig- manifest; His all-encompassing splendor is
nificantly addressing that holy mountain, revealed. Beware lest thou hesitate or halt.
has written, "for lo, the light of the Coun- Hasten forth and circumambulate the City
tenance o f God . . . hath been lifted upon of God that hath descended from heaven,
thee . . . Rejoice, for God hath, in this the celestial Kaaba round which have cir-
Day, established upon thee His throne, hath cled in adoration the favored o f God, the
made thee the dawning-place of His signs pure in heart, and the company of the most
and the dayspring o f the evidences o f His exalted angels."

2. CONSTRUCTION O F THE SUPER-
STRUCTURE OF THE SHRINE O F
THE BAB
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE GUARDIAN
. , construction (of the) shell designed (for)
1AM) happy (to) announce (the) com- its embellishment (and) preservation, addi-
tional height by one-third, additional width
pletion of plans and specifications for (the) by one-fifth, enhancing (the) massiveness
erection of (the) arcade surrounding the (of the) edifice embosomed (in the) Moun-
BQb's Sepulcher, constituting (the) first step tain of God, heralding (the) erection (of
in (the) process destined to culminate in the) lofty gilded dome that will eventually
(the) construction of the Dome anticipated shine forth in solitary splendor from its
by 'Abdu'l-BahQ and marking (the) con- heart.
summation of (an) enterprise initiated by
Him fifty years ago according to instruc- (b)
tions given Him by BahL'u'llQh.
(On the) occasion (of the) fivefold his-
Announce (to the) friends (the) comple- toric celebration-(the) dedication (for)
tion, (on the) eve (of) Naw-Rfiz, (of the) public worship (of the) holiest Ma&riqu'l-
erection (of) parapet crowning (the) east- Ad_hk&r(of the) Bahgi world; (the) convo-
ern f a ~ a d e(of) Holy Shrine one year after cation (of the) Second Intercontinental
placing (the) first threshold stones upon Teaching Conference (of the) Holy Year;
(the) foundation (of the) arcade. (The) (the) Anniversary (of the) Declaration
beauty (and) majesty (of the) finely carved (of) BahA'u'llQh (in the) Garden of Rid-
panels surmounting (the) soaring arches v&n; (the) holding (of the) Forty-Fifth
spanning (the) rosy monolith columns, em- American BahL'i Convention, (and the)
blazoned with emerald green and scarlet launching (of the) epochal, global spiritual
mosaic bymbolizing (the) BQb's lineage and Crusade, marking (the) climax (of the) fes-
martyrdom, (is) strikingly revealed. (The) tivities associated (with the) Centenary (of
original pearl-like structure raised by (the) the) Birth (of) BahL'u'llQh's Mission-an-
hands (of the) Center (of the) Covenant, nounce (to) His followers (of) East (and)
enshrining (the) remains (of the) Martyr West (that the) final phase (of the) con-
Prophet (of the) Faith, acquiring, through struction (of the) Biib's Sepulcher (has
C O M P L E T I O N O F S E P U L C H E R O F T H E BAB 239

been) ushered in through (the) erection stage (of the) initial epoch (in the) evolu-
(of) scaffolding (for the) completion (of tion (of the) process initiated over sixty
the) shuttering (of the) dome. years ago (by the) Founder (of the) Faith,
Forty-four gilded tiles out of (a) total (in the) heart (of the) Mountain (of) God,
(of) twelve thousand, designed (to) cover (is) consummated. (The) finishing touches
two hundred fifty square'meter surface (of (of the) installation (of) stained glass win-
the) dome (were) placed (in) permanent dows (in the) Drum (and) Octagon, (the)
position (on the) eve (of the) ninth day of removal (of) scaffolding (from the) exte-
the) Ninetieth Anniversary (of the) Ridvkn rior (and) interior (of the) edifice, (the)
Festival. (On the) afternoon (of the) same interior calcimining (of the) Dome, Drum
day, during (the) course (of a) moving (and) Octagon, tuckpointing, cleaning
ceremony (in the) presence (of) pilgrims (and) floodlighting (the) entire Structure
(and) resident believers (of) 'AkkB (and) (have been) completed, synchronizing
Haifa, (there was) placed reverently (a) (with the) closing weeks (of the) glorious
fragment (of the) plaster ceiling (of the) twelve-month (in the) annals (of the) Holy
Bgb's prison cell (in the) Castle (of) Mkh- Faith.
Kfi, beneath (the) gilded tiles (of the) (A) steadily swelling throng (of) visitors
crowning unit (of the) majestic edifice. Cir- (from) far (and) near, (on) many days ex-
cumambulated (the) base (of the) dome, ceeding (a) thousand, (is) flocking (the)
paid homage (to) His memory, recalled gates leading (to the) Inner Sanctuary (of
(His) afflictive imprisonment (and) offered this) majestic mausoleum; paying homage
prayers (on) behalf (of the) friends (of) (to the) Queen of Carmel enthroned (on)
East (and) West (on a) subsequent visit (to God's Mountain, crowned (in) glowing
the) interior (of) His Shrine. gold, robed (in) shimmering white, girdled
Preparatory steps are now being taken (in) emerald green, enchanting every eye
(for the) pouring (of) concrete (for the) from air, sea, plain (and) hill.
construction (of the) ribs (of the) dome, as ( I am) moved (to) request (the) attend-
well as for (the) placing (of) ornamental ants (at the) Conference (to) hold (a) be-
stones surrounding its base. fitting memorial gathering (to) pay tribute
(My) hopes (are) heightened (that the) (to the) Hand (of the) Cause, Sutherland
termination (of the) five-year-long, three- Maxwell, immortal architect (of the) Ar-
quarter million dollar enterprise, undertaken cade (and) Superstructure (of the) Shrine.
(in the) heart (of) Carmel, (will) coincide (I) feel, moreover, acknowledgement
(with the) termination (of the) world-wide (should) be made (at the) same gathering
celebrations commemorating (the) Cente- (of the) unflagging labors (and) vigilance
nary (of the) inception (of) BahL'u'llBh's (of the) Hand (of the) Cause, Ugo Gia-
Ministry. chery, (in) negotiating contracts, inspecting
(and) despatching all materials required
(for the) construction (of the) Edifice, as
(On the) occasion (of the) conclusion well as (of the) assiduous, constant care (of
(of the) Holy Year ( I am) overjoyed (to the) Hand (of the) Cause, Leroy Ioas, (in)
share the) following triple announcement supervising (the) construction (of) both
(with the) attendants (at the) fourth (and) Drum (and) Dome. To two doors (of the)
h a 1 Intercontinental Teaching Conference, Shrine recently named after (the) first two
marking (the) termination (of) festivities aforementioned Hands, (the) Octagon
associated (with the) Centenary (of the) Door, now added, (will) henceforth (be)
Birth (of) BahL'uYllkh'sProphetic Mission. associated (with the) third Hand who con-
(The) five-year-old, three-quarter million tributed (to the) raising (of this) stately,
dollar enterprise, constituting (the) final sacred Structure. . . .
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

3 . A N A C C O U N T O F THE P R E P A R A T O R Y
WORK I N I T A L Y

O N April 22, 1948, at four o'clock in the tion."' For around and above the original
afternoon, in a room of the Hotel Savoia in Edifice erected by 'Abdu'l-BahL this beauti-
Rome, William Sutherland Maxwell, acting ful new exterior is being placed, as by en-
for Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the chantment, within the matchless setting of
BahQ'i Faith, signed the first contract for the magnificent gardens. The Persian gardens of
marble necessary to complete the Shrine of Haifa are the finest in the East, and the con-
the BLb on Mt. Carmel. As the signatures stant loving supervision of the Guardian has
were being affixed to the document, the fine embellished them to a degree almost impos-
drizzle which had been falling for many sible to visualize.
hours ceased as by magic, and a ray of the At ground level the design of the Shrine
warm spring sun lit up the room. calls for a quadrate colonnade, with twenty-
All those present looked at the skies four columns and eight pilasters of Rose
through the open balcony and smiled cheer- Granite of Baveno, each fifteen feet high
fully, while this correspondent reviewed and resting on bases of the same granite.
rapidly in his mind the contrasting condi- All tourists who have visited Italy know
tions prevailing on this joyous occasion and Lake Maggiore. Between Stresa and Ver-
those during the tremendous hours which bania on the shores of this romantic lake,
followed the noon of July 9, ninety-eight stands Mt. Mottarone, famous for the
years before, when an obscuring gale swept unique view of Lombardy's plains. On the
the city of Tabriz at the time of the Bib's north side of this mountain, lies the Cava
martyrdom. del Camoscio, or Quarry of the Chamois,
On May 5 a second contract was signed from which the rose granite for the col-
in the same room, and a complex and pon- umns, pilasters and bases has been quarried.
derous machinery was set in motion. Archi- Huge blocks have been hewn from the side
tects, draftsmen, quarriers, stonecutters, of the mountain, thence lowered by cograil
sculptors, and artists began a momentous to the plains and transported by sturdy
activity. Many are familiar with the beauti- horse-drawn carts to the marble works in
ful color plate giving the architect's design Gravellona. Scores of men have been at
of the Shrine as it appears in Volume IX of work on these blocks, week after week, pro-
The B a h a World as the frontispiece. But ducing by their accurate, painstaking labor
only a few have seen the counties> accurate the most perfect columns that glisten like
and detailed drawings of this unique build- mirrors in the sun. Every column has been
ing, a mighty work done by one man. packed as if it were precious glassware, in
The Italian architects who have had the mammoth wooden boxes, for shipment to
opportunity to examine these plans have ex- Haifa.
pressed their admiration, with the highest The columns and pilasters support beau-
words of praise, for the conception, the tifully carved capitals of rare design, em-
style, the elegance, and the exquisite intri- bodying classic elements of ancient Greco-
cacy of the decoration which characterizes Roman architecture and the delicate filigree-
the entire project. like motifs of Persia. Twenty-eight carved
So begins the befitting completion of the arches sustain the f a ~ a d ewith sculptured
work envisioned by 'Abdu'l-Bahi, which He panels and join the four monumental cor-
so dramatically described, "Every stone of ners into a harmonious ensemble. The
that building, every stone of the road leading arches, panels, corners, and f a ~ a d e shave
to it, I have with infinite tears and at tre- been made, piece by piece, of a marble-like
mendous cost, raised and placed in posi- 2 Cited in God Passes By, by Shoghi Effendi, page
275. The original Edifice was completed in 1908 and the
1 Dr. Giachery was appointed by Shoghi Effendi as Bib's remains were laid to rest therein on March 21,
his personal representative for the work in Italy for the 1909. (ffe "Entombment of the Bbb's Remains on Mt.
Shrine of the Bib. (Editors.) Carmel, page 235 this Section.)
C O M P L E T I O N O F S E P U L C H E R O F T H E BAB 24 1

stone called Chiampo. This stone, which is liam Sutherland Maxwell, the architect for
quarried near Vicenza, fifty miles northwest the Shrine, had signed, on behalf of the
of Venice, is hard, compact, of uniform tex- Guardian, the first contract much had al-
ture, and the delicate tint of wheat straw ready been accomplished.
at harvest time. Seventy-two wooden cases, occupying 67
Car loads of large blocks of Chiampo cubic meters and weighing 90 metric tons,
have been carried from the quarry to were stowed safely in the holds of the S.S.
Pietrasanta, on the Tyrrhenian sea. Pietra- Norte, to be carried through a blockade of
santa, just north of Pisa, is one of the fore- hostile naval vessels to its final destination
most marble working centers of Italy, not in Haifa. Those early months will remain in
far from Carrara. Here a large group of our memory as the most difficult of the en-
skilled artists, carvers, stonecutters, carpen- tire period necessary to the procurement of
ters, and sculptors have been mobilized un- material for the Shrine.
der the guidance of two able architects There was no mail service at this time
(one, a college professor) to transfer into between Italy and the nascent State of
stone the dream-like conception of Mr. Israel; a few letters which had been posted
Maxwell. had been returned to the sender. shipping
This correspondent has had the special was erratic, and only a very few steamers
privilege of visiting the laboratory of Pietra- dared to approach the shores of Israel as
santa where over sixty men work daily with there was constant danger of confiscation of
incredible facility to make the various hieces the cargo by hostile warships. To maintain
of the building which dovetail to perfection. correspondence with the International
It is a sight never to be forgotten: dozens of Bahb'i Center in Haifa was the most com-
men at work in clouds of dust raised by plex and difficult problem. Plans and archi-
their drills and chisels, deft fingers mov- tectural drawings had to be sent back and
ing with care and skill, shaping the stone forth. Photographs of the work accom-
they have learned to love, humble artists plished had to be submitted to Mr. Maxwell
contributing to the engraving of pages of for his approval. Cablegrams sent only at
splendor in the history of the Bahb'i Faith, the sender's risk and without promise of de-
unknown actors in the unfolding of the most livery, if transmitted, were delayed by the
glorious of all Plans as envisaged by censor for weeks at a time. After much
Bahb'u'llgh. searching, a method was found by which
In Pietrasanta, also, a large portion of the the necessary and vital correspondence
outdoor yard is ever covered with immense could be carried on: Once a week there
packing cases containing the completed passed through Rome a lone plane going
pieces ready for shipment to Haifa. from Prague to Haifa. By complying with a
It was on November 16, 1948, that the tedious and endless procedure of filling out
following memorable cablegram was sent forms, waiting in long queues and obtain-
from Rome to Shoghi Effendi in Haifa, and ing government permits, it became possible
was despatched with deep emotion by this to entrust to the crew of the plane the pack-
correspondent: ages of mail. These were delivered with
"First shipment granite, stone holy Bgb's regularity but with much delay on account
Shrine left Leghorn Sunday November 14th of the censorship. In looking back, it all
Steamship Norte due Haifa twenty-third en- seems a continuous chain of miracles!
trusting safety beloved Guardian's prayer The activity which originated in Rome
assistance Blessed Perfection ever-present with the signing of three contracts in less
Master's guiding hand. Loving devotion. than three months included, in the begin-
Ugo Giachery." ning, the choice of the stone or marble to
This message, the delivery of which was be used in the construction. Mr. Maxwell
not guaranteed in war-torn I ~ r a e l ,was
~ to wanted very much to match a Palestinian
bring to the Guardian the much awaited stone with a similar Italian marble. To
news that the fruits of the first six months simplify the search Mr. Maxwell was taken
of intense activity and toil in four different to the Geological Office of Rome, a govern-
parts of Italy were ripe and ready to be de- ment institution where samples of stones of
livered. Since that day in April, when Wil- every geological era and description are
3 Israel was declared an independent Republic in
available. With the assistance of the director
May, 1948. of the Office a stone was found which
242 T H E B A H A.'I W O R L D

matched the Palestinian stone in color, Then, when operation was resumed at the
structure and geological formation. It was a first signs of spring, the stratum uncovered
typical Italian marble used chiefly in the was imperfect and criss-crossed by flaws.
civil building trade. When the contractor for Weeks of anxiety followed until another
the work on the Shrine, Messrs. Guido M. perfect stratum was struck and the much
Fabbricotti, Successors, of Carrara, was needed material started to flow again from
charged with locating the quarry and mak- Chiampo to Pietrasanta.
ing a substantial purchase of this stone, it For the columns, the pilasters and their
was found that all the approaches to the bases, which were made of Rose Baveno
quarry had been blown up during the war granite, the matter was not so complicated
and that to put the quarry back into opera- as the quarry yielded perfect blocks for all
tion would require many months of work our needs. This part of the work was carried
and a considerable sum of money. out in the little town of Gravellona near
Taken aback but undaunted, we directed Lake Maggiore.
the search in other directions and after a From the same district came also the
second visit to the Geological Office an- green marble used in the panels of the balus-
other quarry was located, in Northern Italy trade and as background for the central
at the little town of Chiampo, not far from panel of the Greatest Name.5 "Verde Ugo"
Venice. is the name of this beautiful green marble
Signor Andrea R ~ c c a , the ~ energetic chosen by Mr. Maxwell; it is named after
Italian architect who has been carrying out the owner of the quarry, Count Ugo d'Ivrea
all the technical details of the work in Italy of Gressoney, Piedmont.
as envisaged by Mr. Maxwell, was dis- After the first shipment had arrived safely
patched immediately to this quarry to make in Haifa, we initiated a continuous flow of
a thorough survey of the material. The re- material from the Italian ports of Genoa,
ports were good and heartening, and ar- Leghorn and Venice to Haifa. Obstacles of
rangements were made to quarry the needed every nature arose from time to time, from
quantity of large blocks of "Chiampo," to the most unexpected sources. The most
be sent by lorries, or trucks, to the Tyr- serious was created by the drought which
rhenian side of the Italian peninsula where prevailed in Italy during the winter and
the stone would be cut and carved. spring of 1949. All industrial electric power
The reader should consider for a moment was curtailed to three working days per
the arduous and intricate process of stone week. The workmen could not operate the
q~~arrying as applied to the requirements for pneumatic drills and chisels; the great cut-
the Shrine. A perfect stone was needed, ting saws were idle, and the production of
without blemishes or even the most minute cut stone lagged behind the schedule which
imperfection. Tons upon tons of rock had to had been set. After this correspondent had
be removed first in order to reach the vein prevailed on the contractors to purchase a
or stratum of the marble to be quarried. diesel electric generator, the rain started
After that, a quantity about three times again and things went back to normal.
larger than needed was to be removed and During these crises one of the partners of
shipped to the laboratory. To illustrate this the contracting firm became very ill and
point, for example, in order to carve to suddenly died. He was Colonel Alberto
perfection an ornate capital, weighing when Bufalini of Carrara, a fine and competent
finished about one ton, a block three times gentleman in whom Mr. Maxwell and this
that weight was initially required-and correspondent had placed a great deal of
there were thirty-two capitals to be carved! trust and responsibility. His death was a real
After the signing of the third and fourth loss, an irreparable loss to the firm and his
contracts, when much more "Chiampo" was family. His last words addressed to his wife
needed, considerable difficulties were met were an exhortation to complete the work of
with. First, the quarry had to be closed on the Shrine in the best possible manner, as
account of the frigid weather and much this was the greatest thing he had done in
snow which made any work impossible. his life time. Fortunately, his two young
sons are carrying on, with competence and
4The Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara bestowed
upon Signor Rocca the honorary Professorship in Ar-
chitecture of that Academy, in recognition of his meri- 5 YL-BahL'u'l-AbhL, or Allih-u-Abhi, meaning ''God
torious skill as an artist and an architect. the All Glorious!"
C O M P L E T I O N O F S E P U L C H E R O F T H E BAB 243

interest, the work so well initiated by their Rockefeller "Cloister" which was moved
father. from France to New York City.
Great anxiety was also caused by the The Guardian's desire was to have the
shipping situation. We would engage a complete colonnade surrounding the origi-
steamer to take a cargo on a certain date nal Shrine, built by 'Abdu'l-Bahi, erected
from a certain port. The precious cargo of and finished for the one hundredth anniver-
material for the Shrine would be brought to sary of the Martyrdom of the Bib-July 9,
the wharf and there it would have to wait 1950.
for days and days until the ship arrived. One Time was racing by fast. New contracts
time the steamer arrived on schedule but an were concluded for the parapet which
earthquake sent the population of Leghorn crowns the colonnade. Samples of gold and
fleeing to the countryside, and there was no green mosaics were submitted for approval.
one to load the ship! In another instance, Their acceptance started a new activity, the
when the steamer was unloading our cargo completion of twenty-eight large panels
of stone in the port of Haifa, the captain be- carved and embellished with "blue-green"
came alarmed at a plane flying overhead and mosaic and "scarlet-red" blossoms. The
hastily took the ship out of the port, re- great central panel, the one which was to
turning half of the cargo back to Italy. An- bear the Greatest Name, was completed
other time a fire broke out on board the with its huge star of green marble in one
steamer Sacro Cuore, endangering all our piece and with background rays filled in
shipment, but it remained miraculously un- with gold mosaic.
damaged. Still another time a full load of he shipment of these panels presented a
stone which had been transferred from the great problem. They were heavy, large in
ship to a lighter in the port of Haifa went to size and delicate to handle on account of the
mosaic. After thorough consultation with
the bottom of the sea, when a stiff wind
arose and capsized the lighter. Again good the Contractors and Signor Rocca it was de-
fortune was on our side and a salvage com- cided to ship the panels in double cases to
be sure they would arrive in Haifa in excel-
pany with the aid of a diver brought every
lent condition. The Guardian approved this
case to the surface undamaged.
plan, and every panel reached its destination
The testing of all the cut stone has been
in the utmost state of perfection. But the
one of the most meticulous tasks and has
problem of moving such large cases was not
been carried out with unfailing precision a small one; again another link was added
and accuracy. The reader should realize that to the chain of miracles.
the stone shipped was not merely cut; it was To ship all the columns, pilasters, capi-
cut to a size prescribed by plans made by tals, star panels, arches of the arcade, walls
the architect, then carved, finished to a of the arcade, monumental corners, cor-
smooth surface, and placed with its neigh- nices, small pilasters and panels of the para-
boring stones in the actual part of the build- pet, we used seventeen different steamers
ing erected in the marble works, in sections over a period of nineteen months. Nearly
held together by plaster of Paris. Specialized eight hundred tons of finished material were
workers then went over every single stone shipped and safely delivered in Haifa, in
to eliminate any imperfection to the fraction 1,800 wooden cases. The largest piece
of a line. The stones were then numbered, shipped weighed over three tons, and the
the temporary part of the building disman- largest carved piece of "Chiampo" weighed
tled, and every piece placed in a strong over one ton. Altogether 4,587 finished
wooden box made especially for it, to be pieces were transported from Italy to Mt.
shipped to Haifa. Carmel during this period.
A detailed list would give the number of Over 100 trucks were required, to carry
the case and the number of each stone the material from the laboratory to the
contained in it, while a master key-plan wharves to be shipped, and more than 100
indicated the location of each stone in the railroad cars and lorries were used to bring
building. A fascinating gigantic puzzle. An the stone blocks from the quarry to the lab-
Italian journalist has stated that this appears oratory.
to be the largest prefabricated building to On May 8, 1950, the last shipment left
move from the European continent to any Leghorn on the S.S. Maria-the last 44
point in the world, even larger than thk cases containing the precious cargo for the
T H E B A H A 'I W O R L D

BAb's Shrine. This steamer entered the har- without damaging its structure or impairing
bor of Haifa on May 20, thus bringing to a in any manner the sacred entirety of the
close the nineteen months of intense labor Holy Tombs. To carry out this bold plan,
on the Italian side of the Mediterranean Sea. this correspondent was called upon to pro-
On June 29, 1950, the last small stone was vide and ship at the earliest possible moment
put in position at 3 :30 P.M. in the Arcade of a large amount of structural steel, eight huge
the Shrine on Mt. Carmel, in ample time for Manesmann pipesG and 100,000 pounds of
the commemoration of the Centenary of the cement-all material it was impossible to se-
Martyrdom of the Bib. The Guardian's cure in Israel. On the other hand, Italy's re-
foresight had won; the colonnade was com- construction program made these materials
pleted and all the BahB'i world rejoiced at extremely scarce in Italy and they were ex-
the announcement. portable only under special Government li-
The morning of the first of September, censes. Twice the cement was obtained and
1950, a cable from Shoghi Effendi was re- twice, with great swiftness, its shipment was
ceived, announcing the shipment by plane prevented by ever-changing and unheralded
of the architectural drawings for the octagon Government regulations. After weeks of
section of the Shrine superstructure, to ob- stubborn perseverance, and soliciting and
tain an estimate of the cost and of the time pleading with Government agencies, the
required to complete this part of the con- licenses were obtained and the material left
struction. On September 8 the drawings fi- the port of Leghorn on two ships, the S.S.
nally arrived. After a series of conferences Komemiut and the S.S. Frankis, on April 5
and consultations with Architect Rocca and and 13, 1951, respectively.
representatives of the firm of Messrs. Guido Professor Neuman has personally de-
M. Fabbricotti, Successori, of Carrara, a scribed to this correspondent the fascinating
new contract for the carved Chiampo neces- and highly skilled work of casting the eight
sary to erect the octagon was stipulated. The huge piers and the eight-pointed star on
contract was signed in Rome, at Via Liguria which the entire new structure-the octa-
38, on Saturday, October 21. Again a com- gon, the drum and the dome-will rest. The
plex machinery was set in motion with a star consists of eight interlocked beams of
speed that, at the time, left both this corre- reinforced concrete, each measuring one
spondent and the contractors spellbound foot wide, six feet deep and forty-three feet
and breathless; immediately a representative long, each point of the star resting on one
of the contractor was dispatched to Chiampo of the eight vertical piers. The lower edge of
to purchase all the blocks of marble re- the beams is a distance of about one foot
quired, before the closing of the quarry from the roof of the original Shrine. On the
which, on account of the inclement weather, upper part of the beams is laid a mighty
was scheduled the first week of November. concrete platform which constitutes the
As soon as the work of cutting and carv- floor of the octagon and the foundation for
ing the stone started, new technical prob- the eight steel columns. As all the beams are
lems of vital importance arose in Haifa interlocked (like two superimposed quad-
which demanded skillful, rapid and accurate rangles), it was necessary to cast this enor-
solution. The reader should consider that the mous foundation in one day-something of
ensemble of the octagon, the drum and the a miracle, "epoch-making, unique in the his-
dome-a mighty construction weighing over tory of engineering in the entire Middle
1,000 tons-could not be laid on the roof East," said Professor Neuman, "as we had
of the original Shrine, this venerable Edifice to cast 135 cubic meters of concrete in one
erected by 'Abdu'l-BahA being unable to single day."
hold such tremendous weight. During this search for the materials men-
Prof. H. Neuman of Haifa Institute of tioned, another cablegram from Shoghi
Technology, the engineer for the project, de- Effendi requested an estimate of the cost of
vised a very ingenious system to support the the cylinder (or drum) and of the dome.
entire superstructure by planning to sink Again new conferences and consultations
eight mighty piers, of unusual dimensions, took place, to agree on many important
all the way through the original Shrine to technical details and to discuss costs and la-
reach the bedrock lying under its founda- bor.
tion. It was a truly gigantic and delicate task G Hollow steel columns 15 feet high and one foot
to break through the masonry of the Shrine wide, to support the drum aild the dome.
C O M P L E T I O N O F S E P U L C H E R O F T H E BAB 245

After several quotations were submitted The task of cutting and carving the
to the Guardian, authority was received to Chiampo stone for the octagon was proceed-
stipulate a new contract at a favorable cost, ing with great alacrity. It was a meticulous
and on Friday, March 24, the contract was and vast undertaking to carve out of the
signed at Via Liguria, in Rome. During ne- stone eight fa~adeseach measuring twenty-
gotiations for this contract, additional re- four by twenty-six feet, with intricate orna-
quests were received from time to time from mental carvings and eight huge pinnacles to
Shoghi Effendi which resulted in new con- be placed at the summit of every corner.

1 EDIFICE BUILT
B Y 'ABDU'L-BAHA'

-3. REINFORCED
CONCRETE BEAM

C O N C R E T E PIERS
T O BED-ROCK

Haif a, Israel.
Sketch of the eight-pointed star foundation for the Octagon:
1. Outline of original Edifice, built by 'Abdu'l-Bahi, roughly square
in shape.
2. Eight reinforced concrete piers rising from bedrock to one foot
above roof level of original Edifice.
3. Reinforced concrete eight-pointed star foundation, consisting of eight
interlocked concrete beams one foot wide, six feet deep and
forty-three feet long. The eight points of this star rest on the
eight concrete piers; the entire star is raised one foot above the roof
of the original Edifice.
4. Dotted line connecting points of the star foundation represents the
f a ~ a d eof the Octagon. Small circles at intersections of beams
indicate position of the eight hollow steel columns (Manesmann pipes).

tracts for the beautiful hand-wrought iron Over fifty highly skilled stone cutters and
railing for the octagon, iron window frames artist carvers accomplished this work, some-
for the same structure and for the cylinder times laboring until late at night in order to
-a total of eighteen large windows, eight of deliver the material in less than a year. Ship-
medium size, sixteen small ones-and an ments were made from time to time. The
oak door with wrought-iron grill. In addition first lot of Chiampo, 18 tons carefully
to these items other contracts were drawn packed in sealed wooden boxes, left the port
up for lamp posts to embellish the terraces of Leghorn on May 4, on the S.S. De Vil-
outside the Shrine and for artistic wrought- hena. Another important shipment of 105
iron gates for the completion of the terraces. tons was made on August 2 on the S.S.Resi,
246 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

and was followed by other shipments of 54 precedented violence were lashing the north
tons on the same steamer on September 26, and the south of the Italian peninsula, bring-
of 30 tons on the S.S. Rapido on November ing about the disastrous floods which devas-
12, and the balance on the S.S. De Vilhena tated all the Polesine region in the north and
on December 3. a good part of Calabria in the south. The
About the middle of September an addi- Tyrrhenian and the Adriatic seas were
tional request was received, for structural stormy as they had never been in the mem-
steel, another 100,000 pounds of cement, a ory of any living man. Right at that moment
huge quantity of construction lumber, all to a large cargo of Chiampo stone, of steel and
permit the erection of the cylinder and the a good part of the lumber had been sent to
dome. By this time the Italian Government the port of Leghorn for shipment. No
had made it almost impossible to purchase
steamer was then able to enter or leave any
or to ship abroad any quantity of steel, even
port. All shipping was paralyzed for a few
the smallest. Petitions to the proper author-
ity, and verbal pleading seconded by written weeks and our precious and most needed
statements stressing the importance of com- cargo lay idle at the wharf. It was only on
pleting the cylinder and the dome of the November 12 (BahL'u'llLh's birthday) that
Shrine, which would extol1 the skill of Ital- the S.S. Rapido, after completing hasty load-
ian artistry, brought the capitulation of the ing operations, sailed from Leghorn with the
adamant Committee on Exports, and with weather still unsettled.
the great rejoicing of this correspondent the At the present date, January, 1952, the
export license for the steel, cement and lum- work is proceeding with great speed to com-
ber was granted. "This is an exceptional plete the cylinder with its eighteen intri-
measure," stated the government official cately carved windows, the eighteen great
who signed the license, "as no such permit ribs of the dome, and the stone lantern
has been granted for months, even to larger which crown this superstructure of the
corporations with world-wide trade." Shrine, like outstretched arms and uplifted
By the middle of October storms of un- hands joined in a prayer to the Almighty.

4. R E P O R T S ON T H E CONSTRUCTION
O F THE ARCADE

SHOGHI
EFFENDI has asked me to where the Bhb's earthly remains should be
write you about the progress of the building placed at rest. That was a memorable day
of the arcade about the Shrine of the BBb and it is fitting that one of the BahL'is pres-
on Mt. Carmel from time to time, with the ent at the time should now be residing at the
suggestion that it be printed in BahBi News BahL'i Pilgrim House near the Shrine and
for the information of the friends. This is a acting as host to all visitors-Hussein Ek-
rather large task for so poor a servant to bal. He is a fine and kindly, elderly gentle-
nndertake, for truly the erection of this ar- man, and it is a privilege to meet and know
cade will be an epic milestone in the annals him.
of the Bah6'i Faith, and will foreshadow the All Bah6'is know that 'Abdu'l-BahL was
erection of the golden dome, some one hun- able to bring the precious remains of the
dred and twenty feet in height, and the com- BBb to Mt. Carmel and to erect six of the
pletion of the enterprise conceived by BahL'- nine rooms of the present Shrine building.
u'116h sixty years ago. Perhaps, something not so well known, is
Many of the friends will recall the circu- that one day in 1915, 'Abdu'l-BahB was sit-
lar group of cypress trees near the Shrine, ting on the terrace at the top of the steps of
under which BahL'u'llBh sat when He indi- His home looking up to the building then on
cated to 'Abdu'l-BahL the spot upon which Mt. Carmel and remarked that as yet the
the Shrine of the Bib was to be erected, and Shrine of the BBb was "unbuilt" and that
C O M P L E T I O N O F S E P U L C H E R O F T H E BAB 247

considerable sums of money would be told by Ugo Giachery who rendered so great
needed, but God willing, they would be a service in all this work, and continues to
forthcoming. How significant that word "un- act as Shoghi Effendi's appointed represent-
built," and yet, how precious are the rooms ative in Italy in the matter of stone for the
built at His direction! How indicative it was Shrine of the B5b.
that He envisaged the beautiful structure Very quickly after the return from Italy,
which is to be raised about the precious on May 15, affairs in Palestine took on a
kernel He had placed on Mt. Carmel. You swifter tempo. The British Mandate had
may be sure no stone which was laid at His come to an end and the State of Israel came
desire will ever be disturbed. This same will to birth. This latter event forced a change in
hold true of the three rooms added by Sho- the construction plans for the Shrine. The
ghi Effendi after the passing of 'Abdu'l- first intent was to use Palestinian stone for
Bahi, and in accordance with His desire. the thresholds, the corners, walls, and the
The present nine-room structure will always cornices, but circumstances left the quarries
remain the kernel of the Shrine and the of the needed stone in the hands of the
present project will only be a beautiful and Arabs. This looked like a serious obstacle
glorious shell to protect and preserve it. and might cause a serious delay, but Shoghi
Even with this bit of background in mind, Effendi immediately communicated with
few will ever know the intense longing Ugo Giachery and within a surprisingly
which has been in the heart of Shoghi Ef- short time Ugo was able to place a further
fendi, over a long period of years, to start contract with Guido M. Fabbricotti, Suc-
the construction of the edifice he knew was cessors, for the cutting, in Chiampo granite,
so dear to the heart of 'Abdu'l-Bahh. Then, of all the stone needed to construct the ar-
suddenly, in the spring of this year, 1948, he cade. Everyone feels this has been a happy
felt that the end of his patient waiting had turn of events as this Chiampo granite is a
come, even though conditions in the world, very fine and beautiful stone. The placing of
and especially in Palestine, were far from this latest contract means that all the stone
propitious. However, he well knew that of the arcade will be Italian and it is possi-
every great step forward in our Bahi'i Faith ble that when the time comes to add the
has been taken under severe difficulties, balustrade and the tall dome the master
therefore, he did not hesitate to send Mr. stonecutters of Italy will have more work
William S. Maxwell to Italy with his exqui- to do.
sitely designed plans, to contract for the cut- With the matter of the stonework de-
ting and carving of the stone necessary to cided, Shoghi Effendi took swift action to-
bring out the full richness and delicacy of ward preparing the site about the Shrine for
the arcade he, Mr. Maxwell, has conceived. the work to come. This is a huge task in
It might be mentioned that his designs and itself and is not without a little heartbreak
drawings have excited the admiration of for it means disturbing the beauty Shoghi
many of the finest stonecutters in Italy. This Effendi has devoted so many years to create
is justified and it is to be regretted that space about the Shrine, to gladden the hearts of
does not allow the telling of the labor and the pilgrims and visitors. There were hun-
devotion Mr. Maxwell has put into this dreds upon hundreds of finely laid tiles to be
work. It is great, very great. carefully removed and properly stored,
The trip to Italy was most successful; many yards of well-cared-for hedging and
with the very able assistance of Dr. Ugo R. trees to take up and replant, four huge, lead
Giachery, contracts were entered into with vases and their pedestals dismounted, the
Guido M. Fabbricotti, Successors, of Car- laying of the foundation and the taking of
rara, Italy, for twenty-four columns and many, many cubic yards of stone from the
eight pilasters, with their bases, to be cut high wall on the mountain side of the
and polished from Rose Baveno granite, the Shrine. The laying of the foundation has
capitals for these, together with the twenty- been completed and the cutting of the rock
eight graceful arches, star panels and deli- wall progressing swiftly under Shoghi Ef-
cate, curved corner panels to be cut and fendi's direction.
carved of cream, Chiampo granite. The While work was progressing in Haifa
search for a proper stone and the selection much of the work in Italy was being finished
of Chiampo granite for this fine carved and packed for shipment. The excitement of
work is a tale in itself and could better be the day Shoghi Effendi asked Ugo Giachery
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

to arrange for the first shipment of stone bors both great and small, it is to be hoped
was only equaled by the day we learned that that the friends who read it will not forget
the S. S. Norte had left Italy with some one the importance and great purpose behind
hundred and twelve tons of columns, pi- these strivings. The structure 'Abdu'l-Bah6
lasters, bases, socles, and threshold stones, hoped one day, God willing, would be raised
and would arrive in Haifa on November 28. upon the side of Mt. Carmel is taking tangi-
Activities increased greatly here as there was ble form under the hands of our beloved
much to be done to clear the shipment Guardian.
through customs, arrange transportation Haifa, Dec. 28, 1948
from the port and prepare a space near the
Gardens where this precious cargo could be With completion of the foundation to-
stored. And then came word from Ugo that ward the end of 1948, the enlarging of the
an additional forty tons was being loaded on site of the Shrine began. This meant cutting
the S. S. Campidoglio and would arrive in into the side of the mountain and the re-
Haifa on December 3. One hundred and moval of many hundreds of yards of earth
fifty-two tons of cut, carved and polished and rock. It was a difficult work and was not
stone on the high seas! Only a small part of made easier by the very cold and rainy
the six hundred and fifty odd tons to come winter such as has not been experienced in
from Italy, but the flow of stone had started! Israel for many years. Yet, despite the ad-
At last the 28th came and the slow and verse circumstances, under the direction of
careful unloading got underway. A good Shoghi Effendi, this work, including the nec-
measure of the pieces were unloaded into essary retaining wall, was completed within
lighters but the great columns and pilasters, a period of time that amazed the engineers.
weighing about three tons each, had to be It was truly a herculean task in itself and is
taken from the S.S. Norte by one of the big the more remarkable if consideration is
shore cranes. It was a grand sight to see given to the fact that Shoghi Effendi also
those huge crates rise slowly out of the hold extended the terrace of the Garden upon
of the ship and be gently lowered onto the which the Shrine is located, by a matter of
quay. With the unloading completed, the some two hundred feet. A truly large under-
work of clearing the shipment was quickly taking in itself due to the steepness of the
finished and the transportation to the storage mountain.
space near the Gardens started. Before this As this work neared completion a new
task was completed the S.S. Campidoglio ar- drainage system for the Shrine was put in
rived with forty additional tons, was cleared and the day the first of stones so carefully
and in due time all stone transported to the cut in Italy, was to be laid, drew close. On
storage space to await the day it can be March 14, 1949, one week before the forti-
placed in its position to form the arcade eth anniversary of the placing by 'Abdu'l-
about the Shrine of the Bbb. Bahb of the Bfib's blessed remains in the
How everyone is looking forward to the sarcophagus presented by the Burmese
day when the first stone will be laid on the BahL'is for this purpose-the first threshold
foundation! Then day by day this great and stone weighing half a ton, was set in its
beautiful structure will take form. The exact place upon the foundation. The beau-
polished rose granite bases will be put into tiful arcade for the Shrine of the B6b on
position, the twenty-four polished, rose Mt. Carmel, conceived by Mr. William S.
granite columns and eight pilasters will be Maxwell, was really taking form. Dreams
stood proudly erect ready to receive their were taking on reality.
intricately carved Chiampo stone capitals, The setting of the one hundred and forty
the beautifully designed curved corners will threshold stones proceeded swiftly and the
rise stone upon stone, the twenty-eight base stones for three of the comers were put
graceful arches will rest secure on the capi- in position. At this point there was an inter-
tals, the delicately carved star panels inset ruption due to the long drought in Italy
and at last the cornices put into place. Thus which cut the use of electric power to three
will be completed the first step in the con- days a week. This delayed the arrival of
struction of the glorious rose and gold edi- stone we needed to continue. How we would
fice which will forever guard and protect the have liked to have sent some of our excess
Shrine of the Bib on Mt. Carmel. rain to Italy! Still, this interrupti0.n was not
While this letter is mostly a recital of la- without its benefit, for it did give time to de-
COMPLETION O F SEPULCHER O F T H E BAB 249

vise a special gantry to be used to lift the progress of the work at the Shrine of the
huge Rose Baveno pilasters and columns Bib on Mt. Carmel. A goodly amount of
into place, and other pieces of stone work progress has taken place since the last re-
ranging up to a ton or more. port, in fact, the arcade has been over half
With the arrival of the needed pieces of completed, but not without difficulties.
stone the work was resumed with-renewed The continued drought in Italy still de-
vigor and with lightened hearts. It is pro- layed stone shipments, as mentioned in the
gressing swiftly and in a most encouraging last report. This made the planning of con-
manner. The three corners upon which work struction progress difficult. Plans would be
is being done have taken on a strength and made for ihearrival of a shipment and then
promise of beauty difficult to picture, with it would be delayed. This was annoying but
the erection of the two great, square Rose when a lighter load of sixty-one cases of
Baveno pilasters with which each finely pro- stone sank in the harbor one stormy night
portioned corner is bound. To see one of we felt we had a real burden on our shoul-
these solid pieces of granite some fifteen feet ders. However, like all burdens and tests we
long rise into position is a sight never to be found it not as severe as we thought and
forgotten. It is raised slowly and with infi- that it did add to our experience. It was not
nite care until it is above its base and then, long before a diver had salvaged the cases
with much measuring, lowered into the posi- from the bottom of the harbor and not a
tion it will hold for ages. Six of these fine stone had been damaged. We had a further
monoliths have been put into position and experience of a like nature when a case was
the stone work of Chiampo granite forming dropped into the water when it slipped from
these corners is over half way to the top of the sling while unloading. We also had the
the pilasters. This includes some of the very experience of a ship catching afire while she
fine carved work of the curved section of was unloading, and it was necessary to flood
the corners. Even in the present construction her to put out the fire. We were very wor-
stage of these corners, they bring exclama- ried about this as can be imagined, but we
tions of delight from those who view them. found that not a single one of our precious
Who can say how the first sight of the com- cases had been harmed in the slightest. With
pleted arcade will ravish the hearts of all the vicissitudes many of our shipments have
who behold it? passed through it is miraculous that no dam-
Sitting within sight of the Shrine of the age was done to a single stone which would
Bhb, as this report is being written, makes it have called for a long delay in the work
difficult to keep thoughts within due bounds while it was being recut.
of a true report. Knowing that on the mor- While these difficulties were heartrending,
row a start is to be made in preparation for still the work on the arcade went steadily on.
raising twelve of the graceful Rose Bavena The three magnificent curved corners took
columns tends to distracting thoughts of the on more height and grandeur. Twelve of the
future. Aye, that future! Those twelve great huge Rose Baveno granite columns were set
columns, and the twelve to follow, each with upon their bases, each with its beautifully
its carved capital, the graceful arches, the carved Chiarnpo granite capital. A momen-
walls with the inset star panels, then the tous occasion truly! Then followed the
balustrade and over all the great dome! placing of the finely cut graceful arches,
That is what a Bahl'i would envisage if sit- seven on the east side and seven on the
ting here. That is what a Bahi'i would en- north. This led to the building up of the
visage upon seeing just one stone set in place walls to the height of the architrave, includ-
and to be able to touch it. Further, a BahL'i ing the star panels and half star panels, those
would sense something of the great import gems which relieve the austerity of the walls
of what our beloved Guardian is creating on and balance the fine, ornate, curved corners.
the side of Mt. Carmel for the future of the With the completion to the architrave of the
world. How the Bahl'is would strive and beautiful corners at the southeast, northeast
pray for the completion of the glorious cov- and northwest and the walls to the east and
ering for the Shrine of the Bib if they but north, the summer came to a close and plans
knew something of this! for the winter work were made.
One of the first steps in this work is al-
Our beloved Guardian has asked that a ready nearing completion, the excavation of
third report be made to the friends on the the mountain on the west and south sides
250 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

of the Shrine. This has meant the removal of space might be pled, the real need is the
of many, many hundreds of cubic yards of abilities of a poet or a great artist to picture
rock and earth and the building of a retain- what is now being created in Italy.
ing wall which on the south side will reach The expressions of admiration made by
a height of nearly ten meters. The earth and the many many visitors to our beautiful
rock excavated will be used to extend the BahL'i Gardens on the work already done
terrace upon which the Shrine stands, to the on the arcade, when they get a partial view
east or the right as you stand facing the sea of it from the unrestricted part of the Gar-
and the city of 'Akkh. dens, are heartwarming, and one wonders to
As soon as the wall is completed, work what length they will go when the arcade is
will start on the southwest curved corner, finished and open to the public. What will
the setting of its two great pilasters and the they feel and think when they see the deli-
placing of the twelve remaining columns cate rose of the tall columns, the light cream
with their capitals. Then the arches and the of the impressive and strong corners and
wall stones of the west and south sides. As walls and last, but not least, the crown of
this work progresses the concrete ceilings glory, the parapet, with its green panels (the
will be poured, and the stones of the archi- green emblematic of the Bgb's lineage) and
trave and cornices set in place. Then will the gold of the Greatest Names and the rays
come the momentous setting up of the para- to add the final touch of color and balance
pet, which is to be such a fitting crown for to it all? To this beautiful harmony of color
this splendid and glorious arcade the labors will be added the superb carving, so exqui-
of our beloved Guardian are bringing into site in design, and the proportions which
being about our holy Shrine of the BAb on convey such a feeling of strength and age-
Mt. Carmel. less endurance. Do you doubt but what it
In mid-summer, in anticipation of this last will leave a vision in their hearts that will
momentous part of the work, our Guardian last throughout a lifetime?
instructed Dr. Ugo R. Giachery, as his rep- Please do not ask what it will mean to a
resentative in Italy, to negotiate a fourth Bah&'imaking a pilgrimage to this holy spot.
contract with Guido M. Fabbricotti, Succes- My prayer is that you all may have this
sors, of Carrara, Italy, for the fabrication of privilege and bounty, God willing.
this intricate stone work. On September 7,
1949, the contract was signed and calls for With the passing of an unusually severe
close to two hundred tons of fine carving winter (1949-1950), and one of many and
and delicate mosaic work. Mr. W. S. Max- diverse labors, despite the adverse weather,
well has created a masterpiece of beauty and the construction plans for the winter were
design. There will be thirty-two Chiampo more than fulfilled and the completion of
stone posts with carved caps. There will be this glorious and sacred arcade enveloping
twenty-seven large panels carved in low re- the Shrine of the Bhb is rapidly approach-
lief with a background of variegated blue- ing.
green opaque glass mosaic. These panels will At the beginning of the winter, construc-
be in single slabs and weigh nearly a ton tion on the west and south sides of the ar-
each. There will be a special central panel cade began in earnest. The southwest curved
for the fro.nt faqade of the arcade, with a corner with its huge rose granite pilasters
large star with radiating gold rays, and there rapidly took shape. Twelve great rose col-
will be the Greatest Name done in metal umns and their capitals were put in place.
and gilded superimposed upon the green While this work was going on, the wall of
marble star. This panel will be complete the mountain on the south side of the Shrine
with the intricately designed 'B's' to the right was strengthened and the terrace upon
and the left of the circle of green marble en- which the Shrine of the Bgb stands was ex-
closing the star and the golden rays. The tended to the east. This extension required
'B's' will be in low relief and the back- the building of a high retaining wall and was
ground mosaic. The four curved corners will a major engineering undertaking in itself,
have beautifully designed ornamentation in but under the guidance of our Guardian it
which there will be a large oval of green went forward at amazing speed and is now
marble and again the Greatest Name will be a flourishing garden.
superimposed upon each oval. This is a very With these activities at their height the
inadequate description, and while the lack first shipment of the parapet stones arrived.
COMPLETION O F SEPULCHER O F T H E BAB

Included in this shipment were the first of report but you may all be assured that con-
the twenty-seven mosaic panels which with struction of the arcade about the Shrine of
their artistry and beauty of design conceived the BBb is nearing its conclusion. A great
by Mr. Maxwell will so enhance the majesty step forward will have been taken when the
of the glorious crown now being placed last stone has been laid. A breath-taking edi-
upon the towering walls of the arcade which fice of beauty will stand in a garden of great
is to protect the holy Shrine of the BBb for splendor, which our beloved Guardian has
all posterity. Our impatience to open one of already created, for all the world to be
these cases of panels knew no bounds. drawn to in admiration, and all BahVis in
When, at last, one of the panels had been reverence and devotion.
carefully exposed it is nee.dless to say our Haifa, Israel
admiration also knew no bounds. The bowl May 30, 1950
of our expectations overflowed. The crafts-
manship of the Italian artisans in stone and At three-thirty o'clock in the afternoon on
mosaic work was beyond compare and Mr. May 29, 1950, the last stone was placed in
Maxwell's design and plan had become a position in the huge corner panel at the
noble fruit. As Mr. Maxwell is extremely southeast corner of the arcade about the
reticent in speaking of his work and is not Shrine of the BBb on Mt. Carmel. It was
given to a display of his emotions one will only a small stone, being about a foot long
never know the extreme pleasure it must and ten inches in width, triangular in shape,
have been for him to stand before this but how filled with import the setting of it
beautiful creation and know that he had in- was! The placing of this small stone brought
spired it. to a close the first stage in the construction
With these wonderful panels on hand the of one of the most magnificent and im-
workmen went forward with added zest to portant edifices in the world of today and
prepare for the setting of them. Soon the the long long tomorrow of the future.
day came when the first panel on the east You know something of the extraordinary
side of the arcade was brought carefully into conditions existing at the World Center
place and raised into position. At the end of when our beloved Guardian sent Mr. Max-
the second day the other six panels were well to Italy to arrange for the nearly eight
placed with the small pillars standing be- hundred tons of stone to be used in com-
tween. Not long after, the cover stones and pleting the arcade. You know something of
the finials of the pillars were added thus the many difficulties that have been en-
completing the east side of the arcade. countered and overcome, that are so remi-
Now the staging needed for all this con- niscent of every great forward step taken in
struction could be removed and the full the advancement of our beloved Faith. An
beauty of these labors stood revealed: The attempt has been made in reports to picture
delicate rose of the huge columns and the something of the splendor and beauty of the
pilasters, the graceful arches, the light cream edifice conceived by Mr. Maxwell and
of the wall stones and then the wondrous brought into reality through storm and stress
and glorious crown of glory, the balustrade under the sure guidance of the Guardian, up
with its panels of carved Chiampo granite to and including the large mosaic panels of
with a background of light green, glass mo- the balustrade. You must be anxious to
saic with a few flecks of red and a narrow know something of the great and tall corner
green border of Ugo Vert granite, with sub- panels and the jewel of splendor the magnifi-
dued touch of color so masterfully added to cent central panel, a gem of great price set
bring out the full beauty, dignity and glory in the diadem of our arcade.
of this magnificent edifice. And how sym- Those towers of massive strength, the
bolic of the BBb's martyrdom are those concave curved corners are most fittingly
panels-those gems set in the crown of crowned by curved panels rising nearly nine
gloriousness, the balustrade! The white Chi- feet in height, and tapering to a point. The
amp0 stone denoting the pure light of His central stone, weighing over a ton and a
Message, the green symbolical of His lineage half, has a large oval of Ugo Vert marble
and the red flecks the drops of blood of His set into it upon which is mounted the Great-
Martyrdom. As one stands before this est Name in the calligraphy used on BahVi
beauty one's heart is near to bursting. ring stones, done with a special gold-fired
There is little more to be added to this bronze. This green oval is wreathed in a sim-
252 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

ple floral design. The upper portion of the background of bright gold mosaic; all being
panel tapers to a point with finely carved enclosed in a narrow band of dark green
wings diminishing in size to make a fitting Ugo Vert marble. The cover stones for this
frame for the carving over the oval that glorious panel are harmoniously carved to
adds so much to the strength, dignity and make a perfect setting for this truly inspiring
harmony of these four immense corner masterpiece. This central panel is truly a
panels. The dignity and majesty of these masterpiece, and perhaps something more,
curved corner panels are enhanced by the for as one views it there is a glow and radi-
simplicity of the square panels with their ance about the nine-pointed star that does
cover stones of quiet leaf-fluting which flank not come from just the white stone and gold
the curved sect'lons. These square panels mosaic. There is a golden aura that is a sign
have their centers cut back in two steps and a promise of the Golden Age our be-
taking away any feeling of weight, and this loved Faith is to bring to the world.
inset carving is so finely proportioned in size The real evidence of the greatness of this
and depth that these panels become the per- step initiated by, inspired by and which has
fect union between the beautiful mosaic been completed under the guidance of our
panels of the sides and the imposing curved beloved Guardian, now stands in all its
panels at each corner. majesty and glory in the Bahi'i Gardens,
The central panel, set in the balustrade of also created by our Guardian, on the side of
the north f a ~ a d ewhich faces 'AkkB and Mt. Carmel, the most holy mountain-the
overlooks Mt. Carmel Avenue, is a true arcade about the Shrine of the Bib. It is the
crown jewel. Its center is a great five-foot initial stage in the erection of the glorious
circle resting between two quarter panels edifice which is always to guard and protect
each having carved upon them an exqui- the sacred building 'Abdu'l-BahB caused to
sitely designed floral "B" with backgrounds be reared under terrible adversity, on the
of light green mosaic. The great circle has spot designated by Bahi'u'llih as the final
a huge nine pointed star of dark green mar- resting place for the Sacred Remains of the
ble set in it upon which is mounted the Bib and within which He, 'Abdu'l-BahB,
Greatest Name done in gold-fired bronze placed those Sacred Remains with His own
and in the Persian calligraphy so familiar to loving hands. It is to be remembered that
all Bahi'is. From the nine-pointed star radi- this inspiring edifice will ever stand as a
ate carved rays of Chiampo stone having a shining light for all the world to glory in.
VII
T H E INAUGURATION O F T H E
W O R L D B A H A ' ~ CRUSADE

1. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE GUARDIAN

H A I L , (with) feelings (of) humble BahQ'i Community (in the) five continents,
thankfulness (and) unbounded joy, opening may each (and) all, through their victorious
(of the) Holy Year com~nemorating(the) consummation, add distinct fresh luster (to
centenary (of the) rise (of the) Orb (of) the) world-wide festivities constituting (the)
BahQ'u'llih's most sublime Revelation mark- collective tribute paid (by the) followers (of
ing (the) consummatio~l(of the) six thou- the) Most Great Name (to the) memory
sand year cycle ushered in (by) Adam, glo- (of the) august Founder (of) their Faith in
rified (by) all past prophets (and) sealed honor (of the) centenary (of the) birth (of)
(with the) blood (of the) Author (of the) His Mission (and the) eternal glory (of)
Bibi Dispensation. Evoke (on this) auspi- His embryonic, majestically unfolding
cious occasion (the) glorious memory (and) World Order.
acclaim (the) immortal exploits (of the) Feel hour propitious (to) proclaim (to the)
Dawn-Breakers (of the) Apostolic Age (of entire BahQ'i world (the) projected launch-
the) BahL'i Dispensation (in the) cradle (of ing (on the) occasion (of the) convocation
the) Faith (and the) mighty feats (of the) (of the) approaching Intercontinental Con-
champion builders (of) its rising World ferences (on the) four continents (of the)
Order (in the) Western Hemisphere as well globe (the) fate-laden, soul-stirring, decade-
as (the) multitude (of) valo~ousachieve- long, world-embracing Spiritual Crusade
ments (of the) past (and) present genera- involving (the) simultaneous initiation (of)
tions (of) their brethren (in the) European, twelve national Ten Year Plans (and the)
Asiatic, African (and) Australian conti- concerted participation (of) all National
nents, whose combined accomplishments Spiritual Assemblies (of the) Bahi'i world
during (the) one hundred (and) nine years aiming (at the) immediate extension (of)
(of) its existence contributed (to the) sur- Bahi'u'llih's spiritual dominion as well
vival (of) God's struggling Faith, (the) as (the) eventual establishment (of the)
reinforcement (of) its infant strength, (the) structure (of) His administrative order
safeguarding (of the) unity (of) its sup- (in) all remaining Sovereign States, Prin-
porters, (the) preservation (of the) integ- cipal Dependencies comprising Principali-
rity (of) its teachings, (the) enrichment (of ties, Sultanates, Emirates, S_haykJhdoms,
the) lives (of) its followers, (the) rise (of Protectorates, Trust Territories, (and)
the) institutions (of) its administrative Crown Colonies scattered (over the) sur-
order, (the) fashioning (of the) agencies face (of the) entire planet. (The) entire
for (the) systematic diffusion (of) its light body (of the) avowed supporters (of)
(and the) broadening (and the) consolida- BahQ'u'llih's all-conquering Faith (are) now
tion (of) its foundations. Moved (to) ex- summoned (to) achieve (in a) single dec-
press (the) confident hope as (the) cen- ade feats eclipsing (in) totality (the)
tenary celebrations now commencing, attain achievements which (in the) course (of
(their) climax during (the) approaching the) eleven preceding decades illuminated
Widvin period, (that the) plans formulated (the) annals (of) BahQ'i pioneering.
(by the) valiant members (of the) World (The) fourfold objectives (of the) forth-
25 3
254 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

coming Crusade, marking (the) third (and) erection (of the) first dependency (of the)
last phase (of the) initial epoch (of the) Ma&riqu'l-Adhkir (in) Wilmette. (The)
evolution (of) 'Abdu'l-BahB's Divine Plan development (of the) functions (of the)
(are) destined (to) culmiilate (in the) institution (of the) Hands (of the) Cause.
world-wide festivities commemorating (the) (The) establishment (of a) BahB'i Court
fast-approaching Most Great Jubilee. First, (in the) Holy Land, preliminary (to the)
development (of the) institutions (at the) emergence (of the) Universal House (of)
World Center (of the) Faith (in the) Holy Justice.
Land. Second, consolidation, through care- Codification (of the) laws (and) ordi-
fully devised measures (on the) home front nances (of the) Kitib-i-Aqdas, Mother
(of the) twelve territories destined (to) Book (of the) BahL'i Revelation. Establish-
serve (as) administrative bases (for the) ment (of) six national BahB'i Courts (in the)
operations (of the) twelve National Plans. chief cities (of the) Islamic East, Tihrin,
Third, consolidation (of) all territories al- Cairo, Baghdid, New Delhi, Karichi, Kibul.
ready opened (to the) Faith. Fourth, (the) ~xtension(of) international BahB'i endow-
opening (of the) remaining chief virgin ments (in the) Holy Land, (on the) plain
territories (on the) planet through specific (of) 'Akki (and the) slopes (of) Mt.
allotments (to) each National Assembly Carmel. Construction (of) international
functioning (in the) BahL'i world. BahP'i Archives (in the) neighborhood (of
(The) projected historic, spiritual ven- the) Bib's Sepulcher. Construction (of a)
ture, at once arduous, audacious, challeng- tomb (for the) wife (of the) Bib (in)
ing, unprecedented (in) scope (and) char- SJhirBz. Identification (of the) resting places
acter (in the) entire field (of) Bahi'i his- (of the) father (of) Bahi'u'llih (and the)
tory, soon to be set (in) motion, involves mother (and) cousin (of the) Bib (for)
(the) adoption (of) preliminary measures reburial (in the) Bahi'i cemetery (in the)
(to the) construction (of) Bahi'u'llih's vicinity (of the) Most Great House. Ac-
Sepulcher (in the) Holy Land. quisition (of the) Garden (of) Ridvin (in)
Doubling (the) number (of) countries BaghdLd, site (of the) Siyih-chi1 (in)
within (the) pale (of the) Faith through Tihyin, (site of the) martyrdom (of the)
planting its banner (in the) remaining Sov- Bib (in) Tabl-iz, (and of) His incarceration
ereign States (of the) planet as well as (the) (in) Chihriq.
remaining virgin Territories mentioned (in) More than quadruple (the) number (of)
'Abdu'l-BahB's Tablets (of the) Divine National Spiritual Assemblies, twenty-one
Plan, involving (the) opening (of) forty- (on the) American, thirteen (on the) Euro-
one countries (on the) Asiatic, thirty-three pean, ten (on the) Asiatic, three (on the)
(on the) African, thirty (on the) European, African (and) one (on the) Australian con-
twenty-seven (on the) ~ m e r i c a ncontinents. tinents. Multiply sevenfold national Ha-
Over twofold increase (in the) number (of) ~iratu'l-Quds, their establishment (in the)
languages into which Bah6'i literature (is) capital cities (of the) chief Sovereign States
translated, printed or (in) process (of) (and) chief cities (of the) principal De-
translation-forty (in) Asia, thirty-one (in) pendencies (of the) planet, twenty-one (in)
Africa, ten each (in) Europe (and) Amer- America, fifteen (in) Europe, nine (in)
ica, to be allocated (to the) American, Asia, three (in) Africa, one (in) New Zea-
British, Indian (and) Australian BahB'i land. Framing national Bahi'i constitutions,
communities, including for (the) most part establishment national Bahi'i endowments
those into which Gospels (have been) al- (in) same capitals and cities (of) same
ready translated. Doubling (the) number States (and) Dependencies.
(of) Mas_hquYl-Adhkirs, through (the) More than quintuple (the) number (of)
initiation (of the) construction (of) one incorporated National Assemblies, twenty-
(on the) Asiatic (and the) other (on the) one (in) America, thirteen (in) Europe,
European continent. (The) acquisition (of twelve (in) Asia, three (in) Africa, one (in)
the) site (of the) future Ma&riquYl-Awir Australasia. (The) establishment (of) six
(on) Mt. Carmel. (The) purchase (of the) national Bahi'i Publishing Trusts, two (in)
land (for) eleven future Temples, three (on America, two (in) Asia, one (in) Africa,
the) American, three (on the) African, two one (in) Europe.
(on the) Asiatic, two (on the) European, (The) participation (of the) women (of)
one (on the) Australian continents. (The) Persia (in the) membership (of) national
I N A U G U R A T I O N O F WORLD BAHA'f CRUSADE 255

(and) local Assemblies. Establishment (of) Supreme Commander. (The) Lord (of)
seven Israel branches (of) National Spir- Hosts, (the) King of Kings, (has) pledged
itual Assemblies, two (in) Europe, two (in) unfailing aid (to) every crusader battling
Asia, one each (in) America, Africa (and) (for) His Cause. Invisible battalions (are)
Australia. (The) establishment (of a) na- mustered, rank upon rank, ready (to) pour
tional Bahb'i printing press (in) TihrBn. forth reinforcements from on high. BahC-
Reinforcement (of the) ties binding (the) u'll6h's army (of) light (is) standing (on
Bahi'i World Community (to the) United the) threshold (of the) Holy Year. Let
Nations. Inclusion, circumstances permit- them, as they enter it, vow (with) one voice,
ting, (of) eleven Republics comprised within one heart, one soul, never (to) turn back
Union (of) Soviet Social Republics and (in the) entire course (of the) fateful dec-
two European Soviet-controlled States ade ahead until each (and) every one will
within (the) orbit (of the) Admin- have contributed (his) share (in) laying on
istrative Order (of the) Faith. Convocation (a) world-wide scale an unassailable admin-
World Bahi'i Congress vicinity Garden (of) istrative foundation for BahC'uYll6h'sChrist-
RidvLn, Baghd&d, third holiest city Bahi'i promised Kingdom on earth, swelling
world, (on The) occasion (of the) world- thereby (the) chorus (of) universal jubila-
wide celebrations (of the) Most Great Ju- tion wherein earth (and) heaven will join as
bilee, commemorating (the) Centenary (of prophesied (by) Daniel, echoed (by)
the) Ascension (of) BahC'u'lliih (to the) 'Abdu'l-Bah6; "on that day will (the) faith-
Throne (of) His Sovereignty. ful rejoice with exceeding gladness."
Current Bahi'i history must henceforth, Call upon fifteen Hands (from) five con-
as second decade (of) second Bahl'i cen- tinents, by virtue (of) their supreme func-
tury opens, move rapidly (and) majestically tion as chosen instruments (for the) propa-
as (it has) never moved before since (the) gation (of the) Faith, (to) inaugurate his-
inception (of the) Faith over (a) century toric mission through (the) appointment,
ago. Earthly symbols (of) Bah6'uYll&h'sun- during Ridvsn 1954, (of) five auxiliary
earthly Sovereignty must needs, ere (the) boards (one) each continent, (of) nine
decade separating (the) two memorable Ju- members each, who will, as their adjuncts,
bilees draws (to a) close, be raised as far or deputies, and working (in) conjunction
north as Franklin beyond (the) Arctic Cir- (with the) various National Assemblies
cle (and) as far south as (the) FaIkland Is- functioning (on) each continent, assist,
lands, marking (the) southern extremity (of through periodic systematic visits (to)
the) western hemisphere, amidst (the) re-
mote, lonely, inhospitable islands (of the) Bahi'i centers, (in the) efficient, prompt
archipelagos (of the) South Pacific, (the) execution (of the) twelve projected Na-
Indian (and) Atlantic oceans, (the) moun- tional Plans. Moreover request communities
tain fastnesses (of) Tibet, (the) jungles (of) observing Bahi'i Holy Days, solar calendar,
Africa, (the) deserts (of) Arabia, (the) celebrate (with) befitting solemnity (the)
steppes (of) Russia, (the) Indian Reserva- approaching anniversary (of) Bahi'u'llAh's
tions (of) North America, (the) wastelands Birthday, falling (in the) middle (of the)
(of) Siberia (and) Mongolia, amongst (the) two month period during which, a hundred
Eskimos (of) Greenland (and) Alaska, (the) years ago, (the) Author (of the) Faith re-
Negroes (of) Africa, Buddhist strongholds ceived (the) first intimation (of) His glori-
(in the) heart (of) Asia, (amongst) Lapps ous Mission.
(of) Finland, (the) Polynesians (of the) Advise American Bahi'i community com-
South Sea Islands, Negritos (of the) Archi- memorate occasion (by) special gathering
pelagos (of the) South Pacific Ocean. (in the) Temple (in) Wilmette (and) urge
(The) broad outlines (of the) world- attendance (of) as many believers (as) pos-
encircling plan (were) divinely revealed. Its sible (and) invite Hands (of the) Cause
course (was) chartered (by) 'Abdu'l-Bahi's (in) United States (and) Canada (to) par-
infallible Pen. Its shining goals (have been) ticipate as my representatives.
set. (The) requisite administrative machin- SHOGHI
ery (has been) created. Signal (has been) Haifa, Israel
given by (the) Author (of the) Plan, (its) October 8, 1952
256 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

2. T E N - Y E A R I N T E R N A T I O N A L B A H A ' I
TEACHING AND CONSOLIDATION PLAN
1953-1963

1. Adoption of preliminary measures for the construction of BahL'u'llLh's Sepulcher
in the Holy Land.
2. Doubling the number of countries within the pale of the Faith, involving the open-
ing of:
41 countries in the Asiatic Continent
33 countries in the African Continent
30 countries in the European Continent
27 countries in the American Continent
3. Over twofold increase in the number of languages into which BahL'i literature has
been translated and printed, or is in process of translation:
40 in Asia
3 1 in Africa
10 in Europe
10 in America
allocated to American, British, Indian, and Australian Bah2i Communities.
4. Doubling the number of Ma&riquYl-Adhkirsthrough the initiation of construction
of:
1 in the Asiatic Continent
1 in the European Continent
5. Acquisition of a site for the future Ma&riqu'l-AdJhk6r on Mt. Carmel.
6. Erection of the first dependency of the Ma&riquYl-Adhkir in Wilmette, Illinois,
U.S.A.
7. Purchase of land for eleven future Temples:
3 in the American Continent
3 in the African Conti.nent
2 in the Asiatic Continent
2 in the European Continent
1 in the Australian Continent
8. Development of the functions of the institution of the Hands of the Cause.
9. ~stablishmentof a BahL'i Court in the Holy Land, as a preliminary to the emer-
gence of the Universal House of Justice.
10. Codification of the Laws and Ordinances of the Kitib-i-Aqdas, the Mother Book of
the BahL'i Revelation.
11. Establishment of six National Bah2i Courts in the chief cities of the Islamic East:
Tihr Ln
Cairo
Baghdid
New Delhi
Karichi
Kibul
12. Extension of the International BahL'i Endowments in the Holy Land, in the plain
of 'Akki and on the slopes of Mt. Carmel.
13. Construction of the International Bahi'i Archives in the neighborhood of the B6b7s
Sepulcher.
INAUGURATION OF WORLD BAHA'I CRUSADE 257

14. Construction of the tomb of the Wife of the BBb in KhirBz.
15. Identification of the resting-places of the Father of BahL'u'llbh, and of the Mother
and of the Cousin of the Bbb, and their reburial in the BahB'i cemetery in the
vicinity of the Most Great House.
16. Acquisition of the Garden of Ridvbn in Baghd6d, and of the site of the SiyGh-C_h&l
in TihrBn, of the Martyrdom of the Bbb 5 Tabriz, and of His incarceration in
Chihriq.
17. More than quadruple the number of the National Spiritual Assemblies:
21 in the American Continent
13 in the European Continent
10 in the Asiatic Continent
3 in the African Continent
1 in the Australian Continent
18. Multiply sevenfold the number of the National Haziratu'l-Quds and their establish-
ment in the capital cities of the chief Sovereign States and in the chief cities of the
principal Dependencies of the planet:
21 in America
15 in Europe
9 in Asia
3 in Africa
1 in New Zealand
19. Framing of national BahB'i constitutions and the establishment of national BahB'i
endowments in the capitals and cities of the same States and Dependencies.
20. More than quintuple the number of incorporated National Spiritual Assemblies:
21 in America
13 in Europe
12 in Asia
3 in Africa
1 in Australia
21. Establishment of six national BahL'i Publishing Trusts:
2 in America
2 in Asia
1 in Africa
1 in Europe
22. Participation by the women of Persia in the membership of National and Local
Assemblies.
23. Establishment of seven Israel branches of National Spiritual Assemblies:
2 Europe
2 Asia
1 America
1 Africa
1 Australia
24. Establishment of a National BahL'i printing press in TihrGn.
25. Reinforcement of the ties binding the Bahb'i World Community to the United Na-
tions.
26. Inclusion, circuinstances permitting, of eleven republics comprised within the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics and of two European Soviet-controlled States within
the orbit of the Administrative Order of the Faith.
27. Convocation of a World Bahb'i Congress in the vicinity of the Garden of Ridvbn,
Baghclbd, the third holiest city in the BahB'i world, on the occasioil of the world-
wid; celebrations of the Most Great Jubilee, commemorating the Centenary of the
Ascension of Bahgu'llBh to the throne of His sovereignty.
258 THE BAHA'I WORLD

1. Afghhnisthn 56. Japan
2. ~ l g k a 57. Java
3. Andorra 58. Juan Fernandez
4. Argentina 59. Korea
5. Austria-Hungary 60. Lesser Antilles
6. Bahama Islands 61. Liechtenstein
7. Balearic Islands 62. Low Archipelago
8. Belgium 63. Loyalty Islands
9. Belize (or British Hon duras) 64. Luxembourg
10. Bermuda 65. Madagascar
11. Bismarck Archipelago 66. Madeira Islands
12. Bolivia 67. Malta
13. Borneo 68. Marquesas
14. Brazil 69. Marshall Islands
15. British Guiana 70. Mauritius
16. British Isles 7 1. Melanesia
17. Bulgaria 72. Mexico
18. Canary Islands 73. Micronesia
19. Cape Verde Islands 74. Moluccas
20. Caroline Islands 75. Monaco
21. Celebes 76. Montenegro
22. Ceram 77. New Caledonia
23. Ceylon 78. New Guinea
24. Chile 79. New Hebrides
25. China 80. New Zealand
26. Colombia 81. Nicaragua
27. Corsica 82. Norway
28. Costa Rica 83. Orkney Islands
29. Crete 84. Panama
30. Cuba 85. Paraguay
3 1. Denmark 86. Peru
32. Dutch Guiana 87. Philippine Islands
33. Ecuador 88. Polynesia
34. Falkland Islands 89. Portugal
35. Faroe Islands 90. Puerto Rico
36. Fiji Islands 91. Rhunion Island
37. France 92. Rumania
38. French Guiana 93. Russia (Asia)
39. French Indo-China 94. Russia (Europe)
40. Friendly Islands 95. Saint Helena
4 1. Galapagos Islands 96. Salvador
42. Germany 97. Samoa Islands
43. Gilbert Islands 98. San Marino
44. Greater Antilles 99. Santo Domingo
45. Greece 100. Sardinia
46. Guatemala 101. Serbia
47. Haiti 102. Shetland Islailds
48. Hawaiian Islands 103. Siam
49. Hebrides 104. Sicily
50. Holland 105. Society Islands
51. Honduras 106. Solomon Islands
52. Iceland 107. South Africa
53. India 108. Spain
54. Italy 109. Straits Settlements
55. Jamaica 110. Sumatra
INAUGURATION O F WORLD BAHA'I CRUSADE 259

11 1. Sweden 1 16. Trinidad
112. Switzerland 1 17. Uruguay
1 13. Tasmania 1 18. Venezuela
114. T i o r 119. Watling Island
115. Tobago 120. Zanzibar

LIST OF TERRITORIES
ALPHABETICAL TO BE OPENEDTO THE FAITH, 1953-1963

Showing Allocation to National Spiritual Assemblies
Admiralty Is. (As.) (Aus.) French Cameroons (Af.) (In.)
Albania (E) (Ger.) French Equatorial Africa (Af .) (Eg.)
Aleutian Is. (Am.) (U.S.A.) French Guiana (Am.) (S.Am.)
Andaman Is. (As.) (In.) French Somaliland (Af.) (U.S.A.)
Andorra (E) (U.S.A.) French Togoland (Af.) (U.S.A.)
Anticosti I. (Am.) (Can.) French West Africa (Af.) (Eg.)
Ashanti Protectorate (Af.) (Per.) Frisian Is. (E) (Ger.)
Azores (E) (U.S.A.)
Galapagos Is. (Am.) (S.Am.)
Bahama Is. (Am.) (C.Am.) Gambia (Af.) (In.)
Balearic Is. (E) (U.S.A.) Gilbert and Ellice Is. (As.) (C.Am.)
Baranof I. (Am.) (Can.) Goa (As.) (In.)
Basutoland (Af.) (Per.) Grand Manan I. (Am.) (Can.)
Bechuanaland (Af.) (Per.) Greece (E) (Ger.)
Bhutan (As.) (In.)
British Cameroons (Af.) (Br.) Hadhramaut (As.) (Ir.)
British Guiana (Am.) (S.Am.) Hainan I. (As.) (U.S.A.)
British Honduras (Am.) (C.Am.) Hebrides Is. (E) (Br.)
British Togoland (Af.) (Br.)
Brunei (As.) (Per.) Italian Somaliland (Af.) (Per.)
Canary Is. (Af.) (U.S.A.) Juan Fernandez Is. (Am.) (S.Am.)
Cape Breton I. (Am.) (Can.)
Cape Verde Is. (Af.) (U.S.A.) Karikal (As.) (In.)
Caroline Is. (As.) (U.S.A.) Kazakhstan (As.) (U.S.A.)
Chagos Archipelago (As.) (Per.) Keewatin (Am.) (Can.)
Channel Is. (E) (Br.) Key West (Am.) (U.S.A.)
Chilo6 I. (Am.) (U.S.A.) Kirgizia (As.) (Per.)
Cocos Is. (As.) (Aus.) Kodiak I. (Am.) (U.S.A.)
Comoro Is. (Af.) (In.) Kuria-Muria Is. (As.) (Ir. )
Cook Is. (As.) (S.Am.)
Crete (E) (Ger.) Labrador (Am.) (Can.)
Cyprus (E) (Br.) Latvia (E) (Ger.)
Leeward Is. (Am.) (S.Am.)
Daman (As.) (In.) Liechtenstein (E) (1t.Sw.)
Diu I. (As.) (In.) Lithuania (E) (Ger.)
Dutch Guiana (Am.) (S.Am.) Lofoten Is. (E) (U.S.A.)
Dutch New Guinea (As.) (U.S.A.) Loyalty Is. (As.) (Aus.)
Dutch West Indies (Am.) (C.Am.)
Macao I. (As.) (U.S.A.)
Estonia (E) (Ger.) Madeira (Af.) (Br.)
Magdalen Is. (Am.) (Can.)
Falkland Is. (Am.) (U.S.A.) Mah6 (As.) (In.)
Faroe Is. (E) (Br.) Malta (E) (Br.)
Finno-Karelia (E) (Ger.) Margarita I. (Am.) (C.Am.)
Franklin (Am.) (Can.) Mariana Is. (As.) (In.)
260 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Marquesas Is. (As.) (Can.) San Marino (E) (1t.Sw.)
Marshall Is. (As.) (C.Am.) Sardinia (E) (1t.Sw.)
Mauritius (Af.) (U.S.A.) Seychelles (Af. ) (Ir.)
Mentawai Is. (As.) (Aus.) Shetland Is. (E) (Br.)
Miquelon I. and St Pierre I. (Am.) (Can.) Sicily (E) (It.Sw.1
Moldavia ( E ) (Ger.) Sikkim (As.) (In.)
Monaco (E) (1t.Sw.) Society Is. (As.) (Aus.)
Mongolia (As.) (Per.) Socotra I. (Af.) (In.)
Morocco (1nt.Zone) (Af.) (Eg.) Solomon Is. (As.) (Per.)
South Rhodesia (Af.) (Per.)
New Hebrides Is. (As.) (Aus.) South West Africa (Af.) (Br.)
Nicobar Is. (As.) (In.) Spanish Guinea (Af.) (U.S.A.)
Northern Territories Protectorate (Gold Spanish Morocco (Af.) (Eg.)
Coast) (Af.) (U.S.A.) Spanish Sahara (Af.) (Eg.)
Spitzbergen ( E ) (U.S.A.)
Orkney Is. (E) (Br.) St. Helena (Af.) (U.S.A.)
St. Thomas I. (Af.) (U.S.A.)
Pondicherry (As.) (In.) Swaziland (Af.) (Per.)
Portuguese Guinea (Af.) (U.S.A.)
Portuguese Timor (As.) (Aus.) Tadzhikistan (As.) (Per.)
Tibet (As.) (U.S.A.)
Queen Charlotte Is. (Am.) (Can.) Tonga Is. (As.) (U.S.A.)
Tuamotu Archipelago (As.) (C.Am. )
RCunion I. (Af.) (U.S.A.)
Rhodes (E) (1t.Sw.) Ukraine ( E ) (U.S.A.)
Rio de Oro (Af.) (Eg.) Uzbekistan (As.) (Per.)
Ruanda-Urundi (Af .) (In.)
Rumania (E) (Ger.) White Russia (E) (Ger.)
Windward Is. (Am.) (S.Am.)
Sakhalin I. (As.) (U.S.A.)
Samoa Is. (As.) (Can.) Yukon (Am.) (Can.)

'Division of Activities According to Continents

ASIA: 41 Territories

I. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLY
O F THE BAHB'iS OF INDIA,
P ~ I S T A NAND
, BURMA
1. Andaman Is. 7. MahC
2. Bhutan 8. Mariana Is.
3. Daman 9. Nicobar Is.
4. Diu 10. Pondicherry
5. Goa 11. Sikkim
6. Karikal

11. NATIONALSPIRITUALASSEMBLYOF THE B A ~ OF
~ sTHE UNITEDSTATESOF
AMERICA
1. Caroline Is. 5. Macao I.
2. Dutch New Guinea 6. Sakhalin I.
3. Hainan I. 7. Tibet
4. Kazakhstan 8. Tonga Is.
INAUGURATION O F WORLD BAHA'I CRUSADE 261

111. NATIONAL SPIRITUALASSEMBLY
OF THE B A ~ I OF
s PERSIA
1. Brunei 5. Solomon Is.
2. Chagos Archipelago 6. Tadzhikistan
3. Kirgizia 7. Uzbekistan
4. Mongolia

IV. NATIONALSPIRITUALASSEMBLY
OF THE B A H ~ O~FS AUSTRALIA
AND NEW
ZEALAND
1. Admiralty Is. 5. New Hebrides Is.
2. COCOS Is. 6. Portuguese Timor
3. Loyalty Is. 7. Society Is.
4. Mentawai Is.

V. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL O F THE B A H ~OF
ASSEMBLY ~ SCENTRAL
AMERICA
1. Gilbert and Ellice Is.
2. Marshall Is.
3. Tuamotu Archipelago

VI. NATIONAL SPIRITUALASSEMBLY
OF THE B A H ~OF
~S'IRAQ
1. Hadhramaut
2. Kuria-Muria Is.

VII. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL OF THE B A H ~OF
ASSEMBLY ~ SCANADA
1. Marquesas Is.
2. Samoa Is.

VIII. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL OF THE B A H ~OF
ASSEMBLY ~SSOUTHAMERICA
1. Cook Is.

AFRICA: 33 Territories

I. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL OF THE B ~ d i O
ASSEMBLY s F UNITEDSTATES
OF AMERICA
1. Canary Is. 7. Portuguese Guinea
2. Cape Verde Is. 8. Rbunion I.
3. French Somaliland 9. Spanish Guinea
4. French Togoland 10. St. Helena
5. Mauritius 11. St. Thomas L
6. Northern Territories
Protectorate

11. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE B A H ~O~ FSPERSIA
1. Ashanti Protectorate 4. Italian Somaliland
2. Basutoland 5. South Rhodesia
3. Bechuanaland 6. Swaziland

111. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL OF THE B A H ~OF
ASSEMBLY ~ SEGYPTAND S~DAN
1. French Equatorial Africa 4. Rio de Oro
2. French West Africa 5. Spanish Morocco
3. Morocco (Int. Zone) 6. Spanish Sahara

IV. NATIONAL SPIRITUALASSEMBLY
OF THE BAHA'~sOF INDIA,
PAKISTAN,AND BURMA
1. Comoro Is. 4. Ruanda-Urundi
2. French Cameroons 5. Socotra I.
3. Gambia
262 T H E BAHA'I W O R L D

V. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY ~ s BRITISHISLES
OF THE B A H ~ 'OF
1. British Cameroons 3. Madeira
2. British Togoland 4. South West Africa

VI. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLY ~ S'IRAQ
O F THE B A H ~OF
1. Seychelles

EUROPE: 30 Territories
I. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLY
OF THE BAHA'ISO F GERMANY
AND AUSTRIA
1. Albania 7. Latvia
2. Crete 8. Lithuania
3. Estonia 9. Moldavia
4. Finno-Karelia 10. Rumania
5. Frisian Is. 11. White Russia
6. Greece

11. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL OF THE BAHA'is O F THE BRITISHISLES
ASSEMBLY
1. Channel Is. 5. Malta
2. Cyprus 6. Orkney Is.
3. Faroe Is. 7. Shetland Is.
4. Hebrides Is.

111. NATIONAL SPIRITUALASSEMBLY
OF THE BAHA'iS OF THE UNITEDSTATESO F
AMERICA
1. Andorra 4. Lofoten Is.
2. Azores 5. Spitzbergen
3. Balearic Is. 6. Ukraine
IV. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL OF THE BAHA'~s
ASSEMBLY OF ITALYAND SWITZERLAND
1. Liechtenstein 4. San Marino
2. Monaco 5. Sardinia
3. Rhodes 6. Sicily

AMERICA: 27 Territories
I. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLY
O F THE BAHA'~s OF CANADA
1. Anticosti I. 7. Labrador
2. Baranof I. 8. Magdalen Is.
3. Cape Breton I. 9. Miquelon I , and St. Pierre I.
4. Franklin 10. Queen Charlotte Is.
5. Grand Manan I. 11. Yukon
6. Keewatin

11. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLY
OF THE BAHA'ISOF SOUTHAMERICA
1. British Guiana 5. Galapagos Is.
2. Chi106 I. 6. Juan Fernandez Is.
3. Dutch Guiana 7. Leeward Is.
4. French Guiana 8. Windward Is.

111. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLY
OF THE B A H ~OF
~ SUNITEDSTATESOF AMERICA
1. Aleutian Is. 3. Key West
2. Falkland Is. 4. Kodiak I.

IV. NATIONAL SPIRITUALASSEMBLY
O F THE B A H ~O~F SCENTRAL AMERICA
1. Bahama Is. 3. Dutch West Indies
2. British Honduras 4. Margarita I.
INAUGURATION O F WORLD BAHA'I CRUSADE 263

TERRITORIES TO THE FAITH,
TO BE OPENED 1953-1963
Division of Activities According to National Spiritual Assemblies

I. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: 29 Territories in 4 Continents
1. AFRICA
( 1) Canary Is. (7) Portuguese Guinea
(2) Cape Verde Is. (8) Rtunion I.
(3) French Somaliland (9) Spanish Guinea
(4) French Togoland .(lo) St. Helena
(5) Mauritius (1 1) St. Thomas I.
(6) Northern Territories Protectorate

2. ASIA
( 1) Caroline Is. (5) Macao I.
(2) Dutch New Guinea (6) Sakhalin I.
(3) Hainan I. (7) Tibet
(4) Kazakhstan (8) Tonga Is.

3. EUROPE
(1) Andorra (4) Lofoten Is.
(2) Azores (5) Spitzbergen
(3) Balearic Is. (6) Ukraine

4. AMERICA
(1) Aleutian Is. (3) Key West
(2) Falkland Is. (4) Kodiak I.

11. INDIA, PAKISTAN, AND BURMA: 16 Territories in 2 Continents
1. ASIA
(1) Andaman Is. (7) Mah6
(2) Bhutan (8) Mariana Is.
(3) Daman (9) Nicobar Is.
(4) Diu I. ( 10) Pondicherry
(5) Goa (11) Sikkim
(G) Karikal

2. AFRICA
(1) Comoro Is. (4) Rumda-Urundi
(2) French Cameroons (5) Socotra I.
(3) Gambia

111. PERSIA: 13 Territories in 2 Continents
1. ASIA
(1) Brunei (5) Solomon Is.
(2) Chagos Archipelago (6) Tadzhikistan
(3) Kirgizia (7) Uzbekistan
(4) Mongolia

2. AFRICA
(1) Ashanti Protectorate (4) Italian Somaliland
(2) Basutoland (5) South Rhodesia
(3) Bechuanaland (6) Swaziland
264 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

IV. CANADA: 13 Territories in 2 Continents
1. AMERICA
(1) Anticosti I. (7) Labrador
(2) Baranof I. (8) Magdalen Is.
(3) Cape Breton I. (9) Miquelon I. and St. Pierre 1.
(4) Franklin (10) Queen Charlotte Is.
(5) Grand Manan I. (11) Yukon
(6) Keewatin

2. ASIA
(1) Marquesas Is. (2) Samoa Is.

V. BRITISH ISLES: 11 Territories in 2 Continents
1. EUROPE
(1) Channel Is. (5) Malta
(2) Cyprus (6) Orkney Is.
(3) Faroe Is. (7) Shetland Is.
(4) Hebrides Is.

2. AFRICA
( 1) British Cameroons (3) Madeira
(2) British Togoland (4) South West Africa

VI. GERMANY AND AUSTRIA: 11 Territories in 1 Continent
1. EUROPE
(1) Albania (7) Latvia
(2) Crete (8) Lithuania
(3) Estonia (9) Moldavia
(4) Finno-Karelia (10) Rumania
(5) Frisian Is. ( 11) White Russia
(6) Greece

VII. SOUTH AMERICA: 9 Territories in 2 Continents
1. AMERICA
(1) British Guiana (5) Galapagos Is.
(2) Chi106 I. (6) Juan Fernandez Is.
(3) Dutch Guiana (7) Leeward Is.
(4) French Guiana (8) Windward Is.

2. ASIA
(1 ) Cook Is.

VIII. CENTRAL AMERICA: 7 Territories in 2 Continents
1. AMERICA
(1) Bahama Is. ( 3 ) Dutch West Indies
(2) British Honduras (4) Margarita I.

2. ASIA
(1) Gilbert and Ellice Is.
(2) Marshall Is.
(3) Tuamotu Archipelago
INAUGURATION O F WORLD BAHA'I CRUSADE 265

IX. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: 7 Territories in 1 Continent
1. ASU
(1) Admiralty Is. ( 5 ) New Hebrides Is.
(2) cocos Is. (6) Portuguese Timor
(3) Loyalty Is. (7) Society Is.
(4) Mentawai Is.

X. EGYPT AND SODAN: 6 Territories in 1 Continent
1. AFRICA
( 1) French Equatorial Africa
(2) French West Africa
( 3 ) Morocco (International Zone)
(4) Rio de Oro
(5) Spanish Morocco
(6) Spanish Sahara

XI. ITALY AND SWITZERLAND: 6 Territories in 1 Continent
1. EUROPE
( 1) Liechtenstein (4) San Marino
(2) Monaco (5) Sardinia
(3) Rhodes (6) Sicily

XII. 'IRAQ: 3 Territories in 2 Continents
1. ASIA
(1 ) Hadhramaut
(2) Kuria-Muria Is.

2. AFRICA
(1 ) Seychelles Is.

ALPHABETICAL
LIST OF LANGUAGES
INTO WHICHB A HLITERATURE
~ ~ IS TO BE
TRANSLATED,1953-1963
Abor Miri (borders of Tibet and Cherokee (Carolina, U.S.A.)
N.E. Assam) Chuana (Bechuanaland)
Accra or Ga (Gold Coast) Chungchia (S.W. China)
Afrikaans (S. Africa) Estonian (Estonia)
Aguaruna (Peru) Flemish (Belgium)
Aladian (Ivory Coast) Georgian (Caucasus)
Aneityum (New Hebrides) Gio (Liberia)
Annamese (Indo-China) Gu (French W. Africa)
Arawak (Guiana) Houailou (Wailu) (New Caledonia)
Ashanti (W. Africa) Iroquois (Ontario)
Balochi (Baluchistan) Javanese (Java)
Banu (French Equat. Africa) Jieng or Dinka (S6dkn)
Basque (Pyrenees) Jolof or Wolof (Gambia)
Bemba or Wendea (N. Rhodesia) Kado (China)
Bentuni (New Guinea) Kaili (Celebes)
Binandere (Papua) Kopu (S.W. China)
Blackfoot (Canada) Krongo (SGdiin)
Bua (Belgian Congo) Kroo (Liberia)
Cheremiss (Kazan, Russia) Kuanyama (S.W. Africa)
266 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Kusaie (Caroline Is.) Piedmontese (Piedmont, Italy)
Lapp (Norway) Popo (Togoland)
Lengua (Paraguay) Romani, German (Gipsies S. Germany)
Lepcha or Rong (Sikkim) Romansch (Grisons, Switzerland)
Lifu (Loyalty Is.) Ronga (Mozambique)
Luimbi (Angola) Samoan (Samoan Is.)
Malagasy (Madagascar) Sena (Lower Zambezi)
Maltese (Malta) Shilha (Morocco)
Manchu (Manchuria) Shona (S. Rhodesia)
Manipuri (Manipur) Sobo (Nigeria)
Manus Island (Admiralty Is.) Suto (Basutoland)
Marquesas (Marquesas Is.) Th6 (Indo-China)
Mataco (Argentina) Tibetan (Tibet)
Maya (Yucatan) Tongan (Tonga Is.)
Mentawai (Mentawai Is.) Vogul (W. Siberia)
Mexican (Mexico) Wongo (Belgian Congo)
Mongolian (Mongolia) Xosa or Kafir (S. Africa)
Mordoff (Central Russia) Yahgan (S. Chile)
Mwala (Solomon Is.) Yalunka (Sierra Leone)
Na-Hsi (Yunnan, S. China) Yao (Nyasaland)
Nicobarese (Nicobar Is.) Yiddish (Israel)
Niue (Cook Is.) Ziryen (Russian S.F.S.R.)
Perm (Perm, Russia) Zulu (Zululand)
Petats (Solomon Is.)

ASIA: 40
1. Abor Miri 15. Kusaie 29. Ossete
2. Aneityum 16. Lepcha 30. Ostiak
3. Annamese 17. Lifu 31. Pali
4. Balochi 18. Manchu 32. Panjabi
5. Bentuni 19. Manipuri 33. Pashto
6. Binandere 20. Manus Island 34. Perm
7. Cheremiss 21. Marquesas 35. Petats
8. Chungchia 22. Mentawai 36. Samoan
9. Georgian 23. Mongolian 37. Th6
10. Houailou 24. Mordoff 38. Tibetan
11. Javanese 25. Mwala 39. Tonga
12. Kado 26. Na-Hsi 40. Vogul
13. Kaili 27. Nicobarese
14. Kopu 28. Niue

EUROPE: 10
1. Basque 5. Maltese 8. Romansch
2. Estonian 6. Piedmontese 9. Yiddish
3. Flemish 7. Romani 10. Ziryen
4. Lapp

AFRICA: 3 1
1. Accra 6. Bemba 11. Jieng
2. Afrikaans 7. Bua 12. Jolof
3. Aladian 8. Chuana 13. Kuanyama
4. Ashanti 9. Gio 14. Krongo
5. Banu 10. Gu 15. Kroo
INAUGURATION O F WORLD BAHA'I CRUSADE 267

16. Liumbi 22. Seila 27. Wongo
17. Malagasy 23. Shilha 28. Xosa
18. Nubian 24. Shona 29. Yalunka
19. Pedi 25. Sob0 30. Yao
20. Pop0 26. Suto 31. Zulu
21. Ronga

AMERICA: 10
1. Aguaruna 5. Iroquois 8. Maya
2. Arawak 6. Lengua 9. Mexican
3. Blackfoot 7. Mataco 10. Yahgan
4. Cherokee

1. Preliminary steps for the construction of the Sepulcher of BahPu'llah.
2. Purchase of Land for the Temple on Mt. Carmel.
3. Establishment of an International BahPi Court.
4. Construction of the International BahPi Archives.
5. Extension of international Bah2i endowments.
6. Development of the functions of the Institution of the Hands of the Cause.
7. Codification of the Laws of the KitLb-i-Aqdas.
8. Reinforcement of ties binding the World BahPi Community to the United Nations.
9. Convocation of a World BahPi Congress in the vicinity of the Garden of Ridvan,
City of Baghdad, on the occasion of the world-wide celebration of the Most Great
Jubilee commemorating the centenary of the formal assumption by Bahb'u'llGh of
His Prophetic Office.
10. Establishment of Israel Branches of seven National Spiritual Assemblies.

TERRITORIES
ALREADYOPENEDTO THE FAITH,ALLOCATED
TO B A I PNATIONAL
~~
SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLIESFOR CONSOLIDATION
1953-1963

I. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: 23 Territories

1. EUROPE
1. Belgium 7. Luxembourg
2. Denmark 8. Norway
3. Finland 9. Portugal
4. France 10. Spain
5. Holland 11. Sweden
6. Italy 12. Switzerland

2. A s i ~
1. China 4. Korea
2. Formosa 5. Manchuria
3. Japan 6. Philippine Is.

3. AMERICA
1. Alaska 3. Puerto Rico
2. Hawaiian Is.

4. AFRICA
1. Liberia
2. South Africa
268 THE BAHA'I WORLD

11. PERSIA: 14 Territories

1. ASIA
1. Aden Protectorate 7. Hash (Ahsa)
2. Ad_hirbhyjhn 8. Hijhz
3. Afghhnisthn 9. Saudi-Arabia
4. Armenia 10. Turkey
5. Bahrayn Is. 11. Turkmenistan
6. Georgia 12. Yemen

2. AFRICA
1. North Rhodesia
2. Nyasaland

111. INDIA, PAKISTAN, AND BURMA: 14 Territories

1. ASIA
1. BalG&isthn 7. Malaya
2. Borneo 8. Nepal
3. Burma 9. Phkisthn
4. Ceylon 10. Sarawak
5. Indo-China 11. Siam
6. Indonesia

2. AFRICA
1. Madagascar 3. Zanzibar
2. Mozambique

IV. CENTRAL AMERICA : 13 Territories

AMERICA
1. Bermuda 8. Honduras
2. Costa Rica 9. Jamaica
3. Cuba 10. Martinique I.
4. Dominican Republic 11. Mexico
5. El Salvador 12. Nicaragua
6. Guatemala 13. Panama
7. Haiti

V. BRITISH ISLES: 11 Territories

1. AFRICA
1. Angola 6. Sierra Leone
2. Belgian Congo 7. Tanganyika
3. Gold Coast 8. Uganda
4. Kenya 9. Zululandi
5. Nigeria

2. EUROPE
1. Eire

3. ASIA
1. EIong Kong
I N A U G U R A T I O N O F W O R L D BAHA'I C R U S A D E 269

VI. SOUTH AMERICA: 10 Territories
AMERICA
1. Argentina 6. Ecuador
2. Bolivia 7. Paraguay
3. Brazil 8. Peru
4. Chile 9. Uruguay
5. Colombia 10. Venezuela

VII. EGYPT AND SUDAN: 8 Territories
AFRICA
1. Abyssinia 5. Morocco (French)
2. Algeria 6. Somaliland
3. Eritrea 7. Sildtin
4. Libya 8. Tunisia

VIII. GERMANY AND AUSTRIA: 7 Territories
1. EUROPE
1. Austria 5. Poland
2. Bulgaria 6. Russian S.F.S.R.
3. Czechoslovakia 7. Yugoslavia
4. Hungary

IX. 'IRAQ: 7 Territories
1. ASIA
1. Jordan 5. Syria
2. Koweit 6. Trucial sheiks
3. Lebanon 7. 'Umrn&n
4. Qatar

X. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: 6 Territories
1. ASIA
1. Bismarck Archipelago 3. New Caledonia
2. Fiji 4. New Guinea (Australia)

2. AUSTRALASIA
1. New Zealand
2. Tasmania

XI. CANADA: 4 Territories
1. AMERICA
1. Greenland
2. Mackenzie
3. Newfoundland

2. EUROPE
1. Iceland

XII. ITALY AND SWITZERLAND: 1 Territory
1. EUROPE
1. Corsica
270 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Allocation According to National Spiritual Assemblies
1. UNlTED STATES OF AMERICA: 23
12 in Europe, 6 in Asia, 3 in the Americas, 2 in Africa
2. PERSIA: 14
12 in Asia, 2 in Africa
3. INDIA, PAKISTAN, AND BURMA: 14
11 in Asia, 3 in Africa
4. CENTRAL AMERICA: 13
13 in the Americas
5. BRITISH ISLES: 11
9 in Africa, 1 in Europe, 1 in Asia
6. SOUTH AMERICA: 10
10 in the Americas
7. EGYPT AND SODAN: 8
8 in Africa
8. GERMANY AND AUSTRIA: 7
7 in Europe
9. 'IRAQ: 7
7 in Asia
10. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: 6
4 in Asia, 2 in Australasia
11. CANADA: 4
3 in the Americas, 1 in Europe
12. ITALY AND SWITZERLAND: 1
1 in Europe

1. Sydney, Australia 7. Rome, Italy
2. Toronto, Canada 8. Johannesburg, South Africa
3. Panama City, Central America 9. Santiago, South America
4. Cairo, Egypt 10. Stockholm, Sweden
5. New Delhi, India 11. Kampala, Uganda
6. Baghdkd,
- 'Ir6q

1. TihrAn, Persia
2. Frankfurt, Germany

1. Afghinistln 5 . Belgium 9. Ceylon
2. ~ l G k a 6. Bolivia 10. Chile
3. Argentina 7. Brazil 11. Colombia
4. Austria 8. Burma 12. Costa Rica
I N A U G U R A T I O N O F W O R L D B A H A ' ~C R U S A D E 271

13. Cuba 23. Honduras 33. Paraguay
14. Denmark 24. Italy 34. Peru
15. Dominican Republic 25. Japan 35. Portugal
16. Ecuador 26. Luxembourg 36. Spain
17. El Salvador 27. Mexico 37. Sweden
18. Finland 28. New Zealand 38. Switzerland
19. France 29. Nicaragua 39. Ttu-key
20. Guatemala 30. Norway 40. Uruguay
21. Haiti 31. Pikistin 41. Venezuela
22. Holland 32. Panama

1. Arabia (Bahrayn)
2. Central and East Africa (Kampala)
3. Near East (Beirut)
4. North West Africa (Tunis)
5. South East Asia (Jakarta)
6. South Pacific Islands (Suva)
7. South and West Africa (Johannesburg)

NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLIES
TO BE ESTABLISHED
1953-1963
Division According to Continents
AFRICAN CONTINENT: 3 Assemblies
1. Central and East Africa (Regional) To be formed by the N.S.A. of the British
Isles
2. North West Africa (Regional) To be formed by the N.S.A. of Egypt and
S6din
3. South and West Africa (Regional) To be formed by the N.S.A. of the United
States
AMERICAS: 21 Assemblies
National Assemblies to be formed by the N.S.A. of the United States:
1. Alaska 12. Guatemala
2. Argentina 13. Haiti
3. Bolivia 14. Honduras
4. Brazil 15. Mexico
5. Chile 16. Nicaragua
6. Colombia 17. Panama
7. Costa Rica 18. Paraguay
8. Cuba 19. Peru
9. Dominican Republic 20. Uruguay
10. Ecuador 2 1. Venezuela
11. El Salvador
ASIATIC CONTINENT: 10 Assemblies
1. AfghLnistin To be formed by the N.S.A. of Persia
2. ~ u r m a To be formed by the N.S.A. of India,
PLkistin, and Burma
3. Ceylon To be formed by the N.S.A. of India,
Pikistin, and Burma
4. Japan To be formed by the N.S.A. of the United
States
272 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

5. Pikistin To be formed by the N.S.A. of India,
Pikistin, and Burma
6. Turkey To be formed by the N.S.A. of Persia
7. Arabia (Regional) To be formed by the N.S.A. of Persia
8. Near East (Regional) To be formed by the N.S.A. of 'Iriq
9. South East Asia (Regional) To be formed by the N.S.A. of India,
Pikisth, and Burma
10. South Pacific Is. (Regional) To be formed by the N.S.A. of the United
States

AUSTRALASIA: 1 Assembly
1. New Zealand ..................... To be formed by the N.S.A. of Australia
and New Zealand

EUROPEAN CONTINENT: 13 Assemblies
1. Austria ......................... To be formed by the N.S.A. of Germany
and Austria
To be formed by the N.S.A. of the United States:
2. Belgium 6. Holland 10. Portugal
3. Denmark 7. Italy 11. Spain
4. Finland 8. Luxembourg 12. Sweden
5. France 9. Norway 13. Switzerland

ALPHABETICAL
LIST OF BA&I NATIONALSPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLIES
TO BE
INCORPORATED
1953-1963
I. REGIONAL NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES
1. N.S.A. of Arabia 5. N.S.A. of South East Asia
2. N.S.A. of Central and East Africa 6. N.S.A. of the South Pacific Islands
3. N.S.A. of the Near East 7. N.S.A. of South and West Africa
4. N.S.A. of North West Africa
11. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES
8. N.S.A. of Afghinistin 30. N.S.A. of Honduras
9. N.S.A. of ~ l G k a 3 1. N.S.A. of 'Iriq
10. N.S.A. of Argentina 32. N.S.A. of Italy
11. N.S.A. of Austria 33. N.S.A. of Japan
12. N.S.A. of Belgium 34. N.S.A. of Luxembourg
13. N.S.A. of Bolivia 35. N.S.A. of Mexico
14. N.S.A. of Brazil 36. N.S.A. of New Zealand
15. N.S.A. of Burma 37. N.S.A. of Nicaragua
16. N.S.A. of Ceylon 38. N.S.A. of Norway
17. N.S.A. of Chile 39. N.S.A. of Pikistin
18. N.S.A. of Colombia 40. N.S.A. of Panama
19. N.S.A. of Costa Rica 41. N.S.A. of Paraguay
20. N.S.A. of Cuba 42. N.S.A. of Persia
21. N.S.A. of Denmark 43. N.S.A. of Peru
22. N.S.A. of Dominican Republic 44. N.S.A. of Portugal
23. N.S.A. of Ecuador 45. N.S.A. of Spain
24. N.S.A. of El Salvador 46. N.S.A. of Sweden
25. N.S.A. of Finland 47. N.S.A. of Switzerland
26. N.S.A. of France 48. N.S.A. of Turkey
27. N.S.A. of Guatemala 49. N.S.A. of Uruguay
28. N.S.A. of Haiti 50. N.S.A. of Venezuela
29. N.S.A. of Holland
INAUGURATION O F WORLD BAHA'I CRUSADE 273

I. REGIONAL NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES
1. N.S.A. of Arabia 5. N.S.A. of South East Asia
2. N.S.A. of Central and East Africa 6. N.S.A. of the South Pacific Islands
3. N.S.A. of the Near East 7. N.S.A. of South and West Africa
4. N.S.A. of North West Africa

IS. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES.
8. N.S.A. of AfghAnistAn 30. N.S.A. of Guatemala
9. N.S.A. of ~ l a T k a 3 1. N.S.A. of Haiti
10. N.S.A. of Argentina 32. N.S.A. of Holland
11. N.S.A. of Austria 33. N.S.A. of Honduras
12. N.S.A. of Belgium 34. N.S.A. of Italy
13. N.S.A. of Bolivia 35. N.S.A. of Japan
14. N.S.A. of Brazil 36. N.S.A. of Luxembourg
15. N.S.A. of the British Isles 37. N.S.A. of Mexico
16. N.S.A. of Burma 38. N.S.A. of New Zealand
17. N.S.A. of Canada 39. N.S.A. of Nicaragua
18. N.S.A. of Ceylon 40. N.S.A. of Norway
19. N.S.A. of Chile 41. N.S.A. of PAkistAn
20. N.S.A. of Colombia 42. N.S.A. of Panama
21. N.S.A. of Costa Rica 43. N.S.A. of Paraguay
22. N.S.A. of Cuba 44. N.S.A. of Peru
23. N.S.A. of Denmark 45. N.S.A. of Portugal
24. N.S.A. of Dominican Republic 46. N.S.A. of Spain
25. N.S.A. of Ecuador 47. N.S.A. of Sweden
26. N.S.A. of El Salvador 48. N.S.A. of Switzerland
27. N.S.A. of Finland 49. N.S.A. of Turkey
28. N.S.A. of France 50. N.S.A. of Uruguay
29. N.S.A. of Germany 51. N.S.A. of Venezuela

1. Anchorage * 18. Jakarta 34. Paris
2. Asuncidn "19. Johannesburg 35. Port-au-Prince
3. Auckland 20. KAbul 36. Quito
"4. B6rayn *21. Kampala 37. Rangoon
"5. Beirut 22. KarA&i 38. Rio de Janeiro
6. Bern 23. La Paz 39. Rome
7. Bogota 24. Lima 40. San Jose
8. Brussels 25. Lisbon 41. San Salvador
9. Buenos Aires 26. London 42. Santiago
10. Caracas 27. Luxembourg 43. Stockholm
11. Ciudad Trujillo 28. Madrid *44. Suva
12. Colombo 29. Managua 45. Tegucigalpa
13. Copenhagen 30. Mexico City 46. The Hague
14. Guatemala 3 1. Montevideo 47. Tokyo
15. Havana 32. Oslo *48. Tunis
16. Helsingfors 33. Panama City 49. Vienna
17. Istanbul
* Belong to Regional National Assemblies
274 THE BAHA'I WORLD

1. Baghdbd ('Iriq) 3. Kbbul (Afghlnistbn) 5. New Delhi (India)
2. CaiFo (Egypt) 4. Karbc_hi ( ~ z k i s t i n ) 6. Tihrbn (Persia)

1. National Spiritual Assembly of Australia
2. National Spiritual Assembly of British Isles
3. National Spiritual Assembly of Canada
4. National Spiritual Assembly of Egypt and Shdbn
5. National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria
6. National Spiritual Assembly of 'Iriq
7. National Spiritual Assembly of Persia

1. Cairo, Egypt 4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2. Frankfurt, Germany 5. Tihrbn, Persia
3. New Delhi, India 6. Wilmette, Illinois

'$1. Armenia 6. Kazakhstan
N' 2. Ad_hirbiyjln 7. Kirgizia
3. Estonia 8. Latvia
4. Finno-karelia 9. Lithuania
"5. Georgia 10. Moldavia
* 11. Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republics
(1) Bashkiria (7) Marii
(2) Buryat Mongolia (8) Mordovia
(3) Chuvashi (9) N. Ossetia
(4) Daghestan ( 10j Tatarstan
(5) Karbardinia ( 1 1) Udmurt
(6) Komi (12) Yakutia
12. Tadzhikistan 15. Uzbekistan
'$13. Turkmenistan 16. White Russia (Byelorussia)
14. Ukraine
;"lready opened to the Faith.

1. Albania 3. Rumania
2. Mongolia 4. Sakhalin I.

1. Germany
2. Persia
3. United States of America
PART TWO
THE WORLD ORDER OF

1. PRESENT DAY ADMINISTRATION O F
T H E BAHA'I F A I T H
THE FORMATION OF AN ORGANIC RELIGIOUS
COMMUNITY

I N accepting the message of BahL'u711&h, Prophets according to the separateness of
every BahPi has opened his mind and heart their bodies, their countries and their times.
to the dominion of certain fundamental The BahL'i, morever, recognizes that the
truths. These truths he recognizes as divine realm of truth is inexhaustible, the creator
in origin, beyond human capacity to pro- of truth God Himself. Hence the BahL'i can
duce. In the realm of spirit he attests that identify truth as the eternal flow of life itself
these truths are revealed evidences of a in a channel that deepens and broadens as
higher reality than man. They are to the man's capacity for truth enlarges from age
soul what natural law is to physical body of to age. For him, that definition of truth
animal or plant. Therefore the believer to- which regards truth as tiny fragments of ex-
day, as in the Dispensation of Christ or perience, to be taken up and laid down, as a
Moses, enters into the condition of faith as shopper handling gems on a counter, to buy
a status of relationship to God and not of if one gem happens to please or seems be-
satisfaction to his own limited human and coming-such a dcfinition measures man's
personal will or awareness. His faith exists own knowledge, or interest, or loyalty, but
as his participation in a heavenly world. It truth is a living unity which no man can
is the essence of his responsibility and not a condition. It is the sun in the heavens of
temporary compromise effected between his spiritual reality, while self-will denies its
conscience or reason and the meaning of dominion because self-will is the shadow of
truth, society, virtue, or life. a cloud.
The BahL'i accepts a quality of existence, There are times for the revelation of a
a level of being which has been created larger area of the indivisible truth to man-
above the control of his own active power. kind. The Manifestation of God signalizes
Because on that plane the truth exists that the times and He is the revelation. When
mankind is one, part of his acceptance of He appears on earth He moves and speaks
the message of Bah6'u'llBh is capacity to see with the power of all truth, known and un-
that truth as existing, as a heavenly reality known, revealed in the past, revealed in
to be confirmed on earth. Because likewise Him, or to be revealed in the future. That
on that higher level the inmost being of realm of heavenly reality is brought again in
Moses, Christ, Muhammad, the BBb, and its power and universality to knock at the
Bah6'u'llBh is one being, part of the be- closed door of human experience, a divine
liever's acceptance of the BahB'i message is guest whose entrance will bless the house-
capacity to realize the eternal continuance hold eternally, or a divine punishment when
of that oneness, so that thereafter never will debarred and forbidden and condemned.
he again think of those holy and majestic BahP'uYllih reveals that area of divine
280 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

truth which underlies all human association. in that He addressed these particular words
He enlarges man's capacity to receive truth to our deepest inner understanding. Their
in the realm of experience where all men import is not confined to any subjective
have condemned themselves to social chaos realm. The motive and the realization He
by ignorance of truth and readiness to sub- invokes has become the whole truth of soci-
stitute the implacable will of races, classes, ology in this era.
nations and creeds for the pure spiritual Or, as we find its expression in another
radiance beneficently shining for all. Spirit- passage: "All men have been created to
ual reality today has become the principle carry forward an ever-advancing civiliza-
of human unity, the law for the nations, the tion" And the truth reappears in still an-
devotion to mankind on which the future other form: "How vast is the tabernacle of
civilization can alone repose. As long as the Cause of God! It hath overshadowed all
men cling to truth as definition, past experi- the peoples and kindreds of the earth, and
ence, aspects of self-will, so long must this will, erelong, gather together the whole of
dire period of chaos continue when the sep- mankind beneath its shelter."
arate fragments of humanity employ life not The encompassing reach of the Cause of
to unite but to struggle and destroy. God in each cycle means the particular as-
In the world of time, BahL'u'll6h has pect of experience for which men are held
created capacity for union and world civil- responsible. Not until our day could there
ization. His Dispensation is historically new be the creation of the principle of moral
and unique. In the spiritual world it is noth- cause and effect in terms of mankind itself,
ing else than the ancient and timeless reality in terms of the unifiable world.
of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad disclosed The mission of 'Abdu'l-Bahi, following
to the race in a stage of added growth and Bahi'u'll6h's ascension in 1892, was to raise
development so that men can take a larger up a community of believers through whom
measure of that which always existed. collectively He might demonstrate the op-
Like the man of faith in former ages, the eration of the law of unity. 'Abdu'l-Bahb's
BahB'i has been given sacred truths to cher- mission became fulfilled historically in the
ish in his heart as lamps for darkness and experience of the Bahi'is of North America.
medicines for healing, convictions of im- In them He developed the administrative
mortality and evidences of divine love. But order, the organic society, which exemplifies
in addition to these gifts, the Bahb'i has that the pattern of justice and order Bahi'u'llLh
bestowal which only the Promised One of had creatively ordained. By His wisdom,
all ages could bring: nearness to a process His tenderness, His justice and His complete
of creation which opens a door of entrance consecration to Bahi'u'll6h, 'Abdu'l-Bah6
into a world of purified and regenerated hu- conveyed to this body of Bahi'is a sense of
man relations. The final element in his rec- partnership in the process of divine crea-
ognition of the message of Bah6'uYllih is tion: that it is for men to re-create, as civili-
that Bah2uYll6hcame to found a civilization zation, a human and earthly replica of the
of unity, progress and peace. heavenly order existing in the divine will.
"0 Children of Men! Know ye not why The Bahi'i administrative order has been
We created you all from the same dust? described by the Guardian of the Faith as
That no one should exalt himself over the the pattern of the world order to be gradu-
other. Ponder at all times how ye were ally attained as the Faith spreads throughout
created. Since We have created you all from all countries. Its authority is BahL'u'llih, its
one same substance it is incumbent on you sources the teachings He revealed in writ-
to be even as one soul, to walk with the same ing, with the interpretation and amplifica-
feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in tion made by 'Abdu'l-Bah6.
the same land, that from your inmost being, The first conveyance of authority by
by your deeds and actions, the signs of one- Bahb'u'llih was to His eldest son. By this
ness and the essence of detachment may be conveyance the integrity of the teachings
made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, was safeguarded, and the power of action
0 concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel implicit in all true faith directed into chan-
that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness nels of unity for the development of the
from the tree of wondrous glory." Cause in its universal aspects. No prior
Thus He describes the law of survival Dispensation has ever raised up an instru-
revealed for the world today, mystical only ment like 'Abdu'l-BahB through whom the
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 28 1

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is of the United States of America,
elected April, 1953.
Left to right: H. B. Kavelin, Mrs. Mamie L. Seto, W. Kenneth Christian,
Miss Elsie Austin, Paul E. Haney, Miss Edna M. True, Horace Holley,
Mrs. Dorothy Baker, Matthew Bullock.

spirit and purpose of the Founder could ciated the administrative institutions of the
continue to flow out in its wholeness and Faith with His trusted and cherished meth-
purity until His purpose had been achieved. ods of service, so that the contact between
The faith of the Bahi'i thus remains un- their society and their religion has remained
tainted by those elements of self-will which continuous and unimpaired.
in previous ages have translated revealed The second conveyance of authority made
truth into creeds, rites and institutions of by Bahi'u'lldh was to the institution He
human origin and limited aim. Those who termed "House of Justicem:-"The Lord
enter the Bahi'i community subdue them- hath ordained that in every city a House of
selves and their personal interests to its sov- Justice be established wherein shall gather
ereign standard, for they are unable to alter counsellors to the number of Bahd [i.e., nine]
the Cause of Bahi'uYll&hand exploit its . . . It behooveth them to be the trusted
teachings or its community for their own ones of the Merciful among men and to re-
advantage. gard themselves as the guardians appointed
'Abdu'l-Bahi's l i e exemplified the work- of God for all that dwell on earth. It is in-
ing of the one spirit and the one truth sus- cumbent upon them to take counsel together
taining the body of believers throughout the and to have regard for the interests of the
world. He was the light connecting the sun servants of God, for His sake, even as they
of truth with the earth, the radiance en- regard their own interests, and to choose
abling all Bahi'is to realize that truth pene- . ."
that which is meet and seemly. . "Those
trates human affairs, illumines human prob- souls who arise to serve the Cause sincerely
lems, transcends conventional barriers, to please God will be inspired by the divine,
changes the climate of life from cold to invisible inspirations. It is incumbent upon
warm. He infused Himself so completely .
all [i.e., all believers] to obey. . . Ad-
into the hearts of the BahB'is that they asso- ministrative affairs are all in charge of the
T H E B A H A. ' I W O R L D

House of Justice; but acts of worship must to turn unto Shoghi Effendi-the youthful
be observed according as they are revealed branch branched from the two hallowed
in the Book." and sacred Lote-Trees [i.e., descended from
The House of Justice is limited in its both the Bkb and BahL'u'llBh] . . . as he is
legislative capacity to matters not covered the sign of God, the chosen branch, the
by the teachings of BahL'u'llBh Himself:- guardian of the Cause of God . . unto .
"It is incumbent upon the Trustees of the .
whom . . His loved ones must turn. He
House of Justice to take counsel together is the expounder of the words of God and
regarding such laws as have not been ex- after him will succeed the first-born of his
pressly revealed in the Book." A high aim lineal descendants.
is defined for this central administrative "The sacred and youthful branch, the
organ of the Faith:-"The men of the guardian of the Cause of God, as well as the
House of Justice of God must, night and Universal House of Justice, to be universally
day, gaze toward that which hath been re- elected and established, are both under the
vealed from the horizon of the Supreme Pen care and protection of the AbhB Beauty.
for the training of the servants, for the up- . . . Whatsoever they decide is of God.
building of countries, for the protection of . . . The mighty stronghold shall remain
men and for the preservation of human impregnable and safe through obedience to
honor." him who is the guardian of the Cause of
In creating this institution for His com- .
God. . . No doubt every vainglorious one
munity, Bahb'u'llBh made it clear that His that purposeth dissension and discord will
Dispensation rests upon continuity of divine not openly declare his evil purposes, nay
purpose, and associates human beings di- rather, even as impure gold would he seize
rectly with the operation of His law. The upon divers measures and various pretexts
House of Justice, an elective body, trans- that he may separate the gathering of the
forms society into an organism reflecting people of BahB."
spiritual life. By the just direction of affairs "Wherefore, 0 my loving friends! Con-
this Faith replaces the institution of the pro- sort with all the peoples, kindreds and re-
fessional clergy developed in all previous ligions of the world with the utmost truth-
Dispensations. fulness, uprightness, faithfulness, kindliness,
By 1921, when 'Abdu'l-Bah5 laid down good-will and friendliness; that all the world
His earthly mission, the American BahL'i of being may be filled with the holy ecstasy
community had been extended to scores of .
of the grace of Bah& . ."
cities and acquired power to undertake tasks "0 ye beloved of the Lord! Strive with
of considerable magnitude, but the adminis- all your heart to shield the Cause of God
trative order remained incomplete. His Will from the onslaught of the insincere, for
I and Testament inaugurated a new era in the souls such as these cause the straight to be-
Faith, a further conveyance of authority come crooked and all benevolent efforts to
and a clear exposition of the nature of the produce contrary results. . . . To none is
elective institutions which the BahL'is were given the right to put forth his own opinion
called upon to form. In Shoghi Effendi, His or express his particular convictions. All
grandson, 'Abdu'l-Bah5 established the must seek guidance and turn unto the Cen-
function of Guardianship with sole power to ter of the Cause and the House of
interpret the teachings and with authority to Justice. . . ."
carry out the provisions of the Will. The In each country where BahL'is exist, they
Guardianship connects the spiritual and participate in the world unity of their Faith
social realms of the Faith in that, in addi- through the office of the Guardian at this
tion to the office of interpreter, he is con- time, and they maintain local and national
stituted the presiding officer of the inter- BahB'i institutions for conducting their own
national House of Justice when elected; and activities.
the Guardianship is made to descend from In each local civil community, whether
generation to generation through the male city, township or county, the Bahb'is an-
line. nually elect nine members to their local
From the Will these excerpts are cited: Spiritual Assembly. In America the Bahi'is
"After the passing away of this wronged of each State join in election of delegates
one, it is incumbent upon . . . the loved by proportionate representation and these
ones of the 'AbhB Beauty [i.e., BahC'u'llBh] delegates, to the full number of one hundred
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 283

National Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of Persia, elected April, 1951.

and seventy-one, constitute the Annual Con- dowed the part with the quality of the whole.
vention which elects the members of the To receive, we give. In comparison to this
National Spiritual Assembly. These national divine creation, the traditional claims of in-
bodies, in turn, will join in the election of dividual conscience, of personal judgment,
an international Assembly, or House of Jus- of private freedom, seem nothing more than
tice, when the world BahB'i community is empty assertions advanced in opposition to
sufficiently developed. the divine will. It cannot be sufficiently em-
The inter-relationship of all these admin- phasized that the BahB'i's relationship to this
istrative bodies provides the world spirit of new spiritual society is an expression of
the Faith with the agencies required for the faith, and faith alone raises personality out
maintenance of a constitutional society bal- of the pit of self-will and moral isolation
ancing the rights of the individual with the into which so much of the world has fallen.
paramount principle of unity preserving the There can be no organic society, in fact,
whole structure of the Cause. The BahB'i as without social truth and social law embrac-
an individual accepts guidance for his con- ing the individual members and evoking a
duct and doctrinal beliefs, for not otherwise loyalty both voluntary and complete. The
can he contribute his share to the general political and economic groups which the in-
unity which is God's supreme blessing to dividual enters with reservations are not
the world today. This general unity is the true societies but temporary combinations
believer's moral environment, his social uni- of restless personalities, met in a truce which
verse, his psychic health and his goal of can not endure. Bahi'u'll&h has for ever
effort transcending any personal aim. In solved the artificial dilemma which confuses
the BahPi order, the individual is the mu- and betrays the ardent upholder of indi-
sical note, but the teachings revealed by vidual freedom by His categorical statement
BahB'u7116hare the symphony in which the that human freedom consists in obedience to
note finds its real fulfillment; the person at- God's law. The freedom revolving around
tains value by recognizing that truth tran- self-will He declares "must, in the end, lead
scends his capacity and includes him in a to sedition, whose flames none can quench.
relationship which 'Abdu'l-Bah6 said en- .
. . Know ye that the embodiment of lib-
284 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

National Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of the British Isles, 1953.

erty and its symbol is the animal. . . . True unites the thoughts and inspires the actions
liberty consists in man's submission unto of all believers today.
My commandments, little as ye know it." From these letters are selected a number
The Guardian, applying the terms of the of passages presenting fundamental aspects
Will and Testament to an evolving order, of the world order initiated by BahL'u'llLh.
has given the present generation of BahL'is 1. On its nature and scope:-
a thorough understanding of Bah6'i institu- "I cannot refrain from appealing to them
tions and administrative principles. Rising who stand identified with the Faith to dis-
to its vastly increased responsibility result- regard the prevailing notions and the fleet-
ing from the loss of the beloved Master, ing fashions of the day, and to realize as
'Abdu'l-Bah6, the BahL'i community itself never before that the exploded theories and
has intensified its efforts until in America the tottering institutions of present-day civ-
alone the number of believers has been more ilization must needs appear in sharp contrast
than quadrupled since 1921. It has been with those God-given institutions which are
their destiny to perfect the local and na- destined to arise upon their ruin. . . .
tional BahL'i institutions as models for the "For BahL'u'll6h . . . has not only im-
believers in other lands. Within the scope of bued mankind with a new and regenerating
a single lifetime, the American BahB'i com- Spirit. He has not merely enunciated cer-
munity has developed from a small local tain universal principles, or propounded a
group to a national unit of a world society, particular philosophy, however potent,
passing through the successive stages by sound and universal these may be. In addi-
which a civilization achieves its pristine pat- tion to these He, as well as 'Abdu'l-Bah6
tern and severs itself from the anarchy and after Him, has, unlike the Dispensations of
confusion of the past. the past, clearly and specifically laid down
In Shoghi Effendi's letters addressed to a set of Laws, established definite institu-
this Bahi'i community, we have the state- tions, and provided for the essentials of a
ment of the form of the administrative or- Divine Economy. These are destined to be
der, its function and purpose, its scope and a pattern for future society, a supreme in-
activity, as well as its significance, which strument for the establishment of the Most
T H E W O R L D O R D ER O F B A H A ' U ' L L A H 285

Great Peace, and the one agency for the lude: 'The world's equilibrium hath been
unification of the world, and the proclama- upset through the vibrating influence of this
tion of the reign of righteousness and justice most great, this new World Order. Man-
upon the earth. . . . kind's ordered life hath been revolutionized
"Unlike the Dispensation of Christ, un- through the agency o f this unique, this
like the Dispensation of Muhammad, unlike wondrous System-the like of which mortal
all the Dispensations of the past, the apos- eyes have never witnessed. . . .'"
tles of Bahl'u'llih in every land, wherever 2. On its local and national institu-
they labor and toil, have before them in tions:-
clear, in unequivocal and emphatic lan- "A perusal of some of the words of Bahl'-
guage, all the laws, the regulations, the prin- u'llkh and 'Abdu'l-Bahi on the duties and
ciples, the institutions, the guidance, they re- functions of the Spiritual Assemblies in ev-
quire for the prosecution and consummation ery land (later to be designated as the local
of their task. . . . Therein lies the distin- Houses of Justice), emphatically reveals the
guishing feature of the Bahl'i Revelation. sacredness of their nature, the wide scope of
Therein lies the strength of the unity of the their activity, and the grave responsibility
Faith, of the validity of a Revelation that which rests upon them.
claims not to destroy or belittle previous "Addressing the members of the Spiritual
Revelations, but to connect, unify, and ful- Assembly in Chicago, the Master reveals the
fill them. . . . following:-'Whenever ye enter the council-
"Feeble though our Faith may now ap- chamber, recite this prayer with a heart
pear in the eyes of men, who either de- throbbing with the love of God and a
nounce it as an offshoot of Islim, or con- tongue purified from all but His remem-
temptuously ignore it as one more of those brance, that the All-powerful may graciously
obscure sects that abound in the West, this aid you to achieve supreme victory:-'0
priceless gem of Divine Revelation, now still God, my God! We are servants of Thine
in its embryonic state, shall evolve within that have turned with devotion to Thy Holy
the shell of His law, and shall forge ahead, Face, that have detached ourselves from all
undivided and unimpaired, till it embraces beside Thee in this glorious Day. We have
the whole of mankind. Only those who have gathered in this spiritual assembly, united in
already recognized the supreme station of our views and thoughts, with our purposes
BahB'u'llBh, only those whose hearts have harmonized to exalt Thy Word amidst man-
been touched by His love, and have become kind. 0 Lord, our God! Make us the signs
familiar with the potency of His spirit, can of Thy Divine Guidance, the Standards of
adequately appreciate the value of this Di- Thy exalted Faith amongst men, servants to
vine Economy-His inestimable gift to Thy mighty Covenant. 0 Thou our Lord
mankind. . . . Most High! Manifestations of Thy Divine
"This Administrative Order . . . will, as Unity in Thine Abhi Kingdom, and re-
its component parts, its organic institutions, splendent stars shining upon all regions.
begin to function with efficiency and vigor, Lord! Aid us to become seas surging with
assert its claim and demonstrate its capacity the billows of Thy wondrous Grace, streams
to be regarded not only as the nucleus but flowing from Thy all-glorious Heights,
the very pattern of the New World Order goodly fruits upon the Tree of Thy heavenly
destined to embrace in the fullness of time Cause, trees waving through the breezes of
the whole of mankind. . . . Thy Bounty in Thy celestial Vineyard. 0
"Alone of all the Revelations gone before God! Make our souls dependent upon the
it this Faith has . . . succeeded in raising a Verses of Thy Divine Unity, our hearts
structure which the bewildered followers of cheered with the outpourings of Thy Grace,
bankrupt and broken creeds might well ap- that we may unite even as the waves of one
proach and critically examine, and seek, ere sea and become merged together as the rays
it is too late, the invulnerable security of its of Thine effulgent Light; that our thoughts,
world-embracing shelter. . . . our views, our feelings may become as one
"To what else if not to the power and reality, manifesting the spirit of union
majesty which this Administrative Order- throughout the world. Thou art the Gra-
the rudiments of the future all-enfolding cious, the Bountiful, the Bestower, the Al-
Bahb'i Commonwealth-is destined to man- mighty, the Merciful, the Compassionate.'
ifest, can these utterances of Bahl'u'lllh al- "In the Most Holy Book is revealed:-
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bah6'is of Germany and Austria
for the Year 110 (1953-1954).

'The Lord hath ordained that in every city humility and lowliness amongst His loved
a House of Justice be established wherein ones, patience and long-suffering in di£fi-
shall gather counsellors to the number of culties and servitude to His exalted Thresh-
Bah6, and should it exceed this number it old. Should they be graciously aided to ac-
does not matter. It behooveth them to be quire these attributes, victory from the un-
the trusted ones of the Merciful among men seen Kingdom of Bah6 shall be vouchsafed
and to regard themselves as the guardians to them. In this day, assemblies of consulta-
appointed of God for all that dwell on earth. tion are of the greatest importance and a
It is incumbent upon them to take counsel vital necessity. Obedience unto them is es-
together and to have regard for the interests sential and obligatory. The members thereof
of the servants of God, for His sake, even must take counsel together in such wise that
as they regard their own interests, and to no occasion for ill-feeling or discord may
choose that which is meet and seemly. Thus arise. This can be attained when every mem-
hath the Lord your God commanded you. ber expresseth with absolute freedom his
Beware lest ye put away that which is own opinion and setteth forth his argument.
clearly revealed in His Tablet. Fear God, 0 Should any one oppose, he must on no ac-
ye that perceive.' count feel hurt for not until matters are
"Furthermore, 'Abdu'l-Bahh reveals the fully discussed can the right way be re-
following:-'It is incumbent upon every one vealed. The shining spark of truth cometh
not to take any step without consulting the forth only after the clash of differing opin-
Spiritual Assembly, and they must assuredly ions. If after discussion, a decision be car-
obey with heart and soul its bidding and be ried unanimously, well and good; but if, the
submissive unto it, that things may be Lord forbid, differences of opinion should
properly ordered and well arranged. Other- arise, a majority of voices must prevail.'
wise every person will act independently "Enumerating the obligations incumbent
and after his own judgment, will follow his upon the members of consulting councils,
own desire, and do harm to the Cause.' the Beloved reveals the following:-'The
" 'The prime requisites for them that take first condition is absolute love and harmony
counsel together are purity of motive, radi- amongst the members of the assembly. They
ance of spirit, detachment from all else save must be wholly free from estrangement and
God, attraction to His Divine Fragrances, must manifest in themselves the Unity of
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 287

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Canada, 1953-1954.

God, for they are the waves of one sea, the forced. In short, whatsoever thing is ar-
drops of one river, the stars of one heaven, ranged in harmony and with love and purity
the rays of one sun, the trees of one orchard, of motive, its result is light, and should the
the flowers of one garden. Should harmony least trace of estrangement prevail the result
of thought and absolute unity be non-exist- shall be darkness upon darkness. . . . If
ent, that gathering shall be dispersed and this be so regarded, that assembly shall be
that assembly be brought to naught. The of God, but otherwise it shall lead to cool-
second condition:-They must when com- ness and alienation that proceed from the
ing together turn their faces to the Kingdom Evil One. Discussions must all be c o d n e d
on high and ask aid from the Realm of to spiritual matters that pertain to the train-
Glory. They must then proceed with the ut- ing of souls, the instruction of children, the
most devotion, courtesy, dignity, care and relief of the poor, the help of the feeble
moderation to express their views. They throughout all classes in the world, kindness
must in every matter search out the truth to all peoples, the diffusion of the fragrances
and not insist upon their own opinion, for of God and the exaltation of His Holy
stubbornness and persistence in one's views Word. Should they endeavor to fulfill these
will lead ultimately to discord and wran- conditions the Grace of the Holy Spirit shall
gling and the truth will remain hidden. The be vouchsafed unto them, and that assembly
honored members must with all freedom ex- shall become the center of the Divine bless-
press their own thoughts, and it is in no wise ings, the hosts of Divine confirmation shall
permissible for one to belittle the thought of come to their aid, and they shall day by day
another, nay, he must with moderation set receive a new effusion of Spirit.'
forth the truth, and should differences of "So great is the importance and so su-
opinion arise a majority of voices must pre- preme is the authority of these assemblies
vail, and all must obey and submit to the that once 'Abdu'l-Bah5 after having Himself
majority. It is again not permitted that any and in His own handwriting corrected the
one of the honored members object to or translation made into Arabic of the Ishriiq5t
censure, whether in or out of the meeting, (the Effulgences) by KheikJh Faraj, a Kur-
any decision arrived at previously, though dish friend from Cairo, directed him in a
that decision be not right, for such criticism Tablet to submit the above-named transla-
would prevent any decision from being en- tion to the Spiritual Assembly of Cairo, that
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Australia and New Zealand,
Year 110 (1953-1954).

he may seek from them before publication tains to the general interest of the Cause
their approval and consent. These are His in that land, then it is incumbent upon the
very words in that Tablet:-'His honor, Spiritual Assembly to submit it to the con-
SJheM Faraju'llih, has here rendered into sideration and approval of the national body
Arabic with greatest care the Ishriqit and representing all the various local assemblies.
yet I have told him that he must submit his Not only with regard to publication, but
version to the Spiritual Assembly of Egypt, all matters without any exception whatso-
and I have conditioned its publication upon ever, regarding the interests of the Cause in
the approval of the above-named Assembly. that locality, individually or collectively,
This is so that things may be arranged in an should be referred exclusively to the Spirit-
orderly manner, for should it not be so any ual Assembly in that locality, which shall
one may translate a certain Tablet and print decide upon it, unless it be a matter of na-
and circulate it on his own account. Even tional interest, in which case it shall be re-
a non-believer might undertake such work, ferred to the national body. With this na-
and thus cause confusion and disorder. If tional body also will rest the decision
it be conditioned, however, upon the ap- whether a given question is of local or na-
proval of the Spiritual Assembly, a transla- tional interest. (By national affairs is not
tion prepared, printed and circulated by a meant matters that are political in their
non-believer will have no recognition what- character, for the friends of God the world
ever.' over are strictly forbidden to meddle with
"This is indeed a clear indication of the political affairs in any way whatever, but
Master's express desire that nothing what- rather things that affect the spiritual activ-
ever should be given to the public by any ities of the body of the friends in that land.)
individual among the friends, unless fully "Full harmony, however, as well as co-
considered and approved by the Spiritual operation among the various local assem-
Assembly in his locality; and if this (as is blies and the members themselves, and par-
undoubtedly the case) is a matter that per- ticularly between each assembly and the na-
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH

tional body, is of the utmost importance, bers of the International House of Justice,
for upon it depends the unity of the Cause that Supreme Council that will guide, or-
of God, the solidarity of the friends, the full, ganize and unify the affairs of the Move-
speedy and efficient working of the spiritual ment throughout the world.
activities of His loved ones. "It is expressly recorded in 'Abdu'l-BahA's
"Large issues in such spiritual activities Writings that these National Assemblies
that affect the Cause in general in that land, must be indirectly elected by the friends;
such as the management of the Star of the that is, the friends in every country must
West and any periodical which the National elect a certain number of delegates, who in
Body may decide to be a BahA'i organ, the their turn will elect from among all the
matter of publication, of reprinting BahB'i friends in that country the members of the
literature and its distribution among the National Spiritual Assembly. In such coun-
various assemblies, the means whereby the tries, therefore, as America, Great Britain
teaching campaign may be stimulated and and Germany, a fixed number of secondary
maintained, the work of the Ma&riqu'l- electors must first be decided upon. . . .
Ad_hkAr, the racial question in relation to the The friends then in every locality where the
C a ~ ~ sthe
e , matter of receiving Orientals and number of adult declared believers exceeds
association with them, the care and mainte- nine must directly elect its quota of sec-
nance of the precious film exhibiting a phase ondary electors assigned to ^it in direct
of the Master's sojourn in the United States proportion to its numerical strength. These
of America as well as the original matrix secondary electors will then, either through
and the records of His voice, and various correspondence, or preferably by gathering
other national spiritual activities, far from together, and first deliberating upon the
being under the exclusive jurisdiction of any affairs of the Cause throughout their coun-
local assembly or group of friends, must try (as the delegates to the Convention),
each be min~ltely and fully directed by a elect from among all the friends in that
special board, elected by the National Body, country nine who will be the members of
constituted as a committee thereof, responsi- the National Spiritual Assembly.
ble to it and upon which the National Body "This National Spiritual Assembly, which,
shall exercise constant and general supervi- pending the establishment of the Universal
sion. . . . House of Justice, will have to be re-elected
"Regarding the establishment of 'National once a year, obviously assumes grave re-
Assemblies,' it is of vital importance that in sponsibilities, for it has to exercise full au-
every country, where the conditions are fa- thority over all the local Assemblies in its
vorable and the number of the friends has province, and will have to direct the activ-
grown and reached a considerable size, such ities of the friends, guard vigilantly the
as America, Great Britain and Germany, Cause of God, and control and supervise
that a 'National Spiritual Assembly' be im- the affairs of the Movement in general.
mediately established, representative of the "Vital issues, affecting the interests of the
friends throughout that country. Cause in that country such as the matter of
"Its immediate purpose is to stimulate, translation and publication, the Ma&riqu'l-
unify and coordinate by frequent personal Ad_hklr, the Teaching Work, and other sim-
consultations, the manifold activities of the ilar matters than stand distinct from strictly
friends as well as the local Assemblies; and local affairs, must be under the full juris-
by keeping in close and constant touch with diction of the National Assembly.
the Holy Land, initiate measures, and direct "It will have to refer each of these ques-
in general the affairs of the Cause in that tions, even as the local Assemblies, to a
countrv. special Committee, to be elected by the
"It serves also another purpose, no less members of the National Spiritual Assem-
essential than the first, as in the course of bly, from among all the friends in that coun-
time it shall evolve into the National House try, which will bear to it the same relation
of Justice (referred to in 'Abdu'l-BahL's as the local committees bear to their re-
Will as the 'secondary House of Justice'), spective local Assemblies.
which according to the explicit text of the "With it, too, rests the decision whether
Testament will have, in conjunction with a certain point at issue is strictly local in its
the other National Assemblies throughout nature, and should be reserved for the con-
the BahB'i world, to elect directly the mem- sideration and decision of the local Assem-
290 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

bly, or whether it should fall under its own sembly, but should also fulfill the functions
province and be regarded as a matter which of an enlightened, consultative and coopera-
ought to receive its special attention. The tive body that will enrich the experience,
National Spiritual Assembly will also decide enhance the prestige, support the authority,
upon such matters which in its opinion and assist the deliberations of the National
should be referred to the Holy Land for Spiritual Assembly. It is my firm conviction
consultation and decision. that it is the bounden duty, in the interest of
"With these Assemblies, local as well as the Cause we all love and serve, of the
national, harmoniously, vigorously, and ef- members of the incoming National Assem-
ficiently functioning throughout the Bahh'i bly, once elected by the delegates at Con-
world, the only means for the establishment vention time, to seek and have the utmost
of the Supreme House of Justice will have regard, individually as well as collectively,
been secured. And when this Supreme Body for the advice, the considered opinion and
will have been properly established, it will the true sentiments of the assembled dele-
have to consider afresh the whole situation, gates. Banishing every vestige of secrecy, of
and lay down the principle which shall di- undue reticence, of dictatorial aloofness,
rect, so long as it deems advisable, the affairs from their midst, they should radiantly and
of the Cause. . . . abundantly unfold to the eyes of the dele-
"The need for the centralization of au- gates, by whom they are elected, their plans,
thority in the National Spiritual Assembly, their hopes, and their cares. They should
and the concentration of power in the vari- familiarize the delegates with the various
ous local Assemblies, is made manifest when matters that will have to be considered in
we reflect that the Cause of Bahh'u'llhh is the current year, and calmly and conscien-
still in its age of tender growth and in a tiously study and weigh the opinions and
stage of transition; when we remember that judgments of the delegates. The newly
the full implications and the exact signifi- elected National Assembly, during the
cance of the Master's world-wide instruc- few days when the Convention is in ses-
tions, as laid down in His Will, are as yet sion and after the dispersal of the dele-
not fully grasped, and the whole Movement gates, should seek ways and means to culti-
has not sufficiently crystallized in the eyes vate understanding, facilitate and maintain
of the world. the exchange of views, deepen confidence,
"It is our primary task to keep the most and vindicate by every tangible evidence
vigilant eye on the manner and character of their one desire to serve and advance the
its growth, to combat effectively the forces common weal. Not infrequently, nay often-
of separation and of sectarian tendencies, times, the most lowly, untutored and inex-
lest the Spirit of the Cause be obscured, its perienced among the friends will, by the
unity be threatened, its Teachings suffer cor- sheer inspiring force of selfless and ardent
ruption; lest extreme orthodoxy on one devotion, contribute a distinct and memo-
hand, and irresponsible freedom on the rable share to a highly involved discussion
other, cause it to deviate from that Straight in any given Assembly. Great must be the
Path which alone can lead it to suc- regard paid by those whom the delegates
cess. . . . call upon to serve in high position to this
"Hitherto the National Convention has all-important though inconspicuous manifes-
been primarily called together for the con- tation of the revealing power of sincere and
sideration of the various circumstances at- earnest devotion.
tending the election of the National Spirit- "The National Spiritual Assembly, how-
ual Assembly. I feel, however, that in view ever, in view of the unavoidable limitations
of the expansion and the growing impor- imposed upon the convening of frequent and
tance of the administrative sphere of the long-standing sessions of the Convention,
Cause, the general sentiments and tenden- will have to retain in its hands the final de-
cies prevailing among the friends, and the cision on all matters that affect the interests
signs of increasing interdependence among of the Cause in America, such as the right to
the National Spiritual Assemblies through- decide whether any local Assembly is func-
out the world, the assembled accredited rep- tioning in accordance with the principles
resentatives of the American believers laid down for the conduct and advancement
should exercise not only the vital and re- of the Cause. It is my earnest prayer that
sponsible right of electing the National As- they will utilize their highly responsible po-
National Spiritual Assembly of the BahA'is of India, PAkisth and Burma,
1952-1953 and 1953-1954.

sition, not only for the wise and efficient after mature deliberation, unanimity in vital
conduct of the affairs of the Cause, but also decisions. Indeed, it has ever been the cher-
for the extension and deepening of the spirit ished desire of our Master, 'Abdu'l-BahB,
of cordiality and wholehearted and mutual that the friends in their councils, local as
support in their cooperation with the body well as national, should by their candor,
of their co-workers throughout the land. their honesty of purpose, their singleness of
The seating of delegates to the Convention, mind, and the thoroughness of their discus-
i.e., the right to decide upon the validity of sions, achieve unanimity in all things.
the credentials of the delegates at a given Should this in certain cases prove impracti-
Convention, is vested in the outgoing Na- cable the verdict of the majority should pre-
tional Assembly, and the right to decide vail, to which decision the minority must
who has the voting privilege is also ulti- under all circumstances, gladly, spontane-
mately placed in the hands of the National ously and continually, submit.
Spiritual Assembly, either when a local Spir- "Nothing short of the all-encompassing,
itual Assembly is being for the first time all-pervading power of His Guidance and
formed in a given locality, or when differ- LoGe can enable this newly-enfolded order
ences arise between a new applicant and an to gather strength and flourish amid the
already established local Assembly. While storm and stress of a turbulent age, and in
the Convention is in session and the accred- the fullness of time vindicate its high claim
ited delegates have already elected from to be universally recognized as the one
among the believers throughout the country Haven of abiding felicity and peace."
the members of the National Spiritual As- 3. On its international institutions:-
sembly for the current year, it is of infinite "It should be stated, at the very outset,
value and a supreme necessity that as. far as in clear and unambiguous language, that
possible all matters requiring immediate de- these twin institutions of the Administrative
cision should be fully and publicly consid- Order of Bah2u'lldh should be regarded as
ered, and an endeavor be made to obtain divine in origin, essential in their functions
292 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahl'is of Egypt and S6d&n,1950-1951.

and complementary in their aim and pur- extraordinary distinctions. Even the station
pose. Their common, their fundamental ob- of prophethood hath been his birthright.'
ject is to insure the continuity of that Without such an institution the integrity of
divinely-appointed authority which flows the Faith would be imperiled, and the sta-
from the Source of our Faith, to safeguard bility of the entire fabric would be gravely
the unity of its followers and to maintain endangered. Its prestige would suffer, the
the integrity and flexibility of its teachings. means required to enable it to take a long,
Acting in conjunction with each other these an uninterrupted view over a series of gen-
two inseparable institutions administer its erations would be completely lacking, and
affairs, coordinate its activities, promote its the necessary guidance to define the sphere
interests, execute its laws and defend its sub- of the legislative action of its elected repre-
sidiary institutions. Severally, each operates sentatives would be totally withdrawn.
within a clearly defined sphere of jurisdic- "Severed from the no less essential insti-
tion; each is equipped with its own attendant tution of the Universal House of Justice this
institutions-instruments designed for the same System of the Will of 'Abdu'l-Bahi
effective discharge of its particular responsi- would be paralyzed in its action and would
bilities and duties. Each exercises, within the be powerless to fill in those gaps which the
limitations imposed upon it, its powers, its Author of the Kitlb-i-Aqdas has deliberately
authority, its rights and prerogatives. These left in the body of His legislative and ad-
are neither contradictory, nor detract in the ministrative ordinances.
slightest degree from the position which " 'He is the Interpreter of the Word of
each of these institutions occupies. Far from God,' 'Abdu'l-Bahl, referring to the func-
being incompatible or mutually destructive, tions of the Guardian of the Faith, asserts,
they supplement each other's authority and using in His Will the very term which He
functions, and are permanently and funda- Himself had chosen when refuting the argu-
mentally united in their aims. ment of the Covenant-breakers who had
"Divorced from the institution of the challenged His right to interpret the utter-
Guardianship the World Order of BahS'u'- ances of Bahii'u'lliih. 'After him,' He adds,
lllh would be mutilated and permanently 'will succeed the first-born of his lineal de-
deprived of that hereditary principle which, scendants.' 'The mighty stronghold,' He
as 'Abdu'l-Bahi has written, has been in- further explains, 'shall remain impregnable
variably upheld by the Law of God. 'In all and safe through obedience to him who is
the Divine Dispensations,' He states, in a the Guardian of the Cause of God.' 'It is in-
Tablet addressed to a follower of the Faith cumbent upon the members of the House of
in Persia, 'the eldest son hath been given Justice, upon all the A g-h ~ l n the
, Afnln, the
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH

Hands of the Cause of God, to show their ment, but invests this body with the addi-
obedience, submissiveness and subordina- tional right and power to abrogate, accord-
tion unto the Guardian of the Cause of ing to the exigencies of time, its own enact-
God.' ments, as well as those of a preceding House
" 'It is incumbent upon the members of of Justice. 'Inasmuch as the House of Jus-
the House of Justice,' BahL'u'llLh, on the tice,' is His explicit statement in His Will,
other hand, declares in the Eighth Leaf of 'hath power to enact laws that are not ex-
the Exalted Paradise, 'to take counsel to- pressly recorded in the Book and bear upon
gether regarding those things which have daily transactions, so also it hath power to
not outwardly been revealed in the Book, repeal the same . . . This it can do because
and to enforce that which is agreeable to these laws form no part of the divine ex-
them. God will verily inspire them with plicit text.'
whatsoever He willeth, and He verily is the "Referring to both the Guardian and the
Provider, the Omniscient.' 'Unto the Most Universal House of Justice we read these
Holy Book' (the KitLb-i-Aqdas), 'Abdu'l- emphatic words: 'The sacred and youthful
BahL states in His Will, 'every one must Branch, the Guardian of the Cause of God,
turn, and all that is not expressly recorded as well as the Universal House of Justice to
therein must be referred to the Universal be universally elected and established, are
House of Justice. That which this body, both under the care and protection of the
whether unanin~ouslyor by a majority doth Abhk Beauty, under the shelter and un-
carry, that is verily the truth and the pur- erring guidance of the Exalted One (the
pose of God Himself. Whoso doth deviate BBb) (may my life be offered up for them
therefrom is verily of them that love dis- both). Whatsoever they decide is of God.'
cord, hath shown forth malice, and turned "From these statements it is made in-
away from the Lord of the Covenant.' dubitably clear and evident that the Guard-
"Not only does 'Abdu'l-BahL confirm in ian of the Faith has been made the Interpre-
His Will BahL'u'llBh's above-quoted state- ter of the Word and that the Universal

National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of 'IrLq, 1952-1954.
294 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

House of Justice has been invested with the neither rich nor poor, neither white nor
function of legislating on matters not ex- colored. Its watchword is the unification of
pressly revealed in the teachings. The in- the human race; its standard the 'Most Great
terpretation of the Guardian, functioning Peace'; its consummation the advent of that
within his own sphere, is as authoritative golden millennium-the Day when the king-
and binding as the enactments of the Inter- doms of this world shall have become the
national House of Justice, whose exclusive Kingdom of God Himself, the Kingdom of
right and prerogative is to pronounce upon BahB'u'llBh."
and deliver the final judgment on such laws Sixty years have passed since the Cause
and ordinances as BahB'u'llhh has not ex- of BahB'u'llBh was first brought to North
pressly revealed. Neither can, nor will ever, America. Three generations of believers
infringe upon the sacred and prescribed do- have worked and sacrificed and prayed in
main of the other. Neither will seek to cnr- order to produce a body of BahB'is large
tail the specific and undoubted authority enough to demonstrate the principles here
with which both have been divinely in- summarized in a few pages for the present-
vested. . . . day student of these teachings. What 'Ab-
"Let no one, while this System is still in du'l-Bahh employed as unifying element for
its infancy, misconceive its character, be- the American community during a period
little its significance or misrepresent its pur- before more than rudimentary local admin-
pose. The bedrock on which this Adminis- istrative bodies could be established was the
trative Order is founded is God's immutable construction of the House of Worship, the
Purpose for mankind in this day. The MaGriqu'l-Aaikhr, in Wilmette. He in fact
Source from which it derives its inspiration referred to the House of Worship as the
is no less than BahL'u'llBh Himself. Its "inception of the Kingdom." Around its
shield and defender are the embattled hosts construction devotedly gathered the Ameri-
of the AbhL Kingdom. Its seed is the blood can friends. 'Abdu'l-Bahh approved their ac-
of no less than twenty thousand martyrs who tion in setting up a religious corporation to
have offered up their lives that it may be hold title to the property and provide a basis
born and flourish. The axis round which its for collective action. In surveying those days
institutions revolve are the authentic provi- from 1904 to 1921, one realizes how, in
sioils of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l- every stage of progress, the believers rushed
BahP. Its guiding principles are the truths forward in devotion before they could per-
which He Who is the unerring Interpreter ceive the full results of action or compre-
of the teachings of our Faith has so clearly hend the full unfoldment of their beloved
enunciated in His public addresses through- Master's intention. In their hearts they knew
out the West. The laws that govern its op- that unity is the keynote of their Faith, and
eration and limit its functions are those they were assured that the new power of
which have been expressly ordained in the unity would augment until it encompassed
Kitfib-i-Aqdas. The seat round which its the whole of mankind. But as to the nature
spiritual, its humanitarian and administra- of world order, the foundation of universal
tive activities will cluster are the Mahriqu'l- peace, the principles of the future economy,
AdJhkBr and its Dependencies. The pillars while the clear picture eluded them, they
that sustain its authority and buttress its went forward with enthusiasm to the Light.
structure are the twin institutions of the
In a continent consecrated to the pioneer,
Guardianship and of the Universal House
of Justice. The central, the underlying aim the early American BahL'is pioneered in the
which animates it is the establishment of world of spirit, striving to participate in a
the New World Order as adumbrated by work of supreme importance whose final re-
BahL'u'llhh. The methods it employs, the sult was the laying of a foundation on which
standard it inculcates, incline it to neither human society might raise a house of justice
East nor West, neither Jew nor Gentile, and a mansion of peace.
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH

APROCEDUREFORTHECONDUCTOF ALOCAL
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Adopted by the National Spiritual Assembly of the BahQ'is of the
Uv~itedStates and Canada

must take counsel together in such wise that
no occasion for ill-feeling or discord may
A PERUSAL of some of the words of arise. This can be attained when every mem-
Bah6'u'll&h and 'Abdu'l-Bah6 on the duties ber expresseth with absolute freedom his
and functions of the Spiritual Assemblies in own opinion and setteth forth his argument.
every land (later to be designated as the Should any one oppose, he must on no ac-
local Houses of Justice), emphatically re- count feel hurt for not until matters are
veals the sacredness of their nature, the fully discussed call the right way be re-
wide scope of their activity, and the grave vealed. The shining spark of truth cometh
responsibility which rests upon them."- forth only after the clash of differing opin-
S H ~ G HEFFENDI,
I March 5, 1922. ions. If, after discussion, a decision be car-
"The Lord hath ordained that in every ried unanimously, well and good; but if, the
city a House of Justice be established Lord forbid, differences of opinion should
wherein shall gather counselors to the num- arise, ,a majority of voices must pre-
ber of Bah6. . . . It behooveth them to be vail. . . ."
the trusted ones of the Merciful among men "The first condition1 is absolute love and
and to regard themselves as the guardians harmony amongst the members of the As-
appointed of God for all that dwell on earth. sembly. They must be wholly free from
It is incumbent upon them to take counsel estrangement and must manifest in them-
together and to have regard for the inter- selves the Unity of God, for they are the
ests of the servants of God, for His sake, waves of one sea, the drops of one river,
even as they regard their own interests, and the stars of one heaven, the rays of one sun,
to choose that which is meet and seemly. the trees of one orchard, the flowers of one
Thus hath the Lord yo-ctr God commanded garden. Should harmony of thought and ab-
you. Beware lest ye put away that which solute unity be non-existent, that gathering
is clearly revealed in His Tablet. Fear God, shall be dispersed and that Assembly be
0 ye that perceive."-BA~U'LL~H. brought to naught. The second condition:
"It is incumbent upon every one not to They must when coming together turn their
take any step without consulting the Spirit- faces to the Kingdom on High and ask aid
ual Assembly, and they must assuredly obey from the Realm of Glory. They must then
with heart and soul its bidding and be sub- proceed with the utmost devotion, courtesy,
missive unto it, that things may be properly dignity, care and moderation to express
ordered and well arranged. Otherwise every their views. Thev must in everv matter
person will act independently and after his search out the truth and not insist upon
own judgment, will follow his own desire, their own opinion, for stubbornness and
and do harm to the Cause. persistence in one's views will lead ulti-
"The prime requisites for them that take mately to discord and wrangling and the
counsel together are purity of motive, radi- truth will remain hidden. The honored
ance of spirit, detachment from all else save members must with all freedom express
God, attraction to His Divine Fragrances, their own thoughts, and it is in no wise per-
humility and lowliiless amongst His loved missible for one to belittle the thought of
ones, patience and long-suffering in difficul- another, nay, he must with moderation set
ties and servitude to His exalted Threshold. forth the truth, and should differences of
Should they be graciously aided to a c q ~ ~ i r e opinion arise a majority of voices must pre-
these attrib~~tes, victory from the unseen vail, and all must obey and submit to the
Kingdom of Bahi shall be vouchsafed to majority. It is again not permitted that any
them. In this day, Assemblies of consulta- one of the honored members object to or
tion are of the greatest importance and a censure, whether in or out of the meeting,
vital necessity. Obedience unto them is es- any decision arrived at previously, though
sential and obligatory. The members thereof that decision be not right, for such criticism
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

would prevent any decision from being en- spired, that one and all should submit to its
forced. In short, whatsoever thing is ar- decision unreservedly and with cheerful-
ranged in harmony and with love and purity ~ ~ S S . " ~ H O G H EFFENDI,
I February 23,
of motive, its result is light, and should the 1924.
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 cool-
ness and alienation that proceed from the The various functions of the local Spirit-
Evil One. Discussions must all be confined ual Assembly, and its nature as a consti-
to spiritual matters that pertain to the train- tutional body, are duly set forth in Article
ing of souls, the instruction of children, the VII of the By-Laws of the National Spirit-
relief of the poor, the help of the feeble ual Assembly, and are more definitely de-
throughout all classes in the world, kindness fined in the By-Laws of a local Spiritual
to all peoples, the dBusion of the fragrances Assembly approved by the National Spirit-
of God and the exaltation of His Holy ual Assembly and recommended by the
Word. Should they endeavor to fullill these Guardian. Each local Spiritual Assembly,
conditions the grace of the Holy Spirit shall and all members of the local Bahi'i com-
be vouchsafed unto them, and that Assem- munity, shall be guided and controlled by
bly shall become the center of the Divine the provisions of those By-Laws.
blessings, the hosts of Divine confirmation
shall come to their aid, and they shall day
by day receive a new effusion of Spirit."-
'ABDU'L-BA~.
"The importance, nay the absolute neces-
sity of these local Assemblies is manifest In addition to its observance of the gen-
when we realize that in the days to come eral functions vested in the institution of a
they will evolve into the local House of Jus- Spiritual Assembly, each Spiritual Assembly
tice, and at present provide the firm founda- has need of a procedure for the conduct of
tion on which the structure of the Master's its meetings. The following items represent
Will is to be reared in the future." the outline of the parliamentary rules of
"In order to avoid division and disruption, procedure which the National Spiritual As-
that the Cause may not fall a prey to con- sembly has adopted and recommends to
flicting interpretations, and lose thereby its each and every local Spiritual Assembly
purity and pristine vigor, that its affairs may throughout the United States.
be conducted with efficiency and prompt- C~llingof Meetings
ness, it is necessary that every one [that is,
every member of the Bahti'i community] A meeting of the Spiritual Assembly is
should conscientiously take an active part valid only when it has been duly called, that
in the election of these Assemblies, abide by is, when each and every member has been
their decision, enforce their decree, and co- informed of the time and place. The gen-
operate with them wholeheartedly in their eral practice is for the Assembly to decide
task of stimulating the growth of the Move- upon some regular time and place for its
ment throughout all regions. The members meetings throughout the Bah2i year, and
of these Assemblies, on their part, must dis- this decision when recorded in the minutes
regard utterly their own likes and dislikes, is sufficient notice to the members. When
their personal interests and inclinations, and the regular schedule cannot be followed, or
concentrate their minds upon those meas- the need arises for a special meeting, the
ures that will conduce to the welfare and secretary, on request by the chairman or
happiness of the Bahki community and pro- any three members of the Spiritual Assem-
mote the common weal."-SHOGHI EF- bly, should send due notice to all the mem-
FENDI, March 12, 1923. bers.
"Let us recall His explicit and often-
Order of Business
repeated assurances that every Assembly
elected in that rarefied atmosphere of self- Roll call by the Secretary (or Recording
lessness and detachment is, in truth, ap- Secretary).
pointed of God, that its verdict is truly in- Prayer.
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 297

Reading and approval of Minutes of pre- Discussion of any matter before the As-
vious meetings. sembly may be terminated by a motion duly
Report of Secretary (or Corresponding made, seconded and voted calling upon the
Secretary), including presentation of chairman to put the matter to a vote or to
letters received by the Assembly since proceed to the next matter on the agenda.
its last meeting, and of any and all The purpose of this procedure is to prevent
recommendations duly adopted by the any member or members from prolonging
community at the last Nineteen Day the discussion beyond the point at which
Feast. full opportunity has been given all members
Report of Treasurer. to express their views.
Report of Committees. When the Assembly has taken action
Unfinished business. upon any matter, the action is binding upon
New business, including conferences with all members, whether present or absent
members of the community and with from the meeting at which the action was
applicants for enrollment as members taken. Individual views and opinions must
of the community. be subordinated to the will of the Assembly
Closing Prayer. when a decision has been made. A Spiritual
Assembly is an administrative unit, as it is a
Conduct of Business spiritual unit, and therefore no distinction
between "majority" and "minority" groups
A Spiritual Assembly, in maintaining its or factions can be recognized. Each member
threefold function of a body given (within must give undivided loyalty to the insti-
the limits of its jurisdiction) an executive, tution to which he or she has been elected.
a legislative and a judicial capacity, is Any action taken by the Assembly can be
charged with responsibility for initiating ac- reconsidered at a later meeting, on motion
tion and making decisions. Its meetings, duly made, seconded and carried. This re-
therefore, revolve around various definite consideration, according to the result of the
matters which require deliberation and col- consultation, may lead to a revision or the
lective decision, and it is incumbent upon annulment of the prior action. If a majority
the members, one and all, lo address them- is unwilling to reconsider the prior action,
selves to the subject under discussion and further discussion of the matter by any
not engage in general speeches of an irrele- member is improper.
vant character. The Assembly has a responsibility in fill-
Every subject or problem before an As- ing a vacancy caused by the inability of any
sembly is most efficientlyhandled when the member to attend the meetiugs. "It is only
following process is observed: first, ascer- too obvious that unless a member can at-
tainment and agreement upon the facts; tend regularly the meetings of his local As-
second, agreement upon the spiritual or ad- sembly, it would be impossible for him to
ministrative Teachings which the question discharge the duties incumbent upon him,
involves; third, full and frank discussion of and to fuliill his responsibilities as a repre-
the matter, leading up to the offering of a sentative of the community. Membership in
resolution; and fourth, voting upon the reso- a local Spiritual Assembly carries with it, in-
lution. deed, the obligation and capacity to remain
A resolution, or motion, is not subject to in close touch with local BahPi activities,
discussion or vote until duly made and sec- and ability to attend regularly the sessions
onded. It is preferable to have each resolu- of the Assembly.''-S~o~~~ EFFENDI,Janu-
tion clear and complete in itself, but when ary 27, 1935.
an amendment is duly made and seconded,
The Spiritual Assembly, as a permanent
the chairman shall call for a vote on the
amendment first and then on the original body, is responsible for maintaining all its
motion. An amendment must be relevant to, records, including Minutes of meetings, cor-
and not contravene, the subject matter of respondence and financial records, through-
the motion. out its existence as a BahL'i institution. Each
The chairman, or other presiding officer, officer, therefore, on completing his or her
has the same power and responsibility for term of office, shall turn over to-the Assem-
discussion and voting upon motions as other bly all records pertaining to the business of
members of the Assembly. the Assembly.
29 8 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

111. CONSULTATION
WITH THE September 8 November 4 January 19
COMMUNITY September 27 November 23 February 7
October 16 December 12 March 2
A . The institution of the Nineteen Day December 3 1
Feast provides the recognized and regular
occasion for general consultation on the The Spiritual Assembly is responsible for
part of the community, and for consultalion the holding of the Nineteen Day Feast. If
between the Spiritual Assembly and the the BahL'i calendar for some adequate rea-
members of the community. The conduct of son cannot be observed, the Assembly may
the period of consultation at Nineteen Day arrange to hold a Feast at the nearest pos-
Feasts is a vital function of each Spiritual sible date.
Assembly. Only members of the BahL'i community,
From Words of 'Abdu'l-BahL, "The Nine- and visiting BahL'is from other communi-
teen Day Feast was inaugurated by the BLb ties, may attend these meetings, but young
and ratified by BahL'u'llLh, in His Holy people of less than twenty-one years of age,
Book, the Aqdas, so that people may gather who have studied the Teachings and de-
together and outwardly show fellowship and clared their intention of joining the com-
love, that the Divine mysteries may be dis- munity on reaching the age of twenty-one,
closed. The object is concord, that through may also attend.
this fellowship hearts may become perfectly Regular attendance at the Nineteen Day
united, and reciprocity and mutual helpful- Feast is incumbent upon every BahL'i, ill-
ness be established. Because the members of ness or absence from the city being the only
the world of humanity are unable to exist justification for absence. Believers are ex-
without being banded together, cooperation pected to arrange their personal affairs so
and helpf~~lness are the basis of human so- as to enable them to observe the BahL'i
ciety. Without the realization of these two calendar.
great principles no great movement is
pressed forward." London, England, De- Order of Business for the
cember 29, 1912. (Quoted in Bah& News, Consultation Period
No. 33.)
The Nineteen Day Feast has been de- The chairman or other appointed repre-
scribed by the Guardian as the foundation sentative of the Spiritual Assembly presides
of the World Order of BahL'u'llLh. It is to during the period of consultation.
be conducted according to the following The Spiritual Assembly reports to the
program: The first part, entirely spiritual in community whatever communications have
character, is devoted to readings from Ba- been received from the Guardian and the
h8'i Sacred Writings; the second part con- National Spiritual Assembly, and provides
sists of general consultation on the affairs of opportunity for general discussion.
the Cause. The third part is the material The Assembly likewise reports its own
feast and social meeting of all the believers, activities and plans, including committee ap-
and should maintain the spiritual nature of pointments that may have been made since
the Feast. the last Feast, the financial report, arrange-
BahL'is should regard this Feast as the ments made for public meetings, and in gen-
very heart of their spiritual activity, their eral shares with the community all matters
participation in the mystery of the Holy that concern the Faith. These reports are to
Utterance, their steadfast unity one with an- be followed by general consultation.
other in a universality raised high above the A matter of vital importance at this meet-
limitations of race, class, nationality, sect, ing is consideration of national and inter-
and personality, and their privilege of con- national BahL'i affairs, to strengthen the
tributing to the power of the Cause in the capacity of the community to cooperate in
realm of collective action. promotion of the larger BahL'i interests and
to deepen the understanding of all believers
Calendar of the Nineteen Day Feast concerning the relation of the local com-
m q i t y to the BahL'i World Community.
March 21 May 17 July 13 Individual BahL'is are to find in the Nine-
April 9 June 5 August 1 teen Day Feast the channel through which
April 28 June 24 August 20 to make suggestions and recommendations
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH

to the National Sairitual Assemblv. These presentation of annual reports, tellers' report
recommendatioils are offered first to the lo- of the election, approval of the tellers' re-
cal community, and when adopted by the port.
community come before the local Assem-
bly, which then may ill its discretion for- C. In addition to these occasions for gen-
ward the recommendation to the National eral consultation, the Spiritual Assembly is
Spiritual Assembly accompanied by its own to give consultation to individual believers
considered view. whenever requested.
Provision is to be made for reports from During such consultation with individual
committees, with discussion of each report. believers, the Assembly should observe the
Finally, the meeting is to be open for sug- following principles: the impartiality of each
gestions and recomn~endations from indi- of its members with respect to all matters
vidual believers on any matter affecting the under discussion; the freedom of the indi-
Cause. vidual BahL'i to express his views, feelings
The local Bahi'i community may adopt and recommeildations on any matter affect-
by majority vote ally resalution which it ing the interests of the Cause; the confiden-
wishes collectively to record as its advice tial character of this consultation, and the
and recommendation to the Spiritual As- principle that the Spiritual Assembly does
sembly. not adopt any resolution or make any final
Upon each member of the community decision, ~ ~ n t the
i l party or parties have
lies the obligatioil to make his or her utmost withdrawn from the meeting.
contribution to the consultation, the ideal Appeals from decisions of a local Spiritual
being a gathering of Bah6'is inspired with Assembly are provided for in the By-Laws
one spirit and concentrating upon the one and the procedure fully described in a state-
aim to further the interests of the Faith. ment published in Bahci'i News, February,
The Secretary of the Assembly records 1933.
each resolution adopted by the community, When confronted with evidences of
as well as the various suggestions advanced unhappiness, whether directed against the
during the meetings, in order to report these Assembly or against members of the com-
to the Spiritual Assembly for its considera- munity, the Spiritual Assembly should real-
tion. Whatever action the Assembly takes ize that its relationship to the believers is not
is to be reported at a later Nineteen Day merely that of a formal constitutional body
Feast. but also that of a spiritual institution called
Matters of a personal nature should be upon to manifest the attributes of courtesy,
brought before the Spiritual Assembly and patience and loving insight. Many condi-
not to the community at the Nineteen Day tions are not to be remedied by the exercise
Feast. Concerning the attitude with which of power and authority but rather by a sym-
believers should come to these Feasts, the pathetic understanding of the sources of the
Master has said, "You must free yourselves difficulty in the hearts of the friends. As
from everything that is in your hearts, be- 'Abdu'l-BahL has explained, some of the
fore you enter." (Bahci'i News Letter of the people are children and must be trained,
N. S. A. of Germany and Austria, Decem- some are ignorant and must be educated,
ber, 1934.) some are sick and must be healed. Where,
however, the problem is not of this order
B. The Annual Meeting on April 21, but represents flagrant disobedience and dis-
called for the election of the Spiritual As- loyalty to the Cause itself, in that case the
sembly, provides the occasioll for the pres- Assembly should coilsult with the National
entation of annual reports by the Assembly Spiritual Assembly concerning the necessity
and by all its Committees. for disciplinary action.
The chairman of the outgoing Assembly Members of the Bahi'i community, for
presides at this meeting. their part, should do their utmost by prayer
The order of business includes: Reading and meditation to remain always in a posi-
of the call of the meeting, reading of ap- tive and joyous spiritual condition, bearing
propriate Bahb'i passages bearing up011 the in mind the Tablets which call upon BahL'is
subject of the election, appointment of tell- to serve the world of humanity and not
ers, distribution of ballots, prayers for the waste their precious energies in negative
spiritual guidance of the voters, the election, complaints.
300 T H E BAHA'I: W O R L D

IV. B A HANNIVERSARIES,
~ ~ FESTIVALS
AND Ascension of BahL'u'llsih, May 29, 1892.
DAYSOF FASTING Martyrdom of the Bib, July 9, 1850.
Birth of the Bib, October 20, 1819.
The Spiritual Assembly, among its vari- Birth of BahL'u'llsih, November 12, 1817.
ous duties and responsibilities, will provide Day of the Covenant, November 26.
for the general observance by the local com- Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bah$ November
munity of the following Holy Days: 28, 1921.
Period of the Fast, nineteen days begin-
Feast of RidvAn (Declaration of Bah2- ning March 2.
u'llAh) April 21-May 2, 1863. Feast of Naw-Rfiz (BahB'i New Year),
Declaration of the BAb, May 23, 1844. March 21.

THE INSTITUTION OF THE NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

T H E sacred Writings of the Bah(.i Faith all the local Assemblies in its province, and
create organic institutions having a member- will have to direct the activities of the
ship elected by the BahL'i community. friends, guard vigilantly the Cause of God,
BahL'u'llih called these institutions into and control and supervise the affairs of the
being; their establishment, definition, train- [Faith] in general.
ing and development came later, in the min- "Vital issues, affecting the interests of the
istry of 'Abdu'l-BahA and in that of the Cause in that country . . . that stand dis-
Guardian appointed in 'Abdu'l-BahL's Testa- tinct from strictly local affairs, must be
ment. under the full jurisdiction of the National
Since the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bah5 in 1921, Assembly. It will have to refer each of these
the formation of local Spiritual Assemblies questions . . . to a special Committee, to
has multiplied in East and West, and the be elected by the members of the National
institution of the National Spiritual Assem- Spiritual Assembly, from among all the
bly has become k m l y established. Concern- friends in that country . . .
ing this national administrative body Shoghi "With it, too, rests the decision whether a
Effendi has provided clear information and certain point at issue is strictly local in its
direction. Its purpose, its power, its responsi- .
nature . . or whether it should fall under
bility and its functions and duties are defi- its own province and be regarded as a mat-
nitely prescribed. ter which ought to receive its special atten-
"Its immediate purpose is to stimulate, tion."l
unify and coordinate by frequent personal "The need for the centralization of au-
consultations the manifold activities of the thority in the National Spiritual Assembly,
friends [believers] as well as the local As- and the concentration of power in the vari-
semblies; and by keeping in close and con- ous local Assemblies, is . . . manifest."'
stant touch with the Holy Land [BahL'i "The authority of the National Spiritual As-
World Center], initiate measures, and direct sembly is undivided and unchallengeable in
in general the affairs of the Cause in that all matters pertaining to the administration
country. of the Faith [throughout its co~ntry]."~
"It serves also another purpose, no less The individual BahL'i has spiritual citizen-
essential than the first . . . in conjunction ship in a world community of believers act-
with the other National Assemblies through- ing through local, national and international
out the BahL'i world, to elect directly the bodies. There is no division of interest or
members of the International House of Jus- conflict of authority among these institu-
tice, that Supreme Council that will guide, tions, for ever since the ascension of Baht?-
organize and unify the affairs of the [Faith]
1 Bahd'i Adminisfration (1945 edition), pp. 39-40.
throughout the world. 2 Ibid., p. 42.
". . . it has to exercise full authority over 3 Bahri'S Procedure (1942), p. 63.
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 301

First National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Central America, Mexico and
the Antilles, elected April, 1951.
Seated, left to right: Dr. David Escalante (San Salvador), James V. Facey (Colon),
Miss Elena Marsella (Ciudad Trujillo) , Artemus Lamb (San Josh).
Standing, left to right: Mrs. Louise Caswell (Tegucigalpa), Zenayda Jurado C. (Mexico
City), Mrs. Cora H. Oliver (Colon), Sra. Raquel J. Fran~oisde Constante (Panama
City), Natalia A. ChBvez (Tegucigalpa).

u'llBh in 1892 His Faith has uninterruptedly During the ministry of 'Abdu'l-BahB, after
possessed an infallible Interpreter, a spiritual He had approved the petition submitted to
Head, in the person of 'Abdu'l-BahB until Him by the American Bahb'is expressing
1921, and in the Guardianship after that their desire to construct a House of Wor-
date. The action of a BahL'i administrative ship, these Bahi'is formed a national body
body, therefore, while rationally determined known as BahVi Temple Unity, incorpo-
by constitutional principles, operates in a rated for the purpose of gathering funds and
spiritual realm revealed by the Manifesta- coordinating plans to erect the Temple in
tion of God and maintained free from politi- Wilmette. That body, though national in
cal pressure and the influence of material- scope and elected by delegates representing
ism. Apart from the appointed Interpreter, the various local Bahi'i communities, was
no Bahi'i has individual authority. Decisions not a National Spiritual Assembly. It is in-
are confined to the sphere of action and are teresting to note that in BahL'i Temple Unity
made by a body of nine persons. the American BahL'is established a body re-
The advice and direction clarifying the flecting their own national historical experi-
nature and operation of a National Spiritual ence. The local communities preceded the
Assembly have been compiled by the Amer- national body in time and each exercised an
ican BahL'is from letters written them by independent -authority in the conduct of its
Shoghi EffendL4 own affairs. When their representatives
agreed to form a national BahL'i body with
4 Bahd'r' Admiizistmtion; Declaration of Trust and By-
Laws of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahs'is full jurisdiction over Temple matters, they
of the United States. transferred to it powers which vested final
302 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

First National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of South
America, elected April, 1951.
Front row, left to right: Edmund J. Miessler (Sao P a d o ) ,
Mrs. Margot Worley (Bahia) , Miss Eve Nicklin (Lima),
Manuel Vera (Lima).
Rear, left to right: Dr. Alejandro Reid (Punta Arenas), Mrs.
Gayle Woolson (Bogotk), EstBban Canales L. (Asuncion),
Srta. Mercedes Sanchez (Lima), Rangvald Taetz
(Montevideo).

decision not in its directors but in the An- Within its own realm the National Spirit-
nual Convention. The vital distinction be- ual Assembly is an institution created by the
tween Temple Unity and the National Spir- Teachings of the Faith independent of the
itual Assembly when later established lay in Bahi'is who elect its members and of the
this field of ultimate authority. The National Bahi'is composing its membership. In no
Spiritual Assembly possessed original au- way does this institution reflect either the
thority, powers and functions of its own. It political or the ecclesiastical influences of its
came into existence through election of its environment, whether in America, Europe
nine members at a National Convention but or the East. This fact has paramount im-
constituted a continuing authority derived portance. On the one hand it reveals the
from the Bahi'i Teachings and not con- existence of an organic religious society; on
ferred by any action of the believers, the other hand it demonstrates the freedom
whether as local communities or as dele- of this new community from the legalisms
gates. This authority emerged supreme in re- and devices acting within every human insti-
lation to BahL'i matters within the national tution.
community but subject to the higher author- While the transition from BahL'i Temple
ity of the Guardian and also of the future Unity to National Spiritual Assembly in
International House of Justice. North America emphasizes certain princi-
THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 303

First Italo-Swiss BahB'i National Spiritual Assembly, 1953-1954.
Seated, left to right: Prof. Mario Fiormtini, Mrs. Anna Kunz, Dr. Ugo R. Giachery,
Miss Elsa Steinmetz, Mrs. Stella Lonzar.
Standing, left to right: Mrs. Anne Lynch, Friedrich Schar, Mrs. Marion Little,
Prof. Alessandro Bausani.

ples inherent in BahL'i institutions, the for- for the election of the delegate or delegates
mation of a National Spiritual Assembly in assigned to each. The elected delegates were
a new area represents more profoundly the provided with ballots and a copy of the Con-
creation of a new type of society. Every na- vention agenda. The agenda, meanwhile,
tional BahB'i community has gone through had been prepared in the light of the general
some evolution reflecting its historical back- nature of a Bahi'i National Convention and
ground before its National Spiritual Assem- with respect to the particular conditions of
bly was established. the Bahi'i community.
In Central and South America, the pre- The National Spiritual Assembly of the
liminary teaching work and formation of BahB'is of the United States selected from its
local communities was conducted by a com- own membership two persons to attend each
mittee of the National Spiritual Assembly of Convention, one to open the meeting as tem-
the Bahi'is of the United States and Canada, porary chairman, the other to call the roll,
and when the Bahi'is of Canada formed and both to supervise the election of perma-
their own National Assembly, by a commit- nent convention officers from the member-
tee appointed and sustained from the United ship of the delegates present. With that elec-
States. The process of establishing new Na- tion the Convention proceeded as an inde-
tional Assemblies in those areas involved a pendent body, but acting under friendly su-
number of steps. pervision, to fulfill its own special functions:
The membership list of qualified adult consultation on current BahB'i matters, and
BahUs was carefully prepared. The number election of the members of the first National
of delegates to be elected to each of the first Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahi'is of Cen-
Annual Conventions under the principle of tral and South America. The nine persons
proportionate representation was deter- receiving the highest number of votes on the
mined. The Convention date and site were first ballot, in accordance with the principle
chosen. A call was issued to the participating of plurality, were declared and certified to
local communities through their Assemblies be Assembly members.
304 THE BAHA'I WORLD

After the Conventions the newly elected the basis of the model approved by the
bodies entered upon their duties in consulta- Guardian of the Bahi'i Faith. All the Na-
tion with the representatives from the tional Spiritual Assemblies collectively,
United States, who had prepared a list of under the title of The B a h a International
actions to be taken annually by a national Community, constitute an international non-
Bahb'i body. governmental organization whose delegates
Such an occasion as the birth of a national are accredited by United Nations for at-
Bahl'i institution is cherished in the memory tendance and participation in its regional
of all present. Among the significant events conferences.
are the receipt of a message from the Guard- Through the institution of the National
ian of .the Faith and greetings from all other Spiritual Assembly, BahL'is are enabled to
National Spiritual Assemblies. Nine Assem- carry out plans of considerable magnitude,
blies existed at the time the two bodies were collaborate with BahL'is of all other lands
established in Latin A m e r i ~ a . ~ in matters of international interest, maintain
The functions of a National Spiritual As- common standards of administrative princi-
sembly are manifold: the publication of ple, and take advantage, in the appointment
BahL'i literature; national teaching plans; of committees, of particular talents and apti-
supervision of local communities; encour- tudes possessed by individual believers. The
agement and direction of all the BahPis in National Spiritual Assembly stands as one
their service to the Faith; and representation
of the pillars supporting the BahL'i world
of the BahL'is in relation to the civil au-
thorities. Each national body prepares and community. Participation in national Bah6'i
adopts its own constitution, formulated on activities serves to insulate the individual
BahCi from infection by the psychic ills
5 These National Spiritual Assemblies were, in the
order of their establishment, India and Burma (1923),
which afflict modern society as result of its
Germany and Austria (1923), British Isles (1923), lack of faith and spiritual direction. Within
Egypt (1924), United States (1925), 'Iriq (1931), Per- the shelter of this emerging order the storms
sia (1934), Australia and New Zealand (1934), and
Canada (1948). (See God Passes By, p. 333.) of partisanship cannot engulf the soul.

APROCEDUREFORTHECONDUCTOFTHEANNUAL
BAM'f CONVENTION
the present material has been prepared to
meet the need indicated by that recommen-
A SUMMARY of the constitutional basis
of the Convention has been made by the Na-
dation.

tional Spiritual Assembly and approved by Order of Business
the Guardian . .. Prayer and devotional readings, provided
by the outgoing National Spiritual Assem-
bly.
Opening of the Convention by Presiding
The National Spiritual Assembly deter- Officer of the National Spiritual Assembly.
mines the date, duration and place of the Roll call of delegates by the Secretary of
Annual Convention and provides for such the National Spiritual Assembly.
meetings in connection with the Convention Election by secret ballot of Convention
as it may feel are desirable. Chairman and Secretary. The Convention
Officers are to be elected by the assembled
delegates from among the entire number of
delegates who are present at the Convention.
The Twenty-sixth Annual Convention [of Annual Report of National Spiritual As-
the BahL'is of the United States and Can- sembly.
ada], held in 1934, voted a recommendation Annual Financial Report of National
calling upon the National Spiritual Assem- Spiritual Assembly.
bly to supply a parliamentary procedure for Convention message to the Guardian of
the conduct of the Annual Convention, and the Faith.
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 305

Annual Committee Reports: These are to suggestions of the assembled delegates; and
be considered as part of the Report of the to contribute to the unity, in spirit and in
National Spiritual Assembly. They are action, of the entire American Bahd'i com-
whenever possible published in Bahsi'i News munity.
in advance of the Convention date, for the The freedom of each and every delegate
information of the delegates. to take part in discussion and to initiate mo-
Subjects for Consultation. Any delegate tions is-untrammeled save as the undue acl
may, before the Convention convenes, rec- tivity of one delegate might hamper the
ommend to the National Assembly such rights of the other delegates. Any necessary
topics as he deems of sufficient importance limitation to be placed upon individual dis-
to be included in the Convention agenda; cussion shall be determined by the Chair-
and the National Spiritual Assembly, from man in the absence of any specific motion
the list of topics received from delegates, duly voted by the delegates themselves.
and also suggested by its own knowledge It shall be the duty of the Chairman to
and experience, is to prepare an agenda or encourage general consultation and make
order of business as its recommendation to possible the active participation of the great-
the Convention. est possible number of delegates.
This agenda may include, as part of the The Chairman has the same power and
National Assembly's Annual ,Report, the responsibility for discussion and voting upon
presentation of special subjects by well qual- motions as other delegates. Members of the
ified members, committee representatives or outgoing and incoming National Assembly
non-Bah8'i experts whose exposition is nec- who are not delegates may participate in the
essary or desirable for the information of the consultation but not vote.
delegates. A resolution, or motion, is not subject to
On motion duly made, seconded and discussion or vote until duly made and sec-
voted, any such subject may be omitted, and onded. It is preferable to have each resolu-
also on motion duly made, seconded and tion clear and complete in itself, but when an
voted, any other subject may be proposed amendment is duly made and seconded, the
for special consultation. Chairman shall call for a vote on the amend-
Annual Election. The election of mem- ment first and then on the motion. An
bers of the National Spiritual Assembly is to amendment must be relevant to, and not
take place approximately midway during the contravene, the subject matter of the mo-
Convention sessions, so as to enable the dele- tion.
gates to consult with both the outgoing and The Chairman shall call for votes by oral
incoming Assemblies, in accordance with expression of ayes and nays, but where the
the Guardian's expressed desire. result of the vote is doubtful by a show of
hands or a rising vote. A majority vote de-
Conduct of Business termines.
Every deliberative body, to fulfill its func- Discussion of any matter may be termi-
tions, must conduct its deliberations in ac- nated by motion duly made, seconded and
cordance with some established rules of voted, calling upon the Chairman to bring
order. The parliamentary procedure here set the matter to an immediate vote or proceed
forth for the Convention is based upon the to other business.
procedure already adopted for meetings of The transactions of the Convention shall
local Assemblies and communities. It ac- be recorded by the Secretary, and when cer-
cordingly extends to sessions of the Annual tified by the Convention officers shall be
Convention the same procedure under given to the National Spiritual Assembly.
which the delegates, in their other BahPi
activities, are accustomed to conduct discus- Annual Election
sion and consultation. The electors in the Annual Election shall
The purpose of consultation at the An- consist of those delegates included in the
nual Convention is threefold: to arrive at Roll Call prepared by the National Spiritual
full and complete knowledge of the current Assembly.
conditions, problems and possibilities of the Ballots and tellers' report forms shall be
Faith in America; to give to the incoming provided by the National Assembly.
National Assembly the benefit of the col- The election shall be conducted by the
lective wisdom, guidance and constructive Convention, but delegates unable to attend
306 THE BAHA'I WORLD

the Convention shall have the right to vote 4. The ballots, together with the tellers'
by mail. report, certified by all the tellers, are to be
The Chairman shall appoint three tellers, given the National Spiritual Assembly for
chosen from among the assembled delegates. preservation.
The electoral method shall be as foliows:
1. The Convention Secretarv shall call IV. THE CONVENTION RECORD
the roll of delegates, whereupon each dele- The permanent record of each successive
gate, in turn, shall place his or her ballot in Annual Convention shall consist of the fol-
a ballot box; and as the names are called lowing:-(1) Convention Call as issued by
ballots received by mail shall be placed in the National Spiritual Assembly, including
the ballot box by the Secretary of the Na- list of participating BahVi Communities;
tional Assembly. (2) list of accredited delegates; (3) Annual
2. The ballot box shall then be handed to Reports of the National Spiritual Assembly
the tellers, who shall retire from the Conven- and of its Committees; (4) Messages sent to
tion Hall to determine the result of the elec- and received from the Guardian; (5) Reso-
tion. lutions and other transactions of the assem-
3. The result of the election is to be re- bled delegates; (6) the result of the Annual
ported by the tellers, and the tellers' report Election.
is to be approved by the Convention. -NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

THE NON-POLITICAL CHARACTER OF
THE BAHA'f FAITH

T H E BahL'i principles clearly define and God, and the love of Him Who is the Mani-
explain the non-political character of the festation of His Essence, and the observance
Faith, and serve as a guide for conduct in of whatsoever He chooseth to prescribe unto
the relations of BahVis with one another, you, did ye but know it.
with their fellow men, and in their relations "Say: Let truthfulness and courtesy be
with different departments of the civil gov- your adorning. Suffer not yourselves to be
ernment. A brief summary of excerpts from deprived of the robe of forbearance and jus-
the BahL'i Writings will show that non-par- tice, that the sweet savors of holiness may
ticipation in political affairs is one of the be wafted from your hearts upon all created
basic axioms of BahC'i action. things. Say: Beware, 0 people of BahL lest
The keynote to this theme may be found ye walk in the ways of them whose words
in the Writings of BahL'u'llfih. He has stated: differ from their deeds. Strive that ye may
"That one is indeed a man who, today, be enabled to manifest to the peoples of the
dedicateth himself to the service of the en- earth the signs of God, and to mirror forth
tire human race. The Great Being saith: His commandments. Let your acts be a
Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to pro- guide unto all mankind, for the professions
mote the best interests of the peoples and of most men, be they high or low, differ
kindreds of the earth. In another passage He from their conduct. It is through your deeds
hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride that ye can distinguish yourselves from oth-
himself who loveth his own country, but ers. Through them the brightness of your
rather for him who loveth the whole world. light can be shed upon the whole
The earth is but one country, and mankind .
earth . ."2
its citizens."l
"Sow not the seeds of discord among men, The aim of the Faith is to produce the
and refrain from contending with your reality of virtue in souls and evolve institu-
.
neighbor . . Open, 0 people, the city of tions capable of dealing with social matters
the human heart with the key of your ut- justly, in the light of the revealed truths.
terance .. . This is entirely distinct from the province
"That which beseemeth you is the love of filled by partisan civil institutions.
1 Gleanings from the Writings o f Bahd'u'lldh, p. 250. 2 Ibid., pp. 303-305.
THE WORLD ORDE

'Abdu'l-Bahi counseled the BahB'is from and authority; or in their affiliations with
the early beginnings of the American BahB'i kindred societies and organizations, it is, I
community not to discuss political affair^:^ am firmly convinced, their first and sacred
". . . All conferences (i.e., all consulta- obligation to abstain from any word or deed
tion and discussion) must be regarding the that might be construed as a violation of this
matters of benefit, both as a whole and indi- vital principle. Theirs is the duty to demon-
vidually, such as the guarding of all in all strate, on one hand, their unqualified loyalty
cases, their protection and preservation, the and obedience to whatever is the considered
improvement of character, the training of judgment of their respective governments.
children, etc. "Let them refrain from associating them-
"If any person wishes to speak of govern- selves, whether by word or by deed, with
ment affairs, or to interfere with the order the political pursuits of their respective na-
of government, the others must not combine tions, with the policies of their governments
with him because the Cause of God is with- and the schemes and programs of parties
drawn entirely from political affairs; the and factions. In such controversies they
political realm pertains only to the Rulers should assign no blame, take no side, further
of those matters; it has nothing to do with no design, and identify themselves with no
the souls who are exerting their utmost system hrejudicial to -the best interests of
energy to harmonizing affairs, helping char- that world-wide Fellowship which it is their
acter and inciting (the people) to strive for aim to guard and foster. Let them beware
perfections. Therefore no soul is allowed to lest they allow themselves to become the
interfere with (political) matters, but only tools of unscrupulous politicians, or to be
in that which is commanded." entrapped by the treacherous devices of the
With the development of a world-wide ad- plotters and the perfidious among their
ministrative structure within the Bah2i countrymen. Let them so shape their lives
Faith, institutions have been set up in na- and regulate their conduct that no charge of
tional and local areas which assure the unity secrecy, of fraud, of bribery or of intimida-
and integrity of the Faith. In unfolding these tion may, however ill-founded, be brought
administrative institutions Shoghi Effendi against them. Let them rise above all partic-
has reiterated the importance of the non- ularism and partisanship, above the vain dis-
political character of the BahL'i teachings in putes, the petty calculations, the transient
a letter written March 21, 1932, to the passions that agitate the face, and engage the
BahL'is of the United States and Canada:4 attention, of a changing world. It is their
"I feel it, therefore, incumbent upon me duty to strive to distinguish, as clearly as
to stress, now that the time is ripe, the im- they possibly can, and if needed with the aid
portance of an instruction which, at the of their elected representatives, such posts
present stage of the evolution of our Faith, and functions as are either diplomatic or
should be increasingly emphasized, irrespec- political from those that are purely admin-
tive of its application to the East or to the istrative in character, and which under no
West. And this principle is no other than circumstances are affected by the changes
that which involves the non-participation by and chances that political activities and
the adherents of the Faith of BahB'u'llih, party government, in every land, must nec-
whether in their individual capacities or col- essarily involve. Let them affirm their un-
lectively as local or national Assemblies, in yielding determination to stand, firmly and
any form of activity that might be inter- unreservedly, for the way of BahB'u'llAh, to
preted, either directly or indirectly, as an in- avoid the entanglements and bickerings in-
terference in the political affairs of any par- separable from the pursuits of the politician,
ticular government. Whether it be in the and to become worthy agencies of that Di-
publications which they initiate and super- vine Polity which incarnates God's immuta-
vise; or in their official and public delibera- ble Purpose for all men.
tions; or in the posts they occupy and the "It shoud be made unmistakably clear
services they render; or in the communica- that such an attitude implies neither the
tions they address to their fellow-disciples; slightest indifference to the cause and inter-
or in their dealings with men of eminence ests of their own country, nor involves any
insubordination on their part to the author-
3 Bahd'l' World Faith, p. 407. ity of recognized and established govern-
4 World Order of Bahd'u'lMh, pp. 64-67. ments. Nor does it constitute a repudiation
308 THE BAHA 'f W O R L D

of their sacred obligation to promote, in the munities to avoid any action that might, by
most effective manner, the best interests of arousing the suspicion or exciting the antag-
their government and people. It indicates the onism of any one government, involve their
desire cherished by every true and loyal fol- brethren in fresh persecutions or complicate
lower of BahL'u'llLh to serve, in an unselfish, the nature of their task. How else, might I
unostentatious and patriotic fashion, the ask, could such a far-flung Faith, which
highest interests of thk country to which he transcends political and social boundaries,
belongs, and in a way that would entail no which includes within its pale so great a
departure from the high standards of in- variety of races and nations, which will have
tegrity and truthfulness associated with the to rely increasingly, as it forges ahead, on
teachings of his Faith. the good-will and support of the diversified
"As the number of the BahL'i communi- and contending governments of the earth-
ties in various parts of the world multiplies how else could such a Faith succeed in pre-
and their as a social force, becomes serving its unity, in safeguarding its interests,
increasingly apparent, they will no doubt and in ensuring the steady and peaceful de-
find themselves increasingly subjected to the velopment of its institutions?
pressure which men of authority and influ- "Such an attitude, however, is not dictated
ence, in the political domain, will exercise in by considerations of selfish expediency, but
the hope of obtaining the support they re- is actuated, first and foremost, by the broad
quire for the advancement of their aims. principle that the followers of BahL'u'llLh
These communities will, moreover, feel a will, under no circumstances, suffer them-
growing need of the good-will and the as- selves to be involved, whether as individuals
sistance of their respective governments in or in their collective capacities, in matters
their efforts to widen the scope, and to con- that would entail the slightest departure
solidate the foundations, of the institutions from the fundamental verities and ideals of
committed to their charge. Let them beware their Faith. Neither the charges which the
lest, in their eagerness to further the aims of uninformed and the malicious may be led to
their beloved Cause, they should be led un- bring against them, nor the allurements of
wittingly to bargain with their Faith, to com- honors and rewards, will ever induce them
promise with their essential principles, or to to surrender their trust or to deviate from
sacrifice, in return for any material advan- their path. Let their words proclaim, and
tage which their institutions may derive, the their conduct testify, that they who follow
integrity of their spiritual ideals. Let them BahL'u'llbh, in whatever land they reside,
proclaim that in whatever country they re- are actuated by no selfish ambition, that they
side, and however advanced their institu- neither thirst for power, nor mind any wave
tions, or profound their desire to enforce the of unpopularity, of distrust or criticism,
laws, and apply the principles, enunciated by which a strict adherence to their standards
BahVu'llLh, they will, unhesitatingly, subor- might provoke."
dinate the operation of such laws and the And again: "The BahL'i Faith as it forges
application of such principles to the require- ahead throughout the western world and
ments and legal enactments of their respec- particularly in lands where the political ma-
tive governments. Theirs is not the purpose, chinery is corrupt and political passions and
while endeavoring to conduct and perfect prejudices are dominant among the masses,
the administrative affairs of their Faith, to should increasingly assert and demonstrate
violate, under any circumstances, the provi- the fact that it is non-political in character,
sions of their country's constitution, much that it stands above party, that it is neither
less to allow the machinery of their admin- apathetic to national interests nor opposed
istration to supersede the government of to any party or faction, and that it seeks
their respective countries. through administrative channels, rather than
"It should also be borne in mind that the through diplomatic and political posts to es-
very extension of the activities in which we tablish, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the
are engaged, and the variety of the commu- capacity, the sane patriotism, the integrity
nities which labor under divers forms of and highmindedness of its avowed adher-
government, so essentially different in their ents. This is the general and vital principle;
standards, policies, and methods, make it it is for the National representatives to ap-
absolutely essential for all those who are the ply it with fidelity and ~ i g o r . " ~
declared members of any one of these com- 5 Bahri'i News, December, 1932.
THE WORLD ORDE

These instructions raised the question merits of the individual, rather than because
whether BahL'is should vote in any public he belongs to one party or another. The
election. A Tablet revealed by 'Abdu'l-BahB matter must be made perfectly clear to the
to Mr. Thornton Chase was sent to the individuals, who will be left free to exercise
Guardian, and the following reply was re- their discretion and judgment. But if a
ceived, dated January 26, 1933 :6 certain person does enter into party politics
"The Guardian fully recognizes the au- and labors for the ascendancy of one party
thenticity and controlling influence of this over another, and continues to do it against
instruction from 'Abdu'l-BahL upon the the expressed appeals, and warnings of the
question. He, however, feels under the re- Assembly, then the Assembly has the riaht
sponsibility of stating that the attitude taken to refuse him the right to vote in ~ a l k ' i
by the Master (that is, that American citi- elections."
zens are in duty bound to vote in public
elections) implies certain reservations. He, That this principle, as do all Bahi'i prin-
therefore, lays it upon the individual con- ciples, has world-wide application is made
science to see that in following the Master's clear by Shoghi Effendi in a letter dated
instructions no Bahi'i vote for an officer nor March 11, 1936:S
Bahi'i participation in the affairs of the "The Faith of BahB'u'llBh has assimilated,
Republic shall involve acceptance by that by virtue of its creative, its regulative and
individual of a program or policy that con- ennobling energies, the varied races, nation-
travenes any vital principle, spiritual or alities, creeds and classes that have sought
social, of the Faith." The Guardian added its shadow, and have pledged unswerving
to this letter the following postscript: "I feel fealty to its cause. It has changed the hearts
it incumbent upon me to clarify the above of its adherents, burned away their preju-
statement, written in my behalf, by stating dices, stilled their passions, exalted their con-
that no vote cast, or office undertaken, by ceptions, ennobled their motives, coordi-
a Bahi'i should necessarily constitute ac- nated their efforts, and transformed their
ceptance, by the voter or office holder, of outlook. While preserving their patriotism
the entire program of any political party. No and safeguarding their lesser loyalties, it has
Bahi'i can be regarded as either a Republi- made them lovers of mankind, and the de-
can or Democrat, as such. He is, above all termined upholders of its best and truest in-
else, the supporter of the principles enunci- terests. While maintaining intact their belief
ated by BahB'u'llLh, with which, I am firmly in the Divine origin of their respective reli-
convinced, the program of no political party gions, it has enabled them to visualize the
is completely harmonious." underlying purpose of these religions, to dis-
In a letter dated March 16, 1933, the cover their merits, to recognize their se-
Guardian sent these further detail^:^ quence, their interdependence, their whole-
"As regards the non-political character of ness and unity, and to acknowledge the bond
the Bahk'i Faith, Shoghi Effendi feels that that vitally links them to itself. This uni-
there is no contradiction whatsoever be- versal, this transcending love which the fol-
tween the Tablet (to Thornton Chase, re- lowers of the Bahi'i Faith feel for their fel-
ferred to above) and the reservations to low-men, of whatever race, creed, class or
which he has referred. The Master surely nation, is neither mysterious nor can it be
never desired the friends to use their influ- said to have been artificially stimulated. It is
ence towards the realization and promotion both spontaneous and genuine. They whose
of policies contrary to any of the principles hearts are warmed by the energizing influ-
of the Faith. The friends may vote, if they ence of God's creative love cherish His
can do it, without identifying themselves creatures for His sake, and recognize in
with one party or another. To enter the every human face a sign of His reflected
arena of party politics is surely detrimental glory.
to the best interests of the Faith and will "Of such men and women it may be truly
harm the Cause. It remains for the indi- said that to them 'every foreign land is a
viduals to so use their right to vote as to fatherland, and every fatherland a foreign
keep aloof from party politics, and always land.' For their citizenship, it must be re-
bear in mind that they are voting on the membered, is in the Kingdom of Bah2u'-
Ilgh. Though willing to share to the utmost
6 Ibid., April, 1933.
7 Zbid., January, 1934. 8 World Order o f Bahi'u'llih, pp. 197-198.
Delegates to the Eighteenth Annual Convention of the Bahfis of Persia, held at the Haziratu'l-Quds, Tihrgn,
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 311

the temporal benefits and the fleeting joys in principle to that which the Austrian
which this earthly life can confer, though BahL'i belongs to. Where would be the unity
eager to participate in whatever activity that of the Faith then? These two spiritual broth-
conduces to the richness, the happiness and ers would be working against each other be-
peace of that life, they can, at no time, for- cause of their political affiliations (as the
get that it constitutes no more than a tran- Christians of Europe have been doing in so
sient, a very brief stage of their existence, many fratricidal wars). The best way for a
that they who live it are but pilgrims and Bahi'i to serve his country and the world is
wayfarers whose goal is the Celestial City, to work for the establishment of Bah6'u'-
and whose home the Country of never-fail- 116h's World Order, which will gradually
ing joy and brightness. unite all men and do away with divisive po-
"Though loyal to their respective govern- litical systems and religious creeds. . . ."
ments, though profoundly interested in any- In the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-
thing that affects their security and welfare, Bah6 the BahL'is are instructed to "obey and
though anxious to share in whatever pro- be the well-wishers of the governments of
motes their b'est interests, the Faith with the land, regard disloyalty unto a just king
which the followers of BahL'u'116h stand as disloyalty to God Himself and wishing
identified is one which they firmly believe evil to the government a transgression of the
God has raised high above the storms, the Cause of God."lo In explanation of this
divisions, and controversies of the political statement the Guardian wrote, in a letter
arena. Their Faith they conceive to be essen- dated July 3, 1948:11
tially non-political, supra-national in charac- "Regarding your question about politics
ter, rigidly non-partisan, and entirely disso- and the Master's Will; the attitude of the
ciated from nationalistic ambitions, pur- BahL'is must be twofold, complete obedi-
suits, and purposes. Such a Faith knows no ence to the government of the country they
division of class or of party. It subordinates, reside in, and no interference whatsoever in
without hesitation or equivocation, every political matters or questions. What the
particularistic interest, be it personal, re- Master's statement really means is obedience
gional, or national to the paramount inter- to a duly constituted government, whatever
ests of humanity, firmly convinced that in a that government may be in form. We are
world of inter-dependent peoples and na- not the ones, as individual BahB'is, to judge
tions the advantage of the part is best to be our government as just or unjust-for each
reached by the advantage of the whole, and believer would be sure to hold a different
that no abiding benefit can be conferred viewpoint, and within our own BahB'i fold a
upon the component parts if the general in- hotbed of dissension would spring up and
terests of the entity itself are ignored or destroy our unity. We must build up our
neglected." Bahh'i system, and leave the faulty systems
The unity of BahL'i action throughout the of the world to go their way. We cannot
world is further emphasized in a letter from change them through becoming involved in
Shoghi Effendi to the BahL'is of Vienna, them; on the contrary, they will destroy us."
written in 1947 through his secretary, in
which he said in part: Another application of this principle con-
"We Bahgis are one the world over; we cerns the right, propriety or usefulness of
are seeking to build up a new world order, exerting BahL'i influence for the enactment
divine in origin. How can we do this if every of legislative measures reflecting more or
BahL'i is a member of a different political less the purpose of some BahL'i principle or
party-some of them diametrically opposite teaching. For example, should a BahL'i com-
to each other? Where is our unity then? We munity, local or national, lend the name of
would be divided because of politics, against the BahL'i Faith to support legislation which
ourselves and this is the opposite of our pur- seeks to abolish race and religious discrim-
pose. Obviously if one BahL'i in Austria is ination in matters of industrial employment,
given freedom to choose a political party or intervene when measures concerning mil-
and join it, however good its aims may be, itary training of youth are before a legisla-
another BahB'i in Japan or America, or In- ture?
dia, has the right to do the same thing and The National Spiritual Assembly of the
he might belong to a party the very opposite 10 Bahh'i Administration (1945 e d . ) , p. 4,
9 Bahb'i News, April, 1949. 11 Bahd'i News, January, 1949.
THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

BahPis of the United States has statedlz sion of the Movement, and the suspension
that, "as a general policy subject to the of which does not constit~~te in itself a de-
Guardian's specsc direction in special cases, parture from the principle of loyalty to their
BahPis and their administrative institutions Faith, the considered judgment and authori-
should not feel obligated to adopt a 'Bahi'i' tative decrees issued by their responsible
attitude or course of action on matters of rulers must, if they be faithful to Bah2uY-
civil legislation. Our teachings and basic 1lAh's and 'Abdu'l-BahL's express injunc-
principles speak for themselves. These we tions, be thoroughly respected and loyally
can always declare and set forth with all obeyed. In matters, however, that vitally af-
possible energy whenever occasions arise. fect the integrity and honor of the Faith of
But a truth which is sundered from its sus- Ba'ni'u'llAh, and are tantamount to a recan-
taining spiritual Source, lifted out of its tation of their faith and repudiation of their
organic relationship to the Bahi'i commu- innermost belief, they [the BahL'is] are con-
nity, broken off from the other truths, and vinced, and are unhesitatingly prepared to
made subject to the storm and stress of vindicate by their life-blood the sincerity of
secular controversy, is no longer a truth with their conviction, that no power on earth,
which we can usef~~lly have concern. It has neither the arts of the most insidious adver-
become an enactment to be carried out by sary nor the bloody weapons of the most
institutions and groups committed to other tyrannical oppressor, can ever succeed in
enactments, other aims and purposes and extorting from them a word or deed that
methods not in conformity with the 'Divine might tend to stifle the voice of their con-
Polity' entrusted to those alone who give science or tarnish the purity of their faith."
full loyalty to BahPu'llAh. Far better for "Small wonder if by the Pen of BahL'u'-
us to strive to mirror forth radiantly the llAh these pregnant words, written in antici-
individual and community virtues of a new pation of the present state of mankind,
era than to hope others than believers will should have been revealed: 'It is not for him
achieve the holy mission of the Faith. We to pride himself who loveth his ywn coun-
Bahi'is have in reality accepted a world or- try, but rather for him who loveth the whole
der and not merely a new decalogue of world. The earth is but one country, and
truths or commands. On the other hand, mankind its citizens.' And again, 'That one
obedience to civil government is an obliga- indeed is a man who today dedicateth him-
tion laid by BahL'u'llAh upon every Bahi'i." self to the service of the entire human race.'
'Through the power released by these ex-
Shoghi Effendil3 points out, as a guiding alted words,' He explains, 'He hath lent a
principle of Bahfi'i conduct, that "in connec- fresh impulse, and set a new direction, to
tion with their administrative activities, no the birds of men's hearts, and hath oblit-
matter how grievously interference with erated every trace of restriction and limita-
them might aBect the course of the exten- tion from G o 8 s Holy Book.' "I4
World,
12 Bahri'i vol. 10, p. 278.
13 Bahd'I Administration (1945 ed.), p. 162. 14 World Order of Bahri'u'Ildh, p. 198.

LOYALTY TO GOVERNMENT
Statement Prepared by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Buh2is
of the United States o f America

W H E N a great social crisis sweeps government where any of this community
through a civilization, moral values become reside, they must behave toward that gov-
impaired. In the crisis of our own time, ernment with faithfulness, trustfulness, and
members of the BahL'i Faith go on record truthfulness."
as firmly upholding the principle of loyalty Loyalty to government, in the BahB'i
to government. view, is an essential spiritual and social prin-
More than eighty years ago BahL'u'llAh, ciple. "We must obey and be the well-wish-
the founder of the Bahi'i Faith, set forth ers of the government of the land. . "The ."
this cardinal principle: "In every country or essence of the BahPi spirit is that in order
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 313

to establish a better social order and eco- emblems of His generosity amidst His peo-
nomic condition, there must be allegiance to ple."
the laws and principles of government." Without integrity of character in its citi-
This allegiance is part of the strong em- zens and without loyalty to government, a
phasis on integrity of character found in the nation will find itself torn asunder and un-
Bahb'i teaching. "Let integrity and upright- able to function as an organic society. Not
ness distinguish all thine acts." "Beautify only do the Bahb'i teachings obligate mem-
your tongues, 0 people, with truthfulness,
bers to be loyal to their government-they
and adorn your souls with the ornament of
honesty. Beware, 0 people, that ye deal not also specifically forbid them from taking any
treacherously with any one. Be ye the trus- part in subversive political and social move-
tees of God amongst His creatures, and the ments.

CONCERNING MEMBERSHIP IN NON-BAHA'I RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS*

T H E instruction written by Shoghi Effendi lying the new instruction, and our capacity
concerning membership in non-BahL'i reli- to perceive that the position which the
gious organizations, published in the July, Guardian wishes us to take in regard to
1935, number of Bah& News, has brought church membership is a necessary and inevi-
forth some interesting and important com- table result of the steady development of
munications from local Spiritual Assemblies the World Order of BahL'uyllLh.
and also from individual believers, t o all of This essential principle is made clear
which the National Spiritual Assembly has when we turn to Shoghi Effendi's further
given careful and sympathetic attention. reference to the subject as published in
The National Assembly itself, on receiv- Bah& News for October, 1935-words
ing that instruction, made it the subject of written by the Guardian's own hand.
extensive consultation, feeling exceedingly In the light of these words, it seems fully
responsible for its own understanding of the evident that the way to approach this in-
Guardian's words and anxious to contribute struction is in realizing the Faith of Bah6'-
to the understanding of the friends. u'llLh as an ever-growing organism des-
In October, 1935, the Assembly sent in tined to become something new and greater
reply to some of these communications a than any of the revealed religions of the
general letter embodying its thoughts on the past. Whereas former Faiths inspired hearts
subject, and a copy of that letter was for- and illumined souls, they eventuated in for-
warded to Shoghi Effendi for his approval mal religions with an ecclesiastical organi-
and comment. His references to its con- zation, creeds, rituals and churches, while
tents, made in letters addressed to the Na- the Faith of BahL'u'ULh, likewise renewing
tional Spiritual Assembly on November 29 man's spiritual life, will gradually produce
and December 11, 1935, are appended to the institutions of an ordered society, ful-
this statement. filling not merely the function of the
Now that Shoghi Effendi's approval has churches of the past but also the function
been received, the National Assembly feels of the civil state. By this manifestation of
it desirable to publish, for the information the Divine Will in a higher degree than in
of all the American believers, the substance former ages, humanity will emerge from
of the October letter. that immature civilization in which church
While so fundamental an instruction is and state are separate and competitive in-
bound to raise different questions corre- stitutions, and partake of a true civilization
sponding to the digerent conditions existing in which spiritual and social principles are
throughout the BahL'i community, the most at last reconciled as two aspects of one and
important consideration is our collective the same Truth.
need to grasp the essential principle under- N o BahL'i can read the successive World
* A statement prepared by the National Spiritual As- Order letters sent us by Shoghi Effendi with-
sembly of the BahC'is of the United States. out perceiving that the Guardian, for many
3 14 THE BAHA'f WORLD

years, has been preparing us to understand BahVi Commonwealth, all the rights, the
and appreciate this fundamental purpose duties, and responsibilities incumbent upon
and mission of the Revelation of BahL'uYllih. the world's future super-state."
Even when the Master ascended, we were This passage stands as the keystone in the
for the most part still considering the noble structure which Shoghi Effendi has
BahVi Faith as though it were only the raised in his function as interpreter of the
"return of Christ" and failing to perceive Teachings of BahB'u'llAh. The Master de-
the entirely new and larger elements latent veloped the Cause to the point where this
in the Teachings of Bahi'u'llih. social Teaching, always existent in the Tab-
Thus, in the very first of the World Or- lets of BahL'u'llih, could be explained to the
der letters, written February 27th, 1929, believers and given its due significance as
Shoghi Effendi said: "Who, I may ask, when the fulfillment of Bahi'i evolution. As the
viewing the international character of the Guardian expressed it: "That Divine Civili-
Cause, its far-flung ramifications, the in- zation, the establishment of which is the
creasing complexity of its affairs, the di- primary mission of the BahL'i Faith."
versity of its adherents, and the state of (World Order of Bahd'u'llcih, pp. 3-4.)
confusion that assails on every side the in- For us these words mean that a Bahi'i is
fant Faith of God, can for a moment ques- not merely a member of a revealed Religion,
tion the necessity of some sort of admin- he is also a citizen in a World Order even
istrative machinery that will insure, amid though that Order today is still in its in-
the storm and stress of a struggling civili- fancy and still obscured by the shadows
zation, the unity of the Faith, the preserva- thrown by the institutions, habits and atti-
tion of its identity, and the protection of its tudes derived from the past. But since the
interests?" aim and end has been made known, our
Although for five years the Guardian had devotion and loyalty must surely express
been setting forth the principles of BahVi itself, not in clinging to views and thoughts
Administration in frequent letters, in 1927 emanating from the past, but in pressing
he apparently felt it necessary to overcome forward in response to the needs of the new
some doubts here and there as to the validity creation.
of the institutions the Master bequeathed to That true devotion, which consists in
the BahL'is in His Will and Testament. The conscious knowledge of the "primary mis-
series of World Order letters, however, goes sion," and unified action to assist in bring-
far beyond the point of defending and ex- ing about its complete triumph, recognizes
plaining their validity as an essential ele- that a BahL'i today must have singleness of
ment in the Faith of BahL'u'llih-the mind as of aim, without the division arising
Guardian vastly extended the horizon of our when we stand with one foot in the Cause
understanding by making it clear that the and one foot in the world, attempting to
Administrative Order, in its full develop- reconcile diverse elements which the Mani-
ment, is to be the social structure of the festation of God Himself has declared to
future civilization. be irreconcilable.
Thus, in that same letter quoted above, The principle underlying the Guardian's
he wrote: "Not only will the present-day instruction about membership in non-BahL'i
Spiritual Assemblies be styled differently in religious bodies has already been empha-
future, but will be enabled also to add to sized by Shoghi Effendi in another connec-
their present functions those powers, duties, tion-the instruction about the non-political
and prerogatives necessitated by the recog- character of the Faith which he incorporated
nition of the Faith of BahL'u'116h, not in his letter entitled "The Golden Age of the
merely as one of the recognized religious Cause of BahL'u'llAh." For example: "I feel
systems of the world, but as the State Re- it, therefore, incumbent upon me to stress,
ligion of an independent and Sovereign now that the time is ripe, the importance of
Power. And as the Bahi'i Faith permeates an instruction which, at the present stage
the masses of the peoples of East and West, of the evolution of our Faith, should be
and its truth is embraced by the majority increasingly emphasized, irrespective of its
of the peoples of a number of the Sovereign application to the East or to the West. And
States of the world, will the Universal House this principle is no other than that which in-
of Justice attain the plenitude of its power, volves the non-participation by the adherents
and exercise, as the supreme organ of the of the Faith of BahL'u'llih, whether in their
T H E W O R L D O R D E IR O F B A H A ' U ' L L A H 315

individual capacities or collectively as local made such an open and sharp dissociation
or national Assemblies, in any form of activ- between it and other religious organizations,
ity that might be interpreted, either directly and particularly the Muslim Faith, not only
or indirectly, as an interference in the politi- inadvisable but practically impossible to
cal affairs of any particular government." establish. But since His passing events
Again, when the question was raised as to throughout the Bahi'i world, and particu-
membership in certain non-Bahi'i organiza- larly in Egypt where the Muslim religious
tions not directly religious or political in courts have formally testified to the inde-
character, the Guardian replied: "Regarding pendent character of the Faith, have de-
association with the World Fellowship of veloped to a point that has made such an
Faiths and kindred Societies, Shoghi Effendi assertion of the independence of the Cause
wishes to reaffirm and elucidate the general not only highly desirable but absolutely
principle that Bahi'i elected representatives essential."
as well as individuals should refrain from To turn now to the Guardian's words
any act or word that would imply a depar- published in October Bah& News: "The
ture from the principles, whether spiritual, separation that has set in between the in-
social or administrative, established by stitutions of the Bahl'i Faith and the Islamic
BahB'u'llih. Formal affiliation with and ac- ecclesiastical organizations that oppose it
ceptance of membership in organizations . . . imposes upon every loyal upholder of
whose programs or policies are not wholly the Cause the obligation refraining from
reconcilable with the Teachings is of course any word or action that might prejudice
out of the question." (Bahri'i News, August, the position which our enemies have . . .
1933.) of their own accord proclaimed and estab-
Thus, not once b ~ repeatedly
~ t the Guard- lished. This historic development, the begin-
ian has upheld the vital hrincipie underlying nings of which could neither be recognized
every type of relationship between Bahi'is nor even anticipated in the years immedi-
and other organizations, namely, that the ately preceding 'Abdu'l-BahB's passing,
Cause of Bahb'u'llih is an ever-growing may be said to have signalized the Forma-
organism, and as we begin to realize its tive Period of our Faith and to have paved
universality our responsibility is definitely the way for the consolidation of its adminis-
established to cherish and defend that uni- trative-order. . . . Though our Cause unre-
versality from all compromise, all admixture servedly recognizes the Divine origin of all
with worldly elements, whether emanating the religions that preceded it and upholds
from our own habits rooted in the past or the spiritual truths which lie at their very
from the deliberate attacks imposed by ene- core and are common to them all, its in-
mies from without. stitutions, whether administrative, religious
It will be noted that in the instruction or humanitarian, must, if their distinctive
published in July, 1935, B a h Z News, the character is to be maintained and recog-
Guardian made it clear that the principle nized, be increasingly divorced from the
involved is not new and unexpected, but outworn creeds, the meaningless ceremo-
rather an application of an established prin- nials and man-made institutions with which
ciple to a new condition. "Concerning mem- these religions are at present identified. Our
bership in non-Bahb'i religious associations, adversaries in the East have initiated the
the Guardian wishes to re-emphasize the struggle. Our future opponents in the West
general principle already laid down in his will, in their turn, arise and carry it a stage
communications to your Assembly and also further. Ours is the duty, in anticipation
to the individual believers that no Bahb'i of this inevitable contest, to uphold un-
who wishes to be a whole-hearted and sin- equivocally and with undivided loyalty the
cere upholder of the distinguishing princi- integrity of our Faith and demonstrate the
ples of the Cause can accept full member- distinguishing features of its divinely ap-
ship in any non-BahL'i ecclesiastical organi- vointed institutions."
zation. . . . For it is only too obvious that Nothing could be clearer or more em-
in most of its fundamental assumptions the phatic. These words, asserting again the
Cause of Bahii'u'llCih is completely at vari- essential universality of the Cause, likewise
ance with outworn creeds, ceremonies and repeat and renew the warning that the or-
institutions. . . . During the days of the ganized religions', even in America, will be-
Master the Cause was still in a stage that come bitterly hostile to the Faith of BahB'-
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

u'llih, denounce and oppose it, and seek its for such believers to repudiate their former
destruction in vain effort to maintain their allegiances and friendships, they should tly
own "outworn creeds" and material power. to gradually persuade them of the wisdom
Informed of this inevitable development, and necessity of such an action, and instead
can a BahL'i any longer desire to retain a of thrusting upon them a new principle, to
connection which, however liberal and make them accept it inwardly, and out of
pleasing it now seems, is a connection with pure conviction and desire. Too severe and
a potential foe of the Cause of God? The immediate action in such cases is not only
Guardian's instruction signifies that the time fruitless but actually harmful. It alienates
has come when all American believers must people instead of winning them to the
become fully conscious of the implications Cause.
of such connections, and carry out their loy- 'The other point concerns the advisabil-
alty to its logical conclusion. ity of contributing to a church. In this case
Shoghi Effendi's latest words are not also the friends must realize that contribu-
merely an approval of the foregoing state- tions to a church, especially when not reg-
ment, but a most helpful elucidation of ~ ~ l ado
r , not necessarily entail &iliation. The
some of the problems which arise when the believers can make such offerings, occasion-
friends turn to their local Assemblies for ally, and provided they are certain that
specific advice under various special cir- while doing so they are not connected as
cumstances. members of any church. There should be no
"The explanatory statement in connec- confusion between the terms afliliation and
tion with membership in non-Bahi'i re- association. While affiliation with ecclesi-
ligious organizations is admirably conceived, astical organizations is not permissible, asso-
convincing and in full conformity with the ciation with them should not only be tol-
principles underlying and implied in the erated but even encouraged. There is no
unfolding world order of BahL'u'llih." better way to demonstrate the universality
(November 29, 1933.) of the Cause than this. Bahi'uyll&h,indeed,
"The Guardian has carefully read the urges His followers to consort with all re-
copy of the statement you had recently pre- ligions and nations with utmost friendliness
pared concerning non-membership in non- and love. This constitutes the very spirit of
Bahi'i religious organizations, and is pleased His message to mankind." (December 11,
to realize that your comments and explana- 1935.)
tions are in full conformity with his views The National Spiritual Assembly trusts
on the subject. He hopes that your letter that the subject will receive the attention
will serve to clarify this issue in the minds of local Assemblies and communities, and
of all the believers, and to further convince that in the light of the foregoing explana-
them of its vital character and importance tions the friends will find unity and agree-
in the present stage of the evolution of the ment in applying the instruction to what-
Cause. - - - -

ever situations may arise. In teaching new
". . . In this case,l as also in that of suf- believers let us lay a proper foundation so
fering believers, the Assemblies, whether
local or national, should act tactfully, pa- that their obedience will be voluntary and
tiently and in a friendly and kindly spirit. assured from the beginning of their enroll-
Knowing how painful and dangerous it is ment as BahBis. In our attitude toward the
older believers who are affected bv the in-
1 A special case involving an aged BahL'i, afflicted struction let us act with the patience and
with illness, for whom severance of church relations
might have been too great a shock. kindliness the Guardian has urged.

THE B A HVIEW
~ ~ OF PACIFISM "With reference to the absolute pacifists
or conscientious objectors to war: thkir atti-
I N a letter published in Bah& News, tude, judged from the B a h s standpoint, is
January, 1938, Shoghi Effendi, the Guard- quite anti-social and due to its exaltation of
ian of the BahBi Faith wrote through his the individual conscience leads inevitably to
secretary: disorder and chaos in society. Extreme paci-
fists are thus very close to anarchists, in the government. Thus Bah6'is do not, on the
sense that both of these groups lay an un- grounds of religious conviction, seek to
due emphasis on the rights and merits of abandon their obligation as citizens in time
the individual. The BahB'f conception of of war or national emergency. Neither do
social life is essentially based on the sub- they attempt to avoid the dangers and hard-
ordination of the individual will to that of ships which are inevitable in time of war,
society. It neither suppresses the individual and to which all citizens of military age are
nor does it exalt him to the point of making liable.
him an anti-social creature, a menace to Thus Bahj'is who are citizens of the
society. As in everything, it follows the United States are able to reconcile their
'golden mean.' The only way society can fundamental spiritual convictions and their
function is for the minority to follow the civil obligations as citizens by applying for
will of the majority. noncombatant service under the existing
"The other main objection t o the con- Selective Service law and regulations.
scientious objectors is that their method of The members of the BahB'i Faith make
establishing peace is too negative. Non- no reservations in claiming that they are
cooperation is too passive a philosophy to fully obedient to all provisions of the laws
become an effective way for social recon- of their country, including the constitutional
struction. Their refusal to bear arms can right of the Federal government to raise
never establish peace. There should fist be armies and conscript citizens for military
a spiritual revitalization which nothing, ex- service.
cept the Cause of God, can effectively bring Although it is necessary for BahB'is to be
toevery man's heart." classiiied as ''conscientious objectors" to
combatant military service in order to ob-
tain a noncombatant status under the Se-
lective Service regulations, they are not
"conscientious objectors" in the sense of a
( A Public Statement issued by the National refusal to obey the laws of their country or
Spiritual Assembly of the B a h a s of the to perform noncombatant military duties as
United States) members of the armed forces. Their status
is rather that of "conscientious co-opera-
In view of the increasing importance of tors" with the military authorities of their
a clear understanding of the details of the country, since they serve as members of the
Bah4i position on military service, the Na- armed forces in the Medical Corps, or in
tional Bah4i Assembly presents the follow- any capacity in which they may legally
ing statement of general principles for the maintain a noncombatant status, regardless
information and guidance of the members of the effect which this may have upon their
of the BahB'i Community in the United personal safety, their convenience, the type
States and others who may have an interest of activity they must discharge, or the rank
in the BahB'i viewpoint. to which they may be assigned.
The Bah4i teachings require that fol-
lowers of the Faith o%ey the laws of the SUMMARY .OF THE GUARDIAN'S
INSTRUC-
government under which they live, and this TIONS ON THE OBLIGATIONOF BA-
requirement includes the obligation for mil- HA'IS IN CONNECTION
WITH
itary service which rests upon all citizens. MILITARYSERVICE
However, Bah6'is are also required to apply
for noncombatant service whenever the During World War I1 the Bahii'i position
opportunity to do so is legally provided by on military training and service, and the
their government on the basis of religious obligation of individual BahVis to apply for
training and belief. and maintain a noncombatant status when
While the religious convictions of Ba- this is possible under the laws of their coun-
hL'is require them to seek whatever exemp- try, were outlined specifically in a series of
tion from combatant duty may be granted instructions and bulletins issued by the Na-
by their government on the grounds of re- tional Assembly.
ligious belief, they definitely are not paci- Since 1945, two items on this subject have
fists in the sense of refusal to cooperate been published in Bahli'i News; one in the
with and obey the laws of an established October, 1946 issue (pp. 9-10), and the
318 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

other in the September, 1948 issue (p. 6). forces where they would be subject to or-
Both of these articles quoted the Guard- ders to engage in the taking of human life.
ian's instruction contained in a letter to the It is only through the Selective Service
National Assembly dated July 20, 1946, machinery of classification and induction
written in reply to a question as to whether that a noncombatant status can be secured
the existence of the United Nations in its and maintained.
present form should change the attitude of The N.S.A. statement in the September,
Bahi'is toward military duties which might 1948 issue of Bahd'i News called attention
require the taking of human life. The to passage of the Selective Service Act of
Guardian's answer to this question is again 1948, and to the fact that Section 6 (j) of
quoted below: this Act provides an exemption from com-
"As there is neither an International Po- batant service and training for those citizens
lice Force nor any immediate prospect of who are opposed to such service by reason
one coming into being, the Bahi'is should of religious training or belief. This provi-
continue to apply, under all circumstances, sion is similar to the one in Section 5 (g)
for exemption from any military duties that of the Selective Service Act of 1940, which
necessitate the taking of life. There is no was the legal basis for application for ex-
justification for any change of attitude on emption from combatant duty during the
our part at the present time." last war by BahL'is subject to the draft.
These words indicate that the Guardian It is the firm spiritual obligation of Ba-
still feels that a Bahi'i cannot voluntarily hi'is residing in the United States who must
enter any form of combatant military duty, fill out a Selective Service Questionnaire, to
and must seek exemption from such service indicate on this form (Series XIV) in the
if this is possible under the laws of his coun- space provided that they are opposed to
try. combatant military service and to claim the
The instruction given in the July 20, 1946 exemption povided under the Selective
letter was confirmed recently in a cable Service ~ c ont the grounds of religious
received from the Guardian by the National training and belief. They should also request
Assembly on January 17, 1951.
a copy of the special form (SS Form No.
The Guardian, in these and earlier com-
munications, has made it clear that it is 150) provided for those claiming such ex-
obligatory, and not an optional matter, for emption, and then fil! this out in accordance
all Bahi'is to apply for and maintain a non- with instructions contained in a special
combatant status if this is possible under the bulletin "Bahi'is and the Selective Draft,"
law. When such a law exists, as is the case which may be obtained from the National
in the United States, Bahi'is cannot volun- Assembly or from Local Assembly Secre-
tarily enlist in any branch of the armed taries.

INTERPRETATION OF THE WILL AND TESTAMENT O F
'ABDU'L-BAHA

W E L L is it with him who h e t h his gaze wondrous System-the like of which mortal
upon the Order of BahL'u'llAh and ren- eyes have never w i t n e s s e d . - B ~ H ~ I J ' ~ ~ ; ~ . ~
dereth thanks unto his Lord! For He as-
suredly will be made manifest. God hath It is incumbent upon the AghsAn, the
indeed irrevocably ordained it in the Bay6n. AfnAn and My kindred to turn, one and all,
-THE BLB? their faces towards the Most Mighty
Branch. Consider that which We have re-
The world's equilibrium hath been upset vealed in Our Most Holy Book: 'When the
through the vibrating influence of this most ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the
great, this new World Order. Mankind's Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your
ordered life hath been revolutionized faces toward Him Whom God hath pur-
through the agency of this unique, this posed. Who hath branched from this An-
1 World Order of Bahd'u'lldh, pp. 146-147. 2 Ibid., p. 146.
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 319

cient Root." The object of this sacred verse the Originator and the Interpreter of the
is none except the Most Mighty Branch Law of God-the Will and Testament of
('Abdu'l-Bahi) . Thus have We graciously 'Abdu'l-Bahi can no more be divorced from
revealed unto you Our potent Will, and I Him Who supplied the original and motiva-
am verily the Gracious, the All-Powerful. ting impulse than from the One Who ulti-
-BAH~u'LLAH.~ mately conceived it. BahB'u'llih's inscruta-
ble purpose, we must ever bear in mind, has
There hath branched from the Sadratu'l- been so thoroughly infused into the conduct
Muntahi this sacred and glorious Being, this of 'Abdu'l-Bahi, and their motives have
Branch of Holiness; well is it with him that been so closely welded together, that the
hath sought His shelter and abideth beneath mere attempt to dissociate the teachings of
His shadow. Verily the Limb of the Law of the former from any system which the ideal
God hath sprung forth from this Root Exemplar of those same teachings has es-
which God hath firmly implanted in the tablished would amount to a repudiation of
Ground of His Will, and Whose Branch one of the most sacred and basic truths of
hath been so uplifted as to encompass the the Faith.--S~oGH1EFFENDI.^
whole of creation.-B~&u'LLi~.~
For BahL'u'llih, we should readily recog-
In accordance with the explicit text of the nize, has not only imbued mankind with a
Kitib-i-Aqdas, Bahi'u'llih hath made the new and regenerating Spirit. He has not
Center of the Covenant the Interpreter of merely enunciated certain universal princi-
His Word-a Covenant so firm and mighty ples, or propounded a particular philosophy,
that from the beginning of time until the however potent, sound and ~miversalthese
present day no religious Dispensation hath may be. In addition to these He, as well as
produced its ~~~~.-'ABDu'L-BAHA." 'Abdu'l-Bahh after Him, has, unlike the
Dispensations of the past, clearly and spe-
'Abdu'l-Bah6, Who incarnates an institu- cifically laid down a set of Laws, estab-
tion for which we can find no parallel what- lished definite institutions, and provided for
soever in any of the world's recognized reli- the essentials of a Divine Economy. These
gious systems, may be said to have closed are destined to be a pattern for future
the Age to which He Himself belonged and society, a supreme instrument for the es-
opened the one in which we are now labor- tablishment of the Most Great Peace, and
ing. His Will and Testament should thus be the one agency for the unification of the
regarded as the perpetual, the indissoluble world, and the proclamation of the reign of
link which the mind of Him Who is the righteousness and justice upon the earth.-
Mystery of God has conceived in order to SHOGHIEFFENDI.^
insure the continuity of the three ages that
constitute the component parts of the . . . the Spirit breathed by BahL'u'll6h
BahL'i Dispensation. . . . upon the world . . . can never permeate
The creative energies released by the Law and exercise an abiding influence upon man-
of BahL'u'llih, permeating and evolving kind unless and untrl it incarnates itself in
within the mind of 'Abdu'l-Bah6, have, by a visible Order, which would bear His
their very impact and close interaction, Name, wholly identify itself with His princi-
given birth to an Instrument which may be ples, and function in conformity with His
viewed as the Charter of the New World Laws . . . PHOGHI EFFENDI.^
Order which is at once the glory and the
promise of this most great Dispensation. The Administrative Order, which ever
The Will may thus be acclaimed as the since 'Abdu'l-BahPs ascension has evolved
inevitable offspring resulting from that and is taking shape under our very eyes in
mystic intercourse between Him Who com- no fewer than forty countriesg of the world,
municated the generating influence of His may be considered as the framework of the
divine Purpose and the One Who was its Will itself, the inviolable stronghold wherein
vehicle and chosen recipient. Being the 6 Ibid., pp. 143-144.
Child of the Covenant-the Heir of both 7 Ibid., p. 19.
8 Ibid., p. 19.
3 Ibld., p. 134. 9 By 1950 this figure had reached over one hundred;
4Ibid.. D. 135. by 1954, over two hundred. This excerpt is from World
Order of Bahd'u'Ndh, p. 144.
320 T H E BAHA'f WORLD

this new-born child is being nurtured and discloses the full station of the Author of
developed. This Administrative Order, as it the Bah4i Revelation; asserts that "all
expands and consolidates itself, will no others are servants unto Him and do His
doubt manifest the potentialities and reveal bidding"; stresses the importance of the
the full implications of this momentous Kitlb-i-Aqdas; establishes the institution of
Document-this most remarkable expres- the Guardianship as a hereditary office and
sion of the Will of One of the most remark- outlines its essential functions; provides the
able Figures of the Dispensation of Bah2- measures for the election of the Interna-
u'llgh. It will, as its component parts, its tional House of Justice, defines its scope and
organic institutions, begin to function with sets forth its relationship to that Institution;
efficiency and vigor, assert its claim and prescribes the obligations, and emphasizes
demonstrate its capacity to be regarded not the responsibilities, of the Hands of the
only as the nucleus but the very pattern of Cause of God; and extolls the virtues of the
the New World Order destined to embrace indestructible Covenant established by
in the fullness of time the whole of man- Bahi'u'llfih. That Document, furthermore,
kind.-S~o~m EFFENDI. lauds the courage and constancy of the sup-
porters of Bahk'u'lllh's Covenant; expatiates
. . . The Charter which called into on the sufferings endured by its appointed
being, outlined the features and set in mo- Center; recalls the infamous conduct of
tion the processes of, this Administrative Mirzfi Yahyk and his failure to heed the
Order is none other than the Will and Testa- warnings of the B5b; exposes, in a series of
ment of 'Abdu'l-Bahl, His greatest legacy to indictments, the perfidy and rebellion of
posterity, the brightest emanation of His Mirzl Muhammad-'Ali, and the complicity
mind and the mightiest instrument forged of his son ShuG&'u'llfih and of his brother
to insure the continuity of the three ages Mirzg Badi'u'llAh; reaffirms their excom-
which constitute the component parts of His munication, and predicts the frustration of
Father's Dispensation.-SHOGHI EFFENDI?^ all their hopes; summons the Afnln (the
Bgb's kindred), the Hands of the Cause and
It was 'Abdu'l-Bahl Who, through the the entire company of the followers of
provisions of His weighty Will and Testa- Bahi'u'llgh to arise unitedly to propagate
ment, has forged the vital link which must His Faith, to disperse far and wide, to labor
for ever connect the age that has just ex- tirelessly and to follow the heroic example
pired with the one we now live in-the of the Apostles of Jesus Christ; warns them
Transitional and Formative period of the against the dangers of association with the
Faith-a stage that must in the fullness of Covenant-breakers, and bids them shield the
time reach its blossom and yield its fruit in Cause from the assaults of the insincere and
the exploits and triumphs that are to herald the hypocrite; and counsels them to demon-
the Golden Age of the Revelation of BahP- strate by their conduct the universality of
u'll6h.-S~o~m EFFENDI?^ the Faith they have espoused, and vindicate
its high principles. In that same Document
The Document establishing that Order, its Author reveals the significance and pur-
the Charter of a future world civilization, pose of the Huqfiqu'lllh (Right of God),
which may be regarded in some of its fea- already instituted in the Kitgb-i-Aqdas; en-
tures as supplementary to no less weighty a joins submission and fidelity towards all
Book than the Kitlb-i-Aqdas; signed and monarchs who are just; expresses His long-
sealed by 'Abdu'l-Bahi; entirely written ing for martyrdom, and voices His prayers
with His own hand; its first section com- for the repentance as well as the forgiveness
posed during one of the darkest periods of of His enemies.--SHOGHI EFFENDI?^
His incarceration in the prison-fortress of
'Akk6, proclaims, categorically and un-
. . . We stand indeed too close to so
monumental a document to claim for our-
equivocally, the fundamental beliefs of the
followers of the Faith of Bahi'u'lllh; re- selves a complete understanding of all its
implications, or to presume to have grasped
veals, in unmistakable language, the two-
fold character of the Mission of the Bgb; the manifold mysteries it undoubtedly con-
tains. Only future generations can compre-
10 God Passes By, p. 325.
11 World Order of Bahrf'u'lldh,p. 98. 12 God Passes By, p. 328.
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 321

hend the value and the significance at- the institution of the House of Justice and
tached to this Divine Masterpiece, which the of the Guardianship . . . To them alone
hand of the Master-builder of the world has will be revealed the suitability of the institu-
designed for the unification and the triumph tions initiated by 'Abdu'l-Bah6 to the char-
of the world-wide Faith of BahPuYll6h.Only acter of the future society which is to
those who come after us will be in a posi- emerge out of the chaos and confusion of
tion to realize the value of the surprisingly the present age . . . SHOGHI EFFENDI.'^
strong emphasis that has been placed on 13 World Order of Bahci'u'Ndh, p. 8.

EXCERPTS FROM THE WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI

1 HAVE been acquainted by the perusal of the
sions of these sacred documents will reveal
close relationship that exids between
your latest communications with the nature
of the doubts that have been publicly ex- them, as well as the identity of purpose and
pressed, by one who is wholly misinformed method which they inculcate. Far from re-
as to the true precepts of the Cause, regard- garding their specitic provisions as incom-
ing the validity of institutions that stand patible and contradictory in spirit, every
inextricably interwoven with the Faith of fair-minded inquirer will readily admit that
BahL'u'll6h. Not that I for a moment view they are not only complementary, but that
such faint misgivings in the light of an open they mutually confirm one another, and are
challenge to the structure that embodies the inseparable parts of one complete unit. A
Faith, nor is it because I question in the least comparison of their contents with the rest
the unyielding tenacity of the faith of the of Bahb'i Sacred Writings will similarly es-
American believers, if I venture to dwell tablish the conformity of whatever they
upon what seems to me appropriate observa- contain with the spirit as well as the letter
tions at the present stage of the evolution of of the authenticated writings and sayings of
our beloved Cause. I am indeed inclined to BahL'uYll6hand 'Abdu'l-Bah6. In fact, he
welcome these expressed apprehensions in- who reads the Aqdas with care and diligence
asmuch as they afford me an opportunity to will not h d it hard to discover that the
familiarize the elected representatives of the Most Holy Book [Aqdas] itself anticipates
believers with the origin and character of in a number of passages the institutions
the institutions which stand at the very basis which 'Abdu'l-Bah6 ordains in His Will. By
of the world order ushered in by BahL'u'll6h. leaving certain matters unspecified and un-
We should feel truly thankful for such futile regulated in His Book of Laws [Aqdas],
attempts to undermine our beloved Faith- BahL'u'llBh seems to have deliberately left
attempts that protrude their ugly face from a gap in the general scheme of Bahi'i Dis-
time to time, seem for a while able to create pensation, which the unequivocal provisions
a breach in the ranks of the faithful, recede of the Master's Will has filled. To attempt
finally into the obscurity of oblivion, and to divorce the one from the other, to in-
are thought of no more. Such incidents we sinuate that the Teachings of BahL'u'llBh
should regard as the interpositions of Provi- have not been upheld, in their entirety and
dence, designed to fortify our faith, to clar- with absolute integrity, by what 'Abdu'l-
ify our vision, and to deepen our under- BahB has revealed in his Will, is an unpar-
standing of the essentials of His Divine donable affront to the unswerving fidelity
Revelation. that has characterized the life and labors of
It would, however, be helpful and instruc- our beloved Master.
tive to bear in mind certain basic principles I will not attempt in the least to assert or
with reference to the Will and Testament of demonstrate the authenticity of the Will and
'Abdu'l-Bahb, which, together with the Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahri, for that in itself
Kita'b-i-Aqdas, constitutes the chief deposi- would betray an apprehension on my part as
tory wherein are enshrined those priceless to the unanimous confidence of the believers
elements of that Divine Civilization, the es- in the genuineness of the last written wishes
tablishment of which is the primary mission of our departed Master. I will only confine
of the BahVi Faith. A study of the provi- my observations to those issues which may
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 323

assist them to appreciate the essential unity would be tantamount to a mutilation of the
that underlies the spiritual. the humani- body of the Cause, a separation that can
tarian, and the administrative principles only result in the disintegration of its com-
enunciated by the Author and the Inter- ponent parts, and the extinction of the Faith
preter of the BahB'i Faith. itself.
I am at a loss to explain that strange men-
tality that inclines to uphold as the sole cri-
terion on the truth of the Bahb'i Teachings
what is admittedly only at1 obscure and un- It should be carefully borne in mind that
authenticated translation of an oral state- the local as well as the International Houses
ment made by 'Abdu'l-Bahi, in defiance and of Justice have been expressly enjoined by
total disregard of the available text of all of the Kita'b-i-Aqdas; that the institution of
His universally recognized writings. I truly the National Spiritual Assembly, as an inter-
deplore the unfortunate distortions that have mediary body, and referred to in the Mas-
resulted in days past from the incapacity of ter's Will as the "Secondary House of Jus-
the interpreter to grasp the meaning of tice," has the express sanction of 'Abdu'l-
'Abdu'l-Bahi, and from his incompetence to BahL; and that the method to be pursued for
render adequately such truths as have been the election of the International and Na-
revealed to him by the Master's statements. tional Houses of Justice has been set forth
Much of the confusion that has obscmed by Him in His Will, as well as in a number
the understanding of the believers should be of His Tablets. Moreover, the institutions of
attributed to this double error involved in the local and national Funds, that are now
the inexact rendering of an only partially the necessary adjuncts to all Local and Na-
understood statement. Not infrequently has tional Spiritual Assemblies, have not only
the interpreter even failed to convey the been established by 'Abdu'l-Bahk in the
exact purport of the inq~~irer's specific ques- Tablets He revealed to the Bahb'is of the
tions, and, by his deficiency of understand- Orient, but their importance and necessity
ing and expression in conveying the answer have been repeatedly emphasized by Him in
of 'Abdu'l-Bahi, has been responsible for re- His utterances and writings. The concentra-
ports wholly at variance with the true spirit tion of authority in the hands of the elected
and purpose of the Cause. It was chiefly in representatives of the believers; the neces-
view of this misleading nature of the reports sity of the submission of every adherent of
of the informal conversations of 'Abdu'l- the Faith to the considered judgment of
Bahi with visiting pilgrims, that I have in- Bahb'i Assemblies; His preference for una-
sistently urged the believers of the West to nimity in decision; the decisive character of
regard such statements as merely personal the majority vote; and even the desirability
impressions of the sayings of their Master, for the exercise of close supervision over all
and to quote and consider as authentic only Bahb'i publications, have been sedulously
such translations as are based upon the au- instilled by 'Abdu'l-Bahi, as evidenced by
thenticated text of His recorded utterances His authenticated and widely-scattered Tab-
in the original tongue. lets. To accept His broad and humanitarian
It should be remembered by every fol- Teachings on one hand, and to reject and
lower of the Cause that the system of Bahi'i dismiss with neglectful indifference His
administration is not an innovation imposed more challenging and distinguishing pre-
arbitrarily upon the BahL'is of the world cepts, would be an act of manifest disloyalty
since the Master's passing, but derives its to that which He has cherished most in His
authority from the Will and Testament of life.
' Abdu'l-Baha', is specifically prescribed in That the Spiritual Assemblies of today
unnumbered Tablets, and rests in some of will be replaced in time by the Houses of
its essential features upon the explicit pro- Justice, and are to all intents and purposes
visions of the Kita'b-i-Aqdas. It thus unifies identical and not separate bodies, is abun-
and correlates the principles separately laid dantly confirmed by 'Abciu'l-Bahi Himself.
down by BahP~~'ll& and 'Abdu'l-BahL, and He has in fact in a Tablet addressed to the
is indissolubly bound with the essential veri- members of the first Chicago Spiritual As-
ties of the Faith. To dissociate the admirlis- sembly, the first elected BahPi body insti-
tsative principles of the Cause from the tuted in the United States, referred to them
purely spiritual and humanitarian teachings as the members of the "House of Justice"
3 24 T H E BAHA'f WORLD

for that city, and has thus with His own pen International House of Justice will have
established beyond any d0ub.t the identity of been removed. For upon the National
the present BahB'i Spiritual Assemblies with Houses of Justice of the East and West de-
the Houses of Justice refzrred to by Bah6'- volves the task, in conformity with the ex-
u'llih. For reasons which are not difficult plicit provisions of the Will, of electing di-
to discover, it has been found advisable to rectly the members of the International
bestow upon the elected representatives of House of Justice. Not until they are them-
BahL'i communities throughout the world selves fully representative of the rank and
the temporary appellation of Spiritual As- file of the believers in their respective coun-
semblies, a term which, as the position and tries, not until they have acquired the weight
aims of the BahL'i Faith are better under- and the experience that will enable them to
stood and more fully recognized, will gradu- f~~nction vigorously in the organic life of the
ally be superseded by the permanent and Cause, can they approach their sacred task,
more appropriate designation of House of and provide the spiritual basis for the con-
Justice. Not only will the present-day Spirit- stitution of so august a body in the BahL'i
ual Assemblies be styled differently in the world.
future, but will be enabled also to add to
their present functions those powers, duties,
and prerogatives necessitated by the recog-
nition of the Faith of BahL'u'llih, not It must be also clearly understood by ev-
merely as one of the recognized religious ery believer that the institution of Guardian-
systems of the world, but as the State Re- ship does not under any circumstances ab-
ligion of an independent and Sovereign rogate, or even in the slightest degree de-
Power. And as the BahL'i Faith permeates tract from, the powers granted to the Uni-
the masses of the peoples of East and West, versal House of Justice by BahL'u'llih in
and its truth is embraced by the majority of the Kita'b-i-Aqdas, and repeatedly and sol-
the peoples of a number of the Sovereign emnly confirmed by 'Abdu'l-Bahi in His
States of the world, will the Universal Will. It does not constitute in any manner a
House of Justice attain the plenitude of its contradiction to the Will and Writings of
power, and exercise, as the supreme organ BahL'u'llih, nor does it nullify any of His
of the BahL'i Commonwealth, all the rights, revealed instructions. It enhances the pres-
the duties, and responsibilities incumbent tige of that exalted assembly, stabilizes its
upon the world's future superstate. supreme position, safeguards its unity, as-
It must be pointed out, however, in this sures the continuity of its labors, without
connection that, contrary to what has been presuming in the slightest to infringe upon
confidently asserted, the establishment of the inviolability of its clearly defined sphere
the Supreme House of Justice is in no way of jurisdiction. We stand indeed too close to
dependent upon the adoption of the BahQ'i so monumental a document to claim for
Faith by the mass of the peoples of the ourselves a complete understanding of all its
world, nor does it presuppose its acceptance implications, or to presume to have grasped
by the majority of the inhabitants of any the manifold mysteries it undoubtedly con-
one country. In fact, 'Abdu'l-Bahi, Himself, tains. Only future generations can compre-
in one of His earliest Tablets, contemplated hend the value and the significance attached
the possibility of the formation of the Uni- to this Divine Masterpiece, which the hand
versal House of Justice in His own lifetime, of the Master-builder of the world has de-
and but for the unfavorable circumstances signed for the unification and the triumph
prevailing under the Turkish r&gime,would of the world-wide Faith of Bah6'u'lliih. Only
have, in all probability, taken the prelimi- those who come after us will be in a position
nary steps for its establishment. It will be to realize the value of the surprisingly
evident, therefore, that given favorable cir- strong emphasis that has been placed on the
cumstances, under which the BahB'is of Per- institution of the House of Justice and of
sia and of the adjoining countries under So- the Guardianship. They only will appreciate
viet Rule may be enabled to elect their na- the significance of the vigorous language
tional representatives, in accordance with employed by 'Abdu'l-Bahi with reference to
the guiding principles laid down in 'Abdu'l- the band of Covenant-breakers that has op-
Bah6's writings, the only remaining obstacle posed Him in Elis days. To them alone will
in the way of the d e k i t e formation of the be revealed the suitability of the institutions
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 325

BahB'is attending the National Convention of the Bahgis of Germany and Austria, held
in the newly erected Ha~iratu'l-Quds,Frankfurt-am-Main, April, 1951.

initiated by 'Abdu'l-BahL to the character of fairs, the diversity of its adherents, and the
the future society which is to emerge out of state of confusion that assails on every side
the chaos and confusion of the present the infant Faith of God, can for a moment
.
age. . . question the necessity of some sort of ad-
ministrative machinerv that will insure,
amid the storm and stress of a struggling
civilization, the unity of the Faith, the pres-
ervation of its identity, and the protection
And now, it behooves us to reflect on the of its interests? To repudiate the validity of
animating purpose and the primary func- the assemblies of the elected ministers of the
tions of these divinely-established instit~l- Faith of Bahk'u'llhh would be to reject these
tions, the sacred character and the universal countless Tablets of Bahb'u'llhh and 'Ab-
efficacy of which can be demonstrated only du'l-Bahh, wherein they have extolled their
by the spirit they diffuse and the work they privileges and duties, emphasized the glory
actually achieve. I need not dwell upon of their mission, revealed the immensity of
what I have already reiterated and empha- their task, and warned them of the attacks
sized that the administration of the Cause is they must needs expect from the unwisdom
to be conceived as an instrument and not a of friends, as well as from the malice of
substitute for the Faith of Bahb'uYll&h,that their enemies. It is surely for those to whose
it should be regarded as a channel through hands so priceless a heritage has been com-
which His promised blessings may flow, that mitted to prayerfully watch lest the tool
it should guard against such rigidity as should supersede the Faith itself, lest undue
would clog and fetter the liberating forces concern for the minute details arising from
.
released by His Revelation. . . Who, I the administration of the Cause obscure the
may ask, when viewing the international vision of its promoters, lest partiality, am-
character of the Cause, its far-flung ramifi- bition, and worldliness tend in the course of
cations, the increasing complexity of its af- time to becloud the radiance, stain the
326 T H E B A H A. ' I W O R L D

purity, and impair the effectiveness of the the rudimentary institutions of its future Ad-
Faith of Bahii'u'llLh.' ministrative Order. In Russia He had raised
its first House of Worship, whilst on the
slopes of Mt. Carmel He had reared a be-
fitting mausoleum for its Herald, and de-
posited His remains therein with His Own
With the passing of 'Abdu'l-BahL the first hands. Through His visits to several cities
century of the Bah6'i era, whose inception in Europe and the North American conti-
had synchronized with His birth, had run nent He had broadcast Bah6'u'llLh's Mes-
more than three quarters of its course. Sev- sage to the peoples of the West, and height-
enty-seven years previously the light of the ened the prestige of the Cause of God to a
Faith proclaimed by the Bhb had arisen degree it had never previously experienced.
above the horizon of ShhirLz and flashed And lastly, in the evening of His life, He
across the firmament of Persia, dispelling the had through the revelation of the Tablets of
age-long gloom which had enveloped its the Divine Plan issued His mandate to the
people. A blood bath of unusual ferocity, in community which He Himself had raised
which government, clergy and people, heed- up, trained and nurtured, a Plan that must
less of the significance of that light and in the years to come enable its members to
blind to its splendor, had jointly partici- diffuse the light, and erect the administra-
pated, had all but extinguished the radiance tive fabric, of the Faith throughout the five
of its glory in the land of its birth. BahC'- continents of the globe.
u'llLh had at the darkest hour in the for- The moment had now arrived for that un-
tunes of that Faith been summoned, while dying, that world-vitalizing Spirit that was
Himself a prisoner in TihrLn, to reinvigorate born in ShhirLz, that had been rekindled in
its life, and been commissioned to fulfill its TihrLn, that had been fanned into flame in
ultimate purpose. In BaghdLd, upon the Baghddd and Adrianople, that had been car-
termination of the ten-yeaidelay interposed riedto the West, and was now illuminating
between the first intimation of that Mission the fringes of five continents, to incarnate it-
and its Declaration, He had revealed the self in institutions designed to canalize its
Mystery enshrined in the BLb's embryonic outspreading energies and stimuIate its
Faith, and disclosed the fruit which it had .
growth. . .
yielded. In Adrianople Bah6'u'llLh's Mes-
sage, the promise of the BLbi as well as of The Administrative Order which this his-
all previous Dispensations, had been pro- toric Document has established, it should
claimed to mankind, and its challenge be noted, is, by virtue of its origin and char-
voiced to the rulers of the earth in both the acter, unique in the annals of the world's
East and the West. Behind the walls of the religious systems. No Prophet before Bah6'-
prison-fortress of 'Akkb the Bearer of God's u'llLh, it can be confidently asserted, not
newborn Revelation had ordained the laws even Muhammad Whose Book clearly lays
and formulated the principles that were to down the laws and ordinances of the Islamic
constitute the warp and woof of His World Dispensation, has established, authoritatively
Order. He had, moreover, prior to His as- and in writing, anything comparable to the
cension, instituted the Covenant that was to Administrative Order which the authorized
guide and assist in the laying of its founda- Interpreter of BahL'u'llLh's teachings has
tions and to safeguard the unity of its build- instituted, an Order which, by virtue of the
ers. Armed with that peerless and potent In- administrative principles which its Author
strument, 'Abdu'l-Bah6, His eldest Son and has formulated, the institutions He has es-
Center of His Covenant, had erected the tablished, and the right of interpretation
standard of His Father's Faith in the North with which He has invested its Guardian,
American continent, and established an im- must and will, in a manner unparalleled in
pregnable basis for its institutions in West- any previous religion, safeguard from
ern Europe, in the Far East and in Austra- schism the Faith from which it has sprung.
lia. He had, in His works, Tablets and ad- Nor is the principle governing its operation
dresses, elucidated its principles, interpreted similar to that which underlies any system,
its laws, amplified its doctrine, and erected whether theocratic or otherwise, which the
1 From Woflil Order of Bnhb'dlldh, pp. 3-10. (This
minds of men have devised for the govern-
communication was dated February 27, 3929.) ment of human institutions. Neither in the-
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 3 27

ory nor in practice can the Administrative soring, failed utterly in its purpose. The
Order of the Faith of BahB'u'llBh be said agitation provoked by a deluded woman
to conform to any type of democratic gov- who strove diligently both in the United
ernment, to any system of autocracy, to any States and in England to demonstrate the
purely aristocratic order, or to any of the unautheilticity of the Charter responsible
various theocracies, whether Jewish, Chris- for its creation, and even to induce the civil
tian or Islamic which mankind has wit- authorities of Palestine to take legal action
nessed in the past. It incorporates within in the matter-a request which to her great
its structure certain elements which are to chagrin was curtly refused-as well as the
be found in each of the three recognized defection of one of the earliest pioneers and
forms of secular government, is devoid of founders of the Faith in Germanv. whom i'

the defects which each of them inherently that same woman had so tragically misled,
possesses, and blends the salutary truths produced no effect whatsoever. The volumes
which each undoubtedly contains without which a shameless apostate composed and
vitiating in any way the integrity of the disseminated, during that same period in
Divine verities on which it is essentially Persia, in his brazen efforts not only to dis-
founded. The hereditary authority which rupt that Order but to undermine the very
the Guardian of the Administrative Order Faith which had conceived it, proved simi-
is called upon to exercise, and the right of larly abortive. The schemes devised by the
the interpretation of the Holy Writ solely remnants of the Covenant-breakers, who
conferred upon him; the powers and pre- immediately the aims and purposes of 'Ab-
rogatives of the Universal House of Justice, du'l-Bahi's Will became known arose,
possessing the exclusive right to legislate on headed by Mirzi Badi'u'llih, to wrest the
matters not explicitly revealed in the Most custodianship of the holiest shrine in the
Holy Book; the ordinance exempting its Bahgi world from its appointed Guardian,
members from any responsibility to those likewise came to naught and brought further
whom they represent, and from the obliga- discredit upon them. The subsequent attacks
tion to conform to their views, convictions launched by certain exponents of Christian
or sentiments; the specific provisions requir- orthodoxy, in both Christian and non-Chris-
ing the free and democratic election by the tian lands, with the object of subverting the
mass of the faithful of the Body that con- foundations, and distorting the features, of
stitutes the sole legislative organ in the this same Order were powerless to sap the
world-wide Bahi'i community-these are loyalty of its upholders or to deflect them
among the features which combine to set from their high purpose. Not even the in-
apart the Order identified with the Revela- famous and insidious machinations of a for-
tion of Bahi'u'llBh from any of the existing mer secretary of 'Abdu'l-Bah5, who, un-
systems of human government. taught by the retribution that befell Bahb'-
Nor have the enemies who, at the hour u'll6h's amanuensis, as well as by the fate
of the inception of this Administrative Or- that overtook several other secretaries and
der, and in the course of its twenty-three interpreters of His Master, in both the East
year existence, both in the East and-in the and the West, has arisen, and is still exerting
West, from within and from without, mis- himself, to pervert the purpose and nullify
represented its character, or derided and vil- the essential provisions of the immortal
ified it, or striven to arrest its march, or Document from which that Order derives
contrived to create a breach in the ranks of its authority, have been able to stay even
its supporters, succeeded in achieving their momentarily the march of its institutions
malevolent purpose. The strenuous exertions along the course set for it by its Author, or
of an ambitious Armenian, who, in the to create anything that might, however re-
course of the first years of its establish- motely, resemble a breach in the ranks of
ment in Egypt, endeavored to supplant it by its assured, its wide-awake and stalwart
the "Scientific Society" which in his short- supporters.'
sightedness he had conceived and was spon- 2 From God Passes By, pp. 323-324 and 326-328.
328 THE BAHA'I WORLD

THE STANDARD OFBAHA'f CHARACTER
Excerpts from THE ADVENT O F DIVINE JUSTICE*

D E A R L y - B E L o v E D friends! Great as is idolatry and immorality, which had for so
my love and admiration for you, convinced long been the most distressing features of
as I am of the paramount share which you the tribes of Arabia and brought such shame
can, and will, undoubtedly have in both the upon them when Muhammad arose to pro-
continental and international spheres of claim His Message in their midst; the inde-
future BahL'i activity and service, I feel it scribable state of decadence, with its attend-
nevertheless incumbent upon me to utter, at ant corruption, confusion, intolerance, and
this juncture, a word of warning. The glow- oppression, in both the civil and religious
ing tributes, so repeatedly and deservedly life of Persia, so graphically portrayed by
paid to the capacity, the spirit, the conduct, the pen of a considerable number of schol-
and the high rank, of the American believ- ars, diplomats, and travelers, at the hour of
ers, both individually and as an organic com- the Revelation of Bah&'u'll6h-all demon-
munity, must, under no circumstances, be strate this basic and inescapable fact. To
confounded with the characteristics and na- contend that the innate worthiness, the high
ture of the people from which God has moral standard, the political aptitude, and
raised them up. A sharp distinction between social attainments of any race or nation is
that community and that people must be the reason for the appearance in its midst of
made, and resolutely and fearlessly upheld, any of these Divine Luminaries would be an
if we wish to give due recognition to the absolute perversion of historical facts, and
transmuting power of the Faith of Bahi'- would amount to a complete repudiation of
u'llhh, in its impact on the lives and stand- the undoubted interpretation placed upon
ards of those who have chosen to enlist un- them, so clearly and emphatically, by both
der His banner. Otherwise, the supreme and Bahi'u'llBh and 'Abdu'l-BahB.
distinguishing function of His Revelation, How great, then, must be the challenge
which is none other than the calling into to those who, belonging to such races and
being of a new race of men, will remain nations, and having responded to the call
wholly unrecognized and completely ob- which these Prophets have raised, to unre-
scured. servedly recognize and courageously testify
to this indubitable truth, that not by reason
of any racial superiority, political capacity,
or spiritual virtue which a race or nation
might possess, but rather as a direct conse-
How often have the Prophets of God, not quence of its crying needs, its lamentable
excepting BahL'u'llLh Himself, chosen to ap- degeneracy, and irremediable perversity, has
pear, and deliver their Message in countries the Prophet of God chosen to appear in its
and amidst peoples and races, at a time midst, and with it as a lever has lifted the
when they were either fast declining, or had entire human race to a higher and nobler
already touched the lowest depths of moral plane of life and conduct. For it is precisely
and spiritual degradation. The appalling under such circumstances, and by such
misery and wretchedness to which the Is- means that the Prophets have, from time
raelites had sunk, under the debasing and
immemorial, chosen and were able to dem-
tyrannical rule of the Pharaohs, in the days
onstrate their redemptive power to raise
preceding their exodus from Egypt under
the leadership of Moses; the decline that from the depths of abasement and of misery,
had set in in the religious, the spiritual, the the people b f their own race and nation,
cultural, and the moral life of the Jewish empowering them to transmit in turn to
people, at the time of the appearance of other races and nations the saving grace and
Jesus Christ; the barbarous cruelty, the gross the energizing influence of their Revelation.
* Pages 13-28, I n the light of this fundamental principle
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 329

it should always be borne in mind, nor can Faith, imagine for a moment that for some
it be sufficiently emphasized, that the pri- mysterious purpose or by any reason of in-
mary reason why the Bib and BahC'uYllih herent excellence or special merit Bah6'u'-
chose to appear in Persia, and to make it the llih has chosen to confer upon their country
first repository of their Revelation, was be- and people so great and lasting a distinction.
cause, of all the peoples and nations of the It is precisely by reason of the patent evils
civilized world, that race and nation had, which, notwithstanding its other admittedly
as so often depicted by 'Abdu'l-BahL, sunk great characteristics and achievements, an
to such ignominious depths, and manifested excessive and binding materialism has un-
so great a perversity, as to find no parallel fortunately engendered within it that the
among its contemporaries. For no more Author of their Faith and the Center of His
convincing proof could be adduced demon- Covenant have singled it out to become the
strating the regenerating spirit animating the standard-bearer of the New World Order
Revelations proclaimed by the Bib and envisaged in their writings. It is by such
BahP'u'llih than their power to transform means as this that BahL'u711ihcan best dem-
what can be truly regarded as one of the onstrate to a heedless generation His al-
most backward, the most cowardly, and mighty power to raise up from the very
perverse of peoples into a race of heroes, fit midst of a people, immersed in a sea of ma-
to effect in turn a similar revolution in the terialism, a prey to one of the most virulent
life of mankind. To have appeared among and long-standing forms of racial prejudice,
a race or nation which by its intrinsic worth and notorious for its political corruption,
and high attainments seemed to warrant the lawlessness and laxity in moral standards,
inestimable privilege of being made the re- men and women who, as time goes by, will
ceptacle of such a Revelation would in the increasingly exemplify those essential vir-
eyes of an unbelieving world greatly reduce tues of self-renunciation, of moral rectitude,
the efficacy of that Message, and detract of chastity, of indiscriminating fellowship,
from the self-sufficiency of its omnipotent of holy discipline, and of spiritual insight
power. The contrast so strikingly presented that will fit them for the preponderating
in the pages of Nabil's Narrative between share they will have in calling into being
the heroism that immortalized the life and that World Order and that World Civiliza-
deeds of the Dawn-Breakers and the de- tion of which their country, no less than the
generacy and cowardice of their defamers entire human race, stands ?n desperate need.
and persecutors is in itself a most impressive Theirs will be the duty and privilege, in
testimony to the truth of the Message of their capacity first as the establishers of one
Him Who had instilled such a spirit into the of the most powerful pillars sustaining the
breasts of His disciples. For any believer of edifice of the Universal House of Justice,
that race to maintain that the excellence of and then as the champion-builders of that
his country and the innate nobility of its New World Order of which that House is
people were the fundamental reasons for its to be the nucleus and forerunner, to incul-
being singled out as the primary receptacle cate, demonstrate, and apply those twin and
of the Revelations of the Bgb and BahP'uY- sorely-needed principles of Divine justice
lldh would be untenable in the face of the and order-principles to which the political
overwhelming evidence afforded so con- corruption and the moral license, increas-
vincingly by that Narrative. ingly staining the society to which they be-
To a lesser degree this principle must of long, offer so sad and striking a contrast.
necessity apply to the country which has Observations such as these, however dis-
vindicated its right to be regarded as the tasteful and depressing they may be, should
cradle of the World Order of BahP'ulll&h. not, in the least, blind us to those virtues
So great a function, so noble a role, can be and qualities of high intelligence, of youth-
regarded as no less inferior to the part fulness, of unbounded initiative, and enter-
played by those immortal souls who, prise which the nation as a whole so con-
through their sublime renunciation and un- spicuously displays, and which are being in-
paralleled deeds, have been responsible for creasingly reflected by the community of
the birth of the Faith itself. Let not, there- the believers within it. Upon these virtues
fore, those who are to participate so pre- and qualities, no less than upon the elimina-
dominantly in the birth of that world civili- tion of the evils referred to, must depend, to
zation, which is the direct offspring of their a very great extent, the ability of that com-
T H E B A H A. ' I W O R L D

munity to lay a firm foundation for the ioning the outward instruments, and of per-
country's future role in ushering in the fecting the administrative agencies, which
Golden Age of the Cause of BahL'u'llih. they can utilize for the prosecution of their
dual task under the Seven Year Plan; vital
How STAGGERING THE RESPONSIBILITY
and urgent as are the campaigns which they
are initiating, the schemes and projects
How great, therefore, how staggering the which they are devising, and the funds
responsibility that must weigh upon the which they are raising, for the efficient con-
present generation of the American believ- duct of both the Teaching 2nd Temple
ers, at this early stage in their spiritual and work, the imponderable, the spiritual, fac-
administrative evolution, to weed out, by tors, which are bound up with their own in-
every means in their power, those faults, dividual and inner lives, and with which are
habits, and tendencies which they have in- associated their human and social relation-
herited from their own nation, and to culti- ships, are no less urgent and vital, and de-
vate, patiently and prayerfully, those dis- mand constant scrutiny, continual self-
tinctive qualities and characteristics that are examination and heart-searching on their
so indispensable to their effective participa- part, lest their value be impaired or their
tion in the great redemptive work of their vital necessity be obscured or forgotten.
Faith. Incapable as yet, in view of the re-
stricted size of their community and the
limited influence it now wields, of produc-
ing any marked effect on the great mass of Of these spiritual prerequisites of success,
their countrymen, let them focus their at- which constitute the bedrock on which the
tention, for the present, on their own selves, security of all teaching plans, Temple proj-
their own individual needs, their own per- ects, and financial schemes, must ultimately
sonal deficiencies and weaknesses, ever rest, the following stand out as preeminent
mindful that every intensification of effort and vital, which the members of the Amer-
on their part will better equip them for the ican BahL'i community will do well to pon-
time when they will be called upon to eradi- der. Upon the extent to which these basic
cate in their turn such evil tendencies from requirements are met, and the manner in
the lives and the hearts of the entire body of which the American believers fulfill them in
their fellow-citizens. Nor must they over- their individual lives, administrative activi-
look the fact that the World Order, whose ties, and social relationships, must depend
basis they, as the advance-guard of the the measure of the manifold blessings which
future BahL'i generations of their country- the All-Bountiful Possessor can vouchsafe
men, are now laboring to establish, can to them all. These requirements are none
never be reared unless and until the general- other than a high sense of moral rectitude in
ity of the people to which they belong has their social and administrative activities, ab-
been already purged from the divers ills, solute chastity in their individual lives, and
whether social or political, that now so complete freedom from prejudice in their
severely afflict it. dealings with peoples of a different race,
Surveying as a whole the most pressing class, creed, or color.
needs of this community, attempting to esti- The first is specially, though not exclu-
mate the more serious deficiencies by which sively, directed to their elected representa-
it is being handicapped in the discharge of tives, whether local, regional, or national,
its task, and ever bearing in mind the nature who, in their capacity as the custodians and
of that still greater task with which it will be members of the nascent institutions of the
forced to wrestle in the future, I feel it my Faith of BahL'u'llih, are shouldering the
duty to lay special stress upon, and draw the chief responsibility in laying an unassailable
special and urgent attention of the entire foundation for that Universal House of Jus-
body of the American believers, be they tice which, as its title implies, is to be the
young or old, white or colored, teachers or exponent and guardian of that Divine Jus-
administrators, veterans or new-comers, to tice which can alone insure the security of,
what I firmly believe are the essential re- and establish the reign of law and order in,
quirements for the success of the tasks a strangely disordered world. The second is
which are now claiming their undivided at- mainly and directly concerned with the
tention. Great as is the importance of fash- Bah6'i youth, who can contribute so de-
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 33 1

cisively to the virility, the purity, and the cities of silver and gold, would not deign to
driving force of the life of the BahL'i com- look upon them, and whose heart would re-
munity, and upon whom must depend the main pure and undefiled from whatever
future orientation of its destiny, and the things can be seen in this world, be they its
complete unfoldment of the potentialities goods or its treasures. I swear by the Sun o f
with which God has endowed it. The third Truth! The breath of such a man is en-
should be the immediate, the universal, and dowed with potency, and his words with at-
the chief concern of all and sundry mem- traction." "By Him Who shineth above the
bers of the BahL'i community, of whatever Day-Spring of sanctity!" He, still more em-
age, rank, experience, class, or color, as all, phatically, has revealed, "If the whole earth
with n o exception, must face its challenging were to be converted into silver and gold,
implications, and none can claim, however no man who can be said to have truly as-
much he may have progressed along this cended into the heaven of faith and certi-
line, to have completely discharged the stern tude would deign to regard it, mtlch less to
responsibilities which it inculcates. seize and keep it. . . . They who dwell
A rectitude of conduct, an abiding sense within the Tabernacle o f God, and are estab-
of undeviating justice, unobscured by the lished upon the seats of everlasting glory,
demoralizing influences which a corruption- will refuse, though they be dying of hunger,
ridden political life so strikingly manifests; to stretch th.eir hands, and seize unlawfully
a chaste, pure, and holy life, unsullied and the property o f their neighbor, however vile
unclouded by the indecencies, the vices, the and worthless he may be. The purpose o f
false standards, which an inherently defi- the one true God in manifesting Himself is
cient moral code tolerates, perpetuates, and to summon all mankind to truthfulness and
fosters; a fraternity freed from that cancer- sincerity, to piety and trustworthiness, to
ous growth of racial prejudice, which is eat- resignatiosn and submissiveness to the will o f
ing into the vitals of an already debilitated God, to forbearance and kindliness, t o up-
society-these are the ideals which the rightness and wisdom. His object is to array
American believers must, from now on, in- every man with the mantle of a saintly char-
dividually and through concerted action, acter, and to adorn him with the ornament
strive to promote, in both their private and of holy and goodly deeds."
public lives, ideals which are the chief pro- "We have admonished all the loved ones
pelling forces that can most effectively ac- of God," He insists, "to take heed lest the
celerate the march of their institutions, hem of Our sacred vesture be smirched with
plans, and enterprises, that can guard the the mire of unlawful deeds, or be stained
honor and integrity of their Faith, and sub- with the dust of reprehensible conduct."
due any obstacles that may confront it in "Cleave unto righteousness, 0 people o f
the future. Bahci," H e thus exhorts them, "This, verily,
This rectitude of conduct, with its impli- is the comnzandment which this wronged
cations of justice, equity, truthfulness, hon- One hatlz given unto you, and the first
esty, fair-mindedness, reliability, and trust- choice o f His unrestrained will fo'r every
worthiness, must distinguish every phase of one of you." ' 2 good character," He ex-
the life of the BahB'i community. "The plains, "is, verily, the best mantle for men
companions of God," BahB'u'llBh Himself from God. With it He adorneth the temples
has declared, "are, in this day, the lump that of His loved ones. By My life! The light o f
must leaven the peoples of the world. They a good character surpasseth the light of the
must show forth suclz trustworthiness, suclz sun and the radiance thereof." "One right-
truthfulness and perseverance, such deeds eous act," He, again, has written, "is en-
and character that all mankind may profit dowed with a potency that can so elevate
by their example." "I swear by Him W h o is the dust as to cause it to pass beyond the
the Most Great Ocean!" He again affirms, heaven of heavens. It can tear every bond
"Within the very breath of such souls as are asunder, and hath the power to restore the
pure and sanctified far-reaching potential- force that halh spent itself and vanished.
ities are hidden. So great are these potential- . . . Be pure, 0 people of God, be pure;
ities tlial. they exercise their influence upon be righteous, be righteous. . . . Say: 0
all created things." "He is the true servant people of God! That which can insure the
of God," He, in another passage has written, victory o f Him W h o is the Eternal Truth,
"who, in this day, were he to pass through His hosts and helpers on earth, hath been
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH

set down in the sacred Books and Scrip- can distinguish yourselves from others.
tures, and are as clear and manifest as the Through them the brightness of your light
sun. These hosts are such righteous deeds, can be shed upon the whole earth. Happy is
such conduct and character, as are accept- the man that heedeth M y counsel, and keep-
able in His sight. Whoso ariseth, in this Day, eth the precepts prescribed by Him W h o is
to aid Our Cause, and sum~nonethto his the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."
assistance the hosts of a praiseworthy char- "0 army of God!" writes 'Abdu'l-Bahh,
acter and upright conduct, the influence "Through the protection and help vouch-
from such an action will, most certainly, be safed by the Blessed Beauty--may my life
diffused throughout the whole world." "The be a sacrifice to His loved ones-ye must
betterr~zent of the world," is yet another conduct yourselves in such a manner that
statement, "can be accomplished through ye may stand out distinguished and brilliant
pure and goodly deeds, through commend- as the sun among other souls. Should any
able and seemly conduct." "Be fair to your- one of you enter a city, he should become a
selves and to others," H e thus counseleth center of attraction by reason o f his sincer-
them, "that the evidences of justice may be ity, his faithfulness and love, his honesty
revealed through your deeds among Our and fidelity, his truthfulness and loving-
faithful servants." kindness towards all the peoples of the
"Equity," He also has written, "is the world, so that the people of that city may
most fundamental among human virtues. cry out and say: 'This man is unquestionably
The evaluation of all things must needs de- a BahBi, for his manners, his behavior, his
pend upon it." And again, "Observe equity conduct, his morals, his nature, and disposi-
in your judgment, ye men of understanding tion reflect the attributes of the BahBis.'
heart! He that is unjust in his judgment is Not until ye attain this station can ye be
destitute o f the characteristics that distin- said to have been faithful to the Covenant
guish man's station." "Beautify your and Testament o f God." "The most vital
tongues, 0 people," He further admonishes duty, in this day," He, moreover, has writ-
them, "with truthfulness, and adorn your ten, "is to purify your characters, to correct
souls with the ornament o f honesty. Be- your manners, hnd improve your conduct.
ware, 0 people, that ye deal not treacher- The beloved of the Merciful must show
ously with any one. Be ye the trustees of forth such character and conduct among
God amongst His creatures, and the em- His creatures, that the fragrance of their
blems o f His generosity amidst His people." holiness may be shed upon the whole world,
"Let your eye be chaste," is yet another and may quicken the dead, inasmuch as the
counsel, "your hand faithful, your tongue purpose of the Manifestation of God and
truthful, and your heart enlightened." "Be the dawning of the limitless lights of the In-
an ornament to the counlenance of truth," visible is to educate the souls o f men, and
is yet another admonition, "a crown to the refine the character of every living man.
brow o f fidelity, a pillar of the temple o f . . ." "Truthfulness," He asserts, "is the
righteousness, a breath o f life to the body foundation o f all human virtues. Without
o f mankind, an ensi'qn of the hosts of jus- truthfulness progress and success, in all the
tice, a luminary above the horizon of vir- worlds o f God, are impossible for any soul.
tue." "Let truthfulness and courtesy be your When this holy attribute is established in
adorning," is still another admonition, "suf- man, all the divine qualities will also be ac-
fer not yourselves to be deprived of the robe quired."
o f forbearance and justice, that the sweet Such a rectitude of conduct must mani-
savors o f holiness may be wafted from your fest itself, with ever-increasing potency, in
hearts upon all created things. Say: Beware, every verdict which the elected representa-
0 people o f Bahii, lest ye walk in the ways tives of the BahL'i community, in whatever
of them whose words differ from their capacity they may find themselves, may be
deeds. Strive that ye may be enabled to called upon to pronounce. It must be con-
manifest to the peoples o f the earth the stantly reflected in the business dealings of
signs of God, and to mirror forth His com- all its members, in their domestic lives, in
ma~zdments.Let your acts be a guide unto all manner of employment, and in any serv-
all mankind, for the professions of most ice they may, in the future, render their
men, be they high or low, differ from their government or people. It must be exempli-
conduct. It is through your deeds that ye fied in the conduct of all BahL'i electors,
334 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

when exercising their sacred rights and "Say," He again asserts, "He hath appeared
functions. It must characterize the attitude with that Justice wherewith mankind hath
of every loyal believer towards non-accept- been adorned, and yet the people are, for the
ance of political posts, non-identification most part, asleep." "The light of men is Jus-
with political parties, non-participation in tice," He moreover states, "Quench it not
political controversies, and non-membership with the contrary winds of oppression and
in political organizations and ecclesiastical tyranny. The purpose o f justice is the ap-
institutions. It must reveal itself in the un- pearance of unity among men." " N o radi-
compromising adherence of all, whether ance," He declares, "can-compare with that
young or old, to the clearly enunciated and o f justice. The organization of the world and
fundamental principles laid down by 'Ab- the tranquillity o f mankind depend upon it."
du'l-Bahi in His addresses, and to the laws "0 people of God!" He exclaims, "That
and ordinances revealed by BahL'u'llih in which traineth the world is Justice, for it is
His Most Holy Book. It must be demon- upheld by two pillars, reward and punish-
strated in the impartiality of every defender ment. These two pillars are the sources o f
of the Faith against its enemies, in his fair- life to the world." "Justice and equity," is
mindedness in recognizing any merits that yet another assertion, "are two guardians for
enemy may possess, and in his honesty in the protection of man. They have appeared
discharging any obligations he may have to- arrayed in their mighty and sacred names
wards him. It must constitute the brightest to maintain the world iiz uprightness and
ornament of the life, the pursuits, the exer- protect the nations." "Bestir yourselves, 0
tions, and the utterances of every Bahi'i people," is His emphatic warning, "in an-
teacher, whether laboring at home or ticipation of the days of Divine jzistice, for
abroad, whether in the front ranks of the the promised hour is now come. Beware lest
teaching force, or occupying a less active ye fail to apprehend its import, and be ac-
and responsible position. It must be made counted among the erring."
the hall-mark of that numerically small, yet "The day is approaching," He similarly
intensely dynamic and highly responsible has written, "when the faithful will behold
body of the elected national representatives the day-star of justice shining in its full
of every Bahi'i community, which consti- splendor from the day-spring of glory."
tutes the sustaining pillar, and the sole in- "The shame I was made to bear," He sig-
strument for the election, in every commu- nificantly remarks, "hath uncovered the
nity, of that Universal House whose very glory with which the whole of creation had
name and title, as ordained by Bahi'u'llih, been invested, and through the cruelties I
symbolizes that rectitude of conduct which have endured, the day-star of justice hath
is its highest mission to safeguard and en- manifested itself, and shed its splendor
force. upon men." "The wwld," He again has writ-
So great and transcendental is this prin- ten, "is in great turmoil, and the minds o f
ciple of Divine justice, a principle that must its people are in a state of utter confusion.
be regarded as the crowning distinction of W e entreat the Almighty that He may gra-
all Local and National Assemblies, in their ciously illuminate them with the glory o f
capacity as forerunners of the Universal His Justice, and enable them t o discover
House of Justice, that BahL'u'llih Himself that which will be profitable unto them at all
subordinates His personal inclination and times and under all conditions." And again,
wish to the all-compelling force of its de- "There can be no doubt whatever that if the
mands and implications. "God is M y wit- day-star o f justice, which the clouds of
ness!" He thus explains, "were it not con- tyranny have obscured, were to shed its
trary to the Law o f God, I would have light upon men, the face of the earth would
kissed the hand o f M y would-be murderer, be completely transformed."
and would cause him to inherit My earthly "God be praised!" 'Abdu'l-Bahi, in His
goods. I am restrained, however, by the turn, exclaims, "The szln of justice hath
binding Law laid down in the Book, and risen above the horizon o f Bahri'u'lliih. For
am Myself bereft o f all worldly posses- in His Tablets the foz~ndationsof such a jus-
sions." "Know thou, of a truth," He sig- tice have been laid as no mind hath, from
nificantly affirms, "these great oppressions the beginning of creation, conceived." "The
that have befallen the world are preparing canopy o f existence," He further explains,
it for the advent o f the Most Great Justice." "resteth upon the pole o f justice, and not o f
T H E W O R L D O R D ER O F B A H A ' U ' L L A H 335

forgiveness, and the life of mankind de- tions of those whose enviable position is to
pendeth on justice and not on forgiveness." propagate the Message, and to administer
Small wonder, therefore, that the Author the affairs, of the Faith of Bahb'u'lliih. It
of the Bahi'i Revelation should have chosen must be upheld, in all its integrity and im-
to associate the name and title of that plications, in every phase of the life of those
House, which is to be the crowning glory of who fill the ranks of that Faith, whether in
His administrative institutions, not with for- their homes, their travels, their clubs, their
giveness but with justice, to have made jus- societies, their entertainments, their schools,
tice the only basis and the permanent foun- and their univewties. It must be accorded
dation of His Most Great Peace, and to special consideration in the conduct of the
have proclaimed it in His Hidden Words as social activities of every Bahi'i summer
"the best beloved of all things" in His sight. school and any other occasions on which
It is to the American believers, particularly, Bahi'i community life is organized and fos-
that I feel urged to direct this fervent plea tered. It must be closely and continually
to ponder in their hearts the implications of identified with the mission of the BahL'i
this moral rectitude, and to uphold, with Youth, both as an element in the life of the
heart and soul and uncompromisingly, both BahVi community, and as a factor in the
individually and collectively, this sublime future progress and orientation of the youth
standard-a standard of which justice is so of their own country.
essential and potent an element. Such a chaste and holy life, with its im-
As to a chaste and holy life it should be plications of modesty, purity, temperance,
regarded as no less essential a factor that decency, and clean-mindedness, involves no
must contribute its proper share to the less than the exercise of moderation in all
strengthening and vitalization of the Bahi'i that pertains to dress, language, amuse-
community, upon which must in turn de- ments, and all artistic and literary avoca-
pend the success of any BahL'i plan or en- tions. It demands daily vigilance in the con-
terprise. In these days when the forces of ir- trol of one's carnal desires and corrupt in-
religion are weakening the moral fibre, and clinations. It calls for the abandonment of a
undermining the foundations of individual frivolous conduct, with its excessive attach-
morality, the obligation of chastity and holi- ment to trivial and often misdirected pleas-
ness must claim an increasing share of the ures. It requires total abstinence from all al-
attention of the American believers, both in coholic drikks, from opium, and from simi-
their individual capacities and as the re- lar habit-forming drugs. It condemns the
sponsible custodians of the interests of the prostitution of art and of literature, the
Faith of Bahi'u'llgh. In the discharge of practices of nudism and of companionate
such an obligation, to which the special cir- marriage, infidelity in marital relationships,
cumstances resulting from an excessive and and all manner of promiscuity, of easy fa-
enervating materialism now prevailing in miliarity, and of sexual vices. It can tolerate
their country lend particular significance, no compromise with the theories, the stand-
they must play a conspicuous and predomi- ards, the habits, and the excesses of a deca-
nant role. All of them, be they men or dent age. Nay rather it seeks to demon-
women, must, at this threatening hour when strate, through the dynamic force of its ex-
the lights of religion are fading out, and its ample, the pernicious character of such the-
restraints are one by one being abolished, ories, the falsity of such standards, the
pause to examine themselves, scrutinize hollowness of such claims, the perversity of
their conduct, and with characteristic reso- such habits, and the sacrilegious character
lution arise to purge the life of their com- of such excesses.
munity of every trace of moral laxity that "By the righteous~zess of God!" writes
might stain the name, or impair the integ- Bahi'u'll&, "The world, its vanities and its
rity, of so holy and precious a Faith. glory, and whatever delights it can offer, are
A chaste and holy life must be made the all, in the sight o f God, as worthless as, nay
controlling principle in the behavior and even more- contemptible than, dust and
conduct of all Bahi'is, both in their social ashes. Would that the hearts of men could
relations with the members of their own comprehend it. Wash yourselves thor-
community, and in their contact with the oughly, 0 people of Baha', from the defile-
world at large. It must adorn and reinforce ment of the world, and of all that pertaineth
the ceaseless labors and meritorious exer- unto it. God Himself beareth Me witness!
336 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

The things of the earth ill beseem you. Cast nor pause. Such a man is assuredly of Me.
them away unto such as may desire them, From his garment the Concourse on high
and fasten your eyes upon this most holy can inhale the fragrance o f sanctity. . . .
and effulgent Vision." "0 ye M y loved And if he met the fairest and most comely
ones!" He thus exhorts His followers, "Suf- of women, he would not feel his heart se-
fer not the hem of M y sacred vesture to be duced by the least shadow of desire for her
smirched and mired with the things o f this beauty. Such an one indeed is the creation o f
world, and follow not the promptings o f spotless chastity. Thus instructeth you the
your evil and corrupt desires." And again, Pen of the Ancient o f Days, as bidden by
"0 ye the beloved of the one true God! Pass your Lord, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful."
beyond the narrow retreats o f your evil and "They that follow their lusts and corrupt in-
coirupt desires, and advance into the vast clinations," is yet another warning, "have
immensity of the realm of God, and abide erred and dissipated their efforts. They in-
ye in the meads of sanctity and of detach- deed are o f the lost." "It behooveth the peo-
ment, that the fragrance of your deeds may ple of Bahd," He also has written, "to die to
lead the whole o f mankind to the ocean o f the world and all that is therein, to be so
God's unfading glory." "Diserzcumber your- detached from all earthly things that the in-
selves," He thus commands them, "of all mates o f Paradise may inhale from their gar-
attachment to this world and the vanities ment the sweet smelling savor of sanctity.
thereof. Beware that ye approach them not, . . . They that have tarnished the fair name
inasmuch as they prompt you to walk after o f the Cause of God by following the things
your own lusts and covetous desires, and o f the flesh-these are in palpable error!"
hinder you from entering the straight and "Purity and chastity," He particularly ad-
glorious Path." "Eschew all manner o f monishes, "have been, and still are, the most
wickedness," is His commandment, "for great ornaments for the handmaidens o f
such things are forbidden unto you in the God. God is M y Witness! The brightness o f
Book which none touch except such as God the light o f chastity sheddeth its illumination
hath cleansed from every taint o f guilt, and upon the worlds of the spirit, and its fra-
numbered among the purified." " A race of grance is wafted even unto the Most Exalted
men," is His written promise, "incomparable Paradise." "God," He again affirms, "hath
in character, shall be raised up which, with verily made chastity to be a crown for the
the feet o f detachment, will tread under all heads of His handmaidens. Great is the
who are in heaven and on earth, and will blessedness of that handmaiden that hath at-
cast the sleeve o f holiness over all that hath tained unto this great station." "We, verily,
been created from water and clay." "The have decreed in Our Book," is His assur-
civilization," is His grave warning, '$0 often ance, "a goodly and bornntiful reward to
vaunted by the learned exponents of arts whosoever will turn away from wickedness,
and sciences, will, if allowed to overleap the and lead a chaste and godly life. He, in
bounds of moderation, bring great evil upon truth, is the Great Giver, the All-Bountif~~l."
.
men. . . If carried to excess, civilization "We have sustained the weight of all calami-
will prove as prolific a source of evil as it ties," He testifies, "to sanctify you from all
had been of goodness when kept within the earthly corruption and ye are yet indifferent.
restraints o f moderation." . . . W e , verily, behold your actions. I f W e
"He hath chosen out of the whole world perceive from them the sweet smelling savor
the hearts of His servants," He explains, of purity and holiness, W e will most cer-
"and made them each a seat for the revela- tainly bless you. Then will the torzgues of the
tion of His glory. Wherefore, sanctify them inmates o f Paradise utter your praise and
from every defilement, that the things for magnify your names amidst them who have
which they were created may be engraven drawn nigh unto God."
upon them. This indeed is a token of God's "The drinking of wine," writes 'Abdu'l-
bountiful favor." "Say," He proclaims, "He Bahii, "is, according to the text of the Most
is not to be numbered with the people o f Holy Book, forbidden; for it is the cause o f
Bahd who followeth his mundane desires, or chronic diseases, weakeneth the nerves, and
fixeth his heart on things of the earth. He is consumeth the mind." "Drink ye, 0 hand-
my true follower who, if he come to a valley maidens of God," Bahb'u'lliih Himself has
of pure gold will pass straight through it affirmed, "the Mystic Wine from the cup o f
aloof as a cloud, and will neither turn back, My words. Cast @way, then, from you that
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 337

which your minds abhor, for it hath been no circumstances, to deny any one the le-
forbidden unto you in His Tablets and His gitimate right and privilege to derive the
Scriptures. Beware lest ye barter away the fullest advantage and benefit from the mani-
River that is life indeed for that which the fold joys, beauties, and pleasures with which
souls of the pure-hearted detest. Become ye the world has been so plentifully enriched
intoxicated with the wine o f the love o f God, by an All-Loving Creator. "Should a man,"
and not with that which deadeneth your BahL'u'llLh Himself reassures us, "wish to
minds, 0 ye that adore Him! Verily, it hath adorn himself with the ornaments of the
been forbidden unto every believer, whether earth, to wear its apparels, or partake of the
man or woman. Thus hath the sun o f My benefits it can bestow, no harm can befall
him, if he alloweth nothing whatever to in-
commandment shone forth above the hori-
tervene between him and God, for God hath
zon of M y utterance, that the handmaidens ordained every good thing, whether created
who believe in Me may be illumined." in the heavens or in the earth, for such of
It must be remembered, however, that the His servants as truly believe in Him. Eat ye,
maintenance of such a high standard of 0 people, o f the good things which God
moral conduct is not to be associated or con- hath allowed you, and deprive not your-
fused with any form of asceticism, or of ex- selves from His wondrous bounties. Render
cessive and bigoted puritanism. The stand- thanks and praise unto Him, and be of them
ard inculcated by Bahii'u'llih, seelts, under that are truly thankful."

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FROM SHOGHI EFFENDI
1950-1954

TO THE NATIONAL BA~li'fCONVENTION, doubly glorious, through association this his-
U.S.A., 1950 toric victory, representing (an) increase
(of) no less (than) twenty-two countries
(in the) brief span (of) six years, since
H A I L (the) valiant acts (during the) (the) Centennial (of the) Declaration (of)
course (of the) last twelve month; (of) His Mission.
members (of) firmly knit world embracing Number (of) centers (in) Australasia
divinely propelled Bahi'i Community, sin- now exceeds sixty; Canadian Community
gly, collectively, both sexes, all ages laboring nearing ninety centers already established;
(in) near (and) distant fields, (in) Eastern Alaskan territory eleven centers; European
(and) Western hemispheres, gathered goal countries thirty-five, number (of)
(from) diverse classes, creeds (and) colors; newly declared believers almost doubled
as administrators, in (the) respective home (during) course (of) past year.
lands or (as) settlers (or) itinerant teachers BahL'i literature enriched (by) translation
overseas; whether serving (in) private ca- (into) Welsh, Eskimo, Swahili, Hausa,
pacity or (in) official association (with) au- Chinyanja, raising (the) total number (of)
thorities. languages (to) sixty-three.
Second half (of) opening decade (of) Languages (in) process (of) translation,
second Bah2i century befittingly ushered in. eleven.
Recent exploits (in) virgin territories (of) Official recognition, constituting (a)
Western hemisphere, Arabian Peninsula, unique victory (in the) annals (of the)
South and East Asia raised (to) one hun- Faith (in the) East, (and) West, extending
dred (the) number (of) sovereign states (to) newly formed National Spiritual As-
(and) dependencies, enrolled (under the) sembly (of the) Dominion (of) Canada,
banner (of the) Faith. through granting act (of) Parliament, ena-
Forthcoming celebrations, commemorat- bling (the) National elected representatives
ing (the) Hundredth Anniversary (of the) (to) incorporate (as) religious organization.
Martyrdom (of the) Herald (of the) Faith, Additional contract placed (for the) con-
338 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Canadian National Bahb'i Convention,

struction (of the) parapet, crowning (the) quintupled number (of) Assemblies (in the)
Arcade (of the) Bib's Mausoleum (on) Mt. British Isles laid basis administrative struc-
Carmel, raising (the) total tonnage ordered ture (of the) Faith (in the) capital (of)
(to) almost eight hundred. Eire (and in the) chief cities (of) North
(The) erection (of the) ornamental col- Ireland (and) Scotland.
umns (of the) Temple interior commenced; Plan initiated Persian BahL'i Community
ventilation (and) heating systems installed; consummated 31 Assemblies, 17 Groups, 11
number (of) visitors since (the) opening Isolated Centers formed beyond prescribed
(of the) edifice (to the) public, over four objectives.
hundred thousand. Recognition, long last, accorded (by)
Six year plan (of the) British Bahi'i 'Iriqi authorities (to) all marriages solem-
Community triumphantly concluded; almost nized (by) Bahi'i Assemblies (in) 'IrLq
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 339

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, April 29-30, 1953.

through official registration (of the) mar- Eight islands (of) Hawaii granted author-
riage certificate by court, first instance set- ity (to) recognize BahA'i marriages.
ting (a) momentous precedent throughout Bah$i marriage contract legalized (by)
(the) Muslim East, constituting (a) signifi- attorney general throughout (the) territory
cant landmark (in the) process (of the)
emancipation (of the) Oriental followers BahB'i Holy Days recognized (by) Edu-
cational Department (of the) State (of)
(of the) Faith (from the) fetters (of) re- Victoria, Australia.
ligious orthodoxy. Second European Teaching Conference
Certificate authorizing (the) celebratio11 convened (in the) capital city (of) Belgitrm,
(of) Bahgi marriages issued (by the) Dis-
trict of Columbia court.
attended (by) hundred (and)
. -
. thirty repre-
sentatives '(irbm) nineteen countries.
340 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

(The) historic first all-swiss BahL'i Con- tent pioneers, (the) emergency existing (in)
ference (the) latest, most promising fruit Central (and) South America, thereby en-
(of the) transatlantic enterprise initiated suring (the) glorious consummation (of
(by the) American Bahti'i Community, held the) thirteen-year-old enterprise through
(in the) Swiss capital, presaging (the) ac- (the) formation (of the) projected twin Na-
quisition by (the) goal countries (of an) in- tional Assemblies (in) Latin America.
dependent status within (the) family (of) -SHOGHI
BahL'i national communities. April 25, 1950.
(The) process (of) extension (of) BahL'i
endowments accelerated through (the) do-
nation (of) twenty acre property (near)
Anchorage, Alaska; purchase (of) twenty- Dearly beloved co-workers:
two acres (in) neighborhood (of) Auck- The first half of the two-year austerity
land, site (of) projected New Zealand sum- period, inaugurated at so anxious an hour in
mer school; grant (of) burial ground by the fortunes of the second Seven Year Plan,
Egyptian authorities (to) Port Said BahL'i has been successfully traversed, and deserves
Community. to be regarded as a memorable episode in
Ties binding (the) BahS'i International the history of the Faith and the unfoldment
Community (to the) United Nations rein- of the Plan in the North American conti-
forced through participation (in) European nent. An effort, prodigious, nation-wide, sus-
Regional Conference (of) nongovernmental tained, and reminiscent in its heroism and
organizations (in) Geneva; (and in) Latin consecration, of the immortal exploits of the
American Conferences (in) Chile, Uruguay; Dawn-breakers of the Apostolic Age of the
(and in) similar conferences (in) Kansas BahB'i Dispensation, has been exerted by
(and) Lake Success; (through) submission their spiritual descendents, in circumstances
(in) response (to the) request (of the) which, though totally different in character,
UNO Committee (of) statement (on the) are yet no less challenging and for a cause
BahL'i concept (and) method (of) com- as meritorious-an efTort that has indeed
munity worship, subsequently transmitted outshone the high endeavors that have dis-
(to the) Secretariat responsible (for the) tinguished for so long the record of service
planning (of) permanent headquarters (in associated with the American BahL'i Com-
the) United Nations. munity. All of its members who have par-
Last (but) not least, nay (the) crowning ticipated in this collective undertaking
achievement (of the) year just concluded should be heartily congratulated, particu-
(are the) stupendous exertions (of the) van- larly those who, by their acts of self-abnega-
guard (of the) resistlessly advancing BahL'i tion, have emulated the example of the
World Community resulting (in the) raising heroes of our Faith at the early dawn of its
(of) half (a) million dollars, virtually at- history. The entire BahL'i world is stirred
taining (the) objective set (for the) two- when contemplating the range of such an
year drive (to) ensure (the) completion (of effort, the depth of consecration reached by
the) interior ornamentation (of the) Mother those who have participated in it, the results
Temple (of the) West (in) anticipation (of) it has achieved, the noble purpose it has
its approaching jubilee. served. My heart overflows with gratitude
First stage (of) austerity period resolutely for the repeated evidences of worthiness
embarked upon, successfully traversed. demonstrated by this generous-hearted, val-
Resolution no less grim, self-abnegation iant and dedicated Community which has,
no less heroic, solidarity in sacrifice no less no matter how onerous the task, how chal-
striking, must needs distinguish (the) final lenging the issue, how distracting the ex-
phase (of the) stern struggle, still facing ternal circumstances with which it has been
(the) dauntless highminded spartan-souled surrounded, never shirked its duty or hesi-
American BahL'i Community, designed (to) tated for a moment.
liquidate (the) deficit (in the) General The high water mark of so gigantic an
Fund, marring (the) otherwise spotless rec- exertion, however, still remains to be
ord (of) colIective achievement, as well as reached. The year now entered, ushered in
(to) provide financial support imperatively and consecrated by the Centenary of the
required (to) meet, through prompt des- tragic execution of the Martyr Prophet of
patch (of) substantial number (of) compe- our Faith, and packed with poignant memo-
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 341

ries of the persecutions of Zanjgn which sponsibilities numerous and varied, as well
stained its history a hundred years ago and as urgent and sacred, are crowding, in quick
carried its fortunes to almost its lowest ebb, succession, upon a community youthful and
and were a prelude to the most ghastly holo- valorous in spirit, rich in experience, trium-
caust ever experienced by its followers, must phant in the past, sensible of its future obli-
witness as it rolls forward to its close, a still gations, keenly aware of the sublimity of its
more striking demonstration of the tenacity world mission, inflexibly resolved to follow
of the members of this Community, a still with unfaltering steps the road of its destiny.
nobler display of acts of self-sacrifice, a still The world situation is perilous and gloomy.
more inspiring manifestation of solidarity, Rumblings from far and near bode evil for
and evidences of a grimmer determination, the immediate fortunes of a sadly distracted
of a greater courage and perseverance in re- society. The Second Seven Year Plan is now
sponse to the triple call of this present hour. approaching its conclusion. The Centenary
The vital needs of the most holy House of of the Martyrdom of the Bib with all its
Worship reared in the service, and for the poignant memories is upon us. We are enter-
glory of the Most Great Name, though vir- ing a period crowded with the centenaries of
tually met, still require the last exertions to the direst calamities-massacres, sieges, cap-
ensure its completion as the hour of its jubi- tivities, spoliations and tortures involving
lee approaches. The Latin-American enter- thousands of heroes-men, women and chil-
prise, initiated thirteen years ago, and mark- dren-the world's greatest Faith has ever ex-
ing the initial collective undertaking perienced. Another Centenary commemo-
launched by the American Bah2i Commun- rating an event as tragic and infinitely more
ity beyond the confines of the Great Repub- glorious is fast approaching. Time is short.
lic of the West, and under the mandate of Opportunities, though multiplying with
'Abdu'l-BahB's Divine Plan, still in a state of every passing hour, will not. recur, some for
emergency and rapidly advancing towards another century, others never again. How-
its initial fruition, demands unrelaxing vigi- ever severe the challenge, however multiple
lance, and calls for still more strenuous exer- the tasks, however short the time, however
tions and self-sacrifice on the part of those somber the world outlook, however limited
who have so enthusiastically embarked upon the material resources of a hard-pressed
it, who have so conscientiously and pains- adolescent community, the untapped sources
takingly shepherded it along its destined of celestial strength from which it can draw
course and throughout the early stages of its are measureless, in their potencies, and will
unfoldment, and who are now, as a result of unhesitatingly pour forth their energizing in-
their ceaseless exertions, witnessing the first fluences if the necessary daily effort be made
efflorescence of their mammoth pioneer la- and the required sacrifices be willingly ac-
bors. The construction of the Superstructure cepted.
of the Holy Sepulcher of the Blessed BBb, Nor should it be forgotten that in the
now, at this anxious and urgent hour, super- hour of adversity and in the very midst of
imposed on the manifold responsibilities confusion, peril- and uncertainty, some of
shouldered by members of the American the most superb exploits, noising abroad the
BahL'i Community, affording them the first fame of this Community have been
historic opportunity of directly sustaining, achieved. The construction of the super-
through their contributions, the most sacred structure of the Ma&riqu'l-Ad_hk&r during
enterprise ever undertaken in the history of one of the severest depressions experienced
the Faith, the first and most holy edifice by the people of the U~litedStates in this
reared at its World Center, and the initial in- century; the inauguration of the first Seven
ternational institution heralding the estab- Year Plan on the eve of and during the
lishment of the supreme legislative body at anxious years preceding the second world
the World Administrative Center, requires conflagration; its vigorous prosecution dur-
the immediate and sustained attention of the ing its darkest days and its triumph before
members of a community whose destiny has its conclusion; the launching of the Euro-
been linked, ever since its inception, with pean campaign on the morrow of the most
the various stages marking the rise and con- devasting conflict that rocked the continent
solidation of this divinely appointed, un- of Europe to its foundation-these stand
speakably holy Enterprise. out as shining evidences of the unfailing pro-
The hour is critical, laden with fate. Re- tection, guidance and sustaining power
T H E W O R L D O R D ER O F B A H A ' U ' L L A H 343

vouchsafed its members, so readily and so Naw-Rhz second Bahi'i century, desire
abundantly, in the hour of their greatest share following triple announcement Bahi'i
need and danger. world through National Assemblies East
To consolidate the victories won, and re- (and) West. First: Safe arrival (in) Holy
inforce the foundations of the unnumbered Land (in the) course (of the) last six
institutions so diligently established, in the months successive consignments (of) stones
North American continent; to rear the twin (for the) remaining fagades (of the) Octa-
pillars of the Universal House of Justice in gon (and) Pinnacles, eighteen window
Latin America, with their concomitant ad- frames belonging (to the) Drum, one hun-
ministrative agencies functioning in no less dred tons (of) cement, thirty-five tons (of)
than twenty Republics of Central and South timber, fifteen tons (of) steel, eight wrought
America; to maintain in their present iron balustrades, stones (for the) lower sec-
strength the strongholds of the Faith in the tion (of the) Drum as well as (the) comple-
ten goal countries of Europe; to complete tion (of) construction (of the) Octagon
the interior ornamentation of the first (and the) erection (of) fifteen feet Pinna-
Ma&riqu'l-ALhkBr of the West, and its cles constituting, with (the) ornamental bal-
Mother Temple, in preparation of its jubi- ustrades (the) central adornment (of the)
lee; to assist in the erection of the super- Holy Edifice. (The) leaded glass required
structure of a still holier edifice, envisaged (for) twenty-four windows (of the) Octa-
by its Founder and established by the Center gon (and) eighteen lancet windows (of the)
of His Covenant on God's holy mountain, at Drum, ordered. Investigations initiated (for
the very heart and center of our beloved the) fabrication (of) gilded tiles, (the) final
Faith, would indeed constitute, by virtue of material necessary (for the) construction
their scope, origin and character, embracing (of the) Sepulcher.
three continents and including within their Recall (with) feelings (of) humble
range the world center of the Faith itself, a thankfulness (and) intense joy (the) series
worthy, befitting fivefold offering placed on (of) historic landmarks (in the) progress
the Altar of the Faith of BahB'u'llBh, on the (of the) sacred enterprise, associated, first,
occasion of the centenary of the birth of His (with the) formal entombment, Naw-Rhz
Mission by a community which, more than 1909, sixty lunar years after (the) BBb's
any sister community, in East or West, has martyrdom, (of) His dust (in the) vault (of
contributed, since the inception of the the) Shrine; second, (the) laying, forty
Formative Age of His Faith to the enlarge- years later, Naw-RGz 1949, (of the) first
ment of its limits, the rise and establishment threshold stones (of the) Arcade (of the)
of its Administrative Order and the spread Sepulcher; third, (the) completion, two
of its fame, glory and power. years later, Naw-R6z 1951, (of the) excava-
That this community may, in the course tion (for) eight piers, designed to support
of these three coming years, discharge its (the) Dome, followed (by the) placing, (a)
fivefold task-now assuming, through the year later, (on the) eve (of) Naw-RGz
stress of circumstances, still vaster propor- 1952, (of the) second crown (of the) same
tions, and investing itself with still greater Edifice. (The) way (is) now prepared for
blessedness and merit, than originally en- (the) erection of (the) Drum, including
visaged-with a spirit outshining any hith- eighteen windows symbolizing (the) eight-
erto shown in the course of its half-century een Letters of the Living, (the) appointed
stewardship to the Faith of Bah6'u'llBh, is transmitters (of the) dawning Light (of
my most fervent wish and the object of my the) Author (of the) BBbi Dispensation, as
special and ardent prayers at this time when well as (the) rearing (of the) golden Dome,
my heart and mind are fixed upon the suf- constituting (the) third (and) final unit (of
ferings and passion of the B B ~on the occa- the) triple crown destined (to) irradiate its
sion of the Centenary of His Martyrdom. splendor (in the) heart (of) God's Holy
Your true brother Mountain. Moved (to) pay warm, loving
July 5, 1950. SHOGHI tribute (to the) Shrine's immortal architect
(and) Hand (of the) Cause, Sutherland
Maxwell, (and the) services (of) Ugo Gia-
chery, UNO Representative (of the) Inter-
national BahVi community, recently ele-
Occasion approaching celebration ninth vated (to the) rank (of) Hand (of the)
344 THE B A H A 'I W O R L D

Cause, (and) newly-appointed member (of August (of the) same year (in the) capital
the) International Bahb'i Council, (who is) city (of) Sweden. Anticipate entrusting (to
ably discharging manifold responsibilities the) youngest among (the) twelve National
connected (with the) mighty undertaking. Assemblies (of) the Bahb'i World (a) spe-
Second announcement: (The) enlarge- cific plan enabling it, (in) conjunction (with
ment (of the) International Bahb'i Council. its) sister National Spiritual Assemblies (of
Present membership now comprises: Ama- the) Bahb'i World (to) promote (in the)
tu'l-BahA RGhiyyih, chosen liaison between course (of the) ten years separating (the)
me (and the) Council. Hands (of the) second from (the) Most Great Jubilee (the)
Cause, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins, Ugo Global Crusade designed (to) hoist (the)
Giachery, Leroy Ioas, President, Vice-presi- standard (of) Bahb'u'llLh (in the) remain-
dent, member at large, Secretary-General, ing states, dependencies (and) islands (of
respectively. Jessie Revell, Ethel Revell, Lot- the) whole planet. Invite (the) attendants
fullah Hakim, Treasurer, Western (and) (to the) third Bahb'i Intercontinental Con-
Eastern assistant Secretaries. ference (to) befittingly commemorate (the)
Third announcement: Following upon undreamt-of climax (of the) brilliant vic-
(the) missions entrusted (to the) Hands (of tories won (in the) course (of the) second
the) Cause (in) connection (with the) es- Seven Year Plan, eclipsing (the) feats ac-
tablishment (of) Haziratu'l-Quds (in the) complished (in the) Latin American field
Dominion (of) Canada (and) Central Af- (in the) course (of the) first Seven Year
rica, (have) instructed Ugo Giachery (to) Plan (and) presaging (the) tremendous tri-
take (in) conjunction (with the) European umph to be won (in the) course (of the)
Teaching Committee, immediate steps, after third Seven Yeas Plan (in the) African, Asi-
(the) conclusion (of his) pilgrimage, aim- atic (and) Australian continents.
ing (at the) formation, ere (the) termina- With throbbing heart call (to) mind (the)
tion (of) (the) American Community's sec- solemn affirmations (andj glowing promises
ond Seven Year Plan, (of the) first National recorded (in the) Tablets (of the) Divine
Spiritual Assembly (of the) Bahgis (of) Plan envisioning (the) evidences (of the)
Italy (and) Switzerland. Advise United everlasting dominion destined (to) signalize
States National Assembly arrange, through (the) inauguration, (and) accompany (the)
European Teaching Committee (the) elec- triumphal progress, (of the) mission (of
tion (on the) occasion (of) Naw-RGz 1953 the) vanguard (of) BahL'u'll&h's crusaders
(of) nineteen delegates by all local Assem- (and) champion builders (of) His world
blies already established (in) both countries. order (in the) European, Asiatic, African
Urge convocation RidvLn same year, (in (and) Australian continents (and the) is-
the) city (of) Florence, (on the) occasion lands (of the) Pacific Ocean. Advise Euro-
(of the) festivities (of the) Bahb'i Holy pean Teaching Committee (to) cable (the)
Year, (of the) first Convention (for the) text (of the) third announcement (to the)
express purpose (of) electing through (the) Assemblies (of the) capital cities (of) Italy
delegates (the) projected National Assem- (and) Switzerland and urge on my behalf
bly. Appeal (to the) American BahL'i com- (the) participation (of the) Swiss believers
munity, particularly (the) Bahb'is residing (in the) first teaching conference (in)
(in) Italy (and) Switzerland, (to) exert Rome (on the) eve (of) Naw-Rfiz this year
(their) utmost (to) insure (in the) course (for) consultation (with their Italian collab-
(of the) coming year (the) multiplication of orators (on the) prosecution (of the) soul-
Spiritual Assemblies (in) both countries, uplifting fateful undertaking (in the) heart
thereby broadening (the) basis (of the) (and) south (of the) European continent.
projected pillar (of the) future Universal -SHOGHI
House (of) Justice. Advise European March 8, 1952.
Teaching Committee, upon consummation
(of) the glorious enterprise (to) issue
formal invitation (to) their spiritual off-
spring, (the) newly-emerged National As-
sembly, (to) participate, together (with its) Extend heartfelt greetings (to the) at-
sister National Assemblies (of the) United tendants (at the) third European Teaching
States, (the) British Isles, (and) Germany, Conference convened (in the) capital city
(in the) Intercontinental Conference (in) (of) Denmark. (My) heart (is) uplifted
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 345

(in) thanksgiving (to the) Martyr Prophet ceeding (the) inauguration (of the) project,
(of our) beloved Faith (on the) occasion let them, undaunted (by the) perils (of the)
(of the) first historic assemblage on Scandi- progressively deteriorating international situ-
navian soil, (on the) morrow (of the) cen- ation, pursue relentlessly (their) allotted
tenary (of) His supreme sacrifice, represent- tasks through rapid increase (in) member-
ing diverse Bah2i communities (of the) ship, effective promotion (of the) recently
eastern and western hemispheres. (I) joy- initiated extension work, consolidation (of)
fully acknowledge (the) first evidences (of all administrative agencies, energetic dissem-
the) answer (to the) prayer (of the) Center ination (of) Bahi'i literature, closer col-
(of the) Covenant voiced (in) His Tablet laboration (with) sister Communities (in
over thirty years ago, supplicating (that) the) European continent, greater awareness
holy souls be raised up (to) promulgate (of their) inescapable responsibilities,
(the) Faith (in) northern lands. (I) recall deeper understanding (of the) verities (of)
(with) feelings (of) profound emotion Bah6'uYll6h'sRevelation, (of) His Covenant,
BahL'u'lliWs own anticipation (of the) es- World Order, (and) above all, through con-
tablishment (of) His Cause (in) lands (of stant daily effort aiming (at the) enrich-
the) extreme north (and) south through ment (of the) spiritual life (of the) indi-
provision (in) His Most Holy Book (of the) vidual, constituting (the) sole foundation
specific ruling related (to the) ordinance whereon (the) stability (of the) structure
(of) obligatory prayers. ( I am) highly grati- (of) every Administrative edifice must de-
fied (to) witness (the) far-reaching effect pend.
(of the) magnificent response (by the) -SHOGHI
American Bahi'i community (to the) mem- July 20, 1950.
orable summons issued (by the) Herald (of
the) Faith (in) His Qayyiunu'l-AsmB', call- To FOURTHEUROPEAN TEACHING CONFER-
ing (the) peoples (of the) West (to) for- ENCE, SCHEVENINGEN, HOLLAND,AUGUST
sake (their) homes (to) assure (the) tri- 3 1 TO SEPTEMBER
10, 1951
umph (of) God's Cause. (I) welcome ex-
pansion (in) scope (of the) annual Confer- Acclaim joyous occasion (of the) convo-
ence through inauguration (of the) Summer cation on Dutch soil (of the) historic Euro-
School designed (to) prolong (the) sessions pean Teaching Conference, constituting yet
(of the) Conference, (to) stimulate (the) another link (in the) chain (of) annual
spirit (of) BahB'i fellowship, (to) deepen gatherings (of the) representatives (and)
understanding (of the) fundamental spirit- followers (of the) Faith (of) Bahb'uYll6h
ual (and) administrative principles (of the) (in the) ten European goal countries as well
Faith, (to) fix (the) pattern (of) future in- as (in) BahB'i communities (of the) Eastern
dependent national Summer Schools (in (and) Western hemispheres, stop.
the) ten European goal countries. (I) ap- Heart dilated, spirit uplifted (by the) con-
peal (to the) assembled representatives (of templation (of the) range (and) quality (of
the) goal countries and through them (to the) service rendered; (by the) spirit dem-
the) entire body (of) believers (in the) re- onstrated, (by the) degree (of) maturity at-
spective homelands (to) rededicate them- tained (in the) diversified budding, virile
selves (to the) urgent tasks ahead (in the) communities rightly regarded (as the) first
course (of the) three coming years falling fruits (of the) operation (of) 'Abdu'l-
between (the) historic Centenaries (of the) BahB's Divine Plan (on the) European con-
B6b's martyrdom (and the) birth of Bah6'- tinent stop.
u'Ll6h's prophetic mission. Mindful (of the) Welcome with feeling (of) particular
struggles, sufferings (and) sacrifices (of gratification (the) participation (of the)
the) heroes, saints, (and) martyrs (of the) newly enrolled Dutch, Danish (and) Portu-
Faith (in the) opening phase (of the) Apos- guese believers (in the) enterprises initiated
tolic Age (of the) BahB'i Dispensation; fully (by the) Indian, Canadian, British, Bahi'i
aware (of the) circumstances attending communities (in) Indonesia, Greenland
(the) launching (of the) transatlantic proj- (and) African continent, presaging under-
ect amidst (the) confusion (and) prostra- takings destined (to) be systematically
tion afflicting (the) war-torn continent; launched (by the) elected representatives
heartened (by the) signal initial success (of the) newly emerged European commu-
achieved (in the) years immediately suc- nities throughout the remaining countries
346 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

(of) Europe and possibly, beyond its con- American continents awaits (the) rise (of
fines, stop. the) establishment (of) similar institutions
(The) concluding years (of the) second (on the) Furopean mainland, each depend-
seven year plan must witness within each ing directly (on the) efforts now consciously
(and) every goal country, notable multipli- exerted by (the) champion builders (of the)
cation (of) centers, steady consolidation (of Administrative Order (of the) Faith (of)
the) Assemblies, rapid increase (in the) Bahl'uYll6h (on the) European continent,
number (of the) avowed supporters (of stop.
the) Faith, (a) clearer vision (of the) May (the) Conference be aided through
strenuous tasks ahead, deeper awareness (the) outpouring grace (of the) author (of
(of) their significance, (a) -firmer resolve the) Revelation (to) hasten, through (the)
(toward) their prosecution (and a) greater deliberations (and) consecration (of its) at-
dedication (to) their purpose, stop. tendants, so blissful (a) consummation,
Signal, wholly unexpected, manifold (to) lend unprecedented impetus (to the)
achievements, illuminating (the) annals (of present evolution (of the) Administrative
the) first five years (of the) operation (of Order and (to) accelerate (the) progress
the) second seven year plan embolden me leading (to the) future emergence (of the)
(to) confidently anticipate, upon (the) ter- World Order of BahB'u'lIQh.
mination (of the) brief span (of the) re- -SHOGHI
maining two years, (the) gradual formation
(of) regional National Assemblies (as) pre-
lude (to the) emergence (of a) separate Na-
tional Assembly (in) each goal country as
well as (the) launching (of) organized cam- Dear and valued co-workers:
paigns, in collaboration (with the) parent The virtual termination of the interior
community (of the) great republic of the ornamentation of the first Ma&riquYl-
West (in) conjunction (with the) long A a k L r of the West; the forthcoming forma-
standing, preeminent national community tion of the twin National Spiritual Assem-
laboring (in the) heart (of the) European blies of Latin America, following upon the
continent, aiming (at the) spiritual conquest establishment of a corresponding institution
(of the) remaining sovereign states (of) in the Dominion of Canada; the full attain-
Europe and, God willing, reaching beyond ment of the prescribed goals on the Euro-
its borders as far as (the) heart (of the) pean continent in accordance with the pro-
Asiatic continent, stop. visions of the second Seven Year Plan and
Intesval separating us (from the) inaugu- the consolidation already achieved in the
ration (of) yet another stage (in the) un- North American continent, do not, under
foldment (of the) Divine Plan (is) swiftly any circumstances, imply that the vast re-
diminishing, stop. sponsibilities, shouldered by a valiant, an
(The) perils confronting (the) sorely alert and resolute community, have been
tried continent (are) steadily mounting, fully and totally discharged, or that its mem-
stop. bers can afford, as the plan draws to its con-
(The) auspiciously inaugurated, mysteri- clusion, to sink into complacency or relax
oudy unfolding, highly promising widely for one moment in their high endeavors.
ramified crusade, embracing well nigh (a) The hour destined to mark the triumphant
score of dependencies (on the) African con- conclusion of the second stage in their his-
tinent presenting (to the) privileged prose- toric, divinely conferred world-encircling
cutors (of the) Divine Plan (in the) Euro- mission has not yet struck. Rumblings, loud
pean field (a) challenge at once severe, soul- and persistent, presaging a crisis of extreme
severity in world affairs, confront them with
stirring (and) inescapable, stop.
a challenge which, in spite of what they have
(The) future edifice (of the) Universal already accomplished, they cannot and must
House of Justice, depending for its stability not either ignore or underrate. The rise of
on (the) sustaining strength (of the) pillars the World Administrative Center of their
erected (in the) diversified communities (of Faith, within the precincts and under the
the) East (and) West, destined (to) derive shadow of its World Spiritual Center, a
added power through (the) emergence (of process that has been kept in abeyance for
the) three National Assemblies (on the) well nigh thirty years, whilst the machinery
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 347

Delegates to the National Convention of the BahL'is of Egypt and the Sfidin, 1950,
attended for the first time by a delegate from the Sfidgn (seated at extreme right).

of the national and local institutions of a sorbed in the various tasks it shoulders. In
nascent Order was being erected and per- fact, as the Centenary of the birth of BahL'-
fected, presents them with an opportunity u'llhh's prophetic Mission approaches, His
which, as the champion-builders of that Or- American followers, not content with the
der and the torch-bearers of an as yet un- successful conclusion, in their entirety, of
born civilization, they must seize with alac- the tasks assigned to them, must aspire to
rity, resolution and utter consecration. The celebrate befittingly this historic occasion, as
initiation of momentous projects in other becomes the chosen recipients, and the priv-
continents of the globe, and particularly in ileged trustees, of a divinely conceived Plan,
Africa, as a result of the growing initiative through emblazoning with still more con-
and the spirit of enterprise exhibited by their spicuous exploits, their record of steward-
fellow-workers in East and West, cannot ship to a Faith whose Author has issued
leave unmoved the vanguard of a host sum- such a ringing call to the rulers of the Amer-
moned by 'Abdu'l-Bahi, its Divine Com- ican continent, and the Center of Whose
mander, and in accordance with the provi- Covenant has entrusted the American BahCi
sions of a God-given Charter, to play such Community with so glorious a mission. In-
a preponderating role in the spiritual con- deed the present stage in the construction of
quest of the entire planet. Above all, the the superstructure of so holy a shrine im-
rapid prosecution of an enterprise tran- peratively demands a concentration of atten-
scending any undertaking, whether national tion and resources commensurate with the
or local, embarked upon by the followers of high position occupied by this community,
the Faith of BahL'u'llhh, destined to attain with the freedom it enjoys and the material
its consummation with the erection of the means at its disposal. The signing of two
Dome of the Bhb's holy Sepulcher, imposes successive contracts, for the masonry of the
an added obligation, owing to unforeseen octagon, the cylinder and the dome of the
circumstances, on the already multitudinous ediice, necessitated by a sudden worsening
duties assumed by a community wholly ab- of the international situation, which might
348 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

cut off indefinitely the provision of the same No sacrifice can be deemed too great, no
stones used for the erection of the Arcade expenditure of material resources, no degree
and the Parapet of that Sepulcher, and of renunciation of worldly benefits, comfort
amounting to no less than one hundred and and pleasures, can be regarded as excessive
ninety thousand dollars; the subsidiary con- when we recall the precious blood that
tracts for the provision of steel and cement flowed, the many lives <hat were snuffed out,
for the erection of the wrought iron balus- the wealth of material possessions that was
trade and the metal window frames of both plundered during these most tumultuous and
the octagon and the cylinder, involving an cataclysmic years of the Heroic Age of our
additional expenditure of no less than Faith.
twenty thousand dollars, to which must be Nor will the sacrifices willingly and uni-
added the cost of the excavation for, and versally accepted by the followers of the
the sinking of, the eight piers designed to Faith in East and West for the sake of so
support the weight of the dome and of the noble a Cause, so transcendent an enter-
immediate construction of the octagon,- prise, fail to contribute their share towards
these call for a stupendous effort on the part the upbuilding of the World Administrative
of all BahP'i Communities and a self-abne- Center of that Faith, and the reinforcement
gation unprecedented in BahL'i history. A of the ties already linking this Center with
drastic reduction of national and local bud- the recognized authorities of a State under
gets; the allocation of substantial sums by all the jurisdiction of which it is now function-
National Assemblies; the participation of in- ing, ties which the newly-formed Interna-
dividuals through sustained and direct dona- tional BahL'i Council are so assiduously
tions to the first international and incom- striving to cement.
parably holy enterprise synchronizing with Already the completion of the construc-
the birth of the International BahQi Council tion of the Arcade of this majestic Sepulcher
at the very heart and center of a world-en- and of its ornamental Parapet has excited
circling Faith can alone ensure the uninter- the admiration, stimulated the interest, and
rupted progress of an undertaking which, enlisted the support, of both the local au-
coupled with the completion of the Mother thorities and of the central government, as
Temple of the West, cannot fail to produce evidenced by the series of acts which, ever
tremendous repercussions in the Holy Land, since the emergence of that State, have pro-
in the North American continent and claimed the good-will shown and the recog-
throughout the world. A period of austerity nition extended by the various departments
covering the two-year interval separating us of that State to the multiplying international
from the Centenary celebrations of the Year institutions, endowments, laws and ordi-
Nine, prolonging so ullexpectedly the aus- nances of a steadily rising Faith.
terity period already traversed by the Amer- The recognition of the sacred nature of
ican Bah6'i Community, and now extended the twin holy Shrines, situated in the Plain
to embrace its sister communities through- of 'Akki and on the slopes of Mt. Carmel;
out the Bah6'i world, is evidently not only the exemption from state and civic taxes,
essential for the attainment of so transcend- granted to the Mansion of Bahji adjoining
ent a goal, but also supremely befitting when the Most Holy Shrine, to the twin Houses,
we recall the nature and dimensions of the that of Bahi'u'llih in 'Akkg and 'Abdu'l-
holocaust which a hundred years ago crim- Bahi in Haifa, to the twin Archives, adjoin-
son-dyed the annals of our Faith, which ing the Shrine of the Bib and the resting-
posterity will recognize as the bloodiest epi- place of the Greatest Holy Leaf, and the
sode of the most tragic period of the Heroic twin Pilgrim Houses constructed in the
Age of the BahL'i Dispensation, which in- neighborhood of that Shrine, and of the resi-
volved the martyrdom of that incomparable dence of 'Abdu'l-Bahb; the delivery of the
heroine T'bhirih, which was immediately pre- Mansion of Mazra'ih by the authorities of
ceded by the imprisonment of Bahb'u'llih that same State to the BahB'i Community
in the subterranean dungeon of Tihrin, and and its occupation after a lapse of more than
which sealed the fate of thousands of men, fifty years; the setting apart, through govern-
women and children in circumstances of un- ment action, of the room occupied by Bah6'-
speakable savagery and on a scale unap- u'llbh in the Barracks of 'Akk9, as a place of
proached througho~~t subsequent stages of pilgrimage; the recognition of the BahL'i
Bahg'i history. Marriage Certificate by the District Com-
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 349

missioner of Haifa; the recognition of the ministrative Center of the Faith of BahV-
Bah6'i Holy Days, in an official circular pub- u'lllh and in the efflorescence of its highest
lished by the Ministry of Education and institutions constituting the embryo of its
Culture; the exemption from duty accorded future World Order.
by the Customs Department to all furniture For, just as in the realm of the spirit, the
received for BahB'i Holy Places as well as reality of the Blb has been hailed by the
for all material imported for the construc- Author of the BahB'i Revelation as "The
tion of the Bhb's Sepulcher, the exemption Point round Whom the realities of the
from taxes similarly extended to all interna- Prophets and Messengers revolve," so, on
tional BahVi endowments surrounding the this visible plane, His sacred remains consti-
Holy Tomb on Mt. Carmel, stretching from tute the heart and center of what may be re-
the ridge of the mountain to the Templar garded as nine concentric circles, paralleling
Colony at its foot, as well as to the holdings thereby, and adding further emphasis to the
in the immediate vicinity of the resting- central position accorded by the Founder of
place of the Greatest Holy Leaf and her our Faith to One "from Whom God hath
kinsmen-all these establish, beyond the caused to proceed the knowledge of all that
shadow of a doubt, the high status enjoyed was and shall be," "the Primal Point from
by the international institutions of a world which have been generated all created
Faith, in the eyes of this new-born State. things."
The construction of the Mausoleum of The outermost circle in this vast system,
the Bib, synchronizing with the birth of that the visible counterpart of the pivotal posi-
State, and the progress of which has been tion conferred on the Herald of our Faith, is
accompanied by these successive manifesta- none other than the entire planet. Within the
tions of the good-will and support of the heart of this planet lies the "Most Holy
civil authorities will, if steadily maintained, Land," acclaimed by 'Abdu'l-Bahh as "the
greatly reinforce, and lend a tremendous im- Nest of the Prophets" and which must be
petus to this procass of recognition which regarded as the center of the world and the
constitutes an historic landmark in the evo- Qiblih of the nations. Within this Most Holy
lution of the World Center of the Faith of Land rises the Mountain of God of imme-
BahB'u'llBh,-a process which the newly- morial sanctity, the Vineyard of the Lord,
formed Council, now established at its very the Retreat of Elijah, Whose Return the Bhb
heart, is designed to foster, which will gather Himself symbolizes. Reposing on the breast
momentum, with the emergence in the of this Holy Mountain are the extensive
course of time of a properly recognized and properties permanently dedicated to, and
independently functioning BahB'i court, constituting the sacred precincts of, the
which will attain its consummation in the Blb's holy Sepulcher. In the midst of these
institution of the Universal House of Justice properties, recognized as the international
and the emergence of the auxiliary admin- endowments of the Faith, is situated the
istrative Agencies, revolving around this Most Holy Court, an enclosure comprising
Highest Legislative Body, and which will re- gardens and terraces which at once embel-
veal the plenitude of its potentialities with lish, and lend a peculiar charm to, these Sa-
the sailing of the Divine Ark as promised in cred Precincts. Embosomed in these lovely
the Tablet of Carmel. and verdant surroundings stands in all its
I cannot at this juncture, over-emphasize exquisite beauty the Mausoleum of the BBb,
the sacredness of that Holy Dust embos- the Shell designed to preserve and adorn the
omed in the heart of the Vineyard of God, original structure raised by 'Abdu'l-Bahl as
or overrate the unimaginable potencies of the Tomb of the Martyr-Herald of our
this mighty institution founded sixty years Faith. Within this Shell is enshrined that
ago, through the operation of the Will of, Pearl of Great Price, the Holy of Holies,
and the definite selection made by, the those chambers which constitute the Tomb
Founder of our Faith, on the occasion of itself, and which were constructed by 'Ab-
His historic visit to that Holy Mountain, nor du'l-Bahi. Within the heart of this Holy of
can I lay too much stress on the role which Holies is the Tabernacle, the Vault wherein
this institution, to which the construction of reposes the Most Holy Casket. Within this
the superstructure of this Edifice is bound to Vault rests the alabaster Sarcophagus in
lend an unprecedented impetus, is destined which is deposited that inestimable Jewel,
to play in the unfoldment of the World Ad- the Bib's Holy Dust. So precious is this Dust
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

that the very earth surrounding the Edifice prosecution of the Second Seven Year Plan,
enshrining this Dust has been extolled by the must, simultaneously with this added and
Center of BahL'u'll6h's Covenant, in one of meritorious effort which is being exerted, in
His Tablets in which He named the five memory of the beloved BAb, and for the
doors belonging to the six chambers which spiritual emancipation of the down-trodden
He originally erected after five of the be- races of Africa, be carried to a triumphant
lievers associated with the construction of conclusion. Though the present deficit in
the Shrine, as being endowed with such po- their National Fund may, in a sense, register
tency as to have inspired Him in bestowing a failure on their part to meet their pressing
these names, whilst the Tomb itself housing obligations, and may arouse in their hearts
this Dust He acclaimed as the Spot round feelings of self-reproach and anxiety, I can
which the Concourse on high circle in ado- confidently assert that the supplementary
ration. duties they have discharged, and the mate-
To participate in the erection of the su- rial support they have extended, and are
perstructure of an Edifice at once so pre- now extending, for the conduct of activities,
cious, so holy; consecrated to the memory of not falling within the original scope of their
so heroic a Soul; whose site no one less than Plan, not only fully compensate for an ap-
the Founder of our Faith has selected; parent shortcoming, but constitute, instead
whose inner chambers were erected by the of a stain on their record of service, addi-
Center of His Covenant with such infinite tional embellishments to the scroll already
care and anguish; embosomed in so sacred inscribed with so many exploits for the
a mountain, on the soil of so holy a Land; Cause of BahL'u'll6h.
occupying such a unique position; facing on Assured that no blot has marred so splen-
the one hand the silver-white city of 'Akki, did a record of service; confident of their
the Qiblih of the BahL'i world; flanked on its destiny; reliant on the unfailing guidance of
right by the hills of Galilee, the home of the Founder of their Faith as well as on His
Jesus Christ, and on its left, by the Cave of sustaining power, let them address them-
Elijah; and backed by the plain of Sharon selves, with unrelaxing vigilance and un-
and, beyond it, Jerusalem and the Aqsa diminished vigor, to the task of rounding off
Mosque, the third holiest Shrine in Is16m- the several missions undertaken by them in
to participate in the erection of such an Edi- Latin America, and in the North American
fice is a privilege offered to this generation and European continents.
at once unique and priceless, a privilege The extension of the necessary material
which only posterity will be able to correctly support and administrative guidance to the
appraise. forthcoming National Assemblies of Central
In this supreme, this sacred and interna- and South America that will enable them to
tional undertaking in which the followers of develop along sound lines and without any
Bah6'uYll6h, in all the continents of the setback in the course of their unfoldment;
globe, are summoned to show forth the no- the steady consolidation of the victories al-
blest spirit of self-sacrifice, the members of ready won in the ten goal countries of Eu-
the American BahL'i Community must by rope; the maintenance, at its present level
virtue of the abilities they have already and at whatever cost, of the status of the
demonstrated and of the primacy conferred Assemblies and groups so laboriously built
upon them as the chosen trustees of a Di- up; the provision of whatever is required to
vine Plan, play a preponderating role, and, fully complete the interior of the Temple
together with their brethren residing in the and beautify the grounds surrounding it, in
Cradle of their Faith, who are linked by preparation for its formal inauguration and
such unique ties with its Herald, set an ex- its use for public worship-these should be
ample of self-abnegation worthy to be emu- regarded as the essential objectives of the
lated by their fellow-workers in every land. American BahC'i Community during the two
Whilst the members of this privileged year interval separating us from the Cen-
community, laboring so valiantly in the tenary celebrations of the prophetic Mission
Western Hemisphere, are widening the of the Founder of our Faith.
range of their manifold activities, and Time is running short. The effort required
thereby augmenting their responsibilities, to discharge the manifold responsibilities
in both the Holy Land and the African con- now challenging the members of a lion-
tinent, the original tasks, associated with the hearted community is truly colossal. The is-
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 351

sues at stake, demanding every ounce of den, rapid, devastating blows sweeping over
their energy, are incomparably glorious. An leaders (and) henchmen (of) breakers (of)
ominous international situation emphasizes Bahl'u'llih's Covenant foiling (the)
this challenge and reinforces the urgency of schemes, levelling (the) hopes, (and) well-
these issues. In the Holy Land, amid the nigh extinguishing (the) remnants (of the)
tribes of a dark continent, over the wide conspiring crew which dared challenge
expanses stretching from Panama to the ex- (the) authority, succeeded (in) inflicting
tremity of Chile, in the heart of its own untold sorrow (and) assiduously plotted
homeland, as well as in the new European (to) disrupt (the) Will (and) Testament
field, marking the projection of its world (of) its appointed Center.
mission across the seas, the American (The) triumphant, resistlessly expanding
BahL'i Community must deploy its forces, BahPi Administrative Order now embraces
(one) hundred (and) six sovereign states
hoist still higher its pennants, and erect still
more glorious memorials to the heroism, the (and) dependencies constituting (an) addi-
constancy and the devotion of its members. tion (of) no less (than) twenty-seven coun-
'Abdu'l-Bahi, Whose Plan they are exe- tries since (the) Centenary celebration (of
cuting in both Hemispheres, and to Whose the) Declaration (of the) Mission (of the)
summons they are now responding in the Holy BAb.
African continent; the Bib, Whose Sepul- (The) number of languages (into which)
cher they are helping to erect; above all BahL'i literature (is) translated (or in)
Bah$u'llbh, Whose embryonic World Order process (of) translation (is) over eighty.
they are building in the Holy Land and in (The) number (of) incorporated Assem-
other continents of the globe, look down blies, local (and) national, (is) (one) hun-
upon thcm from their retreats of glory, ap- dred (and) ten.
plauding their acts, guiding their footsteps, (The) Centenary (of the) Martyrdom
vouchsafing Their blessings, and laying up, (of the) Herald (of the) Faith (was) be-
in the storehouses of the AbhA Kingdom fittingly commemorated, synchronizing
such treasures as only They can bestow. (with the) completion (of the) Arcade
May the members of this Community (and) Parapet (of) His Sepulcher (on)
prove themselves, as they forge ahead and Mt. Carmel, marking (the) termination (of
approach yet another milestone on the the) two-year, quarter million dollar enter-
broad highway of their mission, worthy of prise.
still greater prizes, and fit to launch still (The) preliminaries (far the) erection
mightier enterprises, for the glory of the (of) two additional Pillars (of the) Univer-
Name they bear, and in the service of the sal House (of) Justice, culminating (in the)
Faith they profess. formation (of) National Assemblies (in)
-SHOGHI Central America, Mexico, (and the) Antil-
March 29, 1951. les, (and in) South America (has been)
successfully concluded, following (the)
TO THE NATIONAL BAHH CONVENTION, raising (of a) similar Pillar (in the) Do-
U.S.A., 1951 minion (of) Canada.
(The) interior ornamentation (of the)
(My) heart (is) filled (with) thankful- Mother Temple (of the) West (is) virtually
ness (at) contemplation (of the) chain (of) completed, paving (the) way (for the)
swiftly succeeding, epoch-making events provision (of) accessories (and) landscap-
transpiring (in the) course (of the) fifth ing (in) preparation (of its) public dedica-
year (of the) second Seven Year Plan, ren- tion destined (to) coincide (with the) twin
dered memorable through association (with celebrations (of the) consummation (of
the) Centenary (of the) Martyrdom (of the) fifty year old enterprise (and the)
the) Prophet-Herald (of the) Bahl'i Dis- Birth (of) Bahl'u'llAh's prophetic mission.
pensation testifying (to) God's unfailing (The) prelude (to the) historic African
protection (and the) manifold blessings campaign, (the) foremost objective (of
vouchsafed (to the) Community (of the) the) two year plan (of the) Bah2i Com-
Most Great Name alike (in) its World Cen- munity (of the) British Isles, linking in
ter (and in) all continents (of the) globe. formal association four National Assem-
Divine retributive justice (is) strikingly blies (is) marked by (the) departure (of
demonstrated through (a) series (of) sud- the) first pioneer (to) Tanganyika (and)
352 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Bahb'is attending the First National Bahb'i Convention of South America,
Lima, Peru, April, 1951.

plans (for) settlement Gold Coast (and) taken through (the) extension (of the)
Uganda. right (of) membership (in) local Assem-
Contracts amounting (to) over two hun- blies (to) women believers (in) Egypt.
dred ten thousand dollars successively (The) third European Teaching Confer-
placed (for) stones, window frames, railing, ence (and) Summer School (was) held
steel, cement required (for the) erection (of (in) Copenhagen (and) attended (by)
the) Octagon, Cylinder (and) Dome (of (one) hundred seventy-seven (persons)
the) BAb's Sepulcher raising (to) sixteen representing twenty-two countries.
hundred tons total tonnage ordered (from) (The) second All-Swiss Conference con-
Italy. vened (in) Ziirich, foreshadowing (the)
(A) quarter-century old project (is) ter- closer integration (of the) ten goal coun-
minated through (the) construction (of tries (of the) European continent through
the) last two terraces connecting (the) (the) eventual formation (of) regional Na-
same edifice (with the) Templar Colony (at tional Assemblies (in) Scandinavia, (the)
the) foot (of) Camel. Benelux countries, Switzerland, Italian
(The) four year plan initiated (by the) (and) Iberian peninsulas.
Persian National Assembly (in the) promo- BahL'i literature (in) Greenlandic, pre-
tion (of the) interests (of the) women viously disseminated as far (as) Thule,
members (of the) community (is) success- Etah, beyond (the) Arctic Circle, (has
fully concluded despite increasing disabili- been) dispatched (to) radio station (in)
ties resulting (from the) recrudescence (of) Brondlundsfjord, Peary Land, eighty-sec-
religious fanaticism afflicting (the) sore- ond latitude, northernmost outpost (of the)
pressed homeland (of) Bahb'u'lliih. globe.
(A) notable step (in the) progress (of) Ties, linking (the) World Center (of
Bahl'i women (of the) Middle East (is) the) Faith (with the) newly-emerged,
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 353

rapidly consolidating sovereign state (in the) African field, (and) construction (of
the) Holy Land, (have been) reinforced the) Bhb's Sepulcher (in the) Holy Land.
through (the) delivery (by the) Ministry (I am) thrilled (by the) multiple evi-
(of) Religious Affairs (of the) Mazra'ih dences (of the) simultaneous prosecution
Mansion (into) Bahb'i custody, (the) rec- (of) Bahb'i national plans, East (and)
ognition (of) BahB'i Holy Days (by the) West, (and the) rise (and) steady consoli-
Ministry (of) Education (and) Culture, dation (of the) World Center (of the)
following exemption granted (to) Bahb'i Faith, constituting (the) distinguishing
international endowments, (and) recogni- features (of the) second epoch (of the)
tion accorded BahL'i marriage certificate. Formative Age whose inception (on the)
Bah$u'll6h's residence (in) 'Akki, (the) morrow (of the) Second World War coin-
scene (of) severe crises (in the) course (of cided (with the) inauguration (of the) sec-
the) ministries (of the) Founder (of the) ond Bahb'i century, and which bids fair
Faith (and the) Center (of His) Covenant (to) eclipse (the) splendors (of the) pre-
renovated (and) furnished, (are) added (to ceding epoch, which posterity will associate
the) Holy Places already opened (to the) with (the) birth (and) rise (of the) em-
steadily swelling number (of) visitors both bryonic World Order of BahVu'llhh.
local (and) foreign. SHOGHI
(A) significant step (was) taken (by the) Received April 25, 1951.
City Governorate (of) Cairo presaging
(the) eventual recognition (by) state au- TO THE 1952 NATIONALBAHK~CONVEN-
thorities (of the) BahL'i laws (of) personal TION, U.S.A.
status, already codified (and) submitted (to
the) central government (by the) Egyptian Soul stirred, heart uplifted (by) recollec-
National Assembly. tion (of) events signalizing (the) twelve
Bonds binding (the) Bahb'i world com- month period preceding (the) fateful year
munity (to) United Nations strengthened destined (to) witness (the) consummation
(by) BahL'i participation (in) regional con- (of) series (of) plans formulated (by)
ference (of) Non-Governmental Organiza- BahPi National Assemblies (of) five conti-
tions (in) Geneva (and) Istanbul. nents, as well as (the) inauguration (of
Preliminary steps taken (in) preparation the) second, glorious Jubilee (of the)
(of) final design (for the) Ma&riqu'l- BahL'i Dispensation. (The) irresistible
Adhkhr (on) Mt. Carmel by President (of march (of the) Faith marked simultane-
the) International BahL'i Council, specifi- ously (by the) steady consolidation (of) its
cally appointed (by) 'Abdu'l-Bah6 (to be) administrative institutions (and the) rapid
its architect. enlargement (of its) limits. No less (than)
Process (of the) unfoldment (of the) eighteen countries (have been) enrolled,
ever-advancing Administrative Order ac- raising (the) total number (within) its orbit
celerated (by the) formation (of the) (to) (one) hundred twenty-four. Languages
International BahPi Council designated (in which) BahVi literature (is) printed (or
(to) assist (in the) erection (of the) super- is) being translated (are) now ninety, in-
structure (of the) BBb's Sepulcher, cement cluding twelve African languages. (The)
ties uniting (the) budding World Admini- vast process (of the) rise (and) establish-
strative Center with (the) recently estab- ment (of the) World Center (of the) Faith
lished state, (and) pave (the) way (for (has been) accelerated. Contingents (of)
the) formation (of the) Bahb'i Court, es- Hands (of the) Cause (have been) succes-
sential prelude (to the) institution (of the) sively appointed (in) every continent (of
Universal House (of) Justice. the) globe, five (of) whom (are) shoulder-
(I) hail particularly (the) brilliant vic- ing responsibilities (in the) Holy Land.
tory won (by the) American Bahl'i Com- (The) International Bahb'i Council (has
munity (in) meeting (the) financial re- been) enlarged (and) officers designated.
quirements (for the) completion (of the) (An) interview (was) accorded (by),
interior ornamentation (of the) Temple (and) literature presented (to the) Israel
(and) eliminating (the) deficit (in the) Prime Minister (in the) course (of his)
Victory Fund, exploits doubly meritorious American visit (by) representatives (of
owing (to the) added responsibilities coura- the) American National Assembly. Eight-
geously assumed (to) assist enterprise (in een plots, (a) twenty-two thousand square
3 54 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

meter area, (have been) added (to the) Zanzibar (and) Madagascar (to the) In-
International Bahi'i endowments (on the) dian, (and) Libya (and) Algeria (to the)
slopes (of) Carmel. Government survey Egyptian, National Assemblies, raising
concluded paving (the) way (for the) (the) number (of) States (and) Dependen-
acquisition (of) over (one) hundred forty cies already soon (to be) opened (to the)
thousand square meters (of) property (in Faith (to) twenty-five.
the) precincts (of the) Most Holy Tomb First fruits garnered comprise purchase
(at) Bahji. (The) design (for the) Ma&- (of) seventeen thousand dollar Haziratu'l-
riqu'l-AdJtkBr (on) Carmel, conceived (by Quds (in) Kampala, settlement (of) Per-
the) President (of the) International sian, American, British, Egyptian (and)
Bahgi Council, completed. Privileges, ex- Portuguese pioneers (in) Liberia, North
emption already accorded BahB'i Holy Rhodesia, Angola, Libya, Spanish Morocco
Places (in) Israel (by) Ministry (of) (and) Mozambique, inauguration (of)
Finance extended (to) 'Abdu'l-BahB's teaching classes, public meetings (and) fire-
Home, Eastern (and) Western Pilgrim sides, enrollment (of) several native Afri-
Houses. Pilgrimages (to) World Center cans belonging (to the) Teso, Yao,
(of the) Faith resumed following decade Buganda (and) Mutoco tribes, (and the)
(of) external hostilities (and) internal dis- formation (of) Spiritual Assemblies (in)
turbances agilating (the) Holy Land. Eight Kampala (and) Dar es Salaam.
piers, designed (to) support (the) thousand European Teaching campaign, exceeding
ton superstructure (of the) BBb's Sepulcher fondest hopes, stimulated successively (by)
constructed. Successive contracts, totaling convocation (of the) fourth European
approximately forty-seven thousand dollars, Teaching Conference (in) Scheveningen,
(for the) construction (of the) structural representative (of) twenty-one countries,
work (and the) erection (of the) Octagon (the) first Iberian Conference (in) Ma-
signed, culminating (in the) completion (of drid, (the) third Swiss Conference (in)
the) first unit (of the) superstructure, (and Bern, (the) first Italian Conference (in)
the) raising (of) eight pinnacles, constitu- Rome, (the) first Benelux Conference (in)
ting (the) second crown (of the) Holy Brussels (and the) establishment (of) head-
Edifice. Preparations (to) build (the) quarters (in) Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxem-
Drum, (the) foundation unit (of the) bomg-Ville, Bern (and) Lisbon.
golden Dome (of the) Sepulcher, com- (The) process (of) consolidation (of
menced. the) Faith stimulated (by the) recognition
Twin pillars (of the) future House (of) (of) Bahgi Holy Days (by the) Superin-
Justice erected (in) Central (and) South tendent (of) Public Schools (in) Kenosha,
America, additional pillar projected (for) Superintendent School (in) Milwaukee,
Europe uniting (the) heart (and) south (of (and) Rhode Island State Department (of)
the) continent. Civil Service, (and of the) Bahi'i marriage
Preliminary measures initiated (for the) certificate (by) civil authorities (of) Indian-
convocation (of) four intercontinental con- apolis; (by the) authorization by Adjutant
ferences (in the) African, American, Euro- General (of) BahB'i identification (for) be-
pean (and) Asiatic continents, involving lievers serving (in) U.S. Armed Forces.
(the) participation (of) twelve National Bahi'i administrative centers steadily
Spiritual Assemblies, designed alike (to) multiplying (in) HijBz, Yemen, Bahrayn,
befittingly celebrate (the) Centenary (of Ahsa, Koweit, Qatar, Dubai, Masqat, Aden,
the) Year Nine (and to) launch ten year heralding convocation (of) historic Bahi'i
crusade destined (to) culminate (in the) Convention (in the) Arabian Peninsula,
Most Great Jubilee. destined (to) culminate (in the) erection
Two year plan (of the) BahL'i com- (of a) pillar (of the) Universal House (of)
munity (of the) British Isles formally Justice (in the) midmost heart (of the)
launched (on the) African continent Islamic world.
through (the) dispatch (of) pioneers (to (The) nineteen month plan, formulated
the) virgin territories (of) Tanganyika, (by the) National Spiritual Assembly (of
Uganda, (and the) Gold Coast, (has been) the) Indian subcontinent (and) Burma,
reinforced (by the) assignment (of) Liberia aiming among other things (at the) intro-
(to the) American, Somaliland, Nyasaland duction (and) consolidation (of the) Faith
(and) North Rhodesia (to the) Persian, (in the) capital cities (of) Nepal, Siarn,
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 355

Indo-China, Malaya, Indonesia (and) Sara- with) BahL'u'llBh's imprisonment (in the)
wak. SiyBh-chi1 (in) TihrBn, (to) arise (and)
Ties binding International Bah2i Com- scale still loftier heights (of) self-sacrifice
munity (to) United Nations reinforced (by) (and) efface (the) deficit (in the) National
official participation (of) Bahti'i delegates Fund. Address in particular fervent plea
(in) regional Non-Governmental Confer- (to) brace itself (to) play (a) preponder-

Reception, South American National BahL'i Convention in Lima, Peru, 1953.

ences (in) Istanbul, Managua, Den Passar, ating role (in the) impending world crusade,
Paris, (and) Lawrence, Kansas. Historic site which (a) world community, utilizing (the)
(of) House occupied (by) Bahi'u'llih (in) agencies (of a) divinely-appointed world ad-
Istanbul (has been) partly purchased, (and) ministrative order, (is) preparing (to)
investigations conducted (for the) acquisi- launch, amidst (the) deepening shadows
tion (of) similar sites associated (with the) (of a ) world crisis, (for the) execution (of)
exile (of the) Founder (of the) Faith (in) 'Abdu'l-BahL's world-encircling plan (and
Adrianople. the) subsequent unfoldment (of a) world
Northern outposts (of the) Faith rein- civilization, (and the) ultimate attainment
forced (by the) settlement (of) pioneers (of the) supreme objective, (the) illumina-
(in) Egedesminde, Greenland, (and in) tion (and) redemption (of a) whole world.
Yellowknife, Canadian North Western Ter- Advise share message National Assem-
ritories. blies East (and) West.
Last (but) not least, (the) internal orna- SHOGHI
mentation (of the) Mother Temple (of the) Received April 23, 1952.
West (has been) terminated, (and) design
adopted, funds allocated (by the) Temple
Trustees (for the) landscaping (of) its im- "DOUBLEANNOUNCEMENT"TO THE

mediate surroundings, constituting (the) B A H ~WORLD
'~
final step (for) its approaching Jubilee. Ap-
peal American Bah2i community standing (On) morrow (of) sixtieth anniversary
(on) threshold (of) concluding year (of) (of) BahPu'll&h's Ascension share double
second Seven Year Plan, traversing (the) announcement (with) B a h a world through
last stage (of the) austerity period, con- all National Assemblies: (The) rapid prog-
fronted (by the) approaching centenary (of ress (of the) enterprise majestically unfold-
the) darkest, bloodiest episode (in) BahL'i ing (in the) heart (of) God's Holy Moun-
history, associated (with the) nation-wide tain, (and the) steady decline (in the)
holocaust (of) Tghirih's martyrdom, (and fortunes (of the) remnant (of) old Cove-
356 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

nant-breakers still defiantly challenging (the) Foreign Affairs, issued authorization (to)
combined strength (of the) BahPi world demolish (the) ruins.
community. Short-sighted action prompted (by) blind,
(The) termination (of the) Octagon, set- uncontrollable animosity, resulted (in the)
ting (the) second crown (on the) Holy Edi- irretrievable curtailment (of) long-standing
fice, synchronizing (with) last Naw-Rbz privileges extended (to the) Covenant-
Festival, (was) followed (by the) erection breakers (during the) course (of) six dec-
(and) gilding (of the) balustrade (during ades (on the) occasion (of the) celebration
the) course (of the) succeeding Ridvtin (of the) Bahb'i Holy Days.
period. Preliminary investigations culmi- (The) signal success (in the) removal (of
nated (in the) erection (of the) scaffolding the) ruins (was) immediately followed (by)
(and the) commencement (of the) con- landscaping (the) approaches (to the)
struction (of the) Drum (at an) estimated Shrine, (the) erection (of a) gate (and the)
cost (of) thirteen thousand pounds, consti- embellishment (of the) surroundings (of
tuting (the) third unit (of the) Edifice the) Tomb (of) Bahb'u'lltih, long denied
preparatory (to) raising (the) golden (a) befitting entrance through (the) delib-
Dome. Experiments, prior (to the) placing erate obstruction (by the) enemies (of the)
(of the) contract (for the) gilded tiles (for Faith. Public access (to the) heart (of the)
the) Dome, concluded. Confidently antici- Qiblih (of the) Bahi'i world (is) now made
pate (the) completion (of) all preliminaries, possible through traversing (the) sacred
enabling (the) builders (of the) mighty, precincts leading successively (to the) Holy
sacred Structure (to) start construction (of Court, (the) outer (and) inner sanctuaries,
the) Dome (on the) morrow (of the) open- (the) Blessed Threshold (and the) Holy
ing (of the) fast approaching Holy Year, (of) Holies. Recent events prelude (the)
paving (the) way (to the) fulfillment (of) acquisition. (and) development (of) over
'Abdu'l-Bahi's prophecy, uttered (in the) thirty acres (of) property surrounding
dark days (of the) First World War, en- Bahb'u'lliih's resting place (and are) paving
visaging (the) glory (of the) resplendent (the) way (for the) erection (in the) course
Dome greeting (the) devout gaze (of) fu- (of) future decades (of a) befitting Mauso-
ture pilgrims drawing nigh (to the) shores leum destined (to) enshrine (the) Dust (of
(of the) Holy Land. the) Founder (of) God's Most Holy Faith.
Old Covenant-breakers, untaught (by ASHOGHI
the) lessons (of the) past sixty years, (the) Haifa, Israel,
reverses suffered (in) connection (with the) June 11, 1952.
restitution (of) keys (to the) Shrine, (the)
evacuation (and) restoration (of the) Man-
sion, (the) devastating loss (in) rapid suc-
cession (of) outstanding leaders (and) Dear and Valued Co-Worlters:
spokesmen, backed (by the) support (of The steady expansion of the activities
the) perfidious Sohrab, engaging (the) serv- conducted so devotedly and so efficiently,
ices (of a) clever, hostile lawyer, unitedly during the last twelve months, by the mem-
challenged (the) authority conferred (by) bers of the valiant and exemplary American
'Abdu'l-BahPs Testament, (and) instituted Bahb'i Community, under the aegis of their
legal proceedings against (the) Guardian elected national representatives, is such as to
(of the) Faith, questioned (his) right (to) evoke feelings of deep and sincere admira-
demolish dilapidated house situated (within tion in my heart, and will serve to heighten
the) precincts (and) constituting (an) af- the esteem in which they are held by their
front (to the) Most Holy Shrine (of the) brethren in every continent of the globe.
BahPi world, were rebuffed through (the) The completion of the interior ornamen-
intervention (of the) Israel government de- tation of the holiest House of Worship ever
nying (the) competence (of the) civil court to be raised by the followers of the Faith of
(to) adjudicate (the) matter, subsequently Bahi'u'lltih, the initiation of the landscaping
threatened (to) appeal (the) government of the immediate approaches of this sacred
decision (to the) Supreme Court, provoked and majestic Edifice, the actual launching of
(the) authorities who, (in) consequence the highly promising, profoundly significant
(of) my representations (to) both (the) African Campaign, through the arrival and
Prime Minister (and the) Minister (of) settlement of American pioneers in both
THE W O R L D O R D E R O F B A H A ' U ' L L A H 357

East and West Africa; the energetic efforts length and breadth of the Great Republic of
exerted for the multiplication of Bah6'i ad- the West.
ministrative institutions and the stimulation So notable a record, such splendid
and consolidation of the all-important teach- achievements, investing, as they inevitably
ing work throughout the States of the Amer- must, the American BahL'1 Community with
ican Union; the generous, the unhesitating the potentialities so essential for the ade-
and effectual support extended to the newly quate conduct of the impending Ten Year
fledged communities in Latin America in Plan, that will constitute the third and last
their efforts for the consolidation of the ad- stage in the initial epoch, in the unfoldment
ministrative structure so laboriously erected of 'Abdu'l-Bahi's Plan, and auguring well
in recent years; the ready and enthusiastic for the triumphant conclusion of the present
response to the world-wide call for a be- Seven Year Plan, can, and must, if the star
fitting celebration by the entire Bahi'i world of this enviable community is to continue to
of the hundredth anniversary of the birth of rise, rapidly and uninterruptedly, to its me-
BahVuyll6h'sprophetic Mission; the magnifi- ridian, be converted into a stepping-stone
cent services already rendered by the re- for the achievements of such feats as will,
cently elevated American Hands of the not only outshine the splendor of the serv-
Cause of God, in diversified spheres of ices already enumerated, but constitute a be-
Bahb'i activity, at the World Center of the fitting termination to the second collective
Faith, in the triple function of hastening the enterprise undertaken in American Bahii'i
construction of the B6bYsSepulcher, of con- history, in the service of the Cause of Bahg-
solidating the ties binding the International u'lltih, and for the execution of the grand
Bahi'i Council to the civil authorities of Design conceived by the Center of His
Israel, and of completing the design of the Covenant.
projected Ma&riquyl-Adhktir on Mt. Car- The support extended by a self-sacrificing,
mel, as well as in Latin America; the re- high-minded, ever alert community, for the
peated contributions made for the erection erection of the Drum of the Sepulcher of
of that Sepulcher, for the extension of the Btib and the raising of its crowning unit
BahQ'i international endowments and the in- -the Dome itself-must, in the course of
stitution of the Haziratu'l-Quds in Kampala; this current year, be consistently maintained,
the marvelous loyalty demonstrated in con- both by the individual members of this com-
nection with the repeated defection of mem- munity, and the body of its elected repre-
bers of the Holy Family and the nefarious sentatives. The assistance required for the
activities of Covenant-breakers, both old acquisition of extensive properties, com-
and new; as weU as the share a number of prising both lands and houses, in the imme-
these Hands have had in administering a diate neighborhood of the Most Holy Tomb
stunning defeat to the enemies of the Faith in Bahji, and for the embellishment of the
who, so boldly and shamelessly sought, approaches of that hallowed Shrine-the
through legal action, to challenge the au- Qiblih of the BahA'i world-as a necessary
thority of the Guardian of the Faith, and to prelude to the ultimate erection of a be-
publicly humiliate, the institution created fitting Mausoleum to enshrine the remains
through the provisions of 'Abdu'l-BahB's of God's Supreme Manifestation on earth,
Testament; the further unfoldment of the must be generously and systematically ex-
European project through the initiation of tended. The scheme of landscaping the area
the two historic Conferences held in the surrounding the recently completed Mother
Low Countries and in the Iberian Peninsula, Temple of the West, in time for its consecra-
and the convocation of the fateful Confer- tion and formal opening for public BahB'i
ence in Rome, heralding the formation of worship, must be rapidly and carefully car-
the Italo-Swiss National Assembly-the fair- ried out. The subsidiary Plan, formulated
for the intensification of the Campaign of
est fruit of that mighty Project-these stand internal expansion and consolidation in
out as the distinctive, the unforgettable, the every State of the American Republic, must
infinitely meritorious achievements which be assiduously executed, and under no cir-
posterity will record as the noblest exploits cumstances, be allowed to deteriorate or to
immortalizing the concluding years sf the fall into abeyance. The flow of pioneers to
Second Seven Year Plan, and conferring un- the African contin.ent, tci CrdYbcria, North.
told benefits on its executors throughout the Africa, West and East Africa, mus$ at what-.
358 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

ever cost, and while there is yet time, be challenging, sacred in character, undreamt
substantially accelerated, as the essential of in their potentialities, urgent by their very
prerequisite to the Ten Year crusade to be nature, and inescapable in the responsibili-
launched by no less than five National As- ties they involve. At the World Center of the
semblies in the African continent, on the Faith, where, at long last the machinery of
morrow of the celebrations of the impend- its highest institutions has been erected, and
ing Holy Year. The process of multiplica- around whose most holy shrines the su-
tion of Bahs'i local Assemblies in the ten preme organs of its unfolding Order, are, in
goal countries of Europe, and particularly their embryonic form, unfolding; amidst the
in Italy and Switzerland, and the prepara- diversified tribes and races, peopling the De-
tory measures required to ensure the success pendencies and Principalities of the Dark
of the twin histoiic assemblages destined to Continent of Africa; in the far-flung terri-
commemorate the last year of the Seven tories of Central and South America so alien
Year enterprise launched in the European in culture, temperament, habits, language
continent-the European Teaching Confer- and outlook; in the capital cities and tradi-
ence in Luxembourg and the Italo-Swiss tional strongholds of a materially highly ad-
Convention in Florence-must be pushed vanced yet spiritually famished, much tor-
forward with extreme care, vigilance and mented, fear-ridden, hopelessly-sundered,
vigor. The utmost help and the necessary heterogeneous conglomeration of races, na-
guidance must be vouchsafed to the newly tions, sects and classes over-spreading the
emerged sister communities, in both Central continent of Europe; in the heart of the
and South America, to enable them to con- African continent, in the capital city of the
summate their spontaneously undertaken Indian sub-continent; in one of the leading
Plans, so vital to their future association capitals of the Scandinavian countries in
with the organized communities, in both the Northern Europe, in the very heart of the
Eastern and Western Hemispheres, in the leading Republic of the Western Hemi-
prosecution of the world-wide undertaking sphere, the standard-bearers of the Faith of
destined to be launched on the morrow of BahL'u'llBh, the champion-builders of the
the celebration of the approaching Great Administrative Order, the vanguard of the
Jubilee. Above all, the most careful, prayer- Heralds of His World Order, and the Chief
ful, concentrated attention should be given and appointed executors of the Master Plan
by your Assembly, in conjunction with the of the Center of His Covenant, have, in the
several national committees, appointed for course of the few, fast-fleeting months
this purpose, to the adequate celebration of ahead, separating them from the grandest
the fast approaching Holy Year, both lo- crusade thus far launched in BahL'i history,
cally, nationally and internationally, with been assigned tasks, obligations and respon-
particular emphasis on the three outstanding sibilities that they can afford to neither min-
functions which the members of this Assem- imize, neglect or shirk for a moment.
bly must discharge, namely, the solemn con- Within only a few weeks the Bahs'i World
secration of the completed House of Wor- will enter upon the centenary of that fateful
ship and the commemoration of its Jubilee, day of August the fifteenth, when a das-
the formal convocation of the Intercontinen- tardly act, fraught with such terrible conse-
tal Conference, and the holding of the An- quences, unleashed a series of tragic events
nual Convention in Wilmette, and the effec- that stained the annals of the Faith, that
tive participation of the members of the precipitated calamities on a scale unprece-
American BahL'i Community, both officially dented since its inception and unsurpassed
and unofficially, in the three other historic in their tragic character by any event except
~ntercontinental Conferences to be con- the martyrdom of its Herald, which cul-
vened successively in Kampala, Stockholm minated in an holocaust reminiscent of the
and New Delhi. direst tribulations undergone by the perse-
The tasks ahead, calling for the expendi- cuted followers of any previous religion, and
ture of every ounce of energy on the part of which, in turn, paved the way, even as the
the members of the indefatigable, irresistibly darkest hour of the night precedes the dawn,
advancing, majestically unfolding American for the first glimmerings that were to pro-
BahSr'i community and for the unrelaxing claim, to an unsuspecting world, and amidst
vigilance of its national elected representa- the gloom and stench of the Siygh-chi1 of
tives, are immense, highly diversified, truly TihrPn, the birth of the Mission of the
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 359

Founder of our Faith. Less than four that left their lasting- imprint
- on His Min-
months separate us from the centenary cele- istry.
brations designed to befittingly commemo- Little wonder that, in the months immedi-
rate that glorious event in Bah2i history, an ately ahead, when our thoughts are fixed
event even more potent in its implications upon those days which heralded the out-
than the birth of the B6bi Dispensation, and break of this reign of unprecedented terror,

Bah2i delegates and visting Bah6'is attending the First Bahb'i convention of
Central America, Mexico andthe Antilles, Panama City, April 22-24, 1951.

yielding in sacredness to none other except and the outburst of a Iight of such incon-
the memorable occasion when the Founder ceivable brightness and in the twelve-month
of the Faith Himself ascended the throne of period immediately following when we com-
His spiritual sovereignty and formally as- memorate the centenary of that reign of ter-
sumed, in the City of Baghd6d, His Pro- ror as well as throughout the succeeding
phetic Office. The radiance<f God's infant decade, constituting the hundreth anniver-
light shining within the walls of that pesti- sary of the period following the birth of so
lential Pit-a radiance, an infinitesimal glim- glorious a Mission-little wonder that the
mer of which, as the Founder of the Faith, followers of the Author of such a Revela-
Himself, later testified, caused the dwellers tion should be called upon to pour forth, as
of Sinai to swoon away-seemed, as it were, a ransom for so much suffering, and in
to be intermingled, whilst Bailb'u'll6h lay in thanksgiving for such priceless benefits con-
chains and fetters in that subterranean dun- ferred upon mankind, their substance, exert
geon, and, for many months after, with the theinselves to the utmost, scale the summits
somberness of the tragedy which enveloped of self-sacrifice, accomplish the most' valor-
the members of a persecuted community in ous feats, and, through a concerted, deter-
almost every province of that hapless land. mined, consecrated ten-year-long effort,
The dawning light of the Revelation prom- achieve their greatest victories in honor of
ised and lauded by the Bbb marks the termi- the Founder of their Faith, in grateful mem-
nation of the second and darker crisis in the ory of His unnumbered slaughtered serv-
annals of the B6bi Dispensation, and signal- ants, and for the world establishment, and
izes the commencement of a ten-year-long ultimate triumph, of His embryonic World
crisis, the first of the three successive cnes Order.
360 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

The four Intercontinental Conferences, therance of the Grand Design delineated in
constituting the highlights of the centenary 'Abdu'l-Bahl's immortal Tablets; to the
celebrations commemorating this unique members of the loyal, the assiduously labor-
period in BahL'i history, commingling so ing and highly diversified community in the
much tragedy and glory, as well as the pub- Indian sub-continent, whose geographic po-
lic consecration of the Most Holy House of sition entitles them to extend substantial as-
Worship ever to be raised for the glory of sistance to the prodigious task of awakening
the Most Great Name, must alike proclaim, the peoples of South East Asia to the re-
in no uncertain voice, the significance of the demptive Message of Bahi'u'lliih; to the
happenings which, a hundred years ago, en- members of the second most persecuted yet
dowed mankind with a potency unap- resolute community established in the heart
proached at any period in the world's spirit- of both the Arab and Muslim worlds, who,
ual history, and signalize the inauguration of by virtue of the position they occupy, must
what may yet come to be regarded as a play a distinctive part in the emancipation
period of collective administrative and of a proscribed Faith from the fetters of re-
teaching accomplishments distinguishing the ligious orthodoxy; to the members of the
Formative Age of our Faith and endowed youthful yet vigorously functioning com-
with a fertility comparable to that which munity, championing the Cause of Baht?-
marked the spiritual feats of the dawn- u'lliih in the Antipodes who, by reason of
breakers of the Heroic Age which pre- their close proximity, are expected to con-
ceded it. tribute a substantial share to the establish-
To the members of the valorous Amer- ment of the institutions of the Faith in the
ican BahL'i Community, the chosen trustees numerous and widely scattered islands and
and principal executors of 'Abdu'l-BahL's archipelagoes of the South Pacific Ocean; to
Divine Plan, who, by virtue of the mission the members of a long-established yet still
entrusted to them by the Center of Bahi'- persecuted community dwelling in a terri-
u'lliih's Covenant, have been empowered, tory which may well rank, next to the Holy
and are fully qualsed, to assume a pre- Land and the Cradle of our Faith, as the
ponderating role in the conduct of this most holy in the entire BahL'i world, who
world-encompassing crusade; to the long- are destined to share with their brethren in
suffering, the unflinching, the much loved Persia, Egypt and P5kist5n in the task of
and steadfast members of the venerable and achieving the recognition of a down-trodden
still persecuted community of BahL'u'lliih's Faith, by the ecclesiastical leaders of Isliim;
followers laboring in His native land, whose to the newly-fledged, spiritually alert com-
spiritual ancestors have left a legacy of un- munities of Central and South America,
surpassed heroism and saintliness to the ris- who, by virtue of the responsibilities in-
ing generation in both the East and the vested in the inhabitants of the Western
West; to the members of the small, yet in- Hemisphere through the ringing call of
tensely alive, community dwelling in the Bah5'uyll5h in the Aqdas and the utterances
heart and center of the far-flung British of the Center of His Covenant, are expected
Commonwealth of Nations, whose destiny is by their brethren, in both the East and the
to lend a notable impetus to the progress of West, to worthily play their part as asso-
this world Crusade, through awakening the ciates of the chief executors of the Plan be-
vast and heterogeneous multitudes that owe queathed by 'Abdu'l-Bah&; to the members
allegiance to the British Crown, and are dis- of the communities in Italy and Switzerland,
persed throughout the five continents of the as yet in the embryonic stage of their devel-
globe; to the members of the equally small opment, and who will soon take their place
yet virile and highly promising community, as an independent entity in the international
planted in the heart of the European conti- BahPi community, and must assume their
nent, whose mission is to spread the light of share in planting the banner of a triumphant
the Faith throughout the regions that lie in Faith in the heart of a continent regarded
its neighborhood and project its radiance as as the cradle of Western civilization as well
far as the heart of the Asiatic continent; to as in the stronghold and nerve-center of the
the members of the newly emerged yet most powerful church in Christendom; in-
swiftly advancing community established in deed, to each and every believer, whether
the Dominion of Canada, worthy allies of isolated, or associated with any local Assem-
the American BahB'1' Community in the fur- bly or group, who, though as yet unidenti-
THE WORLD O R D E R O F BAHA'U'LLAH 361

fied with any specific national Plan for the tain-fastnesses of Tibet, establish direct con-
systematic prosecution of this Crusade, can tact with the teeming and hapless multitudes
still, and indeed must, lend his particular as- in the interior of China, Mongolia and Ja-
sistance in this gigantic enterprise-to all, pan, sit with the leprous, consort with the
without distinction of race, nation, class, outcasts in their penal colonies, traverse the
color, age or sex, I feel moved, as the fateful steppes of Russia or scatter throughout the
hour of a memorable centenary approaches, wastes of Siberia, I direct my impassioned
to address my plea, with all the fervor that appeal to obey, as befits His warriors, the
my soul can command and all the love that summons of the Lord of Hosts, and prepare
my heart contains, to rededicate themselves, for that Day of Days when His victorious
collectively and individually, to the task that battalions will, to the accompaniment of
lies ahead of them. hozannas from the invisible angels in the
Under whatever conditions, the dearly AbhL Kingdom, celebrate the hour of final
loved, the divinely sustained, the onward victory.
marching legions of the army of BahL'u'llLh "0, that I could travel," 'Abdu'l-Bahg,
may be laboring, in whatever theater they crying out from the depths of His soul, gives
may operate, in whatever climes they may utterance to His longing, in a memorable
struggle, whether in the cold and inhospita- passage in the Tablets of the Divine Plan,
ble territories beyond the Arctic Circle, or addressed to the North American believers,
in the torrid zones of both the Eastern and "even though on foot and in the utmost
Western Hemispheres; on the borders of the poverty, to these regions, and raising the call
jungles of Burma, Malaya and India; on the of 'Yii-BahCu'l-Abh2 in cities, villages,
fringes of the deserts of Africa and of the mountains, deserts and oceans, promote the
Arabian Peninsula; in the lonely, far-away, Divine teachings! This, alas, I cannot do.
backward and sparsely populated islands How intensely I deplore it! Please God, ye
dotting the Atlantic, the Pacific and the In- may achieve it!"
dian Oceans and the North Sea; amidst the "Teach ye the Cause of God, 0 people of
diversified tribes of the Negroes of Africa, BahL," the Author of our Faith, Himself,
the Eskimos and the Lapps of the Arctic admonishes His followers, 't .. for God
regions, the Mongolians of East and South hath prescribed unto every one the duty of
East Asia, the Polynesians of the South Pa- proclaiming His Message, and regardeth it
cific Islands, the reservations of the Red In- as the most meritorious of all deeds. . . .
dians in both American continents, the Ma- Should any one arise for the triumph of Our
ories of New Zealand, and the aborigines of Cause, him will God render victorious
Australia; within the time-honored strong- though tens of thousands of enemies be
holds of both Christianity and IslLm, leagued against him." "They that have for-
whether it be in Mecca, Rome, Cairo, Najaf saken their country," He assures them, for
or Karbilfi; or in towns and cities whose in- the purpose of teaching Our Cause-these
habitants are either immersed in crass ma- shall the Faithful Spirit strengthen through
terialism, or breathe the fetid air of an ag- .
its power. . . Such a service is, indeed,
gressive racialism, or find themselves bound the prince of all goodly deeds, and the orna-
by the chains and fetters of a haughty intel- ment of every goodly act." "When the hour
lectualism, or have fallen a prey to the cometh that this wronged and broken-
forces of a blind and militant nationalism, winged bird will have taken its flight unto
or are steeped in the atmosphere of a nar- the celestial Concourse," is 'Abdu'l-BahL's
row and intolerant ecclesiasticism-to them last poignant call to the entire body of the
all, as well as to those who, as the fortunes followers of His Father's Faith, as recorded
of this fate-laden Crusade prosper, will be in His Will and Testament, "it is incumbent
called upon to unfurl the standard of an all- upon . . . the friends and loved ones, one
conquering Faith in the strongholds of Hin- and all, to bestir themselves and arise, with
duism, and assist in the breaking up of a heart and soul, and in one accord . to. .
rigid age-long caste system, who will replace teach His Cause and promote His Faith. It
the seminaries and monasteries acting as the behoveth them not to rest for a moment.
nurseries of the Buddhist Faith with the . . . They must disperse themselves in
divinely-ordained institutions of Bahi'- .
every land . . and travel throughout all
u'llfih's victorious Order, who will penetrate regions. Bestirred, without rest, and stead-
the jungles of the Amazon, scale the moun- fast to the end, they must raise in every land
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 3 63

the cry of 'YB-BahB'u'l-AbhP . . that . hearts (of the) assembled representatives
throughout the East and the West a vast (of the) BahPi Communities (on the)
concourse may gather under the shadow of European Continent (at the) prospect (of
the Word of God, that the sweet savors of the) forthcoming convocation (of the)
holiness may be wafted, that men's faces epoch-making convention (in) Florence,
may be illumined, that their hearts may be (the) harbinger (of the) birth (of the)
filled with the Divine Spirit and their souls Italo-Swiss BahPi National Assembly. Stop.
become heavenly." (The) projected institutions called (into)
No matter how long the period that sep- being amidst (the) world-wide celebrations
arates them from ultimate victory; however commemorating (the) inception (of)
arduous the task; however formidable the BahPu'llfh's prophetic Mission, constituting
exertions demanded of them; however dark fairest fruit (of the) initial stage (of the)
the days which mankind, perplexed and European crusade, bound (to) add its valu-
sorely-tried, must, in its hour of travail, able support (to the) triple pillars recently
traverse; however severe the tests with erected under (the) aegis (of the) same
which they who are to redeem its fortunes plan (in the) course (of the) same stage
will be confronted; however afflictive the (of) its evolution designed (to) sustain
darts which their present enemies, as well as (the) weight, (to) broaden (the) basis,
those whom Providence, will, through His (to) enhance (the) prestige, (to) add di-
mysterious dispensations raise up from versity (to the) elements (that are) destined
within or from without, may rain upon (to) participate (in) six continents (of the)
them, however grievous the ordeal of tem- globe, (in the) future election (of the) Uni-
porary separation from the heart and nerve- versal House (of) Justice. Stop.
center of their Faith which future unfore- Moved (to) warmly congratulate (the)
seeable disturbances may impose upon them, American National Spiritual Assembly, ably
I adjure them, by the precious blood that directing (the) vast operations (of the)
flowed in such great profusion, by the lives European crusade from (the) heart (of the)
of the unnumbered saints and heroes who North American Continent; (the) European
were immolated, by the supreme, the glori- Teaching Committee, (the) principal exe-
ous sacrifice of the Prophet-Herald of our cutor (of the) plan, inaugurating (the)
Faith, by the tribulations which its Founder, European phase (of) America's unfolding
Himself, willingly underwent, so that His mission; (the) European representative (of
Cause might live, His Order might redeem a the) Committee established (in) Geneva,
shattered world and its glory might suffuse vigilantly coordinating (the) ramifications
the entire planet-I adjure them, as this (of the) newly launched project; every sub-
solemn hour draws nigh, to resolve never to sidiary agency, regional (and) local, con-
flinch, never to hesitate, never to relax, until
tributing its share (to the) triumph (of the)
each and every objective in the Plans to be common cause; all pioneers, past (and)
proclaimed, at a later date, has been fully present; settlers, itinerant teachers, worthy
consummated. emissaries (of the) Center (of the) Cove-
Your true brother nant, who nobly responded (to) His call (in
USHOGHI the) length (and) breadth (of the) ten goal
June 30, 1952. countries; (the) entire body (of the) stead-
ily multiplying native believers, constituting
TO THE EUROPEAN TEACHING CONFERENCE (the) core (of the) vanguard (of the)
IN LUXEMBOURG army, singled out by (the) Lord (of) Hosts
(for the) quickening (and the) ultimate
(On the) occasion, auspicious opening conquest (of the) spiritually slumbering
Luxembourg Teaching Conference coincid- continent, particularly (the) members (of
ing (with the) eve (of the) historic Holy the) twin rapidly rising communities (of)
Year marking (the) conclusion (of the) Italy (and) Switzerland, who singly (and)
series (of the) memorable annual gather- collectively hastened, through high endeav-
ings, leaving (an) indelible imprint (on the) ors, (the) consummation (of the) enter-
annals (of the) second stage (of the) evolu- prise, exceeding fondest expectations. Stop.
tion (of) 'Abdu'l-BahBs Divine Plan, Hail this crowning exploit (of the) Second
wholeheartedly share feelings (of) joy, Seven Year Plan as (the) forerunner (of
pride (and) gratitude evoked (in the) the) formation (in) rapid succession, (in
3 64 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

the) course (of the) third phase (of the) them, (the) propagation (of) His Faith
Plan conceived (by the) Center (of) Bah6'- (and the) consolidation (of the) agencies
u'llhh's Covenant, (of) Regional National (of) His rising Administrative Order
Assemblies (in) Scandinavia, Benelux coun- throughout (the) entire European Conti-
tries, Iberian Peninsula, themselves a pre- nent.
lude (to the) establishment (in) present -SHOGHI
(and) succeeding epochs (of the) evolution Haif a,
(of the) Divine Plan, (of) separate National August 23, 1952.
Assemblies (in) each sovereign state, princi-
pality, (and) chief dependency (on the) ACQUISITION
OF VITALLY-NEEDED
PROPERTY
European Continent, as well as (on the) SURROUNDING THE TOMBOF B A H . ~ ~ J ' L L ~ H
neighboring principal islands (of the) Medi-
terranean, Atlantic Ocean, (and) North Sea. Announce (to) Bahi'i communities, East
Stop. (and) West, (on the) joyous occasion (of
Earnestly appeal (to) all participants (in the) hundred (and) thirty-fifth Anniversary
the) phenomenal birth (and) rise (of the) (of) Bah6'uYllhh'sBirthday, (the) success-
communities constituting weighty elements ful termination (of the) protracted negotia-
(in the) life (of the) firmly knit world tions, initiated two years ago (and) culmi-
Bah2i family (to) prepare themselves dur- nating (in the) signature (to the) contract
ing present Conference (for the) future providing (the) eventual, formal transfer by
close collaboration (with the) long estab- (the) Development Authority (of the) State
lished sister communities (in the) British (of) Israel to (the) Palestine Branch (of
Isles, France (and) Germany (to) meet the) American National Spiritual Assembly
(the) challenge (of the) major strenuous (of the) extensive, long-desired, vitally-
task constituting (the) pivot (of the) delib- needed property surrounding (and) safe-
erations (of the) approaching Stockholm guarding for posterity (the) Most Holy
Intercontinental Conference, designed (to) Tomb (of the) Founder (of the) Faith, as
expand (and) consolidate (the) framework well as (the) adjoining Mansion.
(of the) administrative order (of the) Faith (The) acquired area, raising BahB'i hold-
(of) BahB'u'llhh (in the) north, south, west ings (on the) holy plain (of) 'AkkL from
(and) heart (of the) European Continent, four thousand to one hundred and fifty-five
foreshadowing (the) launching (of) future thousand square meters, (was) exchanged
enterprises (in) collaboration (with the) against property donated by children (of)
German, Persian, 'Irhqi BahQi Communi- Zikrullah, grandchildren (of) MirzL MU-
ties, calculated (to) extend (the) regenerat- hammad Quli, Bahb'u'llhh's faithful half-
ing influence (of the) same order (to) east- brother (and) companion (in) exile.
ern (and) southeastern territories (of the) (This) spontaneous offer contrasts (with
same continent (and) eventually beyond its the) shameful action (of the) family (in
confines, across (the) Ural Mountains (to the) sale to non-Bahi'is (of the) property
the) north, west (and) ultimately (to the) (in the) neighborhood (of the) Jordan val-
heart (of the) Asiatic Continent. Stop. ley purchased (through the) instrumentality
Urge all attendants (to) dedicate part (of (of) 'Abdu'l-BahL during Bahi'u'llhh's life-
the) sessions (of this) Conference synchro- time, pursuant (to) His instructions (and)
nizing (with) Centenary (of the) imprison- alluded (to in) His writings.
ment (of) Bahi'u'llhh (in the) Siyhh-Chh1 (The) forty acre property acquired (in
(in) prayerful remembrance (of the) som- this) single transaction almost equals (the)
ber tragedy preceding (the) rise (of the) entire Bahb'i international endowments pur-
resplendent Orb (of the) august Revelation, chased (in the) course (of) sixty years (in
(to) draw nigh (to) His spirit, (to) fix the) vicinity (of the) B&bib'sSepulcher (on
(their) thoughts (on) His promises, (to) the) slope (of) Mt. Carmel.
derive fresh inspiration (from the) glorious (The) exchange (of) said property, in-
triumph, following so closely (upon) His cluding land (and) houses (was) made pos-
agonizing ordeal, (to) contemplate (the) sible (by the) precipitate flight (of the)
magnitude (of) His Cause, (to) pledge former Arab owners, traditional supporters
themselves (to) ensure (in the) course (of (of the) old Covenant-breakers (and) de-
the) decade opening before them (the) suc- scendents (of the) notorious enemy (of)
cess (of the) twin colossal tasks assigned 'Abdu'l-BahL who placed (his) residence
(at the) disposal (of the) Committee (of) am impelled, on the occasion of the anni-
Investigation. versary of the Most Great Festival, coin-
(The) signature (to the) agreement sig- ciding with a triple celebration-the dedica-
nalized (the) commencement (of) large- tion of the Mother Temple of the West, the
scale landscaping, aiming (at the) beautifi- launching of a World Spiritual Crusade and
cation (of the) immediate precincts (of the Commemoration of the Birth of BahP-
the) holiest spot (in the) entire Bah6'i uYllLh'sMission-to pay warmest tribute to
world, itself (the) prelude (to the) eventual the pre-eminent share which the American
erection, as happened (in the) case (of the) BahL'i Community has had in the course of
Bib's Sepulcher, (of a) befitting Mauso- over half a century in proclaiming His Rev-
leum enshrining (the) precious Dust (of elation, in shielding His Cause, in cham-
the) Most Great Name. pioning His Covenant, in erecting the ad-
Desire (to) acknowledge (the) indefat- ministrative machinery of His embryonic
igable efforts exerted (by) both Larry World Order, in expounding His teachings,
Hautz (and) Leroy Ioas enabling (the) con- in translating and disseminating His Holy
summation (of the) initial stage (of the) Word, in despatching the messengers of His
enterprise destined (to) eclipse in its final Glad-Tidings, in awakening Royalty to His
phase (the) splendor (and) magnificence Call, in succoring His oppressed followers,
(of the) Bib's resting-place (on) Mt. Car- in routing His enemies, in upholding His
mel. Law, in asserting the independence of His
-SHOGHI Faith, in multiplying the financial resources
Haifa, Israel, of its nascent institutions and, last but not
November 12, 1952. least, in rearing its greatest House of Wor-
ship-the first Mas_hriqu'l-Ad_hkk6r of the
Western World.
The hour is now ripe for this greatly
gifted richly blessed Community to arise
and reaffirm, through the lannching of yet
another enterprise, its primacy, enhance its
spiritual heritage, plumb greater depths of
Presented by Riihiyyih Khdnum consecration and capture loftier heights in
the course of its strenuous and ceaseless la-
My soul is ~~plifted in joy and thanksgiv- bors for the exaltation of God's Cause.
ing at the triumphant conclusion of the sec- The Ten Year Plan, constituting the third
ond Seven Year Plan immortalized by the and final stage of the initial epoch in the
brilliant victories simultaneously won by the evolution of 'Abdu'l-Bah%'s Master Plan,
vanguard of the hosts of Bahb'u'llih in which, God willing, will raise to greater
Latin America, in Europe and in Africa- heights the fame of the stalwart American
victories befittingly crowned through the Bahb'i Community, and seat it upon "the
consummation of a fifty year old enterprise, throne of an everlasting dominion," en-
the completion of the first Ma&riqu'l- visaged by the Author of the Tablets of this
A&hkk6r of the Western World. The signal same Plan, involves:
success that has attended the second col- First, the opening of the following virgir
lective enterprise undertaken in the course territories, eleven in Africa: Cape Verde Is-
of the American Bahb'i history climaxes a lands, Canary Islands, French Somaliland,
term of stewardship to the Faith of Bah6'u'- French Togoland, Mauritius, Northern Ter-
llgh, of almost three score years duration,- ritories Protectorate, Portuguese Guinea,
a period which has enriched the annals of R6union Island, Spanish Guinea, St. Helena
the concluding epoch of the Heroic, and and St. Thomas Island; eight in Ada: Caro-
shed luster on the first thirty years of the line Islands, Dutch New Guinea, Bainan Is-
Formative Age of the Bahb'i Dispensation. land, Kazakhstan, Macao Island, Sakhalin
So fecund a period has been marked by Island, Tibet and Tonga Islands; six in ELI-
teaching activities unexcelled throughout the rope: Andorra, Azores, Balearic Islands,
western world and has been distinguished Lofoten Islands, Spitzbergen and Ukraine,
by administrative exploits unparalleled in and four in America: Aleutian Islands,
the annals of any BahPi National C o m a - Falbland Islands, TCcy west and Kodiak b-
nity whether in the East or in the West. I land.
366 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Second, the consolidation of the Faith in the number of incorporated local assemblies
the following territories, six in Asia: China, within the American Union.
Formosa, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Philip- Fifteenth, the raising to three hundred of
pine Islands; two in Africa: Liberia and the number of local spiritual assemblies in
South Africa; twelve in Europe: the ten that same country.
Goal Countries, Finland and France; three Sixteenth, the incorporation of spiritual
in America: the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska assemblies in the leading cities of Sweden,
and Puerto Rico. Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, Lux-
Third, the extension of assistance to the embourg, Spain and Portugal, as well as of
National Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahfis the spiritual assemblies of Paris, of Helsing-
of Central and South America, as well as to fors, of Tokyo, of Suva and of Johannes-
the National Spiritual Assembly of the burg.
Bahi'is of Italy and Switzerland, in forming Seventeenth, the quadrupling of the num-
twenty National Spiritual Assemblies in the ber of the local spiritual assemblies and the
Republics of Latin America and two in Eu- trebling of the number of localities in the
rope, namely in Italy and Switzerland; the aforementioned countries.
extension of assistance for the establishment Eighteenth, the translation of Bahfi lit-
of a National Haziratu'l-Quds in the capital erature into ten languages in Europe:
of each of the aforementioned countries as Basque, Estonian, Flemish, Lapp, Maltese,
well as of national Bahi'i endowments in Piedmontese, Romani, Romansch, Yiddish
these same countries. and Ziryen; ten in America: Aguaruna, Ara-
Fourth, the establishment of 'ten National wak, Blackfoot, Cherokee, Iroquois, Len-
Spiritual Assemblies in the following Euro- gua, Mataco, Maya, Mexican and Yahgan.
pean countries: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Nineteenth, the conversion to the Faith of
Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Spain, members of the leading Indian tribes.
Portugal, France and Finland. Twentieth, the conversion to the Faith of
Fifth, the establishment of a National representatives of the Basque and Gipsy
Spiritual Assembly in Japan and one in the races.
South Pacific Islands. Twenty-first, the establishment of sum-
Sixth, the establishment of the National mer schools in each of the Scandinavian and
Spiritual Assembly of Bahi'is of Alaska. Benelux countries, as well as those of the
Seventh, the establishment of the Na- Iberian Peninsula.
tional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Twenty-second, the proclamation of the
South and West Africa. Faith through the Press and Radio through-
Eighth, the incorporation of each of the out the United States of America.
fourteen above-mentioned National Spirit- Twenty-third, the establishment of a
ual Assemblies. BahVi Publishing Trust in Wilmette, Illinois.
Ninth, the establishment of national Twenty-fourth, the formation of an Asian
Bahi'i endowments by these same National Teaching Committee designed to stimulate
Spiritual Assemblies. and coordinate the teaching activities initi-
Tenth, the establishment of a National ated by the Plan.
Haziratu'l-Quds in the capital city of each May this Community-the spiritual de-
of the eleven of the aforementioned coun- scendents of the Dawn-Breakers of the He-
tries, as well as one in Anchorage, one in roic Age of the BahVi Faith, the chief re-
Suva, and one in Johannesburg. pository of the immortal Tablets of 'Abdu'l-
Eleventh, the erection of the first De- BahL's Divine Plan, the foremost executors
pendency of the first Ma&riqu'l-Ad_hkAr of of the Mandate issued by the Center of
the Western World. BahVu'llAh's Covenant, the champion-bucd-
Twelfth, the extension of assistance for ers of a divinely conceived Administrative
the purchase of land for four future Tem- Order, the standard-bearers. of the all-con-
ples, two in Europe: in Stockholm and quering army of the Lord of Hosts, the
Rome; one in Central America, in Panama torch-bearers of a future divinely inspired
City; and one in Africa, in Johannesburg. world civilization-arise, in the course of
Thirteenth, the completion of the land- the momentous decade separating the Great
scaping of the grounds of the Mas_hriquYl- from Most Great Jubilee, to secure, as befits
Ad_hkkQin Wilmette. its rank, the lion's share in the prosecution
Fourteenth, the raising to one hundred of of a global crusade designed to diffuse the
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 367

Light of God's Revelation over the surface first to lay an unassailable foundation for
of the entire Planet. the erection of auxiliary institutions de-
SHOGAI signed to multiply its financial resources;
April 29, 1953. and, more recently, the first to achieve, as
befits its primacy, the initial task devolving
upon it in pursuance of the newly-launched
world spiritual Crusade, this Community
has abundantly merited, by the quality of its
Dear and valued co-workers : deeds and the magnitude of its exploits, the
My soul is thrilled and my heart is filled distinctive titles of the Cradle of the World
with gratitude as I contemplate-looking Order of Bahit'u'llhh, of the Vanguard of
back upon six decades of eventful American His world-conquering Host, of the standard-
Bah6'i history-the chain of magnificent bearers of the Oneness of Mankind, of the
achievements which, from the dawn of the Chief Trustees of the Plan devised by the
Faith of BahL'u'lllh in the West until the Center of the Covenant and of the torch-
present day, have signalized the birth, bearers of an as yet unborn world civiliza-
marked the rise and distinguished the un- tion.
foldment of the glorious Mission of the The services rendered by this same Com-
American BahL'i Community. Of all BahL'i munity in recent years, in its capacity as the
Communities in both the Eastern and West- chief executors of 'Abdu'l-Bah6's Divine
ern Hemispheres, with the sole exception of Plan, in the course of the second stage of
its venerable sister-community in BahL'uY- the initial epoch in its evolution, are of such
ll6h's native land, it alone may well claim importance and significance as to deserve
to have released forces, and set in motion particular mention at this time. In the North
events, which stand unparalleled in the an- American continent, throughout the Repub-
nals of the Faith; while in the course of the lics of Latin America, in the Ten Goal coun-
last fifty years, comprising the concluding tries of Europe, on the shores and in the
years of the Heroic and the opening Epochs heart of the African continent, the members
of the Formative Age of the BahL'i Dis- of this community have, in conformity with
pensation, it can confidently boast of a rec- the provisions of the second Seven Year
ord of stewardship which, for its scope, ef- Plan, performed feats of such noble and en-
fectiveness and splendor, is unmatched by during heroism as to enhance immensely
that of any other community in the entire their prestige, demonstrate unmistakably the
BahL'i world. caliber of their faith and qualify them to as-
The first to awaken to the Call of the sume a preponderating share in the prosecu-
New Day in the Western world; the first to tion of the Ten Year Plan whose operations
spontaneously arise to befittingly erect the are to extend over the entire surface of the
Mother Temple of the West; the first to globe.
grasp the implications, evolve the pattern In the multiplication and consolidation of
and lay the basis of the structure of the Bahit'i Administrative institutions and their
BahL'i Administrative Order in the entire auxiliary agencies throughout Central
Bah6'i world; the first to openly and sys- America, the Antilles and every South
tematically proclaim the fundamental prin- American Republic-a task supplementing
ciples of the Faith, to adopt effectual meas- the initial enterprise undertaken, in pursu-
ures for its defense, to invite the attention of ance of the first Seven Year Plan, in con-
Royalty to its teachings, to devise an ade- nection with the introduction of the Faith
quate machinery for the translation, the into the Republics of Latin America; in the
publication and the dissemination of its lit- even more rapid development of nascent in-
erature and to provide the means for the stitutions of the Faith in Scandinavian, in
creation of its subsidiary institutions; the the Benelux countries, in Switzerland, in the
first to champion the cause of the oppressed Italian and Iberian Peninsulas; in the laying
and to generously contribute to the allevia- of the administrative basis of the World
tion of the sufferings of the needy and per- Order of BahL'u'lllh in the capital and in
secuted among the followers of BahL'u'lllh; some of the major cities of each of the ten
the first to inaugurate collective enterprises European sovereign states included within
for the propagation of His Cause; the first the scope of the Plan; in the convocation of
to assert its independence in the west; the a series of historic teaching Conferences in
368 THE BAHA'I WORLD

the North and in the heart of the European The stage is now set, and the hour propi-
continent-heralding the convocation of the tious, f o r a deployment of forces, and for
recently held, epoch-making intercontinental the revelation of the indomitable spirit ani-
Teaching Conferences; in the translation, mating this community, on a scale and to a
the publication and dissemination of Bahi'i degree unprecedented in the entire course
literature in various European languages; in of American Bahi'i history. To the Antilles
the still more dramatic evolution of the and the seventeen Republics of Central and
Faith in the African continent, culminating of South America-the scene of the initial
in the convocation of the first interconti- exploits of a community inaugurating the
nental Teaching Conference of the Holy opening phase of its world-girding Mission
Year in the heart of Africa; in the tremen- -to the ten sovereign states of Europe
dous sacrifices spontaneously and repeatedly which, at a subsequent stage in the unfold-
made to broaden and reinforce the founda- ment of that Mission, the members of this
tions of the Faith in the North American community enthusiastically and deter-
continent, to sustain the campaigns under- minedly arose to open up and conquer; to
taken in Latin America, Europe and Africa, the African Territories which, in addition to
and to meet the many demands of the BahVi their allocated task under the second Seven
Temple, rapidly nearing completion in Wil- Year Plan, they spontaneously endeavored
mette; in the successive emergence of three to win to the all-conquering Cause of BahC-
National Spiritual Assemblies in the West- u'llhh-to these numerous islands and ar-
ern Hemisphere-an outstanding contribu- chipelagoes, bordering the American, the
tion to the evolution and consolidation of European and African continents; Depend-
the structure of the world administrative encies extensive, well-nigh inaccessible, and
order of the Faith; in the completion of the remote from the base of their operations
interior ornamentation of the first Maariq- throughout the Asiatic continent; lastly, the
u'l-A&khr of the West, the provision of South Pacific area, the home of the one re-
its accessories and the initiation of the land- maining race not as yet adequately repre-
scaping of its grounds; in the support ex- sented in the Bahi'i world community, oc-
tended to the development of the institutions cupying spiritually so strategic a position
of the World Center of the Faith; in the role owing to its proximity to the Bahi'i com-
played by its representatives, whether as munities already lirmly entrenched in South
Hands of the Cause or members of the In- America, in the Indian sub-continent and in
ternational BahVi Council; in the financial Australasia, at once challenging the re-
aid unhesitatingly given to hasten the con- sources of no less than eight National Spir-
struction, and insure the completion, of the itual Assemblies, and the theater destined to
Superstructure of the Bgb's Sepulcher on witness the noblest and the most resounding
Mt. Carmel-above all, in the share its na- victories which the chosen executors of
tional elected representatives have assumed 'Abdu'l-Bahi's Divine Plan have been called
in providing the means for the convocation upon to win in the service of the Cause of
of the second intercontinental Teaching God-all these have now, in accordance
Conference of the Holy Year; in commemo- with the requirements of an irresistibly un-
rating worthily the dedication to public wor- folding Plan, been added, completing
ship of the Mother Temple of the West, on thereby the full circle of the world-wide ob-
the occasion of its Jubilee; in befittingly in- ligations devolving upon a community in-
augurating the launching of the World Spir- vested with spiritual primacy by the Author
itual Crusade, and in celebrating the climax of the immortal Tablets constituting the
of the Holy Year marking the centenary of Charter of the Master Plan of the appointed
the birth of BahVu'llLh's Mission-in all Center of Bahi'u'llhh's Covenant.
these the American BahL'i Community has "The moment this Divine Message," He
fully deserved the praise and gratitude of Who penned these Tablets and conferred
posterity, has merited the applause of the this primacy has most significantly affirmed,
Concourse on high and earned a full meas- "is propagated through the continents of
ure of the Divine blessings and of the celes- Europe, of Asia, of Africa and of Austral-
tial sustenance of which it will stand in such asia, and as far as the islands of the Pacific,
great need in the course of the prosecution this Community will find itself securely es-
of still mightier and more glorious enter- tablished upon the throne of an everlasting
prises in the days to come. dominion." Then, and only then, will, as He
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 3 69

Himself has so remarkably prophesied, "the as yet penetrated. It must, as it approaches
whole earth" "resound with the praises of its its conclusion, pave the way for the laying,
majesty and greatness." on an unassailable foundation, of the struc-
Now, indeed, is the time, after the lapse tural basis of an Administrative Order
of two score years; following the triumphant whose fabric must, in the course of succes-
conclusion of two successive historic Plans, sive Crusades, be laboriously erected
marking the opening stages of the first throughout the entire globe and which must
Epoch in the unfoldment of that same Mas- assemble beneath its sheltering shadow peo-
ter Plan; on the morrow of the brilliant cele- ples of every race, tongue, creed, color-and
brations climaxing the world-wide festivities nation.
of a memorable Holy Year; and while a Seconded by the neighboring fully fledged
triumphant Community, in the first flush of Canadian BahGi Community flourishing be-
enthusiasm, has just garnered the first fruits yond the northern frontier of its homeland;
of its campaigns in four continents of the supported by the newly emerged Latin
globe and is laden with its freshly won American Communities established in the
trophies, for this community to bestir itself, Antilles and in each of the Central and
and, assuming its rightful preponderating Southern Republics of the Western Hemi-
share in the conduct of a newly launched sphere; ably aided by its sister community
world Spiritual Crusade, to demonstrate, vigorously functioning in the heart of a far-
through a supreme and sustained effort em- flung Empire, and destined to lend its in-
bracing the entire surface of the planet, its estimable assistance in the spiritual conquest
ability to safeguard that primacy, to enrich of the numerous and widely scattered De-
immeasurably the record of its stewardship pendencies of the British Crown; reinforced
and to bring to a majestic conclusion the by the oldest and youngest national Bah&'i
opening Epoch in the evolution of a Plan communities on the European mainland
destined to reveal the full measure of its which are to play a prominent part in the
potentialities, not only throughout the suc- eastern and southern regions, and across the
cessive Epochs of the Formative Age of the frontiers of Europe, along the shores and in
Faith, but in the course of the vast reaches the islands of the Mediterranean; assisted by
of time stretching into the Golden, the last its venerable sister-community in the cradle
Age of the BahPi Dispensation. of the Faith and by the second oldest na-
This decade-long global Crusade must tional community in the Bahi'i world ac-
mark a veritable turning point in American tively engaged in the propagation of the
Bahgi history. It must prove itself to be, as Faith in the Asiatic contiilent; confident of
it develops, a force so pervasive and revolu- the help of its Egyptian and Indian sister-
tionary in its character as to leave a lasting communities, whose destiny is closely linked
imprint not only on the destinies of the with the African continent and Southeast
American Bahl'i Community but on the for- Asia, respectively, and, lastly, assured of the
tunes of the American nation as well. It unfailing cooperation of yet another na-
must, even as a baptismal fire, so purge its tional Community in the Antipodes which,
members from self as to enable them to owing to its geographical position, is bound
scale heights never as yet attained. It must, to assume a notable share in the introduc-
in its initial stages, witness a dispersal, com- tion of the Faith in the Islands of the South
bined with a consecration, reminiscent of Pacific Ocean, the American Bahi'i Com-
the dawn of the Heroic Age in Bah&'u'llih's munity must, as befits its rank as the chief
native land. It must, as it gathers momen- executor of the Divine Plan, play a domi-
tum, awaken the select and gather the spirit- nant and decisive role in the direction and
ually hungry amongst the peoples of the control of the manifold operations involved
world, as well as create an awareness of the in the prosecution of the North American,
Faith not only among the political leaders of the Latin American, the European, the Afri-
present-day society but also among the can, the Asian and the South Pacific cam-
thoughtful, the erudite in other spheres of paigns of this world Crusade, and ensure, by
human activity. It must, as it approaches its every means at its disposal and in conjunc-
climax, carry the torch of the Faith to re- tion with its junior partners, its ultimate and
gions so remote, so backward, so inhospita- total success.
ble that neither the light of Christianity or Within its own sphere, extending to every
Islfim has, after the revolution of centuries, continent of the globe, embracing no less
370 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

than twenty-nine virgin territories and is- pating in this world Crusade-that the two-
lands, the members of this stalwart and pre- fold task of extension and consolidation
eminent Community are called upon, among must be supplemented by continuous and
other things and within the relatively brief strenuous efforts to increase speedily not
span of a single decade, to create nuclei, only the number of the avowed followers of
around which will crystallize future assem- the Faith in both the virgin and opened ter-
blies, in no less than-eleven territories and ritories and islands included within the
islands of Africa, eight of Asia, six of Eu- scope of the Ten Year Plan, but also to
rope, four of America; to inaugurate the es- swell the ranks of its active supporters who
tablishment of the future Dependencies of will consecrate their time, resources and
the Mother Temple of the West, and to ter- energy to the effectual spread of its teach-
minate the landscaping of its grounds; to ings and the multiplication and consolida-
consolidate and broaden the basis of the Ad- tion of its- administrative institutions.
ministrative Order already laid in twenty- The movement of pioneers, the opening
three territories and islands distributed in of virgin territories, the initiation of Houses
four continents of the globe and situated in of Worship and of administrative headquar-
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; to assist in ters, the incorporation of local and national
the erection of no less than thirty-six pillars, elective bodies, the multiplication of assem-
twenty in Latin America, twelve in Europe, blies, groups and isolated centers, the in-
two in Asia, one in the North American crease in the number of races, represented
continent and one in Africa, designed to in the world BahB'i Fellowship, the transla-
help in sustaining the weight of the crown- tion, publication and dissemination of
ing unit of the Bahi'i Administrative Order, Bahi'i literature, the consolidation of ad-
and in the establishment of national Bahi'i ministrative agencies and the creation of
headquarters, of national endowments, and auxiliary bodies designed to support them,
of national incorporations in all of these however valuable, essential and n~eritorious,
continents; to lend its aid for the acquisition will in the long run amount to little and fail
of land in anticipation of the erection of to achieve the6 supreme purpose if not sup-
four Temples, two in Europe, one in Africa plemented by the equally vital task-which
and one in Central America; to lend an im- is one that primarily concerns continually
petus to the progress of the Faith in its and challenges each single individual be-
homeland through raising to three hundred liever whatever his rank, capacity or origin
the number of local Spiritual Assemblies -of winning to the Faith fresh recruits to
and to one hundred the number of incor- the slowly yet steadily advancing army of
porated Assemblies, as well as through the the Lord of Hosts, whose reinforcing
founding of a Bahi'i Publishing Trust and strength is so essential to the safeguarding of
the proclamation of the Faith through the the victories which the band of heroic
Press and Radio; to enroll in the ranks of BahP'i conquerors are winning in the course
the followers of Bahi'u'llrih members of the of their several campaigns in all the conti-
Indian, of the Basque and Gipsy races; to nents of the globe.
assume responsibility for the translation and Such a steady flow of reinforcements is
publication of BahL'i literature in twenty absolutely vital -and is of extreme urgency,
languages, ten in the Americas and ten in for nothing short of the vitalizing influx of
Europe; and to contribute to the consolida- new blood that will reanimate the world
tion of the Faith in eight of the European Bahb'i Community can safeguard the prizes
goal countries through the establishment of which, at so great a sacdice involving the
local incorporations, as well as through the expenditure of so much time, effort and
quadrupling of the number of local Assem- treasure, are now being won in virgin terri-
blies and the trebling of the number of local tories by Bahs'u'llAh's valiant Knights,
BahP'i centers in each one of them. whose privilege is to constitute the spear-
While this colossal task, which in its mag- head of the onrushing battalions which, in
nitude and potentialities transcends any pre- diverse theaters and in circumstances often
vious collective enterprise launched in the adverse and extremely challenging, are vy-
course of American BahU history, is being ing with each other for the spiritual con-
energetically carried out, it should be con- quest of the unsurrendered territories and
stantly borne in mind-and this applies to islands on the surface of the globe.
all communities without exception partici- This flow, moreover, will presage and
T H E WGRLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH

hasten the advent of the day which, as signed to culminate in the establishment in
prophesied by 'Abdu'l-Bahk, will witness the its plenitude of the institution of the Ma&-
entry by troops of peoples of divers nations riqu'l-A&kL as conceived by Bahl'u'llih
and races into the BahB'i world-a day and envisaged by 'Abdu'l-BahL. Moreover,
which, viewed in its proper perspective, will immediate consideration should be given to
be the prelude to that long-awaited hour two other issues of prime importance,
when a mass conversion on the part of these namely the purchase of land, which need
same nations and races, and as a direct re- not exceed for the present one acre, in an-
sult of a chain of events, momentous and ticipation of the construction of the first
possibly catastrophic in nature, and which Ma&riqu'l-Adhkb of South Africa, and
cannot as yet be even dimly visualized, will the prompt translation of a suitable BahPi
suddenly revolutionize the fortunes of the pamphlet into the American and European
Faith, derange the equilibrium of the world, languages allocated to your Assembly, and
and reinforce a thousandfold the numerical its publication and wide dissemination
strength as well as the material power and among the peoples and tribes for whom it
the spiritual authority of the Faith of Baht?- has been primarily designed.
u'llLh. The followers of the Most Great Name,
Of all the Objectives enumerated in my citizens of the Great Republic of the West;
message to the representatives of this om- constituting the majority and the oldest fol-
munity, assembled on the occasion of the lowers of His Faith in a continent wherein,
celebration of the climax of the Holy Year, in the words of 'Abdu'l-BahL, "the splen-
of the convocation of the seconcl inter- dors of His (Bahi'u'llLh's) Light shall be re-
continental Teaching Conference, of the in- vealed" and "the mysteries of His Faith
auguration of the Mother Temple of the shall be unveiled," addressed by Him in His
West and of the launching of the World Tablets of the Divine Plan as the "Apostles"
Spiritual Crusade, the most vital, urgent and of His Father; the recipients of the over-
meritorious, in this the opening year of the whelming majority of these same Tablets
initial phase of this world-embracing enter- constituting the Charter of that Plan; con-
prise, is, without doubt, the settlement of querors of most of the territories, whether
pioneers in all the virgin territories and is- sovereign states or Dependencies, already
lands assigned to this Community in all the included within the pale of the Faith; the
continents of the globe, with the exception Champion-builders of a world Adrninistra-
of the few which, owing to present political tive System which posterity will regard as
obstacles, can not as yet be opened to the the Harbinger of the World Order of Bahl'-
Faith of Bahl'u'llLh. This process already so uYllLh,must, if they wish to retain their
auspiciously inaugurated, which, in the primacy and enrich their heritage, insure
course of the first eight months of the Holy that, ere the opening of the second phase of
Year has gathered such splendid momen- this World Crusade, the names of the first
tum, and which bids fair to astonish, stimu- American Bahl'i conquerors to settle in
late and inspire the entire Bahi'i world, virgin territories and islands will, as befits
must, during the concluding months of this their primacy, be inscribed on the Scroll of
same year and the one succeeding it, be so Honor, now in process of preparation, and
accelerated as to ensure the atta'mment of designed to be permanently deposited at the
this paramount objective before the lapse of entrance door of the Inner Sanctuary of
two years from the official launching of this Bahl'u'llLh's Most Holy Tomb, that the
World Crusade. limited area of land required for the erec-
While this goal is being vigorously pur- tion of four future Bahfi'i Temples, in
sued close attention must be directed to the Rome, Stockholm, Panama City and Johan-
preliminary measures for the establishment nesburg, will be bought, that the landscap-
of the first Dependency of the Mother Tem- ing of the grounds of the Temple in Wil-
ple of the West, as well as to the completion mette will be completed, and that the
of the landscaping of its grounds, a double translation and the publication of the afore-
task that will, on the one hand, mark the mentioned pamphlet in the specified lan-
termination of the fifty-year old process of guages will be accomplished.
the construction of the Central Bah2i The two years that lie ahead, three
House of Worship, and proclaim, on the months of which have already elapsed, will
other, the commencement of another de- swiftly and imperceptibly draw to a close
372 T H E B A H A. ' I W O R L D

Tasks even more onerous, equally weighty potential adversaries; armed with the ef-
and requiring in a still greater measure the ficacious weapons their own hands have
expenditure of effort and substance, lie slowly and laboriously forged in anticipa-
ahead, which will brook of no delay, which tion of this glorious and inevitable encoun-
will carry the Faith to still higher levels of ter with the organized forces of supersti-
achievement and renown, which will en- tion, of corruption and of unbelief; placing
large, through the forging of fresh instru- their whole trust in the matchless potency of
ments, the framework of a steadily rising Bahi'u'llBh's teachings, in the all-conquer-
world Administrative Order, and which will ing power of His might and the infallibility
eventually, if worthily discharged, seal the of His glorious and oft-repeated promises,
triumph of the most prodigious, the most let them press forward, each according to
sublime, the most sacred collective enter- his strength and resources, into the vast
prise launched by the adherents of the arena now lying before them, and which,
Cause of God in both hemispheres since the God willing, will witness, in the years im-
early days of the Heroic Age of the Faith- mediately lying ahead, such exhibitions of
an enterprise which in its vastness, organiza- prowess and of heroic self-sacrifice as may
tion and unifying power, has no parallel in well recall the superb feats achieved by that
the world's spiritual history. immortal band of God-intoxicated heroes
To them, and indeed to the entire body who have so immeasurably enriched the an-
of the followers of Bahi'u'llfih, engaged in nals of the Christian, the Islamic and Bfibi
this global Crusade, I direct my appeal to Dispensations.
arise and, in the course of these fast fleet- On the members of the American Bahi'i
ing years, in every phase of the campaigns Community, the envied custodians of a Di-
that are to be fought in all the continents of vine Plan, the principal builders and de-
the globe, prove their worth as gallant war- fenders of a mighty Order and the recog-
riors battling for the Cause of BahL'u'llBh. nized champions of an unspeakably glorious
Indeed, from this very hour until the eve of and precious Faith, a peculiar and ines-
the Most Great Jubilee, each and every one capable responsibility must necessarily rest.
of those enrolled in the Army of Light must Through their courage, their self-abnega-
seek no rest, must take no thought of self, tion, their fortitude and their perseverance;
must sacrifice to the uttermost, must allow through the range and quality of their
nothing whatsoever to deflect him or her achievements, the depth of their consecra-
from meeting the pressing, the manifold, the tion, their initiative and resourcefulness,
paramount needs of this preeminent Cru- their organizing ability, their readiness and
sade. capacity to lend their assistance to less privi-
"Light as the spirit," "pure as air," "blaz- leged sister-communities struggling against
ing as fire," "unrestrained as the wind"-- heavy odds; through their generous and
for such is BahL'u'llfih's own admonition to sustained response to the enormous and
His loved ones in His Tablets, and directed ever-increasing financial needs of a world-
not to a select few but to the entire congre- encompassing, decade-long and admittedly
gation of the faithful-let them scatter far strenuous enterprise, they must, beyond the
and wide, proclaim the glory of God's Reve- shadow of a doubt, vindicate their right to
lation in this Day, quicken the souls of men the leadership of this world Crusade.
and ignite in their hearts the love of the One Now is the time for the hope voiced by
Who alone is their omnipotent and divinely 'Abdu'l-Bahi that from their homeland
appointed Redeemer. "heavenly illumination" may "stream to all
Bracing the fearful cold of the Arctic the peoples of the world" to be realized.
regions and the enervating heat of the torrid Now is the time for the truth of His re-
zone; heedless of the hazards, the loneliness markable assertion that that same home-
and the austerity of the deserts, the far- land is "equipped and empowered to accom-
away islands and mountains wherein they plish that which will adorn the pages of his-
will be called upon to dwell; undeterred by tory, to become the envy of the world and
the clamor which the exponents of religious be blest in both the East and the West," to
orthodoxy are sure to raise, or by the re- be strikingly and unmistakably demon-
strictive measures which political leaders strated. "Should success crown" their "en-
may impose; undismayed by the smallness terprise," He, moreover, has assured them,
of their numbers and the multitude of their "the throne of the Kingdom of God will, in
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 373

the plenitude of its majesty and glory, be quently, as the result of the operation of the
firmly established." first Seven Year Plan, illuminated the an-
Would to God that this Community, nals of the Faith in both the North Amer-
boasting already of so superb a record of ican continent and throughout Latin Amer-
achievements both at home and overseas, ica and will eclipse the even more dramatic
and elevated to such dazzling heights by the exploits which, during the opening years of
hopes cherished and the assurance given by the second Epoch of the Formative Age of
the Center of Bahfu'lltih's Covenant, may the Faith, and in the course of the prosecu-
prove itself capable of performing deeds of tion of the second Seven Year Plan, have
such distinction, in the course of the open- exerted so lasting an influence on the for-
ing, as well as the succeeding phases of this tunes of the Faith of Bahb'u'lltih in the An-
World Spiritual Crusade, as will outshine tilles, throughout the Republics of Central
the dedicated acts which have already left America, in each of the ten Republics of
their indelible mark on the Apostolic Age South America, in no less than ten sovereign
of the Faith in the West; will excel the en- states in the continent of Europe, and in
during, the historic achievements associated, various Dependencies on the eastern and
at a later period, with this Community's western shores, as well as in the heart of the
memorable contribution to the rise and es- African continent.
tablishment of the world Administrative -SHOGHI
Order of Bahb'u'llAh; will surpass the mag- Haif a, Israel,
nificent accomplishments which, subse- July 18,1953.

THE PROCESS OF INTERNATIONAL CONSOLIDATION
By the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahd'is of the United States

T H E publication in this issue of Bnt5d.i the believers of East and West in the admin-
News [June, 19511 of a general communica- istration of the activities of their Faith.
tion from the International Bahfi Council, Now the consolidation of the interna-
signed on its behalf by its President, Mr. tional Bahb'i community is taking place be-
Charles Mason Remey, signalizes in a most fore our eyes. The call has been raised to in-
impressive manner the nature of the new dividual BahL'is and not alone to National
Bahi'i era in which we now live. Assemblies, to enter into this greatest arena
There are three stages in the evolution of of Bahb'i sacrifice, understanding and action
the Bahb'i world community. First, the for- as a direct and permanent element in our
mation of local groups and assemblies under lives. Together with a host of Bahb'is in
the Master's loving care. How many Tablets other lands, we raise our eyes to the larger
He revealed, charged with the spirit of goal, accepting personal responsibility for
unity, to raise up on this earth even small the success of the Guardian's noble plans to
bodies of believers inspired with mutual complete the Shrine of the B&band develop
love and trust and able to render united the BahL'i world center in the Holy Land.
service to a divine Faith! American Bahb'is This new stage in the evolution of the
still live who witnessed, and took active part Bahb'i community expects and req~~ires a
in, that miraculous work. fuller maturity than we have ever mani-
In the Master's time also, the beginning fested before. It means the most conscien-
of the national Bahb'i community could be tious balancing of effort and resource as we
discerned. The Temple project itself en- serve simultaneously on the three levels of
larged the horizon of the believer from his Bahi'i action: local, national and interna-
own local community -to the larger body of tional.
Bahb'is. The Guardian took up this work, Just as we have for years devoted re-
defined the duties and responsibilities of the sources for national projects, limiting the
Local and National Assemblies, and trained scope of local action for the sake of the
374 T H E BAHA'f WORLD

greater and more important collective task, means to a true and supreme end. The end
so now we, and all other Bahi'fs, while of our Bah6'i service is to create a world in
maintaining the essential work in both local which humanity is one and citizenship is
and national fields, extend our devotion to both spiritual and social integrity.
the supreme world purpose. We do not Great effort is needed for us to make the
eliminate responsibility for local and na- transition from youth to maturity. Cultur-
tional support, for the power of the local ally and psychologically this experience par-
community stands at the foundation of the allels those vast historic changes when fam-
entire Bahi'i structure, and the unity of the ily union enlarged to the unity of the tribe,
national community constitutes the pillar on and when tribal union became loyalty to the
which will rest the future House of Justice nation.
and the fullest expression of the Guardian's The Guardian's messages have been pre-
spirit in the establishment of world order paring us for this new stage. In April, 1950,
and peace. for example, he referred to the members of
It is a matter of enlargement of our a "firmly knit, world embracing, divinely
BahL'i life and not of choosing between dif- propelled BahL'i community." On July 5,
ferent alternatives. This process of interna- 1950, he emphasized the "first historic op-
tional consolidation prepares the BahVis for portunity of directly sustaining, through
the formation and operation of the House of their contributions, the most sacred enter-
Justice. Just as every BahVi in former days
prise ever undertaken in the history of the
felt an inner relationship to the Master, and
now an inner relationship to the Guardian, Faith," and on March 21, 1951-"I am
so now we are to experience a new sense of moved to renew my fervent plea addressed
loyalty and devotion to an unfolding World to all National and local Assemblies and be-
Center, fulfilling the loyalty we have learned lievers in all continents of the globe."
to render local and national administrative The degree to which we accept our whole
institutions. What to the child and the youth responsibility will supply a true measure of
seems to be an end, to the adult becomes a the value of our faith:

APPOINTMENT OF THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD

IN the unfoldrnent of the World Order of God is under the direction of the guardian
BahVu'll6h there is provision for the exist- of the Cause of God. He must continually
ence of the Hands of the Cause of God, a urge them to strive and endeavor to the ut-
body of believers who are to serve directly most of their ability to diffuse the sweet
under the Guardian of the Faith. 'Abdu'l- savors of God, and to guide all the peoples
Bah6 defines the functions of the Hands of of the world, for it is the light of Divine
the Cause in His Will and Testament: Guidance that causeth all the universe to be
"0 friends! The Hands of the Cause of illumined."
God must be nominated and appointed by
the guardian of the Cause of God. All must
be under his shadow and obey his com-
mand. . . . Recall feelings profound thankfulness joy
"The obligations of the Hands of the chain recent historic events heralding long
Cause of God are to diffuse the Divine anticipated rise establishment World Ad-
Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to ministrative Center Faith Bahi'uYll6hHoly
promote learning, to improve the character Land regarded third most momentous
of all men and to be, at all times and under epoch-making development since inception
all conditions, sanctified and detached from Formative Age morrow 'Abdu'l-Bahi's As-
earthly things. They must manifest the fear cension.
of God by their conduct, their manners, Quarter century constituting opening
their deeds and their words. epoch this age signalized successively by
"This body of the Hands of the Cause of erection consolidation over period no less
sixteen years local, national institutions BahB'i activity precursor final step summon-
BahC'i Administrative Order five continents ing assemblage representative communities
globe conformity provisjons Will Center all sovereign states, chief dependencies, is-
Covenant and initiation first Seven Year lands, entire planet.
Plan American Bahi'i Community marking Hour now ripe take long inevitably de-
inauguration first epoch execution 'Abdu'l- ferred step, conformity provisions 'Abdu'l-
BahL's Divine Plan unavoidably held abey- BahB's Testament, conjunction with six
ance over two decades pending creation above-mentioned steps through appointment
divinely-appointed administrative agencies first contingent Hands Cause God, twelve in
designed by its Author for its effective pros- number, equally allocated Holy Land, Asi-
ecution. atic, American, European continents. Initial
Opening years second epoch Formative step now taken regarded as preparatory
Age now witnessing long last commence- full development institution provided 'Ab-
ment third vast majestic fate-laden process du'l-BahL's Will, paralleled preliminary
following two above-mentioned develop- measure formation International Council
ments destined through gradual emergence destined culminate emergence Universal
manifold institutions World Center Faith House Justice. Nascent instit~~tion forging
crown administrative struciure Bahi'u'llih's fresh links binding rising World Center
embryonic World Order. Gigantic process Faith to consolidating World Community
now set motion opening decade second Ba- followers Most Great Name paving way
hL'i Century synchronizing with, deriving adoption supplementary measures calcu-
notable impetus through, birth sovereign lated reinforce foundations structure BahL'i
State, Holy Land, greatly accelerated Administrative Order.
through series swiftly succeeding events Nominated Hands comprise, Holy Land,
originated World Center Faith. Sutherland Maxwell, Mason Remey, Amelia
First, inauguration most holy world-wide Collins, President, Vice-President Interna-
enterprise unprecedented annals Faith con- tional BahC'i Council; cradle Faith, Va1iyu'-
struction heart Mount Carmel superstruc- llih VarqL, Tarizu'llih Samandari, 'Ali-
ture Bib's Sepulcher. Second, creation In- Akbar Furfitan; American continent, Hor-
ternational BahL'i Council precincts Holy ace Holley, Dorothy Baker, Leroy Ioas;
Shrine forerunner International House Jus- European continent, George Townshend,
tice, supreme legislative organ nascent di- Hermann Grossmann, Ugo Giachery. Nine
vinely conceived world-encircling BahL'i elevated rank Hand three continents outside
Administrative Order. Third, acquisition Holy Land advised remain present posts
restoration embellishment historic sites as- continue discharge vital administrative
sociated incarceration BahL'u'llih, 'Abdu'l- teaching duties pending assignment specific
Bahi, recognition their sacred character, functions as need arises. Urge all nine at-
exemption taxes newly formed State, ac- tend as my representatives all four forth-
cessibility appreciative general public. coming intercontinental conferences as well
Fourth, initiation formal negotiation central as discharge whatever responsibilities in-
municipal authorities same State twofold cumbent upon them at that time as elected
purpose preserve posterity immediate di- representatives national BahL'i communities.
rectly threatened neighborhood Most Holy Communicate text announcement all Na-
Tomb Founder Faith outskirts 'Akki, ac- tional Assemblies.
quire extensive, sorely needed properties vi- SHOGHI
cinity Bib's Sepulcher destined serve site Haifa, Israel,
future edifices envisaged 'Abdu'l-Bahi to December 24, 1951.
house auxiliary agencies revolving twin in-
stitutions Guardianship House Justice. Announce friends East (and) West,
Fifth, preparation design future Ma&riqu'l- through National Assemblies, following
Adhkir Mount Carmel outstanding indis- nominations raising (the) number (of the)
pensable feature unfoldment rising World present Hands (of the) Cause of God (to)
Administrative Order. Sixth, forthcoming nineteen. Dominion Canada (and) United
convocation four conferences embracing States, Fred Schopflocher (and) Corinne
eleven National Assemblies all continents True, respectively. Cradle (of) Faith, Dhik-
globe marking inauguration beyond limits ru'llih &hidem, Shu'2u711ih 'A16'i. Ger-
World Center Faith intercontinental stage many, Africa, Australia, Adelbert Miihl-
376 T H E B A H A '' 1 W O R L D

schlegel, M6sL Banani, Clara Dunn, respec- "Inform National Assemblies elevation
tively. Members august body invested (in) (of) JalAl LhAzeh (to) rank (of) Hand
conformity (with) 'Abdu'l-BahB's Testa- (of) Cause."
ment, twofold sacred function, (the) propa- -SHOGHI
gation (and) preservation (of the) unity
(of the) Faith (of) BahB'u'llAh, (and) des- (On) occasion (of) Centenary (of)
tined (to) assume individually (in the) Bah&'u'llAh's release (from) oppressive im-
course (of) time (the) direction (of) insti- prisonment (in the) SiyAh-C_hLl, TihrAn,
tutions paralleling those revolving around synchroilizing (with the) termination (of
(the) Universal House (of) Justice, (the) the) epoch-making, two-month period as-
supreme legislative body (of the) BahB'i sociated (with the) Birth (of) His Revela-
world, are now recruited (from) all five tion, unsurpassed, with (the) sole exception
continents (of) the globe (and) representa- (of the) Declaration (of) His mission, (by)
tive (of the) three principal world religions any episode (in the) world's spiritual his-
(of) mankind. Recently urged newly- tory, call upon Bah2i communities, East
(and) West, (to) ponder (the) unique sig-
appointed Hand (of) Canada, (on) occa- nificance, focus attention (on) imperative
sion (of his) pilgrimage (to) Holy Land, requirements (and to) respond worthily (to
(to) undertake preliminary measures, (in) the) challenge offered each (of the) four
conjunction (with) Canadian National As- fate-laden, fast-approaching Intercontinental
sembly (for the) establishment (of) na- Conferences, constituting (the) highlights
tional Haziratu'l-Quds similar (to) those (of) recently ushered-in Holy Year.
already founded (in) Tihr6n, Wilmette, Desire (to) announce (the) appointment
Baghdad, Sydney, Frankfurt, Cairo (and) (of the) Hands (of the) Cause, honored
~ e w Delhi. Identical instructions (were) (by) direct association (with the) newly-
given appointed Hand (of) Africa (in) initiated enterprises (at the) world center
course (of his) just concluded pilgrimage, (of the) Faith, (to) act, (in) addition (to)
(for the) acquisition (of) property (in) their individual participation (in the) de-
Kampala (to) serve (as) local Haziratu'l- liberations (at the) forthcoming Confer-
Quds (to) synchronize (with) formation ences, (as) my special representatives, en-
trusted (with a) fourfold mission: (to)
(of) first Assembly (in) heart (of) Africa, bear, for (the) edification (of the) attend-
(to) be regarded (as) nucleus (of) national ants, a precious remembrance (of the) Co-
administrative headquarters (of) Faith des- founder (of the) Faith, deliver my official
tined (to) arise (on) morrow (of) forma- message (to the) assembled believers, eluci-
tion (of) National Spiritual Assembly (of) date (the) character (and) purposes (of
Central (and) Eastern Territories (of) Af- the) impending decade-long spiritual World
rican continent. Crusade (and) rally (the) participants (to)
-SHOGHI energetic, sustained, enthusiastic prosecu-
Cable received February 29, 1952. tion (of the) colossal tasks ahead.
Instructing (the) President (of the) In-
"(The) mantle (of) Hand (of) Cause ternational BahB'i Council, Mason Remey,
now falls (upon the) shoulders (of) his dis- Member at Large Ugo Giachery, (and)
tinguished daughter Amatu'l-Bah6 Rhhiy- Secretary-General Leroy Ioas, (to) dis-
yih, who (has) already rendered (and is) charge these functions (in the) course (of
still rendering manifold no less meritorious the) New Delhi, Stockholm (and) Kampala
self-sacrificing services (at) World Center Conferences, respectively.
(of) Faith (of) BahB'u'llbh." Delegating Amatu'l-Bah6, accompanied
(by) Vice-President (of the) International
March 26, 1952. Council, Amelia Collins, (to) fulfill three of
(the) above mentioned functions, as well as
"Announce (to) all National Assemblies carry (on) my behalf, (to) unveil (on the)
elevation (of) Paul Haney (to) rank (of) occasion (of the) completion (of the) con-
Hand of the Cause." struction (of the) Mother-Temple (of the)
-SHOGHI West, (to the) privileged attendants (at the)
Haifa, Israel, Wilmette Conference (a) most prized re-
March 19, 1954. membrance (of the) Author (of the) Faith,
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 377

(which) never before left (the) shores (of (This) newly constituted body, embarked
the) Holy Land, to be placed beneath (the) (on) its mission (with) such auspicious cir-
dome (of the) consecrated edifice. More- cumstances, (is) now entering (the) second
over assigning her (the) task (to) act (as) phase (of) its evolution signalized (by)
my deputy (at the) historic ceremony mark- forging (of) ties (with the) National Spir-
ing (the) official Dedication (of the) holiest itual Assemblies (of the) Bahi'i world (for
Ma&riqu'l-Adhkh (of the) BahI'i world the) purpose (of) lending them assistance
reared (to the) everlasting glory (and) (in) attaining (the) objectives (of the) Ten
honor (of the) Most Great Name (in the) Year Plan.
heart (of the) North American continent. (The) hour (is) ripe (for the) fifteen
SHOGHI Hands residing outside (the) Holy Land
Haifa, Israel, (to) proceed during RidvIn (with the) ap-
December 15, 1952. pointment, (in) each continent separately,
from among (the) resident Bahfi'is (of) that
Continent, (of) Auxiliary Boards, whose
UNFOLDMENT OF THE INSTITUTION OF THE members, acting (as) deputies, assistants
HANDSOF THE CAUSE (and) advisers (of the) Hands, must in-
creasingly lend (their) assistance (for the)
Message from the Guardian promotion (of the) interests (of the) Ten
Year Crusade.
To all the Hands of the Cause and all Advise (the) Hands (of the) Asiatic,
National Assemblies of the Bahi'i World: American (and) European Continents (to)
convene (in) Tihrin, Wilmette (and)
Hail emergence (of the) unfoldment (in Frankfurt respectively (for the) purposes
the) opening years (of the) second epoch (of) consultation (and) nomination.
(of the) formative age (of the) Bahfi'i Dis- (The) Hands (of the) Cause (of the)
pensation (of the) august Institution fore- African (and) Australian Continents must
shadowed (by the) Founder (of the) Faith exercise (their) functions (in) Kampala
(and) formally established (in the) Testa- (and) Sydney, respectively.
ment (of the) Center (of) His Covenant, (The) Auxiliary Boards (of the) Amer-
closely associated (in) provisions (of the) ican, European (and) African Continents
same Will (with) Institution (of the) must consist (of) nine members each, (of
Guardianship, destined (to) assume (in the) Asiatic (and) Australian continents
the) f~~llness (of) time, under (the) aegis (of) seven (and) two, respectively.
(of the) Guardian, (the) dual sacred re- (The) allocation (of) areas (in) each
sponsibility (for) protection (and) propa- continent to (the) members (of the) Auxil-
gation (of the) Cause (of) BahPuYll6h. iary Boards, as well as subsidiary matters
Desire (tb) pay warm tribute (to the) regarding (the) development (of the) activ-
services rendered severally (and) collec- ities (of the) newly appointed bodies, (and
tively (by) appointed Hands (at the) World the) manner (of) collaboration (with the)
Center (of the) Faith (and in) territories National Spiritual Assemblies (in their) re-
beyond its confines. spective Continents, (is) left (to the) discre-
Greatly value (their) support (in the) tion (of the) Hands.
erection (of the) BBb's Sepulcher (on Mt.) All Boards must report (and) be respon-
Carmel; (in) reinforcing ties (with the) sible (to the) Hands charged (with) their
newly emerged State (of) Israel; (in the) appointment.
extension (of the) International Endow- (The) Hands (of) each Continent (in)
ments (in the) Holy Land; (in the) initia- their turn must keep (in) close touch (with,
tion (of the) preliminary measures (for and) report (the) result (of the) nomina-
the) establishment (of the) Bah55 World tions (and) progress (of the) activities (of
Administrative Center, as well as (in their) the) Boards (to the) National Assemblies
participation (in) four successive Intercon- (in their) respective continents, as well as
tinental Teaching Conferences; (in their) (to the) four Hands residing (in the) Holy
extensive travels (in) African territories, Land destined (to) act (as) liaison between
(in) North, Central (and) South America, themselves (and the) Guardian (of the)
(in the) European, Asiatic (and) Australian Faith.
Continents. Urge (the) initiation (of) five Continen-
378 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

tal Bahi'i Funds which, as they develop, Threshold (for an) unprecedented measure
will increasingly facilitate (the) discharge (of) blessings (on this) vital (and) indis-
(of the) functions assigned (to the) Boards. pensable organ (of the) embryonic (and)
Transmitting five thousand pounds (as) steadily unfolding Bahi'i Administrative Or-
my initial contribution (to) be equally di- der, presaging (the) emergence (of the)
vided (among the) five Continents. World Order (of) Bahi'u'llih which must
Appeal (to the) twelve National Assem- pave (the) way (for the) establishment (of
blies (and) individuals (to) insure (a) the) World Civilization destined (to) attain
steady augmentation (of these) Funds maturity (in the) course (of) successive
through annual assignment (in) National Dispensations (in the) Five Thousand Cen-
Budgets (and by) individual contributions. tury BahL'i Cycle.
Advise transmit contributions (to) Varqb, Airmail copies (to) all Hands and Na-
Holley, Giachery, Banbni (and) Dunn act- tional Assemblies.
ing (as) Trustees (of the) Asiatic, Amer- -SHOGHI
ican, European, African (and) Australian April 6, 1954.
Funds respectively. (Transmitted through Dr. Ugo Giachery,
Fervently supplicating (at the) Holy Hand of the Cause.)

FORMATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL BAHA'f COUNCIL

(to) conduct negotiations related (to) mat-
ters (of) personal status (with) civil au-
PROCLAIM National Assemblies (of) thorities. To these will be added further
East (and) West weighty epoch-making de- functions (in) course (of) evolution (of)
cision (of) formation (of) first International this first embryonic International Institution,
Bahi'i Council, forerunner (of) supreme marking its development into officially rec-
administrative institution destined (to) ognized BahL'i Court, its transformation
emerge (in) fullness (of) time within pre- into duly elected body, its efflorescence into
cincts beneath shadow (of) World Spiritual Universal House (of) Justice, (and) its final
Center (of) Faith already established (in) fruition through erection (of) manifold aux-
twin cities (of) 'AkkL (and) Haifa. Fulfill- iliary institutions constituting (the) World
ment (of) prophecies uttered (by) Founder Administrative Center destined (to) arise
(of) Faith (and) Center (of) His Covenant (and) function (and) remain permanently
culminating (in) establishment (of) Jewish established (in) close neighborhood (of)
State, signalizing birth after lapse (of) two Twin Holy Shrines. Hail (with) thankful,
thousand years (of an) independent nation joyous heart (at) long last (the) constitu-
(in the) Holy Land, (the) swift unfoldment tion (of) International Council which his-
(of) historic undertaking associated (with) tory will acclaim (as the) greatest event
construction (of) superstructure (of the) shedding luster (upon) second epoch (of)
Bbb's Sepulcher (on) Mount Carmel, (the) Formative Age (of) Bahd'i Dispensation po-
present adequate maturity (of) nine vigor- tentially unsurpassed (by) any enterprise
ously functioning national administrative in- undertaken since inception (of) Administra-
stitutions throughout Bahd'i World, combine tive Order (of) Faith (on) morrow (of)
(to) induce me (to) arrive (at) this historic 'Abdu'l-Bahg's Ascension, ranking second
decision marking most significant milestone only (to) glorious immortal events associ-
(in) evolution (of) Administrative Order ated (with) Ministries (of the) Three Cen-
(of the) Faith (of) Bah2u'llih (in) course tral Figures (of) Faith (in) course (of)
(of) last thirty years. Nascent Institution First Age (of) most glorious Dispensation
now created (is) invested (with) threefold (of the) five thousand century Bahd'i Cycle.
function: first, (to) forge link (with) au- Advise publicize announcement through
thorities (of) newly emerged State; second, Public Relations Committee.
(to) assist me (to) discharge responsibilities SHOGHI
involved (in) erection (of) mighty super- Haifa, Israel,
structure (of the) Bib's Holy Shrine; third, January 9, 1951.
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 379

Second announcement: (The) enlarge- of the Shrine is to be perhaps indefinitely
ment (of the) International Bahi'i Council. postponed.
Present membership now comprises: Ama- The friends the world over who are now
tu'l-Bahb RGhiyyih, chosen liaison between being called upon to share in the period of
me (and the) Council. Hands (of the) austerity which the American Bahi'is have
Cause, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins, Ugo already passed through during the past two
Giachery, Leroy Ioas, President, Vice-presi- years, and to do their utmost to economize
dent, Member at Large, Secretary-General, in local and national affairs during the com-
respectively. Jessie Revell, Ethel Revell, ing twenty-four months, in order to provide
Lotfullah Hakim, Treasurer, Western (and) the funds required so pressingly for the
Eastern assistant Secretaries. work of the Shrine, will no doubt be keenly
interested to hear the details of the plans
COMMUNICATIONS
FROM THE INTERNA-
being made here.
TIONAL BAHA'~ COUNCIL As you are aware, from the time when
HAIFA,ISRAEL Bahl'u'llih pointed with His own hand to
the present site of the Shrine, and instructed
' ~ b d u ' l - ~ a h to
b purchase this land, and
Mr. Horace Holley, Secreta~ Y
.3 bring the Body of the Bbb from Persia and
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahl'is inter it here, the constant thought of fist,
of the United States. the Master, and now, the Guardian has been
Dear BahL'i Friends: to complete this sacred undertaking. 'Ab-
Following the momentous decision of our du'l-Bahi succeeded in terminating, before
beloved Guardian to further consolidate the His ascension, six rooms of the nine rooms
work he has been doing here for thirty years of the Shrine. After His passing, Shoghi
by the appointment of the first International Effendi added the three more rooms which
B a h s Council, he has given us the privilege had been contemplated, and then for a pe-
and joy of keeping our fellow Bahl'is in- riod of over twenty years, concentrated on
formed of not only the progress being made purchasing land around the Shrine, and ex-
in the construction of the Shrine of the Bbb tending both the terraces approaching it and
on Mt. Carmel, but also of developments in the gardens immediately encircling it. It was
our relationship to the authorities of the not until the Centenary in 1944 that he was
State of Israel. able to disclose to the BahPis the plan for
The year 108 of the Bahi'i Era is ob- the completion of the building-a plan
viously one of very great importance to all which followed the wishes expressed by
believers, for it is during this year that we 'Abdu'l-Bahi himself.
must put forth our greatest united effort to You are all familiar, through previous re-
date on behalf of the first undertaking here ports, with the daculties which were over-
in the Holy Land, which has been character- come in placing the initial contracts for the
ized by the Guardian as not only of interna- arcade. You know from photographs pub-
tional scope and paramount importance, but lished how very beautiful the first part of the
as also being the most sacred task ever en- structure is. What perhaps the friends can-
trusted to our hands; namely, the raising of not realize is the great effect this building
the dome of the Sepulcher of the Bbb. has produced locally. There is no doubt that
It had been the hope of the Guardian to it has not only interested the public in gen-
carry forward this historic undertaking in eral, and tourists, but that it has become a
easy stages; but the very critical interna- source of pride to the people of Haifa, and
tional situation, the gowing scarcity of warmed the cockles of the hearts of the
primary materials, which is felt in the world authorities, as neither literature, nor admira-
market, and the uncertainty of what the out- tion for the high principles they associate
come would be if there was any interruption with the Bahl'is could ever have done. It
stands four-square on the soil of Israel, and
in the quarrying, cutting and preparation of
has become an advertisement for confidence
the stones in Italy for the Shrine, have in the future, no small thing, to a struggling
forced him to greatly quicken the tempo of people in a new State, surrounded by hostile
this work. What could have been done in a elements.
matter of years, he now sees must be done In March, 1949, the first threshold stones
in a matter of months, unless the completion were laid. By March, 1950, the carved para-
3 80 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

pet, inlaid with green and gold mosaic, was along with the three hundred tons of stone,
being placed in position. At the beginning of trimmed and carved and ready to be built
March of this year, the most delicate opera- into position, which are required for the
tion associated with the entire structure, octagon and its eight pinnacles. He conse-
was commenced; namely the excavation, quently instructed our dear BahBi brother,
within the walls of the old original building, Dr. Ugo Giachery, to place the contract for
of the eight shafts required for the piers the stone work of the octagon, which
which will support the dome. Perhaps the amounted to $63,000.00.
friends do not realize that until a few weeks Reference to a photograph of the model
ago, every bit of work associated with plac- of the Shrine will show that the octagon has
ing 800 tons of granite, chiampo stone and a wrought iron railing, which forms an or-
mosaics in place, was carried out beyond the namental balustrade at this level. As such
walls of the old building and upon its roof. work is not procurable in this country, a
But of course in order to erect the octagon, further contract for $5,900.00 was signed in
the drum of the dome, and the dome upon Italy, covering this item. Likewise the
the existing building, new foundations had twenty-four windows of the octagon require
to be dug-foundations capable of holding metal frames, wholly unobtainable here, and
up more than 1,000 tons of weight. After a further contract for these was signed,
much consideration on the part of the archi- amounting to $1,855.00. In addition to these
tect, Mr. W. S. Maxwell, and the engineer, two contracts, fifty tons of cement, and
Prof. H. Neumann, it was decided that the thirty-three tons of steel were ordered. Upon
only feasible way of doing this was to con- being informed by Dr. Giachery of the ex-
ceal within the eight partition walls of the treme difficulty he had in getting permission
eight rooms which surround the ninth cen- to export to us cement and steel, the Guard-
tral innermost room, which is the Tomb of ian decided that the sooner the contract was
the Bib, eight reinforced concrete piers. placed in Italy for the remaining portions
This required excavation to bedrock in eight of the building, the better. He therefore
places under the floors of the rooms of the cabled Dr. Giachery to order all the stone
Shrine. work for the dome, the stone lantern sur-
At present these eight shafts have been mounting it, and the drum supporting it, at
successfully dug without in any way en- once. This necessitated committing us to
dangering the walls of the Shrine, some of another contract, amounting to $130,000.00,
them to a depth of over ten feet, and have to which must be added $3,210.00 for the
been filled with concrete. The complemen- metal window frames of the drum of the
tary eight shafts in the roof have likewise dome, which are eighteen in number. Whilst
been excavated, and eight channels cut contemplating the magnitude of the work
down the walls within which the concrete which has been ordered in Italy, we must
piers will be concealed, when they have been bear in mind that these contracts do not in-
poured. This part of the work has been very clude the surfacing of the dome with what-
delicate, necessitating as it did, cutting ever material is chosen to give it its golden
through the vaultings of the old ceilings, appearance, nor the actual cost of construc-
where in some places, the roof is over eight tion of the entire edifice above the roof level
feet thick. We have all been impressed with of the old Shrine, which must now be under-
the immense strength of the building which taken in this co~lntry.
%bduYl-Bah6constructed. It was indeed suf- In coming to the decision to commit the
ficiently strong to practically serve the pur- BahB'i World and its resources so heavily at
pose of a fortress, which as you remember, this time to this sacred enterprise, the
the enemies of the Faith accused it of being Guardian took two important points into
to the Turkish Commission which came to consideration: One was the quality of work-
%kki to investigate 'Abdu'l-BahL's activi- manship sf the building, and the other was
ties. the state of the world at present. When work
When the Guardian decided to place the requiring such high standards of craftsmm-
order for the octagon of the Shrine, he dis- ship is undektalcen, if the original staff is dis-
covered that steel and cement were practi- persed in the middle of the undertaking, it is
cally unobtainable in this country, and that very problematic whether, when constrnc-
the quickest and most economical procedure .tion is agah resumed, the same standard can
would be to order these matazids from Italy, be ~ a i n t a k ~ eDEfe~ent
d. workers have a dif-
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 381

ferent touch, and later work might be far several days, arrangements were made with
below the level of what has so far been re- the Ministry of Trade for receiving import
ceived. We must remember that the arcade licenses for the various materials to be used
was ordered shortly after the end of World in the building of the Shrine on Mt. Carmel,
War 11, when first-class labor was available. including all stone work, structural steel,
The other side of the picture which undoubt- cement, wrought-iron decorative balustrades,
edly has most strongly influenced the metal window frames, etc. The Customs De-
Guardian in coming to his decision, is the partment has likewise been most coopera-
gloomy political outlook at present, and the tive, and invariably frees all materials for
fact that any postponement of the construc- the Shrine and objects for the Gardens, as
tion of the Shrine might have turned out to well as the Holy Tombs and the Archives,
be practically an indefinite postponement. from duty. When the Shrine is completed,
We know that the Cause of God moves this will mean that over sixteen hundred
ahead in mysterious ways, and no doubt in tons of material for its construction have
the future, when the Shrine is completed, come in duty-free.
not the least interesting of the facts associ- On March 30th, the President of the In-
ated with it and the romance of its construc- ternational BahB'i Council was received by
tion will be that about sixteen hundred tons Rabbi J. L. Hacohen Maimon, Minister for
of granite was quarried, cut and carved in Religious Affairs in Israel. His Excellency,
Italy and imported to Israel during undoubt- the Minister, welcomed this representative
edly one of the most disturbed periods in the of our beloved Guardian, assuring him of
world's history, and more particularly, in the friendship of the State of Israel toward
the history of the Holy Land. all the religious commuilities in Israel, say-
In addition to the above-mentioned mo- ing that it was the desire of his goverilment
mentous decisions, the Guardian has been that freedom of religion exist in this country
able to carry out this winter another enter- and that their attitude toward all religious
prise most dear to his heart, and one which communities was one of friendship and of
he had been prevented from doing for over respect, and of the extension of their protec-
ten years, owing to the machinations of the tion to the Holy Places of these various re-
Covenant-breakers. The many friends who ligions, adding: "Have we not all one Fa-
have been pilgrims to Haifa, will recall that ther? Has not the one God created us all?"
'Abdu'l-Bahi, having Himself built one ter- The President of the International Bahi'i
race directly in front of the Shrine of the Council then spoke of Israel as being the
Bib, had expressed the desire that a series Holy Land of the Bahi'is, as well as that of
of these should link the Holy Tomb with the Jews, Christians and Muslims; telling the
Carmel Avenue in the Templar Colony at Minister that fifty and more years ago the
the foot of Mt. Carmel, thus forming a di- Master, 'Abdu'l-Bahi had written that Pal-
rect line to the sea from the central door of estine would eventually become the Home
the Shrine. This spring the municipality of the Jewish people; and that this was pub-
looked favorably upon our application for lished in print at that time. The interview
permission to complete the last two terraces, was characterized by a sincere spirit of wel-
and the Guardian was able to extend the come on the part of the Minister and his as-
line of staircases, cypress trees, and walls, sociates who were present. A colored print
which comprise these terraces, by approxi- of the architect's design for the f a ~ a d eof
mately another thirty-five meters. He beauti- the Tomb of the Bib was presented to the
fied this termination of the Bahi'i properties Minister, and an invitation was extended to
leading to the Shrine of the Bib by erecting him and to Mrs. Maimon to visit the Shrine
four more lamp-posts, two pedestals with of the Bib and surrounding gardens when
beautiful lead vases, a temporary iron gate they could arrange to come to Haifa.
and considerable landscape gardening. The The President and Vice President of the
effect of the whole is most impressive, and International Council have likewise paid
has now made it possible for visitors to go calls upon both the Mayor of Haifa and the
straight up the staircases to the Shrine itself Mayor of 'Akki, as well as the Military
from the lower part of the town. Governor of Galilee. These visits were in
Recently the President and one of the the nature of courtesy calls, and established
Secretaries of the International Bahi'i Coun- a friendly contact between these officials and
cil visited Jerusalem, where, in the course of the officers of the Council.
382 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

The President likewise had a very pleas- he could in connection with completing the
ant interview with the United States Ambas- Shrine of the BLb, as he considered it a
sador to Israel, Mr. Monett B. Davis. great embellishment to the city of Haifa.
On April 13, the International BahPi This kind offer was followed up, and
Council gave a reception in the nature of a through his good offices, the Government
tea party at the Mansion of BahL'ulll&hat has released to us fifty tons of cement. One
Bahji. This was the first formal entertain- would have to be a resident of this country
ment done by this body, and Government to realize just what that means.
officials, Consuls, Representatives from the Masra'ih is a Muslim religious endow-
Ministry of Religions in Jerusalem, as well ment, and it is consequently impossible,
as many friends and acquaintances, were under existing laws in this country, for it to
present. The reception received a friendly be sold. However, as the friends are aware,
write-up in the social column of the English- the Ministry of Religions, due to the direct
speaking newspapers of Israel, and was gen- intervention of the Minister himself, Rabbi
erally considered a great success. Maimon, consented, in the face of consider-
It is interesting to note that the formation able opposition, to deliver Masra'ih to the
of the International Council was mentioned BahPis as a Holy Place to be visited by
in various newspapers in this country in dif- BahPi pilgrims. This means that we rent it
ferent languages, and "Kol Israel" has also from the Department of Muslim and Druze
on a number of occasions broadcast news .&airs in the Ministry of Religions. The
concerning the Bahb'is, amongst other items, head of this Department is also a Rabbi, Dr.
to wish them a Happy Feast on such days Hirschberg. Recently he, his wife and party,
as Naw-Riiz and Ridvkn. visited all the BahPi properties in Haifa and
BahPi books have for a long time been in 'Akki, following upon a very pleasant tea
the library of the Hebrew University in party in the Western Pilgrim House with the
Jerusalem, and recently, at the request of members of the International BahPi Coun-
the Ministry, some of our literature has been cil.
placed in the library of the Ministry of Re- After completing his visit to Masra'ih,
ligions in Jerusalem. Books have also been Dr. Hirschberg and his party spent an hour
presented to His Excellency, Rabbi Mai- going through the Mansion of Bahji, and
mon, for his own personal library, he, him- were much interested in the archives, rec-
self, being a profound student of the reli- ords, photographs, maps, etc., which the
gions of the past. The books were given to Guardian has so impressively assembled in
him at his request. that building. The friends will be astonished
The nature of our contacts with the Gov- to know that during Passover Week, over
ernment might be said to be of two kinds: 1,000 people visited the Mansion. They
Sometimes we procure assistance from them come on conducted tours, by foot, in busses,
after considerable effort on our part; other and comprise important foreign visitors and
times, we receive attention from authorities whole schools of children and young people
in very agreeable and unexpected ways. An from the Kibutzim.
important case in point is that of the room The party of Dr. Hirschberg, accompa-
in the fortress of 'Akkk, which was occupied nied by the President and Vice President of
by BahPu'llPh upon His arrival in that city, the International BahPi Council, then mo-
for two years. Without our having made any tored to 'AkkL and visited the House of
solicitation regarding this historic spot, so BahA'u'llPh, in which He spent so many
sacred in our eyes for the memories it holds, years, and where the Aqdas was revealed, as
we were informed by the Government Doc- well as other important writings. Last of all,
tor who is in charge of the Hospital which a visit was made to the Mosque of 'AkkP-
has been established there, that he wished to it was Friday-the Muslim Sabbath, and a
deliver to the Bahgis the keys of Bahg- large congregation was assembled there. As
uYll5lh'sroom, and that it had been especially the worshippers came out of the Mosque,
set aside for us. This gesture was greatly ap- the Muslim Irnim who had been conduct-
preciated, and the room is now available for ing the prayers, came from the MilpPb, and
BahPi pilgrims and local believers to visit. welcomed our party, insisting that we have
His Worship, the Mayor of Haifa, likewise coffee with h i and the judge and other
was extremely cooperative and suggested Muslim officials of 'Akk&, within the court-
that he would be glad to assist in any way yard precincts of the Mosque.
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 383

We see that the Faith towards which the ress of the Faith at its World Center, and to
authorities of the New State of Israel have inform them of what has been done during
always been friendly, is now gaining prestige the past year, under the guidance of the be-
in their sight, and that they have recognized loved Guardian.
it to be a World Faith in scope, a World Re-
ligion-distinct and apart from the other re- The Shrine of the Ba'b
ligions of the past, yet nevertheless closely
related to the Jewish, Christian and Muslim With the steady progress in the construc-
religions in their purity, as revealed by tion of the Shrine of the B5b on Mt. Carmel,
Christ and the Prophets. the eyes, not only of the Bahi'is, are be-
Already, a BahCi marriage certificate has coming increasingly fixed upon it, but also
been recognized by the local authorities of of the people of Israel. As the friends are al-
this new State, and its Ministry of Education ready aware, the octagon of the Shrine is
and Culture, unsolicited by us, has exempted now complete. The eight minaret-like pin-
BahCi school children throaghout the State nacles, as well as the wrought-iron panels of
from attending school on BahCi Holy Days. the balustrade are now erected, and consti-
This was done in a circular issued to all tute, as Shoghi Effendi so beautifully said,
schools. Our institutions, comprising two the second crown of the building, the first
Holy Shrines, those of the B5b and BahC- crown being the carved marble parapet of
uYll6h,two Archives housing sacred relics, the arcade with its green mosaic panels. This
one adjoining the Tomb of the Bgb, the balustrade has now been painted a deep
other, adjacent to the resting-place of the green, and the motif brought out through
Greatest Holy Leaf; two historical mansions, the application of gold leaf. The effect is
that of Bahji, where Bah6'u'ULh passed truly exquisite, so much so that many local
away, and that of Masra'ih, where He first people seem to be under the misapprehen-
resided upon leaving the prison walls of sion that the building is now completed. Evi-
'AkkL; two Houses associated with Bah6'- dently what exists is to them sufficiently
u'll5h and the Master, namely, the one in charming to constitute the end of the enter-
'Akk5, where the Manifestation of God re- prise.
vealed the Aqdas, and the one in Haifa, On April 8, the preliminary work com-
where 'Abdu'l-Bahi passed away, have all menced on the third unit, which consists of
been exempted from both Government and the drum section of the Shrine, containing
Municipal taxes; and objects received for eighteen lancet windows, symbolic in num-
them permitted to enter, duty free. ber of the Eighteen Letters of the Living. It
Likewise the area of over forty acres of is upon this intermediary unit, 11 meters
land, surrounding the Shrine of the B6b on ( 3 3 feet) high, that the dome of the Shrine
Mt. Carmel, has been exempted from taxa- must rest. In spite of the fact that this drum
tion. These things are the evidences of a is much smaller in circumference than the
spirit of true understanding and cooperation two previous units already built, it consti-
between the BahPi Community and the Is- tutes a knotty construction problem because
raeli authorities. We like to say to interested it must be a perfect circle, and because it
Jewish inquirers, that something very inter- has two walls, an outer stone wall and an
esting and beautiful is happening here-the inner thin reinforced concrete one, which
world's newest religion is growing up within must be built simultaneously. The fact that
the world's youngest State. we are gaining in height constantly, also in-
Faithfully yours in El Bahi creases the difficulty of the operation.
-INTERNATIONAL BAH~?COUNCIL From the unveiling of the Shrine model
Charles Mason Remey in 1944, on the occasion of the first Centen-
May, 1951. President ary of the Declaration of the Bkb, the ques-
tion of what material to use for the dome
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahgis was really the main problem which faced
of the United States, Mr. Sutherland Maxwell, its architect. He
Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A. had an original and very beautiful idea: The
Dear BahCi Friends: dome of the Shrine of the Bib was to be
covered with a fish-scale pattern of tiles, in
The International BahPi Council wishes diminishing sizes. His concept had been of
to share with the friends news of the prog- either a green or a gold dome; but the
384 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Guardian considered that a golden dome Guardian has felt that the longer the deIay
was much more suitable for this Second in building this extension, the more hope-
Holiest Structure in the BahBi world; the lessly expensive such a construction would
Qiblih of the Faith, the Tomb of BahB- be, and he has consequently commenced
u'lliih, being naturally the Most Sacred. The work which will when completed add ap-
problem of discovering a means of material- proximately 350 square meters to the ter-
izing this design faced the builders. Italian race of the Shrine towards the east. This ad-
gold mosaic was considered a possibility, but dition necessitates the construction of a nine
discarded by the Guardian because of the meter high wall of more than 350 cubic
uniform effect which the multitude of small meter content of stone. It is interesting to
facets would create at a distance, the origi- note that the stones for the work are being
nal and highly decorative concept of tiles carried up from the ruins of the old city of
being entirely lost by such a treatment. Cop- Haifa, which are being removed in order to
per was out of the question because of the make way for a new development. When
weight and the oxide staining which always this portion of the terrace is completed, peo-
occurs when this metal is used. That left ple visiting the Shrine will get the most won-
only some form of porcelain or clay tile, or derful view from this spot of the entire
possibly a plastic material. The investiga- building, with the rays of the rising sun
tions of Dr. Ugo Giachery showed that plas- bringing out the Greatest Name in brilliant
tic material was a risk, as no one can predict gold relief, in the northeastern corner of the
at present how it will react to years of ex- arcade. It is anticipated that in about a
posure in this climate. There remained there- month and a half, this extension will be
fore only tile as a feasible solution. completed. The cost of the work will be
While attending the 1951 European about $12,600.
Teaching Conference in Holland, Dr. Gia- Bahji, comprising the Shrine of Bah6'-
chery located an enterprising and long-estab- u'llgh and His Mansion, receives an even
lished firm of tile makers in Utrecht. After greater flow of visitors than the Gardens
a great deal of inquiry and experimentation here in Haifa; owing to the fact that because
on the part of this firm, a suitable solution of construction, the immediate surroundings
to the problem of the dome seems to have of the Shrine on Mt. Carmel are closed to
been reached, and one which will realize the the public. During the recent Passover cele-
architect's design. An under-glaze gold tile brations, more than 1,500 people visited
has now been developed and an order will Bahji, 500 of these in one day. The interiors
shortly be placed for over 27,000 tiles, rang- of the Shrine of Bah6'uYllihand the Man-
ing in height from eight centimeters to sion, as well as the House of BahBu'llGh in
twenty centimeters. The cost of these tiles 'Akkg and the Mansion of Mazra'ih, have
will be approximately $11,000. been greatly beautified during the past year,
Hand in hand with the work on the in preparation for the coming of the pil-
Shrine, the fame of the Shrine is spreading, grims.
and one hears more and more comments
upon it. The people not only of Haifa, but The Mansion of Bahd'u'lla'h
from many parts of Israel, take pride in it,
and when they learn something of the teach- For six months, the Cause at its Interna-
ings of the Faith, greatly admire what we tional Center went through a most irritating
stand for and what we are doing here in crisis and one which, had not the divine pro-
their country. tection been so clearly vouchsafed to the
The friends are no doubt aware that ever Guardian and the friends serving him here,
since the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bah&, Shoghi might have led to serious repercussions.
Effendi has been extending not only the ter- Ever since the Ascension of Bah&'u'll&h,
races between the Shrine and the Templar as the friends are aware, the party of Mu-
Colony at the foot of Mt. Carmel, but has hammad-'Ali, his children, his relatives and
been widening, eastward and westward, the a few supporters, have clustered around the
terrace upon which the Shrine itself rests. Sacred Tomb. Upon the death of their Fa-
One section has remained to be extended for ther, the sons of BahBu'lliih inherited shares
a number of years, but the engineering prob- in the Mansion where He passed away. In
lem involved was complicated, and the ex- the course of many years, this building, so
pense very great. This year, however, the full of sacred associations, has witnessed the
THE WORLD ORDE

evidences of the violent animosity of the lined with bookcases and pict~~res of interest
Covenant-breakers toward the Center of the to the Bahi'i world, its cabinets containing
Covenant. Writings of Bahi'u'llih in the original, the
The friends will remember from their Room of Bahi'u'llih itself restored, and
perusal of Bahi'i history that already, while original relics of His placed in it. It made
Bahfu'lllh's body was being prepared for such an impression that he agreed to ask the
the grave, Muhammad-'Ali was concentrat- High Commissioner to include it as a Bahi'i
ing on his opposition to the Master. After Holy Place along with the Shrines and the
the Ascension, and indeed until 1932, Mu- House in 'Akki, and exempt it from taxa-
hammad-'Ali and his relatives resided in the tion. This was done. The status of the build-
Mansion of Bahf ~'1131,in spite of the fact ing changed from the personal residence of
that the majority of the shares in this build- a son of Bah2uYllAhto a Museum and Pil-
ing were owned by 'Abdu'l-Bahl. Badi'u'lllh grim House for the Bahfis; Maammad-
himself, in order to raise funds for his sedi- 'Ali could no longer return, and was forced
tious activities, sold his share of the house to remain where he had taken up his resi-
of his Father to the Inspector of Police of dence nearby.
'Akkl. A ruined blacksmith's shop which had
After the death of this man, and with existed, owned and worked by one of the
tremendous inconvenience and legal compli- Covenant-breakers, right next to the wall of
cations, the Guardian succeeded in arrang- the Holy Tomb towards the east, the Guard-
ing to purchase back Badi'u'llih's original ian had likewise destroyed. He had removed
one-third share of the property. At this time, the old stables, and the unsightliness and
his son Musa Bahi'i was the Registrar of disorder had been cleared away, and a quiet
Lands in 'Akkl, and catching wind of the inner court created between the block of
transaction, succeeded at the last moment buildings in which the Tomb is situated, and
in bringing pressure to bear on the Police the wall of the Mansion Garden.
Inspector's heirs, and instead of the Cause Towards the south, however, a small one-
coming into possession of the remaining story building with five rooms, remained,
one-third of the title deed, the Guardian, and although since the days of BahB'u'lla
succeeded in getting only one-sixth, and the and the Master, it had been in Bah6'i posses-
other one-sixth fell into the hands of the sion, its title deed was part of the Mansion
Covenant-breakers and was registered in itself, of which the Covenant-breakers own
their names. one-sixth.
About 1932, the Mansion of Bahi'u'll$ih, Last December, the Guardian, in view of
which had been occupied by Muhammad- the fact that the roofs of three of the rooms
'Ali and his family ever since 1892, had fal- had caved in and the walls were crumbling,
len into such a state of disrepair that the and the building becoming daily a more
roof was caving in. Shoghi Effendi consid- complete and dangerous ruin, instructed the
ered this not only a disgrace to the memory caretaker of the Holy Shrine to demolish it.
of the Blessed Perfection, but also a respon- While he was doing this, the police arrived
sibility which devolved upon the Bahi'is, with an Order of Stay from the Haifa Court,
and he therefore represented to Muham- to which the Covenant-breakers had ap-
mad-'Ali, the necessity of repairing the pealed, in view of the fact that without their
building. Muhammad-'Ali, claiming he had permission, property in which they had a
no funds for such a purpose refused, but ac- share was being destroyed. As the Covenant-
cepted the Guardian's proposal that he breakers had been left in their portion of the
should evacuate the building, and allow the Mansion property, in other words, part of
Bah2is to restore it; he moved into the adja- the building towards the north and some
cent building, where his son still lives. rooms toward the east, unmolested and un-
After the Mansion had been restored to interfered with by the Guardian, he natu-
its original glory (and such a term is not an rally supposed that after the Center of the
exaggeration, for it is a beautiful oriental Faith had been in undisputed possession of
palace built by a wealthy resident of 'Akki the building in question since 1892, he was
during the last century), the Guardian in- at liberty, as Custodian of the Bah&'i Holy
vited the British District Commissioner to Places, to tear it down. The bitterness, how-
inspecr it with him-furnished, its walls ever, of the Covenant-breakers still moti-
386 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

vated by the evil genius of Majdi'd-Din, who had the temerity to summon the Head of
although only a few years short of 100, and the Faith himself as a witness, that he de-
paralyzed, is still living in the building ad- cided to appeal to the Government to lift
jacent to the Mansion, and led by the widow the matter entirely out of the jurisdiction of
of Musa Bahb'i, the daughter of Badi'u'llkh, the Civil Court.
their hatred and their perennial desire to The three members of the International
create mischief, again surged to the surface. BahC'i Council, Mr. Remey, Dr. Giachery
At the express request of the Covenant- and Mr. Ioas, consequently had interviews
breakers, a meeting was arranged at which with high-ranking officials of the Foreign
two of them were present with their lawyer, Office and the Prime Minister's office, as
the lawyer of the Guardian and two repre- well as with the Attorney-General and the
sentatives of the Guardian, in an effort to Vice-Minister of Religions. It was evident
settle the question peacefully out of court. immediately that the Government was quite
However, the interview proved fruitless, be- aware of the fact that the BahC'i Faith is
cause they continually raised the same old united under the leadership of its legitimate
issues of sixty years ago which arose when Guardian, and that he is the true Custodian
Muhammad-'Ali challenged the authority of of the Bahi'i Holy Places. In view of this,
the Master. They did, however, make a few the Attorney-General, in pursuance with in-
requests which the Guardian considered structions from the Minister of Religions,
were justiiied, such as being allowed to pray informed the President of the Haifa Court
alone in the Tomb, and that they would be that according to a law existing in the Stat-
permitted to enter during certain hours, etc. utes since 1924, the case in question should
In spite of this concession on his part, they not be tried by a Civil Court as it was a re-
decided to go to the Court and place the ligious matter.
matter before the Judge informally, rather To the astonishment of all concerned, the
than in the form of a trial. Twice the respec- lawyer of the Covenant-breakers decided to
tive lawyers and parties concerned met in challenge the authority of this order of the
the Judge's presence, but at both meetings Attorney-General on a technicality and to
the unreasoning animosity of the daughter appeal the case to the Supreme Court. This
of Badi'u'llkh, in particular, made any agree- in fact meant that the case would no longer
ment impossible. Indeed, it became evident be against the Guardian but against the
that working through her advocate, one of Government itself!
the sharpest in the country, and one whom Again interviews were had with the higher
she had carefully filled with all kinds of mis- authorities in Jerusalem and Hakirya, and
representations as to the true situation which the Guardian's own appeal to the Prime
arose after the ascension of BahC'u'llBh, she Minister was transmitted to him. This pro-
had no other intention than to prolong the duced an immediate reaction. The legal ad-
existing condition, which was that the viser of the Prime Minister met with the
Guardian had been prevented legally from Vice-Minister of Religions, the advocate of
tearing down the building, and, in the mean- the Guardian and the advocate of the Cove-
time the case was neither being decided out nant-breakers, and brought pressure to bear.
of Court nor being brought up in Court. The three Hands of the Cause, representing
Every reasonable solution having been con- Shoghi Effendi, were in one room in the
sistently set aside by the Covenant-breakers, Ministry of Religions, and the Covenant-
the first hearing of the Case was set. breakers in another, as the BahC'is had re-
The Guardian, in spite of his desire to fused to meet with them any more. A stiff
remove the unsightly rubble that the ruined tussle ensued in which the lawyer of the
house had become after its semi-demolition, Covenant-breakers repeatedly brought back
was willing that the case should as expedi- more claims from Badi'u'll~h's daughter,
tiously as possible be tried, knowing full well
and the lawyer of the Guardian as consist-
that any verdict could not but be in his fa-
vor, not only on religious grounds, but be- ently brought back from the members of
cause the building had been in his posses- the Council refusals to accept them. Finally
sion for over twenty years, which, according the representative of the Prime Minister in-
to the laws of this land, give a person cer- formed them that any further fight they
tain well-defined rights. wished to carry on would be with the Gov-
It was not until the Covenant-breakers ernment and if they wanted to do that, they
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 3 87

could. The result was acceptance on their New Garden at Bahji
part to drop the case and the appeal.
From December until the end of May, One week later, the Guardian of the
they had succeeded in preventing the Cause, who went over to Bahji himself to
Guardian from doing what he wished to in supervise the work, had created, in time for
the precincts of the Holy Tomb. They had, the night of the Ascension of Bahb'u'lltih a
from giving the impression of being poor beautiful entrance, into what is now called
people whose rights were being denied and the Holy Court leading to the Shrine. In
who objected to the demolition of a build- front of the Mansion, and in the very spot
ing in which they had a slight interest, where the ruined house had stood, a wide
gradually revealed themselves as being vin- expanse of garden sprung from the dust,
dictive, revengeful, and pursuing with great marble vases, carved white Carrara marble
determination and skill, a definite object, ornaments, lamp posts, cypress trees, bor-
which had nothing whatsoever to do with ders, pebbled walks-lo! like a dream they
the building in question, or whether it was spread before the eyes of the BahL'is. In-
torn down or rebuilt; but which revealed deed the Arab laborers would quote to each
itself as being a plan to either get a key for other an old saying: "The ring of Solomon
themselves to the Holy Shrine, which would has been found!", which stems from a
give them the position of joint Custodian tradition that the king lost his ring, and that
with the Guardian, or of securing rooms in whoever found it and turned it on his finger
the Mansion itself for their own "BahL'i -whatever he wished for would materialize
Archives." instantly.
It would be no exaggeration to say that Without the innocent remark thrown out
the entire course of the case was providen- by the Guardian one day as he left Bahji
tial; and indeed all those here had the feel- after visiting the Holy Tomb to the keeper:
ing that from beginning to end, it was pur- "Bring laborers and destroy these ruins,"
suing a plan which no one could check or and which he made because he could no
interfere with. Over and over again, when longer tolerate this dilapidation so near the
it seemed that the case would be dropped Holy Shrine, and because he desired to build
or settled out of Court or brought before a befitting entrance at the end of the Gar-
the Judge and speedily dismissed, or the den adjacent to the Shrine, which had never
demolition Stay removed pending a hearing, had, for sixty years, any entrance, befitting
or that the ruins would be torn down be- or otherwise, the Covenant-breakers would
cause the proper Civil authority had issued not have once again been routed, suffered
a demolition order, at the last moment, defeat and lost many of the privileges they
everything would go awry and the case enjoyed for sixty years in respect to visiting
would continue, growing and growing in the Holy Shrine. Indeed, it has been ex-
importance, and going to ever higher offi- traordinary the way this case has brought
cial levels until it reached the Prime Minis- to the attention of almost every important
ter himself. In fact, it gathered itself up like Government Department in Israel, the true
a big summer thunder cloud, and when it stature of the Faith, what it is doing here,
burst, crashed with full force on the heads who is its Head, what its plans are for the
of those who have disputed BahL'u'll&h's future, what it has already accomplished.
instructions, the Successorship of His be- One could almost say that the International
loved Son, the Will and Testament, and the Council were strangers to the Government
Guardianship, for sixty years. in December, but, thanks to the good offices
When the three members of the Interna- of our enemies, they became warm ac-
tional BahL'i Council left the Ministry of quaintances!
Religions in Jerusalem, they had in their
possession a paper giving them full authority The Purchase of Eighteen Additional
Plots on MF.Carmel
to tear down the ruins at once.
Within forty-eight hours of their return, One of the most important events during
a flat surface of rubble was all that re- this past year has been the purchase at long
mained. Servants, Arab laborers and BahC'i last of eighteen additional plots on Mt.
pilgrims had scattered the stones of the Carmel, in the vicinity of the resting-places
building in a blast of joy. of the Sister, the Mother and the Brother
388 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

of 'Abdu'l-Bahi. Upon the formation of the Amatu'l-Bahi Rfihiyyih K_hinum, Liaison
State of Israel in 1948, all enemy property between the Guardian and the Council
was seized and placed under the Controller Charles Mason Remey, President
of Absentee Property. Within the last eight- Amelia Collins, Vice-President
een months the Government established, Ugo Giachery, Member at Large
after the passing of suitable legislation in Leroy Ioas, Secretary-General
the Knesset (Parliament), a body known as Jessie Revell, Treasurer
the "Development Authority," empowered Ethel Revell, Western Assistant Secretary
to dispose of lands, subject to the approval Lotfullah Hakim, Eastern Assistant Secre-
of the Cabinet, either by lease or outright tary
sale for dollars. After over a year's negotia- There are now four Hands of the Cause
tions with the Government, the eighteen serving the Faith permanently at its Inter-
plots were purchased for the sum of $118,- national Center, as members of this Body.
000, and in April, 1952, transferred to the Dr. Giachery has paid two visits to Israel
name of the Palestine Branch of the Na- during the past three months, in order to
tional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is of assist with the work being undertaken here
the United States and Canada. In addition and this has meant that five Hands of the
to these eighteen plots, totaling about six Cause were in the Holy Land. In addition
acres in area, the Guardian was able to pur- to this, Mr. D_hikru'llBh ghadem, Mr. Shu'-
chase at the same time the remaining half b'uYllBh 'AlS'i, Mr. Siegfried Schopflocher
of an empty plot facing both the Western and Mr. M6sL Banini, Hands of the Cause,
BahL'i Pilgrim House and the House of have recently been in Haifa as pilgrims; in
'Abdu'l-BahB, for the sum of $16,000. It fact, two of them had the inestimable privi-
was largely due to the intervention of His lege of hearing from the Guardian's own
Worship the Mayor of Haifa, Mr. Aba lips that he had appointed them as part of
Khoushy, that the Cause was able to secure the second contingent of Hands of the
this land at this price, the original price Cause.
having been very much higher. The assur-
ance it would be kept as a private open Plans Completed for Ma&riqu'l-Adzka'r
space induced His Worship to urge the Gov- on Mt. Carmel
ernment to make a concessioll to the BahS'is
in this matter. The President of the Council, Mr.
Charles Mason Remey, has now completed
Embryo of the Universal House of Justice his design for the Ma&riquYl-Ad_hkBr,
which will be erected at a future date,
The International BahB'i Council has somewhere on Mt. Carmel. During the past
been, during the past year, not only en- winter, he has had the opportunity of con-
larged but strengthened through the addi- sulting with the Guardian about the final
tion to its membership of Mr. Leroy Ioas, details, and having received his suggestions
who fulfills the function of Secretary- and approval, is now ready to order the
General; and Dr. Ugo Giachery, Member model of his Temple in Italy, so that it can
at Large. On more than one occasion, the be exhibited in the Mother Temple of the
Guardian has pointed out to the members West in Wilmette during the historic Con-
of the Co~~ncil that the Charter upon which vention of 1953. This building is very
the Spiritual and Administrative activities monumental in character. While not resem-
of the Faith in Israel rest is the Tablet of bling synagogue, church, mosque or any of
Carmel, revealed by BahPu'llih on Mt. the temples of former religions, it will 'nave
@armel. The "City of God" mentioned in a distinctive religious character and dignity
this Tablet, is the Shrine of the Bgb, and of its own. When constructed, it will greatly
the "Ark" means the Laws of God, and enhance the institutions of the Faith at the
refers to the Universal House of Justice, the
embryo of which is the present Interna- World Center and hlfill yet another of
tional BahL'i Council, which through suc- %bdu-'l-Bahb's cherished hopes. How soon
cessive stages will develop irio the Univer- work on it could be undertaken is not
sal House of Justice to be established and 1cnow1-1d psesent; but, the design carried out
function on this T6oIy Mountain. Tts mem- by archiiect cl~oseasfor this purpose by
bership now consists of: Master l+k-isdf, has naw~ been safe-
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 3 89

guarded for posterity, and is ready for meet with ready understanding, and when
execution when the appointed time comes. assistance is necessary, we get it.

Recognition of the Faith by the Israeli Pilgrims t o Haifa-from the East and from
Government the West

The relations of the State of Israel with No report of BahL'i activities during the
our beloved Guardian and the International past year could convey any sense of the
BahL'i Council have been friendly and stirring progress being made here that did
cordial. We are happy to report that steady not mention the arrival of the pilgrims. The
progress is being made in obtaining suitable first believer from the east to reach the Holy
legal recognition of the Faith here, from the Land after more than ten years, during
Government. During the past few months, which the pilgrimage had been perforce.sus-
the exemption already given by both the pended by the beloved Guardian, was Mr.
Mandate Authorities and the Jewish State Sami Doktoroglu, of Istanbul. After years
to material gifts received for the Shrine of of persecution, quiescence and obscurity,
BahB'u'llSh, the Shrine of the BSb, Mazra'ih, the Turkish believers have at last found
the House of BahB'u'llBh in 'AkkS and the themselves in a position to go ahead with
Gardens on Mt. Carmel, has been extended their work in the service of BahL'u'llSh.
to cover all things received for the Western Thanks to the instr~~ctions carried back to
and Eastern Pilgrim Houses and the Home them by this BahL'i brother from the pres-
of the Head of the Faith. In addition to ence of the Guardian, they have organized
this, the Government has been both under- their first three Spiritual Assemblies in the
standing and cooperative as regards the historic city of Istanbul, in Aintab and in
reduction of the heavy charges made in the Adana, and have recently purchased a por-
port on material sent for the Shrine of the tion of the land which is the site of the
BBb, and gifts received for the Holy Places. building once occupied by BahVu'llfih dur-
Aside from the very pleasant interview ing his sojourn there in Constantinople.
two of the present members of the Interna- The first BahVi pilgrim to arrive from the
tional BahL'i Council, Mrs. Collins and Mr. west was Mr. Lawrence Hautz of Milwau-
Ioas, had with the Israeli Prime Minister, kee. His eagerness to render any assistance
Mr. David Ben-Gurion, during his trip to within his power to the work here attracted
America last summer, when they formed the eye of Shoghi Effendi, who is ever ready
part of a delegation from the American Na- to embark on new activities when he finds
tional Spiritual Assembly received by him, willing hands! It was in no small measure
contact has been made by various members due to the enthusiasm and eagerness of this
of the Council and by Mr. Lawrence Hautz, western BahL'i friend that the purchase of
with the following high-ranking officials of the additional plots here in Haifa was so
the State: Dr. Chaim Weizmann, President, speedily and successfully concluded. He
at a reception at Rehovot; Miss Golda made many contacts with the Government
Myerson, Minister of Labor; Dr. David Z. and impressed upon them the importance
Pinkas, Minister of Communications; Mr. of the International Center of the Faith here
Eliezer Kaplan, Minister of Finance; as well to the BahVis the world over, assuring them
as Dr. W. Walter Eytan, Director General of that Israel has no better friends than the
the Foreign Ministry; Dr. Kurt Mendelsohn, people who believe that what BahVu'llBh
Director of Customs and Excise; Dr. Zerah promised will be fulfilled, and that His
Warhaftig, Minister of Religions; Mr. promises about Israel will likewise be ful-
Ahoud Avril, Director General to the filled.
Prime Minister, Mr. Shimon Eynat, Legal During four months, more than a hun-
dred friends have been the guests of the
Adviser to the Prime Minister and the At-
Guardian, and carried back from his
torney General, Mr. Kalman Cohen. It is presence inspiration, guidance, love and
both significant and interesting to note that boundless zeal to their fellow Bahii'is, upon
the higher one goes in government circles, their return to their own countries. The
the greater is the courtesy shown and the pilgrimage, due to lack of adeq~tateaccom-
wider the knowledge of the Faith possessed modation here, for large numbers of people,
by its officials. Likewise at high levels we has been limited to nine days, in order to
390 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

enable more of the believers to come, and to the day when it will be feasible for ever-
there is now so much to see that the friends increasing numbers of the believers to have
are indeed kept very busy during their stay. the inestimable privilege of meeting their
They visit the two Holy Shrines, spending Guardian face to face, imbibing from him
at least one night at Bahji, in the Mansion of the essence of their Faith, laying their fore-
BahPu'lltih. They likewise visit the Room heads on the Thresholds of their Holiest
in the Most Great Prison once occupied by Shrines, and gazing with wonder at the
BahPu'lltih, and pray there. This room is
Sepulcher of the Btib, as we often see it at
now in the hands of the BahL'is, delivered
officially by the authorities to them. They night, illumined, shining like a glorious
also visit the House in 'Akkti occupied by white queen on the slope of the dark moun-
BahPu'lltih for many years, and in which tain, under a sky studded by brilliant stars,
He revealed the Aqdas, the Garden of the and the deep purple of the Mediterranean
Ridvtin, Mazra'ih, the two International stretching like a velvety carpet before it.
BahB'i Archives, and other local sites of Faithfully yours in El Bahti,
historic interest. Their hearts are full of joy -INTERNATIONAL B A HCOUNCIL
~ ~
when they arrive, and their eyes full of tears Charles Mason Remey,
when they depart. They constitute, as the President
Guardian has often pointed out, the stream Leroy C. Ioas,
of life-blood flowing in and out of the great Secretary -General
heart of the Faith here. The members of the Haif a, Israel,
International BahB'i Council look forward July 1, 1952.
2. DOCUMENTATION O F THE BAHA'I
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
"And now as I look into the future, I hope to see the friends at all times, in every land,
and of every shade of thought and character, voluntarily and joyously rallying round
their local and in particular their national centers of activity, upholding and promoting
their interests with complete unanimity and contentment, with perfect understanding,
genuine enthusiasm, and sustained vigor. This indeed is the one joy and yearning of my
life, for it is the fountainhead from which all future blessings will flow, the broad foun-
dation upon which the security of the Divine Edifice must ultimately rest."--SHOGHI
EFFENDI.^

T H E 1926-27 National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahgis 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 pur-
pose. This task consisted in creating a legal form which gives proper substance and
substantial character to the administrative processes embodied in the Bah6'i Teachings.
The form adopted was that known as a Voluntary Trust, a species of corporation recog-
nized under the common law and possessing a long and interesting history. The famous
Covenant adopted by the Pilgrim Fathers on the Mayflower, the first legal document in
American history, is of the same nature as the Declaration of Trust voted by the National
Spiritual Assembly. This Declaration of Trust, with its attendant By-Laws, is published
for the information of the BahB'is of the world. 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 BahB'i Cause. On the contrary, 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 rela-
tionships of Bah6'i collective association. The provision both in the Declaration and in
the By-Laws for amendments in the future will permit the National Spiritual Assembly
to adapt this document to such new administrative elements or principles as the Guard-
ian may at any time give forth. The Declaration, in fact, is nothing more or less than a
legal parallel of those moral and spiritual laws of unity inherent in the fullness of the
BahB'i Revelation and making it the fulfillment of the ideal of Religion in the social as
well as spiritual realm. Because, in the BahB'i Faith this perfect correspondence exists
between spiritual and social laws, the BahB'is believe that administrative success is identi-
cal with moral success; and that nothing less than the true Bah6'i spirit of devotion and
sacrifice can inspire with effective power the world-wide body of unity, revealed by
Bahf uYllBh.Therefore it has seemed fitting and proper to accompany the Declaration of
Trust with excerpts from the letters of Shoghi Effendi which furnished the source whence
the provisions of the Declaration were drawn, and which furthermore give due emphasis
to that essential spirit without which any and every social or religious form is but a dead
and soulless body. (See pages 284-294, 321-327.)
HORACE HOLLEY
1 Bahd'i Administration (1945 ed.), p. 67.
-- - --

THE BAHA'I W O R L D

Certificate of Declaration of Trust of the National Spiritual Assembly
of the BahL'is of the United States.
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH

DECLARATION OF TRUST
By the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
SPIRITUAL OF THE B A ~ l i ' i s OF THE
STATES
UNITED

W E , Allen B. McDaniel of Washington, D.C., Horace Holley of New York City, N.Y.,
Carl Scheffler of Evanston, Ill., Roy C. Wilhelm of West Englewood, N.J., Florence
Morton of Worcester, Mass., Amelia Collins of Princeton, Mass., Ali-Kuli Khan of New
York City, N.Y., Mountfort Mills of New York City, N.Y., and Siegfried Schopflocher
of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, duly chosen by the representatives of the BahL'is of the
United States and Canada at the Annual Meeting held at San Francisco, Calif., on April
29, April 30, May 1, and May 2, 1926, to be the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahi'is of the United States and Canada, with full power to establish a Trust as herein-
after set forth, hereby declare that from this dati the powers, responsibilities, rights,
privileges and obligations reposed in said National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of
the United States and Canada by BahL'u'llih, Founder of the Bahi'i Faith, by 'Abdu'l-
Bah$ its Interpreter and Exemplar, and by Shoghi Effendi, its Guardian, shall be exer-
cised, 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 ln adopting this form of association, union and fel-
lowship, and in selecting for itself the designation of Trustees of the BahB'is of the
United States and Canada, does so as the administrative body of a religious community
which has had continuous existence and responsibility for over eighteen years. In con-
sequence of these activities the National Spiritual Assembly is called upon to administer
such ever-increasing diversity and volume of affairs and properties for the BahL'is of the
United States and Canada, that we, its members, now feel it both desirable and necessary
to give our collective functions more definite legal form. This action is taken in com-
plete 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 BahB'u'llBh for BahL'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 fulfill that exhortation.

April 4, 1927.

RESOLUTION BY THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE B A m ' f S OF THE UNITED STATES
WHEREAS the first Annual Convention of the BahL'is of Canada, on April 24, 1948
duly elected the National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Canada; and
WHEREAS the fortieth Annual Convention of the Bahi'is of the United States on
April 30, 1948 duly elected the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of the United
States; and
WHEREAS said Conventions were duly authorized by the Guardian of the BahL'i
Faith and empowered by the BahL'i administrative principles to elect their respective
National Spiritual Assemblies; and
WHEREAS in consequence of the foregoing it is now necessary to amend the Declara-
tion of Trust and By-Laws hereinafter described;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the National Spiritual Assembly of the BahPis
of the United States that from the date of its election, April 30, 1948, said Assembly
shall henceforth exercise within the United States, its territories and dependencies, d l the
functions and powers formerly vested in the National Spiritual Assembly of the BahPis
of the United States and Canada, as successor body thereto, and hold title to and pos-
394 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

session of all funds, properties and trusts of national Bahi'i character existing within the
United States, its territories and dependencies on and after April 30, 1948; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Declaration of Trust by the National Spirit-
ual Assembly of the BahCis of the United States and Canada as adopted at New York,
N.Y., on April 4, 1927, other than the Preamble thereto, and its By-Laws as from time
to time amended be and the same hereby are amended by substituting the name "Na-
tional Spiritual Assembly of the BahCis of the United States" for the name "National
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is of the United States and Canada" wherever the same
appears therein, and by deleting the words "and Canada" wherever such words now ap-
pear in said Declaration of Trust and By-Laws; that said By-Laws be further amended
by deleting the word "Provinces" and the word "Province" wherever the same appear
and by substituting for the word "Province" in Section 2 of Article VIII the words
"Territory or Federal District"; so that said Declaration of Trust and By-Laws shall
henceforth be the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the National Spiritual Assembly
of the BahCis of the United States.
DOROTHY K. BAKER,Chairman
PAULE. HANEY,Vice-Chairman
HORACE HOLLEY,Secretary
EDNAM. TRUE, Recording Secretary
PHILIPG. SPRAGUE, Treasurer
ELSIEAUSTIN
WM. KENNETHCHRISTIAN
AMELIAE. COLLINS
LEROYIOAS

The name of said Trust shall be the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahri'is o f the
United States.

Sharing the ideals and assisting the efforts of our fellow Bahb'is to establish, uphold
and promote the spiritual, educational and humanitarian teachings of human brother-
hood, 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 of BahCu'llLh-we declare the purposes and objects of this
Trust to be to administer the affairs of the Cause of BahCu'llLh for the benefit of the
BahPis of the United States according to the principles of Bahb'i affiliation and ad-
ministration created and established by BahCu'll&h, defined and explained by 'Abdu'l-
BahL, and amplified and applied by Shoghi Effendi and his duly constituted successor
and successors under the provisions of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-BahL.
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 publi-
cation 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 BahCis of the
United States in the fulfillment of their religious offices, duties and ideals; and by any
other means appropriate to these ends, or anyof 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 furtherance of the objects of this Trust with any person, firm, associa-
tion, 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 under the terms of this Trust, to do any and all things which a co-
partnership or natural person could do or exercise, and which now or hereafter
may be authorized by law.
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 395

b. To hold and be named as beneficiary under any trust established by law or other-
wise 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 the United States; 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 utter-
ances of Bahi'u'llih, 'Abdu'l-Bahb and Shoghi Effendi, under which certain juris-
diction, powers and rights are granted to National Spiritual Assemblies.
d. Generally to do all things and acts which in the judgment of said Trustees, i.e.,
the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of the United States, are necessary,
proper and advantageous to promote the complete and successful administration of
this Trust.

SECTION1. All persons, firms, corporations and associations extending credit to, con-
tracting with or having any claim against the Trustees, i.e., the National Spiritual As-
sembly, and the members thereof, of any character whatsoever, whether legal or equita-
ble 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 the payment of
any debt, damage, judgment 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.
SECTION2. 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.

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 pro-
cedure or regulations as are required to define and carry on its own administrative func-
tions and those of the several local and other elements composing the body of the Bahi'is
of the United States, not inconsistent with the terms of this instrument and all in accord-
ance with the explicit instructions given us to date by Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the
Cause of Bahi'u'llbh, which instructions are already known to the Bahi'is of the United
States and accepted by them in the government and practice of their religious affairs.

The central office of this Trust shall be located in the Village of Wilmette, State of
Illinois, United States of America, the site of the Bahg'i House of Worship.

The seal of this Trust shall be circular in form, bearing the following description:
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of the United States. Declaration of Trust,
1927.

ARTICLE
VII

This Declaration of Trust may be amended by majority vote of the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahi'is of the United States 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.
396 T H E BAHA'I; W O R L D

BY-LAWS OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

ARTICLEI
T H E National Spiritual Assembly, in the fulfillment of its sacred duties under this
Trust, shall have exclusive jurisdiction and authority over all the activities and affairs of
the Bahb'i Cause throughout the United States, including paramount amhority in the ad-
ministration of this Trust. It shall endeavor to stimulate, unify and coordinate the mani-
fold activities of the local Spiritual Assemblies (hereinafter defined) and of individual
Bahb'is in the United States 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 scru-
tiny of all membership rolls, the calling of the Annual Meeting or special meetings and
the seating of delegates to the Annual Meeting and their apportionment among the
various electoral districts. It shall appoint all national Bahl'i committees and shall super-
vise the publication and distribution of BahL'i literature, the reviewing of all writings
pertaining to the Bahb'i Cause, the construction and administration of the Mas_hriqu'l-
ALhk6r 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 juris-
diction 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 Spirit-
ual Assemblies and shall have the right of final decision in all cases where the qualifica-
tion of an individual or group for continued voting rights and membership in the Bahb'i
body is in question. It shall furthermore represent the BahB'is of the United States in all
their cooperative and spiritual activities with the BahL'is of other lands, and shall consti-
tute the sole electoral body of the United States in the formation of the Universal House
of Justice provided for in the Sacred Writings of the Bahl'i Cause. Above all, the Na-
tional Spiritual Assembly shall ever seek to attain that station of unity in devotion to the
Revelation of Bahb'u'll6h 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 of Bah6'u7ll6h:-
"It behooveth them (i.e., Spiritual Assemblies) to be the trusted ones of the Merciful
among men and to consider 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 in-
terests, and to choose that which is meet and seemly."

The Bahb'is of the United States, for whose benefit this Trust is maintained, shall con-
sist of all persons resident in the several States, Territories or Federal Districts of the
United States who are accepted by the National Spiritual Assembly as fulfilling the re-
quirements of membership in the Bahl'i Community under the following qualifications
set forth by the Guardian of the Faith:
a. Full recognition of the station of the Biib as Forerunner, of Bahb'uYll6has Author
and of 'Abdu'l-Bah6 as True Exemplar of the Bahb'i religion; unreserved accept-
ance of, and submission to whatsoever has been revealed by their Pen; loyal and
steadfast adherence to every clause of 'Abdu'l-Bahl's sacred Will; and close as-
sociation with the spirit as well as the form of Bahb'i Administraticn throughout
the world.
b. Attainment of the age of 21 years.
c. Declaration of faith to, and enrollment by, the local Spiritual Assembly if resident
in the area of jurisdiction of any local Assembly recognized by the National Spirit-
ual Assembly.
d. Declaration of faith to the National Spiritual Assembly on the membership form
provided for those residing outside any such area of local Bahl'i jurisdiction.
THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 397

The National Assembly shall consist of nine members chosen from among the Bahl'is
of the United States, who shall be elected by the said BahL'is in manner hereinafter pro-
vided, and who shall continue in office for the period of one year, or until their suc-
cessors shall be elected.

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 Assembly taken by secret ballot.

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 Chair-
man shall be chosen. All subsequent meetings shall be called by the Secretary of the
Assembly at the request of the Chairman or, in his absence or incapacity, of the Vice-
Chairman, or of any three members of the Assembly; provided, however, that the An-
nual Meeting of the Assembly shall be held at a time and place to be fixed by a ma-
jority vote of the Assembly, as hereinafter provided.

Five members of the National Assembly present at a meeting shall constitute a quo-
rum, 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.
ARTICLEVII
Whenever in any locality of the United States, be it municipality, township or county,
the number of Bahb'is resident therein recognized by the National Spiritual Assembly
exceeds nine, these may on April 21st of any year convene and elect by plurality vote a
local administrative body of nine members, to be known as the Spiritual Assembly of
the BahB'is of that community. Every such Spiritual Assembly shall be elected annually
thereafter upon each successive 21st day of April. The members shall hold office for the
term of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified.
When, however, the number of BahB'is in any authorized civil area is exactly nine,
these may 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.
SECTION1. 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 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
fulfillment of its spiritual duties. Immediately thereafter the Secretary chosen shall trans-
mit to the Secretary of the National Assembly the names of the members of the newly-
elected Assembly and a list of its officers.
398 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

SECTION2. The general powers and duties of a local Spiritual Assembly shall be as
set forth in the writings of Bahi'u'llLh, 'Abdu'l-BahL and Shoghi Effendi.
SECTION3. Among its more specific duties, a local Spiritual Assembly shall have full
jurisdiction of all Bahb'i activities and affairs within the local community, subject, how-
ever, to the exclusive and paramount authority of the National Spiritual Assembly as de-
fined herein.
SECTION4. Vacancies in the membership of a local Spiritual Assembly shall be filled
by election at a special meeting of the local Bahi'i community duly called for that pur-
pose 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 super-
vision of the National Spiritual Assembly.
SECTION5. 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 Bahi'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 Bahi'i qualifications, such individual may appeal from the ruling to
the National Assembly, which shall thereupon take jurisdiction of and finally decide the
case.
SECTION7. 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 certi-
fied list of the voting members of the local Bah2i.community for the information and
approval
- - of the National Assembly.
SECTION8. All matters arising within a local Bahb'i community which are of purely
local interest and do not affect the national interests of the Cause shall be under the
primary jurisdiction of the Spiritual Assembly of that locality; but decision whether a
particular matter involves the interest and welfare of the national Bahi'i body shall rest
with the National Spiritual Assembly.
SECTION9. Any member of a local Bahb'i community may appeal from a decision
of his Spiritual Assembly to the National Assembly, which shall determine whether it
shall take jurisdiction of the matter or leave it to the local Spiritual Assembly for recon-
sideration. In the event that the National Assembly assumes jurisdiction of the matter,
its findings shall be final.
SECTION10. Where any dissension exists within a local BahPi co~nmunityof 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.
SECTION11. All questions arising between two or more local Spiritual Assemblies, or
between members of different BahB'i communities, shall be submitted in the first in-
stance to the National Assembly, which shall have original and final jurisdiction in all
such matters.
SECTION12. The sphere of jurisdiction of a local Spiritual Assembly, with respect
to residential qualification of membership, and voting rights of a believer in any Bahi'i
community, shall be the locality included within the civil limits of the municipality,
township or county.
All differences of opinion concerning the sphere of jurisdiction of any local Spiritual
Assembly or concerning the affiliation of any Bahi'i or group of Bahb'is in the United
States 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 meet-
ing to be known as the National Convention of the BahL'is of the United States. This
Convention shall be held at a time and place to be fixed by the National Assembly. The
THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 399

National Convention shall be composed jointly of representatives chosen by the Bahi'is
of each State, Territory or Federal District under the principle of proportionate repre-
sentation, 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 of BahB'is resident in each such
unit, to a total number of one hundred seventy-one delegates for the Bahi'is of the
United States.
SECTION1. All delegates to the Convention shall be elected by plurality vote. BahB'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 State, Territory or Federal District for the election of delegates shall be
called by the National Spiritual Assembly and conducted by the BahB'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 dele-
gate shall be transmitted to the National Spiritual Assembly.
SECTION 2. All delegates to be seated at the Convention must be recognized Bahi'is
and residents of the State, Territory or Federal District represented by them.
SECTION3. The rights and privileges of a delegate may not be assigned nor may they
be exercised by proxy.
SECTION4. The recognition and seating of delegates to the National Convention shall
be vested in the National Spiritual Assembly.
SECTION5. 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 body.
SECTION6. 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.
SECTION7. 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 Con-
vention.
SECTION8. The principal business of the annual meeting shall be consultation on
Bahk'i activities, plans and policies, and the election of the nine members of the Na-
tional 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
participate in the election of Convention officers or in the annual election of the mem-
bers of the national body. All action by the delegates, other than the organization of the
Convention, the transmission of messages to the Guardian and the election of the Na-
tional Assembly, shall constitute advice and recommendation for consideration by the
said Assembly, final decision on all matters concerning the affairs of the B a h a Faith in
the United States being vested solely in that body.
SECTION9. 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 BahB'i Faith introduced by any of the delegates may upon mo-
tion and vote be taken up as part of the Convention deliberations.
SECTION10. The election of the members of the National Spiritual Assembly shall
be by plurality vote of the delegates recognized by the outgoing National Spiritual As-
sembly, 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 determined
400 THE BAHA'I WORLD

on the first ballot, then one or more additional ballots shall be taken on the persons tied
until all nine members are elected.
SECTION11. All official business transacted at the National Convention shall be re-
corded and preserved in the records of the National Assembly.
SECTION12. Vacancies in the membership of the National Spiritual Assembly shall
be fdled 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 Spiritual Assembly.

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 BahPi Cause in the United States, 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 Guardian of the Cause or the Universal House
of Justice.

Whatever functions and powers are not specifically attributed to local Spiritual As-
semblies 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.

In order to preserve the spiritual character and purpose of BahPi elections, the prac-
tice 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 coordinate the affairs of the Cause as members of local
or national Spiritual 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 atmos-
phere of dictatorial assertiveness and of every word and deed that may savor of partiality,
self-centeredness 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 Bahi'is.

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.
Note: The foregoing By-Laws include all amendments adopted by the National Spiritual Assembly to July 16,
1949.
THE W O R L D O R D E R O F BAHA'U'LLAH 401

Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the National Spiritual Assembly
of the BahPis of Persia.
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 403
404 THE BAHA'I WORLD
406 THE BAHA'I WORLD
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 407

TREUHANDSCHAFTSERKLARUNG DES NATIONALEN
GEISTIGEN RATES DER BAHA'I IN DEUTSCHLAND
UND OSTERREICH e. V.
AND BY-LAWS
DECLARATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
SPIRITUAL OF THE
B ~ ~ l i 'O
f Fs GERMANY
AND AUSTRIA

W I R , Marta Blanche Brauns-Forel, Karlsruhe i. B.; Paul Ferdinand Gollmer, Stutt-
gart; Max Greeven, Bremen; Dr. Hermann Grossmann, Neckargemiind; Edith Elisabeth
Anna Horn, Stuttgart; Anna Maria Kostlin, Esslingen a. N.; Dr. Adelbert Friedrich
Alexander Marinus Muhlschlegel, Stuttgart; Dr. Karl Eugen Schmidt, Stuttgart; Alice
Corinna Gabriele Emma Amelia (Tahirih) Schwarz-Solivo, Stuttgart, erklaren hiermit
als der durch die Abgeordneten der Bahb'i in Deutschland und Osterreich anlasslich der
Jahrestagung in stuggart am 22. April 1934 ordnungsmassig gewahlte und mit allen
Vollmachten zur Errichtun~der nachfoleenden Treuhandschaft auseestattete Nationale
Geistige Rat der Bahi'i in heutschland l n d Osterreich, dass vorn hktigen Tage an die
diesem Rate durch Bahb'u'llih, den Begriinder des Bahb'i-Glaubens, 'Abdu'l-BahL, den
Ausleger und das Vorbild, und Shoghi Effendi, den Hiiter desselben, iibertragenen Be-
fugnisse, Verantwortlichkeiten, Rechte, Vorrechte und Pflichten von dem vorgenannten
Nationalen Geistigen Rat und seinen ordnungsmlssig bestellten Nachfolgern gemass
dieser Treuhandschaftserklhung ausgeubt, verwaltet und fortgefuhrt werden sollen.
Die Annahme dieser Form des Zusammenschlusses, der Vereinigung und Gemein-
schaft und die Zulegung der Bezeichnung als Treuhander der Bahb'i in Deutschland und
Osterreich erfolgt durch den Nationalen Geistigen Rat als dem seit mehr als dreiund-
zwanzig Jahren bestehenden und verantwortlichen Verwaltungskorper einer Religionsge-
meinschaft. Infolge dieser Tatigkeit envachst dem Nationalen Geistigen Rat die Pflicht
zur Verwaltung der standig mannigfacher und umfangreicher werdenden Angelegen-
heiten und Vermogenswerte der BahB'i in Deutschland und Osterreich, weshalb wir als
dessen Mitglieder es fur wiinschenswert und notwendig erachten, unserer gemeinsamen
Tatigkeit eine fester umrissene, gesetzmassige Form zu geben. Wir tun dies in volliger
Einmutigkeit und in voller Erkenntnis der damit geschaffenen heiligen Bindung. Wir
anerkennen fur uns und unsere Nachfolger in dieser Treuhandschaft die erhabene re-
ligiose Richtschnur, die fur Bahi'i-Verwaltungskorperschaften in dem Worte Bah2u'-
116h's zum Ausdruck kommt: ,,Seid Treuhander des Barmherzigen unter den Menschen"
und suchen den Beistand Gottes und Seine Fiihrung, damit wir dieser Ermahnung folgen
konnen.
10. Februar 1935

ENTSCHLIESSUNG GEISTIGEN
DES NATIONALEN RATES

Der Nationale Geistige Rat der Bahi'i in Deutschland und Osterreich e. V. musste sich
zufolge einer staatspolizeilichen Anordnung vom 7. Juni 1937 auflosen. Am 7. April
1946 hat sich der Nationale Geistige Rat der BahB'i in Deutschland und ~sterreichge-
mzss der bis 1937 angewandten Treuhandschaftserklarungund Satzung von neuem kon-
stituiert.
Da die Treuhandschaftserklarung und Satzung des Nationalen Geistigen Rates der
BahB'i der Vereinigten Staaten schon bisher fur die administrative Ordnung der deut-
schen Bahi'i-Gemeinde als Vorbild dienie, hat der Nationale Geistige Rat der BahB'i in
Deutschland und Osterreich e. V., der am 18. Juni 1949 gew'alt wurde und sich am 20.
Juni 1949 konstituierte, am 8. Oktober 1949 beschlossen, seine Treuhandschaftserkla-
rung und Satzung der neuen Fassung des Nationalen Geistigen Rates der BahB'i in den
Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika, einschliesslich aller Erganzungen und Anderungen bis
408 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

16. Juli 1949, sinngemass anzugleichen. Vorliegende Fassung wurde vom Nationalen
Geistigen Rat am 1. April 1950 verabschiedet.
Dr. Eugen Schmidt, Vorsitzender; Paul Gollmer, stellvertretender Vorsitzender;
Ruprecht Kruger, Sekretar; Albrecht Nagel, Rechner; Anna Grossmann;
Julius Henseler; Gunther Heyd; Dr. Adelheid Wger; Adolf Spieth.

Die genannte Treuhandgemeinschaft fuhrt die Bezeichnung ,,Der Nationale Geistige
Rat der Bahi'i in Deutschland und Osterreich e. V."

Wir teilen die Ideale unserer Mit-BahPi und arbeiten mit ihnen an der Aufrichtung,
Erhaltung und Forderung der geistigen, erziehlichen und menschenfreundlichen Lehren
menschlicher Bruderschaft, strahlenden Glaubens, erhabenen Charakters und selbstloser
Liebe, wie sie im Leben und in den Ausserungen aller Propheten und Botschafter Gottes,
der Begriinder der Offenbarungsreligionen in der Welt, geoffenbart und mit erneuter
Kraft und allumfassender Geltung fur die Gegebenheiten dieses Zeitalters durch das
Leben und die Worte Bahi'u'llLh's verkundet worden sind. Wir erkliren als Zweck und
Gegenstand dieser Treuhandgemeinschaft die Verwaltung der Angelegenheiten der Sache
Bahi'u'llLh's zum Besten der Bahi'i in Deutschland und Osterreich gemass den von
Bah$u'll&h geschaffenen und eingefuhrten, von 'Abdu'l-BahL naher bestimmten und
erliuterten und von Shoghi Effendi und dessen nach dem Willen und Testament 'Abdu'l-
Bahi's ordnungsmassig eingesetzten Nachfolger und Nachfolgern erweiterten und ange-
wandten Grundsatzen fur die BahB'i-Zugehorigkeitund -Verwaltung.
Der Erfiillung dieses Zweckes sollen Andachtszusammenkiinfte, offentliche Versamm-
lungen und Zusammenkiinfte erziehlichen, menschenfreundlichen und geistigen Charak-
ters, die Veroffentlichung von Buchern, Zeitschriften und Zeitungen, die Errichtung von
Tempeln allgemeiner Anbetung und anderer Einrichtungen und Bauten fur menschen-
freundliche Dienste, die fjberwachung, Vereinheitlichung, Forderung und allgemeine
Verwaltung der Angelegenheiten der BahL'i in Deutschland und Bsterreich in Erfiillung
ihrer religiosen Dienste, Pflichten und Ideale sowie jedes sonstige diesen Zielen oder einem
von ihnen forderliche Mittel dienen.
Weiterer Zweck und Gegenstand dieser Treuhandgemeinschaft ist:
a) das Recht, mit irgendwelchen Personen, Unternehmungen, Vereinigungen, priva-
ten, offentlichen oder gemeindlichen Korperschaften, dem Staat oder irgend-
welchen seiner Lander, Gebiete oder mit irgendwelchen fremden Regierungen in
jeder Art und Weise Vertrage abzuschliessen, zu vollziehen und zu erfullen, die
zur Forderung der Ziele dieser Treuhandschaft dienen, und im Zusammenhang
damit und bei allen Verrichtungen, die im Rahmen dieser Treuhandschaft erfol-
gen, alles und jedes tun, was eine Gesellschaft oder naturliche Person zu tun oder
auszuiiben vermag und was gegenwartig oder kiinftig vom Gesetz zugelassen ist,
b) bei allen durch Gesetz oder anderswie errichteten Verbanden oder Nachliissen und
sonstigen letztwilligen Verfugungen in Verbindung mit Schenkungen, Vermacht-
nissen oder Auflassungen jeder Art, in welchen ein oder mehrere Treuhinder in
irgend einem Teil der Welt sowohl, als auch in Deutschland und ~sterreichbestellt
werden, aufzutreten und als empfangsberechtigt zu gelten und Schenkungen, Ver-
machtnisse oder Auflassungen in Geld oder sonstigen Vermogenswerten anzuneh-
men,
c) alles und was immer in den schriftlichen Ausserungen Bahi'u'llLh's, 'Abdu'l-BahB's,
Shoghi Effendi's und seiner ordnungsmassigen Nachfolger, durch die den Nationa-
len Geistigen Riten gewisse Spruchrechte, Befugnisse und Gerechtsame gewahrt
sind, an verschiedenen Zwecken und Zielen niedergelegt ist und
d) gemeinhin alles zu tun und zu bewirken, was nach Ansicht der benannten Treu-
hander, d. h. des Nationalen Geistigen Rates der Bahi'i in Deutschland und Bster-
THE W O R L D O R D E R OF B A H A ' U ' L L A H 409

reich zur Forderung der vollstkhdigen und erfolgreichen Verwaltung dieser Treu-
handgemeinschaft erforderlich, geeignet und von Vorteil ist.

1. Abschnitt. Allen Personen, Unternehmungen, Korperschaften und Vereinigungen
gegeniiber, die den Treuhtindern, d. h. dem Nationalen Geistigen Rat und seinen Mit-
gliedern in ihrer Eigenschaft als solche Kredit gewahren, VertrQe mit ihnen schliessen
oder irgendwelche Anspriiche gegen sie, gleichviel welcher Art, ob rechtlich oder billig,
zu Recht oder zu Unrecht, haben, gilt lediglich das Treuhandvermogen und der Treu-
handbesitz als Masse fur Zahlung oder Sicherstellung bezw. fur die Begleichung irgend-
welcher Schulden, Ersatzanspruche, Auflagen und Bescheide oder irgendwelcher Betrage,
die in sonstiger Weise seitens der Treuhinder geschuldet oder zahlbar werden konnten,
so dass weder die Treuhinder, noch irgendeiner von ihnen, noch irgendeiner ihrer kraft
dieses ernannten Beauftragten oder Vertreters, noch irgendwelche hierin genannte
Berechtigte, sei es einzeln gemeinsam, personlich dafiir haften.
2. Abschnitt. Alle Bescheinigungen, Schuldanerkenntnisse, Antrage, schriftlichen
Verpflichtungen und VertrHge oder sonstigen Vereinbarungen und Urkunden, die im
Rahmen dieser Treuhandschaft getroffen oder gegeben werden, werden ausdrucklich
vom Nationalen Geistigen Rat als Treuh'ander durch dessen ordnungsmassig ermHchtigte
Beauftragte und Vertreter vollzogen.

Die Treuhander, d. h. der Nationale Geistige Rat, nehmen fur die Durchfiihrung der
ihm in dieser Treuhandschaftserklarung anvertrauten Obliegenheiten die zur Festlegung
und Erledigung der eigenen Verwaltungsaufgaben wie auch derjenigen der verschiedenen
ortlichen und sonstigen Gliederungen, die die BahL'i in Deutschland und dsterreich ver-
korpern, erforderlichen Satzungen, Bestimmungen und Dienstvorschriften gembs den
Zwecken dieser Einrichtung und in Urbereinstimmung mit den seitherigen ausdruck-
lichen, den BahL'i in Deutschland und ~sterreichbereits bekannten und von ihnen in der
Fiihrung und Handhabung ihrer religiosen Angelegenheiten iibernornmenen Weisungen
Shoghi Effendi's, des Huters des BahL'i-Glaubens, an.

Die HauptgeschHftsstelle dieser Treuhandgemeinschaft befindet sich an demjenigen
Ort, der durch den Nationalen Geistigen Rat von Zeit zu Zeit bestimmt wird.

Das Siege1 dieser Treuhandgemeinschaft besitzt runde Form und zeigt folgende In-
schrift :
Der Nationale Geistige Rat der BahP'i in Deutschland
und dsterreich e. V. Treuhandschaftserklarung 1935.

ARTIKEL
VII
Diese Treuhandschaftserkl5rung kann durch absoluten Mehrheitsbeschluss des Na-
tionalen Geistigen Rates der Bahi'i in Deutschland und dsterreich in jeder besonderen
Versammlung, die zu diesem Zwecke ordnungsmHssig einberufen worden ist, ergHnzt
werden, vorausgesetzt, dass mindestens dreissig Tage vor dem fur die Versammlung fest-
gesetzten Zeitpunkt eine Abschrift der vorgeschlagenen Erganzung oder Ergkhzungen an
jedes Ratsmitglied durch den Sekretzr mittels eingeschriebenen Briefes versandt wird.
410 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

SATZUNG
DES NATIONALEN
GEISTIGEN
RATES

Der Nationale Geistige Rat soll in Erfiillung seiner geheiligten Pflichten im Rahmen
dieses Treuhandverhiiltnisses ausschliessliches Spruch- und Hoheitsrecht iiber jede Tatig-
keit und alle Angelegenheiten der BahPi-Sache in Deutschland und Osterreich unter
Einschluss der Oberhoheit in bezug auf die Verwaltung dieser Treuhandschaft haben. Er
soll darnach streben, die (nachstehend erlluterte) vielgestaltige Tatigkeit der ortlichen
Geistigen Rite sowie diejenigen der einzelnen BahL'i in Deutschland und Osterreich an-
zuspornen, zu vereinigen und gleichzuordnen, und sie in jeder nur moglichen Weise in
der Forderung der Einheit der Menschheit unterstiitzen. Ihm obliegt die Anerkennung
derartiger ortlicher Rate, die Priifung der ortlichen Mitgliederrollen, die Einberufung
der Jahrestagung oder besonderer Versammlungen und die Einsetzung der Abgeordneten
zur Jahrestagung und ihre ziffernmassige Verteilung unter den verschiedenen Wahlbe-
zirken. Er soll samtliche nationalen Bahi'i-Ausschusse ernennen und die Veroffent-
lichung und Verteilung von Bahi'i-Schrifttum, die Uberpriifung aller die BahL'i-Sache
betreffenden Schriften, den Bau und die Verwaltung des Mas_hriqu'l-Ad_hk6rYs und seiner
Nebeneinrichtungen und die Erhebung und Verwendung aller Gelder zur Fortfuhrung
dieser Treuhandschaft iiberwachen. Er soll entscheiden, ob irgendwelche Angelegenheiten
dem Bereiche seines eigenen Spruchrechtes oder demjenigen eines artlichen Geistigen
Rates angehoren. Er soll in Fallen, die ihm geeignet und notwendig erscheinen, Berufun-
gen aus Entscheidungen ortlicher Geistiger Rate annehmen und soll das Recht zur end-
giiltigen Entscheidung in allen Fallen haben, in denen die Befahigung eines einzelnen
oder einer Gruppe, standig das Wahlrecht auszuiiben ode^ Mitglied der Bahi'i-Gemein-
schaft zu sein, in Frage steht. Er soll ferner die Bahi'i in Deutschland und Osterreich
uberall vertreten, wo es sich um die Zusammenarbeit und geistige Betatigung mit den
BahS'i anderer Lander handelt, und sol1 das alleinige Wahlorgan der Bahi'i in Deutsch-
land und OstZrreich bei Bildung des in den Heiligen Schriften der Sache vorgesehenen
Universalen Hauses der Gerechtigkeit sein.
Vor allem aber soll der Nationale Geistige Rat stets jene Stufe der Einheit in Erge-
benheit gegenuber der Offenbarung BahL'uyll&h'serstreben, die die Bestatigung des Heili-
gen Geistes anzieht und den Rat zum Dienste an der Begriindung des Grossten Friedens
fihig machen wird. Bei allen seinen Beratungen und Handlungen soll der Nationale
Geistige Rat als gottlichen Fuhrer und Massstab standig die Ausser~~ng BahQ'u'llhh's vor
Augen haben :
,,Es geziemt ihnen (d. h. den Geistigen Raten), die Vertrauten des Barmherzigen unter
den Menschen zu sein und sich fur Gottes auserwahlte Huter von allein, was auf Erden
ist, zu halten. Es obliegt ihnen, miteinander zu beraten und auf die Belange der Diener
Gottes acht zu haben, um Seiner Selbst willen, wie sie auf die eigenen Belange achten,
und das zu wshlen, was geziemend ist und schicklich."

Die Bahi'i in Deutschland und Osterreich, zu deren Gunsten diese Treuhandschaft
errichtet ist, soll aus allen in Deutschland und Osterreich in den verschiedenen Landern
und Verwaltungsgebieten wohnhaften Personen bestehen, die vom Nationalen Geistigen
Rat als den Erfordernissen fur die Mitgliedschaft in der BahPi-Gemeinschaft gem5ss
den folgenden, durch den Huter des Glaubens festgelegten Fahigkeiten anerkannt sind:
a) volle Anerkennung der Stufe des B6b als Vorliufer, von BahC'uYll6hals Be-
griinder und von 'Abdu'l-Bah6 d s wahres Vorbild der Bahi'i-Religion; vorbehdt-
lose Annahme von allem und Unterordnung unter alles, was durch ihre Feder
geoffenbart worden ist; treues und standhaftes Festhalten an allen Teilen des ge-
heiligten Willens 'Abdu'l-BahPs und enge Verbindung sowohl mit dem Geiste als
auch mit der Form der Bahi'i-Venvaltung in der ganzen Welt.
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 41 1

b) Vollendung des 21. Lebensjahres.
c) Glaubenserklarung gegenuber dem vom Nationalen Geistigen Rat anerkannten
ortlichen Geistigen Rat, in dessen Rechtsbereich er wohnhaft ist, sowie Eintragung
bei diesem.
d) Glaubenserklarung gegenuber dem Nationalen Geistigen Rat, in der fur die Mit-
gliedschaft vorgesehenen Form fur ausserhalb eines solchen ortlichen Rechtsbe-
reiches wohnhafte Personen.

Der Nationale Geistige Rat soll aus neun aus dem Kreise der Bah6'i in Deutschland
und Osterreich gewahlten Mitgliedern bestehen, die von den genannten BahL'i in der
weiter unten beschriebenen Weise gewahlt werden und fiir die Dauer eines Jahres oder
bis zur Wahl ihrer Nachfolger im Amte bleiben sollen.

Die geschaftsfiihrenden Mitglieder des Nationalen Geistigen Rates sollen aus einem
Vorsitzenden, stellvertretenden Vorsitzenden, Sekretar und Rechner und anderen Beauf-
tragten bestehen, die sonst noch fur die geeignete Fiihrung seiner Geschafte fur notig
erachtet werden mogen. Die geschaftsfiihrenden Mitglieder sollen mit absoluter Stim-
menmehrheit des Rates in geheimer Abstimmung gewahlt werden.

Die erste Versamnilung eines neugewahlten Nationalen Geistigen Rates soll durch
dasjenige Mitglied einberufen werden, das bei der Wahl die hochste Stimmenzahl erhal-
ten hat, oder, soweit zwei oder mehr Mitglieder die gleiche hochste Stimmenzahl auf-
weisen, durch das unter diesen ausgeloste Mitglied. Dieses Mitglied soll den Vorsitz bis
zur Wahl des standigen. Vorsitzenden fuhren. Alle folgenden Sitzungen sollen durch den
Sekretar des Rates auf Ersuchen des Vorsitzenden oder, bei dessen Abwesenheit oder
Verhinderung, des stellvertretenden Vorsitzenden oder dreier beliebiger Ratsmitglieder
einberufen werden, wobei jedoch die Jahrestagung des Rates, wie weiterhin festgelegt, in
bezug auf Zeitpunkt und Ort von dem Rat durch absoluten Mehrheitsbeschluss festzu-
legen ist.

Der Nationale Geistige Rat sol1 beschlussfahig sein, sobald funf Mitglieder desselben
in einer Sitzung anwesend sind, und die durch diese gefassten, absoluten Mehrheits-
beschliisse sollen gelten, soweit diese Satzung nichts anderes bestimmt, in gebiihrendem
Hinblick auf den in der Einrichtung eines Geistigen Rates enthaltenen Grundsatz der
Einheit und aufrichtigen Gemeinschaft als ausreichend zur Fiihrung der Geschafte.
Die Verhandlungen und Entscheidungen des Nationalen Geistigen Rates sind bei jeder
Sitzung durch den Sekretar zu protokollieren, der den Ratsmitgliedern nach jeder Sitzung
Abschriften der Protokolle zustellen und die Protokolle unter den offiziellen Urkunden
des Rates aufbewahren soll.

ARTIKEL
VII
Wo immer in Deutschland und bterreich, in einer Stadt oder einer landlichen Ge-
meinde, die Zahl der darin wohnenden, vom Nationalen Geistigen Rat anerkannten
BahVi neun iibersteigt, konnen diese am 21. April eines Jahres zusammenkommen und
mit relativer Stimmenmehrheit eine ortliche Venvaltungskorperschaft von neun Personen
als Geistigen Rat der betreffenden Gemeinde wahlen. Jeder solche Geistige Rat sol1
412 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

darauf alljahrlich an jedem folgenden 21. Tag des April gewahlt werden. Die Mitglieder
sollen fiir die Dauer eines Jahres und bis zur Wahl und Anerkennung ihrer Nachfolger
im Amte bleiben.
Soweit dagegen die Zahl der Bah6'i im Bereich eines bestatigten Verwaltungsgebietes
genau neun betragt, konnen sich diese am 21. April eines Jahres oder in den nachfolgen-
den Jahren durch gemeinsame Erklarung zu einem ortlichen Geistigen Rat konstituieren.
Durch Beurkundung einer solchen Erklarung seitens des Sekretars des Nationalen Geisti-
gen Rates soll der besagte Neunerrat als mit allen Rechten, Vorrechten und Pflichten
eines ortlichen Geistigen Rates, wie sie in dieser Satzung festgelegt sind, eingesetzt
gelten.
1. Abschnitt. Jeder neugewahlte ortliche Geistige Rat soll sofort gemks den in den
Artikeh IV and V dieser Satzung enthaltenen Anweisungen iiber die Wahl seiner ge-
schiftsfiihrenden Mitglieder verfahren, die aus einem Vorsitzenden, stellvertretenden
Vorsitzenden, Sekretb und Rechner und was der Rat sonst fiir die Fiihrung seiner
Geschafte und die Erfiillung seiner geistigen Pflichten an Beauftragten fur notig erachten
mag, bestehen. Unmittelbar darnach soll der gewahlte Sekretb dem Sekretar des Na-
tionalen Geistigen Rates die Namen der Mitglieder des neugewahlten Rates und eine
Liste seiner geschaftsfiihrenden Mitglieder iibermitteln.
2. Abschnitt. Die allgemeinen Befugnisse und Pflichten eines ortlichen Geistigen
Rates sollen so sein, wie sie sich aus den Schriften BahL'u'llih's, 'Abdu'l-BahL's und
Shoghi Effendi's ergeben.
3. Abschnitt. Unter die weiteren besonderen Pflichten eines ortlichen Geistigen
Rates soll das volle Spruchrecht iiber alle Bahb'i-Veranstaltungen und -Angelegenheiten
innerhalb der ortlichen Gemeinde, unbeschadet der hierin erklarten ausschliesslichen
Oberhoheit des Nationalen Geistigen Rates fallen.
4. Abschnitt. Ausfallende Mitglieder eines ortlichen Geistigen Rates sollen auf einer
zu diesem Zwecke durch den Rat ordnungsmassig einberufenen, besonderen Gemeinde-
versammlung durch Wahl erganzt werden. Falls die Zahl der ausfallenden Mitglieder
hoher als vier ist, so dass die Beschlussfahigkeit des ortlichen Rates unmoglich ist, soll
die Wahl unter der Oberaufsicht des Nationalen Geistigen Rates vorgenommen werden.
5. Abschnitt. Die Geschafte des ortlichen Rates sollen in gleicher Weise gefiihrt
werden, wie oben in Artikel VI fur die Beratungen des Nationalen Geistigen Rates fest-
gelegt ist.
6 . Abschnitt. Der ortliche Rat soll die Eignung jedes Mitgliedes der BahL'i-Gemeinde
vor dessen Zulassung als wahlberechtigtes Mitglied iiberpriifen und gutheissen, doch
kann jeder, der mit der Entscheidung des ortlichen Geistigen Rates iiber seine BahL'i-
Fahigkeiten unzufrieden ist, gegen die Entscheidung beim Nationalen Geistigen Rat
Berufung einlegen, der den Fall aufgreifen und endgiiltig dariiber entscheiden soll.
7. Abschnitt. Am oder vor dem ersten Tag im November jedes Jahres soll der
Sekretar jedes ortlichen Rates dem Sekretar des Nationalen Geistigen Rates eine ord-
nungsmassig beglaubigte Liste der stimmberechtigten Mitglieder der ortlichen Bahgi-
Gemeinde zur Unterrichtung und Gutheissung durch den Nationalen Geistigen Rat ein-
senden.
8. Abschnitt. AUe sich innerhalb einer ortlichen BahL'i-Gemeinde ergebenden An-
gelegenheiten von rein ortlichem Interesse, die nicht die nationalen Belange der Sache
beruhren, sollen in erster Instanz dem Spruchrecht des betreffenden ortlichen Geistigen
Rates unterstehen, doch liegt die Entscheidung dariiber, ob in einem besonderen Fall
durch die Angelegenheit die Belange und die Wohlfahrt der nationalen Bahsi-Gemein-
schaft beriihrt werden, b e h Nationalen Geistigen Rat.
9. Abschnitt. Jedem Mitglied einer BahL'i-Gemeincle steht es frei, gegen eine Ent-
scheidung seixies Geistigera Rates beim Nationalen Geistigen Rat Ben~fungeinzulegen,
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 413

der dariiber befinden sol], ob er die Sache zur Entscheidung aufgreifen oder sie beim
ortlichen Geistigen Rat zur nochmaligen Erwagung belassen will. Greift der Nationale
Geistige Rat die Sache zur Entscheidung auf, so sol1 seine Findung endgultig sein.
10. Abschnitt. Bestehen innerhalb einer BahPi-Gemeinde Meinungsverschiedenheiten,
die nicht durch die Bemiihungen des ortlichen Geistigen Rates beigelegt werden konnen,
so ist die Angelegenheit durch den Geistigen Rat dem Nationalen Geistigen Rate zur
Erwagung zu iiberweisen, dessen Vorgehen in der Sache dann endgiiltig sein sol].
11. Abschnitt. Alle Streitfragen zwischen zwei oder mehreren ortlichen Geistigen
Raten oder zwischen Mitgliedern verschiedener Bahi'i-Gemeinden sollen in erster Instanz
dem Nationalen Geistigen Rate unterbreitet werden, der bei allen derartigen Angelegen-
heiten das erste und letzte Spruchrecht haben soll.
12. Abschnitt. Der Rechtsbereich eines ortlichen Geistigen Rates in bezug auf die
ortliche Zustandigkeit der Mitgliedschaft und Wahlberechtigung eines Glaubigen in einer
BahB'i-Gemeinde sol1 der durch die verwaltungsrechtlichen Grenzen einer Stadt oder einer
landlichen Gemeinde bestimmten Gebiete entsprechen.
Alle Auffassungsverschiedenheiten in bezug auf das Rechtsgebiet eines ortlichen Geisti-
gen Rates oder beziiglich der Angliederung irgend eines Bahi'i oder einer Gruppe von
Bahi'i in Deutschland und ijsterreich sind dem Nationalen Geistigen Rat zu unterbreiten,
dessen Entscheidung in der Sache endgiiltig sein soll.

ARTIKEL
VIII
Die Mitglieder des Nationalen Geistigen Rates sollen in einer Jahresversammlung
gewalt werden, die als die Nationaltagung der BahL'i von Deutschland und ~sterreich
bezeichnet wird.
Zeitpunkt und Ort fur die Abhaltung dieser Tagung ist durch den Nationalen Geistigen
Rat zu bestimmen. Die Nationaltagung sol1 sich gemeinschaftlich zusammensetzen aus
den Vertretern, die nach dem Verhaltniswahlrecht von den Glaubigen der einzelnen
Liinder, Kreise oder Bezirke gewahlt sind sowie aus den Mitgliedern des Nationalen
Geistigen Rates.
Der Nationale Geistige Rat gibt den Zeitpunkt der Jahreszusammenkunft 60 Tage im
voraus bekannt, und zwar in der
Einberufung der National-Tagung,
die die Zahl der Abgeordneten bekannt gibt, wie sie den verschiedenen Wahlbezirken im
Verhaltnis zu der Anzahl der in diesen wohnhaften BahL'i zugeteilt ist, bei einer Ge-
samtzahl von 38 Abgeordneten fur die BahB'i von Deutschland und ijsterreich.
1. Abschnitt. Alle Tagungsabgeordneten sollen mit relativer Stimmenmehrheit ge-
wshlt werden. BahPi, die durch Krankheit oder andere unvermeidliche Griinde verhin-
dert sind, an der Wahl personlich teilzunehmen, sollen das Recht haben, ihren Stimm-
zettel durch die Post der Versammlung zu iibermitteln. Die Zusammenkunft, die in jedem
Land, Verwaltungs- oder Wahlbezirk abgehalten wird, soll durch den Nationalen Geisti-
gen Rat einberufen und durch die BahPi durchgefiihrt werden, die gemass einem Ver-
fahren daran teilnehmen, das einheitlich durch die erwahnte Korperschaft niedergelegt
sein kann. Unmittelbar nach der Zusammenkunft sol1 ein beglaubigter Wahlbericht, der
Name und Anschrift jedes Abgeordneten enthalt, dem Nationalen Geistigen Rat iibermit-
telt werden.
2. Abschnitt. Alle fur die Tagung gewahlten Abgeordneten miissen anerkannte Bahi'i
und Bewohner des von ihnen vertretenen Landes, Verwaltungs- oder Wahlbezirkes sein.
3. Abschnitt. Die Rechte und Vorrechte eines Abgeordneten konnen weder iibertra-
gen noch durch einen Stellvertreter ausgeiibt werden.
4. Abschnitt. Die Anerkennung und Einsetzung der Abgeordneten zur Nationalta-
gung sol1 vom Nationalen Geistigen Rat vollzogen werden.
414 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

5. Abschnitt. Soweit Abgeordnete nicht personlich an der Tagung teilnehmen kon-
nen, sollen sie das Recht haben, ihre Stimmzettel zur Wahl der Mitglieder des Nationalen
Geistigen Rates zu den vom Nationalen Geistigen Rat festzusetzenden Bedingungen zu
iibermitteln.
6. Abschnitt. Halt der Nationale Geistige Rat in irgendeinem Jahre das Zusammen-
rufen der Abgeordneten zur Nationaltagung fur undurchfiihrbar oder nicht geraten, so
setzt der Nationale Geistige Rat die postalischen Mittel und Wege fur die jahrliche Wahl
und Durchfiihrung anderer wesentlicher Geschifte der Nationaltagung fest.
7. Abschnitt. Das auf der Nationaltagung anwesende vorsitzende, geschaftsfiihrende
Mitglied des Nationalen Geistigen Rates soll die Abgeordneten zusammenrufen, die zur
endgiiltigen Konstituierung der Versammlung schreiten, einen Vorsitzenden, einen Sekre-
tar und was weiter an Beauftragten fur die geeignete Fiihrung der Geschafte der Tagung
erforderlich ist, durch geheime Abstimmung wahlen sollen.
8. Abschnitt. Die Hauptarbeit der Jahresversammlung soll die Beratung iiber die
Bahi'i-Tatigkeit, die Plane und Arbeitsweise sowie die Wahl der neun Mitglieder des
Nationalen Geistigen Rates sein. Mitglieder des Nationalen Geistigen Rates, ob als Ab-
geordnete gewahlt oder nicht, konnen an der Beratung und Diskussion vollen Anted
nehmen, jedoch diirfen nur Abgeordnete an der Wahl der Tagungsbeauftragten oder an
der jahrlichen Wahl der Mitglieder der Nationalen Korperschaft teilnehmen. Alle Hand-
lungen durch die Abgeordneten, mit Ausnahme der Konstituierung der Tagung, der
Ubermittlung von Botschaften an den Hiiter und der Wahl des Nationalen Geistigen
Rates, sollen Ratschlage und Empfehlungen zur Erwagung durch &en besagten Rat sein,
da endgiiltige Entscheidung iiber alle Angelegenheiten, die im Bereich der BahL'i-Religion
in Deutschland und dsterreich liegen, allein in jener Korperschaft getroffen werden.
9. Abschnitt. Die auf der Nationaltagung anzunehmende Geschaftsordnung soll
durch den Nationalen Geistigen Rat vorbereitet werden, doch konnen alle auf die Sache
beziiglichen Angelegenheiten, die von irgendeinem Abgeordneten vorgebracht werden,
auf Antrag, iiber den abzustimmen ist, als Punkt der Tagungsberatungen aufgenommen
werden.
10. Abschnitt. Die Wahl der Mitglieder des Nationalen Geistigen Rates soll mit rela-
tiver Stimmenmehrheit durch die vom ausscheidenden Nationalen Geistigen Rat aner-
kannten Abgeordneten erfolgen, d. h. als gewahlt gelten diejenigen neun Personen, die
im ersten Wahlgang der bei der Tagung anwesenden Abgeordneten sowie derjenigen
Abgeordneten, deren Stimme dem Sekretar des Nationalen Geistigen Rates postalisch
iibermittelt worden ist, die grosste Anzahl Stimmen erhalten haben. Falls infolge Stim-
mengleichheit die volle Mitgliederzahl nicht im ersten Wahlgang erreicht wird, finden
ein oder mehrere weitere Wahlgange fur die Personen, welche gleiche Stimmenzahl er-
halten haben, statt, bis samtliche neun Mitglieder gewahlt sind.
11. Abschnitt. Alle bei der Nationaltagung offiziell behandelten Angelegenheiten sol-
len unter die Protokolle des Nationalen Geistigen Rates aufgenommen und mit diesen
verwahrt werden.
12. Abschnitt. Freigewordene Mitgliedssitze des Nationalen Geistigen Rates sollen mit
relativer Stimmenmehrheit seitens der Abgeordneten der Nationaltagung, die den Rat
gewahlt haben, neu besetzt werden, wobei die Wahl in brieflicher oder irgend sonstiger
durch den Nationalen Geistigen Rat bestimmter Form zu erfolgen hat.

Soweit dem Nationalen Geistigen Rat durch diese Satzung in irgendwelchen, die Ta-
tigkeit und die Angelegenheiten der Bahgi-Sache in Deutschland und Osterreich betref-
fenden Fragen ausschliessliches und hochstrichterliches Spruchrecht sowie vollziehende
Oberhoheit iibertragen ist, gilt dies mit der Weisung, dass alle beziiglich solcher Fragen
getroffenen Entscheidungen oder erfolgten Massnahmen in jedem Falle dem Hiiter der
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 415

Sache oder dem Universalen Hause der Gerechtigkeit zur endgiiltigen Prufung und
Billigung zu unterbreiten sind.

Soweit Aufgaben und Befugnisse durch diese Satzung nicht ausdriicklich den orllichen
Geistigen Raten ubertragen sind, gelten sie als dem Nationalen Geistigen Rate verliehen,
wobei dieser Korperschaft das Recht zur Ubertragung solcher beliebiger Verrichtungen
und Befugnisse zusteht, die sie innerhalb ihres Spruchrechtes als fur ortliche Geistige
Rate erforderlich und ratsam erachtet.

Zur Wahrung des geistigen Charakters und Zweckes der Bahl'i-Wahlen soll weder der
Brauch der Wahlvorschlage noch irgendein sonstiges, eine stille und von Gebeten getra-
gene Wahl beeintrachtigendes Wahlverfahren aufkommen, so dass jeder W'hler fiir
niemanden stimmen soll, als wen ihm Gebet und Uberlegung eingegeben haben.
Zu den hervorragendsten und geheiligtsten Pflichten derer, die berufen werden, die
Angelegenheiten der Sache als Mitglieder ortlicher oder nationaler Geistiger Rate aufzu-
greifen, zu fuhren und gleichzuordnen, gehort:
auf jede nur mogliche Weise das Vertrauen und die Zuneigung derer zu gewinnen,
denen zu dienen sie das Vorrecht haben; die Meinungen, vorherrschenden Empfindun-
gen und die personliche Uberzeugung derjenigen, deren Wohlergehen zu fordern ihre
feierliche Pflicht ist, zu erforschen und sich mit ihnen vertraut zu machen; ihre E r w b
gungen und die allgemeine Fuhrung ihrer Angelegenheiten von verschlossener
Teilnahmslosigkeit, dem Anschein der Heimlichkeit, dem erstickenden Dunstkreis
diktatorischer Bestimmungen und von allen Worten und Handlungen zu reinigen, die
den Eindruck von Parteilichkeit, Selbstsucht und Vorurteilen erwecken konnen, und
unter Vorbehalt des geheiligten Rechtes endgiiltiger Entscheidung zur Besprechung
einzuladen, Beschwerden nachzugehen, Ratschllge zu begriissen und das Gefuhl der
gegenseitigen Abhangigkeit und Mitbeteiligung, des Verstandnisses und wechselseitigen
Vertrauens unter sich und allen ubrigen Bahl'i zu pflegen.

Diese Satzung kann vom Nationalen Geistigen Rat in jeder regelmassigen oder be-
sonderen Sitzung mit absoluter Stimmenmehrheit erganzt werden, vorausgesetzt, dass
mindestens vierzehn Tage vor dem fur die betreffende Versammlung festgesetzten Zeit-
punkt eine Abschrift der vorgeschlagenen Erganzung oder Erganzungen an jedes Rats-
mitglied vom Sekretar durch die Post gesandt wird.
In allen Fallen, in denen uber den durch den Wortlaut ausgedruckten Sinn dieser
Treuhandschaftserklarung und Satzung Unklarheit auftreten sollte, ist der englische
Wortlaut der Declaration of Trust and By Laws der Bahl'i der Vereinigten Staatenl zu
Rate zu ziehen.
1 Ausgabe von 1949.
Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the National Spiritual Assembly
of the BahPis 'Irfiq.
T H E W O R L D O R D E R OF BAHA'U'LLAH 417
418 THE BAHA'I WORLD
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 419
420 THE BAHA'I WORLD
THE W O R L D ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 421

I
I
422 THE BAHA'I WORLD
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH

CONSTITUCION

ASAMBLEA ESPIRITUAL NACIONAL DE LOS BAHA'fS
DE SUD-AMERICA
PREAMBULO

L A ASAMBLEA Espiritual Nacional de 10s BahS'is de Sud-America fuB establecida por
la Primera Convenci6n Anual Bahi'i celebrada en Lima, Perii, el 23 y 24 de Abril de
1951, compuesta de veintisiete delegados, representantes de 10s BahL'is de las comuni-
dades locales existentes en 10s paises de Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Colombia,
Ecuador, Paraguay, Perii, Uruguay y Venezuela.
La primera Convenci6n Anual BahPi de 10s Bahl'is de Sud-AmBrica, actuando con
la autoridad concedida a ella por Shoghi Effendi, Guardiin de la Fe BahB'i y su Cabeza
Internacional, llev6 a cab0 una elecci6n el 24 de Abril de 1951, en la que resultaron
nombrados :
Margot Worley, de Bahia, Brasil; Rangvald Taetz, de Montevideo, Uruguay; Manuel
Vera, de Lima, Peni; Gayle Woolson, de Cali, Colombia; Alejandro Reid, de Punta
Arenas, Chile; Eve Nicklin, de Callao, P e d ; Mercedes Sinchez, de Lima, Perb; Ed-
mund Miessler, de Sao Paulo, Brasil; y Esteban Canales, de Asuncibn, Paraguay; que-
dando establecida la Instituci6n y constituida por Bstos miembros esta Asamblea Espiri-
tual Nacional.
La Asamblea Espiritual Nacional ha sido reconocida y aprobada por el Guardiin de
la Fe. Esti facultada con 10s poderes, autoridad, responsabilidades y deberes concedidos
por las escrituras administrativas Bahi'is a todas las Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales.
La Asamblea Espiritual Nacional, actuando bajo su autoridad general como el cuerpo
supremo administrativo de 10s BahP'is de Sud-AmBrica, ha adoptado una Constituci6n
que establece sus varios poderes y deberes y 10s de las Asambleas Espirituales locales, y
ha publicado el texto para la informaci6n y guia de 10s BahCis que residen en el irea
de su jurisdicci6n.

Articulo 1.-La Asamblea Espiritual Nacional de 10s BahPis de Sud-AmBrica es una
instituci6n de la Fe Bahi'i establecida en el texto de las Escrituras de BahPu'llih, el
Fundador, descrita en las Escrituras de 'Abdu'l-Bahi, el Intbrprete de la religi6n de
BahPu'llih, y autorizada por Shoghi Effendi, el Guardiin de la Fe Bahi.'i, quien fub
nombrado en la Voluntad y Testamento de 'Abdu'l-Bahi. La Asamblea Nacional es un
cuerpo religioso de caricter internacional, que actba en obediencia a las leyes y autori-
dades civiles de 10s paises bajo su jurisdicci6n.
Articulo 2.-Los prop6sitos de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional son:
a) Promover 10s ideales espirituales, Bticos y humanitarios de la hermandad y coope-
raci6n humanas establecidos en las Escrituras Sagradas Bahi'is.
b) Administrar 10s asuntos de la FB BahPi para bien de 10s BahPis de Sud-AmCrica,
de acuerdo con 10s principios de afiliaci6n y administraci6n creados y establecidos
por BahPu'llih, definidos y explicados por 'Abdu'l-Bahi, y ampliados.y aplicados
por Shoghi Effendi, y su sucesor y sucesores debidamente constituidos bajo las
disposiciones de la Voluntad y Testamento de 'Abdu'l-Bahi.
Articulo 3.-El tBrmino de duraci6n de esta Instituci6n es perpetuo.
Arficulo 4.-El capital de la Institucicin estari formado por las contribuciones volun-
tarias de 10s BahPis de Sud-Amkrica.
424 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Articulo 5.-La Asamblea Espiritual Nacional se constituye con nueve miembros
elegidos entre 10s BahB'is de Sud-AmCrica en la forma dispuesta mis adelante y conti-
nuarin en el ejercicio de sus funciones por el period0 de un aiio, o hasta que sus suce-
sores Sean elegidos.
Articulo 6.-Los oficiales de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional serin el Presidente, el
Vice-Presidente, el Secretario y el Tesorero, y cualesquier otros que la Asamblea estime
necesarios designar para el buen desempeiio de sus funciones. Los oficiales serin elegi-
dos por mayoria de votos, de todos 10s miembros de la Asamblea, en votaci6n secreta.
Articulo 7.-La autoridad de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional emana del mayor
ndmero de votos de sus miembros, y esta autoridad, bajo ninguna circunstancia, podri
surgir solamente de alguno de sus miembros, a menos que, por mayoria de votos de la
Asamblea, se le haya otorgado autoridad especial.

Articulo 8.-La primera reuni6n de la nuevamente elegida Asamblea Espiritual Na-
cional seri convocada por el miembro que result6 electo con el mayor ndmero de votos,
y en caso de que dos o mis miembros hubiesen recibido el mismo niimero de votos,
entonces serB el miembro seleccionado entre ellos. Este miembro presidiri la reuni6n
hasta que se elija el Presidente. Todas las siguientes reuniones serin convocadas por el
Secretario de la Asamblea mediante autorizaci6n del Presidente o, en su ausencia o impo-
sibilidad, por el Vice-Presidente, o por cualesquiera otros tres miembros restantes de la
Asamblea; siempre que, sin embargo, la reuni6n anual de la Asamblea se efectuare en el
tiempo y lugar fijados por la mayoria de votos de la Asamblea, seg6n lo dispuesto rnis
adelante.
Articulo 9.-Habri quorum para las reuniones con la concurrencia de cinco ( 5 )
miembros de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional. La mayoria de votos de 10s presentes y
que constituyan quorum serin suficientes para diligenciar 10s asuntos, salvo por dispo-
sici6n contraria expuesta en esta Constituci6n, y debida consideraci6n a1 principio de
unidad y cordial fraternidad que entrafia la-Instituci6n de la Asamblea Espiritual. Las
transacciones y decisiones de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional serBn registradas en cada
reuni6n por el Secretario, quien suministrarL copias de las actas a 10s miembros de la
Asamblea despuks de cada reuni6n, y preservari las actas en 10s archivos oficiales de la
Asamblea.

CAPITULO
IV. MEDIOSPARA REALIZAR
LOS PROPOSITOS

Articulo 10.-Los Prop6sitos de la Institucibn se realizarin por medio de reuniones
devocionales; por reuniones y conferencias pdblicas de carBcter educacional, humanitario
y espiritual; por la publicaci6n de libros, revistas y peri6dicos; por la construccidn de
Casas de Adoracihn y otras instituciones y edificios de servicio humanitario; por la
direccicin, unificaci6n, foment0 y administraci6n en general de las actividades BahL'is en
Sud-AmQica en el desempeiio de sus funciones, deberes e ideales religiosos; y por
cualquer otro medio apropiado conducente a Cstos fines, o a cualquiera de ellos.

Articulo 11.-La Asamblea Espiritual Nacional, en el cumplimiento de sus deberes
sagrados, bajo esta Constitucibn, tendrL jurisdicci6n y autoridad exclusivas sobre todas
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 425

las actividades y asuntos de la FB BahL'i a travBs de Sud-AmBrica, y la autoridad su-
prema en la administraci6n de esta Constituci6n.
Articulo 12.-Tendrl el deber de estimular, unificar y coordinar las m6ltiples activi-
dades de las Asambleas Espirituales locales (definidas m h adelante) y de 10s BahL'is de
Sud-ArnBrica, y por todos 10s medios posibles, ayudarles a promover la unidad del gBnero
humano.
Articulo 13.-Tendrl a su cargo el reconocimiento de las Asambleas Espirituales.lo-
cales; el estudio de sus listas de miembros; la convocatoria de la Convencidn Anual a
reuniones especiales; el reconocimiento de 10s delegados a la Convenci6n Anual y la
decisi6n del niimero de delegados a que tienen derecho las Comunidades Bahi'is.
Articulo 14.-Nombrarl todos 10s comitks Bahi'is nacionales y dirigirL la publicaci6n
y distribuci6n de la literatura Bahi'i; la revisi6n de todos 10s escritos que conciernen a
la Fe BahL'i; la construcci6n y administracidn de Casas BahL'is de Adoracidn y sus ac-
tividades accesorias, y la colecta y gastos de todos 10s fondos de la Institucibn.
Articulo 15.-DecidirL si un asunto dado estL dentro de su propia jurisdiccidn o
dentro de la jurisdiccidn de una Asamblea Espiritual local.
Articulo 16.-En 10s casos en que la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional lo considere con-
veniente y necesario, ella estudiarl las apelaciones de las decisiones de las Asambleas
Espirituales locales, y tendrl el derecho de dictar la decisi6n final en todos 10s casos en
que estB en duda la condicidn de un individuo o grupo de continuar con su derecho a1
voto o a su calidad de miembro de la Comunidad BahL'i.
Articulo 17.-RepresentarL a 10s Bahi'is de Sud-AmBrica en todas las actividades
cooperativas y espirituales con 10s BahL'is de otros paises.
Articulo 18.-Serl el 6nico cuerpo electoral de 10s Bahi'is, dentro de su jurisdiccibn,
en la formacidn de la Casa Universal de Justicia estipulada en las Escrituras Sagradas
de la Fe Bahi'i.
Articulo 19.-Sobretodo, la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional se esforzarb, siempre, por
lograr un estado de unidad en la devocidn a la Revelaci6n de Bahi'u'llbh que atraerl las
confirmaciones del Espiritu Santo y capacidad para servir en el establecimiento de la
Mlxima Paz.
Articulo 20.-Entre 10s deberes n16s sobresalientes y sagrados que incumbe a aquellos
que han sido llamados a iniciar, dirigir y coordinar 10s asuntos de la Fe como miembros
de Asambleas Espirituales son:
1. Ganar por todos 10s medios a su alcance, la confianza y afecto de aquellos a
quienes tienen el privilegio de servir.
2. Investigar y familiarizarse con 10s puntos de vista, 10s sentimientos prevalecientes
y convicciones personales de aquellos cuyo bienestar es su solemne obligaci6n
fomentar.
3. Purificar sus deliberaciones y el desempeiio general de sus asuntos de toda actitud
de alejamiento egoista; de secreto; de una atm6sfera sofocante de imposici6n
dictatorial y de toda palabra y hecho que demuestre parcialidad, egocentrism0 y
prejuicios.
4. Aunque retienen en sus manos el derecho sagrado de la decisi6n final, deberln
invitar a la discusidn; a ventilar las quejas, recibir consejos y fomentar el sentido
de inter-dependencia y de fraternidad, de comprensi6n y de confianza mutua entre
ellos y 10s demL BahL'is.
Articulo 21.-En todas las deliberaciones y acciones, la Asamblea Espiritual Na-
cional tendrl constantemente ante ella como guia y norma Divinas la siguiente expresi6n
de BahL'u'l1lh:-"Les corresponde ser 10s fideicomisarios del Misericordioso entre 10s
hombres y considerarse com6 10s guardianes nombrados por Dios para todos 10s que
moran en la tierra. Les incumbe deliberar juntos y tomar en consideracihn 10s intereses
de 10s siervos de Dios, por El, como si fueran sus propios intereses, y escoger lo que sea
conveniente y correcto."
426 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Articulo 22.-La Asamblea Espiritual Nacional tendri el poder de ejecutar todos o
cualquiera de 10s varios prop6sitos y objetivos establecidos en las Escrituras de BahV-
u'llih, 'Abdu'l-Bahl y Shoghi Effendi, que otorgan a las Asambleas Espirituales Nacio-
nales alguna jurisdicci6n, poderes y derechos.
Articulo 23.-La Asamblea Espiritual Nacional tendrl el poder de hacer, en general,
todas las cosas y acciones que, a su juicio, Sean necesarias, apropiadas y benCficas para
promover la administraci6n completa y exitosa de esta Constituci6n.

VI. FACULTAD
CAPITULO CORPORATIVA
PARA CONTRATAR

Articulo 24.-La Asamblea Espiritual Nacional tendri la facultad de celebrar contra-
tos de toda indole en procura de 10s prop6sitos de esta Constituci6n con cualquier per-
sona, firma, asociaci6r1, corporaci6n, privadas, ptiblicas o municipales, o con cualquier
estado, territorio o colonia, o cualquier gobierno extranjero; y hari cualquiera o todas
las cosas que una persona natural o juridica pueda hacer o ejercer, y que estln autori-
zadas por la ley.
Articulo 25.-Podri ser nombrada beneficiaria de cualquier fideicomiso establecido
por la ley o de otro modo, o en testamento o en instrumento pGblico o privado; aceptar
donaciones, legados; recibir dinero u otras propiedades, sean muebles o inmuebles, en
cualquier parte del mundo, y de Sud-AmCrica en particular.
Articulo 26.-La Asamblea Espiritual Nacional tiene el poder para autorizar a cual-
quiera Asamblea Espiritual local existente dentro de su irea de jurisdicci6n para adqui-
rir y mantener propiedades como agentes de esta Asarnblea y para actuar en su nombre
bajo cualesquiera condiciones seiialadas a la Asamblea Espiritual local por esta Institu-
ci6n por escrito.
Articulo 27.-Todas las personas, firmas, corporaciones y asociaciones que concedan
crCdito, hagan contratos o tengan al@n reclamo contra la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional,
de cualquier caricter que sea, originado en un contrato o cuasi-contrato, presentarl su
reclamo a la Instituci6n para el pago o indemnizaci6n, pues, ni 10s nliembros de la
Instituci6n, ni sus oficiales o agentes nombrados por ellos, ni ningljn beneficiario o
beneficiarios nombrados en este documento, serin personalmente deudores.
Articulo 28.-Todo vale, bono, propuesta, obligaci6n o contrato por escrito u otro
acuerdo o instrumento hecho o dado bajo esta ConstituciBn, seri ejecutado estrictamente
por la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional, por medio de sus oficiales o agentes debidamente
autorizados, en nombre de la Asamblea.

Articulo 29.-Los BahPis de Sud-AmGica, para cuyo beneficio se ha establecido esta
Asamblea Espiritual Nacional, serin todas las personas residentes en Sud-AmCrica que
hayan cumplido, a satisfacci6n de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional, 10s requisitos exigi-
dos para tener la calidad de miembros en la Comunidad Bahb'i de acuerdo con las
siguientes normas expuestas por el Guardiin de la Fe Bahb'i:
a) Pleno reconocimiento de la posici6n del Bib como Precursor; de Bahi'u'llih como
Autor y de 'Abdu'l-Bahi como el Verdadero Ejemplar de la Religi6n Bahb'i;
aceptaci6n sin reservas y conformidad con todo lo que ha sido escrito por ellos;
adherencia fie1 y firme a cada una de las cllusulas de la sagrada Voluntad y Testa-
mento de 'Abdu'l-Bahi; y ,asociaci6n estrecha con el espiritu, tanto como con la
forma, de la Administraclon BahP'i a travCs del mundo.
b) Haber cumplido 21 aiios.
C) Haber hecho una declaraci6n de fe a la Asamblea local, y haber sido inscrito por
ella, si es residente en la irea de jurisdicci6n de cualquier Asamblea local recono-
cida por la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional.
d) Haber hecho una declaraci6n de fe a la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional bajo cuales-
quiera condiciones determinadas por ella, por aquellos que residen fuera de la
Brea de jurisdicci6n de una Asamblea local.
VIII. ASAMBLEAS
CAPITULO ESPIRITUALES
LOCALES
Articulo 30.-Cuando en una localidad de Sud-AmBrica, sea ciudad, pueblo o aldea,
el niimero de Bahl'is residentes reconocidos por la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional ex-
ceda de nueve, Cstos eligirin el dia 21 de Abril, por mayoria de votos, un cuerpo ad-
ministrativo local de nueve personas, conocido como la Asamblea Espiritual local de
10s BahPis de esa comunidad. Cada Asamblea Espiritual local seri elegida anual-
mente en lo sucesivo, el 21 de Abril. Los miembros durarin en sus puestos por un aiio,
o hasta la elecci6n de sus sucesores.
Articulo 31 .-Cuando el niimero de Bahi'is en cualquier irea civil autorizada sea
exactamente de nueve, Cstos el dia 21 de Abril, se constituirin en Asamblea Espiritual
local por declaraci6n mancomunada. A1 registrar esta declaraci6n el Secretario de la
Asamblea Espiritual Nacional, dicho cuerpo de nuevo quedari establecida con 10s
derechos, privilegios y deberes de una Asamblea Espiritual local, se@n lo expuesto en
esta Constituci6n.
Articulo 32.-Tanto las Asambleas Espirituales locales como 10s grupos Bahl'is y
creyentes aislados en Sud-America estin bajo la jurisdicci6n administrativa de la
Asarnblea Espiritual Nacional.
Articulo 33.-Los derechos, privilegios y deberes de una Asamblea Espiritual local
son:
Secci6n 1.-Cada Asamblea Espiritual local nuevamente elegida procederl inmedi-
atamente en la manera indicada en 10s Articulos 6 y 8 de esta Constituci6n a elegir sus
oficiales, o sea, un Presidente, un Vice-Presidente, un Secretario y un Tesorero, y cuales-
quier otros oficiales que la Asamblea estime necesarios para el ejercicio de sus funciones
y el cumplimiento de sus deberes espirituales. Inmediatamente despuBs, el Secretario
elegido transmitiri a1 Secretario de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional 10s nombres de 10s
miembros de la nuevamente elegida Asamblea local y una lista de sus oficiales.
Secci6n 2.-Los poderes y deberes en general de una Asamblea Espiritual local serin
segfin lo establecido en las Escrituras de Bahl'u'llih, 'Abdu'l-Bahi y Shoghi Effendi.
Secci6n 3.-Entre sus deberes especificos, una Asamblea Espiritual Local tendri juris-
dicci6n plena sobre todas las actividades y asuntos Bahl'is dentro de la Comunidad
local, sujeta, sin embargo, a la autoridad superior de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional,
segiin lo expuesto en esta Constituci6n.
Secci6n 4.-Las vacantes en una Asamblea Espiritual local se llenarin por elecci6n
en una reuni6n especial de la Comunidad Bahl'i local debidamente convocada por la
Asamblea para este prop6sit0, per0 en el evento de que el nfimero de vacantes excede
de cuatro, haciendo imposible el quorum de la Asamblea Local, la elecci6n se efectuari
bajo la direcci6n de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional.
Secci6n 5.-Los asuntos de la Asamblea Espiritual local se efectuarin en la misma
forma dispuesta para las deliberaciones de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional en el
Articulo 9.
Secci6n 6.-La Asamblea local estudiari y aprobari las condiciones de cada persona
antes de admitirla como miembro votante; per0 en 10s casos en que un aspirante estC
insatisfecho con la decisi6n de la Asamblea Espiritual local sobre sus condiciones de
miembro Bahs'i, aquBl podri apelar de la decisi6n a la Asamblea Nacional, la cual
tomari jurisdicci6n en el caso y dari la decisi6n final.
Secci6n 7.-El 1 " de Noviembre de cada aiio, o antes de esta fecha, el Secretario de
cada Asamblea local enviari a1 Secretario de la Asamblea Nacional una lista debida-
mente certificada de 10s miembros votantes de la Comunidad BahPi local para informa-
ci6n y aprobaci6n de la Asamblea Nacional.
sedcibn 8.-Todos 10s asuntos que se presenten dentro de una Comunidad Bahi'i
local, que Sean puramente de interis local y no afecten 10s intereses nacionales de la
Fe, estarin bajo la jurisdicci6n principal de la Asamblea Espiritual local de esa localidad;
per0 la decisi6n de si un asunto particular concierne al inter& y bienestar del cuerpo
Bahs'i nacional o n6, la hari la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional.
428 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Secci6n 9.-Cualquier miembro de una Comunidad Bahl'i local puede apelar de
una decisi6n de su Asamblea local a la Asamblea Nacional, la cual determinari si toma
la jurisdicci6n del asunto o lo deja para reconsideraci6n de la Asamblea local. En el
caso de que la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional asuma jurisdicci6n sobre el asunto, su
determinaci6n seri definitiva.
Secci6n 10.-Cuando ocurra alguna disenci6n dentro de una Comunidad local
Bahl'i de caricter tal, que no puede ser remediada por 10s esfuerzos de la Asamblea
Espiritual local, Bsta presentari la situacidn a la consideraci6n de la Asamblea Espiritual
Nacional, cuya acci6n en el asunto seri definitiva.
Secci6n 11.-Todos 10s asuntos que se presenten entre dos o m b Asambleas Espiri-
tuales locales, o entre miembros de diferentes Comunidades Bahl'is, serin sometidos,
desde el principio, a la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional, la cual tendrti jurisdicci6n original
y final en todos 10s asuntos de esta indole.
Secci6n 12.-La esfera de jurisdiccidn de una Asamblea Espiritual local, con respecto
a 10s requisites de residencia y derecho a1 voto de un miembro en cualquier Comunidad
Bahi'i serti el territorio incluido dentro de 10s limites civiles de la ciudad, pueblo o
aldea.
Cualquier diferencia de opini6n respecto a la esfera de jurisdicci6n de cualquier Asam-
blea Espiritual local o que concierne la afiliaci6n de cualquier BahC'i o grupo de
Bahl'is en Sud-ArnBrica, seri sometida a la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional, cuya decisi6n
sobre el asunto es definitiva.
Articulo 34.-Las funciones y deberes no atribuidos especificamente a las Asambleas
Espirituales locales en esta Constituci6n, se considerarib de competencia de la Asamblea
Espiritual Nacional, la cual esti autorizada para delegar tales funciones, y, 10s poderes
que estime necesarios y aconsejables, a las Asambleas Espirituales locales dentro de
su jurisdiccibn.

CAPITULO
IX. LA CONVENCION
ANUAL

Articulo 35.-Los miembros de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional serin elegidos en
una reuni6n anual que se llamari la Convenci6n de 10s BahVis de Sud-AmBrica. Esta
Convenci6n se llevari a cab0 en la fecha y lugar determinados por la Asamblea Espiritual
Nacional. La Convenci6n seri compuesta de 10s delegados elegidos por 10s Bahl'is de
las unidades electorales que serin definidas por la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional, de
acuerdo con el principio de representacibn proporcional, y de 10s miembros de la
Asamblea Espiritual Nacional.
Articulo 36.-La Asamblea Espiritual Nacional notificari a 10s miembros de la
Comunidad Bahi'i de la Convenci6n con debida anticipacibn y les informarti del niimero
de delegados asignados a las distintas unidades electorales.
Secci6n 1.-Todos 10s delegados a la Convenci6n serin elegidos por mayoria de
votos. Los delegados quienes, por enfermedad u otros motivos inevitables, no pudieran
asistir personalrnente a la eleccihn, tendrin el derecho de transmitir sus balotas por
correo. La reuni6n celebrada por cada unidad electoral para elegir 10s delegados ser6
convocada por la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional y dirigida por 10s Bahl'is presentes, de
acuerdo con cualquier procedimiento uniforme que dicho cuerpo haya establecido.
Inmediatamente despuCs de la reunibn, se transmitir6 a la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional
un informe certificado de la elecci6n avisando el nombre y direccidn de cada delegado.
Secci6n 2.-Todos 10s delegados reconocidos en la Convenci6n tendrin que ser
Bahi'is reconocidos y residentes de la irea de jurisdicci6n de las unidades electorales
que representan.
Secci6n 3.-Los derechos y privilegios de un delegado no podrin ser asignados a
otra persona ni podrin ser ejercidos mediante apoderado.
Secci6n 4.-El reconocimiento de 10s delegados a la Convencidn Anual estari a
cargo de la Asarnblea Espiritual Nacional.
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 429

Secci6n 5 . S i en un aiio cualquiera, la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional considera
impracticable o inconveniente reunir la Convencibn, dicha Asamblea dispondrl entonces
la rnanera de efectuar la elecci6n y 10s otros asuntos esenciales de la Convenci6n, por
correspondencia.
Secci6n 6.-El oficial que preside la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional, presente en la
Convencibn, abrirl la sesibn, y despuCs de que se haya pasado lista de 10s delegados,
Cstos procederln a efectuar la organizaci6n permanente de la reunibn, eligiendo un
Presidente, un Secretario y cualquier otro oficial que se estime necesario para el adecuado
desempeiio de las deliberaciones de la Convenci6n.
Secci6n 7.-La funci6n principal de la reuni6n anual serC-la consulta sobre actividades,
planes y mCtodos BahB'is, y la elecci6n de 10s nueve miembros de la Asamblea Espiritual
Nacional. Los miembros de la Asamblea Nacional, Sean o n6 delegados elegidos, podrln
participar, plenamente, en la consulta y discusibn, per0 solamente 10s delegados podran
votar en la elecci6n para 10s oficiales de la Convenci6n y para 10s miembros de la Asam-
blea Nacional. ~ o d acci6n
a de 10s delegados que no seala organizaci6n de la Conven-
ci6n, el envio de Mensajes a1 Guardibn y la elecci6n de la Asamblea Nacional, consti-
tuirln meramente consejos y recomendaciones para la consideraci6n de dicha Asamblea
en cuyo poder esti la decisi6n final de todos 10s asuntos que se relacionan con 10s asun-
tos de la Fe BahB'i en Sud-AmCrica.
Secci6n 8.-La orden del dia general de 10s asuntos que se tratarln en la Convencidn
serl preparada por la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional, en forma de una agenda, per0
cualquier asunto relacionado con la Fe BahL'i que introduzca un delegado, puede formar
parte de las deliberaciones de la Convenci6n, a1 ser debidamente propuesto.
Secci6n 9.-La eleccidn de 10s miembros de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional serL
por la mayoria de votos de 10s delegados reconocidos por la Asamblea Espiritual Na-
cional saliente, o sea, que 10s miembros elegidos serln las nueve personas que reciban
el mayor nfimero de votos en la primera votaci6n efectuada por 10s delegados presentes
en la Convenci6n y 10s que transmitieron sus votos a1 Secretario de la Asamblea Espiri-
tual Nacional por correo. En caso de que, por razones de empate, de voto o votos, el
total de miembros no hubiere quedado determinado en la primera votacibn, entonces
10s delegados presentes elegirln entre 10s empatados hasta completar 10s nueve miembros.
Secci6n 10.-Todas las deliberaciones oficiales de la Convenci6n serln registradas y
guardadas en 10s archivos de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional.
Secci6n 11.-Las vacantes en la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional se llenarin por la
mayoria de votos de 10s delegados que constituyeron la Convenci6n y eligieron la Asam-
blea. La votaci6n se efectuarb por correspondencia o de cualquier otra manera que
decida la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional.
Articulo 37.-Con el fin de defender el caricter y prop6sitos espirituales de las elec-
ciones BahL'is, no se permitirl la prlctica de proponer candidatos ni cualquier otro
metodo electoral distinto a una elecci6n silenciosa y reverencial, para que cada elector
pueda votar s610 por aquellos que le han inspirado la oraci6n y la reflexi6n.
Articulo 38.-Se podrhn establecer otras Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales en las
distintas RepGblicas de Sud-AmCrica, de acuerdo con l a instrucciones del Guardibn
de la Fe Bahl'i, y en este caso, cualquier nueva Asamblea Espiritual Nacional que se
forme tendrl, en lugar de esta Asamblea, la plena autoridad y jurisdicci6n sobre las
actividades Bahl'is de la Rep6blica correspondiente. Esta Asamblea Espiritual Nacio-
nal, a1 ser autorizada por el Guardiin de la Fe BahB'i, convocarl una Convenci6n de
10s BahL'is del pais de Sud-AmCrica que sea, para la elecci6n de la primera Asamblea
Espiritual Nacional de 10s BahB'is de ese pais.
Articulo 39.-En 10s casos en que esta Constituci6n otorga a la Asamblea Espiritual
Nacional la jurisdicci6n exclusiva y final, y suprema autoridad ejecutiva en todo lo
que se relaciona con las actividades y asuntos de la Fe Bahi'i en Sud-Ambrica, se en-
tiende que cualquier decisi6n o accidn que se tome por la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional
430 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

sobre tales asuntos quedarkn sujetas en todo caso, a la revisi6n iiltima y aprobaci6n
del Guardidn de la Fe BahCi o de la Casa Universal de Justicia.
Articulo 40.-Las disposiciones de esta Constituci6n rigen para todos 10s Bahi'is
de Sud-AmCrica, except0 en el caso, que en forma temporal o permanente, contra-
vengan alguna disposici6n legal de cualquiera de 10s paises de Sud-AmCrica. En caso
de conflicto, las disposiciones que se opongan a las leyes del pais no rigen para 10s
Bahi'is dentro de dicha naci6n.
Articulo 41.-La Asamblea Espiritual Nacional podr6 modificar 10s estatutos de esta
Constituci6n por mayoria de votos de sus miembros en cualquier reuni6n ordinaria o
extraordinaria, siempre que una copia de la enmienda propuesta haya sido enviada por
el Secretario a todos 10s miembros de la Asamblea por lo menos 30 dias antes de dicha
reuni6n.

Se hace constar que la anterior Constitucidn fuC debidamente adoptada por la Asam-
blea Espiritual Nacional de 10s Bahi'is de Sud-AmCrica en una reuni6n celebrada en
Buenos Aires, Argentina, el dia 25 de Abril de 1952, y lo certifican las firmas de todos
10s nueve miembros.
................................................................
Margot Worley Eve Nicklin
..................................................................
Rangvald Taetz Mercedes Shnchez
..................................................................
Manuel Vera Gayle Woolson
..................................................................
Alejandro Reid Edmund Miessler
.................................
Esteban Canales
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 43 1

Certificate of Registration of the National Spiritual Assembly
of the BahB'is of South America (continued next page).
- -- -- - -- -- --

43 2 THE BAHA'I WORLD
Certificate of Registration of the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahi'is of Central America (continued next page).
434 THE BAHA'I WORLD
BY-LAWS OF A LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
ARTICLE

T H E Trustees, i.e., the Spiritual Assembly, recognize that this action has been taken
in full unanimity and agreement. They acknowledge for themselves and on behalf of
their successors the sacred meaning and universal purpose of the Bahi'i Faith, the
teachings and principles of which fulfill the divine promise of all former revealed re-
ligions.

In administering the affairs of the Bahb'i Religion under this Corporation for the
benefit of the BahPis of . . . in accordance with the religious teachings and adrninis-
trative principles of this Faith, the Spiritual Assembly shall act in conformity with the
functions of a local Spiritual Assembly as defined in the By-taws adopted by the Na-
tional Spiritual Assembly and published by that body for the information and guidance
of BahB'is throughout the United States.

The Spiritual Assembly, in the fulfillment of its obligations and responsibilities under
this Corporation, shall have exclusive jurisdiction and authority over all the local activi-
ties and affairs of the Bahi'i community of . . . , including paramount authority in
the administration of this Corporation. It shall be responsible for maintaining the in-
tegrity and accuracy of all BahL'i teaching, whether written or oral, undertaken
throughout the local community. It shall make available the published literature of the
Faith. It shall represent the community in its relations to the National Spiritual As-
sembly, in its relation to the Guardian of the Bahi'i Faith, to other local Bah2i com-
munities, and to the general public in . . . It shall be charged with the recognition
of all applicants requesting membership in the local Bahi'i community. It shall pass
upon the right of any and all members of the community whose membership is in ques-
tion to retain their status as voting members of the community. It shall call the meetings
of the community, including the Bahi'i Anniversaries and Feasts, the Meetings of con-
sultation, and the annual meeting at which the members of the Assembly are elected.
It shall appoint and supervise all committees of the Bahi'i community. It shall collect
and disburse all funds intended for the maintenance of this Corporation. It shall have
full and complete custody of the headquarters or meeting place of the BahL'i com-
munity. It shall have exclusive authority to conduct Bahi'i marriage ceremonies and
issue Bahb'i marriage certificates within the area of its jurisdiction. It shall report to
the National Spiritual Assembly annually, or when requested, the membership roll of
the Bahi'i community, for the information and approval of the national Bahi'i body.
The Spiritual Assembly, however, shall recognize the authority and right of the National
Spiritual Assembly to declare at any time what activities and affairs of the BahL'i com-
munity of . . . are national in scope and hence subject to the jurisdiction of the Na-
tional Bah2i body. It shall likewise recognize the right of any member of the community
to appeal to the National Spiritual Assembly for review and decision of any matter in
which the previous decision of the local Spiritual Assembly is felt by the member to
be contrary to the explicit teachings of the Bahb'i Faith or opposed to its best interests.
It shall, on the other hand, have the authority and right to appeal from the decision
of the National Assembly to the Guardian of the BahPi Faith for review and final
decision of any matter related to the Faith in , . .
THE BAHA'I WORLD

The Spiritual Assembly, in administering this Corporation, shall ever bear in mind
the ideals upheld in the Sacred Writings of the Bahi'i Faith respecting the relationships
of a Spiritual Assembly to its Bahi'i community, respecting the relations of Bahi'is to
one another in the community, and the relationships of Bahi'is to all non-Bahi'is, with-
out prejudice of race, creed, or nationality. The Assembly shall therefore above all
recognize its sacred duty to maintain full and complete unity throughout the Bahb'i
community, to relieve and comfort the sick and distressed, to assist the poor and destitute,
to protect the orphans, the crippled and the aged, to educate the children of Bahi'is
according to the highest religious and intellectual standards, to compose differences
and disagreements among members of the community, to promulgate the principles of
Divine Civilization revealed by Bahi'u'llih, and to promote in every way possible the
Bahi'i aim of the- oneness of mankind. It shall faithfully and devotedly uphold the
general Bahb'i activities and affairs initiated and sustained by the National Spiritual
Assembly. It shall cooperate wholeheartedly with other local Spiritual Assemblies
throughout the United States in all matters declared by the National Spiritual Assem-
bly to be of general Bahi'i importance and concern. It shall rigorously abstain from
any action or influence direct or indirect, that savors of intervention on the part of a
Bahb'i body in matters of public politics and civil jurisdiction. It shall encourage inter-
course between the Bahi'i community of . . . and other recognized Bahi'i communi-
.
ties, issuing letters of introduction tb Bahi'is traveling from-. . and passing upon
letters of introduction issued by other Bahi'i Assemblies. It shall regard its authority
as a means of rendering service to Bahi'is and non-Bahi'is and not as a source of arbi-
trary power. While retaining the sacred right of final decision in all matters pertaining to
the Bahi'i community, the Spiritual Assembly shall ever seek the advice and consultation
of all members of the community, keep the community informed of all its affairs, and
invite full and free discussion on the part of the community of all matters affecting the
Faith.

.
The Bahi'is of . . , for whose benefit this Corporation has been established, shall
.
consist of all persons resident in . . who are recognized by the Spiritual Assem-
bly as having fulfilled the requirements of voting membership in this local Bahi'i
community. To become a voting member of this Bahi'i community a person shall
a. Be a resident of . . . as defined by the area of jurisdiction of the Spiritual As-
sembly, as provided hereinafter in this instrument.
b. Have attained the age of 21 years.
c. Have established to the satisfaction of the Spiritual Assembly, subject to the ap-
proval of the National Spiritual Assembly, that he (or she) possesses the qualifica-
tions of Bahi'i Faith and practice required under the following standard: Full
recognition of the Station of the Fore-runner (the Bib), the Author (BahP-
u'lliih), and 'Abdu'l-Bahi the Exemplar of the Bahb'i religion; unreserved ac-
ceptance of, and submission to, whatsoever has been revealed by Them; loyal and
steadfast adherence to every clause of 'Abdu'l-Bahi's sacred Will and Testament;
and close association with the spirit as well as the form of BahB'i administration
throughout the world.

The Spiritual Assembly shall consist of nine Trustees chosen from among the BahPis
of . . . , who shall be elected by these Bah9'is in a manner hereinafter provided and
who shall continue in office for the period of one year, or until their successors shall
be elected.
THE W O R L D O R D E R O F B A H A ' U ' L L A H 437

ARTICLE
VII
The officers of the 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
VIII
The first meeting of a newly-elected 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 Chair-
man shall be chosen. All subsequent meetings shall be called by the Secretary of the
Assembly at the request of the Chairman or, in his absence or incapacity, of the Vice-
Chairman, or of any three members of the Assembly; provided however, that the An-
nual Meeting of the Assembly shall be held on April 21, in accordance with the ad-
ministrative principles recognized by all Bahi'i Assemblies.
SECTION1. Five members of the Assembly present at a meeting shall constitute a
quorum, and a majority vote of those present and constituting a quorum shall be suf-
ficient 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 institu-
tion of a Spiritual Assembly. The transactions and decisions of the Assembly shall be
recorded at each meeting by the Secretary, who shall have the minutes adopted and
approved by the Assembly, and preserve them in the official records of the Assembly.
SECTION2. Vacancies in the membership of the Spiritual Assembly shall be filled
by election at a special meeting of the local Bahi'i community duly called for that pur-
pose by the Assembly. In the event that the number of vacancies exceeds four, making
a quorum of the Spiritual Assembly impossible, the election shall be under the super-
vision of the National Spiritual Assembly.

The sphere of jurisdiction of the Spiritual Assembly, with respect to residential quali-
fication of membership, and voting rights of a believer in the Bahi'i community, shall
be the locality included within the civil limits of . . .

SECTION1. In the event that any decision of the Assembly is unacceptable to any
member or members of the community, the Assembly shall after endeavoring to com-
pose the difference of opinion invite the said member or members to make appeal to
the national Bahi'i body and notify that body of the condition of the matter and the
readiness of the Assembly to become party to the appeal.
SECTION2. In the same manner, if any difference arises between the Assembly and
another local Assembly, or Assemblies, in the United States, the Assembly shall re-
port the matter to the national BahL'i body and inform that body of its readiness to
make joint appeal together with the other Assembly or Assemblies.
SECTION3. If, however, the result of such appeal is unsatisfactory to the Spiritual
Assembly, or the Assembly at any time has reason to believe that actions of the National
Spiritual Assembly are affecting adversely the welfare and unity of the BahL'r' community
of .. . , it shall, after seeking to compose its difference of opinion with the national
body in direct consultation, have the right to make appeal to the Guardian of the Faith.
SECTION4. The Assembly shall likewise have the right to make complaint to the
National Spiritual Assembly in the event that matters of local BahL'i concern and in-
fluence are referred to the national body by a member or members of the local com-
munity without previous opportunity for action by the local Assembly.
438 THE BAHA'I WORLD

The Annual Meeting of the Corporation at which its Trustees shall be elected shall
be held on April 21, at an hour and place to be fixed by the Assembly, which shall give
not less than fifteen days' notice of the meeting to all members of the local Bahi'i com-
munity.
SECTION1. The Assembly shall accept those votes transmitted to the Assembly before
the election by members who by reason of sickness or other unavoidable reason are
unable to be present at the election in person.
SECTION 2. The election of members to the Spiritual Assembly shall be by plurality
vote.
SECTION3. All voting members of the local Bahi'i community are eligible for elec-
tion as members of the Spiritual Assembly.
SECTION4. The Assembly shall prepare an agenda for the Annual Meeting in which
shall be included reports of the activities of the Assembly since its election, a financial
statement showing all income and expenditure of its fund, reports of its committees
and presentation of any other matters pertaining to the affairs of the Bah6'i community.
The Assembly, both preceding and following the annual election, shall invite discussion
and welcome suggestions from the community, in order that its plans may reflect the
community mind and heart.
SECTION5. The result of the election shall be reported by the Spiritual Assembly
to the National Assembly.

In addition to the Annual Meeting, the Assembly shall arrange for regular meetings
of the Bahi'i community throughout the year at intervals of nineteen days, in accord-
ance with the calendar incorporated in the teachings of the Bahj'i Faith.

The seal of the Corporation shall be circular in form, bearing the following descrip-
tion: The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of . . . , Corporate Seal.

ARTICLE
XIV
These By-Laws may be amended by majority vote of the 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.
With amendments adopted by the National Spiritual Assembly to July 16, 1949.
Certificate of Registration of the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bah2is of India, Phkisthn and Burma
Delhi, India.
442 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Certificate of Incorporation of the National Spiritual Assembly
of the BahL'is of Australia and New Zealand.
T H E W O R L D ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 443
~ p ~ p -~
~----- --

THE BAHA'I WORLD
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 445

Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahi'is of Maywood, Illinois (continued next page).
446 THE BAHA'I WORLD
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 447

Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the
BahPis of Houston, Texas (left, and next two pages).
- - - - -

448 THE BAHA'I WORLD
THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the
BahP'is of Eliot, Maine (continued next two pages).
45 1
THE W O R L D O R D E R O F BAHA'U'LLAH
452 THE BAHA'I WORLD
THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 453

Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the
BahVis of Fresno, California (continued next five pages).
- --
--

THE BAHA'I WORLD
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 455
THE BAHA'I WORLD
T H E WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 457
458 THE BAHA'I WORLD
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahi'is of San Diego, California (continued next three pages).
THE W O R L D O R D E R O F BAHA'U'LLAH 461
-- --
- - - -
- --
- -- -

462 THE BAHA'I WORLD
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is
of Sacramento, California (continued next three pages).
- - - -- -
- -

THE BAHA'I W O R L D
THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 465
466 THE BAHA'I WORLD
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahgis
of Glendale, California (continued next four pages).
468 THE BAHA'I WORLD
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 469
470 THE BAHA'I WORLD
47 2 THE BAHA'I. WORLD

Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is
of Fort Wayne, Indiana (continued next two pages).
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 473
474 THE BAHA'I WORLD
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahi'is of Tucson, Arizona.
-- - -- - -- - - --

476 THE BAHA'I WORLD
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 477

Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is
of Oak Park. Illinois (left and next page).
478 THE BAHA'I WORLD
THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 479

Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahgis
of Nashville, Tennessee (continued next three pages).
- - -- --

THE BAHA'I WORLD
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahgis
of Greenwich, Connecticut (continued next page).
- --

THE BAHA'I WORLD
Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is
of Reno, Nevada (continued next two pages).
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 487
-p - - - -

THE BAHA'I W O R L D

Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bah2is
of Grand Rapids, Michigan (continued next page).
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 489
490 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the
BahB'is of Surat, India.
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 49 1

Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the
Bah2is of Jalna in Hyderabad (Deccan), India.
494 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahb'is of Singapore.
496 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Certificate of Incorporation of the Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahgis of Quito, Ecuador.
'
.X I 3 is God1 0 peerless Lordl I n Thine Almighty
wisdomThou hast enjoined marriage upon the peoples, that
the genemlions of men may succced onc another in lhis
conlingent world, and that ever, so long as the world shall
last, they may busy themselves a t the Threshold of Thy
oneness with servitude and worship, with salulation, adora-
tion and praise. "I have not created spirits and men, but
that they should worship me." Wherefort, wed Thou in
the heaven of Thy mercy thesc two birds of the nest of
Thy love, and make them the means of attrvctingpcrpetual
gmce; that from the union of these two seas of lave a wave
of tenderness may surge and cast the pearls of pure and
podly issue on [he share of life. ''He hath let loose the
two seas, thvl they meet each other: Between thcm is a
barrier which they overpass nol. Which then of the
bounties ofyour Lord will ye deny? From each He bringeth
up greater and lesser pearls!'
0 Thou Kind Lordl Make Thou this marriage to
bring forth coral and pearls. Thou art verily the All.
Power&l, the Most Great, the Evcr-Forgiving.

IN THE PRESENCE OF BAHYi WITNESSES:

HE IS THE BESTOWER,
THE BOUNTEOUS! "We will all, verily, abide by the WilI o
f God."

T R A I S l ? be to God, the Ancient, the h d b i d i n g , the S I D N ~ T V R EOF BRIDEGROOM
Changeless the Eternal1 He Who hathtcsti6ed in His Own
Being that verily He is the One, the Single, the Untram- "We will all, verily, abide by the frill o
/ God!'
melled, the Exalted. We bear witness that verily there is
no Gad but Him, acknowledging His oneness, confessing
His singleness. He hath cver dwelt in unapproachable SLONATURE OF BRIDE

heights, in the stunmits of His loftiness, sanctified from
the mention of aught save Himself, free from the dcscrip- We, duly authorized OPcers and Representatives of the
tion of aught but Him. Spiritual Assembly of
And when He desired to manifest grace and bencGccnce Certify that Mr. and Mrs.
to men, and to set the world in order, He revealed ohserv-
,have on t h i U a y of
ances and created laws; among them H e established t l ~ e
law of marriage, made i t as a fortress far well-being and n
salvation, and enjoined it upon us in that which was sent been united in Marriage according to the Order of Service
down out of the heaven of sanctily in His Mosl Holy Book. recorded in the B a g i Sacred Writings.
He saith, great is His g 1 0 ~ ~''Marry,
: 0 people, that from
you may appear he who will remember Me amongst M y
SIONAVURE OF ASSEMBLY REPlESLNT&I.IYE
servants; this is one,of My commandments unto you; obey
i t as a n assistance to yourselves."
SIGNATURE OP ASSEMBLY WITNESS
-BAH~'~LL~H
SIGNATURE OF AsseMew WITNESS

BahVi Marriage Certificate adopted by the National Spiritual Assembly
of the BahPis of the United States of America.
THE BAHA'I WORLD

Marriage Certificate issued by the State of Idaho, U.S.A.
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 499

Marriage Certificate issued by the State of Michigan, U.S.A.
-- -

THE BAHA'I WORLD

Marriage Certificate issued by the State of New York, U.S.A.
THE WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 50 1

Marriage Certificate issued by the Territory of Hawaii, U.S.A.
THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH 503

Marriage Certificate issued by the State of New Mexico, U.S.A.
504 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Letter from the Board of Education of Prince George's County, Maryland,
excusing BahB'i children from school attendance on BahB'i Holy Days.
Letter from Superintendent of Schools, Wilmington, Delaware,
excusing Bah6'i children from school attendance on BahB'i Holy Days.
.(a%d lxau panupuo3) saaj swopn3 mol3 EIAOJUOW 30 s ~ ~ q e g
am 30 X~qwassvlenl!qds 1 ~ 3 0 7aql oq pau8;rsuo~spoo8 Ou!ldwaxa
p w '-e!.raq!? 30 3gqnda-6 am UI q l ! ~ daql 30 Bug3ea1 aql 2u!n1oq1n.t!
<s~aauoId5'5?qEgaql pue Erlaqq 30 luawulaaof) aql uaafilaq suo~p3~unmmo3
- - ~ - -

THE BAHA'I WORLD

Certificate of Exemption from Registration granted to the Bah&L
' i' Community of Kenya,
in connection with emergency laws regarding public meeting.
510 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Deed of Transfer of the Bolton Property at Yerrinbool, N.S.W., Australia, to the
National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Australia and New Zealand,
for a Summer School (preceding page and h e r e ) .
(Two pages containing "conditions and reservations" numbers 2 through 8
omitted owing to space limitation.)
512 THE BAHA'f WORLD

Certificate of Incorporation of the BahL'i School in Green Acre, Eliot, Maine,
under the name "Green Acre BahL'i Institute" entitled to hold property
(continued next two pages).
T H E WORLD ORDER O F BAHA'U'LLAH 513
~--~ -~
~

THE BAHA'I WORLD
3. T H E INSTITUTION O F T H E
MASHRIQU'L-AD -HKAR
Visible Embodiment o f the Universality of the Faith o f Bahd'u'llah

M A N Y discerning minds have testified to BahL'i institution, we must lay aside all cus-
the profoundly significant change which has tomary ideas of the churches and cathedrals
taken place during recent years in the of the past. The Mas_hriqu'l-Am& fulfills
character of popular religious thinking. Re- the original intention of religion in each dis-
ligion has developed an entirely new em- pensation, before that intention had become
phasis, more especially for the layman, altered and veiled by human invention and
quite independent of the older sectarian di- belief.
visions. The Ma&riqu'l-A&k&r is a channel re-
Instead of considering that religion is a leasing spiritual powers for social regenera-
matter of turning toward an abstract creed, tion because it fills a different function than
the average religionist today is concerned that assumed by the sectarian church. Its
with the practical applications of religion to essential purpose is to provide a community
the problems of human life. Religion, in meeting-place for all who are seeking to
brief, after having apparently lost its influ- worship God, and achieves this purpose by
ence in terms. of theology, has been restored interposing no man-made veils between the
more powerfully than ever as a spirit of worshiper and the Supreme. Thus, the
brotherhood, an impulse toward unity, and Mad~riqu'l-Adhkkris freely open to people
an ideal making for a more enlightened of all Faiths on equal terms, who now real-
civilization throughout the world. ize the universality of BahL'u'llkh in reveal-
Against this background, the institution ing the oneness of all the Prophets. More-
of the Ma&riquyl-Ad_hk&r stands revealed as over, since the Bah6'i Faith has no profes-
the supreme expression of all those modern sional clergy, the worshiper entering the
religious tendencies animated by social Temple hears no sermon and takes part in
ideals which do not repudiate the reality of no ritual the emotional effect of which is to
spiritual experience but seek to transform it establish a separate group consciousness.
into a dynamic striving for unity. The Ma& Integral with the Temple are its accessory
riqu'l-Ad_hk&r, when clearly understood, buildings, without which the Ma&riquYl-
gives the world its most potent agency for Adhkh would not be a complete social in-
applying mystical vision or idealistic aspira- stitution. These buildings are to be devoted
tion to the service of humanity. It makes to such activities as a school for science, a
visible and concrete those deeper meanings hospice, a hospital, an asylum for orphans.
and wider possibilities of religion which Here the circle of spiritual experience at last
could not be realized until the dawn of this joins, as prayer and worship are allied di-
universal age. rectly to creative service, eliminating the
The term "Mas_hriqu71-Adhkh" means static subjective elements from religion and
literally, "Dawning-place of the praise of laying a foundation for a new and higher
God." type of human association.
To appreciate the significance of this HORACE HOLLEY
I N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E MAS-HRIQU'L-ADHKAR 517

THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
MASHRIQV'L-ADAKAR

T H E Beloved of the Lord and the hand- tude of our brethren throughout the East.
maids of the Merciful throughout the United Nor is it 1 feel necessary to impress upon
States and Canada. those who are primarily concerned with its
erection the gradual change of outlook
My well-beloved friends : which the early prospect of the construction
Ever since that remarkable manifestation of the f ar-famed Maariqu'l-Adhkbr in
of Bah6'i solidarity and self-sacrifice which America has unmistakably occasioned in
has signalized the proceedings of last year's high places among the hitherto sceptical and
memorable Convention, I have been expect- indifferent towards the merits and the prac-
antly awaiting the news of a steady and con- ticability of the Faith proclaimed by Bah2-
tinuous support of the Plan which can alone u'llbh. Neither do I need to expatiate up011
ensure, ere the present year draws to its the hopes and fears of the Greatest Holy
close, the resumption of building operations Leaf, now in the evening of her life, with
on our beloved Temple. deepening shadows caused by failing eye-
Moved by an impulse that I c o d d not re- sight and declining strength swiftly gather-
sist, I have felt impelled to forego what may ing about her, yearning to hear as the one
be regarded as the most valuable and sacred remaining solace in her swiftly ebbing life
possession in the Holy Land for the further- the news of the resumptio'n of work on an
ing of that noble enterprisz which you have Edifice, the glories of which she has, from
set your hearts to achieve. With the hearty the lips of 'Abdu'l-Bahi Himself, learned
concurrence of our dear Bah6'i brother, to admire. I cannot surely overrate at the
ZiaoullAh Asgarzadeh, who years ago do- present juncture in the progress of our task
nated it to the Most Holy Shrine, this pre- the challenging character of these remaining
cious ornament of the Tomb of Bahi'~1'1lAh months of the year as a swiftly passing op-
has been already shipped to yom shores, portunity which it is in our power to seize
with our fondest hope that the proceeds and utilize, ere it is too late, for the edifica-
from its sale may at once ennoble and re- tion of our expectant brethren throughout
inforce the unnumbered offerings of the the East, for the vindication in the eyes of
American believers already accumulated on the world at large of the realities of our
the altar of Bahi'i sacrifice. I have longed Faith, and last but not least for the realiza-
ever since to witness such evidences of spon- tion of what is the Greatest Holy Leaf's
taneous and generous response on your part fondest desire.
as would tend to fortify within me a confi- As I have already intimated in the course
dence that has never wavered in the inex- of my conversations with visiting pilgrims,
haustible vitality of the Faith of Bah6'u'llAh so vast and significant an enterprise as the
in that land. construction of the first Masl~riqu'l-AdJhkbr
I need not stress at this moment the high of the West should be supported, not by the
hopes which so startling a display of unspar- munificence of a few but by the joint con-
ing devotion to our sacred Temple has al- tributions of the entire mass of the con-
ready aroused in the breasts of the multi- vinced followers of the Faith. It cannot be

Bah2i Temple. A Temple for man's worship of God.
The Bah6'i House of Worship at Wilmette, Illinois, is a great circular building
with nine entrances and circular steps which if laid end to end woulcl cover
two and one-half miles. The building and landscaping have cost $2,600,000
and represent the sacrifice of BahB'is not only in the United States
but also gifts from Bahi'is abroad. It was dedicated May 2, 1953,
as a high light of the Centenary celebrations of the BaWi Faith.
518 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

denied that the emanations of spiritual objects of the humanitarian and philan-
power and inspiration destined to radiate thropic institutions of the day. Nay, it
from the central Edifice of the Ma&riqu71- should be realized by every judicious pro-
AdhkBr will to a very large extent depend moter of the Faith that at such an early
upon the range and variety of the contrib- stage in the evolution and crystallization of
uting believers, as well as upon the nature the Cause such discriminating and precau-
and degree of self-abnegation which their tionary measures are inevitable and even
unsolicited offerings will entail. Moreover, necessary if the nascent institutions of the
we should, I feel, regard it as an axiom and Faith are to emerge triumphant and unim-
guiding principle of BahL'i administration paired from the present welter of confused
that in the conduct of every specific BahC'i and often conflicting interests with which
activity, as different from undertakings of a they are surrounded. This note of warning
humanitarian, philanthropic, or charitable may not be thought inappropriate at a time
character, which may in future be con- when, inflamed by a consuming passion to
ducted under BahC'i auspices, only those witness the early completion of the Ma&-
who have already identified themselves with riqu'l-A&&&, we may not only be apt to
the Faith and are regarded as its avowed acquiesce in the desire of those who, as yet
and unreserved supporters should be invited uninitiated into the Cause, are willing to
to join and collaborate. For apart from the lend financial assistance to its institutions,
consideration of embarrassing complications but may even feel inclined to solicit from
which the association of non-believers in the them such aid as it is in their power to
financing of institutions of a strictly Bahi'i render. Ours surely is the paramount duty
character may conceivably engender in the so to acquit ourselves in the discharge of
administration of the BahL'i community of our most sacred task that in the days to
the future, it should be remembered that come neither the tongue of the slanderer nor
these specific BahC'i institutions, which the pen of the malevolent may dare to in-
should be viewed in the Light of Bahi'u'llBh's sinuate that so beauteous, so significant an
gifts bestowed upon the world, can best Edifice has been reared by anything short of
function and most powerfully exert their the unanimous, the exclusive, and the self-
influence in the world only if reared and sacrificing strivings of the small yet deter-
maintained solely by the support of those mined body of the convinced supporters of
who are fully conscious of, and are uure- the Faith of BahL'u'llhh. How delicate our
servedly submissive to, the claims inherent task, how pressing the responsibility that
in the Revelation of BahC'u'llBh. In cases, weighs upon us, who are called upon on one
however, when a friend or sympathizer of hand to preserve inviolate the integrity and
the Faith eagerly insists on a monetary con- the identity of the regenerating Faith of
tribution for the promotion of the Faith, BahB'u7ll6h,and to vindicate on the other its
such gifts should be accepted and duly ac- broad, its humanitarian, its all-embracing
knowledged by the elected representatives principles!
of the believers with the express understand- True, we cannot fail to realize at the pres-
ing that they would be utilued by them only ent stage of our work the extremely limited
to reinforce that section of the BahL'i Fund number of contributors qualified to lend
exclusively devoted to philanthropic or financial support to s~lcha vast, such an
charitable purposes. For, as the Faith of elaborate and costly enterprise. We are fully
BahL'u'llBh extends in scope and in influ- aware of the many issues and varied BahC'i
ence, and the resources of Bah2i commu- activities that are unavoidably held in abey-
nities correspondingly multiply, it will be- ance pending the successful conclusion of
come increasingly desirable to differentiate the Plan of Unified Action. We are only
between such departments of the Bahh'i too conscious of the pressing need of some
treasury as minister to. the needs of the sort of befitting and concrete embodiment
world at large, and those that are specifically of the spirit animating the Cause that would
designed to promote the direct interests of stand in the heart of the American Conti-
the Faith itself. From this apparent divorce nent both as a witness and as a rallying
between B a h a and humanitarian activities center to the manifold activities of a fast
it must not, however, be inferred that the growing Faith. But spurred by those reflec-
animating purpose of the Faith of Ba1iB'u'- tions may we not bestir ourselves and re-
1lBh stands at variance with the aims and solve as we have never resolved before to
I N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E MASHRIQU'L-A-KAR 519

hasten by every means in our power the ferred, however, from this general statement
consummation of this all-absorbing yet so that the interior of the central Edifice it-
meritorious task? I beseech you, dear self will be converted into a conglomeration
friends, not to allow considerations of num- of religious services conducted along lines
bers, or the consciousness of the limitation associated with the traditional procedure
of our resources, or even the experience of obtaining in churches, mosques, synagogues,
inevitable setbacks which every mighty un- and other temples of worship. Its various
dertaking is bound to encounter, to blur avenues of approach, all converging towards
your vision, to dim your hopes, or to para- the central Hall beneath its dome, will not
lyze your efforts in the prosecution of your serve as admittance to those sectarian ad-
divinely appointed task. Neither, do I en- herents of rigid formula: and man-made
treat you, to suffer the least deviation into creeds, each bent, according to his way, to
the paths of expediency and compromise to observe his rites, recite his prayers, perform
obstruct those channels of vivifying grace his ablutions, and display the particular
that can alone provide the inspiration and symbols of his faith within separately de-
strength vital not only to the successful con- fined sections of Bahb'u'llbh's Universal
duct of its material construction, but to the House of Worship. Far from the Mash-
fulfillment of its high destiny. riqu'l-Ad_hkLr offering such a spectacle of
And while we bend our efforts and strain incoherent and confused sectarian observ-
our nerves in a feverish pursuit to provide ances and rites, a condition wholly incom-
the necessary means for the speedy con- patible with the provisions of the Aqdas and
struction of the Ma&riquYl-Ad_hkLr,may we irreconcilable with the spirit it inculcates,
not pause for a moment to examine those the central House of BahL'i worship, en-
statements which set forth the purpose as shrined within the Mashriqu'l-A&kLr, will
well as the functions of this symbolical yet gather within its chastened walls, in a se-
so spiritually potent Edifice? It will be read- renely spiritual atmosphere, only those who,
ily admitted that at a time when the tenets discarding forever the trappings of elaborate
of a Faith, not yet fully emerged from the and ostentatious ceremony, are willing
fires of repression, are as yet improperly de- worshipers of the one true God, as mani-
fined and imperfectly understood, the ut- fested in this age in the Person of Baht?-
most caution should be exercised in reveal- uYllLh.To them will the Ma&iqu'l-Ad_hkzir
ing the true nature of those institutions symbolize the fundamental verity underly-
which are indissolubly associated with its ing the Bah2i Faith, that religious truth is
name. not absolute but relative, that Divine Reve-
Without attempting an exhaustive survey lation is not final but progressive. Theirs
of the distinguishing features and purpose will be the conviction that an all-loving and
of the MaGriquYl-ALhkLr,I should feel con- ever-watchful Father Who, in the past, and
tent at the present time to draw your atten- at various stages in the evolution of man-
tion to what I regard as certain misleading kind, has sent forth His Prophets as the
statements that have found currency in vari- Bearers of His Message and the Manifesta-
ous quarters, and which may lead gradually tions of His Light to mankind, cannot at this
to a grave misapprehension of the true pur- critical period of their civilization withhold
pose and essential character of the Ma&- from His children the Guidance which they
riqu'l-Aak6r. sorely need amid the darkness which has
It should be borne in mind that the cen- beset them, and which neither the light of
round science nor that of h ~ ~ m aintellect
tral Edifice of the Ma.r_hriclu'l-Adl~kLr, n and wis-
which in the f~illnessof time shall cluster dom can succeed in dissipating. And thus
such institutions of social service as shall having recognized in Bahi'u'llzih the source
afford relief to the suffering, sustenance to whence this celestial light proceeds, they
the poor, shelter to the wayfarer, solace to will irresistibly feel attracted to seek the
the bereaved, and education to the ignorant, shelter of His House, and congregate
should be reearded
J
aDart
L
from these De- therein, unhampered by ceremonials and un-
pendencies, as a House solely designed and fettered by creed, to render homage to the
entirely dedicated to the worship of God in one true God, the Essence and Orb of eter-
accordance with the few yet definitely pre- nal Truth, and to exalt and magnify the
scribed principles established by BahL'u'llLh name of His Messengers and Prophets Who,
in the KitLb-i-Aqdas. It should not be in- from time immemorial even unto our day,
520 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

View of the BahC'i House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois, February, 1953.

have, under divers circumstances and in tory results produced by the contemplations
varying measure, mirrored forth to a dark of the ascetic or the comnlunion of the
and wayward world the light of heavenly passive worshiper. It cannot afford lasting
Gnidance. satisfaction and benefit to the worshiper
But however inspiring the conception of himself, much less to humanity in general,
BahC'i worship, as witnessed in the central unless and until translated and transfused
Edifice of this exalted Temple, it cannot be into that dynamic and disinterested service
regarded as the sole, nor even the essential, to the cause of humanity which it is the su-
factor in the part which the Maeiqu'l- preme privilege of the Dependencies of the
A m k , as designed by BahC'uYll&h, is des- Ma&riqu'l-A&kh to facilitate and pro-
tined to play in the organic life of the BahL'i mote. Nor will the exertions, no matter how
community. Divorced from the social, hu- disinterested and strenuous, of those who
manitarian, educational and scientific pur- within the precincts of the Ma&riquYl-
suits centering around the Dependencies A&k&r will be engaged in administering the
of the Ma~u-iqu'l-A&k&r, BahB'i worship, affairs of the future BahL'i Commonwealth,
however exalted in its conception, however fructify and prosper unless they are brought
passionate in fervor, can never hope to into close and daily communion with those
achieve beyond the meager and often transi- spiritual agencies centering in and radiating
INSTITUTION O F THE MASHRIQU'L-AaKAR 521

from the central Shrine of the Ma&riqu'l- that the salvation of a world in travail must
Ad_hk&r.Nothing short of direct and con- ultimately depend. And of all the institu-
stant interaction between the spiritual forces tions that stand associated with His Holy
emanating from this House of Worship Name, surely none save the institution of
centering in the heart of the Ma&riqu'l- the Madriqu'l-Ad_hk&rcan most adequately
Ad_hk&r, and the energies consciously dis- provide the essentials of Bahgi worship and
played by those who administer its affairs in service, both so vital to the regeneration
their service to humanity can possibly pro- of the world. Therein lies the secret of the
vide the necessary agency capable of re- loftiness, of the potency, of the unique posi-
moving the ills that have so long and so tion of the Ma&riqu'l-Ad_hkLr as one of the
grievously afflicted humanity. For it is as- outstanding institutions conceived by Bah2-
suredly upon the consciousness of the effi- u'llhh.
cacy of the Revelation of Bah&'u'll&h, rein- Dearly-beloved friends! May we not as
forced on one hand by spiritual communion the trustees of so priceless a heritage, arise
with His Spirit, and on the other by the in- to fulfill our high destiny?
telligent application and the faithful execu- Haifa, Palestine,
tion of the principles and laws He revealed, October 25, 1929.

PASSAGES REGARDING THE TEMPLE IN AMERICA

From GOD PASSES BY

Introduction
By Former ARCHDEACON
TOWNSHEND,
M.A.

O N THE lake shore at Wilmette stands Crescent and the nine pointed Star (emblem
the completed Temple of Praise, a sign of the of the BahB'i Faith). No darkness invades
Spirit of the Most Great Peace and of the Temple at any time; by day it is lighted
the Splendor of God that has come down to by the sun whose rays flood in from every
dwell among men. The walls of the Temple side through the exquisitely perforated walls,
are transparent, made of an open tracery and by night it is artificially illuminated and
cut as in sculptured stone, and lined with its ornamented shape is etched with light
against the dark. From whatever side the
glass. All imaginable symbols of light are
visitor approaches, the aspiring form of the
woven together into the pattern, the lights Temple appears as the spirit of adoration;
of the sun and the moon and the constella- and seen from the air above it has the like-
tions, the lights of the spiritual heavens un- ness of a Nine-Pointed Star come down
folded by the great Revealers of today and from heaven to find its resting place on the
yesterday, the Cross in various forms, the earth.

". . . significant has been the erection of tioning and newly established Administra-
the superstructure and the completion of the tive Order, this enterprise has itself im-
exterior ornamentation of the first Ma&- mensely enhanced the prestige, consolidated
riqu'l-Ad_hk&r of the West, the noblest of the the strength and expanded the subsidiary in-
exploits which have immortalized the serv- stitutions of the community that made its
ices of the American BahB'i community to building possible.
the Cause of Bah2uYll&h.Consummated Conceived forty-one years ago; originat-
through the agency of an efficiently func- ing with the petition spontaneously ad-
* Chapter XXII, pp. 348-353. dressed, in March 1903 to 'Abdu'l-Bah6 by
522 T H E B A H A. ' f W O R L D

the "House of Spirituality" of the BahVis of with the 19th anniversary of the dedication
Chicago-the first Bahi'i center established of the grounds by 'Abdu'l-Bahi. The orna-
in the Western world-the members of mentation of the dome was started in June,
which, inspired by the example set by the 1932, and finished in January, 1934. The
builders of the MaShriqu'l-Aakh of 'I&- ornamentation of the clerestory was com-
qibid, had appealed for permission to con- pleted in 1935, and that of the gallery unit
struct a similar Temple in America; blessed below it in November, 1938. The mainstory
by His approval and high commendation in ornamentation was, despite the outbreak of
a Tablet revealed by Him in June of that the present war, undertaken in April, 1940,
same year; launched by the delegates of and completed in J~lly, 1942; whilst the
various American Assemblies, assembled in eighteen circular steps were placed in posi-
Chicago in November, 1907, for the pur- tion by December, 1942, seventeen months
pose of choosing the site of the Temple; es- in advance of the centenary celebration of
tablished on a national basis through a re- the Faith, by which time the exterior of the
ligious corporation known as the "BahVi Temple was scheduled to be finished, and
Temple Unity," which was incorporated forty years after the petition of the Chicago
shortly after the first American BahVi Con- believers had been submitted to and granted
vention held in that same city in March, by 'Abdu'l-Bahh.
1909; honored through the dedication cere- This unique edifice, the first fruit of a
mony presided over by 'Abdu'l-Bahi Him- slowly maturing Administrative Order, the
self when visiting that site in May, 1912, noblest structure reared in the first Bahi'i
this enterprise-the crowning achievement century, and the symbol and precursor of a
of the Administrative Order of the Faith of future world civilization, is situated in the
BahVu'llih in the first BahL'i century-had, heart of the North American continent, on
ever since that memorable occasion, been the western shore of Lake Michigan, and is
progressing intermittently until the time surrounded by its own grounds comprising
when the foundations of that Order having a little less than seven acres. It has been
been firmly laid in the North American con- financed, at cost of over a million dollars,
tinent the American BahVi community was by the American BahL'i community, assisted
in a position to utilize the instruments which at times by voluntary contributions of rec-
it had forged for the efficient prosecution of ognized believers in East and West, of
its task. Christian, of Muslim, of Jewish, of Zoro-
At the 1914 American BahC'i Convention astrian, of Hindu and Buddhist extraction.
the purchase of the Temple property was It has been associated, in its initial phase,
completed. The 1920 Convention, held in with 'Abdu'l-Bahi, and in the concluding
New York, having been previously directed stages of its construction with the memory
by 'Abdu'l-Bahi to select the design of that of the Greatest Holy Leaf, the Purest
Temple, chose from among a number of de- Branch and their mother. The structure it-
signs competitively submitted to it that of self is a pure white nonagonal building, of
Louis J. Bourgeois, a French-Canadian original and unique design, rising from a
architect, a selection that was later con- flight of white stairs encircling its base; and
firmed by 'Abdu'l-Bahi Himself. The con- surmounted by a majestic and beautifully
tracts for the sinking of the nine great cais- proportioned dome, bearing nine tapering
sons supporting the central portion of the symmetrically placed ribs of decorative as
building, extending to rock at a depth of well as structural significance, which soar to
120 feet below the ground level, and for the its apex and finally merge into a common
construction of the basement structure, were unit pointing skyward. Its framework is
successively awarded in December, 1920 and constructed of structural steel enclosed in
August, 1921. In August, 1930, in spite of concrete, the material of its ornamentation
the prevailing economic crisis, and during a consisting of a combination of crystalline
period of unemployment unparalleled in quartz, opaque quartz and white Portland
American history, another contract, with cement, producing a composition clear in
twenty-four additional sub-contracts, for the texture, hard and enduring as stone, im-
erection of the superstructure was placed, pervious to the elements, and cast into a
and the work completed by May 1, 1931, on design as delicate as lace. It soars 191 feet
which day the first devotional service in the from the floor of its basement to the cul-
new structure was celebrated, coinciding mination of the ribs, clasping the hemi-
I N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E MASJRIQU'L-ADJKAR 523

spherical dome which is forty-nine feet high, will permeate to all parts o f the world."
with an external diameter of ninety feet, "Out of this Ma&riqu'l-AdJhka'r," He has
and one-third of the surface of which is per- affirmed in the Tablets of the Divine Plan,
forated to admit light during the day and "without doubt, thousands of Madriqu'l-
emit light at night. It is buttressed by pylons Adhka'rs will be born." "It marks," He, fur-
forty-five feet in height, and bears above thermore, has written, "the inception of the
its nine entrances, one of which faces 'Akki, Kingdom of Cod on earth." And again: "It
nine selected quotations from the writings of is the manifest Standard waving in the
Bahb'u'llih, as well as the Greatest Name center of that great continent." "Thousands
in the center of each of the arches over its of Ma&riqu'l-AdJhlcn'rsSS'He, when dedicat-
doors. It is consecrated exclusively to wor- ing the grounds of the Temple, declared,
ship, devoid of all ceremony and ritual, is ". . . will be built in the East and in the
provided with an auditorium which can seat West, but this, being the first erected in the
1600 people, and is to be supplemented by Occident, has great importance." "This or-
accessory institutions of social service to be ganization of the Mas_hriqu'l-Ad_hlca'r,'' He,
established in its vicinity, such as an orphan- referring to that edifice, has moreover
age, a hospital, a dispensary for the poor, a stated, "will be a model for the coming cen-
home for the incapacitated, a hostel for turies, and will hold the station of the
travelers and a college for the study of arts mother."
and sciences. It had already, long before its "Its inception," the Architect of the
construction, evoked, and is now increas- Temple has himself testified, "was not from
ingly evoking, though its interior ornamen- man, for, as musicians, artists, poets receive
tation is as yet unbegun, such interest and their inspiration from another realm, so
comment, in the public press, in technical the Temple's architect, through all his years
journals and in magazines, of both the of labor, was ever conscious that Bahii'u'llih
United States and other countries, as to was the creator of this building to be erected
justify the hopes and expectations enter- to His glory." "Into this new design," he,
tained for it by 'Abdu'l-BahL. Its model ex- furthermore, has written, ". . . is woven,
hibited at Art centers, galleries, state fairs in symbolic form, the great Bahb'i teaching
and national expositions-among which o'f unity-the unity of all religions of all
may be mentioned the Century of Progress mankind. There are combinations of mathe-
Exhibition, held in Chicago in 1933, where matical lines, symbolizing those of the uni-
no less than ten thousaild people, passing verse, and in their intricate merging of circle
through the Hall of Religions, must have into circle, and circle within circle, we vis-
viewed it every day-its replica forming a ualize the merging of all the religions into
part of the permanent exhibit of the Mu- one." And again: "A circle of steps, eighteen
seum of Science and Industry in Chicago; its in all, will surround the structure on the
doors now thronged by visitors from far outside, and lead to the auditorium floor.
and near, whose number, during the period These eighteen steps represent the eighteen
from June, 1932, to October, 1941, has ex- first disciples of the Bib, and the door to
ceeded 130,000 people, representing almost which they lead stands for the Bib Him-
every country in the world, this great "Silent self." "As the essence of the pure original
Teacher" of the Faith of BahL'u'llBh, it may teachings of the historic religions was the
be confidently asserted, has contributed to same . . . in the Bahb'i Temple is used a
the diffusion of the knowledge of His Faith composite architecture, expressing the es-
and teachings in a measure which no other sence in the line of each of the great archi-
single agency, operating within the frame- tectural styles, harmonizing them into one
work of its Administrative Order, has ever whole."
remotely approached. "It is the first new idea in architecture
"When the fouizdation of the Ma&riqu'l- since the 13th century," declared a distin-
AdJhlca'r is laid in America," 'Abdu'l-BahB guished architect, H. Van Buren Magonigle,
Himself has predicted, "and that Divine President of the Architectural League, after
Edifice is completed, a most wonderful and gazing upon a plaster model of the Temple
thrilling motion will appear in the world o f on exhibition in the Engineering Societies
existence . . . From that point of light the Building in New York, in June 1920. "The
spirit o f teaching, spreading the Cause o f Architect," he, moreover, has stated, "has
God and promoting the teachings o f God, conceived a Temple of Light in which struc-
524 THE BAHA'I WORLD

ture, as usually understood, is to be con- ever seen. Without doubt it will have a last-
cealed, visible support eliminated as far as ing page in history. It is a revelation from
possible, and the whole fabric to take on the another world."
airy substance of a dream. It is a lacy en- "Americans," wrote Sherwin Cody, in the
velope enshrining an idea, the idea of light, magazine section of the New York Times,
a shelter of cobweb interposed between of the model of the Temple, when exhibited
earth and sky, struck through and through in the Kevorkian Gallery in New York,
with light-light which shall partly consume "will have to pause long enough to find that
the forms and make of it a thing of faery." an artist has wrought into this building the
"In the geometric forms of the ornamen- conception of a Religious League of Na-
taticn," a writer in the well-known publica- tions." And lastly, this tribute paid to the
tion Architectural Record has written, features of, and the ideals embodied in, this
"covering the columns and surrounding Temple-the most sacred House of Worship
windows and doors of the Temple, one de- in the Bahi'i world, whether of the present
ciphers all the religious symbols of the or of the future-by Dr. Rexford New-
world. Here are the swastika, the circle, the comb, Dean of the College of Fine and
cross, the triangle, the double triangle or six Applied Arts at the University of Illinois:
pointed star (Solomon's seal)-but more "This 'Temple of Light' opens upon the ter-
than this-the noble symbol of the spiritual rain of human experience nine great door-
orb . . . the five pointed star; the Greek ways which beckon men and women of
Cross, the Roman cross, and supreme above every race and clime, of every faith and con-
all, the wonderful nine pointed star, figured viction, of every condition of freedom or
in the structure of the Temple itself, and servitude to enter here into a recognition of
appearing again and again in its ornamenta- that kinship and brotherhood without which
tion as significant of the spiritual glory in the modern world will be able to make little
the world today." further progress . . . The dome, pointed in
"The greatest creation since the Gothic form, aiming as assuredly as did the aspiring
period," is the testimony of George Grey
lines of the medieval cathedrals toward
Barnard, one of the most widely-known
sculptors in the United States of America, higher and better things, achieves not only
"and the most beautiful I have ever seen." through its symbolism but also through its
"This is a new creation," Prof. Luigi structural propriety and sheer loveliness of
Quaglino, ex-professor of Architecture from form, a beauty not matched by any domical
Turin declared, after viewing the model, structure since the construction of Michel-
"which will revolutionize architecture in the angelo's dome on the Basilica of St. Peter in
world, and it is the most beautiful I have Rome."

THE B A W I HOUSE OF WORSHIP

0 N THE first day of May, 1912, a group
of men, women, and children stood in the
open fields where this House of Worship This act of sacrifice is symbolic of the
now stands. With them was 'Abdu'l-BahL, whole story behind this House of Worship.
the son of the Founder of the Bahi'i Faith. In 1903 the Chicago BahL'is started the
He had come to perform the symbolic act project to build in America a Temple to
of laying a cornerstone for the future Tem- embody the new principles of faith in the
ple. A woman who wanted to aid the build- teachings of Bahi'u'llbh. The American
ing of the Temple, found a rough stone. She BahB'is, then a few hundred in number,
lived many miles from here and started on united in this project. Their determination
foot to carry the stone. A little boy with a was an act of faith. They had no money
cart helped her part way. Finally, a man collected. They had no architect's plan. But
offered to carry it on his back, and the stone they made a beginning.
was brought to the fields here. 'Abdu'l-BahL BaWu'llLh taught that in each commu-
asked to use it as the foundation stone. nity there should be a Temple where the
I N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E MASIJRIQU'L-ADHKAR 525

voices of men and women are raised in different styles-Egyptian, Romanesque,
praise to God. Each Bahi'i Temple is to Arabic, Renaissance and Byzantine. By sug-
have nine sides. This is the only architec- gestions of these various -styles ~ourgeois
tural requirement which Bahi'u'llih made. has indicated the repeated efforts of men to
But the symbolism is important. Nine is the glorify God.
largest single number and thus symbolizes The building rests upon nine steel-rein-
comprehensiveness, culmination. Bah2u'- forced concrete caissons sunk 124 feet to
llih used nine to symbolize the coming of bedrock level. The diameter of the circular
age of the human race. He taught that the platform at top of the outside steps is 152
purpose of religion in this age is to unite feet; the diameter of the dome is 98 feet.
the conflicting races and nations in one The height of the structure from maill floor
faith and a common world civilization. He to dome pinnacle is 165 feet.
changed religion from personal salvation to The materials for the o ~ ~ t s i dofe the Tem-
a means for building world order. ple presented many problems. The architect
' At present, most people belong to re- and engineers had no precedent to go by.
ligions differing greatly in time of origin. Years were spent in research. Finally, John
Judaism, for example, is over a thousand J. Earley, an architectural sculptor, helped
years older than Christianity. Some religions solve the main problem. Using a mixture of
were started by men who were reformers. white cement and ground quaidz, the outer
Some originated with individuals who ornamentation was cast in molds and then
claimed to reveal the Word of God. The applied section by section.
spiritual truths of these religions are essen- With the war over, the Bah2is are plan-
tially the same. Every Bahi'i Temple sym- ning to complete the interior by 1953, the
bolizes the oneness of religion. The early fiftieth anniversary of the time when the
American Bahi'is wanted to erect a Temple idea of building a Bahi'i Temple in America
to express this idea. No group of people-in was adopted. Then the Bahi'is will even-
the west had ever undertaken such a project. tually erect auxiliary buildings. Bah2u'llkh
In 1920 a competition was held for Bahi'i gave a unified plan for a community center
architects to submit designs for a Temple. with a beautiful House of Worship at its
The designs were submitted at a convention heart. Around this will be a hospital, a hos-
in New York City. Among the competitors pice, an orphanage, a college, and scientific
was Louis Bourgeois, a French-Canadian laboratories. Bahi'u'llih urged that each
architect. His design was enthusiastically Bahgi Temple be surrounded by gardens
selected by the Bah6'is after a committee of and fountains.
architects and engineers endorsed it. One Services in the Temple will not be elabo-
prominent architect declared that it was the rate. There will be no ritualism or set forms.
first new idea in religious architecture since BahHs have no professional clergy to pre-
the Middle Ages. side. Services are for prayer, meditation,
Bourgeois tried to get the feeling of the and the reading of writings from the Sacred
unity of religion into the design. On the Scriptures of the Bahi'i Faith and the other
great outer columns you find religious sym- great Faiths of the world. Sermons of any
bols placed in rising, chronological order- type will be out of place. Vocal music alone
to give the idea of the continuity of re- will be heard. The Temple will be open to
ligious truth from God. The swastika, an all people for prayer and meditation.
ancient religious symbol, is at the bottom of But Bahi'i worship means more than
the design on these columns. Then comes prayer and meditation. Bahi'u'll5h said that
the six-pointed star of Judaism, the cross of any work done in a spirit of service is a
Christianity, the star and crescent of Islim. form of prayer. The educational, humani-
Above these is a nine-pointed star to indi- tarian, and scientific institutions around the
cate the coming- religious unity of the hu- Temple will complete the dedication of the
man race. individual to God. To the Bahi'i there is no
People find other ideas in the Temple de- rigid division between the spiritual and
sign. The nine doors suggest varied ways practical parts of life.
by which men in the past have found a Bah2is do not solicit funds from the pub-
knowledge of God. Because the design is lic for any of their activities. From all over
unusual, people try to find a single term for the world the BahHs have contributed to
the architecture. Some point out traces of the erection of this building. Funds have
526 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

come from Persia, India-in fact, from all 0 Son of Being! Thou art My Lamp and
the five continents. This Temple is both a MY light is ila thee.
gift from Bahi'is and a dem&stration of
0 Son of Being! Walk in My statutes for
their Faith. Here is a building where men
love o f Me.
and women of all races and religions are
welcome to come for prayer. eren no creed Thy Paradise is My love; thy heaveizly
stigmatizes the follower of any great faith as home reunion with Me.
infidel or pagan. Here all men may turn
their hearts to God and know that they are The light of a good character surpasseth
brothers. the light of the sun.

CARVED
ABOVE THE NINE ENTRANCES
OF THE TEMPLE The people who built this House of Wor-
ship are BahL'is. They bear this name as
The earth is but one country; and mankind members of a World Faith. The word
its citizens. "BahL'i" comes from the name of the
Founder of the Faith-Bahi'u'llhh ("the
The best beloved of all things in My sight
is Justice; turn not away therefrom i f thou of God"). BahVi means "a
desirest Me. follower of BahB'u'llih."
The Faith of BahVu'llLh is called the
My love is My stronghold; he that elaterest "Bahi'i World Faith." There are three rea-
therein is safe and secure. sons for this.
First, Bahi'is live in more than two hun-
Breathe not the sins of others so long as dred countries and territories of the world.
thou art thyself a sinner. BahB'is are people who formerly had differ-
Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My ent and conflicting religious backgrounds.
descent. They had been Buddhists, Jews, Muslims,
Zoroastrians, Hindus, Protestants, Catholics,
I have made death a messenger o f joy to or else they had no religion at all. They
thee; wherefore dost thou grieve? have found in the Bahi'i Faith a basis of
unity that makes the competition of sects
Make mention o f Me on My earth that in and denominations seem unimportant to
My heaven I may remember thee. them. Bahi'is are people of different eco-
0 rich ones on earth! The poor in your nomic and social class&. Through a com-
midst are My trust; guard ye My Trust. mon devotion, rich and poor mingle as
equals and work together to establish a
The source of all learning is the knowledge world order for all men and women. They
of God, exalted be His glory. are people of different national and racial
backgrounds. But the BahL'i teachings have
TEXTSFROM WORDSO F B A H ~ U ' L L ~ H given them a higher loyalty-the loyalty to
SELECTEDBY SHOGHIEFFENDI humanity. Bahi'is have no "color line" or
FOR THE TEMPLEINTERIOR
racial segregation. In this Faith, people of
d l races find equality with each other be-
All the Prophets of God proclaim the same cause they are equal before God.
Faith. Second, the Bahi'i Faith develops world-
mindedness. Read these well-known BahL'i
Religion is a radiant light and an impreg- quotations : . . . "Let your vision be world-
nable stronghold. embracing, rather than confined to your
own selves." . . . "That one indeed is a
Y e are the fruits of one tree and the leaves
of one branch. man who, today, dedicateth himself to the
service of the entire human race."
So powerful is unity's light that it con Third, the BahB'i Faith offers a clear pat-
illumine the whole earth. tern of world order. It does not have any
secret mystic doctrines; it does not have any
Consort with the followers of all religions priesthood or professional clergy. People
with friendliness. find this a practical, spiritual religion with
INSTITUTION OF THE

the mission of uniting the world in one This body, elected by the people, is to be
common faith and one order. Bahi'u'llih composed of men and women so qualified
declared that in our time religion must unite that they may be "trustees of the Merciful
people or else it has no socid value. He de- among men." Each nation will have a Sec-
clared that religion must show men how to ondary or National House of Justice whose
build a just world. He emphasized that jus- members will elect the International House
tice is the greatest good in the sight of God. of Justice. This international legislature will
Toashow men how to achieve this, He out- make the laws for a federalized world.
lined a pattern of world order. Bahi'u'llih emphasized certain principles
Bahi'u'llAh's vision of a united world be- to help bind people together in a united
gins with each man and woman. Individuals world:
must have high moral standards and a new Men must seek for truth in spite of cus-
basis of belief if they are to become citizens tom, prejudice, and tradition.
of one world. Men and women must have equal oppor-
Bahgis believe in one God, even though tunities, rights, and privileges.
men have called Him by different names. The nations must choose an international
God has revealed His Word in each period language to be used along with the mother
of history through a chosen Individual tongue.
Whom Bahi'is call "the Manifestation of All children must receive a basic educa-
God." He restates in every age God's pur- tion.
pose and will. His teachings are a revela- Men must make a systematic effort to
tion from God. Abraham, Moses, Buddha, wipe out all those prejudices which divide
Zoroaster, Christ, and Muhammad were people.
Manifestations of God. Each gave men di- Men must recognize that religion should
vine teachings to live by. Bahi'is believe go hand-in-hand with science.
that true religion is the real basis of civi- Men must work to abolish extreme
lized life. wealth and extreme poverty.
Since there is one God, these Manifesta- This Faith and these challenging ideas
tions of God have each taught the same re- originated in Persia (frin) in 1844. In that
ligious faith. They have developed and year a young Man Who called Himself the
adapted it to meet the needs of the people BAb (or "Gate") began to teach that God
in each period of history. This unfoldment would soon "make manifest" a World
of religion from age to age is called "pro- Teacher to unite men and women and usher
gressive revelation." BahPu'llih, the in an age of peace. The BAb attracted so
Founder of the Bahi'i Faith, is the Mani- many followers that the Persian government
festation of God for our time. and the Islamic clergy united to kill Him.
This is the basis of Bahi'i belief: one God And they massacred more than twenty thou-
has given men one Faith through progres- sand of His followers.
sive revelations of His Will in each age of In 1863 Bahi'u'llAh announced to the
history, and Bahi'u'llih reveals the Will of few remaining followers of the Bib that He
God for men and women of the present was the chosen Manifestation of God for
age. This basic belief enables Bahi'is to this age. He called upon people to unite; He
unite and work together in spite of different said that only in one common faith and one
religious backgrounds. order could the world find an enduring
The Oneness of Mankind is like a pivot peace. He declared that terrible wars would
around which all the teachings of Bah2u'- sweep the face of the earth and destroy the
llih revolve. This means that men and institutions and ideas that keep men from
women of all races are equal in the sight of their rightful unity.
God and equal in the Bahi'i community.
The teachings of Bah6'uYllAhare a ring-
People of different races must have equal
educational and economic opportunity, ing call to action. They offer hope, courage,
equal access to decent living conditions- and vision. The books of Bahi'u'llAh in Eng-
and equal responsibilities. In the Bahi'i lish are: The Hidden Words, The Seven
view, there is no superior race or superior Valleys and the Four Valleys, The Book of
nation. Certitude, Epistle to the Son o f the W o l f ,
Bah&'uYllihdeclared that a house of Jus- Prayers and Meditations, and Gleanings
tice must be established in each community. from the Writings o f Bahd'u'lldh. A selec-
528 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

tion of His writings is in the anthology terpreter of the teachings. Under Shoghi Ef-
called Bahd'i World Faith. fendi's direction the Bahb'is throughout the
But Bahau'llih was not greeted with en- world have adopted an administrative order
thusiasm by the religious leaders of Islim. that is an application of BahL'u'llih's teach-
As they saw His Faith spread, their hatred ings for a world order. Thus Bahi'is have
grew. They forced Him into exile-first to begun to practice in their own affairs the
Baghdgd, then to Constantinople, to Adrian- social teachings of Bahi'u'llih.
ople, and finally to 'Akki, Palestine. There Local and National BahL'i Spiritual As-
He died, still an exile and prisoner, in 1892. semblies are the ADattern for t h i Houses of
BahB'u'llih appointed 'Abdu'l-Bahi, His Justice of tomorrow. Bahi'is know from in-
eldest son, as the Interpreter of His teach- creasing experience that difference~of na-
ings and the Exemplar of the Faith. Under tion, race, class, and religion can be re-
the leadership of 'Abdu'l-Bahi the Faith
moved by the uniting power of BahL'u'llih.
was introduced to Europe and America.
After He was freed from prison in 1908, Bahi'is know from increasing experience
'Abdu'l-Bahi made several missionary jour- that this Faith can save men and women
neys. In 1912 He was in America for eight from the hatreds, the pessimism, the cor-
months during which time He laid the ruption, and the materialism of our age.
cornerstone of this Temple. They know this because they have seen it
In 1921 'Abdu'l-Bahi died and left a will and experienced it. They invite you to in-
naming His eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi, vestigate this Faith and share in this spirit-
the first Guardian of the Faith and the in- ual adventure.

ARCHITECTURE OF THE TEMPLE INTERIOR

(This is the first of two articles by mem- archaeology and brought forth a flowing,
bers of the Bahb'i Technical Advisory Board dynamic type of ornamentation that defies
on various phases of the Temple interior placing as to specific source. Were we to
work. The first, by Mr. McLaughlin, covers follow the prevailing fashion of 1950 as we
the general architectural features of the in- complete the interior we would simply leave
terior. A subsequent article by Mr. Eardley exposed the concrete framework of the in-
describes the materials being used, the struc- terior and probably do a lot of talking about
tural work, and other subjects of interest.) the honesty, integrity and beauty of naked,
unabashed structures-perhaps a little
A GOOD many years have passed since
Louis Bourgeois conceived and developed
whitewash and a few accents of color and
form and we would consider it complete.
the design for the Temple in Wilmette. But all of ns who are BahL'is during this
These intervening years have seen perhaps as thrilling period of completing the most holy
rapid and violent a change in prevailing House of Worship, know that our Temple is
concepts of architecture as the world has something quite apart from any architec-
ever known. In 1920 and the years im- tural fashion of the moment. When our
mediately preceding, American architecture Temple is completed it will be a unified, in-
was in the grip of rigid stylism, of painstak- tegrated entity, although designed and built
ing archaeology. In 1950 American archi- in a period of swiftly moving change. The
tecture has abandoned eclecticism and is Guardian has directed that it be so, and of
committed to a wholehearted expression of course that is the only way that a Bahi'i
function and structure as the supreme ob- Temple can be.
jective. When we enter one of the nine entrances
The BahQ'i Temple typifies neither point to the Temple, some time in the spring of
of view. Had Bourgeois been content to 1951, we will find the old temporary
swim along in the main stream of 1920 wooden doors removed, and simple but fine
American architecture he would have clad aluminum and glass substituted. The
his design in a medley of architectural wooden crossbars above are to be removed
styles. Instead he put away his books of and two large pieces of clear glass installed
INSTITUTION OF T H E MAURIQU'L-A-KAR 529

in each opening-there would be only one Shaw, has felt from the very start of his
piece, except for the pressures of high winds work that he wanted to recapture the scale
off Lake Michigan. These large areas of and quality of the exterior ornament of the
glass will show, from the inside of the Tem- dome. That he has at last fully done so is
ple the ornament on the back of some of the clear to those who have watched his de-
exterior columns and arches. signs progress from sketches to detailed
The concrete piers in the bays have al- drawings, to clay models, plaster casts, and
ready been finished as round columns. A finally to the executed panels. These nine
picture of these appeared in the Bahh'i News great vertical panels of vibrant, flowing
for December, 1949. The design of these ornament eventually find their way into the
columns makes no attempt to copy heavy, detail of the dome.
masonry forms. They taper towards the bot- Between the nine panels and pairs of
tom rather than towards the top as has been piers are first the main story arches, then the
the case with masonry columns for niillen- gallery arches, and finally the smaller inter-
iums past. In so doing they register as sur- lacing arches of the triforium gallery. At
face treatment and not as massive masonry, each of the main story arches is a nine
for the load is carried by the concrete pier pointed star on which will be inscribed the
within. Vertical joints, instead of being stag- Greatest Name. The Guardian has sent a
gered in usual masonry fashion, are lined detail of this inscription, which is to be fol-
one above the other, further recognizing the lowed exactly lest any Occidental liberties
surface qualities of the material. The marble with epigraphy offend a practiced eye.
base of the column will be recessed rather The dome has been brilliantly designed
than projecting in the usual manner. We with an interlacing of flowing ornament,
can see already, at the Temple, the lightness culminating in the Greatest Name at the
and grace, as well as the great dignity, of zenith. The interior dome, like the exterior
these columns. treatment, will be pierced, to transmit light.
The ceiling of each bay consists of a pair To have watched the development of the
of ogee curves meeting in a straight line at interior design has been a thrilling experi-
the top. A lighting trough carries around ence. The complete willingness and desire
each bay between columns, and silhouetted of our distinguished architect, Alfred Shaw,
in front will be the nine inscriptions selected to merge his great creative powers into the
by the Guardian. Color can be applied to background of the over-all concept of the
the ceilings, and there is space for draperies Temple has been stirring and deeply and
against the outside wall, between windows. gratefully admired. The problem has been
In the main portion of the Temple there difficult technically if only because of the
are, of course, the nine pairs of columns absolute necessity of integrating what is be-
which rise to the springing of the dome. ing done in 1950 to form a harmonious
These columns are even now being finished entity with what was conceived before 1920.
with square sections of the surface material, But in only a little more than a year from
and between each pair of columns rises a now, given the necessary flow of funds, the
brilliant panel of ornament, clear to the Temple interior will have been completed.
springing of the dome. Our architect, Alfred And it is going to be very beautiful.

STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THE INTERIOR
OF THE BAHA'I HOUSE OF WORSHIP

I T HARDLY seems possible that almost from the beautiful structure now nearing
thirty-eight years have passed since that completion. How many of us could then
memorable occasion in 1912 when our be- visualize the magnitude of the work ahead!
loved 'Abdu'l-Bahb met with the friends to After preparation of the architectural
dedicate the ground upon which the Temple drawings by Mr. Louis Bourgeois, and the
was to be built. That meeting was held in an selection of Major Burt of Holabird & Root
extraordinarily large tent-indeed a far cry as the supervising engineer, the first major
T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

operation was the sinking to bed rock of the definite function. Once the castings are set
nine unusually large caissons. In addition and bolted in place the several surrounding
to the caisson work the primary structural castings are doweled together to prevent any
features included the foundation walls, and possible movement. At the Earley Studio,
the domelike roof over what is now called detail and full size drawings are made of the
Foundation Hall. Following this came the various pieces showing location of each bolt,
fabrication and erection of the structural reinforcing rods, dowels, and galvanized
steel columns supporting the steelwork of wire mesh.
the dome proper, and later the construction Suspending of the dome tracery is car-
of the exterior concrete walls above grade, ried out in a similar manner with each piece
and balcony floors. All of this has been of tracery bolted to the dome steel. At the
completely described and illustrated in pre- time of building the dome the decision had
vious articles in the BuhBi News, The not been made as to what material would
Bah& World, a number of architectural and eventually be used for the facing, and,
engineering magazines, and daily newspa- therefore no definite arrangement was made
pers. for suspending such material. Now that pre-
The structural items of the interior of the cast shapes have been decided upon, it
Temple are of a secondary nature in com- means that additional ribs of circular steel
parison with those mentioned in the previ- must be attached to the existing dome steel
ous paragraph. They are, nevertheless, im- and so located as to receive the bolts set in
portant. The interior tracery, as well as the the castings.
plain or solid surfaces, must be precast and The shape of the building, that is, nine-
suspended in place by being attached to the sided below the dome, and circular at the
columns, the interior balcony spandrels, and dome, involves rather interesting mathemat-
to the steel arches of the dome. ical calculations as well as careful measure-
From the layman's standpoint, the work ments in the field.
might be compared to the old-fashioned An approximate estimate of the weight of
crazy quilt consisting of numerous pieces of all the interior ornamentation furnished by
odd shapes sewn together to form the fin- the Earley Studio amounts to 1,450,000
ished design. The interior surfaces, being pounds, of which the dome tracery will
precast, must be of such size as can be weigh approximately 293,000 pounds.
readily handled, and, at the same time of One of the interesting features is the ex-
such shape that the joints occur only where posed spirally-shaped reinforced concrete
indicated on the architectural drawings. stairway. Since the decision to have the
A great deal of preliminary work must be main entrances to the Temple on the West
done at the site before these castings can be side, it became necessary to remove the
set into place. The method of supporting the existing steel stairs from the main floor to
cast sections is by means of vertical and the first balcony. The architect chose the
shelf angles attached to the present steel spirally-shaped stair as being more in con-
and concrete surfaces. Shelf angles are formity with the interior design, not cutting
pieces of steel formed in the shape of the off as much light as an enclosed stairway.
letter "L," one leg of which is bolted or According to budget limitations the railing
welded to the present structure while the will be of aluminum or stainless steel.
outstanding leg supports the casts. To be The new steel work required for the sus-
able to attach the new steel to the existing pension of the interior finish is being fur-
steel it has been necessary, in many in- nished and set by the Butler Steel Foundry.
stances, to cut away the concrete fireproof- The structural design has been under the
ing. Once the casts are set in place upon the supervision of Mr. Carl A. Metz of the
shelf angles, each piece must be bolted to architectural firm of Shaw, Metz & Dolio of
the vertical angles to prevent displacement. Chicago. It is interesting to note that Mr.
Since each separate casting must be accu- Metz, while at the University of Illinois, was
rately placed, it follows that each shelf angle a former pupil of Mr. Allen B. McDaniel.
must also be accurately located at the joint During the several phases of the construc-
between the castings. To a person viewing tion of the Temple it was Mr. McDaniel
the work of cutting the concrete and placing who sacrificed much of his time and energy
these pieces of steel the process may appear toward the execution of the original struc-
confusing, but each piece of steel has a ture.
Interior of the Dome of the BahB'i House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois.
532 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

COMPLETING THE INTERIOR ORNAMENTATION
OF THE BAHA'I HOUSE OF WORSHIP
B y ALFREDP. SHAW,Architect*
Remarks addressed to the National B a W i Convention, 1951,
Wilmette, Illinois

BSING a very bad speaker, certainly not set the pattern for the character of the in-
an accomplished one, I have to write a few terior.
things down, and the first thing that comes By the nature of the instructions from the
to me is that, although this is essentially a Head of your Faith, there were certain
religious gathering, while this may sound aspects of the Bourgeois design which were
material to you, I find that in some religions, to be adhered to. There was also the natural
and in all religions, possibly, we touch the architectural need of unity and there were
material things eventually. At any rate, certain details and aesthetics also which,
some years ago when we started this project after laying aside a design for some years,
for this interior, one of the most important even the original architect would very likely
men connected with original building opera- have wanted to change. There was also, if
tion, said to me-he was not a BahL'i ob- I may be permitted to say so, the necessity
viously, just a poor fellow in the building of the present architect believing in the
b~~siness-"Well," he said, "Al, there is one merit of his own achievement. This very
thing you will find out about these people. principle my colleagues on the Technical
They act in business according to their re- Committee very sympathetically required of
ligious professions." me, too.
To all of you, I am sure, as it did to me- The resulting open lace-like pattern in
but especially to you-this must mean stone, organized into nine bays horizontally
something. and four general vertical units and woven
These men who were on the Building or into one design has taken some of the char-
Technical Committee then are not the same acter of the exterior and brought about a
as now. Some of them are, and there has unified quality on the interior. This quality
been some change. However, the same -although, personally, I have not done it
thing, the same feeling, has been the experi- for that reason alone-represents, I discover
ence on this project of the interior. There in talking with the members of the Com-
has been a constant interchange of ideas and mittee, the unity of the beliefs which your
when the very earnest proponent of some Faith symbolizes.
fine personal idea was out-voted, he took it The slow process from sketches to de-
as a part of the general progress and went tailed drawings on a great structure like this,
on to the next problem. And I include the through the heating plans and the electrical
architect in this general description. You engineering, the work of the modeler, the
can see that they almost made a Christian craftsmanship of the stonemason, the plas-
out of him. terers, the carpenters and all the other
As I may have mentioned when I spoke tradesmen and the people who coordinated
to this Assembly once before, it is not an them, has really resulted in a fine and
easy or natural task to take an achievement amazing example of this kind of coordi-
such as' Louis Bourgeois's great structure nated effort. In my profession, it happens
here and complete it. The proper solution more than once, and most of the time, that
demands a homogeneity with another man's
we sometimes forget this aspect, and here in
inspiration and his aesthetics. Now, al-
though there have been many discussions this complicated structure it became obvi-
with the Technical Committee, the most dif- ous to me, as I sat thinking about this, this
ficult, and the most important were those at morning, how all these engineering details,
the very beginning of our association, which sometimes hidden, sometimes visible, have
been woven into what appears to be a unit
* Of the firm of Shaw, Metz and Dolio, Chicago,
Illinois. upstairs, and, while it isnot completely fin-
INSTITUTION OF THE M A B R I Q U ' L - A m K A R 533

ished, it certainly is finished enough so that it has taken, I think this is the place, even
we know that it is going to be what we had if they are not here, to thank them for it,
in mind. and thank them for the patience they had
I wish there were more of the people here and the contributions they made.
who have done it, but I want to pay a We, as the architects of the interior, hope
tribute to all these men I have mentioned, and believe that the great purpose of this
these craftsmen, the people who ran this Temple will be more successf~~lly fulfilled
building, the people who coordinated the because of this completion of the interior.
craftsmen, the people in distant cities who We also hope that it will be a continuing
made some of the stone. When I look at this inspiration to all of you here in America
building and see it and recall how much and to all of your Faith. Thank you very
time and effort and individual coordination much.

INTERIOR ORNAMENTATION OF THE
BAHA'I HOUSE OF WORSHIP
and PAULE. HANEY
By ALLENB. MCDANIEL

L O U I S BOURGEOIS, the architect of the Archives. The work of the exterior orna-
Temple, walked into the conference room mentation continued without interruption to
of The Research Service in Washington, its completion with the building of the steps
D.C., one morning in the early spring of in 1942. Work on Temple construction
1929 and greeted the group: "Well, I have could not be carried forward during the re-
a surprise for you." maining war years owing to the restrictions
With this precipitate announcement, he then in effect.
laid a roll of original drawings on the table The first intimation that Temple construc-
and proceeded to describe his design for the tion was to be resumed came in the form of
interior ornamentation of the Temple. As a message from the Guardian in March,
the members of the group examined these 1946, requesting an approximate estimate of
drawings, expressions of amazement came the cost of the interior ornamentation. This
from all on the extreme intricacy and deli- message also directed the Temple Trustees
cacy of the design. Mr. H. Van Buren to modify the elaborate Bourgeois interior
Magonigle, the consulting architect, ques- design in order to reduce excessive expendi-
tioned Mr. Bourgeois on the practicability ture.
of the execution of such an elaborate design. At the Thirty-Eighth Annual Convention
But as the meeting had been called to con- of the Bahi'is of the United States and Can-
sider the steps to be taken in the construc- ada in April, 1946, the Guardian's cable
tion of the superstructure of the Temple on setting forth the objectives of the Second
the foundation completed eight years be- Seven-Year Plan revealed that one of these
fore, no further consideration was given at objectives was to be the conlpletion of the
that time to the interior design. The making interior ornamentation of "the heliest House
of these drawings constituted the work of of Worship in the Bahi'i World" by 1953.
Mr. Bourgeois during the last two years of The simplification and modification of the
his life. Bourgeois design, in accordance with the in-
Nearly nine years, busily occupied with structions of Shoghi Effendi, presented tech-
the erection of the superstructure and its nical problems of great complexity, requir-
ornamentation with the exterior stonework, ing for their solution the highest degree of
passed before additional attention was given engineering and architectural knowledge and
to the interior. Then, on instructions re- experience.
ceived from the Guardian of the Bahi'i The Temple Trustees, shortly after the
Faith, late in 1937, the interior design was 1946 Convention, authorized and initiated
purchased from Mrs. Pemberton, widow of two independent studies of the interior orna-
Mr. Bourgeois. The original drawings were mentation, these studies to have as their
sent to Haifa for the International BahL'i major objective the production of a modified
T H E B A H A 'f W O R L D

design conforming to the Guardian's in- with Paul E. Haney, Chairman; and a Tech-
structions. Mr. Allen B. McDaniel, of Wash- nical Advisory Board of three BahL'i tech-
ington, D.C., who had been associated with nical specialists, Allen B. McDaniel, Robert
the Temple construction work, as consulting W. McLaughlin and Edwin H. Eardley.
and supervising engineer, since 1921, was With this working organization, a search
requested to carry out one of these studies, was made for a competent concern of archi-
and a special Technical Committee, under tects and engineers with the facilities neces-
the chairmanship of Mr. Carl Scheffler, of sary to prepare the working drawings and
Evanston, Illinois, was authorized to work specifications, and able to assume responsi-
independently on the same problem of pro- bility for supervising the actual construction
ducing a modified interior design. work.
Further instructions received from the After a careful canvass of many architec-
Guardian in the months which followed tural firms in Washington, New York and
specified that the modified design for the Chicago, a member of the Technical Ad-
interior should include the carrying of the visory Board called at the offices of one of
spirit and flow of the exterior architectural the leading architectural concerns in the
motifs into the interior, in order to preserve Loop district of Chicago one morning early
the homogeneity of the entire structure; the in the summer of 1947, and posed the ques-
creation of a single, spacious auditorium, tion to the head of the firm: "Would you
eliminating the separate small chapels or be interested in preparing the detailed plans
rooms included in the original Bourgeois and specifications for the interior ornamen-
concept; adequate acoustical treatment; the tation of the BahL'i Temple at Wilmette, Illi-
use of color; and the use of fixed seats, nois?" A look of doubt came over the face
placed facing in the direction of the Holy of the distinguished architect, Mr. Alfred P.
Land. Shaw, and he expressed a serious question
On March 15, 1947, at meetings of the as to the willingness of his firm to take on
National Spiritual Assembly and the Temple a project of this nature, especially in view of
Trustees, the results of nearly nine months the difficulty of recreating the spirit and ex-
of intensive work were presented by the two pressing the qualities of a work of such
independent professional groups. The special unique character-the product of the genius
Technical Committee submitted a design of an architect of a former period. However,
prepared for the Committee by Mr. Earl H. the universal and outstanding nature of the
Reed, a Chicago architect, and Mr. Mc- project as expressed in the general design
Daniel presented his modification of the and flowing ornamentation of Louis Bour-
Bourgeois interior design. These preliminary geois' creation intrigued this craftsman, and
designs and accompanying reports were sent on August 4, 1947, a contract was entered
to Shoghi Effendi with a memorandum of into with Mr. Alfred P. Shaw and his firm
explanation, for his review and decision. for the necessary architectural and engineer-
The Guardian's decisions were communi- ing services.
cated in a letter presented to the Annual Mr. Shaw thus entered upon perhaps the
Convention in April, 1947. Shoghi Effendi most difficult task which a top-flight archi-
indicated a preference for the preliminary tect can attempt, to take an intensely per-
design submitted by Mr. McDaniel, particu- sonal creation of another architect, in this
larly the idea of a perforated dome as con- case that of Mr. Bourgeois, simplify it
templated by Mr. Bourgeois, but suggested greatly, and at the same time give it that
that certain of Mr. Reed's ideas might be creative touch which is so essential if it is
incorporated in Mr. McDaniel's plans. Also tmly to live and convey the message in-
certain further modifications were suggested, tended.
mainly in the interest of homogeneity. A re- The office of Shaw, Metz and Dolio be-
vised design, incorporating these suggestions, gan studies immediately, and in frequent
was prepared by Mr. McDaniel, and consultation with the Chairman of the Tem-
adopted by the Temple Trustees in July, ple Construction Committee and the mem-
1947. bers of the Technical Advisory Board grad-
Faced with the immediate requirement of ually evolved the plans for a design which
the execution of the approved design, the embodied the flowing motifs and the spirit
Temple Trustees appointed from their mem- of the Bourgeois vision, but in simplified
bership a Temple Construction Committee, form as directed by the Guardian of the
Interior view of the BahB'i House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois, facing east, showing
first and second galleries.
536 T H E B A H A. ' I W O R L D

Faith. This design was approved by Shoghi concrete sections. Thus there evolved gradu-
Effendi in cables dated May 4 and 6, 1948, ally a design which embodied the spirit and
with instructions to proceed promptly with the dynamic quality of movement of the
the placing of contracts for the actual con- Bourgeois conception.
struction work. AS-the project progressed, the economic
The first step in the construction of the necessity to consider mounting construction
Temple interior involved the removal of the costs pressed for action. Available data in-
original iron stairway from the foundation dicated that building costs had advanced
area to the main floor, and from the main about 20 percent during the two-year period
floor to the first gallery level on the south since the inception of the project. Three sets
side of the structure, and the building of a of plans and cost figures were presented by
new reinforced concrete stairway in the en- the architect and the general contractor, and
tranceway space on the opposite side of the finally a plan involving an estimated total
building. This work was performed by the expenditure of about $860,000, and of about
George A. Fuller Company, Chicago, Illi- two years for construction operations, was
nois, the contractors who built the Temple adopted and approved by Shoghi Effendi.
superstructure in 1930 to 1931. This figure was subsequently raised to ap-
While this stairway construction was proximately $890,000, as a result of a deci-
under way, a contract was signed by the sion to include treatment of the alcoves of
Temple Trustees with the Fuller Company the interior auditorium with the Earley cast
for the entire project, and during a period stone material.
of some three years, this organization served As the sections of the interior piers and
as general contractor for the interior, fur- columns were being set in place, the ventila-
nishing all labor, materials, equipment, sup- tion ducts, piping for the heating system,
plies and supervision for all phases of the electrical conduits, wires and equipment
work, including the placing of the cast stone were installed by the various sub-contrac-
sections of the interior ornamentation, the tors. All this utilities work was completed in
heating and ventilation, the electric lighting, advance of the erection of the ornamenta-
terrazzo floor and other elements of the tion.
project. At the Earley Studio, across the Potomac
The most important sub-contract con- River from the Nation's capital city, the
cerned the interior ornamentation, which craftsmen carried on the work of modeling,
was originally envisioned as of ornamental making molds, casting and finishing the
plaster. But as the result of competitive bids, hundreds of beautiful white concrete sec-
the proposal of the Earley Studio, Rosslyn, tions of the tracery. The radiant casts, spar-
Virginia, was accepted for architectural con- kling with quartz particles, were carefully
crete, at a figure $12,000 lower than that packed in railroad cars, shipped to the Tem-
submitted for ornamenta1,plaster. The dec- ple and erected in place. Below the per-
ade of experience of this concern in the forated dome, the panels of the tracery were
fabrication of the exterior ornamentation of cast with a background of rose quartz which
the Temple, had made possible a lower bid gives a pinkish color to the spaces between
for a material preferable to plaster as to ap- the vertical ribs.
pearance, durability, cleanliness and perma- Studies were made by acoustical experts,
nence. in consultation with the architect and the
With the development of the working Advisory Board, to ascertain the sound con-
drawings in the architect's office, there arose ditions of the interior of the Temple. Acous-
the need of full size studies of the ornamen- tical plaster was placed in the ceiling of the
tation. Full scale clay models of typical sec- second gallery to reduce reverberation. A
tions of the panels between the interior public address system was also included in
columns were made in the studio of Ro- the plans, and provision made for its instal-
chette and Parzini, architectural sculptors in lation.
New York City, and studied arid modified Lighting of the central space under the
from time to time by Mr. Shaw and the dome is effected by lamps in conical-shaped,
Technical Advisory Board. The developed, brass-reflecting fixtures placed on the nine
finished models were cast in plaster and groups of interior columns, nineteen feet
shipped to the Earley Studio, where they above the floor. The nine alcoves are illumi-
were used in the process of making the cast nated by lights in horizontal troughs around
Interior ornamentation of Bahk'i House of Worship, Wilrnette, Illinois, as seen from
second gallery. Visitors viewing the interior from the main floor and from the
first gallery, thirty-six feet above floor level, are dwarfed
by the proportions of the structure.
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

the bases of the arched ceilings. Ceiling Standing enthralled in the midst of the
lights furnish illumination for the two gal- Temple, one feels that the ornamentation
leries. seems to take on life and flow ever upward
On the terrazzo floor are placed the 1,191 and onward, symbolizing life with its evolu-
seats arranged in groups separated by the tion of progress from the material to the
radial and circumferential aisles and facing spiritual, and in this moment of understand-
the direction of the World Center of the ing, the observer realizes that the building of
Faith. the BahVi House of Worship is a triumph
The visitor in the days to come will ap- of human and spiritual achievement.
proach the Temple along a walk leading In leaving the Temple the visitor may
from the intersection of Sheridan Road and descend the inside stairway to the ground
Linden Avenue to the base of the Temple floor.
steps. On each side are to be the gardens, At the dedication of the Temple grounds
nine in number, each with its beds of lovely 'Abdu'l-Bahh addressed a national gathering
shrubbery and flowering plants surrounding of the followers of the Faith on May 1,
a reflecting pool, in the center of which a 1912, the evening before He laid the stone
fountain will play. By a gradual ascent over which marked the site of this glorious House
terraces and steps, the circular walk at the of Worship. He said: "Among the insti-
foot of the eighteen steps is reached. As- tutes of the Holy Books is that of the foun-
cending the steps to the main platform one dation of places of worship, an edifice or
gazes upward over the great arched door- temple is to be built in order that humanity
way of the main story to the tiers of win- might find a place of meeting and this is to
dows with their lace-like ornamental screens be conducive to unity and fellowship among
of the gallery story, and thence to the great them. The real temple is the very Word of
ribs of the clerestory extending up and over God, for to it all humanity must turn and
the glorious hemispherical dome to the apex, it is the center of unity for all mankind. It
symbolic of hands lifted to the heavens in is the collective center, the cause of accord
supplication. and communion of hearts, the sign of soli-
To enter the House of Worship one passes darity of the human race, the source of life
through a glass vestibule, on either side of eternal. Temples are the symbols of the di-
which are alcoves with arched ceilings at vine uniting force, so that when people
whose bases are inscriptions from the BahVi gather there in the House of God they may
Sacred Writings. Beyond groups of columns recall the fact that the law has been re-
supporting the great dome, the visitor vealed for them and that the law is to unite
emerges into the central auditorium or gath- them. They will realize that just as this Tem-
ering place, where in the generations to ple was founded for the unification of man-
come peoples of all nationalities, colors and kind, the law preceding and creating it
creeds will assemble to listen to the reading came forth in the manifest Word. . . . This
of the Holy Books and to commune with is why His Holiness Bahi'uYll6h, the
God. In each bay of the nine-sided room, Founder of the Bah6'i Faith, has com-
great vertical panels of flowery tracery manded that a place of worship be built for
gradually blend into the interlacing orna- all the religionists of the world; that all re-
ment of the dome, where shines the Greatest ligions, races, creeds and sects may come to-
Name at the zenith. Between the nine panels gether within its universal shelter; that the
and groups of columns are first the main- proclamation of the oneness of mankind
story arches, then the gallery arches and, at shall go forth from its open courts of holi-
the base of the dome, the smaller interlacing ness. . . .9 3 1
arches of the triforium gallery. 1 Promulgation of Universal Peace, vol. 1, p. 62.

Model of landscaping surrounding the Bahi'i House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois.
The smaller building at the right, across Sheridan Road, is the National Haziratu'l-Quds
of the BahL'is of the United States of America.
540 T H E BAHA'I W O R L D

LbNDSCAPE PLAN OF THE B A m i HOUSE OF
WORSHIP BY HILBERT DAHL

T H E long-awaited announcement of the
design selected for landscaping the Temple Before considering the nature of
grounds, and of the placing of contracts for Mr. Dahl's design it is important to note two
the work, was made in March, 1952. written statements from the Guardian: "The
In the spring of 1951, the Temple Trus- Guardian approves of your action to only
tees had communicated with a number of expend two hundred thousand dollars at
representative landscape architects and re- present for the Temple landscaping and
quested them to submit designs and pre- leave further embellishment until a later
liminary estimates. The specifications taken date. He is very glad that this work is being
from Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bah6 called for done by such a devoted Bah6'i as Mr. Dahl,
treatment of a circular area, and a design who will put his whole heart into it and be
providing for nine paths, gardens, pools and inspired by the original concept as much as
fountains. Indeed, the tract of land acquired, possible." (To the N.S.A. in letter written
and the location of the Temple at its center, by the Guardian's secretary, dated Novem-
reflected the understanding of the Master's ber 23, 1951.)
directions by the early believers. The next day in a letter addressed to
From the designs submitted, the one pre- Mr. Dahl, written by the Guardian through
pared by Mr. Hilbert E. Dahl, the Bahb'i his secretary, we have this beautiful mes-
landscape architect who years ago made pre- sage: "He is very pleased with the plans you
liminary studies of the project, was selected have made for the Temple grounds; of
by the Trustees. course he regrets the pools and fountains
His sketch was submitted to the Guard- will have to be postponed, but this will not
ian, who cabled his approval during the prevent carrying out an almost complete
summer of 1951. A Temple Landscape garden scheme for the 1953 date, and for
Committee was appointed consisting of Mr. economy's sake, seems a necessary measure.
Robert McLaughlin, Mr. Leroy Ioas, Mr. H. "The Guardian feels the Temple will
Borrah Kavelin and Mr. Clarence Ullrich, show to better advantage if flood lighted
to represent the Trustees in carrying out the from without. This will not prevent, no
project with the landscape architect and the doubt, when the floodlights are on, any il-
contractors. lumination from within producing a pleas-
A contract was entered into with ing effect.
Mr. Dahl dated July 9, 1951. The services "He wishes you every success in this im-
of the George A. Fuller Company as general portant service you are rendering the Faith,
contractors were continued throughout the and will pray that all may go well and your
completion of the landscaping work. ideas be realized in a most beautiful effect."
It is of interest to note that the trustees of
the Wilmette Village, and also the State
Highway Department (which has jurisdic- Much detailed work has been accom-
tion over the width of the land used for plished to date in the way of the necessary
State highways even within towns), gave the drawings, specifications and estimates. The
Trustees written permission in October, plan is to begin grading work as early as
1951, to extend the landscaping, if neces- possible in the spring of 1952, and continue
sary, through the parkway to the curb on the operations without interruption until
Sheridan Road. The Village does not plan to completed.
build any sidewalks on the west side of
Sheridan Road from Linden Avenue to the
canal, which leaves the present parkway free
for use as an approach to the Temple land. The accompanying illustration gives a
This courtesy is greatly appreciated by the basic concept, and the inserted "Approach
National Spiritual Assembly. View" conveys a clear impression of one of
INSTITUTION OF THE MASHRIQU'L-AEKAR 54 1

the nine tree-lined walks, with provision for provides one of the entrances to the circular
reflecting pool between the two paths. walk, giving a long and most attractive vista
As shown, the space between each two of the landscaped grounds and the majestic
adjoining approaches is filled with a sunken edifice.
garden and space for a fountain. There will be no entrance from the road

At the base of the present circular steps a on the Sheridan Road side, owing to traffic
concrete walk or platform will be con- conditions. The main entrance is from Lin-
structed, its outer circumference a series of den Avenue at the point where we now enter
concave arcs after the manner of the en- the Foundation.
trance bays of the Temple itself. This plat- To enter the Temple basement level, after
form or walk is reached from the approach- the landscaping work is completed, the de-
ing paths by several steps. sign provides for steps downward at the
The outer circumference of the design is point where this particular entrance path in-
a circular walk giving access to all nine ap- tersects the sidewalk or platform at the bot-
proaches and the nine gardens. At the lower tom of the circular steps. Dotted lines on the
right hand of the sketch we see the treat- sketch indicate the location of the basement
ment to be given the area outside the great level corridor.
circle, along Sheridan Road and Linden Owing to the downward slope of both
Avenue. The intersection of these two streets Sheridan Road and Linden Avenues from
542 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

their point of intersection, the uniform level and an inner walk, at the base of the Tem-
of the outer circular walk must be main- ple steps, provides a vantage point at a
tained by a grading operation which at some higher elevation from which the entire scene
points raises the walk a few feet above street can be viewed.
level. Instead of -a retaining wall, it is "The gardens are arranged and planted
planned to support the circular walk by a with simple dignity, restrained in treatment
sloping earthen embankment, which can be but with a touch of color and softness of
turfed and perhaps planted, giving a much texture which will give them a gardenesque
more pleasing effect than a vertical concrete feeling of peaceful and quiet loveliness.
wall. . . . In area there are involved almost five
acres of intensive development."

Mr. Dahl as Landscape Architect has
prepared a written description of his design What we have here is the final embellish-
from which the following excerpts are ment of the world's supreme House of Wor-
taken : ship, preparing it for its mission to the pub-
"Its setting, as with the jewel, must em- lic of America and indeed of the world. As
phasize the attractiveness of the structure we consider the Guardian's Jubilee plans,
and, while reflecting the lines and embellish- including the public Jubilee celebrations dur-
ment and the spirit of the Temple, must not, ing Ridvkn, 1953, the All-America Lnter-
in itself, be given ornamental character continental Congress, and the Dedication of
which will compete with the building. the Temple to public worship, every Bahi'i
"The study follows 'Abdu'l-BahL's word may well thrill with gratitude for the years
picture in every detail. Briefly, it involves an of concentrated effort and immense sacrifice
approach leading to each nine entrance bays which brought the Temple to its present
with gardens between. Circular fountains point of completion, and steel his resolve to
with jets of water keeping them ever fresh assure completion of this impressive, noble
and clear are found the gardens, while and exquisite framework within which the
long basins are located in the approaches, BahB'i House of Worship can blazon forth
reflecting glimpses of the Temple to the visi- its divine Promise to a desperate world!
tor walking along the approach. The whole
is enclosed within an outer circular walk,

BAHA'I . . . TEMPLE OF LIGHT"

O N E of the familiar sights that deserves tured in this issue's frontispiece, will prob-
more than our passing notice is the Bahi'i ably be recorded by historians as one of the
Temple which lifts its white dome into the outstanding architectural works of the twen-
sky on the shore of Lake Michigan in Wil- tieth century. Both the new principles of
mette. Nearly every Northwestern student ornamentation and the solution of unusual
has marveled at the beauty of the temple as problems of construction have attracted
he viewed it while cheering in Dyche Sta- much attention from professional builders
dium or while driving along Sheridan Road. the world over.
But relatively few fully appreciate the mo- Although the project was conceived
mentous architectural and engineering sig- nearly 100 years ago, the first consequential
nificance of the structure. The temple, pic- progress was revealed in 1920 when the plan
of architect Louis Bourgeois was selected in
a competition among Bahi'i architects.
* This article appeared in Northwestern Engineer, Many consider it the greatest advance in re-
Student Publication of the Technological Institute of
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 10:18, Sep- ligious architecture in several hundred years.
tember, 1951. It is reprinted here with permission of In order to understand the architecture of
the editors. Three illustrations of the Temple ac-
companied the article. the BahP'i house of worship it is necessary
I N S T I T U T I O N O F THE M A S H R I Q U ' L - A D H K A R 543

to review the underlying themes of Bahi'- Byzantine. Notwithstanding its use of the
ism. Bahi'u'lltih, who founded the faith in several western styles of architecture, the
Persia, preached world unity as the road to over-all impression on an observer strikes an
fulfillment of man's purpose. Important oriental chord.
principles of the Bahti'i faith include the Availability of funds permitted the initia-
complete equality of the sexes, collaboration tion of foundation work in 1921. The main

Assembly rig for checking large bay tracery models at Earley Studios.

with science, a universal auxiliary language, support of the foundation consists of nine
a more nearly equal distribution of wealth, concrete caissons which were sunk 124 feet
and an international tribunal. Unity of God, to bed rock, 90 feet below the surface of
unity of religion, and unity of mankind are nearby Lake Michigan. The 36 pillars which
stressed. carry the dome rest directly upon these cais-
In keeping with this unity theme, the ar- sons. The foundation floor is a reinforced
chitect designed a structure unifying the sev- concrete circular building 202 feet in diam-
eral well-defined styles of architecture. Be- eter. This section of the structure is now
ginning with the BahB'i nine-pointed star covered by a mound of earth rising to the
(which the temple resembles when seen eighteen circular steps which lead to the
from the air) Bourgeois designed a struc- main floor. The earth fill, incidentally, is
tural record of architectural history. The part of the material excavated for the con-
first story is a pleasing combination of py- struction of the Northwestern Technological
lons and columns, patterned after the low, Institute. Around a central auditorium are
squatty, ancient Egyptian temples. Moving located the rooms housing the operating
upward, traces of old Roman architecture equipment for heating, lighting, and venti-
from the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries lating systems.
blend into the Renaissance architecture of The nonagonal base of the main floor is
the second story. The Renaissance style ex- 36 feet high and 150 feet in diameter. It in-
tends to the clerestory, which makes use of cludes a circular hall 72 feet in diameter
Romanesque windows. The dome is reminis- which extends for the full height of 138 feet
cent of the early Christian churches. Its lacy to the interior of the dome. When interior
motif is taken from yet another style, the decorating is completed, this main audito-
544 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Progress view dated December 29, 1950, illustrates the finished walls
of a bay alcove and the ornamentation of column arches.
INSTITUTION OF THE M A S H R I Q U ' L - A a K A R 545

Temple Interior construction-progress to April 17, 1950.
546 THE B A H A ' I WORLD

Interior ornamentation of the dome being put in place, March 28, 1951.

rium will seat approximately 1200 persons. may be reached by ladders and catwalks.
The acoustic qualities of the hall will be un- Outlets are provided at the base of the dome
excelled. at three places to furnish steam, water, com-
The first gallery is also nine-sided, but it pressed air, and a vacuum for the cleaning
is rotated twenty degrees so that the pylons and maintenance of the dome structure.
rise from bases above the middle of each The basic framework of the temple is
of the main story entrances. This gallery has composed of structural steel and reinforced
a height of 47 feet and an outside diameter concrete. The ingenuity of form-builders
of 136 feet. was taxed to the limit since curved lines and
The drum-shaped second gallery, or warped surfaces dominate the entire struc-
clerestory, is 20 feet high with a diameter ture. . . .
of 93 feet. The dome, with a diameter of 72 The elaborate design of the exterior orna-
feet inside and 90 feet outside, is immedi- mentation was the cause of the greatest con-
ately above. It is one of the largest domes struction problem. Months of studies, con-
without a center support ever to be built. ferences, and investigations were involved in
Actually three domes in one, it consists of the selection of materials for use in the lacy
two independent structural steel frames decoration. Samples of various types of cast
thoroughly cross-braced. Between these is an stone, terra cotta, aluminum alloy, and ar-
aluminum and wire-glass dome for weather chitectural concretes were prepared and sub-
protection and for passage of light through jected to weathering on property adjacent to
the perforated interior and exterior orna- the construction site to test their durability
mentation. The metal joints were designed and discoloration properties.
to provide drainage for leakage and conden- Finally a special concrete developed by
sation. For repairs any part of the dome architectural sculptor John J. Earley was ac-
I N S T I T U T I O N O F THE M A S H R I Q U ' L - A Z K A R 547

cepted. His material consisted of one part . . . showing one of the large outer
crushed crystalline quartz and three parts columns, reveals the feeling of religious
crushed opaque quartz mixed with white unity that influenced the architect's design
portland cement and water. The resultant of the ornamentation. In rising chronologi-
exposed-aggregate concrete possesses a com- cal order are seen the symbols of the nine
pressive strength of 7000-9000 psi. consuming religions of history. At the bot-
The sculptor's first step in preparing the tom is the ancient swastika, topped by the
ornamentation was the carving of a full- six-pointed star of Judaism, the cross of
sized clay model for each section. Plaster of Christianity, the star and crescent of IslBm,
paris impressions were taken from the clay and the Bahgi nine-pointed star. The com-
model. From these forms a plaster model plex combination of mathematical lines and
was constructed, reinforced with hemp, jute, the merging of circle into circle emphasize
and steel. This rough model was carved and the common ties that bind religions.
polished to give a fine-textured surface from The frequent recurrence of the number
which was made another plaster of paris nine in the design of the temple is purpose-
mold, the negative of the final cast section. ful. BahL'is count their faith as the ninth
These negatives were lined with zinc and and unifying religion of mankind. In addi-
shellacked. Finally the concrete was molded tion, nine is the largest single digit, signify-
ing the ultimate.
in these forms around reinforcing rods.
Landscaping of the $2,500,000 temple
After careful cleaning and brushing the sec- will be completed for formal dedication of
tions were shipped to Wilmette and applied the building in 1953. Eventually it is
to the base superstructure. The exposed ag- planned to make the temple the heart of a
gregate gives the entire outer surface a white community center. Around it will be a hos-
radiant quality consistent with its frequently pital, a hospice, an orphanage, a college, and
applied description as the "Temple of scientific laboratories situated among gar-
Light." dens and fountains.

UNVEILING THE MODEL OF THE TEMPLE TO BE
CONSTRUCTED ON MOUNT CARMEL
MASONREMEY
Address by CHARLES

M A N Y years ago our beloved Master, ise, the Holy Land, one of his first activities
'Abdu'l-Bahi, told us that certain material was building a temple to the Lord. That
objects, certain material constructions have temple was a very simple place of worship,
a spiritual mission and a spiritual effect in the altar which he built on the mountain top
the world. Before the BahL'i Temple, the for the sacrifices that he instituted as the
Ma&riqu'l-Aqhkhr, was built here in Wil- ritual for the people of his day. It was prob-
mette, He told us that when that Temple ably a very simple affair, built, laid up, of
was built, it would have a great spiritual ef- rough stones gathered from the top of the
fect in the world, that it would be a symbol mountain. But it was the center; that simple
manifesting forth to all of the world the altar on the mountain top, that place of war-
spiritual ideals and the services to humanity ship, was the center of the civilization of
of the members of the BahL'i Faith. that day. In those days, the people lived
As we study the history of the religions of pastoral lives in the valleys below, but on
the past, we see that each religion has built certain occasions they went up on the moun-
a civilization in the world and has developed tain top for their spiritual worship, for their
also a style of architecture which has found sacrifices.
its full and perfect expression in the temples Centuries later, when Moses, the Prophet
of the epoch. Way back in the very dawn of of God, led the children of Israel out of
religious history, when the Prophet Abra- Egypt, out of the land of bondage to the
ham came out from his home land and took land of promise, one of the first institutions
his band of followers to the Land of Prom- He established was the Tabernacle. That
Model of MaGriqu'l-Ad_hk&rdesigned for construction on Mi. Carmel, Israel,
Charles Mason Remey, architect.
INSTITUTION OF THE

Tabernacle was a portable temple of wor- nine sides. This is to be the sanctuary for
ship. There was the inner Holy of Holies, worship, prayer and meditation, and this
there was the court around that, and finally central temple is to be surrounded by vari-
the outer court, and during the long forty ous institutions for the physical benefit of
years that the children of Israel were in the mankind-schools, hospitals and all other
wilderness, when they struck their camp, institutions that go to make up the activities
their first duty was to set up this Tabernacle. of a great world civilization.
Thus the Tabernacle was the center of their The BahL'i Temple expresses the renewal
religious life in the wilderness. of religion. It realizes a faith which relates
Later on, when the Jewish civilization de- the soul to a universal, a revealed and a
veloped in Jerusalem, Solomon's Temple divine truth wherein all human beings, of
was the center of their religious and cultural whatever race, class or creed, can meet and
life. It was built very much on the rudimen- share the true equality emanating from their
tary plan of the tabernacle in the wilderness, common dependence upon God. It serves a
having an inner Holy of Holies and then the teaching which goes beyond all the social
inner court and the outer court. philosophies to make possible a world order
At that time, people flowed from all na- capable not only of coordinating and guid-
tions to Jerusalem to partake of the learning ing economic effort but also of safeguarding
and culture of that civilization, the center of and fostering the highest qualities of man.
which was the Temple. The first BahL'i Temple was built many
When the Christian Church was estab- years ago in that country east of the Caspian
lished centuries later, little by little, their Sea, sometimes spoken of as Trans-Caspian.
churches became the cultural centers of There, in the City of 'IshqBbLd, our friends
Christianity. At first, the style was like the of the Orient built the first BahL'i Temple.
Roman style in the City of Rome. Later it It was my privilege to visit it some forty-five
developed into the Romanesque style in the years ago. We have heard very little about
West, into the Byzantine style of the Eastern our friends there in the last few years. The
Church, and after some thirteen or fourteen present Russian Government confiscated the
centuries, we have the flowering of the mag- Temple and the Bah2i community in 'IshqL-
nificent cathedrals and churches of Europe. bgd was scattered and dispersed. In the last
This style of architecture, the Gothic few days, we have dedicated the Temple
style, developed in its greatest fragrance, here in Wilmette.
beauty and magnificence in the central part A number of years ago, when I was still
of France: the Cathedrals of Lyon, of Char- a student of architecture, I first heard of the
tres, of Amiens, Rheims, and Notre Dame BahL'i Faith. When the time came for me to
of Paris are the outstanding temples of the create my thesis in architecture, I recollect
Christian era. that I wanted very much to take as my sub-
When Muhammad gave His teaching in ject a typical BahL'i Temple. That was a lit-
the deserts of Arabia, one of the first archi- tle over fifty years ago and thereafter I spent
tectural expressions was the Mosque. Islamic a great deal of time making different studies
culture went westward into Northern Africa, for BahL'i Temples. Some of you may recall
up into Spain, east into Persia and then that when the design was chosen for the
down into India. The Mosques of these Temple here in Wilmette, a nurnber of us
countries were the spiritual centers of edu- architects offered drawings, mine among
cation and culture in that magnificent civili- them. Shortly afterward, the Master, 'Ab-
zation which Isl6m gave to the world. du'l-Bah6, revealed a Tablet to me stating
And so it was with the other religions in that my mission in the future would be to
the Far East. The place of worship has been design the Temple to be built on Mt. Carnlel
the cultural center and the point for the in the Holy Land.
development of architecture and all the al- As we all know, the Holy Land is the
lied arts. I-Ioly Land of the Jewish, Christian and
Now, in the BahL'i Faith, the religion of Muhammadan religions. 'Now in these days,
the present age, we are exhorted, in the it is the Holy Land for all the world through
writings of BahL'u'llBh, to build temples for the BahL'i Faith. Our spiritual background
worship, and we have been given a general is there and also our administrative center
plan for these. There shall be a temple and the Master planned that there should be
proper, circular in effect, but actually having a BahL'i Temple 011 Mt. Carmel.
550 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

About five years ago, our beloved Guard- really his rather than mine. He gave me a
ian, Shoghi Effendi, wrote to me that it was great many criticisms, a great many sugges-
time to begin to think of the design, the tions, and after a period of working, making
completed design, for that Temple. drawings, submitting them to him and re-
In the latter part of 1947 and the early studying them, a design was made that he
days of 1948, I made a complete set of approved. He decided that a model should
drawings for the Temple. Later I took those be made of this design and that it should be
drawings over to our Guardian and he made unveiled at this Conference. I left Haifa a
a number of suggestions that really created
little over three months ago, going to Italy,
within my mind an entirely unique and dif-
and there in the City of Florence, I engaged
ferent design' from any of those studies that
I had made before. That is what we are go- a wood carver to make this model. I had had
ing to show you this evening. These designs some rather bad experience with plaster
were made during the past two or three models, which did not hold up in transpor-
years while I have been living in Haifa and tation, but this model of wood has trans-
they were made under the direction of our ported very well. It is assembled and we are
Guardian, Shoghi Effendi. I must say that going to show it to you now.
the architecture, the architectural motifs, are It speaks for itself!
4 . BAHA'I C A L E N D A R , FESTIVALS
A N D D A T E S OF HISTORIC
SIGNIFICANCE
FOREWORD

From Bahd'u'lla'h and the New Era

A M O N G different peoples and at different to adjust the calendar to the solar year. The
times many different methods have been Bib named the months after the attributes
adopted for the measurement of time and of God. The BahB'i New Year, like the
fixing of dates, and several different calen- ancient Persian New Year, is astronomically
dars are still in daily use, e.g., the Gregorian fixed, commencing at the March equinox
in Western Europe, the Julian in many (March 21), and the Bahj'i era commences
countries of Eastern Europe, the Hebrew with the year of the BBb's declaration (i.e.,
among the Jews, and the Muhammadan in 1844 A.D., 1260 A.H.),
Muslim countries. In the not far distant future it will be
The Bib signalized the importance of the necessary that all peoples in the world agree
dispensation which He came to herald, by on a common calendar.
inaugurating a new calendar. In this, as in It seems, therefore, fitting that the new
the Gregorian Calendar, the lunar month is age of unity should have a new calendar free
abandoned and the solar year is adopted. from the objections and associations which
The BahB'i year consists of 19 months of make each of the older calendars unaccept-
19 days each (i.e., 361 days), with the addi- able to large sections of the world's popula-
tion of certain "intercalary days" (four in tion, and it is difficult to see how any other
ordinary and five in leap years) between the arrangement could exceed in simplicity and
eighteenth and nineteenth months in order convenience that proposed by the Bib.

BAHA'I FEASTS, ANNIVERSARIES AND DAYS
OF FASTING

Feast of RidvBn (Declaration of BahB'u'llBh), April 21-May 2, 1863.
Feast of Naw-R6z (New Year), March 21.
Declaration of the Bib, May 23, 1844.
The Day of the Covenant, November 26.
Birth of BahB'u'llBh, November 12, 1817.
Birth of the Bib, October 20, 1819.
Birth of 'Abdu'l-Bahi, May 23, 1844.
Ascension of BahL'u'llih, May 29, 1892.
Martyrdom of the Bib, July 9, 1850.
Ascension of 'Abdu'l-BahB, November 28, 1921.
Fasting seasons lasts 19 days beginning with the first day of the month of 'AIL', March 2
-the feast of Naw-RGz follows immediately after.
552 THE BAHA'I WORLD

BAWI HOLY DAYS ON WHICH WORK
SHOULD BE SUSPENDED

The first day of Ridvin,
The ninth day of Ridvin,
The twelfth day of Ridviin,
The anniversary of the declaration of the BBb,
The anniversary of the birth of BahL'u'llLh,
The anniversary of the birth of the BLb,
The anniversary of the ascension of BahL'u'llhh,
The anniversary of the martyrdom of the BLb,
The feast of Naw-Rfiz.

NOTE: 'Abdu'l-BahL, in one of His Tablets addressed to a believer of Nayriz, Persia,
has written the following: "Nine days in the year have been appointed on
which work is forbidden. Some of these days have been specifically mentioned
in the Book. The rest follows as corollaries to the Text. . . . Work on the Day
of the Covenant (F&te Day of 'Abdu'l-BahL), however, is not prohibited. Cele-
bration of that day is left to the discretion of the friends. Its observation is not
obligatory. The days pertaining to the Abhi Beauty (BahL'u'llLh) and the
Primal Point (the BQb), that is to say these nine days, are the only ones on
which work connected with trade, commerce, industry and agriculture is not
allowed. In like manner, work connected with any form of employment,
whether governmental or otherwise, should be suspended."
As a corollary of this Tablet it follows that the anniversaries of the birth and
ascension of 'Abdu'l-BahL are not to be regarded as days on which work is pro-
hibited. The celebration of these two days, however, is obligatory.
Bahgis in East and West, holding administrative positions, whether public or
private, should exert the utmost effort to obtain special leave from their superiors
to enable them to observe these nine holy days.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL GLEANED FROM NABiL'S
NARRATIVE (VOE. 11), REGARDING THE
BAHA'I CALENDAR

The Badi' Calendar (Bahi'i Calendar) place on the evening preceding the fifth day
has been taken by me from the Kita'b-i- of Jamhdiyu'l-Avval, of the year 1260 A.H.
Asrnd', one of the works written by the BBb. It has been ordained that the solar calendar
As I have observed in these days that certain be followed, and that the vernal Equinox,
believers are inclined to regard the year in the day of Naw-RGz, be regarded as the
which BahL'u'llLh departed from Baghdid New Year's Day of the Badi' Calendar. The
to Constantinople as marking the begi;ning year sixty, in which the fifth day of J a m b
of the Bad? Calendar, I have requested diyu'l-Avval coincided with the sixty-fifth
Mirzb A q i Jin, the amanuensis of Bahg- day after Naw-Rfiz, has accordingly been
u'llih, to ascertain His will and desire con- regarded as the first year of the Badi' Calen-
cerning this matter. BahL'u'llih answered dar. As in that year, the day of Naw-Rfiz,
and said: 'The year sixty A.H. (1844 A.D.), the vernal Eq~~inox, preceded by sixty-six
the year of the Declaration of the BLb, must days the date of the Declaration of the Bib,
be regarded as the beginning of the Badi' I have therefore, throughout my history, re-
Calendar.' The Declaration of the Bib took garded the Naw-RGz of the year sixty-one
BAHA'I CALENDAR A N D FESTIVALS

A.H. (the Naw-R6z immediately following of Malik, in that city, He commanded me
the Declaration of the Bib) as the first to transcribe the text of the Badi' Calendar
Naw-R6z of the Badi' Calendar. I have and to instruct the believers in its details.
accordingly considered the Naw-Riiz of this On the very day in which I received His
present year, the year 1306 A.H., which is command, I composed, in verse and prose,
the 47th solar year after the Declaration of an exposition of the main features of that
the Bib, as the 46th Naw-R6z of the Badi' Calendar and presented it to Him. The
Calendar. versified copy, being now unavailable, I am
Soon after BahL'u'llih had left the for- herein transcribing the version in prose.
tress of 'Akki and was dwelling in the house The days of the week are named as follows:
Days Arabic Name English Name Translation
1st Jalil Saturday Glory
2nd Jam i l Sunday Beauty
3rd Kamil Monday Perfcction
4th Fidil Tuesday Grace
5th 'Idil Wednesday Justice
6th Istijlil Thursday Majesty
7th Istiqlil Friday Independe~ice

The names of the months, which are the same as the days of each month, are as follows:
Month Arabic Name Translation First Days
1st Bahi Splendor March 21
2nd Jalil Glory April 9
3rd JamU Beauty April 28
4th 'Azamat Grandeur May 17
5th Niir Light June 5
6th Ralpnat Mercy June 24
7th Kalimh Words July 13
8th KamU Perfection August 1
9th Asm2 Names August 20
10th 'Izzat Might September 8
11th Mas_hiyyat Will September 27
12th 'Ilm Knowledge October 16
13th Qudrat Power November 4
14th Qawl Speech November 23
15th MasL'il Questions December 12
16th Zharaf Honor December 31
17th Sult6n Sovereignty January 19
18th Mulk Dominion February 7
19th 'AIL' Loftiness March 2

AyyQm-i-Hi (Intercalary Days) February 26 to March 1 inclusive-
four in ordinary and five in leap years.

The first day of each month is thus the and has decreed that the day of Naw-Riiz
day of Bahi, and the last day of each month should mark the termination of that period.
the day of 'AIL'. As the Bib did not specifically define the
The BQb has regarded the solar year, of place for the four days and the fraction of a
365 days, 5 hours, and fifty odd minutes, as day in the Badi' Calendar, the people of the
consisting of 19 months of 19 days each, Bccya'n were at a loss as to how they should
with the addition of certain intercalary days. regard them. The revelation of the Kita'b-i-
He has named the New Year's Day, which is Aqdas in the city of 'Akki resolved this
the Day of Naw-R6z, the day of BahC, of problem and settled the issue. BahL'u'llQh
the month of Bahi. He has ordained the designated those days as the "Ayyim-i-Hii"
month of 'A12 to be the month of fasting, and ordained that they should immediately
554 THE BAHA'I WORLD

National Haziratu'l-Quds, Tihrin, Persia, Ridvin, 1951. (View taken from the air.)

precede the month of 'AIL', which is the The Bib has, moreover, in His writings,
month of fasting. He enjoined upon His revealed in the Arabic tongue, divided the
followers to devote these days to feasting, years following the date of His Revelation,
rejoicing, and charity. Immediately upon into cycles of nineteen years each. The
the termination of these intercalary days, names of the years in each cycle are as fol-
BahL'u'llih ordained the month of fasting to lows:
begin. I have heard it stated that some of
the people of the Baydn, the followers of 1. Alif A.
Mirzi Yahyi, have regarded these inter- 2. BL' B.
calary days as coming immedia~elyafter the 3. Ab Father.
month of 'AIL', thus terminating their fast 4. D i l D.
five days before the day of Naw-Rbz. This, 5. Biib Gate.
notwithstanding the explicit text of the 6. Viv v.
Bay& which states that the day of Naw- 7. Abad Eternity.
Rbz must needs be the first day of the 8. J i d Generosity.
month of Bahi, and must follow immedi- 9. Bahi Splendor.
ately after the last day of the month of 10. Hubb Love.
'A16'. Others, aware of this contradiction, 11. Bahhij Delightful.
have started their fasting on the fifth day of 12. JavAb Answer.
the month of 'AIL', and included the inter- 13. Ahad Single.
calary days within the period of fasting. 14. Vahhib Bountiful.
Every fourth year the number of the in- 15. Vidid Affection.
tercalary days is raised from four to five. 16. Badi Beginning.
The day of Naw-R6z falls on the 21st of 17. Bahi Luminous.
March only if the vernal Equinox precedes 18. Abhi Most Luminous.
the setting of the sun on that day. Should 19. Vihid Unity.
the vernal Equinox take place after sunset,
Naw-Rbz will have to be celebrated on the Each cycle of nineteen years is called
following day. Vihid. Nineteen cycles constitute a period
BAHA'I CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS 555

called Kull-i-%hay'. The numerical value of For instance, the date of the 21st of April,
the word "Vihid" is nineteen, that of "Kull- 1930, which is the first day of Ridvan, and
i-$hay"' is 361. "V6hid" signifies unity, which according to the Kita'b-i-Aqdas must
and is symbolic of the unity of God. coincide with the "thirteenth day of the sec-
The Bib has, moreover, stated that this ond BahL'i month," and which fell this year
system of His is dependent upon the accept- (1930) on Monday, would, according to the
system of the Badi' Calendar, be described
ance and good-pleasure of "Him Whom as follows:
God shall make manifest." One word from "The day of Kamfil, the day of Qudrat,
Him would suffice either to establish it for of the month of Jalil, of the year Bahhij,
all time, or to annul it forever. of the fifth Vihid, of the first Kull-i-%hay'."

Haqiratu'l-Quds of the Bah2is of Germany and Austria, Frankfurt-am-Main,
Germany, newly erected, April, 1951.
556 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

HISTORICAL DATA GLEANED FROM NABfL'S
NARRATIVE (VOL. 11) REGARDING
BAHA'U'LLAH
Works Revealed Houses Occupied
During This During This
Period Period

Arrival latter part Jamidiyu'&- House of HAji 'Ali-
Thini, 1269 A.H. Madad
March 12-April 10, 1853 A.D. (in old BaghdAd)
-

Departure for Sulayminiyyih on House of Sulaymin-
Wednesday, April 10, 1854 A.D.- i-G_hannim
Rajab 12, 1270 A.H.

Prayers

Before reaching Sulayminiyyih, He
lived for a time on the Sar-Gal6
mountain.

During His absence from Baghdad,
His family transferred theiF resi-
dence from House of Hiji 'Ali-
Madad to that of Sulaym6n-i-
G-hann6m.

Nabil arrived at Baghdad 6 months
after Bah6'u'llih's departure for
Sulayminiyyih.

Taf sir-i-WurGf Bt-i-
Muqatta'ih
Arrived from Sulayminiyyih on Sahifiy-i-Shattiyyih
Wednesday, March 19, 1856 A.D. Haft-VBdi
-Rajab 12, 1272 A.H. (Seven Valleys)
Tafsir-i-H6 '

Lawh-i-H6riyyih
Kitib-i-lqin
Kalimit-i-Maknfinih
(Hidden Words)
Departure from Mazra'iy-i-Vah- SubhAna-Rabbiya'l-
s_his_h:Thursday, March 26, 1863 'Ali
A.D.--S_havvil 5, 1279 A.H. SJhikkar-Shikan-
Shavand
Tablet of the Holy Mariner revealed H6r-i-'Ujib
while in the Mazra'iy-i-Vas_hs_h6s_h. Halih-Halih-Yi
Bis&irat
G-hulimu'l-auld
Az-Bigh-i-Ilbhi
Departure from Baghdgd for Con- ~ 6 z i v u I ~ i d i h - J i m i
stantinople, Wednesday afternoon
(first day of Ridvin), April 22,
1863 A.D.--D_hihi'l-Qa'dih 3, 1279
A.H.
BAHA'I CALENDAR A N D FESTIVALS 557

Works Revealed EIouses Occupied
During This During This
Period Period

S6riy-i-Sabr revealed on first day of Mallihu'l-Quds
Ridvln. (Holy Mariner)

Arrival at Garden of Najibiyyih
(Garden of Ridvin), April 22,
1863 A.D.-D-hi'l-Qa'dih 3, 1279
A.H.

Arrival of BahB'u'llih's Family at
Garden of RidvLn on eighth day
after first of RidvLn.

Departure from Garden of Ridvin
for Constantinople last day of
Ridvin, at noon on Sunday, May
3, 1863 A.D.-D-hill-Qa'dih 14,
1279 A.H.

Length of overland journey from
Garden of Ridvin to SimsGn on
Black Sea: 110 days.

Firayjit (arrival early afternoon- Mkdin,
stayed seven days), arrived on Sun- DiyLr-Bakr,
day, May 3, 1863 A.D.-Rhi'l- Ma'dan-Mis,
Qa'dih 14, 1279 A.H. (Firayjit K_hirpGt (stayed 2 or 3 days),
is about 3 miles distant from Ma'dan-Nuqrih,
BaghdLd) Dilik-Ti&,
JudayJih, SivLs,
Dili-'AbbBs, TGqit,
Qarih-Tapih, Amasia (stayed 2 days),
Salihiyyih (stayed two nights), Ilihiyyih (while approaching Sim-
Dlist-K_hhurmLtG, sGn, "Lawh-i-Hawdaj" was re-
Tiwuq, vealed), (last day of overland
KarkGk (stayed two days), journey),
Irbil, SLmslin (stayed 7 days), Black Sea
Zib River, port. Sailed in a Turkish steamer
Bartallih, about sunset for Constantinople,
Mosul (stayed 3 days), Sinope (arrived next day about
Zikh6, noon), Black Sea port: stayed few
Jazirih, hours,
Nisibin, Anyibuli (arrived next day).
Hasan-Aqi,

Works Revealed Dur- Houses Occupied Dur- Duration
ing This Period ing This Period

Arrival at noon on Subhinika-YL-H6 House of SJhamsi Big 1 month
Sunday, August 16, Lawh-i-'Abdu'l-'Aziz (2-story, near K-hir-
1863, A.D. Va-Vukal6 gih Kharaf Mosque)
Rabi'u'l-Avval 1,
1280 A.H.
558 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

D. CONSTANTINOPLE- Works Revealed Dur- Houses Occupied Dur- Duration
continued ing This Period ing This Period

Length of sea voyage House of Visi Pfi&fi 3 months
from SfimsGn to (3-story, near Sul-
Constantinople 3 tfin Muhammad
days. Mosque)

Length of journey
from Constantinople
to Adrianople 12
days.

1. Kfidik-C_hakma&ih (3 hours from Constantinople-spent one night)
2. BuyGk-Chakmadih (arrived about noon)
3. Salvari 4. Birkh 5. BAbfi-iskf

Works Revealed Dur- Houses Occupied Dur-
Duration
ing This Period ing This Period

Arrival on Saturday, Sliriy-i-Avhfib 1. Khfin-i-'ArAb 3 nights
December 12, 1863 (caravanserai,
A.D.-Rajab 1, two-story, near
1280 A.H. house of 'Izzat-
AqB)
Length of stay: 4
years, 8 months, 22
days.

Length of overland Kithb-i-Badi' 2. House in Murfidiy- 1 week
journey from Con- SGriy-i-MulGk yih quarter, near
stantinople to Adri- (Tablet of the Takyiy-i-Mawlavi
anople: 12 days. Kings)

Departure from Adri- SGriy-i-Amr 3. House in Murfidiy- 6 months
anople on Wednes- Sliriy-i-Damm yih quarter, near
day, August 12, AlvBh-i-Laylatu'l- house 2
1868 A.D.-Rabi- Quds 4. K_h6niy-i-Amru'llAh
Munfijfithfiy-i-Siyfim (several stories,
(Prayers for Fast- near Sultan-Salim
ing) Mosque)
Lawh-i-Sayyfih 5. House of Rid6 Big 1 year
Lawh-i-Nfipulylin I 6. House of Amru'llfih 3 months?
(First Tablet to (3-story. North
Napoleon 111) of Sultan-Salim
Mosque)
Lawh-i-Sultfin 7. House of 'Izzat-Aq6 11 months
(Tablet to the S_hfih
of Persia)
Lawh-i-Nuqtih

1. UzGn-Kupri
2. Kas_hfinih (arrived about noon. Lawh-i-Ra'is (Tablet of Ra'is) was revealed in
this place)
B A H A ' I C A L E N D A R A N m DF E S T I V A L S 559

3. Gallipoli (length of journey from Adrianople to Gallipoli about 4 days)
(after a few days' stay sailed before noon in Austrian steamer for
Alexandria, Egypt)
4. Madelli (arrived about sunset-left at night)
5. Smyrna (stayed 2 days, left at night)
6. Alexandria (arrived in the morning, transshipped and left at night for Haifa)
7. Port Said (arrived morning, left the same day at night)
8. Jaffa (left at midnight)
9. Haifa (arrived in the morning, landed and after a few hours left on a sailing
vessel for 'Akki)

Works Revealed Dur- Houses Occupied Dur-
Duration
ing This Period ing This Period

Arrival on Monday, KitBb-i-Aqdas 1. Barracks 2 years, 2
August 3 1, A.D. Lawh-i-NBpulybn I1 months,
1868-Jamidiyu'l- (Second Tablet to 5 days
Avval 12, 1285 A.H. Napoleon 111)
Lawh-i-Malikih 2. House of Malik 3 months
(Tablet to Queen 3. House of RBbi'ih
Victoria)
Lawh-i-Malik-i-Rbs 4. House of Mans6r 2 or 3
Purest Branch died on (Tablet to the months
Thursday, June 23, Czar)
1870 A.D.-Rabic- S6riy-i-Haykal 5. House of 'Abbiid
u'l-Avval 23, 1287 Lawh-i-BurhLn (where KitLb-i-
A.H. Lawh-i-Ru'yB Aqdas was re-
Lawh-i-Ibn-i-Rhi'b vealed)
(Epistle to Son of 6. Mazra'ih
the Wolf)
Lawh-i-Pi p 7. Q a ~ r
Passed away May 29, (Tablet to the (Mansion, where
1892 A.D. Pope) He passed away)

DATES OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE DURING THE FIRST
ONE HUNDRED AND TEN YEARS OF THE BAHA'f FAITH

Declaration of the Mission of the Bib in Imprisonment of BahP'u'llBh in the SiyBh-
Chiriz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 23, 1844 Chi1 of TihrBn . . . . . . . . .August, 1852
Departure of the BLb on His pilgrimage to Banishment of Bahi'u'llih to Baghdad - ....
Mecca . . . . . . . . . . . . . .September, 1844 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January 12, 1853
Arrival of the BBb in Mah-K6, AQirbiyjBn Withdrawal of BahB'u'llih to KurdistBn . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Summer, 1847 .................... .Aprl 10, 1854
Incarceration of the Bib in Chihriq, Ad_hir- Return of BahL'u'llBh from KurdistBn . . . .
bByjBn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .April, 1848 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 19, 1856
Conference of Bada&t . . . . . . . .June, 1848
Interrogation of the Bkb in Tabriz, Adhir- Declaration of the Mission of BahP'u'llih
bByj5n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July, 1848 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .April 22, 1863
Martyrdom of the Bib in Tabriz, Ad_hir- Arrival of BahB'u'llBh in Constantinople . . .
bLyjBn ................. .July 9, 1850 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .August 16, 1863
Attempt on the life of Nisiri'd-Din Khih Arrival of Bahi'u'llih in Adrianople . . . . .
....................August 15, 1852 .................December 12, 1863
Haziratu'l-Quds of the Bah6'is of Kampala, Uganda,
British East Africa, April, 1952.

Haziratu'l-Quds of the Bah6'is of Paris, France, 1953.
BAHA'I CALENDAR A N D FESTIVALS 561

Departure of Bah6'u'llih from Adrianople Resolution of the Council of the League of
....................August 12, 1868 Nations upholding the claim of the Ba-
Arrival of BahL'u'llih in 'Akkd . . . . . . . . . hL'i community to the House of BahL'-
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .August 31, 1868 u'llih in Baghdad . . . . . ..March 4, 1929
Death of the Purest Branch . .June 23, 1870 Passing of t h e ~ r e a t e s Holy t Leaf . . . . . . .
Ascension of BahL'u'llih . . . .May 29, 1892 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July, 1932
First public reference to the Faith in Amer- Inception of the First American Seven-Year
ica ............. .September 23, 1893 Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April, 1937
Establishment of the first Bah6'i center in Completion of exterior ornamentation of the
the West . . . . . . . . . . . . .February, 1894 Mas_hriqu'l-Adhkh in Wilmette, Illinois
Arrival of the first group of Western pil- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1943
grims in 'Akki . . . . .December 10, 1898 Centenary celebration of the Founding of
Arrival of the Bib's remains in the Holy the BahL'i Faith and opening of first All-
Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . .January 3 1, 1899 American BahL'i Convention .........
Reincarceration of 'Abdu'l-Bahi in 'Akki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 23, 1944
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .August 20, 1901 Inception of Second American Seven-Year
Commencement of the construction of the Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .April, 1946
Mas_hriqu'l-Adhkir of 'Is_hq;ibid . . . . . . Completion of Arcade and Parapet of the
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .November 28, 1902 Shrine of the Bib on Mt. Carmel ......
Release of 'Abdu'l-Bahi from His incarcera- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July 9, 1950
tion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September, 1908
Commemoration of Centenary of the Mar-
Interment of the Bib's remains on Mt. Car-
tyrdom of the Bib . . . . . . . .July 9, 1950
me1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 21, 1909
Opening of the first American Bahi'i Con- Completion of interior ornamentation of the
Mas_hriqu'l-Adhkir in Wilmette, Illinois
vention . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 21, 1909
'Abdu'l-Bah&'s departure for Egypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .October, 1952
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .September, 1910 Inauguration of the Centenary Celebrations
'Abdu'l-Bah6's arrival in London . . . . . . . . of the birth of BahL'u'llih's Prophetic
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .September 4, 1911 Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October, 1952
'Abdu'l-Bahi's arrival in America . . . . . . . First BahL'i Intercontinental Teaching Con-
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..April 11, 1912 ference, Kampala, Uganda, Africa . . . . .
Laying of the corner-stone of the Ma&ri- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .February 12-18, 1953
qu'l-Adhkir in Wilmette, Ill., by 'Abdu'l- Bahi'i dedication of the Mabriqu'l-Adhkir
Bahi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .May 1, 1912 in Wilmette, Illinois . . . . . .May 1, 1953
'Abdu'l-BahL's return to the Holy Land . . . Public dedication . . . . . . . .May 2, 1953
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 5, 1913 All-America BahL'i Intercontinental Teach-
Unveiling of the Tablets of the Divine Plan ing Conference, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .April, 1919 and the inauguration of the Ten-Year In-
Commencement of the construction of the ternational BahL'i Teaching and Consoli-
Mabriqu'l-Ad&kir in Wilmette, Illinois dation Plan . . . . . . . . . . . .May 3-6, 1953
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .December, 1920 Third BahL'i Intercontinental Teaching Con-
Passing of 'Abdu'l-Bah6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ference, Stockholm, Sweden . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .November 28, 1921 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..July 21-26, 1953
Verdict of the Muhammadan Court in Fourth Bahs'i Intercontinental Teaching
Egypt pronouncing the Faith to be an Conference, New Delhi, India ........
independent religion . . . . .May 10, 1925 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..October 7-15, 1953
Martha Root's first interview with Queen Completion of the construction of the
Marie of Rumania . . . .January 30, 1926 Shrine of the Bib . . . . . . .October, 1953
5 . YOUTH ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT
THE B A H A ' I WORLD
AROUND THE WORLD WITH B A m ' f YOUTH*

(Compiled by the National Bcnhd'i Youth Com:mitteeof the United States)

INTRODUCTION power animating the life, and the institutions
of the nascent Faith of BahVu'llCih than an
intelligent, persistent, and effective participa-
BAHA'I Youth the world over have been tion of the BahL'i Youth, of every race, na-
very busy carrying on extensive studying, tionality, and class, in both the teaching and
teaching, and administrative work. The re- administrative spheres of BahL'i activity.
ports of the different countries during the . . . I hope, and indeed pray, that such a
years 106-108 of the BahL'i era show the participation may not only redound to the
important role the youth have come to play glory, the power, and the prestige of the
in the present BahL'i world. The youth have Faith, but may also react so powerfully on
pioneered in many countries. They have the spiritual lives, and galvanize to such an
been the mainstay of some communities. extent the energies of the youthful members
They have served on Local Spiritual Assem- of the BahL'i community, as to empower
blies, as well as on many national commit- them to display, in a fuller measure, their
tees. inherent capacities, and to unfold a further
Shoghi Effendi has said in one of his let- stage in their spiritual evolution under the
ters (through his secretary), "The youth to- shadow of the Faith of BahVu'llCih."
day must show forth a greater maturity than Responding to these inspiring words, the
any previous generation, for they are called BahL'i Youth continue to spread their glo-
upon to pass through perhaps the gravest rious Message, and to work for their won-
crisis in the history of the world, and they derful Faith, and prepare themselves to be
must meet their destiny with faith, steadfast- of greater service as the adult membership
ness, assurance and poise." of a New World Order.
The reports of a number of the BahVi
Youth Committees around the world give GREATBRITAIN
evidence that the BahVi youth everywhere
are maturing. And although the youth have During the years 1950 to 1952, following
become more and more active in shoulder- the completion of the Six-Year Plan, the
ing adult work, they have not neglected the key words of all BahL'i activity were "con-
youth work. NO, the BahL'i young people solidation" and "austerity." We soon dis-
have also carried on their own activities. covered that the task of consolidation was as
They have persisted in spite of programs of demanding as that of initial teaching, and
austerity, in spite of restrictions in some called for mature minds and a new kind of
localities, and have redoubled their efforts patience.
to carry out the different plans of the The new maturity of the community was
Guardian. demonstrated by the lowering of the youth
In The Advent of Divine Justice (p. 581, age limit from 30 to 25 years. Now we offi-
Shoghi Effendi has given this message to the cially adopt the sober responsibilities of age
Bahi'i Youth: "No greater demonstration five years sooner than before. We find youth
can be given to the peoples of both conti- serving on local spiritual assemblies in many
nents of the youthful vitality and the vibrant towns and making valuable contributions in
-
- the pioneering and teaching field.
Strict austerity has limited the number of
'The period covered is roughly 1949-1952 (BahC'1 Youth C ~ ~ ~ i t meetings
t e e and
Years 106-108, inclusive). BahQi Youth on reaching
the age 21 years become voting members and assume local youth activities. In 1950, World Youth
responsibilities with adults in the BahL'i Community.
The report of the National Youth Committee of the Was local
United States is given on pages 586-596. inaugurating a special youth fund for contri-
butions to the Shrine of the Bhb. Youth people to our Faith. Despite general diffi-
were asked to donate money they might oth- culties in presenting religious topics, other
erwise have spent if a national youth gather- than Catholic, in Italy, the number of young
ing had been arranged. declared believers is slowly but steadily in-
In 1951 the publication of the Baha"i creasing. Especially in the year 1951 the
Youth Bulletin was suspended for austerity Youth Committee attracted some young
reasons, but, at the same time, we saw an elements to the Cause in Rome. In the com-
exciting new development in the appoint- munities of Florence and Naples a number
ment of a National Youth Committee for of young people were deeply interested in
Scotland. the Message.
The youth activities during the Summer There are also youth working on the fol-
Schools of 1950 and 1951 reached their lowing committees appointed by our As-
height when an entire day's program of semblies: Translation, Feasts, and Book
teaching, entertainment and the presentation Sale. Two of us are even members of the
of different aspects of BahL'i life was carried Spiritual Assemblies of Rome and Naples.
out successfully for both Bahb'is and non- Our committee was often visited by
BahL'is. friends coming from abroad-from Persia,
This year's Youth Committee has tried to America, Luxembourg, Switzerland. Per-
consult and organize largely by correspond- sonal acquaintance strengthened the already
ence. Its activities include the encourage- solid ties of Bahi'i brotherhood and fellow-
ment of isolated youth, single youth mem- ship. Among our dear guests we mention,
bers in adult communities, and the support with a special feeling of gratitude for the
of the work of local youth committees. In spiritual inspiration they gave us, Jindra
some communities all the youth serve on the Mynarod, Rustam PaymLn, Masoud Bej i s
local spiritual assemblies, and they have de- and Peri Mottahedeh. Representatives of
cided against the formation of a local youth our committee took part in the European
committee for the present. But London, Teaching Conferences of Brussels, Copen-
Bournemouth, Birmingham and Newcastle hagen and Scheveningen, visiting with the
have active Youth Committees meeting reg- local youth committees.
ularly and making extremely useful contacts Of special importance lo us was the visit
with associations and non-BahL'i communi- of Mr. Ted Cardell, who passed through
ties which are sympathetic to our principles. Rome on his way to pioneer in Africa. He
Plans for the future include a youth con- met with members of our committee who,
ference in Nottingham to be held over the deeply moved by his inspiring Bahb'i en-
coming Naw-Rfiz for all the British Bahi'is.
thusiasm, went to bid him farewell at his
Four of Britain's youth served as pioneers to
Africa in the six-year plan. The youth of departure, expressing to him once more
today are the pioneers and administrators of their BahL'i love and their wishes for great
tomorrow! spiritual success.
The celebration of some Feasts and Fes-
tivities-such as the Day of the Covenant
and World Religion Day-was entrusted to
The German Youth celebrated World the Youth Committee. Our youth explained
Youth Day in the city of Heidelberg. Ar- on those occasions to numerous audiences
riving on bicycles, by train and on buses, the religious value and meaning of the
over fifty young friends came to participate Manifestation of BahL'u'llhh.
in this sixth post-war World Youth Day. The hopes of young people in general are,
The specific topic was: "World Peace, Our of course, very high, even if their practical
Obligation." achievements sometimes fall short of their
hopes. But we are sure that "older" BahP'is
will apply also to our shortcomings these
The Bahb'i Faith, since the year 1947, has words of 'Abdu'l-BahL: "There are imper-
found hearty response in Italy among young fections in every human being, and you will
people. So iri the course of time a Youth always become unhappy if you look towards
Committee was formed, the basic work of the people themselves. But if you look to-
which consists in attracting interested young wards God you will love them."
564 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Spiritual Assembly of the Bah6'is of Maywood, Illinois,
incorporated June 11, 1951.

Spiritual Assembly of the BahC'is of Fresno, California,
incorporated February 20, 1953.
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of San Diego, California,
incorporated April 29, 1953.

Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Sacramento, California,
incorporated April 9, 1954. (One member had died.)
566 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

posium the guests were invited to an elegant
banquet.
The National Youth Committee con-
tinued the work it started last year, extend-
ing the range of cultural activities and
youth studies with illuminating and out-
standing results. Social activities were The Persian BahL'i Youth have enjoyed
carried out on a larger scale, including real cooperation while performing their
parties held at the homes of the friends. To duties. In the following report some of the
these parties non-Bahi'is were invited to BahL'i youth activities for the years 106-107
enable them to get some idea about the are outlined.
Bahi'i community. This resulted in narrow- With the help of the youth, forty-two new
ing the gulf between Bahi'is and non- BahL'i youth centers have been established.
Bahb'is. Some Bahb'i studies were included, At present there are 207 committees and
besides fun, in the program of these parties. thirteen youth groups, totaling 220 Bahb'i
The committee, in cooperation with the youth centers.
National Spiritual Assembly, carried out The BahL'i youth have contributed to the
several projects for the Faith, such as, the teaching prog;am, but owing to the present
pioneering project in central Africa. This restrictions. full results were not obtained
project was carried on simultaneously by in this field.
the National Spiritual Assemblies of Persia, What the BahL'i youth have accomplished
India, the United States and the British in pioneering really deserves attention be-
Isles. The pioneering project in Libya and cause they have participated notably in the
Algiers, also the Five-Year Plan for Egypt fulfillment of the 45-month pioneering
and Sild6n, are still being worked out. plan. The number of the Bahi'i youth who
The committee published several reli- have pioneered during the two years ex-
gious documents and some valuable studies ceeds 120. In addition the youth, by means
on the Faith. of teaching trips, donations, and corre-
The National Youth Committee, with the spondence, have been in contact with the
support of local committees, made regula- pioneers. The Persian National Youth Com-
tions for the approaching summer school. mittee strove by every means possible to
The National Youth Committee planned for encourage youth to pioneer-with the result
symposiums on pioneering which were held that classes were opened for the teaching
by all the local committees. These sympo- of arts and for the guidance of candidates.
siums explained the pioneering project. A Reducing the number of illiterates was
booklet on the African project was dis- an important project during the two years.
cussed. Classes were held in which friends of all
A registration book was prepared for ages participated. The Bahb'i youth con-
youth to record their ages, occupations, tributed by providing funds and by sending
aims, and qualifications for pioneering. teachers to the Bahi'i centers. As a result
This registration book was intended to en- of the project a number of youth have been
able the committee to select the persons to taught to read and write. w e can now state
be recommended for pioneering. that in several centers there are no Bahb'i
National Youth Day, in which all the illiterates. Despite difficulties experienced in
local committees of Egypt assisted, was this field and the lack of facilities at hand,
celebrated on December 23, 1951. Its sub- we hope with the new plans and the help of
ject was "The Basis of International Peace." the Almighty, better results can be obtained
International Youth Day, which was with the view to completely dispelling illit-
celebrated on the 25th of March, 1951, was eracy from the Bahb'i community.
very successful. It was thoroughly planned The teaching of children and youth has
by the National Youth Committee under been undertaken by the youth in all the
the supervision of the National Spiritual As- centers. The following classes were held:
sembly. Important personalities were invited 1. Classes for children.
to this International Youth Day, including 2. Classes in the BahL'i Writings in
writers, journalists and other broadminded which BahL'i Laws, principles, ad-
people. A film of the Mahriqu'l-Ad_hkLr ministrative order, history and other
was shown, and at the close of the sym- subjects were taught.
BAHA'f YOUTH ACTIVITIES 567

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Glendale, California,
incorporated April 29, 1954.

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Tucson, Arizona,
incorporated January 21, 1954.
568 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Spiritual Asembly of the BahB'is of Oak Park, Illinois,
incorporated February 16, 1954.

Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Nashville, Tennessee,
incorporated April 13, 1954.
Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of Greenwich, Connecticut,
incorporated April 23, 1954.
570 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

3. Classes for increasing general knowl- More than 5,000 Bahi'i youths attended
edge-scientific and literary confer- the BahL'i symposium which was held on
ences, discussion classes, speech and Sunday the 6th of $hahru'l-Mulk, Year 106
reading, Arabic and English, fine arts (February 12, 195O), in more than eighty
classes, and summer school classes places in Persia.
were held for the youth. The program included Ruhiyyih KJhh6-
As usual the Bahii'i youth have traveled num's article, a speech on "The Future
to many BahB'i centers, especially during World under the BahL'i Faith," music, and
the summer time. They have profited from other activities. During the symposium con-
this opportunity to visit the BahL'i pioneers. tributions were given for the pioneering
They have met and worked with other plan.
BahL'i youth. More than 170 BahL'i youths On the suggestion of the Persian National
have gone on teaching trips during those Youth Committee and with the approval of
two years. the National Youth of America, the Sympo-
Youth clubs have been established in sium of the Year 107 was held on Sunday,
more' than twenty centers. In some places 5th of Shahru'l-BahL (March 25, 1950), to

Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Reno, Nevada,
incorporated April 20, 1954.

these clubs were developed as social centers commemorate 'Abdu'l-BahL's trip from East
for the Bahi'i youth. to West.
The Bahi'i youth of Persia have suc- The fourth Persian BahL'i Youth Con-
ceeded in issuing publications in more than vention was held in Shahru'l-Kalimiit, Year
seventeen places. Some of the publications 106, eighteen delegates participating, and
are in the form of wall bulletins. Ahang the fifth Convention was held with nineteen
Bndi (The New Melody) is a national bul- delegates and six members of the National
letin which has been published for five Youth Committee. The following messages
years and has 1,200 subscribers. from the Guardian were in reply to the
Libraries are often established and super- Convention's cables :
vised by the youth. At present the youth "Assure participants fourth youth con-
have libraries in more than seventy places. ference ardent loving prayers success delib-
Twenty-three libraries have been inaugu- erations befitting discharge sacred responsi-
rated by the BahB'i youth in the past two bilities. Shoghi."
years. In addition, the youth have strength- "Appreciate message youth convention
ened the libraries by giving books and supplicating bountiful blessing. Shoghi."
money, and have encouraged BahVi youth During the Years 106 and 107, fifty-
by every means possible to use those librar- seven BahVi youth conferences were held
ies and benefit from them. in twenty BahL'i centers. The delegates of
BAHA'I' Y O U T H A C T I V I T I E S 571

Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Surat, India,
incorporated March 24, 1951.

Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Jalna, Hyderabad (Deccan),
India, incorporated 1951.
572 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Kamarhati, India,
incorporated September 7, 1950.

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Mysore, India,
incorporated September 25, 4950.
BAHA'I YOUTH ACTIVITIES 573

the National Youth Committee attended large extent due to the sacrifices of a number
twenty of these conferences. Two regional of young believers. In addition to assisting
conferences were held during these years. in the establishment of new Assemblies,
Exhibitions of fine arts were held in six youth are the mainstay of many local As-
BahA'i centers during the two-year period. semblies, several of which, particularly on
the west coast, are constituted entirely of
youth.
Youth from various centers gathered to-
The Regional Youth Committees have gether and went on a teaching trip to South
continued to function: one in India, one in India. They toured most of the major cities
PBkisth, and one in Burma, in addition to and traversed nearly 3,000 miles, visiting
the National Youth Committee at the cen- new centers, making contacts, giving the
ter. Message to various people and also en-
The function of these Regional Com- couraging pioneers who had for a long time
mittees included: (1) holding the Summer been ~solatedfrom the rest of the com-

Spiritual Assembly of the Bah2is of Singapore,
incorporated July 28, 1952.

Schools in their respective regions, (2) munity and were striving hard to serve the
encouraging the youth to acquaint them- Cause.
selves more fully with the Bah2i teachings, A valuable addition to our ranks was the
(3) consolidation of old youth centers and arrival of Rizwanieh Eghrari in Delhi re-
developing new ones, (4) encouraging cently. Having stayed for a short while in
youth to undertake short teaching trips in England assisting the British BahL'is in their
their neighborhood, and (5) holding the teaching efforts, she has now pioneered to
annual event of World Youth Day. India to settle in this country. Such in-
stances of devotion, courage and selfless
India Region service, we are confident, will go a long way
in arousing the youth of this country, and
Though BahL'i youth were greatly handi- will undoubtedly induce them to follow in
capped in their pioneering efforts owing to her footsteps.
the diversity of culture and language in the The eleventh Summer School session was
places where they pioneered, yet many new held in India from October 16-24, 1950 in
Assemblies that were formed and many old the cool and salubrious climate of Panch-
centers that were strengthened were to a gani, 5,000 feet above sea level. Regular
574 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Spiritual Assembly of the BahC'is of Montevideo, Uruguay,
incorporated 1952.

classes commenced on the 17th, the average held in the evening. The programs were
number of youth attending being eighty. varied with BahC'i talks, technicolor films of
Three teachers were able to attend, namely the BahCi Centenary and the Bahb'i Temple
Mr. Yazdani of Tihrhn, Prof. Pritam Singh at Wilmette, Illinois, singing of children,
and Mr. N. A. Khavari. The school was quizzes, and refreshments.
specially fortunate in having Mr. Yazdani
of Persia. Not often is there the opportunity Pdkistdn Region
of hearing one so learned and so eloquent. The Regional Youth Committee of
On October 24, Panchgani celebrated PBkistBn kept close liaison with the National
United Nations Day and Mr. Yazdani, as Spiritual Assembly, the National Youth
the Bahsi speaker, gave an illuminating ad- Committee, the Local Assembly at Karachi
dress which was very effective. Mr. F. and the Regional Youth Committee of
Tirandazi conducted the session as the India. Throughout the year, the Committee
Principal. remained in correspondence with most of
Sunday February 25 was celebrated as the youth centers in PBkistBn, urging them
World Youth Day. The theme was "Now- to be active towards a single goal, namely
a Cycle of Peace," as suggested by the Na- teaching, and acquainting them with the
tional Youth Committee of the United news sent to them from other parts. This
States. Meetings were held at Agra, Bom- Committee also assisted the Assembly at
bay, Delhi, Hyderabad (Deccan), Panch- Karachi in the organization of the Summer
gani, Poona and Sholapur. Several of the School.
meetings were held at hotel auditoriums and The Summer School session in Pkkistin
prominent citizens were invited. In some was held October 18-28, 1950. Owing to the
cities, meetings for BahCi youth were held floods in the Punjab, the attendance from
in the morning, while public functions, with the provinces was small. The early morning
non-Bahh'i youth invited to take part, were prayers created a spiritual atmosphere
BAHA'I Y O U T H ACTIVITIES 575

First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Tripoli, Libya,
formed April 21, 1954.

First Spiritual Assembly of the Rahfis of Goteberg, Sweden,
formed April 21, 1953.
576 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

which will live long in the hearts of those in Burmese, English and Urdu on such sub-
present. The students showed a remarkable jects as Universal Peace, Unity, True Hap-
devotion to learning the subjects, which piness. Before the meeting, a group photo-
were: (1) History of Buddhism, (2) graph of the Bah2i youth of Rangoon was
Twelve Bahh'i Principles, (3) Laws of taken.
Aqdas, (4) History of the Bahb'i and
Zoroastrian Faiths, and (5) BahL'i Admin- AND NEW ZEALAND
AUSTRALIA
istration.
Elaborate World Youth Day Programs The publication of the Youth Letter has
were conducted in Hyderabad (Sind) , continued on a quarterly basis. As in pre-
Karachi and Quetta. The daily papers an- vious years we have endeavored where pos-
nounced the meetings at which Bahi'i sible to continue the Youth Letter along
youth were the speakers. lines calculated to keep local groups in
touch with each other, to provide a series of
Ceylon Region BahL'i and non-BahL'i articles, and, finally,
In the infant center of Ceylon, the youth to keep abreast of international news that
are the mainstay of the community. They would prove of interest to youth.
are engaged mainly in propagating the This year we have published articles on
Cause and many of them have pioneered to youth by senior Bahi'is, thus giving to
virgin territories to establish the banner of youth the benefit of our more experienced
the Cause. The officers of the Colombo As- writers. We have at all times kept the Youth
sembly are all youth. First to accept the Letter for general appeal, thus stimulating
Cause in Ceylon was a young man, Anver not only BahL'i Youth interest, but the in-
Cadir, who abandoned an influential posi- terest of our many non-BahL'i readers also.
tion with a local political party and accepted A pleasing aspect of the year's activity
the Cause. has been the very large part youth played
BahL'i youth in Colonlbo held regular at the recent Summer School. The youth
meetings at the BahL'i center. A two-year were responsible for providing both speak-
plan was passed by the committee to organ- ers and entertainment at many public func-
ize and form Bahh'i youth committees in tions held by local spiritual assemblies of
other parts of the Island. Study classes were the BahL'is throughout Australia and New
held once a week by the Study Circle Com- Zealand.
mittee. BahS'i literature was sent to friends A general survey of the National Youth
with whom the BahL'i youth were in con- picture reveals active youth groups in
tact. Adelaide, Melbourne, Yerrinbool, Sydney,
In celebration of World Youth Day a Brisbane, Toowoomba, Wollongong, and
public meeting was held by the Bahh'i youth Perth. There are isolated BahCi Youth in
of Colombo in the City Light Hall. Youth various other centers of Australia, New
and members of the Colombo Spiritual As- Zealand, and Fiji.
sembly delivered lectures in English and The most outstanding event of the BahB'i
Tamil on the subject, "Now-a Cycle of Year 108 is the formation of a Regional
Peace." Very good publicity was given by Youth Committee of New Zealand. This
the press before and after the meeting. Committee has done good work and has
already commenced a quarterly newsletter.
Burma Region Though our numbers are very small, the
Meetings were held every Sunday morn- youth of Australia and New Zealand are
ing at the Haziratu'l-Quds. Almost all the doing much work on various local and na-
Bahh'i youth participated, speaking on dif- tional committees. The National Public Re-
ferent topics of the Cause. As the majority lations Committee is mainly composed of
of the members speak Burmese, lectures youth this year. The chairman of the New
were delivered in Burmese. Everyone was South Wales Regional Teaching Committee
anxious to widen his knowledge of the his- is a youth. In every field the youth are ac-
tory and teachings of the Cause and to try tive. Two members of this year's National
his utmost to speak in public too. Youth Committee have gone to Leeton, a
The BahS'i youth planned a very elabo- "goal" town, as pioneer settlers. In order to
rate program for World Youth Day and keep contact, the National Youth Commit-
celebrated it successfully. Talks were given tee meetings are alternated, one being held
BAHA'I YOUTH ACTIVITIES 577

First Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of Porto, Portugal,
formed April, 1952.

First Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of The Hague, Netherlands,
1952-1953.
British Borneo's first BahB'i Spiritual Assembly,
in Kuching, Sarawak.

First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Nairobi,
Kenya, East Africa.
BAHA'I YOUTH ACTIVITIES

at Leeton and the next at National Head- Siio Paulo
quarters in Sydney. The secretary attends
all meetings. Ever since there has existed an Assembly
The annual Bahb'i Summer School was in S'lo Paulo, Brazil, there has existed some
held early in January. The National Youth youth activity. The pioneering family who
Committee conducted the afternoon classes first settled there in 1947 had an ideal
for the youth. Naturally many adults at- set-up, for they had two Bahb'i youth, a boy
tended too. The first week the subject of the and a girl.
class was "A Teaching Manual," and the The youth activity was not begun by
second week the subject was "Instruments making a special effort to organize but was
of the Orchestra," a musical appreciation an outgrowth of cooperation to establish a
class. new community. From the beginning
weekly meetings were held to attract peo-
ple. We, the two youth, invited our friends
The first National Spiritual Assembly for who in turn brought their friends. The
South America (elected April, 1951) ap- adults of the community invited their
pointed the first National Bahb'i Youth friends and everyone gathered together each
Committee, consisting of four active youth week to discuss the teachings, and hear
members and six consulting members. lectures which were always in English and
None of the active members had ever had translated in Portuguese for the first several
any experience in this field of work-only years. Maybe many came to hear English,
enthusiasm to serve to the best of his ability. but they came, until weekly attendance be-
For the first time a census was begun of came close to forty, filling to capacity the
the Bahb'i Youth of South America. At the home of the pioneers, which was the Bahi'i
suggestion of the National Bahb'i Youth center.
Committee, the youth in Valparaiso and We were then forced to divide the meet-
Lima organized local groups. A set of by- ings and have the younger people who spoke
laws was made up for social and cultural English come another evening. In this way
clubs organized by Bahb'i youth groups we learned how to conduct classes and activ-
with non-Bahb'is. These clubs will help ities, for we had the youth who would al-
inquirers to come in contact with Bahi'is ways come and we had to plan something
and learn about their very high standards, for them. These meetings attracted many
philosophy and ideals. young people, mostly Europeans who knew
A monthly bulletin has been published English. Some were seeking for some intel-
since July, 1951 with inspirational articles; lectual activity, some for faith in the future
suggestions for organizing Bahi'i youth and a solution to problems, some just
groups; models for Bahb'i youth meetings; friendship. The Second World War brought
and beautiful messages received from many about these needs and our Faith offered
National Bahb'i Youth Committees, which food to these thirsty souls.
showed the readers the very strong bond of As time went on we felt the need for
love and unity among the Bahb'is of the recreation along with the purely intellectual
world. The National Bahb'i Youth Com- discussions, and, as a means to attract new
mittee hopes to guide and organize isolated youth, monthly tea-dances were held. Be-
Bahi'i youths in this territory and to help fore the dancing and refreshments (which
them attract the attention of other young our guests contributed) a short discussion
people toward this glorious way through the was held giving the Bahb'i teachings di-
bulletin. rectly or indirectly on the subject chosen.
The committee has exchanged corre- After over a year of this activity it was felt
spondence with as many Bah2i communi- that these dances had served their purpose
ties as possible, trying to help isolated and they were discontinued, to be given at
Bahb'is directly, and giving them advice and longer intervals upon request of the group
enthusiasm to work for the Faith. We know or whenever attendance at youth meetings
that by the will of God, with more experi- slackened.
ence, the National Bahb'i Youth Committee At the meetings we discussed, chapter by
for South America will be able to issue a chapter, the New Era, Security for a Failing
better Youth Bulletin, and help the yovth World by Stanwood Cobb, and Prescrip-
of its territory in a more efficient way. tion for Living by Ruhiyyih KJhgnurn
580 THE BAHA'I WORLD

First Spiritual Assembly of the Bah2is of Trivandrum,
India, 1950-1951.

First Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of Anchorage Recording
District, Alaska, organized April 21, 1951.
BAHA'I YOUTH ACTIVITIES 58 1

First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahgis of Ziirich,
Switzerland, elected April 21, 1950.

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Basra, South 'Irgq,
inaugurating the land offered by one of them for
the future local &qiratu'l-Quds.
First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Sheffield,
England, 1950-1951.

Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Daidanaw, Burma, 1950-1951.
BAHA'I YOUTH A C T I V I T I E S 583

(which was the most successful). Selections ings are invited to BahL'i meetings. This is
from the BahL'i Writings, talks of 'Abdu'l- progressing slowly.
BahB, a series on comparative religions and As we recognize the necessity of youth's
outstanding Christian sects were other vitality in a BahL'i Community, we are
studies whkh were followed. striving to find those who are prepared to
We feel that the BahL'i Faith has given recognize the Word of God for this Day.
very much to many young people in S b
Paulo. It has given a hope; it has given hap- Rio de Janeivo
piness and new friendships; it has shown A weekly English class for young students
that a Plan and a Faith exist which are is held in the Rio BahL'i Center and many
available when we finally awaken spiritually. a youth has heard and read of the Faith
In these few years there have been five through this activity.
marriages among young people who have
met through the Bahb'i Faith. Two of these Santos
had BahL'i weddings, the last being the wed- Last year the Holmes family were sent as

Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Rosario-Santiago,
Isabela, Republic of the Philippines.

ding of one of the original founders of the pioneers to Santos to establish an Assembly
youth group in S b Paulo, Bob Miessler, there. Among their new believers is a young
who married a lovely Brazilian girl, Myriam Brazilian boy of 23 who is alive with the
Bueno, who has become a radiant Baht??. Teachings and has an amazing understand-
This is one more tie between "different" ing of them. He has been studying to be-
peoples to show that in reality we are all come an English teacher and is now begin-
one. ning to study Spanish in order to be a more
valuable BahL'i in South America. He as-
Bahia sures us that as long as he lives in Santos
the Faith will never die there but will con-
In Bahia there has been very little youth tinually progress.
activity other than contacts with organized
groups. Owing to conventions and family Now that we youth of South America
Ties t h e you<g people are not yet given have our National Youth Committee, we
enough liberty of thought. We are attempt- are striving to become an organized and
ing first to acquaint young people with the cooperative entity. We consist of some
local BahL'i Center by offering free English twelve countries which speak two diiferent
conversation classes once a week. From this languages, Spanish and Portuguese. Be-
group those who show interest in the Teach- cause of the great distances, it is only
- -

THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

Spiritual Assembly of the Bah&'is of Port Said, Egypt,
with a woman as member for the first time.
BAHA'I YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahg'is of Alexandria, Egypt, with
women elected members for the first time, April 21, 1951.

Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Cairo, Egypt, with
women elected members for the first time, April 21, 1951.
586 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

through correspondence and a oneness of ing now for better understanding and hope
spirit and goals that we can work together. soon to be able to form a youth committee
The news from other countries received for each country which will cooperate with
through their youth bulletins is a great in- our National Youth Committee, at present
spiration to us, as each community is so located in Colombia. We are sure that
isolated, especially in Brazil, and each has "should anyone arise for the triumph of our
its own particular problems. We are striv- Cause, him will God render victorious."

REPORT OF INTERNATIONAL BAHA'I YOUTH
ACTIVITY FOR THE YEAR 1952-1953
(Coimpiled by Dwight Allen)

F R O M reports of youth activity in the Youth Committee of Egypt: "The youth are
Bahi'i Faith during the yeas 1952-1953, it earnestly aware of the inestimable bounties
would seem that youth-are gradually be- of God and His manifold blessings that He
coming more aware of the importance of has chosen them to be the executors of
the role which they, as youth of a New God's Divine Plan. They know they can
World Order, must play in the establish- afford nothing b ~ ~to t consecrate every
ment of the Faith in the minds and hearts ounce of their energy, every particle of their
of all men. Independently, the BahB'i youth efforts for the success of this great Plan."
everywhere continued to deepen themselves "We know full well that God is on our side
in the knowledge of their Faith, preparing and that it is up to us to prove that we are
to meet the challenges of establishing the worthy of the generous trust that has been
New World Order. Before the year was conferred upon us and the honor that was
over, the challenge came in more force and ours when we were placed among the dash-
potency than could have been imagined- ing battalions of BahL'u'l15hih'syoung cru-
the challenge of a Ten Year Global Cru- saders in the Spiritual Conquest of the en-
sade. "Pioneering" became the new by-word tire Planet."
for all Bahb'is, a word with persorzal mean-
ing. Youth learned that their due was to be
the vanguard in situations which would be
difficult in terms of physical discomforts; A number of National Youth Committees
their attitude became one of eager anticipa- publish newsletters or bulletins on a regular
tion. A young African boy wrote of a new- basis. The National Youth Committees of
found awareness and understanding; a Ger- Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Egypt
man youth was learning a new meaning for and the S6d5n, and Germany issue their
consecration; an American girl, always bulletins quarterly; the National Youth
active in Bahb'i Administration, was find- Committee of India, PQkist5n and Burma
ing a deeper appreciation for Bahb'i teach- issue a bi-monthly bulletin; and the Na-
ing-all stood ready and waiting to serve. tional Youth Committee of the United
The next year would find these same young States issues a monthly bulletin. In addition
people among the Knights of Bahb'u'll5h to the quarterly bulletin issued in Arabic by
and far from their native lands, but this was the Committee of Egypt and the Sfidtin, one
a year of preparation as well as a year of issue in English was published.
activity. Several of the National Youth Com-
mittees undertook other publishing ven-
Therefore, as we review the reports of
tures. The National Youth Committee of
international BahB'i activity, we must con- Egypt and the Sud5n published four book-
sider the overwhelming spirit which moti- lets in two years, dealing with educational,
vated the conferences, th; publications, the teaching, and pioneering topics. The Na-
teaching activity-to swell the ranks for the tional Youth Committee of fr6n issued two
Crusade to come. This spirit is perhaps best publications for Persian youth in other
expressed in a report from the National lands.
BAHA'I YOUTH ACTIVITIES

First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Berlin re-established
after World War 11, April 21, 1950.

First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Cienfuegos, Cuba,
elected April 21, 1951.
THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

SUMMERSCHOOLS enthusiasm, filled with new fire and zeal.
Australia and New Zealand. A successful India, Pdkistdn. The summer schools held
youth workshop was held at summer school in India and in Pikistln both proved great
-a BahL'i prayer was learned, Prescription successes. In Plkistkn the summer school
for Living was studied and the April issue was held November 2-12, 1952, at Hyder-
of the youth letter was edited. The sessions abad Sind. In India the thirteenth summer
ended with a concert and a barbecue. The school session was held in Panchgani
youth also sponsored a work camp, which October 15-24, 1952. Regular classes had a

First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of CallEio, Perh,
elected April 21, 1951.

proved to be so successful, hope was ex- total average of eighty youth attending the
pressed for its development into an annual sessions. They took keen interest in the dis-
affair. cussions at the Youth Conference held on
Germany. The yearly summer schools October 17 and 18, the main topic for dis-
brought together BahL'i and non-BahL'i cussion being "Pioneering."
youth in friendly association. All studied Canada. Youth attended the Ontario
the Holy Texts of BahL'u'llbh and 'Abdu'l- Summer School in August, 1952, to consult
Bahb, offered solutions to the problems of and coordinate their efforts.
our modern day, took turns in giving a talk, Egypt and Sbda'n. The summer school
and participated in discussions. The atmos- sessions held in August, 1952, were devoted
phere was ideal, for summer schools were to a study of the basic Bah2i literature. The
held in picturesque Youth Hostels in the school was a very successful enterprise in
most scenic parts of Germany. Thus, in which both the administrative and the
addition to the serious program of study, social aspects of the BahL'i Faith were
there were many opportunities for outdoor practiced. The youth who attended gained a
activities, such as hikes through the woods. valuable and rare experience and had an
At the end of the sessions the youth re- opportunity to increase their knowledge of
turned home with renewed energy and the Faith.
BAHA'I YOUTH ACTIVITIES

held at fifteen centers, eleven of which had
National Youth Committee representatives.
Egypt and the Shdiin. A BahL'i Youth The seventh National Youth Convention
Conference was held on the 30th and 31st was held in Tihrgn the latter part of August,
of October, 1952, at the National Haqira- 1952. Representatives from BahB'i centers
tu'l-Quds in Cairo. Youth delegates from all and seven National Youth Committee mem-
parts of Egypt attended and many vital bers were present. Consultation was held on
questions were discussed. Among the most guiding and teaching youth and familiariz-
important was the subject of pioneering. ing them with the procedure and function of
Many recommendations were made, and it youth administration. The total contribu-
was encouraging to find that immediate ac- tions of the youth of fr&nthrough their rep-
tion was taken.. resentatives at this convention for the
England. The London Youth Committee Shrine of the BBb was one hundred and ten
on its own initiative decided to hold a youth thousand rials. In response to a cable sent lo
conference in March. The theme was "Our the Guardian on the opening day of the
Irretrievable Chance." At the conference it convention, the following reply was re-
was generally felt that they could contribute ceived: "Supplicating rich blessings high
tremendously toward the promotion and endeavors preserve noble task. Shoghi."
dissemination of the Cause through conse- United States. The week of September 27
cration, initiative, and most important of all, to October 5, 1952, was set aside as Na-
action. tional Bahi'i Youth Week during which the
youth were urged to live the l&es of pio-
Germany. In considering the need to ex- neers and concentrate upon teaching the
tend the scope of teaching to gain new be- Faith. This week was opened with the first
lievers and contacts, the National Youth of the National Youth Conferences on
Committee realized that national youth September 27 and 28, 1952, the theme of
gatherings were essential to bring greater which was "Consecration to Teaching."
results. Therefore, it established four na- Both the theme and the agenda were in-
tional meetings to be convened each year, spired by Leroy Ioas' memorable letter from
for the youth of different towns and cities Haifa. The agenda was designed to provide
throughout Germany. The results have been the youth with a maximum of teaching ad-
very successful, and the spirit of coopera- vice-and to bring out the lessons of success-
tion, of love and harmony, of becoming ful teaching techniques and experiences.
deepened in the C a ~ ~ has
s e been felt by all National Bahi'i Youth Week was concluded
who attended. This has added stimulus to on October 5 with a youth public meeting
the communities when the youth returned. in all localities where National Youth Con-
The annual autumn meetings, held on a ferences were held the week-end before. The
national basis, gave opportunity to discuss topic for this meeting was "Why We are
the teaching problems which would spread Bahi'is."
the Cause to more localities in Germany, The second of the National Youth Con-
enlarge the number of BahB'i youth, and ferences was held on January 10 and 11,
consolidate existing Bahi'i groups. Much 1953, and "Oneness of Mankind" was
was accomplished in this respect. The chosen as the subject. It was planned to
autumn sessions were held in Maulbronn combine a National Youth Conference with
during 1951 and in Heilbronn during 1952. a major teaching effort on the part of the
Winter schools held during the last week participating youth. The agenda included a
of December, 1952, and the first days of panel and a public meeting.
January, 1953, were at the Youth Hostel of The third National Youth Conference
Titisee, in the heart of the Black Forest of was planned for March 7 and 8, 1953. The
Southern Germany, near Freiburg. Meet- theme, "Our Last Irretrievable Chance,"
ings were held both day and evening, inter- focused attention on the urgent needs of the
spersed with recreational periods. All the few remaining weeks of the Second Seven
youth participated in one way or another, Year Plan. The agenda, devised in the form
thereby growing in the spirit of brotherhood, of a series of multi-membered panels so as
solidarity, companionship, and service to to afford a maximum of active participation
Bahi'u'llgh. for the attending youth, was dedicated to
Ircin. Twenty youth conferences were a complete review of the Divine Plan, and
--

'THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Agra, India,
1950-1951.
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Ichalkaranji,
India, 1950-1951.

Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Kanpur, India, April 21, 1952.
592 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

gave the youth a clearer vision of the com- who had been attracted to the Faith. There
ing Ten Year Crusade. were public lectures, open discussions, read-
The fourth and last National Youth Con- ings from the Holy Writings, and music.
ference of the year was held during the Na- This event grows in importance each year,
tional Convention period, the theme being and provides an excellent opportunity to
"The Jubilee Year." present the world vision of the Faith.
India, Pdkista'n, and Burma. March 25
was observed as World Youth Day. Each
community held two meetings-one exclu-
Throughout the BahL'i world, the ob- sively for Bahi'i youth and the other a pub-
servance of World Youth Day has become lic meeting.
an annual event and affords an opportunity At meetings in Sholapur, Bombay, Panch-
for youth to present their ideas from public gani, and Rangoon, pamphlets, programs
platforms about the Faith. The same theme or other symposium souvenirs were dis-
is used wherever there are meetings,
tributed to the non-BahL'is attending. In
whether the language of the discussion be
German or Persian, Urdu or English. both Bombay and Rangoon, good press
"Hope in a Troubled World" was the theme coverage was given to the public meetings.
set for the 1953 observance. In Karachi about fifty youth attended a
Australia and New Zealand. The Com- meeting to discuss "Duties and Responsi-
mittee invited three speakers to participate, bilities of BahL'i Youth." The chosen theme
dividing the topic into three parts: "Hope for this year's observance, "Hope in a

First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Florence, Italy,
elected April 21, 1951.

of World Government," "Hope of Educa- Troubled World," was covered by lectures
tion," and "Hope of Religion." Films were in English and Urdu. Meetings were also
also shown. held in Surat and Poona.
England. The youth committee arranged fra'n. The seventeenth World Youth Day
a symposium of both BahL'i and non-BahL'i was observed March 25, 1953. Reports of
speakers to celebrate the occasion. this observance were received from fifty-
Germany. BahQ'i youth from all parts of eight centers, listing a combined total of
Germany came to participate in the meeting thirty-four hundred people in attendance,
held in Esslingen. Many brought friends who contributed a total of thirty-two thou-
BAHA'I YOUTH ACTIVITIES 593

sand seven hundred and thirty rials for the mittees in the study of the basic Bahl'i
Shrine of the Bib. literature.
United States. Plans were made for the The National Youth Committee hoped to
occasion by the National Youth Committee increase the number of Local Youth Com-
and were shared with the Bahl'i youth of mittees in Egypt and the Sfidin and a' goal
the world. The Committee had been in cor- of four new Local Youth Committees was
res~ondencewith all National Youth Com-
mittees and the youth of other countries and
in collaboration with them a manual for
World Youth Day was written and dis-
tributed to all youth. It consisted of helpful
suggestions for holding public meetings,
firesides, follow-up meetings, and prepara-
tion of effective publicity. A radio script on
the chosen theme was made available.

Australia and New Zealand. In Australia
there are youth in all but one of the prov-
inces, six local Youth Committees, and
many isolated youth. The New Zealand
group has had an increase of seven new
youth out of a total of twenty-five, indi- Eight members of the first Spiritual
cating the extent of their activity. Assembly of the Bahgis of Tokyo, Japan,
Canada. An increased interest in youth 1950-1951.
was revealed throughout the Canadian
Bah2i community as a whole, and the Na- set. Two were actually established in Egypt
tional Youth Committee answered several and the National Youth Committee hoped
inquiries as to how to organize and direct to establish the Local Youth Committee of
youth firesides and activities in various cen- Khartoum, in Sfidhn, by the close of the
ters. In Toronto, Hamilton, and St. Cather- Holy Year.
ine the youth groups sponsored many fire- England. One of the objects of the Lon-
sides and social outings. don Youth Committee has been to coordi-
The Ontario Youth Committee sponsored nate the activities of the youth. Several
weekly youth firesides at the Toronto center socials were arranged, both at the Center
as well as several dances and get-togethers and in Bahi'i homes. The Committee pre-
and a conference. Two youth key-noted one pared the devotional program for the Birth-
session of the Canadian National Bah2i day of the Bib, October 9, 1952, at the re-
Convention in April, 1953, and throughout quest of the London Spiritual Assembly.
the Dominion, youth participation in re- Other programs in which the youth partici-
gional conferences was prevalent. pated were the presentation of a script "The
The National Youth Committee spon- Son of Desire" at a public meeting at the
sored a week-end youth forum in Kingston, center, and a play given at the Naw-RGz
with delegates attending from various program, March 21, 1953.
Ontario centers. Canadian Bah6'i youth on Germany and Austria. The National
college campuses at University College in Youth Committee was in close contact with
Toronto and Queen's University in Kings- many youth organizations of different re-
ton have held regular firesides. These meet- ligious affiliations. Bahi'i youth attended
ings received good publicity in campus their meetings and in this way brought to
publications. them an awareness of Bahi'i thought and
Egypt and SBdn'n. During the past two teaching.
years the National Youth Committee of Persian BahBi youth studying in Ger-
Egypt and Sfidin has been preparing a many have a great influence in promoting
course that includes in the study of the the Faith. Both to BahL'is and non-Bahi'is,
Faith, religious, economic, and social sub- the interaction of Persian and German
jects. They also guided Local Youth Com- Bah6is is a constant delight.
594 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

India, Pdkistdn, and Burma. Eight meet- to encourage and guide the active youth
ings of the National Youth Committee were throughout the country was drawn up and
held in Bombay, Poona, and Panchgani. sent throughout IrPn.
Correspondence was carried on with the Na- South America. The South American
tional Spiritual Assembly, Regional Youth Youth Committee reported that during
Committee of PPkistPn and Burma, youth 1952-1953 they have worked hard to make
centers in India, and other National Youth every community realize the tremendous
Committees. importance of the youth in the Faith; they
The Regional Youth Committees of PPki- endeavored to help them get organized and
stin and Burma met regularly, maintained to be active in their own youth groups. It
regular correspondence with the National was felt that the most important task was
Youth Committee and rendered all possible to establish a youth committee in each
assistance to the Local Youth Committees. Bahb'i community to insure the commu-

First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Naples, Italy,
elected April 21, 1951.

Many youth took active part in the dis- nity's future. During the year several groups
charge of the nineteen month plan. Many were organized and, although small at pres-
new assemblies that were formed and many ent, are full of promise for the future.
old centers that were strengthened were Groups are located in Lima, Peru; BogotP,
aided to a large extent by the sacrifices of a Colombia; Buenos Aires, Argentina;
number of young Bahb'is. In addition to Osorno, Chile; Quilpue, Chile; La Paz, Bo-
assisting in the establishment of new Assem- livia; Bahia, Brazil; and Siio Paulo, Brazil.
blies, youth are the mainstay in many Local The Committee prepared a booklet of
Spiritual Assemblies, and several Assern- statutes for social culture clubs, based on
blies, particularly on the west coast, are con- Bahi'i principles and administration, in
stituted entirely of youth over voting age. which, even if the BahL'i Faith is not men-
frdn. The National Youth Committee of tioned because of prevailing restrictions,
Trim was in contact with over two hundred more youth will become familiar with the
Local Youth Committees and youth groups BahL'i way of life, principles, and spiritual
inside IrPn; with the eleven National Youth ideals. The booklet received the approval of
Committees of the world; and with the the National Spiritual Assembly of the
BahB'i International Bureau at Geneva, both BahL'is of South America, and has been
by correspondence and by the exchange bf distributed to all communities which have
periodicals. asked for it.
During the year twenty-four repre- United States. At its first meeting, the Na-
sentatives visited thirty-six centers to meet, tional Youth Committee arranged a Jubilee
stimulate and report to the Youth. A plan Calendar of youth activities for the year
BAHA'I YOUTH ACTIVITIES

First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Jakarta,
Indonesia, elected April 21, 1954.

First Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Kampala, Uganda,
British East Africa, formed April 21, 1952.
596 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahb'is of Wolfhalden,
Switzerland, elected April 21, 1950.

1952-1953, setting dates and subjects for of welcome to new BahB'i youth; the sale of
four Youth Conferences and the topic for two thousand copies of the youth-prepared
World Youth Day on March 25, 1953. The pamphlet, "New Horizons of Unity"; the
dates and subjects were chosen with special mimeographing and distribution of an out-
regard to the unique features of the Jubilee line for the preparation of youth for enroll-
and Holy Year. ment in the ~ a l t h and
; the compilation of a
On July 13, 1952, the National Youth list, broken down geographically, of African
Committee met with the American National students in the United States. This list was
Teaching Committee, and as a result of con- made available to all interested Local Spir-
sultation new avenues of cooperation were itual Assemblies.
discovered. The National ~ e a i h i Commit-
n~ PIONEERING
AND THE TEN-YEAR
CRUSADE
tee supplied the National Youth Committee
with a list of all the goal cities and com- Egypt and the SzidLn. In the past two
munities in the United States, and the Youth years four BahL'i youth entered the pioneer-
Committee in turn wrote a personal letter ing field. They settled in Libya and since
to every youth residing in or around those their arrival have served the Faith well, set-
areas informing them of the significance of ting an example of sacrifice and devotion.
Bahb'i activity in their locality and asking They have led the way for other pioneers
them to contact their respective Regional who will come during the course of the
Teaching Committees and cooperate fully World Crusade. Many of the youth who are
with them. The goals and plans of the preparing to pioneer are still at universities
American National Teaching Committee and colleges but the coming two years will
have been given prominent publicity in the witness a flow of pioneers to the allotted ter-
National Youth Bulletin. ritories.
The National Youth Committee was also Germany. The youth of Germany look
in constant touch with the Area Youth toward the Ten-Year Crusade with determi-
Committees which gave active cooperation nation and assurance, confident they will
in planning and executing youth activities. help both in the spreading of the Faith at
Other undertakings of the National Youth homo and abroad.
Committee included on-the-spot coverage India, Pdkistdn, and Burma. Three youth
of the Intercontinental Conferences for the from India and Piikistiin have pioneered to
Youth Bulletin; sending of individual letters Africa.
6. T H E BAHA'I F A I T H AND T H E
UNITED NATIONS
BAHA'I RELATIONSHIP WITH UNITED NATIONS

IN THE spring of 1947 the National Spir-
itual Assembly of the Bahi'is of the United
Jerusalem) be acknowledged and perma-
nently safeguarded."
States and Canada was accredited to United With this communication the Guardian
Nations as a national non-governmental or- enclosed a summary of the history and
ganization qualified to be represented at teachings of the Bahi'i Faith which the
United Nations Conferences through an ob- Bahi'is of the United States reprinted and
server. distributed widely.
A year later the eight National Spiritual In addition to participation in a number
Assemblies then existing were recognized of United Nations regional and Interna-
collectively as an international non-govern- tional conferences, four BahL'i documents
mental organization under the title of "The have been formally submitted: "A Bahi'i
Bah2i International Community." These Declaration of Human Obligations and
eight Assemblies were those of North Amer- Rights," 1947; "A Bahi'i Statement on the
ica; the British Isles; Germany and Austria; Rights of Women," 1947; and "The Work
Egypt and Stidin; 'Iriq; Irin (Persia); In- of Bahi'is in Promotion of Human Rights,"
dia, Pikistin and Burma; and Australia and 1948. On November 9, 1949, a letter was
New Zealand. T o these eight bodies have addressed to United Nations explaining the
since been added the National Spiritual As- BahL'i concept of worship, in connection
semblies of the BahCis of Canada, of Cen- with the effort of United Nations to formu-
tral America and of South America. Each late a method of worship acceptable for use
National Spiritual Assembly in its applica- in its future prayer building.
tion established the National Assembly of On May 9, 1947, the Guardian wrote
the United States as its representative in re- through his secretary to explain why he was
lation to United Nations. encouraging Bahi'i association with United
A significant action was taken in July, Nations: "He feels that the friends should
1947, when the United Nations Special bear in mind that the primary reason that
Committee in Palestine addressed a letter he is encouraging BahL'i association with
to Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, as Head of the the United Nations is to give the Cause due
BahL'i Faith resident in the Bahi'i World publicity as an agency working for and
Center at Haifa, requesting an expression of firmly believing in the unification of the hu-
the Bahi'i attitude on the future of Pales- man family and permanent peace, and not
tine. In his reply, Shoghi Effendi made it because he believes that we are at present
clear that "Our aim is the establishment of in a position to shape or influence directly
universal peace in the world and our desire the course of human affairs! Also, he be-
to see justice prevail in every domain of lieves this association will afford the believ-
human society, including the domain of pol- ers an opportunity of contacting prominent
itics." The Guardian also pointed out his and progressive-minded people from differ-
concern that "the fact be recognized by ent countries and calling the Faith and its
whoever exercises sovereignty over Haifa principles to their attention. We should as-
and 'Akki, that within this area exists the sociate ourselves in every way with all
spiritual and administrative center of a movements of UN which are in accordance
world Faith, and that the independence of with our principles and objectives; but we
that Faith, its right to manage its interna- should not seek to take the initiative or . . .
tional affairs from this source, the rights of focus a glare of publicity and public atten-
BahL'is from any and every country of the tion on a very wide scale upon ourselves
globe to visit it as pilgrims (enjoying the which might prove very detrimental to our
same privilege in this respect as Jews, Mus- own interests. He considered, for instance,
lims and Christians do in regard to visiting the 'BahL'i Declaration of Human Obliga-
59:r
598 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

tions and Rights' appropriate and believes The status of the non-governmental organi-
this type of action to be wise and suitable." zation has been d e b e d by the Section for
Other references in words of the Guard- Non-Governmental Organizations in a letter
ian include the following. From cablegram written to the Bahi'i United Nations Com-
dated April 16, 1948, addressed to the Na- mittee:
tional Convention of the BahL'is of the "The Department of Public Information
United States: "Recognition extended to the does not accredit organizations, but accred-
Faith by United Nations as an international its the person nominated by an organization
non-governmental body, enabling appoint- as an observer. This system is similar to the
ment of accredited representatives to United accreditization of newspaper correspond-
Nations conferences is heralding world rec- ents, which does not give accreditization to
ognition for a universal proclamation of the the paper, but to the man. Of course, the ac-
Faith of Bahi'u'llih." From cable of April creditization of the observer or the corre-
26, 1948, a passage included recognition by spondent is dependent upon the standing of
United Nations as one of the achievements the organization or paper. This may seem a
of the American BahL'i Community, "whose fine line, but it is specifically designed to
spokesmen are securing recognition of the avoid the impression that we give status to
institutions of Bahi'u'll&h's rising world or- organization as such. The only way in which
der in the United Nations." From letter an organization can receive status from the
dated May 18, 1948: "The recognition United Nations is through having been
given your Assembly (as representative of granted consultative status by the Economic
the other National Spiritual Assemblies) by and Social Council."
UNO as a non-governmental body entitled This definition of the BahL'i relationship
to send representatives to various UNO to United Nations is important. In referring
conferences marks an important step for- to that relationship in public talks or pub-
ward in the struggle of our beloved Faith to licity, the correct statement to make is:
receive in the eyes of the world its just due, Bahb'i observers are accredited from the
and be recognized as an independent World BahL'i International Community (or from
Religion. Indeed, this step should have a the National Spiritual Assembly of the
favorable reaction on the progress of the Bahi'is of the United States if reference to
Cause everywhere, especially in those parts the national non-governmental organization
of the world were it is still persecuted, be- is intended).
littled, or scorned, particularly in the East." In 1947 a United Nations Committee was
All Non-Governmental Organizations appointed by the National Spiritual Assem-
make contact with United Nations through bly of the BahL'is of the United States, and
its Department of Public Information, sec- Bahi'i relations with United Nations have
tion for Non-Governmental Organizations. been channeled through that committee.

UNITED NATIONS INFORMED OF THE BAHA'f
CONCEPT OF WORSHIP
T H E letter addressed by the BahL'i In- development by United Nations of a prayer
ternational Community to the Secretary- building or center designed to promote the
General of United Nations on November 9, spiritual unity of its representatives and
1949, concerning the BahL'i concept of wor- delegates.
ship presented the following statement: Since our community has brought to-
gether in one religious -fellowship a-world-
Mr. Trygve Lie, Secretary-General
wide body of believers, the question of a
United Nations
Lake Success, New York common worship reconciling the traditional
views and practices of men and women in
Dear Mr. Secretary-General: ninety-four countries, representing more
-
The members of the Bah2i International than thirty races, and possessing back-
Community have a particular interest in the grounds reflecting the influences of all re-
T H E BAHA'I FAITH AND UNITED NATIONS 599

Prayer Card, issued with compliments of the United Nations Committee of the
BahB'i International Community, 225 Fifth Avenue, New York 10, New York.
600 THE B A H A '1 WORLD

vealed faiths, has been for BahBis a matter "Breathe not the sins of others so long
of supreme and vital importance. as thou art thyself a sinner.
The fact that for such a varied and di- "Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for
verse body the problem of common worship My descent.
has been completely solved, and the univer- "I have made death a messenger of joy
sality of BahVi prayer and devotion demon- to thee; wherefore dost thou grieve?
strated for many years, should make the "Make mention of Me on My earth
BahL'i practice interesting and significant to that in My heaven I may remember thee.
United Nations. "0 rich ones on earth! The poor in
We therefore respectfully request that the your midst are My trust; guard ye My
following brief statement on Bahi'i prayer Trust.
and worshiv be made available to those con- "The source of all learning is the
cerned with the creation of the prayer knowledge of God, exalted be His glory."
building and the conduct of prayer at
The following brief passage describes the
United Nations sessions.
type of public worship which will be con-
Fundamentally, the Bahgis feel equal
ducted in this House of Worship when com-
reverence for the founders of all revealed
pleted:
religions. The Bahi'i teachings recognize
that all the Prophets are one in spirit, that "The BahBi House of Worship is not one
all reveal God to mankind as successive more religious edifice of denominational
manifestations of His will. Their revelation character. It has been built according to a
is continuous and progressive. On this foun- new and higher pattern of worship, wherein
dation the BahL'is of East and West realize persons of all races, nations and creeds may
and accept the unity of all religions. enter the unifying Spirit which emanates
Congregational worship among the from the Word of God. BahBi worship in-
Bahi'is consists of the reading of passages cludes no sermon, no physical drama, no
from all extant Holy Books, with no ritual- man-conceived prayer, invocations or con-
istic device, no racial, denominational or na- ventionalized response. The Manifestation
tionalistic discrimination. This worship fos- of God, He alone, has utterance in this holy
ters reverence for all the Prophets of the place."
past, cultivates spiritual unity among par- In the design of the exterior of the House
ticipants, and emphasizes the true aim of the
of Worship is symbolized the equality of all
religion of God as the unity of the human
race. revealed faiths through the use of character-
To demonstrate this new concept the istic religious motifs such as the Star of
American Bahi'is are completing their David, the Christian Cross, the ancient
House of Worship on Lake Michigan, near (true) Swastika.
Chicago, in the Village of Wilmette. Over With this statement we enclose a copy of
each of its nine entrances is inscribed a text an illustrated brochure which deals more
defining a particular approach to the spirit- fully with the design and function of the
ual reality common to mankind. These texts BahVi House of Worship. It is our hope that
are :- this solution of the serious problem of a
common worship of the God of all mankind
"The earth is but one country; and -the very heart of world order and peace
mankind its citizens. -may be helpful to United Nations.
"The best beloved of all things in My
sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom Faithfully yours,
if thou desirest Me. B ~ d INTERNATIONAL
f COMMUNITY
"My love is My stronghold; he that By: Horace Holley
entereth therein is safe and secure. Secretary
REPORT OF B A M f ACTIVITIES IN RELATION
TO THE UNITED NATIONS

T H E following outline of Baha'i partici- for Non-Governmental Organizations which
pation in United Nations Conferences has was held at the University of Kansas. The
been taken largely from material prepared delegates at this Conference were Paul Har-
by the United Nations Committee. Mrs. ris and Bertha H. Campbell. Mrs. Sarah
Mildred R. Mottahedeh has been the ac- Harris was an observer. The assistance and
credited BahCi International Observer. remarks of our delegates were warmly ap-
preciated, as we heard from some of the of-
ficials at the Conference.
In 1949 the Third International Confer-
An International Conference o f Interna- ence of International Non-Governmental
tional Non-Governmental Organizations Organizations was held at Lake Success,
was held at the Palais des Nations in Ge- N.Y., April 4-9. The noteworthy feature of
neva, Switzerland, on May 17-21, 1948. The this Conference was the unusual character
Bahi'i delegates to this Conference were of the Bahi'i delegation. The delegates were
Ugo R. Giachery, Charles Mason Remey Hilda Yen Male, a Chinese, Amin Banbni,
and Mildred R. Mottahedeh. It was the first a Persian, Matthew Bullock, an American
appearance of the Bahi'i International Com- Negro, Emeric Sala, a European by birth
munity working in conjunction with the and now a Canadian citizen, and Mildred
other International Non-Governmental Or- R. Mottahedeh, an American. This was the
ganizations who had accredited Observers most international of all the delegations and
to United Nations. Following are brief ex- represented five continents.
cerpts from the Report made by the Bahi'i At this Conference a special Committee
delegates: was set up by a resolution of the Conference
"So far as we could ascertain our organi- to call National meetings of Non-Govern-
zation represented more countries than any mental Organi~~ations in all the member
other organizations there present. It was of countries of the United Nations. Mildred R.
course a very happy moment for us when Mottahedeh was made a member of this
different organizations got up and stated Committee.
their qualifications for the three offices on In 1949 the BahL'i United Nations Com-
the Interim Committee. We knew that we mittee decided to acquaint the official dele-
were not well known in the Congress and gates to the General Assembly and the per-
that the chances of our being elected were manent delegates to the United Nations with
rather slim, however, we felt it advisable to the BahCi principles. A prayer was printed
take this opportunity to state our qualifica- and sent to the delegates of the General As-
tions. This was done by Dr. Giachery who sembly Meeting at Lake Success and a
rose and said that the B a h z International warm acknowledgment was received from
Community represented ninety-one coun- the Honorable Warren Austin, Chief of the
tries-nine National Assemblies-all races, United States Delegation to the United
all nationalities, all confessions and all Nations. Copies of the BahL'i leaflets on
ages." "Pattern for Future Society" and "Industrial
The BahL'i delegation made many friends Justice" were mailed all the permanent dele-
at this Conference and laid the groundwork gates of the United Nations.
for future relations with these delegates.
During 1948 the United Nations Com- On June 27-28, 1949, a European Re-
mittee made many friends at the United Na- gional Conference of Non-Governmental
tions Headquarters, Lake Success, and in- Organizations was called in Geneva, Switz-
vited some of them to a series of fire-side erland, to which we sent Amin B a n h i as a
meetings at which our beliefs and principles delegate. During this Conference, Mr. Ba-
were explained. n6ni had the opportunity to present the
In 1949 the BahL'is were invited to send work which is being done by Bah6'i sum-
delegates to the State Conference of Kansas mer schools in the field of human rights.
602 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

Regional Conference of United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations,
Yildiz Palace, Istanbul, April 9-13, 1951.

A United Nations Regional Conference The Conference approved Bahb'i recom-
of Non-Governmental Organizations, held mendations expressed in these papers, for
in Santiago, Chile, in October, 1949, af- example, on the need of establishing a more
forded the first opportunity enjoyed by universal consciousness, and the need to
Latin American Bahb'is to participate in eliminate prejudices rooted in the emotional,
United Nations activities. irrational nature, in order to make possible
From the report prepared by the BahPi the attainment of United Nations aims.
delegate, it appears that the BahPis of Through this participation the ground
Chile had received a direct invitation to take was prepared for helpful permanent coop-
part. The local Assemblies of Santiago, eration with United Nations on the part of
Valparaiso and Viiia del Mar each selected Latin American BahL'is.
one representative. Mr. Hugo Arteagabeatia
of Valparaiso served as delegate and Miss In October, 1949, a Regional Conference
Ema Cabezas of Viiia del Mar and Mrs. of Non-Governmental Organizations was
Julia de Jiminez of Santiago as observers. held in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Bah6'i
These appointments were accepted by the delegates at this Conference were Seiiora
Bahi'i International Community and re- Carola Escofet and Seiior Acosta, Uruguay,
ported to the United Nations Department of Sefior Esteban Canales, Chile, Edmund J.
Public Information through the BahL'i Miessler and Muriel Miessler, Brazil. Two
United Nations Committee. of the recommendations offered by the
To make their contribution as effective as Bahi'i delegates at this Conference were:
possible, the BahA'i representatives prepared "(1) That there be established in each
papers on two items of the agenda, that country, and if possible in each city a per-
concerning work of non-governmental or- manent office of the UNO in which all of
ganizations for United Nations through the Non-Governmental Organizations would
press, radio and visual material, and that participate and collaborate. The BahPi In-
concerning their work in the field of educa- ternational Community, which is repre-
tion. sented in all countries, offers to collaborate
T H E BAHA'I FAITH AND UNITED NATIONS 603

Bahi'i Delegates to United Nations International Conference of
Non-Governmental Organizations, held at Lake Success, New York,
April 4-9, 1949. L e f t to right: Amin Banhi, Mrs. Mildred R.
Mottahedeh, Miss Hilda Yen, Matthew Bullock.

in this respect to assist in the great work of des Nations and approximately two hundred
the UNO. delegates represented one hundred and three
"(2) That the goals and objects of the organizations. Only three organizations were
UNO be given to children giving them a represented by the full quota of five allowed
universal conscience through means of pic- to each organization and the Bahi'i Inter-
tures, (telling the stories and adventures of national community was among these three.
the UNO) in magazines, etc., to prepare the The fact that we had a complete delegation
new generations for this so necessary uni- enabled us to participate in the work of all
versal consciousness for the establishment of five committees. The members of our dele-
permanent peace and unity." gation were Bishop Brown (United States),
In 1950 another State Conference of Ugo R. Giachery (Italy), Rafi Y. Motta-
Non-Governmental Organizations was held hedeh (United States), Abbas Bagdadi
(Switzerland), and Mildred R. Mottahedeh
at the University of Kansas and three Bahi'i
(Bahi'i International Observer). We
delegates were sent: Mr. and Mrs. L. Paul elected Ugo R. Giachery as chairman and
Harris and Mrs. Esther Klein Cochran. Mildred R. Mottahedeh as secretary of our
delegation.
The Fourth International Conference of resolution was drawn up by our
International Non-Governmental Organiza- ~ ~ delegation
h ~ andi this resolution was
ti0ns was called in Geneva, Switzerland, On adopted and presented to the plenary ses-
June 26-28, 1950. The following excerpts sion where it was warmly received. It reads
are taken from the report of the delegates: as follows: 'In order to surmount the wave
"The conference was held at the Palais of pessimism which threatens the princi-
604 THE B A H A ' I WORLD

ples of the United Nations, the NGOs un- secretary and the address of the headquar-
dertake to employ all their resources to cre- ters. Mrs. Taimurtash said that it was a pity
ate and intensify all over the world a moral this was a meeting of non-governmental or-
atmosphere favourable to the acceptance of ganizations and she could not therefore give
these principles.' . . . the official government attitude on the
"Committee 5 on Middle East and Af- BahL'is.
rica: Abbas Bagdadi. This committee had "At this point the secretary, Mr. Law-
met briefly and-adjourned after hearing a rence of the World Assembly of Youth,
report of the Iranian Association for the asked about the BahB'i organization and
UN on their seminar on 'Teaching on the said he had never heard of it. Mrs. Taimur-
United Nations which had been given in tash stated that the BahB'i Faith was merely
Teheran this year. The report was given in a sect of Islkm, to which Mrs. Mottahedeh
French, which they do not understand, and quickly responded, 'I will not allow this
was not translated into English as is cus- statement to stand on the record,' and pro-
tomary in these conferences. ceeded to give a brief exposition of the
"The committee re-convened the next Faith. She added that the principles of the
day and by this time Mrs. Mottahedeh had BahB'i Faith were more nearly identical with
finished her work on the Asian committee the principles of the UN than those of any
and joined Abbas Bagdadi. She asked that other organization. The Chairman remarked
Mrs. Taimurtash, the Vice Chairman (and that it seemed to him this was a private
daughter of the former Prime Minister of quarrel between two organizations, b i t Mrs.
Irkn) give the translation of the report in Mottahedeh assured him it was not, but was
English. She did so and mentioned the suc- a matter of principle.
cessful activities of the United Nations As- "At first the members of the committee
sociation of which the Shah is the Honorary were annoyed and impatient at what seemed
President and told of the establishment of to be a private quarrel but they soon began
the Seminar. The goal of this organization is to grasp that there was more to the matter
to serve the peace and various means were than appeared on the surface and the ma-
used to achieve its purpose, such as films, jority rushed to the support of the BahL'i
pamphlets, placards, lectures, radio, etc. delegation. When Mrs. Mottahedeh insisted
Five countries were invited to attend the on the resolution being put to a vote Mrs.
Seminar, among them India, Afghanistkn Taimurtash grew angry and said the Iranian
and 'IrBq, and various types of were Government does not recognize the Bahd'is
present. Mrs. Mottahedeh asked why the in- and Mrs. Mottahedeh replied that it did not
vitation had not been extended to the change the fact of their existence and that
BahB'is who have a membership in Iran they had existed for nearly a century and
numbering approximately one million and added that the UN had recognized them as
constituting the largest minority there. Mrs. was witnessed by our participation in this
Taimurtash said that the invitation was ex- conference.
tended through the radio and press and that, "The discussion of this matter occupied
if the Bahk'is were not present, it was not over an hour. The Chairman said that the
the fault of those in charge. She further matter now seemed to him something other
said that there are only three minorities in than a private difference and he thought the
frhn: the Jews, the Zoroastrians, and the Bahi'is were right. He suggested strengthen-
Christians (Armenians and Nestorians) and ing the resolution even further to say that
that frhn treats her minorities well and they all non-governmental organizations accred-
are all represented in Parliament. 'We do ited to the UN should be specifically invited
not consider the BahB'is a minority,' she to all national regional UN conferences.
The Chairman's amendment and our orig-
said, 'but look upon them just as ourselves.'
inal resolution were accepted by a strong
Mrs. Mottahedeh responded that an invita- majority vote.
tion should have been sent to all UN Non- "When the problems of Africa were pre-
Governmental Organizations and again sented for discussion, Mr. Lawrence (a
asked why the BahB'is were not invited. Mrs. West African and the secretary of our com-
Taimurtash said, 'There are no BahB'is in mittee) said that he was very sorry to report
Irkn.' Mrs. Mottahedeh offered to furnish that in Africa the minorities are in a very
her with the names of the chairman and the bad state. He cited no examples in order not
to touch upon political problems but wished Conference, as Bahi'i observers: Mr. Sami
only to mention that the minorities there are Doktoroglu and Miss Ulgan Inan, of Tur-
treated badly. He therefore is in full agree- key, and Mrs. Farakhou Samadea, of f r h .
ment with, and ready to support, the resolu- "At 10:30 A.M., the session was opened
tion of the Bahi'is about discrimination." by His Excellency, the Governor (Vali) of
At these meetings our BahL'i training Istanbul. He welcomed the first Regional
shines out and enables us to win many Non-Governmental Organizations Confer-
friends. ence being held at Istanbul, and assured
"At the Geneva conference this training them of his best wishes for its success. Then
was deeply evident. Numerous people spoke Prof. Gokdogan of the Teknik University of
to us of the outstanding work done by our Istanbul was elected Chairman, upon a sug-
delegation in each committee. The truth of gestion made by Mr. Tewfik Khabil, dele-
the matter is that most of the constructive gate of the Arab Union of Egypt, and sec-
work that was done came from our delega- onded by an Israelite delegate.
tion and this was widely acknowledged. The "Mr. R. Bokhari, the Director of the
fact that we tried to be just, harmonious, United Nations Department of Public In-
constructive, non-political and showed a formation Center of Cairo, Egypt, was
genuine appreciation of others' efforts soon elected Secretary. About Vice-Chairman, as
came to be recognized. We also were far there was no suggestion made, Mr. Mecdi
better prepared in discussion and conference Inan, the Bahi'i Delegate of T ~ ~ r k e pro-
y,
technique than the large majority of the posed that Mrs. Mottahedeh be the Vice-
delegates and this is, of course, due to our Chairman and it was seconded and she was
BahB'i training in committee and convention consequently elected.
work." "Upon the opening of the first Commit-
In 1950 the Nobel Prize was conferred tee's session, Miss Sureyya Aga-Oglu, of the
upon Dr. Ralph J. Bunche for the notable University Women's League and a Turkish
work he did in mediating the questions in lawyer, asked the Chairman if some infor-
Israel. On this occasion the Bahi'is of Oslo mation would be given about the Bahb'i
presented him with a congratulatory tele- Community, as she did not know anything
gram from the National Spiritual Assembly about it, while she could see that Commu-
of the Bahi'is of the United States and re- nity represented. Mr. R. Mottahedeh made
ceived a very warm response from him. In a very short yet sound presentation of the
1950 Mr. William B. de Forge was ap- Faith and its principles, and the statement
pointed National Observer to the United was satisfactory. Bahi'i delegates took their
Nations for the National Spiritual Assembly actual part in the work of the two Commit-
of the BahB'is of the United States. tees and tried to display tact and discretion
In 1950 a Conference of International that attracted all minds and hearts to them.
Non-Governmental Organizations interested The tact was more striking when Mrs. Mot-
in non-scholastic teaching about the United tahedeh sincerely and thankfully declined
Nations met at Lake Success. Dr. David when suggestions were made to have her
Ruhe represented the Bahi'i International elected either as the Chairman or the Vice-
community. Chairman of Committee No. 2, drawing at-
tention to the fact that the two officers
The year 1951 was a particularly active should preferably be elected from among
one, in which four important Regional Con- the delegations of the Regional countries.
ferences were called. The first of the series "As the first session of the two Commit-
took place in Istanbul, Turkey, April 9-13, tees was over, delegates and observers
and the following are excerpts from the re- of the Non-Governmental Organizations
port of the delegates: rushed to inquire about the Bahb'i Faith,
"The delegation was as follows: Mrs. Rafi and a good dissemination of pamphlets was
Mottahedeh, International Bahi'i Delegate; made. In this circumstance, the Bahb'i dele-
Mr. Rafi Mottahedeh, BahB'i Delegate of gates felt greatly indebted to the valuable
frhn; Mr. Kamil Abbas, of 'IrLq; Mr. Mo- contributions of the National Spiritual As-
hamed Mustafa Soliman, of Egypt and SG- sembly of the Bahb'is of 'IrAq for having
din; Mr. Mecdi Inan, of Turkey. supplied the delegation with a big quantity
"The Bahi'i Delegation invited the fol- of pamphlets. As a matter of fact, the mem-
lowing Bahb'is to sit in and listen to the bers of the Bahb'i delegation were occupied
- ---

THE BAHA'I WORLD

Bahi'i Representatives and Observers at United Nations
Non-Governmental Organizations Regional Conference for the
Middle East, held in Istanbul, Turkey, April 9-13, 1951,
with Dr. Faryar, Director of UN Information Center
in Tihrin (extreme right). Photograph taken in
front of the Yildiz Palace.
Left to right: Mecdi Inan, Bahb'i delegate from Turkey;
Kamil Abbas, Bahi'i delegate from 'IrBq; Sami Doktoroglu,
Bahi'i observer from Turkey; Rafi Mottahedeh, Bahi'i representing
fib; Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh, Bahi'i International Community
delegate and observer; Farakhou Samadea, observer from frkn;
Mohamed Mustafa Soleiman, Bahi'i delegate from Egypt and Sfidln;
Dr. Faryar, Tihrin; Ulgan Inan, BahL'i observer from Turkey.
T H E BAHA'I F A I T H AN D UNITED NATIONS 607

for the entire thirty-minute period with ex- side of Istanbul-Gazi-Anteb and Adana-
plaining facts about the Faith. It was not after they had seen the favorable press.
only during this period, but throughout the "Of historic significance is the fact that
Conference that the BahP'is were steadily the Bahl'i Delegation was officially received
besieged by all the reporters of all the lead- at the reception given by the Governor of
ing newspapers, for information about the Istanbul for the assembled delegates. Also,
Faith. that the Conference should have been held
"On April 12, the delegation invited Mr. at the Palace of Sultan 'Abdu'l-Hamid, the
Daniel Auster, the delegate of the UN As- arch-enemy of the Faith; and the Faith men-
sociation of Israel, who is also the Mayor of tioned so frequently at the Palace!
Jerusalem, to lunch at the Park Hotel. It "It is also of significance that a National
was a very pleasant occasion and we were Committee of Non-Governmental Organiza-
especially gratified to hear the many compli- tions of Turkey was called for a meeting
mentary remarks about how much the by Prof. Gokdogan, the Chairman of the
Bahi'is are contributing to the beauty of Conference. In that meeting, the Chairman
Israel, and the high ideals of the Bahl'is. announced that the Bahl'i Community of
The Mayor was especially pleased at our in- Turkey is officially recognized by the De-
viting him, because of the tension created partment of Public Information of United
by the presence of both Jews and Arabs at Nations and it was actually listed among the
this Conference. The Jews felt that they Non-Governmental Organizations of Tur-
were more or less standing alone and were key, and invited to work with the other
delighted to find Bahl'i delegates so N.G.O.'s."
friendly, especially since we had Arabs
among us. The second of the series of Regional Con-
"To return to the report of the commit- ferences was held on the Island of Bali, in
tee work, the resolutions were drafted on Den Passar, July 29 to August 3, 1951. Of
April 12 and it can honestly be said that the BahB'i delegates appointed, Mr. Stanley
the Bah2is contributed greatly to the work Bolton, Jr., of Australia and New Zealand,
of these committees, which, in fact, would Mr. B. Sohaili of PakistLn, and Capt. H.
have produced little results without the Buys of Indonesia were the only delegates
Bahl'i delegates. They acted as a coordi- able to attend. Mrs. Shirin Fozdar who was
nating point between all factions and were representing an Indian organization assisted
able by useful resolutions, to assist the fu- the Bahi'i delegation greatly through the
ture work. In both committees, it could be Conference. The following excerpts are
said that the bulk of the resolutions were from their report:
the result of Bahi'i suggestions. "During the course of the meeting, the
"Generally, there was a wide publicity Committee was interviewed by a reporter
given to the Faith by the press, and BahB'i from the leading newspaper, which resulted
delegates were frequently besieged by the in an article about the Faith appearing in
reporters. For several days, all the UN Con- the July 24 issue of the publication A.I.D.
ference news items mentioned the Faith. This publicity was the first secured for the
"The result was that finally Cumhuriyet Faith in Indonesia. The reporter also wrote
(Republic), one of the leading papers in about the Faith for a news agency in Dja-
Turkey, wondered in its edition of April 13, karta and it is possible that the story may
as to such a comparatively small minority in have been picked up by other newspapers.
the U.S.A. playing a leading part in the "It is certain that everyone concerned
Conference work. [Other papers which car- with the Conference has at least heard the
ried articles concerning Bahi'i participation word Bah& and a majority know a little of
principles, history and aims of the Faith.
in the Conference were Hiirriyet (April 9),
"It was felt that the Bahi'i delegates con-
Yeni Sabah (April lo), and La Ripublique tributed much to the Conference; made val-
(April 13) .] uable contacts with the Indonesian Officials
"We have no doubt that this publicity will present, and succeeded in carrying the Mes-
have a resounding effect on the teaching sage to all those with whom we came in
work of the Turkish Bahi'i Community. touch. We feel certain that the contribu-
Letters and telegrams of congratulations tions of the Bahi'i delegation will lend
were received from the Turkish Bahl'is out- weight not only to the activities of the BahA'i
608 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

International Community, but also will mendation in conjunction with the later
stimulate BahL'i activity here in Indonesia it- ones.
self, which is at present one of the outposts "In the plenary session in the afternoon
of the Faith." reports were given of the different agencies
of the UN. Dr. Luis Gabuardi of the Cham-
The third of these Regional Conferences ber of Commerce asked about the Faith,
was held in Managua, Nicaragua, August stating that he had been impressed by the
4-1 1, 1951. The delegatets were: Sra. Raquel manner in which the BahL'i Delegation had
Francois de Constante, from Panami; Julio
C. Hernandez, from 'Nicaragua; Artemus
Lamb, from Costa Rica.
The following excerpts are from the re-
port of the delegates to this Conference:
"Press Activities. Owing to the unex-
pected postponement of t h e Conference
from the 4th to the 6th of August, the Dele-
gation took advantage of the opportunity to
visit the Directors of the two most liberal
newspapers, La Flecha and La Noticia, as
well as the directors of the newspapers of
the Student Federation who are good
friends of the BahL'is. As a result of these
efforts news of the arrival of the BahB'i
Delegation appeared in the three papers,
one with a photograph on the front page;
unfortunately, only La Razon of the Student
Federation published statements on the
Teachings.
'The Delegation met every morning to Representatives of the Bahb'i International
pray. On the next day all went to their re- Community at the Regional Conference of
spective committees. Sra. Constante con- Non-Governmental Organizations of United
tinued attracting attention, especially for Nations held in Managua, Nicaragua,
being the only woman taking active part in August 4-11, 1951.
the discussions. All the newspapers pub- Left to right: Artemus Lamb (Costa Rica),
lished accounts of the main events of the Sra. Raquel Fran~oisde Constante
Conference and the name of the BahB'i (Panama) and Julio C. Hernandez (Nica-
Delegation figured in almost all of them, al- ragua).
though generally the names of known na-
tional figures were those that were played
up visibly. acted and presented their recommendations
"Dr. Fusoni [Director of the UN Depart- as well as the universal and 'complete'
ment of Public Information] lunched with manner which the Bahi'i Community had
the Delegation. He listened with deep inter- worked in other Conferences judging from
est to explanations of the Faith and asked the former reports. This is another proof of
many questions, stating that he had often the necessity of always proceeding with care
heard of the Faith but knew practically and wisdom, for what we are doing is build-
nothing of it. He seemed deeply moved by ing a permanent record of our capacity by
our cooperation and promised to see the which thousands of people are going to
Bahi'is in other places, such as Panama and judge the Faith.
Mexico. "During the final days many conversa-
"In this session Sra. Constante presented tions were held with the leaders and most
a number of recommendations which the active delegates, about both the work of the
BahB'i Delegation had prepared for the bet- United Nations and the Bahb'i Faith, and
ter functioning of future conferences and we believe that we could say in all truth
which were well received. Also, the Teach- that this Conference has opened a new
ing Committee approved the recommenda- stage of recognition and of prestige for the
tion based upon the original BahB'i recom- Faith in this territory."
T H E BAHA'I FAITH AND UNITED NATIONS 609

On October 29-November 2, 1951, a Without exception we have heard nothing
Regional Conference of Non-Governmental but praise for the work that all Bahi'i dele-
Organizations was called in Paris and the gates have done throughout the world.
Bahi'i International Community sent four- The work of the Bahi'i United Nations
teen delegates from ten different countries: Committee started very modestly but has
Jean Deleuran, Tove Deleuran, Denmark; grown to large proportions which have re-
Dorothy Ferraby, John Ferraby, British percussions in all parts of the BahB'i world.
Isles; Mme. Ferrand, France; Ugo R. Gia- We are gradually winning respect in interna-
chery, Italy; Louis Henuzet, Belgium; Li tional circles for the principles of the Faith
Hoffman, Holland; Anita Ioas, International and the character of its followers.
Delegate; Claude Levy, Luxembourg; Ake
Norgren, Sweden; Jean Sevin, France; Rita
Van Sombeek, Holland; Gerd Strand, Nor-
way. During the two years 1952-1954 several
The following excerpt is taken from their conferences were held in different parts of
report: the world with very interesting results.
"The Bah2i delegation is highly gratified The Fifth Znternation~il Conference of
to report that Ugo Giachery was nominated Non-Governmental Organizations was held
by the Department of Public Information at the United Nations Headquarters, Octo-
for Chairman of Committee 111 on 'Special ber 6-10, 1952. Our delegates were: Dr.
Problems of United Nations Information in Firuz Kazemzadeh, Mrs. Hilda Yen Male,
Europe,' and was accepted by the delegates Mrs. Mildred R. Mottahedeh, Mr. Albert
without dissent. As Chairman of one of the Rakovsky, Mr. Manuel Vera; our observers
four Committees, he became ex oflicio a were Mr. William de Forge and Mrs. Hedda
member of the Steering Committee for the Rakovsky.
Conference. As such, he was presented to The Vice-Chairman of Working Commit-
the President of the French Republic, Mon- tee No. 1 was our BahB'i representative,
sieur Auriol, and also attended a lunch Mrs. Hilda Yen Male. It is of interest to
given by the Cercle de 1'Americain Latin. quote the following from the report of this
This appointment was felt both to give pub- Committee:
licity to the Faith and to enhance its pres- "Something for the Bah2is to look forward
tige in the eyes of the delegates." to is a world history, to be written from the
Since the close of the Conference, we world point of view, called ' A C~ilturaland
have received clippings of the publicity Scientific History of Mankind.' This world
which the delegates received on their return history is to be in six volumes, to be written
to their native countries. by an international group of eminent au-
BahB'i participation in these Conferences thorities on the subjects to be covered in
has brought certain facts to the attention this history. It is roughly estimated that this
of the delegates of the other Non-Govern- world history will be completed sometime
mental Organizations and to the section between 1957 ancl 1962. On disclosing this
of Non-Governmental Organizations in item of information by Mr. Carnes, the
the United Nations. Wherever a Conference Right Reverend Monsignor Donald A. Mac-
is called, we usually have well-qualified lean, delegate from the World Federation of
native Bahi'is to participate in them. This Catholic Universities, attacked the world
is most unusual, since many of even the history for omitting God. Mr. Carnes an-
largest of the Non-Governmental Organiza- swered by quoting Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt
tions whose memberships run into the mil- when she answered attacks on the United
lions send delegates mostly from Western Nations as follows: 'The United Nations is
Europe and the United States. Our delega- doing the work of God without mentioning
tions have been a living proof of the wide Him only.' Miss Ruth F. Woodsmall, dele-
spread of our world membership. Our dele- gate from the International Alliance of
gates have also been conspicuous by the Women, said that it depends upon the defi-
training they have received in consultation nition of the word 'culture' whether or not
in their own community affairs. They have to include religion in defining culture. Mrs.
been able to apply this training in a con- Hilda Yen Male then attempted to strike a
structive way that has given real assistance conciliatory note by saying that if the defini-
to the progress of all these Conferences. tion did not include religion in a cultural
610 T H E B A H A 'I W O R L D

and scientific history of mankind, the peo- Our delegate to Working Party No. 3 was
ples of the world still needed a history book Mrs. Mildred R. Mottahedeh. It would be of
written from a world point of view impar- general interest to note the following from
tially to help peoples to understand and ap- her report:
preciate one another's cultures, instead of "The BahB'i delegate proposed the follow-
being written from a partial national point ing recommendation: 'Non-Governmental
of view to perpetuate animosity of the peo- Organizations should try to plan some of
ples of the nations against one another; and their conferences in trust and non-self-gov-
if the definition should include religion, the erning territories.' Our delegate gave the ex-
Bahb'is would welcome it all the more. The ample of our Jubilee Conference which will
religious history of the world should start be held in Kampala.
right from the beginning and follow through "The recommendation was amended to read
to the very latest religion, which is the as follows: 'Non-Governmental Organiza-
Bahi'i World Faith, impartially and truth- tions should try to plan some of their
fully, without the feeling of 'religious na- conferences in trust and non-self-governing
tionalism,' for it would be discovered that territories, being sure that there is a firm
all religions, stripped of their man-made control of the conference in order not to
dogma and creed, are one, because truth is have it used as a political spring-board.' The
one. Just as there should be internationalism recommendation was accepted more or less
in the political, economic, and social realm, in this form. It is an interesting commentary
so there should be 'religious international- that the amendment did not occur to the
ism.' Therefore, the BahB'i International mind of the Bahb'i delegate making the
Community wanted to express to Mr. original recommendation because Bahb'is
Carnes of UNESCO their endorsement of never have to concern themselves with polit-
the writing of this Cultural and Scientific ical questions."
History of Mankind." The Bah6'i delegate on Working Party
The question of Human Rights was ex- No. 4 was Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh. The fol-
tensivelf discussed at this committee also, lowing is quoted from his report:
and our delegate called attention to the tre- "The Bahb'i delegate pointed out that one
mendous amount of work yet to be done in should not lose sight of the forest behind in-
this field. The Genocide Convention came dividual trees, and that it was not enough to
within the scope of the discussion on Human promise people technical assistance or more
Rights. Our delegate, Mrs. Male, drafted a food in order to win their support. What is
recommendation, which was proposed and needed is a statement of the ideology under-
amended by Mr. Barnett Janner, M.P., dele- lying the United Nations. A movement is
gate from the Coordinating Board of Jewish strong only if its ideas and actions are in
Organizations, and it was adopted by ma- tune with the basic forces which shape his-
jority vote. tory. There, it is necessary to demons&ate to
The resolution reads as follows: the masses that the UN is an expression of
"ln view of the lack of information and the such forces and not merely a political or-
misinformation on much of the work of the ganization created by a number of states for
United Nations, especially the Convention their own special purposes.
on Genocide, it is recommended that inter- "The statement of the BahL'i delegate was
national Non-Governmental Organizations warmly supported by Miss Lie (Interna-
urge their national branches to make further tional Association of Business and Profes-
effort to make known as widely as possible sional Women, Norway), Mr. McNeill, and
the texts of United Nations Conventions, Dr. Leitner. The Working Party expressed
such as the Convention on Genocide and the the desire that a section on ideology be in-
Convention on Refugees, etc." cluded in its final report to the plenary ses-
In Working Committee No. 2, our dele- sion.
gate, Mr. Manuel Vera, who was the only "The Chairman of the Working Party, Dr.
Latin American delegate during most of the Leitner, asked the Bahb'i delegate to par-
Conference, was able to be extremely useful ticipate in the drafting of the report and to
in the discussion of technical assistance. He write the section on ideology. The Bahb'i
is working in the Point 4 Program in Peru. delegate's draft was unanimously approved
His remarks were received with much ap- at the last session of the Working Party and
preciation. incorporated into the text of its final report.
BahL'i Delegates at the Fourth United Nations International Non-Governmental
Organizations Conference, held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva,
Switzerland, June 26-28, 1950.
Right to left: Dr. Ugo R. Giachery, Mrs. Bishop Brown (observer),
Mrs. Mildred R. Mottahedeh, Rafi Mottahedeh, Abbas Bagdadi.

"This proposal was accepted and brought can be accomplished only by studying the
before the plenary session of the Confer- spiritual life of each race, considering that
ence. its civilization and progress have been due
"It can be said that the contribution of the to the grade of ethics generated by the great
BahL'i delegates was positive in that it raised spiritual educators of each people. It is nec-
the whole discussion to a higher level, where essary to teach them to venerate and love
it was vossible to introduce some of the each one of them equally so that no preju-
Bah6'i principles in a form acceptable to dice may exist among the peoples and that
all." unity of conscience, which alone can bring
From March 26-31, 1952, the UN Re- success to the efforts of the great entity of
the United Nations in freeing the world
gional Conference of Non-Governmental
from the horrors of war, may be established.
Organizations was held in La Paz, Bolivia.
That all problems be considered with a uni-
Our delegates were Mr. Arturo Cuellar
versal, not a nationalistic outlook."
Echazu. Mrs. Yvonne de Cuellar, Mrs.
Dorothy Campbell. It should be borne in mind that all these
It would be interesting here to give some Bahgi delegates who took part in these Con-
of the resolutions which our delegates pre- ferences in various parts of the world were
sented at this conference: complete novices. Yet in every case their
"In order that humanity may arrive at a training in consultation in BahVi community
universal understanding, it is necessary to life enabled them to take part in the discus-
teach adults, as well as the new generations, sions in such a way as to assist the purpose
how to develop a universal mind, and that of the Conference. All were extremely care-
612 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

ful not to take any part in politics and their international Non-Governmental Organiza-
impartial attitude has been noticed at all of tions that have been able to send delegates
these Conferences. who were native to the region where the
Conference was being held. The person at
In April, 1952, a Conference o f Non- the UN immediately in charge of these Con-
Governmental Organizations was held in ferences, said "The Bahi'is have been pres-
Quito, Ecuador. Our delegates were Mrs. ent at all the Latin American Conferences
Roxana Gallegos and Mr. Hernan Pasquel. and have usually been represented by native
Our delegates had numerous opportunities people of the region. The Bahi'i delegates
to make constructive contributions during are always cooperative and constructive and
the meetings of the Working Committees their efforts definitely contribute to the suc-
and the resolutions which they presented cess of our Latin American Conferences."
were approved during the final plenary ses- This comment applies not only to the Con-
sion. Through this Conference many Latin ferences held in Latin America, but it is true
Americans interested in international affairs, of the Bahi'i participation in these Non-
became acquainted with the principles of the Governmenla1 Conferences wherever they
Bahi'i Faith. have been held in the world.
Here it would be appropriate to say that
we have heard from United Nations person- Perhaps the most interesting Regional
nel that ours has been one of the very few Conference of all is the one that was held

Eah2i Delegation ( l e f t ) at Fifth Conference of International Non-Governmental
Organizations on United Nations Information, held in New York
City, October 6-18, 1952.
Fourth World Congress for World Federal Government, held in
Rome, Italy, April 2-9, 1951.
The three BahL'i representatives appear in second row, far left (left t o right) :
Prof. Mario Fiorentini, Dr. Ugo R. Giachery, Prof. Alessandro Bausani.

October 24-31, 1952, in the Philippines. At reported. The BahL'is of Rio de Janeiro had
this conference our delegates were: Mr. been cooperating since 1950 with the Or-
S. H. Koreshi, representing the National ganization of Non-Governmental Organiza-
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of India, tions of Brazil. The quality of their partici-
Pkkistkn, and Burma; Mr. S. P. Bolton, Jr., pation was such that in 1953 the Bahk'i
representing the National Spiritual Assem- Community of Rio de Janeiro was elected
bly of the Bahi'is of Australia and New to the National Council.
Zealand; Dr. David M. Earl, Headquarters In 1952 and 1953 the BahB'is were ably
Delegate, BahL'i International Community; represented at the United Nations Confer-
and Mr. K. H. Paymh, representing the ences for Non-Governmental Organizations
BahVis of Indonesia. at the University of Kansas.
Quoted from the report presented by the A Regional Conference of European
delegates is the following excerpt: Non-Governmental Organizations was con-
"The BahL'i Delegation was the largest sin- vened in September, 1953, in Geneva, Swit-
gle delegation at the Conference, and prob- zerland. The BahL'i International Com-
ably influenced the course of the discussion munity was ably represented by Dr. Ugo R.
more than any other. It would be no exag- Oiachery. Dr. Giachery is a veteran of many
geration to state that our delegation was the of these Conferences and is well known and
leading delegation. The word Bahi'i became highly respected by the other delegates. Miss
a by-word of the Conference and was men-
Elsa Steinmetz acted as observer.
tioned on many occasions in committee and
plenary sessions and also by the speaker of In November, 1953, a special Conference
the House of Representatives, Mr. Eulogio of Non-Governmental Organizations on
Perez, in his closing remarks." United Natiolns Inforrnatiorz was convened
at the United Nations Headquarters in New
In other parts of the world, increased York. The BahL'i International Community
Bah2i activity in IJnited Nations affairs was was represented by Mr. William de Forge.
Dr. David Earl, Headquarters Delegate of the BahPL'i International Community, being
presented to President Quirino of the Republic of the Philippines at reception
given for delegates to the Non-Governmental Organizations Conference of
United Nations, Manila, October 24, 1952.

Non-Governmental Organizations Conference on Technical Assistance
held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, March 29, 1954.
Mrs. Mildred R. Mottahedeh, representative of the
Bah6'i International Community, is seated third from right.
T H E BAHA'I FAITH AND UNITED NATIONS 615

In March, 1954, a Non-Governmental the United Nations issued a letter to Mrs.
Organizations Conference on Technical As- Mottahedeh describing the plan, in order to
sistance was held at the United Nations facilitate her work.
Headquarters in New York. Each Organiza- It would here be interesting to describe
tion was permitted only one delegate, and the nature of this project. The suggestion
Mrs. Mildred R. Mottahedeh represented was that, under the spoilsorship of the
the Bah6'i International Community. During United Nations Technical Assistance Board,
the course of this conference our delegate a series of exhibitions be held at the most
made some suggestions regarding the pub- important trade fairs throughout the world.
licizing of the United Nations Technical As- These exhibitions were to collsist of photo-
sistance Program and the marketing of graphs showing the progress in the fields of
handicrafts from the underdeveloped coun- health, education, agriculture, nutrition,
tries. The suggestions were most enthusiasti- transportation and development of resources
cally received by the Technical Assistance and handicrafts in the underdeveloped
Department and the general body of dele- countries. In addition to the photographic
gates. Many considered it the only worth- exhibits, actual samples of the products were
while suggestion developed from the Con- to be displayed to acquaint possible buyers
ference. Following the Conference our dele- with new potential sources of raw and fin-
gate was invited by the United Nations to ished materials. Films on the work done in
draw up a definite plan containing the sug- the developing of these underdeveloped
gestions. This plan was submitted to the countries were also to be shown. In this way
heads of various departments at the United the splendid solid accomplishments of the
Nations and all have given their hearty ap- Technical Assistance Department of the
United Nations would become known to
proval.
sizable segments of the world's population
Mrs. Mottahedeh was planning to go to and new markets could be found for the
Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. She products of the underdeveloped countries.
asked the Technical Assistance Board This project was undertaken in line with
whether they would like her to make liaison the Bah6'i policy to do anything in the
with the government officials wherever she powers of the BahL'i International Com-
went, in order to advance the project. This munity to forward the humanitarian work
suggestioil was met with warm approval and of the United Nations.
A P P R E C I A T I O N S O F THE
BAHA'I FAITH
Alphabetical List of Authors
Archduchess Anton of Austria Prof. Dr. V. Lesny
Charles Baudouin Harry Charles Lukach
Late President Eduard Bend Dowager Queen Marie of Rumania
Prof. Norman Bentwich, Hebrew Univer- Alfred W. Martin, Society for Ethical Cul-
sity, Jerusalem ture, New Yovk
Jules Bois Late President Masaryk of Czechoslovakia
Dr. G. A. Borgese Dr. Rokuichiro Masujima, Doyen of Juris-
Princess Marie Antoinette de Broglie Aus- ~rzidenceof Japan
senac George N. Mayhew
Prof. E. G. Browne, M.A., M.B., Cambridge Renwick J. G. Millar
University Prof. Herbert A. Miller, Bryn Mawr College
Luther Burbank The Hon. Lilian Helen Montague, J.P.,
Dr. J. Estlin Carpenter, D.Litt., Manchester D.H.L.
College, Oxford Arthur Moore
Dr. G. W. Carver Angela Morgan
General Renato Piola Caselli Sir A. Ramaswami Mudaliar, K.C.S.I.
Rev. T. K. Cheyne, D.Litt., D.D., Oxford Mrs. Sarojinu Naidu
University, Fellow of British Academy A. L. M. Nicolas
Sir Valentine Chirol Prof. Yone Noguchi
The Christian Cornrnonwealth Rev. Frederick W. Oakes
Rev. K. T. Chung H.R.H. Princess Olga of Yugoslavia
Rt. Hon. The Earl Curzon of Kedleston Sir Flinders Petrie, Archeologist
Prof. James Darmesteter, Ecole des Hautes Prof. Raffaele Pettazoni
Etudes, Paris Prof. Raymond Frank Piper
Dr. Bhagavan Das Prof. Bogdan Popovitch
Rev. J. Tyssul Davis, B.A. Charles H. Prisk
S. Eitrem, Professor, University of Oslo, Dr. Edmund Privat, University o f Geneva
Norway Herbert Putnam, Congressional Library,
Dr. Auguste Forel, University of Zurich Washington, D.C.
Prof. Francesco Gabrieli Eugen Relgis
Dr. Herbert Adams Gibbons Ernest Renan
Sir John Martin Harvey Royal Asiatic Society, Journal o f
Arthur Henderson Prof. Dr. Jan Rypka
Rt. Hon. M. R. Jayakar, Privy Councillor, Viscount Herbert Samuel of Carmel, G.C.B.,
London G.B.E., M.P.
Dr. Henry H. Jessup, D.D. Prof. Benoy Kumar Sarkar, M.A., Ph.D.
Dr. Hewlett Johnson Gmile Schreiber, Publicist
President David Starr Jordan, Stanford Uni- Prof. Hari Prasad Shastri, D.Litt.
versity Col. Raja Jai Prithvi Bahadur Singh, Raja
Prof. Jowett, Oxford University of Bajang (Nepal)
Prof. Dimitry Kazarov, University of Sofia Rev. GriiKth J. Sparham
Miss Helen Keller Sir Ronald Storrs, K.C.M.G., C.B.E.
Prof. Joseph Klausner Ex-Governor William Sulzer
6117
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Shri Purohit Swami Kenneth Walker, F.R.C.S., F.I.C.S.
Leo Tolstoy Dr. Marshall Wingfield, D.D., Litt.D.
Arnold Toynbee, D.Litt. Oxon. Sir Francis Younghusband, K.C.S.I.,
Prof. Arminius VambCry, Hungarian A c ~ d - K.C.I.E.
emy o f Pesth Sir Alfred Zimmern

A woman1 brought me the other day a
Book. I spell it with a capital letter because
it is a glorious Book of love and goodness,
I was deeply moved on reception of your strength and beauty.
letter. She gave it to me because she had learned
Indeed a great light came to me with the I was in -grief and sadness and wanted to
message of Bah2u'llBh and 'Abdu'l-BahB. help. . . . She put it into my hands saying:
It came as all great messages come at an "You seem to live up to His teachings." And
hour of dire grief and inner conflict and dis- when I opened the Book I saw it was the
tress, so the seed sank deeply. word of 'Abdu'l-Bahh, prophet of love and
My youngest daughter finds also great kindness, and of his father the great teacher
strength and comfort in the teachings of of international good-will and understanding
the beloved masters.---- -of a religion which links all creeds.
We pass on the message from mouth to Their writings are a great cry toward
mouth and all those we give it to see a light peace, reaching beyond all limits of fron-
suddenly lighting before them and much tiers, above all dissension about rites and
that was obscure and perplexing becomes dogmas. It is a religion based upon the inner
simple, luminous and full of hope as never spirit of God, upon the great, not-to-be-
before. overcome verity that God is love, meaning
That my open letter was balm to thoae just that. It teaches that all hatreds, in-
suffering for the cause, is indeed a great hap- trigues, suspicions, evil words, all aggressive
piness to me, and I take it as a sign that God patriotism even, are outside the one essential
accepted my humble tribute. law of God, and that special beliefs are but
The occasion given me to be able to ex- surface things whereas the heart that beats
press myself publicly, was also His Work- with divine love knows no tribe nor race.
for indeed it was a chain of circumstances It is a wondrous Message that Bahb'u'llih
of which each link led me unwittingly one and his son 'Abdu'l-Bahi have given us.
step further, till suddenly all was clear be- They have not set it up aggressively, know-
fore my eyes and I understood why it had ing that the germ of eternal truth which
been. lies at its core cannot but take root and
Thus does He lead us finally to our ulti- spread.
mate destiny. There is only one great verity in it: Love,
Some of those of my cas.te wonder at and the mainspring of every energy, tolerance
disapprove my courage to step forward pro- toward each other, desire of understanding
nouncing words not habitual for Crowned each other, knowing each other, helping
Heads to pronounce, but I advance by an each other, forgiving each other.
inner urge I cannot resist. With bowed head It is Christ's Message taken up anew, in
I recognize that I too am but an instrument the same words almost, but adapted to the
in greater Hands and rejoice in the knowl- thousand years and more difference that lies
edge. between the year one and today. No man
Little by little the veil is lifting, grief tore could fail to be better because of this Book.
it in two. And grief was also a step leading I commend it to you all. If ever the name
me ever nearer truth, therefore do I not cry of BahB'u'llih or 'Abdu'l-Bahi comes to
out against grief! your attention, do not put their writings
May you and those beneath your guidance from you. Search out their Books, and let
be blessed and upheld by the sacred strength their glorious, peace-bringing, love-creating
of those gone before you. 1 Miss Martha L. Root.-Editor.
APPRECIATIONS OF T H E BAHA'I FAITH 619

words and lessons sink into your hearts as velop through countless ages with merely
they have into mine. this small goal in view-a few years of
One's busy day may seem too full for man's life on earth? Is it not unthinkable
religion. Or one may have a religion that that this should be the final aim of exist-
satisfies. But the teachings of these gentle, ence? Does a man cease to exist when he
wise and kindly men are compatible with all leaves his body? If his life comes to an end,
religion, and with no religion. then all previous evolution is useless. All has
Seek them, and be the happier. been for nothing. All those eons of evolu-
(From the Toronto Daily Star, May 4, tion for nothing! Can we imagine that crea-
1926.) tion had no greater aim than this?
"The very existence of man's intelligence
proves his immortality. His intelligence is
the intermediary between his body and his
Of course, if you take the stand that crea- spirit. When man allows his spirit, through
tion has no aim, it is easy to dismiss life and his soul, to enlighten his understanding, then
death with a shrug and a "that ends it all; does he contain all creation; because mall
nothing comes after." being the culmination of all that went be-
But how difficult it is so to dismiss the fore, and thus superior to all previous evolu-
universe, our world, the animal and vege- tions, contains all the lower already-evolved
table world, and man. How clearly one sees world within himself. Illumined by the spirit
a plan in everything. How unthinkable it through the instrumentality of the soul,
is that the miraculous development that has man's radiant intelligence makes him the
brought man's body, brain and spirit to what crowning-point of creation!"
it is, should cease. Why should it cease? Thus does 'Abdu'l-BahC explain to us the
Why is it not logical that it goes on? Not soul-the most convincing elucidation I
the body, which is only an instrument, but know.
the invisible spark or fire within the body (From the Toronto Daily Star, September
which makes man one with the wider plan 28, 1926.)
of creation.
My words are lame, and why should I
grope for meanings when I can quote from
one who has said it so much more plainly, At first we all conceive of God as some-
'Abdu'l-Bahi, whom I know would sanction thing or somebody apart from ourselves.
the use of his words: We think H e is something or somebody defi-
"The whole physical creation is perish- nite, outside of us, whose quality, meaning
able. Material bodies are composed of and so-to-say "personality" we can grasp
atoms. When these atoms begin to separate, with our human, finite minds, and express
decomposition sets in. Then comes what we in mere words.
call death. This is not so. We cannot, with our
"This composition of atoms which con- earthly faculties entirely grasp His meaning
stitutes the body or mortal element of any -no more than we can really understand
created being, is temporary. When the power the meaning of Eternity.
of attraction which holds these atoms to- God is certainly not the old Fatherly gen-
gether is withdrawn, the body as such ceases tleman with the long beard that in our
to exist. childhood we saw pictured sitting amongst
"With the soul it is different. The soul is clouds on the throne of judgment, holding
not a combination of elements, is not com- the lightning of vengeance in His hand.
posed of many atoms, is of one indivisible God is something simpler, happier, and
substance and therefore eternal. yet infinitely more tremendous. God is All,
"It is entirely out of the order of physi- Everything. He is the power behind all be-
cal creation; it is immortal! The soul, being ginnings. He is the inexhaustible source of
an invisible, indivisible substance, can suf- supply, of love, of good, of progress, of
fer neither disintegration nor destruction. achievement. God is therefore Happiness.
Therefore there is no reason for its coming His is the voice within us that shows us
to an end. good and evil.
"Consider the aim of creation: Is it pos- But mostly we ignore or misunderstand
sible that all is created to evolve and de- this voice. Therefore did He choose his Elect
620 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

to come down amongst us upon earth to it destroys no other creeds and leaves all
make clear His word, His real meaning. doors open.
Therefore the Prophets; therefore Christ, "Saddened by the continual strife amongst
Muhammad, Bahi'u'llih, for man needs believers of many confessions and wearied
from time to time a voice upon earth to by their intolerance towards each other, I
bring God to him, to sharpen the realization discovered in the BahL'i teaching the real
of the existence of the true God. Those spirit of Christ so often denied and misun-
voices sent to us had to become flesh, so that derstood:
with our earthly ears we should be able to "Unity instead of strife, hope instead of
hear and understand. condemnation, love instead of hate, and a
Those who read their Bible with "peeled great reassurance for all men."
eyes" will find in almost every line some
revelation. But it takes long life, suffering
or some sudden event to tear all at once
the veil from our eyes, so that we can truly "The BahL'i teaching brings peace to the
see. . . . soul and hope to the heart.
Sorrow and sufferings are the surest and "To those in search of assurance the
also the most common instructors, the words of the Father are as a fountain in the
straightest channel to God-that is to say, desert after long wandering." 1934.
to that inner something within each of us
which is God.
Happiness beyond all understanding
comes with this revelation that God is within "More than ever today when the world
us, if we will but listen to His voice. We is facing such a crisis of bewilderment and
need not seek Him in the clouds. He is the unrest, must we stand firm in Faith seeking
All-Father whence we came and to whom that which binds together instead of tearing
we shall return when, having done with this asunder."
earthly body, we pass onward. "To those searching for light, the Bahi'i
If I have repeated myself, forgive me. Teachings offer a star which will lead them
There are so many ways of saying things, to deeper understanding, to assurance, peace
but what is important is the truth which and good will with all men." 1936.
lies in all the many ways of expressing it.
(From the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin,
Monday, September 27, 1926.)
E. G. BROWNE,M.A., M.B.
BY PROFESSOR

"Lately a great hope has come to me from Introduction to Myron H. Phelps' 'Abbhs
one, 'Abdu'l-Bahi. I have found in His and Effendi,pages xi-xvi; 1903 (rev. 1912)-
His Father, Bahi'u'llih's Message of Faith
all my yearning for real religion satisfied. If I have often heard wonder expressed by
you ever hear of Bahi'is or of the Bahi'i Christian ministers at the extraordinary suc-
Movement which is known in America, you cess of Bkbi missionaries, as contrasted with
will know what that is. What I mean: these the almost complete failure of their own.
Books have strengthened me beyond belief "How is it," they say, "that the Christian
and I am now ready to die any day full of doctrine, the highest and the noblest which
hope. But I pray God not to take me away the world has ever known, though sup-
yet for I still have a lot of work to do." ported by all the resources of Western civi-
lization, can only count its converts in Mu-
hammadan lands by twos and threes, while
BBbiism can reckon them by thousands?"
"The Bahi'i teaching brings peace and The answer, to my mind, is plain as the sun
understanding. at midday. Western Christianity, save in the
"It is like a wide embrace gathering to- rarest cases, is more Western than Christian,
gether all those who have long searched for more racial than religious; and by dallying
words of hope. with doctrines plainly incompatible with the
"It accepts all great prophets gone before, obvious meaning of its Founder's words,
APPRECIATIONS O F T H E BAHA'I F A I T H

such as the theories of "racial supremacy,"
"imperial destiny," "survival of the fittest,"
and the like, grows steadily more rather than Introduction to Myron H. Phelps' 'Abbhs
less material. Did Christ belong to a "domi- Effendi, pages viii-x-
nant race," or even to a European or "white
race"? . . . I am not here arguing that the It was under the influence of this en-
Christian religion is true, but merely that it thusiasm that I penned the Introduction to
is in manifest conflict with several other my translation of the Traveller's Narrative.
theories of life which practically regulate the . . . This enthusiasm, condoned, if not
conduct of all States and most individuals in shared, by many kindly critics and review-
the Western world, a world which, on the ers, exposed me t o a somewhat savage attack
whole, judges all things, including religions, in the Oxford Magazine, an attack conclud-
mainly by material, or to use the more popu- ing with the assertion that my Introduction
lar term, "practical" standards. . . . There displayed "a personal attitude almost incon-
is, of course, another factor in the success of ceivable in a rational European, and a style
the BBbi propagandist, as compared with the unpardonable in a university teacher." (The
Christian missionary, in the conversion of review in question appeared in the Oxford
Muhammadans to his faith: namely, that the Magazine of May 25, 1892, page 394: ". . .
former admits, while the latter rejects, the the prominence given to the BBb in this
Divine inspiration of the Qur'Bn and book is an absurd violation of historical
the prophetic function of Muhammad. The perspective; and the translation of the
Christian missionary must begin by attack- Traveller's Narrative a waste of the powers
ing, explicitly or by implication, both these and opportunities of a Persian Scholar.")
beliefs; too often forgetting that if (as hap- Increasing age and experience (more's the
pens but rarely) he succeeds in destroying pity!) are apt enough, even without the as-
them, he destroys with them that recogni- sistance of the Oxford Magazine, to modify
tion of former prophetic dispensations (in- our enthusiasms; but in this case at least
cluding the Jewish and the Christian) which time has so far vindicated my judgment
Muhammad and the Qur'Bn proclaim, and against that of my Oxford reviewer that he
converts his Muslim antagonist not to Chris- could scarcely now maintain, as he formerly
tianity, but to Scepticism or Atheism. What, asserted, that the BBbi religion "had affected
indeed, could be more illogical on the part the least important part of the Muslim
of Christian missionaries to Muhammadan world and that not deeply." Every one
lands than to devote much time and labor who is in the slightest degree conversant
to the composition of coiltroversial works with the actual state of things [September
which endeavor to prove, in one and the 27, 19031 in Persia i ~ o wrecognizes that the
same breath, first, that the Qur'Bn is a lying number and influence of the BAbis in that
imposture, and, secondly, that it bears wit- country is immensely greater than it was
ness to the truth of Christ's mission, as fifteen years ago.
though any value attached to the testitnony
of one proved a liar! The BBbi (or Bahgi)
propagandist, on the other hand, admits that
Muhammad was the prophet of God and
that the Qur'Bn is the Word of God, denies A Traveller's Narrative, page 309-
nothing but their finality, and does not dis- The appearance of such a woman as
credit his own witness when he draws from Qurratu'l-'Ayn is in any country and any
that source arguments to prove his faith. To age a rare phenomenon, but in such a coun-
the Western observer, however, it is the try as Persia it is a prodigy-nay, almost a
complete sincerity of the BBbis, their fearless miracle. Alike in virtue of her marvelous
disregard of death and torture undergone for beauty, her rare intellectual gifts, her fervid
the sake of their religion, their certain con- eloquence, her fearless devotion and her
viction as to the truth of their faith, their glorious martyrdom, she stands forth incom-
generally admirable conduct towards man- parable and immortal amidst her country-
kind and especially towards their fellow be- women. Had the BBbi religion no other
lievers, which constitute their strongest claim claim to greatness, this were &fficient-that
on his attention. it produced a heroine like Qurratu'l-'Ayn.
622 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

rather glory in this, that he loves his
kind. . . ."
Introduction to A Traveller's Narrative, Such, so far as I can recall them, were the
pages xxxix-xl- words which, besides many others, I heard
from Bahb. Let those who read them con-
Though I dimly suspected whither I was sider well with themselves whether such doc-
going and whom I was to behold (for no trines merit death and bonds, and whether
distinct intimation had been given to me), the world is more likely to gain or lose by
a second or two elapsed ere, with a throb their diffusion.
of wonder and awe, I became definitely con-
scious that the room was not untenanted.
In the corner where the divan met the wall
sat a wondrous and venerable figure, Introduction to A Traveller's Narrative,
crowned with a felt head-dress of the kind page xxxvi-
called thj by dervishes (but of unusual
height and make), round the base of which Seldom have I seen one whomse appearance
was wound a small white turban. The face impressed me more. A tall, strongly built
of him on whom I gazed I can never forget, man holding himself straight as an arrow,
though I cannot describe it. Those piercing with white turban and raiment, long black
eyes seemed to read one's very soul; power locks reaching almost to the shoulder, broad
and authority sat on that ample b:-ow; while powerful forehead, indicating a strong intel-
the deep lines on the forehead and face im- lect combined with an unswerving will, eyes
plied an age which the jet-black hair and keen as a hawk's, and strongly marked but
beard flowing down in indistinguishable lux- pleasing features-such wa8 -my first im-
uriance almost to the waist seemed to belie. pression of 'Abbis Effendi, "The Master"
No need to ask in whose presence I stood, (Aq!) as he par excellence is called by the
as I bowed myself before one wbo is the Bbbls. Subsequent conversation with him
object of a devotion and love which kings served only to heighten the respect with
might envy and emperors sigh for in vain! which his appearance had from the first in-
A mild, dignified voice bade me be seated, spired me. One more eloquent of speech,
and then continued: "Pmise be to God, that more ready of argument, more apt of illus-
thou hast attained! . . . Thou lzast conze to tration, more intimately acquainted with the
see a prisoner and an exile. . . . W e desire sacred books of the Jews, the Christians and
but the good of the world and the happiness the Muhammadans, could, I should think, be
o f the nations; yet they deem us a stirrer up scarcely found even amongst the eloquent,
of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and ready, and subtle race to which he belongs.
banishment. . . . That all nations should These qualities, combined with a bearing at
become one in faith and all men as brothers: once majestic and genial, made me cease to
that the bonds o f affection and unity be- wonder at the influence and esteem which he
tween the sons o f men should be strength- enjoyed even beyond the circle of his fa-
ened; that diversity o f religion should cease, ther's followers. About the greatness of this
and differences o f race be annulled-what man and his power no one who had seen
harm is there in this? . . . Y e t so it shall him could entertain a doubt.
be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars
shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace'
shall come. . . . Do not you in Europe
need this also? Is not this that which Christ Excerpts from Comparative Religions, pages
foretold? . . . Y e t do we see your kings 70, 71-
and rulers lavishing their treasures n~ore
From that subtle race issues the most
freely on means for the destruction of the remarkable movement which modern Mu-
hunzan race than on that which would con- hammadanism has produced. . . . Disciples
duce to the happiness o f mankind. . . . gathered round him, and the movement was
These strifes and this bloodshed and discord not checked by his arrest, his imprisonment
must cease, and all men be as one kindred for nearly six yeais and his final execution
and one family. . . . Let not a man glory in 1850. . . . It, too, claims to be a uni-
in this that he loves his country; let him versal teaching; it has already its noble army
APPRECIATIONS O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH

of martyrs and its holy books; has Persia, desire lordship over others; I desire all men
in the midst of her miseries, given birth to to be even as I am."
a religion which will go round the world? The day is not far off when the details of
'Abdu'l-Bah6's missionary journeys will be
admitted to be of historical importance.
BY THE REV. T. K. CHEYNE,D.LITT., D.D. How gentle and wise he was, hundreds could
testify from personal knowledge, and I, too,
Excerpts from The Recoizciliation of Races
and Religions (1914)- could perhaps say something. .. . I will
only, however, give here the outward frame-
There was living quite lately a human work of 'Abdu'l-Bah6's life, and of his apos-
being1 of such consummate excellence that tolic journeys, with the help of my friend
many think it is both permissible and in- Lutfullhh. . . .
evitable even to identify him mystically with During his stay in London he visited Ox-
.
the invisible Godhead. . . HisZ combina- ford (where he and his party-of Persians
tion of mildness and power is so rare that we mainly-were the guests of Professor and
have to place him in a line with super- Mrs. Cheyne), Edinburgh, Clifton and
normal men. . . . We learn that, at @eat Woking. It is fitting to notice here that the
points in his career after he had been in an audience at Oxford, though highly academic,
ecstasy, such radiance of might and majesty seemed to be deeply interested, and that Dr.
streamed from his countenance that none Carpenter made an admirable speech. . . .
could bear to look upon the effulgence of
his glory and beauty. Nor was it an un-
common occurrence for unbelievers involun-
tarily to bow down in lowly obeisance on
beholding His Holiness. Testimonial to the Religion of 'Abdu'l-Bahi.
The gentle spirit of the Bib is surely high (Published in Egyptian Gazette, Sept. 24,
up in the cycles of eternity. Who can fail, 1913, by Mrs. J. Stannard.)-
as Professor Browne says, to be attracted by I forward this humble petition to the
him? "His sorrowful and persecuted life; sanctified and holy presence of 'Abdu'l-Bahi
his purity of conduct and youth; his courage 'Abbis, who is the center of knowledge,
and uncomplaining patience under misfor- famous throughout the world, and loved by
tune; his complete self-negation; the dim all mankind. 0 thou noble friend who art
ideal of a better state of things which can be conferring guidance upon humanity-May
discerned through the obscure mystic utter- my life be a ransom to thee!
ances of the Baydn; but most of all, his The loving epistle which you have conde-
tragic death, all serve to enlist our sympa- scended to write to this servant, and the rug
thies on behalf of the young prophet of which you have forwarded, came safely to
S_hhir&z." hand. The time of the meeting with your
"I1 sentait le besoin d'une r6forme pro- Excellency, and the memory of the benedic-
fond & introduire dans les moeurs publiques. tion of your presence, recurred to the mem-
. . . I1 s'est sacrifi6 pour l'humanit6; pour ory of this servant, and I am longing for the
elle il a donne son corps et son Bme, pour time when I shall meet you again. Although
elle il a subi les privations, les affronts, les I have traveled through many countries and
injures, la torture et le martyre." (Mons. cities of Islim, yet have I never met so lofty
Nicolas.) a character and so exalted a personage as
If there has been any prophet in recent your Excellency, and I can bear witness that
times, it is to BahL'uYllihthat we must go. it is not possible to find such another. On
Character is the final judge. BahL'u'llih was this account, I am hoping that the ideals and
a man of the highest class-that of prophets. accomplishments of your Excellency may be
But he was free from the last infirmity of crowned with success and yield results under
noble minds, and would certainly not have all conditions; because behind these ideals
separated himself from others. He would and deeds I easily discern the eternal welfare
have understood the saying: "Would God all and prosperity of the world of humanity.
the Lord's people were prophets!" What he This servant, in order to gain firsthand
does say, however, is just as fine: "I do not information and experience, entered into the
1 Bahk'u'llClh.
ranks of various religions, that is, outwardly,
2 Bkb. I became a Jew, Christian, Muhammadan
THE BAHA'I W O R L D

and Zoroastrian. I discovered that the devo-
from the blue? How many other ministers
tees of these various religions do nothingand governors have sat for a time on the
else but hate and anathematize each other,seats of the mighty and been swept away by
that all their religions have become the in-
some intrigue as sordid as that to which
struments of tyranny and oppression in thethey owed their own exaltation? And how
hands of rulers and governors, and that they
many in humbler stations have been in the
are the causes of the destruction of the meantime the recipients of their unworthy
world of humanitv.J
favors or the victims of their arbitrary op-
Considering those evil results, every per-
pression? A village which but yesterday
son is forced by necessity to enlist himself
was fairly prosperous is beggared today by
on the side of your Excellency, and acceptsome neighboring landlord higher up the
with joy the prospect of a fundamental basis
valley, who, having duly propitiated those
for a universal religion of God, being laid
in authority, diverts for the benefit of his
through your efforts. own estates the whole of its slender supply
I have seen the father of your Excellency
of water. The progress of a governor-or
from afar. I have realized the self-sacrifice
royal prince, with all his customary retinue
and noble courage of his son, and I am lost
of ravenous hangers-on, eats out the coun-
in admiration. tryside through wbich it passes more effectu-
For the principles and aims of your Ex-ally than a flight of locusts. The visitation is
cellency, I express the utmost respect andas ruinous and as unaccountable. Is it not
devotion, and if God, the Most High, con- the absence of all visible moral correlation
of cause and effect in these phenomena of
fers long life, I will be able to serve you
daily life that has gone far to produce the
under all conditions. I pray and supplicate
this from the depths of my heart. stolid fatalism of the masses, the scoffing
Your servant, skepticism of the more educated classes, and
(Mamhenyn. ) from time to time the revolt of some nobler
VAMBBRY. minds? Of such the most recent and per-
haps the noblest of all became the founder
of BBbiism.

Chapter XI, page 120-
Quotations from The Middle Eastern Q u e s
tion or Some Political Problems of Indian The Bib was dead, but not Bhbiism. He
Defense, chapter XI, page 116. (The Re- was not the first, and still less the last, of a
vival of BBbiism.)- long line of martyrs who have testified that
When one has been like Sa'id, a great per- even in a country gangrened with corrup-
sonage, and then a common soldier, and tion and atrophied with indifferentism like
then a prisoner of a Christian feudal chief; Persia, the soul of a nation survives, in-
when one has worked as a navvy on the for- articulate, perhaps, and in a way helpless,
tifications of the Count of Antioch, and but still capable of sudden spasms of vitality.
wandered back afoot to Shhiriz after infinite
pain and labor, he may well be disposed to Chapter XI, page 124-
think that nothing that exists is real, or, at Socially one of the most interesting fea-
least, has any substantial reality worth cling- tures of BAbiism is the raising of woman to
ing to. Today the public peace of Persia is a much higher plane than she is usually ad-
no longer subject to such violent perturba- mitted to in the East. The BBb himself had
tions. At least, as far as we are concerned, no more devoted a disciple than the beauti-
the appearances of peace prevail, and few of ful and gifted lady, known as Qurratu'l-
us care or have occasion to look beyond the 'Ayn, the "Consolation of the Eyes," who,
appearances. But for the Persians themselves, having shared all the dangers of the first
have the conditions very much changed? apostolic missions in the north, challenged
Do they not witness one day the sudden rise and suffered death with virile fortitude, as
of this or that favorite of fortune and the one of the Seven Martyrs of T i h r h . No
next day his sudden fall? Have they not memory is more deeply venerated or kindles
seen the AtBbak-i-A'zam twice hold sway greater enthusiasm than hers, and the influ-
as the S_hBh's all-powerful Vazir, and twice ence which she yielded in her lifetime still
hurled down from that pinnacle by a bolt inures to her sex.
APPRECIATIONS O F T H E BAHA'f F A I T H 625

versity of Oxford, also Doctor of Theology
of the University of Leyden, Holland.
Quotation from The Fringe of the East, Because of Professor Campbell's pro-
(Macmillan & Co., London, 1913.)- found spiritual and intellectual attainments
Bahb'iism is now estimated to count more he was highly honored as one who spoke
than two million adherents, mostly com- with truthful authority and his noted transla-
posed of Persian and Indian Shhi'ihs, but in- tions of Greek poetry endeared him to all.
cluding also many Sunnis from the Turkish From him I first heard of the Bahb'i Revela-
Empire and North Africa, and not a few tion, the significance of which had been in-
Brahmans, Buddhists, Taoists, Shintoists and delibly impressed upon him by Dr. Jowett's
Jews. It possesses even European converts, deep convictions concerning it, and I wrote
and has made some headway in the United down some very telling sentences which Pro-
States. Of all the religions which have been fessor Campbell quoted from Dr. Jowett's
encountered in the course of this journey- words to him.
the stagnant pools of Oriental Christianity, "This Bahi'i Movement is the greatest
the strange survivals of sun-worship, and light that has come into the world since the
idolatry tinged with ~uhammadanism,the time of Jesus Christ. You must watch it and
immutable relic of the Sumerians-it is the never let it out of your sight. It is too great
only one which is alive, which is aggressive, and too near for this generation to compre-
which is extending its frontiers, instead of hend. The future alone can reveal its im-
secluding itself within its ancient haunts. port.''
It is a thing which may revivify IslLm, and
make great changes on the face of the
Asiatic world.

Excerpts from Comparative Religion and
BY PROFESSOR
JOWETTof Oxford the Religion of the Future, pages 81-91-
Quotation from Heroic Lives, page 305- Inasmuch as a fellowship of faiths is at
Prof. Jowett of Oxford, Master of Balliol, once the dearest hope and ultimate goal of
the translator of Plato, studied the move- the Bahi'i movement, it behooves us to take
ment and was so impressed thereby that he cognizance of it and its mission. . . . To-
said: "The BLbite [BahB'i] movement may day this religious movement has a million
not impossibly turn out to have the promise and more adherents, including people from
of the future." Dr. J. Estlin Carpenter all parts of the globe and representing a re-
quotes Prof. Edward Caird, Prof. Jowett's markable variety of race, color, class and
successor as Master of Balliol, as saying, creed. It has been given literary expression
"He thought BLbiism (as the Bahi'i move- in a veritable library of Asiatic, European,
ment was then called) might prove the most and American works to which additions are
important religious movement since the annually made as the movement grows and
foundation of Christianity." Prof. Carpenter grapples with the great problems that grow
himself gives a sketch of the Bah6'i move- out of its cardinal teachings. It has a long
ment in his recent book on Comparative roll of martyrs for the cause for which it
Religions and asks, "Has Persia, in the midst stands, twenty thousand in Persia alone,
of her miseries, given birth to a religion that proving it to be a movement worth dying
will go around the world?" for as well as worth living by.
From its inception it has been identified
with BahB'u'llLh, who paid the price of pro-
(Excerpt from an article by Louise Drake longed exile, imprisonment, bodily suffering,
Wright.) and mental anguish for the faith He cher-
When spending the winters of 1906-7 in ished-a man of imposing personality as
Alassio, Italy, I often met the late professor revealed in His writings, characterized by
Lewis Campbell, professor of Greek in the intense moral earnestness and profound spir-
University of St. Andrews, Scotland, for ituality, gifted with the selfsame power so
many years, who was an eminent pupil of conspicuous in the character of Jesus, the
Dr. Benjamin Jowett, late master of Balliol power to appreciate people ideally, that is,
College and Professor of Greek in the Uni- to see them at the level of their best and
626 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

to make even the lowest types think well of thought. But the last century which marks
of themselves because of potentialities the end of Persia has had its revival and
within them to which He pointed, but of twofold revival, literary and religious. The
which they were wholly unaware; a prophet funeral ceremonies by which Persia cele-
whose greatest contribution was not any brates every year for centuries-the fatal
specific doctrine He proclaimed, but an in- day of the 10th of Muharram, when the son
forming spiritual power breathed into the of 'Ali breathed his last at Karbilh-have
world through the example of His life and developed a popular theater and produced a
thereby quickening souls into new spiritual sincere poetry, dramatic and human, which
activity. Surely a movement of which all is worth all the rhetoric of the poets. During
this can be said deserves-nay, compels- the same times an attempt at religious reno-
our respectful recognition and sincere ap- vation was made, the religion of BBbiism.
preciation. Demoralized for centuries by ten foreign
. . . Taking precedence over all else in its conquests, by the yoke of a composite reli-
gospel is the message of unity in religion. gion in which she believed just enough to
. . . It is the crowning glory of the Bahb'i persecute, by the enervating influence of a
movement that, while deprecating sectarian- mystical philosophy which disabled men for
ism in its preaching, it has faithfully prac- action and divested life of all aim and ob-
ticed what it preached by refraining from jects, Persia has been making unexpected
becoming itself a sect. . . . Its representa- efforts for the last fifty-five years to remake
tives do not attempt to impose any beliefs for herself a virile ideal. BBbiism has little
upon others, whether by argument or brib- of originality in its dogmas and mythology.
ery; rather do they seek to put beliefs that Its mystic doctrine takes its rise from Sfifism
have illumined their own lives within the and the old sects of the 'Aliides formed
reach of those who feel they need illumina- around the dogma of divine incarnation.
tion. No, not a sect, not a-part of human- But the morality it inculcates is a revolution.
ity cut off from all the rest, living for itself It has the ethics of the West. It suppresses
and aiming to convert all the rest into ma- lawful impurities which are a great barrier
terial for its own growth; no, not that, but dividing XslBm from Christendom. It de-
a leaven, causing spiritual fermentation in nounces polygamy, the fruitful source of
all religions, quickening them with the Oriental degeneration. It seeks to reconsti-
spirit of catholicity and fraternalism. tute the family and it elevates man and in
. . . Who shall say but that just as the elevating him exalts woman up to his level.
little company of the Mayflower, landing on BBbiism, which diffused itself in less than
Plymouth Rock, proved to be the small be- five years from one end of Persia to another,
ginning of a mighty nation, the ideal germ which was bathed in 1852 in the blood of
of a democracy which, if true to its princi- its martyrs, has been silently progressing
ples, shall yet overspread the habitable globe, and propagating itself. If Persia is to be at
so the little company of Bahb'is exiled from all regenerate it will be through this new
their Persian home may yet prove to be the faith.
small beginning of the world-wide move-
ment, the ideal germ of democracy in reli-
gion, the Universal Church of Mankind?

Excerpts from Contemporary Studies, Part
BY PROF.JAMES DARMESTETER 111, page 131. (Allen & Unwin, London,
1924.)-
Excerpt from Art in "Persia: A Historical
and Literary Sketch" (translated by G. K. We Westerners are too apt to imagine
Nariman) , and incorporated in Persia and that the huge continent of Asia is sleeping
Parsis, Part I, edited by G. K. Nariman. as soundly as a mummy. We smile at the
Published under patronage of the Persian vanity of the ancient Hebrews, who believed
League, Bombay, 1925. (The Marker themselves to be the chosen people. We are
Literary Series for Persia, No. 2.)- amazed at the intolerance of the Greeks and
Romans, who looked upon the members
The political reprieve brought about by of all races as barbarians. Nevertheless, we
the Siifis did not result in the regeneration ourselves are like the Hebrews, the Greeks
APPRECIATIONS O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH 627

and the Romans. As Europeans we believed all, we are impressed by the fact that, in our
Europe to be the only world that matters, own time, such a manifestation call occur,
though from time to time we may turn a and that the new faith should have under-
paternal eye towards America, regarding gone a development far more extensive than
our offspring in the New World with min- that undergone in the same space of time
gled feelings of condescension and pride. nearly two thousand years ago, by budding
Nevertheless, the great cataclysm of 1914 Christianity.
is leading some of us to undertake a critical . . . At the present time, the majority of
examination of the inviolable dogma that the inhabitants of Persia have, to a varying
the European nations are the elect. Has extent, accepted the BLbiist faith. In the
there not been of late years a demonstration great towns of Europe, America, and Asia,
of the nullity of modern civilization-the there are active centers for the propaganda
nullity which had already been proclaimed of the liberal ideas and the doctrine of hu-
by Rousseau, Carlyle, Ruskin, Tolstoy, and man community, which form the founda-
Nietzsche? We are now inclined to listen tions of Bahb'iist teaching.
more attentively to whispers from the East. We shall not grasp the full significance of
Our self-complacency has been disturbed by this tendency until we pass from the descrip-
such utterances as that of Rabindranath tion of Bahb'iism as a theory to that of
Tagore, who, lecturing at the Imperial Uni- Bahb'iism as a practice, for the core of reli-
versity of Tokyo on June 18, 1916, foretold gion is not metaphysics, but morality.
a great future for Asia. The political civili- The Bahb'iist ethical code is dominated
zation of Europe was "carnivorous and can- by the law of love taught by Jesus and by
nibalistic in its tendencies." The East was all the prophets. In the thousand and one
patient, and could afford to wait till the details of practical life, this law is subject to
West, "hurry after the expedient," had to inanifold interpretations. That of BahL'-
halt for the want of breath. "Europe, while u'llLh is unquestionably one of the most
busily speeding to her engagements. disdain- comprehensi<e of these, one of the most
fully casts her glance from her carriage win- exalted, one of the most satisfactory to the
dow at the reaper reaping his harvest in the modern mind. . ..
field, and in her intoxication of speed, can- That is why Bahb'u711&his a severe critic
not but think him as slow and ever receding of the patriotism which plays so large a part
backwards. But the speed comes to its end, in the national life of our day. Love of our
the engagement loses its meaning, and the native land is legitimate, but this love must
hungry heart clanlors for food, till at last not be exclusive. A man should love his
she comes to the lonely reaper reaping his country more than he loves his house (this
harvest in the sun. For if the office cannot is the dogma held by every patriot); but
wait, or the buying and selling, or the crav- Bahb'u'llhh adds that he should love the
ing for excitement-love waits, and beauty, divine world more than he loves his coun-
and the wisdom of suffering and the fruits try. From this standpoint, patriotism is seen
of patient devotion and reverent meekness to be an intermediate stage on the road of
of simple faith. And thus shall wait the East renunciation, an incomplete and hybrid re-
till her time comes." ligion, something we have to get beyond.
Being thus led to turn our eyes towards Throughout his life Bahb'u'll&h regarded the
Asia, we are astonished to find how much ideal universal peace as one of the most im-
we have misunderstood it; and we blush portant of his Sms. . ..
when we realize our previous ignorance of . . . Bah&'u'll&his in this respect enunci-
the fact that, towards the middle of the ating a novel and fruitful idea. There is a
nineteenth century, Asia gave birth to a better way of dealing with social evils than
great religious movement-a movement by trying to cure them after they have come
signalized for its spiritual purity, one which to pass. We should try to prevent them by
has had thousands of martyrs, one which removing their causes, which act on the in-
Tolstoy has described. H. Dreyfus, the dividual, and especially on the child. Noth-
French historian of this movement, says ing can be more plastic than the nature of
that it is not "a new religion," but "religion the child. The government's first duty must
renewed," and that it provides "the only be to provide for the careful and efficient
possible basis for a mutual understanding education of children, remembering that
between religion and free thought." Above education is something more than instruc-
628 THE BAHA'I WORLD

tion. This will be an enormous step towards BahL'u'llBh's teaching is not definitive.
the solution of the social problem, and to The Persian prophet does not offer it to us
take such a step will be the first task of the as such. Nor can we Europeans assimilate
Baytu'l-'Ad'l (House of Justice). "It is or- all of it; for modern science leads us to
dained upon every father to rear his son or make certain claims in matters of thought-
his daughter by means of the sciences, the claims we cannot relinquish, claims we
arts, and all the commandments, and if any should not try to forego. But even though
one should neglect to do so, then the mem- BahB'u'llBh's precepts (like those of the
bers of the council, should the offender be a Gospeis) may not fully satisfy all these in-
wealthy man, must levy from him the sum tellectual demands, they are rarely in con-
necessary for the education of his child. flict with our scientific outlooks. If they are
When the neglectful parent is poor, the cost to become our own spiritual food, they must
of the necessary education must be borne by be supplemented, they must be relived by
the council, which will provide a refuge for the religious spirits of Europe, must be re-
the unfortunate." thought by minds schooled in the Western
The Baytu'l-'Ad'l, likewise, must prepare mode of thought. But in its existing form,
the way for the establishment of universal BahL'iist teaching may serve, amid our pres-
peace, doing this by organizing courts of ent chaos, to open for us a road leading to
arbitration and by influencing the govern- solace and to comfort; may restore our con-
ments. Long before the Esperantists had fidence in the spiritual destiny of man. It
begun their campaign, and more than reveals to us how the human mind is in
twenty years before Nicholas I1 had sum- travail; it gives us an inkling of the fact that
moned the first Hague congress, BahB'u'llBh the greatest happenings of the day are not
was insisting on the need for a universal the ones we were inclined to regard as the
language and courts of arbitration. He re- most momentous, not the ones which are
turns to these matters again and again: "Let making the loudest noise.
all the nations become one in faith, and let
all men be brothers, in order that the bonds
of affection and unitv between the sons of BY DR. HENRYH. JESSUP,D.D.
men may be strengthened. . . . What harm
can there be in that? . . . It is going to hap- From the World's Parliament of Religion;
pen. There will be an end to sterile con- Volume 11, 13th Day, under Criticism
flicts, to ruinous wars; and the Great Peace and Discussion of Missionary Methods,
will come!" Such were the words of Bahb'- page 1122. At the Columbian Exposition
u'llAh in 1890, two years before his death. of 1893, at Chicago. Edited by the Rev.
While adopting and developing the Chris- John Henry Barrows, D.D. (The Parlia-
tian law of love, BahB'u'llBh rejected the ment Publishing Company, Chicago,
Christian principle of ascetism. He dis- 1893.)-
countenanced the macerations which were a This, then, is our mission: that we who
nightmare of the Middle Ages, and, whose are made in the image of God should re-
evil effects persist even in our own member that all men are made in God's
. .
days. . image. To this divine knowledge we owe all
BahB'iism, then, is an ethical system, a we are, all we hope for. We are rising
system of social morality. But it would be gradually toward that image, and we owe to
a mistake to regard BahViist teaching as a our fellowmen to aid them in returning to it
collection of a6stract rules imposed- from in the Glory of God and the Beauty of
without. BahL'iism is permeated with a sane Holiness. It is a celestial privilege and with
and noble mysticism; nothing could be more it comes a high responsibility, from which
firmly rooted in the inner life, more be- there is no escape.
nignly spiritual; nothing could speak more In the Palace of Bahji, or Delight, just
intimately to the soul, in low tones, and as outside the Fortress of 'Akkg, on the Syrian
if from within. . .. coast, there died a few months since, a fa-
Such is the new voice that sounds to us mous Persian sage, the BBbi Saint, named
from Asia; such is the new dawn in the BahVu711ih-the "Glory of God"-the head
East. We should give them our close atten- of that vast reform party of Persian Mus-
tion; we should abandon our customary lims, who accept the New Testament as the
mood of disdainful superiority. Doubtless, Word of God and Christ as the Deliverer of
APPRECIATIONS OF T H E BAHA'I FAITH 629

men, who regard all nations as one, and all in Tihrin, 100 in Hamadin, 50 in Kis_hin,
men as brothers. Three years ago he was and 75 per cent of the Jews at GulpAyigAn.
visited by a Cambridge scholar and gave . . . The two victims, whose names were
utterance to sentiments so noble, so Christ- Hiji Mirzb Hasan and Hiji Mirzh Husayn,
like, that we repeat them as our closing have been renamed by the BAbis: Sultinu'&-
words : SJhuhadL', or King of Martyrs, and Mah-
"That all nations should become one in bGbu'&-S_huhad&', or Beloved of Martyrs-
faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds and their naked graves in the cemetery have
of affection and unity between the sons of become places of pilgrimage where many a
men should be strengthened; that diversity tear is shed over the fate of the "Martyrs of
of religions should cease and differences of Isfihin.". . . It is these little incidents,
race be annulled. What harm is there in protruding from time to time their ugly
this? Yet so it shall be. These fruitless features, that prove Persia to be not as yet
strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, quite redeemed, and that somewhat staggers
and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come. Do the tall-talkers about Irinian civilization. If
not you in Europe need this also? Let not a one conclusion more than another has been
man glory in this, that he loves his country; forced upon our notice by the retrospect in
let him rather glory in this, that he loves which I have indulged, it is that a sublime
his kind." and murmuring [?I devotion has been incul-
cated by this new faith, whatever it be. There
is, I believe, but one instance of a BAbi hav-
ing recanted under pressure of menace of
Excerpts from Persia and tlze Persian Ques- suffering, and he reverted to the faith and
tion, Vol. I , pages 496-504. (London, was executed within two years. Tales of mag-
1892.)- nificent heroism illumine the bloodstained
pages of Bibi history. Ignorant and unlet-
Beauty and the female sex also lent their tered as many of its votaries are, and have
consecration to the new creed and the hero- been, they are yet prepared to die for their
ism of the lovely but ill-fated poetess of religion, and fires of Smithfield did not kin-
Qazvin, Zarrin-TAj (Crown of Gold) or dle a nobler courage than has met and
Qurratu'l-'Ayn (Solace of the Eyes), who, defied the more refined torture-mongers of
throwing off the veil, carried the missionary Tihrin. Of no small account, then, must be
torch far and wide, is one of the most af- the tenets of a creed that can awaken in its
fecting episodes in modern history. . . . followers so rare and beautiful a spirit of
The lowest estimate places the present num- self-sacrifice. From the facts that Bibiism
ber of BAbis in Persia a half a million. I in its earliest years found itself in conflict
am disposed to think, from conversations with the civil powers and that an attempt
with persons well qualified to judge, that was made by Bibis upon the life of the
the total is nearer one million. They are to Shhih, it has been wrongly inferred that the
be found in every walk of life, from the movement was political in origin and
ministers and nobles of the Court to the Nihilist in character. It does not appear
scavenger or the groom, not the least arena from a study of the writings either of the
in their activity being the Mussulman priest- Bib or his successor, that there is any
hood itself. It will have been noticed that foundation for such a suspicion. . . . The
the movement was initiated by Siyyids, charge of immorality seems to have arisen
Hijis and Mullis, i.e., persons who, either partly from malignant inventions of oppo-
by descent, from pious inclination, or by nents, partly from the much greater free-
profession, were intimately concerned with dom claimed for women by the Bib, which
the Muhammadan creed; and it is among in the oriental mind is scarcely dissociable
even the professed votaries of the faith that from profligacy of conduct. . . . If Bibiism
they continue to make their converts. . . . continues to grow at its present rate of pro-
Quite recently the Bibis have had great gression, a time may conceivably come
success in the camp of another enemy, hav- when it will oust Muhammadanism from
ing secured many proselytes among the Jew- the field in Persia. . . . Since its recruits are
ish populations of the Persian towns. I hear won from the best soldiers of the garrison
that during the past year (1891) they are whom it is attacking, there is greater reason
reported to have made 150 Jewish converts to believe that it may ultimately prevail.
630 T H E B A H A 'f W O R L D

. . . The pure and suffering life of the Bgb, God-man. Of the sincerity of his convic-
his ignominious death, the heroism and tion that he was God-appointed, the manner
martyrdom of his followers, will appeal to of his death is the amplest possible proof.
many others who can find no similar I n the belief that he would thereby save
phenomena in the contemporaneous records others from the error of their present beliefs
of Isl6m. . . . h e willingly sacrificed his life. And of his
power of attaching men to him, the passion-
ate devotion of hundreds and even thou-
sands of men who gave their lives in his
cause is convincing testimony. . . .
H e himself was but "a letter out of that
most mighty book, a dewdrop from that
Excerpts from The Gleam. (1923.)- limitless ocean." The One to come would
The story of the Bib, as Mirz6 'All-Mu- reveal all mysteries and all riddles. This was
hammad called himself, was the story of the humility of true insight. And it has had
spiritual heroism unsurpassed in Svabhava's its effect. His movement has grown and ex-
experience; and his own adventurous soul panded, and it has yet a great future before
was fired by it. That a youth of no social it.
influence and no education should, by the During his six years of ministry, four of
simple power of insight, be able to pierce which were spent in captivity, he had per-
into the heart of things and see the real meated all Persia with his ideas. And since
truth, and then hold on to it with such firm- his death the movement has spread to Tur-
ness of conviction and present it with such key, Egypt, India and even into Europe and
suasion that he was able to convince men America. His adherents are now numbered
that he was the Messiah and get them to by millions. "The Spirit which pervades
follow him to death itself, was one of those them," says Professor Browne, "is such that
splendid facts in human history that it cannot fail to affect most powerfully all
Svabhava loved to meditate on. This was a subject to its influence."
true hero whom he would wish to emulate
and whose experiences he would profit by.
The B6b's passionate sincerity could not be
doubted, for he had given his life for his For many years I have been interested in
faith. And that there must be something the rise and progress of the BahL'i Move-
in his message that appealed to men and ment. Its roots go deep down into the past
satisfied their souls, was witnessed to by the and yet it looks far forward into the future.
fact that thousands gave their lives in his It realizes and preaches the oneness of man-
cause and millions now follow him. kind. And I have noticed how ardently its
If a young man could, in only six years of followers work for the furtherance of peace
ministry, by the sincerity of his purpose and and for the general welfare of mankind.
the attraction of his personality, so inspire God must be with them and their success
rich and poor, cultured and illiterate, alike, therefore assured.
with belief in himself and his doctrines that
they would remain staunch, though hunted
down and without trial sentenced to death,
sawn asunder, strangled, shot, blown from Excerpt from Modern Mystics. (1935, p.
guns; and if men of high position and cul- 142.)
ture in Persia, Turkey and Egypt in num- The martyrdom of the B6b took place
bers to this day adhere to his doctrines, his on July 9, 1850, thirty-one years from the
life must be one of those events in the last date of his birth.
hundred years which is really worth study. His body was dead. His spirit lived on.
And that study fortunately has been made Husayn had been slain in battle. Qudd6s
by the Frenchman Gobineau and by Pro- had been done to death in captivity. But
fessor E. G. Browne, so that we are able to Bahi'u'llBh lived. The One who shall be
have a faithful representation of its main made manifest was alive. And in him and
features. . . . in others had been engendered such love for
Thus, in only his thirtieth year, in the the Bib and what he stood for as, in the
year 1850, ended the heroic career of a true words of the chronicler, no eye had ever
APPRECIATIONS O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH 63 1

beheld nor mortal heart conceived: if and the United States. It does not seek to
branches of every tree were turned into create a new sect, but to inspire all sects
pens, and all the seas into ink, and Earth with a deep fundamental love. The late Dr.
and Heaven rolled into one parchment, the Jowett once said to him? that he had been so
immensity of that love would still remain deeply impressed with the teachings and
untold. This love for the Cause still sur- character of the B6b that he thought
vived. And it was sufficient. Bahi'u'llih was, BBbiism, as the present movement was then
indeed, despoiled of his possessions, de- known, might become the greatest religious
serted by his friends, driven into exile from movement since the birth of Christ.
his native land and, even in exile, confined
to his house. But in him the Cause was still
alive-and more than alive, purified and
BY REV.J. TYSSUL
DAVIS,B.A.
ennobled by the fiery trials through which
it had passed. Quotation from A League of Religions. Ex-
Under the wise control, and direction of cerpts from Chapter X: Bahb'iism-The
Bahi'u'llBh from his prison-house, first at Religion of Reconciliation. (The Lindsey
Baghdid and then at 'AkkB in Syria, there Press, London, England.)-
grew what is now known as the BahB'i
Movement which, silently propagating itself, The Bahb'i religion has made its way
has now spread to Europe and America as . . . because it meets the needs of its day.
well as to India and Egypt, while the bodily It fits the larger outlook of our time better
remains of the BBb, long secretly guarded, than the rigid exclusive older faiths. A
now find a resting place on Mount Carmel characteristic is its unexpected liberality and
in a Tomb-shrine, which is a place of pil- toleration. It accepts all the great religions
grimage to visitors from all over the world. as true, and their scriptures as inspired. The
Bahi'iists bid the followers of these faiths
disentangle from the windings of racial, par-
FROMAN ARTICLEIN THE CHRISTIAN COM- ticularist, local prejudice, the vital, immor-
MONWEALTH, JANUARY 22, 1913: " 'Ab- tal thread, the pure gospel of eternal worth,
du'l-BahB at Oxford"-- and to apply this essential element of life.
Instances are quoted of people being recom-
'Abdu'l-BahB addressed a large and mended to work within the older faiths, to
deeply interested audience at Manchester remain, vitalizing them upon the principles
College, Oxford, on December 31. The of the new faith. They cannot fear new
Persian leader spoke in his native tongue, facts, new truths as the Creed-defenders
MirzL Ahmad Sohrab interpreting. Principal must. They believe in a progressive revela-
Estlin Carpenter presided, and introduced tion. They admit the cogency of modern
the speaker by saying that they owed the criticism and allow that God is in His na-
honor and pleasure of meeting 'Abdu'l-Bah6 ture incomprehensible, but is to be known
to their revered friend, Dr. Cheyne, who through His Manifestations. Their ethical
was deeply interested in the Bahb'i teaching. ideal is very high and is of the type we
The movement sprung up during the mid- Westerners have learnt to designate "Christ-
dle of the last century in Persia, with the like." "What does he do to his enemies that
advent of a young Muhammadan who took he makes them his friends?" was asked con-
to himself the title of the B6b (meaning cerning the late leader. What astonishes the
door or gate, through which men could ar- student is not anything in the ethics or
rive at the knowledge or truth of God), and philosophy of this movement, but the ex-
who commenced teaching in Persia in the traordinary response its ideal has awakened
year 1844. The purity of his character, the in such numbers of people, the powerful in-
nobility of his words, aroused great enthu- fluence this standard actually exerts on con-
siasm.-He was, however, subjected to great duct. It is due to four things: (1) It makes
hostility by the authorities, who secured his a call on the Heroic Element in man. It
arrest and imprisonment, and he was finally offers no bribe. It bids men endure, give up,
executed in 1850. But the movement went carry the cross. It calls them to sacrifice,
on, and the writings of the BBb, which had to bear torture, to suffer martyrdom, to
been copious, were widely read. The move- brave death. (2) It offers liberty of thought.
ment has been brought into India, Europe, Even upon such a vital question as im-
632 T H E B A H A. ' I W O R L D

mortality it will not bind opinion. Its atmos- the modeling of the features; but spiritually,
phere is one of trust and hope, not of in the serenity of expression, and the s ~ g -
dogmatic chill. (3) It is a religion of love. gestion of grave and responsible meditation
"Notwithstanding the interminable cata- in the deeper lines of the face. But there
logue of extreme and almost incredible suf- was also, in his complexion, carriage, and
ferings and privations which this heroic expression, an assurance of the complete
band of men and women have endured- health which is a requisite of a sane judg-
more terrible than many martyrdoms- ment. And when, as in a lighter mood, his
there is not a trace of resentment or bitter- features relaxed into the playful, the as-
ness to be observed among them. One would surance was tidded of a sense of humor
suppose that they were the most fortunate without which there is no true sense of
of the people among whom they live, as proportion. I have never met any one con-
indeed they do certainly consider them- cerned with the philosophies of life whose
selves, in that they have been permitted to judgment might seem so reliable in matters
live near their beloved Lord, beside which of practical conduct.
they count their sufferings as nothing" My regret is that my meetings with him
(Phelps). Love for the Master, love for the were so few and that I could not benefit by
brethren, love for the neighbors, love for a lengthier contact with a personality com-
the alien, love for all humanity, love for all bining a dignity so impressive with human
life, love for God-the old, well-tried way traits so engaging.
trod once before in Syria, trodden again. I wish that he could be multiplied!
(4) It is a religion in harmony with science.
It has here the advantage of being thirteen
centuries later than IslBm. This new dispen-
sation has been tried in the furnace, and has
not been found wanting. It has been proved Translated from a letter to Mme. Isabel
valid by the lives of those who have en- Grinevskaya, Oct. 22, 1903.
dured all things on its behalf. Here is some- I am very glad that Mr. V. V. Stassov has
thing more appealing than its logic and told you of the good impression which your
rational philosophy. "To the Western ob- book has made on me, and I thank you for
server" (writes Prof. Browne), "it is the sending it.
complete sincerity of the BBbis, their fear- I have known about the BBbis for a long
less disregard of death and torture under- time, and have always been interested in
gone for the sake of their religion, their their teachings. It seems to me that these
certain conviction as to the truth of their teachings, as well as all the rationalistic so-
faith, their generally admirable conduct cial religious teachings that have arisen
toward mankind, especially toward their lately out of the original teachings of
fellow-believers, which constitute their Brahmanism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christi-
strongest claim on his attention." anity and Isldm distorted by the priests,
"By their fruits shall ye know them!" We have a great future for this very reason that
cannot but address to this youthful religion these teachings, discarding all these distort-
an All Hail! of welcome. We cannot fail to ing incrustations that cause division, aspire
see in its activity another proof of the living to unite into one common religion of all
witness in our own day of the working of mankind.
the sleepless spirit of God in the hearts of Therefore, the teachings of the BBbis, in-
men, for He cannot rest, by the necessity of asmuch as they have rejected the old Mu-
His nature, until He bath made in conscious hammadan superstitions and have not estab-'
reality, as in power, the whole world His lished new superstitions which would divide
own. them from other new superstitions (unfor-
tunately something of the kind is noticed in
the exposition of the Teachings of the BBb),
BY HERBERT PUTNAM and inasmuch as they keep to the principal
Librarian of Congress fundamental ideas of brotherhood, equality
The dominant impression that survives in and love, have a great future before them.
my memory of 'Abdu'l-Bahi is that of an In the Muhammadan religion there has
extraordinary nobility: physically, in the been lately going on an intensive spiritual
head so massive yet so finely poised, and movement. I know that one such movement
APPRECIATIONS O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH 63 3

is centered in the French colonies in Africa, ism by a splendid little book "The Sayings
and has its name ( I do not remember it), of Muhammad."
and its prophet. Another movement exists The teachings of the Bibis which come to
in India, Lahore, and also has its prophet us out of Islim have through BahB'u'llih's
and publishes its paper Review of Religions. teachings been gradually developed and
Both these religious teachings contain now present us with the highest and purest
nothing new, neither do they have for their form of religious teaching.
principal object a changing of the outlook of
the people and thus do not change the rela-
tionship between the people, as is the case
with BBbiism, though not so much in its
theory (Teachings of the BBb) as in tht:
practice of life as far as I know it. I there-
fore sympathize with BBbiism with all my The practical and spiritual understanding
heart inasmuch as it teaches people brother- between nations, the realization of the unity
hood and equality and sacrifice of material of mankind above all barriers of language
life for service to God. and religion, the feeling of responsibility
towards all who suffer from grief or in-
Translated from a letter to Frid ul Khan justice are only different branches of the
Wadelbekow. same central teaching which gives the
(This communication is dated 1908 and is BahB'i Movement such a faithful and active
found among epistles written to Cauca- family of workers in so many countries.
sian Muhammadans.)
. . . In answer to your letter which ques-
tions how one should understand the term La superstition, l'intolkrance et l'alliance
God. I send you a collection of writings des prgtres avec la tyrannie sCvit en IslBm
from my literary and reading club, in which comme ailleurs. La grande lumikre s'assom-
some thoughts upon the nature of God are brit dans la fum6e tCnCbreuse des formes
included. In my opinion if we were to free vides et des passions fanatiques. I1 y eut
ourselves from all false conceptions of God plusieurs fois des rCveils et des retours & la
we should, whether as Christians or Mu- puret6 du message.
hammadans, free ourselves entirely from Chez nous, en Perse, le Bib vCcut en
picturing God as a personality. The concep- saint et mourut en martyr & Tabriz, il y a
tion which then seems to me to be the best prks d'un sikcle. Bahi'u'llih lui succCda,
for meeting the requirements of reason and exile de Perse, emprisonn6 par le sultan
heart is found in 4th chap. St. John, 7-12-15 turc. I1 proclamait que I'unitC divine exclut
that means God is Love. It therefore follows les rivalitb. La soumission & Dieu doit rap-
that God lives in us according to the meas- procher les hommes. Si la religion les sC-
ure or capacity of each soul to express His pare, c'est qu'elle a perdu son principal sens.
nature. This thought is implicit more or En plein milieu du dix-neuvihme sikcle,
less clearly in all religions, and therefore in au temps des Lamartine et des Victor Hugo,
Muhammadanism. le grand saint musulman fixait aux BahB'i,
Concerning your second question upon ses disciples, un programme et des principes
what awaits us after death I can only reply plus actuels que jamais. . . .
that on dying we return to God from whose L'IslAm a toujours proclam6 ce dogme
Life we came. God, however, being Love avec majest6, mais les religions luttent en
we can on going over expect God only. brandissant le nom d'un prophkte ou d'un
Concerning your third question, I answer autre, au lieu d'insister sur leur enseigne-
that so far as I understand Islim, like all ment, qui pourrait les rapprocher. Bahg-
other religions, Brahmanism, Buddhism, u'llih ttLchait de faire tomber les parois, non
Confucianism, etc., it contains great basic pas MahomCtisme avant tout, mais vraiment
truths but that these have become cor- Zsla'rn, c'est-&-diresoumission commune & la
rupted by superstition, and coarse interpre- volontC suprkme.
tations and filled with unnecessary legendic On ne parlait alors ni d'un Wilson, ni
descriptions. I have had much help in my d'un Zamenhof, mais l'exil6 de Bahji mon-
researches to get clear upon Muhammadan- trait aux g6nCrations futures le chemin
634 THE BAHA'I WORLD

qu'elles devaient prendre. Son fils 'Abdu'l- privileges is of such vital importance that no
Bahb rCpandit plus tard son message en one is safe who does not stop and listen for
Europe et en AmBrique. M6me un libre its quiet meaning, and is to the mind of
penseur comme Auguste Fore1 s'y rallia de men, as the cooling breeze that unseen
grand coeur. Le cercle amical des Bahi'i passes its breath over the varying leaves of a
s'htend autour du monde. tree. Watch it! And see how uniformly, like
En Perse, un million d'entre eux sou- an unseen hand passing caressingly over all
tiennent des Ccoles, fameuses dans le pays. its leaves: Full of tender care and even in its
(From La Sagesse de Z'Orient, Chap. 111.) gifts of love and greater life: Caresses each
leaf. Such it is to one who has seated him-
self amid the flowers and fruit trees in the
Garden Beautiful at 'Akkli, just within the
circle of that Holy and Blessed shrine where
(Excerpt from Dr. Auguste Forel's Will.) rests the Mortal part of the Great Enlight-
ener. His handiwork is there, you touch the
. . . J'avais Ccrit les lignes qui prCchdent fruit and flowers his hand gave new life's
en 1912. Que dois-je ajouter aujourd'hui hopes to, and kneeling as I did beside
en aofit 1921, aprks les horribles guerres qui Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Marvelous
viennent de mettre l'humanitC 2i feu et 2 Manifestation, felt the spirit's immortal
sang, tout en dCvoilant plus que jamais la love of Him who rests there. While I could
terrible fCrocitC de nos passions haineuses? not speak the words of the Litany, my soul
Rien, sinon que nous devons demeurer d'au- knew the wondrous meaning, for every
tant plus fermes, d'autant plus inkbranlables word was a word of the soul's language that
dans notre lutte pour le Bien social. Nos speaks of the Eternal love and care of the
enfants ne doivent pas se dkcourager; ils Eternal Father. So softly and so living were
doivent au contraire profiter du chaos the reflections from his beautiful personality,
mondial actuel pour aider 2i la pQible orga- that one needed not spoken words to be in-
nisation supkieure et supranationale de terpreted. And this Pilgrim came away re-
L'humanitk, 2i l'aide d'une fCdCration univer- newed and refreshed to such a degree, that
selle des peuples. the hard bands of formalism were replaced
En 1920 seulement j'ai appris ?i con- by the freedom of love and light that will
naitre, $ Karlsruhe, la religion supraconfes- ever make that sojourn there the prize mem-
sionnelle et mondiale des Bahi'is fondke en ory and the Door of revelation never to be
Orient par le person Bahi'u'lllih il y a 70 closed again, and never becloud the glorious
ans. C'est la vraie religion du Bien social Truth of Universal Brotherhood. A calm,
humain, sans dogmes, ni prbtres, reliant and glorious influence that claims the heart
entre eux tous les hommes sur notre petit and whispers to each of the pulsing leaves
globe terrestre. Je suis devenu Baha"i. Que of the great family in all experiences of life,
cette religion vive et prosphre pour le bien "Be not afraid. It is I!"-And makes us
de l'humanitC; c'est 12 mon voeu le plus long to help all the world to know the mean-
ardent. . . . ing of those words spoken by The Great
Revealer, "Let us strive with heart and soul
that unity may dwell in the world." And
to catch the greatness of the word "Strive,"
Having been engaged all of his life in the in quietness and reflection.
training of men, he does this (i.e., write on
the subject of religion) more as a "shepherd
of a flock" might do, in hope of persuading BY RENWICKJ. G. MILLAR
his friends and brothers to turn spontane- Editor of John O'Groat Journal, Wick,
ously to the Illumined Path of the Great Scotland
Revelation.
I was in Chicago for only some ten days,
yet it would take a hundred chapters to
describe all the splendid sights and institu-
tions I was privileged to see. No doubt Chi-
The Enlightener of human minds in re- cago has more thin its fair share of alien
spect to their religious foundations and gangsters and gunmen, and the despicable
APPRECIATIONS O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH 635

doings of this obnoxious class has badly reason save that they told me I had touched
vitiated its civic life and reputation. But for the chords of truth and sincerity in referring
all that it is a magnificent city-in many to and reviewing the Bah2i writings and
respects probably the finest in America; a principles in a few short articles in this
city of which its residents have innumerable Journal. The Temple is designed to repre-
reasons to be proud. . . . sent these principles-universal religion,
Every day indeed was filled up with sight- universal brotherhood, universal education,
seeing and the enjoyment of lavish hospi- and the union of science and religion. Mean-
tality. One day, for example, I was enter- time the Chicagoans are seemingly indiffer-
tained to lunch at the Illinois Athletic Club ent to all its spiritual significance; but some
as the guest of Mr. Robert Black, a pros- day they will wake up to a realisation of the
perous Scot belonging to Wigtonshire, who fact that its symbolism will mark the city
is in the building trade. He is an ex-presi- as one of destiny in the world.
dent of the St. Andrew's Society. Mr. Fal-
coner and other Scots' friends were present,
and they were all exceedingly kind and com-
plimentary. I could not, in short, have been
treated vith more distinction if I had been Editor, Pasadena Star News
a prominent Minister of State instead of a
humble Scottish journalist out on a mission Humanity is the better, the nobler, for
of fraternity and good will. the Bahb'i Faith. It is a Faith that enriches
On the same day I met by appointment the soul; that takes from life its dross.
Mr. Albert R. Windust with whom I went I am prompted thus to express myself be-
out to see the Bahb'i Temple which is in cause of what I have seen, what I have
course of being erected at Wilmette, a heard, what I have read of the results of the
suburb of Chicago on the shore of Lake Movement founded by the Reverend Bah5'-
Michigan. It is about an hour's ride out on u'lllh. Embodied within that Movement is
the elevated railway. Only the foundation the spirit of world brotherhood; that broth-
and basement have so far been constructed, erhood that makes for unity of thought and
and the work was meanwhile stopped, but, action.
we understand, is now shortly to be re- Though not a member of the Bahb'i
sumed. I have no hesitation in saying that Faith, I sense its tremendous potency for
when completed this Temple will be one of good. Ever is it helping to usher in the
the most beautiful pieces of architecture in dawn of the day of "Peace on Earth Good
the world. I had the privilege of an intro- Will to Men." By the spread of its teachings,
duction to the architect, a Frenchman, M. the Bahb'i cause is slowly, yet steadily,
Bourgeois, who speaks English fluently. We making the Golden Rule a practical reality.
spent a considerable time with him in his With the high idealism of Bahl'u'llfih as
beautiful studio overlooking the Lake, and its guide, the Bahb'i Faith is as the shining
he did me the honour of showing me the light that shineth more and more unto the
plans of the Temple, drawings which cost perfect day. Countless are its good works.
him years of toil, and they are far beyond For example, to the pressing economic
anything I could have imagined in beauty problems it gives a new interpretation, a
and spiritual significance. M. Bourgeois, new solution. But above all else it is causing
who is well advanced in years, is a genius peoples everywhere to realize they are as
and mystic-a gentleman of charming per- one, by heart and spirit divinely united.
sonality. In all that I had the pleasure of And so I find joy in paying this little
seeing in his studio I had a privilege that is tribute to a cause that is adding to the sweet-
given to few. My signatme is in his per- ness, the happiness, the cleanness of life.
sonal book, which contains the names of
some of the great ones of the earth! Mr.
Windust, who is a leading Bahb'i in the city,
is a quiet and humble man, but full of fine
ideas and ideals. He treated me with the My contact with the Bahb'i Movement
utmost brotherly courtesy. How is it, I kept and my acquaintance with its teachings,
asking myself, that it should be mine to have given by Hadrat-i-Bahb'u'lllh, have filled
all this privilege and honour? There was no me with real joy, as I see that this Move-
636 THE BAH 'f W O R L D

ment, so cosmopolitan in its appeal, and so 2.
spiritual in its advocacy of Truth, is sure to
bring peace and joy to the hearts of millions. ". . . Shoghi Effendi's statement cannot
Free from metaphysical subtleties, prac- be improved upon. The Bahb'is have had
tical in its outlook, above all sectarianism, the soundest position on the race question
and based on God, the substratum of the of any religion. They not only accept the
human soul and the phenomenal world, the scientific conclusions but they also imple-
Bahb'i Movement carries peace and illumi- ment them with spiritual force. This latter is
nation with it. necessary because there is no other way to
As long as it is kept free from orthodoxy overcome the emotional element which is
and church-spirit, and above personalities, it basic in the race problem. . . .
will continue to be a blessing to its fol- "I have not said enough perhaps in the
lowers. first paragraph. Please add the following:
The task of learning to live together, though
different, is the most difficult and the most
imperative that the world faces. The eco-
nomic problem will be relatively easy in
I am in entire sympathy with all of the comparison. There are differences in the
principles that the Bahb'i Movement stands qualities of cultures but there are no differ-
for; there is nothing which is contrary to ences in qualities of races that correspond.
what I am preaching. I think at this stage This being recognized by minorities leads
of the world such teachings are needed more them to resist methods of force to keep
than anything else. I find the keynote of the them in subordination. There is no solution
Teachings is the spiritual regeneration of except cooperation and the granting of self-
the world. The world is getting more and respect."
more spiritually bankrupt every day, and if
it requires anything it requires spiritual life.
The Bahb'i Movement stands above all BY VISCOUNTHERBERT SAMUELOF
caste, creed and color and is based on pure CARMEL,G.C.B., G.B.E., M.P.
spiritual unity. In John O'Londoiz's Weekly,
March 25, 1933.

In World Unity Magazine It is possible indeed to pick out points
of fundamental agreement among all creeds.
That is the essential purpose of the Bahb'i
The central drive of the BahB'i Move- Religion, the foundation and growth of
ment is for human unity. It would secure which is one of the most striking move-
this through unprejudiced search for truth, ments that have proceeded from the East in
making religion conform to scientific dis- recent generations.
covery and insisting that fundamentally all
religions are alike. For the coming of uni-
versal peace, there is great foresight and
wisdom as to details. Among other things If one were compelled to choose which of
there should be a universal language; so the the many religious communities of the
Bahb'is take a great interest in Esperanto world was closest to the aim and purpose of
though they do not insist on it as the ulti- this Congress, I think one would be obliged
mate language. No other religious move- to say that it was the comparatively little
ment has put so much emphasis on the known Bahb'i Community. Other faiths and
eli~ancipation and education of women. creeds have to consider, at a Congress like
Everyone should work whether rich or poor this, in what way they can contribute to the
and poverty should be abolished. . . . What idea of world fellowship. But the Bahb'i
will be the course of the BahVi Movement Faith exists almost for the sole purpose of
no one can prophesy, but I think it is no contributing to the fellowship and the unity
exaggeration to claim that the program is of mankind.
the finest fruit of the religious contribution Other communities may consider how far
of Asia. a particular element of their respective faith
APPRECIATIONS OF

may be regarded as similar to those of other (Introductory address delivered at the
communities, but the BahL'i Faith exists for BahL'i session of the World Congress of
the purpose of combining in one synthesis Faiths, held in London, July, 1936.)
all those elements in the various faiths
which are held in common. And that is why
I suggest that this Bahi'i community is
really more in agreement with the main idea In 1920 I was appointed as the first High
which has led to the summoning of the Con- Commissioner for Palestine under the Brit-
gress than any particular one of the great ish Mandate, and took an early opportunity
religious communities of the world. of paying a visit to 'Abdu'l-Bahi Effendi at
Its origin was in Persia where a mystic His home in Haifa.
prophet, who took the name of the Bkb, the I had for some time been iilterested in the
"Gate," began a mission among the Persians BahB'i movement, and felt privileged by the
in the earl& part of the nineteenth century. opportunity of making the acquaintance of
He collected a considerable number of ad- its Head. I had also an official reason as well
herents. His activities were regarded with as a personal one. 'Abdu'l-BahB had been
apprehension by the Government of Persia persecuted by the Turks.
of that day. Finally, he and his leading dis- A British rCgime had now been substi-
ciples were seized by the forces of the Per- tuted in Palestine for the Turkish. Tolera-
sian Government and were shot in the year tion and respect for all religions had long
1850. In spite of the persecution, the move- been a principle of British rule wherever it
ment spread in Persia and in many countries extended; and the visit of the High Com-
of IslBm. He was followed as the head of missioner was intended to be a sign to the
the Community by the one who has been its population that the adherents of every creed
principal prophet and exponent, Bahi'u'lltih. would be able to feel henceforth that they
He was most active and despite persecution enjoyed the respect and could count upon
and imprisonment made it his life's mission the goodwill of the new Government of the
to spread the creed which he claimed to land.
have received by direct divine revelation. I was impressed, as was every visitor, by
He died in 1892 and was succeeded as the 'Abdu'l-BahB's dignity, grace and charm. Of
head of the Community by his son, 'Abdu'l- moderate stature, His strong features and
BahL, who was born in 1844. He was living lofty expression lent to His personality an
in Haifa, in a simple house, when I went appearance of majesty. In our conversation
there as High Commissioner in 1920, and I He readily explained and discussed the prin-
had the privilege of one or two most inter- cipal tenets of BahL'i, answered my inquiries
esting conversations with him on the prin- and listened to my comments. I remember
ciples and methods of the BahB'i Faith. He vividly that friendly interview of sixteen
died in 1921 and his obsequies were at- years ago, in the simple room of the villa,
tended by a great concourse of people. I had surrounded by gardens, on the sunny hill-
the honour of representing His Majesty the side of Mount Carmel.
King on that occasion. I was glad I had paid my visit so soon,
Since that time, the Bahi'i Faith has se- for in 1921 'Abdu'l-BahB died. I was only
cured the support of a very large number of able to express my respect for His creed
communities throu~hout
" the world. At the and my regard for His person by coming
present time it is estimated that there are from the capital to attend His funeral. A
about eight hundred Bahfi communities in great throng had gathered together, sorrow-
various countries. In the United States, near ing for His death, but rejoicing also for His
Chicago, a great Temple, now approaching life.
completion, has been erected by American
adherents of the Faith, with assistance from
elsewhere. Shoghi Effendi, the grandson of
'Abdu'l-BahB, is now the head of the com-
munity. He came to England and was edu- (From Rev. K. T. Chung's Preface to the
cated at Balliol College, Oxford, but now Chinese version of Dr. Esslemont's
lives in Haifa, and is the center of a com- Book.)
munity which has spread throughout the Last summer upon my return from a visit
world. to Japan, I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs.
APPRECIATIONS O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH 639

onstrate that each great religious movement ple, whatever may be their religious tradi-
in the world has contributed something of tion, it is predominantly a characteristic of
peculiar importance to the spiritual life of BahL'iism; since here is a religious system
man. Thus, he says, the great contribu- based, fundamentally, on the one, simple,
tion of Zoroastrianism has been the thought profound, comprehensive doctrine of the
of Purity; of Brahmanism that of Justice; unity of God, which carries with if, as its
of Muhammadanism that of Submission; of necessary corollary and consequence, the
Christianity that of Service; and so on. In parallel doctrine of the unity of Man.
each i n s t i c e he lays his finger on the one This, at all events, is the conviction of
thing par excellence for which the particu- the present writer; and it is why, as a Uni-
lar religious culture seemed to him to stand, tarian, building his own faith on the same
and tries to catch its special contribution in basic principles of divine and human unity,
an epigrammatic phrase. Coming, in this he has long felt sympathy with and good
way, to BahL'iism, he names it "the Reli- will toward a religious culture which stands
gion of Reconciliation." In his chapter on on a foundation identical with that of the
BahL'iism he says: faith he holds. And a religion that affirms
"The BahL'i religion has made its way be- the unity of things must of necessity be a
cause it meets the need of the day. It fits religion of reconciliation; the truth of which
the larger outlook of our time, better than in the case of BahL'iism is clear.
the rigid older faiths. A characteristic is its
unexpected liberality and toleration. It ac-
cepts all the great religions as true and their
scriptures as inspired."
These, then, as he sees BahL'iism, are its Passage tire de Les ApGtres, Edition LCvy,
essential features: liberality, toleration, the Paris, 1866
spirit of reconciliation; and that, not in the
sense, as Mr. H. G. Wells has it in his Soul Notre sibcle a vu des mouvements reli-
of a Bishop, of making a "collection" of gieux tout aussi extraordinaires que ceux
approved portions of the world's varied and d'autrefois, mouvements qui ont provoqu6
differing creeds, but in the sense, as he also autant d'enthousiasme, qui ont eu dCjh, pro-
puts it in the same book, of achieving a portion gardBe, plus de martyrs, et dont
great "simplification." I'avenir est encore incertain.
"BahL'iists," says Dr. Davis, "bid the fol- Je ne parle pas des Mormons, secte h
lowers of these (that is, the world's) faiths quelques Cgards si sotte et si abjecte que
disentangle from the windings of racial, par- Son hCsite h la prendre au sCrieux.
ticularist, local prejudices, the vital, im- I1 est instructif, cependant, de voir en
mortal thread of the pure gospel of eternal plein 19bme sihcle des milliers d'hommes de
worth, and to apply this essential element notre race vivant dans le miracle, croyant
to life." avec une foi aveugle des merveilles qu'ils
That is Dr. Davis's interpretation of the disent avoir vues et touchBes. I1 y a d6jh
genius of BahL'iism, and that it is a true one, toute une littBrature pour montrer I'accord
no one who has studied Bahgiism, even du Mormonisme et de la science; ce qui
superficially, can question, least of all the vaut mieux, cette religion, fondBe sur de
outsider. Indeed one may go further and as- niaises impostures, a su accomplir des pro-
sert that no one who has studied BahViism, diges de patience et d'abnhgation; dans cinq
whether superficially or otherwise, would cents ans des docteurs prouveront sa divinit6
wish to question it; particularly if he ap- par les merveilles de son Btablissement.
proaches the subject from a liberal and un- Le Bibisme, en Perse, a CtC un phBno-
prejudiced point of view. In the last act of nlbne autrement considCrable. Un homme
his Wandering Jew, Mr. Temple Thurston doux et sans aucune prktention, une sorte
puts into the mouth of Matteos, the Wan- de Spinoza modeste el pieux, s'est vu, pres-
dering Jew himself, the splendid line, "All que malgr6 lui, &lev6 au rang de thauma-
men are Christians-all are Jews." He might turge d'incarnation divine, et est devenu le
equally well have written, "All men are chef d'une secte nombreuse, ardente et fa-
Christians-all are Bah&'is." For, if the natique, qui a failli amener une r6volution
sense of the Unity of Truth is a predomi- comparable & celle de I'IslLm. Des milliers
nant characteristic of liberally-minded peo- de martyrs sont accourus pour lui avec Val-
640 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

lBgresse audevant de la mort. Un jour sans des faubourgs se dirigeaient par troupes de
pareil peut-&tredans l'histoire du monde fut ce ~ 8 t h .
celui de la grande boucherie qui se fit des Cela se passait en 1852. La secte de
Bhbis, B TChban. "On vit ce jour-li dans Mozdak sous Chosroh Nousch fut CtouffCe
les rues et les bazars de TChCran," dit un dans un pareil bain de sang. Le dCvoue-
narrateur qui a tout su d'original, "un spec- rnent absolu est pour les nations nayves la
tacle que la population semble devoir n'ou- plus exquise des jouissances et une sorte de
blier jamais. Quand la conversation encore besoin. Dans l'affaire des BLbibis, on vit des
aujourd'hui se met sur cette matibre, on gens qui Btaient B peine de la secte, venir se
peut juger l'adrniration m&lCed'horreur que dCnoncer eux-mCmes afin qu'on les adjoignit
la foule Cprouve et que les annCes n'ont pas aux patients. I1 est si doux B l'homme de
diminuke. On vit s'avancer entre les bour- souffrir pour quelque chose, que dans bien
reaux des enfants et des femmes les chairs des cas l'apph du martyre suffit pour faire
ouvertes sur tout le corps, avec des mbches croire.
allumCes, flambantes, fichCes, dans les bles- Un disciple qui fut le campagnon de sup-
sures. On trainait les victimes par des cordes plice du BLb, suspendu B cBt6 de lui aux
et on les faisait marcher B coups de fouet. remparts de Tabru et attendant la mort,
Enfants et femmes s'avan~aienten chantant n'avait qu'un mot B la bauche: "Es-tu con-
un verset qui dit: En vCritC nous venons de tent de moi, maitre?"
Dieu et nous retournons B Lui. Leurs voix
s7C1evaient, Cclatantes, au-dessus du silence
profond de la foule. Quand un des sup- BY THE HON. LILIANHELENMONTAGUE,
pliciCs tombait et qu'on le faisait relever B J.P., D.H.L.
coups de fouet ou de ba'ionnette, pour peu As a Jewess I am interested in the BahPi
que la perte de son sang qui ruisselait sur Community. The teaching lays particular
tous ses membres lui IaissLt encore un peu stress on the Unity of God and the Unity
de force, il se mettait B danser et criait avec of Man, and incorporates the doctrine of
un surcroid'enthousiasme: "En v6ritC nous the Hebrew Prophets that the Unity of God
sommes B Dieu et nous retournons B Lui." is revealed in the Unity of Men. Also, we
Quelques-uns des enfants expirbrent pendant seem to share the conception of God's mes-
le trajet; les bourreaux jetbrent leurs corps sengers as being those people who in their
sous les pieds de leurs pbres et de leurs deep reverence for the attributes of God,
soeurs, qui marchbrent fikrement dessus et His beauty, His truth, His righteousness and
ne leur donnbrent pas deux regards. Quand His justice, seek to imitate Him in their im-
on arriva au lieu d'exkcution, on proposa perfect human way. The light of God is re-
encore aux victimes la vie pour leur abjura- flected in the soul of him who seeks to be
tion. Un bourreau imagina de dire B un pbre receptive. Like the members of the BahL'i
que, s'il ne cCdait pas, il couperait la gorge community, we Jews are scattered all over
B ses deux fils sur sa poitrine. C'Ctaient deux the world, but united in a spiritual brother-
petits garGons dont l'ainC avait 14 ans et qui, hood. The Peace ideal enumerated by the
rouges de leur sang, les chairs calcinCes, Hebrew Prophets is founded on faith in the
Ccoutaient froidement le dialogue; le pbre ultimate triumph of God's justice and right-
rkpondit, en se couchant par terre, qu'il eousness.
Ctait prCt et I'ainC des enfants, rhclamant
avec emportement son droit d'ainesse, de-
manda i Stre 6gorgC le premier? Enfin tout BY PROF.NORMANBENTWICH
fut ached. La nuit tomba sur un amas de
chairs informes; les t6tes Ctaient attachges Hebrew University, Jerusalem
en paquets au poteau justicier et les chiens (From "Palestine," by Norman Bentwich,
p. 235.)
1 Un autre d6tail que je tiens de source premiere Palestine may indeed be now regarded
est celui-ci: Ouelaues sectaires. au'on voulait amener as the land not of three but of four faiths,
A retractation; fuient attach& 'A ia gueule de canons
arnorc6s d'une mkche longue et brillant lentement. because the Bahti'i creed, which has its cen-
On leur ~ r o ~ o s a ide
t couuer la mbche. s'ils reniaient ter of faith and pilgrimage in 'AkkL and
le B&b. E&, les bras tendus vers 1; feu, le sup- Haifa, is attaining to the character of a
pliaient de se hater de venir bien vite consommer
leur bonheur. world-religion. So far as its influence goes
APPRECIATIONS OF T H E BAHA'I FAITH 641

in the land, it is a factor making for inter- prbtres, disent les Bahi't'istes, sont tentCs de
national and inter-religious understanding. fausser, dans un but de lucre, l'idhalisme
dCsintCressC des crhateurs de religions.
BahB'u'lltih, le principal des trois pro-
ph&tes, rkpandit sa doctrine non seulement
en Orient, mais dans beaucoup de pays
&Europe, et surtout aux Gtats-Unis oh son
influence fut telle que le nombre des BahL'i-
Trois prophdtes istes attient aujourd'hui plusieurs millions.
I1 fut persCcutC par les Perses et mourut en
(From Les Echos, Paris, France, September exil.
27, 1933.) Son fils, 'Abdu'l-Bahi, lui succ6da et for-
Alors que le marxisme soviktique pro- mula, d'aprb les principes de son pkre, la
clame le mathrialisme historique, alors que doctrine Cconomique du BahL'iisme; elle
les jeunes gCnCrations sionistes sont Cgale- indique une prescience Ctonnante des
ment de plus en plus ind8Crentes aux CvCnements qui se sont dCroulCs depuis:
croyances Ctablies, une nouvelle religion est la guerre d'abord, la crise ensuite. I1
nCe en Orient, et sa doctrine prend, dans mourut peu apres la guerre, ayant vu la
les circonstances actuelles, un intCrbt d'au- rkalisation de la premiere partie de ses pro-
tant plus grand que, sYCcartantdu domaine phkties.
purement philosophique, elle prkconise en L'originalitC du Bahi'iisme est de cher-
Cconomie politique des solutions qui co'inci- cher B faire passer dans le domaine prati-
dent curieusement avec les prCoccupations que, et plus particulierement dans le do-
de notre Cpoque. maine social, les principes essentiels du
Cette religion, de plus, est par essence judaysme, du catholicisme et de l'islamisme,
antiraciste. Elle est nCe en Perse, vers 1840, en les combinant et en les adaptant aux be-
et les trois prophetes successifs qui l'ont soins de notre Cpoque.
pr3chke sont des Persans, c'est-8-dire des La Bahi'iisme proclame que les rapports
musulmans de naissance. sociaux deviennent fatalement impossibles
Le premier, le crCateur, s'appelait le Bib. dans une sociCt6 oh l'idkalisme individuel ne
I1 prbcha vers 1850, et prbconisa, outre la donne pas une base certaine aux engage-
rCconciliation des diffCrents cultes qui divi- ments qui lient les hommes entre eux.
sent l'humanitk, la libCration de la femme, L'individu se sent de plus en plus is016
rCduite aujourd'hui encore b un quasi escla- au milieu d'une jungle sociale qui menace, $
vage dans tout 1'Islim. beaucoup d'Cgards, son bien-8tre et sa sC-
Une Persane d'une rare beautk, et qui, curitb. La bonne volontC et l'honn8tet6, ne
chose rare chez les musulmanes, Ctait douCe produisant plus dans sa vie et dans son tra-
d'un grand talent oratoire, rkpondant au vail le rksultat qu'il attend, tendent B perdre
nom difficile B prononcer de Qourratou-'1- pour lui toute valeur pratique. De lb nais-
'Kin, l'accompagna dans ses rkunions, sent, selon les caractdres, l'indiffkrence et le
n'hksitant pas, en donnant elle-mbme dkcouragement, ou l'audace, le manque
l'exemple, B prkconiser la suppression du de scrupules qui tendent ?I se procurer
voile pour les femmes. par tous les moyens, mbme les plus rCprC-
Le Bib et elle rkussirent ?I convaincre, hensibles, les bknkfices matQiels nCcessaires
l'kpoque, des dizaines de milliers de Persans b l'existence.
et le shah de Perse les emprisonna l'un et La sociCt6, n'ktant plus soumise B aucun
l'a~~tre, ainsi que la plupart de leurs parti- contrble, ni politique ni moral, devient un
sans. Le Bib fut pendu. Sa belle collabora- vaisseau sans gouvernail oh personne ne
trice fut CtranglCe dans sa prison. Leurs peut plus rien prCvoir et qui est sujet b des
disciples furent exiles b Saint-Jean-*Acre, crises de plus en plus frkquentes et de plus
devenue temple du "BahL'iisme." C'est ainsi en plus violentes. L'kpoque actuelle, dCcla-
que j'ai visit6 la maison du successeur du rent les prophktes persans, marque la fin
BBb, Bah&'u'll&h, transformke aujourd'hui d'une civilisation qui ne sert plus les in-
en temple du "BahB'iisme." C'est ainsi que tCrbts de l'humanitk.
s'intitule cette religion, qui est plutbt une Elle aboutit B la faillite complete des in-
doctrine philosophique, car elle ne comporte stitutions morales et matkrielles destinCes $
ni culte dhfini, ni surtout de clergk. Les assurer le bien-btre et la skcuritb des hom-
APPRECIATIONS O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH 643

dhmocratique, ni le principe aristocratique 3.
ne peuvent fournir shpar6ment i la sociCtC
une base solide. La democratie est impuis- (Excerpt from a letter dated October 29,
sante contre les querelles intestines et l'aris- 1934.)
tocratie ne subsiste que par la guerre. Une MalgrC les tristesses de notre 6poque et
combinaison des deux principes est donc put-8tre rngme cause #elles, je reste con-
n6cessaire. vaincue que les id6es 2 la fois divines et
"En cette pCriode de transition entre le humaines qui sent l'essence du Bah$iisme
vieil bge de la concurrence et 1'8re nouvelle finiront par triompher, pourvu que chacun
de la coopCration, la vie m8me de l'huma- de ce, qui en comprennent yimmense in-
nit6 est en phril. Les ambitions nationalistes, thr8t continue quai qu'il advienne & les ah-
la lutte des classes, la peur et le C O ~ V O ~ ~ ~fendre
S ~ S et $ les propager.
Cconomiques sont auiant de forces qui pous-
sent & une nouvelle guerre internationale.
Tous les Gouvernements du monde doivent
soutenir et organiser une assemblke dont les BY MISS HELENKELLER
membres soient 6lus par 1'Clite des nations. (1, a personal letter written to an American
Ceux-ci devront mettre au point, au-dessus g i having read something from
~ ~ h after
des Cgoi'smes particuliers, le nouveau statut the ill^ edition of ~ ~ h k ~ ~and l l the
h h
Cconomique du monde en dehors d u q ~ ~ e l N,, E,.~.)
tous les pays, mais surtout l'Europe, seront
conduits aux pires catastrophes." The philosophy of BahL'u'll6h deserves
'Abdu9l-Bah6, son successeur, reprenant the best thought we can give it. I a m re-
la doctrine de son pbre, concluait dans un turning the book that people
discours prouoncC & New-York en 1912: who have more leisure than myself may be
y a civilisation mathrielle a atteint, en "shown a ray of Divinity" and their hearts
accident, le plushaut degrk de son dgvelop- be "bathed in an inundation of eternal
pernent. Mais c'est en Orient qu'a pris nais- love."
sance et que s'est dhVelopp6e la civilisation I take this 'pportunity to you
spirituelle. Un lien s'htablira entre ces deux your kind me, and the in-
forces, et lenr union est la condition de spiration which even the most cursory read-
rimmense progrhs qui doit ctre accompli. ing of Bah6'uYll6h's life cannot fail to im-
- H de~ 12,~la ~s6curit6 et la confiance part. What nobler theme than the "good
feront de plus en plus dCfaut, Ies luttes et the and the Of the na-
les dissensions s'accroitront de jour en jour tions" can OCCUPY Our lives? The message
et les divergences entre nations syaccentue- of universal Peace will surely prevail. It is
rant &vantage. Les pays augmenteront useless to combine Or conspire against an
constamment leurs armements; la guerre, idea which has in it Potency to a
puis la d'une autre guerre rnondi- new earth and a new heaven and to quicken
ale angoisseront de plus en plus les esprits. human with a passion Of
L'unitC du genre humain est le premier fon- ice. --
dement de toutes les vertus."
Ainsi parla 'Abdu'l- ah& en 1912, et tout BY DR. ROKUICHIRO MASUJIMA
se passa comme il l'avait pr6dit.
Mais ces paroles n'ont pas vieilli; elles "The Japanese race is of rational mind.
pourraient, sans le moindre changement, No superstition can play with it. Japan is
8tre rCpCtCes en 1933. Aujourd'hui, comme the only country in the world where re-
il y a vingt ans, la menace de la guerre est ligious tolerance has always existed. The
de nouveau suspendue au-dessus de nos t8tes Japanese Emperor is the patron of all re-
ligious teachings. The BahL'i publications
et les causes de haines et de conflits s'accu-
now form part of His Majesty's Library as
mulent $ tel point que, s'il existe vraiment
accepted by the Imperial House. . . .
u n flux el: un reflux des idCes, on peut 'The search for truth and universal edu-
presque conclure, avec une certaine dose cation inculcated by the Bah6'i Teachings,
d'optimisme, que nous n'avons jamais 6th if soundly conducted, cannot fail to interest
si pr2.s de venir aux idCes de coop6ration the Japanese mind. BahL'iism is bound to
qui, seules, peuvent nous sauver. permeate the Japanese race in a short time."
644 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

BY SIR FLINDERSPETRIE "The morals of humanity must undergo
change. New remedy and solution for hu-
(In a letter to the Daily Sketch, London, man problems must be adopted. Human
England, December 16, 1932.) intellects themselves must change and be
The Bah&i' Movement of Persia should be subject to the universal reformation." In
a welcome adjunct to tme Christianity; we these three sentences we really have it all.
must always remember how artificial the
growth of ati in Christian ideas has been as
comvared with the wide and less defined BY H. R. H. PRINCESS
OLGAOF YUGOSLAVIA
beliifs native to early Christian faith. H. R. H. Princess Olga, wife of H. R. H.
Prince Regent Paul of Yugoslavia, daughter
of H. R. H. Prince Nicholas of Greece and
BY FORMERpRESIDEN~
MASARYK
OF cousin of His Majesty King George I1 of
CZECHOSLOVAKIA Greece, is deeply interested in religion and
in education, and her wonderful kindnesses
(In an audience with an American BahL'i to every one have been commented upon
journalist in Praha, in 1928.) beautifully in several English books and
Continue to do what you are doing, magazinei as well as by the Balkan press.
spread these principles of humanity and do "I like the BahL'i Teachings for universal
not wait for the diplomats. Diplomats alone education and universal peace," said this
cannot bring the peace, but it is a great gracious Princess in her charming villa on
thing that official people begin to speak the Hill of Topcidor, Belgrade, on January
about these universal peace principles. Take 16, 1936; "I like the BahBi Movement and
these principles to the diplomats, to the uni- the Young Men's Christian Association, for
versities and colleges and other schools, and both are programs to unite religions. With-
also write about them. It is the people who out unity no man can live in happiness."
will bring the universal peace. Princess though she is, she stressed the im-
portant truth that every man must do his
job! "We are all sent into this world for a
purpose and people are too apt to forget the
Presence of God and true religion. I wish
Archduchess Anton of Austria, who be- the BahBi Movement every success in the
fore her marriage was Her Royal Highness accomplishment of its high ideals."
Princess Ileana of Rumania, in an audi-
ence with Martha L. Root, June 19, 1934,
in Vienna, gave the following statement
for The Bahd'i World, Vol. V: "I like the
BahBi Movement, because it reconciles all (Excerpt from Cosmoine'tnpolis, 1935, pp.
Faiths, and teaches that science is from God 108-109.)
as well as religion, and its ideal is peace."
Nous avons track dans ces pages seule-
ment la signification du Bahb'iisme, sans
examiner tous ses principes et son pro-
gramme pratique dans lequel sont harmo-
nisCes avec I'idCal religieux "les aspirations
American Historian et les objectifs de la science sociale." Mais
on doit attirCr l'attention de tous les esprits
(Excerpt from personal letter dated May 18, libres sur ce mouvement, dont les promo-
1934.) teurs ont le mCrite d'avoir contribuk B la
I have had on my desk, and have read clarification de l'ancienne controverse entre
several times, the three extracts from la religion et la science-et d'avoir donnC
'Abdu'l-BahL's Message of Social Regenera- ii maint homme un peu de leur tolCrance et
tion. Taken together, they form an un- de leur optimisme: "L'humanitB Ctait jus-
answerable argument and plea for the only qu'ici restCe dans le stade de l'enfance; elle
way that the world can be made over. If approche maintenant de la maturitCW
we could put into effect this program, we ('Abh'l-Bah6, Washington, 1912).
should indeed have a new world order. Qui osera r6pCter aujoma'hui, dans la
APPRECIATIONS O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH 645

m61Ce des haines nationales et sociales, cette will, and that Bahi'u'llgh Himself is the
sentence de progrks? C'est un Oriental qui Creator of an eternal bond between the
nous a dit cela, a nous, orgueilleux ou scep- East and the West. . . . The BahB'i Teach-
tiques Occidentaux. Nous voudrions voir ing is a living religion, a living philoso-
aujourd'hui, dans l'Allemagne hitlkriste, phy. . . .
dans les pays terroris& par le fascisme, I do not blame Christianity, it has done
paralyds par la dictature politique,-un a good work for culture in Europe, but
spectacle dCcrit par le suisse Auguste Forel there are too many dogmas in Christianity
d'aprb l'anglais Sprague qui a vue en Bir- at the present time. . . . Buddhism was
manie et en Inde, des Bouddhistes, des very good for India from the sixth centuly
MahomCtans, des ChrCtiens et des Juifs, B.C. and the Teachings of Christ have been
qui allaient bras-dessus bras-dessous, comme good for the whole world; but as there is
des frkres. "au grand Ctonnement de la
L.
a progress of mind there must be no stop-
population qui n'a jamais vu une chose pa- ping and in the Bah6'i Faith one sees the
reille!" continued progress of religion.

BY ARTHURHENDERSON
BY PRINCESSMARIEANTOINETTE
(Excerpt from a letter dated January 26, DE BROGLIE
AUSSENAC
1935.)
I have read the pamphlet on the New A cette Cpoque oh l'humanitk semble sor-
tie d'un long sommeil pour revivre B SEsprit,
World Order by Shoghi Effendi. It is an
consciemment ou inconsciemment, l'homme
eloquent expression of the doctrines which
cherche et s1C1ance B la poursuite de l'in-
I have always associated with the Bah6'i
visible et de sciences qui nous y conduisent.
Movement and I would like to express my
L'angoisse religieuse aussi n'a jamais CtC
great sympathy with the aspirations towards
plus intense.
world unity which underlie his teaching.
Par sa grande kvolution l'homme actuel
est pr6t recevoir le grand message de
BahB'u'llAh dans son mouvement synthCti-
que qui nous fait passer de l'ancienne com-
pr6hension des divisions B la comprChension
modern oh nous cherchons ii suivre les on-
The conditions are so changed now, since des qui se propagent traversant toute limita-
the technique of the present time has de- tion humaine et de la crCation.
stroyed the barriers between nations, that Chaque combat que nous livrons B nos
the world needs a uniting force, a kind of penchants nous dCgage des voiles qui &pa-
super-religion. I think Bahi'iism could de- rent le monde visible du monde invisible et
velop to such a kind of religion. I am quite augmente en nous cette capacit6 de percep-
convinced of it, so far as I know the Teach- tion et de s'accorder aux longueurs d'ondes
ings of BahB'u'llkh. . . . There are modern les plus variCes, de vibrer au contact des
saviors and Bah$u'Il&h is a Savior of the rythmes les plus divers de la crCation.
twentieth century. Everything must be done Tout ce qui nous vient directement de la
on a democratic basis, there must be inter- nature est toujours harmonie absolue. Le
national brotherhood. We must learn to tout est de capter l'hquilibre de toute chose
have confidence in ourselves and then in et lui donner la voix au moyen d'un instru-
others. One way to learn this is through in- ment capable d'6mettre les mgmes harmo-
ner spiritual education, and a way to attain nies que notre Bme, ce qui nous fait vibrer
such an education may be through Bah6'i- et devenir le lien entre le pass6 et l'avenir en
ism. attaignant une nouvelle 6tape correspondant
B l'6volution du monde.
En religion, la Cause de BahL'u'll5h, qui
est la grande rCv6lation de notre Cpoque, est
I am still of the opinion that I had four la m&me que celle du Christ, son temple et
years ago that the Bahi'i Movement can son fondement les rnGnles mis en harmonie
Por~nthe best basis for international good- avec le deg& de matnrit6 rnoderne.
646 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

BY DAVIDSTARRJORDAN truth. His words are as simple as the sun-
light; again like the sunlight, they are uni-
Late President o f Stanford University versal. . . . N~ ~ ~ I think, ~ is more~ h ~ ~
'Abdu'l-Bahi will surely unite the East important today than ' ~ b d u ' l - ~ a h i .
and the West: for He treads the mystic way
with practical feet.

BY PROF.BOGDAN POPOVITCH These writings (BahB'i) are a stirring fu-
sion of poetic beauty and religious insight.
University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia
I, like another, have been "struck by their
The Bahi'i Teaching carries in its Mes- comprehensiveness." I find they have ex-
sage a fine optimism-we must always in traordinary power to pull aside the veils
spite of everything be optimists; we must that darken my mind and to open new vi-
be optimists even when events seem to prove sions of verity and life.
the contrary! And Bahi'is can be hopeful,
for there is a power in these Teachings to
bring to humanity tranquillity, peace and a
higher spirituality.
One reason I hail with thanksgiving the
interpretation of religion known as the
Bahi'i Faith and fee1 so deep a kinship with
its followers is that I recognize in its Revela-
(Excerpt from the Roycroft Magazine) tion an outreach of the Divine to stumbling
While sectarians squabble over creeds, the humanity; a veritable thrust h o m the ra-
Bahfi Movement goes on apace. It is grow- diant Center of Life.
ing by leaps and bounds. It is hope and Every follower of this faith that I have
progress. It is a world movement-and it is ever met impressed me as a living witness
destined to spread its effulgent rays of en- to the glory at the heart of this universe.
lightenment throughout the earth until Each one seemed filled with a splendor of
every mind is free and every fear is ban- spirit so great that it overflowed all bounda-
ished. The friends of the Bahi'i Cause be- ries and poured itself out upon the world
lieve they see the dawn of the new day-the here in this moment of time, by some con-
better day-the day of Truth, of Justice, centrated act of love toward another hu-
of Liberty, of Magnanimity, of Universal man being.
Peace, and of International Brotherhood,
the day when one shall work for all, and
all shall work for one.

The lovely peace of Carmel, which still
BY LUTHERBURBANK attracts mystics of different faiths, domi-
I am heartily in accord with the Bah6'i nates ~ a i f a On
. its summit are the Druses
Movement, in which I have been interested in their two villages; at its feet the German
for several years. The religion of peace is Templars, whose avenue leads up to the now
the religion we need and always have large and beautiful terraced property of the
needed, and in this Bah6'i is more truly the Persian Bahgis on the mountainside. Here
religion of peace than any other. the tombs of the Bib and of 'Abdu'l-Bahl,
set in a fair garden, are a place of interna-
tional pilgrimage. On Sundays and holidays
BY PROF.YONENOGUCHI the citizens of Haifa of all faiths come for
rest and recreation where lie the bones of
I have heard so much about 'Abdu'l- that young prophet of Chhirb who nearly a
Bahl, whom people call an idealist, but I hundred years ago preached that all men are
should like to call Him a realist, because no one and all the great religions true, and
idealism, when it is strong and true, exists foretold the coming equality of men and
without the endorsement of realism. There women and the birth of the first League of
is nothing more real than His words on Nations.
seul au monde, entoure d'ennemis, arrive
par la force de son genie i crber une religion
Charles University, Prague, Czechoslovakia universelle et sage. Que Bahl'u'lliih lui ait,
The Bahl'is of Persia are resolutely firm par la suite, succ6d6, soit, mais je veux qu'on
in their religion. Their firmness does not admire la sublimit6 du BBb, qui a d'ailleurs
have its roots in ignorance. The Persian in- pay6 de sa vie, de son sang la r6forme qu'il
born character causes them to see things a prechbe. Citez-moi un autre exemple, sem-
somewhat too great, slightly exaggerated, blable. Enfin, je puis mourir tranquille.
and their dissensions with the ruling I s l h Gloire L Shoghi Effendi qui a calm6 mon
make them a little bitter towards it. Every- tourment et mes inquibtudes, gloire ii lui
thing else in their characters is accounted qui reconnais la valeur de Siyyid 'Ali-
for as due to their Teachings; they are won- Muhammad dit le Bib.
derfully ready to help and happy to sacrifice. Je suis si content que je baise vos mains
Faithfully they fulfill their office and profes- qui ont track mon a'dresse sur l'enveloppe
sional duties. Long ago they already solved qui m'apporte le message de Shoghi. Merci,
the problem of the Eastern woman; their Mademoiselle. Merci du fond du coeur.
children are carefully educated. They are
sometimes reproached for their lack of pa-
triotism. Certainly, as specifically Persian as
the SJhi'ih Faith, the BahL'i Faith can never
become; but the Bahl'i Religion like Chris-
tianity does not preclude the love of one's I have followed it (the Bah6'i Cause)
fatherland. . . . Are the Europeans not with deep interest ever since my trip to
sufficiently patriotic! According to my ex- London to the First Races Congress in July,
periences, the Bahl'is in that respect, are 1911, when I heard for the first time of the
very unjustly criticized by their Muham- Bahl'i Movement and its summary of the
madan brothers. During the centuries the principles for peace. I followed it during
S_hiCihReligion has developed a deep na- the war and after the war. The Bahi'i
tional tradition; with this the universal Teaching is one of the spiritual forces now
Bahl'i Faith will have a hard battle. Never- absolutely necessary to put the spirit first in
theless, the lack of so great numbers is richly this battle against material forces. . . . The
recompensed by the fervor and the inner Bah6'i Teaching is one of the great instru-
spirit of the Persian Bahl'i Community. The ments for the final victory of the spirit and
Bahl'i world community will educate char- of humanity.
acters which will appear well worthy of
emulation by people of other Faiths, yes,
even bv the world of those now enemies of
the ~ a h 6 ' Cause.
i The Bah6'i Cause is one of the great
The experience acquired in the West, for moral and social forces in all the world to-
me was fully verified also in the Persian day. I am more convinced than ever, with
Orient. .The Bahl'i Faith is undoubtedly an the increasing moral and political crises in
immense cultural value. Could all those the world, we must have greater interna-
men whose high morality I admired and still tional co-ordination. Such a movement as
admire have reached the same heights only the Bahl'i Cause which paves the way for
in another way, without it? No, never! Is universal organization of peace is necessary.
it based onlv on the noveltv of the Teach-
ings, and in the freshness of its closest fol-
lowers?
BY SIR RONALD STORRS,
K.C.M.G., C.B.E.
BY A. L. M. NICOLAS
Je ne sais comment vous remercier ni
comment vous exprimer la joie qui inonde I met 'Abdu'l-BahL first in 1900, on my
mon coeur. Ainsi donc, il faut non seule- way out from England and Constantinople
ment admettre mais aimer et admirer le B6b. through Syria to succeed Harry Boyle as
Pauvre grand Prophkte n6 au fin fond de la Oriental Secretary to the British Agency in
Perse sans aucun moyen d'instruction et qui Cairo. (The episode is fully treated in my
648 THE B A H A ' I WORLD

Orientations, published by Ivor Nicholson me from Jerusalem to organise the British
and Watson.) I drove along the beach in a Administration there. On the evening of my
cab from Haifa to 'Akki and spent a very arrival I visited my revered friend. "I found
pleasant hour with the patient but unsub- him sitting in spotless white. He placed at
dued prisoner and exile. . . . my disposal the training and talents of his
I never failed to visit Him whenever I community, and I appointed one or two to
went to Haifa. His conversation was indeed positions of trust, which they still continue
a remarkable planning, like that of an an- to deserve." Later, he visited me in Jeru-
cient prophet, far above the perplexities and salem, and was held in great esteem and re-
pettiness of Palestine politics, and elevating spect by the High Commissioner, Lord Sam-
all problems into &st principles. uel. In Egypt he presented me with a
He was kind enough to give me one or beautiful specimen of writing by the cele-
two beautiful specimens of His own hand- brated Bahi'i calligraphist, Mislhk'm-Qalam,
writing, together with that of Mibkin- and with his own Persian pen box; in Pales-
Qalarn, all of which, together with His large tine with an exquisite little Bokkara rug
signed photograph, were unfortunately from the tomb of the Blb: all three, alas,
burned in the Cyprus fire. destroyed by fire in Cyprus. When, on No-
I rendered my last sad tribute of affec- vember 29, 1921, he was buried, 10,000
tionate homage when in 1921 I accompa- men, women and children, of many varying
nied Sir Herbert Samuel to the funeral of races and creeds, walked in the funeral pro-
'Abbb Effendi. We walked at the head of cession up Mount Carmel, to lay his body
a train of all religions up the slope of Mount in the exquisite cypress-avenued shrine.
Carmel, and I have never known a more Telegrams reached Haifa from all over
united expression of regret and respect than the world. Mr. Winston Churchill, then Sec-
was called forth by the utter simplicity of retary of State for the Colonies, desired the
the ceremony. High Commissioner for Palestine to convey
to the Bah6'i Community on behalf of His
Majesty's Government their sympathy and
condolence on the death of Sir 'Abdu'l-BahB
(From an address delivered at the opening
'Abbis, K.B.E., and Field Marshal Lord Al-
of the Bahi'i Centenary Exhibition in
lenby telegraphed likewise from Egypt.
London, May, 1944.)
With 'Abbls Effendi the Apostolic and
My first connection with the Bah6'i Faith Heroic Age of the BahGi Faith is considered
dates from the beginning of this century, to be ended.
when it was my fortune and honour to be- I have not lost contact with the BahL'i
come the Arabic pupil of Edward Browne. world, and I hope I never shall. Recently I
My first glimpse of 'Abbls Effendi was in had the hono~trof receiving at the British
the summer of 1909, when I drove round the Legation in Tihrgn, a depntation of the
Bay of Acre in an Arab cab, visited him in Bahi'i Community, headed by Samimi, the
the barracks and marvelled at his serenity respected Chief Munshi of the Legation, and
and cheerfulness after 42 years of exile and Varga, President of the National Spiritual
imprisonment. I kept touch with him Assembly of the Bahi'is of Persia. Later I
through my coniidential agent, Husayn Bey was received by the Council at a tea, so
Ruhi, son of a Tabriz martyr, and the "Per- sumptuous that the remembrance adds a
sian Mystic" of my book "Orientations." sting to my British Ration Card. My diary
After the Young Turk Revolution, 'Abbis of April 5, 1943, at M l z , tells me:
Effendi was released. He visited Egypt in "After luncheon, off to visit the House of
1913, when I had the honour of looking the Blb, leaving the car for the narrow
after him, and of presenting him to Lord winding streets, and shown over by Fazlul-
Kitchener, who was deeply impressed by his lah Benana and the curator. A small but per-
personality-as who could fail to be? Then fect courtyard, with a little blue tiled, eight
war cut him off from us and it might have feet square tank, six large red goldfish, a
gone hard with him in Haifa but for the in- tiny orange tree and runner carpets round
direct interposition of His Majesty's Govern- the sides, and a narrow deep well. Above,
ment. His bed and His sitting rooms (for which
When, in his famous victory drive to the our hosts took off their shoes), and on the
North, Allenby captured Haifa, he detached second floor the room in which in 1844 He
APPRECIATIONS O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH 649

declared His mission, to a solitary disciple." lowship of Faiths was held in Chicago-a
What can I say more? Half a century ago conference inspired by the high ideals of
the great Dr. Jowett, of Balliol, wrote: "This mutual understanding, good-will, co-opera-
is the greatest light the world has seen since tion and peace and progress, and I went
Christ, but it is too great and too close for there to attend and participate in the con-
the world to appreciate its full import." ference, my attention was again drawn to
Already over many parts of the globe there the BahPi Faith by some of its followers
are Bahi'is actively, honourably, peaceably there, who took me to their temple at Wil-
employed. mette, Illinois, which was then under con-
May this auspicious centenary prove pro- struction but was nearly hished, and
pitious also for the early restoration of world showed me the nine gates and chambers of
peace. worship for the nine principal religions of
the world. Naturally enough, I took it that
BahPiism was something like theosophy,
which is interested in studying and compar-
Having enjoyed the signal honor of many ing the respective merits of religions and in
years friendship with the late Head of the recognising their respective greatness, and
Faith, together with that of the present which can therefore appeal only to the in-
Guardian, I beg to justify herewith my ad- tellectual section of mankind and hardly
miration for the members and practice of appeal to the masses.
BahPism, which not only produced and are Later, in 1936, however, while I was in
still producing constant and positive good, Rangoon, I had an opportunity, rather, the
but which, unlike, alas, many other religions, opportunity was thrust upon me-to ac-
have never occasioned the slightest harm to quaint myself more fully with the tenets and
any living creature or any good cause. teachings of BahPiism. Mr. S. Schopflocher,
a BahPi from Canada, who was on a lectur-
ing tour, was then in Rangoon, and I was
asked to introduce him to the public and to
preside over a lecture of his. Therefore I
Even as early as 1929 or perhaps even a secured a few books on the subject, and on
little earlier, I used to hear the names of reading them, 1 was struck with the remark-
BahB'u'llBh and Bahi'iism; and in 1929 able fact that Bahi'iism is a faith, which not
when I undertook a lecturing tour in Europe merely recognises the respective merits of
on the humanistic methods of promoting the world religions, but goes a step further
peace and unity among races, nations and in- and teaches that all religions are One, all
dividuals, my attention was once again the religious seers, saints and prophets are
drawn to BahPu'llBh and his teachings by the religious seers, saints and prophets of
my friend Lady Blomfield, who gave me One religion only, that all mankind is One,
some books, too, on the subject. But my eyes and that we must think and feel and act in
were then too weak to permit any reading, terms of brotherhood. "We must realise," as
and the need and urgency of some expert a BahPi very beautifully puts it, "that, as the
treatment for my eyes was in fact an addi- aeroplane, radio and other instruments have
tional reason for my leaving for Europe. Be- crossed the frontiers drawn upon the map,
sides, I was then too full of my own philos- so our sympathy and spirii of oneness
ophy of "Humanism," and was too busy should rise above the influences that have
with my own programme of lectures for separated race from race, class from class,
Europe, and did not acquaint myself with nation from nation and creed from creed.
any full details about the Bahi'is and their One destiny now controls all human affairs.
tenets and principles. Perhaps, I imagined The fact of world-unity stands out above all
that the BahCis were some sort of religious other interests and considerations."
or philosophical mystics, and I was not par- Sometime back, in this year, Mr. N. R.
ticularly interested in any mere mysticism or Vaki, a BahB'i gentleman of Surat, gave me
in any merely theoretical creed, however a copy of the book, The Bah& World:
much its conclusions might be logical and 1936-1938. Though I have not been able to
satisfying to the intellect. read the whole book through, I find it is
When afterwards, in 1933, the Second a mine of information, a regular cyclopaedia
Parliament of Religions or the World Fel- on the subject. It is interesting to read that
T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

the origin of the faith was in Persia, where llih and which every thinking man will now
a mystic prophet who took the name of endorse as a "consummation to be devoutly
"Bib" (which means "gate") began the wished for."
mission among the Persians in the early part
of the nineteenth century, that he and his
disciples were persecuted by the Persian
Government and were finally shot in 1850,
that, notwithstanding the persecution, the
movement spread under the able and inspir-
ing leadership of BahCu'llih, its principal The death of 'Abbb Effendi, better
prophet and exponent, that on his death in known since he succeeded his father, BahL'-
1892 he was succeeded by his son, 'Abdu'l- u'llih, thirty years ago as 'Abdu'l-Bahi, de-
Bahi, who continued the work till 1921, prives Persia of one of the most notable of
when, on his death, his grandson, Shoghi her children and the East of a remarkable
Effendi, became the head of the community personality, who has probably exercised a
-a comm~mity now numbering nearly a greater influence not only in the Orient but
million and spread in all the five continents in the Occident, than any Asiatic thinker
of the world. and teacher of recent times. The best ac-
Though the traditionally orthodox Hin- count of him in English is that published in
dus, Muslims, Christians, etc., may not agree 1903 by G. P. Putnam's Sons under the
to call themselves Bahi'is or even to sub- title of the Life and Teachings of 'Abbcis
scribe to its main tenet, viz., that all reli- EfJeizdi compiled by Myron H. Phelps
gions are One, I think that the really enlight- chiefly from information supplied by Bahiy-
ened among them can have no conscientious yih Khinum. She states that her brother's
objection and will indeed wholeheartedly birth almost coincided with the "manifesta-
subscribe to it. tion" of Mirzi 'Ali Muhammad the Bib
Another important aspect of the BahL'i (24th May, 1844), and that she was his
Faith is its absolutely non-political nature. junior by three years. Both dates are put
In the Golden Age of the Cause of Bah2- three years earlier by another reputable au-
u'llcih Shoghi Effendi categorically rules thority, but in any case both brother and
out any participation by adherents of the sister were mere children when, after the
Faith, either individually or collectively, in great persecution of the Bibis in 1852 their
any form of activity which might be inter- father Bahi'u'lliih and his family were exiled
preted as an interference in the political af- from Persia, first to Baghdid (1852-63)
fairs of any particular government. So that then to Adrianople (1863--68), and lastly to
no government need apprehend any sort of 'Akki (St. Jean $Acre) in Syria, where
danger or trouble from Bahb'iism. Bahi'u'llih died on 28th May, 1892, and
On the whole, the perusal of the Book which his son 'Abdu'l-Bahl was only per-
The B a h a World: 1936-1938 has deeply mitted to leave at will after the Turkish
impressed me with the belief that the prin- Revolution in 1908. Subsequently to that
ciples of Bahi'iism, laying stress as they do date he undertook several extensive journeys
on the Oneness of mankind, and being di- in Europe and America, visiting London and
rected as they are towards the maintenance Paris in 1911, America in 1912, Budapest in
of peace, unity and co-operation among the 1913, and Paris, Stuttgart, Vienna, and
different classes, creeds and races of people, Budapest in the early summer of 1914. In all
will go a long way in producing a healthy these countries he had followers, but chiefly
atmosphere in the world for the growth of in America, where an active propaganda had
Fellowship and Brotherhood of Man. Fur- been carried on since 1893 with very con-
ther, I see no harm in the followers of other siderable success, resulting in the formation
faiths accepting these main principles of of important BahB'i Centers in New York,
BahL'iism, wherein, I think, they can find Chicago, San Francisco and other cities. One
nothing against the teachings of their own of the most notable practical results of the
prophets, saints and seers. I rather think that Bahi'i ethical teaching in the United States
by accepting these main principles of has been, according to the recent testimony
Bahi'iism they will help in hastening the es- of an impartial and qualified observer, the
tablishment of a New World Order, an idea establishment in BahB'i circles in New York
perhaps first clearly conceived by Bahi'uY- of a real fraternity between black and white,
APPRECIATIONS O F T H E BAHA'I FAITH

and an unprecedented lifting of the "color ment is to be appreciated as one of the pro-
bar," described by the said observer as foundest emancipators of mankind from the
"almost miraculous." tradition of race-chauvinism and ethno-re-
Ample materials exist even in English for ligious bigotry.
the study of the remarkable personality who With best wishes and greetings,
has now passed from our midst and of the I remain, Cordially Yours,
doctrines he taught; and especially authori- Benoy Sarltar.
tative are the works of M. Hippolyte Drey-
fus and his wife (formerly Miss Laura Clif-
ford Barney), who combine intimacy and
sympathy with their hero with sound knowl-
edge and wide experience. In their works (Hyderabad, Deccan, February 1, 1941.)
and in that of Mr. Myron H. Phelps must
be sought those particulars which it is im- The founder of the Bah2i Faith is un-
possible to include in this brief obituary doubtedly one of the Great Seers of the
notice. Modern Age. The Gospel that he enunci-
ated and the programme that he enjoined
upon his followers are sing~~larly like a
prophecy of the ideal and dream that in-
spire the heart of youth with (the) quest
Privy Councillor, London for a brave new world built upon equity,
fellowship and peace.
Bahi'iism insists on points which consti- In the midst of all the tragic horror of
tute the essentials of the several creeds and hate and bloodshed that surround us to-day,
faiths which have divided and still divide the his message to humanity does indeed fulfill
human family. It seeks thereby to establish the meaning of his name, and carries the
human unity. It inculcates pursuit of truth "glory of God" into the darkness.
through the miasma of superstitions old and
new. These features ought to secure for
Bahi'iism an enduring place in the religions BY JULESBOIS
of the world. It is one of the noblest con-
tributions which Asia has made to human . . . MirzL 'Ali-Muhammad, the BLb, or
civilization. The history of its martyrdom in the portal of a new wisdom,-a young man,
TihrLn is a glorious chapter, indicating how brave, handsome, and tempered like a steel
much suffering the awakened human spirit blade, the finest product of his country. This
can endure for the sake of its convictions. new Alexander, "the beloved of the worlds,"
In the world as one sees it to-day, divided subjugator of souls, died in 1850 at the age
and torn asunder by warring ambitions, of thirty-one, having shed no blood but his
Bahi'iism has undoubtedly a great part to own, a martyr of spotless love, of universal
play. charity.
The Bibis, his partisans, were "beheaded,
hanged, blown from the mouth of cannons,
BY PROF. BENOYKUMARSARKAR, burnt, or chopped to pieces." Their homes
M.A., Ph.D. were burned, their womenfolk carried off
or executed. Still the movement progressed.
For over a quarter of a century,-since Scarcely had the BLb's mission begun,-he
my American days,-I have been under the was allowed a bare two years of preach-
conviction that the Bahi'i movement serves ing,-when he was cast into prison, ques-
to expand the intellectual and moral per- tioned, bastinadoed, disfigured, then tried
sonality of every individual that comes into for heresy before a clerical court, and finally
contact with it. The movement has set in put to death.
motion some of those currents of thought The B i b was led to the scaffold at Tabriz
and work which lead to the silent but ef- with a young devotee who had implored lo
fective conversion of men and women to share his fate. About two hours before noon
humaner and world-embracing principles the two were suspended by ropes, under
of daily conduct. Because of these creative their armpits, in such a manner that the
forces in the social domain the Bahi'i move- head of the disciple rested against the breast
652 T H E BAHA 'I W O R L D

of his beloved master. Armenian soldiers The BAb had exhorted the people to
received the order to fire; but when the purify themselves that they might welcome
smoke cleared, the Bkb and his companion the Divine Sun, of whom he was the Radi-
were found to be unscathed. The bullets ant Morn. When the BAb declared his mis-
had merely severed the ropes by which they sion in 1844, Mirzi Husayn-'Ali, a young
were suspended. Amazed by what they man of twenty-seven, the son of a vizier,
considered a miracle, the soldiers were un- and of royal descent, boldly espoused the
willing to fire again. They were replaced perilous cause. Prison and exile soon be-
by a more docile squad, and this time the came his portion. Scenes were enacted dur-
volley took effect. The bodies of both vic- ing this period which recall the Terror in
tims were riddled by bullets and horribly France, with its horrors and its hero-
mutilated, but their faces, spared by a ism. . ..
strange caprice of destiny, bore an expres- BahL'is, previously members of antago-
sion of radiant transfiguration. nistic sects, have manifested toward every
All Europe was stirred to pity and indig- one, even their enemies, a spirit of help and
nation. The event occurred on the ninth of amity. We can only be glad that persecu-
July, 1850; among the "litterateurs" of my tions have diminished and that a gentle and
generation, in the Paris of 1890, the mar- ennobling influence has regenerated the
tyrdom of the BAb was still as fresh a topic Orient, from Syria to Burma. It is quite
as had been the first news of his death. We possible that BahL'iism has a mission to
wrote poems about him. Sarah Bernhardt pacify and spiritually quicken races and
entreated Catulle Mendks for a play on the tribes which we have so far been unable to
theme of this historic tragedy. When he evangelize.
failed to supply a manuscript, I was asked
to write a drama entitled "Her Highness
the Pure," dealing with the story of another
illustrious martyr of the same cause,-a
woman, Qurratu'l-'Ayn, the Persian Joan
of Arc and the leader of emancipation for
women of the Orient. You honour me with a request that I
Her case was unique. Had it been ad- should add my small brick to the exalted
missible for a woman to be a Mahdi, or a edifice of the BahB'i teaching. Its happy
"Point," Qurratu'l-'Ayn,-who bore re- creed so passionately urged and so convinc-
semblance to the medizeval HCloi'se and the ingly stated is an inspiration to all who
neo-platonic Hypatia,-would have been work and who, in the words of Kipling,
recognized as the equal of the BAb. Such have realised the significance of "No one
virile courage and power did she inherit that shall work for money and no one shall work
all who saw and heard her were uplifted to for fame, but all for the joy of the working."
a new understanding of the mission of her I would like to add my conviction to your
sex. A poetess, philosopher, linguist, and teaching that "absolute equality is a chi-
theologian, an early convert of the Bkb, mera" which, socially, is entirely impractica-
she threw aside her veil, despite the im- ble. It has become a slogan to many work-
memorial custom of Asia, carried on con- ers, reliance upon which will only lead to a
troversies with the most learned scholars cruel disillusionment. The only "equality" is
of her country, discomfited them, and won that which any man may attain by being
recognition as their master. Imprisoned, prominent in his work. It has been truly said
anathematized, driven from town to town, that "every man can do some one thing
stoned in the streets, she defied, single- better than any other man." So let our ambi-
handed, a Shkh who "through his decree tion be, no matter how humble our work
could slaughter a thousand men each day," may appear, to be of the arisfocracy o f
-and often did so. To her executioners work. And if to "work is to pray" may not
she said, "You may kill me as soon as you this noble ambition to be among the elect of
please, but you cannot stop the emancipa- the workers of the world, bring us by steps
tion of women." Then, having donned her to the dream of your great Teacher of a
choicest robes, as if to join a bridal party, Great Universal Peace, against which if any
she was dragged into a garden and strangled government among you take up arms to
by a negro. destroy that peace, "the whole human race,"
APPRECIATIONS OF THE BAHA'I FAITH

he tells, "shall resolve with every power at interdependence that had to be emphasized
its disposal to destroy." and constantly kept in view. The distinc-
tions of Race and Religion, of colour and
creed, are but superficial; the welfare of one
part of the world cannot be sustained if
other areas are depressed. The War had il-
Dean of Canterbury lustrated most forcibly the indivisibility of
human happiness and human misery. It had,
I read with interest the social programme in fact, taught us that there was only one
of your movement demonstrating the best undivided world and that we are the chil-
education for everyone, equal status for men dren of one God.
and women and the like and also your en- A little group of BahL'is who were at the
couragement of scientific research and em- conference and met me afterwards, con-
phasis on the need for a World Com- gratulated me on having given expression on
monwealth, together with the oneness of that world platform to some of the beliefs
mankind. I am in complete agreement with that they held dear. That is how I became
those aims and wish you well in the pursuit acquainted with and soon deeply interested
of them. in the BahL'i Faith. I have since had the
privilege of meeting Bahb'is in various cen-
tres in India, Europe and America. I have
a very happy and lively recollection of my
visit to Wilmette, Illinois, where I was taken
round the "Temple of Light3'-the Bahi'i
From A Study o f History, Volume V, p. Temple-a beautiful and inspiring structure,
665. which in its very architecture, with its nine
. . . The Bahgiyah sect has been ex- sides dedicated to the nine great religions of
conlmunicated by the Imkmi Mujtahids and the world, emphasizes the universality of all
been evicted from its Iranian homeland; but religions.
it is already apparent that these bitter ex- "You are the fruits of one tree and the
periences of persecution and expatriation leaves of one branch," says the Prophet.
have served this infant religion in good Again and again I have come across such
stead; for 'it has thereby been driven into sayings which have forcibly reminded me of
looking beyond the Mediterranean and the the teachings of the Vedas. "Whenever vir-
Atlantic for new worlds to conquer in the tue subsides and vice triumphs, then am I
strength of a principle (Non-Violence) reborn to redeem mankind," says the Divine
which is apt to work as an "open sesame" in the Gita. The Bah2i Faith remarkably
for any missionary religion that has the speaks not of one Prophet for all time, but
faith to embrace it. of a succession of prophets as Divine dis-
pensation sees the need for them.
In fact, the Bahb'i Faith gives us the
great and previous message of unity in reli-
BY SIR RAMASWAMI MUDALIAR, K.C.S.I. gion. The Bahgis do not form a sect by
President, Economic Social themselves. Rather, through the teachings of
Council of U N ; Leader, Indian their Prophet, they try to illumine the eter-
Delegation of United Nations nal verities of every religion and to quicken
Conference on Freedom o f the noble impulses of the true followers of
Information; Prime Minister, every religion with the spirit of catholicity
Mysore State. and fraternalism. How much the world
needs such a spirit today . . . How far we
It was in San Francisco in 1945 that I are from that one far off divine event to
first had the privilege of meeting the fol- which the whole creation is destined to
lowe~s of the Bah2i Faith and learning move . . . the Fatherhood of God and the
something of the teachings of their great Brotherhood of Man.
Prophet. I had spoken at the Plenary Ses- Perhaps the Bahb'i Faith is destined to be,
sion of the General Assembly of the United and may prove, the greatest single force in
Nations, and had pointed out that it was not achieving that Godly consecrated consum-
the independence of the nations, but their mation . . .
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

BY BHAGAVANQAS tions in Swedish, "Plotinus, the Mystic and
"Shanti Sadan," Sigra, the Reformer" (Stockholm 1927).
Benares (Cantt) . In the University Library you may be
May 20, 1949 able to get the loan of it. From this we learn
how every living thing, all worlds are
I understand that a public meeting will bound together in sympathy, that the
be held in Benares for the celebration of the "reality of goodness" is the birthright of all.
105th Anniversary of the Declaration of the The old stoics had seen far, when they
Bgb, i. e. Gateway, the forerunner of Bah5'- claimed that all mankind formed a unity,
u'lla, father of 'Abdu'l-Bah5. Bahi'u'll5h that we all were brothers, that we all aimed
is the prophet of the Movement now known towards the same goal. The great wonder
in all the countries of the world a s the of it is, that the plain and great truths have
Bahsi Faith. From such literature of the been proclaimed by the very best of men at
Movement as I have come across and read, different times, perhaps with growing clear-
and from conversations I have had with ness, as humanity grows into age on this
members of the Movement who have kindly planet. It is a sign of that it must be
come to see me, I have acquired a great "truths," since the best of men time and
admiration for it. One of its twelve principal again discover them. BahL'u'llLh is un-
items of belief is that the essentials of all doubtedly one of these "good" Prophets.
religions are one. This belief is very dear to With renewed thanks, and the best wishes
my heart and I have endeavoured to pro- for the New Year
pound it at length in my book "The Essen- Very t r ~ ~ yours
ly
tial Unity of All Religions" supporting it S. Eitrem.
with some 1400 (fourteen hundred) texts of
the Sacred Scriptures of eleven living great
religions, quoted in original ~ 6 t hEngIish
translation. I wish with all my heart every
success for this philanthropic and spiritual
Movement. Director, Tuskegee Normal and Zndustriat
Institute Research and Experinzerz f Sfafion
I a m so happy to know that the Christ-
like Gospel of good will is growing through-
Professor, University of Oslo, Norway out the world.
Oslo 27/12. 1947. You hold in your organization the key
that will settle all of our difficulties, real and
Dear Madam: imaginary. I was with you in spirit.
Many thanks for your kind gift of Bahii'i May God bless, keep and prosper you.
Literature.
To-day I got the package, and I have
been sitting almost the whole day absorbed
in the per;sal of this new " ~ o s ~ e l which
," BY GEORGEN. MAYHEW
contains so much of eternal truth. of won-
derful beauty and comfort. Dean, School of Religion,
Truly I have never heard anything about Vanderbilt University.
this new form for a World Religion, which
really permits the human thought and The Bahi'i faith is one among many, both
scientific discoveries to have their rights, ancient and modern, calling to man to share
and at the same time speak a simple lan- a deeper spirituality, a nobler ethic and a
guage of the heart. saner mind. Though young in years the
It is truly note-worthy how all the great Bahsis have their saints and prophets who
Religions meet in agreement on all essential have paid their last measure of devotion
points. How very near all this seems to be for the faith.
the last great movement, the New-Plato- The spirit of God, to be effective among
nism, you might discover, if you could get men must be applied to concrete situations
hold of some of those writings. My old and this application always involves doctrine
kolleg, professor Gunnar Rudberg, now in and practices in the particularity of time
Uppsala, has translated some choice selec- and culture. Their successful application
APPRECIATIONS OF T H E BAHA'I FAITH

leads to a reverence for form rather than
for the spirit which gave life to the mode of
expression. That is the reason why all reli- Jerusalem, Israel
gious forms become lifeless when bereft of The BahB'i World Faith is of great ethical
the spiritual life which gave them power. value. Full of love for all humanity; but it
Every effort to return to or recover this has come before its time. In these days of
original spirit, is commendable. cold wars and after two hot wars, very
The BahB'i doctrine that man is one and much too hot, humanity has turned a deaf
that the great religions of man are essen- ear. But the day will come when these moral
tially one, is a viewpoint which promises ideals will overcome the beast in man. Then
justice to God's witness to himself among that great hour will come when all people
others and at the same time utilizes all the will unite in brotherhood to war against
insights of the past in giving direction and everything that leads to war of man against
meaning to the life of modern man. The man.
great historic religions suffer from the par- This is indeed the true basis of the teach-
ticularities of their regional contexts. The ings of all of the Great Prophets.
BahB'is essay a large undertaking when -January 20, 1952.
they attempt to divorce the temporal from
the eternal in the religions of the past and
relate this eternal to the needs of the mod-
ern world. Time only will reveal whether so
much of ancient truth which has become Professor, University of Rome,
uncouth can again be made relevant. To Institute of Oriental Study
make ancient truth relevant is to save it, not A richiesta degli interessati, certifico che
to do so is to lose it. Man's task is not to il Bahaismo, nato nella seconda met& del
repudiate or liquidate the good of the past secolo scorso quale sviluppo di una riforma
but to complete and fulfill. This task will nell'Islamismo persiano (Babismo) , ha attu-
require the work of many prophetic minds. almente lasciato cadere quasi ogni specifico
As God is one, so is man and so is reli- contatto con 1'Islamismo tradizionale, e si i:
gion, despite their diversity of form. That sviluppato in una fede sopranazionale e
which belongs to all is more important; our superconfessionale, diffusa non solo in
differences are incidental. God's blessing be Oriente, ma in Europa e in America. Capi-
upon those whatever their faith or name saldi di questa fede sono ideali e dottrine
who will lead man to this deep sense of altamente morali e umanitarie, di pace di
community with man and God. concordia e fratellanza umana, di migliora-
mento interiore dell'uomo e della societ8, in
nulla ripugnanti alla moderna coscienza
BY KENNETHWALKER,F.R.C.S., F.I.C.S. morale e religios,a. Onde nulla a mio awiso
osterebbe a1 libero esercizio del culto baha-
Fear has no power lo draw nations to- ista, quale B ammesso in altri paesi d'Europa
gether, but drives them further apart, and e #America, e che si restringe del resto a
the sole hope for the future lies in a spiritual semplici e ordinate cerimonie di edificazione
revival based on the realization that all the e preghiera in comune.
great World Faiths proclaim identical reli-
gious truths. "The earth," said 'Abdu'l-Bahi,
"is one nativity, one home and all mankind
are the children of one father. God has
created them and they are the recipients of Late Professor of Italian Literature,
His compassion . . . The obstacle to hu- University of Chicago
man happiness is racial or religious preju- The reference to Bahb'i was the first; I do
dice, the competitive struggle for existence not think it will be the last. To the purity
and inhumanity toward each other." and intensity of this religious movement I
There could- be no more fitting message have given long since the attention which
for the world of 1953 than these words ut- should be given to it by any one-worlder
tered many years ago. I send you my best aware that a political union is empty if a
wishes for the success of your Jubilee Cele- unifying religion does not overarch the
bration of BahB'uYllih'sDispensation. variances of the creeds.
THE BAHA'I WORLD

appreciation of every manifestation of the
God who is eternally One. And I gave silent
Professor of the History of Religion, thanks also for the world-mindedness which
University of Rome seems to come naturally to all who are
I1 Bahaismo i: una religione universalista hospitable to the BahVi faith.
cresciuta sul tronco dell'Islamismo sciita To lovers of God and man, there is noth-
come protesta e riforma, e ormai quasi ing more depressing than the thought of the
completamente svincolata della tradizione divisiveness of the numerous exclusive reli-
musulmana ed organizzata su un piano inter- gions of mankind. Conversely, there is no
nazionale. thought more heartening than the thought
Esso prende nome da Baha Allah ('Splen- that there is at work in the world a religion
dore di Dio'), nome del persiano Mirza which transcends all sectarianism and recog-
Hussain Ali (1817-1892), che dopo l'ucci- nizes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster,
sione del Bab, fondatore del Babismo, Jesus by declaring my belief that the future
awenuta nel 1850, ne continub la missione is on the side of BahVi. It was not Jesus
dandole nuovi impulsi e nuovi atteggia- who made Western Christianity more West-
menti. ern than Christian. Jesus preached the
I1 Baha, come il Bab, che ne B il precur- gospel of universal brotherhood: his fol-
sore (un po' come il Battista B il precur- lowers marred his teachings with exclusive-
sore di Gesii), B un essere divino, una ness. As I look on Christianity with its pa-
nuova manifestazione (dopo Mosi:, dopo thetic fragmentation, I am haunted by the
Gesii e dopo Maometto) dello Spirito uni- feeling that Jesus has a better chance to win
versale, annunziatore di una religione piii through the universalism of BahB'i than
perfetta, superiore alla religione di Mao- through the institutionalism which bears his
metto e a quella di Gesii, come questa i? a name. Character is the final arbiter of all
sua volta superiore alla religione di MosB. religions. The spiritual quality of the ad-
Erede dello spirit0 non conformista del herents of BahL'i whom I have personally
Babismo, ma alieno delle sue pratiche misti- known, have given the faith a warm place
che, attaccato alla memoria dei suoi martiri in my heart.
e delle prime persecuzioni, ma aperto alle The Mayor of Haifa gave a dinner on
correnti liberali ed umanitarie, il Bahaismo April 13, 1951, to the commission of which
in questa forma modernizzante si i? diffuso I was a member. My seatmate was a noted
in Occidente, specie in America, dove ha journalist of the Jewish faith. I had spent
oggi i suoi centri ed organi principali. the afternoon in the beautiful Persian Gar-
Nella situazione odierna del mondo, il dens sacred to BahB'i, hence it was natural
movimento spirituale Bahai, con le sue for me to speak of the BahL'i Faith. The
tendenze cosmopolitistiche, le sue aspira- journalist said: "The people of that faith are
zioni pacifistiche, le sue attivith propagandi- truly catholic. All men of goodwill can sub-
stiche, i suoi interessi culturali, merita di scribe to their faith without renouncing any-
essere seguito con attenzione. thing good in their own, be they Christian,
Muslim or Jew. It is a religion of additions,
not subtractions. You are not asked to re-
BY DR. MARSHALL
WINGFIELD,
D.D., nounce anything but hate and narrow-
LITT.D. mindedness. The BahL'i people are gentle
and free from hate: they bless everything
First Congregational Church of Memphis, they touch."
Tennessee. -June 5, 1953.
Of the multitude of pilgrims to the Holy
Land, thousands visit the tomb of Bah2- SIR ALFREDZIMMERNOF SWITZERLAND
u'lliih and the tomb of his forerunner the One day Sir Alfred Zimmern said to the
BGb. I had that inspiring experience in the School: The BahVi Faith is a great Move-
spring of 1951. I had entered many build- ment working for world order and peace.
ings in stockinged feet. At these two tombs Its achievements are outstanding in a very
I was so aware of the holy that I really felt short period, and it holds the promise of the
like removing my shoes. As 1 thought of future. I wish it all success. The BahB'is will
these God-filled men, I gave thanks for their have a great mission. It is to hold high the
vision of the unity of mankind and for their banner of Unity before the whole world.
I11
IN MEMORIAM

WILLIAM SUTHERLAND MAXWELL he was of Scotch descent, his grandfather
1874-1952 having migrated from Jedburgh with his
family in the early part of the nineteenth
Cablegram from Shoghi Eflendi, Guardian century. Other ancestors had come from
of the Bahri'i Faith: Aberdeen. Both William and his older
brother Edward were interested in building.
With sorrowful heart announce through Edward graduated as an engineer from
National Assemblies Hand of Cause of Ba- McGill University, but when William left
hS'u711Lh highly esteemed dearly beloved High School, he refused to follow this
Sutherland Maxwell gathered into the glory course as he could not study architecture
of the Abhb Kingdom. His saintly life ex- there at that time. He went to Boston, at
tending well-nigh four-score years, enriched the age of seventeen, and the extraordinary
during the course of 'Abdu'l-BahPs ministry ability he had for both drawing and design
by services in the Dominion of Canada, soon became apparent and he was given or-
ennobled during Formative Age of the namental details of important buildings to
Faith by decade of services in Holy Land, work up into their final form. In 1899 he
during darkest days of my life, doubly hon- went to the Bcole des Beaux Arts in Paris
ored through association with the crown where he was allowed to attend as a cour-
of martyrdom won by May Maxwell and tesy to the Canadian Government, in view
incomparable honor bestowed upon his of the fact he had no diplomas and was
daughter, attained consummation through not planning to sit for any examinations. He
his appointment as architect of the Arcade worked for two years in the studio of the
and Superstructure of the BLb's Sepulcher well-known architect Paschal. It was in this
as well as his elevation to the front ranks studio that he met a fellow-student, Ran-
of the Hands of the Cause of God. Advise dolph Bolles, who introduced him to his
all National Assemblies hold befitting me- mother and sister; the sister, May Bolles,
morial gatherings particularly in the Ma- was already a convinced and active Bahgi
ariqu'l-AQkir in Wilmette, and in the Ha- and had just returned to Paris from her
ziratu'l-Quds in Tihrin. pilgrimage to the Prison City of 'Akki,
Have instructed Hands of the Cause in where she had met 'Abdu'l-Bahi. William's
United States and Canada, Horace Holley great interest at that time was art and ar-
and Fred Schopflocher, to attend as my rep- chitecture. However, he made up his mind
resentatives the f ~ ~ n e rin
a l Montreal. Moved Miss Bolles was the only woman he would
to name after him the southern door of ever marry. She reciprocated his senti-
Bhb's Tomb as tribute to his services to sec- ments, but refused to leave Paris and her
ond holiest Shrine of BahPi World. The teaching work for the Bahii'i Faith. He had
mantle of Hand of Cause now falls upon the to return to Canada, entered the office of
shoulders of his distinguished daughter, his brother Edward, but continued to corre-
Amatu'l-Bahi Riihiyyih, who has already spond with Miss Bolles in the hope she
rendered and is still rendering no less meri- would marry him. At last Mrs. Bolles wrote
torious self-sacrificing services at World 'Abdu'l-BahB and laid the situation before
Center of Faith of BahB'uYllih. Him. He gave His permission for May
Bolles to leave France, and blessed the mar-
Haifa, Israel,
riage. In 1902 they were married in Lon-
March 26th, 1952.
don. May Maxwell introduced the Faith to
Canada, her home being its first Center.
William Sutherland Maxwell was born She never liked the name of William for
in Montreal, Canada, in 1874. On both sides her husband, and called him by his middle
658 T H E B A H A 'f W O R L D

name, Sutherland, all her life-a name no His arrival Sutherland was waiting on the
one else had ever used. Sutherland became platform as 'Abdu'l-Bahi's train drew in to
the partner of his brother, and the Firm of ask Him most humbly to honor his home
Edward and W. S. Maxwell became famous by being his guest. The Master accepted.
throughout Canada; before World War I He loved Sutherland very much; He told
they had the biggest architectural offices in his wife once during His three-day visit in
the country. The engineering and business their house: "He is a very good man." He
sense of the older brother, as well as his also admonished her not to neglect the fa-
knowledge and fine taste, combined with ther, now that she had a child. The Max-
the genius for proportion, design and de- wells had been childless up until their visit
tail of the younger brother, turned out many to 'Akkl in 1909. At that time He had
Canadian landmarks, such as: The Regina assured them He would pray for them to
Parliament Buildings; Palliser Hotel, Cal- have a child. In 1910, Mary Sutherland,
gary; Chateau Frontenac Hotel, Quebec; the their only child, had been born.
Art Gallery, Church of the Messiah, and In order to appreciate Sutherland Max-
Nurses Wing of Royal Victoria Hospital, in well, and the achievements of the last years
Montreal, as well as many other public of his life, one has to recognize two great
edifices and private homes. factors in his nature: The first is that he was
In 1909, May and Sutherland Maxwell one of those souls whose nature is all good-
made a pilgrimage together to the Prison ness. This is what led the Guardian of the
City of 'Akkl, to visit 'Abdu'l-Bah& Suther- BahQi Faith to attest to his "saintly life" in
land was not yet a convinced Bahfi. One his obituary cable. It is a nature not un-
day at table, he said to 'Abdu'l-Bahl: "The common amongst the Scots. He was up-
Christians worship God through Christ; my right, truthful, and never approached a hu-
wife worships God through You; but I wor- man being except in courtesy, friendliness,
ship Him direct." 'Abdu'l-Bahl smiled and and that graciousness that is the essence of
said: "Where is He?" "Why, God is every- the democratic spirit. In spite of this trust-
where," replied Sutherland. "Everywhere is ing attitude, he had remarkably sound judg-
nowhere," said 'Abdu'l-Bahl. He then went ment. This was of great help in the work-
on to demonstrate that such worship was ings of the Montreal Spiritual Assembly, of
worship of a figment of the imagination and which he was a member and most often
had no reality; we must worship God Chairman, for decades.
through something tangible and real to us, The second deep strain that colored all
hence the r81e of the Manifestations. Suth- his nature was that he was an artist through
erland bowed his head in acceptance. The and through. His wife, in one of her letters
real seed of his faith germinated from that to him (and no one knew him better or
hour. The way this faith grew in him was a appreciated him more) wrote: "You have
beautiful thing. He had all the profound the charm of originality." Two things not
Scotch reticence, the horror of being pe- often found together were combined con-
culiar, talked about, or different. For years spicuously in him: an encyclopedic knowl-
in Montreal the BahQis were called "Mu- edge of all the arts, and a creative capacity
hammadans," "Sun-Worshipers," "Here- for bringing new things into being. One
tics," etc. A city composed of a large fanati- must remember that an architect almost
cal French Canadian Catholic element, and never has free reign for his own ideas, but
an equally conservative Protestant English- is constantly interfered with and limited by
Scotch element, was determined to think the his clients' desires and concepts. There was
worst, with no investigation whatsoever, of nothing he could not do with his hands in
the strange Oriental Cult "that Mrs. Max- fulfillment of his mental image. When the
well" belonged to. Chateau Frontenac was built, he designed
Since he built his home in 1907-8 until not only the lines of the twenty-story mod-
the present day, the Maxwell house has ern structure, but practically every detail of
been the center of BahQi activity in Mont- the interior: wrought-iron railings, furni-
real; Mrs. Maxwell taught ceaselessly; Mr. ture, grills, lamps, ceilings, elevator interi-
Maxwell was the silent but willing partner. ors, etc. He would take the chisel from the
In 1912, 'Abdu'l-BahP visited Montreal, at- stone carver, the gouge from the wood
tracted there, as He said Himself, by the de- carver, and "sweeten the lines" as he termed
votion of May Maxwell. The morning of it. He was idolized by the workmen, need-
IN MEMORIAM

William Sutherland Maxwell.

less to say. In the course of years his had returned in the winter 1926-27 for an-
achievements and talents brought honors. other visit; but when a cable reached Suth-
He was made a Fellow of the Royal In- erland, urging him to come at once in order
stitute of British Architects; a Fellow and to be present for his daughter's marriage,
past president of the Royal Architectural he was thrown into a turmoil of feeling.
Institute of Canada; an Academician of the From that moment he added to the respect
Royal Canadian Academy and its vice-presi- and affection he already had for Shoghi
dent and his water colors often hung in Effendi as his Guardian, a profound and
Academy shows; a member and past presi- tender love that grew, at the end of his life,
dent of the Province of Quebec Association into a thing of rare and touching beauty.
of Architects; a founding member of the May's health, bordering all the thirty-
"Pen and Pencil Club" and the "Arts Club" eight years of their marriage, on invalidism,
in Montreal. The honors, medals and dis- was even frailer as she approached seventy.
tinctions which he received testified not only She and Sutherland, after some months in
to his ability as an architect and artist, but Haifa, returned by slow stages to their home
were also a recognition of his inner qualities in Montreal. The signal and overwhelming
of character. honor bestowed on them created an intense
In 1937 the course of his life was dras- desire to render greater services to the
tically changed through the marriage of his Faith. Hitherto the demands of his profes-
daughter, Mary, to the Guardian of the Ba- sional activity had kept Sutherland tied, ex-
h2i Faith. May and Mary, after a two-year cept for attendance at a few annual Con-
sojo~rrnin France, Belgium and Germany, ventions and visits to Green Acre BahL'i
had proceeded to Haifa as pilgrims. They School in the summer, to Montreal. Now
had already visited the Guardian in 1923, they made a much prized tour together of
shortly after 'Abdu'l-BahA's passing. Mary some of the eastern cities in America, as
R6hiyyih KJhtinum at grave of her father, William Sutherland Maxwell, Hand of the Cause of God, in Mount
Floral spray sent by the Guardian of the BahL'i World Faith from Haifa, in foregroun
Mrs. Amelia Collins stands to the right of R6hiyyih LhhCnum, and others include
National Spiritual Assembly members and Montreal BahL'is. Nay, 1953.
IN MEMORIAM 661

well as visiting the 1938 Convention in Chi- Sutherland had the highest respect for Sho-
cago. In 1940, upon arrival with her niece ghi Effendi's taste a,nd judgment.
Jeanne Bolles in Buenos Aires, where she By 1946-for a period of about one
had gone on a teaching trip with the con- year--Sutherland found himself in charge
sent of Sutherland, May suffered a heart of the Guardian's outside work. Mail, visi-
attack and died. tors, Government contacts, errands were
The first act of the Guardian was to in- managed single-handed by the white-haired
vite Sutherland, now entirely alone, to come man of seventy-two. He did a good job, but
and live in Haifa. From 1940, until his it was too much for him-a blood-vessel
death in 1952, may be said to be the true broke in his ear and left him totally deaf on
years of burgeoning in this distinguished one side, shaken and dizzy for weeks on
man's life. He accepted the loss of his wife end,. In 1948, accompanied by Mr. Weeden,
with a meekness and faith, a gratitude for he flew to Italy and placed, in collaboration
all the happy years of marriage they had with Dr. Ugo Giachery, the first contract
shared, a pride in her death at the age of for the stone work of the BLb's Shrine. In
seventy in the field of service-a death of spite of failing strength he continued his
which Shoghi Effendi said she "laid down detailed and working drawings right up to
her life with such a spirit of consecration the night when his health broke down in
and self-sacrifice as has truly merited the 1949. There followed a long and serious
crown of Martyrdom." He always felt her illness, when he was condemned by the best
near him. doctors as being beyond hope of recovery.
The years he spent in Haifa coincided It was then that the deep spiritual attach-
with some of the hardest in Shoghi Effendi's ment he had formed to Shoghi Effendi be-
life. Quietly, unassumingly, like a rock, came manifest. No matter how desperate his
Sutherland stood by him; the faith, planted state, he invariably responded to the Guard-
in his heart by 'Abdu'l-BahB, was now in ian. It was the Guardian's love, his determi-
fullest flower. He was a tower of spiritual nation not to let him die, that brought him
strength. Gradually the Guardian referred back. The man condemned to die lived to
small matters to Sutherland for his advice: visit the completed Arcade of the Shrine he
a new flight of steps, a lamp post, a new had worked on with such love, and sacri-
entrance. To the architect of over forty ficed his health for.
years' practical experience this was pleasant His age and the hard work of a lifetime
child's play. He would make a pen sketch had, however, taken their toll. H e suffered
in perspective, color it and submit it to the ups and downs, recovery followed collapse,
Guardian, so he could see what the finished collapse recovery. It was a heart-breaking
article would look like in situ. Shoghi Ef- two years for those who loved him. Suther-
fendi was delighted. He decided to ask land's cherished wish was to visit Montreal
Sutherland to work on a scheme for com- again. Arrangements were made for him to
pleting the Shrine of the BBb. He knew pass the summer of 1951, accompanied by
that 'Abdu'l-BahL had wanted a dome and his devoted nurse, in his home. He was to
an arcade added to the original building. return in the autumn to Haifa. This plan
By 1942, Sutherland submitted to him stud- suited him perfectly; but when Fall came, it
ies for the Shrine. It was not an easy task; was evident that in view of the acute short-
a square, fortress-like stone building, one ages in Israel, he could not be fed the fresh
story high, already existed half-way up a food he needed, and which alone kept him
steep mountain; about this and above this, from relapsing into violent gall-bladder up-
not destroying or hiding any part of the sets. He remained in Canada, longing for
previous structure erected "with tears" by the day he could return to his home in the
'Abdu'l-BahL, must come a worthy enve- Holy Land.
lope, a case for the pearl. By 1944, the com- It was during this winter that Shoghi Ef-
pleted and accepted design, in model form, fendi bestowed upon him the inestimable
was exhibited to the Bahi'is gathered on the bounty of becoming a Hand of the Cause
One Hundredth Anniversary of the Decla- of God. He understood and was deeply
ration of the BLb's Mission, in the precincts touched; he said "I did not do it all alone;
of His resting-place. A number of the ele- there were so many others who helped."
ments in Sutherland's design were either The humility was typical of the man. After
suggested by or modified by the Guardian. a fall, and a relapse into his illness, he sank
662 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

rapidly. It was not possible for his daughter man of integrity who applied the high Ba-
to reach him in time; he died in the night of hi'i standards of conduct to himself before
March 25, 1952; his nurse and his favorite he applied them to others.
nephew, Sterling Maxwell, by his side. Born in Zanesville, Ohio, September 17,
On the slopes of Mt. Royal, where the 1875, Roy Wilhelm and his parents moved
wind plays with the falling autumn leaves to West Englewood, New Jersey, and
of gold and red, where the snow all winter opened their import firm in New York City,
long lays its dazzling cloak and in spring which he actively conducted until the last
snow drops break up through the ice, Wil- few years of his life. It was on this property
liam Sutherland Maxwell, in the city of his in West Englewood that 'Abdu'l-Bahi in
birth, lies buried. 1912, during His North American visit, held
On the slopes of Mt. Carmel an immortal a unity feast for the Bahi'is of the New
monument to his abilities and his devotion York metropolitan area at which He an-
covers the Tomb of the Martyr Prophet of nounced that on that date the Faith of Ba-
a World Faith-the superstructure of the hi'u'llLh was truly established in America.
Shrine of the Bib. The site of that gathering will, in the future,
mark the only public Memorial which the
American ~ a h i ' f sare permitted to construct
in reverent observance of 'Abdu'l-Bahi's
visit from April to December, 1912.
ROY C . WILHELM
From a Bahi'i who was also associated
with a group which met in the Dodge home,
"Heart filled (with) sorrow (for) loss New York City, for many years after 1900,
(of) greatly prized, much loved, highly ad- has come this description: "The meetings
mired herald (of) Bahi'u'llih's Covenant, were intensely interesting and full of fervor.
Roy Wilhelm. Distinguished career enriched It was a happy group, and there was an ap-
annals (of) concluding years (of) Heroic parent spiritual intelligence, one might say,
(and) opening years (of) Formative Age even if our knowledge of the Teachings was
(of) Faith. Sterling qualities endeared him limited. A baptism of the Holy Spirit must
(to) his beloved Master, 'Abdu'l-Bahi. His have been the pure bounty of the Lord to
saintliness, indomitable faith, outstanding this group. Without exception every one had
services local, national, international, (his) a great and sincere desire to serve the Cause
exemplary devotion, qualify him (to) join in the way he or she seemed to be guided.
ranks (of) Hands (of) Cause, insure him Roy (Wilhelm) attended these meetings
everlasting reward (in) Abhi Kingdom. . ."
regularly .
Advise hold memorial gathering (in) Tem- At that time the available Bahi'i litera-
ple befitting his unforgettable services (and) ture was slight, and copies of prayers and
lofty rank." tablets were typewritten and distributed
-SHOGHI from friend to friend. One of the earliest
December 24, 1951. efforts to make the sacred texts more widely
available was voluntarily initiated and sus-
In the history of the Bahi'i Faith during tained by Mr. Wilhelm. His compilations,
the first half of the twentieth century, Roy successively translated into a number of lan-
C . Wilhelm occupied an important place. guages, were widely used at fireside (home)
The firmness of his faith, the purity of his and public meetings conducted more and
devotion, his self-sacrifice and his untiring more frequently as Bahi'i centers increased
activity enabled him to make a unique con- in number in North America. T o this one
tribution to the establishment of the Faith devoted worker may be attributed the great
in North America and indirectly, through service of printing and making readily avail-
his generous aid to Miss Martha Root, and able hundreds of thousands of Bahi'i pam-
his distribution of Bahi'i literature in manv phlets in the course of his lifetime. In addi-
languages, to its spread in other continents. lion, his business advertisements in trade
Essentially humble, he carried heavy ad- journals became notable for the use of a
ministrative responsibilities with a winning brief Bahi'i text in each.
charm which endeared him to a host of Much could be written about his visits to
friends. Bahi'i centers on his business trips through-
Roy Wilhelm was first and foremost a out the country, carrying the great Message
IN MEMORIAM 663

to countless inquirers and strengthening the
ardor of the active BahL'i workers them-
selves.
"The Bahgis everywhere looked forward
to his coming, and prepared meetings for
him . . ." one of his contemporaries has
written.
The year 1907 marked the greatest expe-
rience in the formative years of his BahL'i
life. In April of that year Roy Wilhelm, ac-
companied by his mother, went on a pil-
grimage to attain the presence of 'Abdu'l-
BahL at 'AkkB in the Holy Land. The words
of welcome uttered by 'Abdu'l-BahL, as
translated into English, were written down
by Mr. Wilhelm immediately afterward and
quoted in a letter written to his fellow Ba-
hL'i teacher, Mrs. Mariam Haney: "Wel-
come! Very welcome! I have been waiting
for your coming. It is with God's help that
you have reached 'AkkL . . . You repre-
sent all the American believers . . . Thank
God that you came."
The following year Roy Wilhelm pre-
pared a.nd distributed a booklet recounting
his pilgrimage, which he entitled "Knock,
and it shall be ovened unto vou. (Matt.
7:7) ." On the fro& cover w a i reproduced Roy C. Wilhelm.
a photograph of the door leading to 'Abdu'l-
BahB's room. Quoting from the text:
"That which most impresses the pilgrim the West-after our visit . . . we under-
to the 'Most Great Prison' at 'AkkL, is the stood . . . In the meeting of the West with
spirit of sacrifice. Nowhere have I witnessed the East is fulfilled the prophecies of the
such love, such perfect harmony. The de- Books . . . During our last meal 'Abdu'l-
sire of those in that prison was to serve one BahB broke a quantity of bread into His
another. In our Western liberty it is difficult bowl; then asking for the plates of the pil-
to realize the bitter antagonism and hatred grims He gave to each of us a portion.
which exists in the East between the follow- When the meal was finished, He said: 'I
ers of the several great religious systems. have given you to eat from My bowl-now
For example, a Jew and a Muhammadan distribute My Bread among the people.' "
would refuse to sit at meat together: a The BahL'i message of the oneness of
Hindu to draw water from the well of either. mankind and the essential unity of Revela-
Yet, in the house of 'Abdu'l-BahL we found tion brought its own severe tests to the fol-
Christians, Jews, Muhammadans, Zoroastri- lowers in all countries, that the sincere
ans, Hindus, blending together as children might be separated from the insincere. The
of the one God, living in perfect love and storm of bitter controversy raged around
harmony . . . the calm and radiant Presence of 'Abdu'l-
"At the house of 'Abdu'l-BahL, in 'Akki, Bahi, Center of Bahb'uYllLh'sCovenant to
we met many of these peoples, but they had humanity. Victim of official persecution and
lost all trace of the discord and hatred confined to prison quarters until 1908,
which has been inbred and cultivated for 'Abdu'l-BahL was also assailed by the un-
centuries, and now they are as members of faithful within His own family, and these
one Household. They sacrifice their lives enemies attempted to create the basis for
for one another. To what shall we attribute general disloyalty within the BahL'i com-
this miracle of unity? . . . We had heard munities of East and West. With other
much of the love and kindness shown by stalwart souls of his generation Roy Wil-
the Oriental brothers to the pilgrims from helm stood above a frequently bewildering
664 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

and subtle controversy and radiated the your house, I saw the charm of the spot, the
spirit of firmness in that Covenant. beauty of its environment, and the perfec-
He was very dear to 'Abdu'l-BahP and tion of its building.
received many evidences of his Master's "I am extremely pleased with you because
trust and esteem. For a long period the you are a true Bahb'i. Your house is My
cablegrams and letters (tablets) sent by house; there is no difference whatsoever be-
'Abdu'l-Bahi to BahL'i groups and individ- tween yours and Mine."
uals in North America were addressed in -HORACE HOLLEY
Roy Wilhelm's care and forwarded by him
to their destinations.
In 1909 the American BahL'is, under the
initiative of the Chicago group, elected a na-
SIEGFRIED SCHOPFLOCHER
tional BahB'i body to represent all the Ba-
hi'is of North America in their united effort
to purchase land and plan the construction "Profoundly grieved (at) passing (of)
of the House of Worship recently completed dearly loved, outstandingly staunch Hand
in Wilmette, Illinois. (of) Cause Fred Schopflocher. (His) nu-
From that year until his retirement from merous, magnificent services extending over
active BahP'i service in 1946, with the ex- thirty years (in) administrative (and)
ception of a single year of illness, Roy Wil- teaching spheres (for) United States, Can-
helm was elected annually to the BahB'i ada, Institutions BahB'i World Center
Temple Unity and to the later National greatly enriched annals (of) Formative Age
Spiritual Assembly, and for years served as (of) Faith. Abundant reward assured
its treasurer. No other American believer Abhi Kingdom. Advising American Na-
has achieved a comparable record. As treas- tional Assembly hold befitting memorial
urer, the integrity of his character and the gathering (at) Temple he generously helped
simple, direct humanness of his exposition raise. Advise hold memorial gathering (at)
of financial matters brought about a rapid Maxwell home (to) commemorate his emi-
development of the Bahi'i fund as an or- nent part (in) rise (of) Administrative
ganic institution of the community. Order (of) Faith (in) Canada. Urge en-
After the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahi in sure burial (in) close neighborhood (of)
1921, the Guardian who was appointed in resting place (of) distinguished Hand (of)
His Will and Testament summoned two Cause Sutherland Maxwell."
American BahP'is for conference in Haifa -SHOGHI
-Roy Wilhelm and Mountfort Mills.
The Guardian's cablegram lamenting the A world-renowned symbol of the great
passing of Roy Wilhelm from this worid on evolution of the BahB'i Faith, the Ma&-
December 20, 1951, is cited at the beginning riqu'l-Ad_hkb at Wilmette, is nearing com-
of this article. In conclusion it is appropri- pletion, representing the collective effort of
ate to quote from letters addressed to him believers throughout the world and particu-
by 'Abdu'l-Bahi. They illumine the essential larly in North America. Of the many inter-
worth of this man, and his service as a national services to the Faith rendered by
steadfast pillar of a new and world-wide Fred Schopflocher over the last thirty years,
Faith. perhaps none is more enduring than his con-
"Verily thou art serving in every respect; tribution to the completion of the Temple.
thou art striving more than thine energy Mr. Schopflocher early understood the sig-
permits, and thou art rendering self-sacri- nificance of the Temple and through nu-
fice. I am pleased with thee to the utmost." merous visits to the Guardian realized its
"Verily thou art B a h 3 , thou art godly importance to the growth of the Faith. It
and heavenly. Thou art self-sacrificing in was after one of these visits to Haifa that
service to the Kingdom. Even a minute thou Mr. Schopflocher arrived at a National Ba-
dost not neglect. Thy heart is overflowing hP'i Convention in Wilmette and generated
with the love of God. Be thou assured that afresh an enthusiasm for resumption of con-
thou wilt receive great Confirmations!" struction work on the exterior ornamenta-
"The sight of your portrait brought joy tion of the Temple. It was for this service
to My heart, because it is luminous and that the Guardian called Fred Schopflocher
celestial, and looking at the photograph of "the Chief Temple Builder."
IN MEMORIAM 665

variety of peoples in East and West, espe-
cially on short and relatively infrequent vis-
its to so many places, but the world-wide
community of the believers has destroyed all
barriers.
One of Mr. Schopflocher's earliest inter-
ests as a Bahfi was in Green Acre which,
when he entered the Faith, was in need of
considerable improvement and repair. Mr.
Schopflocher donated several important
properties to Green Acre and played a ma-
jor r81e in the development and expansion
of its facilities. Subsequently, when Geyser-
ville was developed as a Summer School,
Mr. Schopflocher also took a great personal
interest in its success and attended many of
its sessions.
During the period from 1924 to 1947,
Mr. Schopflocher was elected a member of
the National Spiritual Assembly of the Ba-
h8'is of the United States and Canada for
fifteen different years. When the National
Spiritual Assembly of Canada was formed
as an independent administrative body in
1948, Mr. Schopflocher was elected a mem-
ber and has continuously served on that
body ever since. It was chiefly through
Siegfried Schopflocher. Fred's efforts, with the able assistance of
Horace Holley, that the National Spiritual
Assembly of Canada secured a unique form
Born in Germany in 1877 of Jewish par- of incorporation by an Act of the Parlia-
entage, Mr. Schopflocher was brought up ment of Canada.
along orthodox lines but, after leaving In this last year, coincident with his ap-
school, ceased to follow the customs of his pointment as a Hand of the Cause of God,
faith and leaned towards an agnosticism the Guardian instructed Fred to assist the
which included a search for a more univer- National Spiritual Assembly of Canada in
sal expression of religion. Years later, after the establishment of the Hazira.
he had become permanently settled in busi- This brief sketch of Mr. Schopflocher's
ness in Canada, Mr. Schopflocher heard of life was approved by him in February,
the Bahl'i Faith and, shortly thereafter, be- 1953.
came a Bahg'i. Two months later he attended the Cana-
In 1922, Mr. Schopflocher made his first dian National Convention before proceed-
visit to Haifa which was the beginning of ing to the Intercontinental Conference in
many journeys to the Center of the Faith. Chicago. At the Convention he made valua-
His devotion to the Guardian was immedi- ble contributions to the discussion, particu-
ate and lasting and, on several of his inter- larly of the Hazira and the Temple plans
national tours, the Guardian gave him spe- and of financial matters. He yielded to the
cific assignments to carry out. His trips, urgent appeals of the Western delegates to
usually undertaken in conjunction with his visit their communities at an early date. He
business, took him to every corner of the spoke at the Feast of Ridvfin on the func-
globe where he was able to visit BahL'i com- tions of the Hands of the Cause of God and
munities and learned to appreciate, at first shared some of the notes from his pilgrim-
hand, the extraordinary bond linking the age to Haifa in January, 1953. This talk, so
believers throughout the world in their love deeply moving, so inspiring, so revealing of
for a common Cause. Normally, as Fred the profound humility and devotion of the
said, it would have been impossible for a man, will be long remembered by the
Westerner to make contact with so wide a fjends.
666 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Fred kept his promise to the Western Ca-
nadian believers in the latter part of June.
He brought them too a new understanding
of the Hands of the Cause and a clearer ap-
preciation of our Guardian and of the tre-
mendous services he renders the Bahi'i
world.
Fred had a deep affection for the friends
in India. He had been eagerly looking for-
ward to attending the New Delhi Confer-
ence. It was not to be. He passed away in
Montreal at 9:30 A.M. on Monday, July 27,
1953, after a few days' illness.
The funeral service was conducted by the
Canadian National Spiritual Assembly in
Montreal on July 31. Burial was made, at
the Guardian's request, close to the grave of
Sutherland Maxwell, the first Canadian
Hand of the Cause. On August 23, the
Montreal Assembly arranged a memorial
service in the Maxwell Home which was
attended by members of the National As-
sembly and friends, mainly from the Mont-
real area. This service in Fred's home com-
munity was intimate and personal. Many Louis G. Gregory.
people recalled with loving gratitude per-
sonal associations with Fred, kindly and (of) first Hand (of the) Cause (of) his
helpful things he had done in his unobtru- race. Rising BahL'i generation African con-
sive way, gifts of hospitality or considera- tinent will glory (in) his memory (and)
tion that they had treasured sometimes for emulate his example. Advise hold memorial
ma.ny years. gatheri.ng (in) Temple (in) token recogni-
On August 28, a second memorial service tion (of his) unique position, outstanding
was arranged by the National Spiritual As- services."
sembly of the United States. A report of this -SHOGHI
service is published in the September issue Cablegram received August 6, 1951.
of their B a h Z News.
The cable from the Guardian, the many Dearly loved, universally respected Louis
messages received from Hands of the Cause G. Gregory passed away on July 30, 1951.
of God, from National and Local Assem- Although he had been frail in body for
blies, from individuals throughout the Ba- many months, the luminous spirit and great
hi'i world and from many non-BahPi heart were so apparent, so overwhelming,
friends and business associates attested to that none anticipated his sudden departure.
the deep sense of loss felt in every continent Only a week before, he had arranged and
on the passing of this humble, staunch and carried out a meeting in his home in Eliot,
devoted soul. Maine, where he discussed the prophecies
in the Bible, with their import for these
perilous times. The dozen or more who
gathered there will forever treasure this
LOUIS G. GREGORY meeting which proved to be his last. Seated
at his desk, his warm and radiant smile
welcoming everyone, with his indescribable
"Profoundly deplore grievous loss dearly spiritual dignity, a manifest evidence of the
beloved, noble-minded, golden-hearted world in which he lived, he carried on the
Louis Gregory, pride (and) example (to meeting with joy and radiance.
the) Negro adherents (of the) Faith, keenly His body was laid to rest in the burying
feel loss (of) one so loved, admired (and) ground at Eliot, Maine. On Wednesday
trusted (by) 'Abdu'l-Bah5. Deserves rank afternoon, August 1, a Memorial Service
I N MER

was held at Fellowship House in the large strong and outstanding. In other words he
room which was filled to overflowing, not was a fine student, a lovely character and a
only with the members of the Eliot BahL'i person with a great mind which he devoted
Community but also with the many friends to the betterment of mankind. Those of us
who were attending the Green Acre Bahi'i who knew him well cannot but mourn his
School. In this room he had conducted loss, but there should be some comfort in
teaching meetings, fireside groups and con- the fact that he lived long and well, and
ferences on race amity, the subject so close those with whom he came in contact were
to his heart, and it seemed fitting that in and are better for their association with him.
this beautiful spot the prayers of the friends In fact, he was one of those who enriched
should pour forth in gratitude for such a the life of America."
wonderful life lived in their midst, and in Louis first heard about the BahL'i Faith
supplication for his eternal progress. while he was employed with the Govern-
On November 24, 1951, a memorial serv- ment, in 1908. He always spoke with great
ice was held in the BahB'i House of Wor- love and appreciation of the cultivated,
ship, Wilmette, Illinois, under the auspices southern white gentleman, a co-worker in
of the National Spiritual Assembly. It was the same department, who first brought the
attended by friends from various parts of Cause to his attention, saying: "I think that
the United States and Canada who had this is something that will interest you. I
come to pay tribute to this great soul. am too d d to investigate it. You are young
Louis Gregory was born in Charleston, and I would like you to do so." Although
South Carolina, June 6, 1874. His father this gentleman did not accept the Faith, he
died when he was five years of age; until was the means of putting Louis in contact
his mother married again matters were d f i - with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hannen, Ba-
cult for her and her two sons, and they h s s of Washington, D.C., who taught him
were sometimes hungry. His stepfather was and exemplified in their lives the beauty of
kind to him and when he became a youth the Teachings, thereby attracting his heart.
apprenticed him to a tailor. Later his step- His first Tablet from 'Abdu'l-BahC came
father paid the expenses of his first year at through Mr. Hannen.
Fisk University, and Louis supported him- We know at present relatively little about
self and put himself through this univer- his childhood and youth. The picture of his
sity by obtaining scholarships, by work at mother reveals a person of great love and
cleaning, pressing and tailoring for the spiritual beauty. We have no picture of his
students, and sometimes working as a waiter father. When we realize how well prepared
during the summer vacations. Louis was for the Bahi'i teachings, we can
After he graduated from Fisk he taught well appreciate how deep and wide his inner
at Avery Institute, a small private school life had really been. There is no doubt that
maintained by people from the North to he was created with a great destiny and that
help students of exceptional intellectual ca- time would show that in the history of his
pacity. He had studied there as a young boy. race he would stand among its leaders. In
After this period of teaching he began the fact, in response to his letter to 'Abdu'l-
study of law at Howard University, receiv- Bahi telling of his acceptance of the Faith,
ing his LL.B. degree March 26, 1902. When 'Abdu'l-BahA called upon him to become the
he had passed the necessary examinations cause of guidance of both the white and the
he began the practice of law in Washington, colored races. In this beautiful Tablet
D.C., where he formed a partnership with 'Abdu'l-Bahi wrote:
another lawyer, James A. Cobb. They con- "0 Thou Wooer of Truth! Thy letter was
tinued as law partners until 1906, when received. Its contents indicated thy attain-
Louis took a position in the United States ment to the Most Great Guidance. Thank
Treasury Department. James A. Cobb, later God that thou hast attained to such a
appointed Judge of the District Court, has bounty, discovered the Path of the Kingdom
written of Louis Gregory: and received the Glad-Tidings of the Uni-
"It was my privilege to have known Mr. verse of the Most High. This Divine Be-
Gregory intimately from 1895 until a short stowal is conducive to the Everlasting Glory
time before his passing. I knew him as a in both worlds. I hope that thou mayest be-
student, teacher, practicing lawyer, lecturer come the Herald of the Kingdom, become
and friend, and in each capacity he was the means whereby the white and colored
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

peoples shall close their eyes to racial differ- Louis did not return directly to the
ences and behold the reality of humanity, United States but, at the request of 'Abdu'l-
and that is the universal unity which is the Bah6, visited Germany amidst heavenly
oneness of the kingdom of the human race, confirmations. Of this we are assured, be-
the basic harmony of the world and the ap- cause in a Tablet to one of the German
pearance of the Bounty of the Almighty. friends 'Abdu'l-Bahi wrote:
'"In brief, do not look upon thy weak "Your letter arrived and its contents
body and thy limited capacity; look thou showed that Mr. Gregory, by visiting the
upon the Bounties a.nd Providence of the Blessed Tomb, has received a new power
Lord of the Kingdom, for His confirmation and a new life. When he arrived at Stuttgart,
is great, and His Power unparalleled and although being of black color, yet he shone
incomparable. . . ." as a bright light in the meeting of the
With a heart full of longing, Louis asked friends. . . ."
permission to visit the Hcly Threshold, and Louis Gregory returned to the United
in reply he received another Tablet early States radiant and happy, filled with a zeal
in 1910: and a determination to bring to pass the ex-
..
". Thou hast asked for permission to pectations and hopes of 'Abdu'l-Bahb. He
present thyself in this Holy Land; it is not began a task which he pursued steadily until
at present in accord with wisdom. Postpone his death-to unify the white and colored
this matter to another and more appropriate peoples of the world and to aid in establish-
time." ing the oneness of humanity.
However, through the Bounty of God the During the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahi in the
doors opened, and in 1911 when 'Abdu'l- United States in 1912 a luncheon in His
Bahi was in Ramleh, Egypt, Louis visited honor was given in Washington by MirzL
Him. He arrived in Ramleh on April 10, Ali-Kuli Khan and Madame Khan, who
1911. There and later in Haifa and 'Akki were both BahB'is. Khan was at that time
where he went to visit the sacred Shrines of charg6 d'affaires of the Persian Legation in
the Bib and BahL'u'ULh, he drank deeply the capital city. Many noted people were
from the ocean of inspiration, guidance and invited, some of whom were members of
steadfastness. His notes of this visit and ex- the official and social life of Washington, as
tracts from some Tablets he received from well as a few Bahgis. Just an hour before
'Abdu'l-Bahi were printed in a booklet en- the luncheon 'Abdu'l-BahL sent word to
titled A Heavenly Vista. Louis Gregory that he might come to Him
The words of 'Abdu'l-Bahi described this for the promised conference. Louis arrived
visit in Tablets written at that time, for it at the appointed time, and the conference
was apparent that this was not an ordinary went on and on; 'Abdu'l-Bahi seemed to
pilgrimage. To an American BahB'i 'Abdu'l- want to prolong it. When luncheon was an-
Bahi wrote: nounced, 'Abdu'l-Bahb led the way and all
"Mr. Gregory arrived with the utmost followed Him into the dining room, except
love and spirituality and returned with infi- Louis. All were seated when suddenly
nite happiness. He added to his faith and 'Abdu'l-Bahb stood up, looked all around,
found firmness and steadfastness. Undoubt- and then said to MirzL Khan, Where is Mr.
edly you shall see these things at the time of Gregory? Bring Mr. Gregory! There was
his arrival. It is my hope that he may be- nothing for Mirzi Khan to do but find Mr.
come the cause of increasing the love of the Gregory, who fortunately had not yet left
friends and the maid-servants of the Merci- the house, but was quietly waiting for a
ful." chance to do so. Finally Mr. Gregory came
To another 'Abdu'l-Bahi wrote: "Mr. into the room with Mirzi Khan. 'Abdu'l-
Gregory is at present in great happiness; he Bahi, Who was really the Host (as He was
went to 'AkkL and visited the Holy Thresh- wherever He was), had by this time rear-
old and the Supreme Court. He is now, day ranged the place setting and made room for
and night mingling with the friends of God Mr. Gregory, giving him the seat of honor
and 'Abdu'l-Bah6, in joy and gladness. He at His right. He stated He was very pleased
will return to America very soon, and you, to have Mr. Gregory there, and then, in the
the white people, should then honor and most natural way as if nothing unusual had
welcome this shining colored man in such a happened, proceeded to give a talk on the
way that all the people will be astonished." oneness of mankind.
I N MEMORIAM 669

Addressing Mr. and Mrs. Gregory in the of the Bahb'i National Committee for Race
early months of 1914 'Abdu'l-BahB wrote: Unity or as a member, and he was either
"0 ye two believing souls! Continually do I one or the other for a great many years, or
remember you. I beg of God that through as an individual, he was tireless in his ac-
you, good fellowship may be obtained be- tivities in promoting unity.
tween the white and colored races, for you Green Acre, in Eliot, Maine, was the
are the introduction to this accomplishment scene of many Unity Conferences at which
. . . I know also that your thought and prominent leaders shared the platform, with
mention by day and by night is the guidance Mr. Gregory, the moving force and the
of souls . . . white and black. Therefore organizer, oftentimes completely in the
be ye most happy, because ye are confirmed background. He never lost sight of the goal.
in this great matter." He was elected a member of the National
When Mrs. Agnes Parsons visited Spiritual Assembly and served faithfully for
'Abdu'l-BahB in the Holy Land in 1920 He many years. When he was elected, Shoghi
asked her to inaugurate, in Washington, Effendi wrote him that he welcomed his
D.C., the first Conference for Amity and election but that he wished him to concen-
Unity between the white and colored peo- trate, first and foremost, upon the teaching
ples. Assisted by a capable committee Mrs. work and to arrange his affairs in such a
Parsons organized this Conference. It was way that no administrative responsibilities
held in Washington, May 19-21, 1921, and would in any way interfere with the effec-
was a great success, bringing together able tive conduct of his teaching work. This
and important representatives of both white Louis Gregory accomplished by arranging
and colored peoples. It became a prototype his teaching trips so that the itinerary al-
of many similar meetings held in cities large lowed him to attend the meetings of the Na-
and small throughout the United States and tional Spiritual Assembly.
Canada in the years to come. Mr. Gregory That his dependable, trustworthy and
was one of the speakers and reported the faithful services were appreciated is evi-
proceedings of the Conference in the Star of denced by the many letters he received from
the West? the Guardian through the years. He made
It is probable that no individual teacher the Guardian happy. In one of his letters
in the Faith has traveled more extensively Shoghi Effendi wrote:
throughout the United States than Mr. "Your letter has infused strength and joy
Gregory. Living in the utmost simplicity, in my heart . . . For your own dear self,
sacrificing at every turn, he spoke in I have nothing but admiration and gratitude
schools, colleges, churches, forums, confer- for the heroic constancy, mature wisdom,
ences and with individuals throughout the tireless energy and shining love with which
land. With a marvelous blending of humility you are conducting your ever expanding
and courage, of tenderness and adamantine work of service to the Cause of BahL'u'llbh.
firmness and steadfastness, he met high and You hardly realize what a help you are to
low, rich and poor, educated and ignorant, me in my arduous task."
and gave to them the cup of the Water of The capacities of Louis Gregory were
Life. He spoke in Protestant, Catholic and versatile, for he shone equally as a delegate
Jewish schools and before nondenomina- to the Convention, as secretary of the Con-
tional groups, and everywhere he was ac- vention, as the recording secretary of the
cepted. National Spiritual Assembly, as a speaker
His radiant and gentle spirit opened the and as a writer. Articles by him appeared
doors for those who followed after him; in the Star of the West, The Bahd'i Maga-
many a B a h s teacher seeking an opening zine, the World Order Magazine, and in
to teach has been met with the words: "0 nearly every issue of The Bahd'i World.
yes! We know Mr. Gregory and we love These articles like the addresses he gave are
him. If you are a friend of his, you are wel- thoughtful, factual and filled with the spirit
come." of love and exaltation that characterized his
For more than thirty-five years Louis life.
Gregory was the mainspring behind the Twice at the invitation of the great Negro
work for Race Amity. Whether as chairman educator, Booker T. Washington, Louis
Gregory visited Tuskegee Institute and was
1 Vol. 12, p. 115, June, 1921. called upon to address the students on the
670 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Bahi'i Faith. Their response to the Bahi'i
ideals and principles was most enthusiastic.
Here he made the acquaintance of that out-
standing Negro genius and man of God, Dr.
George Washington Carver, who showed
the utmost appreciation of the Faith. This
was the beginning of an increasingly rich
friendship. Whenever Mr. Gregory went to
Tuskegee, and he visited there many times,
he had understanding and sympathetic talks
with Dr. Carver in his famous laboratory
or in his room.
Louis Gregory's spiritual position was so
well centered in the Teachings and in his
complete obedience to 'Abdu'l-Bahi and
the Guardian that he held the banner of
oneness high in the heavens yet never be-
came the subject of controversy. He showed
infinite patience, for his faith in the goal of
his hopes was such that he possessed a long
range view, and he met every opposition or
intolerance with understanding and radiant
acquiescence. His heart was full of fire but
heLknew the wishes of 'Abdu'l-BahB and Dorothy Beecher Baker.
transmuted that fire into brilliant light.
When a serious operation and increasing
bodily weakness curtailed his traveling and
he was obliged to stay in Eliot and be con- (for the) progress (of her) soul (in the)
tent with shorter trips, Louis Gregory Abhi Kingdom.
turned to correspondence and to a deeper Assure relatives profound loving sympa-
study of the Teachings. His spiritual aware- thy. (Her) noble spirit (is) reaping bounti-
ness became increasingly vivid. He lived ful reward.
again the high lights of his life. He drew Advise hold memorial gathering (in the)
ever nearer to the beloved of his heart, the Temple befitting her rank (and) imperish-
Guardian. In retrospect we realize that he able services . . .
was being prepared for that transition which -SHOGHI
came suddenly to a great personage, a great Haifa, Israel,
lover of all mankind, "golden-hearted" January 13, 1954.
Louis Gregory.
-HARLAN F. OBER Mystery of mysteries is the tragic British
jet plane disaster near the island of Elba in
the Mediterranean Sea, which, on January
10, 1954, deprived the Bahb'i Cause of
DOROTHY BEECHER BAKER Dorothy Baker's spiritually intelligent serv-
ices in this world. Distinguished in her life
as a Hand of the Cause, an administrator,
Cablegram from the Guardian: a remarkably gifted teacher, she was lifted
Hearts grieved (at) lamentable, untimely out of her lofty position at the time when
passing (of) Dorothy Baker, distinguished she was in the full tide of her capacities for
Hand (of the) Cause, eloquent exponent service to our beloved Faith. Mere words
its teachings, indefatigable supporter its in- cannot express the quality of grief which
stitutions, valiant defender its precepts. afflicted Bahi'is on every continent. But a
(Her) long record (of) outstanding service life of genuine Bahi'i service so pure and
(has) enriched (the) annals (of the) con- beautiful had its effect on many lives, and,
cluding years (of the) Heroic (and the) even in this sudden passing to her Heavenly
opening epoch (of the) Formative Age (of Home, she proclaimed the Bah6'i Faith. The
the) BahB'i Dispensation. Fervently praying news of the disaster went round the world,
IN MEMORIAM

and undoubtedly millions of people heard Bahb. She had been a very shy child, sensi-
the word "BahCi" for the first time. tive to the point of deep suffering in the
Dorothy Beecher Baker was born in presence of adults. She was so shy that years
Newark, New Jersey, December 21, 1898. later she still remembered the tension she
Her father was related to Henry Ward Bee- felt when she entered the room where
cher, a liberal clergyman famous for his elo- 'Abdu'l-BahQ was speaking. He smiled at
quence on the subjects of the abolition of her, and without speaking to her directly,
slavery and prohibition, and to Harriet Bee- motioned her to a foot-stool at His side.
cher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's At first she was so much afraid that He
Cabin. Dorothy was graduated from the might speak to her that she could hardly
Montclair Normal College and thereafter bear it, but as He seemed to pay no further
taught in the public schools of Newark for attention to her, she gradually relaxed. She
two years. She was then offered a contract was never able to remember what He talked
to teach in the Ethical Culture School in about that day, but it was the moment of
New York but declined the offer and, in the her birth as a Bahi'i, and from that time on
summer of 1921, she was married to Frank she considered herself a BahCi. Although
Baker. They had two children, Louise Baker she left without speaking to Him, she could
Matthias and William, both of them com- think of nothing else for days afterward
prehending and loyal Bahi'is. Frank Baker and finally wrote Him a letter saying that
deserves much gratitude, for he stood by she wished to serve the Faith. He immedi-
Dorothy's side always, and, in his own mag- ately sent her a Tablet in His own hand,
nificent services and his support of Doro- translated by one of His secretaries which
thy's teaching activities, there was the ele- is now in the National Archives, in which
ment of true sacrifice. He told her that He would pray that God
In the early pioneering days of the Ba- would grant her desire.
h6'i Cause in New York City (1900-1905), A few nights after that meeting in
I was closely associated with Dorothy's New York, 'Abdu'l-BahQ sent for Mother
grandmother, known to the BahCis as Beecher, who went to Him immediately.
Mother Beecher. We worked together, ar- When she entered the room He was speak-
ranging the programs and meetings at Gen- ing to some people but interrupted what
ealogical Hall and in many other activities. He was saying, turned to her, and said,
Mother Beecher was an elderly person even rather abruptly: "I called you to say that
then. She lived near us, and I used to see your granddaughter is My own daughter.
her practically every day in connection with You must train her for Me."
our BahCi duties. I loved to hear her dwell This rare and lovely soul was almost a
on her religious experiences. Her stories perfect student; she studied the Bah6'i
were without end. Teachings in such a way (that is, with both
After Dorothy had grown to a little girl, mind and heart) that one would think her
Mother Beecher was full of anxiety, at very life depended on her being filled to
times, about her. Dorothy's parents were overflowing with the Revelation of BahL'uY-
not BahCis then, although now they are 1lQh.She often said something to this effect:
both active in the Faith, and Mother Nothing worth knowing is attained without
Beecher would say to me: "I will train Dor- labor, tremendous effort, and undivided at-
othy; I will train her. She shall be my spirit- tention. She always felt sure that she was to
ual child. I would not be loyal to Bah2uy1IQh go forth to service and that her duty would
if my granddaughter did not receive the be to give out "thoughts that breathe." She
true Bahi'i Teachings." She said this so often said that she wished her service would
many times that it has remained indelibly "kindle the feelings" and touch the hearts.
impressed upon me. She certainly attained this wish, for as a
We have heard much about this mysti-
speaker in small or large groups, she was
cal bond which brought grandmother and
granddaughter together; and indeed it was eloquent, persuasive, and convincing. She
Mother Beecher who trained Dorothy and also had that quality of personality so neces-
brought her safely into the BahL'i fold. sary for a public speaker, inimitable charm.
Louise Baker Matthias tells how in 1912 But the most important quality, which was
Mother Beecher took Dorothy, then four- ever present, and which strangers as well as
teen years old, to New York to see 'Abdu'l- friends could observe, was that of sincerity
672 T H E B A H A.'I W O R L D

-her pure sincerity. She was an ardent Ba- the Islands), always working directly under
h2i first, last, and all the time. the Guardian's instructions. He conferred
Her first talk before the public was given upon her the station of Hand of the Cause,
in Foundation Hall of the Temple, probably and in the last years of her life she promptly
about 1929, at a Ridvkn Feast. I shall never and joyously followed his direct instructions
forget how the friends rejoiced in her "aris- to her. The story of her services in the coun-
ing," as they called it; in fact she was sur- tries below the borders of the United States
rounded, both before and after this talk, and will one day be a very thrilling record of
one could hear the comments about the at- magnificent work in the Most Great Cause.
tainment of Mother Beecher's granddaugh- She must have had an unusual capacity for
ter. It produced a profound sensation be- associating with, and reaching the hearts of,
cause most of the friends did not know that the Latin people. They loved her enthusi-
Dorothy had become (among all the young asm, her methods, her personality, her spir-
people) one of the best informed on the itual knowledge and achievements. She will
Bahi'i Teachings. From that time on, the certainly be a cherished star in their mem-
evolution of this Bahb'i speaker was rapid, ory forever.
phenomenal. She was wanted everywhere. Mrs. Margot Worley, Chairman of the
Soon thereafter she became very promi- National Bahi'i Assembly of South Amer-
nent in inter-racial work and as a traveling ica, has sent us the following tribute:
teacher, covering first one part and then "We were stunned at the news of Doro-
another of this country and Canada, speak- thy's tragic end, and our hearts felt the tre-
ing before large audiences. One year she mendous void and loss. Ever since the news
proclaimed the BahC'i Teachings in ninety of her passing reached us, the Bahia, Brazil,
colleges throughout the South, and she fear- Bahb'i Community has been praying for
lessly spoke in every one of them (both her. . . . We of South America can never
white and Negro) on the Bahi'i doctrine of forget Dorothy, nay, she now stands close
the brotherhood of man. "The future must to our hearts as never before. Her first visit
be quite different from the past," she would to us was when she brought experience and
say; and then she would enlarge upon this wisdom to our Fourth Congress, held in
theme. "We must recognize and live in ac- Lima, Peru. We felt childlike in her pres-
tual deeds as well as in words this great ence, for truly we were all so young and
brotherhood." She never failed to give the puny by comparison, our knowledge so
Source of her Light as the Revelation of scanty and vague. All through that Congress
Bah2uYllih. She served always with zeal, each soul grew and developed, whether it
determination, sincerity, and a logic unan- was aware of it or not. Dorothy laid the
swerable. Her own faith was so intense, so World Order at our feet, and by her clear
elevating, so noble, that she certainly could explanations, brought us step by step to
easily be called one of the "vivifiers" of the where you dear souls stood. . . . We had
world. a glimpse, as it were, of the glory of Baht?-
We are not attempting to write here a u'llih's handiwork and of Shoghi Effendi's
complete history of Dorothy Baker's life, guidance . . .
but even briefly we must not fail to mention "We must confess we almost stood in
her many services at the Bahi'i Summer awe in Dorothy's presence. We know she
Schools: Green Acre, Louhelen, Interna- had ample preparation for her great work
tional School in Colorado Springs. She gave and that she stood as a shining example to
courses on the BahC'i Teachings in all these us all. When once again she was with us at
schools, and reports from those in attend- Buenos Aires for our Second Convention,
ance invariably referred to her influence on April, 1952, she stood before us in a differ-
the young people; they would gather around ent capacity. Shoghi Effendi had just con-
her, asking questions and trying to imbibe ferred upon her the station of Hand of the
some of her enthusiasm. They did not just Cause of God. Upon her beamed a differ-
admire her, but they had for her esteem and ent light and her countenance was radiant
reverence and love. . . . Her prayers were felt surrounding us;
In the course of time our beloved Guard- her strong sense of duty threw a different
ian sent her to Latin America. She not only light upon our tasks, and we of South Amer-
made one teaching tour there, but several ica came to understand that we were liv-
(including Central and South America and ing in precious times. . . . Dorothy again
I N MEMORIAM 673

guided us in our decisions, helped us with questions intelligently and with entire con-
our plans, encouraged us with advice and fidence in the Teachings she proclaimed.
understanding. She showed us how the dear She had many personal interviews and pri-
friends in North America had sacrificed vate Bahi'i meetings in nearly every city
over the years and had helped establish the she visited. We have often heard her quote
Faith throughout the Bahi'i world. Dorothy these words of Bahi'u'lliih: "This is a
had the gift of pointing out the way to sac- matchless Day. Matchless must, likewise, be
rifice, the way to earn the right of being the tongue that celebrateth the praise of the
known as a Bahi'i and thus become 'the Desire of all nations, and matchless the
supreme moving impulse in the world of deed that aspireth to be acceptable in His
being.' sight."
"Dorothy took part in every service our For sixteen years, although she was en-
beloved Faith offered her; she had visited gaged so actively in the teaching work, she
the Guardian, stepped upon the Thresholds served on the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Holy Shrines, prayed where Bah2- and was its chairman for four years. As a
u'lliih had spent His last days. Can any soul Hand of the Cause of God, she attended the
ask for more!" four Intercontinental Conferences during
Artemus Lamb, of the Central American the Holy Year of the Cause and was a
National Spiritual Assembly, has written: speaker on the public programs of all of
"Her influence in Central America is most them. After the New Delhi Conference, in
powerful, and at the same time mysterious, the last months of her life, she made an ar-
for in reality she spent only a few days here duous teaching trip through India.
on several occasions; yet all loved her A letter from Doris McKay, pioneer in
deeply and feel dependent upon her like Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, con-
children to a mother. After her passing, tains a tribute to Dorothy Baker and an in-
many have written to say that her influence teresting account of her first meeting with
is both felt and seen more powerfully than Martha Root. ". . . It was on a visit to
ever . . . Letters have poured in from all Jamestown, N.Y., in, I think, 1936, that
sides. On the night of February 19, all the Dorothy met Martha Root, another of her
Central American Assemblies and Groups kind. I sat with Martha at a table in the
have been requested to hold a Memorial dining room of the Y.W.C.A., waiting for
Service in her honor. What tribute could Dorothy to join us. 'How very strange,' I
be higher to that great and lovely soul that said to Martha, 'that you and Dorothy
was and is Dorothy than that a whole Conti- have never met!' Then the doors opened,
nent of believers love her like a mother and and Dorothy's fragrance and light moved
sister and are now arising to new and through the room toward Martha's tender
greater service to the Faith in her memory glow. We arose and went to meet her, and
and to try in their way to make up for the Dorothy's outstretched hands met Martha's.
crushing loss which they feel?" Not a word was spoken in this moment too
Dorothy Baker also visited many Centers great for words. At the table we talked,
in the goal countries of Europe and was a Dorothy clad in a deep and listening hu-
speaker on the public programs of many mility. For a few days the two great stars
Bahfi Conferences. Of course her eloquent were in conjunction as they devoted them-
and persuasive presentation of the Faith selves to us and to our friends. . . . In the
won for her the plaudits of strangers and Supreme Concourse we have a recently ar-
friends; and letters indicate that they longed rived delegate from this world. Because of
for her services, her continued rich blessings her 'the world to come' is closer to all of
from the Court of the Divine King. us who earnestly wish it. . . ."
The Master said: "The most efficient cap- The crowning event in her almost miracu-
ital of the Bahi'i teacher is the Divine lous life in the Cause was her pilgrimage
Power. With that alone he may conquer the to the presence of our beloved Guardian in
cities of the hearts." She seemed always to Haifa; this was during the first part of 1953.
have that necessary confirmation. When any She had asked permission a few times pre-
public meeting anywhere was open for ques- viously to be allowed this pilgrimage, but
tions from the audience after the address, each time it was deferred because her teach-
Dorothy was equal to what we might call a ing work was of such great importance. In
pressure from all sides. She could answer all a letter to me about this visit, she said:
674 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

"I would not attempt to write the real fearlessness by none except (the) incom-
things, the things of the heart, but I can say parable Martha Root. Her unremitting,
this, that the Glory of the Cause, its gran- highly-meritorious activities (in the) course
deur, shines like the sun; and as for our be- (of) almost half (a) century, both (in)
loved Guardian; he is at times a servant, North America (and) Southeast Europe, at-
and again a king,; and he is at once the point taining (their) climax (in the) darkest, most
of all joy and again the nerve center of suf- dangerous phase (of the) second World
fering. One does not accept part of him and War, shed imperishable luster (on) contem-
refuse part. He is, alas, a ransom; we are his porary Bahb'i history.
beneficiaries. He suffers the grief of the (This) triumphant soul (is) now gathered
Prophets, and yet is the 'true brother.' And (to the) distinguished band (of her) co-
as he casts himself into the sea of sacrifice, workers (in the) Abhg Kingdom: Martha
he is willing to cast us, one and all, into Root, Lua Getsinger, May Maxwell, Hyde
that shining sea also. America is the lead Dunn, Susan Moody, Keith Ransom-Keh-
horse. He drives a chariot that must win ler, Ella Bailey (and) Dorothy Baker, whose
over the combined forces of the world. He remains, lying (in) such widely scattered
cracks the whip over the lead horse, not the areas (of the) globe as Honolulu, Cairo,
others. Do the friends not realize this? The Buenos Aires, Sydney, Tihrgn, IsfBhin,
pilgrimage begins when you take his hand, Tripoli (and the) depths (of the) Mediter-
and ends when you last look upon his dear ranean (Sea) attest the magnificence (of
face, and in between you kneel at the the) pioneer services rendered (by the)
Shrines and ask for divine direction to serve North American Bahb'i community (in the)
him. And when your prayer is answered, Apostolic (and) Formative Ages (of the)
there is no doubt about it at all; a thousand Bahb'i Dispensation.
mercies circle around such an answer, and Advise arrange (in) association (with
the Guardian is in the center of them all." the) Canadian National Assembly (and
The Master said: "The service of the the) European Teaching Committee (a)
friends belongs to God and not to them." befitting memorial gathering (in the) Ma-
Dorothy Baker's services belonged to God. &riqu'l-AakCr. Moved (to) share with
He chose her for furthering the great Plan (the) United States (and) Canadian Na-
of the Ages. She had ceaseless, tireless en- tional Assemblies (the) expenses (of the)
ergy and used it to carry the Divine Reme- erection, (as) soon as circumstances permit,
dies to a drifting world. But her place is (of a) worthy monument (at) her grave,
empty. There is no one at present who pos- destined (to) confer eternal benediction (on
sesses quite the same qualities. That which a) country already honored (by) its close
will remain with us who knew her so well proximity (to the) sacred city associated
will always be her freshness and vigor, her (with the) proclamation (of the) Faith
lucidity in teaching the Bahi'i Faith, and (of) Bahi'u'lllh.
her power to reach the hearts. Her assur- Share message all National Assemblies.
ance, born of the spirit and of true knowl- -SHOGHI
edge of the Teachings, made her a magnifi- Haifa, Israel,
cent demonstration of the power of the re- March 29, 1954.
vealed Word in this age.
-MARIAM HANEY Marion Jack, "immortal heroine," "shin-
ing example to pioneers," passed from this
life on March 25, 1954, in Sofia, Bulgaria,
where she had been living for twenty-four
MARION JACK years as a pioneer of the Bahb'i Faith. Her
remains are buried in the British cemetery
there. The Guardian's tribute, expressed in
Cablegram from the Guardian: his cablegram of March 29, attests the high
Mourn loss (of) immortal heroine, Mar- station which this "triumphant soul" has
ion Jack, greatly-loved and deeply-admired attained.
by 'Abdu'l-BahS, (a) shining example (to) Marion Jack's services in the BahB'i Faith
pioneers (of) present (and) future genera- began early in the new century. Born in
tions (of) East (and) West, surpassed (in) Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, on
constancy, dedication, self-abnegation (and) December 1, 1866, of a prominent family,
dedicated to the service of the Faith. She
spent some time in 'Akki and was there in
1908, where she taught English to 'Abdu'l-
Bahi's grandchildren. She continued her
painting while she was there.
By 1914 she had retnrned to North
America. She was one of the first to re-
spond to the call of the Divine Plan of
'Abdu'l-Bahb, performing pioneer service
in Alaska and teaching in Toronto, Mont-
real, and many other places. She also spent
a good deal of time in Green Acre, Eliot,
Maine, helping with the teaching work at
the Bahs'i School and continuing her paint-
ing.
Many friends remember this joyous,
wholly dedicated soul from those days. Im-
pressed by her gracious charm, her under-
standing, her twinkling sense of humor, ev-
eryone who recounts some association with
her does so with a smile which seems to
Marion Jack.. spring spontaneously from the mention of
her name. "Jackie," as she was affection-
ately called, was ageless in her complete
she received much of her education in Eng- at-home-ness with young and old alike, was
land and partict~larlyin France, where she beloved wherever she went, drawing all to
studied art. Landscape painting was her spe- her and to each other through the quality
cial field. Some of her paintings are pre- of her faith, love and devotion to the Cause
served in the Holy Land at the World Cen- and to her beloved Guardian.
ter of the Faith. One of her Green Acre friends writes:
She first learned of the Faith at a social "She was such a lovely person-so joyous
gathering during her student days in Paris. and happy that one loved to be with her.
Charles Mason Renley writes of this first Her shining eyes and beautiful smile showed
introduction : how much the BahB'i Faith meant to her
"My first remembrance of Marion Jack . . . We used to love to go to her studio
was when we were students in the Latin and talk with her, also to see her paintings
Quarter in Paris. She was studying painting, of the Holy Land and familiar Green Acre
I, architecture, and I used to see her in the landscapes. . . . She always entered into
'Quarter' along the boulevard on Mont any plan with zest. . . . If we could all
Parnasse. In the Quarter lived a Mme. Phi- radiate happiness as did Jackie, I am sure
lippe who kept a Pension where a number we would attract more people to the Faith."
of girl students lived. Mme. Philippe gave In 1930 Marion Jack returned to Haifa
dancing parties at infrequent intervals. It and following this visit went to Sofia, Bul-
was at one of these affairs, a fancy dress garia, where she spent the remainder of her
dance, that I met Marion. She was dressed life. During the earlier years of this period
in a fiery red costume that she had made she attended the German Summer School
herself of crinkled tissue paper topped off and undertook teaching missions to Vienna
by an enormous 'Merry Widow' hat deco- and Budapest. In Sofia she held frequent
rated with large yellow paper flowers . . . meetings that were well attended by people
It was as we danced and sat out between of prominence and capacity. As World
dances that I told Marion of the BahL'i War I1 approached, and all who could fled
Faith. She was, as many were in those early the country, the Guardian suggested that
days, afire with the Faith then and there, all she go to Switzerlalld or to some safer place.
at once. Marion met the BahL'is, came to She pleaded to be allowed to remain at her
meetings in my studio and elsewhere, and post, preferring, as she put it, to "remain
that was the beginning of her belief." at the switch." Living on a small pension,
From this time forward, her life was which did not always reach her in recent
676 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

years, suffering serious deprivation, aged cial State Religion, the Greek Orthodox
and in poor health, she remained at her Church, and only a few other religions were
post. It was not without reason that 'Abdu'l- permitted, like Catholic, Jewish, Lutheran,
Bahg used to call her "General Jack." Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist and Isliim.
One of the friends writes of these days: Every Faith that was not permitted was
"She was much sought out and beloved forbidden and meetings like ours were ille-
everywhere she went. As the so-called Iron gal. State employees had to sign loyalty
curiain dropped, fewer people attended her oaths stating their adherence to the legal
meetings because of fear of the government. Faith and we had one girl who worked for
Towards the end of her life even her closest the government.
friends no longer went to see her, except one "When World War I1 broke out, Marion
BahCi. . . . During the last months of her had to discontinue her meetings. Sofia be-
severe illness, I wrote Miss Jack almost ev- came the center of European spy systems.
ery week and in her last letter she bade me Neither she nor I ( a German citizen of
goodbye, hoping for a reunion in the King- secondary quality) could dare to be seen
dom. When Miss Jack still corresponded, together. I kept contact with her indirectly
her letters were always cheerful, most spirit- through 'neutral' Bulgarian citizens. She
ual and even humorous. . . . The British was in financial difficulties because her
Consulate called her 'our friend.' . . . She funds did not get to her. But her spirit was
was a consecrated BahB'i teacher, full of unbroken.
charm, understanding, gaiety and humor." "In October, 1940, when I finally got my
One of her devoted students, who became visa for the United States, I dared to call
a BahCi through her, writes of the later her on the phone and even to see her. She
years in Sofia: had moved to a cheaper hotel. Her room
"I met Miss Jack in June, 1938, in Sofia. was probably too small for two people and
I had left Austria when Hitler took over we met in the hotel lobby. I told her of my
and found a temporary position in Sofia, plan to go to the United States by the com-
waiting for my visa to the United States. I plicated way, crossing the Black Sea to
noticed her in the restaurant where I took Odessa, through Russia on the Trans-Sibe-
my luncheon and she impressed me immedi- rian Railroad and across the Pacific from
ately with her friendly smile that she had Japan to the United States. I invited her to
for everybody. One day when her regular come along and promised that I would take
waiter who spoke English had his day off, care of her. But she declined. She told me
the hostess asked me to serve as interpreter that the Guardian had permitted her to go
and from that day on, I shared the luncheon to Switzerland rather than to wait for the
table with her regularly. It did not take long German invasion in Bulgaria which was ex-
before she invited me to join a small group pected daily. She considered it her duty to
of her friends with whom she had discus- stay in Sofia and would neither seek secu-
sions in her hotel room, and that was how rity in Switzerland nor in her native Canada,
I met the Faith. nor the United States.
"Her room was a museum, full of her "We exchanged letters until Bulgaria be-
pictures, books and papers all over. We sat came part of the Iron Curtain and she indi-
wherever there was some place-on 'the' cated that it was too dangerous to receive
chair, the bed, on the floor, and she always my letters and to write to me."
had some refreshments for her guests. The In a letter dated June 17, 1954, to the
discussions on the Faith were handicapped National Spiritual Assembly of the BahPis
by the complicated language question. Mar- of the British Isles, the Guardian, through
ion had no BahCi literature in the Bulgarian his secretary, extols the standard set by
language, few people understood English, Marion Jack as a pioneer:
and her favored book, 'Abdu'l-Bah2s Paris "To remain at one's post, to undergo sac-
Talks, had to be translated by one person rifice and hardship, loneliness and, if neces-
from French into German or English and sary, persecution, in order to hold aloft the
by somebody else into Bulgarian. It was torch of BahPu'll6h, is the true function of
fun, but how much of the original spirit every pioneer.
remained was questionable. "Let them remember Marion Jack, who
"Marion had to be very careful in the for over twenty years, in a country the lan-
choice of her guests. Bulgaria had one offi- guage of which she never mastered; during
IN MEMORIAM 677

war and bombardment; evacuation and pov- know of, and turn their gaze to, Marion
erty; and at length, serious illness, stuck to Jack."
her post, and has now blessed the soil of As requested by the Guardian, a Memo-
the land she had chosen to serve at such cost rial gathering was held for Marion Jack in
with her precious remains, every atom of the BahL'i House of Worship in Wilmette,
which was dedicated to BahL'u'llLh. Perhaps Illinois, the program prepared by the Na-
the friends are not aware that the Guard- tional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of
ian, himself, during the war on more than the United States in association with the
one occasion urged her to seek safety in Canadian National Bah6'i Assembly and the
Switzerland rather than remain behind en- European Teaching Committee, on July 3,
emy lines and be entirely cut off. Lovingly 1954. Among the over two hundred Bahi'is
she pleaded that he would not require her attending were representatives from the Ca-
to leave her post; and he acquiesced to her nadian Bahi'i Community. To permit more
request. Surely the standard of Marion Jack of the Canadian Bahi'is to share in a Me-
should be borne in mind by every pioneer!" morial to Marion Jack, a time had been set
In a letter to the European Teaching aside at the Canadian National Bahi'i Con-
Committee, dated May 24, 1954, through vention, on May 1, 1954, for the Canadian
his secretary, the Guardian also stressed the friends to gather for commemoration and
quality of Marion Jack's services to the prayers.
Cause and the heroic conditions under In their tribute to Marion Jack, published
which she lived and worked: by the National Spiritual Assembly of the
"He would suggest that, when writing to BahQ'is of Canada as an insert to their Ba-
the European centers, you share with the hci'i News of April, 1955, are cited the fol-
believers the glorious example of the life lowing Words b f ~ a h i ' u ' l l ~ h(Gleanings,
of Marion Jack. Young or old could never v. 319):
find a more inspiring pioneer in whose "When the victory arriveth, every man
footsteps to walk, than this wonderful soul. shall profess himself as believer and shall
"For over thirty years, with an enlarged hasten to the shelter o f God's Faith. Happy
heart, and many other ailments she re- are they who in the days of world-encom-
mained at her post in Bulgaria. Never well- passing trials have stood fast in the Cause
to-do, she often suffered actual poverty and and refused to swerve from the Faith."
want: want of heat, want of clothing, want
of food, when her money failed to reach
her because Bulgaria had come under the
Soviet zone of influence. She was bombed, EDWARD B. KINNEY
lost her possessions, she was evacuated, she
lived in drafty, cold dormitories for many,
many months in the country, she returned, "Grieve passing dearly loved, highly ad-
valiant, to the capital of Bulgaria after the mired, greatly trusted, staunch, indefatiga-
war and continued, on foot, to carry out ble, self-sacrificing teacher, pillar (of)
her teaching work. Faith, Saffa Kinney. His leonine spirit, ex-
"The Guardian himself urged her emplary steadfastness, notable record (of)
strongly, when the war first began to services enriched annals (of) closing period
threaten to cut her off in Bulgaria, to go to Heroic Age (and) opening phase Forma-
Switzerland. She was a Canadian subject, tive Age (of) Bahi'i Dispensation. Bounti-
and ran great risks by remaining, not to ful reward assured (in) AbhL Kingdom be-
mention the dangers and privations of war. neath shadow (of) Master he loved so
However, she begged the Guardian not to dearly, served so nobly, defended so heroi-
insist, and assured him her one desire was to cally until last breath."
remain with her spiritual children. This she -SHOGHI
did, up to the last breath of her glorious Cablegram dated December 16, 1950.
life. Her tomb will become a national
shrine, immensely loved and revered, as the Edward B. Kinney (beloved Saffa) was
Faith rises in stature in that country. born of an old New York family in the
"He thinks that every Bah6'i and most spring of 1863, the spring of Bah6'u711ih's
particularly those who have left their homes epoch-making Declaration in the Ridvin.
and gone to serve in foreign fields, should As though by coming at such a moment
678 THE BAHA'I WORLD

into the world, Saffa was gifted with un-
usual genius. His genius found two chan-
nels of expression-in this material world
through the greatest of all arts, music, with
its spiritual source; in the region of the soul
through that purest evidence of faith which
the human spirit can manifest: an immedi-
ate recognition of the Messenger of God
and a life wholly devoted to Him.
"Saffa was so human," said a friend after
he passed from this life into that other
where his heart was centered. And perhaps
when we think of him now, we think first
of that endearing humanness of his-fiery
and rash and vigorous and with a rollicking
sense of humor. But, above and beyond his
temperament and character was his power
of love, caught directly from the heart of
'Abdu'l-BahL, on whom his heart was so
passionately fixed.
It was my inestimable privilege to be with
the Kinneys in 'Akki in 1909. One day
when we were lunching with 'Abdu'l-Bahh
He turned to Saffa an; said that He had Edward B. ("Saffa") Kinney.
answered the questions of all, now Mr.
Kinney was left.
Saffa replied, tears in his eyes: "There is
only one question in my soul, How can I BahL'is from East and West met-from Per-
love you more?" sia and India, from Honolulu and Califor-
And the Master replied that He would nia and all the points between-and where
answer later. many a BahL'i, in greater financial straits
He told Saffa, too, on that occasion that even than the Kinneys, found a shelter.
his home would be one of the heavenly con- There were times when every couch in that
stellations and that the stars would gather real home was occupied.
there. Blows came that were harder to bear
Later, in Haifa, while SaEa and his wife than poverty. They had two remarkable
were sitting at night with 'Abdu'l-Bahh on children who died in their early youth, San-
the porch of His house, He began to talk ford and Howard, leaving them with only
of poverty to them. He vividly described one son, Donald. Yet even such bitter con-
the actual want of BahVu'llLh after all His ditions (to use words spoken to them by
wealth had been swept away, and the dep- 'Abdu'l-Bah6) tasted sweet to them.
rivations and sufferings of His family, and But before the collapse of their finances
He ended with the words: and the death of the two boys, the joy of
May God give you the treasure of the this family rose to a peak when, in the
Kingdom, the breaths of the Holy Spirit. spring of 1912, 'Abdu'l-BahL visited the
If, perchance, you are overtaken by pov- United States and spent much of His time
erty, let it not make you sad. At best, you in their home, receiving there many of His
will then become companions of Christ. countless visitors.
In a few years poverty did overtake them. In Haifa 'Abdu'l-Bah6 had given to Mr.
They found themselves wholly dependent Kinney the name Saffa, the Persian word
on Saffa's earnings as a musician-the un- meaning rock. One day in the autumn He
certain income of an artist. But in spite of took Saffa for a long walk in the strip of
their precarious existence their indomitable park along Riverside Drive, New York City.
faith triumphed to fulfill that other proph- Suddenly 'Abdu'l-BahL stood still on the
ecy made by 'Abdu'l-Bah5. Their home be- path and looking deep into Saffa's eyes
came indeed as a heavenly constellation in asked in heart-piercing tones: Do you love
which the stars gathered, a center where the me? Do you love me? Do you love me?-
I N MEMORIAM

words very much like those Jesus spoke to it a sustained, lavish measure of spiritual
Peter. In Saffa the qualities of rock were light and guidance. Also his work and mem-
evident-fiery and impetuous in his early ory are closely bound up with the latter
life, rising at last to serene heights and at- Age on whose threshold he lingered for well
taining profound humility, steadfast to the nigh three decades and distinguished him-
end and, in this great Day, never for a self as a redoubtable champion of the
moment wavering in his steadfastness. Cause, as a capable international teacher
After 'Abdu'l-BahL had departed from and as one whose untiring effort for the
this life and His Last Will and Testament spiritual regeneration of his countrymen
became known, Saffa again proved his ever- will long be remembered and admired.
lasting faithfulness. After his grief at loss Moreover, the crowning period of his life,
of the beloved Master had abated, He per- immortalized by being spent in the presence
ceived in "the youthful Branch, Shoghi Ef- of 'Abdu'l-BahL, imparts to his whole career
fendi" the resurrection of the Covenant, and a unique and fascinating quality.
in the Administrative Order the establish- Twice during 'Abdu'l-BahB's ministry Dr.
ment of the Kingdom of God on earth. With Youness Afruu~tihwent on pilgrimage to
unabated zeal and love and the deepest 'AkkL. The first journey took place about
spiritual insight Saffa served this great five years after BahB'u'll&h's ascension and
Cause till the last hours of his life. In his lasted for a few months. Then again in
blessed home, as the friends gathered there, April, 1900, he set out, at the Master's
the wings of the Covenant were stirring gracious invitation, on his second visit to
above us and the presence of 'Abdu'l-BahL the Holy Land where he stayed for nearly
was living in our midst. nine years and served the Master as secre-
The Guardian wrote him the tenderest tary and interpreter in a spirit of loving
letters, and at last came one designating adoration. In those difficult and turbulent
Saffa and Vaffa Kinney pillars of the Faith years when the Covenant-breakers were
in the City of the Covenant. feverishly engaged in subversive activities
-JULIET THOMPSON against 'Abdu'l-BahL, he vindicated the
strength of his character by assuming a lead-
ing r6le in defending the Covenant and in
reassuring the pilgrim and resident believers
who seemed to be extremely alarmed and
DR. YOUNESS AFRUKHTIH agitated at that time.
He was like a solid rock, firm and imper-
A being endowed with rare powers and turbable, a haven of refuge for the storm-
qualities, gifted and uplifted beyond the tossed and the weak. Always in time of
average level-a real survivor of the Heroic adversity he behaved with dignified compo-
Age. This definition, though brief, may help sure. Neither taunts of the disdainful nor
to convey to the reader's mind a faint im- threats of the malicious nor events of the
pression of Dr. Youness Afrukhtih's immor- most perplexing nature could ever disturb
tal personality. his lucid mind or daunt his courage in pro-
In the springtime of youth while adrift in claiming the Cause of God among men. The
search of Truth on the stormy ocean of services he rendered to the Faith were great,
life, the tide and wind of destiny brought so were the blessings he received in return.
him close to the divine Ark of salvation to Indeed, the measure of love and kindness
which he clung tenaciously and within lavished on him by the Master was so great
which he found abiding security and hap- that it did not fail to excite the envy of the
piness, a new outlook on life and a Cause so friends around him. A cursory glance at
momentous that he remained dedicated to it his Memoirs as well as the perusal of the
to the very end of his days. wonderful Tablets revealed by 'Abdu'l-Bah6
His allotted span of years covered a pe- in his name will amply show this fact.
riod of no less than eight decades. It trav- By profession Dr. Youness Khan was a
ersed, so to speak, the fringes of both the physician. He studied medicine at the Pres-
Heroic and the Formative Ages of our byterian College, Beirut, and after receiving
Faith. His life remains closely linked with his diploma he returned to Persia where,
the former, since he flourished and strug- through efficient and systematic practice, he
gled in it and at the same time derived from proved himself a highly proficient physician.
680 THE BAHA'I WORLD

They depict some aspects of the life of the
Master during the most dramatic period of
his ministry-the dark decade prior to the
overthrow of the despotic Ottoman regime
-and dwell on the nature as well as the
magnitude of the Covenant-breakers' evil
deeds and intrigues.
Dr. Youness Khan's memory will ever re-
main associated with the compilation of the
wonderful book Some Answered Questions
in recognition of the valuable service he
was privileged to render as interpreter be-
tween the Master and Laura Barney at those
historic luncheon talks. A vivid impression
as to the manner in which these talks were
given can be gained from the relevant ac-
count in his Memoirs from which the fol-
lowing interesting passages are quoted:
"The Master would sit at the head of the
dinner table while Laura Barney usually sat
on His left and Ethel Rosenberg took the
seat next to her. Also about eight or nine
other pilgrims and residents were present.
I used to sit beside the Master. facing" Laura
Dr. Youness Afrukhtih. Barney, rendering first her questions into
Persian, then the answers given by the Mas-
ter into English, while Ethel Rosenberg
For some time he served as medical officer noted down both the questions and answers
in the Sehat Hospital founded in 1909 by in English." (The original words uttered by
a group of Bah6'i doctors with the collabo- the Master were simultaneously written
ration of Dr. S. Moody, representing the down by MirzA Munir.) ". . . Since the
Persian-American Ed~~cational Society. nourishment of the spirit was given priority
Dr. Youness Khan was a distinguished over that of the body, it often happened
speaker who combined eloquence and wit that eating was delayed. The Master when
in a masterly and graceful manner. The elucidating the problems used to speak in
hearer, far from losing interest or growing such a manner that the hearer would be
weary, would always welcome his talk as a enchanted. One day when He was insisting
treat, as a source of delight and inspiration. that I should first eat and then speak, and
His power of concentration was such that I was deeply engrossed in the subject under
it was well within his compass to speak con- discussion, He asked Laura what was the
tinuously for hours on a given subject with- English word for 'mutarjim'; she said 'in-
out notes. And not only was he a gifted terpreter.' Again He asked what was the
orator but also in the arena of literary work word for 'gorosneh.' She said 'hungry.'
he moved with remarkable confidence and Thereupon 'Abdu'l-BahA, pointing at me,
distinction. His writings possess peculiar exclaimed: 'Hungry interpreter! Hungry in-
charm and reveal to a considerable degree terpreter!' I enjoyed this remark immensely
the author's touch of genius as well as his and wonder what would some one else have
genuine love for the Cause. Notable among done if he were in my place. I adopted this
his work is the interesting diary he wrote
kingly title for myself and had it engraved
about his teaching trip to Europe published
under the title "Irtibat-i-Kharq va Charb" on a seal, thus overlooking the term 'Jinib-i-
(Union of the East and West). K_hLn' which 'Abdu'l-BahL always used in
However, his wonderful Memoirs (un- referring to me."
published) concerning the years he spent in The intervening years between 'Abdu'l-
the presence of the Master constitute his BahS's passing and the outbreak of the sec-
most precious gift to posterity and a valu- ond World War saw Dr. Afrukhtih rise to
able contribution to the history of our Faith. the plenitude of his teaching career. In 1925
IN MEMORIAM 681

he embarked on a trip to America where ELLA GOODALL COOPER
his presence aroused immense enthusiasm
among the friends. Then four years later he
set out on an extensive tour of Europe ''0 thou jewel of the spirit!" Thus did
where he addressed many groups and so- 'Abdu'l-Bah6 address this angelic being, one
cieties and brought to the friends in that of the rare gems in the diadem of the King-
continent a clearer insight into the spiritual dom. Aunt Ella, as she was fondly known
significance as well as the administrative to her many devoted friends around the
principles of our Faith. Also his visit, mark- world, was one of that rapidly diminishing
ing the culmination of his teaching activi- treasure of precious souls who have entered
ties, proved highly useful in fostering a the presence of 'Abdu'l-Bah6, and who are
sense of love and fellowship between the possessed of that unique quality of spirit
BahB'is of the East and West and in bring- known only among those who were touched
ing the Cause to the attention of many by the magic wand of that Divine Alche-
enlightened people in Europe. mist. Hers was an enchanting spirit of ex-
In the c o n d ~ ~ coft the administrative af- quisite grace, whose gentleness, warmth and
fairs of the Faith, Dr. Youness Khan's generosity were showered continuously on
services were by no means less remarkable. all peoples. She radiated all the days of her
For years in succession he served with dis- life the virtues of the true maid-servant of
tinction as member of the National Spiritual BahB.
Assembly of the BahL'is of Persia and as She was one of that handful of early Ba-
member of the Spiritual Assembly of the h8'is in the United States who implanted
BahB'is of Tihrin until he was rather well the banner of Bah2u'llgh in that land, and
advanced in age and the weight of years who nurtured it and protected it with the
made itself increasingly felt on his frail iron strength of their consecrated spirit.
body. Gradually his health broke down and In a Tablet to one of the friends 'Abdu'l-
illness forced him to discontinue all his Bah6 wrote of the services of Mrs. Cooper
activities. As his condition grew steadily and her mother, Mrs. Goodall:
worse it became clear that his end was at "Thou hadst written concerning the serv-
hand. He passed away at his home in Tihrin ices of Mrs. Goodall and Mrs. Cooper.
on November 28, 1948, after a prolonged These two dear maid-servants of God are
illness. truly two shining candles, and in character
His physical frame was gone from our are unique and matchless. They sacrifice
midst! But in reality the impression of his their lives in the pathway of God under
dynamic personality, the memory of his conditions of hardship and trouble and are
charming manners, will remain ever vivid filled with spirituality and good cheer. It
in the heart of all those who knew him. is certain that the divine confirmations will
There, beyond the gathering mists of years, encircle them."
his noble life and example stand out as a Shoghi Effendi's cablegram at the time
beacon shining along the road to Eternity. of her passing has defined her life-long serv-
The following message received from ice to her beloved Faith:
Shoghi Effendi on the occasion of his pass- "Deeply grieved sudden passing herald
ing may well serve as a monumental epi- Covenant Ella Cooper, dearly loved hand-
logue to his imperishable memory: maid 'Abdu'l-Bahi, greatly trusted by Him.
"Hearts grief-stricken passing dearly be- Her devoted services during concluding
loved Youness Afrukhtih distinguished pro- years Heroic Age and also Formative
moter Holy Faith herald Covenant trusted Age Faith unforgettable. Assure relatives,
secretary beloved Master staunch supporter friends, deepest sympathy loss. Praying
progress soul in Abhi Kingdom."
His Testament. His services enrich annals
Ella Frances Goodall was born in San
both Heroic Formative Ages Faith. Instruct Francisco, California, January 12, 1870, of
assemblies all provinces hold befitting me- an influential, well-known California fam-
morial gatherings. Inform Varqi erect my ily. She and her mother, Helen Goodall,
behalf monument his grave. ~ r d e n t praJ-l~ were among the first Bah2is of California.
ing Almighty's inestimable blessing his They learned of the Faith from Miss Ann
soul." Apperson, a niece of Mrs. Phoebe Hearst.
--HAB~BT ~ H I R Z ~ EThey
H studied with Mrs. Lua Getsinger, and
682 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

also took a trip to New York to study with permitted to make the pilgrimage to the
Anton Haddad, a Persian Bahi'i teacher. Holy Land. For two weeks they shared the
In March, 1899, Ella Goodall and a prison life with 'Abdu'l-Bahb and His fam-
young Bahi'i friend, Nellie Hillyer Brown, ily, but were "in the Home of God." When
made the pilgrimage to 'AkkB They were they returned from 'AkkB Mrs. Goodall and
among the earliest Westerners to visit Mrs. Cooper published Daily Lessons Re-
'Abdu'l-Bah6. While there 'Abdu'l-Bahb re- ceived at Acca-January, 1908, in which
vealed for Ella Goodall the first of numer- they told of the deep spiritual experience
ous Tablets which He sent her over the that had been theirs and of the lessons by
years : word and deed that they had received.
"He is El-Abhg! 0 my God! Thou seest Shortly after Ella Cooper returned from
Thy servant who is believing in Thee, and 'Akk6, she invited a group of young women
supplicating through the door of Thy One- to her home for a study class which con-
ness. Render her all good through Thy tinued over many years to 1922. She called
Bounty and Generosity. Thou art the Be- this group the "Peach Tree" and the mem-
stower, the Giver." bers of the group called her "Mother
This brief contact with the World of Peach." A number became Bahi'is and are
Reality experienced in 'Abdu'l-Bahi's pres- active today.
ence centered her life in the Faith. A single- During these early years one of Mrs.
ness of purpose, the promulgation and pro- Cooper's most important services was the
tection of the Covenant, animated her whole protection of the Faith from the influence of
life henceforth. the Covenant-breakers. 'Abdu'l-BahL had
In 1904 Ella Goodall married Charles written:
Miner Cooper, M.D. 'Abdu'l-BahB blessed "I supplicate God to make the hearts as
this union, and theirs was a life-long devo- solid mountains which could not be shaken,
tion. The home which Mrs. Cooper made neither by the rumbling thunder of dispute
for the doctor, her mother and brother, nor by the winds of suspicions."
Arthur, reflected her gracious dignified at- "You must be extremely careful in those
tributes. It was always a special treat for Western regions lest a soul may disseminate
everyone to visit this home. the seeds of doubt and violation. Direct ev-
"0 thou maid-servant of God, I ask God eryone at all times to the necessity of firm-
that thou mayest open meetings in San ness in the Covenant that the tests may not
Francisco, and give eloquent expositions of shake them . . .
the Kingdom of God . . . "Do thou make a trip to the cities of
"Although thou art unique and alone in California, Oregon and Seattle . . . Inves-
that city, yet verily I am thy friend and tigate this and call everyone to firm-
companion. Be not sad and forget not God. ness . . ."
Endeavor to guide some souls to the King- Gently and wisely she and her mother
dom and establish Unity among the people, taught the new BahL'is the importance of
to prepare meetings of teaching and to open turning wholly to 'Abdu'l-BahB as the Cen-
the eyes of the blind . . . ter of the Covenant. Indeed she was a cham-
"Under all conditions My Soul and My pion of the Covenant!
Life shall abide with you in this world as When 'Abdu'l-BahB visited California,
well as the world above." while on His North American tour in 1912,
As soon as 'Abdu'l-BahL's wishes were He was a guest briefly at the Oakland home
expressed, Ella Cooper and her mother be- of Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. Goodall, and
gan the work of establishing the Faith in there, on October 16, He spoke to a large
San Francisco, and some years later she gathering of friends. For many years the
moved to the city, where she lived the rest anniversary of that meeting has been cele-
of her life. In a short time a BahVi Com- brated and the talk given by 'Abdu'l-Bah6
munity developed there, and for many dec- read. It was a period of great joy for all the
ades Ella Cooper was its guiding light. Her Bahi'is. 'Abdu'l-BahB spoke to many groups
strenuous labors throughout the western and gave two of His most significant talks1
United States, and principally in northern while there, one at Stanford University on
California, laid the foundation of the Faith
in these regions. 1 These talks are published in Promulgation o f Uni-
In 1908 Ella Cooper and her mother were versal Peace, pp. 342-349 and 355-365.
IN MEMORIAM 683

science and religion and the other at the
Temple Emmanu-El on progressive revela-
tion. Mrs. Cooper was untiring in her efforts
to assist in all these arrangements for
'Abdu'l-Bahi's visit.
An outstanding event in the Bahi'i his-
tory of the West was the convoking of the
first "International Bah6'i Congress" in con-
junction with the Panama-Pacific Interna-
tional Exposition in the spring of 1915 in
San Francisco. Mrs. Cooper, her mother
and several other Bahi'is who formed the
executive committee of the Congress had
approached 'Abdu'l-BahL with their desire
to hold such a Congress during the Panama-
Pacific International Exposition, and
'Abdu'l-BahL had approved and selected the
BahL'i spealters who were men of note in
their professions and also Bahi'is of long
and eminent service. The Congress was held
April 19 through 25 and attracted large
audiences to hear the Bah6'i teachings on
peace.
Although initiated by the Spiritual As-
sembly of the BahL'is of San Francisco the
Congress was under the official auspices of Ella Goodall Cooper.
the Panama-Pacific International Exposi-
tion. The Directorate of the Exposition set
April 24 as "International Bahi'i Congress many years both in teaching and in the de-
Day," and held an official reception at Fes- velopment of the institutions of the Faith.
tival Hall, where a commemorative bronze She served on the San Francisco Spiritual
medallion was presented to the Bahi'is in Assembly for many years from 1921 to
recognition of the Bahi'i program for uni- 1934, and was a member of the National
versal peace. Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of the
Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Goodall, Miss Geor- United States and Canada for two years,
gia Ralston and Mrs. Kathryn Frankland 1922-23 and 1923-24. She took an active
visited 'Abdu'l-Bah6 for the last time in Sep- interest in the formation of the new Bahi'i
tember, 1920. For thirty days they were in School at Geyserville, California, worked
Haifa, at the "Home of the hearts" as Ella on the School committee, and taught there
Cooper called it. 'Abdu'l-Bah6 answered for some years.
their questions and lavished His love upon Another significant public Bah6'i event in
them. which Mrs. Cooper played a leading role
Over the years until He passed away in was the organization of the first "Confer-
1921 'Abdu'l-Bah6 addressed many Tablets ence for World Unity" at San Francisco,
to Mrs. Cooper in response to questions she March 20-22, 1925. Prominent intellectual,
had asked Him in letters. cultural and humanitarian leaders were in-
With 'Abdu'l-Bahi's death Ella Cooper's vited to participate. Mrs. Cooper spared
devotion to the Covenant immediately em- neither time nor money to bring the con-
braced the first Guardian of the Cause of ference into existence. Dr. David Starr Jor-
God, Shoghi Effendi, appointed by 'Abdu'l- dan, then president of Stanford University,
Bah6. She had seen Shoghi Effendi as a who had invited 'Abdu'l-Bah6 to speak at
child at 'Akkii and had often remarked Stanford, acted as honorary chairman, and
about his unique qualities and his love for important representatives of the various Pa-
'Abdu'l-Bahii. Her unswerving fidelity to the cific areas, races, religions and nations
Covenant now centered in the Guardian spoke. The meetings were climaxed by an
with full love and obedience. address on the Bahi'i Faith by Jin6b-i-F6dil.
Ella Cooper's services continued for This meeting inaugurated a series of world
684 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

unity conferences in other parts of the coun- wrote a tribute to his wife which exemplifies
try. the beauty of her character to all who loved
During the many years that Mrs. Cooper her:
was active, and even after she could no
longer be about much, she was the main- A Birthday Tribute-
spring of the Bahb'i spirit of hospitality and Eighty roses for my still young wife,
warmth in San Francisco. When Bahb'i vis- one for each year of her fragrant life,
itors were coming to San Francisco she during which she has mothered the world
and steadfastly kept its flag unfurled;
would send a large bouquet of flowers and for God gave to her a magic cup
a note of welcome to be in their room when from which the unworldly poor could sup;
they arrived. and of solace a cruse at whose lip
The last two major public activities in the lonely and the bereaved could sip;
which Ella Cooper took a part in her long a sustaining staff that she could lend
years of Bahb'i service were in connection in hour of need to a pilgrim friend;
with the Golden Gate International Exposi- the Power of Prayer-an inner light
tion in 1939 and the United Nations Con- not of land, sea or air that could bright
the dark corridors that run through life
ference on Inter~lational Organization in and amity bring in place of strife;
1945, both of which were held in San Fran- and a warmth that made her from her birth
cisco. A "Committee of One Hundred" lead- as welcome as the rain to the earth.
ers of all Faiths was organized when the Fortunate am I she cared for me,
San Francisco world's fair was being otherwise I would not care to be.
planned, to erect the Temple of Religion at
the fair and to direct all religious activities In July, 1951, Dr. Cooper suddenly
of the Exposition. Mrs. Cooper and Leroy passed away. Mrs. Cooper spent the fol-
Ioas were invited to be the BahBi repre- lowing day preparing the readings for his
sentatives on this Committee, on which she service, and that night fell into a coma,
served as one of the directors. Two days from which she did not recover, and passed
were designated officially on the Exposi- within four days after his death, on July 12,
tion program as Bahb'i Day, July 16 and 1951.
October 15. Mrs. Cooper was chairman of The local papers carried feature articles
the "Religious Unity Service" presented by about her passing, the major part of which
the Bahb'is on July 16 and of the Vesper spoke of her life-long devotion to the Ba-
Services on October 15. hb'i Faith, and of her work in promoting its
She was an active member of the "Com- ideals of the unity of all peoples and reli-
mittee on the Bahb'i Peace Plan" appointed gions.
from among the Bahl'is of the San Fran- So closed the life of one of the "Heralds
cisco Bay area by the National Spiritual As- of the Covenant," one whose life was dedi-
sembly in connection with the United Na- cated to BahL'u7ll6h in service and love and
tions Conference convened in 1945. This one who succeeded as few have in making
committee held a dinner and public meeting her character a mirror of the celestial quali-
at which a number of the delegates to the ties.
Conference were present, and it prepared
"The Bahb'i Peace Program7' brochure
which they distributed to every person at-
tending that conference.
I n the later years of her life Mrs. Cooper DESCRIPTION OF THE MARTYRDOM OF
was unable to be as active as she formerly DR. SULAYMAN BERJfS
had been, but she followed the work of the
Faith with avid interest through the teach- On February 3, 1950, about eight-thirty
ing bulletins and news letters, and through o'clock in the morning, two citizens of Kg-
a voluminous correspondence which she &&n entered the office of Dr. Berjis and
carried on with BahB'i friends around the invited him to make a house call. Since
world. Most Bahi'i visitors to the city would there were ten patients waiting in his office,
visit her to be refreshed by her gentle spirit, the doctor requested postponement of the
and to share with her news of the progress call. The visitors pleaded that the case was
of the Faith far and near. a real emergency, and the doctor relented
On her eightieth birthday Dr. Cooper and followed the two men. After passing
IN MEMORIAM 685

through the streets of Kis_hLn they reached ELLA M. BAILEY
their destination and at this time six other
men who had been awaiting the group at-
tacked the physician. With knives, sticks On being informed of the death of Miss
and their fists they wounded him seriously. Ella Bailey, pioneer who accompanied Mr.
He was thrown from a height of about fif- and Mrs. Robert Gulick in their settlement
teen feet through a window. The persecutors of Tripoli, Libya, the Guardian on August
continued to beat him until he was no longer 30 cabled:
alive. At least eighty stab wounds were ap- "Grieve passing valiant exemplary pio-
parent on his body. The owner of the house neer. Reward (in) Kingdom bountiful."
tried to intercede for the doctor but his ef-
forts were futile. The landlord called for " 'Oh, Ella Bailey, Ella Bailey! Oh, Ella

help from the rooftop. Members of the Bailey, Ella Bailey! Oh, Ella Bailey!'. . .
town gathered around and witnessed the He kept repeating my name as He looked
cruel act. Muhammad Rassul-Zadeh, the vi- off into space. But He put into my name
cious murderer, washed his hands with the every possible emotion. That was the won-
snow on the sidewalk. With his accomplices der of it." These words of 'Abdu'l-Bahk,
he went to the police office, explaining that spoken in Chicago in 1912, conveyed to
they were teachers of the Muhammadan Miss Bailey this meaning: "My child, you
faith and had killed Dr. Berjis for religious are going to suffer. You are going to have
differences. The men were imprisoned. The a great deal of sorrow, and you are going to
people of the town feared the threats of have a great deal of pain. Life is going to
this religious group and closed their shops. be hard." Miss Bailey remarked in an inter-
After medical examination. of the body of view forty years later, "In those few words,
Dr. Berjis a group of BahB'is under police He gave me all the emotions of a lifetime.
protection carried the body of the martyred He gave suffering but with it He gave me
physician to Gulastin Javid which is three faith and strength. This made me feel His
kilometers from Ki&kn. A BahB'i funeral spiritual power and His truth."
was held for the distinguished doctor. Ella Martha Bailey was born in Houston,
Texas, on ~ e c e m b e k18, 1864. While she
was an infant, the family moved to San Di-
ego County, California, and settled on a
ranch. She was stricken with infantile pa-
ralysis at the age of two and one of her
limbs remained paralyzed. As a child, she
developed a fondness for the outdoors and
learned, despite her physical handicap, to
ride horseback expertly.
Her desire to serve mankind became ap-
parent in her youth. She chose to enter the
teaching profession not because of the
rather meager financial reward attached to
it but by reason of the manifold opportuni-
ties it afforded for child guidance. After
graduating from normal school in southern
California, Miss Bailey moved to Berkeley
and began her career as a teacher. She
taught various elementary grades and was
deeply loved by her pupils who continued
to remember her as the decades passed.
When she retired in 1924 because of ill
health, the principal of McKinley School
wrote her a note of gratitude and apprecia-
tion for her services and her example. "I
cannot close this letter," he wrote, "without
Dr. Sulaymin Berjis, physician of Kks_hin, telling you again what a precious thing your
Persia, martyred February 3, 1950. friendship has been to me and will con-
T H E B A H A 'f W O R L D

tinue to be, and how we all have been in- to his sovereign. Gentleness and sweetness
spired by your courage and faith." were her abiding traits. She never tried to
Photographs taken in her youth attest to force her opinions on anyone but ever
her beauty and winsomeness. She deliber- beckoned the thirsty to come to the foun-
ately decided to forego the pleasures and tain and drink the water of life that will
rewards of marriage in order to give greater bring healing to men and nations. Her
service to a larger number of people than a saintly life provided the best means of pro-
family group comprises. moting the prestige of the Faith she so
The immortal Lua Getsinger instructed ardently espoused. Sound in judgment, she
Miss Bailey in the Bahi'i teachings. Miss never aroused hostility nor did she com-
Bailey was one of the "waiting servants" promise on principle. Many were her secret
who embraced the Faith prior to the Ameri- sacrifices. She would give sumptuous din-
can visit of 'Abdu'l-BahL. As the friends in ners for friends who were oblivious to the
California did not expect the bounty of a fact that their hostess very often contented
visit to the Pacific Coast, several of them herself with tea, toast, and perhaps a little
journeyed to Chicago to be sure of meeting soup. Her whole day passed in cheering the
Him. Miss Bailey made the trip with her brokenhearted, in helping the needy, in visit-
intimate friends, Mrs. Ella Cooper and her ing the sick, and in refreshing the spirits of
mother, Mrs. Helen Goodall. A year or the unending stream of guests that came to
two before her passing, she recalled her see her.
meeting with 'Abdu'l-BahL and how copi- On learning that Shoghi Effendi had ex-
ously she wept with joy despite her firm pressed the hope that Mr. and Mrs. Gulick
resolve not to do so. She said, (as recorded would pioneer in Africa, Miss Bailey se-
by Charles Cornell of Berkeley, Califor- cretly aspired to go with them. She was too
nia) : "We wondered what He looked like, humble to voice her desire but beamed
the color of His eyes, of His hair. After I gratefully when she was told that they
had once seen Him, I never had words with would enjoy having her with them. Then
which to express these things. They seemed a cloud came over her countenance and she
so unimportant. . . . He greeted me by replied, "It would be selfish of me to go to
saying that He was happy to see me with Africa and be a burden." The Gulicks felt
my spiritual mother, thereby confirming a that her presence would be a blessing but
beautiful spiritual relationship that con- to make sure of doing the right thing, ca-
tinued for life between Mrs. Goodall and bled the beloved Guardian. The answer of
myself." It also sealed the relationship of Shoghi Effendi, "Approve Bailey accom-
sister between Miss Bailey and Mrs. Cooper. pany you," constituted Ella Bailey's march-
The wonderful qualities of Ella Bailey ing orders.
were well known to her acquaintances and The next question was whether both the
to the BahL'is in the San Francisco region. African journey and the trip to Chicago
She was the first chairman of the Berkeley for the Jubilee commemoration should be
BahVi Assembly and was elected annually attempted. The prayerful decision was that
to that body for more than twenty years. it would be a pity for Ella Bailey to forego
She was constantly teaching by word and the opportunity of witnessing the dedica-
even more, by deed, but she preferred al- tion of the Temple which had gloriously
ways to remain in the background. In over risen on the spot she had seen as bare soil
twenty years of association with her, the in 1912. She attended the main events of the
writer does not remember having once seen Jubilee including the Temple dedication,
her on a public platform. Far from seeking viewed the portraits of BahL'u'llLh and of
publicity, she avoided it. During her long the BBb, and, through the writer, signified
residence at the Berkeley Women's City at the Intercontinental Teaching Conference
Club, she used her membership to sponsor her determination to go forth as an African
many BahL'i gatherings. Her room became pioneer. She returned to Berkeley in excel-
a kind of clinic for the distressed and dis- lent spirits and relatively good health. An
consolate. Hundreds have partaken of her old friend remarked that her voice had not
spiritual and material hospitality and gener- been so light and gay in forty years. A few
osity. Her presentation of the message of days later, sad to relate, she came down with
BahVu'116h was indeed like that of a royal pneumonia, spent some time in a hospital,
subject giving his most precious possession a.nd was obliged to leave her residence at the
Berkeley Women's City Club and live in a
nursing home. Gradually she regained some
of her health and strength and it was de-
cided to start the journey. Old friends of
older faiths were horrified at her decision
to pull up stakes in California and settle on
the old Barbary Coast of North Africa and
they warned her that such a move would
shorten her life. She smilingly answered, "I
do not find it such a great sacrifice to give
up living in a rest home."
She left her adopted California on July
14, 1953, never to return. The next evening
she stayed in the New York apartment of
Dr. Fazly Melany where she was visited by
two Hands of the Cause, Dhikru'llAh KJhL-
dem and MusL Bangni. Early the next
morning she sustained a fall but there were
no fractures and travel was resumed as
scheduled. The next stopover was Rome
where Professor Mario Fiorentini rendered
all possible assistance. Miss Bailey had the
misfortune to fall again with the conse-
quence that the stay in Italy was cut short.
Equipped with an oxygen mask, Miss Bailey Ella M. Bailey.
was an excellent traveler. She arrived at
Tripoli on July 20 and was met at the air-
port by two Bahb'is.
During the closing days of her earthly head and tearfully bade her farewell,
existence, she was sometimes not conscious "Goodbye, Miss Bailey."
of her condition which worsened as a result Interment was set for August 27 and on
of additional falls. Then again she would that day a second service was held at the
become painfully aware of her infirmities Government Cemetery on the western out-
and would apologize for the work her sick- skirts of Tripoli. Friends were also present
ness entailed. She knew that she was in lov- that evening when the casket was placed in
ing hands and, when possessed of her facul- a niche in the cemetery wall. In the Mother
ties, repeatedly thanked Mrs. $hawkat-'Ali Temple of the West, a few days later, mem-
Earaju'llkh for the infinite pains she took in bers of the American National Spiritual As-
caring for her day and night. The presence sembly prayed for the progress of her soul
in the room of two-year-old Robert Gulick in the realms on high.
I11 always brought a smile to her face as The very stones of the cemeteries testify
she loved him deeply and had great faith in to the preponderating share of the Ameri-
his future. Death came toward twilight, at can BahL'i women in the pioneering effort.
eight o'clock on August 26, 1953. A half They speak of incomparable Martha Root
hour earlier she was visited by a former in mid-Pacific, of indomitable May Maxwell
member of the Egyptian National Spiritual in the Argentine, of heroic Keith Ransom-
Assembly and by a young man of Persian Kehler near the King of the Martyrs and
ancestry who soon afterward became the the Beloved of the Martyrs in Isfihin, of
first Bahb'i pioneer to the Fezzan. Friends the immortal Lua Getsinger beside the
quickly gathered at the bedside of the de- greatest BahL'i scholar in Cairo, and now of
parted believer and they recited and chanted valiant Ella Bailey overlooking and blessing
appropriate prayers in Arabic and English. the shores of Tripoli. Her humility pre-
It was a touching demonstration of inter- vented her from writing to the Guardian but
national BahL'i solidarity, of uncalculated he perceived the inner worth and true
affection in an age of calculated risks. Par- greatness of this wonderful lady. No friend
ticularly memorable was the moving scene or relative understood her station as did
in which an Egyptian friend kissed her fore- Shoghi Effendi, and to us in Tripoli this was
688 T H E B A H A.'I: W O R L D

an added, though unneeded, proof that he sau, Germany. Her childhood was quite
is guided by God. lonely because of a series of events that de-
The Guardian requested three friends of prived her of her loved ones. Her father
American nationality in Tripoli to submit a was killed in the Franco-Prussian war when
design for a memorial marker on Miss she was three, her mother died when she
Bailey's grave which will one day, God was five, and shortly thereafter, her twin
willing, be in a Bahi'i cemetery. He wishes sister was taken from her to live in France.
personally to bear the expense of this me- She herself went to live with an aunt and
morial. He has ranked her with the greatest uncle in Munich, but through the years she
of the noble band of Bahi'i teachers includ- never forgot her lovely mother and sister.
ing those mentioned above and two who So lonely was she as a child that at six years
have more recently ascended to the Abhi of age she would take all her dolls to bed
Kingdom: Marion Jack, whose persevering with her, calling them her brothers and sis-
effort will ever merit emulation; and Doro- ters. Often she would find herself on the
thy Baker, whose extraordinary gifts as a floor because her "family" took all the
teacher are matchless and whose radiant room! She vowed that when she grew up
spirit continues to inspire all who knew her. she would have at least twelve children, so
In leaving her home land and in sacrific- none would ever be lonely, and twelve she
ing her life for the Cause of God, Ella did have, although two died in infancy.
Bailey qualified for the crown of martyr- All her love and joy circled around her
dom. In his cablegram at the conclusion of family and her religion. Never was there
the Holy Year to the Intercontinental a mother who could more greatly inspire
Teaching Conference at New Delhi, Sho- her children, and at the same time arouse
ghi Effendi paid tribute to Ella Bailey and such a great protective spirit within them-
acclaimed her contribution to the world one of undying love and devotion.
crusade : Hers was a happy disposition, even
"Irresistibly unfolding Crusade sanctified though her life was a difficult one. "Why
death heroic eighty-eight-year-old Ella Bai- are you always so happy?" a friend once
ley elevating her rank martyrs Faith shed- asked her. "You have nothing to be happy
ding further luster American Bahi'i Com- about." "Oh, but I have," she replied.
munity consecrating soil fast awakening "When I look about me and see how little
African Continent." others have, I realize I have so much more,
-ROBERT L. GULICK,JR. so how could I help but be grateful to God
and be happy!" "That's the trouble with
you," said her friend, "you always look at
those who have less than you, instead of
MARIA B. IOAS those who have more." Mother had not yet
heard of the Bahi'i Teachings and "radiant
acquiescence," but they were in her heart,
"Share grief (at) passing (of) esteemed nevertheless.
veteran (of) Faith, Maria Ioas. Soul re- When she was in her sixteenth year her
joicing (in the) Abhi Kingdom (at the) aunt and uncle brought her to visit Amer-
services rendered (by her) dear son (at the) ica. With the group was her cousin's college
World Center (of the) Faith (in the) triple roommate, whom she later married. She and
function (of) Hand (of the) Cause, Secre- her husband never returned to Germany.
tary-General (of the) Council (and) Super- Father was a Lutheran and mother was
visor (of) construction (of the) dome (of raised in the Catholic Faith. However, they
the) BBb's Sepulcher." were always seeking, and later both joined
-SHOGHI the Methodist Church but this did not seem
to satisfy their spiritual needs either. For
To think of mother without thinking of many years father had been looking for the
her family and the BahL'i Faith at the same return of Christ. When he was young, his
time, would be impossible. I mention "fam- mother, a very religious woman, had told
ily" first, because she had much of her fam- him that she felt the time was imminent for
ily long before she heard of the Bahi'i Christ's return, that she probably would
Faith. not live to see this, but that he might do so.
She was born December 6, 1865, in Pas- Thus he was always looking for and buying
IN MEMORIAM 689

ask pilgrims going to 'Akk6 to secure one
for her if possible. However, in her humble
way she felt that if 'Abdu'l-Bah6 wanted her
to have one, she would receive it. The first
day that 'Abdu'l-Bahb was in Chicago, she
went with one of her children to the Plaza
Hotel to see Him. 'Abdu'l-Bah6 was out, so
they waited for Him all afternoon. They
were in the hall when He came out of the
elevator and lovingly greeted them. Walking
toward His room, He said, "Come, come."
Mother knew He was tired and hesitated to
follow, but He turned again and said,
"Come, come." So she and her son followed
Him to His reception room. In a few min-
utes He came out of His room with some
roses and walking over graciously handed
one of them to her. Mother said afterward,
"He looked at me with those eyes that could
read one's very soul. There was no need
of His telling me, 'This is the flower you
have wished for these many years.' "
Alwavs mother and father ~romotedthe
Maria B. Ioas. Faith a; best they could, tellkg neighbbrs
and friends of the Glad Tidings, but dedi-
cated as they were, they did not neglect
books dealing with the interpretation of the their children. Study classes were held in the
Book of Revelation and any other informa- home every week for them and such friends
tion that might help him in his search for as might care to come.
the return of Christ. After hearing of the When the call came to start a children's
BahVi Faith, he and mother were most class in Chicago, mother promptly offered
happy to attend the classes of Mr. Paul her services and taught for a number of
Dealy of Chicago, even though it meant an years. Children always loved her and she
hour's ride each way on streetcars, involv- gently instilled in them the Bah6'i teachings
ing several transfers. Mother said she had -God is love; Bahi'u'll6h has come, the
prayed for seventeen years to find a religion great Universal Prophet for this New Day;
that would satisfy her. There always seemed His Forerunner, the BBb, with His charm,
to be a curtain before her and in back of love and devotion, bringing the Glad Ti-
that curtain was what she was seeking. dings; 'Abdu'l-Bah6, the beloved Exemplar,
When, after the twelfth lesson, Mr. Dealy Interpreter and Center of the Covenant;
told the class that Christ had returned and Shoghi Effendi, the much loved First
he gave them the name of Bah6'u'116h, they Guardian of the Faith . . . And also from
were overcome, and the curtain seemed to the Hidden Words: "I loved thy creation,
lift for mother. She knew at once that this hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou
was what she had been seeking. She and love Me, that I may name thy name and fill
father wrote their supplication to 'Abdu'l- thy soul with the spirit of life." "My first
Bah6 that very night [July 7, 18981, stating counsel is this: Possess a pure, a kindly and
their belief in this Truth and asking to be radiant heart . . ." "Of all things the best
accepted by Him as Bahi'is. Their hearts beloved in My sight is Justice . . ."
were flooded with joy. The following day One of mother's fondest hopes had been
their ninth child was born. to see the Temple completed. For some
When 'Abdu'l-Bah6 came to America in years she had acted as hostess one day a
1912, my parents and the family had the week during the guiding season, and realized
privilege of seeing Him a number of times the tremendous teaching medium of the
in Chicago. For many years mother had Temple. She was impatient for its comple-
longed for a flower which His blessed hands tion. Father and Mr. Albert Windust, both
had touched and she was often tempted to of the first Spiritual Assembly of Chicago,
690 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

had had the great privilege of writing the ment, with a brilliant promise for the fu-
letter requesting 'Abdu'l-Bahi's permission ture.
to build the first Mas_hriqu'l-AdJ1k6r in the Mother slipped away on May 25, 1953,
Chicago area. Since that time fifty years or at the age of eighty-seven. Not really "away"
more had elapsed. Life for mother was -just over the line into the spiritual realm.
drawing to a close. And now, in the spring She had seen the Faith advance from its
of 1953, the Jubilee Celebration had started. feeble beginning in America, when the only
People were coming from all over the world Bahi'i literature consisted of the Tablets
to attend. received from 'Abdu'l-BahB which were
What a happy evening it was when all the lovingly and humbly read and reread, to its
Persian Hands of the Cause and their fami- present flourishing condition, with transla-
lies, who had come to attend the Jubilee, tions of the original Teachings of the Bib
came to visit mother in her daughter's home and Bahi'u'116h; talks, explanations and ex-
in Oak Park, at the request of her son, Le- hortations of 'Abdu'l-Bahi; and books, let-
roy, who had also been appointed a Hand ters and directives by our beloved Guardian,
of the Cause by Shoghi Effendi and had Shoghi Effendi; with the added writings of
taken residence, with his wife, Sylvia, at the his wife, Rchiyyih Khhnum.
Pilgrim House in Haifa. Her advanced years HOWwonderful it is that today the world
were bringing her many joys, for had not is indeed awakening spiritually to the call
our beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, hon- of BahC'u'llfih. How far flung are the banners
ored Leroy by naming the ninth door of the of His Cause, enlisting the allegiance of peo-
shrine of the Biib, "BBb-i-Ioas"? Her cup ple all over the world, on all continents and
was almost full, but still she had not seen islands of the sea!
the completion and dedication of the Tem- Mother often used to say to me, "I love
ple. She remembered 'Abdu'l-BahC's promise the B a h s Faith so much, but how little I
that people would enter the Faith in throngs can do towards its promotion. All I can do
when the Temple was completed, drawn at is to let my little flame shine out as best it
first through the great inspiring beauty of can." Today her children are ardent Bahi'is
this noble ediiice. Had He not said, "Some and at the present writing seven of her
material things have a spiritual ef- grandchildren have answered Shoghi Ef-
.
fect. . ."? fendi's call for pioneers. They are to be
On May 1, 1953, was held the Bahi'i found in such distant places as the Dutch
Dedication of the Temple. Our beloved West Indies, the Ballearic Islands, Monte
Riihiyyih I&&num, representing the Guard- Carlo, Paris, and even on the home front in
ian, Shoghi Effendi, had come all the way Nevada, Texas and Illinois!
from the World Center of the Faith at Haifa And so has ended the "little flame" of a
in honor of this Dedication of the Mother loving mother and devoted Bahi'i, or has
Temple of the West and the observance of it, in truth, really ended? Even though the
the Centenary of the Declaration of Bah2- visible flame has disappeared, will not its ef-
u'lliih. Though very ill, mother was lifted in fects go on and on into eternity?
her wheel chair by loving hands up the eight- -VIOLA TUTTLE
een steps encircling the base of the structure
-those steps in memory of the eighteen
Letters of the Living-then through the door
and at last in the Auditorium of the com-
pleted Temple. What joy she felt can only
be imagined. T o this was added the great
happiness of seeing the beautiful picture of
BahC'uYll&h, brought to America for the first Nuri'd-Din Fath-'Azam was born in 1895
time, to be viewed by His loving followers, in ArdistAn. His parents were from families
a.nd of feeling the thoughtful kindness of well known for their wholehearted services
R@iyyih K&inum who walked beside and self-sacrifices for the Bahi'i Faith. His
mother as she was wheeled to the door and mother was the daughter of Mull& 'Ali-
bade her farewell. Akbar Ardistiini, who together with Quddds
At last it was accomplished! The great and Mull& Sadiq-i-I&ur&s&ni, formerly
day for which mother had waited these known as Muqaddas, and surnamed by
many years! A day of joy, a day of fulllll- Bahi'u'llih, Ismu'lliihu'l-Asdaq, embraced
AORIAM 69 1

eleven years, proof of his honesty and abil-
ity, and was always well known as a Bahi'i.
, People frequented his house and office for

assistance-which he could render in his
position-and they were never rejected.
He served the Cause as a member of the
National Spiritual Assembly and of the Tih-
r i n Assembly with his usual diligence. He
was so much occupied that his family saw
very little of him, and that only at breakfast
time.
He visited the Holy Land in 1942 and on
his return brought the glad-tidings to the
BahB'is who had been deprived of them for
many years because of unsettled conditions
in Palestine. His return to IrLn was the sig-
nal for many BahL'is to migrate and teach
the Cause. Many people who met and heard
him were fired with so much enthusiasm
that they volunteered to forsake their inter-
ests for the Cause. Abiding by the instruc-
tion from the Guardian, he stayed in Tih-
rin, much as he desired to go to AfghLnistin
and establish a Bahi'i center &re. He
worked, however, very hard as a member of
N6ri'd-Din Fath-'Azam. the Emigration Committee, and was always
first and foremost to help BahVis who were
emigrating, often at the expense of his own
the Cause at its inception in SlhirLz, and interests.
were the first to be persecuted. His father He undertook to repair and reconstruct
AqL Siyyid a a h a b was the son of Mirzi the House of Bahi'u'llih in TihrLn and took
Fath-'Ali, who was aware of the Mission of a great deal of pains to complete the work
BahB'u'llih before its declaration, and whose according to the original design.
devotion was recognized by BahB'u'llbh, and An outstanding work of his was compil-
who surnamed him Fath-'Azam. ing the Addresses made by 'Abdu'l-BahL
Nuri'd-Din's childhood was passed in Ar- which he published under the name "Khata-
disthn, but when he was ten years old his bat," and added it to the wealth of BahB'i
father had to migrate to Tihrin with him literature.
because of constant persecution from Mus- He was benevolent to friend and foe, and
lim priests and mobs. 'Abdu'l-BahL, also, always extended help to people in distress,
permitted the family to be transferred to forgetting his own debts and monetary trou-
Tihrin, where during the first years, they bles. After the heart-breaking incident of his
stfiered great privations. Gradually, how- death, great was the number of people who
ever, the family got over the difficulties and related stories of his generosity, and who
established a more or less comfortable home, grieved over the loss of such a devoted
where Nuri'd-Din was brought up in the friend. It happened like this:
love of the Cause of God. After leaving his official work, he and his
He was educated in the Tarbiyat School, brother purchased a ruin of a village from
and attended BahB'i teaching courses, and the government, and did their best to im-
in both lines won the admiration of his prove its condition with regard to the in-
teachers for his zeal, interest and intelli- come, health and education of the villagers.
gence. The peasants who could hardly get from
When he was twenty-four, he entered the their lands enough to pay their expenses for
government service, and was appointed a quarter of a year, not only were enabled
chief of the Post Office in Kirmbn&ih. In to meet their annual needs, but also started
later years, he served as chief accountant of to buy extra accommodations. However,
the late Majesty, a position he held for they proved very ungrateful for all his kind-
692 T H E B A H ,A ' i W O R L D

ness, and let the village be used for intrigues
against the BahL'is.
It was on Tuesday night on the 26th of
August 1952 at 9 P.M. when he went there
as a kind father for their guidance that he
was met by a fanatical mob, and was put
to death in a most cruel way, thus adding his
name to the immortal list of martyrs who
have given their lives for the glory of the
Cause.
News of his death came as a shock to the
Bah6'i world. His funeral was attended both
by BahB'is and non-Bahb'is. Memorial serv-
ices, worthy of his station, were held by
Bahi'i communities. One service was spe-
cially held by the National Spiritual Assem-
bly of l r i n as instructed by the Guardian.
Many telegrams and consoling letters were
received from all over the world.
His body was interred at the north section
of the Bahb'i cemetery in Tihrin, and the
beloved Guardian gave instructions for his
tomb to be erected on his behalf.
In conclusion I quote the cablegram of
the Guardian on this grievous occasion:
"Deeply saddened sudden great loss out-
standing promoter Faith assure friends Hiji Muhammad Tihir Malmiri.
relatives loving fervent prayers progress
soul Kingdom advise hold befitting me-
morial gathering his unforgettable serv- ways was that of teaching. No power, no
ices bountifully rewarded.-SHOGHI." preoccupation, no conventional matter of
daily life could ever deflect him from this
high purpose. His teaching exploits were so
intensive that today, a large section of the
Bahb'i community of Yazd owes to his life-
long effort its allegiance to the Cause.
Hkji Muhammad Tihir was a brilliant
Hiji Muhammad Tihir Malmiri lived, debater and speaker. It is difficult to convey
labored, and passed away in the ancient the pleasure one derived from his inspiring
town of Yazd, f r h , a town notorious for conversation which ranged from humorous
its religious fanaticism and its large number trifles to weighty pronouncements. His
of mullis. He was born there about the year knowledge of the history and literature of
1852 which witnessed the inception of the the great world religions was prodigious. He
mission of Bahb'u'llih, and lived there long could recite almost half the Qur'in by heart,
enough to see the centenary celebration of as well as hundreds of recorded Muslim
that Holy Year. Known to almost every citi- traditions. Also he was extremely well-
zen, no other BahB'i in Yazd was so dearly versed in the Bible and the books of other
loved and admired by the friends, and so religions. The source from which he drew
bitterly denounced and insulted by the foes. his energy seemed to be inexhaustible. He
Fortifled by his staunch faith, animated could speak for hours about religious mat-
by his intense desire to serve the Cause, sus- ters without either feeling tired himself or
tained by the guiding Hand of BahL'uYll5h, boring his listeners. Rather they were fasci-
undaunted in the face of dire sufferings, his nated by the gaiety of his conversation and
life and conduct served to perpetuate the by the ripple of his ready and eloquent
spirit of the apostolic age to which he be- tongue. Even the enemies of the Cause were
longed. His life was wholly dedicated to the silenced and subdued by his charm and dig-
Cause. The idea uppermost in his mind al- nity. On several occasions fanatical persons,
IN MEMORIAM 693

intent on carrying out sinister plots against emanating from the person of Bahb'u'lla,
his life, came to his fireside meetings in the made a deep and abiding impression upon
guise of seekers of truth, carrying weapons his whole being and served him as a source
in their pockets. After coming in contact of inspiration and spiritual enlightenment,
with his dominating personality, however, enabling him to steer his way steadily and
they changed their minds altogether, and triumphantly amid the perils and cross cur-
strangely enough, a couple of them eventu- rents of his eventful life.
ally became ardent believers. The remarkable feature of his interviews
But Hiji Muhammad Tihir's talks were with Bahb'u'll6h is the fact that overcome
not always honeyed. There are few, if any, by His dazzling greatness, he seldom dared
among the leading Muslim priests in Yazd to look at His Face or to utter a single word.
who, at one time or another, have not felt Rather he would approach Him in a sense
the sting of his taunts and retorts or were of spiritual discernment. In his thrilling
not drawn into his entangling net, only to Memoirs he states: "Whenever I came into
emerge with their wings clipped, utterly con- the presence of the Blessed Beauty if there
founded by the amazing force of his argu- were anything I wanted to ask, I would say
ment. it by way of the heart and He would answer
At the height of his teaching career, al- me-invariably. I was so deeply impressed by
most every evening he used to attend fire- His supreme power that I always sat in His
side meetings which usually lasted till after presence spellbound, oblivious of myself."
midnight. Whenever he was free at night or Once he entreated BahB'u'llbh that he might
returned home rather early, he would keep be granted the privilege of laying down his
awake well into the small hours of the life for the Cause as a martyr. "You shall
morning, either pacing the compound of his live long to teach the Cause," was His
modest house in prayer and meditation or prompt reply. In fact he did live long-a
sitting up to read or write. hundred years-and did distinguish him-
His pen was as ready and able as his self in teaching and serving the Cause with
tongue, and his voluminous writings are di- exemplary devotion. The wonderful Tablets
rect, lively and inspiring. Famous among revealed in his name by both Bahb'u'llBh
his works is the History of the Martyrs o f and 'Abdu'l-Bah6 and the letters from the
Yazd, a moving portrayal of one of the most beloved Guardian, all bear ample testimony
revolting episodes in Bahb'i history. His to his noble life of service.
Memoirs, written during the second World Early in 1914 Hiji Muhammad TBhir
War and containing a wealth of choice rem- went on his second pilgrimage to the Holy
iniscences, has been designated by the be- Land where he basked for four months in
loved Guardian an interesting storehouse of the sunshine of 'Abdu'l-Bahb's unbounded
information for future BahL'i historians. blessings and love.
Another enduring work, undertaken at the Rank and fortune, in the material sense,
behest of the National Spiritual Assembly never came H6ji Muhammad Thhir's way.
of Irin, is the history of the inception and H e used to earn his modest living mainly by
growth of the Faith in his native district. working as a hand weaver. Yet, whenever
Compiled in two volumes, it depicts the he managed to secure some bushels of grain
lives, achievements, sufferings and martyr- or other provisions for our daily use, no-
dom of the early heroes and pioneers in that body was allowed to touch them until he
area. Also his Fusul Arbd'ih is a masterly had set aside a substantial portion for the
exposition of proofs demonstrating the pro- poor of the town as well as the needy
phetic mission of the Founder and Herald among the martyrs' widows and orphans.
of our Faith with profuse quotations from After the terrible Bahb'i massacre in
various religious books used in support of Yazd which occurred soon after the turn of
his thesis. the century, 'Abdu'l-Bah6 appointed Hiji
The crowning glory of his life was the Muhammad Tihir to look after the hapless,
rare privilege of attaining the presence of terror-stricken remnants of the martyrs'
Bahb'u'llih in the year 1878 in 'Akk6, families. For several years he devoted him-
where he stayed for about nine months. The self to the arduous task of organizing help
wonderful events and experiences associated for the poor, comforting the bereaved, tend-
with this momentous pilgrimage, no less ing the sick, and rearing and educating the
than his contact with the mysterious power children. He derived ample pleasure from
THE BAHA'I WORLD

giving food, money and clothing to the Only future generations will be able to
needy and ,distressed. Everybody was wel- properly appraise the value of the great
come to his home and his table. The words service which she has rendered at such a
of praise and admiration which streamed critical time in the history of the Faith, and
from the Pen of 'Abdu'l-Bahh in apprecia- under such difficult conditions. . . .
tion of his beneficent work stand as a glow- "The Guardian wishes to make clear the
ing testimony to his sense of love and devo- importance of the station of Johanna Schu-
tion to the downtrodden. barth, as she was the founder of the BahVi
Throughout the rugged years of his life Community in Norway, and thus her station
H6ji Muhammad T6hir seems to have is higher than that of a pioneer. . . ."
joined in perma.nent wedlock with adversity. From Letter of the Guardian through his
The lifelong sufferings he bore at the hands Assistant Secretary, dated March 11, 1953.
of the enemies, the insults and indignities to
which he! was subjected at every turn, the These words, written at the direction of
perilous adventures he went through, the Shoghi Effendi, Head of the BahVi World
grievous loss of three children who perished Faith, establish for all time the station of
during the BahVi massacre in Yazd, the Johanna Christensen Schubarth.
weight of chains a.nd imprisonment he joy- She was born in 1877 in the little village
fully accepted towards the end of his life in of Sandeherred, Norway. Nearby, large
company with the fellow-members of the whaling vessels were built and repaired and
Spiritual Assembly of Yazd-these together Johanna's mother's family were employed
with many other distressing events, far from in this business. Her great grandfather had
dampening his spirits, served to steel his a large boat in which he would go out to
energies and to reveal the true measure of help ships in danger and distress. Her fa-
his indomitable faith. ther, a ship leader, did not come back one
The evening of his life was dimmed by day and nothing was ever heard of him or
years of declining faculties and infirmity. his ship. Thus a family of eighteen chil-
Sinking beneath the gathering weight of old dren, with "plenty of sons," was left father-
age and ill health, he laid down the burden less. Her mother married a second time and
he carried so worthily for nearly eighty it was decided that the younger children
years and passed away peacefully at his should become known by the name of their
home on June 4, 1953. In his will he be- second father. So it was that Johanna's
queathed all his possessions to the Cause. name became Schubarth.
The following gracious message from the As a little girl, Johanna watched the "dig-
beloved Guardian may well serve as a be- gings" of the Gogstad ship, a Viking ship so
fitting epilogue to his memory: called because it was on the Gogstad farm
"Grieve passing Muhammad Thhir Mal- near where Johanna lived that this fine
miri long -record services unforgettable specimen was found. Viking ships were used
praying progress soul kingdom." as burial places for kings and queens, were
-HAB?B TAHIRZADEHburied deep in the ground and covered with
a special sand to preserve them. Johanna
watched as this one was taken out of the
earth, piece by piece, and sent off to the
JOHANNA SCHUBARTH University of Oslo where it was studied and
reassembled. It is now one of the two chief
exhibits at the Viking Museum [Vikingshu-
"Johanna Schubarth, by virtue of her sac- sell in Oslo. Johanna's aunt, Hilde Christen-
rificial services to the Faith over such a long sen, became interested in the beautiful de-
period of time, has attained a very high sta- signs and colors in the old fabrics found in
tion. She is the mother of the Norwegian the Viking ships, and through scientific
BahVi Community, and is the founder of study was able to reproduce the colors. Her
the Faith in that country. She served dili- books on this subject have become classics.
gently under adverse conditions, and all Johanna went to the United States to pur-
alone, for many years, kept the light of the sue her profession of nursing and it was
Faith aflame, single handed. She was a very through a patient in Urbana, Illinois, that
rare soul, was entirely consecrated to the she first heard of the BahVi Faith. She with-
Faith and completely devoted to its service. drew from her work as a nurse for a period
IN MEMORIAM 695

but somehow she brought their expression
forth. She was always working on some
manuscript of translation from the Writ-
ings, even after she became crippled with
arthritis and could devote only a few min-
utes at a time to it during the last two years
of her life.
When the European Teaching Committee
began its work in Norway in 1946, as part
of the unfoldment of the Divine Plan of
'Abdu'l-Bah6 in the Second Seven-Year
Plan, there were ready in Norwegian,
thanks to Johanna's efforts, Esslemont's
book, in print and on sale in one of the
large book shops of Oslo; translations of
The Hidden Words, the Words of Wisdom,
and, in manuscript form, the Kitdb-i-fqdn
of Bahh'u'llfih, many Bahh'i prayers, and
The Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahd.
Soon afterward came translations of Shoghi
Effendi's The Goal of a New World Order
and the compilation Bahd'i Community.
Johanna Schubarth. Later, in cooperation with the ~ o r w e ~ i a n
Translating Committee, Johanna contrib-
uted the lion's share to translations of pa-
pers on "The Covenant" and "Compara-
of six months in order to study the Faith tive Religion" read at the Summer School
thoroughly before she fully accepted it. It held in connection with the European
was through May Maxwell that she received Teaching Conference at Copenhagen (Elsi-
her confirmation and declared herself in nore) in 1950. Johanna also helped with the
1919. translation of David Hofman's The Renewal
In 1927 Johanna returned to Norway to of Civilization.
nurse her mother, and on her way she was The respect in which Johanna was held
privileged to visit Haifa. There she had in Oslo, her friendship of many years' stand-
daily talks with the Guardian, Johanna ask- ing with Johanna Sorensen, now Mrs. Dr.
ing questions, the Guardian answering and Hoeg of Herning, Denmark, and above all,
explaining things to her. Shoghi Effendi her staunch devotion and utter self-sacrifice
asked her to remain in Oslo and spread the to the slightest wish of the beloved Guard-
Teachings. There were no other BahL'is in ian, all greatly aided the work of the con-
Norway then, and there was no Bahh'i lit- tinuous promotion of the Faith in this
erature in Norwegian. northern country.
Johanna put her will in the Hands of God Johanna Schubarth lived in Oslo in a
and was guided in all her work by Bah2- large room which was flooded with sunlight
u'llkh and the beloved Guardian. Although when there was sun. It was on the third
she would have liked very much to return to floor of an old building, up a winding
the United States, she remained in Oslo and wooden staircase. The only heat in the room
began translating the Bahh'i Writings into during the long, dark, cold winters was from
Norwegian. Desiring to give the remainder a large tile stove for which coal had to be
of her life to work for the BahL'i Faith and lugged from the basement. During the war
feeling that the translation of the Writings years there was no coal. Wishing to serve
would be her greatest gift, she studied the her countrymen in these difficult times, JO-
language and took the University examina- hanna took up again her profession of nurs-
tion at the age of fifty or more years. She ing, volunteering her services. She received
agonized over getting into her native lan- a citation from the King of Norway for her
guage the spiritual depths in the Words of work but her health was broken by the dep-
Bahh'u'll6h. "There is no way to express rivations and sufferings she had endured.
these things in Norwegian," she would say, In 1947 all food was still rationed in Nor-
696 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

way but as a retired nurse, Johanna was On the first of December, 1952, Joha.ma
able to receive a few eggs a month and some Schubarth passed away in a hospital in Oslo.
milk. Every food package sent her from the The Scandinavian BahL'i Bulletin for Jan-
United States was carefully stretched as far uary, 1953, carried an article in tribute to
as it would go, and the choicest items saved her, written by Mrs. Asta Barnholdt, an old
for the Nineteen Day Feasts held in her friend and a Bahi'i, which said in part:
apartment. Some of the friends wished to "The Oslo BahL'i Community therewith
provide Johanna with a supply of coal as lost the foundation stone in the promotion
soon as it became possible to buy a little at of the Faith in Norway. . . . Johanna's life
a time, but she would not permit it, refusing and person testified to her wholesome char-
to sign the papers necessary to get it deliv- acter. Great words and violent feelings were
ered. She would live and serve to the utmost unknown to her. We knew her as a person
of her ability and strength, but would take who radiated purity, simplicity, justice and
care of herself-her heritage f-lom ancestors stability. Her great love for the Faith which
used to the rigors of whaling would not she had accepted, we shall never forget! Nor
permit anything else. her goodness and helpfulness to all! . . ."
During the twenty years that Johanna Johanna was quiet, reserved, shy, a
Schubarth "held aloft the light of the Faith" "doer" and not a "talker." As the unfold-
in Norway, the visits of Bahgi itinerant ment of the Faith progressed in this new
teachers and visitors brought high lights to community and it formed the base for an
her days. Always, at train or ship, she went ever-widening teaching work, Johanna was
to meet them, to welcome them, and to bid a bulwark of firmness around which tem-
them farewell; whatever the time of day porary crises made no headway, and all felt
or night, or however cold the weather, her in her strength, integrity and depth of un-
spiritual and radiant face shone out from derstanding, the everlasting qualities of true
the crowd. Among these teachers was Mar- faith.
tha Root, termed by the Guardian "that In the communication from the Guard-
archetype of Bahi'i itinerant teachers," who ian dated March 11, 1953, he instructed
in 1935 visited the Scandinavian countries. "that as many friends as possible attending
In the last days of Johanna's life she was the Conference in Stockholm, make a spe-
made radiantly happy and brought close to cial effort to travel there via Norway and to
the beloved Guardian through the visit of visit her grave. This refers not only to the
Rhikru'llAh IQhhbdem, Hand of the Cause of BahL'is attending the Conference from
God, and his lovely wife. America, but likewise those attending from
At the beginning of the Second Seven- the various parts of Europe." Accordingly,
Year Plan, Johanna's joy was great when in obedience to this request, many Bahi'is
she welcomed the pioneers sent to Norway from the United States, Persia and Euro-
by the European Teaching Committee of pean countries gathered, in the days imme-
the National Spiritual Assembly of the diately preceding the Third Intercontinental
United States. To these pioneers she was Teaching Conference in July, 1953, as well
ever a source of strengt6 and comfort. It as immediately after the Conference, to
was not easy, after so many years of work- read prayers at the grave of "the founder
ing alone, suddenly to work with others, of the Faith" in Norway.
but she achieved this transition because of Johanna's remains had been laid to rest,
her love for the Guardian and her selfless after a beautiful Bahi'i service, in the Var
obedience to the Administration. Great was Frelsers (Our Savior's) Cemetery within
her joy in the firm establishment of the the city of Oslo. In December, 1953, her
Faith with the formation of the first local remains were removed to the Vest Grave-
Assembly in Norway, the Spiritual Assem- lund or Western Cemetery, at the foot of
bly of Oslo, in April, 1948. As chairman Holmenkollen mountain on the outskirts of
of that Spiritual Assembly she presided at Oslo, where, in her Will and Testament, it
the first public meeting held in Oslo, in was found she had requested burial. "Only
January, 1950. In July of the same year, she future generations will be able to properly
rejoiced to be able to attend the European appraise the value of the great service which
Teaching Conference held in Copenhagen, she has rendered at such a critical time in
together with every member of the Oslo the history of the Faith, and under such
Bahgi Community. .
difEcult conditions. . ."
I N MEMORIAM 697

FLORENCE GEORGE

Mrs. Florence George ("Mother George")
passed away on Saturday, November 4,
1950, at the age of 91. The Guardian ca-
bled:
"Grieve passing distinguished indefatiga-
ble promoter Faith ardently supplicating
progress soul Abhb Kingdom her notable
meritorious services unforgettable."
A Tribute by Alfred S~igar
I was introduced to Mrs. George at Wal-
mar House, the first Center of the London
BahB'i Community, then recently acquired.
My first impression of her was of a rather
formidable personality-tall, erect, dark, di-
rect and rather brusque in speech. But more
intimate contact soon revealed her warm,
sympathetic understanding and progressive
character.
To her intimates Florence George re-
vealed her pride. She was proud of the dis-
tinction "Mother," bestowed on her by
'Abdu'l-Bahi. She liked to speak of her Florence George.
pilgrimage to Haifa, of her Master's per-
sonal care that the individual needs of the
pilgrims were provided for; of His humor days, I feel that in her work for the Cause,
and His wisdom; of how He taught humility Mother George tried to reflect the Light
to the ostentatious and raised to dignity the she had received from the Master in the
self-abased. She prized the injunction He days of her pilgrimage to Him. It was in the
gave her that she was to be a Mother to the spirit of His Light that she conducted the
younger generation of Bah2is and train Sunday afternoon meetings in her Chelsea
them in the love and knowledge of the home. These gatherings were marked by
Cause. This injunction she obeyed faith- simple dignity; they were instructive, in-
fully. spiring and without formality. Her hospital-
Mother George was proud, too, that she ity, without "fuss," was warm and unstinted.
had been instrumental in making known the We knew that the work her hospitality en-
Faith to Dr. Esslemont. Following on a tailed, the comfort provided and the good
series of happenings which must have been things we enjoyed, sprang from the loving
preordained, the doctor wrote to Mrs. service of her daughter Dorothy Wellby. We
George. The correspondence led to his at- may have failed to properly acknowledge
tending a BahL'i meeting in London, which this at the time, but we, who benefited by
meeting marked the beginning of his devo- her service, never forget.
tion to and his magnificent work for the She liked to have young people to come
Cause. Later, during her stay in Bourne- to see her. She loved to teach them; she
mouth, Mrs. George devoted herself to the prized their affection. She went forward
further instruction of Dr. Esslemont and from the guidance of the Master to that of
Sister Challis. But hers was not the pride the Guardian without hesitancy and with-
of successful achievement; it was akin to out question. To her the Master's Will was
the pride of a child who had been singled the authority; the later period was the fitting
out for a special distinction, and having sequel to the earlier. In the course of her
been so honored, must show herself wor- last letter to me, the script of which be-
thy of the responsibility which the distinc- trayed the weakness of the hand that wrote,
tion imposed. she said: "I cannot get to the meetings now
Now that I look back an those earlier and you can imagine my feelings. But I do
698 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

some teaching of young BahL'is and I try to
entertain at my home BahL'is who need
help." And, "I think the pioneers have done
good work."
So, there has passed from this earthly life
another of the links who bring to our Form-
ative Period the spirit and the blessed aroma
of the Apostolic Age, passed to the AbhL
Kingdom, there to unite with them who
have gone before, to supplicate on our be-
half, to contribute their love and their pray-
ers so that we who remain here may be
aided by the Supreme Concourse in the
work and sacrifice which it is our privilege
to contribute to the progress of the Cause
we love.
-From British Bah& Journal,
December, 1950, p. 6.

PHILIP GODDARD SPRAGUE

"Staunch, exemplary, greatly admired,
dearly loved Sprague," the Guardian cabled Philip Goddard Sprague.
after Philip Sprague's death on September
23, 1951. How well Shoghi Effendi has ex- was outstanding. Large groups thronged
pressed in those three words, "dearly loved to his fireside meetings, and many accepted
Sprague," the feeling of the BahL'i Com- the Faith through study classes which grew
munity about Philip. The reason he called out of the fireside groups. Philip was hap-
forth that love was, no doubt, his own deep, piest when he was teaching, and those
abiding love for the Master, 'Abdu'l-Bahh, whom he taught felt his deep devotion to
and the Guardian. "All I want is to be with the Master and the Guardian and were
the Master," Philip often said in those last moved by his deep spiritual conviction as
painful months of his life. he talked. From 1926 to 1929 he and Dor-
Philip Goddard Sprague was born in othy Champ, assisted by Keith Ransom-
New York City on January 1, 1899, the son Kehler, held very successful fireside meet-
of Dr. Shirley Sprague and Marguerite Mo- ings in Dorothy's home in Harlem. This was
rette Sprague. His dear Aunt Carrie Kinney one of the first inter-racial groups in the city.
taught him the Faith when he was a small Keith Ransom-Kehler, a great Bah6'i and a
boy, so that when 'Abdu'l-BahL came to gifted speaker, helped them to spread the
this country in 1912, Philip was overjoyed Faith among the Negroes of Harlem.
to see Him. The memory of that early Philip had long wanted to go to Haifa,
meeting never left him. In 1919 and 1920 and the Guardian urged him to make the
he received several Tablets from 'Abdu'l- pilgrimage. On November 20, 1928, Shoghi
Bahh, in one of which the Master advised Effendi cabled "Welcome," which was his
him to go into business. invitation to start. After Philip's return early
At that time 'Abdu'l-Bahh through His in 1929, the Guardian wrote the following
secretary sent weekly messages to certain through his secretary: "He wishes me to as-
American believers about what was happen- sure you of his personal affection and pray-
ing in Haifa, and the young Philip was of ers and of his sincere desire and hope that
great assistance to the Kinneys in mimeo- you will render valued and permanent serv-
graphing these and mailing them all over the ices to a Cause so near and dear to your
country. This was Philip's first devoted serv- heart. Think what a smile-if a human
ice to the Faith. smile it should be-would run across the
His work with the youth and young adults Master's lips to watch the Philip he knew
IN MEMORIAM 699

as a child raise high the standard of His In 1944 he was elected to the National
Cause in America." Spiritual Assembly of the Bahk'is of the
During the Temple coilstruction Philip United States and served with distinction
inspired the friends everywhere to give to as national treasurer at the time when the
the Fund, and during the First Seven-Year Assembly was engrossed in the first stages
Plan, 1937 to 1944, he worked ceaselessly of the Temple interior construction.
to get settlers and pioneers that the Cause Philip had great personal charm. His
might be established in every state in North sense of humor was delightful and endeared
America. As chairman of the Spiritual As- him to his friends. The little Green Acre
sembly of the BahB'is of New York he cottage in Eliot, Maine, with its beautiful
kept constantly before the Community the garden was a joy to him and Mary. They
Guardian's messages, and urged the believ- loved flowers, and kept the house and porch
ers to sacrifice for the progress of the Faith. gay with them, arranged in his own artistic
In Shoghi Effendi's cable of October 4, way.
1951, he records that the memory of Phil- During much of his life Philip was ill. In
ip's work both in the teaching and adminis- the last difficult years of his sickness his wife
trative fields will never be forgotten. These was a constant source of encouragement
are his words: "Memory notable services and help. He learned to be patient un;der the
teacher administrator North (and) Latin severest suffering. Shoghi Effendi called his
America imperishable. Recompense Abhh spirit in his last illness "exemplary." Philip's
Kingdom bountiful. Praying ardently prog- inner reality was a tender, gentle, yet strong
ress soul." spirit which ever turned to the Beloved, and
When the Guardian's translation of The made him, as the Guardian said, "dearly
Dawn-Breakers first reached us, Philip read loved" Philip Sprague.
that immortal record of the early days of -HELEN CAMPBELL
the Faith with avid interest. He was trans-
ported to great spiritual heights by reading
about the BBb and those holy souls who
surrounded Him. This book had a tremen- NELLIE STEVISON FRENCH
dous influence on his life. Another strong
influence was his love for May Maxwell
and hers for him. She taught him much. Bahi'u'llhh proclaimed: "0 son of Being!
"The soul's motion in relation to the Be- Thy Eden is My Love and reunion with Me
loved is the unfolding of all the meaning thy home. Enter and tarry not. This is what
of life," she used to say. Philip read and hath been destined for thee in Our Kingdom
reread An Early Pilgrimage, which is her above and Our exalted paradise." The re-
account of her first meeting with 'Abdu'l- affirmation of the Covenant of God and the
BahB. One of his favorite passages was: "As reassurance of Divine Guidance became the
we gazed on Him, I realized that we could motivating power in the life of Nellie Stevi-
in no way comprehend Him; we could only son French, upon whom 'Abdu'l-Bahh be-
love Him, follow Him, obey Him, and stowed the appellation, "My daughter."
thereby draw nearer to His beauty." Such Nellie was born October 19, 1868, in
thoughts as these which she expressed in her Peoria, Illinois; her father, Josiah Hill Stevi-
talks and letters to Philip found an echo in son, an Episcopalian, and her mother, Sarah
his own heart. Swain Stevison, member of a Quaker fam-
So, after her death in Buenos Aires on ily, provided their daughter and son, Dud-
March 1, 1940, it was natural that Philip ley, who was born 1882 in Chicago, with
should go to South America for a six the usual Sunday school associations. Evinc-
months' teaching trip. This was in Septem- ing a marked talent for singing, Nellie left
ber of the same year. His fireside gatherings in 1888 for Naples, Italy, to develop that in-
in Buenos Aires were attended by large terest. The four-year residence abroad gave
numbers of youth who loved him dearly. her the opportunity to learn the French and
He returned in February, 1941, on the same Italian languages, to acquire an appreciation
ship with Mary Keene Manero whom he of the Latin fine arts, and to master a stren-
later married. He made a second trip to uous course in training for the operatic
South America in 1942, staying three stage. She suffered a case of typhoid fever
months. in 1892 and returned to the United States
700 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

copied and exchanged were sporadic, rudi-
mentary, and fragmentary. Mrs. Isabella
Brittingham's coming to Arizona in 1917 to
teach the spiritual significance of the Bahi'i
Faith offered her a rare privilege. That ex-
perience confirmed Nellie who became the
first resident Bahi'i teacher in Arizona.
Mr. and Mrs. French decided in 1918 to
make Pasadena, California, their perma-
nent home. Nellie French assisted the
friends with the study meetings held in the
old Odd Fellows Hall. During Ridvh, in
April, 1921, Mr. and Mrs. French visited
Haifa and 'AkkB; that pilgrimage became
the fulfillment of all her hopes. In a loving
atmosphere she communed with the mem-
bers of the Holy Family; she prayed at the
Shrine in the ineffable presence of the Cen-
ter of the Covenant, the "Cord stretched be-
twixt the earth and the Abhi Kingdom";
and she trod the paths that had felt the
imprint of the footsteps of the Promised
One of the Ages. The dedication of her life
to service in the Cause of God was consum-
mated; and she had received the bounty of
seeing 'Abdu'l-BahL before His Ministry
was ended.
Nellie Stevison French. Her Bah6'i activities were many and var-
ied. She contributed to the literature of the
Faith by her work from 1930 to 1946 as
Chairman of the BahBi World Editorial
to recuperate; but her recovery was fol- Committee, during which time she assem-
lowed by scarlet fever which impaired her bled material for volumes IV-X. She trans-
vocal chords irreparably. Her aspirations lated into French and Italian the "Blue
for a musical career were ended. Book" and the brochure "Number 9," and
In December, 1894, Nellie Stevison was for several years she wrote "Loom of Real-
married to Stuart Whitney French, a child- ity," a column published in the Pasadena
hood companion. About 1896, accompanied Star-News. In 1931 she made permanent
by her mother, she attended a few meetings Braille plates for Bahd'u'lla'h and the New
at the home of Dr. KJhayru'llLh, a Syrian, Era and for the Kita'b-i-fqa'n.
on West Adams Street in Chicago. He in- As an administrator, she served as Chair-
formed those assembled that there had come man of the Pasadena Spiritual Assembly
into the world a new revelation and a new from 1928 to 1938. For four years, ending
prophet, Bah6'u'llLh. Although Dr. KJhay- in 1944 she was Chairman of the Inter-
ru'llLh's knowledge of the Teachings of the America Committee, and in this capacity
Cause of God was limited, the spiritual she presided at a session of the Centenary
seeds were sown. Moving to Arizona in Celebration in 1944. Later she was a mem-
1900, Nellie French lived in Bisbee until ber of the European Teaching Committee.
1904 and in Douglas until 1917 where she She helped support the work of the Interna-
participated in the social and civic activities tional Bureau at Geneva and the All-Indian
of the pioneer mining communities. These project at Macy, Nebraska, undertaken by
interests were high-lighted by being elected her sister-in-law, Mary Farley Stevison.
Arizona State President of the Federation All this time she was very active as a
of Women's Clubs; she served from 3912 teacher, holding many firesides, participat-
to 1914. Her visits to Chicago and New ing in the study meetings of the friends,
York furnished a few Bahi'i contacts with and proclaiming the Faith during her trav-
meager information; the Bahi'i messages els. For many years, Mr. and Mrs. French
IN MEMORIAM 701

spent every summer in Europe and called of whom were born in Hawaii. Dagmar's
on the friends at the various centers. Prior great uncle, the second son of Daniel, be-
to Mr. French's passing in 1946, as they came the head of the Provisional Govern-
cruised over the seas, Nellie took every op- ment and then President of the Republic in
portunity available to promulgate the Mes- 1893. After turning the islands over to the
sage from Spitzbergen, north of Norway, to United States, he became the first Governor
Magallanes in South America and from of Hawaii.
Reykjavik, Iceland, to Melbourne, Aus- Dagmar's mother was a member of the
tralia. well-known Dreier family, of Copenhagen,
After an absence of thirty-one years to Denmark, whose forebear was the famous
the day, in April, 1952, Nellie French re- young thinker and writer of that name, who
turned to the BahB'i Center on Mt. Carmel died at the age of 30 years, leaving a trail
to meet the beloved Guardian in person. of provocative and constructive thought
The harvest of her invaluable experiences, after him. A monument to his memory now
her familiarity with the BahL'i Writings, and stands in the city of Copenhagen.
her devotion to the Administrative Order of It is interesting that Dagmar's father's
the Faith, seemed to merge into a supreme family should have been missionaries and
at-oneness at the fo~~ntainhead of the living her mother's family Danish, as these two
waters whose source is God. facts were combined in Dagmar's history
During the Holy Year which was also the of service to God. Her life became conse-
first year of the World Spiritual Crusade, crated to the work of teaching the Bahi'i
Nellie French settled in the principality of Faith and part of this service was done in
Monaco on September 12, 1953, to hoist the land of her mother's forebears-Den-
valiantly the banner of the Bahb'i Faith. As mark.
the first decade of the second Bahi'i century On November 12, while the BahB'i world
was coming to its close, on January 3, 1954, was celebrating the anniversary of the birth
Nellie Stevison French was summoned from of BahB'u711&h,Dagmar passed to the Abhi
her pioneer post to the Abhi Kingdom. Kingdom. She had been in ill health for
On January 4, 1954, the Guardian ca- some months. She arrived for the Luxem-
bled: bourg Conference but became too ill to
"Deeply regret passing valiant pioneer. participate. Arrangements were immediately
Long record (of her) services, highly meri- made for her to be sent to the Valmont
torious. Praying (for) progress (of) soul Clinic, situated in one of the loveliest spots
(in) Kingdom." of Switzerland, above Montreux. Here for
-CHRISTINE LOFSTEDT two months Dagmar rested and received
treatment. On November 8 she became very
ill, passed into a state of ~~nconsciousness
and five days later slipped through the
"Open Door" to pioneer in the worlds of
DAGMAR DOLE God.
In California, through her friend Marion
Holley Hofman, Dagmar had first heard of
"Grieved passing distinguished, conse- the Bahb'i Faith and immediately accepted
crated pioneer Dagmar Dole, outstanding it. Hers was an active BahB'i life. Soon after
record unforgettable, reward bountiful. becoming a declared believer she and her
Praying progress soul Kingdom." close friend, Virginia Orbison, went to
SHOGHI Glendale, California, to help maintain As-
sembly status, under the first "Seven-Year
Dagmar Dole was born in San Francisco, Plan." She then became active in Commit-
California, on June 14, 1902. Her great
grandfather Daniel Dole and his wife left tee work for Central and South America
Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1841 to and served as Chairman of the Inter-Amer-
take up their duties as pioneer Protestant ica Committee.
missionaries in the Hawaiian Islands. Her Later she journeyed to Alaska, and did
grandfather, George Dole, was born in Ha- valuable work in consolidating the Bahi'i
waii and Dagmar's father, Walter Dole, was community on that frontier. From Anchor-
the oldest son of a family of thirteen, twelve age she went to the Bristol Bay area in the
702 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

from all over Switzerland gathered for the
funeral service. During her short stay in
Valmont, Dagmar had won the hearts of
the entire staff. The doctors, nurses, the
maids, all came to pay their last tribute
because they, too, loved her.
At the opening words of the funeral serv-
ice-"From the sweet scented streams of
Thine Eternity give me to drink 0 my God.
. . . Within the garden of Thine immortal-
ity, before Thy countenance, let me abide
forever . . . ," a shaft of light pierced the
snow-clouds and shone upon that open
grave. How could one be sad? How could
one be sad at the passing of one who had
been obedient to the command of her Lord
-"Teach ye the Cause of God," says Bah2-
u'llih. From the moment of her recognition
of the Cause of God, Dagmar rose up and
carried the banner of Bah2u'llLh to far off
Alaska, back across the American conti-
nent, over the Atlantic to the shores of
Europe, where she fell in action.
"She died in 'battle dress,"' said the
Guardian; "it is wonderful to die in active
service."
Dagmar Dole. Looking up at those majestic mountains
one was reminded of the qualities of Dag-
mar-nobility and strength. Thinking of the
starry white narcissus that will blossom over
Bering Sea, and worked among the Eskimos those mountain slopes, one saw her innate
and Alaskan Indians working in the fishing purity; that delicate shyness and awareness
industry. Her service to these minority peo- that were hers.
ple cannot be measured. She won their "Her spiritual station is very high." These
friendship because she gave them her love
words of the Guardian gave us a sense of
and compassion. She served them both ma-
terially and spiritually. She was their friend. pure joy. "Her grave will be a great blessing
Then came the Second Seven-Year Plan to Switzerland-to all Europe. She is the
and the call for pioneers in the European first to give her life for the Cause in the Eu-
field, and Dagmar responded. She was as- ropean project. Her resting-place is impor-
signed to Copenhagen, Denmark. Here tant." Already evidence of these words of
again she served the Faith she loved so well the Guardian has been manifested. One can-
with steadfastness and courage. Her record not express in words the sense of feeling.
in Denmark is rich. She, along with other One knew the leaven of the Faith was work-
pioneers and Johanne Hoeg, was instrumen- ing, cementing those souls standing at that
tal in bringing forty-seven believers into the open grave into one, unit--each pledging re-
Faith in Denmark. Her last pioneer assign- newed effort in carrying forward the banner
ment was to Italy, where she served both that Dagmar laid into our hands.
in Naples and in Milan. "Death proffereth unto every confident
In the village of Glion, high on the slopes
believer the cup that is life indeed. It be-
of the Swiss Alps, lies Dagmar-where in
the springtime the white narcissus pour out stoweth joy, and is the bearer of gladness.
their fragrance and the snow-capped moun- It conferreth the gift of everlasting life."
tains eternally stand sentinel. Dagmar is one of those confident believers
Snow was softly falling, covering every- to whom Bah2u'llhh gave this glorious
thing in a mhntle of white, as members of promise.
Dagmar's family, and her BahCi friends
IN MEMORIAM 703

FLORENCE BREED KHAN

Florence LhLnum was the daughter of a
prominent New England manufacturer,
Ffancis W. Breed. She was brought up on
the family estate in Lynn, Massachusetts.
Later she attended finishing schools in Bos-
ton and New York, traveled in Europe, and
made her social debut in Chicago at the
home of Mrs. Potter Palmer. Newspaper
accounts of the time described her popular-
ity and beauty.
Early tragedies, including her betrothal as
he lay on his deathbed, to the poet Philip
Henry Savage, and her father's loss of for-
tune, turned her mind toward serious things.
She began to study mysticism, dramatics
and art and it was in the course of these
studies that she met the lecturer and critic,
Mary Hanford Ford. About this time Mrs.
Ford visited Green Acre, Eliot, Maine,
where she attended classes conducted by
Mirzi Abu'l-Fad1 and Ali-Kuli Khan and
became a BahB'i. Florence Breed Khan.
It was Mrs. Ford who introduced Ali- (Mme. Ali-Kuli Khan).
Kuli Khan to the Breed family in Boston.
When he first entered Mrs. Breed's drawing
room, Khan, was attracted by a painting
which he took for the artist's ideal of a Persian Legation in Washington, D.C. As
beautiful woman. It was not long before he chatelaine of the Legation, Florence &hi-
married the lady whose portrait the artist num enjoyed several years of brilliant ac-
had painted. When news of this union tivity. The SJhLh gave her a title-Murav-
reached the Holy Land, 'Abdu'l-BahL cele- vihu's-Saltanih-one who bestows spirit on
brated it. He gave to Florence the name the realm. At this time 'Abdu'l-BahL visited
RiihLniyyih, she who is holy, pure, spiritual. the United States and Madame Khan was
When the first child was born, the Master able to bring many of the leading personali-
said he was the first fruit of the spiritual ties of the day into His presence. He per-
union between East and West. mitted a photograph of Himself to be taken
Taking their infant son, the Khans visited with the Khans, and another with their
'Abdu'l-BahL on their way to Persia. 'Abd- children. Florence LhLnum was present at
u'l-BahL showed great bounty to Florence. the Unity Feast of June 29, 1912, given by
It was in the course of this visit that He told 'Abdu'l-Bahb Himself at West Englewood,
Khan that He testified she was a true be- New Jersey, and Dr. Khan translated the
liever. He also said, Rahat mikunad-she words spoken on that occasion.
shall have rest. At the home of Florence's mother, Alice
In Persia Madame Khan was obliged to Ives Breed, society matron and one of the
wear the veil in those early times, the first early Bahgi'is in the United States, 'Abdu'l-
decade of this century. The change of cli- BahL celebrated the BLb's birthday, and
mate and customs was difficult for her. She about that time He also presided at her sis-
fell ill and they despaired of her life. Khan ter's wedding. When Mr. Breed tried to
nursed her for months, all the BahB'is did thank Him for all His kindness to Florence
what they could, and she survived. She on her Eastern visit, 'Abdu'l-BahL asked
never forgot her love for the Persian BahL'is. why he thanked Him, they were His own
She returned to the United States, where family.
Dr. Khan became charge' d'affaires at the ~ l o r e n c ewas also present on that last day
704 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

when the BahL'is went to the ship to take tives of different nations at war and of na-
leave of the beloved Master, and Dr. Khan tions who had not yet concluded peace and
translated His final words to the Bahb'is of they had been most successful in their en-
America. deavour."l
Two things 'Abdu'l-BahL taught her she The then Crown Prince of Persia took
often quoted in Persian: One was that He Dr. Khan away with him as Grand Master
said to her Sabr kun; rnit&-i-Man bdd-be of his Court. That is how it came about that
patient, be as I am. The other was when when the greatest calamity of their lives
some one expressed discouragement to Him, overtook them, Dr. Khan was traveling to
saying they could not possibly acquire all Persia and Florence was still in Istanbul.
the qualities and virtues that Bahb'is are di- This calamity was the sudden, and to the
rected to possess, and the Master replied BahB'is then, unbearable passing of 'Abd-
Kam Kam. Rliz bih rliz-little by little; u'l-BahL. Very shortly, however, it became
day by day. known that the Master had left a Will and
After World War I, Dr. Khan was ap- Testament placing His Father's Cause in the
pointed a member of the Persian Delegation safest of hands. A new word entered the
to the Versailles Peace Conference. Their BahB'i vocabulary, the word Guardian.
stay in Paris that year was perhaps the high Madame Khan herself carried the first avail-
point of Madame Khan's official life. able copy of the Will and Testament across
At this time 'Abdu'l-BahL sent word that the Caucasus and into Persia. The Bahb'is
His grandson, Shoghi Effendi, was coming of Baku on the Caspian Sea sat up most of
to Paris on his way to Oxford University. the night transcribing the Will so that she
Florence LhLnum was thus able to serve as could take it on with her the next morning.
Shoghi Effendi's hostess on numerous occa- After serving as head of the Prince Re-
sions, and he gave the family their most pre- gent's Court, Dr. Khan was appointed Pleni-
cious possession, a robe of 'Abdu'l-Bahti. potentiary to the Five Republics of the Cau-
When Dr. Khan became head of the Per- casus, and then in 1924 the Khan family
sian Embassy at Constantinople, Madame returned to the United States, stopping on
Khan's significant social role continued. The their way for a memorable visit with the
Turkish writer Mufty-Zade K. Zia Bey in Guardian in Haifa.
his book Speaking of the Turlcs describes The last twenty-five years of her life were
how she and her husband worked to pro- difficult for Florence Khtinurn and at times
mote international understanding: tragic. On June 24, 1950, at the Unity Feast
"The only reception that I know of . . . in New Jersey, Florence KhLnum passed
at which all officials and prominent citizens away suddenly, without suffering, in a place
of all nations were invited was the reception and on an occasion sacred to the memory
given at the Persian Embassy in honour of of 'Abdu'l-Bahi. Loving friends attended
the Crown Prince of Persia . . . it was the her. As she died a friend was singing the
most successful reception of the season in Lord's Prayer.
Constantinople . . . The Persian represent- The BahL'is of New York City where she
ative bravely decided to ask everybody resided held a notable memorial service for
without distinction of nationality and with- Madame Khan and her body was laid to
out regard to the political situation, and let rest in the Breed family plot at Lynn. An
events take their course. Naturally, events American Catholic friend had a mass said
were powerfully helped by the 'savoir-faire' for her, and in Tihrtin the Muhammadan
and the courtesy of the Persian representa- editor of the newspaper ZrLn devoted sev-
tive and of his wife . . . Of course-we were eral columns to her story. The Guardian of
all . . . anxious to see how it would turn the Faith cabled: "Profoundly grieve pass-
out . . . Khanoum wore her beautifully ing beloved, distinguished, staunch, great-
embroidered Persian court gown and her hearted handmaid beloved Master. Praying
diamond decorations and greeted us with fervently progress soul Kingdom. Her re-
the ineffable charm which has won for her ward assured. Loving sympathy. (signed)
the hearts of all who have met her in three SHOGHI.''
continents." His account closes: "They had -MARZIEH GAIL
dared to bring together all the representa- 1 Pages 172-175,179.
IN MEMORIAM 705

DESCRIPTION OF THE MARTYRDOM OF LOUISE STAPFER BOSCH
BABRAM R A W ~ A NIN
~ TAFT
By MYRLE SOMERHALDER
AND IRVIN

In March, 1951, in Yazd, a young man
was discovered dead in a desolate part of A little girl was born to the Maurice
the town. A few enemies of BahB'i Faith Stapfers in Ziirich, Switzerland, on July 11,
spread false rumors about, to the effect that named her Louise. She grew to
be a fair, curly-haired, blue-eyed child and
later as a woman she was beloved by all
who knew her. No trumpets heralded her
birth and none echoed heideath on Septem-
ber 6, 1952, at Geyserville, California, but
her gentle manner, humility, her service to
others and her devotion to her Master's ev-
ery wish is inscribed on many, many hearts
and is recognized in the Realms of Glory.
Little is known of her childhood days, as
she always thought "Louise" was a minor
subject. In later years she seemed happiest
when talking with others about the "One-
ness of God, the oneness of the Prophets,
and the oneness of mankind." Can you not
visualize her as a studious, loving and yet
merry little lass? In April, 1889, courageous
Louise landed in New York and soon be-
gan the study of homeopathic medicine.
In 1901 she met Miss Fanny S. Montague
of Dobbs Ferry, New York, who introduced
her to the BahB'i Faith. She also studied
fervently at Green Acre under the guidance
of Miss Sarah J. Farmer.
Soon she became engaged to Dr. Wm.
Moore, brother of Lua Getsinger and to-
gether thev made plans to live a life of serv-
Bahram Rawhini of Taft. yce and a&inisterfing homeopathic remedies
in the Southern States. To her great sorrow
he contracted yellow fever and passed on
before she could join him there.
the boy had been murdered by Bahi'is. Subsequently she met the beloved May
They placed his body in a coffin and car- Maxwell and accompanied her to Haifa in
ried it around the town lamenting the death 1909 where she came into the presence of
of the youth and speaking vehemently of 'Abdu'l-Bahb; this to her was the greatest of
the cruel deed of the BahB'is. While this honors. Her great love for May Maxwell is
incident was taking place, two men who a story in itself. In her notes may be found
were members of the Faith, were severely a significant quotation: "I cannot speak of
beaten in a neighborhood shop because of the great benefits to my life and the trans-
their religious affiliation with the BahL'i formation I experienced through the asso-
group. ciation of May Maxwell."
At the same time another group of ene- While strolling in the gardens one day,
mies of the Faith went about the town of Louise expressed to 'Abdu'l-Bahb her great
Taft destroying the gardens and damaging desire to rise to the heights of spiritual
the homes of BahB'is. One BahB'i with a knowledge. She asked fervently: " 'Abdu'l-
Parsi background, named Barham Seroosh Bahi, what can I do to attain this?'He
Rawhiini, complained to the police about gazed at her fondly and replied "Give me
these persecutions. On the way back to his thy heart." She dedicated her life to fulfill-
home that night he was attacked with knives ing this inspiring request.
and martyred by enemies of the Faith. Upon her return to America she obtained
706 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

employment in the medical department of them by Shoghi Effendi, to the National
the Briarcliff Manor School in New York. Convention in 1922.
She was also privileged to care for Rilhiy- During the years Louise came to realize
yih KhBnum when she was a child. A mo- the great need for teachers and that a school
mentous event occurred when Dr. Getsinger on the Bosch property would be of the
persuaded Louise to write to John Bosch, greatest of service. John had already written
a fellow countryman in California. to 'Abdu'l-Bahb: ". . . May this simple
On January 19, 1914, Louise Stapfer and place on the hill be dedicated to the univer-
John David Bosch were wedded in San sal spirit of the Teachings of BahB'u'llBh.
Francisco. To this union there was "born" May it be a Ma&riqu'l-Adhkkr, although
one glorious "child"-the Geyserville Ba- it be not of grandeur in appearance but only
hL'i Summer School. They nurtured it with a place of utmost simplicity for traveling
fervent prayers, steadfast-devotion and un- souls to rest in and to partake of the spirit
ceasing service until their physical beings as it is given. I pray that the atmosphere
were no more on this plane. here may henceforth be filled with true
John and Louise had a happy life to- spirituality and power, and that we may be
gether. Many are the anecdotes each, with a guided by the strong hand of the Almighty
little twinkle in the eyes, could relate of the so that this place may be a natural source
other. John never could lavish worldly of pure water for the believers to drink from
riches on his Louise, for she always man- and for all good hearts who are earnestly
aged to encounter some one more needy to seeking for enlightenment."
whom to pass on her possessions. As his Plans materialized and in August, 1927,
bride, John gave her five hundred dollars under the Big Tree the first Western BahL'i
to spend as she wished. She made haste to Snmmer School was held. John was a
send it to the Temple fund. staunch supporter of the driving forces in
In the little village of Geyserville, Louise Louise and gave generously of his wealth ,,
and her little basket of various small gifts for propagating the Cause of God; without
and remedies will remain a memory to the her determination the Summer School could
townsmen. Just as 'Abdu'l-BahB's gift of a not have been realized, She sacrificed her
rose would be transformed into a priceless whole being for it. In 1933 Shoghi Effendi
gem-so it was with Louise as she left a wrote her, ". . . the work you have initi-
smile here, a word of encouragement there, ated in collaboration with Mr. Bosch is a
perhaps a needed homeopathic remedy or a historic achievement, an example to the Ba-
bit of spiritual knowledge. To compensate hB'i communities in other lands, a source of
for having no child of her own, for she future blessings and an added evidence of
loved children, she gave her all to the Cause the mighty and glorious spirit that animates
of Bahh'u'llkh and especially to the Geyser- you both in the service of our beloved
ville School. Cause. Strive, that every passing year may
Louise fully realized that the New World witness a fresh advance in the extension of
Order must penetrate even the most remote its scope, the spread of its influence and the
regions of the world. Having studied dili- consolidation of its foundation."
gently 'Abdu'l-BahB's Divine Plan she and She wrote countless letters and found joy
John set sail for Tahiti in the spring of in providing personally for the comfort of
1920. Remaining there for five months, they each student. The place was scrubbed to
planted the seed. As 'Abdu'l-Bahb wrote, spotlessness as dust and Louise could never
"Thou art sowing a seed that shall in due dwell in the same room. She was truly a
time give rise to thousands of harvests." perfectionist. She always remembered her
Upon their return from the South Seas "charges" and corresponded endlessly to
they- began to plan for a pilgrimage to guide them further in the Teachings. Her
Haifa. On the way they toured Germany, torch kindled the flame of friends and teach-
France, Switzerland and Italy, where they ers from East, West, North and South.
did extensive teaching, and arrived in Haifa Many believers brought their contacts to
just fourteen days before 'Abdu'l-Bahb blessed Louise, and through her great
passed away on November 28, 1921. How- warmth, love and understanding, their con-
ever, they remained for forty days and had firmation would be achieved.
the great honor of bringing the first copy of In 1913 'Abdu'l-Bahb wrote a Tablet to
'Abdu'l-BahPs Will and Testament, given her, "Oh thou daughter of the Kingdom:
IN MEMORIAM 707

stood and had the rare quality of being able
to express her love to all Bahb'is. She also
loved the Guardian and had a devoted
comprehension of his station; she constantly
emphasized it to the friends. During her
later days, when her physical and mental
faculties ebbed away, the qualities of her
soul proved themselves, for she was more
than ever the sweetest and most lovable
Louise.
On a bright sunny afternoon soon after
she was taken from them, her friends gath-
ered for a memorial service in the Collins
Hall on the Geyserville School grounds.
Mamie Seto and Arthur Dahl paid her
homage, thus closing a chapter in Bah6'i
history concerning two great souls, Louise
and John. She was laid to rest atop a hill,
alongside John, overlooking the valley they
both loved so well. The chapter is closed
but the book will go on and on-their child,
the Geyserville School, will continue to train
teachers and send forth pioneers to all na-
tions, peoples and creeds until there is but
One World, and the brotherhood of man is
Louise Stapfer Bosch. established, as a result of the devotion and
sacrifice of all the great souls like John and
Louise Bosch.
"The Maid Servant of God, Louise,"
Thou art one of the old believers and be- wrote 'Abdu'l-Bah6 in 1904, "0 thou who
longest to the firm and steadfast maid- art advancing towards God! Verily the
servants of the Kingdom. Therefore in the Cause is great and the Lord is Merciful and
estimation of 'Abdu'l-Bahi thou art fa- Clement. Trust in the Grace of Thy Lord,
vored. Thank God that thou art firm in the
and be firm in love for Him who has cre-
Covenant and hast turned thy face toward
the Kingdom of Abh6. I hope from the ated thee and made thee. The veils shall be
bestowals of Bahb'u'llih that He may so removed, the shining lamp shall beam, the
enkindle thee as to move that region, that clouds shall be dispelled, the lights of the
thou mayest unloose thy tongue in guiding Sun of love shall appear on the horizons and
the people and attract the souls to His Holi- God shall grant thywishes and give thee the
ness Bahb'u'llih." power of deeds.
To tell more of the life of Louise Bosch "It is incumbent upon thee to depend
would be to repeat the account of the life of wholly upon the Center of Lights, and call
John Bosch so ably presented in The Bn- out for love, universal peace and harmony
hci'i World, Volume XI. They were the rar- amongst the people in the East of the earth
est of teams-one supported the other, the and its West, so that the foundation of ran-
lacks of one supplemented by the other. cor may be destr-oyed and the edifice of love
This magnificent marriage was indeed and faithfulness be set up, and that the
"made in Heaven." Without John's wise
heavenly powers may govern the mortal sen-
counseling the perseverance of Louise would
have been as a ship without a captain. timents and the merciful feelings may be-
Before the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bah6 to Amer- come manifest in the human realities: This
ica, He issued a Tablet in which he declared is becoming of those maid-servants of God,
that the BahVis must pave the way for His who are attracted to that Beauty which is
coming by showing great love and unity to shining from the Horizon of the Kingdom
one another. He said, "Love is the greatest of God upon the world.
of all living Powers." Louise fully under- "Upon thee be greeting and praise."
THE BAHA'I WORLD

FLORENCE MORTON

On learning of the passing of Mrs. Flor-
ence Morton, Worcester, Mass., former
member of the National Spiritual Assem-
bly and for some years its Treasurer, the
Assembly cabled the Guardian to inform
him. Shoghi Effendi cabled this reply, re-
ceived April 8, 1953 :
"Grieve passing faithful promoter (of)
Faith. Praying (for the) progress (of her)
soul."

The sunlight slanted down on His white
garment as He walked majestically down
the streets of Boston. Crowds going in both
directions stared; walked on, each with his
own thoughts. Almost a block away, she
saw Him and was stirred. He was gone
before she could catch up. But Mrs. Flor-
ence Morton, shopping in Boston that day,
never forgot the venerable figure seen at a
distance. She was later to seek and find
'Abdu'l-Bahi, and to walk in His straight
path, serving all the days of her life.
- During world War I, a few years after Florence Morton.
the Boston incident, on vacation with her
family in Nova Scotia, she watched a hospi-
tal ship dock in the early morning hours at
Halifax. Authorities had planned it that way
-early, so that the public might not see 1953, she served unswervingly, pouring out
the maimed and wounded being carried her material means abundantly and giving
from the ship. But Florence Morton, on her of herself, despite opposition of family and
early walk in the gray dawn mist, saw at friends.
first hand the results of war. The blind, the She was born in Worcester, October 12,
legless, the armless, the shell-shocked boys 1875, the daughter of Frederick E. and
were carried from the ship. It was at that Sarah (Wood) Reed. She attended a finish-
moment that she resolved to dedicate her ing school in Binghamton, New York, and
life and her fortune to promoting world spent two years abroad. Except for a brief
peace. Thus the Divine Hand beckoned to period in her childhood when the family
a waiting, gentle soul. Seeking, she found moved to Thompson, Connecticut, she lived
Him; found that she had missed meeting her life in Worcester. She married Fred S.
'Abdu'l-Bahi in person by the length of a Morton there, and they had one son, Stan-
city block. ley R. Morton.
One night in the world of dreams His Soon after hearing of the BahL'i Faith she
blessed face appeared to her in a blinding and Mrs. Amelia Collins, then living in
light. "The results of that dream must have Princeton, Massachusetts, where the Mor-
been imprinted on my wondering face," she ton family had a summer home, studied
related many years later, "for in the morn- deeply together. Both later became members
ing my husband looked at me and said, of' the National Spiritual Assembly, and
'What has happened to you?' " Mrs. Morton served as its Treasurer for a
From that time (about 1919) nothing number of years.
could stop her search, nor dim the radiance In 1924 she was serving as a member
of her Faith. She studied intensively with of the National Spiritual Assembly and
Mr. and Mrs. I-Ioward Struven, then resid- through her efforts the sixteenth Annual
ing in Worcester. Until she died April 3, Convention was held in Worcester. News-
IN MEMORIAM 709

papers of April 27 in Worcester gave ban- mette are also unknown by the friends.
ner headlines to the "Bahi'i Congress and Once, reading a joyous cable of apprecia-
Convention of the Bahi'i Temple Unity," tion from Shoghi Effendi published in Ba-
at the Bancroft hotel. Photographs of 'Abd- hn"i News, I mentioned it to Florence. She
u'l-Bahh appeared and pictures of the Tem- had not yet seen that issue and was quite
ple model were used. Worcester friends re- upset that her generosity had become
member how they all prepared food for known, for hers was a true humility.
hundreds of people and much of the ex- She had a passion for flowers and one
pense of the Convention was assumed by often found her on her knees weeding her
Florence Morton, though none of her own gardens at her Worcester house or at her
community was ever aware of the extent country estate in Paxton, Massachusetts.
of her services. Once, finding her gently spraying some
Worcester Bahi'is also remember that she seedlings with a small ear syringe, she said:
was instrumental in getting Dr. John Her- "You must never use the hose for it has too
man Randall of the Community Church in much force for such tender little plants."
New York City to come to Worcester for a When Roy WiIhelm developed his famous
series of paid lectures preceding the Con- estate on Spreckle Mountain at North
vention, in order to prepare the Christian Lovell, Maine, it was Florence who planted
minds for the Bahi'i message. She later bore the first gardens and watched over them,
the expense of a magazine, World Unity, hurrying from Worcester to Maine many
to indirectly interest people in the Faith; times early each spring.
and underwrote the expense of Dr. Randall At Paxton, in the spring and summer,
on a tour of the United States in which he Florence welcomed Bahj'i friends on any
appeared on platforms with the leading and all occasions. Many new people re-
Christian and Jewish ministers and rabbis. ceived the Message or deepened in the Cre-
In connection with her interest in World ative Word to the accompaniment of wa-
Unity Magazine and World Unity meetings, ter splashing down over the old mill wheel.
Mrs. Morton made it possible to bring out She had rebuilt the old grist mill, furnished
the compilation of 'Abdu'l-Bahi's public it in New England antiques in one huge
talks entitled Foundations of World Unity, room, used almost excluiively for her B-;
later taken over by the Bahi'i Publishing hi'i friends. Other spots of beauty high in
Committee. the Paxton hills were used for picnics and
She was instrumental in keeping the for study.
Worcester Bahl'i Center open for more When a young girl, a cook in her home,
than thirty years, during which time the
received the ~ e ~ s anda ~almost
e at once be-
Bahi'i Community grew and flourished and
came a luminous and firm believer, Flor-
sent forth pioneering individuals. She finan-
cially assisted many pioneers to go forth ence was overjoyed.
into States where no Bahi'is resided, as soon "I have always prayed that I might find
as the First Seven-Year Plan was an- some one who would be immediately recep-
nounced. tive," she said. How happily she and Mrs.
Mrs. Morton built Bahi'i Hall, at Green Collins prayed and studied with Elsie in the
Acre Bahl'i School, and gave it to the kitchen, long after the rest of the household
Faith. She had assisted, previous to this new was quiet at night!
building, in remodeling the Inn and other Another joint effort with Mrs. Collins was
Green Acre properties. No one can even compiling the prayers and Writings called
guess how many of the friends were re- B a h a Writings the proceeds of which
cipients of her bounty in attending sessions were turned into the Temple Fund. Hun-
at Green Acre; nor how many she sent off dreds of copies were @ento their friends.
to annual Conventions. Her one request was Future generations of believers may look
always that "no one must know this." upon the grave of Florence Morton in Hope
She served for many years on the New Cemetery in Worcester. But none save Him
England Regional committees; the Green will know of all. her good deeds; so self-
Acre School committees and the National effacing, so truly full of humility was she
Radio Committee. in her earthly life.
Her gfts to the House of Worship in Wil- -ALICE BACON
710 T H E B A H A 'I W O R L D

RahmAn Kulayni was born in the county
of Mamaqkn where he acquired his elemen-
tary education. He started as a tailor in the
same county and as he was very sociable
and kind soon his workshop became a cen-
ter for the gathering of the educated Bahi'i
and non-Bahi'i youth. Although he was not
more than 25, his vigilance and alertness
brought him into contact with the elder
men who welcomed him for his traits. He
often acted as an arbitrator in many dis-
putes brought to him by Bahi'is and non-
Bahi'is and always lent a hand in benevo-
lent affairs and religious ceremonies on the
mourning days of Muharram. In 1935 a Ba-
hi'i youth who had great appreciation for
the traits and virtues of Rahmkn Kulayni
took him to a Bahi'i meeting. Then he be-
came interested in associating more with the
Bahi'is. His ever-increasing interest in the
Faith was mostly due to the good conduct
of the BahB'is around him and not to the
authentic proofs or traditions of the Faith.
In 1937 the late AqA Zaynu'l-'Abidin
Abadi, one of the early believers and a
steadfast friend and the conquerer of two RahmAn Kulayni Mamaqkni.
counties in the district of Marighih to
whom 'Abdu'l-BahA has addressedseveral never leave his widowed mother-in-law
Tablets, taught the Word of God to Rahmkn alone, as she was his only hope when he
Kulayni, after which he became a Bah2i in was in great despair. His faithfulness and
1938. sympathy were deeply felt by his relatives
His success in the Faith caused a depres- who had withdrawn from all association
sion in his business and gradually his rela- with him.
tives and acquaintances kept aloof and left Finally, he found himself unable to do
him alone. This treatment by his relatives the housekeeping when his mother-in-law
increased Kulayni's courage. Being indiffer- became feeble. Then upon the constant in-
ent to the rebukes and denunciations of all sistence of the Bahi'is and his mother-in-
the ignorant people around him, he aban- law he married the daughter of Kazim PGli,
doned all that he had in his possession for one of the Bahi'is of Mamaqhn, who
the benefit of his brother. He married Aqk brought him a son and a daughter.
Zaynu'l-'Abidin's daughter and went to live In 1951 he was assigned as the Technical
with his father-in-law. Kulayni had great Inspector of the railroad rolling stock in
ambitions and enrolled in the Railroad DurGd where he served the Cause as a faith-
Technical School when business became ful pioneer. In August, 1953, some fanatics
slack in 1941. in DurGd began a campaign to incite the
In 1942 his wife, Huma, passed away and people there against the Bahi'is, stopping
left him alone with their only son, Parviz. at nothing in their denunciations. All the
He decided to remain single out of sym- Bahi'is who could not stand the situation
pathy for his mother-in-law who had out- left DurGd for Andirnisl-lk and Burfijird.
lived her husband and daughter. When Kulayni returned from Andimis_hk upon the
friends tried to induce him to marry again instruction of the superintendent of the Di-
he would reply with a smile, "If I get mar- vision of Railroad to remain at his post, al-
ried my present-in-law will collaborate with though aware of the possible dire conse-
my wife and they both will break my back." quences.
Then seriously he would add that he would Soon after his return the rabble broke the
IN MEMORIAM 71 1

window panes of his house and the super- h&'u'lldh, was born in the city of Yazd in
intendent ordered a new house for him. On 1880, and during infancy accompanied his
September 26, 1953, when Kulayni was parents to 'AkkL. His father 'Ali Akbar was
moving into his new house Ustad G-hulan, ordered by BahB'u'llLh to reside at Alexan-
a ruffian incited by the bigots of the city, dria and engaged in trade. As a child, the
suddenly stabbed him in the stomach, heart, late 'Abdu'l Hussein received the blessings
and neck. Thus Kulayni became, at thirty- of BahL'u'lldh, and in 1892 he was 12 years
seven, a martyr in the Cause. old. He subsequently was a loyal and de-
Later his family stated that when Kulayni voted follower of 'Abdu'l-BahL and was un-
left Andimiak for Durhd he turned to his der the kind benevolence of the beloved
wife, with great ecstacy and exhilaration Guardian Shoghi Effendi.
and said, "Do not worry for me. I leave He was ever a devoted and sincere fol-
the children to you and hope God be with lower of the Bahh'i principles. He passed
you." He proved his faithfulness and loyalty away in peace on August 27, 1950, and was
to the Cause and government by shedding buried at Alexandria. The circumstances as-
his blood. sociated with his burial at the "Free Think-
ers" burial grounds raised with the authori-
ties the question of allotting a burial ground
for ~aha='is
at Alexandria and pshed-it for-
ward a step.
Two daughters survive him.
May his soul abide in eternal Peace.

CHARLES NELSON KENNEDY

"Grieve passing dear devoted co-worker
Kennedy. Long record services unforgetta-
ble. Praying progress soul."
-SHOGHI

Charles Nelson Kennedy, a devoted
member of the Bahb'i Community of Paris
and chairman of the Spiritual Assembly for
many years, was a native of England, born
at Leeds (Yorkshire) November 6, 1875.
At the age of 18, his parents having lost
their fortune, he left England for Central
Russia, going to Samarka.nd and later Sko-
belev, where he became mining engineer in
coal mines belonging to Monsieur and
Madame Orsero de Keapkoff.
In 1910 Monsieur and Madame Orsero
'Abdu'l Hussein Yazdi.
de Keapkoff left for Paris, where M. de
The last survivor in Egypt of those who
Keapkoff died in 1912.
had the privilege of receiving the
Mr. Kennedy, who had remained in Rus-
Blessing of BahB'u'lldh.
sia. left for France iust before the war of
1914 and met ~ a d a m ede Keapkoff, who
'ABDU'L HUSSEIN YAZDf was of French nationality, and in 1915 they
were married.
The late 'Abdu'l Hussein Effendi Yazdi, During a voyage they made to GrCville
son of AqL 'Ali-Akbar Yazdi and grandson (Manche) they met the artist Edwin Scott
of Hdji 'Abdu'l Rahim Yazdi, a veteran be- and his wife, both well known members of
liever at Yazd, who was allowed to come the BahB'i Community of Paris. It was
to 'AkkB and reside during the days of Ba- through them that Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy
712 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

was waiting for a bus when a woman
stopped her car and offered Grace a ride.
A conversation on religion developed. Later,
when somebody told Lou Eggleston of this
conversation, he went to the Obers to find
out more about their Faith. From such a
simple incident, a chain of events was
started that resulted in the establishment of
the Louhelen Bahi'i School at Davison,
Michigan. Lou's chief services to the Faith
revolved around the founding of the school.
Lou Eggleston was in the American tra-
dition of the self-made man. He had little
formal education and was trained as a
plumber. He worked hard and seemed to
possess great reserves of physical energy.
At one period of his life he commuted by
automobile one hundred and twenty miles
a day from Louhelen Ranch to Detroit, yet
always seemed to be relaxed and at ease.
He possessed an intuitive genius for solving
practical engineering problems, an ability
which seemed uncanny, but which he cred-
ited to prayer and meditation.
Charles N. Kennedy. For thirty years Lou was employed by the
American Radiator Company, finally be-
became Bahi'is, and they were soon very coming head of the Research and Develop-
active members. This was about 1926. Mrs. ment Laboratory of the Detroit Lubricator
Kennedy died during the war of 1939. Mr. Company, a division of American Radiator.
Kennedy escaped being deported as he was He was greatly respected by the personnel
already an ill man. On October 21, 1950, and company officials. An engineering asso-
after a very long and painful illness, he ciate reports a meeting of engineers, called
passed into the Abhb Kingdom, deeply re- to solve a particularly puzzling technical
gretted by all who loved and highly appre- problem. The discussion became involved,
ciated him as a man and a Bahi'i of out- and several men proposed rather compli-
standing qualities. cated solutions. Lou got up, walked to a
-EDITH R. SANDERSONblackboard, drew a simple sketch and said,
"Gentlemen, I think this is the solution."
There was a momentary silence, for the so-
lution was direct and logical.
Lou became a BahVi in 1930, after mov-
L. W. EGGLESTON ing from Rochester to Detroit. He served
DEC.8, 1872-SEPT. 5, 1953 on the Detroit Spiritual Assembly, was
many times a delegate to the National Con-
"Grieve passing valued promoter Faith. vention. He and his wife, Helen, conducted
His historic donation (of) School highly regular firesides in their apartment.
meritorious, reward bountiful (in) King- Shortly after accepting the Faith, he took
dom. Deepest sympathy, praying progress steps to carry out a dream of service that
(of his) soul." occupied most of his energies and resources
SHOGHI during the rest of his life. His idea was
to buy a farm that could be self-supporting
(Cablegram received September 8, 1953, and become the basis for establishing a Ba-
by Mrs. L. W. Eggleston.) h6'i school. He consulted a number of his
Baht% friends and, one summer, he and
In 1927-1928 Grace and Harlan Ober Helen drove to Green Acre to see how that
were living in Clarence, New York, a small Bah&'5school was run.
town near Rochester. One day Grace Ober Three miles south of Davison, Michigan,
IN MEMORIAM 713

on Route 15-a route number which has winter months praying for a good cook for
become familiar to hundreds of BahB'is- the summer, and adding blankets and
Lou bought a farm. The buildings were not dishes to the supplies.
in good condition but his practical eye saw By 1934 it became necessary to hold
possibilities that patience and hard work separate youth sessions, so many were at-
could develop. He called the farm "The tending, and they had asked for such an
Louhelen Ranch," a fitting name since in arrangement. A youth committee made and
the years that followed Lou and Helen enforced rules and helped work out their
worked in devoted partnership building the own programs. In 1937 the first full meeting
foundations of a BahC'i school. of the National Youth Committee was held
A small cabin stands near a stream in a at Louhelen. (This was at a time when the
ravine in the middle of the ranch acreage. National Youth Committee was made up
Here the first informal nine-day session of of members from both coasts and the cen-
the Louhelen School was held in the sum- tral area of the United States.)
mer of 1931. Discussion groups met either Lou and Helen Eggleston were always
in the cabin or on the banks of the ravine, asking how the school could be improved,
where rough bleacher seats were erected. how it could serve the Faith more effec-
The teachers at that first session were Doro- tively. Rates were kept as low as possible
thy Baker, Harlan and Grace Ober, Mabel and were even lower for youth. Lou will
and Howard Ives. The beginning was with- always be remembered by Bahii'i youth for
out fanfare, but it was so good a begin- his generosity. If they could not pay for
ning that the simple rustic setting was soon board and room, he would see to it they
too small and had to be abandoned. came anyway. (A direct result of this youth
The original farm buildings were close to work was the first BahB'i Assembly in Flint
the highway. In the second summer a vio- -nine miles from the school. All nine
lent windstorm blew down a large old barn members of that first Flint Assembly were
and Lou always said it was God's wind that under twenty-five years old.) This desire
took down that framework so he could to improve led to the holding of the Winter
build on the solid cement foundation. There
the auditorium was erected. "Pullman
Lodge," a smaller barn, had been turned
into-single private rooms on the first floor
and dormitory space on the second. But
that proved inadequate to house the number
of believers and friends the second year.
Lou met this challenge by turning the im-
mense hayloft of the second barn into two
floors of rooms and by building several one-
room cabins in the trees near the main
house.
Before the first session Lou and Helen
Eggleston had written to Shoghi Effendi for
advice, and his suggestions and approval
of courses were their guide each year. The
National Assembly appointed a Program
Committee, but the Egglestons carried the
financial burden of maintenance and devel-
opment until 1948 when they deeded over
the school buildings and nine acres of the
property to the National Spiritual Assembly.
Housing and feeding those attending the
sessions became a full-time job. By the time
morning devotions had started, Lou and
Helen would be driving to the wholesale
houses in Flint to buy food by the bushel
basket. While others studied. thev served
in this way. Lou often said they ipent the L. W. Eggleston.
714 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Sessions in the week between Christmas and Food Associates, and was a Merit Badge
New Year's Day. Lou felt it was a shame to counselor in soil management and agricul-
waste the buildings by using them only in ture for the Boy Scouts.
the summer months. By now the library Never did Lou Eggleston push himself
building had been built, with its huge fire- forward. He was dignified, self-effacing,
place that adequately warmed the second friendly and hospitable. An engineering
floor dormitory. Stoves were added to the friend and associate wrote: "I remember
Pullman Lodge, and extra rooms in the him from childhood as a rather stern but
house-long since improved and enlarged kindly disposed man-very quiet but with
-were pressed into winter service. an air of authority. I also remember him as
Lou will always be remembered as a gar- an engineer-and a very practical one.
dener. He was continually planting trees Probably my clearest recollections are the
and flowers around the school buildings. ones during his illness. Helen permitted me
The pleasant campus grounds are due to his to see him a few weeks before his death.
foresight. Freshly cut flowers were always He was in bed of course-very pale, thin,
on the tables and on the platform for the and quiet. We both smiled, then tears came
Sunday afternoon public lectures. And some to our eyes; he reached out his hands to
of us remember Lou standing outside the grip mine and said, 'I'll see you soon on the
door of the little auditorium, handing a other side.' (I believe this is nearly ver-
rose to each person coming out. batim.) I left the room shortly after with-
Over the years Lou worked tirelessly to out further words. This was the last time I
help the school make the Faith better known saw him."
throughout the State of Michigan. The li- An institution of the Faith like a BahL'i
brary established at the school was regis- School has a tremendously wide influence.
tered as a public library. And Lou rendered We cannot measure the services of a man
public services which helped enhance the who donates and helps build up such an in-
prestige of the Faith. He was active in the stitution. But we can point out at least one
organic farming movement, lecturing and fact-former membeps of the Louhelen
writing about it. He was a charter member School Program Committee are pioneering
and president of the Genesee County Or- in at least three continents.
ganic Farm and Garden Club, was a charter
member and served on the board of Natural
PART THREE
110 O F T H E B A H A ' I E R A

1. I N T E R N A T I O N A L BAHA'I COUNCIL
Address: P.O. Box 155, Haifa, Israel.

2. BAHA'I NATIONAL SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLIES
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Australia and New Zealand,
2 Lang Road, Paddington, Sydney, N.S.W., AUSTRALIA.
Cable : NATBAHA'I,Sydney.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of the British Isles,
27 Rutland Gate, London, S.W. 7, ENGLAND.
Cable : BAHA'I,London.

National Spiritual Assembly of the BahPis of Canada,
47 Eastville Avenue, Toronto 13, Ontario, CANADA.
Cable: BAHA'I,Toronto.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Central America & Antilles,
Apartado 3751, San Jos6, Costa Rica, CENTRAL AMERICA.

National Spiritual Assembly of the BahPis of Egypt and SbdLn,
P.O. Box 29, Faggala, Cairo, EGYPT.
Cable: BAHABUREAU, Cairo.

National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Germany and Austria,
Friedrich Ebertstrasse 39, Neckargemiind, bei Heidelberg, GERMANY.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of India, Pikistln and Burma,
P.O. Box 19, New Delhi, INDIA.
Cable: RABBANIAN, Newdelhi.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of 'IrAq,
P.O. Box 5, Baghdld, 'IRAQ.
Cable: BA~A'CBaghdld.
-

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Italy and Switzerland,
BahL'i Bureau, Riimistrasse 38, Ziirich 1, SWITZERLAND.

National Spiritual Assembly of the BahPis of Persia,
Shirkat Nawnahalan, Tihrln, IRAN.
Cable: NAWNAHALAN, Rawhani, Tihrin.
718 THE BAHA'I WORLD

National Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of South America,
Apartado 772, Lima, Peru, SOUTHAMERICA.
Cable: BAHA'I,Lima.

National Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of the United States of America,
536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.
Cable: BAHA'I,Wilmette.

International BahB'i Bureau,
37 Quai Wilson, Geneva, SWITZERLAND.
Cable: BAHA'I,Geneva.

Second Regional Conference of the Bah6'is of France, held in Lyon, April 18-19, 1954.

First Benelux BahB'i Conference, held in Brussels, Belgium, April 12-14, 1952.
3. COUNTRIES OPENED T O THE
BAHA'I FAITH
1. Abyssinia 51. Colombia
2. Aden Protectorate 52. Cook Is.
3. Ad_hirbhyjAn 53. Corsica
4. Afghhnistan 54. Costa Rica
5. ~ h s a 55. Crete
6. Alaska 56. Cuba
7. Aleutian Islands 57. Cyprus
8. Algeria 58. Czechoslovakia
9. Andaman Is. 59. Darnan
10. Andorra 60. Denmark
11. Angola 61. Diu I.
12. Argentina 62. Dominican Republic
13. Armenia 63. Dutch Guiana
14. Ashanti Protectorate 64. Dutch New Guinea
15. Australia 65. Dutch West Indies
16. Australian New Guinea 66. Ecuador
17. Austria 67. Egypt
18. Azores 68. Eire
19. Bahama Is. 69. El Salvador
20. Bahrayn Is. 70. Eritrea
21. Balearic Is. 7 1. Falkland Is.
22. Balilhisthn 72. Faroe Is.
23. Baranof I. 73. Fiji Is.
24. Basutoland 74. Finland
25. Bechuanaland 75. Formosa
26. Belgian Congo 76. France
27. Belgium 77. Franklin
28. Bermuda 78. French Cameroons
29. Bismarck Archipelago 79. French Equatorial Africa
30. Bolivia 80. French Guiana
31. Borneo 81. French Morocco
32. Brazil 82. French Somaliland
33. British Cameroons 83. French Togoland
34. British Guiana 84. French West Africa
35. British Honduras 85. Frisian Is.
36. British Somaliland 86. Galapagos Is.
37. British Togoland 87. Gambia
38. Brunei 88. Georgia
39. Bulgaria 89. Germany
40. Burma 90. Gilbert and Ellice Is.
41. Canada 91. Goa
42. Canary Is. 92. Gold Coast
43. Cape Breton I. 93. Grand Manan I.
44. Cape Verde Is. 94. Great Britain
45. Caroline Is. 95. Greece
46. Ceylon 96. Greenland
47. Channel Is. 97. Guatemala
48. Chile 98. Hadhramaut
49. Chi106 I. 99. Haiti
50. China 100. Hawaiian Is.
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954

215. Turkev 222. Windward Is.
21 6. Turkienistan 223. Yemen
217. Uganda 224. Yugoslavia
218. 'UmmAn
219. United States of America 225. Yukon
220. Uruguay 226. Zanzibar
22 1. Venezuela 227. Zululand

4 . LOCAL BAHA'I S P I R I T U A L ASSEM-
BLIES, GROUPS, A N D LOCALITIES
WHERE ISOLATED BAHA'IS
RESIDE I N THE U N I T E D
STATES O F AMERICA
1953-1954
LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES
ALABAMA 12. Berkeley: Mr. Jerome Sandusky,
1 . Birmingham: Mrs. Verna A. Inglis, Secy., 241 1 Grant St.
Secy., 13 18 1 lth Ave. South 13. Beverly Hills : Mrs. Lili Olitzki-Her-
mann, Secy., P.O. Box 794.
ALASKA 14. Burbank: ~ r s .Lou Vena Wells,
2. Anchorage: Miss Betty Becker, Secy., 250 N. Orchard St.
Secy., Box 45 15. Chula Vista: Mrs. Zelma J. Krug,
3. Anchorage Recording District: Mrs. Secy., 166 3rd St., Apt. 1
Jackie G. Houde, Secy., P.O. Box 16. Cloverdale Twp.: Mrs. Johanna
1295, Spenard Vanoni, Secy., Box 243 C, Route
1, Geyserville
ARIZONA 17. El Monte Jud. Dist.: Mrs. Henri N.
Heller, Secy., 10037 East Olive
4. North Phoenix: Mrs. Loraine John- St., Temple City
son, Secy., 1001 West Solano Dr., 18. Fresno: Mrs. Delia Brandin, Secy.,
Phoenix 535 Yosemite Ave., Fresno 4
5. Phoenix: Mrs. Mabel W. Dunharn, 19. Glendale: Mrs. Garnette Whitefield,
Secy., 1106 East Oak St. Secy., 1017 Boynton St., Glen-
6. Township 14, Tucson: Mrs. Martha dale 5
E. Shuman, Secy., 5347 East 20th 20. Inglewood: Mrs. Delores Vaden,
St., Tucson Secy., 333 N.W. Magnolia Ave.
7. Tucson: Mrs. Isabel S. Dodge, 21. Inglewood Jud. Dist.: Mrs. Alethe
Secy., 1219 Alta Vista St. H. Hogberg, 5540 Marburn Ave.,
8. Yuma: Mrs. Dorothy Sherman, Los Angeles 43
Secy., #1 Padre Garces Homes 22. Long Beach: Mrs. Mattie Russell
Allen, Secy., 2805 East 7th St.,
ARKANSAS Long Beach 4
9. Little Rock: Mrs. Mary E. Conat- 23. Los Angeles: Mrs. Gertrude M.
ser, Secy., 3101 Madison St. Jacoby, Secy., 5725 Katherine
Ave., Van Nuys
CALIFORNIA 24. Millbrae: Mrs. Viviana Lisota,
10. Alhambra: Mrs. Mayme Glass, Secy., 81 Camino Alto
Secy., 505 North Electric Ave. 25. Monrovia: Mrs. Bessie C. Duckett,
11. Alhambra Judicial Dist.: Mrs. Dor- Secy., 149 Norumbega Drive
othy Hayes, Secy., 6845 N. Tem- 26. National City: Mrs. Vale R. Carl-
ple City Blvd., Arcadia son, Secy., 516 "C" Ave.
722 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Teaching Conference of the BahL'is of the British Isles,
held in Sheffield, England, January, 1953.

27. Oakland: Mr. Paul S. Jones, Secy., 41. West Hollywood: Mr. Robert H.
86 Glen Ave., Oakland 11 King, Secy., 1282% North Sweet-
28. Palo Alto: Mrs. Joyce Dahl, Secy., zer Ave., Hollywood 46
P.O. Box 238 42. Whittier Jud. Dist.: Mrs. Grace E.
29. Pasadena: Mrs. Katrina Valentine, Jensen, Secy., 10457 South Gunn
Secy., 943 North El Molino Ave. Rd., Whittier
30. Pasadena Jud. Dist.: Mrs. Beatrice
Buckley, Secy., 755 East Poppy- COLORADO
fields Dr., Altadena 43. Colorado Springs: Mrs. Gladys
3 1. Sacramento: Mrs. Mozelle Bourget, Roberts, Secy., 915 North Han-
Secy., 3996 McKinley Blvd. cock Ave.
32. San Bernardino: Mrs. Ailene V. 44. Denver: Mrs. Barbara Jackson,
Fletcher, Secy., 772 Campus Way Secy., 1295 Glencoe St.
33. San Diego: Mr. John Stroessler, 45. Jefferson County: Mrs. Elizabeth
Secy., 4202 58th St. Clark, Secy., Wah-Keeney Park,
Route 1, Evergreen
34. San Francisco: Mrs. Florence C.
Haake, Secy., 461 14th St., San CONNECTICUT
Francisco 18 46. Greenwich: Mrs. Muriel Michels,
35. San Mateo: Mr. Lee Lopez, Secy., Secy., 8 Richmond Dr., Old
1318 Mt. Diablo Ave. Greenwich
36. Santa Barbara: Mr. Edward P. C. 47. New Haven: Miss Clara Monson,
Connaughton, Secy., 1636 Ana- Secy., 831 Elm St.
capa St.
37. Santa Monica: Mrs. Josephine DELAWARE
Gardiner, Secy., 1054 A Third St. 48. Wilmington: Mrs. Mabel Johnson,
38. Sausalito Twp.: Mrs. Lois Stockton, Secy., 1114 West Street, Wilming-
Secy., Box 179 A, Route 1, Mill ton 1
Valley
39. South Bay Jud. Dist.: Mrs. Ardis C. DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
Bergeron, Secy., 4229 W. 167th 49. Washington: Miss Bernice Ber-
St., Lawndale n a r d ~ ,Secy., % Bahfi'i Center,
40. South Gate: Miss Mary Ellen Reese, 1611 Connecticut Ave. N.W.,
Secy., 2575 Indiana Ave. Washington 9
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954 723

Delegates in session at the Fifth Bahi'i Congress,
San Salvador, Central America, April 25-28, 1950.

FLORIDA 6 1. Danville: Mrs. Shirley Cantrell,
50. Miami: Miss Ida Solomon, Secy., Secy., 720 East Madison
137 N.W. 1lth Ave. 62. Elmhurst: Miss Phyllis M. Rachau,
51. Orange County: Mr. Fred F. Min- Secy., 458 Fairview Ave.
nich, Secy., 1100 Santa Anita 63. Evanston: Mr. L. Wyatt Cooper,
Rd., Orlando Secv., 1580 Dewev Ave.
64. ~ a ~ w i b Mr.
d : ~ e o r W.
~ e Amer-
GEORGIA
son, Secy., 901 South 7th Ave.
52. Atlanta: Miss Doris Ebbert, Secy., 65. Oak Park: Mrs. Ruth LaRocque,
2835 Cascade Rd. Secy., 708 Gunderson Ave.
HAWAII 66. Peoria: Mrs. Emilie Zeigler, Secy.,
53. Honolulu: Miss Henriette From, 1012 North Glen Oak Ave.
Secy., 2336 Beckwith St. 67. Quincy: Mrs. Eunice Hanawalt,
54. Maui: Mrs. Mabel J. Van Valken- Secy., 524 Spring St.
burg, Secy., Kihei, Maui 68. Springfield: Mrs. Gretchen Schultz,
Secy., 2168 South Renfro
IDAHO 69. ~ r b a n a :Mrs. Mabel Paine, Secy.,
55. Ada County: Mrs. Mildred R. Cos- 606 West Pennsylvania Ave.
sey, Secy., P.O. Box 994, Boise 70. Waukegan: Mrs. Harriet Terry,
56. Boise: Miss Elizabeth Adelmann, Secy., 1522 Melrose St.
Secy., P.O. Box 585 7 1. Wilmette: Mrs. Eleanor Stewart,
Secy., 121 Linden Ave.
ILLINOIS 72. Winnetka: Mrs. Dorothy F. Red-
57. Addison Twp.: Mrs. Mildred Smith, son, Secy., 68 1 Garland Ave.
Secy., Milton & West, Elrnhurst
58. Batavia: Mrs. Charlesella Stoakley,
Secy., 449 Madison St. 73. Fort Wayne: Mrs. Elma Wilson,
59. Champaign: Mr. Edgar G. Harris, Secy., 2722 N. Anthony Blvd.
Secy., 202 Ells Ave. 74. Indianapolis: Miss Leah A. Spence,
60. Chicago: Mr, Larry Kramer, Secy., Secy., 1215 Continental Hotel
4865 South Park Ave., Chicago 75, South Bend: Mrs. Jane Rowe, Secy.,
15 1220 Corby Blvd.
724 THE BAHA'I WORLD

IOWA 95. Grand Rapids: Mrs. Viola T.
76. Cedar Rapids: Miss Edna Mackin- Thomson, Secy., 414 Clancy
son, Secy., 94 2nd Ave. S.W. Ave., N.E.
77. Waterloo: Mr. Aaron L. Roff, Secy., 96. Muskegon: Mrs. Emma M. Allen.,
917 Hartman St. Secy., 1433 Nolen St.
97. Royal Oak: Mrs. Shirley A. Bald-
KANSAS win, Secy., 907 East Third St.
78. Topeka: Mrs. Bertha Campbell, 98. Royal Oak Twp.: Miss DeMaris Lo-
Secy., 403 Huntoon vetta Morris, Secy., 21341 Park-
side, Ferndale 20
KENTUCKY
79. Louisville: Mrs. Meta L. Dahl, MINNESOTA
Secy., 3716 Illinois Ave. 99. Duluth: Mr. Robert Cameron,
Secy., 2915 Kruger Road
LOUISIANA 100. Minneapolis: Miss Sina 0 . Olsen,
80. New Orleans: Mrs. Margaret 0 . Secy., 123 South 11th St., Apt. H
Maurer, Secy., 1623 General 101. St. Paul: Mrs. Gladys Livermore,
Taylor, New Orleans 15 Secy., 632 Earl St.
MAINE MISSISSIPPI
81. Eliot: Mrs. Emily T. Pearsall, Secy., 102. Jackson: Mrs. Stevie Flinn, Secy.,
Beech Road 724 Wingfield
82. Portland: Mrs. Thelma Rivers,
Secy., 278 Woodfords St. MISSOURI
103. Independence: Mr. Claude K.
MARYLAND Winans, Secy., 1015 West Maple
83. Baltimore: Miss Alma S. Heise, 104. St. Louis: Mrs. Mildred Birkett,
Secy., 3120 St. Paul St., Apt. 116 Secy., 1215 San Jacinto Ct., St.
G, Baltimore 18 Louis 10
84. Prince George's County: Mrs. A.
Esther Sibole, Secy., 4903 Alton MONTANA
St., S.E., Boulevard Hts. 105. Butte: Mr. George D. Miller, Secy.,
604 West Park
MASSACHUSETTS 106. Great Falls: Mrs. Vera W. Foutch,
85. Beverly: Mr. Richard S. Gladding, Secy., 2004 5th Ave. South
Secy., 90 McKay St. 107. Helena: Mrs. Gladys E. Endress,
86. Boston: Mrs. Marion Repper, Secy., Secy., 440 West Main St.
175 Dartmouth St.
87. Cambridge: Mrs. Louise K. Say- NEBRASKA
ward, Secy., 50 Follen St. 108. Omaha: Mrs. Wendell R. Lane,
88. Springfield: Mrs. Elsa R. Bates, Secy., 1112 North 17th St.
Secy., 99 Princeton St., Spring-
field 9 NEVADA
89. Worcester: Mrs. Sally Pierce, Secy., 109. Reno: Mrs. Ethel McAllaster, Secy.,
8 Kimball St. 762 West 6th St.
MICHIGAN NEWHAMPSHIRE
90. Ann Arbor: Mrs. Bernice D. Ander- 110. Portsmouth: Mrs. Nella Gustafson,
son, Secy., 718 North 4th Ave. Secy., 77 Circuit Rd.
91. Battle Creek: Mrs. Melba D. Nun-
nally, Secy., 179 Oneita St. NEWJERSEY
92. Dearborn: Mrs. Mabel R. Vicary, I l l . Dumont: Mrs. Emily Kalantar,
Secy., 3836 Campbell Ave. Secy., 3 14 Washington Ave.
93. Detroit: Mrs. Mabel P. Long, Secy., 112. East Orange: Mrs. Amie B. Wright,
8039 Beaverland Ave., Detroit 39 Secy., 105 Leslie St.
94. Flint: Mrs. Evelyn Bradt, Secy., 113. Englewood: Mr. Nathaniel J. Doug-
1541 Stone St. las, Secy., 42 East Forest Ave.
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954 725

First Regional Swiss-Italian Bahi'i Conference, held in Rome, March 20-23, 1952.

114. Jersey City: Mrs. June Shapiro, 126. New York City: Mr. Peter Gravina,
Secy., P.O. Box 495, Journal Sq. Secy., 423 East 71st St.
Sta., Jersey City 6 127. Rochester: Miss Elizabeth Brooks,
115. Montclair: Mrs. Catherine M. Secy., 49 Rowley St., Rochester 7
Healy, Secy., 45 North Fullerton 128. Seneca Twp.: Mrs. Marguerite Fi-
Ave. roozi, Secy., Canandaigua Rd.,
116. Newark: Mrs. Katrina K. Mathew- Geneva
son, Secy., 71 Milford Ave. 129. Syracuse: Mr. Albert D. Heist, Jr.,
117. Ridgewood: Mrs. Elizabeth Schmidt, Secy., 221 Bennington Dr.
Secy., 80 Oak St. 130. Waterloo : Mr. John E. Flood, Secy.,
118. Teaneck: Mrs. Amy G. Raubit- 3 Seneca St.
schek, Secy., 1113 Bromley Ave., 131. Yonkers : Mrs. Lillian Rogers, Secy.,
West Englewood 64 Locust Hill Ave.
NEW MEXICO NORTHDAKOTA
119. Albuquerque: Mrs. Mary L. Ewing,
132. Fargo: Mrs. Adeline Willson, Secy.,
Secy., 1830 Arizona N.E.
318 19th St. North
120. Bernalillo County: Mrs. Rosemarie
Smith, Secy., R.R. 1, Box 1760,
Albuquerque
133. Cincinnati: Mrs. Lorene Dustan,
NEW YORK Secy., 2533 Homestead Place,
121. Binghamton: Mrs. Betsy J. Richard, Cincinnati 11
Secy., 42 Lincoln Ave. 134. Cleveland: Mrs. Eleanor H. Reeves,
122. Buffalo: Mrs. Elizabeth M. Patter- Secy., 1539 East Boulevard, Apt.
son, Secy., 333 Ontario St. 7
123. Hamburg Twp.: Miss Kathryn M. 135. Columbus: Mrs. Margarete Acebo,
Potter, Secy., 294 Clark St., Secy., 777 Franklin Ave., Colum-
RFD 1 bus 5
124. Jamestown: Mrs. Ida L. Pickett, 136. Dayton: Mrs. Marion Imig, Secy.,
Secy., 110% Cheney St. 1517 Princeton Dr., Dayton 6
125. Mount Vernon: Miss Mary Camp- 137. Lima: Mrs. Mae Vaughn, Secy.,
bell, Secy., 10 North Fulton Ave. 509 North Collett St.
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954 727

OKLAHOMA VIRGINIA
138. Oklahoma City: Mrs. Alice C. Entz- 153. Alexandria: Mrs. Marjorie Nixon,
minger, Secy., 51 1?hNorth West Secy., 316 South Faii-fax St.
13th St. 154. Arlington: Mrs. Lucille M. Bridget,
Secy., 1622 North McKinley Rd.
OREGON
139. Portland: Mrs. Dorothy C. Hender- WASHINGTON
son, Secy., 4835 East Burnside, 155. Kirkland: Mrs. Margaret V. Bailey,
Apt. 9, Portland 15
Secy., 204 19th Ave.
PENNSYLVANIA 156. Richmond Highlands: Mrs. Elmer-
140. Philadelphia: Miss Sophia A. Rei- ene Neff, Secy., 18016 Linden
ger, Secy., 3301 Powelton Ave., Ave., Seattle 33
Philadelphia 4 157. Seattle: Mrs. Doris Dahl, Secy.,
341. Pittsburgh: Mrs. Victoria Richards, 9643 60th Ave. South, Seattle 8
Secy., 665 College Ave., Pitts- 158. Spokane: Mrs. Rose M. Bates,
burgh 32 Secy., W. 3107 Euclid Ave., Spo-
142. Scranton: Mrs. Helen Beck, Secy., kane 12
429 Quincy Ave. 159. Tacoma: Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson,
143. West Chester: Mrs. Jane Lear Tal- Secy., 414 S. Tacoma Ave.
ley, Secy., 205 West Market St.
WESTVIRGINIA
PUERTORICO 160. Charleston: Mrs. Marian C. Lippitt,
144. San Juan: Mrs. Maria T. Martin de Secy., 1429 B Jackson St.
Irizarry, Secy., P.O. Box 1869
RHODEISLAND WISCONSIN
145. Providence: Mrs. Edith Carpenter, 161. Brookfield Twp.: Mrs. Lillian Erby,
Secy., 113 Congress Ave. Secy., Box 443, Route 4, Wauke-
sha
SOUTHDAKOTA 162. Green Bay: Miss Florence Delany,
146. Sioux Falls: Mrs. Nellie Fenton, Secy., 1015 Cherry St.
Secy., Room 208, Van Eps Bldg., 163. Kenosha: Mr. Louis J. Voelz, Secy.,
8th & Phillips Ave. 6108 Sheridan Rd.
164. Madison: Miss Helen Svendsen,
TENNESSEE Secy., 501 Woodward Grove
147. Memphis: Miss Johanna Zimmer- 165. Milwaukee: Mr. Elmer Schwandes,
man, Secy., Box 5913 Secy., 3256 South 22nd St.
148. Nashville: Miss Nellie J. Roche, 166. Racine: Mrs. Anna L. Nelsen,
Secy., 2325 Elliston Place, Nash- Secy., 4607 Victory Ave.
ville 5 167. Shorewood: Mrs. Beula Brown,
TEXAS Secy., 3514 North Murray Ave.
168. Waukesha: Mrs. Elizabeth J. Bur-
149. Dallas: Mrs. Allene Squires, Secy., gess, Secy., 217 Wisconsin Ave.
5527 Druid Lane 169. Wauwatosa : Mrs. Maud Reimholz,
150. Houston: Mr. Walter D. Powell, Sr., Secy., 2552 North 63rd Street
Secy., 3616 Bastrop St. 170. Whitefish Bay: Miss Pearl L. Pohl,
151. San Antonio: Mrs. Patricia Shep- Secy., 5400 North Lake Drive
pard, Secy., 515 Fresno St.
UTAH WYOMING
152. Salt Lake City: Mrs. Ethel C. Ayer, 171. Laramie: Mrs. Solveig V. Corbit.
Secy., 1361 East 17th South St. Secy., P.O. Box 112
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

GROUPS
ALABAMA 46. Claremsnt
1. Fulton Ridge 47. Clovis
2. Mobile 48. Compton
49. Compton Judicial District
ALASKA 50. Contra Costa County
3. Alakanuk 51. Contra Costa County-Twp. 17
4. Eielson Air Force Base 52. Cucarnonga
5. Fairbanks 53. Descanso
6. Ketchikan 54. Downey Judicial District
7. Kodiak 55. Eden Twp.
8. Mt. Village 56. El Cerrito
9. Seward 57. Elsinore
10. Soldotna 58. Escondido
11. Unalaska 59. Escondido Twp.
60. Felton
ARIZONA 61. Fontana
12. Clifton (outside) 62. Fremont Twp.
13. Coolidge 63. Gardena
14. Flagstaff (outside) 64. Garden Grove
15. Glendale 65. Glendale Judicial District
16. 'Phoenix (outside) 66. Hayward
17. Phoenix-TIN R2E 67. Hollister
18. Phoenix-T2N R2E 68. Joshua Tree
19. Tempe 69. La Mesa
20. Tucson Twp. 13 70. Lemon Grove
71. Los Altos
ARKANSAS 72. Los Cerritos Judicial District
21. Eureka Springs 73. Los Gatos
22. Fort Smith 74. Lynnwood
23. North Little Rock 75. Menlo Park
24. Omaha 76. Mill Valley
77. Montecito Twp.
CALIFORNIA 78. Oceanside
25. Alameda 79. Oceanside Twp.
26. Albany 80. Ontario
27. Alturas 81. Oxnard
28. Anaheim 82. Paso Robles
29. Analy Twp. 83. Piedmont
30. Antelope Judicial District 84. Pomona
3 1. Apple Valley 85. Richmond
32. Arcadia 86. Salinas
33. Atascadero 87. Sail Fernando
34. Atherton 88. San Gabriel
35. Bakersfield 89. Sari Jose Alviso District
36. Banning 90. San Luis Obispo
37. Bear Valley Twp. 91. San Marino
38. Belmont 92. San Mateo County-Twp. 3
39. Bell Gardens 93. San Martin
40. Belvedere 94. San Rafael
4 1. Burlingame 95. Santa Anita Judicial District
42. Burney 96. Santa Cruz
43. Carmel 97. Santa Monica Judicial District
44. Carpinteria 98. Santa Paula
45. Center Twp. (Sacramento) 99. Santa Paula (outside)
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954

100. Santa Rosa 149. Key West
101. Santa Rosa Twp. 150. Lakeland
102. Sierra Madre 151. Miami Beach
103. Sonoma Twp. 152. Miami (outside)
104. South Pasadena 153. Miami Shores
105. South San Francisco 154. North Dade County
106. Stinson Beach 155. North Miami
107. Thousand Oaks 156. Patrick Air Force Base
108. Tulare 157. Port Richey
109. Ventura 158. Sarasota
110. Vista 159. South Miami
111. West Covina 160. St. Augustine
112. Whittier 161. St. Petersburg
162. Tampa
COLORADO 163. Tyndall Air Force Base
113. Aurora 164. West Miami
114. Boulder 165. West Palm Beach
115. Denver (outside)
116. Dillon GEORGIA
117. Durango 166. Augusta
118. El Paso County 167. Richmond County
119. Englewood
120. Littleton
121. Pueblo
122. Sedalia
123. Westminster IDAHO
169. Caldwell
CONNECTICUT 170. Grangeville
124. Bridgeport 171. Lewiston
125. Deep River 172. Pocatello
126. Hamden
~LLINOIS
127. Hartford
128. Nonvich (outside) 173. Aurora
129. Orange 174. Berwyn
130. South Womalk 175. Brookfield
131. Stamford 176. Cicero
132. Washington 177. Decatur
133. West Haven 178. Deerfield
134. Westport 179. De Kalb
135. Yalesville 180. Downers Grove
181. Edelstein
DELAWARE 182. Elgin
136. Dover 183. Glencoe
137. Newcastle County 184. Glenview
185. Gurnee
FLORIDA 186. Harvey
138. Archer 187. Highland Park
139. Bristol 188. Hinsdale
140. Coral Gables 189. La Grange Park
141. Dania 190. Limestone Twp.
142. Daytona Beach 191. Lombard
143. Dunedin 192. Mattoon
144. Duval County 193. Melrose Park
145. Fort Lauderdale 194. Melrose Twp.
146. Gainesville 195. Northbrook
147. Hollywood 196. Northbrook Twp.
148. Jacksonville 197. North Chicago
THE BAHA'I WORLD

198. Park Forest 245. Fryeburg
199. Peoria Heights 246. Icittery
200. Phoenix 247. Orrington
201. Richwood Twp. 248. Sanford
202. River Forest
203. Riverside MARYLAND
204. Rockford 249. Baltimore (outside)
205. Rockford (outside) 250. Be1 Air
206. St. Charles 25 1. Gambrills
207. Skokie 252. Landover Hills
208. Stone Park 253. Montgomery County
209. Warrenville 254. Riverdale
2 10. Washington 255. Takoma Park
2 11. Watseca 256. Towson
212. Western Springs
213. West Peoria MASSACHUSETTS
214. Wheaton 257. Arlington
258. Attleboro
INDIANA 259. Belchertown
2 15. Anderson 260. Brookline
2 16. Crawfordsville 261. Danvers
217. Evansville 262. Falmouth
218. Gary 263. Hamilton
219. Hammond 264. Harvard
220. Indianapolis (outside) 265. Haverhill
221. Kingsford Heights 266. Hingham
222. Kokomo 267. Jefferson
223. Logansport 268. Lynn
224. Mishawaka 269. Malden
225. Muncie 270. Moilson
226. Osceola 271. Natick
227. Ossian 272. Needham
228. Perry 273. Newton Center
229. Warsaw 274. North Pembroke
275. Palmer
IOWA 276. Plainville
230. Cedar Falls 277. Provincetown
23 1. Council Bluffs 278. Roxbury
232. Davenport 279. Sterling
233. Des Moines 280. Topsfield
234. Dubuque 281. Wenham
235. Ventura 282. West Brookfield
236. Washington 283. Woburn
237. Waterloo (outside) 284. Worthington

KANSAS MICHIGAN
238. Burlingame 285. Ann Arbor (outside)
239. Kansas City 286. Ann Arbor Hills
240. Wichita 287. Bay City
288. Birmingham
LOUISIANA 289. Burton Twp.
241. Baton Rouge 290. Centerline
242. Jackson 291. Climax
243. Shreveport 292. Clio
293. Davison Twp.
MAINE 294. Dearborn Twp.
244. Brewer 295. East Lansing
732 THE BAHA'I WORLD

296. Fennville NEVADA
297. Ferndale 343. Las Vegas
298. Flushing 344. Wells
299. Fruitport
300. Grandville NEWHAMPSHIRE
301. Grosse Pointe City 345. Concord
302. Grosse Pointe Farms 346. Dover
303. Grosse Pointe Woods 347. Henniker
304. Hazel Park 348. Hinsdale
305. Highland Park 349. Keene
306. Kalamazoo 350. Pelham
307. Kalamazoo (outside)
308. Lansing NEW JERSEY
309. Lincoln Park 351. Atlantic City
310. Marysville 352. Bergenfield
3 11. Mt. Morris Twp. 353. Bloomfield
3 12. Muskegon (outside) 354. Bound Brook
313. Niles Twp. 355. Bradley Beach
314. Nirvana 356. Budd Lake
3 15. Port Huron Twp. 357. Camden
3 16. Roseville 358. Closter
317. Sturgis 359. Demarest
318. Van Dyke 360. Elizabeth
319. Wear Twp. 36 1. Glenrock
320. Whitehall 362. Hackensack
32 1. Willow 363. Haledon
322. Wyandotte 364. Hamburg
323. Ypsilanti 365. Harrington Park
366. Hasbrouck Heights
MINNESOTA 367. Hillside
324. Excelsior 368. Lincoln Park
325. Minneapolis (outside) 369. Middletown
326. Newport 370. Morristown
327. St. Cloud 371. New Milford
328. Tobique 372. Orange
373. Paterson
MISSISSIPPI 374. Plainfield
375. Princeton
329. Gulfport 376. Red Bank
330. Jackson (outside) 377. Ridgefield Park
33 1. Natchez 378. Shorthills
379. South Bound Brook
MISSOURI 380. Springfield
332. Blue Twp. 381. Summit
333. Joplin 382. Towaco
334. Kansas City 383. Trenton
335. Kirkwood 384. Union City
336. Richmond Heights 385. Westfield
337. Rolla
338. St. Joseph NEWYORK
339. Springfield (outside) 386. Altamont
340. Webster Groves 387. Amherst Twp.
388. Bellmore
MONTANA 389. Biizghamton (outside)
341. Butte (outside) 390. Blue Point
342. Shelby 391. Blue Point, L.I.
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954

392. Brighton NORTH DAKOTA
393. Burt 444. Binford
394. Busti 445. Grand Forks
395. Central Square 446. Tokio
396. Conklin
397. Delmar OHIO
398. Preeport 447. Akron
399. Geneva 448. American Twp.
400. Glen Cove, L.I. 449. Austin Twp.
401. Glenwood Landing 450. Boston Twp.
402. Hamburg Village 451. Botkins
403. Harrison 452. Bucyrus
404. Horseheads 453. Chardon
405. Huntington Station 454. Cincinnati (outside)
406. Irondequoit 455. Circleville
407. Kenmore 456. Cleveland Heights
408. Lakewood 457. Cuyahoga Falls
409. Lima 458. East Cleveland
410. Little Falls 459. Englewood
41 1. Mamaroneck 460. Euclid
412. Merrick 461. Fairborn
4 13. Middletown 462. Findlay
414. Newport 463. Findlay (outside)
415. New Rochelle 464. Fostoria
416. New York (outside) 465. Fremont
417. Niagara 466. Granger Twp.
418. Niagara Falls 467. Hamilton Twp.
419. Norwich 468. Hinckley Twp.
420. Ossining 469. Kent
421. Penn Yann 470. Kittering Village
422. Port Washington 471. Lakewood
423. Plattsburg 472. Loudonville
424. Rye 473. Mansfield
425. Scotia 474. Middletown
426. Sea Cliff 475. Munroe Falls
427. Seaford 476. Newark
428. Seneca Falls 477. North Olmstead
429. Shoreham, L.I. 478. South Euclid
430. Syracuse (outside) 479. Springfield
43 1. Valley Stream 480. Stow
432. Vestal 481. Toledo
433. Victor 482. Toledo (outside)
434. Waterloo Twp. 483. Urbana
435. West Seneca 484. Warren
436. White Plains 485. Washington Twp.
486. Wayne Twp.
OKLAHOMA
437. Edgewood 487. Enid
438. Las Cruces 488. Lawton
439. Sandoval 489. Tulsa
OREGON
440. Asheville 490. Astoria
441. Asheville (outside) 491. Clatsup County
442. Greensboro 492. Joseph
443. Rocky Mount 493. Medford
734 T H E B A H A 'I W O R L D

494. Merlin UTAH
495. Multnomah County 536. Logan
496. St. Helens 537. Murray
497. Salem (outside) 538. Salt Lake County
498. Woodburn
VERMONT
PENNSYLVANIA 539. Brattleboro
499. Allison Park 540. West Brattleboro
500. Clifton Heights
501. East Goshen Twp. VIRGINIA
502. Erie 541. Falls Church
503. Feasterville 542. Franklin
504. Gettysburg 543. Loudoun County
505. Havertown 544. Newport News
506. McKnight Village 545. Portsmouth
507. Merion 546. Princess Anne County
508. Mt. Lebanon 547. Verona
509. New Castle 548. Winchester
510. North Hills
511. Oberlin WESTVIRGINIA
512. West Bradford Twp. 549. Institute
5 13. West Goshen Twp.
5 14. Wilkinsburg WASHINGTON (State)
5 15. Zelienople
550. Anacortes
PUERTO RICO 551. Auburn
552. Black Diamond
516. Arecibo 553. Bremerton
554. Chelan
RHODEISLAND 555. Deer Park
517. East Providence 556. Everett
518. Wanvick 557. Everett (outside)
558. Langley
SOUTHCAROLINA 559. Lowell
519. Aiken County 560. Marysville
520. Columbia 561. Monroe
52 1. Columbia (outside) 562. Pasco
522. Greenville 563. Snohomish
523. North Augusta 564. Spokane County
524. Taylors 565. Walla Walla
566. Yakima
SOUTHDAKOTA
525. Rapid City WISCONSIN
567. Cedarburg, Town of
TENNESSEE 568. Delafield Twp.
526. Chattanooga 569. Dousman
527. Knoxville 570. Eagle River
528. Knoxville (outside) 571. Elcho
572. Ft. Atkinson
TEXAS 573. Granville, Town of
529. Austin 574. Kenosha (outside)
530. Carrizo Springs 575. Lincoln Twp.
53 1. Corpus Christi 576. Madison (outside)
532. Dallas (outside) 577. Manitowoc
533. El Paso 578. Mazominie
534. Pasadena 579. McFarland
535. Port Arthur 580. Menomonee Twp.
BAHA'I. D I R E C T O R Y 1953-1954

58 1. Merton Twp. 592. Slinger
582. Milwaukee, Town of 593. Somers Twp.
583. Monona Village 594. Sturgeon Bay
584. Mt. Pleasant Twp. 595. Thiensville
585. Mukwonago 596. Tomahawk
586. Muskego Twp. 597. Watertown
587. New Berlin Twp. 598. Wauwatosa, Town of
588. Oconomowoc Twp. 599. Westbend
589. Oshkosh
590. Plainfield WYOMING
59 1. Sheboygan (outside) 600. Casper

Delegates and friends attending banquet of the Fourth South American BahCi Congress,
Lima, Per& May 1, 1950.

ISOLATED CENTERS
I ALABAMA 21. Tuba City
1. Fair Hope 22. Yuma (outside)
2. Florence ARKANSAS
3. Huntsville
4. Syladauga 23. Bentonville
5. Tuskegee 24. Harrison
25. Hot Springs
ALASKA 26. Little Rock (outside)
6. Baranof 27. North Little Rock (outside)
7. Ft. Richardson 28. Stamps
8. Juneau 29. Vandervoort
9. Kanakanak
10. Kasilof CALIFORNIA
11. Ninilchik 30. Auburn
12. Valdez 31. Azusa
13. Wasilla 32. Balboa Island
33. Beale Air Force Base
ARIZONA 34. Bell
14. Buckeye 35. Chula Vista (outside)
15. Bylas 36. Colton
16. Douglas 37. Concord
17. Flagstaff 38. Contra Costa County-Twp. 7
18. Globe 39. Costa Mesa
19. Payson 40. Culver City
20. Prescott 41. Daly
736 THE BAHA'I WORLD

42. Desert Hot Springs CONNECTICUT
43. Edwards 95. Avon
44. El Monte 96. Groton
45. Encinitas 97. Milford
46. Exeter 98. Rockville
47. Fort Bragg 99. Southport
48. Fort Ord 100. West Redding
49. Fresno (outside)
50. Healdsburg DELAWARE
51. Healdsburg (outside) 101. Wilmington (outside)
52. Hermosa Beach
53. Huntington Park FLORIDA
54. La Canada 102. Bradenton (outside)
55. Leucadia 103. Dade City
56. Los Gatos (outside) 104. Fernandina
57. Madera 105. Ft. Myers
58. Martinez 106. Fountain
59. Maywood 107. Hialeah
60. Modesto 108. Homestead
61. Montara 109. Jacksonville Beach
62. Montrose 110. Lake Worth
63. Moreno 111. Largo
64. Mt. Eden 112. New Port Richey
65. Norwalk 113. Opa Locka
66. Pacific Grove 114. Oi-mond Beach
67. Palos Verdes Estates 115. Panama City
68. Redding 116. Safety Harbor
69. Redlands 117. St. Petersburg (outside)
70. Redondo Beach 118. Tallahassee
71. Redwood City 119. Titusville
72. Reedley 120. Uleta
73. San Carlos 121. Warrington
74. San Jose 122. Winter Park
75. Santa Ana
76. Santa Clara GEORGIA
77. Santa Cruz (outside) 123. Chamblee
78. Santa Maria 124. Conyers
79. Santee 125. Decatur
80. Saratoga 126. Gainesville
81. Sonoma (outside) 127. Grovetown
82. Torrance 128. Macon
83. Turlock 129. Marietta
84. Upland 130. Savannah
85. Victorville 131. Stockbridge
86. Visalia
87. Walnut Creek IDAHO
88. Willits 132. Council
133. Idaho Falls
134. Owynee County

89. Arapahoe County ILLINOIS
90. Climax 135. Albany
91. Ft. Collins 126. Alton
92. Greeley 137. Arlington Heights
93. Mountain View Twp. 138. Barrington
94. Wheatridge 139. Byron
BAHA'I: D I R E C T O R Y 1 9 5 3 - 1 9 5 4

140. Carlinville KENTUCKY
141. Chicago Heights 189. Cordia
142. Chillicothe 190. Covington
143. Des Plaines 191. Fort Knox
144. Effingham 192. Jefferson County
145. Elmhurst (outside) 193. Lexington
146. Franklin Park 194. Paducah
147. Freeport
148. Greenup LOUISIANA
149. Highwood 195. Covington
150. Joliet 196. Metairie
151. La Grange 197. New Orleans (outside)
152. Lincoln
153. Marengo MAINE
154. Morrison 198. Bangor
155. New Holland 199. Calais
156. Norridge 200. Gardiner
157. Oaklawn 20 1. Island Falls
158. Park Ridge 202. South Benvick
159. Pecatonica 203. South Windham
160. Peoria 204. York Village
161. Petersburg
162. Streator MARYLAND
163. Trivoli
164. Waukegan (outside) 245. Aberdeen
165. Winfield 206. Annapolis
207. Crownsville (outside)
208. District Heights
INDIANA 209. Finksborg
166. Bloomington 210. Garrett Park
167. Crown Point 21 1. Halethorpe
168. East Chicago 212. Jessup
169. Fort Wayne (outside) 2 13. Kent County
170. Greencastle 214. Owings Mills
171. Lafayette 2 15. Princess Anne
172. Michigan City
173. New Carlisle MASSACHUSETTS
174. Portland 216. Andover
175. Plymouth 217. Dedham
176. Richmond 21 8. Dorchester
177. Rockville 219. Easthampton
178. Spencer 220. East Weymouth
179. Winamac 221. Everett
222. Fitchburg
IOWA 223. Gloucester
224. Grafton
180. Ames 225. Hinsdale
181. Clinton 226. Holliston
182. Delwein 227. Ipswich
183. Iowa City 228. Lancaster
184. Manchester
229. Ludlow
185. Sioux City 230. Marblehead
23 1. Marlboro
KANSAS 232. Marlboro (outside)
186. Emporia 233. Newburyport
187. Scott City 234. North Adams
188. Topeka (outside) 235. North Quincy
738 THE BAHA'I. WORLD

236. Orange 289. Osseo
237. Pembroke 290. Sauk Center
238. Petersham 291. St. Paul
239. Plymouth 292. Walker
240. Salem
24 1. Squantum MISSISSIPPI
242. Taunton 293. Hattiesburg
243. Westboro 294. Money
244. Wilbraham 295. Pontotoc
296. Vaughan
MICHIGAN
245. Allen Park MISSOURI
246. Baldwin 297. Canton
247. Bancroft 298. Columbia
248. Berkley 299. Osage Beach
249. Burlington 300. Patterson
250. Cassopolis 301. Springfield
251. Coloma
252. East Detroit MONTANA
253. Ecorse 302. Bozeman
254. Erie 303. Fork Peck
255. Fort Gratiot Twp. 304. Kalispell
256. Franklin Village 305. Livingston
257. Fruitport (outside) 306. Winifred
258. Grand Rapids (outside)
259. Grand Haven NEBRASKA
260. Hadley 307. Bancroft
261. Hart 308. Brock
262. Holt 309. Eagle
263. Huntington Woods 3 10. Grand Island
264. Lake Harbor Twp. 3 11. Omaha (outside)
265. Lake Orion 3 12. Waterbury
266. Lawrence
267. Lawton NEVADA
268. Ludington 3 13. Boulder City
269. Milton Twp. 314. Fallon
270. Newayo 3 15. Mountain City
271. Olivet 3 16. Reno (outside)
272. Owosso 317. Sparks
273. Pentwater
274. Pinckney NEW HAMPSHIRE
275. Plymouth 3 18. Ashuelot
276. Poiltiac 3 19. Center Harbor
277. Port Huron 320. East Sullivan
278. Romulus 321. Manchester
279. St. Louis 322. Marlboro
280. Spring Lake 323. North Hampton
28 1. Tecumseh 324. Peterborough
282. Van Buren Twp. 325. Rye Beach
326. West Swanzey
MINNESOTA 327. Wolfeboro
283. Bemidji
284. Chandler NEW JERSEY
285. Duluth (outside) 328. Alpine
286. Hopkins 329. Asbury Park
287. Mankato 330. Bordentown
288. Moorehead 331. CapeMay
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954

332. Chatham 362. West Orange
333. Cranford 363. Westville
334. Eatontown 364. Westwood
335. Emerson 365. Wyckoff
336. Fair Lawn
337. Freehold NEW MEXICO
338. Glen Ridge 366. Carlsbad
339. Hampton 367. Gallup
340. Hohokus 368. Los Alamos
341. Linden 369. Roswell
342. Little Falls 370. Santa Fe
343. Long Branch
344. Marlton NEW YORK
345. Mendham 371. Arena
346. Millburn 372. Armonk
347. Montague 373. Auburn
348. New Brunswick 374. Baldwin
349. Ocean Grove 375. Bay Shore
350. Oradell 376. Briarcliff Manor
35 1. Osbornville 377. Congers
352. Palisade 378. DePew
353. Paramus 379. East Aurora
354. Parsippany 380. East Bloomfield
355. Passaic 3 8 1. East Rochester
356. Plainsboro 382. Eden
357. River Edge 3 83. Ellenville
358. Riverton 384. Elmont
359. Somerville 385. Freehold
360. South Orange 386. Garden City
361. West New York 387. Glenwood Landing, L.I.

First Bahi'i Teaching Conference of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela,
held in BogotS, October 12-15, 1949, attended by Bahi'i representatives
from BogotL, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, and Medellin, Colombia;
Guayaquil, Ecuador; and Caracas, Venezuela.
BAHA'X D I R E C T O R Y 1 9 5 3 - 1 9 5 4

388. Gouverneur NORTHDAKOTA
389. Great Neck 443. Devils Lake
390. Greece 444. Glenfield
391. Greenport
392. Harpursville OHIO
393. Hartsdale 445. Barberton
394. Hastings-on-Hudson 446. Bath Twp.
395. Hempstead 447. Bay Village
396. Homer 448. Beaver
397. Iroquois 449. Bexley
398. Kingston 450. Brecksville
399. Lake Luzerne 45 1. Chagrin Falls
400. Levittown 452. Chippewa Lake
401. Linwood 453. Circleville (outside)
402. Manhasset 454. Clayton
403. Maple Springs 455. Columbus (outside)
404. Mayville 456. Delaware
405. Oneonta 457. Elyria
406. Orchard Park 458. Galion
407. Oswego 459. Hanover
408. Port Dickinson 460. Hudson
409. Potsdam 46 1. Jerry City
410. Poughkeepsie 462. Marietta
41 1. Rensselaer 463. Miamisburg
412. Ripley 464. Morrow
413. Rochester (outside) 465. New Richmond
414. Rome 466. Perry Twp.
41 5. Saratoga Springs 467. Salem
41 6. Schenectady 468. Sandusky
417. Shelter Island 469. Sharon Twp.
41 8. Suffern 470. Shawnee Twp.
419. Syosset 471. Urbana (outside)
420. Tappan 472. Van Wert
421. Trumansburg 473. Waynesfield
422. Utica 474. Wilberforce
423. Watertown 475. Willard
424. Watertown (outside) 476. Willoughby
425. Wellicolt
426. West Islip OKLAHOMA
427. Youngstown 477. Okmulgee
478. Wann
NORTHCAROLINA
428. Bryson City OREGON
429. Chapel Hill 479. Brookings
430. Charlotte 480. Gates
43 1. Fayetteville 481. Newport
432. Hendersonville 482. Seaside
433. High Point 483. Pendleton
434. Kannapolis 484. Tigard
435. Lenoir 485. Toledo
436. Orrum
437. Raleigh PENNSYLVANIA
438. Rich Square 486. Altoona
439. Salisbury 487. Avonmore
440. Shelby 488. Bethlehem
441. Washington 489. Bromall
442. Winston Salem 490. Cambridge Springs
491. Eau Claire UTAH
492. Elkins Park 538. Lehi
493. Evans City 539. Ogden
494. Fallsington 540. Provo
495. Hanover 541. South Salt Lake City
496. Homestead 542. Vernal
497. Latrobe
498. Lebanon VERMONT
499. Lewisburg 543. Bennington
500. New Salem 544. Burlington
50 1. Norristown 545. Mendon (Rutland County)
502. Oxford 546. Montpelier
503. Pine Grove
504. Rosemont VIRGINIA
505. Roslyn 547. Alexandria (outside)
506. Sharon 548. Bristol
507. Swarthmore 549. Camp Pickett
508. Wallingford 550. Farmville
509. Waynesboro 55 1. Fort Belvoir
510. West Chester (outside) 552. Fort Monroe
553. Norfolk
RHODEISLAND 554. Petersburg
5 11. Ashton 555. Richmond
512. Pawtucket 556. Virginia Beach
5 13. Rockville
WASHINGTON (State)
SOUTHCAROLINA 557. Almira
5 14. Allendale 558. Bremerton (outside)
5 15. Charleston 559. Camas
516. Clemson 560. Chehalis
5 17. Orangeburg 561. Cle Elum
518. Sedalia 562. Cusick
563. Edmonds
SOUTH DAKOTA 564. Ellensburg
519. Alcester 565. Kent
520. Spearfish 566. Kirkland
567. Monitor
TENNESSEE 568. Moses Lake
521. Charleston 569. Olympia
522. Fountain City 570. Omak
523. Johnson City 571. Port Gamble
524. Kingsport 572. Port Townsend
525. Nashville (outside) 573. Richland
526. Union City 574. Seattle (outside)
575. South King County
TEXAS 576. Stratford
527. Alvin 577. Tacoma (outside)
528. Amarillo 578. Wenatchee
529. Austin (outside) 579. Yakima (outside)
530. Charlotte
53 1. Fort Hancock WESTVIRGINIA
532. Fort Worth 580. Huntington
533. Hood River 581. Martinsburg
534. La Porte 582. Parkersbury
535. Marshall
536. Paris
537. Winter Haven
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954

584. Appleton 599. Milwaukee (outside)
585. Birnamwood 600. Neenah
586. Butternut 601. Rice Lake
587. Chippewa Falls 602. Sheboygan
588. City of Glendale 603. Stoughton
589. Cloverdale Twp. 604. Superior
590. Columbus 605. Town of Greenfield
591. Eagle 606. Waupace
592. Eau Clair 607. West Allis
593. Edgar 608. Wisconsin Rapids
594. Ephraim
595. Fond du Lac WYOMING
596. Fox Point 609. Albin
597. Janesville 610. Chugwater
598. La Crosse 6 11. Menomenee Falls

BahL'i Summer Conference held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, 1951.
744 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

5 . D I R E C T O R Y O F S P I R I T U A L AS,SEM-
BLIES, GROUPS, AND ISOLATED
BAHA'IS I N A D M I N I S T R A T I V E
DIVISIONS I N PERSIA
1953-1954
Isolated Total
Districts Assemblies Groups Centers Localities
1. AbLdih 13 16 7 36
2. AhvLz 17 11 2 30
3. BLbul 8 3 - 11
4. Bandar-i-Jaz 6 - - 6
5. Birjand 7 8 4 19
6. Hamadin 14 7 - 21
7. 'IrLq 6 13 - 19
8. I~fahLn 25 27 11 63
9. Ki&Ln 10 9 1 20
10. KirmLn 11 8 8 27
11. KirmLns&ih 4 4 3 11
12. Mahhad 19 10 18 47
13. Nayriz 3 - 1 4
14. Qazvin 9 5 2 16
15. R a b t 12 7 6 25
16. Sangsar 5 4 - 9
17. Siri 14 4 1 19
18. Khiriz 24 9 5 38
19. Tabriz 36 27 8 71
20. Tihrin 37 38 21 96
21. Yazd 22 11 2 35
22. Zihid6n 5 1 - 6
- - -
Total 307 100 629

LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES
AB~DIH 16. Aligudarz
1. ABADIH 17. Andimihk
2. IdrisLb6d 18. Bandar-Ma'&~r
3. C_hinLr 19. Bihbihhn
4. Dihbid 20. Burfijird
5 . Kfis_hkik 21. Chamtangfi
6. Najafgbid 22. Fayli
7. HimmatPb6d 23. Hamidiyyih
8. Sarvistbn-i-Bav6nLt 24. K_hurramLbLd
9. 'Abb6sLb6d-i-'UlyL 25. Lhurramhahr
10. Sughad 26. Masjid-i-SulaymAn
11. 'AbbLsBbBd-i-SuflL 27. Safk'iyyih
12. D i r g h ~ k 28. AghL-JL~'
13. ~ i & f & q 29. JaFrLbLd
30. Chamtang
BABUL
31. BABUL
32. Amul
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954

33. Bhbulsar 80. Qahfirukh
34. Bahnamir 81. Qal'ih-i-Murgh
-
35. 'Arab-Lhayl 82. chigin
36. KiyLkulL 83. Gaz
37. Firaydiin-Kinir 84. Kas_hih
38. DiyL'kulL 85. KattL
86. Halib-i-Musayfibid
BANDAR-I-JAZ 87. Dizaj
39. BANDAR-I-JAZ I 88. ZavCih
40. Bandar-i-$hLh 2 89. SLmLn
41. GurgLn 3 90. Darrihs_hGr
42. Gunbad-i-Qibiis 4 91. KhahridL
43. Kalalih (Ay Darvish) 5 92. Qal'ih-Fuladi
44. Mazra'ih-i-Khu&ih 6 93. Hasanabad-Musayibld
94. TirLn
B~RJAND 95. Dastjird-i-ImLmzLdih
45. B~RJAND 96. Murgh-&inar
-
46. Zirak
47. Khiinik KA~AN
48. Dastjird 97. K ~ S _ H ~ N
49. AsiyLbLn-Darvia 98. ArLn
50. Lhusif 99. JLsb
51. M6d 100. Qamsar
101. MhzgLn
HAMADAN 102. Vadigan
52. HAMADAN 103. Jaw&iqLn
53. AmzLjird 104. Fath6bLd
54. HusaynLbLd 105. NGs_hLbLd
55. BahLr 106. Natanz
56. Lilichin
57. Qurvih KIRMAN
58. Siri-Qumish 107. KIRMAN
59. Qazilaih-Kand 108. Rafsanjin
60. C_hupuqlb 109. HasanLbLd-i-Rafsanj6n
61. Maliyir 110. Nbq-i-Rafsanjin
62. Uqchulu 111. AnLr
63. S_hayk_hjLn 112. 'Adasiyyih-Rafsanjin
64. JarnaidibLd 113. Bandar-i-'AbbLs
65. MirzL-Hisiri 114. SirjLn
115. aayr-i-Aqt2
'MQ 116. RLvar
66. 'IRAQ 117. Barn
67. S_hLhLbid
68. a a l a j i b i d KIRMAN~AH
69. Dihpiil 118. K I R M A N ~ B H
70. Zhihzand 119. Sanandaj
71. Isfin 120. Karand
121. Qasr-i-$hirin
ISFAHAN
72. I S F A ~ N 1 MAEHHAD
73. Afiis 2 122. MAKHHAD
74. NajafLbLd 3 123. Nis_hLbiir
75. Khhlilinjin 4 124. Sabzivar
76. Muhammadiyyih 5 125. Sudkhar
77. ArdistLn 6 126. Qb&in
78. Kurd-i-SuflL 7 127. Dar-i-Jaz
79. MihdiyibLd-i-Shurab-i-Kabir 8 128. BujnGrd
Group of BahCis on steps of "Peace Palace," The Hague, after visiting the BahP'i Book Display in the Pe
during the Fourth European Teaching Conference, held in Scheveningen, Holland, 1951.
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954

129. Turbat-i-Jam 175. Darzikull
130. Turbat-i-Haydariyyih 176. Kaf&garkull
131. Hisslr 177. Zirlb
132. Nlmaq 178. Pul-i-Sifid
133. Pitraw 179. Ival
134. K l b a r 180. Ru&ankdh
135. aayru'l-Qurb 181. Ahmadlbld
136. Firdaws 182. Bih&ahr
137. Blghistln 183. S_hirglh
138. B u s h y y i h
139. Ma'mGri SH~~Z
140. Kar-Khlnih Qand- 184. S _ H ~ R ~ Z
i-Turbat-i-Haydariyyih 185. BG&ihr
186. BurlzjAn
187. Klzirtin
188. Faqih-Hasan&
189. Ahram
190. Tavil
191. K_hurmGj
QAZV~N 192. Jahrum
144. QAZV~N 193. Zakhird
145. Dastjird 194. Khln-Kahdln
146. SJharistln 195. Sarvistln
147. Muhammadlbld 196. Sa'di
148. Kalkin 197. Marvda&t
149. Kulah-Darrih 198. Fathlbld
150. Zanjln 199. FirGzi
151. Abhar 200. S_hamslbld-Burzh
152. Qadimlbld 20 1. Darvahiyi-Khabangah
202. Ghihlr-RGstB'i
RAXHT 203. Muhammadlbld
153. RAGT 204. Dih-Piyllih
154. Llhijln 205. Qallt
155. S_hahsavLr 206. Dtiryln
156. Bandar-i-Pahlavi 207. S_hamslbid-i-Takht
157. Sangar
158. Blz-Qa'lih TABR~Z
159. Siylkal 208. TABR~Z
160. Asiylbar 209. Usk6
161. Bijar-Bunih 210. fll&ic_hi
162. RGdsar 21 1. Mamaq6n
163. K_hurramlb6d-i-Tunikabun 212. Marand
164. Shu'ayb-Kalayih 213. ZunGz
214. Ahar
215. Qubldl6
216. Marlghih
217. Rivi&
2 18. Agh&ih-Dizaj
219. Bu&b
220. S_his_hivln
221. 'Ajabs_hir
S6~f 222. Mihrlbld
170. shf 223. Miy6ndu'lb
171. MlMrbzak 224. M6hfibld
172. Aratih 225. QujilG
173. Chllihzamin 226. Chllkhlmlz
174. S_hghi 227. Naw-R6zlG
748 THE BAHA'I WORLD

228. S_hbhindiz_h 269. Vanak
229. Rida'iyyih 270. Yusifabad
230. Sa'idlu 271. Qal'ih-Naw
231. S_hbhpdr 272. Garm-Darrih
232. Khdy 273. RSmjin
233. Pirkandi 274. Hhjiybbbd-i-Faaam
234. Ivughli 275. Finlzkhh
235. Say& 276. Naw&ahr
236. Diznbb 277. HusaynLbbd-i-Parsiyan
237. Matanaq 278. Haftjhy
238. BSbLkandi 279. Darrabkhanih-Khandan
239. K_hdk_hbl 280. HusaynbbLd-i-Garrus
240. MiyLnih
24 1. Al-i-Ha&im YAZD
242. Milbn 281. YAZD
243. Harvbn 282. Mihdiybbbd-i-Hitzih
283. Maryamabad-Hitmih
TIHRAN 284. QbsimbbLd
244. TIHRAN 285. Dahaj
245. Varbmin 286. Marvast
246. K_hbniySbhd 287. Taft
247. Bbqirbbhd 28 8. Hurmuzak
248. Ja'farbbbd 289. Busaynbbbd
249. HasanbbSd 290. 'Aliyhbbd
250. 'Abdu'llbhhbbd 29 1. 'Asrbbhd
251. Qurn 292. 'Izzbbbd
252. Diybbhd 293. Mihdiyhbbd-i-Rustbq
253. SSlhr 294. Mansbid
254. Hamadbnak 295. S_harafLbid
255. Safarkhbjih 296. I(_hurrams_hLh
256. Kfihak 297. RahmatLbibLd
257. Karaj 298. Kdhih-Buyuk
258. Zarnbn 299. Na'imhbbd
259. K_hhPdimbbbd 300. Banadak-Sadat
260. Bbb6-Salmbn 301. Harbarjkn
261. C!blds 302. Nirsiyhbbd
262. Fa&andak
263. Hadiqih ZAHIDAN
264. Qulhak 303. ZAHIDAN
265. Niybvarhn 304. Zbbul
266. Tajri& 305. K_hbs_h
267. Gaddk 306. Sarhbn
268. Hazrat-i-'Abdu'l-Azim 307. frbn&ahr

GROUPS
ABADIH 10. Jazmitdaq
1. Mazra'ih I 11. Bungis&
2. Sidbn 2 12. Khurrami
3. Sbdiqbbhd 3 13. Silrybn
4. 'Aliybbbd 4 14. Bazm
5. Firiizi 5 15. Sivinj
6. Iqlid 6 16. Bajdunih (Dihbid)
7. Sdrmaq 7
8. Faraghih 8 AHVAZ
9. Vazirtibbd 9 17. Bandar-i-SJhLhpiir
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954

18. DurGd 65. Pardinjan
19. Naft-i-Safid 66. Chulichih
20. Shushtar 67. Faridanbih
21. Dizf61 68. Burtijin
22. Manyiihi 69. Isfirjin
23. Azna 70. Dihiqin
24. Hindijin 71. Sidih-Marbin
25. Darihak-i-Hindijin 72. Alubjih
26. Laliyi-Masjid-i-Sulaymin 73. Hasani
27. Shidigin 74. Dihnaw
75. Varnimk_hhht
76. Riz
77. GhamgardBn
78. Kayhgniyyih
79. Ngin
80. Filfivarjkn
B~RJAND 8 1. Qal'ih-SJhBh
31. Andanin 82. Iskandari
32. Qal'ih-Kbh-Chishmih 83. Nisir
33. NGk 84. Bigh-i-BahidurBn
34. Nawfirist 85. S d r - i - K u r d
35. Sar-i-&6h
36. Gaz KAwAN
37. Khu&k 86. Miakan
38. Gazik 87. AbiyLnih
88. Barzuk
HAMADAN 89. M a h m ~ d i b i d
39. Avijtappih 90. Yahyibiid-i-Nus_hBbkd
40. Nahivand 91. Narkq
4 1. Tuisirkgn 92. Yazdil
42. Dihdavhn 93. Ahmadkbid-i-NarLq
43. Asadibid 94. Vasqinqan-i-JBsb
44. KG&kibfid
45. Latgah KIRM~N
95. BBghin-i-Kirmin
'IRAQ 96. MiXBn
46. Gulpiygin 97. Azu'iyyih
47. K_hinsir 98. Minib
48. Khumain 99. B S t
49. Astinih 100. SJharikLbid-i-BBft
50. 'Azizibid 101. Rahmatibid-i-Rafsanjin
51. Nizimibid 102. MulkibBd-i-Rafsanjin
52. Farmahin
53. Husaynibid KIRMAN~~H
54. Ma@ad-D-hulfLbLd 103. Dinavar
55. Gizirin 104. SJhkhkbLd-i-G-harb
56. Majdkbgd-i-Naw 105. Naft-i-Zhih
57. Tafrish 106. flBm
58. Khuadun
MAWAD
I~FAHAN 107. Zarqin
59. DirLn 108. Shiravkn
60. Nimhjird 109. Amand
6 1. Akhbrihbala 110. Furiigh
62. Dihaq 111. Marghzir
63. Qiidjinak 112. Kakcak
64. llbaygi 113. Sukih
Delegates and friends attending the Third European BahL'i Teaching Conference and Summer School, Elsinore

Conference in session, Third European Teaching Conference, Elsinore, Copenh
Denmark, July 24-27, 1950.
BAHA'I. D I R E C T O R Y 1 9 5 3 - 1 9 5 4

114. Ka&kbhgh 8 159. Vishluq
115. Kayrhbhd 9 160. Kandalij
116. Rhhibid 10 161. Kalibar
162. Ardibil
QAZV~N 163. Midgin-SJhahr
117. Avaj 164. Asthri
118. Khurramdarrih 165. Nasribid
119. Bhyih 166. Shriqiyyih
120. Zarrinibid-i-Zanjin 167. Kidijin
121. Yadibuligh
- 168. Marajil
169. Tulun
RACHT 170. Barziliq
122. Darjin-sib-hizar 171. Sirin
123. Langarhd 172. Galih-Khinih
124. Doustlat
125. Ha&tpar-Tavalish TIHR~N
126. Rhdbir-i-Zaytun 173. Maq:bdbbid
127. Miyink6h-i-Duhizhr 174. Va~finir
128. Qaryih-Khahristin-i-Sihizar 175. Mihribid
176. Sivih
SANGSAR 177. Pishva
129. Dimghin 178. Isfandiyir-Khini
130. Kaliteh-~imghin
- 179. Shlihibid
131. Aftar 180. 'Adlibid
132. Darjazin 181. Muqaff ariyyih
182. Kamilibid
SAR~ 183. Hi~hrak-Jamaran
133. k i d q u l i h 184. Haydarhbid
134. Panbihchiilih 185. Alvard
135. Kuhistin 186. Jiiqin
136. Surk_hibid 187. Qal'ih-Bahi
188. Ki~imibhd
S_H~RAZ 189. Amiriyyih
137. Zarqin 190. Gilan-Damivand
138. Qasrud-Da&t 191. Kahrizak
139. Firiizhb6d 192. 'Aliibid-i-Tapanchih
140. Lar 193. Qasimibid-i-Khus_hgih
141. Abivardi 194. Musayhbhd
142. Dihqayid 195. Uvrin
143. Daylam 196. Fa&kur
144. Sa'adhbhd 197. Vazivar
145. Malgardan 198. Gatihdih
199. Rustamhbhd
TABR~Z 200. Darband
146. Bhvil 201. Galandawak
147. Azars_hahr 202. Riidihin
148. Asthri 203. Trud
149. Sardrud 204. Kalak-i-Karaj
150. 'Alaviyhn 205. Adirhn-i-Khahryar
151. Khurmhzard 206. Kan
152. Khhshihmihr 207. KJhuvardin
153. Malik-kandi 208. Darakih
154. KJhatunibhd 209. Suhanak
155. Naqdih 210. Aradan-i-Garmsar
156. Balagh&i
157. Sulth6-Ahmad YAZD
158. Mgh-Kii 211. H a r k
752 THE BAHA'I WORLD

212. Allihibid
213. Hujjatibid
214. Hasanibid-i-Buluk
215. Juzim
216. Ardikin
217. Maybud
218. Anirak

ISOLATED CENTERS
AB~IH KIRM~NS_H~H
1. Dadinjin-i-Dihbid 34. a u s r a v i
2. Qa~r-i-YaCq-i*b-i-Dihbid 35. Saqqiz
3. Surak-i-Dihbid 36. Divan-Darrih
4. Munj-i-BavAnit
5. Mazijin-i-Bavinit MAWHAD
6. Dinchih-i-Khayr-i-Dihbid 37. Farimkn
7. Chir 38. Kamiz
39. Isf ariyin
AHVAZ 40. Shirin-Darrih
8. Qachsaran 41. Kadkan
9. K_halafibid 42. F a r a
43. Mas'abi
B~RJAND 44. Nasribid-i-Jam
45. YahyCibid-i-Jam
10. Kundur
46. Ma'dan-i-Qhismihgul
11. Q i n
47. Tayyibit
12. Bidisk
13. Khusrawibid 48. Sarakhs
49. Rubh-i-qaz
ISFAHAN 50. Niqib
5 1. Maravih-Tappih
14. Dihturki 52. Sarayan
15. JalilAbid 53. Bustaq
16. Kidiz-K_hin 54. Gunibid
17. Sidih-Lanji n
18. T&lilk_hhGnc_hih NAYR~Z
19. Ashtarjin 55. Istahbanat
20. Bigh-i-SurkJh
21. SaGk
22. Shahrak
23. Allihibid
24. Rustami
RAXHT
KAs_HAN 58. Parasar
25. Maraq 59. Diyibar
60. Kumalih
KIRMAN 61. Daylaman
62. Limik
26. Bardsir 63. Amarlu
27. Dihbakri
28. Sughan
29. Zarand
30. Bid-i-Kurduiyih
31. Giruft SHH~RAZ
32. Sadiqabad-i-Rafsanjan 65. Kangan
33. Rayn 66. Maymand
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954

67. 'ImhdhbQd 3 83. Imhmzhdih-Qasim
68. FBrGq 4 84. S_hBhhbtid
69. Kahnu 5 85. Araj
86. Namvari
TABR~Z 87. Pirdih
70. Bagh-i-Maruf I 88. Zarindasht
71. Hajiaqa 2 89. MahmGdhbhd
72. ainjiriq 3 90. Pistikan-i-Savih
73. Gultapih 4 9 1. 'Ali&hh-Avaz
74. Chiyanih 5 92. Paluzhdih
75. K-huda-Afirin 6 93. Jawisthn
76. Khaminih 7 94. Safijkhhni
77. Rush 8 95. Karkabud
96. Shhhrak
TIHRAN 97. Listuni-Lavasan
78. Jitaw 1 98. Istgah-KGh-nik
79. Ajin-Dujin 9
I
80. Zaviyih-Savih 3 YAZD
8 1. S_hhhsivhri 4 99. Sak_hvid
82. Kaykavar 5 100. Mihriz

6. DIRECTORY O F LOCALITIES
W H E R E BAHA'IS R E S I D E U N D E R T H E
JURISDICTION O F THE NATIONAL
S P I R I T U A L ASSEMBLY O F T H E
BAHA'IS O F INDIA, PAKISTAN
AND BURMA
1953-1954
INDIA
LOCALASSEMBLIES 10. Belgaum: BahB'i Centre, Social Club
1. Agra Cantt: Post Box 50 (Durga Compound, % J. A. Sarooshi, Secy.
House, Station Rd., Namniyar) 11. Bombay: Post Box 470 (Excelsior
2. Ahmedabad: Post Box 63 (3079/3 Restaurant, 206 Hornby Rd., Fort,
Ratanpole) % R. N. Shah, Secy.)
3. Ajmer : Kishengarh House, Jaipur 12. Calcutta: Post Box 8940 (% Bally-
Road, Jagat Sharma, Secy. gunge Place)
4. Aligarh: % Dr. M. U. Burney, Secy., 13. Delhi: Post Box 19 (130 Constitution
Burney Pharmacy, Phapala House, Curzon Road)
5. Allahabad: 9 Albert Road, Civil Lane, 14. Gwalior: 1 Wagle House, Dal Bazar,
% Mr. 0.Prakash, Secy. Lashkar, C/o P. Chandra, Secy.
6. Aurangabad: National Hotel, Shahganj, 15. Hyderabad (Deccan) : Post Box 139
C/o Mr. M. Sultan, Secy. (35 Aziz Bldg., Mukarrab Jung Lane,
7. Bangalore: 44 Madhavarya Mudaliar Abid Road)
Road, Fraser Town, Bangalore-5 16. Ichalkaranji: % S. R. Gharge, Secy.,
8. Bareilly: % Mr. Mohammad Yakub Clerk, Civil Judge's Court
Kausar, Chabewale, Qila Bazar, Nr. 17. Jaipur City: % B. J. Singh, Secy., Na-
Ram Narain Park tional Annand Hotel, 1st Floor, Jo-
9. Baroda: Jayaswal's Bldg., 1st Floor, hari Bazar
Khanderao Darwaja, Baranpura, % 18. Jalna: % A. Fahmi, Secy., Green Ho-
R. M. Pillay, Secy. tel, Munshi Bldg., Saddar Bazar
754 THE BAHA'I WORLD

19. Kamarhati (West Bengal) : % Dr. Wali 34. Surat: % Miss Sushila Vakil, Secy.,
Mohammad, Balutalab, House No. Makanvalla Bldg., Kotwal Street,
42, Distt. 24 Parganas Nanpura
20. Kanpur: Dr. Munje's Clinic, Kishori
Niwas, Birhana Road GROUPS
21. Kolhapur: Post Box 24 (Royal lrani 1. Bulandshahr
Hotel, Wilson Rd., % A. Sheikh, 2. Gorakhpur
Secy.) 3. Indore
22. Lucknow: Post Box 159 (Bah4i Centre, 4. Jhalarapatan
Room 19, Jahangirabad Mansion) 5 . Kagal
23. Madras: Post Box 408 (% N. Nagaraja 6. Shantiniketan
Rao, 18 Singacheri St., Triplicane) 7. Trivandrum
24. Mysore: Post Box 39 (Door No. 3157, 8. Wai
Arch Gate Rd., Lashkar Mohalla) 9. Yaripora
25. Nagpur: BahQ'i Centre, 12 Dangerfield
Rd., Saddar
26. Nasik: % Mr. R. R. Irani, Secy., Banat 1. Ahmednagar
Chaw1 No. 16, Bhagur Rd., Deolali 2. Anantnag
(Nasik) 3. Banaras
27. Panchgani: BahQ'i Centre, Rockside, % 4. Barabanki
R. Mehrshahi, Secy. 5. Bhavnagar
28. Poona: Post Box 8 (National Hotel, 6. Bhopal
opp. Railway Station, % S. B. Mo- 7. Darjeeling
bedzadeh, Secy.) 8. Davengere
29. Rampur: % Mr. Pir Mohammad, Secy., 9. Faizabad
Village Rampur, P.O. Sayed Raja, 10. Firozabad
Distt. Banaras 11. Hardoi
30. Salimpur: % Mahatma Bihari Das, Vil- 12. Igatpuri
lage Salimpur, P.O. Sakaldiha, Distt. 13. Khar Khari
Banaras, C/o Kallu Nath Prashad, 14. Kolaba
Secy. 15. Meerut
31. Secunderabad: Post Box 34 (2541 16. Mehshwar
Kingsway Rd., % Mrs. D. R. Fa- 17. Miraj
roody, Secy.) 18. Ootacamund
32. Sholapur: Post Box 39 (Vasant Villas, 19. Phoolpur
Station Rd., % Mrs. R. B. Najjar, 20. Radhanpur
Secy.) 21. Shopian
33. Srinagar: % Mr. Muhammad Khalil, 22. Simla
Secy., Munarifaroosh, Mohalla Sayed 23. Sultanpur
Ali Akbar 24. Vizagapatam

LOCALASSEMBLIES 5. Lyallpur: C/o Rana Altaf Ahmed Khan,
I. Chittagong: C/o Mr. Amiru'l Islam, Di- Secy., Venus Hosiery, Jhang Bazar
wan Bazar, Noormahal 6. Multan Cantt: % Syed Mahmud Jilani,
2. Dacca: C/o Mr. Amjad Ali, Secy., Repre- House No. 860, Mohalla Kumbhar
sentative, National Carbon Co. Mandi
(Pak) Ltd., 148-17B, Kakrail, P.O. 7. Peshawar: C/o Mr. Munawar Shah,
Ramna Secy., 1449 Karimpura
3. Hyderabad-Sind: Shirazian House, 8. Quetta: Post Box 11 (Iranian Restau-
School Rd., Hirabad, C/o H. V. Be- rant, Anderson Rd.)
hishti, Secy. 9. Rawalpindi: House No. 540/A, Mohan-
4. Karachi: C/o Faridoon Yazmeidi, Secy., pura, C/o Syed Ahmed, Secy.
Bakhtiari & Co., Corner House, El- 10. Sialkot Cantt: C/o Bashir Ahmed Chan-
phinstone St., Saddar chal, Secy., Old Jumma Masjid
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954 755

11. Sukkur (Sind) : Cafe Iran, Lucas Park, ISOLATED
CENTERS
% Dr. M. A. Latiff, Secy.
1. Alipur Saidan
GROUPS
1. Ghokal 2. Budhagoraia
2. Lahore 3. Kundian
3. Sargodha 4. Nowshera

BURMA
LOCALASSEMBLIES 4. Rangoon: C/o S. G. Murtaza Ali, Secy.,
1. Daidanaw : C/o Mg. Mya Thi, Secy., P.O. 21 Shwebo St., Kyaukmyaung
Kungyangon, Hanthawaddy Distt., 5- Thamaing: % L.S.A. Rangoon
Daidanaw 6. Twante: C/o L.S.A. Rangoon
2. Kyigon: % L.S.A. Mandalay
3. Mandalay: C/o Mg. KO Gyi, Secy., % U ISOLATED
CENTER
Mya, Ret'd Postmaster, 34th Street 1. Maymyo

CEYLON
LOCALASSEMBLY GROUP
1. Colombo: Post Box 954 (G.O.H. Bldg., 1- Kalutara
2nd Floor, York Street, Fort, Co- ISOLATED
CENTER
lombo, % B. D. Sally, Secy. 1. Kandy

MALAYA
LOCALASSEMBLY GROUP
1. Singapore: 352-A Tajong Katong Rd., 1. Seremban
% Mr. John Fozdar

SARAWAK (BRITIS-H BORNEO)
LOCALASSEMBLY
1. Kuching: Post Box 95

INDONESIA
LOCALASSEMBLY ISOLATED
CENTER
1. Jakarta-Kota: P.O. Box 112 1. Bindjer S.O.K.

NEPAL
ISOLATED
CENTER
1. Raxaul
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954 757

7. DIRECTORY O F LOCALITIES WHERE
BAHA'IS RESIDE UNDER T H E
JURISDICTION O F THE NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES O F T H E
BAHA'IS O F C E N T R A L AND
SOUTH AMERICA
1953-1954
CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE ANTILLES
LOCAL ASSEMBLIES 12. TaulabC: Sr. Benjamin Morales, Secy.
13. Tegucigalpa: Sra. Marcia Steward,
COSTARICA Secy., Apartado 273
1. Puerto de Quepos: Sr. Laureano Gar-
cia, Secy. JAMAICA
2. Puntarenas: Sr. Jenaro Miranda, 14. Kingston: Mr. Ivan A. Graham,
Secy., 25 Vras. Oeste Jesils de Pe- Secy., 48 Duke Street
tatlin 15. Port Antonio: Miss Emily Taylor,
3. San JosC: Sr. Artemus Lamb, Secy., Secy., Church Lane
Apartado 2104 16. Spanish Town: Mr. Alfred Senior,
Secy., 82 Young Street
CUBA
4. Cienfuegos, L. V.: Sr. Juan RenC MEXICO
Cabrera, Secy., Sari Fernando 185 17. MCxico D.F.: Sda. Ana Maria An-
5. La Habana (Havana) : Sr. Carmelo zaldua, Secy., Netzahuatcoyotl
PCrez, Secy., Subirana 465, Apto. 3 #165, Int. 17
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 18. Puebla: Sr. Guillermo Alarcbn,
Secy., Escuela Unesco, 3 Poniente
6. Ciudad Trujillo: Sr. Elias Camps,
515 (Altos)
Secy., Arzobispo Nouel #79
EL SALVADOR NICARAGUA
7. San Salvador: Sr. EstCban Canales, 19. Managua: Sr. Armando Fonseca
Secy., C/o Sr. JosC Antonio Cor- Duval, Secy., Apartado 461
peiio, 7a. Calleo Oriente #56 PANAMA
20. Colbn: Miss Amy McAllister, Secy.,
GUATEMALA Apartado 361
8. Chichicastenango: Srta. Adriana Zii- 21. Panami: Sra. Raquel de Constante,
fiiga, Secy., % Sr. Francisco L. Secy., Apartado 5 13
Juarez
9. Ciudad Guatemala: Sr. Aristides GROUPS
Marchena, Secy., 5a. Avenida
Norte #9 COSTARICA
HAITI 1. EscazG
2. Limbn
10. Port-au-Prince: Mr. Eustace N.
Bailey, Secy., 236 Rue Abraham
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Lincoln
3. San Pedro de Macoris
HONDURAS
11. San Pedro Sula: Sr. Profesor Jose EL SALVADOR
Victor Pineda, Secy., Juzgado Pri- 4. Santa Ana
mero de Letras 5. Soyapango
760 THE BAHA'I WORLD

PANAMA 21. Port Maria
6. Canal Zone 22. Porus
7. David
HONDURAS
ISOLATED CENTERS 17. Comayagua
18. Juticalpa
COSTARICA 19. La Ceiba
1. Cartago
2. Desarnparados MEXICO
3. Golfito 23. Pazteuaro
4. Jesus de Santa Barbara de Heredia 24. Tlatlauqui
5. Parrita 25. Veracruz

CUBA BRITISHHONDURAS
6. Guantknamo 26. Belize
7. Las Villas
DOMINICANREPUBLIC
8. Moca BAHAMAIS.
27. Nassau
EL SALVADOR
9. Quezaltepeque BERMUDA
28. Hamilton
GUATEMALA 29. Pembroke
10. Cunin
11. Momostenango MARGARITAI.
12. Quezaltenango 30. Margarita I.
13. Retalhuleu
14. San JosC de Acatempa
HAITI GILBERTIS.
15. Port-de-Paix 31. Abaiang
16. St. Marc 32. Sueta

JAMAICA TUAMOTU ARCHIPELAGO
20. Mocho 33. Makemo I.

SOUTH AMERICA

LOCAL ASSEMBLIES 5. Rio de Janeiro: Srta. Reneta Her-
feld, Secy., Rua Toneleros 271,
ARGENTINA Apto. 801
1. Buenos Aires: Sr. Athos Costas, 6. SCo Paulo: Sra. Nylza de Taetz,
Secy., Per6 428, Dept0.A. (r.48) Secy., Caixa Postal 7923
2. Cbrdoba: Sra. Esther de Gros, Secy.,
David Luque #5
BOLIVIA
7. Punta Arenas: Sr. Alejandro Reid,
3. La Paz: Sr. Estanislao Alvarez M., Secy., Casilla 79
Secy., Casilla 1613
8. QuilpuC: Sr. Alberto PCrez, Secy.,
BRAZIL Calle Blanco 929
4. Bahia: Srta. Dinah Franca, Secy., 9. Santiago de Chile: Sr. Carlos Mar-
Caixa Postal 1091 tinez, Secy., Casilla 3731
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954 761

International BahB'i School, Loncoche, Chile, February, 1953.

COLOMBIA GROUPS
10. Bogotl: Srta. Gloria Slnchez, Secy.,
Apartado Nacional 1672 ARGENTINA
11. Bucaramanga: Sr. Pedro Galln, 1. Comodoro Rivadavia
Secy., Apartado Nacional 119 2. Eva Per611
12. Cali: Sr. Alfonso M. Barona, Secy., 3. Ezeiza
Carrera 9a. #14-2 4. L a n h Oeste
5. Ramos Mejia
ECUADOR 6. Rosario
13. Quito: Sr. Jorge PaBz, Secy., Apar-
tad0 199
7. Oruro
PARAGUAY 8. Santa Cruz
14. Asunci6n: Sr. Angel Recalde, Secy., 9. Sucre
Apartado 742

PER^.
10. Santos
15. Callao: Sra. Roxana Gallegos, Secy., 11. San Vicente
Cockrane 459
16. Lima: Sr. Jorge BBjar, Secy., Apar-
tad0 772
12. Antofagasta
URUGUAY 13. Osorno
17. Montevideo: Sra. Carola de Escofet, 14. Temuco
Secy., Casilla 823 15. Valparaiso
16. Vi6a del Mar
VENEZUELA
COLOMBIA
18. Caracas: Srta. Carmen Estevez,
Secy., Calle Real de Sabana 17. Barranquilla
Grande 243, Edif. Concordia #6, 18. Cartagena
Altos 19. Medellin
762 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Bah6'i Summer Conference, Ontario, Canada, 1952.

ECUADOR 12. Pefiablanca
20. Guayaquil 13. San Felipe

PER^ ECUADOR
21. Huancayo 14. Ambato
15. Azogues
16. Bahia de Caraquez
ISOLATED CENTERS 17. Manta
ARGENTINA PER^
1. Castelar 18. Junin, Dpto. de
2. Mbmol 19. Talara
3. Martinez
4. San Fernando VENEZUELA
BOLIVIA 20. Cabimas .
5. Chulurani 21. Ciudad Bolivar
22. Tucupido
BRAZIL
BRITISHGUIANA
6. Igarapava
7. Macap6 24. Georgetown
8. Niteroi
DUTCHGUIANA
9. Petropolis
25. Paramaribo
CHILE
10. Mulchen FRENCH GUIANA
11. Paillaco 26. Cayenne
BAHA'I: D I R E C T O R Y 1 9 5 3 - 1 9 5 4

8. DIRECTORY O F LOCALITIES IN
A U S T R A L I A A N D NEW Z E A L A N D
WHER'E B A H A ' I S R E S I D E
1953-1954
AUSTRALIA
11. Huonville, Tasmania
12. Kadina, S.A.
1. Adelaide, S.A.: Mrs. L. Giordano, 13. Kapunda, S.A.
Secy., 6 Fisher Tce., Mile End 14. Kingston, S.A.
2. Brisbane, Qld. : Miss Margaret Forrest, 15. Kurrajong Heights, N.S.W.
Secy., 20 Watson St., Wilston Heights 16. Launceston, Tasmania
3. Caringbah, N.S.W.: Mrs. G. Lake, 17. Leeton, N.S.W.
Secy., 18 Urunga Pde., Miranda 18. Lilydale, Tasmania
4. Hobart, Tasmania: Mrs. E. M. Green- 19. Lismore, N.S.W.
law, Secy., P.O. Box 292c 20. Newcastle, N.S.W.
5. Kuring-gai, N.S.W.: Mrs. D. Rook- 21. Orange, N.S.W.
wood, Secy., 23 Churchill Ave., Wah- 22. Port Adelaide, S.A.
roonga, Sydney, N.S.W. 23. Port Lincoln, S.A.
6. Melbourne, Vic.: Mrs. M. Handley, 24. Port Moresby, Papua Terr.
Secy., 25 Rosstown Rd., Carnegie 25. Quorn, S.A.
S.E. 9, Victoria 26. Renmark, S.A.
7. Payneham, S.A.: Miss Leila Clark, 27. St. Peters, S.A.
Secy., 255 Payneham Rd., Joslin, 28. Stirling, S.A.
Adelaide, S.A. 29. Toowoornba, Qld.
8. Perth, W.A.: Mrs. A. 0.Miller, Secy., 30. Waikerie, S.A.
73 Berwick St., Victoria Park, Perth 3 1. Warnambool, Victoria
9. Sydney, N.S.W.: Miss G. Moody, Secy.,
Room 7, Piccadilly Arcade (BahB'i ISOLATED
CENTERS
Center)
10. Unley, S.A.: Mrs. E. Osborn, Secy., 52 1. Albany, W.A.
Commercial Rd., Hyde Park, Ade- 2. Avoca Beach, N.S.W.
laide 3. Bathurst, N.S.W.
11. Wollongong, N.S.W.: Miss M. Dun- 4. Belaire, S.A.
ning, Secy., 2 Wiseman Ave. 5. Blakiston, S.A.
12. Woodville, S.A.: Mr. A. F. Apponyi, 6. Emu Point, W.A.
Secy., 9 Lanark Ave., Gleneagles, 7. Glen Innes, N.S.W.
S.A. 8. Goldsborough, Vic.
13. Yerrinbool, N.S.W.: Mr. F. Wyss, 9. Gulgong, N.S.W.
Secy., Swiss Cottage, Park St., Tah- 10. Harvey, W.A.
moor 11. Kennington, Bendigo, Vic.
12. Lyndoch, S.A.
13. Meningie, S.A.
14. Mosman, Sydney, N.S.W.
1. Booleroo Centre, S.A. 15. Mullumbimby, North Coast, I
2. Bowral, N.S.W. 16. Murry Bridge, S.A.
3. Burnside, S.A. 17. Nambour, Qld.
4. Canberra, A.C.T. 18. Neville, N.S.W.
5. Cleve, West Coast, S.A. 19. Nuriootpa, S.A.
6. Coombe, S.A. 20. Talgarno, Vic.
7. Devonport, Tasmania 21. Theodore, Qld.
8. Gawler, S.A. 22. Tooroona, Tasmania
9. Geelong, Victoria 23. Wagga, N.S.W.
10. Glenorchy, Tasmania 24. Wirulla, West Coast, S.A.
764 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

NEW ZEALAND
7. Palmerston North
8. Wanganui
1. Auckland: Mrs. Beryl Van der Vaart, 9. Whangarei
Secy., P.O. Box 1906
2. Devonport: Mr. E. B. M. Dewing, Secy.,
32 Hythe Tce., Mairangi Bay, Auck-
land
1. Cambridge
2. Hamilton
3. Mangakino
1. Albany 4. New Brighton
2. Dunedin, South Island 5. Oamaru, South I.
3. Eastbourne 6. Paeroa
4. Lower Hutt 7. Rama Rama, Auckland
5. Mangawai, Nelson 8. Turua, Hauraki Plains
6. New Plymouth 9. Weymouth, Auckland

FIJI
LOCALASSEMBLY
1. Suva: Mrs. V. Ali, Secy., P.O. Box 462

BahB'i Summer School, Esslingen, Germany, August 9-15, 1953.
Visitors included four Hands of the Cause from Persia and two from Germany, as well as
BahB'is from eight different countries (Germany, Austria, Persia,
United States of America, England, Switzerland, Italy and France).
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954 765

9. D I R E C T O R Y O F L O C A L I T I E S I N T H E
DOMINION O F CANADA WHERE
B A H A ' I S RESIDE
1953-1954

LOCAL ASSEMBLIES
ALBERTA 12. Hamilton: Miss Amy Putnam, Secy.,
1. Calgary: Miss Agnes Rusk, Secy., 76 21 Beulah Court
#I, 925-15th Ave., W. 13. Kingston: Miss Edna Halstead, Secy.,
Box 322
2. Edmonton: Miss Gwen Clarke, Secy., 14. London: Mrs. Dorothy Smith, Secy.,
7852 Jasper Ave. 179 Windsor Ave.
15. North York: Mrs. Evelyn Raynor,
BRITISHCOLUMBIA Secy., 32 Barwick Drive, Wilson
3. Vancouver: Mrs. K. Rimell, Secy., Heights
5480 Slocan St. 16. Oshawa: Miss Dorothy Sheets, Secy.,
4. Vernon: Mrs. Edna Montfort, Secy., 214 Burk St.
31 19 Barnard Ave. 17. Ottawa: Mr. John Davies, Secy., 345
5. Victoria: Mrs. Anne McGee, Secy., Laurier Ave. E., Apt. 5
1837 Gonzales Ave. 18. Pickering : Mrs. B. Pemberton-Pigott,
6. West Vancouver: Mrs. Katherine Secy., R.R. 2
Moscrop, Secy., 4422 Stone Cres., 19. Scarboro: Mrs. Joan Stewart, Secy.,
Cypress Park 101 Queensbury Ave., Toronto 13
20. Toronto: Mrs. Edith Blakely, Secy.,
MANITOBA 135 Castlefield Rd.
7. Winnipeg: Miss Miros Thom, Secy.,
Box 121 PRINCEEDWARD ISLAND
21. Charlottetown: Miss Frances Ba-
chynski, Secy., 249 Euston Ave.
8. Moncton: Mr. Ernest Barkes, Secy., UEBEC
57 Railway Ave. Q 22. Montreal: Mrs. Louise Boudler,
Secy., 3721 Coronet Rd.
SCOTIA 23. St. Lambert: Miss Margery Laming,
Halifax: Mrs. Audrey Rayne, Secy., Secy., 419 Notre Dame St.
16 Bayers Road 24. Verdun: Mrs. Naomie Theberge,
Secy., 215 River St., Apt. 11
ONTARIO 25. Westmount: Mrs. Yvonne Estall,
10. Etobicoke: Mrs. Joyce McLean, Secy., 538 Argyle Ave.
Secy., R.R. 1, Weston
11. Forest Hill: Mrs. Marjorie Merrick, SASKATCHEWAN
Secy., 592 Briar Hill Rd., Toronto 26. Saskatoon: Miss Beth Brookes, Secy.,
10 Box 322

GROUPS
ALBERTA 4. Mission City
1. Slave Lake 5. Nanaimo
2. Wildwood 6. Nelson
BRITISHCOLUMBIA 7. North Vancouver
3. Beach Camp 8. Penticton
766 THE BAHA'I WORLD

9. Salmon Arm 23. Copper Cliff
10. T'lell, Queen Charlotte Is. 24. Deseronto
11. Vernon P.O. 25. East York
12. Whalley 26. Forest
27. Galt
FRANKLIN DISTRICT 28. Georgetown
13. Arctic Bay 29. Hamilton Suburbs
30. Ingersoll
LABRADOR 3 1. Peterborough
14. Goose Bay 32. St. Catherines
3 3. Shannonville
MACKENZIE DISTRICT 34. Stony Creek
15. Yellowknife 35. Stouffville
36. Thorold
MANITOBA 37. Trenton
16. St. James 38. York Twp.
NEWFOUNDLAND QUEBEC
17. St. John's 39. Beloeil Stn.
40. Longueuil
NOVASCOTIA 41. Magdalen Is.
18. Baddeck
19. Sydney, Cape Breton I. SASKATCHEWAN
42. Regina
20. Aldershot
21. Belleville YUKON
22. Burlington 43. Whitehorse

ISOLATED CENTERS
ALBERTA 16. Saint John
1. Camrose 17. Sunnybrae
2. Carve1
3. LaCombe NOVASCOTIA
4. Peace River 18. Shearwater
19. Truro
BRITISHCOLUMBIA 20. Tuft's Cove
5. Crescent Beach
6. Cumberland ONTARIO
7. Kamloops 21. Amherstburg
8. Langley Prairie 22. Eastview
9. Oak Bay 23. Fruitland
10. Queen Charlotte City 24. Guelph
11. South Burnaby 25. LangstaE
26. London Suburbs
KEEWATIN DISTRICT 27. Long Branch
12. Baker Lake 28. Markham Twp.
29. Nobel
MANITOBA 30. Oxford Twp. North
13. Fort Garry 3 1. Oxford Twp. West
32. Penetanguishene
NEWBRUNSWICK 33. Stratford
14. Aulac 34. Sudbury
15. Grand Manan I. 35. Swansea
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954

36. Uxbridge 47. Lac Saguay
37. Waterloo 48. Mt. Royal
38. Welland 49. Noranda
39. Weston 50. Quebec City
40. Windsor 51. Rivikre Beaudette
52. St. Agathe
41. Carlton Siding
42. Clyde River SASKATCHEWAN
43. Vernon Bridge 53. Cabri
54. Carlyle
QUEBEC 55. Estlin
44. Beaulac 56. Moose Jaw
45. Fort George 57. Pierceland
46. Hampstead 58. Weyburn

Twelfth Bah2i Summer School held in Panchgani (India), October 16-25, 1951.

10. DIRECTORY O F LOCALITIES IN
T H E BRITISH ISLES WHERE
BAHA'IS R E S I D E
1953-1954

LOCAL ASSEMBLIES
EIRE 3. Blackburn: Miss J. Kranen, Secy.,
1. Dublin: Adib Taherzadeh, Secy., 8 Park View, Haslingden Rd., Black-
Belmont Villas, Donnybrook, Dub- burn, Lancs.
lin 4. Blackpool: Mrs. Hyett, Secy., 46
Chepstow Rd.
ENGLAND 5. Bournemouth: Mrs. Cranmer, Secy.,
2. Birmingham: Mrs. Goode, Secy., 29 52A Southbourne Rd., South-
Robert Rd., Birmingham 20 bourne, Bournemouth
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

6. Bradford: Mrs. Naylor, Secy., 4 17. Oxford: Miss J. Campbell, Secy., 18
Derby St., Great Horton, Bradford Rawlinson Rd.
7. Brighton: Miss Doreen Geary, Secy., 18. Sheffield: Mrs. Broom, Secy., 38
154 Woodland Dr., Hove 4 Wadsley Lane, Sheffield 6
8. Bristol: Mrs. Weeks, Secy., 9 Cale- 19. Stockport: C. Johnson, Secy., 35
donia Place, Clifton, Bristol Neal Ave., Heald Green, Cheshire
9. Leeds: R. H. Backwell, Secy., 90 20. Torquay: J. A. Povey, Secy., 8 Ab-
Carr Manor Rd., Leeds 7 bey Place
10. Liverpool: Miss S. Farnsworth, Secy., NORTHERN IRELAND
19 Canning St., Liverpool 8 21. Belfast: Mrs. Beattie, Secy., 27 Rock-
11. London: E. Munsiff, Secy., 9 Clifford land St.
St., London W. 1
12. Manchester: Mrs. Senior, Secy., 15 SCOTLAND
Oaklands Rd., Swinton, Lancs. 22. Edinburgh: Miss Noora Faridian,
13. Newcastle: J. Jameson, Secy., 2 1 Secy., 26 Findlay Grove, Edin-
Beech Grove, Wallsend, Northum- burgh 7
berland 23. Glasgow: Miss A. Williams, Secy.,
14. Northampton: Miss A. Stevens, 285 Bellshill Rd., Motherwell,
Secy., 1 Bruce St. Lanarkshire
15. Norwich: Miss E. Bird, Secy., 238 WALES
Heigham St. 24. Cardiff: D. G. McArthur, Secy., 8
16. Nottingham: Miss 0. Sutton, Secy., Stanwell Cres., Penarth, Glamor-
212 Mansfield Rd. gan

A view of the service dedicated to the Ezeiza International BahL'i School,
Argentina, at the opening of the Convention School Session, 1952.
BAHA'I: D I R E C T O R Y 1 9 5 3 - 1 9 5 4

GROUPS AND ISOLATED CENTERS
ENGLAND 20. Reading
1. Abbotsbury 2 1. Rossington
2. Amersham 22. Salisbury
3. Amesbury 23. Southend
24. Thetford
4. Arundel
5. Broadstairs
6. Carshalton
7. Chatham
8. Cobham SCOTLAND
9. Coventry
26. Brechin
10. Dorking 27. Humbie
11. Grays 28. Langholm
12. Hull
13. Ilkeston WALES
14. Kirkby Lonsdale 29. Abergele
15. Middlewich 30. Swansea
16. Newport 31. Talybont
17. Old Coulsdon
18. Plymouth ISLEOF MAN
19. RadclilTe on Trent 32. Maughold

11. DIRECTORY O F LOCALITIES IN
GERMANY AND AUSTRIA WHERE
BAHA'IS R E S I D E
1953-1954

GERMANY

9. Goppingen: Fr. Helene Miiller, Secy.,
Hohenstaufenstr. 26
1. Berlin: Fr. Rosa Lehne, Secy., Berlin- 10. Hamburg: Fr. Ruth Kohl, Secy.,
Charlottenburg, Schloss-Str. 29 Harzloh 48, Hamburg 33
2. Bonn: Mr. Bozorg Hemmati, Secy., 11. Heidelberg: Herrn Fritz Schaefer,
Helmholtzstr. 21 Secy., Steubenstr. 3a
3. Darmstadt: Dr. Rudolf Jockel 11, Secy., 12. Karlsruhe: Frl. Waltraut Weber, Secy.,
Barkhausstr. 70 Karlsruhe-Ruppurr, Resedenweg 88
4. Dusseldorf: Frl. Ursula Miihlschlegel, 13. Ludwigsburg : Frl. Ruth Deuschle,
Secy., Diisseldorf-Gerresheim,Naum- Secy., Ulrichstr. 8
burgerstr. 10 14. Munchen: Ursula Hoffinann, Secy.,
5. Ebingen: Herrn Erwin Patz, Secy., Munchen-Obermenzing, Menzinger-
Steinbeisstr. 9 str. 94
6. Esslingenpeckar : Herrn Peter Rom- 15. Stuttgart: Fr. Herma Miihlschlegel,
mel, Secy., Kepplerstr. 10 Secy., Stuttgart-S, Alexanderstr. 112
7. Frankfurt/Main: Fr. Johanna v. Wer- 16. Tubingen: Frl. Natalie Monte, Secy.,
thern, Secy., Eysseneckstr. 25 Postamt 11, Postfach 647
8. Freiburgpr.: Frl. Luise Trautwein, 17. Ulm/Donau: H e m Heinrich Basse,
Secy., Zasiusstr. 65 Secy., Saarlandstr. 79
BAHA'I DI'RECTORY 1953-1954

1. Bad Nauheim 1. Boblingenmttbg.
2. Bad Riefenau 2. Brernen
3. Balzholz/Wttbg. 3. Bruchkobel/Hessen
4. Berkheim/Wttbg. 4. Burgfelden/Wttbg.
5. Braunschweig 5. Cadolzburg b. Fiirth
6. Dinslacken 6. Dilsberg/Baden
7. Eggstatt/Bayern 7. Farchant/Bayern
8. Fellbach/Wttbg. 8. Garmisch-Partenkirchen
9. FiirthjBayern 9. Gottingen
10. Geislingen/Steige 10. Griesheim b. Darmstadt
11. Giessen/Lahn 11. Immenstaad/Bodensee
12. Grevingsberg/Oldenburg 12. Irschenhausen b. Miinchen
13. Hambach/Bergstr. 13. Lampertheim/Hessen
14. Hanau 14. Langen
15. Hannover 15. Laubach
16. Haunstetten b. Augsburg 16. Lich b. Giessen
17. Heilbronn/Neckar 17. Lowenstein/Wttbg.
18. Heppenheim/Bergstr. 18. Mannheim
19. Immenstadt/Allg'au 19. Marburg/Lahn
20. Ingelheim/Rhein 20. Mehlem b. Bonn
2 1. Jugenheim/Bergstr. 2 1. Mulheim/Ruhr
22. Kelsterbach/Main 22. Neckarsulm
23. Kentzingen/Baden 23. Neukirchen
24. Kiel 24. Oberau/Bayern
25. Koln/Rhein 25. Offenbach/Main
26. Kronberg/Taunus 26. Reichenbach/Fils
27. Kiissnach/Baden 27. Saarbrucken
28. Mainz 28. Sanderbusch/Holstein
29. MullheimjBaden 29. Schleissheim
30. Medenbach/Taunus 30. Schwab. Hall
3 1. Messel-Grube 3 1. Seeheim/Bergstr.
32. Neckargemiind 32. Tailfingenflttbg.
33. Nellingenmttbg. 33. Uelzen/Niedersachsen
34. Niirnberg 34. Wachendorfrnttbg.
35. Oberdielbach/Odenwald 35. WaiMingen/Wttbg.
36. Pfullingenpttbg. 36. Weil/Rhein
37. Plochingen/Wttbg. 37. Weilheim/Teck/Wttbg.
38. Spiegelbergpttbg. 38. Weissenburg/Bayern
39. Trautheim b. Darmstadt 39. Wesel/Niederrhein
40. Uberlingen/Bodensee 40. Wessling/Bayern
4 1. Villingen/Schwarzwald 4 1. Westerland/Sylt/Frisian Js.
42. Weinheim/Bergstr. 42. Wiesenfeld/Bayern
43. Wendlingenmttbg. 43. Wyck/Fohr/Frisian Is.
44. Wiesbaden 44. Zizishausenrnttbg.
45. Zwingenberg/Bergstr.

AUSTRIA

LOCALASSEMBLY CENTERS
ISOLATED
1. Wien (Vienna) : Frl. Margarete Lentz, 1. Ehrwald/Tirol
Secy., Wien IX, Liechtensteinstr. 2. Linzponau
121/25 3. Salzburg
772 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Bahi'i Summer School at Hyderabad-Sind (Pgkisth), 1952-1953.

12. DIRECTORY O F LOCALITIES I N
E G Y P T A N D T H E SUDAN W H E R E
BAHA'IS R E S I D E
1953-1954

EGYPT

LOCALASSEMBLIES 7. Damanhour
1. Alexandria: P.O. Box 1865 8. Delta Barrage
2. Cairo: P.O. Box 29, Faggala 9. Desouk
3. Ismailia: Mr. Khalil Ayyad, Secy., 152 10. Ein Shams
Rue Leusseau 11. El Berigat
4. Mansourah: Mr. Abdul Halim Fadel, 12. Etsa Fayyoumieh
Secy., %Telegraph Office 13. Ezbet El Zeitoun
5. Mehalla-el-Kobra: Mr. Mustafa Mo- 14. Fayyum
hammed, Secy., Storekeeper Egyptian 15. Heliopolis
State Railways, Samannoud 16. Helwan les Bains
6. Port Said: P.O. Box 339 17. Kafr El Dawar
7. Sohag: P.O. Box 17 18. Kafr El Zaayat
8. Suez: P.O. Box 108 19. Kena
9. Tanta: P.O. Box 9 20. Khatatba
21. Kom El Saayda
22. Maadi
23. Mallawi
1. Assiut 24. Mataria
2. Balyana 25. Minia
3. Beba 26. Rosetta
4. Benha 27. Samannoud
5. Beni Suef 28. Shebin El Korn
6. Caluib
BAHA'I DIRECTORY 1953-1954

LOCALASSEMBLY ISOLATED
CENTERS
1. Khartoum: P.O. Box 28, Khartoum 1. Kosti
North 2. Port S h d h
3. Wad Medani

13. DIRECTORY O F LOCALITIES
WHERE BAHA'IS RESIDE UNDER
THE JURISDICTION O F THE
N A T I O N A L S P I R I T U A L ASSEMBLY
O F T H E BAHA'IS O F ' I R A Q
1953-1954
'IRAQ
LOCALASSEMBLIES GROUPSAND ISOLATED
CENTERS
1. 'AvL&iq: % Mr. Izzat Jalil Shirin, 1. Fao
Secy., 'Avashiq-Miqdadiyih 2. Huwaider
2. Ba'aqubih: % Mr. Mohammed Jawad 3. Karbili
Al-Bassam, Secy. 4. Kirkuk
3. Baghdid: P.O. Box 5 5. Kufa
4. ~ a G a h :C/;, Mr. Naji Al-Hasani, Secy., 6. Miqdadiyih
Ahar, Basrah 7. Musayab
5. Dhiyabih: % Mr. Husain Jamil, Secy., 8. Najaf
Dhiyabih-Miqdadiyih 9. Sulayminiyyih
6. Mosul: P.O. Box 19

JORDAN
LOCALASSEMBLIES
1. 'Adasiyyih: % Farid Jamshidi, Secy., 2. 'Amman: % Mohammed Shoghi Ja'-
Erbid, 'Adasiyyih afer, P.O. Box 218

KOWEIT
LOCALASSEMBLY
1. Koweit: % Mohsen Amouzkar, Secy.,
P.O. Box 38, Koweit, Persian Gulf

DUBAI
LOCALASSEMBLY
1. Dubai: C/o Mr. J. Setoodih, Secy.,
Dubai, Persian Gulf
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

QATAR
LOCALASSEMBLY
1. Qatar: % Mr. M. Rawhani, Secy.,
Qatar, Persian Gulf

14. DIRECTORY O F LOCALITIES I N
ITALY AND SWITZERLAND WHERE
BAHA'IS R E S I D E
1953-1954
ITALY
LOCALASSEMBLIES 2. Milan
1. Florence: Prof. Aldo Lonzar, ,!kcy., 3. San Marhi0
Via della Scala 25 ISOLATED CENTERS
2. Naples: Prof. Mario Langione, Secy., Cagliari, Sardinia
Rione Cavallegeri Aosta, Fuorigrotta, 2mMBta
Ina Casa 25 3. Palermo, Sicily
3. Rome: Casella Postale 252, Roma 4. Sari Remo
Centro 5. Sorrento
GROUPS 6. Taormina, Sicily
1. Genoa 7. Venice

SWITZERLAND
LOCALASSEMBLIES GROUPS
1. Bern: Mr. Hans Miiller, Secy., Brunn- 1. Base1
mattstrasse 32 2. Balsthal
3. Cham
4. Diepoldsau
2. Geneva: Mrs. Anne Lynch, Secy., 37 5. Heerbrugg
Quai Wilson 6. Lausanne
7. Samedan
3. Ziirich: Miss Verena Staub, Secy., La- 8. Widnau
vaterstrasse 69, Ziirich 1 9. Wolf halden
BAHA'I BIBLIO GRAPHY
1 BAHA'U'LLAH'S BEST-KNOWN WRITINGS

Alvfih-i-Laylalu'l-Quds. Lawh-i-Hirtik.
A$1-i-Qullu'l-Lhayr. Lawh-i-Huriyyih.
Az-Bfigh-i-Ilfihi. Lawh-i-Husayn.
Bfiz-A<u-~idih-Jfimi. Lawh-i-Ibn-i-D-hi'b (Epistle to the Son of
Bi&firfit (Glad-Tidings) . the Wolf).
Chihfir-Vfidi (Four Valleys). Lawh-i-Ittihfid.
G_hhulfimu'l-Khuld. Lawh-i-Jamfil.
Haft-Vfidi (Seven Valleys). Lawh-i-Karim.
Halih-Halih-Yfi-Bi&firat. Lawh-i-Karmil.
Hhr-i-'UjLb. Lawh-i-Kullu't-Ta'fim.
Hurdffit-i-'Allin. Lawh-i-Malikih (Tablet to Queen Victoria).
I&rfiqfit (Effulgences) . Lawh-i-Malik-i-Rfis (Tablet to the Czar of
Kalimfit-i-Firdawsiyyih (Words of Paradise). Russia).
Kalimfit-i-MaknGnih (Hidden Words). Lawh-i-Mallfihu'l-Quds (Tablet of -the Holy
Kitfib-i-'Ahd (Book of Covenant). Mariner).
Kitfib-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book). Lawh-i-Manikc_hi-Sfihib.
Kitfib-i-Bfidi'. Lawh-i-Maqsfid.
Kitfib-i-fqfin (Book of Certitude). Lawh-i-Maryam.
Kitfib-i-Sultfin (Tablet to the Sbfih of Persia). Lawh-i-Mawldd.
Lawh-i-'Abdu'l-'Aziz-Va-Vukalfi. Lawh-i-Mubfihilih.
Lawh-i-'Abdu'l-Vahhfib. Lawh-i-Nfipulylin I (First Tablet to Napo-
Lawh-i-'Abudu'r-Razzfiq. leon 111).
Lawh-i-Ahbfib. Lawh-i-NfipulyGn I1 (Second Tablet to Na-
Lawh-i-Ahmad (Tablet of Ahmad). poleon 111).
Lawh-i-Amvgj. Lawh-i-Nfisir.
Lawh-i-Anta'l-K6fi Lawh-i-Nuqtih.
Lawh-i-Aqdas. Lawh-i-Pfip (Tablet to the Pope).
Lawh-i-A&raf. Lawh-i-Pisar-'Amm.
Lawh-i-'A&iq-va-MaC&fiq. Lawh-i-Qink‘.
Lawh-i-Ayiy-i-Nfir. Lawh-i-Quds.
Lawh-i-Bahfi. Lawh-i-Rafi'.
Lawh-i-BaqL Lawh-i-Ra'is (Tablct to Ra'is) .
Lawh-i-Basitatu'l-Haqiqih. Lawh-i-Raqs_hL'.
Lawh-i-Bismilih. Lawh-i-Rasfil.
Lawh-i-Bulbulu'l-Firgq. Lawh-i-RGh.
Lawh-i-Burhin. Lawh-i-Ru'y6.
Lawh-i-Dunyfi (Tablet of the World). Lawh-i-Sahfib.
Lawh-i-Fitnih. Lawh-i-Salmfin I.
Lawh-i-Ghulfimu'l-Khuld. Lawh-i-Salmfin 11.
Lawh-i-Habib. Lawh-i-SAmsh.
Lawh-i-Haft-Pursi&. Lawh-i-Sayyfih.
Lawh-i-Hajj. Lawh-i-KhaykJh-Ffini.
Lawh-i-Hawdaj. Lawh-i-Tawhid.
Lawh-i-Hikmat (Tablet of Wisdom). Lawh-i-Tibb.
776 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Lawh-i-Tuqi. SGriy-i-Hajj I.
Lawh-i-YGsuf. SGriy-i-Hajj 11.
Lawh-i-Zaynu'l-Muqarrabin. SGriy-i-Haykal.
Lawh-i-Ziyirih. SGriy-i-Hif7.
Madinatu'r-Rid&. SGriy-i-Hijr.
Madinatu't-Tawhid. SGriy-i-'Ibhd.
Mahavi. SGriy-i-Ism.
MunijithAy-i-SiyAm. SGriy-i-Ismuna'l-Mursil.
Qad-Ihtaraqa'l-M~&&&6n. SGriy-i-JavAd.
Qasidiy-i-Varqi'iyyih. S6riy-i-K-hitib.
Ram-i-'Am& S6riy-i-Ma'ini.
RidvAnu71-'Adl. SGriy-i-Manc.
Ridvinu'l-IqrAr. SGriy-i-MulGk.
Sa.l$iy-i-S_hateyyih. Siiriy-i-Nidi.
Salif-i-Mayyit (Prayer for the Dead). Sbriy-i-Nush.
Siqi-Az-G-hayb-i-BaqB SGriy-i-Qadir.
Xhikkar-ghikan-ghavand. SGriy-i-Qahir.
Subhina-Rabbiya'l-'AIL. SGriy-i-Qalam.
Subhgnika-YA-HG. SGriy-i-Qamis.
Sbratu-'llih. SGriy-i-Sabr.
SGriy-i-Alpin. Sdriy-i-Sultan.
SGriy-i-Amin. SGriy-i-Vaf &
SGriy-i-Amr. SGriy-i-Ziyirih.
SGriy-i-Krib. SGriy-i-Zubur.
SGriy-i-AshAb. SGriy-i-Ziihbr.
SGriy-i-Asmi'. Tafsir-i-Hh.
SGriy-i-Bay&. Tafsir-i-HurGf it-i-Muqawih.
SGriy-i-Burhin. Tafsir-i-SGriy-i-Va'&-Shams.
SGriy-i-Damm. Tajalliyk (Revelations).
SGriy-i-Ehabih. Targzit (Ornaments).
SGriy-i-D-hibh. Ziyirat-Nimih (The Visiting Tablet).
SGriy-i-Ehikr. Ziyhat-Ngmiy-i-Awliyi.
SGriy-i-Fadl. Ziyirat-Nimiy-i-Bibu'l-Bib va QuddGs.
SGriy-i-Fath. Ziyirat-Nhmiy-i-Bayt.
SGriy-i-Fu'id. Ziyirat-NAmiy-i-Maryam.
SGriy-i-G-hum (Tablet of the Branch). Ziy6rat-NAmiy-i-Siyyidu'&-Shuhad A.

2. THE B A B ' S B E S T - K N O W N W O R K S
The Arabic Bayin. Risgliy-i-Dhahabiyyih.
Commentary on the SGrih of Kawaar. Risiliy-i-Fiqhiyyih.
Commentary on the SGrih of Va'l-'Asr. Ris Aliy-i-Fun?‘-i-‘Adliyyih.
Dali'il-i-Sab'ih. Sahif atu'l-paramayn.
Epistles to Muhammad ghih and Hiji S&ifiy-i-Ja'f ariyyih.
Mirzi Aqisi. Sahifiy-i-Mak_hdhGmiyyih.
KhasPil-i-Sab'ih. Sahifiy-i-Radaviyyih.
Kitib-i-AsrnV. S6riy-i-Tawhid.
Kitbb-i-Panj-SJha'n. Tafsir-i-Nubuwat-i-K_hissih.
Kit Abu'r-Riih. Ziyirat-i-SJhih-'Abdu'l-'Azim.
Lawh-i-HurGfh.
The Persian Bayin. N.B.-The BAb Himself states in one pas-
Qayybmu'l-Asmi'. sage of the Persian Bayin that His writings
Risaiy-i-'Adliyyih. comprise no less than 500,000 verses.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 777

3. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS O F T H E UNITED
STATES O F AMERICA IN PRINT

The titles in this section include those B a h a works which have been approved as
authentic and reliable and which likewise are in print and available at the date this list
is made. They are published and distributed by Bahri'i Publishing Committee, I 1 0 Linden
Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.

(a) WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys.
Translated by Ali-Kuli Khan and Marzieh
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf. Gail. Two treatises which describe the
Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Addressed stages that the soul must traverse to attain
to a Muslim priest who had been a savage the object of its existence. Introduction
enemy of the Faith. The result of opposi- by Dr. Robert Gulick, Jr. 62 pp. Bound
tion to the Prophet of God, and proofs in fabrikoid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.25
adduced to establish the validity of the Bound in paper ................$ .75
Faith. Introduction by Marzieh Gail. Three Obligatory Daily Prayers.
182 pp. and glossary and index. Bound in By Bahi'u'llkh. Translated by Shoghi
cloth ........................$2.50
Effendi. The three obligatory prayers, any
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahri'u'lla'h. one of which is to be selected for daily
Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Excerpts use by Bahi'is. 14 pp. Stiff cover. Per
from the sacred writings of Bahi'u'llhh, copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .10
touching on the nature of religion, the
spiritual nature of man, and the transfor-
mation of human society. Introduction by
Dr. Wm. Kenneth Christian. 346 pp. and The Ba'b's Address to the
glossary and index. Bound in fabrikoid Letters o f the Living.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.00 Reproduced in pamphlet form from
Hidden Words. hand-lettered copy of pages 92-94 of the
Translated by Shoghi Effendi. The es- Dawn-Breakers. 12 pp. . . . . . . . . . $ .10
sence of all ievealcd truth, expressed in
brief penetrating meditations. Introduc- (c) WRITINGS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA
tion by George Townshend. 52 pp.
Bound in fabrikoid . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.25 America's Spiritual Mission.
Bound in paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .75 Epistles revealed by 'Abdu'l-Bahk in
1916-1917 to the American BahVis out-
Kita'b-i-lqa'n (Book of Certitude). lining their teaching responsibilities
Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Sets forth around the world. 54 pp. Self cover $ .20
the grand redemptive scheme of God, re-
vealing the oneness of religion, its conti- The Bah& Peace Program.
nuity and evolution through the successive Two letters, to the Committee on Durable
Prophets of God, and elucidates some of Peace, The Hague, and to the late Dr.
the allegorical and abstruse passages of Auguste Fore1 of Switzerland, expound-
the Jewish, Christian and Muslim Scrip- ing the principles essential to the attain-
tures. Introduction by Helen Bishop. 257 ment of world unity and peace. 48 pp.
pp. and glossary and index. Bound in Bound in fabrikoid . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.50
cloth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.00 Bound in paper ............... $ .75
Index, separately (for older edition) $ .15
Foundations o f World Unity.
Prayers and Meditations. A selection of 'Abdu'l-BahVs public ad-
Translated by Shoghi Effendi. A selection dresses and letters on the theme of the
of communes and devotional passages re- spiritual foundations of world unity. In-
vealed by Bahi'u'llLh. 339 pp. and index. troduction by Horace Holley. 178 pp.
Bound in fabrikoid ............$3.00 Bound in paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.OO
77 8 THE BAHA'I WORLD

BahL'i Group of Aden, Aden Protectorate, November 22, 1953.

Some Answered Questions. World Order Through World Faith.
Collected and translated by Laura Clif- Selected public addresses of 'Abdu'l-Bah6.
ford Barney. 'Abdu'l-BahL's explanations 32 pp. Ten copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .50
of a wide variety of spiritual and philo-
sophic questions, including the nature and (d) WORKS COMPILED FROM
influence of the Prophets, the nature of WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH
man and certain Biblical subjects. Intro- AND 'ABDU'L-BAHA
duction by Laura Clifford Barney. New BahBi World Faith.
introd~~ction to 1954 edition by Anna- Selections from writings of Bahi'u'llih
marie Honnold. 350 pp. Bound in cloth and 'Abdu'l-Bahi.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.00 466 pp. Bound in cloth . . . . . . . . .$2.00
Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha'. BahBi World Faith-Centennial Edition.
The Charter which establishes the Guard- 466 pp.
ianship and delineates the major features Bound in red leather, net ........$5.00
of the administrative institutions of the
Bahi'i Faith. The provisions of the Will Bahd'i Writings-Excerpts and Prayers.
protect the integrity and unity of the Compilation by Amelia E. Collins and
Faith. Complete text, 26 pp. Stiff cover Florence R. Morton.
............................. $ .25 56 pp. Red paper .............. $ .50
Selections from the Will and Testament, Divine Art of Living.
accompanied by passages from the Writ- Bah6'u311ih and 'Abdu'l-Bahi. Compiled
ings of the Bkb and Bahi'u'lih which re- by Mabel Hyde Paine. Selections.treating
veal the continuity of the Faith, and by of the qualities that characterize whole-
passages from the communications af ness of living, the means to attain these
Shoghi Effendi explaining the significance and the goals of spiritual development.
of the Will and Testament itself. 20 pp. 128 pp. and notes. Bound in fabrikoid
Paper cover ...................$ .20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.50
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 779

(e) WORKS COMPILED FROM Bah& Administration.
WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH, The letters written by Shoghi Effendi to
THE BAB AND 'ABDU'L-BAHA the American Bahi'i communitw. from
January, 1922, to July, 1932, in h{szcapac-
Bahd'i Prayers (General). ity of Guardian of the Bahi'i Faith, to en-
Bahi'u'llbh, The Bbb, 'Abdu'l-BahB. A courage, guide and instruct the BahL'is in
selection of the prayers revealed by the carrying out the provisions of the Will
three central Figures of the Faith. 112 pp. and Testament of 'Abdu'l-BahB concern-
Bound in old ivory Spanish leatherette ing the organic development of the
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.25
. Bahb'i community. The volume also con-
Bah& Prayers (General and Occasional). tains excerpts from 'Abdu'l-Bahi's Will,
Contains the prayers in the "General" edi- and an Appendix consisting of the Dec-
tion and also prayers suited to Bahi'i oc- laration of Trust and By-Laws of the
casions, such as the Tablet of Ahmad, National Spiritual Assembly, and By-
Tablets of Visitation and the Obligatory Laws for local Spiritual Assemblies. 198
Prayers. 190 pp. pp. (1945.) Bound in fabrikoid . . .$2.50
Bound in simulated morocco . . . . . $1.50 The Bah& Faith.
Survey, 1844-1944. 24 pp. Self cover.
Communion With God. Fifty copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.50
Bahi'u'llbh, the Bbb, 'Abdu'l-Bahb. A se-
lection of prayers in pocket size edition. The Bahd'i Faith, 1844-1 950.
24 pp. Bound in paper . . . . . . . . . . $ .15 36 pp. Stiff cover. Per copy ......$ .25
The Bah& Faith, 1844-1952.
(f) WORKS COMPILED FROM Information statistical and comparative.
WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH, Including Supplement: Ten Year Inter-
'ABDU'L-BAHA AND SHOGHI national Bahi'i Teaching and Consolida-
EFFENDI tion Plan 1953-1963. Compiled by Shoghi
Effendi. 74 pp. Map. Stiff paper cover
Selected Writings of Bahd'u'lldh, 'Abdu'l- ............................. $ .75
Bahd, and Shoghi Effendi.
The Challenging Requirements o f the Pres-
Three books, 48 pp. each. Bound in ent Hour.
paper. Sold only in set of three. A general letter written by Shoghi Effendi
Price per set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .50 to the Bahb'is in North, Sonth and Cen-
tral America and their representatives in
The Open Door. Europe, dated June 5, 1947. Self cover.
Bahi'u'llbh and 'Abdu'l-Bahft. Compila- 36 pp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ .25
tion on immortality. Paper cover. Twelve copies ................. $1.OO
Ten copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ .50
100 copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4.50 The Citadel o f the Faith of Bahd'u'lla'h.
A general letter to the National Spiritual
(g) WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI Assembly of the Bahi'is of the United
States, dated November 8, 1948. Self
The Advelzt o f Divine Justice. cover. 8 pp. ................... $ .25
A general letter written by Shoghi Effendi Twelve copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.OO
to the American Bahb'is, dated December The Dispensation of Bahd'u'lla'h.
25, 1938. This communication empha- A letter addressed by Shoghi Effendi to
sizes the Bahi'i teachings in the encour- the Bahi'is of the West, dated February
agement and protection of racial and 8, 1934. In this letter the Guardian of the
religious minorities, the quality of integ- Bahi'i Faith clarifies, with numerous quo-
rity in administrative bodies, and the tations from Bahi'i sacred writings, the
virtue of chastity. 78 pp. Paper cover spiritual station and mission of Bahi'-
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .75 u'llbh, the Bbb, 'Abdu'l-Bahb, and the na-
America and the Most Great Peace. ture of the World Order which 3ahb'-
By Shoghi Effendi. A letter to the Bahi'is u'llbh established. 66 pp. Bound in paper
of North America dated April 21, 1933. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .25
24 pp. Available only in The World Order Available also in The World Order o f
o f Baha"u'l1dh. Baha"u'1ldh.
780 T H E B A H A. ' I W O R L D

The Faith of Bahd'u'lla'h, a World Religion. the Bgb on Mt. Carmel. Self cover. 8 pp.
Shoghi Effendi. A statement prepared for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .10
United Nations Special Palestine Com-
mittee, July, 1947. 8 pp. and cover. Ten The Unfoldment of World Civilization.
copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.OO By Shoghi Effendi. A letter dated March
11, 1936, giving an analysis of the death
The Goal of a New World Order. of the old order and the birth of the new.
By Shoghi Effendi. In this communication 46 pp. Available only in The World Order
(dated November 28, 1931) the Guard- o f Bahd'u'llah.
ian analyzes the existing international,
political, economic and social problems, The World Order of Bahd'u'lla'h.
points to the signs of impending chaos, Seven successive communications from
and emphasizes the guiding principles of Shoghi Effendi, 1929 to 1936, which de-
world order established by Bahb'u'llgh. fine the relation of the Bahb'i Faith to the
32 pp. Available only in The Wovld process of social evolution in this new
Order o f Bahci'u'lla'h. age. Introduction by Horace Holley. 206
pp. and index. Bound in fabrikoid
God Passes By. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2.00
A history of the Bahb'i Faith throughout
its first century, 1844-1944, by Shoghi Ef- The World Order of Bahd'u'lla'h.
fendi. Introd~~ctionby George Town- By Shoghi Effendi. A letter (dated Feb-
shend. 412 pp. with index. ruary 27, 1929) from the Guardian of
Bound in fabrikoid . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.00 the Bahi'i Faith explaining the continuity
Index, separately . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 of the Faith after the passing of 'Abdu'l-
BakB, and relating Bahb'i institutions to
The Golden Age o f the Cause of Baha''- the ideal of world order and peace. 16 pp.
u'lldh. Available only in The World Order o f
By Shoghi Effendi. The Guardian's letter Bahd'u'llah, above.
(dated March 21, 1932) referring to the
spiritual importance of America in the The World Order of Bahd'u'lla'h: Further
new world order. 24 pp. Available only in Considerations.
The World Order o f Bahci'u'lla'h. By Shoghi Effendi. This letter (dated
March 21, 1930) develops the subject
Messages to America. with remarks on the distinguishing fea-
Selected letters and cablegrams addressed tures of Bahb'i world order, and on the
by Shoghi Effendi to the Bahb'is of North essential differences between the BahA'i
America 1932-1946. 118 pp. Faith and ecclesiastical organizations. 16
Bound in fabrikoid . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2.00 pp. Available only in The World Order
of Bahd'u'lla'h.
Messages from the Guardian.
Letters and cablegrams received from World Order Unfolds.
Shoghi Effendi. June, 1932, to July, 1940; A selection of the messages of the Guard-
compiled from Bahd'i News. 78 pp. Paper ian starting with passages from the God
cover. Each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .20 Given Mandate (1946) and showing the-
rapid evolution of the institutions of the
The Promised Day Is Come.
Faith to March, 1952. 46 pp. Paper
By Shoghi Effendi. The Guardian's force-
cover. Per copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .20
ful explanation of the present world-wide
Ten copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2.00
moral and social chaos as the result of the
rejection of the Prophet of God for this A World Survey, The Bahd'i Faith.
day. 129 pp. and index. Bound in paper Compiled by Shoghi Effendi.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.50 24 pp., self cover. 50 copies . . . . . .$1.50
Spiritual Poterlcies o f That Consecrated ( h ) WRITINGS ON THE
Spot. BAHA'I FAITH
This letter. dated October 25. 1939. con-
veys to thk Bahb'is of the west, the sig- 'Abdu'l-Baha'-The Center of the Covenant.
nificance of the interment of members of By Juliet Thompson.
Bah&'u'lliih's Family near the Shrine of 28 pp. per copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .25
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 781

Bahb'i Group in Hyogo-ken, Osaka, Japan, in front of their Bahb'i Hall, the gift of
Mr. Nonreddin Momtazi, second from right, front row. Miss Agnes Alexander,
early pioneer to Japan, seated third from right. This group will form
the second Local Spiritual Assembly in Japan on April 21, 1954.

Appreciations of the Bahh'i Faith. The Chosen Highway.
Appreciations of the Faith by scholars, By Lady Blomfield. Historical accounts
writers and prominent people over the of the Three Central Figures of the Faith
world. 70 pp. Bound in paper . . . .$ .25 drawn mainly from personal conversa-
tions and letters from persons closely as-
Bah8i Answers. sociated with the early days of the Faith.
Compiled by Olivia Kelsey from the writ- Introduction and notes by H. M. Balyuzi
ings of Bahb'u'llfih, The BBb, 'Abdu'l- and David Hofman. 164 pp. Bound in
Bahi and Shoghi Effendi. This book is for fabrikoid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2.00
the convenience of Bahb'i teachers, stu-
dents and seekers for a broader knowl- The Dawn-Breakers: Nabil's Narrative o f
edge of the Bahb'i Faith. 258 pp. Bound the Early Days of the B a h a Revelation.
in heavy paper. Per copy . . . . . . . . $2.50 Translated and Edited by Shoghi Effendi.
An outstanding historical record by an
The Bahh'i Centenary 1844-1944. eyewitness to many of the most moving
Bound in fabrikoid. 254 pp. . . . . . . $2.00 incidents sf the early days of the Faith,
and contains a detailed account of the
Bahh'u'lldh and the New Era. martyrdom of the Bfib on July 9, 1850.
By Dr. J. E. Esslemont. An authoritative The text is liberally annotated from his-
and comprehensive survey of Bahb'i his- tories by contemporary European schol-
tory and teachings as related to present ars. 668 pp. and appendix and index. 11-
religious, scientific and social conditions lustrated. Bound in green fabrikoid
in Europe and America, with many quo- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7.50
tations from the writings. Edition revised
by the National Spiritual Assembly under The Dawn-Breakers, Translation of French
the direction of Shoghi Effendi. 350 pp. Footnotes in.
Bound in fabrikoid . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.25 Translated by Emily McBride PCrigord.
Paper cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 84 pp. Bound in paper . . . . . . . . . . $ .75
782 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Do'a: The Call to Prayer. they provide to questions often asked,
By Ruth J. Moffett. An exposition on the particularly by people of Christian back-
practice of prayer, with a selection of ground. Compiled for use in connection
prayers from various religions. 126 pp. with the Assembly of the World Council
Bound in paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.25 of Churches, Evanston, Ill., 1954. 75 pp.
Per copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .35
The Martyr-Prophet of a World Faith. 10 copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2.50
Written by William B. Sears for the Cen-
tenary of the BAb's Martyrdom. 20 pp. The Destiny of America.
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selections from BahL'i teachings. 134 pp. Clifford Barney in 1907 and incorporated
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Security for a Failing World. 100 copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.OO
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BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 783

illustration of the Temple. 20 copies Chicago Sunday Tribune Reprint.
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The Books of God Are Open. The Meaning of Worship.
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Religion Returns. Words for the World.
Baker An Readings from the Bahf i Sacred Writings
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BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 785

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The Drama of Salvation: Days of Judgment (m) CHILDREN'S COURSES
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786 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

T o Live the Life. Norwegian
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BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 787

Features full-page illuminated Tablet of Volume VII (April, 1936-April, 1938).
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velopments in the Case of BahPu'llhh's various designs submitted for the House
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Norway, Professor Christensen of Den- of the construction work on the Shrine of
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tion to the BahPi Faith. Center of the Faith at Haifa, Israel.
788 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

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3 A . BAHA'I P U B L I C A T I O N S O F T H E
UNITED STATES O F AMERICA
THAT ARE OUT OF PRINT
(a) WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH Definition o f Love, by 'Abdu'l-BahS. Re-
ceived at New York, December 7, 1902.
The Book o f Zghdn. Translated by 'Ali-Kuli
KJhSn. Superseded by Shoghi Effendi's Divine Secret for Human Civilization. Com-
translation entitled Kitdb-i-lqdn or Book piled from the words of 'Abdu'l-BahL by
o f Certitude. Josephine D. Storey. 96 pp.
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf. Translated Foundations o f World Unity. Compiled
by Julie Chanler. Superseded by Shoghi from 'Abdu'l-Bahi's public addresses in
Effendi's translation. America. Superseded by revised edition.
Seven Valleys. Translated by 'AX-Kuli- Letter and Tablet to the Central Organiza-
Khhn. Bahb'i Publishing Society, Chicago. tion for a Durable Peace: The Hague.
Superseded by a new translation. Bahb'i Publishing Society, Chicago, 1920.
Now included in The Bahd'i Peace Pro-
The Source o f Spiritual Qualities. Four-page gram.
leaflet. Bahb'i Publishing Committee,
A Letter from St. Jean D'Acre. The Unity
1924.
Press, 1906.
Sziratu'l-Haykal. Translated from the Arabic "Letter of Love" from 'Abdu'l-Bahd 'Abbds
by Antun HaddSd. Bahb'i Publishing So- to the Beloved in America. Bahb'i Pub-
ciety, Chicago, 1900. lishing Society, Chicago, 1902.
Tablets of Bahd'u'lldh. Included in part in Letters to the Friends in Persia. Bahb'i Pub-
Bahd'i World Faith. lishing Society, January 21, 1906.
Three Tablets o f Bahd'u'lldh (Tablet of the Mysterious Forces of Civilization. A work
Branch, Kit&-i-'Ahd, Lawh-i-Aqdas) . addressed to the people of Persia over
fifty years ago to show the way to true
(b) WRITINGS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA progress.
'Abdu'l-Bahd in London, edited by Eric Prayers and Tablets. 1906.
Hammond. A record of public and pri- The Prison, a one-page leaflet.
vate addresses delivered in 1911. The Promulgation of Universal Peace.
'Abdu'l-Baha' in New York. Selected ad- Edited by Howard MacNutt. Public
dresses delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahfi at addresses delivered by 'Abd~l'l-BahS
Columbia University, a number of throughout the United States in 1912.
churches, and at public meetings of peace The Reality of Religion-Tablet of 'Abdu'l-
societies. Bahd. Four-page leaflet. Bahpi Publishing
'Abdu'l-Bahd on Divine Philosophy (com- Committee, 1924.
piled by Isabel F. Chamberlain). Tudor Strikes, a supplement to Some Answered
Press, Boston, 1916. Questions. Included in later editions.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 789

Supplication, a one-page leaflet. (c) WORKS COMPILED FROM THE
WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH THE
Tablet to the Beloved of God in America. BAB, AND 'ABDU'L-BAHA
Translated by 'Ali-Kuli-K_hin. Cambridge,
Mass., January 3, 1906. Bah& Calendar compiled from the utter-
ances of Bahi'u'llih and 'Abdu'l-Bahi,
Tablet to the Beloved of God o f the Occi- 1916.
dent. Translated by Ahmad Isfihini (a-Bahd'i Calendar. Daily excerpts from the
mad Sohrib), Washington, D.C., Septem-
ber 8, 1906. writings of Bahb'u'llih and 'Abdu'l-Bahi.
Privately printed in Honolulu, New York
Tablet to the East and West. Translated by and other cities.
Ahmiid Isfiihini (Ahmad Sohrib). The
Bahb'i Assembly of Washington, D.C. Bah& Calendar for 1932. Compiled and ar-
ranged by Doris Holley. 9 x 12.
Tablets by 'Abdu'l-Bahd 'Abbds to the Bahd'i Prayers. The BBb, Bahb'u'llBh and
House of Justice of Chicago, to the La- 'Abdu'l-Bahi. 210 pp. 1929.
dies' Assembly of Teaching, and others.
Bahd'i Prayers. Prayers revealed by Bahb'-
Tablets Containing General Instructions. u'llih and 'Abdu'l-Bahi. 34 pp.
Translated by a m 6 d Isfihini (Ahmad
Sohriib) . The Bahi'i Association of Bahci'i Prayers by Bahd'u'lldh and 'Abdu'l-
Washington, D.C., 1907. Bahd. 16 pp.
Bahd'i Prayers. Translated by Shoghi E f -
Tablets Containing Instructions. Translated fendi. 72 pp. Bound in fabrikoid.
by M.A.E. Washington, D.C., August 29,
1906. Bahd'i Scriptures. Compiled by Horace Hol-
ley, Brentano's, New York, 1923. BahL'i
Tablets from 'Abdu'l-Bahd 'Abbds to E. E. Publishing Committee, New York, 1929.
Wrestling Brewster. Bahb'i Publishing So-
ciety, 1902. Compilation. Concerning the Most Great
Peace. Tudor Press, Boston, 1918.
Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahd. Edited by Albert
Windust. Bahi'i Publishing Committee, Compilation No. 9. Available in different
New York. Volumes I, 11, and 111. languages.
Compilation of Utterances from the Pen of
Tablets to Japan. Compiled by Agnes Alex- 'Abdu'l-Bahd Regarding His Station. 19
ander. New York, 1928. pp. November 26, 1906.
Tablets to Some American Believers in the Divine Pearls. Compiled by Victoria Bedi-
Year 1900. The Board of Council, New kian.
York, 1901.
The Garden o f the Heart. A compilation of
Unveiling o f the Divine Plan. Translated by passages on nature from Bahb'i Sacred
Ahmad Sohrib. Tudor Press, Boston, Writings and from the Bible, selected by
1919. Frances Esty.
Visiting Tablets for Martyrs W h o Suffered Life Eternal. Compiled by Mary Rurnsey
in Persia. Translated by 'Ali-Kuli Khin. Movius.
Bahb'i Board of Council, New York, The Most Great Peace. From the utterances
1901. of Bahb'u'llih and 'Abdu'l-BahB Tudor
Press, Boston, 1916.
Wisdom o f 'Abdu'l-Bahd. Edited by Lady
Blomfield. The Oneness o f Mankind. A compilation of
the utterances of Bahi'u'llih and 'Abdu'l-
Wisdom Talks of 'Abdu'l-Bahd. Chicago, Bahi by Mariam Haney and Louis Greg-
Bah2i News Service. ory, to assist the progress of inter-racial
amity, 1927.
Woman's Great Station. An address given in
New York in 1912. Peace: A Divine Creation.
790 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Prayers Revealed by Bahri'u'llhh. Containing Dodge, Arthur Pillsbury: The Truth of It.
also prayers revealed by 'Abdu'l-Bahi. Mutual Publishing Company, New York,
108 pp. 1901.
Prayers Revealed by BahBu'lla'h and 'Ab- Dreyfus, Hippolyte: The Universal Religion:
du'l-Baha'. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahaism.
Boston, 1923.
Fitzgerald, Nathan Ward: The New Revela-
Prayers Revealed by Bahd'u'lla'h, The Ba'b tion: Its Marvelous Message. Tacoma,
and 'Abdu'l-Baha', translated by Shoghi 1905.
Effendi. 24 pp.
Ford, Mary Hanford: The Oriental Rose. A
Prayers, Tablets, Instructions, etc., gathered vivid presentation of historical aspects of
by American visitors in 'Akki, 1900. the BahL'i Movement. 214 pp. Chicago,
1910.
Racial Amity. Compiled by M . H. and
M. M. Hare, W. Loftus (editor) : Religions o f the
Empire.
Tablets of Bahd'u'lldh and 'Abdu'l-Baha' to
the Greatest Holy Leaf. Harris, W. Hooper: Lessons on the Bahd'i
Revelation.
(d) WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI
Herrick, Elizabeth: Unity Triumphant. 226
America and the Most Great Peace. PP.
The Goal of a New World Order.
The Golden Age o f the Cause o f Bahd'- Holley, Horace: Bahd'ism-the Modern So-
u'lla'h. cial Religion. Mitchell Kennerley, New
The Dispensation of Bahri'u'lla'h. York, 1913.
The Unfoldment o f World Civilization. Bahci'i: The Spirit of the Age. Brentano's,
The World Order o f Bahd'u'lla'h. 1921.
The World Order of Bahd'u'lla'h: Further The Social Principles. Laurence J.
Considerations. These seven letters of Gomme, New York, 1915.
Shoghi Effendi (February 1929-March Ives, Howard: Portals to Freedom. 266 pp.
1936) now collected in The World Order Bound in cloth.
of Bahd'u'lln'h.
Mathews, Loulie A.: Whence Comes the
Bahd'i Administration. First and second edi- Light? 84 pp.
tions. Superseded by later editions.
Phelps, Myron H.: The Life and Teachings
Letters from Shoghi Effendi. (The complete o f 'Abbds Effendi. Publishers, Putnam &
letters to July, 1932, are included in Sons.
Bahd'i Administration.)
Pinchon, Florence E.: Coming of the Glory.
The World Moves On to Its Destiny. 4 pp. An interesting narrative giving the spirit
and the principles of the BahL'i Move-
(e) WRITINGS ON THE BAHA'I ment.
FAITH
Remey, Charles Mason: The New Day.
Abu'l-Fadl, Mirzi: Bahci'i Proofs. 288 pp. Rahfi'i Publishing Society, Chicago, 1919.
Bound in cloth. The Peace o f the World. Bahb'i Publish-
ing Society, chicago, 1919.
Afnin, Riihi: Mysticism and the B a h a
Revelation. 80 pp. Root, Martha L.: Ta'hirih the Pure.
Balyuzi, H. M.: Bahd'u'lla'h A Traveller's Narrative. Translated by Ed-
ward G. Browne, M.A., M.B. The Epi-
Chase, Thornton: The Bahd'i Revelation. sode of the BLb, written by a contempo-
This book contains a most excellent com- rary Persian scholar, the manuscript
pilation of the teachings of Bahfi'u'llih, having been presented to the translator by
gathered from various translations and ar- 'Abdu'l-Bahi. Printed from the original
ranged so as to be consecutive as to sub- plates by Cambridge University Press,
jects. 182 pp. 178 pp.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 791

Vail, Virgie: The Glorious Kingdom of the Chase, Thornton: Before Abraham Was I
Father, Foretold. A book dealing with A m . An explanation of the Station of the
prophecy referring to the Cause of Bahg- Prophet.
u'llih. 262 pp. In Galilee. An interesting account of a
visit to Haifa in 1907.
Watson, Marie A.: My Pilgrimage to the What Went Y e Out For to See? A letter
Land o f Desire. written in reply to an inquiry from a
(f) BAHA'I LITERATURE IN Christian.
PAMPHLET FORM Clevenger, J. F.: Map Showing Travels o f
'Abdu'l-Husayn, Mirzi: Letters written on the Bdb and Bahri'zi'llbh. 1927.
behalf of the "Friends" of Ijfa'ha'n, Persia, Cobb, Stanwood: Homoculture.
to the American Believers.
Dealy, Paul Kingston: Dawn of Knowledge
'Abdu'l-Karim Effendi: Addresses delivered and the Most Great Peace. The Bahi'i
before the New York and Chicago As- Cause and ancient prophecy.
semblies. Translated by Ahmad Sohrib.
Persian-American Publishing Co., Los Dodge, Arthur Pillsbury: Whence? Why?
Angeles, 1924. Whither? Man! Things! Other Things!
Ariel Press, Westwood, Mass., 1907.
Abu'l-Fadl, Mirzi: The Brilliant Proof. A
refutation of an attack on the Cause by a Entzminger, Albert P.: The Manifestation.
Protestant missionary. Contains both Eng- 32 PP.
lish and Persian text.
Knowing God Throzigh Love. Farewell Esslemont, J. E.: Bahcf'u'lln'h and His Mes-
address. BahL'i Assembly, Washington, sage. Briefly outlining the spiritual mes-
D.C. sage of the New Day.
What Is a Bahd'i? American edition pub-
Agnew, A. S.: In Spirit and in Truth. Table lished by Louis Bourgeois, Chicago, 1921.
Talks at 'Akka'. BahL'i Publishing Society, What Is the Bah& Faith? A brief expla-
Chicago,. 1907. nation by the late Dr. J. E. Esslemont, au-
thor of Bahd'zi'lln'h and the New Era.
B., L.H.C.: The True Gardener. Rangoon Available in many languages.
Standard Press, 1930.
Fidil, Jinib-i-: Addresses. 5 booklets.
Baker, Dorothy: The Path to God. Translated by Ahmad Sohrib. Seattle,
The Victory of the Spirit. 1923.
Barney, Laura Clifford: God's Heroes. Lip- Finch, Ida: Rays from the Sun of Truth.
pincott, London and Philadelphia, 1910.
Fraser-Chamberlain, Isabel: From the
Blomfield, Lady: The First Obligation. World's Greatest Prisoner to His Prison
The Passing of ' Abdu'l-Baha'. Friends. Tudor Press, Boston, 1916.
Board of Council: Utterances of Two Gail, Marzieh: Headlines Tomorrow. 4 pp.
Young Men. New York, 1901.
Goodall, Helen S. and Ella G. Cooper:
Boyle, Louise D.: The Laboratory of Life. Daily Lessons Received at 'Akkb-Jan-
Bourgeois, Louis: Bah& Temple. Reprint of uary, 1908. BahL'i Publishing Society,
press comments and Temple symbolism. Chicago, 1908.
Chicago, 1921. Gregory, Louis G.: A Heavenly Vista.
Brittingham, Isabella D.: The Revelation o f The Races o f Men-Many or One. Com-
BahL'u'lln'h. BahL'i Publishing Society, piled by Louis G. Gregory. 40 pp.
Chicago, 1902. Grundy, Julia M.: Ten Days in the Light o f
Brittingham, James F.: The Message o f the 'Akka'. BahB'i Publishing Society, Chi-
Kingdom o f God. 1907. cago, 1907.
Campbell, Helen: The BahL'i Movement in Haddid, Antun: Divine Revelation, the
Its Social Economic Aspect. BahL'i Pub- Basis of Civilization. Board of Council,
lishing Society, Chicago, 1915. New York, 1902.
792 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Maxims of Bahd'iism. Holley, Marion: The Most Great Peace.
Message from 'Akka'.
Station o f Manifestation. Latimer, George: The Call of God. The sig-
nificance of the return of the Messenger.
Haney, Charles and Mariam: A Heavenly
Femt. Lucas, Mary L.: Brief Account of My Visit
to 'Akka'. BahL'i Publishing Society, Chi-
Hannen, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H.: 'Akka' cago, 1905.
Lights.
MacNutt, Howard: Unity Through Love.
Harper, Orrol: Bird's Eye View of the
World in the Year 2000. A reprint of Masson, Jean: Ma&riqu'l-Adhka'r and the
article in The Bahi'i Magazine. Bahi'i Movement. BahL'i Publishing So-
ciety, Chicago, 192l.
Haydar-'Ali, H6ji Mirz6: Bahd'i Martyr-
doms in Persia in the Year I903 A.D. Maxwell, May: A n Early Pilgrimage, 1898.
Translated by Yhnis K&n. BahL'i Pub- Bahi'i Publishing Society, Chicago, 1917.
lishing Society, Chicago, 1907. Moody, Dr. Susan I.: In Memoriam. (Miss
Martyrdoms in Persia in 1903, relating Lillian F. Kappes and Dr. Sarah Clock).
the circumstances in which seventy Per- Union Press, Camp Karachi.
sian BahL'is were martyred.
Munirih Khknum: Episodes in My Life.
Holley, Horace: The Bahd'i Faith. Translated bv Ahmad Sohrkb. Persian-
Bahd'i Message. Compilation. Chicago, American ~ i b l i s h i nCo.,
~ Los Angeles,
1920. 1924.
The B a h a Principle of Civilization. 32
National Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is
PP of the United States and Canada: Bahi'i
Economics as Social Creation.
The World Economy of Bahi'u'lla'h. Persecutions in Persia. Reprint of letter
BahL'i Publishing Committee, 1931. The written to the Sh6h of Persia, Rid6 &h6h
BahL'i explanation of current world de- Pahlavi, July, 1926.
pression and unrest. 32 pp. Bahri'i Procedure. Compilation.
Bahd'i Procedure. Revised Edition, 1942.
Fabrikoid, 116 pp.
Spiritual Opportunities of the Bahri'is o f
the United States and Cmada. Selections
from words of 'Abdu'l-Bah6.
National Teaching Committee: Bahri'i
Cause. Eight-page pamphlet. BahL'i Pub-
lishing Society, 1924.
Peake, Margaret B.: Visit to 'Abba's Eflendi
in 1899. Grier Press, Chicago, 1911.
Remey, Charles Mason: Baha"i House o f
Worship. Description of the BahL'i Tem-
ple with Illustrations. BahL'i Publishing
Society, Chicago, 1917.
B a h a Indexes. Newport, R.I., 1923.
Bahk'i'i Manuscripts. Newport, R.I., 1923.
The Bahd'i Movement. Washington, D.C.,
1912.
The B a h a Revelation and Reconstruc-
tion. BahL'i Publishing Society, Chicago,
1919.
Bahri'i Teachings. (Seven bound pam-
phlets.) Washington, D.C., 1917.
Constructive Princivles o f the B a W
View of BahL'i Guest House, Movement. BahL'i ' publishing Society,
Ha~iratu'l-Quds,Ba&dBd, 'IrBq. Chicago, 1917.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 793

Letters from Honolulu. Privately printed.
February 17, 1917.
MasJzriqu'l-Adhka'r. Five preliminary
sketches. Privately printed.
M&riqu'l-Adhka'r. (Bahgi House of
Worship.) Privately printed.
Observations of a Bah& Traveler. Wash-
ington, D.C., 1914.
Prospectus of a Series o f Five Lectures
Upon the Bah& Movement.
Through Warring Countries to the Moun-
tain of God. Private printing.
Twelve articles introductory to the study
o f the Bah& teachings.
Universal Consciousness o f the Bahd'i Re-
ligion.
Roy and M.J.M.: Knock and It Shall Be
Opened Unto You.
Seto, Mamie: Tests: Their Spiritual Value.
Republished under title The Spiritual
Meaning o f Adversity.
Mr. Noel Wuttunee of Calgary, Alberta,
Storer, Rev. J.: Thoughts That Build. Mac- the first Canadian Indian Bahb'i,
millan Co., New York, 1924. with his wife.
Thompson, Juliet: 'Abdu'l-Bahd's First Days
in America. From the diary of Juliet Zuehlen, J. L.: The Bah& Movement. Arti-
Thompson. 40 pp. The Roycrofters. cles originally published in Vedic Maga-
zine of Lahore. Versey, 1916.
Townshend, George: Religion and the New
Age. 24 pp. (g) GENERAL PUBLICATIONS

True, Corinne: Notes Taken at 'Akka'. Bah& Congress, April 29-May 2, 1916, a
Bahb'i Publishing Society, Chicago, 1907. combination program and compilation,
Chicago, 111.
United States Government: Bahd'i Census. The Bah& Faith, by a Methodist Layman,
A pamphlet showing the registration of questions and answers suggested by per-
the BahL'is as an organized religious sonal experience.
body.
The Bahd'i House of Worship. A brief de-
Vail, Albert: The Bahd'i Movement: Its scription of the Bahb'i Temple at Wil-
Spiritual Dynamic. Reprint of a magazine mette, Illinois. Illustrated. 8 pp.
article.
The Bahd'i Movement. A pamphlet out-
Waite, Louise R.: The Bah& Benediction. lining the history and aims of the Cause.
Music and words by Louise R. Waite.
Bahd'i Hymnal. Paper. The Bah& Religion, a reprint of the two
Bahd'i Hymns and Poems. BahB'i Publish- Bah6'i papers presented at the Conference
ing Society, Chicago, 1904. New York, on Some Living Religions within the
1927. British Empire. Paper, 24 pp.
Hymns o f Peace and Praise. Chicago, The Bahd'i Temple, House of Worship of a
1910.
World Faith. 36 pp.
Watson, Albert Durrant: The Dream o f
The Bahd'i Temple. 16 pp.
God. A poem. BahQi Publishing Society,
Chicago, 1922. Child's Prayer Book. 36 pp.
Winterburn, Mr. and Mrs. George: Table Compilation, No. 9, available in English,
Talks with 'Abdu'l-Bahci. B a h Z Publish- Esperanto, French, German, Italian,
ing Society, Chicago, 1908. Spanish, Chinese, Hungarian, Yiddish.
794 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

His Worship the Mayor of Haifa, Mr. Aba Khoushy, being welcomed
by members of the National Spiritual Assembly when he
visited the Bahb'i Temple in Wilmette, Illinois.

The Dawn of World Civilization. Reprinted Table Talks. Regarding reincarnation and
from World Order Magazine April 1945. other subjects.
8 PP. Three Spiritual Truths for a World Civiliza-
Flowers Culled from the Rose Garden o f tion. Compilation. 12 pp.
'Akkd, by Three Pilgrims in 1908. The Transformation of Human Society. 12
Green Acre, a reprint of articles published PP.
in The Bahd'i Magazine. Universal Principles of the Bahri'i Move-
Index to Bahd'i News. No. 1 to No. 79. 58 ment. Persian-American Bulletin, Wash-
ington, D.C., 1912.
PP -
Index to Balzci'i News. No. 80 to No. 104. Views of Haifa, 'Akkd, Mt. Carmel and
Other Places. Bah2c'i Publishing Society,
25 PP. Chicago.
Light o f the World. By a group of Pilgrims. The World Religion. 8 pp.
The Tudor Press, Boston, 1920.
(h) OUTLINES AND GUIDES FOR
The Spirii of World Unity, selections from BAHZISTUDY CLASSES
words of 'Abdu'l-Bahi in America on re-
ligious, racial and scientific subjects. 24 Bahd'i Lesson Outline for Children. A series
PP . of thirty-six lessons in four sections, for
teachers holding Bah2i study and discus-
Star o f the West, November, 1925, Peace sion classes for children. 40 pp.
Number.
Bahd'i Teachings Concerning Christ. Com-
Studies in Jewish Mysticism. By several au- piled by the Outline Bureau of the Na-
thors. tional Teaching Committee, 1928-1929.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 795

Bahci'i Teachings on Economics. A compila- ~nformationabout the Bahd'i House o f Wor-
tion prepared by the National Teaching ship. Compiled by the Temple Guides
Committee. 16 pp. Committee. 20 pp.

course in ~ ~ h principles
$ i with Material and Divine Civilization. Compiled
pictures to color. by the Outline Bureau of the National
Teaching Committee, 1930.
Conditions o f Existence, Servitude, Prophet- Outlines for Study of Scriptures.
Emogene by L o ~ ~G.
i s Gregory. Mimeographed.
Hoagg.
Questions and Topics for Discussion in
The Dispensation o f Bahd'u'lldh-A Study Bahi'i classes and meetings, compiled by
Outline. Prepared by Study Outline Corn- Louis G. Gregory. Mimeographed.
mittee. 8 pp.
Study of Outlines of Science, compiled by
The Fireside Teaching Method: Study Out- the Outline Bureau of the National Bahti'i
line Committee. Mimeographed. 11 pp. Teaching Committee. Mimeographed.

Fundamentals of Bahd'i Membership. Pre- Training for Bahd'i Teaching. 8 pp.
pared Outline pp. Twentv Lessons in Bahd'i Administration.
God and His Manifestations (compiled by
28 iP.
Mrs. J. W. Gift). Twenty Lessons in the Bahd'i Revelation.

The first BahL'is in the British Cameroons, 1954.
Enoch Olinga, pioneer from East Africa (top left, dark suit)
carried the Faith to this goal country of the Ten-Year Plan.
796 THE BAHA'I WORLD

4. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS OF G R E A T
B R I T A I N T H A T A R E IN P R I N T
Titles in this list were in print at the time this list was compiled and have been ap-
proved by an official Bahd'i body. Those marked "B.P:T." are published by the Bahd'i
Publishing Trust, BM/Bahai, London, W.C. I .

(a) WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH Compiled by George Townshend. Pas-
Gleanings from the Writings o f Bahd'u'lldh. sages illustrating thgspiritual message of
Translated and compiled by Shoghi Ef- BahVu'lliih and the journey of the indi-
fendi. 376 pp. Cloth. B.P.T. 1949. vidual soul. Wisdom of the East Series.
John Murray, London, 1949.
The Hidden Wo~rdsof Bahd'u'lla'h. Trans-
lated by Shoghi Effendi. 52 pp. Cloth. The Pattern o f Baha"i Life. Passages selected
B.P.T. 1950. to guide individual conduct. B.P.T. 1948.

Kita'b-i-fqa'n (The Book of Certitude). Selections from BahL'i Scripture. Compiled
Translated by Shoghi Effendi. 284 pp. by David Hofman. B.P.T. 1941.
Cloth. B.P.T. 1948. (d) WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI
(b) WRITINGS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA The BahZi Faith 1844-1952-Information
Paris Talks. (Previously published in the statistical and comparative. Compiled by
British Isles under the title Talks by the Guardian.
'Abdu'l-Baha' Given in Paris.) B.P.T. (e) COMPILATIONS FROM THE
1951. WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI
Some Christian S~ibjects.Reprint of the sec- Guidance for Today and Tomorrow. A se-
tion of that title from some Answered lection from the writings of Shoghi Ef-
Questions. B.P.T. 1947. fendi. B.P.T. 1953.
The Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha'. Principles o f Bahd'i Administration. Selec-
(Excerpts.) Translated by Shoghi Effendi. tions from the Guardian's writings con-
B.P.T. 1950. cerning the relations and functions of the
(c) WORKS COMPILED FROM THE individual BahVi and of the local and na-
WRITINGS OF BAWU'LLAH, THE tional institutions. B.P.T. 1950.
BAB AND 'ABDU'L-BAHA (f) WRITINGS ON THE BAWI FAITH
Bahd'i Prayers. Designed for use equally by Esslemont, J. E.: Bahd'u'lla'h and the New
BahVis and sympathizers of the Faith. Em. Revised edition. Cloth. Geo. Allen &
B.P.T. 1951. Unwin, 1939.
B a h 3 Prayers for Special Occasions. Con- Hofman, David: God and His Messengers.
taining the Obligatory Prayers and others Ronald, 1953.
of interest chiefly to BahL'is. B.P.T. 1951. The Renewal of Civilization. George
Ronald, 1945.
BahQ'i Prayers. The two books above bound
in single cover. B.P.T. 1951. Ives, Howard: Portals to Freedom. George
Ronald, 1943.
The Covenant o f Bahd'u'lla'h. A compilation
of passages explaining this momentous National Spiritual Assembly: The Cente-
subject. B.P.T. 1950. nary o f a World Faith. A short history of
the BahVi Faith issued by the National
Divine Wisdom. Passages selected for medi-
Spiritual Assembly of the BahVis of Great
tation to help the seeker come to know
Britain on the occasion of the Centenary
God. B.P.T. 1947.
of the Declaration of the BAb of His
The Glad Tidings o f Bahd'u'lla'h. Extracts Mission. With 19 photographs. B.P.T.
from the Sacred Writings of the BahVis. 1944.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 797

Rabbani, Riihiyyih: Prescription for Living. Study Course on the BahBi Faith. B.P.T.
A challenge to the individual to recreate 1946.
his own chvaracter and contribute his share (i) BAHA'I LITERATURE IN
to saving mankind. George Ronald, 1950.
FOREIGN LANGUAGES"
Shook, Glenn A.: Mysticism, Science and The Baha"i Faith-Religion of Unity.
Revelation. George Ronald, Oxford,
Translations in:
1953.
Acholi KiKikuyu
Townshend, George: The Heart of the Gos- Adanwe Luganda
pel. A restatement of the Bible in terms Ateso Mende
of modern thought and need. Lindsay Ewe Twi
Drummond, 1939. Igbo Yoruba
The Promise of All Ages. Originally pub-
lished under the pen name "Christophil."
New edition, George Ronald, 1948. KODI TSIKU
(g) BAHA'I LITERATURE IN LA M O Y O
PAMPHLET FORM
WANU MULIDZIWA?
Balyuzi, H. M.: BahBu'lla'h. A short biogra-
phy. B.P.T., 1938.
A Guide to the Administrative Order. A
brief and simple outline of the origin, Wornangidwa ndi
principles and institutions of the Admin- PHILIP HAINSWORTH

lstrative Order. B.P.T. 1947.
Womarulilidwn ndi
The BahBi Faith. An introductory booklet. F. BENARA PHlRI
Supersedes earlier editions. B.P.T. 1948.
Esslemont, J. E.: The Message o f Baha"-
u'llih. A considerably revised edition of
" Uyo rndiyc munthu ndirhn nmcnr arnadziprlrko
BahBu'llih and His Message. B.P.T. . ."
yenre piz zinrhiro zonrc 70 rrrnunrhr .

1949. BAHA'U'LLAH.

Ferraby, J. G.: Bahri'i Teachings on Eco-
nomics, B.P.T. 1948.
Progressive Revelation. B.P.T. 1949.
Gail, Marzieh: Headlines To-Morrow. BM/UAH,+I
LONDON. W.C.I.
B.P.T., 1949.
Hofman, David: A Commentary on the
Will and Testament of ' Abdu'l-Bahha'. Title page of Bah6'i pamphlet in ChiNyanja
B.P.T. 1947. published by the British Africa Committee,
Pinchon, Florence: Bahri'i Teachings on entitled "Do You Know in What Day You
Life After Death. B.P.T. 1949. Are Living?'This is an example of one of the
thirty African languages into which Bah6'i
Rabbani, Riihiyyih: Teaching Problems.
literature has been or is being translated.
Advice and suggestions to help Bahi'is
put into practice their first obligation.
B.P.T. 1950. Fydd-y-BahBi (The BahPi Faith). Welsh.
B.P.T. 1949.
Shoghi Effendi: The Pattern o f Future SO-
ciety. (Reprint.) B.P.T. 1949. Je Unaijua Siku ya Leo Unayoishi? (Do you
know in what day you are living?). Ki-
Townshend, George: The Old Churches and Swahili. Philip Hainsworth, 1950.
the New World Faith. An appeal to the
churches of the West. B.P.T. 1948. Kodi Tsiku La Moyo Wanu Mulidziwa?
(Do you know in what day you are liv-
(h) OUTLINES AND GUIDES FOR ing?). ChiNyanja. Philip Hainsworth,
BAHA'I STUDY CLASSES 1950.
The An By George . o b t a i n a b l e through Bahl'i Publishing Trust, Lon-
Townshend. B.P.T. 1950. don.
798 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Bahsis of Helsinki, Finland, at the Third Intercontinental
Teaching Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, July, 1953.

4A. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS O F G R E A T
BRITAIN THAT ARE OUT O F PRINT
(a) WRITINGS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA (d) COMPILATION FROM THE
WRITINGS OF SHOGHI
'Abdu'l-Bahd in London. Edited by Eric EFFENDI
Hammond.
The Rising World Commonwealth. A short
A Letter from St. Jean D'Acre. Unity Press, of some of the
1906. writings about the World Order of Bah2-
The Mysterious Forces of Civilization. Cope u'llah.-B.P.T. 1945.
and Fenwick, 1910.
A Traveller's Narrative. Translated by E. G.
Browne. Cambridge University Press, (e) BOOKS ABOUT THE
1891. BAHEf FAITH
Some Answercd Questions. Kegan . Paul,
Barney, Laura Clifford: God's Heroes.
Trench, Trubner, 1908.
Drama. Kegan
" Paul. Trench. Trubner &
(b) COMPILATIONS FROM THE WRIT- CO.y 1910.
INGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH, THE BAB,
AND 'ABDU'L-BAHA Blomfield, Lady (SitLrih KhLnum) : The
Chosen H i" ~ h w a,v .A rich comvilation of
Some Bahci'i Prayers. B.P.T., 1945. episodes in various periods of the history
Some Special Bahd'i Prayers and Tablets.
o:f the Faith. The life stories of members
of 'Abdu'l-~ahBlsfamily, as related to
B.P.T. 1945. Lady Blomfield.
\ITRITINGS OF Cheyne, T. K.: The Reconciliation of Races
The Unfoldrnent of World Civilisation. and Religions. Adams and Charles Black,
B.P.T. 1943. 1914.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 799

Cobb, Stanwood: Security for a Failing Child, C. W.: A Reading of the Hands o f
World. Adapted for British publication His Excellency 'Abdu'l-Bahd. Reprinted
from the American text. B.P.T. 1940. from The International Psychic Gazette.
Selkirk Press.
Dreyfus, Hippolyte: The Universal Reli-
gion: Bahaism. Cuthbert, Anthony: Bah2i Philosophy and
Hall, Mrs. Basil (Parvine) The Drama of Reincarnation.
the Kingdom. A play based on a plot out-
Esslemont, J. E.: Bahd'u'lldh and His Mes-
lined by 'Abdu'l-BahL. Weardale Press,
sage. B.P.T. 1938.
1933.
What Is a Bahd'i? A reprint of chapter
Hammond, Eric: The Splendour of God. three of Bah2u'llah and the New Era.
Wisdom of the East Series. John Murray, Kenneth Mackenzie, 1919.
1909.
Graham, John: Progressive Revelation.
Hare, W. Loftus, editor: Religions of the B.P.T. 1944.
Empire. Addresses delivered by repre-
sentatives of the several religions invited Hall, E. T.: Meditations of a Baha"i Chris-
to participate in the Conference on Some tian. 1912.
Living Religions within the British Em- The Universal Religion. National Spirit-
pire, held at the Imperial Institute, Lon- ual Assembly of the Bahi'is of the British
don, England, Sept. 22 to Oct. 3, 1924. Isles, 1927.
Includes two papers read on the Bahi'i The Worl&s Great Need. A poem. 1935.
Cause. Duckworth, 1925.
Herrick, Elizabeth: Unity Triumphant. Holley, Horace: The Modern Social Re-
Unity Press, 1923. ligion. Sidgwick and Jackson, 1912.

Holley, Horace: Bahd'i: The Spirit of the Rosenberg, Ethel J.: A Brief Account of the
Age. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner. Bahci'i Movement. Priory Press, 1911.
A Brief Sketch of Bahd'iism, 1905.
Manchester Bahi'i Assembly: The Bahd'i
Dawn-Manchester. The beginning of the scaramucci, M ~ ~ The
. : B a h a Revelation.
Bahi'i Cause in Manchester. Manchester prioly press, 1911.
Bahi'i Assembly, 1925.
Phelps, Myron H.: The Life and Teaching Scatcherd, Felicia R.: A Wise Man from
o f ' A bbds Effendi. Putnam, 1904. the East. Unity Press, 1912.
Pinchon, Florence E.: The Coming o f the Simpson, G. Palgrave: The Bah& Faith.
Glory. Simpkin Marshall, 1928.
Sohrab, Ahmad: 'Abdu'l-Bahd in Egypt. Sprague, Sydney: The Story o f the Bah&
Rider and Company. Movement. Priory Press, 1907.

Sprague, Sydney: A Year with the Bah&s Townshend, George: 'Abdu'l-Baha' - A
o f India and Burma. Priory Press, 1908. Study o f a Christlike Character.
T h e - Hidden Words of Bahd'u'lla'h. A
(f) BAHA'I LITERATURE IN Commentary.
PAMPHLET FORM
Andr6, George G.: Some Practical Aspects Walsh, Dr. Walter: Living Religions and
of the Bahci'i Teachings. Supplement to the Bahci'i Movement. The Free Religious
The Christian Commonwealth, June 25, Movement, 1924.
1913.
Bahri'i Prayers. A selection. B.P.T. 1940.
(g) OUTLINES AND GUIDES
Blomfield, Lady: The First Obligation. FOR STUDY CLASSES
'Abdu'l-Bah6 and the "Save the Children
Fund." Teaching Manual. By the National Teach-
Blomfield, Lady, and Shoghi Effendi: The ing Committee (British Itles). B.P.T.
Passing o f 'Abdu'l-Bahd. 1921. 1950.
800 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Dr. Sushila Nayyar, Health Minister, Delhi State,
on her way to the dais to preside over the
Centenary Commemoration of Tghirih's Martyrdom.

5 . BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS O F BURMA,
INDIA, PAKISTAN AND PRINCELY
STATES, IN ENGLISH
(Publications in other languages spoken in India, Burma, Ceylon and Pdkista'n listed
elsewhere under name of language)

The Bahci'i Faith and Zsldm. Memorials of the Faithful. Bombay.
The Bahd'i Faith and Judaism. Religion of the Future.

A Bahd'i Statement on the Rights of Renewal of Civilization. By David Hofman.
Women. Ta'hirih the Pure. By Martha L. Root.
Bahci'u'lldh and The New Era, by J. E. The Two Bridges. By Prof. Pritam Singh.
Esslemont.
Universal Peace.
Dawn of the New Day.
What Is the Bahd'i Faith?
Economics as a Social Creation.
What the B a h f i Faith Can Do for Poverty.
The First Bahci'i Century. Centennial publi- By Martha L. Root.
cation.
World Government and Collective Security.
The Goal of a New World Order. By Shoghi
Effendi. The World Religion.

How to Live the Life.
Memorial Brochure to Martha L. Root.
Bombay Assembly, Publishers.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 80 1

6. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS IN ALBANIAN
Bahd'u'lldh and the New Era. Tirane, 1933. Fjale T e Fshehura (Hidden Words). New
York.
Ch'gsht Livizja Beha'i? (What Is the BahB'i
Faith?). Kitdb-i-lqdn. Tirane, 1932.
Detyrat e Domosdoshe Besnikvet Bah&,
1932. Libri i Beses, Tirane, 1932.

7. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N BULGARIAN
Bahau'lldh and the New Era. Sofia, 1932. Seven Valleys (in manuscript).
Hidden Words. Sofia, 1937. Words of Wisdom (in manuscript).
Kitdb-i-lqdn (in manuscript).

8 . BA'HA'I P U B L I C A T I O N S I N C R O A T I A N
Pamphlet. Some Answered Questions (in manuscript).

First Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of Kalutara (Ceylon), 1953-1954.
802 THE BAHA'I WORLD

9 . BAHA'I P U B L I C A T I O N S I N C Z E C H
(See also Slovak)

Bahi'u'llih: Tablet of Tara'za't. (In manu- Bahd'u'llah and His Message. (In manu-
script.) script.)
Shoghi Effendi: A Pattern for Future So- Hoflin: A n Appearance of Peace Movement
ciety. (In manuscript.) in the East.
World Religion. Prague, 1937.
Dr. J. Krgmskk: The East and the New
A Compilation (9). Era (Vychod a nova doba) .
Dr. J. E. Esslemont: Baha"u'l1bh and the
New Era. Prague, 1932.

10. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N DANISH

De Skjulte Ord af Bahd'u'lla'h. (Hidden Bahd'u'lla'h og Hans Budskab. (BahB'~1'116h
Words. Arabic and Persian.) Translated and His Message.) By J. E. Esslemont.
by Prof. K. Barr. Copenhagen, 1948. Translated by Johanne Sorensen. Copen-
hagen, 1926.
Tre Daglige PligtBQnner (Three Obligatory
Prayers of BahB'u'llah) . Translated into Bahd'u'lla'h og den Nye Tid. (BahB'u'llBh
Danish by Prof. K. Barr. Copenhagen, and the New Era.) By J. E. Esslemont.
1947. Translated by Niels Bonnesen. Copen-
hagen, 1932.
Kita'b-i-Iqa'n af Bahd'u'lla'h. (Book of Certi-
tude.) Translated by Prof. K. Barr. 1949. Verdens Civilisationen Bryder Frem. (Dawn
(In manuscript.) of World Civilization.) Copenhagen,
1948. (Pamphlet.)
Hvad er Bah& Bevcegelsen? (What Is the
Bahb'i Faith?) By J. E. Esslemont. Trans- Your Experience as a Bahi'i. Copenhagen,
lated by Johanne Sorensen. Copenhagen, 1949. (Pamphlet.)
1926.
To Veje-Eet Valg. (Two Roads We Face.)
By W. Kenneth Christian. (Pamphlet.)

11. BAHA'I P U B L I C A T I O N S I N D U T C H

Rahi'u'llfih: De Verborgen Woorden. (The Dr. J. E. Esslemont: Bahd'u'llbh en het
Hidden Words.) Rotterdam, 1932. niezlwe Tijdperk. (Bah2-u'llhh and the
Kita'b-i-fqa'n. Rotterdam, 1937. New Era.)
~ l o e r n l e z &uit
~ de geschriften van Bah2-
u,lla'h. (Selected Writings of BahB'u311gh.) Alegmeene Beginselen der Bahd'i Beweging.
Amsterdam, 1949. Amsterdam, 1914.
De weg tot een mmtnswaardige Wereld.
Amsterdam, 1949. (Pamphlet.)
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 803

Some members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the BahP'is of 'Irbq
carrying the wreath bearing the name of the National Spiritual Assembly
to the royal cemetery to place it on the tomb of the Queen,
who died December 27, 1950.

12. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N E S P E R A N T O
Bah6'u'llbh: Ka3itaj vortoj, el la perso lingvo Esslemont, Dr. J. E.: Bnhd'u'lldh kaj la nova
tradukis Lutfu'llbh S. Hakim, John E. Es- epoko, el la angla original0 tradukita de
slemont, London, Brita Esperantista Aso- Lidja Zamenhof, Weinheim (Germany),
cio, jaro ne indikata, So, 39 pp. Bahb'i Esperanto-Eldonejo, 1930, 8 ",191
KaBitaj vortoj, el la angla lingvo tradukis PP.
Vasily J. Erosenko, Japanujo, loko kaj BahL'u'lldh kaj Lia Misio, Hamburg, Es-
jaro ne indikataj, 8", 23 pp. peranto ~ o m s a t ode la Bahaa ~ 6 v a d o .
1926, 8", 22 pp.
The Bbb: Parolado de Bdb (Words of the
Bbb addressed to the Letters of the Liv- Grossmann, Dr. Hermann: La esenco de la
ing). Bahaismo, Wandsbek, Bahaa Esperanto-
Eldonejo, 1929, 8", 8 pp.
'Abdu'l-Bah;: Bahaj (Bahaaj!) instmoj, Kliemke, Dr. Ernst: Bahaismo kaj politiko,
loko kaj jaro ne indikataj, 8", 16 pp. la stata idealo lafi la instruoj de Bah6'-
La Sep Kandeloj de Mondunueco. u'llbh, Wandsbek, Germany, Bahaa Es-
Paris Talks of ' Abdu'l-Baha'. Weinheim, peranto-Eldonejo, 1929, 8", 8 pp.
Baden, 1932.
Some ArmVered Questions (in Miihlschlegel, Dr. Adelbert: Parolado en la
script). dua Bahaa kunveno durn la XVZZZa Uni-
versala Kongreso de Esperanto en
Kompilajo, vortoj de Bahb'u'llbh kaj 'Ab- Geneva, Stuttgart, 1925, go, 4 pp.
du'l-Bahb, Wandsbek, Germany, Bahaa
Esperanto-Eldonejo, jaro ne indikata, 8", Nabil: The Dawn-Breakers. Translated by
l 6 PP. Roan U. Orloff (in manuscript).
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 805

Root, Martha: Bahaaj sciencaj pruvoj de Kio estas la Bahaa movado? Genf. 1925, 8",
vivo post morto. Praha, 1927, 8", 7 pp. 8 PP.
S.S.: La Historio de 2'Bahaj'a (Bahaa!) MO- Kio estas la Bahaa movado? Wandsbek, jaro
vado, Universala Fido, esperantigita de ne indikata, 8", 4 pp.
William W. Mann, London, the Priory
Press, 1907, 8", 24 pp. Religio kaj Scienco lac la lumo de la Bahaja
(bahaa!) rivelajo, London, Brita Esperan-
Lidja Zamenhof: Homo, Dio, Profeto, tista Asocio, 1919, 8", 28 pp.
Weinheim, Bahaa Esperanto-Eldonejo,
1931, 8", 8pp. La Nova Tago. La internacia bahaa esper-
anto-gazeto. Bahaa Esperanto-Eldonejo
Bahaaj pruvoj di vivo post morto, Wands- (Germany).
bek, Germany, Bahaa Esperanto-Eldonejo,
1928, 8", 8 pp. For information on German and Esper-
anto BahL'i literature and magazines please
Historio, instruoj knj valoro de la BahBi- address Frl. Elsa Maria Grossmann, Neck-
movado. amb burg, Esperanto Komitato argemiind b/Heidelberg, Fr. Ebertstr. 37,
de la Bahaa-movado, 1925, 8", 8 pp. Germany.

13. BAHA'I, P U B L I C A T I O N S I N F I N N I S H
Maailman Uskonto. (The World Religion.) Mita on Bah& usko? (What is the BahB'i
By Shoghi Effendi. Translated by Hellni Faith?) Translated by Helmi Jaalovaara.
Jaalovaara. Tayttynyt Enrzustus (Prophecy Fulfilled, by
~ ~ h & ~ ~jal l ,yusi ~ .J. E. Essle-
& h ~ i k BY Elisabeth Cheney). Translated by Mr.
mont. Translated by Helmi Jaalovaara. Urho Toivola.
Helsinki, 1940. Some Answered Questions (in manuscript).

1 4 . B A H A ' ~P U B L I C r A T I O N S I N F R E N C H
(a) WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH Foi mondiale bahd'ie. Traduit par Hippo-
L'Oeuvre de BahSu'llrih. Traduit du persan lyte Dreyfus et al.
et de l'arabe par Hippolyte Dreyfus. (First part of BahSi World Faith: Writ-
Tome I. La Trks Sainte Tablette; Les ings of BahL'u'lliih.)
Paroles CachCes; Les Sept VallCes du Tablette de Bcchd'u'llrih pour un croynnt de
voyage vers Dieu; La Lettre sur le Baygn- Qazwine (Ccrite i Adrianople) .
Librairie Ernest Leroux, Paris.
. Tome 11. Le Temple de Dieu; Les (b) WRITINGS OF THE BAB
Lettres aux Souverains. Le Baydn Arabe. Traduit par A. L. M. Nico-
. Tome 111. Le Livre de la Certitude. las.
L'Epitre au Fils d ~ Loup.
i Traduit par Hip- Le Bayrin Persan. Tomes I , 11, 111, IV. Tra-
polyte Dreyfus. Librairie Ernest Leroux, duit par A. L. M. Nicolas.
Paris.
Le Livre des Sept Preuves. Traduit par
Le Kita'b-i-Aqdas. Traduit par Hippolyte A. L. M. Nicolas.
Dreyfus. (Manuscript.)
(c) WRITINGS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA
Extraits des Ecrits de Bahli'u'llhh. Textes
choisis et traduits du persan par Shoghi Testament d'Abdu'l-Baha'. (Mimeographed.)
Effendi. Traduit de l'anglais par G. des Les L e ~ o n sde St-Jean-&Acre. Recueillis par
Hons. (Version fran~aisede Gleanings.) Mme. Laura C. Barney; traduits par Hip-
Les Paroles Cachdes. Traduit par Hippolyte polyte Dreyfus. (Some Answered Ques-
Drsyfrrs. tions.)
806 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

Les Forces myste'rieuses de la Civilisation. Le Babisme et le Baha'isrne, par Hippolyte
Traduit par G. des Hons. Dreyfus. (Extrait du livre Religions et
Socie'te's.)
Entretiens d'Abd~~'1-Bahdd Paris. Traduits
par Elisabeth Hesse. La Descente de la nouvelle Je'rusalem, par
G. Townshend. (Manuscript.)
Trois Lettres 2 des Persans. 1907.
(d) WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI Les Portes de la Liberte', par H. C. Ives.
Traduit par Jane Montefiore. (Manu-
La Dispensation de Bahci'u'lln'h. Traduit par script.)
L6on Karakehia.
La Renaissance de la Civilisation, par David
Le But d'un nouvel Ordre Mandial. Traduit Hofnian. Traduit par Line Cristi, Luci-
par Lion Karakehia. enne Migette, Marie Chevalier. (Manu-
script.)
Vers PApogCe de la Race Humaine. Traduit
par G. des Hons. 1936. Les Heros de Dieu, par Laura C. Barney.
Drame en 5 actes. Traduit par Hippolyte
(e) WRITINGS ON THE BAHA'I FAITH
Dreyfus. (Manuscript.)
Bahd'u'lla'h et PEre nouvelle, par J. E. Essle-
mont. Traduit par Juliette Rao. L'Apparitio~rz de la Splendeur divine, par
Florence Pinchon. Traduit par Amanatil-
Essai sur le Baha'isme, par Hippolyte Drey- lah Rovchan Zakr et R. &rot. (Manu-
fus. script.)

Bahi'i Group of Suva, capital of Fiji Islands, 1950, with
visiting member of National Spiritual Assembly of the
BahPis of Australia and New Zealand.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 807

( f ) PAMPHLETS Une Communautc' universelle-Plan Bahd'i.
L'Economie mondiale de Bahd'u'lla'h, par Le Baha,isme. 9. Sa Mission dans le monde,
Horace Holley. Traduit par G. des Hons. par Paule Mayer May.
Une Institution divine, Ee Mas_hriquJl-
Adhka'r, par Hippolyte Dreyfus. Etude .rur "Les Fortes de la Libertk," par
Jane Montefiore.
Le Vrai Bahd'i. (5 Chap. de Bahd'u'lla'h et
2'Ere ~zouvelle.) L'Appel mondial de Bahci'u'lla'h. GenBve.
1937.
Programme de Paix bnhd'i. Gen6ve. 1945.
Unite' de Conscience. Genkve. Le Baha'isme, son histoire, sa porte'e sociale.

Vers un Monde uni. Genkve. Qu'est-ce que le mouvernent bahd'i?

15. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N GERMAN
THAT ARE I N PRINT
(a) WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH Umbruch zur Einheit. By Dr. Hermann
Grossmann. A. Schroder, Stuttgart, 1947.
Verborgene Worte (nebst Gebeten). 1948. 85 pp.
130 pp.
Die Losung der sozialen Fragen auf Grund
Die sieben Taler. 40 pp. der Bahd'i-Lehren. By Dr. Manoutchehr
Zabih (Tihrgn) . it einem Geleitwort
(b) WRITINGS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA von Univ. Prof. Dr. Hans Peter. Tiibin-
gen. A. Schroder, Stuttgart. (These, Univ.
Sendschreiben an die Zentralorganisatio~z Tiibingen.) 190 pp.
fur einen dauernden Frieden, den Haag.
32 PP. Die Geschichte der Bahd'i-Religion. 110 pp.
Wille und Testnment. 1946. De~zkschriftfur den Weltfrieden. 10 pp.

(c) THE Lehrstunden ueber Religion ("Lessons in
OF BAHA'U'LLAHy THE Religion"). By S_hayk_hMuhammad 'Ali
BAB AND 'ABDU'L-BAHA Oii'ini. (Material zur Bahi'i-Kinder-und
iugenda;beit. 1950. 28 pp. (Mirneo-
Baha"i-Gebete. George Ronald, Oxford, graphed.)
1948. 44 pp.
( f ) BAHA'f LITERATURE IN
(d) WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI PAMPHLET FORM
Die Sendung Baha"t~'1ln'h's.George Ronald, Die Baha"i-Weltreligion.
Oxford, 1948. 74 pp.
Die Administrative Ordnung des Glaubens Religion der Einheit.
Bahd'u'lla'h's.
Glaube zur Freiheit.
Gott geht voruber. 487 pp.
BahLi'i-Glaube, die universale Weltreligion.
(e) WRITlNGS ON THE Deine Erfahrungen als BahB'i.
BAHA'f FAITH
Der Baha-Kalender im Jahres- und Tages-
Bahd'u'lla'h und das neue Zeitalter. By Dr. lauf.
J. E. Esslemont. George Ronald, Oxford.
276 pp. Jugend und die Moderne Welt.
808 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Published in Switzerland: Dem neuelz Zeitalter entgegen. 1940.
Ein neues Zeitalter bricht an. European
Erfiillte Prophezeiungen, by Elizabeth H.
Teaching Committee, 1947.
Cheney.
Sendschreiben von 'Abdu'l-Bahd (The
Die neue Weltordnung. 1941. Hague).

Fourth BahB'i Women's Progressive Convention, held at
Ha~iratu'l-Quds,Tihrin, April 13-16, 1950.

15A. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N GERMAN
THAT ARE OUT O F PRINT
(a) WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH liydt, Frohe Botschaften. Aus dem Eng-
Frohe Botschaften, Worte des Paradieses, lischen; von A. Braun und E. Ruoff.
Tablett l'arbzdt, Tablett Tajalliydt, Tab- Stuttgart, Selbstverlag der BahB'i-Vereini-
lett Zs_hra'qdt.Nach der Englischen Ueber- gung. 1912, go, 73 pp.
setzung von 'Ali-Kuli Khan; Deutsch von Verborgene Worte, Worte der Weisheit ulzd
W. Herrigel. Stuttgart, Verlag des Deut- Gebete. Nach der Englischen; von A.
schen BahB'i-Bundes, 1921, 8", 123 pp. Braun and E. Ruoff. Stuttgart, Verlag der
Das heilige Tablett, geoffenbart in Baghdid. BahB'i-Vereinigung, 1916, go, 104 pp.
Aus dem Englischen; von W. HGrigel. Verborgene Worte, Worte der Weisheit und
Stuttgart, Selbstverlag der BahB'i-Vereini- Gebete. Nach der Englischen Ueberset-
gung, 1911, 8", 8pp. z ~ n gV O ~Shoghi Effendi; Deutsch von
Das Tablett vom Zweig. Aus dem Eng- Alice Schwarz und W. Herrigel. Stuttgart,
lischen; von Fr. Schweizer. Herausgege- Verlag des Deutschen BabL'i-Bundes,
ben von den Bah$'is in Zuffenhausen. 1924, go, 109 pp.
Ohne Jahr, go, 8 pp. (b) WRITINGS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA
Tablett von Z&rdqdt, Tablett von Tardzdt, Ansprachen, gehalten im Herbst 1911 in
Worte des Paradieses, Tableft von Tajal- Paris. Aus dem Englischen; von W. Her-
BAHA'I BIBL

rigel. Stuttgart, Verlag des Deutschen Blomfield, Sitirih, und Shoghi Effendi: Das
Bahi'i-Bundes, 1921, So, 196 pp. Hinscheiden 'Abdu'l-Bahd's. Ohne An-
gabe des Ortes und des Jahres, 8", 32 pp.
Beantwortete Fragen. Nach der Englischen
Ausgabe von L. Clifford Barney; Deutsch Brittingham, Isabella, D.: Die Oflenbarung
von W. Herrigel. Stuttgart. Verlag des von Bahci'u'lla'h. Aus dem Englischen; von
Deutschen BahL'i-Bundes G.m. b. H. W. Herrigel. Stuttgart, Selbstverlag der
1929, g o , VIII und 392 pp. Bahi'i-Vereinigung, 1910, 8 ", 47 pp.
Eine Botschaft an die Juden. Aus dem Engli- Carpenter, Marion: Majncin und Layla'. Nach
schen; von W. Herrigel. Stuttgart, im Bahi'u'llih's Erzahlung in den "Sieben
Selbstverlag der Bah6'i-Vereinigung. Talern." Deutsch von E. M. Gr. und Dr.
1913, 8", 15 pp. H. Gr. Wandsbek, Weltgemeinschaft,
1926, g o , 8 pp.
Evangelium der Liebe und des Friedens fur
unsere Zeit (Ansprachen in Paris). Aus Chase, Thornton: Die Bahci'ioffenbarung.
dem Englischen; von W. Herrigel. Stutt- Aus dem Englischen; von W. Herrigel.
gart, Selbstverlag der BahC'i-Vereinigung. Stuttgart, Verlag des Deutschen Bahi'i-
1914, S o , 172 pp. Bundes, 1925, So, XVI +
168 pp.
Religion und Philosophie, 1911, Paris. Chase, Thornton: Ehe Abraham war, war
Ich. Aus dem Englischen; von W. Her-
Tabelle (Tablets) allgemeiner Belehrung. rigel. Stuttgart, Verlag der Bahi'i-Vereini-
Deutsch von Fanny A. Knobloch. 1906, gung. Ohne Jahr, 8", 8 pp.
ohne Angabe des Ortes, So, 12 pp.
Dreyfus, Dr. Hippolyte: Ba'bismus und
Tabelle (Tablets) an die Geliebten Gottes Bahfismus. Deutsch von Margarete
des Abendlandes. Deutsch von Fanny A. Platte. Frankfurt a.M. Neuer Frank-
Knobloch. 1906, ohne Angabe des furter Verlag G.m.b.H., 1909, 8", 61 pp.
Ortes, 8", 8 pp.
Einheits-Religion. Ihre Wirkung auf Staat,
(c) WORKS COMPILED FROM WRIT- Erziehung, Sozialpolitik, Frauenrechte
INGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH AND und auf die einzelne Personlichkeit.
'ABDU'L-BAHA Deutsch von W. Herrigel. Stuttgart, Ver-
Bahri'iperlen (Worte von Bahi'u'lliih und lag des Deutschen Bahi'i-Bundes, 1920,
'Abdu'l-BahB) . Stuttgart, Verlag des 8", 40 pp.
Deutschen BahL'i-Bundes, 1921, 8 ", 16 Esslemont, Dr. John E. : BahL'u'lla'h und das
PP. Neue Zeitalter. Deutsch von H. K. und
(d) WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI W. H. Stuttgart, Verlag des Deutschen
Bahi'i-Bundes, 1927, 8", VIII + 431 pp.
Die Weltordnung von Bahci'u'lla'h. Aus dern
Englischen. Herausgegeben vom Deut- Was ist ein Bahci'i? Aus dem Englischen
schen Bahi'i-Nationalrat, Stuttgart, Marz iibersetzt und herausgegeben von der
1930, 8", 15 pp. Bahi'i-Arbeitsgemeinschaft Esslingen.
Ohne Jahr (vervielfaltigt), 4", 20 pp.
A n die Geliebten des Herrn und an die Die-
nerinnen des Barmherzigen in der ganzen Der Weg zum Frieden. Sonderdruck des
Welt. Aus dem Englischen. Herausgege- Kapitels X aus "Bahi'u'llBh und das Neue
ben vom Deutschen Bahi'i-Nationalrat, Zeitalter." Herausgegeben von der Bahi'i-
Stuttgart, April 1930 (vervielfaltigt) , Arbeitsgemeinschaft Esslingen. Ohne
Folio, 17 pp. Jahr, 8", 8 pp.

(e) WRITINGS ON THE Fadl, MirzL Abu'l: Geschichte und Wahr-
BAHA'I FAITH heitsbeweise der Bahri'i-Religion. Nach
der Englischen Uebersetzung von 'Ali-
Bahiyyih K-hiinurn: Brief an die Freunde Quli-K_hin; Deutsch von W. H. Stuttgart,
Gottes und an die Dienerinnen des Barm- Verlag des Deutschen BahL'i-Bundes
herzigen i m Abendland. Aus dem Engli- G.m.b.H. 1919, 8", XXlV +295 pp.
schen; von A. Schwarz. Ohne Angabe
des Ortes und des Jahres. g o , 4 pp. Glanzender Beweis (Burhane Lime). Aus
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 81 1

dem Englischen; von Fr. Schweizer. Her- schen; von Dr. H. Gr. Wandsbek, Welt-
ausgegeben von der Bahi'i-Vereinigung gemeinschaft, Deutscher Zweig, 1924, 8",
Zuffenhausen, ohne Jahr, 8", 45 pp. 8 PP.
Grossmann, Dr. Hermann: A m Morgen Miihlschlegel, Adelbert: Melodram u m drit-
einer neuen Zeit, Verlag Strecker und ten Deutschen Bahd'i-Kongress SO. Ohne
Schroder. Stuttgart, 1932. Angabe des Ortes, September, 1924, 8",
Die Bah2i-Bewegung, ihre Geschichte, 8 PP.
Lehren urzd Bedeutung. Herausgegeben Ridva'n 81, Festspiel. Stuttgart, Bahb'i-
von der Bahi'i-Bewegung. Hamburg, Bund, Deutscher Zweig, 1925, 8", 8 pp.
1926, 8", 8 pp.
Nabil's Narrative: The Dawn-Breakers
Bahd'i-Erziehung. Wandsbek, Weltge- (German translation in manuscript).
meinschaft, Deutscher Zweig, 1924, go,
Najmajer, Marie von: Qurratu'l-'Ayrz. Ein
8 PP. Bild aus Persiens Neuzeit. Wien, 1894.
Charzan. Eine Erzlhlung aus unserer Zcit.
Wandsbek, 1927, 8", 8 pp. Phelps, Myron H. : 'A bdu'l-Bahd 'Abbas,
Leberz zlnd Lehrerz. Aus dern Englischen;
Roseizgartlein-Lehrst~~nde~z.Lehrproben von W. H. Stuttgart, Verlag des Deut-
zur Bahi'i-Erziehung. Herausgegeben von schen Bahb'i-Bundes, 1922, 8", 248 pp.
der Weltgemeinschaft, Wandsbek, ohne
Jahr, So, 12 pp. Remey, Charles Mason: Das neue Zeitalter.
Die Bah6'i-Offenbarung. Deutsch von
Die soziale Frage und ihre Losurzg im W. H. Verlag des Deutschen Bahb'i-Bun-
Sinne der Bahd'i-Lehre. Stuttgart, Verlag des, Stuttgart, 1923, So, 32 pp.
des Deutschen Bahi'i-Bundes, 1923, So,
Einheit. Die Offenbarung des Bahi'u'llih.
12 PP. Deutsch von Fanny A. Knobloch. Ohne
Das Wesen der Bah&i-Lehre. Ohne An- Angabe des Ortes und des Jahres. 8", 8
gabe des Ortes und des Jahres. So, 8 pp. PP.
W. H.: Die Bahd'i-Bewegung im Allgemei- Rosenberg, Ethel J.: Die Bahd'i-Lehre, de-
nen und ihre grossen Wirkungen irz Zrz- ren ethische cirzd soziale Begrifle. Aus dem
dien. Stuttgart, Verlag des Deutschen Englischen; von Fr. Schweizer. Stuttgart,
BahL'i-Bundes, 1922, 8", 56 pp. Selbstverlag der Bahb'i-Vereinigung,
Universaler Friede, Universale Religion. 1908, 8", 8 pp.
Die BahL'i-Bewegung, ihr Zweck und Ziel. S. S.: Ein Jahr unter den Bah& in Zndien
Stuttgart, Selbstverlag der Bahi'i-Vereini- und Birma. Aus dern Englischen; von
gung. 1915, 8", 30 pp. W. H. Stuttgart, Selbstverlag der Bahb'i-
Die Zeichen unserer Zeit im Lichte der Vereinigung, ohne Jahr, 8", 46 pp.
Bibel und der Bahd'i-Lehre. Stuttgart, Die Geschichte der Bah&-Bewegung.
Verlag der Bahi'i-Vereinigung. 1916, 8 ", Aus dem Englischen; von W. H. Stutt-
16 PP. gart Selbstverlag der BahL'i-Vereinigung,
Hartmann, Pauline: Bah&- Weltanschauung, 1913, Zweite auflage, 1913, 8", 22 pp.
Verlag des Geistigen Nationalrats der Dritte auflage, 1919, 8", 22 pp.
Deutschen Bahb'i. E. V., 8", 24 pp.
Schwarz, Alice: Die universale Weltreligion.
Holley, Horace: Die Weltwirtsclzaft von Stuttgart, Verlag des Deutschen Bahi'i-
Bah2z~'lla'h.Aus dem Englischen. 30 pp. Bundes, 1919, 8", 35 pp.
Geneva, 1934.
Wright, A. H.: Ba'b und seine Secte in Per-
Kliemke, Dr. Ernst (Heinrich Nienkamp) : sien, Leipzig.
Bah&-Lehre und Politik. Das Staatsideal
nach den Lehren BahL'u'llbh's. Ohne An- ( f ) GENERAL PAMPHLETS
gabe des Ortes und des Jahres. 8", 8 pp. A n der Schwelle eines neues Zeitalters.
: Maxwell, May: Jos, der Schaferknabe, 'Ab- Flugblatt. Stuttgart, W. H. Ohne Jahr.
du'l-Baha' nacherzahlt. Aus dern Engli- 8", 10 pp.
812 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Aus Leberz und Lehre des Bah&ismus. Ham- Verlag der Bahki-Vereinigung, 1916, So,
burg, Bahb'i-Verlag, 1918, So, 42 pp. 16 pp. Erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart,
1928, Verlag des Deutschen Bahki-
Die Baha"i-Bewegung. Flugblatt. Stuttgart, Bundes, 8 ",24 pp.
Verlag des Deutschen Bahb'i-Bundes,
ohne Jahr, So, 4 pp. Treuhandschaftserlclarung und Satzung des
Nationalen Geistigen Rates der Bahd'i in
Die Bah& Lehre, 1933, Schmal So, 4 pp. Deutschland und Oesterreich nebst Satz-
ung des Geistigen Rates der B a h B in
Bericht vom ersten Deutscherz Bahdi-Kon- Stuttgart. Herausgegeben vom Nationalen
gress 1921. Herausgegeben von der Geistigen Rat der Bahb'i in Deutschland
Bahb'i-Arbeitsgemeinschaft Esslingen und Oesterreich e. V., Stuttgart, 1935,
(vervielfiltigt) 4", 54 pp. So, 32 pp.
Die Geschichte vom kleinen Vogel und an- Was 1st die Bahd'i-Bewegurzg? Flugblatt.
dere Erzahlungen aus dem Leben 'Abdu'l- Ohne Angabe des Ortes und des Jahres.
Bahd's. Wandsbek, Weltgemeinschaft, ( 2 Ausgaben: Hamburg und Wien) , 8 ",
Deutscher Zweig, 1925, So, 8 pp. 8 bezw. 10 pp.
Religiose Lichtblicke. Einige Erlauterungen Weihnachtsbeilage fiir Kinder. Dezember
zur Bahki-Bewegung. Aus dem Franzo- 1921. Beilage zur Sonne der Wahrheit,
sischen; von Albert Renftle. Stuttgart, So, 8 pp.

1 6 . B A H A ' I P U B L I C A T I O N S I N GREEK
Bahdu'lla'h and the New Era. Athens, 1934.

1 7 . BAHA'X P U B L I C A T I O N S I N
HUNGARIAN
Bahd'u'lla'h and the New Ern. Budapest, A Tizenke't Bahai Alapelv (Bahb'i Princi-
1933. ples) .
Hidden Words (in manuscript).

1 8 . BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N I C E L A N D I C
Bahd'u'lka'h Og N i i Timinn (BahL'u'llkh and
the New Era). By J. E. Esslemont. Trans-
lated from the English. Reykjavik, 1939.

19. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N I T A L I A N
(a) WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH Le Setti Valli e Le Quattro Valli. Translated
Le Parole Celate. Translated by Ugo R.Gia- by the Italian Bahb'i Translating and Pub-
chery. G. Bardi, Typographer, Rome, lishing Committee. G. Bardi, Typogra-
1949. pher, Rome, 1949.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 813

(b) WRITINGS OF THE BAB by the Italian BahL'i Translating and Pub-
lishing Committee. G. Bardi, Typogra-
I1 Commiato del Ba'b dalle Lettere del Vi- pher, Rome, 1951.
vente. Translated by the Italian BahA'i
Translating and Publishing Committee. Un Piano per la Societh Futura. (Extract
Mimeographed, Rome, 1950. from The New Era, by Esslemont.) G.
Bardi, Typographer, Rome, 1947.
(c) WRITINGS O F 'ABDU'L-BAHA
( f ) WRITINGS ON THE BAHA'I FAITH
L'Ultima Volontd e Testamento di 'Abdu'l-
Baha'. Translated by the Italian Bahi'i La Nuova Bra. By J. E. Esslemont. Trans-
Translating and Publishing Committee. lated by Ugo R. Giachery. G. Bardi, Ty-
G. Bardi, Typographer, Rome, 1950. pographer, Rome, 1947.
Discorsi di 'Abdu'l-Bahd. Translated by Che cos'8 un Bahsi? (Extract from The
H. E. Hoagg. Casa Editrice LaRibalta, New Era.) G. Bardi, Typographer, Rome,
Rome, 1923. 1947.
(d) WORKS COMPILED FROM WRIT- La Fede Baha"i. By A. Bausani. An extract
INGS OF B A H ~ U ' L L A H , THE BAB from Scienza e Umanitd, Societl di
AND 'ABDU'L-BAHA Scienze Naturali ed Economiche, Pa-
lermo, 1950, 16 pp. 8".
Preghiere Bahci'i'i. Translated by the Italian
Bah2i Translating and Publishing Com- (g) PAMPHLETS
mittee. G. ~ a r d <~ ~ ~ o ~ r a ~ h e r , ~ ~ o m e ,
1951. Calendario Bahd'i. 4 pp.

WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI L'Alba della Civilizzazioize Mondiale. A
compilation. G. Bardi, Typographer,
La Dispensazione di Bahci'u'llbh. Translated Rome, 1st edition 1947, 2nd edition 1949.

20. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N MAORI
T e Whakatikenga Baha"i, Pamphlet by G. G. Paul. Auckland, New Zealand, 1933.

2 1. BAHA'I P U B L I C A T I O N S I N N O R W E G I A N
Hidden Words. By BahL'u'llih (translation The Faith o f Bahci'u'llih (translation mim-
mimeographed). eographed) .
Kitbb-i-fqa'n. By BahB'u'll2h (translation in your Experience as a Bah& (translation
manuscript). mimeographed).
Prayers (translation mimeographed).
The Bahsi Commuizity (translation in man-
Words of Wisdom. By BahL'u'llih (transla- uscript).
tion mimeographed).
A Reflection. By George Townshend (trans-
Will and Testanlent of 'Abdu'l-Baha' (mim- lation mimeographed).
eographed) .
~ ~ ~ d ~B~ ~shoehi
~ ~- f f ~~ ~ d~Renewal
i . ~ ofi Civilisation.
~ i By
~ David
~ Hofman.
~ ~ .
~ranslated-byJohania ~chuubarth.Petlitz
Boktrykkeri, Oslo, 1937. Troen Ti1 Frihet. Translated by Johanna
Schubarth. Petlitz Boktrvkkeri. Oslo.
Bahd'u'lla'h og Den Nye Tid. By J. E. Essle- 1948.
mont. Translated by Johanna Schubarth.
Petlitz Boktrykkeri, Oslo, 1935; distrib- Verdens-,Yivilisasjonens Morgengry. Petlitz
uted by Cammermeyers Boghandel, Oslo. Boktrykkeri, Oslo, 1948.
814 THE BAHA'I WORLD

A Bahi'i group in Addis Ababa on the occasion of visit of Mason Remey,
President of the International Bahi'i Council, Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh
of New York City, and R. Yazdi, following their attendance at the
I.ntercontinenta1Bahb'i Conference at Kampala, Uganda, Africa.

2 2 . BAHA'f P U B L I C A T I O N S I N POLIS'H
BahZu'lldh and the New Era. Geneva, 1940. Some Answered Questions (in manuscript).
The Hague Tablet (in manuscript). Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahd (in
manuscript).

2 3 . BAHA'f P U B L I C , A T I O N ~ SI N
PORTUGUESE
Kitdb-i-lqdn, por Bahi'u'llhh (manuscript). A Presenga de Deus (God Passes By), por
Shoghi Effendi.
Palavras Ocultas, por Bahi'u'llhh (manu-
script).
A Religia'o Mundial, por Shoghi Effendi
Discursos em Paris, por 'Abdu'l-Bahb, Parh, (pamphlet). Rio de Janeiro, 1940.
1923.
0 Mundo Marcha Para Seu Destino.
Justicia Industrial.
Respostas a Algumas Perguntas, por 'Abdu'l- Seguranca Para U m Mundo Decadente.
Bahb, Rio de Janeiro, 1948.
U m Modelo Para A Sociedade Futura.
A Ultima Vontade de (Abdu'l-Bahd.
Oraciones Bahd'is. Bah2uYlEa'he a Nova Era, por J. E. Essle-
mont. Bahia, Brazil, 1928. Second edition,
A Dispensa~a'ode Bahd'u'lla'h (The Dispen-
S50 paulo, 1939.
sation of Bahi'u'llhh), por Shoghi Ef-
fendi. A Fe Bahd'i.
A Meta de Uma Nova Ordem Mundial, por
Shoghi Effendi. Rio de Janeiro, 1940. Fe', 0 Caminho da Liberdade.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY

First four native African Bahi'is of Kampala, Uganda,
representing the Buganda, Batero and Teso tribes.

24. BAHA'I P U B L I C A T I O N S I N R U M A N I A N

Bahri'u'llcih and the New Era, Bucharest, Ce Este Miscarea Bahd'i, Bucharest, 1934.
1934.

25. BAHA'I P U B L I C A T I O N S I N RUSSIAN

Hidden Words of BahL'u'lla'h. Riga, 1934. Talk of 'Abdu'l-Bah6 in New York.
bhd, 1922.
Kita'b-i-Aqdns, ed. A. H. Tumansky, M6-
moires de l'hcademie lmpgriale de St. Bah$u'll&. By Isabel Grinevskaya. Lenin-
Petersburg 1899 VlII serie vol. 111, NO. 6. grad, 1912.
Kitdb-i-l'qdn. Riga, Pils iela 14, 1933. Bahri'u'll6h and the New Era. Printed in
Latvia, 1930.
Works of Bahri'u'lldh, ed. A. H. Tumansky,
St. Petersburg, 1892.
Bah'iyyat. By M . Blanovsky. Moscow, 1914.
Some Answered Questions
(manuscript). Lessons in Religion. By &ay& Muham-
mad-'Ali QB'ini. 'Ishqhbid, 1912.
Tablet from 'Abdu'l-Baha'. Bikh, 1909.
No. 9 (Compilation). New York, N.Y.
Tablet to the Hague. By 'Abdu'l-Bahh. Lon-
don, 1922. Talk about &ah& Faith. Bikii.
816 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Fifth National BahL'i Youth Convention, TihrAn (BahL'i Year 107).

26. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N SERBIAN
Bahd'zl'lla'h and the New Era. Belgrade, Kita'b-i-fqa'n (in manuscript).
1933.
World Economy of Bahci'u'lldh (in manu-
Book of Prayers. Belgrade, 1936. script).
Hidden Words. Belgrade, 1936. World Religion. Belgrade, 1937.

27. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N SLOVAK
Bahdiske' ses'ity (Bahi'i Text Books). 25 vol- A Compilation (9).
umes to date. In Czech and Slovak. Con-
taining serial translations of the B a h ~ i Shoghi Effendi: World Religion (in manu-
Writings, prayers, compilations, articles script) .
and excerpts.

28. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N SPANISH
El Kitdb-i-Iqa'n. Bahi'u'llhh. La Sabiduria de 'Abdu'l-Bahd (Wisdom of
'Abdu'l-Bahh) .
Las Omcidnes Obligatorios. BahL'u'llAh.
Oracio'nes Baha"is ( ~ ~ ~Prayers).
g , i Bahg- La Ultima Voluntad y Testamento de 'Ab-
u'llhh and 'Abdu'l-Bahh. du'l-Ba'hd.

Las Palabras Ocultas de Bah2u'lldh. Divino Arte de Vivir.
Justicia Econdmica. 'Abdu'l-Bahh. El Plan Divino.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 817

German, British and Persian Friends attending the BahL'i Youth
Summer Week, Dilsberg, Germany, August 18-25, 1951.

Selecciones de las Escrituras de BahL'u'llih, Canto Celestial.
de 'Abdu'l-Bahi, y de Shoghi Effendi. (A
set of three booklets,.) La Casa de Adoracidn Bahd'i.

Dios Pasa: por Shoghi Effendi, Santiago de La Comunidad Espiritual Bahd'i.
Chile, 1948. Contestacidn a Unas Preguntas. By Mexico
La Dispensacidn de Bahd'u'lldh. Shoghi Ef- City Assembly, Mexico, D. F., 1940.
fendi. Curso sobre la Nueva Era.
La Religion Mundial. Shoghi Effendi. Drama de la Salvacio'n.
La Republics Venidera Mundial. Shoghi Ef- Enseiianzb BahL'is Sobre la Vida DespuCs
fendi. de la Muerte.
25 Aiios de Guardiania. Hacia la Edad de Oro.
Baha"u'l1dh y la Nueva Era (BahL'u'llih and Fundamentos de Unidad Mundial.
the New Era). By J. E. Esslemont.
La Misl'dn de Bahd'u'lldh.
Primer Centenario, 1844-1944.
Nosotros Sornos la Gente.
Renovacidn de la Civilizacidn.
Plan Bahri'i para La Paz.
PAMPHLETS
Principios Bahci'is.
El Alba de Una Nueva Era.
Principios de La Fe Bahd'i'i.
Los B ~ h f i sPersiguen la Unidad Mundial,
by Spiritual Assembly of Punta Arenas, El Procedimiento Bahci'i.
Chile.
El Profeta Mdrtir de Una Fe Mundial.
Base de La Comunidad Bahci'i.
Profundizando Nuestro Entendimiento Es-
Breve Historia del Principio y Desarrollo de piritual.
la Fe Bahd'i. Santos E. Dominguez, Tegu-
cigalpa, Honduras. La Puerta Abierta.
818 T H E BAHA'I. W O R L D

Que' es el Movimento Bahd'i? La Venida de 10s Mensajeros de Dios.
0, Que Salisteis a Ver? Libro de Episodios Bahd'fs y Mbsica para
El Sendero Que Conduce Hacia Dios. By Nin'os.
Dorothy Baker. Translated by Francisco
Acker. Para Niiios Pequetios (con MGsica) .

Su Experiencia como Bahd'i. Para Nin'os Pequetios (sin Miisica)

2 9 . BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N SWEDISH
Overtygelsens bok (The KitBb-i-fqBn). Up- ghi Effendi. Translated by Scandinavian
penbarad av BahB'u'llBh. Helsingfors, Translating- Committee, 1951.
1936.
Bahci'u'lla'h och den nya tids8ldern. By J. E.
Forborgade ord (Hidden Words). Jubi- Esslemont. Translated by Anna Rudd-
leumsupplaga, 1953. Palmgren, 1932.
Ett Monster till framtida samhiille. By Sho- I gryningen av en varldscivilisation. (Pam-
phlet.) Translated by Sigvard Hikansson,
1947.

30. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS I N WELSH
Fydd-y-Bah& (The Bahi'i Faith). British
Publishing Trust, 1949.

31. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS IN
ORI'ENTAL LANGUAGES
ABYSSINIAN (AMHARIC) Bahci'u'lldh and the New Era, by Dr. J. E.
Bahci'u'lla'h and the New Era. Addis Ababa, Esslemont. Cairo, 1930.
1935. Bi&a'rat-i-'U~mri.
Pamphlet. The Dawn Breakers. Nabil's Narrative.
ARABIC Dispensation of Bahci'u'lla'h.
Addiu-i-Mubaraka. Goal of a New World Order.
Alfa'r'id. Mirz6 Abu'l-Fadl. Hidden Words.
Attibian Wal-Burhan, Volume 11. Baha'i I&ra'qa't, Tajalliya't, Tarrizdt, and Kalima't.
Proofs for Sunni Muslims. Cairo.
Bahd'i Declaration of Human Rights and Kita'b-i-Aqdas. Bombay, Cairo, Persia.
0bligations. Kitdb-idq&. Cairo, 1934.
Bahd'i Pearls, by Mirzb Abu'l-Fadl. Cairo, Life after Death.
1900.
Muna'ja'tha'y-i-Hadrat-i-'Abdu'l-Baha'.
Bahd'i Principles; Summary of Bahci'i
Teachings. Cairo, 1928. Prayers from Bahci'u'lla'h. Tabriz, 1911.
Bahci'i'i Proofs, by Mirz6 Abu'l-Fadl. Cairo, The Promise o f All Ages.
1925. Risdliy-i-Amriyyih, by MustafL. Cairo.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 819

Bahi'i Youth of Germany gathered at Bahi'i Youth Summer Week, Breuberg
Castle, Neustadt-i-Odenwald, July 30-August 5, 1950, with Bahi'i visitors
from England, France, Norway, Persia and the United States.

Some Answered Questions. Cairo, 1930. BURMESE
Shriy-i-Mulfk. 'Aqd'id-i-Bahd'iydn.
Tablet to the Hague. Bahci'i Principles. Mandalay, 1919.
Talks of 'Abdu'l-Bahd in Europe. Cairo. The Bah& Short Thesis. Mandalay, 1913.
A Traveller's Narrative. Bahd'i Teachings for World Faith.
The Unfoldment of World Civilization. Bahd'u'llah and the New Era. Mandalay,
The Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahd. 1933.
Dawn of the New Day.
ARMENIAN
Divine Laws.
Bahci'u'lldh and the New Era. 1933, Aleppo.
Durks-i-Ak_hldqiyyih. Mandalay, 1930.
Hidden Words (in manuscript).
Durhsu'd-Diydnih. Mandalay, 1922.
Kitdb-i-fqdn (in manuscript).
Hujjatu'lldhu'l-Ba'lighih. Rangoon, 1927.
Pamphlet. 1920, Cairo.
HuqBqu'l-fnsa'niyy ih. Mandalay, 1928.
Pamphlet. 1928, Istanbul.
Kitdb-i-lqdn (manuscript).
Some Answered Questions (in manuscript).
Mizdnu'l-Furgdn. Mandalay, 1908.
What Is the Bahri'i Movement? Prag, 1933.
Niga'm-Ndmih. 1907.
ASSAMESE Revelation o f Bahci'u'lldh. Mandalay, 1907.
Bahci'u'lldh and the New Era. By J. E. Essle-
mont. S_hajaratu'l-Adydn.Rangoon, 1909.
Short History o f the Cause, A . 1913.
BENGALI
Bahd'i Teachiizgs for a World Faith. Some Answered Questions. Mandalay, 1915.
Baha"u'l1dh and the New Era. 1937. Su'al va Javdb.
Hidden Words. Tablet of Love. Mandalay, 1922.
BahB'i Youth Group of Colombo, Ceylon.

Bah2i Youth Symposium, Poona, India.
T o Live the Life. Mandalay. HINDI
What Is the Bahri'i Movement? Rangoon. BahLi'i Teachings for a World Faith.
Bahd'u'lldh and the New Era. By J. E. Essle-
CHIN mont. Lahore, 1939. And Second edition.
Bahd'u'lldh and the New Era.
Dawn o f a New Day.
CHINESE Day o f God.
The BahBi Cause in China. Shanghai, Book- Hidden Words (Bahi'u'll6h).
let 9.
Universal Peace.
Baha"u'l1a'h and the New Era. Shanghai,
The World Religion.
1931.
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahd'u'lla'h. JAPANESE
The Goal o f a New World Order. Shanghai, The Baha"i Revelation, translated by Dr.
1931. Inouye. 1920.
Hidden Words. Canton, 1937. BahBu'lldh and the New Era. Tokyo, 1932.
Index to Some Answered Questions. Shang- The Call, translated by T. Torii. 1920.
hai, 1933. Hidden Words. Tokyo, 1937.
Kitdb-i-iqdn. Shanghai.
A Letter to the Women of Japan, by Agnes
Light of the Age. Shanghai, 1926. B. Alexander. 1916.
The Most Great Peace. Shanghai, 1931. Mdriqu'l-Adhkdr, translated by Dr.
Paris Talks. Shanghai, 1931. Inouye. 1918.
Prayers and Meditations of Bahd'u'lldh (in The Most Great Peace, translated by Dr.
manuscript). Inouye. 1917.
The Promulgation of Universal Peace. Vol- New Civiliza~tiotz,by K. Torikai. 1917.
ume I.
Religion of Love. 1917.
Some Answered Questions. Shanghai, 1940.
What Is Baha"iism? by Dr. G. J. Augur.
Some Principles of the Bah& Faith. 1916.
Tablet3 of Bahri'u'lla'h. What Is the BahBi Movement? translated by
The Valuable Contribution of the Bahd'i T. Inouye. 1929.
Cause ( I , I I ) . Shanghai, 1932.
KANARESE
G UJAR AT1 Bahd'u'lldh and the New Em.
Bah& Faith and the New Age. Wisdom of 'Abdu'l-Baha'.
B a h a Prayers.
Bahd'u'lldh and the New Era. Bombay, KASHMIRI
1932. Superseded by new edition. Baha'u'lldh and the New Era.
Dawn of a New Day. KURDISH
Fardmin-Bahi, by Mirzli Abu'l-Fadl. Bom- Bahli'u'lldh and the New Era. Baghdlid,
-
bay, 1921. 1934.
Hidden Words. Kitdb-i-iqdn (manuscript).
GURMUKHI World Religion (manuscript).
Bahd'u'lla'h and the New Era.
MALAYALAM
Dawn of the New Day. Bahd'u'lldh and the New Em.
HEBREW Dawn of a New Day.
Bahd'u'lldh and the New Era. Haifa, 1931. Hidden Words.
822 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

MARATHI Prayers by 'Abdu'l-Baha'.
Bahd'u'lla'h and the New Era. Prayers fronz ' Abdu'l-Baha'. Tihrin, 1930.
Dawn o f a New Day. Prayers, Arabic and Persian.
The Secret of Divine Civilization.
NEPALESE The Siya'siyyih, by 'Abdu'l-Bah6. Bom-
Bahh'u'lldh and the New Era. bay.
Some Answered Questions. London.
ORIYA
Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Baha' to Dr. Forel.
Bahd'u'lla'h and the New Era. Cairo..
PANJABI Tablet to the Hague, by 'Abdu'l-BahL.
BalzQ'u'lla'h and the New Era. Cairo.
The Tablets o f 'Abdu'l-Bahd. Volumes 1 ,
PASHTO 2 and 3. ~ a i r o .
Bahh'u'lla'h and the New Era. Tablets, Turkish.
Dawn of a New Day. The Testament Tablets.
The Will and Testament o f 'Abd~~'1-Baha'.
PERSIAN Bombay and Cairo.
Bahb'u'llih: Shoghi Effendi:
The Book of Zqtidhr, Tablets of Baha"- The Dispensation o f Baha"u'l1a'h (Part IV,
u'lldh. Bombay. The Administrative Order).
The Book of Mubin, Tablets o f Bahd'- Excerpts from Letters.
u'lla'h. Bombay.
General Letter for Believers in the East.
The Epistle to the Son o f the W o l f , Bah6'-
u'llLh. Cairo. The Letter of Ridvin, 105.
Z&ra'qa't, Tara'za't, Tajalliydt. Bombay. The Promised Day Has Come (from the
English) .
Hidden Words (Persian).
The World Religion.
Kalima't-i-Maknf nih (Hidden Words).
Kita'b-i-lqa'n. Cairo and Bombay. Abu'l-Fadl: Al-Fard'id. Cairo.
Lawh-i-A hmad. Ti&kand. Aya't-i-Mu'arraui. China.
Lawh-i-Maqjlid. The Brilliarzt Proof.
The Seven Valleys. Cairo and Bombay. Excerpts from The Fard'id.
Shriy-i-Mullik. Letters of Mirza' Abu'l-Fadl. Cairo.
Tablets and Prayers from Bah2u'lkdh. Risdliy-i-Zstidldliyyih. Egypt.
Cairo. Ad'iyiy-i-Hadrat-i-Mahbfb (Book of Pray-
Tablets from Bahd'u'lla'h. Cairo. ers). Cairo.
Tablet of Bahd'u'lldh to the S_ha'h o f Per- An-Nfru'l-A bha'-Fi-Mufawaddt-i-'Abdu'l-
sia. Cairo. Bahd. Table talks collected by Laura C.
The Medium and the Long Obligatory Barney. Kegan, Paul, London, 1908.
Prayers.
The Bah& Calendar. Tihrin.
Odes and Lyric Poems.
The Will and Testament of Bahd'u'lla'h. Baha"i Procedure. (From the English.)
'IshqibLd and Cairo. Bahb'i Sacred Writings: (Prayers for the
'Abdu'l-B ah&: fast, for healing, for pilgrimages, etc.)
Addresses of 'Abdu'l-Bahri. Cairo. Baha"iism and Socialism. 'Is_hqib6d.
Addresses 'Abdu'z-Baha' in Bahru'l-'Zrfbn, by Muhammad Afs_hir. Born-
Cairo. bay.
Memorials o f the Faithful, 'Abdu'l-BahL.
Haif a. BihjatuY?-Sudlir, Mirzh Haydar-'Ali. Bom-
bay.
The Muduniyyih, by 'Abdu'l-Bahi. Cairo
and Bombay. The Century (Lawh-i-Qam) .
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 823

Bah6'i Youth Symposium, Rangoon, February 25, 1951.

Dalri'ilu'l-'Irfa'n, Mirzh Haydar-'Ali. Bom- I&rbq-Khbvari: Commentary on The Cen-
bay. tury (2 vols.) : Sealed Wine.
Durdsu'd-Diya'nih (Lessons in Religion). Excerpts on Twelve Principles.
Cairo and Tihrbn. Illustration and Proof (from the Arabic
of Ahmad Hamdi Al-Muhammad of
The Early Tablets of Bahdu'lla'h, compiled Baghdbd) .
by Baron Rosen, St. Petersburg. -
Invocations for Nearness t o God (Prayers
Esslemont, J. E.: Bahd'u'lla'h and the New by Bahi'u'lliih, 'Abdu'l-BahL and Shoghi
Era. Haifa. 1932. Effendi) -3 vols.
Bahri'u'lla'h and the New Era. (Transla- Nabil's Narrative: a Summary. (From the
tion from the English. 1949.) English.)
Fbdil-i-Mhzindarhni: History of the Faith, The Nine Days.
Part IV. On Immortality.
Fard idu'd-Diniyyih. Ma&had. Pearls of Divine Guidance. ( 3 vols.)
The Table from Heaven: BahL'i Sacred
Funitan, 'Ali-Akbar: Faith and Culture. Writings. (6 vols.)
Harmony o f Religion and Science. Treasury of Laws.
Lessons in Character.
Zstidldliyyih, I and 11, by Na'im, Tabriz,
Principles of Bah& Administration. 1911 and 1912.
Principles o f Teaching the Lessons in Istidla'liyyiy-i-Afs_ha'r. Bombay.
Character.
Religious views Leading Occi- Kadfu'l-G_hi~d',compiled by Siyyid Mihdi
dental Scholars. Gulpbygbni. 'Is_hqbbbd.

Hadiqatu'l-Bahdiyyih. Bombay, 1927. Kava'kibu'd-Durriyyih. Cairo.
T h e History of the ~~~t~~~ o f yazd. cairo. KhLdem, Bikru'llgh, translator: Apprecia-
tions o f the Bah6'i Faith. (From the Eng-
The History o f Tdhirih. Cairo. lish.)
Irtibdt-i-Xharq va Rharb. Tihrin, 1931. Maga'liy-i-Bah8i. Delhi, 19 15.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mashriqu'l-AdJhka'r. Twenty-two page book- Tabyinu'l-Haqiqat.
let written in Persian on the BahVi Tem- Ta'rikh-i-Jadid. Bombay.
ple. Published by the Bahi'i Assembly of
Washington, D.C. Tauki-i-Mani-i-Mubarak, 110.
Mat&navi (Nabil's chronological poem.) Teaching Probleins. (Translation.)
Cairo. The Traveller's Narrative. London and
Mihrbb-Khhi: The City of 'Akka'. Thhkand, 1916. Bombay.
Mu'ayyad, Dr. Habib: The Martyrdom of A Traveller's Narrative. Printed from manu-
Ya'qcib Muttahidih. script copy, 1929 (1308 A. H.), 240
PP.
Mundja'tnciy-i-Hadrat-i-'A bdu'l-Baha'. A Traveller's Narrative (Persian).
Mundziratu'd-Diniyyih. Cairo. The Travels of 'Abdu'l-Bahri. Vol. 1 and 2,
Narkqi, Furiighi:
- The Events in Nara'q. Mirzk Mahmiid Zarpiini. Bombay.
Natijatu'l-Baya'n, compiled by Mirzb Na'im. Tuhfiy-i-TLhirih. Delhi, 1933.
National Bahi'i Youth Committee: Bahd'i U~cil-i-Tadris.Tihrkn.
Youth Year Book. Yazdkni, Ahmad: Elements o f the Spiritual
National Spiritual Assembly: Principal Ele- Life.
ments of Bahri'i Procedure.
Reply to the apocryphal K . Dolgorouki. RAJASTHANI
Bahri'u'lla'h and the New Era.
The 19 Talks. Cairo.
The Passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahd. Delhi, 1933. SINDHI
Poems by Na'im. Tabriz, Tihrbn, Cairo and Balza"u'l1a'h and the New Era. Karachi,
Bombay. 1938.
Poems by Nayyir. Tihrbn, 1930. Dawn of the New Day.
QB'ini, S_hayk_hMuhammad-'Ali: Lessons in Goal o f a New World Order.
Religion. Hidden Words.
Qarn-i-Badi'. How to Live the Life.
Questions and Answers (Appendix to Kitdb- Universal Peace.
i-Aqdas). Tihrkn.
Rastigh-, Nasru'llbh: History of Sadru's- SINGHALESE
SudLir. BahBi Teachings for a World Faith.
Promulgation of Bahd'i Learning. Baha"u'1la'h and the New Era.
Sahih-Furiish, 'Abdu'llbh: Teaching the
' Aliy u'lldhi Sect. TAMIL
Suhrbb, Hidkyatu'lliih: Living the Bahd'i'i Bahd'u'lldh and the New Era.
Life. The Dawn of the New Day.
Suhrkb, 'Inkyatu'llbh: B n h a Assemblies Hidden Words.
and Their Function.
Paris Talks.
SulaymM, 'Azizu'lliih: The Dew of Wis-
dom; Philosophy in History ( 2 vols.) . The Religion of the Future.
Lamps o f Guidance; Biographies of Early The Revelation o f Bahd'u'lldh. By I. Brit-
Believers (vols. 1 and 2). tingham, translated by V. M. Swami. Ran-
A Brief Survey o f the BahBi Faith. goon, 1906.
Tablets: a Compilation. Seven Valleys and Four Valleys, of BahV-
uY116h.
Tablets for Memorial Services: a Compila-
tion. TARTAR
The Tablet on Unity. Vahdat. By 'Abdu'l-Bahb. T&s_hkand,1918.
826 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

TELUGU Javdb-i-Qa'dfya'niha'.Rangoon, 1908.
Bahd'u'lldh and the New Era. Kitdb-i-Pqa'n.
TURKISH Kitdb-i-Qiya'mat.
Bahd'i Hareketi. Istanbul, 1930. Kita'bu'z-Zuhbr. (Second edition.)
Bahd'u'lldh and ' Abdu'l-Baha'. Bhkfi, 1915. MiCydr-j-R
jsdla't.
~ahd'u'lla'h and the New Era. Istanbul, Moud ku kion nahin pahchana.
1932.
Mufawadat. (Second edition.)
Talk About the Bahd'i Faith. BBk6.
Payghdm-i-Sulh.
Talk in New York. Biikii, 1922; 'Is_hqiibBd,
Qd'im-i-'Ali-Muhammad.
1916.
URDU Religion of the Future.
Addiu-i-Mubaraka. Revelation o f Bahd'u'lla'h. By Mrs. I. D.
Brittingharn. Rangoon, 1902.
Aftdb-i-Zuhbr.
The Seven Valleys. Bombay, 1929.
At-Bala'gu'l-Mubin. Agra.
Sharh-i-A ydt.
SJhi&-Alva'h.
Shoghi Effendi :
Bdbu'l-Haya't.
The Dispensation o f Bahb'u'lla'h.
The Bah& Peace Program. The Goal o f a New World Order.
Bahd'i Procedure. God Passes By (in manuscript).
Bahd'i Ta'lim (The Hague Tablet). Hydera- Letter to the Friends in the East.
bad, 1923. The Promised Day Is Come (in manu-
Bahd'u'lldh and the New Era. By J. E. Essle- script).
mont. Translation (third edition) . The World Religion.
Bahd'i Teachings for a World Faith. Trans- Some Answered Questions.
lation (third edition). Shriy-i-Mulbk.
Bida'rdt-i' Uzmd. Survey o f the First Bah& Century.
Burha'n-i-Sarih. Agra. The Tablets o f 'Abdu'l-Bahd.
Daavdy-i-Maamuriyat-i-Baha"u'1la'h Chalis Tablet to the Hague. Hyderabad, 1923.
Sal Tak.
Tablet to the World. Bombay.
Dawn of a New Day.
Tauki-i-Mani-i-Mubarak, 110.
Dawr-i-Bahd'i.
Teaching Problems. (Translation.)
Din-i-Bah& ovr Qddiydn.
A Traveller's Narrative. 1908.
The Epistle to the Son of the Wolf. Delhi.
'Urbj-u-Nuzbl. Rangoon, 1904.
Excerpts from the Will and Testament.
Farri'id (in manuscript). Ushl-i-Bahd'i. Delhi.
The Hidden Words. Bombay. Why People o f the World Could Not Know
Their Promised One.
Hujaju'l-Bahiy y ih (in manuscript).
Will and Testament. (Excerpt.)
Zhqa'qu'l-Haqq. By Mirz6 Mahmiid ZarqBni.
1908-9. The Words o f 'Abdu'l-Bahd.
IsJzrdqdt, Biddrdt, Kalimdt, Tardzdt, Tajalli- Zuhur-i-Qd'im-i-'Ali-Muhammad. (Second
ydt, Tablets o f BahcTu'lldh. Agra, 1918. edition.)
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY

3 2 . BAHA'IP U B L I C A T I O N S I N
AFRICAN LANGUAGES
(Available through Bah2i Publishing Tmst, BM/BAHA'i, London W.C. 1, England)

ACHOLI IGBO
The Bahgi'Faith-Religion of Unity. (Pam- The Bahh'i Faith-Religion of Unity. (Pam-
phlet .) phlet.)
ADANWE KI KIKUYU
The BahVi Faith-Religion of Unity. (Pam- The Bahthj'i Faith-Religion of Unity. (Pam-
phlet.) phlet.)

ATESO KI SWAHILI
Akiyuun naka Bahd'i. Akiyuuiz naka Aimo- Se Unaijua Siku ya Leo Unayoishi? (Do you
rikikina. TransIated by Enoch Olinga. know in what day you are living?) Trans-
(Pamphlet.) London, 1953. lated by Philip Hainsworth. (Pamphlet.)
London, 1950.
CHI NYANJA LUGANDA
Kodi Tsiku La Moyo Wanu Mulidziwa? Okukkiriza Kwa Baha"i. (Pamphlet.) Lon-
(Do you know in what day you are liv- don, 1952.
ing?) Translated by Philip Hainsworth.
(Pamphlet.) London, 1950. MENDE
The BahVi Faith-Religion of Unity. (Pam-
EWE phlet.)
The Bah6'i Faith-Religion of Unity. (Pam-
phlet.) TWI
Bah& Kyere. (Pamphlet.) London, 1952.
HAUSA
Shin, Kun San Wane Zamani Ku Ke Ciki YORUBA
Yanzu? (Do you know in what day you The BahCi Faith-Religion of Unity. (Pam-
are living?) (Pamphlet.) London, 1952. phlet.)

33. LANGUAGES INTO WHICH BAHA'I
L I T E R A T U R E IS B E I N G T R A N S L A T E D

AFRICA THE AMERICAS
Bemba Cherokee
Dagbane Eskimo
Ga Guarani
Grebo Maya-Quiche
Kpelle Mexican
Malagasy
Ruanda ASIA
Shona Balochi
Susu Georgian
Suto Indonesian
Wolof Javanese
Yao Manipuri
828 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

Mentawai EUROPE
Nicobarese
Basque
Ossete
Pali Erse
Perm Estonian
Samoan Flemish
Siamese Latvian
Somali
Tibetan Lithuanian
Tongan Maltese
Ukrainian Piedrnontese

34. BAHA'I L I T E R A T U R E FOR T H E BLIND

(a)
. , PUBLISHED IN AUSTRALIA "Kitab-i-lqbn (Book of Certitude).
(Braille) Prayers and Meditations.
Bahd'u'lldh and His Message.
The Seven Valleys.
Hidden Words of Bahd'~~'1la'h.
Provhecv Fulfilled. The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys.
' 2

Some Christian Subjects from Some An- Tablet o f IKbrdqa't.
swered Questions. SBratu'E-Haykal.
(b) PUBLISHED IN CzECHOSLO-
% ,
Words o f Wisdom. (Also in Moon Type.)
VAKIA (Braille) Selected Writings o f Bahd'u'lla'h.
Bahd'u'lla'h kaj la Nova Epoko. By J. E. ;';Nine Inscriptions for exterior of Bah$i
Esslemont. (In Esperanto Braille.) House of Worship.
(c) PUBLISHED IN FRANCE OF THE B ~ B
(ii) WRITINGS
(Braille)
The Bdb's Address to His Disciples, and
Essai sur le Bahd'iisme. By Hippolyte Drey- other selections.
fus.
(d) PUBLISHED IN JAPAN (iii) WRITINGS
OF 'ABDU'L-BAG

(Braille) "World Order Through World Faith. Se-
Bahci'u'llih and the New Era. By J . E. Essle- lected Addresses of 'Abdu'l-BahB in
mont. (In Japanese Braille.) North America.
World Order Through World Faith. (Talk-
(e) PUBLISHED IN NEW ZEALAND ing Book.)
(Braille)
B a h a Peace Program.
Baha"u'l2dh and His Message.
Some Answered Questions.
Hidden Words of Bahn"u'l1dh.
Promulgation o f Universal Peace, Excerpts.
Prophecy Fulfilled.
Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahd.
Some Christian Subjects.
Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha',
( f ) PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED Excerpts.
STATES OF AMERICA
The Wisdom of 'Abdu'l-Baha'.
(Braille English)
Titles prefixed by an asterisk (") are Some Discourses of 'Abdu'l-Bahd
printed from Braille plates. All other titles Divine Philosophy.
are hand transcribed. ' T h e Reality o f Man. Selections from Writ-
OF BAHL'U'LLAH
(i) WRITINGS ings of 'Abdu'l-BahL.
"Hidden Words. Bahd'i Marriage Tablet.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 829

Christians, Jews and Muhammadans. (viii) PAMPHLETS TRANSCRIBED
The Image of God. 'Abdu'l-Bahd in America. Juliet Thompson.
Assurance. Dorothy Baker.
Selected Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahd.
The Bahd'i House of Worship, Pamphlet
(iv) WORKSCOMPILED FROM WRITINGSOF
published by the BahL'i Publishing Com-
BAHA'U'LL~H, THE B ~ B AND 'ABDU'L-BAA
mittee.
The Bahci'i House of Worship: This Temple,
*Communion with God. Prayers. Braille This Faith.
Grade 2; 1%.
The Bahd'i Principle of Civilization. Horace
Bahdi Prayers. ( 1945 edition.) Holley.
Bahdi Prayers. ( 1949 edition.) B a h a Teachings on Economics. Horace
Holley.
(v) WORKSCOMPILED FROM WRITINGS OF Bahd'i Teachings on Universal Peace.
B A H ~ ' U ' L LAND
~ H 'ABDU'L-BAH~
Bahd'i: The Coming of World Religion.
Bahdi Prayers and Meditations of Bahci'-
u'lldh and 'Abdu'l-Bahd. A Bus Ride. Gertrude Schurgast.
The Dawn o f World Civilization.
Book of Prayers. BahB'u'llCh and 'Abdu'l-
BahC. Economics as a Social Creation.
Divine Art of Living. Compiled by Mary H. Essentia~lBahci'i Teachings. Horace Holley.
Rabb. *Faith for Freedom.
The Goal Is World Civilization.
(vi) WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI
God Is Man's Goal.
Messages from Shoghi Effendi.
Headlines Tomorrow. Marzieh Gail.
The Goal o f a New World Order.
He Has Come to the Nations. Marzieh Gail.
The Dispensation of Bah&u'lldh. Homoculture. Stanwood Cobb.
The Golden Age of the Cause of Bahd'- The Laboratory of Life. Louise D. Boyle.
u'lldh.
The Lesser and the Most Great Peace.
The Advent of Divine Justice. George Orr Latimer.
Selected Writings o f Shoghi Effendi. A Letter to the Blind Women in Japan.
Religion a Living Organism. Agnes B. Alexander.
Man One Family. Excerpts from Race and
(vii) WRITINGSON THE BAHA'i FAITH Man.
*Bahd'u'lldh and the New Era. By J. E.
Man the Supreme Talisman.
Esslemont. (1932.)
The Manifestation. Albert P. Entzminger.
Security for a Failing World. By Stanwood
Cobb. The Martyr Prophet of a World Foith. Wil-
liam B. Sears.
*The Renewal o f Civilization. By David
Hofman. The Mission of Bahci'u'lldh. (Jubilee Pam-
phlet.)
Commentary on the Will and Testament of
'Abdu'l-Bahd. By David Hofman. Observations o f a Bahd'i Traveller. Charles
M. Remey.
Excerpts from Portals to Freedom. By How-
ard Colby Ives. Old Churches and the New World Faith.
George Townshend.
Bahd'u'lldh and His Message. By J. E. Essle-
mont. The Oneness o f Mankind. Compilation.
Bahci'u'lldh, A Nineteenth Century Prophet The Open Door. Compilation on Immortal-
and His Message. By J. E. Esslemont. ity.
830 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

The Path to God. Dorothy Baker. Two Roads W e Face. Kenneth Christian.
Present Day Administration of the Bahb'i What Is the Bahd'i Movement? T . Inouye.
Faith. Horace Holley. The White Sillc Dress. Marzieh Gail.
UPrinciples of the Bahri'i Faith. Compila- why I Believe in God a,zd Pray.
tion.
Work Is Worship. Doris McKay.
Prophecy Fulfilled. Elisabeth Cheney.
"The World Faith of Baha"u'l1a'h. Summary.
Radiant Acquiescerzce. Orcella Rexford.
Your Experience as a Bahd'i.
The Reality o f Brotherhood.
Religion and the New Age. (ix) IN ESPERANTO
Religion Returns.
La Bahaa Revelacio. 1929.
Religious Education for a Peaceful Society.
Horace Holley. La Paralado de Ba'b.
Revelation of Bahd'u'lln'h. Isabella D. Brit- Parizaj Paroladoj de 'Abdu'l-Baha'.
tingham. Bahaaj Instruoj Por Mondkredo.
Seek and It Shall Be Given You. Tokijiro Ka3ttaj Voroj de Bahd'u'lln'h (en la Persia
Torii. Linguo) .
The Spiritual Meaning o f Adversity. Mamie La Sep Kandeloj de Mondunueco. By 'Ab-
Seto. du'l-Bahi.
Tests, Their Spiritual Value. Mamie Seto. La Mondreligio. By Shoghi Effendi.

PERIODICALS
Africa News. Issued by the Africa Com- Bahd'i News Letter. Published by the Na-
mittee of the National Spiritual Assembly tional Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of
of the BahL'is of the British Isles. (Mim- India, Pakistan and Burma.
eographed.) Bahci'i News and Reviews. Issued by the Na-
Assembly Development Review. Issued by tional Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is
the Consolidation Committee of the Na- of Persia. (Mimeographed.)
tional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is Bahd'i Youth Bulletin. Issued by National
of the British Isles. (Mimeographed.) BahL'i Youth Committee of the National
Bah& Bulletin. Published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of the
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of Aus- United States. (Mimeographed.)
tralia and New Zealand. Bahsi'i Yo~uthLetter. Issued bv the National
Youth Committee of the ~ a t i o n a Spirit-
l
Bahd'i Journal. Published by the National ual Assembly of the BahL'is of Australia
Spiritual Assembly of the BahL'is of the and New Zealand. (Mimeographed.)
British Isles.
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many and Austria. (Mimeographed.)
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BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 831

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832 T H E BAHA 'I WORLD

Braden, Chas. S.: The Scriptures o f Man- Ellwood, Charles A.: The Reconstruction o f
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BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 833

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Float representing "This Earth One Country" entered in annual parade, July 4, 1950,
at Anchorage, Alaska, by the BahB'i Children's Workshop. The nineteen children
and two adults wore costumes of fourteen different countries.
834 T H E BAHA 'I WORLD

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836 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Among youth attending the Green Acre Youth Camp in June,
1951, was a young man from Kenya, British East Africa, now
student in an American University. He expressed gratitude for
his happy experience at the camp, and extended a cordial
welcome to BahL'is who visit his land.

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BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 839

Bah6'i Delegates to United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations Regional Confer-
ence, held in Den Passar, Island of Bali, Indonesia, July 29-August 3, 1951.
(Photograph taken on board S.S. Plancius.)
Left to right: Stanley Bolton, Jr., delegate of Australia and New Zealand;
Mrs. Shirin Fozdar, Bah6'i teacher from India, representing the All-India Women's
I
Educational Conference; Captain H. Buys, delegate of Indonesia;
Borzoo Sohaili, delegate of PBkistBn.

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840 THE BAHA'I WORLD

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BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 841

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Spiritual Assembly of the Bah6'is of Butte, Montana, January 12-February 2, 1952.

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Roma, 1929. Ak. Nauk, Moscow, U.S.S.R., 1939.
844 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Display of photographs and texts alluding to the Bahi'i Faith,
Punta Arenas, Magallanes, Chile, 1952.

SPANISH EssBn, Riitger: Bakom Asiens Portar. Bon-
de la Grasserie, R., and R. Kreglinger: Psi- nier, Stockholm, 1931, p. 266.
cologia de las Religiones, Ediciones Pav- Fogelklou, Emilia: Frdn langtans viigar.
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Editorial Segui, Barcelona. Goldziher, Ignaz: Islam-Fordorn och N u .
Koberg B., Maximiliano: El verdadero Or- Hugo Gebers Forlag, Stockholm, 1915,
den Social. San Jose, Costa Rica. pp. 168, 255.
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(Translation.) danrr (circa 1890). Svenska Missionsfor-
Rivadeneyra, Don Adolfo (Vice Consul of bundet, Stockholm, 1920, pp. 79-96.
Spain) : Viaje a1 interior de Persia. 3 Vols. Jannes, Elly: Osterland. Kooperativa For-
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holm, 1952, pp. 49-50. strom & Widstrand, 1935, Del. I, pp. 238-
Brick, Anna Riwkin och Daniel: (A pic- 241 (som innehgller en teckning over
ture.) Kooperativa Forbundets Bokfor- Babs avrattningen) .
lag, Stockholm, 1948. Pernov: Palestina forr och nu. Israelsmis-
Ehrenpreis, Marcus: Mitt Liv mellan ~ s t e r sionens Andelsforenings Bokforlag, Stock-
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Stockholm, 1926, pp. 207-208. 90, 156, 157, 166.
BAHA'I[ B I B L I O G R A P H Y 845

Rydelius, Ellen: Pilgrim i Persien. Bonnier, FrolCen & Comp., Stockholm, 1918, p.
Stockholm, 1941, p. 136. 308.
Rydh, Hanna: Brytrzingstid i Orienten. Na- VAmbCry, Hennann: Resa i Central-Asierz.
tur och Kultur, Stockholm, 1952, pp. 151- P. G. Berg, Stockholm, 1866, p. 19.
156. Resa i Persien. J. L. Tornqvists Forlag,
Landskrona, 1869, pp. 214-226.
Said, Kurban: Ali Och Nirzo. Lars Hoker-
bergs Bokforlag, Stockholm, 1938, pp. ijstrup, J.: Islams Kultur under det Nit-
146-160. tonde brhundradet. P. A. Norstedt &
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urkunder. Geber, Stockholm, 1907, pp.
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-~indblads FBrlag, Uppsala, 1951, pp.
Tallqvist, Knut: P i Helig och Ohelig Mark. 138-141.

37. REFERENCES TO THE BAHA'I FAITH
I N M A G A Z I N E S BY N O N - B A H A ' I
AUTHORS
ARGENTINA Edinburgh Evening News, Jan., 1913.
Pau, Jan. 15, 1936, Buenos Aires. The Inquirer (London), May 16, 1931.
La Prensa, Dec. 15, 1935, Buenos Aires. Inquirer and Christian Life, May 10, 1930.
AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND Znternational Psychic Gazette, Nos,. 6 and 7.
Pix, Sept. 6, 1952; May 2, 1953. John O'London's Weekly, March 25, 1933.
Post Magazine, March 12, 1953. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Soc., Vols.
Woman's Weekly, May 29, 1952. XXI, '1889; XXIV, 1892; XXIX, 1897.
Journal o f the Royal A.sintic Soc. o f Great
BELGIUM Britain and Ireland, Jan., 1922.
Lumi2re et Liberte', Nov., 1935. Brussels. London Budget, Jan., 1913.
Le Rouge et le Noir, Nov. 27, 1935. Brus- The Rational Annual, 1931.
sels.
Saturday Review, Jan., 1894.
BRAZIL Scots Pictorial, Jan., 1913.
Correio do Brasil, Nov. 11, 1935.
Scottish Review, April, 1892.
Pernambuco Esperantists, Dec., 1943; July-
Aug., 1943; Sept.-Nov., 1943. Speaking of Women, July, 1936.
The Spectator, April, 1892; July 14, 1950.
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Sunday Herald (Woking, London), Jan. 24,
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The Arena. Nov.. 1904.
BULGARIA
Asiatic Quarterly Review, April, 1913.
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22, 1913; Jan. 29, 1913; Feb. 12, 19i3. CANADA
Clifton Chronicle and Directory, Jan., 1913. Flash (Toronto), Aug. 27, 1947.
Daily Sketch (London), Dec. 16, 1932. Psychic Digest (Toronto), Apr. 1, 1946.
846 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

DENMARK INDIA
Dansk Tidsskrift, Aug., 1903. Illustrated Weekly o f India, Mar. 24, 1931.
Nordisk Tidsskrift, Fifth issue, 1911. India and Israel (Bombay), March, 1951,
p. 20; May 10, 1951, p. 55.
EGYPT Indian Review (Madras), Aug., 1914..
Egyptian Gazette, Sept. 24, 1913.
Images (in French), Sept. 5, 1953. ITALY
Ata'nor, Vol. I, p. 26, 1948, Rome.
FRANCE L'Illustrazione Italiana, Nov., 1950, Milan.
L'Annde Philosophique, Vol. 111, 1869. Oriente Moderno, 1922, pp. 511, 563; 1949,
Bulletin de 2'Acade'mie Impe'riale de St. Pe- p. 190; 1950, p. 199, Rome.
tersburg, Vols. VIII, IX. Rassegna Lucchese, April, 1951, p. 19,
Bulletin Me'langes Asiatique, Vol. IV. Lucca.
L'en dehors, Dec., 1936, OdBans. Rivista degli Studi Orientali, 1909, p. 654,
Rome.
Les fiches (Paris), Sept. 27 and 28,, 1933.
Ricerche Religiose, Vol. XX, pp. 17-18,
L'lllustration, Sept. 30, 1933. 1949, Rome.
Journal Asiattque, Vols. 11, VII, VIE, 1866;
X. JAPAN
Kai-cho (Sea Tide), Aug., 1950, p. 21.
L e Libre Echange,
- Jan., 1936, Paris.
Pax, July-August, 1938. MEXICO
Mexican Life (Mexico City), Aug. 1, 1943.
ReTla, March, 1937.
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April 18, 1887.
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Alice Fernand-Halphen: "Palestine Vizier, Sept. 22, 1951.
d'Hier, Palestine d'Aujourd'hui." Wereld Kronick, April 7, 1934, Rotterdam.
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XVIII. NORWAY
Naturlagen, April, 1936.
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Vedic Magazine (Lahore), Vol. 8, No. 9.
GERMANY
RUMANIA
AElgemeine Missionszeitschrift, 1894, p.
327; 1903, p. 242. Cuvantul Liber, Oct. 26, 1935, Bucharest.
Deutsche Rundschau, Vol. XVIII, 1879. Santier, 1934, Bucharest.
Evangelisches Missions-M~gazin, 1894, p. RUSSIA
12 ff. Bulletin de la Acade'mie Inzperiale de St.
Journal of the German Oriental Society, Petersburg, Vols. VIII, IX.
Vol. V, 1851. Universala Unigo, Vol. I, 1913.
Oriental Literaturzeitung, 1909. Zapiski, by Baron Rosen, 1889.
Vossische Zeitung, June 13, 1920 (M. Ha- SPAIN
yek: "Der Bahiismus") .
La Actualidad EspaEola (Madrid), Aug. 27,
Zeitschrift fur Assyriologie, Vol. XXII, p. 1953. (Fernando de Cambra: "El Templo
337. de la Justicia" [Haifa, Israel].)
Festival of Britain-Bahi'i Exhibition.
Exhibit of Faiths of the British Commonwealth, arranged and presented by the
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahi'is of Manchester, at the Bahi'i Center,
Manchester, September 9-15, 1951.
848 THE BAHA'I WORLD

First exhibition of Bahgi books held in Paris, end of 1949,
for two weeks at Librairie Clair Savoir, 6 rue du Pr6 aux Clercs.

Cruzada Misionera, April, 1953. [Report on The Ajax, March, 1947.
Kampala Conference.]
American Astrology, April, 1938; Nov.,
Estrella del Mar (Madrid), Feb. 1952. 1939; Dec., 1939; Sept., 1940; Nov.,
Pueblo (Madrid), Oct. 20, 1951. 1946; Jan., 1947; Nov., 1949.
Sophia (Revista teosofica orientalismo-oc- American Concrete Institute Journal, June,
cultismo), vol. 16, p. 3, Jan. 7, 1908 (Ra- 1933, pp. 397, 403; Jan., March, 1934;
fael Urbano: "Babismo y Behaismo," 15 Feb., 1939, suppl.
pp. with bibliography). American Guide, 1949.
Tiernpos Nuevas (Barcelona), Jan., 1936. American Journal of Theology, Jan., 1902.
Y a (Madrid), Jan. 18, 1953.
American Mercury, June, 1941; Sept., 1941;
Sept., 1949.
SWEDEN
Aftonbladet, Jan. 30, 1948, Stockholm. Amerika Esperantisto, June, 1912; Feb.,
1913; Feb., 1914; July-Aug., 1918; April,
Frisksport, Oct. 10, 1947, Stockholm. 1927; May-June, 1927; July-Aug., 1943.
SWITZERLAND Architectural Record, June, 1920; Sept.,
1944.
Shfi Quarterly, March, 1928 (published in
English). Argosy, June, 1950.
Art World, March, 1917.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Abbott Pharmagraph, Jan., 1948. Asia, May, 1924; Dec., 1942.
ACZ Newsletter, Feb., 1948. Astrologer, July, 1946.
Airways, July, 1946. Atlantic Monthly, Sept., 1926.
Airways Traveler, Feb., 1947. Bell Telephone News, Feb., 1937.
B A H A ' ~B I B L I O G R A P H Y 849

Bibliotheca: Sacra, Jan., 1915. Fortnightly Review, June, 1911; April,
Book Buyer, June, 1901. 1912; June, 1913.
Broadway Magazine, Sept., 1906. Fortune, Feb., 1947.
Business Week, Aug. 3 1, 1946. Forum, July, 1925.
Chaff and Grain, vol. 1, no. 5, 1938. Friend's Intelligencer, Sept., 1925.
Chambers' Journal. Harper's Weekly, July, 1912; May, 1951.
Chicagoan, Sept., 1931. Headline Events in Chicago (Chicago Assn.
of Cosmmerce and Industry), June, 1949.
Chicago Daily News, 1949; Dec., 1952.
Hearst's Magozine, July, 1912.
Chicago Tribune, Magazine Section, June
17, 1945; Feb. 26, 1949; May, 1953. Highway Traveler, 0ct.-Nov., 1937; April-
May, 1944.
Christian Century, Oct. 22, 1941; Jan. 12,
1944; July 26, 1944; Aug. 16, 1944; Jan. Holiday, May, 1947.
31, 1945; Sept. 25, 1946. Horoscope, July, 1942; Jan., 1948; Sept.,
The Christian Herald. Nov.. 1947. 1949; Jan., 1950.
The Christian Leader, Sept. 20, 1947. The Independent, April, 1912; July, 1912;
Sept., 1912; Dec., 1921.
Classmate, Dec. 17, 1950.
Information Bulletin, Jan., 1950.
Colorado Alumnus, Feb., 1949.
Interiors, Jan., 1946.
Concrete, May, 1931; Dec., 1933.
International Arts Semiannual, June, 1951.
Construction Methods, Aug., 1931; July,
1933. Jews in the News, Jan., 1953.
Construction News, Oct. 17, 1947. Journal of Air Law, Jan., 1934.
Contemporary Review, Aug., 1869; Oct., Journal o f Illinois State Historical Society,
1869; March, 1912; Aug., 1944. Spring, 1954.
Contemporary Review Advertiser, Dec., Kiwanis Magazine, June, 1947.
1885. Ladies Home Journal, Sept., 1947.
Coronet, April, 1949. Life, Dec. 11, 1950.
The Crisis, May, June, 1912. Literary Digest, May, 1912; Aug., 1920;
Current History, Dec., 1925. Dec., 1921; Nov. 22, 1930.
Current Literature, July, 1901; Sept., 1911; Littel's Living Age, Aug., 1869.
June, 1912. Magazine Digest, June, 1934.
Domestic Engineering, April, 1946. The Mentor, Nov., 1920.
Eclectic Magazine, Feb., 1886; Sept., 1896. The idn night Cry, June, July, Aug., 1943.
The Emancipator, Aug., 1950. Mind Digest, Aug., 1946.
Engineering & Contracting, June, 1930. Missionary Review, Oct., 1902; Feb., 1904;
Engineering News-Record, Nov. 22, 1923; March, 1904; May, 1906; Oct., 1911;
Jan. 8, 1931. Oct., 1914; Aug., 1919; Oct., 1921.
Moslem World, Oct., 1931; Oct., 1940.
Esoteric Christianity, Feb., 1915.
The Nation (N.Y.), June 21, 1866.
Every body's, Dec., 1911.
National, Dec., 1908; May, 1922.
Everyday Psychology and Inspiration, Feb.,
1935. National Geographic Magazine, Dec., 1938;
Dec., 1947; Dec., 1953.
Every Woman, Dec., 1915; Dec., 1916. Negro Digest, Sept., 1949.
The Exponent, June, 1940. Negro Life, Sept., 1944.
Fate, Winter, 1949; July, 1950. New Age Interpreter, June, 1944.
THE BAHA'I WORLD

View of section of BahVi Jubilee Exhibition at Park Lane House, London.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 851

The New Outlook, Jan., 1951. This Week in Fort Wayne, Nov. 8, 1949.
New York Times, Feb., 1913. Tide, Sept. 13, 1946.
New York Times Book Review, Aug. 1, Tilden's Health Review and Critique, Oct.,
1920. 1938.
News Week, Feb. 10, 1934. Time, July 20, 1931; May 24, 1943.
Nineteenth Century, Feb., 1915. Today's Woman, April, 1947.
North American, April, 1901; June, 1912. Toward Liberal Education, 1948.
Northwestern Engineer (Northwestern Uni- United Nations World, 1947.
versity), Sept., 1951. Unity, Feb. 1918; Dec., 1921; April, 1929;
July, 1944.
Oilways, Feb., 1948.
Viewpoint, Autumn, 1952.
Open Court, June, 1904; Aug., 1915; Oct.,
1915; Nov., 1915; Aug., 1916; Oct., The Visitor-This Week in Minneapolis,
1916; Nov., 1916; Mar., 1931. April 19-26, 1947.
The Outlook, June, 1901; June, 1912; Dec., Vogue, Aug., 1950.
1920; Dec., 1921. What to See and Where to Stop in the Great
Pageant, Jan., 1950. Lakes States, 1951.
Partners: The Magazine o f Labor and Man. Where, Sept., 1951.
agement, Aug., 1948.
Wilmette Life, Sept. 14, 1933; July, 1936;
Pathfinder, Dec. 18, 1946; Nov. 19, 1952. May, 1937; May 18,1944; Sept. 18, 1947
Pirate's Gold, March, 1943. (75th Anniversary Suppl.); Dec. 14,
1950.
Pittsburgh Courier, April, 1945.
Winnetka Talk, Oct., 1937; Nov., 1951.
Psychology Magazine, May, 1930.
Wisconsin Agriculturist & Farmer, March 5,
Reader's Digest, May, 1946.
1949.
Reference Shelf, vol. 19, no. 8, 1941 (ref. to
World Order Magazine). Woman's Home Compc~nion,Nov., 1938.
Review of Reviews, Feb., 1901; Jan., 1909; World Alliance Newsletter, Nov., 1950.
June, 1912; Feb., 1922. World Goodwill Service, Nov., 1938.
Satzlrday Evening Post, Jan. 7, 1950, p. 25. The World Observer, Sept., 1937.
Saturday Night, March 30, 1946; Oct. 25, World Report, April 8, 1947.
1947.
World's Work, July, 1912; July, 1922.
Scientific American, Aug., 1920.
World Unity, April, 1928; Dec., 1930; Feb.,
The Sentinel, Nov. 18, 1937.
1933.
Signs of the Times, April, 1938.
The Yavadai Rockhounder, Aug., 1951,
The Spokesman, Sept., 1925. p. 6.
Story Magazine, Nov., 1937. Yearbook o f Engineer's Club o f St. Louis,
Survey, April, 1912. 1947.
852 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

38. R E F E R E N C E S T O T H E BAHA'I F A I T H
B Y BAHA'IS I N N O N - B A H A ' I
PUBLICATIONS
American Esperantist, May-June, 1943. India," by Shirin Fozdar. Reprint, Janu-
American Swedish Monthly, Feb., 1954. ary, 1948, Calcutta, India.
Canadian Geographical Journal, Montreal, The New Humanist, Jan.-Feb., 1933, Chi-
March, 1944. cago.
Chicagoland Directory of Religion. Com- New Orient, Jan., 1926, New York.
piled by Rev. John Evans, D.D. Open Court, July, 1931, Chicago.
The China Critic, May 25, 1933, Shanghai. Oregon Mineralogist, Jan., 1934, Portland,
Common Cause, Sept., 1950, p. 92, Univer- Oregon.
sity of Chicago. Oriente Moderno, vol. 30, p. 199, 1950,
Fate Magazine: Is This the New Religion? Rome.
by Myrtle W. Campbell. Editor, R. N. The Quarterly Journal o f Speech, March-
Webster, Chicago, Winter 1949. Apr., 1934, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Forum, May, 1916; Aug., 1917, New York. The Religions o f the World, vol. 1, pp.
35 1-360. Ramakrishna Mission Institute
The Gift and Art Aug', New of CultLlre, 1938, Calcutta, India.
York.
Religious Education, Sept., 1932; Aug., 1946,
Global Thinking, Nov., 1944; Apr., 1945. Chicago.
-
International Arts Quarterly, Sept--Nov., The Religious Highway, April, 1933, Tokyo.
1946, Denver.
Sanj Vartaman, Sept., 1933, Bombay.
Journal of the Columbian Educational AS-
Time Tide, April 14, 1934, London,
sociation o f the District o f Columbia,-
May, 1943,. Washington, D.c., p. 14. Unity, Feb., 19, 1934, Chicago.
Kaisar-i-Hind, Dec. 3 1, 1933, Bombay. Women, March, April, 1936, Chicago.
Literary Digest, Nov. 20, 1931, New York. World Aflairs Interpreter, Winter, 1943,
pp. 486, 487. Los Angeles University of
Manitoban: "BahL'i Obligations and Rights," International Relations, Los Angeles.
1947, Winnipeg.
World Philosophy, Feb., 1943, pp. 25-27.
The Modern Mystic and Monthly Science Maha Publishing Co., Chicago.
Review, Sept., 1945, London. World Unity... A ~ r i l .1932: Nov.. 1933 (and
L

The Modern Review: "The Baha'i Faith in successive issuesj, ~ e w ~ o r k :

39. REFERENCES T O T H E BAHA'I F A I T H
IN ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND REFERENCE
BOOKS
(All references are noted regardless of degree of accuracy.)

Algemene Encyclopaedie. Winkler Prins, 16 Christelijke Encyclopaedie. J. H . Kok,
Vomunes. Uitgevers Mij. Elsevier, Am- Kampen, 1925. Vol. 1, Page 221.
sterdam, 1933. Vol. 11. Columbia Encyclopedia. Columbia Univ.
The American Guide: edited by H. G . Als- Press, 1933.
berg. Hastings House, N.Y., 1949.
BAHA'I BIBLIOGRAPHY 853

Bah6'i Exhibit, Elmhurst, Illinois.

Concordia Cyclopedia. Concordia Publish- Enciclopedia Tumminelli. Rome, 1947, p.
ing House, St. Louis, Mo., 1927. 186.
Diccionario Enciclope'dico Zlustrado. Ra- Enciclopedia Universal. Herder, Barcelona,
m6n Sopana, Barcelona, 1954. 1950.
Diccionario Encicloptdico Zlustrado. Ale- Encyclopaedia Brita~znica. 1929 and since,
man y Bolufer. Editoria Reunidos, Buenos vol. 2.
Aires, Argentina, 1952. Encyclopedia Americana. 1943.
Diccionario Enciclope'dico Salvat. 2nd edi- Encyclopedia of Zsla'm. Edited by Houtsma
tion, Barcelona, 1951. and others. Luzac & Co., London, 1933.
Diccionario General Etimoldgico. Seix, edi- The Encyclopedia of Labor. Washington,
tor. Barcelona, 1880. D.C., 1949.
Diccionario de la Lengua Espaiiola. Atilano A n Encyclopedia of Religion, E. P. Dutton
RancBs. Ram6n Sopana, Barcelona, 1927. & Co.. 1921.
Dictionnaire Pratique des Connaissances Re- Encyclopedia of Social Science. Macmiuan.
ligieuses. Paris, 1925, vol. 4.
An Encyclopedia o f World History. Edited
Dizionario Enciclopedico Moderno. Edi- by William L. Langer. Houghton M i ~ i n
zione Labor, Milano, 1943. Co., Boston, revised edition, 1948.
E~zciclopediaCatdlica. Barcelona, 1950. Enzyklopiidie des Isldms. Edited by H ~ ~ ~ ~ -
Enciclopedia Cattolica. Vatican City, 1949, ma. Leiden, 1911, p. 566 ff., p. 569 ff.
vol. 2. The Fact Book. Current Literature Publish-
Enciclopedia Espasa Calpe. Madrid, 1950. ing Co., 1911.
Enciclopedia Ztaliana di Scienze, Lettere ed Gra~zdeDizionario Enciclopedico. Unione
Arti. Instituto Troccani, Milano, 1930. Tipografico Torinese, Turin, 1934, vol. 2.
854 THE BAHA'f WORLD

Hustings Encyclopaedia of Religion and New Handbook of All Denominations.
Ethics. Edinburgh-New York, 1909, Macum Phelan, Cokesbury Press, 1933.
vol. 2. New International Encyclopedia. 2nd edi-
History o f Nations. P. T. Collier & Son CO., tion, 1925.
New York, 1928. The New International Yearbook. Funk &
History of Religions. G. F. Moore. Scribner, Wagnalls, 1933, and in annual volumes.
1926. The New Lmned History, 1922.
Introduction to History o f Religions. Ginn & New Schaff-Herzog Eracyclopedia o f Reli-
Co., 1913. gious Knowledge. 1908.
Zslamologin. F. M. Pareja. Orbis Catholicus, New Stalzdmd Encyclopedia. Funk & Wag-
Rome, 1951. nalls.
Lexikon fur Theologie und Kirche. Edited Pequefio Larousse. Diccionario Enciclo-
by Buchberger. 2nd edition, 1930, vol. 1. pCdico. Spain.
The Modern Encyclopedia. Wm. H . Wise Piccola Enciclopedia Garganti. Cernesco sul
and Co., 1935. Naviglio, 1946, p. 164.
Mohammedanisnz: H . A. R. Gibb. Oxford Rand-McNally: Map of Chicagoland. Bahi'i
University Press, London, 1949, pp. lx, House of Worship is marked. 1949.
164, 186, 206. United States Census of Religious Bodies.
National Encyclopedia. 1932. 1916, 1926, 1936.
Webster's Biographical Dictionary. Mer-
Nelson's Encyclopedia, unabridged. 1940. riam Co., 1943.
Nelson's Perpetual Loose-Leaf Encyclo- World Almanac. New Yo& World-Tele-
pedia. gram, 1943, 1947 and subsequent years.
New Century Dictionary. 1936. The World Book Encyclopedia. 1939.
TRANSLITERATION O F ORIENTAL
W O R D S FREQUENTLY USED IN
B A H A ' ~LITERATURE
'Abi Bib Farsakh I~fihin
Abidih Bibi Fath-'Ali 'Ishqibid
'Abbis Bibu'l-Bib Firdaws Is_hriqit
'Abdu'l-Bahi Baghdid Firdawsi Ishtihird
'Abdu'l-pamid Ba z i Islim
'Abdu'l-Husayn BahL'i Ganjih Islamic
'Abdu'llih BahL'u'llih Giljn IsmL'iliyyih
Abhi Bahiyyih Gul Istarhbid
Abu'l-Fadl Bahji Gulastin 'Izzat
'Adasiyyih Bal6&istLn Gurgin
A&in Bandar-'Abbis Jalil
A a i r b i y ji n Biqir Habib Jamidiyu'l-Avval
Afnh Baqiyyatu'llih Hadia Jamil
Aghvin Birfur6& Hadrat Jamil-i-Mubbak
'~iid Ba~rih uiji Jamil-i-Qidam
Ahmad Biihm Hiji MirzL iiqisi Jisb
AhsL'i Bay i n Hijj Jubbih
Ahvi z Bayt Hamadin
Akbar Big Haram Kaaba
'Akki Birjand Hasan Ka'bih
'AIL' Bishirit Haydar-'Ali Kad-K_hudi
'Ali Bismi'llih Haykal Kalantar
'Ali-Muhammad Bukhiri Haziratu'l-Quds Kaliin
Allih-u-Abhi Burhjird Hijiz Kalimit
Alv& Bh&ihr Hijirah Kamil
Alva-i-Saliiin Bu&r6'i Himmat-Abid Karand
Amin Bu&rGyih Hujjat Karbili
Arnir Husayn K&&Ln
Amir-Nizim Huvaydar Ka&k6l
Amru'llih Kawmu'9-Sa'iyidih
Amul Ibrihim Kawaar
Anzali 11 Kkim
Aq5 'Ilm Kkimayn
Aqdas Imim K_halk_hil
'Arabistln Imim-Jum'ih K_hin
AsmL' Imim-Zidih IQhiniqayn
'Avhhiq fqin Lhayli Lhhb
Ayldi frin K_hurLsin
Azal 'Iriq Lhuy
'Azamat FarriG-Bi&i 'Iriqi Kirmh
'Aziz Firs 'Iriq-i-'Ajam Kirmln&ih
856 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

Kitib-i-'Ahd Mulk Rafsinj An Sultinu's_h--S_huhadb'
KitAb-i-Aqdas Mulld Rahim Sunni
Kitib-i-Asmb' Munirih Rahmin Sunnites
Kitib-i-Badi' Mustafi Rahmat Sdratu'l-Haykal
Kitib-i-IqAn Mustaghi& Ra'is SGrih
Kulih M~~affari'd- in Ramadin SGriy-i-Damm
Kurdistin Ras_ht SGriy-i-G_husn
Nabil Rawhini SfIriy-i-Ra'is
Lihijin Nabil-i-A'zam Ridvin SGriy-i-Sabr
Lir Najaf Rhhu'll Ah
Lawh Najaf-AbLd Tabarsi
LuristAn Ndqidin SabzivAr Tabriz
Nasir Sadratu'l-MuntahA TAhirih
Madrisih Nd~ir'i'-Din SAhibu7z-Zam An Tajalliyit
MahbGbu'&-S_huhadb' Navvdb Sahifatu'l-Haramayn TAkur
Mahd-i-'UlyA Naw-RGz Sa'id Taqi
Mih-KG Nayriz Salsibil Tarizit
MahmGd Nis_hdb6r Samarqand Tarbiyat
Maliyir Nuqtih Sangsar Ti&kand
Man-Yuzhiruhu'llAh NGr Sdri Tawhid
MaqAm Sha'bin Thurayyi
Marighih Pahlavi s hAh Tihrin
Marhabi PdrAn shahid TGmin
Marv S_hahmirzid Turkistin
Masi'il Qddi S_hihr~'id
Ma&had QAdiyAn sharaf 'Ulami
Mas.iyyat Qahqahih S_hariC& Unlmiyyih
Ma*iqu'l-AdJhkir QQQ'im ShaykJh 'Ut_hmin
Masjid QYir ShaykJh-Tabarsi
Maydin QalyAn S_haykJhu'l-Islim Vahid
MizindarAn Qarn~ar Shi'ih Vali
Mihdi Qa~r-i-Shirin Shiites Vali-'Ahd
Mihrib Qawl Wriz Varqi
Milin Qayy6m Shu_htar Vazir
Mi'rij QayyGmu'l-Asmi' Simi~in
Mirzi Qazvin Sishn Yd-Bahb'u'l-Abhd
MiGkin-Qalam Qiblih Sistin Yahyi
Mu'ad_hhd_hin QG&in SiyAh-Chi1 Yazd
Mufti QuddfIs Siyyid
Muhammad Qudrat S6fi ZanjAn
Muhammad-'Ali Qum Sulaymi n Zarand
Muhammarih Qur' An Sultin Zaynu'l-Muqarrabin
Muharram Qurbin SultAn-Abid
Mujtahid Qurratu'L'Ayn Sultanate
TRANSLITERATION OF ORIENTAL WORDS 857

GUIDE TO TRANSLITERATION AND
PRONUNCIATION OF THE
PERSIAN ALPHABET

a...asin
account 1 i . . . as (e) in
best
u . . . as (0) in
short I aw . . . as in
mown
&...asin
arm
I
i . . . as (ee) in
meet 1 .
I
6 . . as (00) in
moon
I

The "i" added to the name of a town signifies "belonging to." Thus S_hhir&zimeans
native of Shhirfiz.

NOTES ON THE PRONUNCIATION
OF PERSIAN WORDS
The emphasis in Persian words is more or Afnfin, for example, pronounce the first "a"
less evenly distributed, each syllable being as in mat, and the second syllable to rhyme
equally stressed as in French. For example, with on. Americans are apt to pronounce
do not say Tabriz or Tabarsi; stay as long short "a" plus "r" like the verb form are;
on one syllable as on the next; Tabriz; Ta- this is a mistake; "ar" should be pronounced
barsi. (While there are many exceptions to as in the name of Harry-cf. Tarbiyat.
this rule, it is the most generally correct The same differentiation should be ob-
method of treating the question of stress.) served in the case of long and short "i" and
A frequent mistake is the failure to distin- long and short "u." As the guide to the trans-
guish between broad and flat "a's." This dif- literation indicates, short "i" is like "e" in
ferentiation makes the language especially best, and long "i" like "ee" in meet; for
musical and should be observed: in the word example, Ibrfihim is pronounced Eb-r6heem;
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Islim is Ess-lahm. Short "u" being like "0" r l n is Teh-ron; madrisih is mad-res-seh;
in short, and long "6" being like "oo" in Mihrib is Meh-rob.
moon, the following would be pronounced: In the case of double letters pronounce
Quddfis-Qod-dooss; BirfurG&--Bkr-fo- each separately: 'Ab-bks.
roosh. The character transliterated (') repre-
Pronounce "aw" to rhyme with oh, or sents a pause; it is not unlike the initial
mown; Naw-RGz is No-Rooz. sound made in pronouncing such a word as
The following consonants may be pro- every. The word BahL'i is phonetically as
nounced like z: d_h, z, Z, d. follows: "a" as in account; ''5'' as in father;
The following consonants may be pro- ('), pause; "i" as ee in meet.
nounced like ss: &, s, $. The character transliterated (') may also
z h is pronounced like the "s" in pleasure. be treated as a pause.
K_h is pronounced like "ch" in Scotch loch N.B. As Persian often indicates no vowel
or German nacht. Do not pronounce it as sounds and as its pronunciation differs in
"k." Westerners are as a rule incapable of different localities throughout Persia and the
pronouncing "gh" and "q"; a guttural Near East as well as among individuals in
French "r" willserve here; otherwise use any given locality, a uniform system of
hard "g" as in good. transliteration such as the above, which is
H and h, approximately like the English in use by BahL'i communities all over the
aspirate "h," should never be dropped. Tih- world, is indispensable to the student.
DEFINITIONS O F ORIENTAL
T E R M S USED IN B A H A ' ~
LITERATURE
'Abi: Cloak or mantle. Bi&kit: literally "Glad-tidings." Title of
'Abdu'l-Bahi: Servant of Bahi. one of the Tablets of Bahi'u'lliih.
Ad_hin: Muslim call to prayer.
Adib: literally "the learned." Caravansarai: An inn for caravans.
A-g h ~ h :literally "branches." Denotes sons
and descendants of BahB'u'llih. Dirfighih: "High constable."
Afniin: literally "twigs." Denotes the rela-
tions of the B6b.
AX.: "After Hijirah." Date of M a a m -
mad's migration from Mecca to Medina, "Endowed with constancy": a title given to
and basis of Muhammadan chronology. Prophets who revealed a book and insti-
Akbar: "Greater." tuted religious laws.
'Am6: literally "light cloud," symbolizes the
"First Invisible Substance." Farmin: "Order," "command," "royal de-
Amin: literally "the trusted." cree."
Amir: "Lord," "commander," Farri&: "Footman," "lictor," "attendant."
"governor." Farr&&Bi&i: The head-farri&.
Aq&: "Master." Title given by Bah$u'l16h Farsakh: Unit of measurement. Its length
to 'Abdu'l-Bahi. differs in different parts of the country ac-
A'~am:"The greatest." cording to the nature of the ground, the
local interpretation of the term being the
Bib: "Gate." Title assumed by Mirz& 'Ali- distance which a laden mule will walk in
Muhammad, after the declaration of His the hour, which varies from three to four
Mission in SJhiriz in May, 1844 A.D. miles. Arabicised from the Persian "par-
B6bi: Follower of the Bib. sa;ng," and is supposed to be derived from
Badi': literally "the wonderful." pieces of stone (sang) placed on the road-
Bahi: "Glory," "splendor," "light." Title by side.
which Bah$u7llLh Husayn-'Ali) "Fourth Heaven": one of the stages of the
is designated. invisible Realm.
Bahi'i: Follower of Bahi'u'llih.
Bahji: literally "delight." Denotes that part "Guarded Tablet": Denotes the Knowledge
of the Plain of 'Akkb where the Shrine of God and of His Manifestation.
and the Mansion of Bahi'u'llih are situ-
ated. Hiji: A Muhammadan who has performed
Bani-H6&im: The family from which Mu- the pilgrimage to Mecca.
harnmad descended. Haziratu'l-Quds: BahA'i Headquarters.
Baqiyyatu'llih: "Remnant of God"; title ap- Hijirah: literally "migration." The basis of
plied both to the Bib and to BahP'u'llih. Muhammadan chronology. The date of
Bayfin: "Utterance," "explanation." Muhammad's migration from Mecca to
Title given by the Bib to His Revelation, Medina.
particularly to His Books. Howdah: A litter carried by a camel, mule,
Big: Honorary title, lower title than Lhin. horse or elephant for traveling purposes.
860 THE BAHA'I WORLD

n: "Clan." Ma&riqu'l-Aakir: literally "the dawning
place of the praise of God." Title desig-
Imim: Title of the twelve Khhi'iih successors
of Muhammad. Also applied to Muslim nating Bahi'i House of Worship.
religious leaders. Masjid: Mosque, temple, place of worship.
Imim-Jum'ih: The leading imAm in a town Maydin: A subdivision of a farsakh. A
or city; chief of'the mulliis. square or open place.
Imim-Zidih: Descendant of an imim or Mihdi: Title of the Manifestation expected
his shrine. by Islim.
fqin: literally "Certitude." The title of Mihrib: The principal place in a mosque
Bahi'u'llih's epistle to the uncle of the where the irnim prays with his face
Bib. turned towards Mecca.
I&riqh: literally "effulgences." Title of one Mi'rij: "Ascent," used with reference to
of the Tablets of Bahi'u'llih. Muhammad's ascension to heaven.
Isrifil: The Angel whose function is to Mirzi: A contraction of Amir-Zidih, mean-
sound the trumpet on the Day of Judg- ing son of Amir. When affixed to a name
ment. it signifies prince; when prefixed, simply
Mr.
Mis_hkin-Qalam: literally "the musk-scented
Jihiliyyih: The dark age of ignorance pen."
among the Arabs before the appearance Mu'a&d_hin: The one who sounds the
of Muhammad. A a i n , the Muhammadan call to prayer.
Jamil-i-Mubirak: literally "the Blessed Mujtahid: Muhammadan doctor-of-law.
Beauty," applied by certain Bahfis to Most of the mujtahids of Persia have re-
Bahi'u'llih. ceived their diplomas from the most emi-
Jamil-i-Qidam: literally "the ancient nent jurists of Karbill and Najaf.
Beauty." Applied by certain Bahfis to Mulli: Muhammadan priest.
Bahi'u'lllh. Mustaghi*: "He Who is invoked." The
Jubbih: An outer coat. num~ricalvalue of which has been as-
signed by the Bib as the limit of the time
Ka'bih: Ancient shrine at Mecca. Now rec- fixed for the advent of the promised Man-
ognized as the most holy shrine of Islim. ifestation.
Kabir : literally "great."
Kar-Chudi: Chief of a ward or parish in a Nabil: "Learned," "noble."
town; headman of a village. Naw-RGz: "New Day." Name applied to the
Kalantar: "Mayor." Bahi'i New Year's Day; according to the
Kalim: "One who discourses." Persian Calendar the day on which the sun
Kalimit: literally "words." Title of one of enters Aries.
the Tablets of Bahi'u'llih. Nuqtih: "Point."
Karbili'i: A Muhammadan who has per-
formed the pilg;image to Karbili.
-
Kawaar: A river in Paradise, whence all Pahlavin: "Athlete," "champion"; term ap-
the other rivers derive their source. plied to brave and muscular men.
K_hin: "Prince," "lord," "nobleman," "chief-
tain." Qidi: Judge; civil, criminal, and ecclesiasti-
Kitkb-i-Aqdas: literally "The Most Holy cal.
Book." Title of Bahi'u'llih's Book of Qi'im: "He Who shall arise." Title designat-
Laws. ing the promised One of Islim.
Kulih: The Persian lambskin hat worn by Qalyin: A pipe for smo'king through water.
government employees and civilians. Qiblih: The direction to which people turn
in prayer: especially Mecca, the Qiblih of
all Muhammadans.
Madrisih: Religious college. Qurbin: "Sacri£ice."
Man-Yuzhiruhu'llih: "He Whom God will
make manifest." The title given by the
Bib to the Promised One. Ridvin: The name of the custodian of Para-
M a a a d i : A Muhammadan who has per- dise. Bahi'u'llih uses it to denote Para-
formed the pilgrimage to Mas_hhad. dise itself.
DEFINITIONS OF ORIENTAL TERMS 861

Sadratu'l-MuntahL: the name of a tree S6rih: Name of the chapters of the Qur'Ln.
planted by the Arabs in ancient times at
the end of a road, to serve as a guide. As TajalliyLt: literally "splendors." Title of one
a symbol it denotes the Manifestation of of the Tablets of Bahi'u'llih.
God in His Day. Tarizit: literally "ornaments." Title of one
Sihibu'z-Zamin: "Lord of the Age"; one of of the Tablets of BahB'u'llih.
the titles of the promised Q2im. TGm6n: A sum of money equivalent to a
Salsibil: A fountain in Paradise. dollar.
Samandar: literally "the phoenix."
SarkLr-i-Aqi: literally the "Honorable Mas- 'Urvatu'l-Vut_hqi: literally "the strongest
ter," applied by certain Bah2is to 'Abdu'l- handle," symbolic of the Faith of God.
BahL.
"Seal of the Prophets": One of the titles of Vali-'Ahd: "Heir to the throne."
Muhammad. Varaqiy-i-'Ulyi: literally "the most exalted
"Seventh Sphere": The highest stage of the Leaf," applied to Bahiyyih KhLnum, sis-
invisible Realm. Denotes also the Mani- ter of 'Abdu'l-BahL.
festation of Bah2u'llih. Varqb: literally "the dove."
shahid: "Martyr." Plural of martyr is Khu- VilLyat : guardianship.
had&
SJhayk_hu'l-Isl6m: Head of religious court, "White Path": Symbolizes the Religion of
appointed to every large city by the S_hih. God.
Sirit: literally "bridge" or "path," denotes
the religion of God. Zidih: "Son."
Siyyid: Descendant of the Prophet Muham- Zaynu'l-Muqarrabin: literally "the Orna-
mad. ment of the favored."
PART F O U R
ARTICLES AND R E V I E W S
1. T H E S U F F E R I N G S O F BAHA'U'LLAH
AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE
M.A.
By GEORGETOWNSHEND,

T H E Prayers and Meditations o f Balzd'u9- H e verily who seeks for pearls must dive
Zldh which the beloved Guardian has given to the bottom of the sea, endangering
us is in large measure an intimate remem- his very existence.
brance of the Redeemer's sufferings. And Death he regards as naught; he forgets all
BahP'u'llkh wished us to meditate on these the miseries of mind and body.
sufferings. I n the Tablet of Ahmad He says: He who stands on the shore, fearing to
"Remember My days during thy days, and take the plunge, attains naught.
My distress and banishment in this remote
prison." The path of love is the ordeal of fire. The
In a great poem known as the Fire Tablet shrinkers learn from it.
He records at length the tale of His calam- Those who take the plunge into the fire
ities and writes at the close: attain eternal bliss.
"Thank the Lord for this Tablet whence Those who stand afar off, looking on, are
thou canst breathe the fragrance of My scorched by the flames.
meekness and know what hath beset Us in
the path of God." He adds: "Should all the Love is a priceless thing only to be won
servants read and ponder this, there shall be at the cost of death.
kindled in their veins a fire that shall set Those who live to die, those attain; for
aflame the world." they have shed all thoughts of self.
True religion in all ages has called on the Those heroic souls who are rapt in the
faithful to suffer. On the one hand it brings love of the Lord, they are the true
to mankind a happiness in the absolute and lovers.
the everlasting which is found nowhere but
in religion. N o unbeliever knows any joy All the founders of religions have had to
which in its preciousness can be compared endure rejection and wrong, and as mankind
to the joys of religion. "The true monk," it grew more and more mature and the victory
has been said, "brings nothing with him but of God nearer, these wrongs, these suffer-
his lyre." ings have grown more and more severe con-
On the other hand Heaven is walled about tinually.
with fire. This bliss must be bought at a We read little if anything of martyrdom in
great price. So it has ever been in all reli- the Old Testament. But the New opens with
gions of mankind. Herod's slaughter of the innocents, his be-
An ancient hymn of India proclaims a heading of John the Baptist; its central figure
truth as real now as it was in distant times: is a Man of Sorrows acquainted with grief.
The Gospels close with the agony in Geth-
The way of the Lord is fomr heroes. It is semane and with the Cross, the Nails, the
not meant for cowards. Spear, and history follows with the martyr-
Offer first your life and your all. Then dom of all the eleven apostles. The Bkb
take the name of the Lord. Himself was martyred and His followers
He only tastes of the Divine Cup who gave up their lives for love of Him, not by
gives his son, his wife, his wealth and dozens only but by hundreds and by thou-
his own life. sands. In establishing the victory of God
866 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D

Bah6'u'llih and 'Abdu'l-Bahi drank the cup the High Prophets reached their culmination
of suffering to the dregs. in Him.
It is said there are three kinds of martyr- Yet through all He remained calm, con-
dom: one is to stand bravely and meet death fident, his courage unshaken, his acquies-
unflinchingly in the path of God without cence forever radiant.
wavering or under torture denying for an No one is to imagine that the excess of
instant their faith. The second is little by lit- His tribulations means that at any time the
tle to detach one's heart entirely from the power of evil had prevailed against Him.
world, laying aside deliberately and volun- Pondering as He would have us to do, over
tarily all vanities and worldly seductions, let- the significance of these afflictions, we are
ting every act and word become a speaking shown that the truth is quite otherwise. He
monument and a fitting praise for the Holy reveals :
Name of Bah6'u'llih. The third is to do the "Had not every tribulation been made the
most difficult things with such self-sacrifice bearer of Thy wisdom, and every ordeal the
that all behold it as your pleasure. To seek vehicle of Thy providence, no one would
and to accept poverty with the same smile have dared oppose Us, though the powers
as you accept fortune. To make the sad, the of heaven and earth were to be leagued
sorrowful your associates instead of fre- against Us." He writes that God had sacri-
quenting the society of the careless and gay. ficed Him that men might be born anew
T o yield to the decrees of God and to re- and released from their bondage to sin. He
joice in the most violent calamities even praises God for His sufferings, He welcomes
when the suffering is beyond endurance. He them, and even prays that for God's sake
who can fulfill these last conditions becomes the earth should be dyed with His blood and
a martyr indeed. His head raised on a spearpoint. He con-
None can attempt to delineate the variety tinually protests that with every fresh tribu-
or to analyze the nature of the afflictions lation heaped upon Him He manifests a
which were poured upon Bah6'u'llih. Re- fuller measure of God's Cause and exalts
peatedly He has Himself summarized them in more highly still God's Word.
a few brief powerful sentences. In one place How bitterly felt were His tribulations,
He calls our particular attention to the fact how acute His anguish, how real His grief
that it was not the Black Dungeon of Tih- and pain is shown a hundred times in His
rin, for all its horrors and chains, which He laments. His high divinity did not protect
named the Most Great Prison. He gave that Him from human sensibility, but never did
name to 'Akk6. We are left to surmise why, He quail nor blanch, never did He show re-
and we reflect that in the Black Pit His suf- sentment.
ferings were chiefly personal and physical; Many of His laments are not over His
His enemies were external foes, the hope of woes themselves but over the effect they
redeeming the Cause was still with Him. But produce on the faithful whose hearts they
when He went down to 'Akkb in 1868, the sorely shook or on the enemies of the Cause
traitor Mirzb Yahy6 had done his deadly whom they fill with joy.
work; the kings and leaders had definitely Nothing could exhaust His patience nor
rejected the Message, He was definitely cast dampen His spirit. "Though My body be
out and silenced. Not He Himself alone but pained by the trials that befall Me, though
the Cause of God was in prison. it be afflicted by the revelation of Thy de-
We can never imagine what numberless cree, yet My soul rejoiceth." He affirms that
possibilities of immediate redemption the the tribulations that He and the faithful are
mad, sad, bad world had wantonly flung made to endure are such as no pen in the
away; nor can our less sensitive natures entire creation can record, nor anyone de-
scribe. Yet "We swear by Thy Might, every
know what the anguish of this frustration
trouble that toucheth us in our love for Thee
must have been to the eager longing of a is an evidence of Thy tender mercy, every
heart as divinely centered, divinely loving as fiery ordeal a sign of the brightness of Thy
His. light, every woeful tribulation a cooling
But this much is abundantly plain; that draught, every toil a blissful repose, every
the pains, the griefs, the sorrows, the suffer- anguish a fountain of gladness."
ings, the rejections, the betrayals, the frus- How then is it that "by Thy stripes we are
trations which were the common lot of all healed?'
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 867

It is because the intensity, the magnitude, perish in loneliness, of Satan's whisperings
the volume of the sufferings of BahB'u'llBh in every human ear, of infernal delusions
called forth the fullest possible expression spreading everywhere, of the triumph of ca-
and outpouring of the infinite mercy and lamity, darkness, and coldness of heart. He
love of God. tells of the sovereignty in every land of hate
Wrongs done to the founder of a religion and unbelief while He Himself is forbidden
have two inevitable effects: one is that of to speak, left in the loneliness of His an-
retribution against the wrong done-the se- guish, drowning in a sea of pain with no res-
verity of which we may judge from the two cue ship to come and save Him. The light
thousand year exile of the Jewish people. of honor and loyalty and truth are put out;
The other is that of reward to the High slander prevails and no avenging wrath of
Prophet whom they enable to release fresh an outraged God descends to destroy the
powers of life that would have otherwise wicked and vindicate God's messenger.
lain latent, to pour forth Divine energies He calls to God for an answer. And the
which in their boundlessness will utterly answer comes, showing the inner signifi-
overwhelm the forces of evil and empower cance of God's seeming to forsake His right-
Him to say: "Be of good cheer. I have over- eous ones.
come the world." Man's evil sets off God's goodness. Man's
The sufferings of BahCu'llBh enable us in coldness of heart sets off the warmth of
some degree to measure the immensity of God's love.
His love for mankind, to appreciate the sac- Were it not for the night, how would the
rifice He made for love of us. The story of sun of the Prophet's valor show forth the
them enabIes us to keep in remembrance splendor of its radiance? Through His lone-
the heinous blackness and cruelty of the liness, the unity of God was revealed;
worId of man from which He saved us; it through His banishment, the world of divine
enables us to realize the meaning and the singleness grew fair.
need of Divine redemption, it proves to us '"We have made misery," said God to
the invincibility of God and the lone majesty Him, "the garment of Thy glory, and sor-
of God's victory over evil. row the beauty of Thy temple. 0 Thou
It is for the sake of learning more fully treasure of the worlds! Thou seest the hearts
the love and the glory and the might of God are filled with hate, and shalt absolve them,
that we contemplate this story of Bahf - Thou Who dost hide the sins of all the
u'llih's tribulations. worlds! Where the swords flash, go forward,
In that spirit we are to read it, and as a where the shafts fly, press onward, 0 Thou
proof of His triumphant inviolable love He victim of the worlds."
keeps the picture before us in many forms In that battle which we-all of us-wage
that we may be fortified and uplifted in our with pain and suffering and sorrow, those
poor human struggle with the tests and af- are God's last words to us:
flictions of life.
The Fire Tablet adds all the poignancy "Where the swords flash, go forward;
and impassioned power of divine poetry to Where the shafts fly, press onward."
the story of the boundless suffering He and
His beloved followers had to endure. In lan- For love is a priceless thing, only to be
guage of torrential eloquence He tells of the won at the cost of death. Those who live
longing of the faithful for reunion with God to die, those attain; for they have lost all
being ungratified, He tells of the casting out thoughts of self. Those heroic souls who are
of those most near to His heart, of dying rapt in the love of the Lord, they are the
bodies, of frustrated lovers left afar to true lovers.
868 T H E BAHA'I W O R L D

2. T H E GOD W H O W A L K S W I T H M E N

PROM
an older day we hear there was a The rise and spread of revealed religions,
time when God walked with men. That an- and coming of the attitude of science which
cient belief is now a faded rose that has lost replaced the imagination of childish peoples,
its glory, but it keeps a precious fragrance denuded the skies, the mountains, the forests
which still stirs the heart with wonder and and the fields of all these charming man-
with hope. invented deities. Once more the world be-
God walked with men! The idea seems came a place of loneliness, unless people
to change the world from a great, implaca- could find solace and healing in the procla-
ble machine into a place of adoration and mations of great religious doctors.
fulfilled love. It makes us ask, do we live in Mighty waves of faith did spread over the
a universe of mechanical atoms, of strange, pagan world. There was something which
perfect stars and suns looking down without the disconsolate person could find to cherish
feeling or pity upon our griefs and lonely in his secret heart. A purer love and a more
failures, or can we be actually living in the ardent adoration of God gave to our fathers
compassionate heart of God? and mothers a source of strength and cour-
How could such an exalted idea ever be- age-a sense of consecration to their Crea-
come lost and forgotten? Was it merely a tor.
beautiful but empty dream? Or was it a The religious systems, too, have attempted
sublime truth we have sold for the price to to overcome the loneliness of hearts, using
pay for personal and selfish desires? the genius of architects, sculptors, painters
This world, we know too well, without a and poets to create impressive cathedrals
God who walks with men, imprisons us in and colorful pageants to draw men away
a vast loneliness where we have to live with from themselves and plunge them into the
our own discontent, our failure, lacking real ecstasy of a high communal experience.
purpose or aim. It is not enough to become However deeply our fathers and mothers
at times part of some officially heralded drank of this golden cup, they did not suc-
movement pronounced necessary and noble ceed in handing their sense of fulfillment
if the nobility does not penetrate into our down to us. Nor could they express the no-
own hearts and redeem us from our unsatis- bility of their faith through the redemption
fying selves. But the discontent lingers and of a warring, divided society.
the hope occasionally returns.
What has happened to human beings that
they can be so skillful in doing great things We of today are spiritual orphans. We
but so helpless when they turn their wonder- cannot live as idle heirs of any fortune accu-
ful powers to the greater task of ordering mulated in the past. The precious treasure
their own hearts? of faith has been wasted in wars, revolutions
and the hideous tyrannies which have af-
flicted our time.
Ages ago the Greeks, the Romans, the It is very plain to us now that nothing can
German peoples and the Scandinavians at- compensate for the loss of the direct, simple,
tempted to fill this world of loneliness with heart-transforming power of the love of
imagined gods who walked with men. Their God. However high men rise in their organi-
poets invented nearby heavens filled with zation of formal worship of God, their work
deities whom the people worshipped as gods. does not take the place of God. Beneath the
These deities embodied the hopes, longings, clamor of religious systems we find with dis-
loves and passions of human beings. Enter- consolate fear that the human heart stands
ing their daily lives, the imaginary gods and alone. Happiness? Yes, there are people who
goddesses, fauns, elves and sprites, empow- love us and people we love. There are many
ered to punish or reward, seemed for a long useful things to do from morning until night.
time to satisfy the upreaching heart and still Nevertheless we know there is a conscious
the restless mind. solitude even in the happy heart. The world
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 869

about us is terrifying, people become more What happened was the bringing forth of
and more abandoned to pleasure as a flight a new truth about God's love for mankind.
from the solitude which we know too well is A great being in the East has revolutionized
the emptiness where God has not brought religion. Though He was persecuted and re-
His compassion, His understanding, His sisted, His words have been carried slowly
strength and His healing. It is within this but steadily to all parts of the world.
emptiness at the center of being, that our This is the essence of what this heroic,
anxieties are distilled. sublime and inspired Person has told the
Of course no one shows his anxieties to world today. First, that the almighty God
others if he can conceal them. We learn to of the universe, Creator of man, remains
put up a brave front in order to conceal that forever concealed, too glorious for any hu-
secret inner void. We talk about everything man to approach. Second, He sends His
except the one great thing that really counts. Spirit to inspire a perfect man upon our
Perhaps we conform to opinion and the earth and through Him pour forth His love
public standard of manners and efficiency so and His saving truth to all who will listen
successfully that after a while we regard and believe. Third, God reveals His divine
the front as our real self. But if we do this, nature and purpose to mankind age after
sooner or later some crisis overtakes us, age, so that the world is never left without
strikes at our very heart, and makes us more His assurance of love and redemption.
conscious than ever how weak and helpless This perfect being in whom the celestial
human beings are without God. What we Spirit enters and takes possession of the
call strength is often no more than the habit man's own personal powers is the Prophet,
of closing the heart, and this is the most or as some say, the Messenger or the Mes-
disastrous weakness. siah. There is no way to God except through
His chosen Messenger.
In His Prophet, God walks with men.
They teach us today that the universe is Through Him, God's passionate love for
vast beyond comprehension. In it the little men is poured forth and His inspired guid-
earth, our home, has become reduced to in- ance written or spoken as inspiration for
significance. There must be a God to create individuals, races and nations.
and rule this mighty universe, but can a God
so majestic and powerful come down to
walk with men? The beautiful old stories of God walks with men! Alas, that in this
God do not match the new stories of sci- humble human form some of the powerful
entific discovery. The world has changed. leaders have failed to recognize the Spirit
There seems to be no connection between of God Himself. They have always resisted
our modern universe and the simple spirit and condemned Him whenever He appears
of pure love for which we long. Everything in the time of the world's greatest trouble.
has become organized and technically per- Though no human will can overcome God's
fected except people themselves. will, the enemies of the Spirit have killed the
Who is the God who has walked with Messenger and martyred those nearest and
men? When does He appear? How does He dearest to Him. Afterward, when darkened
disclose Himself? Can we still seek and find souls found that His message of love and
a deathless love that will claim our erring immortality could not be suppressed, they
hearts, touch them with passion and save did everything possible to alter its meaning
us from ourselves? and restrict its influence. They confined its
Today a wonderful event has taken place. free, universal, radiant love and living truth
People have thought that religion was some- within a complicated system of theology,
thing that happened centuries ago, and its creed and ritual, which confuses all but a
story was complete and finished. Though few, while proclaiming themselves defenders
everything has changed during the past few of the faith, and the champion of its mis-
generations, nothing, they supposed, could sion.
change the systems of belief that have been But we are not concerned with systems
in existence and ruled so long. The world and the great disputes about religion. Our
could be uprooted, but God, they tell us, longing is for the God Who wnllcs with men.
remained silent while millions suffered and What we pray for is the infinite privilege of
the nations lost their way. hearing His words with our own ears, ad-
870 THE BAHA'I WORLD

mitting His love into our own hearts, and daily reporting of His words and no descrip-
understanding His message with our own tion of His presence, but the recorded words
minds. carry f d l conviction that He expressed
All of us have been taught to revere some God's love and truth to people exactly like
Prophet's name and exalt His mission as ourselves.
explained to us in childhood and youth. The words are not many, but they do
But we have been warned that other Proph- seem to lay a foundation for belief in one
ets are false messengers who arose solely to God and for love of humanity.
betray our inherited faith. "Thou shalt have no other God before
The sublime truth that comes to us today me. . . . Thou shalt not kill .. . Love thy
is that the Prophets are not hostile to each neighbor as thyself." God walked with men.
other, but identical beings all filled with the He pointed the way, and when they took the
same Spirit and carrying out the same mis- way they were favored; but when they
sion. Details of their Message changed from turned from the way, they fell into mis-
age to age because different conditions called fortune.
for new-treatment. This view brings religion back to the in-
The miraculous bounty of our time is dividual. God has given religion to all and
that through this new revelation we can not made it a monopoly for any group to
regard the religion of God as one universal dispense for a profit. "What doth the Lord
faith, which passes through different periods require of thee, but to do justly, and to love
of development but always upholds the one mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
divine love and always works to bring peo- But though the way was so plain, the peo-
ple together as members of the one great ple must have lost it and become as be-
human family. wildered as people are today. For we find
God walks with men! these terrible words spoken by a later
Let us fear no longer to search out for Prophet: "Behold, the days come, saith the
ourselves the tenderness, the ardor and the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the
compassion of the love which God has land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for
poured forth through His Prophets, and to water, but of hearing the words of the Lord;
learn, with new minds, the infinite wisdom and they shall wander from sea to sea, and
of His counsel. from the north even to the east, they shall
The God Who walks with men is the Fa- run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord,
ther of all humanity. There is no longer any and shall not find it."
religious reason for assuming that He cher- What were they to seek-the words which
ishes only one race or one creed or that they already possessed but had forgotten, or
there is any divine word justifying prejudice a new way to understand these words; or
and dissension among the many diverse peo- was it a new word they had to await?
ples of the human race. God walked with other races also. To His
Since there is, beyond all our complicated people, Zoroaster said: "To enjoy the bene-
doubting, a God Who walks with men, let fits of providence is wisdom; to enable others
us reverently draw near and join those to enjoy them is virtue. He who is indiffer-
throngs of people, those fortunate individ- ent to the welfare of others does not deserve
uals and those dear companions actually to be called a man." How this lifts the heart!
standing in the presence of the Messengers "The best way of worshiping God is to allay
who, one by one, stood forth, each in His the distress of the times and to improve the
own age, as the Witnesses and Spokesmen condition of mankind."
of God on earth. The tongues are different "Have the religions of mankind no com-
but the speech is one! mon ground? Is there not everywhere the
same enrapturing beauty, beaming forth
from many thousand places? Broad indeed
Can the seeking heart make a better be- is the carpet which the All-Loving One has
ginning of this joyous quest than to turn spread, and beautiful the colors He has
to the words of that great, heroic figure, given it." "Diversity of worship has divided
Moses? Moses, we recall, arose among an the human race into countless nations, from
exiled and enslaved people subject to the all these dogmas we may select one-Divine
conquering might, the arrogant pride of the Love."
ancient Egyptian Empire. There was no Another Prophet, Muhammad, said:
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 871

"God is the light of the Heavens and of the His work was done among a people whose
earth. . . . God guideth whom He will to ancestors had received a religion from God
His light, and God setteth forth parables to through Moses. The opposers used that re-
men, for God knoweth all things." He also ligion as their justification. Can God's re-
said, "There is no compulsion in religion." ligion oppose itself? Or do the people aban-
Are we not to accept truth freely and cher- don the spirit of their religion and exploit
ish it as a blessing rather than bear it as a its outer forms and special privilege, so that
heavy load? "We make no distinction be- a new Prophet must appear? The world of
tween any of His Messengers," M a a m m a d Christ's Beatitudes is a heavenly world, full
also said. Thus the different peoples, sharing of illumination and inner peace, but it has
their holy words, can draw closer in fellow- not conquered the world of our human strife
ship, acknowledging one God. nor made peace the great law over the na-
When Buddha walked with men, He said: tions.
"As a mother even at the risk of her own Is it for ever to be thus? The Prophet's
life protects her son, her only son, so he who vision a dream, and our struggles and fail-
has -recognized the Truth -cultivates good ures the reality? A future heaven but a pres-
will without measure among all beings, un- ent chaos? "I have yet many things to say to
stinted, unmixed with any feeling of making you, but you cannot hear them now. When
distinctions or showing preferences." "To the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you
him in whom love dwells, the whole world into all the truth."
is but one family." Among the Hindus their
VII.
Prophet said, "Like the body that is made
up of different limbs and organs, all mortal This greatest challenge to the human heart
creatures exist depending upon one an- has been squarely met by the Babb'i teach-
other." "Toward all that live, I am the same. ings. They explain that all the Prophets came
. . . Whoever devoutly worships Me, they to prepare the people, race by race or nation
are in Me and I in them." by nation, for existence in this very age in
which we were born-the age when all peo-
VI. ples would be brought together and have to
How inspiringly God walked with men learn how to live together or else be faced
when Jesus went about among the people in with destruction. The learning how to live
His day! His spirit of compassionate under- together means living according to the stand-
standing, poured out upon humble individ- ards set for them by all the Prophets. The
uals, upon the sick, the blind and the erring, being faced with destruction means attempt-
along with His firm repudiation of hypocrisy ing to solve our great, world problems with-
and pride, could only be a pure reflection out any true, religious spirit.
of the power God vested in Him. Perhaps stated that way, anyone can see that all
these healings were physical miracles He our wars today are the sufferings we impose
performed, but they might also have been on each other as punishments for breaking
spiritual healings, to make the inwardly the laws of God. He does not punish us-
blind see the light of Truth and the reli- we punish ourselves.
giously dead arise to a new life of faith. But how can we bring such a terrible pe-
Certainly He attributed all His works to the riod of suffering to an end? By worshiping
divine Power, and the religion He preached the one God, the Father of all peoples, and
was based on worship of God, not of Him- living according to the laws and principles
self. "Let your light so shine before men. His Prophet, Bahb'u'llLh, has revealed for
that they may see your good works, and humanity today. The Spirit which animated
glorify your Father which is in heaven." the Prophets of ancient times has animated
When an enemy asked Him which was the Bahb'u'll6h and inspired his words with such
great commandment, He said, "Thou shalt truth that every sincere person can say to
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, himself, "Religion is not dead-it is reborn.
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind Religion is not something for primitive peo-
. . . And the second is like unto it, thou ple living only simple lives-it is a world-
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "A new unifying principle, a majestic World Plan
commandment I give to you; that you love for the redemption of a stricken society."
one another; even as I have loved you, that The Bah&'i teachings call to the soul, sum-
you also love one another.". moning us to serve in a supreme crusade to
872 THE BAHA'I WORLD

establish peace and justice through divine never attain by our own effort. The love
Law. Nothing greater can enter the heart that God offers us is universal. When we
than this pure flame of faith in the living partake of it we know that the same trans-
God who, once more, has walked with men. forming spirit enters all others who believe,
"Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou and therefore by this sharing of universal
lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach love we become united.
thee." Here speaks the very heart of reli- How this world can attain peace is pro-
gion. To the downcast soul, shrinking from claimed in these noble words: "The sover-
its responsibilities, the Prophet says, "Thou eign remedy and mightiest instrument for
art My dominion and My dominion perish- the healing of all the world is the union
eth not, wherefore fearest thou thy perish- of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one
ing? Tho11 art My light and My light shall common Faith." When we grasp this divine
never be extinguished, why dost thou dread truth we are able to make our lives count
extinction? Thou art My glory and My glory in the terrible struggle now going on be-
fadeth not; thou art My robe and My robe tween the way of God and the way of un-
shall never be outworn. Abide then in thy regenerate man.
love for Me, that thou mayest find Me in the To accept and to assimilate truth we
realm of glory." must prepare ourselves by willingness to
Here are His words to us about brother- give up errors, prejudice and half-truths
hood: "Know ye not why We created you even though, or rather especially when, these
all from the same dust? That no one should seem to have become the bulwarks of a de-
exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all cadent society. Truth cannot enter the life
times in your hearts how ye were created. which consciously profits by error. The gulf
Since We have created you all from one between the words of the Prophet and hu-
same substance it is incumbent on you to be
man intellect is wider than this earth, but it
even as one soul, to walk with the same feet,
eat with the same mouth and dwell in the can be bridged by every sincere seeker.
same land, that from your inmost being, by "The time fore-ordained unto the peoples
your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and kindreds of the earth is now come. The
and the essence of detachment may be made promises of God, as recorded in the Holy
manifest." Scriptures, have all been fulfilled."
The Prophet uncovers a deep source of God walks with men!
life within our personality which we can Shall we not arise and walk with Him?

3. EDUCATING FOR PROGRESS

EDUCATION in the past, whether oral This static type of culture may be character-
or literate, has had as its chief purpose the ized by four I's: Ignorance, Illiteracy, In-
transmision to each new generation of the sularity and Inertia. With such character-
knowledge, skills, traditions and mores of istics, medievalism will be seen as a vicious
the race, thus assuring the stability and per- circle, self-perpetuating and self-imprison-
petuation of particular cultures and civiliza- ing.
tions. The Greeks broke out from traditionalism
Until recently education has not con- for a few brilliant centuries and then lapsed
cerned itself with human progress. Its aim again. The Muslims in their turn created a
has been the perpetuation of the "status brilliant age of science which has left be-
quo." In the Occident all through the Mid- neficent results to world civilization. But
dle Ages, and in Asia until the present cen- around the Eleventh Century, this 6lan died
tury, this devotion to ancestral patterns has down and Islim sank into that medievalism
resulted in what is termed "medievalism." and obscurantism which has so strikingly
A R T I C L E S AE4 D R E V I E W S 873

characterized it for the past five or six cen- of medievalism where he has remained for
turies. so many centuries.
Europe, stimulated and awakened from We do not need to rehearse here all the
her Dark Ages by the brilliant lights of the amazing ways in which humanity has pro-
Islamic-Arabic culture, entered upon a long gressed since the Century of Enlightenment
period of progress which constantly gained -the discoveries of science and their appli-
in momentum, culminating today in the cation to human living; the great enlarge-
marvels of our technological age. ment of man's knowledge and conceptual
power; the broadening of his horizons; the
narrowing of the planet until all are near
neighbors; and the promise of technology to
Although humanity has made progress by bless and fructify the earth.
such periodic flowerings of culture and in- The discovery of evolution in the nine-
vention, the concept of human progress, teenth century wrought a still vaster expan-
strange to say, has been very late in arriving sion of the mind of humanity than had the
on the planet. The classical traditions, and French Age of Enlightenment. With this
the traditions of medieval Christian Europe, new vision which the theory of evolution
were introspective. The Greeks and Romans gave to human thought, everything in the
looked back to a Golden Age from which universe from minuscule to majuscule was
humanity had degenerated; the Christians seen as developing in terms of progress; a
looked back to an age of innocence from progress side-tracked or vitiated here and
which a sinful humanity had lapsed. there by back-currents and eddies, but in
It was not until the seventeenth and eight- the main, persistently at work throughout
eenth centuries that the idea of human prog- the cosmos to individualize and form to
ress began to rise, particularly in that free ever more perfect patterns everything that
atmosphere of intellectualism in France exists.
which has been called the Age of Enlighten- Very suddenly-if we speak in terms of
ment. The discovery of the New World and human life upon this planet or even in terms
the voyages and observations of world trav- of the history of civilization-this light-
elers brought to Europe an important and bringing concept of progress has dawned
eye-opening wealth of material regarding and begun everywhere to energize the souls
the customs and folk-patterns of savages, of men. The whole world has now become
semi-savages and Asiatics whose varied cul- progress-minded. There is not a race, not
tures had hitherto been either totally un- a region where the ideas of human progress
known or little appreciated. and the examples of human progress are not
Then thanks to that sheer logic of the working like a subtle yeast to raise the heavy
French mind, the idea arrived that the un- dough of sterile custom into the bread of
tutored lives of the savages probably had life.
been the nature of all human life on the Naturally this world-shaking concept of
planet at one time; and that the superior progress has penetrated the field of educa-
standards of living and intellectual enlight- tion, which next to religion is the most con-
enment of the contemporaneous Europe had serving and conservative force in the life of
been due to progress from lower conditions. man. So now education, in addition to hand-
Once this concept of past progress was ing over to the new generation the knowl-
arrived at, it was natural to extend the con- edges and skills and mores of the past, is
cept of progress into the future. If man had aiming also to stimulate the mind with the
already developed from low to high condi- history of the past as shown in terms of
tions, what was there to prevent him from progrkss, and with the possibility of further
going on and developing still higher? progress on and on throughomut the coming
Thus arose the most dynamic idea that
has ever entered the mind of man-PROG- year.
RESS. Here is something to inspire man's
At this point we may consider the nature
imagination, to awaken his desires, and to and plan of Bahb'i education as it is begin-
whet his will. Something, in a word, which ning to unfold, and will unfold more and
can in itself-by sheer creative power resid- more with each coming generation.
ing in the concept-stimulate and induce Bahb'i education is not only progress-
man to erupt from the sterile imprisonment minded; it also has in the World Order of
874 T H E BAHA 'f WORLD

Bahi'u'llhh a distinct pattern of perfection utive, backed by an international Force, will
as the goal of human effort. carry out the decisions arrived at, and apply
Almost a century ago Bahi'u'llhh laid the laws enacted by, this world legislature,
down certain definite principles for human and will safeguard the organic unity of the
progress, leading up to and culminating in a whole commonwealth. A world tribunal will
new world civilization dedicated to world adjudicate and deliver its compulsory and
unity, peace and prosperity. Since Baht?- final verdict in all and any disputes that may
u'llhh enunciated these world principles- arise between the various elements constitut-
not as creations of the human mind but as ing this universal system. A mechanism of
divine messages to man-BahLhL'is enter upon world inter-communication will be devised,
all study of human progress with a brilliant embracing the whole planet, freed from na-
hope and faith and dedication such as is not tional hindrances and restrictions, and func-
to be found elsewhere. And as the patterns tioning with marvellous swiftness and per-
of perfection are already authoritatively an- fect regularity. A world metropolis will act
nounced, Bahi'is are saved from those fric- as the nerve center of a world civilization,
tional wastes of energy and those futile di- the focus towards which the unifying forces
gressions which characterize the efforts of of life will converge and from which its
liberals to arrive at some commonly ac- energizing influences will radiate. A world
cepted scheme of operation. language will either be invented or chosen
In accordance with this planetary aim, from among the existing languages and will
the core of the BahCi curriculum will be be taught in the schools of all the federated
the new World Order as edicted by Bahi'- nations as an auxiliary to their mother
u'llhh. The history of the past, the social and tongue. A world script, a world literature,
physical sciences, all will be oriented in the a uniform and universal system of currency,
practical direction of the achievement in the of weights and measures, will simplify and
future of a more orderly and happy world. facilitate intercourse . . . stimulate the in-
All Bahi'i students will thus become future- tellectual, the moral, and spiritual life of the
minded and dedicated to world progress. entire human race.
"He is a true man," declared Bahi'u'llhh, "A world federal system, ruling the whole
"who devotes his energies to the building of earth and exercising unchallengeable author-
a better world." Salvation as understood in ity over its unimaginably vast resources,
the Bahi'i Faith is not only the spiritualiza- blending and embodying the ideals of both
tion of the individual, but also the spirituali- the East and the West, liberated from the
zation and redemption of humanity and of curse of war and its miseries, and bent on
its institutions. the exploitation of all the available sources
This new World Order around which Ba- of energy on the surface of the planet, a
h6'i education will be centered is best de- system in which Force is made the servant
scribed in the words of the present Guardian of Justice, whose life is sustained by its
and administrator of the Bahi'i World Faith, universal recognition of one God and by its
Shoghi Effendi. allegiance to one common Revelation-such
"The unity of the human race, as envis- is the goal towards which humanity, im-
aged by Bahi'u'llhh, implies the establish- pelled by the unifying forces of life, is mov-
ment of a world commonwealth in which all ing."
nations, races, creeds, and classes are closely The formulation of such principles of
and permanently united, and in which the organization for all humanity and the guid-
autonomy of its state members and the per- ance of humanity into a new World Order
sonal freedom and initiative of the individ- is too immense a task for any human per-
uals that compose them are definitely and sonality. It requires a super-power. The
completely safeguarded. This common- function of the individual is to become a
wealth must, as far as we can visualize it, channel for a Divine Force and a Divine
consist of a world legislature, whose mem- Plan which would remake this planet into a
bers will, as trustees of the whole of man- better and happier home for man. It is
kind, ultimately control the entire resources through the power of the Holy Spirit, the
of all the component nations, and will enact Light which guided the Prophets and shone
such laws as shall be required to regulate the forth from them, that the Bahi'is seek to
life, satisfy the needs and adjust the relation- operate.
ships of all races and peoples. A world exec- "When you breathe forth the breath of
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS

the Holy Spirit from your hearts into the the power of words. It was the example, the
world, commerce and politics will take care contagion of the Spirit, that under the guid-
of themselves in perfect harmony. All arts ance of the apostles changed pagan hearts
and sciences will become revealed, and the into hearts of sacrificial love. This task was
knowledge of God will be manifested. It is supremely difficult when undertaken in the
not your work, but that of the Holy Spirit regeneration of adults, as the tutorial and
which you breathe forth through the Word. expostulative letters of St. Paul indicate. It
This is a fundamental truth."' is much easier to train the innocence and
VI. viability of childhood into such spiritualiza-
tion of character. And with each generation
It may seem strange to include spiritual of such tutelage, the spiritual level will rise
love in an educational curriculum. But this higher.
quality-the practice of which was the es- Thus. with each succeeding generation of
sence and kernel of Christ's teaching-is ~ahB'is.'education will exert itself the world
again emphasized in the BahB'i Faith as the over to produce ever more noble and more
corner-stone of the training for the future consecrated characters, dowered with both
world civilization, and as the only means of love and wisdom; and equipped technologi-
achieving that functional unity which will cally for the colossal tasks which will face
effectively bind the nations and races of the them in the achieving of a united and peace-
world together. ful humanity.
Tolerance, mutual understanding and con-
sideration are not enough. Admirable as VII.
these characteristics are, they always fail in Much as these spiritual motivations and
frictional contingencies and emotional crises. powers are needed for the superh~~man task
Spiritual love alone can actually cement to- of forging this planet into a peacefully func-
gether
- in unbreakable union the diverse tioning unity-a task which, as Shoghi Ef-
races of the world, with their diverse tem- fendi points out, is epochal, and once
peraments, customs, and self-interests. achieved will never present itself again-
This divine love is none other than the important as is this planetary task, the needs
Holy Spirit, through the fostering influence and values of man as an individual will not
of which man's animal nature is to be trans- be neglected in the BahB'i curriculum.
formed. This is the "second birth" of which The present struggle to achieve world
Christ spoke. It is the way to the harmoniza- unity is an exigency which will not be al-
tion and spiritualization of man's nature as ways with us. When once this unity is
an individual. It is the only secure founda- achieved and world peace assured, whereto
tion for world harmony and peace. Hence shall man direct his energies? In addition to
the importance of teaching and training his duties and responsibilities in the new
youth in these vital truths that compose world-citizenship, the individual has a quest
what 'Abdu'l-BahB called "the spiritual sci- of his own which is legitimate-the quest
ence"-vastly more important in the estab- for career-success, for happiness, for spirit-
lishment of a world civilization than are any ual and harmonious living.
of the physical or social sciences. BahPi education will strongly emphasize,
But how can any educational system therefore, the true nature of man, as an im-
train children along this line of love-devel- mortal soul which has both the opportunity
opnlent, this spiritualization of human mo- and the obligation of spiritual development.
tives which is the desideration not only of In accordance with his dual nature, man's
Bah2i culture but of all world cultures irre- selfhood or "ego" can become either de-
spective of creed or circumstance? generate or regenerate. Either we are con-
Pedagogic inculcation and preachment stantly advancing on the spiritual path, or
will not accomplish this basic goal of child- we are daily retrogressing. Even to remain
development. Only a dedicated corps of inactive is to decay.
teachers-themselves aflame with this spir- A wholly new science will evolve under
itual love-can accomplish such a super- the BahB'i aegis-a new type of psychology.
human task. The spirit of love must prevail The present materialistic psychology, which
not only in the home but also in the school. either denies or ignores the existence of a
The power of example is more effective than soul, will yield ground to a more spiritual
1 'Abdu'l-Rahfi, Divine Art of Living. science which will unfold to youth the essen-
876 T H E B A H A 'f W O R L D

tial nature of his being and his consequent from the routine past, are of such nature.
spiritual potentialities. BahL'i education will, therefore, keep to a
In fact, the whole process of education, safe minimum the authority of tradition,
including the acquisition of knowledge and while emphasizing and fostering the factors
the acquirement of skills, will be reoriented of progress, invention and creation.
around those spiritual potentialities which This progressive attitude of BahL'i educa-
are basic not only to the development of tion will have important repercussions in so-
moral character but also to the wholesome ciety itself, hastening the technologization
development of man's emotional nature. of the planet and enhancing its prosperity
Such a spiritual psychology will lift the hu- and happiness.
man mind, expand its horizons, and develop
powers higher than the materialistic scientist
has been able to conceive. We have been discussing education, up to
this point, from the heights of progress al-
ready established by Western civilization.
BahB'u'llih compared man to a mine of But in Asia and Africa and most of South
hidden wealth which can be made available America, reforms in education must be at
only by education. But how can education first more fundamental. Before creative
develop these new and unseen powers? To scholarship can be achieved, there lies be-
achieve this unparalleled task the educator fore these backward countries the primary
must realize man's true nature to be spirit. task of overcoming illiteracy itself. This is,
In the intellectual training of the child, the for over half the world's peoples, an enor-
pregnant truth must be recognized that mously difficult obligation.
man's mind is but an instrument, and that Bahi'is, the world over, assume the full
his real creative powers flow from the soul. responsibilities of such a planetary task.
'Abdu'l-BahL has made the portentous For one of the fulcrum principles of
statement that it is the Divine Creative Spirit BahL'u'llLh's new World Order was the
fructifying the mind which enables human achievement of universal education. This
beings both to comprehend and to master was declared to be a duty before God and
the universe they live in. Therein lies the a primary obligation of the Bahi'i State.
chief difference between man's intelligence 'Abdu'l-BahL declared that it was a grave
and that of the animal. Animals, too, have lapse on the part of the parent or the state
intelligence to a degree. They can think- to allow children to grow up illiterate, igno-
but only concretely. They cannot generalize, rant, undeveloped, as regards the noble pat-
form inductions and deductions, or think in tern of their true being.
those abstract terms which reveal the nature Asia has up to the present failed to escape
of existence and the means of controlling from the vicious repetitive circle of medie-
and dominating environment. valism. Only literacy and education and the
Abstract and creative thinking is a gift of contagion of new desires and aspirations can
the Creator to man alone, enabling him-as break up this hereditary stagnation.
made in the image of God-to comprehend In this epochal century of change, Asia
to a remarkable degree the creative patterns has at last begun to catch the contagion of
of the universe, and to create himself. progress. Her peoples are everywhere alive,
BahCi education, therefore, will empha- as never before, with the ferment of west-
size the spiritual, intuitional and creative ern science and technology, with western no-
factors in the development of youth. Educa- tions of human rights, and western ideas of
tion will be less stereotyped and more crea- progress.
tive, less formal and standardized, and more To this pregnant situation the BahL'i
tolerant and sympathetic toward the individ- Faith brings a definite pattern for progress
ual's development of those remarkable in- which will lift Asia out of the dilemma of
tuitional powers which are the basis of crea- favoring either retardation or technological
tiveness. materialism. For BahL'i education and Ba-
BahL'u'llih hints at the possibility of im- hi'i concepts of progress distinctly enlist the
mediate or intuitive knowledge on the part spiritual factors which the West has been
of man. This is a dangerous field for the gradually losing and denying.
educator to operate in. But indubitably, all Bahi'i education trains for a world civili-
creations of man's genius, all new departures zation that will be dynamically spiritual at
A R T I C L E S A 1VD R E V I E W S 877

the same time that it will be technological ence which the Muslim world created and
and practical. maintained from the eighth to the twelfth
"Every youth must be trained to a profes- century.
sion or vocation," declared Bahi'u'llih-a When Europe awoke from her dark slum-
desideration which the Occident as well as ber to create the Renaissance under the
the Orient has need to consider. And of all stimulus and influence of Muslim civiliza-
vocations and professions, Bahi'u'llLh as- tion, Church Latin became the universal
serted that agriculture is the most important. language. A professor could travel, as many
Here is an educational system perfect as did, from Paris to Oxford, or from Padua
to conception and practical as to application. to Paris-and later, to more distant universi-
The Bahi'is in Asiatic countries, such as ties such as Prague or Vienna-using always
Persia, Egypt, 'Iriq, and India, are, as might the basic language of Latin for instruction
be expected, the most progress-minded citi- and for literary expression. And here in Eu-
zens in their respective communities. They rope, as had been the case in the Arabic-
are already taking steps to inaugurate the Islamic culture,. this academic cross-fertiliza-
humble beginnings of that educational sys- tion proved a great aid in the flowering of
tem which will one day universally char- science and culture.
acterize the Bahi'i World State. Today, in spite of nationalistic rivalries
and rancors and of the thousand petty ob-
stacles which a multi-lingual humanity la-
bors under, science and culture range the
The Bahi'i system of education, as even- planet. The excellent custom of exchange
tually established throughout the world, will professors and pupils is but a faint begin-
have a universal curriculum, will operate in ning of that cultural universality which will
a universal language, and will inculcate a some day prevail throughout the world.
universal ethics-gradually forging the vari-
XI.
ous races and peoples of the world into a
cultural unity which will flower into a world In the BahL'i culture, science and tech-
civilization. nology will hold a high place, striving in
The need of an auxiliary universal lan- friendly rivalry with spiritual potencies to
guage was emphasized by Bahi'u'llih as one build a better world. Bahi'~1'11ih said that
of the important principles of the new religion and science were the two wings by
World Order. The purpose of such a uni- which humanity flies, and one of the leading
versal language was not only to facilitate pronouncements of the program for the new
world travel, commerce and culture; but also World Order is the necessity for complete
to help create that sense of unity which is harmony between science and religion. T o
inherent in the use of a common tongue. accomplish this, both scientists and religion-
Great periods of civilization in the past ists must renounce dogmatism and tradition
have developed and utilized such a common and dedicate themselves to Truth. With sin-
language. In the Graeco-Roman civilization cere effort such dedication will produce a
which dominated the Mediterranean for five working unity. For it is inconceivable that
hundred years, Latin became the official Truth should be disparate. As there is but
language, with Greek as a secondary lan- one universe, so there can be but one truth
guage i f culture. about the universe. It matters not from what
In the Arabic-Islamic period of culture angle the approach is made, the apex of
which dominated the Middle East and realization-if the search is sincere-will be
Northern Africa for over a thousand years, unitary.
Arabic became both the official and cultural This does not mean that the uiiiverse will
language. Scholars of various racial and look the same to both scientist and religion-
linguistic origins did all their scientific re- ist. In fact, the universe does not look the
search and writing in this language, and be- same to any two individ~~als. Factors of in-
cause of the universal sway of Arabic were telligence and of sensitivity enter in, with
able to travel at will from court to court, the result that the universe-highly compli-
from university to university. This academic cated and mysterious as it is and must al-
world freedom of movement and regional ways be-is never seen with parallel vision
exchange of scholarship and learning proved by more than a single pair of eyes.
a powerful stimulus to that great age of sci- The important point to note here is that
878 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

the reconciliation of science and religion as and love and fellowship so prevail upon the
invoked by BahP'u'llih does not imply the planet that this small sector of the universe
stereotyping of either one. It is an expanding can truly be called, as BahL'u'llih urged it to
world civilization that the BahL'is are creat- become, "one home."
ing; not a crystallization, but a vivification As St. Paul envisioned: "When that which
of human thought and culture. Standardiza- is perfect is come, then that which is in part
tion, scholasticism and obscurantism will, shall be done away. When I was a child I
it is hoped, fail for ages to produce dry-rot spake as a child, I understood as a child,
in the noble world structure to which Ba- I thought as a child; but when I became a
h6'is the world over will for centuries devote man I put away childish things. . . . And
an earnest and zealous consecration. now abideth faith, hope and love-these
three; but the greatest of these is love."
XII.
Since these noble words were uttered,
T o sum up, BahA'i education will be es- Love in the midst of humanity has felt its
sentially progressive. It will inculcate the way, has prevailed here and there infinitesi-
world's need for progress and it will pro- mally, yet effectively enough to show how
foundly foster the development of future- great a' yeast love is. Now we hopefully
minded youth dedicated to world citizenship. await the dawn of that day when spiritual
These specific and global aims of BahB'i love will dominate the planet and rule all
education will exert a profound influence the affairs of man. Not intellect but love; not
on the future BahL'i curriculum, designed to more technology but more humanology; not
be world-wide in scope. Within and pene- more miracles of science but more miracles
trating to the core of every subject taught of faith-this is what the world most needs.
will be the inculcation of the spiritual es- And this gospel of love and spiritual joyous-
sentials which must dominate both man's in- ness will form the nucleus of Bahi'i world
tellection and his efforts. education.
In a word, BahL'i education will play an These goals of the new World Order were
important part in building a new humanity vividly expressed in a letter written to a Jap-
which will be as far advanced over the ma- anese girl in Tokyo in 1920 by 'Abdu'l-Bahi,
terialistic intellectualism of today as this in- son of the Founder of the BahL'i World
tellectualism is in advance of the cruel sav- Faith. We conclude with a quotation from
agerv of cannibals. this euistle:
I
- ~ L i snew humanity will be a spiritualized
humanity. The present age of iiltellectualism ". . . . religion must be the cause of con-
-with all its technological miracles-has cord; it should agree with science and rea-
witnessed the apotheosis of sheer intellect son; it must be a factor of progress to the
with a corresponding defeat of the spirit. world of humanity, it should be free from
The coming age of humanity will see spir- blind imitations. All prejudices are destruc-
itual values gradually assume a higher place tive to the foundation of the world of hu-
in man's esteem than purely intellectual manity.
ones. Yet all that the powerful intellect of ". . . . The equality of men and women;
man has achieved so far will be valued and the universalization of knowledge (educa-
retained and built into the fabric of the new tion); the creation of one universal lan-
world culture. This very intelligence of man guage; justice and righteousness; economic
will be still further enhanced by the spiritual facilities among mankind; the need of the
development which will go pari passu with world of humanity of the breaths of the
all intellectual development. Holy Spirit; the establishment of universal
The major motivatibns of the new human- peace; the institution of the Supreme Court
ity will be spiritual in nature, aiming at the of Arbitration; the freedom and equality of
spiritualizaton of the individual and the all mankind; the brotherhood of the world
spiritualization of humanity-until unity of humanity."
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS

4. T H E P R I S O N C I T Y O F 'AKKA

T O D A Y we were to visit all those precious crossed in less than ten paces, furnished
places associated with Bahi'u'llih and the almost the only outside exercise for Bahi'-
Master in the prison city of 'Akki. u'llih in seven long years of imprisonment
within the walls of this house.
:i; * *
We drove through the newer part of
'Akki down to the great sweep of sandy Before entering the House, we walked to
beach where a stormy wind lashed the great the small public square in the rear. Our
breakers and drove them as far into the old gracious host, Leroy Ioas, holding his hat
city as possible. We turned left and wound and coat-collar against a wind that whirled
our way over the hill down into the old city tiny cyclones of 'Akki dust across the court-
again. The wind blew everyone's coat collar yard, showed us the exact spot where the
up around the neck. The day was still gray, Master had stood and distributed alms and
misty and chill. The cold crashing of the food to the poor.
surf punctuated the silent spots in our con-
versation as we stood, our backs to the sea
wall, gazing across the way at the House of Salah led us back between the houses and
'Abbitd. into the side door of the House of 'Abbitd.
The sea, the wind, the swirling mist, none We crossed an inner court and started up
could cool down the ardor that stirred inside a flight of stairs, turning to the right twice
the pilgrim as he looked upon this gray and continuing to climb until we reached the
shell of a house that once sheltered the Su- living quarters of the Holy Family. We saw
preme Prophet of God. This was once the the small room that held thirteen believers
sanctuary of the Supreme Pen. Its walls had the first night spent in this house. We saw
resounded to the words of the Most Great the upper shelf which one of the friends had
Book, the Mighty Aqdas. Here were formed slept upon that first night and, rolling over
the laws which would stand inviolate and too far to one side, had toppled down upon
unaltered for a thousand years. Here were the Master.
fashioned the provisions which would lay We removed our shoes and walked across
the foundation for the greatest structure in another room of soft carpels, through a
the social history of mankind. Here, those small hallway and then turned left into Ba-
ancient prophetic words had come true, hi'u'llih's bedroom. Against the wall on the
"The Government shall be upon His shoul- sea-side of the room was a long cushioned
ders." Here, the Author of the Bah6'i Faith, bench. Upon the south end, toward Haifa,
protected by these blessed walls from the rested the t i j of Bahi'u'llBh, marking the
stinging winds of the sea, had poured out place where He often would sit. A few feet
the fairest fruit of all His Revelation, the away, along the south wall, was a rocking
Aqdas-pre-eminent among all the writings chair which He used. Upon the floor, a
which had streamed forth in a never-ending carpet brought with them all the way from
river from His holy pen. Adrianople.
What a plain, unimposing structure. Two As I write this now in Johannesburg, I
stories in height with a small balcony around am back there again. I can feel my pulse
the second floor front, drab gray in color, accelerate and my heart beat stronger. The
bleak in appearance, beautiful to the be- atmosphere of these holy places never leaves
liever. you. It comes rushing back whenever you
We were all staring silently up at the turn to 'AkkB and Haifa. Hour after hour,
balcony which surrounds the bedroom of month after month, year upon year, Bahi'-
Bahi'u'llih. Many long hours He had paced u'llih had moved back and forth in this
this balcony, looking out over the sea and room. At times He would turn left in the
down upon the very earth where we were doorway and go out on the balcony which
standing. This small balcony, which can be runs across the front of the house. After
880 T H E B A H A. ' I W O R L D

Salah chanted a prayer, we followed Bahb'- we made our way downstairs, there was
u'llAh's path to the balcony and looked out additional conversation, but none of it reg-
upon the turbulent sea. The wind, it seemed isters. The hearing was working, but the
to us, was still whipping up the indifferent comprehension and recording instruments
Mediterranean and driving it toward the were unable to function. his-was a mercy
shore, where in mighty rollers it bowed and of God. The body must be much like an
prostrated itself before the throne of Maj- electrical system. It can successfully carry
esty. its normal -"load" of power, but when sub-
jected suddenly to an incredibly strong cur-
rent, it "blows out" the fuse at its point of
The room of revelation (where Bah6'- protection. A similar phenomenon happens
u'116h revealed the Aqdas) is quite different to the pilgrim, several times, in fact. Some-
from the others. This was also 'Abdu'l- thing breaks the connection and permits
Bahi's bedroom. It is paneled in wood which no more impulses to register. The system
is to be found in other places associated with cannot bear them. (BahL'u'llbh has written
Him. This bedroom is in the back corner of of this spirit, saying of the wine of revela-
the House. We could look down into the tion that it is so inebriating to the Prophet,
back courtyard. . . . We saw many of the Himself, that the pen is stilled and can
books of 'Abdu'l-Bahb, His writing equip- move no more.)
ment, papers, the simple iron bed-many
things" that were much loved bv Him and
are revered by all who look upon them. The sun came out gaily for a brief mo-
Above all else, the mind tries to take in
ment, for the first time, as we strolled
the truth that here in this room, a room through the picturesque streets of "Old
that is simplicity itself, was revealed the
'Akkb." It splashed against the drab earth-
Book of Laws, the Most Great Book, the
colored walls and transformed them into a
mightiest written testimony since the be-
happy tan. We traced our way along many
ginning of our recorded times. Its Author
of the favorite walks of the Master.
would cast His Shadow of guidance for five
We paused and took photographs in the
hundred thousand years!
doorway of the house of the former Mufti
It is too much to understand. The mind
of 'Akkb. He had been a bitter enemy of
willingly surrenders and turns to examine
BahL'u'llbh. Salah, caretaker at Bahji, told
the surroundings, the little things it can
us the story of the two attempts on the life
comprehend. 'Abdu'l-BahA sat here, He
of BahB'u'llbh made by this Mufti while
walked here, He knelt here, He looked out
Bahi'u'lla was still in prison. Once with
this window. But irresistibly your thoughts
a hidden dagger, but Bahi'u'llPh before ad-
keep coming back to that one inescapable
mitting him to His presence said, "Let him
fact-it was here that BahL'u'llbh revealed
first cleanse his hands." A second time, the
the Aqdas. Mufti planned to strangle the Blessed
Emptying yourself of every single thing to
Beauty, and Bahi'u'llbh said before admit-
which the mind can cling, you ask Almighty
ting him, "First let him cleanse his heart."
God to pour into your heart a true apprecia-
The Mufti became an ardent believer and
tion of this experience you are undergoing.
collected all the "traditions" to be found in
. . . The presence and significance of these the Faith about 'AkkL.
holy places are like hammer-blows to those
of &'who have lived in a world so remote :% 8 8
from the spirit. What a delightful city "Old 'AkkB" is to
Those veritably spiritual thunderbolts-
visit. Salah, who was born within its walls,
the Shrine of Baha'u'llbh, of the Bbb, and greeted almost everyone. He told us many
of 'Abdu'l-Bahb, the room at Bahji where intriguing stones about its non8ahPi his-
Bahi'u'llbh passed away, the mansion of
tory as well. We entered a small door built
Mazra'ih, the Garden of Ridvbn-all had
in one of the lower walls of the prison,
numbed the senses until the cup could not
walked to the center of a cellar-like cavern.
contain the flood. Below us excavation had been started. How
Q %: :$
strange to know that beneath the prison lies
Each of us said a prayer before departing this famous church built by Richard, the
from this cradle of future civilization. When Lion-hearted. The packed earth on which
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS

we stood was high up toward the top of the Pit in Tihrhn, the Siyhh-Qhhl, a place foul
Gothic arches. The pillars were buried beyond comparison, a dungeon wrapped in
many, many feet in the solid earth below us. thick darkness, so dreadful that no tongue
could describe its loathsome smell, had not
been called by such a name.
Salah pointed out the house to which Ba-
hi'u'llhh had been taken in custody when
some of His followers had disobeyed His The cell was barren and desolate in BahL'-
commands, quarreled with three enemies of u'llhh's day. Now there is a Persian carpet
the Faith and slew them. Bahh'u'llhh was in the corner where He used to sit. There
dictating Tablets to His secretary when are five straight-backed chairs upon which
troops surrounded His house. Crowds gath- the pilgrims sit. One window looks out upon
ered quickly. They shouted at Bahi'u'llkh as the old 'Akki. The other two windows look
the Governor, sword in hand, led Him away out upon the sea. These are the windows
for questioning. His innocence was estab- shown in most of the photographs.
lished and BahVu'llhh was freed; the Gov- From here Bahi'u'llhh would look out
ernor apologized for his o,wn bad behavior. toward that spot beyond the moat where His
followers would stand hoping for a glimpse
of His hand waving from the window. We
We began our approach to the prison it- all stood and peered out at that same spot
self. The steps up which Bahi'u'llhh had and to the white-capped sea beyond it. Later
walked to enter the fortress that first time we walked out to that place of bliss and sor-
have been taken down. They have left their row and looked up at these two forlorn win-
scar across the body of the prison wall. We dows. The face of the prison is bruised and
all stopped and gazed up at the marks of scarred from shell-fire.
that old stairway. This was as far as we
could retrace the steps of banishment. In
order to enter the prison, we had to drive
around the city to the front by the sea wall. Inside the prison-cell itself, the heart is
We parked by the gate, passed the guards, touched and saddened by the sight of that
and walked about three hundred yards up to bleak, unfragrant room. True, it has been
the prison entrance. As you cross the small cleaned and restored, but here and there
bridge over the moat, you can see the can- upon the floor were small fragments of paint
non balls of Napoleon embedded in the and plaster which had fallen from the ceil-
walls. They are splashed with red paint to ing and walls. These are a grim reminder of
make them easily visible. Passing through a the chilling dampness of this dismal place.
small arched entrance, we approached the Here in this cell, where but a few paces
courtyard. carry you from end to end, Bahi'u'llih
The prison is now a hospital for the in- spent over two years of His precious life.
sane and feeble-minded. You can see them Here it was that Bahi'u'llhh, Himself, said
exercising in the very courtyard where the that His sufferings had reached their culmi-
believers were herded together that first nation.
day. . . . Our eyes bestowed loving prayers upon
There was a sound of heavy keys rattling each of these places of anguish. After all
in a metal door, the door swung open, and these years, and even with the reformations,
you entered the prison barracks. Passing it is still unsanitary and foul in these bar-
through an ante-room of poor, unfortunate racks. The mind refuses to try to picture the
sick ones, you enter the cell-block. In the far misery and abomination that must have sur-
left-hand corner is a plaque which reads: rounded Bahi'u'llhh upon His arrival here.
Bahi'i Holy Place. . . . This is the cell of We know that they were herded together,
BahL'u'llhh. The plaque is written in both deprived of food and drink, that malaria,
English and Hebrew. dysentery, and the sickening heat added to
We removed our shoes outside the great their sorrows. All were ill but two.
door, and then entered the prison cell where It was here that the two brothers died the
for over two years Bahi'u'lihh had been shut same night locked in each other's arms.
away from the world. This was the heart of Bahi'u'llkh sold His carpet to provide for
the "Most Great Prison." Even that Black their winding sheets and burial, but the
882 THE BAHA*W
~ ORLD
guards had kept the money and cast them another sliver of pain into the body. He had
into a pit unwashed and unshrouded. made so much broth in those days, He said,
that He could make a very good broth with
a very little. How the Master loved His won-
This is where Bahi'u'llih's young son, derful Father. He told of this loathsome
Mirz6 Mihdi, the Purest Branch, was killed. prison. How Bahi'u'll&h would call the pil-
He was pacing the roof at twilight reciting grims together, would make them laugh at
his prayers. He fell through an unguarded their troubles, until they forgot their stone
skylight on a wooden crate below which beds, the lack of food and water. He ban-
pierced his ribs and took his life in less than ished the pain of their illness and the ravages
a day. It was here that this sweet son of their fever. He would tell them stories
pleaded with his Father, Bahi'u'llAh, that his and lift their hearts. He would start them to
life be not saved, but that it be offered as a laughing so loudly that they must be cau-
ransom so that the pilgrims, who so longed tioned for fear the sentinels would believe
for His healing Presence, might be permitted they were mad if they could laugh and en-
to attain their hearts' desire. At his tomb in joy themselves in these conditions of utter
the Monument gardens, we repeated the dreadfulness.
words of BahA'u'llAh written about him: What tenderness must have been in the
"Thou art the trust of God and His treas- Master's eyes as He placed His graceful
ure in this land. Erelong will God reveal hand upon the luxurious furniture of the
through thee that which He hath desired." Western world and said, "We had no chairs
such as this in the prison of 'Akkb; no soft
beds to lie upon; no delicious food to nour-
From here Bahgu'llih wrote many of His ish us. But I would not exchange all of these
tablets to the kings of the earth, proclaiming days for one moment of the sweetness of
that the only remedy for the ills of the world those hours in the presence of the Blessed
was the union of all its peoples in one com- Beauty."
mon faith, and that only a divine, inspired
Physician could bring this to pass.
Many were the wholesome truths that Seeing these poor, unfortunate inmates of
flowed from that Supreme Pen within this the asylum for the last time, one thinks:
prison cell. Each of these tablets and writ- How like the entire world is this prison bar-
ings took on a new force since we had come racks. These pitiful wretches, unbalanced,
to the scene of their origin. living in another dead world (like all human-
ity) are within but a few paces of the Holy
Place of BahVu'llAh, Healer of all ills.
The doors that did not open for Bahi'uY-
Ilih for two years, swing wide for you, then
grind closed upon their hinges. We put on We crossed the moat and walked out into
our shoes, everyone silent, lost in the weight the open air. The clouds were gone. The
of thoughts which held words down, un- sun was out ruling the blue sky all by itself.
formed. The sea, a deeper blue, was still charging up
This was the last stop in 'Akk6. We were to the old sea wall and plunging against its
grateful. We wanted no conversation; no in- rocks. There was a queer, mingled feeling
vasion of that place the mind had set aside in possession of me. It was half of joy and
for reflecting upon this unequaled experi- half of sadness, gladness and heavy-hearted-
ence. ness, happiness and sorrow. Perhaps it was
There was no receptiveness left to truly the accumulation of the day's emotions, un-
appreciate the stories told as we descended settled and unabsorbed within me. Each ex-
the stairs; the room below where the rest of perience taking charge of my being at alter-
the pilgrims had been quartered, the place nate intervals, just as the sea sent alternate
where the Master had made broth for all-- breakers against the wall.
made broth with little more than air for in- I did not look back. It was all locked for-
gredients. His words spoken in London sent ever in my heart.
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS

5 . A CENTURY OF SPIRITUAL REVIVAL*

W E LIVE in a world aligned into oppos- We live in one world whether we like it
ing armed camps. We live in a world where or not. And we may react to this condition
hatred is manufactured, packaged and sold. in one of three general ways. First, we may
We live in a world where mass thought can concentrate on ourselves-trying to. get
be and is molded for the purposes of special healthier and healthier, or trying to get
groups and parties. We live in a world which wealthier and wealthier, or trying to build
tries to make religious division, economic di- ourselves up into some sort of superior be-
vision, political division, and social division ing. Such efforts as these deny the social na-
the normal way of life. And this is another ture of man. And they overlook the simple
way of saying that it is quite all right for fact that the gentleman with the scythe dis-
society to be divided against itself. poses alike o,f health, wealth, and self-delu-
In the past fifty years a world revolution sion.
has been carried out. This is the revolution A second way of reacting to the one world
in the nature of time and space. The inner we live in is to try to carry over the methods
and outer life. of men and women can never and institutions of the past and make them
be the same as it has been in the centuries fit the new conditions. Until about the last
preceding our own. one hundred years people had to be divided
When we recall that all the inhabitants of because they lived under isolated, agricul-
a great city can be fed and clothed and kept tural conditions. Continents were separated
warm by airborne supplies alone, then we by oceans instead of being united by air.
know that we are not living in the conditions Great masses of the people in different cul-
of our grandparents. When the news of tures were grossly ignorant of each other,
events in the Korean peninsula can im- and there was little chance then that the ig-
mediately make clear to farmers in Maine, norance could be removed. Therefore na-
to taxi drivers in Chicago and oil-riggers in tional policy was based on the political and
Texas, that they personally are concerned, economic separation of peoples. Conflict
then we know that we are living in a world was considered normal. The followers of the
whose bonds are being more closely knit ev- great religions each considered themselves
ery week and month. unique and by far superior. Everything in
If a severe snowstorm maroons a bus load life seemed to make disunity sacred.
of people in a farm house, problems arise at Many people still try to follow this pat-
once. Each individual wants to maintain a tern. The nation state is still regarded as the
particular way of life and cling to a set of highest political loyalty. Mo'st religious peo-
personal attitudes. If it is clear that the ple still think and act in terms of division at
group will be forcibly housed together only the same time that they talk of brotherhood.
a few days, a working adjustment can gen- And there are those who think only in terms
erally be arrived at, but each individual will of economics, as if the Holy Grail were
still be inconvenienced. But if these people actually a silver cup. Some want a class dic-
had to live together permanently, they would tatorship to dominate the world as if a
have to make a revolutionary change in their world pacified would be a world at peace.
attitude and habits. Such men as these are the dividers of the
By the revolution in time and space, the human race.
peoples of the world have been thrust to-
The third way of reacting to one world is
gether. This coming together of the world's
peoples is more literally true than many wish to build a new world society founded on the
to admit. And it is not temporary. There is principle of unity. This would mean cre-
no going backward to any semblance of "the ating a world government and recasting the
good old days." social, economic, political, and spiritual
foundations of human life. Not many peo-
* An address delivered at the Centenary Cornmemo- ple as yet have the courage or vision to re-
ration of the Martyrdom of the Bib held at the Bahi'i
House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois, JUIY 9, 1950. act in this mmner. But among these people
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

are to be found the followers of BahL'u'llih into the arena of the world. In Baghdad
throughout the world. BahCu'llih revived the hopes of the remnant
BahB'is know where they are going. Their who had accepted the Bib. In that ancient
goal was set about a century ago', before the city of 'IrBq He began to unfold a system of
present world need became obvious. For a religion which is unique in the world's his-
century they have been patiently building a tory.
grass roots world order. They have not There is not time here for us to follow
waited for the statesmen or for the world the successive exiles of BahB'u'llih-from
crisis. Baghdid to Constantinople (now Istanbul),
The goal of the BahB'i Faith is to unite then to Adrianople (now Edirne), and fi-
the world in one social order and one com- nally in 1868 to 'AkkB, Israel, where H e
mon faith. This goal came into being lived until His death in 1892. By each exile
through the teachings of BahB'u'llih. And it an envious and reactionary clergy and State
was the BBb who prepared the way. hoped to wipe out His influence. What we
After the martyrdom of the BBb came a are concerned with today is the chief teach-
time of despair and disaster. The Bib had ings of Bah6'u'llSh and the effect they have
cut His followers loose from the laws and had in the last century.
institutions of Islim. He had awakened love BahB'u'llih wrote: "A new life is, in this
and hope in the hearts of a people whose age, stirring within all the peoples of the
national culture was bigoted and degenerate. earth . . . Consider the peoples of the
His call had won the support of peasant and West. Witness how, in their pursuit of that
scholar alike. His own example of fearless- which is vain and trivial, they have sacri-
ness and courage inflamed His followers to ficed, and are still sacrificing countless lives
deeds of heroism and even reckless enthusi- for the sake of its establishment and promo-
asm. His six-year public career affected all tion."' "The civilization, so often vaunted
Persia and cut like a knife down through by the learned exponents of arts and
every social level in the country. H e taught sciences, will, if allowed to overleap the
His followers that One greater than Him- bounds of moderation, bring great evil upon
self-"Him Whom God would make Mani- men . . . If carried to excess, civilization
fest"-would publicly announce His mission will prove as prolific a source of evil as it
in nineteen years. had been of goodness . . ."2
The firing squads in the public square of And again: "The corrosion of ungodli-
the city of Tabriz ended the life of the ness is eating into the vitals of human so-
Bib. But they did not destroy the Faith He ciety . . ."3 ". . . the whole human race is
had initiated. encompassed with great, with incalculable
Among those who had earlier responded afflictions. We see it languishing on its bed
to the Cause of the Bib was the man known of sickness, sore-tried and disillusioned.
to history as BahB'u'llih. Born into a wealthy They that are intoxicated by self-conceit
and ancient family, BahB'u'llLh had served have interposed themselves between it and
the Cause of the BBb, ignoring the gibes the Divine and infallible Physician. Witness
and scorn of His caste. He had been a fear- how they have entangled all men, them-
less champion. But He was humiliated, selves included, in the mesh of their de-
stoned, and cast into an underground dun- v i c e ~ . "And
~ again: "If ye stay not the hand
qeon where He lay chained by the neck and of the oppressor, if ye fail to safeguard the
the feet for four months. His property and rights of the downtrodden, what right have
wealth were seized-poverty became His lot. ye to vaunt yourselves among men?"5
And then in 1853 He was exiled from Persia These are just a few random selections
to BaghdBd. from Bah6'u'llBh's penetrating criticism of
Bah'l'u'llih was the only outstanding modern civilization.
leader of the Bib's Faith who was not killed. We may well ask, To what standard of life
An ambassador of a western power threat- does Bahi'u'llih call His followers? The an-
ened the Persian government if it should swer is clear. "Be anxiously concerned with
slay a man of such majestic character. The
1 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahd'u'lldh, p.
martyrdom of the B6b and the blood bath 196.
of His followers had already attracted the 2 Ibid., pp. 342-3.
3 Ibid., p. 200.
attention of thinkers in Europe. 4 Zbid., p. 213.
The forcible exile projected the Faith 5 Zbid., p. 252.
ARTICLES AN D REVIEWS 885

the needs of the age ye live in, and center tice may function. Second, they provide a
your deliberations in its exigencies and re- moral sanction for world order.
quirements."" "All men have been created There will be no lasting peace for decent
to carry forward an ever-advancing civiliza- men and women without a world govern-
t i ~ n . ""That
~ one indeed is a man who, to- ment. And no world government can func-
day, dedicateth himself to the service of the tion successfully unless millions of people
entire human r a m v 8 "The earth is but one give it an enthusiastic and lasting loyalty.
country, and mankind its citizens."" While many religions speak of brotherhood,
BahL'u'llih declared to the nations that BahL'u'llih declares that "The earth is but
the burden of armaments was too grievous one country, and mankind its citizens." In
a weight for the people. He urged the rulers the light of BahL'u'llBh's teachings, the man
to meet together and lay the foundations who believes in God will devote his energies
for a world government. He declared that to building a world commonwealth. This is
the principle of collective security was a the next step in human evolution. BahB'is
necessary means for the establishment of recognize it as the will of God. Bahi'is rec-
justice. None of the rulers to whom He ap- ognize it as the "coming of age" of the en-
pealed paid any heed. Is it not now time io tire human race.
listen? Is it not now time for the people to How strange and perverse is the human
listen? heart! The military leader, the conqueror
The principles, the laws, and the social whose boast is in battles won and in millions
institutions created by BahL'u'llih are for slaughtered-he receives the acclaim of the
the purpose of building a united world multitude, and his ears are deafened by their
which can provide justice for all its mem- shouts of praise. But the Manifestation of
bers. The key principle is the oneness of God received scorn and abuse, torture and
mankind which means the complete repudia- exile. The demagogue who promises bread
tion of racial superiority and the practice of and circuses, money without work and
race unity. "The best beloved of all things in achievement without effort, he is fawned
My sight," said BahB'u'llLh, "is justice."1° upon and praised, and in his own lifetime
BahB'u'llLh spoke with the authority his likeness is produced in statues of bronze
which comes from God. Like Christ and and of marble. But the Manifestation of
Muhammad and the other founders of the God wins only the hearts of a few. And it is
world's great faiths, BahL'u'llLh was not a these few who give up their bread to serve
scholar or a pedant. He possessed an innate Him and who give the breath of their lives
knowledge. He had the ability to awaken de- and the blood of their bodies that the divine
votion and transform character. He has im- vision of a greater human good may come
planted a love of God in the hearts of count- to pass upon the earth.
less men and women. The Manifestation of God among men is
For BahB'u'llih is the Manifestation of a measure by which men and women can
God for our age. He has restated the es- see their true height. The dividers of men
sentials of religion, stripping away the layers and the haters cannot lift their eyes to His
of theology, and brushing aside such no- height. Like children, they are too self-
tions as that of inherited sin. He shows us absorbed, too busy building little castles in
how religion has been progressively revealed the sand.
and unfolded in each age. Now it is possible Despite ecclesiastical anger, despite reac-
for us to see that religion, too, evolves. In tionary scorn, and indifference, the Faith of
each age there has been a God-chosen in- BahB'u'llgh has grown steadily and extended
dividual, or Manifestation, Who has been itself through the world. Though, even to-
the core of spiritual authority and vision for day, the Bahi'is in Persia know the ruthless
the forward movement of religion. anger of the mobs directed against them.
The teachings of BahL'u'llih do two prin- But the response of the people to the
cipal things for our age. First, they provide Faith of BahB'u'llgh is also a story of sacri-
a social structure through which world jus- fice and heroism. Most of the people who
have become BahL'is are obscure to fame.
G Gleaninas. D. 213. But heroism knows no pedigree or social
7 Zbid.,pl 21%. rank. And so, steadily, the teachings of
8 lbid., p. 250.
9 Zbid., D. 250. BahL'u'llih have been translated into various
10 ~ i d d e iWords (Arabic). languages until now the total is over sixty.
886 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

Bahb'is have moved and settled in country on the grass roots level of society, is taking
after country until now the roots of the shape. Within the Bahb'i world community
Faith have taken hold in more than one hun- have come people from all walks of life and
dred sovereign countries and dependencies all kinds of religious and nationalistic and
of the world. First it was Persia and 'Iriq, racial backgrounds. Here they find a practice
and Turkey, Israel, and Egypt. Then it was of religion which is adult, just, and suited
India, and Burma, and the United States, to the age we live in.
England, and Canada, and France, and While some people may look back and
Germany. A few decades ago, an elderly read the record of the past one hundred
couple in California, a Mr. and Mrs. Hyde years as a series of ever-deepening crises, I
Dunn, sold their little home and sailed for offer you another part of the record. A part
Australia. They earned their own living and of the record not as well known as the po-
traveled from city to city, and the Faith was litical intrigue and the warfare. I offer you
established in Australia and New Zealand. the record of the Faith of Bahb'u'llih which
They were but two of hundreds who have moves steadily forward with its healing mes-
gone to strange lands to bring the words of sage of unity and justice.
Bahb'u'llkh to the people. Without a paid And at the same time I offer you a chal-
clergy, and with few material resources, this lenge. Have you the courage and the vision
great movement to take Bahgu'llih's mes- to take the outstretched hand of Bahb'uy1l&h
sage of unity and justice to the people goes and join with those who are dedicated to
steadily forward. building a divine world order of human so-
And within the last three decades the ciety? Have you the courage and vision to
Bahb'is have systematically applied the so- realize that BahB'u'llkh is the Father prom-
cial teachings of Bahb'u'llih to the conduct ised by Jesus Christ? Can you arise and re-
of their own affairs. A religious world order, spond to the call of God in our time?

6. THE KINGDOM O F GOD ON EARTH:
IDEA AND REALITY

W E OF the West have grown so used to day of its birth after yet-to-be-expected in-
the central prayer of our j a i t h - ~ h ~ king- cubation in the womb of our universal af-
dom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it fliction and travail.
is in heaven-that we are dull to its magic, If we are to look back through centuries
and despite almost two millenniums of repe- upon the idea and forward through centuries
tition, which must have worn a deep if hid- to the reality, we should bear in mind the
den channel through our collective con- character of this Kingdom on earth. It has,
science, we seem no longer to perceive or I believe, certain essentials:
accept Christ's vision of earthly consumma- 1. There will be one Ruler in the King-
tion. dom: God.
To a Bahb'i this is the more strange, since 2. There will be one humanity, one
in our view the twentieth century is the brotherhood of all the men on earth,
threshold of that Kingdom; and that simple who will be endowed with spiritual
but commanding idea, which in one form or consciousness to know and obey their
other has compelled men's highest thoughts Divine King.
throughout history, is in the cycle we now 3. There will be a universal state, unified
enter to attain reality. Indeed, the transfor- in government, harmonizing the rich
mation from idea to reality has already be- diversity of human cultures.
gun, and the embryo of God's Kingdom on 4. There will be universal peace, resting
earth, already brought into life, is even now in justice, the condition and mode of
acquiring structure and form, against the this Divine Kingdom.
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 887

One other point should not be overlooked, folding. The pattern of their prophecy was
as it is the test of the idea of the Kingdom in closely woven; one cannot separate the
contrast to the reality of the Kingdom. The strands.
idea has had life only in men's minds. As "And it shall come to pass in that day,
idea it has inspired and even in certain pe- that the Lord shall set his hand again the
riods molded human societies and govern- second time to recover the remnant of his
ments. But the Kingdom in reality has not, people . . , and shall assemble the outcasts
up to this age, had any being. For the King- of Israel, and gather together the dispersed
dom of God on earth, like all forms of life of Judah from the four corners of the
created by God, is essentially organic. It has earth."
conception, embryonic development, birth, This perfectly clear and now fulfilled
and growth through life stages. It is a Divine statement is associated in the visions of the
creation, and only when, by the Will of its Hebrew Prophets with the coming of God's
Creator, it does indeed appear on this earth, Kingdom on earth.
will it pass from the idea of the Kingdom, In "the great and very terrible" day of the
known to great minds and humble hearts for Lord, in "a time of trouble, such as never
many ages, to the reality of the Kingdom was since there was a nation even to that
which will be a shelter, a sanctuary, and a same time," "it shall come to pass . . . that
home for all the human race. the mountain of the Lord's House shall be
established in the top of the mountains . . .
and all nations shall flow unto it." "And the
Probably the most consistent view of the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that
Kingdom of God on earth is to be found in day shall there be one Lord and His name
the Old Testament. The "chosen people," the one." "Of the increase of his government
astonishing Hebrew race, has for at least and peace there shall be no end . ." ". . ..
three thousand years been the repository of the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they
this concept, to which it has tenaciously shall see the glory of the Lord, and the ex-
clung through all glory, vicissitude, and hu- cellency of our God."2
man error. "God and His Kingdom on earth
-that was their two-fold revelation. Abra-
ham [c. 1550 B.c.] stood at the head of the The idea of the Kingdom of God on earth
movement. . . . In the midst of idolatry scintillates in Hebrew thought with the maj-
and human sacrifice he seems to have known esty and power of God as Supreme Ruler,
One God, Almighty and All-Comprehending and with the bright promise of the accom-
. . . and in obedience to the Divine Com- plished day of unity and peace. The ruling
mand led forth from Ur a band of kinsmen principles of the ideal state are less clear.
. . . on a religious crusade."l Here there are two problems: ( 1) The na-
In the Old Testament is embodied the his- ture of God's rule on earth, that is, by what
tory of this people; its journey into Egypt mediation, since God Himself is in all true
and its captivity there; its deliverance by religion and philosophy admitted to be Un-
Moses; its rise to an eminence of dominion known and Unknowable; and (2) the nature
and culture in the Promised Land when its of men's relations to each other. Throughout
influence, according to Bah2i teaching, history the idea of the Kingdom, whether
awakened Greek philosophy to the existence confined to idea or embodied in a visible
of the one God and the immortal soul of order, has held as its central point of author-
man; its decline from virtue; its preparation ity and good the concept of some kind of
for the coming of the Messiah. But here the Vicegerent of God-king, philosopher,
story passes into other hands, as indeed was priest, or a combination of all.
prophesied, and the "chosen people," dis- For the earliest known vision and practice
persed and despised, entered its long night of of such a god-centered society, we must look
suffering until its final return to the Prom- to Egypt where, between about 4000 and
ised Land in our own time. 2400 B.c., took place "the first rise of a
To one who studies the words of the civilization of profound moral vision any-
Hebrew Prophets, it is evident that the con- where on the globe." Here the " 'Sun of
summation they foresaw is even now un- righteousness' rose over two thousand years
1 H. N. Spalding, Civilization in East and West, 2 Isaiah, 11; Joel, 2; Daniel, 12; Isaiah, 2; Zecha-
Oxford University Press, 1939, p. 150. riah, 14; Isaiah, 9 and 35.
888 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

earlier than he did in Pale~tine."~ Fragments by citizens imbued with the highest moral
of ancient writings show a society formed in virtues, and guaranteeing to all the benefits
the beginning under the presiding influence of justice and peace.
of the Sun-god Re ("thou art he who over- ". . . The princes of Chou [12th cen-
looks all gods . . ."), whose character tury B.c.] were held up by later thinkers 'as
shone forth in the Pharaohs who succeeded a mirror to flash great ideals down the ages.'
him. "It is Command who is in thy mouth, The worshippers of a 'vast, somewhat im-
it is Understanding who is in thy heart," be- personal overruling deity,' termed T'ien or
came a salutation to the Pharaoh, thus iden- 'Heaven,' they drew from its sovereign 'De-
tifying him with qualities attributed (after cree' the prophet-like doctrine that 'rulers
3000 B.c.) to the Sun-god himself. At a later are appointed by Heaven for the purpose of
date of moral decadence and misery in the ruling the world so as to bring about the
state, after the dissolution of the Second welfare of men.' "7
Union about the 25th century B.c., social In a later period of disorder, Confucius
prophets looking back on that long reign of (551-479 B.c.), looking back upon this
"righteousness" or "truth" (Egyptian Maat) golden age of the still-reigning Chou dy-
found in it their only hope for the future. nasty, and delineating the moral virtues es-
The sage Ipuwer, mourning his country's un- sential to good men and good government,
happy condition, recalled the divine sover- recognized the place of the Sage-King in
eignty of Re: holding all stable.
"It is said he is the shepherd of all men. "A virtuous ruler is like the Pole-star,
There is no evil in his heart . . . Where is which keeps its place, while all the other
he today? Doth he sleep perchance? Behold stars do homage to it."s
his might is not seen."4 Within the bounds of this essay it is im-
It is clear that in the Sun-god these early possible to develop the full argument that
prophets found not only the divine center of throughout history and in societies all over
authority in the state, but the source of mo- the world there have existed prototypes, as
rality as well. In documents dating some two well as mature concepts, of divinely-inspired
thousand years before Christ such concepts kings extending their beneficent rule over
as this appear: great dominions, organizing justice and
". . . that good word which came out of peace, and reflecting upon mankind the
the mouth of Re himself: 'Speak truth, do power and majesty of God Himself. Not
truth, for it is great, it is mighty, it is endur- only have such kings reigned, both in vision
ing.' "5 and actuality, but their remembered exam-
"
And again: ples have led to the projection of utopian
"I have made every man like his brother, kingdoms and commonwealths, wherein the
and I have forbidden that they do evil, [but] whole of mankind would be gathered under
it was their hearts which undid that which I one divine rule.
had said."5 "The Divine Kingship is one of the ear-
"It is very surprising," writes Breasted of liest and one of the most persistent of in-
these sages, "that their social idealism took stitutions in human civilization. Sometimes,
the form of Mesianism, the belief in a right- as with the high priests and the kings of
eous ruler yet to come, one who should Israel, the pontiffs and the consuls of Rome,
usher in a golden age of justice for all man- the Popes and the kings of Europe, the
kind, a belief later inherited by the He- priestly and royal offices divide [although
brew~.''~ seldom entirely]. But in China the Emperor
Not long after this time and practically has always been the Son of Heaven; in Per-
contemporaneous with the foundation of the sia the kings were god-descended and even
Hebrew race, in then distant China, a golden today are inspired directly by Allbh; in the
age of Sage-Kings was also shaping a pattern Babylonian cities reigned the priest-kings; in
which evoked in Chinese thought over many Egypt Pharaoh was god; the rex in Rome
centuries an idea of government guided by and the basileus in Athens held priestly of-
kings dedicated to Heaven's rule, supported
7 K. J. Spalding, Three Chinese Thinkers, p. 18
3 James Henry Breasted, The D a w n of Conscience, (Citing Smith and Creel, The Birth o f China). This
Charles Scribner's Sons,- 1934,- PP. 13, 15.
A.
book contains fascinating material on early concepts of
4 Zbid., p. 198. ideal human relations.
5 Zbid., pp. 219, 221. 8 Lionel Giles, The Sayings of Confucius [1920],
6 Zbid., p. 21. p. 39.
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS

fice; in Imperial Rome Caesar was god in ceived them, held valid for all the known
death, divine Augustus; even the petty world-but the known world was at no time
Gothic kings were descended from Odin; in all the world. Although the boundaries were
Peru the Inca rulers were priests; to this day being constantly pressed outward, not until
the Mikado is priest and god. These have the nineteenth century could men claim to
been the symbols of community alone pow- have found most of their brothers, and not
erful and august enough to battle against until the twentieth century were the means
. . . disruptive egoi~m."~ of knowing them really at hand. It follows
Whether we think of Asoka, that great that not until our own time could the King-
Emperor of India whom the Buddha in- dom of God on earth, by definition and also
spired, "more famous than Charlemagne or by logical necessity a universal kingdom, be-
Caesar"; or of Charlemagne himself, whose come more than idea, become a possibility.
"aim was to make his Empire a moral com- But is it not also a needed consummation?
munity, one vast Christian city . . ."; or in Is it by accident that the discovery of all the
an earlier day "of the immeasurable majesty parts of humanity should have been paral-
of the Roman peace"; or of the kings of leled by far-reaching efforts to unite them
China and Egypt before-mentioned; or of in some kind of orderly pattern, some uni-
Muhammad the Prophet, "founder of a versal state? Most of such projects for in-
State . . . sole Head of the civil adrninistra- ternational law and government, from the
tion, the supreme Judge, the Commander-in- Hague Tribunal to the United Nations, have
Chief . . .";lo or again if we recall some of been impelled by the threat of war: their
the great concepts which have lifted men's goal has been universal peace.
eyes to far horizons-Plato's Republic; Au- "Of all things," wrote Dante in De
gustine's City of God and its "one Common- Monarchin, "that are ordered to secure
wealth of all Christian men"; Dante's vision blessings to men, peace is the best: by quiet
of true monarchy [De Monarchial where the individual man grows perfect in wisdom;
"life should be lived in freedom and peace"; and society as a whole is best fitted in the
and that mother-idea of all Western culture, tranquillity of peace for its proper work,
"Thy Kingdom come"-in all these exam- which may be called divine."
ples of living kingdoms and living ideas, In a lecture delivered in Oxford in 1913,
both precept and promise, we are reminded Sir W. M. Ramsay comments on this pas-
of the ancient theme: sage: "It is necessary to guard against a mis-
"They shall come from the East and from apprehension of what is meant here by the
the West and from the North and from the word 'peace.' Dante thinks of peace, not as
South and shall sit down in the Kingdom of a negative but as a positive idea. Peace is
God." not the mere absence of war: it is the power
that maintains order and makes moral law
IV. effective. It is the administrative force of
"Mankind as a whole has always striven Justice, and it is the necessary condition of
to organize a universal state. here have freedom . . . It is the orderly balance
been many great nations with great histories; of active and powerful forces."ll
but the more highly they were developed The forces of the modern world-whether
the more unhappy they were, for they felt the products of man's intellectual powers ap-
more acutely than other people the craving plied to nature; or the expression of his emo-
for world-wide union."-Dostoevski. tional loyalties to nation, race, and religion;
Because the examples we give are from or the driving power of his physical needs
the past, wc ought not to think they have -all these forces are now loose in one
lost potency for the present and future. In- arena. "A crisis has, for the first time in his-
deed, the idea of the Kingdom becomes in tory, come upon the world at once. The na-
our time the more compelling because the tions are now like beasts herded together in
conditions for its realization now exist. Past a cage, and w i t h o ~ ~a tkeeper."12
visions were, by the great minds who con- We should not exuect I
men's Dowers
I
and
forces to abate; they ought on the contrary
9 George E. G. Catlin, A History o f the Political
Philosophers, Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1950, pp. 11-12. 11Sir W. M. Ramsay, The Imperial Peace-An Ideal
1 0 Citations in this paragraph, in order, are from in European History, Oxford University Press, 1913,
Koeppen, Professor Kleinclausz, The Elder Pliny, Sir pp. 7, 16. This essay is a powerful argument for true
Thomas Arnold. The succeeding quotations in the kingship at the heart of the modern world shte.
paragraph are from the works mentioned. 12 H. N. Spalding, op. cit., p. 290.
.'f W O R L D

to be immensely fortified in a world of free- associate this outcome with the coming of
dom and peace. The challenge is to lead age of the human race.
mankind out of the cruel disorder of this The Declaration of the BAb, the Forerun-
age into the long-expected universal state. ner, in 1844, inaugurated this millennium,
But "how shall there be constructed a su- disclosed its hidden meaning, and imbued
preme order able to enforce that universal mankind with an energy both turbulent and
freedom and justice combined which consti- irresistible. The appearance of the Bkb sig-
tute the active power of peace?"l This, the nalized humanity's potential coming of age.
central question of the twentieth century, He released "the creative energies which, re-
surcharged with human need, giving voice inforced by the effusions of a swiftly suc-
to the impulse for self-preservation and life ceeding and infinitely mightier Revelation,
more abundant, is in truth the propelling were to instill into the entire human race the
force destined, in the BahPi view, to carry capacity to achieve its organic unification,
humanity from the idea of the Kingdom into attain maturity and thereby reach the final
its living actuality. stage in its age-long e v ~ l u t i o n . " ~ ~
The desirability of the Kingdom of God From that date revolutionary changes be-
on earth is today as widely accepted in the- gan to appear in the world. Every race and
ory as ever it was in the past-indeed, a nation experienced transformation in its
great deal more so--but we do not call our traditional life and culture. No people es-
vision by this name. The reason is simple. caped the impact of the new forces which
Of the four essentials of the Kingdom, most found their expression in radical develop-
thoughtful men acknowledge three: ments of science and technology, in new and
universal aspirations for human welfare, in
There will be one humanity. arts escaping their conventional forms, and
There will be a universal state. in the gradual assemblage of political leader-
There will be universal peace. ship for the building of a wo-rld-embracing
order.
These they call World Commonwealth, or "A new life is, in this age, stirring within
World Order, or the Federation of Mankind, all the peoples of the earth . . . Soon will
or any other name except the Kingdom, be- the present-day Order be rolled up, and a
cause they do not realize that to exist and new one spread out in its stead. . . . Man-
endure, it must be a kingdom, and a king- kind's ordered life hath been revolutionized
dom not of men but of God. through the agency of this unique, this wan-
drous-~ystem,the-like of which mortal eyes
have never witnessed."17 Such are the plain
"Universal peace will not be brought words spoken by BahL'uYll6hfor the guid-
about through human power, and shall not ance of all who have eyes to see and hearts
shine in full splendor unless this weighty to understand the world-shaking events of
and important matter shall be realized our time.
through the Word of God, and be made to Now more than a century of this millen-
shine forth through the influence of the nium has passed and it is possible to realize
Kingdom of G~d."-'Abdu'l-Bah&~~ the direction of social change; indeed, it is
The achievement of the "organic and spir- impossible to escape it. What was potential
itual unity of the whole body of nations" is with the appearance of the Bkb is day by day
the "supreme mission" of the Bahb'i Faith.'' seeking its form. Unity in the political realm,
The approximately thousand-year span of named by Bahl'u'lltih the Lesser Peace, is
the Dispensation of Bahb'u'llkh, Founder of fast crystallizing and is the next stage in
that Faith, is understood by His followers to world affairs. BahVu'llkh, anticipating the
be the precise millennium during which the struggles which would seize and convulse all
long process of evolution will carry human- peoples in the twentieth century, foresaw
ity from isolation and separateness to whole- as their outcome a transitional period in
ness and unity on a planetary scale. Bahl'is which the world, realizing at last and only
--

13 Sir W. M. Ramsay, op. ~it.
too well "the anarchy inherent in state sov-
14Tablet to David Buchanan, classmate of Presi- ereignty," would "abandon this fetish, rec-
dent Wilson, written in 1919.
15 Shoghi Effendi, World Order of Bahd'u'lldh, 16 Shoghi Effendi, G o d Passes By, p. 57.
BahP'i Publishing Committee, Wilmette, Illinois, 1938, 17 Cited in The World Order of Bahd'u'lldh, pp. 161-
162.
ARTICLES AN D REVIEWS 891

ognize the oneness and wholeness of human clear that Bahb'is view the Lesser Peace as
relationships, and establish once for all the a time of transition. It will "in some degree"
machinery that can best incarnate this fun- better the condition of mankind. It will not
damental principle of its life."18 "Hold ye deliver men into the full life of the Kingdom
fast unto this the Lesser Peace," BahB'u'llLh on earth. It will, by ensuring and enforcing
cautioned the leaders of mankind, "that world peace, give opportunity for recon-
haply ye may in some degree better your struction, and for the development of civili-
own condition and that of your dependents zation on a vast new scale. The human race,
. . . Should any one among you take up having come of age, having attained the
arms against another, rise ye all against him, equivalent of age twenty-one in the life of
for this is naught but ma~zifestjustice."'" the individual, will rapidly progress and
Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahb'i show forth its ampler powers. But the l i e of
Faith, has described the Lesser Peace in the spirit, which is man's unique capacity
these terms: "Some form of a world Super- and the only source of his contentment and
State must needs be evolved, in whose favor joy, cannot be so quickly renewed. The way
all the nations of the world will have will-
of faith in God has been long obscured, and
ingly ceded every claim to make war, cer-
the world has yet a downward path to fol-
tain rights to impose taxation and all rights
to maintain armaments, except for purposes low before the Light of Divine Guidance
of maintaining internal order within their re- breaks from the mountain tops to illumine
spective dominions. Such a state will have to the gloomy plain. While politically matur-
include within its orbit an International Ex- ing, mankind will continue to decline spirit-
ecutive adequate to enforce supreme and un- ually until the Voice of the Promised One
challengeable authority on every recalcitrant reaches and rejoices all ears.
member of the commonwealth; a World Men must not think, therefore, as they
Parliament whose members shall be elected cross the long plateau of the Lesser Peace,
by the people in their respective countries that the Divine process has been subdued
and whose election shall be confirmed by or human destiny fulfilled. The laws of
their respective governments; and a Supreme growth, ever the same in organic creation,
Tribunal whose judgment will have a bind- pursue a gradual course; andso the vast or-
ing effect even in such cases where the par- ganism of collective society will gradually
ties concerned did not voluntarily agree to unfold throughout the Dispensation of Ba-
submit their case to its con~ideration."~~ h8'u'llkh. In this unfoldment Bahb'is believe
It will be seen how much stronger is the there are two processes at work. The one has
union of states contemplated by Bahb'is than been described; the other is yet obscure. The
any league or organization so far devised. one is outward, in some measure mechani-
That it will be achieved in a relatively short cal; the other is the hidden birth and growth
of what has been called the embryo and
time, that its birth will mark the coming of
nucleus of the Kingdom of God on earth.
age of human society, and that it will lay the
It grows from the seed planted by the Hand
basis for the gradual unfoldment of world of Bahb'u'lliih in the womb of the planet. It
unity in all its aspects, are BahL'i teachings is a Divine Order, heralded by the BLb, con-
which logic reinforces and events must con- ceived by Bahb'u'll&h, delineated by the
firm. "This is the stage which the world is mind of 'Abdu'l-BahL (son of Bahb'u'llLh
now approaching, the stage of world unity, and Center of His Covenant), and now si-
which . . . will, in this century, be securely lently, almost imperceptibly passing through
establi~hed."~~ its embryo condition in the rise of the ad-
ministrative institutions of the Bah2i Faith.
VI. From embryo to child to man's estate, this
Order is destined to unfold in a process
Great as is the achievement promised to absolutely distinct from, yet parallel to, the
this "radiant centuryw-a century overshad- evolution of world society in the Lesser
owed by calamity, yet that calamity itself a Peace.
stimulus and providence-it must be made Ultimately the two processes are destined
18 Shoghi Effendi, ibid., p. 202. to meet and, after a time of gradual fusion,
19 Ibid.. p. 162. they will culminate in the goal which is
20 Ibid., pp. 40-41.
21 Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day Is Come, p. common to them both: World Common-
126. wealth, the object of humanity's evolution.
892 THE BAHA'I WORLD

the promise foretold by prophets and seers shall be King over all the earth: in that
for well-nigh six thousand years. This cul- day shall there be one Lord and His Name
mination of the BahL'i Dispensation was de- One."
scribed by BahL'u'llih as the Most Great Such is the expectation held by the fol-
Peace, the purpose and glorious outcome of lowers of BahL'u'llih. Such is the hope
His distinctive mission to mankind. It "must which they, and they alone, can offer to the
inevitably follow as the practical conse- whole of mankind in this hour of world af-
quence of the spiritualization of the world fliction and despair.
and the fusion of all its races, creeds, classes, "Now in the world of being the Hand o f
and nations . ."" . divine power hath firmly laid the founda-
What else can these words signify but the tions o f this all-highest bounty and this
inception of that vast, universal, all-embrac- wondrous gift. Whatsoever is latent in the
ing, spiritual Kingdom which we know as innermost o f this holy cycle shall gradually
the Kingdom of God on earth? How shall appear and be made manifest, for now is
we view this "end of the age," this millen- but the beginning of its growth and the day-
nium of transition and fulfillment, save as spring of the revelation of its signs. Ere the
the Promised Day foretold in all Holy close o f this century and o f this age, it shall
Books? How shall we understand the One be made clear and evident how wondrous
chosen by God to inaugurate such a millen- was that springtide and how heavenly was
nium, and to infuse into the body of man- that giftYz4
kind the vitality, faith, and vision to unfold
its potentiality, save as the Promised One, 24 'Abdu'l-Bahi, ibid., p. 111.
the Vicegerent of God, He who "hath been
sent down to regenerate and unify man- Author's Note: The student who wishes to under-
kind"?23 stand the pattern and functioning of the World Order
of BahP'u'llih, and its relation to the future World
"Of the increase of his government and Commonwealth and the Kingdom of God on earth,
peace there shall be no end." "And the Lord should make a close study of the published writings of
Shoghi Effendi, first Guardian of the Bahd'i Faith.
21- Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahri'u'llhh, Sections V and VI of this article are based on these
p. 162. writings, and in a few points on the Guardian's dis-
23 Bahl'u'llih, ibirl., p. 163. courses at table in Haifa, February, 1954.

7. THE CALL OF THE MARTYRS

N O W in this crisis of our fortunes time and thousands of others and did not cease
brings round to us the centennial of the till every discoverable Bibi was slain or
great martyrdoms in Persia. cowed or driven into exile. The authorities
The siege of Tabarsi closed in the spring then were assured the movement was at an
of 1849 with the death of almost all its de- end and its fires quenched forever.
fenders including one half of the "Letters of Little did those blind and wicked men
the Livingv--Mulli Husayn and Qudd6s know the power hidden in this Cause or the
among them. In March, 1850, the Seven profound effects of self-sacrificing faith.
Martyrs were beheaded in the great square With unflinching firmness the martyrs
of Tihrhn. In May of that year the invest- went to the doom for which they had longed
ment of the Biibis in Zanjin opened. In June and prayed, counting such a death a boon
Vahid, the "unique and peerless figure of his and a reward. They endured their sufferings
Age," was martyred, and most of his com- with superhuman patience, breaking their
panions at Nayriz after him. On July 9 the stubborn silence, if at all, only to utter words
Bib was shot to death in Tabriz. Early in of forgiveness to their executioners or to
1851 FIujjat was killed, and some 1,800 fel- chant a hymn of thanksgiving to the Beloved
low believers perished with him. Then in into whose presence they were passing.
1852 came the universal holocaust of tor- So unexampled was their resolution and
ture and massacre which involved Tihirih their fortitude that it astonished and bewil-
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS

dered beholders, attracted hearts, made con- ing, changed the gnat into an eagle, the
verts (secret or open) to the Bib, spread His hare into a lion, gave them the mastery of
fame and that of His followers beyond the life and ushered them into new ranges of
borders of Persia and inspired many a rever- ecstasy and power.
ing tribute from western scholars or diplo- That Heroic Age is past. The martyrs
mats and others who told in glowing phrases stand to us as an example and a challenge.
of the "rare and beautiful spirit of self- They show us what an appeal, a charm lies
sacrifice" which distinguished the Bibis and in this Faith for hearts that are sensitive to
of "the sublime and unmurmuring devotion" its influence.
with which they defied their torture-mon- But the battle which they fought is still
gers. unwon, the Faith for which they died has
To an American correspondent who in not as yet prevailed. In a world, perverse,
after years wrote of these dreadful scenes, preoccupied, obfuscated with doubt and
'Abdu'l-Bahi replied in a Tablet which has pride, a new opposition has taken form, a
since found its way into print that these new foe has reared his gloomy ramparts
martyrdoms fanned the fire of the love of against the advancing Truth. From their
God, spread the Word of God, uplifted the bloodstained graves the voice of the martyrs
standard of God and drew from the Tree of calls on us believers of a later day, for a
Life fragrances of holiness that were diffused love, a courage as deeply based as theirs
through the world. We of the West have that shall now achieve that ultimate victory
seen the proof of the enduring effects of which their Lord promised them and which
this heroic devotion to God in the deep, their hearts foresaw.
strong, steadfast faith that distinguishes to- Their courage was infinite. None can
day the Bah6'is of the Land of the Martyrs. measure it. Tried to the uttermost it showed
Bah6'u'llih in a great prayer for forgiveness no tremor but only triumphant strength.
of sins has permitted us to plead "the blood Earth's bitterest ciuelty tried to break it but
o f Thy lovers who were so attracted by Thy only made it burn higher and with an in-
sweet utterance that they betook themselves tenser flame.
to the lofty summit of the Mount o f Great Bahi'u'll&h in a Word of Wisdom reveals
Martyrdom." His Pen has written, "0 Son the secret of their power.
of Being! Seek a martyr's death in M y Path "The essence o f courage," He tells us, "is
. . . 0 Son of Man! By M y beauty! T o the promotion o f the Word o f God and
tinge thy hair with thy blood is greater in steadfastness in His love."
My sight than the creation o f the universe The Qur'in writes, "The truly brave are
and the light of both worlds. Strive then to those who stand firm and behave patiently
attain this, 0 servant!" under ills and hardships; their patience is
They gave their lives simply for love of only for God and not to display bravery."
God, that they might be true to Him, be It is the Cause that matters. It is the Cause
close to Him, be united with Him. Love and that distinguishes from all lesser kinds of
longing for God uplifted, transformed them, courage the courage that rises in the soul,
gave them a strange new strength and held that lasts on into the hereafter, that is a
them firm through every trial. permanent possession. It is the Cause that
Nothing less than this divinely given rap- opens these hidden reserves of strength
ture could have animated such utter self- and rapture; and this all-hallowing Cause is
abandonment as was theirs. It was not firm- none other than the selfless service of God
ness of character, not love for the principles and of His Beloved.
of the Faith, not love for its ideals, nor for The story of the martyrs as handed down
its reforms, nor even love for virtue and for to us shows on every page, in every word
the attributes of God, which inspired their that the ground of their heroism was the
heroism: but rather an unreserved, all-ab- ardor of their faith. In Nabil's record and in
sorbing, all-forgetting devotion for one in the testimony of Bibis e o t e d in it, doctrine
Whom they saw God Manifest. fills but little place; faith is all in all. The
Before they knew Him, they had, one and Bib's imprisonment separated Him from
all (even the valiant Husayn, even Tihirih) His disciples and they had few opportunities
been ordinary men and women, with their of receiving His instructions; but through
selfishnesses and their doubts; till love came their deep, strong, ardent faith they reached
upon them and transmuted their whole be- the end of all learning and exhausted knowl-
894 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

edge-they became one with God. To us in "It is not permissible for two days to re-
this Formative Age doctrine is much, teach- semble each other," said Muhammad.
ing problems are urgent, constructive work The Bhbis were forever eager and active
is vital; yet no service can take the place of in the Cause of God, forever facing danger.
Faith. 'Abdu'l-BahL gave us a command and They associated with one another. They
imposed on us a Covenant: " A s your faith called on the Sacred Name, they chanted
is, so shall your blessings and your powers their prayers together. The joy of their love
be. That is the standard. That is the stand- so radiated from them that it was commonly
ard. That is the standard." said one could not have tea with them with-
Unquestioning belief in the Manifesta- out wishing to join their society. Their ene-
tion; an unshadowed vision of God in Him; mies charged them with magic, with casting
impassioned love for Him; this is the han- spells of love on those who came to them.
dle of every weapon in the armor of the And when the summons came to dare and to
soldiers of Light. die for their Beloved, they were ready.
It is not enough that we should believe; The Source on which they drew for their
we are required to deepen our faith contin- strength is within the reach of all of us . . .
ually. It is not enough to acknowledge Ba- 'Abdu'l-Bah6 has expressed it in these
hi'u711Lh and love Him; we must love Him words:-
more and more. Faith and love are living, "Our Strength is the Strength o f the Blessed
growing, expanding things, as seed, as Perfection!
leaven. A believer once started on his way, Though all mankind unite against us,
cannot stand still without incurring grievous Y e t shall His Strength be ours;
loss. If he does not grow forward, he slips Nor can all the world despoil us o f it.
back. His Strength is our weapon to wield for
"Let your morning be better than your evermore,
evening, and your day an improvement on With it we shall conquer all things.
the morning," was the command of Bahi'- His Strength is a sword that rusteth not,
u31l6h. A treasure that knows no bounds."

8 . THE PATH T O G O D

REVELATION, the Path to God, has To the individual, this is always an invita-
been progressive. Early man could under- tion to sit at the feet of the Master Teacher
stand a little truth; later he could assimilate and renew his own powers. Laying aside
great truth. Fundamentally the truth was the fears imposed today by tradition, the
one. With each appearance of truth, a re- seeker of the Path fearlessly looks for the
birth of powers has attended it; man has stainless mirror of his age. The Jew who
been imbued with divine ideals, and an ever- knows the majesty of Moses, the Christian
advancing civilization has taken new steps who longs to touch the garment hem of
forward. The miracle of new social power Jesus; these are the souls schooled in adora-
is accompanied by the appearance of a Mas- tion. The illumined Writings of Bahi'u'llLh
ter Teacher. The lettered Jews sprang from will bring to these, and to the untutored
the spiritual genius of Moses; the glory of millions, the light of renewed faith and the
ancient Persia reflected the fire of Zoroaster; means of traveling with sovereign power
unfolding Europe lifts her spires to the glori- the immeasurable distances of the Path to
ous Nazarene; the architecture, astronomy, God.
and poetic genius of the Muslim world in the The Words of BahVu'llAh, coming as a
middle centuries bespeak the gift of Muham- part of the unending outpouring of the
mad. "He hath ordained," writes Bah6'- Word of God through the ages, act as the
u'llhh, "that in every age and dispensation, a water of life upon the thirsty soul, refresh-
pure and stainless Soul be made manifest ing, cheering, and bringing forth the powers
in the kingdoms of earth and heaven." of the seeker. Every life needs the emphasis
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 895

of the love of God, but some cast about for 4. Healing
a lifetime, failing to find this Holy Grail
of spiritual health and joy. Just as bodies are "There are two ways of healing sickness,
sometimes lacking in the food elements that material means and spiritual means. The
produce health, the soul sometimes stands first is by the use of remedies, of medicines;
in need of a divine physician who can pre- the second consists in praying to God and
scribe the missing elements for spiritual suc- in turning to Him. Both means should be
cess. The few thoughts given here are chosen used and practiced . . . Moreover, they are
from the unlimited mine of wisdom and ex- not contradictory, and thou shouldst accept
planation offered in the Bahi'i Writings. the physical remedies as coming from the
Space permits mention of only a few. mercy and favor of God. . . ."
"0 thou pure and spiritual one! Turn thou
toward God with thy heart beating with His
love, devoted to His praise, gazing toward
Faculties long allowed to rust must be His Kingdom and seeking help from His
Holy Spirit in a state of ecstasy, rapture,
called into activity. Man becomes like a
love, yearning, joy and fragrance. God will
stone unless he continually supplicates to
assist thee, through a Spirit from His Pres-
God. Prayer is the great quickener. There ence, to heal sickness and disease."
is no human being who is not in need of
prayer. 'Abdu'l-BahL said, "0 thou spiritual "Continue in healing hearts and bodies
and seek healing for sick persons by turn-
friend! Thou hast asked the wisdom of
ing unto the Supreme Kingdom and by set-
prayer. Know thou that prayer is indispensa-
ting the heart upon obtaining healing
ble and obligatory, and man under no pre-
through the power of the Greatest Name
text whatsoever is excused from performing
and by the spirit of the love of God."
the prayer unless he be mentally unsound,
or a&ikrmountable obstacle prevent him."
The sincere seeker, however, often asks, 5. Protection
"Why pray, since God knows our needs?'
In response, Bahi'u'llih and 'Abdu'l-Bahi "Besides all this, prayer and fasting is
mention many of the benefits of prayer. the cause of awakening and mindfulness and
conducive to protection and preservation
1 . Connection with God from tests."
"The wisdom of prayer is this: That it
causeth a connection between the servant
and the True One, because in that state man "Is there any remover of difficulties save
with all heart and soul turneth his face God! Say, Praise be to God! He is God! All
towards His Highness the Almighty, seeking are His servants and all abide by His bid-
His association and desiring His love and ding."
compassion." "Say, God sufficeth all things above all
things, and nothing in the heavens or in the
2. Divine Companionship earth but God sufficeth. Verily, He is in
"Verily He responds unto those who in- Himself, the Knower, the Sustainer, the
voke Him, is near unto those who pray unto Omnipotent."
(Prayers of the Bib, the forerunner of
Him. And He is thy Companion in every
loneliness, and befriends every exile." Bahfi'u'llAh, to be used in times of difi-
culty.)
3. Joy
7 . Increased capacity
"Know thou that supplication and prayer
is the Water of Life. It is the cause of the "By these attractions one's ability and ca-
vivification of existence and brings glad tid- pacity increase. When the vessel is widened
ings and joy to the soul." the water increaseth and when the thirst
"Know that in every home where God is grows, the bounty of the cloud becomes
praised and prayed to, and His Kingdom agreeable to the taste of man. This is the
proclaimed, that home is a garden of God mystery of supplication and the wisdom of
and a paradise of His happiness." stating one's wants."
896 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

8. Effect upon the World pray. The first is a detached spirit. It 'is a lit-
"Intone, 0 My servant, the verses of God tle like closing a window to the noises of the
that have been received by thee, as intoned street, that the strains of the violin within
by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, the room may not be lost. The second is un-
that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle conditional surrender of our own wills to the
thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all Will of God. This is very subtle and very
men. Whoso reciteth, in the privacy of his difficult, for the self is inclined to argue with
chamber, the verses revealed by God, the God and to rationalize its own desires, put-
scattering angels of the Almighty shall scat- ting them always first. How few have the
ter abroad the fragrance of the words ut- singular purity of the child who wanted a
tered by his mouth, and shall cause the heart horse more than anything else in the world,
of every righteous man to throb." and decided to pray for it. After a time her
father said, "God did not answer your
9. Intercession prayer, did He?'"But of course He did,"
she said simply, "He said no!" Concentrated
"Those who have ascended have different attention is the third quality, and the fourth,
attributes from those who are still on earth, true spiritual passion, that ardor and devo-
yet there is no real separation. In prayer tion which distinguishes the apostle from the
there is a mingling of station, a mingling of multitude. Surely God will raise to His very
condition. Pray for them as they pray for Presence the least peasant who whole-heart-
you." edly casts himself at His feet, in preference
Asked whether it was possible through to the kings of the earth who are compla-
faith and love to bring the New Revelation cent. In the highest prayer, man prays only
to the knowledge of those who have de- for the love of God.
parted from this life without having heard of The actual words help concentration. It is
it, 'Abdu'l-Bahi replied, "Yes, surely! since good to repeat the words so that the tongue
sincere prayer always has its effect, and it and heart act together and the mind is bet-
has a great influence in the other world. We ter able to concentrate. Then the whole man
are never cut off from those who are there. is surrounded by the spirit of prayer. The
The real and genuine influence is not in this communes of Bahl'u'llih are like invigorat-
world but in that other." ing breezes; there is great power in using
"He who lives according to what was or- them aloud, for the exalted pen of a Mani-
dained for him-the Celestial Concourse, festation of God is a source of power in the
and the people of the Supreme Paradise, and world. Prayer may be likened to a song;
those who are dwelling in the Dome of both words and music make the song.
Greatness will pray for him, by a Command If prayer is to become a guiding force, a
from God, the Dearest and the praise- protection, a joy, and the source of divine
worthy." companionship, it must become a habit.
"0 Thou Omnipotent Lord! In this great How often a human being waits for the
dispensation Thou dost accept the interces- vicissitudes of life to drive him Godward
sion of the sons and daughters in behalf of when in reality the harmony, health, and full
their parents. This is one of the special, in- victory lie in continual praise and supplica-
finite bestowals of this cycle. Therefore, 0 tion. One needs to be in a perennial state of
Thou kind Almighty, accept the request of prayer. "The greatest happiness for a lover
this Thy servant at the threshold of Thy is to converse with his beloved . . ."
singleness and submerge my mother in the
ocean of Thy Graces."

The science of going about prayer is so A man's goal is God. He is born to tread
little understood that we find ourselves, in the Path to God. In the words of Bahl'u'-
the words of Tennyson: llih, "The purpose of God in creating man
hath been, and will ever be, to enable him to
"A child crying in the night, know his Creator and to attain His Pres-
A child crying for the light,
And with no language but a cry." ence."
Success depends upon surrender to God
'Abdu'l-Bahi suggested that there were four at every turn. "0thou who hast surrendered
wonderful qualities that could help us ta thy will to God!" wrote Bah$u'll&h, "By
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS

self-surrender and perpetual union with God the hearts are made happy, and the spirit of
is meant that men should merge their will attraction is at work."
wholly in the Will of God, and regard their Such a soul has nothing to fear. There is
desires as utter nothingness beside His Pur- no circumstance that cannot be used for
pose." This is the secret of happiness. "The progress on the Path to God. "Nothing save
liberty that profiteth you is to be found no- that which profiteth them can befall My
where except in complete servitude unto loved ones," testified Bahb'u111Lh. "The sea
God, the Eternal Truth. Whoso hath tasted of joy yearneth to attain your presence, for
of its sweetness will refuse to barter it for all every good thing hath been created for you,
the dominion of earth and heaven." and will, according to the needs of the times,
Those on the Path are conscious of this be revealed unto you."
joy. They have a sense of victory that no Radiant acquiesence to the Will of God
circumstance, however ruthless, is able to means obedience to His Commands and con-
destroy. When the earliest Bahb'i pilgrims tentment in all that befalls, but it never
found their way to the prison city af 'Akki, means inertia, laziness, and slothful living.
'Abdu'l-BahL would often call in such radi- Activity in God's Will is the law of victory.
ant souls as the aged Haydar-'Ali, who, be- God can no more guide an inactive soul than
cause of his great suffering and saintly char- a man can guide a car while it stands by the
acter, was called the angel of 'AkkP. When side of the road, inert. "Pray and act," Mar-
the American visitors seemed discontented tha would say. Action attracts the answer to
with their lot, 'Abdu'l-Bahi would say that the prayer. That is the reason for the im-
Haydar-'Ali had also suffered; that he had portance of deeds in victorious living.
been dragged across a desert with his head 'Abdu'l-Bahh wrote, "By faith is meant, first,
in a sack! But Haydar-'Ali made always the conscious knowledge, and second, the prac-
same reply, "I have known only the joy of tice of good deeds." These deeds are the
serving my Lord." wealth of the friends of God.
Lady Blomfield, foremost early Bahb'i of Those who have arisen to teach these
England, records the tender moments when truths have all experienced the confirming
'Abdu'l-BahL made His journey through the power of assistance which BahL'u'llLh prom-
West, and interviewed, under her own roof, ised to His sincere servants. "A company of
so many of the thoughtful of that land. Our chosen angels shall go forth with them,
When the people said, "We are glad, oh! so as bidden by Him Who is the Almighty, the
glad that you are free," He replied: All-Wise . . . If he be kindled with the fire
"To me prison was freedom. of His love, . . . the words he uttereth shall
"Troubles are a rest to me. set on fire them that hear him. Verily thy
"Death is life. Lord is the Omniscient, the All-Informed.
"To be despised is honor. Happy is the man that hath heard Our voice
"Therefore I was full of happiness all and answered Our call. He, in truth, is of
through that prison time. them that shall be brought nigh unto us."
"When one is released from the prison of Even daily work done in the spirit of serv-
self, that is indeed freedom! For self is the ice is an important part of victorious living,
greatest prison. for it is accounted by Bahb'u'llLh as wor-
"When this release takes place, one can ship. He writes, "We have made this, your
never be imprisoned. Unless one accepts dire occupation, identical with the worship of
vicissitudes,- not with dull resignation, but God, the True One." Living apart for pious
with radiant acquiesence, one cannot attain worship is therefore discouraged. As Jesus
this freedom." gave His life to men in the market places, so
Martha Root, greatest of the first century must our spirituality find practical expres-
BahL'i teachers, knew the secret. On her last sion among the people.
No life is victorious that cannot live with
historic journey through the West, she was
its fellows. "Blessed is he who mingleth with
asked the secret of her success and happi- all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and
ness. This plain little woman who had stood love." A BahB'i drops away all forms of ar-
before queens and emperors with such un- rogance. His door is open to black and
deniable power, replied thoughtfully, "It is white, rich and poor, fellow countryman and
important to find out God's first choice foreign born. "Ye are the fruits of one tree,
about everything. Then the bounties flow, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one
898 T H E B A H A 'I W O R L D

with another with the utmost love and har- ours. Their work, the work of the Kingdom
mony . . . So powerful is the light of unity is like ours but it is sanctified from time and
that it can illuminate the whole earth." The place. "It is as if a kind gardener transfers
practice of social unity by a mere handful a fresh and tender shrub from a narrow
of the champions of God must slowly give place to a vast region. This transference is
rise to the harmony of the race. not the cause of the withering, the waning 0.r
the destruction of that shrub, nay rather it
makes it grow and thrive, acquire freshness
and delicacy and attain verdure and frui-
The Path to God is a stream of upward tion."
consciousness; it does not end with this small BahL'u'llih speaks of the power bestowed
world. Our existence here may be likened to upon the faithful in the world of continu-
an acorn which, if quickened with life, be- ance. "The soul that hath remained faithful
comes an oak. Or it may be likened to a to the Cause of God, and stood unwaver-
child in the matrix of the mother as it de- ingly firm in His Path shall, after his ascen-
velops its faculties of sight, hearing, and the sion, be possessed of such power that all the
like, for use in this world. So does the soul worlds which the Almighty hath created can
treat this world as a place of beginning in benefit through him. Such a soul provideth,
which it develops its spiritual faculties for at the bidding of the Ideal King and Divine
use in all the worlds of God. The Word of Educator, the pure leaven that leaveneth the
God quickens the soul as the spring sunshine world of being, and furnisheth the power
quickens the acorn, and from a single Word through which the arts and wonders of the
of even one of the Prophets or Manifesta- world are made manifest. Consider how
tions of God, a soul may attain to the stream meal needeth leaven to be leavened with.
of consciousness. Many are the assurances Those souls that are the symbols of detach-
of BahL'u'llhh and 'Abdu'l-Bahi concerning ment are the leaven of the world. Meditate
this journey for the soul who faithfully sets on this, and be of the thankful."
out on the path to God. And again, joy is the keynote! "0 Son of
First we must know that there is con- the Supreme! I have made death a mes-
tinuance. The true believer will "eternally senger of joy to thee. Wherefore dost thou
live and endure. His spirit will everlastingly grieve? I made the light to shed on thee its
circle round the Will of God. He will last as splendor. Why dost thou veil thyself there-
long as God, Himself, will last . . . It is from?"
evident that the loftiest mansions in the "Death proffereth unto every confident
Realm of Immortality have been ordained as believer the cup that is life indeed. It be-
the habitation of them that have truly be- stoweth joy and is the bearer of gladness. It
lieved in God and in His signs. Death can conferreth the gift of everlasting life. As to
never invade that holy seat." those who have tasted of the fruit of man's
The other world is a world of knowledge earthly existence, which is the recognition of
and memory. "Undoubtedly the holy souls the one true God, exalted be His glory, their
who find a pure eye and are favored with in- life hereafter is such as We are unable to
sight will in the kingdom of lights be ac- describe. The knowledge thereof is with God
quainted with all mysteries, and will seek the alone, the Lord of all the worlds."
bounty of witnessing the reality of every "0 my servants! Sorrow not if, in these
great soul. Even they will manifestly behold days and on this earthly plane, things con-
the Beauty of God in that world." "The trary to your wishes have been ordained and
mysteries of which man is heedless in this manifested by God, for days of blissful joy,
earthly world, those will he discover in the of heavenly delight, are assuredly in store for
heavenly world, and there will he be in- you. Worlds, holy and spiritually glorious,
formed of the secret of truth; how much will be unveiled to your eyes."
more will he recognize or discover persons The greatest gift of all, bestowed in the
with whom he hath been associated." worlds of light, must be the gift of com-
Not a static heaven, but a busy, active panionship with the holy souls of every age.
condition, bright with growth and progress, The heart is immediately stirred by such a
is visualized for us by 'Abdu'l-Bahi. Those possibility. The grandeur of Moses comes
who have passed on through death have a close to us; we sit again at the feet of Jesus
sphere of their own. It is not removed from the Christ! In short, we come to the conclu-
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 899

sion that the true believer of this illumined macy with God through His Messenger.
time is the associate and intimate of the Revelation, the open door to God, is forever
apostles of former times. "Likewise will they linked with the Revelator. With one gracious
find all the friends of God, both those of the gesture God bestows upon the world a di-
former and recent times, present in the heav- vine physician, a lawgiver, a perfect pattern,
enly assemblage." "Blessed is the soul which, and a point of union with its God. Happy is
at the hour of its separation from the body, the heart that experiences fusion with the
is sanctified from the vain imaginings of the Manifestation of God's Perfection. Paul
peoples of the world. Such a soul liveth and would be made alive in Christ Jesus. Ste-
moveth in accordance with the Will of its phen, radiant even as the excited mob
Creator, and entereth the all-highest Para- hurled him from the cliff, cries, "Behold, I
dise. The maids of Heaven, inmates of the see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand
loftiest mansions, will circle around it, and of God the Father." 'Ali, youthful disciple
the Prophets of God and His chosen ones of this day, proclaims as he offers his life,
will seek its companionship. With them that "If I recant, whither shall I go? In Him, I
soul will freely converse, and will recount have found my paradise." The Word of God
unto them that which it hath been made to is the Water of Life, one Word throughout
endure in the path of God, the Lord of all cycles and ages. The soul, refreshed by new
worlds. If any man be told that which hath waters, finds itself yet on the old Path, the
been ordained for such a soul in the worlds ancient, eternal Path. To tread that Path
of God, the Lord of the throne on high and with dignity and joy, through this world and
of earth below, his whole being will instantly hereafter, is every man's birthright. There-
blaze out in his great longing t o attain that fore, once in about a thousand years, God,
most exalted, that sanctified and resplendent in His great compassion, clears the Path of
station." superstition and division, that the Way may
An American friend who had enjoyed the be made plain once more for the sincere
privilege of more than one visit to 'Akkb seeker. And so Bahi'u'llbh has come.
during the days of the exile of 'Abdu'l-Bahb, Today the stage is set for the greatest spir-
related an incident that took place at His itual drama of history, for the rebirth of the
table. With her sat persons of varied races, powers of the human race will be for the
some of them traditional enemies who had first time world wide and in proportion to
now grown so to love one another that life infinitely higher development. The coming
and fortune would not have been too much of BahL'u'llbh marks the close of a great
to give if called upon to do so. As the reality cycle, the beginning of one infinitely greater.
of their love gradually became plain to her, Man has come of age; a world-wide unity
there was born a ray of the knowledge of the will appear, enjoyed by a new race. BahB'u'-
intimacy of the near ones in the world be- llbh is the Father promised by Isaiah, the
yond. When the meal drew to a close, Michael spoken of by Daniel, the Spirit of
'Abdu'l-Bahb spoke of the immortal worlds. Truth prophesied by Jesus, the Mihdi fore-
As nearly as she could remember, the words
told by Muhammad, the Friend promised by
he spoke were these: "We have sat together
many times before, and we shall sit together Gautama, the S_biih Bahrdm of Zoroaster.
many times again in the Kingdom. We shall His coming is the bow of promise in the sky.
laugh together very much in those times, and "The universe is wrapped in an ecstasy of
we shall tell of the things that befell us in joy and gladness." "Peerless is this Day, for
the Path of God. In every world of God a it is as the eye to past ages and centuries,
new Lord's Supper is set for the faithful!" and as a light unto the darkness of the
The secret of so great a fulfillment is inti- times."
900 T H E BAHA'I: W O R L D

9. A N I T A L I A N SCIENTIST E X T O L S
T H E BAB

A M O N G the apostles of modem science Dr. Carlo Lessona, was at the time the di-
and liberty of thought, a prominent place rector of the well-known veterinary schod
belongs to Michele Lessona, an Italian, of Venaria, and this fact might explain the
whose sincere and courageous words in- boy's early interest in scientific study. In
spired and helped mold the character of at 1846 Michele Lessona obtained a degree of
least two generations of Italians. medicine and surgery from the Royal Uni-
A scientist, a writer, a philosopher, an ex- versity of Turin. Immediately after gradua-
plorer and an educator, Professor Lessona tion he went to Egypt and, although rather
stands out-with a stature that towers above young, was appointed Chief of the =in
that of many a well-known scientist-as one Kah Hospital in Cairo.
of the foremost thinkers of the nineteenth In 1849 he returned to Italy and became
century. an instructor in Natural History, first in Asti
He was born September 20, 1823, in Ve- and then in Turin. In 1854, at the age of 31,
naria Reale, a suburb of Turin. His father, he was appointed Professor of Mineralogy
and Zoologv at the Roval Universitv of Gen-
oa. In 18?j4, after hi; return fro& Persia,
he taught f i s t at the University of Bologna
and then at the University of Turin. Here
he occupied in 1865 the Chairs of Zoology
and Comparative Anatomy, becoming in
1877 the Rector of that University.
During his life Michele Lessona produced
a variety of scientific and literary works.
Among his classical publications are to be
remembered an illustrated treatise on nat-
ural history, in several volumes; his master-
piece on ethics, Power and Will; Confessions
of a Rector; Memoirs of an Old Professor;
and the translation into Italian of the best
known works of Darwin, Samuel Smiles,
John Lubbock, and many others.
In 1892 King Humbert of Italy made him
a Senator for life, a well-deserved recom-
pense for his patriotism, leadership and
learning. He passed away, amidst universal
sorrow, on July 20, 1894, in his beloved
Turin.
In 1862 Professor Lessona had been ap-
pointed physician to the diplomatic delega-
tion that went to Persia at that time to es-
tablish relations between the newly created
Kingdom of Italy and the government of
Niviri'd-Din Khhih.
Immediately on his arrival in Tabriz, he
met a Persian of high lineage, D&id K_hhLn,
who, having lived for many years in Italy,
spoke Italian perfectly. From this gentleman
Lessona learned of the Bib; movement, and
Professor Michele Lessona. he became fascinated with the life of the
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 901

BAb and His heroic ministry. When oppor-
tunity permitted, he tried to visit places con-
nected with the history of the BAb, and he
had the opportunity to converse, many
times and at length, with Count de Gobi-
neau, the French ambassador to the court
of the S_hkh. When he returned to Italy Pro-
fessor Lessona wrote a book Hunting in
Persia and a precious little monograph of
sixty-six pages entitled I Babi.
Fernando Morosi, a BahB'i of Rome and
a book dealer by profession, recently found
a copy of this book, which was immediately
dispatched to Haifa and is now in the cus-
tody of Shoghi Effendi. It represents one of
the very first documentations, made by an
European, of the episode of the Bkb.
The little book was printed in 1881 by the
Royal Typographer Vincenzo Bona of Turin
and contains a good narrative of the life of
the Bkb and other personal considerations of
the author concerning the Bkbi movement.
Some of the episodes he relates differ Title Page of Lessona's History of the
slightly from the accounts in the well-known Bkbi Movement, written in 1862 and
histories by Browne, de Gobineau, and published in 1881 in Turin, Italy-
Nabil-i-Zarandi.' There are, however, other one of the earliest European accounts
parts of the book which I would like to bring of the life and martyrdom of the Bkb.
to the attention of the reader.
After presenting his informant, Dkfid desire to learn. Mirzk 'Ali-Muhammad
Khkn, the author comments: "Religious dis- showed ardor similarly in religious practices
cussions are of comfort to the misfortunate . . ." "He would converse with the Rabbis
who are oppressed by tyranny and always of Shirkz. He would investigate the doctrine
stripped, or about to be stripped, of every- of the Gabras" . . It is also certain that
thing they own." he studied the Gospels, a rather easy matter,
Presenting the figure of the BLb, he says: thanks to the volumes of the Bible and the
"Forty years ago, in the city of SJhirAz, Gospel translated into the Persian language
there left childhood and entered puberty a which the British disseminated in all of Per-
youth that for his singular potency of intel- sia . . . A bad translation in poor style,
lect, for his extraordinary application to without the imagination and the floweriness
study, his profound religious tendencies, his of these sacred books."
loving nature, for his energy of character, "The present SJhkh, Nksiri'd-Din, some-
grace of body and beauty of countenance, times during his luncheon requests the read-
awakened admiration and affection in every- ing of the Bible in Persian and sometimes
one who had occasion to deal with him, and he laughs, and then the courtiers burst into a
captivated all the love of his teachers and clamorous laughter and for a few days they
relatives. The name of this youth was Mil-zk speak only of that verse, or word, which
'Ali-Muhammad. It was said later that his has provoked the hilarity of the sovereign."
family was of the high nobility, one of those Speaking of the clergy, Lessona observes:
descending from the Prophet by way of the "The clergy of Persia is extremely cor-
Imam Husayn . . . It is certain that his r~lpt;at the same time it administers religion
family was wealthy and that he was en- and justice-the first badly, the second
couraged in every manner in his most ardent worse; it falsifies wills, defrauds of posses-
sions, sells justice, practices usury and in-
1 Edward G . Browne, translator and editor of A .
dulges in debauchery . . The powerful
Traveller's Narrative; M . le Comte de Gohineau, au-
thor of Les Religions et les Philosophies dans I'Asie 2 Gabr (or grrebre), a term used contemptuously to
Centrale; and Muhammad-i-Zarandi, surnamed Nabil-i- designate the Zoroastrian priesthood (see A Traveller's
A'zam, author of The Dawn-Breakers. Narrative, page 34, footnote 1).
T H E BAHA'I WORLD

ones are in fear of it, the lowly scoff at it, and I still found frightening traces of the
the masses despise and exploit it, ready to devastation which had taken place."
deride and ridicule it or to rise up at its call Referring to the difficulty of securing
to revolt. Every mosque has a larger or more information on the Bhbi movement, he
smaller number of beggars who live off scant adds:
charity and become instruments of violence, ". . . In Persia it is impossible to speak
plunder and death in the hands of the of the Bdbis or to learn something about
priests." their affairs. The terror which this name
Professor Lessona then speaks of Dr. awakens is such that no one dares to speak,
Polak3 who, at the time, was physician to or even think, of it. The Italians whom I
the SJhih and who wrote books of medicine found in Tihrin, and who proved extremely
in Persian. Relating in detail the history of kind in every way, wanted to tell me little
the Bibis, he mentions the eighteen Letters or nothing about the Bhbis, or were unable
of the Living4 of one of whom, Mulld Hu- to do so; the same was true of Europeans of
sayn, he writes: "He was a very learned other nationality in Tihrkn, Tabriz or R a a t .
man, both in religion and jurisprudence: N i c o l a ~ ,with
~ whom I made the long jour-
daring, austere and fiery." ney from Tihrin to St. Petersburg, started to
Returning to the beginning of the ministry speak to me about them only after we passed
of the Bhb, he says: .
the Persian frontier . . Count de Gobi-
". . . His style was imaginative and sub- neau, in the village of Gezer near Tihrin,
lime, not like anything human; thus to his would narrate to me episodes about this sect,
quality of a most eloquent orator he added making the hours of the evening pass as
that of an inimitable writer. And while he lightning while he wrote its history and read
preached, discussed and taught in the to me some chapters . . . Gathering mate-
mosques, in the colleges, in the streets, in rial for the history of the Bib, which he was
his house, everywhere they were reading doing at the time, was fraught with danger
aloud his verses, often interrupting with cries in the heart of Persia, even for a Minister
of the most ardent admiration. In all of of the French Emperor . . ."
S_hirdz they did not speak of anything else Referring to VBmb6ry's critical com-
but the Bib, everyone was filled with en- ments on the episode of SJhaya T a b a r ~ i , ~
thusiasm for him . . . The house of the Lessona states: ". . . this judgment is en-
Bib was crowded, night and day, with new tirely unjust and a thousand miles from the
converts to his faith; to him came men rich truth, if we want to apply it to the precepts
in possessions, men of intellect and energy, of the Bhb . . . These precepts are in a
and among the very first many mullis en- symbolical language and, amidst mystic
rolled under his banner." formulas, we found the sweet doctrines of
The author speaks of Qurratu'l-'Ayn5 and the Bib, respectf~dof the past but made to
the siege of Tabarsi; and, having visited contrast with formalism and to make the
Zanjhn: he states: "I visited that city ten spirit of goodness prevail . . . The Bhb and
years after the happenings I have related, Qurratu'l-'Ayn were purified from any
thought of violence and their lives were
3 Dr. 3. E. Polak, author of Persien. Das Land und
seine Bewohner (1865), was also professor at the
m e d with love for their fellow men and
Medical College of Tihriin (A Traveller's Narrative, with enthusiasm for the Faith . . ."
Note A, p. 203). In relating the atrocious tortures inflicted
4 "The Bib's chosen disciples" (God Passes By, by
Shoghi Effendi, p. 5); their names are listed in The on the Bibis, Lessona relates:
Dawn-Breakers, pp. 80-81.
5 Qurratu'l-'Ayn, "the only woman enrolled by the
.
". . The Xhdh and the Sadr-i-A'zam
B&b as one of the Letters of the Living" (God Passes (Prime Minister) feared a revolution, seeing
By, p. 731, given the title Tdhirih (the Pure One) by conspirators all around them; they thought
Bahi'u'llih, "the lovely but ill-fated poetess of Qasvin" therefore to devise some scheme that would
(Curzon) became well known throughout Europe for
her efforts in behalf of the education of the women of involve the largest number of persons. The
Persia.
6 For an account of the eleven-months' siege of 313 8 Monsieur J. B. Nicolas, Interpreter of the Impe-
followers of the Bib at the shrine of &hay@ Tabarsi, rial French Embassy in Tihr5n and father of A. L. M.
a few miles south of Bbrfufish, by the army of the Nicolas, author of Siyyid 'Alf-Muhammad dit le Bdb,
Khhsh, see God Passes By, pp. 38-42, and Dawn- Paris, Dujaraic & Co., 1905.
Breakers, pp. 343-429. It was during this siege that 9 Hermann VimbBry, author of Meine Wanderun-
Mull& Husayn and Quddds were killed. gen und Erleb?tisse in Persien (1867), writes concern-
7 The uprising against the followers of the Bib at ing the siege of Khaykh Tabarsl pp. 286-303), according
Zanjin is described in God Passes By, pp. 44-46, and to Browne, in A Traveller's Narrative, Note A, p. 206;
in chapter 24 of The Dawn-Breakers. see also pp. 37-39.
ARTICLES A N D REVIEWS

CART&DELLAPERSW

Map of Persia, made in 1845.

S_h&hthen schemed to deliver the Bgbis to . . ."lo "From that day," the author con-
the various civil and military employees, tinues, "eighteen years have passed and in
charging them to put said Bkbis to death. Persia the same sovereign, Nggri'd-Din
From the type of torture inflicted on the S_h&h, reigns, always diffident, always sus-
victims, from the most heinous manner in pecting, always in fear of the Biibis. From
which they would be put to death, he could time to time they arrest some one, condemn
judge their, zeal . . . Those who had not him very often to despoliation for the reason
enough imagination to find new tortures that he is a BLbi but more often using this as
went to the Kalantar who knew how to sug-
gest others . . . That Kalantar then ac- 10 This system of persecution is attested also by
Nabil, op. cit., p. 612, footnote 2, and by Browne, op.
quired many titles to the S_h&h'sbenevolence cit., Note T, p. 328.
904 T H E BAHA'I W O R L D

an excuse. The governors of the provinces gate. Wisely he answers it himself by quoting
thus have an easy method of taking all the one of Manzoni's verses:
possessions of a poor victim who has put "To posterity the arduous judgment!"
something aside. The government says that The great friendship born in Persia be-
Bibism is extinguished, but it operates as if tween Lessona and Count de Gobineau had
it were alive . . ." its strange epilogue in Turin. After the fall
"A new Bib, successor to the first, lives of the French Empire, de Gobineau, exiled
in Baghdid, outside the government of the from his native France, spent part of the
&ih. F r o m there he is in touch with all year in Italy and part in Germany.
Persia and has disseminated Bibism in all On the evening of October 12, 1882, a
those provinces and even in the Indies of distinguished looking and elegantly dressed
the Orient." gentleman, on his way to Pisa, became ill in
This correspondent was thrilled in reading a hotel bus in Turin. He was taken to the
these words, because of all the early Euro- Hotel Liguria and there this traveler died,
pean historians of the Faith Michele Lessona the early morning of October 13, attended
makes a direct and unmistakable reference by the hotel owner and some of the servants.
to Bahb'u'llih, Who the following year in The hand of fate had made it possible for
Baghdid made His Declaration in the Rid- Count Arthur Joseph de Gobineau to sleep
vin, forever in Italian soil and in the same town
The author ends his monograph by put- where Michele Lessona lived and where Les-
ting before the reader the question whether sons, himself, twelve years later was laid to
the Bibi doctrine would survive and propa- rest.

1 0 . T H E B A H A ' I F A I T H A N D WOR.LD
GOVERNMENT*

AS INEVITABLY as the upward swing the universal-faith; . . . on an explana-
of the pendulum is followed by a downward tion of the relation between matter and
stroke, or as synthesis emerges from the in- ~pirit."~
teraction of thesis and antithesis, modern In response to this almost unconscious but
thinkers are countering the coldly rational apparently fundamental need, and possibly
materialistic bent of the late nineteenth cen- because older religious forms have all too
tury with a new appreciation of the basic conspicuously failed to bring to the masses
need for humans to believe in something be- either individual or international peace, new
yond the laboratories of physical science. A religious movements are beginning to re-
historian, Toynbee, has pointed out that the ceive the attention of mankind. It should be
practical extinction of faith in Western so- a matter of some encouragement that one
ciety is "the supreme danger to the spiritual new religious approach which has been pre-
health and even to the material existence of eminently successful in gaining active and
the Western body social-a deadlier danger, loyal adherents in every continent of the
by far, than any of our hotly canvassed and globe, and in every country where freedom
loudly advertised political and economic of religious discussion is permitted, is a faith
maladies."l A biophysicist, du Noiiy, has which places among its most basic purposes
emphasized the necessity for basing a new the establishment of a world commonwealth.
moral development "on a unification, a Despite suppression and persecution from
reconciliation of the rational-science-with civil and from ecclesiastical authorities both
in Persia, the land of its birth, and in the
*This article appeared in Common Cazrse, 4:92,
September, 1950, and is reprinted here by permission Turkish Empire, to which it was carried in
of the author and the publishers, The University of
Chicago Press.
1 Arnold 3. Toynbee, A Study o f History. London, ZLecomte du Nouy, Human Destiny. New York,
Oxford University Press, 1939, vol. V. p. 671. Longmans, Green & Co., 1947, p. 256.
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 905

its very earliest days, after barely one hun- as the Bib (i.e., Gate), made the announce-
dred years the Bahi'i faith, flourishing in ment that he was the promised one whose
some sixty countries, developed an interna- coming was to fulfill messianic prophecy.
tional nongovernmental organization recog- His specific mission, he stated, was to pre-
nized by the United Nations Economic and pare Persia and the world for the advent of
Social Council, and was sending its repre- a second prophet who would bring a mes-
sentatives, including American citizens, to sage even more significant than his own. His
participate in a conference on human rights writings eventually included prayers, com-
at G e n e ~ a . ~ mentaries on passages in the Qur'in, and
Further interest is lent to the story of the moral exhortations calling on his followers
BahL'i faith when it is realized that this to sever themselves from worldly things, rely
progress has been accomplished by a group on God, and maintain themselves com-
without clergy or priesthood; thus it can pletely ready to accept the prophet who was
hardly be argued that an ecclesiastical hier- to follow. As to his relation with the later
archy has advanced the BahL'i teachings in Manifestation, the Bib wrote:
order to preserve and extend its own vested "I am a letter out of that most mighty
interest. Knowledge of the Bahi'i teachings, book and a dewdrop from that limitless
on the contrary, has been spread from conti- ocean, and when He shall appear, my true
nent to continent and from country to coun- nature . . . will become evident, and the
try by individual lay members who have embryo of this religion shall develop . . .
been so inspired with enthusiasm and so and attain to the station of 'the most comely
convinced that these teachings answered the of forms.' " 6
fundamental needs of modern society that The new code of religious law, the new
they have taken it on themselves' to give their example of moral and spiritual reform set
time, means, and energy to traveling, and by the Bib, were in such marked contrast to
even to living for extended periods of time, the standards of the day that they were con-
in communities and countries other than sidered by corrupt civil and religious leaders
their own, for the sole purpose of sharing as involving a mortal threat to established in-
their new faith with other^.^ When it is real- terests. Like every social reformer, the Bib
ized that every adherent of this belief, in was vilified bitterly by those who were the
whatever country he may be found, has most guilty of excesses, and it was soon
wholeheartedly accepted the principles of found possible to imprison him in the name
world government and world citizenship, it of religious orthodoxy. His followers by the
seems not inappropriate to inquire in some thousand were tortured and slain by fiendish
detail into the history and philosophy of the methods paling even Fox's Book of Martyrs;
BahL'i faith. and after six years of confinement, the Bib
himself was publicly executed by an army
BRIEF HISTORYOF THE B A HFAITH'
~ ~ firing squad at Tabriz on July 9, 1850.
Yet here the typical pattern of religious
At SJhirh on May 23, 1844, Siyyid 'Ali- history was repeated: the new religion grew
Muhammad, who afterward became known under persecution, beginning to make head-
way even among the elite and ruling class.
3 United Nations. Economic and Social Council. It was from a family of this sort, his father
Committee on Arrangements for Consultation with being a minister of state, that there came
Non-Governmental Organizations. Report o f the Con-
ferences Called by the Ad Hoc Committee o f Con- Mirzi Husayn 'Ali, who later was known as
sultative Non-Governmental Organizations. E/C.2/98 Bahl'u'llih (i.e., Glory of God). During the
(June 2, 1948),p. 6. (For additional material concern-
ing official BahL'i contacts with the United Nations, lifetime of the Bgb this individual accepted
see pages 597-615. Editors.) his message; and after the Bib's martyrdom,
4 One such example out of many was recently men-
tioned by Martha Gellhorn in her article on Luxem-
Bahl'u'llih became one of his best-known
bourg, "Party Girl in Paradise," Saturday Evening followers. His noble birth did not prevent
Post, January 7 , 1950, vol. 222, No. 28, p. 25. his paying a price for his faith: stripped of
5 A n excellent book on Bahb'i history from the
Bahb'i viewpoint is Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, his wealth and possessions, He was impris-
Wilmette, Ill., Bahi'i Publishing Committee, 1944. An oned, tortured, and finally, with his family,
adequate summary of the Bahb'i teachings as well as
a historical account will be found in Emeric Sala, This exiled to Baghdid,
- then a part of the Turkish
Earth One Country, Boston, Bruce Humphries, Inc., Empire.
1945, pp. 102-81. For the viewpoint of a well-known
historian, see Arnold J. Toynbee, op. cit., vol. 5, pp. 6 Quoted in Edward G. Browne, A Traveller's Nar-
174-176, 665. rative. Cambridge, The University Press, 1891. p. 54.
906 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

As the years passed, Bahi'u'llbh's spiritual (i.e., Servant of Bahb). Early in his child-
station became so evident as to attract large hood 'Abdu'l-BahA had understood His fa-
numbers of visitors from various parts of ther's peculiar station; although only in His
Persia. Once again the religious leaders felt twenties when the incarceration at 'AkkL
the established order to be in jeopardy; the began, 'Abdu'l-Bahb had developed into His
Turkish government was prevailed upon to father's most trusted lieutenant, gradually
cooperate; BahBu'llbh and his family were taking on Himself more and more of the
summoned to appear in Constantinople. administrative detail involved in Bah2u'-
While preparing to leave, on April 21, 1863, llbh's relationships with officials and visitors
Bahi'u'llbh announced to a group of sincere and so freeing His father for meditation and
well-wishers that he was the promised one the recording of His message. As the first
whom the BLb had foretold. person to believe in Bahi'u'llbh's mission,
Almost a hundred persons insisted on ac- and the foremost exemplar in His personal
companying Bahi'u'llbh and sharing His life of BahBu'llbh's teachings, 'Abdu'l-Bahb
hardships; after a few months in Constanti- was preeminently qualified to hold together
nople, the entire group was moved in the and encourage the BahBis. During His life-
dead of winter, without adequate clothing or time the number of believers continued to
food, to Adrianople. It was in this city that increase, and the new faith began to receive
Bahi'u'llih publicly announced His mission, the serious attention of Westerners.
and from this time, His followers were Pilgrims from the United States arrived
called BahP'is. as early as 1894; others came from England
A few years later, the group was moved and the continent. In many cities of Europe
again, this time to the ancient fortress- and America, Bahi'i groups were formed.
prison of 'Akkb (Acre) in Palestine [now After changing political conditions in Tur-
Israel]. Here the most rigid conditions were key resulted in freeing all political and re-
imposed: Some eighty persons, including ligious prisoners, 'Abdu'l-Bahb at the age
women and children, were crowded into a of sixty-seven visited Europe. The year was
few dirty rooms. Malaria and dysentery were 1911; to a world standing on the brink of
prevalent; food and water foul. After a few catastrophe, He brought a message of peace
years of such conhement, restrictions were and unity. During the following year, He
again relaxed, and Bahi'u'llbh with His fam- spent nine months in the United States and
ily was permitted to occupy a small house Canada, speaking in cities from coast to
and move about within the city walls. Still coast. Many persons active in Bahi'i affairs
later, He was permitted to move to a nearby in the United States today still have vivid
rural location. memories of their conversations with 'Ab-
Although pilgrims visited Him during the du'l-Bahb.
latter years of His life, His long imprison- Just as BahBu'llbh had provided in writ-
ment and exile prevented BahP'u'llbh from ing that, after His departure, 'Abdu'l-Bahb
personally teaching large numbers of people. was to be the recognized center of the move-
Instead, He put His message in writing, and ment and interpreter of the writings, so
these writings today form the basis of the 'Abdu'l-Bahb in turn provided for an un-
Bahi'i faith. In them, BahBu'llbh sounded broken succession of the central responsibil-
the great call to spiritual excellence and ity. After His death on November 28, 1921,
moral perfection which the world has come it was found that His will and testament
to associate with its most highly developed established a new institution: that of the
religious thought; but in addition, He placed Guardianship. By explaining the duties of
a new emphasis on the social aspects of hu- the Guardian and outlining the manner in
man relationship, and in outlining the obli- which future Guardians were to be selected,
gation of the individual to society, in effect 'Abdu'l-Bahb was able to forestall those
He laid the foundation for a future world ruinous schisms with which the question of
commonwealth. authorized succession has plagued other
established re1igions.l
After the passing of BahBu'llAh from this As first Guardian, 'Abdu'l-BaM chose His
life on May 28, 1892, spiritual leadership of grandson, Shoghi Effendi, who is still dis-
the nascent BahVi community fell upon the charging
- - the function. Under Shoghi Effen-
shoulders of His oldest son, 'Abbh Effendi, 7 Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahd. Wilmette,
who became better known as 'Abdu'l-Bah6 Ill., National BahL'i Office, 1944.
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 907

di's leadership, the world center of the Ba- stress,es the necessity of ethical and moral
hVi Faith has been established at Haifa, local personal conduct; but, unlike them, it goes
BahL'i institutions have been consolidated in beyond this to make its chief immediate con-
hundreds of cities throughout the world, cern the creation of a world government and
and national institutions set up in nine coun- a world culture based on justice. Rather than
tries where the number of believers neces- insisting that one religion is true and others
sitates such an organization. Of parallel erroneous, BahL'u'lllh demonstrates that all
importance with the forming of the adminis- established religions are divine in origin, and
trative framework has been the progressive have marked important stages in social evo-
elucidation of BahB'u'lllh's program arising lution; adherents of all may therefore with
from the Guardian's accurate translations of complete consistency join hands in a world
BahB'uYlllh'swritings, together with his own faith embodying their highest ideals. Union
original works, in which he has applied the of all peoples in a world faith with mutual
teachings of Bahi'u'lllh to current and fu- respect for all previous prophets He consid-
ture woild problems. ers essential to the formation of an inte-
grated world community.
How completely the teachings of BahL'-
u'lliih are intended to affect society is shown
in the words of Shoghi Effendi:
In His North American talks, 'Abdu'l- "The principle of the Oneness of Mankind
Bahl emphasized over and over that the -the pivot round which all the teachings of
purpose of religion must be to promote unity BahL'u'lllh revolve-is no mere outburst of
and concord, and that in this day, no unity ignorant emotionalism or an expression of
less than that of the entire human race could vague and pious hope. Its appeal is not to be
be considered as an adequate goal.8 This merely identified with a reawakening of the
unity, He pointed out, must have a spiritual spirit of brotherhood and good-will among
basis in order to overcome the innate self- men, nor does it aim solely at the fostering
seeking tendencies so much in evidence to- of harmonious cooperation among individ-
day; but it must be expressed in concrete ual peoples and nations. Its implications are
social institutions and not confined to mere deeper, its claims greater than any which
sentimentality. For example, He insisted that the Prophets of old were allowed to advance.
equal opportunities and rights must be Its message is applicable not only to the in-
granted to women, at a time when this was dividual, but concerns itself primarily with
generally considered an idealistic dream; He the nature of those essential relationships
showed that capital and labor must cooper- that must bind all the states and nations as
ate in harmony, as each was essential to the members of one human family. It does not
other: a viewpoint which even yet can constitute merely the enunciation of an
hardly be called popular. Universal educa- ideal, but stands inseparably associated with
tion and an unfettered individual investiga- an institution adequate to embody its truth,
tion of truth were also part of the program; demonstrate its validity, and perpetuate its
this would result in immeasurably raising influence. It implies an organic change in the
both cultural and scientific standards. A structure of present-day society, a change
world auxiliary language must be agreed such as the world has not yet experienced.
upon and taught in every school throughout . . . It calls for no less than the reconstruc-
the world: thus every person could commu- tion and the demilitarization of the whole
nicate directly with any other without fear civilized world-a world organically unifled
of misunderstanding or embarrassment. But in all the essential aspects of its life, its po-
above all, He pointed out, the Bahi'i teach- litical machinery, its spiritual aspiration, its
ings furnished a definite foundation on which trade and finance, its script and language,
to construct a world commonwealth. Just as and yet infinite in the diversity of the na-
previous religious teachings have dealt with tional characteristics of its federated units."D
individual discipline, He showed that Ba- It is implicit in the BahPi teachings that
hL'u'llih offers a formula for social disci- world unity will not come about suddenly,
pline. Like great religions of the past, the by revolutionary means. Rather, the people
BahL'i Faith upholds a belief in God and of the world, through experience in trial and
8 'Abdu'l-BahP, Foundations of World Unity, New 9 Shoghi Effendi, The World Order o f Bah&-u'llrih,
York, World Unity Publishing Corp., 1927, passim. New York, BahP'l Publishing Committee, 1938, p. 42.
T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

error, through making faltering steps with "The best beloved of all things in My
leagues and confederations, will evolve a sight is Justice. . . . We cherish the hope
progressively more perfect union. The prin- that the light of justice may shine upon the
ciples laid down by Bahi'u'llCh, accordingly, world and sanctify it from tyranny. . . .
are not so much concerned with the tech- The structure of world stability and order
niques of accomplishing world unity as with hath been reared upon, and will continue to
those of operating a world commonwealth. be sustained by, the twin pillars of reward
Viewed in this way, they may serve as a and punishment. . . . There is no force on
useful criterion for evaluating progress to- earth that can equal in its conquering power
ward world government, as well as furnish- the force of justice and wisdom."12
ing a fruitful source of ideas for inclusion in Even during the transitional period into
a world constitution. which the world is giving signs of moving at
One of the greatest BahPi principles is the present moment, before the actual ac-
that emphasizing the oneness of mankind: complishment of world unity, Bahi'u'llfih
"The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; indicates the cardinal importance of justice:
regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye "0 rulers of the earth! Be reconciled
are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of among yourselves, that ye may need no
one branch. . . . There can be no doubt more armaments save in a measure to safe-
whatever that the peoples of the world, of guard your territories and dominions. . . .
whatever race or religion, derive their in- Should any one among you take up arms
spiration from one heavenly Source, and are against another, rise ye all against him, for
the subjects of one God. . . . The funda- this is naught but manifest justice."13
mental purpose animating the Faith of God A world community with a world con-
and His Religion is to safeguard the inter- sciousness, enforcing world justice in ac-
ests and promote the unity of the human cordance with a world faith: this is the sig-
race, and to foster the spirit of love and fel- nificant scheme of Bahi'u'llfih. Clearly, even
lowship amongst men. . . . All men have when speaking of "mundane" affairs such as
been created to carry forward an ever- politics and labor relations, the Bahi'i ap-
advancing civilization. . . . That one in- proach is basically spiritual; far from being
deed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself something to engage in once a week, religion
to the service of the entire human race. . . . in the BahPi sense becomes the mainspring
It is not for him to pride himself who loveth of human activity:
his own country, but rather for him who "The whole duty of man in this Day is to
loveth the whole world. The earth is but one attain that share of the flood of grace which
country, and mankind its citizens."1° God poureth forth for him. . . . Every eye,
In this connection, the BahB'i writings in this Day, should seek what will best pro-
strike boldly at an attitude which is still one mote the Cause of God. . . . Beseech ye
of the most potentially dangerous sources of the one true God to grant that ye may taste
disharmony: that of race prejudice: the savor of such deeds as are performed in
"Concerning the prejudice of race, it is an His path. . . . Forget your own selves, and
illusion, a superstition pure and simple, for turn your eyes toward your neighbor. Bend
God created us all of one race. . . . In the your energies to whatever may foster the
sight of God there is no difference between education of men."14
the various races. Why should man invent Acceptance of these principles and their
such a prejudice? . . . All races, tribes, application to personal life has wrought rev-
sects, and classes share equally in the bounty olutionary changes in countless individuals;
of their Heavenly Father. . . . The lovers but social revolution, with its concomitant
of mankind, these are the superior men, of use of force rather than reason as the decid-
whatever nation, creed, or color they may ing factor, is completely contrary to the Ba-
be."ll hCi attitude. It may very reasonably be
The writings of BahPu'll6h are permeated asked how the BahPis of the world, despite
with a sense of the vital importance of jus-
tice in establishing world order: 1 2 Shoghi Effendi, tr., The Hidden Words o f Bahb'-
u'lldh, New York, BahL'i Publishing Committee, 1939,
10 Shoghi Effendi, tr., Gleanings from the Writings p. 3.
..
o f Bahd'u'llih, New York. BahL'i Publishine Com-
mittee, 1939, pp. 215, 217-18, 250.
G1ealzin.q~from the Writings of Bahd'u'lldla,
pp. 218-19.
11The Wisdom of 'Abdu'l-Bahd, New York, BahP'i 13 Ibid., p. 254.
Publishing Committee, 1924, p. 137. 14 Ibid., pp. 8, 9.
ARTICLES AN D REVIEWS 909

their unquestionably high principles, can cision will always proceed from agreement,
hope to effect any real change in social or not disagreement.
political conditions, if they are committed From this principle, revolutionary as it
to waiting for evolution to take its course. seems, proceeds another equally surprising
The answer to such a question reveals to adherents of the Western democratic sys-
what may possibly be of significance to the tem: with no divergent interests to represent,
world even within our own lifetimes: the there is no need for political parties. Not a
already established and functioning "Bahb'i one-party system, but a no-party system, is
Administration."15 The organizational and envisaged by Bahb'u'llih. To insure that this
operational framework by which the affairs will be so in actuality and not merely in
of the BahA'i faith are currently being han- theory, present-day Bahb'i elections are con-
dled throughout the world has been pur- ducted entirely by secret ballot, and without
posely designed to apply in daily use the nominations. No one announces himself as
principles enjoined upon mankind by Ba- a candidate, and there are no campaign
hL'u'llAh. Actually, social evolution may be speeches or promises. In a local election,
visualized as proceeding along two distinct every adult BahL'i resident in the local area
lines: one, the political, through the estab- is eligible to be voted for; and similarly in
lishment by the nations of the world of such a national election. Those who are elected,
agencies as the League of Nations and the since they made no campaign promises, and
United Nations, from which line the founda- have no idea who voted for them, are en-
tion of a world state may eventually emerge; tirely free of obligation to a constituency,
the other, the nonpolitical, where in insti- and can accordingly devote themselves com-
tutions such as those of the BahL'is the new pletely to the welfare of the whole group. It
principles of world consciousness and ad- will undoubtedly be necessary to introduce
ministration without partisanship are being changes in this electoral technique when
developed. Thus, the BahL'is may feel that voters are counted in the millions; but the
they are contributing day by day in deeds, principle of completely nonpartisan elections
not merely in words, to forming the concrete is a challenging one.
institutions of a new world order. Another essential element in Bahb'i ad-
ministration is the elimination of the funda-
Perhaps the fundamental inspiration mental separation of powers to which Amer-
which BahL'i administration can give to icans are so well accustomed. This, too, is
world administration is the abolition of the felt to be a relic of the conflict-of-interest
conflict between interests. Diversity of in- era, so that the highest administrative au-
terests, and the consequent necessity for thority is vested on any level (local, national,
their accurate representation, is so basic a or international) in a board which unites in
feature of modern democratic-parliamentary itself the legislative, executive, and judicial
systems, that a proposal to disregard this responsibilities.16 It is these boards, at pres-
conflict may sound radical to the point of ent consisting of nine members each, which
negating democracy. Yet BahQ'u'llAh points are elected in the nonpartisan manner de-
out, and Bahb'i administration applies it in scribed above; since elections are not for
practice, that the interest of the whole hu- single-position offices, and the nine receiving
man race is the only interest worthy of con- the highest number of votes are all declared
sideration; anything lesser is intrinsically elected, the system works more smoothly
selfish. On such a basis, there can be no than might otherwise be supposed.
conflict of interest; there may be a differ- Implicit in the placing of the highest re-
ence of opinion as to the proper mode of sponsibility for administration in the hands
operation, but the basic purpose of any de- of a board is the elimination of opportunity
15 The following are the most useful references on
for any one individual to make a decision
this subject: on his own motion. Social responsibility is so
The Bahd'i Community, Wilmette, Ill., BahL'i Pub- ingrained a part of the political philosophy
lishing Committee, 1947.
BahZi Procedure, Wilmette, Ill., Bahj'i Publishing of BahL'u711Ahthat there is no place for the
Committee, 1942. individual executive or judge; action aflect-
David Hofman, A Commentary on tlte Will and
Testanzeizt of 'Abdu'l-Bahd, London, BahL'i Publishing ing human beings can rightfully be taken
Trust, 1943. only by the group.
Shoghi Eilendi, Bahri'i Adininistratioiz, Wilmette, Ill.,
Bah&i' Publishing Committee, 1941. 16 Such an agency has not yet been organized on
----. The World Order of Ba1zri'r~'lldh. the international level.
910 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

Concerning the method by which the principle of collective responsibility is still
group comes to its decisions, Bahi'i adminis- to be observed at that distant stage of de-
tration again uses a technique which is un- velopment is shown by the provision that the
tried in the arena of politics: that of "con- chairman of even the universal authority
sultation." In distinction to the parliamentary should have no veto power.
procedure, whereby a motion must be made
before it can be discussed, and which results
in debate rather than sincere cooperative
effort, the Bahi'i method is to explore the Through such techniques as these, Bahi'-
question completely and unemotionally, en- u'llAh has projected morality from an in-
couraging each person to state his opinions dividual concern to the plane of group re-
freely, and so far as possible coming to a sponsibility. It is precisely this application of
mutual agreement before the motion is put. the individual conscience to group activity
Thus, an attempt is made to have the motion which is lacking in the world today, and is
sum up the feelings of the group in the ag- essential if there is to be a world tomorrow.
gregate rather than reflecting the wishes of Whether or not one agrees with the strictly
a faction. If, in spite of this attempt to religious side of the Bah6'i teachings, it
achieve unity, irreconcilable differences re- would be hard indeed to disregard the effects
main, the majority view must be accepted, which organized religion has had on the
since, as explained above, the difference is world in the past. That a religion now re-
considered to be one of opinion only and not ceiving an ever-widening circle of accept-
of fundamental interest. ance is so completely interwoven with the
Bahi'is hope that ultin~atelythe spiritual ideal of world government, and that it is
and political lines of administrative evolu- consciously attempting to develop patterns
tion will come together, allowing the world for future society, can hardly fail to be
government to claim the loyalty of a citi- significant to those who are aware of the
zenry united in a world faith; but that the direction in which civilization is moving.

1 1 . T H E B I R T H O F WORLD R E L I G I O N
ALD KING

W I N T E R is that season of the vear when. All life takes on a new aspect at this time
to all outward seeming, the wodd of trees of year. Musicians and poets, through the
and flowers and grasses lies dead-yet all of ages, have sung of the spring season more
us know that this is not true. In reality the often than of any other subject except love.
seeds simply lie dormant and asleep, await- Some poets have claimed that for men child-
ing the proper combination of warmth and hood is the springtime of life; others have
moisture to stir them to life. Indeed a few written that man's springtime comes when
seeds anticipate the season and, braving the he falls in love. Perhaps each man knows
blasts of winter, push themselves to flower- his own spring season best. This much we do
soft riots of color in a dreary landscape. know-all of us: Spring is a time of rebirth;
These are the harbingers of what is to come. the moments, year on year, when earth
Later the whole vegetable kingdom stirs it- cloaks herself with fresh-new garments to
self. Up through the muck and mire and gladden the eye of man. These yearly cycles
darkness, the fragile shoots work their slen- are so frequent and regular in a life time that
der fingers upward. Moving all obstacles man knows of a certainty that, after the win-
aside they struggle far beyond their seem- ter season is over, the spring will come and
ing strength that one day they may emerge that nothing deters its coming. Yet with this
from darkness into the light of the sun that example of the bounty of God ever before
called them forth. In the physical world we hi, man does not yet seem aware of the
call this season Spring. One can almost feel lesson it teaches. Man does not seem to real-
a difference in the very air when Spring ize that whenever he allows a winter season
touches the earth with the key that unlocks to lay hold of his spiritual heritage, God
the fetters of winter. never fails to send a spiritual springtime to
ARTICLES A N D REVIEWS 911

awaken him to new life and glory. In his God-the Mighty Lord. The familiar story
perversity, man has from time immemorial of Moses tells of the leading of a people
turned from religion to irreligion-from the from the winter season of bondage and de-
light of truth to the darkness of error. His spair in Egypt, to the spring season that in
spirit, like the seed, lies dormant and asleep. words of eternal glory descended from Sinai
Yet whenever the light of God is extin- and ushered the Jews into the Promised
guished in human hearts-whenever man Land. Those same Ten Commandments
has raised veils of dogma and superstition even today are the basis of our civil and
between himself and his Creator-God religious law. Such ancient festivals as the
sends a divine springtime. At such a time, Passover are still celebrated by the Jews in
there are always a few waiting souls- remembrance of the bounties and the be-
dawn-breakers-who, like the crocus, arise stowals of God during the Spring Season
to herald the new day of God. Alas how few of their Faith.
heed-how few listen to them! The western peoples have had little con-
Almost two thousand years have passed tact with the other Faiths except in a preju-
over the earth since one such springtime diced or negative way. The motion picture
came and went in the environs of the ancient has shown us many scenes of the Arab peo-
city of Jerusalem. Today five hundred mil- ples, usually so prejudicial to the true facts
lion Christians can, from this distance of that we have the impressions of a dirty,
time, look back and say: Yes, that was the fanatical, and scheming group of desert
divine springtime. How wonderful it must bandits. For the rest-such writers as Sales
have been to have sat at His feet and heard and a host of other lay and priestly writ-
those glorious words of the Sermon on the ers of Christendom have thundered their
Mount, or to have followed his footsteps charges that Muhammad was an impostor,
through Galilee. The three years of His the devil incarnate, the anti-Christ, a liar, a
ministry were the days of Spring for the crazed and licentious fool. But the facts that
Christian world. We can, in looking back, one out of every seven inhabitants of the
understand and appreciate this truth today, globe is a Muslim, and that no religion to
but at the time there were few, a mere that time so cemented its followers from
handful, that appreciated and saw the glory such absolute disunity into so complete a
of what was taking place. unity attest the fallacy of these writings. Mu-
The Faith of Christ is but one of the re- hammad, the Messenger of God, preached
ligious systems that the world knows. What His gospel of submission to the one true
of the others?-The Jews, the followers of God. In His life time He witnessed the
Buddha, the faithful of Islbm, the Parsi, the growth of that Faith from a handful of de-
Hindu-have they not also known a spirit- voted followers in the city of Mecca to the
ual springtime? Each lays claim to such a rallying of the whole of Arabia to His ban-
time of re-birth; each looks upon his ner.
Prophet as a Messenger from God. Each Mecca, where Muhammad first preached
looks upon the life time of his Prophet as His Message of one Almighty God, was al-
a wondrous spiritual spring. But each claims ready to the tribes of Arabia Deserta a
that his Messenger was the true, the greatest Holy City. The Kaaba, in Mecca, was al-
and final One. How can this be? No spring ready a point of pilgrimage. That small
season in Nature can claim to be the best or square windowless building contained many
the final. At one time or another, all over stone idols to which the peoples of Arabia
the planet, year after year spring comes in did homage. Here were to be found images
nature. The seasons chase their sure way of Mary and Joseph and the small black
around the globe, slighting none. Yet men stone said to have been given by Gabriel
say the Springtime of God is exclusive, final, to Abraham. Jealous of the fortunes that
and named! came from the pilgrims stopping to pray in
We of the West are more familiar with the this city that burned in the desert, the lead-
teachings of the Jewish Faith than of any ing families drove Muhammad and His little
other religion except the Christian. Though band out of the city. In time, and in peace,
that knowledge has not kept the western Muhammad returned, heading a great host
world from violent prejudices against the of the faithful. From the top of the Kaaba
valiant congregation that through the cen- a Negro convert, raised the call that today
turies have kept aloft the banner of the One rallies Islhm to prayer around the world:
912 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

"There is no God but Allih, and Muham- The Springtime had come, however, and
mad is His Messenger." How like the first the whole world could not stay its force.
commandment that Moses brought down Nine years later in the ancient city of Bagh-
from Sinai! Muhammad raised the station dAd there arose, in fulfillment of the prophe-
of women, abolished dishonesty, forbade the cies of the BAb, and of all religions, One who
use of intoxicating beverages, limited polyg- called Himself Bahi'u'llAh-the Glory of
amy, and introduced a host of spiritual and God, the Spirit of Truth, the Mighty For-
civil laws that made the Muslim nations the tress. T o Him the broken-hearted and lead-
envy and the mentors of the entire world. erless followers of the Bib turned and were
Such was the Islamic Springtime and its then called Bahi'is. Laying claim to the
flowering. mantle of Prophethood, Bahi'u'llih called
Equally glorious, equally inspiring to their on the rulers of men to establish peace on
people were the spring seasons of Buddha, earth and to turn to God. Heedless of His
Krishna and Zoroaster. Bahi'is believe that call, the world moved on in its accustomed
each of these God-inspired Men were Mani- ways. BahL'u'llAh Himself, the victim of fa-
festations of God, bringers of the divine natical hatred, was moved from prison to
springtime, quickeners of a new Day of prison, exile to exile, and finally was ban-
God and of the earth and its peoples. The ished for life to the Turkish penal colony
BahB'i Faith teaches that each of these only a short distance from the slopes of Mt.
Prophets has been sent to call men back to Carmel-to the city of 'Akki, the "Door of
truth and to God. They did not come to Hope" proclaimed in Hosea.
establish new religions. Each of these Divine The history of the divine springtime that
Educators has upheld the validity of His is the BahL'i World Faith is no collection of
predecessors and foretold the coming of a legends-Bahi'u'llih is as much a part of
successor. Each and all have attested the our modern history as Lincoln, Queen Vic-
coming of that most great spiritual spring- toria, or Napoleon 111. From His "most
time in the fullness of God's plan that would great prison" He viewed our world and its
signalize the bringing of the Kingdom of clashing group disunities, its crashing
God to earth-the birth of a world religion. worlds. He saw the races of the world
It is the BahL'i premise that once again, fomenting hatreds for one another; He saw
in our time, a divine springtime has blessed the subjugation of whole racial groups in
the planet. The story begins in the ancient slavery. From His pen there came the rem-
land of Persia in the city of roses, the city of edy: "Ye are all leaves of one tree, and
legend and nightingales, S_hir6z, beloved of drops of one sea."l "Know ye not why We
poets. On an evening in May in the year created you all from the same dust? That no
1844, in an upper room there spoke One one should exalt himself over the other.
who called Himself the Bib (meaning the Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye
gate). He proclaimed the springtime of a were created. Since We have created you all
new day of God. In words of magnetic from one same substance it is incumbent on
beauty He called mankind to oneness and to you to be even as one soul, to walk with the
God. He announced the coming of that most same feet, eat with the same mouth and
great divine Educator who would lead the dwell in the same land, that from your
world into peace and order. For six years the inmost being, by your deeds and actions,
matchless utterances of the Bib stirred the the signs of oneness and the essence of de-
hearts of His countrymen, moving many tachment may be made rnanifest.""ahL'u'-
thousands to love and devotion. Still others Ilih called the peoples of the world to the
were stirred to hatred and violence, a vio- fold of one family, the human family.
lence that sought the life blood of all who From the remoteness of His exile He saw
claimed allegiance to the Bib. In rising cre- with prophetic vision the crashing of the
scendos of horror, the forces of state and nationalistic worlds-the eternal blood-let-
clergy rose in their might against these ting of warring nations. He saw an end to
"God-intoxicated heroes" to destroy them; war and He uttered the mighty assurance:
and the streets and the byways ran red with "Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes,
their blood. Then, one fateful day in a bar- these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the
racks square in Tabriz, the mouths of seven- 'Most Great Peace' shall come . . . Is not
hundred and fifty rifles spoke, and the be- 1 Bah6'i World Faith, p. 201.
loved voice of the Bib was stilled forever. 2 Hidden Words (arabic), verse 68.
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 913

this that which Christ foretold? . . . These all political and religious prisoners. Shortly
strifes and this bloodshed and discord must thereafter He began a series of journeys that
cease, and all men be as one kindred and were to take him to Egypt, Europe and
one family . . . Let not a man glory in this, North America. Wherever he went people
that he loves his country; let him rather responded to the love for mankind that He
glory in this, that he loves his kind."3 BahC- demonstrated. Each and all sat in rapt atten-
u'llih laid the principles upon which would tion as they listened to His message of peace
be built an international tribunal-a Federa- and love. Great and small humbly bowed
tion of Nations-the unity of the planet into themselves before this Servant of God.
one Nation with a common citizenship for The venerable Archdeacon Wilberforce in-
its peoples. vited 'Abdu'l-Bahi to address the congrega-
From its beginning 108 years ago the Ba- tion of St. John the Divine at Westminster
h6'i Faith has moved around the globe. The after the evening service. The archbishop
Bib declared His mission to one; forty days read the translation of 'Abdu'l-BahL's words
later there were eighteen who believed. In himself. When 'Abdu'l-Bah6 had finished,
the next nineteen years over twenty thou- the congregation, following the archdeacon's
sand had been martyred for believing the example, knelt to receive the blessing of the
teachings of the Bib, and the Faith had Servant of God. In the United States during
spread in Persia, 'Iraq, Burma, India and an arduous eight months 'Abdu'l-BahL trav-
parts of the Turkish Empire. Through the eled from coast to coast, scattering on every
life time of BahL'u'llih, the Faith became hand the life-giving words of His Father's
known more and more widely. Shortly after Message. He spoke at New York, Columbia,
the passing of Bahi'uYllBh, a Presbyterian and Howard Universities, laid the dedica-
Minister, Rev. Henry H. Jessup, of Beirut, tion stone for the Bahi'i House of Worship
Syria, sent an address to be read at the north of Chicago that today stands in its
World's Parliament of Religions convened in shimmering beauty.
the city of Chicago in 1893. Dr. Jessup In Temple Emmanu-El, synagogue in San
could not attend in person. In closing, his Francisco, He addressed two thousand lis-
address reads : 4 teners; at Leland Stanford University over
"In the palace of Bahji, or delight, just nineteen hundred gathered to hear His
outside the fortress of 'Akkb, on the Syrian words. The names of those who met and
coast, there died a few months since a fa- talked with Him read like an American
mous Persian sage, the Bibi saint, named Who's Who: Alexander Graham Bell, Mr.
Bah6'u'll&-the Glory of God-the head Roosevelt, Mrs. William Jennings Bryan,
of that vast reform party of Persian Mus- Admiral Peary, Rabbi Stephen Wise, and
lims, who accept the New Testament as the Dr. David Starr Jordan, who said, " 'Abdu'l-
Word of God and Christ as the deliverer of BahB will surely unite the East and the
men, who regard all nations as one, and all West: for He treads the mystic way with
men as brothers. Three years ago He was practical feet."j This list is too long for in-
visited by a Cambridge scholar, and gave clusion here." Besides these, thousands heard
utterance to sentiments so noble, so Christ- His message and many rallied to the Cause
like, that we repeat them as our closing of Peace which He preached and lived.
words . . ." How little Dr. Jessup knew In 1913 'Abdu'l-BahB returned to Haifa,
that he was introducing to the West the to spend the remaining years of His life con-
Faith of Bah6'u'llBh, for his was the first solidating the victories already won. There
known public reference to the BahL'i Faith generated from His presence such order and
in the western world. love that the hearts of the diverse peoples
BahB'u1116hleft for His people a Covenant throughout the world that called themselves
in which He named His eldest Son 'Abdu'l- Bahi'is were cemented together into one
Bahi as the Center of that Covenant, the great family.
exemplar of His teachings. 'Abdu'l-Bahi was In 1921 'Abdu'l-Bahi passed away. In
released from prison in 1908 by the Young His Will and Testament He named His
Turk Revolution which granted amnesty to grandson Shoghi Effendi as the first Guard-
ian of the Bahi'i Faith. Into his capable
3 AS recorded by Prof. Edward G. Browne, In-
troduction (p. xl) to A Traveller's Narrative. 5 "Appreciations of the BahL'i Faith," The BahdS
4 The World's Parliament of Religions, vol. 2, p. World, this volume, p. 646.
1125. 6 See God Passes By, p. 289.
914 THE BAHA'I WORLD

hands were entrusted the affairs of the a racial brotherhood in practice that has no
youthful Cause. Through the ensuing years equal in any other sectarian or religious
of his stewardship the administrative affairs group.
of the world-wide Bahgi Community have BahL'is believe this is a day of spiritual
been consolidated. Step by step through springtime-a new Day of God. Certainly
grave perils and impending crises, the the teachings of Bahb'u'llhh have stirred the
Guardian has led the Bahgis from victory to hearts and minds of His followers and made
victory. Today in over 200 countries and of many "God-Intoxicated heroes." They
territories of the world Bahb'i Spiritual As- believe also that the events of this twentieth
semblies and groups function vigorously. century, though seemingly unrelated to the
Their literature is translated into over ninety growing Cause of God, are the results of this
languages. Local Spiritual Assemblies demo- Most Glorious of spiritual springtimes. Ba-
cratically elected have paved the way for the h6'u'llLh has written: "The world's equilib-
eleven National administrative institutions rium hath been upset through the vibrating
that have already come into being. The first influence of the most great, this new World
International Bahgi Council has but recently Order."7 Thrones and dynasties have top-
been established at the spiritual center of pled, governments have been thrown from
the Bahb'i world, Haifa, Israel,-the fore- power, powerful church groups have lost
runner of that supreme Bahb'i administra- prestige and temporal power, wars have rid-
tive institution destined to emerge in the dled the planet leaving in their wake debt
fullness of time-the International House of and death. An old world order struggles
Justice. against its inevitable end. The winter season
Even the biased observer must admit that of an old age battles against the revivifying
the Faith of BahLlu'llLh has in slightly over breaths of an advancing spiritual springtime.
a century fulfilled in marvelous ways the The Bahgi Faith calls the world to witness
task of uniting peoples ,who before the ad- the birth of a world religion. Only through
vent of these Teachings knew no unity at all. independent investigation of these claims
Jew, Christian, Hindu, Parsi, Muslim, Bud- without prejudice can the seeker know this
dhist and the man with no religion at all to be so through his own knowledge.
are, within the Bahb'i Faith, able to worship "Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
Almighty God without rancor or prejudice shall be opened unto you.""
one for the other, for as Bahgis they under- "Awake, for, lo! the morning Light has
stand that the names Alliih, Jehovah, Brah- broken. Arise, for His Cause is made mani-
ma, Ahura Mazda, Lord, and many others fest. The portal of His grace is open wide;
all refer to one Father, God, and that His enter therein, 0 peoples of the world! For
Messengers though different in name shed He who is your Promised One is come!"g
the same glorious light upon the dark planet.
Among Bah6'is there is no overt national-
7 Gleanings, p. 136.
ism, for they are indeed citizens of the 8Luke 11:9.
world. With them also there is to be found 9 Cited in God Passes By, p. 6 .

1 2 . TEACHING AMONG THE AMERICAN
INDIANS

T H E American Indians are potential Ba- religion as the source of personal power, and
hb'is. Prayer in many forms is common many have espoused Christianity because
practice among them, and many of their they look upon the white man as more
tribal council laws and procedures are simi- powerful than the Indian and credit this
lar to those of the Bahgi administrative or- power to his religion. However, they find the
der. Their native religion involves every in- many, often conflicting religious sects very
dividual in the group and regulates every disconcerting, and thus are responsive .to
detail of personal behavior. They regard movements that aim to unite instead of di-
A R T I C L E S A 1\TD R E V I E W S 915

vide. Because of their intense faith that signs and ritualistic symbols is vast. Most
peace will some day come to pass, they are of his pottery work is built around the rc-
easily interested in the Bahl'i teachings ligious symbols and designs of the Indians
about World Order and Universal Brother- of the Southwest. They were ready made for
hood. the important work that was to come-the
"Therefore, it is inevitable that as the experts for the committee yet to be formed.
BahB'i Faith reaches out to embrace more Later, when the committee was appointed,
and more peoples everywhere, it will easily these two were a natural choice and so was
win 'unqualified adherence and support Eli Powlas, its only Indian member. In No-
among the indigenous peoples of America' vember the National Spiritual Assembly
for whom 'Abdu'l-Bah6 predicted so glori- added Wallace Heath of Tucson to the com-
ous a future." mittee to assist in developing the great teach-
-STATEMENTBY AMERICAN B A & ~NA- ing potential that exists in the American
TIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE colleges and universities attended by Indian
youth. Wally had entered the University of
Arizona in September, 1953, for the express
Where the story of Bahl'i work among purpose of teaching among Indian youth.
the Indians begins would be hard to find on At an early meeting of the committee, it
a map or pinpoint in a report. It is enough became clear that much groundwork had
to say and believe that when the breezes of already been laid in scattered spots all over
God's new Revelation breathed across the the country. Individual Bahi'is and commu-
planet, it stirred American Indians as well as nities had "made a beginning" here and
it did the rest of mankind, though they, like there. Many had registered their desire at
others, were not aware of the source of the the Conference of 1953 to assist in Indian
Divine springtime that was stirring the win- teaching, and with these, correspondence
ter season of men's hearts. was soon under way.
The work of the Bahl'i American Indian Four words, a prayer, and a statement
Service committee began when instructions written by 'Abdu'l-Bah6 became our watch-
came from our beloved Guardian to form an words :
administrative unit, the object of which The four words, to be repeated again and
would be to take the Faith to the leading In- again in committee meetings, are Love, Wis-
dian tribes of this country. dom, Tact, and Patience.
At the Bahl'i Intercontinental Conference The prayer, which has become a favorite
held in Chicago in 1953, Bahl'is who had no with the committee and looms large in the
idea they were to be on a committee of this history of the year, reads: "Blessed is the
type began to concern themselves with the spot, and the house, and the place, and
task. Dorothy Baker asked one of them to the city, and the heart, and the mountain,
"Find an Indian Bahl'i for me!" Rmiyyih and the refuge, and the cave, and the val-
Khhlnum asked another, "What are you do- ley, and the land, and the sea, and the is-
ing about the Indians?" Thus the pattern for land, and the meadow, where mention of
the Crusade years was begun far removed God hath been made, and His praise glori-
from Arizona which was to be the seat of fied" (BahL'u'lZa'h).
committee membership, for the first year at The statement of 'Abdu'l-Bah6, an ever-
least. shining beacon before the eyes of the com-
Yet in Tucson, Arizona, another part of mittee, said in part, ". . . for these souls
the pattern was being woven. A young cou- [the American Indians] may be likened unto
ple began to attend Bahl'i firesides, and just the ancient inhabitants of the Arabian Pen-
before RidvGn, 1953, they became Bahl'is insula, who, prior to the Mission of Mu-
on an evening long to be remembered. They hammad, were like unto savages. When the
were Charmion and Robert McKusick, and light of Muhammad shone forth in their
BahL'u'UBh certainly knew the need that was midst, however, they became so illumined
to be and prepared these two to be on hand as to enlighten the whole world."
when it arose. Charmion was freshly gradu- Here was the challenge! Our task given by
ated with honors from the University of Ari- the Guardian was twofold: conversion to the
zona with a degree in Anthropology special- Faith of members of the leading Indian
izing in the American Indians. Bob was and tribes, and translation of Bahl'i literature
is a potter, and his knowledge of Indian de- into the Cherokee language.
916 THE BAHA'I WORLD

We chose as our goals, cities in or near with the translation work. In the fall also,
heavy concentrations of Indian population: Marguerite Bruegger of Chicago arrived in
Gallup, New Mexiw, Indian capital of the Devil's Lake, North Dakota, to pioneer
world; Miami, Oklahoma, center of interest among the Indians of that region.
for a larger number of different tribes than On December 24, 1953, James Stone, Jr.,
any other city; and Pierre, South Dakota. of Martinsburg, West Virginia, arrived in
To these goal cities, we added the task of Gallup, New Mexico, the first of our goal
rebuilding the lapsed Macy, Nebraska, As- cities to be settled. Through the assistance
sembly. An all-Indian Assembly had been of Edna Atkins who lives nearby, visits to
formed at Macy with great labor and sacri- the Macy reservation were begun in Febru-
fice through the dedicated efforts of Mrs. ary.
Mary Stevison and Mrs. Amelia Collins, Through the year a growing correspond-
who later visited the reservation to assist in ence was carried on with government agen-
the forming of the Assembly. Macy was a cies, educational and religious groups, and
pivot around which many hopes revolved. individuals concerning the Cherokee lan-
We were not able to make a general ap- guage. After a while, a letter from Ethel
peal for pioneers to our goals because of the Murray informed us that she had found a
urgent need for pioneers in foreign fields translator, named Moses Owl, among the
and in goal cities on the home front, so we Cherokee Indians. Immediately we sent the
set about making contact with those who prayer beginning "Blessed is the spot . . ."
had expressed a desire to work among the to him for translation. Remembering what
Indians. 'Abdu'l-BahB had said when the American
Our first project was the preparation of a friends had asked his permission to build a
teaching brochure, a handbook to assist both Temple, "Make a beginning and all will
those who would work on reservations and come right," we did just that, and our be-
those who would be teaching that thirty-five ginning was a prayer!
per cent of the Indian population who live Through correspondence with Mrs. Mur-
elsewhere. Next was the compiling of em- ray, we learned that Moses Owl thought
ployment information and data concerning the name, Bahi'u'llBh, was like the Cherokee
the various goal areas to which we hoped word for God. A Sioux who helped with the
pioneers would go. Thirdly, maps of the translation said the teachings sounded like
reservations were obtained so that Bah2is those of the Sioux religion, and Moses Owl
interested could pinpoint the area where countered that they were very much like
they might settle. the Cherokee thinking on religion.
By early fall, the first pioneer, Grace Finally that wonderful day arrived when
Dean of Clifton, Arizona, secured a federal through the mails came the long awaited
teaching post at Byless, Arizona, on the San scrap of paper holding the words of Bah2-
Carlos reservation to teach the Apache chil- u'llBh written in the language of the Chero-
dren. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Kit Goldstein kee people. Gratefully, we saw how the hand
of New York City volunteered her services of the Beloved had helped us along the
to the committee for a one-year period, and way.
proceeded to Flagstaff, Arizona, to do grad- Then we set about the larger task of
uate work at the college there. In addition, choosing the contents of the first pamphlet
she secured a teaching post at nearby Tuba to be translated into Cherokee, a work that
City on the Navajo reservation. will be one of the first concerns of the sec-
In November, Mr. and Mrs. Edvard Lind- ond year of committee activity.
strom of Manchester, New Hampshire, In this first year we have brought the
moved to Yakima, Washington, to take a Message to nineteen tribes, the first trans-
social service post that involves working lation into Cherokee has been accomplished,
with the tribes of the Pacific Northwest. and the pattern for future activity has been
During the same month, Mrs. Ethel Murray set and is moving. Through the Secretary
left Providence, Rhode Island, to take a General of the International Bahi'i Council,
post in Bryson City, North Carolina, near Leroy Ioas, the Guardian has sent his ap-
the Cherokee reservation. This was a most proval and urged the further advancement
important place as her task was that of tak- of our work.
ing the Faith to the Cherokee and assisting The Challenge is there-contacts must
ARTICLES A N D REVIEWS 917

become converts so that they may teach world. It is the task of the American Ba-
their own people! 'Abdu'l-Bahi has said hi'is to light the torch. What a glorious
these Indian people will illumine the whole privilege!

1 3 . I N THE PRESENCE O F ' A B D U ' L - B A H A
By ELLAC . QUANT

I T WAS no confirmation in belief to me friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kinney,
to come into the presence of 'Abdu'l-Bahi; two Bahi'is of long standing in the Faith.
perhaps I did not need it. As I had come After receiving this word the friends began
into the knowledge of the BahL'i Faith in to disperse. But Margaret and I, knowing
1903, I had already been a BahL'i for nine that 'Abdu'l-Bahi was on the vessel, could
years when 'Abdu'l-Bahi came to the United not tear ourselves away from the pier; so,
States in 1912; I had accepted Him as the lingering, our eyes riveted, we were re-
Center of BahL'u'llih's Covenant of peace warded with a glimpse of Him for whom
and unity for the world. However, every our hearts longed. Then, satisfied, in antici-
moment spent in His presence brought its pation of the afternoon meeting, we, too,
lesson in the "divine art of living." left the pier. Later I suppose we had lunch,
Perhaps the best way to tell a story is to but it is only a supposition, for such a minor
start at the beginning. Mrs. Margaret La- detail of physical existence has absolutely
Grange and I, BahL'is of Johnstown, N.Y., passed from my memory.
anticipating the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahi to When we arrived at the home of Mr. and
America in 1912, were planning to go to Mrs. Kinney, the rooms were crowded with
New York City to meet Him on arrival. A the friends and 'Abdu'l-Bah6 was mingling
day or so before we planned to start for freely among them radiating the spiritual
New York, word came that 'Abdu'l-Bahi happiness He said He felt in meeting the
was not on the ship expected. This news "friends of God." That afternoon in His first
was, of course, disturbing to us and was the address to the American Bahi'is He said in
cause, temporarily, of greater disappoint- part:
ment than I can express. However, the "I am greatly pleased with the city of
thought came to me that 'Abdu'l-BahL could New York. Its harbor entrance, its piers,
send a wireless message, which He did, con- buildings and broad avenues are magnificent
firming His anticipated arrival. (Wireless and beautiful. Truly it is a wonderful city.
was then in its infancy and was considered As New York has made such progress in
more or less a miracle.) material civilization, I hope that it may also
According to our plan, therefore, we advance spiritually in the kingdom and cove-
started for New York City on the evening nant of God so that the friends here may
preceding the I l t h of April. The next morn- become the cause of the illumination of
ing we found our way to the pier where America; that this city may become the city
already many of the friends of 'Abdu'l-Bahb of love and that the fragrance of God may
were gathered, this number being augmented be spread from this place to all parts of the
by the frequent arrival of others, some world. I have come for this. I pray that you
alone, some in groups of two or three. Sub- may be manifestations of the love of Bah2-
dued excitement, glorious anticipation at the u'llbh . . . This is my highest a~piration."~
joy of meeting the Master, filled the hearts At the end of this address 'Abdu'l-Bahi
and radiated from the faces and voices of greeted each one personally, clasping the
the friends. We waited for some time and hand and repeating the word, "Marhabb!
at last our patience was rewarded in seeing Marhabi!" (Welcome! Welcome!) with
the huge bulk of the vessel breaking through such fervor that I could not fail to grasp
the morning fog and mist. In due time it -
docked. 1 The addresses of 'Abdu'l-BahC in New York Citv.
1t was not long before word came from from which passages are quoted in this article, may 6;
found in Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 1-14.
'Abdu'l-Bahg that He would meet the (Editors.)
918 THE B A H A ' I WORLD

His meaning, though unfamiliar with the appearance of a Divine Manifestation to the
word. springtime and showed us that the progress
Our second meeting with 'Abdu'l-Bahi and decline of religion are comparable to
was on April 12, in the studio of Miss Phil- the four seasons in the material world. In
lips. In connection with this meeting, I must part He said:
go into a little detail that will show all too "The world spiritual is like unto the world
clearly my immaturity in the ethics of the phenomenal . . . When we look upon the
Kingdom. As Margaret and I entered the phenomenal world we perceive that it is di-
spacious room we observed our beloved vided into four seasons; one is the season
'Abdu'l-Bahi sitting on a couch, a young of spring, another the season of summer, an-
Persian on either side of Him. Shortly one other autumn and then these three seasons
of the devoted friends of the Master entered are followed by winter . . ."
and one of the Persians sitting beside 'Ab- When 'Abdu'l-Bah6 reached the phrase
du'l-Bah6 arose and offered his seat to the "the season of summer" the interpreter hesi-
lady, which she accepted. I was disturbed tated and finally stopped speaking. Then the
and said to myself, "Oh! Who is worthy to voice of the Master came forth clear and
sit beside 'Abdu'l-Bahi?'The question both- strong with "summer," and a ripple of pleas-
ered me all evening, but was relegated lo the antry went through the audience as we real-
background of my mind save at such times ized that 'Abdu'l-Bah6 was interpreting to
as I found myself alone with my thoughts. the interpreter.
'Abdu'l-BahB gave a beautiful talk that When 'Abdu'l-Bahi was weary and re-
evening, saying in part: paired to an upper room, some one sug-
"These are the days of seed-sowing. These gested closing the door of the room, to "pro-
are the days of tree-planting . . . He who tect" the Master, that He might have some
sows a seed in this day will behold his re- seclusion from the friends who were already
ward in the fruits and harvest of the heav- ascending the stairs to be nearer to ~ i m .
enly kingdom." How like the days of Jesus when the disci-
And again, ples tried to spare Him the encroachment of
"The doors of the kingdom are opened. the crowd! 'Abdu'l-BahL said, Let them
The lights of the Sun of Truth are shining come! He took my hand as I with others
. . . Know ye then the value of these days." passed before Him and He said to me, Al-
Later, in leaving, as 'Abdu'l-Bah6 took ln'h-u-Abhn', that word of BahL'i greeting,
my hand, I was conscious of His eyes par- which means God the Most Glorious. Many
tially raised to mine. Did He see there the years later 'Abdu'l-Bahi said that the unity
unanswered question of the early evening: of the friends was the cause of health to
Who is worthy to sit beside 'Abdu'l-BahL? Him, and the extreme weariness of that
On the following Monday, the last day afternoon I now believe was brought about
we were privileged to be in His holy pres- by the weight of the spirit's burden rather
ence, He deigned to answer my question. than by any physical strain, great as that
After greeting us He seated Margaret on a no doubt was; for He received callers from
chair near Him at just the right angle, she very early in the morning until late at
told me later, where she might look into night; no one was turned away.
His eyes; thus fulfilling a desire of hers. Margaret and I longed for an interview
Then, He seated me on the couch beside with 'Abdu'l-Bahi. Some of the friends had
Him and turned on me (the questioner) the been granted that privilege, so we decided to
smile of His divine love, which penetrated ask an interpreter to arrange it for us. Again
my physical and spiritual consciousness. I was reminded of the days of Jesus Christ
Thus did He teach us, the friends, every- and of the desire of the disciples to protect
where; not by rebuke, but with touching Him from the multitude. The interpreter
example, that the Sun of God's bounty said the Master was very busy, but, nothing
shines upon all and only the veils of self daunted, Margaret explained to him that
hide us from an ever-increasing realization we were from out of town and longed for
of its effulgence. an interview before leaving New York. So
On Saturday, April 13, 1912, with many the matter was finally arranged and on Sun-
others we gathered at the home of Mr. and day morning at nine we found ourselves be-
Mrs. Morten to see and hear the Master. ing ushered into the presence of 'Abdu'l-
That day in His address He compared the Bahi, and in English He was addressing us
ARTICLES A N D REVIEWS 919

with the words, Sit down, sit down, as He I find I must digress a little in order to
courteously showed us to seats. Then the give the reader a clear understanding of the
question so frequently asked by Him, Are real value of the beautiful expressions that
you well? Are you happy?-What did He 'Abdu'l-Bahi bestowed upon the friends.
mean-the health of the body or the well- Once when He in a Tablet called one of the
being of the spirit? I do not recall giving faithful friends His daughter, I laughingly
an answer. How could we answer a question remarked, "If 'Abdu'l-BahA ever called me
that to the Questioner was already clear- His daughter I'd never have another worry.
that for us time was standing still; that we I'd know I was saved." As we grow in grace
had reached the ultimate of our desire, our and spiritual understanding we find that
station in the sun where there is no night. 'Abdu'l-Bahi, through these bestowals,
His next words awakened us to our immedi- sowed the seeds of attainment in our hearts;
ate environment. He said, He was happy to we realize that He opened the door of spir-
have such souls as we were: Rest thou as- itual progress for us, as in His great love and
sured, rest thou assured. And, we had come wisdom He saw the Father's face in every
some distance to meet Him and had passed face.
through difficulties, but He had come farther It was Palm Sunday and the church was
to meet us. filled to capacity and more, although we un-
Such words we were not prepared to hear; derstood that the presence of 'Abdu'l-Bahi
knowing that we were humble people and there that morning had not been publicly
feeling we had but small capacity to serve announced. To me, and I have no doubt to
the Faith of Bahi'u'llih, we could not un- many others, it was an unforgettable picture
derstand such words applying to ourselves. -'Abdu'l-Bahi standing among the lilies.
We were taken to the smaller room of the If you have thought of 'Abdu'l-Bahi as
suite, where 'Abdu'l-Bahi gave private inter- robed in somber, formal ecclesiastical dress,
views. There He told Margaret He prayed please "see" Him now ( I never saw Him
for her parents (who had passed into the otherwise) in long, light, easy-flowing cloak
life beyond some months before). Her eyes and light head dress, a symbol of sunlight;
filled with tears and overflowed; mine then warm, comforting, and "alive." There was a
did likewise. The interpreter, perhaps at a certain color resemblance between 'Abdu'l-
loss, shook his head at us and said in an BahB's white hair and his cream-colored
admonishing tone that we should never cry cloak and the white and gold of the lilies.
in His presence. It made Him sad. As I He stood there, not a figure come to be wor-
looked up, I saw that 'Abdu'l-BahB's sadness shiped, but as the Servant of the Divine
was for us-not for Himself-for with Gardener, warming the ground of human
hands outstretched to calm and protect us, minds and hearts by a deeper penetration of
like a mother bird hovering over her young the rays of the Sun of Truth.
in the nest, He exclaimed in English, Laugh! Although coming from a life of suffering
Laugh! I shall never forget that voice, vi- and imprisonment, He radiated the life-giv-
brant and powerful beyond any words of ing forces of God, declaring "there is no
mine to express. In that voice I have come prison save the prison of self"; teaching that
to see the power of heaven to rout all the man is essentially a spiritual being, and that
negative forces of existence, and in arising all down the ages man's conception of so-
to obey that command to find the eternal called death as extinction has corroded
joy of life. within him and closed his spiritual eye to the
'Abdu'l-Bahi bade us come to the church unspeakably blessed opportunities of this
(Church of the Ascension, Fifth Avenue and life, as well as to the vision of his glorious
Tenth Street) where He was to speak that destiny in all the worlds of God.
morning. Margaret sat at His side and I Among the words He addressed to that
directly facing Him. He lovingly took and audience were the following, after forty
held the hand of Margaret (in leaving) and years so strikingly applicable to the world of
fondly patted her shoulder with the other today. He said:
hand. He then did the same to me; and "Today the world of humanity is in need
when I asked the interpreter to tell Him I of international unity and conciliation. To
wished to serve Him always, He called me establish these great fundamental principles
His daughter. He then said, Your face is a propelling power is needed. It is self-
radiant. evident that unity of the human world and
T H E BAHA 'I W O R L D

the 'Most Great Peace' cannot be accom- One day when we were in the hall, the
plished through material means. . . . All little floor maid emerged frm 'Abdu'l-BahB's
the Prophets have come to promote divine suite, her arms filled with roses-beautiful
bestowals, to found the spiritual civilization roses-the gift to Him from some of the
and teach the principles of morality. There- Bahi'is. Sensing that we were friends of the
fore we must strive with all our powers so Master, all formality fell away and with a
that spiritual influences may gain the vic- touching gesture she exclaimed, "See what
tory . . ." He gave me! See what He gave me!" She
In His first address that Sunday to the probably knew nothing of 'Abdu'l-BahB's
Christian Church in America, 'Abdu'l-Bahb Station as the Center of God's Covenant and
sent forth the call to unity, even as He did the Interpreter of BahB'u'llih's teaching to a
later on that same day in His address before needy world; she perhaps did not know His
the adherents of New Thought. name or title, but He had shown her His
On that afternoon, April 14, 1912, 'Ab- love.
du'l-Bahi addressed the Union Meeting of Margaret and I were entertained during
Advanced Thought Centers in Carnegie our stay in New York by my aunt who lived
Lyceum on West 57th Street. In all His on 73rd Street, almost under the eaves, it
teachings 'Abdu'l-Bahi was Himself a point seemed to me, of the Ansonia Hotel. Imag-
of unity. He first established a basis of unity ine our delight when we were told that 'Ab-
and upon that He proceeded to build some- du'l-Bahi was staying at the Ansonia. It
thing of eternal value. Sometimes people seemed like a special privilege to us, and
have questioned the simplicity of His pres- indeed such it very strikingly turned out to
entation of truth. In His public addresses, as be. It came about in this way. On that last
well as in His private interviews, He fitted morning of our stay I suggested to Margaret
His words to the spiritual capacity of those that we walk over to the hotel before leaving
to whom He spoke. To that audience in the city, saying we might get a glimpse of
Carnegie Lyceum He said in part: 'Abdu'l-Bahb passing out or going in. How
"I have come here with this mission; that limited was my vision! Later we walked over
through your endeavors, through your heav- to the Ansonia and some friends who were
enly morals, through your devoted efforts a just leaving the hotel said to us, "Go right
perfect bond of unity and love may be estab- up. 'Abdu'l-BahL is there." So as if led by
lished between the east and the west, so that an unseen hand we walked to the elevator
the bestowals of God may descend upon ali and when we alighted from it other friends
and all may be seen to be parts of the same of 'Abdu'l-Bahb were leaving His suite and
tree,-the great tree of the human family in their joy of having been with the Master
. . . so likewise must we be connected and and in the blessing of sharing, they said to
blended together until each part shall be- us, " 'Abdu'l-Bahb is there. Go right in." We
come the expression of the whole . . ." opened the door and found, seemingly wait-
Again and again did 'Abdu'l-Bahb stress ing for us, the one whose door was closed to
the oneness of mankind: AU humanity are none, regardless of color, race or creed.
leaves on the Tree of Creation; some ill who Truly 'Abdu'l-Bahi had drawn us to Him-
need to be healed, others ignorant who need self. He would not let us leave the city with-
to be taught; but all recipients of the bounty out another assurance of His love for us. As
of the loving Creator. Even in material ways I write of His love "for us," I am reminded
'Abdu'l-Bahi demonstrated the unity that of the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahi to one of the
He taught; He joined in the clapping of friends visiting Him in 'Akkb. When that
hands at that particular gathering, and con- Bah6'i spoke of her wish that all the friends
tributed when the offering was taken. in America might be in 'Akkb sharing her
I wish I could convey to you a clearer pic- blessing, He answered that they are here;
ture of 'Abdu'l-Bahb, that love that knows one represents all.
no limitation, no restriction, flowing out t a After seating us, 'Abdu'l-Bahb asked
and embracing male and female, rich and about our health, then addressed us with the
poor, schooled and unschooled. He received words He had used in our first interview, en-
each soul as a precious substance upon larging upon them, saying we had come
which to bestow the bounty of the Love of some distance to meet Him. He had come
God. A touching instance of that love is farther to meet us. He had made the journey
found in the episode of the roses. because of His great love for us. At first the
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 92 1

journey was very hard; the harder the path, not only my physical balance, b ~the~ mental
t
the greater the difficulty, the greater the and spiritual as well.
mercy. The divine bounty is continually A day or two before leaving home for
descending. New York City to meet our beloved Master,
I had been in rather poor health for some I had a dream. During my years of knowl-
months and had hoped to receive from 'Ab- edge of the BahL'i Faith, I have had several
du'l-BahL something to help me carry on my dreams from which I have endeavored to
household duties, which were exacting, for I extract some spiritual meaning, but the
was brought up in the old-fashioned way dream in q~~estion is the only one for which
that assumed the house could not be clean I have a verbal interpretation from 'Abdu'l-
unless one had a backache. The most ex- Bahi; therefore, the importance of that par-
perienced psychiatrist could not have more ticular dream is to me very great.
Eeadily touched upon my need than did 'Ab- When the interpreter spoke of my dream
du'l-BahL, Servant of the Divine Physician, (with another Bahi'i, I was standing before
a vast expanse of water) 'Abdu'l-BahL said
when He advised me, in response to the in-
that in the dream the sea is the Kingdom,
terpreter's word about my- health, to de- and that is the Cause of God. That I with
crease physical labor, work not beyond the that other Bahi'i shall attain to the shore of
extent of your strength, turn toward the that Sea, and shall behold its expanse.
Kingdom of God; strength is from God; di- The time had come when Margaret and I
vine confirmation shall descend; you shall at- were scheduled to leave New York City for
tain to physical health; rest assured of the home. After this last unexpected meeting, on
favor of God. More than once through the April 15, 1912, we were never again in His
years these words of the Master have kept physical presence.

1 4 . T H E B A H A ' I F A I T H IN
BACKWARD AFRICA

T H E motion for today's debate is: 'Africa been banished by foreigners who once ac-
for Africans.' May I call upon Mr. Chisiza knowledged him ruler and owner of that
to speak on the motion?" said the chairman. country. In Central Africa, Africans are pro-
"Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen," testing, are wailing and yelling in vain
the writer began, "we are assembled to de- against federation. In Tanganyika your fel-
bate but let us not talk for argument's sake. low Africans are crying for equal represen-
The motion we have today affects us pro- tation. In Uganda, in 1949 we had terrible
foundly. The ideas we shall gather from this so-called riots. In Kenya your brothers and
debate will go a long way to determine the sisters are being marauded as Mau Maus
fate or blessings of your immediate family, and as adherents of Dini Ya Nsambwa.l In
your fellow Africans and what's more, our Egypt there is the Suez Canal Zone struggle.
posterity. In West Africa the massacres connected
"Black Africa is in ferment today. The with the S.S.S. movement will long remain
African is in a plight because of a foreign in our memories. And alas, even in the far
white minority. The Hereros in South West off Congo the East African Standard says
Africa have protested, have prayed that their that a chief has protested in public that he
country should not be under Malan's South might better die than see himself stripped of
Africa but the white administrators have his all by the white man.
given them a deaf ear. In South Africa itself "In all these troubles, please note, ladies
the Defiance Campaign against apartheid and gentlemen, the aggressor has been the
laws is at its height. 'Shoot the leaders, jail white man, and as long as he is with us he
the rest and investigate later' is Malan's slo-
gan. In Bechuanaland, Seretse Khama has 1 A religion or sect started by an African in Kenya.
922 T H E B A H A '1 W O R L D

will continue his demagoguery. But how We were out from our afternoon classes.
long are we going to endure his atrocities? The day was mild and most of the boys were
Granted we can't any longer, how do we outside the buildings reading newspapers.
check them? Get rid of the aggressor him- "Hello, you fellows. They say there is a
self and let Africa be for Africans. European who wants to talk on spiritual
"The white man must go back where he things in the Hall," one boy said.
came from not because we hate foreigners "Tell the gentleman that our parents don't
but because he hates us, because he op- send us here for spiritual things. Our con-
presses us and as a raiding lion is got rid of, cern is the School Certificate. See?" snapped
so must we get rid of the white man. another.
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman." In spite of this remark many boys went.
I did, too, but for the simple reason of whil-
ing away the evening.
"Segawa, anything striking in the paper?" "We are brothers, gentlemen," the charm-
"Oh, thirty dear fellows-Dini Ya Nsam- ing white fellow told us seriously. In spite of
bwa adherents-have been killed, so far, by his seriousness, I felt like saying, "Son of a
the police." I felt a chilly draft go through gunner! Your missionaries have been telling
my heart. us this sort of thing for a century, yet do we
"You know, Dunduzu," Segawa started to see them practice it? Lincoln coined even a
say meditatively, his eyes fixed on a distant nobler phrase-'with malice towards none
point, "I don't think there is a God." I eyed but charity for all'-but what results has it
him with understanding. He continued. produced on you fellows?"
"How can God, the Just, the Merciful, be "Color prejudice," he went on to say, "is
indifferent to this tyranny? Why should a a man-made thing. It must be relinquished
Just God create people with different colors because it is the cause of human misunder-
so that some should be oppressed by reason standing and discord." There was something
of those same colors? What harm is there in in that but it is a platitude which even Malan
following Dini Ya Nsambwa? They [Euro- may have voiced in his early years. If only
peans] tell us of freedom of worship but these fellows can practice what they say, this
what's this now? Because an African is black world might be a paradise overnight!
they think God cannot send a black prophet He dwelt at length on what he called One-
to him. Look, these people are teaching us ness of Mankind. In his eyes shone some-
lies. They are selfish. They say Christian thing invisible which touched your heart
Africans shouldn't drink liquors, but they with a softening stroke. Indeed my stubborn
do. They say you should not commit adul- heart was melting. He paused with a smile
tery but they are the worst harlots. They say which had obviously a very distant source.
you should love your neighbor but they don't It was deeply meaningful. "Does anybody
love us. Oh, they are liars!" He paused, then want to ask a question?'No questions but
went on slowly, "I see now that we have silence and attention. He switched on to an-
been fools. Why did we leave the beliefs of other subject.
our forefathers? They knew God and used "All religions are from God." He sur-
to worship Him through dead people who prised us. It was on the tip of my tongue to
were near Him. Why didn't we continue to say, "Except Islgm. Well, it just couldn't
worship God that way? Believe me, these be," I thought. But by this time skepticism
people are not following the teachings of had almost left me. I allowed the words to
Christ. Have you read Tolstoy's letter to soak into my head. The doors of my emo-
Mahatma Gandhi?" tional self seemed to have been shattered to
"No," I said. let in this fellow to play on my emotions and
"I can't remember the exact words but play he did. Now I marvel at: "The differ-
what he means is this: The Christian world ences between different religions are due to
which professes to follow the teachings of the different times and places in which they
Christ has built and is maintaining its em- happen to be revealed." Now I frown with
pires by wars. This shows that they are not him at a blunder or injustice being done;
following the teaching of Christ which is now I smile with him at a feasible solution
LOVE."We were silent for two minutes and he presents. "God curse you if you don't live
then he sighed and said, "Oh, Lord!" Both the life of all that you say with this strange
of us were hopeless. sincerity," I am sure I said inwardly.
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 923

It was getting towards sundown at this cause we did not know from where He
juncture and the fellow pulled out a pocket would come.
watch, looked at it and shot a glance at our He expounded in detail the manner of
teacher who evidently had met him before. coming of Christ's Return. The gist of the
"It's getting late, gentlemen. I don't want explanation was first, that Christ in His sec-
to keep you long." ond coming must be born; for if He is to
I clicked my tongue in disgust. I thought: come in a manner different from other men
Europeans with their wives and food! Now why should Jesus warn us against false
this fellow feels as if he has been away from prophets; second, that the clouds on which
his wife for a century. He is probably dying He is expected to come are the limitations
of hunger too. But can't he tolerate it only of His human body. It is those physical limi-
for today? tations which would prevent people from
"GO, go on, go on, on," came the con- seeing His Reality just as physical clouds
fused urgings. Too late to say "go on" my- prevent us from seeing the splendor of the
self, I ventured to ask, "What's the matter, sun.
sir?'He swept the audience with that smile Finally, the charming white fellow showed
which seemed to say: "We are in a quagmiry us how BahPu'llhh and His Faith fulfilled
world, in a world of injustice and pathetic all these prophecies. He showed us (1) that
delusion. the BahB'i Faith started at a time when the
"On my part, it wouldn't bother me to be Return of Christ should have come; (2) that
here till sunrise, but you must get home. BahL'u'llfih and His Faith came at a time
Some of you are expected by your parents; when the signs of Christ's Return were being
we do not want to upset their plans," he fulfilled; (3) that BahB'u'llfih came in the
said. true manner He (as the Return of Christ)
"That is our business, sir," retorted a was expected; and (4) that He (BahL'u'llfih)
young man from the back. came from the place (Elam) where the
"Go on, go, go on," came another volley Bible says the Return of Christ must come
of go-ons. He settled down without the least from. With this, 'Ali NakJhjavfini (for that is
sign of fatigue, hunger or anxiety. I must the name of that white speaker) ended his
have been wrong about his feelings. talk and returned to his home.
"All that I have been telling you," said he, So it was that I who was made to detest
"are the Teachings of a new Prophet- white men with the religion they brought,
BahL'u'llfih. He was born in Persia and He was now challehged by another white man to
is the Return of Christ!" The brows of the accept another religion; I who cherished the
boys were furrowed as much as to say, Teachings of Christ but who strongly
"What?" doubted that Christ was the Son of God, was
"Does anyone have a Bible?'he asked. A now being challenged to acknowledge His
boy darted out and brought one. Return; I who believed in the expulsion of
"YOUsee," he told us, "we have forgotten the white man from Africa, was now ironi-
the promise of Christ. We have forgotten its cally being made to consider him as a
details. All we remember is that Christ said brother. It was a frightful insomnia that I
that He would come again. We are now go- had that night. A deadly war was going on
ing to prove that what Christ said about his within my divided self. Its end seemed to be
second coming has been fulfilled by BahL'uY- continually put off by a warning a student
llfih." had yelled directly after we came out from
Together we turned the leaves of the Bible the lecture. He said, "Don't forget for a
and proved, first, that the time for Christ's minute that white men brought their religion
return arrived a hundred years ago; second, and took our land. This fellow is bringing a
that the signs of His coming have all been new technique of keeping you quiet while
fulfilled! his friends snatch our land and domineer
"From these," the fellow cogently con- over us." I confessed that I could not prove
cluded, "it follows that Christ must have al- the contrary, yet some invisible ^force
ready come. But you may ask why did we seemed to push me to a decision.
not see Him?" He explained that for one The following day witnessed the end of
thing we did not see the Return of Christ be- my war. I had turned things over for nine
cause He came in a manner we did not ex- and a half hours of the previous night. The
pect; for another we did not see Him be- result was that I had trampled down every
924 T H E BAHA' 1 WORLD

bit of a doubt within me. I longed to be above solution is to compromise our claims.
asked the most difficult question by anybody But why take only half of what we want
who doubted because I was sure that I could while the BahL'is give us the whole? They
rip off a cogent and convincing answer. give us full equality. Mr. Kagwa who has
In the evening, 'Ali came again to outline been with the Bahb'is for a considerable time
the history of the Forerunner, the Author will bear this out. Equality,. which every
and the Interpreter of the Bahb'i Faith, and African wants today, is what the BahB'i
also to tell us about the obligations and pro- Faith gives us and that is why I identify my-
hibitions enjoined on the Bahb'is. I consid- self with it." I laughed exultantly but he was
ered all of them as reasonable and necessary serious. I thought he needed some more. I
but there was one which was a hard pill- went on.
fasting! "Fasting." I wondered. "Hope this "I take it, sir, that you don't ask me why
isn't Islbm. Heavens, I have never fasted in I have embraced a faith, because I am sure
my life." However, later in the evening by you know that it is the propensity of ninety-
sheer luck I came across Bah2u'lldh and the nine and three-quarters per cent of mankind
New Era. "It's a sort of text book of the to have a religious faith of some kind. What
Faith," Mr. Frobisher K. Kagwa (the you ask, I believe, is why I have chosen the
teacher who first met 'Ali) said as he gave it BahL'i Faith of all faiths. The reason is this:
to me. The first thing I looked up was "fast- I believe that mankind has been constantly
ing" and there I found a satisfying explana- lifted from a former religion to a new one
tion. "Fasting," 'Abdu'l-Bahb, the Inter- just as a boy in grade one moves by degrees
preter of Bahb'u711&h'sTeachings, explained, to the sixth form. The new faith to which
"is a symbol. Fasting signifies abstinence mankind is being lifted is the Bahb'i Faith.
from lust . . . from self-appetites and self- It seems improper for me, therefore, to re-
desires." "Fasting," He reiterated, "is a sym- main in the former grade while I am being
bol of that abstinence . . . it is a reminder called into a new one. That the BahL'i Faith
. . . otherwise it is of no importance." That is new and that in a way it symbolizes an up-
appealed to me; it satisfied me. Right away per grade is shown by the following con-
I told Mr. Kagwa to contact Mr. 'Ali and trast: While the former Prophets taught
tell him that I wanted to become a Bahb'i. individual love, to love our neighbors, BahL'-
He did and the following day my roommate, u'llih teaches Universal Love. While the fol-
Godwin Peter Kabisa, and I signed our dec- lowers of different religions consider their
larations as Bahgis. particular religion to be the only true and
Later in the evening a teacher asked me, best, Bahi'u'llbh says that all religions are
"Do you really understand what you have from God, that all have been useful to man-
done? I understand Bahb'is have nothing to kind at their prescribed time but that now,
do with politics. Is that what you are going after more than thirteen hundred years since
to comply with?" "Yes. . . ." I started to the last religion was revealed, mankind needs
speak, but he interrupted. "What a loss to a new religion which will be in keeping with
Nyasaland,"' he went on ruefully. "What a his needs and his progressive mentality. So
loss! Just why have you believed in the it seems to me, si;, that if one becomes a
Bahb'i Faith?" he asked. He was just the Bahb'i, one leaves his particular religion only
fellow I had been looking for. Teacher or no to embrace all former religions plus Bahi'u'-
teacher, I would hammer my belief into 11Lh's New Faith. And I think such a fellow
him. is better off than somebody who believes in
"I believe in the Bahb'i Faith because it's only one grade of religion."
the only solution to political problems. And The teacher shrugged his shoulders as he
if I have a solution to our political problems said, "Well." And well it was.
I don't think it is useful anymore to fiddle Such was my preliminary understanding
with politics. Let me add, sir, that the only of the BahL'i Faith but now after a year and
thing that an African can do to regain his a half of experience and vigorous study, my
freedom is to expel Europeans from Africa. understanding has deepened and broadened.
But this is impracticable in view of the fact I have seen with my own eyes how the
that Europeans have hydrogen bombs while Bahh'i Faith has restored unity in African
we have only spears. The alternative to the families which were formerly divided be-
cause one member belonged t o a different re-
2 The writer's native country. Iigion or sect. I have watched it remove con-
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS 925

fusion among many Africans who wondered will have been finally extinguished; . . .
why there were so many religions. For the and finally a world community in which the
first time, it has shown many the difference fury of a capricious and militant national-
between a sect and religion. I used to call ism will have been transmuted into an abid-
Protestantism a religion! ing consciousness of world citizen-
My association with white BahB'is, on the s h ~ p. . ."3
bther hand, has proved to me that the BahL'i In my quiet moments I gape and mur-
Faith, unlike many other faiths today, is not mur, "So the next record that history will
impractical. The watchwords of the white make is that of the unification of the nations.
Bahi'is seem to be: "Action, not words. Live So communication is soon going to assume
the life," which in black Africa means "Love new meaning-for travelers will no longer
the African." be mere tourists. They will be traveling with
Finally, let me mention that the BahB'i the anticipation of meeting new brothers and
Teachings have brought hope not only to me sisters in the islands of the seas, in far off
but also to countless others who have had Asia, Australia and even in wild Africa. So
the golden chance of investigating the BahL'i geography will put on a new meaning too-
Faith. They have opened new vistas for us; for old as well as young will begin to dust
they have made us sight new goals; nay, they off and buy atlases that they may know
have marshaled us into a new world of un- exactly where George or Jane are in the
precedented ideals and aspirations. For I, Philippines, in the Congo, in Finland or in
who loved my country, now love my kind; I Peru." It seems to me, people will master the
who dreamed of dedicating my life to the geography of the world as. they have mas-
cause of the African, have now dedicated my tered the geography of their countries be-
life to the Cause of God. I am now seriously cause soon the planet earth will be their
working for ". . . A world community in country. The picture overpowers one. Vast
which all economic barriers will have been and inevitable changes are impending-
permanently demolished and the interde- changes which BahB'u'llfih sums up by say-
pendence of Capital and Labor definitely ing, "Soon will the present day order be
recognized; in which the clamor of religious rolled up and n new one spread out in its
fanaticism and strife will have been forever stead."
stilled; in which the flame of racial animosity 3 Shoghi Effendi, World Order o f Bahrl'u'N6h, p. 41.

15. BLACK SUNLIGHT
B y WILLIAMAND MARGUERITE
SEARS

T H E swamp water, they told us, was alive on the raft. He read it all, as the ferry raft
with crocodiles. The raft, just big enough to inched along. There would have been time
hold our car, was propelled by six young to have read The New Era. Timeless Africa!
Africans using long, thin poles. Once we Many things seasoned our long African
sighted a breath-taking blue-gold water lily. journey. At one time we nearly drove our
At once, the boys pushed the raft into the small car into a number of hippopotami
reeds to pluck it for us. With great happi- which were coming up out of the Nile river
ness they presented it to us. The ceremony to eat the sweet green grass. We stopped at
had delayed the crossing another half hour. another time within eight feet of a huge,
Our mixed group of African, British, and sleeping lion. As our car sped along the
American BahL'is was watched curiously by Kenya Park roads, we scattered ostriches,
one of the young Basoga on the raft. zebra, giraffes; we sent gazelles and bucks of
"What makes the white-skin and black- many varieties scurrying for cover. We sat
skin people laugh together so pleasantly?" he at dusk on a terrace at Mtito Andei and
asked. looked across the haze of sunset at the white
He was given a Bahi'i pamphlet in Lu- hair of Kilimanjaro. We spent a night on an
ganda. He was much taken with it, and be- African train which was so crowded that we
gan to read it aloud to all the African people had to sleep on the floor of the dining car.
926 T H E BAHA'I WORLD

We stood with BahL'i friends in the cauldron talking about the history of his people and
heat of Mombassa and studied that para- the great war which had been so fiercely
doxically named edsce, "Fort Jesus." We fought by the Catholics and Protestants to
welcomed a mammoth orange moon which gain supremacy. He told us how the Kabaka
rose majestically from the Indian Ocean at (King) had refused to embrace either belief
Zanzibar. As our ship slid noiselessly into since they broke the very commandment
harbor, the graceful palm trees would be which Jesus had given them, his followers,
etched against that ball of fire. The fra- "to love one another."
grance of cloves from the island drifted "What is your own background in reli-
across the water. We clasped hands, and gion?'we asked him.
twenty years fell overboard! "Many things I have been," he said, "but
We visited a BahL'i community in Dar es never happy inside. I was born a Pagan, but
Salaam that would have cheered 'Abdu'l- I became a Catholic because they owned the
BahB's heart. It had among its members primary school and I wished to learn. Then
Africans from several different tribes, Per- I became a Protestant because they owned
sian, British, Turkish, Indian, Egyptian, and the high school. Then," he chuckled, "since
American BahL'is. Once we drove off to help the college was owned by the government, I
with a BahA'i school in the interior, miles became an agnostic."
from the nearest town of any size. Soon we "What are you now?'
were in the center of an entire BahL'i village. He smiled. "Bewildered. I have heard
People rushed out to greet us, not in African much about the Bahi'i Faith, but I lack the
or English, but with "Allfih-u-AbhP." They courage to believe that it can really be as my
ushered us into our new home, a round mud ears tell me. I am no longer a child or boy.
hut with thatched roof. There, hanging by it- Now I must believe, not because I desire to
self, on the wall was a small frame drawing gain something, but because my heart tells
of the Greatest Name. This was our home me it is true and will fill my emptiness."
for fifteen days. It would be crowded at We agreed. He told us that he knew it
night with eager faces, asking endless ques- would not be easy, nor popular, but what
tions, still unsatisfied by a day filled with did it matter if only it were true. Again we
seven separate classes on the Faith. A wild- agreed, and quoting the words of BahL'u'-
cat would break in, steal food, and peer in- llfih, said, "adversity is the oil that feedeth
tently at the Americans feigning sleep inside the flame of this Lamp" of God.
the mos,quito net. Hornets would drone When we pasted months later, he said, "I
mournfully in and out of the thatched roof thought my soul had been lost when I was
when the sun roused them from sleep. Our born. Now I know that BahA'u'llfih was just
guest, a sweet little monkey, lived on the keeping it for me. Now He has returned it
wall top, and would poke his hand through to me." As we said our goodbyes, his parting
the straw roof to steal eggs from the un- words were, "The scar of friendship which
suspecting hen who had laid them there. Oc- the Bahfi'is have cut into my heart will never
casionally, they would fight bitter duels be healed."
through small holes in the roof. Here we
would have dysentery and malaria. But ev-
erything is crowded out of the memory by There is a natural poetry in the African
the love we were shown. We thanked our speech. It is not dependent on education.
host, through an interpreter, for his kindness One of the most eloquent of all those we met
in giving up his home to us. He replied, "It was an illiterate. He spoke in fragments, but
is not to thank me. It is to thank BahL'uY- they fell together like pieces of a fresh mo-
llfih who makes all things possible." saic. We met in Mombassa, in the Kit Kat
From June to February, we sailed anchor- Cafe. It is one of the few places where all
less upon the wondrous sea of Bah6'u'llfih9s races can gather in freedom and mental se-
world~community.Each day was a treasure. curity. However, they also gather there in
The following are but a few of the incidents riotous sound. To the background chanting
that make up the most rewarding period in of an East Indian love song on the gramo-
our entire Bahi'i life to the present time. phone, and surrounded by raucous conversa-
tions in Swahili, Arabic and Portuguese, this
young man told us his understanding of the
One evening in Kampala, we spoke to a three central figures of the Faith.
charming young Buganda. We had been He wanted so sincerely to be a BahL'i.
ARTICLES AN D REVIEWS 927

We had come to determine his understand- Faith, we replied, "If you don't take him in,
ing, to see if he were ready to become a be- you k i d better put us out because we are
liever. We regretted at the time that we had learning from him every moment."
no recorder to preserve his words. Halting as 3.
they were, they outshone, in their simplicity
the polished speech of those who had come At the opening of the Teso Conference
to question. The sequence and the exact con- School in Teso, Uganda, there were over two
tent have escaped us after all this time, but hundred and fifty African BahL'is present.
we shall always be able to communicate the There were sixteen Local Assemblies repre-
spirit of what he said. sented. Following a huge barbecue, there
"Tell us in your own words," we asked was a public meeting. Public officials, school
him, "about the Bib, Bahi'u'llih and 'Ab- teachers, tribal dignitaries, guests both Afri-
dull-BahL." can and European were present.
H e nodded. Never taking his eyes from At the first session, the chairman of the
ours, he began to speak. host community welcomed us with a delight-
"When it is dusk, no one sees good. They ful speech. He told of the great fear in his
fear. They hate what they don't see. Even if people's hearts when all the Teso Bahi'is
it is people. Then the sun comes and they had left for the Kampala Conference. They
do see a little. And things are not so bad. were iniplored not to go by their friends and
That is the B&b. He was good. They killed families who were not Bahi'is. "You will be
Him because they liked it to be dark. But it eaten," they warned. When all the Bahi'is
needed to be brighter like hot day-time to returned from the conference, there was
see they are wrong to hate. This was Bah6'- great excitement. They were counted to
u'llih. 'See everybody,' He said 'how nice make certain none was missing. Then there
they are. Love, don't hate.' He died. Not was rejoicing in the streets.
really death because He left His son, 'Ab- "Even today," the chairman continued,
du'l-Bah6. Not so bright, but good like after- "we were approached and told, 'beware! The
noon sun to see us safe home before it is Americans will carry you away and eat
black. 'Abdu'l-Bah6 said good things. People you.' "
are alike even if they look different. All be- Marguerite Sears replied to his speech
long to God, so don't do what God wouldn't and drew attention to the similarity of fears
do. Be good men. Then He died. But He the world over.
told us to go to the Guardian (Shoghi Ef- "When we left New York," she said,
fendi). He would be strong and guard us. "some of our friends, who were not Bahi'is,
He would tell away our troubles. H e will, told us, 'Be careful. Some of the people in
too; I believe in him. 'Abdu'l-Bah6 said, Africa may carry you off and eat you.' "
'Whatever the Guardian says is right. Do it.' When the laughter ebbed, the Conference
And I will." began. The school followed. The program
When he had finished, a questioning look was as follows:
came into his eyes. It seemed to say, "Please, 8-9: 30 A.M.-History of Faith
am I a Bahi'i?" 10-12:30 A.M.-Three classes on Ian-
"I know I am ignorant," he told us, "but guage
I want to learn all there is in the world to (A) For illiterates (to
know about my Faith. I can't find words for learn to read and
the fullness of my heart." He sighed sadly, write their own
as he made a confession. "I tried to tell my language)
religious man what I believe. He stops me (B) For Beginning
sometimes and says, 'Where are you when it English
is church?' I told him what I believe, but al- (C) For Advanced
ways he defeats me what I say. He defeats English
me with words. I tell him again, but he de- 12-4: 00 ~.M.--committee Meetings
feats me with words." Suddenly he looked Personal Interviews
up and smiled happily. "But only he defeats Visits to nearby Bahi'i
my head, not my heart. This," he said, Communities
touching his heart, "belongs to Bahi'u'llih 4-5:00 P.M.-Bahi'i Administration
and no one can conquer it away from Him." (explanations)
When they asked us later if we thought 5-5:45 P.M.-Administration (prac-
the young man should be taken into the tical application)
T H E B A H A 'I W O R L D

How to conduct a he grumbled, "it steals your head before it
Feast, an election steals your feet."
How to hold Bah6'i The remark by a Basoga man, who ad-
consultation mitted to taki.ng a drink off and on, settled
Functions of Assem- the matter of alcohol.
blies, Committees, "I did not know it was forbidden," he
etc. told everyone. "Now I do know. So it must
7-9 :30 special classes for Ba- go forever. There is no room in my heart
hb'i Pioneers for both alcohol and Bahi'u'llih."
9: 30-12: 00 P.M.-SOC~~~, questions, fun.

The more these people heard about their One young man spends his time going
Faith, the more enthusiastic they became. from community to community in Teso,
When the sheer delight of hearing the teach- helping each assembly and group to remain
ings was too much for them, they would as active as possible. He was a translator at
cover their ears with both hands and then the Conference school. His little child be-
remove them to make certain they were came ill with smallpox. At the same time,
hearing these wonderful things. Then they thieves broke into his home in his absence
would say, "Tell the words again, please." and stole his supply of grain. The year be-
fore, enemies had thrown acid on his fam-
4.
ily's clothes, ruining the clothes completely.
One entire afternoon of the Conference When we asked him if all this had really
was given over to a discussion of the two happened to him, he replied, "Yes. Some-
most challenging problems that Africa must times I say to myself, 'Oule, why is this hap-
face: polygamy and alcohol. pening to you always, so many things?' Then
The law relative to polygamy was simply I answer myself and I say, 'Oule, it is Bah6'-
explained. No African is penalized by be- u'llLh who is polishing you inside. Go and
coming a Bah6'i. If a man has more than teach His Faith, and leave the rest to God.' "
one wife before he accepts the Faith, he When the Uganda Teaching Committee
keeps them all. However, he can take no met one day in Mbale, forty-five miles away,
more without breaking the law. If he has but Oule missed the bus. He scurried about until
one, he keeps that one and takes no more. If he could borrow a bicycle and then he
he is unmarried, he is permitted but one pumped the forty-five miles and arrived but
wife. ten minutes late for the meeting. He did not
A young man asked a question (on behalf feel that there could be any excuse for his
of a friend, he said) about marriage. absence. This was part of his belief in God,
"What if you know you're going to be- and he must not fail to do his part. It would
come a BahP'i? Couldn't you fast marry be easy to believe in Bahi'u'llih and remain
three wives first, and then accept the Faith?" at home, but it would be impossible to serve
The silence of his own people was his an- Bah2u'llLh and still remain. He felt that life
swer. One of the men near him said, "The must be an example of BahL'u'llLh's words
answer to that lies between you and God." in His book of Laws where He cautions
"Oh," said the young man, and he sat mankind "not to be indulgent in carrying out
down. His statutes"; prescribes the twin inseparable
The law about alcohol was more simply duties of recognizing the "Dayspring of
explained. It was not taken in any form un- God's Revelation (the Messenger) and of
less essentially required as medical treatment observing all the ordinances revealed by
under doctor's prescription. We suggested Him, neither of which is acceptable without
that we secure some of the local drink, put it the other."
in a bowl and set fire to it. When it burst
6.
into flames, we could demonstrate what hap-
pened to the inside of the stomach when a There were seven African pioneers who
person drank. attended the Teso school. They had risen
"No," we were cautioned, "that wouldn't spontaneously when the Guardian had called
be helpful. You see, when our people want for volunteers. They planned to leave for
to get something to drink, they say, 'Light a their posts immediately after the school
match to it. If it burns, I'll buy it.' " ended. We took one of them to Ngora to
One old man shook his head. "Bad thing," catch the bus for his goal city. He had
A R T I C L E S AIVD R E V I E W S 929

already said good-bye to family and friends.room at the school. It was discovered by the
Over his shoulder he carried a stick, brokenschool authorities, and he was told to de-
from a young tree. In a white cloth, tied tostroy it and have nothing further to do with
this new belief. He refused, saying, "This is
the end of the stick, were all his worldly pos-
sessions. He was off to a new land, a new my faith. This I can really believe." He was
language, a new people. warned that if he persisted, he would lose
"Pray for me," he said, "that I will stand
his job. He must either give up his job or
brave." this foolishness.
Then he thanked the pioneer teachers who "Foolishness?'he asked. "That there is
had come to the school. He praised their only one God and only one religion? That
sacrifice for coming to Teso, for giving up all the Messengers of God are equal and
so much to bring more of God's truth to his teach the same truth in different ages? That
people. These teachers had come by auto, all men are brothers, and that mankind must
with their families, and would return to- not only believe this is so, but behave that
gether. This African pioneer had left wife, way? This is foolishness?"
children, home-everything-at the call of He was told to make a choice.
the Guardian. He did not think that what he "There is no choice," he told them.
was doing was a sacrifice. Others might be "Nothing can make me give up my faith."
sacrificing, but he was obeying the voice in "We shall see," he was told.
his heart. BahL'u'llLh had said of 'Abdu'l- He was put out of his job. He was barred
Bahl, "who obeys Him, obeys God." The from securing teaching work at any other
school. His father and the tribal authorities
Guardian had called for pioneers, and to this
soul the voice of God had spoken. He an- were approached by the clergy and asked to
swered it the only way he knew how to an- influence the boy to return to his work and
swer, with "instant, exact and complete obe-to the church. He was threatened with ban-
dience." ishment from the tribe, with disinheritance,
To us, he was the symbol of Bah&'u'lllh'swith open opposition.
words, "whither can a lover go but to the "If it must be," he replied, "it is God's
land of his beloved? and what seeker findethwill. I shall never give up my belief in Bahg-
rest away from his heart's desire? . . . seize
u'lllh. It is better to be for something than
thy chance, for it will come to thee no to live for nothing."
more." Everyone opposed him. Obstacles were
He shook hands with us and then wormed hurled into his path. BahL'uYlllh's words
his way into the crowded bus. He was the were fulfilled at each step along the way for
leaven in this mass of humanity. He poked this courageous believer: "Ye shall be hin-
his head out the window and grinned at us. dered from loving Me, and souls shall be
His smile made you feel how deprived you perturbed as they make mention of Me. For
were not to be where he would be. He man- minds cannot grasp Me, nor hearts con-
aged to wriggle one arm free to wave to us. tain Me." As a last resort, they tried to get
As the bus carried him off to his post, he the young man's wife to sway him, to
called back happily, "A11Lh-U-Abhg!" threaten him with divorce unless he aban-
No word was received from him for some doned the BahL'i Faith.
time after. The committee became worried Little by little, he had been shorn of every
about his welfare. Perhaps he was ill. Per- tie. He had given up his job, his tribe, his
haps he had not found employment. Perhaps family, his friends, and now his wife and
the teaching work had not yet begun. There children. There was, he said, no praise due
had been no word for two months. him. If there had been a choice to make,
Finally they heard. Not a letter, but a tele-
perhaps his wisdom could have been com-
gram. It said simply: "Send more declara- mended; but since God had talked to his
tion blanks, and pamphlets in English." heart, the world had died before his eyes.
How many times these people, because of
their purity and simplicity reminded us of
Another of the pioneers was off to teach the Hidden Words of Bah6'u7llLh: "Divest
the Faith in Kenya, in the heart of the Mau not thyself of My beauteous robe, and for-
Mau trouble area. He had been a teacher at feit not thy portion from My wondrous
a church school when he had first heard of fountain, lest thou shouldst thirst forever-
the Faith. One of the Bahgis gave him a more."
pamphlet to read. He took it back to his Later, when we arrived in Dar es Salaam,
930 T H E B A H A. ' I W O R L D

we heard that this young man had already throughout the world, living His principles
brought eight new people into the Faith at and spreading His teachings that the "world
his pioneer post. is one country and mankind its citizens." He
blushingly admits now that he doesn't know
everything, but he does know that this Faith
There was a very lovable boy who was de- is the hope of his heart and the help of his
termined to speak English as soon as pos- people.
sible. Whenever he was with us, he would 9.
practice.
"After all," he said, "when in Rome, do The first pioneer to leave the Teso school
as Rome does." for his post went to far off Tanganyika. To
Following one of the classes on The him it meant a journey to another country
Dawn-Breakers, and the tale of the historic across great Lake Victoria. We gathered
defense of Fort Tabarsi, he said, admiringly, around the car that was to take him as far
"That was a very movable story." as Kampala. His wife and little son kissed
A man from Mbale read the small booklet him goodbye. He laughed and cried all at
on the principles of the Faith, and insisted the same time. He was laughing with joy for
on becoming a believer immediately. He was the privilege of serving this Faith he so
told he could not, that he must wait until he loved, and he was weeping with sadness at
knew more. He was also told that it was for parting. He was shaken with bewilderment
his protection as well as the protection of the at this great spiritual motion that was stir-
Faith that each person should know exactly ring amidst his people. His body seemed to
and thoroughly what he was accepting be- be urging him to stay, while his spirit pulled
fore he could become a follower of Bah6'11'- him inexorably away.
1lAh. We all sang in unison the most popular
"I'm ready now," he said. He held up the song of the school session. It was written by
booklet. "Never did I have such happy read- the Americans, using all the words of Ateso
ing. This is the truth I accept. I believe in they had learned. It was set to the tune of
Bahb'u'llLh. I am a BahB'i." "Mine eyes have seen the Glory of the
"You are not. Not yet. There is more to coming of the Lord."
learn." "Yoga Ojekuna ebu
"Good. I accept it. Whatever it is, if Yoga Ojekuna ebu
Bah6'uYll&h said it, I believe it, and I will do Yoga Ojekuna ebu
it. I am a Bahb'i." Ealama nui nui
Yoga do!"
"Later maybe."
"Now!" Freely translated it said, "Hello, I am feel-
"But you do not know what the Faith is ing fine, yes. Hell4 I am feeling fine, yes.
yet. You have only a beginning." Hello, I am feeling fine, yes. Thank you very
"I know all. Listen!" Then he began to re- very much. Good-bye!"
cite his version of what he had read in the This never failed to send the two hundred
booklet: "God one. Prophets one. Man one. and fifty BahB'is at the school off into
All good. Work is to pray, justice for every- spasms of unrestrained laughter.
body-even the dark-all good. See, I know Finally the moment of farewell came. We
everything. I am a Bahii'i." had one last song together around the car.
Impatiently, his questioner said, "All The words and music had been written by
right, if you know everything, where does the school chorus, written they said by Ba-
the Guardian live?" h6'i consultation. They called it, "Yes,
The answer came back at once, full of BahB'u'llLh is the return of Christ."
confidence. Then we embraced our pioneer in fond
"Mombassa!" good-byes. Our last view of this servant of
It was the only large city he knew; so cer- the Guardian was the picture of him cling-
tainly the Guardian must live there. ing tightly with one hand to the Bahb'i litera-
Now he knows where the Guardian lives. ture he was taking with him.
He also knows about the local and national He had a Bah2u'lkih and the New Era,
assemblies, and the Universal House of Jus- the little pamphlet in Swahili, the Hidden
tice. He knows that there are other cities Words, a mimeographed copy of Bible
than Mombassa, and that there are BahB'is Prophecies, and a small five cent red note-
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS

book in which, he said, he could write down love." The light, once kindled, must never
all the names of his new contacts. be allowed to go out.
With his free hand, he waved farewell. Bah2uYll6h,in the Tablet of Carmel, cried
He called out the window of the car to us: out, "0 how I long to announce unto every
"We shall meet again, in Haifa, Baghdid,
- spot on the surface of the earth, and to carry
or heaven." to each one of its cities, the glad-tidings of
.
this Revelation . ."
'Abdu'l-Bah6 echoed poignantly those
We have not spoken here of the diffi- same words. "0 that I could travel, even
culties or hardships that a pioneer encoun- though on foot and in the utmost poverty, to
ters. No citadel is wrested from the enemy these regions and, raising the call of Y6-
without casualties. Malaria, dysentery, in- Bahi'u'l'-Abhh in cities, villages, mountains,
fected toes, smashed fingers, influenza, cold, deserts and oceans, promote the Divine
heat, hunger, discomfort. These are all cam- teachings! This, alas, I cannot do. How in-
paign ribbons for each pioneer. There is no tensely I deplore it. Please God, ye may
need to expatiate upon sufferings. These are achieve it."
the mortar with which the monument of vic- Africa, the most neglected, abused, de-
tory is held erect and in place. One rapidly prived of the continents has heard this call
learns that what he thought were bare es- and is answering.
sentials of living, are really luxuries. What One morning we were speaking of the
he thought were impossible conditions are suffering and martyrdoms during the time of
really the bare essentials. the B6b. We had just finished telling the
Every pioneer has a period of "let down." story of the seven martyrs of Tihrin. One
The trumpets and the banners of "send off' very sweet old man came up to speak with
fade. He has ridden the exciting crest of the us. The dear soul thought that these stories
wave. The wave subsides and he is in the meant that they, too, the African Bahgis,
quiet waters of the harbor. Now only his would soon be called upon to give their lives
own energy can keep him afloat until he ad- for the Faith. He thanked us and said, "This
justs to this new world. It is here that he will help to hold me up when it comes my
suffers from a common pioneer disease. Not turn to be killed."
fatal, but universal. It is caused by: no job, In one of the very last letters 'Abdu'l-
no visa, no money, no room, no friends, no Bah6 wrote, He said, "I have done all that
mail, and no good coffee. Everything seems could be done. I have served the Cause of
impossible of accomplishment. The disease Bah&'u'll$h to the utmost of My ability. 0
is called the AfrTcan'ts." But once the how I long to see the Believers shouldering
prayers begin to take hold and the pioneer .
the responsibilities of the Cause . . save
receives an encouraging letter such as: this there remains none other joy for me."
"Dear Mabel-I would have written from The charger that 'Abdu'l-Bahh promised
the Congo sooner to cheer you through ma- us is awaiting the rider who will spur it into
laria only I was ullconscious with typhoid" the arena to win the victory in His name.
the cure is accomplished! This is the time The tests that hold men back are the same
when the pioneer realizes that, of course, he in this day as they have been in every day
can't accomplish everything all by himself. of God: wealth, children, hunger, and death.
He was never expected to do this. All he was Cast them aside, as the hero of BhrfurGs_h
asked to do was to "report at his post for cast aside his satchel of turquoise, as the
duty" and allow BahB'u'116h to accomplish mother of As_hraf cast aside her heart's de-
the task through him, the willing channel. At sire, as the defenders of Tabarsi cast aside
this point, he becomes a real Afri"can." the sumptuous banquet offered by their
'Abdu'l-Bah6 told us that we must be sol- tempters, as the uncle of the B6b cast aside
diers of God. We leave our homes, friends, his life asking only that he "be the first to
families-all-and go into the field of bat- lay down his life for his beloved kinsman."
tle. There is no turning back. The enemy is Let all, who are not "clay pieces to be
engaged. The world is now our battlefield, disintegrated with a little moisture," enter
the ten year crusade our plan of action. We the fray as soldiers of the Covenant; not
must empty ourselves from the cities and turning back until the Crusade is won, or life
rush out to reinforce every outpost, armed has been laid down as a marker along the
only with what 'Abdu'l-Bah6 called "guns of way that points to the hill of triumph.
THE A
B AH A9I F A ITH
'HEIR SPI fi~iflfliy,. CENTRE IS HAIFA

compl etion of rhl
Bab o n Mt. Carmcl
~u>[~u$LA. - Haifa.

-
Iiz Haifa on the slopes of Mount Carmel in the midst Other communitics may consider how far a particular
of a beautiful garden lie the sacred shrines of the Baha'i clemcnt of their respective faith may be regarded as similar
religion, " t h e foundation and growth of which," accordi?lg to thos: of other communitics, but the Baha'i Faith exists
to Lord Sarnur>, first-and only Jewish-High commissioner for the purposc of combining in one synthesis all those elc-
o f Mandated Palestine, " i s one of the most striking move- mcnts in the various faiths which are held in common.
ments that haze proceeded from the East in recent.gene- Its origin was in Persia where a mystic.proph,rt, who
rations." took the name of thc Bab, the "Gate", began a mission
This rcligioiz ichich only last year celebrated the cente- among the Persians in thc earlicr part of thc nineteenth
zary 'of its founder's martyr's death is today represented in century. He collected a considerable number of adherents.
a hundred countries throughout the zuorld and Baha'i lita- His artivitiias were regiirdcd with apprehension by the govcrn-
rature has been traizslated into sixty lan,ouages. I n India ment of Persia of t h a t day. Finally, he and his leading
alotze there are Baha'i congregations in 54 different towns. disciples were seized by the forces of the Persian Govern-
T h e Baha'i Faith is of non-political character and Baha'is ment and were shot. in the year 1850. In spite of the
are commanded by the Founder of their Faith to be loyal persecution, the movement spread in Persia and in many
subjects of the Goverizmeizts under ruhich they live. Islamic countries.
Whilst the Baha'i religion originated in Persia, and apart He was followed as the head of the community by the
from perhaps the U.S.A. still is repcesented there by larger' onc who has been its principal prophet and exponent,
numbers of followers than in any other country, its spiritual Bahah'llah. He was most active and despite persecution
ceiltr,e is Haifa, where Shoehi Effendi; and imprisonment made it his life mis.
~ --

the ~ u a r d i a n ' o fthe Baha'i jaith, resides ~ i o nto spread the cmed which he claim-
and where the remains of the founder ed to have received by direct divine rc-
Icere brought for interment. velation. He died in 1892 and was
True to its enlightened religious policy succeeded as the head of the community
the Government of Israel is extending by his son Abdu'l-Baha, who was born
fullest religious autpnomy to this little in 1844. Hqwas living in Haifa, in a
known and small community and Israel simple house, when I went there as High
is probably the only country today where Commissioner in 1920, and I had the
Baha'i marriage certificates are speci- privilege of one or two most interesting
fically recognized by the law. conversations with him on the principles
Reproduced below is Lord Samuel's and methods of the Baha'i Faith. He
introductory address delivered at the died in 1921 and his obsequies were
Baha'i session of the World Congress o f attended by a great concourse of people.
Faiths, held in London in 1936. I had the honour of representing His
The Ed. Majesty the King on the occasion.

If one were cornpellcd to choose which Since that time the Baha'i Faith his
of the many religious communities of secured the support of a very large num-
the world was closest to the aim and pur- ber of communities throughout the
pose of this Congress, I think one would world. At the present time it is esti-
-- nhliwd.to
h~ -- - sav that it was the com- mated that there are about eight hun-
parativ& little' known Baha'i corn- ,,,ptetcd part of the sftrine dred Baha'i communities in- various
munity. Mt. Carmcl, Haija. countries.

Above and opposite: Pages from India and Israel, March, 1951, with article on the
Bahb'i Faith and the World Center of the Faith (reproduced by permission).
db ..,& ~ y g & i ~ g $ < ; g & ~ : g g $ t ~ ~
-< v-,- =' x Y
ygpp$'@g,; ~ ~ . + v v ' . + ' ~-'-'A'+-**-?
q~

s
@ eJ*
A PROPHECY COMES TRUE @j
23% 5>~*
%
$3 Reproduced below is a quotation ottributcd t o ' Abdu'l ?"'
@
:,w Baha ' ( 1844-192 1 ) grandfather of the present " Guar- %
,
g. dian of the Baha'i Faith." $2

<,y. - ?d*
&? mighty metropolis. As I look now over this scene, I &$
?<* Jee so clearly that it will become one of the first em-
b5,~!
5,>-<,
poriums of the world. This great semi-circular bay will
:,I >-it
$3 be transformcd into the finest harbour, wherein the ships
of all nations will seek shelter and refuge. T h e great
vcsstls of all peoples will come to this port, bringing
~q on their decks thousands and thousands of men and
?;z
, $33
.,,
women from every part of the globe. T h e mountain
and I ~ Cplain will 'be dotted with the most modern
G,J$
%;,;.,.,. buildings and palaces. Industries will be established
:
$
!
>-
,
and various insti~utio~zs
of philanthropic nature will be
$
5\75
founded. T h e flowers of civilization and culture from
$33 all nnntions will be brought here to blend their fragrances
$3 together nnd blare the way for the brotherhood of man.
>IT, Wonderful gardens, orchards, groues and parks wit1 be
$?3
r>IJ:
laid out on all. sides. At nigh? the great city will be
$43 lighted by eleclricity. T h e entire harbour from Acco
to Haifa will be one path of illuminalion. Powerful
:.,- searchlights will be placed on both sides of Mount
&3 Car~~zel
to guide the steamers. Mount Carmel itself,'
9-9 from top lo bottom, will be submerged in a sea of lights.
@ A person standing on the summit of Mount Carmel, and
~ ~ $ 8
!
5Sb7, Iht passengers of the steamers coming to it, will look
$35 hpon the most sublime and majestic spectacle of the
9*-*
&gl, whole world:"
s,b-!, -
& >
+\?<,
&j (Top) Hnifa 1914 (population 15,000, no port facili-
3-5 ties, n o industry, no road t o ACCO,Haifa Bay one
~5,b-G$5
$& big swamp).
:I>-,

$2
?yG
,>>\!!
.,.
(Bottom) Haifa 1951 (population zoo,ooo, bejt harbour
in Eastern Mediterranean, big industry, excellent
5tys roads to Acco, entire Haifa Bay densely popu-
:$s
5y7,
$9~
st>-,
lared.)
$$$ (Ccntre) Haifa 1951,. by night,
5,ys
*+3
$&~~~2$*\~~*?;$*?$*?~*,?~*,?~$*?;$*v~$*\?~~~~~*k~\y~<;<<*;$*~L,,-~~<\?~<\~,,-
Gt<&K552<gt<s~;ig~<&2i~;Gggt;i3~<:~~s~<$~3;~{ej~~~~~:i5~j~;:;~
"AN EPOCH-MAKING DECISION"
NATI~NALSPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA'IS OF feels induced to go ahead with the formation of the First Inter-
INDIA. PAKISTAN AND BURMA national Baha'i Council. This Council whereas in the first instance
will forge a link with the authorities of the newly emerged state,
Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, with the
headquarters at Haifa, Israel, has announced through the National
diseharae the res~onsibilities connected with the erection -- -..-
--------- of +hr
supcrst~uctureof ihe Bab's Holy Shrine a t Haifa and conduct nego-
Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India, Pakistan and Burma and tiations relating to matters of personal status of the Baha'is with
eight other sister National Assemblies representing the Baha'i corn- civil authorities throughout the world, will ultimately transform
munity in loo countries of the globe, that as prophecies uttered itself into an elected International House of Justice.
by thes~ounder of the Faith about the establishment of the Jewish
State after a lapse of two thousand years as an independent nation N. A. KHAVARI,
and such other connected matters have w m c about to be true, he Ddhi, 9-1-1951, Acting Secretary.
Haifa and Haifa Bay at night, 1951. (Reproduced by courtesy of India and Israel.)
II
VERSE
THE STAR OF PEACE GOD MOST GLORIOUS!

In the forgotten past, the priests and kings, Beyond the sweep of farthest star
And hierophants of wisdom, could divine, Beneath the beauty of the rose
From the celestial orbs, far future things, His tokens shine remotely far
And veil these secrets by symbolic sign. His glory stands ineffably close.
(Radiant the heart of him who knows.)
From age to age the thread of promise runs,
That there will dawn a Royal King of days, No longer weak as creed outworn
A glory to eclipse all former ones, No longer dim as hope denied
A peace on earth, beyond the mind to praise. His will proclaims celestial morn
Within the dungeon of our pride.
The rod of Jesse blossomed, and God willed (His power no people can deride.)
Immortal light be born in a dark cave.
The young man hammered to a cross and A scourge He gives each bitter fear
killed, He arms for death each sullen hate.
To be the resurrection from the grave. His lovers know that He is here
Destroying sin in man and state.
(The world is witness to its fate.)
Our Savior Christ, whom Moses had foretold,
The Magi saw His portent in the sky, His glory seizes East and T!est
They offered sacrifice of myrrh and gold, Confounding nation, sect and clan
Unto the day-star of their prophecy. A fiery crucible to test
The soul committed unto man.
He would return, He said, in all His power (The goal of life since time began.)
In God's eternal glory from on high.
And like a thief He came in the night hour, He builds upon our ruined age
Yet still men seek to see Him from the sky. A kingdom righteous, firm and sure.
Behold! Our ancient heritage
His immemorial Being cannot wane, Summons the meek, awaits the pure.
Knows no descent nor rising, time nor place, (His peace forever will endure.)
Yet is, for finite creatures born again,
T o hold the perfect pattern for the race.
THE GREATEST NAME
The ancient beauty that the prophets saw
In dream, in crystal, writ in shifting sand,
And in the fiery bush, decrees a law
That men should dwell as brothers in one land. God doth reveal Himself oft, and in manifold
guises,
Under His ensign, as Ezekiel said, As crossed in the braided linen He lay on the
All kindreds, color, kind, to be at one, straw.
Parts of a body that obey the head, Gabriel uttereth tidings, a star arises.
Planets that circle round a central sun. He falleth dew on the fleece whom the saints
adore.
Not very far in time, ordained to be
A concord that will form the world anew. God doth ordain to be, and the pure discerneth
Ask of the light, for light there is to see The friend and the best-beloved and hallow
As from the mountain crest, the distant view. again.
.'I W O R L D

He, who is Holy bread to the soul that yearneth From this eternal moment-
Is held by the iron nail, to die of His pain. I knew myself before the Face of God,
Too terrible His glory and too great His power!
Throned in the royal radiance no eye may bear How shall one drop resist the ceaseless tide
it, Of His celestial sea?
He veileth the Commune Cup of the purple
wine. But now, when night is deep upon the land
At the predestined hour the anointed ones And the calm beauty of the moon
share it, Moves softly through the vast ethereal arch,
And issue forth from the heart of the inmost Peace breathes through every atom of the air
shrine. And draws each living spark to one pure unity.

God hath revealed anew by His power and The Timeless holds this instant in His hand:
pity. "Be still, be still, and know that I am God!"
The manifest Word arrayed in sinew and bone
Deciareth mankind shall dwell in one fold and Here is the perfect silence.
city.
The chalice of grace be drained for one Name
alone. MAN IN HIS INFINITE SCOPE
Beauty eternal beyond man's mind or his
measure,
The maid of the snow-bright lily did form Me
and bring PROEM
Solomon's temporal glory the fruit of My I. Soliloquy of Man
pleasure. 11. Supplication
Tongue of the chosen creation doth herald a 111. The Breath of God
king. IV. Man's Affirmation
V. Man's Vision
God is the Truth indeed, and naught else VI. World Anthem
abideth.
I t soundeth a clarion call, the tune of His will.
Bright
" is the orb of lire,-if the dawn-cloud
hideth
It gildeth anon the crag of the most high hill.
Man in his infinite scope is less a pattern
than a promise,
THE PERFECT SILENCE Tearing his tissued edges on the rocks of
circumstance,
Bearing no lineated smoothness from which
The great are carved or pressed in mold,
Here is the perfect silence Creating much from hopeless little,
Encompassing the earth and all its promise
Above the white and bluc of ancient walls, in single grain of dust
The silver censer of the moon swings in mid- I n which he finds frontiers of universes.
heaven.
Faint fragrance of white jasmine is the spirit That man bears fleshly fruit is procreant
of all love And pregnant in him, seeded with animal duty
Set free,-a still white flame within the crystal No more than sipping water at a pool.
air. But that he bears abstract fruit of spirit,
Finding on undelineated boughs of urge and
Upon the seaward slope, the grove of giant faith
pines The mysterious, marveled seeking of finite for
Is etched in majesty against the moonlit night; the infinite
Those tall black trunks are bars across the Which it does not know and never knows,
argent light, Yet quests in ceaseless yearning-
A high barred window set against the sky. There is the miracle of being,
Earth's keyhole to the universe.
At sunset, when I knelt within the Shrine
The windows to the west were walls of fire. Is there so small a word for breathless awe,
Within my soul the flame of His great Name So great a sound to thunder out the wonder
Was like a flashing sword, that severed all my That man while flesh
past. Is spirit?
VERSE

The k i t e become infinitesimal
And infinite,
Man, enamored with destiny he knows not, Entering spiritual adventure in lonely whorls
Neither sees its end, of space,
Stands like a star upon all time's horizon, Concentric sprung to broadly stretching, sweep-
Limned against his own reckoning ing magnitude,
And the reckoning of generations past and fu- Straining the soul's elasticity to follow spirit's
ture, pull;
Head spiring toward Heaven, Dragging the body like a man pulled by a run-
Arms outstretched to encompass his own away team,
growth's level, Falling, stumbling,
Feet planted upon the earth, Caught by a direction he cannot direct.
Five-pointed in aim and destiny.
The word is God!
Frightened by his immensity of purpose, And I am stabbed by joy whose hurt is bliss,
A lost and lonely shaveling of the spirit webbed Whose death is life,
in earth, Whose grimace of despairing quest transfigures
He adores his prison as the unborn clings to flesh to spirit
womb, As it seeks space that is not space
Knowing comfort of food, sleep, flesh on flesh, But being.
Gaining heightened sense of magnitude as an
ant God! God! God!
Crawling about a thimble believes itself a giant. Is the Name of God too often on tny tongue?
Nay, but a single utterance have I made from
Yet catching glimpse of sky he burns with birth to death.
yearning for its unfamiliar fabric, Nay, not even this I claim!
Crying out in longing The cry was born with mankind, not with man;
Like one shocked by blade on vitals his own My lips are sounding boards to echo primal
hand drove urge,
Without the mind's command. Its single momentum in continuance seeming
multiple, reuttered.
Admitting this, I disclaim birth or death.
All mankind is with me, of me, in me-
The dead, the born, the unborn, unconceived
Seeking the infinitude of destiny.

Do I praise God that I am not a lesser god,
Single, alone, dependent on personal power
T o blossom seed of purpose.
In the agonized gabble of the dumb If I, this flesh, should vanish at this instant
I strive for words describing bond of eternity Yet would the space I filled be atmosphere of
and me, joy and hope
Finding naught but single syllables of sound- Knowing the urge of man leaps in my heart,
lessness, A gnat-sized vessel bearing the world's elixir.
Disjointed, unrelated, unfinished, unbegun,
Torn, wrested, anguished by bitter torment
Of saying the unsayable.
How can I speak of spirit with clay words,
Despairing, I know my flesh as prison Molds baked by time,
That grows upon itself like yeast, Usage fitted to a form, itself a prison?
Seeming to rise and free itself, How speak explosion in the heart when un-
Yet bound in expansion to its germ found is discovered-
Which builds so much and then no more, Unlike becomes like-
Having counted cells. Two become whole as each and yet bound in
Weeping, do I cry after the uncounted and another totality,
countless; One plus one equals three, dealing in super
And crying, make no sound- equations?

There! Blaze bright in the far sky,
Like an echo came a word, The star torn burning from the heavens, hurled
A clear strong single word to earth,
That pierced my prison like a long-billed bird! Where for a space it glows
It soared to Heaven Feebly battling the dull mud cooling leach of
And soaring is lost to sight, earth!
93 8 THE BAHA'I WORLD

How many hopes and dreams have blazed the
sky
And, torn from spiraling path, have met the
pull of gravity,
Plunging in fiery agony to earth
And there died out?
A voice came in the prison of man's heart, say-
But hopes and dreams that find through mys- ing
tery of love Lo, this is a Breath of God-
The common dream and common hope The Voice Itself vibrates on Heights of
Discover strength to swing eternally in orbit. Soundlessness.
Gravity has no power on these. Accept the Breath that It may give you Life
The dreamer of the dream becomes discoverer, T o praise the Voice.
A scouting spirit for the earth bound.
Man touched the prison bars of earthiness,
Let the lark rest upon my heart and sing me And found them vanished.
hope At their vanishing a great light came upon him
That some one dream of mine shall find its Leaving him dazzled, crying-
mark "God, where are You!"
And, questing through the dark of undiscovered
time, The Breath pulsed through man, answering:
Find reason in its flight. Y o u will find Me in My Voices,
And lo! One rings forth in each o f My days
Body instinct bids us live. o f time.
Spirit instinct bids us die
Knowing in that small bleak word a form of "It is a riddle!" man wept. "Solve it!"
birth,
Opposite become apposite to eternal life. The Breath answered, saying:
Such is the flight of dreams, One is equal to the Many,
Such is the swing of stars. And the Many form One.
Yea, though I come in many times, bearing
manv Names.
Each day comes as a spark of life to light my I am and 'lone.
embers- Seek ye the Spirit and not the form.
Whither goeth the smoke of my enterprise?
To becloud the skies and befoul the earth? Man wept for the mystery of the answer,
Or to scent the heavens and houses of men Freed yet blind and guideless,
With the attar of the love of God? Knowing not the mystery was in him
That hearing
Heard not.
-
LO, the Breath of God came again:
The dignity of man shall not perish from the
0 King of Kings, look upon my plight earth
That knowing dark, I seek the light. In this or any time.
Man was created for a purpose
0 God, in praise I seek to name the Nameless And the purpose lies with God.
And stricken mute yet feel the voice box pulse
with yearning. In the beginning was the Word
And the Word was from God
0 Thou of many Names in many tongues, And the Word was God.
Yet single in Thy essence, And lo, without form or organs, a jellied
Cup Thy hand about my soul that it may flame, speck,
And consumed .Man heard in the essence of his senses
Be tenderer fire in other worlds and spaces. And the vast and endless destiny o f human
spirit
I am so much a man, so clayed and weighted Conceived and brought forth cells of being.
That I can have brief vision of Thy Majesty.
Break the clay pot! The cast of time is slowly changing shape,
Free the adder of desire Being molded by the Potter even as it molds
To swing in rhythm to Thy will, clay.
Yielding the venom of its passion The future man is you, the past, today;
For curatives of ill! Deep in his unborn atoms lie all generations.
VERSE 939

But he is mare, as you are mar& than past, And Bahd'u'lldh spoke by the Will of God
Evolved ro further reaches ob man's scope old Words in a new tongue,
That remains eternally further, never fur- Suitable for men with extended perception
(thest, Whose metal refined by time and circum-
Knowing no end. stance held broader tonality,
The latent become the apparent.
" Y e are the leaves of one tree!" Baha"u'1ka'h
Take ye pride in such destiny spake.
But beware lest pride be for the molded, not "The world o f man is one,
the Molder. And it is God's."
Men, sprung from the sail of feebleness, cry,
"Might! Might!" Bahd'u'lldh
Glorying in a day's bloom and ignoring the Or Christ, or Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad,
fructifying Source. Zoroaster, Moses,
The Ba'b?
The incantations of the mighty What matter the Trumpet tuned to .the
Have become but tinkling bells in dark, Voice?
Wraithed by dlouds o f fear, "I am God, none other God is there but Me!"
Rung by self-pity of the fallen.
Men set themselves upon altars built of stfck But men, perception dulled by hammer blows
and stone, o f self,
Lacking God-concept, Seek to stop up the Words pouring from the
Lacking past and future, Trumpet,
Hoarding immadiacy, here and now, Declaring themselves God's protector
k c k i n g all members of human framework, But inwardly vaunting themselves His better,
Feoble in singled strength of self, His selector of what He should say,
Parceling out God, Determiner of His instrument.
Measzwing, nuling, dividing the Infinite by
finite standard, Y e t does the Voice persist,
Believing Creator less than creature. Echoirzg around the world,
Creeping through keyholes, lodging in hearts.
Driven from the market place, it soughs
through the stalls.
It is heard in the weeping of war-butchered
On the minarets of Arab has God's voice millions,
been called. Echoing, "Mercy! Peace!"
Did Muhammad say "Allah"? Uttered in need, its own need strengthens it.
He is God, none other God is He! Even is it heard in palaces o f kings, ,guard-
An the forexes of the Bhagavad-Gita has His less against the Unconfined.
murmur been iheard, Once heard, it is never quite forgotten,
And in the sweet song of Buddha. Even by enemies:
&O,nthe Mawnt did He call to men through It reverberates through the brain t o work
bhe lips o f Christ. magic on the soul,
Mases heard Aiim in the wilderness of his And the tongues of the unwitting
times Vibrate in new phrase and meaning.
And reflecting His Voice did cast it like an
echo unto ;he people. Prideful o f this Word upon their tongues-
"Mazda, Light!" cried Zoroaster. Knowing not whence it came-
And it was God. Men boast, "Behold our wisdom! W e do not
Krishna in the distant space o f time need God. W e are gods!"
Called forth the Eternal Truth, They take up the pattern of the Word,
And earlier still did Sabeans worship God And lay it upon their council tables, saying,
Under another Name and other circum- "With this we build a world!"
stances. But find no fabric.
And it was God.
But some sought substance o f the Spirit,
The Ba'b, that Youth of Persia, flung wide And knew God,
the Gate o f the City of God Acknowledging Him,
Crying, "Praised be God, He is God!" Prostrating themselves before the Vessel of
And the Glory o f God trumpeted through His Voice.
the Gate, Then did their patter become wisdom,
"I a m come again and again, anto eternity, Tuned to the Spirit and not the form.
And in this day M y Name is Bahci'u'lldh!" But by the boasters were they called
Destroyers of their fathers' ways, All men have altars in their being.
Mockers of the might o f man, In their many are the one,
Weak, sniveling in prayer. And in that oneness, many.
Driven from council tables, they became the
strange and hunted, The dawn hath crept into the camp o f night
Seemingly conquered, And dimmed the flickering fires about the
But mighty in faith, tents
The Eternal Faith: That blaze no higher than the eye's ascents,
It gave them succor on new levels o f under- Limited by craft discovered in other dawns
standing- and days.
Seen, they were seen not, Sweep back the ashes, cast them under sod!
And killed were undying. Learn in rising sun new skills and ways
That purpose this fresh Day of God.

Man is renewed each dawning instant,
How great a miracle is this Fresh-born atoms craving sustenance.
The Day of God redawned He can, therefore, be never fed in full at
When weak become m i-~ h.t y , and mighty one spread table.
fallen! Learning, he has within him the eternally un-
In all the mountaintops of earth fires kindle taught.
While the ignorant cry "Death!" in the Taking a step, some part of him has never
valleys, walked.
Hesitating to scale the peaks
Lest they fall into the chasm o f sacrifice How should man know the world or worlds
Or be consumed by Eternal Fire, except for God?
Desiring mortality above immortality, How gain that knowledge from the awful
Seeing no further than birth and death, Source o f Might
Seeking to crystallize their mold upon the When even bursting atom frights his soul?
future's body. Lo, in mercy for man's limited capacity
God sifts His Power through Messengers-
How fragile are the shouts of men Voices, Trumpets, sent that men may hear,
That fall in brittle fragments on the earth, And hearing, understand.
Bound by gravity to inflict self torture! Voices destined, bearing no self, no will but
0 men of loud voices and bloodied feet, God's-
Treading upon the man-barbed earth and Voices which cause the air to tremble with
frightening back the doves of Heaven, Their Call-
G o to thy dove cotes- Voices man thinks to mute by shattering the
Reckon well their emptiness, Instrument
And thy pain. But which reverberate in endless power,
Seeming diffused by martyrdom
0 thou hypocrites singing "Peace, peace!" to As a crystal vial, broken, diffuses its essence.
the tune of a battle cry
And with thy swords cutting off your tongues Seeing their Words cause destiny, despite
which utter it, mockery and death,
Knowing peace in oneness, do you yet seek Men term these Voices prophets.
to dissimulate oneness into many, Prophets? They are more!
Priding yourselves upon the variety of per- God they speak!
ception. Not mere prophecy they bring
But life, law, evolution, knowledge
Defile not the earth, Of God, with God, by God, for God,
For it gives birth They have no being but in God.
Into eternity.
The shuttered eyes o f men peer warily forth
Scorn not the brother, And catching but singte glimpse of single
For he is mother Instrument of God
Of fraternity. Are blinded by that Beauty.
Consoling their weakness, they declare one
Which of you boast, ''I worship God!" glimpse is all men's eyes are given,
And befoul His altar with the spittle of con- And drop the shutters,
tempt? Clinging to memory o f the one brief sight,
How shall an altar be judged- Denying themselves the bounty of infinite
That you have built it? light.
VERSE 94 1

Thus were shutters closed from age to age What body shall I enter that is not mine,
Upon Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha Or entering give not dignity?
Christ, Muhammad, Ba'b, Baha"u'llcih, The chemistry of being is with me always.
Those with the sweet throats tuned to G o d s I am a spark of spirit.
vibrations. Can I cry Lo, Lord, lo! Prepare me a heaven of
my own?
0 man, open thy ears to the Voice.
Hear, and put thy hearing into acts worthy Side by side Lie the majestic and the mean.
of Thy destiny The inconsequential instant upon instant adds
Which God bequeaths, having formed that to eternity,
purpose in your seed. The hammer blow upon the single nail erects
Pray, and praying look beneath the ripple o f the house,
the small flecked words One jewel beside another, and the strand's com-
T o the deep dark rhythm flowing underneath, plete.
Sometimes of Heaven, sometimes o f hell. God grant me power to honor the small, the
Does your stream seek the sea trifling deed,
And sacrifice its savor to salted urge o f earth, My eternal instrument to attain infinite perfec-
Losing separated puniness and gaini~zgmight tion.
of all earth's freshets? God give me partner power to recognize the
Or does it end in small lost slough fertile deed,
Creeping turgidly to end in dust? A seed to grow the future.

IV. v.
MAN'SVISION
The echo of God blows hot and instant on my Lo, as I prayed, humble and seeking,
ear, The bars of my prison earth crumbled about
I shall hear, I shall hear! me
And hearing, delve among the catacombs of And I beheld a mighty vision,
soul and pull forth life. Causing my body to quake and my spirit to
Living, shall I bestow that life on all I touch. soar:
My avenue of reach lies no farther than my
door- 1.
Should I ask more than power to lift the latch?
I saw the world-was it todav.,. tomorrow?-
Should I weep and wail at destiny Lying in stricken waste.
To be echo of an Echo Even the birds flying high above
Were caught in deadly ray of death,
When it comes from the Source of All?
Only is such limit tragic if scorning Crying innocent peeps as they plummeted be-
I fail the infinite scope within. low,
Only God's all-seeing Eye knows scope in all Unguilty, unwary, doomed by their master,
its breadth. men.
I shall never glimpse its whole And the master groveled and groaned on the
But see within each finished task the miniature earth,
of destiny. Chained by his own chains,
Doomed bv his own decree.
Dying and head, and those ykt to die.
The earth is a trysting place for powers and
men. I witnessed such agonies of the damned
It is not love at sight; That I, in vision, seemed to plead for death.
The task comes like an uncut jewel. And then, as though in mercy for my pain, the
Let my hand be steady, vision faded into words
Shape the facet true and sharp Written in letters of fire which vanished at mv
That it may hold reflection of God's will. touch
But were more terrible than livine fire-
What nation shall I enter that is not mine, "This is the Judgment Day, t s Apocalypse
Or entering give not allegiance? foretold!"
The chemistry of earth is with me always.
I am a grain of dust. Then did it seem, when I again saw scene, that
Can I cry Lo, Lord, lo! Prepare me a world of terrible Day had ended
my own? And a new Day dawned in its stead,
942 T H E B A H A'I W O R L D

Peopled by but a handful, saved by some te- So came the peoples of the world,
nacity of flesh and spirit. From China, Russia, Europe, Africa, the Amer-
In that new Day war was a poison even the icas, the islands of the sea,
young feared From every longitude and latitude,
Who screamed when the thoughtless pointed From North Pole to the South,
sticks in play. Clamoring to follow God's Plan-
And even if there had been no fear, One World, One God,
There were too few left to war. One Peace, One Religion,
For the few left the only hope was work, One language,
Razing wreckage, clearing rotted accumulation One People,-
of man, cities, nations, Synchronizing wings of science and religion in
Scarce able to cling to a dream of hope, harmonied flight,
Such hopelessness was before them. Performing love in law,
And in justice wiping poverty from earth,
In the east, west, north, south- Reaching step by step toward the fullness im-
All worked with common necessity, plied in the seed of man,
And the world rebuilded swiftly in union of And setting their spirits upon the threshold of
purpose, the infinite dimensiolls of God.
Builded sternly from fear of the Apocalypse
Which clung to the horizon like dust from a And their spirits, freed from the prison of self,
lately fallen building,- Sought and returned to them such mysteries
Builded prayerfully from fear of the Lord. and revelations
That they became as a new race-
One thing the survivors knew above all else- Godlike servants bearing treasure from their
That God was Almighty. Master,
Without question or interpretation or ration- God.
alization or lessening or anything but At noon they gave praise,
ALMIGHTY! At dawn and night-tide
Their children learned first God, and then their Until even the dust was seasoned with the love
letters, of God
Prayer being judged the prizing point of wis- And became in itself changed,
dom. Yielding latent bounties, leveling seasons
In all the people was there knowledge of God, So that fields sprang from glaciers and breezes
even in simplest tasks, cooled equator.
Even into marrow of their bones.
In that knowledge came awareness of the piti-
fulness of human schemes unleavened by VI.
Divinity
And being full of pity, even the strong were
pitying to the weak. Thou earth become a world!
And the weak, knowing despair too fully to Star burning bright along the paths of Heaven,
fear it longer, Behold thy children men in full maturity,
Became strong, letting forth their energies. Yielding fruit from bud of promise,
Enriching thy clay with beauty so that other
planets marvel,
"Is this a sun that once was but a star?"
Oh, how describe the way of a world rebuilded,
Ashes of the old fertilizing the new, entering Thou earth become a world!
the cement of its construction? Take wings of song to fly upon thy destiny
How speak the passioned necessity which causes In euphony so fervid, piercing sweet
nations to plead entrance into World Tri- That all the myriad worlds must quiver in
bunal, response
Inspired by the lash of Judgment to blend races, To mankind's praise
traditions, powers Of God and world beatitude.
That man might stay on earth. Ring out! Ring out in mighty anthem:
In that New Day, those who spoke against
union were renegades, 0 God, to Thy compelling Splendor
Using the raven croak of death, shunned by his We yield in worshipful surrender.
fellows, Lord God!
His flesh in the public eye seeming to scale The people of Thy creation
from his bones, Come from every nation
Leaving a warning skeleton. T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world.
VERSE 943

0 God, Thy matchless flame of Glory 0 God, through Thy majestic Will
Fires gold Thy clayed repository. Bequeath us arts of commonweal.
Lord God! Lord God!
The people of Thy creation The people of Thy creation
Come from every nation Come from every nation
T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world. T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world.

0 God, Thy Beauty brightens deeds 0 God, give us Thy holy Knowledge
T o bring in justice common needs. That great and small may interpledge.
Lord God! Lord God!
The people of Thy creation The people of Thy creation
Come from every nation Come from every nation
T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world. T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world.

0 God, let nations seek to render 0 God, with Thy creative Power
Faithful image of Thy Grandeur. Cause every human seed to flower!
Lord God! Lord God!
The people of Thy creation The people of Thy creation
Come from every nation Come from every nation
To join in holy bond of this, Thy world. T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world.
0 God, through Thy revealing Light 0 God, from myriad tongues we reach
Let truth be choice of plebiscite. Around the world in common Speech.
Lord God! Lord God!
The people of Thy creation The people of Thy creation
Come from every nation Come from every nation
To join in holy bond of this, Thy world. T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world.
0 God, we pray Thy hand of Mercy 0 God, we seek through humble Questions
Will blunt the barbs of controversy. Material forms for revelations.
Lord God! Lord God!
The people of Thy creation The people of Thy creation
Come from every nation Come from every nation
To join in holy bond of this, Thy world. T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world.
0 God, let Thy creative Words 0 God, in councils ruled by Honor
Bind seas and lands with sacred girds. We uphold peace and outlaw war.
Lord God! Lord God!
The people of Thy creation The people of Thy creation
Come from every nation Come from every nation
To join in holy bond of this, Thy world. T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world.
0 God, guide us into Perfection 0 God, Thy Sovereignty lifts man
Lessen mortal-born defection. From prisoned self to global span.
Lord God! Lord God!
The people of Thy creation The people of Thy creation
Come from every nation Come from every nation
T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world. T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world.
0 God, put Thy supernal Names 0 god, we enter Thy Dominion
Upon our tongues in righteous aims. Bound in sacramented union.
Lord God! Lord God!
The people of Thy creation The people of Thy creation
Come from every nation Come from every nation
To join in holy bond of this, Thy world. T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world.
0 God, in worship of Thy Might 0 God, we praise with thankfulness
Make us humbly seek the right. Thy bounteous gifts of Loftiness.
Lord God! Lord God!
The people of Thy creation The people of Thy creation
Come from every nation Come from every nation
T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world. T o join in holy bond of this, Thy world.
944 THE BAHA'I WORLD

TO THE TROUBLED SOUL thought-circling, rising in an uproar? So, stand
palm-
LOISW. NOCHMAN spread in prayer under the sacred stars range-

To the troubled soul in the night of its despair roving in universal music. Or length low lie-
it is not enough to say, be still and calm, suck lifestrength from the ancient earth, en-
all things will pass, nor generations greatly mesh
change. soreself in living leaves. Earth can partly satisfy
as well as stars; what rises to a question in the
Can human calm-quell Charybdis, the mind flesh,
aware, resolves in death.
MUSIC
THE PROMISED DAY IS COME
BAHA'I ANTHEM By J. Shurcliff

r r I I I r

ma1 - i c e , hill loose Free - dom's
ot col -

tide! Rjng jn
creed. Ring I n
the Pri - ma1 ~ L a r
I , I

t h e Pri - ma1 s t a r '
$he
The
d l o - y:
G l o - ry
ZF
of
'God, ' b a - ha: - ' u ' - liah R e -
God B a - ha - u' - llah R e -
~ i g h t !Ring in the P r i - ma1 s t a r : The G l o - rv OF God: B a - ha' - u' - llah R e -
948 THE BAHA'I WORLD

THE CRYSTAL STREAM
IN COMMEMORATION OF T H E MARTYRDOM OF T H E B A B
Words and Music
DEDICATED TO OUR GUARDIAN, SHOGHI E F F E N D I B v Vera Aker

I walked by a crys - tal

I
r - dant

I* areen The soark - line wa - ters

I flo'dl forth from the throne of the great un - s e e n , ----- Gold-en
MUSIC 949

THE CRYSTAL STREAM (Cant.) G?

reed Flutes played sweet as a soft

s i f t - e d the

F r e e d from the d r o s s o f the world I glitter- ing sand in
THE BAHA'I W O R L D

THE CRYSTAL STREAM (Cant.)

I won - der I gazed a - mazed, T h e y were jewels from t h e heart of

stre - - am For my thirst would not be

Id nied, I came to the pearl - y
MUSIC 95 1

THE CRYSTAL STREAM (Cant.)

I Night- i n - gales sang, - ------------- -.----
.--- R o s - e s bloomed ev - 'ry.-

where .................... 81~n Who could d e - scribe the scene
952 THE BAHA'I WORLD

THE CRYSTAL STREAM (Cont.)

I s h e e r e c - s t a - s y ------ such beau-ty n o earth- ling could bear-----, But I
MUSIC 953

'TWO PRAYERS REVEALED BY THE BAB
Musical'Setting By
Frank .A. Fredericks
A
-r
A
m
- I
I
I I
I
I
- I

, - -

I* Is there an - y ---- re - mov- er of dif - fi - cul - ties- save God?

Say: Praised be God! He is God!
h
TWO PRAYERS REVEALED BY THE BAB (Cont.)

a - bide by His bid - ding.

a tempo

-
Andante tranquillo

I Say: God suf - fi - ceth all things a - bove all things -

I - and noth - ing in the heav - ens or in the earth bpt
MUSIC 955

TWO PRAYERS REVEALED BY THE BAB Cant..)

I God suf - fi - ceth Vee. - i - ly He

- the Om - ni - po- t e n

I
there an - - Re-mov- e r OF ' d i l f - i- cul - t i e s
I Is y -.
TWO PRAYERS REVEALED BY THE BAB (Cont.)

"" -
I* s' e r - vants and all a - bide by His

Music copyrighted 1954 by Frank A . Fredericks
MUSIC 957

TABLET OF AHMAD G . F. Handel
Revealed by Bahi'u'llah

1 H e is the King, the All - Know- ing,'th

I1 I
Par - a - d i s e sine-eth uo - on the T r e e of E - ter - ni - tv. with h o .- l v and

i
to the court of the Pres-

. .
Quintet Afranged and Harmonized by L o u i s e C . Rich, Chicago, Illinois, U. S. A.
958 THE BAHA'I WORLD

TABLET OF AHMAD Cont.1

11 splen - dent Beau-ty. ' ~ e r i- - l y this i s that Most Great B e a u - t y . fore --

1 told i n t h a t Book o f the M e s - s e n - g e r s , t h r o u g h whom truth s h a l l be dis - tin - guis~hed

I Tree of Life t h a t bring-eth forth Fruits of God, t h e Ex - a l t - e d , th'e

(I Pow-er;Eul, t h e Great. 0 Ah-mad! Bear thou w i t - n k s s t.hat ver- i - ly He is
MUSIC 959

TABLET OF AHMAD (Cont.1

II God and there is- no God but H i m - . the Kine. the. Pro- t e c - tor. the In -

I cop-pa-rable,the Om - ni - po - .tent. And that t h e One whom H; hath s e n t fohh

1 by the name of A1 -i w a s t h e True One from God, to Whose com - mands

(1 we , are a l l c o n - form - ing. Say: 0 P e o - ple b e - be - di - e n t tb tie

I or - di - nan-ces of God which have been e n - joined in t h e B a - yan by t h e Glo - ri -
THE BAHA'I WORLD

ITABLET OF AHMAD (Cont.1

1 H i s Book i s t h e Moth- e r Book did vou b u t know. T h u s doth t h e Night-in-eale

1 u t - ter H i s call un- to you from t h i s -pris-on. He hath b u t t o d e - liv - er

. who - sp e v - e r d e - s i r - e t h
t h i s c o u. n - s .e l and let him c h o o s e t h e p a t h to his Lord.
MUSIC

TABLET OF AHMAD (Cont.)

I s o u l , they a r e not, and nev - e r s h a l l be a - ble to do . t h i s e - ven should they com-

I bine to a s - s i s t o n e an-0th - er. 0 Ah-mad! or- i e t not My doun - t i e s while I am

)I ab - s e n t : R e - mem-ber My d a y s dur - in^ thy d a y s , and My d i s - t r e s s and ban-ish-ment in

I t h i s ie-mote pris-on: And b e thou s o s t e a d - f a s t in My love t h a t thy heart s h a l l not

I wa-ver, e - ven if t h e s w o r d s of t h e en - e-mies rain blows up - on t h e e and, a l l

4I ip . t h e H e a v - e n s and in t h e earth a - rise a - e a i n s t thee. B e thou a s a
THE BAHA'I W O R L D

TABLET OF AHMAD (Cont.)

1 flke of
I
fire to ~y 1-e n - e - m i e s and a iiv - e r of l i f e E -

I o - ver - tak - e n by af - flic - tion in. Mv ~ a t h or
. d e -.=re - d a - tion for M v Sake.

/1 be not tbpu tro-ub-led there - by. R e - ly, u p - o n God, thy God andthe

(I Lord of thv fath- ers. For t h e D ~ O - ~are
l e w'an- der-inn in t h e paths a f de -

I l u - sion, b e - r e f t of di8 - cern-ment t o see God with their own e y e s , or
MUSIC

TABL,E,TOF AHMAD (Cont.)

/I hear His me1 - a - dy with , their okn. ears. T h u s h a v e We fokd them a s

I t h o u a1 - s o dost wit - n e s s : T h u s h a v e kheir s u - p e r - ski- t i o n s b e 2 c o m e v e i l s be -

}/ t w e e n them and t h e i r own h e a r t s and k e p t them from t h e p a t h of G o d , tKe Ex -

/I alt ,, , e d , t h e Great. B e thou a s - s i r e d i n t h y - sdf thit ver - i - ly,

I1 he who t u r n s a - w a y from t h i s Beau-ty hath a1 - s o turned a - way from t h e

1I Mes - s e n - p e r s of the Dast a n d s h o w - e t h p r i d e t o - w a r d s God from all- 'e -
964 THE BAHA'I WORLD

TABLET OF AHMAD (Cant.)

I Chant i t dur-ing thy d a y s .and with-hold not t h y - s e l f there-From. F o r v e r - i - l y , G o d hath o r -

hun - dred mar - tyrs

i
and
MUSIC

TABLET OF AHMAD (Cont.)

i
11 read t h i s tab - l e t with ab - s o - l u t e t s i n - c e r - i - tv. God
I
will dis -

11 pel his sad - n e s s , solve his d i f - fi:culties and re - move . h i s a f - flic-tions

)1 V e r - i - l y , He i s - t h e Mer- c i - ful, t h e Corn - , p a s - s i o n - ate.- Praise
THE BAHA'I WORLD

TABLET OF AHMAD
C H A N T SETTING FOR SOLO OR UNISON VOICES WITHOUT ACCOMPANIMENT*
DEDICATED T O OUR BELOVED GUARDIAN, SHOGHI E F F E N D I .
BAHA'U'LLAH C h a r l e s Duncan

- jj He is the King, t h e A11 - know - ing,
A
the Wise! mj L o , the

Night - in - g a l e of par -. a - dise sing ------------SZ ! ------.--
----- eth up - o n t h e

t w i g s o f the T r e e of E - tern --i - ty, with ha - l y and s w e e t mel-o-dies,Pro-

claiming t o t h e s i n - c e r e o n e s t h e glad ti - dings of t h e near - n e s s of God,

. .
C a l l - ing t h e b e - l i e v - e r s in t h e Di - v i n e Un - i - ty to t h e court of t h e P r e - s e n c e
m /
7 .

of t h e Gen - er - o u s One, in - forming t h e Sev - ered o n e s of t h e mes-sage which

hath been r e - vealed by God, t h e King, the Glor- i - o u s , the ?.eer - l e s s ,

s a n c - t i - ty and to t h i s r e - splend - e n t

Beau - ty. Ver - i - ly t h i s i s t h a t Most Great Beau-ty, fore-told in the books of the

Messengers, through whom truth s h a l l b e dis-tinguish? from er- ror and t h e wis-dom of

e v e - ry c o m m a n d s h a l l b e test-ed. Ver - i - l y He i s the T r e e of L i f e t h a t
'*~.ltos or b a s s e s sliould s i n g t h i s a third lower..
T h e tempo should not be too s t r i c t but should flow according t o tlie ~iieaningand rhythm of tlie words.
MUSIC 967

TABLET OF AHMAD (Cont.1

-
b r i n g - e t h Forth t h e Fruits of God, t h e Ex - a l t - e d , t h e P o w - e r - Ful, t h e Great. 0

Ah - mad! B e a r thou w i t - n e s s t h a t v e t - i - ly t l e i s God a n d t h e r e i s no God b u t

l i i m , t h e King, t h e P r o - t e c t - or, t h e In - comp-ara-ble,
z'z-.
t h e Om-ni-po-tent. And t h a t t h e

o n e whom H e h a t h s e n t forth b y t h e n a m e of Al---------- 1 w a s t h e t r u e o n e from.

G o d , to-Whose com- i a n d s w e a r e a l l con- form-ing. Say: - - - - - . - 0 Peo - ple

"
be o - b e - client t o t h e or - d i - nalrc - e s of G o d which h a v e b e e n e n - j o i n e d in t h e B a -

yan b y t h e Glor - i o u s , t h e Wise One. Ver-i-ly H e i s t h e K i n g of t h e M e s s - e n - g e r s a n d

H i s B o o k i s t h e Mother B o o k , d i d y e b u t know. T h u s doth t h e Nijiht- in-jiale ut-ter H i s

c a l l un - t o you from t h i s pri - s o n . He hath but to d e - li - ver this clear mess-age

Who - s o - e v - e r d e - s i r - e t h iet him turn a - s i d e from t h i s coun - s e l and

-
Who- s o - e v - e r d e - s i - r e t h l e t him c h o o s e t h e p a t h t o His Lord. 0 peo - ple,

.- -
if y e de- n y these v e r s - es, b y w h a t proof have y e be- lieved in God?
968 THE BAHA'I WORLD

TABLET OF AHMAD (Cant.)

p r o - d u c e i t , 0 as-semb-lage o f f a l s e ones. Nay, by t h e One i n Whose hand i s My

s o u l , t h e y are not and nev - e r s h a l l b e a b - l e t o do t h i s , -
e v e n should they com -

bine t o a s - s i s t one a - noth - er. 0 Ah- mad! For - get not My

bount - i e s while I am ab - sent. Re - mem - ber My d a y s dur-ing thy d a y s

and My d i s - t r e s s and ban - i s h - ment i n t h i s re-mote pris - on. And h e Jhou so

-
s t e a d - f a s t i n my l o v e t h a t thy heart s h a l l not wav - e r , e v - e n if t h e swords of t h e

e n - e - mies rain blows up- on t h e e and a l l t h e h e a v - e n s and t h e earth a-rise a-gainst thee.
h

B e thou a s a flame of fire t o My e n - e - n i e s and a riv-er of l i f e e-tern-a1 t o My

loved o n e s , and b e not of those who doubt. And if thou a r t

ov- er- tak- e n by a€- flic- tion i n my path or de: gre- da- tion for My s a k e , b e n o t thou

troubled there - by. Re - ly up- on God, thy God and t h e Lord of thy fath- e r s .

F o r t h e peo- p l e are wand' - - ring i n t h e p a t h s of de- lu - sion, be - r e k of
MUSIC 969

TABLET OF AHMAD (Cont.)

-
dis-cern-ment t o s e e God with t h e i r own e y e s , or hear H i s mel- o - d y with their own

ears --. T h u s have we found them, a s thou al- s o d o s t wit-ness. T h u s have their

V
sup- er- s t i - tions be-come v e i l s be-
Slightlkagitated -
tween them and their own h e a r t s and kept them from t h e path of

God, t h e Ex-alt-ed, t h e Great. B e thou as-sured in thy-self thatver- i- ly,he who turns a-way

from t h i s beau-ty hath a1 - s o turned a - way from the Mess- en- g e r s of t h e past and show-eth

pride towards God from a l l e - tern- i -ty to a l l e - tern - i - ty -- . L e a r n well t h i s

tab - let, 0 Ah - mad.
- Chant i t dur - ing thy d a y s and with -hold not thy-

self there-from. For ver - i - ly, God hath or- dained for t h e o n e who c h a n t s i t , t h e r e -

ward of a hund-red mar-tyrs and . a ser - v i c e i n both worlds. T h e s e fav-ors have w e be-

mer - cy from Our

p r e s e n c e , t h a t thou may- e s t b e oh t h o s e who a r e grate-fal. By ~ o d should
! o n e who i s

-- in i f - flic- tion or grief read t h i s T a b - l e t with a b - s o - l u t e s i n - .
cer - .i - ty
970 THE BAHA'I WORLD

TABLET OF AHMAD (Cant.)

God will d i s - pel h i s s a d - n e s s , solve h i s dif - fi - c u l t - i e s and re-move h i s af -

flic - ti0ns. He -.---
is. ---- t h e Mer -.-.---
ci-

ful, -
the Com p a s - sion-ate. Praise b e t o God the Lord of a l l t h e worlds.

Sept. 14, 1950 - F e b . 5, 1 9 5 1 Berkeley, Calif.

MOTET FOR TWO EQUAL VOICES*
DEDICATED TO SHOClll EFFENDI

Lo -------------,the All ---------em-.-- p ~ s - ~-----.----
~ s s ing i s come -------------------Earth and

LO -------- t h e ~ 1 ------------
1 pos - sess - ing is come ------------------.Earth and heav- en,

{1 heav - en, glo - ry and do - min-ion are God's ---------- the Lord of a l l -------

{I ----- men, the P o s - s e s s - o r of t h e Throne on high and of earth .................... be - low.

men, the P o s - s e s s - or of t h e Throne on high and of earth be- low.
*i.e. two sopranos, altos, tenors o r b a s s e s .
MUSIC

HEALING
Adaptation from "Ein Ton"
B v Peter Cornelius

I
I
s

C
t
C
Sotto voce
-
-I
I I
I A
I
I
I

- -
I
I

I
I I . .
- I
I
I
I Not too slowly Thy name is my heal r - - ing,

God, and re - mem - brance of

1 Thee i s my re - me - dy ; Near - ness to

I Thee is my hope "Y and
THE BAHA'I WORLD

HEALING tCont.1

I" love for
Thee is my con - pan - ion./

A I
- I I
,I l
Ex-,
l h I
I
I
I
d

Thy mere - y to me is my
MUSIC

HEALING (Cont.)

and my s u c - cor i n both t h i s world and t h e world to

I
974 THE BAHA'I WORLD

0 THOU, BY WHOSE NAME
P R A Y E R OF BAHA'U'LLAH Musical Setting
B y Charles Wolcott
I
I I I
I I I I

b
Oh

I I

Thou .................... by whose name ----.-----------------------
the
MUSIC 975

0 THOU, BY WHOSE NAME (Cont~
accel. meno a te,mpo .

-
A
I I 1 1 3
h I rJ
I 1 P I
I

I . ask Thee to from the

1 I I I

-
I I 1 I I
I I
I m1 r?
I
I
I
I
r~ 3, - ' , 1 -
I n
qd

I won - ders of Thy f a - "07
!is x-'.,
-------
976 THE BAHA'I W O R L D

0 THOU, BY WHOSE NAME Eont.)
h

Thou art the

I
MUSIC

NINEFOLD w ~ ~ - ~ ~ ~ ~ ' ~ ' ~
DEDICATED TO AUNT ETNELLE

Sop.
I

Sop.

cresc.
Alto

Bass
978 THE BAHA'I WORLD
MUSIC

NINEFOLD '"A-BAHA' U'L-ABHA" (Cont.1

Ab - ha:

..-.u'I
8 ..........................................................
*
A b ---------------- I,&
'

-
.-..-. ha:
I "$1 .--------...--*a
-----------..
rit.- - - - .- - .- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
----.....----.------------
.-- .--
THE BAHA'I WORLD

NINEFOLD w ~ ~ - ~ ~ rCont.1
~ ~ ' ~ ' ~

$$
V
T e m p o of opening
I

II
- I

I
- I

I
- IJ
1 L.
? I I

I -
-
ya/ -- --.---.------------------
------------------- B a - h 2 u'l Ab - ha/. Y& Ba-

y;----.-.-.-----.------ B a -..-------
ha"
MUSIC 98 1

NINEFOLD R ~ ~ - ~ (Cont.1
~ ~ ~ ' ~ '

,,'I - Ab -----.-------
h a'.
982 THE BAHA'I WORLD

Hymn for all peoples
Louis Stanton

Voice
- I

I
- I
I
-
Andante
I
I
- I

piano (1

I- Hymn for all peo - plea, White -
peo plej Black peo - ple,

1 Ye1 -low and Red, for all peo - ple. Let us all ac -

Copyright,HC'LZ,by R.4.Huntzingel; Znc.
Infernational Copyright Secured
Printed in U. S. A .
MUSIC 983

I" clnim
r l
this creed
, .
to love, to serve the hu - man need. No more hearts-

I- - set with fears,-- No more eyes wet with tears.

Birds, brboks, June flow-ers, Dews, rAins,

I
w
leaf - y bow - ers, Red ros - es, white lil - ies, pine and
THE BAHA'I WORLD

a rroco mi& mosso

I" mine. Sweet-er mu - - sic thrills all souls And new

I- arts a - rise from loft - ier molds. This fair earth, the glit - thng
MUSIC

A ,I

1" hood, Lib - 'er - 'ty with

I" eo - ui - tv. All life's beau - iv. ill life's worth En -

..
/ I
I
--
- / 1
I
1 8
.
*w
I

earth.

i;/
K L H 1128
MAPS O F AUSTRALIA A N D
N E W Z E A L A N D , T H E BRITISH
ISLES, C A N A D A , C E N T R A L
A M E R I C A , GERMANY A N D
AUSTRIA, INDIA, PAKISTAN
A N D B U R M A , S O U T H AMER-
ICA, GREENLAND, THE
U N I T E D STATES, A N D T H E
B A H A ~W~O R L D
990 THE BAHA'I WORLD

N O R T H S E A

THE B A H COMMUNITY
~ ~
Ht~lll f. SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY'
OF THE BRITISH ISLES 1954 GROUP 01 INDIVIDUAL
A T L A
G U L F O F '?lEXICO

P A C I F I C O C E A N
C A R I B B E A N S E A

THE B A H COMMUNITY
~ ~
OF CENTRAL AMERICA 1954
MAPS OF THE BAHA'I WORLD

OF GERMANY AND AUSTRIA 1954 * GROUP INDIVIDUAL
ORASSEMBLY
SPIRITUAL
. .
SALIMIUR

* IHOIAL
*HMED*I*D
* IARODA .Mt,,S,,WAI
INDORE

I N D I A

* NASIK * JALNA * N*GPUR

A R A B I A N S E A * AUIANGAIAD
AHMEDNA6AR

BAY OF B E N G A L .

.Ir SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
THE BAHA'I
' COMMUNITY
GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL
OF INDIA, PAKISTAN AND BURMA
- -- - --- -- -

MAPS OF THE BAHA'I WORLD 995

BRAZIL

A T L A N T I C O C E A N

THE B A H COMMUNITY
~ ~
OF SOUTH AMERICA 1954

Scelga un secondo testo da leggere in parallelo — una traduzione o qualsiasi altro testo.